Concert Review: Dragon, Tuning Fork, 3 February 2021

The legendary Kiwi band are in their 49^th year and they emerge from their quarantine bubble from some Chelsea Hotel of Ageless Rock Stars to lay down a spirited and heartwarming set of great Power Pop and Rock’n’Roll. Taking care of business, and working overtime.

Todd Hunter started the journey in 1972. Along with younger brother Marc, the bands classic line-up pumped out great songs whilst displaying a wildly hedonistic life style on and off stage. Curiously they mirrored the Sex Pistols in 1978. Baiting a Texas audience whilst supporting a Johnny Winter tour and inciting serious violence and mayhem.

Hunter on bass guitar sits like Buddha and lays out a solid bottom all night. Along with powerhouse drummer Pete Drummond. As solid as the legendary Fleetwood and McVie engine room.

Bruce Reid on lead guitar and Mark Williams who is a bit of a Kiwi music legend in his own right is lead singer.

Outside In

Opening the show tonight are Auckland Prog Rockers Outside In.

Guitars weaving a soundscape of rhythm riffs from which lead breaks surface and dive down again. Drums providing a carpet of rumbling thunder.

They are Mikey Brown on vocals and wearing a trademark blue dressing gown. Jonnie Barnard and Joe Park guitars, Adam Tobeck drums and Elliot Park bass.

It’s an immersive sound full of unusual time signatures. But on Blue Dragon they begin with a quieter melodic Folk passage. I like the bass guitar rising up to lead here. Solid drumming throughout propels the set rhythmically.

Pass on the Flag is Indie-Rock with Browns singing impressive on the higher register. Philosophical themes. We are travelers seeking the light. Shimmering guitar textures midway through.

Om comes back with an amorphous sound with elements of Free Jazz.

Dragon

Dragon started out with Prog Rock. It’s a nice touch to have these young guys opening.

The headliners get straight down to it with Still in Love with You. Bit of a Reggae beat and great hooks.

At the core they are a superior bar-room Rock’n’Roll outfit and they have an easy loose-but- tight manner. Original songs full of hooks and upbeat Power Pop.

Get That Jive is a ballad and Williams voice stands out with what really is a classic Rock tenor.

Following song leaps out in white Reggae Clash sprung rhythms. A showcase for the drummer who fires off a superb extended artillery assault of a solo.

This Time. Their first single and this high-speed Pop anthem brings back teenage memories. This time I’m gonna head in the right direction.

The packed Tuning Fork is full of Boomers looking blissed out but it is good to see a fair number of Millenials getting into this, even if they are with their parents.

Ramona is a deep catalogue number from 1982 or thereabouts. Blues to begin and some nice Gospel church touches in the vocals.

Young Years. Brilliant Power Pop with great driving rhythms and a resonant lead guitar weaving all through it.

Halfway through the set and the lead guitar needs fixing.

Mark Williams then goes solo with acoustic guitar and lays down his famous signature song Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of my Life. Soulful and emotional as he manages to invoke Rod Stewart and Bobby Womack.

Then he keeps going with Ten Guitars (really) and Buddy Holly’s It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.

I guess it actually was impromptu, not rehearsed.

Back with different electric guitar and Reid leads Sunshine with some nice Blues licks leading to Rock. Slow and soulful and builds to great passion from the singer.

Then segues into April Sun In Cuba and their classic Pop song done perfectly by band and audience alike.

Rain runs with a Funk motor. Celebrate Good Times is good and hard R’n’B and must be cribbed from Chic.

The evening closes with another famous Pop anthem. Are You Old Enough?

That will have to be enough for tonight but the legendary band appear to be timeless.

Rev Orange Peel