Concert Review: Soaked Oats, Tuning Fork, 23 October 2020

Hypnotic Indie Pop drone melodies captivate and lift a boisterous crowd on the eve of a long weekend. Soaked Oats pull out a superlative show to usher in the long summer and try and banish any Lockdown blues. On their Say Hey and Play Some New Ones tour.

First out over the barricades and taking the stage are Hans Pucket. Indie Pop and nicely Retro Sixties is their brand. Over the last few years, they have gained a good rep opening for overseas acts and The Beths. Brothers Oliver Devlin guitar and lead singer, Callum Devlin bass and vocals and Jonathan Nott drums.

Most of the set tonight is from the Eczema album but they start with a new one, Some Good News. Filled with Pop hooks and mid-tempo rhythms straight from The Monkees with nice harmony singing Beach Boys style. A keyboard player with them who also doubles on saxophone plays a nice sunny riff. Then they wind up and thrash.

Comfort is melodic Pop drone music with Middle Eastern accents underneath it all. Dick Dale lurking in the background.

Level-Headed then brings surf guitar to the fore and expands all the elements on the studio version. Smart Pop riffs, Beau Brummels 60s San Francisco rhythmic workout. The saxophone takes a break and they veer into Hugo Montenegro movie mood music.

A lot in there but it all moves lightly and energetically.  Eczema is slower and highlights their Beach Boys harmony. Again, they stretch out and build momentum.

Another new one is Misery Loves Company. Funky and soulful wedded to Pop. So, it ends up Rocksteady Reggae which is underlined by the saxophone.

Fuck My Life seems the exact opposite. Great guitar riff hooks and a galloping rhythm. Then they stretch this out to a belter with a nod to Another Girl Another Planet. The bass comes forward and splatters everywhere. Guitar rocks and tears off some pealing riffs. Saxophone joins in with some jazz to resolve everything.

A brief nod to the sound crew who bring a brilliant sound to both groups tonight. When it’s right it creates a dimension that you will never hear on any recorded format.

Soaked Oats are on and its Perfect Song from the No Slip Ups EP.  A military shuffle beat. Guitars riff a mutated Bo Diddley rhythm. Melodic Drone Pop and touching on Brit Pop of the Stone Roses.

The band came together in Dunedin. Having been raised in all parts of the Heartland. Oscar Mein guitar and lead singer. Dry wit front man who takes charge of the Fork tonight and quietens the chatter to highlight the bands quieter songs.

Max Holmes bass, Henry Francis guitar and Conor Feehley drums. They also have a percussionist and electronic keyboard effects man who I will call Echo for the night.

Sludge is how they describe their sound and also the title of a recent EP. It’s probably a perfect description of the Velvet Undergound spirit which invests many of their songs. Repeatedly emphasised by Mein who often sings in a Lou Reed Rap monologue.

Like Houdini. This is the one that the audience become quiet. Then the opening to Heroin and the celestial angelic guitar drone. Surge and fade. Run run run. Simple elements, tribal drums, bratty vocals. Passion adds fire and the heat begins to rise.

Gum-15 is even more Reed. Bass leads the melody. Guitars chime in unison. Melodic drone music and addictive.

My Mud Your Shoes is slow and abounds with Surf echoes. Hypnotic and captivating as we are drawn inside the song. Sound engineers become the crucial extra performers in the house. We all give them a cheer on request.

Behind is a new one, a work in progress. Actually, a highlight tonight as the tribal rhythm, the chanks guitar and especially the vocals invoke the Music God that is Sister Ray. They are working on the album and this promises great things.

Driftworld starts slow and Gothic. Rapid drum fills and then scything waves of electronics. A cyclone blast.

The band extends out on another new one Pleasures. They begin with melodies and tone from the Smiths Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now. The bass stands up and powers this one. Singing full of irony. Then they seize the song by the scruff and raise the power and the intensity.

If some tonight were feeling a bit torn and frayed as I was, there was no better way to connect with the uplifting energy of great Power Pop as played by the Soaked Oats. And their support act.

Rev Orange Peel