March 18, 2021

Labretta Suede and the Motel 6, Whammy, 14 March 2021

The Ministry of Health did Rock n Roll a favour and bumped Auckland back to Level 1 in time for the weekend. That’s how we found ourselves at Whammy on a Sunday to join Labretta Suede and the Motel 6 for one final Auckland party at their rescheduled gig before they relocate back to the US.

Labretta and Moondog had been recently blessed by the Greencard lottery goddess, then because we are in the greatest pandemic of our lifetimes, were ironically shunted into Level 3 lockdown so they couldn’t leave Auckland. Being of the position that ‘You can’t stop your life for COVID’, the band had a rapidly closing window of 18 days post-lockdown to pack up their lives, perform a final show, and fly to the States before their visas expire. If any band can roll with that chaotic energy though, Labretta Suede and the Motel 6 is it.

Priscilla and the Presleys

The opening band does what it says on the box – Labretta Suede and the Motel 6 moonlight as an Elvis covers band. Labretta put her spin on Elvis classics like All Shook Up and her personal favourite Trouble.

Labretta was growling out The King in a sparkly silver evening gown, with Moondog in a very large and very synthetic wig with his glorious strawberry blonde ponytail trailing down the back. People were dancing from the start, it was a fun way to kick off the evening.

The Cthulus

Cthulus strike me as kind of 1960s-style purist instrumental surf. They performed mostly original material, with a cover of Surfari by The Surfaris towards the end. It’s the kind of precise sound that is fun to watch people play, more for the intensity that comes with hyper-focus than stage antics. Somehow it managed to be danceable and soothing at the same time.

It was easy to zone out for a while watching a greenly lit glowing hand dart across the fret-board like something from a 60s B-Grade sci-fi. The person next to me suggested they needed vocals. NO THEY DO NOT, DAVE. You just have to let the guitar wash over you Dave.

Labretta Suede and the Motel 6

Labretta Suede and the Motel 6 have been kicking around the scene forever but seem to fly somewhat under the radar. They are a hard-working touring party band, with high energy shows and stage presence for days.

I first met Labretta when she invited me to perform a burlesque act that involved WWE style wrestling a blow up doll for a Rock n Roll show at the closing of Las Vegas Club on K Rd. Maybe it’s because of that association but I always think there is an almost burlesque-like showpersonship to their performances – Labretta’s performance style is as if Lux Interior were reincarnated as a Vegas showgirl with an attitude. The bassist is in leather biker vest and fishnet stockings, heels optional. There is dedication to the spectacle. It takes a certain amount of effortless energy and swagger to get a bunch of apathetic Aucklanders dancing on a Sunday.

Labretta was not impressed with our relative sobriety, advising “Have more tequila shots, it’s only Monday tomorrow, its COVID, your boss should be thankful you’re even there.” The crowd was glad to be there in support.

They played a bunch of audience favourites, a dirty blues number with jangly reverberating guitar; a somewhat apt song about tall poppy syndrome considering the band’s struggles with New Zealand record labels; Do the Savis; a Beach Party song; among others. Calling us their Sunday Night Guinea Pigs they debuted a couple of new songs too, which slapped.

It’s not a Labretta Suede gig unless there is floor work and someone climbs on the PA. The people were not disappointed. It got a bit chaotic, everyone started mashing their instruments together, somehow the bassist lost a tooth. That’s how you know it’s a good party, if someone needs major dental work after.

The stripped-back encore included Moondog performing an enjoyable cover of Farmer John with Labretta on drums.

In the first 30 seconds of the set the bassist licked an audience member’s phone, which in this day and age is probably as fearless as it is unsanitary. It takes a certain amount of rock n roll fearlessness to walk into the heart of COVID country, but the US is aiming to have everyone vaccinated by 4 July so Labretta Suede and the Motel 6 will be taking their spiritual homeland by storm again soon. Safe travels!

Kalee Jackson

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