The Exploited – Whammy Bar: November 24, 2023

The Exploited were last here in 2020 before it went all a bit batty and pete tong, the current live lineup still features Wattie Buchan (vocals), Irish Rob (bass) and Steve Campbell (guitar), but there is a new drummer, Jo Oom (from Dutch band Disturbance) hopefully just standing in for Wattie’s brother Wullie Buchan.

Since the release of their first album, Punks Not Dead, in 1981, they have been a firm favourite amongst punks all around the world, and were even been covered by Slayer and Ice-T (on the Judgement Night Soundtrack) For 40 plus years they have nipped at the influence of the first wave of punk bands the likes of the Sex Pistols, and been recognised as one of the leading street-punk bands of the UK82 era that so much influenced the rise of Hardcore in the US.

Drop Off Point 

Hamilton-based and fairly fresh, formed during/post-COVID, D.O.P. have already released two EPs, supported recent visitors Strung Out, and have a support slot with Sick of It All early next year.

Onstage it is a sea of beards and caps, with vocalist Mikey Walker’s t-shirt emblazoned with ‘Bridge City Hardcore’, Bridge City, so much cooler than Hamiltron. D.O.P. draw strongly on the ’ ”90s/00 US Hardcore sound, the band members are experienced and have been involved in the Aotearoa hardcore scene for many years, recently playing with The Bleeders.

Mikey Walkers is a mightily competent frontperson and had a stage presence that kept the audience engaged, as the band played through about 40 minutes of (Bridge City) Hardcore, their songs ranged from the quite aggressive (Rat Race), might I say alternative hardcore, to the slightly, within the confines of hardcore, commercial, People Die from the latest EP Bridge City Crew, is an example, perhaps like The Bleeders they know radio play will take them places.

Mentioned must be made of Drummer Fu, not only were his drumming skills on point, but the enormous mesmerising smile that projected through his magnanimous beard lit up the stage far brighter than the lighting rig, like many in the audience, and his bandmates, he had a good night tonight.

Headroller 

Whangaparaoa-based, Headroller have been around for almost a decade and had previously opened for The Exploited on the 2020 NZ tour. Much more metal than D.O.P., the drawl(ing) vocals and unrelenting sound bed at times made me feel like I was bashing my head against a brick wall continuously. Very much focused around vocals and guitar, their skills are obvious, but the lack of harmonic contrast did create a feeling of being battered by a monolithic sledgehammer. Their faithful fans were vocal in their support, but with their drummer supporting a bigger beard than the sound guy, being much, much, much more metal than D.O.P……..they could’ve (should’ve) been opening for Behemoth up the road.

The Exploited

The crowd’s recognition is instant. As Wattie’s mohawk is sighted, cheers arise in the sold-out room. His trademark Scottish accent cuts through, and for a 60-year-old man who has had multiple heart attacks, his stature and presence already dominate the stage and room.

With little banter (a gruff ‘Alright’), The Exploited launched into Let’s Start a War, and the moshing in the Whammy Bar began. Mention is made at the end of punching through the first three songs (which sound tight and well-delivered, since The Exploited have arrived in Tamaki Makaurau at the end of a dozen shows through AUS/NZ) that it’s been three years since guitarist Stevie’s first shows with the band, that 2020 NZ Tour being part of it. Dogs of War starts the crowd singing along, and Wattie shares the vocals duties with the brave upfront souls being crushed on the barrier.

As the night lengthens, as the energy is maintained, as the audience revels in the punk rock, as the aggression transgresses the anger, The Exploited delivered a set of classics from the 80s and a smattering from the 1990/2000s that create a surging moshpit that at time invades the lighting tech perch. It’s also a night of ‘fuck offs’, seems it is one of Wattie’s catchphrases, then who blames him, he lived through the dark years of Maggie Thatchers Britain. The relationship between the band and audience is irreverent, ‘What’s your name?’ asks Wattie. ‘Wanker?’ Forty years on stage and stage invasion are still attempted, but few get over the barrier, and all are quickly eliminated by their tour manager.

A surprise of the night is the inclusion of Holidays in the Sun midway in the set, preceded by Troops of Tomorrow, and (a personal favourite) I Believe In Anarchy. It’s a version, The Expoited’s version of the Sex Pistols classic, harder, faster, almost unrecognisable, re-envisioned. The lead into Fuck the USA preamble is chaotic, the crowd won’t shut up, and Wattie dedicates it to the Dead Kennedys vocalist ‘Jello Biafra is a what?’ A wanker!’

There was no warning that the show was over, but Bassist Irish Rob, is suddenly on the mic, inviting five lovely ladies onstage to sing Sex and Violence. It’s chaotic, but it’s crowd participation  The Exploited Way. Wattie returns, and they play a song he wrote 43 years ago, Punks not Dead, quickly followed by Was It Me, which together sum up the night of punk rock, from 1981 to 2003, still sounding fresh and relevant in 2023.

Simon Coffey

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Aaron Christiansen:

The Expoited:

Headroller:

Drop Off Point:

Setlist (pretty close to what was played)

Let’s Start a War (Said Maggie One Day) (1983)

Fightback (1996)

Dogs of War (1981)

Massacre (1990)

UK 82 (1982)

Dead Cities (1981)

Noize Annoyz (2003)

Alternative (1982)9

Never Sell Out (2003)

Troops of Tomorrow (1982)

I Believe In Anarchy (1981)

Holiday in the Sun

Rival Leaders (1983)

Beat the Bastards (1996)

Cop Cars (1981)

Fuck the System (2003)

Porno Slut (1990)

Army Life (1981)

Fuck the USA (1982)

Encore

Sex & Violence (1981)

Punks Not Dead (1981)

Was It Me (2003)