The Nudge – San Fran Sept 1, 2017

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Wellington three piece The Nudge bring a tsunami of sound, washing us with wave after wave of dirty blues, psychedelia and funk.  These guys are famous for dressing up silly but playing like there’s no tomorrow! 

The show opened with a welcome appearance by a solo Warren Maxwell (armed only with guitar and loops) who knocked off a selection of tracks from his Trinity Roots and Little Bushman repertoire plus a new one (unannounced).  Pendulum was definitely the highlight.  Without a band his material’s good but needs a bit of an injection of grunt.  His turn was followed up by a DJ in a full-face cat mask (possibly DJ Takas) playing savage digi-jungle rhythms.

The Nudge released Dark Arts in February back but thanks to new born babies (Iraia’s), Fly My Pretties gigs and other projects they’ve all been too busy to find time to actually complete the album tour.  But tonight that was all remedied as an eager Welly crowd crammed into arguably the Capital’s best music performance space to get a taste of some supreme magic.

The new album’s title track, Dark Arts, holds together as a deeply psychedelic wig-out.  Although the album was a product of Ryan’s brother Lee Prebble’s newly located (Surgery) studio the material translates well to the live stage.

The Balance Change is track 2 of merely 3 on Dark Arts, a long investment for the ears but worth it.   Time stands still as the band takes you on a hippie trip across their multi-facetted universe.  More layers of fuzzy keyboards, angular guitars and wah-wah pedals and a hypnotic drum beat.  The only thing missing is a revolving kaleidoscope colour projection on the back wall and a few lava lamps.  The song moves from Floyd to Hooker seamlessly.  Talking earlier on radio all three admitted that they were heavily influenced by Hendrix and bands of that era and genre so it’s no surprise that the material is an exploration of sounds from that period.

The third album and last track, Bring Me Your Love, is even more grand.  Clocking in at nearly 25 minutes it takes up a whole side of vinyl on the record and over 30 minutes tonight.  It’s predominantly instrumental, with more gravel in the lyrics.  The twists and turns in the groove are mesmerising as the audience get lost in it, dancing more and more intensely.  Overall, it’s a big jam but a masterful one at that.  Tonight, is a more grungy version than the ethereal mix on the album (that version has additional vocalists and instruments) but the sentiment and effect are still there.  To get closer to the sound, Ryan switches guitars periodically and even jumps on the keys with James at one point.

The rest of the night is pumped up by songs from the debut Big Nudge Pie and earlier works.  Shorter, more punchy and danceable.  In there is the sublime Drift Upon The Waters and the grungy blues number Come Home and Hit The Hay and a race to the end with Gallop To The Sun which builds like a runaway train at full horse power.  Those lucky enough to catch tonight’s gig will be telling their friends what they missed: a superbly delivered performance by a crazy trio at the height of their powers.  Somehow, I think they should have worn capes and lycra instead of onesies because this was the work of superheroes!

Tim Gruar

 

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