Homegrown Highlights 09

I go by the name, Miss NZ. Not in the beauty pageant kind of way that you’re most likely thinking, but for my fondness of our country’s diverse musical talent. I love it, so it only makes sense that I’d head down to Wellington’s waterfront for the second homegrown festival to see what some of New Zealand’s more popular acts have been working on over the year just gone. With names like The Black Seeds, Fur Patrol, Tiki and Supergroove, it’s easy to see how the event was a sell-out again, so here’s hoping this becomes an annual treat for the capital.

Starting off the freezing cold day at the Indie stage with a few other early birds, Auckland’s Brain Slaves put on a wicked show that should have packed out the venue. Instead I think I’d be pushing it to say that a hundred people turned up. Last year we saw the lads grace the stage as The Coshercot Honeys who played all of their tracks off their EP, We’re All Lions. I must say I’m rather dissapointed with the name change, but their new material makes up for that. Songs like Die For Me and Dancing Queen were beautifully performed and are one’s I’m looking forward to hearing more of in the future. Chuckling their way through White Roses made the kids up the front do the same. It sounds ridiculous to say, but I think that moment may have just been by favourite of the entire day! Well, that and watching front-man Sasha Carlson scream erratically in the much-loved 2007 hit, We’re All Lions.

Seeing as I spent most of my time at the Indie stage last year I decided that this time I’d give the other areas a whack. The evening there consisted of Dimmer, Weta and Head Like A Hole, which didn’t really appeal anyway, so this was a plan that I was happy to stick with.
I’ve seen Streetwise Scarlet a few times last year and wasn’t very impressed, but curiosity got the better of me, so the Rock Stage was my next stop. Again, the guys had nothing special to offer, playing through their songs like every other time, with little enthusiasm or excitement across their dull and rather tired faces. It looked as though the crowd seemed to feel similar coz’ I didn’t see too many hands in the air. Even for their ‘C4 song’, Let’s Go.

Luckily Bang Bang Eche had more than enough treats on offer to get my dancing shoes on which were to last for the rest of the day. These kids are full of beans and produce some awesome tunes that make it impossible not to fall in love with them. I’d have to say my favourite song of their set was 4 To The Floor which saw the crowd leaping up and down for more, while front man Zach Doney threw himself around the stage with his free flowing locks in his face. There’s never a dull moment watching these kids who play off the energy of the crowd which was constantly growing in size as their set went on.
Having not seen them before, I can now safely say that I’m quite the fan of these youngsters who we can proudly call our own.
Nice work kids!

Heading back to the Rock stage for some pop that everyone knows, it was time for one of the happiest bands on earth, Elemenop. Having seen them plenty of times before, I was kind of looking forward to seeing something new from the group who have now been around for six years. Nothing had really changed since I last saw them in the middle of last year, but it was nice to have a sit down and enjoy some familiar tunes from the popular kiwi icons. Opening with bag pipers, made me wonder what we were actually celebrating while the Scottish couple next to me joked about ‘not being able to get away from the damn things’. Thank goodness it wasn’t long before they got into a song everyone could sing along to, Nirvana, which was followed by more radio hits like Pay For It and Verona.

One of the acts of the day I was most looking forward to was The Checks. They seem to get better every time I see them, and Homegrown was no exception. These lads are huge, and it’s easy to see how they manage to draw in a massive crowd of both the guys and the gals. Personally I think they should have been on the Rock Stage seeing that they have opened for the likes of Oasis and Muse in the past, but still it was nice to have the intimate feel that the Indie stage brings. Blasting out their newer tunes which are to grace their album due out in June, they got the crowd going before heading into some of their well known songs – Take Me There and Terribly Easy. Ed Knowles charmed the ladies with his sexy eyes and beautiful manners thanking everyone for coming along. Ooooh these guys are hot, and most definitely going places!

The Black Seeds had already started by the time we got to the Dub stage, but after a wicked performance by The Checks, I wasn’t too upset. We were there in time to hear the popular band play some of their newer hits like Slingshot and Make A Move which was a nice change to their usual stuff that I’ve heard a few times over now. Standing right at the back of the tent, this short ass couldn’t see a thing – shame, I do quite like to watch DJ Mike Fabulous get into the music so intensely. Cool Me Down was one of the last tunes the guys performed, which I reckon should’ve been re-named Warm Me Up. At this point in the evening it was freezing and we were just about ready for a cup of tea, some grand dad slippers and a knitted blanket!

Kora was next on the list, and to be honest, I think they were next on most people’s because the Dub tent didn’t seem to thin out. If anything, it probably got even more packed out as my friend and I found ourselves dancing against the rubbish bins for the most part of the show, but man am I glad we stayed! I’ve heard only good things about this band, so it only seemed right to choose them over other favourites State Of Mind and C4 cutie Nick D. The crowd danced up a storm to favourites off their self titled album and even though I didn’t recognise the music, I loved every minute of it and I can now say I’m a fan and am ready to get my running shoes on to race out and grab a copy of their popular disc to add to my collection.

Catching the end of Blindspott at the TSB Bank Arena before Supergroove took to the stage was a mistake for this little lady, I’m telling ya’. Those guys have always pissed me off, and hearing them talk in between songs made my feelings of hatred grow even stronger. Don’t get me wrong, they’re a talented bunch and I won’t lie, they did a damn good job of getting the crowd hyped up for Flex – so good that I even found myself singing along. But by the time they finished their efforts were quickly undone by calling the crowd ‘scumbags’ and the likes. Charming. I guess their fans must like being treated like pieces of shit...
I’m just glad this was only a reunion show, or whatever the hell they named it.

After an intermission that was long enough to fade my anger, Supergroove were ready to put on a show not only for the fans of their music, but the inner child in us all. Watching vocalist Karl Steven trip around the stage made me wonder if they ever went away in the first place? Or maybe he’s been secretly dancing over the past however many years to keep his fitness, because lets be honest, even though you it doesn’t show, he is getting on. The lads sung crowd favourites Can’t Get Enough, Sitting Inside My head, and we were even treated to a beautiful version of Che’ Fu’s Fade Away. Wicked! Another un-expected treat came towards the end of their set when pop cuties Elemenop hopped on stage to finish with You Freak Me and Scorpio Girls. Dave Gibson looked a little uncomfortable at first with all the action going on around him, but that was soon replaced by his excitement.

Apparently this set could have been the last for the old-timers, as we were informed that they had no more dates on the ‘Supergroove calendar’.
Somehow I don’t think that’ll be the case, with the amount of people they drew in but I guess time will tell. If we’re lucky maybe we’ll see them again at the waterfront for another event like this one.
All in all homegrown proved a huge success once again, and man am I pleased it didn’t rain! How can you ever expect to win a beauty pageant looking like a drowned rat?

Amanda Ratcliffe

Visit www.myspace.com/i_love_nz for more of my reviews like this.

• The Black Seeds
• Brain Slaves
• The Checks
• Coshercot honeys
• Dimmer
• Head Like A Hole
• Kora
• Streetwise Scarlet
• Supergroove
• Tiki Taane
• Weta

• Lucy Lawless and Friends
• Tim Ripper Owens
• Inquisition (US), Vassafor, Anno Domini Mortus, Winter Deluge
• The Gunslinger's Ball
• Terror