Gang Of Four, Auckland NZ, 2019

Gang Of Four

12th November 2019
The Tuning Fork, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review and photography by Sarah Kidd.

When Entertainment! was released in 1979, Gang of Four established themselves as a band that wasn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. From the artwork itself to the lyrical content contained within, the group examined everything from love through to social and political concerns across a soundscape of punk that incorporated elements of dance, funk, dub and reggae; the record soon named as one of the most influential in a rapidly growing post-punk movement.

Fast forward to 2019, and Gang of Four has been disassembled and reassembled with updated parts numerous times, the running retort being that they should now be called ‘Gang of One’. While in the literal sense this may be true – guitarist Andy Gill now the only remaining member of the original line-up – in no way does this detract from the music itself, Gill’s distinctive touch still the cornerstone of the music. This was never more evident as Gill stalked onto the darkened stage last night under an aural veil of tribalistic chants and beats, picked up his guitar and let forth a wave of noise that ended with him smashing his instrument to the ground several times; the band taking their cue, the opening notes of ‘(Love like) Anthrax’ flooding the room.

First track out of the gate and Gang of Four made an impression, the bass lines of Glasgow based Thomas McNeice thick and juicy and perfectly balanced across the precision drumming of newest member, Tobias Humble who joined the line-up in 2016. Leaving his guitar abandoned on the cold hard floor, Gill stood before the microphone and began to recite the expressionless monologue that underpins the track itself.

But it was all eyes on lead vocalist John ‘Gaoler’ Sterry, who impossibly embodied the collective personas of Ian Curtis, Smiths era Morrissey and a young Robert Smith simultaneously. With a piercing gaze, a perpetual snarl, and chaos coursing through his limbs that denied his ability to remain still for more than a few seconds he was the yin to Gill’s stoic yang. Making their way through Entertainment! in celebration of its fortieth anniversary, Gang of Four kept the crowd guessing as to what would come next, the album promised to be played in full but not necessarily in order (where would be the fun in that?)

‘Not Great Men’ with a riff that commands the feet to move and Gill’s favourite track from the album as he revealed in a recent interview soon followed, each song delivered with angst ridden aloofness, the band members faces often drifting in and out of shadows courtesy of the backlit stage that was intermittently pierced by a glaring strobe light or blood red haze. Despite their on-point musicianship, the audience remained decidedly detached; perhaps due to the fact it was a Tuesday night or possibly fans projecting their own aloofness; this soon changed as ‘Damaged Goods’ bounded through the speakers, the crowd coming to life within its grasp.

While Gill for the most part held down the right-hand side of the stage, Sterry continued to cover every inch as he worked his way through each of the three microphones, an assortment of instruments including a tambourine and a melodica as well as the album itself. It’s a tough call to perform tracks that you had no part in creating, but that did not stop Sterry from delivering them with a palpable authenticity. Having been with Gang of Four since 2012, Sterry no doubt can both understand and converse with the very nature of the songs themselves, which allows him the room to execute them in his own unique way.

Decidedly English jokes about having either a cup of tea or a few lines of coke, ushered in a midset break, Gang of Four soon returning and continuing as they began, this time the set list comprising of both the old and the new as ‘Why Theory?’ from 1981’s Solid Gold album joined 2015’s ‘Isle of Dogs’ on the dancefloor; ‘I Love a Man in Uniform’ proving to be another big hit with the appreciative Auckland crowd. The politically charged ‘Toreador’ from their latest album ‘Happy Now’ released back in April clearly defining an edge that the band still like to sharpen.

Finishing with ‘To Hell with Poverty’, a sentiment that any fan of Gang of Four could wholeheartedly get behind, the sweat-drenched members collected together for a final deserved bow. For despite what the opposers may say, Gang of Four as an entity are not only still relevant, but true to who they have always been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

Were you there at The Tuning Fork for this brilliant post-punk gig? Or have you seen Gang Of Four perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. (Love Like) Anthrax
2. Return The Gift
3. Not Great Men
4. 5.45
5. Paralysed
6. Glass
7. Natural’s Not In It
8. Damaged Goods
9. Guns Before Butter
10. At Home He’s A Tourist
11. Ether
12. I Found The Essence Rare
13. Why Theory?
14. I Love A Man In Uniform
15. Isle Of Dogs
16. I Parade Myself
17. Toreador
18. What We All Want
19. To Hell With Poverty

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