The Mockers – Live At The Powerstation

The Mockers – Live At The Powerstation
(Independent)

Reviewed by Mike Thornton.

It’s a little over a year since the recording of this album from The Mockers, and at that time it had been a full three decades since this group of friends had graced our stages. The love we New Zealanders have for one of our iconic bands is documented beautifully on this CD/DVD release, and there’s little doubt that same love will have been poured forth all over again in the 3-date tour that closes tonight (Sunday 4th March, 2018) in Auckland at the intimate and lovely Tuning Fork at Spark Arena.

As is to be expected of a reunion tour from a band that ceased activity in 1988 “Live At The Powerstation” does not introduce new material, but what it does deliver is a celebration and re-packaging of a full twenty-track collection sampled from each of the three studio albums released in the band’s lifetime. Like 2007’s “Woke up Today: The Definitive Collection” this is essentially a back-catalogue of the band’s finest moments. What makes it something more than “just” a re-presentation of the material, is its vitality, and the sheer joy of live performance evident in the vibrant delivery by the musicians and enthusiastic appreciation by the crowd. The classic 80’s sounds of edgy pop, synth-rich new-wave, punk-influenced staccato beats and a few glimpses of a ska are rendered with love by a re-grouping of a near all-original mockers line-up – Andrew Fagan, Brett Adams, Tim Wedde, Geoff Hayden – joined by Chris O’Connor on drums in place of original drummer Steve Thorpe, to whom the tour of 2017 and this recording also serve as a tribute.

There’s a palpable feeling of camaraderie and nostalgia running as a binding theme throughout this recording – evidently a true labour of love with band members returning from the UK and Australia to reunite and make it happen. And make it happen they certainly do. All the hits are there, and clearly revelled in by a joyous crowd who often don’t just echo front-man Fagan’s words, but completely take over and sing the much-loved lyrics for him – it must have been enormously rewarding for all who took part. It would be easy for the gig to have been a lot shorter, and an emphasis given to a few classics. Instead, all songs are delivered fully, and the some of the better-known and more commercial tracks make an appearance at beginning, middle and end of the set-list / track-list. Every one of the musicians has stand-out moments on this album – the instantly recognisable pipes of Andrew Fagan have not faded one iota, Brett Adam’s brilliant and sparkling guitar and some truly searing solos (stand-out moment in his solo to close out “Take Back Your Tears), the ever-present synth and keyboards (strikingly beautiful, clear, crisp piano in the poetic “A Winter’s Tale”), and it’s all layered upon and inter-woven with driving, consistent work from a tireless and skilful rhythm section – the underpinning on “Shield Yourself” but one example of many right across the set. “Good on ya!” cries Fagan at the end of “Friend Of A Stranger” to raucous cheers. It’s a sentiment that will have been reciprocated by anyone present for the 2018 tour as much as it was for the 2017, or indeed those of the 80’s. Back after so long, and delivering exactly what they are loved for.

Good on ya, indeed!