Regurgitator, Auckland NZ, 2019

Regurgitator

15th March 2019
Whammy! Bar, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Doug Peters.

The 90’s produced both memorable genres and bands, and none more so than Aussie rockers Regurgitator. Formed in 1993 ‘The Gurge’ – as they are affectionately known to their fans – have delivered close to a dozen studio albums and a plethora of hits that are as catchy as they are tongue in cheek. Friday night saw Regurgitator take over Auckland’s beloved Whammy Bar, their set list one that brought together all their hits then sugar-dusted them with a little new material from their latest offering Headroxx.

With Regurgitator scheduled to take the stage at midnight, local bands Brother Sister and Cheshire Grimm warmed up the early arrivals before one of the most magnetic acts currently on the circuit destroyed the stage the only way they can. Cindy – coming fresh off the back of an outstanding set supporting The Garden last week – were once again full of that frenetic energy that makes their shows come alive; vocalist ‘92’ his mic duct taped to his hand, was shirtless and manic as he eyed the audience, mourning the demise of his favourite eatery with the track ‘2 Star Restaurant’.

The witching hour came and went, Regurgitator slipping onto the stage to an appreciative audience who greeted them like long lost friends.

Led by the ever-smiling Quan Yeomans, Regurgitator looked like they were positively fizzing, their elation mirrored and multiplied by the audience. Attending a show by The Gurge is always like going around to a mate’s place with a box of beer and a bong, the impending jam session by the trio guaranteed to leave you with a grin on your face while contemplating the benefits of having a robot man for a friend. The feeling amplified within the intimate walls of Whammy, both parties having just as much fun as the other. With a set list that bordered on perfection in regards to song choice, Quan, Ben Ely and Peter Kostic slapped down ‘Track 1’ as their starting point before declaring to their fans what they will do with certain parts of the human anatomy; ‘I Will Lick Your Arsehole’ seeing the crowd chant the chorus like their new national anthem.

This silliness and ability to poke fun not only at themselves but at the environment around them are one of the reasons that Regurgitator has retained such a loyal following over the last twenty plus years. That and their uncanny ability to fuse together everything from rap to electronica while tying it all up with a funk infused gold ribbon. But most of all it’s The Gurge’s ability to make you feel like you are old friends not only with the band but with every single person in the room. Complete strangers threw their arms around each other as they bellowed chorus lines towards the heavens, small mosh pits broke out where bodies mashed together while simultaneously looking out for one another. Rarely can any band create such an inclusive atmosphere of pure happiness, but to Regurgitator it comes naturally.

Performing a cross section from many of their albums, The Gurge sang of how everything would be alright during ‘Everyday Formula’ while extolling the virtues of a girl made of synthetic resin with the upbeat ‘Polyester Girl’. Sharing vocal duties, Yeomans and Ely traded jokes and anecdotes, a dedication to New Zealand’s own The Mint Chicks coming in the form of ‘Blood and Spunk’ while Kostic continued to pummel the skins for all they were worth.

Over twenty tracks raced by, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, the fans sating themselves with both the music and their own dance moves. Finishing what was easily one the best Gurge sets of recent years, ‘! (The Song Formally Known As)’ once again doused the audience in Prince inspired funk that elated the soul and reminded all just why Regurgitator are still one of Australia’s greatest musical exports.

Were you there at Whammy Bar for this eclectic Aussie act? Or have you seen Regurgitator perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. Track 1
2. I Will Lick Your Arsehole
3. Everyday Formula
4. I Sucked A Lot Of Cock To Get Where I Am
5. Bong In My Eye
6. Light Me On Fire
7. My Friend Robot
8. Roxx For Brains
9. World Of Sleaze
10. I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff
11. I Get The Internet
12. Polyester Girl
13. I Wanna Be A Nudist
14. Pop Porn
15. Not Alone
16. Blubber Boy
17. Black Bugs
18. Party Looks
19. Blood And Spunk
20. Virtual Life
21. Fat Cop
22. Kong Foo Sing
23. ! (The Song Formally Known As)

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