The Schizophonics
23rd May 2019
Whammy! Bar, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review and photography by Sarah Kidd.
Last night Whammy! was transported back to the heady days of rock n’ roll salvation as The Schizophonics performed the first of eight shows as part of their inaugural New Zealand tour (to be fair, technically their first was an impromptu performance on K’rd, Weds evening much to the delight of passers-by).
Hailing from San Diego husband and wife team Pat and Lety Beers are the heart and soul of The Schizophonics, touring bassist Blake Lindquist joining them on their jaunt around the country.
As the trio arrived on stage just after the hour of ten, regular attendees of the venue would have noted that the Whammy! stage looked decidedly more spacious, two amp stacks and a small drumkit all that could be seen.
The reason why would soon become apparent as Pat Beers delivered a brief introduction before the three piece launched into a fierce rendition of the MC5’s ‘Black to Comm’, a band that Pat – as he discussed in a recent interview with Ambient Light – happens to be particularly fond of. Like a F-5 tornado Pat hurled himself around the stage, arms and legs akimbo, impressively always finding the microphone for the next lyric and never once missing a single chord.
Behind him, Lety was a vision in red, white and blue sequins as she kept perfect time, to her left, Lindquist pulled some decidedly rock god poses of his own on bass.
Songs about ancient Egyptians times and eternal love came in the form of ‘Love A Mummy’, Pat continuing his frenetic pace as his damp locks clung to the side of his face; ‘Nine Miles’ following closely behind in between a quick Paul Stanley impression and discussion of just how good New Zealand meat pies and sausage rolls are.
Currently The Schizophonics latest album is being mixed back in the states, the promise of new music being featured on this tour coming through in the form of a tight little prog number which also happens to be the title of their soon to be released sophomore record; ‘People in the Sky’ received by a crowd who just couldn’t get enough of this outstanding band.
Dedicating one from their first album Land of the Living to a very dear friend, ‘World of our Own’ soon had the fans pogoing on the spot, their enthusiasm and energy only seeming to propel Pat into bigger and better high kicks, splits and spins that would make Little Richard himself proud; ‘Electric’ soon taking fans back to 2017 and the Ooga Booga EP.
In fact, Pat danced so hard that he dislodged the heel of his shoe which went flying off towards the back of the stage, Pat jokingly referring to the incident as the moment ‘he lost his soul’. It seemed the perfect segue however for the official dance-off, something The Schizophonics like to do at every show, the three simple rules that included stamina being upheld by those who participated. Lety declaring a lady in the front row to be victorious as she pointed out that not only had the fan been dancing throughout the show, but she had also included full go-go arms through the entiriety of the dance-off chosen track ‘Move’.
Drenched to the bone Pat showed absolutely no signs of slowing down, swift manoeuvres with his guitar almost looking inhumanely possible as he bounced off the wall before completing some serious twists; once again taking the microphone in hand Pat led the trio through a stonking version of ‘Somethings Gotta Give’.
The finale it seemed came far too quickly, not a single person wanting the magic to end; but The Schizophonics knew how to take it out in style, Pat beginning on stage before disappearing into the crowd where he soon had everyone around him on their knees, a rock n roll medley of ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ and ‘Jenny, Jenny’ swirling around them. This was one of those fabled points in time where the planets align, and a pivotal live show moment occurs; the kind that people will talk about for years to come and others will forever rue missing.
A rare commodity to find in a band these days, but The Schizophonics have it in spades.
Were you there at Whammy! Bar for this electric psychedelic funk rock gig? Or have you seen Schizophonics perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Black To Comm (MC5 Cover)
- Steely Eyed Lady
- Battle Line
- Like A Mummy
- Nine Miles
- People In The Sky
- Streets Of Heaven And Hell
- Red Planet
- World Of Our Own
- Electric
- Unknown
- Move
- Something’s Gotta Give
- Whole Lotta Shakin’ / Jenny Jenny
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