Velvet Tiger has spent literally months putting together this line up of original members of these bands for one night only on Saturday November 17th..


WILD THINGS Roll Call:

CHANTS R&B
The first ever Auckland appearance of the legendary Chants R&B, the Christchurch group whose performances rapidly became the talk of the town at the dimly-lit Stage Door where they were resident for 18 months. Some of the most authentic, powerfully LOUD, rhythm and blues on offer anywhere in the mid 60s, the Chants R&B version of the John Mayall-penned ‘I’m Your Witchdoctor’ is considered perhaps the definitive cut of the song. Collected on Rhino Records’ Nuggets II box set, it was pointed out that the Chants “didn’t so much cover it, but inhabit it…sending it into a dancing ecstasy of guttural shouts and wild paroxysms”.
Chants R&B: Mike Rudd (guitar & harp), Jim Tomlin (guitar), Matt Croke (lead guitar), Trevor Courtney (drums), Martin Forrer (bass).

THE UNDERDOGS
If the NZ establishment thought they had a problem when the Pretty Things from England toured, an even bigger one was homegrown, and ready to get up their noses. With R+B as a framework, and Lou Rawnsley’s fuzzed out guitar bringing an edgy blues, Aucklanders The Underdogs are best remembered for the ‘Sitting In The Rain’ single and their – ahem -- ‘erratic’ behaviour. Performing will be the classic ‘67 line up, of Murray Grindlay (vocals/harp) Neil Edwards (bass), Lou Rawnsley (guitar) and Tony Walton (drums), who together recorded 5 singles, one EP and an LP for Zodiac.

THE PLEAZERS
Relocating to NZ from Australia in mid ‘65 to record for Zodiac records, The Pleazers hit the AK scene with the force of a thunderbolt, tearing things up with their performances at places like the Galaxie and beyond.. The group’s wild demeanour and perceived “immorality” was enough to earn them an NZBC ban. The Pleazers are Shane Hales + Bill Bacon (vocals), Bruce ‘Phantom’ Robinson (lead guitar), Denis Gilmore (drums), Gus Fenwick (bass), Ron Peel (guitar), Peter ‘Bunt’ Newing (guitar),

THE BREAKAWAYS
Hailing from Taranaki but based in Wellington, this hard-edged R&B act started life as Bari and the Breakaways, with Bari leaving early in 1966. This was Midge Marsden’s first group, and boasted lead guitarist Dave Hurley playing the toughest guitar sound around. As HMV recording artists, they issued two LPs of fuzz guitar garage intensity, now highly sought after by collectors of freakbeat esoterica.
Midge Marsden (guitar) Dave Hurley (lead guitar) Bryan Beauchamp (drums), Dave Orams (bass).

PETER NELSON + THE CASTAWAYS
Helmed by the distinct and inimitable voice of Peter Nelson, this Christchurch R+B group moved to Wellington in 1965 and signed to HMV, recording 4 singles – notably, ‘Down In The Mine’. This will be the band’s first ever Auckland appearance!
Peter Nelson (vocals), Doug Petrie (drums), Len Ormsby (guitar), Don Clarkson (bass), Doug Henderson (guitar), Peter Gillette (keys).

THE COMING GENERATION
Featuring two former Gremlins,(Glyn Tucker, & Peter Davies) and a Zark (Larry Killip)
The Gremlins recorded 9 delightful singles for Viscount / Zodiac between 1966-68

GENE PIERSON
Arriving in NZ in late 1967, Gene recorded the psych-pop masterwork ‘Toyland’ for Zodiac, and later, the Tucker Mantz composition ‘I Ain’t No Miracle Worker’ (also recorded by Nuggets stars The Brogues and The Chocolate Watch Band) for Festival. He has not appeared on an Auckland stage since 1968!

RAY COLUMBUS / DAVE RUSSELL / BILLY KRISTIAN
The jokers in the pack: three-fifths of Ray Columbus & the Invaders tackling Ray’s post-Invaders material, and because no line-up existed in NZ, Papakura’s finest The Situations will be backing them for Ray’s most outta control material. Written after he left NZ in 1966 to hook up with a Who-influenced quartet called The Art Collection on America’s West Coast, tunes like fuzz garage piece de resistance ‘Kick Me’, ‘We Want A Beat’, and The Crunch’ showed Ray had no desire to be “NZ’s premier pop star” if that meant slowing down and easing up.
Ray Columbus (vocals/maracas), Billy Kristian (bass), Dave Russell (lead guitar)
Backed by The Situations (from Papakura)


Be warned -- this is no safe nostalgia show. These intense, groundbreaking bands will sonically recreate the heady, sweaty halcyon atmosphere of the kind of clubs found circa 1967 – places like the Galaxie (AK nitespot), The Stage Door (Christchurch), and The Thumpin Tum (Melbourne nitespot). No “new” songs, no concession to the passing of time, and no rose-tinted, misty eyed retro – just pure, unrestrained, maximum R&B, the way the establishment didn’t want it played.