Gig Review: Luger Boa @ The Kings Arms, Auckland 12/12/14

An evening of rock entertainment was supplied in spades by three bands on a cool Auckland night at the ole faithful Kings Arms!

I was keen to experience Luger Boa live, I had heard some of their material played on the radio over the last year or two and made a note to one day check them out, the fact that they are now breaking up made it more intriguing. Well after the show my initial thoughts were what a shame they are calling it a day, and as the days go by since I am even more disheartened about the demise of the band. Luger Boa are a band that front up and perform a show full of great songs with remarkable energy and audacity. The group look like a bunch of characters that enjoy their work and are boosted up by the power of their combined creations, they sound and look awesome. Lead vocalist Jimmy Christmas is a supreme and dynamic showman, during the first song he jumped off stage to physically corral the crowd closer to the stage, a shocked but obedient crowd accepted that this was only appropriate and they stayed front and centre the whole show. Jimmy interacted with the crowd and jumped about the stage, while understandably getting very touchy feely with his very well bonded rock brothers. From almost punk thrashing to funked up rock rhythms we were rocked the whole show long and we wanted more, the radio hits Asteroids and Satellites, New Hot Nights and On my Mind sounded awesome and were performed with wonderful accuracy. Guitars and backing vocals were supplied supremely by Johnny Lyon and Sam Lockley, with a treat cameo from visiting guest Ryan Thomas on one number bass, was faithfully and enthusiastically delivered by Simon Nicholls, while Joe Mac on Drums sounded superlatively awesome, and he had a grin on his face that was both charming and infectious.

Understandably the crowd were intently watching and grooving to the bands mesmerising beat and were not in the least offended when the song 400A had the recurring chant of Everyone get fu#ked tonight and equally unfazed when the chant of another was to Funk the Kids, or something like that, oh no, this was a crowd enjoying the ride into rock ecstasy that Lugar Boa was delivering! Later in the show Jimmy jumped from the stage again, this time to strut around on the bar and thrash out a few verses and repeatedly screaming “Hey Luger Boa” while band thrashed psychedelic surges under frantic strobe lights, it was stunning to be in the middle of it. To think it’s not going to happen again, at least not in this capacity, is such a wretched thought.

Earlier we were brilliantly warmed up by two very cool bands, 1^st up was Dead Beat Boys who were young and white hot. These guys are a very energetic 5 some of expressive and aggressive rock! Lead vocalist James was screaming and jumping around, like a coil that was winding up ready to explode, which he did on numerous occasions with full on raspy screaming that had me reaching for a glass of water! They have a great traditional hard rock sound and performed a very impressive version of the Kinks All Day and All of The Night. Guitarists Jono and Milo shared the duties in providing both rhythm and lead which they did with precision and skill, as did the backline with Drums from Ben and Bass from JB, who also provided nice backing vocals. Some songs didn’t finish with perfect timing but each song started in synch and were filled with everything you could want in a rock song, awesome power wrapped around cool melodies with stirring guitar solos and driving drum rolls. I will be keeping an eye and ear on these guys.

Then there was the eclectic and alternative stoner rockers Rackets; three gentlemen who produced weird and wonderful punked up rock compositions. With Hawaiian shirts and hair everywhere, they were as dirty as the Dead Beat Boys were clean. I normally list each member and how well they played their instrument, but Oscar, Vince and Jeremy kept swapping instruments so let’s just say they are a talented lot, and the predominant bass player did most of the singing and was very good, although when he screamed he did make my ears ring!

Wow all this entertainment for $15, what a night of fun and performance, hopefully Jimmy reincarnates a new Luger Boa soon, so we may see it all again someday.