Review: Revolver, Brutally Frank, Jackpoint @ The Dogs Bollix, Friday 23rd June 2006

I sauntered/staggered in to The Dogs Bollix to watch this show, and wasn’t disappointed. Not quite a packed house but a bloody decent showing for a Friday night when both The WBC and The Bleeders where playing in the same neighbourhood!

Jackpoint, not much of a stage show but what a sound, epic five minute anthems crossed with hard hitting 3 minute dittys. Excellent rhythm section, especially the drummer, who really made the show for me. They reminded of early Idlewild actually, and at times like Radiohead on steroids. A good current sound, although there where sketchier moments from time to time with vocals and tightness.

Brutally Frank were superb – one of the most explosive live acts I have ever seen in NZ. These guys “bring it” every time they play and this show was no exception. With their roots in hard rock, Brutally Frank show influences from Pearl Jam to Tool to Rage Against The Machine with hints of some of those bands more funkier counterparts. Quite a diverse sound. Lots of shades of light and dark in their music, and all delivered with a high energy stage show. I recommend catching Brutally Frank at their next gig with Redline on July 7th at Hysteria because as far as NZ Rock goes, you wont find better than Brutally Frank.

Revolver were very good. With a sound reminiscient of the Black Crowes, The Have, and dare I say it a rockier Lenny Kravitz, these guys are making the most of the current rock and roll phase, both in sound and appearance. They engage the crowd and had people on the floor from the first song, having the dancier groove of the three bands. Revolver have just finished recording their debut album and it shows, they are extremely tight and are one of the few bands I have seen who jam out the end of their songs , they have a great dynamic in that sense. If would have been nice to have seen some more variation in their set, however, a band like this could pull off some great ballads. All in all Revolver are an above average band, put them on your must see list.