A new bench mark has been firmly cemented within the walls of The Penguin Club. Those attending the gig were witness to the creative genius and sublime musicianship of a band whose magic carpet ride carried those people to lands they never expected to see. Eight bars into their opening number I saw looking down from the sound room a psychedelic ‘ WOW’ rising from the 80 odd people attending. As their set progressed that wow gathered colours and forms as the band drew the crowd into their unique groove. Unique is the only label of genre I can give this band. There were tastes of Hendrix in the soaring guitar…The boogie groove of John Lee Hooker…In fact I can only understate this bands easy ability to harvest the entire spectrum of world music of the last 40 years and make it their own great Kiwi music.

           
       " Let me tell you a story "                                          Rick in a roll

                  
               Tom caresses Bessie                          We never saw the whites of Joes eyes

I’ll stand by my belief that their show has been the best production ever witnessed at The Penguin Club. The Little Bushmans’ package was wrapped and delivered to us in the slickest and most professional manner by their soundman Tony Sheard obviously passionate of his craft and is one with the band. The aural package was visually enhanced by their lighting nerd ! Rob Larsen with a superb subtlety and/or explosive colouring that painted the walls of our little venue with the sounds of the band. Warren Maxwell on lead vocals, Rhodes keyboard and guitar sang us songs of Aotearoa…the people and places that hold a special place in his huge soul. The crowd pressing toward the stage as one to soak up every word. Joe Callwood on lead guitar drove the message home with classic rock riffs or noodled around Warrens poetry with his own soulful comments. The bottom end of this band, Rick Cranson on drums was the solid raft for our journey. His impeccable timings woven together with the organic double bass of Tom Callwood allowed the “ feel “ of the band to be clearly expressed. This to my mind is the essence of The Little Bushman. All skilled in their craft it is the synergy of their talents and their individual feel that makes them a truly great Kiwi band. Little Bushman… we thank you for sharing with us your spirit and gifting us a night to be treasured for years to come.

Wazza… I’m a hard man to please… You’ve blown my philosophy “ If it cant be said in 12 barrs it aint worth saying “ right out of the whare !!!

The 11th of July saw The Blueshoundz on Stage at the Penguin Club for the first time. The band had billed themselves as “into the style of the 60s ~ 70s British Rock Blues Original gritty blues from a tight four piece playing for the hell of it” and did not disappoint. They were surprisingly tight for a band that has been together for three practices and performing only their second gig. This is due to the combined skill and experience of the band members, with three of the four being old enough to remember the 60s, (even if through a haze) and having had extensive musical careers. Up front and larger than life was Maurice Sammons on lead guitar and vocals, showing extreme skill in both areas. His riffs and lead were varied and executed with a clean precision. The interplay between the guitar and harp was something to be enjoyed. Pat Trembeth tucked in behind the lead providing brilliant touches of colour that fattened out the sound and extensive lead breaks that gave an authentic dynamic. At one stage there was a sustained copy-cat competition between the guitar lead and harp where the gauntlet was laid down in an excellent impromptu jam. The balance, volume wise, was not always perfect but this would be easily remedied by putting someone on the sound-desk. While it wasn’t a perfect performance as there were moments of untidiness around some endings and the occasional mishap, it was nothing that won’t disappear with more time together.

On fretless bass was Pete Richardson, who along with Gregg Hussey on drums provided a solid platform for the music. Pete has had a strong background in Jazz and made easy work of laying down the bass lines. Gregg’s background is in Punk. Interestingly, Greg has just come back to drumming after a long absence, and brings a full and busy sound to the band. He did amazingly well considering this. The band had the ability to work across a wide range of feels and at times put their own spin on tunes; eg remixing old favourites such as “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” as a reggae number and “Summertime” as a blues. They were fun to watch as they were warm and knew how to please a crowd, from the light- hearted banter to the lead breaks. They had a really good communication vibe going within the band allowing each other to take risks and yet keeping everyone on track. They were a band that weren’t afraid of space in their music, and avoided the pitfall of everyone at full noise all the time. I particularly enjoyed the tour of the guitar effects pedal and hearing some old and some new sounds. I also enjoyed Pat’s Solo performance of “Elevator Woman” and marveled at the amount of hot air Pat could generate on the trot. The fact they were really enjoying themselves made it a fun night. I had the feeling they would have rocked their hearts out even if there was no-one there to watch. They were obviously enjoying the new dynamics in the band and being able to let loose in their preferred genre. It was about the music. I look forward to hearing them in six months time to see how time playing together adds to the already great sound. Thanks for a great night. I’ll be front and centre next time they are out on stage.

Gary Shirley

INTERGRACIA, OSMIUM & SPECIAL NEADZ Thursday 9th July

On a cold winters night three loud, solid rock bands arrived in the small, sleepy town of Oamaru. They then proceeded to awaken the residents with a barrage of loud, in-your face rock. Up first was local band Special Neadz. Having seen these boys at many previous gigs, I was looking forward to hearing them yet again. From the moment they opened the show they had a crowd on the dance floor and left me nothing to do except stand and listen to their heavily distorted guitars. Next on stage was Osmium. I have heard these boys at several previous gigs and knew what I was in for. These Invercargill boys played some very hard, very heavy songs that had everyone head-banging along. Finally everyone heard what they came to hear: Intergracia. These Wellington boys made sure the head-banging kept going and making punters necks get more sore at the same time. These boys played some very dirty, very dark metal and the new PA just made them sound even meaner. Josh Normington

It is not a night for hiding, for hibernating. No, with the vibrant moon just beginning its descent into darkness, with a chill in the air,it is a night for wandering into the wilderness, drawn by the sweet searing sound of music to embrace the torture in our withered souls. So come with me, my fellow dark-hearted darlings, let the music guide you to the Penguin Club where, for this night at least, you can revel with like-minded deviants, enjoying that which the common people could not hope to understand. These first hardy souls on stage, Special Neadz, hailing from Oamaru itself, inflict themselves upon the appreciative crowd with their venomous lyrics and their infective riffs. The audience responds enthusiastically, letting the angst of the music wash over them, uplifting them. But all too soon, it is over. Wait, my darlings, don’t disappear into the night quite yet.Osmium are taking to the stage, returning to Oamaru yet again to court us with their blistering music, scouring us rawand transforming us, teasing us with new music, leaving the crowd hanging,wanting more, needing more. . . It is up to Intergracia, in whose name we have gathered, to give us our final gratification. Beautiful, melodic music wafts out to greet us, before bursting into its full fury, taking us by surprise with their energy. These bright young creatures sweep us along, weaving their dark music upon us – and then, oh too soon it is over. Wander back out into the night, hold the sweet music close to your tortured hearts and wait, for the music will return if enough of us want it, need it, embrace it . . . Sharmaine Ford

                

There were four bands with strong personal connections to Oamaru and The Penguin Club; all playing original music their own flamboyant
styles. A full house of very happy people immersed in their offerings pumping out clear and loud from our new in-house P.A. Yeah.... this is
what the Club is all about. The Du Cats Kit opened the evenings entertainment. Soon to release their debut E.P. they brazenly
showed us the slick band they have evolved into over the last year yet keeping the faith with their own music. They gave us high energy rock
with a natural tongue in cheek stage presents. Next up we had Special Neadz who managed to install their quad boxes on stage and lined
up to drown the crowd  with their dark and menacing brand of rock. They were dirty and we heard every growl wrenched from their guitars.

                                

On the last leg of their nation wide tour Made in China errupted next. Their performance was of passion and a down home rock style.
The stage became their theatre and by their smiles they were getting off on sharing their music with the animated crowd with their
own unique flavour of Kiwi hard rock. A surprising addition to the nights line up was Osmium, slightly depleted but a severely tight three 
piece. Screaming licks and barrel bottom chords woven around franticly expanding bass lines topped off the night for a very appreciative crowd.

                                

 Live original music continues to thrive at the Club and will continue to do so. Poor facsimile bands can be heard at the pubs where their music will not cause the punters to stop in the consumption of the addictive depressant drug of their choice or be an annoying invasion of their conversation.
KIWI MUSIC ROCKS and it rocks hardest at The Penguin Club..... and aint we glad about it.