Melondrone, Finn Johansson & Groopchat at Whammy
Friday 12 July, 2024
Full feature by Hazel de Heer
Photographs by Álvaro Fernández
It was a cloudless and crisp winter night in the streets of the Tāmaki Makaurau CBD. I descended the steps down to the Whammy Backroom and entered a small room drenched in red lighting, waiting with excitement for the performances to come.
First up for the opening act were Groopchat, a three-member rock band from Tāmaki Makaurau. The trio formed in 2023, consisting of Huia (bass/vocals), Aiyana (guitar/vocals), and Teina (drums). Groopchat started the night with a bang, performing five incredible originals, inspired by brit-pop music and 90s punk-rock bands such as ‘Elastica’.
A kick-heavy drum beat shook the room followed by a deep, echoing bass guitar as the band began playing their first song. Then came a loud and gritty electric guitar, stirring the crowd with each chord. The crowd started dancing to the beat, feeling the mood and energy of the music. Groopchat has the kind of sound that makes you want to stomp your feet and chant along with their catchy punk-sounding vocals. After a couple songs the crowd was engrossed, singing along with the catchy chorus: "NOW I KNOW!".
I loved the way Groopchat incorporated spoken-word with haunting, melodic vocals, especially in their fourth song 'Collector'. It worked really well with the psychedelic guitar chords and the busy, crescendoing drum fills that continued to build and build to the climax of the song. Their last was filled with heavy rock guitar, and ended with a smashing drum solo from Teina. Groopchat creates a fresh and exciting sound by drawing from 90s punk, pop, and rock music and adding relatable lyrics. I thoroughly enjoyed Groopchat’s music and it was the perfect energetic opening for Melondrone.
Next was Finn Johansson, a charismatic Pōneke-born artist who's fresh from touring Europe and Australia with his emotion-heavy, devastating lyrics and unique indie guitar tunes. A microphone stand with a wig on top was a humorous stand-in for the bassist Paul, who unfortunately couldn’t be there. Finn's performance took me through a journey with him. His raw, emotional vocals and charming stage presence carried the intense melancholy and heartbreak in his music.
Finn introduced the crowd to the sound of a groovy, bright - and a little crunchy - electric guitar accompanied by his smooth and clear vocals that had the ability to convey a range of emotions with not only lyrics, but the inflection in his voice too. Three quarters through the song we're met with a fast and technical guitar solo. Finn was absolutely shredding on stage, showing off bends, licks and riffs - the guitar crying out with each chord struck. The drummer alternated between on and off-beat patterns, creating a fresh but familiar rhythm. For his last song, Finn invited members of Groopchat onto the stage to chant the lyrics: "How much longer?", and encouraged the crowd to do the same.
Finn Johansson took the audience through a range of emotions with his music, from brash and angry to slow and soft like his song ‘Love Bomb’. Finn’s originality and creativity made him stand-out, and made for a memorable and intriguing performance. The headliner for the night, Melondrone, was spectacular to hear live with their overlapping trance-like instrumental harmonies, gritty guitar solos, and scratchy, reverberating vocals.
The band from Te Whanganui-a-Tara consists of members Daniel Walker Bowell (guitar/vocals), Harris Gebbie (drums), E Morgan Butler (bass), and Chris Hamblin (guitar/feedback). The main vocalist, Daniel, explained that their music represents that feeling when you need a chaotic droning noise to fill up your head (your melon) and drown out your thoughts for a while, hence the name ‘Melondrone’. The crowd found this very relatable.
Melondrone performed songs from their EP ‘Melondrone’, an album packed with reverberating melancholy lyrics alongside distorted and dissonant guitars and synths. I love music that sounds unsettling yet beautiful, and Melondrone nails it. I could feel the oscillating droning of the synth and the distorted and grungy electric guitar vibrate through the floor and into my bones. A wave - no, a tsunami - of dissonant yet harmonious soundwaves filling every inch of the room, harmony layering upon harmony until I felt myself dissolve into the sound. It’s the kind of music that just hits different live. The crowd screamed for the band to play another as Melondrone finished their last song ‘Princess Maja’ (my personal favourite). No one wanted the night to end.
This night at Whammy Bar was incredible, with all three bands shredding the stage. It was amazing to see the intense support for Aotearoa’s amazing musical talent and the people who keep our vibrant indie music scene alive. I'm definitely going to be adding new songs to my playlists, and would urge anyone to see these bands live and check out their music online. As I walked home, I felt the energy of the night still buzzing.
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