Fur Patrol at Double Whammy
Friday 6 September 2024
Full feature by Evie Richardson
As Tāmaki Makaurau is graced by yet another muggy, wet evening, I excitedly zig-zag my way across Karangahape Rd and stumble down the steps of St Kevins arcade. It’s a typical Saturday night.
Except when I reach the doors of my favourite haunt, The Wine Cellar, I’m met with a new sight - Double Whammy. It’s ironic, a new era, when I’m about to spend a night two decades in the past.
20 years on from a flurry of success, Fur Patrol are set to grace the stage once again - hitting the eclectic mixture of Lyttleton, Nelson and of course, Tāmaki Makaurau, for a three night hit of excitement and nostalgia.
There’s a buzz as soon as I step through Double Whammy’s doors. A cozy crowd of rockers, most double (or triple) my age, fill the bar. Armed with craft beers and 90s band tees, the crowd eagerly swarm the door. A slight lull of panic that the doors are still closed begins to set in around five past eight. It’s evident the crowd is more punctual than most of K Rd’s regular gig goers. But they soon fling open and the loyal fans trudge inside.
I drag my flatmate to the front of the crowd, an easy job considering most people hang back sheepishly, tentative about showing their excitement. The assortment of classic band tees dotted around us includes Bikini Kill and Megadeth. But before this audience is thrown back into the world of 90’s rock, something a little softer is set to take the stage.
Tom Lark struts onto the stage, geared up to open the show. He shuffles up towards the mic, dons a deadpan stare out into the depths of the audience, and hits the first heavy strum on his guitar. After a seven year hiatus, Tom Lark released his album, Brave Star, pretty much bang on a year ago. He performs with a feeling of seven years worth of energy and persona bottled up and begging to be released. It’s captivating.
I’m intrigued by this captivation, as he spends much of his performance avoiding eye contact with the crowd, uttering an slightly unconvincing “it’s so nice to play here!” with his eyes glued to the floor. But the seamless delivery of his psychedelic folk tunes are enough to charm the ear. After he kicks off his set with his newest single, Dumb Luck, followed by the title track of his album Brave Star he announces “we’re coming to the rock n roll portion of the set… so brace yourselves”.
This section kicks off with Radio Blaster, a spacey, melancholic tune that features that most insane guitar solo, largely due to Lark completely shredding an acoustic classical guitar, something I wasn’t sure was possible. He continues with an unreleased tune aptly titled ‘Rock n Roll’. After these two quite drawling tunes Larks drummer pipes up with exactly what I’m thinking, “Have you ever heard a rock n roll section where the tempo goes down?”
The rest of the set hosts a sprinkling of harmonica solos (a personal favourite of mine), and a lot of killer pouts from Lark. Despite their initial tentative nature by the end of the set the crowd is slowly swaying in time to the music, and while it may seem a small show of enthusiasm, it’s clear this is a high form of appreciation from this group.
Now the energy in the room is building rapidly, the gaps across the floor have closed, the room is packed with little wiggle room. My flatmate squeezes through with an aim to arm herself with another pinot gris. On her return tells me in a flurry she’s met someone who lived in this very venue 20 years ago. It’s clear tonight is a hot serving of nostalgia for all.
The lights turn red and the volume in the room begins to simmer. You can feel the anticipation. Drummer Simon Braxton emerges, drumsticks poking out his back pocket and a heavy clutch on two coronas. After depositing the drinks in prime sipping position Braxton slips backstage. The anticipation climbs until it’s suddenly shattered by Julia Deans bounding onto the stage. She dons herself with a fire engine red Fender (I’ve never been more jealous) and instantly breaks into the most insane guitar riffs. The loyal audience is beyond captivated.
After a brief and charming introduction the band launches into Andrew, a classic hit. Somehow, 20 years later and live, they sound just as polished, if not better than on the record. All three members deliver their performances with passion and a clear two decades worth of skill, but it’s Julia Deans that really takes command.
She prances around in her cream leather boots, which she later tells me are the very pair she wore in the 2001 Andrew music video, film on Karangahape Rd! As the glorious boots make an appearance on the iconic street once again it feels as though I’m watching a band at their peak. Their energy oozes into the audience and by the third song the crowd well and truly has their groove on.
Despite this, it’s clear they have some experience behind them. They seriously know how to shred bass and guitar. It vibrates through your body, leaving you fully immersed in the music. As they play, time stands still and it doesn’t matter if it’s 2004 or 2024.
They pummel through their set, perfectly executing hit after hit, all while joking and jiving with the crowd. Despite rock hits being their forte, for me Hauling Me Around was a clear stand. One of their few more mellow tunes, it truly hauls the audience in and keeps them hooked.
Of course, Lydia is the tune of the night. There isn’t a single mouth shut as the iconic chorus blasts through Double Whammy.
After losing a few guitar picks to the black carpet and barrelling her way through a gloriously nostalgia filled set, Julia Deans retreats from the stage. The energy in the room however continues to buzz. The crowd pours out completely rejuvenated, telling tales of their youth and the last time they saw Deans deliver such a punchy performance.
Despite being the youngest in the room by about 20 years my flatmate and I ride out on the same wave of sentimental exhilaration. It may have been the wine or perhaps I was dazed by Julia Deans’ shimmering jumpsuit, but I sustain that I had just witnessed one of the most wonderful gigs I’d ever seen.
Surpassing the constraints of time and trend, 20 years on from kicking down doors of Aotearoa’s music scene, Fur Patrol most definitely still have it.
95bFM 
