24/5/93

by Mike Houlahan

Friday night was one of those nights when one of the major problems facing the Wellington rock scene - the lack of a good mid-size Venue catering for original music - was starkly brought out.

On her last visit here Jan Hellriegel packed out the intimate confines of Bar Bodega. But where do touring artists and developing acts go to from venues of that size? There's really only the James Cabaret, a venue which severely strains any band's budget, and if you draw a quite respectable 200-300 people as Hellriegel did last night, they tend to rattle around inside the hall, giving the impression there's no one there. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

With a band having to work hard to impress "a small but enthusiastic crowd", to quote Hellriegel, the strengths and weaknesses of the songs and the band really stand out. But no one tours to play to the critics and few others.

The cycle of tour, play, and then anxiously count the heads through the door really is a vicious one. There's a big gap in the market, and hopefully for all concerned someone can plug it.

But to the music, Hellriegel was one of the success stories of last year, with her debut album and singles hitting the top 10. Entering into 1993, multiple successes at the NZ Music Awards have been followed up with a transtasman release for It's My Sin. It has just entered the Australian charts.

So, how did she and her trusty team of hired guns handle a tough night at the end of a tough tour? Pretty well actually. Hellriegel wasn't named songwriter of the year for nothing, and songs like It's My Sin, Dumbfounded, I'm Alive, Thinking and The Way I Feel shone out.

With three guitars and bass up front and the Marshalls in behind, you'd expect a big guitar sound, and indeed Hellriegel's band delivered. Not that she's discovering any well-hidden grunge element to her music, rather adding layers of texture to some carefully crafted pop songs.

Things got a wee bit ragged towards the end, with tuning problems distracting during Waves and the deeply ironic cover of Motorhead's Ace of Spades. But it didn't matter so much - by this stage Hellriegel had done enough to impress.

Maybe when she's back in town again - and with a promotional tour to Australia up soon it'll be a while - Hellriegel will be filling the James Cabaret. She's certainly good enough to have the place hopping.