The Pro-Drag All-stars, the Bloody Souls and Cortina - Barbaric, 2/8/2002

Wow!!!!! I am the Pro-Drag All-stars biggest fucking fan!!!!! I had never seen them before and they were amazing. I don't think I have been this moved by a band in a long long time. Matt Alien & Andrew Tolley were excited and raving about them all week so I was kind of prepared but they still blew me away.

If you have ever checked out Gone and liked our shit listen to me. These guys are great. Travel to Palmerston North next weekend and watch them.

US record executives fighting over the Datsuns take note. Please send an ounce of Cocaine and half a dozen of Auckland's most expensive hookers to the following address and I'll see if I can find their contact details for you.

The show was at BarBaric which is a new old venue here in Auckland. It's in High street and used to be the old Bobs bar apparently. The venue was pretty cool and made a nice change but I have to say that if they want to be a serious venue they should get a better PA cause that one is shite.

I am not that comfortable with the term 'garage rock' to describe a certain kind of high energy lo-fi rock and roll that we know and love. If I must then I have to say I haven't been this moved by a 'garage' band since I first saw the Hi-Tone Destroyers all those years ago.

These guys have got it and you could tell everything is being done for all the right reasons. No pretensions, no dollar signs in the eyes and no bullshit either.

The Pro-Drags are just plain having a ball. You must see them. This is dirty rock and roll at it's finest. World class dirty arsed rock.

Dylan and Aidan have their own super lo-fi tape label called 'Stink Magnetic', based in Palmy North. Look out for that cause no one else will tell you about it..

All I remember is I loved every song and they did a cover of 'Donna' by Richie Valens. Oh yeah there was a 'party' song which was the coolest 'party' song I have heard since that Irish Rovers one in the seventies.

I wasn't really even going to drink but once I heard the Pro-Drags I just had to get hammered. The Pro-Drags rule.

They were on tour with fellow Palmy cats 'Cortina'. Cortina were real cool too. They are a crazy crazy new wave band consisting of a female vocalist, guitarist/keys, bass player and drum machine.

Cortina were good at Barbaric but both bands played again at the misfit theatre on Great North Rd the next afternoon. I probably enjoyed Cortina more the second time around. Bec did an amazing cover of Sharon O'Neils 1982 hit 'Maxine'. Check them out if you get the chance.

Oh yeah the Pro-Drags did a cover of Guns'n'Roses 'Paradise City' at the Misfit Theatre on the Saturday. It was awesome, they got Cain up to sing and he did a mighty fine job too. Cain is kind of like the self appointed Palmy North Rock&Roll ambassador here in Auckland.

Anyhow I better go have some spots before I straighten out.