Future City Festival, Day 1

R E V I E W
Future City Festival, Day 1
by Ian Duggan
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Day 1 of the Future City Festival is over, and Day 2 is not long off beginning. Day 1 started with Halcyon Birds and Dynamo Dave, though due to home responsibilities I only got to Nivara Lounge in time for hip hop artist Dbldbl. But what a great introduction to the festival I got! Being ‘nerdcore’ in appearance, wearing an X-Files t-shirt and oversized glasses, gave me no hints to the high quality of this guy’s style and delivery. A totally enjoyable first taste of Dbldbl, and of the festival, for me. Next it was across to Creative Waikato for The Biscuits. A tad behind on getting started, guitarist and front-person Indira Neville announced, “Brenda’s on the loo”. Shortly after the audible flush, second guitarist Brenda made her appearance, and the band started a stonking set full of some beautiful, noisy guitar sounds. Great stuff!

With both venues feeling pretty warm, the short walks between the two venues provided regular cool breaks, allowing not only a breather but conversations with other punters and band members. Rather than being any kind of hassle, it seems everyone enjoyed these migrations, and that it really added to the overall experience.​

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So back then to Nivara Lounge for Ancient Tapes. Since their last appearance, the Tapes have added Cam Reid on drums, providing not only a greater volume, but a greater intensity and sense of purpose to their set. I would rate this as their best performance since reformation, and I can’t wait to see how the band evolves from here. Across to Creative Waikato again, Threat.Meet.Protocol were the first band to get some proper stage encroachment for the night. Equally synth-driven, bass-driven and keyboards-driven, their 3-piece noisy pop was infectious. It was also quite mad; the lead singer made his cries of insanity throughout, with lyrics including “I’ll be watching you with one eye opened” repeated over and over. The keyboardist bashed the noise out of his instrument. Only the drummer had any semblance of sanity, and it appeared like he was perhaps taking the other members out for a day trip from the institution. An unexpected highlight of Day 1, for me. The night ended with a solid Carb on Carb set, and everything you would expect from the hardcore outfit Wizz Kids and the surf-music of The Hollow Grinders. Overall, a great Day 1, everyone went home happy, and I’m looking forward to what Day 2 brings!  ​​

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