Double Whammy introduces a brand new bag to host musicians and passionate fans, in a country overflowing with under the radar talent.
These semi-legendary subterranean venues of Whammy Bar, Wine Cellar, and Whammy Back Room, go back close to twenty years in origin.
The story starts with Rohan Evans, originally from the Coromandel and one of the homes of Hippies, Bohemians, the Green Party, alternative life stylers and genial freaks in general.
As with many things which start organically (that’s very Coromandel), there was no over-arching plan. Just synchronicity.
Young guy goes to varsity. Orientation Week which became the reductionist O Week. Lots of music gigs from local musicians who are gaining cult followings, including overseas.
He sees The Clean, Straitjacket Fits, Jean-Paul Sartre Experience (Hell is other people), Chris Knox, Otis Mace.
He is over in Berlin, Germany where he experiences the rise of DIY bars. There may be a Donnie Darko worm-hole intervention, when he is not afraid to merge, and sees himself at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg.
Famous for the origins of both the hamburger, and a bunch of scruffy Scousers who fancied themselves, but were living vicariously as Existentialists, or Exi’s. Silver Beatles was a bit of a naff name, though.
Seeds germinate in mysterious ways.
Travelled extensively and worked abroad, as young Kiwi’s traditionally do. Living back in Auckland, and many of us who are passionate about music soon realise there is a dearth of venues. Not large arenas, but small clubs to host fledgling local talent or established minor legends.
The one irreducible aspect of music over the millennia is live performance in a small sweaty armpit, or an open pathway. We were reminded of that when the Lockdown madness descended.
Evans found his way to future Cavern Club of Auckland, under the St Kevin’s Arcade stair.
I had been going there for years, to track down second-hand vinyl at the Record Warehouse upstairs. The owners there went on to establish Real Groovy Records.
Sub-basement cellar space became the first incarnation of the Wine Cellar, modelled on the Izakaya bars of Tokyo.
It was a group of Jazzbos who broke the ice to perform music there. Naturally.
Because the Wine Cellar took a meandering journey after taking root and flowering slowly, it assured its longevity. It did not boom and bust.
The bar came to include the alley way adjacent. More rooms were leased. The Wine Cellar occupied the space next to the bar.
Success breeds. More rooms. The Whammy Bar with its trademark huge support pole in the middle of the stage. Has a cult status with Punk and post-Punk bands from abroad.
The Whammy Back Room completed the triumvirate.
There are annual festivals now including all three rooms and a good cluster of acts. The limited space makes it feel like a genuine one.
I have been attending concerts here since 2011. When I had a career change imposed on me, and I suddenly had time on my hands to pursue my long-standing obsessive-compulsive love of popular (and semi-popular) music.
These venues embraced and welcomed all. Too many artists to even attempt to cover. Wax Chattels, Carnivorous Plant Society, Trioglodyte, Delaney Davidson, Jackie Bristow, Vitamin S, Pheeroan Aklaff, Okilly Dokillys (Ned Flanders Metal), Shonen Knife, Dick Move.
Lucy Macrae, the bass player from Dick Move, became part of the ownership team in recent years.
The band is playing, of course, along with Dbldbl, Na Noise, Filth, Grecco and Romank.
We are all intrigued to see what the refurbished and re-imagined Double Whammy will bring.
Rev. Orange Peel
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