A summer to love: Jason Singh, Dragon, 1927.
Twin Towns, 3rd February 2023.
It wasn’t long after arrival at Twin Towns, that I realised I wasn’t the only music fanatic in the audience.
Often thought radio had it wrong by not playing enough of my favourites, it was comforting that a Showroom full of patrons thought the same. Even hit after hit, across the years, certain groups’ names dominated others unfairly in their grab for media attention.
Tonight, were 3 groups’ opportunity to nail it once and for all. Be influential, intimate and entertaining.
For Jason Singh, it’s been a thought-provoking Taxiride to a destination of celebrated music. He, solo, played tracks like “Get Set” and “Creepin’ Up Slowly”.
Jason, no stranger to hard slog and eventual success, shared the result from a boy listening to Elvis, the Beatles, Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Confident voice, powerful in delivery. Audience were super involved.
Next up was Dragon – the name is Iconic. The songs were made in the summers of the ‘70’s and delivered via this NZ band, permanently bolted onto our cultural framework. Classics such as “Are You Old Enough”, “Still in Love” and of course “April Sun in Cuba” (it’s about 29.5C, if you were wondering)
Since 2006, they have played almost 900 shows and close to 13,000 songs. You can hear why – they’re loud, tight and excited. They love their audience – Yeah guys, the feeling is mutual.
Backstory: in 1987, “1927” was formed. Allegedly the name drawn from a hat after the oft quoted: “I haven’t done that since 1927”. The original talent pool included a writer of Moving Pictures’ 1981 hit “What About Me?” That’s stuck in your head right now, isn’t it?
So with top-gun tunes like “That’s When I Think of You”, “If I Could”, “Compulsory Hero” and “Tell Me a Story”, this is where I wanted to be tonight.
Immersed in rock / pop history, reassured they’re going to be around for decades to come. I was right first time, this is d@mn good music.
Reviewed by 101FM Radio Presenter Stu Robertson
Photography by Michelle Cop (MC Photography)
