The Livids: High Heeled
By Stephanie Gray
Like the hot-pink stilettos on the cover of their latest album, The Livids’ songs strut with the ease of Mick Jagger out walking the dog, or Joan Jett off to the dairy. The title track epitomises the sound The Livids have grown into, with three guitars licking honest rock and roll into compelling, danceable songs. It’s been 10 years since the four-piece recorded ‘Oroua Downs’, an enduring album influenced by early ‘90s Flying Nun bands and named after the band’s Manawatu hometown. That was followed by a vinyl release and the band’s opening gig at the ‘97 BDO. Then, at the tender ages of 21 and under, The Livids stepped off stage and went their separate ways until a 2005 reunion in London where they rocked a pub full of shocked ex-pats the day after the subway bombings. Andrew Carey, Waka Harris, Regan and Sean O’Brien found they still had it and came home to feed the flame with gigs and rehearsals leading to the release of this album. Stand-out tracks are Champagne with its leggy pace and lyrics and Wakawhitu - a smoother, sexier re-make of ‘Oroua Downs’ track 7 Lost Ships.
Related Information
