Loves ugly children have risen from the dead to give Auckland music lovers their first show in 27 years.

In fact, the trio has a performance in their hometown of Christchurch at The Go Live Festival on 17 August^thand served as a dress rehearsal for their reunion in Auckland.

Blood bag

The mother ship was accordingly dark and dungeon-like, Blood bag entered the stage. The large trio, led by guitarist/singer Andrew Tolley and actively supported by Matt Rapley (bass) and Sam Rolston (drums) cleared up the dust for a very loud, very noisy opening set of over 30 minutes that roared through the assembled audience like a runaway train.

Loves ugly children

At 9:40 am the three members of Loves ugly children found their way onto the stage…with drummer Jason Youngcomplete with greying beard and hair, behind his kit as Floss Fleury strapped on her bass and Simon MacLaren tested his EFX pedals.

“Can you hear us out there?” he shouted before leading the band through Pointless, a song from their 1994 EP, Cold water surfingThe sound was a bit muddy and the band sounded a bit hesitant.

They revealed all this when they played Voodoo girl, That sounded great. But not before Simon offered the loudly whistling spectator $5 “not to do that again.”

Until then time Voodoo Girl came to an end, there was a festive atmosphere and both the band and the audience had the feeling of being part of something special.

The 15-song set saw the band touch on both albums as well as various EPs and one-offs. We even got a cover of Song to the Siren…I wonder what Tim Buckley would have thought of this version!

Six-pack was another highlight…sounded like a cross between The Stooges And nirvanaCould it be that Loves ugly children were/are New Zealand’s Nirvana?

Something to think about…

I must say, they sounded good… with a smooth transition from Totally depressed To Room set…and they look much better than any 50-year-old grunge rocker has any right to.

“This is the top of the mountain,” Simon explained after Personal world“now we slide down the other side”.

In fact, the last few songs were rather obscure and pleased hardcore fans who had waited almost 30 years to hear them again.

Only an hour after the start, the set ended with I love you dead. Floss was on his knees and the crowd screamed for more.

Do we have to wait another 25 years to see her again?

I don’t believe.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery of Thomas Coffey:

Dear ugly children:

Blood bags:

Loves Ugly Children set list:

1. Pointless
2. Voodoo Girl
3. A shining city
4. Totally depressed
5. Spacesuit
6. Latest product
7. Six-pack
8. Personal world
9. Bleed
10. Falling down
11. Suck
12. Good thing
13. Nothing is true
14. Song to the Siren
15. I love you, dead

Click here to watch the 13th Floor interview with Loves Ugly Children