Polish Club – Whammy! Bar June 30, 2017

 

Australian duo Polish Club performed their first overseas show last night after crossing The Tasman to play at Auckland’s Whammy Bar. A small, but enthusiastic crowd was there to greet them.

Polish Club consists of drummer John-Henry and guitarist/vocalist Novak. Yes, it’s another 2-man rock duo, and sorry bass players, but they seem to do just fine without one.

The band has been getting some attention in their homeland thanks to their recently-released debut album, Alright Already and a cover of Flume’s Never Be Like You, recorded for Triple J’s Like A Version series.

The dynamic duo hit the stage just after 11pm and tore through a 50-minte set. Having been enjoying Tony Daunt & The Dauntless next door at The Wine Cellar, I may have missed the opening song, which most likely would have been Where U Been, and instead caught them midway through My House.

Most of the band’s repertoire is made up of short, catchy punk-flavoured tunes. But just when you think you know what’s coming next, they throw in a slower, more soulful song such as If It Was Me or the 50s-style doo-wop ballad Don’t Fuck Me Over.

It’s then you realize what sets Polish Club apart from other guitar/drum rock duos…its Novak’s impressive voice that can really express itself.

That became extremely evident during the closing song, the band’s current single Divided, a slow-burner that built up to a magnificent emotive vocal performance by Novak.

It was clear that the two Aussies where enjoying themselves along the way. They thrilled to be playing overseas and noted that they had been in Auckland a couple of days, with Novak telling the crowd that among other things he had learned that Aucklanders loved Burger King.

A bit later the band offered up a choice of two covers…either one by The Strokes or Weezer. Weezer was the clear favourite and we were treated to Undone (The Sweater Song).

By the end Novak admitted, “I think we might be drunk”. No matter, both band and crowd had a rockin’ good time.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Ivan Karczewski:

Polish Club set list:

1. Where U Been?
2. My House
3. Did Somebody Tell Me
4. Beat Up
5. If It Was Me
6. Broke
7. Don’t Fuck Me Over
8. Shark Attack!
9. Beeping
10. Undone (The Sweater Song)
11. Come Party
12. Never Be Like You
13. Able
14. Divided