It was a typically arctic night, as just over a thousand scarfies flooded into the Union Hall for OUSA’s Spring Break event on the Thursday of Re-O week.
The event was touted by OUSA as an act of solidarity; a collective ‘fuck you’ to winter. They couldn’t have timed it any better. A demonic storm system had only just drifted northwards over Dunedin, leaving the city as an gelid, sodden, nightmare.
“Basically it’s a Re-Orientation party that’s all about the big things. It’s the middle of winter, everyone is dying a slow, cold death”, explained OUSA events organiser Luke Matsopoulos. “So we decided,why not put a spring break party on? Everyone is dressed up and I think what we’ll see it will be a bit of a spectacle”.
And a spectacle it was. As sporadic showers lashed out on the North Dunedin tarmac, the attendees hurried into the Union hall.
Local newcomers Hot Donnas kicked things off at the Spring Break. The boys coasted their way through the set with their poppy blend of psychedelic, surf rock. The Donz’ set comes off the back of their promising debut release earlier this month titled Greek Yogurt.
As the crowd burgeoned, the Donnas tickled and teased the masses. Shortly after, climax ensued; a cover of Bliss by The Dudes. If the tune doesn’t immediately come to mind, it goes a little something like this: “drink yourself more bliss, forget about the last one, get yourself another”.
Amidst a night dominated by electronica, the song offered a rambunctious and drunken homage to the heydays of 80’s punk-rock music in Dunedin. After 10 or so choruses to finish, the Donnas departed the Spring Break stage, leaving the crowd, a sweaty and heaving wreck, savouring the orgasm that was Bliss.
Next up in the Spring Break line up was Yoko-Zuna.The band took to the stage with the prowess of a Tyrannosaurus Rex 2 or 3 pingers deep; vicious and boisterous. Once a group of jazz-school grads, the group has developed a distinctly electronic sound that could be best described as the bastard child of a drunken one night stand between Shapeshifter and Shihad.
It was mostly instrumental, at times heavy and often lit. The group put on an energetic performance and like the crowd, seemed very stoked to be there.
OUSA advised attendees on the event’s facebook page to “Dust off those hawaiian shirts and coconut bikinis” for the night. While almost everyone in sight wore a Hawaiian shirt, the coconut bikini proved allusive. After two hours at the event, I had not spotted one coconut bikini. So between sets, I set off the scour the sea of inebriation for the revered coconut bikini.
My interviewee turned out to be a male fresher, caked in fake tan, wearing the prized coconut bikini. Either too shy or too drunk, perhaps a mix of both, the fresher in question didn’t have a whole lot to offer. “I’m not wearing much you know? It’s easy to take off”.
After asking what he was looking forward to, our coconut man replied, “well I’ve already pulled. This one here” he said, gesturing at a girl next to him. Shortly after, the fresher admitted that he had donned the costume in a valiant attempt to try and take out the event’s best dressed competition. “I really want an R&A ticket. That’s my only goal. You know? I like reaching my goals.”
As the Union Hall began to full, Drax Project arrived on stage. Fearless and fervid, the musicians put on a near flawless set. Like Yoko-Zuna, Drax project was born in a jazz school. The band became well known for their busked renditions of top-40 covers on the streets of Wellington.
Fast forward 4 or so years and the group has become another powerhouse in electronic fusion music in NZ. The calibre of the band's musicianship was unprecedented on the night.
Attendees will best remember their frontman, Shaan Singh effortlessly juggling impressive vocal, sax and synth performances. The boys have developed a hefty live sound that like North Korea, shouldn’t be underestimated.
When Australian darling, Tigerlily graced the stage, the crowd was at last hungry for an EDM froth out. Part DJ, part socialite, part musician, Tigerlily has made a name for herself as an artist that isn’t afraid to flaunt her femininity.
Her appeal as an artist could be considered majorly aesthetic rather than sonic. Her Instagram account boosts more than 600k followers and boosts an array unabashed imagery of Tigerlily wearing very little.
Nonetheless, the adored Tigerlily brought the house down. Her bass heavy, sun-kissed dance music ensured a good time for all. She’s no bozo on the decks and seamlessly wove her way through a well received set.
The Spring Break was a night for all music lovers. OUSA offered an well-rounded line-up that ensured an eclectically good time. As the masses poured out of the Union Hall,it seemed as if winter had indeed been defied.
Sweat evaporated off the crowd, drifting as steam into the night above. In shorts and hawaiian shirts, the Spring Breakers stumbled away, unphased by the temperatures hovering just above freezing.