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Cutting through the generations

Fri 23 Jul 2010 In: Music View at NDHA

Something pretty incredible happened at Candy bar last weekend. Auckland lesbian band Razor charmed a high-energy crowd, with women from across the generations packing the dancefloor. So what is it about this band that seems to bring a rare piece of unity to the lesbian world?  Jacqui Stanford reflects on the show.   "Are you ready to rock? Cause we're gonna rock,' was the ballsy opening statement from Razor's frontwoman Kelly Rice. And rock they did. In a show that drew women from across Auckland screaming out of their closets to merge in a sweaty bouncing heap at girl club Candy bar. Opening with Muse track Uprising, the black-clad singer got the crowd going with the grinning energy of a schoolgirl. People were already busting out moves that haven't been seen since Muldoon inhabited the top floor of the Beehive – and Razor hadn't even got to the retro rock tracks yet. Yet when they went retro, they went really retro – from Bachman Turner Overdrive and AC/DC, to Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar and Blondie. The combination of the jumping-in-unison crowd, bartenders dancing on the bar and lining the pool table, and band rocking out on stage, was an incredibly rare display of women who seem to avoid the 'scene' out having an incredible time, right alongside the lesbian hipster kids. Only playing a handful of gigs a year, Razor have an incredible ability to pull crowds based purely on their reputation for a raucous, upbeat show. Led by the mighty thumping force of their drummer, Razor come alive through their infectiously keyed-up Joan Jett-channelling frontwoman. Rice's versality as a vocalist is incredibly subtle. She moves from the yowl of Benatar to the bitter gravel of Bon Scott with barely the flick of a vocal cord, leaving you wondering exactly where else that voice can go. Strutting on the stage, Rice had the crowd in the palm of her hands. There haven't been screams like that at Candy bar, well, ever really. The place had heart. Let's hope Razor keep playing – and keep cutting through the generations of the lesbian scene. Jacqui Stanford - 23rd July 2010    

Credit: Jacqui Stanford

First published: Friday, 23rd July 2010 - 9:32am

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