Fur Patrol, Pan Am at Scotty's Bar and Grill, Gisborne

By CLINT COULSON

Not many touring bands include Gisborne on their itinerary, but when they do, they are well supported, as Pan Am and Fur Patrol found.

Pan Am was the first to receive the welcome of the crowd with a set based around their self-titled debut album, but they also took the opportunity to play some new material.

Rocking harder live than they do on their album, highlights included the infectious tune and catchy lyric of Long Grass, the single Interstate Boy, and the musical sprawl that was their final song, Song 1.

An indication of the crowd's unfamiliarity with Pan Am's music was highlighted by the fact that the biggest cheer was reserved for their rendition of Jimi Hendrix's Foxy Lady, in which frontman Paul Barrett assumed the role of Hendrix, right down to the re-strung right-handed guitar so he could play left-handed.

But the 150-strong crowd had come to see Fur Patrol, and there was a noticeable surge in numbers at the front as they took the stage around 11.30pm.

Drawing on their catalogue but with an understandable focus on new album Collider, they set about further rocking the crowd that Pan Am had so admirably warmed up.

They were loud enough to break a few strings and even drown out vocalist Julie Deans' voice occasionally, which is a considerable feat.

Old favourites, Lydia and Beautiful, were well received, but it was new songs such as Rocket and the latest single Fade Away that really had the crowd moving. Get Along didn't work quite as well, with feedback problems and a jagged guitar riff too reminiscent of Lump by Presidents of the USA.

But Collider is a step up from its predecessor Pet, and it provided the highlight of the night via Little Heart, a lengthy song of tempo changes, with Deans' voice soaring above the band's crescendo.

They were all smiles as they left the stage, with their performance leaving them well equipped for the Big Day Out.

* Fur Patrol play the Green Stage at the Big Day Out today, 5.30-6.15pm

* nzherald.co.nz will feature updates throughout the day from the Big Day Out beginning at 12pm on Friday.