Th' Dudes, Hello Sailor, and Hammond Gamble at St James, Auckland

Th' Dudes did it right first time back in the late 70s and early 80s, and with this reunion they've done it right second time, too.

Despite it being 26 years since they've played together, a few young fans are in the audience tonight, proof that Walking In Light is still murder on the dance floor. But mostly it's the older brigade.

The nationwide tour, which also includes Hello Sailor and Hammond Gamble, is in celebration of Radio Hauraki's 40th birthday.

The night starts with Gamble. We have few, if any, real blues men in New Zealand, but he is one of them. He's humble and bends his back to get out the words to his songs. Even when he's not playing his guitar he grips it for support. The surprising highlight is middle-of-the-road anthem, Midnight, which never sounded so rousing.

The night doesn't start too well for Hello Sailor's Graham Brazier, who breaks the bass string on his guitar in the first song. Not that he cares, as he plays on regardless and postures around the stage like a bolshie league player.

He keeps dropping his tambourine, which no doubt has a lot to do with him being pretty hammered. Nevertheless, it's amazing how classic songs, like Blue Lady, Billy Bold, and New Tattoo, can turn someone from a slurring mess into a superstar. Brazier spits lines like "You're gonna need an exorcist" with stealth, and he still plays a mean harmonica on the killer end to Blue Lady.

Th' Dudes, featuring front man Peter Urlich, the twin lead guitar attack of Dave Dobbyn and Ian Morris, and the romping rhythm section of Bruce Hambling on drums and Lez White on bass, played their last gig in 1980. Considering they have not played together or rehearsed before this tour was announced two months ago they sound great.

Dobbyn is enjoying being just the guitarist and occasional vocalist, like on the stunning Be Mine Tonight. Even though it's odd seeing him off to the side rather than centre stage, there's no afro and the clothes are a little less garish, he relishes his rock'n'roll star role.

And Peter Urlich, who is never far from the spotlight, is a born again showman, although, the things he does with the mic stand should not be allowed.

It's almost a shame they start with Walking In Light - their best song perhaps? - because their most timeless song would have been an ideal end.

There are others, too, like Right First Time, and of course Bliss, which remains the best beer-drinking song in the world.

They seem in awe of the reception they get, even though they played another show in Auckland (their home town, as Urlich so adoringly refers to it) the night before.

The set was filled out by a few too many covers, including a limp version of Wild Horses and Heartbreak Hotel, which, as one in-the-know punter said, is the John Cale version of the Elvis song.

But the cover of the Doors' Love Me Two Times is apt. We loved Th' Dudes once, and now you can make that twice.