From a speaker-blowing set (literally) at New Zealand’s own WOMAD in Taranaki last weekend, to giving the HQ sound system a run for its money in lil ol’ Adelaide on Friday night, Fat Freddy’s Drop are making some serious noise. With numerous accolades to their name – including taking out every award in every category in which they were nominated in the 2005 New Zealand Music Awards – the seven-piece music marvel from Wellington are quite possibly the livest live act active on the circuit.

Fat Freddy’s Drop formed in 2001. That same year the group released live album Live at The Matterhorn, which has subsequently gone gold. Their first studio release came four years later. After only a day on the market, Based on a True Story went gold and was number one in the New Zealand charts despite very little promotion. The album’s first single Wandering Eye spent seventeen weeks in the RIANZ Top 40 Singles Chart and peaked in at number six. Based on a True Story has now reached seven times platinum sales… Impressive is an understatement. Time to see what all the buzz is about…

DJ Reflux of The Funkoars, wah wah guitarist and fellow-Kiwi Justin ‘Firefly’ Clarke and Freddy’s back-up vocalist/bassist Rio Hunuki Hemopo set the stage ablaze with a prelude for what was to come. An energizing hip hop set with a reggae twist courtesy of Flashy D followed. By now things had really started to heat up.

Wowing a lively full-house, best described as ‘urban gypsies,’ the stage was filled with bodies and even more instruments. We’re talking horn section: sax, trumpet and trombone, guitar, bass, keys, mixer, mics and percussion. There was even a cowbell, drum machine and harmonica thrown into the mix. The atmosphere was electrifying; the crowd was exhilarated. As the music faded in and out, building up to a climax, hitting the boiling point then simmering slow to a sultry lull, the dance floor pulsated.

Moving from dub to reggae to jazz to soul to funk to circus, rock, folk and hillbilly, it is almost impossible to put a label on Freddy’s unique sound. The chemistry between the band members was simply remarkable while the music took your breath away. Each member had their turn in the spotlight while personal standouts were a sweltering sax bass duet and front man Joe Dukie’s vocals resonating deep through the use of the vocal input function of the drum machine.

If the music wasn’t enough to leave your jaw dropped, Freddy’s sported an assorted array of exotic head-wear, from the saxophonist’s patchwork béret to the bassist’s trucker-cap, to the keyboardist’s fedora, the percussionist’s maroon fedora with a bright red ribbon to the backup vocalist/bassist’s Mohawk. Yet the trombonist’s get-up took the cake. Initially gracing the stage in a straw visor and gold jacket zipped right up to his chin, by the end of the show he stripped down to a white wife-beater and matching white footy shorts. If he wasn’t part of the night’s main attraction, HQ’s dress code would have had him out in the cold! The trombonist was by far the most entertaining with his triple-clap dance moves and exaggerated A.D.D. excitement. Who needs groupies when you’ve got this guy?

Justin Clarke came out for out for one last jam, Freddy’s clearly quite impressed by his skill, before wrapping things up with an extended last hoorah that left the gypsies begging for more.

Showcasing their debut LP and samples from their long-awaited yet-to-drop follow-up, Big BW, Freddy’s proved that they are well and truly New Zealand’s finest musical export. If there was ever such a thing as too much talent, Fat Freddy’s Drop are guilty as charged! Keep your ears open and eyes peeled for the next time they whirlwind through our city.