Orientation 2001: The Living End, betchadupa, Seven Tongues @ the Universty of Canterbury Ballroom, February 23. Reviewd by Hannah McGowan.

In true student style, misbehaving rowdy young supporters in various stages of inebriation stormed the Canterbury University Ballroom intent on losing themselves.
It wasn't a challenge - a line-up of heavy thrash, dark rock, pop rock and punk rock offeered more than enough selection. Seven Tongues gave their all in their second-to-last performance in Christchurch before heading to Australia. The groups of very pretty goth-boys plasys with intense energy and slick playful style. The vibrations fromt he loudness of the music was a fun touch.
It wasn't until betchadupa began that the crowd really began to warm up. Cheered on by a small group of female fans, the 16 year old members proves that they were beyond the fact that Neil Finn's son is the lead singer. Tight, charasmatic and committed, the pleasant pop rock band is easy and relaxed on stage with nicely develping egos.
The Living End ran on stage to sweat out its brand of punky, bratty rock with a definite nostalgia for the 80s punk look. The evergy was high, as was the suppot from dedicated fans who sang along, mouthing words with passionate conviction. Immersed in an angry-happy frenzy. The Living End vibrantly performed such songs as West End Riot, Survivor, and the much demanded Unlce Harry.
A rendition of Sunday Bloody Sunday went down particularly well. The threesome's talent and dedication was obvious, the enthusiasm of the crowd was well deserved. Over all sound for the night was very clear and the lighting was effetive but not distracting.
By the end of the night, I had been puched, jabbed, kicked, crushed, bruised, stepped on, shoved and had my wrists sprained from holding onto the barricade. I walked out deafened in one ear and covered in other people's sweat.
It was a fun night.