A new documentary on Pacific Reggae pioneers Herbs celebrated its world premiere at Auckland’s Civic Theatre last night, as part of the NZ International Film Festival. Our reviewer, Steve Newall was there.
Director Tearepa Kahi’s film Herbs: Songs of Freedom is an intimate, sometimes irreverent, tale of how a diverse group of people, with strong political voices and damn good songs became intertwined in our national consciousness.
With Ihumātao at the front of our minds, there could scarcely be a better time for a documentary on these Aotearoa music icons who left an indelible mark on popular culture through their music.
The band paved the way for many of the artists who’ve been performing at the Ihumātao protests in recent weeks, continuing the use of music as a uniting force for change that’s synonymous with Herbs.
Photo: Herbs Whats' Be Happen? album cover
Peaceful protest against land confiscation is embedded in Herbs' DNA. As guitarist Dilworth Karaka tells us in the film, “It was up at Bastion Point that I learned the power of music. We were up there through the seasons – the sun, the rain, and the cold. And the only thing that kept us together was the music and Joe Hawke’s words.”
At one point in the film, which traces both the history of Herbs and their preparation for an anniversary concert, Hawke himself visits the practice room.
The inspirational activist’s presence is acknowledged by Karaka: “Before we start, I’d like to mention our campaigner from many years ago... 40 years of Bastion Point coming up, that’s 40 years of whare tāpere occupation for us.”
The police-led operation to end that occupation in Auckland’s Orakei is famously captured on the cover of Herbs’ debut EP Whats’ Be Happen, and as anyone with a passing awareness of Herbs will know, their lyrical activism only accelerated in the decade that followed.
But this isn’t recounted in the way you might expect. Kahi dispenses with a traditional music documentary structure, which means the film doesn’t simply trace the chronology of Herbs. Not does it spend time in expensive studios, with someone moving mixing desk channels up and down to show how their songs are constructed.
It’s also devoid of the usual talking heads weighing in with pronouncements about the band’s importance – including (perhaps surprisingly) zero Dave Dobbyn apart from some live footage.
Still from Slice of Heaven video - Herbs and Dave Dobbyn Photo: 2013 Simon Grigg
But then again, since the band was already so adept at advancing their own messages, the doco hardly needs anyone else waxing lyrical on the subject.
It’s a confident move that pays dividends, and – once he’s established the post-dawn-raids social context the band emerged in – allows Kahi to weave in and out of their history, focusing on the personalities, and their stories.
Also threaded throughout the film are punchily-edited, ever-so-slightly anarchic summaries of key political issues that pair archival news and band footage with their music.
Founding member Toni Fonoti, for instance, recounts the impact of Herbs song ‘French Letter’, accompanied by images of protests against, and consequences of, nuclear testing in the Pacific.
“Greenpeace used ‘French Letter’ as their theme song every time they went out with such great courage to blockade these warships,” he says in the film. “They had this song that spurred them on. And that’s Herbs, writing a song that will spur the brothers and sisters so they never stand alone.”
Photo: HERBS: Songs of Freedom
It’s by no means all serious business though – Fonoti brings the house down with his story about how he “stalked” Stevie Wonder into the toilet when Herbs were his support act at Western Springs (Wonder’s priceless reaction is sure to trigger plenty of laughs).
There’s an intimacy to the one-on-one interviews, with Kahi often heard conversing with his subjects off-camera, and the filmmaker’s presence at rehearsals often seems to go unnoticed by his subjects.
This suggests a degree of trust, a relationship that’s earned, rather than imposed, and the film feels all the better for it.
Does this go hand in hand with the fact there’s little discussion of trials and tribulations within the band? We’re not privy to info about fractured relationships, industry machinations, substance use, etc. These topics may or may not be part of the Herbs story to be told another time – or they simply might not fit with the approach Kahi’s taken here. An approach that doesn’t seem interested in being academic or dryly comprehensive.
Instead, jump at this chance to enjoy a deeply personal documentary and celebrate music that’s stood the test of time.
Herbs songs are presented here in both classic footage from the 80s and at the anniversary show the band is seen working towards, a gig in which Herbs are introduced by an appropriately enthusiastic Moana Maniapoto.
Don’t be surprised if the concert coaxes a lump in your throat or a tear from your eye – if that hasn’t already happened in some of the film’s many other emotional moments.
Herbs: Songs of Freedom is released in cinemas nationwide on August 15.
Herbs performing live in the Gold Coast in 2009. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
