Revolver “Play”

2003-revolver-playThis is not the first time director Joe Lonie has made an excursion into the world of racquet sports in a music video. The last time we saw Goodshirt playing a very unusual game of badminton. This time it’s a fairly standard game of squash played by the boys of Revolver. They’re at the fitness club, shaggy hair partially tamed by sweatbands, ready for a fierce game of doubles squash.

We also see the band performing the song. But wait. This is a Joe Lonie video so it can never just be about a standard band performance.

No, the band and their instruments are squashed into a sauna. They’re only wearing towels and are glistening with sweat. Does this sound erotic? It’s not really. The sight of five hairy sweaty dudes crammed into a tight space just makes me think it’s all going to be a bit pongy.

Back on the court, the doubles game is looking pretty dangerous, with racquets being swung dangerously near the heads of teammates. After one particularly dramatic collision, the camera zooms in on a sign warning “NO DOUBLES!!!” Those three exclamation points mean business.

The the sign gets shown a few more times, which feels a bit like the gag is being laboured over. Well, someone went to the effort of making that sign.

Back in the sauna the lads continue to play and sweat. The game ends in exhausted bodies being dragged from the court, while the sauna action ends in a another sign gag. A towel is flicked at a naked bottom, but – hey! – the sign says no horseplay. Which is a strange thing to have to regulate against in a sauna, in the first place.

The YouTube description notes that the video was nominated for Best Indie Video at the Juice TV Music Awards.

Best bit: the perfect throw of the squash racquet into its case.

Director: Joe Lonie
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Next… dealing with the competition.

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