Auckland Live Music

REVIEW: Gin Wigmore

2008-12-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

Gin Wigmore
Sale St
Thursday 4 December
Words and Photos by Charlette Hannah

Gin Wigmore

Niall Anderson

Wayne Bell

Gin Wigmore is a pretty awesome talent. If you haven't heard her yet, where have you been? You're missing out. On a rare occasion we are lucky to see not only a great songwriter and a fabulous singer, but also a great performer.

From the first notes tinkled out by Sydney pianist Niall Anderson, Gin was up on her toes, dancing and singing. She wasn't still for a moment. Taking the extremely enthusiastic crowd through a rollicking (and occasionally down-tempo) set, Gin was clearly a popular act. New bar Sale St was packed out, and it's not a small venue.

Gin has an unusual husky voice that is even richer live than on her EP. Playing acoustic guitar, she was backed up by Niall, and local percussionist Wayne Bell (who has played with almost everyone in New Zealand it seems: Bic Runga, the Finn brothers, The Bads, Carly Binding. Shona Laing, Barry Saunders, The Darlings, Splitter, When The Cats Away, Jenny Morris, Jordan Luck to name but a few) on the maracas and other assorted delicacies.

Gin's music is mostly upbeat and driven, with the occasional "singer-songwriter indulgence" (quote) in her more mellow downbeat songs. It seems this woman can do happy and sad with equally impressive results. No matter what she's doing, her voice is incredible. The audience sang along to all the songs from her EP and her single 'Under My Skin' got a rapturous reception.

The whole band was lovely to watch, with everyone grinning most of the time. Gin is an entertaining and lively performer, and I just can't think of a single thing to grizzle about.

REVIEW: Kayne

2008-12-04T19:28:00.000-08:00

KAYNE
Sale St
Thursday 4 December
Words and Photos by Charlette Hannah

I admit, I know next to nothing about this Kayne fellow. I don't remember him even introducing himself, but according to the bill he was opening for Gin Wigmore at Sale St on Thursday night. No surname, no MySpace, but I heard a rumour he runs/owns a music magazine. Mysterious.

All that aside, Kayne is a confident and polished performer, with an excellent blues-rock voice. Playing a mix of originals and covers with his trusty sidekick Seamus (again, we got no surname), Kayne got the excited crowd nicely warmed up.

At times Kayne really let go with his voice, giving it a roaring huskiness which took the music out of the ordinary and gave it extra depth. The rhythmic acoustic guitar between the duo had folks dancing within a few songs, all ready for Gin to come on stage.

REVIEW: Mercury Crowe

2008-09-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

MERCURY CROWE
Dogs Bollix
Thursday 25 September
Words and Photos by Charlette Hannah

Allan Mansfield

Nick George

Hamish Mckoy

Rowan Clark

Mercury Crowe are hot hot hot. Did I say hot?

They are young, talented, their live show is on fire, and they are up-and-coming in the best sense of the phrase. Sadly so many local bands seem destined to struggle with the local gig circuits for a wee while before it all gets the better of them and they retreat back into bedroom jamming. Mercury Crowe appears to be one of the rare exceptions - these guys are Going Somewhere. Happening. It.

With enough pop catchiness for instant appeal and enough indie cred to back it up, Mercury Crowe's songs are a mix of California-esque surf rock, blues and pop rock. Strong harmonies dominate the arrangements - one of the stand-out elements of their live performance. With singer/guitarist Allan Mansfield sharing vocal duties with lead guitarist Hamish Mckoy and bassist Rowan Clark, backed up by drummer Nick George, Mercury Crowe's finely crafted arrangements are refreshing. All four are excellent musicians and display their talent without showing off.

I've seen Mercury Crowe a couple of times before, and they just keep getting better and better. And they were great to start with. Mostly upbeat songs, their enthusiasm is reflected in a tight and energetic show, and in the crowd at the Dogs Bollix all eyes were riveted to the stage. A couple of darker numbers kept the pop element under control and showcased the dynamic range Mercury Crowe are capable of.

Currently Wellington based, Mercury Crowe tour regularly, so make sure you catch them next time they're in Auckland.

www.mercurycrowe.com
www.myspace.com/mercurycrowe

REVIEW: Crosstown Revue

2008-09-07T02:30:00.000-07:00

CROSSTOWN REVUE
Featuring SUPERGROOVE, HOLLIE SMITH, GIN WIGMORE, and SCRIBE
Civic Theatre
Friday 5 September
Words and Photos by Charlette Hannah

(More photos at the end)

Supergroove rock. What else can you say? The electricity of their live performance proved once again why Supergroove are New Zealand music royalty, and judging by the two shiny new songs they played, they are back and better than ever. Friday's lineup featured Hollie Smith, Gin Wigmore and rapper Scribe, all backed by Supergroove, punctuating two sets and a long encore filled with hit after hit.

Newcomer Gin Wigmore opened the evening at the beautiful Civic Theatre, with support from Supergroove members. Gin's distinctively husky voice is even richer live than recorded, and she arrested the audience's attention for two songs including the powerful These Roses from her debut EP Extended Play. Her brief performance shows she has more than enough mojo to hold even bigger stages, and my only complaint for the whole evening would be that we didn't get to hear enough Gin!

Next it was soul songstress Hollie Smith's turn to share the stage with the boys from Supergroove. Her piano wheeled in, the current darling of New Zealand music took centre stage. Her deep voice took us through songs including the single Popularity, from her debut album Long Player. Hollie's charismatic performance combined with her powerful vocal stylings ensured a smooth and melodic show.

And then it was time for Supergroove to bust their famous moves. With singers Che Ness (solo artist Che Fu) and Karl Steven mixing vocal duties, and all members leaping round the stage at various moments, Supergroove showed us that older and wiser IS better, and that they can still light the stage on fire.

Mixing new songs with their classic hits, including You Gotta Know, Can't Get Enough and Sittin Inside My Head, Supergroove delivered an electric show to a packed out theatre. The audience was on their feet, dancing in the aisles, hands reaching out, singing along. The enthusiastic encore was rewarded with all the artists on the stage together for a few more songs, drawing out the fantastic evening.

Rapper Scribe strengthened the hip hop element to the music, performing his hit single 'Not Many'. Hooded and dark, with his vocals tight and smoothly delivered, Scribe also had the audience pumping on their feet.

Nick Atkinson, Ian Jones, Joe Lonie, Che Ness, Ben Sciascia, Karl Steven, Tim Stewart; Supergroove: Welcome back.

COMING SOON

2008-09-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

Coming soon: Reviews and Photos of CROSSTOWN REVUE, with SUPERGROOVE, HOLLIE SMITH, GIN WIGMORE, and SCRIBE!

REVIEW: SideKickNick

2008-08-30T00:50:00.001-07:00

SIDEKICKNICK and THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
Kings Arms
Friday 29 August
Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

It doesn't seem quite right to describe SideKickNick's songs as music, as such. It's more an interesting amalgamation of sounds. Quirky beats, childish vocals (think Connan Mockasin), songs ranging from raucous distorted guitar to soft, whimsical flights of fancy. It's a challenge to put his unusual brand of music into words! Somehow it all works, and the live result is a catchy, quirky, and entertaining performance.

SideKickNick is accompanied live by The Technical Difficulties, made up of Murray Fisher (Voom, ex-Goodshirt) on bass, Brendan Morrow and Peter Hobbs on various instruments including keys, guitar and ukelele, and Pluto's Mike Franklin Brown on drums. Leading the cast is Nick Buckton, the brains and creativity (and madness?) behind SideKickNick's debut album, Miscellaneous Adventures.

The album release party was packed out with eager fans and a noticeable number of industry players. Although it's taken 10 years to release the album, it seems the time is right, with Miscellaneous Adventures being released on SonyBMG.

Live, SideKickNick's exuberant music is fleshed out with Nick's wicked sense of humour and complete ease on the stage. The bands relaxed confidence on stage belies the fact that they have only had three gigs so far. SideKickNick takes the audience on a journey through songs about a multitude of random subjects. Utilising strange vocal noises on stage as well as in the album, the performance was eclectic, fascinating, and altogether enjoyable.

www.sidekicknick.com

www.myspace.com/sidekicknick

REVIEW: The Mots

2008-08-30T00:43:00.000-07:00

THE MOTS
Kings Arms
Friday 29 August
Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

'Who are The Mots?' I hear you ask. A good question indeed. With some members rather resembling Motocade, one wonders if they have evil twins, and if so, which band has the evil ones? Not being overly familiar with Motocade, it's hard to judge if the name change is signalling a new musical direction, or if it's the slight changes in lineup are responsible.

Brothers Eden (vocals and guitar) and Will Mulholland (drums) are joined by another family member - Jolyon (keys and guitar), and Rob Collins on bass.

The Mots are a tight band, with an obviously wide range of influences. At times this feels like the band are still trying to find their sound, which results in less clarity for the audience. Having said that, the diverse range of styles within their songs also helps to keep things interesting.

A four piece band, they utilise a variety of instruments and harmonies to bring a full sound to the stage. Melodic and upbeat, they had people dancing, including one rather enthusiastic fellow throwing himself at other audience members.

Easy to digest and catchy, The Mots are your typical pop/rock outfit with elements which could take them out of the ordinary if they figure out exactly where they're going.

myspace.com/themotsband

REVIEW: Bionic Pixie

2008-08-30T00:29:00.001-07:00

BIONIC PIXIE
Kings Arms
Friday 29 August
Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Bionic Pixie is an appropriately named act. Think Metallica: they play metal music. You know what to expect. Think Bionic Pixie: robot music with a pixie singer.

Opening the evening for Side Kick Nick's album release party, Bionic Pixie is primarily the project of songwriter Zoe Fleury. Part spoken word, part childish tone, part husky growl, Zoe's vocals are the striking characteristic of Bionic Pixie.

Mixing electro-pop, hip hop and funk, Zoe is an energetic performer, constantly dancing (dare I say boogie-ing?) on stage. Accompanied by a drummer on an electronic kit, Zoe also picked up the sticks a couple of times, adding to the beat. There was also a DJ, playing Zoe's backing tracks, all composed by herself.

When she picked up her guitar, it seemed rather a token gesture as she didn't play much, but it added another visual element to the performance. Overall I found the singing a bit monotonous, and it was hard to hear the words.

But Bionic Pixie had people dancing and it was an entertaining beat-driven opening act.

myspace.com/bionicpixie

REVIEW: Band of Horses

2008-08-02T02:37:00.000-07:00

BAND OF HORSES
Kings Arms
Thursday 31 July
Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Ben Bridwell

Tyler Ramsey

Creighton Barrett

Ryan Monroe

Blake Mills

Bill Reynolds

If Band of Horses really were a band of horses, I reckon they'd be camargues, wild and beautiful, somehow magical and yet earthy. Band of Horses' ethereal rock manages to stay grounded and oh-so-human, even while taking us to incredible heights of musical ecstasy.

For their first ever New Zealand show, Band of Horses sold out the Kings Arms and rewarded their dedicated fans with a mind-blowingly excellent gig. Fans were begging for the set lists left scattered on the stage, and an encore was called for a long time before the band returned to the stage to play my personal favourite, No One's Gonna Love You.

The South Carolina based six piece band fuse reverb-heavy vocals, delayed guitar riffs, and solid grooving drums and bass to create an emotionally charged and fun live act. These guys really look like they love what they're doing, and the audience loves them even more for it.

The gorgeous melodies, soaring instrumentation, and pure unadulterated energy of Band of Horses really is inspiring. Ben Bridwell's voice haunts me in the best possible way.

Chicago based Kiwi Renee-Louise Carafice opened for Band of Horses with her thoughtful and solemn songs, mostly written while she was institutionalised for depression. Her voice is beautiful and full of texture. Her solo set switched between keyboard and guitar with a sequencer adding extra backing. The sadness can be somewhat hard to listen to, but there is so much humanity and hope that makes it all ok.

myspace.com/bandofhorses

myspace.com/reneelouisecarafice

REVIEW: Hannah Curwood, Jen Cloher and Rebekah Davies

2008-07-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

HANNAH CURWOOD, JEN CLOHER AND REBEKAH DAVIES
Wine Cellar
Wednesday 23 July

Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Hannah Curwood

Jen Cloher

Rebekah Davies

Tom Healy

At last! A gig which starts when advertised, and finishes before 11pm. I imagine the early finish influenced many to attend when they otherwise may not have on a 'school night'. The allure of the three songwriters was obviously strong - the Wine Cellar was completely packed with no sitting or standing room to spare.

An inspired collaboration between Hannah Curwood, Rebekah Davies, and Jen Cloher, the evening's set comprised a variety of songs from each writer's repertoire, with each alternatively taking the lead and providing backing. They were joined on stage by Hannah's partner and regular guitarist, the talented and hirsute Tom Healy.

Hannah Curwood is a funny little pixie with a sassy sense of humour that belies the power and beauty of her songs. When she pauses for breath in a dramatic song, her cheeky smile appears for a second, and is instantly gone again to be replaced by a voice which is sweet and gutsy with the slightest hint of whiskey. Her alternative folk songs have lovely melodies and subtle rhythms, and she has an easy confidence on stage that makes you feel like she just stood up at home and started playing a song to whoever happened to be there.

Apparently it was Rebekah Davies' first gig, and her beauty and the depth of her songs had the audience spellbound. Rebekah's songs had a more melancholy feel to them than the others, her deep husky voice lightly evoking her melodies. Unusual song structures and creative dynamics lent a slightly exotic air to Rebekah's folk.

Even without her band The Endless Sea, Jen Cloher is an intense performer with a wonderfully expressive voice. The Melbourne based singer almost speaks her words sometimes, then illustrates her range with a roaring rocky song. Alternative country with a modern rock twist, Jen's songs were compelling and her performance moving.

All members of the band (a.k.a TJ Healy and the Fanny Farm) provided complementary backing utilising eggs, tambourines, guitars, piano, keyboard, and gorgeous three part harmonies. The audience gave it's full attention to the performers, and was rewarded by a fine show.

myspace.com/hannahcurwood
myspace.com/jencloherandtheendlesssea

REVIEW: Brand New Math

2008-07-20T22:06:00.000-07:00

BRAND NEW MATH
Whammy Bar
Saturday 19 July

Words by Lacey Jensen
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Brand New Math continued the dancing and kept people on their feet at the Einstein Music Journal launch party. With all four players sharing vocal duties (even the drummer got up from the drums to sing at one point) and instruments, Brand New Math were a dynamic and interesting band to watch. The singing style wouldn't please purists, but it fit the grunge style of the music.

Catchy riffs were creatively arranged, and the band used all the space on stage - with energy to spare. Some almost theatrical melodies were played with distortion, creating an unusual soundscape. With guitar, keys and synth used variously, and often more than one vocalist, they sure kept things interesting.

Comprised of Bradley Artist, Jordan Fuller, Calum Gunn and Tim Neale, Brand New Math were driving and danceable - a good solid indie rock band to get drunk to on a Saturday night.

www.myspace.com/brandnewmath

REVIEW: Little Pictures

2008-07-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

LITTLE PICTURES
Whammy Bar
Saturday 19 July

Words by Lacey Jensen
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Little Pictures opened the Einstein Music Journal launch party with their bouncy, high energy pop. Mark Turner and Johanna Freeman led their dedicated fans (half the audience was singing along!) in a set of songs from their just-released first album Owl + Owl, as well as their earlier EP You + Me + My Amplifier.

It's hard to get the full picture of Little Pictures without seeing them live. It was the first time I'd seen them, and previously I just hadn't quite 'got it' from listening on MySpace. Mark especially has so much energy - he's just so bouncy! The chemistry between the two is charming, as is Johanna's bubble blowing.

They had the crowd dancing by the second beat, and kept them dancing the whole time.

www.myspace.com/lotsoflittlepictures

REVIEW: Einstein Music Journal launch party

2008-07-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

EINSTEIN MUSIC JOURNAL LAUNCH PARTY
Whammy Bar
Saturday 19 July

Words by Charlette Hannah

The Whammy Bar was decoratively made out with balloons and streamers to mark the official launch of Einstein Music Journal on Saturday night. The packed out venue was a testimony to the popularity of the site, or at least their good taste in bands. Einstein Music Journal started in 2006 on blogspot, has since moved to it's own domain, and is now New Zealand’s foremost MP3 web-blog, with readers all over the world. Make sure you check them out at www.einsteinmusicjournal.co.nz.

Little Pictures, Brand New Math, Bang! Bang! Eche!, and Tommy Ill were on the bill, and we've got reviews and photos of the first two bands right here.

REVIEW: The Sami Sisters

2008-07-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

THE SAMI SISTERS
Dogs Bollix
Thursday 17 July

Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Madeleine Sami

Anji Sami

Priya Sami

The Sami Sisters have witty banter down to a tee. With stories about fish food and other assorted delicacies, they had the audience laughing between every song during their set on Thursday night at the Dogs Bollix.

Opening with the classic 'Tonight You Belong To Me' (I couldn't help picturing Steve Martin in The Jerk), their three lovely voices blended wonderfully as tends to happen in family bands. Their smooth harmonies were perfectly done like a good pav. Mixing covers and originals by all three sisters, their set was lively and energetic.

Eldest sister, actress Madeleine was the most outgoing of the three, dancing around the stage, apparently hyped up on flu meds. Baby of the family, Priya, seemed to be the repository of most of the stories, with the other two deferring to her jokes during tuning or drinking pauses. Middle sister Anji is apparently the 'singer-songwriter proper', having released The El Dorado EP in 2006.

The sisters had confident stage presence, with an easy going professionalism. Although they all had great voices, Priya in particular was given the chance to shine, performing her catchy radio hit 'Mrs Julian Casablancas'.

The Sami Sisters are a thoroughly entertaining act to watch, with quality music and relaxed humour and I would highly recommend them for any weddings or Bar Mitzvahs you might have coming up. They said they're available.

myspace.com/thesamisisters

REVIEW: Reb Fountain and The Bandits

2008-07-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

REB FOUNTAIN AND THE BANDITS
Dogs Bollix
Thursday 17 July

Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Reb Fountain possesses an incredible voice, and a songwriting talent which should see her at the top of the charts. Vocally she achieves an exquisite balance of strong and sweet, with a bit of life thrown in to roughen the mixture up.

With two other guitarists besides Reb herself, drums, bass, keys and violin provided by Sam Prebble of Bond St Bridge, the band is a powerful live unit. They were equally at ease with the more laid back folky songs and the full force rockier ones, which brought to mind PJ Harvey.

The songs were dynamic in structure and delivery, and the balance of mellow and rocky songs was well received. Reb has a skilful ear for melody, and the songs were catchy without being obnoxiously pop.

The audience gradually crept forward, leaning in to listen and get closer, with loud applause and cheers following every song. They were one of the best acts I've seen in a long time, giving a tight and engaging performance.

Reb Fountain and The Bandits depart Auckland for a tour of the North and South Islands at the end of July.

myspace.com/rebfountain

REVIEW: Bond St Bridge

2008-07-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

BOND ST BRIDGE
Dogs Bollix
Thursday 17 July

Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Bond St Bridge is one rather European looking fellow (ref: hat and glasses). Replete with a violin, guitar, and 'antique tape echo machine', Sam Prebble, a.k.a Bond St Bridge, played a melancholy and moody set opening for Reb Fountain and The Sami Sisters. Although he also sometimes plays with a band, his set on Thursday was a pleasant solo performance.

Utilising a fair amount of reverb and delay, Sam built up layer after layer of atmospheric music which was ethereal, and yet managed to stay grounded and human. With appealing folky melodies sung with Sam's rich voice, the songs had an almost darkly vaudeville sound to them.

Thumps on the guitar were looped to provide a rhythm section, while layers of violin overlaid with guitar resulted in an almost symphonic backing. The introspective, satirical lyrics added to the depth of sound.

The very first song, played just on the violin, was particularly lovely, and had a celtic influence - appropriate for an Irish pub!

myspace.com/thebondstreetbridgeband

REVIEW: Polka Dot Dot Dot

2008-07-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

POLKA DOT DOT DOT
Whammy Bar
Saturday 12 July

Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

I have longed for a band like this without even realizing it. The beauty of a cappella harmonies is usually the realm of choirs and barbershop quartets, but Polka Dot Dot Dot bring fun and intelligence, with moments of absolutely beauty, to what some would call an old fashioned style of music.

Using only minimal instrumentation, the three members of Polka Dot Dot Dot, Jordan Smith, Colleen Johnson, and Onyx of Olympia, bring a fresh and modern take to a cappella music. Their tight harmonies and sweet and thoughtful songs were well executed. Sharing the occasional instrumental duties on ukulele, banjo, acoustic guitar, they even played a saw with a bow, and used ‘magic mics’. Utilising claps, clicks and thigh slapping, they were a dynamic act who prove you don’t need to make a lot of loud noise to have a lot of fun.

According to Local Cut, the all-American trio formed in New Zealand, with a mission to tour New Zealand, and gave themselves a few days to learn each others songs in order to so a year or so ago. Now they're back from the States to play for us again. They’ll be playing at the Wine Cellar on the 9th of August, so if you didn’t get to see them at the Whammy Bar, it’s not too late. Their album is even called Love Letters to New Zealand. Aren't we lucky they love us so much?

Although they were mostly original songs, Polka Dot Dot Dot put a gorgeous new spin on the traditional ‘hey, ho, nobody’s home’ canon. The upbeat foot stomping tunes were mixed in with a couple of beautiful downbeat songs thrown in to make your heart stop.

Polka Dot Dot Dot are a band you sure don’t see everyday. If only!

www.myspace.com/thepolkadotdotdot

REVIEW: Bear Cat

2008-07-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

BEAR CAT
WHAMMY BAR
SATURDAY 12 JULY

Words by June Hart
Photos by Charlette Hannah

Complete with hand made capes and face paint, Bear Cat played a fun and lively set of songs at the Whammy Bar, opening for Polka Dot Dot Dot. Missing key member Jocee Tuck, who had double booked and was playing in Blenheim, the line-up was filled out with an appearance by Teacups’ Chelsea.

Frontman Dan Trevarthen had a whole lot of infectious energy, leading the band in irreverent songs about pandas, with tongue-in-cheek lyrics like ‘extinction sucks’. At one point he broke into a rap about nachos (yes, nachos!) and then launched into a three part harmony with Chelsea and the violinist

The whimsical folk had plenty of humour and the beautiful violin playing added a depth to the songs. With upbeat tunes and rhythms, audience and band alike were dancing. Audience participation was actively encouraged with hand clapping and singing.

With Dan’s acoustic guitar backed by drummer Alex's minimal drumkit and sparse and appropriate beats, overlaid with Chelsea’s vocals and the lovely violin playing, Bear Cat were a fun act to watch.

www.myspace.com/bearcatbearcat

Welcome

2008-06-02T16:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the temporary home of Auckland Live Music.

Publishers of the popular music resource Wellington Live Music, Sunstone Media, have moved to Auckland to establish a sister site. With the new upgrade of Wellington Live Music being replicated for Auckland Live Music, these local music communities will finally have a comprehensive online home.

This blog is the temporary home of Auckland Live Music so we can start building content while we get the site up and running.

We are now starting to look for freelance contributors for live reviews and photography. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting website, please email the editor.