Concert Review: Leisure at Hopetown Alpha, October 17 2020

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Auckland’s Leisure kicked off level one with a punchy set of their infectious grooves at Hopetoun Alpha on Saturday night. A frisky, funk-filled dose of dance-floor escapism, it’s something the city hasn’t had enough of this year. The gig was the bands first since February, and part of the Elemental Festival.

All five members – Jaden Parkes, Jordan Arts, Djeisan Suskov, Tom Young and Josh Fountain – are raring to go, ready to warm up the crowd with their simmering, soulful sound.

“Are you guys ready to party?” asks Parkes.

The narrow venue just off K’ Rd is flooded with people by their sharp 9.30 pm start, and all clearly feeling like “cutting loose” post-lockdown.

A string of neon lights hang from the ceiling juxtaposing with the hall’s historic character. Flashes of magenta, green, and sired-red wash over the stage during the hour-long set. I’m tucked fairly close to the back, and, at times, the sound competes with chatter and noises off the street, but the visuals are striking.

Leisure kicks off a fresh chapter next week with the release of their new, Side A’ EP, out October 30. It’s the first half of a full record on its way. Tonight, they give a taste of what to expect, performing new tracks along with fan favourites.

They open with new single ‘Lonely Nights’, a hazy late-night love-note that has everything that makes Leisure’s songs so good: jangly guitar, deep bass-lines, and lush, dappled vocals.

Their last record, Twister, gets plenty of play including the sultry ‘Money’, romantic bop ‘Alone Together’, and ‘Easy Way Out’ with it’s bouncy melodies and hypnotic spiral of spacey synths.

More new tracks are tested out too; the velvety ‘Slipping Away’ oozes with a hazy guitar riff and 70’s sizzle. But it’s their well-known oldies that get the whole room singing. ‘Got It Bad’, their viral single, opens to a roar of applause. ‘Feeling Free’ is a shot of bliss. They finish with ‘All Over You’ wrapping up the feel-good vibes.

The satisfied audience stomps the floor for an encore to no luck. The leisurely indulgence is short, sweet and over for the night.

– Sarah Downs

Sarah Downs
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