Salt Tree – The Wine Cellar: May 18, 2023 (Concert Review)

Salt Tree played their first NZ show at Auckland’s Wine Cellar last night. This was the first of their current 16-date tour of NZ and Eastern Australia.

It’s a mighty long way from Margaret River to Auckland (5,328km) but Nath and Tom (and new guy Riley) battled jet lag to put on a beauty of a show at The Wine Cellar.

Dan White

One guy who seemed to have boundless energy was Dan White, who was the sound man, tour manager, promoter, roadie and opening act all rolled into one.

Back in Western Australia Dan fronts a four-piece called Brightsider, but for this tour he’s going it alone, warming up the crowd with a mellow mix of originals and covers including a very chilled version of J.J. Cale’s Magnolia.

Salt Tree

So, Salt Tree are singer/songwriters Tom and Nath who have release an EP, Out Of The Water, last year which generated something of a hit in the form of She’s The One.

The two buddies harmonize beautifully and their songs are melodic and heartfelt.

Their love of the ocean and surfing is apparent in tunes like Warm Ocean and Out Of The Water. The set opened with EP opener Sparkly Socks, immediately enamouring themselves to the small, but appreciated audience.

That was followed by a take on Bruce Springsteen’s I’m On Fire and then another from the EP, Rising Again.

Percussionist/drummer Riley adds a bit of melodrama to the music with his percussive flourishes and I’m guessing they’ll keep him on.

The mood was intimate and convivial…much like an old school coffee house.   It turns out Nath is an obsessive guitar tuner, but fortunately he and Tom know how to fill the down time with stories and banter that only added to the vibe. There developed a running gag about Tom’s email habits and another on whether or not Nath had finally “got it”.

Sure the phone-waving version of Can’t Help Falling In Love was a little cheesy, but who doesn’t like cheese on a stormy night in Auckland.

The 60 minute + set wrapped with new single Coming Home To You and then a languid take on Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry to take us home.

Warm Ocean…warm harmonies…warm vibes.

Marty Duda

Watch Salt Tree perform Coming Home To You exclusively at The 13th Floor:

Click any icon to view a gallery of images from the show.

Salt Tree setlist:

1. Sparkly Socks

2. I’m On Fire

3. Rising Again

4. She’s The One

5. Cold Ways

6. Hold You Now

7. Let My Guard Down

8. Can’t Help Falling In Love

9. Movin’ Away (new song)

10. Warm Ocean

11. I See Your Eyes (new song)

12.Out Of The Water

13. Coming Home To You

14. No Woman, No Cry

NZ TOUR DATES:

Friday 19 May                     The Butter Factory             Whangarei

Saturday 20 May               YOT Club                               Raglan

Sunday 21 May                  Sawmill Café                        Leigh

 For more information and tickets go to: https://linktr.ee/salttreemusic