Kraftwerk – Spark Arena: December 1, 2023

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There are times in a veteran gig-goer’s life when the concert goes beyond a mere live performance into something much deeper and spiritual, Jeff Neems experiences Kraftwerk.

I’m fortunate to have had a few of those experiences – Kanye West (before he went off the rails) creating an incredible energy in the St James in 2006, Stevie Wonder and a 10-piece band practically bringing me to tears at Spark Arena in 2009, finally witnessing Neil Young perform when he headlined the Big Day Out the same year, and discovering the truly astounding MC Supernatural – a freestyle rap specialist – at a hip hop concert in London in mid-1990.

KraftwerkI can now add Kraftwerk’s spectacular show at Spark Arena last night to that list of the best musical events I’ve attended.

It was, as my guest described it, “a religious experience”… and neither of us are particularly god-fearing individuals. We just know what we like, and we’re cool with that.

With their back catalogue of minimalist bass-heavy classics and their truly remarkable visuals – at times appearing almost as 3D on a screen as big as a tennis court – Kraftwerk took their truly willing disciples to another place last night.

Admittedly, the current incarnation of Kraftwerk features only one original member, Ralf Hutter. Henning Schmitz, Falk Grieffenhagen and George Bongartz complete the current line-up, the latter two recent editions. Given the band formed in the 1970s it’s not entirely unsurprising the other founders and early collaborators are deceased, and it must be an honour for more recent members (present and past) to have played their part in contributing to Kraftwerk’s exceptional career, innovation and legacy.

Last night’s performance was the second time I’ve seen Kraftwerk live, the previous time at the Auckland Town Hall – roughly a decade ago – when four of my friends had the temerity to arrive at the show dressed as the band. That was a mighty impressive show, but to have the Kraftwerk experience amplified in scale at the cavernous and largely full Vector Arena took it to a new and quite remarkable level.

Admittedly, we were a little late arriving, having shot up SH1 from Hamilton following important family commitments. The uber-diligence of the security team soaked up several more precious minutes as someone in a position of authority had to come from another part of the complex to hand over our tickets.

Kraftwerk

The delay only served to increase the excitement, and – as anticipated – we entered the darkened arena with the group already well into their set. We may have missed the truly magnificent Man Machine, a personal fave, but that’s a minor complaint.

All the Kraftwerk classics came out – Trans Europe Express, Autobahn, Computer Love, We Are The Robots, Radioactivity – each accompanied by stunningly powerful visuals reflecting either the theme and minimal lyrics of the song, or referencing the band itself.

The four musicians/technicians appear to do virtually nothing as they stand…. er… like robots… behind their lecterns, barely moving other than an arm occasionally shifting to press a button (I think) or twiddle a knob (possibly). For all we know it could be iPads they’re using, you can’t really see.

Dressed in their matching suits, which glow during some lighting phases, they appeared almost as characters from the film Tron. There’s a sense the spacing between the members’ set-ups is measured to the very milimetre.

What sets Kraftwerk apart from the vast majority of modern electronic dance music – and electronic music events and festivals – is how it feels. There are no smoke machines, hardly any flashing lights, no branded backdrops, no DJ jumping up and down excitedly while hangers-on leap about in apparent solidarity. Just four blokes in matching clothes standing almost dead still while a tidal wave of sound and vision washes over the gawping assembled masses.

With a seated crowd, it becomes more like an art installation, delivered with the efficiency and precision only the Germans can manage. “Very European” as my guest pointed out: at times quite stark, at times quite uplifting, and at times so intense and overpowering the venue and our plastic seats shook with the bass frequencies.

The were numerous moments when my guest and I would look at each other and erupt with expressions of electronica-driven joy such as “Oh my goodness”, “holy shit” and “pwhoaaarr, feel that!”.

Electronic music has come a long way since Kraftwerk took the turn-off on the Autobahn and left Krautrock behind to forge the genre’s path. I, for one, have become increasingly picky about what I pay attention to; electronic music has been commodified and pimped, turned into a vehicle to sell products, delivered to a new generation at cookie-cutter festivals recycled ad nauseum across the globe.

The kids attending those festivals likely have no idea where what they love came from.

Kraftwerk is where it came from, and last night at Spark Arena, the originators demonstrated very clearly they remain the standard-bearers for electronic music in its deepest and most minimal form. It was truly outstanding and if I had the opportunity, I’d sacrifice a night’s work and go again tonight. I can earn that money another time, I may never get another opportunity to see Kraftwerk create their magic and take me to another much deeper and bleepier place.

A magnificent musical experience.

Jeff Neems

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