02/12/2024

Highly Suspect – Spark Arena: December 1, 2024 (13th Floor Concert Review)

The incredibly talented band, Highly Suspect, finished their tour for their recently released fifth album, As Above So Below at Spark arena in Auckland last night. I’m not sure who brought it harder, the band or their seriously dedicated fans.

The evening began with The Powder Chutes, a very acrobatic hard rock/punk band from Otago. Henry McConnell is the front man on vocals, and Otis Murphy rocked the bass, Clarke West practically broke his fingers on the guitar, and Archie Orbell kept the whole thing tight on drums. It seems as though Highly Suspect is really giving this band some serious props, even inviting them to sing one of their own hits halfway through the set. I think we might have seen Henry have the best night of his life up there.

Rita Mae

Following that short but banging set came Auckland’s own Rita Mae, her powerful voice ringing through her 3 piece band. She played a sweet acoustic, reminiscent of Frente, The Sundays, and maybe a little Luscious Jackson. It seemed overall that the audience wasn’t quite as revved up for her set; the whole arena was extremely chatty. She captured the 90’s alternative vibe perfectly, though.

Rita Mae

Highly Suspect

The second that Highly Suspect started, the whole arena was in unison with love and excitement. They had a symphonic start that was slightly worbly and creepy along with the beginning of what would be a pretty spectacular light show. The background was set with small trees and hung lights, giving the stage the feeling of a desert backyard mescaline trip. Johnny Stevens, (frontman, guitar) opened up the show directing the audience in preparation for crowd surfing, coming in hot with his bluesy and gritty voice. Ryan Meyer (who plays open) on drums had a slamming drum break in the second song, Claudeland, leading right into Mexico, wherein Matt Kofos on guitar and percussion (and his third shirt change) increased that desert feel before tossing his drumsticks into the crowd. Rich Meyer, Ryan’s twin, led some southern feeling hard blues. Mark Schwarz kept switching it up, ravaging the keys, synth, vocals, percussion, and guitar. There was a lot of talent on that stage. The lighting was executed perfectly, especially during a mind-blowing drum solo from Ryan Meyer; a punkish tango of light and sound.

Highly Suspect

Lyrically, Stevens captures a grungy angst that would be borderline apathetic if it came from anyone that did not sing with such emotionally laden grit. That guy’s got a good holler on him. He tipped a cap to Outkast, and covered some Marley that I didn’t recognise till I heard the lyrics. The audience practically sang every word along with them, arms around shoulders and swaying in unison. It was such a loving crowd (although I also got a death threat, randomly) that I started to understand why Highly Suspect has a term for their fandom: ‘My Crew Is Tight’. Stevens stopped mid-song during Serotonia to point out that that was the first time he had thousands of people sing back to him a lyric about masturbation. When I first heard that song, I found the video which smacked of classic Radiohead/Spike Jonze era.

As Above, So Below is Highly Suspect’s 5th Album and tour. Listening through their history, I can hear the evolution of their sound. I think they’d be hard pressed to outdo themselves on this one, but I’m sure they will.

Diana Phillips

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Michael Jeong:

Highly Suspect: