June 25, 2023

Boy & Bear – The Powerstation: June 24, 2023 (Concert Review)

Boy & Bear returned to Auckland’s Powerstation performing at the iconic venue for the third time, but the first since 2016, so there was some catching up to do.

The Sydney-based quintet has just released a new, self-titled album, and so they were keen to share the new songs with their Kiwi fans, who quickly sold out the show.

Luke Thompson

New Zealand singer-songwriter Luke Thompson got things underway precisely at 8:30 with a 30 minute solo set…solo until he was briefly joined by Boy & Bear drummer/vocalist “Mr. Tim Hart”. Tim and Luke are old friends, working together on Tim’s solo efforts. Their harmonies on From Shanghai (To Wherever I Will Go) was a highlight of the set that also included new single, A Light Calling. Luke promised more new music to come and we’ll be looking out for that.

Boy & Bear

The Powerstation was full, but not overcrowded, with fans showing up early and staying late. There was a definite buzz in the air as the headliners’ time approached.

Boy & Bear That time was 9:30 and the five musicians locked right in with Strange World, the opening track from their new album, released less than a month ago.

Lead vocalist David Hoskins let us know that they had asked fans what to play tonight, so the set list was wide open. Then Tim Hart piped in (he did a lot of that), eventually introducing Part Time Believer from the 2011 album, Moonfire.

The band a whole sounded strong, particularly guitarist Killian Gavin, who shone on Bridges and Walk The Wire. In fact, I would have liked to have heard fewer songs (and less banter) and more jamming from the band.

We heard tunes from all stages of the band’s nearly 15-year career and a couple of covers including a Breakfast Club singalong of Don’t You (Forget About Me) and, for an encore, Crowded House’s Fall At You Feet, infused with a bit of Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold.

Boy & Bear

After that, Hart regaled the crowd with another story (there were a few groans heard in the audience who just wanted more music and less talk) but Hart pushed on, telling us how he and his brother, keyboard player Jon Hart, watched Crowded House on TV when they were growing up and then finally opened for them last year.

It was a nice story but took too long and maybe not at the best point in the show as folks were ready to rock out.

They did just that once Boy & Bear played State Of Flight and Southern Sun to close out the night.

With a bouquet of flowers presented to the band, all was ‘sunshine and roses’ as we trouped back out into the cold New Zealand night.

Marty Duda