Concert Review: Benee – Spark Arena, October 16 2020
After months of Covid-19 sucking the life out of our live gig scene, the feeling of level one celebration in the air was joyous – surreal even. It’s hard to beat the energy of a few thousand squealing tweens on the brink of tears.
A young Raglan muso called Muroki opened the show, who is the first signed artist to Benee’s latest domination in the industry, her very own record label called Olive.
Benee has good ears. Muroki’s breezy, reggae-inspired tracks are instantly likable, with the feel-good, grooved-out melodies and warm vocals to make you forget about any virus fears. Teleport back to the arena, and as he put it: “We’re at the biggest gig in the world right now.” I take a moment to marvel at the thousands of close-contact humans in the windowless space, and it’s impossible not to feel thankful for this small homegrown miracle – live music returned safely.
It was only fitting then that Benee – an unknown Grey Lynn teenager turned global superstar – would be the one leading the evening’s grand spectacle.
Over the fast-paced 90-minute set, Stella Bennett and her punchy three-piece band kept the audience on their toes and dancing to her quirky, synth-licked pop hits, and new songs too, against a backdrop of striking visuals on the big screen.
The 20-year-old kicked things off with her 2017 debut single, the pensive ‘Tough Guy’. Since then, Benee’s career has rocketed, from singles ‘Supalonely’ and ‘Glitter’ going viral on Tik Tok to being named on Apple Music’s list of Up Next artists. Over lockdown, media gigs included U.S talk shows Jimmy Fallon and The Ellen Degeneres Show.
“We’re rock stars, rock stars on tour,” Benee giggles into the microphone. They certainly are. Tonight is just one of a string of long-awaited and sold-out gigs the friends have played across the country over the last week.
Effortless on stage, she doesn’t seem to be fazed by it all, or anything really. Benee’s stage presence is, as we’ve come to expect, completely unassuming and ecentric. It’s a faux British accent one minute to an occasional meow the next. Fairy wings, cat ears, and a metallic silver spacesuit are all part of her get-up tonight. Kooky, yes, but her fanbase, a good chunk about a head shorter than my view of the stage, go crazy for it. This is their idol.
Highlights from here on in include the dizzy ‘Wishful Thinking’ and outrageously catchy ‘Supalonely’ and later ‘Glitter’ – which she declares was written after a wild night out at her favourite K’ Road haunt Family Bar. ‘Soaked’, her 2018 summer smash, gets the most applause.
Earlier in the week, Benee announced her debut album, Hey u x, and gave the audience a preview of what to expect on its release, November 13.
There’s a down-beat, woozy guitar number ‘All The Time’ which features the smooth vocals of Muroki who performed earlier. ‘Happen To Me’ contemplates her fears and vulnerabilities “about…everything” she says. ‘Same Effect’ I really like.
The night wrapped with another new Benee track, the bouncy, and enigmatic ‘Snail’ written in lockdown about her fascination with snails. The youngsters swooning around me already know the lyrics.
It’s very weird but wonderful. It was playing again on the radio on my Uber ride home.
– Sarah Downs
Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Rachel Webb
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