Concert Review: Drax Project – Auckland Town Hall, 27 July 2019

It started out so well, but went downhill so quickly…in the end, your fearless reviewer was forced to flee the venue just 20 minutes into the Drax Project’s set.

I was really looking forward to this show. I’d seen Drax Project a number of times, most recently when they sold out two shows at The Powerstation last year.

I wanted to get to the Town Hall early to catch the opening acts, who were being touted as talents to watch out for.

I did arrive, just in time to catch Paige’s opening set, and I was not disappointed. She and her guitarist and drummer served up a handful of peppy pop confections such as So Far and Alignments. She was gone after 20 minutes, but she left fans smiling and impressed.

Sadly, that was a good as it was going to get.

Up next were Fortunes…two gentlemen who make “electro pop, soul and R&B” according to their press. They consist of producer/DJ Barnaby Matthews and vocalist Conor McCabe.

Barnaby was located behind a laptop and mixer, twirling knobs and hitting the “play’ button, while Conor sang.

I will say that Mr McCabe has good voice. But unfortunately he had a one-dimensional style of singing. Frankly, he sounds like he’s auditioning for one of those TV talent shows where everyone sounds like an aspiring Maria Carey or Freddie Mercury.

Musically, Fortunes was even less interesting. Their songs sounded unfocussed, with little structure, no hooks and, most criminally, no groove.

It was a trying 40 minutes, but when it was over, I thought the worst had passed.

I was wrong.

By this time the Town Hall was teeming with excited fans. I saw many parents accompanying their children…it seemed like a night out for the whole family. And why not, Drax Project come across as harmless, catchy pop musicians.

The band took the stage at approximately 9:30 to a huge display of sound and lights.

There were signs around the venue alerting us to the fact that this concert was being filmed and the band had obviously pulled out all the stops in order to make this look good.

Unfortunately the lights were on the stage, pointing out at the audience, and the bright flashing white lights, in particular, were literally blinding everyone in the room.

I was sitting at the rear of the venue in the balcony, and everyone around me had to shield their eyes because of the bright light.

Fortunately, the visual assault subsided after the first song, but that wasn’t the end of my pain.

In addition to the four musicians on stage playing guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, it was obvious that there was a synth-laden backing track that was accompanying the band. This track was very, very loud. It was also mostly low end. The result was very much like being hit in the gut with sonic shock wave. I actually felt like my internal organs were not only vibrating, but being moved around inside me.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good solid bass-line to the gut… but this was ridiculous.

And unbearable.

Combined with the headache I was developing from the blinding lights, by stomach and my ears were pleading for mercy.

After 20 minutes I could take it no longer and I had to leave.

As soon as I hit the street I felt better, although my ears were still ringing.

I felt bad for all those young fans in the venue and what must be happening to their hearing.

But I was glad to get out of there.

I’m sure that the resulting concert film won’t reflect any of this. And perhaps most people enjoyed themselves… although when I looked at audience members around me, they seemed to have pained expressions on their faces.

All I know is, if I’m going to lose my hearing at a concert, it’s going to be a far better one than this.

Marty Duda

Click any image below to view a gallery of photos of each band by Rachel Webb

Drax Project

Fortune

Paige