July 10, 2021

Concert Review: Flamingo Pier Galatos, Auckland 8 July 2021

Dance to the music and I want to take you higher. Flamingo Pier tap into seminal Sly and the Family Stone progressing to Seventies socially aware Soul to Disco. And generate some steam heat with the Sex Beat.

The Flamingos were created back in 2014 in London by New Zealanders Luke Walker (keyboards and synths), Dominic Jones (lead vocals, guitar and bass) and Brad Craig (lead guitar, bass and vocals). DJs for Disco Dance parties and shows. Later establishing a regular Waiheke Island gig in February at Rangihoua Estate.

They rarely make live music appearances. But over two nights at Galatos, they have gathered together a special ensemble to launch their self-titled debut album.

Stefaan Van Leuven bass, James Mataio drums, Isaac Chadderton percussion and drums, Emily Mackie keyboards, Jess Penson vocals, Jack Thirtle drums and special guest Nathan Haines on saxophone and clarinet.

It is a night of seamless hypnotic grooves and deep beats. A half dozen DJs between the upstairs and downstairs of Galatos.

I catch a little of Frank Booker. Celebrated Auckland DJ and in-demand for special occasions. Laying out a smooth and sinuous body-rock of boogie tonight.

Kedu Carlo are Nigerian-born Jess Penson and dancer Liza. They spin out a compulsive set of minimalist stripped-back Acid House and Techno. Jess adds a soulful melodic voice, and joins the Flamingos for several songs, later. Liza lays out a sensual Middle-Eastern belly-dance which conveys the music’s mesmerising groove.

I catch a little of Jeremy Spellacey who is laying out a more frantic beat. Falsetto Soul voices and powerful body-thumping beats.

While the DJ’s are spinning their sets and it’s all Flash, fast and Cool Herc, there is always a slight rise in heartbeat and temperature when the Soft Machines make an entrance and set up to play. Jones makes a humble welcome on behalf of Flamingo Pier. The totally loosened audience are wide open and receptive.

One of the underpinning themes is that dance music and Rhythm’n’Blues had foundations in Gay American musicians of colour. The original disco bars were Gay hang-outs. So, women felt safe there especially, to cut loose. This sensuality appears heightened with live musicians, and the band takes off with this energy.

Make You Wonder kicks off. Classic endless-riff dance groove with brassy trumpet pick-ups and melodic keyboard accents.

Lost But I’m Learning and two drummers are now playing. Along with the bass this is the back row of scrum. They underpin and hold the rhythm all night and are massive. As tight as the JB’s and that is high praise indeed.

Hold It comes from an earlier EP and the metronome beat has a tribal element with bongos.

From Indigo EP and Tripping Up. Spare and minimal guitar accents sparkle. The keys play Eighties Electro-Dance textures. Simple trumpet interjections counter-point right on time.

Find your Way is classic early Seventies Soul with touches of Sly Stone and quite a bit of Stevie Wonder’s mold-breaking late Motown social conscience Funk.

Deeper Soul mines this territory even further and you hear the imprints of Norman Whitfield with the Temptations and Superfly Curtis. The rhythm section is excelling as we hear the smooth tones of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin’ On roll out towards the end.