Concert Review: Harper Finn – The Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen May 15, 2021

Saturday night in Auckland and you know its going to be a late one when the opening act is scheduled to start at 9:30. But hopefully the wait will be worth it when Harper Finn hits the stage.

The venue tonight is the Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen, a “gastropub” located on Sale St that is trying it hand as a live music provider. And yes, there are diners out for a evening meal within vision who have no idea that Harper Finn, LA Women and Indyah are about to serenade us for the next two hours. Fortunately there is plenty of separation between the diners and the listeners and it really isn’t an issue.

Up first is Indyah (Madsen). She warms us up with a 30 minute set the is strong on charm, if not a little light on hooks. With a handful of singles under her belt (Dynamite, Lockdown, Turning Blue) and a few new songs at the ready, young Indyah does her best to get the gathering crowd’s attention.

“Is it hot in here or is it just me?” she asks.

Judging by the bulky jacket she was wearing, I’d venture to say it was just her.

And then, from the Wairarapa comes LA Women. While you might assume from their name they are an all-female Doors cover band…such is not the case.

They are a three-piece led by Jake Schdroski, along with keyboardist and primary songwriter, first cousin Zac Emerson (drums), and their friend Jesse Brown (guitar).

The sound is decidedly more contemporary than The Doors, but not quite as memorable. The first several tunes suffer from a similar beat, and they on stage banter sounds like little more than mumbling at times.

The do get the most stage time of the night and later tunes such as Falling In Love, Novocaine and Daydreams get the crowd moving. The “Ta-ta-tas” on Daydreams generate an irresistible urge to sing along.

By the time Harper hits the stage its almost midnight. By this time the place is packed and Harper’s proud parents are among the spectators.

We suddenly hear a sonic blast…a startling siren…and then everything changes as soon as Harper and his band hit the stage and launch into She Said.

We here at 13^th Floor have been watching Harper Finn for a while now and are impressed with his stage presence, his vocals and, most important, his songwriting.

Harper’s sound is certainly not classic rock, Americana, or singer-songwriter.

He uses synths and electronica in a way that sounds fresh and exciting.

The 45 minute set is full of great tunes…Teenage Queen, Conversations (With The Moon) and Sundown, along with a couple of covers.

I loved his version of the Goldenhorse nugget, Maybe Tomorrow and he even made The Smiths’ Please Please Please Let Me Get what I Want sound good (my dislike of Morrissey is well documented)

It was well after the midnight hour when we heard Dance Away The Days…the last song of the evening.

But myself, and I’d say, a good portion of the crowd weren’t tired, but rather feeling reinvigorated thanks to the urgency and immediacy of Harper Finn’s fine performance.

Marty Duda

Click any icon to view a gallery from each artist. Photos by Chris Zwaagdyk

Harper Finn

LA Women

Indyah

Harper Finn Set list:

1. She Said
2. Teenage Queen
3. Voices Off Camera
4. Conversations (With The Moon)
5. Man Or Machine
6. Good For Me
7. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
8. Norway
9. Sundown
10. Maybe Tomorrow
11. Dance Away These Days