Concert Review: Lips – Neck of the Woods August 5, 2021

Lips and Phoebe Rings celebrated the end of their national tour in style at Auckland’s Neck Of The Woods.

You can pretty much guarantee that it’s going to be a good show when you spot many of the band’s contemporaries in the audience. A quick glance around the room after arriving somewhat late (sorry Phoebe) and I spotted Tami Neilson, members of The Beths and bassist Cass Basil.

I will say the Neck Of The Woods isn’t always a great venue, but tonight it proved to be the place to be.

There was a feeling of anticipation and celebration in the air as Steph Brown, dressed in a fetching  Marge Simpson as a Goth red outfit, took her place behind the keyboard, front and centre. But where was the rest of the band?

As Steph fired up Sometimes I’m Afraid, the rest of the crew could be seen marching through the crowd, making their way to the stage.

Steph was smiling ear to ear as the group, drummer Fen Ikner, along with Ruby Walsh (Dateline) and Maude Morris (Lexxa) ploughed through the crowd looking and sounding like they were in a New Orleans Mardi Gras Procession.

After hitting 2015’s Traces Of Teddy, the band turned their attention to their new album, I Don’t Know Why I Do Anything beginning with opener Heave Ho!

Fen managed to get a few words in after but, really this was Steph’s show.

Known chiefly as a songwriter (APRA-winning Everything To Me, Daffodils soundtrack) Steph Brown showed what a powerhouse front person she can be.

The songs themselves are full of hooks, melodies and other delights, but Steph’s delivery took them to another level.

Her impassioned vocal on Ghosts And Demons caused Fen to literally roar from the drum kit afterward.  “The world needs a little more arghhhh!” he told us.

That was followed by Nightfall, another highlight from the new album.

But it was Your Deodorant Doesn’t Work that really got her dander up, yelling/rapping about Beyonce/Michelle Obama/Candice Bergen/Dolly Parton.

If that didn’t get your attention, it was followed by I Want U, which found Brown breaking down into a psychotic rant.

Wild stuff!

But it all was good fun. In fact, the good vibes were downright contagious as the audience members found themselves grinning happily as they sang along to What The Hell and I’ll Say Goodbye (Even Though I’m Blue)

The Neck Of The Woods was buzzing, but sadly the show was all over…with audience and band left grinning like idiots. We want more!

Marty Duda

Click any icon for a full-size gallery of photos by Hugo Coleman