Concert Review: Mako Road – Powerstation November 15, 2020

Mako Road are singing The Beatles’ Come Together towards the end of the show. Increasing its rhythmic thrust with a Reggae backbeat. A second sell-out show and a night of vibrant and superbly executed Indie Pop from them and their two support acts.

Formed at University in Christchurch. Now calling Wellington home. A band which seems to have some out of nowhere but have quickly gained popularity through the Internet Age. If you have talent and skills you can surf in on this new Spirit called Ethernet. Relied on radio in the past to break artists.

Mako are Rhian Ward lead singer and guitar, Conor McErlich guitar, Connor Jaine bass guitar and Robbie Day drums.

Maybe the Beatles are a clue to their sound. After ushering in the psychedelic era, they took their music back to Pop roots. From there Power Pop like the Yardbirds and Nazz to stripped back Rock’n’Roll of Bad Company and Free.

The guys site Sticky Fingers as seminal. They also connect to other great current Aussie Indie-Rock like Hockey Dad and the DMA’s.

They have great support tonight.

Dolphin Friendly are four young rock’n’rollers from Christchurch. The name suggests, and they confirm they have interests in environmental activism and social causes. That’s great and they also take care of the serious business of thrashing out a good time.

That’s how they start. Rock riffs from the guitars and then they speed it up and charge off. Fast throbbing motor from the bass. It’s a warm lazy Sunday evening but that means we will crank it up.

Blackout has a nice classic Blues to Soul guitar opening and progresses to classic rock riffing and singing. They play around with different elements. Graft in the I know I know refrain from Bill Wither’s Ain’t No Sunshine.

A few new ones given a spin. Title sounds like Killing Silence. About wanting to promote unity. The Punk Reggae guitar scratch of the Clash. An incantatory song speech. Guitars go to Funk and then extend it out in Crazy Horse and Neil Young fashion.

Another one possibly called Ride Town is Rap with solid rhythm emphasised by chanks guitar riffing. The singer speeds up the delivery to Eminem pace.

There’s A Tuesday

There’s A Tuesday are also a four piece from Christchurch and play Indie Pop with a definite Folk bent. Gender balanced and so the only females on stage tonight. That is Nat Hutton and Minnie Robberds on vocals and guitars. Completed by Angus Murray bass and Joel Becker drums.

Sound of the Stars is a good example of their approach. The opening is sung slow, dreamy and brightly melodic. The engine room drums and bass add some faster energy and dance it around the room.

FOMO has a honky-tonk opening before charging off with a New Wave Pop bounce. The guitars combine and the girls charge around on stage.

Pinata Head is their single from last year. Perfect chiming guitar riffs and an insistent Folk sound from unison singing.

Their latest single Amsterdam, is given a good workout to close their set. A sunny bright Folk Pop romp is given extra energy on stage. The guitars lay out fast clipped riffs to get the audience jumping.

Mako Road

Mako Road have a definite Summer Reggae guitar sound to a number of songs and so reflect a signature style of many local artists starting from Herbs and progressing through acts like Fat Freddys Drop, Black Seeds and Katchafire. Local Safari, Velvet Pinata and Glimmer.

Lost My Tongue is a new one. An album is on the way. Starts with a direct Dub Reggae beat. Builds slowly and adds in some Surf guitar twang. The song swirls and spirals and goes off sounding like the Smith’s Draize Train.

The young Varsity audience seem to transmit enthusiasm to the stage and the band seem to go from strength to strength with each song.

The Sun Comes Up gets a huge reaction. Pop intertwined with Reggae rhythm. The guitars ring and chime and help this fly.

Ride also gets a rousing cheer. They start with a Western guitar and a slow opening as the singer laments, I don’t know what to say/ We’ve been lovers before. Soft atmosphere until they whip up the energy and build this up into a raver.

Ward has a strong melodic voice when on stage and behind a cooking band. The engine room is tight and adds necessary muscle to lift these tunes energy levels. And the guitars are just great to listen to with their textures.

Mako Road and the others are all tailor-made to outdoor Summer music and they seem fit and ready to charge ahead. While the rest of the world continue to suffer under banishment.

Rev Orange Peel

Click any image to see a full size gallery gallery of Mako Road at the Powerstation. All photos by Todd Buchanan.