Concert Review: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – Powerstation April 10, 2019

On their way to Byron Bay and Bluesfest, Nathaniel Rateliff and his Night Sweats stopped in at Auckland’s Powerstation to shake things up a bit.

Signed to the newly-revived Stax label, the Memphis-based record company that boasted the likes of Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and The Staple Singers on its roster back in its heyday, Rateliff’s sound draws from that classic soul sound while mixing in a bit of The Band and Bruce Springsteen.

And as proven last night, Rateliff has assembled a band that can deliver the goods, no matter what style. The Night Sweats consist of long-time collaborator Joseph Pope on bass, keyboard wiz Mark Shusterman, guitarist Luke Mossman, Patrick Meese on drums and a horn section  of Scott Frock (trumpet), And Wild (bari sax) and Jeff Dazey (tenor sax).

Together they sound like a classic 1960’s soul band, or perhaps, more accurately, like a modern-day version of the Blues Brothers band, easily recalling the sounds of Sam Cooke or Bobby “Blue” Bland, or Wilson Pickett, but with their own songs.

The set list is heavy on tunes from the band’s second album, 2018’s Tearing At The Seams, and the show starts with album opener Shoe Boot, followed closely by Be There.

It’s clear the ample crowd is there to have a good time as the sing and clap along, Frock’s trumpet piercing through the mix during the opening number.

Rateliff himself seems an unlikely frontman for a genre that has a legacy of flashy vocalists. His voice is soulful, but not particularly powerful, and his stage presence is somewhat reserved…he’s certainly no Wilson Pickett or Otis Redding. And as the evening progressed, I felt I could do with a little showboating. Most of the theatrics came from Shusterman’s hair flailing and the horn section’s tendency to step forward and blow.

While bopping and singing along, one could have fun spotting the influences…Howling At Nothing sounded like classic Sam Cooke, Babe I Know recalls Ray Charles and You Worry Me sounded like Jackson Browne’s These Days!

If there is any criticism to be made, it’s that the songs don’t quite stand up to the performances. They sounded great at the time, but I doubt I’ll be humming them to myself later this week.

That said, it didn’t bother the crowd, who looked like they were having a ball, especially by the time they got around to I Need Never Get Old and S.O.B., two of the songs from their debut album that helped make the band’s reputation in The States.

So, yes, from time to time, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats did sound like a very exciting covers band who refused to play any songs you know. But they did prove to be masterful musicians and showmen of the highest quality.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Veronica McLaughlin:

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Set List:

1. Shoe Boot
2. Be There
3. Look It Here
4. I Did It
5. I’ve Been Failing
6. Say It Louder
7. Howling At Nothing
8. A Little Honey
9. Coolin’ Out
10. Out On The Weekend
11. You Worry Me
12. Wasting Time
13. Babe I Know
14. Intro
15. I Need Never Get Old
16. O.B.
17. I’ll Be Damned
18. Hey Mama
19. Tearing At The Seams