July 19, 2020

Concert Review: Nick Dow, Wine Cellar, Auckland 18 July 2020

An inspiring set of original songs from jazz pianist Nick Dow played to a packed Wine Cellar. With stellar support by two young artists, Antony Jeffares and Marianne Wren, it was a solid showcase of great gifted Kiwi vocalists.

Antony Jeffares sings in a blue-eyed Soul Paul Young style, and he really takes it through the paces over a seven-song set. Emotional, reaching high peaks easily, sustaining the groove to great appreciation from the enthusiastic crowd.

He had a go at The Auckland University School of Jazz. He has ventured out on his own and the result we hear tonight is surprisingly good. There was a golden period of AM radio around mid-Sixties up to Punk, the Billboard American Top Forty sound. And Antony’s sound seems pitched right into there.

The opening track is a good indication of the goods. A rhythm loop from a miniature drum machine. A bouncy tune with the voice reaching peaks with the slightest of vibrato.

Misery Under the Sun sparkles with some great guitar hooks.

We Carry On sung in a high tenor. A slower tempo. Folk pop in the manner of the Seventies singer-songwriters.

He has performed previously as an electronic duo, PleasePlease. Next month, he will play with a band behind him, possibly back at the Wine Cellar. Well worth catching again.

Marianne Wren is obviously going to be a fast-rising star too, if she can get her material out on vinyl/compact disc or a digital platform. She also is a very talented singer, a strong and melodic voice without vibrato, performing her own Indie-Folk and Pop material

She has been one of the artists developed by Parachute Music, a music production business also associated with the Parachute music festivals at Mystery Creek. Her band were headliners there in February this year, as Angus Grainger, the drummer informs me. Introduces the rest of the band. Lewis Boyd on keyboards, Liam McKenzie guitar, Mitchell Nemeth bass.

But it’s hard to encapsulate their sound as influences are wide-ranging.

With Sophia she sings in folk style similar to Sandy Denny, a little smokers grit in the vocal cords. Reminds me a little of Maggie May in lyrical subject too.

Tangleweed has a slow start until the drums kick in and propel it along, a great Power Pop tune.

One possibly called What Did I Expect has Marianne singing in a distinctly Alt-Country voice. Then ringing guitars and keyboards rise up like waves washing over everything.

There is a great version of the Goldenhorse classic Maybe Tomorrow. Marianne does this on her own with acoustic guitar and again shows she has a powerful voice.

Absolutely watch out for more from Marianne Wren and the band.

Nick Dow has been singing playing music from a young age. Moved to Christchurch from Auckland aged ten. Whilst at Christs College there, he joined the New Zealand Secondary School choir, and also sang in the Youth Choir. He gained a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano at Lincoln University.

Recent song-writing has been informed with recent battles with mental health issues.

Opening song tonight is Isolation. Very cinematic in feel, a spare piano with a falsetto beginning, then moves into a high tenor voice. Melancholy film music.

Has with him tonight an electric bass player, a drummer and a keyboard player.

If I Had Eyes repeats the slow reflective start, then moves into a dancing Motown funk groove. Reminiscent of early Seventies Stevie Wonder circa Superstition. Then with piano they progress to a Jazz Steely Dan sound.

Run is a brand-new song. It has a nice Seventies Soul Jazz feel and the bass and drums hit a nice back-bone freeing groove. It’s played too fast says Nick to the band.

Next song actually is Slow. This one has a disco opening rhythm with the keyboards sounding like vibes. Great Soul Pop vocals with added falsetto gospel yodels. Complex rhythmic changes.

Gone Away is a song about the lies we tell ourselves Nick explains.

Can you trust me/ Even though I don’t trust myself/ Will you still love me/ even though I don’t love myself.

Another brand new one is Daughter and her Dad. A classic Seventies Soul sound again.

Layers has some nice piano playing. A sombre mood and tone which gradually builds in emotion. Remind me of Joni Mitchell.

Crazy Days picks up the tempo. A great funk bass line, jazzy keyboards, a great Soul Jazz vocal. Moondancing Van Morrison.

Closing number and Nick dedicates this to a not-so-great year so far. She’s in the same room/ But I feel so far away from her/ It‘s been a struggle. Piano playing a little like Randy Newman and some great passionate vocals.

Three great young musicians and their bands. Small intimate venue packed.

Could easily have a dozen more like this around the city, and whilst we are in our own country bubble, let’s have more of this.

Rev Orange Peel

Click any image to see a full size gallery of Marianne Wren and Nick Dow