Concert Review: Troy Kingi, Hollywood Avondale, 25 October 2020

Another fine night of live music in the Elemental Series as Troy Kingi & The Clutch rocked The Hollywood Avondale.

If you were a music fan, there could be no better place to be in Auckland, in New Zealand, perhaps in the world than the Hollywood in Avondale.

Seems, unlikely, but true.

Troy and his band (I counted 9 of them) filled the stage and the room with some of the funkiest sounds on the planet in celebration of the latest album, The Ghost Of Freddie Cesar. 

Rarely have I seen a man make an entrance on stage in the “style” of our man Troy.  Decked out in his 70s Superfly finery, one couldn’t help but wonder how Troy didn’t cook himself to death in the outfit.

Instead it was the band doing the cooking, propelled by drummer Treye Liu and bassist Marika Hodgson. They didn’t just cook, they almost boiled over!

The band also included 2 keyboard/horn players, 2 backing vocals  a spare percussionist and (including Troy) two guitarist.

So as Troy was pimpin’ & primpin’  this band sizzled beginning with Shake That Skinny Ass and Is The Honeymoon Gone? the two tracks that kick off Freddie Cesar. The entire album, save Sky Legs Jackson, got an airing with songs like King Of The Powder and Good Love bustin’ out like a bull let loose on Pamplona’s streets.

With the bull run cancelled this year, Troy & The Clutch more than made up for it, tossin’ in old favourites like Aztechknowledgey and Time Lapsium Gangtasium keepin’ those booties bouncin’.

A high point for me was Good Love followed by All Your Ships Have Sailed, but to be honest this show was a highlight from beginning to end. My only complaint may be the the sound was a little murky when trying to hear the vocals. A minor quibble when we are talking about a show of this quality.

More please!

Marty

Thanks to Troy for providing these vital details:

Troy Kingi & the Clutch
Bass and MD – Marika Hodgson
Drums – Treye Liu
Guitar – Karlos Tunks
Keys/Trumpet/Glockenspiel – Guy Harrison
Keys/Trumpet/SPD Samples – Forrest Thorp
BV – Rachel Hall
BV – Nina Joyce
Percussion – Greg Haver

Special Guest – NEKO

Setlist

1. Shake that Skinny Ass
2. Is the Honeymoon Gone?
3. Through my Venetians
4. Caught in the Rain
5. (Golden Taurus  – segue)
6. Aztechknowledgey
7. Time Lapsium Gangtasium
8. (Luna Steppa – segue)
9. King of the Powder
10. Just a Phase
11. First Take Strut
12. Good Love
13. All your Ships have Sailed
14. Chronophobic Disco
15. Nam Must Stay

Encore

16. Grandmas Rocket Poem
17. Mighty Invader

Click any image to see a full size gallery from Todd Buchanan

Troy Kingi & The Clutch

Neko