Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen – Tuning Fork: May 29, 2024
It was a dark and stormy night…but that didn’t stop Jon Cleary and his band from bringing a taste of New Orleans to Auckland as they closed out their tour with style and funk…lots of funk.
Tinariwen – Powerstation: May 29, 2024: (13th Floor Concert Review)
Tinariwen is not desert rock, as in Yawning Man, Kyuss and QTSA, but desert blues, a synthesis of traditional West African music, funneled through guitar-fusion, with an influence of blues and Americana.
Sparta with Bad Jones and Miinds – Whammy Bar: May 26, 2024 (Photo Gallery)
Sparta brought their Wiretap Scars 20 Year Celebration Tour to Auckland’s Whammy Bar last night. Our reviewer pulled a sickkie, but 13th Floor photographer Azrie was all over it.
Psycho Gab and Crumbly Jack: Whammy Backroom: May 23, 2024 (Photo Gallery)
Psycho Gab celebrated the release of their latest single, Pianomen, at Whammy’s Backroom on Thursday night with help from their friends Crumbly Jack. 13th Floor Photographer Azrie was there to catch all the action.
Explosions In The Sky – The Powerstation: May 19, 2024 (Concert Review)
Explosions In The Sky returned to Auckland after a lengthy hiatus to perform their unique brand of Texas-borne post/prog rock on heels of their latest album, titled simply, End.
Peter Hook & The Light – Auckland Town Hall: May 18, 2024 (Concert Review)
On the 44th anniversary of Ian Curtis’s suicide, it feels a little strange to be once again experiencing Peter Hook and his very own embodiment of Joy Division and New Order in Tamaki Makaurau. It now takes a lot more than one hand to count how many times Hooky has visited and performed in Aotearoa.
When The Cat’s Away – The Powerstation: May 18, 2024 (Photo Gallery)
New Zealand 80s vocal supergroup When The Cat’s Away got back together to perform at Auckland’s Powerstation, closing out a run of four shows throughout the country.
Swallow The Rat, Dictaphone Blues & Vor-Stellen – Whammy Bar: May 17, 2024
Swallow The Rat, recent slayers at SXSW, where they played at the “One day we’ll play there…” venue, sold out all the merch and made a ton of industry contacts. Tonight was their first show since their return, and alongside them, they enlisted two rather interesting acts. It could be said that tonight was the […]
Sleater-Kinney – The Tuning Fork: May 15, 2024 (Concert Review)
Sleater-Kinney brought their Little Rope Tour to Auckland last night, not at The PowerStation, as originally advertised, but the much smaller Tuning Fork.
Eve Kelly, Lisa Grace & Loveta – Big Fan: May 12, 2024 (Photo Gallery)
Eve Kelly and her band along with two more up-and-coming Kiwi artists performed at Big Fan last night and 13th Floor photographer Aaron Christiansen was there to catch all the action.
Come Together: U2’s The Joshua Tree – Civic Theatre: May 11, 2024
Another season of the Come Together series gets underway in stellar fashion with New Zealand’s finest taking on U2’s 1987 classic album, The Joshua Tree.
Ekko Park – Big Fan: May 10, 2024 (Concert Review)
Taking full advantage of the all ages entry, Ekko Park celebrated the release of their new EP, delivering a blistering and emotional set with support from some of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most promising Rangatahi; Fan Club and Where’s Jai.
Boy & Bear – Auckland Town Hall: May 10, 2024 (Concert Review)
Less than a year after their last Auckland show, Boy & Bear return with their Harlequin Dream 10 Year Celebration Tour.
Nothing But Thieves – The Powerstation: May 9, 2024 (Concert Review)
Bombastic British rockers, Nothing But Thieves made their New Zealand debut at Auckland’s Powerstation, proving that they are almost too big for the venerable venue to hold.
Macklemore – Spark Arena: May 9, 2024 (13th Floor Concert Review)
MACKLEMORE brought Spark Arena to a frenzy, delighting a massive, hyped-up crowd with a fast-paced run through of material from his latest album BEN, a very new (and political) release and favourites from his back catalogue. Carin Newbould was there on an unforgettable night.
Eric Bibb – Tuning Fork: May 9, 2024 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Three acoustic guitars surround one chair on stage. Just after 8pm, Eric Bibb walks through the crowd and up onto the stage. Tall, loose pants, straw hat, wide smile. No need for an opening act. The crowd mostly in their 60s are clearly only here for one man.
Skids – Galatos: May 8, 2024 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Twice (a sort of) Big Country came to Aotearoa, but never Skids, until now. Finally, 13th Floor Concert Reviewer Simon Coffey got to see (a sort of) the Skids and hear some of his favourite classic punk/post-punk tunes in the flesh.
James Taylor – Spark Arena: April 30, 2024 (Concert Review)
James Taylor and his All Star Band helped bring April to an end in style with a tour-closing, hit-filled, crowd-pleasing show that brought smiles both to Taylor and his fans.
Bill Withers Social Club – Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre: April 27, 2024 (Concert Review)
The Bill Withers Social Club met in Auckland last Saturday night with Troy Kingi acting as host, seated front and centre and surrounded by some of New Zealand’s finest as they paid tribute to the man whose songs touched so many lives.
Dragon – Auckland Town Hall: April 27, 2024 (Concert Review)
Dragon brought their 50th Anniversary Tour to Auckland’s Town Hall and The 13th Floor’s Karen McCarthy was their to revel in the nostalgia while photographer Chris Zwaagdyk put his camera to good use.