Portishead – Vector Arena Nov. 10, 2011
The last time Portishead played in Auckland singer Beth Gibbons left the stage bleeding, but triumphant. That was in April of 1998. Since then, the band has released just one album, 2008’s Third, but what an album it is. Now, Gibbons, along with guitarist Adrian Utley and keyboard player/percussionist Geoff Barrow return to Auckland, this […]
Bic Runga – Kings Arms, Nov. 9, 2011
The last time I saw Bic Runga perform as a solo artist was November, 2005 just as her third studio album, Birds was released. Six years later and here she is on the relatively tiny stage of Auckland’s Kings Arms, just about to release her new album, Belle. Having been away for so long, Bic […]
Steely Dan & Steve Winwood: Vector Arena, 4 November 2011
Steely Dan last played here in September of 2007. That show found the band concentrating on their later output (Aja and Gaucho) and eschewing many of their biggest hits. This time around was different. The evening started with a 30 minute set by Anika Moa and her band, although, sadly I missed all but her […]
Def Leppard & Heart – Vector Arena, 12 October 2011
Two rock giants of the 1980s lumbered into town and played to a three-quarters full Vector Arena in Auckland. Although both bands had their biggest commercial success during the pastel decade, Heart had been cranking out hits since their 1976 debut album, Dreamboat Annie, spawned AOR friendly tracks like Crazy On You and Magic Man. […]
Alice Cooper – Trusts Stadium, Auckland Sept. 22, 2011
It was March 5, 1973 when I first saw Alice Cooper. It was the Billion Dollar Babies tour and Alice was just starting to work his theatrics into the set…there was a dancing tooth that Alice chased with an oversized toothbrush and, of course, an execution of Alice. Almost 40 years later and we meet […]
Eli “Paperboy” Reed at Galatos April 29, 2011
If you were trying to avoid the Royal Wedding, there was no better place to be than Galatos on Friday night. Boston-based Eli “Paperboy” Reed brought a trimmed down version of his band The True Loves (no horn players) and entertained a small but enthusiastic crowd for just over 90 minutes. Reed has released three […]
Mavis Staples, The Blind Boys Of Alabama & Aaron Neville April 28, 2011 Civic Theatre
In a month full of extraordinary live performances, Mavis Staples’ hour-long set at The Civic may have been the high point. In a surprise move, the 71-year-old singer took the stage ahead of The Blind Boys and Aaron Neville. Her crack band appeared promptly at 8pm. This is the same band that backed Mavis up […]
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi – Powerstation April 27, 2011
Some say Derek Trucks is the reincarnation of Duane Allman. He certainly does nothing to dispel that myth. He’s been playing guitar since he was old enough to walk, and has been touring with The Allman Brothers Band, playing Duane’s licks, since he was 12. Since 1997 he has also fronted his own band. Susan […]
Leon Russell Concert Review
Thirty-nine years ago I was a wide-eyed 16-year-old who had just experienced Leon Russell in concert for the first time. This was in 1972 and the tour was the one that produced the classic triple album, Leon Live. As I remember, Russell played for close to three hours, with him and his 10-piece band whipping […]
Marianne Dissard – Lucha Lounge, 16 April 2011
French-born, but now living in Tuscon, Arizona, Marianne Dissard has been a frequent visitor to New Zealand. Her latest tour took her to Dunedin, Napier and even Lyttelton, where she put on a couple of benefit shows.
Funky Meters Rock The Powerstation, 15 April 2017
The Funky Meters, featuring Art Neville (keyboards) and George Porter (bass), two original Meters, played a set at Auckland’s Powerstation on Friday, April 15th. As would be expected, the band’s set consisted of New Orleans-style instrumental classics like Fire In The Bayou and Hey Pocky A-Way. In addition to Neville and Porter, the group consists […]
Justin Townes Earle, Powerstation, 26 March 2011
Justin Townes Earle has a reputation…as a hard-drinking, drug-taking troublemaker (he spent a short time in jail last year) and as an incisive, heartfelt songwriter with an instinctive feel for American folk, blues and country music (his opening slot at last year’s Wilco concert at the Civic left many folks impressed). Of course the same […]
Santana Concert Review – Vector Arena 20 March 2011
I first saw Santana in 1974. They played at a huge outdoor stadium in upstate New York. It was the middle of summer and it was a blistering hot day. So I, along with 80,000 other fans, revelled in Carlos Santana’s exquisite guitar licks as they floated through the muggy air and over the simmering […]
Roxy Music Live: Villa Maria Estate Winery Mar. 6, 2011
While the idea of having Roxy Music perform outdoors in the middle of one of New Zealand’s premiere wineries might seem like a good idea on paper, the reality was a bit different. Fortunately the torrential rain that fell during most of the weekend in Auckland let up on Sunday afternoon and the sun actually […]
Liam Finn & The Come Agains at Tabac
Liam Finn made his public debut with his new band The Come Agains, Wednesday night at Tabac. In addition to Liam on guitar and vocals, the band consists of Joel Mulholland, Jeremy Toy and brother Elroy Finn. Liam and his new band are playing two very intimate gigs at Tabac before they set off to […]
Neil Diamond – Auckland’s Vector Arena 26 February 2011
After a week of live music from Queens Of The Stone Age, Tricky, Amanda Palmer, Gang Of Four and Don McLean, Neil Diamond may not be the hippest ticket in town, but it certainly featured the most hits. I went along to see Diamond (for the first time) expecting to know just about every song […]
Don McLean – Aotea Centre, 24 February 2011
It’s rather incredible to think that it’s been 40 years since Don McLean’s American Pie was released on the public, instantly becoming one of the iconic songs of the 1970s and coining the phrase, “the day the music died”. I first saw McLean play live in 1976 when I was at University. He was an […]
Amanda Palmer: Kings Arms Auckland Feb. 23, 2011
The Christchurch earthquake almost kept Amanda Palmer from getting to Auckland. It was only due to a late plane that Palmer missed being caught in Christchurch on Tuesday when the deadly quake hit. Instead she played a ninja show in Napier and arrived in Auckland at 8pm on Wednesday, just hours before she hit the […]
Tricky: Live At The Powerstation: Trip Flop 22 February 2011
Tricky may have been a hot commodity back in 1994 when Trip Hop was the current rage, but in 2011, the sparse crowd at The Powerstation proved that his pulling power has diminished over the years. Judging by his performance, the fans who stayed away probably made the right move. The Knowle West Boy took […]
Queens Of The Stone Age In Auckland
Well, Josh Homme and band rolled into Auckland for their first show since October. Activities got underway early in the day. At 12:30 they gathered at Real Groovy Records for a press conference. All five members of the band were sitting at a table while about 20 “journalists” and a crowd of fans asked […]