Crash Test Dummies -The Powerstation April 9, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)

Some 35 years after forming in Winnipeg, Canada, Crash Test Dummies made their New Zealand concert debut last night at Auckland’s Powerstation and the fans showed up in droves.

Yes, it was another sellout show, even though I suspect most folks were there to hear just one song, so, wisely, the band saved it for last.

Meteor

Early arrivers were treated to the “ambient space junk” of Meteor, a trio formed by Jonathan Crayford and featuring Mostyn Cole on bass and Max Crook on drums. Tonight they are a duo…drums and synths…and they made an otherworldly sound for about 25 minutes, with some cool lighting to go with it. It was music to buy merch by.

Crash Test Dummies

With CTD, its all about that voice. As soon as Brad Roberts opens his mouth and starts singing Ghosts That Haunt Me, one can’t help but hear Mmm, Mmm,Mmm, Mmm clanging around in your head. The song and the voice are that iconic..

Over the following years I’m sure having a hit like that has been a weight around the band’s neck (click here to watch the 13th Floor interview with Brad Roberts), but, hey, its better than being forgotten.

And to be fair, the band has an impressive body of work to draw from and touring is probably the best way to get fans of that one song to open their ears to what else they have to offer.

And albums such as God Shuffled His Feet and The Ghosts That Haunt Me reveal a band that is inventive, melodic and willing to experiment. Vocalist Ellen Reid gives the Dummies even more strength and Ellen was here tonight, a vocal counterpoint to the bass-baritone of Roberts.

“Are you ready to rock moderately?” she asked the crowd before singing XTC’s The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead.

Indeed we were.

In addition to Brad and Ellen, the rest of tonight’s version of the band included guitarist Stuart Cameron, keyboard player  Leith Fleming-Smith, drummer Mitch Dorge and Dan Roberts on bass.

The big moment came 75 minutes into the set as the still-full house sang, or hummed along to Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm. Everyone shot a video or photo and then everyone went home happy. And then God shuffled his feet, again.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Chris Zwaagdyk:

Crash Test Dummies:

Meteor:

 Crash Test Dummies Setlist:

  1. Ghosts That Haunt Me
  2. In The Days Of The Caveman
  3. Flying Feeling
  4. I Think I’ll Disappear Now
  5. How Does A Duck Know
  6. God Shuffled His Feet
  7. Swimming In Your Ocean
  8. The Psychic
  9. Androgynous
  10. Two Knights and Maidens
  11. The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
  12. Superman’s Song
  13. Sacred Alphabet
  14. Afternoons & Coffeespoons
  15. Heart Of Stone
  16. He Liked To Feel It
  17. Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm

 

 

 

 

Marty Duda
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