March 13, 2015

Ezza Rose Band – Wine Cellar

It was a dark and stormy night, but that didn’t stop the small but engaged crowd turning up to enjoy the Ezza Rose Band at the Wine Cellar.

All the way from Portland, Oregon, and fresh from a tour of Alaska, the eponymous Ezza Rose and the rest of the band is tight, evidence of playing together over many miles. They’re halfway through a New Zealand tour, supported along the way by Jess Shanks of The Eastern, Ebony Lamb of Eb & Sparrow, Matt Langley, Luckless and Reb Fountain.

The tour is supporting When the Water’s Hot which fans will note is a musical departure from Ezza Rose’s 2014 album, Poolside. While Poolside was all about voice (raw recordings recorded in the bottom of an empty swimming pool), the set was layered old-school rock and roll riffs, bass, keys and drums over Ezza Rose’s amazing voice.

In Thursday (“a song dedicated to today,”), the group demonstrated their talent. The song started simply, with a plantative request: “tell me your code, and ask me” before swelling to a burst of sound. (I made a note: “drums!!!”) After this crescendo, they dropped back again.

While some lyrics are noticeably romantic (“The records on the shelf make me think of someone else,”) humour was woven through the set. Sex or Breakfast is introduced not by name, but as “This songs about the decisions you have to make in the morning to start out your day.”

It’s easy to see why the Ezza Rose Band have been making fans with every stop around the country. Check them out if they’re in your town.

– Rachel Rayner

Here are the remaining NZ dates for the Ezza Rose Band:

Friday 13th March, Leigh Sawmill, Leigh
Saturday 14th March, Tauranga Art Gallery, Tauranga
Sunday 15th March, The Rogue Stage, Rotorua
Thursday 19th March, King Street Live, Masterton
Friday 20th March, Raumati Social Club, Kapati Coast
Saturday 21rst March, The Common Room, Hastings
Sunday 22nd March, Meow, Wellington
Wednesday 25th March, Mussel Inn, Golden Bay
Friday 27th March, Taste Merchants, Dunedin
Saturday 28th March, The Grain Store, Oamaru