Gin Wigmore – Powerstation

 

With a new album only just released this week, Gin Wigmore played her first show in well over a year and Auckland’s Powerstation. On stage, she mentioned she was concerned that her fans may have forgotten her. But there was no need to worry as the venerable venue was packed.

If fact, when this date was first announce, Gin was going to play at the much smaller Kings Arms. Much as I would have loved seeing her there, it would have been tough to fit everyone that wanted to see her in there and the move to the Powerstation was a wise one.

The lights dimmed and Gin’s five-piece band took the stage at precisely 9:45. Each of the five band members was dressed in matching black shirts and pants and bolo ties. In the past, when Gin has played here, she has used her Kiwi band, led by guitarist Brett Adams, but this time around, we were treated to her American band, although her lead guitarist is indeed a New Zealander, Dave Goodison.

It was clear from the start that the emphasis tonight was going to be on new music from the just-released Blood To Bone album and they kicked off with New Rush, the first single from the album.

It seemed like it took Gin a few minutes to get comfortable on stage…she’d been away for a while…but by the end of the song she was looking and sounding confident. The band itself was excellent…well-rehearsed, tight with all five guys adding backing vocals.

From there we got the stomping beat and guitar riff of Kill Of The Night…very Suzi Quatro/glam-sounding

After Black Parade, a piano ballad from Blood To Bone, Gin stopped to address the crowd…”Wow, this is so cool! Hello Auckland.” She seemed genuinely thrilled and surprised that so many had shown up to see her and treated them to a couple of old favourites…Hey Ho and Black Sheep.

Then it was back to the new songs. DFU didn’t impress me much, but the others…In My Way, 24 and Nothing To No One were top notch.

The hour-long set ended with Written On The Water, also from Blood To Bone, and one of the highlights of the evening.

For the encore it was back to the pounding drum beat of Man Like That and Sweet Hell, with Gin trading vocal lines with Dave Goodison.

The evening wrapped up with Gin, accompanied by the keyboard player as the four other band members gather together to sing backing vocals for the ballad I Will Love You…the song that closed out Blood To Bone.

Gin proved she’s still got it. Her band rocked and her new songs held up well under the scrutiny of her fans. And best of all, her, her band and the audience all looked to be having a great time.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Michael Flynn:

Gin Wigmore set list:

1. New Rush
2. Kill Of The Night
3. Black Parade
4. Hey Ho
5. Black Sheep
6. DFU
7. In My Way
8. If Only
9. 24
10. Dirty Love
11. Nothing To No One
12. One Last Look
13. Written In The Water
14. Man Like That
15. Sweet Hell
16. I Will Love You