Greg Johnson – Sky City Theatre: May 2, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)

New Zealand Music Month is going well so far, thanks to Greg Johnson’s Vine Street Stories 30th Anniversary Tour.

Greg Johnson brought the show to Auckland and a sold-out crowd met him ready to revel in the warm glow of Greg, his songs and his ace band even as the weather turned cold outside.

Maybe its because he has set up shop overseas…moving to Los Angeles in 2002…but it seems that Johnson is somewhat overlooked when it comes to discussing New Zealand’s finest songwriters.

And that’s a mistake, as he proved effortlessly tonight.

This tour is set up to pay tribute to Greg’s 1995 solo debut album, Vine Street Stories, which, so far, is also his best selling album.

Recorded in his Vine St home in St Mary’s Bay in Auckland, the album features favourites like Don’t Wait Another Day, You Stay Out Of Your Life and Makes Me Wanna Fly. I should point out that the record has just be reissued on vinyl by Universal NZ and copies seemed to be selling steadily from the merch table, even as Greg noted from the stage that they were going to cost “thousands”.

This was “an evening with” affair…no opening act, just two, very strong sets from Greg and band, who are: Wayne Bell (drums), Mark Hughes (bass), Ben King (guitar) and, also from LA, Kiwi songstress Lisa Crawley (keys, clarinet, melodica & vocals).

The first set was Vine Street Stories in its entirety, from beginning to end and, unlike some album that get this “Anniversary” live treatment, it holds up well to being played and heard as released.

Greg Johnson proved himself an affable host…telling stories, many at is own expence…shouting out to friend, family and former bandmates that were in the house…a tribute to how well thought of he is…and sounding solid throughout both sets…if he could only tune a guitar.

While the band was awesome, Lisa Crawley wins MVP, here keyboard flourishes adding a certain sparkle to the mix and her harmonies helping to bring Greg lyrics to life…plus we got to hear a tune from her own EP, New Girl Syndrome.

The break between sets was a welcome respite…why can’t we have them during long films…and the mood was boyant throughoiut the night.

In addition to singing and playing keys, Greg Johnson blew his trumpet, strummed his (ill-tuned) guitar and sang some of the best songs to ever come from these parts…and that’s saying a lot. But if writing songs like Isabelle, Save Yourself, Now The Sun Is Out and Don’t Wait Another Day doesn’t get him in the HOF, I don’t know what will.

Fortunately he shows no sign of slowing down as new tunes such as Remnants and Only A Little Rain easily hold their own against the “classics”.

Yes, at age 57, Greg Johnson may be “making almost nothing very quickly”…his commentary on streaming…but he is still “ahead of the game”.

Marty Duda

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Greg Johnson Setlist:

Set 1:

  1. Come On
  2. Sun Beat Down
  3. Don’t Wait Another Day
  4. You Stay Out Of Your Life
  5. Suddenly Cold
  6. Screaming Inside
  7. Turn It In
  8. If I Swagger
  9. Those Aren’t Real Tears
  10. Beautiful Chain
  11. Pleasure & Overdose
  12. Bent
  13. Makes Me Wanna Fly

Set 2:

  1. Next Trip Around The Sun (solo)
  2. What You Can Do (Lisa)
  3. Isabelle
  4. Save Yourself
  5. A Change In Joe
  6. Looking Out On Monday
  7. Only A Little Rain
  8. Remnants
  9. Now The Sun Is Out

Encore

  1. It’s Been So Long
  2. Don’t Be The One

Catch the tour in Christchurch tonight and tomorrow:

GREG JOHNSON – TICKETS

 

 

 

Marty Duda
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