Jenny Mitchell – The 13th Floor April 6, 2024 (Concert Review)

Jenny Mitchell has made her musical journey from Gore to Wellington and now to The 13^th Floor in Auckland, where she and her sister Nicola treated 50 or so lucky fans to a beautiful Saturday night of Kiwi-style Country.

Yes, that’s right, The 13^th Floor is now a music venue and last night’s show was a great way to get things started.

Fables

Opening the proceedings was Fables, aka Jess Bailey, who, along with Adam Ogle, got things going with a 30 minute set featuring fans favourites like All The Pretty Little Horses and Mini Bar, along with new songs like Complicated Time, co-written by Jasmine Mary, who was in the audience, lending their support.

It turned into an emotional performance, with Jess shedding a few tears as she wrapped up her part of the show with We Could Be All. Look for more from Fables soon.

Jenny Mitchell

Jenny Mitchell began her set solo, with Wildfires, the title track to her 2018 album, along with If You Were A Bird, from 2022’s Tug Of War, while promising “a bunch of new songs”.

Not surprisingly, Jenny was in excellent voice and the room immediately felt warm and intimate. She prefaced her song Dirt with commentary on how Forest & Bird, who she has raised funds for, and the local farmers in and around Gore, who she grew up with, have more in common than they might believe and how they should try to find common ground.

Then a quick birthday shout out to friend Sophie, in the audience before sister Nicola stepped up to back Jenny for…Sister.

The two voices blend beautifully…missing only Nicola’s twin, Maegan, who is still back in Gore.

After acknowledging a few “distinguished guests”, including Green Party leader Chloe Swarbrick and TV and radio presenter Mike Puru, who is part of the new Southern Cross Country Radio station.

What better time to play Johnny Cash’s I Walk The Line? And that’s just what they did.

Nicola took her own solo turn, singing Mind Of Mine and Reasons, with Jenny playing guitar on the latter.

The two sisters paid tribute to their mother with To You, Julie and then invited Adam Ogle back up to add his mandolin to Travellin’ Bones, while, 18-year-old Matthew, son of sound man, Todd Sutton, joined in on piano, having never heard the song before. The youngster was wonderful, even taking a quick solo and making this the highlight of the evening.

We got one more new song; the gospel-tinged Where The Water’s Cold, before rounding out the night with a couple of Tami Neilson co-writes, Like A House and Trouble Finds A Girl.

There’s no doubt that Country Music is cool again and if anyone had any doubts, the proof was on display last night.

Marty Duda

Next stop is Wellington on April 26^th. Click here for tour dates and tickets.

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

Jenny Mitchell:

Fables:

 

Jenny Mitchell Setlist:

1. Wildfires
2. If You Were A Bird
3. Dirt
4. Sister
5. Somehow
6. I Walk The Line
7. One Day
8. Mind Of Mine
9. Reasons
10. To You, Julie
11. Travellin’ Bones
12. Where The Water’s Cold
13. Like A House
14. Trouble Finds A Girl