January 22, 2022

Sticky Fingers – Civic Theatre January 21, 2022

Sticky Fingers comes to Auckland. 50 years after The Rolling Stones released the album, New Zealand’s finest rockers put their stamp on these classic rock tracks…and more!

It felt both weird and wonderful to be at The Civic given the conditions and as we were waiting for the show to begin one could sense a tension in the air. Yes, we are all here together now, but what about tomorrow? Will Omicron shut us down again?

That question was on the minds of the musicians as well. Jon Toogood, who acted as something of a de-facto host for the night, welcomed us stating, “we came to party because…who knows?”

One thing we did know early on, this is a show that rocks. And how could it not? Some of the best classic rock songs were being played by New Zealand’s best rockers. This was no trot down memory lanes, these folks didn’t ‘cover’ the 26 Stones songs performed tonight, they inhabited them.

The night was divided into two sets with the first being Sticky Fingers in its entirely. Then set two was a Stones greatest hits grab bag. So, Jon got things going with a very enthusiastic version of Brown Sugar, a tune The Stones themselves recently deleted from their setlist due to…well, you know.

The band was sizzling. Here’s who was on stage: bandleader Jol Mulholland (guitar), Mike Hall (bass), Karen Hu (drums) Matthias Jordan (keys), Nick Atkinson (sax), Finn Scholes (trumpet), Lou’ana (vocals & guitar), Deva Mahal (vocals), Samuel Scott Flynn (vocals & guitar), Luke Buda (vocals & guitar) and last, but certainly not least, Brett Adams (guitar & vocals). Missing in action was Dianne Swann who is recuperating but her Bads partner Brett took up the slack for her. Get well soon Dianne, we hope to see you next week at The Others Way!

This was show full of highlights so I’ll try the highlight the highlights.

First was Brett stinging guitar solo during Sway…and as the night progressed he just got better and better with show-stopping performances during Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’, Sister Morphine (which he sang) and curtain closer Gimme Shelter and he “duelled” with Jol on Wild Horses.

Luke Buda and Samuel Flynn Scott of The Phoenix Foundation proved to be Wellington’s own Glimmer Twins as they fronted Dead Flowers, Let It Bleed and Rocks Off. (Nice suits guys)

Deva Mahal almost stole the show as she found her inner Merry Clayton during Sympathy For The Devil, Gimme Shelter and a raunchy You Gotta Move.

The real surprise was Lou’ana who shone brightly during her versions of I Got The Blues Honky Tonk Women and an especially emotional Angie. (There were tears)

Musically, the most impressive moments came during She’s A Rainbow. Matthias was heavenly on the piano and the arrangement proved more than ever that this group put real effort and thought into these “covers”.

Kudos too to drummer Karen Hu who filled Charlie’s shoes nicely…the late Charlie Watts himself was given a tribute in the form of Shine A Light a tune that, ironically, he didn’t play drums on (producer Jimmy Miller did)…but it’s the thought that counts.

There was a slight misstep at the end with a false start for Gimme Shelter proving that they are, indeed, mortals.

Otherwise there were the outstanding sax and horn solos by Nick and Finn and the over-the-top Jagger-like gestures from Jon that made this a night we’ll all remember.

Let’s hope the live music lives on, but if this is the last show in a while…at least it rocked.