Supergroove – Auckland Town Hall: April 26, 2025 (13thFloor Concert Review)

A full house turned out to help a reunited Supergroove celebrate their significant musical legacy. Their output was relatively small, but their influence on NZ music was, and still is, huge.  

Proof of that importance came in the form of the band’s “special guests” who include Troy Kingi, Rubi Du and King Kapisi, who warmed up the crowd with a DJ set leading up to two sets of live music.  

Troy Kingi followed Kapisi with a 2-song set starting with an acoustic version of Moko …he told us he will be “joining the club in July” and was joined by Supergroove members for a funky Through My Venetians.

“Please give it up for the mighty, mighty Supergroove!” announced Troy, and off we went. 

This is the 1994 version of the group with Karl Steven and Che Fu fronting guitarist Ben Sciascia, bass player Joe Lonie, drummer Ian Jones and horn section Nick Atkinson (sax) and Tim Stewart (trumpet). Tim and Nick are much more than horn players…singing, playing keys and running around like maniacs, helping Karl and Che to keep that energy level up.  Tim vocal turn on Mannish Boy was something special. 

 

The set list included almost all of debut album, Traction along with additional solo Che Fu hits like Chains and Misty Frequencies, King Kapisi’s Screams From Da Old Plantation, a couple of reggae-tinged groovers from Rubi Du. But the best moments came when Troy or King Kapisi or Rubi joined the band and just meshed with the Supergroove vibe. Kingi was so at home, it seemed like he had been a bandmember all along.

 

And the crowd, a delightfully diverse bunch spanning all ages, genders and races were completely engaged, clapping, singing, dancing and smiling throughout the 2 hours of. magic produced on the hallowed stage that is Auckland’s Town Hall.  

“We’re nervous playing in front of people we actually know”, claimed Karl, reveling in the home town love coming from the audience. 

At the beginning of the night we were told this was show number #13 of this Phenomenon Tour and its was “gonna be the craziest” It very well could have been. 

If you missed it, I suggest you show up tonight when it happens all over again.  

Marty Duda 

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Den:

Supergroove setlist: 

Set 1: 

  1. Moko (Troy)
  2. Through My Venetians (Troy)
  3. Here Comes The Supergroove
  4. Your White Shirt
  5. Screams From Da Ol Plantation (King Kapisi)
  6. Five Word Headline
  7. You Gotta Know
  8. For Whatever reason
  9. Mannish Boy
  10. Sister Sister
  11. Coming Right Thru (Rubi Du)
  12. Don’t Look Down
  13. Misty Frequencies (Che Fu)

Set 2:

  1. Back Up (Rubi Du)
  2. Bigga Tingz (Rubi Du)
  3. Machine Talk (Che Fu)
  4. Bugs & Critters
  5. All Your Ships Have Sailed (Troy)
  6. Soul Time Strikes Back
  7. Chains (Che Fu)
  8. You Freak Me
  9. Ride The Rhino
  10. Can’t Get Enough
  11. Raise Up! (King Kapisi)
  12. Sitting Inside My Head
  13. Fade-Away (Che Fu)
  14. Next Time
  15. Scorpio Girls

 King Kapisi:

 

 

Marty Duda
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