The Loving Arms – Big Fan: March 5, 2023

The Loving Arms celebrated the release of their debut album, Dreaming Over You, with two full sets at Auckland’s hippest new venue, Big Fan.

I don’t know if it was John Steinbeck or Robert Burns who said it first, but yes, the best laid plans of mice and men do indeed often go awry.

My plans looked good at first glance: The Tattletale Saints were due to perform an early show (doors open at 7pm) at Tuning Fork, so I figured I’d catch their set and still be at Big Fan in Morningside by 9pm (surely the opening act wouldn’t go on until 8:30).

How wrong I was.

Turns out it was Tattletale Saints with the opening act…the lovely Sophie Gibson…which meant the Saints, were not on til 8:30. Still, I caught 30 minutes of their beautiful set and heard two favourites…Sonoma County Wine and Zevon’s Carmelita…then I rushed off to Morningside (be sure to look for Rev Orange Peel’s review of the complete Tattletale Saints show along with Leonie’s photos).

But when I arrived at Big Fan, The Loving Arms were in the middle of…not their first set, but their second.

Crikey!

It turns out they had no opener and took the stage at 8pm.

No matter. It was time to chill out and take in the live sounds of Mark Beesley (vocals, keys), Catherine Townsend (vocals, perc), Dominic Blaazer (guitar, keys, vocals), Steven Shaw (bass) and Bryan Shaw (drums).

They were in the middle of Another Day In Love, a highlight from the album (they eventually performed all nine tracks). This was followed by Angel In Disgrace with Mark and Catherine harmonizing over the slow and graceful tune.

Next Catherine took the lead on Last Fool Standing, turning in a vocal performance that was both strident and tender.

Overall, the band’s sound is moody, noir/Americana but they did liven things up with the appropriately bouncy Jump Right Back, inspiring Mr Beesley to have a boogie with a couple of audience members.

By this time, the audience was thinning out…I was assured there were many more present for the first set, but hey, it is Sunday night.

This second set wrapped with Long Time Gone, which also closes out the album. The song reminds me of Whiter Shade Of Pale thanks in part to Dominic Blaazer’s hymn-like organ solo (he was pretty hot on guitar too).

And speaking of 60s classics, the encore was a soulful version of The Bee Gees’ To Love Somebody…well Barry Gibb did write the tune for Otis Redding.

Finally, the show came to an end with Sun Going Down. It was a folky singalong  featuring whistling by Dominic and lyrics by Beesley that sounded very relevant…’You’ll never beat the weather, so don’t let it bring you down’…dedicated to victims of the recent cyclone.

I believe this show was a one-off, but hopefully they will take to the road again soon. Maybe they can tour with Tattletale Saints and I can catch them both without all of the drama!

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Hamish Graham:

Click here to watch the 13th Floor interview with The Loving Arms

THE LOVING ARMS BIG FAN SET-LIST  5/3/23

Set 1

1. 1. TURN YOUR LIGHTS DOWN
   2. EASY LOVE
   3. STILL NEED YOUR LOVE (Catherine lead vox)
   4. SUNSHINE ON YOUR FACE
   5. ONES YOU LOVE.
   6. RIVER RUNS DRY
   7. I DON’T HAVE THE WORDS (Catherine lead)
   8. DON’T NEED PERSUADING
   9. IF THIS IS HOW IT ENDS

Set 2

1. DREAMING OVER YOU
2. SWEETHEART AND THE CREATURE
3. TABLE FOR ONE. (Catherine lead)
4. ANOTHER DAY IN LOVE
5. ANGEL IN DISGRACE
6. LAST FOOL STANDING (Catherine lead)
7. JUMP RIGHT BACK
8. DO YOU
9. LONG TIME GONE

ENCORE

10. TO LOVE SOMEBODY
11. SUN GOING DOWN