The The – Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre: November 14, 2024 (13th Floor Concert Review)

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The The brought their Ensouled World Tour to Auckland’s Kiri Te Kanawa  Theatre. The 13th Floor’s Diana Phillips provides the words, and Joel Leong the pictures.

35 years of collaborative  projects came together last night in a sold out show in downtown Auckland. The The, a London born band that has been known to shift musicians with every new release, is finishing up their world tour after their 2024 album, Ensoulment, was released in early September. I had spent the night before catching up on several previous records, and was stoked to see the progression of styles and timeless lyrics that show The TheMatt Johnson’s staunch politically relavent views merged with taut, stark poetry. There was a distinct whiff of what Joy Division might be like if they hadn’t had all that depression.

Johnson and his crew started the evening out with an amuse bouche called Cognitive Dissident. He then proceeded to share a few jokes with the audience, one being that he was the only original member of The The. He then set up the evening into two sets, the first being the entire Ensoulment album and, after a short intermission, the rest of the night was made for dancing to the classics.  This show gave the impression of an evolution of sorts, to a darker place, a little less Talking Heads and a little more Morphine or Tom Waits.

The The

The guitarist brought in a psychedelic and post-punk vibe by applying a cello bow to their guitar. He stayed on stage during the intermission, with a presence that was as haunting as the notes he pulled out of that guitar.

The The has always been lyric heavy, and all of their albums sport a full song written out in Johnson’s own handwriting.  This new album does not disappoint when it comes to the verbal gymnastics witnessed onstage.  This particular iteration consisted of Barrie Cadogan on guitar, James Eller on bass,  Earl Harvin on the drums, and DC Collard on keyboards. Their world tour ends soon in Australia, and it has me wondering if their next show might have an entirely different band. I wouldn’t put it past them.

Diana Phillips

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Joel Leong:

The The Setlist:

Set 1, Ensoulment:

  1. Cognitive Dissident
  2. Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave of William Blake
  3. Zen And The Art Of Dating
  4. Kissing The Ring Of POTUS
  5. Life After Life
  6. I Want To Wake Up With You
  7. Down By The Frozen River
  8. Risin’ Above The Need
  9. Linoleum Smooth To The Stockinged Foot
  10. Where Do We Go When We Die
  11. I Hope You Remember (The Things I Can’t Forget)
  12. A Rainy Day In May

Set 2, Retrospect:

  1. Infected
  2. Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)
  3. The Sinking Feeling
  4. Heartland
  5. The Whisperers
  6. Love Is Stronger Than Death
  7. August & September
  8. Slow Emotion Replay
  9. This Is The Day
  10. Icing Up
  11. Dogs Of Lust
  12. Sweet Bird Of Truth
  13. Lonely Planet

Encore:  Uncertain Smile

Diana Phillips
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