The Wedding Present – The Kings Arms July 4, 2017

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The Wedding Present holds a special place in the hearts of many Kiwi music lovers…they are still buzzing about the last NZ visit a couple of years ago. And so, the veteran band from Leeds returned to Auckland’s Kings Arms to light a fire under the crowd one more time.

Kiwi three-piece Avoid Avoid got things sizzling with their brand of droney Kraut rock, setting the stage for what was to come.

By the time the four members of The Wedding Present took the stage, the house was comfortably full. These days singer/guitarist David Gedge is the only original member of the band but he is ably assisted by Australian guitarist Marcus Kain, drummer Charlie Layton and the striking Danielle Wadey on bass and backing vocals.

The quartet came roaring out of the gate with Give My Love To Kevin, a track from their first and best-loved album, George Best.

The band sounded tight, and well they should, as they have been performing George Best in its entirety recently in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

Tonight though, it was a complete career overview.

After another oldie from 1989’s Bizarro, the band dug into their latest album, Going, Going…playing three songs from it in a row, making the point that this was no nostalgia act.

In addition to the blistering guitar play between Kain and Gedge…and there was plenty of that…David Gedge’s stage presence is an integral part of the show. His wry, dry sense of humour punctuated the set with comments such as “We are the semi-legendary Wedding Present”, and “here’s a trio of songs from our frankly ground-breaking new album”.

In addition to playing their own songs, the band covered an old Flying Nun favourite, The JPSE’s Mothers, managing to pay tribute to the Kiwi band, while making the song their own at the same time.

After Mothers came Two Bridges, after which Gedge commented, “Now we’re rocking, aren’t we?’

Yes they were.

By the time they were finished having their way with Flying Saucer all four band members were smiling broadly at what had just transpired on stage. This was followed by a slow-burning, explosive version of Santa Monica and finally, back to the past for Kennedy.

With ears ringing, the crowd and the band went their separate ways, no doubt to return in a couple years’ time and do it all over again.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Ivan Karczewski:

The Wedding Present set list:

  1. Give My Love To Kevin
  2. What Have I Said Now?
  3. Bells
  4. Broken Bow
  5. Rachel
  6. Interstate 5
  7. It’s What You Want That Matters
  8. Love Slave
  9. Drive
  10. Mothers
  11. Two Bridges
  12. Dalliance
  13. You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends
  14. Shatner
  15. Bear
  16. Flying Saucer
  17. Santa Monica
  18. Kennedy
Marty Duda
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