Troy Kingi and The APO Auckland Town Hall July 13, 2023

Troy Kingi helped set the stage for a memorable Matariki weekend with a very special, sold out, show at the Auckland Town Hall featuring his band along with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

We here at 13^th Floor still have Tami Neilson’s APO show bubbling in our brain and that was almost a year ago (was chosen as best concert of 2022).

But if anyone can fill those boots, it’s Troy Kingi.

From the very beginning Troy proved up for the challenge.

With the audience seated comfortably, the APO featuring orchestral arrangements by composer Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper, got things started in grand style with a rousing rendition of Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra.

Crikey, I thought for a moment Elvis was in the building!

The plan was for Troy and the APO to perform Kingi’s 2017 album, Shake That Skinny Ass All The Way To Zygertron, and that they did, just not in the order found on the album. And we even got the bonus track!

Instead, Troy started with Aqarii B, the last track on the record. Troy was accompied by a five-piece band including Mara TK on backing vocals and Marika Johnson on bass, who Troy has described as “my right-hand man’.

Unfortunately I don’t know the names of the keyboard player, drummer and female backing vocalist, but they were all excellent, with Troy playing electric guitar throughout.

And Troy himself was clearly moved to be playing these songs with these musicians giving a shout-out at one point to his wife, who was in the audience.

Troy’s guitar was a little low in the mix during the first set, but made itself heard in the second, especially on 9 Million Light Years, which Troy noted was his fave tune of the night with the APO and I do agree.

Then Aztechknowledgey was played, the crowed got up to dance and the vibe felt much less reserved and much more like a Troy Kingi gig.

Eyes At 80 Fathoms was fabulously funky and Turukanini featured Mara TK who Troy called, “the coolest cat in this country”.

We then got down to Predetermined Machine and Grandma’s Rocket Poem (inspired by the great Bill Withers).

The encore was All Your Ships Have Sailed with the band, the APO and Troy Kingi joining forces to make this a truly memorable night.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view the photo gallery:

Set 1 Setlist:

1. Aquarii B
2. Luna Steppa
3. Time Lapsium Gangtasium
4. Golden Taurus
5. Flat Earth Syndrome
6. Cosmo Colombus
7. Gold Shoes

Set 2:

 

1. 9 Million Light Years
2. Aztechknowledgey
3. Eyes At 80 Fathoms
4. Turukanini
5. Predetermined Machine
6. Grandma’s Rocket Poem
7. All Your Ships Have Sailed