On a Saturday night with many entertainment options for the people of Te-Matau-A-Maui, a select audience was treated to a triple bill of quality artists at the sweet little spot that is the Paisley Stage.

First up was Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s Spinning Lights, making their East Coast debut. Their guitar-driven sound carries echoes of early 90's acts such as Sonic Youth (sans the noise factor), Screaming Trees and others, filtered through a sensibility reminiscent of Dunedin jangle. A heady mix that’s perhaps explained by the fact that lead singer and guitarist Piers Chamberlain went to Uni in Dunedin in the early 90's! Piers and bassist Kirsty Keys go back a long way, having once been in SinkBoat together, before that outfit was torn asunder by the departure of their third member. Some years passed by before their paths crossed again, but when they did the years fell away, such that they recruited drummer Harry Hines to the cause and got down to business, forming a formidable unit, described by some as a “power trio with teddy bears”, such is the juxtaposition of their diffuse elements! In any case, they produce a beautifully diverse sound that carries echoes of music from another time and are well worth checking out if the opportunity arises!

Principal place on the bill was taken by Tower of Flints, also from Te Whanganui-a-Tara. A project of scene veterans Joseph E Harrison (guitar and vox) and Neil Beales (guitar) along with more recent recruits Corey Wilkinson on drums and Jared King on bass, their sound falls loosely into the approximate area of Interpol or Echo and the Bunnymen, with Joe’s vocals having a decided touch of Bowie about them-all of which combine in powerful and dynamic fashion to create a compelling package.

As mentioned earlier, the audience would diplomatically be described as exclusive, but it’s to the credit of all the acts that played that this in no way lessened their commitment to the performance. These are songs that are drawn from life, in a refreshingly real way – the description given for Explain being that it’s a reflection on being ‘older, wiser, so full of shit, so full of fear’ - a pretty honest way of describing things! Much like the experiences from which they are drawn, the songs often end quite abruptly-no extended break-up scenes here. This displays the economy of their approach-never out staying their welcome but saying their piece and then they’re done.

There are also hints of a darker aspect to the lyrics, such as Make It Mine's "Take Your Hope and Make It Mine", adding an extra touch of atmosphere to the package. Overall, then, a no-nonsense, straight up style, which makes for a very entertaining live act, and another one definitely worth the effort to see! This honest approach continues through to the end, with Joseph explaining that there weren’t going to be the usual encore shenanigans – they were just going to play on through all their set, without the pretence of going off stage and being reluctantly dragged back on. No fucking around, we all knew what we were there for!

Final act, Tamaki Makaurau’s Dylan Frater, was a complete change of vibe from what came before, with his solo EDM sound (although his very stylish purple gat accompanied a version of Limp Bizkit’s My Way. Through no fault of his own, but purely a reflection of the diminutive audience, I felt he didn’t quite hit as well as he might-this was music for a full venue to close out a night with, to go out on a high, but there just weren’t enough people there to really let it take off. But he still gave it his all, to be fair-giving a tantalising taste of the impact he’d have in a heaving club-I’m quite sure he’d be filling that floor! Not being one given to the terpsichorean myself, you’ll just have to rely on my estimation there...

So, in summary, a night of great entertainment, provided by some very fine musicians, and a great tribute to May’s New Zealand Music Month. Lots more like this out there-get out and take it all in!

• 1
  Devilskin
• 2
  Coridian
• 3
  Take Hold
• 4
  Skinny Hobos
• 5
  Shihad
• 6
  Written By Wolves
• 7
  L.A.B.
• 8
  Katchafire
• 9
  The Feelers
• 10
  Head Like A Hole

• 
  Eve Kelly @ Big Fan, Auckland - 22/06/2023
• 
  Lisa Grace @ Big Fan, Auckland - 12/05/2024
• 
  Loveta @ Big Fan, Auckland - 12/05/2024
• 
  Floyd Marsden @ Moon, Wellington - 11/05/2024

• 1
  MILLION DOLLAR BABY
  Tommy Richman
• 2
  I HAD SOME HELP
  Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
• 3
  NOT LIKE US
  Kendrick Lamar
• 4
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 5
  TOO SWEET
  Hozier
• 6
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 7
  BEAUTIFUL THINGS
  Benson Boone
• 8
  FORTNIGHT
  Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
• 9
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 10
  I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
  Artemas

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