The Septembers - Cabaret Wellington Gig
30 Sep 2006 // A review by johnsoncraigsbc
Saturday night saw me trudge around half of Wellington as I tried to find a bar/venue called Cabaret which I had never heard of before. I finally decided to ask in the nearby Starmart for directions only to find I had walked straight past it several times. Cabaret is a small bar come gig venue which is incorporated with a Asian Restaurant. As I walked into Cabaret I was shown to a table where me and my friend sat down and ordered a drink from the bar. The small tables, with candles, created a certain ambience in the small, dimly lit room. In front of me on the low lying stage sat an acoustic guitar and a bass, and at that moment I knew what ever was going to happen next was going to be great. It was probably the most upmarket venue I’ve ever been to, which made it a fun experience listening to an acoustic and vocal player in such a setting.
Round shiny discs scattered the ceiling which reflected the candle light from every direction. The whole atmosphere was just unreal, I felt like I was in another realm.
It didn’t take long for The Septembers to take the stage, much to the appreciation of some vocal friends and family. The set was short and sweet, playing a total of four songs, with one very impressive acoustic guitar solo. It’s been a while since I’ve heard a male performer who has such control of his voice, and accompanies it successful with masterful guitar playing. The bass player seemed to have complete control of his instrument. He played slow, long notes which blended in so well with the riff of the songs that they all seemed to melt into one defined tone. The final solo performance was amazing.
If you ever want to see a fast paced, high skilled acoustic guitar solo, The Septembers should be your first choice. It went on for longer than I thought it could’ve, and every second of it was as compelling as the last.
My whole Septembers experience was fantastic. I had never heard of or seen them before, but after that gig, I am confident in saying I would not miss an opportunity to see them again.
Craig Johnson
About The Septembers
Since forming in 2006, The Septembers have built a reputation as a captivating live band with a compelling sound and dynamic performances. They’ve played support and headline tours throughout New Zealand with electrifying gigs at both basement bars and festivals.
Taking their sonic influences from classic Americana such as REM and Wilco, with the twisted romantic rock’n’roll of The Smiths and Radiohead, The Septembers’ music veers from searing acoustic heartbreakers to stomping power-pop - sometimes within the space of the same song!
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for The Septembers