I turned up to this gig not knowing what to expect. Sure I’d heard the radio hits and a couple of tracks from the album, but what would they be like live?
The crowd were buzzing and the venue was electric, would they disappoint? The answer came after only a few seconds, this was going to be some gig!
Six60 really took me by surprise for a number of reasons. Firstly Matiu Walters had amazing stage presence and right from the start engaged the audience. There were no tedious long talks but he was in the mood for a party.
Secondly, the classic hit Don’t Forget Your Roots was played in the classic way, but the rest of the songs had a hypnotic rave feeling that had the crowd jumping, especially Rise Up 2.0.
The bass drum and bass at times felt destructive and I haven’t felt that explosive need to jump around for years. The live show would not translate to CD very well due to epic booming bass that a home stereo simply wouldn’t be able to cope with. This is probably why they have their two distinct styles and keep them separate.
This is a band I would recommend for avid fans or newcomers alike.
Bonding over a shared love of NZ music and passion for making their own, Six60 formed after meeting at a Kora concert in 2006. Three members flatted together as Otago Uni students, spending countless hours in their recording studio (Eli's room) at number 660 on notorious Castle St.
The Six60 sound is unique - a fresh Kiwi fusion of roots, reggae, hip hop, dubstep, and drum and bass.