Primacy - Gig Review: Primacy, Remote & Pull Down the Sun @ Kings Arms, Auckland - 12/08/2017
Last night's show was one of those really awesome ones where
there are all those people you haven’t seen in what feels like a hundred years
and it was definitely a night that could have gone on for a few more
hours! The bands all added to that
excitement though and I’m pretty sure when I see any of these bands again
I will be reminded of this night and the people, music, laughter and
memories. My only regret is missing the
first act the solo and acoustic set by Bryce Patten but I heard very good
things from those that did see him. It
was also a night I wished I wasn’t reviewing numerous times because the band’s
music and energy made me want to dance and headbang all night (which I did)
and had to remind myself to take notes of the bands in between enjoying myself. As I write this my stomach is sore from
laughing and my neck and back are sore from moshing and head banging –
definitely signs of an amazing night.
Pull Down the Sun was the first full piece band and this is a band I’m so happy to know about now
and I kind of feel like I’ve been under a rock not having heard or seen them
before! They reminded me of so many
bands – a little bit of NZ Legends Cripple Mr Onion with the crazy time signatures
and very much like Meshuggah with a more ambient/psychedelic feel. It’s been a few months since I have seen a
new band I haven’t seen before and it’s normally hard to dance or mosh because
you don’t know where the music will go but as soon as Pull Down the Sun took to
the stage and started playing I instantly wanted to move!
Pull Down the Sun are a band in their own league there’s no way to pigeon hole them in one
particular genre. Punk, Grunge, Heavy
Metal, Thrash, Math Metal, subtle elements of Death Metal my notes from the
show read like a glossary index of Metal and rock subgenres. Pull down the Sun take the listener on a
journey as every song is so different. They put on the performance to go with the amazing music as well. I love it when bands put effort into their
shows with synchronized headbanging etc. and this was emphasised more by there
not many people up the front of the bar – but Pull down the Sun didn’t care
they were there to have fun and the people that were there, definitely enjoyed
the set. My notes for Pull Down the Sun
end with this gem I’ll leave you with – This is the kind of music that makes my
soul happy. Do yourselves a favour and
get out and check out this Whanganui based band the next time they are playing
in your town.
Primacy were up next. I was outside when they started and watched their first song by the
outside side of stage area at the Kings Arms but it didn’t take me long to run
around and join the dancing crowd. I’m
glad I took the time to sit back for the first song though as it was the only
time during their set I was standing still. I loved Jason’s use of the mega phone during some of their songs, it
added a depth and ambience to his already amazing voice but also a depth and
added element in the visual effect of the bands performance as a whole.
Watching a Primacy set is a real treat with all of the musicians being extremely talented. I was blown away by Jason McIver’s vocal
abilities. I’ve worked with previous
bands he has been in and it has been maybe 4 years since I have seen him
perform again. His voice has matured and
he has found his style and owns it! I
think it also helps that he is no longer playing guitar while performing and is
now able to focus on his abilities as a vocalist, he is definitely one of NZ’s
best vocalists.
The song that stands out for me the most from Primacy’s set was their new song they played for the first time in Auckland called Scorpion was played live for the 2nd time last night, with the first time being at Down the Rabbit Hole event. I absolutely loved it! It was probably the heaviest song of their set and with the double kicks featuring prominently it was awesome to see Will let loose behind the kit. It had a much darker ambience to it than other Primacy songs and with the distorted bass and guitars all combine to make one dark masterful song. Primacy are playing next weekend at The Brutalitees Birthday bash and I really hope they pull out Scorpion for the crowd again!
Last it was time for Remote who are celebrating 20 years of music this year! I’ve seen them a few times over the years at
various sized venues and last night was one of the best performances I’ve seen
from them. The band was on fire! Rob is a shredding machine! Most definitely one of New Zealand’s best
guitarists. I love Andy’s voice and it’s
easy to forget what a powerful presence he is on stage, when you talk to him
off stage as he is one of those chameleons who go from friendly, kind soul off
stage to brutal beast on stage – THOSE GROWLS! So powerful! Remote also features
Will Stairmand on drums (also in Primacy) and last night I came to the
realisation that if this man is behind the drums any band he performs in will
be amazing!
We were in for a treat last night with brand new songs not heard
before! Remote are currently working on a new EP that will be released in
the next few months. There was two songs
off it that I loved - A Team and Red Hat. A Team was a song that took you on a journey
through the history of rock music I felt. Parts of it with a grungy tone, then psychedelic then on to funky bass
and guitars. I loved it when they did a cheeky
stop towards the end and the crowd all cheered thinking it was over but
nope! Just a little cheeky stop. Red Hat which will be their next single they
release started how I LOVE – with bass and drums and was another song where I
found my self-captivated by Will’s masterful drums.
This is a night I could have relived many times. For a show organized in such a short amount of time it was one of the better ones I’ve been to this year. I can’t wait to see the bands live again! Check them out if you haven’t! Well worth it.
About Primacy
Primacy were formed in 2014 after the split of well know local bands The Blacklight Configuration, Overhaile and Heathen Eyes – the timing was right, the songs were right and the team was right, Primacy came together as a collective around guitarist Adrian Brausch's new and unused material from his former band Overhaile.
Their first EP Failure and Sacrifice was released in 2016, and followed by a mini-EP in 2017 III.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Primacy
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