It was Record Store Day, and vinyl fans across the country were treated to special events and special releases from musicians who year on year support the event. Across Auckland, independent record stores opened their doors following advertising campaigns on the run up to day. The ethos of Record Store Day is to celebrate the existence of the independent record stores. I salute this and as Empire Records would have it, ‘Damn the Man’. Saturday, 13 April, then was also an ideal time to celebrate a new vinyl release – and this is just what Wellingtonian band Mermaidens planned.

The Mermaidens 7" Release tour took place at Neck of the Woods on Karangahape Road; it was the last of four dates which saw the band perform across New Zealand. It was also my first visit to the venue; it was a good space with the stage easy to see from the back of the room and no queue at the bar.

The most recognisable sound, when I first listened to this band, was their psychedelic influences. It was dream-like owing to the vocals, but it was a little darker at the edges: the drums and guitar rise up throughout the tracks and intermittently overwhelm the breathy singing.

The vocals I’d initially considered folk-like were different live. Opening with Lizard from their 2017 album Perfect Body, there was a feeling of expert synergy between band members. There was also an ethereal and soulful vocal delivery. This was a band whose live performance felt purposefully polished and well-practiced, a joy to watch.

Live, I liked the way the lyrics and instruments interlinked in the performance, as if in conversation with one another. There’s the influence of grunge and metal at times, in the energetic drums. It sounds a little strange, but it made me think of an emotional fearlessness.

Another highlight of the performance was the new single You Maintain The Stain. To me, there’s obvious poetry to their lyric writing. I love it. It’s sludge-infused at times. Reading about the band’s interpretation of lyrics: there was a political bent. I enjoyed the sound, jarring, off centre, slipping from a slow paced punk feel to riffy and drum heavy moments all overlaid with feminine vocals which, in totality, I can only call original.

There were intriguing percussion and bass arrangements and I could see the influence of electronic motifs in late twentieth century music. The closing track for the gig was Cold Skin it was an atmospheric track which ultimately delivered the same slightly unsettling, echo-laden sound which make the complex and interesting sound of this band a must see live for fans.

Mermaidens continue to tour internationally in May 2019, their next listed gigs include London, Brighton and Berlin.

• 1
  Head Like A Hole
• 2
  Horror Story
• 3
  Fraser Ross
• 4
  Fur Patrol
• 5
  Michelle Rounds
• 6
  L.A.B.
• 7
  Devilskin
• 8
  Coridian
• 9
  The Boondocks
• 10
  Late to Chelsea

• 
  LOST BiRD @ Space Academy, Christchurch - 15/12/2024
• 
  Just Janie @ Space Academy, Christchurch - 15/12/2024
• 
  Dream Chambers @ Meow Nui, Wellington - 14/12/2024
• 
  The Phoenix Foundation @ Meow Nui, Wellington - 14/12/2024

• 1
  APT.
  ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
• 2
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 4
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 5
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
  Gracie Abrams
• 6
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 7
  SAILOR SONG
  Gigi Perez
• 8
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 9
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 10
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan

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