Mermaidens - Gig Review: Mermaidens @ The Hollywood Avondale, Auckland - 8/12/2023
With the theme of sourness scattered throughout their self-titled album, Mermaidens left the same exciting taste in our mouths during their performance of
their record at The Hollywood Avondale. Their music pops with a fizzing sort of sourness from confectionery, one which demands to be felt, is addictive and elicits a visceral reaction.
Earth Tongue (pictured) was first to open the night, with Mermaidens’ own Gussie Larkin and Soft Bait’s Ezra Simons generating a surprising amount of fuzzy heat as a duo. Larkin’s clanging guitar and confident singing met Simons’ drumming at exciting peaks. They barely had to communicate to be synchronised in their hard-hitting performance.
Nestled between two monstera plants then emerged Power Nap, whose synth-heavy tracks were atmospheric yet a whole bunch of dance fun. Once you’ve settled into the groove created by Chris Cudby's nimble fingers, a new element arises that tickles listeners of all genres. The electronic soundscape Cudby created softened Earth Tongue’s hooks and led nicely into the main event:
The trio of Gussie Larkin, Lily Paris West and Abe Hollingsworth were joined by guest bandmate Louisa Nicklin (Dimmer, D.C. Maxwell) on guitar 2. Together, they were a force to behold. West and Larkin’s vocal harmonies and the matching energy and prowess of Nicklin and Hollingsworth remained throughout the night with the upbeat Sister, I Like To Be Alone and Dress for Success. Hollingsworth’s percussion seemed effortlessly expert, especially on Push it in sync with West’s bass and in conjunction with the raking guitar of Larkin and Nicklin on Tear it down.
Despite the deserved hype in the room for the band’s upbeat songs, it was the slower tunes like Greedy Mouth, Siren Song and the stripped down rendition of Comet which left the crowd transfixed. A highlight was West’s exquisite voice here.
The show felt like it was for the enjoyment of everyone, with the band changing outfits midway into overheating yet cool denim, and a surprise lineup of women swaying with their hands in each others’ back pockets (a fitting reference to I Like To Be Alone) in the finale.
The royal venue of The Hollywood Avondale was perfect for Mermaidens’ monarchic reign over our ears, especially in the good hands of The Beths’ Jonathan Pearce on sound. This gig certainly marks a turning point for the exceptional trio who are a must-see.
Photo Credit: Taiga Semori
Mermaidens Photo Gallery
Earth Tongue Photo Gallery
Power Nap Photo Gallery
About Mermaidens
Together, childhood friends Gussie Larkin (guitar/co-lead vocals), Lily West (bass/co-lead vocals) and Abe Hollingsworth (drums) form a powerful trinity of unwavering creativity and relentless work ethic. Their time together as Mermaidens has been a fruitful one; a timeline consisting of three critically acclaimed albums, releasing music on the iconic indie label Flying Nun Records, and a wide range of live supports that include Sleater Kinney, Death Cab for Cutie, Lorde, Mac DeMarco and The Veils.
The band kicked 2021 off with a bang, announcing a nationwide tour and releasing the slow-burning anthem Soft Energy – the video for which was exclusively premiered by Ensemble magazine. The single and tour come off the back of a 12-month period that saw the band host their first ever Mermgrown festival (to a sold out crowd, no less) and gain a nomination for Best Alternative Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards. In addition to this, West took home the Aotearoa Music Award for Best Album Art (Look Me In The Eyes).
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Mermaidens
Releases
Other Reviews By Samantha Cheong
Gig Review: Marlin's Dreaming @ Hollywood Avondale, Auckland - 19/09/2024
21 Sep 2024 // by Samantha Cheong
The memory of a shadow, its original form stretched out threefold across the outer walls of the Hollywood Avondale, is the first and strange thing I remember from my time watching Marlin’s Dreaming on Thursday night. It’s the shadow of a singer, mic in front of him, guitar neck peeking forward.
Read More...
Gig Review: Shepherds Reign @ The Tuning Fork, Auckland - 10/08/2024
12 Aug 2024 // by Samantha Cheong
“What genre are you all here for?” Polynesian band Top Shelf asked the crowd shortly as they finished their supporting set.
Read More...
04 Jun 2024 // by Samantha Cheong
Brent Eccles’ alleged idea for a three headliner tour of Aotearoa featuring cherished and acclaimed Flying Nun artists Voom, [Vera Ellen} and Reb Fountain is nothing short of genius and an historical accomplishment. There was a packed turnout at Auckland’s The Powerstation on the Sunday of King’s Birthday weekend, consisting of many adults near or in middle age.
Read More...
Sam Bambery - Album Review: Rubricator
16 May 2024 // by Samantha Cheong
"A ‘rubricator’ was a copyist or scribe in the Middle Ages, whose role was to etch rubrics and eye-catching typography (typically in red ink) to signify important passages of a book such as changes in time, concept or setting. Sam Bambery’s second studio album of the same name captures the anxiety and intricacies living in a “postmodern world where nothing is truly new, just our individual expression”.
Read More...
Amila - EP Review: Life Changes
19 Sep 2023 // by Samantha Cheong
Just in time for the start of Hispanic Heritage Month and Chilean Independence Day, Kiwi-Chilean artist Amila debuts her EP Life Changes. Produced by Dan Martin, the five-track collection is a bilingual blend of dance-ready pop ballads, Latin beats and promising songwriting.
Read More...
Grym Rhymney - EP Review: This Is What Your Hands Were Made For
19 Aug 2023 // by Samantha Cheong
Three years after their first short player The Shadows We Cast Years Ago, Auckland band Grym Rhymney released their second EP This Is What Your Hands Were Made For via Swamp Kult Records. The metalheads share a precise and melodic five-track record of energetic and sincere proportions in the culmination of their two-year project.
Read More...
T. G. Shand - EP Review: Cinnamon
28 Jul 2023 // by Samantha Cheong
The Cinnamon EP is the five-parter passion project of Annemarie Duff. Honed over three years, Duff’s plan to extend her shoegaze and dream pop discography into an album were "scrapped" into a short player that focuses on eliciting a musical and emotional journey.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
