Albi & The Wolves
16th June 2017
Leigh Sawmill, Auckland, New Zealand.
Words by Mitchell Thornton. Photography by Mike Thornton.
A better start to the evening could not be asked for than the charismatic performance of Albi and the Wolves. The trio; consisting of Albi behind the guitar and lead vocals, Michael on double bass and Pascal on electric violin – brought the audience together with banter and harmony both amongst themselves, and with the crowd.
This is folk music, but not as you know it. Pulling inspiration from a wide spectrum of genres, from swing to bluegrass, soul, r&b, rock and world music, Albi & The Wolves offered a decadent serving of double bass, guitar, and violin accompanied by Albi’s smooth vocal stylings. These elements came together to create both a potent foot stomping rhythm and a captivating stage presence.
“Let’s get you warmed up,” announces Albi as they break into a set of heart felt power-houses like I Will Not Be Broken, and covers such as Louis Armstrong’s St. James Infirmary. To close the set, appreciated by the more musically knowledgeable of the crowd, the Wolves closed with a rousing cover of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall, priming us all for the Miltones.
(Editors Note: Albi & The Wolves performed as support at this show, as a part of The Miltones Album Release Tour. Ambient Light will be covering the Whammy! Back Room show later on next month, so keep your eyes peeled then for a full review of that show including photography!)
Were you there at the Leigh Sawmill for The Miltones Album Release Tour show? Or have you seen Albi & The Wolves perform somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!