Anthonie Tonnon
20th October 2022
ToiToi, Hastings, New Zealand.
Review by Rob Harbers. Photography by Andrew Caldwell.
As the Hawkes Bay Arts Festival approaches the halfway point, acclaimed Wanganui-based singer-songwriter wowed the audience with a spectacular show in the Festival’s spiritual home. But don’t let the “singer-songwriter” description lead you down any alleyways of cliche – there wasn’t an acoustic guitar in sight!
I’ve only previously encountered Anthonie in a solo setting, when he last year played support to Nadia Reid, but with his full band he is quite a different proposition, with a far more full and organic sound. Almost impossible to categorise, his music has a clear 80s influence, courtesy of the drums and synthesisers employed, but this is only a part of the palette with which he paints his sonic portraits. The common thread is nothing more or less than truly original music, making it clear why he was chosen as the recipient of the 2022 Taite Music Prize.
Opening song “When I’m Wrong” set the tone for much of the ensuing numbers, starting out relatively sedate and subdued, before suddenly changing shape entirely, turning in to something that wouldn’t be out of place as a dancefloor filler. Such changes of pace and volume were a regular feature of the performance, ensuring that there was no chance of boredom setting in! All accompanied by hugely dynamic lighting effects that made for hard work for the night’s photographer (but gave me plenty of light to write my notes by, so at least one of us benefited…).
Such an overwhelmingly diverse sound is hard to describe adequately, without even considering the lyrical content, often reflecting quite prosaic reality, but not without a strongly sardonic and humorously cynical twist, where appropriate.
Quite aside from any of this, though, was the choice of a cover song. I’m can’t help but think that there’s a thesis waiting to be written dealing with the delayed impact of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” on the NZ music scene more than 30 years after release. In the space of exactly two months (to the day!) I’ve witnessed three artists slipping it in to their sets, from In The Shallows through Coridian, and again tonight – with absolutely nothing else about the artists being remotely similar. What is the power of this song? I await the scholarly analysis!
But really, none of my words can do justice to this truly outstanding show – an amazing spectacle of sound and light proving once more that home-grown artists are more than capable of footing it alongside imported performers, which held the audience enraptured for 90 minutes, before returning to the outside world wondering just what they’d just seen (in the best possible way, of course!). Pitsch, you made the right call, and have again done the Festival proud. Roll on the next event!
Were you there at ToiToi for this magnificent Hawkes Bay Arts Festival show? Or have you seen Anthonie Tonnon perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- When I’m Wrong
- Entertainment
- Mt Cargill
- Two Free Hands
- Peacetime Orders
- Leave Love Out Of This
- Wicked Game [Chris Isaak cover]
- Water Underground
- Old Images
- Marion Bates Realty
- Cinematographer
- Lockheed Bomber
- Mataura Paper Mill
- Railway Lines
Note: Ambient Light was provided passes to review and photograph this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.
If you enjoyed this content, please consider donating towards the running of Ambient Light, covering expenses and allowing us to expand the coverage you love by visiting our PressPatron page.