Big Country, Auckland NZ, 2019

Big Country

5th October 2019
The Tuning Fork, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Mike Beck. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.

There’s always a good energy in the air when a show is sold out. Thus was the case at the Tuning Fork last night, when Scottish indie-pop rock darlings Big Country hit town, as part of the 35th Anniversary celebrations of their classic sophomore album Steeltown.

A mere eighteen months separates Big County’s last visit to New Zealand, which was also an anniversary tour, honouring their 1983 debut, The Crossing. The sheer vibrancy and enthusiasm of their live performances the reason that fans still came out in force to see one of Scotland’s most endearing and long-living groups.

Opening up the evening, local lass Kendall Elise and her band The Belgraves empathetically utilized an excellent sound system to perform a slick set of mostly originals. Elise showcased her fine voice and song-writing prowess, as well as her recently released record (yes, it’s available on vinyl) Red Earth. Any uninitiated fans of Big Country who were expecting something in the named genre, got their fill from Elise’s bracket. Playing a mix of country-tinged ballads and rousing rockabilly numbers, her band came replete with dapper country attire. Those shirts ain’t cheap folks.

Elise has a voice that for the most part is delicate and tunefully sweet; this was especially evident when she went solo with her acoustic guitar for an interpretation of Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark.’ She can also crank it up when needed, as heard in the two-part original ‘Black Dog.’ Here her band – drummer Chris Kemp, bassist Rob Scott and impressively bearded acoustic guitarist Kevin Place – used great dynamics, shifting from a spacious ballad into an aggressive second half, aided by a jagged Telecaster solo from guitar wiz John Segovia. Elise’s set was warmly received, with a good point of difference for what was to come.

Big Country arrived on time, and with plenty of gusto, kicking into ‘1000 Stars’, off their debut album The Crossing. With his thick Scots accent, band spokesperson and original member Bruce Watson noted that they should come back here every eighteen months, given their repeated full support. He also hastily responded to a heckler demanding they gig in Tasmania, quipping that; “we would, but it’s a hell of a place to get to.”

The first taste of the album last night’s show was honouring emerged in the form of ‘Flame of The West’ and ‘East of Eden’ which also happen to be the first two tracks of Steeltown. The familiar ‘Look Away’ off 1986’s The Seer soon followed, scripting Big Country’s set to interweave between a mix of hits, favourites, and Steeltown entries. Big Country’s sound has at its foundation the twin guitar sound-scaping of father and son pairing Bruce and Jamie Watson. Their sprawling guitarwork sonically replicates the sounds of homeland traditional pipe bands.

Watson introduced Steeltown’s title track with a recall to when the band bumped into Abba’s Benny and Bjorn by chance while on tour in Stockholm. This encounter would cheekily lead to the band recording their seminal album at the Swedish supergroup’s Polar Studios. Funny but true, according to Watson, sporting his customary floral shirt.

Amongst the eight numbers lifted off Steeltown, the dancing contingent of the audience and band peaked with their timeless hit ‘In A Big Country.’ Their compositions thematically anthemic, Big Country backed up their large-sounding songs with evidently joyous musicianship. Relative newcomers, vocalist Simon Hough (looking a tad like actor Gary Busey) and bassist Scott Whitley turned in commendable performances. But it was long-term drummer Mark Brzezicki who stole the show musically. Having recorded extensively outside of Big Country as a session musician, Brzezicki displayed pinpoint accuracy with his technique, as well as great concepts and symmetry that ensure his name stays fixed as a modern drumming great.

As the show drew to a close, the late former frontman Stuart Adamson was acknowledged, a man and a musician who is obviously sadly missed by both the band, as well as long-term Big Country fans who were present. The band kept up the momentum throughout the night, only stopping for banter occasionally between songs, which was equally consistent for its humour. Judging by the general conversations heard during the evening, there was also a strong Scottish contingency present.

Unfortunately, there was no encore from the lads, drawing mild bemusement from the Big Country devotees in attendance. It’s possible they were mindful of the back to back schedule of shows here in New Zealand, with the second of their two gigs occurring at the San Fran in Wellington tonight. That aside, it didn’t deter from the fact that the boys delivered a highly energised and inspired set. On evidence Big Country still are and will always be a Scottish permanent.

Were you there at The Tuning Fork to have a dance and a pint with this Scottish Alt-Rock act? Or have you seen Big Country perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Big Country Setlist:

1. 1000 Stars
2. Flame Of The West
3. East Of Eden
4. Look Away
5. Lost Patrol
6. Just A Shadow
7. Steeltown
8. Chance
9. Tall Ships Go By
10. In A Big Country
11. Where The Rose Is Sown
12. Come Back To Me
13. Wonderland
14. Fields Of Fire
15. Restless Natives [encore – not played]

Kendall Elise Setlist:

1. Valentine Street
2. Red Earth
3. Black Dog
4. Dancing In The Dark [Bruce Springsteen cover]
5. Your Mama
6. Kingseat
7. Heart Full Of Dirt

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