Chelsea Wolfe, Auckland NZ, 2022

Chelsea Wolfe

10th June 2022
Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand

Review by Bridget Herlihy with photography by Doug Peters.

It is a well-established (and legitimately researched) fact that the congregation of people to experience music can create a sense of joy, connection and wellbeing while feeding both the mind and the soul. The energy that is exchanged between the audience and the performer(s) can create an intoxicating kind of magic within the performance space. In some instances, that sense of magic can be almost palpable. Some liken it to a form of spiritual experience; one that is heightened even further when it has been anticipated for a lengthy period of time.

Kiwis have been flocking to live performances in recent weeks, and celebrated goth-rock/folk/doom-metal songwriter Chelsea Wolfe’s sold out show at The Powerstation was no exception. This was Wolfe’s first visit to Aotearoa, the second of two shows after playing at Wellington’s San Fran the night before. While fellow Sargent label mate Emma Ruth Rundle had been scheduled to be the support act for the evening, the dreaded sickness that must not be named struck another victim, meaning that Rundle was sadly unable to appear. It was a disappointing outcome for those who had come to see her perform, and no doubt for Rundle herself (here’s hoping her recovery is a quick one). Without an opening act, and a lengthy wait for the main attraction, many killed their unforeseen spare time lining up to take advantage of the merchandise on offer.

Fortunately patience appeared to be a virtue that the sold out crowd exercised, and said patience was duly rewarded. With the stage bathed in red light and a layer of fog that had subtlety floated across the stage and into the venue for an hour, setting an eerie scene for the impending performance. Anticipation was high as Wolfe’s band walked onstage, followed by Wolfe emerging from the smoky shadows. Within the first thirty seconds of the 75 minute set, the four piece created a multi-sensory experience. As the heaviest of bass and drums pulsated through the venue, it was a performance that was not only heard and seen, but also felt physically. Opening with ‘Feral Love’ from the album ‘Pain Is Beauty’, Wolfe was absolutely captivating for the entirety of the performance. While she didn’t interact with the crowd for the first half of the set, the audience was absolutely mesmerised as Wolfe and her band seamlessly segued between heavier songs such as ‘Spun’ and ‘Vex’ from 2017’s ‘Hiss Spun’, to the acoustic guitar based ‘Deranged For Rock N Roll’. Each and every song of the set was a highlight, and the energy in the venue didn’t ebb for a moment.

Ending the evening with a solo acoustic rendition of ‘Flatlands’, Wolfe’s immense talent for moving between, and bringing together, seemingly paradoxical genres of doom metal and folk, darkness and light, her versatility and ability to conjure magical energy in a live setting was evident throughout the enchanting performance.

Chelsea Wolfe

Were you there at the Powerstation for this jaw dropping doom folk gig? Or have you seen Chelsea Wolfe perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. Feral Love
2. Spun
3. 16 Psyche
4. Dragged Out
5. Vex
6. House of Metal
7. Tracks
8. The Mother Road
9. Deranged For Rock N Roll
10. Iron Moon
11. Carrion Flowers
12. The Culling
13. Survive
14. Scrape
15. Flatlands

_{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 affiliate links. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.}

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