Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Auckland NZ, 2018

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls

31st November 2018
Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.

What makes a great punk-rock show? The music, the camaraderie, a few drinks – I mean let’s not lie here – and well, without a doubt, Frank Turner. 

A Wessex boy through and through, Frank Turner has a number of albums under his belt, his latest Be More Kind bringing with it more than just some stonking new tracks last night, but a message of solidarity among fellow members of the human race. The exuberant audience bellowed from the pits of their bellies as Turner and band arrived on stage in their makeshift uniform of white shirts, the five-piece wasting no time at all as they smashed out ‘1933’.

It’s hard not to be completely enamoured with Turner, his spirit one that is bigger than the very room itself, sleeves rolled up, his intricately tattooed arms stretch out and capture the hearts and minds of all who are present, his welcoming smile blessed with a just a hint of mischief. Flanking him on either side are guitarist Ben Lloyd and bassist Tarrant Anderson, each playing as if their lives depended on it, each with their own unique style. Throw in the skills of drummer Nigel Powell who also happens to have a mighty fine voice and the fast moving fingers of keyboardist Matt Nasir and you have The Sleeping Souls, a band of damn fine musicians who not only elevated the sound – the overall volume of the show at times just a tad overwhelming – but the sheer liveliness of the evening.

Ditching the guitar for ‘Blackout’ Turner was straight into the pit, weaving his way down the front row he was greeted with beaming faces and a chorus of voices, not a single fan clinging to the metal railing missing a beat as they sang along with him. Instilling simple but in many eyes’ essential messages along the way, Turner spoke of the rules of a punk-rock show, the first being that of “Don’t be an Asshole” a rule – as Turner would later congratulate the fans for – that most seemed to follow, the atmosphere in the room one of solidarity.

Turner has banter, and it features throughout, but not once does the show ever lose its momentum, the first two-thirds a freight train of both new and old that turns the room into a whirling dervish of song and dance; Turner inciting the crowd to step in and be his Auckland gospel choir for ‘Brave Face’. And it’s those little touches that makes you feel as if Turner and co are there just for your city and your city alone; Turner often changing a word in a song here and there to bring in some local flavour.

Giving both the crowd and The Sleeping Souls a breather, Turner later donned an acoustic guitar for a four song mini solo set, the inclusion of ‘Song For Josh’ written for Turner’s friend Josh Burdette who sadly took his own life in 2013 not only beautiful, but a reminder to both cherish and check in with the ones you love. From there Turner gave it everything he had, right down to the very. last. drop. This was a punk-rock show to end all others; no dialing one in here thank you very much.

While every track was delivered with impassioned reverie, ‘I Still Believe’ and the ever popular ‘Four Simple Words’ tipped it over the edge; Turner skipping across the stage in a flurry of fancy foot work before stepping out onto the crowds upraised hands before falling backwards and letting them crowd surf him back to the stage. Closing it out with the more subdued but heart-felt ‘Polaroid Picture’ Turner once again changed the lyrics, adding in the line “And they closed the Kings Arms, at the end of last summer”. It was a subtle but appreciated nod to the beloved historic Auckland venue that they themselves had played back in 2012 and one that is still sorely missed by the locals of the music scene.

Thanking one and all – gratitude a virtue that Turner extends throughout the show to everyone from the fans to the hardworking crew behind the scenes – Frank Turner delivers one last smile and jogs off the stage, his bandmates close behind him.

The soul of punk-rock is indeed alive and well.

Were you there at the Powerstation for this high energy punk-rock gig? Or have you seen Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. 1933
2. Blackout
3. Get Better
4. Recovery
5. Little Changes
6. The Next Storm
7. Brave Face
8. Plain Sailing Weather
9. The Way I Tend To Be
10. Be More Kind
11. Eulogy
12. If Ever I Stray
13. Try This At Home
14. The Road
15. Glory Hallelujah
16. Wessex Boy
17. The Angel Islington
18. Song For Josh
19. The Ballad Of Me And My Friends
20. I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
21. Out Of Breath
22. Photosynthesis
23. Don’t Worry
24. I Still Believe
25. Four Simple Words
26. Polaroid Picture

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