George Ezra, Auckland NZ, 2019

George Ezra

4th February 2019
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Leah Victoria.

With a knack for storytelling, a smooth as silk baritone voice and a healthy dollop of that affable English charisma, George Ezra was always going to be a drawcard; last night’s sell-out show at Spark Arena irrefutably proving it. Indeed, it appeared that the twenty-five-year-old Hertfordshire native has a talent for coining songs that appeal to not only both genders but a spectrum of ages, last night’s crowd running the full gamut from six to sixty.

It certainly provided the ideal audience to which local young singer-songwriter Paige could offer her wares; hailing from South Auckland the twenty-year old has just recently released her latest single ‘Alignments’, the track already amassing six digits on Spotify. Appearing with a four-piece band which provided the requisite oomph needed for a support slot such as this, Paige had an audible fan base within the crowd. Her tracks such as ‘Too Much to Hate’ – penned with an honesty that quite obviously comes from the heart – are gentle yet relatable; the occasional funk ridden undertones providing others with a splash of colour. Having caught the attention of none other than Billie Eilish with her song ‘So Far’, Paige is a local artist worth keeping an eye on.

Anyone who caught Ezra’s outstanding set at last year’s Auckland City Limits knew exactly just how good last night’s show would be; the one and only gripe being just how long he kept the audience waiting following the conclusion of Paige’s set; at almost an hour which for many who had already spent a couple of them waiting for the show to begin just a little too much. But all was forgiven as the man in black armed with a guitar and a killer smile stepped up to the microphone. With his six-piece band at his back, Ezra kicked straight into ‘Don’t Matter Now’, leading the Auckland audience down the path of music, story and mirth.

There was a charming simplicity to Ezra’s set last night; with all seven members dressed in black and accompanied by nothing more than a backdrop photo of muted red flowers with an arrowhead of lights above them it allowed for the music and stories to take the forefront. And make no doubts about it, Ezra loves a good story; his tales of how many of his songs came to be, earthed in his love of travel; Barcelona, South Africa, buying a bottle of rum off a man in a park in Sweden… Each anecdote was not only wonderfully entertaining to listen to but carried an important message with it; see the world, immerse yourself and let it inevitably inspire you. Indeed, Ezra’s latest album Staying at Tamara’s, is all about such experiences ‘Pretty Shining People’ imbuing a message of not being buried under the burden of anxiety of overthinking things, the rousing chorus seeing the crowd sing in unison the line of ‘we’re alright together’ with uplifting gusto.

Ezra is a positive guy, and it shows; his inner light like a spotlight to which his fans were drawn.

Older tracks such as ‘Listen to the Man’ slipped in between his newer pieces with ease; more sombre melodies such as ‘Saviour’ not quite having the same effect on the fans but illustrating another side to the baritone vocalist regardless. ‘Did you hear the Rain?’ however was a standout; the country overtones with a hint of darkness to them reminiscent of an early Johnny Cash; Ezra stepping away from the microphone and absolutely letting loose on guitar.

Following it up with another crowd favourite ‘Paradise’ once again had the audience bouncing in time to the music; Ezra’s band often delighting with not only their musicianship but their obvious sheer joy of being on stage. One member in particular – that being keyboardist James Wyatt – often drawing the eye as he radiated an exuberance that was infectious. Changing places with fellow members and at one point running about the stage waving his arms while simultaneously blowing on a whistle, he was like a ringmaster who never detracted from Ezra but instead fed into the overarching good vibe feel of the show. The two-piece brass section must also be mentioned as it would be safe to say that most present last night have never heard a trombone solo as good as the one delivered in the middle of ‘All My Love’.

Finishing the set with the double header of ‘Blame It On Me’ and ‘Budapest’ – the song about a city that Ezra never made it to thanks to that aforementioned bottle of rum – the Auckland crowd enthusiastically played the encore game, Ezra and co returning a few minutes later to roars of happiness. Of course, the evening ended with what must be one of the biggest earworms of the summer; ‘Shotgun’ an absurdly catchy song, but one that brings a smile with it every time.

And isn’t that what music is all about?

Were you there at Spark Arena for this brilliant folk rock gig? Or have you seen George Ezra perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. Don’t Matter Now
2. Get Away
3. Barcelona
4. Pretty Shining People
5. Listen To The Man
6. Saviour
7. Did You Hear The Rain?
8. Paradise
9. Song 6
10. Hold My Girl
11. Sugarcoat
12. All My Love
13. Blame It On Me
14. Budapest
15. Cassy O’ [encore]
16. Shotgun [encore]

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