George Ezra
25th October 2022
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Lauren Sanderson. Photography by David Watson.
We last saw musical heartthrob, George Ezra, in 2019 when he played Spark Arena and now over three years later, the British multi-platinum-selling singer returned with a bang last night as he and his band took over Spark Arena once again for the ‘Gold Rush Kids tour’.
But first, warming up the crowd was Kiwi singer-songwriter Georgia Lines who captivated us with her angelic vocals as she played a variety of originals and surprised us with a cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Driver’s License’.
This was the third time that I’ve seen Ezra and his band perform and let’s just say if his past performances are anything to go by, I knew that we were in for an epic night of storytelling, musical wizardry, and a darn good time. Playing songs from both his new highly-anticipated album Gold Rush Kids as well as much-loved golden oldies that have dominated the charts globally, Ezra had us captivated from the get-go.
You can’t help but love George Ezra – he’s sweet, charming, funny, got an epic baritone voice, and was even rocking denim on denim – what’s not to love?
Skipping onto the stage like an excited school-kid, Ezra kicked off the night with ‘Anyone for You’. The upbeat track from his new album was vibrant and was the perfect start to the evening.
Much-loved single ‘Cassy O’ followed, which was the ultimate singalong number. Ezra kindly addresses the audience by saying “I’m sorry that it’s been so long, you know the deal if you want to singalong then you can.” Taking this as a personal invite, the crowd sang in unison to the catchy foot-tapping beat.
The good vibes continued as the contagious rhythm of ‘Get Away’ echoed around the arena, the upbeat bouncy tempo had us bopping along, shouting lyrics that touch on anxiety and escapism. Whether this was intentional or not, the juxtaposition of the cheerful music paired with the sadder lyrics has captured just how easy it is to hide your anxiety.
‘Pretty Shining People’ had us grinning from ear to ear. This radiant track spread positivity and joy amongst the crowd and Ezra looked like a Cheshire cat, as he watched us belt out the lyrics “Don’t we all need love? The answer is easy”.
Ezra reflects on his songwriting process, sharing that he fills notebooks with all of his experiences, “Then when I get home I write my songs”, he says before smoothly introducing hit-single ‘Barcelona’
His six-piece band left as things were stripped back for ‘Hold My Girl’. The audience and Ezra became one by this point as the vocals intertwined to create a beautiful duet. Next up was ‘In The Morning’, which gave off gospel vibes and had us mesmerized from start to finish.
Signature songs ‘Blame It On Me’ and ‘Budapest’ were definitely the crowd’s favourites, with their vivacious lyrics and unforgettable melodies. ‘Paradise’ literally transported us to a musical paradise filled with sax, trumpets, guitars, keys, and a whole load of energy.
New track ‘Green Green Grass’ is essentially a song about death but is more so about making the most of life and the joys that life can bring. Ezra’s positive outlook and warming nature really shone through in this track and made us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
The night ended on such a high note as they played old-time classic ‘Shotgun’, a summer hit that just keeps on giving. Happiness and positive vibes were all that was left in the arena as we started to depart.
And that’s the magic of Ezra’s craft, he is a musical genius who is a master of his trade. He takes the simple things in life and turns them into something truly magical, delivering 90 minutes of pure happiness.
Were you there at Spark Arena to witness this entertaining feel-good pop gig? Or have you seen George Ezra perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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.
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Couldn’t have said it better myself – hit the nail on the head with the review! Can’t help but smile and fan girl over George and his incredible stage presence 🤩
I loved this concert! Great description, such a feel good time and he looked genuinely happy. The band seemed to gel well and were showcased and happy too. Stellar entertainers.