Intervals
26th September 2018
Whammy Bar, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review & Photography by Sarah Kidd.
If you like your metal with a side order of cerebral and yet simultaneously intuitive guitar then Whammy bar was the place to be as Canadian four-piece Intervals made their debut on New Zealand soil. It was encouraging to see that the fans had made the effort to arrive early for the support acts, Whammy already teeming with bodies as the first of two Wellington based bands took to the stage.
As the only band with a vocalist, Plaines certainly left their mark on Auckland crowds. Usually appearing as more of a ‘multi-media collective’ last night Plaines were stripped back to their stock standard band persona, but this detracted little from their music. Having burst onto the scene with almost no build-up and a debut album already tucked under their arm, Plaines are somewhat of an enigma; recently stating in an interview that they “out-source nothing” they are the personification of a collaborative, vocalist / guitarist Matt Pogson even mixing the album himself. Seeing as the ‘dream-rock’ four-piece did not have their usual VJ on board, it was up to their tracks to make an impression on the hungry crowd, something they managed with a remarkable air of grace.
Beginning with stand out track ‘What More Than the Sun’ from their self-titled debut album they led the audience through a six-track set of lush soundscapes complimented with at times fascinating falsetto vocals from Pogson (it has to be said though when he sang in an octave closer to his natural tone his vocal abilities could be far more appreciated). Finishing on ‘Knuckles’ – another single release from the album – Plaines left the stage with a few new fans already conferring about what they had just witnessed.
Turnover was quick and soon Ovus – again from Wellington – were standing before the crowd. A progressive metal band who cite Intervals along with Animals As Leaders, Opeth and Snarky Puppy as some of their influences the elation at sharing the same stage with one of their idols was tangible. Beginning with ‘Mesosphere’ it was clear from the outset that this purely instrumental quartet knew just what they were doing, soundscapes forming and swiftly drawing in the audience. Joe Murphy on lead guitar was a definitive stand-out as he joked with members of the crowd all the while delivering rapid finger work.
‘Lucid Drams’ was an obvious fan favourite, all eyes in the room darting between the guitar playing of Murphy and the notable drumming of Jignesh Jasmat, his beautifully light and perfectly balanced symbol work in places threading together sections of the tracks like fine spiderwebs. Joking that they had two songs left to share and “good luck trying to figure out where one starts and the other ends” Murphy literally let his hair down as they powered through ‘Ninjas’ and ‘Archaic’ their epic eight minute finale released as a single in May last year; Adam Sive on rhythm and Joshua Murray on bass providing the backbone to the monster composition.
As the stage came alive again with techs and roadies, the fans moulded their bodies around each other, each one wanting to be as close as possible to the stage in order to observe the virtuosity that was about to be bestowed upon them.
Originating in Toronto, Canada in 2011 Intervals have endured a series of metamorphoses which has seen them graduate from being a purely instrumental act through to taking on Mike Semesky to sing vocals on their debut album A Voice Within released in 2014. Fast forward a couple of years and guitarist Aaron Marshall is the only original remaining member, Intervals returning to where they first began – the realm of the instrumental. As guitarist Sam Jacobs began to lay out his equipment, placing his AX8 amp modeler and multi-effects pedalboard before his feet a collective “Yes!” escaped the lips of those fans eagerly watching his every move, Jacobs kindly pausing for a moment to answer their fervent technical enquiries. Speaking into a lone mic stand, Marshall emphatically thanked all those present jesting that while they had not slept since the start of September, it was worth it to finally make it down to New Zealand shores.
Launching into ‘Touch and Go’ from last year’s album The Way Forward and their fans were hooked, both eyes and mouths wide open as the four-piece exploded before them under strobing lights. Meticulous finger work was superbly meshed together with memorable prog riffs, the fans absorbing every minute morsel that Intervals had to offer. Technically proficient and yet exuberant in their delivery, Intervals genuinely appeared to be both enjoying their time and their fans enthusiasm, Marshall pausing at one point to remark on how it had been a very long time since they had played such an intimate gig, the wide smile on his face silently communicating that he was clearly enjoying their return to grass roots level.
While Nathan Bulla on drums commanded the back section of the stage, Marshall, Jacobs and Jacob Umansky had the run of the entire front section and they used it to the best of their abilities, ensuring that everyone in the front row had the chance to bear full witness to their skill set. Favourites such as ‘Sure Shot’ and ‘Fable’ from 2015’s The Shape of Colour were quick favourites, Marshall once again pausing to thank everyone, his comment that Auckland fans had “more charisma that the whole of Australia put together” eliciting raucous cheers of approval.
But it was the heavier tracks such as ‘Epiphany’ and ‘Mata Hari’ that saw the multitude of bodies in the room drive forward and break against the lip of the stage, often spilling onto it as Intervals merely stepped back and continued the onslaught. Refusing to play the encore game, Intervals instead left the audience with ‘Libra’, again from their The Shape of Colour album, fans taking full advantage of their last opportunity to revel in the prog metal instrumentals.
Phenomenal.
Were you there at Whammy Bar for this epic progressive metal gig? Or have you seen Intervals perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Intervals Setlist:
- Touch And Go
- Impulsively Responsible
- A Different Light
- I’M Awake
- Sure Shot
- Fable
- Belvedere
- Leave No Stone
- Alchemy
- Mata Hari
- Epiphany
- The Waterfront
- Libra
Ovus Setlist:
- Mesosphere
- 2CB
- Lucid dreams
- Ninjas
- Archaic
Plaines Setlist:
- What More Than The Sun
- Things You’d Make Coats Of
- Proteus
- When They Meet
- Carpal Tunnel
- Knuckles
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