Jakob
6th November 2021
The Cabana, Napier, New Zealand.
Review by Rob Harbers, Photography by Eileen Potter.
In 1605, a plot to kill the English King was foiled. More than 400 years later, the plot, or its forestalling (depending on your sympathies) is commemorated in an annual display of sound, light and fury.
That was yesterday. Tonight the Jakobites, with the assistance of fellow travellers Bysshe Blackburn and Dos Ovni, kept the spirit of rebellion alive by bringing their own brand of fireworks to a homecoming gig at the iconic Cabana. This brand, however, won’t cause flashbacks in former military staff, start bush fires, keep the kids awake, or traumatise animals.*
Opener Bysshe Blackburn kicked things off with a set of meticulously crafted acoustic guitar songs, played with an intense focus and determination, in the face of an audience in which many members felt their conversations were more important than what he had to offer (Pub crowds eh-gotta love ‘em!).
Second act Dos-Ovni, playing only their third official gig(!) continued the intensity, with their brooding, fuzzy sound keeping the shoegaze spirit alive, captivating those who had ears to hear.
These all set the stage for Jakob, playing their first hometown gig for nearly 3 years, taking inspiration from their recent spate of 15th-birthday-honouring playing of “Solace” in full, and from the get-go the energy was palpable.
“Malachite” set things alight, punching a hole right through the night, before “Pneumonic” completed the one-two punch, with its pneumatic bass-driven rhythm. In his first words to the crowd, four-string maestro Maurice stated a belief that “music is the language of the soul”, and this is music that speaks directly to the soul, while carrying an extra resonance in these troubled times – times in which it’s been noted by another Napier musician that our dreams are changing.
This is music that expresses so much, unclouded by lyrics, leaving the listener free to hear as they see fit, and probably every listener hears their own thing (especially the stoner who insisted on trying to dance in a setting required to be seated only!) – but whether or not this is the case, all present were carried along on this fantastic voyage. Electric music and solid walls of sound, indeed!
This was, I think, my fifth or sixth rodeo with these guys, and every time I’m more impressed. There is a power in this expression, but it is an intensely focused, finely honed one – the sort that, if it were physical, would be laser-like in its precision. Never more than necessary, but always enough.
As expected from the above comments, the album most represented tonight was “Solace”, but material was drawn from almost the full canon, only the eponymous 1999 album being untapped, and a new song also being debuted, whetting the appetites of the faithful. The seamless way in which these all slotted together is a reflection of this band’s remarkable consistency and clarity of vision, one which has carried them to renown across the world.
It is one of Covid’s silver linings that we are able to witness them on home ground, wider travel having been curtailed, so take the chance when it arises and see them when you can. World-famous in New Zealand!
*Only in the live arena. Results may vary on the domestic front.
Were you there at the Cabana for this otherworldly performance? Or have you seen Jakob perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Note: Jakob provided passes to Ambient Light 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.
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