Kimbra
13th July 2018
Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Bridget Herlihy. Photography by Doug Peters.
Western folklore and popular culture have for generations insisted that Friday the 13th is the unluckiest of days. Yet good fortune was bestowed upon those who ventured out on a cold winter’s night to indulge in an all too rare performance from one of NZ’s most revered musical exports. The one and only Kimbra rolled into town to play a show at Auckland’s Powerstation; the first of only two NZ shows and the first night of her Australasian tour in support of the release of her third album, Primal Heart, which dropped in April. Now based in New York, Kimbra has spent the last several months touring North America extensively, having performed shows in Canada only a few days ago to rave reviews. Yet there were no obvious signs of jet lag or tour fatigue as she delivered an electric show that shook every inch of the Powerstation right down to its foundations.
The coveted opening spot of the night went to Joel Flyger of Australian outfit the DMA’s, who delivered an interesting – although somewhat sparse – solo set, armed with just a microphone, guitar and sampler, while the planned opener, October, was nowhere to be seen.
After a drawn out break, the stage was bathed in blue and the walls and floors of the venue began to vibrate as Kimbra and her band made their way onstage. Resplendent sky-high platform boots and a white jump suit that was almost luminous against the pink and blue lighting, Kimbra looked every inch the electro-pop goddess. Beginning the set with bass-heavy renditions of Version of Me and Hi Def Distance Romance, the crowd continued to warm up and the level of enthusiasm began to escalate, as she stepped out from behind her consoles and worked the stage.
Kimbra’s career started strong, and has continued to go from strength to strength. Since the release of her debut album Vows in 2011 Kimbra has continued to evolve in the most magnificent of ways as she has continued to experiment and broaden her sound. Yet her electro-pop stylings remain at the core of her latest album, and the tracks translate powerfully to a live setting, adding a whole new dimension with a multi-sensorial performance that it not just about watching and listening, but feeling the music resonate through your entire body. One such moment belonged to a superb performance of Everybody Knows, which had the crowd jumping in unison and some punters waving their arms in the air with reckless abandon.
The set was largely comprised of tracks from Primal Heart, and quite rightly so, as they take on a new energy live. Yet several fan favourites made their way into the set including a slightly revamped and mellower rendition of Settle Down that segued into Kimbra’s verse from Somebody That I Used To Know, her duet with Gotye that arguably gave the songstress her first taste of global attention.
Upon commenting that it was “good to be home”, she took the time to reminisce about some of her first gigs in Auckland at the Dogs Bollix, when her father would drive her up from Hamilton, as she acknowledged that not only her parents, but also her music teacher were in the audience. An apt segue into her revelation that on this tour she had returned to building her guitar back into the set rather than relying on machines. Admitting that she might be a bit rusty, she played a stunning stripped back version of Past Love, reminiscent of the simple yet often otherworldly tone of the late Jeff Buckley, as she hit the highest of high notes. And the crowd lapped it up.
Kimbra seemed genuinely happy to be back on home soil, apologising for not returning to her home country more often, before promising “I’m going to come back more”. Her engagement with the audience was commendable, as she paced from one side of the stage to the other, taking the time to bend down and sing to those in the front rows. After a brief break she was back with an accapella version of Real Life, looping vocals and using her own voice as an effect to masterfully build a multi-layer soundscape that was equal parts ethereal, haunting, and exquisite.
With Primal Heart she has further solidified her well earned position as one of NZ’s premier musicians and songwriters, and one can only hope that she does indeed come home more often for witnessing Kimbra live is an experience in itself. On top of the world? You bet she is.
Kimbra:
Joel Flyger:
Were you there at the Powerstation for this magnificent art-pop gig? Or have you seen Kimbra perform live sometime else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Version of Me
- Hi def distance romance
- Good War
- Black Sky
- Human
- Settle down / Somebody I Used To Know
- Everybody Knows
- Like They Do On TV
- Past Love
- Love In High Places
- Two Way Street
- Light Years
- Sweet relief
- Top of the World
- Real life [encore]
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