Lime Cordiale
17th February 2019
Galatos, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review & Photography by Sarah Kidd.
Drifting in on the back of a refreshing beach breeze, Lime Cordiale turned Auckland’s Galatos into a sold-out party last night; a rather noteworthy achievement for a Sunday evening.
Christening the stage with some Kiwi talent first however was Harry Parsons. Parsons, whose alluring solo set in support of Tash Sultana last year saw him gain many a new fan, has already had a rather productive start to the month of February, his euphonious new single ‘Friends’ an undoubted highlight to both his festival appearances and Lime Cordiale support slot.
Next up were Australian band Gold Member, who having already appeared at this year’s Bay Dreams, just couldn’t say no to Lime Cordiale’s invitation to join them on tour in NZ; the fellow Sydneysiders impressing the Auckland crowd with their unique brand of electro-skank and a tasty Billie Eilish cover.
Despite the clock fast approaching the hour of midnight, the audience pressed themselves up against the stage, pushing all thoughts of early work starts to the side as they awaited the arrival of the Lime Cordiale Leimbach brothers. Currently touring off the back of their latest single ‘Money’, Oli and Louis arrived to a sea of faces all screaming their names; having already sold out their Dunedin show the night before as well as their upcoming Christchurch show this Thursday, it’s a sight that they will soon have to get used to.
Accompanied by a three-piece band, the duo kicked off with ‘Money’, the obscenely catchy chorus soon being sung by a few hundred voices in glorious unison. Following it up with both ‘Can I be your Lover’ from their debut album Permanent Vacation and one of their later singles from 2018 in the form of ‘Following Fools’ and the room was soon swaying with the chilled-out rock vibes that the duo was laying down; the keyboard and especially the live trombone highlights taking the tracks to that next level.
It’s hard not to be drawn to the Leimbach brothers, their surf tousled hair alluding to their days growing up on Northern Sydney beaches, the glint in their eyes hinting at a forever youthful mischievousness that comes through on tracks such as ‘What is Growing Up?’. Louis is the main vocalist of the duo, his voice as rich and enveloping as his bass playing. Oli – who often sports a 70’s style look that suits him so well that you would think he had time travelled – compliments Louis’s vocals perfectly, while accompanying instrumentally on guitar.
Inviting a special guest up to the stage for their cover of the Hall & Oates classic ‘Rich Girl’ the crowd cheered loudly as the pair introduced the owner of Galatos Dean Whaitiri who delivered a saxophone solo that quickly made everyone stand up and pay attention; the true spirit of the music community being beautifully illustrated in that one special moment.
With the rest of the set made up of anthems such as ‘Dirt Cheap’ and ‘Is he your man?’ which the audience sang along to at full volume, Lime Cordiale proved just why they are such a hot ticket; their blend of indie laid back tunes infused with elements of soul, pop and the grooviest of funk a recipe for the most full-flavoured summer cocktail you could ever hope to wrap your lips around.
A two-song encore that took it back to 2016 with the track ‘Waking Up Easy’ saw the crowd completely let loose before Lime Cordiale finished the night on the acidic but bouncy ‘Temper, Temper’. With a natural ability for music and a humbleness that shines through welcoming smiles, expect big things for Lime Cordiale in the not too distant future.
Were you there at Galatos for this Aussie indie pop gig? Or have you seen Lime Cordiale perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Money
- Can I Be Your Lover
- Following Fools
- Risky Love
- Up In The Air
- Rich Girl [Hall & Oates cover]
- Dirt Cheap
- Is He Your Man
- What Is Growing Up?
- Feel Alright
- Naturally
- Hanging Upside Down
- Waking Up Easy [encore]
- Temper Temper [encore]
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