Listener
2nd October 2018
Whammy! Bar, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Molly O’Brien. Photography by Sarah Kidd.
A few of us ventured below K Road to seek haven in Whammy! Bar, tonight a cozy spot of bustle and musical introspect from an otherwise chilly and lethargic spring Tuesday. It’s a rare occasion at a Whammy gig to be able to order a drink without a shouting match, sign language or an interpretive dance between you and your bartender yet the polite crowd were relaxed and good natured, the perfect crew for an intimate show with an array of instruments, genre and talent.
Wellington’s Yor Cronies were the first to warm the rug covered stage, setting the evenings vibes with acoustic folk punk perfectly self-described as ‘sadistic vulnerability with just a sprinkle of narcissism’. With scene setter intros such as “this song is about dying”, Yor Cronies approached self-depreciation with a giggle – good natured sad songs without causing violent flashbacks to 2006 Myspace scene kids wearing cat ears. The urbane lead vocalist Jojo spun cleverly written tales that were as sharp as they were cynical, his vocals tinged with an inflection that in all honestly set them far apart from your standard fare. Tracks such as ‘Parents’ – Yor Cronies version of Wonderwall – imparting the wisdom of not growing up to be like those that spawned you; frenetic set closer ‘Let’s Get Murdered’ vocally reminiscent of a youthful Gordan Gano of the Violent Femmes. I don’t know if indie emo is a genre yet but all the rolled up straight legged jeans in the room begged to differ.
Auckland locals Mice on Stilts followed with an appallingly accurate name as they somehow made quiet feel so tall. With two out of six members appearing barefoot in true kiwi fashion they brought strings, brass, keys and drums together to create an orchestral rise and fall, delicately haunting and peacefully daunting. There is an irresistible pulchritude to their songs ‘Khandallah’ and ‘Wahine’ addressing New Zealand’s own historical tapestry while the intimate ruminations of vocalist Benjamin Morley on tracks such as ‘Edge of the Garden’ which addresses the instability of casual sex speak on an almost spiritual level. The internal struggle for balance to enable to feel settled in a relationship the theme of set closer ‘National Radio’ indicates that their sophomore album (which begins recording tomorrow) promises to be transcendent. Commanding attention with silence is no easy feat but Mice on Stilts were grace with beer in hand.
Listener’s first New Zealand appearance since Parachute Festival 2014 was met with captivation regardless of dedication to the band. Four men began with a boy scouts’ hands in pep talk, quoting Brooklyn Nine Nine via war cry, (“Eyes closed, head first, can’t lose!”), before bursting into vibrant energy, the odd rock and roll theatric hidden behind some fantastic facial hair. The audiences near silence made for a personal show, even drummer Kris Rochelle’s rhythmic breathing audible before each explosion of beat as if percussion was a sport. Listener’s genre has grown as a wave after 16 years of song writing, from poetry based ‘Wooden Heart’ (2010) to loud and expressive ‘Being Empty: Being Filled’ (2018), but a discography covering set had no issue with flow, an undeniable sound that is nothing but Listener.
‘Spoken word’ music is well known for its dark subjects and intrusive topics but where others dive deep into the broken emotion of crying on your bedroom floor, Listener sounds like revelation; like comfort, confrontation and catharsis. A step back into the past without a tendency to dwell, and a level of performance that certainly will.
Were you there at Whammy Bar for this beautiful night of indie rock? Or have you seen Listener perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Listener Setlist:
Coming Soon
Mice On Stilts Setlist:
- Khandallah
- Edge Of The Garden
- Wahine
- Ka Kite Bro
- When Will We See The Day
- National Radio
Yor Cronies Setlist:
- Capable
- Hope Your Dead
- Badly Drawn Boy
- Time Machine
- Parents
- Summer Time
- The Comfort
- In Bed By Ten
- Let’s Get Murdered
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