Nahko
1st May 2019
The Tuning Fork, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Alexis Brook. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.
On a crisp evening, the Tuning Fork was blessed with the spiritual essence of Nahko Bear on the last night of his first solo tour to New Zealand. Sharing songs from across his repertoire and not just his solo Album ‘My Name Is Bear’, the diverse audience (in both age and background) lapped up his musical medicine.
Opening the evening was Moana Ete (aka A Girl Named Mo – 2006 Smokefree Rockquest’s Best Female Vocalist) with a collection of songs including a few from her EP Platonic Romantic. The beautiful oriori ‘E Rea’ (which was written by a family member) resonated throughout the Tuning Fork.
Clearly excited to have been sharing this toir with Nahko, Moana and her guitar ‘Grandpa’ took us through relationships both ‘Romantic’ and ‘Platonic’ and it is clear that this wahine toa knows how to harmonise. ‘Mud & Stardust’ is a very catchy tune, as is ‘Closer’, which was written in collaboration with Fly My Pretties. As NZ Music Month is upon us, do check her out!
Nahko entered the stage as a single feather gently swung from the microphone stand. Using a traditional drum, he chanted to the corners of the Earth and the atmosphere felt ritually cleansed and prepared for the messages of humanity, peace and love for all living creatures which are the cornerstone of his music.
Nahko invited a young lad by the name of Hudson to join him to sit on the couch on stage and the heartfelt ‘Manifesto I’, from his album On The Verge, was sung with the teary-eyed audience quickly singing along.
New guests are invited to the stage couch – a couple from Nahko’s homestate of Oregon who are celebrating their 15th anniversary by following his tour. “We’ve been together for four shows”, says Nahko with a cheeky smile and commenced retelling a story of his beloved dog, Bear, who passed away. While visiting Lake Superior with Bear’s ashes in his bag (“as you do”, exclaims Nahko), and partaking in some medicine, a storm brewed in the distance and arising from that storm was a double rainbow (to which the audience in unison shouted “What Does It Mean!?” in reference to the double rainbow viral video). Nahko recalls that engraved on the box of ashes is “meet you on the other side of the rainbow bridge”. Cue tears. This passion for life and love radiates from Nahko’s soul. And then (of course) we are treated to the song inspired by that event called ‘Give It All’
As well as being talented on the guitar, Nahko knows his way around a keyboard and is equally as captivating and commanding. ‘Tus Pies’ with a dash of The Beatles’ ‘Across the Universe’ and Sting’s ‘Fields of Gold’ leads into Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune’ which segues into a fabulous Rendition of ‘Aloha Ke Akua’, a crowd favourite. Followed by ‘Budding Trees’ (with supporting vocals by tour manager Mel) and ‘7 Feathers’ from the Black As Night Album The end of the set was cut short as the venue noise time curfew had been reached.
While disappointed to not hear the remainder of Black as Night, the audience did leave feeling refreshed and empowered to make a difference in ourselves, our surroundings and the environment. As the t-shirt in Nahko’s merchandise stand says – ‘Be The Change’.
I look forward to another dash of musical medicine, the next time Nahko returns to our shores.
Were you there at The Tuning Fork for this alternative world music gig? Or have you seen Nahko perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Nahko Setlist:
- Drum Intro
- Manifesto I
- Pueo
- Dragonfly
- Love Letters to God
- Dear Brother
- Give It All
- Wash It Away
- Want To Know God
- Directions
- Die Like Dinoz
- Tus Pies
- Fields of Gold [Sting cover]
- Across the Universe [Beatles cover]
- Clair de Lune [Debussy cover]
- Aloha Ke Akua
- Budding Trees
- 7 Feathers
- Black As Night [On setlist but not played]
Moana Ete (A Girl named Mo) Setlist:
- E Rea
- Places, Places
- Closer
- Stay Warm
- How it goes
- Romantic
- Platonic
- Tihore mai te rangi (traditional)
- Anaethetised [cover]
- Mud & Stardust
- Together
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