Oscar Dowling
21st April 2017
Whammy! Bar, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review and Photography by Sarah Kidd.
Auckland’s music scene is currently teeming with outstanding local artists that can be seen live for less than the price of a couple of craft beers. One such act is Oscar Dowling who has just recently released his debut album ‘Free and Easy’; the release party being held last Friday night at Whammy Bar.
But what fun would a release party be without some amazing support acts? Enter The Pleasure Majenta to open the festivities with a set full of deliciously ominous darkness. Lead vocalist Lawrence Goodwin (Career Girls, Caroles, and Cheats) is quite the sight to behold as he stalks the microphone stand, his white satin shirt embroided with sporadic blood red flowers and black letters.
Beginning their set with the track ‘Pray’ from the album Everything Turns to Gold released in February last year (while still technically under the moniker The Pleasure), the room is filled with goth-psych noise overtones, Jong-Yun Lee’s clarinet playing adding a wonderfully rich element to the song. ‘Tree of Apathy’ is another stand out track with Goodwin’s vocals so cavernous they are almost unreal, the song channelling a dejected Johnny Cash ambience. Title track ‘Everything Turns to Gold’ features a subtle thread of eastern style guitar, intertwining itself around the solid bass line.
Next up on stage are the ever popular The Echo Ohs – in polar-opposite contrast to the band before them their set is filled with upbeat quirky surfer-punk songs. Led by the charismatic Yolanda Fagan on vocals and bass guitar, The Echo Ohs recently supported Chain & The Gang in this very same bar, proving to be a massive hit with the crowd. ‘Up The River’ has the audience members swaying in time to the rock n roll beat, Guy Forks providing the scorching guitar licks while drummer Emlyn Williams ties everything together.
Fagan has a unique singing style and her signature higher octave ‘whoops’ are what makes their songs stand out from the crowd. Finishing on the highly infectious “You Don’t Mind’ with its twanging guitar riff, The Echo Ohs prove once again why they a must see live act. Their upcoming album Hot Pockets will be released later this year on vinyl by local label 1:12 Records who have released records for other acts such as The Conjurors and the fantastic The Cavemen, keep your eye out as this album is a mandatory requirement for the music collection.
We have arrived at the main act for the night. By now there is barely breathing room between the walls of the venue – fantastic to see so many supporting such a brilliant local artist. Copies of his recent release are being sold on the door tonight in not only traditional CD format but on cassette courtesy of Prison Tapes. Formerly the lead singer of ‘New Gum Sarn’ which was disbanded in 2015, Dowling has now gone solo and dropped his first single ‘This Life’ last year. The dark and despondent yet exquisite song was among UTR’s top tracks for 2016.
Oscar Dowling has played with numerous musicians during this current version of himself; the album recorded with the likes of Will Wood and Steven Huf (Girls Pissing on Girls Pissing). Tonight sees him playing with Perry Mahoney (Civil Union) on bass and Emlyn Williams (The Echo Ohs) who is performing double duties on drums. Dowling has already opened for the likes of Aldrous Harding and has toured Australia as recently as last winter. This evening is the first of a four date New Zealand tour which will see him visit each of the four main cities.
In a recent interview Dowling stated that he writes most of his songs in the car due to the fact that he drives a lot and it’s a great place to think. The results are songs that lyrically are both poetic and thoughtful. ‘Ease My Passing’ addresses the obsession that dominates humanity in regards to their reliance on technology; its words reminding us all that occasionally we need to go for a walk or look out the window.
Dowling has been compared to artists such as Mark Lanegan and Thom Yorke of Radiohead, his singing style one of understated beauty full of emotion. Stand out track of the night being ‘Sally Free and Easy’ the haunting and slightly off kilter guitar riff staying with you long after the song has ended. Dowling and co are unassuming on stage preferring to let the music do the talking; many of the audience appearing consumed by what they are hearing, their eyes closed or downcast, lost in the lyrics.
With local musical talent such as this available on a Friday night there is absolutely no excuse for not scheduling a regular fix.
Were you there at Whammy! Bar for this awesome album release gig? Or have you seen Oscar Dowling live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!