Peaches, Auckland NZ, 2016

Peaches

18th December 2016
Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, New Zealand

Review and Photography by Sarah Kidd.

Once in a blue moon a superlative artist will stride onto the stage, smack you in the face and leave you wanting more. That is the epitome of a Peaches show.

Breaking from usual tradition of set times, the first of the two shows in Auckland had been touted as a sunset gig. As such the sun was still streaming down on the patrons in the garden bar when support act Black Cracker stepped onto the stage. Described as one of Berlin’s hottest artists, Black Cracker quickly attracts the interest of the audience; dressed in a tye-dyed denim skirt and ankle boots, the man has hell swagger. Two screens behind him display a montage of curious graphics and short films as he works his magic on dual laptops perched upon a table next to a vase of white lilies. “I’m a caring kind of person – so I’m going to keep checking on you and ask you how you’re doing” Black Cracker grins down at the audience. The award winning slam poet who recently released his album “Come as U R” this month, soon had the entire audience pressed up against the stage dancing away to his beats interspersed with poignant lyrics. Black Cracker is definitely an act to watch in the future.

The magical hour of twilight had just descended when, as what can only be described as a creature in a full white fur suit sways onto the stage, a second creature follows – they signal to the audience to raise their hands up and clap. And then there she is, with an air of almost royalty about her Peaches steps onto the stage – escorted by her furry minions. She acknowledges the eager faces looking up at her and immediately breaks into ‘Rub’ from the 2015 album of the same name. This would be the first of several tracks off her latest album. Dressed in a dark orange fur suit – Peaches twists back and forth like an overactive washing machine – making the fur fly about her frame. “Sunday Pub Show!” she cries out, the crowd cheering their approval back at her.

Straight into ‘Operate’ from 2003 album ‘Fatherfucker’ and the crowd is already completely transfixed and screaming the chorus back at the enigma that is commanding the stage with an iron fist. As Peaches went into one of the many costume changes that she would make throughout the night – the creatures were back on stage having transformed into giant dancing vaginas, complete with long trailing blonde hair. Peaches, wearing nothing but a white leotard with strategically placed pink fur and comically large pink glitter nipples jumps into ‘Talk To Me’ another crowd favourite, while the dancers have all eyes trained on them.

Agent Cleave and Jess Daly are not just back up dancers, they are otherworldly entities (check them out in the video for Peaches single “Vaginoplasty”) – they would appear several times throughout the night, sporting everything from fur suits to BDSM restraints and thigh high latex boots. Not only did they play an integral part to Peaches set – but they titillated the audience with their on stage antics, often immersing themselves in the front row, turning up the heat by at least 20 degrees. “Put your phones away and put your hands up, because I’m gonna walk on them” announced Peaches, the fans eagerly complying as she balanced precariously in the middle of the front section before then lying down and allowing the sea of hands to tenderly return her to the stage.

The Canadian born singer rarely addressed the audience preferring to let her music do the talking. Well known for her lyrics that disregard gender norms she prowled the stage with all the bravado of a big cat, at one point walking along the edge carrying a bottle of champagne which she poured into the mouths of eager fans. ‘Boys Wanna Be Her’ from the 2006 album ‘Impeach My Bush’ was loud and raucous – dancer Jess Daly proudly pointing out her tattoo that echoed the song title on the inside of her right bicep. “Fuck The Pain Away” [“The Teaches of Peaches” 2000] involved more champagne and simulated sex, the crowd almost howling at this point. The dancers sauntered off stage leaving Peaches in nothing but boots and nude underwear. Thanking the crowd, she used a hand towel to wipe herself down – making a great performance of pretending to blow her nose in it before hurling it to eager hands.

The audience (after some of the loudest chanting and applause the Kings Arms has heard in a while) were rewarded with two encores – the second being a fantastic performance of “Light In Places” where the stage was completely blacked out and all that could be seen was some very strategically placed LED lights. As Peaches exited the stage the sheer energy and empowerment left behind in the room made the very walls feel as if they were pulsating – there was not a single person in the entire venue who didn’t feel as if fire was running through their veins. And that is why Peaches still reigns supreme.