Pink Sweat$
11th January 2020
Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Isaac Fleming. Photography by Chontalle Musson.
I was looking forward to a cruisy Saturday night of good vibes with music to match at Auckland’s Powerstation last night and that’s exactly what I got thanks to not one but two outstanding musicians.
Making the effort to turn up early and take in a support act can often yield previously unknown wonders, imbi the girl, an Australian artist who began their set speaking of having love and respect as well as acknowledgement of consent of each other, my latest musical discovery.
Asking everyone to keep an open mind and open heart, imbi accompanied only by an outstanding saxophonist – and I cannot emphasize enough just how good Teleah Riordan was – brought a vibrancy to the room quite unlike any other artist, the most joyous part being that that vitality appeared to flow both ways as imbi spoke of feeling ‘”terrible” before the show and how us as a crowd had lifted their spirits.
Mixing together the elements of rapping, spoken word poetry, and the soulful tones of R&B and blues, imbi the girl’s set was beautifully inclusive and quite unlike anything I had witnessed before. From the opener of ‘angel face’ through to the more downbeat ‘safe.t.v.’ which pointed the middle finger straight at past fellow high school attendees while showcasing imbi’s outstanding vocals, they held the crowd in the palm of their hand.
Nothing illustrated this more than when imbi requested the crowd to “ground themselves” and take three deep breaths, the exhalation of each one (for the families, the wildlife and the land) performed with the intention of sending true internal energy to their homeland of Australia. The room moved as one, and I swear that moment and the love contained within it will live on within the walls of the venue for years to come.
A sax solo during ‘peaches & scream’ that threatened to melt my face, imbi’s debut single ‘acidic’ that rocked the room, set closer ‘swell’ … it was easy to see why this queer artist has already had the honour of performing at some of Australia’s biggest music festivals. Divine, and almost celestial, imbi drew out emotions from deep within our chest cavities. And I for one was not only open to it but touched by it.
When Pink Sweat$ (aka David Bowden) arrived on stage, the first thing I noted was the fact he was wearing socks and slippers. I was straight up both impressed and slightly jealous; I mean c’mon, how comfortable does that look?
With just two EP’s to his name, simply titled Volume 1 and Volume 2 – again, you have to admire the laid-back simplicity of that – Pink Sweat$ may still be considered a fairly new artist, but last night he brought a set that enthralled the ecstatic crowd like a veteran, as well as a full band.
Rocking a pink cap and shorts as well as a Bart Simpson t-shirt (respect), he called the crowd to attention with his first track ‘Call Me’, the smoothness of his voice well suited for the R&B genre that his music embraces. Only second song in and he had the crowd chanting “get money” in response to his call of “fuck drama” like their lives depended on it.
From where I was standing I watched in awe not only Pink Sweat$ and his band’s performance but the crowd themselves – who couldn’t get closer to the front of the stage if they tried – hanging on each word that emerged from Sweat$ mouth and singing to just about every line of every song; their devotion hanging like smoke in the air.
Sweat$ has been praised in the American media for his unique style, songs that speak from the heart (and often to it) and for the fact that he goes against the grain of many other R&B artists by embracing not only a more understated look with his trademark sweatpants but the colour pink, many stating that this shows a confidence and inclusiveness of the feminine. I have to say I agree. I love anything and anyone that doesn’t fit into pre-conceived and often convenient boxes.
More than that I love pure, unadulterated talent, and Sweat$ has that by the bucketload. It may not have been the longest show in the world – coming in at just on an hour – but during that time Sweat$ dropped not only a set list of great tracks, but an off the cuff freestyle about a girl in the front row named Carol [sp] that made my jaw drop. It is one thing to write lyrics, but to come up with them on the spot and deliver them with such effortless rhythm … amazing.
His more well-known tracks like ‘Cocaine’ had the room buzzing, the addition of his live band taking it all to another level; ‘Coke & Henny, Pt.1’ seeing a group of about fifteen fans brought up on stage for a dance, an experience that they probably won’t forget in a hurry. The only blemish on the evening being when some asshole threw a can at Sweat$ (like seriously? Wtf?). Taking it in his stride he graciously did not let it bring down the show.
He positively crooned ‘Body Ain’t Me’, lovers in the audience getting closer and then blew us all out of the water with his finale of viral hit ‘Honesty’ which allowed each band member to lay down a solo of their own and Sweat$ the chance to illustrate that he is a mean machine on the drum kit. Like seriously, my dude killed it! The short but sweet encore once again uniting the room as a whole, Pink Sweat$ call and response seeing everyone grin from ear to ear.
It was Pink Sweat$ first visit to New Zealand – imbi the girl’s too – and I really hope I have the pleasure of seeing both of them again very soon because the feeling I left the show with last night is one only few artists could provide.
Were you there at the Powerstation for this contemporary RnB gig, or have you seen Pink Sweat$ perform live some other time? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Pink Sweat$ Setlist:
- Call Me
- Drama
- No Replacing You
- Cocaine
- Would You
- I Know
- Coke and Henny Pt. 1
- Coke and Henny Pt. 2
- Your Side
- Body Ain’t Me
- Honesty
imbi the girl Setlist:
- Angel Face
- V.I.P
- Safe.T.V
- Peaches & Scream
- Acidic
- Swell
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