Ruel
24th May 2019
Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Richard Myburgh.
Australian artist Ruel has been a rather frequent visitor to New Zealand shores over the last couple of years, his first appearance here as support for Khalid’s sold out show in November of 2017. Since then he has released his EP entitled Ready, several singles and played a sold-out show at Auckland’s Tuning Fork in October of last year; Ruels star only continuing to rise as he once again returned to Auckland last night to play to a capacity audience at the Bruce Mason Centre.
It is hard to believe that the English born/Australian raised singer is only sixteen years old, his stage presence one of a far more seasoned performer. Accompanied by a five-piece band each and every track of his fourteen strong set list last night was well thought out and executed by an artist with some serious natural talent. Having penned his first song at the tender age of twelve it was Ruel’s father who set his career wheels in motion when he sent off a demo tape to well-known Australian producer Mark Landan (aka M-Phazes) just four years ago. Landan instrumental in the writing and producing of Ruel’s first EP.
In almost a homage to these humble beginnings, Ruel began his set last night by returning to his roots. Appearing on stage under a haze of smoke, fans weren’t quite sure who they were cheering for as a figure stepped forth wearing a yellow boiler suit and gas mask; the applause soon turning to screams as the suit was discarded to reveal Ruel himself who then launched straight into singing ‘Don’t Tell Me’. While his voice is still maturing, Ruel already has a resonance to it that speaks of a soul far older than the body it is currently embedded in, ‘Golden Years’ and ‘Not Thinkin’ About You’ both great vehicles for showcasing his range of depth.
Pausing momentarily to speak to his fans directly, Ruel spoke of how his next song ‘Real Thing’ was inspired by the movie High Fidelity, Ruel then further displaying his musical prowess by picking up a guitar for a cover of the Jack Garratt song ‘Weathered’. Following in the footsteps of a few other artists such as Panic at the Disco, yellow paper hearts had been distributed to the audience who were then asked to hold them up in front of their phone lights for ‘Say’ from his aforementioned EP, the sea of rich yellow bathing the room in a wonderful glow.
Ruel delivered everything his fans could have wanted last night and more, from covers of popular artists such as The Weekend’s ‘Call Out my Name’ – which gave his entire band the opportunity to shine with some impressive guitar and keyboard solos as well as phenomenal harmonisation from his backing singers – to incredibly emotional moments such as when Ruel took a seat for ‘Unsaid’. Informing the audience that the song was originally written about a break-up with a girl, Ruel brought the topic of mental health to the forefront as he discussed the importance of talking to people and how the death of his friend and fellow musician Luke Liang inspired him to re-write the lyrics and dedicate it to his memory. His delivery of the song was fraught with genuine emotion, even youth unable to protect him from the obvious pain his friend’s death had inflicted upon him.
Taking the mood back up Ruel brought out two of his biggest hits to finish; both ‘Dazed & Confused’ and ‘Younger’ seeing the fans hold nothing back as they sang along to each line. Thanking his audience, Ruel left the stage which had once again begun to fill with smoke, fans knowing full well that his latest single had yet to be performed. Excitement soon spilled over as lightning flashes sparked, eerily lighting up the room; Ruels band returning dressed in white boiler suits and gas masks like Ruel had worn himself at the beginning of the show, the full circle effect providing a notion of completion. Ruel himself however donned a long plaid style coat, which gave him a far more distinguished look compared to the matching tracksuit that he had been wearing for the majority of the show, his performance of ‘Painkiller’ sending the fans home happy.
Only time will tell where Ruels career heads next, but with a voice as lush and soulful as his, it can only be far.
Were you there at the Bruce Mason Centre for this energetic pop gig? Or have you seen Ruel perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Don’t Tell Me
- Golden Years
- Not Thinkin’ Bout You
- Real Thing
- Weathered [Jack Garrat cover]
- Say
- Fire And Grace
- Flames
- Call Out My Name [The Weekend cover]
- Unsaid
- Free Time
- Dazed & Confused
- Younger
- Painkiller [encore]
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