Tami Neilson, Auckland NZ, 2020

Tami Neilson

14th November 2020
The Civic, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Alexis Brook. Photography by David Watson.

Third time’s a charm for this breath-taking show, in what was a week of finger crossing all would go on, then everything coming down to the wire following a recent COVID-related alert in Auckland’s City Centre putting the show at jeopardy of rescheduling once more. Performing with a mini orchestra flanking a low-hung chandelier, it was absolutely fitting to have such a powerhouse performer such as Tami Neilson belt out a few tunes in what is one of my favourite live venues, the elegant Civic Theatre.

Hitting the stage in a stunning black gown bejewelled with weeping eyes, Tami started the show with a bang as she strutted from side to side singing the title track from her 2014 album Dynamite, followed by a steadicam operator (who spent the rest of the evening weaving his away around the stage – here’s hoping for a Tami – Live on Stage DVD!).

You can’t help but love Tami. Not only for her stunning vocals, but how charismatic and personable she is on stage. You truly feel like she’s a close friend, and you’re just hanging out catching up. With a giggle and a snort, Tami expresses how being on stage again feels like a soldier returning from the war, back to her family (the audience) with the 2014 APRA silver scroll winning Walk (Back into your Arms). Changing pace for a moment of reflection, Tami introduces her family – husband Grant, and young sons Charlie and Sam, who are in one of the VIP boxes. Serenading the kids to sleep, with a song her late father wrote, “Lonely’ is a delicate story of love and boy, do we feel it to our bones.

Highlighting how fortunate we are here in New Zealand to be able to host live events during this pandemic situation, Tami also pointed out that many of New Zealand’s artists who are usually away touring the world are on home soil and available for guest appearances. A string of fellow artists follow, starting with the affable Delaney Davison, a frequent collaborator of Tami’s and together they perform a new track from 2020’s album CHICKABOOM! – ’16 Miles of Chain’, and another from Dynamite! ‘Running to You’. Troy Kingi enters on stage in his best decorated Red Band gumboots, to accompany Tami on a version of Cry Myself To Sleep which Tami performed partially in Te Reo Maori to celebrate becoming a New Zealand citizen last year.

The next two songs, ‘Be Still My Soul’ (arranged by Don McGlashan) and ‘Any Fool with a Heart’ are shared with Nadia Reid, a talented singer in her own right, and together their harmonising is just stunning. I would love to see more collaborating between these two! Tami quipped that the first time she and Nadia performed together was to an audience of twelve at a Kingsland coffee shop. Boy, how times have changed!

Closing off the first act, with one of the last songs Tami’s father, Ron, wrote while he was in hospital. ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ reaffirms that no matter what, keep your chin up, know your roots and that you will get through troubled times. A soundtrack for COVID, as Tami put it.

Like many creatives who spent time inside, starved of applause, Tami fed off every piece of applause and “I LOVE YOU” sent from the audience throughout the evening. Returning in the second act in her “HOT DAMN” dress, we were encouraged with the upbeat ‘Call Your Mama’, and 2020’s APRA Country Song winner ‘Hey Bus Driver’ in which more applause was milked from the audience when it was announced Tami found out she’d won on the radio, as no awards ceremony was held this year.

Up next was ‘Ten Tonne Truck’ , another new track from CHICKABOOM! which is about becoming super rich because cause you’re a musician, which has fabulous tongue-in-cheek laughing as a part of the chorus and this was quickly followed by the catchy ‘Queenie, Queenie’ which Tami dedicated to everyone who had to juggle so many unexpected things during the pandemic lockdowns.

In a heartfelt tribute to Mavis Staples with ‘Sister Mavis’, Tami had a little fan-girl moment reflecting on watching her perform shortly after emigrating to NZ, and pinched herself while opening a show for Mavis last year.

With the energy high it was clear we were at the business end of the evening, when Tami returned to the stage after a brief interlude resplendent in a silver-tassled jacket, and some of the power-house hits we have been waiting on have their turn on stage – ‘Get Outta My Business’ and ‘It’s A Man’s World’ are the first two in this final set – where Tami’s verse is even more poignant, given one of the women who wrote space code for NASA passed earlier this year, while presently our prime minister is well respected globally for her steerage through NZ’s pandemic response.

Another giggle and a snort as Tami looks at all the tinsel she is shedding on stage “like having a pet unicorn!”, leads into one of my favourites of the evening “You Were Mine” – where the percussive beat and lyrical lines just draw you in. An encore of ‘Big Boss Mama’ brings all the earlier guest artists on stage, and Tami reminds us all who wears the pants…

Tami is just jaw-droppingly captivating and I didn’t want it to end. It’s clear that we as an audience are equally starved of performances. Albums are great, but it’s these moments of connection which are truly memorable – so get out there (safely), and support your creatives. Buy local. Support local.

Were you there at The Civic Theatre for this magnificent Country Pop gig? Or have you seen Tami Neilson perform live some other time? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Set List:

1. Dynamite
2. Walk (Back to your Arms)
3. Lonely
4. 16 Miles of Chain (with Delaney Davidson)
5. Running to You (with Delaney Davidson)
6. A Woman’s Pain
7. Roimata/Cry Myself to Sleep (with Troy Kingi)
8. Be Still My Soul (with Nadia Reid)
9. Any Fool with a Heart (with Nadia Reid)
10. Don’t Be Afraid
11. Call Your Mama
12. Hey Bus Driver
13. Ten Tonne Truck
14. Queenie Queenie
15. Sister Mavis
16. Tell Me That You Love Me (with Delaney Davidson)
17. Sleep
18. Get Outta My Business
19. It’s a Man’s World
20. Holy Moses
21. You Were Mine
22. Big Boss Mama [encore]

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