The Streets, Auckland NZ, 2024

The Streets

14th March 2024
Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand

Review and feature photograph by Sarah Kidd.

It has been five long years since The Streets last visited New Zealand shores, their show being one of the last great internationals before Covid slapped the world in the face and said stay at home.

So it was not surprising at all to many that when their show was announced at the iconic Powerstation that tickets flew out the door faster than kebabs down an Englishman’s throat after a Friday bender at the pub.

The room was heaving with bodies, a roar echoing throughout as spotlights lit up the stage and the band which included the lovely Wayne Bennett on bass took their places, familiar face Kevin Mark Trail receiving massive appreciation as did Mike Skinner when he strode out in basically a matching outfit, the pair opting for a simple black t shirt and shorts combo.

Everybody knows the history, in 2011 Skinner pulled the plug on The Streets and fans collectively mourned as one. Yet it seems that Skinner still has a few things to say yet, The Streets releasing The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light just last year, the album sharing the same name with Skinners debut feature film which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in.

Skinner himself stated the film itself was a long and at times arduous process, so the music – in part a narration so the album is technically about seven years old, same as the film project itself – was at times his escape. It is also the album that Skinner is the most happy with in his career because “it hasn’t really been about the album, it’s been about the film.”

But he also knows what the fans want, so the latest material isn’t at the forefront of the show, instead injected in-between classics, bangers and of course banter that one could only expect from a Birmingham geezer such as Skinner.

‘Turn the Page’ and ‘Who’s Got The Bag’ with its infectious woozy wubs kicked off the evening nicely, Skinner wasting no time as he disappeared off into the audience. Returning to the stage moments later he held a phone aloft declaring he had found it on the floor and asking who it belonged to.

The phone belonged to one Ryan, but the return of the phone was not going to be simple, instead Skinner turned it into a “trust exercise” that would become the running theme of the night, Skinner often having one at each show, each an organic thing that is part of the charm and character of the man himself.

As tracks such as ‘Let’s Push Things Forward’ and ‘Don’t Mug Yourself’ flowed from the stage, Skinner busied himself by upending a couple of speakers so that he could use them as a makeshift table and at times a podium. A piece of paper and sharpie soon materialised and Skinner – often in between the lines of the songs – asked an audience member to ensure that the sharpie was real “just like a real magic trick.”

Herein lies what makes a Streets show a must see. While most artists who rap tend to concentrate on the task at hand, Skinner is more a multitasker, he moves about the stage, rearranging things, ad libbing as things catch his eye, never missing a beat. Not only is it fascinating and highly impressive to watch, but it is also quintessentially The Streets.

Advising that by the end of the night the phone – if Ryan were indeed telling the truth – would be returned to its rightful owner, Skinner got Ryan to write his number down on aforementioned piece of paper with the now verified sharpie before continuing on.

Tracks melded into one another, the band accompanying each one perfectly, Kevin Trail harmonising them all beautifully and at times stealing the show all together with his high knees and gilded vocals. ‘Has it Come to This?’ ‘I Wish You Loved You as Much as You Love Him’ mellowed the set a little, giving the audience a chance to catch their breath, Skinner talking about his plan to get the phone back to Ryan; “Do you trust me Auckland? I trust you; we are going to learn to trust each other tonight”. Skinner then taking a segue as he complimented New Zealand weed “Best in the world I say.”

Bringing the up-tempo energy back, ‘Too Much Yayo’ from the latest album and ‘Mike (desert island duvet)’ led into the absolutely stonking ‘Fit But You Know It’, which saw the fans erupt as they sang every word in unison, drinks held high, but not before a rather unexpected but well received Black Sabbath ‘Iron Man’ intro!

A quick break, and The Streets returned for an encore, ‘Dry Your Eyes’ prompting a sing along to end all others led by Trail who was the backbone of the chorus.

But the culmination of all the planning was coming to a head, Skinner taking off into the audience in his quest to meet each and every fan before finding one with credit on their phone. Ryan had to have his phone back, but this was all based-on trust; was the phone truly his? It had to be proved.

Telling Kevin to keep an eye on the phone that was still sitting atop the upturned speaker, Skinner requested a member of the audience to dial the number, it was if the venue held its collective breath as Kevin held the phone aloft. Seconds agonisingly ticked by the phone began to ring and the crowd went wild, it was a celebration to rival a World Cup Soccer win by England itself.

Crowd surfing back to the stage, Skinner graciously handed the phone back to Ryan before final track of the night ‘Take Me As I Am’ saw the party continue, Skinner encouraging the ladies to crowd surf and looking both surprised and well pleased simultaneously as not one, not two, but several women suddenly appeared atop a sea of hands and were moved about the room.

Have The Streets still got it live? That would be an unequivocal yes. Why? Because a Streets gig is not a show. It’s an experience.

Were you there at Powerstation for this garage rap gig? Or have you seen The Streets perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

_{Note: The reviewer purchased their own ticket to this concert at full market rate. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.}

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