Troy Kingi & Delaney Davidson
15th August 2020
The Royal Opera House, Whanganui, New Zealand.
Review by Bridget Herlihy.
What do you get if you put together a selection of fruit, masks, an array of hats, two ponchos, a beat box, a camera, half a dozen guitars, and two of Aotearoa’s most revered songwriters and performers? In a nutshell, an unforgettable – and unique – evening of pure musical magic.
Sometimes, just sometimes, you experience a performance that stands out from the rest; one that will move you to your very core, leaving you spellbound and struggling to pick your jaw up from the floor (metaphorically speaking, of course). The show that musical chameleon Troy Kingi, along with the wonderfully hypnotic Delaney Davidson, have curated for his latest tour is such a performance.
Described as one of his most intriguing works to date, Troy Kingi’s fifth album ‘Black Sea Golden Ladder’ sees the beloved and uber-talented songwriter and musician channel an authentic and captivating folk vibe. It was a stroke of pure genius on the part of Kingi to recruit the mesmerizing and unique talents of Davidson for the album writing and recording process, and the prospect of having two of Aotearoa’s most respected musicians collaborate onstage has had fans from both camps champing at the bit to witness the album come to life on stage.
Last night was Whanganui’s turn, with the Royal Opera House playing host to the sixth night of the Black Sea Golden Ladder nationwide tour, also marking the halfway point of Kingi and Davidson’s foray around the country. With no opening act it was straight to the main event. With acoustic guitars strategically positioned at each side of the stage, and a large cymbal hanging above a rudimentary alter of sorts at the rear of the stage, the scene for the evening’s performance seemed to indicate a straightforward acoustic set. Yet this could not have been further from the truth. Under a veil of darkness Kingi and Davidson emerged from the wings on opposite sides of the stage, slowly sauntering towards the alter, where they lit a candle. Each clad in a poncho and western-inspired hat, they picked up their guitars, and began the opening notes of the album’s first track, ‘Sleep’ (Slumber), a hauntingly beautiful track performed in the shadows of a dimly lit stage. At 115 years old, the grande ol’ Royal Opera House is not a small building, yet Kingi’s voice filled every corner of the auditorium, rich with emotion and a degree of rawness that cannot be feigned. Beautifully complimented by Davidson’s lower range, it quickly became apparent that this is indeed a musical collaboration of epic proportions.
What was not immediately apparent was the fine silk screen that had been positioned at the front of the stage, which was used to project a variety of moving images to great effect, adding another layer of spectacle and awe to the performance. This was not just a performance for the eyes and the ears; the subtle smell of scented candles also wafted through the room, and more than once the audience was beckoned to get on their feet and move, and sing along. And no doubt that there was more than a few member of the audience that felt a tingle run down their spine or had a sudden case of goosebumps from watching this compelling duo do what they do best: tell stories. ‘Fork In The Road (Choices)’ was delivered with such power and intensity it was impossible not to be affected on some level by the performance and poignant images that played out on the screen.
With the first part of the performance dedicated to the tracks from ‘Black Sea Golden Ladder’, a brief intermission marked a shift into part two, which Kingi described as being a set of ‘covers’ of some of his hits, such as fan favourite ‘All Your Ships Have Sailed’ from 2020’s ‘The Ghost of Freddie Cesar’, which have been ‘folkified’ to be keeping with the album’s genre. Without wanting to give too much away for those who are attending the remaining shows, this is where the duo really started to have fun, with Davidson busting out some distinctive – and enviable – dance moves. Needless to say the audience joined in on several occasions. The ‘covers’ set also saw a bit of role reversal take place, as well as the fruit taking on a subtle, yet important role. Suffice to say, as the set neared its end, the crowd gleefully stomped on the wooden floorboards begging for more.
Kingi and Delaney smoothly rolled out a number of surprises during the show; however, to find out more it is highly, highly recommended that you experience it for yourself. It is a performance that must be seen and heard firsthand in order to truly appreciate its beauty, power and joy. And if that means travelling in order to see the duo live, you will not regret it for a nanosecond. ‘Black Sea Golden Ladder’ live is nothing short of superb – Kingi and Davidson have created absolute magic.
Were you there at the Royal Opera House for this magical concert? Or have you seen Troy Kingi or Delaney Davidson perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Note: Troy Kingi & Delaney Davidson provided passes to Ambient Light to review this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. 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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