Nothing But Thieves eventually do summon and generate Indie Rock power, ironically at the Powerstation tonight, enough to cover New Zealand’s failing grid on an autumn cold snap evening.
Conor Mason lead vocals and guitar, Joe Langridge -Brown guitar and a guy named Dave.
They kicked around in various formats as a live act on their local scene. But it was the addition of Dominic Craik, who joined their school in year twelve, that clicked into the band which became the Thieves.
Mason has an extraordinary voice and idolises the late Jeff Buckley, obvious on his distinctive falsetto.
Langridge-Brown listened to his father’s Dylan, Tom Petty and U2 collection from where he was led to the Foo Fighters.
The band is rounded out by Philip Blake bass (War on Drugs his fave), and James Price drums (it’s Queen, period).
Allen Ginsberg once prodded Bob Dylan by asking Do you think you’ll be hung as a liar or a thief. Provoking nervous laughter, as much of his mid Sixties lyrics are inspired by Ginsberg’s Beat poetry.
Talent borrows and Genius steals is the correct rejoinder.
The show starts with opening track to their latest album Dead City Club (2023) Welcome to the DCC. The guitars weave a disciplined Power Pop mesh which bounces with a distinct Disco rhythm.
An American Prog Rock band from the Seventies, who are still going and have a cult following.
You could say there is some Jon Anderson (from the dreaded Yes) in the vocal mix too.
As in the performance of Do You Love Me Yet? Again from their current album. That is all fine. The vocal performance is arresting on the studio version, and it does take a little time for me to acclimatise to it here in the live setting.
When they perform Lover, Please Stay, their first-released single, which is a slow tender ballad, Mason comes into his own and easily matches his idol.
Broken Machine puts a healthy amount of indie Funk into the mix.
It is understandable that their audience go for the raging Rock and Power Pop attack, as it generates the musical heat.
The only other ballad of the night is Sorry, off Broken Machine (2017). A simple rhythm in comparison to the other songs allows the singer to carry the emotional load.
Followed immediately by Unperson which rages and burns. Brutal rhythm riffs and sustained yells. The singer makes a decent go at attacking the legacy of another Rock God, Robert Plant. The voice can pierce.
Local band Daffodils are a good Power Pop band when I first saw them in 2020, and their sound seems to have gotten bigger, as they prepare the way for the Thieves tonight.
Led by Theo Salmon voice and guitar, Jade Bryham keyboards, Louis Graham bass guitar and Isaac Keating drums.
The band carefully build to a wall of Indie Power Pop.
There is a sell-out crowd tonight, and even close to the front of stage the noise becomes a barrage to battle with.
Most of their set are untitled new songs. The last couple have an eerie hypnotic keyboard tone like a theremin winding through it.
A good counterpoint to the closing song which explodes out and then extends the vamp in Neil Young with Crazy Horse fashion.
Nothing But Thieves are on a roll when they hit Impossible, close to the end.
Come back for a triple encore, which everyone in the crowd seems to know is the case.
Big, rowdy, meshed guitars, and heavy ordnance drums. Amsterdam and Overcome batter the worshipping crowd into satisfying submission.
Rev. Orange Peel
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Nothing But Thieves
The Daffodils
