Adam Hattaway is having a blast promoting his just dropped new single High Horse, beside the Haunters band as they lay out their distinctive brand of Americana.
Tonight, it’s at the Wine Cellar in the subterranean bowels of Karangahape Road. Except for me it was an exhausting trek up a great pyramid. From the Neptune statue at the bottom of Myers Park and up a thousand steps (it seems), up to the Cellar gates.
The Gates of Eden it could be. You can get a beer, say hello to Milan Borich who has just finished his warm-up set. (I will catch him next evening at the Come Together Play Led Zeppelin IV extravaganza).
Adam Hattaway lives in Christchurch and has been chasing his musical passions since childhood. He has been in the Eastern, a seminal group helmed by Adam McGrath, and which has also spawned Reb Fountain.
I remember the day of the Christchurch Mosque massacre, when McGrath was a support act for Alejandro Escovedo up at the Tuning Fork in Auckland. He played the show, as that was the best thing he could do at the time, and he spoke for many in the musical community there. The bonds which make the community resilient.
The Haunters band with Hattaway are long time buddies, mentors and fellow musical travellers.
Elmore Jones and Liam Quinn guitars, Sam White bass, and Holden Skinner drums.
First song off the block, Riding the River, from Rooster (2021) is a co-write with Delaney Davidson. The sound of an Americana bar band. The subject may be of immigrants crossing the Rio Grande.
The influences of his musical touchstones like Dylan, Rolling Stones and Van Morrison are ever present. Ever present everywhere and it’s like warm love
Big Night sounds like peak Van from the long fruitful Seventies and his Caldonian Soul phase. On the extended vamp and he intones just a stranger in this in this world. A nod to Astral Weeks.
I remember the Morrison tribute shows he did at the time, probably around 2020.
Cry In Vain and he can channel the Rolling Stones in vocal phrasing, at least tonight on the stage. The band have the Exiles sound of Roots Country intertwined with Blues. Bass guitar takes a walk here and is dominant on many tunes tonight.
Milan Borich does step up to sing Warren Zevon’s Carmelita as a duet. Tex-Mex Soul.
I Need Your Needs has the ringing jangle guitars. I remember he did a stellar vocal turn when the Come Together ensemble did their Tom Petty Damn the Torpedoes tribute.
It’s Hard and we are heading into Rockabilly territory where the singer has been listening to Jerry Lee. All day long. Guitars are playing Cowpunk.
Man of Action is Rockabilly Punk reminiscent of Rank and File and the Train Conductor Wore Black.
There are a few new ones to hang on the good-natured Cellar dwellers.
Last To Leave has the bass leading like Stax’s Donald Dunn. Hattaway shakes the maracas’ and sings I was born to have fun.
Good Times is Blues accented. I don’t feel well/ Under a spell.
Salt. Dirty ass Rock’n’roll which rages, and somewhere in there is the presence of the Beatles ‘64 and Lennon. I’m a loser/ Got no letter to deliver/ Got no money to burn.
Somewhere in his interviews is mentioned the fact he was raised on a diet of Beatles.
Like good showmen they go out on a high.
The chords of Into the Mystic are played with the banter of introducing the players, which segues into Wasting Our Time.
The band plays around with the opening riffs of Tumbling Dice and You Can’t Always Get Whatcha Want (Keith and his beloved open D tuning) before rolling down the rowdy and beery Americana highway. That ribbon of highway
Finish up with Bob Dylan’s Groom Still Waiting at the Altar.
Adam Hattaway, with the Haunters in tow, continue to perfect their loose-but-tight sounds of a great bar band.
Rev. Orange Peel
Photography by Azrie Azizi
Adam Hattaway
Milan Borich