Lime Cordiale – Auckland Town Hall, 20 October 2024: Review

A Lime Cordiale concert at Auckland’s Town Hall is just what you need to kickstart the season, their casual Northern Sydney vibes that encompasses just the right amount of Aussie to make them endearing to a Kiwi audience.

Lovingly wrapped in a helluva ball of musical talent is what sunny afternoons beside the BBQ call for.

To open, one of our own in the form of Bella Rafflyn, a name familiar to those who are already a fan of the band Coast Arcade.

Backed by her close-knit unit in the form of bassist Leo Spykerman, drummer Doug Bragg and JP on guitar, they smashed out an energetic set that included her new single Overdrive.

Minutes before Lime Cordiale took the stage the floor was heaving with fans, ravenous cries of joy filling the air as the band’s name appeared on the back screen in bold font and the members took their places on stage.

Morphing into a grainy film strip, the backing visuals were just the right accompaniment for their opening track Pedestal before they dropped into one of their biggest hits Temper Temper from their 2017 debut album Permanent Vacation.

It is difficult not to love the Leimbach Brothers, the duo comprising of Oli and Louis, one that is so harmonious that it seems almost criminal for them not to play together.

Sporting their casual looks that they are almost as well known for as much as their music. Oli the eldest of the pair rocked dark green trackies and that rather famous moustache, while Louis opted for a matching blue ensemble that complimented his tousled surfer locks.

But dig a little deeper and you will find that there is a reasoning behind their aesthetic.

This a duo that gives a damn about the world that they live in and how they effect it. Take a moment to look at their website and it discusses how they make every effort to ensure that when they tour, it is as sustainable as possible.

Part of this is not buying into fast fashion. Having recently released a full-length documentary on the subject of sustainable touring entitled On the Road to a Better Tour, it was fantastic to hear them mention during the show that a dollar from every ticket sold was being put back into environmental initiatives. What’s not to love about that?

Moving swiftly through the first half of the set, the audience lapped up tracks such as Facts of Life off their latest album Enough of the Sweet Talk and Naturally,  Oli breaking out the first of a handful of clarinet solos while Alex on keys performed like his life depended on it.

Keeping pace with them all James Jennings on drums was on point, while Jack Howe tied it all together on guitar.

Imposter Syndrome and The Big Reveal; Ou L’Hypocrite demonstrated that the siblings are more than just another Aussie duo pumping out Surfer Rock.

They quite cleverly weave elements of Pop and grungy undertones, interesting wordplay and at times pure honesty derived from life experiences. Cold Treatment anyone?

But they also know how to let loose and just have fun with it all as their ever-popular cover of the Divinyls classic I Touch Myself, followed by a staged fight that only real-life brothers could pull off, complete with boxing robes and referee demonstrated.

Being an all-ages show there was the obligatory left vs right side of the crowd wars, Oli and Louis vying for the loudest cheers, but the fans love it so who can blame them for playing up to it.

But it was the music that brought the biggest acclimations, the momentary more sombre notes of Colin and the rather lovely When I’m Losing It where Louis plays the trumpet with aplomb.

A far cry from the hilarious kazoo solo during No Plans which once again demonstrates that despite Lime Cordiale having a definitive sound, they are far from a one trick pony.

Money with a killer intro that saw the members gather round Jennings’ kit was undoubtedly one of the biggest hits of the night, the entire crowd singing the lyrics while simultaneously grooving to the infectious melody.

Risky Love and Strangers bringing the set to a close and allowing the audience to burn off any residual energy by screaming, stamping and clapping for an encore that everyone knew was coming.

And what an encore it was, despite this being the last show of the tour, the boys weren’t planning on turning in a half-hearted performance.

Waking up Easy and Robbery seeing the patrons go wild before Inappropriate Behaviour  brought everything to a close.

But not before the band were joined by an incredibly special guest. Eight-year-old Romeo, wearing a tour t-shirt that almost enveloped him had spent the majority of the night on his dad’s hip down in front (shout out to the security team, who kept an eye out and periodically ensured that cups of water made their way directly to him).

Catching the eye of Oli, he was invited up on stage and given his own mic stand. He then adoringly hugged each of the Leimbach boys before making his own way up to Jennings to do the same. Cuteness overload.

Lime Cordiale are indeed one of the busiest bands out there, and it is no wonder based off the back of live shows such as these.

Sarah Kidd

Photos by Den

Lime Cordiale

Bella Rafflyn

SET LIST
Pedestal
Temper Temper
Facts of Life
Naturally
Dirt Cheap
Enough of the Sweet talk
Happiness Season
Imposter Syndrome
The Big Reveal; Ou L’Hypocrite
I Touch Myself (Divinyls Cover)
No Plans to Make Plans
Country Club
Colin
When I’m Losing It
Money
Risky Love
Cold Treatment
Strangers
Waking Up Easy – encore
Robbery – encore
Inappropriate Behaviour – encore