Last night, Highly Suspect took to Auckland’s Spark Arena, dialling down the venue’s usual grandeur to create an intimate, high-octane atmosphere for 3,862 eager fans. While the setup might have made the arena feel smaller, the band’s massive presence ensured it was anything but.
Rita Mae
Opening for Highly Suspect was a promising support act Rita Mae, whose set blended charm, vulnerability, and talent.
Her performance of Poster Child stood out, showcasing a rich yet dynamic voice, albeit one with occasional sharp edges.
Despite technical hiccups, prompting Mae to deliver an impromptu acoustic number while her band scrambled to resolve the issue, her professionalism shone.
The faint purple lighting during her final songs added an ethereal touch, and by the time she closed with Kiss the Sky, she’d won over a distracted crowd, earning rapturous applause.
Highly Suspect
From the first chord, Highly Suspect brought stadium-sized energy to their Blues-driven Rock set.
Their sound, laced with 80s-inspired lead guitars and thunderous drums, had the crowd hooked.
Lead singer Johnny Stevens, a Rock god incarnate with raspy vocals and virtuosic guitar chops, commanded the stage with the swagger of someone who’s seen it all, and yet still gives it his all.
If there’s one thing Highly Suspect knows how to do, it’s turn up the volume, crank the intensity, and send a room full of souls into a state of Rock‘n’roll ecstasy.
From the moment they hit the stage at Spark Arena it was clear this wasn’t going to be a typical night. The band, known for their raw blend of Blues-driven Rock and gritty swagger, wasted no time commanding the crowd with a sound that felt as loud and fiery as it did deeply personal.
The show kicked off with the kind of explosive energy that bands twice their size would envy. Stadium-sounding drums, heavy and thunderous and unrelenting, crashed through the speakers, immediately setting the tone.
They were a perfect partner to the lead guitars, which were drenched in the unmistakable feel of ‘80s arena Rock, but with a modern edge that was unmistakably Highly Suspect. Every riff seemed to stretch into the stratosphere, bending and twisting in perfect sync with the crowd’s energy.
Early in the set, the audience was a mix of seated onlookers, and a growing mosh pit, with energy levels soaring as the band churned out fan-favourites like Bath Salts and Serotonia.
A few diehards at the barricade professed love for deeper cuts like My Name is Human solidifying the band’s pull across their catalogue.
Vocalist and guitarist Stevens was the undoubted centrepiece. His raspy, gravelly voice, both soulful and ferocious, was the perfect vehicle for the band’s Blues-tinged tracks, which flowed seamlessly from one to the next like a passionate, unbroken river of sound.
It was clear from the opening notes that Stevens wasn’t just performing, he was channelling something far deeper.
His stage presence alone could’ve powered the entire venue, but it was his virtuosic guitar work that made the night truly unforgettable. There were moments when his fingers danced across the fretboard, delivering solos that left the crowd breathless, as if the notes themselves were born from some forgotten Rock ‘n’ roll temple.
But what really stood out was the energy between the band and the crowd. Highly Suspect has always had that rare ability to connect, and tonight was no different.
From the front row to the rafters, the venue was alive with a pulsating vibe. Fans screamed the lyrics right back at Stevens as if they were singing along with an old friend, not just a band they’d come to see. It wasn’t just a concert. It was a communal experience, a shared moment where every riff and howl felt like a shout for freedom.
Stevens unapologetically lit a cigarette mid-set. A flicker of defiance in a world of rules. The moment felt like a throwback to a wilder, freer era.
Later, he silenced the stage, inviting the audience to illuminate the arena with phones and lighters. A breath-taking spectacle that made the cavernous space feel personal.
The night wasn’t without its dramas. One lone crowd surfer faced the wrath of overzealous security, his abrupt removal from the throng drawing collective gasps.
Despite the tension, the incident barely dimmed the fiery energy radiating from both the band and the fans.
At one stage Highly Suspect proved why they’re masters of unpredictability and generosity.
Midway through the night, frontman Johnny Stevens, always one to keep fans on their toes, casually barked into the mic, somebody get Henry from the Powder Chutes and get him on stage right now!
Within moments, the young Kiwi and fellow band members found themselves standing beside Johnny, visibly starstruck yet game faced.
Henry, their vocalist, wasted no time addressing the crowd, saying, I’m really sorry, my voice is fucked, but I’ll do the best I can. A sheepish yet heartfelt intro that was immediately met with roaring support.
The backstory? Just days earlier, a fan had hurled a baseball cap at Johnny during another show, emblazoned with the name Powder Chutes.
Already buzzing with rumours about this local act, Johnny took it as a sign and reached out, inviting the band to join the Auckland bill. Their response? A no-brainer. Hell yes!
What followed was a moment that will undoubtedly enter Powder Chutes folklore. Johnny handed his own mic to Henry, who then launched into the anthem Lydia.
His wavering vocals carried both grit and gratitude, while his bandmates Clarke, Archie, and Otis danced and revelled like kids at their first big festival.
Johnny, the ultimate hype man, made sure the spotlight stayed firmly on his guests, taking a seat mid-stage to let Henry take centre stage. A nod of respect from one frontman to another.
Then came Clarke’s moment. Ripping into the iconic solo while perched on the front monitor sub, so close to the crowd you could almost hear their jaws drop. The Powder Chutes boys weren’t just playing, they were living this dream.
By the end, the crowd had adopted Powder Chutes as their own, and Johnny had once again proven his knack for recognising raw talent and fostering unforgettable moments.
A win-win for New Zealand Rock and a story these young guns, and everyone in the room, will be telling for years to come.
As the band continued to roar through their set, Stevens mused about moving to New Zealand. I’m gonna move my ass to Queenstown or Auckland one day he quipped, earning cheers from the crowd.
By the time they wrapped up, leaving the amps humming ominously, the audience was ravenous for more. Chants, stomping, and falsetto screams erupted, urging the band back for an encore.
Even the drummer’s standing ovation during the closing number underscored the raw power of Highly Suspect’s performance. If last night proved anything, it’s that this band doesn’t just play Rock, they live and breathe it, dragging the rest of us along for the ride.
Highly Suspect delivered a show that was equal parts grit and grandeur, proving yet again why they’re a force to be reckoned with in the modern Rock scene.
If you weren’t there, you missed a night that’ll be etched in Auckland’s music history for years to come.
Paul Marshall
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Highly Suspect
Rita Mae
