Auckland Sounds 2025 -Eventfinda Stadium, 27 February 2025: Review and Photo Galleries

Photos by Leonie Moreland and John Kempt

1st March 2025

Auckland Sounds Series: Featuring OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Jon Stevens, Diesel, The Narcs with Kim Willoughby

Auckland Sounds Series. Sounds serious. An eclectic collection of acts, from Rock to Electronica.

Eventfinda on the Shore is like most stadiums, a bit of a boom boom room at the start of the gig. As the night progresses the PA gets tweaked into shape as the venue fills up.

The Narcs , Auckland Sounds Series — The Narcs

The Narcs played the opening slot of this evening’s roster. Being first up in festival situations can be a challenge, but The Narcs were always world class and delivered out of the gate.

They were top notch and resilient from the start of their career, and this evening they presented themselves as the fundamental three piece that smoked the 80’s Rock circuit in New Zealand.

They added some special sauce with a charismatic guest appearance by Kim Willoughby. They will be headlining this year. Worth catching as they take their greatness forward.

When Diesel took the stage, the ocean of the crowd was rolling in a bit. With a slightly reticent start they upped it with their professionalism.

He mentioned that he hadn’t performed in New Zealand before the shitshow.

Diesel is quite soulful. Americana, even with a dash of Prince in his voice. Nice raw guitar tones, a must have for most big Aussie bands. He wrenched some good spontaneous feedback from a shiny Gretsch.

Interestingly one of his best and tightest tones was a baby Taylor acoustic guitar that really poked through in the solid three piece. Small size matters.

Diesel travelled the stage well with a good physicality, surfing left and right, tag teaming the different vocal mics.

His band was solid. The drummer hammered the beats with no frills attached.

He left the stage guitar held high. He turned up the heat.

Jon Stevens opened out with his soaring range. The band was super tight, and the PA tuned. He said he was glad to be home. To this day he still has the energy and power.

As he sang New Sensation, he was celebrating a page from his book. His tenor rising voice is up there. As I say, never that common.

Australia has a real heritage of high range singers, even Peter Garret climbs to those notes. No wonder Jon made it in OZ. The set is full of INXS and Noiseworks stompers.

With an immaculate sound, it’s somewhat a top tier tribute, but great entertainment all the same. He signed out with Jezebel.

He wooed me and screwed me, but what the hell. He put paid to that ditty before it reached the end.

Enough of that he laughed. He waved off into a sunset with Montego Bay. Very fun.

Tom Bailey takes it up to a higher ground. He glides across the stage with Bowie’s confidence. Dressed in a white suit and sunglasses, and backed by three talented young woman (also clad in white) on keys, drums and bass.

Tom doesn’t sling a guitar on until song three, but by that time he has already shown his talent as a writer, vocalist, percussionist, keyboardist and harp player.

The girls are multi-instrumentalists. When they stepped forward to embrace cellos and congas, you could hear the songs being nailed down by solid electronic sequences.

So many great Thompson Twins songs. Psycho Killer was definitely a surprise cover, nicely done. The back wall projection popping more and more as the set pressed on.

Amidst his glowing stage presence, Tom mentioned he was nervous on the way to the gig. One would never have known. He enjoyed the welcome.

Chillingly good. He holds your heart. Really glad I saw it.

The sound was mixed on a very small Digico desk by a cool Brit. A very defined sound. Size matters

OMD

From the downbeat of OMD the spine of the kick drum was tight and focused, carved right up the middle of the mix. Spacious arrangements with simple repetitions of keyboard arpeggios. The catchiness of vintage synths.

Tom was hard to follow, but OMD left their marks with a different electronic breathing space. The stage setup and symmetry reflect the music.

You can hear and see the influence of Kraftwerk. Never a bad thing.

The band is playing mostly singles. If you don’t know them, they are strong enough to sound familiar and draw you in. You feel like buying the records.

The last time OMD played Auckland was 1986, when that great Pretty in Pink single came out. If You Leave is one we all know. Love that movie. During the song fizzy pink images of Molly Ringwald invigorated the back wall.