There are gigs… and then there are moments that become legendary. Last night Devilskin didn’t just take the stage. They claimed it, owned it, and burned it into the hearts of every person packed into that room.
What unfolded was more than a concert. It was a full-throttle, high-octane celebration of New Zealand Rock at its absolute peak.
Jennie Skulander was nothing short of transcendent. Her vocal range is mythical — leaping from operatic clarity to guttural fury with spine-tingling ease.
The emotion she pours into each line is breathtaking, commanding the stage not just as a frontwoman, but as a force of nature.
On Endo, she stripped hearts bare. On Pray, she brought righteous fire. She connects like few vocalists can. You feel her voice in your bones.
Then there’s Paul Martin on bass — a beast of rhythm, soul, and sheer presence.
Watching Paul live is witnessing pure passion in motion. He doesn’t just play, he channels. Every note is driven, purposeful, and loaded with weight.
His low-end thunder anchored the night, locking in with Nic Martin on drums (his son and the generational chemistry is real) in a rhythm section that felt more like a seismic event than a backing groove.
Nic’s playing was nothing short of world-class. Technical, relentless, and dynamic. His solo moments were jaw-dropping, but even more impressive was his feel. His ability to serve the song while pushing it into the stratosphere.
And of course, Nail, the guitarist who somehow merges brutality with beauty. His tone is signature — crisp yet filthy, melodic yet heavy.
Solos cut through like lightning, riffs pummelled with precision. He moved across the stage like a predator. Controlled, cool, utterly commanding.
His chemistry with Jennie was magnetic, especially during tracks like Barracuda and Start a Revolution — which, last night, they very nearly did.
The setlist was perfectly paced. A rollercoaster of adrenaline and emotion.
At the end, old-school bangers like Little Pills still punch with anthemic fury, while at the start, new material that engulfs the crowd, newly released Swelter, indicates a band that is constantly evolving. Still hungry, still dangerous.
The crowd knew it too — this wasn’t just applause between songs. It was roars, fists, sweat, and tears. It was a communion.
Lighting, sound, stagecraft — all flawless. Every detail elevated the experience without distracting from the rawness at its core.
This is a band that’s paid its dues, earned its scars, and knows exactly how to take an audience to church and hell in the same breath.
Beyond the brilliance onstage, what truly makes Devilskin a machine of this magnitude is the people you don’t always see.
The crew — every road warrior, tech, and driver in between — are the unsung legends behind the scenes.
This show doesn’t happen without them. They work brutal hours, city to city, running on fumes and fire. The result is nothing short of flawless. Their passion, professionalism, and grind are a huge part of what makes Devilskin not just a band, but an unstoppable live experience.
I witnessed that team passion last night, I call it the Devilskin X-Factor.
Devilskin aren’t just New Zealand’s greatest live Rock act. They are a world-class, all-consuming, heart-and-guts explosion of music and meaning.
And last night at the Powerstation, they reminded us of what it feels like to truly feel alive. Their sound is global, but their soul is unmistakably Kiwi. Proud, powerful, and proudly uncompromising.
Miss it? That’s on you. But trust me — you don’t want to miss the next one.
For futures show tickets go to ticketek
Aaron Gascoigne
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Devilskin
Villainy
Midwave Breaks
