For the past month, 605 Morningside has been home to an intimate four-week residency by Park Rd, and their finale was nothing short of unforgettable.
With a theme of covers and prom, the crowd arrived dressed to the nines in suits, dresses, bowties, and button-ups, transforming the cozy venue into something that felt both festive and wonderfully claustrophobic.
His set featured Nowhere to Be Seen, Draw the Line, and a powerful rendition of Stereophonics’ Local Boy in the Photograph that would have made Kelly Jones proud.
With a rasping, crisp voice reminiscent of Thom Yorke, Otis delivered raw performances that cut through the chatter of early-evening drinks.
His lone Spotify single Crazy made an appearance, as did Memory Lane, which is set for release this November.
Despite admitting the show was a last-minute booking, his polished set told another story entirely. Whether with his bands or as a solo act, Otis is steadily carving out a place in Auckland’s alternative Rock scene.
His setlist combined crowd-pleasers Wagon Wheel, The Night We Met, and a slowed-down version of Dancing Queen that suited his voice perfectly and had the crowd, me included, singing along.
An original track, Easy, stood out with its infectious hooks and is well worth checking out on Spotify.
Robertson’s vocals carried shades of James Blunt and Bob Dylan, with enough grit to make his cover of Bruce Springsteen’s I’m On Fire feel like a heartfelt tribute. Later, Tom Chamberlain joined him for an original that had the room harmonizing in unison.
Then came Jack + the Boys from Park Rd (TK, Angus, and Carlos).
Writing this review, I discovered this was not their first time playing together. They once performed as The Affairs, competing in Dig the Gig, and that history explained the chemistry on stage.
Together they eased in with Folk staples like Scarborough Fair before ramping up the energy with Coldplay’s Yellow, which had the entire room belting along. Their set blurred the line between opener and headliner, radiating the camaraderie and community spirit at the heart of the Tāmaki music scene.
The setlist stretched from Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) to Sunflower (Post Malone), You Belong with Me (Taylor Swift), a self-confessed guilty pleasure of Tom’s dad, and even Shake It by Metro Station, with bassist Carlos jumping on vocals and delivering a Punk Rock edge that stole the show.
Between songs, Carlos bantered with the crowd, leaning into the house-party atmosphere that 605 Morningside Drinkery naturally provides.
By the time sweat-soaked singlets replaced crisp prom outfits, the room was electric, the kind of night where the line between band and audience disappears.
Closing out their four-week run, Park Rd turned 605 Morningside into a second home. The residency celebrated not only their own growth, complete with stories of Six60’s Chris Mac mentoring them after their Rockquest win and helping them give this 4-week residency, but also the wider Auckland music community.
Musicians from across Auckland’s music scene turned up, including members of Daffodils and The Hazy Way. Fans packed the pub to the point where there was hardly room to move, yet the atmosphere was electric.
If this finale is any indication, Park Rd have firmly cemented themselves as Auckland’s Indie Rock Darlings.
Azrie Azizi
Photography by Chloe Tredgett
Park Rd
Photos by Azrie Azizi
Otis Tate
Jack Robertson
