The Ding Dong Lounge late on a Saturday night may not be everyone’s idea of a fun night out, but where better to stay warm and enjoy a drink and see an eclectic selection of great bands?
Courtnay and The Unholy Reverie
Before mentioning Taranaki’s Courtnay and The Unholy Reverie I have to go on record that I produced their current single The Devil is in the Detail which they delivered with great aplomb during their set. I had never seen the band live before and I was floored by how confident Courtnay Low is as a front person and the dynamic delivery of the set by the entire band.
Drawing on material from previous single releases, a selection of covers and their in-progress debut album, the crowd revelled in songs such as the brilliant Vulture Vulture and a true to the original cover of Queens of the Stone Age‘s No One Knows. A highlight was the powerful set closer Summertime Sunset by Larkin Poe, which they truly made their own.
If ever a band was worth the walk through the Auckland CBD late on a winter night it’s this group of incredible troubadours.
The Ideas
The Ideas were first up on the night with a lively set performed in the power duo format beloved by Royal Blood, White Stripes and their ilk. The Ideas found their own twist on the genre with decadent blues riffs courtesy of Max Leask and the powerhouse drumming of Josiah Weston that perfectly fitted the venue – sweaty, swampy and energetic, a great start to the evening.
My Civilian
My Civilian followed with a strange, yet fascinating set that mixed prog, folk, psychedelia and rock. It’s unusual to see a violin and acoustic guitar on the bill at a rock club, resulting in some of the audience seeming quite bemused.
The band never the less played with bombast and confidence as they wove their way through a host of songs with multiple time changes and extended opuses that had an endearing charm, emphasised by the innovative violin tones of Sam Loveridge and Shamus Crawford‘s quirky vocals.
I caught up with Courtney after the gig and asked a few questions about the band recent plans.
How’s the tour been?
Absolutely epic! We’ve met tons of awesome new people, played with some top tier bands in thriving local venues. The scene is alive and well. Lots of driving, not a lot of sleeping but that’s showbiz baby!
How was it playing with Devilskin?
Incredible. They have a really sharp polished show, the whole team was so welcoming and fun to be around. We were so grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with Devilskin.
Best show on the tour?
Definitely Auckland, there’s just something about a dive bar for me. Ding Dong Lounge is a great spot and Treeby has done an incredible job keeping the lights on through a bit of a tumultuous time for venues. The crowd was heaving, good vibes all around!
What are the challenges of an independent band touring Aotearoa New Zealand currently?
Money ha, ha! It’s really tricky self funding and knowing you need to get out there. Getting the venues booked and getting the lineup sorted is the easy part. Making it all happen is the tough bit. People often don’t buy pre-sales to shows (BUY THE DAMN PRE SALES) so you never know if there’s actually only 30 people coming, or if the room is going to be full. Thankfully, they’ve been full so far. Also finding time for proper rest is tricky. It’s super important to stay hydrated, rest when you can and eat clean. It all catches up on ya otherwise!
Do you have a date for the album release?
We don’t just yet as we’re still finishing off final touches, it’ll be probably October or November I’d say.
Review and photography by Greg Haver
Courtnay and The Unholy Reverie
My Civilian
The Ideas
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