Teeks has a hold of our Souls and leads us to salvation. Repeatedly. For ninety minutes.
He gets a rapturous welcome when he enters the Town Hall stage.
A delayed start, and the musicians quietly file on, six strings and a pianist who resembles Garth Hudson from the time of the Band’s debut album of 1968.
Nervous silence as the candles are set out. Violins tune quietly. It all erupts into squeals and screeches as the man appears, a cup to tea in his hand.
Te Karehana Toi was born in Northland and spent childhood and youth around the mystical magical lands of the Hokianga (his father’s domain), and Tauranga (mother’s).
Both parents were teachers and nomadic in their vocation. He was around the middle of six siblings.
Teeks says he did not gravitate to music seriously till his later teens. He attended some mentoring programs with Māori artists and then found his way cautiously in the industry.
Naturally a shy and retiring person, which belies a persevering work ethic and loads of natural talent. There is no guarantee of success even there. There must be some X factor.
I was aware of the hype and certain hysteria around him. This was my first live experience.
Here Before and Waves. The string section is wonderfully lyrical all evening. The acoustic bass must be plugged in. Warm deep resonance enhanced by the Great Hall atmospherics.
Teeks has a warm baritone, and he is lugubrious when he sings lines like please forgive me.
His phrasing is what elevates his music into the higher peaks of the classic Soul singers. With the sympathetic music surrounding him in celestial clouds, he adds nuances and tones which would often be lost in a larger arena setting.
Has name checked Otis (Redding), Sam (Cooke) and Stevie (Wonder) in revealing some of his inspirations on the Grapefruit Skies EP.
But he must have taken some influence of the classic hard Gospel groups of the Forties onwards. Cooke was a Highway QC before becoming a star with the Soul Stirrers.
Add in some Doo-Wop, especially the ballads like Since I Don’t Have You (Skyliners), Earth Angel (Penguins), all the way back to It’s Too Soon to Know (Orioles).
His vocal tone pitches somewhere between baritone Bill Medley (Righteous Brothers), and Al Green.
It doesn’t take long to be seduced by all this, but the triumph comes with Wash Over Me.
I’m ready now, would you please take me down to the river/ Wash my body, cleanse my soul.
A redemption song of course, and great Pop Gospel. I only say Pop because of the loose connection to Laura Nyro’s Save The Country as performed by the Fifth Dimension.
Poetic is a new song he says was written and finished two weeks ago. Quite arresting. Are we pathetic or are we poetic? A new album is promised.
Followed immediately by one of the best versions of Fleetwod Mac’s Landslide. Dripping with pain.
The triple play raining in my heart highlight is completed by a version of Adele’s Make You Feel My Love.
Of paramount importance to Teeks is his Māori heritage. I’m so proud to be a Māori he states before he sings Kei Hea Taku Reo. In his hands it becomes a wonderful Soul Ballad.
Northland is one of the most depressed areas in New Zealand, and the stats for Māori health, education, crime and domestic violence are the worst. Suffered enormously over the pandemic period.
Teeks wants a redemptive voice to be heard, and he is not a polemicist by nature. Te Tiriti gets a massive cheer. Before that it was all love and adoration.
Follows with a song written by Ria Hall, Te Ahi Kai Po. Again, he excels with a mournful lament which is lifted to some solace by the strings. Centred on the land wars of Gate Pa.
Closing song is drowned out by the massive cheers, and it takes a little time to recognise First Time. Your face is like a superpower.
We have all received the Teek’s benediction.
Rev. Orange Peel
Photography by Tom Grut
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