Concert Review: Devilskin - Auckland - 29 June 2024

Presented By: The Rock & Jack Daniels

PHOTO: GINNY COCKS

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL DEVILSKIN GALLERY BY GINNY COCKS

Review By: Steve Shyu

Artist: Devilskin with support from Tadpole x Emma Dilemma & Skinny Hobos

Date: Saturday, 29 June 2024

Venue: The Powerstation, Auckland

What an absolutely stacked lineup. Just look at it. 

Tamaki Makaurau Auckland’s rock icons Skinny Hobos, Kirikiriroa Hamilton’s legendary Devilskin, and a recently-reformed Tadpole, all on a twelve-date tour across Aotearoa, wrapping things up with a Saturday night at Mount Eden’s Powerstation. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

Our national hard-rock icons Devilskin need no introduction. Over the past month they’ve toured in celebration of reaching the ten-year mark since releasing their debut LP We Rise. The four-piece are adored up and down the country by rock and heavy metal fans alike, and are known for delivering astounding, high-octane performances, and there is no doubt they’ll deliver again.

Accompanying them on the road are the much-loved kings of groove-heavy alternative rock, Skinny Hobos, who have earned repeated acclaim for their musicianship and live performances. Earlier in the year, the duo ended their hiatus and returned to playing live, so to see their name in the lineup was definitely special.

Speaking of making a comeback, after many months of rumours and teasers, Tadpole announced their much-anticipated revival in March. Technically billed as “Tadpole With Emma Dilemma”, the quintet have so far knocked out eleven of twelve tour dates shared with Devilskin, and have reportedly gained great praise everywhere.

Over my years of working at Auckland City’s rock bar, there have been countless Kiwi rock fans of my age who reminisce fondly of Tadpole’s heyday, conquering airwaves and dominating music video programmes. So to finally get to see them live at last will no doubt be a treat for many- Myself included!

Kickstarting the night was the duo of Alex Ferrier on guitar and Sam Holdom at the drumkit. The incredibly dynamic two-man band wasted no time in firing things up with their two most-renowned songs The Merchant of Tirau and Suburban Living. The blues-laden, swaggering rhythms ensured heads were rocking and drinks were raised in the air, as people steadily entered Powerstation’s floor-pit. The venue already looked reasonably well-filled by the time Skinny Hobos struck their first note, as more and more beards, jeans and black tees adorned with Devilskin designs gathered from the stage to the bar throughout the duo’s performance.

“How are you all doing!”, the drummer called out. “I’ve never seen a more attractive audience than you guys, but I say that every night”. Oddly, Sam’s interjections became harder to hear as the set progressed, with Alex appearing to banter by himself.

Regardless, the Hobos rolled through with their signature alternative-blues sound, the pace at times charging like a bull, other times sounding colossal as drums pounded and guitar solos wailed.

By the time the twosome pulled out stops on their closing tune, Jacked Like the Ripper, the crowd appeared sufficiently warmed up and were ready for more rockin’ action.

Another solid set nailed down, but will our Hobos stick around and grace Tamaki Makaurau with more shows in the coming future? We’ll all have to wait and see…

DJ Kritikl lit the fuse to Tadpole’s set with The Buddhafinger samples scratched on turntables, as the rest of Team Tadpole took their positions, and kicked off with 2000’s Set to Fade.

Being the first tour in almost eighteen years, it made sense to dust off every one of their greatest hits. For Me, Number One, Backdoor and Blind were big releases around the turn of the century, and clearly brought on waves of nostalgia for many in the audience.

Plenty went ballistic for the rave-rock anthem Better Days, after which, DJ Kritikl delivered bursts of classic late 90’s turntable scratches. I daresay very few in the crowd had heard anything like that at a rock gig in decades!

It was said that though former Tadpole singer Renée Brennan opted to not perform, she gave the band her blessings in continuing with Emma Dilemma on the microphone. Right from the first beat, Emma proved she could kick ass, deliver the vocal goods, engage with the energised crowd, and help carry the show her own way. If there was any doubt in people’s minds I’d wager they were quickly dispelled!

Guitar powerhouse Chris Yong effortlessly propelled each song, as bassist Shannon Brown wowed everyone with his commanding presence, his finger-style bass technique, and stunningly luscious long locks. Certainly made me jealous…

Cellphone lights were called for as Tadpole brought on their 2000 ballad No Man. I have strong recollections of No Man being one of the first Kiwi rock songs I had ever heard since moving to Aotearoa as a child, so needless to say, this one evoked heavy nostalgia. The waving, shimmering phone lights added to the magic of the moment, and I admit, made me a little misty-eyed.

Speaking of nostalgia, Nothing New was a personal favourite of mine when I was in secondary school. (Hell, I still remember the music video very vividly!) Naturally, I had to get in the crowd for this one to really absorb the music. Like me, loads in the audience relished hearing these songs live after years of anticipation. As expected, the highest-charting hit Alright served as the climactic ending to this fantastic Tadpole set, leaving this particular fan hoping for more shows in the near future.

Lights went down. Van Halen’s Runnin’ With the Devil began playing. Then silence. Suddenly, drummer Nic Martin emerged, tearing the night apart with a stormy drum solo, paving the way for opener Elvis Presley Circle Pit as the crowd blew up. Stage lights flickered as the frontwoman’s handheld gas cannon filled the room, while pummeling drums and thunderous guitar riffs bore down on everyone. Now this is how you begin a rock show!

With nearly a dozen shows covered, consider this engine very well-oiled. Devilskin dutifully progressed through their platinum-certified We Rise from top to bottom, from hit singles to fan-favourite deep cuts.

The all-singing, oft-growling, somersaulting and high-kicking Jennie Skulander showcased once again why she’s regarded as one of Aotearoa’s best frontperson. One would witness this with the guttural work in Until You Bleed, then to the moody, soulful melodies of Fade. It’s nothing short of impressive.

On top of holding down pounding grooves, Nic Martin made quick work of his drum solos. From atop his towering drum riser, his performances appeared almost godlike as stage lights glowed behind him.

Nail Vincent incorporated snippets of AC/DC and other classic rock nods to his guitar solo, eliciting delighted responses from the audience. Alongside fellow axe-wielder Paul Martin, the two always put on a spectacle, unloading riff after riff, pointing at exuberant fans and grinning with a type of joy that only performing live could produce.

Astoundingly, the band showed no signs of tiredness, despite being on the road and playing three shows in as many days. Their energy fed into the crowd, who surged back and forth on the floor almost non-stop throughout Devilskin’s set.

Rounding things off in their trademark manner, Dirt had the two-storey crowd all singing the deeply memorable vocal refrain, even after the band had exited the stage.

Cheers and screams for an encore were rewarded with an additional five songs, much to everybody’s delight. I mean, they had to! Their 2020 smash hit Corrode still gets loads of aroha on rock radio, not to mention their brilliant new cover of Heart’s Barracuda, which saw just about everybody singing and jumping about. Then to truly round things off the right way, Devilskin belted out Voices and their tour namesake track, We Rise - bringing the night to a fitting end and a thunderous response from the crowd as the band celebrate the 10th Anniversary of their debut album, inviting fans to join them for the after-party at Auckland’s Ding Dong Lounge to carry on the night. 

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