Concert Review: Jakob - Napier - 21st December 2024

JAKOB LIVE AT PAISLEY STAGE DEC 2024- PHOTO ANDREW CALDWELL

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Review By: Rob Harbers

Artist: Jakob Supported by Ash Sales & Look for Trains

Date: Saturday 21st December

Venue: Paisley Stage, Napier, NZL

Here in Te-Matau-a-Maui, there are some strong traditions. Some good, some not so good, and some downright deranged, e.g. a tendency to swing blue politically! But one of the ones that’s become solidly ingrained is the annual gig from hometown post-rock heroes Jakob. So much so that it often forms a touchstone for the onset of the ‘festive season’, things feeling just a little out of place until it happens.

And so it is that this year has been set to rights (in this sense, at least-a lot of the rest of the bullshit will take far more intensive therapy!) with the band’s appearance at Ahuriri’s coolest little venue, Paisley Stage. It might seem, to readers familiar with my previous contributions to this journal, that there’s only one venue here, given that it’s 3 from 3 so far, but there are more, and you’ll hear about them anon. But this one is fuckin’ special, all the same!

Performing in their debut appearance in this format, first support Look for Trains impressed with their collection of Moog’s. Both members, Willie Devine and Kurt Yates, are veterans of the local scene, but this is their latest venture. Considering how futuristic the Moog sounded on its debut, it was a little surprising how retro such a combo sounds now (but in the best possible way!), their noodling’s creating a strong impression and one that is worth checking out.

Similarly, Ash Sales also impressed, with his looped sounds quickly building in to multi-dimensional soundscapes, ones that defied the fact that they were all the work of one man (and his machine!). He proved to be popular with the audience, priming things nicely-quite fitting, really, given that he credits Jakob with inspiring him to create instrumental music. His intense sound complemented the main act, dovetailing into their dynamic and loud expression!

When Jakob took the stage at around the 10pm mark, the floor area had filled considerably, with many being ready to move to the frenzy that would inevitably ensue! First track ‘Resounding’ went right back in time, being the closer from the ‘Subsets of Sets’ album. Whole relatively low-key in terms of the guitar parts, it provided a short and punchy introduction, drummer Jason Johnston giving a foreshadowing of the intense workout that the kit would be given!

The driving, bass-heavy beat of ‘Pneumonic’ got the crowd moving, before its abrupt end. This led in to ‘Harmonia’, Jason once more working hard, in support of Jeff Boyle’s guitar sounds which called to mind something shimmering and white. ‘Safety in Numbers’ from 2006’s ‘Solace’ album, witnessed the first outbreak of Jeff’s outright guitar attack, before a brief return to the quieter sounds with ‘Faye’.

‘Malachite’ proved to be an appropriate title for a piece that saw great slabs of sound being hewn from the motherlode, a rich seam that would continue to be exploited through the rest of the set. ‘Semaphore’ proved to be the signal for full-on expression of the quiet/loud dynamic at the heart of this music, busting out seemingly spontaneously from muted to abrasive, and back again, at the drop of a hat. ‘Oran Mor’ continued in the noisier end of the spectrum (my notes at this point say “fn loud!”), showing the beauty of focused sonic attack. An attack that followed through ‘Blind them with Science’ (possible subtitle ‘Deafen them with Sound?’).

But before we knew it, the annual ritual was drawing to a close, with the pounding drums of ‘Resolve’ leading in to the intricately expressed closer of ‘Laburnum’, leaving us with the feedback noise from electrodes that we were there for! And then it was over, the band retreating once more into the shadows. There to continue working on the long-promised next album-after all, the last one was only 10 years ago! What’s a decade between friends?

With the compliments of the season having been wished by bassist Maurice Beckett (I suspect his voice would’ve been working better than his fingers by this point, given the workout they’d received!) it was time once more to await the next appearance, the sounds of this one still ringing in our ears! Mere Kirihemeti, or whatever flavour is yours, to all, and see you in the New Year!!!

Jakob nz tour pr 2024

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