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Last Friday I got the privilege to see Vera Ellen live at Pearl Diver. Because of my limited time spent listening to the band, everyone else who attended the sold out show seemed to be very much “in the know” about this highly praised group from Pōneke, and I was about to find out why. I definitely understand the hype generated from their newest album ‘HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT TIME’ released on the 1st of May this year. There’s no denying that they're a talented group, with amazing individual brilliance as well as electric chemistry with one another.

To kick things off, was the incredibly talented Phaedra Love, who was performing songs from her latest ‘Good Bad Not Evil’ EP. Oh man, chills. And that's not because of that fever going around campus at the moment. If you're keeping up with the Dunedin music scene and Phaedra Love is not on your radar, what are you doing with yourself? Get your ass to Bandcamp, get down to your local, wherever you watch your gigs, and listen to that EP stat, that's an order.

Onto the main act, and what an unforgettable show. Vera Ellen (the band, in this case) had some of the best stage presence I've seen yet, you would think they practically lived on stage the way they carried themselves. Even though the album is technically listed as alternative/indie rock, it really varies in the sound and pushes different styles throughout the tracklist, so it never felt dull or repetitive, which I respect heavily. I would love to hear them branch out into other genres, I feel that they could be unstoppable in any direction they head into. The band also never seemed to take their foot off the gas too, keeping the same level of quality and energy that they were just teeming with from the start, all the way until closing songs of the album such as ‘getting told off by mum’ (my favourite).

I'll always say this, but seeing bands play live will always be better than listening on streaming, and especially in this case it reigns true. The punchy swooning riffs and Ellen’s lush emotional vocals are just something you have to hear for yourself. Don’t get me wrong, give the album a listen, it is well worth your time, but it's a whole different feeling hearing it in person. It's that gut feeling you get where you’re fizzing while it's happening but so… comforting at the same time. Even though I was probably one of the only ones in the crowd who hadn't heard them before, it felt like I had always belonged.

Credit: Ethan Montañer

Credit: Ethan Montañer

Credit: Ethan Montañer

Credit: Ethan Montañer

Credit: Ethan Montañer

Credit: Ethan Montañer

Now this was my first live Dunedin gig (lakehouse doesn’t count), so going in I was fizzing. And as I should’ve been, because I was about to have any and all expectations exceeded. The opening acts themselves were good enough to show up solely for them. The first band was fronted by Liam of Night Lunch. Despite being loosely established and without a name, they displayed amazing natural chemistry and raw power in the forms of shoegaze/post rock sound. Maxine Funke, and her accompanying guitarist and percussionist, performed these soothing, warm vocals that felt slow and methodical, but never boring or dragging. I don’t think I'll ever forget the tonal whiplash that I felt from the change in genre and atmosphere of the improv DJ duo Murdabike (kickass name). The ever-evolving house/ big beat “choon” that kept on building on top of itself flowed so seamlessly that I only realised the song had completely shifted from minutes ago once I stopped grooving to think. 

I must shamefully admit I had never heard of local legend Andrew Wilson or Ōtepoti’s own Die! Die! Die!, but perhaps I should’ve before I shook his hand, said “Hi”, and complimented his shirt, all without recognising him (fuck). Regardless, I DEFINITELY know who he is now, and consider me a follower. Sign me up for the fan club, give me a shirt, and I’ll wear it until it smells like the front row crowd of Murdabike. While AW’s ‘THE NERVE’ is definitely a more Lo-Fi, noise-pop sort of direction on streaming services (go listen), it’s a whole different beast live. Wilson brings so much energy to the performance, jumping off stage and interacting with the crowd (cheers uncle). And the Lo-Fi sound turns into a wall of beautiful punchy noise that you could just never recreate on your headphones. To experience this band for the first time, and live even, does feel like a privilege. You just can’t wait for next time.

Favourite Track:  THIEF OF JOY

Credit: Ethan Montañer

Credit: Ethan Montañer