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“Electrifying” was the only word to describe Ani Saafa’s performance at Pearl Diver last Saturday. The atmosphere in Pearl Diver is chic, but alternative. Casual tables and couches linger throughout the back of the room, with all the lights and seating angling themselves towards the stage, where the real magic happens. But when Ani Saafa took the crowd by storm on Saturday night, the polished setting of Pearl Diver became overrun with headbanging and moshing.

The band's very own Logan Edwards had opened the night with his haunting voice and raw lyrics. Followed immediately by the ethereal Emily Esplin and her band, the lineup for the night just kept getting better. By the time Ani Saafa came on at 11pm, the crowd was screaming.

Once the indie-rock band struck their first note, the whole venue seemed to pause. Then, the music kicked into full gear. Fans were screaming every word of their iconic “Lay All Your Love On Me,” cover and dancing hard enough to shake the ground under my feet. Ani Saafa’s return to Ōtepoti and Pearl Diver was highly anticipated.

Follow them on Instagram @ani_saafa_ to see what they get up to next in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara.

Credit: Felix Borrowdale

Credit: Felix Borrowdale

We all know and love the Ōtepoti-based band Purple Dog.  Their whimsical vibes and powerful vocals have made their mark on indie bands in Dunedin. But have you wondered how they all balance their hard work with lectures, tutorials, and research projects? Are you wondering how to make your own band or music succeed? Well, I interviewed the lovely Imogen, lead singer of Purple Dog, last Monday to give you all the inside scoop.

First, I asked Imo how she manages to keep everything straight-the gigs, the tour planning, and classes on top of all of it. She said that her main tools in all of it were planning and organization. Delegation of tasks to the rest of the band was crucial in planning the band's New Zealand tour last year, especially since it coincided with the release of the band's EP, Dog Years. Most importantly, the band had to work together as a team to achieve their goals.

Most of you may be wondering, how have students impacted Purple Dogs' music and shows? Being a student band certainly presents its own set of challenges, and Imo agrees. One impact that presents itself quite often to the band is budget constraints and time. As students, we are all living on (relatively) the same type of income, so you can imagine how that presents a challenge to an aspiring band. However, there are certainly pros to being a student in a band, says Imo. The friendships that the band has made as well as events like Bring the Noise (OUSA), have been instrumental in the recording of their EP.

The Dunedin gig scene has lent much inspiration and personality to Purple Dog, specifically through its grassroots music scene and student population, who are eager to support their peers. With that, I asked Imo for any tips she had for aspiring student bands. Her first piece of advice: Just start doing it! Don’t wait for your music to get “better,” just start gigging. Pint Night at UBar is a great way to start, and Dunedin is full of friendly people who want to see you succeed.

So, Dunedin students, what are you waiting for? Get out into the student band scene, and as Imo would say, “embrace the chaos.”

The Beths are a beloved four-piece indie rock band formed in Auckland in 2014. Since their debut, they’ve achieved global success and performed shows in Australia, North America, the UK, and Europe. Now they’re back home in Aotearoa to celebrate their most recent album ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’.

I’ve been patiently waiting for The Beths to come back to the south island ever since I first saw a grainy video of them performing at The Church Pub in Christchurch on a friend’s instagram story, and finally getting to see them live was the best way to end to a long week of Uni.

The vibe at the Glenroy Auditorium was curated to a T, with soft colourful lighting and several fog machines (which rendered all of the videos I took almost unwatchable) creating a hazy dream-like atmosphere to accompany The Beths’ indie sound.

The opening act was another band hailing from Auckland by the name of BUB. I wasn't familiar with them going in, but as soon as I heard their first song I was enamoured with their slow guitar-heavy sound which had the whole crowd swaying along. It was the perfect intro for the main act of the night, who came out shortly after to kick off their setlist with the titular track ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’. This was a great choice to get the crowd hyped up, and Tristan Deck’s punchy drumming really stood out to me in this particular song. Towards the halfway point, the energy wound down with ‘mother, pray for me’, which places lead singer Elizabeth Stokes' gorgeous vocals front and centre. The night finished off with an encore consisting of some of my personal favourite tracks – ‘Take’, which features great backing vocals from the rest of the band and ‘Uptown girl’, which blends vulnerable lyricism with a catchy upbeat melody.

Both BUB and The Beths gave fantastic performances and I thoroughly recommend snagging some tickets next time they’re in town- or checking out what else the Glenroy Auditorium has got going on.

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

A typical Ōtepoti student knows the ins and outs of each club and venue in town. They know the sticky floors, vape clouds hanging above the dance floor, and the sickly sweet smell of alcohol in the air. The overpriced drinks and pint specials lure us into coming out night after night, just for the notion that we might stop at that banging Kebab joint on our way back down George St. But UBar is different. Situated right here on campus, you may not first think that the nightlife is particularly rampant in this underground bar. But on Wednesday nights after 8pm, it becomes a hub for student activity and locally grown music. As an American international student, I’m not quite used to the bar atmosphere yet. But let me tell you about my experience at UBar’s Pint Night this last Wednesday, the perfect way to find local music and good pints. 

Pint Night is a draw for many tired students trying to make it to the end of the week, a sustaining night out that has you back in your flat or at your hall at a reasonable (enough) time to make it to your 9 am the next morning. Let's face it though, you were going to skip that class anyway. 

With its central location, UBar is a perfect starting point for many of Dunedin’s very own bands, musicians, and songwriters. The atmosphere is one that you can't help but want to create in, and the inspiration taken from students wanting to have fun is infectious. Many bands and singers start out their following at UBar, surrounded by peers who help to grow their following before they branch out into the wider Dunedin music scene. 

With a hazy atmosphere and brightly painted walls, UBar has the kind of energetic vibe that can only occur when young people gather. The mural-adorned, wooden paneled walls might be mistaken for a nice restaurant, but the high tables and sticky floors are undeniably those of a bar. The hipster mixed with dive-bar feel is unique to UBar, a more diverse vibe compared to Vault 21 or Catacombs. The music is loud, and the seating is spread out enough to accommodate the students who want to mingle with other groups. 

When you travel to the dance floor, the people there are piled up against the barricade, screaming for Purple Dog, Ammonita, or Monkey Do to ‘PLAY ONE MORE SONG!’. The air is electric, and you can just make out the silhouettes of people dancing in the neon blue lights rimming the walls. This is an honest-to-God bar dancefloor, where the ceiling is less than a meter above your head and occasionally drips on you. The determination of this many Otago students to fit into such a space is admirable. 

Whether you want a sober evening of fun or a more buzzed night that makes up for the clubs being closed, Pint Night at UBar has the vibes, and more importantly, the pints. Dunedin’s favourite bands and performers are booked and ready to entertain you and your friends, and the friendly staff and security are ready to make sure you have fun, all on campus property. After my first Pint Night at UBar, it's safe to say that I sure did. 

Follow UBar on Instagram - @ubarotago