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The Spinoff
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Infinity Sessions, reviewed: Neil Finn, Don McGlashan, The Beths, Tom Scott and LEAO
Roundhead Studios is midway through a 10-night livestreamed musical extravaganza to help Make Us Feel Good About Life. Here are reviews from those who were in the room for the first week. Watch the next five Infinity Sessions live on The Spinoff from 7.30pm this Wednesday-Sunday. Night one: Don McGlashan with Motte and SJD The Mufgal express roared out of the station on Wednesday night with an intimate, uplifting performance by one of Aotearoa's most beloved and brilliant songwriters. Don McGlashan treated a room full of reverent Roundheadheads to a sweep of treats from a shimmering 'Lucky Stars' and a haunting 'White Valiant' to the soulful beauty of 'Anchor Me' and the twisted beauty of 'The Heater'. Master of bathos, of extracting the profound from the ordinary, McGlashan – expertly accompanied by Anita Clark aka Motte – was very clearly having a bloody good time up there. He was joined by host/impresario Neil Finn for 'Andy', The Front Lawn's hymn of personal loss, and then came that other great song of inexplicable loss, of national tragedy, the Mutton Birds' 'A Thing Well Made'. Overwhelming. Motte began the night with a perfectly stalactite set, and SJD delivered a mesmeric synth followup. Appearing with all three was drummer-genius Chris O'Connor. This latest, epic series of Infinity Sessions takes place in the downstairs studios at Roundhead, but what is lost in in-the-round dynamics and chandeliers is more than made up for in intensity and intimacy: across two rooms, for a couple of weeks in winter, this is New Zealand's most exciting place to be. An exquisite start to a very special fortnight. / Toby Manhire Night two: Neil Finn with Vera Ellen Neil Finn misses David Bowie. 'The world went to shit when he died,' he said after opening his set on Thursday night with 'Quicksand', an esoteric epic from Bowie's 1971 album Hunky Dory. Following Vera Ellen's tight opening set, Finn moved on to simpler sentiments, the crowd joining him for a cover of Carole King's 'You've Got a Friend'. Swapping guitar for piano, Finn aired out the lesser-known track, 'Faster than Light'. Everything, he said, has to be reinvented daily, including old songs. Long-time collaborator Victoria Kelly joined him on mellotron for the achingly beautiful 'Gentle Hum'. With the mood elevated, Finn had no trouble getting us to do our part and the room hummed along soulfully. From Kelly's entrance onward, the stage filled with musicians. Finn could easily settle into elder statesman mode, but instead, he was impish, clearly relishing the chance to share the spotlight with Ellen, Ben Lemi, De Stevens, Tiare Kelly, Audrey May Banach-Salas, and Joshua Worthington-Church. By the time 'She Will Have Her Way' closed the night, it's hard to know who's having more fun – us or the extraordinary assembly in front of us. At the start of the night, Finn dedicated the evening to 'the innocent victims of war'. The Infinity Sessions are his bid to make us feel good about life; 'little acts of goodness', he calls them. In a world gone 'to shit', it's tempting to be cynical about that, but after weeping through Don McGlashan the night before and bouncing around at Finn's show, there's something urgent about the rallying cry underpinning these sessions. Music won't end war, but it does grow our capacity for joy and appreciation, and tolerance of other people. Sometimes, it really feels like those muscles are atrophying. Neil Finn isn't having a bar of it. / Anna Rawhiti-Connell Night three: The Beths with Chelsea Prestiti What an absolute treat to see The Beths in such a cosy setting on the eve of an album release and world tour. Chelsea Prestiti warmed up the crowd with jazzy, samba-inspired beats and a captivating, semi-psychedelic vocal number. Chlöe Swarbrick then took the stage for a surprise intro – 'When it feels like there are no words left, there is art, there is music, there is joy and there is… THE BETHS.' The band ripped into the show with the eponymous track from their soon-to-be-released record 'Straight Line Was A Lie'. But not before telling us they were kinda nervous. 'No Joy', another new one, came soon after and featured a few recorder solos (unexpected, amazing). The Beths, lead-vocalist Liz Stokes said, were not only debuting new music for us but also testing out their world tour gear. Well loved tunes 'Silence Is Golden' and 'When You Know You Know' had the crowd jumping up and down, getting sweaty and head bang-y. 'Now that everyone's excited, let's play a sad song,' Stokes said as the rest of the band left the stage for a huge vibe shift, 'It's not sad, just complicated … it's called 'Mother Pray for Me'.' It was beautiful, totally rocked me. I cried four distinct tears and heard many sniffles. 'Mosquito' was similarly heartfelt, calling to mind the Auckland floods. The emotional range of the night was lovely, the crowd was friendly and considerate, even if a few super fans sang a little too loudly. 'Thanks for coming to this weird thing,' Stokes said towards the end. I'm so happy I did. It really did make me feel good about life. One of the younger people in attendance said it was her very first gig. What a stellar start to a world tour, and that young person's life of live music. / Liv Sisson Night four: Tom Scott with Sarvi 'You never know what you're going to get with Tom [Scott]' said the guy wearing a black parka standing next to me in the reception area. On one side of us, there was an old statue of a cheetah. On the other side, a cougar. The paint was flaking off both. Past the decorative pinball machine and inside the downstairs live room, the small crowd was treated to the mellow sounds of Sarvi (who also happens to be Scott's partner). Accompanied by a four piece band, Sarvi effortlessly delivered six tracks that transported you to a nondescript jazz lounge in the mid 20th century. During the changeover, the crowd was ushered into the lobby, where Scott and Roundhead Studios owner Neil Finn provided their musings on life, politics, and knocking on your neighbour's door looking for your lost cat. Back inside the live room, gold ribbons shimmered light as Scott confirmed the sneaking suspicions that he'd be debuting music from his new album. Titled Anitya – which is Sanskrit referring to impermanence or transience – Scott likened the album to his first daughter. 'I don't rap on any of this', he warned, before letting out a small vocal scale. The music was a mix of muted drumming, stabbing warped guitar solos, back-up vocals with high autotune pitch from the likes of Lui Tuiasau, and Scott's singing. It's different for Tom Scott, but then again, it's also not. There are lines about 'cheap small talk' with a father-in-law, falling out of love, and knowing when it's time to leave. For those familiar with Scott's catalogue, Anitya is just another seemingly inevitable evolution. / Liam Rātana Night five: LEAO with Neil Finn and Hun Lynch There's a comfort in a band having a truly distinct sound, so much so that even though LEAO opened their set with two new songs, they felt immediately familiar. The twang of the slide guitar and the energetic strumming from frontman David Feauai-Afaese got the intimate session off to a warm start. Feauai-Afaese introduced each song and complained about the heat (it's stuffy in the small studio and someone had fainted already during opening act Hun Lynch, who was great despite the delays). For anyone unfamiliar with LEAO's sound, I'd recommend catching a live gig as an introduction. There's just no way to hear 'Taeao' for the first time performed live and not fall in love. The recorded singles are strong but singing live, with dual microphones for the layered vocals, and the bass turned up add something intoxicating to the Samoan rock sound. All that helped by Feauai-Afaese's affable nature and yelp for joy when the band 'nailed' a new song. At the end of the set, Feauai-Afaese looked exhausted and happy to set his guitar down. But his mum was in the front of the crowd and called for an encore. 'If mum says it, we have to do it,' he laughed as he picked the guitar up again. LEAO ended on a joyous rendition of 'Musika Malie' and, as is the law of Samoa, got a siva circle going in front of the stage. A beautiful way to spend a cold Sunday night. / Madeleine Chapman
The Spinoff
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Watch live: Infinity Sessions presents LEAO with Neil Finn and Hyn Lynch
Neil Finn and Roundhead Studios are hosting a midwinter pick-me-up: 10 nights of music and mirth designed to MUFGAL (Make Us Feel Good About Life), streaming live from 7.30pm. Tonight: LEAO, Neil Finn and Hyn Lynch. Full schedule: Week One Wednesday 13 August: Don McGlashan, Motte, SJD Thursday 14 August: Neil Finn, Vera Ellen Friday 15 August: The Beths, Chelsea Prestiti Saturday 16 August: Tom Scott, Sarvi Sunday 17 August: LEAO, Neil Finn, Hun Lynch Week Two Wednesday 20 August: Tami Neilson, Delaney Davidson Thursday 21 August: Dave Dobbyn, Lawrence Arabia Friday 22 August: Bic Runga, Chaii Saturday 23 August: Tiny Ruins, Jazmine Mary
The Spinoff
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Watch live: Infinity Sessions presents Tom Scott with Sarvi
Neil Finn and Roundhead Studios are hosting a midwinter pick-me-up: 10 nights of music and mirth designed to MUFGAL (Make Us Feel Good About Life), streaming live from 7.30pm. Tonight: Tom Scott and Sarvi. Full schedule: Week One Wednesday 13 August: Don McGlashan, Motte, SJD Thursday 14 August: Neil Finn, Vera Ellen Friday 15 August: The Beths, Chelsea Prestiti Saturday 16 August: Tom Scott, Sarvi Sunday 17 August: LEAO, Neil Finn, Hun Lynch Week Two Wednesday 20 August: Tami Neilson, Delaney Davidson Thursday 21 August: Dave Dobbyn, Lawrence Arabia Friday 22 August: Bic Runga, Chaii Saturday 23 August: Tiny Ruins, Jazmine Mary
The Spinoff
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Watch live: Infinity Sessions presents The Beths with Chelsea Prastiti
Neil Finn and Roundhead Studios are hosting a midwinter pick-me-up: 10 nights of music and mirth designed to MUFGAL (Make Us Feel Good About Life), streaming live from 7.30pm. Tonight: The Beths and Chelsea Prastiti. Full schedule: Week One Wednesday 13 August: Don McGlashan, Motte, SJD Thursday 14 August: Neil Finn, Vera Ellen Friday 15 August: The Beths, Chelsea Prestiti Saturday 16 August: Tom Scott, Sarvi Sunday 17 August: LEAO, Neil Finn, Hun Lynch Week Two Wednesday 20 August: Tami Neilson, Delaney Davidson Thursday 21 August: Dave Dobbyn, Lawrence Arabia Friday 22 August: Bic Runga, Chaii Saturday 23 August: Tiny Ruins, Jazmine Mary
The Spinoff
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Watch live: Infinity Sessions presents Neil Finn with Vera Ellen
Neil Finn and Roundhead Studios are hosting a midwinter pick-me-up: 10 nights of music and mirth designed to MUFGAL (Make Us Feel Good About Life), streaming live from 7.30pm. Tonight: the man himself is joined by Vera Ellen. Full schedule: Week One Wednesday 13 August: Don McGlashan, Motte, SJD Thursday 14 August: Neil Finn, Vera Ellen Friday 15 August: The Beths, Chelsea Prestiti Saturday 16 August: Tom Scott, Sarvi Sunday 17 August: LEAO, Neil Finn, Hun Lynch Week Two Wednesday 20 August: Tami Neilson, Delaney Davidson Thursday 21 August: Dave Dobbyn, Lawrence Arabia Friday 22 August: Bic Runga, Chaii Saturday 23 August: Tiny Ruins, Jazmine Mary
