Last night at Spark Arena, Ocean Alley returned to Auckland with the relaxed confidence of a band that has outgrown the need to prove anything, delivering a tight, warm, psychedelic surf-rock set that felt less like a spectacle and more like a well-practised act of collective calm, supported by Don West’s polished soul-disco charm and […]
The Darkness performed at Powerstation last night, bringing sweat-soaked falsettos, razor-sharp riffs and unapologetic glam theatrics to a packed and heaving Auckland crowd, proving that even in 2026, pure, joyous hard rock still feels immediate, communal and impossible to replicate once the lights come up.
There was something oddly spiritual about walking down the blocked-off roads of Kingsland amongst the horde of Metallica fans into Eden Park yesterday afternoon – that strange twilight hour that only exists before a behemoth of a band hits the stage, where Auckland feels half asleep and half feral and the clouds hang low and […]
It had been almost twenty years since I first heard Bloc Party, tucked away in my room with a copy of A Weekend in the City and the strange, liberating sensation that someone else’s words and guitar riffs had finally caught up with my life.
It was strange stepping into a venue that felt both completely new and intimately familiar – like walking forward and moving backward in time.
ZZ Top and George Thorogood & The Destroyers brought some good old fashioned rock & roll, with a healthy serving of the blues to Auckland’s Spark Arena. The 13th Floor’s Oxford Lamoureaux was there and reports back…
Dua Lipa brought her Radical Optimism Tour to Auckland’s Spark Arena last night, delivering a tightly choreographed 2-hour set filled with glitter, glamour, and glorious music, proving she is not only well on her way to becoming an immortal entertainer – but that her meteoric rise is only just beginning.
Slipknot took over Spark Arena last night for a one-night-only performance and, for a few dizzying, chaotic hours, Auckland belonged to the Maggots. This wasn’t just a gig; it was a full-scale audio assault, a brutal, sweaty purge wrapped in distortion, screams, and adrenaline. R.I.P. my eardrums.
In the sacred intimacy of Pitt Street Methodist Church, L.A. Mitchell delivered 90 minutes of pure, raw emotion and love for music in its many varied but uniquely moving forms. Last night’s solo performance was nothing less than an unforgettable night reminding me why live performances matter.
Adam Hattaway and The Haunters performed at Whammy Bar last night, delivering a maddening cocktail of raw talent, chaotic indulgence, and fleeting brilliance – intoxicating but frustrating, an illusion of greatness that leaves an aftertaste of wasted potential.
