Benee
28th June 2019
Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Alexis Brook. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.
Performing to a full house, Benee celebrated the release of her EP Fire on Marzz last night at Auckland’s Powerstation. With opening support by the Katayanagi Twins and Jack Berry, the strongly under 20 audience were pumped from floor to ceiling.
Starting off the evening were the Katayanagi twins, spinning a DJ set including some of today’s top club hits from artists such as A$AP Rocky, KiD Cudi and Fisher. Riton’s ‘Fake ID’ was a crowd hit with the all-ages audience on the upper level. Next up were Dunedin’s Jack Berry, with songs from their EP ‘Dummy’ and showcasing a couple of new tracks. The walking bass line really complemented these songs and lead singer, Damin McCabe’s vocals. ‘Hollywood’ is an earworm for sure and I look forward to seeing what this talented band releases next and seeing which festivals sign them up this coming summer season.
By now, the audience were well warmed up and ready for the main event, Benee. This Auckland local has seen a meteoric rise in success, following her decision to pursue a musical career late last year including opening for Lily Allen, and her own slot at the popular Laneway Festival as well as recent visits to both the UK and the USA.
Benee struts across the stage with a quirky confidence, as she belts out her catch first single, ‘Tough Guy’. Throughout the night Benee grins with excitement each time she notices how full the venue is.
The anectodes of some of her songwriting, such as new single ‘Evil Spider’, about a house spider who she named Steve, or the ‘Monster’ she thought she heard rustling outside the sleep-out of her family’s home are cute tales and the ease at which she interacts with her audience displays a confidence on stage beyond her current career timeline.
Benee’s EP, Fire on Marzz, is sure to get some good air time. I can already imagine these songs being played at many parties, or backyard events this summer and with the platinum hit single ‘Soaked’ already spending 23 weeks at the top of the NZ Singles charts, we are sure to see much success in Benee’s future.
Can’t wait.
Were you there at the Powerstation for this sold out Kiwi Pop gig? Or have you seen Benee perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Benee Setlist:
- Tough Guy
- Wishful Thinking
- Cruel
- Glitter
- Drifting
- Easy
- Snake Charmer
- Want Me Back
- Soaked
- Monster
- Evil Spider
- Afterlife [encore]
Jack Berry Setlist:
- Midlyf
- Sense
- Jride
- Haha
- Saturday
- Hollywood
- Tricks
- Plans
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