Finn Andrews
27th April 2022
Matapiro Recreation Hall, Matapiro, New Zealand.
Review by Rob Harbers, photography by Andrew Caldwell.
As autumn slowly envelops, with its chilling forebodings of the oncoming winter, Finn Andrews on this night brought the warmth to the isolation of Matapiro, commencing his five-night run as the latest eminence to grace the stages of the Small Hall Sessions.
Finn is no stranger to Hawkes Bay audiences, having performed here numerous times both solo and with The Veils, but is far from being a victim of over-familiarity given the quality and intensity of his presentation. This appearance has served only to burnish his reputation further, with an appreciative audience enraptured by an outstanding set of songs covering the length of his career.
Those with any familiarity with his oeuvre will be aware that there is often a definite gravity to the material, at times reminiscent of Nick Cave, but that’s not to imply that this is heavy going, as a charming and self-effacing commentary accompanies and introduces the songs. But what songs they are – substantive and literate pieces every one, betraying the degree of craftsmanship that has led to their genesis. As contradictory as it may seem to point to a cover version in the context of the above words, the fact that the classic that is “Song To The Siren” sits comfortably among these serves to demonstrate their power, all having been hewn from the same deep vein of timeless music.
In dedicating a song that was written by his father to him to his own impending arrival (present in utero), Finn continues a legacy of music-making that shrieks back at least a generation before him (do a search for Barry Andrews!), while perhaps setting up hopes of continuing a dynastic dedication to the craft (not to put too much expectation on one not yet born, that is!).
To talk too much of individual songs, though, would be akin to looking at a painting by focusing on individual brush-strokes, when all come together to form a rich and inviting tableau. The tales shared by the Sessions’ marvelous curator, the ebullient Jamie Macphail, were equally a part of the overall experience, adding their own unique flavour to the evening (including a fascinating digression into the history of Yamaha electric pianos).
Regular readers of these reviews will be familiar with a common theme, which is that these Sessions are bringing a wealth of talent in to the heart of small communities, in such a way that would not occur otherwise. This evening continued that tradition, in fine form. You’ve got four more chances to be a part of this round, so make a booking now at smallhallsessions.co.nz, and tell them I sent you!
Were you there at the Matapiro Recreation Hall for this intimate gig? Or have you seen Finn Andrews perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Note: Ambient Light was provided passes to review and photograph this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.
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Great review that summed up the evening nicely. A warm & intimate night that was well worth the drive. The craftsmanship of his song writing was evident from the beginning , he’s just got that something special in how he writes. For whatever reason I ‘heard’ the lyrics more clearly Wednesday night than the last show. I’d see him again. Bravo small hall sessions , if you haven’t been to a gig yet – time you did