Ville Valo
13th March 2024
Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
Review by Sarah Kidd with photography by Doug Peters.
The stars aligned in what seemed a faultless union last night as Ville Valo appropriately played on the thirteenth day of the third month, almost eighteen years on since the first time he graced our shores.
There was an atmosphere of reverence, many had travelled from across the country just to be within the sacred walls of The Powerstation who just so happened to be the last venue to play host to Valo back in 2008 as H.I.M; a few of the elder fans reminiscing over the St James show a mere two years before that. Yes, there was history in the air tonight, the longing for that shot of nostalgia to the vein, but also celebration at the rebirth of Valo with his new album Neon Noir.
Devotees had arrived early, the room already bustling as satin moved against crushed velvet in varying versions of the shade of black; yet all were brought to a stand still when Breaches took the stage and began to play.
Dressed in matching black suits, complete with tie, Breaches – who hail from the wonderfully appropriate Wellington – are a post punk duo who will make you take notice.
Comprising of Hayden Ellis and Matt McGuinness, it is not often that a support act – who were a relative unknown coming into the show – can capture a room full of people who are there to see one person and one person only. But seize their hearts and minds they did.
Featuring a backing track comprising of electronic drums, synths, and samples, lovingly crafted by McGuinness, the duo overlay these ethereal soundscapes with guitar (McGuinness) and bass (Ellis) that truly sounds as if it is emanating from the very bowels of the ancient earth itself; the vocals of Ellis perfectly harmonising with the undulating utterings of the thick steel strings.
Beginning with the aptly named ‘Dead Inside’ the duo conjured up images of Bauhaus and Killing Joke, Joy Division and maybe for some even a little Television, many of said acts having graced the stage of Powerstation themselves, their memories it seemed creeping in closer to observe the pair from the shadows.
Moving through their set, the soundscapes became fuller, the intensity as Breaches settled into their stride swelling; ‘Coming for Us’, ‘Valentine’ and ‘Left Behind’ all entrancing the audience who by this point were fully invested in this abundance of talent spilling from the stage.
Finishing with ‘Twist the Knife’, their first single which is due to be released next week, Breaches closed on a high, delivering a performance to be proud of, one that could not have set the tone better for an act such as Ville Valo.
Understanding his fans needs there was barely a few inches of gap between the barrier and the stage, followers of Valo desiring to be as close as possible to their love. They bristled in anticipation as the minutes slid by, the giant white heartagram displayed across the back wall – a symbol created by Valo when he was a mere twenty years old – now slightly modified to incorporate his initials, a nod to the new chapter in his life, glowing like a soft moon upon them.
The band were the first to arrive and take up their respective places, those in attendance welcoming them like old friends, before shrieking like sirens luring sailors to their demise as Valo casually sauntered out, his silhouette in a black tailored suit and flat cap, angular and sharp.
Gazing down upon his fans, a small smile brushed the corners of his lips as he nodded, a respectful acknowledgement of their presence, the opening bars of ‘Zener Solitaire’ lighting up the room. An instrumental track that features on the neon Noir album, it is – as discussed in a recent interview with Valo – his personal ode to not only Black Sabbath, but the 80’s and how many of the bands, especially the metal ones would include an instrumental which was often their intro tape for their tours. ‘Zener Solitaire’ was now Valo’s intro, and what a gloriously, sumptuous yet playful piece of music with which to enter with.
Continuing with the new album, ‘Echolocate Your Love’ brought some early bite to the set as Valo sang about the hellhounds of Hecate and their heartsick lupine lullabies, the fans embracing it wholeheartedly as they drank in his presence.
H.I.M was an instrumental band in the life of many of those in attendance last night, and Valo was aware of this, having already stated that his tour would be a mix of both solo and H.I.M offerings – for truly they are one and the same, Neon Noir a mere metamorphosis of Valo as a creative and musical luminary. Yet still it was wonderful to watch Valo and co deliver old favourites such as ‘The Funeral of Hearts’ with renewed vigour and passion knowing the joy it would elicit in the spirits of their followers.
Valo, his eyes rimmed in black, was not about traversing large distances last night, instead spending most of his time within the same one metre, as close to the lip of the stage as comfortable. His intensity and aura emanating from him, as he crooned expertly into the microphone with his five-octave range. Time of course leaves its mark on all, and while Valo may not have quite struck some of the runs he did back during that stunning St James set, the range was still there, high soon falling into spine-tingling lows that caressed your bare shoulder in the darkness, calling you closer.
But it is his engagement that really seals the deal with Valo, ensuring that he gazed over the entirety of the room several times, his eyes often locked onto someone as he sang to them as if they were the only person in the room; a young man who experienced such a moment breathlessly uttering how he felt as if Valo had looked into his very soul.
It is this connection that has seen fans remain so loyal since the original inception of H.I.M back in 1991 and throughout it’s eventual demise and the rise of Valo as a solo artist.
Despite playing all of the instruments himself on Neon Noir, Valo left the playing up to his band last night, Mikko Varta and Sampo Sundstrӧm holding down both lead and rhythm guitars, Varta at points pulling out some striking solos that were electrifying.
On drums, front and centre, was Risto Rikala who fulfilled his role particularly well; yet it was bassist Juho Vehmanen who often caught the ears of many, as he strode towards the audience plucking out fat, warm tones that made one salivate.
Continuing on throughout the evening, Valo intertwined the old with the new, ‘Salute the Sanguine’ curling up against ‘Wings of a Butterfly’, Valo visually enjoying seeing the audience sing to the new material, his broad smile unable to hide itself away any longer as everyone broke out in song for many of the big hits; ‘Buried Alive by Love’ seeing Valo hold the microphone out as the room sang the chorus to him with fervour.
Closing the set with ‘Saturnine Saturnalia’, Valo politely thanked the audience with the air of a true European gentleman, the stage bearing a few gifts that had been carefully tossed by fans, including a black t shirt featuring a red spray painted heartagram that Valo impressively caught mid-air, the room erupting in appreciation: Valo himself complimenting the shirt before lovingly laying it down on the side of the drum kit.
The encore was generous, four tracks, again a balance between old and new, ushering the audience out into the night: ‘When Love and Death Embrace’ closing the night with a disco ball and muted colours of blue, like waves of the sea carrying Valo on to his next destination, last nights’ attendees bidding farewell from the shoreline, clutching their treasured memories close to their chests.
Ville Valo has long been the king of vampiric kisses to the neck and musings of the heart, wrapped up in melodic narratives that prefer to live in the soft shadows of one’s soul.
That crown is undeniably still firmly in place.
Ville Valo:
Breaches:
Were you there at Powerstation for this beautiful goth-rock gig? Or have you seen Ville Valo perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Ville Valo Setlist:
- Zener Solitaire
- Echolocate Your Love
- The Fubneral of Hearts
- The Foreverlost
- Join Me in Death
- Neon Noir
- The Kiss of Dawn
- Salute the Sanguine
- Wings of a Butterfly
- Heartful of Ghosts
- Gone with the Sin
- Loveletting
- Buried Alive by Love
- Run Away From the Sun
- Right Here in My Arms
- Saturnine Saturnalia
- In Trenodia [encore]
- Killing Loneliness [encore]
- Baby Lacrimarium [encore]
- When Love and death Embrace [encore]
Breaches Setlist:
- Dead Inside
- Spin Me Around
- Coming For Us
- Valentine
- Left Behind
- Twist the Knife
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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