Radio One 91FM

San Franciscans break San Fran

Do you ever have those moments at shows where you feel like a Guitar Hero crowd NPC? That is, egoless, blissed out in a sea of like minds, arms pumping and heads banging in unison, collectively in utter awe of a band. It’s a vibe that manifests rarely and one I’ve not felt in a hot minute, but seeing Deafheaven shred San Fran last Thursday gave me flashes of that nirvana.
 
The show was sold out, packed to the rafters with the usual suspects. Doc Marten-hooved alties, metal heads, goths, bogans, and ne’er-do-wells of all ages. Some buddies and I arrived 10 minutes early hoping to beat the line, but the line beat us back - it was proper long. Alas it was the wrong line to worry about, because anyone who wanted merch had to contend with dozens of eager fans desperate to cop some dope tees.
 
Nothing (the band) was set to open but because of some pesky visa issues they couldn’t make it. Thankfully, local doomgaze trio Libbianski stepped in and killed it. I’d already seen Libbianski in April and knew what to expect, but this time round they showcased even more contrast between slow riffy jams and high octane Pōneke black metal tracks like Pigtails. Loved the dichotomy between the femme wailing and masculine guttural vocals, also shoutout to drummer Tom LaHatte who was really, really fun to watch.
 
Normally when an opener finishes, gig goers disperse to yarn with mates, buy a drink, punch a dart outside, et al. I was bewildered at how the audience stayed glued to their spots in static anticipation for the entire switch-over period, eagerly awaiting the San Francisco-based blackgaze quintet, Deafheaven. Once the soundies finished setting up, stashing a dozen water bottles around the stage, a Twin Peaks-esque synth filtered in and an ASMR worthy femme voice softly rang out. She questioned the audience on loneliness and existence (their new album is called Lonely People With Power, go figure).
 
While pondering what it all meant, Deafheaven took to the stage. With all five dressing in all black, everyone knew we were in for some turbulence. Frontman George Clark acted as our infernal conductor, mechanically positioning his hands and arms to inform the audience that the drums were ratcheting up or to signal an impending phat riff. Clark soothsaid the band's chaos while delivering his signature strained, throat-scathing screams. 

Good bands confidently play live but great bands add stagecraft; it’s a preventive salve for any possible monotony. Deafheaven weren’t just playing their new record though, their performance fleshed out Lonely People With Power’s story through sonic interludes. Church bells and Lynchian ambience rang between songs – and just as it was coming together, the band abruptly left.

For a moment, we all thought the party was over, but the band merely wanted us hyped for the final act where Deafheaven turned into Deafhell. With piercing blood red and white light strobing behind them, Clark and co. went into a full satanic panic death metal spiral. Here is where I felt like a Guitar Hero crowd NPC, especially when they played Dream House in its 10-minute glory and, accordingly, the mosh was pumping full throttle.
 
Deafheaven manoeuvre between soft and heavy with grace, stretching these boundaries to their logical conclusion while maintaining an emotional core. Lonely People With Power does this effortlessly, combining the gnarliest elements from their 2013 standout record Sunbather with more gentle passages from 2021’s Infinite Granite. It was an absolute pleasure to see Deafheaven play Lonely People With Power live, I’ll be chasing the high from this show for some time.

Credit: Zac Hoffman

Credit: Zac Hoffman

In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve found myself at the gem (or pearl) of a venue that is Pearl Diver enough times to be sure that I’d never see down-the-street queues native to Subs or the Bog -- until last Friday, when half of Dunedin showed up to witness two of our best indie acts go back to back: orchestrally-flecked alt-rockers IVY and noise-punk architects Pearly*.

As soon as IVY struck their first chord, I understood why the place was packed- you just can’t miss them. Lush acoustics of Pearl Diver wedded with IVY’s spacious, sprawling take on alt-rock to create a set so emotionally colourful I swore I saw feelings flowing through the gaps in the crowd… a beautiful moment made better by the fact that I shared it with so many people.

I admit I was close to tears.

Enter Pearly*. I could go on, but like IVY you just have to see it. The stage energy of this four-piece is so potent that it feels like each note grabs you. Their trademark style of patient build-ups into releases of wailing vocals and spacey guitar feedback pierced me and instantly finished IVY’s work- I bawled my eyes out to their heart breaking opener Not so Sweet.

Photo Credit: Eren Reburiano

Amongst the chaos of a Saturday night in Ōtepoti, Pearl Diver was the perfect place to escape the Hyde Street goers and chill out to some slow jams, and up first was Dunedin’s own ambient folk-pop duo Hidden Ocean. During the preamble they encouraged the audience to sit down on the floor and get comfy, which made the gig feel cozy and laid back. Hidden Ocean’s music is dreamy and ethereal, with powerful vocals and soulful keyboard accompaniments. The lyrics are raw and emotional, and by far the worst part of the night was finding out that their songs aren’t available on any streaming platforms yet.

Then it was time for sloer, hailing all the way from Wānaka, who picked up where Hidden Ocean left off with some slow acoustic tracks and built up the sound as their set went on. Their sound blurs the lines between genres - incorporating elements of folk, pop and indie rock for a unique listening experience that left me wishing the setlist was just a few songs longer. I cannot recommend both of these bands enough and I’m so excited to see what they get up to next.

You can check them out on Instagram at @hidden_ocean.wav and @sloer_band for info on upcoming shows and new releases.

“Electrifying” was the only word to describe Ani Saafa’s performance at Pearl Diver last Saturday. The atmosphere in Pearl Diver is chic, but alternative. Casual tables and couches linger throughout the back of the room, with all the lights and seating angling themselves towards the stage, where the real magic happens. But when Ani Saafa took the crowd by storm on Saturday night, the polished setting of Pearl Diver became overrun with headbanging and moshing.

The band's very own Logan Edwards had opened the night with his haunting voice and raw lyrics. Followed immediately by the ethereal Emily Esplin and her band, the lineup for the night just kept getting better. By the time Ani Saafa came on at 11pm, the crowd was screaming.

Once the indie-rock band struck their first note, the whole venue seemed to pause. Then, the music kicked into full gear. Fans were screaming every word of their iconic “Lay All Your Love On Me,” cover and dancing hard enough to shake the ground under my feet. Ani Saafa’s return to Ōtepoti and Pearl Diver was highly anticipated.

Follow them on Instagram @ani_saafa_ to see what they get up to next in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara.

Credit: Felix Borrowdale

Credit: Felix Borrowdale

We all know and love the Ōtepoti-based band Purple Dog.  Their whimsical vibes and powerful vocals have made their mark on indie bands in Dunedin. But have you wondered how they all balance their hard work with lectures, tutorials, and research projects? Are you wondering how to make your own band or music succeed? Well, I interviewed the lovely Imogen, lead singer of Purple Dog, last Monday to give you all the inside scoop.

First, I asked Imo how she manages to keep everything straight-the gigs, the tour planning, and classes on top of all of it. She said that her main tools in all of it were planning and organization. Delegation of tasks to the rest of the band was crucial in planning the band's New Zealand tour last year, especially since it coincided with the release of the band's EP, Dog Years. Most importantly, the band had to work together as a team to achieve their goals.

Most of you may be wondering, how have students impacted Purple Dogs' music and shows? Being a student band certainly presents its own set of challenges, and Imo agrees. One impact that presents itself quite often to the band is budget constraints and time. As students, we are all living on (relatively) the same type of income, so you can imagine how that presents a challenge to an aspiring band. However, there are certainly pros to being a student in a band, says Imo. The friendships that the band has made as well as events like Bring the Noise (OUSA), have been instrumental in the recording of their EP.

The Dunedin gig scene has lent much inspiration and personality to Purple Dog, specifically through its grassroots music scene and student population, who are eager to support their peers. With that, I asked Imo for any tips she had for aspiring student bands. Her first piece of advice: Just start doing it! Don’t wait for your music to get “better,” just start gigging. Pint Night at UBar is a great way to start, and Dunedin is full of friendly people who want to see you succeed.

So, Dunedin students, what are you waiting for? Get out into the student band scene, and as Imo would say, “embrace the chaos.”