21 Mar 2021 // A review by IslaMusic
The magic began when I ducked under a fallen tree to reach the venue. Dimly lit by street lamps, the path held mystery in its stones. The Pumphouse Theatre is an outdoor amphitheatre decked out with lights, cameras and action. Sam Loveridge, Big Tasty and The RVMES were set to play - the line-up for the night was nothing short of epic.

It was refreshing to hear a more stripped back version of Sam Loveridge’s set. The keys, guitar and banjo arrangement allowed his lyrics and melodies to speak for themselves. As laid back as ever, Loveridge appeared pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic applause with which each of his songs were met. The setting was perfect for an attentive and thoughtful audience.

The set was sprinkled with virtuosic keys and banjo solos, providing a unique and gripping soundscape. One highlight was a new track called Crown, which featured eerie banjo percussion and an awesome build. Loveridge and Permission To Speak’s Jono blend well together, capturing a rustic folk timbre and building an impressive level of energy sans drums. The three-piece are clearly comfortable on stage together.

Do You Feel Blue? Was a sick burn of a song, featuring quirky digs at a would be partner. Loveridge also explored his love for the environment, and anger at humans for not doing better. It was bitter, and effective. The set concluded with crowd favourite I Wanna Dance, which saw the audience yell the chorus along with the musicians.

Big Tasty featuring the dynamite Manuela on vocals took to the stage like fireworks. An epic 9-piece complete with a brass/woodwind section, they commanded that the amphitheatre stand up, and it obliged. Each piece boasted an epic solo from keys, or guitar, or trumpet, or bass, or any number of the accomplished musicians on stage.

Keys player Michael Ligani seemed to time travel as his synths shifted through decades and soundscapes, taking the audience on a journey reminiscent of pre-COVID. It was epic to see musicians jumping into the audience to lead hype moments and giving soloists the limelight they deserved. The song about the forgotten highway down south was particularly eerie, and provided a nice narrative break.

Big Tasty are a bold choice for an opener, but The RVMES set the stage on fire the moment they landed. The band brought their A-game with a flawless performance and smiles bigger than the amphitheatre itself.

Described as the “seasoning that makes the steak good”, bass player Ronaldo brought the whole damn spice cabinet. Filling out the groove that is The RVMES, the rhythm section was secure and funky. Ronaldo jumped between bongos and bass, adding an extra layer to each track. Drummer Logan slayed his fills and nailed a few epic solos like it was no big deal.

Miro on lead guitar dominated the stage with slick solos that had the crowd absolutely mesmerised. They bobbed down to worship his frets for their off-this-planet energy. Front man Edwin Judd’s vocals sounded like they were straight out of the studio. His infectious grin and powerhouse vocals brought the energy to an already ecstatic audience.

The RVMES latest album Lifetime is available on all streaming platforms, and it is hand-on-my-heart worth a listen. The band is gathering momentum with each insane release and Lifetime shows they deliver. You know you wanna get in on this secret before it gets too big, so you can say you discovered them first.

The RVMES (pronounced 'The Rooms') are a fiercely independent alternative rock band from Auckland known for their energetic live shows and slight boundary issues when it comes to genre.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for The RVMES

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