7 Oct 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Black Comet - Gig Review: Black Comet @ Paisley Stage, Napier - 26/07/2024

02 Aug 2024 // A review by Rob Harbers

Ahuriri’s Paisley Stage was the setting for the Looking for a New Planet tour appearance of Black Comet, Laughton Kora’s ensemble of funky rock monsters, and the Comet took in its trail a whole new body of fans! Introductory duties fell to Willsy and Friends, the elastic combo I’ve previously mentioned in these pages. Weaving sinuously through a set of always tight jams, that defied genre labels, while touching bases in funk, rock, jazz and reggae, they displayed once more their status as Hawkes Bay’s best kept secret. Such is their originality that it’s often hard to pick whether a particular song is a cover or not, their wealth of original material standing up well alongside covers such as Fleetwood Mac’s Green Manalishi, and all combining to be a near-perfect introduction for the bitches’ brew of sound that is Black Comet. 

The stage having been set to a suitable temperature, Black Comet proceeded to blaze a trail, in front of what Laughton stated to be ‘the best house of the tour’. Starting with a medley of Lenny Kravitz tunes, it quickly became very clear how the night would go! Living up to this promise, the band proceeded to deliver a set that would’ve done Mr K proud, played with palpable enthusiasm and enjoyment. The interspersing of movie dialogue added additional interest to the sonic palette, while also showing that there’s a degree of thought and planning going in to the creative process-a bit more than “let’s play our stuff”, at least!

It’s also obvious that there’s a message in this music, with uplifting anthems aiming to increase the positive vibrations. This is a band with a sense of purpose beyond just filling the floor (although they covered off that base particularly well), with a care and concern for their fellow earth-dwellers that’s inspiring. But at the same time, happy to be here doing what they do, as evidenced by a truly joyful rendition of Bobby Brown’s My Prerogative. This sense of enjoyment carried through the entire set, exemplified by Laughton’s statement towards its end that “We’re throwing everything we’ve got at you, because we love you!” Quite the love-in all around really.

Winding towards the end with what was introduced as “Old school, grab your partner time” saw the classic I’d Rather Go Blind leading in to a final full track that was admitted as “Not even knowing the name of it yet!”, which segued impressively in to a brief tribute to Thriller. And with that, the night was over, Black Comet having caught a new legion of fans in its tail, looking in the heavens for portents of its next appearance! Thanks BC!!

 

Releases

There are no releases to display for Black Comet.

Other Reviews By Rob Harbers

Gig Review: Sidewinder w/Tusk & Awarewolves @ Paisley Stage, Napier - 28/09/2024
05 Oct 2024 // by Rob Harbers
Ahuriri’s coolest little venue, Paisley Stage, tonight played host to Poneke heavyweights Sidewinder and Kirikiriroa’s Tusk, with locals Awarewolves providing the third leg of the stool. The combination made for a great night’s entertainment, 3 bands giving it their all and doing their level best to threaten the building’s structural integrity!
Read More...
Small Hall Sessions w/ Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders @ Te Awanga Hall, Te-Matau-a-Maui - 27/09/2024
28 Sep 2024 // by Rob Harbers
The opening run of the Small Hall Sessions featured the pairing of Barry Saunders and Delaney Davidson. Now, nearly 3 and a half years and around 180 Sessions later, this remarkable duo has returned to stomp the boards of Hawkes Bay’s rural hubs.
Read More...
Gig Review: Small Hall Sessions w/ Dave Khan @ Poukawa Hall, Hawkes Bay - 13/09/2024
14 Sep 2024 // by Rob Harbers
As this represents the first appearance of the Small Hall Sessions in the pages of Muzic NZ, allow me to introduce you! The Small Hall Sessions are the brainchild of Jamie MacPhail, a man with most of the interesting people in Aotearoa’s musical firmament on speed dial.
Read More...
Gig Review: Wellington Invasion @ Paisley Stage, Napier - 20/07/2024
25 Jul 2024 // by Rob Harbers
Bringing a touch of Poneke vibes to Ahuriri’s Paisley Stage, The Bravo Uniform Mikes, with their partners in crime Adoneye, continued their mission of bringing the noise. And what a noise!
Read More...
Gig Review: Devilskin @ ToiToi Opera House, Hastings - 15/06/2024
18 Jun 2024 // by Rob Harbers
On a chilly Te-Matau-A-Maui evening, Devilskin brought the warmth to a capacity crowd at Hastings’ ToiToi, with the help of a few friends. Probably the loudest the old girl’s been for some time, as they celebrated the 10th anniversary of the release of debut album We Rise.
Read More...
Gig Review: Bitta Batta @ Paisley Stage, Napier - 14/06/2024
16 Jun 2024 // by Rob Harbers
The weather outside was frightful, but inside the coolest little venue in Ahuriri, things were anything but, as the soulful Bitta Batta were making their debut on the Te-Matau-A-Maui stage! Such ventures require a supportive hand in their genesis, and tonight that fell to the amorphous collective that is Willsy and Friends.
Read More...
Gig Review: Tower of Flints @ Paisley Stage, Napier - 4/05/2024
08 May 2024 // by Rob Harbers
On a Saturday night with many entertainment options for the people of Te-Matau-A-Maui, a select audience was treated to a triple bill of quality artists at the sweet little spot that is the Paisley Stage.First up was Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s Spinning Lights, making their East Coast debut.
Read More...
Sam Higham - Album Review: Jam Fish
20 Nov 2023 // by Rob Harbers
Poneke’s Sam Higham has just released his debut solo album Jam Fish. With an audacious precocity belying his mere 26 years, this one-man production threatens to smash many preconceptions, and burrow its way into your head with its multi-faceted attack, one that would fall, for want of a better position, into the arena of ‘progressive’.
Read More...
View All Articles By Rob Harbers

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TIMELESS
    The Weeknd And Playboi Carti
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TOO SWEET
    Hozier
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem