Pacific Crystal Palace, Wānaka
Thursday, April 3.
The Veils’ reputation for exceptional live performances sold out the Palace - and the band delivered with something for everyone.
They opened with tracks from their latest album, Asphodels, showcasing the softer, gentler side of Finn Andrews’ thoughtful songwriting.
Mortal Wound and The Dream of Life wrapped sad and melancholy concepts in beautiful melodies. O Fortune Teller and The Ladder were both haunting and mournful, but with hints of hope. Andrews’ strong and expressive voice is as clear and confident as ever.
Dave Khan’s violin stood in on stage for the sweeping strings of Victoria Kelly’s arrangements on the album. Khan’s a good man to have around if you haven’t got room on the tour bus for a full orchestra.
Andrews switched from piano to guitar and the band’s driving rhythm section led into more aggressive rock numbers from its couple of decades of material.
They ramped up the heartbeat with Not Yet, and natural frontman Andrews worked up a willing crowd with Here Come the Dead - leaving us eager for more as they took a break.
Round two was deja vu, starting softly with Rings of Saturn and a couple from the new album: title track Asphodels and the simple melodious beauty of Concrete After Rain.
They upped the tempo again, rapidly rising to a climax with a magnificent, blistering guitar attack in Jesus for the Jugular.
It was a brilliant finish, but a bad place to leave an excited crowd on their feet, so Andrews returned for a warm-down encore, solo at the piano with the nostalgic The Tide That Left and Never Came Back.
Khan joined him for a final restrained Axolotl, the song The Veils played on David Lynch’s revival of his cult tv series Twin Peaks.
A great night, performances spot on, music a delight, happy punters - The Veils’ reputation intact.
