This was the first time Mostly Autumn had played in Wales for more than three years, and they were met by an enthusiastic crowd. The band did not let them down. This was a powerful, impassioned set by a band who were clearly enjoying every moment on stage. Bryan Josh was on fire on guitar, playing as well as I’ve ever heard him play. Olivia Sparnenn was on equally fine form vocally, emotive one moment, and soaringly powerful the next. Gavin Griffiths kicked up an absolute storm on drums, giving the set a great energy level, and hats off to Anne-Marie Helder, who, as well as singing superb harmony vocals, still managed to play keys and even flute on a couple of songs despite still having her right arm in a cast because of broken wrist!

I’ve been critical of Mostly Autumn in the past for being rather conservative with their tour setlists, playing too little recent material in favour of established standards. This time they’ve more or less torn up the old setlist, at least by their standards. Of the two and a half hour set, more than half came from the new album, almost the whole of the first disk plus half the second bonus disk. Add to that the fact that they’ve retained “Slow Down” from Bryan Josh’s solo album, and the former Breathing Space epic “Questioning Eyes” and the oldies were very much in the minority.

Pretty much all of the new material comes over extremely well live, and went down well with an audience, the majority of whom were probably hearing these songs for the first time. Songs like the opener “Deep in Borrowdale” and “Something Better” rocked hard. “Coming Back to Life” and “Forever Young” soared, and perhaps the high spot of the entire evening was the emotional rendition of “When The War Is Over” a very appropriate song for Remembrance Sunday.

They finished, as they always do, with “Heroes Never Die” this time with a completely new instrumental beginning, arranged because of the absence of Anne-Marie’s flute at the beginning of the tour. A superb gig, enchanting new and old fans alike, and well rewarding those who’ve stayed loyal to the new lineup.

There are quite a few more shows coming up including the showcase of York Grand Opera House on Dec. 4. (Tickets) And I can’t wait for that one.

Opetaia Foa’i led Te Vaka through an almost
2-hour performance Saturday night at Mesquite High School
Photos by Temple A. Stark/Soundlust.com

Their type of performance you usually only see surrounded by commercial tourist trappings or resorts. And what that does it seems to me is to emphasis that these are costumes rather than real history and real people behind it. That it turn, denudes the idea that there’s anything worth paying attention to beyond mere entertainment. Saying all that, when the curtains parted and revealed a huge rock and roll drum set, anyone who was paying attention knew it was going to be different. This dance, drum and song performance held in Gilbert, near Phoenix was at a high school, with an audience of appreciative men, women (and kids) starved for the authenticity that a group like Te Vaka brings.

With a couple of low-impact, local acts leading off the event, and one rugby team pouring out the aggression (though perhaps less so if it makes you giggle at times) the evening started slow, but relaxing. Two woman and girl groups of dancers from a local dance school brought the hip-check and rhythm one might expect. And a 14-year old boy (who’s name I missed) crooned out Corinne Bailey Rae and Sade numbers.

Then the curtains parted, smoke filled the air and contrasting lighting set the stage for an evening that more and more as it went along began to develop meaning for the crowd. “To the Future” really made the room come alive. It may have been one of their hits; a song about all that mothers teach, and particularly what the mother of lead songwriter and founding member, Opetaia Foa’i, taught him.

Foa’i told Soundlust before the show that celebration is a major part of the band but education about disappearing environmental beauty and cultures has to get out, “To highlight issues of concern in the South Pacific is an important part of Te Vaka. Respect for the past and right up to the present time.”

He said one of the most important issues for him is keeping the history of discovery alive for the generations; like “the original pioneers that sailed the Pacific Ocean conquered it with the simple canoe and left their mark on the unique cultures of each Island.”

The band is 15 years old and in teenagehood the band continues to explore its surroundings, but can now ask the right questions.

“It’s way more satisfying now that’s for sure,” Foa’i says. “Arriving at this point where my culture is highlighted on stage is all that I ever wanted to do with music, even if I didn’t know it back then when I first started out.”

I haven’t watched many bands using languages other than English, so explanation was welcome and needed. Foa’i did most of the talking. But with traditional drums (pate), flute, guitar and the drums, dancers in grass skirts (men and woman) and tribal tattoos (just the men) he was never the entire focus.

At one point, with so much going on, I wished I could see the group perform without amplification, without microphones or anything else on stage but the dancers, their movements and their play. It just seems they can carry off an “acoustic set” with aplomb and great solo sounds from the tribal drums, flute and guitars.

“If you see our show you will understand that positive force,” Foa’i says. “For example the group is involved in programs to get kids off street drugs. This is contrary to many other Pacific groups who promote the opposite.”

Tonight they’re in Denver, Colorado at the Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom. Saturday catch them at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, CA and Sunday they wrap up their short American tour at the World Beat Center in San Diego, CA.

…

That’s Big.Fast.Easy
Thankful Birds
Mergence
Honey Pistol – one of the players works at Grinders, so, the pink highlight.
Banana Gun
About Freedom

Voice

Guitar / Violin

Violin

Banjo

Photos by Temple A.Stark ©2010