By Poppy Tohill

Artist: Ladyhawke

Date / Venue: Saturday July 23rd, 2016 - The Powerstation, Auckland

After two months of touring throughout the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand, Ladyhawke performed her final show of The Wild Things tour at the Powerstation in Auckland last night to a loving, energetic and grateful crowd. 

With a tropical neon palm tree aptly accompanied by the words ‘Ladyhawke Wild Things’ illuminated behind her, an enriched sense of comfort and confidence radiated from Brown’s warm and quiet personality as she took to the stage with a glowing infectious smile, admitting she’s not good at talking in- between songs. 

Wasting no time launching into drum-powered track The River followed by the synth-tastic Golden Girl, Brown accompanied by bassist - Tom, drummer - Matt and Nick on synths “and everything else,” it was clear the musicianship between one another was strong, exhibiting a high level of energy, whilst evidently enjoying every minute of it. 

“Thanks for coming out!” Brown announced, before picking up a pastel-yellow electric guitar and taking things back to her 2009 self-titled debut album days of masterful synth-pop beats throughout Another Runaway, Manipulating Woman and Dusk Till Dawn. Followed by the infused rock’n’roll grittiness of Love Don’t Live Here, Professional Suicide, which saw Brown trade the guitar in for some impressively rocking tambourine solos and Magic, an undeniable popular favourite among the crowd who proceeded to dance and sing-a-long to their hearts content. 

“Oh no, I have to do some more talking,” Brown joked, confessing, “I really need to work on my crowd banter,” as she came to another break in the set. 

However, prompted by her band mates to tell a few dad jokes, Brown had the audience in the palm of her hand, with each sweetly innocent comment, soon becoming just as much a part of the show as the music, with sincere chuckles on both sides of the stage following each of her humorous interludes. 

Before returning back to some of her more recent songs, Blue Eyes, the only song from Ladyhawke’s second record Anxiety, that made it onto the setlist received an ecstatic response from the audience, proving a dance floor favourite for many. 

Wild Things favourites Sweet Fascination and Let It Roll, which again featured some notable tambourine work, continued the high-energy flow on the dance floor, before the crowd erupted with sheer excitement as hit single A Love Song, made its appearance. 

“You guys are awesome!” Brown exclaimed, before making a joke about this being her “last song.” As the recognisable intro to the 2008 chart-toper and well-loved Paris Is Burning began, the audience simultaneously exploded as they went on to help Brown sing and dance the roof off the venue, immediately launching into the beckoning ‘encore’ call as the band followed Brown, disappearing off stage. 

Returning soon enough, the encore, only one song short, that of course being 

the song of I’m sure not just my own teenage years, My Delirium. The perfect high to conclude a night that went by far too fast, in more than just my books. 

However, with a bright and happy new record to her name, comes a new colourful and striking live show, from an artist herself that has not only grown in contentment, but a remarkable strength that proves Ladyhawke is back and she’s certainly glowing brighter than ever.