Concert Review - Arahi - Napier - 14th February 2025

Arahi The small hall sessions february 2025 pr

Review By: Rob Harbers

Artist/Band: Arahi (Presented by the small hall sessions)

Venue/City: King George Hall, Bay View, Napier, New Zealand

Date of Event: Friday 14th February 2025

The 14th of February is a day that arouses many emotions. For many people across the world, it commemorates, and is commercially exploited in the name of, Saint Valentine. But for (primarily) residents of the more easterly parts of the North Island, particularly Tairawhiti and Te-Matau-a-Maui, it is remembered equally as much for being the anniversary of the visit of a far more unwelcome guest. This vicious bitch, bearing the name of (Cyclone) Gabrielle, tore through the landscape, causing major damage and claiming the lives of 11 people. The trauma, and the cleanup, is a very real part of people’s lives two years on and still incites a wary attitude to any forecasts of significant rainfall. Into each life some rain must fall, they say, but much too much has indeed fallen into ours!
In this milieu, the return of local-kid-making-big Arahi, for three instalments of Small Hall Sessions, is a very welcome distraction from such memories. As he continues his upwards journey towards the stardom that is coming closer with every day, it’s always good to check in with his progress. And what progress it is! The slightly shy and reticent lad that left here for Tamaki Makaurau nearly 2 years back has returned as a loquacious and confident performer, sharing tales of life’s journey and songs that display whole new dimensions.
Kicking off with the atmospheric ‘Better Days’, this represented the first live appearance of this particular trio, consisting of Arahi with Francesca Parussini (keys and sax) and Amy Boroevich (BVs and fun machine). The extra texture brought to the sound fleshed out elements of older material, exemplified by the second song ‘Everything’s About to Change’, and provide a teaser for the album due out in Spring.

The new single, released on the day of this show, ‘Baby’s Back’, with its full sound and strong alt-country vibe, served as an early marker of the aforementioned progress, and deserves to do well. From here it was in to what was described as the ‘cut-throat part of the set’ with the ‘anti-Valentine’, ‘No-ones Really Been in Love’ and ‘No Going Back’, the reprise to “Baby’s Back’, a melancholy reflection on the downsides of reunion, accompanied by a show-stopping sax solo. The darker vibe was maintained by ‘Die Young and Good-looking’, which led in to the intermission -perhaps a subtle attempt to increase bar sales by encouraging the drowning of sorrows? Who am I to say, or to judge?
The return saw initially only Arahi taking the stage, performing a cover of ‘Hang Me, Oh Hang Me’, which he contended is happier than it may sound-perhaps more a statement of having seen everything and being ready to pass on. An interesting take, in any case…

 This was followed by an unreleased ballad from his other project, Te Tokotoru, ‘Ki Te Karanga’, before his accompanists came back for the melodic ‘My Baby’s Like A Hurricane’ (maybe not the most appropriate song title for such an anniversary?), which led in to ‘Mai Tawhiti’, a retelling of the local legend of Mahia. From here it was the “fun part”, as Amy introduced the fun machine referred to earlier, a little drum machine, which accompanied perhaps the most soulful rendition I’ve heard of ‘Boys of Summer’, and the original song ‘Know You Now’. This wee device introduced a lighter element to proceedings, while also helping to set the scene for the set closer, the rousing ‘Wish I Moved To The City With Me’. The progression of the sound through the various songs was almost a reflection, in a roundabout way, of the progression of Arahi himself-from early whispering to what’s not yet a scream, but certainly a raised voice! A very promising teaser for future developments indeed.

The demanded encore consisted of a cover of Peter Gabriel’s ‘In Your Eyes’ (it’s only upon writing this that I spot the Gabriel(le) reference!) a song that Arahi has made his own through the last few years, and a worthy complement to the rest of the night. And with that it was over, the gathering left fully satisfied by what they’d just been privileged enough to see.
It’s not often that the opportunity arises to witness an artist on the verge of breaking to bigger things. But that’s what this run of Small Hall Sessions are offering-the chance to capture one of our local treasures, before he gets too big for such environs. For this is clearly a man destined to higher acclaim, and you owe it to yourself to catch him at this moment in time, while you still can. And at the same time exorcise some of the ghosts of the past, from the tragic events that unfolded at this time two years ago. Therapy for the heart and soul!

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