Concert Review - Hot Potato Band - 18th March 2025

Presented By Hot Potato Music

Hot Potato Band Live at Paisley Stage - Image Credit Andrew Caldwell

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL HOT POTATO BAND GALLERY BY ANDREW CALDWELL

Review By: Rob Harbers

Artist/Band: Hot Potato Band

Venue/City: Paisley Stage, Napier, New Zealand

Date of Event: Tuesday 18th March 2025

With their message of radiant positivity, Sydney’s Hot Potato Band have made a return appearance at Ahuriri’s coolest little venue, Paisley Stage! Having wowed the audience on their last visit some 16 months ago, this hugely energetic and entertaining crew capitalised on the buzz and did it all over again at what vocalist Ben Goldstein referred to as their “favourite venue in New Zealand without a doubt” (bet he says that to all the bars!) maybe they’d prefer to be known as the Hot Paisley Band? Anything’s possible, after all…

Support act, performing his second ever show in Aotearoa, was countryman Shmone, with his layer cake of looped sax, guitar and percussion providing an interesting introduction to what was to follow. While also introducing the crowd to a wee bit of ‘Hebrew language!’ Guest contributions from Ben Goldstein and HPB’s baritone sax player Kali Gillen added layers of their own to the complex structure of one of his songs, presumably without intending to charge him an appearance fee! His last piece, introduced as “an Italian song”, was the resistance paean ‘Bella Ciao’, well known to viewers of the ‘Money Heist’ TV series, and served to get many people to their feet, ready for the main act-a position many of them were to remain in.

Taking the stage to a percussive beat provided by tub-thumping duo Simon Ghali and James Swanson, a burst of Acapella scat from Ben signalled the opening number, ‘Let It Go’. An ode to leaving troubles at the door for an hour or two and soaking in the positivity of this energized and effervescent troupe. Also, an early opportunity to see the chops of trombonist Jacob Parks and trumpeter Paul Murchison, as they play off against each other.
The positivity was nowhere so obvious as in the next song, ‘Positive Vibrations’, which certainly did what it said on the packet, spreading joy and the new song ‘Not Coming Home’ slowed the pace a little, in its first half at least, with a relatively low-key, but hugely soulful feel, before a second-half breakout into the characteristic full-on sound, demonstrating a wider range of dynamics.

An almost reggae-ish rendition of ‘Seven Nation Army’ , including snippets of ‘Hit The Road, Jack’ and ‘Enter Sandman’ showed the band’s versatility. Ben then advised us that “From now on, we’ll only be playing solemn songs, so you may as well sit down”. An obvious, but innocent, bait and switch, given the ensuing ‘Thick’, and the slow and funky groove of ‘Live For The Day’- neither of which were going to make anyone take their seats!

Ben observed that it was good to see such a level of support for live music, on a Tuesday night indeed, given the number of live music venues that’ve gone to the wall in their home town-as I’ve noted before, Paisley Stage providing an essential service. Thanks JR, Lucy, and crew!

‘Mystery Man’, with its rave feel, showed that despite being a brass band, it’s not all they listen to or like, particularly sousaphone player Luke Bartley, who got to indulge his love of techno with this song. Yes, it truly is all styles served here, in the words of Roxy Music!

Winding towards the end of the show, ‘Ritual’ caused Ben to note that it felt like a workout-not wrong, given the intensive effort maintained to choreograph and coordinate 9 players on the stage, of which 7 play instruments requiring a certain degree of space! I mean, you have seen a sousaphone before, right? That’s one big mofo!

Following more praise for their surroundings, in stating the North Island as feeling like their “second home”, came the final number of the main set, ‘This is How It Should Be’, a final chance for audience participation, singing the refrain-an impressive feat for a track that was originally an instrumental! The usual ‘band leaves stage, waits for encore call’ trope was upended also, not all members having had time to get off before the first ones were coming back on! The encore was a single song only, not unreasonable given the considerable effort expended, a cover of Abba’s ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’, and then it was over. The positivity and good vibes injection we all needed, to maintain spirits for the next onslaught (or is that just me?)

They’re getting around further, go see them if you can, you’ll enjoy!

SETLIST
Let it Go
Positive Vibrations
Not Coming Home
Is That All You Got
Rather Be
Seven Nation Army (White Stripes cover, including snippets of ‘Hit The Road Jack’ and ‘Enter Sandman’)
Thick
Live For The Day
Little Bird

Hot Potato Band Tour Poster 2025

---