By Wal Reid

Artist: London Grammar

Date / Venue: Saturday September 30th, 2017 - Spark Arena, Auckland

Getting Hannah Reid and Co, aka London Grammar down here to play was a coup and a no-brainer as the packed house reflected the groups popularity.  Established musician and fellow British compatriot James Vincent McMorrow, (that surname’s hard to recall) who held his own with band in tow.  My only gripe were the hordes talking as he performed – not cool people.

Letting out a subtle “Hey, what’s up?”, Reid’s slight frame against the neon hued background singing Rooting For You was a hauntingly beautiful start.  Apologising for the band’s delay due to “technical difficulties” Reid’s heartfelt regret, smoothed over the crowd as if given a pacifier by the petite singer while the band swung into motion against the lit digital backdrop.

Flickers seamlessly morphed into Help Me Lose My Mind, while keyboardist Dominic Major remarked how noisier we were compared to the Aussies - always a good thing getting one over our competitive cuzzies.  The LG hits kept coming, latest hit Who Am I and the nostalgic Wasting My Younger Years found target with their audience with relative ease.

London Grammar, best described as a newish band - I use that term liberally as they burst onto the scene back in 2012, so not an established bad by any stretch. Reid’s low register warble coupled with guitarist Dan Rothman’s ambient guitar licks, a solid combination in any setting, as Major conducted onstage, switching intermittently behind the fortress of his drums & keys.

Probably their most well know song, Strong, wasn’t left out, as a spate of tunes from their latest album Truth Is A Beautiful Thing were also thrown into the mix and devoured by the trance-like crowd.  Giving the punters one last thrill with an emotional encore, the British trio given a fitting exit from an appreciative crowd still reeling in the band’s wake. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL LONDON GRAMMAR GALLERY BY CHRIS ZWAAGDYK