Lake South – Wine Cellar March 30, 2017

 

Former Urbantramper Lake celebrates the release of his first album under the name Lake South, titled If You’re Born On An Island The Ocean Heals You, with a show at Auckland’s Wine Cellar.

This being a Thursday night, the audience was rather sparse for opening acts The Naenae Express and Ron Gallipoli. I missed the Naenaes (I’ve seen them before and wasn’t impressed) but got there early enough to catch Ron Gallipoli. Unfortunately, there was nothing special there, either.

Fortunately, Lake South was indeed worth the trip out and by the time he/they took the stage there was a healthy crowd to greet them.

For this show, Lake accompanied himself on keys and other electronic paraphernalia while friend and flatmate Seamus Maguire played electric bass, sang backing vocals, and added a bit of electronic percussion.

I mention that Seamus and Lake are flatmates because Lake himself mentioned this during the set and because many of the songs featured tonight addressed the flatting lifestyle and how folks in their 20s and 30s are adjusting to modern life in urban New Zealand.

The duo began with Good Keen Man, Lake South’s debut single, which featured, as many of his songs do, a throbbing electronic beat and Lake’s own, emotive vocals.

The lyrics pretty much set the audience up for the next 45 minutes or so…”When we were young, we dreamed of golden sands. I’d finish school then be a man”. But then that Kiwi dream is dashed…”But that’s all bullshit because we never can”, he sings with resignation.

Renters, the third song on offer, expands on the theme…”I’m a fool, you know I’ve fallen for the fallacy, buy a house, have a family”.

Having given up on the idea of owning a house, in Prospect Terrace Lake sings of learning to love the landlord.

While those prospects may sound bleak, Lake infuses just enough hope and romance into his songs to make life bearable. During Binge Drinking & DH Lawrence, he sings about moving to Auckland “the place desired by many” and suggesting to his partner, “let’s dance in the kitchen, babe”.

The tone is lighter still during the title track which features a bright, poppy, 80s-style melody and backing track.

But then Double Grammar Zone/North brings us back to reality…”Everyone’s moving north for the money…give me your rent once a week till you’re dead”.

It sounds like Lake is making a play at becoming the voice of his generation…or at least “a” voice and the more I hear it, the more I like it.

As he, himself, sings on the final song of the evening, Cost Of Living, “get used to it”.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Chris Zwaagdyk:

Lake South set list:

1. Good Keen Man
2. Radiate
3. Renters
4. Prospect Terrace
5. Binge Drinking & DH Lawrence
6. Coast/Whanarua Bay
7. If You’re Born On An Island The Ocean Heals You
8. Double Grammar Zone/North
9. Cost Of Living