Anika Moa and Julia Deans with the APO – Auckland Town Hall (Concert Review)

Two of New Zealand’s finest singer-songwriters team up with the APO to present unique versions of their tunes. Billed as “Divas,” Anika Moa and Julia Deans displayed none of the negative traits associated with that label. There were no costume changes, no entitled attitudes, just two beautiful voices backed by a stunning orchestra.

The last time we saw Anika Moa, she was holding court at The Powerstation, playing songs from her latest album, Queen At The Table. As for Julia Deans, I saw her last at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber about a year ago, singing the songs of Joni Mitchell.

Julia and Anika moved to the big room at the Town Hall on this wintry Thursday night…they needed the space as the had the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra backing them up along with a small “rock” unit of bass, guitar and drums.

This was a decidedly different audience and vibe than that of Anika’s recent Powerstation, the audience was considerably older and slightly better dressed. It would be interesting to see how Anika’s “unconventional” sense of humour played in front of this more conservative-looking audience.

As it turned out Anika quickly found the perfect balance…keeping her unique stage patter in tack without offending. Julia Deans did her best to keep up, with both telling stories and bantering back and forth between songs.

As for the music…it was sublime. Anika and Julia’s voices are very different. Anika’s is lighter and higher while Julia’s is deeper and more forceful. They sang harmonies on each other’s tunes and the voices blended perfectly.

The orchestra, with Hamish McKeich conducting, was a revelation. The arrangements were creative and complex and added a tremendous about of emotion and drama to the songs.

Anika’s In The Morning, from her 2005 album Stolen Hill, really benefitted from the strings and did Julia’s A New Dialogue.

Deans premiered four new songs which will appear on her second solo album, tentatively titled We Light Fire.

In addition to playing their instruments, the APO members were asked to snap their fingers and rub their hands together to add a bit of percussion to Julia’s Skin (Everything Is Coming To A Halt), which closed out the first set.

After a 20-minute intermission, Anika and Julia returned (dressed exactly the same as for the first set) and performed another 45 minute set beginning with one of Julia’s new tunes called Pick Up, featuring delicately plucked violin strings and backing vocals by Jol Mulholland, who was on guitar.

Anika left the stage as Julia presented two more new songs later in the set…there were no backing vocals needed…and then she returned to sing Lover, from Queen At The Table, which featured the most complex and exciting arrangement of the evening.

The second set closed with Fur Patrol’s 2000 hit Lydia. The encore consisted of a stirring version of Lulu’s 1967 hit To Sir, With Love, which the two had previously performed about a decade ago. I’ve gotta say, there’s nothing like the sound of a live orchestra and they sounded brilliant on this last song.

So, congratulations to all involved, particularly those who arranged the songs for the orchestra, it was a wonderfully unique was to experience the music of Anika Moa and Julia Deans.

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by David Watson:

 

Anika Moa & Julia Deans set list:

1. Running
2. Modern Fables
3. In The Morning
4. A New Dialogue
5. Running Through The Fire
6. Walking In the Sun
7. Picture Me In The 70s
8. Skin (Everything Is Coming To A Halt)

Second set:

1. Pick Up
2. My Old Man
3. Mother
4. Broken Home
5. We Light Fire
6. Lover
7. Dreams In My Head
8. Lydia
9. To Sir, With Love