Tami Neilson – Tuning Fork April 10, 2015

Tami Neilson headlined an evening of music at Auckland’s Tuning Fork that included a parade of some of New Zealand’s finest songwriters, instrumentalists and vocalists.

The evening began with Will Wood, accompanied by the seemingly omnipresent Dave Khan and the multi-talented Reb Fountain. Any one of these three artists is capable of carrying an audience on their own, but seeing them support each other accentuates how much these folks enjoy making music. Reb provided backing vocals for Will, but she is a potent songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in her own right and Dave Khan not only played a variety of stringed instruments, he helped put on the show and supported Tami later on as a member of her band.

Will Wood was followed by Skyscraper Stan (aka Stan Woodhouse) who certainly lives up to his name. The towering troubadour was accompanied by his cousin, Oskar Herbig, on vocals and electric guitar, himself, no slouch in the height department.

The two lanky musicians are Kiwis, now living in Melbourne, and Dave Khan has arranged to bring them over here for a trio of shows this weekend.

Lucky us.

Stan and Oskar are yet further proof that this country is teeming with talent, especially in the roots music category. Stan’s songs are excellent examples of literate, entertaining and often poignant storytelling, not unlike a certain Woody Guthrie, who he has written a song about. For me, the most affecting tune of his 6-song set was Chief, a song/story about a junkie who lived in his doorway in Melbourne. Stan has a beautiful way with words and a fine voice to go with it. Both Stan and Oskar’s mothers were in the audience…they should be proud.

Speaking of the audience…what a great crowd it was that turned out to see Tami and the rest of the bill. Not only was there plenty of them, but they were appreciative and supportive. This was especially apparent during Tami’s set. Her father had recently passed away and Tami sang a new song, written with him in mind, titled, I believe, If Love Were Enough. Tami warned the audience that she might not make it through the song without crying, and she was right. It was a courageous and moving performance, one that can only occur with the support and trust of the audience.

But it wasn’t all tears and heartbreak.

Tami Neilson often gets corralled as a country singer, and she certainly is that. But she proved she is also much more…incorporating elements of gospel, jazz and straight ahead pop music in a display of vocal dexterity that is virtually unmatched.

I’ve seen Tami perform many times, and I was still blown away but the power and quality of her voice and her phrasing.

We are lucky to have such a talented vocalist in our midst and she, in turn was surrounded by some on New Zealand’s finest musicians including the aforementioned Mr Khan along with double bass player Mike Hall and drummer Joe McCallum.

Tami is about to head back into the studio to follow up her album, Dynamite and she previewed a few songs for us. Her Loco Mama was a highlight, adding a bit of rumba and salsa into the mix and showing what a great all around entertainer she is.

We also got a few tasty covers including Hank Williams’ Lovesick Blues, complete with some fine yodelling, Loretta Lynn’s You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man, and my personal favourite, Patsy Cline’s She’s Got You.

Despite the fact that Tami Neilson won the APRA Silver Scroll Award for her song Walk (Back To Your Arms), I can’t help feeling that she, and the rest of this vibrant NZ roots scene is being unfairly overlooked by the mainstream press and public.

I think that country, folk, blues or Americana, or whatever you want to call what Tami and folks like Marlon Williams, Reb Fountain, Bernie Griffin, Mel Parsons, Delaney Davidson has become somewhat ghettoized.

Sure, they get a few write-ups and occasional recognition, but they are never really considered to be in the same league as current pop, indie or hip-hop artists. They are looked upon as too retro, too derivation, when in fact they are some of the most creative and talented musicians and songwriters we have.

Sure a tune like Tami’s Whiskey And Kisses might sound like some long, lost country classic. But it’s not. And it’s not easy to consistently come up with songs of that calibre and have them played and sung with the measure of technical artistry that was on display here tonight.

Here’s hoping the rest of the country, and the world, catches on to what the few hundred folks at the Tuning Fork already know, that these artists are among the finest that this country has produced.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Michael Flynn:

Tami Neilson set list:

1. Come Over
2. Cry Over You
3. Walk (Back To Your Arms)
4. Texas
5. Whiskey And Kisses
6. Lovesick Blues
7. Dynamite
8. Laugh
9. You Lie
10. Honey Girl
11. Whoo Hoo
12. If Love Were Enough
13. You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man
14. Loco Mama
15. She’s Got You
16. Six Months Married
17. No Good For My Soul