Unknown Mortal Orchestra – St James Theatre 12 December 2015

Ruban Nielson and his bandmates took their fans on a fanciful musical journey that took quite a few unexpected detours as Unknown Mortal Orchestra played to a sold-out crowd at Auckland’s St James Theatre.

There was a good energy in the old St James tonight, perhaps left over from the previous evening’s Save The St James event which found some of New Zealand’s finest…Hopetoun Brown, Tami Neilson, Lawrence Arabia, Voom…performing out in the foyer while guests were invited to wander on to the stage and check out the venerable venue from the performers’ point of view.

The show was sold out and plenty of fans showed up early to catch opening act Fazerdaze…smart move as Amelia Murray and her crew have improved by leaps and bounds since I first saw them in September…and they were pretty good then. The line-up has been refined and the music has gotten more melodic and substantial.

By the time Unknown Mortal Orchestra took the stage at 9:47, the enthusiastic crowd was chanting “UMO! UMO!” Ruban Nielson has added a fourth member to the touring version of the band…keyboard player Quincy Mcrary joined bassist Jake Portrait and drummer Riley Geare, and it was his dramatic piano flourishes that started the set off, leading into a short, snappy version of Like Acid Rain from the band’s third album, 2015’s Multi-Love. Ruban threw in a few jazzy guitar lines, tipping his hand as to what we would hear later in the evening.

For those looking for some classic Ruban-style guitar pyrotechnics, one need wait no further than the second offering, From The Sun, as Nielson stepped out into the crowd for an extended solo.

The excitement continued as How Can You Luv Me segued into the Prince-like funk of Ur Life One Night, complete with vintage 80s synth lines from Quincy.

“You guys know the old stuff?” queried Ruban.

The answer was an unqualified “yes!” as the quartet ripped into a trippy version of Thought Ballune from the first UMO album with Ruban singing about “building islands in the sky” and claiming to be “a smiling alligator”. Far out.

Next came the breezy soul of The World Is Crowded, keeping those so inclined movin’ and groovin’.

The show took something of a hit during, what should have been a highlight. Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark) was marred by fuzzy, overdriven sound that found some fans covering their ears. The situation continued through Stage Or Screen, but seemed to clear up just in time for Quincy’s beautifully-flowing piano interlude that bridged the way to Ffunny Ffrends.

The energy level was raised as the drums came pounding in and the 48 minute set ended with a disco-fied version of Can’t Stop Checking My Phone, featuring father Chris Nielson on horns.

But the show was far from over…in fact the best was yet to come.

The elder Nielson announced the first song of the encore, Necessary Evil, with a stirring trumpet fanfare, with the rest of the band laying down a tasty jazz/funk groove. Chris switched from trumpet to sax and the room was rocking.

So Good At Being In Trouble became as a good-natured sing-along, but then the quirky indie-pop number turned into a funky jazz-rock jam, again with Chris’ horns leading the way and the band laying down another irresistible groove.

The three-song encore finished with a triumphant version of Multi-Love. A cheer went up from the crowd as the first notes of the song were struck and another joyful sing-along broke out leaving both band and audience beaming as the show come to a close.

A note: If you missed the show or want to relive it, Radio NZ was there recording both bands. Hopefully it will find its way on air sometime in January.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Veronica McLaughlin:

Unknown Mortal Orchestra set list:

1. Like Acid Rain
2. From The Sun
3. How Can You Luv Me
4. Ur Life One Night
5. Thought Ballune
6. The World Is Crowded
7. Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)
8. Stage Or Screen
9. Ffunny Ffrends
10. Can’t Keep Checking My Phone
11. Necessary Evil
12. So Good At Being In Trouble
13. Multi-Love