Words by Jia Sharma (she/her)
Last Friday’s show at San Fran had an unbelievably exciting lineup. Kicking off the night were local bands Feshh and Macho Macho, and out-of-towners Dale Kerrigan and Ringlets taking the headlining slot. This was undoubtedly a very special show to be at.
The night was organised by Goosegarden, an up-and-coming promotion and recording label. This was their biggest show yet. What started as a casual conversation between friends has blossomed into a promising music collective. Logan, who is also the guitarist for Macho Macho, spoke on behalf of Goosegarden and described the shows lineup as a true representation of the collective.
The evening was kicked off by Feshh, who also performed at the previous week’s Eyegum Wednesday. Describing their sound as noise pop with shoegaze influences, Feshh delivered an ethereal performance that seamlessly blended loud drums and guitars into an unexpected harmony. The stand out of their set was when they played “Acetone”, an obvious crowd favourite that had the room singing along. Feshh has promised exciting things coming our way. The band is taking a break to focus on recording, and is set to have a single on the way before releasing a full EP.
Next up was Macho Macho, a band I’ve been trying to see for a long time. The band has transitioned from an indie, Mac DeMarco-inspired sound to a more rock-oriented style that resonated perfectly with me. The guitarist, Logan, explained that the band’s music changes as the city does, and their new unchained, ‘cowboy post-punk’ sound reflects this evolution. What really stood out to me while watching their set was the undeniable chemistry the band members had, staying in sync without having to physically interact with one another. It added a new level of immersion to their set, amplifying the already captivating music they were playing.
Following Macho Macho, Dunedin's Dale Kerrigan took the stage. This was their fourth time playing in Wellington, and after this show, I can’t wait for them to come back. Their post-hard rock sound was coupled with captivating vocals and lyrics, and I found myself eagerly listening to the lyrics themselves. Dale Kerrigan also promised new music to be released and provided a taste of some new songs at this show. The band is set to start recording shortly for an album, which I am now beyond excited for. If I ever find myself in Dunedin, I know I’ll definitely be searching for one of their gigs.
Ending the night was Auckland band, Ringlets. While this was their third time playing at San Fran, it was their first time taking the headlining slot. I loved their crunchy guitar sound that contrasted with more soothing and melodic parts of their songs. The drums, in particular, had a beat that made it impossible not to tap your foot along. Guitarist and vocalist Laszlo described their gigs in Wellington as feeling like mini holidays, and after this show, I hope these holidays become much more frequent.
The show was a series of bangers from start to finish, deepening my appreciation for Wellington's talented bands and introducing me to incredible acts from other cities. I’m so excited to see what Goosegarden does next. They’ve got some great acts lined up for their next show at San Fran on the 25th, so be sure to check them out.
