about contact 
dunedinmusic.com
search 
home venues archives galleries gig guide artists features reviews news store forums 
Reviews
07 June, 2009
Yule, Dear Times Waste, Onanon and Anna Mac - ReFuel, 15/5/09
Page 1
0
comments
[start discussion]
[ next page >> ]
I came into this gig woefully underprepared in terms of knowing what to expect. I’d heard a single Dear Times Waste song and that they are opening for Deerhunter in June (good start). I could not stop associating the word [Yule] with some awful pop opera artist whose real name escapes me. I’d seen [Onanon] once over a year ago and I thought that I had never been exposed to [Anna Mac].

Opening proceedings was local teenage singer/songwriter [Anna Mac] who’s prior claim to fame was winning free tickets to last years Chris Brown concert by writing a song for him and playing said song on Campbell Live. Oh Dear. During her 20 or so minute solo set Mac displayed her very impressive vocal talents and slick guitar playing, but it was all a bit too Brooke Fraser for me and there were times when I was thinking “swear to god sing that cheesy hook followed by that smug guitar lick one more time and I’m leaving”. Although her set would have been better suited to the Good Morning show than Refuel, there is definitely potential here. Sure, the subject material for her songs was often generic and cringe-worthy (eg. The Chris Brown number among others) some of the lyrics were clever and, like I said… great voice. With certain influences (maybe Cat Power, Feist, Lykke Li or even Micachu?) [Anna Mac] could become a really interesting artist and if not she could just write a song for the next New Zealand Post ad campaign. Either way she’s going places.

Next up was Dear Times Waste. Wait… Aren’t they the headline act? Apparently not. Anyway, despite playing much earlier than expected they certainly lived up to my “opening for Deerhunter” expectations during a 30ish minute set where they played their first EP Room For Rent plus what I assume were a few new tunes. Consisting of just front woman Claire and her guitarist friend (boyfriend perhaps) that I’m fairly sure was once in Cut Off Your Hands it was an intimate, sit down kind of set. The best way I can think to describe their music is just really… nice, dreamy pop with distorted and reverb heavy guitars, which explains the Deerhunter opening spot. To me the most essential aspect of this band and subsequently their set last night is lead girl Claire’s voice, delicate and at times tortured, on the opening song “Clandenstine” she gave me one of only a few examples of breathy, intense vocals actually being enjoyable. While it would have been nice to see Dear Times Waste with a full band and at the right end of the bill all in all it was an enjoyable and at times captivating set.


forums · store · news · reviews · features · artists · gig guide · galleries · archives · venues · home

 All content © 2010 dunedinmusic.com Ltd.
Portions powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group