Samsara Blues Experiment
10th September 2018
Whammy Bar, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review & Photography by Sarah Kidd.
While most music fans understand the concept of touring schedules, it was still hard to shake that odd feeling of attending a gig on a Monday night. The power of good music however will always win over the possibility of a fuzzy head the following day, the lure of seeing German gods Samsara Blues Experiment perform live within the intimate walls of Whammy too good an experience to pass up.
Whimsically appropriate, last night was all about the number three. Three bands each consisting of three members. First to take the stage were local resident Vikings Bloodnut, defenders of all that is orange and red. While lead vocalist and bass guitarist Doug McFarlane has a wonderfully witty sense of humour that shines through both on and off the stage, these guys are serious musicians. The set – despite a few minor technical issues – one that thoroughly entertained and began the night with just the right amount of bass induced groove.
An animated vocalist, McFarlane has some of the greatest facial expressions which embody the tracks and draw you into the often very clever lyricism. Early stand out certainly had to be ‘Clean Green Yeah Right’ while ‘Burning Bush’ saw Jessica Paton of Slumbug (do yourself a favour, if you don’t know these guys, get to) join Bloodnut on stage and deliver some of her killer vocals. Finding they had a little time up their sleeves, Bloodnut delivered bonus track ‘Red Dead Riders’ straight after a blistering version of ‘Space Orangutan’. New drummer Isaac Blake Tansley has certainly now got his feet firmly under the skins rounding out the band’s gloriously sludgy stoner sound and definitive head nodding riffs quite satisfactorily.
Whammy was filling out nicely as trio Arc of Ascent filled the room with trembling feedback announcing their arrival. One would have thought it hard to top their insanely divine set in support of Pallbearer last year, but the band hailing from Hamilton happily proved one wrong. Formed in 2008 Arc of Ascent’s craft has been shaped by the hands of time. Incorporating the best of genres such as doom, psychedelic and stoner the three-piece melded together a behemoth of a set that consumed all in it’s wake. From opener ‘Celestial Altar’ they seized the crowd, the heaviness of their sound anchoring the fans feet to the ground as heads were thrown back and forth in tribalistic tribute.
Arc of Ascent are not a band that hurl themselves around the stage, instead lead vocalist and bass player Craig Williamson is rather calm in his delivery, stepping back after each song and raising his hands in gratitude. Mark McGready on drums has an almost unbelievable reach covering the kit with ease as he keeps a steady forward gaze, his symbol work outstanding; on his right the towering frame of Matt Cole-Baker on guitar who from behind a curtain of hair, moved his socked foot instinctually across the pedalboard as his fingers became one with the strings. ‘In the Light’ once again brought a taste of the east to an Auckland Monday night, Arc of Ascent choosing to step back in time and deliver ‘Redemption’ from their 2012 album The Higher Key as their closer.
A decidedly underground band Samsara Blues Experiment (who hail from Berlin) obviously have a loyal following as fans of varying ages pushed in closer to stand toe to toe with the lip of the stage. Led by Christian Peters (formally of Terraplane) on guitar and vocals – not to mention a little keys – Samsara Blues Experiment formed eleven years ago and have released several albums including last year’s One with the Universe during their career. It was from this album that the band began their just over ninety-minute set, ‘Vipassana’ cocooning their fans within a cloak of sound that had a far more traditional rock edging to it.
While they lapped it up ‘For the Lost Souls’ from their 2010 debut album Long Distance Trip saw many in the audience whoop in delight as the familiar psychedelic infused prog rock rained down around them. Samsara Blues Experiment are musically fascinating, incorporating several different elements into their music that sees them popular with fans across the stoner/doom/70’s genres as well as many others. Moving through to ‘Into the Black’ and later ‘Hangin’ on the Wire’ SBE demonstrate the melodic structures that often featured in their earlier work. Referred to as raga it is a musical mode used in Indian classical music to evoke sensitivities within its intended audience.
Samsara have embraced this art form of raga and use it well, the fans, many of them rocking gently on their heels, eyes closed, enraptured with the overall sound. Much of this is undeniably down to the finger work of Peters, those in the front row getting a close-up of his magically skillful dexterity that even a broken string could not derail. Supported by bassist Hans Eiselt and the brilliant Thomas Vedder on drums, Samsara Blues Experiment take the audience on an astral journey, each breakdown and new riff leading them further down the rabbit hole. Very little was said, although Peters was obviously touched as he very briefly mused about so many people attending a Monday night show.
Throwing in a couple of new tracks Samsara Blues Experiment’s songs melted into the next with ease, peaks of faster paced rock weaved in throughout. Finishing with the title track of their latest album they kindly delivered an encore of ‘Army of Ignorance’ once again taking many of their loyal followers back to the beginning of Samsara’s expedition into the world of music.
An exhilarating way to kick start the week.
Were you there at Whammy Bar for this brilliant stoner doom rock gig? Or have you seen Samsara Blues Experiment perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Samsara Blues Experiment Setlist:
- Vipassana
- For The Lost Souls
- Into The Black
- Untitled [New Song]
- End Of Forever
- Hangin’ On The Wire
- Center Of The Sun
- One With The Universe
- Army Of Ignorance [encore]
Arc Of Ascent Setlist:
- Celestial Altar
- Absolution Of Light
- GodHead
- In The Light
- Redemption
Bloodnut Setlist:
- Redface Blues
- Fire Giant
- Clean Green Yeah Right
- Burning Bush
- Space Orangutan
- Red Dead Riders
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