Gig Review: These Four Walls @ AUX, Auckland – 18/02/2023

Just off the bustling inner city Queen Street, round a corner and up a few sets of stairs Ding Dong houses an excellent live venue space: AUX. Tonight, it is packed out for the homecoming of much-loved These Four Walls. The place was packed and a sea of fan t shirts mingled by the merch stand. Having navigating COVID restrictions, the band were thoroughly excited to be playing to their hometown crowd, following an absence of four years.

The event featured two solid support acts: Swerve City were up first, bringing a big sound, high on spectacle and cracking open the night of rock and heavy music which had been highly anticipated. The Auckland quartet’s latest release is a cover of the epic Cochise. This song choice is the signal of a band who enjoy ramping up the atmosphere with fiery guitars, fast-thumping drumming and enviable vocal skill.

Next up were Empire, the distinctly heavy Christchurch based five-piece warmed up the crowd and shared their gnarly latest single Moratorium. Empire’s guitar solos and thrashing drums, made for an intense performance.

Empire navigated one another for a head thrashing guitar solos while the drummer flicked sweat across the scene as he pummeled the kit. Meanwhile, their magnetic lead singer sang to the heavens or crouched, meeting the eye line of enthusiastic crowd.  It was a tiny stage but Empire gave a big sounding concert.

Onto the main act: These Four Walls are a hard rock four-piece, composed of Lead Vocalist Steve Gibb also taking on the Rhythm Guitar duties, with Gray Vickers on Lead Guitar, Elliot Burton playing Bass and Brad Vickers on the Drums. As well as playing sold out gigs, with a loyal fan following both here in New Zealand and in Queensland, Australia, where they are now based, they are also known for supporting high-profile international acts.

Tonight, they played many fan favourites from their back catalogue. Live, their music is emotive, stirring and delivering on the promise of both solid rock music and a versatile vocal style for those slower ballad-like epic tracks like it Lay It Out.

The stand out performance for me was Before I’m Gone. Lead singer, Steve Gibb talked to the audience about taking opportunities and following your dreams. A reaction, no doubt, to the times we have all been living through, and continue to do so. The audience were appreciative. I also thoroughly enjoyed latest single Marigold, heavy, fast and energising.

The band went on to play a DJ set at Ding Dong, which gave fans an awesome opportunity to hear some of the influences of this ever-evolving band. And a chance to dance and relax, it’s been a while. It was my first time at AUX and I thoroughly recommend it, I hope to be back very soon, a complete gem of a venue.

Photo Credit: Chris Morgan / Morgan Creative
These Four Walls Photos
Swerve City Photos
Empire Photos