Gig Review: No Cigar @ Galatos, Auckland – 5/11/2022

No Cigar played Auckland on the final date of their Bienvenido Album Release Tour. Nestled behind Karangahape Road, the venue, Galatos, was sold out and packed to the brim on an electric Saturday night.

I watched support from Cassie Henderson, who took to the stage solo. She had a beautiful voice and delivered an array of acoustic tracks, playing guitar, with a crowd favourite being Burns Brighter. The songstress had a core of supportive fans who sang and cheered enthusiastically. Definitely a watch this space for this seemingly, effortlessly powerfully voiced pop artist. 

The band have toured the country over 10 dates and completed their journey in Auckland, ahead of further dates in Australia and at Summer festivals. They took their September 2022 11-track album for a spin, which speaks for itself as a strong move forward for a local act with a growing fan base and an energetic and dynamic creative talent.

The slightly unassuming bunch took to the stage and were greeted by a raucous crowd. Performing live, you really get a feel for what’s been called their genre-hopping sound. The heavy guitar based tracks for me are their strong suit. The indie rock feel, and slight gravelly vocals like in Holiday, had a distinct sense of longing and a musicality that had you hooked from the first note. Having said that the band straddled more light-hearted genres with ease, including Say No More with its summery vibe that we are all longing for.

I enjoyed the laidback feel of the album’s title track Bienvenido, which was altogether a little epic and a strong track for their self-described storytelling lyrical ability. I get the feeling I will be watching this band at sunset on a beach somewhere, and it will be the perfect accompaniment, Bienvenido, No Cigar.

Photo Credit: David Dunham /  The Black and White Picture
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