GIG REVIEW: House of Ousey
02.12.2022 The Thirsty Dog, Auckland
Comfortably nestled away into the corner of The Thirsty Dog, I sat down to watch a series of bands take the stage, each showcasing their unique styles. First was Haze Lane, with a relaxed indie rock sound akin to Mako Road and Ocean Alley. They performed some originals such as ‘Natural Feeling’, ‘Surface’, and ‘Waiting’ while also taking their own spin on some classics such as Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ and Mako Road’s ‘Sun Comes Up’.
Following them was an infectious blues band by the name of Bad Bishop, starting with a count in Te Reo Māori; the intense talent, as well as personality, was put on display for all to see. Bad Bishop was more than just a band making a good impression of blues; they seemed to live and breathe it. They went through a series of fantastic originals, including ‘One Final Trip’ and ‘Remember Me’, as well as a cover of the Black Keys.
Supermild was next up. With sultry vocals and a light-hearted sense of humour, the funky Supermild got immediately into their groove with strong drumming and interesting basslines through their originals such as ‘Wish I Never’, ‘Dirty Little Rat’ and ‘Sad Boy Hours’. One of their greatest strengths was their ability to be totally comfortable on stage and talk about the inspiration of where their sound and songs come from, which made for a very entertaining affair.
Just when it seemed that the night might be beginning to wind up, House of Ousey took the stage.
Photo by Shaun MacLean Stones
Each member was dressed in full suits, immediately making them stand out. With a sound that would probably give your grandmother a heart attack, House of Ousey immediately began with a thunderous flurry of drums. For the uninitiated: if you have ever tried to play drums for more than a few minutes, you’ll likely build up a sweat. Now imagine doing that for an entire metal set in a full suit and absolutely crushing it. The flurry of hits against the cymbals laid the groundwork for powerful guitar riffs and intense basslines. Their first song, ‘The Lighthouse’ had strong theatrical vocals and their passionate exuberance continued with fast pieces such as ‘We Don’t Cast the Light’ and ‘Goodbye Singularity’. Further in the set they moved into an intense, frantic tone that brought the bass into the limelight as well as highlighting the immense talent of the guitarist.
Scattered throughout their electric ballads were some slower songs such as ‘Angel Free Me’ and ‘Of Love & Desire’ which was first written by their guitarist, Josh, when he was 15 years old. Finishing out their performance with ‘The Family’, which implemented a haunting choir of voices behind the band, House of Ousey came and left the stage with an exuberance that you’d be hard-pressed to be upset with. Their dedication to the craft is shown not only through their musicianship but their demeanor and dedication to a greater image of what they look to portray through their performance.
While each band were electric on stage, their energy remained when they were off it too; they stuck around to support each other and uplift each other in a way that made these seemingly clashing styles seem as if they all came under one single umbrella. It really encapsulated the hidden fun of exploring and supporting new artists as for the price of a meal, I got to join this community of vibrant personalities who all looked not only to showcase what they can do but uplift each other to another level.
If you ever find yourself with a free day, you should definitely head to see House of Ousey, or the other bands at this gig. Just think how little that cost could be to discover what could one day become one of your favourite bands.
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Listen to House of Ousey on Soundcloud here and follow their Instagram here