Sam Cullen at Whammy Backroom - GIG REVIEW
Alex de Vries went along to Sam Cullen's 'Love Again' release party, and left wanting to be more than friends.
We file almost ceremonially past the riotous crashing of cymbals in Whammy’s main space, down towards the more ambient Backroom, buzzing with excited chatter as the crowd begins to swell. Sam Cullen, the man of the hour, flits around the room — casual banter here, polite laughter there — all the while keeping remarkably cool amongst the various tattoo mosaics, soft mullets and moustaches of the crowd. This is a trendy lot, of Gabe Pietrafesa’s kin, verging on collectively becoming Tiktok’s next white boy of the month.
Out comes CRYSTAL, a more recent addition to Auckland’s music scene. Her vocal stylings are akin to Lorde, singing in what the children of Vine would call cursive. The reverb serves her voice well, elongating every drawn out feeling, and the pre-recorded tracks are brought to life by Dean Rodriques’ rhythm section, adding a much needed bounce to CRYSTAL’s rather muted performance. By her final two songs, she has shaken off the nerves, and relaxes into herself, and even allows herself to dance. Annoyingly, having so many live music venues sharing the same building, the sound of crashing cymbals seeps through the walls in every intimate moment, pulling me out of CRYSTAL’s gentle yet syrupy fairytale.
By now, the crowd has ballooned to fill the entirety of the room, and there are noticeably more dads in the audience. Flashing white lights that feel like a visual drum roll announce the arrival of Sam Cullen, flanked on either side by his band, a messianic figure to an adoring crowd. The fill dips to red, and ushers in an unexpected theme for the evening — sex appeal. Cullen reminds me of Brandon Flowers circa 2010 — an attractive moustachioed man, with a flamboyant showmanship that feels neither boisterous nor tedious. Even musically, there is an element of dad rock accented with a country twang, but Cullen keeps the energy high.
For the next hour, Cullen gives us a masterclass in showmanship and commanding the crowd. The audience oblige, singing on cue, and even erupting into a chant of “EGGS ON TOAST” at the beckoning of guitarist Nepia Ruwhiu. Cullen’s songwriting prioritises a punchy kick drum that encourages dads and sons alike to raise their hands above their heads and clap along. Cullen knows his audience, and he knows they love a singsong. Every song is littered with repetitive motifs that I find easy to sing along to on first listen. Yes, by this point I am also singing along, which is a testament to just how catchy Cullen’s songs truly are.
It’s at the point where Cullen covers Dave Dobbyn that I can finally piece together this experience. Growing up, I could never connect with the nostalgic music that New Zealanders hold dear, what with me being an immigrant and all. Yet in this moment I feel that this must be what it was like to see the likes of Dave Dobbyn and Th’ Dudes in their prime — young men hustling on the pub circuit, of a similar age to the punters in the room, who saw themselves reflected in the music. Perhaps that’s why there are so many dads in the room, singing along just as buoyantly, beer in hand, smiling from cheek to cheek. I think Cullen has a unique charm that captures the nostalgia for the old and familiar, but still presents something contemporary for the kids who grew up sifting through their parents’ vinyls. Cullen’s music seems to fit any quintessentially Kiwi setting, being locally universal — in the blink of an eye, I could see him down at the local pub, at the neighbour’s barbecue, on stage at Homegrown, and as the half time act at Eden Park. He could also just as easily be on the other end of the phone the next time you call the IRD.
The highlight of the night comes when the band returns for their encore to sing Talking Heads’ classic Burning Down the House. The red fill is back, and the sex appeal is at its peak. Everything feels playful and carefree. And finally, Cullen hits us with Love Again and releases us into the night.
Verdict — a win is a win.
Photographs by Irena Ekens (@photoswithirena)