Live Review: Haitus Kaiyote, Myele Manzanza, Hailey Cramer, Rita Satch

The multi-talented Rita Satch is all smiles as her band lay down Heartbreaker’s guitar groove for her smoky vocals to dance over. Reach For You follows, with the songstress on electric violin to see the song through. A Lana Del Rey cover spices things up before the group finish with the punchy Not Ready For Love.

Flanked by two singers in black, Hailey Cramer is eye catching in a pink dress with mock molten gold on the shoulders. “Good evening ladies and gentlemen,” she announces. “You may fill the space in front of you. That’s for people. And that’s you.” People now descend into the pit and get their boogie on. We lap up her recent single Liquid Confidence and Cramer’s charm is in her laidback handling of the crowd, with banter including calls such as, “We’re just gonna smash them out for ya,” and, “ Can you feel that bass in your bowels?” cracking us up.

New Zealand drumming extraordinaire Myele Manzanza ups the intensity with his band featuring two divas, drummer, guitarist, bassist and keyboardist. Manzanza’s timing is impeccably on form, his kick drum tight, sticks working in and around the beat. 7 Bar Thing (lifted from the One LP) further highlights the man’s rhythmic prowess, the song’s intro hypnotically blending with droning keys. A long jam that underscores Manzanza’s musical roots has his African djembe player on his feet, pumped with adrenalin, shuffling with a vigour that belies his advanced years.

By the time Hiatus Kaiyote officially emerge, the pit is wedged and all eyes are locked on charismatic vocalist Nai Palm. Donning red pants, black singlet and a sailor hat, Palm looks every bit the imaginative artist she truly is. “So good to be home!” she enthuses, her beaming face standard throughout the night. A reworked intro ushers in Mobius Streak, the track really showcasing the subtle finesse of this band’s three backing vocalists. All band members are in fine form, lost in their work, with keyboardist Simon Mavin absorbing the moment with eyes closed. Bassist Paul Bender and drummer Perrin Moss spend most of the evening facing each other, working the groove. Palm’s arpeggiating voice dazzles and her ability to do this while also playing guitar beggars belief.

Showcasing tunes from their forthcoming release, every fresh track is embraced as heartily as older favourites. As the set winds to a close, and Palm and her trio of backup singers say their goodbyes, we are left with three quarters of Hiatus Kaiyote, who gently ease us back to reality. Magical.