It’s rare when an artist’s entire catalogue resonates, and with Bic Runga, it is infinitely true. I would even go as far as saying that her music has been somewhat of a soundtrack to my life.
It was my second time seeing her play live and, considering that Bic, who hails from New Zealand, has only performed in the UK a handful of times, her set at The Louisiana along with her other UK dates was completely sold out.
Bic Runga – live in Bristol as part of the Red Sunset tour
I last saw her over twenty years ago at the Union Chapel in London and she is every bit as captivating a performer today as she was then. Her Bristol show, part of the ‘Red Sunset’ tour, was as intimate as the London gig back in 2003 and the bijou venue of The Louisiana was the perfect setting in which to showcase material from her new album of the same name, her first in over fifteen years.
Silicon and Bic were closely entwined, with Kody Nielson’s project Silicon and Bic Runga sharing musicians across both performances. Runga played drums throughout his set, with Nielson later returning the favour in her band.
A talented multi-instrumentalist, Kody’s music leans into electronic psychedelia, with flashes of Kraftwerk’s machine funk precision, the neon bounce of Hot Chip, and the haze of 1960s psychedelia, all filtered through a soulful sensibility that nods to Prince and Shuggie Otis.
It is a heady, shape-shifting sound that carries real warmth and groove. I am definitely going to explore more of Silicon’s back catalogue as it is clear he is one cool cat!
It was always going to be an emotional set. Bic Runga has long been regarded as one of the defining voices of New Zealand pop and singer-songwriter music and I was excited to hear tracks from ‘Red Sunset’, her long-awaited new album and first collection of original songs since 2011.
Silicon and Bic Runga perform live
Joined by Kody and longtime collaborator Cass Basil, Bic had the crowd in the palm of her hand as she showcased new material such as ‘Paris in the Rain’ and the otherworldly ‘Escape from Planet Earth’, alongside material linked to the city where she wrote and recorded her acclaimed 2005 album ‘Birds’ and much of ‘Red Sunset’.
‘Escape from Planet Earth’ explores the idea that we often look outward for epiphanies when what we are searching for is already within reach. The title track from her new album feels just as textured and cinematic live as it does on record and it was genuinely thrilling to hear it performed in such an intimate setting.
It is slightly strange realising that ‘Get Some Sleep’ from 2002’s ‘Beautiful Collision’ is 24 years old now. It still feels as fresh as ever and the line ‘stranded in June, whistling the same old tune’ has the same lyrical punch it always has.
I have always had a real connection to ‘Something Good’, especially as a glass half full kind of person. Despite the pared back arrangement, the sense of joy and effervescence was palpable and it felt like a proper full circle moment, reflecting on the person I was when I saw her in 2003 and who I am now.
That is the beauty of Bic’s songwriting. She leans into emotions that feel universally familiar which is why she resonates so deeply. She can make the ordinary feel truly extraordinary, no more so than with ‘Listening to the Weather’ which is sublime in its simplicity, the lyrics lifted by the warm textures of her harmonica.
In between songs you could hear a pin drop as the audience sat on tenterhooks, waiting for the next chapter of a career spanning set.
From ‘Bursting Through’ to ‘Gravity’, every track was delivered with precision, heart and a disarming charm, with songs like ‘Drive’ taking on extra weight in such an intimate setting.
Bic closed the set with one of her most beloved songs ‘Sway’ which remains as emotionally potent in a stripped back live setting as it does on record. Bic’s strength lies in her heartfelt phrasing, sincerity and connection with the audience and the gravitational pull of this seminal song remains as strong as ever.
Exuberant, euphoric and enthralling, Bic performed with complete assurance, with the new material standing confidently alongside the older favourites that have shaped her back catalogue so far. It was a performance that reaffirmed both the enduring strength of her musicality and the quiet, graceful power of her songwriting. Some artists just seem to grow more essential with time, and Bic Runga without a doubt is one of them.
Photos by Emma Harrison
