Live at Studio
30 November 2024
Live Music Review by Music Journalist: Paul Marshall
Mildlife at The Others Way Music Festival
Having attended more live shows than Gordon Ramsay has recipes, I’ve seen it all—from the painstakingly meticulous to the gloriously chaotic. As a songwriter and musician with an ear for just about every genre under the sun, it was no surprise that tonight’s lineup at The Other Way festival served up something for everyone. In fact, it was nothing short of a sonic smorgasbord, a carefully curated feast of aural sculpting that tantalised every sense.
Mildlife
Mildlife didn’t just play Auckland last night—they took it on a cosmic voyage. The Melbourne-based alternative prog-rockers have carved out a niche somewhere between ethereal soundscapes and tight, groove-laden jams. Last night, they blurred those lines even further, leaving the audience awestruck and just a little dazed.
The second song of the night flipped the script in the best possible way. In the middle of a spiralling groove, the guitarist nonchalantly pulled out a flute—yes, a flute—and turned the stage into a jazz lounge orbiting another galaxy. Think Ian Anderson by way of outer space. It was bold, unexpected, and absolutely mesmerising.
Adding to the surreal vibe, the band performed in a sea of swirling smoke, backlit by moody, pulsating lights that turned them into silhouettes. It wasn’t just a show; it was an illusion. At times, it was hard to see exactly what was happening on stage, but maybe that was the point. Mildlife thrives in the murky spaces between clarity and chaos, where their sprawling melodies and propulsive rhythms feel like a collective hallucination.
The crowd stood transfixed, heads gently nodding, completely absorbed in the hypnotic grooves. There was no need for stage banter or theatrics—Mildlife let the music speak, and it spoke volumes. This was prog rock stripped of pretension and soaked in atmosphere, a reminder that sometimes it’s what you don’t see that leaves the deepest impression.
Mildlife doesn’t just play gigs; they create moments. If you’re into this style of music then, prepare to lose yourself—literally and figuratively—in their enigmatic brilliance.
Reviewer: Paul Marshall
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