You probably don’t immediately think of pounding drum ‘n’ bass when you think of a town hall, but Lee Mvtthews brought the party to Auckland Town Hall on Saturday night.
The beloved New Zealand duo certainly had a lot to celebrate, with their highly anticipated second studio album, Exit, having dropped at the beginning of March.
Exit brought the pair – Tom Lee and Graham Matthews, hence the moniker – their highest charting album in their home country to date, reaching an impressive #7, and fans flocked to the Auckland CBD venue to hear the euphoric album anthems up close.
Before Lee Mvtthews took to the stage, however, a slew of impressive support acts stepped up to seize their moment, including everyone’s new favourite DJ Messie, who famously landed a key supporting slot for the one and only Fred again.. when he was in Aotearoa recently. Messie unleashed her stylish EDM anthems ahead of her own national tour which kicks off in Christchurch this weekend. (You’ve got to appreciate the tour name pun: “It’s gonna get Messie.”)
“It’s not often you see a drum ‘n’ bass act play venues such as the Auckland Town Hall,” Lee Mvvthews shared before their show, but drum ‘n’ bass fit sublimely in the stunning venue, making it feel like a rave even for those in the seated sections. They might have played some of the finest festivals in New Zealand and beyond, but they seemed to relish the more intimate setting on Saturday night, enjoying the sound of their beats bouncing around the hall.
Lee Mvtthews were in complete control of their tight set, feeding off the energy of those in front of them. Both older songs and new cuts were treated with just as much ecstatic shuffling from the crowd, and anything from Exit was warmly received despite the album being just over a month old.
Lee Mvtthews worked on the tracks on Exit for over three years, and the reaction the tracks received in Auckland were just reward for their concerted effort.
At the end of the night, which stretched into the wee hours, Lee Mvtthews seemed overwhelmed by emotion at the strength of their hometown support.
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“Speechless ae, this whole tour has been absolutely off it’s head… Auckland that was amazing, that was the best way to wrap things up, you guys brought the energy,” they wrote on Instagram, recapping the immensity of their Auckland Town Hall show.
With the duo now heading overseas to showcase their dynamic set elsewhere, including an appearance at the Bunker Rave in Nijmegen, Netherlands, on June 15th, Lee Mvtthews’ Auckland show was the ideal way to say goodbye to their home country for now.
Find tour information for Lee Mvtthews here.
