Gig Review: Albi & The Wolves @ Hilltop, Wellington – 01/10/2025

The last time I saw Albi and The Wolves was at WOMAD Taranaki in 2020. They were part of a vibrant lineup that included international acts like Salif Keita, Blind Boys of Alabama, and Hiatus Kaiyote. As a trio, they totally rocked the Dell Stage with their signature blend of folk, soul, and a high-energy acoustic performance. It was a very memorable afternoon for many reasons. It was also the last gig to go ahead before the entire country was plunged into a Covid 19 lockdown.

Since forming in 2014, the band – comprised of Chris Dent (Albi) on guitar and vocals, Pascal Roggen on electric violin, and Micheal Young on double bass – has evolved from grassroots busking to award-winning artistry. Their discography reflects a steady climb in ambition and sonic richness. The debut album One Eye Open (2016) introduced their acoustic-driven storytelling, while This Is War (2018) delivered fan favourites like Story and It Ain’t Easy, earning them the Best Folk Artist award at the New Zealand Music Awards that same year. Their latest release, Light After The Dark (2023), showcases a deeper emotional palette, with standout tracks such as the crooner Clear Blue Eyes and the dirty blues of Scoundrel Dog (which they dedicated to a former manager during tonight’s performance).

I’d never been to the Kelburn location, Hilltop, before. So, this was a bit of an adventure. This is essentially a private venue, set in the back of a beautiful, if anonymous, Victorian villa nestled in amongst the posher residences that surround the cable car terminal on Upland Road. You enter via a secluded gate, up a garden path, where you are warmly welcomed by host, Anna, who ushers you into her spacious lounge slash ‘auditorium’. The room opens up to a wall of large picture windows, affording a priceless view over the university and the harbour of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Tonight, being a chilly, but crystal clear spring evening, that view was simply stunning.

Before the show, I briefly met lead Chris Dent, who reminded me that tonight’s gig was part of a larger ‘Fun Raiser’ tour the band are doing across the motu in support of a European tour they hope to undertake in June next year. Hopefully, the patronage of tonight’s 45+ patrons, most friends of the Hilltop venue, would help towards that goal.

We all settled into couches and chairs, or sprawled on the carpet. A mix of ages, mostly older and more gentle patrons, chatting politely as they waited for the late comers to find their seats and we finally got going. The band kicked off with the fabulous and enchanting modern folk of Giants In The Sky and a soft new number called Best Friend. There were jokes about the band’s longevity, staying friends through thick and thin. Pascal noted Chris’ penchant for writing breakup songs whenever his relationships ended. Which ushered in the achingly beautiful Canyon. And a nod to its heavy load. “When singing this one, you know the song has worked when the reviewer wishes you luck,” quipped Chris, nodding in my direction. If I didn’t know he was currently in a happy place, romantically, right now, I’d probably have agreed with that.

The sun’s setting, it’s getting darker, but the ambience in the room is warming up. I look to the ceiling, note the ancient 70’s styled electric faux chandeliers and wonder who would have lived in this Victorian mansion prior to the current tenants. Would there have been parlour music and concerts like this, around pianos or harpsichords? Would they have been planned and booked or were they improvised and spontaneous? I wonder what the walls would say.

I really enjoyed Story, as it manically spread out across the ears, and Pascal’s electric violin wafted down a musical tangent, not for the first time, including collecting up a few choice bars of If I Only Had A Brain from The Wizard Of Oz. Is there nothing this man can’t play? I was well impressed. Folk fiddling, a few classical bars, plucking strings like piano keys, ghostly echoes, atmospheric noodling, and colourful wig out jams all came from that tiny black fretboard. Superb. Crazy fun.

There was a bit of a story about early gigs and a lack of quality material, as a lead-in to a superb folk/blues cover version of Wandering Eye (Fat Freddy’s Drop). I think that was almost better than the original (as a proud Wellingtonian, I may have just blotted my copy book by saying that!). When Chris wrote I’m Not Free, he was thinking about alcoholism, but Pascal, inspired by the Wiggles (apparently) wants to devolve it into an action song and encourages the audience to join in. It Ain’t Easy bookends the first half as we all get up to stretch our legs and partake in the coffee, baking and biscuits Anna has generously laid on for us in the interval.

As I reach for a teaspoon, I chatted with some of the Hilltop’s regulars and a few novices, learning about how they were Albi fans and delighted disciples. A few familiar faces popped up and new people came to chat about our website and find out where my photos would be published. It was just like a party or social gathering of friends, warm, convivial, and supportive.

The second half began with the beautiful, haunting Fall With You, with Pascal’s violin squealing in menace like a spectre in the night. Goosebumps raised, indeed. The tune may be over 15 years old but it’s still mighty impressive to hear it done live.

“At one gig,” Chris said, “A couple came up and told us about their new arrival – conceived at one of our shows! He was called Albi!” An appropriate introduction for the telling of the band’s classic hit Closing Time. That was my favourite – next to the honky-tonk treatment of The Black Keys’ Lonely Boy. Who knew that would work so well?

Like many bassists, Micheal Young remains in the shadows. But his stripped back electric double bass stealthily holds the songs together. Whether providing a deep groove or slap percussive he gives an utterly reliable infrastructure that seamlessly intertwines with Pascal’s flair and Chris’ chugging acoustic strum and sweet vocals. I was reminded how well they all work together, slick, hand in glove, effortlessly perfect folk.

I also enjoyed the ironic provocations in a new song, Trashbag. It has some brilliant self-deprecating lines like “I’m a trashbag, Baby/I look good in a certain kind of light”. Don’t we all? That one’s a keeper, I reckon.

The night completes with a stunning Irish reel and a number called Settle Down, which gets plenty up on their feet. And for the final, Pascal baits the audience to ‘howl like a wolf pack’ for the encore – a mind-bending folky twist on Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall.

Whether performing as a stripped-down trio or expanding into an 11-piece ensemble, Albi and The Wolves continue to push the boundaries of folk music, blending soul, rock, and theatrical flair. Their concerts are more than musical events – they’re communal experiences, filled with laughter, storytelling, and catharsis. All of that came true for me, and 45 others, in Anna’s Hilltop living room. What a fabulous night. Thank you all. I had a brilliant time. Albi and the Wolves are on tour currently. Look them up and get along, you won’t regret it.

Photo Credit: Tim Gruar for Muzic.NZ
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