Gig Review: Where’s Jai @ OneOneSix, Whangarei – 26/09/2026

Before headliners Where’s Jai take the stage, Whangārei locals Noah Nite step up. With a fresh new album to show off, the lads open with Null & Void. The tempo quickly lifts the hall, drawing people towards the front of the stage to feel the full impact of the fast riffs.

Ryan Whitehead on bass sets up the show with his own style of jumping choreography. The next song already needs full audience participation, with the band asking everyone to set the tempo through a few “hey, hey, hey” chants. Thomas Christie’s clear drumming helps Renter’s Groove grab the crowd’s attention.

Noah Nite is happy to chat between songs and thank the main act for the opportunity. The vocals are warmed up and ready for Poorly Dressed Lovely People, the title track from their debut album, which is well received by the crowd. Unintentionally, arguably the most fun song on the album and recognised by its smooth tempo change midway through, follows quickly. Embassies comes next, bringing the set to the band’s most-streamed song.

Get What I’m Given, available across the usual platforms and accompanied by a music video on YouTube, even earns a singalong. Not My Heroes, from the debut EP released in 2025, then closes the intimate set. Most of the room may be waiting for the headliners, but the fast riffs, jumping choreography and full crowd participation tell us Noah Nite know how to warm up a room. Catch these guys when they pop up over summer, including their confirmed gig at Ding Dong Lounge in Auckland on Friday 16 October 2026.

Anticipation builds as the venue, while not full, holds a decent group of Where’s Jai fans. The opening song was unfamiliar, but its slow tempo and almost Persian-sounding guitar warm up the crowd nicely.

Green House follows quickly, with no chit-chat or welcome, just a fast progression into one of the band’s top 10 songs. Where’s Jai brings out all the energy and fun in the track, with the solos already finding a great response from the crowd. The swing of the song sets the rhythm for the evening.

The band gives us no time for a breather, making only a short announcement about their first big tour. Fresh back from Australia, they have returned to our own shores to finish it off. They dive straight into The Square, the follow-up song from the Fresh Out Of Air album. Its addictive 3/4 rhythm gets people moving.

Where’s Jai keeps things flowing smoothly. The stage is theirs, and the movements feel naturally choreographed. Grace Allis and Leigh Edmeades, joined by Michael Walmsley on guitar, Jai Nielsen on bass, and Gene Todd behind the drums, all look comfortable and confident in the routine they have built together.

Pull Me In starts with its first chords as the band asks everyone to grab their phones and add to the light show, flashlights swaying to the beat. Released on their first EP in April 2024, it was an early hit for the young band and has gathered plenty of streams. The crowd eagerly joins in.

Where’s Jai is not sitting still. Positions on stage are quickly switched, and a new single starts with intimate vocals as they settle in. Released in May, Show Me The Door has not had much time for its lyrics to be remembered, and the venue turns into a listening crowd. With no space between the band and the fans, the performance feels like friends playing songs to each other in a small room. Where Where’s Jai shines is in the way the vocals are used as instruments, filling the small gaps between the riffs and drums with warm voices. The crowd loves it. Heads nod around the room, conversations stop, and for a few minutes everyone seems completely focused on the stage. In a venue as intimate as OneOneSix, those quieter moments can be just as impressive as the loud singalongs.

There is not much story or chat between songs, just eager instruments flowing from riff to riff before finally settling on Ka-Cash. Another track from Fresh Out Of Air, this live version sounds just like the album. Practice makes perfect, and the band shows it off.

With a huge smile on Grace’s face and announced as her favourite song, we jump into a slightly darker-sounding track. Where’s Jai’s latest release, Check It Out, clearly suggests we should be getting a new album soon.

Formed in 2021 and now all just hitting 20, Where’s Jai have made a name for themselves, with 23 songs already released. That is enough to fill a good night of music with their own work, but they are not scared to put their own spin on a cover either. They take on a big one: the opening song from Heart’s classic album Little Queen. It has been covered by many, from Fergie to Rachel Bloom for the Trolls soundtrack, and perhaps the best cover of all was done by Devilskin. Where’s Jai keep their version short, but the vocals, especially as a duet, make it their own. The guitar solo is clean and clear, and the mixed-age crowd loves it.

Where’s Jai move back to their own work with Turn It Up, another new song with clear pop roots. The blend of Grace and Leigh’s voices brings hints of classic new wave acts like Annie Lennox and Blondie, while still sounding fresh, their own and definitely 2026.

This tour seems specifically designed to showcase what the band can do, not just sticking to one album or their early releases but testing some new tunes as well. They warn the crowd that they have not played the next song together too often, yet they shine in this slower number. The drums get plenty of attention through the song’s many buildups and slowdowns. Perhaps the ending is a little uncertain, with a small pause between the final note and the applause, but the crowd still approves.

Fresh Out Of Air, the album’s title track, is next to be played in the old wooden hall of OneOneSix Whangārei. The song’s YouTube video shows a piano being sacrificed to get the message across, and it is well worth a watch if you cannot catch these guys on the rest of their tour. With Christchurch and Dunedin still to come on their first South Island appearance, followed by Hamilton, Wellington, and Auckland to close the tour, there is still plenty of time to see them.

The song gets a brief interruption as Where’s Jai take time to thank everyone for turning up. With a few t-shirts in the crowd remembering the last time they played in the North, it is clear the fans are loving the moment and enjoying the attention. By this stage it feels less like a formal gig and more like a gathering of friends celebrating a band that has been steadily building a loyal following. Every mention of older songs gets a reaction, while the newer material receives just as warm a welcome.

A huge cheer roars as the opening notes of Rosaline come from the band. With so many voices singing loudly along, it is easy to see how the song’s 160k plays have pushed it to number one on the album. There are cheers and a short chant of “we want more”, but Where’s Jai leaves the stage to mingle with friends, fans, and anyone else attending as the applause slowly fades.

The confidence they show on stage feels well beyond their years. This is no longer a young band finding their feet. The chemistry between the five members is obvious, and every movement on stage suggests countless hours spent performing together. Fresh songs, warm harmonies, and an energy-filled performance give fans exactly what they came for. Where’s Jai have reached the point where they can comfortably fill a night with their own material. With summer appearances already planned, including Cross Street Festival, chances are they will be making their way to a stage near you somewhere in Aotearoa soon.

Photo Credit: Coen Cramer for Muzic.NZ
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