Teeks’ music filled the auditorium. PHOTO: Stephen Barker.
This was an intimate, stripped back performance with Teeks accompanied by a six-piece string section, piano and, for a few numbers, guitar. The sound was excellent and filled the room.
The first songs in were Here Before and Waves, both from his 2021 debut album Something to feel, before he introduced himself with a short mihi, in which he acknowledged the mana whenua Waikato-Tainui and, very humbly, his status as the first of many artists who will grace the theatre's stage.
It was a historic occasion and one that he appeared genuinely grateful for.
If there was anyone in the BNZ Theatre on Friday night who was not a Teeks fan before this show they almost certainly will be now.
Not counting this week's civic community extravaganza, the concert was the first official gig to be held at Hamilton's new venue - certainly the first under the auspices of its management by Live Nation and the first by a top level artist.
Like a few other New Zealand singers (Tami Neilson, Troy Kingi, Rob Ruha and a few others) Te Karehana Toi is utterly deserving of international superstardom. The 32-year-old Northlander's dulcet voice has deservedly been compared to Al Green, or Elvis Presley in his prime, and should be heard by many ears far beyond these shores
It is likely the term “dulcet tones” was coined with an artist just like Teeks in mind. PHOTO: Stephen Barker.
Teeks' set ranged over the breadth of his career to take, from the break-through, self-released 2017 EP The Grapefruit Skies to more recent tunes like the 2024 single Red Light and Poetic, an ode to being trapped in a toxic relationship. Both are likely to be included on his second, apparently imminent album.
As well as writing songs over the last few years, Teeks has also evidently been spending much of his time working out: He was adorned in a standard-issue black singlet that revealed some well-defined pectoral muscles and biceps. I wouldn't challenge him to a singing competition and certainly not to an arm wrestle either.
A cover of Bob Dylan's Make You Feel My Love prompted an audience sing-along, before he paid tribute to his role model and inspiration, the neo-soul artist D'Angelo, who died in October last year at only 51 years old.
"He was like a god to me," Teeks lamented, before launching into a heartfelt cover of Really Love.
It was a full house, but everyone inside the BNZ Theatre on Friday night could be forgiven for thinking Teeks was singing directly to them alone. PHOTO: Stephen Barker.
For the most part the 1300-strong full house was captivated. Of course, being an audience of Hamiltonians (a people who famously aren’t great at holding their liquor), there were a few folk in the crowd who could not resist the occasional hoot or holler.
There were also a few cheeky hecklers and some who possibly fancied themselves as a future Mrs Teeks.
The artist responded with a dignified, bashful smile.
The biggest cheer of the night came when he welcomed Eastern Bay of Plenty singer-songwriter Maisey Rika onto the stage for a duet of the latter's 2010 masterpiece Game of Life.
The encore number - his top 10 single First Time - was also rapturously received.
Teeks was in great voice and was definitely thrilled to be there.
We all were too.
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