Orientation on Thursday evening was without the riff-raff I recall of my formative years at University. Often referred to as O-Week, students are given the opportunity to let loose and get to know each other, enjoy a few beverages at a gig or in some cases, orient their maps and backpacks to the right lecture theatre. The choice is yours.

Despite high winds during pack-in the crowd was keen and the Auckland Business School courtyard made for a welcoming spot to sit, stand or groove to a wicked line-up of Princess Chelsea, Artisan Guns, Ruby Frost and the much-loved Naked and Famous. Thanks to Campus Life and bFM the event was a smooth operation, as people drank considerately in cordoned off areas and ate free pizza and hot-dogs thanks to the Alumini group. Older students would have appreciated the change from the dark, and somewhat dank corners of Shadows Bar and the opportunity to listen to some tops New Zealand talent outside - fine weather or otherwise.

Indie-pop vocalist Princess Chelsea had a gutsy, almost staunch air about her, as she appeared on stage. Her vocals drifted across the courtyard in a whimsical manner, like lullabies for a childhood story book – a contrast to her lyrics of cigarettes, alcohol and old lovers. From West Auckland to The Beach Boys, Dr Dre to J.S Bach, Princess Chelsea’s many influences are varied, contributing to her eclectic sound and somewhat eccentric stage presence. Dressed in maroon pants and vintage shirts, the indie kids down the front would have been well-familiar with her, yet I did wonder whether some students had even heard of this underground alt-princess.

Commanding the audience’s attention, as they contentedly munched on freebies, Auckland-based pop artists Artisan Guns put on a top show. Their unconventional rhythms and controlled melodies were evident, and they appear to have developed their sound and identity considerably over the past couple of years since the release of Hearts.

Soon after, the petite rising star Ruby Frost graced the stage, adorned in her familiar eye-popping sparkly number to entertain students with catchy synth hooks and her poetic lyrics. It was a shame to witness the sound system failing a few songs in, yet Ruby continued her performance of beautifully mixed pop and electronic sounds; apologising at the end to the audience. Her popularity was apparent, as students finally got up to dance towards the end of her set.

Indie quintet The Naked and Famous have made a household name for themselves over the past couple of years, and more recently they picked up a handful of awards at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. As the band’s debut album Passive Me, Agressive You received critical acclaim in the U.S, it was good to see they are still appearing regularly on home territory to their fans. Their electronic-indie sound and overall ambience was enhanced by lead vocalists Alisa Xayalith and Thom Powers, as the crowd jumped, crowd surfed and screamed in appreciation. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to see this super-professional and amazingly talented crew, and for those who missed them, you’ll have to wait a few more months until they return from their tour to Europe and U.S.

Apart from the sound difficulties and unavoidable weather conditions, orientation was a major success – the diversity of performers, free food and amphitheatre outdoor setting made for a fun-filled evening, for new and older students alike. No doubt students will be looking forward to more University festivities of this calibre.

By Olivia Young

Check out our photo coverage of the gig!

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