Alex Casey attends the \u2018Once in a Lifetime\u2019 curtain-raiser at Christchurch\u2019s One NZ Stadium featuring Six60 and Synthony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This week Christchurch city has been in nothing short of a state of Six60-induced psychosis. Rollickin\u2019 Gelato released a limited edition \u201cLick60\u201d flavour (Milo, banana cake, white chocolate \u2013 \u201cwho told you gelato couldn\u2019t fly\u201d), a miniature version of Six60\u2019s famous Castle St abode popped up at Riverside Market selling empanadas (beef or chicken), and all manner of custom Six60 merchandise has been released. All of this to commemorate the Once in a Lifetime show with Synthony, the very first concert hosted at the $683 million One NZ stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Walking up Cashel Street to the stadium along with 37,000 others last night, even the trams were in on it, offering free rides up the road while blasting Six60\u2019s \u2018We Made It\u2019. The crowd was a real mix of grey-haired types in long puffer jackets and Gen Zs in beaded halter necks, and a fair few obvious visitors to the city sprinkled in (not wearing enough layers, making comments like \u201cit\u2019s so flat, where do your drains run to?\u201d). With the brand new stadium only having been open a handful of times, many seemed baffled trying to find the various entrances.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOhhh, Gate A, B, C, D!\u201d one drunk woman in a sequin t shirt exclaimed. \u201cSo it\u2019s like a clock!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Six60 themed tram. Image: Alex Casey<\/p>\n
Inside, everyone resolutely ignored the signs to stay left and instead spent much of the night goose-stepping and do-si-doing around the concourse. Just my second time visiting, I noticed a few more features and quirks of the stadium. The bottom floor has a plethora of exclusively women\u2019s toilets, a welcome solution to the eternal long line problem. Also, the thick plastic cups they serve drinks in send a confusing message \u2013 are they reusable, recyclable, or disposable? Given how many I saw tossed straight into the landfill bin, nobody else knows either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anywho, onto the big, extremely buzzy show itself. We arrived just as the Christchurch-born popstar Cassie Henderson was closing out her set with a \u2018Teenage Dirtbag\u2019 cover and new single \u2018It\u2019s a Wonder\u2019. \u201cThis city has shown some amazing resilience, so it\u2019s a privilege to sing this with you,\u201d she said. Resilience count: one. MC Sarah Gandy then came out and promised a night of many, many surprises. Could she mean yet another Scribe cameo? The Crusaders horses launching a barbershop quarter? Dan Carter booting the ball and hitting the roof<\/a>? Here is just some of what eventuated.<\/p>\n Surprise #1: Kaylee Bell made a music video<\/p>\n Country singer Kaylee Bell started her set with a backstage video getting hyped up to \u2018Conquest of Paradise\u2019, a nod to the ongoing Crusaders horse saga, before taking the stage in sparkly red sequins and tassels to play her big hits like \u2018Cowboy Up\u2019 and \u2018Keith\u2019. \u201cI was living here and working here through the earthquakes and I just want to say I am one of you, and I am so happy to be here celebrating together,\u201d she said. \u201cI want this night to live forever, and so I thought maybe we could make a music video tonight.\u201d Keep your eyes peeled for me and my guest, halfway through our Black Burger and simply covered in sauce.\u00a0<\/p>\n Surprise #2: The Black Ferns came out and did line dancing<\/p>\n And also Nathan King came out for a country duet but didn\u2019t sing even a little bit of \u2018Glorafilia\u2019, which should be illegal.\u00a0<\/p>\n Surprise #3: The crowd showed amazing bracelet compliance<\/p>\n Before Six60 took the stage, Gandy asked the entire arena to turn off their green flashing bracelets (dished out by Kiwibank at the door) as they would muck about with their visuals. What\u2019s impressive is\u2026 basically everyone did it? By the time the band came out with the opening licks of \u2018Don\u2019t Forget Your Roots\u2019, complete with a kapa haka group, I could count only three rebellious green twinkles in the crowd. God defend our free, compliant land.\u00a0<\/p>\n Surprise #4: New Christchurch Six60 lore dropped<\/p>\n Among all their hit songs \u2013 many of which I was stunned to discover I knew every single word to \u2013 Matiu Walters revealed that Christchurch was where they had their first paid gig ($150) at the Bedford, which stood just across the road before the quakes. \u201cWe know you hear this all the time,\u201d he said, \u201cbut we really admire your strength and your resilience.\u201d Resilience counter: two.\u00a0<\/p>\n Surprise #5: Scottish drummers and CTI stars<\/p>\n Be it a kilt-wearing marching band, Drax Project, or Celebrity Treasure Island\u2019s Harrison Keefe rocking out with fellow vibe guy Nepia Takuira-Mita, there were no shortage of cameos throughout the Six60 set. No Scribe though \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n Surprise #6: A surprise stage in the middle of the crowd<\/p>\nKaylee Bell and the linedancing Black Ferns. Image: Alex Casey<\/p>\n
Matiu Walters ascends like an almighty Pez. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
Flamethrowers inside??? Wow. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n