Ville Valo performs a hauntingly beautiful set at the powerstation!

PHOTOS + REVIEW BY GINELLE COCKS

Former HIM frontman Ville Valo brought his haunting solo show to Auckland’s Powerstation last night, performing tracks from his 2023 album Neon Noir alongside several HIM classic tracks. Neon Noir has been described by Valo as encapsulating his “past, present, and future”, completely written and recorded by Valo, who played every instrument on the album, showcasing his talent as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Joined by Wellington post-punk two piece act Breaches, who kicked off the night with their unique sound, dripping with heavy synths reminiscent of 80s goth and new wave.

Valo, last here in 2008 with his previous band HIM, took to the stage shortly after 9:30pm, launching straight into Zener Solitaire, much to the adoration of his fans – some of whom had been lining up since 4pm to secure their spots up the front.

Audio glitches didn’t phase Valo, who barely dropped his smile the entire evening, clearly enjoying every moment on the stage as he and his band performed tracks from Neon Noir interspersed with HIM classics, including Wings From A Butterfly which earned one of the biggest crowd responses of the night.

Valo showcased his vocal range on songs such as Buried Alive By Love and Run Away From The Sun, hitting low and high notes, his piercing gaze roaming over the audience. A tshirt flung towards the stage was caught by Valo mid-song, with one hand and without missing a note. Upon seeing the painted heartagram on the shirt, Valo responded with a “thank you, that’s very sweet”, later taking the shirt backstage with him.

Briefly leaving the stage, the band return for a 4-song encore, finishing the evening with When Love And Death Embrace.

To see Valo on stage is something incredibly special, his voice and enigmatic presence complemented by the talent of his band. We hope it won’t be so long between visits next time.