I walked into The Civic on Monday night to a pretty much sold-out show. Instruments filled the stage, (like 15+ different instruments), all on a small tight stage.

I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Fin Scholes from Carnivorous Plant Band before the show. He talked about his frantic rush to finish the animation during lockdown so there would be something to project behind the performers when the tour finally came around. There was a different animation sequence for every single song. The illustrations helped to describe the story behind each song. It added so much more depth and meaning, not to mention understanding. I must say the animations were wacky as, wacky but bloody cool, right up my alley. You can buy a graphic novel by Fin, which is filled with his illustrations. I need to get my hands on a copy - the link is here ….

Fin, as well as animating, also plays many instruments in the Carnivorous Plant Band. Even in a nine-person band, he still manages to play about six, leaping all over the stage while the rest of the band plays - jumping from one instrument to the next. My heart would skip a beat when Fin would lean down mid-way through a song to grab his Tuba. Now tubas are not small or easy to put on, so to do it mid-song while continuing to play the piano was nail-biting to watch, but he hit his mark every time, not a note out of place (to the innocent ears, at least!).

Fin was joined by friends Hopetoun Brown (Nick Atkinson & Tim Stewart), Tiny Ruins (Hollie Fullbrook) and his five-member band, all on that tiny stage with all those large instruments. The band was having such a groove and a boogie during the whole performance, felt like mates just having a jam with no Audience watching. That is till Fin would address the crowd before each song to describe the story and meaning behind the melody. In great detail, like how a post-apocalyptic boy goes in search of love only to find..... (I won't ruin the ending for you).

Carnivorous Plant Society embark on a massive tour, stopping at every city in New Zealand, something like 26 shows in total but not Invercargill (in-joke for those who have heard the song: The Bogan and the kid).