Graham Parker and The Rumour started making records together at the end of the 1970s. Albums such as Heat Treatment, Howling Windand Squeezing Out Sparkswere full of Parker’s soulful, yet anger-laced vocals and The Rumour’s pub-punk musicianship. They split up in the early 1980s but are back with a new album, Three Chords Good. The 13th Floorspoke to Graham Parker just as he and The Rumour finished their American tour. Listen in as Graham Parker ponders his next move:
Bobby Womack and his band have just arrived in Auckland for their show at the Civic Theatre on Saturday. The 13th Floorwas thrilled to get a chance to speak with bass player Rustee Allen. In addition to playing with Bobby Womack, Mr. Allen was a member of Sly & The Family Stone during the 1970s and played on many of the band’s greatest tracks. Listen here as Rustee Allen talks about Sly…including his recent appearance on the Grammys…and his other musical endeavours:
Click here to listen to If You Want Me To Stay by Sly & The Family Stone, featuring Rustee Allen:
Joseph & Maia have just released their debut EP titled Roll Up Your Sleeves. The couple hail from Mount Maunganui and have hit the ground running, signing with Sony NZ and gettting significant airplay locally. The 13th Floor decided to find out a bit more about these youngsters and so we got Joseph Thompson on the phone for a chat. Click here to listen to the interview with Joseph Thompson of Joseph & Maia:
Click here to listen to Gold In Your Hands from the Roll Up Your Sleeves EP:
Talking with John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants is an adventure…an adventure that can take a turn into just about any direction. The 13th Floor interviewed Mr Flansburgh recently and planned to speak to him about the band’s new album, Nanobots and their upcoming shows in New Zealand. But Flansburgh had other ideas, ideas that included Adam Ant, Happy Mondays and anything else that popped into his head. Listen in here and try to keep up:
Click here to listen to You’re On Fire from Nanobots:
Here are They Might Be Giants NZ dates:
Friday 17th May, Bodega, Wellington
Saturday 18th May, The Studio, Auckland
Bobby Womack’s career reaches back to the 1950s when he and his brothers sang gospel music along with The Staple Singers and The Blind Boys Of Alabama. Now, almost 60 years later, and after working with Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, Sly & The Family Stone and Gorillaz, among many others, Bobby Womack is due to perform his brand of gritty r&b at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on Saturday, May 18th. The 13th Floorspoke to Bobby Womack recently…listen in as he talks about his long and incredible life and career:
Dunedin’s Matt Langley has just released his new album, Virginia Avenue. The 13th Floor caught up with Matt at Auckland’s Kings Armsand got him to sit down and discuss a few of the album’s songs in depth. Click here to listen to Matt Langley talk about Virginia Avenue:
As the guitarist for Iggy & The Stooges, James Williamson played an integral part in the making of one of the most notorious albums of the 1970s…1973′s Raw Power. Williamson co-wrote such proto-punk classics as the title track and Search And Destrroy with Iggy Pop. Shorty after, the band disintegrated into a drug-addled mess and eventually James Williamson gave up the destructive rock & roll lifestyle for a successful career in computer electronics. Fast-forward 40 years and James Williamson is back with The Stooges. He has produced the band’s new album, Ready To Dieand co-written all the songs with his old sparring partner Iggy. The 13th Floor spoke to James Williamson just as they were wrapping up their Australian tour, and just before the release of Ready To Die. Click here to listen to The Stooges’ James Williamson talk about returning to rock & roll, the making of Raw Powerand, what he thought would be The Stooges’ final show:
May 3rd marks the release of Sonido de LatinAotearoa, the remarkable collaboration of Jennifer Zea, Bobby Brazuka and Isaac Aesili. It was just a year ago that Venezuelan vocalist Jennifer Zea released her debut solo album The Latin Soul. Bobby Brazuka is known around Auckland for his formidable DJ skills, while Isaac Aesili has produced and played trumpet for Opensouls. Together, the trio have created a unique blend of Latin funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae and jazz…all with a Kiwi flavour.
The LatinAotearoa album release party takes place tonight, May 3rd in Auckland at the Goldfinch Lounge & Club, with a nationwide tour to follow. The 13th Floor spoke to Jennifer Zea about this exciting new project and you can listen to what she had to say here:
Jennifer also picked a handful of tracks from the new album to discuss in more detail. Listen here for music and conversation from Jennifer Zea and LatinAotearoa:
I, Anna is a neo-noir drama starring iconic actress Charlotte Rampling, along with Gabriel Byrne. The film, which has just been released on DVD in New Zealand, was the first-time effort of director Barnaby Southcombe, who also happens to be Rampling’s son. The 13th Floor’s Clayton Barnett spoke to the up-and-coming director about the making of I, Anna and what it was like to direct his mother in a sex scene.
English band Foals have just released their latest album, Holy Fire and have set out on a world-wide tour that brings them to New Zealand in October. The 13th Floor caught up with Foals guitarist Jimmy Smith just as he touched down in Buenos Aires.
Flying Nun's Roger Shepherd Plays His 30 Fave Nun-Songs L
The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spins a few favourites.
Caitlin Smith shares some of her most-loved tunes.
Miriam Clancy spins a few tunes.
Upcoming Events
Luke Thompson & Lydia Cole
May 1 – Nelson – The Free House
May 3 – Dunedin – The Church Café
May 4 – Christchurch – Wunderbar
The Gunslingers’ Ball
May 3 – Wellington – Bodega
May 4 – Wairarapa – Carterton Events Centre
LatinAotearoa Album Release Party
May 3 – Auckland – Goldfinch Lounge
Matt Langley
May 3 – Dunedin – Chicks Hotel
May 4 – Lyttelton – Naval Point Yacht Club
May 5 – Auckland – Kings Arms
May 9 – Wellington – Mighty Mighty
Midge Marsden & Chet O’Connell
May 3 – Christchurch – Pierside Cafe
Prowler, Neo Kalashnikovs & Filth Dog
May 4 – Auckland – Lucha Lounge
Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School Of Medicine
May 7 – Wellington – Bodega
May 8 – Auckland – Powerstation
Tool
May 8 & 9 – Auckland – Vector Arena
Afrika Bambaataa
May 9 – Auckland – The Studio
Norma Jean, Cold By Winter & Antagonist A.D.
May 10 – Auckland – Kings Arms
May 11 – Henderson – Zeal West
Dave Dobbyn
May 11 – Christchurch – The Bedford At CPSA
May 18 – Auckland – Paddington Live
May 25 – Wellington – Bodega
May 26 – Wairarapa – King Street Live
Beth Orton
May 17 – Wellington – Old St Paul’s
May 18 – Auckland – Holy Trinity Cathedral
They Might Be Giants
May 17 – Wellington – Bodega
May 18 – Auckland – The Studio
Tommy Ill
May 17 – Christchurch – Dux Live
May 18 – Auckland – Kings Arms
May 24 – Wellington - Puppies
Bobby Womack
May 18 – Auckland – The Civic Theatre
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Graham Parker and The Rumour started making records together at the end of the 1970s. Albums such as Heat Treatment, Howling Wind and Squeezing Out Sparks were full of Parker’s soulful, yet anger-laced vocals and The Rumour’s pub-punk musicianship. They split up in the early 1980s but are back with a new album, Three Chords Good. The 13th Floor spoke to Graham Parker just as he and The Rumour finished their American tour. Listen in as Graham Parker ponders his next move: 
Tool
Beth Orton
Bobby Womack
