Peter Hook And The Light – The Studio, 27 February 2015
Before the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses, long before Oasis, Peter Hook was a mainstay of the Manchester music scene, playing bass first in Joy Division and then, following the death of Ian Curtis, New Order. But New Order are infrequent performers of late, and its members, increasingly, are solo artists. Bernard Sumner, the […]
Finns at the Zoo – Auckland Zoo 27 February 2015
What do you call seven Finns in a rotunda – a flock, a festoon, a filth or a frolic? This is the question posed by New Zealand’s first family of pop as they wrap up a set of magical songs at Auckland Zoo. Crowds arrive with picnic baskets and beach-chairs and stroll through the zoo, […]
Foo Fighters – Mt Smart Stadium 21 February 2015
We review the Foo Fighters at Mt Smart Stadium 3 February 2018 here. Well, they finally made it. A day after their aborted Town Hall benefit show, Dave Grohl led his Foo Fighters through a two hour and 45 minute set at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium in front of tens of thousands of happy fans. […]
Perfume Genius – The Kings Arms 20 February 2015
Who looks like Doogie Howser, sings like Patti Smith, croons like Chris Martin and tore up the stage like an avant-garde hurricane at the Kings Arms last night? Seattle musician Mike Hadreas, AKA Perfume Genius, that’s who – and next time he comes to Auckland he’s sure to be playing on a bigger stage. The […]
Marlon Williams -The Tuning Fork, 20 February 2015
Marlon Williams seems to have made Auckland’s Tuning Fork his second home. Now based in Melbourne, the Kiwi crooner filled the intimate venue just eight months after his previous headlining show. Last time Marlon was at The Tuning Fork he was aided and abetted by Aldous Harding and Australian songstress Melody Pool. This time around […]
Broods – Auckland Town Hall (Concert Review) 13 Feb 2015
Broods’ debut album Evergreen hasn’t even reached the six-month anniversary of it’s release into the wild but this brother-sister duo from Nelson had no problem filling up Auckland’s Town Hall last night. This was the fourth stop on the Evergreen tour that finishes up tonight in Hamilton. Nashville-based support act HalfNoise – former Paramore drummer […]
King Missile IV – The Kings Arms (Concert Review) 12 Feb 2015
It was a small, but enthusiastic crowd that greeted John S Hall and his latest incarnation of King Missile as they took the stage late on Thursday night at Auckland’s Kings Arms. There had been a parade of opening acts including Lovey Dove, the husband and wife duo of Dan West (guitar) and Azalia Snail […]
CJ Ramone – The Kings Arms (Concert Review)
Presenting himself as something like “the last man standing” (with apologies to Marky Ramone), CJ Ramone paid tribute to his fallen band mates with a solid, if somewhat predictable, set of Ramones tunes, peppered with a few of his own. I was at the Vector Arena earlier in the evening to review Roxette, so when […]
Roxette – Vector Arena (Concert Review) 7 February 2015
Yes, they’ve still got the look, but do they have the sound? Swedish popsters Roxette blew into town last night giving audience members reason to wallow in a bit of nostalgia. As it turned out, it didn’t matter how they sounded as the fans did a fair share of the singing. With most of their […]
Passenger – Civic Theatre (Concert Review) 30 January 2015
“You might have thought Passenger were a band,” Michael Rosenberg told Auckland’s Civic last night. “Auckland, it’s just you, me and a guitar. Is that OK?” The two-thousand strong audience certainly seemed not to mind. Rosenberg, performing since 2009 as Passenger following the breakup of the band of the same name, opened with Rolling Stone, […]
Paul Simon & Sting Vector Arena (Concert Review) 30 January 2015
There were enough musical instruments on stage to stock a good-sized shop as the somewhat unlikely pair of Paul Simon and Sting joined forces (and bands) to sing their own and each other’s songs to a sold-out crowd at Auckland’s Vector Arena. Judging from the smile of Paul Simon’s face as he and his new […]
Laneway Update
Mayor Len Brown is just introducing Mac Demarco as I make my way to the media area to file this report. I’ve just seen Connan Mockasin, Angel Olsen and Courtney Barnett. I’ve gotta say Connan was a bit of a disappointment. His neo-psychedelic noodlings were long and aimless. Much more focussed was Angel Olsen. The […]
At Last: The Etta James Story – Aotea Centre, 28 November 2014
Vika Bull and The Essential R&B Band have been performing this “narrative concert” based on the life and music of Etta James in Australia for over a year. Now, Vika brings her show to Auckland for one performance at the Aotea Centre. Most New Zealanders will be familiar with Vika Bull through her recordings with […]
Brant Bjork – The Kings Arms June 6, 2014
Thursday night at The Kings Arms it was all about the riff as former Kyuss member Brant Bjork brought his Low Desert Punk tour to Auckland and rocked the house relentlessly. There are times when you just need to be overwhelmed by the power of two guitars, a bass and drums, and fortunately, this was […]
Primate in Auckland
After a punishing Australian and japan tour, Primate arrived in New Zealand amid a earthquake; bringing Kevin’s bad luck with them! A earthquake was a fitting arrival, as they shook the kings arms up and woke Auckland out of its rainy monday night stupor. I interviewed them before the show, and am happy to report […]
Dave Dobbyn & Don McGlashan – Holy Trinity Cathedral (Concert Review)
It seemed like such a natural thing, you have to wonder why it hadn’t happened before. Two of New Zealand’s most accomplished songwriters sharing the stage and their songs. Dave Dobbyn and Don McGlashan each have an incredible legacy of songs that are uniquely “New Zealand”. Those songs seemed to strike even more resonance when […]
Amanda Palmer – Kings Arms (Photo Gallery)
Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra blazed through a set at Auckland’s Kings Arms on Friday night. The 13th Floor’s Veronica McLaughlin was there with her camera and has filed a photographic report.
Bobby Womack – Civic Theatre – 18 May 2013
R&B veteran Bobby Womack brought a classic soul revue to Auckland’s Civic Theatre. With a set list and a red suit rooted firmly in the 1970s, Womack and his excellent band played two hours of vintage rhythm and blues. With rumours circulating about the state of Bobby Womack’s health, there was always an air of […]
Explosions In The Sky Meet Guitar Wolf – Concert Review/Opinion Piece, 17 December 2011
Explosions In The Sky is a four-piece “post-rock” band from Texas who play instrumental music. Guitar Wolf is a three-piece punk band from Japan who worship at the altar of The Ramones. Both bands played in Auckland last night and I saw most of both of their sets. While they sound like very different bands…there […]
Jason Mraz – Civic Theatre, Auckland 15 November 2011
Internationally revered recording artist, Jason Mraz, has announced plans for a special international tour, an extraordinary itinerary that will see the Grammy Award-winning tunesmith visiting North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand with one very special show at the Civic Theatre, Auckland on Tuesday 15th November. This will be the only show in […]