Midge Ure – Powerstation March 17, 2017
St Patrick’s Day at Auckland’s Powerstation brings Scottish musician and former Ultravox frontman Midge Ure to town…his second of a seven-date New Zealand tour.
Mexrrissey – Spiegeltent March 16, 2017 Auckland Arts Festival
Mexrrissey, for those who aren’t familiar, play their own Mexican versions of songs by Morrissey and The Smiths. They hail from Mexico, and sing in Spanish. If you’re in any doubt as to how this might work, take a listen to their version of ‘Suedehead’ and you’ll get the idea. These aren’t just covers, they’ve […]
Gorguts & Marduk – Kings Arms March 11, 2017
Let’s start with some personal context: Gorguts are a very big deal for me. They’re one of Those Bands, the ones your mates know will always come up eventually in drunken music discussions or late night YouTube searches. Their album Obscura changed my whole perception of extreme metal, and it’s hard to say if I’d […]
The Pixies – Vector Arena March 11, 2017
I first encountered Pixies by way of a burnt CD thrust into my hands by a classmate after a Classics lesson in 2005. “You’ll probably like these guys they’re weird” he said as he disappeared into the throng of teenagers.
The Damned – The Studio March 8, 2017
When it comes to the invention of Punk, forget The Sex Pistols and forget The Clash. The Damned beat both of them to every punch, including being the first UK Punk band to release a single and an album in 1976. But they never quite fitted in with the rest of the punk movement, so […]
Xylouris White – Tuning Fork March 8, 2017
An Australian and a Greek walked into a bar… This is no joke. Australian drummer Jim White, of The Dirty Three, and Greek lute player George Xylouris got down to the serious business of making music at Auckland’s Tuning Fork last night, taking the audience on a wild musical ride.
Atmosphere with Brother Ali – Powerstation February 25, 2017
If I am fortunate enough to have any regular readers of my work, they will know that I have a long-standing appreciation of hip-hop and rap. My love, on reflection seems to have few bounds, stretching from G-Funk, Boom-Bap and Gangsta, through to politically conscious, avant-garde or a smidge of underground club hip-hop. If the […]
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Mt Smart Stadium February 25, 2017
Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band have been on the road for over 40 years. Their concerts are legendary, both for their length and the amount of energy expended on stage. For those who may feel that they missed out on the act in their prime (Bruce is 67, several members have passed […]
Mundy & The Seamus Begley Trio – Tuning Fork February 24, 2017
It was a lively crowd that came out to Auckland’s Tuning Fork on this Friday night to catch some Irish music by the Seamus Begley Trio and singer-songwriter Mundy. But one has to wonder if they were really there to listen to music or just make their own noise.
Winery Tour 2017 – Villa Maria Winery February 19, 2017
The 2017 Winery Tour wrapped up its 10th season with a show at Villa Maria Winery. The weather was perfect, the crowd well-behaved and the music was…well, it was OK.
Check Out These Orchestra Of Spheres Photos
Wellington psych-funk meisters Orchestra Of Spheres blew minds this past Friday at Auckland’s Rec. 13th Floor photographer Chris Zwaagdyk was on the scene and now shares his images with you. He also grabbed a few shots of Auckland band Kraus, who opened the show.
Neurosis – The Kings Arms, February 15, 2017
Wednesday the 15th of February 2017 was something of a historic moment; the first time in their 30 year history the experimental doom band Neurosis graced these shores. Rocking the Kings Arms nearly to the ground, Tove Partington went along for a highly anticipated night.
The B-52s & Simple Minds – Vector Arena February 14, 2017
Valentine’s Days 2017: Several thousand fans chose to spend the night with the music they love. Simple Minds and The B-52s were in town. The B-52s celebrating their 40th anniversary of their first show…also on Valentine’s Day. 13th Floor photographer Michael Flynn was doing what he loves…shooting musical performances. Judging by the results on display […]
Tattletale Saints – Tuning Fork February 11, 2017
Wrapping up their 18-date New Zealand tour with a show at Auckland’s Tuning Fork, Tattletale Saints have only gotten better with age, showing off improved instrumental chops to go along with their fine songwriting and singing.
Aldous Harding – Hollywood Cinema February 10, 2017
With her second album just about ready for release, Aldous Harding treated the crowd at Avondale’s Hollywood Cinema to an evening of musical surprises, performing solo and with a small, but perfectly-formed band.
Neil Watson – Studies In Tubular (NW)
Neil Watson works as an Artist Teacher at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music’s Albany Campus in 2013. But after hours he likes to let off steam making serious New Orleans Boogaloo, 70’s Funk, Surf Rock and guitar based jazz. Which is pretty much his template for this new 9 track album.
Guns N’ Roses – Western Springs Stadium February 4, 2017
Unlike in Wellington, the gates opened and the sun shone as over 50,000 Guns n’ Roses fans streamed into Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium. And also unlike Wellington, the band actually showed up on time, much to the shock and amazement of all who were present.
IKON – Disjecta Membra – Sounds Like Winter – Vallhala, Wellington February 3, 2017
Last night three Australasian dark, post-punk/gothic rock bands brought the darkness to Wellington – just as the clouds outside were abating. After yet another shocking week of weather bombs the city was ready for some warmth and stability. But down in a small dark club, fashioned around the legendary Norse ‘Hall of the Slain”, fans […]
Opeth – Powerstation February 2, 2017
More than a decade after their last visit to Auckland, Sweden’s Opeth played to a sold-out crowd at The Powerstation, making the hundreds of black-T-shirted fans very happy indeed.
Panic! At The Disco – Vector Arena February 2, 2017
Tragic at the Disco… For better or for worse, music has the ability to capture a moment, a feeling or a mood. It is something that is almost primeval, that defies any carefully curated notions of taste. For this writer, the woefully bad pop-punk phase circa 2005-2006 is one that continues to tug on my […]