Spiegeltent: A Bit Of Tallulah, A Bit Of Iggy (Interview)
A Spiegeltent is large travelling entertainment venue made from teak and decorated with velvet, stained glass and mirrors. Such a tent is home to Spiegelworld, the New York-based troupe who’ve taken circus, cabaret and burlesque and given them an extreme makeover for our post-Playboy world. Kathryn van Beek spoke to Jonathan Taylor, AKA Oscar the […]
James Burton: From Elvis To New Zealand (Interview)
Guitarist James Burton has one of the most incredible CVs in music history. His work with Elvis Presley and Rick Nelson alone would be more than enough to land him in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, but the “Master Of The Telecaster” has recorded with just about everyone over the past 60 years…Ray […]
Hot Chocolate: Every 1’s A Winner! (Interview)
English hitmakers Hot Chocolate will perform at Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre tomorrow night and then move on to Wellington on Wednesday. Although singer Errol Brown is long gone, the core of the group…guitarist Harvey Hinsley, bassist Patrick Olive and drummer Tony Conner remain in tact. The band formed in 1968 and went on to have […]
The Delines Arrive In New Zealand
The Delines, featuring members of Richmond Fontaine and vocalist Amy Boone, landed in Auckland yesterday and will play at The Tuning Fork this evening. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda found the band enjoying a few beverages after their long flight and sat down for a brief interview. You can watch it here: [wpvideo gG7gYYFQ] Listen to […]
From Radiography To The Radio: The Selecter’s Pauline Black (Interview)
British 2-Tone ska band The Selecter begins its 3-date New Zealand tour tomorrow in Christchurch. The band is still fronted by rude-girl Pauline Black and also features original co-vocalist Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson. In addition to her work as a musician, Black has revealed her talents as an actress and author over the years. On this […]
In Her Own Words: Moana Introduces Rima (Interview)
Moana Maniapoto is one of New Zealand’s most important artists mixing indigenous New Zealand music with dub, reggae and electronica. With her band, The Tribe, Moana has just released her fifth album, Rima featuring a collaboration with Don McGlashan and production by Pitch Black’s Paddy Free. Moana & The Tribe will launch the album tomorrow […]
Villainy: Locked & Loaded (Interview)
Auckland-based hard rock band Villainy has just set out on their Ammunition Tour with their next show happening at The Kings Arms on October 3rd. The band’s first album, Mode. Set. Clear. scored a New Zealand Music Award for Rock Album Of The Year in 2013 and they have just emerged from the studio with […]
In His Own Words: Bernie Griffen on Salvation (Interview)
Bernie Griffen has got a new band…The Thin Men…and a new album…Salvation. Bernie and The Thin Men will launch the release of Salvation tonight at Auckland’s Tuning Fork. But a few days ago, Bernie Griffen stopped by The 13th Floor to talk about some of the key tracks on Salvation. So listen here as Bernie […]
Pretty Woman of Lammermoor (Interview)
Fresh from winning the coveted Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto award, the impossibly beautiful Marlena Devoe speaks to The 13th Floor’s Kathryn Van Beek about how she learned to sing opera and why she’s looking forward to performing Lucia di Lammermoor at Auckland’s Mercury Theatre. “Do you know the movie Pretty Woman?” Marlena […]
In His Own Words: Will Wood Introduces Broken Man
After drumming for The Broadsides and Bernie Griffen and The Grifters, Will Wood has stepped up front and recorded his first album as a solo artist. Broken Man became available on Friday, September 19th on CD and on beautiful golden vinyl. Will and his all-star band will be at Auckland’s Wine Cellar on Sunday, September […]
In Her Own Words: Rachel Dawick Presents The Boundary Riders
Kiwi Rachel performer Rachel Dawick has just released her fourth album. The Boundary Riders takes us back to the early days of New Zealand and tells the true stories of six women and one man. According to Rachel’s web site www.racheldawick.com/: “Her background in drama and literature now comes to the fore in her songwriting […]
Interview with Derrick Green of SEPULTURA
The 13th Floor’s Tove Partington caught up with Derrick Green of SEPULTURA. Given the lateness of the hour, and short notice, it’s not a super focused interview, but entertaining all the same! Talking obscure cinema, religion, and of course music, you can listen to the conversation in full. Given the third world internet here, the […]
Deep Into Shapeshifter & Upbeats SSXUB EP (Interview)
Shapeshifter and The Upbeats have joined forces on a brand new EP titled SSXUV to be released today. The two musical entities will then set out on a six-date tour, with Shapeshifter performing a rare DJ set. The 13th Floor corralled Shapeshifter’s Sam Trevethick on the eve of the EP’s release and asked him for […]
Why Does Justin Townes Earle Hate Nashville? (Interview)
Justin Townes Earle is a new man…newly sober, newly married and he has a new album, Single Mothers. Justin also has a new tour, one that brings him and his band to New Zealand in October with shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda recently spoke to Justin Townes Earle by […]
Jol Mulholland Introduces "Stop & Start Again"
Today marks the release of Jol Mulholland’s second solo album, Stop & Start Again. The Auckland-based musician has been a staple of the New Zealand music scene for a number of years, both as a solo artist and as a member of The Mots and Gasoline Cowboy. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda headed over to […]
Little Bark Introduces USB
New Zealand artist Little Bark (aka Sophie Burbery) loves her vintage synths… and she puts them to good use on her second album, USB, which was just released last week. In case you are new to Little Bark, The 13th Floor invited her up to introduce a selection of tunes from USB. Listen in and […]
Kasey Chambers: Bittersweet But Not Twisted (Interview)
It’s no mystery why Australian country star Kasey Chambers’ new album is called Bittersweet. She and her husband and musical partner Shane Nicholson have split up and this is her first solo album in four years. Kasey and Shane made some beautiful music together, but now Kasey is determined to move forward. Bittersweet has just […]
Howling Bells: Tugging On Your Heartstrings (Interview)
Following the release of their fourth album, Heartstrings, Australia’s Howling Bells will be playing at Auckland’s Tuning Fork on September 13th. The band is re-energized after taking a brief hiatus during which time they changed bass players and vocalist Juanita Stein became a first-time mother.The band will be flying over from their adopted home of […]
Kristin Hersh: From New Orleans To New Zealand (Interview)
Kristin Hersh has been making music for almost 30 years…as a solo artist and as a member of Throwing Muses and her noise-pop band 50 Foot Wave. After touring with Throwing Muses in support of their latest album, Purgatory/Paradise (their first in a decade), Kristin is touring New Zealand at the end of August as […]
Pennywise: Yesterdays And Today (Interview)
Veteran skatepunkers Pennywise have just released Yesterdays, a new album full of old, previously unreleased and newly-recorded songs that date back to when bassist Jason Thirsk was still alive and well. Thirsk died in 1996, while the band was rising to the top og the California punk scene. Longtime fans will be thrilled to know […]