The Restarts: The 13th Floor Interview
The 13th Floor’s Tim Gruar swaps texts with East London-based punk band The Restarts who are due to tour New Zealand in February… Hackney punks The Restarts are coming to our shores. Formed in 1995, they are a tight three piece, multi-genre punk outfit based in East London! They play thrashy, anarcho-power chord punk laced […]
Hex: The 13th Floor Interview
If you are planning to attend tonight’s Dinosaur Jr show tonight in Auckland, be sure to show up early. Wellington 3-piece Hex will be opening the show and they are not to be missed. With an EP out last year titled Calling To The Universe, these three heavy metal rockers plan to release their first […]
A Few Words With Maala
Intertwining soulful vocals with cool calm beats, MAALA has fast established himself as an indietronica wunderkid thanks to his critically acclaimed debut Composure. He is headlining Summer Sounds, presented by The Edge as part of Auckland Council’s summer series of free music in parks. Kicking off on Saturday 21 at Three Kings Reserve from 2pm, […]
Andrew Fagan: Bringing Back The Mockers (Interview)
After a 30 year hiatus, The Mockers are getting back together to play a series of New Zealand dates beginning this Thursday in Hamilton. The Mockers, fronted by Andrew Fagan, were one of the most successful Kiwi bands of the 1980s with hits such as Forever Tuesday Morning, Swear It’s True, One Black Friday, My Girl […]
WOMAD 2017 Report: Swamp Thing
Over the next couple of months 13th Floor will be running a series of articles and interviews about key artists and bands coming to WOMAD 2017 (New Plymouth, March 17-19). The Taranaki’s based world music festival is now in its 11th year, a 3-day celebration of musical and cultural diversity on every level. As always, […]
Lontalius Laneway Interview
The 13th Floor crew is out at Laneway bringing you interviews, reviews and photos throughout the day and into tomorrow. Our first bit of coverage starts with an interview with Kiwi musician Eddie Johnston who goes by the name Lontalius. He and his band were one of the first acts to perform during the afternoon. […]
Bassy Bob Brockmann on Bowie (Interview)
Grammy Award-winning mixer and producer “Bassy” Bob Brockmann was in Auckland recently and stopped by The 13th Floor for an interview with Marty Duda. Mr Brockmann is known for his work with the likes of The Fugees, Notorious BIG, Christina Aguilera, Mary J Blige and Faith Hill. As it turns out, Bassy Bob, who is […]
Watch Plum Green’s 13th Floor Video Session
Plum Green is a Kiwi singer-songwriter now based in Melbourne. She was in Auckland briefly to perform at The Wine Cellar as part of her Night Terrors tour with Jennifer Kingwell to promote her just-released EP Karma. Plum Green stopped by The 13th Floor studio to play a few songs…including two from the new EP…and […]
Dave Rawlings: Beautiful Obsolescence (Interview)
Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings are returning to Auckland in January for what is one of the most anticipated shows of the new year. It’s been over a decade since the duo last performed here and they’ve made a lot of great music since then. Their most recent collaboration is Nashville Obsolete, released under the […]
Watch Parabola West’s 13th Floor Video Session
Here’s one last video session before the end of the year, and one that sounds perfect for the festive season. Check out Parabola West as she performs three original compositions and chats with The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda. Parabola, an ex-pat American, now living in Raglan, has released an EP, titled Did You Hear?, and […]
Watch Parabola West’s 13th Floor Video Session
Here’s one last video session before the end of the year, and one that sounds perfect for the festive season. Check out Parabola West as she performs three original compositions and chats with The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda. Parabola, an ex-pat American, now living in Raglan, has released an EP, titled Did You Hear?, and […]
Grace Potter: I Am Not Who I Was Before (Interview)
It’s been a big year for Grace Potter. She’s stepped outside her long-time band, The Nocturnals, and made her first solo album, Midnight, much to the chagrin of many fans who were put off by the overt pop beats found on songs like the lead single, Alive Tonight. The Vermont native spoke to The 13th […]
Out of Pride: The Unapologetic Story of Melting Pot Massacre
by Dedee W Melting Pot Massacre were an Auckland-based Asian feminist punk band, active from 2011-2013. Their documentary ‘Out of Pride’ was made after they disbanded, and tells their story on their own terms. Having not yet seen it, I imagine it will provide more insight into the message behind their music and where they […]
Watch Ciaran McMeekan’s 13th Floor Video Session
As promised earlier, here is Ciaran McMeekan’s complete 13th Floor Video Session. In addition to playing a tune from his latest EP, Screaming Man, Ciaran introduces two brand new songs and talks to Marty Duda about moving from Dunedin to Auckland. Save
French Toast & Kurt Vile (Interview)
It’s a beautiful, sunny autumn day in New York City as I make my way along Broadway in Brooklyn. I have an appointment to meet with Kurt Vile at a café in the trendy area of South Williamsburg to discuss his new album, B’lieve I’m Goin’ Down, which was just released a week or two […]
Watch Will Wood’s 13th Floor Video Session
Fresh from a four and a half month tour of Europe, Will Wood stopped by The 13th Floor to talk about his adventures overseas and his upcoming show at Auckland’s Wine Cellar. The show…”Gunslinger’s Ball Presents…Last Minute Christmas…will find Will sharing the stage with Hopetoun Brown, Reb Fountain, Dave Khan, Tom Cunliffe and others for […]
Macy Gray: All She Wants For Christmas (Interview)
A couple of months before she’s due to perform in New Zealand as part of the Raggamuffin Festival, Macy Gray has created a bit of controversy by recording, of all things, a Christmas single. The song, an original composition titled All I Want For Christmas, addresses current political and social issues such as the US […]
JD McPherson: Weird Stuff Is Going To Happen (Interview)
Hailing from the rural town of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, JD McPherson is fast-becoming one of the most exciting artists on the roots-rock scene. Citing influences from Little Richard to Led Zeppelin to the Wu-Tang Clan, McPherson has been tearing up the US with his latest tour in support of his second album, Let The Good […]
Mi-Sex: A Second Chance To Rock & Roll (interview)
Pioneering New Zealand synth-rockers Mi-Sex will be teaming up with Dragon and The Angels for a “Clash Of The Titans” tour in February of 2016. The three bands will play 7 dates throughout New Zealand playing hits like Computer Games, April Sun In Cuba and No Secrets. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Mi-Sex […]
Watch Jack Ladder at The 13th Floor
Jack Ladder and his band The Dreamlanders (featuring Kirin J Callinan) will be opening the show tonight for Florence + The Machine at Auckland’s Vector Arena. Jack paid a visit to The 13th Floor to talk to Marty Duda and perform a solo acoustic version of To Keep And To Be Kept, one of many […]