Paolo Nutini – Powerstation
Paolo Nutini is on a roll. The Scottish singer with the Italian name has been picking up momentum ever since the release of his first album, nine years ago. Now that momentum has brought him to Auckland where he is playing two sold-out shows at The Powerstation. The first of those two shows took place […]
Bill Steer of Carcass (Interview)
The 13th Floor’s Tove Partington sat down with Bill Steer of Carcass for a quick chat about music, the upcoming Napalm Death/Carcass tour of New Zealand and life/obsession. Tickets for the upcoming tour are on sale now, you can buy them online here. m/ Tove
Dave & Phil Alvin – The Tuning Fork
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Thirty-three years ago Billy Idol was tearing up the pop charts and taking over MTV while Dave and Phil Alvin were fronting The Blasters, playing unfashionable roots music to relatively tiny crowds. Fast-forward to 2015, a there was Billy Idol, rebel-yelling his way through a […]
Billy Idol & Cheap Trick – Vector Arena
1980’s hit maker Billy Idol rocked a near-capacity crowd at Auckland’s Vector Arena with more than a little help from American power poppers Cheap Trick. First of all, apologies to fans of Aussie rockers The Angels, much as I tried, I was unable to get to the Vector in time to see their set, although […]
Gary Clark Jr – Powerstation
Last time Gary Clark Jr played in Auckland he had about 25 minutes to get his message across. This time around, he took almost two hours to tell his story. That story is one that is based solidly in the blues. Out of the past seven days, I’ve spent six of them at The Powerstation. […]
The Waterboys – ASB Theatre
“I was grounded…. While you filled the skies I was dumbfounded by truth… You cut through lies I saw the rain dirty valley….. You saw Brigadoon I saw the crescent …. You saw the whole of the moon I spoke about wings…. You just flew I wondered I guessed and I tried You just knew” […]
Record Store Day at Southbound Records with live performances from SJD and Don McGlashan.
Live Entertainment! will start at 3pm with a special performance by SJD, celebrating their new album Saint John Divine on CD & LP. Following this at 4.30pm we are excited to announce an acoustic set from Don McGlashan, whose new album Lucky Stars is released on CD the day before, April 17th. Grab a copy and get them […]
Michael Franti & Spearhead – Powerstation March 29, 2015
“Best Sunday night ever!” Obviously, Michael Franti is not a Blackcaps fan, but he and his own fans had a rollicking good time at Auckland’s Powerstation on Sunday night, serving up a set that neither he nor the crowd, wanted to end. Not only did the show run late, it started early…slated to take the […]
Jimmy Cliff – Powerstation
It was nothing short of a two-hour celebration of music, love and life as reggae legend Jimmy Cliff led his 8-piece band and a very enthusiastic crowd through a Saturday night of singing, dancing and cheering. When I spoke to Jimmy Cliff a couple of days ago, he told me he was feeling more creative […]
Uriah Heep – The Studio Saturday 28 March 2015
If there are any aspiring music gods in the audience, they’ve come to the right place to get a rock n roll education. The five members of Uriah Heep, the English prog rock band named after a Dickens character, could write a book about song writing, stage craft and putting a rocket under your audience. […]
Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock Winner
Congratulations to Martin Clyde who correctly identified Watermelon Man as the Herbie Hancock composition that became a hit for Mongo Santamaria in 1962. Martin has won two tickets to see Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on Saturday, May 30th. We’ll have more ticket giveaways in the future so keep checking in […]
Beth Hart – Powerstation
I had a feeling this Beth Hart show might be something special…a preview of her about-to-be-released album, Better Than Home, indicated an artist bursting with talent…but her performance at Auckland’s Powerstation this Friday night was nothing short of a tour de force. Beth Hart has history with New Zealand. She spent several weeks here back […]
Pseudo Echo – The Kings Arms
At the Kings Arms we run into Emily, one of Australian new wave band Pseudo Echo’s biggest fans; a woman who loved singer Brian Canham so much that at age eleven she cried when he got married. Emily is buzzing with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Excitement that she is about to see her […]
Interview with Napalm Death’s Shane Embury.
The 13th Floors Tove Partington sat down with Shane Embury (Napalm Death, Venomous Concept, Brujeria) to talk about Politics, Music, the upcoming Napalm Death/Carcass tour of New Zealand, and demented walruses. Shane Embury is the godfather of Grindcore, having been in Napalm Death since 1987 and various other bands of ill-repute. Watch the video to gain […]
Charles Bradley & The Extraordinaires – Powerstation
Soul veteran Charles Bradley, the “Screaming Eagle Of Soul”, spread his wings around a small but enthusiastic crowd at Auckland’s Powerstation and filled the venue with love and happiness. The 66-year old performer emerged on the Powerstation stage, resplendent in a black-sequined jump suit shortly before 10pm, but not before his ace band, The Extraordinaires […]
Watch: A Conversation With Jimmy Cliff (Interview)
Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff touched down in Auckland yesterday ahead of his two New Zealand shows this weekend. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda sat down with Jimmy and spoke to him at length about his music, his films and his life, including plans to film a sequel to the 1972 film The Harder They Come. […]
Pokey LaFarge – Tuning Fork
A Pokey LaFarge show is a 78-RPM record brought to life, a string of wildly, infectiously, exuberantly catchy songs performed by a band of talented musicians led by a man who could so very easily be a cartoon, a caricature, but who manages to be one of the most authentic performers I’ve heard in some […]
Greg Johnson – Q Theatre
Greg Johnson introduced the Cocktail Club by saying: “If you can remember anything about the original Cocktail Club – you weren’t there.” The banter, the intimate venue, special guests and yes, cocktails, make for a performance that is unforgettable. Joining Johnson on stage was Lisa Crawley on keys, recorder and melodica, and Ted Brown on […]
Counting Crows Winner!
Congratulations to Gregory Fleming who has won two tickets to see the Counting Crows when they play Auckland’s Civic Theatre on Tuesday, April 14th. Greg correctly named Big Yellow Taxi as the Joni Mitchell song the Counting Crows recorded back in 2002. Thanks to all who entered the contest…keep checking The 13th Floor, we’ve got […]
Mastodon – Powerstation
Atlanta metal monsters Mastodon came raging into town last night, filling Auckland’s Powerstation with huge slabs of sludgy guitar riffs and howling vocals. Few things equal the anticipation felt just before a metal gig. The Powerstation was filled with black-T-shirted punters ready to have their senses assaulted by the four musicians known as Mastodon. The […]