RIP Scott Asheton
It seems Stooges drummer Scott Asheton has passed away. Here is a Facebook post from Iggy: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM IGGY: My dear friend Scott Asheton passed away last night. Scott was a great artist, I have never heard anyone play the drums with more meaning than Scott Asheton. He was like my brother. He and […]
Lionel Richie/John Farnham Contest Winners!
Congratulations to Chris Kemp and Meghan Trotter, winners of our Lionel Richie/John Farnham contest. Both responded correctly to our question by naming Bruno Mars as the contemporary artist Lionel Richie claimed in The 13th Floor interview, that he was impressed with. Chris wins a double pass to the Auckland show and Meghan to New Plymouth. […]
KT Tunstall: Feeling Happy And Free (Interview)
Scottish musician KT Tunstall is due to perform in New Zealand in May. Last time she was here, she took part in Neil Finn’s Seven Worlds Collide project. This time around, she’s on her own, in support of her latest album, Invisible Empire/Crescent Moon.The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to KT Tunstall about her latest […]
Weekly Update: March 3rd-9th
Good morning from the 13th Floor. Here is the latest round-up of what is happening in music and film. New Music Heavy metal band Adrenaline Mob bring out their eleven track album Men of Honour. The beautiful and talented opera singer Cecilia Bartoli releases Rossini: Le Comte Ory. Drive by Truckers, the band from Athens, […]
Ed Kowalczyk – Going It Alone (Interview)
As the lead singer for Live, Ed Kowalczyk racked up an impressive string of hits including their 1994 multi-million selling album Throwing Copper. But Ed and the band had a somewhat acrimonious parting of the ways a few years ago which led to Kowalczyk being forced to restart his career as a solo artist. He’s […]
Getting Lucky With Benmont Tench (Interview)
As a member of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Benmont Tench has performed hundreds, if not thousands, of shows all over the planet, with most of the top names in rock & roll. But with the release of his first solo album, You Should Be So Lucky, Tench is venturing into known territory…recording his own […]
Jake Bugg: From Shangri-La To Auckland (Interview)
Its just days before his 20th birthday, but already Jake Bugg has made his mark on the music scene with two Brit Awards nominations and a Mercury Prize nomination for his 2012 self-titled debut album. Jake has already performed in New Zealand, playing a memorable set last July at Auckland’s Powerstation. Now, with a new […]
Hello…It’s Lionel Richie! (Interview)
Lionel Richie is due to tour New Zealand in March, sharing a bill with John Farnham. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to the former Commodore recently and discovered that Lionel is busy working on his first album of new, original material since 2006. He also found Mr. Richie to be a very easy-to-talk-to, engaging […]
R.I.P. Bob Casale of Devo
Devo’s Bob Casale has passed away at age 61. The band was formed by his older brother Gerald Casale along with Mark Mothersbaugh in the early 1970s while students at Kent State University in Ohio. Bob Casale was a member of the band during their most popular era and played on hits such as Whip […]
New Music and Film Events For Feb. 17-22, 2014
Here’s a quick roundup of this week’s music and film-related activities: Click here to find out what’s going on this week.
Bobby Keys: Keeping The Sax Alive (Interview)
The 13th Floor is pleased to be co-presenting the Bobby Keys concert at The Powerstation on April 4th. Bobby Keys, of course, is the sax player who has been touring and recording with The Rolling Stones for over 40 years. So, before he takes the stage with The Stones at Mt Smart Stadium, Keys and […]
Wire Winner
Congratulations to Jayden Caine, who was the first to correctly identify R.E.M. as the band who covered Wire’s Strange in 1987. It appeared on their Document album. Jayden will recieve a double pass to Wire’s show at the Kings Arms this Monday night. Thanks to all who entered.
Watch The New Neil Finn Video
We’re liking the new Neil Finn album, Dizzy Heights, here at The 13th Floor. (Read the review here) Now, there is new video of the title track, just released. Here’s what Neil’s record label has to say about it: ‘Dizzy Heights’ is the third single from the album of the same name, and finds an […]
Talking To The Autumn Defense (Interview)
The Autumn Defense was formed by two members of Wilco as an outlet for their late 60s/early 70s-inspired power pop and folk-rock tunes. Those two band members are bassist John Stirratt and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone. This is not just a one-off vanity project…the Autumn Defense has just released their latest album, the appropriately-titled Fifth. The […]
This Week's New Music & Film
Here’s a run down of the latest new album releases, film screenings, live music and DVD releases. Click here to read the listing.
Catching Up With SJD (Interview)
Taite Prize winner SJD, aka Sean Donnelly, is on the bill at this weekend’s Music At Matua festival along with Trinity Roots, Joseph & Maia and Laughton Kora. This seems a good a reason as any to give Sean a call and see what he’s been up to. As it turns out, quite a bit. […]
What's New in Music & Film This Week
Here are this week’s new music and film happenings including new music from Neil Finn, a two-night stand by Dolly Parton and a remake of Robocop. Click here to read this entire column.
Queens Of The Stone Age: "We Got F**ked!" (Interview)
The 13th Floor spoke to Queens Of The Stone Age bass player Michael Shuman just a few days after their truncated appearance with Trent Reznor on the Grammy Awards broadcast. As you will hear, Michael is still sore about the way they were treated by the show’s producer…but he is excited about touring here with […]
Watch The Means Perform at The 13th Floor
Auckland band, The Means, recently stopped by The 13th Floor to perform three songs and have a chat with Marty Duda. Along with core members Abraham Kunin (guitar), Tom Broome (drums) and Marika Hodgson (bass), the band brought along featured vocalist Esther Stephens. In addition to performing two songs from their latest EP, The Ends, […]
Buika – Dreaming With Her Eyes Open (Interview)
Buika is part of this year’s WOMAD lineup that also includes Kimbra, Pokey LaFarge, Femi Kuti, Arrested Development and a host of other local and international acts. Born in Spain, of African parents and now living in Miama, Florida, Buika’s latest album, La Noche Mas Larga, has been getting rave reviews and her live performances […]