Ezza Rose Band – Wine Cellar
It was a dark and stormy night, but that didn’t stop the small but engaged crowd turning up to enjoy the Ezza Rose Band at the Wine Cellar. All the way from Portland, Oregon, and fresh from a tour of Alaska, the eponymous Ezza Rose and the rest of the band is tight, evidence of […]
Waterboys Winner!
Congratulations go out to Greta Donaldson who answered correctly, The Drive-By Truckers, as the band fronted by bass player David Hood’s son, Patterson. Greta will receive two tickets to see The Waterboys at Auckland’s ASB Theatre on Tuesday, March 31st. Thanks to all who entered the competeition…check in again tomorrow moring when we’ll have another […]
Shovels & Rope – Tuning Fork 11 March 2015
The stage at Auckland’s Tuning Fork was oozing with down-home South Carolina charm as Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, the married couple who perform as Shovels & Rope, harmonized their way through a set of rootsy songs that held the crowd spellbound. The first thing you notice about Shovels & Rope when they hit […]
Dave & Phil Alvin: Blues Brothers (Interview)
With The Blasters, brothers Dave and Phil Alvin formed one of the most exciting bands to emerge out of the LA punk scene of the early 1980s. The two have since gone their separate ways but recently got together to record Common Ground, a tribute album to blues great Big Bill Broonzy. Following the success […]
Jordie Lane Winner
Congratulations to R.A. Kearns who was the first to correctly name Nashville as the location where Jordie Lane recorded his EP, Not Built To Last. R.A. will receive two tickets to see Jordie Lane next Thursday, March 19th at The Tuning Fork.
Jesus Jones – Kings Arms, 10 March 2015
25 years after recording their hit album, Doubt, English rockers Jesus Jones brought it to life at Auckland’s Kings Arms, playing an expanded and updated version of the classic album, then topping the night off with a few more choice tunes. 24 hours previously the Kings Arms was packed to the rafters with young hipsters […]
Parquet Courts – Kings Arms March 9, 2015
It may have been Monday night, but the atmosphere at Auckland’s Kings Arms felt like a rowdy Saturday night as Brooklyn indie darlings Parquet Courts headlined a bill that featured four bands including the late addition of The Courtneys. “Sold out, bro”, announced the handwritten sign on the door of the venerable rock and roll […]
Pokey LaFarge: Travellin’ Man (Interview)
Pokey LaFarge is no stranger to the road. Its not uncommon for the Illinois native to play over 200 shows a year. In fact, he was in New Zealand less than a year ago. But with a new album ready for release titled Something In The Water, Pokey is about to bring his unique mix […]
Jason Webley’s 13th Floor Video Session
American troubadour Jason Webley has just wrapped up a tour of New Zealand. While he was in Auckland he stopped by The 13th Floor to have a chat with Marty Duda and to play a couple of songs. As it turned out, Jason’s performances can get quite intense…and he tells a good story. So watch […]
At Home With Beth Hart (Interview)
Its been a long, hard road for Beth Hart. Last time the Los Angeles-based vocalist was in New Zealand, she had just spent several weeks in rehab, kicking a devastating drug addiction. That was over a decade ago. Since then she has rebuilt her career with a string of soul-drenched albums, including several with guitar […]
Mogwai – Powerstation
Sitting down to write this, mind freshly blown by an incredible show, is a bit of a challenge. What we just witnessed was ninety minutes of pure wonder, beauty and sound. Seeing Mogwai play the Powerstation is an event in itself. Seeing them after a 16 year gap since their last visit is another thing […]
Jason Webley – Tuning Fork – 7 March 2015
Armed with an acoustic guitar and an accordion, American musician Jason Webley entertained the folks at Auckland’s Tuning Fork with tales of tragic lives, demi-gods and pet giraffes. Some folks may know Jason Webley from his collaborate with Amanda Palmer…the two of them have performed and recorded together as Evelyn Evelyn and Webley was last […]
Soundgarden At Westfest Photos
Here’s another batch of Westfest photos from 13th Floor photographer David Watson. This time around its stunning shots of Soundgarden’s headlining set. Click here to view the Soundgarden photo gallery. Save
The Pop Group – The Kings Arms
Post-punk pioneers The Pop Group finally made their way to New Zealand almost 40 years after forming in Bristol. The band proved that their abrasive, confrontational and political brand of punk is as vital today as it was back in the days of Margaret Thatcher’s England. With the strains of Doctor Zhivago’s Lara’s Theme floating […]
Neneh Cherry and Rocketnumbernine – SpiegelTent, Auckland Arts Festival – 4 March 2015
Here I am queueing outside the venue, so polite for a rock n roll gig. Shout out to the guy behind me who knew Neneh Cherry did an album called Raw Like Sushi, and had a song he loved called Seven Degrees. (ah, Seven Seconds, but sure, bro). Once inside, the room is being pumped […]
Check Out These Judas Priest Concert Photos – 4 March 2015
13th Floor photographer David Watson was on the scene at Tuesday’s Westfest show and collected some excellent images with his trusty camera. Click on any image to view the photo gallery.
More Westfest – Mt Smart Stadium – 4 March 2015
Tuesday afternoon is an odd time for a rock festival. Judas Priest’s closing number — I only caught the end of it; I had to work all day — might have better been titled Rockin’ Before Teatime. Theirs is not music that wants to be performed in daylight. As soon as Judas Priest left the […]
Judas Priest, Faith No More & Soundgarden – Westfest 2015 – Mt Smart Stadium 3 March 2017
It seemed a little surreal…watching the leather-clad Judas Priest in the late afternoon sun as they banged out metal classics like Breaking The Law and Living After Midnight. Later the nearly-full moon (out) shined during Soundgarden’s closing set. But overall Westfest 2015 came across as well-organized, well-behaved and LOUD. I arrived at Mt Smart shortly […]
Conor Oberst & The Felice Brothers – The Powerstation
This was one show you didn’t want to be late for. Openers The Felice Brothers alone were worth the trip to the Powerstation and when it was revealed that they would also serve as Conor Oberst’s backing band, well, that sealed the deal, making this one very special night, indeed. Having said that, I was […]
J Mascis – The Studio
You could have been forgiven, were you not a fan of J Mascis, had you not noticed that he had taken the stage at The Studio last night. As a guitar tech finished off a few final adjustments on a cutaway Gibson acoustic, the house lights still up, a man in jeans and a black, […]