RIP – Jesse Winchester
Folk singer Jesse Winchester has died at the age of 69. In addition to his songs, Winchester became known for his strong anti-war stance when, in 1967, the American moved to Canada, rather than fight in the Viet Nam war. Read more about Jesse Winchester here. Watch Jesse Winchester perform Sham-A-Ling-Ding-Dong on Elvis Costello’s Spectacle […]
New video cut for Delete Delete’s Between the Lines
Delete Delete have today released the special “chaos and clutter” video edit from New York-based director Si Moore for their new single Between The Lines. It’s hot on the heels of the striking and cinematic one-shot version – Delete Delete’s temporary “pop-up” clip which they’ve deleted this week. For Between The Lines, director Si Moore has […]
Paco Pena – The Flamenco Legend Speaks! (Interview)
For over 50 years, Paco Pena has been one of the leading Flamenco guitarists on the planet. This month, he brings his Flamencura show to Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre for two shows, on Tuesday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 16. The show features nine performers and mixes Paco’s guitar with vocals and dance. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke […]
Watch The New QOTSA Video Here
Having returned home from a triumphant co-headlining New Zealand / Australia jaunt with NIN, Queens Of The Stone Age have wasted no time in teaming with director Hiro Murai (Childish Gambino, St. Vincent) for the just unveiled cinematic mini-epic for “Smooth Sailing,” the latest single from the hailed, hailed and more hailed international #1 album … […]
Morcheeba – Skye's The Limit (Interview)
British band Morcheeba is due to perform at Auckland’s Powerstation this Thursday. It will be the first time they’ve been in New Zealand with original vocalist Skye Edwards in over a decade. Edwards rejoined the act in 2010 and they have since recorded two albums, the most recent being 2013’s Head Up High. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda […]
New Music Preview: Jack White – Lazaretto
Jack White presents his new album Lazaretto, to be released June 6 on Third Man Records/Columbia. Lazaretto inhabits an exciting place in White’s expansive discography as the follow-up to 2012’s Gold-certified international #1 Blunderbuss, and will be preceded by first single and title track “Lazaretto,” to be released later this month. While we await the […]
Jimi Goodwin – What's An Odludek? (Interview)
Jimi Goodwin has been a member of Doves since the late 1990s. But the trio has been dormant since 2010, leaving the members to pursue other musical projects. And so Goodwin has just released Odludek, his first solo album, just a few days go. The 13th Floor spoke to Jimi Goodwin just as the album was to be […]
New Music Preview: Ray LaMontagne – Supernova
Here is Ray LaMontagne’s new music video for his recent single, “Supernova,” off the upcoming album by the same title. To make it even more special, this is LaMontagne’s very first music video ever. This is what LaMontagne had to say in regards to this rare moment: I first came across (director) Lucy Dyson’s work through […]
Back From The Brink – The Kaiser Chiefs (Interview)
The Kaiser Chiefs have just released their fifth album, Education, Education, Education & War. Its their first without founding member Nick Hodgson who was not only their drummer, but chief songwriter. The split came as quite a blow to the band, who seemed to be experiencing dwindling interest with each release. Rather than split up, the […]
Spending St Patrick’s Day With Damien Dempsey (Interview)
Damien Dempsey…the name may be new to you, but he has been one of the leading voices in Irish music for over a decade. Having just released a double “best-of” album titled It’s All Good, Damien is now touring New Zealand for the first time. The 13th Floor spoke to Damien Dempsey by phone while […]
Dan Baird – Rockin’ With Bobby Keys (Interview)
When Stones sax man Bobby Keys performs at Auckland’s Powerstation on Saturday, March 29th, the lead singer for his band, The Suffering Bastards will be none other than Dan Baird, the former vocalist for The Georgia Satellites. In an era of cheesy synth-pop and hair-metal bands, The Georgia Satellites blew in like a breath of […]
Tami Neilson is Dynamite! (Interview)
Tami Neilson has just released her debut solo album today. It’s called Dynamite! and it was produced by Delaney Davidson and Ben Edwards and features contributions from Dave Khan, Marlon Williams, Joe MacCallum, Ben Woolley and legendary pedal steel player Red McKelvie. Tami came up to The 13th Floor recently to talk about the making […]
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.
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.
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 […]