22 NOVEMBER 2011 #012

DUM DUM GIRLS – THE EYES HAVE IT

FAT FREDDY’S DROP – TRANS-EUROPE EXPRESS

BACK BENCHES’ WALLACE CHAPMAN INTERVIEWS

“STRANGE FELLOW” DON BRASH

Our wish list was looking something like this: Coco Solid and Mana’s Hone Harawira; Tono and the Finance Company’s Anthonie Tonnon and Minister of Finance, Bill English; Dudley Benson and the Green’s Metiria Turei; and VOLUME’s Joe Nunweek

with Labour’s Phil Goff. We hadn’t taken New Zealand First into consideration – maybe we could have brought Winston and John Rowles or Wayne Anderson together over a sirloin, chips and salad at Wellington’s Green Parrot Café. And would Peter Dunne and The Feelers’ James Reid have been the most “sensible” fit, or would the ‘Stand Up’ synching in National’s advertising campaign have nixed that idea?

With time running out, we opted to go with one politically minded Talking Heads, a pre-Teagate partnering of Back Benches’ Wallace Chapman and ACT’s Dr Don Brash, who got together to talk policy and electric puha. Before you cast your vote this Saturday, have a read and then head over to nzherald.co.nz/volume to witness pub politics occupy the conservative comfort of Auckland’s Northern Club.

EDITOR: Sam Wickssam.wicks@volumemagazine.co.nzWEB EDITOR: Hugh Sundaehugh.sundae@nzherald.co.nzDEPARTMENT OF VOLUME SALES: John Bakerjohn.baker@volumemagazine.co.nzDESIGN: Xanthe WilliamsWRITERS: Marty Duda, Duncan Greive, Jessica Hansell, Jordie Lane, Joe Nunweek, Danielle Street, Hugh Sundae, Scott Towers, Sam Valentine, Kit Walker, Christiaan de Wit, Aaron YapILLUSTRATION: Hej GaniasPHOTOGRAPHERS: Ted Baghurst, Ukiah Brown, Roger Grauwmeijer, Brian Hatton, Niels Kramer, Milana Radojcic, Teremoana Rapley, Colette WaakaAN APN PUBLICATION

Who says music and politics shouldn’t mix? Our original plan was to run a whole series of political Talking Heads in the lead up to this year’s election, teaming musicians and musical minds with politicos. We didn’t get as far as contacting press secretaries about scheduling VOLUME into busy electioneering schedules, but we knew the match-ups we wanted.

Our wish list was looking something like this: Coco Solid and Mana’s Hone Harawira; Tono and the Finance Company’s Anthonie Tonnon and Minister of Finance, Bill English; Dudley Benson and the Green’s Metiria Turei; and VOLUME’s Joe Nunweek

with Labour’s Phil Goff. We hadn’t taken New Zealand

MORE FOLDBACKMURRAY ‘MO’ HEPPLE – BODEGA OWNER I was working in the music business in the Northern Hemisphere for many years, and when I returned home I happened to wander into Bodega one day and I ended up being the owner. Running a venue has its ups and downs, but it’s rewarding when you see a great gig come off – it’s always nice when you get bands say, ‘That was one of the best shows of the tour’. It can be trying when people cancel last minute or when bands are not organised but, at the club level, you’re always going to get that. A lot of bands touring the country don’t have a lot of money, so recouping any kind of production costs from anyone is virtually impossible, but you’ve just got to go with the times, run a lean operation and work to your strengths. The trick is to maintain a venue that you’d

want to drink at or see shows at. And the standard’s got to be high because if any of my peers that I’ve worked with over the years happen to wander through and I had a venue that was shite, I wouldn’t look very good.

How does it feel revisiting Features, Fetus Productions and Fetals material after nearly 30 years? It feels like it did 30 years ago when you’re in “the zone” – it’s timeless, pure adrenalin.

X-Features played a dress rehearsal gig at the Windsor last week, a venue you hadn’t performed in for some time. Did getting the band together feel like putting on an oldpair of slippers?No, the venue is different now and we’re all battle-hardened, but it did feel good being on stage there again.

You have ex Plague/Whizz Kids/Swingers’ Ian Gilroy drumming with you – how’s that working out?Ian is a very natural drummer – the muscle memory kicked in big time and he learnt all the Features tunes in a week. The Fetus tracks are a bit slower but with trickier rhythms so he’s still digesting them.

You have an impressive set of gnashers – how did you go about filing your own teeth?I used a metal file in Sydney in the ’80s and worked on them over a year – the dentist wanted to pull them out but I refused. I feel normal with them and I don’t really notice them anymore, a bit like tattoos and fl esh scars these days. Do you have any special techniques when it comes to dental hygiene?I need a pint of blood a day to keep the doctor away.

Much-loved Wellington venue Bodega has played host to the likes of Buzzcocks, The White Stripes and Dirty Three over the years, and this month it’s celebrating 20

years in the business, making it New Zealand’s longest standing music venue that’s stayed open under the same name. For your chance to celebrate Bodega’s birthday with double-passes to see Adrian Sherwood, Guitar Wolf and Deerhoof play there, email loot@volumemagazine.co.nz and tell us about the best Bodega gig you saw.

JED TOWNX-FEATURES’

name. For your chance to celebrate Bodega’s birthday with and

SEND ME A POSTCARDJordie Lane crosses the Tasman next week to celebrate the release of his album, Blood Thinner. Lane will be supported by Matt Langley and Mel Parsons on his 12-date nationwide tour, which begins at Auckland’s Wine Cellar on Friday 29 November. Show dates and further info at jordielane.com.

SEND ME A POSTCARD

crosses the Tasman next week to celebrate the release

Blood . Lane will be

Parsons on his 12-date nationwide tour, which begins at Auckland’s Wine Cellar on Friday

November. Show dates and further info

FRIDAY 27TH JANUARY POWERSTATION - AUCKLAND - T ICKETS FROM TICKETMASTER

SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY THE OPERA HOUSE - WELL INGTON - T ICKETS FROM TICKETEK

TOUCHE! HE GOT me good. It was definitely a better ‘gotcha’ moment than Simon Gault’s famous MasterChef double dipping: “Nadia, take off your apron. Now put it back on, because you’re through!”

For the five seconds I thought we’d been declined, I think I was actually a little relieved. I knew how much work we had committed to in writing.

Actually I didn’t really know how much work we’d committed to at all. Good God, it’s been a full-on few months. Probably not as full-on as actually making a movie, though.

Given how much we’ve been blowing our own trumpets about this lately, I’d like to think that you have a rough idea about what we’re doing with Make My Movie. If not, we’re giving away a $100,000 movie budget (provided by NZ On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission) to the best movie idea, as judged by a panel of experts, with the public’s view represented via social media.

I mention it now because we’re at a crucial point in the six-month plan – next Wednesday (30 November) voting closes on our final 12 ideas. That was cut down from 757 – and the overwhelming majority were gracious about it.

The next round of eliminations will leave us with just two movie concepts, and those teams will be hammering out full scripts due in January. Now it’s your chance to have a say on which idea will

ultimately hold its world premiere in April.The teams have been going great guns

getting backing for the ideas on social media. A couple have made websites. By the time this goes to print, all should have video pitches available for you to see (and vote) at nzherald.co.nz/makemymovie.

This is also when the behind-the-scenes webisodes we’re making will come into their own as we actually go and find out a bit more about the people behind the ideas.

If the number of you who have a good online-whine about who does and does not get music funding is anything to go by, then there’s probably a few of you tearing ideas apart as I type.

But spare a thought for those teams nervously waiting to hear if their idea is getting the tick. Just as Ant and I waited to hear if this whole crazy idea was going to get the tick.

Early next year we’ll be giving one of them the bad news. “Looks like you actually have to make a movie.”

“Good God, it’s been a full-on few months. Probably not as full-on as actually making a movie, though.”

Hungry? Can’t help you. However, thanks to Fat Freddy’s Drop keyboard player Iain Gordon, we can show you how to make his famous paua wontons. Being a fan of cooking and music myself, I’m very proud to say we’ve got an exclusive Kiss Da Cook online now at nzherald.co.nz/music.

“The video is the recipe, from the ocean to the plate, and I wanted to capture what we usually do when it comes to having a party. Dive, mince, fold, cook, and eat,” Gordon said. You can guess the soundtrack.

Elsewhere expect to see the first Drab Doo-Riffs’ sessions dribbling online later this week – it was the first of our new monthly sessions. Because we only do one band, we have more time – so expect more songs.

MORE GRAVYHungry? Can’t help you.

MORE GRAVY

“Bad news” popped up on my Gmail Chat window. It was from Ant Timpson. I knew the NZ On Air meeting had taken place in the past few days, so I guessed he was telling me our Make My Movie funding proposal had been rejected. “Looks like we have to actually make this happen.”

WOULD YOU TRUST THESE GUYS WITH $100,000?…

WALLACE CHAPMAN

WALLACE CHAPMAN: Dr Brash, greetings – it is very good to see you.DR DON BRASH: Good to be here.

Thanks for coming to the Northern Club – not that it’s my place at all. It’s a beautiful place, isn’t it? Is it your sort of constituency here, the Auckland Northern Club?Ah, well, I’m a member of the Northern Club, but I must confess I don’t use it very often. I haven’t been a member for very long.

Can you get me in? ’Cause they won’t let me in.Well, they only let very special people in. It’s not for everyone, you understand.

Am I not special enough?Well, ah, I’ll look carefully at your CV.

I want to move on to arts and culture. I had a look through the ACT website, and you don’t have your arts and culture policy up there yet. Is arts and culture important in an ACT worldview?Yes, it is, but let’s be frank – a small party does not have a policy on every single issue.

It’s an important aspect of New Zealand society though, isn’t it?Yes, that’s true. Look, the top 12 members of my list, most of them are very interested in music and in culture and they go to plays, and all that sort of stuff. Do we have a specific policy on that? Do we want to differentiate ourselves from National in that, for example? Not strongly.

Okay, so it’s not top of the list.Ah, for us the top of the list is the economy because without that, people watching this are off to Australia.

Okay, so what about you then? When you go home and you might turn off the TV, you might pour yourself a glass of wine and, in those rare moments, relax…How do you spell that?

‘R-E-L…’ Frankie says ‘relax’, Dr Brash. What would you put on the stereo? Take your time…Let me answer it in a different way: What do I listen to on the radio when I’m in the car?

No, no – what do you listen to on the stereo when you put on some music?I typically don’t.

Dr Don Brash has been there, done that and then done the other thing several times. He received his Masters in economics for a thesis arguing foreign investment damaged a country’s economic development. His PhD argued the opposite conclusion. His 1980 bid for Parliament was torpedoed by his own leader, Rob Muldoon. In 2002 the Nats gifted Brash a party seat and the leadership – until John Key rolled him. Now he’s rolled Rodney Hide and leads ACT into the election, if not out of it. He told Back Benches’ host Wallace Chapman he also jams Coast FM and could well be ahead of his time with his views on “Golden Bay Hay”.Photography Ted Baghurst

WALLACE CHAPMAN

DR DON BRASH&You don’t listen to music?At the moment and for the last six months, when I get home from a public meeting, typically at night, I’ve got 60, 80, 100 emails to deal with.

Wow – okay.By the time I’ve finished it, it’s 11pm or later, I may watch the BBC news and go to bed and flake.

Okay, well what do you listen to then? You turn on the radio, what do you listen to?I typically listen to Coast [FM].

Do you? So you like your George Bensons?Yeah, and I like Neil Diamond and Kenny Rogers, and that kind of music is my kind of music.

The Carpenters, that’s cool. What are your thoughts on how we can fund music? Have you heard of Making Tracks, the new funding programme where [NZ On Air] funds individual songs?No I haven’t, I must confess. But, I mean, I think the culture of a nation is important to support and I have always held that view. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, for example – I went to their latest concert in Auckland with Kiri Te Kanawa singing.

Oh, what was that like?Fantastic. It was the night I left for London, I must say. I went straight from the concert to the airport! It was a great

concert and they did a superb job – it’s a very fine orchestra. And I’ve no idea what the taxpayer subsidy of that is, but I think some taxpayer subsidy is entirely warranted.

Just finally, Dr Brash – your comments on electric puha, the old Golden Bay hay. Did you regret making those comments?Yes, I did. Because this is not ACT Party policy at all – we’re focused on the economy.

Did you get a new constituency? Did you get a new core of fans, though? A lot of my friends – not that I’m a big pot-smoker, in fact I don’t rate it at all – but a lot of people said, ‘Hey, Dr Brash, I now see something in this man’.Yeah, but are they going to vote for me?

No.Right. And right now, with the economy in serious strife, I’ve got to focus on the economy.

Do you think you were 100 years ahead of your time? Do you think it’s a conversation we will one day have?About the economy?

No, about electric puha.No, I can’t speculate on that. I mean, maybe, I don’t know. There are certainly some international organisations suggesting that this is an important issue to think about but, as I say, right now I’m focusing on the economy.

To watch the video of Wallace Chapman and Dr Don Brash in conversation, head to nzherald.co.nz/volume – live from 2pm Tuesday.

Wallace Chapman hosts the Back Benches Election Night Special from 8-9pm, Saturday 26 November on TVNZ 7 – tvnz.co.nz/back-benches.

DR DON BRASH

“I like Neil Diamond and Kenny Rogers, and that kind of music is my kind of music.” – DR DON BRASH

WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBERAuckland, New ZealandBack at the Air New Zealand check-in counter once again. We’ve only been home for six weeks and my bag remained virtually unpacked in the corner of the room the whole time. Did I actually pack any clean clothes?

FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBERLondon, United KingdomUgggh, what happened? It’s 2.30am and I wake up fully dressed with the lights on. Oh that’s right… sleeping pills on the plane. Watch

some US Open – go Fed! Sleep eventually kicks in. Hit Flat White in Soho for decent coffee, Soul Jazz for decent records and Namo in Vic Park for extremely decent Vietnamese.

SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBEROxford, United KingdomFirst day/night on the tour bus. We’ve gone totally rock star and are running two in convoy; grumpy sods on one, messy bastards on the other. Play first show of tour at Harvest Festival – nice to get on stage again. Pity the Kooks’ guitar tech spent the whole set tuning up loudly behind us.

SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBERSuffolk, United KingdomEntire Harvest Festival drives to the other side of London for a repeat. Dobie Blaze (and crew) totally blows Freddy-heads and foodies away with a demo of how to

make paua wontons. We fold and fry 250 – they all go inside five minutes.

TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBERHamburg, GermanyTotally slamming gig tonight. Amazing audience and the band was on fire. Tony Chang proclaims it “on a par with July’s show in Paris, which was off the hook”. DJ Fitchie cracks the rum to celebrate, and everyone else tries to keep up.

WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBERCologne , GermanySorry Cologne, we were hungover. Blame that big guy over there. Lucky we had a good gig last time we were here, eh?

THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBERReims, FranceDay off. Visit the Lanson champagne cellar for an amazing guided tour through the 23 million bottles stored in their caves. Sample some vintage bubbles and get caught up in a frenzy of champagne buying. Fitchie’s bus bed gets punk’d by persons unknown – you can’t move for balloons up there.

FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBERParis, FrancePlayed Fete de l’Huma, a huge festival that has been going for over 70 years. It’s actually a huge scrum of Communists. No, seriously – this is a political rally. Cracking some of the Lanson post-show feels right, but wrong, but so right.

SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBERSt Noiffs, FranceAnother big drive. Who knew France was so wide? Can’t remember much about the festival, but they served piles of oysters, cockles, prawns and mussels in the catering tent. Awesome.

SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBERHighways Across EuropeAmazing breakfast in a truck stop in Belgium. Makes me think we get ripped off in New Zealand for a decent brekkie. Walked around Amsterdam – d’oh, everyone else has a bike! Sample some fine beer and then locate a legendary local Spanish bar; Best. Tapas. Ever.

In September, Fat Freddy’s Drop was back on the road, playing dates from the UK to Denmark and all points in between. Freddy’s saxophonist Scott “Chopper Reedz” Towers diarised their adventures in sound for VOLUME.Text Scott TowersPhotography Niels Kramer

“Meet someone who fl ew in from Ibiza for the show – legend.”

sleeping pills on the plane. Watch to the other side of London for a repeat. Dobie Blaze (and crew) totally blows Freddy-heads and foodies away with a demo of how to

make paua wontons. We fold and fry 250 – they all go inside five minutes.

TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBERHamburg, GermanyTotally slamming gig tonight. Hamburg, GermanyTotally slamming gig tonight. Hamburg, Germany

Amazing audience and the band was on fire. Tony Chang proclaims it “on a par with July’s show in Paris, which was off the hook”. DJ Fitchie cracks the rum to celebrate, and everyone else tries to keep up.

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBERAmsterdam, HollandFirst night of a double-header at the Melkweg. Killer show. Mark Butterball, our lighting designer, takes it into another realm – that guy is flash.

TUESDAY 20 SEPTEMBERAmsterdam, HollandHit Waxwell Records during the day (grab a nice haul of funk 45s for small change). Our local hook-up cooks two suckling pigs in a charcoal-filled bath for dinner. Wow. We’re joined onstage by Johnny Key, who plays keys (obviously) in Arctic Monkeys, for a synth-heavy workout on ‘Wild Wind’. Dope.

WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBERAarhus, DenmarkWe’ve never been here before and the venue is in the middle of docks. Will anyone come to the show? Yes, actually. A great audience in a cool little club. Meet someone who flew in from Ibiza for the show – legend.

THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBERCopenhagen, DenmarkThe Vega is one of our favourite venues in the entire world; great PA, amazingly beautiful room, up for it crowd – and we treat them

to the debut performance of a new song. Fresh out of the studio, it sets the room on fire. Awesome way to finish a tour.

FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBERNew York, USALast night I had a nightmare where I lived on a tour bus surrounded by unwashed musicians who watched endless repeats of Will Ferrell movies and ate mini-Mars bars for breakfast.... oh, wait, that did just happen. Is this what they mean by “living the dream?” I feel a little broken, a tad battered after the tour, but would happily do it all again. Oh well, time for a Korean

taco and a stroll round Central Park. A treat for me and the missus post-tour. Not a bad stopover on the way home.

Fat Freddy’s Drop play One Drop with TrinityRoots and Cornerstone Roots on Monday 2 January at Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana, and with The Nudge on Saturday 7 January at Black Barn, Havelock North.

round Central Park. A treat for me and the missus post-tour. Not a bad stopover on the

Fat Freddy’s Drop play One Drop with

Monkeys, for a synth-heavy workout

WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

again. Oh well, time for a Korean

venues in the entire world; great PA, amazingly beautiful room, up for it crowd – and we treat them PA, amazingly beautiful room, up

a little broken, a tad battered after the tour, but would happily do it all again. Oh well, time for a Korean again. Oh well, time for a Korean

THE LOCALSThis week an election which has managed the rare feat of being simultaneously infantile, tedious and depressing is drawing to a close. It seemed a worthwhile time to check in with Wellington’s student station, Radio Active.

The Top 11 (wacky students!) is amiable enough, featuring a bunch of recent indie-ish noises. But it’s not particularly politicised, given that they’re located a few hundred metres from the Beehive.

Not that there’s been a vast amount of partisan music to wade through – as far as I can tell we’ve only had The Eversons’ enjoyably silly ‘Vote For ACT’ and the earnest remonstrations of Home Brew, Tourettes and Matthew Crawley’s ‘Listen to Us’. The latter is top fi ve in the bFM Top Ten, and each deserves more airtime than our elected offi cials. Or Death in Vegas.

THE WORLDSadly last week marked the end of the reign of Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s charismatic fuck-machine Prime Minister. Prior to him, Italy had been through dozens of short-lived leaders, but Berlusconi seemed to epitomise the corrupt, lascivious spirit of Italy, and held in there for 17 years. Now he’s been replaced by Mario Monti, an economist with an italo-disco-esque name, who is universally described as a ‘technocrat’ – surely one of the last great unclaimed band names?

Italy’s charts the week Berlusconi vacated his offi ce had a bunch of the worldwide blando hits, along with some local produce of rare absurdity. Tizanio Ferro might be the most handsome man in the world – his ‘La Differenza Tra Me E Te’ is as tough and gritty as Bruno Mars’ Just the Way You Are’, but with signifi cantly less trilby, so a lot more fun.

Personally I’m more into Jovanotti’s ‘La Notta Dei Desideri’, a wistfully thumping synth-pop banger featuring lyrics about how Jovanotti sees “a swirl of coloured people/ Flocking around an elementary rhythm”... Continental Europe, home of dodgy politics for well over 2000 years.

THE ’NETThese are the songs that the rest of the internet is most excited about. New Zealanders are no longer represented – post the ‘Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill’, we have to suffer the indignity of waiting 20 seconds and messing around with 4shared, Mediafire and the rest. The list is a pretty handy ‘state of pop’ primer if you’ve been dead in 2011, with the best single of the year at the top, and the globalisation of the market being refl ected in its 30% non-US composition. More pertinent, perhaps, is the absence of ‘career artists’ – of the ones featured here, only Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West and Lil Wayne were truly established five years or so ago. The charts always had their share of fl y-by-nighters, but that now seem to be the dominant archetype.

A column in which Duncan Greive scours the world’s charts in the hope of finding, if not the perfect beat, then something worth whistling at least.

8450528AA

RADIO ACTIVE TOP 11 1 David Lynch ft. Karen O – ‘Pinky’s Dream’

2 Cults – ‘Abducted’

3 Glass Vaults – ‘Gold Star’

4 D:UNK – ‘Floor You’

5 Badd Energy – ‘Third Eye’

6 Phantogram – ‘Don’t Move’

7 Sin Sin – ‘Sorry But I’m Falling Down Again’

8 Death in Vegas – ‘Your Loft’

9 M83 – ‘Midnight City’

10 Jon Lemmon – ‘Exodus’

11 Wu Lyf – ‘We Bros’

HITLIST ITALIA1 Adele – ‘Someone Like You’

2 Tiziano Ferro – ‘La Differenza Tra Me E Te’

3 David Guetta ft. Usher – ‘Without You’

4 Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera – ‘Moves Like Jagger’

5 Rihanna – ‘We Found Love’

6 Coldplay – ‘Paradise’

7 Jovanotti – ‘La Notte Dei Desideri’

8 James Morrison – ‘I Won’t Let You Go’

9 Laura Pausini – ‘Benvenuto’

10 Negrita – ‘Brucerò Per Te’

PIRATE BAY SINGLES 1 LMFAO – ‘Party Rock Anthem’

2 Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull – ‘On The Floor’

3 David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj & Flo Rida – ‘Where Them Girls At’

4 Cobra Starship ft. Sabi – ‘You Make Me Feel...’

5 Pitbull ft. Marc Anthony – ‘Rain Over Me’

6 Kelly Rowland ft. Lil Wayne – ‘Motivation’

7 Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Bass’

8 Adele – ‘Someone Like You’

9 Katy Perry ft. Kanye West – ‘E.T.’

10 Jessie J ft. B.o.B – ‘Price Tag’ 8449231AA

NOT TO DOWNPLAY the lo-fi appeal of their first long-player I Will Be, but second album Only in Dreams marks a leap in musical maturity for the Dum Dum Girls.

Frontwoman Dee Dee Penny (Kirsten Gundred) has come out from behind a wall of reverb to blossom as a singer. Her vocals are seductively distant while incanting themes of intimate loss, both parental and romantic.

The strong songwriting is cohesive, with well-constructed tracks that are sprinkled with surf-guitar riffs and melodic hooks aplenty. Lead single ‘Bedroom Eyes’ exemplifies the style, though it’s not the strongest song on the album. Opener ‘Always Looking’, the confrontational ‘Just a Creep’ or ‘Caught in One’ could easily take its

place to swim into chart waters. Another highlight is the evocative

‘Coming Down’, which slows the pace of the album while Dee Dee reaches notes that have enough power to make armhairs stand on end.

With a nod to the past, Only in Dreams is an indie pop album with longevity.

Review Danielle Street

HIT IT & QUIT IT – GEORGE FM

1: 1987 FA Cup Final – Spurs 2 Coventry City 3 – Where it all began for me. Clive Allen scored with a diving header in the second minute from a Chris Waddle cross. 2: 1991 FA Cup Semi Final – Spurs 3 Arsenal 1 – Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne scored from a 35-yard free kick widely regarded as one of the greatest goals at Wembley. 3: 2005 Premier League – Manchester United 0 Spurs 0 (1) – Pedro Mendes scores the famous “ghost goal” from the halfway line in injury time. It crosses the goal line, but the referee fails to see it, and Spurs are denied a famous victory. Very Tottenham.4: 2010 Premier League – Arsenal 2 Spurs 3 – Spurs trailed 2-0 at halftime but goals from Gareth Bale, Rafa Van der Vaart and Younnes Kaboul secured our first away win at Arsenal in years. Massive result.5: 2011 Champions League – AC Milan 0 Spurs 1 – A fine defensive effort and a late goal from Peter Crouch. Showed that we can cut it with the best of ’em in the Champions League. We’ll be back!

Only in Dreams(Sub Pop)

FRANK BOOKER’S TOP FIVE TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR GAMES

the lo-fi appeal of their

Only marks a leap in musical

Only

SUN ARAWAncient Romans(Drag City)Eight monstrous psych jams, weaved from slushy synths,

crackling dub percussion and yowling, near-wordless vocals. Sun Araw’s latest conjures up everything from West African highlife heard through a warped cassette tape to a stately ’80s educational tape about the wonders of archaeology. The Auckland show next year will be something else.

HALLELUJAH PICASSOSRewind the Hateman(HP/Rhythmethod)The best New

Zealand groups have always functioned like a fractured parallel to the trends overseas at the time – tangentially connected but very much their own creatures. Re-add the Hallelujah Picassos to the list on the back of this well-deserved compilation – ‘Black Spade Picasso Core’ is still a bracing meeting of early sampling and thrash; ‘Rewind’ set a bar for New Zealand reggae that has rarely been surpassed since. Essential.

ATLAS SOUNDParallax(4AD)The third proper solo release from Deerhunter’s

Bradford Cox might be his most cohesive yet. This is a bit of a loss in some ways, as listening out for icy techno rips and surprise Stereolab collabs was part of the fun. However this is a remarkably confi dent set of songs, at their best when Cox is extending himself with ethereal, immaculate ballads (check the phenomenal ‘Terra Incognita’ and ‘Flagstaff’).

THE CHECKSDeadly Summer Sway(Pie Club)Quite a second wind from a band

who seemed DOA when their fi rst album eventually slid out – this might be their strongest yet. Still moments where they seem like a genuinely young band caught in a producer’s bombastic idea of “youth”, especially on overblown stuff like ‘Dogs of Perfection’ or ‘Black Frog’. The single-ready songs on here, of which there are a decent handful, are much better.

L.A. MITCHELLThe Concept: EP #2(Honesty Box Records)Wellington r’n’b

singer Lauren Mitchell is pulling a Robyn of sorts – her genre is liable to sag on long, perfunctory releases, so hey, just put out the good stuff in bite-sized chunks. ‘Oceans’ is the real set-apart

standout – total dreamscape sci-fi stuff à la Ria Hall’s great EP this year. Watch this space.

STRANGE BOYSLive Music(Rough Trade)Total second-tier garage-y stuff

from Austin, Texas. While new prospects like Bad Sports are just killing it and Ty Segall’s album this year was a good example of doffi ng your hand to Lennon while staying weird, this is just totally blanded-out and pitches hard for the “dad-rock crowd” with lame Tom Petty homages. Skip it.

KELEThe Hunter EP(Witchita/Liberator)Bloc Party died shitting the bed

hard, frankly. Overcooked, desperate rave-y obnoxiousness to look “in touch”, panicky where they didn’t need to panic. Stuff a bit like this, actually – Kele Okerke’s latest EP suggests that he alone steered them to their fate. RIYL: wubstep w/ “heart” and tame New Order knockoffs.

JEFFREY LEWISA Turn in the Dream Songs(Rough Trade)There’s a lot to hate

about anti-folk icon Lewis – a voice

that makes Daniel Johnston look like Jeff Buckley, a monochromatic strummy tweeness, liberal use of a recorder… and yet, and yet. He’s expertly, disarmingly listenable in a way that confounds all critical faculties, with a knack for weaving the mundane or trite into great songwriting. I recommend giving him a shot and fi guring it out yourself.

MARK DE CLIVE-LOWERenegades(Tru Thoughts Records)Hundreds of small

New Zealand businesses fail every year, and I am 100 per cent confi dent that most of them are cafes that play music like this. Enjoy listening to the sound of certain failure, you masochists.

VICTORIA GIRLING-BUTCHERSummit Drive(Independent)Weirdly packaged

as some sort of “sexy reinvention” for the naturally lovely ex-Lucid 3 singer. An album of excellently-crafted pop-rock that sneaks in some marvellous lyrics under the gloss like some sort of yacht grrl Steely Dan – ‘The Taxidermist’, ‘Chorus Girl’ and ‘Avondale Nights’ all function as astutely-observed prose. Thinking man’s Xmas gift for Mum.

Reviews Joe Nunweek

DEE DEE PENNY has managed to nap the day away with her husband in a hotel room in Brussels. A peaceful moment of relative normality stolen during the organised chaos that comes with touring a band to the other side of the globe.

“It’s the life that we have chosen, so you have to make an effort,” Penny says in her soft West Coast drawl. “But we are definitely trying to spend a lot more time together.”

Consequently, when it came time to tour the group’s sophomore album, Only in Dreams, Welchez came along for the ride – first with around US, and then on tour with “the girls” in Europe this month.

It is perhaps a little ironic, considering that the chasms caused by the couple’s separate expeditions provided much of the material for the album, alongside inspiration drawn from the death of her mother from cancer last year.

“The main theme of the record is sort of a semi-awareness of a great divide between what you have and what you want,” says Penny. “And things existing in the dream realm, because they are

not actually possible to have in real life.”Only in Dreams has been described

as the biggest musical evolution for Dum Dum Girls, which, despite their name, began as a solo bedroom project for Penny, whose real name is Kirsten Gundred.

It is undeniably a more polished sound, thanks to the help of esteemed producer Richard Gottehrer, who has worked with bands ranging from ’60s girl group The Angels to all-female new wave act The Go-Gos. Gottehrer, therefore, was the perfect person to

pull Penny’s shy vocals to the fore and reveal her sultry tone.

Another difference from previous releases is the surf-guitar thread that stitches Only in Dreams together, a style Penny admits she has always been drawn to.

“One of the first records I remember listening to from my Dad’s collection was a Ventures record, and I’ve always really loved that. The issue for me, and why it’s maybe not apparent in the other recordings, is that I am not a very good guitar player.”

Dum Dum Girls’ frontwoman Dee Dee Penny knows firsthand that marriage and the rock’n’roll lifestyle don’t always form a blissful union because she and husband Chris Welchez, of noise-pop band Crocodiles, are often on the road with their respective groups. But Penny remains philosophical regarding the bouts of separation.Text Danielle Street

Enter bandmates Jules on guitar, Bambi on bass and Sandy on drums. Previously hired guns for touring, this is the first album Penny had other musicians play on.

“I don’t know that it’ll really ever cross over from being my band. I’m still the songwriter, and still the leader in that sense, but we definitely have become more of a family.”

Assembling an all-girl band was no sweet accident – Penny had been inspired over the years by bands that were predominately women, and knew

it was a tradition she wanted to tap into. “It just seemed like there was a

different sort of energy and I was curious what that sort of experience would be like… and it worked so well.”

Dum Dum Girls have their rock’n’roll aesthetic locked down. The black vintage dresses, dark glasses, long legs, red lipstick and cool stares – it all equates to a definite rock’n’roll cool factor.

It was fitting then that the band recorded at Josh Homme’s Pink Duck Studio in Los Angeles. There, surrounded by leopard print and Elvis paintings, the Dum Dums got to indulge in some classic equipment.

“It was quite a museum of vintage gear, a pretty unbelievable collection of amplifiers, guitars and bass guitars,” Penny recollects. “Josh came to visit one day, and he rolled up on his motorcycle with his leather jacket. It was almost comical how rock’n’roll it felt.”

Seeing her brainchild flourish was a rewarding process for Penny. But, in the spirit of evolution, she is aware she doesn’t want to repeat herself and “make the same record again”. Her next release will be a collection of “atmospheric dream-poppy songs” recorded in her current home of New York, originally intended as B-sides for Only in Dreams.

In the meantime Penny will be busy continuing to tour around the world. The Dum Dum Girls will be arriving in New Zealand in January, sans Welchez, who is unable to come. Nevertheless, Penny is cool about the impending time away from her husband, and excited to bring her band to these shores for the first time.

VOLUME presents Dum Dum Girls at Auckland’s Kings Arms on Friday 6 January – tickets from undertheradar.co.nz and Real Groovy.

“Josh [Homme] came to visit one day, and he rolled up on his motorcycle with his leather jacket. It was almost comical how rock’n’roll it felt.”

WITH PERVERSE, TRANSGRESSIVE fi lms like Audition, Visitor Q and Ichi the Killer, madly prolific Japanese director Takashi Miike so quickly established himself as one of this century’s foremost shock cinema mavericks that it’s easy to discount and forget his versatility with genre.

Brutal, elegant, bracingly reverent and stupendously entertaining, 13 Assassins, his remake of Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 film of the same name, shows how at ease he

is with shifting into modes of classical, accessible filmmaking.

The plot’s familiar – with more than a passing nod to Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai – but it’s Miike’s masterful invigoration of narrative archetypes that makes this thing hum. In late 19th Century feudal Japan, Lord Naritsugu (Goro Inagaki), the Shogun’s adopted younger brother, is raping and killing his way into power. Shogun official Sir Doi (Mikijiro Hiro) isn’t too happy about it, so he calls upon unflappable, honourable samurai Shinzaemon (Kôji Yakusho) to take out Naritsugu before it’s too late.

The first two-thirds are devoted to some careful table-setting: the assembling of the assassins, the strategic planning of the mission, and the demonstration of what an absolutely ruthless prick Naritsugu is. But if you’re itching for the “goods”, don’t worry, there’s plenty to come: the film culminates in 40 minutes of intensely sustained orgiastic carnage as the outnumbered samurai clash valiantly with Naritsugu’s men.

Expertly choreographed and guaranteed to make you shit your pants in excitement and joy, it’s the most enthralling action sequence of the year, bar none.

Review Aaron Yap

Brian Grazer has stepped in to replace Brett Ratner as the producer of next year’s Oscars after the director’s controversial exit. For hosting duties, Billy Crystal will replace Eddie Murphy.

Immortals director Tarsem wants to do a live action version of Samurai Jack at some point, but his next film will probably be a smaller, My Dinner with Andre-type gab-fest.

Adding to the growing eclectic cast list of Quentin Tarantino’s western Django Unchained cast is Sacha Baron Cohen, who’s in final negotiations to play a “small-but-pivotal part”.

Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar biopic is getting mixed reviews upon release: DiCaprio is drawing praise for his performance but many critics have found the fi lm “muddled”, “clumsy” and “ham-handed”.

WITH PERVERSE, TRANSGRESSIVE fi lms

13 ASSASSINSDirector Takashi MiikeStarring Kôji Yakusho,

Takayuki Yamada,Yûsuke Iseya

POWERSTATION FRI 16 DECEMBERTICKETS FROM TICKETMASTERwww.powerstation.co.nz • www.muchmoremusic.co.nz

TOGETHER WITH

STINKY JIM &MC SLAVE’S LOGG CABIN

ADRIANSHERWOOD

95bFM PRESENTS

THERE SEEMS TO be a flood of music documentaries at the moment. Martin Scorsese’s George Harrison bio, Living in the Material World, will be out on DVD soon. In the meantime there is Cameron Crowe’s feature-length documentary on Pearl Jam,

Pearl Jam Twenty. Yes, it’s been 20 years since Eddie Vedder and co emerged from the Seattle music scene, and this film follows the band from their pre-Pearl Jam days as Mother Love Bone, led by frontman Andrew Wood, who died in March 1990, just as their much-anticipated debut album was about to be released.

Crowe has been a fan of the band for years and featured them in his 1992 fi lm Singles, and he’s a Seattle insider, having lived there for years with his (now ex) wife Nancy Wilson of Heart. Crowe’s close relationship with the band and his intimate knowledge of the Seattle scene allows the members of Pearl Jam to open up and tell their story. There is plenty of rare, early footage, interviews with all band members and Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell.

Over the years being a Pearl Jam fan has become uncool. The detractors seem to hold it against them that they are not Nirvana. But this fi lm shows that Pearl Jam is a band to be proud of. Sure, their style is based on ’70s arena rockers like The Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin, but they infuse their music with plenty of punk spirit and they have behaved with

dignity and courage over the years. This documentary does what any good fi lm about a band should do – makes you want to go back and listen to the music.

U2 is also celebrating a 20th anniversary. Achtung Baby was released in 1991 and has just been reissued. From the Sky Down is a feature-length fi lm about the making of the album. Casual fans may want to pass on this – it’s a bit longwinded (Bono always has plenty to say) but the hardcore fan will enjoy the scenes showing the nuts and bolts of how songs like ‘One’ and ‘Mysterious Ways’ were created in the studio. Again, the band comes across as very candid and they are not afraid to show themselves in an unfl attering light here.

Talihina Sky is the story of Kings of Leon. This one is a bit of a mess. There is plenty of footage of the band members (brothers and cousins) as they introduce us to their extended family from Oklahoma. The result is a confirmation of just about every stereotype of a rural family from the Southern US. It’s self-indulgent and incoherent. Hazzard County can’t be far away.

Review Marty Duda

PEARL JAM TWENTY

FROM THE SKY DOWN

TALIHINA SKY

PEARL JAM

FROM THE

THERE SEEMS TO

Director Stephen C. Mitchell

Director David Guggenheim

Director Cameron Crowe

8449

152A

A

Wed 28th – Thurs 29th Dec 2011

Terrace Downs,CanterburySouth Island, New Zealand

rhythmandalps.co.nz

Tickets Available Fromwww.1night.co.nz

Grandmaster FlashBrookes Brothers / NetskyHomebrew / Tali Live & Acoustic12th Planet / 1814/Dub Fx /SoulsystemFried Chicken Sound System / Dubwise&MCSilvaKnuckles / Soul Trader Nacoa / PartidoKev Freash / Dj Substance

Wednesday December 28th

Ltj Bukem&MCTaliSkream And Benga / Six 60Flying Lotus / Foreign Beggars / AntixThe Eastern / Soulware / A Hori BuzzStinky Jim /Cyril Orson / Reality ChantConfucius& Dave Boogie /GhostTim Sargent / Toby Nice / Seth Hamilton

Thursday December 29th

HISTORY MADE...

Te Kupu and Upper Hutt Posse travelled to Detroit in October 1990 at the invitation of Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam.Photography Teremoana RapleyI FIRST HEARD of Nation of Islam when I read the autobiography of Malcolm X back in 1983, although I had a memory from Muhammad Ali fights and him being around these guys in black suits – but “Black Muslims” was more the terminology then. I grew up in Upper Hutt and there was a lot of racism there, and to hear the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X speak so forcefully and say, ‘The white man’s the devil’ and all this shit, it’s like, wow. The connection was their struggle against an oppressive system that is, to this day, race-based.

In 1985, I saw a Foreign Correspondent programme, and it had Louis Farrakhan speaking on there, and I was like, ‘Hah!’ He was speaking to a massive audience at Madison Square Garden, and I thought, ‘Wow – the Black Muslims are going strong’.

After that, Public Enemy came out and talked about Farrakhan, and I thought, ‘Oh right – it’s all hooked in there’. When people heard Public Enemy talk about the Nation of Islam, it was like, ‘Who’s Farrakhan?’

In 1990, Rasul Muhammad, a son of the founder of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, visited here to get amongst Maori people. The Posse did a gig at The Gluepot, and Rasul saw us perform there. He came backstage and said, ‘I want you to come to Detroit and share your music, meet Louis Farrakhan and just get it on with the Nation of Islam – will you come?’, and I was just like, ‘Yeah – we’re coming!’

We did another gig at The Gluepot and Hinewehi Mohi and Moana and the Moahunters supported us and played for free, and Willie Jackson became our tour manager for the trip.

We were scheduled to play a gig on Saviours’ Day, which is an event the Nation of Islam has. We performed, but the main event was Farrakhan speaking. The news media said there were 20,000 people there, so this was a very big, important movement that

was going on among black people in the USA, but no one hears about it.

It was just wonderful to be there, especially as guests of the Nation of Islam. Flava Flav performed and so did Doug E. Fresh, and we got up there and did our set. It was cool to be in Detroit in that day and age – we were defi nitely the fi rst rap group out of here to perform in somewhere like Detroit.

Upper Hutt Posse’s new album Declaration of Resistance is out now on Kia Kaha.

Upper Hutt Posse Declaration of Resistance TourFriday 25 November – Woody’s Bar, AucklandSaturday 26 November – Khuja Lounge, AucklandFriday 2 December – The Delta, NgaruawahiaSaturday 3 December – The Commercial Hotel, Whakatane Friday 9 December – Old Skool Bar, Palmerston North

In 1990, Rasul Muhammad,

get amongst Maori people. The Posse did a gig at The Gluepot,

meet Louis Farrakhan and just get it on with the Nation of Islam was going on among black people

DLT, MC Wiya, Doug E. Fresh, Teremoana Rapley and

Te Kupu before the dinner with Minister Farrakhan

In 1990, Rasul Muhammad, In 1990, Rasul Muhammad,

Flava Flav and DLT backstage at Detroit’s Latin Quarter

“This was a very big, important movement that was going on among black people in the USA, but no one hears about it.”

...AND IN THE MAKING

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS BATTLE OF THE BANDS – ORIGINALS REGIONAL FINALGLENFIELD INTERMEDIATE, AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBERReview Kit WalkerPhotography Ukiah Brown

SEVEN GROUPS, 13 songs, one-minute changeovers. Shameless genre-shifting, fearless showmanship, a healthy nod to metal and no shoegazing. This was the North Shore Intermediate Schools Battle of the Bands hosted by Glenfield Intermediate. Each band performs two originals and the winner goes to the Grand Final at the Bruce Mason Theatre on Thursday 1 December.

Having always been interested in the often awkwardly-named first groups anyone got their start in, Wednesday was a welcome opportunity to see what might be in store for us in 10 years’ time.

Urban Disturbance from Murrays Bay Intermediate kicked off the night looking cool and brimming with attitude. Their song ‘Gonna Regret’ was an almost Sabbath-esque glam stomp. FUN!

Midgit are actually at primary

school, but found their way into these heats. Their charismatic bass player, Zach, announced, “We got our name from endless years of being teased!” Midgit’s ‘Snakebite’ was a rocker. With a Jon Lord-esque intro, it chugged into thrash metal with a terrifying cookie monster roar from the drummer in the chorus.

“Who’s going to high school next year? This one’s called ‘Anticipation’.” Wairau Intermediate’s Relentless Production took the song of the night. Think Brian Wilson’s ‘Be True to Your School’ sung by The Shangri-Las – its catchy lyrics and infectious chorus had me singing the hook the next day.

The Lost is a trio keeping it simple and cool. Two confident gals with a boy drummer, they meant business. The red-haired guitarist won six-stringer of the night.

There must be something in the water in Northcote, a North Shore

suburb which had supplied local rockers from The Scavengers to The 3D’s over the years. Northcote’s Madtown had confidence and a Bay City Rollers vibe. Their singer took out vocalist of the night.

SugarRush from Murrays Bay Intermediate packed the stage with two singers and four guitarists. Impressive choreography with synchronised headbangs, their bass player took that award for the night.

Madtown took out the honours for this heat, celebrating with shrieks, high-fives and glowing smiles. In fact, everyone was smiling.

Leaving with a grin myself, humming ‘Anticipation’, I looked at my watch… 8.20pm.

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS BATTLE OF THE BANDS –

...AND IN THE MAKING

Madtown

Relentless Production

suburb which had supplied local

...AND IN THE MAKING...AND IN THE MAKING

The Lost

Midgit SugarRush

Paradox

Urban Disturbance

AUCKLANDTUESDAY 22The 2011 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour with Bic Runga – Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, 7pm, $65The Pointer Sisters – I’m So Excited Tour – The Civic, THE EDGE, Auckland CBD, 8pm, $89.90-$129.90X-Train at the Bluegrass Club – The Bunker, Devonport, 8pm, $15Pop Panic ft. Ricky Rile – Cassette Number Nine, Auckland CBD, 9pm, FreeAcoustic – Rakinos, Auckland CBD, 5:30pm, FreePink Floyd – Double Feature – Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, Royal Oak, 8pm, $35WEDNESDAY 23The 2011 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour with Bic Runga – Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, 7pm, $65Halo Of Ashes, San Pedro, Out Run the Buffalo and more – Kings Arms, Newton, 8pmTeenage Kicks – Cassette Number Nine, Auckland CBD, 9pm, FreePlaying Up – Rakinos, Auckland CBD, 9pm, FreeCreative Jazz Club – Nathan Haines Fourtet – 1885 Britomart, Auckland CBD, 8pm, $5-$10The Circling Sun Band – Ponsonby Social Club, Ponsonby, 10pm, FreeLive Latin and Brazilian Music – The Mexican Cafe, Auckland CBD, 8:30pm, FreePaul Voight – Sugar Bar, Newmarket, 7pm, FreeUnplugged Sessions – Khuja Lounge, Auckland CBD, 8pmThe Neo-Kalashnikovs, Swampy Tonk, Bio Robots & Slug Hugger – UFO Live Music Venue, New Lynn, 8:30pmTHURSDAY 24Charlotte Johansen Album Release Party – The Bacco Room, Auckland CBD, 7:30pm, $15-$30Flying Nun 30th Anniversary – The Clean with The Subliminals – Kings Arms, Newton, 8pm, $32DJ Manuel Bundy & guitarist Dixon Nacey – The Deck, Auckland CBD, 6pm, FreeCapital M – What Makes Me Album Release Party – Khuja Lounge, Auckland CBD, 8:30pm, $10Liquid Thursdays – Sponge Bar, Ponsonby, 7pm, FreeMara and the Bushkas – Wine Cellar, Newton, 8pm, $10The Drop – Rakinos, Auckland CBD, 8pm, FreeKara Gordon & Band – Volume Bar, Eden Terrace, 9:30pm, FreeFRIDAY 25Our:House ft. Avicii, Crookers, Pretty Lights + More – Ellerslie Event Centre, Ellerslie, 9pm, $49.95Upper Hutt Posse ‘Declaration of Resistance’ Tour – Woody’s Bar, Manurewa, 9pm, $20

Mulatu Astatke – The Powerstation, Eden Terrace, 8pmVictoria Girling-Butcher and Lindon Puffi n – Backbeat Bar, Newton, 7pm, $15Flying Nun 30th Anniversary – Fetus Productions & X-Features – Kings Arms, Newton, 8pm, $20Moonfest – New Moon Fire, Dance and Drum Circle – Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden, 7:30pm, FreeMUM Clubnight ft. The Good Fun and Tied On Teeth – Cassette Number Nine, Auckland CBD, 10pm, $5Storehouse Blues Rent Party – Wine Cellar, Newton, 9pm, $10-$15Dire Straits Rocky Road Tribute Tour – New Lynn RSA, New Lynn, 8pm, $10-$15Phil Stoodley – Brew On Quay, Auckland CBD, 8:30pm, FreeDJ Chris Cox & Percussionist Partido – The Deck, Auckland CBD, 8pm, FreeStreet Lights – The Evolution of Club Culture – 519 Club, Mt Wellington, 10pm, $20-$25Very Tall Stories ft. Tido, Haz’ Beats, Ev Lover – Khuja Lounge, Auckland CBD, 11pm, $10Be Free Fridays – Be Club, Auckland CBD, 10pm, FreeSam Hill, Wade Marriner & Guests – Trench Bar, Auckland CBD, 9pm, FreeChico con Tumbao – Besos Latinos Restaurant, Auckland CBD, 7:30pm, FreeFriday Night Salsa – Latin Dance Studios Ltd (Latinissimo), Glenfi eld, 8:30pm, $5-$10Habana Noches presents Cuban Accent – CrossRoads Bar & de Ville Cajun Restaurant, Ponsonby, 8pm, FreeEddie Gaiger – Brooklyn Bar, Auckland CBD, 9:30pm, FreeTall Poppies – The Crib, Ponsonby, 10pm, FreeMara and the Bushkas – Sawmill Cafe, Leigh, 9:30pm, $10Fundraising for Fukushima – The Rocks, Waiheke Island, 8pmJackal, Catalyst, Asinine and Sun Bear – Shadows Bar, Auckland CBD, 8pm, -$5Sonic Altar – 4:20, Newton, 8pm, $15SATURDAY 26Upper Hutt Posse ‘Declaration of Resistance’ Tour – Khuja Lounge, Auckland CBD, 10pm, $20Paua – 4:20, Newton, 7pm, $25Scout Hall Massacre – St Barnabas Scout Hall, Mt Eden, 4pm, $10The All Seeing Hand Album Release Tour – Snake Pit, Auckland CBD, 9pmThe Electrifi ed Tour – Studio, Newton, 9pm, $15DJ Ned Roy & percussionist Majic Hands – The Deck, Auckland CBD, 8pm, FreeJulien Dyne Future Funk Band w/ support from Lo Key – Ponsonby Social Club, Ponsonby, 9pm, Free

Motor City Family Funk – Rakinos, Auckland CBD, 10pmPure Trench Bar – Trench Bar, Auckland CBD, 9pm, FreeDeath and Damnation Tour 2011 – Kings Arms, Newton, 8pm, $10-$15Japanese Earthquake Benefi t – KFM HQ, Newton, 9pm, $10The Rock’n’Roll Allstars – Edgewater College, Pakuranga, 8pm, $12Hieronymus Bosch 25th Anniversary and Vinyl Release Party – Whammy Bar, Newton, 9pm, $10SUNDAY 27The Moody Blues – The Civic, THE EDGE, Auckland CBD, 8pmKeith Rowe (UK), Jeff Henderson & Phil Dadson – The Classic Comedy & Bar, Auckland CBD, 8pm, $9Southern Fried Sunday & Guests – Kings Arms, Newton, 5pm, $10Blues In the Boat House – Riverhead Tavern, Riverhead, 2pm, FreeAndrew Mockler – Garrison Public House, Mt Wellington, 4pm, FreeRiqi Harawera – The Marina Bar, West Harbour, 1pm, FreeDJ Nyntee & saxophonist Lewis McCallum – The Deck, Auckland CBD, 5pm, FreeStarlight Sundays – The Windsor Castle, Parnell, 5pm, FreeAll the Way – Rakinos, Auckland CBD, 6:30pm, FreeSunday Jazz, Rock, Reggae Session – Shooters Saloon, Kingsland, 2pm, FreeSunday Sessions hosted by Club Groove – Flo Bar & Cafe, Newmarket, 4pm, FreeThe Lazyboyz – Huapai Tavern, Huapai, 3:30pm, FreeMONDAY 28Allan Johnston – The Bunker, Devonport, 8pm, $15Ben Fernandez – Spencer on Byron Hotel, Takapuna, 6pm, FreeVIVA Jazz Quartet – The Windsor Castle, Parnell, 6pm, Free

NORTHLANDFRIDAY 25An All-Star Evening of Jazz, Cool and Hot – Turner Centre, Kerikeri, 7:30pm, $15-$20Vorn – Mangawhai Tavern, Mangawhai, 9pm, -$5SUNDAY 27Lazy Sundays – Art at Wharepuke, Kerikeri, 12pm, Free

THE COROMANDELSUNDAY 27Soul Sax Plus – Tairua Landing, Tairua, 12pm, Free

WAIKATOWEDNESDAY 23Luckless & Bond Street Bridge on Tour – YOT Club, Raglan, 8pm, $10THURSDAY 24The Sami Sisters – YOT Club, Raglan, 8pm, $15

FRIDAY 25Paua – Altitude Bar, Hamilton, 7pm, $25The Checks Deadly Summer Sway Album Tour 2011 – FLOW, Hamilton, 8pm, $20-$25Katy – The Katy Perry Tribute – Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton, 7pm, $24.99-$60SATURDAY 26In The Pink: Pink Floyd Tribute Show – The Woolshed Tavern, Reporoa, 8:30pm, FreeSUNDAY 27Singer Songwriter Concert – Art Doc Gallery, Te Kuiti, 1pmJazz on a Sunday Evening – Te Rapa Racecourse, Hamilton, 5:30pm, $8-$15

HAWKE’S BAY / GISBORNETUESDAY 22Richard Grainger and Chris Parkinson – The Flying Dutchman, Gisborne, 7:30pmTHURSDAY 24Luckless & Bond Street Bridge on Tour – The Cabana, Napier, 8pm, $10FRIDAY 25The 2011 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour with Bic Runga – Waiapu Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Napier, 7pm, $65SATURDAY 26The Provincial Sessions – Dram and Cock Whiskey Bar, Napier, 9pm, $5The Gizzy Mashup ft. General Lee (Ministry of Sound sessions) – Poverty Bay Club, Gisborne, 10pm, $10SUNDAY 27The Redwoods Session – Te Mata Peak, Havelock North, 3pm, $10-$25

BAY OF PLENTYWEDNESDAY 23Swamp Thing ft. Michael Barker & Grant Haua – The Pheasant Plucker, Rotorua, 8:30pm, FreeTHURSDAY 24White Affair Paty – TEAZAR Lounge Bar & Night Club, Rotorua, 10pm, FreeBay Salsa – Buddha Lounge, Tauranga, 8pm, $2LSG Group – The Pheasant Plucker, Rotorua, 9pm, FreeFRIDAY 25Sons of Zion & Tomorrow People – Twice As Irie 3 – Kalah Bar, Rotorua, 8:30pm, $20-$25SATURDAY 26Sons of Zion & Tomorrow People – Twice As Irie 3 – The Commercial Hotel, Whakatane, 8:30pm, $20-$25New Zealand Country Music Awards 2011 – Civic Theatre, Rotorua, 7pm, $15-$35Live Rock-Metal Bands – TEAZAR Lounge Bar & Night Club, Rotorua, 8pm, $5MONDAY 28Jimmy & Perry – The Pheasant Plucker, Rotorua, 7pm, Free

TARANAKIFRIDAY 25The Sami Sisters – Matinee, New Plymouth, 8pm, $20SATURDAY 26Vortex Tribe – Theatre Royal – TSB Showplace, New Plymouth, 8pm

SUNDAY 27Hayley Westenra – 10th Anniversary Homecoming Tour: SOLD OUT – TSB Theatre – TSB Showplace, New Plymouth, 7:30pm, $75-$85

MANAWATU / WHANGANUIFRIDAY 25Ma Shot Pa – Levin Club, Levin, 9pm, FreeThe All Seeing Hand Album Release Tour – The ARC Theatre, Whanganui, 9pmSATURDAY 26Stanley Pedigree – Overtime EP Release Party – Space Monster, Whanganui, 9pm, $5-$10Hayley Westenra – 10th Anniversary Homecoming Tour – Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North, 7:30pm, $75-$85The 2011 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour with Bic Runga – All Saints’ Church, Palmerston North, 7pm, $65

WELLINGTON REGIONTUESDAY 22Tuesday Night Speakeasy – Bodega, 7:30pm, FreeLive Music and Two for One Desserts – The Library, 5pm, FreeSFBH Presents! The Prophet Summer Series! – San Francisco Bath House, 6:30pm, FreeWEDNESDAY 23Flip Grater – Mighty Mighty, 9pm, $15The All Seeing Hand Album Release Tour – San Francisco Bath House, 9pmThe Session – Matterhorn, 10pm, FreeTHURSDAY 24Girls Pissing On Girls Pissing – Freds, 8pm, $5Capital Blues Jam Night – Hotel Bristol, 8:30pm, FreeMaking Baby Float CD/DVD Launch – St Andrews on the Terrace, 6pm, $10-$30Twinset – Foxglove Bar and Kitchen, 5:30pm, FreeSpook the Horses and Polter – Mighty Mighty, 10pm, $5Lisa Crawley Album Release Tour – San Francisco Bath House, 7:30pm, $10-$15FRIDAY 25Luckless & Bond Street Bridge w/ Timothy Blackman – Happy, 8pm, $10Sleepy Age, The Grand Saloon and TV Disko – Mighty Mighty, 10pmThe Capital Gospel Show – Old St Paul’s, 7pm, -$20In Like Flynn with Ainslie Allen – D4 on Featherston, 7pm, FreeState of Mind – Sandwiches, 11pm, $20Hurricane Shayn Wills Sings Bob Dylan – Lembas Cafe, Raumati, 7:30pmAstro Empire w/ Alley Tricks & I Am The Light – Meow, 9pmLive Music Friday – Twinset – Mojo Bond St, 6pm, FreeMoumou Timers with The Bakelites – Finn’s, Paekakariki, 7pmNewtown Rocksteady – The Southern Cross Bar and Restaurant, 9pm, FreeSATURDAY 26The Moody Blues – Michael Fowler Centre, 8pm

Chow Dwn – Chow Tory, 10pmElection Party/Wake with Sharpie Crows, The Body Lyre, and J – Mighty Mighty, 10pmDarren Watson & The Real Deal Blues Band – The Lido Cafe, 8:30pm, FreeUrban Tramper – The Southern Cross Bar and Restaurant, 9pm, FreeMi Casa Su Casa – Bettys Function House & Bar, 10pm, FreeGreen Party Election Night Party – San Francisco Bath House, 8pm, $10-$15Pitch Black – Sandwiches, 11pm, $20SUNDAY 27Acoustic Routes Concert – Lava – Meow, 7:30pm, $15Live Jazz with The Troubles – Happy, 8:30pm, FreeRecovery Sessions with Wallace Gollan – The Southern Cross Bar and Restaurant, 3pm, FreeThe Boptet – The Lido Cafe, 7pm, FreeThe Sunday Jazz Club – Public Bar & Eatery, 7:30pm, FreeMONDAY 28The 2011 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour with Bic Runga – St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Masterton, 7pm, $65

NELSON / TASMANWEDNESDAY 23Alex and BB – Fairfi eld House, Nelson, 8pmFreaky Meat Delicatesson Tour – Ka Pie, Nelson, 12pm, FreeDirt Floor Alliance – Knocking On the Door of Summer Tour – Mussel Inn, Golden Bay, 8:30pm, $10Freaky Meat – Delicatessen National Tour 2011 – The Playhouse, Waimea, 7pm, $7-$10THURSDAY 24Dirt Floor Alliance – Knocking On the Door of Summer Tour – Yaza Cafe, Nelson, 8pm, $10Freaky Meat – Delicatessen National Tour 2011 – Roots Bar, Golden Bay, 8pm, $7-$10FRIDAY 25Flip Grater – The Boathouse, Nelson, 7:30pm, $15SATURDAY 26Nelson Region Hospice Charity Concert – Hope Community Church, Waimea, 1:30pm, $10SUNDAY 27Nelson Jazz Club Big Band – Golden Bear Brewing Company, Waimea, 3pm, Free

MARLBOROUGHFRIDAY 25Dirt Floor Alliance – Knocking On the Door of Summer Tour – Le Cafe, Marlborough Sounds, 8pmFreaky Meat – Delicatessen National Tour 2011 – Le Cafe, Marlborough Sounds, 8pm, $7-$10SATURDAY 26Freaky Meat – Delicatessen National Tour 2011 – Interislander Ferry, Marlborough Sounds, 1:00pm, Free

WEST COASTTHURSDAY 24Alex and BB – Frank’s, Greymouth, 8pm, FreeFRIDAY 25Alex and BB – NBS Theatre, Westport, 8pm

SATURDAY 26Luckless & Bond Street Bridge on Tour ft. Flip Grater – Star Tavern, Westport, 8pm, $15Dirt Floor Alliance – Knocking On the Door of Summer Tour – Frank’s, Greymouth, 9pm, $10Flip Grater – Star Tavern, Westport, 7:30pm, $15SUNDAY 27Luckless & Bond Street Bridge on Tour – Donovan’s Store, Franz Josef, 8pm, $20

CANTERBURYTHURSDAY 24The Black Velvet Band – Becks Southern Alehouse, 8pm, FreeFRIDAY 25Retrosonic – Becks Southern Alehouse, 9pm, FreeSATURDAY 26Lisa Crawley Album Release Tour – The Brewery, 7:30pm, FreeHarry Harrison Quartet – The Nut Point Centre, West Melton, 7:30pm, $20The Shameless Few – Pierside Cafe and Bar, 8:30pm, FreeOla-abaza with Lucid – Darkroom, 9:30pm, FreeSUNDAY 27Music Picnic – Blues, Boogie, and Ballads – Orton Bradley Park, Banks Peninsula, 12pm, $1-$30Kim Potter – Irish Society Hall, 7:30pm, $7-$12

OTAGOTHURSDAY 24Hayley Westenra – 10th Anniversary Homecoming Tour – Regent Theatre, Dunedin, 7:30pm, $75-$85FRIDAY 25Acoustic Fridays With Matt Langley – The Good Oil, Dunedin, 5:30pm, FreeElton John & Band – Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:30pmLisa Crawley Album Release Tour – Chicks Hotel, Dunedin, 7:30pm, $10-$15SATURDAY 26Alex and BB – The River House, Wanaka, 8pmSUNDAY 27Alex and BB – The Church, Dunedin, 7:30pmDirt Floor Alliance – Knocking On the Door of Summer Tour – Luggate Hotel, Wanaka, 5pm, Free

SOUTHLANDWEDNESDAY 23Hayley Westenra – 10th Anniversary Homecoming Tour – Civic Theatre, Invercargill, 7:30pm, $75-$85SATURDAY 26Just Blaze 6 ft. Young Sid – Saints and Sinners, Invercargill, 8pm, $5-$10

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has teamed with Eventfi nder for gig listings. To get your gig considered, go to eventfi nder.co.nz and submit your show for publication. Due to space constraints, we can’t guarantee that every show will be listed.

Drab Doo-Riffs ripped it up at their Sundae Session at York Street Studio, with Karl Steven wearing his grandfather’s sunglasses – expect to see and hear more soon at nzherald.co.nz/sundae-sessions… More wrongness from Rackets coming soon – watch this magazine… Southbound Record Shop has opened on Mount Eden Road just down from The Powerstation, but please can you open on Sundays?… Portishead’s Geoff Barrow seen in Real Groovy buying records and specifically requesting Doug Jerebine’s 1969 album, of which he was able to purchase a Kissing Spell version – the official

release will be late January on Drag City… David Dallas’ pop up store at Conch – genius idea with a feverish response and copies of VOLUME going clear out the door with folks wanting the cover signed… The Checks’ juggernaut is ploughing through the country and heading to The Powerstation… Phase-two of the Hallelujah Picassos’ reissue project soon to be addressed with a collection of cover versions recorded by the group… Peter McLennan’s Dub Asylum has a new digital EP out before the end of the year… X-Features and Fetus Productions at the Windsor was a blast from the past… And are Midgit the smallest band in town?

Peter Jackson has been been sighted driving around Seatoun in the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car from the classic 1968 movie… Jurassic 5’s Charli 2na performs at San Francisco Bath House on 1 December – don’t forget

to bring your backpack… Sharpie Crowes celebrate election night at Mighty Mighty – support from The Body Lyre and Jetsam Isles… And the next night, local electronica pioneers Pitch Black make their first Wellington performance in two years at Sandwiches – expect a full audio-visual video-mapped show… Fat Freddy’s Drop and friends are taking over Foxglove Ballroom on 4 December for Just Friends, a night of DJ performances from Cian, Mikki Dee, The Jewel School, DJ Vee, Hopepa, Koa, Slave, Tony Poon, Jetlag Johnson and Mu – it’s kind of like a trip back to The Matterhorn circa 2001, and there will be a BBQ on the balcony… Friday 25 November, ALTMUSIC presents Keith Rowe (UK), an improv guitar king, performing at Welli’s favourite converted-church turned venue, Freds on Frederick Street.. Bic Runga is doing her church thing on Tuesday 29 November at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, but will Kody Nielson attack anything with a chainsaw? That is the real question… The next night, The Verlaines play San Francisco Bath House. Spot trivia: Immortal Technique is Graeme Downes’ favourite hip hop artist. Who knew?... Friday 2 December, The Golden Awesome play their album release show at the Bath House – fresh off an overseas record deal and an American tour as well!... Rumour has it that the term “BBQ Reggae” is getting a blog era overhaul to “Classic Coolwave”. How about “Outdoor Grillwave” instead?

Container bar/venues are popping up. The old Carlton Hotel, now renamed the Carlton Country Club, and has regular entertainment from the likes of Stomping Nick and The Eastern, while down the road in Victoria Street, Revival is about to open with DJs like Missy G on the decks… The Dux Live is on target to open next Thursday,with the Lindon Puffin album release – the album, Hope Holiday, is getting great reviews. Best wishes to Richard and Ross of the Dux… The Darkroom continues to be a venue for some of our more interesting acts and the addition of a stage will be welcomed by artists and audiences… MAINZ is holding a DJ competition at the Venue on 26 November and a similar DJ comp will

be hosted by RDU at the Colombo on 10 December. Rohan has left the Venue and is heading back to India. We wish him good fortune… Ipswich have a new EP out now… The Guest have returned to gigging, supporting Ash and the Matadors… Stomping Nick is touring the North Island in December… Oscar from El Santo is playing live blues… Alvarados is hosting an open mic night on Tuesdays… and The Dukes are off to London.

Kitten Surprise have released some of their disco rock anthems on Bandcamp… Ash and the Matadors’ South Island tour was a success… New signing to Mokonui: The Entire Alphabet… Dudley Benson has turned theatre promoter... A

Facebook campaign to bring Scott Kelly (Neurosis) and John Baizley (Baroness) to Dunedin is gaining momentum… Two Cartoons flown to Auckland as mentoring band for bandquest.co.nz… New album from The Verlaines is imminent.

Got some news for More Volume? Email us at morevolume@volumemagazine.co.nz.

Geoff Barrow

Lindon Puffin

Dudley Benson

BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS Wednesday 7 December – The Powerstation, Auckland

KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS W/ ALASTAIR GALBRAITHThursday 1 December – Kings Arms, Auckland

THE CHECKSFriday 25 November – Flow Bar, Hamilton Saturday 26 November – The Powerstation, Auckland Thursday 1 December – PBC, Gisborne Friday 2 December – Illuminati, TaurangaSaturday 3 December – Onewhero Rugby Club, OnewheroSaturday 10 December – Yot Club, Raglan

MULATU ASTATKE & THE BLACK JESUS EXPERIENCE Friday 25 November – The Powerstation, Auckland

GUITAR WOLFMonday 12 December – The Dux, Christchurch (free) Tuesday 13 December – Dunedin (venue TBC)Wednesday 14 December – Bodega, Wellington Thursday 15 December – Static, Hamilton Friday 16 December – Cassette Number Nine, Auckland

BEIRUT Saturday 14 January – San Francisco Bath House, Wellington Monday 16 January – The Powerstation, Auckland

FLEET FOXES Friday 13 January – Town Hall, WellingtonSaturday 14 January – Town Hall, Auckland

BIG DAY OUT 2012 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Das Racist, Parkway Drive, Regurgitator, Cavalero Conspiracy, The Vaccines, Nero,Soundgarden, Kasabian, Royksopp, Mariachi el Bronx, Battles, Beastwars, Best Coast, My Chemical Romance and moreFriday 20 January – Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

TUNEYARDS Thursday 12 January – Kings Arms, Auckland

DEERHOOF Saturday 7 January – Whammy Bar, Auckland Sunday 8 January – Bodega, Wellington

FAT FREDDY’S DROP’S ONE DROPMonday 2 January – Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana w/ TrinityRoots & Cornerstone RootsSaturday 7 January – Black Barn, Havelock North w/ The Nudge

HORACE ANDY & SHAPESHIFTER Thursday 29 December – Ascension Vineyard, Matakana Monday 2 January – Riwaka Hotel, Riwaka Friday 6 January – Brewers Field, Mt Maunganui Saturday 7 January – Waihi Beach Hotel, Waihi Beach

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Friday 16 December – San Francisco Bath House, Wellington Saturday 17 December – Kings Arms, Auckland

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY Thursday 15 December – San Francisco Bath House, WellingtonFriday 16 December – Kings Arms, Auckland

NICK LOWE 31 March – The Powerstation, Auckland

ADRIAN SHERWOODFriday 16 March – The Powerstation, Auckland

ROKY ERICKSONWednesday 7 March – The Powerstation, Auckland

RYAN ADAMSTuesday 6 March – The Regent Theatre, DunedinThursday 8 March – The Civic Theatre, Auckland

THE BLACK LIPS Tuesday 28 February – The Powerstation, Auckland

THE SISTERS OF MERCY Wednesday 22 February – The Powerstation, Auckland

SPLORE 2012Erykah Badu, Soul II Soul, Africa Hitech, Gappy Ranks, Shortee Blitz, The Yoots, @Peace, Scratch 22, Disasteradio, Alphabethead, Earl Gateshead, The Nudge, AHoriBuzz, The SmokeEaters, Hermitude and more17-19 February – Tapapakanga Regional Park, Auckland

ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL Anna Calvi, Feist, The Horrors, Gotye, Laura Marling, Pajama Club, SBTRKT Live, Shayne P. Carter, Washed Out, Twin Shadow, M83, Cults, Girls, EMA, Yuck, Toro Y Moi, Wu Lyf, Glasser, Opossom, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Austra, Transistors and moreMonday 30 January – Silo Park, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland

THE DAMNED Wednesday 25 January – The Powerstation, Auckland

DUM DUM GIRLSFriday 6 January – Kings Arms, Auckland

THE DRESDEN DOLLSFriday 27 January – The Powerstation, AucklandSaturday 28 January – Opera House, Wellington

JOE SATRIANI, STEVE VAI AND STEVE LUKATHER – G3 Sunday 25 March – Logan Campbell Centre, AucklandMonday 26 March – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

RUMOURSThe Jayhawks, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis and Wilco.

THE GASLAMP KILLERBE CLUB, AUCKLANDFRIDAY 18 NOVEMBERReview Christiaan de WitPhotography Colette Waaka

“BREAKBEAT. BREAKBEAT FOREVER. No simple four-four for me ever. It doesn’t satisfy me.” William Bensussen AKA The Gaslamp Killer doesn’t even need to think about his answer when I ask him about his preferred rhythm structure. No wonder this Californian beatnik is fast becoming a regular visitor to Aotearoa; that one place in the world where dubstep easily beats techno in terms of popularity.

Gaslamp Killer’s musical evangelism seemed a little out of place in the Commerce Street area. Call him The Britomart Killer, if you will, because neither Auckland’s harbour strip nor San Diego’s Gaslamp District are places where people normally hang out to hear high quality music. But GLK thinks dancefloors deserve some bad beats. And while some DJs reckon being secretive about playlists enhances their

credibility, this hyperactive turntablist proudly name-dropped: “This is a brand new Hudson Mohawke tune – never heard before in a club!”

With entertainment comes variety, which is why Bensussen mixed classic Led Zeppelin with 8-bit rave synths and left-of-centre dubstep wobbles. As he is a DJ, GLK is an ambassador of the hip hop, wonky and dubstep artists he likes. Dimlite, Coki and Flying Lotus all got the credit they deserved in his set.

Even the old demo didn’t seem to have lost its functionality when Bensussen informed the crowd about the various ways he comes across new beats: “My mate just emailed me this shit!”

This is DJing in the 21st century: smooth and fluid mixing has given way to YouTube-style walls of sound where the man in control – like an old radio DJ – uses the mic like a true Minister of Entertainment. This is how you bring downtown Auckland to life.

THE CHECKSTHE CABANA, NAPIERTHURSDAY 17 NOVEMBERPhotography Brian Hatton

SHAYNE P. CARTER, GHOST CLUB, POPSTRANGERSSAMMY’S, DUNEDINSATURDAY 19 NOVEMBERReview Sam ValentinePhotography Roger Grauwmeijer

BOASTING A SIGNIFICANTLY larger and more energetic audience than the previous night’s experimentalism of the Dead C and HDU, the second consecutive night of Flying Nun’s Nunvember celebrations saw a crowd filled with characters from Dunedin’s musical history and father/son combos ready to celebrate the label’s 30th anniversary in the historic Flying Nun home of Sammy’s.

With a rough, reverbed sound drawing on both Sonic Youth and The Gordons, new Flying Nun signings Popstrangers put in a strong performance in their first ever visit to Dunedin. The trio delivered a demented take on psychedelic pop, a procession of droning guitar and distorted bass, all rich in the sonic lineage of their new label.

Things got ragged as Ghost Club took the stage, their short, loose set clearly suffering from performance rust. While it was still a pleasure to see Denise Roughan deliver her dexterous heavy grooves as a platform for David Mitchell’s wonky guitar-hero workouts, overall their set was more charming than engaging.

Shayne Carter’s extensive and diverse back catalogue is certainly worthy of investigation, and Carter seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself on stage as he delivered a set ranging from Bored Games’ ‘Joe 90’ to an Eastern-infl uenced, 10-minute instrumental version of Dimmer’s ‘Seed’. Backed by Gary Sullivan (JPSE, Dimmer) and Vaughan Williams, the power trio format offered a raw take on the Straitjacket Fits numbers.

While his songbook has already cemented its place in New Zealand’s musical canon, Carter isn’t normally one to rest on his laurels. This was a welcome revisit to his storied past.

“A demented take on psychedelic pop, a procession of droning guitar and distorted bass.”

Shayne P. Carter

Ghost Club

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