| International and Industry Action
Thanks to Cheese on Toast, we heard that in a recent post on NME.com, Rhys Webb of The Horrors was asked to submit his first ever guest Radar column – along with other acts like all-girl punk band from Southend and Brighton, Novella; Electricity in Our Homes on Tim Burgess’ new label O Genesis; and London based Advert. Rhys devoted a good third of his column to Connan Mockasin. “…I think Connan Mockasin’s ‘Forever Dolphin Love’ will undoubtedly be one of this year’s finest records. He is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever seen, looking like Andy Warhol and playing (almost) like Jimi Hendrix. But where most musicians provoke the listener with volume, Connan enchants with a delicate delivery. Make sure you check out his fantastically surreal videos. I think he’s a truly important musician and one of the greats of this generation…” he said.
Focusing on the reactions of Cantabrians without narration, the film When A City Falls offers a new grass roots understanding of what happened to half a million New Zealanders the year their lives changed forever, and it opens on November 24. When a City Falls - the people's story from the streets of Christchurch - features an orginial soundtrack by Tiki Taane and Aaron Tokona (Cairo Knife Fight), with legendary NZ musician Richard Nunns.
The sixth annual Playground Weekender - held 90 minutes out of Sydney - features Fat Freddy’s Drop on the bill, alsongside acts such as Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Roots Manuva, UNKLE Sounds, Bomb The Bass and Hudson Mohawke.
playgroundweekender.com.au
Have a peak at Lisa Crawley’s brand new (cute, quirky, fun 60s inspired) music video - Lisa Crawley - You Won't Be There (Official Music Video) and make sure you catch Lisa live on tour in November and December, her dates are here.
New release fanfare
This week sees the release of the deluxe edition of David Dallas’ album The Rose Tint (already sitting at #1 on the iTunes Hip Hop Chart!). To celebrate its release, from Wednesday 16th until Saturday 19th November, Auckland based fans of Dallas’ can head to Conch Records at 115A Ponsonby Road for a music retail experience like no other. Fans can pick up a copy of The Rose Tint Deluxe Edition and some amazing exclusive Rose Tint and Duck Down Records merchandise, and the ‘Pop Up’ store will host live DJs and performances from the likes of P-Money, PNC, Aaradhna, Spycc & INF, plus a special performance from David Dallas himself with his band The Daylight Robbery. David Dallas will be at the store each afternoon of the four days, talking to fans and signing copies of the album. There will also be a Playstation 3 console on hand for eager customers to test their skills and preview 'Tekken Hybrid' before it is released in stores on November 23rd. Conch was chosen to host the ‘Pop Up’ store to show support and draw extra attention to all the independent music retailers in New Zealand. Customers of The Rose Tint Pop Up Store will go into the draw to win daily David Dallas and Playstation prize packs, as well as a grand prize of a VIP trip for two to Wellington to hang back stage and see David play at the 2012 Jim Beam Homegrown festival. Last week David was in the U.S for the State side launch of The Rose Tint, and it was revealed that David has created the theme song for charismatic WWE wrestlers ‘The Usos’. The Samoan twins are one of the most exciting & fastest-rising tag teams in the WWE.
Knights of the DUB Table combine elements of Reggae, Drum‘n’Bass, Hip-Hop and Rock into their own fusion of Dub flavoured music with powerful high-energy performances that leave the crowds wanting more. 2010 saw them release the 'Tronic EP' containing four original Knights tracks and five bonus remixes featuring 2 from Tiki Taane and Optimus Gryme. Now in 2011 their debut album 'Way of the Dub' is finally here and it was worth waiting for. This album should see Knights of The Dub Table truly established as the next big dub outfit in NZ. Expect to see them at a festival near you soon. http://www.knightsofthedubtable.com/
Veteran is a term bandied about rather freely these days - almost as much as legendary - but if any band deserves that title in this country it is hardcore punk pioneers Sticky Filth. After all, not many bands in New Zealand can claim a continuous existence of twenty-six years (1985-2011). Fourth Domain is the band's 25th anniversay release, and their fourth album, and it's out this week.
Describing their sound as many fingers in many pies, The Nudge (Ryan Prebble, James Coyle and Iraia Whakamoe) have served up their new album - Big Nudge Pie - a concoction of a blues and rock base, with a deep swamp filling, and a raucous party crust. www.thenudge.co.nz/
The highly anticipated new (and ninth) solo longplayer from NZ born Mark de Clive-Lowe (MdCL), 'Renegad's', is out on Tru Thoughts and proudly distributed in NZ by Rhythmethod. Alongside his own impeccable skills on beats, basslines, synths and more, the record features a cast of guest performers from both sides of the Atlantic, including vocalists nia andrews (Common, Janelle Monae), Tawiah (Warners), Bembe Segue; percussionist extraordinaire Sheila E (Prince); bassist Pino Palladino (D’Angelo/The Who); strings virtuoso and Flying Lotus collaborator Miguel Atwood-Ferguson; drummers Lil’ John Roberts (US), Richard Spaven (UK); guitarist to the stars Mike Feingold; and new label-mate Omar, the king of UK soul. http://www.markdeclivelowe.net/
Shake Shake Rattle & Rock N Roll features 17 original Kiwi songs for kids under 7 – including ‘Wibble, Wobble’, ‘Row, Row’, ‘Catch Your Beanbag’ and ‘Pakipaki’. http://www.oderecords.co.nz/
The Christchurch-based String Trio - Cathy Irons (violin), Serenity Thurlow (viola) & Tomas Hurnik (cello), all members of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra - have aimed for a pure, well-blended, carefully phrased and unified classical sound on their album Sapphires - they use minimal vibrato and blend the sound to give a luminious resonance. http://www.oderecords.co.nz/
"Time To Go" explores the early history of Flying Nun from 1981–86, a ‘heroic period’ of lo-tech recording, handmade covers and ‘extended play’ 45s.
Rather than being simply a ‘greatest hits’ from this period, the compilation brings together a collection of tracks from key South Island bands that were active during that time, many of which have never been available in digital format. Researched and compiled by Bruce Russell (Dead C), Time To Go features songs from the likes of The Clean, Tall Dwarfs, The Chills and Sneaky Feelings, as well bands that may not have been as prolific but have influenced countless musicians both from New Zealand and overseas since, such as The Pin Group, The Victor Dimsich Band, Look Blue Go Purple and Wreck Small Speakers on Expensive Stereos. What really connects this music and sets it apart from much that was happening elsewhere at the time was that it was in a real sense ‘out of time’ – connecting broadly with the psychedelic tradition of the 1960s. Something that cut across bands as diverse as the Gordons, The Clean and The Puddle: bands that saw a chance to wind back the clock and pick up again in 1967, and make it bad. Read more...
On the live front
Fou Nature - the live band - are playing the Republic Bar in Manukau this Saturday November 19, with DJ Ron, Johnny Angel and more. They'll be mixing up Old School | Nu skool | Contemporary pop & Rnb | Covers and Originals.
Cornerstone Roots play the San Francisco Bath House, Wellington 9th December to celebrate their new single Journey. “Journey is a reflective song about how we respond to life’s ups and downs, and the conviction with which we continue on that journey” bandleader Brian Ruawai said. The singer songwriter established Cornerstone Roots in 2001 with partner and bass player, Naomi-Jean Tuaopepe. The whanau band has grown with the addition of the couple’s 12 year old son Reiki on backing vocals. On Journey his chorus vocals add a youthful optimism reminiscent of Musical Youth’s Pass The Dutchie. Cornerstone Roots' catalogue includes three critically acclaimed albums, and the band tour extensively around the country and abroad including a 22-date European tour in 2010. Opening their San Francisco Bath House show is rising star Ria Hall, soul funk singer and kapa haka exponent who has released a self-titled debut EP produced by Riki Gooch. Plus a freestyle mash up of dub and dubstep from Tui SoundSystem led by frontman and producer Mr Samy’samson. Cornerstone Roots also have their summer tour dates booked in for December and January - check www.cornerstoneroots.net
After a successful album release tour, The Sami Sisters are once again heading out acrossthe county to play from November 24. Proudly supporting New Zealand music legend Tim Finn for a number of these, The Sami Sisters are also throwing in a couple of shows of their own for good measure. Joining the band in Raglan and New Plymouth will be Alistair Deverick (The Ruby Suns) and Jeremy Toy (She's So Rad, Opensouls). Presales for the shows with Tim Finn are available at http://www.eventfinder.co.nz
And speaking of She's So Rad....they're set to play the Flying Nun 30th anniversary tribute show in Auckland this Friday and have released a taster of things to come with a cover of The Chills' 'Night of Chill Blue'.
George FM and DUBJB Music have collaborated to deliver a first-of-its-kind concert that celebrates the growing popularity of roots music amongst kiwi musicians. The Roots Festival at Auckland Town Hall on Saturday 3 December brings together both on-the-rise and established local and international talent in a seven-hour extravaganza that also incorporates styles of funk, reggae, soul and dub. The Roots Festival was designed with the idea in mind that Auckland lacks a festival totally dedicated to this spiritual and culturally-influenced music genre. Playing the inaugural Roots Festival are House of Shem, 1814, Cornerstone Roots, The Midnights, Tui Sound System, Dead Fool's Fiesta, and DJs Thane Kirby, Grassmouth, Dubhead, Prospect, Exile and Locksteady.
Upper Hutt Posse are about to embark on their Declaration of Resistance Tour in support of their new 'live band' studio album of the same name. Declaration of Resistance is a musical realisation of the fervour and bold sentiments expressed forcefully in recent uprisings of dissent in faraway (and now closeby) locations - the Arab Spring, the London Riots, Occupy Wall Street, and now Occupy Aotearoa. The album is no mere collection of songs, but an alliance - thirteen songs intrinsically associated, created to rebuke the status quo on one hand and rouse determination for a concerted effort to dismantle and then rebuild a more enlightened society on the other. They will be joined on their shows by a range of energetic acts - NRG Rising, Dam Native, Nytmare and Evil Mule amongst others.
Orientation festivals are in the pipeline now...USU Students' Association at Unitec presents the Lipton Ice Tea Sounds In The Sun on Saturday 3 March 2012 from 1 to 8.30pm at Unitec Mt Albert. "Drum roll please for Katchafire, 1814, Kidz In Space, Bulletproof feat Jessie G and Rugged Tekniques along with the award winning Prestige Dance Crew. Watch out early next year for the big hitter headline announcement of one of New Zealand's biggest bands!", says Event Manager Adam Basham.
The Managers are on the bill for a fundraiser show that Moisty Atsushi has been working on organising for a little town in Japan called Namie, Fukushima. It will be held at K FM HQ, 208 Karangahape Road, Auckland, on Saturday 26 November. Namie is one of the worst-hit places in Japan following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake of March this year, and it is Namie is located only 20 kilometres from the nuclear plants at Fukushima. Namie's council is trying to help people who lived there, with accommodation and general well-being. Now, they are talking about shifting the whole town. Moisty Atsushi was born in Namie. The show will include artists Moisty Atsushi and Miho Wada, each backed by the Rocksteady All Stars. There will also be performances from The Iron Hammers featuring Solomonix, Managers, and DJ Ska Rob. Entry is $10. So, get along to this show if you can, and give your support. It really is for an incredibly worthy cause.
The final line-up has been revealed for Rhythm and Vines 2011, including the addition of a new Red Bull Music Academy stage. Curated by music aficionado Nick Dwyer, the stage will host many artists who have attended the international music workshop including - The Ruby Suns, Die! Die! Die!, Electric Wire Hustle, Clap Clap Riot, Frank Booker, Recloose, Scratch 22 and She’s So Rad. Other acts announced include - Youngman, Beardyman, Jordan Luck Band, 1814 and DJ’s People of Paris.
Around the World
Google has launched its music service and store in the US, ready to rival the might of Apple’s iTunes. The launch was held last night in a warehouse in Los Angeles, beneath a work of street art claiming “Life Is Beautiful.”
As reported on CNET, Google had continued to negotiate and close licensing deals all the way up until the launch last night, securing contracts with Universal, EMI and Sony Music Entertainment, whose signing only just scraped in at the last minute. Google struggled to sign Warner Music Group with terms still yet to be agreed upon.
Hundreds of independent labels have joined on to gain the rights to stream 13 million tracks. Unsigned bands can also jump onboard with Google Music’s tool called Artist Hub where they can upload their material to page purchased for $25 and sell their music at a price of their own choosing. The artist will keep 70 percent of the revenue in their own pockets and can later sell their music via YouTube. http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/industry/2011/11/17/google-launch-music-store/
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