REVIEW: Carol Bean

CAROL BEAN
THE WANTED SESSIONS
MIGHTY MIGHTY
THURSDAY 2ND AUGUST
Words and Photo by Bill in NZ

Recent additions to the music scene around Wellington are the "Wanted Sessions" at Mighty Mighty - on the first Thursday of each month.

The past Thursday had a treat for lovers of real music. Carol Bean opened, with backing by Jim Nicolson on bass, Costa Botes on guitar and harmonica by Lester Mundell on the occasional song.

Carol learned her guitar playing from Ry Cooder, and performs in several styles - blues, folk-blues, alt-country, roots, a bit of bluegrass, Americana - call it what you will, but this night let's call it alt-country at its best. Think of Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch - and you'd be close. Carol did songs by both, as well as some of her own songs.

Good music from each of the musicians, made special by Carol's vocals.

It was the kind of music and kind of winter night where one set by Carol and her band weren't enough.

For information on Carol Bean

www.carolbean.com/

and information on Mighty Mighty
myspace.com/mightymightybar

REVIEW: Colonel Mustard

COLONEL MUSTARD
MIGHTY MIGHTY
THURSDAY 26 JULY
Words by Charlette Hannah

Colonel Mustard opened the Hunting of the Snark show at Mighty Mighty on Thursday. With their tight riffs and excellent groove, they quickly had everyone up and dancing. However, from the moment frontman Rowan Miller started singing, I was lost. It's hard for me to say this, as I know Rowan, and he's a great guy. I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt and say perhaps it wasn't his best performance last night, but the vocals were flat and uninspiring.

For me the standout musician in Colonel Mustard was Thom McGrath on drums - tight, solid, hard hitting and all round excellent. Guitar-wise it was all very good, but overall I felt something a little lacking. Perhaps I wasn't drunk enough or something, but the music seemed pretty stock, and though it was upbeat and had a good feel, it wasn't anything particularly special.

However I do need to say that they had the audience on their feet, yelling and dancing, for the whole set, and that is always a good thing. The sound was thick and the players tight. I just personally didn't warm to it.

GIGS: 12th - 18th July

Are YOU playing in Wellington? Remember to send through your gig details to wellingtonlivemusic@hotmail.com by Monday morning to have it listed here!

THURSDAY 12TH JULY

- Bodega
World Battle of the Bands Wellington Heat 1
Psycho Space Monkeys, Faster She Said and more.

- Sandwiches
Harbour City Electric. 9pm.

- Subnine
Riverblind, Muzzeglow, Barefoot In The Sand. 10pm $5.

- The Adelaide
The Ramps, The Randoms, Amos. Free.

-Valve
Omega Realm, Slaughtered Symphony, Evil Mule. 9pm.

FRIDAY 13TH JULY

- Bodega
The Stomps, Bastard Sons of Grey Power, The Randoms. 8pm.

- Underground Arts
Black Friday Massacre. 9pm $5.

- Old Studio 9
Charmed School Rejects, Left Handed Addiction, Too Many Jonnys, Twice On Thursdays. 7.30pm $5 All Ages.

-San Francisco Bathhouse
Bad Luck Ball Pt 3
Thumper, Horror Story, Black Chrome, Volcana, DJ Voodoo Savage, DJ Nightmare 666. 8pm $13.

- Sandwiches
Teebee (NOR) and Calyx (UK) & The Upbeats: Local support from Mr Smith, Indeks and Habit. Tickets $45 +bf from Real Groovy, Cosmic Corner, DMC and Sandwiches.

-Subnine
Concord Dawn, local DJ’s Sal and DDog. 10pm. Tickets $25 from Real Groovy and Cosmic Croner and $30 on the door.

- Valve
Fanucman, Punchbowl, Pink Flamingoes, Goodtimes.

SATURDAY 14TH JULY

- Sandwiches
Timmy Schumacher & MC Kyla. R18, $20 (+BF) presales.

- Old Studio 9
Alien 8, The Alpha Shift, The Stacks, Feiry Orchid. 7.30pm $5 All Ages.

- Bodega, Room 101
The Huhu.

- Valve
The Postures, Fanucman, Yokel Ono, The Dissentors, Captain Sergeant Major. 9pm $10.

- Mighty Mighty
Cherry's Gemstones. Wild Rockabilly Surf Marshan Madness. 9pm $10.

SUNDAY 15TH JULY

- Old Studio 9
Acoustic Afternoon. 2-5pm $5. With Barefoot In The Sand.

MONDAY 16TH JULY

- Southern Cross
Acoustic Pioneers.
Matthew Pixie Pickering and more. Koha entry.

TUESDAY 17TH JULY

- Valve
Seisure Drum N Bass 1/ NAR/CO/SIA, Evil and McSig'le

WEDNESDAY 18TH JULY

Are YOU playing in Wellington? Remember to send through your gig details to wellingtonlivemusic@hotmail.com by Monday morning to have it listed here!

REVIEW: The Aviators

THE AVIATORS
MIGHTY MIGHTY
SATURDAY 16 JUNE
Review and Photo's By Charlette Hannah

Paddy Breakley on guitar

David McGurk on drums

Kane Sherwood on guitar

James Mason, Dave Brennan, Simon Love and Kane Sherwood

Paddy Breakley, Ned Worboys, James Mason and Dave Brennan

James on Sax and Dave on Trombone

Mighty Mighty on Saturday was thick with ‘funk, crunk and grime’ courtesy of The Aviators. The funk is obvious – these boys are so full of it you could imagine them dancing themselves off the edge of the building and on the way down too, where they would get up and just keep on dancing. Or maybe it’s just me. The grime became clear about two songs into the set, when sweat was dripping down my face, and I was hardly even dancing! The venue was so packed out there was hardly room to move, and even less to breathe, but it was all worth it. (Someone’s going to have to explain ‘crunk’ to me though.)

The gig marked the release of The Aviators first album (following on from their EP in 2004) and the turnout proved how popular the band has become since they first started as a five piece way back in the day. Now an eight piece, The Aviators are even tighter than when I first saw them at Southern Cross a few months back, and they were tight then. It’s hard to tell how much is playing a song and how much is jamming, but I don’t think it really matters, as the result is good.

Each musician stands out, while contributing to the overall sound, from Simon Love’s wicked bass lines, to Paddy Breakley’s interesting and controlled guitaring. Drummer David McGurk is brilliantly creative with those sticks. Singer Ned Worboys has a smooth slick voice, and the songs are quality.

The whole band is great to watch, in their suits, dancing and communicating with each other. It’s good to see a band dress nicely. I figure, if you expect people to come along and listen to/watch you, it’s important to respect their eyes. Also, The Aviators are never standing still. That’s also an important ingredient in a good live show.

If you missed out, you really missed out. You can still get their album though, and they seem to have quite regular gigs at the Southern Cross, so head along next time you see a poster. Also, I recommend checking out the ‘band’ section on their website below, as it contains a rather amusing description of each member.

www.theaviators.co.nz

GIGS: Ritalin, Tommy Pickett and more

THURSDAY 14TH JUNE

-Happy 8pm $5
Charlette Hannah, Fanuc Man, Jeremy Brick, The Ramps

-Bodega 9pm Koha
Matthew Pixie Pickering, Dave Kempton

FRIDAY 15TH JUNE

- Old Studio 9 (All Ages)
Ritalin, Not Quite Right, Whispers for Warning, The Lucky Strikes

SATURDAY 16TH JUNE

-Mighty Mighty
The Aviators CD release party

-Subnine
The Offbeats, Skaface Claw, Freddy Fudd Pucker and more

SUNDAY 17TH JUNE

-Bodega
Rikki Doolan, Matt Holliman, Shaun K Anderson

MONDAY 18TH JUNE

-Southern Cross
'Acoustic Pioneer'
Tommy Pickett