REVIEW: Worn Villain

WORN VILLAIN
VALVE
THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah



Worn Villain totally rocked my socks off on Thursday night at Valve. From the very first song they had me hooked, with their pounding drums, and melodic, dynamic guitaring. On the second song the bass player put his bass down and took the mic. I was impressed that the band managed to keep the full tight sound even without the bass underneath. I got a bit frustrated with that song though - the primal screaming doesn't really do it for me, and I wish metal bands could be loud and sing powerfully without the screaming. Having said that, they do the screaming thing very well.

The music was unpredictable and very dynamic. The drums were forceful and solid, and the bassist and guitarist switched between instruments and vocals with equal fluency. According to a friend who is more familiar with this style of music than me, they sound like a mix between Shellac and early Metallica in their instrumentation.

I feel I have to make a note about Blair, the Valve sound engineer - again, proving himself to be one of the best around. Not only does he mix a wicked sound, at one point the bass player's strap came off, and as he knelt down to continue playing, Blair got up on stage and fixed it for him so he could stand up and resume the dual vocals. Credit to Worn Villain is due of course, for not pausing for even a second and letting up on their assault - the drummer threw away a stick, the bass player lost his strap, and you wouldn't have even noticed aurally.

All in all, the music was original and powerful. I loved it, and it's not even my usual kind of thing. Worn Villain appear to be a mostly instrumental band, which is unusual, but suited me fine, as I turned off a bit during the growling vocals. The last song was my favourite, it was powerful and absolutely beautiful in a slightly disconcerting way.

If you like quality heavy rock/metal, I would definitely recommend checking these guys out. I think if they brought in some more melodic vocals (ie. Tool, System of a Down) they could have a much broader appeal.

myspace.com/wornvillain

REVIEW: Pisces

PISCES
ACOUSTIC LOUNGE
SAN FRANCISCO BATHHOUSE
WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah



Guitarist/singer Martin started the show with his back to the audience - a brave move. Picking the guitar strings, he then launched into a rich and interesting full band song. With Martin providing ample guitar instrumentation, and backing from a varied and competent rhythm section, Pisces were a great listen right from the start.

I have to admit that I couldn't find anything on the web about the band, so I don't know their full names, or the spellings of them. If anyone would like to help out with that information, it'd be much appreciated!

Backing singer Carly had a beautiful soulful voice, with a lovely trill and easy feeling to it. The tambourine got a little boring, but it did add another dimension to the percussion. She took the lead on a fantastic acoustic rock 'n roll number - Jimmy Jones I think it was called. It was great to hear the harmonies between her and Martin. She smiled the whole way through, nice to see someone really enjoying being on stage.

The upbeat pop/rock had slight country tones, and the performance was dynamic. The songs were instantly catchy, and with the laid back drumming, powerful guitar and great bass tones, Pisces were an entertaining and pleasant listen for a Wednesday evening.

REVIEW: OdESSA and The Thomas Oliver Band

OdESSA
THE THOMAS OLIVER BAND
SAN FRANCISCO BATHHOUSE
FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
Words by Peter Baillie
Photo's by Sheryn Simpson

Matt Pender

Paul Mouncey

Dan Ryland

Matthew 'Puba' Swain

The Thomas Oliver Band

Expectations were high on Friday night - after a long wait, OdESSA's much anticipated second album was ready for release and they wanted to celebrate it in style. A good portion of Wellington decided to join them.

OdESSA has become a local legend with their feverish, high-octane performances coupled with fantastic tunes and beats that you can't help but dance to. Their album 'The Prize' finally manages to capture the energy and polish of their live show in a studio album.

With so much expectation for the headliners, the Thomas Oliver Band took to the stage with no fanfare- not that stage fright is a problem for a young man who opened for Eric Clapton at the Mission Estate concert earlier this year!

It only took a minute for the crowd to get right into their performance, and each song ramped up the excitement from there. A three piece comprising Thomas (guitar and vocal), Steven (electric and upright bass) and Tom (drums), they made effortless changes through folk, pop, rock, soul, slow blues and country. Closing with the show-stopper 'All I Can Say', Thomas led the band through a medley of 'Cocaine' by JJ Cale and 'Ground On Down' by Ben Harper before snapping back to their own song to close the set. They left the stage to rapturous - and justified - applause, with many new fans.

OdESSA has played hundreds of shows in the last 5 years (I've been to almost all of them!) but obviously wanted to make this one special. Usually playing as a four-piece, they were joined this evening by a female vocalist, percussionist and keyboard player.

Concentrating on numbers from the new album, each band member excelled. Laying a ferocious beat that belies the scaled-down drumkit, Matthew 'Puba' Swain gave unstoppable groove to each number. Paul Mouncey on bass laid down fantastic lines that complemented everyone else's performance, and blew the crowd away with a bass solo that most guitarists wouldn't have a hope of replicating. Dan Ryland, the new guitarist, threw off melodic lead breaks and gentle acoustic numbers with equal ease.

Above all, Matt Pender, the ultimate frontman, blessed with athletic dancing, a fantastic voice and unbreakable stage presence. His dancing turned the crowd into a wild, sweaty yet good-natured mosh pit. The crowd danced, jumped, clapped, sang and yelled for more.

This was undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable gigs I've been to, and it's a wonderful thing that two bands should have the courage to play a wide variety of styles and be so warmly received by everyone present. Out of five stars, this gig gets a Milky Way.

GIGS: 13 - 19 September

THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

- The Adelaide
Nine Signals, Sleepy Demons, Vorn. Gold Coin entry, doors 8pm, start 9.30pm.

- Sandwiches
The Versionaries.

- Happy
Fantasy Donaldson.

- Havana
Otis.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
Furious Lovers - Hip Hop Karaoke.

FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER

- Old Studio 9
Infrared, Worn Villian, Riverblind, MissGuided Youth. 7.30pm $5 All Ages.

- Sandwiches
Future Funk 2007 Part 2
State Of Mind, JMC, Sal, DDog. 11pm $20 presales and on door.

- The Mighty Mighty
The Unscene, Alphabeathead, Tommy Ill.

- Zeal
The War Within. All Ages.

- Happy
Timothy Blackman, Matthew Holleman. 7.30 - 9.30.

- Lembas Cafe
Splash (Michelle Scullion, David Leith and Eoin Williams). 7.30 - 10.30pm $10.

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

- Bodega
A Low Hum presents
Craftwerk Pre Party, Thought Creature, Get Set Play, Little Pictures, Snowfield, The Enright House. 9pm $10.

- Old Studio 9
DJ Shan. All Ages.

- The Adelaide
DonkeyPunk, Alison Lake, Nine Signals. 9pm $10.

- Sandwiches
Inland Knights.

- Happy
Dial, Cut Off Yours Hands, Colonel Mustard.

- The Matterhorn
Ginger Brown. 12am free.

- Havana
Bad Girl Brown.

- Subnine
Crank. 10pm - 6am $20.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
Atomic.

SUNDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

- The Matterhorn
The Skins, Money-D, The Yeabsley Key, Lisa Tomlins. 8.30pm.

MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER

Are YOU playing in Wellington? Remember to send your gig listings through to charlette (at) wellingtonlivemusic.com by Monday to have them listed here.

TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

- Havana
Roberto Rodriguez.

- Bodega
Beats and Bubbles.

WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

- The Mighty Mighty
Barry Saunders, Samuel Flynn Scott, Julia Deans.

COMING SOON

Coming soon on Wellington Live Music...

Photo's and reviews of: Liam Finn, Ginger Brown, Hannah Curwood, Simon Comber.
Interviews with: Anika Moa, Nine Signals.
Photo's of random buskers...
And more!

REVIEW: Jonathan Crayford Trio

JONATHAN CRAYFORD TRIO

HAVANA BAR
WEDNESDAY 18 JULY
Words and Photo's by Bill in NZ

The Jonathan Crayford Trio

I don't know enough about jazz to comment intelligently on jazz genres, but do know enough about music talent to say that if you haven't yet heard the Jonathan Crayford Trio live then you have missed a musical treasure on the Wellington scene.

Last night we went to the regular jazz night (Wednesday) at the Havana Bar on Wigan Street- a fantastic way to spend a wintery evening. You could have gone to New York City and found warmer weather at the moment, but you wouldn't have found better jazz. It is that good.

Provocative rhythms and Latin flavoured jazz at their best. Apologies if I get wrong but I believe the drummer is Miguel Fuentes from Puerto Rico & New York. Absolutely in tune with Crayford - as was the bass guitar player last night.

Havana is an interesting place to visit in itself - you could imagine yourself in a New York jazz venue - maybe in the early Seventies - atmospheric setting for the great music - friendly service and fun crowd. Food is provided by 'runner service' from the nearby Fidel's - a good start if you get there early enough.

But the highlight is the music in the front room - plenty of other places in the back rooms for conversations, but the front room is decidedly for the music - world class jazz - and not to be missed.

for some info on Jonathan Crayford

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Crayford

http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/706.html

and Havana Bar

http://www.havana.co.nz/htmlsite/bar.htm

INTERVIEW: Cornerstone Roots

Revolutionary Reggae Roots.

Recognized in Australia, Japan, USA and Brazil, Cornerstone Roots are taking their original reggae roots global. The new album “Free Yourself” stays faithful to New Zealand with a nationwide tour towards the end of July. It surely is forward march for these pioneering roots masters.

Lucy Wyatt: Four years on from “Soul Revolution” we are now graced with your second album “Free Yourself”. Do you think your sound has changed?

Cornerstone Roots: It’s been a natural progression from Soul Revolution, but in saying that we definitely tightened things up. We recorded it with all of us in the one room – so it was done live. We did have a crack doing it the old school way – one instrument at a time and it didn’t quite work – we weren’t really getting the bite, so we decided to go back to how we recorded our first album. Also, we wanted to get it as close to our live sets as possible – and admittedly there was some pressure to keep up with Soul Revolution.

Lucy: You are known to project both political and spiritual messages within your music, does writing about global issues come easily for you?

Cornerstone Roots: Always. It’s part of my personality. I’ve tried to be quite platonic when writing, but I just can’t do it. A lot of people ask me what does it mean, what’s Cornerstone about? I say, what does it mean to you? I don’t want to ram stuff down people’s throats. I put the lyrics out there on the album so people can work out the political and environmental issues for themselves. One guy in the States emailed me and said for him it’s like a soundtrack for life.

Lucy: Your band has certainly grown from your original 3-piece set. How has the input of Jonathan Crawford shaped the band?

Cornerstone Roots: He’s a very perceptive person, quite eccentric at times, but we kinda like that. He brings a lot of experience to the band. He’s like ‘“it’s ok man, you just do what you feel like doing, don’t worry about the crowd, just play for yourself.”’ He gets us to think outside the square. He’s taught us how to explore our different influences and not to worry about being labeled.

Lucy: Also Lucino the “king of dancehall” contributes to the new album with his exceptional voice on the track, Jah, what was it like working with him?

Cornerstone Roots: Again – inspirational. He’s a legend. We were meant to record with him the night he played at the Galatos, but he decided not to record with Fat Freddy’s Drop or us. The next day I got talking to him and he was like, “yeah - I’ve decided to do the track.” We found the last studio in town. It took him 2 hrs to get the track down. He wrote it, did the backing vocals, the ad-lib and “Jah” was the result. Then I drove him straight to the Big Day Out where he was due on stage. It was tight.

Lucy: Your roots are obviously of great importance to you, always staying loyal to Raglan, what with organising the Soundsplash festival, but now you are taking Cornerstone Roots global. Why have you chosen to head to Brazil this year?

Cornerstone Roots: We’ve been distributing to Brazil over the past 2 years. What happened was people were coming over here from Brazil, Japan, America and Europe and about that time we happened to be playing a lot in Raglan. The tourists who were at the gigs just flipped their lids. Since then our music has started to spread quite quickly back in those countries. So that’s how Brazil came about. They sort of approached us and we did some deals. We have a 20-day tour planned from San Paolo to El Salvador, all we need now is the funding.

REVIEW: The Black Seeds

THE BLACK SEEDS
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
THURSDAY 12 JULY
Words and Photo's by Lucy Wyatt

With a European tour just days away The Black Seeds, promoting their new album Into The Dojo, graciously afforded us one last gig before their departure overseas. The Victoria University crowd were well fired up thanks to the dub collective that are the mighty Pacific Bass Culture and by the time The Black Seeds hit the stage people were ready for some deep grooving. Barnaby Weir greeted the students like an old friend with his down-to-earth personality. From the very start the atmosphere was one of dedication and pure respect.

Pumping out the old favourites, Turn It Around, Let’s Get Down and So True, to name a few, revived memories of how they conquered their homeland and the crowd nodded and skanked away with true admiration. The new tracks got a positively elated reaction thus proving that this band is definitely improving with age. The Answer has a mellow depth and in contrast Sometimes Enough shows something of a funkier side to the band. The Prince, with it’s instrumental jamming is a truly danceable number – a winning track.

The appreciative student crowd, crammed together on the sweaty dance floor, enticed the band back on stage and the dance floor was once again ripped up with a seriously demanded encore. The atmosphere was indicative of a bright future ahead for a very popular band. With European record deals, and an irresistible new album The Black Seeds appear to be on the right track. Maybe the illuminated star-covered stage’s backdrop held some hint of their future – all twinkling and shining and there for the pleasures of international stardom.

INTERVIEW: The Have

“The Have” are truly having it.

All grown up at the average age of 22 “The Have” have come along way, since their days jamming in Wanganui. With songs licensed for movies (The Devil Dared Me To), sports (Rugby 2007 and Burnout 2007) and TV ads (X Box, Canterbury for Rugby World Cup, Super 12’s in Australia), what have these boys not been up to? Their debut album “Back To The Burning Wreck”, sees them on their first nationwide rock n roll tour. Hot, young and awesome live, these boys seriously should not be missed. This time believe the hype, they certainly rock.

Lucy Wyatt speaks to Peter Mangan, to find out more.

Lucy Wyatt: Bet you are looking forward to promoting your debut album “Back to the Burning Wreck” to a New Zealand audience.

Peter Mangan: Can’t wait. We did a few gigs a few months ago, but it’s going to be great to cover both the North and the Sound Islands and see their reaction. Really looking forward to seeing our fans.

Lucy: It’s fantastic that the US producer Barrett Jones (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) got on board, how was it working with him?

Peter: It was something totally new for us working with an international producer. He has such a strong background and great advice. He had some really great ideas and we had fun trying lots of different recordings. The whole band really learnt a lot from him.

Lucy: He obviously influenced your finished sound with his US approach, creating a very polished album. Who are your influences?

Peter: Black Rebel Motor Club is really doing it for me this year and the blues. We’re all influenced by lots of different bands and styles, I guess it changes a lot each year.

Lucy: So how did the name “The Have” come about?

Peter: It’s interesting you ask about that. It was Blair’s idea at High School, he just came out with it, we all agreed and “The Have” it was. Just came out of nowhere really.

Lucy: I heard about the cameraman in Texas a couple of years ago having to wipe the beer off his camera because the crowd respected you so much. Apart from that, how do the US audience compare to the New Zealand crowd?

Peter: We’ll have to wait and see, hopefully they’ll get down like they have in the past and in like the crowd in the US. We just want them to have a good boogie, get the party happening; because that’s what we’re all about.

Lucy: You’ve come a long way quite quickly, where do you see yourselves next year? Any plans overseas?

Peter: We’re heading to Aussie in a few months to do some gigs, and we’ll probably relocate in the near future, as most Kiwi bands eventually do, but not quite sure yet.

Lucy: Back To The Burning Wreck has had very positive reviews. Was it hard to edit down the tracks? Do you have a favourite?

Peter: Yeah it was hard. We had 23 to edit down and we decided on 13 in the end. I guess my favourite is Oh, Oh, My, My.

Lucy: You guys are all pretty young and charging ahead nice and smoothly. What age were you when you looked at your idols and thought I can do that?

Peter: We were 16 at High School and we all had the same passion, tastes and ambitions. We started young. When you’re young it’s about having fun, now it’s paying off.

Lucy: Myspace has helped lots of bands worldwide, do you feel it has had much of an impact on your success?

Peter: I think it’s a great tool to use. It’s excellent to hear from our fans and keep in touch with them wherever they are in the world. Also for photos, so people can see what’s been happening at the gigs. It’s free advertising and access to our music, perfect.

More info

www.myspace.com/thehave

http://www.thehave.com

INTERVIEW: The Black Seeds

Sowing The Seeds That Bloom.

It’s all going on with The Black Seeds. This month has seen an onslaught of exciting news. News that shall take them overseas, climbing up the ladder of international success. Their innovative fusion of reggae, dub, soul and ska has been sophistically reworked into their new album Into The Dojo. Their last tour recently sold out in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Wollangong and now with the European signing The Black Seeds are ready for their fast growing international following. Don’t worry they aren’t turning their backs on us, catch their New Zealand tour in Sept/Oct.

Lucy Wyatt talks to Barnaby Weir from The Black Seeds to find out where they are heading this year.

Lucy Wyatt: Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on signing with the renowned international labels “Sonar Kollectiv” for Europe and “Rough Trade” in Holland. How does it feel to have that level of recognition?

Barnaby Weir: Cheers, yeah it’s really good and it feels quite satisfying. We have done some European tours in the past so it’s great to get something from them. It’s (Sonar Kollectiv) a good label, quite a diverse label, and yeah it’s exciting. It’s just the beginning I guess…

Lucy: Your new album Into The Dojo is to be launched across Europe and Japan, at the beginning of next month. So tell me, how did the title of the album come about?

Barnaby: Well we rehearse in an old Dojo where we’ve spent many years. There is a bit of a history to the place. Stretching back probably 15 or 20 years. Many different people have used it for music over that time - different bands - underground bands, some really good bands have passed through there. We have been using it for about 5 years or so, and we’ve spent a lot of time there tuning our sound. It’s a funny place, really dingy sometimes, especially if it’s a nice day outside, it doesn’t let much sun in. But that is where the magic has been made and lots of cool music has come out of that room.

Lucy: Your recent tour of Australia was an amazing success. Now you have exciting times ahead with your European month long album launch, kicking off mid July in London. How does a European tour influence your musical outlook?

Barnaby: I guess it’s good for a band to be on tour in Europe and see what the other big bands are doing. Not necessarily similar bands, but just to see how other bands are trying to make it. It does open your perception of what it is you are trying to do and how difficult it can be - it gives us better clarify when you see other acts perform. Also, when you get to London you can look in the paper and there are international acts touring Europe all the time and it’s inspiring for us to be at that level. Getting out there - doing the festivals and widening our fan base.

Lucy: Into The Dojo has had raving reviews so far. Was it a natural progression from On The Sun, or do you feel your sound has changed?

Barnaby: It was a natural progression but On The Sun does have a slightly different rhythm partly because it’s slightly different band, I mean the same band, but different members. And we’ve matured as artists and we’ve got better as we’ve done more gigs. Genre wise - it’s not really a huge shift. Perhaps there is more variety in the new album, it’s less poppy, a bit darker - we dimmed the lighting. Daniel Weetman was one of the writers, he’s more of a shared writer from the rest of the band, and Mike Fabulous who plays the guitar produced the album with Lee Prebble, who records lots of other bands. I’m really into the album it’s a good one from us. It’s more interesting than the previous one, and a bit different.

Lucy: We see a lot of successful New Zealand bands relocate. Does the band have any plans to move offshore in the future?

Barnaby: Well, no not really, I mean not at this stage. I’m not sure if that will ever happen because of the way the band works. There are young fathers in the band and the kids and families are based here. If you really wanted to take on Europe you would just move somewhere cheap in the middle of it and just nail it for 3 years, but we are not going to do that because it’s just not possible and it’s more important to just have the band all together doing as much as we can. We need to work within those boundaries. We can do a month here or 2 months there we do replace people if they can’t make it on a big tour, but you can’t put that type of pressure on everyone as they have other responsibilities.

http://www.theblackseeds.com/

www.myspace.com/theblackseeds

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: Cherry's Gemstones and Disasteradio

FRIDAY 29TH JUNE
CIVIC ART GALLERY
CHERRY'S GEMSTONES
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah

Hannah Simpson, a.k.a Cherry Gemstone

Rock 'n roll

Cherry's Gemstone's - Claire Macfarlane Cherry, Ben a.k.a B Jammin

As can be seen by the photo's, a show with Ms Cherry Gemstone is never predictable. Kicking off with a lovely ukulele song, Annabel, she began the set at the Civic Art Gallery solo.
She then moved to acoustic guitar, playing a variety of songs in her own inimatable style.

Hannah Simpson (Cherry) has one of the best voices I've heard in a long time. Sweet and husky, and yet able to blow the roof off when she really lets go. This is one woman who knows her own voice and is not afraid to use it.

After a few songs, Cherry was joined by drummer Ben Payne, or B Jammin. She picked up the electric guitar, danced around, and did a song that started with playing her guitar with the beer bottle. And from what I can gather, this was one of her more subdued gigs!

Cherry's Gemstones did two sets all up. In the second set, Cherry moved to keyboards, and was joined by violinist Claire Macfarlane. Strings (other than guitars, of course) sound so good in bands, I'm surprised more people don't use them. Claire played lovely melodies over Cherry's melancholic and slightly eerie piano tunes. As expressive as usual, the change in songwriting style between guitar and keyboard was quite noticeable. Personally I prefer her piano stuff, but although they are by the same person it is a bit of an apples and pears comparison.

Cherry is obviously a musical force, whether you like her music or not, and her voice at the very least should be appreciated by many, as it is absolutely stellar.

DISASTERADIO

Disasteradio turned out to be one guy, Luke Rowell, and his computer. It was high energy electronica pop, and drove me nuts after one and a half songs. There's obviously an audience out there for this sort of thing, but with no vocals and a guy just standing there tapping away on keys and barely dancing himself, it didn't even hold my attention for over five minutes, and I'm sorry to say I didn't stay around to catch the last band who were playing that night.

REVIEW: Shaun, Rikki, Kathryn, Matt

SHAUN K ANDERSON, RIKKI DOOLAN, KATHRYN BAKER, MATT HOLLEMAN
THURSDAY 5TH JULY
SUBNINE
Words by Charlette Hannah
Photo's by Rebecca Holleman

There seems to be a neverending supply of talented solo artists in this city! On this wet and chilly night (what night isn't lately) we ventured down the back alleys to Subnine, home of drum 'n bass and all things electronic. This was evidenced by the slightly shaky sound system the performers had to deal with. It looked like a great set up for a DJ - but couldn't handle a band at this stage.

After a few technical hitches, the evening started with Shaun K Anderson. I have to admit, he's grown on me since I last saw him. Not that I ever disliked his music, by any means, but this time I felt a bit more from it. I would like to see a bit more of a dynamic performance, but Shaun does have a lovely voice, and I think the songs become more appealing each listen.

Each set was very short, only four or five songs, which was actually quite nice. It meant those who a) have a short attention span and b) have to get up the morning, such as myself, got a taste of each performer, a nice evening, and no need to sneak out before the end!

Rikki Doolan

After Shaun, Rikki Doolan took the stage. Rikki has a pleasantly casual aura, and a voice that reminds me somewhat of Mr E of The Eels. He puts on quite a dynamic performance, and tonight that included a John Lennon song - Working Class Hero. Of course, I'm always a bit of a sucker for an English accent!

Kathryn Baker broke the male trend, with her lilting pop voice and finely crafted acoustic songs. I first saw Kathryn with her band Vade, which I would almost liken to a female Radiohead with less keyboards and more rock. Her solo work has interesting melodies, and her voice is lovely. She ended with a song called 'Be Straight With Me' which illustrated the heartfelt nature of her lyrics.

I'm not sure exactly what point the party next door got started, but I first noticed it between Kathryn's songs. It must have been a bit of a challenge to play with loud drum 'n bass in the background, and I admire that they didn't get distracted! Or if they did, they hid it well.

Matt Holleman

Last up was Matt Holleman, with his unique vocal style and skilled guitaring. Matt's songs manage to be unusual somehow, in a scene where different from one thing means the same as something else. I was a bit mystified by the tone of the guitar - what kind of strings do you use, Matt? Again, a very short set meant that it was a brief encounter with Matt's music, but what I heard got my attention which is always a good start!

REVIEW: Lauren Thomson

SATURDAY 30TH JUNE
HAPPY
LAUREN THOMSON
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah

Lauren Thomson

Lauren with her husband Ben

For me, the stand out performer of the week was Lauren Thomson, down to visit us from Auckland. From the moment she first started singing, she had the audience captivated, and each of her songs are gems.

Starting off with a haunting melody and subtle guitar playing, she moved to a more upbeat country song, and at one point even threw in a cover of Landslide. However I think her originals were just as good if not better than the legendary Stevie Nicks.

Lauren's voice is beautiful and engaging, and full of dynamics. It was very sweet when she asked her husband Ben up on stage to sing harmonies with her, and explained that the song, Our Love Is Due, was written about him just before they got together. Lauren has a glow about her, which is refreshing to see in a city where you come across so many world weary faces.

In all honesty, I didn't want to move for even a moment to take photo's. Lauren really did cast a spell over the place, and it was the highlight of a very busy musical week for me. She's definitely one to keep an eye open for, and I believe her EP, Our Love Is Due, is coming out soon.

REVIEW: Achilles Botes and Shaun K Anderson

SATURDAY 30TH JUNE
HAPPY
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah

ACHILLES BOTES

First up on Saturday night was Achilles Botes, accompanied by an impressive array of pedals, and even a tambourine which he tapped with his foot.

Achilles is one of those rare solo artists who actually manages to hold my attention for longer than two songs, which I'm always grateful for. There are so many solo artists around, and many of them are very good, but sadly (for I am even one of them) not all can really capture an audience and hold the stage with just themselves.

Achilles reminded me of The Eels, with a bit of Iron and Wine thrown in. But a little more sophisticated. He started off quite acoustic, and got rockier after a couple of songs, bringing in the loop pedal and other effects. He even sang in Greek! I'll definitely be on the look out to see Achilles play again.

SHAUN K ANDERSON

In all honesty, though I find it hard to say anything less than lovely about a singer/songwriter, I was a little underwhelmed with Shaun's set at Happy on Saturday. I'm wondering if perhaps Shaun is more of a recording artist. His quiet laid back songs also called to mind Iron and Wine, his guitar style is lovely, and his gentle, breathy voice is easy to listen to. However I did find myself getting a little bored, as it was quiet and there weren't a lot of dynamics.

PHOTOS: Riverblind

FRIDAY 29TH JUNE
VALVE
RIVERBLIND
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah

Dave Kempton

Dan Simpson

Riverblind

Some of the crowd at Valve

Solid rock with an almost operatic vocal style is how I would attempt to describe Riverblind in one sentence. Lead singer/guitarist Dave Kempton has an incredibly powerful, smooth and melodic voice. Backed up with solid drums from Tim Whitta, and Dan Simpson throwing himself around the stage with his 6 string bass, these guys are a surprisingly powerful live act.

REVIEW: Tim Knauf and Canadia

THURSDAY 28TH JUNE
HAPPY
TIM KNAUF and CANADIA
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah

TIM KNAUF

Tim Knauf was the first act up on Thursday at Happy. His easy voice and guitar style were very pleasant to listen to, and he held the stage solo and cracked jokes between songs. Although the re-tuning of a 12 string got a little tedious, and the set lost a bit of momentum because of it, it was an enjoyable performance overall.

CANADIA

Half of Dunedin's Gestalt Switch, Canadia were just passing through Wellington and played second support for Sleepy Demons at Happy. Although the music was good, I have to confess that I was a little distracted by what seemed to be rather arrogant attitude on the part of singer Ashley Hinton. I've been assured that's he's not really like that, but I have to confess I don't really remember much about the music, as I just kept getting annoyed with the cockiness. I can say it was good in my humble opinion, but I'm afraid I just can't give any more details. Ashley did around eight songs by himself, and then was joined by guitarist Blair McPhee for another couple.

REVIEW: The Children of Underground Lair

WEDNESDAY 27TH JUNE
BAR BODEGA
Words and Photos by Charlette Hannah

ALBERT WILLIAMS

Albert Williams was the first act of the night at Bodega on Wednesday. He started off humbly and then proceeded to absolute blow me away. With his husky, gentle voice, he lulled me into a false sense of daydreaming, and then really let go. The dynamics and absolute control over his voice and guitaring was spellbinding. From a heartfelt cover of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here he then sang a knockout version of Joni Mitchell's Woodstock. He made the songs his own, which I do not say lightly, as often when that phrase is used it's a nice way of saying they didn't do such a good job. Not in this case. I would imagine Joni would be quite pleased to hear the heights her song had reached. I was wholeheartedly won over and impressed with Albert's (too-short) set.

RIKKI DOOLAN

Second up was Rikki Doolan, who I actually came across busking earlier that night. (Photo below). Rikki has a cruisy style and a great voice. His songs are down to earth and very easy to listen to. He started with a song about working for 'the man', followed by one about crippling debt, and a sweet and charming song called 'Kiwi Girl'. Rikki is very natural on stage and I was impressed with the calibre of his songs. I happen to know he's currently forming a band, so check out Rikki's MySpace if you're interested!

BENJAMIN EMMANUEL

Unfortunately for me, the pressures of work (i.e getting up early in the morning) meant that I didn't stay for the whole of Ben's set, but I wanted to post these photo's. What I did hear was a well structured song with interesting melodies. Ben has a great voice, although his guitar playing seemed little lacking. However as I didn't stay for the whole set it's hard to tell.

Spotted Busking: Rikki Doolan, Cuba St

I have only admiration for any hardy soul who braves the icy chill on Wellington streets to serenade us in the evening.

PHOTOS: Peter Baillie / The Moon Whispers

SAN FRANCISCO BATHHOUSE
WEDNESDAY 27TH JUNE
Words and Photos by Charlette Hannah

PETER BAILLIE

Peter Baillie

Peter Baillie, the esteemed master of Acoustic Lounge, took the stage on Wednesday for an entertaining slot. I've known Peter since I first moved to Wellington, and this is, incredibly, the first time I've seen him play. Peter has strong songs, and a very entertaining stage manner. From the jokes masquerading as stories between songs, to his stories of sexual frustration and wanting to ruin someones day. Don't get the wrong idea though, Peter's a nice guy!

THE MOON WHISPERS

Bruce McNaught, Elisa Di Napoli

Jane Pierard

The Moon Whispers took to the stage at Acoustic Lounge after Peter, with their unusual line up of guitar, cello and flute. Describing their music as 'psycho-noir', singer Elisa launched into one of her favourite songs. The music is beautiful and eerie, with the cello providing a deep undertone, and the flute floating over the top. Unfortunately I had to dash and didn't see the whole set, but I will definitely be looking out for more gigs from The Moon Whispers.

REVIEW: Katchafire

KATCHAFIRE
SAN FRANCISCO BATHHOUSE
SATURDAY 9 JUNE
By Lucy Wyatt

Katchafire left The San Francisco Bathhouse well and truly smoking last weekend. Their extreme energy was matched by the crowd’s intense respect for New Zealand’s hottest roots reggae band. The well-heated euphoric audience sang passionately, they danced and skanked along to an incredible 3-hour show. To the crowds delight they covered many old favourites like “Colour Me Life” and “Seriously”. The new stuff such as the track “Mr Flava” was greeted enthusiastically.

Formed 10 years ago, this eight-piece band is of Maori descent including 2 generations of 1 family. Grenville Bell founded the band in 1997, originally as a Bob Marley tribute band, now accompanied on stage by his 2 sons, Logan (guitar and vocals) and Jordan (drums). With 2 highly acclaimed albums “Revival”(2003) and “Slow Burning” (2005), and a third to be released this month, “Say What You’re Thinking”, it’s safe to say that these boys are very much on fire.

Saturday’s sell-out gig is definitely reflective of past album sales. (“Slow Burning”, featured “Giddy Up”, the highest selling single of 2003). Subsequently, Katchafire’s reputation on stage is fast becoming legendary throughout New Zealand. I doubt it presumptuous to suggest they are a household name. Such popularity is arguably due to their dedication and desire to tour. They are an accessible band – easy to get to, easy to get down to.

Katchafire gets inside your soul and keeps on burning brightly within. Exceptional vocals, talented writing and sensual depth ensure that nothing can stop the flame. Where there’s smoke there’s definitely fire. Katchafire are now on a mission to raise the spirit of New Zealand to a global level. Yet another world tour is about to begin. Surely then this joyous and harmonious sound will conquer the world.