REVIEW: Johnny Corker

JOHNNY CORKER
HAPPY BAR
THURSDAY 23 AUGUST
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah

It was a real family affair at Happy on Thursday, with Tim Beals and his sister Holly, and then Johnny Corker performing with his partner Julie Thompson. It’s always interesting to see the way solo or duo acts create dynamics, and Johnny and Julie did it in an unusual way, with Julie playing a cello as the second instrument.

Sometimes plucking the strings as a bass line, and sometimes playing it with a bow, creating a melancholic monotone, Julie complemented Johnny’s confident and smooth folky voice and guitar playing. Johnny used his new tremolo pedal often and to good effect.

Julie’s voice probably wouldn’t be strong enough to lead, although she could have been holding back, but it was lovely for backing vocals. The music was almost too soft and sweet at times, but so charming and easy to listen to.

They moved on to some more upbeat songs later in the set, and Johnny’s gentle humour pervaded the whole performance. They were down from Auckland for the Wellington release of Johnny Corker's self titled album.

REVIEW: Tim Beals

TIM BEALS
HAPPY BAR
THURSDAY 23 AUGUST
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah



Tim Beals and his younger sister Holly kicked off the evening at the Johnny Corker album release at Happy on Thursday. Tim’s sweet and whimsical guitar was lovely, and the songs were instantly accessible.

I thought he sounded a lot like Iron and Wine, and then they did a cover of one of my favourite Iron and Wine songs - Naked As We Come, and did it justice too. They also did a Nick Drake cover, From The Morning, very well.

I know this may sound strange, but Tim and Holly’s vocals melded together so well that it was almost hard to tell the difference, even though it was male and female voices, obviously. The harmonies were close and well done.

Tim’s song Far From Home was bluesy and catchy, and one of my favourites of the evening. He managed to get one of the best tones out of an acoustic guitar I’ve heard for a while.

COMING SOON

Hi Wellington Live Music lovers

I moved house recently and haven't been connected to the internet, so things have been a little quiet here lately. Sorry everyone! However, we'll be on track very soon, and will have...

An interview with Flip Grater, and an interview with Robin Hinkley from Good Laika, who are releasing their debut album tonight!

Reviews of Johnny Corker and Tim Beals.

Cheers
Charlette

PS. Stay tuned for news of the upcoming launch of the official www.wellingtonlivemusic.com!

GIGS: 30th August - 5th September

THURSDAY 30 AUGUST

- The Adelaide
40 Miles Launch Party
Roger Greenaway, Charlette Hannah + more. 8pm.

- The Mighty Mighty
Good Laika - Heads I Win, Tails You Lose debut album release, with Age Pryor.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
Shapeshifter. Sold Out.

- Sandwiches
Harbour City Electric. Free 9pm.

FRIDAY 21 AUGUST

- Happy
Charlette Hannah, Lauren Thomson, Rikki Doolan. $5 8pm.

- Tupelo
Ginger Brown, Sleepy Demons. $5 9.30pm.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
Shapeshifter. Sold Out.

- Blue Note Bar
Stormbird, Toby Mule. $10 9pm.

- The Adelaide
Marineville.

- The Matterhorn
Hohepa. Free 10pm.

- Room 101, Bar Bodega
Dekline, No Love Lost, The Lights Down. $5.

- The Mighty Mighty
Black Market Art, Jimmy Zoom and the Beytorn Grifters, Little Pictures, Holiday With Friends.

SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

- The Matterhorn
Niko Ne Zna. Free 11pm.

- Blue Note Bar
President Gas - Sound on Sound Album Launch. 8pm. RSVP on www.presidentgas.com and receive a free CD.

- Old Studio 9

Twice on Thursdays, Stray Dogs, Cross Eyed Mary,Far from Fiction. All Ages, doors 7.30pm $5.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
OpShop. $20 presales from Ticketek and Real Groovy. 8.30pm.

- The Mighty Mighty
The Hories, Bad Evil, Boss Christ, WrongDoings. 9.30pm.

- Bar Bodega
World Battle of the Bands Wellington Final
Fiin, Mind Vandal, The Stacks, Faster She Said. 9pm.

SUNDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

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

MONDAY 3 SEPTEMBER

Are YOU playing in Wellington? Remember to send your gig listings through to Charlette by Monday to have them listed here.

TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER

- Bar Bodega
Beats and bubbles.

WEDNESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER

- San Francisco Bathhouse
Acoustic Lounge 6 - 8pm free.

REVIEW: Pitch Black

PITCH BLACK
SAN FRANCISCO BATHHOUSE
FRIDAY 17 AUGUST
Words and Photo by Lucy Wyatt

Have you ever-experienced music that makes you feel dirty, moody and horny all at the same time? Pitch Black had the San Francisco Bathhouse rocking on Friday night with a sound resonate of the audiences prurient feelings. From the very first track off their new album, Rude Mechanicals, the crowd were totally tuned in. Paddy Free’s crazy, almost Johnny Rotten look, complete with an intense shock of red hair, bounced his groove amongst the electronic equipment. Michael Hodgson’s less frantic presence created something of an on-stage juxtaposition - a difference that is arguably a necessary part of this eclectic electronic-dub co-habitation.

Tracks like Rude Mechanicals were perfect dance floor raisers, the catchy vocals hitting the right note. 1000 Mile Drift’s eerie, warped beats and haunting vocals changed the audiences pace a little. It’s like knowing what you’re going to get but loving it more than you could have imagined when you get it. Older tracks from Electric Earth were met with familiar appreciation. Many a smiling face told it so. The evening’s concoction of dirty riffs, smooth electric grooves and mesmerising vocals seemed to reach out and draw you deep inside the music.

The lighting - the vibrant colours, the backdrop of illuminated pipes was a pre-cursor to the fluid motion of the wired, electro musical waves fused with a pumping dub heart. The diverse mixture of people forgot their differences and united their common appreciation. When the last track finished the hunger could almost be interpreted as insatiable. Pitch Black, yet again, produced a fat, atmospheric dance floor blast. A truly wicked show.

GIGS: 23 - 29 August

THURSDAY 23 AUGUST

- The Mighty Mighty
The Cookbook Tour
Flip Grater, Shaun K Anderson. $10 8pm.

- Happy
Johnny Corker album release with Tim Beals. $10 8pm.

- Hotel Bristol
Blue Highways, Bob Cooper-Grundy.

- Bar Bodega
Marleybone Station

- Sandwiches
Harbour City Electric. 9pm

FRIDAY 24 AUGUST

- Valve
Imbolc, Beltane, Slave Cadaver, Gugonix, Execrate, Kaput Mortuum, Kreafly. $10 doors 9pm start 9.30pm.

- Real Groovy 6pm
- Happy 9pm
Scragfest
Galloping Hooves of the Apocalypse, Skaface Claw, Chernobyl Kid.

- Bar Bodega
Faster She Said. $5 9pm.

- Zeal
Second Theory, Whispers For Warning and more. $5 7pm All Ages.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
SJD, Hot Swiss Mistress

- Sandwiches
Rumble in the Jungle Wellington Heat
Featuring Balistics, Dunk, Habit, JDM, JMC, Kersal Massive, Roshi, Rowzy, Rythmatix, Sasky, Subsonik, Tamper. Hosted by Deluxe. $10 11pm.

- MVP
Barefoot In The Sand EP release, with Moana Ete and the Chaperones, Charcoal White. $10 8pm.

- The Adelaide
Tightlipped.

SATURDAY 25 AUGUST

- San Francisco Bathhouse
Happy Cones. $10 9pm.

- Old Studio 9
Zitty, DNA, The Splats. $5 7.30pm All Ages.

- Valve
The Twitch, Hellserpoppin. $10 9pm.

- The Mighty Mighty
Bonnie Scarletts, Coshercot Honeys.

- Happy
The Poe Show
Lucien Johnson

SUNDAY 26 AUGUST

- Old Studio 9
Acoustic Afternoons
Moana Ete and The Chaperones, and open mic. 2 - 5pm $5 for non-performers All Ages.

- The Matterhorn
The Skins, Money-D, The Yeabsley Key, Lisa Tomlins. 8:30pm.

MONDAY 27 AUGUST

Are YOU playing in Wellington? Remember to send your gig listings through to Charlette by Monday to have them listed here.

TUESDAY 28 AUGUST

- Bar Bodega
Beats and Bubbles.

WEDNESDAY 29 AUGUST

- MVP
Rikki Doolan, The Stouts. Free 9pm.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
Acoustic Lounge. 6 - 8pm.

REVIEW: Richard Leschen

RICHARD LESCHEN
WELLINGTON BLUEGRASS SOCIETY
FRIDAY 17 AUGUST
Words and Photo by Bill in NZ

Friday the 17th, the third Friday in the month, the time for the Wellington Bluegrass Society's regular "Society" night. As usual, there were a number of floor spots before the featured performer - Richard Leschen on this occasion, in the Wellington area recording his second CD at the Braeburn Recording Studios.

Richard is a singer/songwriter with guitar - originally from the heartland of the USA, but now a Kiwi living in the Auckland area. A mixture of descriptions of style - folk, a slight touch of outlaw country, Americana, roots, a bit of bluegrass - but always real music, with intelligent and well crafted lyrics.

He also performs with others - in other styles, world music (Hindi, Hindustani fusion, Turkish) , Tex-Mex, folk-rock and jazz - but this Friday night it was Richard on his own, with guitar performing grass roots music at its best.

Superb guitar playing all evening. To quote from his first album description, Richard has

"a unique style of guitar-picking that involves syncopated rhythms supported by bass and melody lines, harkening to his bluegrass and country folk roots ... His voice is unrefined, raw and expressive, a perfect mouthpiece for his folk-based compositions. The poetical-lyrical content is combined with improvisation ...."

That just about says it all about Friday's performance. Well worth finding him on one of his few live performances in the Wellington area.

For further information on Richard Leschen

www.richardleschen.com/ and
www.myspace.com/richardleschen

For further information on the Wellington Bluegrass Society

www.myspace.com/thebluegrassclub