Today let’s look at some upcoming shows in the Bay.

But first, something I promised last week...

CDs. Yes, they do keep coming up. Just as during the dead years for vinyl, when people would stay faithful, it seems CDs are now solid nostalgia generators – particularly for Gen Z –and there is already talk of a revival.

A revolving cycle 

Good grief. These ever-revolving cycles seem to be coming ‘round faster each time. I wouldn’t have thought there has been enough time for major record labels to screw us all over again by reselling everyone the same vinyl we once owned on CD and possibly on vinyl before that. Nonetheless, I offer the following statistics.

Sales of CDs rose two per cent in 2023, the first rise in 20 years; then in the first half of 2024 sales were up 3.2 per cent from 2023.

Universal Music Group announced physical sales revenues – CD, vinyl and cassette as opposed to streaming – increased by 14.4 per cent during the second quarter of 2024.

Taylor Swift’s recent album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ has appeared in nine different CD variants to date; Ariana Grande’s album this year ‘Eternal Sunshine’ comes in five CD variants.

Much of this information came in a piece from the ‘UK Observer’ highlighting primarily Gen Z collectors who apparently now scour second-hand shops for CDs. It might be worth hanging on to that old CD player after all...

But enough fanciful speculation. What’s the haps in the Bay? Let’s start with two shows next Friday, August 16.

In Katikati at The Arts Junction, the folk club is hosting singer-guitarist Andrew London and his bass-playing partner Kirsten. Andrew has become a not-infrequent Bay visitor, particularly to Katikati, possibly because he comes in at least three flavours: his trio, all-star outfit Too Many Chiefs; and this incarnation, the duo.

A satirist 

They’re calling this tour Songs I Wrote When I Was Cross, and if he’s new to you, be aware Andrew is a satirist in the vein of Tim Minchin or Tom Lehrer, writing very funny songs about the foibles of middle class New Zealand. Recommended.

Meanwhile, at the Mount’s Totara Street you can catch one of the country’s best groove-rock bands, Summer Thieves, on their Summer In Winter tour. Purveyors of fine distinctive indie music and including a Tauranga musician – the multi-monikered Izzy Bones/Dylan Israel/etc – their album of last year ‘Cigarettes In Space’ was rather wonderful and they dropped a dubby new single called ‘Caviar Candles’ a few months back.

Still at the Mount, the following night, August 17, at Palace Tavern, Auckland rockers Park Rd launch their new album ‘Novel’ with support from locals Marmalade Skies.

This Is How We Die.

Meanwhile, at the Historic Village’s Jam Factory, Katikati duo This Is How We Die, self-described as “dark and tribal, fuzz-driven alternative rock”, will be joined by groovy Auckland power trio The Fuzzies, for a night also featuring the ‘Hang The DJ Mixtape’ of classic and influential alt/indie/rock/punk/goth/shoegaze tunes. Why not?

Hear Winston’s latest playlist: