Music

A farewell to Chris Thompson

As I believe has been occasionally noted, New Zealand is not a large country. So it seems all the more unlikely we should produce two internationally-regarded... Read More

Hello Nukes, goodbye Marmalade Skies

We're pretty much into December. It focuses the mind, doesn't it? As I mentioned last week, gigs drop off the closer to Christmas we get. It's just too busy.... Read More

Two busy weekends coming up!

We must be getting close to the end of the year - gigs are starting to wind down. Not the gigs themselves of course, but as December arrives they get sparser.... Read More

Blues, hardcore and R.I.P. The Knids

I sometimes get messages from parents, enthusiastic about their children's music. Contrary to what you might immediately assume, these almost always prove... Read More

A new book, a new album – yum!

Last weekend I went to the Trinity Wharf Hotel launch of a big, bold and beautiful new book. ‘Paperboy Writer', by Tommy Kapai Wilson, is a lavishly-illustrated... Read More

Punk legends, swing royalty, and an African maestr

Around 1980, I quit Southampton University and upped sticks for New Zealand, an uninformed decision fuelled by bad drugs and hubris. I spent my last night... Read More

A Corben collection – and much more

Labour weekend already? The year is rushing to a close. Only a week until an American election. The world is on a knife edge. We finally learn whether being... Read More

Undercover on a Wednesday night

One thing to know about jamming and open mic nights: in Tauranga and the Mount they mostly happen on Wednesdays. Mostly. So, I donned my Secret Squirrel hat... Read More

Two Jans, Somacaine and Bling!

October on the music scene? Let me describe it in three words: busy, busy, busy. Three? That's how many gigs I wanted to mention happening next Saturday alone.... Read More

October music and R.I.P Kris

This week was for October gigs - there are a lot. But Kris Kristofferson died, so let's take a minute. I've been listening to Kris since I was a teenager,... Read More

A warm nostalgic wallow

This column doesn't really do nostalgia: there's always something more important. But I like a warm wallow as much as anyone so, just for this week,... Read More

No Reply, Kokomo, Eno and more

I'll start with a new single from a reasonably new band. No Reply are a nine-piece spread between the Mount, Pāpāmoa, Hairini, Matua, and Ōtūmoetai. With... Read More