390 Groove Guide

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SHIT WORTH DOING

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Nov 16-22 2011 . NZ’S original FREE WEEKLY STREET PRESS . ISSUE 390 . GROOVEGUIDE.CO.NZ


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Shit worth announcing

Breaking news  The Axemen have announced a four-stop tour around the country in December, hitting Christchurch, Lyttleton, Wellington and Auckland.

Announcements Comrades in Cabaret

The Dresden Dolls have announced another round of shows in New Zealand. The duo comprising of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione are no strangers to New Zealand, having played here several times before as the cabaret-punk performance the two of them deliver, and singer/pianist Palmer has visited on her solo endeavours down under. The Dolls will play at Auckland’s Powerstation on Friday 27 January and at The Opera House in Wellington on Saturday 28 January. Yet another great international January show to spend your money on.

 The Exponents will be gigging relentlessly in March, filling up one show a day for 28 days.  Swedish folk-act First Aid Kit have been announced to play at the NZ International Arts Festival.  The Golden Awesome will be playing four shows in December celebrating the release of their new album Autumn.

27/01 Our pick

 Royce Da 5’9 will play one show next month at Auckland’s Studio.  Pink Floyd have launched their very first app – This Day In Pink Floyd.  Culinary veteran Heston Blumenthal will be coming to New Zealand for a one-night-only show at Auckland’s Aotea Centre.  Chicago rockers and Tarantino favourites Urge Overkill have announced one show at Auckland’s Powerstation in March. Groove Guide is New Zealand’s leading weekly music and entertainment publication. 10,000 free copies are available every week at music stores, cafes, fast food outlets, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas and retail stores throughout New Zealand. If you would like to stock Groove Guide please contact tyler@ grooveguide.co.nz or call (09) 3664616.

09/12

17/12 Circus in the Sun

Grant Hislop editor@grooveguide.co.nz

CONTRIBUTING Editor

15/12

The Fuse Circus Campground Chaos summer tour has been announced to take place around the country throughout December to February. Hitting venues on the Kapiti Coast, Paihia, Whangarei, Tauranga, Wellington, Cambridge and at the Bloom Festival, the outdoor travelling circus looks like it’ll be a bit of a family thriller, and all on the cheap at $5 to $10 per person. Juggling, crazy balancing, contortionism, people dancing with giant feathers... all that kind of circus. Not the bear in the cart circus. Head to fusecircus.co.nz for more info.

16/12

After finding his debut album in the top 10 charts, Bulletproof is celebrating by throwing one hell of a dub party. The Dub Me Crazy Soundsystem will be held at Auckland’s Studio on Friday 16 December and features support from the likes of Mt Eden, Jason Howson, Jessie G, David Dallas, PNC, Hollie Smith, Annabel Fay, Kidz In Space and Rugged Tekniques. Tickets are limited and are only available from 1-night. co.nz, ranging from $30 for general admission to $70 for entry, a t-shirt and album download.

Matt Monk matt@grooveguide.co.nz

Editorial assistant Tyler Hislop tyler@grooveguide.co.nz

SUB Editor Elise Brinkman

Designer Advertising

Auckland’s Silo Park is opening the Silo Cinema later this month, celebrating New Zealand film makers and auteurs. Friday 25 November will see Taika Waititi show his music video for Phoenix Foundation, his award-winning short Two Cars, One Night and his feature Eagle vs. Shark. The following weeks will feature the works of Oscar Kightley and Florian Habicht. Each event is free thanks to the Arts Foundation of New Zealand.

Feeling Summer

The Feelers have announced a regional tour over summer. Following their chronic gigging in FanZones around the country during the Rugby World Cup, the band will play at Auckland and Papamoa in December, Waihi and Mangawhai in January and Whitianga and New Plymouth in February.

Editor

Greta Gotlieb greta@grooveguide.co.nz

Liquid Gold

Auckland-based Golden Axe have announced three shows around the country in celebration of their fourth album Liquid Bacon being released in December. The album will be the band’s first international release thanks to Czech Republic based label AMDISCS, and will be released as a pay-as-youlike digital album as well as on cassette – seriously – followed by a vinyl release next year. The duo will play at the Audio Foundation in Auckland, Mighty Mighty in Wellington and at Stink Fest in Christchurch before touring with Dan Deacon during his shows next year.

25/11 Silo Nights

09/12 ARGH MUM!!

Aussie four-piece The Jezebels have announced one show in New Zealand in December. The indie-rockers will play at Auckland’s Cassette on Friday 09 December at the venue’s weekly MUM Clubnight. Previously playing at Splendour In The Grass and lined up to play the Australian dates of the Big Day Out, this will be the band’s first NZ performance. Lion Eyes will play support at the one-off show.

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Real Man Of Steel

Accounts Gail Hislop gailhslp@yahoo.co.nz

Contributors Justin Fowler, Sam Wieck, Alexander Hallag, James Croot, Steve Newall, Tim Gruar, James A. Robins, John Brinkman

print Image Print ltd.

Publisher Hark Entertainment LTD PO Box 37584 Parnell, Auckland

Unfaithfully Yours

due to space and content requirements, not all gigs may be listed. listings are user generated. groove guide assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. groove guide is provided ‘as is’, for your information only, without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringment. the guide’s publisher assumes no responsibility for and disclaims all liability for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions in this guide and do not share the opinions expressed within. reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. copyright 2011

ISSN 1172-675X

18/11

Following their recognition at the VNZMAs and being nominated for the Critics Choice Award, Christchurch notables The Unfaithful Ways have announced three shows throughout November and December. After proving their chops with debut album Free Reign, the band will play at Auckland’s Cassette this Friday 18 November before heading to Paikakariki to play at St Peter’s Hall on Thursday 08 December and to Wellington’s Mighty Mighty on Friday 09 December.

24/03 Three times the charm

The treble talents of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Steve Lukather are combining their powers and bringing G3 to Auckland’s Logan Campbell Centre and Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre in March. Music and pyrotechnics mixed with the generational rockers’ guitar wizardry all come together for these two shows that have previously been seen by audiences in the US, Europe, South America, Japan and Australia.

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Shit Worth Knowing

PLAYING In Brief... FAVourites LISA Crawley

Favourite drink? CC & Dry Favourite restaurant/café? Coco’s Cantina Favourite takeaway? Burger Fuel – Beetnik Combo Favourite classic film? Labyrinth / The Sound of Music Favourite childhood memory? Winning the trophy for Most Improved Recorder Player Favourite party food? Salt and vinegar chips – any Crawley can spot these a mile away Favourite vice? Shortland Street Favourite song? ‘The Greatest’ by Cat Power Favourite meal? Vegetarian lasagne Favourite cause? SPCA Favourite ‘90s TV show? Full House Favourite album? The Beatles’ Abbey Road, and am really enjoying the new Feist album Favourite type of groupie? Anyone that can carry my keyboard is fine by me Favourite body part on you? Maybe my ‘piano hands’? Favourite current TV show? Parks and Recreation OUT NOW: LISA CRAWLEY - EVERYTHING I HAVE SEEN SEE HER LIVE: THU 17 NOV MONETCRISTO ROOM, AUCKLAND THU 24 NOV SAN FRAN BATH HOUSE, WELLINGTON FRI 25 NOV CHICKS HOTEL, DUNEDIN SAT 26 NOV THE BREWERY, CHRISTCHURCH FRI 09 DEC LEIGH SAWMILL CAFÉ, LEIGH

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Black Sabbath have announced a reunion tour for next year. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward have confirmed they will be returning to their touring times, although no news yet on whereabouts the band will perform. Word is however that the reunion will earn them roughly NZ$200 million. All Flying Nun gigs in Christchurch throughout the month of November have been moved to CPSA at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology from their previous venues. Turns out gaming doesn’t listen to the world economy. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sold over US$400 million in sales on its first day in stores in the US and UK. This follows the news that Batman: Arkham Asylum becoming one of the fastest selling games ever with over 2 million copies sold in its first week, Battlefield 3 selling 5

million copies in its first week and Uncharted 3 selling a whopping 3.8 million copies on its first day. Got a spare couple of million dollars? A long-thought-lost copy of Action Comics 1 has surfaced. The comic was the first appearance of Superman, and has a CGC rating of 9. Last year a different copy of the comic was sold for US$1.5 million and was graded at 8.5, meaning that this could go for somewhere around US$2 million.

Releases This Week The Beach Boys’ The Smile Sessions 2CD, CD/DVD Box set; Kate Bush’s 50 Words For Snow; David Guetta’s Nothing But The Beat Christmas Edition; Motorhead’s The World Is Yours (Vol 1 Everything Further Than Every Place Else); Gym Class Heroes’ Papercut Chronicles II; R.E.M.’s Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982 – 2011; Alvin & The Chipmunks’ Chipwrecked; Various’ Rocked 11; Seasick Steve’s Walkin’ Man – The Best Of; Tegan & Sara’s Get Along; The Exponents’ Greatest Hits; Snow Patrol’s Fallen Empires; Various’ Ten Guitars 3; Robin Thicke’s Love After War.

It’s been bigger Last week saw the Big Day Out 2012 second announcement come with a few unexpected changes to the festival. Nero, The Vaccines, Cavalera Conspiracy, Regurgitator, Kimbra, Parkway Drive, Midnight Youth, Das Racist, Six 60, Mt Eden, The Adults, I Am Giant, Cairo Knife Fight, Jakob, Bulletproof, Junica, @Peace, DJ Severe, Nick D and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds have all been added to the list. At the same time Kanye has been pulled from the line-up as well as Odd Future. Other changes include the festival only featuring one main stage, the removal of the D in the main arena and the disappearance of the Orange, Local Produce and Lillyworld stages. This also follows the news that BDO organisers Vivian Lees and Ken West have ended their partnership, and Lees has left the festival to spend more time with his family and follow other pursuits. Management has said that current BDO ticket holders will receive a $20 merchandise voucher, but are welcome to a refund if the changes make them unhappy. Anyone wishing to attend that has not yet bought tickets will have the booking fee cut off the price upon purchase. Cue the slayers that gon’ slay. The fact is the festival is one of, if not the best run festival in the country. There’s something for everyone and it’s a shame that two of the headliners are gone, but there are still some quality acts both local and international lined up to play.


Shit Worth Knowing

summer FLICKs Movies are great, but free movies are better. Throughout November the New Zealand Motion Picture Industry Council is running a nationwide campaign to get us going to the movies more, in which 1000 golden tickets are up for grabs. What are the golden tickets? A personalised pass that gets you into any movie up until February. That’s a whole summer of free movies. The scratch and win campaign is pretty simple – every time a single movie ticket is purchased from any participating cinema, a golden ticket scratch card is given out. If the

shit worth

winning Go to grooveguide.co.nz and enter the draw to win these prizes

scratch card is a winner, you get free movies all summer. It’s a move that just about every cinema company is involved in. The idea is to get people spending more time at the movies, presumably focussing on the lack of bums on seats over the months when you’re mostly at the beach. Sure, it might not be the season that you go to the movies the most, but a whole summer of free movies? We’re not complaining.

EARTHTONZ MUSIC FESTIVAL HUGE PRIZE

EARTHTONZ MUSIC FESTIVAL FRI 30 DEC- MON 01 JAN GIBBSTON VALLEY WINERY, QUEENSTOWN 2 X FESTIVAL PASSES ($298 VALUE) 2 X TWO-DAY CAMPING PASSES ($30 VALUE) 1 X DRINKING VOUCHER ($25 VALUE) TOTAL VALUE- $353

THE HIGH LIFE NEW YEARS EVE

Pic(s) of the Week French blogger Cristophe Courtois noticed a trend in movie posters in today’s world. Generally, they suck. But Courtois has delved a little deeper into the phenomenon and has broken movie posters into 13 trends and groups. They are, in no particular order: tiny people on the beach with transparent images of big people in the clouds; people’s backs, most likely holding weaponry; two chums back to back (pictured); people laying in bed under the covers; a big eye in the middle; the night sky and nature is blue; black/blue on orange; people running for their life; legs spread wide (pictured); a big face made up of little pictures; the red dress; exact copycats; and text over a person’s face. Head to christophecourtois.blogspot.com to see the phenomenon.

THE HIGH LIFE NEW YEARS EVE EXPERIENCE 11/12 SAT 31 DEC MATAKANA COUNTRY PARK, MATAKANA COAST 1 X SINGLE PASS 1 X P-MONEY- EVERYTHING ALBUM 1 X BULLETPROOF- DUB ME CRAZY ALBUM

MORE NEAT THINGS

Film News Brett Ratner and Eddie Murphy have stepped down as the producer and host of the Oscars for next year. Such a tragedy. Brian Grazer is taking over Ratner’s role, and Billy Crystal will now present. Two very elusive characters are getting movie adaptations. The rights to Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and Where’s Wally? have both been purchased. Two trailers are out for Goon starring Seann William Scott. What looks like a hockey story at heart turns into a great big punch up where hockey players make jokes and beat the living crap out of each other. The weird thing is, it looks good. Maybe it’s the Crank 2 of sports movies? Michael Bay has made a trailer for the new Need For Speed videogame. How much more appropriate could any two things ever get?

SELECTIVE SOUNDS

ASSASSINS CREED

TUE 27 DEC MANGAWHAI

1 X BOOK

1 X DOUBLE PASSES

CD giveaways

SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS

DAVID DALLAS

3 X SOUL TIME!

3 x THE ROSE TINT DELUXE

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Shit worth doing

WEDNESDAY 16

THURSDAY 17 TV Colours

Danger Beach

Ghost Club

The third and social

DOC

The Kings Arms 8pm, $17, undertheradar.co.nz

Having not heard of TV Colours up until a couple of weeks ago, it’s safe to say that we were pleasantly surprised with what the Aussie band puts out. Seriously – these guys are great. Noise / garage / lofi / surf / experimental / whatever. Thank the folks at Rose Quartz for putting this on – it’ll be a damn good show.

Another one of the brilliant lesserknown bands to come over from Aussie this week. It’s safe to say the likes of student radio stations will be playing Danger Beach’s songs soon enough, so get in the know now at this smaller and more intimate show.

DAVID DALLAS

Project Nim

Breaking Dawn pt. 1

conch records

Selected Cinemas

General Release

David Dallas will popping up at Conch Records in Ponsonby from Wednesday through to Saturday as he celebrates the deluxe version release of The Rose Tint. PNC, P-Money, Aaradhna, SPYCC & INF, Fire & Ice and more are schedueled to make an appearance throughout, as well as there being giveaways and spotprizes each day.

Try putting a chimp into a Manhattan family to see if it can learn sign language. This award winning documentary comes from the director of Man on Wire and has a high chance of making you sigh and cry.

OMG! dA nEw tWiLiGhT iZ oWt DiS wEeK!!!11 OMFG H4V u rEd dA b00kz? WAT HAPPINZ WIV BELLA N EDWARD N IZ DAT WOLV GAI STIL THER?!?!?! tEaM jAcOB4LYfE!!! And so on and so forth. Assuming that kids still speak in Bebo language.

Ghost Club continue their very minitour with a show up in Auckland with support from Solid Gold Hell and Evil Twins. This is probably the closest thing you’ll get to seeing the 3Ds for a while, so take advantage of the Nunvember parties while you can.

FRIDAY 18 Flying Nun Parties

Assassins 88

The Kings Arms, SFBH, CPSA, Sammy’s

Tabac

gig OF THE WEEK

$17-20, undertheradar.co.nz

Where did these guys come from? What an awesome sound. TV Colours even make an appearance. Honestly, this one off gig could possibly be one of the best shows on tonight in Auckland. If you’re a rock kid and you’re not at The Kings Arms this Friday, this is without a doubt the place to be.

Big ones tonight – Auckland’s Kings Arms Tavern hosts a ridiculously large lineup with She’s So Rad, Golden Axe, O’Lovely, Tono and the Finance Company, Deer Park, X Ray Fiends, Cool Cult , Rackets and Evil Twins playing for A Low Hum’s Flying Nun Records Tribute Night; Wellington’s San Fran Bath House is where The Bats continue their Free All The Monsters EP release tour with support from Dear Time’s Waste and Big River Chain; CPSA in Christchurch looks after Shayne Carter and Ghost Club with Popstrangers; and finally HDU play at Sammy’s in Dunedin with a little help from Dead C. You can’t get much bigger than that. These gigs should host Skype parties to each different venue.

Defamer The Basement

10pm, $13-20, undertheradar.co.nz

Aussie five-piece death metallers Defamer unleash their assault with the support reigns being held by Heresiarch (described as “barbaric” and “militant”), Exordium Mors (a “blistering force of black thrash”) and Carnal (“brutalising” and “punishing”). Metal much? Yeah? Then your plans tonight are sussed, huh.

Instant Kiwis

2011 Chinese Film Festival

Alex and BB

Q Theatre

Penthouse Cinema

Bluegrass Society

11pm, $15, qtheatre.co.nz

Improv shows are great. You’re always convinced that it’s cheating and planned, until they ask you for a suggestion. Then you’re all, “Woah, are they psychic?” but then you’re like, “No, that’s stupid.” So then you realise that they’re actually good at what they do, but your inner monologue made you lose focus.

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6pm, $16.50, penthousecinema.co.nz

This looks good. Lots of Chinese films always have amazing sets and locations with crazy epic storylines that overwhelm you with the difference in film between cultures. Are you cultured?

8pm, $10, Door sales

Banjos are more than instruments that hicks play when Burt Reynolds comes to town. They actually don’t need a real Americana voice behind it for it to sound great. Enter Alex and BB, banjo virtuoso extraordinaires.


Shit worth doing

Saturday 19 Flying Nun Parties

Wellington Zinefest

The Kings Arms, Static, SFBH, CPSA, Sammy’s

Mighty Mighty

12-5pm, FREE

$17-20, undertheradar.co.nz

The Bats play at Auckland’s Kings Arms with support from Dear Time’s Waste and Pregame Heshmury And His Flying Nundertones (which might ring a bell if you were a fan of Able Tasmans); Disco Volante, The Shrugs, Imploder, System Corporation, Noosphere and The Changing Same hit Static in Hamilton with cameos from Phil Buske from The Datsuns and ex Sneaky Feelings bassist Matthew Bannister; The Phoenix Foundation, The Eversons, Glass Vaults, Seth Frightening, The Golden Awesome , Diana Rozz , Blue Onesies and Mount Pleasant play San Fran in Wellington; HDU finish up at CPSA in Christchurch with help from the ever-popular Delaney Davidson; and Shayne Carter, Ghost Club and Popstrangers finish up at Sammy’s in Dunedin.

Zinefests are great. Auckland’s got a staple one, and the creative hub of Wellington will no doubt have some quality zines on show at Mighty Mighty this year. What else are you going to do on a Saturday? Work? Working is lame. It’s fine to pull a sickie if you’re going to do something cultured.

Bic Runga Chapel of Christ the King, St Paul’s 7pm, $65, acousticchurchtour.co.nz

Bic Runga’s Acoustic Church Tour leads her to Hamilton this weekend, following Thursday’s show in Whangarei at the Central Baptist Church and the Friday show at Tauranga’s Holy Trinity. Monday sees her play at Pukekohe’s Franklin Baptist Church before heading back up to Auckland for two shows at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Unitec Grad Plays

The Gaslamp Killer

Ash & The Matadors

Unitec Theatre

Sandwiches

XII Below 11pm, $25-35, 1-night.co.nz

$10, Door sales

LA Based DJ The Gaslamp Killer is here for a good time, not a long time. You know how Thom Yorke did that weird dance? Imagine that mixed with crumping and you end up with one of the craziest DJ sets you possibly can.

Ash and The Matadors wind up their South Island tour in Dunedin this weekend as they finish celebrating the release of their debut album. Want a good night in Dunedin? This, and the Nun night at Sammy’s. Sorted.

7pm, $5-15, iticket.co.nz

If you’ve got a friend studying theatre, then this is where you go to watch them. If you’ve got a crush on someone at Unitec, suggest that you go to this. If you like the theatre and want to see where the next generation of actors will come from, this is where you see them.

SUNDAY 20 Big Boys Toys

Hayley Westenra

ASB Showgrounds

CBS Canterbury Arena

7.30pm, $80-90, ticketek.co.nz

10am-6pm, $15-20, iticket.co.nz

How much would your mum love you if you took her to Hayley Westenra? She’d probably make you some baking. Or maybe your favourite dish. Meatballs? Chicken stir fry? Tofu super salad? Yep. Thank Hayley for that one. One of the country’s most popular classical singers keeps her 10th anniversary homecoming tour rolling in Christchurch.

Cars! Bikes! Boats! Wheels! Trucks! Tits! Razors! Shaving! Beer! Pornography! Maxim! Suits! Casual Fridays! Fishing! Exaggerating stories! Barbecues! Barbecue sauce! Really big headphones! Guns! Steak! Blow-off valves! Clint Eastwood! Building! Woodwork! Carpentry! Buying drinks! Garages! Punching a bear! And every once in a while, a cuddle! MEN!

Auckland Symphony Orchestra

auckland

art and culture

hamilton

daytime event

wellington

live music

dunedin

all ages

christchurch

film/tv

2pm, FREE

What a way to spend your Sunday. It’s not jazz like so many Sunday gigs are. It’s a free family friendly performance over on Auckland’s North Shore. Some people think that getting kids to listen to symphonies when they’re young makes them geniuses. Whether that’s true or not, it’s still a nice gesture.

Key

Bruce Mason Theatre

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The Belle s A Ringing five years since her last album, bic runga is embarking on an acoustic tour playing at some of the country’s most prominent churches.

Here we go: another accidentally casual Monday morning. I went to sleep with fine intentions for getting up at a reasonable time, heck – I even set an alarm. Nine passes, so I crawl up. I tunelessly mumble through some of ‘Good Morning Baby’ (a regular occurrence my flatmates abhor) as I scrub up, and then set to work over a coffee with more spoonfuls of instant gush in it then are needed to get an obese man’s veins tickling. Scrawl some notes whilst staring vacantly at haphazard Google research. Adjust my morning playlist of indie folk (I know, pretentious hipster) to a refreshing rowdydow of Runga-style pop folk, and wait. My phone rings. A chirpy, friendly voice is at the other end… Bic Runga! It’s been five long years since Runga last recorded an album, and even though she’s only done three, each has been magical – going multiplatinum, bagging our most prestigious music awards and offering songs that have slipped into the great (yet-to-be-released RIANZ) Kiwi soundtrack. Where does one disappear to for so many years, especially on the back of such success? As it turns out, motherhood. I know, I know – I should have been able to get that one from Woman’s Day. “I had a baby in 2007,” she says. “My son’s not quite a toddler anymore!” Runga’s excited to be on the road again. “I’ve been waiting four years,” she says. I pry to see if there’s another young musician in the family, but Runga says she doesn’t want him to be one. “It’s too hard. Blood, sweat and tears. He wants to be a toy maker. He surfs YouTube looking at toy reviews.” Cute! Now she’s back, Runga has an intense schedule: her latest Acoustic Church Tour involves 17 shows. She’s really looking forward to this, having played it before, and she enjoys the acoustics of the buildings. She’s also played two warm-up shows, just to tantalise her fans. And then there’s the new music: her album Belle has dropped only very recently, taking the tally to four. Belle is a story in and of itself, and Runga says it is her returning to Beautiful Collision. “I co-wrote more on this album,” referring to now defunct The Mint Chicks brothers Ruban and Kody Nielson’s help. There’s also a collaboration with Evermore’s Dan Hume on the alreadyreleased track ‘Hello, Hello’. ‘This Girl’s Prepared for War’ is also a collab, with James Milne of Lawrence Arabia fame. As well as co-writing some of the material, Kody Nielson produced the album, and it was mixed by big names Tom Rothrock (Beck, Foo Fighters) and Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend’s Contra). “This album is less introspective.

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It’s more poppy and upbeat,” Runga comments. Runga was a little unsure at how this album would go with factors such as music piracy and the economic climate at play, but she’s refreshingly optimistic. “I read something that said during a recession entertainment sales go up,” she laughs. “People want to get happy!” We have a laugh over the fact that the same article says lipstick sales go up too. I guess you can never be too poor to stay sexy. Belle was mixed in Los Angeles – an experience that Runga really enjoyed. While she was there, she got to spend time with sister Boh (Stellar*) whom Bic hints will be moving home soon. Bic reveals that Boh actually has her own room in Bic’s house – what a sweet sis! Natalia Mann will join Runga on the Acoustic Church Tour as support, kicking off in Whangerei on Thursday. I know Bic would be stoked if you went along – but not as stoked as you’ll be to hear her new material.

WRITTEN BY JUSTIN FOWLER OUT NOW: BIC RUNGA- BELLE SEE HER LIVE: THU 17 NOV Central Baptist Church, Whangarei FRI 18 NOV Holy Trinity, Tauranga SAT 19 NOV Chapel of Christ the King, Hamilton MON 21 NOV Franklin Baptist Church, Pukekohe TUE 22 NOV Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland WED 23 NOV Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland FRI 25 NOV St. John’s Cathedral, Napier SAT 26 NOV All Saints Church, Palmerston North MON 28 NOV St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Masterton TUE 29 NOV Wellington Cathedral, Wellington WED 30 NOV Wellington Cathedral, Wellington FRI 02 DEC St. Michael and All Angels, Christchurch SAT 03 DEC St. Michael and All Angels, Christchurch MON 05 DEC St. Mary’s Church, Timaru TUE 06 DEC Knox Church, Dunedin WED 07 DEC Knox Church, Dunedin THU 08 DEC First Presbyterian Church, Invercargill


Something to SMiLE about Sam Wieck takes a look at The Beach Boys’ SMiLE Sessions box set released this week, and finds that the story behind it is just as intriguing as the music itself.

The SMiLE Sessions deluxe box set must seem like a Christmas miracle for Beach Boys enthusiasts and rabid catalogue completists. Forty-one years after the record’s early demise, upwards of six hours of mostly unheard material has been exhumed from the archives. There is a hint of cynicism in the release coming just before Christmas, in the year of The Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary, but don’t let my jaundiced eye fool you. My reference point for the Beach Boys is their cameo appearance on Home Improvement and alcohol-muddled recollections of dancing to Pet Sounds in the muggy lounge room of a poorly-insulated home in Brisbane. A vast generational separation and spiritual bitterness made me skeptical about the value of this release, but then I started listening to it. SMiLE is the avant-garde, America-themed pop record that broke Brian Wilson’s brain. Its story has the makings of a feature film: tense professional relationships compounded by the relevant parties being related, heavy drug use, a genius and his eccentricity, and a killer blow from a close-kept enemy. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, here’s a plot synopsis: Brian Wilson, a musician in his mid-twenties, has recently stopped touring with his band The Beach Boys in order to focus on recording his magnum opus. Through the recording process, he works with a visionary lyricist, Van Dyke Parks, a bond which creates further rifts, particularly with Brian Wilson’s cousin and other Beach Boys spearhead, Mike Love. All the while Wilson’s use of marijuana and LSD beginS to unravel his mind and alter his personality, exacerbating his idiosyncrasies. Despite all this, Wilson and Parks continue working from the gigantic sandbox in Wilson’s mansion, nailing tune after tune. As tensions continue to heighten and Wilson’s mental stability deteriorates, completion of the record seems an increasingly distant prospect. Finally, upon hearing tracks from The Beatles soon-to-be-released record, Sgt. Pepper’s, Wilson snaps. Unable to deal with the ill-feeling between Wilson and Love, Parks leaves the project around the same time, in turn dooming one of the most interestingly composed, forward thinking and technically complex recordings of the period (1966–‘67) to the archives. Phew. If a studio won’t buy that, I’m willing to negotiate the addition of a talking animal, just to help tie the story in to Pet Sounds. There’s enough drama and heartbreak in the making of SMiLE to put bums on seats and there was certainly enough to drive bootleggers and tape-traders mental in their hunt for the original recordings.

SMiLE is a great record in its own right. Certainly not perfect, it’s a little uneven at times and Wilson’s quest for humour can descend into novelty. There are some awkward textural shifts in the name of concept, slide whistles sticking out like sore thumbs and other odd decisions. But in and around the occasional head-tilting “Why, Brian?!” moments, fantastic pieces of art emerge. Of particular note are the songs touched by the hands of Van Dykes Park: ‘Heroes and Villains’, ‘Surf’s Up’, ‘Wind Chimes’ and ‘Wonderful’ are all cracking good tunes. There is also a seriously exciting piece of loot in the bonus tracks, a solo version of ‘Surf’s Up’. Brian Wilson’s dog-whistle of a falsetto and a piano: sublime. Negative criticism of SMiLE could be considered unfair given that it was never considered completed. But some of the gaffes that still remain on this release do not seem as though they would sound better with any amount of polishing. Still, SMiLE and its bonus tracks only comprise the first of five discs. There are swathes of treasure to be found by exploring the remaining four. They are replete with outtakes, band discussions, experimental recording sessions and alternate takes. The second CD is dominated by sectional takes for ‘Heroes and Villains’. It becomes clear that many of the individual tracks on the album were originally intended as sections within ‘Heroes and Villains’, and were later separated out. Wading through it, it becomes clear that Brian Wilson was not the kind of guy you’d want to work for if you couldn’t deal with a perfectionist as a superior. SMiLE, if it had been released as scheduled, would have marked a huge departure from The Beach Boys’ previous work. Unfortunately it marked instead their gradual decline in popularity and Brian Wilson’s lessthan-gradual decline into addiction. Perhaps that makes the release of this record and its accompanying material all the more poignant. The immense amount of energy and time thrown in Wilson’s labour of love helps you empathise with the pain and disappointment that must have followed, having to pack it up in boxes and walk away. A small part of me wants to figure out the chronological order of the extra material and play it through, charting the descent into the limbo reserved for lost albums. Fortunately, a much larger part of me is content to spend the next few days with SMiLE, finished or otherwise, burying itself in my brain.

WRITTEN BY Sam Wieck Grooveguide.co.nz

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11


Epic. It’s a great word and fitting for the latest Assassin’s Creed title. You know it used to be that people asked me what I liked to read, and when I said ‘heroic fantasy’ I’d normally be greeted with a bit of a giggle. However with the success of games like Assassin’s Creed, films like Lord of the Rings and TV shows such as Game of Thrones it’s great to see the light of fantasy’s star growing. It’s an escapism that you can’t get with other genres, and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations certainly provides you with a world in which you can immerse yourself and get lost in. As with previous incarnations of the Assassin’s franchise, the game is huge. After a good eight-hour session I only found myself resting at 37.3% completion. I’d say I’m fairly far through the main story line, but there’s so much to do in the city in terms of side missions and trophies I’ve no idea when I’ll hit 100%. AC:R is the culmination of the series in more ways than one. It seems the developers have learnt what’s worked and what hasn’t. Gone are the needlessly oversized open fields that take too long to cross. To combat moving around the map, the tunnel network that you had to unlock in AC:B is fully open to you from the start. The city of Constantinople, or Istanbul depending on what faction you belong to, is still immense. Despite the noticeably bigger world, something about it feels smaller thanks to a new addition introduced into the gameplay. The hook-blade is a great new feature that enables you to jump higher gaps, leap and grab ledges over longer distances, hook enemies legs from under them and slide down zip lines. The parkour influenced free running is as great as ever, and is surely influencing other games. Annoying things that have seemingly disappeared are the wanted posters and controlling yourself whilst in follow/incognito mode. Simply walk up to the person or group you’re following, let go of the controls and auto-pilot kicks. A fun introduction to the story is the strategy type minigame of defending your den. In previous iterations, gaining the ire of the guards and becoming notorious didn’t really matter too much. Simply kill an official or bribe a herald and – bingo – you’re back to normal. In AC:R it’s the same, but don’t do it in time and the Templars will launch an attack on one of your dens/bases and attempt to reclaim it. Here starts the minigame where you direct your troops in an attempt to repel the Templar’s attack, strategically placing barricades, assassins, crossbowmen and more at the cost of moral. Repel successfully to gain more moral and bolster your defences. These mini-games are a nice touch if you don’t want to slop playing but you’re looking for a spell from the main storyline. Another new, hugely fun and surprisingly useful feature is the crafting of bombs. Treasure around the city is no longer annoying and useless – now chests contain ingredients for crafting your own bombs, allowing you to combine different elements and choose what sort of bomb you’d like. Mix up the different casings and the strength of gunpowder to get your end result. I didn’t get to try the new mega-touted multiplayer which seems to be one of the most hyped features of AC:R. But all in all, there’s enough here to keep those of you returning for the final instalment up all night and hooked in. For the first-timer, you’ll be blown away by what is easily the best one in the series. Seriously, just start here and see if you can stop yourself playing.

WRITTEN BY JON SNOW 12

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grooveguide.co.nz


Š 2011 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision, Call Of Duty and Modern Warfare are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.


Friday Saturday

Sunday


events

WELLINGTON gig guide Wed 16 BATS Theatre

Southern Cross

The Guest room series presents Bohemian Thought: 8pm: Free

Wake Less: 7:30pm: $20 / $15

Good Luck bar

Wednesday Rice & Shine w/ DJ Ruckus & Kev Fresh: 4pm: Free

Happy Bar

The Placid Saints, Stone Candy & DazZ: 8pm: $5

Matterhorn

The Session: 10pm: Free

Mighty Mighty

Dunk, Forest Spirits, The Shocking & Stunning: 9:30pm: $5

San Fran Bath House Ghost Club & Diana Rozz: 8pm: $15 + BF

Southern Cross

Kroon for your Kai ft. Jodie Gummer: 7pm: Free

Thu 17 BATS Theatre

Wake Less: 7:30pm: $20 / $15

Bettys function house & bar

The Junkyard: 9:30pm: Free

Good Luck bar

Thursday Best Fortune: 4pm: Free

Mighty Mighty

Disco Fap & Love Affair: 10:30pm: Free

Fri 18

BATS Theatre

Wake Less: 7:30pm: $20 / $15

Good Luck bar

Good Luck Saturdays w/ HypeasGus & El Pasko: 4pm: Free

BATS Theatre

Interislander Ferry - Wellington

Good Luck bar

Meow

Wake Less: 7:30pm: $20 / $15 Stir Friday w/ Kev Fresh & Dilby: 4pm: Free

Happy

The Blue Onesies, Wives, Solo Ono: 9pm: $5

Mighty Mighty

The Supper Club Shakedown & The Side Steps Quintet: 10:15pm: $5

Perrett’s Corner Cafe & Bar

Freaky Meat Delicatessen National Tour: 5pm: Free

San Fran Bath House The Bats w/ Dear Times Waste: 8pm: $22 + BF

The Fringe Bar

CURVY BBW PARTY: 8:30pm: $20

Bluegrass Society Alex & BB: 8pm: $10

Freaky Meat Delicatessen National Tour: 8:15am

Bar Medusa

Defamer (AU), Necroternal, Bulletbelt, Horrendous Disfigurement: 9Pm: $20

Thanks to

Farmer Maori & the Maori Farmers, The Dickens & Warwick Donald: 8pm: $5

Mighty Mighty

Wellington Zine Fest 2011: 12pm: Free / Old Loaves, D Burmester, Numbskull: 10pm: $5

Sun 20

Sandwiches

Good Luck bar

Gaslamp Killer & Crushington: 11pm

Sunday Satisfaction w/ Harry Hospo: Free

San Fran Bath House

Southern Cross

Flying Nun 30th Anniversary Tribute Show: 8pm: Presales $12 + BF

Recovery Sessions w/ Izz the Wizz: 3pm: Free

Southern Cross

Tue 22

The Arvo Show ft. Nikita & the Spooky: 4pm: Free / Mara & the Bushkas: 9pm: Free

St James Theatre

Fly My Pretties IV: 7pm: $90 + BF

The Garden Club

Sat 19

s sting i l t n eve s sting i l t n eve

Roseneath Centennial Ragtime Band Album Release Party: 9pm

Bodega

Tuesday Night Speakeasy Swing Dance Evening: 7:30pm: Free

Good Luck bar

Cheerful Tuesdays: Free

The Lido Cafe

Neil Billington Blues Band: 8:30pm: Free

Hamilton gig guide Wed 16 Cubbyhole

Cubbyoke Night

Founders Theatre Heath Franklin’s Chopper in A Hard Bastard’s Guide to Life: 7:30pm

Thu 17 Biddy Mulligans Alex & BB: 8pm: $15 / 10

Cambridge Municipal Band Rooms

Cambridge & Districts Pipe Band

Cubbyhole

Muso Jam Night

Founders Theatre Festival of Russian Ballet

The Meteor

Flagons & Foxtrots

The Pig & Whistle Historic Pub (Roturua) Freaky Meat Delicatessen National Tour: 8pm: Free

The Yot Club

Urbantramper: The Kate Bush Saved My Life Tour: 9:30pm

Waikato Museum Musical Feast

Fri 18 Founders Theatre Strings Possessed: 7:30pm

Major Tom’s Bar (Tauranga)

Urbantramper: The Kate Bush Saved My Life Tour: 9pm

Mystery Creek Events Centre Equidays: 10am

Taupo Motorsport Park

Static

Flying Nun 30th Anniversary Tribute ft. Imploder, System Corporation, The Changing Same, The Shrugs, Disco Volante + Noosphere: 9pm: $5

Powercruise 33: $25 - $50

The Dinsdale Office Sean and Stu acoustic

Sat 19 Claudelands Arena International Rodeo: 7pm

Mystery Creek Events Centre

Sun 20 Te Rapa Racecourse Christmas at the Races: 11:45am: Free

The Plaza

Bay Of Plenty Men’s Choir: 2:30pm

Equidays: 10am

Tue 22

St Paul’s Collegiate School

Cock & Bull

Bic Runga - Acoustic Church Tour

Tuesday Trivia

Grooveguide.co.nz

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15


events

auckland gig guide Wed 16

New Brew

La Zeppa

1885 Basement

Northern Steamship Trading Co

Masonic Tavern

Creative Jazz Club: Michel Benebig SoulJazz Sextet: 8pm: $10

CrossRoads Bar

Artist Showcase: 8pm: Free

Golden Dawn Tavern of Power Urbantramper: Kate Bush Saved My Life

Kings Arms

Nuffield Street Trading Co. Brewbar Acoustic Thursdays w/ Waylon: 7:30pm

Ponsonby Social Club

Occupational Therapy w/ Bobby Brazuka & Onny Kaulima: 7:30pm

Racket Bar

Ponsonby Social Club

Rakinos

Racket Bar

Benn Morrison: 6pm: Free

Rakinos

Playing Up: 9pm: Free

Sale St

Jason Eli: 6pm: Free

The Britomart Country Club

Kirk James: 6pm: Free

The Kings Arms

The Crimson Vendetta, Fictional Response & Seven Seas: 8pm: $5

The Neighbourhood Brewbar Acoustic Wednesday w/ Eli: 7:30pm

The Third & Social

Urbantramper & Tv Colours (AU): 10pm: Free

The Thirsty Dog

World Famous Pub Quiz w/ Sandy: 7:30: Free

Thu 17 1885 Basement

Nyntee & Flex: 6pm: Free The Drop: 8pm: Free

Sale St

Hollie Smith Band of Brothers Release: 7pm: $40

Tabac

Tom Lark: 8pm: $5

The Britomart Country Club Josh Leys: 6pm: Free

The Deck - SKYCITY

DJ Manual Bundy & Dixon Nacey: 6pm: Free

The Kings Arms

Ghost Club w/ guests: 8pm

Fri 18 1885 Basement

Nyntee, Lewis McCallum & Dylan C: 10pm: Free

1885 Britomart

Preferential Treatment: Ben Wah & Arash: 8pm: $10

Basalt

Jeremy Pickford: 9pm

Be Club

Gaslamp Killer & Crushington: 10pm

1885 Britomart

Cassette Nine

Bacco Room

Lisa Crawley album tour: 7:30pm: $18 + BF

CrossRoads Bar

DJ Pauly Who: 7pm We Stole The Sun, Strahan & Lamplight: 8pm

Mortons Bar & Restaurant Riqi Harawera: 8pm

Neighbourhood Brew Bar DJ Samuel Hansen & DJ Andy JV: 5:30pm

MUM Presents: The Unfaithful Ways: 10pm: $10 or $5 w/ bCard

CrossRoads Bar

Habana Noches (Havana Nights) w/ Cuban Accent: 8pm: Free

DJ Ned Roy & DJ Lo Key: 8pm

Ponsonby Social Club Chip Matthews & Frank Booker: 8:30pm

Quay St Clubrooms Acoustic Sessions w/ Eli Guttenbiel: 7pm

Racket Bar

Tido & Sweet Mix Kids: 6pm: Free

Rakinos

BRIGHT SIDE UP: 9pm: $5 / $10

Sale St

Page3, Mixtape Kidz & Dee Why: 5pm: Free This Flight Tonight & guests: 8pm: $10

smith.

DJ Tony Tunes: 8pm

Defamer (AU), Heresiarch, Exordium Mors, Carnal: 10pm: $20

The Britomart Country Club

Latin Aotearoa: 6pm: Free

The Deck - SKYCITY DJ Murry Sweetpants & Percussionist John Ellis: 8pm: Free

The Elephant Wrestler Lee Gray Duo: 9pm

The Kings Arms

A Low Hum Presents Flying Nun Tribute Night: 8pm: $12

The Wine Cellar

Juice Bar at the Windsor Castle

Trench Bar

grooveguide.co.nz

Eddie Numbers & Supervillain: 9pm: $10

Departure Club No. 11: 10pm: $10 Cripple Mr Onion, Heathen Eyes, Golias, Tanglewood: 8:30pm: $10

Black Salt

David Shanhun: 8pm

Brew On Quay

Jason Skelton Duo: 9:30pm

Cassette Nine

Sick Disco presents Box Fresh: 10pm: $10

CrossRoads Bar

The Bikini World Cup 2011 Heat 1: 8pm: Free

De Post

Mitch French: 8:30pm

Florrie McGreals Brett Polley: 9:30pm

Golden Dawn Tavern of Power

Urbantramper: Kate Bush Saved My Life: 9:30pm

Juice Bar at the Windsor Castle

C2: 8:30pm

DJ Isaac Aesili: 7:30pm

Bobby Brazuka: 11pm: Free

The Basement

GBS Bar

Neighbourhood Brew Bar

1885 Basement

Ink & Coherent

Friday Night: 6pm

The Supper Club

One One One: 8pm

Sat 19

Snapdragon

Flying Moa

Kentish Hotel

Mellow Grave, Luckless, Bond Street Bridge & guests: 8pm: $15

Bacco Room

Juice Bar at the Windsor Castle

The Hipstamatics: 7:30pm: $20

Whammy Bar

Northern Steamship Trading Co

De Post

The VHF: 8:30pm

DJ Karn Hall & DJ Grant Marshall: 8:30pm: Free

1885 Britomart

Libido: 8:30pm

Singer/Songwriter Comp: 8pm: Free

David Shanhun: 7:30pm

twentyone

New Brew

Shadows

Jennifer Zea: 10pm: Free Andy JV: 8pm: Free

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Soundlounge ft. Jade Pritchard: 6:30pm

Crimson Vendetta & Till Death Do Us Party & Seven Seas: 8pm The Circling Sun Band: 10:30pm

16

Franko: 5:30pm

Acapella: The Tribal Edition: 9pm: Free

Mellow Grave, Luckless, Bond Street Bridge & guests: 8pm: $15 Fridays at Trench Bar: 4pm: Free

Warp 4: Fatcat: 10pm: $10

November Madness: 8pm: $5 / $10

La Zeppa

DJ Jason Kyle: 8pm


t events

auckland gig guide Leigh Sawmill

Bernie Griffen & The Grifters w/ Luckless & Bond Street Bridge: 8pm: $10

The Britomart Country Club

Flex, Manuel Bundy & Chip Matthews: 2pm: Free

Goode Brothers Franko & James: 4pm

Tue 22

LEIGH SAWMILL

CrossRoads Bar

Music Showcase: 6pm: Koha

Garage Daze: 9pm: Free

Empire Tavern

Mortons Bar & Restaurant

The Deck - SKYCITY

David Shanhun: 8pm

DJ Thane Kirby & Percussionist Joe Bax: 8pm: Free

Ponsonby Social Club

New Brew

The Kings Arms

Rakinos

D Groove: 8:30pm

Northern Steamship Trading Co DJ Lo Key: 8pm

O’Carrolls

Pat 4 President: 11pm

One2One Cafe

Nick Raven, Happy You Hippie Me: 8pm: Free

Otara Recreation Centre

Laughing Samoans: 6pm: $15

Ponsonby Social Club Hey Ladies Night w/ DJs Aimee, Laura Lush & DJ Ayna Hennessey (AU) + Bella Shanti & Silva MC: 8:30pm

Quay St Clubrooms

The Bats w/ Dear Time’s Waste: 8pm: $22

The Neighbourhood Brewbar DJ Chris Cox w/ DJ Coolhandsluke: 3pm

The Third & Social

BENI (Modular) - House of Beni Album Launch Party: 10pm: $10

The Thirsty Dog

Upraw w/ Fractured, Fuelset, Nort & Nullifier: 7:30pm

The Wine Cellar

Hieronymus Bosch: 25th Anniversary gig: 9pm: $10

twentyone

DJ Linley Latu & DJ Tania M: 9:30pm: Free

Acoustic Sessions w/ Jade Pritchard 7pm

Western Lights

Racket Bar

Whammy Bar

Page 3 & Jerm: 8pm: Free

Rakinos

Q4: 9pm

Thieves, Las Tetas & Rackets: 10pm: $10

The Funk Affair: 10pm: $10 / $15

Conch Sunday Grill: 5:30pm

All The Way Live: 6:30pm: Free

one2one

Raye Freedman Arts Centre

Racket Bar

Rob Hill: 6pm: Free

Sale St

Acoustic: 5:30pm: Free

Shae Snell, DeeWhy: 1pm: Free

The Britomart Country Club

Pauly Who & Dylan C: 2pm: Free

The Deck - SKYCITY

DJ Jason Kyle & Saxophonist Lewis McCallum: 5pm: Free

The Marina

Murray Cammick: 6pm: Free

The Kings Arms

Kings Arms Quiz: 7:15pm: Free

The Windsor Castle Open Mic Night w/ Kiwi FM: 9pm: Free

Thirsty Dog Folk Club w/ The Legendary Swigga: 3pm: $10

Western Lights David Shanhun: 9pm

Mon 21

Sale St

Brew On Quay

The Kings Arms

Snapdragon

CrossRoads Bar

Saturday Night: 6pm

The Britomart Country Club

The Thirsty Dog

Bruce Mason Centre

Goody 2 Shoes: 5:30pm

Rakinos

Andrew Mockler: 1pm

Sun 20

L’escape: 7pm: $10

Tuesday Open Mic: 6:30pm: Free

Peter Scholes & Sarah Watkins: 5pm

Red Bar

Luscious: 9pm: Free

Empire Million Dollar Trivia Show: 6:30pm: Free

our add y tings is own l groov

E guide

.co .nz

Vortex Tribe: 8pm

School Of Rock: 6pm: Free

The Hospo Sessions: 3pm: Free

OTAGO gig guide Wed 16 Subculture (Queenstown)

Dread Bass Wednesdays Ping Pong Comp: 9pm: $5

Thu 17 10 Bar (Dunedin)

Ladies Long Luncheon: 12pm

Fri 18 Founders Theatre (Dunedin)

A Shortcut To Happiness: 7:30pm

Subculture (Queenstown)

DJ Downtown Brown (Sunshine Sound System) & Turbohag: 9pm: $5

The Good Oil (Dunedin)

Subculture (Queenstown)

The SubStation: 9pm

A Shortcut To Happiness: 7:30pm

Subculture (Queenstown)

Tue 22 Founders Theatre (Dunedin)

A Shortcut To Happiness: 6pm

Organikismness - Album Release Tour: 9pm: $10

XII Below (Dunedin)

Ash & The Matadors - An Evening Echo Album Release W/ Jo Little: 8Pm: $10

Acoustic Fridays w/ Hana Fahey

Lake Wanaka Centre Michelle A’Court: 7pm

Founders Theatre (Dunedin)

Sat 19 Crown Hotel (Dunedin) The Tommy Gunners, Tiedye & Apache Rose: 9pm: $5

Sun 20 Founders Theatre (Dunedin)

A Shortcut To Happiness: 4pm

Grooveguide.co.nz

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17


events

CHRISTCHURCH gig guide Wed 16 CBS Canterbury Arena RNZB Presents: The Meridian Season of Aurora’s Wedding: 7:30pm: $30

Thu 17 Aurora Centre for the Performing Arts Heath Franklin’s Chopper in A Hard Bastard’s Guide to Life: 7:30pm

Becks Southern Alehouse The Black Velvet Band

CBS Canterbury Arena RNZB Presents: The Meridian Season of Aurora’s Wedding: 7:30pm: $30

Pierside Cafe

Karaoke w/ DJ Chick

The Strawberry Tree Ash & The Matadors - An Evening Echo Album Release w/ Jo Little: 8pm: Free

Mon 21

Becks Southern Alehouse

Theatre Royal (Timaru)

D’sendantz: 9pm: Free

Fri 18 CBS Canterbury Arena RNZB Presents: The Meridian Season of Aurora’s Wedding: 7:30pm: $30

Drury Theatre Organ Charitable Trust Jelani Eddington Charitable Concert: 7pm: $15

Ferrymead Speights Ale House Captain Jack

Fox and Ferret Ctrl-Alt-Rock

Phillipstown Youth Centre

Salsa Latina Studio Salsa On Thursdays

Tealight Acoustics w/ Becky Jordan, Indigo Wolf, Becky Watson & The Honesty: 8:30pm: $5

The Brewery

Pierside Cafe

The Blue Moon w/ The Governor General: 10pm: Free

Sat 19

Beach Breaks w/ DJ Dmand

Canterbury Celebration Theatre Love Letters: 6pm: $25

Lyttelton Recreation Centre Contra Dance and Concert: 7pm: Free

North Hagley Park Events Village Dancing For 198: 8pm: $20

Sun 20 Canterbury Celebration Theatre Love Letters: 2pm: $25

CBS Canterbury Arena Hayley Westenra – 10th Anniversary Homecoming Tour: 7:30pm

Hayley Westenra – 10th Anniversary Homecoming Tour: 7:30pm


tours & events

Upcoming tours & events Alex and BB

Fri 18 Nov Wellington Bluegrass Society, Wellington Sat 19 Nov The Bent Horseshoe Cafe, Palmerston North Sun 20 Nov Koitiata Community Hall, Wanganui Wed 23 Nov Fairfield House, Nelson Thu 24 Nov Franks Cafe, Greymouth Fri 25 Nov NBS Theatre, Westport Sat 26 Nov The Riverhouse, Wanaka Wed 30 Nov The Mussel Inn, Nelson Thu 01 Dec Le Cafe, Picton Fri 02 Dec Wanganui Musicians Club, Wanganui Sat 03 Dec Hastings Operatic Theatre, Hastings Fri 09 Dec Community Arts Centre, Whangarei Sun 11 Dec The Bunker, Auckland

The All Seeing Hand

Wed 23 Nov San Francisco Bath House, Wellington Fri 25 Nov The ARC Theatre, Whanganui Sat 26 Nov The Snake Pit, Auckland

Ash & The Matadors

Sat 19 Nov XII Below, Dunedin

Assassins 88 (AU)

Fri 18 Nov Tabac, Auckland

Auckland International Tattoo Convention Sat 26 Nov ASB Showgrounds, Auckland

Beirut (US)

Sat 14 Jan San Fran Bath House, Wellington Mon 16 Jan Powerstation, Auckland

Beyond The Black NYE Sat 31 Dec Trentham Racecourse, Upper Hutt

Bic Runga

Thu 17 Nov Central Baptist Church, Whangarei Fri 18 Nov Holy Trinity, Tauranga Sat 19 Nov Chapel Of Christ The King, Hamilton Mon 21 Nov Franklin Baptist Church, Pukekohe Tue 22 Nov Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland Wed 23 Nov Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland Fri 25 Nov St John’s Cathedral, Napier Sat 26 Nov All Saints Church, Palmerston North Mon 28 Nov St Matthew’s Anglican Church Tue 29 Nov Wellington Cathedral, Wellington Wed 30 Nov Wellington Cathedral, Wellington Fri 02 Dec St Michael & All Angels, Christchurch Sat 03 Dec St Michael & All Angels, Christchurch Mon 05 Dec St Mary’s Church, Timaru Tue 06 Dec Knox Church, Dunedin Wed 07 Dec Knox Church, Dunedin Thu 08 Dec First Presbyterian Church, Invercargill

Big Day Out 2012

Fri 20 Jan Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears (US)

Wed 07 Dec Powersation, Auckland

Black Lips (US)

Tue 28 Feb Powerstation, Auckland

Bon Iver (US)

Mon 27 Feb Town Hall, Wellington Tue 28 Feb Town Hall, Wellington

Camp A Low Hum

Thu 09 Feb - Mon 13 Feb 203 Coast Road, RD 1, Wainuiomata

The Checks

Thu 17 Nov Cabana, Napier Fri 18 Nov Butlers Reef, New Plymouth Sat 19 Nov The Shed, Rotorua Fri 25 Nov Flow Bar, Hamilton Sat 26 Nov Powerstation, Auckland Thu 01 Dec PBC, Gisborne Fri 02 Dec Illuminati, Tauranga Sat 03 Dec Onewhero Rugby Club, Onewhero Sat 07 Dec YOT Club, Raglan

Chopper

Wed 16 Nov Founders Theatre, Hamilton Thu 17 Nov Auroroa Theatre, Christchurch Fri 18 Nov SKYCITY Theatre, Auckland Sat 19 Nov Hawkes Bay Opera House, Hastings Sun 20 Nov War Memorial Centre, Gisborne Tue 22 Nov Nelson School Of Music, Nelson Wed 23 Nov Marlborough Civic Theatre, Blenheim Thu 24 Nov Theatre Royal, Timaru Fri 25 Nov Regent Theatre, Dunedin Sat 26 Nov Civic Theatre, Invercargill

Classic Hits Winery Tour

Fri 03 Feb Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana Sat 04 Feb Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana Sun 05 Feb Marina Reserve, Tutukaka Tutukaka Fri 10 Feb Wharepai Domain, Tauranga Sat 11 Feb Brunton Road, Gisborne Sun 12 Feb Black Barn Vineyards, Havelock North Thu 16 Feb Neudorf Vineyards, Upper Moutere Fri 17 Feb Neudorf Vineyards, Upper Moutere Sat 18 Feb The Mud House Winery & Café, Waipara Sun 19 Feb Logan Park, Dunedin Tue 21 Feb Olssen’s Vineyard, Cromwell Thu 23 Feb Villa Maria Estate, Blenheim Sat 25 Feb Alana Estate, Martinborough Sun 26 Feb Sentry Hill Estate, New Plymouth Fri 02 Mar Vilagrad Winery, Hamilton Sat 03 Mar Villa Maria Estate, Auckland

Cold Chisel (AU)

Fri 02 Dec TSB Arena, Wellington Sat 03 Dec Vector Arena, Auckland

Coromandel Gold

Fri 30 Dec Ohuka Farm, Coromandel Sat 31 Dec Ohuka Farm, Coromandel

Creedence Clearwater Revisited (US)

Sat 28 Jan Mills Reef Winery, Tauranga Sun 29 Jan Mills Reef Winery, Tauranga Mon 30 Jan Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland Wed 01 Feb Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth Fri 03 Feb Trentham Racecourse, Wellington Sun 05 Feb Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown

The Damned (UK)

Wed 25 Jan Powerstation, Auckland

Dan Deacon (US)

Fri 03 Feb Whammy Bar, Auckland Sat 04 Feb San Fran Bath House, Wellington Sun 05 Feb Playhouse, Nelson Mon 06 Feb Dux Live, Christchurch Tue 07 Feb Chicks Hotel, Dunedin

Danger Beach (AU)

Thu 17 Nov Golden Dawn, Auckland

Deerhoof (US)

Sat 07 Jan Whammy Bar, Auckland Sun 08 Jan Bodega, Wellington

Defamer (AU)

Fri 18 Nov The Basement, Auckland

Sat 24 Mar Station Village Complex, Lower Hutt Sun 25 Mar Bodega, Wellington Tue 27 Mar Bruce Mason Theatre, Takapuna Wed 28 Mar Founders Theatre, Hamilton Thu 29 Mar Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga Fri 30 Mar Civic, Rotorua Sat 31 Mar Municipal Theatre, Napier Sun 01 Apr Hawke’s Bay Opera House, Hastings Mon 02 Apr Memorial Hall, Gisborne Tue 03 Apr De Luxe Theatre, Opotoki Wed 04 Apr Whakatane Hotel, Whakatane Thu 05 Apr Papamoa Tavern, Papamoa Sat 07 Apr Coroglen Tavern, Coroglen Sun 08 Apr Mangawhai Tavern, Mangawhai Mon 09 Apr Brownzy, Browns Bay Tue 10 Apr Forum North, Whangarei

Farmageddon

Sat 03 Dec Waipu Cove, Waipu

The Feelers

Sat 17 Dec Albany Pub, Auckland Sat 31 Dec Papamoa Tavern, Papamoa Sat 14 Jan Waihi Beach Hotel, Waihi Sat 28 Jan Mangawhai Tavern, Mangawhai Sun 29 Jan Coroglen Tavern, Whitianga Sat 04 Feb Butlers Reef, New Plymouth

The Fetish Ball

Sat 12 Nov The Venue, Christchurch

Fleet Foxes (US)

Fri 13 Jan The Hunter Lounge, Wellington Sat 14 Jan Auckland Town Hall, Auckland

Flip Grater The Dresden Dolls (US) Fri 27 Jan Powerstation, Auckland Sat 28 Jan The Opera House, Wellington

Dum Dum Girls (US)

Fri 06 Jan The Kings Arms, Auckland

EarthTonz NYE

Sat 31 Dec Gibbston Valley Station, Queenstown

Explosions In The Sky

Thu 15 Dec San Fran Bath House, Wellington Fri 16 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland

The Exponents

Fri 09 Mar Theatre Royal, Timaru Sat 10 Mar Regent Theatre, Dunedin Sun 11 Mar St James, Gore Mon 12 Mar Civic, Invercargill Tue 13 Mar Municipal Theatre, Queenstown Thu 15 Mar Opera House, Oamaru Fri 16 Mar CBS Canterbury Arena, Christchurch Sat 17 Mar Trafalgar Centre, Nelson Tue 20 Mar Opera House, Wellington Wed 21 Mar Opera House, Wanganui Thu 22 Mar TSB Showplace, New Plymouth Fri 23 Mar Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North

Wed 23 Nov Mighty Mighty, Wellington Fri 25 Nov The Boat House, Nelson Sat 26 Nov Star Tavern, Westport Thu 01 Dec Penguin Club, Oamaru Fri 02 Dec Chicks Hotel, Dudedin Sat 03 Dec Food & Wine Festival, Christchurch Wed 07 Dec Tabac, Auckland Thu 08 Dec The YOT Club, Raglan Sat 10 Dec Sawmill Cafe, Leigh

Fly My Pretties Sat 19 Nov St James Theatre, Wellington

Flying Nun 30th Anniverary

Wed 16 Nov San Fran Bath House, Wellington Thu 17 Nov The Kings Arms, Auckland Fri 18 Nov Dux De Lux, Christchurch Fri 18 Nov Sammy’s, Dunedin Fri 18 Nov San Fran Bath House, Wellington Sat 19 Nov The Kings Arms, Auckland Sat 19 Nov Dux De Lux, Christchurch Sat 19 Nov San Fran Bath House, Wellington Sat 19 Nov Sammy’s, Dunedin Wed 23 Nov Sammy’s, Dunedin Thu 24 Nov The Kings Arms, Auckland Fri 25 Nov The Kings Arms, Auckland Fri 25 Nov San Fran Bath House, Wellington Fri 25 Nov Dux Live, Christchurch Sat 26 Nov Dux De Lux, Christchurch

Grooveguide.co.nz

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tours & events

Upcoming tours & events Foo Fighters (US) w/ Tenacious D (US)

Tue 13 Dec Western Springs, Auckland

Freaky Meat

Thu 17 Nov The Pig and Whistle Historic Pub, Rotorua Fri 18 Nov Perrett’s Corner Cafe and Bar, Wellington Sat 19 Nov Baby G’s, Nelson Sat 19 Nov Interislander Ferry Wellington - Picton Wed 23 Nov Playhouse Cafe, Mapua Thu 24 Nov The Roots Bar, Takaka, Nelson Fri 25 Nov Le Cafe, Picton Sat 26 Nov Interislander Ferry, Picton-Wellington

The Gaslamp Killer (US) Fri 18 Nov Be Club, Auckland Sat 19 Nov Sandwiches, Wellington

Golden Axe

Fri 09 Dec Audio Foundation HQ, Auckland Sat 10 Dec Mighty Mighty, Wellington Fri 16 Dec The Darkroom, Christchurch

the Golden Awesome

Fri 02 Dec San Fran Bath House, Wellington Fri 09 Dec Darkroom, Christchurch Sat 10 Dec Chicks Hotel, Dunedin Sat 17 Dec Whammy Bar, Auckland

Joe SatrianI, Steve Vai & Steve Luthaker Sat 24 Mar Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Sun 25 Mar Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland

Jordie Lane (AU)

Tue 29 Nov The Wine Cellar, Auckland Wed 30 Nov Biddy Mulligans, Hamilton Thu 01 Dec Happy, Wellington Fri 02 Dec Fairfield House, Nelson Sat 03 Dec Le Café, Picton Sun 04 Dec Nor’Wester Café, Amberley Tue 06 Dec The Church Café, Dunedin Wed 07 Dec Arthur St Café, Timaru Thu 08 Dec The Brewery, Christchurch Fri 09 Dec St Peter’s Hall, Paekakariki Sat 10 Dec Eggsentric Café, Whitianga Sun 11 Dec Tabac, Auckland

Kaikoura Roots Festival

Sat 14 Jan Old Beach Road, Kaikoura Sun 15 Jan Old Beach Road, Kaikoura

Kate Bush Saved My Life

Wed 16 Nov Golden Dawn, Auckland Wed 16 Nov The Third and Social, Auckland Sat 19 Nov Golden Dawn, Auckland

Kurt Vile (US)

Thu 01 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland

La De Da Festival

Fri 30 Dec Dry River Road, Martinborough Sat 31 Dec Dry River Road, Martinborough

Ladi6

Fri 25 Nov Happy, Wellington Sat 26 Nov Star Tavern, Westport Sun 27 Nov Cook Saddle Cafe, Fox Glacier Tue 29 Nov Blue Ice Cafe, Franz Josef Wed 30 Nov Chicks hotel, Dunedin Thu 01 Dec The Penguin Club, Oamaru Fri 02 Dec The Brewery, Christchurch

Madeleine Peyroux (US) Tue 06 Mar Town Hall, Auckland

Mangawhai NYE Party Sat 31 Dec Mangawhai Tavern, Mangawhai

Mara and the Bushkas

Thu 24 Nov The Wine Cellar, Auckland Fri 25 Nov Leigh Sawmill, Leigh Thu 01 Dec The New Dowse, Ashburton Sat 03 Dec Havana bar, Wellington

The Moody Blues (UK)

Sat 26 Nov Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Sun 27 Nov The Civic Theatre, Auckland

More FM Summer Vineyard Tour

Fri 03 Feb Sileni Estates, Hawkes Bay Sat 04 Feb Brooklands Lawn, New Plymouth Sun 05 Feb Daisy Bank Farm, Martinborough Mon 06 Feb Claudelands Green, Hamilton Wed 08 Feb Trafalgar Park, Nelson Thu 09 Feb Peregrine Winery, Queenstown Fri 10 Feb Pegasus Town, Christchurch Sat 11 Feb Turanga Creek, Auckland

Thu 22 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland

GROOVEMAN SPOT (JP)

Lamb Of God (US)

Wed 07 Mar Studio, Auckland

Fri 02 Dec Bacco Room, Auckland

Northern Lights Festival

Pajama Club

Thu 17 Nov Sale St, Auckland Fri 18 Nov Bodega, Wellington

How To Dress Well (US) Sat 08 Dec Third & Social, Auckland

Incubus (US)

Tue 31 Jan Vector Arena, Auckland Wed 01 Feb TSB Bank Arena, Wellington

|

Fri 25 Nov Powerstation, Auckland

Hall & Oates (US) Hollie Smith

20

Mulatu Astatke (ET)

NZ Stonerfest

grooveguide.co.nz

Sat 03 Dec Whammy Bar & Wine Cellar, Auckland Sat 10 Dec The Venue, Christchurch

Lisa Crawley

Thu 17 Nov Montecristo Room, Auckland Thu 24 Nov San Fran Bath House, Wellington Fri 25 Nov Chicks Hotel, Dunedin Sat 26 Nov The Brewery, Christchurch Fri 09 Dec Sawmill Cafe, Leigh

Luckless & Bond Street Bridge Sat 19 Nov Leigh Sawmill, Leigh Wed 23 Nov The Yot Club, Raglan Thu 24 Nov Cabana Bar, Napier

Rhythm & Vines 2011-2012 Thu 29 Dec - Sat 31 Dec Waiohika Estate, Gisborne

Rippon Festival

Sat 04 Feb Rippon Vineyard, Lake Wanaka

Roger Waters: The Wall (US)

Sat 18 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland Mon 20 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland Wed 22 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland Thu 23 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland

Roky Erickson (US)

Wed 07 Mar Powerstation, Auckland

Roots Festival

Sat 03 Dec Town Hall, Auckland

Tue 06 Mar Regent Theatre, Dunedin Thu 08 Mar Civic Theatre, Auckland

Mon 12 Dec Dux De Lux, Christchurch Tue 13 Dec TBA, Dunedin Wed 14 Dec Bodega, Wellington Thu 15 Dec Static, Hamilton at Static Fri 16 Dec Cassette Nine, Auckland

Sat 28 Jan Church Road Winery, Napier Sun 29 Jan Villa Maria Estate, Auckland

Wed 28 Dec Terrance Downs, Mt Hutt Thu 29 Dec Terrance Downs, Mt Hutt

Ryan Adams (US)

Fri 30 Dec - Mon 02 Jan Pakiri Beach, Pakiri

Guitar Wolf (JP)

Rhythm & Alps

Sat 11 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland

Laneway Festival 2012 Mon 30 Jan Silo Park, Auckland

Sat 28 Jan Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua

Roxette (SE)

Mon 26 Dec The Station Village Complex, Lower Hutt Wed 28 Dec Butlers Reef, Mangawhai Mon 02 Jan Waihi Beach Hotel, Waihi Tue 03 Jan Brewers Field, Mt Maunganui

Goodshirt & Stereobus

Raggamuffin 2012

Sat 03 Dec San Fran Bath House, Wellington Sun 04 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland

Phoenix Foundation Sat 03 Dec Wine & Food Festival, Christchurch

Pink Floyd Double Feature

Tue 22 Nov Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, Auckland Tue 13 Dec Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, Auckland

Selective Sounds

Tue 27 Dec TBC, Mangawhai

Shapeshifter

Thu 29 Dec Ascension Vineyard, Matakana Mon 02 Jan Riwaka Hotel, Motueka Fri 06 Jan Brewers Field, Tauranga Sat 07 Jan Waihi Beach Hotel, Coromandel

The Sisters Of Mercy (UK) Wed 22 Feb Powerstation, Auckland


tours & events

Upcoming tours & events Six60

Mon 26 Dec Outdoor Marquee, Mangawhai Tavern Tue 27 Dec Outdoor Marquee, Waihi Beach Hotel Wed 28 Dec Outdoor Marquee, Coroglen Tavern Mon 02 Jan Opononi Hotel, Opononi Wed 04 Jan Brewers Field, Mt Maunganui Thu 05 Jan Outdoor Marquee, Butlers Reef Fri 06 Jan Station Village Complex, Lower Hutt Sat 07 Jan Outdoor Marquee, Riwaka Tavern

Splore 2012

Fri 17 Feb - Sun 19 Feb Tapapakanga Regional Park, Auckland

Stink Fest 13

Thu 15 Dec The Darkroom, Christchurch Fri 16 Dec The Darkroom, Christchurch Sat 17 Dec Dux Live, Christchurch

Stomping Nick & His Blues Grenade

Thu 01 Dec Interislander Ferry, Picton Fri 02 Dec Meow, Wellington Sat 03 Dec Space Monster, Wanganui Sun 04 Dec Evil Genius, Wellington Fri 09 Dec Wine Cellar, Auckland Sun 11 Dec Interislander Ferry, Wellington

Tuborg Summer Sunday

Sun 29 Jan Matakana Music Mountain, Matakana

tUnE-yArDs (US)

Thu 12 Jan The Kings Arms, Auckland

Sun Araw (US)

Fri 03 Feb Mighty Mighty, Wellington Sat 04 Feb Whammy Bar, Auckland

TV Colours (AU)

Wed 16 Nov Third and Social, Auckland Fri 18 Nov Tabac, Auckland

Taylor Swift (US)

Fri 27 Jan Whammy Bar, Auckland Sat 28 Jan Mighty Mighty, Wellington Sun 29 Jan ARC Theatre, Wanganui

TOYS

Wed 07 Dec - Sat 17 Dec BATS Theatre, Wellington

Wake Less

Fri 11 Nov - Sat 19 Nov BATS Theatre, Wellington

Fri 16 Mar - Sun 18 Mar TSB Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth

Thee Oh Sees (US)

Wed 30 Nov Mercury Theatre, Auckland Thu 01 Dec Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton Fri 02 Dec Bodega, Wellington Sun 04 Dec Rangiora Town Hall, Christchurch

Mon 21 Nov Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland Fri 25 Nov Opera House, Wellington Sat 26 Nov Theatre Royal, New Plymouth Sun 27 Nov Opera House, Hastings Mon 28 Nov Baycourt, Tauranga Tue 28 Nov Clarence St, Hamilton

WOMAD

Fri 16 Mar Vector Arena, Auckland Sat 17 Mar Vector Arena, Auckland Sun 18 Mar Vector Arena, Auckland

Tim Finn

Vortex Tribe (US)

The Unfaithful Ways

Fri 18 Nov Cassette, Auckland Thu 08 Dec St Peter’s Hall, Paikakariki Fri 09 Dec Mighty Mighty, Wellington

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Fri 16 Dec San Fran Bath House, Wellington Sat 17 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland


shit worth playing with

groove gADGETS Groove GADGETS is where we cast our eye over Cool new shit. Got some cool shit you want to see on this page? send us an email at gear@grooveguide.co.nz

35mm Film USB Flash Drive Time Your Power

By DanBee Lee, JangSoo Kim, KyoYeon Kim & WooRi Kim

Hand crafted from genuine recycled 35mm film canisters these USB-friendly 4GB flash drives let you store, swap and transfer memories in retro-modern style. Just drag in your pics and you’re good to go. £19.99 firebox.com

Sick of burring out your devices on the charger overnight? THIS PLUG IS LIKE AN EGG TIMER, SO YOU WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ANYMORE.

Coffee To Go

At concept stage

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Retro style heated coffee mug with 12v power plug Glossy finish and analog temperature gauge and chrome touches. Plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter 12 volt port for power! $24.99USD thinkgeek.com

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The Kickstand Desk A desk is designed so that bikes of various sizes can fit underneath the work surface. The top is height adjustable to offer a comfortable work position for each user.

NOOK Tablet

By Barnes & Noble. This tablet is affordable and has fantastic features: HD movie, tv, music, touch screen, over 2.5million books, thousands of must have apps like angry birds and 16GB of memory making it great value.

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Wake up to Disney By Disney and iHome

Invisible mirrobike By Joey Ruiter

THIS Almost Invisible Mirrored Bike Is in Concept stage For CHROME LOVERS. jruiter.com

22

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grooveguide.co.nz

Minnie Mouse & Kermit the Frog Dual Alarm Clock Speaker Systems for iPod are probably the cutest way to wake up in the morning. www.toysrus.com $49.99USD (US ONLY until 2012)


shit worth playing with

GAMING Battlefield 3 Game Review I should be honest and admit that this was my first foray into the Battlefield mammoth. Gone are the years of hour-long teenage sessions at an internet café where my friends would encourage their potential RSI on Battlefield 1942 (post CounterStrike, of course). In saying that, I will also admit I’m hugely impressed. Visually the game is stunning, and some of the effects are incredible. I particularly enjoyed dog fighting through sun pierced cloud and enduring an earthquake while buildings collapsed around me. BF3 has long been touted as the other answer to the Call of Duty series. It’s easy to see the comparisons, but there’s only a few ways you can do war, death and guns aren’t there? The single player campaign is definitely challenging, and made me curb my gung-ho attitude that I fall into sometimes.

Patience has never been one of my most dominant virtues, but BF3 makes you take note of your surroundings and enemies positions, forcing you to plan accordingly. My preferred method of attack tends to be an American one, which is run in, shoot everyone in sight and ask questions later. Unfortunately implementing this tactic a number of times led to death, maiming and ridicule from my flat mate. Instead he pointed out to me in fact that one man against a tank is not a good idea, and maybe I should work with my squad to push on to the bridge and find the rocket launcher. The sound effects are very dynamic, and are a big clue as to how to close to a skirmish you may be. Being a relative beginner on multiplayer though, I think the only clue that I had to being dead was the ringing in my ears from the bullet that had

just been placed there about 10 seconds from spawning. Some people really do have more time than I do, and that’s annoying. I was almost frustrated at how realistic being killed by a bullet is despite playing on normal mode. But credit where credit’s due, and let’s face it – if you’re going to mimic being at war, then this is how you do it. Get shot, you’re dead. I can’t imagine it on hard, but I’m more than eager to give it a crack. As I’ve heard many times,

the game shines in multiplayer. Tactics come to fore as you play through conquest campaigns as part of a squad, or attempt co-op situations with a mate. I can seriously see myself getting addicted to this very quickly in the ways of linking up with my other Battlefielding friends, forming a squad and seeing just how our military tactics would compare to others around the world. LAN party, anyone? Written by Jon Snow


Shit worth listening to

album reviews Sharon Jones Soul Time! lllll

Ex Riker’s Island Corrections Officer Sharon Jones may have started a little late in life but she parties like it’s 1965. She finally hit the big time in 2002 with the fabulous Dap Dippin’ with Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, an album that looks, smells and tastes like she’d just come off stage opening for James Brown or Aretha Franklin. Five albums, nine years on and she’s still at the top of her game. Every track here is pure Motown Soul. Stand outs are ‘New Shoes’ (a funkier version of ‘These boots are made for walking’); the 60’s style anti war number ‘What if we all stopped

Real Estate

Throwing Muses

|

paying taxes’; and the ghetto infused ‘Ain’t no Christmas in the Projects’. This lady’s got a big heart, a big voice and a big sound. So listen up. She ain’t goin’ no place. Best you just get on down. Mmmm mmm! WRITTEN BY TIM GRUAR

The Bats

The Checks

Day

Anthology

Free All The Monsters

Deadly Summer Sway

llll

llll

lllll

llll

You might have noticed that last summer, we were left with residual tides of placid electronica that were divulged from the blogosphere during their own hazy mid-year months. Real Estate were one of the few genius names to emerge amid the torrent of washed out, THC-fuelled tribal beats, and with the release of their debut, they outlast almost everyone with a sense of something that has become a hallmark for acclaimed acts: timelessness. Whilst previous EPs recalled summer the lacklustre joy that comes with it, Days is gentler and more subdued. There’s something joyous but strangely melancholy about all the charm and chime – it is wistful but sincere all at once, and herein lies the genius of Real Estate; you, as an invitee to an expansive soundscape, may pull what you like from the din – sadness or stateliness, depth or density. The music is left wholly in the hands of the listener, so do with it what you will.

There’s no one quite like Kristin Hersh. A self-contained and unapologetic original, she and her band Throwing Muses helped define the sound of ‘indie’ through the eighties and early nineties, before that genre became yet another module in a college music course. Fittingly, for this 25th anniversary retrospective there’s a lot of music. Disc one visits the studio albums and the Chains Changed and Fat Skier EPs, but this selection is a personal rather than a chartdefined one; songs the band found satisfying or compelling rather than anything that might have had popular appeal. Disc two contains B-sides from 1990 on, amongst which the sequence of songs from the Firepile EPs is outstanding. While Disc one contains no surprises it’s a very satisfactory and consistent sampling, and the whole set – in a beautifully presented package by 4AD – reminds us just how potent and vital a force this band has been.

Indie rockers The Checks holed up with Grammy-winning Producer Bassy Bob Brockman to knock up this third studio album. Deadly Summer Sway is a ten track LP echoing every edge of the energetic blues mix that is their unique indie sound. The record fires up with ‘Dogs Of Perfection’, which gathers intensity in a similar fashion to ‘You And Me’. Ed Knowles’ vocals are moodier, raspier and Karel Chabera stands out with a groove-inducing bass line. A definitely noticeable pattern on this record is its moodiness, an atmosphere that is potentially darker than Alice By The Moon or Hunting Whales. However bucking the trend is ‘One Sock’, dark in essence yet catchy and upbeat with motown sha-la-la backing vocals. Brockman’s funk-touch shines through in ‘Candyman Shimmer’ – it’s a hip-hop style dub track with haunting Doors vocals, ‘This Is The End’ over ‘Still D.R.E.’? Editor, bro, I need tickets to their gigs.

WRITTEN BY JAMES A. ROBINS

WRITTEN BY John Brinkman

There was once a very simple element to Flying Nun’s releases, though admittedly I am too impossibly young to have experienced it for myself. Any hunt or adventure to find good music, any attempt to push past the curtain of tripe would be rewarded heavily by Mr. Shepherd and co. And so it is with The Bats’ latest release. Although (and I will happily eat my words at a later date) it will probably not battle it out with the likes of New Zealand’s ‘finest’ (read albums in the charts), Free All The Monsters is a gem that is aching to be uncovered and explored. It makes you sigh with jealousy when, right from the first few chords, the realisation hits that this is such a quintessentially Flying Nun Record. Guitars jangle and vocal harmonies soar, and it’s all so... charming. This is pop music, no doubt about that, but executed in such a way to promote an independent, and very personal, experience from the listener. How very sweet indeed. WRITTEN BY JAMES A. ROBINS

24

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

grooveguide.co.nz

WRITTEN BY JUSTIN FOWLER


with

Daniel Bedingfield

Day 1

Day 2

EXTRA: Day 3

EXTRA: Day 4 to 7

Artist Development Workshop Sat 14th Jan 2012

Vocal Workshop with Dave Stroud - Mon Jan 16th 2012

Performance Workshop Sun Jan 15th 2012

Private lessons with Dave Stroud Tue Jan 17th - 19th 2012


Shit worth watching

on screen Contagion FILM llll

Further info directed by NICOLAS WINDING REFN Starring RYAN GOSLING, CAREY MULLIGAN AND BRYAN CRANSTON

Whoever came up with the idea to put a bunch of people together in a theatre and then screen a movie about fatal germs is a genius. Director Steven Soderbergh isn’t the first but he makes the most of the notion with Contagion, a film that you’d be best to suggest any germaphobes in your life should avoid like the plague. Inglourious Basterds and 1985’s Demons may have used their cinema setting to great effect, but during Contagion you can sense the anxiety that comes from human proximity, let alone the angst accompanying an audience member’s cough. Soderbergh zeroes in on the gross yet banal communicability of disease, with lingering shots of surfaces being touched, coughs and splutters being made, and plenty of other daily hygiene crimes committed. Whilst borrowing visually from post-apocalyptic zombie movies, Contagion wisely refrains

from going too far in the direction of Stephen King’s The Stand, instead focusing on the storylines of a few largely unrelated characters. With star power to burn, the film is happy to kill off characters with little warning. It does come off a little removed; the epidemic’s rapid spread, wide scope and high mortality rate mean that much takes place off-screen and Soderbergh doesn’t do the greatest job of bonding us to his characters, but at a time when we’re preoccupied with what we consider crises due to financial systems, Contagion is a reminder that we’re hardly in as much control of the globe as we think. WRITTEN BY STEVE NEWALL, Flicks.co.nz

Anonymous FILM ll

Further info directed by NICOLAS WINDING REFN Starring RYAN GOSLING, CAREY MULLIGAN AND BRYAN CRANSTON

The King of Disaster directing a costume drama? It seems about as likely as David Lynch tackling a Katherine Heigl rom-com, yet here we are with Emmerich trying to persuade us not only that Shakespeare was a cypher but also that a director can do more than just blow stuff up. Well, despite the gravitas-baiting intro by old Shakespearian ham (sorry, hand) Derek Jacobi and the clever casting of mother/daughter Redgrave and Richardson as Elizabeth I, he fails to convince us of either. This isn’t as bad as 10,000 B.C. (whose glacial pace made the ice age appear to pass quickly in comparison), with costumes and set design both top-notch, but any hope of Emmerich and writer Orloff putting together a coherent argument is destroyed by muddled narrative that offers flashbacks within flashbacks and sudden jumps in time. It probably didn’t help having Peter Crouch acting in the lead role; Ifans may

be an effective presence but he’s ungainly and not exactly fashionable. Plus he sports a distractingly smoky eye that Tyra Banks would be proud of. A film that desperately wants to be Amadeus with its conspiracy thriller overtones, it instead feels more like Mozart’s Sister, a tale of a privileged person denied their artistic freedom who then decides to arse around with royalty. As for its central conceit, it makes the Hughes Brothers’ drug-fuelled Jack the Ripper conspiracy From Hell look watertight in comparison and seems on a par with The Young Ones’ theory that Shakespeare wrote all his plays on a packet of bacon. WRITTEN BY JAMES CROOT, Flicks.co.nz


Shit Worth reading

On Paper American Vampire Comic Review Issue 20 of Scott Snyder’s American Vampire has just been released, so I thought it would be an excellent time to talk about the award-winning comic. You can argue that vampires are somewhat overdone in pop culture today. Hell, I’d be inclined to agree with you. But American Vampire is something different. Set in Hollywoodland in the 1920s, we follow two aspiring young actresses trying to make it big in tinsel town. The usual vampire stereotypes are there – rich, successful people are bloodsucking monsters. One of them bites Pearl Jones, our protagonist. Bam, she’s a vampire. But not a Nosferatu or a Count Dracula. Bit by bit we’re told how the lineage of American vampires came about. This new bloodline of neck-biters originated in the American West in the late 1800s. The first of the species was an

outlaw named Skinner Sweet, who by far steals the show throughout the tale. After being infected he finds that he is a different and stronger kind of vampire. One who can walk in the sun and is impervious to wood. That’s really the gist of it. Sounds a bit plain, right? Well, that’s where the award-winning writing of Scott Snyder comes into play. Snyder’s writing is, simply put, masterful. He knows the craft inside and out, which is brilliant to see in a scripter who hasn’t been working in the industry for all that long. American Vampire tells more than one tale – think along the lines of Magnolia or Crash (or most any Guy Ritchie movies). There are separate storylines told individually up until that precise moment where characters, storylines and those crucial narratives meet. Artist Rafael Albuquerque

Read issue 9. online now and in print presencemagazine.co.nz

draws some of the most powerful sketch-inspired panels that take you back to the messier days of comic art circa The Darkness and Witchblade with a touch of Hellboy. It’s a touch that works with the grittiness of both the era and plot. Historically, the book is a gem of Easter eggs. Think Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen but on a subtler scale, e.g. the war between European and American vampires has been the driving force behind the conception on Las Vegas as a gambling city and the construction of the Hoover dam .

With only 20 issues released so far, there’s enough for you to catch up on and eagerly await at the same time. You feel and fall for the characters within one single page. You don’t know whether you want the hero/ villain Skinner Sweet to live or die. The betrayal and romance keeps you turning pages, in turn missing the subtleties that make this story so well written. Cowboy-vampire-world-war-IIdetective-revenge? Sign me the hell up. Written by Summer Thernomme


Shit worth BUYING

groove gear Groove Gear is where we cast our eye over top shelf gear. Got some cool shit you want to see on this page? send us an email at gear@grooveguide.co.nz

RAINBOW MOONSTONE

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GRANDMASTER THREE By Dita

28

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shit we went to

live reviews JUlia deans GARDEN CLUB, WELLINGTON SAT 12 NOV PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ALEXANDER HALLAG FACEBOOK.COM/THEMUSICISTALKING

ALPHABEHEAD MIGHTY MIGHTY, WELLINGTON SAT 12 NOV PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ALEXANDER HALLAG FACEBOOK.COM/THEMUSICISTALKING

the checks BODEGA, WELLINGTON FRI 11 NOV PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ALEXANDER HALLAG FACEBOOK.COM/THEMUSICISTALKING


Shit worth counting

Listophile Juice TV’s Alternative Broadcast.

1. You’re Not Invited

1. Shake it Out

LAS TETAS

2. 3rd Eye BADD ENERGY

3. Cigarettes BEACH PIGS

4. What Else Could They Do POPSTRANGERS

5. Intro (Feat. Zola Jesus) M83

6. Think I’m Insane X- RAY FIENDS

7. Ffunny Ffriends (The Naked

and Famous Remix) UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA

8. Flowers

Florence and the Machine

2. Black Sheep Gin Wigmore

3. The Walk Mayer Hawthorne

4. Smash it Zowie

5. Trouble I’m in The Unfaithful Ways

6. Blink and You’ll Miss a

7. The Origins of Slaves

BERNIE GRIFFEN & THE GRIFTERS

10. Wired

8. A Long Time Mayer Hawthorne

9. The Power & the Glory

people do in movies

1. Berlusconi’s gone?

1. Shaking your legs – why are

2. Is it to do with a) prostitutes;

okay, but still.

3. Pashing – get a room. One that

doesn’t have lots of other people in it. Or are you into that?

4. Playing on your phone –

moviegoing etiquette 101.

cross the road?

4. Seriously, since when did the

BDO line-up make you that angry?

5. Does losing 45 minutes of

6. Will the next three months

the fuck?

be fair, we’ve all been there.

8. Annoying laughers – you

sound like a goat and a seagull having sex.

9. Laser pointers – grow up and

stop showing off. She’s just not that into you.

10. Steve Martin – probably

grooveguide.co.nz

3. Have you ever seen a chicken

6. Vomiting – dude, what

your way, Joe.

7. Being that drunk dipshit – to

|

b) corruption; c) because he’s like 80 or something; or d) he just needs a break?

30

5. Listening to music – looking

shouldn’t have gone to see the movie he’s in then.

4. In Time 5. The Inbetweeners 6. The Debt 7. Courageous 8. I Don’t Know How She Does It 9. 13 Assassins 10. Anonymous

Cults

10 Questions

2. Sniffing – the occasional is

3. Beginners

10. Go Outside

10 ANNOYING THINGS

you nervous? Are you on a date?

2. Drive

White Lies

I BREAK HORSES

1. Contagion

Cairo Knife Fight

TEETH

9. Horse Song

Revolution Cut Copy

Independent Top 10 Movie Chart

Kanye really make you that upset?

of international gigs break your bank?

7. Aren’t banks breaking

anyway?

8. Is it a recession or is it just

the world we live in now?

9. What age do you stop trying

to be a better person?

10. What’s with the serious

questions, guys?

Forgotten Boy Bands Hip 2 B² A US government funded boy band, charged with the task of making mathematics cool, or at least less dull. Notable track: ‘My Love ≠ Your Love’ Da Comrades Russia’s post-USSR attempt at the boy band boom of the mid ‘90s. Unfortunately the boys’ frosted tips reminded the recovering Russian public of the Cold War. Notable track: ‘Knock On Your Door (Can I Kremlin?)’ Guys With That One of the least subtle corporate sponsored boy bands. A purveyor of burgers put Mickey, Dee, Donald and Ronnie together in an attempt at subliminal advertising. Notable track: ‘The Big Mack’ The Dukees Feeling disempowered by the working-class appeal of The Monkees, British aristocracy foist drum-kits and electric guitars upon their bowl-cut wearing inbred sons, trying make buck toothed, fox hunting jingoes attractive. Notable track: ‘Do You Tweed My Love?’


MCMANUS ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS

27 - 28 JAN 2012 ROTORUA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM WWW.RAGGAMUFFIN.CO.NZ ON SALE NOW AT 0800 111 999 or WWW.TICKETMASTER.CO.NZ PACKAGES AVAILABLE FROM STA TRAVEL


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