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30 NOV - 06 DEC 2011 . NZ’S original FREE WEEKLY STREET PRESS . ISSUE 392. GROOVEGUIDE.CO.NZ
T&G-HPHGG-18-11_11_T&G-HPHGG-18-11_11 18/11/2011 16:22 Page 1
TEGAN AND SARA GET ALONG N E W
LIVE
ALBU M
F E AT U R I N G 1 5 T E G A N A N D S A R A C L A S S I C S + 3 F I L M D V D
w w w. t e g a n a n d s a r a . c o m
OUT NOW
Shit worth announcing
Breaking news
One Auckland Florence + The Machine show has been announced for next year. The singer will finish up her Australasian tour in Auckland on Mon 28 May at Vector Arena. Kimbra has managed to take home the Best Female Artist award at the 2011 ARIAs in Sydney. Her award-winning song ‘Cameo Lover’ spent eight weeks at the top of the NZ charts and became the most successful Australasian number one in fourteen years.
Announcements Polyester Gig
18/01
Grammy Award winning progrockers YES have announced one New Zealand show for next year. The ‘60s – ‘70s heydayers will play at Auckland’s Vector Arena on Sun 01 Apr.
Stringing Along
Amnesty International will be releasing an album featuring 70 Bob Dylan covers. Auckland-based trio Rackets have been announced to play the Big Day Out 2012. Rumour has it that the Beirut show in Wellington is moving venue to increase capacity. Missed out on a ticket? Keep your ears peeled… 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.
Australian jokers Regurgitator have announced a sideline performance while in the country for next year’s Big Day Out – and in a very fair move, this one-off gig won’t be in Auckland. Making it a little bit easier for the rest of the country to see them, the trio will play smack bang in the middle of the country in Wellington at San Fran Bath House on Wednesday 18 January. To make matters more fun, Disasteradio has been announced as the support act.
10/02 Our pick
31/01
International chart-toppers Seether have announced one New Zealand show next year. The Los Angelesbased stars are one of the most successful bands around today, and head here on a five-album career high as they celebrate their most successful release to date, Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray. The one-off gig will be at Auckland’s Studio on Friday 10 February. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster and Real Groovy.
Throw it back
Our favourite revivalist/throwback/nostalgia/pop/ just damn good jammers Kitty, Daisy and Lewis have announced they’ll be returning to New Zealand shores for the third time. The London-based trio will play two shows next year as they celebrate (a little late) their 2011 release Smoking In Heaven. Auckland’s Powerstation will host on Tuesday 31 January followed by Wellington’s Bodega on Wednesday 01 February. And all the rockabilly wannabe hepcats swoon and croon.
Editor Grant Hislop editor@grooveguide.co.nz
Cheesy Celebration
CONTRIBUTING Editor Matt Monk matt@grooveguide.co.nz
Editorial assistant Tyler Hislop tyler@grooveguide.co.nz
SUB Editor Elise Brinkman
Designer Greta Gotlieb greta@grooveguide.co.nz
10/12
Cheese On Toast has announced some birthday celebrations as it hits that tender-yet-wise age of eight years young. Auckland’s Whammy and Wine Cellar will host a birthday party for everything cheese and toasty on Saturday 10 December, with entertainment from She’s So Rad, Ruby Frost, The Broadsides, The Hollow Grinders, Poor You, Poor Me, The Dictaphone Blues, The Bemsha Swing, Silke and Karaoke Dick.
25/01 A Full Pair
Very thrashy and very good. That’s a simple and apt description of Shanghai duo Pairs, who have announced a series of New Zealand shows in January. Earlier this year Kiwi label Muzai picked up the local distribution rights for Pairs, and the dirty, filthy, messy thrash sound has been circulating the underground scene well. The ‘Summer Sweat’ tour hits Hamilton, Wanganui, Wellington and Auckland with more shows to be announced.
03/02 Lloydian Slip
There’s nothing like an r’n’b boy from New Orleans. Ex-N-Toon member and current chart-hitter Lloyd has announced one New Zealand show next year. Celebrating his number 10 album on the US Billboard 200 charts King of Hearts, Lloyd will play once and once only at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on Friday 03 February. Tickets go on sale Thursday 01 December through buytickets.co.nz.
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Accounts Gail Hislop gailhslp@yahoo.co.nz
Contributors Tim Gruar, Alexander Hallag, Chris Pole, Josh Ling, Max Coombes, Matt Glasby, Dominic Corry, Lily Richards.
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Publisher Hark Entertainment LTD PO Box 37584 Parnell, Auckland
24/02
Splore Full Line-Up
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
Game (formerly prefixed with “The”) has announced two New Zealand shows next year. While it’s looking like the summer could be one of the best alt-rock and pop seasons we’ve seen in a while, the former G-Unit rapper will be putting in his two cents in February. Game will play one show in Wellington at the Town Hall on Friday 24 February followed by a show in Auckland at the Vector Arena on Saturday 25 February. Tickets available now from Ticketmaster.
17/02
The full line-up has been confirmed for Splore 2012, and includes: Erykah Badu, Soul II Soul, DJ Qbert/ Reeps One, Hudson Mohawke, Gappy Ranks, Tiki, The Yoots, Africa Hitech, Ahoribuzz, Lord Echo and His Melodies, The Nudge, Disasteradio, J Star, Hermitude, Barons of Tang, Earl Gateshead, Shortee Blitz, @Peace, Latinaotearoa, Scratch 22, Alphabethead, King Kapisi, IM ENO, DJ Sticky Buds, Al Majik, SmokeEaters, DJ Amato, Optimus Gryme, MayaVanya and Jason Eli.
07/12 Vine, Dine & Rhyme
The Stoneleigh Summer Arts Series has announced its second year at the new venue of Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter. From Wednesday 07 December through to Sunday 18 December, the arts series will celebrate music, arts, food and lifestyle with entertainment from EASY, Jonny Love, Chloe Bartlett, Josh Leys, The Rooftop Collective, Donald Reid, Lex Pistols and plenty of local DJs over the week and a half period.
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Shit Worth Knowing
PLAYING In Brief... FAVourites FLIP GRATER
The next CreativeMornings Auckland seminar will be held this Friday 02 December with special guest speaker Andy Pickering. The breakfast will be held at Q Theatre at 8am. Those interested can register at cmauckland. tumblr.com. The eighth incarnation of Kiwiburn (one of the few official offshoots of the Burning Man Festival) will be held in the Whakamaru Domain in Mangakino from Wednesday 18 to Monday 23 January. The Black Eyed Peas have addressed rumours that they are breaking up. The band has said that they are taking a break from making music
together, but it’s not the end of the band once and for all. Billboard is reporting that the Gallagher brothers are suing each other. First Liam filed legal action, then Noel counter-claimed some stuff… it’s all very messy. Oasis messy. Can that be a new term?
Marching On Favourite drink? Lagauvulin 21 (distiller’s edition) Favourite classic film? To Catch A Thief Favourite party food? Manzanilla olives Favourite vice? Lagauvulin 21 (distiller’s edition) Favourite song? ‘Blue Valentine’ by Tom Waits Favourite meal? In recent memory: crumbed, fried slices of enormous fresh porcini mushrooms I’d picked earlier in the day in northern Italy. Favourite cause? Animal rights Favourite 90’s TV show? MacGyver Favourite word? Lagom (Swedish word meaning ‘just right’) Favourite album? Nick Drake’s Pink Moon Favourite type of groupie? Hot, sane ones Favourite body part on you? My lips Favourite body part on someone else? My lips Favourite venue? In September I played to 200 drunk Italians at private party in the courtyard of an ancient bathhouse-turned-communal-residence. It was very Fellini Favourite lyric? Everybody knows that the dice are loaded / everybody plays with their fingers crossed SEE HER LIVE: FLIP GRATER THU 01 DEC PENGUIN CLUB, OAMARU FRI 02 DEC CHICKS HOTEL, DUNEDIN SAT 03 DEC FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL, CHRISTCHUCH WED 07 DEC TABAC, AUCKLAND THU 08 DEC THE YOT CLUB, RAGLAN SAT 10 DEC SAWMILL CAFÉ, LEIGH
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We’ve been praising promoters and touring companies for bringing some of the biggest and best names in the alt-rock and post-pop world to New Zealand over the next couple of months. December through to February will see some of our favourite rockers such as Kurt Vile, Thee Oh Sees, Guitar Wolf, Deerhoof, Black Lips and more, along with the electronic and post-genre benders tUnE-yArDs and Dan Deacon, not to mention the don’t-bother-defining-them acts like The Dresden Dolls, Beirut, Bon Iver and then some. And we’re not even including the festivals here. Now, the best sounding summer we can think of in years is flowing through to March with the announcement of Ariel Pink and his Haunted Graffiti, who are set to return to New Zealand next year. Following their performance at Laneway 2011, the band saw plenty of respect come their way and became one of the most talked about acts at the festival. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti will play two shows in March – the first at The Kings Arms in Auckland on Tuesday 13 March, followed by a show in Wellington at Bodega on Wednesday 14 March. The good news keeps coming with Dirty Three announced to play one show in March. While it will only be Auckland audiences treated at the Powerstation, there’s no doubt that folks from around the country will travel up to see the performance on Wednesday 14 March. Another of the biggest acts at previous Laneway festivals, Warren Ellis and crew will be making March that much easier to deal with. Tickets for Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti are $40 plus booking fee from Real Groovy, Slowboat Records, Cheese On Toast or Under The Radar, and Dirty Three tickets are available from Ticketmaster and Real Groovy for $65 plus booking fee.
Luck of the Irish Here’s the perfect Christmas present for your mum: the boy-next-door and ever mother’s favourite hypothetical son-in-law Ronan Keating has announced he’ll be coming back to New Zealand shores next year. Clearly a fan of the country having been here a number of times over the past few years, the former Boyzone member and current X Factor Australia judge will be supported by Irish lass Sharon Corr, who you may remember as one of The Corrs. These shows couldn’t get any more ‘mum’. Wellington’s TSB Arena and Auckland’s Vector Arena will host the Irish duo in early February. Tickets go on sale Friday 02 December from Ticketek and Ticketmaster for $110 - $140.
Shit Worth Knowing
Releases This Week Gorillaz’ The Singles Collection: 2001-2011; Adele’s Live at the Royal Albert Hall; Taylor Swift’s Speak Now Live; Death Cab For Cutie’s Codes and Keys Remix Ep; Kylie Minogue’s Aphrodite: Les Folies Live In London; Zion Hill’s Inside Of You; Etta James’ The Dreamer; Red Hot Chili Peppers’ limited edition Blood Sugar Sex Magik Red Vinyl 12”; Michael Jackson’s Immortal; Paul Simon’s Songwriter; Westlife’s Greatest Hits; Turbowolf’s self-titled LP; Tyler Ramsey’s The Valley Wind; One Direction’s Up All Night deluxe edition; Lady GaGa’s Born This Way remix album; Paul Anka’s Songs For December; Zoo Brazil’s Songs For Clubs; George Clinton & The P-Funk Allstars’ Live & Kickin’; David Guetta’s FMIF Ibiza Mix 2011; Deep Purple’s Live At Montreaux 2011; Slash’s Made In Stoke; Various artists on Kiwiana Goes Pop; Various artists on Praise Be; Various artists
shit worth
winning Go to grooveguide.co.nz and enter the draw to win these prizes
EARTHTONZ MUSIC FESTIVAL HUGE PRIZE
on Ultimate Weekend Sessions 2; Various artists on Noel! Noel! Noel!; Various artists on Trance 100 - Best of 2011.
A Musician’s Occupation With all the occupations going on at street level, famous and familiar faces have been finding other avenues to occupy in support of the 99%. Lou Reed, Talib Kweli, Merrill Garbus AKA tUnE-yArDs, Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth, Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto from Fugazi and more artists have joined Occupy Musicians. The online occupation is an outlet for sound engineers, sound artists, producers, DJs, instrumentalists, composers, and lyricists to support the occupation of Wall Street and the spots around the globe. The above artists join the likes of Kimya Dawson, Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart, Mirah, Dan Deacon, Amanda Palmer, Tom Morello and many more in the musicians’ occupation. Prior to Occupy Musicians we’ve seen benefits and outspoken support from bands such as Titus Andronicus, Ted Leo, Wilco and Jeff Magnum.
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
OTHER NEAT PRIZES
Rayman Origins Xbox Game X 1
Pajama Club X 3 DOUBLE PASSes to each show
Shoe GIVEAWAYS
Film News The Sigur Rós doco/live footage film Inni is being shown this week at Auckland’s Academy and Victoria cinemas. The screenings will be held on Saturday 03 December at 10pm at both venues, and there’s a chance there could be more screenings in Auckland and hopefully around the rest of the country, but no confirmations just yet. YouTube is partnering with Disney in an effort to put titles from the house of mouse on the streaming sites rental service. Did you even know they had a rental service? Disney joins Warner Bros., Sony and Universal on the service. American cable channel SyFy has ordered a pilot to be written based on the DC Comics character Booster Gold, with Fringe writer Andrew Kreisberg penning the script. Sylvester Stallone is producing a Rocky musical. We’re seriously hoping Sly will star and sing as well, but at the same time hazarding an educated guess that he won’t.
Signed Midnight Youth converse shoes, a t-shirt, signed poster and a double pass to a show of your choice.
KeDS Champion Animal Print CANVAS SHOES x 2
EXTRA giveaways
Bic Runga’s Belle X 5
FLYING NUN COMPILATION Various Artists Tally Ho! Flying Nun’s Greatest Bits X 2
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Shit worth doing
THURSDAY 01
WEDNESDAY 30 The Sleeping Beauty
Chloe Bartlett Video Release Party
The Civic Theatre
Urban Soul Cafe 7.30pm, $10, door only
7.30pm, $37, the-edge.co.nz
Remember that Simpsons episode where Homer says he wants to go to the ballet and he thinks that the ballet is the bear in the cart, but it’s actually not and it’s not like he went anyway so Marge and her criminal friend get all Thelma and Louise? Old Simpsons and ballet is tight.
Chloe Bartlett emailed us to say that she was having this gig celebrating her video release for ‘Hitman’, and then we had that whole email banter thing that’s nice to have with people. Then she said she felt that we were BFFs without even meeting, and it made Monday real easy to deal with.
Luckless & Bond St Bridge
Movember Shave-a-thon
Tomboy
Chicks Hotel
Caffe Massimo
Selected Cinemas
8pm, $10, undertheradar.co.nz
6pm, $50-100, eventfinder.co.nz
This French flick about a 10-year-old girl who dresses like a boy to fit in the new, small village her family moves to looks like an absolute stunner. Taking home numerous awards around the world, the tale of androgyny in a child finding her/himself will make you think – that much is guaranteed.
The two bands get a little bit closer to the end of their little bit epic tour as they continue no little feat gigging around the country. Loop pedals, tape echoes and layers of contemporary sounds all work very well together.
One of the more “official” endings to Movember where all you wannabe truckers, Kaiser imitators and John Waters copycats can get rid of that little nose cosy. All in the name of charity, we know.
Chali 2na
7 Days
The Axemen
Kurt Vile
Clarence St Theatre
Darkroom
The Kings Arms
Studio 8.30pm, $30-45, iticket.co.nz
My first introduction to Jurassic 5 was a compilation album my Godmother got me from America. I was 10 years old and thought it was really cool and different. Hopefully nostalgia will kick in big time at this show.
7.30pm, $45, ticketek.co.nz
9pm, FREE
All those familiar faces from the telly hit Hamilton this Wednesday as 7 Days travels around the country. Jeremy Corbett, Dai Henwood, Paul Ego, Ben Hurley, Steve Wrigley, Jeremy Elwood and Urzila Carlson star.
After touring with the likes of Times New Viking throughout the US, The Axemen have decided to play some shows where they first found fame. See what nearly 30 years of being an awesome band looks like in real life.
8pm, $30, cheeseontoast.co.nz
Kurt Vile and his Violators are nowhere near as mean as they sound. Imagine Jay Reatard and Neil Young had an audio-clone baby, and you’re close to getting that great sound that Kurt Vile manages to tap into.
Friday 02 Tim Finn
Flip Grater’s Cookbook Tour
Bodega
Chicks Hotel 7.30pm, $15, undertheradar.co.nz
8pm, $50, ticketek.co.nz
Tim Finn celebrates his new album The View Is Worth The Climb on this tour with Auckland revivalist-pop trio The Sami Sisters. Friday’s Wellington performance will be – simply put – an elegant journey through the scope of the musical soul with a combination of familiar and fresh songs harmoniously intertwined through experience and wonderment. Simply put.
Grooveman Spot
Silo Cinema
Telecom Xmas Tree
ASO Xmas Carols
Bacco Room
Silo Park
Te Wero Island
Auckland Town Hall
11pm, $20, conch.co.nz
Over two years since his last NZ appearance, Japanese beat-scientist Grooveman Spot returns to Aotearoa as he pays props to influential Tokyo record store/label/movement Jazzy Sport. DJs Manuel Bundy, Cian and Submariner take the support reins.
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“When celebrated New Zealand indie musician Flip Grater took her guitar to Europe she slept on couches, took in the sights and must-sees of Europe, performed her music in seven countries – and ate some great food. Now she captures her journey in an exciting new book, describing the places, people and experience of touring.” Cool.
grooveguide.co.nz
5pm, FREE
The Arts Foundation and Oscar Kightley team up for Friday’s night of razzle dazzle down at Wynyard Quarter. Scribe’s ‘Baby Girl’ music video, feature film Sione’s Wedding and an episode of Bro Town will be shown for your visual pleasure.
FREE
This Friday will see the iconic Telecom Christmas Tree get lit. Note: the tree doesn’t “get lit” in the way you “get lit” where you partake in the consumption of illicit substances and act the fool, embarrassing your friends. It literally gets lit.
7.30pm, FREE
When you were a kid at school and you’d sing carols it was fun because you got to take time off from class, but it was lame because you couldn’t sing and you brought everyone down. Unlike you, the Auckland Symphony Orchestra doesn’t.
Shit worth doing
Saturday 03 gig OF THE WEEK
Cold Chisel Vector Arena
Inni Academy Cinemas
7.30pm, $99+, ticketmaster.co.nZ
10pm, $10-14, eventfinder.co.nz
In their second and final of two their New Zealand shows, Cold Chisel head to Auckland’s Vector Arena this Saturday as they play their first Kiwi shows since 1983. Jimmy Barnes and crew will no doubt prove why the band is one of the biggest Aussie rock acts ever to grace the stage.
How awesome is this? We know that since it’s the weekend you like to go out and drink and party like the attention seeker you are, but how about chilling out and going to see the new Sigur Ros film Inni? A live concert filmed and refilmed to look like a 1930s horror flick? Yes.
The Roots Festival
Wine & Food Festival
Auckland Town Hall
Hagley Park 8pm, $45, the-edge.co.nz
11am, $25-155, eventfinder.co.nz
Australia’s Darky Roots and Amin Payne along with locals House of Shem, 1814, Cornerstone Roots, The Midnights, Sweet Mix Kids, Tui Sound System, Dead Fools Fiesta, Thane Kirby, Grassmouth, Dubhead and more will all be at the Auckland Town Hall this weekend for the Roots festival. It’s a reggae/dub invasion of the Auckland CBD.
There’s plenty on at the Fine Vine & Dine day in Christchurch this Saturday. Performances from Flip Grater, The Eastern, Paul Ubana Jones, Hollie Smith, The Phoenix Foundation, Tahuna Breaks, celebrity chefs and people describing wine with words like rope, stones, dirt, wood and analogies that don’t even make sense? Heavens yes.
Pajama Club
Left Or Right
San Fran Bath House
XII Below
$43, 8pm, ticketmaster.co.nz
9pm, $10-15, Door Sales Only
The rescheduled gigs begin this Saturday as the collective brilliance of Neil Finn, Sharon Finn, Sean Donnelly and Alana Skyring come together in the capital to blast out the music that has entertained audiences around the globe, including the bums on seats on Later with Jools Holland. Sunday sees the PJ Party play in Auckland.
It’s been a big year for Left Or Right with performances at Phat 11, Feastock, the Catlins River Festival, Methven Big Air, Brifest, orientations and several out-of-town gigs, so the band is rewarding themselves and Dunedin audiences with a fundraising gig in an effort to put out some vinyl with support from Cult Disney.
Stonerfest
Tourettes & Guests
La Fete Caburlesque
Whammy & Wine Cellar
The Kings Arms
Arts Centre, Whangarei 8pm, $10, Door Sales Only
8pm, $15-20, undertheradar.co.nz
The underground festival of sludge, doom, stoner rock, psychedelic, avant-garde and everything else hits Auckland this Saturday. The Northern Light’s double stage event features Soulseller, The House of Capricorn, Arc of Ascent, Cobra Khan, Shallow Grave and Stone Angels. There’s even a free BBQ out in the back courtyard.
Rio Hemopo
Mighty Mighty Markets
Matterhorn
MIGHTY MIGHTY
You’ve previously seen Rio Hemopo as the bass player and singer/ songwriter of Trinity Roots, but how often have you seen him solo? This solo performance will be supported by Justin ‘Firefly’ Clarke, and there’s been talk of a special guest.
Someone asked last week, “Why is cabaret and burlesque so popular all of a sudden?” and then someone else said, “Because guys like softcore teases and girls find it fun and sexy.” That’s a pretty on the money description right there.
auckland
art and culture
hamilton
daytime event
wellington
live music
dunedin
all ages
christchurch
film/tv
1-5pm, FREE Entry
Get your Christmas shopping done early and done quirky at the Mighty Mighty Markets this Saturday. Clothes, shoes, art, craft, records and special guest DJs will ease along that Saturday hangover in the bar where you probably got it from anyway.
Key
11pm, FREE
Tourettes, The Vietnam War, Tono and The Finance Company and more take to Auckland’s Kings Arms Tavern this Saturday to mess up some genres with “odes to idealism, gallows humour, working class pride and the cancer of convenience”.
7.30pm, $25, eventfinder.co.nz
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Kevin Kartun listened to Cold Chisel for the first time, realising it wasn’ t the first time and he doesn’ t know anything about Australian music.
My older brother is real excited about Cold Chisel coming to New Zealand. When it was announced all those months ago, he did a fist pump. An actual fist pump. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen him do one. He’s in his late thirties and has two children. I don’t think it’s legal for a man of that stature to do a fist pump. I asked him who Cold Chisel was. I knew they were an Aussie band with Jimmy Barnes, and that’s about the extent of it. He went on this massive spiel about how the “kids” should know more about music, and that mp3 players and whatnot are ruining the effort that consumers put into finding a special connection with a band. I told him he wasn’t answering my question and that he was beginning to sound like a communist. So he gave me a rundown of Cold Chisel. They’re from Adelaide. That’s in Australia, but it’s not Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, so you might not have heard of it. Then he told me that they were real big in the ‘80s, which was when he got into them. I knew he was lying, because he’s not in his 50s and I know he wouldn’t have been listening to them when he was 10 or whatever. When he used the term “string of hits” I realised he was reading this information off Wikipedia while pretending he was checking his phone for messages. No one says “string of hits” apart from when they’re reading press releases or reading a script for an ad. He put his phone to better use (like the hypocrite he is – he just bagged mp3 players for fuck’s sake) and played some songs by them instead. He was saying that I would know these songs when they were played, how could I not, they’re huge, etc. The first one he played was ‘Forever Now’, and I totally remembered it.
I’m guessing that my first introduction to this song was when my uncle used to play cassettes in his old school Nissan Silvia that had an electronic speedometer (I’m just trying to give you some good visuals here), but I also think I heard it when I went to those certain bars down at the viaduct in Auckland. You know the ones. I started imaging the other kinds of people who would be into these songs. I’m not saying they were bad – I just started thinking of mid-40s blonde ladies who probably got real into The Banger Sisters. My brother was insistent that I listened to more Cold Chisel songs, and since he had beers and it was Friday and my friends didn’t finish work until later, I said okay. I kept recognising all of these songs, but realised that I had no idea where I knew them from. I think Cold Chisel is one of those bands where you know all the songs, but you don’t know who actually sings them. Songs like ‘Cheap Wine’ have either been used on commercials or you just hear when you’re out at a pub that you never usually go to when you’re meeting up with that mate who you haven’t seen in ages. When I told my friends about this band that seemed really familiar but I didn’t know their songs, they clearly knew who Cold Chisel was and were baffled by my lack of knowledge about Jimmy Barnes. Except these certain friends were Australian, so they may be slightly biased. After all of this riveting excitement, the expert detective in me successfully deduced some main points: a) Cold Chisel are really popular with lots of people; b) I am ignorant and don’t know about music from the ‘70s and ‘80s apart from stuff like The Cure and The Smiths, and c) my brother needs to get some more beers for next time I go round.
Written by Kevin Kartun SEE THEM LIVE: Cold Chisel Fri 02 Dec TSB Arena, Wellington Sat 03 Dec Vector Arena, Auckland
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it ’s a mix of relentless creativity, addiction to activity and plain old talent that has taken neil finn’s latest project pajama club around the globe.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve talked personally with Mr Finn. The last time I interviewed him he was in the studio at Radio Active pushing some new project he’d formed with the drummer of Split Enz and the brother of the front man from Hunters and Collectors. This time we’re talking about his latest endeavour Pajama Club. Never one for staying still or resting on his laurels, it’s a fair assessment to say that Neil could be described as creatively relentless. “I like what happens when you keep yourself open to new things happening. It keeps the music fresh and alive.” He’s done bands, duets, All Star Collisions, student nights, solo projects, national anthems, and now a ‘family’ gig. While keeping busy as one of the country’s most iconic names in the music world, let’s not forget that Neil is also a family man. The story goes that when sons-of-Finn Elroy and Liam left home, Neil and Sharon finally got around to doing up the music room. Spare room, spare time, new frame of mind. Neil being the activity addict he is, what better time was there to ignore the syndrome of empty nest and start a new project? The new room led to the husband and wife team rocking in their jim-jams, resulting in the album that has been occupying the First Family of New Zealand music’s time. And a damn fine album at that. The term “supergroup” is thrown around a lot these days, so let’s call a spade a spade and address Pajama Club as friends and family making music, and that these friends just happen to be Sean Donnelly, AKA SJD, road drummer Alana Skyring formerly of The Grates, and Neil and Sharon themselves. What’s more super is that despite their brief time together, the band have already been touring around the Northern hemisphere. Over the line Neil is his usual charming and witty self. He’s down Cambridge way visiting his 89 year old dad. “A poached egg in the morning,” he quips, “and a whisky at five. That’s the template for a successful long life. Bet you didn’t expect such sage wisdom?” Ironically, Finn himself has become the elder lately, in experience at least, when it comes to touring. He tells me of Sharon’s hard work to overcome her inexperience and get up to speed. “She rehearses more than I do. I really admire her tenacity to jump up on stage.
During Sharon’s second gig [in Brisbane] she was singing a semi tone down. There was a fault with her bass amp, also a semi down. We had to stop half way through ‘Go Kart’ and fix it. She was hard on herself but people were coming back stage and telling us ‘Go Kart’ was their favourite song.” Finn says he enjoys living vicarious experience through Sharon of being new to the stage. “It’s great to be part of that excitement and thrill of being there, flying by the seat of your pants.” There were one or two hiccups, including some dates being cancelled on the West Coast of the States when Donnelly became very ill. During a break at their London house, Neil and Sharon were awoken at 3am by a drunken man who accused them of breaking into his house. “He rang the police and asked us what the address was. We gladly gave it and they were around to arrest him in five minutes flat.” Yet all and all, Neil says that the tour has gone well, with the Pajama Club material being well received despite its freshness and unfamiliarity. “We didn’t get any one calling out for Crowded House songs,” he laughs. There’s no doubt that Neil’s former expeditions have made more of an impact and have reached more pairs of ears, so there’s always the expectation, or more alertness, that any given crowd may expect, request or demand the songs that Neil used to play. But Pajama Club is about the now and the future, as opposed to the then and the past. Neil says that the couple’s favourite song to play is ‘Golden Child’ which is about their boys (as you would heartwarmingly expect). “I always have a soft spot for that one.” Now back in Auckland, Pajama Club are gearing up for a national tour of dates in December. “Then, I think I’ll see. I have about four albums of material but the music will decide which band or project I should use it in – could be solo, Crowded House, Finns or Pajama Club. I need to get to work.” And so Neil’s addiction to activity continues as New Zealand waits for the next Finn gem patiently, if not expectantly. Would you have it any other way?
WRITTEN BY TIM GRUAR SEE THEM LIVE: PAJAMA CLUB SAT 3 DEC SAN FRAN BATH HOUSE, WELLINGTON SUN 4 DEC KINGS ARMS, AUCKLAND WIN: 3 X DOUBLE PASSES BOTH SHOWS
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events
Canterbury gig guide Wed 30
Becks Southern Alehouse
Riccarton House & Bush
CPIT
D’sendantz: 9pm: Free
CPIT
Jesus Christ Superstar: 7:30pm
Hagley Park North
Christchurch Farmers’ Market Mid Week Market: 4pm
Jesus Christ Superstar: 7:30pm
New World Wine & Food Festival: 11am
Naval Point Yacht Club (Lyttleton)
Thu 01
The Axemen, Lo-Liners, Dark Matter & Cranks: 9pm
Kaiapoi Town Centre (Kaiapoi)
New Brighton Library
St Michael & All Angels Church
Becks Southern Alehouse
The Black Velvet Band: 8pm: Free
CPIT
Michael Gordon Trio: 8pm: $15
Darkroom
The Axemen: 9pm: Free
Pierside Cafe
Karaoke w/ DJ Chick: 8pm
Salsa Latina Studio Salsa on Thursdays
The New Dowse (Ashburton)
Mara & the Bushkas: 7pm: Koha
Fri 02 Addington Raceway
Christmas at the Races: 6pm: Free
Ashburton Raceway (Ashburton) Christmas at the Races: 11:45am: Free
Canterbury Short Film Festival: 7pm: $5
Pierside Cafe
Beach Breaks w/ DJ Dmand: 9pm: Free
St Michael & All Angels Church Bic Runga: 7pm: $65
Kaiapoi Carnival & Market Day: 9am: Free
Zebedees
The Brewery
Keepin’ On w/ Veitch & Ussher: 11pm: Free
Three Six Three
Bassfreaks first birthday: 9pm: $25 + BF
Sun 04 Lyttleton Recreation Centre (Lyttleton)
Sat 03
Nor’Wester Cafe (Amberley)
Christmas Market Fair: 10am: $10
Alpine Springs (Lake Tekapo)
Under The Big Sky: 7pm: $36
The Brewery
Delaney Davidson: 9pm: Free
Town Hall (Rangiora)
Awakened Inferno + guests: 8:30pm: $5
Addington Raceway
Thanks to
Bic Runga: 7pm: $65
The Brewery
Luckless & Bond Street Bridge: 8pm: $10
s sting i l t n eve s sting i l t n eve
Canterbury Short Film Festival: 7pm: $5
Jordie Lane, Matt Langley & Mel Parsons: 5pm: $25
Tim Finn NZ Tour: 8pm: $49 + BF
Mon 05 St Mary’s Anglican Church Bic Runga: 7pm: $65
Tue 06
St Augustine Anglican Church
CPIT
Resound: Tres Cordes String Trio: 3pm: $18
Jesus Christ Superstar: 7:30pm
Subculture (Queenstown)
Tue 06
Otago gig guide Wed 30 Chicks hotel (Dunedin) Luckless & Bond Street Bridge: 8pm: $10
Subculture (Queenstown)
Ping Pong Comp: 9pm: $5
Thu 01
Fri 02 Chicks Hotel (Dunedin) Flip Grater: 7:30pm: $15
Rialto Cinemas (Dunedin)
The Room: 9pm: $15.50
Subculture (Queenstown)
DJ Downtown Brown & Turbohag: 9pm: $5
Allen Hall Theatre (Dunedin)
XII Below (Dunedin)
Chicks Hotel (Dunedin)
Sat 03
The Penguin Club (Oamaru)
Debajo (Queenstown)
Club Comedy: 7:30pm
Warwick Broadhead: 8pm: $25 Dirt Floor Alliance: 9pm: $10
Luckless & Bond Street Bridge w/ Flip Grater: 8pm: $15
Subculture (Queenstown)
The SubStation: 9pm: Free
Optimus Gryme: 9pm: $10 + BF
The World Bar (Queenstown)
Rhythmonyx: 10pm: Free
XII Below (Dunedin)
Left Or Right Vinyl Fundraiser Show: 9pm: $15
Sun 04 Balclutha War Memorial Hall
Christmas Pops - The Mainland Tour: 7:30pm
Soundboy Tom vs DJ Nihilism: 11pm: Free
Mon 05
Playhouse Theatre (Dunedin)
Alexandra Memorial Theatre
Ad Hoc Cabaret: Blackboard Sessions: 7:30pm: $18
Knox Church (Dunedin) Bic Runga: 7pm: $65
Lake Wanaka Centre (Wanaka) Christmas Pops - The Mainland Tour: 7:30pm
The Church Cafe (Dunedin)
Jordie Lane, Matt Langley & Mel Parsons: 8pm: $20
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Christmas Pops - The Mainland Tour: 7:30pm
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events
auckland gig guide Wed 30
Forte
CrossRoads Bar
poor you poor me, drop dead redhead & twinkie: 8pm: $5
Ink & Coherent
Khuja
Mexican Cafe Auckland
Khuja
Khuja Lounge
Live Latin & Brazilian Music: 8:30pm: Free
Mercury Theatre
Tim Finn NZ Tour: 8pm: $49 + BF
Neighbourhood Brew Bar Acoustic Wednesday w/ Eli: 7:30pm
Ponsonby Social Club
Joe’s Diner - Rock Night: 10pm: Free Stopover ft. EDX (SW): 10pm: $20
Kings Arms
Kings Arms
THE REPUTATIONS: 9:30pm: $10
Chicks That Scream Present Mean Girls, Shitripper & Murderchord: 8pm
Mexican Cafe Auckland
Salsa Party w/ DJ King Salsa: 11pm: Free
Racket Bar
Ponsonby Social Club
Rakinos
Playing Up: Free
Sale St
Jason Eli: 6:30pm: Free
The Studio
Fuzen Presents Chali 2na (Jurassic 5): 9pm: $45
Wine Cellar
DJs Isaac Aesili & Lo Key: 8pm: Free
Racket Bar
Tido & Jerm: 6pm: Free
Rising Sun
ULCERATE: 8:30pm: $10
Sale St
Page3, Mixtape Kidz, Dee Why: 7pm: Free
Jeremy Mason EP release w/ Jocee Tuck: 8pm: $5
Shooters Saloon Bar
Thu 01
The Britomart Country Club
1885 Britomart
The Crib
T-Rice: 9pm: Free
Kings Arms
Kurt Vile & the Violators & Alastair Galbraith: 8pm: $30 + BF
Ponsonby Social Club
Occupational Therapy ft. Bobby Brazuka & Onny Kaulima: 8pm
Racket Bar
Nyntee & Isaac Aesili: 6pm: Free
Sale St
ZOHZOH AFROBEAT DANCE PARTY: 8:30pm: Free
Latin Aotearoa: 6pm: Free The Tall Poppies: 10pm: Free
The Lucha Lounge
Nocturnal Collections: 9:30pm: $5
The Studio
Chloe Bartlett ‘Hitman’ Video Release: 7:30pm: $10
Wine Cellar
2 a.m. Orchestra: 8:30pm: Free
1885 Britomart
Preferential Treatment: Ben Wah & Sweet Mix Kids: 8pm: Free
Bacco Room
The Turnaround Presents Grooveman Spot (JP): 11pm: $20 + BF
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LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE Lucha Lounge
Freaky Meat, Plum Green + Benny Profane: 8pm: $10
Racket Bar
Page 3 & Sweet Mix Kids: 8pm: Free
Sale St
DeeWhy, Grant Marsahll, Dean Campbell: 7pm: Free
The Britomart Country Club
Murray Cammick, Lewis Tennant & RIA: 2pm: Free
The Crib
Vankan Brothers duo: 10:30pm: Free
The Snake Pit
Luck/House Market: 11am: Free
Whammy Bar
Northern Lights: 8pm: $15
Wine Cellar
Northern Lights: 8pm: $15
Sun 04 Audio Foundation HQ Aura Emporium: 5pm: Free
CrossRoads Bar
Whammy Bar
Kings Arms
THE DHDFD’S ALBUM FUNDRAISER: 10pm: $10
The Hospo Sessions: 3pm: Free Pajama Club w/ guests: 8pm: $43 + BF
LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Sat 03
OUTER BASE: 3pm: Free
Sale St
1885 Britomart
Shae Snell, DeeWhy, Awkward Orchid: 12pm: Free
4:20
The Britomart Country Club
Departure Club: 10pm: $10 Shelter w/ Tim Walker: 8pm: $10
Fri 02
Tourettes w/ The Vietnam War & More: 8pm: $10
Fuzen Presents Caspa w/ Dynamite MC & Datsik (Northern Bass Warm Up): 10pm: $45
Jason Eli: 6:30pm: Free
Urban Soul Cafe
SOUL SAMBA CIRCUS LIVE: 11pm: $10
YEBIISU, CHUR BO, TIME SPLITTERS, FLEUR JACK, SHADOWMOVEMENT, DJ KASE & DJ DRAFT: 9pm: $5
The Circling Sun Band: 10:30pm Benn Morrison: 6pm: Free
The Bikini World Cup 2011 Heat 3: 8pm: Free
Auckland Town Hall George FM presents: The Roots Festival: 8pm: $45
Pauly Who & Dylan C: 2pm: Free
The Britomart Country Club
Kirk James & Dylan C: 2pm: Free
Backbeat Bar
NOVEMBER ZULU w/s DAKOTA & FIRE AT WILL: 8:30pm: $10
Cassette Nine
Sick Disco Deejays: 10pm: $10
Mon 05 Cock & Bull Lynfield Wii with the Cock: 7pm: Free
Grand Central
Open Mic Night: 8pm: Free
Ivory Lounge
Open Mic Night: 8pm: Free
The Thirsty Dog Acoustic Song & Music Session: 8pm: Free
Volume Bar
Open Mic Night: 8pm
Windsor Castle
VIVA Jazz Quartet: 6pm: Free
Tue 06 Cassette Nine
Pop Panic ft. Ricky Rile: 9pm: Free
Cock & Bull Botany Tuesday Trivia: 8pm
Cock & Bull Ellerslie Tuesday Trivia: 8pm
Cock & Bull Lynfield Tuesday Trivia: 8pm
Cock & Bull Newmarket
Tuesday Trivia: 8pm
The Lumsden
2011 Singer/Songwriter competition: 7pm: Free
Ponsonby Social Club Beats, Eats & Co: 6pm: Free
The Britomart Country Club
Murray Cammick: 6pm: Free
The Kings Arms
Kings Arms Quiz: 7:15pm: Free
The Windsor Castle Open Mic Night w/ Kiwi FM: 9pm: Free
t events
Waikato gig guide Wed 30 Biddy Mulligans (Hamilton)
Jordie Lane, Matt Langley & Mel Parsons: 8pm: $20
Clarence St Theatre (Hamilton) 7 Days Live: 7:30pm: $45
Cubbyhole (Hamilton) Cubbyoke Night: 8:30pm: Free
Thu 01 Cambridge Municipal Band Rooms (Cambridge) Cambridge & Districts Pipe Band: 7:30pm: Free
Clarence Street Theatre (Hamilton)
Tim Finn NZ Tour: 8pm: $49 + BF
Cubbyhole (Hamilton)
Diggers Bar (Hamilton) Out of Time w/ One Drop N8tives & Knights of the Dub Table Soundsystem: 9pm: $10
The Meteor (Hamilton) Whose Xmas Is It Anyway?: 8pm: $18
The Delta (Ngaruawahia)
Upper Hutt Posse: 9pm: $15
The Meteor (Hamilton) Whose Xmas Is It Anyway?: 8pm: $18
Wanganui Musicians Club (Wanganui)
Fri 02
Alex & BB: 7pm: $10
Founders Theatre (Hamilton)
Sat 03
The Sea and Beyond: 7pm
monkey feather night club (Hamilton) New Blood: The Bedrooms First Birthday: 10pm: Free
Static (Hamilton) ‘Live @ Static’ - The Drab Doo-Riffs, The Good Fun + guests: 9pm: $10
Te Aroha Racecourse (Te Aroha)
Burlesque Cabaret: 6:30pm: $55
Muso Jam Night: 8:30pm: Free
Cock & Bull (Hamilton)
Static (Hamilton)
‘Live @ Static’ - Street Chant, Badd Energy ft. Coco Solid, Doteyes + DBT: 9pm: $10
Te Aroha Racecourse (Te Aroha)
Burlesque Cabaret: 6:30pm: $55
The Meteor (Hamilton) Whose Xmas Is It Anyway?: 8pm: $18
Sun 04
Huntly RSA (Huntly)
Hampton Downs Motor Sport Park (Meremere)
Space Monster (Wanganui)
Tue 06
Tasty Brown: 6pm: Free Zion Hill & One Drop Natives: 8pm: $20
One-Man-Band Rock & Roll Rumble: 9pm
St Andrews Anglican Church
Mudfest: 10am: $5
Cock & Bull (HAMILTON) Tuesday Trivia: 8pm
Love Divine w/ Anna Hawkins: 9:15pm: $20
WELLINGTON gig guide Wed 30 Bar Medusa
Bar Medusa’s 2nd Birthday Mid-week Madness: 8pm: Free
Happy
Miles Calder & the Rumours, Oskar Herbig, Lakewood Avenue, & Barbeque Crackers: 7:30pm: $5
Matterhorn
The Session: 10pm: Free
Mighty Mighty
Dial Square, Diving & Us As Robots: 9:30pm: $5
Meow
Wreck on the Highway #6 - Shoot Straight & Speak the Truth: 8pm: $5
Mighty Mighty
Wanted Sessions Christmas Hoedown: 8pm: Free
San Fran Bath House
Chali 2na (Jurassic 5): 8:30pm: $49
The Front Room
Fuzen Presents Caspa w/ Dynamite MC & Datsik (Northern Bass Warm Up): 9pm: $45
Fri 02 Bar Bodega
Tim Finn NZ Tour: 8pm: $49 + BF
Darren Watson & The Real Deal Blues Band: 8:30pm: Free
Mighty Mighty
Sun 04
Southern Cross
Evil Genius
The Mantarays: 10pm: $5 Richter City Rebels: 9pm: Free
TSB Arena
Cold Chisel: 7:30pm: $100
Sat 03 Havana bar
Thu 01
The Lido Cafe
Mara & the Bushkas: 9pm: Free
Matterhorn
Rio Hemopo: 11pm: Free
In-store Appearance: 2pm
Foxglove
Raybon Kan in Clear & Present Manger: 8:30pm: $20 + BF
The Boptet: 7pm: Free
The Opera House
Mon 05
Bannerman Album Release Show: 8:30pm: $10
Downstage Theatre
The Lido Cafe
Sandwiches
The Burgandy Room (Bar Bodega)
Live Music & Two for One Desserts: 5pm: Free
Recovery Sessions w/ The Dreamers: 3pm: Free
Axemen, Terror of the Deep: 10pm: $5
The Arvo Show presents: Dubside of the hill: 4pm: Free / Zirigidum: 9:30pm: Free
The Library
Southern Cross
The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards 2011: 6pm: $70
Southern Cross
Aladdin: The Pantomime: 8pm: $46
Fat Freddy’s Drop presents JUST FRIENDS: 4pm: $20
Mighty Mighty
The Great Wellington Party DJ Battle - Vol.1: 11pm: Free
Circa Theatre
our add y tings is own l Eg groov
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Fringe Bar
Raw Meat Comedy: 8pm: $8
Tue 06 Bats Theatre
Silent Night: 7pm: $18
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italian playlist
street
high street
vulcan lane
et
tel. 09 366 0196
queen stre
cassette, 9 vulcan lane
shortland
tours & events
Upcoming tours & events Alex and BB
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
Black Lips (US)
The Damned (UK)
Bon Iver (US)
Dan Deacon (US)
Tue 28 Feb Powerstation, Auckland
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
Wed 25 Jan Powerstation, Auckland
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
Dearly Departed
Fri 02 Dec The Cabana, Napier Sat 03 Dec The Burgandy Room (Bar Bodega), Wellington Fri 16 Dec Leigh Sawmill Cafe, Auckland
Deerhoof (US)
Sat 07 Jan Whammy Bar, Auckland Sun 08 Jan Bodega, Wellington
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti (US)
Tue 13 Mar The Kings Arms, Auckland Wed 14 Mar Bodega, Wellington
The Axemen
Thu 01 Dec Darkroom, Christchurch Fri 02 Dec Naval Point Yacht Club, Lyttelton Sat 03 Dec Mighty Mighty, Wellington Wed 07 Dec Whammy Bar, 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
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
The Checks
Thu 01 Dec PBC, Gisborne Fri 02 Dec Illuminati, Tauranga Sat 03 Dec Onewhero Rugby Club, Onewhero Sat 07 Dec YOT Club, Raglan
Farmageddon
Sat 03 Dec Waipu Cove, Waipu
The Feelers
Classic Hits Winery Tour 2012
Fri 03 Feb Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana Sat 04 Feb Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana Sun 05 Feb Marina Reserve, 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
Dirty Three (US)
Wed 14 Mar Powerstation, Auckland
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
Thu 08 Mar TelstraClear Festival Club, Wellington
Fleet Foxes (US)
Fri 13 Jan The Hunter Lounge, Wellington Sat 14 Jan Town Hall, Auckland
Flip Grater
Tue 13 Dec Western Springs Stadium, Auckland
Coromandel Gold
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
First Aid Kit (SW)
Foo Fighters (US) w/ Tenacious D (US)
Fri 02 Dec TSB Arena, Wellington Sat 03 Dec Vector Arena, Auckland
Creedence Clearwater Revisited (US)
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
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
Cold Chisel (AU)
Fri 30 Dec - Sat 31 Dec Ohuka Farm, Coromandel
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 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
Explosions In The Sky (US) 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
ISE YOUR T R E V D A O T S EMAIL U NTS E V E D N A S R TOU EGUIDE.CO.NZ NICK@GROOV
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tours & events
Upcoming tours & events The Game (US)
Fri 24 Feb Town Hall, Wellington Sat 25 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland
god bows to math
Sat 17 Dec Brewers Bar, Mt Maunganui Wed 21 Dec Mighty Mighty, Wellington
The Golden Awesome
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 - Sun 15 Jan Old Beach Road, Kaikoura
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
Mara and the Bushkas
Rippon Festival
More FM Summer Vineyard Tour
Roger Waters: The Wall (US)
Thu 01 Dec The New Dowse, Ashburton Sat 03 Dec Havana bar, Wellington
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
Northern Lights Festival Fri 30 Dec - Mon 02 Jan Pakiri Beach, Pakiri
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (UK)
Tue 31 Jan Powerstation, Auckland Wed 01 Feb Bodega, Wellington
Golden Axe
La De Da Festival
Goodshirt & Stereobus
Ladi6
GROOVEMAN SPOT (JP)
Fri 02 Dec Bacco Room, Auckland
Guitar Wolf (JP)
Mon 12 Dec Dux De Lux, Christchurch Tue 13 Dec TBA, Dunedin Wed 14 Dec Bodega, Wellington Thu 15 Dec Static, Hamilton Fri 16 Dec Cassette Nine, Auckland
Hall & Oates (US)
Sat 28 Jan Church Road Winery, Napier Sun 29 Jan Villa Maria Estate, Auckland
Fri 30 Dec - Sat 31 Dec Dry River Road, Martinborough
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
Sat 03 Dec Whammy Bar & Wine Cellar, Auckland Sat 10 Dec The Venue, Christchurch
Pairs (CH)
Lamb Of God (US)
Luckless & Bond Street Bridge
Pink Floyd Double Feature
Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & Steve Luthaker (US) Sat 24 Mar Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Sun 25 Mar Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland
Jordie Lane (AU)
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
grooveguide.co.nz
Managers Summer Tour
Sat 03 Dec Wine & Food Festival, Christchurch
Tue 13 Dec Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, Auckland Sat 31 Dec Queens Wharf, Wellington
Raggamuffin 2012
Sat 28 Jan Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Wed 28 Dec Managawhai Tavern, Auckland Mon 02 Jan Coromandel Area School, Coromandel Tue 03 Jan Colville Hall, The Coromandel Sat 07 Jan The Tairua School, The Coromandel
Regurgitator (AU)
Mangawhai NYE Party
Rhythm & Vines 2011-2012
Sat 31 Dec Mangawhai Tavern, Mangawhai
Royce Da 5’9
Thu 08 Dec Studio, Auckland
Ryan Adams (US)
Tue 06 Mar Regent Theatre, Dunedin Thu 08 Mar Civic Theatre, Auckland
Shapeshifter
Fri 09 Dec Sawmill Cafe, Leigh
Tue 06 Mar Town Hall, Auckland
Sat 11 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland
Tue 27 Dec TBC, Mangawhai
Lisa Crawley
Madeleine Peyroux (US)
Roxette (SE)
Selective Sounds
Wed 07 Mar Studio, Auckland
Incubus (US)
Fri 09 Dec Cassette Nine, Auckland Sat 10 Dec Bodega, Wellington
Sat 03 Dec Town Hall, Auckland
Fri 10 Feb Studio, Auckland
Phoenix Foundation
The Jezabels (AU)
Roots Festival
Seether (US)
Mon 30 Jan Silo Park, Auckland
Wed 30 Nov Chicks Hotel, Dunedin Thu 01 Dec The Penguin Club, Oamaru Fri 02 Dec The Brewery, Christchurch
Wed 07 Mar Powerstation, Auckland
Sat 03 Dec San Fran Bath House, Wellington Sun 04 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland
Lloyd (US)
Tue 31 Jan Vector Arena, Auckland Wed 01 Feb TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Roky Erickson (US)
Pajama Club
Laneway Festival 2012
Fri 03 Feb Civic Theatre, Auckland
Sat 18 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland Mon 20 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland Wed 22 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland Thu 23 Feb Vector Arena, Auckland
Wed 25 Jan Static, Hamilton Thu 26 Jan The ARC Theatre, Whanganui Fri 27 Jan Mighty Mighty, Wellington Sat 28 Jan The Lucha Lounge, Auckland
How To Dress Well (US) Sat 08 Dec Third & Social, Auckland
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Thu 01 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland
Fri 09 Dec Audio Foundation HQ, Auckland Sat 10 Dec Mighty Mighty, Wellington Fri 16 Dec The Darkroom, Christchurch
Thu 22 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland
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Kurt Vile (US)
NZ Stonerfest
Sat 04 Feb Rippon Vineyard, Lake Wanaka
Wed 18 Jan San Fran Bath House, Wellington
Rhythm & Alps
Wed 28 Dec - Thu 29 Dec Terrance Downs, Mt Hutt
Thu 29 Dec - Sat 31 Dec Waiohika Estate, Gisborne
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
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
tours & events
Upcoming tours & events Sun Araw (US)
Fri 03 Feb Mighty Mighty, Wellington Sat 04 Feb Whammy Bar, Auckland
Taylor Swift (US)
Fri 16 Mar Vector Arena, Auckland Sat 17 Mar Vector Arena, Auckland Sun 18 Mar Vector Arena, Auckland
Thee Oh Sees (US) Stink Fest 13
Fri 27 Jan Whammy Bar, Auckland Sat 28 Jan Mighty Mighty, Wellington Sun 29 Jan ARC Theatre, Wanganui
Thu 15 Dec The Darkroom, Christchurch Fri 16 Dec The Darkroom, Christchurch Sat 17 Dec Dux Live, Christchurch
TOYS
Wed 07 Dec - Sat 17 Dec BATS Theatre, Wellington
Stoneleigh Summer Arts Series Wed 07 Dec - Sun 18 Dec Wynyard Quarter, Auckland
Tue 06 Mar Powerstation, Auckland
Tuborg Summer Sunday
Sun 29 Jan Matakana Music Mountain, Matakana
tUnE-yArDs (US)
Thu 12 Jan The Kings Arms, Auckland
The Unfaithful Ways
Thu 08 Dec St Peter’s Hall, Paikakariki Fri 09 Dec Mighty Mighty, Wellington
WOMAD
Fri 16 Mar - Sun 18 Mar TSB Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth
Stomping Nick & His Blues Grenade
Thu 01 Dec Interislander Ferry, Picton-Wellington 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-Picton
Urge Overkill (US)
Tim Finn
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
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Fri 16 Dec San Fran Bath House, Wellington Sat 17 Dec The Kings Arms, Auckland
MCMANUS ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS
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shit worth playing with
groove gADGETS ReCell Skin-On Spray
Groove GADGETS is where we cast our eye over Cool new shit.
By Avita Medical Ltd
Treats burns, improve scars or smooth irregular coloured areas. The ReCell technology delivers skin cells at your bedside in just half an hour and does not require laboratory facilities, the cells are collected from a small sample of the patient’s own healthy skin.
Got some cool shit you want to see on this page? send us an email at gear@grooveguide.co.nz
Pricing from you healthcare provider. avitamedical.com
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d an is st oo ifier t ob t ec ed o bj i t e . g n T h e ampl th e . esi s d h o n e o ws a n d wh i m all c k or r iP i c f f yo u e that d, bla e r amu t o c t u r g o l c ed ru e in u tp it aft n d o e n st i labl o p. -cr d -sh n d e s o u w o o e . Ava ha th dis n s n i i a e n th e tabl Th mis i 0 e na th 9.0 o pt e d o o ff €59 bas flo at to
Portable Pong Turn your board room into a ping pong battle zone at 5pm! Comes with two paddles with retractable handles, a weighted net, two ping pong balls, and a drawstring pouch that can store everything when you’re between games. $39.99 thinkgeek.com
Computers for oldies By Google Chromebooks
According to Chromebook “you don’ t need to teach Grandma to use A Chromebook”. Boot in 8 seconds and resume instantly, no anti-virus software in fact no software. It’s all online and they have dropped prices! $349.99USD amazon.com
Walking-coaster The city of Duisberg Germany has recently installed a piece of landscape art that is a walkway which is laid out like a roller-coaster. Enjoy slowly, step by step.
Alarmingly Sophisticated By Tivoli
The Model XS is clever and portable with an in-built battery and foldup case. A Beautifully designed alarm clock with FM radio, speakers and woofer with iPhone compatibility.
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iPad Parcel Think about it – a mustard envelope iPad Case with button and string fastener. Ironic since technology has made a huge impact on snail mail.
$349
$48.00USD
tivoli.co.nz
poketo.com
grooveguide.co.nz
shit worth playing with
GAMING Saints Row: The Third Gaming Review In a world that’s increasingly taking itself too seriously, sometimes it’s nice to get driven around the streets in a chariot by a gimp while you’re shooting some pimps and gansters before getting stuck in the Tron world as you switch bodies with a toilet. Yep, a nice break from reality is nice. After a few serious games, Saints Row: The Third truly is a breath of fresh air. I honestly can’t remember a game where I’ve laughed out loud so much in a long time. Give me some of whatever the creative directors were on and I’ll throw you the spoofiest, most ridiculous crazy shoot-em-up sexy party that your mother would ever hate you going to. It’s as if Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane penned the Saints Row script, what with all the outrageous cut-away gags. Who else could try and inject that kind of humour into a game and pull it off? As per usual, it’s a massive open world with an array of outfits, vehicles, side missions and other activities to
accompany the main storyline. Respect is pretty much the name of the game here. Playing as ‘The Saints’ gang who are the local heroes with their own products and huge fan base, you’re taken on the most outlandish adventure that puts Grand Theft Auto to shame. The banter in games like this could easily not work, but the delivery is hilarious and the timing is perfect. The script even had my hard-to-impress flatmate chuckling away – a welcome relief to the constant “you’re shit at this” that I’m so often used to hearing. It kicks in right from the start as you gain an ally in the character Zooms, a pimp who has had a tracheotomy and speaks using a mic that’s been auto-tuned, resulting in hilarious sung phrases such as “You gonna pick up the big fuckin’ gun or what?”. You meet him after using him to pull your chariot (albeit dressed up in a gimp suit) to escape from other gimps on chariots chasing you. There are too many highlights
to list and I wouldn’t want to spoil the random hilarity that ensues throughout the game anyway. But for the sake of enticing editorial and trying to share the excitement, let’s summarise: trail blazing like Tron; escorting a Tiger in your car; playing old school text based games; turning into a toilet; an ‘Ethical’ Japanese style killing game show; seeing Burt Reynolds making a cameo; a WWE fight; and of course, Zombies – “If they’re moving they ain’t dead, they’re just fucked up!”. This is a game that knows what it is, and doesn’t hide from that fact at all. If anything the developers have seemingly
gone as far as they can to fit in as many pop culture references that they can and be as random as possible. Nothing about Saints Row comes anywhere close to being realistic. But when something this over-the-top features Transformer-like ‘Vtol’ planes that are basically futuristic Harrier Jump Jets and ridiculous weapons such as The Penetrator that is described as “The absurdity of a sex toy with the lethality of a baseball bat”, you know you’re in for a good time. The net result is what a game by definition is supposed to be: fun. Written by Jon Snow
Ear Force PX3 Headset Tech Review
There’s plenty of headphones out in the gaming market nowadays. They all want your money and there’s not a lot they do different. If you’re looking at it really practically, the key difference between the best of these is how meticulous the developers are being. Turtle Beach seem to be heavily
investing time and effort into nitpickery, and have come up with the Ear Force PX3 headset. This multi-console headset has a big focus on presets. Simply put, the presets make different styles of games better. While sound isn’t the most important factor in gaming, the nature of gaming these days demands perfection on all fronts which is what the PX3 series looks to be striving for. Eighteen different presets mean different types of sound for different types of games. If you’re rocking a shootem-up, one thing you’re always on the audible hunt for is footsteps. You turn the sound up loud enough to hear Germans/zombies/monsters/ aliens stalking around. Problem is, when you find said undeadgenetic-experimented-Nazi-boss on level nine the volume is
already cranked up to 10 and the sound of gunfire, monster roars and explosions are enough to burst your eardrums. Enter the likes of what Turtle Beach are calling Sonic Lens software – a preset allowing the sound of footsteps and ammunition loading to have more volume while the action noises sit comfortably. There are more presets along these same lines – use the specific preset for each type of game, whether it’s racing, fighting, shooting, mystery-solving or robot unicorns attacking, as well as optimising the volume of chat while in co-op/multiplayer modes online. It’s simple enough to use, as you would hope. The headphones run off a wireless connection (although a 12 foot cord is included) and are fed by the transmitter which connects
to whatever console you’re using. Digital audio players can also be used at the same time if you’ve got a specific song in mind you’d rather hear while stealing cars and fighting gangsters (College and Electric Youth’s ‘A Real Hero’, anyone?). All in all, the headphones seem great. Players don’t need all of these features, but with every player in the gaming industry fighting to be number one, every little bit helps each game. If you want the full service treatment and ultimate experience, look for the Turtle Beach Ear Force PX3 headset which is available now online or from Dick Smiths (and others outlets, we’re sure). But if you’re a casual or social gamer, it could be wiser to save the money for the next big game. Or Christmas presents.
Grooveguide.co.nz
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Shit worth listening to
album reviews Bic Runga Belle lllll
Having produced just four albums in fourteen years, no one’s going to accuse Bic Runga of being prolific, but the phrase “quality over quantity” certainly applies. Her decision to collaborate with ex-Mint Chick Kody Neilson is a stroke of genius, though it remains to be seen what her more mainstream fans make of the Babyshambles-esque weirdness that is ‘Devil On Tambourine’. Six years on from the understated Birds (largely recorded in single takes), a proliferation of reverb and multi-tracked vocals on Belle brings tracks like ‘Good Love’ – with great drums – a subtle update
The Getaway Plan
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Drake
ALBUM OF THE WEEK for 2011. ‘Darkness All Around Us’ recalls prime-era Mercury Rev, there’s ‘60s girl-group dynamics on ‘Tiny Little Piece Of My Heart’, and purposeful hints of Morricone on ‘This Girl’s Prepared For War’. ‘Music and Light’ is a finely balanced gem in the mould of ‘She Left On A Monday’ (from Beautiful Collision), and stunning proof that Belle has been worth the wait. WRITTEN BY CHRIS POLE
Various Artists
Soulware
Requiem
Take Care
Return to the Source
Breaking Dawn - Part 1
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Following a three-year hiatus, this Melbourne-based alt-rock quartet are making their way back into the game. While the pop/punk/emo ship has somewhat sailed away from the mainstream, these lads are navigating through some previously charted waters. The Getaway Plan really aren’t breaking any new ground here, but they’re reusing a formula they know well. The lyrics are predictable but catchy, and you can almost predict what love-soaked rhymes they’ll be using before a first listen. But that’s exactly it – this album is cookie-cutter gold, with producer David Botrill’s (Muse, Tool, Silverchair) magic on it. Elements of studio mastery shine through in the form of full choral ensembles (‘S.T.A.R.S.’) and ‘Requiem’ tests some new waters with a more progressive electronic sound. While somewhat reminiscent of the emo phase that was in vogue a couple of years ago, there’s still many a guilty pleasure to be found here.
If you don’t like Drake, Take Care won’t convert you. If you like Drake, you’ll find more of the same but better on here. Rather than really departing from the sound established on last year’s Thank Me Later, Drake opts for more consistency between songs and a larger scope, running 20 minutes longer than last year’s effort. Production is once again handled by 40, resulting in r’n’b/ synth-pop sound. Although longer, the tracks seem more uniform than on Thank Me Later, with occasional house references sounding as distant and minimal as the rest of the track. Although 40 called the sound “brazen,” it sounds more despondent to me, perfectly complimenting Drake’s lyrics and flow. The guests seem to abide by this: Rihanna, Andre and Kendrick Lamar all go for understated but effective. So there it is. If you hate Drake, keep hating. If you don’t, this will be replacing Thank Me Later as the Drake album you listen to.
If you are familiar with the high quality organic electronica produced by Optimus Grime, Kog and Loop recordings then you will take a shine to this. In fact this is very much an Optimus signature, yet it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what attracts. There is a very indigenous and yet cinematic feel to it all. The integration of Te Reo and some nose flutes, conches and other Maori instruments, the obvious but necessary incorporation of a soprano and vaguely Pacific vocals of Timmy Porter (‘The Day that Didn’t Dawn’) and Jimmy Leask (‘Te Ao Marama’) all invite the listener to tune out from life for a while, lie down on the carpet between the speakers and meditate on the ambient tunes that are drifting around your cerebral hemisphere. From the age of The Gathering, this is music to chill to and no mistake.
The Twilight Saga has an uncanny ability to completely polarise any of those who are aware of it. You’ve got fanatics like Twilight moms on one hand, and on the other, those who’d leap at the chance to stake Edward Cullen in his shiny face. But this is about the soundtrack, and I daresay there’s actually some decent music to be found here. The names speak for themselves: Iron & Wine, The Joy Formidable, Bruno Mars and a handful of other accomplished musicians lend their talents to the album. In what is essentially an alt-rock and indie compendium, (though the songs may not have been the perfect accompaniment to Bella and Edward’s sob-filled, asinine idea of romance) it encapsulates a solid glimpse at some of today’s more popular artists. Twilight devotees will probably pick this up purely for the album’s labeling, but at least they’ll be treated to some fairly decent tunes in the process.
WRITTEN BY JOSH LING
WRITTEN BY MAX COOMBES
grooveguide.co.nz
WRITTEN BY TIM GRUAR
WRITTEN BY JOSH LING
BLACK KEYS-GGQTR-18_11_11_BLACK KEYS-GGQTR-18_11_11 18/11/2011 17:22 Page 1
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Shit worth watching
on screen Submarine FILM llll
“I often imagine how people would react to my death,” admits Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts), the hero of this bittersweet coming-of-age tale. Cue bawling schoolgirls holding signs proclaiming, “We envy the angels!” It’s an indulgence everyone understands because we’ve all been pretentious teenagers. At least Oliver knows
he’s ridiculous, even if he can’t help it. “Sometimes I wish there was a film crew following my every move,” he sighs. In Richard Ayoade’s charming debut, to all intents and purposes, there is. Part swot, part stalker, Oliver is a “moderately unpopular” schoolboy in small-town 1980s Wales struggling with puberty, virginity and his social
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Further info directed by Richard Ayoade Starring Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins and Paddy Considine
Starring Regina Advento, Malou Airaudo and Ruth Amarante
Starring Rachel Weisz, Monica Bellucci and Vanessa Redgrave
The Whistleblower film
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grooveguide.co.nz
WRITTEN BY MATT GLASBY, Flicks.co.nz
Further info directed by Larysa Kondracki
film
Landing somewhere between a concert movie and documentary, this 3D staging of some of German choreographer Pina Bausch’s most famous routines is a feast for the senses. Bausch (who died suddenly in 2009) was one of the most influential figures in contemporary dance over the last four decades. Pina gathers members of her dance company to briefly reminisce about dancing under her but predominantly to perform her dances, both on stage and in vivid exterior locations. To put it simply, 3D has never been better executed in a film. The spatial dynamics and physical presence of modern dance is beautifully served by
are brilliant throughout, particularly one-to-watch Roberts and Considine in a mullet that would embarrass a Highlander. From falling in love to fleeing real emotions, the trials of teenage life have rarely been so exhilaratingly – or so excruciatingly – dramatised. Whether you’re 25 or 75 you’ll feel Oliver’s age again in a Polaroid flash.
Further info directed by Wim Wenders
Pina
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standing. He’s tried everything: pushing girls in puddles, listening to French crooners, even a brief hat phrase. But just as a fling with local bad girl Jordana (Yasmin Paige) looks set to solve all three, his parents’ (Noah Taylor and Sally Hawkins) marriage is rocked by the reappearance of his mum’s ex (Paddy Considine). Though the subject matter is nothing new – teens have been egregiously self-obsessed at least since 1951’s Catcher In The Rye – every aspect of the film thrums with quality. Ayoade’s direction is crisp and quirky, Alex Turner (of Arctic Monkeys) sings melancholy songs about quicksand and cold winds, and the performances
the technology, and Bausch’s routines come to life on screen with extreme tangibility. Even in movies like Avatar the 3D seems to wear off after half an hour or so, but here the effect remains present and vital throughout. Whilst Pina obviously lacks a traditional narrative, an interest in modern dance isn’t necessary to enjoy the film. For the dances performed on stage, I felt like I was in the audience of a live show. During the exterior performances (which include an amazing sequence aboard a moving monorail), the surroundings greatly inform the routines. It’s impossible not to feel the emotional intent behind every move. I was transfixed. WRITTEN BY DOMINIC CORRY, Flicks.co.nz
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke I found myself mumbling the above as I watched The Whistleblower. Heaven knows what things Burke was thinking of when he coined the phrase, but it’s unlikely to have been of the calibre of evil covered in this film. Based on real events, a starstudded cast puts re-enactment to good use in an attempt to spread the word about human trafficking. Rachel Weisz plays Kathryn Bolkovac, the real life inspiration behind this film – a woman who worked as a hired regulator for the UN sanctioned contractors in post-war Bosnia and began to notice that things between the populace and the UN
contractors were not as they should be. There were moments when I had to turn away, knowing that this was a privilege none of the tormented were given. The Whistleblower shows grace under fire and is a riveting drama to watch unfold. All told, the film acts as a burning indictment of the behaviour of foreign nationals who, while pretending to act on the behalf of war-torn countries, prey on the victims of war themselves. I came away thinking that human trafficking is something everyone should know about, so that this particularly cruel brand of dehumanising has nowhere to hide. WRITTEN BY LILY RICHARDS, Flicks.co.nz
Shit Worth reading
On Paper Batman: The Black Mirror Comic Review Okay mainstream comic haters, turn the page now – you won’t want any part of this. Over the years there have been several iconic collections of Batman stories. Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Paul Dini and Grant Morrison spring to mind as authors of such timeless tales. But the latest groundbreaking Batman story has something a little different about it. It doesn’t focus on Bruce Wayne. Why? Well, because he died. This isn’t a spoiler alert – the death of Bruce Wayne made news around the world over the past year. Average fans may recall Dick Grayson, AKA Nightwing, AKA the original Robin. And it’s on this character that our focus falls on this week. Dick Grayson is a rare find in the comics universe. Unlike many other characters of any brand (Marvel, DC, Vertigo, etc), Grayson has been a developed character since his introduction. Most characters don’t really age in comics, and if they die it’s not for long. But Dick Grayson came into the pages of Batman as a child and grew into a man. He was a Teen Titan and dropped the Robin moniker to become
Nightwing. When Bruce Wayne died, he took up the mantle of the Bat. The cowl rested on his head, and writer Scott Snyder (who I’ve talked about before – see American Vampire) effectively utilised everything good about Dick Grayson to make one of the best Batman stories in years. One that is, in essence, Dick Grayson’s Year One. The Black Mirror is the name of the arc. We see the Grayson as the new Batman striking fear and being the detective that he should be. There is less hatred and rage with this Batman, giving us a good insight into both Dick’s mind in comparison to that of Bruce Wayne’s. Bruce is an angry bastard with a chip on his shoulder. Dick still thinks there is hope and salvation for the world. Whether this is his naivety or not is up to the reader. But his time as Gotham’s Dark Knight is one that pushes light instead of darkness (read too much into the “black mirror” motif now). A common question readers asked when told of this new Batman was one concerning the villains. There’s no argument that Bruce has some of the best bad guys around. But does Dick
Grayson? Where’s his Joker? His Two-Face? His Ra’s al Ghul? Can a writer deliver a new character that we fear but love as much as these iconic characters? When the writer is Scott Snyder, the answer is simple. Fuck yes. Snyder reaches deep into the past of Grayson – remember, he is a character that has grown and developed, so has history that can do the same thing. We see Jim Gordon’s son, James Gordon Jr. come back into the fold after disappearing and being locked away in mental hospitals and whatnot following his breakdown. He’s a bad seed that Barbara Gordon (Jim’s daughter/ James’ sister/Batman’s ear to the ground) doesn’t trust for a second. After all, would you trust someone who kidnapped you?
He is your brother after all. Throughout this 11-issue arc we question who the bad guy is. As mentioned before, Grayson is a different kind of Batman – one who doesn’t necessarily thrive in the darkness, and one who believes and hopes for the best in people. Whether he’s right to or not is his downfall, but it further develops his character into being the only person who could truly wear the cowl in the absence of Bruce Wayne. It’s a defining story for the definitive DC character that has grown up along with his audience, but one that will stay forever fresh in its achievement as a fantastic detective story. Batman: The Black Mirror hardcover hits stores in December Written by Summer Thernomme
New Comics, Please A mini essay on the search for my new favourite comic: Part one At the behest of my friends I’ve been trying to get into new comics. I keep hearing how much I should read Jonny Ryan’s comics and Peter Bagge’s Buddy series. And I have. They’re funny, I get it. But I like science fiction and fantasy as well as zeitgeistspewing laugh factories written by some generation X dude who gets praised by every bohemian living in Haight or Williamsburg. One such comic that was recommended to me was Vertigo’s iZombie. First of all, I hate the title. Yeah, there’s a running theme throughout it that our protagonist Gwen is a smart zombie – not one that drools and lugs herself around with that all too familiar catchphrase, demanding a certain vital organ.
But really? iZombie? Come on, that’s just plain dumb. So begins my venture into the familiar realm of zombies, vampires, ghosts and wereterriers. So much for something different, right? I like it when creators back up their mythology with theory. iZombie talks about the ideas of why these ghouls exist (because we all know they do). It’s something to do with undersouls and oversouls, which are the two parts of the spirit belonging to every living thing. It’s about eating emotions and memories and having a connection to your soul. But it all sounds a bit too Chicken Soup-ey to me. Nonetheless I soldier on, attempting to appreciate the original ideas of why these
mythical ghosts of girlfriends past plague the Earth. Turns out they don’t really like hurting people (except for the vampires of course – they’re a bunch of dicks). Gwen the zombie works in a graveyard and everyone just thinks she’s an albino. She eats brains once a month after burying the dead. Her friend is a ghost-chic girl who died in the 1960s. They’re friends with a were-terrier. If it wasn’t for the swearing
and the odd boob here and there, I’d swear this was Archie meets Scooby-Doo in the Mystery of the Extended Sci-Fi Marketing Phenomenon. I’m three issues in, and I’m feeling late-night Disney-ed up, when I want to be adult swim-ed out. It’s not looking good for iZombie. END OF PART ONE Written by Kevin Kartun
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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
AIR MAX ACG By Nike
AIR MAX 1, ALSO KNOWN AS AM87, ARE MUST HAVES IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR COMFORTABLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT FOOTWEAR. AWESOME SUEDE OVERLAYS, NOT TO MENTION REFLECTIVE ACG LOGO ON TONGUE AND HEELS. nike.com
FRESHs SO U EA c Jacob
DAISYy Mar B
DECADENT LACE UP
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ARM CH . S A A NCE I SH R F RE F R A G SO IC EAU CLASS , L IC A B S ’ om s.c I M S J A CO ob WH jac ND M A RC c A r ON NT ma
IN G
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By One Teaspoon
A SUPER SEXY ONE-PIECE THAT IS PERFECT FOR GOING FROM THE BEACH TO THE BAR. ITS FLATTERING CUT SITS GREAT ACROSS THE HIPS, AND WE LOVE THE LACE UP DETAIL! BIRDMOTEL.COM.AU RRP $180 AUD
RAMBLE OVERNIGHT BAG By Rusty
A CLASSY CARRY-ALL PERFECT FOR THE PARK, BEACH OR A TRIP DOWNTOWN. A PRATICAL STYLE IN NATURAL CANVAS WITH BROWN LEATHER TRIM AND BRUSHED LIGHT GOLD HARDWARE SURFSTITCH.COM RRP $79.99
SEALED WITH A KISS
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By Alice Mccall
GOLD BOW BRACELET
AN EFFORTLESSLY STYLISH MINI SWING DRESS WITH OVERSIZED BELL SLEEVES AND CUT-OUT DETAILS AROUND THE DRESS. PERFECT PIECE TO TAKE WITH YOU FROM ONE SEASON TO THE NEXT.
A BOW WITH A DANGLING JUICY LOGO HEART CHARM PUTS A PRETTY FINISH ON THIS FEMININE BRACELET. FILL IT WITH YOUR FAVOURITE CHARMS!
By Juicy Couture
MYCATWALK.COM.AU
VONMAUR.COM
RRP $289AUD
RRP $58USD
grooveguide.co.nz
The Keds are alright By Keds
C’mon, give in to your animal instincts. The Champion Animal Print puts a wild twist on the classic. It’s time to slip on a little wild style. RRP $119.90 Pat Menzies Auckland and Banks Shoes Wellington, or win our giveaway PG.7
shit we went to
live Photos FLIP GRATER MIGHTY MIGHTY, WELLINGTON WED 23 NOV PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ALEXANDER HALLAG FACEBOOK.COM/THEMUSICISTALKING
PITCH BLACK SANDWICHES, WELLINGTON SAT 26 NOV PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ALEXANDER HALLAG FACEBOOK.COM/THEMUSICISTALKING
ALL SEEING HAND SFBH, WELLINGTON WED 23 NOV PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MEGAN EASTERBROOK-SMITH FACEBOOK.COM/MEGANEBS.PHOTOGRAPHY
THE CLEAN SFBH, WELLINGTON FRI 25 NOV PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ALEXANDER HALLAG FACEBOOK.COM/THEMUSICISTALKING
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Shit worth counting
Listophile Juice TV’s Alternative Broadcast.
1. Listen To Us
1. Mein Land
Home Brew (Ft. Tourettes)
2. Horse Song Bernie Griffen & The Grifters
3. What Else Could They Do Popstrangers
4. Secrets and Lies
Rammstein
2. Black Sheep Gin Wigmore
3. The Walk Mayer Hawthorne
4. Shake it Out Florence and the Machine
Street Chant
5. Wired
5. No Way
I Break Horses
6. Think I’m Insane
The Naked & Famous
6. Smash it
X-Ray Fiends
7. 3rd Eye
Zowie
7. Lucky Now
Badd Energy
8. Cola Elixir
Ryan Adams
8. Audio Video Disco
OPOSSOM
9. Identity
Justice
Breaking Dawn Part 1
4. When a City Falls 5. The Whistleblower 6. Contagion 7. Drive 8. In Time 9. Submarine 10. Rest for the Wicked
10. Candyman Shimmer The Checks
10 ‘50s & ‘60s Pop Songs
new slang for summer
1. A bunch of puppies so I can
You maybe forgot about and should really get back into
Commander Cool When some dickhead thinks they’re God’s gift.
lie down on the ground and have them all jump on me with their new-puppy smell.
2. Superpowers – preferably
telekinesis, pyrokinesis or aquakinesis.
3. A pair of really good
sounding headphones that aren’t a fucking mission to lug around.
4. Tickets to all of the amazing
bands playing over summer.
5. Kittens that don’t have
sharp claws.
6. The entire collections of
Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire and all the other American dramas.
7. A confirmed film wrapping
up Arrested Development.
8. A confirmed film wrapping
up Party Down.
9. An iPhone that doesn’t just
stop working after 18 months.
10. Preview tickets to see The
grooveguide.co.nz
3. The Twilight Saga:
Christmas Wish List
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2. Arthur Christmas
The Unfaithful Ways
M83
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1. Immortals
9. Trouble I’m in
Austra
10. OK Pal
Independent Top 10 Movie Chart
Dark Knight Rises and Avengers.
1. Bearcat Rufus Thomas
2. Hot Rod High The Knights
3. Letter Full Of Tears Billy Fury
Comrade Cool When someone is wearing too many clothes for summer. Manjob When straight friends touch each other’s junk.
4. The Bluebird, The Buzzard
Kevin Bacon The name you say when you can’t remember someone’s name.
5. After Laughter
No Homers Club When you’re allowed one.
and The Oriole Bobby Day
Wendy Rene
6. Dirty Water The Standells
7. The End of the World Herman’s Hermits
8. Birdland Chubby Checker
9. The Cheerleader Paul Peterson
10. How Does It Feel? The Ronettes
No Boners Club A dominatrix’s utensil Al Capone When some dude keeps getting drinks/drunk, but you don’t know where they’re getting the liquor from. Ellen Capones Same as above, except for girls Ellen Page When someone is ruining a perfectly good situation.
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