Softly into the week I go...

Some weeks require more effort to get back into after the weekend than others. I don't know why, nor am I even going to bother to offer an explanation for my lack of enthusiasm for this particular Monday. I just simply 'could not be asked' today. Thankfully I discovered this lovely little video release from Wellington indie country folk outfit Jessie James and the Outlaws which has gone some way to smooth out the rough edges of today. Beautifully filmed, heaps of cute factor and it's in HD. Just what the doctor ordered.

Jessie Moss and Holly Beals

This band is touring around the country in November, playing The Harbourlight in Lyttelton. They are beautifully understated, and to directly rip off their Myspace page,  are ..."developing their own modern twist on 1970’s country, folk and psychedelic rock... create[ing] a sound that is familiar yet refreshing. Each member of the band, and the project’s production team have achieved critical acclaim over recent years, together creating a formidable force. This album will go a long way."
Totally agreed. Keep an eye out for them.

UPDATE:
Jessie James and the Outlaws tour dates: 
Harbour Light Theatre on Fri 19th,
Goodbye Blue Monday Sat 20th Nov 
Albums in store on Monday 11th


Quake town is still VERY quiet

Lupus Lunar @ Dux September 30th

I was at the Dux on Thursday night to play with Loafer and was again surprised how dead town remains. It was a bit demoralizing to play to so few people but we had fun all the same. I really just wanted to mention how fabulous Lupus Lunar were. If you haven't seen them yet then you should find their next gig on their facebook page and head along. They describe themselves as 'facebook sluts' so you can be sure their page is up-to-date. Their demeanor and energy was as bubbly as their songs. They have wonderful happy tunes delivered by a very solid rhythm section, catchy melodies and sweet harmonies that will have you tapping your feet and humming along before you know it. GO SEE THEM - I can't say it enough.

Loafer @ Dux 30th September

Me and Grant enjoying Lupus Lunar... and refreshing beverages

What's on this week?

Thursday 7th October
The Cranks play "Pink Flag" by Wire @ Goodbye Blue Monday

Friday 8th October
A Hori Buzz @ Al's Bar 
Superturtle The Dialtones and Loafer @ El Santo
Sleepy Age @ 7pm New Media Club & 10pm @ GBM with Tim Moore
Alison Lake @ Dux de Lux
Johnny Possum @ Harbourlight


Saturday 9th October
GBH (UK), Sticky Filth @ Al's Bar
Magic Eye & T54 @ Goodbye Blue Monday
Annihilating Rythm @ El Santo
Gareth Thomas (Goodshirt) + Sarah Brown @ Dux de Lux

The city of rock or ghost town?

The Pickups awesome poster

I've been terribly busy and with one excuse or another I haven't been able to get out to see any live music for ages. I've been feeling sooo l-a-m-e and out of the loop that in order to get some street cred back I went out last Friday and see The Pickups on their 'Finally... An Album Release Tour 2010' with support from The Steffan van Soest Hit Machine at Goodbye Blue Monday.

The most memorable thing about this gig - and is no reflection on either of the bands - was how quiet the bar was, and in fact all of town. Deadly quiet. I would've thought that with all the bars up and running in Poplar Lane it would be business as normal, but it seems punters are staying home in their droves. I suppose it's not that surprising as people are still getting their shit together after these earthquakes but I did feel a bit sorry for The Pickups because I think if this gig was a month ago they would've packed the place out.

Finally... The Pickups

The Hit Machine played a pretty long support slot and unfortunately weren't the slick unit they usually are. The Pickups on the other hand had some great tunes and were really tight. The only problem being that I got distracted catching up with friends outside and missed a rather large chunk of their set. Oops!
They are a great band who have released this long awaited album to great acclaim.

"A quality album that is both a work of traditional integrity and a shining example of delectably inquisitive guitar pop" - Steffan Reyners, Bandwagon, Wellington, June 2010

"...this album would fit nicely alongside any number of Flying Nun bands...The Pickups have delivered an album of raw jangle pop" - Michael Flynn, NZ Musician Magazine, June/July 2010

Get your copy at Worship the Owl Records.

What's on this week?

My pic of gigs this week is going to have to be Loafer with support from Lupus Lunar at The Dux on Thursday 30th. Apologies for the shameless self promotion, but at least I know it's a gig I'll get to! This is Loafer's first gig at the Dux and we'll be playing a full 55 minute set.  Miaaow!

Thursday 30th Sep
Loafer with Lupus lunar @ The Dux de Lux - FREE!
Holly Smith @ Al's Bar


Friday 1st Oct
Dictaphone Blues Questionier Tour with Unfaithful Ways @ GBM
Oktober Onslaught @ Al's Bar

Saturday 2nd Oct
The Monotonics with Sawdust @ El Santo
Hikoikoi with support from Pacific Underground @ Al's bar

And life goes on and on

I can't stand media overexposure of any kind and I really think the quake, the shake, the thunder from down under or whatever else you want to call it has had more than it's fair share of media attention. So for my part I'm wasting no more time on it, in the hope that like a spoilt toddler the lack of attention will cause it to hush up and disappear. Hrrumph!

Oh... ahhm... except to say that both Goodbye Blue Monday and Galaxy Records opened their doors for the first time since 4-09. Yay!




Gigs this week include:

THURSDAY 16th
The Datsuns with Milk Train @ Al's Bar

FRIDAY 17th
Anthesiac with The Stash @ Dux de Lux

Riverblind @ Goodbye Blue Monday

SATURDAY 18th
Primary with Permanence @ Goodbye Blue Monday
Supermodel @ Dux de Lux  (Tickets available at www.moshtix.co.nz)
Hard Lee + special guests Arte Nomade @ El Santo




There are some mean gigs next week. Details coming soon....

Who's ready to Shake Rattle and Roll?!

You'd have had to be living in a cave, or possibly overseas, not to know about Christchurch's 7.1 magnitude earthquake. It was a big'un and we're still feeling the aftershocks today, and from what I hear we'll be feeling them for weeks to come.

This will be one of those events that will be indelibly etched into our minds for the rest of our lives - one of those "where were you when..." conversation pieces.

I thought it might be of interest to find out how Christchurch venues had feared after the big shake. Here's what I know so far...

El Santo - Remarkably has only one broken bottle. Business as usual at this great wee bar.

Wunderbar - Hard to get exact details but there is certainly some damage at this iconic bar. Word is the back bar will need to be rebuilt and this will take anywhere from 1 to 3 months. There is a Hold Fast Harbour fundraiser with The Eastern and friends being held at Loons to support the local rebuilding effort.

The Harbourlight - I haven't heard anything about this venue yet, but from the state of a couple of photos I've seen it doesn't look too good. 

POPLAR LANE: (all info here taken from GBMs website)
Goodbye Blue Monday - Thankfully GBM had earthquake strengthening put in when it was converted to a bar so despite all the brickwork it's got off relatively lightly. Lots of broken bottles but otherwise ok. Their FB page stating "All of our whiskey survived but I'm sorry to say the kahlua didn't make it". GBM is will hopefully open up next week - no business this weekend :o(. 

Vespa Room looks ok, hope to open on Friday.

The Twisted Hop looks ok

Mac’s and Mitchellis will survive

Bismark - the building can’t be inhabited at the moment


Dux de Lux - All ok, business as usual.  

Al's Bar - All ok, business as usual.

Cartel - Open for business as usual.

The Bedford - has postponed a gig so I'm assuming this is because of quake damage.  

Repertory Theatre - looks like good news for this lovely building. It seems the damage is not as bad as it looks and it will be restored. Yay! Check the details here.

The Empire (Lyttelton) - Not looking good for this lovely old building. Appears to be major cracks on photos I've seen. 

Liquidity, Le Plonk, and Mex Cafe - all either taken a hit or in the cordon so out of commission for the meantime.



OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST:


Galaxy Records - is ok but has limited access and cannot open. 

Real Groovy - closed until further notice  

CJ's Musicworks  - This store is still in one piece with minimal damage to stock. Due to hazardous neighboring buildings and constant road closures it will be closed until Saturday at this stage. 

The Sitting Room Recording Studios - this building has just been condemned and they are moving out today. Word is they'll be back with new premises soon as they can.



I'll post more info as it comes to light.

Keep safe rockers!

Tasty Thursday Morsels

Check out this awesome video from Cairo Knife Fight. This band is HOT HOT HOT right now. They are winding up their EP Release Tour at the Kings Arms in Auckland on Thursday the 2nd September. If you're in Auckland then get down there, do not miss them!

I asked Nick when they might be back in Christchurch

"Not for awhile now. Just done our EP release show the other day. Possibly in November. We're off to the USA in October and are looking to get out there into NZ again upon our return..."

Sounds good to me.

Well known music blogger Simon Sweetman had this to say about the famed duo in an article appropriated titled "The best band in New Zealand":

"I really do think that Cairo Knife Fight is a world-class act. And one of the most innovative duos working in music - and I say that not only because the band works with a singing drummer, who also provides samples, loops and bass lines while playing drums and singing, but because the dynamic between guitarist/vocalist Aaron Tokona and drummer/singer/everything-elser Nick Gaffaney is perfect."

Enough said really. 

ANOTHER GREAT FREEBIE
I absolutely love that bands are so generous with their music these days. Yep, I'm love love loving it.

"Sparticus R have almost finished recording their 2nd album and to celebrate they are touring the country and giving away this 4 tracker. Its got something old, something new, something borrowed and something purple! 1 track of the new album, 1 rare recording from the Spartacus R in Octophonic show from 2007 and 2 new remix's of songs from When The Fever Takes Hold."
Taken from Spartacus Bandcamp's blurb.


WHAT ON TONIGHT?

Palmy Band The Nerines play the Dux tonight with support from Christchurch's Sleepy Age. Should be a good'un.

Barnard's Star Nostalgia

After a few comments on yesterday's blog I turned into the crazy fossicking squirrel and managed to dig out a couple more pieces from my Barnard's Star archive. In the interest of having a complete set online I've posted these remaining bits and bobs for your viewing pleasure.

The His Lordships gig that never happened for bstar. There was a double-booking so
Blister and the other headlining act struck a compromise and both support acts lost out..

Flyers for the first EP release at Venus Cafe.

RDU Party at Mount Hutt 1998

This set of pictures was taken at the RDU work 'do' up at Mount Hutt I can't remember exactly when it was but certainly 1998. Actually, it may have been a Christmas party...

Darius - the roaring gladwrapped man.

It's such a long time ago now, but I remember this being a pretty wild affair. The bands had a captive audience up in the mountains for the night and that atmosphere created some pretty feral performances from one group in particular. I can't remember the bands' name but lead singer Darius(?) wrapped himself in gladwrap, tinfoil and gaffer tape and proceed to scream relentlessly for about 30 minutes. There was not enough beer in the world to make that sound any good. Sorry Darius that's a trifle harsh, perhaps I just didn't have the artistic nouse to 'get it'. In fact this performance is the indelible memory I have of this party - a roaring gladwrapped man.


As far as I was concerned Barnard's Star could do no wrong and the memories I have of this set are that it was a typical one from the band. Understated, polished and sonic. Here's a few pics:

Marcus tuning up - I think the Holden was a recent purchase around this time.

Barnard's Star: Nick, Helen, Tyrone, Sound guy name?, Marcus.

Tyrone and Nick with Mike? from Beat Atlas Records.

Party Party Party

Barnard's Star playing in a garage somewhere in Ilam

Another party - this one was somewhere in Ilam - possibly at Mike's place (gosh was that his name???). The thing I most remember about this party was that we had finally stuck all the second 7" EP covers together and put the albums in them so we took them along to give to various people including the photographer whose wonderful rose photos feature on this album. Well, horror of horrors, I'd spelled her name wrong in the credits. In my defence I'd copied it from info I was given - just happened that the info was wrong. Du-oh! Poor Pip she was so cross. So for the record folks it was Pip Spice NOT Pip Spence.

AND in relation to yesterday's post about photoshop filters the cover for the second 7" EP was all Pip's work not mine. The 'radial spin' you see was from Pip spinning her camera. Now that's old school!









FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

Pikachunes have finished their new EP and you can download it free here. Thanks Pikachunes, that's sorted out my morning listening just nicely.

Back when Photoshop was a baby

The studio - what a mess!

Back in the 1990's I was working as a graphic designer in what was, at the time, the ground breaking field of digital design. The studio I worked for was one of the first to adopt the new Power Mac 7100s - the best computers available for graphic design in 1994. From memory they had a speed of 88mHz, 8MB RAM and a staggering 250MB hard drive.

The awesome Power Mac 7100 - Feel the power!

We created large magazines and had to continue to use old technology along with the new to do our job simply because what we were doing was so cutting edge. This was true of all agencies around this time. Every design team was retraining. Digital cameras were still in their infancy. I remember trialling one that took about a minute to 'scan' the object and several more minutes to put the image onscreen. It's cost a mere $12,000! Needless to say all agencies stuck with film for many more years. Photoshop was an integral part of the new design process and it didn't take much to impress people. A simple 'extrude' filter was enough to blow the mind of most folk.

Now, I'm sure you're thinking 'Hang on, I thought this was a blog about music' - well it is - in a round-about way. During this time I had friends who were in Christchurch's much loved band Barnard's Star so I became the obvious and CHEAP choice for band posters, album covers etc. Digital print was also new at this time so being able to produce short runs of full colour posters and covers was pretty fancy too.

Here's an archive of the Barnard's Star album covers and posters created when Photoshop was a baby:

A3 poster for first EP release at Venus Cafe, Lichfield Street.

The first 7" ep. Pressed in Geraldine.

About Barnard's Star

The second 7".

"A wonderful, now-defunct, 4-piece shoe-gazer band out of the garden city that put out 2 singles, along with a few college radio songs and a stunning 5-track EP that turned out to be their parting recording some 2 years later.

Comparisons could be drawn to My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and "Nowhere" era Ride but Barnard's Star took a decidedly more etheral approach - distilling the shoe-gazer sound to a fine pulsing tone, which was quite a spectacle live.

Playing coffee houses and small gigs in sporadic fashion, they became quite the cult act - especially due to their apparent lack of recorded material. So when they broke up in 2002 their recordings became as scarce as the musicians themselves.

Guitarist Marcus has gone on to form The Undercurrents, whilst bass player Helen and guitarist Nick went on to perform material with a synth-drone focus under various names . Finally their drum programmer Tyrone (who replaced original drummer Frazer) moved to Sydney, forming electro outfit Swingingtastybag. He now resides in London. "

From an article by Chris Andrews http://www.thebigcity.co.nz 

The 5 song EP released 1999

A2 poster

 

The Barnard's Star EP is available at http://www.smokecds.com
 
Read more:  Barnard's Star