Friday Music: Jean's Laneway

11:45 Jan 29, 2016 39

One of the vexing things about liking new music is that you're supposed to stop doing it after A Certain Age. Or, at least, to transition to something more age-appropriate. Sure, I can throw the bangers at you here, but when the music is live, you get used to being the oldest one in the room.

So I'm always pleased to see Jean Hughes making her way back from the mosh pit. I've known Jean since she helped us with our younger boy's education after the system let us down – she saved us, basically. She's also a Public Address reader, and happened to win our ticket giveaway to the recent John Morales club gig (which, to be fair, was full of people declining to act their age).

I asked her there what her Auckland Laneway picks were and she reeled them off. And I thought, well, she's better versed in this year's lineup than me, so I asked her to jot down her tips for the blog.

For early arrivers, Jean recommends starting off with Leisure: "I like their sound and it's a relaxed, dancey way to start the day – with a 2016 hipster edge."

Then it's over to over to East India Youth: "I like him and it's still nice and mellow to keep the day going in the right direction. And Diiv - I kinda like what I have heard of them, and now we are stepping it up a notch. It can be a bit messy and quite reminiscent of something early 80s – possibly The Raincoats, but I could be wrong (it is late and a nice wine in) – or mix this with Scuba Diva, though I'm most probably able to see more of him locally."

Then it's over to "Thundercat: very, very niiiice – voice a bit weak, but hey, everything else is great or even better than that. Followed by Oscar Key Sung. I like this – nice, with the right bpm for an older girl.

"Most probably then a meal and break, while I gear up and get prime position for Courtney Barnett, a fave rave."

Then, says Jean, "it's on to a very hard evening – hard choosing, that is. Beach House vs Grimes – oh me oh my. Beach House first for a bit and then scamper over to Grimes – I like her and her feminism appeals to me too." [UPDATE: "I have decided on consultation that Beach House is out and Grimes is in. I think she is a very exciting female artist and will be just perfect for that time of night."]

And then …

"SOPHIE or Churches. I think SOPHIE may win if I can get into the Thunderdome – so poppy, dancey. And a friend saw him at a Rough Trade gig and highly recommends him as original. I do like Churches too – good beats and a woman with attitude in the forefront, so maybe a half and half if I can … oooh, the choice."

And after all that …

"To finish off in style, it has to be Flume for me."

I'm not quite decided on my approach for Monday. I want to see Leisure, Lontalius and Nadia Reid, but that makes for a loooooong day until the night-time artists I also want to see. (Jean recommends a nana nap.) I'll be seeing if I can get into the Thunderdome for SOPHIE on Jean's tip (hopefully all the kids will be at Churches).

Anyway, if you happen to spy a woman with fetchingly wavy grey hair giving it heaps down the front at Courtney Barnett, do feel free to bid hello to Jean. We're all in this together, you know ....

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One place I was in no dager of being the oldest guy in the room was last night's show by Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings at The Civic. "It's like the Invasion of the Baby-Boomers," I remarked to Fiona, whose Christmas present going to the show was. It turned out to be a very good Christmas present.

I'd always thought of Welch as a solo artist, but their show really underlined how musically entwined she and Rawlings are. His high harmonies, wrapping behind and around her pure lead vocal; the way she played rhythm or sometimes just banged on the top string of her 1956 Gibson acoustic while he took a lead on his famous, unusual 1935 Epiphone archtop. It's as much about what they do musically for each other as it is what they project out.

They're also very funny. Suffice to say that when they finally left the stage – after two standing ovations and a couple of encores – I think everyone there felt they'd experienced something special.

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A while back a few of us helped out Irene Gardiner at NZ On Screen with suggestions for New Zealand songs whose titles referenced days of the week. The resuting video collection, Any Day of the Week, is up now and features the Suburban Reptiles, Kirsten Morrell and more.

But just as interesting is the list of songs we came up with for which no videos exist:

MONDAY

'She Left On A Monday', Bic Runga:

'Monday', Hogsnort Rupert

TUESDAY

'Ruby Tuesday', Dedikation

'Tuesday Blues' Pacifican Descendents

WEDNESDAY

'Ash Wednesday', Mutton Birds

'Wednesday (She's Coming Round)', Able Tasmans

SATURDAY

'Saturday’s Child;, Larry’s Rebel’s:

' Saturday Sun', Crowded House:

SUNDAY

'Sunday’s Best Clothes', Opshop

'Sunday Driving', Sharon O’Neill

'Mouldy Sunday', John Hanlon

'I Can’t Get Sunday Out Of My Mind', Chapta

'Every Day is Sunday', Rangi Parker

'Sunday News' - The Builders

'On Sunday' - Th' Dudes

'Sunday Boys' - Screaming Mee Mees

‘White Sunday Sermon’ Mareko

Wait ... the Screaming Mee Mees didn't make a video for 'Sunday Boys'?

"I sent the Screaming Meemees to Avalon to make a video for 'Sunday Boys'," explains their then-manager, Simon Grigg, "and they managed to convince Peter Blake to make one for the flip side ['At At'] instead. RTR showed a pic of the band when it went top 10."

Who'd be a manager?

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One of the joys of the much broader access to music in the internet age has been the rediscovery of non-Western interpretations of Western popular music. You've got your psych-rock from Thailand and your Ghanaian disco and ... well, it's still happening. Thanks to Pete Darlington for the tip on this story on the rise of death metal in Africa. Some cool pics there too.

You may have caught the news recently about the content of the Old Friends website being rescued by the National Library's web harvesting programme after Trade Me decided to close it down. It's but one of many stories of cultural rescue conducted via the web harvest. In Audioculture, Sholto Duncan, the web archivist at the Alexander Turnbull Library, surveys some of the lost music websites of New Zealand, from Mysterex to Wildside.

And further to its mission to capture the broader culture around our music, Audioculture also has a profile by Arthur Baysting of the legendary comic artist Barry Linton.

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I have an unusual DJ gig on Sunday: I'm spinning some tunes before and after Labour leader Andrew Little's State of the Nation speech. The event is a summer family picnic in Albert Park and I'll play a strictly-vinyl selection with an emphasis on New Zealand music. First set, noon-12.30 before Caitlin Smith sings, then for an hour after the speech concludes at 2.30.

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Tunes!

There are several new things on the wires from Laneway artists out this week. Firstly, another beautiful, languid tune from Lontalius, as a taster for his forthcoming debut album, I'll Forget 17.

A brand-new Flume track, with Vince Staples and Kučka. This would seem to bode well for a first-time Vince Staples guest spot in the Flume set on Monday:

And Jordan Arts of Leisure has this woozy-cool new track in his High Hoops guise out this morning on A Label Called Success:

And what's that? You plan to be dancing in your kitchen tonight? Well, you'll be needing this free download then, because it's goddamned irresistible:

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The Hard News Friday Music Post is kindly sponsored by:

39 responses to this post

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Grant McDougall, 12:35 Jan 29, 2016

Going to gigs when you're over 40 really is a sobering experience. My mates and I are pretty happy just to stand at the back watching.
It is fun discovering / watching new bands / music, but also - and this is something I'm convinced of - music is demographic (for want of a better word).
By that I mean that you end up, rightly or wrongly, judging and comparing new bands to those you were fond of in your youth.
You also end up widening your tastes, too. If you'd told me 20 years ago I'd end up dearly loving dub, soul, jazz, country, etc, and struggling with a lot of contemporary pop / rock, I'd have laughed you out the door. (Still can't abide metal, though...).

Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report
Julian Melville, 12:35 Jan 29, 2016

Completely agree about the Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings show. I wasn't going and then a friend popped up with front row circle tickets at the last minute... well, why not! It really was a great show and Rawlings is an excellent and unusual guitarist. Enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 200 posts Report
Grant McDougall, 12:38 Jan 29, 2016

I elaborate a bit more indepth here

Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Grant McDougall, 12:43 Jan 29, 2016

Going to gigs when you’re over 40 really is a sobering experience. My mates and I are pretty happy just to stand at the back watching.
Heh. I went down into the orchestra pit for the end of Jamie X's St James show and briefly wondered "Do I look silly doing this? Who cares?"
It is fun discovering / watching new bands / music, but also – and this is something I’m convinced of – music is demographic (for want of a better word).
By that I mean that you end up, rightly or wrongly, judging and comparing new bands to those you were fond of in your youth.
I do this with dance music quite a lot ...
You also end up widening your tastes, too. If you’d told me 20 years ago I’d end up dearly loving dub, soul, jazz, country, etc, and struggling with a lot of contemporary pop / rock, I’d have laughed you out the door. (Still can’t abide metal, though…).
I spent some time last week with my Australian nieces, who'd discovered The Edge on the rental car radio and had it on all the time. Being exposed to commercial radio pop wasn't terrible, but it did start to sound very formulaic, even in the context of pop music.
What was interesting was that they seemed to know every song to sing along to – including Broods, who they had no idea were from Auckland ...

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Mike O'Connell, in reply to Grant McDougall, 13:19 Jan 29, 2016

And when you're over 50, it's even more sobering! One of my best recent experiences was at the Darkroom. I caught the Dance Asthmatics show, one of the best live gigs I've been to in many a long while. Never mind they didn't come on stage until 12.30am. Lots of friendly pushing shoving and bouncing about and enjoyed being among a good mix of ages - not a hint of self-consciousness, just loved it for what it was and the space I was in at the time.
BTW, Dance Asthmatics really have that 'something' - and are coming to Wellington and Auckland in March - get your Lifetime of Secretion Tour tickets and dates in your diaries now! Their busy drummer Brian is also in Brian Tamaki and the Kool Aid Kids and is/was in X-Ray Charles. Guitarist Joe is also in the Salad Boys.
Not the greatest of quality but here here's the wonderfully-titled Puking Ghost aka PG

Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report
Eediot, 13:21 Jan 29, 2016

Ah ha. Now I need to find out where the other Laneways stage names come from...

Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 51 posts Report
Aotearoan, 13:27 Jan 29, 2016

I love live music and finding/seeing beloved old & new bands, even if the multi band experience over many hours has become more of an endurance feat ( akin to playing contact sport) as I have got longer in the tooth. Reassuringly, there are always people much older than me at every gig, amongst the sea of young'uns.
Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings played the divine St James theatre years ago. They were sly, funny, amazing. Their singing and guitar playing was so complimentary.

Northland • Since Jan 2011 • 14 posts Report
Tony Siu, 13:29 Jan 29, 2016

For The days of the week selection, I got for Thursday: "outlook for Thursday by Dave Dobbyn. This is actually my alarm for the day!

Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 82 posts Report
Russell Brown, 14:19 Jan 29, 2016

And just like that, Steve Kilby of The Church listens to Triple J's Top 10.
It's a good read. He likes some of the tunes, but passes thunderous judgement on that bloody Major Lazer tune:
Meaningless machine-age pop that could have been and probably was written by someone’s laptop while they were getting a tattoo of a skull on their calf. “Blow a kiss, fire a gun, we all need someone to lean on!” the song exhorts, reaching new depths of shallowness. Yes folks, that’s a paradox right there, and it’s a lot more interesting than anything you will find in this synthetic turkey.
This song – why bother? You’ve heard it a million times before already.
And like me, he confesses to not really understanding contemporary hip hop.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
George Darroch, in reply to Russell Brown, 15:51 Jan 29, 2016

To be fair, Triple J's top 100, like all their music, is pretty bad.
Because it tries to appeal to an entire nation's youth, and in many of the country's smaller towns and cities is the only alternative to blatantly commercial radio, it tends towards mediocrity in the form of bland indie pop. Good luck being an Australian band who doesn't get the liking of their ageing selector.
Speaking of the only radio station between cities, I did a few thousand km of driving this summer, and heard a lot of Hauraki. It sounds more like mid-2000s b than ever, with less GnR and Zeppelin and more Fat Freddies and Tame Impala...

WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report
bob daktari, in reply to Russell Brown, 15:59 Jan 29, 2016

I find the "age appropriate" demographic are at the least happy to indulge us our gig going and generally really welcoming to those of us with more than a few grey hairs - its a pleasant experience, given how ageist entertainment options once were (we're maturing as a nation)
I do have to sometimes remind myself I'm not the target market and while I tend to be quite critical (understatement) often its all about just having fun not setting a pitchfork reviewers thesaurus on fire
I do find the standing for long periods increasingly tiresome at gigs, especially for bands that have no groove... always have but my tolerance is much lower than it once was, that's old people talk :)

auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report
bob daktari, in reply to George Darroch, 16:01 Jan 29, 2016

new content style I would guess now Mr Riddler has exited for NZOA
The dance show was canned this week, which I find quite upsetting... we've regressed so much on the (quality) electronic music outlets front over such a short time (looking at you b and George)

auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report
Tony P, 16:07 Jan 29, 2016

Kind of related. Another 60's musician gone.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Jefferson-Airplane-s-Paul-Kantner-dies-at-74-6791483.php

Napier • Since Mar 2013 • 16 posts Report
Tony P, 17:29 Jan 29, 2016

Steve Kilbey's response to criticism of his column.
storm in a teacup
we are very amused by the feeble little backlash against our music reviewing skills.
i was contracted by the guardian to review the JJJ top ten.
it was not my idea to do it.
i am putting myself forward to the guardian to write some "serious" articles on rocknroll. i hate to call myself an expert but after more than forty five years of rockin' in the free world i know a bit about this beast and i have the deafness to prove it.
i guess the guardian offered me this job to see if i had the "smarts" and did i have "what it takes?" to deliver an article on time.
i am bemused to think that some people out there think i am too old to "get" the Rubens et al. Yes i am very very old but even when i was young and very beautiful , let me assure you, i would not have liked the Rubens et al. Its not because i am old that i dont like them, its because i came to review rocknroll and i found limp bland pop. Maybe i was overqualified for this gig. People have been making this bland tripe ever since i can remember. yes the fifties and the sixties and the seventies were full of it. it will always exist and there will always be people like me railing against it. Because rocknroll is capable of making statements that no other artform can make. I aint no philistine either. I am well versed in many literary, artistic and religious works and still i say rocknroll can do things that no other artform can do so effectively. its sexiness. its rage. its revolution. its anger. its otherworldiness. its dissociation. its preposterousness. its glory. its tragedy. etc etc etc. I find none of these qualities in the people in the top ten except for tame impala upon whom i certainly bestow my blessing (big deal!). I find many of the artists in the top ten indistinguishable from what are generally known as "boy bands".In that they sing dopey little songs in their "little boy" voices to some little girl who (shame upon shame) broke their little heart. good for them. I was a random reviewer asked to give an assessment. i would be willing to admit if i was too old to dig some wild or strange new mess. but this is the same old limp tepid pop that theyve always dished up and probably always will. And believe me i DO understand it.
Second thing is a few people have castigated me for not researching the lyrics to KIng Kunta and they assure me that if i did and i wasnt so old and white, that i would realise how brilliantly essential this song is. When was the last time you heard of someone researching a fricking pop single ? superficially i look at the vid and sho'nuff theres the chicks shaking their bums, a guy saying mutherfucker and homies doing the homey dance.
having spent a lotta time in the USA i would say superficially that this vid/song is pretty much par for the course with all the standard accoutrements of stuff that ive been seeing for well over 25 years. What is an old reviewer to do..? i admitted that i couldnt dig it but someone else probably does. boo hoo. fuck you!
hopefully my next assignment i will be back on familiar ground writing about the stuff i am best writing about . which is rocknroll eg bowie beatles dylan and stuff like that. something that fucking means something. not the vapid miasma of the JJJ top 10.
amen brothers and sisters
i love you all
please carry on !

Napier • Since Mar 2013 • 16 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Tony P, 18:19 Jan 29, 2016

Steve Kilbey’s response to criticism of his column.
Really? I thought it was thoughtful and well-written. Is he supposed to pretend to get something he doesn't?

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Jean Hughes, 11:09 Jan 30, 2016

So looking forward to also seeing everyone else enjoying themselves. One of the things I like about Laneways is the very good vibes there. It all combines to transport me back to feeling very young again and just enjoying the whole experience of large crowds, good music and people.
A friend sent this and I am using it as my morning nostalgia wake up (with a great big smile)
This is my favourite time of London, and possibly of my youth.
Enjoy.
See the possible Amy Winehouse influence at about 7:09. (not sure how to embed)

Mangere • Since Nov 2006 • 89 posts Report
Ian Dalziel, in reply to Tony Siu, 11:30 Jan 30, 2016

Outlook for thirsty*
"outlook for Thursday by Dave Dobbyn.
*Could I get away with the Dude's Bliss then?

Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report
Ian Dalziel, 11:34 Jan 30, 2016

whoops didn't read closely - non-existent videos - doh!

Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report
Jean Hughes, 11:47 Jan 30, 2016

wow - this review is timely
http://www.nme.com/reviews/diiv/16382?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Mangere • Since Nov 2006 • 89 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Jean Hughes, 12:05 Jan 30, 2016

See the possible Amy Winehouse influence at about 7:09. (not sure how to embed)
Just paste in the URL and nothing else!

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Mike O'Connell, 20:04 Jan 30, 2016

In the lead-up to Laneways, I see Delaney Davidson is doing a show tomorrow evening in Aotea Square. Delaney and Aldous Harding BTW played a superb show last weekend at the Wunderbar. One set each of six songs, each covering one of the other's (she did Eastbound, he did Merriweather).
And then six as a duo including Roland S Howard’s I Know a Girl Called Johnny’ and the Badfinger/Nilsson ‘Without You’ ... left you wanting more. Delaney was kept on a 'short leash' - his often lengthy free-form extended mixes were reigned in to 3-5 minutes but no less compelling.
Someone at the gig grabbed a lot of footage and has been uploading individual tracks. Here's what many thought (me too) was the highlight track of the night, the guitar-less ‘What if the Birds Aren't Singing, They're Screaming’

Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report
TracyMac, in reply to Mike O'Connell, 14:20 Jan 31, 2016

I keep banging on about this, but yeah, I do mind if a lead act can't be arsed getting on the stage till after midnight. Obviously not for a multi-artist event, but if it's not kicked off by 11, meh. I don't count limp warm-up acts either.
It's not just a function of my age. I was working full time in my late teens, and I was knackered by the end of the week. I used to really get the shits with the uni-student or marginally-employed types who seemed to assume we could all start partying in the wee hours. This is why good pub gigs were better to attend. (And yes, when I went night-clubbing, I'd arrive around 10 - had to get the energy going!)

Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report
JacksonP, 14:28 Jan 31, 2016

Not at all Laneway related, but I just stumbled on this John Cale remake of CLose Watch. It just slightly blew my mind.

Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report
Ian Dalziel, in reply to JacksonP, 17:47 Jan 31, 2016

Eyes wide shut…
John Cale remake of Close Watch. It just slightly blew my mind.
The Venetian envoy was here…
.. but left!

Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report
Mike O'Connell, in reply to TracyMac, 15:32 Feb 1, 2016

I don't do it often, have to really psyche myself up fro a late night. I do remember a time in the Flying Nun in-tandem touring band heyday of the 80s when bands would finish 10pm on a Thursday,then squeeze in alternating three sets finishing 11pm on a Fri and Sat.
The start and finish times are so damn random these days especially when an extra act not on the bill gets slotted in meaning more agonising standing around or buying that drink you really don't want to buy. I think there was a thread recently where there was a discussion about touring bands playing an early set then coming back later for the late set to cater for the range of ages. Most recentl, on NY Eve Eve, Die! Die! Die! did this, They played a 4pm matinee (all ages) and then a 9 or 10pm show at the Darkroom.

Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report