Hard News by Russell Brown

I totally blame Chris Hocquard for the fact that I have this as an earworm today:

Christchurch’s Bon Marche became The Newz, who put out an album on Music World(!) and they were sneered at by us cool kids at the time (ie: 1979). But this is actually a great song. It was written by Phil Judd, but Split Enz only recorded it in a BBC Radio session. As Chris says, it’s got a bit of the Mott the Hoople about it.

I'm really looking forward to this: h/t Jezebel

I've touted him before, but Diaz Grimm looks the first out of the traps with a (just) pre-Music Month release with his debut LP Osiris - currently the #5 album and #1 Hip Hop album on NZ iTunes (surpassing Kendrick overnight). The album also got a rather nice 4/5 review in yesterday's NZ Herald

Christchurch City Library has a 7pm Music Month launch this evening featuring a solo set from Martin Phillipps,

Can't wait for it! Here's Night of Chill Blue from a Windsor Castle gig in 1985

Ooh! She's So Rad, have also done their version of Night of Chill Blue. As have American 90's indie faves Superchunk on their singles compilation their Incidental Music 1991-1995 - on which they also do the Verlaines' Lying In State.

Ooh! New She’s So Rad (warm, deep bath of guitar version). ‘Kick Out of Life’

Whoa, Lush.

I mean, that early nineties 4AD vibe jumped out at me. In a good way.

Martin Phillipps and Minisnap are at Peterborough St Library 7-9pm tonight.

Found this old free pass in a pile of letters. Used to pick them up from the record shop on a Thursday I think. Actually, thinking about it, there were more likely to be free passes for the Thursday night. Bit hazy on that one.

Martin Phillipps and Minisnap are at Peterborough St Library 7-9pm tonight.

Martin Phillipps and Minisnap were at Peterborough St Library 7-9pm tonight, along with the Swan Sisters…
…good crowd, good night.
people danced in the library!
and sang, the crowd too...

Pass out...

this old free pass
... Bit hazy ...

That brings back memories
...well at least goes looking for them
Those Saturday afternoons could be fun and could segue into irretrievable Saturday nights...
I always liked the ones at the Star & Garter by the river and the start of The Loop, not to mention the Barbadoes Cemetery

Certainly was a great night. Excellent range across the back catalogue right up to the newbies. That Syd Barrett dedication was superb. What was it called? Dan Destiny and the Silver Dawn impressive too. Just home following a second outing of the night to the Darkroom. Princess Chelsea ethereal at times but alas no second album on sale.. Was meant to be the new album release tour...

Minisnap tonight (sat May 2) at The Wunderbar

Presales still available for $14 from UTR for tonite's Minisnap show - closing soon. Some door sales available for $20

http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/tour/4428/Minisnap.utr

A report on the St James. They’ve only been able to open the ground floor and the ancillary theatres (the part damaged in the fire) will never open again but the place looks remarkably like it always did. It’s strange that all the property machinations kept it closed for so long.

I was happy enough to be one of the Old People Who Arrive Early. It meant I got to stand front and centre at the railing over the orchestra pit and hear Race Banyon on the big stereo. He was as classy as always.

I was also really impressed by Thomston, who’s been talked about as the next big thing (he shares management with Lorde) and made his public performance debut last night. He brought a hell of a lot of stagecraft for a first-timer, and pulled off an epic version of his big R&B ballad ’Second to You’. A few flat spots, but mostly extremely well realised. And fascinating.

Switching the outside stage in Lorne street to a silent disco at midnight was a genius move too. I put on my headphones just as Loleatta Holloway’s ‘Love Sensation’ was kicking off. Bloody magic, that was.

The pic above is Race Banyon.

Heard about this Friday night from Dave at Galaxy Records - Mick Harvey is back! With the Intoxicated Men. He is playing four centres including the tiny Gallery (holds ca. 75-80) next to the Darkroom and Galaxy. While since I listened to him and hadn't realised he's a big fan of Serge Gainsbourg. Here's Initials B.B. from

And chanelling another voice form the past... Hank Wiliams Said it Best

the Barbadoes Cemetery

The cemetery? There were 'celebrated' 2 storey flats across the road on cnr Cambridge Tce and Barbadoes St between cemetery and S&G, painted green in their later life, now gone post-quakes. Never went there but heard it was a scene for parties and musicians. I think Bill Direen may have resided (and composed) there for a while.

S&G. A long while now. Still nothing Into The Void its demolition eons ago has left. And yeh, those Sat afternoons at Gladstone,often in summer. Remember the heat once getting the better of a young Shayne and Wayne, soundly admonishing their drummer, Herbie Fuckface!

people danced in the library!

What's the world coming to? I can hear the hushed bustle of flowery smocks spinning.

Candice Milner is very good. Vote for this song.
http://www.theaudience.co.nz/candice-milner/

(Anyone who can make the song itself appear, please do. I cannot.)

Candice sometimes plays at the Porthole. Have seen her play and sing with Jack Montgomery. Can't find the song you want Hebe - 'Run for It'. It's blocked for the moment on YouTube.

But there's this track, 'Helping Hands' (audio), written by Candice (and Kevin Allison) for the purpose of raising money for CanTeen New Zealand, an honourable cause in anyone's books. And video:

Knew I'd seen Kevin's name somewhere before - he owns the Angels Gate Recording Studio in Sydenham. Originally from the US, he used to be part of Stevie Wonder's crew.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11443641

…good crowd, good night.
people danced in the library!
and sang, the crowd too...

More pics here from library Friday last, on Flickr including the drummers in the 'sound garden' across the road: https://www.flickr.com/photos/christchurchcitylibraries/sets/72157651939458828/

Cool! Those are the pics I took - my 6 year old was totally breakdancing to Minisnap.

PS we at Christchurch City Libraries are putting up NZMM posts this month. The latest are on experimental music in NZ and Christchurch music.

And NZMM always a good chance to remind people of the awesome 1980s Chch rock posters.

"So if you wanna know the meaning of meaninglessness,Then I'll see you on the 7th of May...

In the others way"

see you on the 7th of May…

May the 4th be with you...
(I only just found out that that is international (if not universal) Star Wars Day!)

RIP Errol Brown - cheers muchly for this one, it's a cracker...