Just got back from seeing Chris Knox & the Nothing at the Phat Club, cheered me right up. Having a band seemed a definite improvement on a drum machine, but the small Tuesday night crowd meant a lack of crowd surfing antics. I had a talk to them afterwards, interesting how Chris has left Flying Nun in favour of releasing the new album independently (with help from a distributor) - this way he gets $12.50 for each copy sold rather than $2.50 from Flying Nun. He also didn't want to be on a label as a 'heritage act'.
Meanwhile Stefan Neville the drummer (aka Pumice, for any of you who follow the NZ musical underground) shed some interesting light on his tour of Europe -
two months as an artist-in-residence in Vienna, then touring small venues to crowds of 20 people... it actually sounds like a really good way to get around. He thought the solo tour was probably easier than going with a band. That's something I have to figure out, whether to go it alone or as part of a group.
He also recommended Oslo as a good city - one of the guys on the course who spent the last couple of years in Europe said the same thing (Oslo, Edinburgh and Melbourne were his favourites).
Nelson's been fine as far as entertainment goes - doesn't feel too isolated. There's good classical and folk music, makes a change from Wellington's dub and avant garde sounds. There was an acoustic duo at the Verdict the other night who blew me away, forceful lead playing and foot-stomping to keep time. There's also the Mussel Inn in Takaka, amazing venue. Deep South are a good folk band, with guitar and three-part vocal harmonies. Mike the leader is a 51 year old who writes great songs that are recognisably from a NZ perspective rather than copying English or American folk. He told me he hasn't made much money but at least he's done what he wanted to with his life. Then there was Minuit (some well-considered lyrics along with the electro beats) in the weekend, Chris Knox and classical guitarist Slava Grigoryan this week, and Sabot next week.
I made a couple of contacts in Brisbane, looks like playing over there in July should be doable. They sent me an abstract film on DVD of shifting morphed images with an electronic soundtrack. I should get some kind of video together to play along with live?
I'm also organising a couple of North Island gigs for April. I had a good time in New Plymouth in January, and it's my hometown, so I could play there again in Easter. See if I can build an audience there? Then go have a look at East Cape, the one part of the country I've not yet been to? And then play in Wellington (and Palmerston Nth?) on the way back down?
I just need to confirm dates, but it's hard when people don't answer their emails...
Posted by fiffdimension at March 7, 2006 10:49 PM | TrackBack