Lindon Puffin-Entertainer Extraordinaire Thurs 1st
Hi there
The 1st day of NZ Music Month is marked in style at the Temple with:
Lindon Puffin Thursday May 1st 9pm With Heavy Jones Trio At the Temple
Lindon Puffin's (Creative NZ funded) 'Really Real Tour' consists of 46 shows in 42 towns & cities from the Swamp Palace in Kaitaia all the down to the South Sea Hotel in Stewart Island. In addition to this, 30
High School musical workshops have been incorporated into an itinerary, which spans 4 months, concluding back where it
began in Christchurch at the Dux de Lux on the 29th May.
The tour coincides with the release of Puffin's self funded / recorded debut solo album 'Stuff Like That' from which the
first two singles 'Rock no More' and 'Thing called Love' have been chosen to appear on NZ on Air Indie Hit Disks 19 & 20 respectively. Rock no More went on (& continues) to achieve nationwide airplay, featuring as the theme track on a recent award winning TV2 short film, but in
doing so, 'uppin the ante' on the just released 'Thing called Love'.
Two years in the planning, Puffin literally drove the entire route first, booking shows in appropriate venues and
meeting with High schools, radio stations and local print media. Having taken part in tours with bands previously, he'd
become disillusioned with the prevalent 'city centre' focus, and longed for the back roads and intimate venues where he
believes the true character of our culture stems. "Or maybe I'm a small town folkie, who just doesn't share his pop
peers common lust for world domination."
Whatever the reason, it's the likes of Sam Hunt & Chris Knox, that he's been fortunate enough to perform with of recent, that inspire him to "keep it really real".
Ex front man for mildly successful NZ glam pop group 'The Puffins', he describes his up beat solo approach as 'wooden
punk'. Wooden in a sense honest acoustic kiwi feel and punk because of the lively interactive show. Says Puffin of his
shows, "I love telling the stories behind the songs and getting the audience involved. A good show has it's own life;
it's got to be spontaneous. I try hard to let go and roll with the moment, that's why I gave up using set lists."
In an attempt to 'pigeon hole', others have compared his style with that of the Topp Twins and Billy Bragg. "I wouldn't
mention it if I wasn't flattered. You can't however, let either the hype or the criticism sway your focus. Head down, as
they say."
As an added bonus, he was offered the services of an experienced filmmaker, name of Rick Harvie. Rick will travel with
Puffin documenting the tour. It's highs; it's lows and the characters they'll inevitably meet on route. Harvie hopes to
end up with a product suitable for either late night television or local film festivals.