Music News...
Firstly, our condolences to the family and friends of Phil Fuemena who passed away on Monday. He made such an important
contribution to New Zealand music and will be sorely missed.
In great album sales news, Katchafire’s album ‘Slow-Burning’, which was released only two months ago, has gone platinum,
making a lie of that old chestnut “the difficult second album”. A recent inclusion on their tour diary is the support
slot for an upcoming show by Bob Marley's legendary group The Wailers. Katchafire started out as a Bob Marley covers
band, so to them this gig is a dream come true.
In addition to Opetaia Foa’i (Warm Earth), Ruia Aperahama (Maorimusic.com) and Scribe and P-Money (Dirty Records) have
also made it into the finals of the International Songwriting Competition, and Mo’Reece (Kahu) made it as far as the
semi-finals with his newest single No Reason Why. The single is now available in stores and from www.kahurecords.co.nz;
and he is working on his album production for a release in May.
Wellington 4-piece Batrider (Global Routes), who have just released their debut album ‘They Said You’re Hideous’, have
relocated to Melbourne and we hear that they have played some very well received shows.
Planet Woman (Out There) is a collective of female performers who put on concerts and workshops particularly aimed at
areas or to groups who don’t have access to many live musical performances. They are heading to Australia for an
extensive tour lasting for almost two months, from March 4 to May 1.
Timmy Schumacher, one half of Baitercell and Schumacher, will be travelling to Australia to play on March 18th in
Brisbane with UK's Aquasky and March 19th in Sydney where he plays two clubs in one night. Baitercell and Schumacher
will be releasing their debut album soon.
David Kilgour is playing shows with Lambchop on Saturday the 5th of March in Auckland, and on Sunday the 6th of March in
Wellington (with Ghostplane too). David's album 'Frozen Orange' was recorded with most of the Lambchop band, and they
have also all toured together in the US. And look out for a new Ghostplane album in the first half of the year.
Monkey Records have two recently-completed videos; one is for Peachy Keen Not Your Kind of Girl, filmed entirely on 8mm,
directed by theatre director Natalie Hitchcock and featuring acclaimed choreographer Guy Ryan as 'The Guy'. The other is
for Onelung’s The Royal Loop, featuring Stuie the puppet. The puppets were designed and operated by Oliver Smart, and
Richard Hobbs directed the video. Both artists have been supported by NZ On Air.
Savage and Misfits of Science join a big local and international lineup for Edgefest 2005. Savage’s single Swing has
been ruling the RIANZ singles chart at #1 for the last few weeks; and Misfits play in support of the release of their
next single Chemical Madness from their debut album ‘MOS Presents...’
Shapeshifter are treating audiences across Aotearoa to a national tour in March. In March, Shapeshifter will also be
releasing their latest video, Long, White Cloud featuring the soulful vocals of Joe Dukie (Fat Freddy’s Drop). The
Shapeshifter national tour is supported by some of New Zealand’s top acts including Verse Two and Manuel Bundy.
8 Foot Sativa's new album ‘Breed The Pain’ will be released in Australia and then the rest of the world in the 2nd
quarter of 2005. And May - 'NZ Metal Month' as its being dubbed in some circles - will see tour dates all across NZ
featuring local metal bands on the Axe Attack Tour (see below). The Axe tour will immediately follow the April tour from
8 Foot Sativa, Australia’s Frankenbok and Dawn of Azazel.
Capitalrecordings have a full schedule planned already for this year. They have signed Wellington 4-piece The Inkling,
as well as Montano, which comprises 'core' Capitalrecordings' artist Mike 'Jet Jaguar' Upton; both bands have records
due out this year. Also look out for the debut album Auckland-based Tomachi aka Tom Atkinson; he is perhaps best known
as drummer for One Million Dollars and SJD.
They have also signed Auckland 3-piece Die!Die!Die! plus one-man-and-his-computer act Disasteradio; they will have
albums out with us before the middle of the year.
The Resonate 05 seminars are on at the moment; and IMNZ is hosting a showcase concert at Auckland’s Galatos this Friday
March 4. Featured artists are the Heavy Jones Trio, Paselode, Baitercell and Schumacher, Misfits of Science; with DJ
Stinky Jim spinning some tunes also. If you would like to attend, email renee@nzmusic.org.nz before noon this Friday.
Tours:
Powertool Records showcase
Thursday 3rd March at the Kings Arms in Auckland featuring Dead Pan Rangers, Fats White, Vocoder, Dragstrip, Edward
Gains and Bored Gordon
Shapeshifter
March 2005: Wednesday 9th Queenstown, Thurs 10th Queenstown, Fri 11th Dunedin, Sat 12th Wellington, Wed 16th Napier, Fri
18th Auckland, Sat 19th Auckland, Thurs 24th Christchurch, Fri 25th Nelson.
Te Vaka
Sunday 6th March - Auckland Townhall AK05 - Te Vaka drummers and dancers perform with Tabla Maestro, Zakir Hussain and
his musicians and dancers.
Saturday 2nd April - Fundraiser for Tokelau preschool Mangere Bridge
Saturday 30th April - Southern Lakes festival of colour, Lake Wanaka