Good Laika orbit Auckland

GOOD LAIKA
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose

You're album is rocking my cranial jukebox.. Just thought you should know.
Miss Kylie (From The CD & DVD Store)

Wellington band Good Laika orbit Auckland late September to celebrate the release of debut album Heads I Win, Tails You Lose.

The live show at Whammy Bar is a rare chance to experience Good Laika_$B!G_(Bs infectious and soulful music, a sound that the band_$B!G_(Bs been developing for years in secret backrooms.

While the groundwork for the album was a five-year process, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose was recorded by Nic McGowan at Island Bay Studios in just three days.

The band wanted to capture the idyllic atmosphere of their practice sessions at Waitarere beach, and chose to record the album together in one room, and almost entirely without overdubbing. As a result, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose imparts a feeling of warmth, but one that is tinged with melancholy.

This mood is in keeping with the band_$B!G_(Bs name. Laika, the first dog in space and Russian national hero had her suspicions when the men with beards and fluffy hats started dressing her up in a spacesuit, but she adored the attention. Like the ill-fated canine, Good Laika the band invokes pictures of bitter irony, grim humour and passionate ambition.

Good Laika features Robin Hinkley, vocals and guitar, Jason Fa_$B!G_(Bafoi, vocals and guitar, Matthew Armitage, bass and vocals, Ricky Boyd, drums and percussion and Nic Marshall, rhodes and organ.

Robin fronted Bleakhouse, which, bereft of any literary credentials, was in fact named after an interesting sounding but otherwise nondescript Auckland road; accomplished actor and raconteur Jason played guitar in The Stereo Bus, who met critical acclaim during the late 90s; multi-instrumentalist Matthew lent his guitar playing skill to garage-funk outfit Odessa; Ricky kept time for the Accelerants and led the notorious 50s rock 'n' rhythm Boom Shack sessions; and Nic played with arts festival stalwarts, musical collective Verona.

Good Laika have a myspace page but the band has expressed concern about the duties that come with myspace friendships. The band says _$B!H_(BWhat if all of our friends on this site asked if they could borrow a dollar at the same time?_$B!I_(B

"Smart lyrics, great arrangements, melancholic tunes - and a gorgeous package to boot. Highly recommended.' Slow Boat Records

"Unusually mature and well formed" Nick Bollinger, Radio New Zealand.

http://www.myspace.com/goodlaika

GOOD LAIKA
Whammy Bar
Basement of St Kevin_$B!G_(Bs Arcade
183 Karangahape Road
Newton, Auckland

Thursday September 27th from 9.30pm
Tickets $10

ENDS

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