In Search of the Lost Rock

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12 MAY 09

In Search of the Lost Rock

THE DEFENDANTS

RATA & SONS

ROYAL FALCON

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

The Dogs Bollix - Saturday May 23rd

Way back when Tyrannosaurus death was an occupational hazard for your average hunter/gather, blokes and blokettes were knocking out a primal strain of rock n roll on the drying bones of their kill and grunting in unison.  That’s where it all started…but let’s fast-forward.

Here we are at the modern age – it’s changed a lot since then. All I see is electrofunkin’ disco pop centralism with postmodern ironic indie edge and a moronic fringe that says “maybe, but I’m not sure enough of myself to say yes”.  Tell me, where’s the rock n roll?

Lost.

But hope is here.  And that hope can be found at the Dogs Bollix bar, Newton Rd on Saturday 23rd May, 2009, when four Auckland-based rock bands go out ‘In Search of the Lost Rock’ to celebrate New Zealand Music Month.

Top of the bill, causing a scene like Kong over New York, are The Defendants - purveyors of some of the sludgiest Sabbathesque bluesbased metal this side of Birmingham.  The combined power of Glenn Prosser (vocals), Sam Lockley (bass), Martin Sutcliffe (guitars) and Paul Hammond (drums) makes The Defendants worthy disciples ‘In Search of the Lost Rock’.

Next on the bill are Auckland rock supergroup Rata and Sons, a band akin to rock n roll alchemy.  One part Netherworld Dancing Toy (Nick Sampson – guitars/vocals), a sprinkling of Pash and The Exponents (Steve Simpson – guitars/vocals), a measure of Dead Flowers, Thorazine Shuffle and The Larry Normans on the side (Aaron Carson - bass), and the youthful gusto of one of Auckland’s up-and-coming vocalists in Maia Rata, and what you’ve got is gold.  Lost rock gold.

But just to push the ‘supergroup’ concept even further, Rata and Sons have just replaced Portlandbound Mint Chick Paul Roper on drums with hard-hitting Elemeno P sticksman Scotty Pearson on skins. Well fuck me dead!

But it doesn’t stop there.  You might have seen them rifling through rubbish bins for food and change, but things are now looking to be headed upwards for country rock band Royal Falcon. With the imminent release of their debut album, Royal Falcon Ruined My Life, the five-piece have taken their chaotic style to a new level of composure.  Seem them before it all falls apart they’re back on the streets busking.

The final piece of the lost rock puzzle is The House That Jack Built.  As well as leading long term Auckland alt-rockers The Lure of Shoes, James Moore is a soloist with Auckland’s acclaimed Jubilation Gospel Choir.  For this show, Jim is playing in a duo format with drummer Jackson Rowe-Williams.

That’s more than enough reasons for any man, woman or child to take up the torch ‘In Search of the Lost Rock’.
ends

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