Hard News by Russell Brown

Robert Owens in Wgtn?!!? That VOICE! How was that not on my radar? Sadly, I start early tomorrow, as always, and I'm guessing he'll start too late for me...
Good week for SJD. Pete Paphides played 'Jet Planes' on his Soho Radio show, and Emma Smith recorded this video of Sean in his West AK HQ with Sandi Mill chatting and playing 'I Wanna Be Foolish' for Music 101.

Robert Owens in Wgtn?!!? That VOICE! How was that not on my radar? Sadly, I start early tomorrow, as always, and I’m guessing he’ll start too late for me…

I'm going to try and get to both Morales and Owens, but at least I get a sleep-in on Sunday.

Let's have an auto-embed on that SJD video. Because it's lovely.

Chc has Mick Harvey tonight (Gallery @ Darkroom - Sold out I believe); Dark Matter and the Axemen @ Darkroom, and just quietly... Joe Irvine, yes he who stood up to the Killing Moon fiasco, @ Club Tavern fka Churchill's.

This will be a charity gig by Joe for the anti-bullying charity ‘Be The Change NZ’. We're assured of 'some tasty covers'. I don't mind, all in a great cause, plus taking an X Factor-obsessed 14 yr old daughter along for her first public (house) outing with her parents!

Also a nice new track from Muzai records' Astro Children
https://soundcloud.com/muzairecords/astro-children-play-it-as-it-lays

and available for "name your price" on their bandcamp page
https://astrochildrenmusic.bandcamp.com/

Playing tonight in Auckland at the Kings Arms with Miss June, Emily Edrosa and New Gum Sarn
https://www.facebook.com/events/1453891414902785/

As the girlfriend of a member of her rival pub quiz team

Love it.

Speaking of music (lolz!), the final of the Eurovision Song Contest is on Sunday morning, 7am Aotearoa time. I wrote a brief summary at The Spinoff, but the most important thing to know is that Australia is competing this year as a special guest. Their singer is Guy Sebastian, best known around these parts for winning Australian Idol, and for his R&B tunes that keep popping up in the charts.

You can watch it live on BBC UKTV, or free online at Eurovision.tv

One of my faves is Loïc Nottet from Belgium. His song starts out sounding like the intro of "Royals", but soon drops all similarities and delivers cool, beguiling minimalist pop. (Ok, Lorde does that too, but in a different way.) And the boy can dance.

What a great pic of Princess Chelsea in Prague. Sold out - wow. Just have to say and tis rare to do so, but have heard that picachunes song playlisted now I think, on b, several times. It's freakin awful. Super weak melody in particular and the vocal plods along endlessly, relentlessly. I like sad lonely guy stuff sure - but as I say some songs are just awful and that sure is one of em. I don't quite understand why its playlisted on b . Kids it ain't very good at all. Pop needs strong melody.

I hope this isn't too much of a digression from the thread, but Robyn, what's up with 5000 Ways to Love You? On hiatus? I really like that site.

I’ve been asking myself the same question – I too am missing your journey Robyn

In the perverse world of the internets - I've yet to listen to the Janine and Mixtape EP but got a chopped and screwed (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopped_and_screwed) version the day after its US release... https://spinrilla.com/mixtapes/janine-and-the-mixtape-xxep-chopped-and-screwed I like this digital age

Thanks for the click through to the NZ Herald interview with Ashley Page. (Missed it on the day as the paper is no longer compelling reading.) He talks up the biography of his dad, written by Paul Little, but no mention of title, publisher etc. A quick google search turns up nothing (and is swamped by the Google man of the same name, naturally) so any pointers welcomed!

Chc has Mick Harvey tonight

Mick and band played a great set at the Tuning Fork in Auckland last Wednesday night. Their version of the Saints 'Story Of Love' was particularly good.

And Paul tells me it hasn't been published yet, so it's watch this/that space.

Out there…
I note that Simon Denny’s Installation at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciano, part of the Venice Biennale – Secret Power, has commissioned a modern version of a Renaissance World Map by ex-NSA graphic artist David Darchicourt, that has New Zealand at the top of the world, and includes Flying Nun as a symbol for Dunedin…
Nice one!

A great intimate set at the Gallery/Darkroom too. Included one or two Serge Gainsbourg numbers including Bonnie and Clyde with a guest 'Bonnie' whose name escapes me. Will Wood was a worthy opening act.

Morales at Society & Nook and and Robert Owens at Cassette last night. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many old folks out clubbing. Fab, late evening. Morales was by far the better DJ (Owens can't mix at all!) and his set was disco heaven, but Owens sang 'Tears' and 'Can U feel It' and looked like the coolest dude in town.

Lyttelton's Aldous Harding is making waves on her UK/Europe tour. In between dates in Manchester, she did three songs live in session on ' Happy Fall Guitarist' Marc Riley's BBC Radio 6 show last week. They have a great rapport! She's on for first song c. 20 min then back for two more c. 45 min including the just written The World Is Looking For You. Marc clearly a wider fan of kiwi music with UMO also on his playlist.

Disappointing as it is to have not won a copy of the new UMO album, this is tempered majorly by the sound of the Phoenix Foundation. As a music fan perennially chasing the curve, falling in love with bands that have broken up or died, it's exciting to be crazy about a band that is continually putting out fresh music of the highest quality. I got chills when I first heard Pot, when I first heard Black Mould, and now when I hear this - they can just do no wrong these last few years.

Here's that old performance of Black Mould from the Sundae Sessions:

Went out to see Django Django at Koko Tuesday night, which was predictably bubbly and fun:

Looking forward to seeing them again at Field Day in a couple of weeks, along with local Bermondsey boys Happyness:

and nugazers Cheatahs: