Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Friday Music: Good News

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  • Hugh Wilson,

    Suddenly I feel a bit remorseful about binning a box of old Rip it Ups from the 90's a few years ago - they were in my parents garage along with a bunch of other stuff, and they were reasonably seeking to reclaim their space !

    Joining a few of the dots above though, I am pretty sure I still have a cassette of an old BPM show which Simon kicked off with Run DMC's 'Down with the King'. As an aside, Run DMC paraphernalia (mainly T shirts) seems to have massive enduring popularity, and barely a week goes by without spotting one. The fact there's an autographed poster of them in my house probably keeps em front of mind though :)

    Kicking the day off with a jazz set over here - a local Melbourne DJ's warm up set for the recent Kamasi Washington show. Spiritual jazz alert, DL available too:

    https://soundcloud.com/mikegurrieri/mikegurrieri-kamasiwashington-melbourne-2016

    Melbourne • Since Feb 2013 • 168 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell,

    Nailed it

    that Marlon boy just gets better and better. Here's his classic Face to Face interview from mid-2015 with the inimitable Anika Moa:

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Golden Harvest, 'I Need Your Love'.

    Because ... well, just because, really.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Alex Mazonowicz,

    Hey Russell, I remember reading (at an impressionable age) a piece you wrote in RIU about going on tour with Hunters & Collectors. I saw them on that tour when they played at the Galaxy (before it became the Powerstation). My second ever gig. Anyway, what a lovely bit of writing - just the right amount of what John Steinbeck might have called hooptedoodle, about leather jackets and voodoo dolls and slabs of beer. Hopefully that kind of gold will resurface if the RIU archives become available somewhere.

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alex Mazonowicz,

    Anyway, what a lovely bit of writing

    Thank you! It was doubtless indulgent, but all credit to Murray for letting me have adventures with writing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Aah, Golden Harvest, featuring Kevin Kaukau (one of the four musical Kaukau brothers, originally from Turangi) playing lead guitar with his teeth! They were pretty well one-hit wonders but right up there in comparison with the disco coming out of the US at the time.

    Graham Reid gave them a write-up in 2012 plus they reunited for a one-off in 2013 the Waiata Māori Awards.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • davesparks,

    That filthy slab of Alphabethead is a pretty tempting teaser for a night out. Not that I will, but sure wishing I was! KA would seem a great venue for such : )

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    Coming soon from HarperCollins ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    A very long time ago I remember a magazine / newspaper called Hotlicks which disappeared and then came RipItUp. As an earnest music fixated teen like many others I waited each month to find out the latest from RIU on NZ music news and other music.

    It was the (music) journal of record back in the 70’s and 80’s. Then it got a bit more complicated. Running a business is never easy especially with a tiny population.

    Well done Simon for rescuing this archive. Back when AudioCulture was just an idea I asked Murray about all of the past issues and it seemed like it would be good if somehow those back issues could be found and saved.

    In a pre-internet world New Zealand was extremely isolated. yes you could get an NME or another music mag but RIU represented the heart and soul of NZ music for many years. Awesome news.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell,

    If you're aat a loose end in Christchurch tomorrow, as part of NZ Music Month, Shirley Library (2pm) hosts The Terminal's John Chrisstoffels on the theremin, appearing with with Anita Clark (of Devilish Mary and Holy Rollers) on the violin playing as Motte. Should be a lot of fun.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Julian Melville,

    The artist formerly known as Radio Over Moscow (Dan Satherley) has just put out a new album as Anecdata (great name): By Choice Or Design. First single is We're Not In Love With Earth.

    Overall the sound is quite similar to Radio Over Moscow (think... Devo meets Regurgitator while Gary Numan serves them tea?) but I think it hangs together better in this incarnation, and several of the songs are really good. Definitely worth a listen.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Julian Melville,

    Great Steve Newall interview with Simon Grigg for The SpinOff – conducted only this morning!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Oh, and I've just realised I missed the video for Lontalius's 'Kick in the Head' while I was out of the country:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Your post has brought back a couple of memories for me Russell.

    Back in the early 80s I had an edit suite in Darby St., on the corner of Queen St. Myself and another editor called Dave Coulson shared the space with the venerable John Maynard who produced some excellent movies back in the day, Vincent Ward’s Vigil and The Navigator amongst them.

    John was formerly director of the Govett Brewster Gallery so we had Rick Killeens on the wall and a veritable procession of contemporary NZ artists passed through. It was a seriously creative space. And the floor upstairs was occupied by the guys from RipItUp. Damn… I used to love that mag.

    Then Jools Holland. When we lived in London, he and Paula Yates fronted a great Friday music show on Channel 4 called The Tube. We caught a 5:30pm promo one night which followed the usual format, except at the end when Jools said…

    "That’s coming up on The Tube… be there or be fucked."

    We pissed outselves and Jools earned himself a few weeks off the tele.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    been down in Wellington for a couple of days which always means fitting in some quality digging time. scored a nice swag of 7’’ bangers, including…

    Billy Duke, Millionaire

    Robert Mosley, Crazy ’bout My Baby

    Jimmy McCracklin, Pretty Thing Sweet Thing

    also found a copy of Tom Thumb’s If I Were a Carpenter – top NZ psych – rather chuffed. and if anyone’s at Motat for Mother’s Day on Sunday (and why wouldn’t you be?) do drop by the House of Bamboo to say gidday/ get off/ have some money.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alan Perrott,

    Nice I, um, found a copy of Abba's 'SOS' at the bric-a-brac place at the Surrey Crescent shops ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    But hey, I've just been sitting outside reading Adam Gopnik in the New Yorker on Philip Norman's new Paul McCartney biography.

    It's a stunning piece of writing, imo.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott, in reply to Russell Brown,

    ha…fill yer boots. but if you ever see a 7’’ of The Visitors give me a yell.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Golden Harvest, 'I Need Your Love'.

    Because ... well, just because, really.

    Such a tune - and with such a current sound. It doesn't even need a remix to sound like a cooldude vaporwave track of '16.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott, in reply to Russell Brown,

    also, still meaning to play you the Golden Harvest Come Together 7’’. must make that happen.

    reckon you’d dig the Nite Light 7 as well…

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Andre,

    I applaud Simon and also Grunter. I think you underestimate Grant Hislop's role in the rise of New Zealand music. A champion of rock, he eventually founded The Rock and The Edge. Groundbreaking achievements that were central to the quota being adopted etc. Crusading for Op Shop should never be seen as a negative, in my view.
    I think Grant's purchase of these titles was altruistic in part. I mean why else would he subsequently have bought UpFM? It can't have been to make money.
    I think Grant felt that he could make them work where others have failed.

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Alfie,

    an edit suite in Darby St., on the corner of Queen St.

    I’m pretty sure I remember Willie Keddell editing The Maintenance of Silence in that space…
    …before that it was just one of the doors I passed without knowing what went on behind, on the way up to work…
    it was a very creative building.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Mike O'Connell,

    ....part of NZ Music Month, Shirley Library (2pm) hosts The Terminal’s John Chrisstoffels on the theremin, appearing with with Anita Clark (of Devilish Mary and Holy Rollers)

    Just marvellous, something fabulous (and free) to attend within walking distance of home and I'm in bleedin' Auckland, ain't I!

    Russell, ... on tour with Hunters & Collectors.

    somewhere I have photos of that!
    I think I was driving a van load of freshly printed Shake! magazines up from the printer in Paraparaumu, and i stopped off to see Doug, Russell and H&C in Palmerston North - I recall a very boozy poker game with politically incorrect cards that the H&C boys had, or should I say i sort of remember that.

    Speaking of flashbacks I just saw Hammond Gamble play at the excellent Grey Lynn RSC tonight - They have Larry Morris next weekend!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I’m pretty sure I remember Willie Keddell editing The Maintenance of Silence in that space…

    That's very likely Ian, although I wasn't around in 1985 as I'd already headed off for the bright lights of Europe. The main business in the Darby St Office was Maynard's Phase 3 Films with a graphic designer and an edit room sharing the rent. I think we paid $50 a week including electricity. Not bad for an office overlooking Queen Street, eh.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alfie,

    Back in the early 80s I had an edit suite in Darby St., on the corner of Queen St. Myself and another editor called Dave Coulson shared the space with the venerable John Maynard who produced some excellent movies back in the day, Vincent Ward’s Vigil and The Navigator amongst them.

    Oh! I didn’t know David worked there. We met years later via our children. For a while, I took a small office there that had been vacated by Geoff Steven. I was going to work on personal projects or something. It was cool having space, but I never really did much with it.

    John was formerly director of the Govett Brewster Gallery so we had Rick Killeens on the wall and a veritable procession of contemporary NZ artists passed through. It was a seriously creative space. And the floor upstairs was occupied by the guys from RipItUp. Damn… I used to love that mag.

    And of course there was Denis Cohn gallery just up a few steps. When I was there, the floor above was Snake T-Shirts, then Rip It Up was in the loft. That was also where Cha Cha, edited by Ngila Dickson, was published.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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