Ask me to write a song about your country in twenty minutes

I missed getting to see Amanda Palmer last time she was in New Zealand because The Dead Weather were playing on the same night, and there was no way in hell I wasn't seeing that. So when she announced a new tour in 2011 to support her new album Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under, I knew this was my chance to go see her live (and nothing clashed with her this time!). She was in NZ when the massive earthquake hit Christchurch, just 1 day before her performance in Auckland. Luckily she was able to get here alright (though, slightly late) and perform for her loving fans. She brought Jason Webley as her supporting act, he is the other half of Evelyn & Evelyn and a bad ass piano accordionist. I'd never heard of Jason before but I was so impressed with his vocals and his performance that I went to see his solo show the next night as well. The song that really caught my attention was Dance While The Sky Crashes Down, which I managed to record a bit of (I also talk about it more in a previous post). Amanda arrived in the craziest way possible, as usual, by starting the show outside with her ukulele. She made her way inside and walked over the bar, then got crowd surfed to the stage. She was dressed like a slutty Geisha and was throwing glitter and stars into the audience. Her set consisted of her playing a lot of her solo work and even some Dresden Dolls material too. The highlight of the night for everyone was when she played New Zealand, a song she had written about our little country. Jason Webley joined her on stage later in the show and they performed together, doing some stuff from Evelyn & Evelyn. They played well past their estimated end time and would've played all night if they could. It was a brilliant and extremely audience-friendly show.

Amanda Palmer w/ Jason Webley. 23/02/2011. Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, New Zealand.

Jason Webley

Jason Webley

Jason Webley - Dance While The Sky Crashes Down

Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer - Sex Changes

Amanda Palmer - New Zealand

Evelyn & Evelyn

Amanda Palmer & Jason Webley - Evelyn & Evelyn

Me & Jason Webley

Me & Amanda Palmer

Jason Webley. 24/02/2011. Thirsty Dog Tavern, Auckland, New Zealand.

Jason Webley

Jason Webley - Dance While The Sky Crashes Down

Just for a second I thought I remembered you

I first started listening to Gary Numan/Tubeway Army in 2010 after The Dead Weather releases a cover version of Are Friends Electric? I absolutely loved that song and that led me to start listening to the artist who created the original. Even though I am not a die-hard fan, I still really enjoy all of his music so when Gary Numan announced a solo show in New Zealand in 2011, I just had to go. There was no opening band, so Gary Numan just came straight out on the stage and started playing. the tour was in celebration of the re-release of his 1979 album, The Pleasure Principle. He played through the entire album to begin with, the stage looked amazing with all the colourful lights flashing in the mist. The second half of the show was dedicated to his successful back-catalogue and all the other hits from his career. The live sound production was some of the best I have ever heard, it enhanced all the crazy robotic keyboards and the machine-like guitars to the point where they sounded better than on the album. The whole live performance had a real dynamism and impact that can not be found on CD or MP3. The show ended with the original Are Friends Electric? and it was the perfect end to a really outstanding night.

Gary Numan. 21/05/2011. ASB Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand.

Gary Numan - Are Friends Electric?

Made me a shadow in the shape of wonder

For the first time after the expansion of the band and their new album, Congratulations, MGMT were playing a show in Auckland. originally they were playing at the Logan Campbell Centre but for some reason, they changed it to The Powerstation which was great for me because that is one of my favourite venues. I was actually feeling a bit of deja-vu because exactly 1 year before, I went through the same thing with the Dead Weather, they announced a show at the Logan Campbell Centre on March 17th and then changed it to The Powerstation at the last minute. It was a little freaky that the exact same thing was happening on the same day but I would never compare the 2 events too closely (The Dead Weather are just too amazing for comparison). 2 of my favourite New Zealand bands were opening for MGMT, they were Popstrangers and The Drab Doo-riffs. It was my first time seeing Popstrangers since their drummer change, I loved their old drummer Elliot but the new guy seemed to do really well too (it will never be the same, but I can move past this). The Drab Doo-riffs were electric as always and really got everybody in the mood. Then MGMT played and it was a pretty fantastic show, they all seemed like they were having a lot of fun, which can be really contagious and the lighting was extremely psychedelic. The set list they played was phenomenal and I managed to get my hands on it afterwards (someone else tried to grab it too and it just ripped, but I got the majority of it while this poor other stranger only got a corner). I'm not the biggest MGMT fan in the world and they will never compare to The Dead Weather, but it was a really great show and a fascinating musical experience.

MGMT w/ The Drab Doo-riffs + Popstrangers. 17/03/2011. The Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand

Popstrangers - Jimmy Mac + Adam Page

Popstrangers - Joel Flyger

The Drab Doo-riffs - Karl Steven + Caiohme Macfehin

The Drab Doo-Riffs - Broke It Up

MGMT - Andrew VanWyngarden

MGMT - Benjamin Goldwasser + Andrew VanWyngarden

MGMT - Of Moons, Birds & Monsters

MGMT - Electric Feel

MGMT setlist 2011

The Social Music Revolution

Last.FM is a social networking site that focuses on peoples addiction to music. In my opinion, it is the greatest social networking site out there, because it allows you to communicate and befriend people with similar musical interests as you. The most addictive quality of this website though, is the fact that it 'scrobbles' all the music you listen to on your computer/iPod and displays your music habits in the form of charts. It is a pretty rad feature that can get anyone really addicted to this site and even slightly obsessed with perfecting their music charts so that they accurately reflect how you rank your favourite bands. The scrobbling can be slightly inaccurate though, my Last.FM charts never match my iTunes play count, but that is just something you have to overcome, otherwise the obsession to perfect your charts will slowly consume your soul. I have been a member since the 16th of February, 2010 and I have never looked back since. In that time, I have scrobbled over 50,000 plays and this is how my Top Artists chart looks overall:

1.     The White Stripes                     3906
2.     T. Rex                                       3484
3.     The Black Dahlia Murder         2408
4.     Lamb Of God                            2377
5.     The Dead Weather                    2261
6.     Robert Johnson                         1961
7.     Led Zeppelin                             1865
8.     Queens Of The Stone Age        1758
9.     The Velvet Underground          1743
10.   Them Crooked Vultures           1597
11.   Marina & The Diamonds          1595
12.   The Kills                                   1482
13.   Trivium                                     1312
14.   A Tribe Called Quest                1185
15.   August Burns Red                    1146
16.   Nightrage                                  1128
17.   The Distillers                            1123
18.   The Mars Volta                        1072
19.   Alter Bridge                               994
20.   John Mayer                                936
21.   Arch Enemy                               885
22.   Yeah Yeah Yeahs                      862
23.   Street Chant                               848
24.   Karen Elson                               795
25.   Popstrangers                              792
26.   Lou Reed                                   702
27.   The Raconteurs                          671
28.   Foo Fighters                              654
29.   The Drab Doo-Riffs                   628
30.   Maximum The Hormone           609

Come vist me! http://www.last.fm/user/Harrison1630

Check Out The Social Music Revolution II

New Zealand Music Month 2011

This is a dedication to all the great New Zealand bands out there today in honour of New Zealand music month 2011. Even though the comedy gala has overshadowed kiwi music in the month of may in NZ, I still think NZMM should be properly appreciated, so here are 4 amazing bands that everyone in the world should know about...




STREET CHANT

These guys are a heavy pop trio from Auckland, New Zealand formed in 2007 that sound like bubble gum with the liquid centre, and getting punched in the face. The band consists of Emily Littler (vocals/guitar), Billie Rogers (bass/vocals) and Alex Brown (drums). Their debut album Means is the best record to come out of NZ in 2010 and they have played some amazing shows including Big Day Out '11 and the We Means Kudos tour with Surf City and The Transistors. I was first introduced to their music when they opened for The Dead Weather in March 2010 and have been addicted ever since. Their live show is a unique and energetic experience with elements of the grunge/punk 'fuck shit up' attitude, they are truly the best band around these days.

Best Songs: Scream Walk, Less Chat More Sewing, Blister, Yr Philosophy.

POPSTRANGERS

This band is the trigger that started my obsession with New Zealand music. An Auckland trio consisting of Joel Flyger (Vocals, Guitar), Adam Page (Bass) and Elliot Rawson (Drums), they exploded onto the scene in 2009 with their unique combination of grunge, punk and noise. Their debut self-titled EP was flawless with every track just as brilliant as the next. I first saw them when they opened for Peaches at the Transmission Room and then a day later at Big Day Out '10, with one of their most notable shows being opening for MGMT in 2011. After the success of their first EP, they began work on their next record with new drummer, Jimmy Mac and in 2010 they released Happy Accidents which was another fucking brilliant EP. These guys would be the second best band around these days.

Best songs: 1000, Take It To The Grave, Happy Accidents, Arrest Your Body

THE DRAB DOO-RIFFS

An Auckland-based bluesy, surf punk five piece fronted by Karl Steven (Lead Vocals/Harmonica and former member of Supergroove). They are a band that is just focused on being themselves and having fun, with other members including Caoimhe Macfehin (co-lead vocals and percussion), Marcus Joyce (Bass), Mikey Sperring (Drums) and Lucy Stewart (guitars). The true essence of this band can be found at their live shows where their spastic and crazy energy is on display. They are committed to making lots of music, choosing to release their music on EPs because they are small and fast and playing as many live gigs as possible, including opening for The Cult in 2010 and MGMT in 2011. The DD-R's are a band that wants to be Spock and releases music as fast as a mongoose – what more could you ask for?

Best Songs: Hot Tanya, Ill Equipped, Broke It Up, Gold Coin

LEECHES

An Auckland-based hardcore punk band featuring members from many other NZ bands including The Bleeders. Forming in 2010, they have been playing shows and gaining momentum with the release of their self-titled EP in 2011. The band is made up of Angelo Munro (Vocals), Sam Crocker (Bass/Vocals), Ian King (Guitar/Vocals), Dan Brenndorfer (Guitar/Vocals) and Rob O-Conner (Drums). As all the members have come from other successful NZ bands, there was no hesitation when they erupted on the scene and they found their rhythm very quickly. Some of their more notable shows included opening for Cancer Bats at The Kings Arms and playing No Sleep Til Auckland in 2010 along with 10 other legendary bands.

Best Songs: Damnation, Never Forget, Already Dead

Check Out New Zealand Music Month 2011 - Part II

All the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service

My musical world has been dominated lately by the release of The Kills 4th studio album, 'Blood Pressures'. It is a much darker and more emotional album than its predecessor 'Midnight Boom'. This new expression of dread and frustration is reminiscent of her time with The Dead Weather, it really shows an impressive level of maturity. Right from the outset, the record is filled with a unique and dark, bluesy/grunge feel. I'm counting down the days until Hotel and VV announce a New Zealand date of their tour, it will easily be the highlight of my 2011. I last saw Alison Mosshart in 2010 with The Dead Weather, it was a lethal performance from the seductive front woman with her unkempt black hair flailing everywhere and her striking yet ghoulish poses. She was beautifully dangerous and now i'm hooked.

The Dead Weather. 17/03/2010. The Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand

Alison Mosshart & Jack White

Dean Fertita & Jack White

Jack White

Alison Mosshart & Jack White

Alison Mosshart

The Dead Weather - Cut Like A Buffalo

I think my lack of photography skills really adds to the mood and atmosphere of the pictures.