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It always good to welcome a new member to the family so this week I’m delighted to feature Creatures Of Comfort.
The five-piece is the latest Tauranga recording artists, with the release of their debut EP ‘The Great Unknown’.
Creatures of Comfort started in late-2022 when guitarist Scotty Atherton and bass player Luis Luna were looking to jam with someone. A friend suggested Andrew Tilby, former member of turn-of-the-century Kiwi band Breathe.
Creatures Of Comfort. Photo / Supplied
What started out as an excuse to drink a few beers and bash out tunes at a monthly practice became something more. As it can, a band sound emerged from the players’ individual styles and influences: they cite The War on Drugs, Midnight Oil, ‘Bends’-era Radiohead and new wave bands such as New Order.
Ambitious step
It was about a year later I first noticed them when, along with drummer Heath Menefy and keyboard player Logan Callesen, they started playing gigs around town. Then they took the ambitious step of buying recording equipment and largely self-recorded a debut EP.
Drums and some vocals were tracked at Mike O’Meeghan’s studio; the rest of the instruments were recorded in various houses and garages across Tauranga and the Mount. Then local mixing legend, Nathan Sowter, took the raw tracks and polished them up.
Now the first Creatures of Comfort EP, ‘The Great Unknown’, is out, fulfilling bass player Luis’ life goal: “I just wanna hear my songs on a streaming platform”. Job done. Logan Callesen has since left the band but his keyboards grace the EP which is modern mainstream melodic rock. I hear a hint of Drive-by Truckers which is nothing but a good thing. The band is gearing up for a full album.
Right. Next weekend is busy. Let me suggest some exciting gigs.
‘Chrysalis’
First is Totara Street next Friday, August 22, where Auckland four-piece up-and-comers Borderline present their new EP ‘Chrysalis’, which includes chart-topping single ‘New Romance’.
Borderline. Photo / Supplied
Since debut single ‘Spinning’ they’ve cracked US college radio charts and in 2024 left school to pursue music full-time. They’ve since played US shows at SXSW and in the UK at The Great Escape, and ‘Chrysalis’ is getting airplay on BBC Radio 1 and Triple J in Australia.
The following night, Saturday, August 23, Laughton Kora brings his band Black Comet to Totara Street with their second full-length album ‘Episode Two: The Force Between Us’, a signature blend of funky grooves and smooth rock. It should be a big night, with special guests Fran Kora and Mirage.
Also that night is a punk gig at Ōkahukura. Where’s that you might ask? In town on Grey St, down the alleyway by Bohemian Tattoo. There you’ll find three punk bands, Hoick, Auckland’s 3 Horse Race and Te Puke youngsters Punktuation. I could give descriptions but let’s just leave it at loud and fast.
Punktuation. Photo / Supplied
Lastly, Friday, August 22, is National Poetry Day. Celebrate at The Jam Factory with night of unfiltered spoken word, featuring the legendary Archaeo, popular locals Poetic Justice, and headliner Captain Houndstooth.
Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/r5mxwh8s