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School holidays are here. It’s raining again. Must be October.
I know. Everyone’s busy. So this week a ‘sound-bite’ column seems appropriate: a bunch of short stories, unrelated to each other, a musical postcard from Tauranga.
Talking school holidays, what better way to amuse kids than to hit the recording studio? That’s what the increasingly prolific Ben Lloyd did. Having already released an album this year – February’s ‘Leave No Stone Unturned’ – Ben returned to Welcome Bay’s Colourfield Studio with sons Bryn, 13, and Lennox, 15, and has now released two singles.
Ben Lloyd and son, Bryn, 13. Photo / Supplied
Bryn Lloyd. Photo / Supplied
Lennox Lloyd. Photo / Supplied
Lennox and Bryn are already old hands at this: Bryn played drums on ‘No Stone Unturned’ and Lennox supplied guitar parts.
Keeping boys busy
Talking about the new songs, Ben told me: “Both songs were recorded in the school holidays as a quick project for my boys to keep them busy! They are both incredibly talented players and it’s so good to play with them. We’ve been playing a lot as a band recently at the blues jams and elsewhere”.
You can imagine how hard I struggled not to make a ‘Dad Rock’ joke here. Take it as read. ‘Golden Days’ is a mid-tempo anthemic life celebration while ‘Imposter Syndrome’ comes on like ‘The Clash’, impressively aggressive and possibly the best thing yet from Ben and fam.
There are two more local releases you’ll only find on YouTube: Shane Davies from Whakamārama’s Soundtree Studio has released ‘The Dream Catcher’, an epic rock ballad with a veritable supergoup accompanying: Jeff Nilson on drums, bassist Patrick Hawkins, keyboard player Nigel Masters and lead guitarist Baz Mantis. Jana Hawkins supplies backing vocals.
Solo album
In the opposite vein Argentinian-born guitarist/singer Santiago Rebagliati, most often seen guitaring with Kokomo, has released a first song from his upcoming solo album. Doing everything himself – drums, bass, guitars, charango, melodica, percussion, voices – ‘Mi Casa Es Tu Casa’ is a singularly beautiful piece, welcoming and very worth checking out.
And something really cool – years ago Richard O’Brien was photographed by the Mick Rock. This week O’Brien donated the rare picture to Brendon Weatherly, drama teacher at Tauranga Boys’ College.
O’Brien said: “It’s fitting that the college takes ownership as it was there that I first trod the boards when I played the role of the station master in Arnold Ridley’s play entitled ‘The Ghost Train’.” From tiny acorns...
A gig
And a gig. It’s the folk club at the Katikati Arts Junction again, where next Friday, October 10, there’s a double bill. Headlining are Nina Lane and Bryan Owens who play an unusual blend of folky jazzy music. Each deserve a column. They lived in Seattle for two decades; Bryan plays guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, and violin and has published a folk tune-book. Nina is a also fine singer and guitarist.
Nina Lane and Bryan Owens. Photo / Supplied
Support comes from Auckland duo Pomahaka Tyne. Helen Douglas, on Northumbrian small pipes, whistles; and Janet Thomson on guitar and vocals, began collaborating in 2022. Their repertoire spans Northumbrian, Scottish, and Irish tunes, alongside traditional and contemporary songs.
Auckland duo Pomahaka Tyne. Photo / Supplied
Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/3ks5hku6