 |
Music Plus with |
Every so often music comes along that makes you smile in delight.
That happened to me twice this week, so I feel particularly fortunate, both instances caused by new Tauranga music.
The Inth’way Mangosteen Experience. Photo/ Supplied
First time was a left-field release from a band already inhabiting the left-field. I caught The Inth’way Mangosteen Experience at last year’s Fringe Festival, a duo with female spoken word, soaring rock guitar and psychedelic projections. It was pretty “arty” stuff.
The Inth’way Mangosteen Experience. Photo/ Supplied
This new offering is surprisingly accessible with enough spark to become a cult classic of sorts.
.jpg)
The Inth’way Mangosteen Experience. Photo/ Supplied
Inth’way plays guitar and bass on ‘Tighter Jeans, Higher Screams;, a paean to 1980s Big-Hair L.A. Rock. He and vocalist Mama Hollywood have teamed with Napier drummer Jaxon ‘Party Wolf’ Mitchell for an epic, very funny nostalgic dive through the eighties, with stop-offs for the Kiwiana likes of Sweetwaters, David Bain and the Goodnight Kiwi. It also wins an award for the year’s longest ending.
The Inth’way Mangosteen Experience. Photo/ Supplied
Kiwi DIY feel
Inth’way is also a video-maker and even better is the video – check YouTube now – which manages to be spectacular while retaining a delightfully Kiwi DIY feel.
Fragile Colours’ album cover. Photo/ Supplied
Now, an album Welcome Bay’s Colourfield Studio head Tim Julian said “started off with Brian Franks and I messing about with bass lines to drink coffee to, then has ballooned from there”. It’s the third release under Julian’s “band name” Fragile Colours, now on digital platforms under the sprightly title ‘Experiments In Depth Of Field At The Arabica Café’.
It comprises ten instrumentals, each themed to a different coffee, smoothly grooving on a bed of Tim's keyboards and Brian's bass, with an impressively international bunch of musicians popping by to guest. It's made me smile all week.
Instrumental music
Tauranga has form with instrumental music, particularly a couple of fine albums from Liam Ryan, and guests include Mark Dennison, main player on Eddie Rayner’s recent ‘Double Life’ album. Next week I’ll dig into the album and players in more depth.
There’s a gig next week for those with leanings towards sophisticated jazz, a new monthly jazz night at The Tauranga Club on Devonport Rd.
Black Coffee Collective is the brainchild of local singer and musician, Joanne Melbourne, an opportunity to bring top jazz and blues musicians together to create themed shows. Each month features a different line-up: the inaugural September performance was pure jazz from some of the Bay's finest; a Nat King Cole night is promised.
Next Friday, October 17, it’s Jazz Of Ages, as Joanne, with Troy Weenink on keyboards and bassist James Upjohn, reimagine pop songs as jazz tunes. The Club has a private members’ lounge that is open to everyone for these evenings, though based on the turnout last month it would pay to book.
The night before, October 16, is the second concert as part of Holy Trinity Tauranga’s 150 Anniversary Celebrations, where legendary Maori gospel bluesman, Steve Apirana, who started way back with iconic 1970s rock band Butler, is playing alongside singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Ainsley Apirana. They promise a soulful evening of music and storytelling.
Hear this week’s Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4NSPfBAi2DKLGeiCtQgbsd?si=S6_pjVXWSF-f9MhnLf_jDg