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The drought – if there even was a drought – seems to be over.
Interesting new local music is being released, and interesting music is coming to town. Let me share what’s on my radar.
First, though, I wanted to take a minute to mention much-loved Tauranga musician Craig Teki, who died last week after a battle with cancer. Craig had played keyboards on the scene with countless cover bands over the years and was known and liked by simply everybody.
Most recently he’d been performing in the duo Hot Mess with singer and photographer Jo Jones; they were a regular fixture at the Bowentown Boat Club and elsewhere. We’ll all miss him.
Craig Teki. Photo / Jo Jones Photography
Now, before I get on to local things, I’d like to offer an early heads-up for next February when the brilliant Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings will return to New Zealand for the first time in more than a decade. Even better is they’re coming to Hamilton, on February 18 to be precise, and will undoubtedly sell out quickly.
Spellbindingly good
If you know them you’ll be incredibly excited by this. If you don’t then I suggest listening to their music immediately. They are probably the world’s premier folk duo, leaders of the “new traditionalists” movement a few years back, and spellbindingly good live. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
While I’m on shows that will quickly sell out, I’m astonished to see a few tickets left for Torch Songs’ big farewell concert at The Jam Factory on October 18. This will be a humdinger of an afternoon: jazz of many sorts with Latin influences, virtuoso musicianship all round, Carol Storey’s ethereal singing, and a band who know how to have fun on-stage. I reckon it’ll pretty much be the show of the year there.
Torch Songs Band. Photo / Petra Zoe
It’s always good to highlight new local releases and there are a few good ones out this week on digital platforms. Retro-punk outfit Cat Face, formed from the ashes of about a dozen previous retro-punk outfits, have launched their recording career with Drama, an entertainingly catchy guitar thrash.
Cat Face. Photo / StellaVision & T.V.M Photography
A new balm
The other is the first official release from Kokomo since the band’s 2024 album Futura. With a New Orleans groove and horn section is Pain-Killing Mystery Balm, which comes with a video shot at the Historic Village during the last Fringe Festival. No word yet on the balm’s efficaciousness.
Both are on this week’s playlist and it’s been suggested I ask people to ‘follow’ the playlists. It would be nice to have some idea if anyone’s listening.
Lastly, two cracker gigs at Totara Street: up-and-coming folk-rock band Mountain Boy are there on October 1 celebrating a very worthwhile new album, The Nights; and Reb Fountain’s Water For Gasoline album tour arrives on October 2. Given the excellence of her previous live shows this should be a treat.
Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: