I have been reviewing music for more than 30 years and estimate I have written something like 2 million words on the subject, and I have often been asked the question, “Why?”. The simple reason is that if I did […]

What strikes one most about the third album from Tablefox is the sheer diversity of styles on display. True, they are very much rooted in the Eighties and their style is also often very Kiwi, but after that they […]

This is the second album by Skank Bandit, a quartet who describe their music as an explosive combination of reggae, rock, ska, funk, metal, and punk, and to be honest they have hit the nail right on the head. When […]

Sidewinder are back with their third single, following on from the powerful Mississippi Fire, which came out a few months ago. Again, what we have here is stoner rock, with very strong links to QOTSA, which are […]

There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that one of the most interesting and innovative musicians working today is Dave Brenner, who operates as Gridfailure. I have been listening to a lot of his music (which is a […]

In August 2019, Gridfailure performed a fully improvised set which was filmed, and this excerpt taken from it (the excerpt is more than 28 minutes long). The band that night were David Brenner (vocals, percussion, […]

As with the ‘Live Improv At Ceremony224, Brooklyn’ release, this features David Brenner (vocals, percussion, effects, samples, visuals), Benjamin Levitt (accordion, effects) and Greg Meisenberg (drums). It was rec […]

As one can tell from the title, here we find Dave Brenner on his own, and away from his home city of New York. Recorded at Atlas Brew Works in Washington, DC, May 4th, 2019, this was the fourth and final show of […]

Capital Theatre are back with the most recent single from the forthcoming album (which is due out in October), following on from the incredible People, which has been on constant repeat at my place. Given just how […]

It has been a couple of years since I last came across Sam Loveridge and his excellent album, Clarity, and in the intervening time he has turned himself into a full band. At the time of that album release, AAA […]

Simp Vader are a South Auckland alternative rock band, heavily influenced by the Shoegaze movement, who were formed by Rory Maddren (vocals, guitar) and Josh Banning-Taylor (lead guitar) towards the end of 2020. […]

Marianne may only be 18 years of age, but she has already won Smokefree Rockquest, has been on TV and Radio NZ, is a three-time finalist of the Play It Strange songwriting competitions as well as being mentored by […]

This six-track EP from West Coast trio Edge of The Woods shows there is still plenty of room in this musical world for well thought out and delivered music with real soul and heart. They bring together folk, […]

When I was back in Christchurch a few months ago, I went to The Dark Room to experience the mighty Dead Favours in concert, and that night the support act was No Broadcast. They were a band new to me, but they […]

Speech Act Theory is a new project by producer and musician Pete Hickman which allows him to explore his vulnerable side, putting his insecurities out there for all to see. Musically this is bringing together […]

One thing one notices immediately with this album is the depth and power of the production, which is not at all surprising when one reads the small print and realised that none other than the mighty Colin […]

This is the second album by acoustic guitarist Mark Vickness, and here he has been joined by Mads Tolling (violin), Joseph Hebert (cello), Dan Feiszli (bass) and Ty Burhoe (tabla). The combination of acoustic […]

I have always had quite a simple view of music, in that in its purest form it is one person and an instrument and no studio trickery sorting out any issues, which is why I am such a fan of seeing bands in a live […]