Music News

Weekly Round Up: Friday 24th November

Friday 24th November, 2017 5:59PM

Summer is now rolling in and the wave of exciting tour announcements and music releases is still going strong. This week’s big news was LCD Soundsystem are returning to New Zealand after seven years with a show at Spark Arena set for this February, accompanied by Australian songwriter Nick Murphy fka Chet Faker. Other huge touring news included Auckland rockers The D4 will be back after ten years for a North Island tour this February, and the return of Atlanta rapper and Outkast member Big Boi who’ll be playing in Auckland and Wellington this March. Also heading our way is US rapper Mick Jenkins who just dropped a new mixtape and will be playing at Auckland’s Powerstation in March with hip hop superstars The Underachievers. Metal addicts better prepare themselves for the double-headline onslaught of Sepultura and Death Angel who’ll be hitting New Zealand hard this May.

We were thrilled to chat with US songwriter Spiral Stairs of indie legends Pavement, who is playing here in December alongside Big Thief. Japanese jet rock ’n’ rollers Guitar Wolf kick off their national tour this week and shared their favourite songs to play live. Likewise, Providence Rhode Island punks Downtown Boys are heading our way this in December and took time out to share their top political punk songs.

We were proud to premiere the latest single from Wellington virtuoso turntablist Alphabethead, who took time out from his tour with the All Seeing Hand to talk about his new album. Local release highlights of the week included the new video from Jonathan Bree, a sentimental clip from Auckland rockin' big band Magic Factory, a sublime new single from Christchurch alt-rockers Salad Boys, the much anticipated debut full length offering from Dunedin’s Coyote, and Auckland electronic four-piece SoccerPractise’s long-awaited self-titled debut album.

Other notable local releases included new tunes from enigmatic local artist Babyface, Wellington artist Jon Lemmon’s new music video, the debut EP from hip hop artist TAPZ, and an exciting new release from Grow Room artist Hasji. We were saddened to hear of the passing of Scott Bulloch of the Izwid record label, whose passion for music was an inspiration to all those around him.

We were stoked to see vintage footage of the White Stripes performing at Freeman’s Bay Primary School in 2003 re-emerge, and had our minds blown by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s cover of AC/DC’s ‘Let There Be Rock’ in tribute to deceased guitarist Malcolm Young. Everybody’s heads are still spinning from experiencing "Weird Al" Yankovic’s surprisingly faithful cover of ‘Beat On The Brat’ by The Ramones, let’s chalk that up as a win.

Our Caught Live feature for the week is a clip of US R'n'B singer SZA performing a stripped back version of her track ‘Go Gina’ from her trailblazing recent album CTRL. SZA is heading our way alongside UK dance producer Tourist for an already sold-out 2018 show at Auckland’s Powerstation, check out this great footage of SZA singing in a forest below…