Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 8th June

Friday 8th June, 2018 3:25PM

It's been a short and chilly week as June hugged us close with its icy paws and Kanye West attempted to dominate all discourse, but nothing can stop the music! Tour highlights included Wellington riff masters Beastwars announced their triumphant return to the stage after a two year hiatus with an upcoming nationwide tour, and pop icon Don McGlashan is gearing up for a seventeen date trek throughout Aotearoa in September and October. Berlin-based DJ and tastemaker Jamie Tiller (co-founder of visionary electronic label Music From Memory) is playing a groove-laden set this month in Auckland, Nashville indie-rock rising stars Bully are heading our way in July, and Kansas City "Talk Music" (think post-rock meets spoken word) artists Listener are visiting Aotearoa for two shows in October.

We were psyched to speak with The Brian Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcombe about the value of artistic independence and his love of Flying Nun, and caught up with Peter Ruddell of Auckland noiseniks Wax Chattels about their fab new debut album and future plans. We also had a korero with electronic innovator Fis and taonga pūoro artist Rob Thorne about their work together and debut joint shows in Australasia. To round off a punchy week of features we premiered the latest song from Dunedin's Alizarin Lizard, they continued their long crawl out of a five year hibernation with peppy tune ‘No One Could Tell’.

More local musical release highlights included local music royalty Neil & Liam Finn's single ‘Back To Life’ from their first ever collaborative album Back To Life which features guest appearances from Mick Fleetwood, Connan Mockasin and Elroy Finn, Unknown Mortal Orchestra dropped an endearing animated video for ace tune ‘Hunnybee’, and Auckland guitar pop geniuses The Beths shared fresh 'n' fruity new song ‘Happy Unhappy’. PHF unveiled woozy track ‘Better Someday’ from his forthcoming album I Hate Myself, Blenheim’s Big Scout unleashed a two track EP of noisy garage oomph titled Height Of Fashion, prodigious Auckland post-punks Yukon Era shared their emotional video ‘Feel’, and Christchurch-based 'FootMahi' artist Liam K. Swiggs dropped five tracks of straight fire titled Chop Bongs & Bourbons.

Our Caught Live video for the week features Auckland-based hip hop icon JessB, who is playing a killer show alongside legendary local rapper Mareko and lots more this month at Neck Of The Woods. Check out recent footage of the artist in action below, chatting with BaseFM's Dylan C at Portland Public House about her life in music and busting out a stellar rendition of her track 'Set It Off' (from 7:40)...