Here's Five: Dave Mulcahy

Next week Dave Mulcahy will be dipping into his extensive back-catalogue to deliver a retrospective showcase of some of the excellent songs he's conjured up over his 30 year career. A key figure in the local music landscape, the prolific musician launched onto the scene in the early 80s with The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience (aka JPSE), and then in the early and went on to form Superette in the early 90s alongside Greta Anderson and Ben Howe. 

In more recent times, Mulcahy has been making solo music under the monikers Zilverside, and Mulchzoid, not to mention several other projects he has his fingers in including Sexy Animals and The Cranks. With the retrospective show lined up for next Thursday, Dave gave us a little taster of some of the songs from career, or as he called it "How To write the same song five times", further explaining: "Looking back at my 30 year catalogue, I noticed the same riff keeps popping up in different guises. Here's four examples plus the artist I stole the riff off in the first place."

1. Slip by The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience.
It's buried in the drone but I can hear it. All the songs shape comes from the frenetic playing of the JPS boys. Pretty crap singing but I like the lyrics.

2. Slide by Superette (demo)
Slow sonic sludge augmented with some excellent noise guitar by Mr Ross Williams Esq.

3. Cruising by Mulchzoid
Riff to the fore. Discovering the joys of garageband and alcohol.

4. Gonzo Gambling by Zilverside
Heading into Suicide territory which segue's well into the next track...

5. State Trooper by Bruce Springsteen (Trentemoller Mix)
It's a bit humbling to hear how good this song is still. The Nebraska album had a big influence on me as a kid. This re-mix is okay too. But original is better - more desperate and moody - check it out.

Retrospective: The Songs of Dave Mulcahy is taking place on Thursday 22nd October, The Wintergarden in Auckland's Civic Theatre. We have a double pass to giveaway to the show, head over here to enter the draw.