Weekly Roundup: Friday 5th April

It's been a wild and woolly week as we reached for our hoodies to keep the autumn chill at bay, and lined up some tantalising interview features to be revealed in the near future. Announcement highlights included Auckland punk pioneers Proud Scum are playing their first ever Wellington headline show ahead of their appearance at their home towns's Punk It Up IV knees up in May, California deathcore shredders Rings Of Saturn will be bombarding our brains with their interstellar riffage at Wellington's Valhalla and Auckland's Whammy Bar this June,  emo-punk duo Carb On Carb are putting on a special Auckland launch party for the upcoming new video 'Annual Leave' following their performance at Wellington's all-ages Slow Note festival, local folk-pop rising star Sophie Mashlan is touring New Zealand over April and May to celebrate the release of her ten song debut album Perfect Disaster and Auckland's Bad Timing are touring their debut Might As Well Be Cabbage EP throughout Aotearoa this month. Wellington experimental hub Pyramid Club revealed the first lineup for the long-awaited return of their multi-day Pyramid Power festival, featuring a senses-expanding bill of adventurous musical entities from throughout Aotearoa, plus exhibitions, sound walks, and more. Last but by no means least, if you love the music of Jakob and Radiohead you definitely don't want to miss Hail To The Thieves' Wellington headline event in June, featuring members of Jakob playing a selection of their favourite Radiohead tunes.

We had the privilege of hosting an illuminating conversation between Auckland's Lawrence Arabia aka James Milne – who is touring his new Singles Club collection throughout New Zealand this month – and The Phoenix Foundation's Luke Buda, exploring the nitty-gritty details of Milne's ambitious latest project, working with legendary arranger Van Dyke Parks on the record, and more. We also caught up with Auckland via London guitar-pop duo Two Cartoons, for a candid look back on their career, ahead of the band's final ever show next week at Auckland's Whammy Backroom.

Our Caught Live video for the week features US subterranean death / noise / doom trio Primitive Man, who are hitting Aotearoa for an eardrum-shattering four date tour in late April. Experience the uncompromising aural assault of the band busting out 'Victim', from 2017's Caustic, live at Brooklyn's Saint Vitus Bar...

WEEKEND GIG PICKS:

Friday

Auckland: DUAL, You On Television, Suren Unka - Whammy Bar
Auckland: Bass In Your Face (Mental Health Support Charity) - Whammy Backroom
Wellington: Unsanitary Napkin, Mr Sterile Assembly - Valhalla
Wellington: Munkhouse, Egovalve, Sog - D4 on Allen
Christchurch: Mermaidens - darkroom
Christchurch: Finn Andrews - The Piano
Dunedin: Lawrence Arabia - The Cook

Saturday

Auckland: Sonic Waves - Frank Booker, Whitney - Old Folks Association
Auckland: Ultra Sound: Peach Milk, Kick Girl + More - Whammy Bar
Wellington: GRCA Poneke Fundraiser - Hex, fruit juice parade, Hybrid Rose + More - San Fran
Wellington: Substance 003 - Valhalla
Christchurch: The Wendys, The Ruling Elite, Pretty Dumb - darkroom
Dunedin: Mermaidens - The Cook

Head over to our Gig Guide for more listings!!!

NEW TRACKS: