Weekly Round-Up: Friday 15th February

Leading the tour news this week is the announcement that Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey) will play three New Zealand shows next month; comedy rock duo Tenacious D were announced to return in May; a hip hop showcase in Auckland featuring Nas, 2 Chainz and Chiddy Bang was announced on Monday; we caught up with British sound artist Bleachboys who plays Auckland this week and Wellington next week; and the Wellington waterfront will host a bunch of awesome bands this weekend for the annual Performance Arcade live music series.

In album release news,  Kurt Vile will follow up his awesome 2011 album Smoke Ring For My Halo in April with Walkin On A Pretty Daze; also due in April is the freshly announced new album from The Veils Time Stays, We Go; metal stalwarts Megadeth will release new album Super Collider in June; and  seminal Scottish band Primal Scream will release new album More Light in June. 

Streaming this week for your weekend listening pleasure is the new record from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away; terribly named but awesome sounding Irish band Girls Names' second effort The New Life; !!! released first single 'Slyd' from their new album THR!!!ER; The Strokes have released the first 'official' single 'All The Time' from their new album Comedown Machine; and new albums from Eat Skull and Iceage are streaming via Pitchfork Advance.

WEEKEND GIG PICKS

Friday 15th February

AUCKLAND: Roland Tings (AUS), Wundercastle, Shanalog, Cassette Nine
TAURANGA: Yolanda with Narwhal and Slug Cutters, Major Toms
WELLINGTON: The Performance Arcade Live Music Series, Wellington Waterfront
WELLINGTON: Snapper, Puppies
WELLINGTON: Killing Bear and About The Deadlines, Mighty Mighty
WELLINGTON: Fornax Chemica, Bodega
NAPIER: Space Creeps, Outrun the Buffalo and Mice on Stilts, Cabana Bar
CHRISTCHURCH/LYTTELTON: Bond Street Bridge, Wunderbar
DUNEDIN: Prophet Hens and Kilmog, Taste Merchants
DUNEDIN: Vorn and Delgirl, Coronation Hall

Saturday 16th February

AUCKLAND: Bleachboys, Wine Cellar
AUCKLAND: WIUO with James Hill, Q Theatre
TAURANGA: Space Creeps, Outrun the Buffalo and Mice on Stilts, Brewers Bar
PALMERSTON NORTH: Fornax Chemica, The Royal
WELLINGTON: Snapper, Puppies
WELLINGTON: Xuri Xruz vs No Aloha, Mighty Mighty
WELLINGTON: The Performance Arcade Live Music Series, Wellington Waterfront
WELLINGTON: Hannah Howes and French For Rabbits, Eve Street Studios
CHRISTCHURCH: Andrew Keoghan, The Darkroom

Sunday 17th February

AUCKLAND: Snapper, Solid Gold Hell, Street Chant + More, Kings Arms

Coming up next week...

Lunice - Wellington (Wed 20th) and Auckland (Thurs 21st)
The Wedding Present - Auckland (Thurs 21st) and Wellington
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - Dunedin (Thurs 21st) and Auckland (Fri 22nd)
Bleachboys - Wellington (Thurs 21st)
Cat Power - Auckland (Fri 22nd) and Wellington
Popstrangers Album Release - Auckland (Fri 22nd)

NEW TRACKS THIS WEEK