Family Cactus
with Special guests
Bodega
March 3rd
$10
A lot has happened for this Wellington band since they released “Come Howling”, their
critically acclaimed debut album in 2009.
During these two years Family Cactus released “Come Howling” in the USA, recorded “Spirit
Lights” in Wellington (The Surgery) and Auckland (Roundhead Studio), mastered it in New
York (Sterling Sound), lived for a few months in an apartment in Brooklyn, played shows in
New York and Washington DC, had a number of line up changes, had a close and mutual
friend of the band pass away and moved to a new record label.
None of this has been easy, but it has made their album “Spirit Lights” all the better for it.
Following the initial tracking and mixing of the album in New Zealand, the band relocated to
New York and all seven of them moved into a Brooklyn apartment. The aim of the trip was
to play some shows and soak up the inspirational atmosphere that only New York can offer.
Adam Ladley from the band describes their apartment as follows:
“We rented an old ‘Brown Stone’ in a neighbourhood called Crown Heights. Biggie and
Scarface were from there. It was part Cosby’s street – with all the beautiful old conjoined
houses, really friendly neighbours, and loads of stoops! We saw a car-jacking, cornerstore’s
emptying when seven New Zealanders walked in, with guys whispering “five-o-five-o” under
their breaths…”
They turned the basement of the flat into an underground rehearsal space. This meant they
could practice, write new material, and jam with the folks they met. One night a jam session
somehow ended up including some free jazz horn players and Hamish Kilgour on guitar.
They also released Come Howling in the USA – which received strong airplay on College
Radio there (going to 71 in the CMJ Top 200 Charts), played at CMJ Music Festival (where
they named among the top 12 acts there by the influential NPR radio show “All Songs
Considered”) and mastered their album with Greg Calbi. Calbi has worked with everyone from
Dylan and Lennon (who’s hand written notes to him are framed on the studio wall), to acts like
The National and Grizzly Bear.
Back in New Zealand, with a great album under their belts and energised by their overseas
sojourn, the band immediately got stuck into building their Blue Barn studios in Wellington.
It is an old warehouse that acts as band rehearsal rooms, a studio and a home. They also
filmed and re-recorded most of the “Spirit Lights” album, live in the dilapidated Erskine
College – to document and capture a different version of the band. A number of these
performances can be seen on youtube and there are more to come.
All of these experiences have helped make “Spirit Lights” the great album it is. Filled with
songs that creep up on you, wide-open sounds and a mysterious depth.
Some reviews for “Come Howling”
“Rich harmonies and stirring waves of gentle pop recalls a rockier Arcade Fire as they mine
similarly clever indie–pop sensibilities.” ★★★★★ Top 5 Albums of 2009, Lindsay Davis, The
Dominion Post
“The songs of frontman Adam Ladley are both cinematic and melodramatic and his septet…
shows a smart sense of dynamics, helping evoke wide horizons and the rhythms of the road.
Family Cactus are a band with a very sound engine and an even more impressive gearbox.
And with a few more miles on the clock, they may well prove unbeatable. ★★★★ Russell
Baillie, New Zealand Herald
“Blending folk, alt country, melodic pop and elements of traditional Eastern European music,
with Come Howling the Wellington based seven–piece lay down an impressive sonic strategy
for lyric– melody– and harmony–heavy big band arrangements… An impressive debut from a
promising local band who look truly poised to do big things”. ★★★★ Martin Pepperell, Rip it
“Dramatic, crafted, seductive or simply lapel–grabbing… Make the effort for this one, you
won’t be disappointed.” Graham Reid, elsewhere.co.nz
