As one who is always keen to see a growing and diverse Kiwi music scene, I've been given some renewed faith over the past few weeks. After heading up to the Kings Arms (Auckland) on a few occasions, to see some local bands, I've had to fight my way to the bar. Crap you might say - no - fucking great! Local bands are starting to pull large crowds again - and obviously not just friends of the bands either.
First there was Dimmer (but the KA was always going to be small for this gig), then Pluto and Augustino (what a great new band Augustino are - if you have not heard them or seen them live - make sure you do!), and then Goodshirt, with their debut album release, which I'm sure will be awesome.
Obviously something is working - maybe Kiwi bands are just getting better. But, GO NZ On Air, and go radio and TV airplay with more NZ music!
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yeah I saw pluto with Augustino and ...
yeah I saw pluto with Augustino and they were awesome!
Yeah Jackson - aint it great. I was at ...
Yeah Jackson - aint it great. I was at the Goodshirt gig and personally I thought Jester actually rocked the party!! The last couple of years have been a real mission for a lot of bands to pull the punters like that, but there seems to be a bit of an upward interest in going along to see live bands...its a bootiful thing! I'm thinking theres quite a few reasons for that but it comes down to getting exposure dont you think. It seems alot easier these days for a band to record cheaply (or zilcho!!) and produce a quality demo. Makes a bit of a mockery of some of the recording studios charges dont it. And with all this technology around those who are lucky enough to be 'in the know' can produce music videos for next to nothing that are up there with the mega dollar productions. NZ on Air have been a great support in getting Kiwi stuf out there as well -although I must say theres still a fair bit of nepotism going on at some radio stations!!!!. But still - the sheer number of bands strutting their stuff means that not everyones gonna get a fair crack , tho what is really cool is it shows that Kiwi music is alive and well and producing some kickass shit!!! Lets not forget the talent it takes as well!! When it comes down to it there aint nothing like coming out of a packed rocking gig with your ears ringing and feeling like ....satisfied.
Yes...well satisfaction is becoming ...
Yes...well satisfaction is becoming 'guaranteed' when you come out of gigs of many local acts now days.
As for the nepotism - and I guess the 'who you know' factor - its probably all just part of the 'working' process for bands anyway - i.e. if your band is good (you work hard on good songs, performance etc), then people will go to your gigs, maybe even radio, TV, magazine, company people as well. If you work hard to meet these people (as well as any fans of course) you'll get asked to play on radio - more people will go to your gigs - you get more radio play / interviews etc...Its probably not hard to meet these people, and have them doing stuff to help your band - if its half good.
Anyway, things are definately getting better. And yes, Jester were better than I'd seen them before - just reckon they should cut out the covers and show people more of what they can produce themselves.