Rumours

Rip It Up, Issue 161, 1 December 1990, Page 2

Rumours

DUNEDIN Stephen have called it a day after a fairly frustrating fouryears. David Kilgour will continue to perform solo and the plan is to record an album nextyear. I haven't caught up with other band members... a change of management at the Cook has seen bands return to the upstairs bar. At this stage it's just covers bands, though the Let's Get Naked reunion is scheduled forthe Cook. Original bands may return on a monthly basis next year... Bagdad Cafe, a jazz club, has opened in Moray Place... the Empire is closing for . renovations though it is questionable to what extent the alternations will improve the upstairs bar as a venue... several new (and young) bands have surfaced in recent months, prominent amongstthem is Some Velvet Morning, featuring former Perfect Gardeners Martin Quinn and Michael Pryde and a vocalist who can actually sing (Rebecca Reid) a definite rarity in this town. Also gaining a large following are Das Phaedrus. Although technical hassles plagued their Bats i support, the Husker Du influenced three piece impressed a standing room only Empire, a few Thursdays ago... that these and other new bands are finding venues is largely due to Doug Nuttals' People's Promotions, a collective of 17 bands formed around a large rehearsal space. People's Promotions is now booking the Crown on Thursday and Friday night and their policy of at least three bands playing a night is drawing full houses... High Calibre have added a vocalist to their Satriani guitar sound... Mole Patrol are planning to release a 1 2" single, the A side being 'Honesty'... it seems there is life after Gorse, ex-members are practising under the tentative name of Laceration ... it is still uncertain as to whether Rampant vocalist Billy Oblivion will join the rest of EOE in London... Sferic Experiment or substantial parts thereof are to play a one off reunion gig at Orientation next year. Also set to return for an Orientation gig is Cynthia Should... the after hours needle exchange has shifted to Moray Chambers, opposite Wizards... summer has been visiting Dunedin now and again in recent weeks. Some people are finding it too hot to handle — a prominent local goth was spotted in a nice pair of patterned flourescent boards shorts. CRAIG ROBERTSON WELLINGTON The Warratahs have their new album Wild Card out now and are on the road thru to the new year. They play a free outdoor gig on Frank Kitts Park on Jan 5 to open Summer City... Let's Planet also have their album Favours in the shops but the Inhalers are still waiting on their • album from Oz even though they had a record launch at the Cambridge on Dec 1. They hope to have it in time for Xmas. | Smokeshop, played on the waterfront as part of the recent Car Races but were drowned out by drag racers on the Sunday... good news on the venue front with Paisley Park running as a regular venue under Juliana Swale and the Carpark opening in the new year, although the Aofearoa Music Trust is running weekend gigs until then. The old Barrets pub will be an ideal venue with high stage, high ceiling and lots of natural light. Look out for a big new year's day gig in the Upper Cuba Street ha 11... Skapa are due to make their comeback and head north to play the Gluepot on New Year's Eve. They will also play the Mardi Gras in Oriental Bay on Jan 20... the

Volunteers have recorded an album at Studio 2 for new year release. The Bad Boys (Nga Tama Kino), Geoffrey Fuimano Karena lead guitarand vocals, Taimua Fuimano Karena drums and vocals and Elliot Fuimaono Karena bass

and vocals have recorded their debut album at Puawi studio in CHCH, it's being mixed in Sydney by Wahanui Wynyard. Titled "Ihi" it's due late Jan. On the strength of their recent recordings Southside of Bombay scored the Oils support a nd Ruamoko opened for Public Enemy. New bands about town are Rin Tin Tin made up of David Greer of the Kaytels, Martin Durrant (ex-Sneaky Feelings drummer) and Martin Wilson, Martin Brough and Renee Pearson; Cropt, who debuted at Paisley recently, consisting of Flex, John McDermitt and Dave Berry; parttimers Amutaphile with two members each of Cropt and Synchroniser and new supergroup Big Fiddle with Jackie Clark, Janet Roddick, Kelly Blood, lan Morris and Nick Bollinger. New work from Peter Jamieson aka Dr Versuv includes a vacuum cleaner symphony that he performed live with Amutaphile! Performance poet AK, minus his trademark beard, is out on a national tour so look outfor him at your local pub... „ Synchroniser have a new drummer (Scott) and they will have their debut tape A Streamlined Silver Lined Psycho Dub Experience out early next year... a new management and touring promotions company is looking for acts for a lower < North Island circuit on 025 432966... Bob Mayes has a wealth of new material to release on his Failsafe label including the Dolphin album... there are rumours of a Holiday makers reunion but it is unlikely to be long term. The recent Windy City Strugglers reunion with Rick Bryant and Bill Lake had a successful tour down south' but there is still no sign of the Living Daylights album, dusting in the can for most of the year... the last Blues Club gig of the year was recorded and listen out for replay on Active's Blue's Show. The Club co-operative of Brett Bailey and Dave Murphy has been joined by Darren Watson and Dave and Darren have been recording at Murphy's home studio. JOHNPILLEY AUCKLAND S.P.U.D . are recording another album in January at the Lab's 2 4 track studio... after two French tours and two albums, Reptiles at Dawn have recorded their third album, titled Lost Disciples, out this month, also available, a cassingle (featuring Vanessa Rare from Ruby and Rata) of'Time Turns Strange' and 'Paradise Dreams', from the album... out next year (possibly on IMA HITT), the debut LP from Second Child, tentatively titled Eden. Second Child will be gigging 500 n... the Exhibition have split up... Hamilton's Cygnet Committee have split up...

the Lilis have recorded a mini-LP at the Lab called Slab. Christchurch label Failsafe will be releasing it early nextyear. And while we're talking break ups, the noise control experts from the City Council have closed down the Red Dog (Mushroom) Warehouse venue in Newmarket after noise complaints from one nit-picking neighbour. The collective can't afford to sound proof the venue so although the downstairs rehearsal space continues to thrive, Auckland loses another enterprising outlet for young bands and underage punters... meanwhile Scruff, grandaddy of rockers, has forsaken the Imperial Arcade for the lofty surrounds of the Megadrome (once Zanzibar) in sleazy Fort Street. Expect pink walls and two floors, hope he can fill them... Workshop have opened a new shop in Kitchener St, near Victoria St... and keep your eyes peeled fora new shop on K Road called Pure, with a doorway as white as Virus is black (and just two doors down). Stocking some hipster English labels like Pam Hogg as well as their own-label, strut-yours stuff, hot pants, sequined mini skirts, clothes for the bold.

DONNA YUZWALK