With a 95bFM Top Ten hit under their belt, two well-attended shows at Whammy Bar as part of two different events and a drummer now in their midsts, it’s pretty fair to say the chronicles of Cat Venom’s previous “incarnation” are well overdue.
Having last released the popular “Bats In The Belfry” and “Old Meat” on 7” vinyl (acetate, in reality) back in July 2010, the band have finally completed what Maeve Munro cites as a “transitional piece”, from Cat Venom’s exploits of old as a two piece to their new status as a trio (rounded out by new drummer Mark Forlong).
The release also sees Munro and co-conspirator Zina Gladiadis work their way up to a modern format – C-10 cassette now, and finally Compact Disc come their album in 2013. “With a minidisc release in between”, Munro jokes. Read more ›
Wilberforces take to Casette #9 tomorrow night, as part of the newly revamped MUM Clubnight that started last week. They’re supporting the always astounding Sharpie Crows, while Casey Latimer’s Girls Pissing on Girls Pissing project opens up the evening (a busy night for Casey at that!).
Doors are at 10pm, first band on at 11pm and it’s a meagre $10 entry.
Cassette #9 is on Vulcan Lane if you didn’t know any better – opposite the Occidental where the last few times we’ve walked past the in-house band have been doing Brit-pop covers…
Ahead of their tour of Australia in April, in support of their debut album (released by the awesome tenzenmen over there, might we add), god bows to math have received, to our knowledge, their first review for the album across the ditch by Rave Magazine:
With a name derived from The Minutemen’s magnum opus Double Nickles On The Dime, it’s safe to assume the New Zealand noise rock trio are pretty well acquainted with the oeuvre of the San Pedro econo-punk legends, and it’s entirely fitting that the band would take a name from an album where The Minutemen exclaim ‘Please Don’t Be Gentle With Me’. Drawing immediate comparisons to the catalogues of record labels like Touch & Go and Amphetamine Reptile, on their self-titled record God Bows To Math explore the limits of atonality amidst a pulsing current of feedback. For the most part, it is composed rather than caustic, and while it’s not an easy listen, it’s well worth the attempt. The record never ventures into a Big Black-styled screed of ugliness, but on tracks like the almost entirely instrumental Yr Kids Aren’t Special But I Am, it certainly toes the line. Mixed quietly so the moments of complete distortion are more dynamic, or at least more grating to the listener, when the record wants to make you pay attention, it can.
Slower, more melodic numbers on the album, like the droning Sixty Degrees Of Separation, feel like a genial break from the album’s squalls of disgruntled fuzz, but then they’re followed up by efforts such as Details On How To Get Doncab On Your License Plate, where sinewy guitar strains allude to something rather sinister. It’s this focus on dynamics that makes God Bows To Math a damn arresting album.
Young Christchurch post-punk trio Ipswich ready audiences for what to expect from their live shows as Live In Dunedin is released April 2nd through Bandcamp… and 5.25” floppy disc.
Recorded live at Idiot Prayer’s farewell show in January, marking the group’s debut in Dunedin, this wasn’t the first time the idea of a live album was bantered around.
“Matt and I had talked about recording a live EP previously before we did Living In A Strangers Home” informed vocalist/guitarist Steven Marr. “We recorded our set at T54′s poster EP release show in Christchurch, but we had some tech difficulties which basically resulted in us sounding terrible. So the whole thing got scrapped.” Read more ›
Having toured up and down New Zealand too many times to mention, Auckland noise-rock trio god bows to math finally make their way over the ditch, playing eight shows across Australia this April.
After acclaimed reviews of their debut album, god bows to math, and earning a slew of accolades for their live shows, the three piece tour up and down the East coast in support of the Australian release of their album through Tenzenman.
The band themselves had a triumphant 2011; drawing their biggest crowds to date during their album tour, with blistering performances in Auckland and Wellington and playing their biggest show to date – radio station 95bFM’s Nirvana tribute night. The event, held at the hallowed Kings Arms in Auckland, saw a near-capacity crowd for the headline act.
The three members of the band – Martin Phillips, Thomas Morrison and Sam Cussen – make up a triumvirate with ideals as hard-nosed as their walls of noise, firing from the hip in a display of intensive methodology: just ask the ten releases already put out under their name.
Recording their latest release with Warner Emery (Double Ya D, ex-Phoenix Foundation) proved a priceless experience; emboldening them to strip back their sound a little more and allowing it to be mastered by the hallowed Chicago Mastering Service (run by Bob Weston and Jason Ward) was a long-standing goal of the band added indelible touches from Jason Ward that truly gave the band the polished (or rather, suitably rough) quality they have long aspired to attain.
god bows to math play: April 13th – Adelaide – Crown & Anchor – with No Action and SparkShifter April 14th – Melbourne – Gasometer – with Shit Weather April 15th – Melbourne – Irene’s Warehouse (All Ages) – with Palisades April 17th – Newcastle – Pharmacy – with Lennin Lennon April 18th – Wollongong – Yours & Owls – support TBA April 19th – Canberra – Phoenix – support TBA April 20th – Sydney – The Roxbury – with Hira Hira and Mere Women April 21st – Brisbane – Fat Louie’s – with Make More
Completing the news-burp of information this evening…
Wilberforces, who have had their track “Believement” playlisted on 95bFM, have been confirmed for the radio station’s annual “Summer Series”, taking place on March 10th.
Taking place at the Silo Park in Auckland (the venue used for this year’s Laneway Festival), they play alongside a fantastic line up, including Street Chant (on our besties’ label, Arch Hill Recordings), Die! Die! Die!, The Golden Awesome, Princess Chelsea and The Checks.
The whole event will be broadcast live on 95bFM during the day, and is going to be free to enter!
This three track sampler comes from the bands forthcoming release, recorded at the last Idiot Prayer (who we all miss, love and want to hang out with again soon, might we add) show in Dunedin earlier this year. Ipswich “vow” you only get a 24 hour window to listen to the three tracks; and they’re pretty adamant about that. Recorded by Iain Sweetman, we’ve heard the full version of the live album and we’ll be honest, it’s going to be a fantastic introductory piece to those none too familiar with the band.
Until then – you got a 24 hour period to “hoon on this”.
Cheese On Toast leaked an hour ago the line up for this year’s Borderline Festival, taking place at Whammy and Wine Cellar on April 5th, 6th and 7th. For the uninitiated, Borderline is put on by Rohan Evans, he of both The Wine Cellar and Whammy fame (and an awesome curator to boot), and in the past has had some eclectic, incredible line ups from emerging artists not just in New Zealand but from all over the world also.
This year we’re stoked that both god bows to math and Cat Venom have both be chosen as part of the festival – this would mark potentially the first time Cat Venom will play with their new live drummer, and would be the last New Zealand show god bows to math play ahead of their 10-date tour of Australia.
Tickets aren’t on sale as of yet, but we’ll have links the moment they do.
This past weekend, Cat Venom‘s 95bFM “In Session” performance was broadcast. It actually spawned a playlist single also (“Bones”, which is the song performed on the video below). If you missed it, you get two chances to take a listen to the wonder and madness that is the (former) two piece.
With a 95bFM Top Ten hit under their belt, two well-attended shows at Whammy Bar as part of two different events and a drummer now in their midsts, it’s pretty fair to say the chronicles of Cat Venom’s previous “incarnation” are well overdue.
Wilberforces take to Casette #9 tomorrow night, as part of the newly revamped MUM Clubnight that started last week. They’re supporting the always astounding Sharpie Crows, while Casey Latimer’s Girls Pissing on Girls Pissing project opens up the evening (a busy night for Casey at that!).
Young Christchurch post-punk trio Ipswich ready audiences for what to expect from their live shows as Live In Dunedin is released April 2nd through Bandcamp… and 5.25” floppy disc.
Having toured up and down New Zealand too many times to mention, Auckland noise-rock trio god bows to math finally make their way over the ditch, playing eight shows across Australia this April.