The Chats

October 22, 2019

I hadn't followed the chats much before attending their gig but damn was I lucky for one of my earliest exposures to them to be live!

The Chats are a trio of mullet bearing lads from Australia who jam about exactly that - living life as caucasian ozzy youth. Tunes like "Mum Stole My Darts" and "How Many Do You Do" deal with having your cigs stolen and taking excessive quantities of shit drugs with your friends. This is the pinnacle of Australian youth life.

The Chats' performance on stage is raw and beautiful. Captivating their crowd within minutes of opening, attracting flashers mounted on the shoulders of crowd members instantly. "Bus Money" and "Pub Feed" charge up the crowd, creating a mosh as I have never seen before. Their music is relatable and unforgettable but still manages to be raw and edgy. It truly lives up to the term they coined themselves: Shed Rock.

Honestly, this band is definitely something worth experiencing, and I'm so glad I got to take on the sport of being in their crowd.

The Chats will be back and performing at Laneway 2020, don’t miss them!!

- Ravid Aharon

Images By Madeleine Brighouse

Miss June - Bad Luck Party

September 8, 2019

Sweaty, pink in the face, bruised all over and grinning from ear to ear! I only wish I could do it all again, like right now would be good! Last night was the Album release of Miss June's long-awaited full-length album. Long-awaited but bloody well worth the wait!

After performing Wellington on Friday night, the band came back to their home town to thrash it out at Galatos. A great line up preceded the band and got the crowd riled up and dancing their hearts out. It was my first time hearing the artists 'Na Noise' and 'Mikaela', and despite the light being so bad that I got like no photos they were both hella mean. I look forward to hearing more from them! Returning home with Miss June was' ‘Daffodils’ who opened for the band down in Welly. As per usual, Daffodils had the crowd singing at the top of their lungs and dancing/leaping around, such a good buzz.

By the time three acts had gone, Galatos was packed almost to bursting point. I swear as the band came on the mosh started right then and there. Yet once the first song started, it managed to find another gear. Amps were pushed around, stage dives were commencing, the crowd was screaming. There were moments where I could see my mates heads popping up in the middle of the mosh, but they were few and far apart.

Let's do it again soon Miss June. Everyone needs to let go, scream their emotions out more often.

Oh and check out Miss June’s new album ‘Bad Luck Party’ its bloody good!

Na Nosie

Girlpool

September 7, 2019

I've closely followed Girlpool's journey over these past years, specifically, since I heard the song Bla Bla Bla for the first time. Friday was the first time the band had been to NZ, but they still pulled a good-sized crowd at Galatos.

Joining the duo was lovely Jasmin who is 'Being.' performing and reciting her beautiful poetry, exciting things are happening with her, as the release of her first music video approaches!

Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad have both evolved both as people and as musicians since the release of their Ep ‘Girlpool’ back in 2014. The best friends released their third album 'What Chaos Is Imaginary' earlier this year, and although voices have altered, and looks have differed the two have produced a very Girlpool album. Their sound is still fun, just now with more layers of sounds and richer instrumentation on top of the original vocals, bass and guitar.

But vocals, bass and guitar were what Girlpool brought with them to the show on Friday. It made for such an intimate time, and far more powerful experience. I look forward to the day they come back to NZ and to see where their lives take the two of them.

Kirin J Callinan

August 24, 2019

Where the hell do I start?

With Kirin flipping his guitar then dropping it, his stories about cocaine-filled partying with fellow Aussie singer Angus Stone, or the way he'd wrap the mic cord around his neck almost to the point of asphyxiation.

Clad in nearly full camo, workman's pants and a red beret, Kirin must have hit up the army surplus on his way to the show. He'd also rock a fantastic pair of snakeskin cowboy boots and pencilled on moustache.

Coming out of the show I was speechless and giddy. How was it possible to be so captivated by a performance for over 2 hours! We'd follow him moving up and down the venue; backstage for an acapella rendition of S.A.D. - utterly bizarre. There were moments where he'd ask for silence, and the crowd would hush. He had everyone in the palm of his hand.

Towards the end of the show, Kirin insisted on reproducing one of his fears/nightmares. Asking the crowd to leave slowly during the song till only kirin way left playing to an empty room. It only took a moment until people realized he was dead serious, we were ushered out as he performed to a dwindling crowd an then, silence. He's a fantastically unusual character.

Kirin's latest album, 'Return To Centre' was recorded in a garage in just 14 days, due to Guitar Center's 14-day return policy, from where all of the recording gear was purchased. Cheekily, of course, he'd return it all on the last day for a full refund. It's really good. You need to check the album out.

"That was the weirdest and most engaging and best show I have ever witnessed." - Buster Darragh Major

Marlin’s Dreaming