18
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2007
[email protected]
comedy
music
film
on line
TOMORROW
High-energy dance music at
MonkeyFeather from Fuzzy Logik
and Madness.
The Lookie Loos at Platform 01
as part of The Party exhibition.
Free, 5.30pm start.
Mike Crook, Geoff Doube and
Gian Perrone — solo acoustic
chaps from several local bands —
at La Commune. Free entry, 7pm.
Sophie rolls out a montage of
bumping house grooves at Sekure.
▲
GIG GUIDE
Thursday
Diggers Bar and Café
FORGERY: This three piece; acoustic, bass 'n
drums, make a lot of noise and make it their
purpose to rock your night! They're called
FORGERY but they aint no frauds, its only the
best from the best when FORGERY are in town.
It's a double whammy night for entertainment
at Diggers this Thursday. House of Shem are in
the back bar bringing their reggae originals to
the crowd at Diggers. Pre-sale tickets $20, door
sales $25. Call 834 2228 for more info and GET
IN QUICK! Come party hard this Thursday, come
party @ DIGGERS!
Skycity
Songstar! It's Karaoke live, R18 The Deck, every
Thursday from 8.30pm.
Friday
Hamilton Cosmopolitan Club
SATURDAY
Old-school hard dance at
MonkeyFeather from DJ C4K and
guests.
Equanox and False Start at The
Yellow Submarine. All ages show
from 6pm-9pm, R18 show from
9pm onwards, $10 entry for each
show.
The Jonestown Syndicate
(Australia), Antagonist, In Dread
Response, Every Man For Himself
and A Calm Before at No Way
Out Records. All-ages show, 7pm,
$15.
Danmove (Auckland) is joined
by Barney (Pavement magazine)
to inspire your night with a bit of
everything from vocal house to
electro at Sekure.
DJ Philippa delivers her monthly
dose of house grooves at The Loft.
TUESDAY
Ministry of Hypocrisy at Platform
01 as part of the The Party
exhibition. Free, 5.30pm start.
Email event info to [email protected]
CHUGANAUT: From left, Munro, Lil, Stu and Tony, release their first album tonight.
Thu 23 August – Thu 30 August
BROWN BROTHERS know how to make it a good
night, bringing you the best of the best to make
your Sunday an awesome Sunday @ DIGGERS.
Get down to dirty ol’ DIGGERS. Always a
great atmosphere with Nick and his crew…..
pizza’s, your favourite brew and awesome live
entertainment…… what more do you want for
your Sunday?
Skycity
Warriors vs Manly Sea Eagles, LIVE from 2pm.
R18 Zone. Check it out on the big screens!
The Riv
"FREE BRUNCH" 10-2pm. Buy one get one free.
Vouchers available from bar staff.
Monday
Biddy Mulligans
Closed
Crossroads
7.30 - 11.30pm MAIA! Awesome group,
exciting! Best vocalists around! Have a meal and
afterwards enjoy the music.
12.30 Air NZ Cup - Replay - Canterbury v Manawatu
12.00 Football Replay - Middlesborough v Newcastle Utd
2.00 Football Replay - Manchester Utd v Tottenham Hotspur
2.30 Air NZ Cup - Replay - Wellington v Tasman
Biddy Mulligans
Diggers Bar and Café
Crossroads
7.30 Air NZ Cup - LIVE - Auckland v Taranaki
7.30 Air NZ Cup - LIVE - Southland v Northland
9.30 NRL - LIVE - Bulldogs v Melbourne
9.30 NRL - LIVE - Newcastle v Nth Queensland
Karaoke with Wayne
Diggers Bar and Café
JAVA: The local Hamilton guys from JAVA are
always up for a good time! From the 'Chillies'
to 'Sublime' to good ol 'G n R', JAVA will rock
your night... you just won't want to go home!
Don't forget those after-work complimentary
nibbles and drink specials from 5pm to 7pm!!
Do it @ Diggers!
Skycity
$50 Friday Shout, R18 Zone. Enter by buying a
drink 5-7pm weekdays to be in to win!
The Riv
Wind down after a hard week. Relax by the fire
in the courtyard bar or play pool, listen to the
jukebox and chill in the sports bar.
Saturday
Hamilton Cosmopolitan Club
7.30 - 11.30pm KOTUKU! Two top female
vocalists and musicians. Don't miss this exciting
duo dance the night away! Dine and dance.
Biddy Mulligans
Tonight at 7.30pm Waikato kick off against North
Harbour to pick up the Log 'o wood. Sit back and
enjoy the thrill of Shield Rugby!!!
Crossroads
2.30 Air NZ Cup - LIVE - BOP v Otago
4.00 AFL - LIVE - Carlton v Kangaroos
5.30 Air NZ Cup - LIVE - Wellington v Tasman
7.30 Air NZ Cup - LIVE - Nth Harbour v Waikato
7.35 NRL - LIVE - Sharks v Titans
9.35 NRL - LIVE - Sydney v Penrith
Diggers Bar and Café
THE GREAT BRAIN ROBBERS: Proud Mary
will keep on burning with these guys as they
rock your night away! Regular muso's that are
always welcome at Diggers. This Saturday you'll
be partying to covers such as CCR, The Rolling
Stones, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Neil Young and
Crowded House... the line-up is awesome, the
band wicked, and it's all happening @ Diggers.
Want a big night? Then do it @ Diggers!
Skycity
Waikato vs North Harbour, LIVE 7.30pm. R18
Zone - See the boys battle it out for the Ranfurly
Shield. Live DJ + drink specials all night!
The Riv
Sorry closed…. But always ready to take those
bookings for functions…. So check us out on
line @ www.diggersbar.co.nz, or call 834 2228,
or email [email protected]. What-ever the
occasion, you can probably do it @ Diggers.
Skycity
Bingo! R18 The Deck. $500 worth of prizes to
be won. Every Monday from 1.30pm. Grand
Getaway: Win $1000 cash! R20 Casino, Draw
6pm.
The Riv
Lunches from $6.50. Relax in the sunny sheltered
courtyard. Business groups welcome.
Tuesday
Biddy Mulligans
Guinness Quiz Night starts 7.30pm. All welcome,
bar tabs to be won.
Crossroads
11.00 Tennis - LIVE - Day 1 night session
10.30 Cricket - Replay - England v India
Diggers Bar and Café
Our in house muso’s Kelly and Jakey are always
up for a party with the people of Digger’s on
Tuesday nights! Awesome sounds and loads
of talent, these two will be performing for
your amusement….. oh I mean entertainment…
(Don’t forget to join the Handle Club…..
guaranteed special rates so bring your mates!)
Skycity
Sports Quiz! R18 Zone. Free to enter! Every
Tuesday from 7pm.
The Riv
Pool Comp 7pm. Fun, friendly crowd. $2 gets
you to play all night. Bar tabs up for grabs.
Wednesday
Biddy Mulligans
Stop in at Biddy's, try a Donegalls toasted
sandwich or play the gaming machines while
enjoying a Guinness.
Crossroads
11.00 Tennis - LIVE - US Open
10.30 Air NZ Cup - Replay - BOP v Otago
6.30 FREE Texas Hold Em Poker
Diggers Bar and Café
VEGAS BROWN is back in town and he's playing
here @ DIGGERS this Wednesday. He's loud
and he's proud and he's awesome, you'll be left
wanting more. VEGAS is all about the crowd,
and that's you, so get down to DIGGERS this
Wednesday! Don’t forget our $25 meal deals are
smokin’ so we’re keepin’ ‘em goin’. 1 x Famous
Diggers Gourmet Pizza, 1 x Chunky Fries and 2 x
tap beer or house wine!!!!
"Shield Party" $3.80 Handles 7.30-9.30pm. DJ
to celebrate victory. First 50 people in before
Waikato v Harbour game get free pick of the
score: $100 cash to be won.
Skycity
Sunday
The Riv
Biddy Mulligans
Open from 3pm for meals or a pint or two.
Crossroads
2.00 NRL - LIVE- Warriors v Manly
2.30 Air NZ Cup - LIVE - Canterbury v Manawatu
4.00 NRL - LIVE - Brisbane v Canberra
5.00 NRL - LIVE - West Tigers v Souths
Diggers Bar and Café
No matter the weather, no matter the season,
it’s always blue @ DIGGERS on Sunday. Come
get all the rhythm and blues you can eat this
Sunday with THE BROWN BROTHERS. THE
Quiz Night! R18 The Deck, free to enter! Every
Wednesday from 7pm. Grand Getaway: Win a
luxury weekend away! R20 Casino, Draw 8pm.
Student nite - Burger, chips & pint $5. ID
required.
Thursday
Biddy Mulligans
Another week has passed, have you had your
quota of Guinness???
Crossroads
8KAM0160 VT
End of another week, call in and enjoy a guinness.
Stay on, have a meal and watch NPC rugby live
on the big screen.
live
into
waikato
Danny Bhoy, Scottish comedian,
at Founders Theatre. Tickets from
Ticket Direct.
Blindspott, Yours Truly — The
Farewell Tour, at Altitude. Last
chance to see this group before it
disbands. Tickets from the venue
and Ticketek, although at time of
writing only a small number were
left. Support acts are Full Nelson
and Take The Willing.
Uncle B at MonkeyFeather.
The Big Pay Back at Sekure, with
Ric Rush and Kellyn.
pop culture
Chugging action
nightlife
TONIGHT
radio
11.00 Tennis - LIVE - Day 3
7.00 Air NZ Cup - LIVE - Hawkes Bay v Auckland
The Riv
Best Karaoke in town. Great crowd, great sounds,
The press release accompanying the long-awaited
debut album from Waikato band Chuganaut largely
sums things up.
“It’s been an exhausting journey, with long and
frustrating delays, but it’s finally here!” it reads.
Too true. Having formed in 2001, and moving up
a gear in 2002, self-described “twisted metal act”
Chuganaut made front-page headlines in the Times
in 2004 when the quartet — vocalist “Solid Stu” Rice,
bassist Munro Goodwin, guitarist Tony “Nail” Vincent
and drummer Lynley “Lil” Anderton — claimed
victory in the inaugural Intergalactic Records Battle
of the Bands. The interest in the band, one might have
thought, would build and the victory would lead to
greater things.
Not quite, says Stu.
“There was an expectancy to get more out of it than
we did,” he says. “We didn’t get a hell of a lot out it —
a small amount of publicity. But it wasn’t the be-alland-end-all of our careers.”
Ah well, never mind. Chuganaut has plugged away
gamely in the ensuing years.
“We’ve come a hell of a long way since those days
— Munro was pretty much fresh to the band, he’d
only been with us about six months when we were in
that,” says Stu.
So what did happen after that big win?
“We just carried on gigging. We did the Big Day Out
in ’05, opened that — that was pretty cool. It takes a
long time for a band to achieve success, and you’ve
got to allow for the fact you’re making a fan at at time.
You might play to a room full of people, and only a
handful of them like your music.”
Gigs are one thing, but an album is what fans really
want. Chuganaut has released a few singles, the Wolf
EP and appeared on Paul “The Axeman” Martin’s Axe
Attack Volume 1 compilation. But tomorrow night
— some six years after forming — the band releases
its debut album, One.
“We’ve been waiting to have some cards to play,”
says Stu.
“It’s a long time coming in our eyes, because we’ve
been playing the songs on both albums for the last
year or so. Some of the songs are from back when we
first started — old material, so to speak.
“But the timing’s right — it’s come the way it is,
because it’s supposed to be this way for some reason.
It’s opening the doors, and paving the way for us to
start heading overseas.
“The idea would be to push the hell out of the album,
sell as many copies as possible so we can get a bit of
financing behind it. It’s really hard to make it in New
Zealand; that’s part of the reason we want to go overseas,
purely because there’s not enough people here.”
To use Stu’s card-playing analogy, Chuganaut has
a tidy hand to play as well. One was recorded by veteran
Hamilton sound engineer Scott “Sonic” Newth. “We
relied on his opinion and his technical skills. We had
a lot of faith in him,” says Stu. And, not content to
rest on laurels, a second Chuganaut album is close to
completion and due for release early next year, while
a DVD on the band is also waiting in the wings.
“It’s refreshing for us, because we’ve been able to
start writing some more material,” says Stu, who hints
a third album can be expected at the end of 2008 or
early 2009.
Chuganaut, like many Waikato acts, has stayed
independent — the band and its support crew has
been in charge of the recording and release of One,
as well as the marketing and promotion. Stu says the
group has even shied away from major label interest.
“We’re pretty much behind everything that goes on,
really. Most of the stuff is done by our own sweat.
Essentially, we’re paying it all off as we go — we’re
keeping it in check.”
Chuganaut releases One tonight at Axces Bar in
Hamilton. Also on the bill is Agent, Brutally Frank and
Outshine. It’s a free show, but an R18 venue.
hype
Mastermind, long regarded as one of the toughest
quiz shows on British television, has been accused of
“dumbing down” after allowing a contestant to choose
actress Jennifer Aniston as a specialist subject. The BBC2
show, which first aired in 1972 and spawned a New
Zealand version hosted by Peter Sinclair, features
contestants competing against each other and the clock,
answering questions on general knowledge and their
specialist topics. Subjects of choice have included
European royalty, the works of Gilbert and Sullivan and
German wines, but more recently the show has featured
questions on The Simpsons and British football grounds.
Mastermind producer Jon Kelly denied popular culture
subjects indicated a slide in standards for the show.
“Mastermind has always had a balance of high-brow
and populist subjects,” he told The Independent
newspaper.
Facebook is shaping up as every boss’ nightmare as the
social networking website urges its members to hook
up with workmates online. In just two days this month,
7000 people joined Facebook, as they chat with a network
of mates — often daily, sometimes hourly. Internet
filtering specialist, SurfControl, estimates the Facebook
craze could cost businesses more than $US5 billion
($NZ7.37 billion) a year. According to SurfControl
figures, if just one employee spent an hour a day on
Facebook, it could cost their business $US6200 a year.
The owners of the real-life club that played the part
of the Bada Bing in The Sopranos will auction off the 3.6metre stripper poles and other relics from the drama
on eBay. Other items going on sale include a pool table,
a disco ball and the fluorescent purple men’s room sign
often seen in the background as mob boss Tony Soprano
conducted business. Susie Quigley, who runs special
events at Satin Dolls (which passed for the Bada Bing),
would not speculate on how much the poles might fetch.
“The poles have been featured in almost every single
episode. I can’t begin to say,” said Quigley, a former
dancer who appeared as an extra last season. Also up
for sale: at least 10 standard-issue bar stools that James
Gandolfini, who played Tony Soprano, and his crew sat
on. An L-shaped slab of the bar where they watched
dancers and drank also will be auctioned.
A woman has proven through DNA testing she is a
child of the late James Brown, said a longtime adviser to
the soul singer. The woman is the third person to
determine through DNA testing done after Brown’s
death that the singer is their father, Buddy Dallas told
The Augusta Chronicle in Georgia. About a dozen DNA
tests have been performed. Some people have been ruled
out as Brown’s children, while other tests are pending,
said Dallas, who would not release details about any of
the newly found children.
Singer Amy Winehouse, right, has
put her North American tour
on hold, raising more concerns
about her health. Last week, it
was announced that the 23year-old was cancelling all
her August performances
due to “severe
exhaustion.” While
British tabloids have
claimed the retrosoul singer has
been in rehab due
to drug abuse, her
spokeswoman has
denied such
claims.
downloads
television
albums
hip hop/rap
Common
FINDING FOREVER (Good/Universal)
Pharoahe Monch
DESIRE (Motown/Universal)
His last album, Be (2005) was a certified classic,
so Chicago rapper Common (Lonnie Lynn) is
hard-pressed to produce a fitting follow-up. On
Finding Forever — his seventh long-player —
the rapper/actor/model/good samaritan follows
the formula which brought him glowing acclaim
last time. Kanye West returns to production,
coming up with some quality, well-structured
rhythms for the two highlights, the lyrically
clever lead single The People (discussing the
impact of his last release and his music) and the tough-talking industry
diatribe The Game. West drops verses on the average rock-based I
Want You, English pop tart Lily Allen adds the chorus on the pianodriven and radio-friendly Drivin’ Me Wild, while the ballad-like So Far
To Go (featuring D’Angelo) also appeared on J Dilla’s The Shining.
It all ends again with Common’s dad Pops Lynn issuing spoken-word
comment. Nowhere near as good as Be — how could it? — but it’s
another dose of quality, intelligent, sophisticated hip hop music, and
went straight in to the Billboard 200 at No1. If anything, it’s not quite
as soulful or spiritual as Be, and a little more “street”. New York’s
Pharoahe Monch (Troy Jamerson) has been on the scene for a
decade, but Desire is just his second album. This opens in a forgettable
rocky-crossover style with Free, but opens out into a diverse and
interesting rap album, spurred into life by the fist-pumping title track
(featuring Showtime). Playing Push keeps with the bass-heavy soul
style, before he manages an acceptable version of Public Enemy’s
Welcome To the Terrordome. Monch’s lyrics are more staunch than
those of his Chicago counterpart (When The Gun Draws has him
speaking as if a bullet), but by and large he’s pretty smart, and the
various producers’ beats give him room to move. Body Baby is the
one other major clunker, otherwise it’s a good set rounded out by a
long closer, Trilogy. Recommended listening for mature and
sophisticated rap fans looking beyond the bling, booty and golden
mouth-grilles.
(Common)
(Pharoahe Monch)
Jeff Neems
Various Artists
NOW-AGAIN RE: SOUNDS VOL 1
(Now-Again/Rhythmethod)
Various Artists
GURU’S JAZZMATAZZ VOL 4
(Method/Shock)
Two takes here on the rap-meets-jazz/funk/soul
concept. Gangstarr’s Guru helped pioneer this
genre with 1993’s first groundbreaking
Jazzmatazz compilation, and so perhaps
unsurprisingly there’s nothing new about this
fourth instalment, released some seven years
after Vol 3. The guest list impresses: Common,
Raheem DeVaughan, Blackalicious, Omar and
even Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul fame. Solar (not Frenchman MC
Solaar, I should point out) handles some of the production, and while
not spectacular in any way, it’s a reliable and smart listen, with
snippets of classic, jazz funk and soul tunes (among them Massive
Attack) used as the basis for some solid grooves. Now-Again Records
is a subsidiary of Stones Throw, and specialises in rare groove and
funk reissues. For this compilation, some of the parent company’s
big names (Percee P, Koushik, Edan, Guilty Simpson, J Rocc) probably
wandered into Egon’s office and suggested “a bit of a mix of straightup funk and hip hop rapping”. Well, it works — really well in fact.
Again, various old cuts are sliced and diced into the rhythms, and
although it’s not all dancefloor oriented, it’s head-nodders from go
to woah, with smart production, great sample choices (Sagitarrius,
Before I Die, Ain’t No Sunshine) and well-composed beats. Given
Guru’s Jazzmatazz project is starting to get a little stale around the
edges — it’s hard to imagine he’ll try a fifth compilation — the NowAgain set is probably the way forward for this style, and is the better
of these two releases.
(Jazzmatazz Vol 4)
(Re:sounds Vol 1)
Jeff Neems
punk/rock
Turbonegro
RETOX (Scandinavian Leather
Recordings/Shock)
This is one of those bands whose members
don’t care if you think they are awful, because
they know they are awesome. I fully agree with
them. Turbonegro — once almost called
Nazipenis — are a physically unattractive lot who refer to themselves
as high priests of the Church of Destruction and hail from Norway.
It may be popular belief Scandinavia produces more metal bands
than the US produces weapons, but this band is pure rock ’n’ roll.
They unashamedly borrow riffs and song structures from AC/DC,
The Ramones and more and create a great sound. After a dozen full
listens I still can’t decide whether they’re making fun of themselves
or being deadly serious. Titles like No, I’m Alpha Male and Everybody
Loves a Chubby Dude beg you to just laugh at this band and its
puerile lyrics. However, their musical competence and reckless
freshness make you fall in lust with the band with every listen. Retox
may be full of disgusting sexual imagery and stomach-churning turns
of phrase, but it really is just excellent retro-rock. Twenty years ago
Retox would have been banned in every country in the world, so run
and buy it before it gets banned here.
Arthur Robinson
Bad Religion
NEW MAPS OF HELL (Epitaph Records)
When I first put this album on I got everything
I was expecting. Like a lot of punk bands I’ve
heard lately — particularly those in the political
niche so many aim for in the post-9/11 world
we live in — Bad Religion sounds pretty much
the same as it has for their past few albums. The only difference is
it is perhaps a bit tougher. Brian Baker from hardcore band Minor
Threat being in the line-up has almost certainly helped with that.
While several of my friends were excited when I explained the sound
of New Maps of Hell to them, I wasn’t quite as enthusiastic. Sure,
the group hasn’t watered down its sound in order to increase its fan
base and paycheques. But in resisting the temptation to go down the
same path as so many other bands, Bad Religion may have stagnated.
This perhaps alienates the group from all but the most die-hard fans.
Lyrically, however, these songs are excellent. In fact, they show an
education and social conscience well beyond most of the band’s
peers. Songs titles like New Dark Ages and Submission Complete
hint at the intelligence and lyrical skill lifting this release above being
just another punk album from California.
Arthur Robinson