Musicians answer questions from Elsewhere

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Ed Knowles of the Checks

21 Nov 2011 | 3 min read

Some people -- Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, Patti Smith, Liam Gallagher and so on -- seem born to front a band. They have some innate and intuitive understanding of their audience, how central they are to the band's focus, a confidence that seems almost unnatural to more retiring types, and can deliver as if this is the only thing in the world that matters right here and right now. Ed Knowles... > Read more

Ready to Die

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Lindon Puffin

14 Nov 2011 | 4 min read

Lyttelton-based singer-songwriter Lindon Puffin has been around the traps for a decade now, first in the glam-tinged band the Puffins and for the past eight years as a solo artist. He has been quietly building a steady reputation as storytelling musician who has something to say. He's also opened for some of the brightest and best, among them Billy Bragg, Shona Laing, the Warratahs, Gin,... > Read more

Outta Reach

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Will Waters of Kerretta

27 Oct 2011 | 3 min read

The Auckland-based three-piece instrumental outfit Kerretta have taken a big step up with their atmospheric, intelligently programmed second album Saansilo and -- although their debut album Vilayer was nominated for the Taite Music Prize in 2010 -- they are probably winning more acclaim in the States and Europe than on home territory. They played the South x Southwest Festival in Austin last... > Read more

Shepherds Thread

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Paul Kean of the Bats

17 Oct 2011 | 3 min read | 1

Standing next to Flying Nun founder one night at the Gluepot in about 1990 and the Bats are playing. The place is packed and jumping to the band's melodic guitar jangle where one song merges into another -- frankly every now and again I thought "didn't they play that earlier?" -- when Shepherd turns to me and says, "this is why I started the label". There is a smile... > Read more

Simpletons

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Jeff Kelly of Green Pajamas

12 Oct 2011 | 6 min read | 1

Jeff Kelly from Seattle has made some of the most eerily beautiful and economic psychedelic pop-rock with his long-running band Green Pajamas although his reputation travels below the radar and usually by word of mouth between loyal fans. Kelly/Green Pajamas have released a couple of dozen albums since 1984 (which includes the handsome box set of home recordings Melancholy Sun), and Kelly... > Read more

Dark Water (in the Wires)

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Andrew Fagan

10 Oct 2011 | 2 min read

Andrew Fagan's first band was called Ambitious Vegetables, but that was in the period which rock historians refer to as "a very long time ago". Everyone is allowed silliness when they are still at school. But Fagan was made for better things and some of AVeggies formed the Mockers, one of the great pop-rock bands of New Zealand in the Eighties which -- propelled by Fagan's... > Read more

Religion

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Jess Chambers

23 Sep 2011 | 2 min read

Wellington-based singer-songwriter Jess Chambers and been around and seen around in her short life. Born in Dunedin, growing up in the US, back to New Zealand at 12, settling in the capitol eight years ago . . . And along the way making diverse music: Wistful alt.country in a hushed voice; working with electronica artists like Module and Rhian Sheehan; the debut album Jess Chambers and... > Read more

Hopeful Dreamer

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: David Donaldson of Thrashing Marlin

19 Sep 2011 | 6 min read

Bassist David Donaldson has had a very long career in New Zealand music dating right back to the first albums on the Braille label out of Wellington in the early Eighties. Donaldson appeared in the bands Primitive Art Group, Six Volts, the Brainchilds and others -- but, with Steve Roche, has also been in Thrashing Marlin who have, with Donkey Deep, now released four albums. Donaldson and... > Read more

Another Man's Grave

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Mel Parsons

16 Sep 2011 | 4 min read

Singer-songwriter Mel Parson's debut album Over My Shoulder from 2009 was nominated for a Tui in the New Zealand Music Awards. It had critics noting her lyrical strengths and songs which could stand alongside the best coming out of Nashville, but which also sounded distinctively Kiwi (perhaps because as Elsewhere noted, she doesn't disguise her accent). Parsons is clearly on her way -- the... > Read more

In My Heart

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Simon Comber

9 Sep 2011 | 7 min read

New Zealand singer-songwriter Simon Comber seems to have a confident mainline into those places where few others venture: insecurity articulated in small details, astutely observed slice-of-life images which suggest more than they say, and an honesty which is soul-baring and yet guarded at the same time. He really is someone special and although Elsewhere missed his debut album (Pre-Pill... > Read more

Young and in Love

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Tim Browning of the Shake Up

7 Sep 2011 | 4 min read

Tim Browning of the Sydney rock trio is a busy guy. He not only plays drums but handles the press and tour bookings for the band which last year released its debut album . . . if you have no shame to glowing reviews and radio play back home. Full of rocking pop hooks and bristling with post-punk politicised energy -- and produced Detriot's Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Dirtbombs) -- the album... > Read more

A Little Bit Quiet

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Nick Johnston of Cut Off Your Hands

5 Sep 2011 | 5 min read

New Zealand's Cut Off Your Hands crashed into the public consciousness with their debut album You and I in '08 after building a strong live following, then they did what so many Kiwi bands do. They moved to London. And unfortunately, as so many Kiwi bands discover, that is a bigger and tougher market with a natural scepticism about bands from the former colonies which aren't Australia or... > Read more

Buried

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Gotye

3 Sep 2011 | 2 min read

With his third album Making Mirrors, Belgian-Australian singer-producer and multi-instrumentalist Gotye -- Wally De Backer -- rode the wave of approval in his home country. The album topped the charts on release at the same time as he held to top spot on the singles chart with the exceptional Somebody That I Used to Know, which featured Kiwi expat vocalist Kimbra. That song -- likened in... > Read more

Eyes Wide Open

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Tim Finn

2 Sep 2011 | 2 min read

Tim Finn's remarkable career (outlined here) now reaches to nine solo albums with the release of The View is Worth the Climb. Add in all the Split Enz years, the Crowded House/Finn albums and other work with brother Neil, soundtrack contributions, ALT and guest appearances . . . It is quite something to reflect on, although you suspect he is too busy moving on to do much of that . . .... > Read more

All This and More

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Thom Burton of Wilberforces

22 Aug 2011 | 3 min read

Thom Burton is the mainman in the Auckland-based band Wilberforces (clearly he grew with Under the Mountain) and their stark, bristly sound is captured on their second album Vipassana (named for the meditation technique I guess, although a more meloow Barton wouldn't make much sense). He takes time out to answer the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire and clearly there is as much wit as rage in... > Read more

Believement

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Kelly Sherrod and James Duncan of Punches

15 Aug 2011 | 4 min read

Punches is the nom de disque of James Duncan and Kelly Sherrod who have conducted a long distance recording session for their extraordinary album Etheria (reviewed here). Over the course of recording she was in Nashville and he was in Auckland . . . and their joint reply to the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire comes from James in Berlin where he is currently living. And it arrives with an... > Read more

Blue Moon

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Katie Thompson

8 Aug 2011 | 4 min read

Singer-songwriter Katie Thompson doesn't let the remoteness of her hometown on New Zealand's West Coast prevent her from engaging with an international audience. And she reaches out in many ways, not the least by getting on to Sellaband in which fans can donate money towards the recording of an album. And they did, to the tune of US$50,000. That's a lot of money from people who want to hear... > Read more

Roll in Tide

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Ruban Nielson of Unknown Mortal Orchestra

4 Jul 2011 | 3 min read

Guitarist/singer/songwriter Ruban Nielson was formerly a member of New Zealand's much acclaimed Mint Chicks but went on his own path, returned to live in Portland, Oregon after the band had been there, and is now part of the three-piece Unknown Mortal Orchestra whose self-titled debut (in a striking cover, see below) shows just how far he has moved from the sound and style of the Mint Chicks.... > Read more

Strangers Are Strange

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Paddy Burgin

27 Jun 2011 | 2 min read

Wellington's Paddy Burgin is a wonder with wood. He can make it speak and sing. Burgin fashions it into guitars, some of which he plays in his band Paddy Burgin and the Wooden Box Band whose album My Sweet Town of 2009 was reviewed favourably at Elsewhere here for its intelligent music and literate lyrics. Their most recent album is Gentle Landings and takes the form of emotional and... > Read more

Paddy Burgin and the Wooden Box Band: Blackwood Bay

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Dave Baxter of Avalanche City

23 Jun 2011 | 3 min read

Dave Baxter, who is Avalanche City, has one of those ground-up stories: he was in the rowdy band The Chase but wanted to write something more folksy and rootsy; recorded his debut abum Our New Life Above Ground himself in modest circumstances; released it over the internet for free download; the single Love Love Love (and album) took off; Warner Music picked it up and had to rush (re)release it... > Read more

The Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire