Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Illegal downloader fined


The first case under the new copyright act has been heard at the Copyright Tribunal. An unidentified internet user has been fined $616.57, of which "The tribunal ordered the pirate to pay the costs of purchasing the tracks ($6.57), $50 towards the costs RIANZ incurred for sending the notices and $200 for the cost of bringing the case to the copyright body. The offender was also ordered to pay a deterrent sum of $360 ($120 per infringement)."

Read the full judgement on NBR's site.

The NZ Herald reports that "The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) ... took an unnamed offender to the Copyright Tribunal last year for sharing songs on the internet - a track by Rihanna on two occasions and the other by Hot Chelle Rae.

NBR reports that "In a letter from the defendant included with the decision, she says she accepts responsibility for downloading the first song, Rihanna's "Man Down" although she had not been aware her actions were illegal at the time.

"She writes she subsequently had trouble deleting a BitTorrent file sharing programme called utorrent, which led to a subsequent inadvertent download. She did not know how another song, "Tonight, Tonight" by Hot Chelle Rae, came to be downloaded over the connection. "It was not done by myself or anyone in this household," she wrote."

Rianz said in a statement that "It is disappointing some account holders do not take meaningful action when first advised their connection was being used to flout the law."

Its; worth noting that filesharing  programmes like utorrent generally set themselves up so they will automatically open when you start up your computer, and it appears this user didn't know it did that.

From NZ Herald:  "In a decision released today, the tribunal found in RIANZ's favour and ordered the offender (who was a Telecom customer) to pay a penalty $616.57.

The ruling was the first of its kind under a 2011 copyright law change that allows rights holders - like movie studios or music companies - to issue notices to users believed to be illegally downloading or uploading copyrighted content. After a third notice, rights holders can bring a case before the tribunal, which can fine an offender up to $15,000.

Although only two songs were involved in this case, RIANZ sent a second notice about the Rihanna song to the offender around seven months after the first.

In a submission to the tribunal, the music pirate claimed ignorance to the illegality of the offending. "The first song downloaded was a song called Man Down by Rihanna. I accept responsibility for this. I downloaded the song unaware that in doing so from this site was illegal," the submission said.

However, the offender did not claim responsibility for the Hot Chelle Rae track. "It wasn't [downloaded] by myself or anyone in this household," the submission said. While the pirate only referred to downloading the songs, RIANZ's claimed the offending was for uploading the music.

This was accepted by the tribunal, which also said it was possible the pirate only intended to download the music over the file-sharing network where the offending took place.."

ADDED Jan 31: Thomas Beagle of TechLiberty has written an interesting analysis of this test case and what it means, worth a read...

Snip: "... It seems clear from the quoted part of the respondent's submission that they have no real idea about how file sharing via bittorrent works. RIANZ and the Tribunal both also seem somewhat blind to the reality that a default uTorrent installation will set itselt to automatically restart whenever the computer is restarted, and will thus keep sharing until stopped...."

"this case once again demonstrates two of the key weaknesses of the law:

"There is no way to prove your innocence. No one in New Zealand keeps the kind of detailed network logs that would be necessary to prove that you hadn't done what you were accused of. All you can do is assert that you didn't do it and the Tribunal has just shown that they will ignore this.

"The responsibility falls on the account holder, not the people using the internet to infringe copyright. In this case the respondent admitted she had downloaded the first track, apologised and had taken steps to stop it happening again. She denied downloading the third track that triggered off the penalty and suggested that someone else might have done it. Obviously we can't know if she was telling the truth, but the reality is that most internet connections are shared and this could easily happen.

"These two points are going to come up again and again. It seems certain that in many cases justice will not be done, with the account holder taking the fall for sloppy detective work on the part of RIANZ and the ISP, or the actions of other people sharing their internet account..."

ADDED Jan 31: RIANZ MD Chris Caddick told NewstalkZB that  they "can measure piracy levels and they have not gone down over the past 12 months... we have really been waiting for this, a first decision, to send a clear message, that there are consequences..." He says he is confident that this test case will result in a drop in piracy.

ADDED: See this US report on Kim Dotcom's recently launched Mega: File-sharing site Mega fields 150 copyright infringement warnings...

"Mega, which launched on Jan. 20, allows people to store 50GB of encrypted content for free. The content, which can be shared between users by sharing a link to it, can be decrypted if a user also shares the encryption key.

Mega was developed with an eye to avoid the copyright infringement allegations that plagued Megaupload, which was shuttered in January 2012. Since uploaded content is encrypted, Mega cannot determine the content of files stored. But it will remove content upon receiving a valid notification of copyright infringement."

Menahan keep coming



Off The Crossing, the latest album from the Menahan St Band, dropped October last year.

New Dam Native video

Annie C - U soul me



Found this really cool track from Miss Annie Crummer on a vhs, nice mid-90s triphop production vibe. It was a single off her 1996 album The Seventh Wave, on Warner Music. When I posted it to my Youtube account, unfortunately Warners blocked it for New Zealand viewers, which was a bit stink.

I was able to get a contact to email at Warners NZ, and they kindly unblocked it. Why they would block an artist they released on their own label is beyond me. Especially for an NZ On Air-funded video. Let the taxpayers see it, peeps.

But this is something of a big problem with Warners, especially around the Flying Nun catalog. Although Warners no longer own the FNun catalogue, I'm guessing they clearly still have the artists listed in their database that Youtube use to source their copyright warning and geoblocking.



Russell Brown recently highlighted on Twitter the case of former member of the Headless Chickens Grant Fell, who uploaded some videos of his old band, only to have Warners block them for NZ viewers. At least their version of Abba's Supertrouper is still up!

Russell writes about this problem, noting "... Warner Music’s continued and unwarranted assertion on YouTube of copyright over the Flying Nun Records catalogue it no longer owns – each geoblocking claim needing to be sorted out on an individual basis – is probably not the only problem of its kind..." in a post discussing the launch of Kim Dotcom's new service, Mega.

At the Mega launch, Dotcom talked about his his yet-to-be-launched Megabox service, that will give artists a lion's share of the sales, 90%. That's nothing new. Bandcamp gives artists 85% of every sale. Creating an online service that cuts out the record labels is not new or innovative. Perhaps folk in the media can wake up to that and stop blindly repeating Dotcom's assertion on this like it was fact. If you asked some local independent musicians, they'd tell you they're already using Bandcamp very successfully, so why would they go with Megabox....

Anyways, the Annie Crummer video was directed by Mark Hartley. This single peaked at #21 in the NZ singles charts, and the album peaked at #5. The single also featured a rap remix produced by Anthony Ioasa, with Three The Hard Way on vocals.

New Charles Bradley single

album cover artwork

Charles Bradley follows up his fantastic 2011 debut album No Time For Dreaming with a new album, Victim Of Love, dropping April 2 on Daptone's imprint Dunham Records. Here's the first single ... US tour dates here. May 16 he's hitting the Apollo Theatre, that would be a very cool show to see...
 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

El Truento bizz

Some tunes from the back catalog of Christoph El Truento, name your price, over on Bandcamp - have a listen...

Monday, January 28, 2013

R.I.P. Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner (Ohio Players)


Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner of the Ohio Players (Fire, Love Rollercoaster, Funky Worm) has passed away aged 69. Found a couple of great old live clips of the band, below...

Official Family Announcement of the Passing of Leroy Sugarfoot Bonner (source: Kiss104FM)

"Yesterday, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner passed away quietly in his hometown of Trotwood-Dayton, OH. While his family, friends, colleagues, and fans mourn his passing they celebrate fondly his memory, music, and legacy.

Sugarfoot, or Foot, or Sugar, was the founding and cornerstone artistic talent of OHIO PLAYERS and the face and sound of the OHIO PLAYERS brand, which he knit together and launched in 1964 with former members of The Ohio Untouchables. With a career spanning 56 years, he passed barely short of his 70th birthday.

Humble yet charismatic, soft spoken and of few words, the weight of his thoughts, lyrics, and music has influenced countless other artists, songs, and trends. He will be missed but not forgotten as his legacy and music lives on. More details and an official historical perspective of his career will soon be forthcoming."

Ohio Players frontman Leroy ‘Sugarfoot’ Bonner dies, from Dayton Daily News



Benjamin 7"

Cherries Records is a fresh label founded last year outta Chicago. Their latest release drops Jan 29, on 7" single and MP3, and sounds like this... damn, it's dope.... go check out their earlier releases too.



Flipside is over here, listen....

Some background... "Windy City singer and multi-instrumentalist Benjamin [Ben Pirani] has a fondness for ‘80s soul ... he cites Fatback Band producers Bill Curtis and Gerry Thomas as prime influences, and as such, the single contains two jams that channel the synth chic of the time, while adding a signature contemporary touch. “I have a bit of genuine nostalgia for that period of music,”

BENJAMIN muses wistfully, helping illuminate the audacious Jheri curl uptopianism of his formidable debut. Although, funk is just one color in this shining star’s musical palette. BENJAMIN also plays guitar and sings in Chicago Stone Lightning Band, a heavy blues rock affair who recently released an eponymous LP. He is also a founder of Chicago’s northern soul music staple Windy City Soul Club.

This broad scope of activity rests in solid foundation as BENJAMIN is from a family of pros. His mother’s opera career ran from the ‘60s to the ‘80s, while his father played piano on Terry Callier’s timeless 1972 LP Occasional Rain, as well as alongside leading lights of Chicago soul such as Charles Stephney and Minnie Riperton..."

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Jan 26



Freddie Cruger - Something good
Junior Murvin - Bad weed
Horace Andy - Jah provides
Linval Thompson - Babylon system
Risco connection - Caught up
Wabine - Sail on
Sergio Mendes - For what it's worth
Hank Marvin - Sunday for seven days
Booker T and the MGs - Melting pot
Dexter Wansel - Life on Mars
Tappa Zukie - Freak
Loopless - Pink blue hotel
Stinky Jim - Get ready to talk (free download)
Fatback band - Wicky wacky
Charles Wright - Doing what comes naturally
Kashmere stage band - I wish - Todd Terry remix
BT Express - Express dub - Kenny Dope mix
Benjamin - Not a moment too soon
The Orb feat Lee Scratch Perry  -Soulman - Villad b rmx
Horace Andy - Bad man - RSD remix
 Horace Andy -Cuss cuss
Konshens - She loves money
U Brown - Gal u so bad


Friday, January 25, 2013

Tosca talk



New album Odeon is out February 4th...see previous post new Tosca album for a sneak audio preview/DL...

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Reality tunes


Tasty album from 2010 from these Chch cats, and it's free... classy roots reggae stuff, have a listen.

Mt Zion, soon come



This NZ feature film debuts on Waitiangi Day, Feb 6, which is also Bob Marley's birthday. Fitting for a film about a band trying to win the opening slot for Bob Marley's 1979 Western Springs concert. Watch the trailer, above...

"In this feature film Australian Idol winner and X-Factor judge Stan Walker makes his acting debut as aspiring singer Turei. Part of a whānau of Māori potato pickers from Pukekohe, he has to choose between duty to family (Temuera Morrison is patriarch 'Papa') and letting the music play. Turei's dilemma takes place amidst reggae star Bob Marley's 1979 tour to Aotearoa and a chance for him to win a supporting slot at Marley's Western Springs concert. Mt Zion is director Tearepa Kahi's first feature, after a suite of successful short films (Taua, The Speaker)."

Clip on the making of the film from Marae Investigates, watch out for the Ghost Chips bro...and near the end they sing Tutira Mai acapella... chur!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Solange XX



Solange live in London, Via Pitchfork

Cheese On Toast reports that The xx are doing Australian live shows in early April, noting there is a gap in their tour schedule before those shows, and the band have indicated they are keen to visit NZ again, so fingers crossed.

Sam Cooke interview



Via Dangerous Minds, on  the Mike Douglas Show, 1964.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Albarosie bails on Raggamuffin

 Albarosie has pulled out of Raggamuffin, apparently due to greedy and unrealistic artist management demands. Raggamuffin announced on Facebook that "We are very disappointed to inform Raggamuffin fans that Alborosie is no longer available to perform. We are working overtime to confirm a replacement act. Details will be announced very soon."

Previous posts: 
Ali Campbell owed $ by Raggamuffin (2012)
Herbs vs Raggamuffin (March 2011)
Herbs light up the court (April 2010)

Vinyl is making a comeback #262

photo: Peter McLennan
Interesting piece, called "Vinyl Analysis: Snobbery Or Substance?" Starts off with the usual statistics on rising vinyl sales, then notes "the very fact that 389,000 LPs were sold [in the UK] in 2012 is a phenomenon worth investigating... "By Danny Wright.

"... History professor David Suisman, who chronicles the history of the commercial music industry in his book “Selling Sounds: The Commercial Revolution in American Music”, says, “In an age when music and many aspects of culture seem ephemeral and fleeting and, in many ways, superficial, the materiality of vinyl offers a substance.”

But is this substance or just plain snobbishness? Sometimes having a vinyl collection just seems another way for people to show their superiority when it comes to music and the chance to denigrate others.

Is there a valid reason? Yes and no. Some people just love the antiquity of the format. Some people love the large artwork (just look at the amount of vinyl art frames you now see in shops). Some people prefer the richer (better?) sound.

Yet there are more tangible reasons. The vinyl renaissance is also bringing back the actual joy of physical discovery of music. As someone who was in the queue for Record Store Day last year to get themselves a copy of 'Mclusky Do Dallas' I can attest to its popularity. It was something communal and exciting and it certainly creates a very different, and deeper, relationship between you and the artist..."

Saturday, January 19, 2013

The Lions go 45


The Lions are a Southern Californian outfit who play some great old style reggae vibes. Their wicked cover of  Think (James Brown/Lnn Collins) was killer, and their debut album Jungle Struttin on Ubiquity, was a well-refined effort.

They're back with a new album, this time on Stonesthrow... (and don't forget, Stonesthrow mainman Peanutbutter Wolf is DJing in Akld on Jan 26...)

"ANNOUNCING: THE LIONS - THIS GENERATION - 45s. There will be no 12-inch LP edition of The Lions album This Generation. We're going all out for 45s on this one - a box with 8 records including the album's 12 tracks, and 4 bonus dub tracks not available on the CD or digital release. Expected ship date is Feb 26.

And we have one more track: "Padre Ichiro" Dub version by Bill "DJ Prophesy" Wendt who works with Dub Club & Glitch Mob. This track will not be on the album -- available only here and our digital subscription at Drip FM." http://sthrow.com/lions

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Jan 19

Western roots - Bogus buddy
Pavlov and Mishkin - The dog
Mike Zoot feat Laba - Spread love
Dillinger - Detention
Henry and the revolutionaries - Skanking
Pinvhers - Bandolero
Tenor Saw - Have u loved somebody dub
Nextmen feat Cutty Ranks - Silent weapon
Romanowski and Doze Green - Strudel strut
Skyy - Here's to you
Temptations - What it is
Fatback band - Do the Spanish hustle - Danny K edit
Soul searchers -We the people - Danny K edit
Gay Flamingoes steel band - Black mans cry
James Brown - Stone to the bone
Maxayn - Bailout
Wu tang clan - Gravel pit - LP version
Eric B and Rakim - I know you got soul
Grandmaster Flash - The message - Paul Nice super duty mashup
Richie Phoe feat Dangerman - First class mi run
King Everand - Kill old pan
Waldeck - Floater - Dubblestandart mix
Rhythm and sound feat Willi Williams - See mi yah
Rhythm and sound feat Sugar Minott - Let Jah love come
Rhythm and sound feat Jah Cotton - Dem never know

Friday, January 18, 2013

Breaks Co-op video



Popped up on the revived deepgrooves website, they say "We maybe shot three, possibly four videos for the Roofers album. So far we have found three, but we are pretty certain there were four. This one for SUCH THE SPOT was shot in 1997 over two Sunday afternoons in Harajuku. We will post up the other clips shortly."

Breaks Co-op got funding from NZ On Air for three music videos - Sound advice, Transistor, and Such the spot.If a fourth video did happen, it could have something to do with this....

John Oz of the band Freaker, also on Deepgrooves and recipient of two NZOA video grants, mentioned over in the comments of 5000ways that  "...Deepgrooves never produced any videos for my tracks, the money was apparently spent on Breaks Co-op. I did feel completely ripped off, I understand “Mutilator” was the first instrumental track to receive funding from NZ on Air. I am however really happy for Breaks Co-op, Zane was very supportive of me and my project. The financial decisions were not made by the artists."

Lee Fields, 56 Oldsmobile



In which Mr Lee Fields gets driven to a gig in Holland in a 56 Oldsmobile, like the one is father had. The show is in a church. Incredible acoustics, and Lee's performance is electric. BVs from Lady (also on Truth and Soul Records). Watch it. Via Rolling Stone.

".. The Dutch production company behind the video, Sensu, selected the majestic venue for Fields.  "Filming the video in an old medieval church was the most humbling and spiritual experience I have ever encountered," Fields says."

Hey Bo Diddley! 1969



Watch Bo Diddley shake. Watch him shimmy, Watch him rock out all over the show like that badass uncle you never had. Video via Surfadelic.

Now go buy some Bo Diddley tunes, cos that will make you a better person.Cos he's an original.

First time I saw him play this song on a live clip was on a vhs tape compilation of the TAMI Show, and it looked like this... and check out his band, stylish mofos to the last drop...

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ Set in AK


Via Cheese On Toast, this sounds way cool... "Brooklyn’s unchallenged authority on rare African cassette tape jams – Mr Brian Shimkovitz who runs the very excellent blog AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA is going to be DJing in Auckland for one night only next week…
Playing at Golden Dawn on Tuesday 22 January – entry is free!

some background... via The Wire...

Collateral Damage: Awesome Tapes From Africa's Brian Shimkovitz
May 2012

Digital transparency has revealed dimensions to African music beyond Western received ideas. But how to market it sympathetically, asks Brian Shimkovitz

"I started Awesome Tapes From Africa (ATFA) as a way to make artefacts available from the cassette based music economy I have encountered around Africa. Something that began quite innocently as a means of filling the wide gaps in international music distribution – nearly every musician and producer I’ve met in West Africa wants to find a way to get their music beyond their borders – has become a spark in the often fiery debates surrounding suspected post-colonial tendencies of the Western music industry vis-à-vis the developing world.

My fascination with tape culture in West Africa led to the rather ironic activity of spreading analogue recordings via digital technology. It’s a pursuit that adds to outsiders’ appreciation of the breadth of musical subcultures in myriad African regions, many of which have been passed over by the otherwise excellent labels which have released music from the continent...."

Rodriguez live in NZ

photo: Marina Akwa/Glow Mag
 
Just announced, Rodriguez is playing live in NZ in March - Wellington Town Hall March 16, and Auckland's Logan Campbell Concrete Centre, March 17. Tickets in sale from Ticketek from Jan 29.

Stinky Jim soundz



Brand new solo bizz from the mighty stenchmiester, go grab it!

Jim sez "Well this should have happened on New Years Day, or considerably earlier considering it’s been kicking around in Maschine since 2010, but finally knocked this somewhat unclassifiable tune off and lets call it a celebration of 500 Soundcloud peeps tuning in. "

"It’s permanently available as a free download, and it also heralds the start of binging some more of my solo-dolo tunes up as they get to a stage of ..if not completion, at least some sort of finality. Next up will be something completely different and considerably fresher… keep ‘em peeled.Hope you enjoy, as ever big thanks to Mr Mo Delay for his invaluable mix assist and mastering touch…….

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Lost Tribe



Lost Tribe were on Phil Fuemana's label Urban Pacifika Records. They dropped the killer single Summer in the winter (video here) in 1997 (there's no date on the cd single, so think it was then - the single charted in the top 20 in Sept 97), here's a clip of them rehearsing in 96.

Video posted by Lost Tribe's Johnny Sagala aka Jestar, who writes "Sinbad the original member of Lost Tribe from 1995 to early 1997 had made a decision to walk the Christian walk, leaving the group to find a replacement that "KD - Kilo Delta" was adopted into the crew time for the single "Summer in da Winta"


Jestar on the above video: "You'll never see Brotha D with short hair or Jestar with Long hair again or Sinbad cuz he's building Houses or SonTan cuz he's an Australian proud father of two beautiful girls ... until you've seen this classic piece of history in how Otara hip hop became the seed to kicking off Dawnraid International. Two nights before we shot this we were down at the Basement night club with Phill Fuemana introducing ourselves to each other as the new UPR rap crew that needs a new name. Then Lost Tribe was born."

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Go go gadgets!


Here's some interesting numbers on gadget prices from the NZ govt statistician...

The average price of a radio [in 1949] was about £21, or about $1460 in today’s terms.

Colour TV sets were around $80 in 1975 ($7950 in today’s terms) for a 26-inch set.

Typewriters were included in the CPI basket in 1977, when the average price was $175 (about $1030 today).

In 2006, a 32-inch LCD-display TV retailed at about $2750. The same size TV in the September 2012 quarter would have cost about $680.

Source: From typewriters to tablets – the changing face and price of technology

UK music retailer HMV in trouble

Via BBC: "Music and DVD chain HMV, which employs about 4,350 staff, has confirmed it will appoint an administrator, making it the latest High Street casualty. Deloitte will run the 239-store chain while it assesses prospects for the business and seeks potential buyers ...
In a statement late on Monday the company said: "The board regrets to announce that it has been unable to reach a position where it feels able to continue to trade outside of insolvency protection...

... As its debts mounted, HMV sold off parts of the business, notably its live entertainment arm and the Waterstones book chain.

Last week, HMV announced a month-long sale with 25% off prices, sparking worries that the company needed to shift stock after poor Christmas trading. The Financial Times reported that the final straw came over the past few days when suppliers, including music labels and film companies, declined to help HMV with funding so that it could continue trading...

Neil Saunders, the managing director of retail analyst Conlumino, said he felt the appointment of administrators at HMV "was always inevitable. In the digital era, where 73.4% of music and film are downloaded, HMV's business model has simply become increasingly irrelevant and unsustainable.

He said that although the HMV brand "certainly has some value" for potential buyers, the current business model was dead. TThe bottom line is that there is no real future for physical retail in the music sector," he said.

Updated Jan 22: Major record labels assemble rescue package for struggling HMV, via NME

Free Mo Kolours




Taken from the forthcoming OHM release, EP3: Tusk Dance. Pre-order the 12" here: mokolours.bandcamp.com/album/ep3-tusk-dance

More info: "Anglo-Mauritian pop-experimentalist Mo Kolours completes his trilogy of EPs for One-Handed Music with EP3: Tusk Dance. The most introspective collection so far, Tusk Dance is the best opportunity yet to glimpse the otherworldly visions of this unique singer, producer and percussionist.

Mo Kolours’ first two releases have established him as a singular voice as he explores the rhythmic possibilities of his mix of soul, dub, hip hop, the Sega music of his homeland, and various electronic styles."
onehandedmusic.com/artist/mokolours/

Monday, January 14, 2013

Golden Dawn shifts to town?

Crane next door to Golden Dawn, cnr Ponsonby and Richmond Rds. Photos by Peter McLennan.
Golden Dawn is a popular bar in Ponsonby, but it needs a new home. Only ever intended as a temporary popup bar-type arrangement, the owners have kept it open as I imagine it has proved a good money earner for them.

Redevelopment plans on that site and next door mean it will most likely have to move by the end of summer, according to their Facebook page. The lot adjacent to them has been vacated by the Mini car dealership, and is now a construction site with foundations being drilled, and so on.

Former council depot, corner Wellesley and Nelson sts,
Weighstation pictured below, with Sale St and Glengarrys behind


One rumoured new location for Golden Dawn is at the revamped City Works Depot, in the former weigh station, near the corner of Nelson and Wellesley st (photo above).

[Update, Jan 15: Golden Dawn's Matthew Crawley contacted me via Twitter to say the "Sale St rumour is popular but false + looks like we've got this spot for a while yet."]

[Update Jan 20 - the Sunday Star Times reports that Bauer Media (ex ACP Magazines) has signed up to move in to City Works, and Foodtruck Garage and Al Brown are also confirmed as taking on a lease.]

[Update Jan 30 -NZ Herald's Viva section confirmed today that Al Brown is opening a bagel bakery in City Works, along with a New York-style deli in Federal st.]

After the two previous owners failed to get major redevelopment of the site up and running - most recently with a office/apartment project called Rhubarb Lane - the site is now owned by a car parking company, Tournament Parking, who have previously been using the space for parking for several years, while developers chased finance.

Unfortunately Tournament have stripped the site of all established trees, and painted out the extensive graffiti art murals, so as not to frighten off car owners, or new tenants, like ad agency Y&R, or Brothers Brewery. Al Brown is also rumoured to be starting a new venture there, a Montreal-style bagel joint. The site has major limitations for entertainment venues, as there are hundreds of apartments all round the site, which means noise will be a problem.

It's evolving into a vibrant spot again, after previous incarnations as art gallery spaces or the cafe Deus Ex Machina. But did they have to white out the walls?

Brothers Brewery, excellent spot for a cold beverage or two.


Photos by Peter McLennan.

Wilson Parking have done the same with their upper Symond st parking spot, painting out the graffiti murals that have been there for many years. Those parking companies really love bland walls.

At the time of purchase, last February, James Brown of Tournament told the NZ Herald that "We have no plans to undertake a big redevelopment. Our plan is to restore the existing buildings and then refurbish them."

The depot was originally built for the Auckland City Council in 1968, and designed by Ewen Wainscott. They won awards from the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 1969 and 1970. See construction photos here.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Jan 12

Bomb the bass - Bugpowder dust - Kruder and Dorfmeister remix
Art of noise - Beatbox
Koliphones - Jungle concerto (moog)
Gwen Guthrie - Rockin chair dub
Funky 4 + 1  - That's the joint
Wajeed - Jeedo suave
Hot 8 brass band - Ghost town
Souleance - Strongest love
Backini - Cream
Blurum13 -Futuristic b-boys inst
Wrongtom and Deemus J - Old time stylee
Butch Cassidy sound system - The pressure
The Clash - Bankrobber dub
Black Uhuru - Party next door
Prince Fari -African queen
Tosca - Heatwave
Menahan st band - Sleight of hand
Gloria Gaynor - Tell me how
The Dells - Learning To Love You Was Easy (It's So Hard Trying To Get Over You)
Eddie Kendricks - Son of Sagittarius
Ray Terrace - You been talking about me baby
New swing quartet - Monkey see monkey do
Mongo Santamaria - Funk up
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Riot in Lagos
Cubalooba - Cubalooba

Nile n Bernard before Chic



From 74, a vocal group called New York City, their backing band included Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, pre-Chic. Live on German TV.

Friday, January 11, 2013

SB & Cosmo - Songs We Listened To A Lot In 2012







"Although using the calendar year is a great tool for cataloging and referencing releases, music moves at it's own pace, and we have found that songs have a way of finding you when they are supposed to find you.

Songs you grow to love are discovered in many ways: through hearing them at a club night, on a DJ mix, in a movie, in a friend's car, at a restaurant - and those songs aren't always new songs, or songs that came out the year that you hear them first. But they are songs that are relevant to YOU that year. And in each of our individual music experiences, they play a role in shaping your musical taste.

So here's our mix. A different take on things. Skratch Bastid & Cosmo Baker - Songs We Listened To A Lot In 2012."

More info & writing & DOWNLOAD: http://www.skratchbastid.com/?p=2832

New Charles Bradley in April!


A new album 'Victim of Love,' from Mister Charles Bradley, out April 2 on Dunham/Daptone. Look for the first single and tour dates to be announced soon.

Earlier this week I posted up a great list of music docos from 2012, on eof the films listed was a doco on Bradley - if you haven't seen the trailer, watch it below...it looks amazing...

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Peanutbutter Wolf in AK Jan 26



This is gonna be a fun gig....[updated - gig has moved from Britomart CC to Galatos]

FINE-FORM and ARCADE in association with Conch Records Present PEANUT BUTTER WOLF (VJ SET) (USA - STONES THROW) 

" We are very proud to announce the return of Peanut Butter Wolf. Founder of indie raps most influential record label STONES THROW RECORDS (MF DOOM / J DILLA / MADLIB / MAYER HAWTHORNE) and long time producer and DJ, PBW will be performing one of his world famous VJ sets. PBW seamlessly blends between the decades and genres of visual achieves to create a spectacle for both ears and eyes.

With a huge line up of local support including Cian, Submariner, Truento, Ev Love and Joel Paydirt this is not a show you want to miss. Tickets are $28, available at UnderTheRadar and instore at Arcade and Conch.

New Tosca album

Richard Dorfmeister (of Kruder & Dorfmeister) and Rupert Huber return with a new album Odeon, dropping Feb 5. Here's a free taster.

"'What If' was the first track that we finished for Odeon," says Tosca's Rupert Huber. "The song's basic idea -”what if this was not the case”- can serve as a layout for the whole album: what if noise was a song? What if the sound of the sea was a symphony? What if the ears could listen?

Video: Mala in Cuba



One of my favourite albums from 2012 was Mala in Cuba, a great record mixing electronics, dubstep, and Cuban rhythms. Via Factmag, Gilles Peterson has posted this live clip off the album.

Matty J feat Dei Hamo - Somewhere you're there



Matty J feat Dei Hamo - Somewhere you're there, single peaked at #21 in the charts, late 1994. Film Archive credits the video to Craig (Jax) Jackson but it kinda looks like a Mark Tierney production. Song is produced by Mr. Tierney.

Music docos: 2012 snapshot



From Musicfilmweb, read this great article, titled "The Rodriguez Syndrome: Our Favorite Music Films of 2012". Hat tip to Jay for the link.

"No use denying it: in music documentary terms, 2012 was the year of the Sugar Man. Malik Bendjelloul’s dextrous telling of the too-good-to-be-true tale of lost bard Rodriguez opened the yearstealing everyone’s thunder at Sundance and closes it seemingly certain to cop an Oscar nomination, having hoovered up festival awards and critical kudos in between.

Little surprise, then, that Searching for Sugar Man dominates our annual review of the year in music film, wherein we asked an unscientifically selected baker’s dozen of judges to pick the best of 2012 (one top choice and a handful of honorable mentions). It showed up in seven of the 13 lists (it would’ve been eight – see below), topping three. A few participants seemed to feel almost obligated to offer homage, while one explicitly framed his choices as the anti-Sugar Men..."

Among the films they highlight include the Bad Brains doco, the Ginger Baker doco Beware of Mr Baker (above), Charles Bradley - Soul of America, This Band Is So Gorgeous! Sham 69 in China, Rock ‘n’ Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen (dr: Don Letts), Punk Syndrome (About a Finnish punk band whose members are mentally disabled), United States of Africa: Beyond Hiphop, and many more cool sounding films... some trailers below...








Wednesday, January 09, 2013

The Son



From the debut album Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted (Tangata Records) from Dam Native, now sadly out of print. Production on the album mainly by Zane Lowe, with the Submariner and Hamish Clark (Breaks Co-op) on a few tracks. Someone needs to reissues this! Video directed by Steve Morrison.

Watch Urgh! 1981 live show



Urgh! A Music War (1981) ... 2 hours of great live footage... "... Featuring Devo, OMD, The Cramps, Pere Ubu, Wall of Voodoo, Echo & the Bunnymen, XTC, Klaus Nomi, Gary Numan, Joan Jett, Gang of Four, Magazine, and X... Urgh! is a two hour compilation of live performances by both well-known and obscure bands of the early 80's punk, new wave and electronic genres recorded live in LA, London, New York City and elsewhere..."

Watch out for Steel Pulse doing Ku Klux Klan, at 00.43.14... and The Cramps with Lux Interior (RIP) rocking out like a madman...

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Scotch Bonnet newies

New releases from Scotch Bonnet, out Jan 14 on vinyl/digital, preview below...

"Here are the next 3 SCOB's out 14th January 2013, with debut releases from Tradesman & Subactive sound system, the first excursion from Mungo's on the label since Jahtari artists, Disrupt & Rootah. This is bolstered with the first ever white label, featuring an exclusive vinyl only remix of the 90's classic "Your love", with the Mungo's Riddim on the flipside. Releases will be available from Scotch Bonnet Records shop.





Monday, January 07, 2013

Marbecks Dunedin refocuses on cafe

Otago Daily Times reports Marbecks Dunedin is shifting its focus away from music and books to the cafe side of its operation. The store will also take on much of the stock after the closure of Marbecks Queens Arcade in Auckland. Dunedin store manager is David James, ex Dead Flowers.

"... Marbecks managing director Roger Harper said ... there were no plans to close the store in the Wall Street mall. The Queen St store, which sold only music, had proven to be ''obsolete'' when faced with competition from online sales, but Dunedin's store opened three years ago with those new commercial realities in mind, he said.

Dunedin's shop mixed music with books and a cafe, which was proving successful, he said. Changes this year would shift the shop's focus more towards the cafe operation and away from music and books, although the sale of both would remain part of the business, he said..."


TV3 covered the closure of Marbecks Queens Arcade on their evening news on Jan 3, watch the story here.

"The owners of the old store say closing down is a commercial reality. People get their music online now, so they're going to focus more on developing their cafes. “It's just change, you know,” says Marbecks managing director Roger Harper. “Things have evolved over time. We've had a great run in the music business, but that business model just can't be sustained.”

RELATED: Marbecks closing/opening...

Saturday, January 05, 2013

Flying Nun partners w US label for reissues

Via Pitchfork: "In recent years Captured Tracks have done a fine job of preserving material from indie labels of yesteryear with their various reissues, but 2013 will see them launching perhaps their most interesting reissues project yet. 

"The label has teamed with legendary New Zealand label Flying Nun to reissue "a large quantity" of records from throughout its influential catalog, including out-of-print and obscure records as well as the label's most popular material. The series will include boxed sets and expanded reissues of 12" EPs, 7" singles, and LPs, plus posters, shirts, and more...

"The first release will be a 2XLP compilation of singles, demos, and more from Toy Love, whose short lifespan (1979-1980) melded punk and 1960s pop, an inspiration to the Flying Nun aesthetic. ..."

From Captured Tracks site: “We at Flying Nun are super pleased to be setting up shop with Captured Tracks, who have recently been releasing some of the most exciting new music around. We think this brilliantly compliments Flying Nun’s 30 years of releasing some of the most interesting bands to come out of the remote south pacific. I can’t wait to get my teeth into helping people discover and rediscover some of these records.” -Ben Howe (Flying Nun Label Manager)

 We at Captured Tracks are beyond ecstatic to work with Flying Nun Records for this series of reissues. As a young record collector, I always saw the label as a recommendation of quality and a constant source of inspiration. I would comb the shelves of every record store imaginable to secure anything and everything I could find. When I first heard the news that they’d bought back the rights, this partnership was something that was lingering in the back of my mind.” -Mike Sniper (Captured Tracks Founder).

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Jan 5

Junior Murvin - Bad weed
Waireka hill sounds - One people - version
Courtney Melody -Stop inform vocal/version
Johnny Osbourne - Budy bye
Manasseh meets the equalizer - Pepper dub
Jah Stitch - Raggamuffin style - Smith and Mighty remix
Round four feat Tikiman - Find a way
Massive music - Find my way - Kode9 remix
Cos ber zam - Ne noya - Daphni remix
Billy Preston - Do it while you can
John  Davis and the monster orchestra - Love magic
The Staples - Colour me higher
Dalvanius - Chudka pa poy
Beanfields feat Bajka -  Tides - Carl Craig remix
Congos - Congo man - Carl Craig edit
Chaka Demus and Pliers - Murder she wrote
Butch Cassidy sound system - Echo tone defeat
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Victorious dub
Quantic & his combo Barbaro - Linda morena
Sound foundation - Ram dancehall (Dubhead reunited with Tuffi culture at Lion Rockers meets Channel One tonight, 420, K Rd)
Fred Wesley & the JBs - Use me
Nathan Haines - East river dr

Friday, January 04, 2013

RIP Tony Hopkins (drummer)



Just heard via Godfrey De Grut, legendary Auckland jazz drummer Tony Hopkins has passed away, sad news... I remember seeing him play often down at Cause Celebre, always played there with great energy and looked like he was having a ball...

Tony's bio from Creative Jazz Club... "Drummer Tony Hopkins is no stranger to Auckland audiences.. He started his full time career in 1958 as Johnny Devlin’s drummer, backed several famous American pop singers and was a regular at the iconic Montmartre Jazz club in Auckland in the 50’s. He was music co-ordinator at the influential “London Bar” in the from 1990 to ‘94, giving valuable support to kiwi musicians Nathan Haines, Tim Hopkins, Matt Penman, Matt Field, Kevin Fields ."

Chris Bourke notes that Bruce Morley (another fine local drummer, who sadly passed away in November 2012) "... wrote a piece in 1963 called ‘Drums By Four’, played by a quartet that also featured other leading local drummers Don Branch, Tony Hopkins and Allan Nash... [also in 1963] he [Morley] interviewed most of New Zealand’s top drummers for a monograph on the craft in New Zealand. All answered the same set of questions, and typically they came from a wide variety of music styles. Among those interviewed were Don Branch, Ted Croad, Eddie Croad, Lachie Jamieson, Tony Hopkins, Bruce King and Billy Nuku."

Tony won a NZ Music Award in 1993, for best jazz album, for Broadhurst / Hopkins / Haines - Live At The London Bar. He also played 'jazzy rides'on Nathan Haines' debut album Shift Left, which won best jazz album at the NZ Music Awards in 1996.

Video below from 2006, Tony Hopkins playing at Deschlers in High st, with Roger Mannins and Andrew Atwill. Not great sound... taken from the youtube channel of Hopkin's wife, more videos of him live in NZ and Brazil, here...

She writes of her channel: "About Tony Hopkins (not Hannibal the cannibal but a drummer). It is very enjoyable to organize these clips, most of them with Tony (my husband) playing Jazz, Rock,etc. in New Zealand and in concerts in Brazil. Check out his energy!"

ADDED: Chris Bourke has posted part of an interview he did with Tony in 2001 for Musical Chairs on Radio NZ... well worth a read.

excerpt: Tony Hopkins: "I left him [Devlin] after we went to Australia. I was becoming sick of the music and I was getting interested in jazz. I was living in a flat in Kings Cross, a place called Waratah House which was up the top of King’s Cross. There was about five of us guys living there, one of them was Mike Nock. I’ve known Mike since I was 17, we used to share a flat in St Georges Bay Rd in Parnell when we were 17, we’re both the same age.

"I started to get disenchanted with rock’n’roll in about 1959, when I was sharing this flat with Mike Nock in Kings Cross. Mike used to play for Devlin in the very early years, not much, he played just a few gigs with him and we used to play together from time to time at the Montmartre in Lorne St – the building’s still there by the library, behind the St James – anyway, in this flat in Kings Cross, the boys were all into bebop and modern jazz and I started listening to it, and started to play it. So I became a little sick of the simplicity of rock’n’roll. I like the freedom to create that’s in jazz that isn’t so much in rock’n’roll..."

ADDED: Published in The New Zealand Herald on January 12, 2013: "HOPKINS, Anthony Leonard. Passed away at 1.18am on January 4th, 2013 after a short battle with cancer. He was cared for by his family and surrounded by them when he died. Tony The Big Boppa Hopkins, known for his impeccable timing and swing, was a legend in the NZ music scene. An accomplished and inspired musician, his contribution to both Christian and secular music will live on in our hearts and lives. He leaves behind four adult children, who invite you to join them in celebrating his life at a Memorial Service at 11am, Saturday 12th January at St Paul's Church, Auckland City and afterward from 1pm at his family's home in Ellerslie. Our Dad touched and inspired the lives of many with his brave and fiery spirit, and we thank him."

John Dix writes Tony was "One of the great NZ drummers and all-round good guys .... Tony's career was nothing if not eclectic - in the late 1950s he was in NZ's first great rock'n'roll band, Johnny Devlin's Devils, and in the 1960s his jazz workshops provided inspiration and a forum for many Auckland musos. In the 1990s Tony and saxophonist son Tim regularly entertained the cliquey set at Cause Celebre and more recently Tony has been playing with guitar ace Doug Jerebine. At home playing rock, jazz or hip hop, NZ's "oldest teenager" was one of a kind. Hei maumaharatanga ki te tino hoa..."



ADDED: I scanned two photos of Johnny Devlin and his Devils (featuring Tony on drums) at Western Springs, 1959, from the book Stranded In Paradise, by John Dix, who says these shows at Western Springs attracted over 10,000 people. Photos credited as sourced from Phil Warren.

Johnny Devlin... Photo sourced for Stranded in Paradise from Phil Warren
..and his Devils, Tony Hopkins on drums. Photo sourced for Stranded in Paradise from Phil Warren

ADDED: Found this photo blow in a Metro article on Doug Jerebine/Bob Gillett (Dec 2011)... caption says this is The Jazz Workshop at the Bali Hai, off High St (band later became The Embers), October 1962: Brain Smith, tenor sax; Tony Hopkins, drums; Bob Gillett, alto sax; Neville Whitehead, bass; Mike Walker, piano.



ADDED: One of Tony's last live performances, posted on youtube by his daughter Kathryn. There's another video she's posted (also below), of "Tony Hopkins being presented the Scroll of Honor music award by his son Tim Hopkins in Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday 28th October, 2012. Awarded for over 50 years contribution to the New Zealand music industry, his mentoring and charity work. We salute you Tony.

"What is special about this award, is that Dad has recently been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, that has already spread to his liver and that it is inoperable. The specialist has given him 12 months. This award of recognition and validation for all of his years dedicated to playing and sharing music is such a wonderful way of giving something back to him. It has meant a lot to him, as his so many people coming forward with their positive thoughts, prayers and words. Thanks to everyone for that. We love you Dad. Thanks to the Variety Artists Club for the award."






ADDED: "So What? The Jazz Show [on ALT TV]: Kevin Haines (presenter) - In this 1 h 47 min TV program Kevin interviews Mike Walker and Tony and they play together. Here we feature the playing and interviewing sections where Tony is directly involved." Watch interview below and more at nzjazz.co.nz
 






ADDED: From NZ Musician, Vol 8. No. 4 August/September 1999
 
Get Yer Kit Off ... Tony Hopkins
 
Luke Casey, drummer for Auckland band Eye TV, talks to the longtime rock'n'roller and jazz legend.
 
Although you might not know the name, Tony Hopkins is one of this country's most experienced, skilled and prolific drummers. Born in 1940, Tony has nearly five decades (!) of drumming experience under his belt. From first outings as one of the Devils playing with New Zealand's first rock 'n' roll star, Johnny Devlin in the late 1950s, and flirtations with rock 'n' roll in Hong Kong on the 1960s, Tony's career is filled with accolades. His latest triumph was picking up the award for Best Jazz Album, along with Aaron Nevezie and Chris White, at the 1998 New Zealand Music Awards. His jazz trio, which gigs regularly around Auckland, also won the same award in 1992. I managed to pin Tony down for a conversation after a late night performance at Auckland jazz bar, Deschlers.
 
How long have you been playing?
I've been playing for about 44 years. I started around 1958 and had a 17-year break from 1965 to 1982. I've been at it for a long time man!
 
Did you ever have lessons?
I studied with a guy called Barry Simpson in Auckland. That was when I first started. I had 10 lessons with him. After that he told me to stop taking lessons because everyone was saying we sounded too similar. So I guess he was an early influence! I have been pretty much self-taught from then on.
 
Who have you played with?
Where do we start man?! Well, after I toured Australia in the late 1950s with Johnny Devlin - we were the support for the Everly Brothers and other stars - I moved to Hong Kong. I got a job as musical director for '6 O'Clock Rock' which was a weekly radio programme sponsored by Coca-Cola. I spent a year there and then came back to New Zealand in 1962. I toured with Bobby Vee, Jimmy Rodgers and The Crystals and made TV and radio programmes. After three years doing that I began a business career in sales and marketing. Nearly 20 years later I picked up the sticks again man. During that time I lived in Australia and I didn't come back until 1990 (one presumes this period coincides with the rearing of Tony's famous progeny, saxophone player Tim Hopkins).
 
I spent four years as musical director for the London Bar, between 1990 and 1994. That trio (consisting of Phil Broadhurst on piano and Kevin Haines on bass) won the Jazz Album of the Year award in 1992. Since then I have been playing regularly around Auckland with residencies at Cause Celebre, Deschlers and Kitty O'Briens. I also hosted and played on the highly successful 'Off the Record' radio programmes funded by NZ On Air. We made a total of 52 one hour programmes (featuring guests such as Malcolm McNeill and Nathan Haines), and the programme won Best New Zealand Produced Light Music Programme at the 1997 Radio awards.
 
What kit do you play?
I have three kits in total. Two 1960s Slingerland kits and a more modern Pearl kit. I usually play the 1963 Slingerland kit that I got from Lewis Eady's. They used to endorse me back then. In the '60s there were basically three kits that were really valued - Slingerland, Ludwig and Gretsch. There's a nice history to that kit. I sold it in 1973 when I moved to Australia. When I came back to Auckland in 1990 I heard that a guy was selling a Slingerland kit so I went and had a look at it and it was my old one! So I bought it back again. It had been painted black but the guy had stripped it down to its original colour which is a great pink pearl. I just love it. I keep the Pearl for rock gigs and for when I tour because it has hard covers. The Slingerlands have soft covers and I don't want to damage them.
 
The Slingerland kits both have 20" bass drums and 12" and 14" toms, and the Pearl kit has an 18" bass drum and 10", 12" and 14" tom toms. I always use a Ludwig metal shell snare drum. With cymbals I prefer the old 'K' Zildjians. I have a beautiful 70-year-old Istanbul 'K' ride cymbal that I bought from a drummer that was down on his luck in New York. I also just bought a great 'Carl Allen' model Sabian 'Minibell' ride from Drum City in Balmoral. That is a great cymbal.
 
Do you have a favourite drummer?
Jack DeJohnette definitely - for ideas, fluidity, everything. In my early days I was an Art Blakey man. In terms of newer guys I really like Bill Stewart (who has played with John Scofield, Maceo Parker and others).
 
What's your attitude towards education?
The drums are so acutely rhythmical and they must fire - the drummer cannot have an off night. Anything that improves this is a good thing. Education can be as simple as listening to a great record. I think all drummers and all musicians need to keep focused on 'the plot'. That, in my opinion, is the music. It is so easy to become obsessed with technique, fame, the pretty girl that just walked into the club, but this is all secondary to the music - and should remain so.
 
Where do you, as the drummer, fit into the band dynamic?
The drums drive the band, but not in a dominating way. The drummer contributes to what I call the 'shared consciousness' of the group - supporting and pushing the music. It really varies from song to song.
 
What are your band responsibilities beyond drumming?
Mine are mainly organisational - arranging musicians for record dates and shows. Recently though I have become more involved in song arrangement and form.
 
What would other drummers notice about your style?
I'm big on swing and I play with a lot of energy, emotion and feeling. I like to think that people pick up on the feeling of my playing rather than my expertise or technique. I want people to feel good, to give them an escape for a while.

Bobby Womack has early signs of Alzheimers

Photo: Rick Rycroft/AP/ The Telegraph
From Bobby Womack's Facebook page...

"With regards to the recent widespread news of Bobby Womack's diagnosis with signs of early Alzheimer’s, Mr. Womack would like to release the following statement.

"Thanks to all of my fans for their prayers and well wishes. I truly appreciate and can feel your love. With the support of many good doctors, my family, and all of my wonderful fans, I will continue to write and perform and bring the good music to the people for as long as I can."

– With much love, Bobby Womack."

From the LA Times... "The doctor says, 'You have signs of Alzheimer's,' " Womack told the BBC's Gilles Peterson in an interview on the latter's Radio 6 program. "It's not bad yet, but it's gonna get worse."

Womack, 68, admitted that he's having trouble remembering things, including the name of Damon Albarn, who co-produced "The Bravest Man in the Universe" with XL Recordings chief Richard Russell. At October's Q Awards in London -- where Womack won the award for best album -- he introduced the Blur/Gorillaz frontman as "Damon Osbourne." (The singer first collaborated with Albarn on the 2010 Gorillaz set "Plastic Beach.")

"That's so embarrassing," Womack said of the memory lapse. "Here's a guy I work with -- I would never belittle him like that."

In June last year he told Spin Magazine "I had prostate cancer. I had colon cancer. I had my lungs completely cave in. I had walking pneumonia twice and I'm a diabetic."

UPDATED: Womack does NOT have Alzheimers, see this interview from 6 Feb 2013...

"... I ask him about the Alzheimer's. His face creases into something like a grin. To cut a rambling story short, Womack says that he was becoming worried at occasionally forgetting lyrics. And after his coma, when he couldn't recognise his ex-wife and had lost 40 pounds, his concern about his memory loss deepened. So he mentioned Alzheimer's to a writer, "because I didn't understand it".

So, you don't have Alzheimer's? "No."

Great news, clearly. But his ex-wife "cussed me out. Regina said, 'Why would you tell people you had Alzheimer's? Now you'll never get bookings!'" he laughs. "I'm saying, 'Bookings? I don't care about no goddamned bookings! I'm alive!'"

Pop culture vs Tarantino



Via Next Draft, "Quentin Tarantino is obsessed with including pop culture references in his movies. Here's every single one of them in a single video."

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Loungehead



This video popped up on the revived Deepgroooves.co.nz website recently...they comment that "We shot this clip in one of those semi-abandon[ed] buildings down town near the old bus terminal, another all nighter. The clip features Mr. Massey's recuring[sic] locked off camera shot (Sulata, Ermehn etc) which in this case ended up requiring literally hundreds of edits. Unfortunately, Sulata was not available for the video shoot due to her having just given birth to a lovely baby boy. We did however have quite a bit of footage of her that was shot for another project but never used. It seemed to splice in reasonably well."

More background on Deepgrooves over here.
Watch Deepgrooves videos...