27 Apr 2024
Articles By Nicholas Clark
Matt Hay - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 009: Matt Hay
25 Apr 2024 // interview by Nicholas Clark
The AUX Return sat down to chat with legendary blues and country player, Matt Hay. Topics such as the 90's live music scene, harmonica microphones, if Americana (or specifically 'Kiwimericana') needs to experiment from one release to another or remain the same, and the importance of a producer on getting out of the box.
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Guilt Grip - Guilt Grip - Album Review: Guilt Grip
12 Apr 2024 // review by Nicholas Clark
Tamaki Makaurau Auckland four-piece Guilt Grip present here, available in the unconventional medium of cassette tape, their first full length self-titled album. It’s an abrasive listen that suits the surreal collaged artwork by Lia Boscu, and one that proudly and loudly celebrates the band’s passions and values.
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Lava - EP Review: Lava
29 Feb 2024 // review by Nicholas Clark
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Tower Of Flints - Album Review: Live at Paisley Stage
12 Feb 2024 // review by Nicholas Clark
The true proof that any band is worthy of praise is the live act. Recalling my own introduction to certain musicians, the quality of a live album would often be the deciding factor of whether I would continue to follow a band.
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Mister Unit - EP Review: There's Always Someone With A Bigger Schtick
30 Jan 2024 // review by Nicholas Clark
Mister Unit’s third offering, after one EP and an album, is a six strong EP filled with inventive riffs, clever lyrics and catchy melodies. Oh yes, and lots of great guitar solos.
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Mister Unit - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 008: Mister Unit
22 Jan 2024 // interview by Nicholas Clark
The AUX Return sat down with vocalist Andrew and rhythm guitarist Simon of Mister Unit behind the infamous Valhalla to discuss their latest album, There’s Always Someone With A Bigger Schtick. We chatted about the recent passing of their bassist Gareth Smith who features on the album, punk music traditions and the frustrations (and hilarity) of writing music in a group.
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Mister Unit - Gig Review: Mister Unit @ Valhalla, Wellington - 18/01/2024
21 Jan 2024 // review by Nicholas Clark
An emotional night for many, Valhalla hosted Mister Unit's album release party on Thursday with a three-band line-up. Emotional because the conclusion of work on a recording always is, whether or not it is a celebration, especially so on the dense, powerful and ultimately nostalgic six track album by the headlining band; but more than usual perhaps, because one member who featured on the album was no longer with us.
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Dave and The Dirty Humans - Gig Review: Dave and the Dirty Humans @ Fringe Bar, Wellington - 13/01/2024
15 Jan 2024 // review by Nicholas Clark
Dave and The Dirty Humans are not a band that fades in memory next to the many other current Wellington bands the capital scene appears to be teeming with. Not only is the name a mouthful, but their live shows are memorable, and their songs seem familiar by drawing heavily from the near past (read, the 90’s and 2000’s).
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Lung - Lung - Album Review: Lung Cancer
07 Jan 2024 // review by Nicholas Clark
The legendary 90’s grunge band Lung recently returned to playing live gigs after a hiatus from 1994 until the 2010’s. In 2022 they released Bad Acid Soundtracks II which offered newer versions from their earlier records (like 3 Heads on a Plate and Cactii) but featured the impressive drumming from frontman Dave White’s son, Zak.
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Curlys Jewels - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 007: Curlys Jewels
22 Nov 2023 // interview by Nicholas Clark
At their usual haunt, the much loved and infamous Lovelands venue, Curlys Jewels sat down with The AUX Return to chat about their new self titled album. They discussed how they had grown up from a baby band, working with producer Greg Haver, their stripped down sound, who would replace them if they had access to any musician living or dead, and when they would time-travel to in New Zealand's rich history of rock music.
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Dave and The Dirty Humans - Gig Review: Dave and the Dirty Humans @ The Welsh Dragon, Wellington - 27/10/2023
31 Oct 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
If you’ve attended even a handful of live music events in the capital these past two years, chances are you’ve seen or heard of the alternative heavy rock band, Dave and the Dirty Humans. They’re the kind of band you might rave about the next morning, groggily and inaccurately trying to describe their style as both heavy and funky, metallic but not really metal, direct and brutal at times but complex and harmonious the next second.
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Dan Sharp - Single Review: Interstellar Runaway
02 Jul 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
Interstellar Runaway, written with Sam Bartells, is Taupo-based songwriter Dan Sharp’s latest single. This song offers more of the soulful, blues inspired pop he has become known for.
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Tomahawk Radio - Album Review: Dreaming With A View
20 Jun 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
Tomahawk Radio’s debut album, Dreaming With A View follows their recent single release of the pop tinged rock song Missiles. The band is effectively listenable, soft, alternative rock, but perhaps ‘soft’ is not a favourable way to describe them – ‘sensible’ might be better.
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The Bravo Uniform Mikes - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 006: The Bravo Uniform Mikes
13 Jun 2023 // interview by Nicholas Clark
The Bravo Uniform Mikes sat down at Valhalla with The AUX Return on their final date of their Lower North Island tour to talk about highlights (Taranaki's Eltham Toy Wall), road life, playing loud bluesy rock, their plans for the future and who could replace them in an emergency. They also chatted about their dream band to open for (The Chats), their favourite venue from the tour and their skills at multi-tasking.
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The Bravo Uniform Mikes - Gig Review: The Bravo Uniform Mikes @ Valhalla, Wellington - 8/06/2023
11 Jun 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
The final night of the BUM Punch Lower North Island tour occurred at Wellington’s infamous Valhalla club. The tour was headed by the Wellington/Manawatu based blues-rock two piece The Bravo Uniform Mikes (or “The Bums” to their fans) and four piece riot grrrl punk band, Cherry Punch, also from Wellington.
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The Knids - Single Review: Doesn't Make It Right
07 Jun 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
The Knids latest single offer the same toe-tapping pop rock they are now known for. Doesn’t Make It Right has overtones of The Cars and other 80’s rock-tinged pop, not that it’s an easy thing to pull off!
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This Silent Divide - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 005: This Silent Divide
06 Jun 2023 // interview by Nicholas Clark
This Silent Divide sat down with The AUX Return to chat about their latest single Beautiful Creature, how the band was formed, how they describe their style of straight-ahead full-steam rock, and their plans for the future.
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Torn Chorus - Single/Video Review: Time I Wasn't Here
22 May 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
Torn Chorus’ latest single Time I Wasn't Here is a mid-tempo rocker that is a pleasant, country tinged song with a not so hidden meaning. The act is a one man band, Franklin Davis, who plays all the instruments and performs all the vocals capably in a no-nonsense approach.
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Dead Favours - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 004: Dead Favours
01 May 2023 // interview by Nicholas Clark
The AUX Return caught up with Auckland band Dead Favours during their nationwide tour to promote Riffing and Yelling Part 2. This 6 track album forms one half of what would have been one album in an alternative universe without covid-19 and Auckland floods.
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Dead Favours - Gig Review: Dead Favours @ Meow, Wellington - 27/04/2023
30 Apr 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
Meow was humming on Thursday night as the locals awaited two Auckland bands and a Wellingtonian act to entertain them. Rock and roll legends Dead Favours, on tour for their second six-track EP Riffing and Yelling Part 2 (or the second part of their second album if you want to think about it that way) were headlining, bringing with them pop-punks Ekko Park.
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Crooked Royals - Gig Review: Crooked Royals @ Valhalla, Wellington - 28/04/2023
30 Apr 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
Valhalla was surely over their capacity on Friday night when Auckland metalcore juggernauts Crooked Royals headlined a very quickly sold out show. It was standing room only within the small club, but there was a palpable, even friendly excitement in the cramped conditions.
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InDuna - Single/Video Review: Dreams
08 Apr 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
Ink and Gold: An Artist’s Journey to Olympic Glory is a documentary about New Zealand artist and athlete, Zakea Page, winning the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games medal design competition. It’s an engaging short film to say the least, with a message about persevering despite the odds and celebrating the intersection of passions, in this case, sport and art.
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TheSlacks - Single/Video Review: Information Ape
20 Feb 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
TheSlacks latest single Information Ape starts off with a sweet melody that reminds me of a 50's doowop band like The Penguins. Over the top of this some digital noises such as phones ringing and switches changing lines establishes the vibe or both sincere, innocent beginnings and hectic modern life.
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Ripship - Album Review: Fearsome Engine
06 Jan 2023 // review by Nicholas Clark
This couldn’t be a Ripship review without at least mentioning the immense noise the two-piece band produces. There – I’ve said it; they sure can conjure up some dBs.
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Adult Friends - Single Review: Brittle
12 Dec 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
In the contemporary music industry, there continues to be a use for genres to categorize products for easier consumption and describe artists for potential customers. True artists, pioneers if you will, often reside at the periphery of the conventions expected of them.
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Tadpole - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 003: Chris Yong from Tadpole
11 Dec 2022 // interview by Nicholas Clark
This episode covers Tadpole's guitarist from 1999 to 2003, Chris Yong. Here we discuss the newly released Tadpole Collection which features 4 discs, including the bands three studio albums (The Buddhafinger, The Medusa, and their self-titled final album) but also Remains of The Day, a collection of unreleased songs that include b-sides, live recordings, acoustic versions and other rarities.
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Swallow the Rat - Gig Review: Swallow the Rat w/ Ripship @ Valhalla, Wellington - 8/12/2022
10 Dec 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Swallow the Rat and Ripship’s seven date North Island tour had landed in Wellington. Despite the anticipation for the event, including how people attending were talking about the event and online discussions, I entered a rather empty Valhalla bar on Vivian Street a little late for the advertised starting time.
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Hans. - EP Review: Candy
08 Dec 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Perhaps it was the introduction from the once great publication of VICE appointing him ‘one of the rising stars of New Zealand Hip Hop’ or perhaps it was Zane Lowe naming him one of New Zealand’s finest rappers, but my expectations were high going in to this review. Previously I had known Hans.
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Alisa Xayalith - EP Review: Superpowers
08 Dec 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Alisa Xayalith is one half of New Zealand’s most successful synth-pop acts of the 2010’s; The Naked and Famous. With Thom Powers, they dominated the early part of the decade with wonderfully produced, catchy and clever pop songs you could dance in a club or a bedroom to.
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Substax - Single Review: Words
07 Dec 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Substax's Words starts off with a fairly typical, hypnotic 180 bpm big club beat. Some of the sounds seem a little retro here, almost straight off an 80’s synth patch for percussion.
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Bevan Mical - Single Review: Cuts Through The Years
21 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Cuts Through The Years is a jolly, breezy single by multi-instrumentalist, Bevan Mical. The song begins with a two-chord sequence on acoustic guitar, but there's something exotic about the chords are instruments that support the verse.
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GiGi Genie - EP Review: Seasons of The Soul / Wa O Te Wairua
21 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Seasons of The Soul or Wa O Te Wairua, is a collection of songs by multi-instrumentalist and self-described folk noir artist GiGi Genie. The group is led by songwriter GiGi Crayford and her support band which includes flautists, violinists, zither and percussion players.
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Ben Horlock - Single Review: Don't Wait On Me
21 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Ben Horlock (Ngati Porou/Te Arawa) is a pop artist from Dunedin who has an ear for a great pop melody, a knack for moody blues guitar lines, and the kind of voice talent scouts are always listening out for. His latest release Don’t Wait on Me features the prominent high hat of modern trap music coming out of Atlanta, an ambient synth lifted from a goth club track, with some deep bass chords to anchor it all together.
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Hans Pucket - Album Review: No Drama
21 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Wellington four-piece Hans Pucket is the kind of band you really should get into now (if you haven’t already) and see live before they become massive. That is, if the world is fair and allows these musicians to succeed at their art form because they really are incredibly good at what they do - and that’s writing beautiful, clever, unusual songs that seem to be for and inspired by uncertain times.
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ABRZY - Album Review: 80 Different Ways II
18 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
ABRZY (sometimes referred to as Breezy) is a rapper who has quickly made a name for himself for not only his distinctive, rapid flowing delivery but his unique style that blends influences from Bengali culture. Above all, this release is genuine.
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Dead Favours - Gig Review: Dead Favours @ Valhalla, Wellington - 12/11/2022
14 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
There was a palpable energy in Valhalla on Saturday night; something akin to an orchestra warming up before an opera or athletes preparing for a big game. Before the first act, standing patrons were clamouring for the front line to enjoy three fantastic (and quite different) rock bands.
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House of Bonnie Presents @ Valhalla, Wellington - 10/11/2022
12 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
While Wellington’s Valhalla can often seem the perfect venue for dark and brutal music with the Viking themed attire, steep black walls, not to mention imposing decals (including some surviving Halloween decorations), the bar was all colour and light on Thursday evening when Sodalight, REID, Happy Two and Burnt Out Graduate came to brighten the corners. The event had been organised by The House of Bonnie; an organiser who regularly puts on pop shows that are often related to Massey University creative art graduates.
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Curlys Jewels - Single Review: Criminal
06 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Curlys Jewels' Criminal begins with one hell of a riff inspired by the glory days of 90’s grunge, but produced with a little more bite giving it a metallic vibe. I instantly thought of Alice in Chains, not only as an influence on the song but also as another band that drew heavily from both genres.
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Desbot - Album Review: Pass of Change
02 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Desbot is made up of Maurice Beckett (bass), from Napier’s post rock legends, Jakob. He is joined by Nick Blow (keyboards) and Tom Pierard (drums).
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The Dirty Tones - Album Review: Can't Stop
02 Nov 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
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The Seizure Police - EP Review: Volume 1
19 Oct 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
When I say that this release is perfect for meditation I intend it as a compliment. It’s difficult to make music this laid back, this thoroughly reliant on delay; this austere.
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S H E - Single/Video Review: Everything Was In Black And White
19 Oct 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Everything Was In Black and White is the newest single from Wellington’s S H E, and it packs a wallop. The band have described their sound as "Lady Gaga meets My Bloody Valentine" and although I was sceptical of such a description at first, it all makes sense when you hear the song (or see the fantastic video that features members in drag alter-egos and is shot in glorious 4K, and of course, in black and white).
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Into Orbit - Gig Review: Into Orbit @ San Fran, Wellington - 14/10/2022
17 Oct 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
A mere two days before Spook the Horses were scheduled to play a much anticipated show at Wellington’s San Fran, it was announced they would not be playing at all. Due to some of the members contracting Covid, the band posted on social media that the gig would be going ahead with fellow Wellingtonians Into Orbit taking their place as the headliner.
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Mirrored Walls - EP Review: if i didn't have you here
06 Oct 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Mirrored Walls' first EP, if i didn’t have you here features a wide range of sounds and genre influences, but somehow it all makes sense. On the cover, a couple walks away from us in a faded blue image, but one figure is distorted perhaps through how they are remembered by the other.
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Sea Mouse - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 002: Sea Mouse
04 Oct 2022 // interview by Nicholas Clark
Seamus Johnson talks blues (feeling it over playing it), the importance of mistakes, rates a few bands and talks about the future plans for Sea Mouse.
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Voodoo Bloo - MNZ Interview: The AUX Return 001: Voodoo Bloo
04 Oct 2022 // interview by Nicholas Clark
Introducing Muzic.net.
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Gig Review: Immolated Volume 3 @ Valhalla, Wellington - 30/09/2022
03 Oct 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
In the murky surroundings of Vivian Street I followed the sounds and smells to Immolated Volume 3 at Valhalla. Initially I was confused about the entrance to the gig, but soon found my way before the stage where bands were still being set up.
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Voodoo Bloo - Gig Review: Radicals w/ Voodoo Bloo @ Meow, Wellington - 29/09/2022
30 Sep 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
On a stormy, unusually wet Thursday, (even by Wellington’s standards), I approached Meow bar in the heart of the CBD to attend what would prove to be Voodoo Bloo’s homecoming gig of their recent tour. This event, their third to last, is in promotion for their latest offering, The Blessed Ghost.
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Honeybee - EP Review: From An Unreliable Source
15 Sep 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
After the success of their first EP Dusty, Honeybee return with a solid and positively shimmering five-track EP written and recorded during the uncertainty of the lockdown period. This offering contains the same heavily effects laden guitars from Dusty, but there is more energy and perhaps less influence from hip hop.
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Lung - Album Review: Bad Acid Soundtracks II
11 Sep 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Lung was a legendary punk, noise band in the early 90’s that embarked on world tours in the Northern Hemisphere and were lauded by none other than the mighty John Peel. Despite this, by 1994 they were splintering after a tumultuous and short career.
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Serpent Dream - EP Review: Deadlock
07 Sep 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
You could be forgiven for anticipating a heavy metal with a cover and title like this. A glowing photogram of an Australian mental health institution key hints at themes of incarceration and of security or danger.
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Saint Lane - EP Review: I Thought My Name Was Cursed
07 Sep 2022 // review by Nicholas Clark
Saint Lane’s newest EP begins with a highly predictable chord progression borrowed from The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody and exploited in such songs as The Air That I Breathe by the Hollies, I Know It's Over by The Smiths, Magic City by Gorillaz, Underwear by Pulp and perhaps most famously in Radiohead’s Creep. More modern listeners might recognize the chord sequence from The Steven Universe opening theme or perhaps Akon’s rearrangement of Bobby Vinton’s Mr Lonely.
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