Here it is, in all its splendid glory. The first of the new and improved muzic.net.nz newsletters. This version is more up-to-date and user friendly, but will still have all the news that you need to know. A new initiative is giving bands and musicians a chance to let the rest of us know what they have been up to and what their plans are. There will be two bands per newsletter letting you know what is going on in their world, starting with Epitome and The Rabble. We hope that you enjoy the new format.

Well if we didn't know anything about it then, we sure do now. The 'Play it Strange Trust'. The latest hobby of Mike Chunn.

Unless you were living under a rock (or in Oamaru) you wouldn't have been able to escape the grasp of National Anthem a few weeks back. The organisers deserve a bouquet for undertaking such an event. A feasibility nightmare really. But people, please, don't kick everyone out of the venue in-between acts again. That was disgraceful. The reason given was that they had to set up the venue for the next act. Yeah right! More like the drum kit needs to be changed and a guitar... you get the picture. Can you imagine the organisers kicking everyone out of the St James after J Mascis has just finished his set so they can setup for Franz Ferdinand? Yeah right!

What National Anthem gave was up and coming and non-conformist artists the chance to be seen by the mainstream public. That all important exposure for acts such as Ghostplane, The Phoenix Foundation and Marvey King will have been immeasurable in its worth.

I spent a great deal of time at the Christchurch gig (yes, marching in and out like a prisoner). What I saw was a diversity never seen in 24 hours before. Who would have thought that acts such as Flip Grater and Minisnap would share the stage? For mine though, Mea and Pine more than stole show down here. Even with the ever-persistent sound problems, their class shown through above all others including our 'talented' NZ Idol karaoke (oops) 'singers' drew the biggest crowd they were no match for the real performers.

The 24-hour extravaganza also showed that there is a large punk and post punk movement developing in our music culture. As expected this has originated (again) in Dunedin, but there were enough bands from elsewhere in the country to hold in hope that punk is resurging.

To all the bar owners out there... you will have seen the talented artists out there...DJ's are a dying breed...how about hiring Stylus 77, Augustino or 4 Man Bob at your club? The putrid period is over. It's time for REAL music to take over again.

Jono

Next Issue: 27 Jun 2004 featuring Nana Squad & Spinner

In the past 12 months Epitome have accomplished more than most young New Zealand bands working there way into the scenee.

Epitome grabbed the opportunity to perform live on the Good Morning Show in late September, also meeting the CEO of MTV Europe Brent Hansen on the show.

Only a few weeks after, they released their debut EP titled 'Testing The Waters' - recorded through Buzztone Records in Aucklands North Shore. This EP was released independently, and sold out completely within the first 3 months.

From there, things just got better. Early in January this year, Epitome in association with Inertia Sound & Light and help from Fourth Member organised the Inertia Tour, which was set to span 5 venues around the North Island with Mozelee, Fourth Member, and Epitome. This gained great exposure, and alot of experience.

Amongst various gigs this year, Epitome have opened for the likes of Stylus, Stardrunk, and Bolbox Rex.

In recent weeks, Epitome have made the finals of the R'toto's Band Quest and also have their music video by Madness Productions being screened on C4. This can be requested by emailing [email protected] and asking for 'You Will Be Mine' by Epitome.

This year is a busy year for The Rabble. After placing second in the Coke Smokefree Rockquest in 2003, the band has played at Extreme Sports Festival, X AIR in Hamilton and supported bands such as American hardcore band Sick Of It All as well as bands such as The Bleeders, Goodnight Nurse, Sommerset and The Managers. This month, the band are scheduled to support punk legends, Good Riddance also from the US at an all ages show at Galatos on 20th June. After recording a single with Dave Rhodes, who has worked with Blindspott and Stylus, the song 'Addicted To The Bone' has had some exposure on the radio and is currently playing on this months Sound Check on The Rock. Their music video to their song 'Bored' is airing on both Juice Tv and C4, and a music video to 'Addicted To The Bone' can be seen soon.

In the following months, you can expect to see The Rabble in some of the other areas of New Zealand, focussing on playing both ALL AGES and R18 shows. Expect another single to be released and hopefully a full New Zealand tour can be expected by the end of the year or early next year. The Rabble are hot right now, so if you get the chance to go to one of their shows, don't miss out!

Sola Rosa NZ Tour

Following the Queen’s Birthday show at Leigh Sawmill, Sola Rosa gear up for dates in Australia in early July (the second Sola Rosa album, 'Haunted Out-takes' is released in Oz 18 June, 2004) before returning home for a series of shows nationwide...

Friday 9^th July @ Indigo, Wellington
Friday 16^th July @ Coast, Auckland
Thursday 22^nd July @ Carbon, Christchurch
Friday 23^rd July @ OneFest @ Bath St, Dunedin
Saturday 24^th July @ Subculture, Queenstown
Thursday 29^th July @ Apartment One, Wanaka
Friday 30^th July @ Apartment One, Wanaka 

Up Coming Tours

More Gigs

Want gigs sent to your email every couple of weeks? Simply sign in to muzic.net.nz, go to the Members page and click on Edit My Profile. You'll find the options in there.

New Artists Added

Reviews and Interviews

Nathan caught up with Fur Patrol in Auckland during their recent tour. Read the full Fur Patrol interview.

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