New Zealand Music Video Month - 30 June - Patea Maori Club

 Patea Maori Club had one huge local hit with Poi-E, then subsequently vanished into obscurity. The film Boy launched a revival of the song in 2010.

Patea Maori Club - Poi-E

New Zealand Music Video Month - 29 June - Concord Dawn

 Concord Dawn were a Drum n' Bass duo who found a niche in their mutual and varied musical influences making them unique and a breath of fresh air in what, at the time was a staling and saturated musical genre. Concord Dawn has been down one member for the last several years, but still going strong.

Concord Dawn - Don't Tell Me

 

  

New Zealand Music Video Month - 28 June - Loves Ugly Children

 Loves Ugly Children were another Christchurch band who signed to Flying Nun after their debut CD release Purge.

Loves Ugly Children - Personal World

New Zealand Music Video Month - 27 June - The Datsuns

 The Datsuns generated a stir early on when their first 7" was selected and played by John Peel (RIP), the UK press quickly hailed them as the 'Future of Rock' and they were quickly signed to a label.

The Datsuns - Harmonic Generator

  

New Zealand Music Video Month - 26 June - Peking Man

Peking Man were a "new wave" band formed by brother and sister Pat and Margaret Urlich. They too were short lived but had one hit single with the following

Peking Man - Room that Echoes

New Zealand Music Video Month - 25 June - Future Stupid

  Future Stupid were an awesome band who formed in Christchurch, but eventually relocated to Auckland, which forced a few line-up changes. I caught them live several times and some of the best live band photos I took were of them. Live they were raw and visceral, sadly recorded they never quite delivered or captured that same feel.

Future Stupid - Big Dumb Future

New Zealand Music Video Month - 24 June - Kora

 Kora, practically a family band with four Kora brothers, have had success after success. I was never fortunate to catch them live, but by all accounts the albums never quite captured their live intensity and passion (for a reported wide variety of music and musical influences).

Kora - Flow

 

New Zealand Music Video Month - 23 June - Push Push

 Push Push were quickly pigeon-holed as a glam hair metal band, their first single reached number one on the charts, but Trippin' was almost comical and confirmed  the stereotyping. However it was their follow up which showed the real musical promise. For their numerous years together, they only released one album.

Push Push - Song 27

New Zealand Music Video Month - 22 June - The Larry Normans

 The Larry Normans are currently on an indefinite hiatus, but every time I see either Andos or Nathan I just keep planting the seed that they get back into it. Having heard the demos before they went on hiatus, the best is still to come. Although a little cheesy the following video was written, shot, directed and edited by me.

The Larry Normans - Radio Baghdad

New Zealand Music Video Month - 21 June - The Swingers

 The Swingers were rather short lived, forming in the very late 70's and disbanding in the very early 80's. Although they had a few relative hits, their entire career is summed up by the number one hit Counting the Beat which still features in TV commercials and on radio stations to this day.

The Swingers - Counting the Beat

New Zealand Music Video Month - 20 June - The Dirty Sweets

 The Dirty Sweets have been playing Auckland almost non-stop for the last several years, have received radio airplay on both The Rock and Hauraki, and just keep improving. Front man and songwriter Paul Edwards will be the first to tell you they regularly play most shows to almost empty pubs, clubs and bars, but as an audience member no matter the head count they always play as if they're in a stadium fronting hundreds of thousands. Did I mention they're friends?

The Dirty Sweets - Good As Gone

The Dirty Sweets - Monster Boogie

New Zealand Music Video Month - 19 June - Subtract

 Subtract formed in the 90's and immediately peaked my interest. A number of line-up changes saw the music go through a slump before finally capturing some of their live energy with their latest album Talk Minus Action Equals Nothing.

Subtract - Black September

 

 On a personal note, before Subtract started gigging around Auckland I had the pleasure of hearing them very early on, as we shared a practice room, I had previously met former Guitarist Nigel on a bus and was drawn to speak to him by his Meshuggah T-Shirt (the second person I met to like the band). Before the release of their first EP I had been taking live photos of them and was sent a pre-release copy on cassette tape. When Quench was finally released I went out and purchased a copy and to my surprise found my name in the liner notes. Many years later (2014) I found myself at their album release show for the new album and to my surprise they dedicated a song to me (Same Mistake). I've always been a big supporter and fan of this band, with the exception of the album Formula One, it just doesn't do them any justice.

New Zealand Music Video Month - 18 June - Savage

 Savage, originally a member of The Deceptikonz, achieved the first ever New Zealand platinum album in the United States with the following track.

Savage - Swing

New Zealand Music Video Month - 17 June - Shihad (Pacifier)

 Shihad started as a covers band, but quickly started writing original material. As they were trying to break into the American market the events of 9/11 forced a name change to Pacifier which some say had a detrimental result on their music. In 2004 they changed their name back to Shihad and shortly after released Love is the New Hate to rave reviews. With 8 albums and no signs of stopping they are one of NZ's most popular "heavy" bands.

Shihad - I Only Said