Something Elsewhere
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GRAHAM JOHN CLAVERHOUSE REID (b. Edinburgh 1951 - ): In search of my name in Scotland
23 Sep 2018 | 8 min read
When I was in primary school, at least once every year, I’d be teased about my name. Not the unexceptional one on this article, but my full name which some sneaky kid would discover by going through the teacher’s roll. For a couple of days after, there would be finger-pointing kids in the playground, and me running red-faced behind the bike-shed at Mt Eden Primary.... > Read more
MARGARET NOBLE LAMB REID nee STEVENS (b. Edinburgh 1922 – d. Gold Coast, Australia 2004): A price far above rubies
23 Sep 2018 | 8 min read
This first appeared at Public Address in 2004 My mother died this week. And I don’t know what to think about that. She was 82, and only as far away as the Gold Coast . . . but I saw her just three times in the past decade. The last time was perhaps three years ago and she was confined to a bed, skeletally thin and made no sense at all. She made a noise like a ring-tone at... > Read more
THE LINE-UP FOR THE 2019 LANEWAY FESTIVAL: Here it comes again, that feeling . . .
18 Sep 2018 | <1 min read
And here it comes again . . . the annual Laneway Festival. Next year in Auckland it will once again be held in Albert Park (you can read Elsewhere's review of the 2018 Festival here, the 2017 here, the 2016 here and the 2015 here . . . yep, we are fans of this day-long and concise festival). The festival next year is the 10th and one of the returnees is the terrific Florence... > Read more
PAINTINGS BY PAUL (2018) The art of McCartney
17 Sep 2018 | 6 min read
When Sir Paul McCartney was going through his acrimonious divorce from Lady Heather Mills (who was apparently no lady at all) in 2006, a document was leaked to the media – perhaps by Mills, McCartney had no wish for the information to be out there. It contained details of the former Beatle’s actual worth. Everyone knew he was filthy... > Read more
Universal Here, Everlasting Now by The Fireman (from Electric Arguments)
WAIATA MĀORI MUSIC AWARDS (2018): Kia kaha and the winners are . . .
15 Sep 2018 | 2 min read
The 11th annual Waiata Maori Music Awards held in Hastings last night were dominated by the legendary singer/composer and role model Rob Ruha. Ruha won four trophies from seven nominations. The “haka soul” artist (pictured) picked up the awards for his latest album Survivance included Best Māori Male Solo Artist/ Manu Tīoriori Tāne Autaia, Best Māori Traditional... > Read more
THE BEATLES, YELLOW SUBMARINE adapted and illustrated by BILL MORRISON
6 Sep 2018 | 4 min read
Although this is the 50th anniversary of Yellow Submarine – the animated film which premiered in July 1968, the album appearing in December of that year – there seems little more that the Beatles' company Apple can wring out of it. The original soundtrack album (the second side George Martin's orchestral pieces from the feature) has long been reissued as remastered CD (mono and... > Read more
BOB DYLAN, AGAINST ALL ODDS, 2009; PHOTO ESSAY #4 (2018): Coming in from the storm
31 Aug 2018 | 1 min read | 1
Although there were no photographers and phone photos allowed at the recent Bob Dylan concert in Auckland, the promoters and Dylan's management provided images to the media to cover any articles written. Unfortunately none of them were of much visual relevance because they were not recent. But there was such an interesting series of images of the very young Dylan -- just into his 20s... > Read more
BOB DYLAN, RETREAT TO QUIET, 1967-69; PHOTO ESSAY #3 (2018): Watching the river flow
28 Aug 2018 | 1 min read
Although there were no photographers and phone photos allowed at the recent Bob Dylan concert in Auckland, the promoters and Dylan's management provided images to the media to cover any articles written. Unfortunately none of them were of much visual relevance because they were not recent. (A selection came from 2009). But there such an interesting series of images of the very young... > Read more
BOB DYLAN, PLUGGING IN, 1965-66; PHOTO ESSAY #2 (2018): Getting that wild mercury sound
28 Aug 2018 | 2 min read
Although there were no photographers and phone photos allowed at the recent Bob Dylan concert in Auckland, the promoters and Dylan's management provided images to the media to cover any articles written. Unfortunately none of them were of much visual relevance because they were not recent. (A selection came from 2009). But there such an interesting series of images of the very young... > Read more
BOB DYLAN, FOLKSINGER 1962-64; PHOTO ESSAY #1 (2018): Long ago, far away
27 Aug 2018 | 1 min read
Although there were no photographers and phone photos allowed at the recent Bob Dylan concert in Auckland, the promoters and Dylan's management provided images to the media to cover any articles written. Unfortunately none of them were of much visual relevance because they were not recent. (A selection came from 2009). But there such an interesting series of images of the very young... > Read more
THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC MONTH SUMMIT (2018): Confronting Issues in the Music Industry
13 May 2018 | 6 min read
May, being the long established month to celebrate and promote New Zealand music, is also the right time to take a close look beneath the surfaces. As with the wider world, the New Zealand music industry is needing to come terms with issues which affect it, and the musicians, managers, promoters, producers and others within it. On Saturday May 26 int the Herald Theatre at the Aotea... > Read more
VINYL VINYL VINYL (2018): Record Store Day at Southbound
13 Apr 2018 | 1 min read | 1
Although Record Store Day -- this year Saturday April 21 -- has become a commercial enterprise with limited edition vinyl of records you probably don't need by major artists cashing in, there is still something quite exciting about the buzz around it . . . and of course an excellent catalogue of albums on freshly minted vinyl which you actually do want. Southbound Records in Auckland... > Read more
MUSIC MANAGERS AWARD (2018): You're on in five. Jeez, where's Dave!
13 Apr 2018 | 1 min read
Now in its 14th year, the NZ Music Managers Awards acknowledge those who are there to ensure the artists get to shine under the lights, under take a tour, are organised and their music comes to your attention. It can be a big job (like rounding up cats by sheepdog I imagine) so we should al acknowledge these people and on the night of the awards (held at The Tuning Fork in Auckland on... > Read more
FIVE FRENCH ALBUMS I'M SURPRISED I OWN (2017): Voulez-vous ecouter avec moi, ce soir?
19 Mar 2018 | 5 min read | 1
There's actually a very simple reason I have a large box of albums by French artists like Leo Ferrer and Serge Reggiani, as well as couple of dozen 10'' EPs and about 50 singles. The School of Music at the University of Auckland was culling their vinyl and offered these free to a good home. No one else seemed interested and my home is good enough for me, so . . . The 10'' and... > Read more
THE LINE-UP FOR THE AUCKLAND CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL 2018: Bigger, better, back and Beck
18 Feb 2018 | 1 min read
The inaugural Auckland City Limits Festival two years ago was one of the better -- and best organised -- festivals in the city, perhaps because many of the key players behind it had been involved in the last few Big Day Out events. So they knew what to do . . . and what not to do. Held in spacious Western Springs with stages far enough apart so there was very little bleed of sound, and... > Read more
THE LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2018: The line-up and running times
22 Jan 2018 | <1 min read
The now-annual St Jerome Laneway's Festival in Auckland has put itself about a bit, but last year found an ideal home at Albert Park in the centre of the city. This year's event, there again, takes place this coming Monday, which is a holiday, Auckland Anniversary Day. Elsewhere has offered preview and review coverage in the past and here we offer the line-up and running times,... > Read more
VOLUME SOUTH @ MIT
10 Dec 2017 | 1 min read
The success of the Volume: Making Music in Aotearoa exhibition at the Auckland War Memorial Museum -- where visitor number exceeded predictions and feedback was almost unanimously favourable -- is encouraging for those who would love to see a permanent museum of New Zealand popular music. It also, even before it had done its run -- encouraged many involved to think about an off-shoot... > Read more
PLEASE PLEASE ME; THE POTENCY OF MUSIC (an essay, 2014)
30 Oct 2017 | 11 min read
About three years ago I was invited to write a chapter in a very academic book entitled Soundscapes of Well Being in Popular Music. It was being edited by – among others – Professor Robin Kearns of the Geography Department in the School of Environment at the University of Auckland. Although I am a contracted lecturer in the School of Music at the same university (and yes, I... > Read more
WEARING THEIR ART ON THE SLEEVES (2017): Finalists for best album cover at the VNZMAs
11 Oct 2017 | 1 min read
Despite the predilection for streaming services where the music is detached from any visual image the artist might have had in mind, the art of the album cover is not dead and – with the slow but steady return of the vinyl record – an album cover can still speak visually for the music. And so it is only right that we salute at our annual music awards those who conceive and... > Read more