Hard News by Russell Brown

I'm sure you've heard this before, but:

her wistful winning song

Cool. Love it when I've heard a track and not known it's from here. In some way.

On the new Orb/Lee Scratch Perry album, there's a track that starts with the words "What were the skies like when you were young, Lee Scratch Perry?"

There's a couple of remixes floating around of Everything to me, this one being my fav:

Aww man, I love the Silver Scrolls. It's the best local musical event of the year - no media, no fuss, just music folks.

I get to hang around with 35 years of good friends and talk silly stuff, get a bit misty, a bit pissed and, well.....

Last night, though, one of the huge highlights came in the hour or so before the awards, which I spent with Mike Perjanik, now the Australasian chairman of APRA but more importantly to me a guy who created a huge slab of the stuff we know as New Zealand music from the 1960s. His resumé as producer, bandleader, arranger and musician from the first half of that decade just awes and I felt like a kid again in some hallowed presence.

As we drove into the carpark below the Civic he said "I started in a coffee bar up above us here called the Piccolo. I guess tonight is really for all the people who started in all the Piccolos, right?"

Indeed.

I used to love the Silver scrolls nights but I don't get invited anymore, despite being a finalist twice. I don't remember doing anything to get me banned but the alcohol was free and i was young. I do remember it being a fun night though and i watched some of it via the Herald site last night.
Anyway, I'm still making music and there's a couple of preview tracks from the Golden Curtain album here if anyone's interested
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Anyway, I’m still making music and there’s a couple of preview tracks from the Golden Curtain album here if anyone’s interested

Nice.

And nice to know we have two former members of Garageland commenting here :-)

Ah, nice one Hugh: here's the Herbs part from last night.

thanks Russell.

Yes, 44 comments since 2007 - lets just say I read more than I write here.

The Kora tribute is class - and fittingly so.

I did go to the Apra event and aside from some fine interpretations, a high point was Don McGlashan's uplifting but also politically barbed speech. An important message at this time. With his permission I have put it up at Elsewhere: http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/othervoicesotherrooms/

Like!

a high point was Don McGlashan’s

...brilliant speech. Thanks for posting that.

Stephanie singing Everything To Me live and stripped back on tvnz's CloseUp (6 mins, including pesky lashings of Hosking inanity). Hook had me in its spell when I woke - beautiful work, maam.

On Radio NZ National right now, the process of the Nudge crafting their cover version of the song to play at the awards.

keep a song in yer heart...

Don McGlashan’s uplifting but also politically barbed speech. An important message at this time.

Way to go Don...
I liked this bit:

When songs work, they put down roots deep into culture. If someone from the next century wanted to know what life was like right here, right now, they'd go straight to the music that we're making and listening to, and the music would tell them. It's that cultural value and power that songs have that we come here every year to celebrate.
There's political power. The power of music and songs to change things.

especially in light of of this piece about Phil Lynott's mum stopping Romney using The Boys are Back in Town at his rallies.

Kind of a strange song for a Mormon to choose I'd have thought...

Friday night they'll be dressed to kill
Down at Dino's bar and grill
The drink will flow and blood will spill
And if the boys want to fight, you'd better let them

Source

A late reply, as always.... this is perhaps the best selection of music in a PA column this year. Since I don't have access to the radio in the same way (and the tubes are charged hourly here), I've been relying on the taste of others more than ever; especially to keep in touch with NZ's bloody brilliant music scene.

Here's one I stumbled across last week. You'll either love or hate this one. This was the perfect soundtrack for a drive down a bone-dry coast between brown hills and crystal blue waters.

Hi Russell - here is their acceptance speech too..

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/video.cfm?c_id=1501119&gal_cid=1501119&gallery_id=127918

Cheers

hugh