‘It’s important for us to express an emotion and tell a story’ The world isolates. A New Zealand band plays to 50,000 fans AUCKLAND, New Zealand, April 25, (AP): Singer Matiu Walters know if we’d be able to play gigs again,” he said in an interview be- only at the last moment. grinned as he gazed out over 50,000 damp but delirious fans and said fore the show. “But we are fortunate, for a few reasons, here in New “And we thought to ourselves, well, how crazy are we?” he said. those magic words: “So, what’s up Eden Park?” Zealand.” “And the answer was, well, pretty crazy. So let’s do it.” While much of the world remains hunkered down, the band Six60 Guitarist Ji Fraser said the reception they received while on the road It’s been a heady rise for a group which began as a hard-partying has been playing to huge crowds in New Zealand, where social distanc- for their summer tour had been incredible. student covers band. Their style has evolved and remains diffi cult to ing isn’t required after the nation stamped out the coronavirus. The “It was amazing to see how fanatical people were, and excited about defi ne, blending elements of reggae, pop, rock and soul. band’s tour fi nale on Saturday night was billed as the largest concert in being out and seeing live music, and seeing something to drag them out Bass guitarist Chris Mac said their fans now span rich and poor, the world since the pandemic began. of a long, brutal year,” he said. “It was very special.” young and old. Equally momentous for a band which met while playing rugby at Walters said they did worry that something could have gone wrong “We’re pretty lucky to have become the soundtrack of people’s lives. university was getting to play the fi rst concert ever held at the storied — that their gigs could have turned into super-spreader events. But he Weddings, funerals, birthdays, engagements,” he said, before breaking Eden Park rugby stadium. And fi nding themselves at the apex of world said there was not much to do other than play by the rules and follow into laughter. “You know, gender-reveal parties, which are all the rage.” music came as a twist for Six60, which has enjoyed unparalleled suc- the government guidelines. As the band’s popularity grew in New Zealand, it became a kind of cess in New Zealand but whose forays abroad have ended without the sport for critics to knock them for being too bland. Walters said criti- breakthroughs they sought. Jamming cism of success remains a problem in New Zealand, and was something Saturday’s set by the fi ve-piece band included powerful cameos by The band formed thirteen years ago after they started jamming in their that annoyed him at the time. But he said it also energized the band. military musicians ahead of the nation honoring its war dead on Sun- rugby changing rooms, making their concert at the hallowed ground of “We are very serious about the music,” he said. “It’s important for us Music day, and Maori performers who stretched across the stage while the the nation’s All Blacks rugby team feel like completing a circle. to express an emotion and tell a story, and for our songs to be healing band switched to singing in the Indigenous language. The band had pushed for changes to civic rules to allow concerts at and magnetic for people. Because, it’s not a fl uke that we’re playing One fan, Lucy Clumpas, found it a surreal experience to be sur- Eden Park, but not all the neighbors were happy. to 50,000 people.” rounded by so many people after she spent last year living through One who objected was former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who The band has been trying to get more recognition abroad, although endless lockdowns in Britain. said at the time that the concerts would represent a “home invasion” six months spent in Germany and a US record deal both ended in dis- “It’s very important for us as humans to be able to get together and of noise. aster, as recounted in a behind-the-scenes documentary about the band sing the same songs together,” she said. “It makes us feel like we’re “But the people wanted it. And the people spoke,” Walters said. The “Six60: Till The Lights Go Out.” part of something,” singer added that Clark would have been welcomed at the concert. But the band is ready to give it another shot, with a tour of Europe Walters, the lead singer, said they desperately want their musician “Six60 is for everyone. And maybe if she came and enjoyed herself, and the UK planned for November. They hope that by then, there will friends around the world to be able to play live shows again. she’d have a change of heart.” be many more places around the world where huge crowds can gather “We know what it’s like to be in lockdown. It sucked. And we didn’t Promoter Brent Eccles said they got permission to use the venue in song. Variety s e r u t a This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Hiroyuki Sanada in a scene from ‘Mortal Kombat.’ (AP) e Film Lawson as psycho Kano steals the movie NEW YORK: Technology mogul F Features Elon Musk has a lined up a new gig in addition to his jobs as CEO of electric car maker Tesla and spaceship maker SpaceX. He is Lots of blood in ‘Mortal Kombat’ going to host the iconic TV show “Saturday Night Live.” By Mark Kennedy Simon McQuoid does a decent job on his feature this summer. Musk’s scheduled May 8 ap- pearance builds upon his recent directorial debut, giving us a constantly staggered Directed by Academy Award winner Morgan he fi rst death in the “Mortal Kombat” reboot oc- hits of dopamine in the form of controlled violence. Neville, Focus Features said Friday that “Roadrun- run of success. Tesla’s stock is curs less than three minutes in, which is actually worth nearly six times more than T Screenwriters Dave Callaham and Greg Russo have ner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” will hit theat- it was before the pandemic started, pretty coy. This is a movie, after all, based on a video a strong tendency to lean into ancient Asian mysti- ers on July 16. leaving Musk with an estimated game where the point is bloody violence. cism (“There is much to learn”) and stilted medieval Bourdain shot to fame after the publication of his fortune of $177 billion, according A katana slices a man vertically in half, triggering ones, too: “The prophecy is upon us!” frank, behind-the-scenes account of restaurant life in to Forbes magazine. And SpaceX a burst of controlled murders. By the 6-minute mark Australian actor Josh Lawson as the psycho Kano “Kitchen Confi dential: Adventures in the Culinary just a launched a mission that sent we’ve seen seven more men cut to pieces, includ- astronauts to the International steals the movie with enough twisted humor to de- Underbelly” in 2000 and became a beloved culinary ing one who has a sword slammed directly down serve his own franchise. “Hey, David Copperfi eld,” travel guide with his CNN series “Parts Unknown.” Space Station. through the top of his skull. Saturday Night Live doesn’t he says to Liu Kang after an impressive control of a He died in June 2018 at age 61. make a habit of having business The clever use of a gardening trowel — likely not fi reball. Many of his lines seem gleefully ad-libbed Neville is best known for his Oscar-winning fi lm executives host its show, but Musk what the agricultural manufacturer initially intend- and he stands out in a forest of stilted dialogue. “20 Feet from Stardom,” about the lives of backup is far from a stuffy corporate type. ed — knocks off four more and then we’re off on a Combatants singers, and the Mr. Rogers documentary “Won’t MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2021 He regularly jokes around on bloody tear for the next 110 minutes through history, You Be My Neighbor.” Twitter, where he has nearly 52 legend and comprehension. Anyway, Cole, Sonya Blade and Kano must train million followers and has gotten After its theatrical run, “Roadrunner” will be It may come as no surprise that “Mortal Kombat” for a big showdown and fi nd their inner fi ghting available on CNN and HBO Max. It’ll have its world into legal trouble for making swaggers when it comes to hand-to-hand combat: disparaging remarks about critics mojo. “The fate of Earthrealm is in our hands,” says premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. and hinting that he might lead a The effects are impressive, from the fl ips and slashes Liu Kang. If they don’t win over enemies from out ❑ ❑ ❑ buyout of Tesla that resulted him to the sound of blood gushing and the clunk of metal there (in the, uh, Outworld,) the whole human race getting fi ned $20 million by stock through bone. will be enslaved. This fi lm has equal parts “Karate NEW YORK: The big-screen adaptation of Lin-Ma- market regulators. Miley Cyrus But the acting is laughable, the dialogue may Kid,” “X-Men,” “Indiana Jones” and more than a nuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” will kick off the will be the musical guest on the make you wish for your own quick dispatch and the whiff of “Star Wars.” Tribeca Film Festival on June 9, two days before the night Musk hosts.