16 Friday, November 5, 2010 THE PRESS, Christchurch GO Where strangers high-five – at The Black Seeds

The Black Seeds with support from Nudge at the Bedford, Saturday, October 30. Reviewed by Vicki Anderson.

Walking to the Bedford, I heard as Barnaby Weir put it: ‘‘We know Nudge – Ryan ‘‘Rzo’’ Prebble, you’ve been through some hard James ‘‘The Rock’’ Coyle and times and it’s f...ing good to be Iraia ‘‘Funk-amoe’’ Whakamoe – here.’’ before I saw them. The windows They are a good-time funk/ were shaking and inside I could roots band who are in their see silhouettes of people grooving. element performing live. One There’s a buzz building around quality this eight-piece share is this band and it is easy to see why. enjoyment and love for the music They play with their hearts out, they are making together. laying everything on the line. It’s Weir, in his specs, has a gentle what live music is all about – presence on stage, his smile never passion. far away, while Jarney Murphy Nudge played two back-to-back has a more stoic and righteous shows in Christchurch, including manner. It’s a great combination. a show in Lyttelton on Sunday, Thus the atmosphere was quite and their eclectic brand of tight special. Strangers in the crowd funk was the perfect opener for were high-fiving each other, the Black Seeds. grinning amicably and merrily It was, however, a shame that dancing, while the slamming the sound was not the best for horns and rhythms emanating their first two songs. Loud does from the stage radiated summer. not equal good. The Black Seeds have often If you’re at a gig and the mix is been criticised for having lyrics Black Seeds: In their element performing live. Photo: SAM HANNAFORD causing you physical pain and that are too positive, contrarily, you have to jam your fingers in as if this is somehow a negative light on the individuals Christchurch’s DDuff, aka Up the front, someone in a your ears, something is wrong. thing. You listen to the Black concerned, which seemed both Damian Duffy, who won a purple witch’s hat occasionally Outside, other punters Seeds when you want to dance, appropriate and amusing. nationwide competition with his took it off and held it high as they compared the best, least painful smile and forget about things for a Christchurch fans were treated unqiue remix – on the Black Seeds punched the hazy air above. part of the room to stand in, so I while. It’s what their fusion of to classics such as Something So latest album, Specials – got a The flash of icy-cold wind wasn’t alone. dub, funk, afrobeat and soul, True and Cool Me Down and a shout out from Barnaby, which outside highlighted the warmth The Black Seeds sold out the mixed with vintage reggae, is all tonne of new material which was a nice gesture. we were leaving behind and I ran Bedford, no mean feat in these about. indicates that, musically, their When they left the stage, a bald straight into a zombie butcher on troubled times. They were Many in the crowd lit joints next album could be something man in a wife-beater from the the street, who sought assistance performing on Saturday as a and the smell of dope wafted special, even if the lyrics are still crowd leapt up, grabbed the mic, with his sausages (aka intestines) make-good for a show they were above the crowd. about breaking hearts, not being and rallied the crowd into a which were falling off the front of to have performed about the time Security’s answer to this was brought down, smiling and rousing encore cry which resulted his butcher’s smock. Halloween of the September 4 earthquake, or to shine a piercing green laser dreaming about the future. in three more songs. nightmare on Bedford Row.

Brooke Fraser, Opshop and been requesting it for about three years. Midnight Youth are headlining The most embarrassing thing Tell me . . . that happened to me at a gig the popular More FM Winery was... Tour 2011, playing at the Mud Brooke: Apparently in Toronto I was having my big entrance and I House Winery and Cafe in walked onto the stage straight into the PA. I have no recollection Waipara on February 26. VICKI of that, someone else told me. Is it ANDERSON got Brooke Fraser, embarrassing if you can’t remember it? Opshop frontman Jason Jason: Mine is more stupid than embarrassing. At a recent show in Kerrison and Midnight Youth’s , I ran into the back of a truck. I did half of my set lying Jeremy Redmore together for a down. few silly questions. Jeremy: I am never embarrassed. I am happy with myself as a human being. Finish this sentence. The last Did somebody fart then? time I was at a winery I... Moving right along. How long Brooke: rode a horse. I went to have you known each other? a winery with some friends and Brooke: Jason and I have known there were horse rides happening. each other for quite a long time. Unfortunately, the horses had We met in 2003. short legs so my feet skimmed the Jeremy: I met Jason in the early ground the whole time. 2000s at a backpackers in Auck- Jason: was playing to an land where he used to play. I used Opshop audience. to sit there all night demanding Jeremy: was bottling wine in a different songs from him. He was basement. I worked for a couple of Winery tour: Jeremy Redmore of Midnight Youth, Brooke Fraser and Opshop’s Jason Kerrison. one of the first musicians I saw in summers in Mills Reef winery in Auckland. It is good to actually Tauranga. the same time as everyone else. download from their website. and leave my hair there. I find it share a tour with him. Favourite wine? Documentaries keep me up. Last thing you bought on your soothing, therapeutic and Jason: The best part about the Brooke: Pinot noir. Jeremy: I’m currently watching credit card, and yes, that can be repetitive. story was that I effectively gave Jason: Pinot gris. The Wire, beautifully addictive porn, Jeremy? Jason: I want to stop biting my Jeremy his first gig and Jeremy: Pinot noir. TV show. Brooke: I just bought some make- nails. I’m going to go into therapy demanded songs back. Least favourite animal? Last music purchased? up as a present for my friend. about it. Or maybe I’ll just start Use one word to describe each Brooke: Any that have rabies. Brooke: Singer/songwriter Karen Jason: I bought a spirulina juice pulling my hair out. other. Jason: I’m a lover of animals. I Dalton. She was one of Bob with a shot of echinacea yester- Jeremy: I can’t sleep in past 8am. Jeremy: Brooke – tall; Jason – was bitten by a spider a couple of Dylan’s influences, she died a long day. Who is your hero or heroine? dashing. days ago but that’s an insect. time ago of HIV. Jeremy: I bought McDonalds Brooke: Jason from Opshop. Jason: Brooke – feisty; Jeremy – Jeremy: Toy dogs. Jason: Michael Jackson Thriller breakfast from airport. Jason: Don’t say that. My new cute. What keeps you awake at anniversary edition. Most annoying habit? hero is Mayor Bob Parker. Brooke: Jason – drunk; Jeremy – night? Jeremy: Porn. [No, Jeremy, Brooke: I pull out my hair, Jeremy: Oh, I was going to say sober. I want to change my Brooke: Nothing. music.] Oh, OK, I just got an everywhere. It’s not annoying to Jason from Opshop. My hero is answers now. Jason – swarthy Jason: I don’t sleep unless I’m in album from some friends of mine me, I really like it. Other people my dad. He wants me to write a (‘‘like a pirate’’); Jeremy – transit somewhere. I don’t sleep at called Avalanche City. Free hate it when I borrow their cars song called My Dad, My Hero, he’s squinty.