Daughter – Not To Disappear (Album Review)
It’s the second full-length album from the London-based trio led by Elena Tonra. Darker and more intense than its predecessor, Not To Disappear is not for the faint of heart. Daughter’s second album finds singer/lyricist Elena Tonra digging deep into her psyche, stringing together couplets that sound as if they were borne either from dreams […]
Lou Barlow – The Kings Arms January 23, 2016
Lou Barlow has been a fairly regular visitor to our shores over the past few years, as a member of Dinosaur Jr and Sebadoh, and as a solo performer. This overfamiliarity may explain the somewhat sparse crowd that turned out on a Saturday night at Auckland’s Kings Arms, which is a shame because Barlow […]
Adam Lambert – Auckland Town Hall January 22, 2016
Adam Lambert, talent-show runner-up and ersatz Freddie Mercury, managed a rather difficult task last night, shoehorning an arena show into a theatre-sized setting. The last time Lambert was in town, a year and a half ago as Queen’s latest jobbing frontman, he played the Vector Arena; his management, presumably, decided that he couldn’t quite fill […]
Viet Cong – The Kings Arms January 21, 2016
It seems January gigs at The Kings Arms hold a special kind of charm. Often the venue is hot, sweaty and jam-packed with fans anxious to start the new year off in a rock and roll frenzy. On this particular evening the weather wasn’t so hot, the room not so packed, but the band was […]
Bassy Bob Brockmann on Bowie (Interview)
Grammy Award-winning mixer and producer “Bassy” Bob Brockmann was in Auckland recently and stopped by The 13th Floor for an interview with Marty Duda. Mr Brockmann is known for his work with the likes of The Fugees, Notorious BIG, Christina Aguilera, Mary J Blige and Faith Hill. As it turns out, Bassy Bob, who is […]
RIP Glenn Frey
Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey has passed away at age 67. Let’s face it folks, this has been a traumatic year for anyone who loves music. The 13th Floor was fortunate enough to speak to Glenn Frey a few years ago when he was promoting his solo show at thew Vector Arena. You can listen to […]
RIP Dale Griffin (aka Buffin)
Dale Griffin, who, known as Buffin, was the drummer for Mott The Hoople, passed away at the age of 67. Buffin was a member of Mott from the beginning (1969) and played on their best-known tunes including All The Young Dudes. When the band reformed in 2009 for a series of gigs in London, Buffin […]
Watch Plum Green’s 13th Floor Video Session
Plum Green is a Kiwi singer-songwriter now based in Melbourne. She was in Auckland briefly to perform at The Wine Cellar as part of her Night Terrors tour with Jennifer Kingwell to promote her just-released EP Karma. Plum Green stopped by The 13th Floor studio to play a few songs…including two from the new EP…and […]
Le1F – Neck Of The Woods January 16, 2016
New York City rapper Le1f (aka Khalif Diouf) performed at Auckland’s Neck Of The Woods last night and photographer Ren Kirk was there to capture the action. Click on any image to view a photo gallery of the show:
The 1975 – Auckland Town Hall January 15, 2016
There is little need for a review of The 1975’s concert at Auckland’s Town Hall last night — I’m not entirely sure an objective review is even possible. The audience — overwhelmingly female, predominantly aged between about 15 and 25 — were not there to engage with the show on any kind of objective, rational level; […]
Plum Green & Jennifer Kingwell – Wine Cellar, 15 January 2016
After orienting myself in a new wine cellar layout – having wondered if the inevitable current gentrification of the iconic St Kevin’s Arcade had spread like a tumour to the unique labyrinthine subterranean recesses of my favorite bar in NZ – I stumbled into a sauna-like space with a paucity of fire-escape options and a […]
Plum Green Performs Karma at The 13th Floor
Plum Green and Jennifer Kingwell bring their Night Terrors Tour to Auckland’s Wine Cellar tonight. Australian-based Kiwi singer-songwriter Plum Green stopped by The 13th Floor to play a few songs and chat with Marty Duda. We’ll have the entire video session posted soon. In the mean time, watch Plum Green perform Karma, the title track […]
Kurt Vile & The Violators St James Theatre January 12, 2016
With a handful of solo shows in the cards for the rest of the country, Kurt Vile treated his Auckland fans to a show featuring his band, The Violators. Not surprisingly Kurt was at his best when he locked in with his three bandmates and cranked up the volume. As I entered the St […]
R.I.P. David Bowie
I can’t believe this is real. I just heard that David Bowie has passed away at age 69 from cancer. First Lemmy and now this. Words cannot describe in impact David Bowie’s music has had on mine, and millions of others’ lives. I am stunned. All I can say is thank you to The Star […]
David Bowie – Blackstar (Album Review)
He’s back! Three years after setting hearts a-flutter with his first new music in a decade, David Bowie returns with his latest opus, titled Blackstar. While 2013’s The Next Day satisfied fans just by merely existing, Blackstar seems intent on making the listener both uncomfortable and fulfilled, forcing him or her to follow the artist […]
Kurt Vile Concert Ticket Winner!
Congratulations to Robin Kearns who was the first person to correctly note that Kurt Vile ordered Eggs Norwegian and salad while brunching with The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda during their interview in Brooklyn last year. Robin wins a double pass to see Kurt Vile & The Violators at Auckland’s St James Theatre on Tuesday night. […]
Leon Bridges – St James Theatre January 9, 2016
Here we go…the first concert review of 2016! Texas retro-soul man Leon Bridges made his NZ performing debut on this Saturday night at Auckland’s St James Theatre. The 26-year-old has gotten rave reviews for his album, Coming Home, but can he keep a live audience entertained? The answer is “no” and then, “yes”. Bridges […]
New Music From Mavis Staples!
Mavis Staples will release a new album titled, Livin” On A High Note, on Anti- Records on February 19th. The 12-track album features Mavis singing new songs written for her by songwriters including Nick Cave, Neko Case, Ben Harper and M Ward, who produced the record. Here is what Anti- Records has to say about […]
Watch This New Video From Savages
2016 is looking to start out on the right foot with a new album, Adore Life, by Savages due for release later this month. The band has just released a video for the track Adore. Here is the press blurb that comes with it: With ‘Adore Life’, one of the most highly anticipated albums of […]
Countdown To Ecstasy: The 13th Floor Top 10 Concerts of 2015
Reviewing concerts has become our bread and butter here at The 13th Floor. Personally, I went to over 100 shows ranging from tiny local gigs by the likes of The Cavemen and Holly Arrowsmith up to stadium fillers like Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles. For me, a live show is the ultimate way to experience […]