Michael Jackson's Brillant, Eccentric, Tragic Life

Michael Jackson, the iconic entertainer known the world over as the King of Pop, has died. He was 50.

Jackson was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center early Thursday afternoon when paramedics were dispatched to his rented Bel-Air home and found him not breathing after apparently suffering a cardiac arrest. They administered CPR to revive him, but Jackson still slipped into a deep coma by the time of his arrival at the hospital.

TMZ.com reported that sister La Toya Jackson was seen rushing into the hospital in tears. Officials declared him dead shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday.

Jackson was due to launch a sold-out 50-date “final curtain call” run at London’s O2 Arena next month, with 750,000 tickets for the stretch of shows selling out in a mere four hours.

Album Review: Craig Smith 'Don’t Shake My Tree'

Often seen performing in public spaces around Christchurch, Craig Smith is building a following around the country. He performs acoustic and children's music. His music style often described as contemporary, easy listening, pop folk.

Born in New Zealand in the beautiful scenic region of Central Otago gifted musician Craig Smith choose to leave his marketing profession to take up a career that meant following his heart too do what he loves, work as a full time singer/song writer. A decision that has required sacrifice and commitment, but with talent and dedication musician Craig Smith has proven it is producing its rewards. His album Don’t Shake My Tree is a compilation of cruisey easy listening songs that have all been written and arranged by Smith. Through out the album you’ll enjoy some thought provoking lyrics and his accomplished guitar playing. Where he shows his versatility by creating catchy rhythms and feels from different music genres including Blues, Folk and Country. There is even a little Hawaiian lap steel number included in this album.

This is an album I would definitely stick in my CD collection, a great choice to pull out on those long awaited summer nights enjoyed over a bar be que and a few relaxing drinks with family and friends.

Many others, myself included first discovered Craig Smiths talent while he was out busking in various locations through out New Zealand, this exercise has gathered him international recognition selling his album through out the world. I have done my homework on Craig Smith and I like what I see, a guy passionate about what he does, doing what he loves and contributing to society in positive ways. Refreshing to say the least.







A percentage of his album sales ‘Not Just For Kids’ is donated to various charities.

If you want to hear Craig Smiths music click on the link below http://www.craigsmith.co.nz/

MIDNIGHT YOUTH are touring!!!

The incredibly talented lads from Midnight Youth are off around the country to promote their new album The Brave Don't Run - it's a masterpiece of amazing Kiwi music.

Their first Top 10 Hit on the offical singles chart All On Our Own is the fourth most played song on NZ radio.

These guys sound awesome live and you won't be disappointed. Check out the tour schedule below and get yourself a ticket quick to a show near you!

Date (June)  City                   Venue                      Tickets
Tues 16        Napier                Sideline Bar             Ticketmaster,
                                                                               Venue & the CD
                                                                               & DVD Store
Wed 17        Whakatane        Whakatane Hotel    Ticketmaster & 1XX
Thurs 18      Mt Maunganui    Brewers Bar             Ticketmaster, Venue &
                                                                               the CD & DVD
                                                                               Store Bayfair                                                                     
Fri 19           Auckland            The Brownzy            Ticketmaster &
                                                                               Venue
Sat 20          Whangarei         Ballroom Billiard        Ticketmaster &
                                                                               Musicor     
Tues 23        Queenstown      Revolver Bar            Ticketmaster &
                                                                                Play it Again
Wed 24        Timaru                No. 8 Wired              Ticketmaster &
                                                                                Venue
Thurs 25      Christchurch       Al's Bar                     Ticketmaster &
                                                                                Real Groovy
Fri 26           Wellington          San Fran                   Ticketmaster &
                                               Bathhouse                Real Groovy

Auckland Band MISCREANT 

MISCREANT

Miscreant is a four piece rock band that formed in 2004 based in Auckland,
New Zealand. After spending 6 months sweating it out in Studio 203 with acclaimed producer Andrew Buckton, Miscreant are now gearing up to rock
the New Zealand music scene with the release of their Debut Album'Complicated Characters' due out in March 2009. Miscreant have had two singles enjoying air time on a number of radio stations, including NewZealands own The 'Rock FM'.

The 2nd radio single 'Fight For Me' is a compelling shoot-from-the-hip rock track which is now airing on TV and radio stations nationwide.
The follow up single Rhythm Child will be hitting radio and TV
throughout March in support of the albums release.

Throughout their time, Miscreant have played at just about every gutter, bar and dingy lounge in and around Auckland to fine tune their rock and have evolved into one of the countries finest up and coming rock bands. The boys plan on.taking their rock out and about this year with a heap of shows in support of their debut album, so stay tuned.

THE HEARTLEYS

An unstoppable New Zealand Duo THE HEARTLEYS

Kayla Mahon and Taylor Cairns are a force to be reckoned with. This pretty young duo have recently been named the new Sweethearts on the block. After recently releasing their self titled debut album ‘THE HEARTLEYS’ 

The duo released the album while attending the 2009 Tamworth Country music festival in Australia.

This album is full of vibrant, fresh, pop-infused country. Mahon and Cairns voices work gorgeously well together with both girls sharing lead and backing vocals throughout this smart, sexy and polished debut CD.

One of their tracks on the album No Man’s Land is already marching up the Aussie country music charts. CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS!!!

THE HEARTLEYS grew up together in the small town of Gore, in Southern NZ, these two young women share a remarkable friendship and a common link built on a solid foundation of pure musical talent.


I’m sure you’ll agree these southern girls are destined to flourish when you preview their music on
http://www.gumtreemusic.com.au/music/the-heartleys/the-heartleys.aspx

If you would like to purchase one of their CDs please contact cairnsmusicltd@xtra.co.nz

I couldn’t resist doing a review on Craig Smiths recent children’s album
‘Not just for kids’
He is brilliant, I just loved it…
If anyone’s feeling a bit down in the dumps or perhaps needing to take life a little less seriously. Have some fun and switch on ‘Not just for kids’ and I guarantee a smile will grow on your face and the problems of the day will disappear.

With the album ‘Not just for kids’ Craig Smith wanted to explore different genres within his music and combine them to write a kids album. He succeeded mixing a little country, skiffle, pop and blues to create this awesome album that’s filled with humour and catchy toe tapping lyrics and music.

He is indeed a very talented musician contributing positively to society. He has not
only managed to produce a superb kids album. He also donates $5.00
dollars from every ‘Not just for kids’ CD he sells and donates it to various charities.

Smith is based in Christchurch New Zealand and performs his songs on acoustic guitar. He is a full time musician doing what he loves and it really shows.
 
Those organizations that have benefited from this CD sales are…
$500.00 Donation to Wakatipu Abuse Prevention
$500.00 Donation to Womans Refuge
$500.00 Donation to Starship Hospital
$500.00 Donation to Plunket
$100.00 Donation to Queenstown Preschool & Kindy
$25.00   Donation to the Lyttelton Kindy.

As the album name suggests it really is… NOT JUST FOR KIDS!!!
The CD can be bought for $23.95 by jumping on his website.

http://www.craigsmith.co.nz/

FAST RISING BAND 'ROOM TO MOVE'

Room To Move is a talented group of Invercargill teenagers.

Room
To Move has achieved a huge amount, particularly when the youthfulness
of it's members is taken into consideration. Despite their youth the
band is already a seasoned combination with a very solid blues
background after having performed together for nearly four
years. Success has followed as last year Room To Move finished in the
top two percent in the National Rock Quest out of 640 bands. They also
competed in Sound Quest, winning recording time with Trevor Daley and
Riverland Studios. This allowed them to record three songs on CD. They
also won the Frank Prattley Award for the Most Promising Band in
Invercargill. They were also recognised by clothing and surfwear
company Quicksilver last year when they were invited to perform at the
company's Christmas Party along with Paul Ubana Jones - a huge accolade
for the young Southlanders. They took the opportunity to jam with Paul Ubana
Jones and have also jammed with Midge Marsden while they have also
performed in the past for American Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite under the banner of Southbound Blues.

The"engine room" of Room To Move consists of 16-year-old Sam Heathcote on
bass, 15-year-old Ryan Dyer on guitar and 13-year-old Connor Singh on
drums. Heathcote and Dyer are school friends who met Singh through
local muso Marty Astone's School Of Music. Until recently Olivia Canny
was the band's vocalist and also wrote the lyrics for much of their
material while Dyer wrote the music. However Canny departed the band to
attend university at the beginning of the year.

The
addition of vocalist Saelyn Guyton for the Oyster Festival gig was an exciting one. She
has been performing since she was eight years old and covers the genres
of country, R&B, jazz, rock and soul. Guyton has experienced
national success on television shows and competitions such as New
Zealand Idol and has spent the last three and a half years touring the
country with a covers band. Room To Move very much enjoyed collaborating with Saelyn Guyton at the Festival.

You can check these guys out at..  Room To Move

RHYTHMONYX A JAMMING BAND WITH A PLAN & THE CONFIDENCE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN...

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Rhythmonyx band mangerand drummer Richard Hogan who enlightened me on the band Rhyhmonyx who until last weekend I new nothing about. This stirred in me, an interest to check these guys out, which I did. I now encourage you guys to do the same.

This powerhouse dub-ska-roots and electronica band is officially coming out after a year of getting its impressive act together. Rhthymonyx are an eight piece band, their jagged guitar chops, stabbing horn riffs and relentless driving rhythm are almost hypnotic, but add to this their front-of-house soundman Tom Smythe who incorporates drum machines, loops and samples to the repertoire and you now have an Epic band producing Epic sounds.
 
So where to for the band Rhythmonyix…
Hogan says they’ve been chipping away at recording an EP at the Southern Institute of Technology, which should be out within a month or so. (Orbitalive will keep you posted with its release.)
But touring is the bands top priority and getting their music out to the widest possible audience.

You can check these guys out at...

http://www.myspace.com/rhythmonyx

Local Wellington Band SHOOTOUT

I liked the idea that I was going to hear a band I had no idea about. Had heard nothing about them and so was expecting nothing/anything/whatsoever...

The band kicked off with the three instrumentalists on stage (guitar, bass, drums) and then the singer appeared after a few bars. They pumped out a tidy set of tight-but-loose big-sounding rock. There was a brand new song (the band had written it in the last few weeks) that sounded like the perfect cross between Kings of Leon and The Black Crowes. Elsewhere there was a lot of Led Zeppelin-y guitar. There was some Tony Iommi doom'n'gloom to the guitarist's feel, but plenty of blues and rock - and the singer had a good look and sound for rock. These guys pumped it out. And the songs flowed - moved beyond just the riff and some words that fit the melody; these sounded like fleshed out, fully-formed songs. Simple, but complete - or close to it.
I did something I normally don't do. I got in touch with one of the members, drummer Tim McGurk, I asked him a few question about the band - because groups don't just appear - even lesser-known local bands, or beginner groups. They have to start somewhere. So Tim told me that he, Shaun Stonnell (vocals), Tom Parsonson (guitar) and David Benge (bass) made up the band - but there had already been a few lineup changes. Earlier members had drifted in and out as the group found itself and found its sound.
"We started putting together a band with a couple of guys from school, playing AC/DC covers and nice simple stuff. Shaun and I both left school and started our building apprenticeships..."
And then: "we all started jamming together in a Jewish youth hostel someone had stolen the key to. We would go there late on Friday and Saturday nights and play all night, just jamming stuff and covers. Not really putting together anything but having long-lasting trance-y jams. People used to come in off the street and sit down and share a whole variety of things with us to keep us going till the wee hours of the morning. It was a really cool learning period."

I actually think these guys could develop into something like HLAH and Shihad in the late 1980s/early 1980s...but then, the way it works is different for each band, so it's probably fingers crossed and a lot more hard work.

So, that's the latest local band (that I had heard nothing about - at all) to take my fancy. I liked the energy and the fact that, talking to them afterwards, the guys in the band seemed keen as beans to be part of a scene. They want to play and write and rock. Good stuff. The bubble might be burst down the track but for right now they have the right attitude. And they have talent. Those are two important things to have. I don't know if they have a following, but with more gigs they will have that too.

That's my story, what's yours? Do you know about this band? Or do you know about other local bands in your area? Do tell...let's build a list of the people you think are in need of discovery, in need of attention, deserving of getting to the next level...

Blog On The Tracks written by Simon Sweetman NZ music Magazine.

You can check out these guys out and their songs on...

http://www.myspace.com/southstarradioshootout

Talented Dunedin based singer/song writer Amanda Goodwin released her debut album 'All I Wanna Do' on Wednesday evening at the Ra Bar in Dunedin.
This girl has a beautiful smooth soulful voice. Her dedication and love of music is truly evident as is her professionalism.

Top marks Amanda I thoroughly enjoyed your show. You took the stage and presented your album beautifully and with heart.

AND CONGRATULATIONS on releasing your DEBUT ALBUM.

I would definitely recommend viewers pop this little CD into your collection.
Then sit back, relax and enjoy the sweet youthful sounds of Amanda Goodwin.

Viewers check this musician out at...

click here Amanda Goodwin

oodwin.co.nz

http://www.amandagoodwin.co.nz/

NEW ZEALANDS own Simon Spire returns home during NZ Music Month to promote his debut album 'ALL or NOTHING'.

Auckland-born SIMON SPIRE is a singer/songwriter who has crafted a powerful and evocative debut album, that has firmly established him among today’s best new artists.  Songs such as ‘Dying Daily’ and the buoyant ‘Inside Out’ are made indelible via Spire’s engaging vocals, masterful guitar styling, and his impressively crafted arrangements, highlighting a lyrical gift that is simultaneously deeply personal and wholly universal.  Moving through straight-up rock ‘n’ roll to energetic powerpop to lush balladry, the album leads the listener through this new artist’s striking impressions of life and uncompromising relationship to it, one that could aptly be described as ‘ALL or NOTHING.’

SIMON SPIRE 'ALL or NOTHING'                                                            Excellent Debut CD
author: Ronald B. Wenick
*****
Simon Spire has crafted an excellent debut CD.  Though Inside Out, my personal favorite, sounds like the hit, the album from beginning to end is alive with thoughful lyrics, memorable melodies, and a distinctive vocal style that at times almost sounds like another instrument.  I enjoyed every song.  More than worth the money.

MORE UPDATES on GUITAR LEGENDS 2009.

Wow the talented lineup of musicians blew me away at this Entertaining LEGENDARY Show.

Sold out if you're ever in Invercargill when Guitar Legends is playing get in quick to Trevor Daley Music Works 30 Tay Street for your ticket. This show ROCKS held at the Southland Musicans Club the atmosphere there is laid back and relaxed they have a licensed bar operating and tickets are very affordable. It makes for a great night out with a few friends enjoying great music performed by international 'guitar legends' and this year that extended to honouring bass players as well.

Some of the Legendary Guitarists represented...

American solo instrumental Rock Guitarist Joe Satriani preformed by Deo Bohn, Irish Blues Rock Guitarist Rory Gallagher played by Ryan Dyer, American Rock Guitarist John Petrucci from Dream Threatre played by Bixiang, Soulful American Blues Guitarist Muddy Waters played by Marty Astone, American Rock Guitarist Richie Sambora from Bon Jovi played by Craig Elliott, USA Bassist Lez Claypool from Primus played by John Henry, Californian Rock n Roll Guitarist Marc Ford from The Black Crowes preformed by ......, American Metal Guitarists Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains preformed by Cameron Leslie and Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machines played by Mark Hewton.

Credit and admiration also goes out to the talented backing band who supported and amplifyed the sounds of each soloist. Great effort. I can't wait for next years show it's gauranteed to be another sell out!!!

TALENTED MUSICIANS Preform at Guitar Legends 2009.

You had to be in quick to get a ticket.

Sweet Tweet witnessed a night of superb entertainment at Guitar Legends held at the Southern Musicians Club.

I was told this show was Legendary and now I know why!!!

YOU GUYS ROCKED THE HOUSE!!!

KEEP WATCHING THIS SPOT...

IT'S NZ MUSIC MONTH

Music is being celebrated through out our beautiful country.

And tonight was no exception, I sat back and enjoyed a taste of what is to come, at the rehersal of 'Guitar Legends' a legendary event held at The Southlands Musicans Club in Invercargill.

The show runs for two nights and is already SOLD OUT!!!

The event is organised by Trevor Daley Music Works.

A fantastic night of brilliant musicians representing legendary guitarist...

Such as

Carlos Santana - Richie Sambora - Joe Satriani - John Petrucci - John Mayer and much much more.

You'll be wishing you had your ticket. This show ROCKS!!!!

Gin Wigmore is a distinctive singer/songwriter, whose sound is driven
by a startling voice and outstandingly honest songs; her delivery has
been succinctly described by a critic as ‘whiskey and dry’ and her
self-penned songs provide a refreshing new take on life as a
’20-something’ and yet relate across the generations.


Geographically, Gin tracks from Auckland to Buenos Aires to Sydney. Vocally she runs from Macy Gray to Blondie to Edith Piaf.


Born in Auckland, New Zealand, a family tragedy forced Gin her to
deal with her grief a world away in Argentina. When she returned home,
Gin articulated at 16, in a song, the pain of losing her father to
cancer.

That song, “Hallelujah”, won the US-based International Songwriting
Contest in 2005, when she beat 11,000 songwriting aspirants from 77
countries to become the youngest and only unsigned Grand Prize winner
in the history of the ISC.


Extended Play, Gin’s debut EP was produced by Tony Buchen (Blue
King Brown, The Whitlams, Macromantics, Kid Confucius), and contains
Hallelujah, These Roses, SOS, Under My Skin and Easy Come Easy Go. The
EP has garnered both critical acclaim and chart success in Australasia
and is fast gaining fans worldwide.

http://www.ginwigmore.com/

Yothu Yindi is the most successful and internationally
recognized of Australia's aboriginal bands. Their importance lies in
their fusion of traditional music and performance with contemporary
rock.

The name of the band translates as "mother and child" and
is essentially a kinship term used by the Yolngu people of the Northern
Territory's Arnham Land. The group's central figure Mandawuy Yunupingu and clansman Witiyana Marika were originally part of the rock band the Swamp Jockeys with non-aboriginals Cal Williams and Stuart Kellaway. They gathered other aboriginal musicians and dancers to become Yothu Yindi, a troupe initially created to perform at cultural events both in Australia and Internationally.