Music Editor BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM forecasts a long, hot summer of brilliant, must-see live gigs ahead.

THE NEXT FEW months are shaping up as amazing if you’re a music fan. Not only are we seeing a wild mix of great festivals, from the Big Day Out to WOMAD to Camp a Low Hum. We’re also experiencing a glut of one-off gigs, a series of which is going to make some music fans desperately poor, but also which should pique the interests of people who have some sort of fascination with music. Below is a quick profile of some of the upcoming gigs, the type of which if you haven’t heard of them before, will no doubt be on your way to becoming soon-to-be favourites. I would wholeheartedly recommend anyone of these bands to check out. There are other rumours I’m hearing too (cough, Animal Collective, CocoRosie, Sea and Cake cough) but I can’t be held liable if they don’t come through.


The Gossip (Dec 8, Wellington; Dec 9, Auckland)
I must admit I’m not the biggest Gossip fan, but I can appreciate their stripped back Yeah Yeah Yeahs-esque sound. Their live show however is meant to be mightily impressive, the type of show that channels the raw sexuality and sonic force that rock n roll can provide at its best. Also with tabloid darling Beth Ditto, they’ve got a larger-than-life personality thing going on, which can only help enhance a live show.

Architectures in Helsinki (Dec 13, Auckland; Dec 14, Wellington)
These Melburnians are big in Aussie, and play the type of crazy, joyful pop that is accessible to everyone with any sort of open mind. They’ve also got an edge, with their wide variety of musical instrumentation and thrilling experimentation that few bands try to explore. With multi-instrumentalists galore and an excellent live reputation, this could be one of the funnest performances you’ll see in years. Check out their 2005 album In Case We Die if you want a taster.

The Black Lips
Chuck in lo-fi, blues, punk, and garage together and mix it with a raucous, unhinged live show (featuring reported sharing of bodily fluids and casual destruction) and you’ve probably come close to describing a euphemised version of the Black Lips. They’re the type of band who’d write a jilted love song to someone called Katrina in New Orleans, or star in a movie based on the story of disorderly legends, The Replacements. Check out their recently released album Good Bad Not Evil.

José González (Jan 8, Auckland, Jan 9, Wellington)
I don’t know what’s been happening in Sweden recently, but some of the best music around in all genres seems to be coming from there. José González plays intimate acoustic folk in the vein of Nick Drake or Elliott Smith, but is also well-known for his brilliant cover of the Knife’s ‘Heartbeats’. He’s getting some deserved mainstream coverage too – he makes beautiful music that anyone could and should listen to.

Low (Jan 9, Auckland)
Indie stalwarts Low have been around since the early 90s when they formed as a reaction against the prevailing grunge sound. Instead of grunge, the band decided to focus on slow build-ups, atmosphere and tension. They make beautiful, compelling music, the type that seeps through your skin. Check out Things We Lost in the Fire from 2001 as a good starting point.

The National (Jan 15, Auckland)
Ohio/New York based The National have released four albums already, and have freely moved from gorgeous country-infused tunes to heavier anthemic rock. You could probably compare their sound and accessibility to bands like Wilco, Arcade Fire or Interpol, but they’ve carved out their own brilliant and powerful sound. Their last two albums (Alligator and Boxer) in particular are wonderful – and Boxer is going to be making many critics’ top 10 lists of 2007.

Andrew Bird (Jan 15, Wellington; Jan 16, Auckland)
Andrew Bird mixes gorgeous pop songs with personal and brutal lyrics. Chuck in jazz, German and big-band swing and his multi-instrumentalist background (including violin), and you’ve got one of the more interesting musicians around. He’s also released a long string of brilliant albums each distinctive in their sound and subject matter – he’s one of the more underrated musicians around, and is highly recommended.

Explosions in the Sky (Feb 11, Auckland; Feb 12, Wellington)
Fitting into that whole post-rock genre and possessing one of the most intense live shows around, this will be a gig full of atmosphere and tension. Their music is often described as cinematic, and their instrumental music features subtle melodies and sheets of noise. It’ll be a brilliant show with the type of music that can kiss and punch you within seconds.

Eluvium (Feb 11, Auckland; Feb 12, Wellington)
Playing with Explosions in the Sky, this gig is promising to be an absolute classic. Portland native, Eluvium plays beautiful ambient music peopled by piano, orchestras and guitar. It’s stunning work, and no doubt he’s had many Eno comparisons in his life. This could be the best gig you’ll go to without any singing.

Interpol (Feb 14, Auckland)
I guess I never really forgave Interpol for an awful show they played in Wellington (though their Auckland show was considerably better by all accounts) a few years ago, which was essentially, their albums being disinterestedly played on big speakers. But then again you could do worse – their first album Turn on the Bright Lights is one of this decade’s finest albums, and their impressive wall of sound and agitated post-punk sound should translate well if Interpol are on form.

Sonic Youth (Feb 16, Auckland)
Sonic Youth should probably need no introduction, as one of the key indie bands of all-time. They’ve heavily influenced some of the key bands of the 90s/00s such as Nirvana and Radiohead, and gave prominence to some of the more important art movements of recent decades (No Wave, Cinema of Transgression, even NZ noise). They’re playing their landmark masterpiece Daydream Nation in its entirety, an album made in their creative highpoint (though I must confess I’m a sucker for Sister), and their live show is already bona fide legendary.

Broken Social Scene (Feb 20, Auckland; Feb 21, Wellington)
This was originally going to be a solo Kevin Drew (who founded the Canadian supergroup) show, but blow-me-down we’re going to be seeing a seven piece band featuring members of the BSS collective. They’re one of the most lauded indie bands of recent times, with pop, electronica, heavy atmosphere, and members from some of Canada’s best bands, and will no doubt be truly wonderful.

Okkervil River (Mar 4, Auckland; Mar 5, Wellington)
Will Sheff is one of modern day music’s best lyricists, and his phrasing is utterly unique (it blows the bombast out of the majority of hip-hop stars too). Chuck in a band who puts compelling, thrilling music behind it, and you’ve got one of the best bands operating around at the moment. The sound is quite something – gorgeous melodies, sudden flashes of noise, and a singer who sings as if he’s never going to sing again – this show will probably be brilliant.

Iron and Wine (Mar 14, Auckland; Mar 15, Wellington)
Fronted by kingpin Sam Beam, and featuring former members of Sea & Cake, Califone, Wilco, Calexico, Iron & Wine bring their country infused show down to New Zealand. Boasting stunning arrangements and beautiful melodies, they’ve been surprisingly ubiquitous – whether it’s making an album with Calexico, covering the Postal Service on Garden State – yet they’re also under the radar a bit. But they’re very highly regarded, and their latest album, The Shepherd’s Dog is wonderful.

Beirut (Mar 15, Auckland; Mar 16, Wellington)
One of the most precocious musicians to come out of anywhere for a long-time, 21-year-old Zach Condon (AKA Beirut) has already started making a name for himself on the indie and world music scenes. Mixing everything from Balkan folk, French accordions, psychedelia, lo-fi pop, he’s released two absolutely brilliant albums – last year’s Gulag Orkestar and this year’s The Flying Club Cup. He’s playing with a full band (he’s also playing at WOMAD) and fans of everyone from Neutral Milk Hotel to Serge Gainsbourg will fall in love.

Wilco (Mar 22, Auckland; Mar 23, Wellington)
One of the biggest bands at the moment who are still releasing half-decent stuff and not relying on their past reputation, Wilco (AKA Jeff Tweedy’s direction after Uncle Tupelo) have made some utterly brilliant albums (A Ghost is Born, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Summerteeth, Being There) and are famous for their live shows. This one will probably be the most anticipated show of the lot, and though I have no idea where the Wellington show is going to be, nor when tickets go on sale, I’d probably get in quick.