BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM trawls the local music calendar to bring us the month’s best gigs. This October: Willard Grant Conspiracy, Yeasayer, Blackalicious w/ MC Lateef + The Mighty Underdogs, Delaney Davidson, The New Pornographers, Howe Gelb.


» Willard Grant Conspiracy, Wed Oct 1 @ San Francisco Bathhouse (Wgtn); Thurs Oct 2 @ Sammy’s (Dunedin); Friday Oct 3 @ 4.20 (Akld w/ Bond Street Bridge)
Robert Fisher and his collective play the type of music which evokes deserts, loneliness and desolation. He has been releasing albums for over a decade now with a sizeable roster of musicians (including Kristin Hersh, Chris Eckman etc.), and his haunting voice is arresting enough without his compelling music.

» Yeasayer, Tue Oct 7 @ San Francisco Bathhouse (Wgtn); Wed Oct 8 @ 4.20 (Akld w/ Brand New Math)
Promising to be a killer live show, the band which bills itself as a “Middle-Eastern-psych-snap-gospel” has been creating a lot of justified hype over their sound and live performances. The four-piece mines from all sorts of genres, and toured with MGMT in the US and Beck in the Europe recently.

» Blackalicious w/ MC Lateef + The Mighty Underdogs, Thur Oct 9 @ Fu (Akld); Fri Oct 10 @ San Francisco Bathhouse (Wgtn); Sat Oct 11 @ The Civic (Chch)
One of the biggest names in indie hip-hop, Blackalicious have showcased their vocal dexterity, and killer beats for a decade. They make the type of hip-hop which doesn’t take itself too seriously, but is seriously awesome in its construction and delivery – it could be one of the best parties of the year. The Mighty Underdogs are a new supergroup featuring Gift of Gab, Lateef the Truth Speaker and Headnodic. This will definitely sell-out.

» Delaney Davidson, Sat Oct 11 @ Mighty Mighty (Wgtn)
In a month of killer live shows, it’s always nice to see some excellent local talent. Formerly-Swiss based Delaney Davidson is about to embark on a tour of the US, and his unconventional material is brilliant live.

» The New Pornographers, Tues Oct 12 @ Kings Arms (Akld w/ Trees Climbing Trees & Dictaphone Blues); Wed Oct 15 @ San Francisco Bathhouse (Wgtn w/ Martin Phillips of the Chills)
Canadian super-group (featuring at times Neko Case and Destroyer) the New Pornographers are heading down for two shows, and will no doubt play material from some of their classic albums (such as Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema). Their power-pop/indie music has won considerable acclaim around the world, and this will be a highly recommended show.

» Howe Gelb, Thur Oct 23 @ Sammies (Dunedin); Fri Oct 24 @ San Francisco Bathhouse (Wgtn); Sat Oct 25 @ 4.20 (Akld)
Indie legend Howe Gelb (of Giant Sand fame) is coming to New Zealand to play three shows. A new Giant Sand album has just been released too! Gelb will be performing his extensive back catalogue solo, and his compelling live show will be a pleasure to see.

Big Day Out Announcement: The first BDO announcement has happened, with big names such as TV on the Radio, My Morning Jacket, The Prodigy, The Arctic Monkeys, the Ting Tings, Simian Mobile Disco, Pendulum join already confirmed headliner Neil Young. Of Kiwi interest is the reformation of legends The Headless Chickens as well. Two more announcements to come!

Upcoming Gigs: Headless Chickens, Die!Die!Die!, Holy Fuck!, The Dodos, Teenagers. Tickets are on sale for February’s Camp a Low Hum too.