The Phoenix Foundation Presents - 'A Very Dystopian Christmas!'

Look who's coming to visit...

The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo

I wrote a few weeks ago about the new Phoenix Foundation single, called Buffalo, which will feature on the new studio album (also called Buffalo) which most serendipitously drops from the heavens on my birthday. Presales start any second now, if I understand the band's website correctly.

Anyway. Check out the lovely video which the fabulous Nato (any Wellingtonians/NZers full stop will undoubtedly know Nato!) has crafted:

The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo from Nathan Hickey on Vimeo.

Love those big dogs. And didn't they do well to find a sunny day in Wellington?! Here's a look at the band playing the song live at Slow Boat Records.

I'm off to order myself a Golden Buffalo quick-smart - there are only 50 packages available! Heh - reminds me of a Mexican Hollywood.. whatever that is.

UK readers, as far as I know the band will be over here in late summer, and there's bound to be some special offers. But who can wait that long?!

Hello, London!

The return to London has been a little difficult, but I'm pleased to say that after a brief three-day depression, things have been on the up. My New Zealand holiday consisted months of hot weather, beautiful rural settings, and little to do besides drive my borrowed car from friends' house to friends' house, or down to the river to swim and throw sticks for my favourite dog. Contrasted with single digit temperatures, icy cold (admittedly everyone says I missed the worst, but that's relative surely), endless public transport, and a slightly aimless existence - it's hardly surprising that I might question my sanity! A zillion miles from my farmer poet, even if that sometimes seems like a good idea.



So where's the beautiful positive, as Pascalle West would say? Catching up with friends and family is top of the list, and sometime in the not too distant future, I'll hopefully add "rewarding new career direction" as a close second. I've got one or two projects on the go now, and while flat hunting isn't my idea of a positive experience, I certainly hope the outcome is.

Luckily there's always good music to be found. And here's a treat - for a limited time, download the first single from the Phoenix Foundation's forthcoming album Buffalo. Go here for the free download.

St Jerome's Laneway Festival - Auckland

This morning I woke up on a motel floor. As I lay contemplating the ceiling, a gentle breeze stirring the curtains on the french doors to my left, I reflected on my fabulous day at Laneways.



It was a brilliant day, and the rain held off for the most part. I met up with the friendly neighbour late morning, and we cabbed downtown to Britomart Square. After a bit of wandering around the site and getting acquainted with the layout, I met up with Lisa and we enjoyed a set from the Naked and Famous, along with a growing and appreciative crowd. Around 3pm I was very very happy to see the Phoenix Foundation play, on the bittersweet occasion of bass player and my good friend Warner's last gig. He's been with the band seven years, pretty much all the time I've known him, and I wish him well in his future projects, which include the highly entertaining Double Ya D.

After that it was time for a much, much anticpated set from the xx. Oh, how I love the xx. Their set was just lovely. I caught some of Daniel Johnston next, a very special performance - you can see a short video here. I didn't pay enough attention to the Dirty Three, and I wish I'd given more time to Chris Knox and the Nothing. I spent the next 45 minutes or so waiting in the food queue, hoping I could use some of my plastic drink coupons, and snarling at queue jumpers. The hot chips were a necessary evil; I missed Echo & the Bunnymen, but I think I'd always missed them so I didn't mind too much.

Because it was the first year of the festival in Auckland, there were inevitably some problems, not least of which was the long wait for food and beer (although happily this didn't affect me). There were also some scheduling reshuffles later in the day, not to mention a disappointing overlap of Cut Off Your Hands beginning their set before Daniel Johnston was finished. I don't believe this was an intentional slight, and I hope that Daniel wasn't too offended.

The reshuffles meant that the 3Ds played later in the evening, and their set was a blinder. The crowd just loved it, what a treat to see such hits as Outer Space, Hey Seuss and Animal performed live!



Florence closed the show, however I was sifting about at the Northern Steamship by this time, catching up with friends and setting the scene for the next few hours. My drinking buddies in London will not be surprised that I have developed quite a taste for Mac's Great White. And that was it - the night ended, as so many do, with a dirty kebab on Queen St.

backyard with snow

Timely for the revelation of my current backyard - what a great surprise to wake up to this morning!

PS Take a look at the fantastic new video from the Phoenix Foundation - it's brilliant.

The Phoenix Foundation at the Botanical Gardens

The general consensus was that there were fuckloads of people at the Botanical Gardens Soundshell this evening to see the Phoenix Foundation play. There's something quite special about live music outdoors, and there's always something special about the Phoenix Foundation. There aren't many bands that know how to build tension and really work a crowd - but these boys seldom disappoint. I tried out a few different settings on my camera as you'll see... unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of Richie - too many drums in the way!

Sam Luke
Will
Conrad
Warner
Luke
Sam

Their second album should be out in April... just quietly, I've heard a few tracks, and it's sounding sublime.