I do love when local music gets released; today I have some new Tauranga tunes for you.

Firstly, there’s an album set for release which – due to the complicated nature of release dates and column deadlines – I haven’t actually heard.

But let’s not call that an impediment: it will have dropped by the time this goes to print so enjoy four tracks on this week’s playlist. The album is ‘Soul Exodus’, from John Michaelz and the Black Brothers Band. It is being launched at the Te Puna Memorial Hall, Saturday, November 11.

Since I’ve written about John for more than quarter of a century I’m not sure how important a quick catch-up is.

Nonetheless...He first came to attention with blues-rock band Hard To Handle in the late-1980s. He’s since fronted The Stone Babies, Kosher, and was NZ Music Award-nominated for gospel album ‘Walk On Water’.

His most recent albums have been solo, before hooking up with the Black Brothers a couple of years back and hoisting his flag up a reggae mast. They have since released various singles recorded at Welcome Bay’s Colourfield Studio.

An album is now ready.

A host of talent

Featuring with John and the brothers are a host of talent, from band guitarist Mike Kirk – a veteran of B-Side Band and Kokomo – to John’s son Dylan Israel of Summer Thieves on keyboards, Lewis Martin on sax, Nick Ririnui percussing, Porina McLeod supplying backing vocals and Mike Butler on harmonica.

There is also the ‘Ritchie Pickett appreciation choir’ for John’s cover of the old Pickett song ‘More Fey Ray’, comprising many mates from Ritchie’s days, including Tim Armstong, Glen Moffat, Allan Badger, Andy Craw, Maurice Greer, Graham Clark and Liam Ryan.

Catch them in Te Puna with special guest Tyran Curtis; tickets are $20 but early-birds get a $10 gift voucher, handy for band merch...

And, catching up on music from the past couple of weeks, Crooked Finger has a new single out, recorded by Evan Pope at Studio 11b in Mount Maunganui. It’s a somewhat darker proposition that their usually sunny indie-pop. Called ‘Random Sailor’ it is written in defence of jailed Marlborough Sounds murderer Scott Watson, and shows a definite progression for the band.

A video was filmed down at the marina showing Crooked Finger is now solidly a four-piece with the arrival of guitarist Rawhiri White.

They’re playing for this month’s CHUR CHON SNDY concert at Totara Street, November 26.

Grant Haua

The Mount’s Matty Buxton also has a new single ‘Either Way’, which follows last month’s ‘Sober’ and is more up-tempo and guitar-oriented but equally catchy. He sounds a bit like Ed Sheeran to me and it’s a well-crafted piece of pop music.

And last thing. It’s being ‘officially’ launched at The NZ Blues & BBQs Festival in Rotorua at the end of this month but, if you just can’t wait, Grant Haua’s new album has sneaked its way onto Spotify.

It’s called ‘Mana Blues’. Unsurprisingly, it’s rather good.

******************************************

Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: