Running To The Hills- Iron Maiden Razor Review Inclusive

I know its going to come as a great shock to most of you, but I went to Iron Maiden last week.

It was more than just a gig however, it was a story that took a whole weekend to unfold, after waiting a lifetime for the opportunity to see the band that I have constantly been blown away by since I started listening to music some 25 years ago.

The first highlight was getting involved with the Maiden Fan Club who had organised a bus trip on gig day as a fundraiser for Canteen, to fight cancer affecting kids. What a cause. We even got some kids into the gig, preferential seats, backstage, etc. They deserve every good thing we can give them, what a privilege to be involved.

The first mission was on Saturday to meet the crew of "Ed Force Two" as our bus was lovingly christened, and pick up my t-shirt, et al. Josh and Jordan came along, and did a great job of sweet talking a couple of young blonde lasses. Problems ahead in 15 years I fear....

From there Saturday night morphed into a very nice dinner for Paul who was back from OZ for the weekend. And then out on the town...never before have so many Iron Maiden T-shirts been present in downtown Christchurch. What a night. We even ran into Tall Paul...tramping buddy from the Jaffabowl, who I have a habit of running into in the most unexpected situations!



Ah....the Crew :) As always thats Razor in the thick of it.

This guy from Sweden had the dudes from KISS tattooed on him, thats devotion above and beyond...

So anyway, gig day. People had come from Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Australia, and I'm sure many other places just to see the tour. The devotion of Maiden fans is up there with that of the top British soccer clubs, its just complete madness! We had two buses on Sunday, Ed Force Two and Three and did the rounds of ChCh for several hours, including a surreal BBQ at Scarborough where a Brass Band just happened to be playing. Lets just say we weren't sure how popular 100 Iron Maiden Fans were in this setting, but the good folk there really pitched in to the Canteen Fundraising. Hats off.

Eventually it was gig time, and after a long and entertaining drive across ChCh in Ed Force Two (you heard us before you saw us) we set about auctioning off everything that wasn't bolted to the bus, and then in we went. The Obligatory Warm Up Act from ChCh, Tainted, played a solid set. Lauren Harris, Daughter of the Maiden bass player Steve Harris followed with a very tight set- and her guitar player is I swear the spitting double of Zakk Wylde.

Then the main event. I won't dismember it song by song, but suffice to say the sold out Westpac Arena spent 2 and a quarter hours in complete and utter awe. I had high expectations, and they were all met. Some wag wrote in the media that the only problem with the gig was that its going to be impossible to go to any other gigs this year as the bar has been set so high. I completely endorse that statement!

There were more pyrotechnics than I thought possible, especially indoors- at one point they pretty much had the whole stage on fire. Bruce had the crowd in the palm of his hand for the entire set- there aren't many frontsmen in rock who carry that sort of charisma. Loved his two fingered verbal salute to the establishment hot on the heels of Maiden being named "Best Live Act" at the Brit Awards.

All the expected songs were there, outrageous guitars, the galloping bass of the finest technician of the rock world, and Nicko hidden behind his drum kit going berserk for the whole set.

In a nutshell, they delivered the perfect gig. My highlights? Hard to nail out anything in the mix of excellence, but Phantom of the Opera, The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner and Hallowed Be Thy Name were my personal high notes among many.

And the best news, they are coming back in 2010/11!

I'm going to stop before I lose my entire blog readership from boredom, but this was special. A concert of a lifetime.

So it has been written, so it has been done. :)

UP THE IRONS!!!!!

Razor Rating: THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE

Razors Top Ten Albums for 2008

Happy new year everyone.

Its been a great wee summer break and roadtrip- blurb and pics to follow on that in due course. However, I can't let last year disappear without posting my Top 10 new albums from last year.

Overall I have to say it was a disappointing year on the whole, probably only three of these albums would have made my Top Ten in 2007, so theres a few in here that may surprise people, but at the end of the day these are the ten I liked best this year, not yours :)

I had intended to embed a video clip single from each album, however the recent Youtube dispute with record companies means that you'll have to click the links attached yourself you lazy sods! If the links fall over I'm sure you can search them out easily enough as the dispute unfolds.

So without further ado Razors Top 10 from the 2008 is recommended as follows:

1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Dig Lazarus Dig



What a superb craftsman and sage Nick Cave is.

How I missed out on his material for so long continues to confound me, I always took a passing interest but until last year's Grinderman Project I hadn't really noticed this talented Australian had a major back catalogue of such stunning material. I know now!

Following on from the momentum gained from Grinderman it seems theres a tonne of life in the old dog, and Dig Lazurus Dig is simply the most riveting new album I heard in 2008. From laments for the decline of western civilisation to singing about "More News from Nowhere", Cave and the band wear their hearts on their sleeves on this record. Part punk, part goth, and even part Johnny Cash, mixed together as a huge slab of intellectual lolly scramble, Dig Lazurus Dig has remained on my MP3 playlist for the whole year.

Click here to view the video for More News From Nowhere

2. MGMT- Oracular Spectacular

MGMT were a genuine breath of fresh air in 2008.

Hard to define, part electronica, part indie rock, part completely off the planet. MGMT take you on a journey reminiscent of few others, maybe the Flaming Lips spring to mind (a band I must own more of).

Rarely has a new band leaped out and grabbed me so completely on the basis of one single. Guns n Roses did it with Sweet Child of Mine in 1987. Nirvana with Teen Spirit and the Manic Street Preachers with Motorcycle Emptiness did it in the early 1990's . And MGMT did it this year with the hedonistic fantasy of Time to Pretend.

I bought the album on a whim, based on this song and if you've heard the follow up singles Electric Feel and Kids you will know these guys are no one hit wonder.

Watch Time to Pretend here

3. Glasvegas

Hands Up if you have heard of Glasvegas?

I hadn't until around October, and they are simply outstanding. Its like the a new soundtrack for the movie Trainspotting (the old one wasn't bad either laddie), the album just crawls with unemployment, social workers, dirt, grime and life on the skids. Musically its primarily set in the Echo and the Bunnymen led charge from the darker side of the 80's, with a modern edge, not dissimilar to the early releases of Wales Manic Street Preachers.

Very highly recommended!

Watch the clip for Geraldine here

4. Guns N Roses- Chinese Democracy

One could write for hours about the 17 years, $30 million and endless procession of band members spent on this album. We never thought it would come out, but having seen Axl and his hired Guns last year live I was suitably satisfied that it would be a decent album. And in fact its very decent, almost - but not quite- a great album. Stuff, NZ Herald and Rolling Stone all gave it 4 out of 5 stars, and I' d give it the same.

The secret to Democracy is understanding its Axl going where he wanted to go, and could never have gone with his old bandmates. At times the album is disjointed, bloated, over the top and over produced, but isn't that what any truly legendary band puts out? Make no doubt about it, reclusive and media shy Axl is a musical genuis, and go no further than the tracks "Prostitute", "Better", "If The World" and "Sorry" to sample whats been cooking.

Reportedly there are 2 more albums completed for release this year and next. The wait was worth it, in the end, but only just!

Not a video, but listen to Prostitute, my favourate track

"It Seems Like Forever, and a Day" - Yes Axl, it certainly does....

5. Beck- Modern Guilt

Beck is one of those rare artists who defies classification and simply goes where he likes and welcomes you along of the ride if you choose. Modern Guilt is the most vital release in years from the self styled "loser". Theres plenty of influences and comparisons to my mind, Bowie and The Eels spring to attention for a start

Modern Guilt is an unshackled artist at the peak of his powers, a must own from a very smart musician.
Watch Gamma Ray here


6. The Raconteurs- Consolers of the Lonely

"The only way to learn a thing is to admit you know absolutely nothing..." sings Jack White and the crew on "Old Enough". Consolers of the Lonely is a fantastic follow up to the groundbreaking debut album from the Raconteurs a couple of years back, Broken Boy Soldiers. And I thought it was going to be a one off....

This album really is a perfect synergy of its constituent parts, with The Greenhornes rhythm section really shine through on this full length and very listenable CD.

Ttile track Live with Jools here (with other cool links from it)

7. Metallica- Death Magnetic
Well I never. The biggest shock this year apart from Chinese Democracy actually coming out was the release of a decent Metallica album, after ten years of utterly turgid, terrible albums. The last one, St Anger, should have finished them for good.

Death Magnetic is a return to the roots founded in Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets and Justice for All. True Metallica fans the world over rejoiced when the first single "The Day That Never Comes" came out.

Watch "The Day That Never Comes " Here

The rest of the album follows the same vein, Kirks guitars are raging again and the band sounds back on form. I will still never forgive them for the abomination that was St Anger though!

8. SJD- Dayglo Spectres

SJD should be a household name.
Come on, everyone knows an SJD song, just most of them don't realise it. Hands up who knows the Monteiths ad, or the Buy NZ Made ad- ahhh yes you get it now.

SJD is becoming more about the band- Sean James Donnelly, James Duncan, Paul McLaney, et al with each release. Dayglo Spectres builds nicely on the subtle platforms laid in Songs from a Dictophone in 2007, and Southern Lights before that. Theres almost a trance aspect to some of the material here- intelligence and deep thought have gone into this band. I've always thought theres a real Radiohead tinge to SJD and Dayglo Spectres intensifies that. And anyone who has seen James Duncan play live, either with SJD or Dimmer, will appreciate the genius he is on the instrument.

Dayglo Spectres takes a few listens, like all the great albums do, but its an enriching and rewarding tapestry

Superb video for No Telling Where here

9. The Verve- Forth

It really was a year for comebacks- and the Verve were a welcome entrant in this field. Picking up where Urban Hymns left off last century, its a return to form for Richard Ashcroft after his patchy solo efforts. A vital album, one that ebbs and flows between introspective and expansive- a fantastic Sunday afternoon sort of album.

It kicks the arse of Oasis' umpteenth comeback attempt!

Love is Noise here- I love this track!

10. The Cure- 4:13 Dream

Ah The Cure. I'm still humming from the 2007 concert! The long awaited 13th Cure album is as expected a varied affair, attempting to capture many of the elements that have made up Fat Bob and the lads since the late 70's.

Opening with "Underneath the Stars", which could the be sequel to Wish's "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea" this album goes on a journey, influenced mainly from the albums of the mid 80's through to the early 90's. Standout tracks for me include "The Perfect Boy" and "Sleep When I'm Dead".

Its quite a stripped back affair at times, but its yet another notch in the bedpost for Indie Rock's undisputed kings.

Watch The Perfect Boy here

Close and Worthy of Investigation:

• Shihad- Beatiful Machine
• The Datsuns- Headstunts
• The Killers- Day and Age
• Flight of the Conchords
• Snow Patrol- A Thousand Million Suns

Need to Listen More to Judge:

• Fleet Foxes
• TV On The Radio

Overhyped and Avoiding Like the Plague

• The Kings of Leon
• Cold Play

Razor Review: Southern Amp 2008

Midnight Youth were great, but to be fair teenybopper girls aren't their target audience

I've heard of talking horses, but rock star horses??

All the fun of the circus

My first attendance at a Southern Amp, thanks to my wonderful whanau, and for the first time a truly international flavour at this fledgling South Island music festival. What a great day out, in fact I'd go as far as to say we had a BIG Day Out... which I certainly won't be doing at the ever increasingly lacklustre Big Day Out festival in January. But thats another blog post....

Lindon Puffin warms up the crowd with a giant CD release

We arrived soon after lunchtime and quickly familiarised ourselves with the 4 stage set up. One big one inside, a dance tent to the south, the NZ tent to the west, and a small but highly enjoyable Christchurch stage to the east. Overall I have to give a bouquet right from the get go, the organisation was great, no long queues, a great vibe and easy access to each of the stages all day. Hats off, we probably got to see 2 or 3 extra bands due to the fantastic set up and staffing.

We spent the first few hours grazing on up and coming and established NZ acts. In a whirlwind walkabout we saw snippets of highly promising bands such as The Exiles, Clap Clap Riot, Midnight Youth, Audio Empire, Goodnight Nurse, the newly reformed Weta, and the Lyttelton Legend that is Lindon Puffin. I am suitably reassured that the future of NZ music is in wonderful hands, I was truly impressed by each of the above bands, particularly Midnight Youth- a real Pulp feel to their set.

Who the F&ck is Luck????

Then after a cold one it was back to the main stage to check out where Jordan Luck and Band are at these days. Any sign of an album Mr Luck??? Mr Bell??? They played a typical set, parts dreadful, parts engaging and entertaining, even unhinged, and some real diamonds interspersed. Victoria and Christchurch (In Cashel Street I Wait) still cut the mustard in a big way. Jordan Luck is truly the Keith Richards of NZ rock, a true living legend and it was great to see him live for the 400th time.

After Jordan we went to check out the end of The Valves set. These guys are truly stunning and gave one of the three biggest highlights of the day. Part Shihad, part AC/DC, the packed NZ stage just went mental. If you haven't seen these guys do it soon. At that point it was time for a quiet beer next to the dance tent that was bouncing vigorously to the sounds of Tiki Tane, who always plays a varied and surprising set. From all accounts Southern Amp was no exception.

The Dandy Warhols should have headlined

Then it was time for the first international acts, The Charlatans followed by the Dandy Warhols. Two completely different bands, one a British pop institution who dragged in us oldies with a gorgeous set of classic songs mixed with new ones from their recent release. The Dandys followed with trippy psychedelia, including all the big hits. I have to say the Dandy's were Major Highlight Number 2 for me in a very strong lineup. I must hunt out their back catalogue. And yes Rat, she was great on keyboards.

The Charlatans...Madchester memorabilia

The Living End thrashing away mightily

After refueling (again, no queues!) it was back to the NZ stage for Fur Patrol, then the main stage for a snippet of the Living End, and back to NZ Stage for a truly stunning set from my highlight of the day, Dimmer. Shayne Carter, rock god extraordinaire, and with the highly talented James Duncan (also in SJD) it would be fair to say all watching (including Paul's future wife Julia Deans) were all completely entranced by the Radiohead-like set of pure and unbridled majesty.

Mrs Christensen

Thats God playing lead guitar

At this point I was quite knackered. So any comments about Seether are probably a little bit overly-scathing, but really, to be a headline act you should not be a mediocre covers band. Lets face it, these guys are ripping off Kurt Cobain with every breath they exhale. To the point that they covered a Nirvana song, and the irony was not lost on me that they chose Rape Me...talk about turning in ones grave. They even flogged the music to Come As You Are, note for note, and changed it to their own words. They should have been run out of town- we left early.

So in summary, apart from Seether, Southern Amp was a great day out and I'm still buzzing now. I hope the growth of this festival continues next year with some international acts of note. Its a great venue, well organised and I have to say it, far more attractive to me than next years Big Day Out (apart from the Neil Young bit)

Seether truly was unbearable

Razor Review: Is Shihad on the Wane?

Well first review for a while. Should have blogged great reviews for the Smashing Pumpkins and Split Enz shows 3 months ago, but just haven't had the time!

Anyway, having recently bought the new Shihad CD I was genuinely wondering if 20 years at the top of the tree was finally catching up with them. Don't get me wrong, its a good album, with three or four killer tracks, but also some mediocre ones. Which made me waver before Friday night, should I go or was Shihad past it? They are after all the same age as me!

Luger Boa made for a most intriguing first act for the night. Featuring Jimmy Xmas from the now defunct D4, along with Karl Kippenberger on Bass, they played a tight set. Much promise, I look forward to an album later in the year.

Second warm up act was The Mint Chicks, last years NZ Band of the Year. And they remain as far as I'm concerned the most interesting act in NZ. The (now) threepiece take some simple elements and jumble them into a highly refreshing and massively energetic live presence. Great set, but I was a little disappointed they didn't play my favourate track "Walking Off A Cliff Again"

Then it was showtime. And what a show- all doubts were cast asunder by the end of Home Again, that storming live track and what a track to start the gig. Several new tracks were profiled- One Will Hear The Other an absolute standout, and sounded great. The old hits kept coming too, and they sound as great as ever, if not better. An acoustic version of Run was a surprise- one of my motivational Kepler training songs. Very cool to see them playing The Metal Song also, reportedly never played live until this year.

I've been seeing Shihad gigs for 20 years, and when they ripped out the headshattering "Screwtop" near the end of the gig the roof just about came off the Christchurch Town Hall.

Shihad are the Split Enz of Generation X, or so I heard someone say the other day. I could not have put it better myself.

9.5 out of 10. Storming. Long Live The 'Had!

Razor Review- Bon Jovi in Christchurch

This was probably the biggest gig I've seen in ChCh. 30,000 punters, many of whom were reliving their teenage years from the 1980's, packed into the half renovated Lancaster Park for two and a half hours of classic rock from one of the biggest acts on the planet.

Local band The Valves opened up and sounded highly proficient on the big stage. Brent Black is a dynamic frontsman, with shades of Jon Toogoood and the crowd seemed highly receptive to their short set. I'm expecting big things from these guys in the coming year or two.

It was still broad daylight as Jon Bon Jovi hit the stage and grinned like a teenage boy at the crowd. I'm pretty sure in another life he could be a televangelist.... complete with all American attitude and yes girls, those perfect teeth. Its no surprise to hear he's interested in running for public office in the future. Imagine the circus, Jon Bon Jovi vs Arnold The Governator anyone?

They opened the set with one of several new songs that they played from The Lost Highway album over the course of the night, each of which sounded solid enough, despite having received a few terrible reviews when the album came out. They stacked up well live.

The crowd participation began in full earnest second song in with "Shot Through The Heart", and in fact on many of the anthematic hits played the crowd sang so loudly it was hard to hear the band.

My personal highlights were a stonking version of "Runaway" from their first album, and a fantastic solo Richie Sambora rendition of "I'll Be There For You". Sambora may have an extra chin or two these days, but he reaffirmed my suspicion that he's one of the finest guitarists on the planet.

Pretty much all the Greatest Hits were played, with perhaps the exception of "Lay Your Hands On Me" and "Bed of Roses". Surprisingly a number of covers got thrown in, including "Knocking on Heavens Door", "Dancing in the Streets", and the final number "Twist and Shout". Some intriguing choices but all in all a fantastic gig.

And Jon Bon Jovi really suits the Crusaders jersey, which he wore for the encores (including "Wanted Dead or Alive"), and I understand it was presented to him by Richie McCaw himself. I'm sure theres a few ladies who would have liked to be in that room!

All in all I'll give it a 7.5 out of 10.

Razor Review: The Cure- Unparalleled Excellence

Two days later I'm still walking around in awe. I never thought I'd see a better show than U2 last year, but now I have. Truly outstanding.

People thought I was mad going all the way from ChCh to Auckland just for a Tuesday night gig, but I waited 20 years to see these guys and they delivered. It was quite surreal really, jumping on the plane with a small carry bag I got picked up by Chauffeur Cat and was whisked into town for a quick catchup with the old workmates, before checking into a backpackers on Queen Street. That in itself was odd, not to mention running into an old tramping buddy while ordering souvlaki, I thought the Jaffabowl was too big for random things like that!

Anyway, the show. More than three hours. Three encores. Full house on their feet. All the era's were covered, so many highlights its impossible to bring one out front. What blows me away the most about The Cure is their diversity of styles, goth, rock, post punk, alternative, pop, a hint of dance- its all there. And one look around the crowd told you this diversity is reflected in the fan base with young, middle and old from all walks of life in attendance.

And its just that diversity that kept it real and interesting for 3 hours. I don't think I've ever seen a major act that has played with such reverence and respect for their fans- and with a 30 year back catalogue its helpful I'm sure. As hard as I try I simply cannot think of one song they played that was a dud. Not even Faith, which apparently they never play.

Probably, to nit pick, there was only one thing missing, and that was keyboards. But it didn't really matter, it just meant a few songs like Close to Me and Prayers for Rain had to miss out. Simon Gallup- man can that guy play the bass. I've always been a fan of Porl on guitar too so I think this incarnation of The Cure is as good as you can see. Although Lol Tolhurst would be handy...

And I haven't even said anything about how freakin timeless and amazing Robert Smith is- the greatest poet I've heard. When are they going to knight him?

I'm still in awe and will be for a long time....11 out of 10 folks!

Heres the setlist for the trainspotters....any Cure fans in NZ who missed this should hang their heads in shame!

MAIN SET: Tape, Open, Fascination Street, Alt.End, The Blood, The Walk, Love Song, Pictures of You, Lullaby, Hot Hot Hot!!!, Push, In Between Days, Friday I'm In Love, Just Like Heaven, If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, The Kiss, Shake Dog Shake, Never Enough, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Wrong Number, One Hundred Years, Shiver and Shake, End
ENCORE 1: Plain Song,Disintegration,Faith
ENCORE 2: Three Imaginary Boys,Fire In Cairo,Boys Don't Cry, Jumping Someone Else's Train, Grinding Halt, 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab
ENCORE 3: A Forest

Razor Review- Liam Finn at the Kings Arms

Pic lifted promo poster http://www.myspace.com/theliamfinn

What better way to round out NZ Music Month by going to a gig by one of the Finn Dynasty? Especially given the broadside that Neil Finn fired at PM Clark to start the month...

Young Liam is flying solo now and very much standing on his own two feet. Its scary to think he's still only in his early 20's but already has played on 4 albums over a decade Starting on guitars with his old mans first solo effort, growing into the ever intriguing and alternative Betchadupa and now culminating in what sounds like its going to be a brave and fascinating solo album of his own, to be released shortly.

Tonight's show consisted entirely of new material, apart from one Betchadupa number in the encores. It was adventurous, energetic, often impromptu stuff and never for a moment dull. Hard to pin down the multitude of influences here, but Mr Finn's one man band performance with the aid of loop tracks and a gorgeous backing vocalist was truly outstanding and innovative. At times it was like being at a Radiohead-meets-The Who gig, if the CD release is half as good as tonight's show then it'll be a must by. There's even a twist of (dare I say this) Lindon Puffin style stuff in this lot. And now hes old enough to drink, when he sings "let the alcohol drown your dreams" you think he might actually know how it feels!

One minute he's crooning away like old man Neil, next minute shredding up the guitar, next minute bashing out stunning drum solo's- the drums in particular really got the crowd response going. At times it was like watching some mad professor inventing a new element for the periodic table, with him attempting to play every instrument he could lay his hands on, often all at once. And for the encore he was joined on stage by younger brother Elroy- who would put Dave Grohl to shame with the drumming sticksmanship. Illuminating stuff- Finn Brothers Mark II anyone?

The Razor review gives this gig an 8 out of 10, highly entertaining and a must see when the tour comes to your town. Talent is in the genes it seems. Expect the unexpected here.

Article here on New CD and tour and Liam's Myspace page is here, complete with videos, singles and stuff. Have a look!

And check out the Osama Bin Laden look he's cultivating!

Razor Review- Paul McLaney

Ah the Dux. Great little venue for gigs and have seen some classics there over the years. Went along last night to see Paul McLaney (aka Gramsci) play a very polished set from his lastest album Edin. Highly recommended, even had a yak the the man himself. Good solid 8 out of 10.

McLaney is a wonderful songwriter and I hadn't realised what a talent he is on guitar, and that voice- the closest NZ has to an Eddie Vedder. His tour takes him to Queenstown, Te Anau and Milford Sound for gigs in the next week- yes Milford Sound!