Too Many Chiefs
Too Many Chiefs – 18 July – Shambles Theater
Four great NZ singer songwriters are performing live this coming Saturday, 18th July, at Shambles Theater. Too Many Chiefs, features Wayne Mason, Rob Joass, Andrew London and Laura Collins.
From a chance meeting in a Paekakariki cafe in 2012, four singer/songwriter bandleaders hatched a cunning plan to join forces and present a show featuring their favourite original songs, without their usual ‘Indians’. Although working in slightly different genres the Chiefs discovered enough common ground to compile a repertoire that brings together elements of jazz, country, folk, blues and good old rock’n’roll, and showcases some of the best songwriting New Zealand has to offer.
Wayne Mason is something of a Kiwi icon, having won the ‘song of the millennium’ with his song ‘Nature’, first recorded in the ’60s with The Fourmyula, and also covered by the Muttonbirds in the ’90s. A founder member of the legendary Warratahs, Wayne has also recorded several albums under his own name, ‘Sense Got Out’ being the most recent.
Rob Joass leads two groups; ‘The Shot Band’ and ‘Hobnail’. He has toured Canada and parts of Europe with his gritty songs that are equal parts Celtic folk and country rock, the occasional barb of satirical humour betraying a mischievous sense of perspective on the human condition, honed by decades of constant touring through the highways and back roads of NZ.
Andrew London is best known for his trio Hot Club Sandwich, whose repertoire consists mostly of Andrew’s whimsical, humourous and satirical ditties. He was also a founder member of Kapiti’s ‘Cattlestops’, a five-piece country band whose album ‘Back to Rosetta Road’ provided much of the soundtrack to the movie ‘Second Hand Wedding’.
Laura Collins brings a welcome gentility to the stage, thankfully balancing the testosterone level. Known for her soulful voice and bringing ‘heart on sleeve and tongue in cheek’ in equal measure to her own writing, her instinctive and empathetic vocal contributions to the other Chief’s songs are highlights of the show.
Opening act: Gary Forrester
Based in Wellington, Gary (or Jeshel as some would know him), visits Rotorua regularly. It was during one of these visits that I met him through a mutual friend, John Hamilton. Gary have been recording and producing album since the 1980’s and has been profiled in Random House Australia as a major influence on Australian music during that time. His latest album, Alma Rose, is a stunning collection of self penned songs. It is available from Musicworks Rotorua and as one of my favourite albums, I urge you to get a copy. Otago Daily Times gave it four out of five stars.
Cost per person to attend the concert is $25. You can pre book your ticket by email theroguestage@gmail.com or you can buy it over the counter at Musicworks Rotorua. While you are in the shop, you can also pick up a copy of NZ Musician Magazine and read Chris Dent’s review of Alma Rose.
Tickets not pre-booked and bought on the door is $30
Cash bar and light meals available, doors open at 6.30pm
Group bookings of more than 10 people $20 per ticket.
See you Saturday!
The Rogue Stage 