The Playhouse – w/ House of Mountain and Sleeping Dogs

Christchurch rock rumbling into a town near you

Christchurch artists Sleeping Dogs, House of Mountain and Hera are reuniting again for two shows at the top of the South. Having travelled all over the South Island earlier in the year in the arduous and eventful Live and Loud Heartland tour, the three stalwart musical outfits once again pack up their bags for old times’ sake and embark on another journey full of (mis)adventures, pre-show mischief, post-show shenanigans and – most importantly – fantastic music. After more than a month’s break from the road, everyone is raring to go!

Having travelled with all their gear to far-flung places like Stewart Island and Fox Glacier, this outfit of debonair musicians have had a lot of shared musical experience together, and are guaranteed to bring an evening of fine entertainment. If it’s been a while since you’ve boogied with your baby in town, then now is the time to do it; these are the final two shows of the original Live and Loud lineup.

Sleeping Dogs are a band with big ideas. Their first album was recorded at York Street Studios in Auckland and Modern World Studios in the UK by one of New Zealand’s top production teams, Clint Murphy and Greg Haver.
Their sound is comparable to the 70s grandiosity of Queen and David Bowie, and more recently, the apocalyptic sound of Muse. They are currently writing their second album in their custom-built Christchurch studio. Featuring the operatic piano and vocals of Thomas Reid; the melodic and technical playing of guitarist Ace Palenski; the solid groove and iron-clad playing of Rocky on the bass; and the intricate yet bombastic drumming from Infinite Lovechild.

House of Mountain could be described – in my opinion – as a healthy mixture of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Foo Fighters; taking the best elements of both bands and fusing it into a unique mixture in a class of its own. They are slightly over a year and half through their three year plan – one year of writing, one year of playing, and one year of recording – and have been honing their songs and live show to perfection. This plan allows guitarist and vocalist Moses Robbins’ estimated 200 songs to be worked through thoroughly until they are true rock classics. This band also features highly-experienced NZ musician Ben Campbell (Zed, Atlas) on keys and vocals, self-taught bass master Kurt Preston and the deeply musical Jed Parsons on the drums.

Hera is an acoustic singer-songwriter who hails from both Iceland – her land of birth, and New Zealand – the land she currently calls home. She has won Iceland’s Best Female Artist for 2003, and has a gold-selling record, high-rotation radio play, support slots for the likes of Joe Cocker and Nick Cave and has performed at the famous SXSW festival in Texas and at the immortal Glastonbury in the UK. Her music is noticeably unique and has been influenced strongly by dual emotional investment in both of her cultures. Effortlessly blending foreign sounds and language with our familiar version of folk and acoustic pop, she will take you on a journey of discovery upon which you will hear a refreshing take on what an acoustic singer-songwriter can achieve. She is often joined by House of Mountain drummer Jed Parsons for a couple of gorgeous vocal duets, and later by the entire House of Mountain band for her more upbeat numbers.

www.sleepingdogs.com, www.houseofmountain.com, www.herasings.com