Live concerts are back again. Played at Best Cafe in Dunedin last night.
Blueskin Bay this Friday 3rd of June
New album / EP release for Coasting. Recorded in 2020. There are 4 tracks – all instrumental.
More about this album over here. Have a listen and if you are in Otago keep an eye out for gigs. It’s been a while. Love to see you all again.
Recently heard from Brent who heard me play at a school assembly (Westlake) when he was 16.
I played unplugged as always in those days and amazingly was heard clearly by 900 people…
Brent invited me to play at his 50th birthday party (18th of this April )
It was a game changer in this respect.
There is a profound difference between playing somewhere and being primed to perform. When primed to perform I play like my life depends on it.
So if any of you reading this ever wonder about having a house concert at your place – why not invite me to play at your party.
Call me on +64 21 025 92919 to make a booking.
An 8 track album is being released today called Woke up.
Listen now.
Auld lang syne
This is a very early song I released on a 60 minute cassette called Japanese overdrive. It started out as an EP and became way better in production and length in its second edition.
It was a popular tape in fact. In those days no one was selling original tapes so it even got airplay on student stations and got me a spot on Radio With Pictures on account of my “epistles” to Brent Hansen that I snuck into the overnight courier bag from tvnz Dunedin to tvnz wellington..
In the end Brent phoned me and said “enough!” But added “which song do you want to do on RWP?” Which left me speechless. It happened. They flew me up and it was recorded in Avalon main studio. What a blast..that track (Japanese Overdrive) got me orientation gigs too.
Auld Lang Syne was from the same time and it’s a story about a girl from Dunedin who got Hollywoodised and removed from her people group in dear old Dunedin. The best line in the original was the bit about her pink Rolls “I hear they’re using digital clocks in them now. You can’t even hear the ticking anymore but I can”
Anyways this song from that time is a totally updated version recorded on a Takoma baritone at eieio studios. Is it as good? Who knows all i know is its quite different in feel and tone.
Caroline (Blue Sky) is about a Peter Stephen guitar (in this recording its played on a steve Barkman guitar) that took ages to make and we christened it Caroline after a friend of mine. Never got to own the guitar and never really got close to its namesake either.
Woke up – this was a song I first played on TVNZ Dunedin evening News show. Can you believe it? They actually encouraged the arts. That was before the world’s media got taken over by Santa Klaus Shwab. You really could get on local TV. It was marvellous. Hang on you still can its called channel 9 its owned by the ODT they play me often….come to think of it
Miracle cure is a new take on an oldie but its slow and down a few tones and played on a Takoma
Kings Cross – this is a version that needs to see the light of day played on the baritone takoma its caught the mood. Its a key song of mine and again…one day…the epic version will emerge
Greenfields this was title track to an album of the same name that iris productions made with me Nikki Lindsay and Dave Murphy. It’s a God song for sure. The kinda love that never can die has to be the holy spirit. The key lines opening the song were penned by Caroline Armstrong. Greenfield first two lines was inspired by a poem by Caroline Armstrong which she wrote in response to Blue Sky (alternative title for Caroline)
Its intriguing how our perception is based on such subtle circumstances ie the sky we see as blue isn’t in fact blue….nor the green painted fields.
Precious Time this I guess is the only studio version but the live one is on a tape I released called First Civilian
Far Away is the first tune I ever wrote back in the early 70s and it became a song recently. Its going to emerge again and when it does it won’t mean I am at a loss for material – it’s just that some songs regenerate and remorph
These tracks were recorded at eieio studios out in the country in a field with two cows and the engineer (who chooses to remain nameless). Back in 2018.
This project was supposed to be released years ago. There is in fact more material to be released from this elusive studio ….in fact the best is yet to come.
Jan Bille compiled this from a hard drive labeled “Roundhead” but none of the Roundhead tracks got selected so that also is yet to happen. We are a long way from catching up on releasable material.
Eieio is interesting.its a studio in the middle of a paddock that hosts two cows. The owner of the studio is a perfectionist. It was built specifically to record acoustic guitar and vocal PERFECTLY.it includes handmade microphones made by another perfectionist from far away.
He doesn’t want to be named congratulated or esteemed. The most I could get was permission to mention the name of the studio eieio I wasn’t even allowed to post up a photo of the superstar cow grazing in the paddock.
So at last its emerged. it truly is an arts for arts are project for no profit.
On the subject it would be great if you were to Koha to this project. It’s hard to keep up any momentum in light of the fact that cost greatly outweighs returns. Arts for arts sake is good its all the better when it pays. Thats you debt. Ha ha.
It is the best of times and the worst of times… like “Tale of two Cities”. Dunedin and Auckland -in my view- are estranged somewhat. The former inspired me to write songs and the latter allowed wider reach and back then(80s) DJs on student radio had scope to play what they liked .
At one point my songs were popular in Auckland before I lived there. Things got better for me in home town Dunedin due to the presence of Auckland students in Dunedin. Always loved Auckland for that early boost to my ego. ha ha
And let’s face it I was young and full of the need to be validated. Now being old it doesn’t matter so much. I don’t do it for money I do it for love…the love of money.
Dunediner “where are you from?”
Aucklander: “Auckland”
Dunediner “I’m sorry?”
Aucklander “Auckland”
Dunediner “I said I’m sorry”
Sums it up ay?on the other side its more like this:
Aucklander “where are you from?”
Dunediner “Dunedin”
Aucklander “Awesome. Love Edinburgh of the south”
It’s a fabulous city and still arguably the cultural ruby in the dust but its naturally isolated and doesn’t need to be. The doors open.
If you are a Dunediner and wanna visit me when in Auckland then simply call 02102592919. Kettles on.
In conclusion there’s a bunch of recordings on bandcamp you can listen to and maybe even Koha to.
There’s also a few on Spotify. Sorry Neil…but you had to make way for me. ha ha
Also I have cds. Just call me and I will tell you more.
The live album recorded just before the first lockdown is about to be released on cd. We have the proofs already. Need all the help possible to get the word out. Contact me if you wanna help promote it. I send you one free if you agree to actively get it played on your friends’ car stereos .
This is small-time and as a result we can collaborate in simple ways. Talk to me. Let’s get this thing pumping. The plan is to get Gulliver to give a free CD to every customer. Things like that. Help me realise it people. Also concert in Levin this weekend.
Photo is of quiet time at Firebird cafe. Happy customers, friendly staff.
Aroha
Luke
Thanks for supporting – Live – my latest acoustic album and Happy Isles before it.
Both produced/mastered by Jan Bille and Ian MacAlister. Tony is putting everything online onto multiple streams. Help yourself but don’t forget to return to Bandcamp where the latest releases go and where it’s possible to contribute if the spirit moves you.
The single just released on Spotify is First Civilian about the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster. It’s a kinda parable of Genesis reversed where Adam tempts Eve (Kirsta) with the apple🍎 that turns into a fireball.
Nigel Gavin plays bass /keyboards/ lead guitar while Kath Tait sings backing vocals with Steve Garden drumming and producing at Progressive Studios. He went on to create Rattle Records with Tim Gummer. Nigel created The Gitbox Rebellion and has toured with the likes of Robert Fripp.
Neville Copland flew me up from Dunedin and paid for this wonderful production the likes of which is not possible in these digital times.
Check out also placement of High Risk and Best Of remastered on Spotify and various streams.
Look up Lockdown _ Tony Parker. It’s his first single release.
We are keen to hear from you if you want an opinion on your recordings. Tony loves to listen to albums with a view to tweaking them into streams.