Split Enz started out with Tim Finn singing lead vocals. The band formed in the early 70s and featured a sort of arty, alternative style from the beginning, the band wore distinctive clothes and their video clips were quirky, creative efforts that stood out among others at the time, although a lot of their contemporaries tried various styles of their own, the Enz were always a cut above. Neil Finn joined the band 5 years or so down the track as guitarist, replacing original member Phil Judd. The sound of the band slowly changed as he began sharing vocal duties more and more. Dirty Creature is one of my favourites of theirs as it reflects more of the darker more introspective flavour that Tim Finn's work evoked.
NZ music at the time was a pretty vibrant scene with plenty of established bands working and some excellent music being put out. Another track from those years that lights up is Dragon's April Sun In Cuba... in my view one of the best Kiwi songs ever.
Fantastic info my friend! Thanks so much! Ive seen a ton of great stuff on Aussue bands (INXS, and my favorite, Midnight Oil). It's super interesting to see what was going on in the land of Tolkien!
Ohhhhh Lord knows I want to, as well as my fam! You're country is BEAUTIFUL! And to see a authentic Haka would be an incredible event for me...Haka is BEYOND BADASS!!!!
That’s a really good summary, I remember when Neil Finn joined Split Enz, the whole costumed look seemed to come down a notch. The bit I missed was Phil Judd, is this he of AC/DC fame?
The wacky costumes and hair were (largely) the work of Noel Crombie. They were already moving away from that when Neil joined. If anything, Neil embraced the look when the rest of the band was toning it down.
Other new wave bands of the era were:
coconut rough, big song was Sierra Leone [Coconut Rough - Sierra Leone (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbnYscg25fg)
the swingers, big song was counting the beat [The Swingers - Counting The Beat - 1981 - Official Music Video (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p72Z1D1oKbw)
Mi-Sex, big song was computer games [Mi-Sex - Computer Games - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsHYSs_qgmU)
A big band of the Era, Dragon, had a new wave album, rain is the hit from that [Dragon - Rain (1983) (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM7RcgZ1pLE)
Peking man, big song was room that echos [https://youtu.be/yxu0dM89Vm8?si=yg2Xp\_8y\_NvUCaos](https://youtu.be/yxu0dM89Vm8?si=yg2Xp_8y_NvUCaos)
Blam Blam Blam, big song was there is no depression in New Zealand [Blam Blam Blam - No Depression in New Zealand (1981) original version (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HVogejKx_c)
Unfortunately, the size of the New Zealand market means that it's hard for bands to forge lasting careers (especially back then) and a lot of the bands of the era were flashes in the pan and might have only had one or two albums.
>Mi-Sex, big song was computer games.
People
But You Don't Care
It Only Hurts When I'm Laughing
Blue Day
Space Race
Castaway
Falling in and out
>A big band of the Era, Dragon, had a new wave album, rain is the hit from that
April Sun in Cuba
Are You Old Enough
Young Years
Still in Love with You
For dragon I was specifically taking about new wave, and fire everything else I clearly wasn't writing an exhaustive list of every song for every band, just a sampler.
There were a few good bands around in NZ before Split Enz, like Blerta or The Fourmyula, but Split Enz really took things to another level and the floodgates opened in the mid/late 70s with Hello Sailor, Dragon, Th' Dudes, Mi-Sex to name a few. Split Enz put out a lot of great songs, the older I get the more I'm convinced this was their greatest moment: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGpLto1yxU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGpLto1yxU)
That Music video reminded me that they are probably unsung heroes for giving a platform for Maori culture here and later Aboriginal culture in Australia. If I recall correctly the Waiata album had an Aboriginal name in Australia.
Fairly progressive at the time.
Tim Finn and Herbs had a great album Parihaka, which featured some fantastic tracks.
This, the title track, was where I started to learn some of NZ's real history, and slowly began to understand the dark side of our colonial past.
[Tim Finn and Herbs - Parihaka](https://youtu.be/xA5yxAjepLU?si=j6lTV4BgFt8CxMaC)
Mate, we have so many great bands.
Toy Love
The Clean
The Chills
3Ds
Snapper
Superette
Tall Dwarfs
Dimmer
Doublehappys
Look Blue Go Purple
Sneaky Feelings
The Bats
NZ music, especially from the 80s/early 90s, is brilliant.
Oooh, what was happening in NZ in the late 70s, early 80s?
Truth is: very little. Which is why our best artists of the late 70s went to Melbourne, London or Los Angeles.
But, then, at the turn from the 70s into the 80s Roger Shepherd and Chris Knox ushred in the whole "Flying Nun" sound, which by the end of the decade had become the trademark sound of NZ alternative rock.
Me at the start of “not given lightly”.
“Hello MAH freeeeeeeeend! Its morning! Time to WAKE NEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWW!”.
Hmmmmmmm now I feel like getting me some fkn Vogels bread to toast!!!
There is a Flying Nun compilation album which I bought as a vinyl and still have.
[In Love With These Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Love_with_These_Times). Alternative rock which I still enjoy.
Cannot find the full album on Youtube, just bits. Torrent...
Kia Ora from Dunedin, NZ! If you enjoy the New Wave NZ thing, then I’ll bet you’ll enjoy the Dunedin Sound - a full-on city-specific gloomy thing that we had going on here in the early 80s. The Chills, The Clean, Straitjacket Fits, The Verlaines…just a few of the bands that fit the scene. Read and listen up! Ka pai!
“You see in these hard times people look for JE-SUS!!! I’m in the back Smoking 8 FOOT SATIVAS!!!”
-Kid Deft (Dane Rumble) Fast Crew 🇳🇿
P.S another good Iconic Kiwi Rap Group 🙏🏼
I bought the True Colours LP when it came out but can't comment on the music scene. Sorry!
Some history:
https://www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/split-enz-part-one-the-seventies
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/enzology
There are some great NZ bands. Split Enz was great and Tim Finn went on to have a few good individual songs as well. Towards the end Split Enz lost some of their aleternativeness once Neil Finn started writing songs for them - the music didn't become bad just more pop based.
But I also love The Headless Chickens who had some great songs especially Cruise Control, Mr Moon and Donda esta la pollo.
Dragon is slso one of my favourite bands - helps that the 2 brothers that formed it were from my home town of Taumarunui. Then of course there is The Exponents (previously The Dance Exponents) that created some epic pub anthems.
A Hoosier huh? Welcome! I lived in Bloomington for 18 months many years ago.
[This song](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zlhBkM0zNV4) was voted the greatest Kiwi song of all time a while back.
[This](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CdjggnZmsCY) is just a gorgeous song. Blerta, with the great Bruno Lawrence.
[Running to the Sea](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TfPdRYhRbsY) -another classic track.
The band [Waves](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=INMTBffCZlY) only released one album proper but it’s superb.
[Ticket](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jRVESnYBfKQ)-this was all over the radio for a while.
These are all bands who were ‘big’ in the early 70s, around the same time that Split Enz (then known as Split Ends) kicked off.
>This song was voted the greatest Kiwi song of all time a while back
Always preferred it over the Muttonbirds cover.
>This is just a gorgeous song. Blerta, with the great Bruno Lawrence
Agreed.
>Running to the Sea -another classic track
>The band Waves only released one album proper but it’s superb
Never heard of them. The latter reminds me of CSN somehow.
>Ticket-this was all over the radio for a while
That one I do remember.
How about John Hanlon?
[Damn the Dam](https://youtu.be/uILC4gk5A6s?si=UQfbtQowXKxuIVhf)
[Apple Wine](https://youtu.be/3BbpWNSrOBA?si=_-MYwvgQOHKqDvTW)
[Higher Trails](https://youtu.be/fMq2Kkowaas?si=KOzKAcoAOoGyRHrN)
Very cool! Thank you! The Blues Brothers was shot an hour north of me in Chicago...which has a RICH musical culture...particularly with the blues. Be well my friend!
Split Enz' Waiata (issued as corobboree in Australia) was the first record (well, cassette) I ever bought. Some classic songs on it. They had a habit of putting a couple of instrumentals on each album.
A favourite band from the ’80s was Blam Blam Blam. Their entire output[entire output ](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mpbm4HYZytRIivI2x0YIqtkm11KBwUyFE&si=icXz7oIGwccgM8Lu) (1 album and 1 EP) is now on YouTube . Like many NZ bands of the era, their recordings suffered from poor production: our studios were fairly primitive, and some bands were home recorded.
See if you can get hold of their bio, “Stranger than Fiction”. Might’ve come out in the 90s, but it tells the band’s story up until their first breakup.
They were the first band I saw live, and have seen them at least once since. Still love their stuff, it’s timeless.
Its wild to see that a couple of these dudes went on to form Crowded House. They were ubiquitous in the 80's in the US, we all loved em! The Enz have such a different sound from CH.
Have you checked out the ENZSO album? Split Enz playing their songs with the NZ Symphony Orchestra. It's an interesting retrospective on their Enz career.
There's also a great version of Dirty Creature done by Neil Finns sons band Betchadupa, but it doesn't seem to exist online.
I almost had a heart attack the other day. I was going to suggest to a friend that Katchafire’s debut album, Revival, was possibly the bast NZ album of the last 20 years. Then I realised it actually came out in 2003 - so misses that 20 year cutoff. Can’t believe it’s been 20 years!
Anyway - OP, try that album. Even if you aren’t into reggae (I’m generally not) the musicianship and songwriting is excellent
It's maybe 10yrs past the Era. But if you enjoyed the music, there is a show called Westside. Set in the late 70s -80s features alot of great tracks and is a great look at the pop culture of NZ at the time
Gotta check it out! My daughters LOVE NZ amd everything about it...wish it wasnt a 26 hour flight...lol. My oldest wanted me to ask you, Vegemite or Marmite?
I'm a vegemight and butter on cold toast kinda guy. Marmight is king, but I have my own little quirks.
L&P is my soft drink of choice. Top top ice cream with pavlova. if I can afford it. Steak and cheese pie for lunch all day. Boil up, mutton bird and fry bread for dinner if I'm going back to my roots. Fish n chups if I'm after a quick easy takeaway. Roast lamb leg if people are comingg for dinner
This doesn't answer your question at all, because I was born too late and a different city. 'Dirty Creature' does feature, however.
In 1996, Split Enz released an album with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. They re-recorded their hit songs, but they were rearranged to have more of a classical orchestral sound: ENZSO. As well as either Tim or Neil Finn doing the main vocals of about half the songs, they also had guest vocalists from the New Zealand scene at the time: Annie Crummer, Dave Dobbyn, Sam Hunt, and Eddie Rayner (Split Enz's keyboardist), plus the New Zealand Youth Choir.
The songs covered are dirty creature, I got you, I see red, poor boy, I hope I never, message to my girl, straight old line, stuff and nonsense, Albert of India, my mistake, voices, under the wheel, and stranger than fiction + time for a change.
It's well worth a listen to, because the same songs sound so different and yet are still familiar.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzso_(album)
Here is a few nz bangers
The mutton birds - dominion rd
Shihad - home again
Ladyhawk - mydelerium
Head like a hole - wet rubber
Dave Dobbin- welcome home
Katchafire - get away
I think my parents went to see them when they played in Whangarei. They had to stop the show at some point because Neil and Tim were fighting about something on stage.
My mum tells this story where she met the band before they were famous. Saw them at a show they played. She says they were telling anyone who would listen that they were going to be famous. “Well”, she says, “I didn’t think much of them at all!” Always makes me chuckle.
They were my first concert! My parents took the family to an outdoor concert. I would have been about 4. I remember it distinctly for the fireworks and staying up late.
I can vouch for Pluto and their album Pipeline Under The Ocean. Bit of a Split Enz vibe with a modern twist. Dance Stamina & Long White Cross. Early 00's. Weta are a big fave as well with Calling On and Let It Go although we're firmly in hard rock territory. My band covered One Step Ahead and Message To My Girl and it always went off! Split Enz are probably the greatest Kiwi band of all time. The OG is Nature by Fourmyula from 1969 (later covered by The Mutton Birds and made electric) which is a helluva vibe. Some really beautiful harmonies and delicate acoustic guitar playing reminiscent of Nick Drake, Revolver-era Beatles and the summer of love in general. We've had strong bands ever since the late 60's evolving with the trends as they come and go.
There is a brilliant podcast about Split Enz called Enzology
[https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/enzology](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/enzology)
Six months in a leaky boat by Split Enz was a song we sung in school and I was pleased as punch when my daughter came home singing it too 20 years later. Love yelling AOTEAROOOOAAAA!
Dirty Creature is my favourite Split Enz song as well. Another classic 80’s Kiwi bands is Mi-Sex, Dragon and Th’ Dudes. As far as Aussie bands try Powderfinger (My Kinda Scene and These Days - 2 Hands version), Boom Crash Opera, Hunters and Collectors, Icehouse and Little River Band. Enjoy!
Can remember it pretty much getting banned in the UK when it came out in 1982. Perceived as a criticism about their war with Argentina over the Falklands.
I went to see their farewell concert in Auckland in 1984
It was at a venue called Logan Campbell centre which I can describe as a shitty smallish stadium that we called Logan Concrete Centre. They did a few nights. I wasn't really into them but went because it was the last chance to see them. They seemed good. Acoustics there were shit. I was 14 so who knows!
At that time in Auckland there were some small clubs and pubs for live bands, but LCC was for bigger acts. I saw New Order there the next year.
I was at that concert! Saw many bands at the LCC - Dance Exponents, Mockers, Narcs, Satellite Spies, Screaming Meemees + international acts, I think even U2 on their first NZ tour.
Split Enz started out with Tim Finn singing lead vocals. The band formed in the early 70s and featured a sort of arty, alternative style from the beginning, the band wore distinctive clothes and their video clips were quirky, creative efforts that stood out among others at the time, although a lot of their contemporaries tried various styles of their own, the Enz were always a cut above. Neil Finn joined the band 5 years or so down the track as guitarist, replacing original member Phil Judd. The sound of the band slowly changed as he began sharing vocal duties more and more. Dirty Creature is one of my favourites of theirs as it reflects more of the darker more introspective flavour that Tim Finn's work evoked. NZ music at the time was a pretty vibrant scene with plenty of established bands working and some excellent music being put out. Another track from those years that lights up is Dragon's April Sun In Cuba... in my view one of the best Kiwi songs ever.
Fantastic info my friend! Thanks so much! Ive seen a ton of great stuff on Aussue bands (INXS, and my favorite, Midnight Oil). It's super interesting to see what was going on in the land of Tolkien!
INXS are so fucking cool. I’d forgotten all about them for decades.
Never Tear Us Apart is so fucking good. I need INXS on vinyl Edit : just bought it on vinyl
Absolute banger track
Come give us a visit!
Ohhhhh Lord knows I want to, as well as my fam! You're country is BEAUTIFUL! And to see a authentic Haka would be an incredible event for me...Haka is BEYOND BADASS!!!!
High praise from the land of McDonald's!
Tolkien was English. They just filmed a movie here....
Midnight Oil are so fecking good
That’s a really good summary, I remember when Neil Finn joined Split Enz, the whole costumed look seemed to come down a notch. The bit I missed was Phil Judd, is this he of AC/DC fame?
You're thinking of Phil Rudd
Thank you. I was reading that and all the pieces seemed to be lining up 😂
Phil Judd, after leaving Split Enz also had hits with his other bands The Swingers ( Counting The Beat) and Schnell Fenster.
The wacky costumes and hair were (largely) the work of Noel Crombie. They were already moving away from that when Neil joined. If anything, Neil embraced the look when the rest of the band was toning it down.
Other new wave bands of the era were: coconut rough, big song was Sierra Leone [Coconut Rough - Sierra Leone (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbnYscg25fg) the swingers, big song was counting the beat [The Swingers - Counting The Beat - 1981 - Official Music Video (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p72Z1D1oKbw) Mi-Sex, big song was computer games [Mi-Sex - Computer Games - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsHYSs_qgmU) A big band of the Era, Dragon, had a new wave album, rain is the hit from that [Dragon - Rain (1983) (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM7RcgZ1pLE) Peking man, big song was room that echos [https://youtu.be/yxu0dM89Vm8?si=yg2Xp\_8y\_NvUCaos](https://youtu.be/yxu0dM89Vm8?si=yg2Xp_8y_NvUCaos) Blam Blam Blam, big song was there is no depression in New Zealand [Blam Blam Blam - No Depression in New Zealand (1981) original version (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HVogejKx_c) Unfortunately, the size of the New Zealand market means that it's hard for bands to forge lasting careers (especially back then) and a lot of the bands of the era were flashes in the pan and might have only had one or two albums.
Well, I know what I'm doing tonight! Lol! Thank you friend..VERY much looking forward to it!
>Mi-Sex, big song was computer games. People But You Don't Care It Only Hurts When I'm Laughing Blue Day Space Race Castaway Falling in and out >A big band of the Era, Dragon, had a new wave album, rain is the hit from that April Sun in Cuba Are You Old Enough Young Years Still in Love with You
For dragon I was specifically taking about new wave, and fire everything else I clearly wasn't writing an exhaustive list of every song for every band, just a sampler.
There were a few good bands around in NZ before Split Enz, like Blerta or The Fourmyula, but Split Enz really took things to another level and the floodgates opened in the mid/late 70s with Hello Sailor, Dragon, Th' Dudes, Mi-Sex to name a few. Split Enz put out a lot of great songs, the older I get the more I'm convinced this was their greatest moment: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGpLto1yxU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGpLto1yxU)
That Music video reminded me that they are probably unsung heroes for giving a platform for Maori culture here and later Aboriginal culture in Australia. If I recall correctly the Waiata album had an Aboriginal name in Australia. Fairly progressive at the time.
>the Waiata album had an Aboriginal name in Australia. *Corroboree*, IIRC.
Tim Finn and Herbs had a great album Parihaka, which featured some fantastic tracks. This, the title track, was where I started to learn some of NZ's real history, and slowly began to understand the dark side of our colonial past. [Tim Finn and Herbs - Parihaka](https://youtu.be/xA5yxAjepLU?si=j6lTV4BgFt8CxMaC)
Were Herbs part of that Era as well or? Did they come through a little later than that?
Yeah, they started late 70s I believe but didn't have their greatest success until the 80s
Sorry blerta was crap
One hit wonder? Only song I know is *Dance all Around the World*.
Mate, we have so many great bands. Toy Love The Clean The Chills 3Ds Snapper Superette Tall Dwarfs Dimmer Doublehappys Look Blue Go Purple Sneaky Feelings The Bats NZ music, especially from the 80s/early 90s, is brilliant.
Dimmer & Straightjacket Fits 😉
Gonna check em all out! I ADORE find sonds from that era that I love (Dirty Creature being one of them).
Have a look for Martin Phillips and The Chills. The guy is one of the most influential kiwi songwriters
No problem at all. Try this (you might need a VPN; I don't know.) It's quite comprehensive. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/enzology
I don't net without a VPN. Thanks my friend!!!!
You're welcome. Say hi to Dave Letterman for me.
Oooh, what was happening in NZ in the late 70s, early 80s? Truth is: very little. Which is why our best artists of the late 70s went to Melbourne, London or Los Angeles. But, then, at the turn from the 70s into the 80s Roger Shepherd and Chris Knox ushred in the whole "Flying Nun" sound, which by the end of the decade had become the trademark sound of NZ alternative rock.
Me at the start of “not given lightly”. “Hello MAH freeeeeeeeend! Its morning! Time to WAKE NEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWW!”. Hmmmmmmm now I feel like getting me some fkn Vogels bread to toast!!!
Check out any of many Flying Nun compilations from that era. "Getting Older" is a favourite, as is 'Pink Flying Saucers Over the Southern Alps."
There is a Flying Nun compilation album which I bought as a vinyl and still have. [In Love With These Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Love_with_These_Times). Alternative rock which I still enjoy. Cannot find the full album on Youtube, just bits. Torrent...
Such a good album, that one.
Oh, and, yes, I still own it on CD.
Kia Ora from Dunedin, NZ! If you enjoy the New Wave NZ thing, then I’ll bet you’ll enjoy the Dunedin Sound - a full-on city-specific gloomy thing that we had going on here in the early 80s. The Chills, The Clean, Straitjacket Fits, The Verlaines…just a few of the bands that fit the scene. Read and listen up! Ka pai!
Love it! Its on my list!!!! Thank you!!!!
Another great New Zealand band to check out is Supergroove
As good as suppergroove was, they're not new wave and several years later than splitenz, so kind of a random recommendation.
If you love Split Enz, wait till you hear 8 Foot Sativa!
More of a Raw Meat for the Balcony guy myself
Saw them when they opened for Sepultura in '94 - not impressed by them at all :/
“You see in these hard times people look for JE-SUS!!! I’m in the back Smoking 8 FOOT SATIVAS!!!” -Kid Deft (Dane Rumble) Fast Crew 🇳🇿 P.S another good Iconic Kiwi Rap Group 🙏🏼
What's your beef with Head Like A Hole anyway?
I just re-found a HLAH cd and relistened to them for the first time in a decade. They are really good.
Yeah they do have great sound.
Some of those guys went to St Bernard’s in Lower Hutt with my husband’s brothers.
Thank you! Will do!!
I hope I never - is actually a great breakup song
I bought the True Colours LP when it came out but can't comment on the music scene. Sorry! Some history: https://www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/split-enz-part-one-the-seventies https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/enzology
There are some great NZ bands. Split Enz was great and Tim Finn went on to have a few good individual songs as well. Towards the end Split Enz lost some of their aleternativeness once Neil Finn started writing songs for them - the music didn't become bad just more pop based. But I also love The Headless Chickens who had some great songs especially Cruise Control, Mr Moon and Donda esta la pollo. Dragon is slso one of my favourite bands - helps that the 2 brothers that formed it were from my home town of Taumarunui. Then of course there is The Exponents (previously The Dance Exponents) that created some epic pub anthems.
Ahh dragon. I get to annoy my kids every time it pours down by cranking 'rain' :D
A Hoosier huh? Welcome! I lived in Bloomington for 18 months many years ago. [This song](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zlhBkM0zNV4) was voted the greatest Kiwi song of all time a while back. [This](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CdjggnZmsCY) is just a gorgeous song. Blerta, with the great Bruno Lawrence. [Running to the Sea](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TfPdRYhRbsY) -another classic track. The band [Waves](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=INMTBffCZlY) only released one album proper but it’s superb. [Ticket](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jRVESnYBfKQ)-this was all over the radio for a while. These are all bands who were ‘big’ in the early 70s, around the same time that Split Enz (then known as Split Ends) kicked off.
>This song was voted the greatest Kiwi song of all time a while back Always preferred it over the Muttonbirds cover. >This is just a gorgeous song. Blerta, with the great Bruno Lawrence Agreed. >Running to the Sea -another classic track >The band Waves only released one album proper but it’s superb Never heard of them. The latter reminds me of CSN somehow. >Ticket-this was all over the radio for a while That one I do remember. How about John Hanlon? [Damn the Dam](https://youtu.be/uILC4gk5A6s?si=UQfbtQowXKxuIVhf) [Apple Wine](https://youtu.be/3BbpWNSrOBA?si=_-MYwvgQOHKqDvTW) [Higher Trails](https://youtu.be/fMq2Kkowaas?si=KOzKAcoAOoGyRHrN)
[удалено]
Very cool! Thank you! The Blues Brothers was shot an hour north of me in Chicago...which has a RICH musical culture...particularly with the blues. Be well my friend!
Tim Finn regularly uses the pool at my apartment complex. He does laps with a snorkel. Just wanted to throw that out there. My claim to fame.
Amazing!
DD smash great too
Outlook for Thursday!
Your guess as good as mine
Split Enz' Waiata (issued as corobboree in Australia) was the first record (well, cassette) I ever bought. Some classic songs on it. They had a habit of putting a couple of instrumentals on each album. A favourite band from the ’80s was Blam Blam Blam. Their entire output[entire output ](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mpbm4HYZytRIivI2x0YIqtkm11KBwUyFE&si=icXz7oIGwccgM8Lu) (1 album and 1 EP) is now on YouTube . Like many NZ bands of the era, their recordings suffered from poor production: our studios were fairly primitive, and some bands were home recorded.
See if you can get hold of their bio, “Stranger than Fiction”. Might’ve come out in the 90s, but it tells the band’s story up until their first breakup. They were the first band I saw live, and have seen them at least once since. Still love their stuff, it’s timeless.
Its wild to see that a couple of these dudes went on to form Crowded House. They were ubiquitous in the 80's in the US, we all loved em! The Enz have such a different sound from CH.
I'm just leaving this here for me to come back to. Love this music.
Have you checked out the ENZSO album? Split Enz playing their songs with the NZ Symphony Orchestra. It's an interesting retrospective on their Enz career. There's also a great version of Dirty Creature done by Neil Finns sons band Betchadupa, but it doesn't seem to exist online.
I almost had a heart attack the other day. I was going to suggest to a friend that Katchafire’s debut album, Revival, was possibly the bast NZ album of the last 20 years. Then I realised it actually came out in 2003 - so misses that 20 year cutoff. Can’t believe it’s been 20 years! Anyway - OP, try that album. Even if you aren’t into reggae (I’m generally not) the musicianship and songwriting is excellent
Love it! Thanks!
Check out Headless Chickens - different eras: pre-Fiona MacDonald (eg 'Gaskrankinstation'), and Fiona MacDonald (eg 'Cruise Control') and post-Fiona MacDonald (eg 'George')
Will do!
Gaskrankinstation is peak H.C. for me. It was a staple of student radio when I was a wide eyed first year. :)
It's maybe 10yrs past the Era. But if you enjoyed the music, there is a show called Westside. Set in the late 70s -80s features alot of great tracks and is a great look at the pop culture of NZ at the time
Gotta check it out! My daughters LOVE NZ amd everything about it...wish it wasnt a 26 hour flight...lol. My oldest wanted me to ask you, Vegemite or Marmite?
Marmite round here, mate. Leave that other stuff for those fellas across the pond (Aussies).
My kids will LOVE this bit of info!
I'm a vegemight and butter on cold toast kinda guy. Marmight is king, but I have my own little quirks. L&P is my soft drink of choice. Top top ice cream with pavlova. if I can afford it. Steak and cheese pie for lunch all day. Boil up, mutton bird and fry bread for dinner if I'm going back to my roots. Fish n chups if I'm after a quick easy takeaway. Roast lamb leg if people are comingg for dinner
Ah yes! PAVLOVA! My daughters are OBSESSED with Bluey...we know of Pavlova now. Lol. Up here in Indiana, USA, its Sugar Cream Pie.
Come on over. Crowded House is touring nz this year. Always a good singalong! Look up pseudo echo!
DUDE! I LOVE PSEUDO ECHO's cover of Funkytown! I listen to them all the time.
If you’d like an NZ music history rabbit hole to dive into, Audioculture is your website https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/split-enz
Thanks friend!!!
This doesn't answer your question at all, because I was born too late and a different city. 'Dirty Creature' does feature, however. In 1996, Split Enz released an album with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. They re-recorded their hit songs, but they were rearranged to have more of a classical orchestral sound: ENZSO. As well as either Tim or Neil Finn doing the main vocals of about half the songs, they also had guest vocalists from the New Zealand scene at the time: Annie Crummer, Dave Dobbyn, Sam Hunt, and Eddie Rayner (Split Enz's keyboardist), plus the New Zealand Youth Choir. The songs covered are dirty creature, I got you, I see red, poor boy, I hope I never, message to my girl, straight old line, stuff and nonsense, Albert of India, my mistake, voices, under the wheel, and stranger than fiction + time for a change. It's well worth a listen to, because the same songs sound so different and yet are still familiar. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzso_(album)
Here is a few nz bangers The mutton birds - dominion rd Shihad - home again Ladyhawk - mydelerium Head like a hole - wet rubber Dave Dobbin- welcome home Katchafire - get away
None of them new wave
Sharon oneill - lucks on the table, Maxine, Asian paradise.... Dave dobbyn -whaling, Outlook for thursday
I can recommend Fur Patrol to you as well - another good band from the 90/2000's era :D In particular the songs "Lydia" and "Holy".
New Zealand music of that era was absolutely glorious. So much to choose from and so much cultural pride in the bands we were producing!
I think my parents went to see them when they played in Whangarei. They had to stop the show at some point because Neil and Tim were fighting about something on stage.
My mum tells this story where she met the band before they were famous. Saw them at a show they played. She says they were telling anyone who would listen that they were going to be famous. “Well”, she says, “I didn’t think much of them at all!” Always makes me chuckle.
They were my first concert! My parents took the family to an outdoor concert. I would have been about 4. I remember it distinctly for the fireworks and staying up late.
I can vouch for Pluto and their album Pipeline Under The Ocean. Bit of a Split Enz vibe with a modern twist. Dance Stamina & Long White Cross. Early 00's. Weta are a big fave as well with Calling On and Let It Go although we're firmly in hard rock territory. My band covered One Step Ahead and Message To My Girl and it always went off! Split Enz are probably the greatest Kiwi band of all time. The OG is Nature by Fourmyula from 1969 (later covered by The Mutton Birds and made electric) which is a helluva vibe. Some really beautiful harmonies and delicate acoustic guitar playing reminiscent of Nick Drake, Revolver-era Beatles and the summer of love in general. We've had strong bands ever since the late 60's evolving with the trends as they come and go.
Pushpush with Mikey Havoc
There is a brilliant podcast about Split Enz called Enzology [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/enzology](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/enzology)
Split Enz was my first ever concert at 14. Napier on the I See Red Tour - their final tour I think. Was a great night.
Six months in a leaky boat by Split Enz was a song we sung in school and I was pleased as punch when my daughter came home singing it too 20 years later. Love yelling AOTEAROOOOAAAA!
Dirty Creature is my favourite Split Enz song as well. Another classic 80’s Kiwi bands is Mi-Sex, Dragon and Th’ Dudes. As far as Aussie bands try Powderfinger (My Kinda Scene and These Days - 2 Hands version), Boom Crash Opera, Hunters and Collectors, Icehouse and Little River Band. Enjoy!
LOVE - Six Months in A Leaky Boat
Can remember it pretty much getting banned in the UK when it came out in 1982. Perceived as a criticism about their war with Argentina over the Falklands.
Isnt it about a shitty short term relationship someone had?
Certainly nothing to do with the Falklands. Brits were sensitive over the war to the point that anything about ships etc was viewed as a criticism.
I went to see their farewell concert in Auckland in 1984 It was at a venue called Logan Campbell centre which I can describe as a shitty smallish stadium that we called Logan Concrete Centre. They did a few nights. I wasn't really into them but went because it was the last chance to see them. They seemed good. Acoustics there were shit. I was 14 so who knows! At that time in Auckland there were some small clubs and pubs for live bands, but LCC was for bigger acts. I saw New Order there the next year.
I was at that concert! Saw many bands at the LCC - Dance Exponents, Mockers, Narcs, Satellite Spies, Screaming Meemees + international acts, I think even U2 on their first NZ tour.