Margaret Urlich – 1989-style
As our wee tribute to Margaret Urlich (24 January 1965 – 22 August 2022) GARY STEEL revisits a piece he wrote around the release
RTR Countdown Magazine Best Albums Of ’89!
GARY STEEL's “countdown” of the 10 best albums of 1989 from the February 1990 issue of RTR Countdown. Oh-ho-ho!
Lea Maalfrid’s This Love – a master class in singer-songwriting
One of NZ’s most distinguished songwriters finally gets round to recording a career-spanning overview, and GARY STEEL is well impressed.
Lawnmaster’s Curable Romantic – Wellington’s self-proclaimed laziest band steps up
Self-deprecating, funny and deeply humanistic, this Wellington band’s latest deserves a hearing, reckons GARY STEEL.
The Witchdoctor Q&A – Sandy Mill
Sandy Mill is one of Aotearoa's finest singers. To mark a rare performance in Auckland this weekend, we ask her some leading questions.
The Steroids and White Light Records
In 1980 In Touch magazine got all excited about Wellington post-punk band The Steroids and the launching of their independent record label.
Live shows from long ago… The Crocodiles/The Whizz Kids
By late 1980 The Crocodiles lineup had splintered. GARY STEEL wrote this review of their Wellington gig at shortlived venue Billy D'Club.
Live shows from long ago… Wolfgang/Coup D’Etat
GARY STEEL's 1980 review of a gig by the Red Mole theatre troupe splinter band that was soon to become the hitmaking Coup D'Etat.
Live shows from long ago… Mangaweka Viaduct Blues Band/The Gen
GARY STEEL wrote this gig up for In Touch magazine way back in May 1980. It wasn't his (or their) finest hour.
Flight X7 – An NZ Music Month 1980 archive special
GARY STEEL had great expectations of NZ new wave band Flight X7 in this 1980 feature on the band. History had other plans… If
Live shows from long ago… Split Enz 1980 (Second Coming)
GARY STEEL wrote this review of the homecoming heroes' second 1980 Welly gig in the first edition of In Touch magazine.
The best NZ album you never heard in your life – Spacesuit (1997)
In this occasional series, GARY STEEL pays tribute to lesser-known records that really rock. Today it's Spacesuit's turn.
The resurrection of The Body Electric – NZ’s first all-electronic band
GARY STEEL was there when Wellington synth-pop band The Body Electric’s ‘Pulsing’ took off in 1982. Here’s his take on the phenomenon.
Off his trolley – Friend, the Chris Knox project no-one remembers
GARY STEEL revisits an interview he conducted with Chris Knox in 2003 to discuss the New Zealand lo-fi legend's avant-collage album.
New NZ Music Hall of Famer interviewed… 41 years ago!
Every day in May, to mark NZ Music Month, Gary Steel presents something local from his considerable behind. Personal archive, that is. Today’s surprise
Blast From The Arse: THE CROCODILES 1980
GARY STEEL turns red in the presence of a Crocodile, Jenny Morris. Later, another Crocodile joins the conversation…
Fun foremost for First Fifteen four
To celebrate NZ Music Month, GARY STEEL digs up a story he wrote about the very fabulous (but sadly neglected) First 15.
Chillblains
NZ's gifted but troubled songwriter and band leader, Martin Phillipps, in a candid and revealing exchange with Gary Steel
From The Archives – the wit and wisdom of Chris Knox
GARY STEEL celebrates New Zealand Music Month by selecting some choice quotes by Chris Knox, many of them previously unpublished.
Authors
