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I wanted to highlight three shows today. But first, there is so much happening that occurrences not strictly time-sensitive get delayed. And delayed and delayed.
One person I’ve been meaning to write about is Pāpāmoa drummer Stan Bicknell. As a drummer, Stan is a monster. An absolutely jaw-dropping monster. He returned to live in Pāpāmoa as a Covid-19 response after 12 years in Melbourne, during which he toured and recorded with the likes of Kimbra, Miami Horror, Tonight Alive and Ecca Vandal.
Here, as well as his own band, The New Caledonia, he is a session drummer and educator. He has been developing a drum teaching philosophy called Mastermind Drummer – see the website of the same name – which aims to develop drumming skills in tandem with mental attitude to music. It’s a fascinating approach; there are also a bunch of invaluable free lessons there and on his Facebook page.
But the big, slightly belated, news is that Stan has been auditioning ... for Primus.
Stan Bicknell, centre, with members of Primus. Photo / Supplied
‘Skull Crusha’
If you don’t know Primus, the reason for the dramatic ellipsis is that Primus is a superstar band. Not necessarily commercially but in the world of alternative prog-rock, Primus are “it”. Their music – three-piece, guitar, bass, drums – is both wilfully eccentric and astonishingly complex. Think a power trio playing Frank Zappa. It’s hard – really hard.
At the end of last year Primus lost their drummer so conducted a worldwide search, listening to more than 6000 audition tapes. From those they chose 11 drummers to travel stateside for auditions. Stan was one.
This is now slightly old news and, no, Stan didn’t get the gig. But the whole process is now online on Primus’ YouTube channel and elsewhere: ‘Primus Interstellar Drum Derby’. The 12th and final episode dropped earlier this month.
You can see Stan auditioning in Episode 4, ‘Skull Crusha’, named after Stan’s special steel-made snare drum, which does almost that to guitarist Ler LaLonde’s head. Stan’s playing throughout is simply incredible. And he’s here, in Pāpāmoa, friendly and approachable and probably the best drummer you’ll ever meet.
Okay. Three gigs. I haven’t left much space. Sorry.
Australians incoming!
Ash Grunwald. Photo / Supplied
Thursday, June 5, Ash Grunwald is at Totara Street. Ash is an Australian bluesman, a guitarist and singer with a string of awards: six Australian Top-50 albums, five ARIA nominations, four AIR nominations, two APRA Awards, and the prize for Best International Act at the LA Music Critic Awards. Need I say more?
Next night, June 6, more Australians are coming – this time to Katikati’s Arts Junction in the form of alt-country trio Rufous Whistler. They’re celebrating their debut album ‘National Panic’ so expect fiddles, mandolins, banjos, and guitars as they blend modern folk and country.
Alt-country trio Rufous Whistler. Photo / Supplied
And one more: that same Friday, June 6, at Voodoo Lounge you get three bands and three DJs. The bands are Angela Cruzat, White Lace & Strange, and Dead Empire, who’ve just launched a new single Devine Intervention. Expect six hours of fun – what’s not to like?
Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/hsnrp728