Starting life as a teenage duo formed by vocalist Milly Tabak and lead guitarist Liam Pratt, the band has gradually grown in confidence and stature, expanding to a five-piece and honing in on a shiny and modern Americana sound drawing from the likes of Ryan Adams, Neil Young and soulful 1970s soft rock.
Recorded at Lyttelton’s Sitting Room with producer and engineer Ben Edwards, who has worked with Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding and Marlon Williams, the album’s lead single, Wildfire, sounds a little bit like glossy Fleetwood Mac by way of Whiskeytown, while recent cut Pursed Lips is a lighthearted and more straightforward country rocker. The Miltones play Dunedin tonight at Purple Rain Retro Cafe.
AFRO BEAT
Sam Manzanza and the Afro beat band is back in Dunedin next weekend for a performance at Dog With Two Tails. A master percussionist and guitarist, Manzanza and his band have been performing African music, ska and Afro beat across Aotearoa for nearly 20 years. His music is energetic, rhythmic, and tailor-made for dancing. Support comes from Dunedin’s Tahu and The Takahes.
THE ALL SEEING HAND
Wellington throat, turntable and drum trio The All Seeing Hand is also heading south next week, throwing a huge party at the Port Chalmers Pioneer Hall with Hex, Elan Vital and Nick Knox.
The immersive sound experience that is The All Seeing Hand will headline, supported by the witchy pagan doom jangle of Hex, the darkwave post-punk of Elan Vital and the gothic sinister balladry of Nick Knox.
The show will also be accompanied by lighting design, visual installations and ‘‘energetic wave architecture’’ by performance designer Lady Lazer Light.
Hear it, see it
• The Miltones Debut Album Release Tour, Purple Rain Retro Cafe (Princes St), tonight, doors open 8.30pm, gig starts 9pm. Tickets from Under the Radar, $10 plus booking fee.
• Sam Manzanza’s Afrobeat Band with Tahu and the Takahes, Dog With Two Tails, Friday, July 21, 9pm. Tickets from dogwithtwotails.co.nz.
• Pioneer Soothsayers Meet and Greet: Future Sounds and Visions featuring The All Seeing Hand, Hex, Elan Vital, and Nick Knox with energetic wave architecture and lighting from Lady Lazer Light, Port Chalmers Pioneer Hall, Friday, July 21, 9pm. Tickets $10.
