SunLive CompetitionBlue Blood, a title typically associated with nobility, doesn’t seem apt for a band with a self-described sex, drugs and rock and roll attitude. The band formed a year ago with Joel Thompson and Simon Hole. The two met in Tauranga three years earlier, having played together in Terraform, a metal band that wound up in 2005.
“It just felt natural at this stage of my life, these days we focus on writing grooves for the dance floor – music that people can party and sing along to.” Joel says they have been touring before now as build up to their album release in February, getting a rousing reception from Christchurch just after the earthquake. “We toured since last July and got down as far as Christchurch in December, right after the quake hit. I was unprepared for how devastated Christchurch was, but the people still turned up and partied hard, which is true testament to the Kiwi attitude.” Their album, Top Shelf Woman, is named after what Joel describes as “a tale of a shallow woman giving you the cold shoulder, until she finds out you’re in a rock n roll band, at which point she is willing to sell her soul to make you hers.” True to the mantra of sex, drugs and rock and roll, the songs are described as “risqué psychedelic rock,” and Joel says their live performances are nothing short of a good time. “The rule of thumb is don’t get too drunk on stage – no more than six beers before you play. Once we couldn’t secure payment for a gig at a club, so they gave us 50 jugs of beer, and we got through most of them. That wasn’t the tightest set we have ever played I will tell you that. “But the most important thing is making music that people enjoy, music that makes people move. I think as long as you are a good band, people will come to hear you play. The kiwi palette is generally full of emerging artists, but you have to make sure you treat your fans right.” Blue Blood will be performing their album Top Shelf Woman at Brewer’s Bar on February 25. Win: Go in the draw to win a double pass with SunLive. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over. To enter, you must be logged in, if you are new click here to register for free! Competition ResultsWendy Marsden |
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Packing up for Auckland, the two recruited Nathan Cooper on keyboards, Mike West on second guitar and Scott Stevenson on bass. Shifting from heavy metal, Blue Blood returned to their “bluesy roots,” with their name coming from the idea of having “blues in the blood,” Joel says.
