I've been thinking a bit about nostalgia recently.

Frankly, I'm not a fan (though I remember those halcyon days when I was...)

No, dammit, I don't. We don't do nostalgia here. But, musically speaking it's getting harder and harder to separate the nostalgic from the new.

Mount Maunganui band 'Joe's Van'.

The concert schedule has been littered with nostalgia acts this year: Billy Idol, Motley Crue, Alice Cooper, a bunch of others. Why I call them nostalgia acts is that they're no longer creating anything new. They're not recording or putting out music, they're doing a victory lap, greatest hits 'n' all, recreating the best moments from past shows.

At the other end of the spectrum is someone like Bob Dylan, who may have been around much longer than those acts, but who stubbornly refuses to go gently into that good night. The last time he was in New Zealand he played a show largely comprised of material from his latest three albums and his current European shows feature a mere three songs of his that date from before 1990.

But it gets confusing. Cold Chisel, one of the few Australian bands who actually hold a place in Kiwis' hearts, seem pretty much like a nostalgia act. But now, ahead of their two New Zealand shows in December they've released a new album, ‘Perfect Crime', and it's not bad at all. If anything you could criticise it for being a bit too much like the Cold Chisel of old, but that seems unnecessarily nitpicky.

The same week saw the release of a new album from Keith Richards, ‘Crosseyed Heart'. Now I think – despite the odd new song – that everyone would regard the Rolling Stones these days as a nostalgia act. I'm not saying they aren't good, but everyone knows they're there for the greatest hits. But Keith's album? Not only is it damned fine, but it's also surprisingly modern, a different way of presenting those patented 'Keef” guitar riffs that makes them fresh and new. So The Stones are nostalgia but Keith's not...?

Alright, enough of such musings. There's a show happening here at the Mount next week which can in absolutely no way be described as nostalgia. If you want to check out the state of the art as far as new music goes then get on down to the Mauao Performing Arts Centre next Thursday (October 22) and prepare to be blown away.

The night is made up of three bands, all of whom promise great things.

Strangely Arousing are a six-piece who won the 2014 NZ Battle of the Bands. They're funky, they have horns, they've opened for the likes of Fat Freddy's Drop and Damien Marley, and the videos of them live are sensational. Meanwhile, Brendon Thomas and The Vibes are a three piece who placed third on New Zealand's ‘The X Factor', and went on to tour with I Am Giant.

The two bands originally met at a Battle of the Bands heat in 2014 when they vowed to one day tour together. Two years later they're on the road with a show that includes a set from each band before they join forces for a nine-piece super-band, taking the chance to play songs from some of their favourite artists. (Does that count as nostalgia? Hmmm...)

Opening the night is an even younger talent, Joe's Van, locals and this year's Smokefree Rockquest winners. If you haven't seen them take my word for it – they're fantastic!

Things kick of at 8:30pm, $15 on Eventfinder, $20 on the door.