Turn your back for a second and it sneaks up on you – yes, it's time again for New Zealand Music Month.

Of course, every month is New Zealand Music Month here at the Watusi Country Club, though we do occasionally take time out for Bob Dylan Week. How could it not be?

Anthony Coulter and his band Sonic Surfer.

Even if I only wrote about upcoming gigs in the Bay there'd be more than enough to make every month New Zealand Music Month.

After all, Tauranga has an increasing population and the growing number of Aucklanders here need things to do. No wonder it's getting busier.

But I do wonder about New Zealand Music Month. I wonder what it really means for the majority of Kiwi bands. I know it means that some very polite and enthusiastic people who represent various commissions are talking on the radio about how much they're doing to support Kiwi music. There will be showcases for bands and launches of new commission-supported music in Auckland or Wellington.

Here in Tauranga, bands do what they always do – put on gigs and release music. If those gigs happen to be in May there might be a little extra publicity from calling them New Zealand Music Month gigs.

And there are a couple of launches next weekend.

First up, Tauranga's most cheerful man, the inimitable Anthony Coulter, who next Saturday, May 14, is showcasing the launch of his new music video along with a brand
new band.

Anthony and Sonic Surfer will be at Drivers Bar where they'll play a set of new originals as well as songs from last year's EP ‘Shaking Her Wings'.

Sonic Surfer is Sly Tawhara on drums, Vallo Valentin on bass and guitarist Phil Cavanagh Keel. Anthony will also play a solo set and Shirley Ryder will be special guest for the night.

The song receiving the video treatment – courtesy of Shane Davies at Whakamarama's Soundtree Productions – is what I thought was the stand-out moment of jaw-dropping fun from that EP ‘Go Go Girl', a song that would have been a sure-fire worldwide smash had it been sung by Neil Diamond in 1972.

Doors open 7.30pm, there's a $10 door charge and Soundtree will be videoing the event.

Worth the wait

Looking ahead, Shane Hales from the ‘Rockin' the Planet' television show on Face TV and will be featuring the music video on his show on May 28.

Sadly, since Drivers will be the Bay premiere of the video I can't share a YouTube link yet. But I will and, having seen it in its full glory, I'm sure when you finally catch it you'll agree it was worth the wait...

And talking about music videos for a minute, Shane and his team at Soundtree are doing some great work.

When I was there recently he showed me a video for a new metal band that he's singing with, Ten Tonne Terror.

You can find it at https://youtu.be/mf48s9oFCA0 and I reckon it's simply stunning stuff – if I sang in a heavy metal band I'd be well pleased with a video like that.

Shane reckons a full-on video job of that sort still costs under a grand, and he can produce something close to as good for half that price. Of course he also has the studio at Soundtree so if a band wants a 'playing in the studio” video it's even less expensive. I'm happy to give someone a plug here who does such great deals and is a real music enthusiast and I'd strongly suggest any bands who want to get ahead give it a thought and at the very least go and check out Shane's excellent set-up.

Batten Down the Hatches

Meanwhile, one last gig to mention, also not especially NZMM-connected. Tauranga favourite Kokomo is launching their new 2-CD collection celebrating 25 years of music-making. It's called ‘Batten Down The Hatches' and they're doing it by way of a special free show at Brew Bar on The Strand next Sunday afternoon, May 15. The band'll be playing, John Michaelz will be a special guest and there's no charge.

Sounds like a good deal to me. It's all on at 2pm.

watusi@thesun.co.nz