Up the Underground

Rip It Up, Issue 217, 1 September 1995, Page 11

Up the Underground

Dear Ed,

First of all, I must commend you and your staff for such a great magazine. Every month I wait avidly to receive ‘the musical bible’ of New Zealand. * I do, however, have one gripe. It seems to me the only bands in New Zealand are the Nixons, Pumpkinhead, Thorazine Shuffle and Dead Flowers. Don’t get me wrong, these bands are good, but don’t you think they’ve really had enough coverage from your magazine?

I’m just waiting for RipltUp’s version of Rolling Stone’s [book of] rock writing (which may not be a bad idea). Recently, I came back from a tour of the States [where I] saw a lot of live music. I must say, not much is happening in the ‘scene’ (punk’s not dead, again, heavy metal is grunge, and thank god country doesn’t exist outside the Mid West). Two days back in Godzone, I saw Gardenshed and Slab at Squid. Both bands would really make an impact over there. Before I left, I realised there is a more underground scene happening that needs to be discovered.

All these bands playing at community halls to young kids really go off. This is where rock ’n’ roll really starts. So, come on RIU, let’s see some of the smaller bands who get 400 kids at these gigs [get] some recognition. Bands like Doggy, Gardenshed, Shaft and Nothing At All are all brilliant and deserve some ears to listen to them.

Thanks for your ink, your time, and your great input to the music scene. Racheal S, Takapuna.

PS: John Russell, thank you for the excellent records I have acquired from your reviews. PPS: Do I win the five pounds?