Russell Baillie's week of it

Charlie Tumahai - <i>Unsung Heroes of M?ori Music</i>, tonight, Maori Television 8pm. Photo / Supplied

MUSIC

That place they call "The South" in the US gets a double dose of interpretation from visiting American acts this week.

Firstly tomorrow night at the Powerstation it's Todd Rundgren channelling the relatively quiet works of pioneering delta bluesman Robert Johnson in a very loud, electric guitar kind of way - all in a show the producer/guitarist/onetime stepdad to Liv Tyler (that's a whole other story) has dubbed "Todd Rundgren's Johnson" (er, ho ho).

Hopefully long-time Rundgren followers will also get to hear his own gems like Hello, It's Me. Then on Sunday it's the Lil Band of Gold, the Louisiana swamp-rock supergroup winding up a national tour at the Kings Arms.

Daylight saving kicks in this weekend, which, as much scientific study has long shown, usually improves the weather just like that. So anyone else up for a late afternoon picnic at the beach and maybe a quick dip? Don't forget to bring your suncreen will you?

TV

On Monday Mikey Havoc makes a long-awaited return to prime-time in Are You My Tribe, a series in which he visits various iwi to ask - in as polite a way as possible - "what makes you so special?" and other questions that might occur to curious Pakeha who haven't had much exposure to Maoridom.

Tomorrow night, Maori TV's fine Unsung Heroes of Maori Music series looks at the lives of father and son George and Charlie Tumahai. The latter might be best remembered as the terrific bassist in Herbs but he plied his trade in many notable rock bands in Australia and Britain before coming home and joining the Auckland reggae crew.

MOVIES

While many a kid flick takes over the multiplex from today for the school holidays, the big release of the week for the grown-ups - especially those who can remember all the way back to 1987 - is the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

Having reviewed it last on Saturday (it's here if you're interested), can't say I can recommend it. But in the boring bits you can always amuse yourself with contemplating the film's possible other titles and add to this list - Wall Street: Money's Too Tight to Mention, Wall Street: Money (That's What I Want) or Wall Street: Money Get Back, I'm All Right Jack, Keep Your Hands Off My Stack ...