Chatterbox: Eels slide into town

Mark Oliver Everett, aka E of the Eels, is in tune with his inner adult.

The Eels have gone even more on the blink. This year's double album, Blinking Lights & Other Revelations, had lots of weird and wonderful noises and the Los Angeles band, fronted by the man they call E, have decided to recreate that sound live.

So the Eels are bringing a seven-piece band - a string quartet, trash-can percussion and a guy playing a saw - to New Zealand for one show at the Transmission Room on October 23. The eccentric E says the show is an ambitious venture. "I've been thinking of these gigs as a concert for the adult in all of us, a concert to comfort your inner adult."

But never fear, we're sure the Eels' music is kooky enough to satisfy the kid in all of us.

Meanwhile, as frontman for Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty became a music legend in the late 60s. When Creedence broke up in 1972 he set out on a solo career. He's on his way to New Zealand for five shows in November and December, including an outdoor concert at New Plymouth's Bowl of Brooklands.

Although Fogerty is riding solo he's still playing Creedence classics such as Bad Moon Rising, Have You Ever Seen the Rain and Proud Mary in his live set.

Fogerty plays November 28, Westpac Centre, Christchurch; November 29, Events centre, Wellington; December 1 & 2, The Civic, Auckland; December 3, Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth.

True to style, Anika Moa has formed The Plastic Tiki Band to do a nationwide tour in October in support of her second album, Stolen Hill. The dates are: October 4, Twin Pines Hotel, Paihia; October 5, Captaine Bougainville Theatre, Whangarei; October 6, Sohl Bar, Hamilton; October7/8/9, Herald Theatre, Auckland; October 11, Village Hall, Tauranga; October 12, Memorial Centre, Whakatane; October 13, Sessions Bar and Music, Gisborne; October 14, Century Theatre, Napier. And in double team drum'n'bass action, Ed Rush and Optical play Saturday, September 24, at the Fu Bar, Auckland, as part of the Virus Vaults tour.

On a more spiritual note the Harlem Gospel Choir will give shows in New Zealand during October and November as part of their God Bless the Children world tour.

Straight from the heart of New York City, they travel the world as ambassadors for African-American culture, singing gospel music and a few jazz and blues classics.

* TOUR DATES:

October 29, The ASB Theatre, Auckland;
October 30, Civic Theatre, Rotorua;
November 1, Municipal Theatre, Napier;
November 2, Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North;
November 3 and 4, Westpac St James Theatre, Wellington.

* * *

New music channel offers fresh take

Fancy yourself as the next Zane Lowe? A new music TV channel that aims to "pick up where Max left off" is set to launch in November and director Thane Kirby is looking for fresh faces to front it.

"We're out to seek the talents of new personalities, not recycle TV has-beens," he said.

Kirby, who is also programming director at radio station George FM, said the channel would be more alternative than C4 and Juice TV.

"We'll focus on the under-served genres - jazz and electronica for instance - and new New Zealand music.

"We won't just be stuck in a studio. We have the technology to go live from different locations, people can send in their videos and local bands can turn up to perform."

The as-yet unnamed channel will broadcast in Auckland only on the UHF62 frequency, between TV One and Prime. The offices are on K Rd.

You can tune in from October 4 before the frequency goes fully live on November 14.

Budding presenters and TV producers, go to www.channel62.co.nz to find out how to get involved.