Chatterbox: Those Aussies have a nerve

As insults go, it's up there with the underarm bowling incident - there are no Kiwi acts on the Big Day Out compilation album which is released to coincide with New Zealand's biggest day of music.

There are plenty of Aussie acts - including the Living End, End of Fashion, and Wolfmother - but not a Kiwi band in sight. Oh, and Sydney band Faker are there. Have you heard of them? Mmmm ...

The Big Day Out is an Australian-run event, hence the favouritism. And only three New Zealand acts - Shihad, Fast Crew, and Dei Hamo - are playing the Big Day Out shows in Australia. If anyone deserves a track on there it's Shihad. Also, following Scribe's Aussie success, Dei Hamo's We Gon' Ride did well across the ditch too.

This is a travesty that needs fixing. So let's all go hard on January 20 because we know we can rock harder than the Aussies.

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Trio put bad blood behind them

It's nice to know former foes can put their pasts behind them for the sake of the music. Dinosaur Jr are returning to New Zealand in March, and this time estranged bass player Lou Barlow is joining them. Frontman J. Mascis and drummer Murph kicked him out in 1989, but the trio made amends on the US' The Late Late Show in April.

The band have reunited for the reissue of their three groundbreaking albums, Dinosaur, You're Living All Over Me and Bug, and have played several festivals.

"When you do something like this 15 years later, it's either going to be really great or it's going to be a total train wreck," says Murph. "It turned out to be really great."

Now for the bad news: they're playing Shadows, University of Auckland on March 13.

Another trio of music veterans are heading our way a week later. De La Soul - the hip-hop crew who brought us the legendary 3 Feet High & Rising album in 1989, and several since - return after a blazing gig at the St James two years ago. De La Soul play the Wellington Town Hall on March 24 and the Studio, Auckland, March 25.

A week later and Finnish metal band H.I.M will also be in town. The band have just released their fifth, ambiguously titled album, Dark Light which features a charming ditty called Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly. H.I.M play an all-ages gig at the St James, Auckland on March 28.

Can't wait 'til then? The Parachute Music Festival returns to Hamilton's Mystery Creek for its 15th anniversary on January 27-30. The line-up includes Delirious?, Day of Fire, Amberlin, Reuben Morgan, Planetshakers, the Valley, Rookie, Adeaze, Rosita Vai and more. See www.parachutemusic.com

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Idol chatter

NZ Idol Rosita Vai was too busy on the Idolised tour to answer our seasonal questions last week. But better late than never. Here are her answers:

Song of the year?
Unbreakable by Alicia Keys. An anthem that held me together.

Best movie?
Wedding Crashers. Gotta love Vince Vaughn. He's amazing. And Will Ferrell.

The most irritating thing about 2005 was?
Turning on the TV and there I was. Ha ha.

Personal defining moment of 2005 was?
When I moved out of home and decided to pay rent. Damn!

In 2006 I'm picking the next big thing will be:
Embracing my 24 years and putting it on a second album.

They should really make a movie out of:
Maui. I'm a fan of myths and legends.