NZ's Big Wave Shout

Suffering a bit of tsunami charity fatigue are we? Oh well, you'll get over it, especially after seeing one of the best local music line-ups in years.

The Tsunami Benefit concert on Sunday at Western Springs is two months after the disaster but organiser Patrick Fife says the logistics of pulling off an event of this size is the reason the gig wasn't held earlier.

One problem was many of the bands on the bill - including Salmonella Dub, Pluto, the D4, Scribe and P Money - had to juggle other commitments to fit the benefit gig in.

"We could have tried to throw something together in the first two weeks but it would have been at a small club or something," says Fife.

"There have been a couple of others [tsunami fundraisers] that didn't go so well. It doesn't matter that a sense of tsunami fatigue may have set in. It's a good gig for a cheap price and [people] will know in the back of their mind they're supporting a worthwhile charity."

We asked some of the acts - who are all playing for free - what their thoughts are.

WHY PLAY THE TSUNAMI BENEFIT GIG?

Tiki Taane (Salmonella Dub): It's something New Zealanders should support, being an island ourselves. It could possibly happen to us one day. Plus, a lot of people lost their lives, a lot of people are homeless. It's a pretty heavy thing, probably the heaviest thing that's happened in my lifetime.

Te Awanui Reeder (Nesian Mystik): You've got to put yourself into their situation. We're [the band] from a lower socio-economic group and their situation is worse. Our brothers and sisters need help, and music is a beautiful way to do it.

Shapeshifter: We as humans live on this planet as one race. As diverse as we are, sometimes we need to be reminded [of that]. This tragic and immense force of nature has brought us all closer together.

Mike Hall (Pluto): We think it's a great cause and a good line-up and a good thing to get behind. I don't know if you have to be too conscious about the cause really, because it's going to be a great day and we want people to be able to relax and enjoy it.

P-Money: After seeing the devastating effects of the tsunami on television I thought it was important that I contribute in some way. I was considering making a cash donation when I was asked to get involved. I figured this would be an even better way to donate my time and energy.

Jimmy Christmas (the D4): It's obviously a good cause and one that needs to be attended. I don't have many skills but I can play a guitar and sing a few songs.

Ruban Nielson (the Mint Chicks): It's nice to feel useful now and again. To be honest, I'm usually a bit suspicious of events like these, but our profile is pretty low compared to the other acts on the bill which makes it easier.

DOES THE LAG BETWEEN THE DISASTER AND THE SHOW WORRY YOU?

Taane: There's a lot of bands here that are quite busy and touring around the place and this is probably the only date that we can actually get all these bands to do something. That's one of the reasons it's so long after the actual tsunami. [Plus] there's still a lot of homeless people over there.

Yudhi Moodley: These sorts of things remind us that disasters happen all the time. You've just got to see it as a charity event and the chance to give back because the whole rebuilding thing is still going on.

Reeder: The damage is going to last generations, so in the scheme of things [the benefit concert] is just one day. But I'm not going to get mad with them if they don't support it.

P-Money: It's gonna be a great show. There is no way that you would ever get to see so many great local bands in one place for 20 bucks. And on top of that, all the proceeds go to helping people that are truly in need.

Christmas: A tragedy of that enormity is not an instant cause-effect situation, it's an ongoing thing to rebuild. A $20 concert of that calibre - I think it's a really strong line-up. And the money you're investing is going to help someone less fortunate than yourself.

SO, A SPECIAL GIG, ANY SPECIAL TUNES YOU'LL BE PLAYING?

Taane: We might pull out a Beatles cover. Who knows? We'll just try and cram in as many songs into our hour before I run down to mix Shapeshifter.

Reeder: We aim to play some of our new songs and it's kind of a warm-up for us to come back and show off some of our new stuff. Plus, all our songs are pretty positive and have a forward looking vibe.