Guitar Center

My son threw his first ever tantrum today at the Guitar Center on Sunset. I guess he was mad because the whole place was full of keyboards and buttons which I wouldn't let him touch. He screamed so hard all I could do was put him on the floor. He stormed off towards the $59,000 guitars (he's 1 and can't even walk.)

I bought a seriously simple recording rig to travel with, just an M box and a Portico mic pre amp by Rupert Neve. I geeked out on Rupert Neve's website, it's really nice. It's almost as cool as Wendy Carlos' website of solar eclipses. I hope the preamp is good, I'm looking forward to hearing how it sounds.

I met a girl that was buying an acoustic, she was trying stuff out and singing one of her songs. I loved her voice and asked for her name. She's on myspace and goes by the name Blanketface. Check it out, her voice is cool, I wanted to see if she'd come to my house to help me demo some backing vocals.

We have a gig this weekend at Largo if anyone wants to come. Flight of the Conchords, Taika Waititi, Greg Johnson and my sister Boh are all playing. Maybe see you there.

Bic

12:49 PM - 11 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Bic Runga & Flight Of The Conchords

Hi all,

Bic Runga will be opening for NZ comedic music-duo Flight Of The Conchords for two nights only at The Orpheum Theatre, LA (30 May & 1 June 2008). The already sold out shows promise to be two great nights of uniquely NZ entertainment. These will be just the first of several shows Bic is playing in LA, so make sure you catch her while she's in town!

For more details on Bic & The Conchords check out:
http://www.laorpheum.com/calendar.html

For details on Bic's other LA shows see her gig listing on her profile.

5:44 AM - 8 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

Good morning

Hi. I lost my wallet somewhere in Ponsonby. Has anyone seen it?

I've been recording demos at Neil Finn's studio in Newton. We've tracked three songs so far, but it's still early days. It's hard to say what it sounds like, sometimes I'm not sure what I'm doing but it's good to make a start.

There's a gig coming up at Sky City Theatre 22 May, I'm trying to road test new songs. Also, two shows in L.A. at the Coronet Theatre: June 17 and July 5. That's Flannagan's new theatre on La Cienaga, I believe it was once the old Troubadour.

I've been blogging a bit on www.the wire.co.nz

That's all for now. It's late. 2.45am!
Bic zzz

11:58 AM - 18 Comments - 18 Kudos - Add Comment

The Runga Sisters

Hi all,

Love Bic’s music?? Then check out her sister Boh Runga’s sultry tunes. Visit Boh’s myspace page featuring her hit tracks and gorgeous NZ birds jewellery line.
www.myspace.com/bohrunga

2:12 PM - 8 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

WINNER OF SETLIST COMP ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to winner Jenefer Pinfold of Lynfield, Auckland whose set list was personally selected by Bic!

This will be played at the grand finale show of the More FM Winery Tour 08 this Sunday 2 March at Villa Maria Estate. Thanks to everyone who participated by sending in their dream setlists and be sure to catch Bic's performance this Sunday.

11:32 PM - 9 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Write Bic's setlist and win signed cds

Here's a unique chance to see that Bic Runga plays your favourite songs at the More FM Winery Tour's Grand Finale on 2 March 2008 at Villa Maria.

As a special treat, Bic is offering fans the opportunity to write her setlist for the show. Dig out your Bic Runga CDs and email a 15 song setlist to Bic at info@crsmanagement.co.nz.

Bic will choose one setlist to perform and the author will receive a full autographed set of her album catalogue on CD.

So get compiling and send your entries in by Friday 22 February. Please include your address and phone number.

12:17 PM - 13 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

What’s Mum been up to?

Hey, I'm still here. Been in Auckland all this time, baby is 4 months old now and only just been named. That's terrible huh? I was hoping to get the letter from the government and the fine. What an intriguing idea, getting fined for not naming your kid on time. But no, his name is Joseph Te Okoro Ward-Runga. Te Okoro is Maori for 'the moon on the fifth day' according to one dictionary, but I've also known it to mean 'the most beautiful time in the afternoon.' It's a family name, Joseph Te Okoro was my Dad's name.

So I've got some shows in the New Year. One I'm really looking forward to is the free concert in Hagley Park with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. That's late February. Just putting some more dates in place now, so will let you know very soon.

I could prattle on for hours about the baby, but unfortunately this is a music website. I do love Motherhood. (I think he said 'Mama' once, but then i could've sworn he also said something that sounded like 'Hitler.' His first word was actually "paaaap" but that doesn't mean anything. It's very garbled.)

Been a full time Mum so far, although I've just started writing again. My first night out was the Bob Dylan concert at The Civic. I played at the New Zealand On Air celebration of their selling 1 million records, 250,000 of which were mine. That was nice for me, a good way to look back on the last ten years of making records here. Took baby to see Crowded House from the side of stage at Vector Arena. We got him some ear muffs and he fell asleep. Played at Paul Ellis' civil union (yes he married a man.)Went to Sydney for Sam Neil and Brian Browns joint 60th. Great party. I sang Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday" and Lou Reeds "Walk on the Wildside." Good to get out get of of the house.

So that's what's been up. Will try to get you some tour dates..

Bicx

11:36 PM - 25 Comments - 41 Kudos - Add Comment

Boy with no name

Hey Folks. Well I've had the baby! Damn. What a trip. (No drugs, although i did ask for them!) No, not as bad as being skinned alive after all, but not a walk in the park either. 8 and a half pounds of boy that looks roughly like me.

He has no name yet. Knowing me I'll take the full 6 weeks to figure that one out. I've only just surfaced from the bedroom after a week, so will give you the low down when my brain returns. In the mean time, big hello from me and the family, life is grand. i understand everything now!

Love Bic

10:48 PM - 65 Comments - 74 Kudos - Add Comment

Skinned Alive

Hey it's me just saying hi. Still pregnant. Been trying to write songs lately, but it's hard deciding what to wear let alone how to write lyrics. Suddenly I can knit though. This is disturbing.

Saw a tour bus pull up at my villlage and I got sentimental for life on the road. Hope I can still tour when the baby comes. I'm sure i can, damned if I'm staying at home. Daily life can be really boring. How can anyone stay in one place?

Not sleeping much 'cause the baby kicks. My midwife tells me that "childbirth is the worst pain of your life." That's cheerful. Mothers everywhere suddenly welcome you into the fold, it's like belonging to a secret society. I keep wanting to hear someone say that giving birth is not that bad, but you never hear anyone say it. They laugh at you. But I'm like, how bad can it be? Is it worse than being boiled or skinned alive? Apparently so.

Anyway, enough of that. Heard any good music lately? I'm listening to Stravinsky's Firebird Suite. And a new band I saw at the Kings Arms called So So Modern. They sound like a cross between Jan Hammer and Yes. No joke. Hope they do kids' birthday parties.

Neil Finn opened his new studio last Friday. Amazing party. Dave Dobbyn played. The Mint Chicks played. Pluto, Don Mc Glashan, The Exponents. It was all recorded live and webcast that night. It really is the most tasteful studio I've seen, such a great thing to have in Auckland.

Oh well, that's all for now. Bob Dylan comes to town in August.
Bic

9:42 AM - 24 Comments - 28 Kudos - Add Comment

Back from the U.S.

Back from the U.S. today, had a great last show at the Troubadour in L.A. SXSW in Austin was fun too. But being pregnant on the road is not very rock n roll. I fell asleep straight after the Troubadour gig. Tucked up with a cup of Milo.

Caught up with the Flight of the Conchords in NY, visited their set in Brooklyn. It's like the Young Ones set, or like Ernie and Berts apartment. They're making a 12 part comedy series for HBO about a New Zealand band trying to make it in America. It looks like a lot of fun, they've made a music video for every episode!

Got home to some fuss in the media about how most New Zealand musicians have to have day jobs. Now that's never been news! But you know, I haven't flipped burgers since i was 15 (actually, I was very good at it, I once made up an order of 21 burgers in one go.) Thanks for your concern, but most musicians are just happy to be musicians.

Had my Mum on the road with me. She'd never been to New York before. Highlights for her were the potato cakes at Veselka on 2nd ave and 9th St, and seeing Patti Smith at Kelly and Pings on Greene and Houston. There you go.

Bye for now. I'm fast approaching the 'morbidly pregnant' trimester. So no more touring until after the kid comes in July. Will keep you posted.

3:08 AM - 16 Comments - 19 Kudos - Add Comment