Late night Whanganui Groovers in the limelight
Whanganui band Late Night Tales are Bayley Blythe (left), Jonathan Stolk, Jack McCoubrie, Cameron Walker, James Rowe and Noah Belchambers.
PHOTO / Stuart Munro
VIDEO / Stuart Munro
"ROSETTA ROAD" Late Night Tales
Whatever genre they may (or may not) fit into, their sound is reminiscent of old school NZ bands like Quincy Conserve and the Human Instinct.
Perhaps that is why the neighbours don't complain when they hear Late Night Tales playing loud in their suburban studio and the band get hired to play at 50th birthday parties as well as high school balls.
That's not to say that their music is unadventurous and some of their lyrics would never have passed the censors of 30 years ago but they share a lot of sensibilities with their predecessors.
Jack is the main songwriter and band's new album Rosetta Rd features 10 original tracks with names like BumbleBuzz, Elixir Strings, Prince of Persia and Dad.
There are vocal harmonies from Jack and the other lads, with rap sequences from the band's other main vocalist Noah Belchambers.
"I'm not involved in the songwriting," says Noah.
"I listen to what Jack is singing about and I respond to his lyrics."
The band got together at Whanganui High School and they say support from teachers and fellow students has been brilliant.
Jack also credits his mum for allowing them to house their studio at her home and never complaining.
"She never tells us to stop or turn it down even though she probably gets sick of it sometimes."
The band's oldest member is 18-year-old keyboard player James Rowe, now studying animal science at Massey in Palmerston North, and three other members are due to leave school this year but they plan to keep playing together.
"We are getting a lot of good feedback from the album," says Jack.
"There have been approaches from music management companies and we are scheduled for an interview and performance on Jesse Mulligan's show on RNZ in November."
They are planning a Whanganui launch party for Rosetta Rd which is named after the road in Raumati where they stay for "band camps".
By Liz Wylie
Whanganui Chronicle 26/9/18
