John McGough appreciates the support of Kenderdine Electrical Cook St Auckland City,
Zoom, Nady Systems and Step Inn Shoes

Latest news and Gig Guide

Someone say Recession???

Thinking back to my days as National Account Manager at Avis Rent a Car I can remember the times when fog would set in and all flights out of the airports were cancelled. The Avis counter staff would brace themselves for the rush and try not to make it to obvious how happy they were that the tills were ringing!

Business challenges are hard on us all but sometimes it provides others with fantastic opportunities. I for one love a live band but as the squeeze goes on more and more companies, bars and venues look for other entertainment that provides value for money.

Samantha Shanahan, entertainment consultant at Talentonline, has provided me with a number of corporate opportunities this year with clients asking for nothing more than a DJ. Did their eyes light up on the night when, to their surprise, the trumpet was deployed as well as vocals, combined with New Zealand’s top DJ dance tracks to really get the party going. My combination of music is a winner and I can cater to many entertainment briefs. If I can’t, look no further than Samantha and Annabelle at talentonline.co.nz to find the people who can!

As we head into 2010, I wish you all a happy and successful year. I am so excited about taking the show to some new towns this year as well as continuing the fun at many of my regular venues in Auckland. Summer is a lovely time to take my show to the beautiful Coromandel and you can catch the show both in January and March by the seaside at the Mercury Bay Club, the Whangamata Club and the RSA. Whakatane is another new city to host my show before June 2010 as well as a return to the Redoubt Bar Te Awamutu, Redoubt Bar Matamata, Taumarunui RSA and the Wanganui RSA.

2009 was an excellent year with many highlights for me. It was good to see many other talented musicians receiving recognition through the year. Congratulations to trombone virtuoso David Bremner winning top Classical Album at last year’s Vodafone NZ Music Awards as well as Ray Columbus and the Invaders receiving a supreme award. I first had the opportunity to hear Ray sing live when I was about 20. We were both doing a show called Variety Street for TV2 and pre recorded our solo spots in the old Radio NZ Recording studios in Durham Lane. Ray was up first singing the song “Mona Lisa”. The first line of the song is “Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa man has named you”. With a slip of the tongue, the band started and he sung…“Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa man has maimed you. We agreed that brought a whole new meaning to the song! In his professional manner Ray laughed it off and carried on to complete the job impeccably. One of the best acts I have ever seen Ray do was conducting jointly the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra with Max Cryer. The crowd were told Max wanted to play something classical and Ray wanted to play some Rock N Roll. As Ray and Max fought over the baton the orchestra would change from playing Beethoven to Elvis, depending on whoever was winning the battle at the time. A great act from two true professionals of the business.

During my travels I get to hear some class acts live and I can’t help but tell you about these amazing people. Generating a huge interest in the market is fiddler Marian Burns. Congratulations Marian on your recent win of the Agnew Award for excellence in the industry as well as top female country artist for 2009. Check out Chet O’Connell’s handy work on the guitar. Chet is amazing and doing a lot of work around the chartered clubs right now as well as touring with Shane Cortese. Soprano Gina Sanders sung at a 2009 proms concert I was involved in with the Dalewool Auckland Brass, impressive stuff. I was also invited to a concert staring Gin Wigmore (my fav) Chefu, Scribe, Hollie Smith & Supergroove last year which was awesome! Greg Ward does a great spot. We worked together at a recent conference at the Rydges Hotel Rotorua. Greg plays guitar, piano, takes off Elton John and had the crowd in fits of laughter with his theatre sport style improv. An 18 year old Fijian student at Kelston Boys High school, on a rugby scholarship, last year won the talent show Homai Te Pakipaki on Maori Television. Now I don’t know what his rugby playing is like but my jaw dropped when this guy stepped up to the microphone! Trade the rugby ball in for the microphone mate! Unbelievable, have a listen to him if you get the chance.

Nicholas McGough, my son continues his ventures into the industry. As many of you know Nicholas did the “driving in the blood” road safety campaign and last year took the lead role in “High School Musical 2” at Auckland’s Aotea Centre. He has just completed a small speaking part in a movie to be released called “Tracker” starring Temuera Morrison and Ray Winstone. Look out for Nicholas on the streets too, as he rides around town in the Edge Radio Station Cruiser as an Edge Road Runner. He’s the man to see for the free promo stuff!

Below is the gig guide for the first half of 2010. Come and say hi if you get the chance and all the best for another cracker year!

Take care

                                  
 
John McGough