News

Dunedin’s most famous roots band, Six60, haven’t forgotten their roots. In fact, these roots have been remembered so well, locked so tightly in Six60’s collective temporal lobes, that they have announced a show in the little old town from whence they spawned. Six60 will rise up onto the stage at Union Hall on 20 April 2013 (or as they like to call it, Twenty4twenty13).

According to Six60’s (presumably self-penned) Wikipedia page, they specialise in “extended singer/songwriter jams” with “dubstep bridges,” in which “hard-rocking guitar work duels with synthetics and low-end bass over percussive rhythms.”

If you were worrying that the melody would not shine through, fear not, because “in both voice and instrumentation melody shines through.”

Six60 began in their flat at 660 Castle Street, hence the name. This permanent reminder of their roots may be one reason why the band is unlikely to forget their roots. Critic wonders whether the current tenants are aware of the illustrious history of the flat, and speculates that this could only boost their street cred.

When Six60 began, they “would not have dreamed of becoming such the powerhouse in NZ music they are today.” Still, they probably should have realised they were destined for greatness. After all, “[t]he fact that Six60 were students just like the majority of those around them proved the attraction, and combined with their ability to bring hugely energetic and entertaining performances in environments ranging from friends flats to the local pubs, Six60 were the voice youth wanted to begin calling their own.”

Six60 tried to stem the tide of popularity for as long as possible – after all, it’s important not to sell out and forget your roots – but “[o]nce word was out, Six60 tunes could be heard blaring out from university dorms around the country ... The first true understanding to the band of how large their underground following had grown was realised when the band made their way to Palmerston North.”

The band is full of praise for the city/town/hamlet: “Palmerston North is similar in many ways to Dunedin where the band started out; both cities have a large university campus nestled within minutes of the city centre and like Dunedin, Palmerston North is renowned for its drinking party culture and loosely behaving females.” Hear that, females? You’re “renowned”!

“Six60, worried if any patrons would turn up at all to their two scheduled gigs were blown away when both of the concerts were to the rafters sell outs. With 500+ Palmerston North students cramming into the ‘Massey MUSA bar venue’ on the Friday and again at ‘The Royal’ on the Saturday, Six60 responded by delivering two of the most energy fueled and electrifying performances of their underground reign. It is believed after the Friday gig the Six60 crew were in disbelief that Palmerston North’s bars closed at 3:00 am, wanting to kick the party on the band headed across the road from where they were staying (The Royal) to Jaices apartment and continued partying until sunrise.”

Cool story bro.