After six years together, An Emerald City have decided to call it a day; a split or at least, as they put it “to part ways as a band for an indefinite period of time” – explaining that the logistical issue of some members living in Europe and some in New Zealand, they have decided to say farewell to touring and recording together.
In a more than poetic gesture, they have decided to play one final show – in the very same place they played their very first (official) show in late 2006 – at St Kevin’s Arcade on K Rd – although, the band first played live, a year prior, in late 2005 at the Odeon Lounge in support of The Inkling. Their set, that time, consisted of one 11 minute song called The Storm.
Forming in late 2005 the band traversed various aspects of psychedelia in their 6 years together. Careening between eastern influenced guitar rock, to hypnotic violin pieces fit for soundtrack, to synth laden progressive space music. Their debut self titled EP was released in 2008 and co-produced by Liam Finn. It was critically acclaimed and the band continued to play memorable live performances at the likes of Womad, Soundsplash, Rhythm and Vines and Canaan Downs.
2009 saw the release of their debut album Circa Scaria which was recorded in the cave of Whatipu on Auckland’s west coast. Soon after release the band relocated to Berlin where they have lived as a base to tour Europe.
In late 2010 the band, stripped back to four members, returned to record. In Studio East, a quaint recording studio located in the heart of communist era Germany’s Funkhaus, the old broadcasting building on the banks of the river Spree. The imposing soviet style building and the snow outside helped to create the eerie prog offering that was An Emerald City’s second record The Fourth, released in April 2011.
The band returned home to NZ for the summer of 2012 for a select few shows, and, now, it is announced their final one before parting company.
WHEN : Saturday 28 April – early show 8.00pm
WHERE : St Kevin’s Arcade, K Rd
HOW MUCH : Free, but koha is appreciated.
