Last Friday night at Cassette Nine was the third in a series of four Mum Clubnights curated by Cheese on Toast and saw two of our recent favorites hit the stage; well almost – Gay Time opting to play in the booth at the back of the bar instead of on the main stage – and it was freaking choice-as! Death Valley were rad as teh headline act on the main stage and got us all up ‘n’ dancin’!

Full photoset by Mr Dan Trotter here

Street Chant kicked off their Australasian-wide support of The Dead Weather on Wednesday at Auckland’s Powerstation and left no doubt, in Cheese on Toast’s mind, as to why they were selected for the role – proving themselves to be ready, willing and very fucking able to own a big stage; and clearly winning over and warming up the assembling audience for the main event.

Then, we were ‘entertained’ by very smartly dressed techs testing and setting up gear for the Dead Weather before all lights were dimmed and the of the sold out venue filled the air as Jack White, Alison Mosshart, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence strode on stage.

Oh my god, The Dead Weather delivered a show that could only be described as sensual. Moments of tenderness were followed with pure sexual explosions on stage- it was amazing!

Hits like Hang You From The Heavens and Treat Me Like Your Mother were clear crowd pleasers – but there was never a moment where my eyes and ears were not transfixed.

Alison, was, I think her very hottest during New Pony – seducing everyone in the room. The Dead Weather also treated us to a few new songs not on Horehound, presumably, then, from the forthcoming album Sea of Cowards. But, in true showmanship – they best for last – closing, before the encore with the sexually charged slow burner Will There Be Enough Water – White and Mosshart sharing a sole microphone in the dimmed light centre-stage.

After briefly leaving the stage they returned, quickly, to deliver their encore with the dirty, gritty, reggae-fused I Cut Like a Buffalo and I think everyone in teh room exploded. Amazing.

Full photo-set here – thanks to the lovely Miss Amanda Cheng

Review by Andrew Tidball

O-M-G Wooden Shjips were mind-blowingly good on Saturday @ Whammy. Ably supported by Sports and The Expressive Men.

Full photo set here, by Straton Heron

Phew we were cutting it fine – with a late afternoon phone call that the bands were still in Ohakune driving up to Auckland to perform at the Mum Clubnight on Friday just gone!

But proving themselves to be both seasoned tourers and professionals – they arrived at the venue in the nick of time having been in a car for over 8 hours – one quick drink and they were on stage! The Transistors were tight-as and freakin’ awesome and Street Chant showed us what they got – ready for their Australasian tour with the Dead Weather!

Full photo set here, by Straton Heron

Thursday 11 March at the Kings Arms was an awesome night.

Bandicoot opened proceedings and are just going from strength to strength providing an awesome performance. New kids with technology indeed – apparently unable to find a piece of paper they put their set-list on their cell-phones, whcih included their cover of Licking letters as well as their own awesome work.

Diana Rozz provided second support – and up till this point I’ve just simply enjoyed the Wellington three-piece – but tonight, finally, I totally got them. Amazing!

But by the time Deerhoof came on stage the recently refurbished (and looking pretty swish, actually) Kings Arms was a healthy dose of full – many punters making it down after seeing the Pixies at Powerstation (lucky bastards). Deerhoof were amazing fun – great songs and wonderfully engaging stage show which included some syncopated synchronized dance moves!

Full photo-set here, thanks to Winchey Zheng

Last Friday was the first in a series of four MUM Clubnights curated by Cheese on Toast for the month of March and we were excited to kick proceedinings off with Auckland’s latest cult following – The Mothers of Darkness and the whole-bunch-o-fun that is The Drab Doo Riffs.

Full photo-set including party-photos – were you there? Can’t remember? Have a look!

Photos thanks to Cheese on Toast photo-contributor Winchey Zheng

Here are shots from the final ever Benka Broradovski Bordello Band gig on Saturday 6th March – at Monte Christo Room in Auckland.

Full photo-set from Dan Trotter here

Sydney based Killaqueenz who are totally freakin’ rad played at Be Club on Commerce Street on Friday night and it was awesome x 100.

Full photo set by Winchey Zheng here

OMG The Pains of Being Pure At Heart were totally amazing last week, when they played at Bacco ROom on Wednesday night. So, so good. *sigh*

Our lovely photographer Rebecca Hawkins was there with her trusty camera too.

Full photo-set here

So yeah, The Cribs played a MySpace Secret Show last night – at Roundhead Studios in Newton. Cheese on Toast popped along and had a very pleasant time indeed. Johnny BLOODY Marr is in The Cribs!!! Yeah, it was pretty cool, actually.

See the full photoset – photos by Joanna Alpe, supplied to Cheese on Toast by MySpace.

Teh Cribs are playing public shows later this week – Friday at Bodega (Wellington) and Saturday at Juice Bar, Windsor Castle (Parnell, Auckland)