Cool cat soul on East FM tomorrow Saturday arvo...
Sound the alarm! It’s 77th birthday week for one of the all-time greats of rock n’ roll and soul, as we celebrate the awesome talents of Booker T. Jones on tomorrow arvo’s She’ll Be Right on Saturdays Show with PJ Taylor, 3-7pm (NZ time) on East FM.
Following on from our recent featuring of Jones’ lifetime music friend and colleague, Steve Cropper, on the occasion of his 80th, it’s only fitting we pay our respects to one of the coolest musician cats there has been.
Jones and Cropper, with the late-great Donald Duck Dunn and Al Jackson, formed the legendary force that was the house band at Stax Records, Memphis, 60 years ago (when Green Onions came out), either releasing instrumental soul classics as Booker T. and the MGs or backing vocal legends such as Otis Redding live and on tape.
One of Duck Dunn’s great lines in The Blues Brothers is: “We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.” Same could be said of the MGs.
Booker T. Jones put out a tight n’ groovy classic album in 2013, Sound The Alarm, with collaborations with a dynamic cast of artists, so we’ll feature it at 5pm in entirety, as well as spinning Booker T. and the MGs gems.
Had the absolute pleasure to see Booker T. and the MGs live in London 30 years ago, almost three decades after Green Onions, with guest vocalist, Eddie ‘Knock on Wood’ Floyd at the Town and Country Club (later the Forum) in Kentish Town. That’s also a reflection of Jones’ and Cropper’s enduring relevance and longevity over six decades – they’ve always produced music that is timeless and can be played anywhere, anytime.
We’ll also take our usual tour of other musical neighbourhoods on the She’ll Be Right Show with PJ on East FM, East Auckland’s soulful community-powered public service radio station, on 88.1FM and 107.1FM on local frequencies, nationally and globally on www.eastfm.nz... and on app iHeart Radio.
Looking forward to being locked down in the East FM studio from 3pm Saturday – it’s all about the vibe; it’s all about the groove. – PJ, haircut on the horizon...
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.6% Yes
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13.9% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Harbour Bridge lane closure - protests
The Treaty Principles Bill was introduced to parliament last week and could have ramifications on the partnership between the Crown and Māori.
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (March for the Treaty of Waitangi) set off from Cape Rēinga on Monday morning and is expected to reach Wellington next Tuesday. It has now passed through Kaitaia, Kawakawa, Whangārei, Dargaville and is passing through Auckland on Wednesday.
What you need to know today:
- The hīkoi is due to cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge about 9.30am on Wednesday. Two northbound lanes will be closed at some point before the crossing, and remain closed during it.
- NZTA shared at 8:50am Wednesday:
'Curran St northbound on-ramp will be closed shortly, with two northbound lanes on the Harbour Bridge expected to close from approx 9.30am this morning. Allow extra time for likely delays through this area.'
- The hīkoi is expected to go across the Harbour Bridge, in a controlled fashion before marching through parts of the CBD towards Okahu Bay.
- Auckland commuters should expect traffic disruption in vicinity of both sides of the Harbour Bridge.
Stuff reporter Steve Kilgallon was at Stafford Park on the north side of the Harbour Bridge at 8.30am Wednesday and shared:
"I just walked through Stafford Park, where there’s about 400-500 people quietly assembled and more arriving; and about 20 police standing over near the motorway off ramp. Lot of Tino Rangatira flags in evidence, local streets very busy with parked cars."
Police have shared that they will respond accordingly to any issues that may arise along the route.