54 days ago

Special Easter treat on East FM, Saturday from high noon

Phil from Farm Cove

Kevin Borich has got to be the longest-serving, hardest rockin’ musician New Zealand has produced, a career of 60 years, playing more hard-out gigs than most of us have had hot dinners. Into his 77th year and showing no signs of dialling back the tempo – easing off the pedal of rock - he’s out on tour reuniting with his Australian fans and bringing them a triumphant new album Duets. It could just be his finest recorded work.

It’s with huge excitement and honour that we interviewed Kevin Borich recently and our chat features on tomorrow’s special She’ll Be Right on Easter Saturdays Show with PJ Taylor, midday to 4pm (Mar 30, NZ time) on East FM. The KB feature will broadcast just after high noon.

Kevin Borich is a Kiwi music legend – a rhythm n’ blues rockin’ legend – purely on the strength of him being the founder and torch-bearer of the powerfully soulful La De Das. Always think of them as the greatest Kiwi Rn’B band of the 1960s.

As a child, Kevin grew up as a neighbour to Suzanne and Judy Donaldson, The Chicks, in Auckland’s rural north-west. They were early musical collaborators. The La De Das started at Rutherford High, in West Auckland, were thee band to see on Auckland’s then bustling club scene, ending up in Sydney after time in the United Kingdom, too.

Yet, now in 2024, he’s not widely known in Aotearoa, well, by music fans under the age of about 50. That’s understandable, because half a century ago, Kevin and his later line-up of The La De Das were firmly entrenched in putting down roots in Australia, where his musical evolution has journeyed into legendary status across the Tasman with the Kevin Borich Express, and for a time, The Party Boys.

The KB Express has always been playing and touring Aussie’s pub and club scene since the late 1970s, big shows and festivals. They used to tour here, too. There’s also been plenty of albums and recordings.

It’s a mark of the respect that’s held for Kevin that an outstanding line-up of Australia’s big names in music have collaborated with him on a career-crowning work, Kevin Borich // Duets.

There’s 12 brilliantly produced tracks in an attention-grabbing body of work that gushes diversity, in the blues rock domain, exhibiting the extraordinary talents of his old mates Joe Walsh, Russell Morris, Joe Camilleri, Leo Sayer, Ian Moss, Ross Wilson, Swanee (John Swan); and the younger ones, Tim Rogers (You Am I), Suze DeMarchi (Baby Animals), Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi), and Angela Fabian.

Duets gets better with every play. Superb record. There’s a lot of soul in it. But that’s Kevin Borich.

kevinborich.com.au...

www.facebook.com...

East FM is East Auckland’s fair-dinkum community-powered public service radio station, on 88.1FM and 107.1FM on local frequencies, nationally and globally at www.eastfm.nz... and on app iHeart Radio.

She’ll Be Right - it’s all about the vibe; it’s all about the groove. Providing a platform for NZ music and performing artists to display their talents. Ka pai. – PJ

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1 day ago

Share your most delicious (but affordable!) go-to meal...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Winter is knocking at the door and the cost of living has already made itself at home. So let's help each other out by sharing your meal ideas that don't break the bank.

Comment below with your go-to meals that are delicious and affordable.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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H
5 hours ago

What's On: Vegan Living talk

Hilary from St Heliers

Free talk about becoming Vegan. Bookings essential: sthelierslibrary@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
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13 days ago

And the 2024 Prospa Local Business Hero is...

Prospa

A huge congratulations to mother and son duo, Mary and Sam Danielson from The Puketapu Hotel.

The votes for all finalists have been tallied and they have been chosen by Neighbourly members across the country as the Prospa Local Business Hero of 2024.

The Puketapu Hotel was nominated by a local called Margaret and the nomination reads:
'On Feb 14, 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle flooded many of the rural areas. Puketapu Hotel went under perhaps half a meter of water. However, immediately Mary Danielson and her son, Sam Danielson, along with their loyal staff pulled it together to cook copious amounts of food that without electricity would have been wasted. Throughout the years many of us have been treated with a pub gathering where we can reconnect and a free meal. At Christmas there was Santa, games, gifts for kids, donated patchwork for adults, an ice cream truck and lots of camaraderie.
This February on the cyclone anniversary, they again pulled out the stops to give hundreds of us a special night. We are all tired of the cyclone cleanup and they understood that it was needed.'

Such a deserving business and team, well done Mary and Sam. And thank you to all those who voted!

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