The Chills’ Pink Frost
by The Chills were the first band I ever saw. Well, actually, they were the first band I never saw, despite my best intentions. I was fifteen at the time, and my friend got word that the seminal Flying Nun act, who hailed from the deepest, darkest trenches of Dunedin, New Zealand, were to play a show that night at the now long gone Max’s in Petersham, Sydney. We had to go. It was The Chills, the very symbol of low-fi sullen rebellion, with their ruddy cheeks and out of tune guitars. So we whacked handfulls of gel in our hair and resolved to sneak our way past the doorman. Only my friend arrived at the venue a little earlier than me (his Dad was clearly a better driver than mine) and promptly sauntered into the venue, while I was turned away for ‘obviously being a minor’. Dammit! They were probably better on record anyway.
Tagged: Flying Nun, Flying Nun records, New Zealand, New Zealand bands, Pink Frost, The Chills
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Oh man! Take me back. Yup, drag me kicking and screaming into those halcyon days of the mid to the late 80s when all I cared about was Archie Comics, extra full cream milk, and getting my hands the latest release off New Zealand’s Flying Nun label. This track — Pink Frost — from Dunedin band, The Chills, is a window back to a time when melody ruled, guitars were always slightly out of tune, and haircuts were just five dollars down at your local barber shop.
The Mockers’ song, One Black Friday
Oh boy! The Mockers were the poppiest Kiwi band that no-one outside of the Shaky Isles ever heard of. Take a trip back to the 80s and be prepared to dance.
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YOU'RE SAYING (3)
Andrew McMillen said | 13 September, 2009
Genius song. Brisbane band I Heart Hiroshima recorded a cover recently, which they’ve been playing live. It rocks. http://www.myspace.com/ihearthiroshima
paul said | 15 September, 2009
You can watch the original video for ‘Pink Frost’ here:
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/pink-frost-1984
You can also watch the excellent 2002 documentary on Flying Nun – Heavenly Pop Hits – in full length:
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/heavenly-pop-hits-the-flying-nun-story-2002
“This documentary tells the story of the legendary Flying Nun music label up to its 21st birthday. The label became associated with the ‘Dunedin Sound’: a catch-all term for a sprawl of DIY, post-punk, warped, jangly guitar-pop. The Guardian: “[it's] as if being on the other side of the world meant the music was played upside down”. Features interviews with key players, the spats and the dark-but-breezy glory. The label’s influence on the US indie scene is noted and Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus covers The Verlaines’ ‘Death and the Maiden’.”
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Amanda said | 12 September, 2009
Ah, that’s a shame; I saw them live a couple of months ago… nostalgia for the band, huh.