Last year for NZ Music Month 2016, we asked bands/artists for a favourite memory of making music in Wellington.
It could involve a favourite gig, a funny story from the recording studio, a moment that led to the inspiration for a song, the fond recollection of a defunct venue, or the piece of music or lyric that they were most proud of creating.
We really enjoyed the stories people told us, so we are doing it again this year. Up next is Miharo, the lead singer of Nation.
One of the many great memories I have with Nation so far is playing at Wellington’s own Meridian Gardens Magic at the Wellington Botanical Gardens. It was the band’s first time playing outside, and to that many people. It was also our first time playing a 90 minute set of originals.
The whole night was a great vibe and once the sun had gone down, everyone was up the front dancing /conga lining etc. The crowd was having a good time so we were just able to relax and have fun. We ended up making a couple of inside jokes on that stage which have lasted through the ages and still pop up from time to time. The night was a bit of a milestone for us.
I’ve got a lot of favourite gig moments of this band but none more so than when I saw them for the very first time in Wellington in 2016.
They were part of a Bic Runga themed night at San Fran Bath House playing with several other artists. Once they grooved into their opening original “The Wild West” they captured for me the thrill of finding a new band band right here in Wellington, Aotearoa. It was like a collection of all the styles of music I had wanted to find around the world in one set.
Nation are an incredible group of musicians, each brilliant in their own right but as a band they’re a formidable force. Wellington is lucky to have them! Go see them next time they are playing a show you won’t regret it.