What's the link between the 3Ds and Facebook? That's how David Saunders and I caught up before the 3Ds return to play Sammy's in Dunedin.
There had been rumours for years about the band re-forming, but finally an offer was made the members couldn't refuse.
Saunders explains: "We got asked to play the Merge Records 20-year anniversary shows in Chapel Hill, North Carolina . . .
"Jim Romeo, our US agent, is really the one who made it all happen . . .
"After that we knew that if we didn't play in New Zealand we probably wouldn't be allowed back in."
The 3Ds are playing this show tonight to say happy birthday to Radio One.
Saunders says the gig at Sammy's tonight is a homecoming.
"For us to be playing Sammy's again, well words don't really cover it.
It's where we learned to play.
We are all very excited about it."
Back in his Auckland home, David Saunders is recording new material with Matthew Heine at his studio in Henderson, and Saunders says he's likely to have David Mitchell guesting on a track.
The band is one former Flying Nun-signed outfit pundits believe could re-sign with the label now Roger Shepherd is back in the driving seat.
"Roger is re-pressing the Venus Trail and Hellzapoppin right now, and we are going to repackage the first two EPs ... everything is going to be on vinyl too.
"This is exciting and for Flying Nun to be back in Roger's hands is a good thing; he wants to do right for all the bands.
It's a great, great label and collectively it stands up as one of the best labels in the world, period."
But as for the future? Saunders says anything could happen.
"We are not going to start touring again or try and make a living doing it.
If we get offered great shows we will possibly do some ...
We are all playing music and it's a great time to be doing this."
See them
The 3Ds return to Sammy's tonight to commiserate on the ravages of time with Radio One.
