On the Floor: Reggae on the road

Hikoikoi band members (from left) lead vocalist-guitarist Paul Wickham, percussionist-backing vocals Jessie Moss, trombonist Maz Hermon, keyboardist-bassist James Coyle, drummer-backing vocalist Ben Wood and bassist-backing-vocalist Mara TK. Photo by Pat
Hikoikoi band members (from left) lead vocalist-guitarist Paul Wickham, percussionist-backing vocals Jessie Moss, trombonist Maz Hermon, keyboardist-bassist James Coyle, drummer-backing vocalist Ben Wood and bassist-backing-vocalist Mara TK. Photo by Pat Shepherd.
Having released its self-titled debut album, Wellington rootsy reggae six-piece Hikoikoi is headed our way.

Singer and guitarist Paul Wickham says the band's sound is influenced by early reggae music, soul and jazz.

"We own a lot of classic analogue equipment from that era, so we are naturally drawn to this '70s fusion sound."

Although they have just released their debut album, Hikoikoi's members are far from new to the scene.

The six bring different experiences to the project, incorporating these into the band's style.

Most distinctive are Wickham's driving vocals and James Coyle's signature keyboard sound.

Coyle is a classically trained pianist who went to Wellington's jazz school.

> See them
Hikoikoi plays Sammy's on June 12 and the Dux de Lux, Queenstown, on July 13.



Dunedin musician Rob Milne has been in bands since 1998, which was 10 years after he began taking piano lessons.

 

This year his new band, The Bobby Vinson Combo, has secured a residency at Ironic Cafe, where it played on Thursday and will return on June 18.

Vinson is one of the co-creators of dunedinmusic.com, which is the city's central music hub, providing contacts for the music community and beyond.

His public performing began in college choirs in the early 1990s and his high school band Greenwood, came second in the Otago Rockquest competition in 1998, before winning the region's competition the following year.

His current band follows on from Plagiarhythm whose jazzy sounds have entertained many since 2005.

> See them
The Bobby Vinson Combo next plays at Ironic Cafe on Thursday June 18.


HDU front-man Tristan Dingemans's new band, Mountaineater, is hitting the roads around New Zealand.

Mountaineater is: Dingemans, guitar and vocals, Chris Livingston, drums, and Anaru Ngata, bass and guitar.

The band's press boldly states: Prepare to have your face melted by the next great Dunedin band.

> See them
Mountaineater plays Refuel on June 12.


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