Difference between revisions of "St Lucy"
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[[image:Stlucy.jpg|right|thumb|Mark Tupuhi (St Lucy)]] | [[image:Stlucy.jpg|right|thumb|Mark Tupuhi (St Lucy)]] | ||
| − | [[Mark Tupuhi]]'s St. Lucy began life with the split in 2001 of [[Jah'na]] and the subsequent re-release of [[Acoustic Pop|acoustic pop]] songs intended for Jah'na, repackaged as [[Why We Hate Decaff (and assorted tales)]] by ''St Lucy'' in 2002. The same year Mark performing solo as St Lucy won the ''York Street Acid Test'' singer/songwriter competition at Auckland's ''Temple'', signed to | + | [[Mark Tupuhi]]'s St. Lucy began life with the split in 2001 of [[Jah'na]] and the subsequent re-release of [[Acoustic Pop|acoustic pop]] songs intended for Jah'na, repackaged as [[Why We Hate Decaff (and assorted tales)]] by ''St Lucy'' in 2002. The same year, Mark performing solo as St Lucy won the ''York Street Acid Test'' singer/songwriter competition at Auckland's ''Temple Bar'', signed to <b>Jody Lloyd</b> (of <b>Trillion</b>)'s ''She'll Be Right Records'' (self-described as "New Zealand's only natural accent record label"), and commenced recording St Lucy's <i>actual</i> debut EP [[Loyal?]] at ''York Street Studios''. The name "Loyal?" was evidently chosen as a form of idol assassination-meets-anti-marketing tactic. Tupuhi had been upset when his former hero ''Dave Dobbyn'' rewrote, repackaged and re-released the song ''Loyal'' as the new theme song for the New Zealand America's Cup sailing team. Lucy's [[Loyal?]] not only questioned where Dobbyn's loyalties actually lay, but was also named with the express intention of marketing the EP to foreign tourists visiting the Viaduct Basin during the ''America's Cup 2003''. The name "St Lucy" on the other hand, was a reference to what ''NZ Musician'' magazine described as "an unfortunate run-in with actor Lucy Lawless".<br> |
| − | This was to mark only the very beginning of a prolongued and unrelenting campaign waged by St Lucy against | + | This was to mark only the very beginning of a prolongued and unrelenting campaign waged by St Lucy against "Kiwiaana" and the "cult of personality" within New Zealand popular culture. For a gig supporting <b>Ian Morris</b> in Auckland, St Lucy put out his own posters defaming the image of television's <b>Charlotte Dawson</b>, and was threatened with legal action by Dawson's lawyer if he did not "cease and desist" immediately. Far from it, the list of casualties would eventually include TV presenters Mary Lambie, Jason Gunn and the Judges of ''NZ Idol''; the "thumbs up" Four Square Man; Neil Finn; "NZ Hiphop" (in its entirety); ''NZ On Air''; local stations [[Contact]] FM, [[UFM]] and others; the [[Battle of the Bands]], [[Clinton]] magazine, just about any individual in some way affiliated with [[Contact]] or the [[Htown.co.nz]] website; this wiki; [[Johnny Fist]], [[The Datsuns]] (and especially [[Dolf de Borst]]'s bass guitar), [[Chuganaut]]... not even his friends and fellow bandmates were safe. Ultimately, even Tupuhi himself would fall prey to the merciless parodying of alter ego Lucy.<br> |
In early 2003, Tupuhi started putting together a live band. In an interview with ''NZ Musician'' (the Feb-March 2003 issue) he said:<br> | In early 2003, Tupuhi started putting together a live band. In an interview with ''NZ Musician'' (the Feb-March 2003 issue) he said:<br> | ||
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The first 50 copies of [[Loyal?]] had already sold by January before it was even released. It was officially launched on March 21st of 2003, with a release party at Auckland's Temple Bar, which Mark himself failed to turn up at for "health" reasons.<br> | The first 50 copies of [[Loyal?]] had already sold by January before it was even released. It was officially launched on March 21st of 2003, with a release party at Auckland's Temple Bar, which Mark himself failed to turn up at for "health" reasons.<br> | ||
| − | Later in 2003 a second EP, [[Bio-Psycho-Social]] was also released on ''She'll Be Right''. Taken from the same ''York Street'' sessions as [[Loyal?]], [[Bio-Psycho-Social]] is perhaps best described as the ''Driving to Mary'' single/remix EP; containing 4 new versions of the "hit" from its predecessor, including remixes by ''She'll Be Right'' labelmates | + | Later in 2003 a second "companion" EP, [[Bio-Psycho-Social]] was also released on ''She'll Be Right''. Taken from the same ''York Street'' sessions as [[Loyal?]], [[Bio-Psycho-Social]] is perhaps best described as the ''Driving to Mary'' single/remix EP; containing 4 new versions of the "hit" from its predecessor, including remixes by ''She'll Be Right'' labelmates <b>Trillion</b> and <b>Deadly</b>, and a Barbershop vocal arrangement and performance by another former [[Wonderbug]] cohort, Otis '[[Odee]]' Williams (also husband of the aforenamed backing vocalist, Rebekah). "B-sides" include the uncharacteristically loud, dark and gritty ''Armpits (and other bits)'' (formerly an unreleased [[Wonderbug]] song); and the more 'typical Lucy' acoustic numbers ''Her'' and ''Shiny Dancer''.<br> |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
[[image:Stlucytimes015.jpg|left|thumb|Front page of the 'St Lucy Times', October 2004]] | [[image:Stlucytimes015.jpg|left|thumb|Front page of the 'St Lucy Times', October 2004]] | ||
| − | Inspired by the possibilities suggested by the inclusion of | + | Inspired by the possibilities suggested by the inclusion of mp3s of every song he'd ever recorded since 1997 as "CDPLUS" bonus content on [[Bio-Psycho-Social]], in 2004 St Lucy became increasingly focused on his own unique brand of "DIY multimedia" (or perhaps "antimedia" would be the correct term). St Lucy releases during the year 2004 included videos, computer games, publications and beverages. <br> |
| − | The loosely termed "promotional video clips" for a proliferation of Lucy tracks were assembled and disseminated all over the internet with | + | The loosely termed "promotional video clips" for a proliferation of Lucy tracks were assembled and disseminated all over the internet with apparent abandon, most notably several alternate clips for [[Bio-Psycho-Social]]'s ''Armpits (and other bits)'', which had quickly become the "follow-up hit" to ''Driving To Mary''. ''Armpits'' clips were composed largely of <b>PLAIN BLACK AND WHITE TEXT</b> in which Tupuhi rants, raves and swears at great length about his personal hardships, shows a mutilated and profusely bleeding ''Four Square'' man (his misappropriation thereof in logos, flyers and CD cover artwork now having become synonymous with Lucy), makes use of ''Twin Tower'' footage for fun, and pays homage to the local broadcasting industry, thus: "Thanks for all your fucking help New Zealand On Air... fuckers". Another "promotional" video closely resembles a terrorist hostage video, in which Tupuhi threatens to assassinate TV presenter Jason Gunn unless granted State funding to produce more St Lucy music and videos. During the same year the ''St Lucy Times'' (pictured)was released in response to the publication of the [[Chuganaut]] News (recalling events surrounding a 'rogue' issue of [[Clinton]]). By this time Tupuhi, who was having a spot of bother with a member of a certain motorcycling enthusiasts' club, had fled to the refuge of number 9 [[Kitchener Street]], whereupon the kitchen table was the St. Lucy Times published. Here also Lucy was mentored by another controversial publisher [[Malcolm Hutchinson]] - not in Gonzo journalism, but in the art of home brewing shortly before Hutchinson departed Hamilton, entrusting his beloved brewery to the care of Tupuhi and one [[Michel]]. This resulted in the release of <b>St. Lucy WORLD FAMOUS! ARSE BEER</b>, with the subtitle ''alc. content may vary'' on the label. Troubling times for Number 9 were ahead.<br> |
| − | A new live St Lucy was assembled during this period. [[Odee]] (also resident of Number 9) now filled Zed Brookes' shoes on bass and backing vocals; a budding | + | A new live St Lucy was assembled during this period. [[Odee]] (also resident of Number 9) now filled Zed Brookes' shoes on bass and backing vocals; while a budding sound-designer, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist by the name of [[Morgan Samuel]] joined on guitars, treatments, keyboards and sound-tech; and another fresh talent in the guise of 15 y/o [[Mack Lynn]] took up the drum-stool. Undoubtedly the <i>loudest</i> incarnation of Lucy, number 9 was soon regularly besieged by Noise Control. Between late '04 and early '05, St Lucy ''Mark II'' appeared at ''The Vampyres Ball'' (apparently the result of absurdly labelling themselves a "goth" band so often that people started to believe them), played support for the [[Malcolm Hutchinson]]-led [[Runt]] (who didn't show up) at the 1 year birthday party for the newly revived [[Contact]] FM, and made regular (misad)ventures to Auckland and Wellington. The Contact show was broadcast Live to Air, and released the following day by St Lucy in mp3 format.<br> |
| − | At the inaugural Circle Jerk of May 2005, which Tupuhi organised, St Lucy made irreverently tactless reference to equally controversial goings on at Kitchener Street with their infamous rendition of | + | At the inaugural [[Circle Jerk]] of May 2005, which Tupuhi organised, St Lucy made irreverently tactless reference to equally controversial goings on at Kitchener Street with their infamous rendition of [[Dragon]]’s ''Are You Old Enough?''.<br> |
As 2005 progressed St Lucy also teamed up with [[Bregiz]] to produce a [http://www.aetherband.co.nz/gameee.html St Lucy shockwave game]. Inspired by real life attempts to promote and manage St Lucy live shows, using your mouse, the object of the game is to keep Tupuhi from falling over, long enough to play an entire St Lucy song (''Armpits'').<br><br> | As 2005 progressed St Lucy also teamed up with [[Bregiz]] to produce a [http://www.aetherband.co.nz/gameee.html St Lucy shockwave game]. Inspired by real life attempts to promote and manage St Lucy live shows, using your mouse, the object of the game is to keep Tupuhi from falling over, long enough to play an entire St Lucy song (''Armpits'').<br><br> | ||
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In September of 2005 the St. Lucy song ''Keep Away'', produced and reworked by Jody Lloyd, appeared on the ''Trillion'' album ''The Gray Between Shadow and Shade'' – a project falling half-way between an original album by one artist and a compilation of many, showcasing both Lloyd’s solo work and collaborations with many others from the She’ll Be Right stable. | In September of 2005 the St. Lucy song ''Keep Away'', produced and reworked by Jody Lloyd, appeared on the ''Trillion'' album ''The Gray Between Shadow and Shade'' – a project falling half-way between an original album by one artist and a compilation of many, showcasing both Lloyd’s solo work and collaborations with many others from the She’ll Be Right stable. | ||
| − | Tupuhi also appeared as a guest musician on two albums by Christchurch’s legendary Hip Hop pioneers Dark Tower released simultaneously by She’ll Be Right in 2005; ''The Dark World'' and the instrumental album ''The Pacific Scandal''. | + | Tupuhi also appeared as a guest musician on two albums by Christchurch’s legendary Hip Hop pioneers <b>Dark Tower</b> released simultaneously by She’ll Be Right in 2005; ''The Dark World'' and the instrumental album ''The Pacific Scandal''. |
St Lucy meanwhile recorded their own album, [[The Lost Art Of Self Destruction]], produced by Morgan Samuel and released on She’ll Be Right in 2005. The band proved that the art was not lost at all, promptly imploding upon the album’s release. | St Lucy meanwhile recorded their own album, [[The Lost Art Of Self Destruction]], produced by Morgan Samuel and released on She’ll Be Right in 2005. The band proved that the art was not lost at all, promptly imploding upon the album’s release. | ||
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* Mark moved to Maunganui but regularly returns to Hamilton for Lucy shows, both solo and with guest musicians. | * Mark moved to Maunganui but regularly returns to Hamilton for Lucy shows, both solo and with guest musicians. | ||
* Mack Lynn also continues to play with St Lucy at times. | * Mack Lynn also continues to play with St Lucy at times. | ||
| − | * Morgan Samuel graduated from a Media Arts Music Production Degree at Wintec with honours in 2004, moved to Wellington and went on to work as an effects and dialogue editor with Peter Jackson’s ''Park Road Post'' on the award winning feature film ''No.2'' and TV series ''Frontier of Dreams''. He now works for Marmalade Audio, one of NZ’s leading post production and music recording facilities, and has been critically acclaimed for his original scores and sound design in a number of Wellington theatre productions. He also plays guitar and keyboards alongside singer/songwriter Tony MacIver in the duo Nine Signals. | + | * Morgan Samuel graduated from a Media Arts Music Production Degree at Wintec with honours in 2004, moved to Wellington and went on to work as an effects and dialogue editor with Peter Jackson’s ''Park Road Post'' on the award winning feature film ''No.2'' and TV series ''Frontier of Dreams''. He now works for ''Marmalade Audio'', one of NZ’s leading post production and music recording facilities, and has been critically acclaimed for his original scores and sound design in a number of Wellington theatre productions. He also plays guitar and keyboards alongside singer/songwriter Tony MacIver in the duo Nine Signals. |
| − | * Odee remains with his own band Rose Petals and Confetti. | + | * Odee remains with his own band [[Rose Petals and Confetti]]. |
As of 2006, St Lucy is, as s/he always has been, Mark Tupuhi. | As of 2006, St Lucy is, as s/he always has been, Mark Tupuhi. | ||
Revision as of 12:11, 8 October 2006
Mark Tupuhi's St. Lucy began life with the split in 2001 of Jah'na and the subsequent re-release of acoustic pop songs intended for Jah'na, repackaged as Why We Hate Decaff (and assorted tales) by St Lucy in 2002. The same year, Mark performing solo as St Lucy won the York Street Acid Test singer/songwriter competition at Auckland's Temple Bar, signed to Jody Lloyd (of Trillion)'s She'll Be Right Records (self-described as "New Zealand's only natural accent record label"), and commenced recording St Lucy's actual debut EP Loyal? at York Street Studios. The name "Loyal?" was evidently chosen as a form of idol assassination-meets-anti-marketing tactic. Tupuhi had been upset when his former hero Dave Dobbyn rewrote, repackaged and re-released the song Loyal as the new theme song for the New Zealand America's Cup sailing team. Lucy's Loyal? not only questioned where Dobbyn's loyalties actually lay, but was also named with the express intention of marketing the EP to foreign tourists visiting the Viaduct Basin during the America's Cup 2003. The name "St Lucy" on the other hand, was a reference to what NZ Musician magazine described as "an unfortunate run-in with actor Lucy Lawless".
This was to mark only the very beginning of a prolongued and unrelenting campaign waged by St Lucy against "Kiwiaana" and the "cult of personality" within New Zealand popular culture. For a gig supporting Ian Morris in Auckland, St Lucy put out his own posters defaming the image of television's Charlotte Dawson, and was threatened with legal action by Dawson's lawyer if he did not "cease and desist" immediately. Far from it, the list of casualties would eventually include TV presenters Mary Lambie, Jason Gunn and the Judges of NZ Idol; the "thumbs up" Four Square Man; Neil Finn; "NZ Hiphop" (in its entirety); NZ On Air; local stations Contact FM, UFM and others; the Battle of the Bands, Clinton magazine, just about any individual in some way affiliated with Contact or the Htown.co.nz website; this wiki; Johnny Fist, The Datsuns (and especially Dolf de Borst's bass guitar), Chuganaut... not even his friends and fellow bandmates were safe. Ultimately, even Tupuhi himself would fall prey to the merciless parodying of alter ego Lucy.
In early 2003, Tupuhi started putting together a live band. In an interview with NZ Musician (the Feb-March 2003 issue) he said:
"The plan was always to build St Lucy from a solo thing into a band thing... at the moment we're putting together a superband, made up of people from bands that I like... But don't mention any names, 'cause I'm the star"
The live band comprised Tweeter's Paul Fitness on drums, Holdfast guitarist Joe McNamara, and Mark's former bandmate Zed Brookes who joined on bass when the Brookes/Tupuhi-fronted Wonderbug (formerly Schrodinger's Cat) disbanded.
For recording at York Street, however, Tupuhi and Brookes played alongside session drummer Paul Atkins and backing vocalist Rebekah Williams.
The first 50 copies of Loyal? had already sold by January before it was even released. It was officially launched on March 21st of 2003, with a release party at Auckland's Temple Bar, which Mark himself failed to turn up at for "health" reasons.
Later in 2003 a second "companion" EP, Bio-Psycho-Social was also released on She'll Be Right. Taken from the same York Street sessions as Loyal?, Bio-Psycho-Social is perhaps best described as the Driving to Mary single/remix EP; containing 4 new versions of the "hit" from its predecessor, including remixes by She'll Be Right labelmates Trillion and Deadly, and a Barbershop vocal arrangement and performance by another former Wonderbug cohort, Otis 'Odee' Williams (also husband of the aforenamed backing vocalist, Rebekah). "B-sides" include the uncharacteristically loud, dark and gritty Armpits (and other bits) (formerly an unreleased Wonderbug song); and the more 'typical Lucy' acoustic numbers Her and Shiny Dancer.
Inspired by the possibilities suggested by the inclusion of mp3s of every song he'd ever recorded since 1997 as "CDPLUS" bonus content on Bio-Psycho-Social, in 2004 St Lucy became increasingly focused on his own unique brand of "DIY multimedia" (or perhaps "antimedia" would be the correct term). St Lucy releases during the year 2004 included videos, computer games, publications and beverages.
The loosely termed "promotional video clips" for a proliferation of Lucy tracks were assembled and disseminated all over the internet with apparent abandon, most notably several alternate clips for Bio-Psycho-Social's Armpits (and other bits), which had quickly become the "follow-up hit" to Driving To Mary. Armpits clips were composed largely of PLAIN BLACK AND WHITE TEXT in which Tupuhi rants, raves and swears at great length about his personal hardships, shows a mutilated and profusely bleeding Four Square man (his misappropriation thereof in logos, flyers and CD cover artwork now having become synonymous with Lucy), makes use of Twin Tower footage for fun, and pays homage to the local broadcasting industry, thus: "Thanks for all your fucking help New Zealand On Air... fuckers". Another "promotional" video closely resembles a terrorist hostage video, in which Tupuhi threatens to assassinate TV presenter Jason Gunn unless granted State funding to produce more St Lucy music and videos. During the same year the St Lucy Times (pictured)was released in response to the publication of the Chuganaut News (recalling events surrounding a 'rogue' issue of Clinton). By this time Tupuhi, who was having a spot of bother with a member of a certain motorcycling enthusiasts' club, had fled to the refuge of number 9 Kitchener Street, whereupon the kitchen table was the St. Lucy Times published. Here also Lucy was mentored by another controversial publisher Malcolm Hutchinson - not in Gonzo journalism, but in the art of home brewing shortly before Hutchinson departed Hamilton, entrusting his beloved brewery to the care of Tupuhi and one Michel. This resulted in the release of St. Lucy WORLD FAMOUS! ARSE BEER, with the subtitle alc. content may vary on the label. Troubling times for Number 9 were ahead.
A new live St Lucy was assembled during this period. Odee (also resident of Number 9) now filled Zed Brookes' shoes on bass and backing vocals; while a budding sound-designer, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist by the name of Morgan Samuel joined on guitars, treatments, keyboards and sound-tech; and another fresh talent in the guise of 15 y/o Mack Lynn took up the drum-stool. Undoubtedly the loudest incarnation of Lucy, number 9 was soon regularly besieged by Noise Control. Between late '04 and early '05, St Lucy Mark II appeared at The Vampyres Ball (apparently the result of absurdly labelling themselves a "goth" band so often that people started to believe them), played support for the Malcolm Hutchinson-led Runt (who didn't show up) at the 1 year birthday party for the newly revived Contact FM, and made regular (misad)ventures to Auckland and Wellington. The Contact show was broadcast Live to Air, and released the following day by St Lucy in mp3 format.
At the inaugural Circle Jerk of May 2005, which Tupuhi organised, St Lucy made irreverently tactless reference to equally controversial goings on at Kitchener Street with their infamous rendition of Dragon’s Are You Old Enough?.
As 2005 progressed St Lucy also teamed up with Bregiz to produce a St Lucy shockwave game. Inspired by real life attempts to promote and manage St Lucy live shows, using your mouse, the object of the game is to keep Tupuhi from falling over, long enough to play an entire St Lucy song (Armpits).
If you think you can keep me up all night..
In September of 2005 the St. Lucy song Keep Away, produced and reworked by Jody Lloyd, appeared on the Trillion album The Gray Between Shadow and Shade – a project falling half-way between an original album by one artist and a compilation of many, showcasing both Lloyd’s solo work and collaborations with many others from the She’ll Be Right stable.
Tupuhi also appeared as a guest musician on two albums by Christchurch’s legendary Hip Hop pioneers Dark Tower released simultaneously by She’ll Be Right in 2005; The Dark World and the instrumental album The Pacific Scandal.
St Lucy meanwhile recorded their own album, The Lost Art Of Self Destruction, produced by Morgan Samuel and released on She’ll Be Right in 2005. The band proved that the art was not lost at all, promptly imploding upon the album’s release.
- Mark moved to Maunganui but regularly returns to Hamilton for Lucy shows, both solo and with guest musicians.
- Mack Lynn also continues to play with St Lucy at times.
- Morgan Samuel graduated from a Media Arts Music Production Degree at Wintec with honours in 2004, moved to Wellington and went on to work as an effects and dialogue editor with Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post on the award winning feature film No.2 and TV series Frontier of Dreams. He now works for Marmalade Audio, one of NZ’s leading post production and music recording facilities, and has been critically acclaimed for his original scores and sound design in a number of Wellington theatre productions. He also plays guitar and keyboards alongside singer/songwriter Tony MacIver in the duo Nine Signals.
- Odee remains with his own band Rose Petals and Confetti.
As of 2006, St Lucy is, as s/he always has been, Mark Tupuhi.
Members
St. Lucy is sometimes Mark Tupuhi solo (acoustic guitar, vocals) and sometimes Mark Tupuhi and others. The following are some of the more regular line-ups:
St. Lucy Mark I (2003-2004):
- Mark Tupuhi: guitar, vocals
- Joe McNamara: guitar
- Zed Brookes: bass
- Paul Fitness: drums
Paul Fitness, previously of Tweeter, went on to form Grande Cobra who are now based between London & NZ. Long-time collaborator Zed Brookes has been involved in myriad Hamilton bands, recordings and related projects, sufficient to warrant an extensive Htown wiki article of his own (coming soon). The subsequent activities of Joe McNamara and former Holdfast members remain to be investigated.
St. Lucy Mark II (2004-2005):
- Mark Tupuhi: guitar, vocals
- Odee: bass, backing vocals
- Mack Lynn: drums
- Morgan Samuel: guitars, treatments, keyboards
St. Lucy 2005-2006 is sometimes St. Lucy Mark II, and sometimes:
- Mark Tupuhi: guitar, vocals
- Bregiz: drums
or other times:
- Mark Tupuhi: guitar, vocals
- Mack Lynn: drums
Other performers have included Pete Fountain, Karen Gibson, Rebekah Williams, Paul Atkins, Mark's daughter Te Aroha, Chelsee Woolaston, Jody Lloyd, and possibly others.
Releases
- Why We Hate Decaff (and assorted tales) - CD EP - (self-released, 2002)
- Loyal? - CD EP - (She'll Be Right, January 2003)
- Bio Psycho Social - CD EP - disc also features multimedia - (She'll Be Right, November 2003)
- The Lost Art Of Self Destruction - CD Album - disc also features multimedia - (She'll Be Right, 2005)
