Pair combine for special show
Musicians deliver broad spectrum of songwriting styles
Two of New Zealand’s busiest musicians, Andrew London and Rob Joass, who occasionally collaborate in a quartet called Too many Chiefs to tell stories and sing original songs, will perform in Ō taki next month.
Their individual influences and performing styles range from blues and jazz to Americana-infused country and folk, often with an element of social commentary, personal reflection and occasional satire.
A founder member of Hot Club Sandwich and The Cattlestops, and now playing and recording mostly under his own name, London’s reputation stands mostly on his satirical and comedic songs, which lampoon many of New Zealand society’s obsessions, foibles and taboos.
Songs like Let’s Talk About Me, Country’s Buggered and I Hugged My Mate have had audiences all over Australasia in stitches, and have contributed to a Correspondence School English syllabus, several feature films, and over 20 recorded albums.
A successful stage musical called Let’s Talk About Me, based on his original songs, sold out a four-night season at
Te Raukura ki Kāpiti in 2022.
Joass is well known throughout New Zealand through his work with Hobnail, The Shot Band, and The Hard Core Troubadours.
He writes compulsively, tours incessantly, teaches guitar and produces albums for other artists. His songs have been covered by artists in New Zealand and abroad, and he is a three-time finalist at the NZ Music Awards.
Hobnail is zeroing in on 30 years as a touring and recording entity, and Joass has increasingly focused on solo work when not travelling with Hobnail or The Chiefs.
The pair present a broad spectrum of songwriting styles, delivered with skill, enthusiasm and respect, albeit with a healthy dose of spontaneous banter and selfdeprecating humour.