Spartacus R at Downstage this Sunday

Remember the Soundstage Series at Downstage? Sure you do, if you've been reading this blog you do...because I interviewed Samuel Flynn Scott about his performance as part of the series. I also previewed the Rhian Sheehan show which saw the world premiere of a live performance of Sheehan's Standing in Silence album - a recipient of a Blog on the Tracks award.

Well the final show for the year takes place this Sunday night, November 15. It's a chance to see Wellington band Spartacus R.

One of the great things about these musical shows at Downstage - nominally a place for theatre - is that it allows the musical acts to explore elements of the theatre. And Spartacus R will most certainly be doing that. Debuting new work, the six-piece psychedelic rock band (it's prog-rock but it grooves!) will combine elements of poetry/dance/projection and of course - most obviously - music.

If you haven't heard Spartacus R I would recommend taking the punt. I enjoyed the band's album. And I like the fact that they take an almost cinematic approach to performance; creating elements outside the music that augment the performance, that motivate it, guide it even, but never take away from the music being made; always enhancing the songs.

And chances are you have heard some of the members in other configurations. The band features Ryan Prebble (guitar/vocals), Michael Kane (percussion), Shanti Costar (vocals/Korg), Mataio Daniela (guitar), Benjamin James (horns, keys) and Tim Prebble (bass).

The Soundstage shows at Downstage cost $35 but if you order your tickets online - click here - you get a $5 discount, tickets costing just $30.

The series will be back in 2010; hopefully bigger and bolder, bringing more risks, bringing interesting shows (at a family-friendly hour, in a space that encourages the musicians to think outside the square and rewards them with an audience focused on the performance).

And as a special treat to Blog on the Tracks readers - well, to readers based in (or near enough to) Wellington I have, thanks to the kind folk at Downstage, one double-pass to give away.

So, to be in to win - I want you to post a comment telling me who you would take with your double-pass and what appeals to you about going to this show.

I'll give the double ticket to the best answer - and maybe I'll see some of you at the show. Anyone planning to go? Have you been to some of the other musical performances at Downstage this year? Or at the least - enjoyed the sound/idea of them? Will you go to some shows there next year? And who do you want to see working in this space?

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Kowhai   #1   12:15 pm Nov 11 2009

I want to go! Pick me, pick me.

Ummmm because I wanna see this cinematic approach to performance, I love the idea of the Soundstage Series at Downstage and I haven't made it along to any. I cannot afford tickets due to being "underemployed".

Simon Sweetman   #2   01:19 pm Nov 11 2009

@ Kowhai - I think you're first in so you deserve the prize. Email me: my name with a dot in the middle @xtra.co.nz and I'll hook you up. Enjoy.

Daniel Simpson Beck   #3   02:05 pm Nov 11 2009

Oooh, I would love to see this. I would take a very special someone who has been inspired a lot recently by dance, story-telling and visual arts. This weekend we were discussing ways of creating a multi-media story-telling performance. To see this music/dance/poetry/projection performance would be both entertaining and inspirational I am sure. And of course, I love prog :)