The Phoenix Foundation in rehearsal with the NZSO Photo: Bryson Rooney/NZSO
The Phoenix Foundation and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hamish McKeich in concert in 2018 to celebrate 20 years of the popular Wellington band.
The Phoenix Foundation - Samuel Scott, Lukasz Buda, Conrad Wedde, Will Ricketts, Tom Callwood and Chris O’Connor – won the New Zealand Music Award for best group in 2010 for the album Buffalo. The band also contributed to several movie soundtracks, including film-maker Taika Waititi’s box office hits Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Praised by music heavyweights, including Neil Finn, Iggy Pop and Jarvis Cocker, this is the first time The Phoenix Foundation performed with a world-class symphony orchestra.
The Phoenix Foundation - Sam Scott Photo: Ezra Simons
Top New Zealand composers and arrangers Gareth Farr, Claire Cowan, Chris Gendall and Hamish Oliver worked with The Phoenix Foundation and NZSO conductor Hamish McKeich to create orchestral versions of the band’s much-loved works.
“There is no sound on earth quite like a real symphony orchestra,” says The Phoenix Foundation’s Samuel Scott.
“We've had 20 years of driving each other crazy trying to make a six-piece band be as expansive and cinematic as an Ennio Morricone soundtrack. The arrangers we have had the privilege of working with on these concerts have brought all those years of searching to another plain of existence."
“This is still 100 per cent The Phoenix Foundation - just with over 60 musicians and the skills of the conductor and arranger turning it up to 11.”
Setlist:
Arr Cowan: Hitchcock (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / R. Singleton / T. Callwood / W. Emery)
Arr Cowan: Modern Rock (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / C. O’Connor / T. Callwood)
Arr Gendall: Cars of Eden (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / R. Singleton / T. Callwood)
Arr Gendall: Morning Papers (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / C. O’Connor / T. Callwood)
Arr Farr: Burning Wreck (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / C. O’Connor / T. Callwood)
Arr Oliver: St Kevin (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / R. Singleton / T. Callwood / W. Emery)
Arr: Gendall: Let Me Die A Woman (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / R. Singleton / T. Callwood / W. Emery)
Arr Cowan: Wildlife (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / C. O’Connor / T. Callwood)
Arr Cowan: Miserable Meal (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / C. O’Connor / T. Callwood)
Arr Oliver: Transit of Venus (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / C. O’Connor / T. Callwood)
Arr Gendall: Bright Grey (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / R. Singleton / T. Callwood)
Arr Gendall: Give Up Your Dreams (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / C. O’Connor / T. Callwood)
Arr Farr: Buffalo (S. Scott / L. Buda / C. Wedde / W. Ricketts / R. Singleton / T. Callwood)
Recorded on 2 August 2018 at Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Recording and mixing engineer: Graham Kennedy
Related:
