I know Andy Kerr well. We go back a long way in the Wellington live music scene on the Golden Mile area of Courtenay Place, Cuba Street and surrounding environs. I remember first hearing and seeing Jacky Tar at the sadly missed Molly Malones and equally missed Kitty O’Shea’s, and catching the energy and slightly menacing air they portrayed. It was the stage show though, as never a nicer band of guys are you likely to meet!

Once, under the guise of Andy’s later act Parcel Of Rogues, they and I were double booked at a venue, closing in on Christmas. Rather than cause a scene, I packed down and let Andy and the guys get the gig unchallenged. The response from the Rogues was to donate the allocation of complimentary beers afforded them by the venue that night to me. The whole band gave me their beer. No idea about anyone else but I had a GREAT night.

I could give you many a story from those days. It’s wonderful to see Andy playing alongside so many of the names I remember and love so well, as accounted for on the bio page for the band on this site. Wellington – and New Zealand – royalty, the outrageously gifted Alan Norman (The Warratahs keyboard player), has his signature playing all over this compelling number.

An insinuating brass sitting low in the rich mix, added to the Cab Calloway-esque swinging rhythm section, all accompany Andy’s full baritone and you’re transported away to some Twilight Zone venue seen only in black and white, a spotlight following a fey band leader across a stage beset with musicians atop their game yet beset with having seen life too clearly too many times. Or is it 2005 again? In a darkened, still smoky Irish den in the hedonistic ground zero of New Zealand’s capital? – a rainy night, the lights are low, and the children of Wellington’s night are drinking in the dark, jazz underscored genius of this track.

I’m not surprised by this song’s quality. A veteran performer, who can command the collaboration of whoever he wants in the Windy City of the South. Excellent engineering, mix and mastering that do this well orchestrated and arranged number the justice it warrants. I hope my mind’s eye description gives you the vibe of this song. You can find it and the rest of the eight track album on Spotify. This number has a video due for release in September. I’m looking forward to that.

Andrew Kerr. Follow his music. You’ll be mesmerised.