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Bandstanding: Introducing Laurie Moreton
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Gisborne-born, Laurie Moreton came to jamming original riffs as well as a few covers.” Auckland as a youngster and eventually Once high school was done and dusted, made Piha his home. The occasional surf Laurie headed to tech for a couple of years features in his spare time – but then again, of study in the hospitality industry. “I worked you might be more likely to find him on a at The Regent Hotel in lower Albert Street, skateboard riding the concrete stuff. the staff drinks used to be at Mo’s Bar or
“Living in Piha is awesome! There are lots Tabac – then eventually I ended up buying of amazing creative people here – musicians shares in both! and artists – and the surf, the bush and great “Mo’s is a very small and intimate classic friends. Music makes me very happy, as cocktail bar situated downtown on the does my Gretsch White Falcon guitar. And corner of Wolfe and Federal Streets. It’s an of course my lovely wife Amy and two sons absolute gem and 25 years old. Tabac is a Darcy and Taylor.” larger venue which is great for small gigs
As the owner of Auckland bars Tabac and and events, and another Auckland institution Mo’s, Laurie is busy, even before you factor being 23 years old. My business partner Ruth in playing in his own bands and working to Westwick used to work there in the 90s as deliver live music to his stomping ground. “I GM, and when the opportunity to purchase have a show coming up on February 7, before popped up we jumped on it. At that point we the Waitangi holiday Monday, at the Piha RSA had already owned Mo’s for roughly a year with my band Hello Nastiez and another local and a half.” outfit, Hey Honey. I am doing the promo for The purchase of Tabac saw Laurie become that, plus sound on the day. It’s awesome Laurie Moreton: ‘music makes me happy, as does my more involved in live music production and being able to put on a show and play for the Gretsch White Falcon guitar ...’ promotion. “I’ll do the sound for smaller local community. We are very lucky that we are able to have live shows acoustic shows but generally will hire crew for the bigger ones. here, and at Tabac, and in New Zealand in general at present.” Last year we ran amateur stand up comedy nights on Tuesdays and
Laurie’s earliest musical memory comes courtesy of his grandfather Wednesdays which went well, and we put on a bunch of gigs also. Covid Bruce Loretz. “He was a gigging Auckland musician back in the day and was and still is a tricky period for both bars, but we are still operating played a mean harmonica. His partner was a guitarist by the name of both, thankfully, and will continue to do so as long as Covid (and our Greg Taylor. They had a regular gig with Fullers and would play on the landlords) cooperate.” Tabac is open Tuesday through Saturday, with boats, at the Town Hall and various other venues around the city. This is Saturday generally booked out for private functions. where my musical journey began: he encouraged me to pick up a guitar. As bar manager of The Regent, back in the day, Laurie got to meet Dad’s record collection was a big influence. I grew up listening to bands many international touring musicians and bands – from Johnny Rotten like The Jam, The Clash, Madness, The Specials and Devo. The grunge of the Sex Pistols, Kiss, Weezer, Ozzie Osbourne, and many more. “And thing happened for me in high school when bands like Nirvana, Alice I am probably responsible for ruining the Oasis show in Wellington. The in Chains, Soundgarden, and Melvins were in their prime. I remember night before Liam Gallagher was in The Regent. We chatted and I fed paying $25 dollars to see Nirvana at the Logan Campbell Centre when I him vodka and grapefruit juice until he eventually stumbled off around was 16. All of this has definitely rubbed off. Now I love to play fast and 6am on the day of the show, which by all accounts was terrible! loud! But I’m totally open to all styles; my musical influences are varied “Johnny Rotten was quite the character but very well behaved, the – from Punk, Grunge, Ska, Hip Hop, 80s you name it...” Weezer boys were the friendliest, joining staff for after-work drinks and
So it’s no surprise that Laurie’s bands exist in diverse genres: Dogbox putting me on the door list for their gig. Ozzie was definitely the one I is a semi-punk bass, drums, guitar, vocals line up. “It’s a mixture of was most nervous about but he turned out to be a really sweet guy – original material and covers of some classic and some not-so-classic although a little hard to understand!” punk tracks.” Hello Nastiez on the other hand is an acoustic trio. Laurie To talk to Laurie about local gigs, his bands, Tabac or Mo’s, you can plays guitar in both bands. get in touch with him at barstocktake@gmail.com or 021 168 2541.
“We have played the Piha venues, Tabac, Tiny Triumphs in Devonport You can check out Dogbox and Hello Nastiez on Faceboook – keep an and we’re looking forward to a gig in Mangawhai at the tavern come eye on their pages for upcoming gig details. And save the date: Hello March. I’m also in another three piece that’s just in its infancy. We are Nastiez at the Piha RSA, February 7 from 3pm.
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