Menzies Release Debut Album + Vinyl & Announce New Zealand Tour
Wellington, New Zealand’s crooked alt-country-rock Menzies release their highly-anticipated debut album + vinyl pressing - ‘Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm’, and announce a full NZ tour in July and August. The album captures everything that makes Menzies one of the country’s most exciting emerging acts.
Part concept-album, part Aotearoa-coming-of-age, Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm plays out as a ferry crossing between two islands, peppered throughout with overhead intercom announcements. Lead singer Chris Brown’s story-led songwriting pulls from deeply New Zealand experiences: Suzy Cato, romantic feelings towards All Blacks, trays of sausage rolls, native bird-song. Menzies deliver a debut that feels deeply personal, wildly universal, and impossible to ignore.
Beyond the studio, Brown’s former life as a working magician is woven into the band’s fabric and acclaimed live performances - 10 pairs of gloves thrown to the crowd and recipients hunt for their glove-mate before the song ends, balloons that have to be kept afloat for the duration of the song or the band stops playing, the crowd all shooting at a basketball hoop mid-set, appearing magic canes. The result is a live experience that is mesmerising, communal, and completely captivating.
New Zealand hasn’t had a band like this since the Front Lawn or The Mutton Birds.
“As a magician I spent years learning how to distract people.. This album really is the complete opposite, looking directly at what feels true, beautiful, and raw.”
Menzies have brought in New Zealand production powerhouses for the album - recorded & mixed by James Goldsmith (Mermaidens, DARTZ) at The Surgery, and mastered by Tūī Award-winning Vivek Gabriel (Avantdale Bowling Club, Onono).
Release and tour dates:
Album release: Friday 8th May, Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is WarmPalmerston North: Fri 3rd July [The Stomach] Whanganui: Sat 4th July [Porridge Watson] Wellington: Fri 17th July [Meow] Christchurch: Fri 24th July [Dark Room] Dunedin: Sat 25th July [Pearl Diver] Auckland: Fri 7th August [Whammy]
Raglan: Sat 8th August [Raglan Town Hall] Support acts to be announced.
With their live shows lauded by the likes of MJ Lenderman himself, this isn’t a tour to miss out on.