TOO MANY CHIEFS
Too Many Chiefs are four Wellington-based singer/songwriters:
Andrew London, Laura Collins, Rob Joass and Wayne Mason.
The project was conceived several years ago after a mutual sob-session at which all four band leaders shared complaints about having to be everything from publicist, poster-designer, door person and promoter, to songwriter/instrumentalist and complaint-handler, it was decided to pool resources for occasional outings together, at which they would play their favourite original songs.
Wayne Mason is of course well-known as an ex-Warratahs, RockingHorse and Fourmyula member, whose song ‘Nature’ made Number 1 in 1970, and hit the charts again in the ‘90s with a Muttonbirds remake, ultimately being nominated NZ’s top original Song of the Century in 2004.
Laura Collins, usually seen with her Back Porch Blues Band, evokes Etta James and Aretha with her powerful bluesy style. To the best of our knowledge she is still the only Kiwi to have sung at the Vatican.
Rob Joass has been touring the country for several decades in a variety of Celtic/country-rock lineups, most recently with Hobnail who celebrated 25 years on the road last year.
Andrew London, whose previous collaborations include swing trio Hot Club Sandwich and Country-rockers The Cattlestops, lightens the mood with comedic social comment and satire. A stage musical entitled ‘Let’s Talk About Me!’ containing 26 of his original songs is currently in pre-production.
After a chaotic couple of years that found almost all professional performers stuck at home, Too Many Chiefs are glad to be back touring in 2022.
They throw banter around like paper darts, taking the mickey with a degree of affection and familiarity that reflects years spent on the road and on the stage together. You’ll hear a couple of dozen original songs that reflect the Kiwi experience – with pathos, humour, frustration and melancholy, with plenty of self-deprecating stories and laughs along the way.
tickets: https://www.4thwalltheatre.co.nz/onat4thwall/whats-on/too-many-chiefs.html