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| − | [[image:Stlucy.jpg|right|thumb|Mark Tupuhi (St Lucy)]] | + | [[image:Stlucy.jpg|right|thumb|Mark Tupuhi (St Lucy)]]Understated is, perhaps, not a word to be associated with the work of [[Mark Tupuhi]] (St Lucy). Often overlooked, the work of his previous bands [[Jah’na]] and [[Schrodinger's Cat]] (Later to become [[Wonderbug]]) left a small, if not unnoticeable, dent on the local scene with few or little fruits to show for it. |
| − | [[Mark Tupuhi]]'s ''St. Lucy'' began with the split of [[Jah'na]] in 2001, and the re-release of Jah'na's [[Acoustic Pop]] album - repackaged as [[Why We Hate Decaff (and assorted tales)]] by ''St Lucy'' - in 2002. In the same year Tupuhi, performing solo as St Lucy, won the ''York Street Acid Test'' singer/songwriter competition at Auckland's ''Temple Bar'', signed to ''Jody Lloyd'' (of ''Trillion'')'s ''She'll Be Right Records'' (self-described as "New Zealand's only natural accent record label"), and commenced recording St Lucy's ''actual'' debut EP [[Loyal?]] at ''York Street Studios''. The name "Loyal?" was chosen as a form of idol assassination-meets-anti-marketing tactic. Tupuhi had been upset when his former hero ''Dave Dobbyn'' rewrote, repackaged and re-released the song ''Loyal'' as the new theme song for the New Zealand America's Cup sailing team. ''Lucy's'' [[Loyal?]] not only questioned where Dobbyn's loyalties lay, but was also named with the express intention of marketing the EP to foreign tourists visiting the Viaduct Basin during the ''America's Cup 2003''. The name "St Lucy", on the other hand, was a reference to what ''NZ Musician'' magazine described as "an unfortunate run-in with actor Lucy Lawless".<br>
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| − | This was to mark only the beginning of a prolongued and unrelenting campaign waged by ''St Lucy'' against "Kiwiaana" and the "cult of personality" within New Zealand popular culture. For a gig supporting ''Ian Morris'' in Auckland, St Lucy put out his own posters defaming the image of television's ''Charlotte Dawson'', and was threatened with legal action by Dawson's lawyer if he did not "cease and desist" immediately. Far from it, the list of casualties would eventually include TV presenters ''Mary Lambie'', ''Jason Gunn'' and the judges of ''NZ Idol''; the "thumbs up" Four Square Man; ''Neil Finn''; "NZ Hiphop" (in its entirety); ''NZ On Air''; local stations [[Contact]] FM and [[UFM]]; the [[Battle of the Bands]], [[Clinton]] magazine, just about any individual in some way affiliated with [[Contact]] or the [[Htown.co.nz]] website; this wiki; [[Johnny Fist]], [[The Datsuns]] (and especially [[Dolf de Borst]]'s bass guitar), [[Chuganaut]]... not even his friends and fellow bandmates were safe. Ultimately, even Tupuhi himself would fall prey to the merciless parodying of alter ego Lucy.<br>
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| − | [[image:St Lucy setlist, 2004.JPG |right|thumb|Setlist from 2004]]In early 2003, Tupuhi started assembling a live band. In an interview with ''NZ Musician'' (the Feb-March 2003 issue) he said:<br>
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| − | ''"The plan was always to build St Lucy from a solo thing into a band thing... at the moment we're putting together a superband, made up of people from bands that I like... But don't mention any names, 'cause I'm the star"'' <br>
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| − | The live band comprised [[Tweeter]]'s [[Paul Fitness]] on drums, [[Holdfast]] guitarist [[Joe McNamara]], and Mark's former bandmate [[Zed Brookes]] who joined on bass when the Brookes/Tupuhi-fronted [[Wonderbug]] (formerly [[Schrodinger's Cat]]) disbanded. For recording at ''York Street'', however, Tupuhi and Brookes played alongside session drummer ''Paul Atkins'' and backing vocalist ''Rebekah Williams''. The first 50 copies of [[Loyal?]] had already sold by January before it was even released. It was officially launched on 21 March 2003, with a release party at Auckland's Temple Bar, which Mark himself failed to turn up at for "health" reasons.<br>
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| − | Later in 2003 a second "companion" EP, [[Bio-Psycho-Social]], was released on ''She'll Be Right''. Taken from the same ''York Street'' sessions as [[Loyal?]], [[Bio-Psycho-Social]] is perhaps best described as the ''Driving to Mary'' single/remix EP, containing four new versions of the song. Remixes are included by ''She'll Be Right'' labelmates ''Trillion'' and ''Deadly'', and a Barbershop vocal arrangement and performance by [[Otis Williams|Otis 'Odee' Williams]]. Other tracks are the uncharacteristically loud, dark and gritty ''Armpits (and other bits)'' (an unreleased [[Wonderbug]] song), and the more 'typical Lucy' acoustic numbers ''Her'' and ''Shiny Dancer''.<br>
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| | + | A brief perusal of his colourful and eclectic past will inform you of his doings over the last few years. More importantly, Mark has been writing. Songs abounding with life in its many shades and hues. Songs of being lost in prolonged teenagehood, something we all feel the need to disguise with mortgages and marriage. Songs of being dubbed “Dad” as he prepared for sixth form certificate. Songs of tears, alone in the sanitised corridors of rehab. Songs of love, and life and all the greys in between happiness and fucked. |
| | [[image:Stlucytimes015.jpg|left|thumb|Front page of the 'St Lucy Times', October 2004]] | | [[image:Stlucytimes015.jpg|left|thumb|Front page of the 'St Lucy Times', October 2004]] |
| − | Inspired by the possibilities suggested from the inclusion of mp3s of every song he had recorded since 1997 as bonus content on [[Bio-Psycho-Social]], in 2004 St Lucy became increasingly focused on his own unique brand of "DIY multimedia" (or perhaps "antimedia" would be the correct term). St Lucy releases during 2004 included videos, computer games, publications and beverages. <br>
| + | No, Mark isn’t going to tell you any stories with happy endings. No freshman losers are going to get the girl and win the gridiron championship. But we are going to find hope. One would hope. |
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| − | Loosely termed "promotional video clips" for a number of Lucy tracks were assembled and disseminated on the internet. Most notable were several alternate clips for [[Bio-Psycho-Social]]'s ''Armpits (and other bits)'', which had quickly become the "follow-up hit" to ''Driving To Mary''. ''Armpits'' clips were composed largely of ''plain black-and-white text'', in which Tupuhi rants, raves and swears at great length about his personal hardships, shows a mutilated and profusely bleeding ''Four Square'' man (his misappropriation thereof in logos, flyers and CD cover artwork now having become synonymous with Lucy), makes use of ''Twin Tower'' footage for fun, and pays homage to the local broadcasting industry, thus: "Thanks for all your fucking help New Zealand On Air... fuckers". Another "promotional" video closely resembles a terrorist hostage video, in which Tupuhi threatens to assassinate TV presenter Jason Gunn unless granted State funding to produce more St Lucy music and videos. During the same year the ''St Lucy Times'' (pictured) was released in response to the publication of ''the [[Chuganaut]] News'' (recalling events surrounding a 'rogue' issue of [[Clinton]]). By this time Tupuhi, who was having a spot of bother with a member of a certain motorcycling enthusiasts' club, had fled to the refuge of number 9 [[Kitchener Street]], whereupon the kitchen table was the St. Lucy Times published. <br>
| + | St Lucy was born in 2002 and has since released one independent E.p, ''[[Why We Hate Decaff (and assorted tales)]]'' and Two E.P's on She’ll Be Right Records, ''[[Loyal?]]'' (2002) and ''[[Bio-Psycho-Social]]'' (2003). 'Lucy boasts powerful production and live performance backed up by solid, relevant songwriting and accessible, intelligent themes. St. Lucy are power pop/rock with grown-up subject matter. |
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| − | A new live ''St Lucy'' was assembled during this period. [[Odee]] (also resident of Number 9) replaced [[Zed Brookes]] on bass and backing vocals, while budding sound-designer, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist [[Morgan Samuel]] joined on guitars, treatments, keyboards and sound-tech. Fifteen year old [[Mack Lynn]] took up the drum-stool. Undoubtedly the ''loudest'' incarnation of Lucy, number 9 was soon regularly besieged by Noise Control. Between late '04 and early '05, St Lucy appeared at the [[Vampyres' Ball]] (apparently the result of absurdly labelling themselves a "goth" band so often that people started to believe them), played at the one year birthday party for the newly revived [[Contact]] FM, and made regular ventures to Auckland and Wellington. The Contact show was broadcast "Live to Air", and released the following day by St Lucy in mp3 format.<br>
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| − | As 2005 progressed St Lucy also teamed up with [[Bregiz]] to produce a [http://www.aetherband.co.nz/gameee.html St Lucy shockwave game]. Inspired by real life attempts to promote and manage St Lucy live shows, the object of the game is to keep Tupuhi from falling over long enough to play an entire St Lucy song (''Armpits'').<br><br>
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| − | In September 2005 the St. Lucy song ''Keep Away'', produced and reworked by Jody Lloyd, appeared on the ''Trillion'' album ''The Gray Between Shadow and Shade'' – a project falling half-way between an original album by one artist and a compilation of many, showcasing both Lloyd’s solo work and collaborations with many others from the She’ll Be Right stable. Tupuhi also appeared as a guest musician on two albums by Christchurch’s legendary Hip Hop pioneers ''Dark Tower'' released simultaneously by She’ll Be Right in 2005; ''The Dark World'' and the instrumental album ''The Pacific Scandal''.
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| − | St Lucy meanwhile recorded their own album, [[The Lost Art Of Self Destruction]], produced by [[Morgan Samuel]] and released on She’ll Be Right in 2005. The band proved that the art was not lost at all, promptly imploding upon the album’s release.
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| − | Mark moved to Maunganui, and later Raglan, but regularly returned to Hamilton for Lucy shows, both solo and with guest musicians.
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| | ==Members== | | ==Members== |
| − | St. Lucy was sometimes Mark Tupuhi solo (acoustic guitar, vocals) and sometimes Mark Tupuhi and others. The following were some of the more regular line-ups: | + | St. Lucy is sometimes Mark Tupuhi solo (acoustic guitar, vocals) and sometimes Mark Tupuhi and others. The following are some of the more regular line-ups: |
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| | St. Lucy Mark I (2003-2004): | | St. Lucy Mark I (2003-2004): |
| | * [[Mark Tupuhi]]: guitar, vocals | | * [[Mark Tupuhi]]: guitar, vocals |
| − | * [[Joe McNamara]]: guitar | + | * [[Joe Macnamara]]: guitar |
| | * [[Zed Brookes]]: bass | | * [[Zed Brookes]]: bass |
| − | * [[Paul Fitness]]: drums<br><br> | + | * [[Paul Fitness]]: drums |
| − | [[Paul Fitness]], previously of [[Tweeter]], went on to form [[Grande Cobra]] who are now based between London & NZ.<br><br>
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| | St. Lucy Mark II (2004-2005): | | St. Lucy Mark II (2004-2005): |
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| | * [[Mark Tupuhi]]: guitar, vocals | | * [[Mark Tupuhi]]: guitar, vocals |
| | * [[Mack Lynn]]: drums | | * [[Mack Lynn]]: drums |
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| − | Other performers have included [[Pete Fountain]], Karen Gibson, Rebekah Williams, Paul Atkins, Mark's daughter Te Aroha, Chelsee Woolaston, Jody Lloyd, and possibly others.
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| | ==Releases== | | ==Releases== |
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| | * [[Loyal?]] - CD EP - (She'll Be Right, January 2003) | | * [[Loyal?]] - CD EP - (She'll Be Right, January 2003) |
| | * [[Bio Psycho Social]] - CD EP - disc also features multimedia - (She'll Be Right, November 2003) | | * [[Bio Psycho Social]] - CD EP - disc also features multimedia - (She'll Be Right, November 2003) |
| − | * [[The Lost Art Of Self Destruction]] - CD Album - disc also features multimedia - (She'll Be Right, 2005) | + | * [[The Lost Art Of Self Destruction]] - CD EP - disc also features multimedia - (She'll Be Right, 2005) |
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| − | *''Driving to Mary'' appears on the 2004 promo CD [[NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 27]]<br>
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| − | *'' Keep Away'' appears on the 2006 compilation [[Area 07]]
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| − | *''Tsunami'' appears on the 2016 compilation [[Lost on a Highwire]]
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| − | ==Published Articles==
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| − | *''Hamilton's St Lucy Gets the Package Just Right'', [[Waikato Times]], 17 December 2002, P2
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| | ==External Links== | | ==External Links== |
| − | [http://www.myspace.com/stlucy St Lucy @ MySpace]<br>
| + | [http://www.mp3.com.au/stlucy Mp3 Website]<br> |
| − | [http://www.mp3.com.au/stlucy Mp3 Website] | + | |
| | [[Category:Bands]] | | [[Category:Bands]] |
