Get ‘Appy with Menzies _{by Madelaine Empson}

Te Whanganui-a-Tara crooked alt-country rockers Menzies have released their debut album and are feeling great.

“Our tour of the album kicks off at the start of July and we can’t wait to play these songs live for people”, lead singer and songwriter Chris Brown says.

Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm is part concept album, part Aotearoa coming-of-age story. Peppered throughout with real overhead intercom announcements, it plays as if the listener is on a ferry crossing between Te Ika-a-Māui and Te Waipounamu: cruising on the Menzies Islander, sailing to the other side!

“I’ve worked in children’s entertainment for some years”, Brown explains. “At the start of 2025 I got a gig performing as Spiderman on the ferry from Wellington to Picton and then back up again in the same day. On that ferry ride I recorded the overhead intercom announcements because they were so damn beautiful. I felt like they really captured something special about the New Zealand experience.”

The intriguing album title initially came up as a lyric in the song Mash Potato before finding itself in ‘Appy and Outro, Brown says, noting that once it made its way into three songs, it became the clear choice.

Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm will pulsate through Meow on the 17^th of July in a mesmerising, communal, and unpredictable gig.

“We look to make a gig more than just songs back-to-back, but as fulsome an experience as can be. Previously we’ve thrown 20 gloves into the audience and everyone has till the end of the song to find their glove-mate, keepy-uppy balloons or else the band stops playing, magic, surprises. At the end of the day, we love having a good time.”