Goodshirt

Goodshirt are an alternative/pop/rock band from Auckland, New Zealand. The band formed when keyboardist Gareth Thomas left his computer recording setup with the Fisher brothers, Rodney and Murray, for safe keeping.[1]

Goodshirt
Four young men standing in a field at sunset
Mike, Rodney, Gareth and Murray
Background information
OriginGrey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand
Genres
Years active2000 (2000)–2005 (2005), 2012–present
LabelsCEMENT Records, Hark Entertainment

While still a three piece, the band submitted their song "Green" to a track competition run by radio station 9inety6dot1. Subsequently, station manager Grant Hislop became their manager, and the band was rounded out with drummer Mike Beehre joining the fold.[1]

"Sophie", the fourth single from their debut album Good, was a number one single in New Zealand.[2] Good was released in Canada, Australia, and Japan.[3]

A second album, Fiji Baby, was released in 2004. Like its predecessor, it reached number 5 in the New Zealand charts.[4]

The band went on hiatus in 2005 when Rodney Fisher moved to London to work with Breaks Co-Op,[5] but reunited in 2011,[6] and in early 2012 they began playing again with support gigs for Hall & Oates and Icehouse as part of the A Day on the Green festival. In May 2012 Goodshirt released the new EP Skinny Mirror and including the singles "So Charming" and "Out of Our League".[7]

In 2014, the band released a cover of "Sierra Leone" originally by Coconut Rough. It was made available as a free download through their SoundCloud band page, along with the release of an official music video on YouTube.[8][9]

Members

  • Rodney Fisher – guitar and vocals
  • Murray Fisher – guitar
  • Gareth Thomas – keyboards/bass and vocals
  • Mike Beehre – drums

Music videos

Five videos were directed by Joe Lonie, including some that were shot in a single take.[10] Lonie notes that at the height of their close creative relationship, "they even talked about me being an unofficial fifth member of the band."[11]

Year Music video Director Notes
2000 "Green" (version 1) Florian Habicht Set at a beach, the band are buried up to their necks in sand, surrounded by hula-hooping schoolgirls. Filmed in black and white.
2001 "Green" (version 2) Joe Lonie Filmed in one continuous take and upside down and sped-up. The band take turns using the sink in a bathroom, with all objects and liquids falling up.[12]
"Blowing Dirt" (version 1) Set at a car wrecker and filmed backwards and in one continuous take, Rodney sings while a Mazda 929 is "un-smashed-up" in the background.[11]
"Blowing Dirt" (version 2) Set at a car wrecker and filmed backwards and in one continuous take, Rodney sings while an Austin 1300 is "un-smashed-up" in the background.[13]
"Place to Be" Shot in a continuous take and slowed down, the camera follows Rodney through an old building as he eats fruit while singing, coming across a series of unusual situations.[14]
2002 "Sophie" Filmed in a continuous take, a young woman listens to music on headphones, unaware that burglars (played by Goodshirt) are behind her, stealing everything in her flat.[15] "Sophie" won Best Music Video at the 2003 New Zealand Music Awards.[16]
"Monotone" Shot in a continuous take, with the camera circling a badminton court. The band are dressed as "Good" and "Evil" teams of badminton-playing beekeepers who seem unable to score a point.[17]
2003 "Buck it Up" Kezia Barnett A bullied schoolboy experiences strange visions one day at school. "Buck It Up" won Best Group Video at the 2004 Juice TV Awards.[18]
2004 "Cement" After pursuing his Rapunzel-like dream woman, Gareth finds himself trapped in a domestic gothic nightmare.[19]
"Fiji Baby" Wade Shotter Filmed primarily in a single hotel room set. Rodney checks into a fleabag hotel and messes around for a few hours.[20]
"Lucy" A current affairs show host (played by former 60 Minutes host Amanda Millar) profiles three men who are smitten with Lucy, a famous model.[21]
2011 "So Charming" Helena Brooks Dressed in sharp suits, the band members commit a number of anti-social acts and misdemeanours.[22]
2012 "Out of our League" Rodney Fisher Rodney plays a man whose two young children build a giant kite around him and fly him in the sky, with Goodshirt playing the "pro kite champions" team.[23]
2014 "Sierra Leone" Tim Brown Depicts a man struggling through a nightmarish, psychedelic desert environment. Heavily stylised and a departure from their previous video styles, combining film and animation techniques, with a nod to the original music video by Coconut Rough.

Discography

Albums

Year Title Details Peak chart
positions
Certifications
NZ[24]
2001 Good
  • Released: July 2001
  • Label: Cement Records, EMI
  • Catalogue: 5350602
5
  • NZ: Platinum
2004 Fiji Baby
  • Released: February 2004
  • Label: Cement Records, Capitol Records
  • Catalogue: 5770902
5
  • NZ: Gold
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

EPs

Year Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ[24]
2002 E.G.
  • Australia release only
2012 Skinny Mirror
  • Released: 30 April 2012
  • Label: Cement Records, Hark Music
  • Catalogue: skinny2012
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Year Single Peak chart
positions
Album
NZ[24]
2000 "Green" 12 Good
"Blowing Dirt" 13
2001 "Place To Be" 50
"Sophie" 1
2003 "Monotone" 31
2004 "Buck It Up" 14 Fiji Baby
"Cement"
"Fiji Baby" 25
"Lucy"
2012 "So Charming" Skinny Mirror
"Out of Our League"
2014 "Sierra Leone" (Cover)

Goodshirt has appeared on many compilations and soundtracks in both New Zealand and Australia.

References

  1. "Goodshirt – AudioCulture". www.audioculture.co.nz. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  2. "charts.nz – Goodshirt – Sophie". charts.nz. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  3. Screen, NZ On. "NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  4. "charts.nz – Goodshirt – Good". charts.nz. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  5. "Album review: Rodney Fisher, Songs From The Backyard". 3 May 2012. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  6. "Goodshirt end six-year hiatus". Stuff. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  7. "Goodshirt take a look in the mirror". The Press. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  8. "Goodshirt cover kiwi classic 'Sierra Leone'". www.muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  9. "Video premiere: Goodshirt's Sierra Leone". 6 October 2014. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  10. "Goodshirt". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  11. "The Secret Life of Music Video Directors". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  12. "Goodshirt – Green". Fish 'n' Clips. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  13. "Goodshirt – Blowing Dirt". Hark Music NZ. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  14. "Goodshirt – Place To Be". Hark Music NZ. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  15. "Goodshirt – Sophie". Fish 'n' Clips. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  16. "2003 Winners". NZMA. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  17. "Goodshirt – Monotone". Joe Lonie. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  18. "Buck It Up". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  19. "Goodshirt – Cement". Hark Music NZ. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  20. "Goodshirt – Fiji Baby". Fish 'n' Clips. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  21. "Goodshirt – Lucy". Hark Music NZ. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  22. "Goodshirt – So Charming". Hark Music NZ. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  23. "Goodshirt – Out of Our League (Official)". Hark Music NZ. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  24. "GOODSHIRT IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
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