In terms of promotional items from last year's CMJ fest, one of the best ones – okay, the only good one – I received was A Kiwi for the World, a compilation presented by the NZ Music Commission, a government-funded agency advocating cultural awareness of New Zealand things other than "Flight of the Concords." Can you imagine the U.S. doing this? It'd be, like, Kid Rock and whoever the most recent American Idol winner was. Sweden ain't got the greatest track record either, to be honest.

Auckland, however, seems to know what it's doing. I was pleasantly stunned when at least half the songs on the comp were very good (I still listen to "Sneaky Sneaky Dog Friend"). And, just like last year, the cultural exchange responsible for the comp is putting down roots at The Delancey to showcase an evening of up-tempo Kiwi-centric jams.

Cut Off Your Hands (8pm) seems to be the only band from last year making the return trip, but they are proven ambassadors. Though, based on tunes from their debut LP (the Bernard Butler-produced You and I) they seemed to have calmed down slightly – or cut down on coffee – compared to the jumpy, Jam-like lead off track they provided from their EP. Regardless, aficionados of buoyant, majestic up-tempo BBC-ready pop will get their fix.

And, if you think 7.30pm on a Tuesday is too early in the day / week to dance, you probably won't have what it takes to throw down with electro-punk-stompers Bang! Bang! Eche! No, I don't know how to pronounce "Eche" either, but musically, there's little guesswork involved: this stuff was written to make you move. Their tunes sound like they're about ready to burst at the seams, held barely together by the pulsing kick drum, and their show has been described as having "more energy than a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos." I'm pretty sure I can't possibly improve on that comparison.

Later in the evening, Magnum PR, the best business name in the industry, seeps in and represents with New York's finest Freshkills (much more on them later) and Atlanta boogie rockers Gringo Star. Nice to see we can still co-exist with at least one other country.

The full line-up for the FREE NZ / Magnum PR showcase at The Delancey:

The Naked And Famous 7:00 PM
Bang Bang Eche 7:45 PM
Cut Off Your Hands 8:30 PM
The Ruby Suns 9:15 PM
Fresh Kills 10:45 PM
Gringo Star 11:30 PM
The High Wire 12:15 AM