May 14, 2026 • 10 mins
Matiu Walters and Marlon Gerbes from Six60 joined Canterbury Mornings ahead of "Once in a Lifetime" at One New Zealand Stadium - the first ever music gig at the new stadium.
They discussed their journey as a band so far, the excitement to headline the first gig at the new stadium, and the look back at their first performances in Christchurch from years gone by.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
That is six sixty of course, who are going to
be taking the stage at one New Zealand Stadium tomorrow
night with Symphony as well as Kaylie Bell, Cassie Henderson
and Castaway. This is the historic, once in a lifetime
concert and it's brilliant to have six sixties Marthu Walters
and Marlon Gerbers with us. Now morning, guys, good morning.
What does it mean to you headlining the first ever
concert at our brand new stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
That's pretty cool and honored. Really, we're excited about the
show and just honored to have this opportunity. Yeah, we
understand it's like fifteen years in the making, so we've
been working really hard to make shorters.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Well pretty much you guys, But you guys have been
eighteen years in the making. So it's kind of like
when the quake happened, you guys were only three years
into it. Ye, where was the band at at that point?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Well, really, at our our beginning molding phase. I remember
coming here and touring here pre earthquake. We actually got
our first we call like our first professional gig here
in Crushet, you know, for the Blot. For those first
three years we're in Dunedin playing in our living room
and other and our friends living room is basically we
played a festival called what was it called Area nine? Yeah,
(01:25):
I think it was a twenty four hour festival. We
had a seven am slot. Three people there and one
of them was a booking was in charge of booking
shows at the Bedford, which is any here in christ
It's no longer around so and that was your first
That was our first kind of professional gig.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
You could say, wow, we didn't even know what a
writer was.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Do you know now what's on the rider?
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Not Muster of these days blue em And.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It kind of did blow up at one point. Then
we realized that we actually pay for it, so it's gone.
It's pretty modest now.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Can you remember the point when you realized that the
band was at see more than just a few mates
playing music together? It was there was there a point
that sticks in your mind.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
It could point back to that show at the Bedford,
to be honest, really, because we remember arriving. I remember
the manager freaking out because you just put us on
a Tuesday night, not expecting much to go on understaff
the bar and we pull up and there's, you know,
a line of four hundred people around the corner. Wow,
and they were singing every word. There's our Brother, We're Out.
(02:34):
That was one of my favorite movies. I don't if
you're familiar with that. There's a moment where George Cleaneer
they record that song into a can just for some cash,
and at the end of the movie they find themselves
playing it on stage and the crowd going crazy, Yes,
I want to see. It was like a really similar feeling.
We started playing songs like Rise Up and Don't Get
Your Roots, and the crowd was singing the songs word
word back to us, and I remember us looking at
each other going what the hell is you know? And
(02:57):
then from that just the ownership people took of the
of the songs and how they attached certain songs to
memories in there the life, you know, significant moments in
our lives.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
So does that thrill leave you or do you still
get thrilled by that today?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
We still I still get thrilled by that today for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
But you've recorded a new album right here, right now.
How much of that is going to feature tomorrow night?
Speaker 4 (03:25):
We've got about three or four songs.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, yeah, And I was reading some of the tracks
you did in one take, well all of them?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Really was that?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Was that intentional? Just how it happened?
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Was?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I mean, we had the songs written and we went
into the studio with our producer, and we knew you
wanted to play them live because I think that, you know,
leaning into our strengths. Really we started as a live
band before we started writing music, so and then we
started playing and then you know, three days later, we're
kind of we're done, and I suppose we're at a
(03:56):
point as a band will we know we don't need
to play the song one hundred times to be sure,
you know, for by three times, we've pretty much got
it locked down. And they were kind of mature enough
not to.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Because that's kind of a change, isn't it? Because I
remember reading that in your early days, after gigs, you'd
have these formal meetings to go through how the gig went.
What was the story behind formal? I mean we but
you sat down afterwards, we kind of.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Talked through and kind of I remember that, but that
didn't go so well that but was really great. Maybe
we could change that maybe the setless. Could we just
we had had conversations about the show because we're proud
of it and we you know, we wanted it to
go well. So we still do that, now, do you.
We'll do that after the show on is that right?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah? And what do you normally? I mean because I
would imagine you'd come off stage on a bit of
a high and then someone would say, well that that
second song and the first set was a bit well
you think I can't even remember it. It's almost like
postmatched interviews after a Rugby test and then they say, oh,
(05:02):
that was great in the first half, and somehow the
plaque can say, yeah, exactly, but I remember. But as that,
what's not with you? Guys? You can you have this
memory in your mind even in the moment.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Yeah, it's like human nature almost so late to just
remember the things that went wrong. And I'll focus on
this on the good stuff, you know. Yeah, so it
could be ninety niner good and then the one percent
we'll just bring up just casually and go, okay, we
could have done that better.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, we'll also talk about the really good stuff. The
good mistakes happened too, because you know, there's a there's
a percentage of the performance that we leave up to spontaneity,
and from that mistakes can happen, and from that really cool,
ye exciting things can happen. We'll do that again. Let's
do that the next show.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Things that I think a lot of people would be
surprised or not surprised, amazed to think that you guys
have been gone for eighteen years when you're still so current.
I mean, what what keeps what keeps you guys going?
Speaker 4 (05:58):
I mean, we love it, contracts, we love it, and
we we've always loved it, passionate about it. Personally, I'm
obsessed about music. I live and breathe it and I
love it. So I think that's a little bit of
what helps us keep going. And I know we've experienced
so many great memories over the years, and it's you know,
(06:19):
we've got our families and our families and our partners
through this, and so there's a lot too kind of
honor and there's still heaps to do in our mind.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
How much how much does the band vibe change as
you grow up and constantly have families and all of that, but.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Constantly the dynamics changing, We're changing, so that would mean, now,
approach to music will change, change with it, you know
what I mean? But an artist is always arriving, and
every evolution the band takes and every new responsibility we
take up like there's a new perspective to take with
(06:58):
music and that's actually quite exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Does that also mean an artist is never satisfied?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Well, there's there's always a trade off, and satisfaction isn't
necessarily a thing you should speech going for.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
You know, well you'll never get there.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Well, you're like you'll never arrive. Maybe that that's a mistake.
A lot of artists think like if I do this
and I do that, I'll I'll have this and I'll
be I would have found it. But really it's just
it's just an art of accepting and continue arriving and
forward movement really and it all feels there's a lot
of possibility in our world at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So I just asked you before what keeps you going?
But I think the other question is what also keeps
you together? They're two different things, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yep, Yeah, I mean we are. I guess we're kind
of bound like a family would be bound. And it
was completely unintentional. You know, being here, So we're kind
of devoted to each other in a way, and we're
very very fortunate, and like there's a lot of very
grateful to be in this position and be able to
express ourselves through music and go on this path of
(08:08):
passion together. And also to your point before, like we
kind of understand that there that's actually bigger than us
now and that requires a level of devotion to I think,
what does.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
That mean, Martin to you being bigger than you guys?
Speaker 4 (08:25):
I mean, like you just have to read comments and
stories from the fans about how our music has affected
their lives and you realize you're, you know, you're you're
providing almost medicine for a lot of people, especially Kiwis.
You know, we're proud Kiwis. Our music is undoubtedly Kiwi music,
and we we embraced that. We haven't in the past,
(08:49):
but we we definitely are now and this new album
really speaks to that. The concept of Peppy Heart was
one cool story in the in the album that we
shared with some Americans when we were writing the album,
and they were just flawed by that concept. They were
I couldn't believe it and really normal all for us
and so it was cool to explore that and to
(09:09):
share that with them. So yeah, I think we're in
a place of service to the people and we're here
to try not get in the way and just give
them for medicine they need.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So after tomorrow night, what next.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Well, we've just announced the first run of our World tour,
which is really excited about least of the European League.
That'll be kicking off mid July, so after this holiday,
and then we've got about about five or six weeks
until we set off up there. So I'm not sure
and we're not we're not actually trying not to think
too much about past this weekend. This is a massive
(09:45):
moment for us and for the city of christ for
New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Literally it'll be massive for the people there. I don't
think you're at risk of underestimating it, but very emotional.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
We've been here the whole week and we've been in
and around town and just people just pull us to
the side and just like tell us how excited they
are for this conant. You know, they've seen there's been
a lot of rugby games or sports events there and
I think they're just very excited to see a concert
and I think that'll just kind of open up what
the feeling would be like once a music concert's in there. Absolutely,
and they just like stoked at it as a key we
(10:19):
band doing it, and yeah, just the excitement is amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Well, thanks for coming to town, and thanks for coming
in today. I just really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
For more from Canterbory Mornings with John McDonald, listen live
to news talks It'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
That is six sixty of course, who are going to
be taking the stage at one New Zealand Stadium tomorrow
night with Symphony as well as Kaylie Bell, Cassie Henderson
and Castaway. This is the historic, once in a lifetime
concert and it's brilliant to have six sixties Marthu Walters
and Marlon Gerbers with us. Now morning, guys, good morning.
What does it mean to you headlining the first ever
concert at our brand new stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
That's pretty cool and honored. Really, we're excited about the
show and just honored to have this opportunity. Yeah, we
understand it's like fifteen years in the making, so we've
been working really hard to make shorters.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Well pretty much you guys, But you guys have been
eighteen years in the making. So it's kind of like
when the quake happened, you guys were only three years
into it. Ye, where was the band at at that point?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Well, really, at our our beginning molding phase. I remember
coming here and touring here pre earthquake. We actually got
our first we call like our first professional gig here
in Crushet, you know, for the Blot. For those first
three years we're in Dunedin playing in our living room
and other and our friends living room is basically we
played a festival called what was it called Area nine? Yeah,
(01:25):
I think it was a twenty four hour festival. We
had a seven am slot. Three people there and one
of them was a booking was in charge of booking
shows at the Bedford, which is any here in christ
It's no longer around so and that was your first
That was our first kind of professional gig.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
You could say, wow, we didn't even know what a
writer was.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Do you know now what's on the rider?
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Not Muster of these days blue em And.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It kind of did blow up at one point. Then
we realized that we actually pay for it, so it's gone.
It's pretty modest now.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Can you remember the point when you realized that the
band was at see more than just a few mates
playing music together? It was there was there a point
that sticks in your mind.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
It could point back to that show at the Bedford,
to be honest, really, because we remember arriving. I remember
the manager freaking out because you just put us on
a Tuesday night, not expecting much to go on understaff
the bar and we pull up and there's, you know,
a line of four hundred people around the corner. Wow,
and they were singing every word. There's our Brother, We're Out.
(02:34):
That was one of my favorite movies. I don't if
you're familiar with that. There's a moment where George Cleaneer
they record that song into a can just for some cash,
and at the end of the movie they find themselves
playing it on stage and the crowd going crazy, Yes,
I want to see. It was like a really similar feeling.
We started playing songs like Rise Up and Don't Get
Your Roots, and the crowd was singing the songs word
word back to us, and I remember us looking at
each other going what the hell is you know? And
(02:57):
then from that just the ownership people took of the
of the songs and how they attached certain songs to
memories in there the life, you know, significant moments in
our lives.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
So does that thrill leave you or do you still
get thrilled by that today?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
We still I still get thrilled by that today for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
But you've recorded a new album right here, right now.
How much of that is going to feature tomorrow night?
Speaker 4 (03:25):
We've got about three or four songs.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, yeah, And I was reading some of the tracks
you did in one take, well all of them?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Really was that?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Was that intentional? Just how it happened?
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Was?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I mean, we had the songs written and we went
into the studio with our producer, and we knew you
wanted to play them live because I think that, you know,
leaning into our strengths. Really we started as a live
band before we started writing music, so and then we
started playing and then you know, three days later, we're
kind of we're done, and I suppose we're at a
(03:56):
point as a band will we know we don't need
to play the song one hundred times to be sure,
you know, for by three times, we've pretty much got
it locked down. And they were kind of mature enough
not to.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Because that's kind of a change, isn't it? Because I
remember reading that in your early days, after gigs, you'd
have these formal meetings to go through how the gig went.
What was the story behind formal? I mean we but
you sat down afterwards, we kind of.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Talked through and kind of I remember that, but that
didn't go so well that but was really great. Maybe
we could change that maybe the setless. Could we just
we had had conversations about the show because we're proud
of it and we you know, we wanted it to
go well. So we still do that, now, do you.
We'll do that after the show on is that right?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah? And what do you normally? I mean because I
would imagine you'd come off stage on a bit of
a high and then someone would say, well that that
second song and the first set was a bit well
you think I can't even remember it. It's almost like
postmatched interviews after a Rugby test and then they say, oh,
(05:02):
that was great in the first half, and somehow the
plaque can say, yeah, exactly, but I remember. But as that,
what's not with you? Guys? You can you have this
memory in your mind even in the moment.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Yeah, it's like human nature almost so late to just
remember the things that went wrong. And I'll focus on
this on the good stuff, you know. Yeah, so it
could be ninety niner good and then the one percent
we'll just bring up just casually and go, okay, we
could have done that better.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, we'll also talk about the really good stuff. The
good mistakes happened too, because you know, there's a there's
a percentage of the performance that we leave up to spontaneity,
and from that mistakes can happen, and from that really cool,
ye exciting things can happen. We'll do that again. Let's
do that the next show.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Things that I think a lot of people would be
surprised or not surprised, amazed to think that you guys
have been gone for eighteen years when you're still so current.
I mean, what what keeps what keeps you guys going?
Speaker 4 (05:58):
I mean, we love it, contracts, we love it, and
we we've always loved it, passionate about it. Personally, I'm
obsessed about music. I live and breathe it and I
love it. So I think that's a little bit of
what helps us keep going. And I know we've experienced
so many great memories over the years, and it's you know,
(06:19):
we've got our families and our families and our partners
through this, and so there's a lot too kind of
honor and there's still heaps to do in our mind.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
How much how much does the band vibe change as
you grow up and constantly have families and all of that, but.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Constantly the dynamics changing, We're changing, so that would mean, now,
approach to music will change, change with it, you know
what I mean? But an artist is always arriving, and
every evolution the band takes and every new responsibility we
take up like there's a new perspective to take with
(06:58):
music and that's actually quite exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Does that also mean an artist is never satisfied?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Well, there's there's always a trade off, and satisfaction isn't
necessarily a thing you should speech going for.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
You know, well you'll never get there.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Well, you're like you'll never arrive. Maybe that that's a mistake.
A lot of artists think like if I do this
and I do that, I'll I'll have this and I'll
be I would have found it. But really it's just
it's just an art of accepting and continue arriving and
forward movement really and it all feels there's a lot
of possibility in our world at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So I just asked you before what keeps you going?
But I think the other question is what also keeps
you together? They're two different things, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yep, Yeah, I mean we are. I guess we're kind
of bound like a family would be bound. And it
was completely unintentional. You know, being here, So we're kind
of devoted to each other in a way, and we're
very very fortunate, and like there's a lot of very
grateful to be in this position and be able to
express ourselves through music and go on this path of
(08:08):
passion together. And also to your point before, like we
kind of understand that there that's actually bigger than us
now and that requires a level of devotion to I think,
what does.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
That mean, Martin to you being bigger than you guys?
Speaker 4 (08:25):
I mean, like you just have to read comments and
stories from the fans about how our music has affected
their lives and you realize you're, you know, you're you're
providing almost medicine for a lot of people, especially Kiwis.
You know, we're proud Kiwis. Our music is undoubtedly Kiwi music,
and we we embraced that. We haven't in the past,
(08:49):
but we we definitely are now and this new album
really speaks to that. The concept of Peppy Heart was
one cool story in the in the album that we
shared with some Americans when we were writing the album,
and they were just flawed by that concept. They were
I couldn't believe it and really normal all for us
and so it was cool to explore that and to
(09:09):
share that with them. So yeah, I think we're in
a place of service to the people and we're here
to try not get in the way and just give
them for medicine they need.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So after tomorrow night, what next.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Well, we've just announced the first run of our World tour,
which is really excited about least of the European League.
That'll be kicking off mid July, so after this holiday,
and then we've got about about five or six weeks
until we set off up there. So I'm not sure
and we're not we're not actually trying not to think
too much about past this weekend. This is a massive
(09:45):
moment for us and for the city of christ for
New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Literally it'll be massive for the people there. I don't
think you're at risk of underestimating it, but very emotional.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
We've been here the whole week and we've been in
and around town and just people just pull us to
the side and just like tell us how excited they
are for this conant. You know, they've seen there's been
a lot of rugby games or sports events there and
I think they're just very excited to see a concert
and I think that'll just kind of open up what
the feeling would be like once a music concert's in there. Absolutely,
and they just like stoked at it as a key we
(10:19):
band doing it, and yeah, just the excitement is amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Well, thanks for coming to town, and thanks for coming
in today. I just really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
For more from Canterbory Mornings with John McDonald, listen live
to news talks It'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The MeatEater Podcast
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.