01 Aug 2009 // An interview by Shade
Thanks to Nick for answering these questions:

What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?

Last Kings Arms show with SideKickNick and Nameless Sons. One of those nights where everything we touched turned to gold. Everybody I wanted to be there showed up for the party and our two friendly bands playing with us kicked in with two fantastic sets. What's not too love?

What is your favourite NZ venue?

Kings Arms, no doubt... or possibly the Dux de Lux in Christchurch. Does that count as doubt?

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

Chip Matthews. Cos usually whenever he's there so am I, ergo... I will be getting paid.

What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?

Coughing with a mouthful of beer during Anika Moa's winery tour last February and spraying it all over a burrito Anna Coddington was about to eat. Not good.

How did you come up with the name Cairo Knife Fight?

While I was growing up my family lived for a few years in Egypt and my father used to take me to a local delicatessen every Monday evening for the Monday knife fights. Seriously. We watched from the sidelines, you had a choice of knives, short blades, long blades etc. There was only one rule. No killings. Looking back on it I wonder if this was the best place for a child to grow up!

How do you describe your music?

Rock-Beats-Bass-Drums.

What can we expect to see from Cairo Knife Fight over the next year?

Two guys making it look harder than it really is. We're a duo now.

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

What are you waiting for?

Cairo Knife Fight is Nick Gaffaney, a man who has drummed his way around the place for many of New Zealand’s leading songwriters, and George Pajon Jr, a Grammy award winning songwriter and guitarist who has worked with some of the biggest names in the international music business including The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, Carlos Santana, Macy Gray, John Legend, Sting, Nas and Damien Marley. Forming as a duo in 2009 Cairo Knife Fight try to redefine what two musicians can create live with Nick combining the responsibilities of playing drums, keyboard bass, creating live loops and lead vocals with George’s seemingly limitless guitar soundscapes and incendiary riffs. The bands long history of dedication to pushing the boundaries of music video content has also seen them achieve viral status with their 2014 single Rezlord being viewed more than 11.7 million times.

In short order the band shot to the attention of the public after gaining a standing ovation from a packed Opera House in Wellington following their support set for UK act Gomez in late 2009 and being hand picked by Them Crooked Vultures to open for their New Zealand tour in early 2010 July 2010 saw CKF release their self-titled EP. The first single This is Love was included on the NZ Radio Hit Disc for mid 2010 seeing it rated as one of the songs of the year. The EP went on to be nominated in the 'Best Rock Album' category at the New Zealand Music awards in 2011. 2010 also included a trip the NYC to perform during the CMJ festival (while not actually a part of CMJ the band came to the attention of several members of the team and found themselves on a CMJ bill at the Bowery Electric) and touring Australia.

2011 was an extraordinary year for CKF. It began with a NZ tour with NZ's rock hall of famers Shihad in January before Them Crooked Vultures front man Josh Homme once again requested CKF to be the opening act for his Queens of The Stone Age NZ tour in February, which was disrupted by the deadly earthquake in Cairo Knife Fights hometown of Christchurch. While dealing with the aftermath of such an horrendous event the band took solace in recording the follow up EP II, released in August 2011 to 5 star reviews and top 40 chart placing’s, and to appear as special guests of the Foo Fighters for an earthquake benefit concert in Auckland, NZ. CKF rounded out the year by again joining the Foo Fighters onstage at Western Springs in Auckland, New Zealand in front of 45,000 people for the band's Wasting Light tour. The concert is considered one of New Zealand's biggest ever stand-alone shows.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Cairo Knife Fight

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