
New Zealand’s capital is one of the windiest places in the entire country, but, when they’re not leaning in to the snarl of a boisterous south-easterly, the locals have a saying they stand by: “you can’t beat Wellington on a good day.”
As Ben James parks up at one of the city’s bustling harbourside locations, that’s exactly the kind of day it is — clear, calm and sunny, with a sapphire sky stretching endlessly overhead. It’s the perfect type of day to drop a classic slice of wax from Pacific reggae pioneers Herbs; the homegrown Kiwi band after which Herb’s Mobile Record Store is partly named.
“They were the first band I saw live,” Ben explains. “I was eight years old and my dad took me to see them. They were great! I’ve also got this yellow trucker’s cap with Herb’s Inn on the front. I was looking at it when I was trying to come up with a name and it just clicked.”