Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Getting the pip

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  • JP Hansen,

    Lest anyone think I'm plagiarising myself

    All hail the new John Fogerty!

    Happy New Year Russell.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    No one wants the Herald to return to the days when it was a stranger to campaigning journalism.

    Well, with local body elections upon us this year, that's exactly what I'd like the Herald to do. To plagiarise myself :), last time I'd describe their election coverage as piss-poor, but that would be a gross libel of urine. Now I know you were no fan of John Banks, but was I the only one who rolled my eyes at the only daily newspaper in Auckland editorialising with a straight face that it was a concern Dick Hubbard's actual policies hadn't been subject to rigorous scrutiny? (Though to be fair, the other metropolitan dailies didn't exactly cover themselves with glory either.)

    i've done my time on the local body beat, and am perfectly aware that it just ain't "sexy", but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter or deserve the respect of serious, long-term bread and butter reporting and more thoughtful analysis than whatever hobby horse Brian Rudman is shagging this week.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Body,

    Re the big day out...
    While I cannae be there, I would offer this:
    Stick around after lily allen for Hot Chip, you lucky puppies, you!

    Oxford • Since Nov 2006 • 8 posts Report Reply

  • Haydn Thomsen,

    I agree about the daftness of the Weekend Herald ('s story about Don Brash taking a holiday) and I think Mikey Roberts said it best on BFM breakfast this morning

    ...the Herald is using cleaners to write stories over the holiday period...

    or words to that effect.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Haydin:

    I don't grudge hacks their holidays any more than politicians - and radio stations don't exactly have the moral high ground when it comes to silly season fluff. (And if I was a bean-counter at APN, the more paid leave entitlements off the balance sheet the better.) I just thought a reasonably competent hack like Mike Houlahan wouldn't let his by-line on such a flimsy story.

    Personally, I'm more outraged that Philip Field may well be spending the rest of the Parliamentary term on paid 'gardening leave' for doing exactly nothing, and (as far as I can see) there's precisely nothing to be done about it. The chance for Clark to call his bluff - which would have taken a degree of political courage I'd have respected enormously - is gone.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Smart,

    C mon Russell
    "The country's best newspaper needs to calm down a bit."

    The Country's best: surely a very Auckland centric view. Still I suppose size does matter!! I can never find the news for all thise Jaffa's selling things

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    I don't want to be a negative voice (although I guess I am being so) but, looking at it from afar, that BDO lineup ain't strong....maybe the weakest ever. I guess Tool will pull in the western Suburbs which is more and more what the BDO seems to be about. The boiler room in particular is lacking anything (and I exclude Hot Chip who are supposed to be fantastic live) to go Ahhhh about...I mean The Crystal Method DJs fer gods sake (who?)....and The Streets again....

    The other oddity is the placement of Scribe, essentially a pop act...four years since any new material, a lifetime for his market...his timing on the main stage wouldn't have anything to do with the fact his management company is putting on the show surely....NZ Hip hop Stand The F up....again.....

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I don't want to be a negative voice (although I guess I am being so) but, looking at it from afar, that BDO lineup ain't strong....maybe the weakest ever. I guess Tool will pull in the western Suburbs which is more and more what the BDO seems to be about.

    Always has been, to some extent. You need that kind of act to fill the place - Soundgarden (twice), Metallica, Chili Peppers. It was when the dance thing caught on (bringing the E with it) that the vibe shifted and made it more than boganville. Having the Stooges and the Stripes last year was a bit of an aberration.

    The boiler room in particular is lacking anything (and I exclude Hot Chip who are supposed to be fantastic live) to go Ahhhh about...I mean The Crystal Method DJs fer gods sake (who?)....and The Streets again....

    I was terrified that those Crystal Method guys would be headlining. I saw them when they played "live" a couple of years ago - rubbish. I think someone once dubbed them "the Bachman Turner Overdrive of dance music", which was pretty priceless. I thought the Streets were very disappointing last time.

    But Shapeshifter will be huge - they did two nights running at the St James this year, and were by all accounts brilliant.

    The thing with Scribe is that his debut album didn't really start to fly in Australia until after it peaked here, so he's been shopping that for the past 18 months. New album soon, apparently ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Even in Australia its been three years since Scribe was doing the business. An act like that needs to have a new album every twelve months, or at least radio singles, to keep any momentum going...especially in a time when hip hop is globally falling off the sales radar, as it is.

    That said, Australia is the strangest nation in the world when it comes to pop music...some things last forever and things that nobody else wants to know about work there...putting it politely its a stylistic enigma.

    That second Scribe album is years overdue but I hope he pulls it off...he's a master showman and one of the only things to have come out of the now fading NZ hip hop revolution that doesn't make me grimace. He's a true star if he wants to be, and Pete Wadhams is a masterful producer.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • reece palmer,

    so was that before or after he and his 'posse' beat up phil from bfm outside the bowling club then? Phil's a relatively nice bloke in passing.

    the terraces • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    Having the Stooges and the Stripes last year was a bit of an aberration

    I would happily pay $100 to see the Stooges again. Everything else was gravy on top (Magic Numbers, Beats Co-op, Kings of Leon, Shihad, White Stripes). I may be a bit old and a bit "rock" but I wouldn't be wasting my time this year. Apologies for negativity, but things just aren't like they were when I were a lad (grumble grumble)

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Rogan Polkinghorne,

    The memory is a little foggy, but I'm fairly sure I saw HLAH play last up in the 'Boiler Room' (maybe before it was taken over by the oonst?) back in oh, 1997 or something?

    Shapeshifter will be good in there, but I have fond memories of HLAH that night...nothing to do with the naked bassist, honest.

    A-town • Since Nov 2006 • 105 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    so was that before or after he and his 'posse' beat up phil from bfm outside the bowling club then? Phil's a relatively nice bloke in passing.

    right you are too...utterly inexcusable but excused it was by the industry. I guess my post kinda adds to that.......

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson,

    "The country's best newspaper ..."

    Is this a strange new definition of the word "best" of which I was hitherto unaware ? Or are you seriously trying to tell me that every other paper in the country is WORSE than the Herald ?!?

    Scary.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    so was that before or after he and his 'posse' beat up phil from bfm outside the bowling club then? Phil's a relatively nice bloke in passing.

    Phil's a good friend. Naturally, he still doesn't feel good about the assault, which was really nasty, but he was compensated and had his dental surgery paid for. More to the point, he had a pretty satisfactory experience with restorative justice meetings, where he was able to tell PNC exactly how badly the beating affected him, and receive an apology. He didn't really want to go to court, but he needed to let this guy know what he'd done, and he feels he was able to do that.

    I think there was also a statement written to the effect that the assault was not provoked by a racist comment from Phil, as a shitty rumour that circulated in the following days claimed. Basically, PNC was so drunk that he misheard something Phil said about Scribe's record label and attacked him, actually blindsiding him after the initial scuffle had been broken up.

    Scribe didn't do the beating up, but I gather he could have done a hell of a lot more than he did (ie:nothing) to stop it. I think there's a real danger in these kids getting famous and having a crew to project force around them, although it's not exactly unusual in hip hop.

    I'll never quite look at Scribe the same way, but I'm prepared to listen to his music and hope he's grown up a bit.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Nick Howells,

    ...maybe the weakest ever

    It's certainly up there.. I'm skipping this year for the first time in many in favour of Diplo's solo show.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 20 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    " ...maybe the weakest ever"

    It's certainly up there.. I'm skipping this year for the first time in many in favour of Diplo's solo show.

    What would we know? This just in:

    Big Day Out sells out in record time

    The Big Day Out officially sold out on Monday, according to promoters CRS Music Management.

    But the message from promoters to those who missed out, is don't cry just yet.

    They are putting an extra 2,000 tickets on sale next Monday, with a limit of two tickets per person.

    With 40,000 people snapping up tickets, it has been the fastest selling Auckland Big Day Out on record.

    Promoter Campbell Smith is putting it down to the line-up, which boasts The Killers, Tool and The Violent Femmes as headliners.

    "Our outlets have reported incredible demand for tickets this year right from the outset," he says.

    "2007's line-up is as strong as we've ever had with a great blend of established acts and exciting new artists."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    What would we know?

    Humm...seems a bit like men and the Film Festival. I don't really know if it was a 'weak' line-up this year or just that my personal tate doesn't line up with what's going on (and available) in world cinema. Don't know whether to start counting my grey hairs, or come over all curmudgeonly about how they don't make 'em like they used to anymore. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    I'm with you on that, Craig. I thought about going, just for the Violent Femmes, but decided against it, like I do every year at this time when I think "ooh, so and so is playing, that would make the ticket worth it, I could even put up with crowding throngs of little people". Whoever's playing is never enough of a drawcard for me to get past the St Luke's factor of it all.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    I don't really do live music, so Back to Brash for a minute: I did think there was something in the story. Not a front page, mega-headline something - but a something nonetheless. The guy will never do any work as an MP again, will never speak in parliament again, and yet is enjoying full pay for the prolonged parliamentary recess.

    That's a very different situation from the four weeks annual leave enjoyed by Joe and Jane Sixpack (even if they accumulate it and cash in after a hypothetical resignation).

    It might be useful to have a rule or guideline that an MP who resigns/retires stops being an mp immediately following their final address in parliament. Once they're out of the building, they're out of a job. If Brash had been replaced by the next person on the National list, you'd think at least she'd be doing some genuine MP business over the break.

    It doesn't seem quite right that while most of the populace reluctantly trundle back to work after unsatisfying, all-too-brief summer breaks, Brash is still drawing a public pay cheque. For god's sake man, you resigned - move on. The same would go for any other MP in the same situation.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'm with you on that, Craig. I thought about going, just for the Violent Femmes, but decided against it, like I do every year at this time when I think "ooh, so and so is playing, that would make the ticket worth it, I could even put up with crowding throngs of little people". Whoever's playing is never enough of a drawcard for me to get past the St Luke's factor of it all.

    The final crowd will actually be about 8000 short of the record (the year the Chili Peppers played) but they seem to have decided not to repeat that unhealthy experience. The site is better arranged these days too.

    But hell, I'm not out there with the real punters. God bless David Slack and his hospitality table ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    I'm with dc_red on the Brash thing. How will the man ever have the incentive to be gainfully employed or earn his self respect if he keeps on bludging off the honest, hard working, kiwi battler? I blame Labour for allowing this type of PC, ex-MP benefit dependency to exist.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    dc_red:

    Oh, what hypocrisy from The Herald - I wonder how many staff have been put on 'gardening leave' to run out their contracts without messy (and expensive) Employment Court actions, or how many executives and senior management have left the building with generous and 'commercially sensitive' 'golden parachutes' strapped to their backs?

    As far as I know, Brash is being treated no differently from any other MP - including defeated MPs who draw pay for several months after the election. Now you can argue that's a bad thing, but please could the O'Herald spare me the faux outrage about the man taking a holiday over Christmas?

    Jackie:

    Well, indeed. I freak out in large crowds, and my hearing isn't the best, do the BDO experience isn't really my bag to begin with. But I guess of you have deep pockets - and an adventurous disposition - you're bound to come across enough tolerably good acts you don't feel utterly gypped.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • reece palmer,

    I've been to about six or so bdo's, they were too far away in oz from where I was. Only ever paid for one cos I had the volly hook-up which meant employee pass and no bag check at the gate (heh) ET you are the big day out in nz. I'm not going this year because work commitments put me elsewhere on the day, probably wouldn't turn up til about two if I was.

    the terraces • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Shapeshifter at St James... by all accounts brilliant

    Meh

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

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