Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: I'd just like to thank ...

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  • ScottY,

    Far be it from me to say that this person is irony-challenged, but ... oh dear. I thought Anika was funny enough to deserve her own TV show. I liked the way Savage got political again, with an endorsement of Len Brown for super-city mayor. I danced when the Mint Chicks played 'She's a Mod', and I liked the way Fat Freddy's Drop built up to a big psychedelic throb (no, you didn't see the end on the TV). And I was also most impressed with the confidence of Ruby Higgins amongst the presenters in the C4 coverage.

    The Fad Freddy's Drop song was the highlight for me.

    I was to the side with the plebs, staring down at the tables where the good, the great and the not so great were seated. You get a pretty good view of the stage from up high.

    The Anika thing was funny to a point, but she did rather go on with it a bit.

    You can always argue that someone else should have won something, but I was reasonably happy with the winners. Ladyhawke has had a big year and deserved success.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I was to the side with the plebs, staring down at the tables where the good, the great and the not so great were seated. You get a pretty good view of the stage from up high.

    Yes, as I said, better than from the floor. But we were having a lot of fun down there.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Stevens,

    I was idly flicking in and out of the show at home, then the Mint Chicks came on !
    That was a blinding version of She's a Mod - such energy and fun. Had me dancing a little in my living room.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • David Ritchie,

    Was Ray Columbus and the Invaders' "She's A Mod" actually a cover?

    Since Nov 2006 • 166 posts Report Reply

  • Bevan Shortridge,

    @David Ritchie

    Was Ray Columbus and the Invaders' "She's A Mod" actually a cover?

    (Apologies, as I still don't know how to embed). Apparently it was originally by The Senators. The video below is of the Invaders, but the music you hear is The Senators.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf-aecIlR-E

    Some info here:

    http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=457

    THE SENATORS
    She's A Mod
    (Terry Beale)
    UK 1964
    Original version


    Single on Dial label.

    She's A Mod was written by The Senators' lead singer Terry Beale.

    The Senators were a band from Birmingham whose line-up included future Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 122 posts Report Reply

  • Milly Swan,

    Thanks Russell for the Darcy Clay...

    I was at Albert Park that day, what a ripper! And I'll never forget the impromptu acoustic performance we were treated to when he and his mates gatecrashed our barbecue (whilst visiting our next door neighbours), they said we sounded like we were having a better time than those across the fence so decided to join us instead...

    Oh the memories...

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 8 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Ladyhawke (Pip Brown) is a great ad and role model for Aspergers. She's from the new generation who are OK about it, and talking about the 'difference' it means growing up.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Eddie Clark,

    Wow, that's a sour post from Mr Litterick. I think you actually have to be dead not to at least find Ladyhawke fun fluff, whatever you think of the long-lasting artistic merits thereof.

    Although given the implicit comparison to the Dead C... I mean I have an enormous collection of pretentious hipstery records, but the Dead C are about as far from accessible as you can get.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report Reply

  • range,

    "One thing that might not be apparent to TV viewers of the New Zealand Music Awards is that it's sometimes quite hard to follow what's going on from the tables on the show floor."

    Ah...that must have been why nobody was clapping when the Feelers won an award.

    wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • elsketcho,

    Fat Freddy's drop sounded twice as good (at least) as any of the other live acts. That was definitely the highlight. A band at the very top of their game. And Anika was entertaining. So was Lucy. People in TV land would not have seen her bouncing around on Xena dust between presentations.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    And, finally, the Media7 segment on the media ... I think we did good

    Yet to watch it, but did get through some of the back catalogue over the weekend - God Bless FreeVo =)

    Was the discussion of the portrayal of female politicians in the media deliberately ironic - complaining about the stereotyping of female politicians while stereotyping female journalists as petty and spiteful? 'Cos it sure seemed like it could have been.

    Also, and I'm not sure why this piece makes me think of it, but I note from a story today that John Safran has a new show. Woo! Hoo!

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite,

    Ladyhawke (Pip Brown) is a great ad and role model for Aspergers. She's from the new generation who are OK about it, and talking about the 'difference' it means growing up.

    If you're at the high-functioning end, for sure. I certainly view it as an advantage and would not want to be neurotypical by any means - I'd lose so many connection and pattern-recognition skills that I value and enjoy.

    There's quite an advocacy movement and at least among Canadian researchers, it's been characterised as an example of "cognitive adaptive radiation" - ie, supposed "disorders" turn out to be advantageous in certain contexts. I've seen some slightly tongue-in-cheek discussions about the usefulness of sociopaths in certain professions...

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Mr Brown, I do not splutter; I seethe. There has been a lot of good local music since the last awards and it is shame that a handful of acts dominate the nominations. I would have liked to have seen Minuit in there, among others.

    Mr Clark, I do find Ladyhawke fun, but not six awards worth of fun. I included the Dead C clip because I like it and because the Dead C is another act which is well regarded overseas.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Eh, if we must have '80s revivalism, Ladyhawke is actually good '80s revivalism.

    (As part of the bring back the '80s movement, Ladyhawke's really quite good, and I think worthy of the awards, maybe not unarguably and utterly so, but isn't at all as horrible as mr litterick seems to think.)

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Mr Brown, I do not splutter; I seethe. There has been a lot of good local music since the last awards and it is shame that a handful of acts dominate the nominations. I would have liked to have seen Minuit in there, among others.

    Minuit didn't have a record eligible for this year's awards -- their album was released in July -- but they have been finalists before. Similarly, The Checks' excellent Alice By the Moon will also be eligible for next year's awards, having been released in June.

    And while the Dead C are legendary in certain circles, it would be difficult to claim that they outstripped Ladyhawke for international achievement in the past year. More to the point, they wouldn't want a bar of such awards anyway.

    But it would be hard to claim that the judging system only rewards "mainstream middle of the road acts", given that in 2007, the Mint Chicks received five awards, including best rock group, best album and best rock album.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    best rock group, best album and best rock album

    That's very sillogistic. Surely once you get the first two they have to give you the third?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    That's very sillogistic. Surely once you get the first two they have to give you the third?

    Ah, but they don't come out in that order.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Canny.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • tim,

    The only thing I don't get about Ladyhawk (other than her music) is why is she in the electronic category? Shes a rock singer/songwriter isn't she? Shame one category that could have been a little bit innovative was squandered....

    Wellington • Since Sep 2009 • 21 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The only thing I don't get about Ladyhawk (other than her music) is why is she in the electronic category? Shes a rock singer/songwriter isn't she?

    That's the odd thing about her. The album is mostly electronic pop, the band is rock.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    Eh, if we must have '80s revivalism, Ladyhawke is actually good '80s revivalism.

    Sure, but haven't we been in a permanent state of '80s revival since about 1996? Surely 13 years, plus the original 10, are more than enough?

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • lotech,

    Back to the event itself - moving to Vector was mistake. Especially in a time when the music industry needs to reflect and decide what its roll is in the scheme of things. But instead of this RIANZ upsizes the whole event to an international sized spectacular - only without the budget to pull it off.

    The mosh pit was half full, the stage and bands playing looked tiny and under produced and the punters on the sides didn't bother using their free tickets either as there were large sections of empty seats.

    At last years inaugural Vector spectacular I was lucky enough to be seated in the furthermost row of tables and facing the back wall. I couldn't tell you what was happening in a room that size - it also doesn't help that Dai isn't the tallest man around. That night turned into a drunken talkathon with the people besides us - I couldn't recall a single winner that night.

    Aotea Centre made us all 'viewers' of the event by its very seating design. And the money saved on the sheer size of Vector could be reinvested into show design. Unfortunately for us all RIANZ signed a 5 year contract to be in Vector so theres another 3 years of this sort of show to go.

    AKNZ • Since Dec 2006 • 23 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I'm surprised that Crowded House weren't nominated for anything. Time on Earth was a very solid album, in my opinion. And if being recognised Overseas is important, they probably did better than Pip Brown, as much as I wish her well and like her saccharine pop.

    However, with the lack of a best 'pop' album category, they're slightly harder to pigeonhole into the album categories. The lack of best male/female songwriter categories is just ridiculous.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Grace Dalley,

    Great piece on stem-cell science!

    Personally I want journalists to give me FACTS, not feel-good fictions. Am I in a minority?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    That night turned into a drunken talkathon with the people besides us - I couldn't recall a single winner that night.

    I only caught a bit of the show, but when the lifetime award was being given, it was very noticeable through the TV that a decent portion of the audience were chatting away and not paying any attention to the stage.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

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