Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Friday Music: After the King's Arms

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  • Sacha, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    the council has to identify an area and encourage it to become a late night music culture district

    Areas plural. At least one mayoral candidate gets the topic, in general.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    But it just felt like they were channelling Minisnap …,

    Talking to Paul Kean today who mentioned Minisnap, who were most impressive in their last outing as a five piece, have been invited to appear at Nostalgia 2017. Just a date to pencil in for now, March 4.

    Also, good news for us southerners Breathing Cage will hit out 'shores' mid-Jan-ish for a couple of dates. Apparently they had an outing in Auckland recently which they say went really well. Did any PA-ers go?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    they’re a tight knit band…
    more Fair Isle than feral.

    Aah, v good! Just as well there was no reference to Jerseys or Guernseys (actually no band of the latter's name I can find) - else there may have been instead reference to the ephemeral multi-colour horror as strutted by David Bain!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    mental as all get up...
    Spooky what happens when ya shake the memory tree...
    ...this article on a Reg Mombassa (Chris O'Doherty) exhibition, opening next week in Auckland, popped up on Stuff today!
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/84741121/reg-mombassa-behind-the-name

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens, in reply to Sacha,

    Areas plural.

    Well, we shouldn’t deceive ourselves.Auckland is a small city full of low paid people beset with gigantic costs. One area, with several clubs and venues with the potential synergies that would deliver, would probably do the trick- as long as rents were low and the council willing.

    One of the biggest problems with nightlife in Auckland is in fact council venues, or more exactly the councils approach to hiring them. The St. James was heavily used precisely because it was rundown and cheap. The minute the council builds or restores anything its restrictive policy of allowing a single caterer collect monopoly rents and apply completely pain in the ass rules designed to suck the fun out of anything (try buying TWO drinks at Vector) more or less rules out using its facilities by anyone except an approved list of the well funded and well heeled.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I had to find out about the What we do in the shadows TV spin off from The Independent!
    http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-tv-spin-off-paranormal-event-response-unit-hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-thor-a7339491.html
    Talk about taking the scenic route...

    I wonder if Guillermo del Toro and Mike Mignola are involved - sounds a lot like the Hellboy and B.P.R.D. comic series.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_for_Paranormal_Research_and_Defense

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Oh – and this!

    In the diary - though Ian might have me heading out to Sumner first to see Cardigan Bay. Here's a couple of less familiar-to-these-ears tracks, The Cup

    and, Do You

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell,

    I don't recall anyone posting about this yet. Some of you may have wondered what has happened to some of the great shows that were hosted by RDU - until the infamous 'fallout' earlier this year, Unfortunately, most of the fallout between the old guard and the new unfolded while the 40th Anniversary was being celebrated. There's a lot of hearsay in what has happened - I won't go there.

    Instead, you'll be pleased to know many of those fine shows have re-surfaced on 8K, They launched in July, on IndiePendance Day! V cool site and there's a 8K Facebook page too.

    Old RDU show favourites have returned in much the same guise, including The Joint, Human Pleasure, Pincolada Soundsystem and Skew-Whiff (i.e. Michael Daly and Chris Stone, former hosts of Sunday arvo's Vintage Cuts.)

    Here's what the Joint pair got up to yesterday:

    On today’s show marvel at Dolly Parton’s first ever recording (14 years old), Adam & The Ants reinterpreting The Village People, brand new Wiley, a (rightly?) long forgotten JAMC dance remix, an Annie collaboration, a Cyrus family collaboration, angry hip hop (is there any other kind?) and Thurston Moore’s tribute to Chelsea Manning

    And Skew-Whiff was sampling just now Jackie Mittoo - so how about a bit of Ghetto Organ for a stunning Sunday afternoon...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    Auckland is a small city full of low paid people beset with gigantic costs.

    including transport costs to get across the sprawl. A few nightlife zones near transport nodes around the region isn't unrealistic.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    including transport costs to get across the sprawl. A few nightlife zones near transport nodes around the region isn’t unrealistic.

    And Karangahape will have its own CRL station, plus an official designation as the "edgy and creative" zone.

    But, you know, Onehunga makes some sense too ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    an official designation as the “edgy and creative” zone.

    What, no 'precincts'?
    How come only Chchch gets 'precincts' forced upon it?
    ;- 0

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    And Karangahape will have its own CRL station, plus an official designation as the “edgy and creative” zone.

    And gentrifying rapidly, something the station will encourage. K’rd will soon be far to expensive for nightlife that doesn’t feature Edison light bulbs and ironic furniture. St. Kevin’s arcade is a case in point – already, the first fashionable restaurant has moved in, and the tat has started to move out…

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    We have "quarters" in Wellington. I'm surprised the council didn't decide to go with "arrondissements" but maybe they felt they'd already hit Peak Wanky.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    The returning host John Campbell was relaxed and eloquent and the show itself felt quite different to last year’s slightly strained anniversary award.

    It might've felt like that if you were there, but it came across really poorly on TV (I watched RNZ's coverage).

    I watched it for an hour and it seemed curiously flat and dull.

    As for Campbell, again, it may've seemed like that if you were there, but I thought he was really poor.
    Over and over, every time he introduced a band or commented once they'd finished, it was just dire. He reeled off, over and over, a plethora of platitudes that became increasingly empty, patronising and spurious the more it happened.
    It was like seeing a proud parent gushing over their kids' kindergarten painting, an excess of completely needless superlatives, every time he opened his gob.

    It would've helped if he'd been a lot more measured and professional, rather than being a fan-boy, over and over. He was just embarrassing.

    It pains me to say all this about him, too. He's superb when he's professional and I like a lot of the same bands he does, but some restraint would've been appreciated in this case.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall, in reply to Jason Kemp,

    Steve Abel – NZ’s answer to Nick Cave

    No he is not. Steve Abel is a solid, competent singer-songwriter, but nothing beyond that.

    He is merely ok, in a blandly capable manner, but dull as dishwater otherwise. His songs simply don't have the breadth, depth and richness of Cave's ouvre.

    None of his songs even approach 'Tupelo', 'The Mercy Seat', 'Brother My Cup Is Empty' and umpteen more.

    (Sorry Jason, I realise I'm being cranky, but NC&TBS have been my favourite band for over 30 years, I've seen them four times in the past 25 years, etc, etc).

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall, in reply to Ken Double,

    Not at all. Thomas Oliver is a one-man Op Shop..

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Onehunga - is there still one crammed and not very good cafe on the whole street?

    In general, I don't think NZ does distributed night-life (or any life) districts very well. If the council doesn't explicitly ghetto them off as a Problem Drinking Area (as Wellington City have done with Newtown) then any bars that dare to open will suffer from all the local meatheads (possibly banned from the CBD and/or its bars) descending on the place and creating such mayhem the bar loses its license.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • LeighKennaway, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Onehunga – is there still one crammed and not very good cafe on the whole street?

    Last time I visited there were TWO good cafes; a step in the right direction, but still not as good as you would expect for the area.

    Lower Hutt • Since Feb 2016 • 9 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    It would've helped if he'd been a lot more measured and professional, rather than being a fan-boy, over and over.

    The event is positioned as a celebration.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I was thinking further flung, south, west, north.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Sacha,

    The event is positioned as a celebration.

    True enough; but I think Grant's point stands about the difference between the live event vs. what it looks like on TV. (Difficult for the presenter to tread a middle ground, though.)

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to linger,

    I experienced it online - much like TV but with banter. Who would really expect John Campbell to be less than enthusiastic about NZ music, given his history?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • bob daktari, in reply to Sacha,

    those sorts of hubs or entertainment quarters (call em what ya want) sort of already exist... bars and clubs catering to localised social scenes - its where you find the hip hop, R&B, rock, metal crowds

    the problem Auckland may face is one that effects original indie music more than anything else, a very small scene and one that is borderline financially viable for a venue - ie a struggling market to cater to right now and part of a larger problem local music faces (getting peoples attention) - K Road is the best option for continuation of that and a for bunch of other creative and artistic communities, due to the critical mass of collective communities overlapping. If they are forced by gentrification to shift they will probably splinter

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    I’ve just started a project with RNZ

    Huzzah!

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall, in reply to Sacha,

    I know it's a celebration, but that still didn't stop John Campbell's gushing of superlatives seem spurious.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

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