Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Music: In before Christmas

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  • kiwicmc,

    Another in a line of soppy Xmas songs that I quietly love....

    Auckland, New Zealand • Since May 2008 • 88 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    Just hours after I'd been scratching around trying to something vaguely local and Christmas-themed for Russell, Atoll Records put up a couple of clips from Musica Sacra's "Christmas Spectacular" CD

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Nat, in reply to Dave Patrick,

    And it’s a valid question, the one about where does someone like Katie Thompson get public exposure – it’s a similar situation for Delaney Davidson, who’s last two albums have been in lots of “best of” end of year lists, but who could just as well not exist as far as radio or TV coverage goes.

    Sad But True was the bFM album of the week a few week ago, and Charlotte Ryan had Marlon Williams on Morning Glory to talk about that album, which is a collaboration between him and Delaney Davison. Perhaps not the exposure you're quite thinking about but some at least...

    Seattle • Since Jun 2011 • 52 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    I also had a long Twitter conversation with Sophie Yana Wilson from Radio NZ yesterday, after I realized that they record almost all of Musica Sacra's concerts and in fact a large fraction of the best classical concerts in New Zealand each year, but the recordings might as well have gone down a black hole as far as the Internet is concerned. She told me (edited):

    We make informed decisions about the broadcastability of concerts before deciding to go ahead so 90% of what we record goes to air. Good stuff goes to Podcast Classics (NZ performances) /Resound (NZ works). Works we deem historically important go to Sound Archives, like Eve de Castro Robinson's Len Lye the Opera/Stephen Matthews' Parihaka. RNZ Concert currently has radio-centric expertise & we're making steps to making more content available online. Problems = streaming rights with certain works. They can be VERY expensive.

    The thought that there might exist some data somewhere that I can't download on my phone is anathema really, but it's just a simple matter of time, resources, political will etc. Sigh.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Great pic, indeed…
    It looks like Bill is becoming
    our Leonard Cohen,
    and deservedly so!

    It's funny -- there are a few dozen of us who convene every time Bill plays in Auckland, and we're all convinced he's a bloody genius. We are the Billievers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Etheridge, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Hunters and Collectors with masses of percussion fitted on there with ease...

    Pohangina • Since Sep 2012 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    Still problems with the autoplay, Russell.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Mike Etheridge,

    Hunters and Collectors with masses of percussion fitted on there with ease…

    I have fond memories.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    good old Chchch…
    While waiting for the brain I’ve been trawling

    The brain was unable to reboot last night. I found this trove which may be of some help:
    http://thebigcity.co.nz/category/livemusic

    You have posted some true hideousnesses: Adam's Apple. I had forgotten that place; my first foray into a nightclub. OMG.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Cheers, that's cool. Can't remember who..Jack Elder, maybe...on Twitter, perhaps, who said that Christmas for most of NZ is really more like the American Thanksgiving. Excellent way of looking at it.

    And "drinking white wine in the sun" is such an antipodean thing to be sentimental about. Most of the rest of the world just thinks it's bizarre that Christmas to us is about BBQs, cricket, the beach, etc.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to BenWilson,

    And "drinking white wine in the sun" is such an antipodean thing to be sentimental about. Most of the rest of the world just thinks it's bizarre that Christmas to us is about BBQs, cricket, the beach, etc.

    Yeah, I think that's one of the reasons it touches me so much, that unlike almost all Christmas songs, it's familiar. Memory suggests there's a Paul Kelly song that's similar.

    ETA: That one, even, that was posted up-thread. Duh. My brothers played that every Christmas at Mum's.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Oldie, but a goodie.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    We are the Billievers

    Monkee see, Can do…
    Now I’m a Billiever,
    you made a Billiever out of me…

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP,

    Watercolours Remixes.

    Ok, Ok, I'll move on. Soon.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • John Armstrong, in reply to Russell Brown,

    there are a few dozen of us who convene every time Bill plays in Auckland, and we're all convinced he's a bloody genius.

    About four years ago I was the only person who turned up to see Bill and band (can't recall if it was the Bilders proper) play at Ward Lane Tavern in Hamilton. When it was clear that no-one else was coming I went over to him and let him know that I wouldn't blame him if he would rather not play. He just told me that he enjoyed playing, actually, and basically spent the next hour soaking me, and only me, in glorious warm waves of sparkly dark. At the end he came over and gave me a signed copy of his novel. I strolled home feeling pretty happy with life.

    Hamilton • Since Nov 2007 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Memory suggests there's a Paul Kelly song that's similar.

    I'm guessing you mean How to Make Gravy? It's a tear jerker. Here's a nice live performance.

    edit: snap @kiwicmc

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Ethan Tucker,

    Only heard this for the first time the other day - straight outta 1982, it's The Waitresses' Christmas Wrapping. Yep, it's a rap:

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 119 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Ethan Tucker,

    Wow, someone else knows of The Waitresses, I have the vinyl, bought in Ohio in the 1980s

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to BenWilson,

    Just us, several million Pacific Islanders & the Aussies eh?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Ana Simkiss, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Love the Waitresses & that song in particular, which I found on this rather neat little Christmas album when it was re-issued a few years ago: http://www.discogs.com/Various-ZE-Christmas-Album/release/365452

    Freemans Bay • Since Nov 2006 • 141 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    You can't go wrong with Vince Guaraldi.

    And (although I have been a Nancy Wilson fan since I was quite young), I discovered this song via the Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails CDs (both of which are basically my favourite thing to listen to on Xmas day). There's something about swinging mid-century American Christmas music that makes me nostalgic for something I never really experienced at all. Anyway, this makes me cry because I am a sap. Her voice and phrasing are so great.

    But! I also get all thrilled and nostalgic about pohutukawas and little kids at the beach and ice cream and eating plum pudding in sweltering conditions. I wish I could find The Brunettes "Christmas in the Summertime" somewhere to link to it here. (The other day one of my in-laws on Facebook got all weird with me about declaring myself happy to be having "a normal NZ Xmas" after being away for the last few years. "Christmas in America is normal!" she declared. Christmas in summer was "abnormal". Hey lady: bite me. Normal is in the eye of the beholder.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Cubey, in reply to Ana Simkiss,

    That ZE Christmas album is SUCH a killer record. Especially Nona Hendryx and Material doing "It's a Holiday".

    Wellington • Since May 2008 • 66 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    We recorded a great Media3 last night with Matthew Dentith and Pam Corkery (aka The Gingapocalypse) and after we'd had a few celebratory drinks, some of us went down to the King's Arms to see Watercolours (as a two-piece!), Voom and She's So Rad.

    I've never seen She's So Rad live before. 'Confetti' was so, so glorious. Indeed the whole thing was great. Voom wore Christmas lights on their heads.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    Merry Christmas and stuff Russell - from this distance you seem to have had an, erm, odd couple of days.

    Just wanted to share this find - I've been after T-Rex's Futuristic Dragon for yonks and finally turned up a minty copy in Melbourne.

    Calling All Destroyers might be a bit much for now, so here's Ride My Wheels...just the business for a sunny day.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alan Perrott,

    Merry Christmas and stuff Russell – from this distance you seem to have had an, erm, odd couple of days.

    Ah yes, the PAS Christmas Meltdown, again. It's all sorted out now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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