Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Wellington, you win

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  • Che Tibby,

    WOOT!

    go silicon welly!

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Fish,

    Ahh, Wellington, not too bad. However Phoenix Foundation AND James Milne (as Lawrence Arabia) are playing in Auckland on sunday... at the zoo!! Fair enough, it's not free, but the zoo is a great venue (and it is just around the corner from you, Russell) - the music series over last few weeks has been awesome.
    I caught Hollie Smith last weekend and Evermore a couple of weeks ago. There have been others... Liam Finn was one.
    I haven't seen James Milne play before, but after your comments earlier in the week I'm looking forward to it!
    It starts 6pm, tickets still available...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    It can't quite compare with fancy conference bags and quaffing whiskey but I did go to a fascinating talk by Judy Lessing at a local church hall last night. She took us through the processes of the US political system and certainly increased my understanding. What was particularly interesting was her analysis of the mess the Republicans are in, and what the chosen Democrat candidate might mean for international relations, and winning back some respect for the US.

    Better analysis than I have encountered so far in the NZ print media! Someone should snap her up!

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

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Phoenix Foundation AND James Milne (as Lawrence Arabia) are playing in Auckland on sunday... at the zoo!! Fair enough, it's not free, but the zoo is a great venue

    Tickets are $27, and when you consider that's a mere $9 on top of the normal zoo admission fee of $18, I reckon that's not too bad at all.

    More details here.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I saw the Liam Finn show (he currently looks like a tiny Levon Helm, amirite?) and will be at the Phoenix Foundation one too. Go the zoo.

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

  • peter mclennan,

    >>you wouldn't get that in Auckland.

    To which is say: Peh!

    try this... free too...
    Phoenix Fest, March 29, Basque Park, Newton Akl. "Featuring Kora along with SJD, The Lewis McCallum Orchestra and The Turn Around DJ’s PLUS Activities for the kids, with live performances by The Funky Monkeys. MC’d by Dai Henwood."

    Screw the wine-sipping gits at the Zoo gigs.

    AK Central • Since Nov 2006 • 159 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I guess Auckland is ok if you grew up there and have a network, probably mostly within your suburb. Coz Auckland isn't really a city, it's a collection of suburbs - including one in the middle with offices and clubs - I don't think people interact much outside their 'burb - at least not without making arrangements way in advance.

    In Wellington, lots of my network live and work within working distance of each other - so we can easily catch up on an ad-hoc basis. It's a much better place for a newcomer.

    The downside is that there is a lot more variety of events in Auckland - you can reliably find a gig/party with the genre of music you want most weekends. But I'm prepared to take that trade. Plus I don't rate having easy access to the megagigs at the Arena at all - nearly all those bands were good 10/15/20 years ago and are really just trading off that.

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

  • Samuel Scott,

    FYI I will post a couple of clips from the Phoenix Foundation show last night to the Boohoo Tube today. Shot on my delightful Sony Cybershot the selection will include our version of Love Is Drug and Going Fishing as filmed by the band on stage.

    It was a very fun show.

    By the way Lawrence Arabia AKA James Milne has been playing out of his skin since he returned to NZ and the Zoo show will be the last chance to catch him in his semi-hometown of Auckland. He is playing some south island shows and has added an extra Wellington date after the last two sold out. Lawrence will play with Conan Moccasin Friday the 29th of Feb at the Front Room.

    Sorry to post such spammy info. This is not myspace afterall.

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Coz Auckland isn't really a city, it's a collection of suburbs

    Or a collection of cities perhaps. Central, Manukau, WestieLand, North Shore, and the Far East. Which means that you get to work in one city and live in another!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Macdougall,

    My work won't spring for Webstock (boo hoo) but hey - and apropos the original posting - I was pretty happy to get to last night's gig.

    We took our two bairns (4 & 7), as was entirely possibly given the timing and location, and they really loved it. Such a nice introduction to live music. And the grins on their faces at the end of Bright Grey, after they sang/shouted the lyrics (with extra emphasis on ooo-ooo of course) while perched on Becky's and my shoulders, were a sight to behold.

    Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Or a collection of cities perhaps.

    A collection of tubes?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • samuel walker,

    We took our two bairns (4 & 7), as was entirely possibly given the timing and location, and they really loved it. Such a nice introduction to live music. And the grins on their faces at the end of Bright Grey, after they sang/shouted the lyrics (with extra emphasis on ooo-ooo of course) while perched on Becky's and my shoulders, were a sight to behold.

    Alan, that sounds blimmin perfect!

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report Reply

  • Samuel Scott,

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report Reply

  • Samuel Scott,

    hey instant embedding. flash b(l)uggers.

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Love Love is the Drug!!

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Manukau is not a city. The centre contains a Westfield, public offices, substantial police and justice facilities (supply and demand), two pubs, two cafes, a Warehouse, a smaller shopping mall and various factories, call centres and lunch bars sprawling into the distance. Plus a theme park.

    That is a suburb which happens to have had local government concentrated there.

    Ditto Takapuna "North Shore City", Henderson "Waitakere City", etc.

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

  • BenWilson,

    A collection of tubes?

    ?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    That is a suburb which happens to have had local government concentrated there.

    LOL, sounds like the definition of a city. And Wellington is a suburb that happens to have the state government concentrated there. But I'm not knocking it. I've never had anything but a good time in Wellington, except once when I got caught outside without any money, and nearly died of exposure.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Oh, and don't forget Manukau has the Tech, quite a few fantastic markets, an airport, a sea port, NZ's most exclusive high school, and just about every car I've ever wanted to buy second hand. OK, the mall is just a mall, but at least it's a mall.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    By the way Lawrence Arabia AKA James Milne has been playing out of his skin since he returned to NZ and the Zoo show will be the last chance to catch him in his semi-hometown of Auckland. He is playing some south island shows and has added an extra Wellington date after the last two sold out. Lawrence will play with Conan Moccasin Friday the 29th of Feb at the Front Room.

    Sorry to post such spammy info. This is not myspace afterall.

    Not spammy at all - valuable information that I usually hear long after someone has played, thank you for that. My birthday too...

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    ... hey, wait a minute... February not March? Not my birthday after all... could someone play a great gig a month later?

    Dimmer? David Kilgour? Bailterspace?

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Mr Scott, thank you for the YewChoobs of your fine band. I like that version of "Love is the Drug" almost as much as Grace Jones' version.

    Total Wellington porn!

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Macdougall,

    Alan, that sounds blimmin perfect!

    Well yes it was.

    Although they've been a bit tired today; even so, the youngest enquired as to where The Phoenix Foundation were playing tonight, as she wanted to go again...

    Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Late to the thread again... so this is where we profess our love for Wellington right? Gwad I miss the place. I grew up in Auckland but never enjoyed myself more than the ten or so years spent in Wellington. However, back for a visit after a few years in Sydney, I was reminded of how (typically) the weather's not so great. Driving around Oriental Bay, my wife commented how lovely it was "and how fantastic it would be in Summer"... unfortunately it was February!

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Samuel Scott,

    Ah yes, the weather has inclement tendencies to say the least. However it has been the best summer in living memory.

    The one thing that annoys me about my home town, and this is very picky, the distinct lack of iced coffee. Real watery American style iced coffee. Its and essential summer beverage.

    So aside from wind and an excess of espresso snobbery Wellington is perfect. We have three bowling alleys after all.

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report Reply

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