Oh, and what about The Happy Accident, Auckland's Maidment Theatre, circa 1985-ish.

Behind a screen were the Headless Chickens (pre-Fiona McDonald, because we all know that was the beginning of the end) so all you could see was their silhouettes and all you could head was a War of the Worlds-like cacophony of sound.

Later, Chris Knox -- wrapped from head to toe in bandages, Mummy style -- sets up in front of a projector screen and, guitar/vocals-only --launches into 15 minutes of grinding grief.

Seminal.

Imagine the contrast. Twenty years ago -- okay, maybe a bit more -- in the pit at the Powerstation, being buffeted by thrashing bodies from all sides as Mr Downes and his inimitable Verlaines launch into a blistering version of Maiden.
Then, a few years later, the same crew does the same thing, this time at the lost lamented River Bar in Gisborne. And this time there were only about 20 of us. But so what? The song still took off the tops of our heads and, despite that okay-but-not-really-up-to-it cover of recent years, is still one of the best (in this Nun-lover's opinion).

Some things change, some stay the same.