100 Big Days Out @100bigdaysout-blog - Tumblr Blog

Fin! That's 100 Big Days & Nights Out reminisced. Job done.

Day 100 - Beastwars, San Fran Bath House, Wellington, October 2014

I knew I would run out of tickets. I had done the tally, and would you believe it? I only had 99! Yet the solution was simple: just head out to a gig before Day 100. Look, look, look… what is on this month? There it was: Beastwars! I loved the fact that there was local hype around these guys right from when they started, and that fast turned into a national (and justifed) buzz as they played more. Soon as they started to gig across the Tasman and further overseas, and small labels who got what they were doing spread the word overseas. There is just something about the Beastwars sound: it growls, it rumbles, it sonically moves you - more of a resonance. I have heard it called Stoner Rock or Doom Metal… I don’t know if labels help define it. I mean, to me, it first reminded me of the early Seattle bands, heavier Soundgarden around the death of the 80s. But stuff comparisons, they are Beastwars! The show was all about why I did this 100 Days Project: to see bands you love, and hopefully see some you have never heard of, as was the case with the show’s American metal other act, Windhand. The crowd were brilliant. Full on bogans, metallers, 45 year old art directors who should know better… fans loving it, having a beer, moshing up front, or nodding heads fitfully to the beat. Not a sausage of trouble or aggro. I thought Windhand were good - pretty meat & potatoes, and it was great to see a female vocalist doing the business to a crowd full of lads. I would only criticise them by saying that they just were simply not a good as Beastwars for me. That bloody beautiful noise! I remember finishing a pint, and holding the empty glass in front of me, I put my hand over the top and could feel the air inside it vibrate… that was what my brain was experiencing. I hope they become huge overseas. No! I hope they never leave and remain just our secret. No, good luck to them. I think they have sound and attitude that sees them please metal purists, heavy rock fans… just plain old rock music fans. Big, bad, and pure. I should also make mention of opening band Mermaidens, a three piece who are school young and really kicked butt. goodluck to them too. If you have never checked out Beastwars, please do. Here’s ‘Damn the Sky’. Listen to this and imagine yourself vanquishing an alien invasion single-handedly while enjoying a pint of beer - perhaps a Beastwars IPA as made by Hallertau Brewery in West Auckland!

#Beastwars #Windhand #SFBH

Day 99 - Yo La Tengo, Wellington Opera House, Wellington, March 2014

For whatever reason, this gig was scheduled as part of the NZ Festival - Neko Case was another artist playing the same week in amongst a much larger programme with a very heavy arts leaning. I’m not sure why the festival slots in these bands & singers… maybe to gain some cred? However, I should not really moan because it obviously contributed to an interesting format for Yo La Tengo’s show which was going to be two, one hour sets; the first stripped back and acoustic, the second loud… both with surprises and reworkings thrown in. It was a sit down affair - an arts festival crowd, sedate, almost ‘proper’. We’d been at Goldings Free Dive Bar pre-gig, and come time to leave it felt like half the bar got with us and left - apparently the greying or receding hair craft beer set were very big YLT fans (myself included). Once inside we grabbed a beer and headed to our seats. There was a lovely bloke sitting next to me who seemed at least 70 years old. When I asked whether he was just checking out a random festival event or knew the band, he replied that he was indeed a huge Yo La Tengo fan and had come with his son, but could not get seats together. We then had a great chat about music, and he gave me some very good tips, among them War On Drugs who I now love. So, YLT. It opened with an unplugged version of ‘Ohm’ from new album Fade, it’s drone softened to Kaplan and Hubley’s soft vocals. The first half also included two Kiwi songs, highlighting the bond between this American indie institution and our own Flying Nun bands: Snapper’s ‘Gentle Hour’ (seemingly even more poignant now since Peter Gutteridge’s recent death), and later Chris Knox’s ‘Big Day Coming’, dedicated with a laid back “We love Chris very much.”A lot of the first half was from Fade - it fit beautifully in the setting. There is honesty in seeing this three piece live; Yo La Tengo make it look so simple, but there is a complexity to concert, they turned things up, and this gave way to a few older folks & Festival Friends just gathering their coats and politely excusing themselves… “Excuse me…”. It was quite sweet how they came to check it all out, but ultimately were driven out - their limits surpassed. They mined their back catalogue, playing tunes from Fakebook, Painful, Electr-o-pura, and somehow slotted in Adam and The Ants ‘Ant Music’ as well. Fantastic show, even if the environment was a little staid - but it did truly allow you to feast on all Yo La Tengo’s layers, subleties and songwriting skillsiness. As ‘Ohm’ neatly bracketed both halves of the concert, here is a live version from the deluxe version of Fade.

#Yo La Tengo #Wellington

Day 98 - New Zealand v India, Basin Reserve, Wellington, February 2014

As this 100 days is closing, I am running out of content. There is a logic to me including this year’s Football United Tour of Australia and New Zealand by English Premiership clubs Newcastle United and my beloved West Ham United. I have the ticket, I took the ride… but West Ham were so, so pathetic I am vetoing what should have been a crowning appearance of theirs in this 100 days. Instead I am picking my gruelling spectatorly efforts on the Basin Reserve embankment upon Day 3 of the 2nd Test against India. Short story: New Zealand had surrendered a lead of 240+ runs to the freely scoring Indians after the teams’ first innings. At the start of Day 3 we were 24/1. The Doom Merchants were loving it. Yet, as Lars (the only Danish cricket fan I know) and I headed along that day, I clearly remember saying (delusionally) that we only needed a double ton from B Mac, and someone like Williamson or Watling to get another 100+ and we might be able to scrounge a draw. Even as I said it, I realised what utter fantasy it was. By lunch, when McCullum took the crease, New Zealand were 87/4 and it looked hopeless. Yet, Baz and his second partener Watling began a gritty, determinatined, stubborn resistance so that by drinks NZ were 213/5. By stumps, McCullum had his century and Watling a fifty, and we were 252/5. Each of these milestones, and ultimately the end of the days play brought rousing cheers from the smallish crowd. This was Test Cricket at its finest, in the sun on a Sunday – not exciting, not comfortable viewing, not even very optimistic. The efforts of those two that day set up an array of records to fall on Day 4. The beauty of Test Cricket is that New Zealand fans celebrate that day in a match that was drawn. When the crowds flocked in to the Basin Reserve on Monday morning to see Brendan McCullum get his Triple Century, that is the only moment that mattered out of five days of graft. For me though, I remember that foundation effort the day before, in front of a much smaller crowd willing them on, hoping for the seemingly impossible. Bloody brilliant day. Part of sporting history.

#Cricket #Black Caps #Basin Reserve #Brendan McCullum

Day 97 - Band of Horses, Wellington Opera House, Wellington, January 2013

It got to the point that we were just hanging out to see a band coming through, so it was this desperation that led us going to this gig, rather than being out & out, full-on fans of the band. I did truly love listening to their second album Cease To Begin when it came out in 2007 - it was on the stereo at work daily in London, from memory. Somehow we never saw them over there though. I reckon they fit nicely into the record collection - in their with Mercury Rev, Midlake & (the old) Kings of Leon… that vein of countryish rock, mild Americana for the radio. And naturally, popularity in the twenty-teens is always helped a bit by some beardiness and flannel redux from the days of Seattle Mk 1. And I have to admit I was surprised by the fervour with which some of the crowd greeted these guys - especially one young lady who climbed onto the stage to hug, fondle and take selfies with Ryan Monroe, not once but twice. Where else but slack old Welly would you even get away with that? Not sure I like the Opera House as a venue for bands; the seats are never removed and it always feels stiff. Sure the nutters get up to dance first, and then others join in≥ but even when the crowd gets to a decent size down the front, it is still confined to the space between the front row and the foot of the stage – maybe ten people deep, tops? The seating layout on the ground floor means the PA can obscure the view of the stage. We could have moved, but I was not enough into it. I think there may have been one band member we never even glimpsed. Great band, some really good songs… but yeah, well. The Earth did not move. Song Pick is ‘Is There A Ghost’ from Cease To Begin. A lovely track that did freak me out at 3am once, when my iPod mysteriously came on in the lounge and started playing this track.

#Band of Horses #Wellington

Day 96 - New Zealand v France, RWC2011 Final, Eden Park, Auckland, October 2011

This was the most tense, frightening, exciting, cacaphonous, clock-defying, tightest game of Test rugby I have ever had to sit through. So much has been written already that I don’t feel I have to go over the game in depth, we have all seen it, had it burned on our retinas, but there are things that stood out for me. Things I will NEVER forget about October 23 2011. On the free buses to Eden Park, everyone we saw in their front yards, or walking to friends’ houses or pubs to watch the game was waving at US, like they were acknowledging ticket holders had a bigger role to play in the game. They were encouraging us to do our bit, to lift the All Blacks in person. It was incredible. Eden Park was stunning, again ... humming with the expectation of not only those headed inside to watch the Final live, but due to being surrounded by informal residents’ shindigs. The RWC volunteers (who have made this Cup) were working overtime to welcome and explain everything to the visitors. My compadre, Bale, and I walked a lap of the ground to check out the scenes before going in, as if to cast some anti-French hex on the turf by encircling it. We saw buskers, BBQs, French fans mingling with All Black fans ... all taking turns in front of both the Michael Jones and Dave Gallagher statues for photos. Festivale! Our Category A seats’ vista rivalled that of the TV cameras; we were looking down on SpiderCam! The location also gave us full aural and visual 360 for the game; the rise and fall of collective emotions in the crowd. Right from anthems, the All Black fans never gave up. The week before at the semi-final I had never heard a louder anthem sung by New Zealand fans ... but for the Final it went up another notch. We’d not beat the Welsh for pitch perfectness ... but for volume and pride we blew out to a new benchmark. Stunning. I loved the French response to the haka: they get it. It is not disrespectful to challenge it back at all, and they, alone, keep coming up with their own way to gain an edge against it. Any IRB fine for crossing halfway is just petty. I still think 8-7 belies the quality of that game. There was as much to please the old school purists and enough intent to entertain the expansive rugby fans. I was in Cardiff in 2007 (Day 71), and the tangible anger that surged through AB fans as that game slipped away from us was not present this year, even as things looked grim at 8-7 ... there was creeping disbelief and stress, but I never felt it was gone or hopeless this time. That hope rumbled and surged back in the last 10 and when we got the ball back, and ran the clock down with those pick and gos from the 76th minute on, the crowd began to party. And we all stayed there for another hour. Last one out turn out the lights. Other memories: Jock Hobbs’ cheer was 3x bigger than John Key’s; the appreciative roar given to France when they got their medals; the din when the All Blacks went up to get their medals; Andrew Hore immediately checking if the Cup’s lid came off; Brad Thorn’s fist pumping; Ma’a Nonu demanding Vito surrender his coat to keep his son Mercury warm. However, my moment of the night, after the Webb Ellis Cup was lifted, when we spotted Cory Jane and Israel Dagg breaking away from the group, running like ratbags, not to a Takapuna Bar, but to lie in the the fallen silver confetti to make snow angels. Awesome. I will never, ever forget that night. And yes, that is Richie McCaw’s signature I have on my final ticket. Nice souvenir, eh?

#Rugby World Cup #RWC2011 #All Blacks

Day 95 - New Zealand v Australia, RWC2011 Semifinal, Eden Park, Auckland, October 2011 Straight off, I have never experienced an All Black game like this. The revamped Eden Park is a stunner and was an amazing setting for this epic battle to decide who would meet France in the final. I was not even supposed to be going to this match. I had my final ticket stashed and ready should we make it, but the semifinal was not in the original plan… or budget. My mates Jimmy and Matt were going, but when Matt was offered another ticket via work, he offered me his. YES! We drove up, broke the journey at Taupo for a night, then continued on… it was a very exciting roadie. It felt like our time! (Like it does every four years). All week the Aussie media and players had been banging on about how all the pressure was on the All Blacks, and it was a line that proved to be as ill conceived and poorly executed as the Wallaby game plan. I regard New Zealand as 12 points better than the Wallabies on a normal day. Man for man they are weaker, yet the Reds Super win, and the Test wins against a weak Bok side and a less than fit All Black side led them to believe they were on track to seriously challenge for RWC. The All Blacks stood up and monstered the Wallabies, sending them packing 20-6. And they are lucky Gilbert produced a new standard of Flying Pig ball tha year, because had Piri Weepu been on target the Green and Golds could have been staring down the barrel of a 35-6 loss or something. From Quade Cooper’s first blunder at kick-off, through our early charges into their 22 that led to Nonu’s try, it was obvious the New Zealanders were there for 2003 and 2007 payback (and 1999, 1995, yadda yadda yadda). I watched another replay of it when I got back to Wellington and the highlight reel really does need to be 80 minutes long. Aaron Cruden tackled 120% and was sublimely confident, Piri Weepu’s legend continued to grow. Cory Jane was velcro-gloved under the pointless high balls, Dagg a constant threat, Nonu a handful as usual. Kieran Read made huge tackles, as did Owen Franks. Brad Thorn was everywhere, and along with Mealamu and, later on, Andrew Hore, just seemed to relish in and grin at contact. And Jerome Kaino? What can I say? He had been the granite in this team all tournament, every game so far, but for me his first half clean and jerk on Digby Ioane to deny a certain try will be an enduring memory of all All Black rugby. And Sir Richie of McCaw? Well, he bettered the supposedly best 7 in the world. Again. A flanker is nothing without a dominant pack, and Australia never got to go forward, they stood deep and could not get to the gain line. Pocock was lined up by our ball carriers and nullified. Brilliant to watch. Australia: Outplayed, outgunned, out thought. I could park two HQ Holdens in midfield and they would create more than any combination of Ashley-Cooper/Faingaa/Horne/McCabe. These players might tackle, but they do not attack. As for Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, I appreciate we are 80 very hard and nervous minutes against a quality French side away from possibly getting the World Cup back ... but that game was a vindication for them, their progress and their supporters. My confidence grew from the opening whistle, we just seemed to have so much momentum, and I thought we had this in the bag early in the second half. I was sitting with Jimmy though, and he was as nervous as I have ever seen him. Almost funny, had I not had flashbacks to myself in 2007… these games are never in the bag. Yet, as the clock hit 78 minutes last night, we launched into our “Four more years!” chant, as naturally as everyone else around Eden Park did ... it was a kind of mass catharsis that just manifested itself and was joyfully directed at the lads in yellow. Not clever. Certainly not original, no. But bloody priceless.

#Rugby World Cup RWC2011 All Blacks

Day 94 - New Zealand v Canada, RWC2011, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, October 2011

Finally our chance to see our own boys play. Don’t get me wrong - being at any World Cup game was amazing for atmosphere. However, this was the All Blacks’ only pool match in Wellington, against Canada. It should have been an easy win, and it was at 79-15. This was not our top team; there were some players rested, bur most most notably our star No. 10, Dan Carter injured himself the day before and had to withdraw from the tournament. going into this match, New Zealand was in emotional turmoil. Why us? Not again? How can we do it without Carter? It was crazy. Plus, Captain Richie McCaw was being rested (Carter was supposed to get his first Test as AB skipper). Would we perform well? Would it gel? It did. We smashed Canada really: Zac Guildford feasted on tries this match - given his chance to start on the wing, he took it with both hands. It sometimes seems unfair or arrogant to look at a 60 point victory and pick holes in it - but the whole enjoyment of the day (which was genuine) just had a little cloud hanging over it. There were at least a couple of million people in New Zealand who were now shitting themselves.

#Rugby World Cup #RWC2011 #All Blacks

Day 93 - France v Tonga, RWC2011, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, October 2011 France had lost convincingly to the All Blacks in the previous game, so who knew what was going to happen today. The weather was glorious for this early match, in the sun it was a party atmosphere and the fans all dressed for the occasion. It was the most colourful match in town forthe pools as the French tricoleur came up against the floral red & white army of Tongan fans… the same fans who set the World Cup alight a few weeks earlier w-15hn they stopped traffic in Auckland by turning out en masse for their team’s arrival in the country. Tonga are a force in rugby. They hardly play together outside World Cups, and their players ply their trade in France and the UK - here we tend to focus on Samoa a bit more, but really Tonga have a better record I think. In the face of such staunch local support for the Tongans (and because we still had such great memories of RWC2007 in France), Fi and I dressed for Les Bleus: berets, Stade Toulouse tops, anything red, white & blue… and large fake moustaches. We also hedge our bets a little with large floral lays. Maybe we were backing French Polynesia? The crowd were awesome. Noisy for the whole 80 minutes, and it was a very tight, very scrappy game… very even. Only one try was scored by each team, but Tonga tackled and battled all day, finally edging the French out with 15 minutes or so to go. Their fans went mental. The 15th ranked team in the world had just beaten number 5… and inflicted France’s second loss in the Pool matches. However, teh battle for second spot in the pool to progress was messy, and with Canada beating Tonga, and Japan drawing with Canada, somehow this French team made it through. Bizarre. Daytime international rugby – glorious. We do not get enough of it here.

#RWC2011 #Rugby World Cup #All Blacks

Day 92 - Argentina v Scotland, RWC2011, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, September 2011 I only bought tickets to this game a few days earlier, and roped some mates in. This match was originally scheduled to be played in Christchurch, but had to be moved because of the earthquakes. We went along knowing that the Scots and Pumas are probably pretty evenly matched, but given they both needed maximum points from this game to secure progression to the knockout stages, we were expecting the game to by a little looser, or more expansive. We were happily proven wrong when a game of Test Match rugby invaded the pitch. The Cake Tin was nowhere near full for this match, but the screaming Tartan Army and the insanely vocal (and pogo-ing) Pumas fans crammed together and created an atmosphere equal to 40,000 punters. I think it also raised the temperature in there a degrees or two which was much appreciated. Scotland? Well, I just don’t get them. It must be so frustrating for their fans. I know they have very small player numbers and few clubs domestically to select from, but they have some class players, and some enormous athletes ... yet it just looks so rudderless and pedestrian. Their big, rugged and mobile pack can get good ball for the backs, but then it just seems to go wrong? Now they have installed Vern Cotter as coach, I hope to see this rectified. Argentina can and did rumble it up as well. The stats this game was battled out in the middle portion of the park. The Pumas really only went wide at the end when they had to ... and that finish on Lucas Gonzalo Amorosino’s try was a beauty! I think it still remains one of the better tries in the tournament. He escaped two tackles and weaved away from three other Scottish defenders, with no room outside him to score a five pointer that sent the Pumas fans into raptures. Clearly the wet and cold conditions meant the game was going to be tight, but I felt it never really got going, not until the end anyway - it was like they were constantly feeling each other out at about 90% intensity, and neither could break the other’s defensive line. Cat and mouse maybe? There almost seemed to be a capitulation by Scotland that they were not going to cross Argentina’s line ... especially when Parks opted for (and missed) a drop goal attempt late in the game when he had numbers out to his left. The result meant Argentina would follow England though to the knockout stages, and end up in the quarter final against the All Blacks. This, and the semifinal finish in RWC2007 meant that in 2012 Argentina finally got their deserved spot at the Tier 1 table, when they were welcomed into SANZAR’s expanded Southern Hemisphere competition - The Rugby Championship.

#RWC2011

Day 91 - Australia v USA, RWC2011, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, September 2011 It was a bit like Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome at the end of this 80 minutes - 30 blokes came on to the field but only about 23 of them walked off it under their own steam. Although Australia won (convingly) 67-5, this was a clear illustration of the lack of depth Robbie Deans faced as coach; a game that took out 3-4 of his players. After the final whistle he had Anthony Faingaa, Rob Horne and Pat McCabe sharing an ambulance to the hospital. Faingaa was the worst hurt, looking to be out cold in a tackle, but I understood he was up and about soon after. The Eagles tackled all night, but could never get anywhere on attack. From my seat, they were so deep when on attack, the midfield were having to cover 15m just to get back to the line of advantage they had ceded, and that gave Aussie all the time in the world to shut them down. Glad to see Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell back - always thought they were both key to Wallaby success, but the Reds’ Super Rugby form and injury seemed to put them in the background. Quade Cooper looked like he wouldn’t even be able to get a kick drum to work, and the Aussies (unlike the Boks) were spraying passes and possible points wide every game… a big time risk in knockout games where their precious space would be shut down. The atmosphere in the Cake Tin was great again. Despite the yellow Wallabies fans’ numbers being high (and bolstered with every empty yellow plastic seat), heaps of USA fans were painted up in red, white and blue .... as were many Kiwis who came off the fence and swallowed their anti-nuclear pride for an hour or two. We experienced nothing but good hearted banter all night, moreso than in the two Bok games we have hosted. It sis a strange contradiction, that at such a high stakes World Cup tournament, crowds seem more relaxed & happy to enjoy up the atmosphere of the special event. All our seated neighbours were happily ranting and laughing all night, and I think the general angle was the usual Famous Kiwi or Famous Aussie Claim Game (seems no one was too keen on taking credit for Russell Crowe, but then ... there is enough of our Rusty to go around). It had been great fun to just bowl up to visiting fans and have a chat so far at the Cup. They all seem to be having a great time, and feel Kiwis are looking out for them, and that is great. A couple of nights before the Australia v USA game, I got a chance to meet up and share a pint or two with Steve aka Nursedude who writes The Nurse Was a Prop blog - he’s a passionate Eagles and rugby fan, and he’s been a long time blog comrade of Ferdy’s and mine (Ruggerblogger). Great guy, and really interesting talking to him about rugby, and life in general, in the States.

#Rugby World Cup 2011

Day 90 - South Africa v Fiji, RWC2011, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, September 2011 Second pool match, and Wellington was still abuzz. Pubs and hotels loving hosting those big eating Bokke fans. It was great having your town be a part of something this big globally, yet at a local level it felt comfy. You could stop & chat with away fans in the street, see if they needed directions. You could glimpse the players out and about on some free time, grabbing a coffee. I saw Morene Steyn and Victor Matfield just cruising about, and they were not being mobbed… just getting nods, g'days, maybe a photo request. They were free to move about here though. They were given some space – more than they’d ever see on a field during a Test Match! Once again, a great atmosphere at The Cake Tin: The Bok fans are so colourful and noisy it was like a home game for them again... but the Fijian fans were hugely visible too, just a shame their team didn’t really get to show their style more. South Africa fielded a slightly tweaked XV but they really announced their presence in this game. The defence was huge ... bigger than a Fijian No. 8! They never let Fiji get quick ball or even any real line breaks ... first and maybe second tackles nailed them, and stopped any Fijian open/Sevens rugby. The game was probably quite 50/50 in terms of the numbers, but the Boks were superbly clinical when they had the ball - they really converted their scoring opportunities. They showed determination to attack - was this the difference of having Frans Steyn in at 12 maybe? No disrespect to Morne Steyn (who to be fair got a try and hit the line more than usual) ... but what could a Bok inside back combo of du Preez, Lambie, Frans Steyn & Fourie do? Would be awesome. Afterwards I thought they really did posess the players to really go all the way: JP Pietersen was a rock, Danie Rossouw a deserved MOTM, Hougaard is a game-changer ... it goes on. I saw them as a huge favourite, though Samoa could still be a banana skin for them (the previous night Ireland had beaten Australia, all but handing South Africa top spot in the pool). Bokke! Bokke! Bokke! As we left the stadium, Jacques Fourie was still offside;-)

#Rugby World Cup 2011

Day 89 - South Africa v Wales, RWC2011, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, September 2011

No rock gigs for a bit, but instead the symphonic accompaniment of ‘World in Union’ as the Rugby World Cup tournament returned to New Zealand for the first time in 24 years. We had such a blast in France in 2007 that we were not going to miss the party in our own back yard, so tickets to every game in Wellington were purchased. South Africa v Wales was our first match, and both teams were based in Wellington for the pool phase, so town was awash with Bok fans and Welsh supporters for days before - the fan zone and other bars were doing very nicely out of it. There was no escaping the rugby in town, there was a huge buzz of excitement… exactly what a World Cup should be. It was a close game, with the Boks winning 17-16 in the end, 2 tries to 1, and only getting that second try in the 65th minute – Wales really were edging them in all the stats. Fi and I had a great time at the game, it was awesome - my best experience at the Cake Tin since All Black Tests years before, back during Tana’s captaincy… there was just such a positivity- inflected edge to it all; pressure & banter, but in good spirit. So close, and though Wales sprayed two more chances to land penalty goals and win it, I am still surprised that Barnes did not go to the TMO for a another Welsh shot at goal by James Hook that was ruled a miss. It was the World Cup FFS, and that game’s result has significant impact on the whole draw, certainly the pool. Ref Wayne Barnes did not have a great game - Jacques Fourie and Fourie du Preez were constantly offside!!! Sam Warburton was immense for Wales, as was Jamie Roberts. But Brussouw! What a scrounger, and F Steyn was class. The Bokke fans were in great voice, as were the Welsh ... plus I think most Kiwis were backing the Red Dragons, as I was. That’s not out of any real dislike of the Boks, for me it was more backing the underdog - and frankly, I like the enterprise of the Welsh, always have, even if it sometimes falters completely.

#Rugby World Cup 2011

Day 88 - Pixies, Vector Arena, Auckland, March 2011

Finally! Pixies make it to New Zealand! There were always stories (“There were rumours”) way back the late, late 80s around student radio circles that they were very close to signing up for an Orientation tour, but the fee wanted was to much, so Kiwi fans had to miss out, and wait for not only the reunion, but a second full reunion and world tour. I mean let’s face it - no band does a World Tour until they play Nu Zillund… unfortunately for most people south of the Bombay Hills, ‘New Zealand Tour’ means Auckland. Of course we went. We flew up, stayed the an extra night, and saw some buds. This was the biggest cult I have ever seen. People came out of the woodwork to see this reformed late 80s alternative band, packing the whole floor and most of the seating in Vector - 8,000-10,000 punters? Looking round we saw people we had not seen in years, folks lost to us in Super City 09, and there they were… waving… smiling… waiting for Black Francis to wail. The show, and tour, were billed as Doolittle - the band playing all its singles, B-sides, then the album tracks in order. Loved hearing ‘Bailey’s Walk’, ‘Manta Ray’ and ‘Into The White’ live. It was kind of relaxed, for a stadium gig I think, bit of banter - well, Deal being a goof as usual. The core songs off Doolittle, those beauties that perfectly exemplify Pixies’ loud, quiet, loud philosophy rocked: ‘Debaser’, ‘Tame’ and ‘Dead’ were top shelf. This idea of playing entire albums in order can be fraught with danger if there are weak tracks, but Doolittle is a beauty of a record, and it was very cool to hear them all roll of in order - it reminded me of what a great record it is, and rekindled love for songs I’d forgotten a little, tunes drowned out by the bombast of those mentioned above. I mean, how good are ‘Silver’, ‘No. 13 Baby’, ‘Crackity Jones’ and ‘There Goes My Gun’? It may have been a bit of a love in, a little smug and sing-along, but we had been waiting a long time in New Zealand… we were allowed to enjoy this weren’t we? The end part of the show, after Doolittle had been run through, was a selection off Come On Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa, Trompe Le Monde and Bossanova: ‘Nimrod’s Son’, ‘Caribou’, ‘Vamos’,‘Isla de Encanta’, ‘Bone Machine’, ‘U-Mass’… ‘Gigantic’. And to cap it all off, they turned the house lights up so we could all see one another, and sing along to ‘Where Is My Mind?’. Then we all hooked up in a pub afterwards for drinks - I think there was 20 or so people with old, vague Palmy connections who by chance all walked into the same pub down Vulcan Lane. I know all the hits are epic, and I had seen those ‘big tunes’ before - I actually got a kick out of hearing ‘There Goes My Gun’ live.

#Pixies #Vector Arena

Day 87 - Yo La Tengo, San Fran Bath House, Wellington, February 2010

Again, it seems like I stayed at home for 18 months if you just look at the dates on these posts’ tickets, but it’s really just that most gigs here in Wellington, you pay at the door and get a stamp at most… which kind of think of it, is actually a great idea for another blog. Anyhoooo… Yo La Tengo. What an awesome band, what a forward focussed trio, what diversity… what a back catalogue! Best thing about this show in particular was that it was three days before our wedding, so in a way was not a ‘Stag’ or a ‘Hen’, but more a ‘Hag Do’. Fi and I roped in our bridesmaid & best man plus their partners and went to see Hobeken’s finest pop/rock/alt trio! Fuck, they were good. So many brilliant songs to choose from, especially on those last two albums which had really attracted my ears: I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass andPopular Songs. What can I say about these guys live? They encompass such variety, so many examples of all pop music’s spectrum that some shitty blog/tumblr like this does them no justice. In a single record, or an hour live, you go from pure Nashville (‘Stockholm Syndrome’), dumb three chord rock (‘Watch Out For Me Ronnie’) to feedback drone (‘The Room Got Heavy’), to alt-rock (‘Sugar Cube’), to Tin Pan Alley (‘Sometimes I Don’t Get You’), to indie pop (’You Can Have It All’), and back, via a latino side street (‘Mr Tough’). Okay, so I’ve had a Pinot Gris or two, but Yo La Tengo really do deserve to have more of a following… The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame would be good, if it was not already populated with so much industry cack. A wonderful show - even if I thought the sound could have been louder. And they hung round afterwards to have a beer and chat to fans. Bless them. I know this song is older than the material they were touring, but when they kind of asked for requests at the end, the shouts for ‘Autumn Sweater’ were hard to deny. Yo La Tengo. Never miss them.

#Yo La Tengo #Wellington

Day 86 - Of Montreal, Koko, London, October 2008

One of those bands that had been around long before I ever cam across them, and that have probably done tonnes since that I am not familiar with… yet when I heard the album Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? in 2007/08 I liked it instantly. Maybe it was the Bowie reference points, the arty campness, the Hedwig-esque costumes and art direction. There was certainly a lot going on onstage, and coming off too… I think Kevin Barnes was starkers by the end of the show. We went along because of Hissing Fauna…, and because we had missed an earlier show they did the year before; we had tickets for a much smaller (cheaper) venue, but it was midweek and in the end we blew it off because we were knackered. This time we felt a little obligated to go, and sat back and watched a pretty mad show. A little hazy on specifics, but I do recall a lit of colourful clothing, maybe a cape or two - he really is a little bonkers, and that is what makes them interesting. Clearly there were long-term farms there going mad, but we hung out up on the mezzanine by the bar, watching the show. I have a feeling a bomb in there would have decimated the roll of London’s arts colleges. Great gig. I’m off to put the album on now. Best song pour moi is ‘The Past Is A Grotesque Animal’… “The mousey girl screams 'Violence! Violence!’”

#Koko #Of Montreal

Day 85 - Lovebox Weekender, Victoria Park, London, July 2008

Our local festival. Lovebox was started by Groove Armada down in Clapham in the Noughties, and moved north of the Thames in 2005, planting itself in East London’s Victoria Park where it took to heart the area’s diversity by hosting lineups that covered the full spectrum of music, but with a definite flavour of F-U-N I reckon. Oh, and they had loads of fun rides. Again, we trucked along with a decent posse of chums, mainly another round up of the crew we went to Werchter with, and indeed (bar a final big ‘drinks’ night) this was the last chance to cut loose with some of these peeps. Needless to say we beat a frequent path to the bar and got pickled in the sun – the London summer weather was beaut, especially the early evening… I remember an amazing sunset behind the skyline of buildings and fair rides. Luvverly. Awesome to finally see Manu Chao - this record Clandestino became the soundtrack to a trip through Mexico & Guatemala about 15 years earlier, and his energy live was always what I heard (and hoped) it would be. We watched Goldfrapp again, but this was during their sudden veer into, well, almost pastoral folk rock… strange daisy take on The Wicker Man I thought. I prefer her glam stomp electro. Groove Armada played all the hits, from their loungey house to the bass bin rattling epic ‘Superstylin'. Very slick. I mean, who else hosts their own festival? Another 80s revival that surprised (and there have been a few over this process) was The Human League. Once again, an older synth/electronic act from 30 years ago suddenly sounded so comtemporary it hurt… I know this is basically down to Shoreditch trendiness at the time, in a way, but they were great. And Phil Oakey must have an aging portrait of himself in an attic somewhere. Last chance to go mad with The Flaming Lips, and again it gets five stars. Madness, confetti, mushy ballads and psychedelic rock, audience participation, and capped off with a huge karaoke version of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’. Beat that. However, my little moment of musical pleasure came from a not the main stage, but a small tent to the side. In fact was an old Scout tent that would have been more comfy at a 1960s Jamboree - all canvas and boxy. Inside was Liam Finn & Eliza Jane Barnes playing awesome wee pop. The crowd was so small we were basically standing next to Liam - I could have held his beer for him. Maybe it was because we were going home to NZ soon, but I just loved his uncomplicated charm: “G’day everyone… how’s it going? My name’s Liam.” Utter pleasure. he deserves all the praise he gets, such a talented muso. So here is his song ‘Energy Spent’ from I’ll Be Lightning.

#Lovebox #Liam Finn #The Flaming Lips #London #Human League

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

100 Big Days Out