Winter Blues

Tommorrow I'll be here....see you all in a fortnight

Work and Play

Isn't it great when you have a job that takes you to the great outdoors? These are from the Kakanui Mountains in Central Otago.... a privilege. Graham Sydney country this stuff...

Rubber Banding

You know how sometimes you crash from the biggest of highs to the deepest of lows, or vice versa?

Today has been one of those days.

Razor Review: The Cure- Unparalleled Excellence

Two days later I'm still walking around in awe. I never thought I'd see a better show than U2 last year, but now I have. Truly outstanding.

People thought I was mad going all the way from ChCh to Auckland just for a Tuesday night gig, but I waited 20 years to see these guys and they delivered. It was quite surreal really, jumping on the plane with a small carry bag I got picked up by Chauffeur Cat and was whisked into town for a quick catchup with the old workmates, before checking into a backpackers on Queen Street. That in itself was odd, not to mention running into an old tramping buddy while ordering souvlaki, I thought the Jaffabowl was too big for random things like that!

Anyway, the show. More than three hours. Three encores. Full house on their feet. All the era's were covered, so many highlights its impossible to bring one out front. What blows me away the most about The Cure is their diversity of styles, goth, rock, post punk, alternative, pop, a hint of dance- its all there. And one look around the crowd told you this diversity is reflected in the fan base with young, middle and old from all walks of life in attendance.

And its just that diversity that kept it real and interesting for 3 hours. I don't think I've ever seen a major act that has played with such reverence and respect for their fans- and with a 30 year back catalogue its helpful I'm sure. As hard as I try I simply cannot think of one song they played that was a dud. Not even Faith, which apparently they never play.

Probably, to nit pick, there was only one thing missing, and that was keyboards. But it didn't really matter, it just meant a few songs like Close to Me and Prayers for Rain had to miss out. Simon Gallup- man can that guy play the bass. I've always been a fan of Porl on guitar too so I think this incarnation of The Cure is as good as you can see. Although Lol Tolhurst would be handy...

And I haven't even said anything about how freakin timeless and amazing Robert Smith is- the greatest poet I've heard. When are they going to knight him?

I'm still in awe and will be for a long time....11 out of 10 folks!

Heres the setlist for the trainspotters....any Cure fans in NZ who missed this should hang their heads in shame!

MAIN SET: Tape, Open, Fascination Street, Alt.End, The Blood, The Walk, Love Song, Pictures of You, Lullaby, Hot Hot Hot!!!, Push, In Between Days, Friday I'm In Love, Just Like Heaven, If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, The Kiss, Shake Dog Shake, Never Enough, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Wrong Number, One Hundred Years, Shiver and Shake, End
ENCORE 1: Plain Song,Disintegration,Faith
ENCORE 2: Three Imaginary Boys,Fire In Cairo,Boys Don't Cry, Jumping Someone Else's Train, Grinding Halt, 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab
ENCORE 3: A Forest

Oamaru

This place has some of my favourate buildings in the country. As was the case last weekend its always a compulsory stop for a walkabout. I'm no architect, but I love the style of what was the South Islands original port for shipping frozen foodstuffs way back in the century before last.

One day I hope to make it to the legendary Penguin Club for a beer and a band.

Blown Away in Wellington

Been away in Wellington for work and a little bit of play for the past few days. They really laid on the wind over the last couple of days, but the locals assure me its only windy when I visit and not the rest of the time. Now wasn't work supposed to be starting sometime soon on dismantling that place?

Anyway it was a great chance to catch up with the clan, see a couple of gigs and generally behave like a saint and be tucked up in bed by 9pm every night.

Oh yea and managed to see The Brunettes play on Friday night, and Minuit on Saturday. And the Caketin laid on a nice farewell for Tana Umaga in his 100th and final game for his beloved Wellington Lions side. Very nice.

Now for The Cure in Auckland on Tuesday- I have heard they played 38 songs in the last gig in Aussie the other day- its going to be an epic night!

Another Sad Day

Bit off center today.

I just heard my right hand man from my time with the Timaru District Council passed away over the weekend, suddenly and much too young.

2007 really is turning out to be a year of messages that want to be noticed.

Dunedin

The weathers always crap when I go there, but I still like the place. Had a fun weekend hanging with Chris and Stacey.

Bit of work up Caithness Station and a bit of play in the muddy Rock and Pillar Range on the mountain bike

I want a Maine Coon now please.

Heres some photo's, more to come later

Going Forth on the Kepler

Yep, I'm at it again. I've been accepted into the 2007 Kepler Challenge on December the 1st.

Once is an accident, twice is stupidity...now its number four. I'll be happy with 8 hours this year, but better ramp up the training!