I can now have a much needed a dry out period from the juice for a while. In the vernacular of Lindon, Its Been Really Real Mate.
Travel safely!
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Razor Review- Bon Jovi in Christchurch
This was probably the biggest gig I've seen in ChCh. 30,000 punters, many of whom were reliving their teenage years from the 1980's, packed into the half renovated Lancaster Park for two and a half hours of classic rock from one of the biggest acts on the planet.
Local band The Valves opened up and sounded highly proficient on the big stage. Brent Black is a dynamic frontsman, with shades of Jon Toogoood and the crowd seemed highly receptive to their short set. I'm expecting big things from these guys in the coming year or two.
It was still broad daylight as Jon Bon Jovi hit the stage and grinned like a teenage boy at the crowd. I'm pretty sure in another life he could be a televangelist.... complete with all American attitude and yes girls, those perfect teeth. Its no surprise to hear he's interested in running for public office in the future. Imagine the circus, Jon Bon Jovi vs Arnold The Governator anyone?
They opened the set with one of several new songs that they played from The Lost Highway album over the course of the night, each of which sounded solid enough, despite having received a few terrible reviews when the album came out. They stacked up well live.
The crowd participation began in full earnest second song in with "Shot Through The Heart", and in fact on many of the anthematic hits played the crowd sang so loudly it was hard to hear the band.
My personal highlights were a stonking version of "Runaway" from their first album, and a fantastic solo Richie Sambora rendition of "I'll Be There For You". Sambora may have an extra chin or two these days, but he reaffirmed my suspicion that he's one of the finest guitarists on the planet.
Pretty much all the Greatest Hits were played, with perhaps the exception of "Lay Your Hands On Me" and "Bed of Roses". Surprisingly a number of covers got thrown in, including "Knocking on Heavens Door", "Dancing in the Streets", and the final number "Twist and Shout". Some intriguing choices but all in all a fantastic gig.
And Jon Bon Jovi really suits the Crusaders jersey, which he wore for the encores (including "Wanted Dead or Alive"), and I understand it was presented to him by Richie McCaw himself. I'm sure theres a few ladies who would have liked to be in that room!
All in all I'll give it a 7.5 out of 10.
Local band The Valves opened up and sounded highly proficient on the big stage. Brent Black is a dynamic frontsman, with shades of Jon Toogoood and the crowd seemed highly receptive to their short set. I'm expecting big things from these guys in the coming year or two.
It was still broad daylight as Jon Bon Jovi hit the stage and grinned like a teenage boy at the crowd. I'm pretty sure in another life he could be a televangelist.... complete with all American attitude and yes girls, those perfect teeth. Its no surprise to hear he's interested in running for public office in the future. Imagine the circus, Jon Bon Jovi vs Arnold The Governator anyone?
They opened the set with one of several new songs that they played from The Lost Highway album over the course of the night, each of which sounded solid enough, despite having received a few terrible reviews when the album came out. They stacked up well live.
The crowd participation began in full earnest second song in with "Shot Through The Heart", and in fact on many of the anthematic hits played the crowd sang so loudly it was hard to hear the band.
My personal highlights were a stonking version of "Runaway" from their first album, and a fantastic solo Richie Sambora rendition of "I'll Be There For You". Sambora may have an extra chin or two these days, but he reaffirmed my suspicion that he's one of the finest guitarists on the planet.
Pretty much all the Greatest Hits were played, with perhaps the exception of "Lay Your Hands On Me" and "Bed of Roses". Surprisingly a number of covers got thrown in, including "Knocking on Heavens Door", "Dancing in the Streets", and the final number "Twist and Shout". Some intriguing choices but all in all a fantastic gig.
And Jon Bon Jovi really suits the Crusaders jersey, which he wore for the encores (including "Wanted Dead or Alive"), and I understand it was presented to him by Richie McCaw himself. I'm sure theres a few ladies who would have liked to be in that room!
All in all I'll give it a 7.5 out of 10.
Saturday, 19 January 2008
A new outlook on life
It would appear that like Rattus I have begun 2008 viewing the world though rose tinited glasses. Its not all that bad actually!
Razor Review- Lindon Puffin at the Dux
Ahh the mighty Dux De Lux. The old institution. And who better to see in my first live gig for 2008 and Lyttelton's own Show Pony Lindon Puffin.
As always Lindon played an entertaining and endearing set of folk-rock driven music, interspersed with anecdotes and extended chats between songs. Tonight was particularly good- Lindon is excited about life and about to head off on a world tour, which he will chronicle on film along the lines of the magnificent Figure 8000 documentary that he did around NZ a few years back.
Mr Smoothfluid- look out Lindon is coming to a tavern near you!
Part music, part standup comedy, and with a unique interpretation on what many of us call the mundane, Lindon is somewhat of an unsung hero on the NZ scene. Those of us in the know believe he's destined for big things. And so does Mr Coast-to-Coast Robin Judkins, who is stumping up sponsorship for the world tour.
Show Pony was one of my top ten albums last year, and this neat little gig at the Dux was a worthy showing.
8 out of 10.
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Bearduary Returns?
It looks like Jason Eaton of All Blacks and Hurricanes fame has heeded the call, and noted the loss of mana when Haymans Beard came off before that fateful game vs France.
Sustained and prolonged round of applause for this man!
(Photo and article found on here Stuff.co.nz)
Friday, 11 January 2008
A Sad Day
The greatest New Zealander of all time has died, at the age of 88. Rest in peace Sir Edmund Hillary. I have a tear or two in the eye today.
Its been said before, if you must bow your head then let it be to a lofty mountain. Sir Ed is such a mountain.
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Friday, 4 January 2008
New Sports Blog
Well most of you know I have a tendancy to prattle on about sports too much, and therefore I do make a conscious effort not to innundate this site with too much sportstalk.
However, for those of you who are keen...I draw you to the attention of Mr Martin Devlin's 'newish' blog. To the great unwashed, Devlin is the former sometimes outspoken breakfast host of Radiosport- and many of us wish he would go back there to his old seat.
Enjoy..the way to Devlin Does Sport is: here
and I'll stick it on my bloglinks also for easy peasy reference, in place of the much missed and sadly cropped Haymans Beard
However, for those of you who are keen...I draw you to the attention of Mr Martin Devlin's 'newish' blog. To the great unwashed, Devlin is the former sometimes outspoken breakfast host of Radiosport- and many of us wish he would go back there to his old seat.
Enjoy..the way to Devlin Does Sport is: here
and I'll stick it on my bloglinks also for easy peasy reference, in place of the much missed and sadly cropped Haymans Beard
The Brain Gain?
They say Kiwi's are reportedly fleeing the country in droves and taking their skills with them. More room for us I say, thats great. At least however there is a net migration gain, as we are now bringing 102 years olds in to replace them from the UK.
In all seriousness, hats off to the bloke though...he says he's wanting to move here now because when he's 105 he doesn't want to look back and wish he'd moved to NZ when he was 102! And he's coming over the old fashioned way...by boat.
I sincerely hope Mr Smoothfluid doesn't take that long to come back!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4344602a10.html
In all seriousness, hats off to the bloke though...he says he's wanting to move here now because when he's 105 he doesn't want to look back and wish he'd moved to NZ when he was 102! And he's coming over the old fashioned way...by boat.
I sincerely hope Mr Smoothfluid doesn't take that long to come back!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4344602a10.html
How was your New Years Eve?
Mine was soaked in Sake, beer and wine...but not so much that I made a mess of myself. 
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Welcome to 2008!
Happy new year everyone...2007 is over. It was a year of many highs and lows, and things are set up now for a rollicking good 2008. I shall endeavour to get on here from time to time as usual and hopefully not bore you to tears too much. As long as The Idiots Who Have Looked counter keeps going up I'll keep posting , so thanks for reading!
Anyway it wouldn't be a new years post without Razors top 10 albums from last year. In no particular order of course...and please let me know the great ones I've missed so I can have a listen!
Top 10 CD's for 2007
Anyway it wouldn't be a new years post without Razors top 10 albums from last year. In no particular order of course...and please let me know the great ones I've missed so I can have a listen!
Top 10 CD's for 2007
- Liam Finn- I'll Be Lightning
- Arcade Fire- Neon Bible
- Radiohead- In Rainbows
- Grinderman- Grinderman
- SJD- Songs From A Dictophone
- Manic Street Preachers- Send Away The Tigers
- The Phoenix Foundation- Happy Ending
- White Stripes- Icky Thump
- The Feelers- One World
- Lindon Puffin- Show Pony
Top 5 Gigs 2007
- The Cure at Vector Arena
- Liam Finn at the Kings Arms
- Muse at Christchurch
- Snow Patrol at Christchurch
- Kasabian at the Big Day Out
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