Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: And we may never meet again ...

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  • Grant McDougall,

    Russell, did you ever get your leather jacket back ? I seem to recall your H&C story ending with a plea for it to be returned.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Completely off topic, but...Cry havoc and let slip the cats of war!

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Rob S,

    Since Apr 2010 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I've got a great pair of Wharfdales that I got ages ago for 25% of original retail. They were hopeless TV room speakers -- apart from anything else, they're rear-vented and shouldn't be placed against walls -- but they have now been liberated as our deck speakers. A bit heavy to move around, but gee they sound fine outdoors.

    Ah yes, so I remember. :)

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Aidan,

    Icehouse ... GSL was pretty big when I were a kiddie

    The Oils ...

    My memory of that song is being a lot heavier. Sounds sort of pussy now.

    The Church had another sort of ok song

    Aus did produce a bunch of pretty bland pub rock outfits. I recall being in the booth at Radio Massey in the early 90s (was either 1am or some shitty weekend slot, that was all I ever did) when the phone rang. It was the manager of the "Lime Spiders". They were touring apparently. I think he wanted to talk to the station manager. He was a little surprised that I had never heard of them. I did manage to dig one of their albums out of the bins, but jeez it was so awful I put it straight back in again.

    I see they are still around, though not making enough to keep their domain name registered.

    Canberra, Australia • Since Feb 2007 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Aidan, the Church had an ok song? Under the Milky Way is brilliant. I'd thought it was a NZ song as I first heard it performed by Strawpeople - I still like both versions.

    For a more recent rock/pop/slightly glam track, how's Silverchair's Straight Lines?

    Rob, I was very lucky to get to see Sydney Dance Company performance, Underland, which was inspired by and consisted entirely of Nick Cave songs. It was magnificent (my wife works for the Sydney Opera House which has permited us access to many more events than we might have been able to afford).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    A bit of broetherly love. And I could never understand why the 'guest' is playing a guitar tuned to a chord, when the chords couldn't be simpler.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    Such verve. Such taste. I don't suppose anybody remembers this? Perhaps not troubled by either, I liked it.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    the Band back in the day
    I've always harboured a soft spot for 'Towtruck' off the Payload EP
    and the Toni Collette version of Throw your arms around me in the movie Cosi was nice too

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    So much great stuff from Australia over this period is online - a couple more that work for me:

    The last one (with the great headgear) is pretty obscure but I was was lucky enough to get boxes of Australian 7"s in the early to mid 1980s and that was one I fell it love with - there were a few to be sure: it was a golden age in Australian indie pop.

    We released Nick The Stripper in NZ (along with Birthday Party albums) as the local agent for their Australian label, Missing Link. We sold about 4 copies of that single in NZ but exported thousands because of the NZ exclusive B side and red sleeve (the UK and OZ versions had it in blue).

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Ooohh, ponies...

    Wow, this thread has been train spotting heaven.

    Towtruck

    ETA: Me too. I have the EP, but couldn't find it online to play.

    One more.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    Can someone please e-mail me and explain in very simple terms, how to post 1) a youtube clip and 2) a link ? Sorry for my dumb-arseness. (I realise there’s the basic explanation below, but I’ve tried with it and failed).

    Paste in the URL with the http:// and www included.

    Not the embed code, and not the short youtu.be one.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to 3410,

    So how do I get around it?

    Just fill in your address with a US address. I use a real one of a friend but I've heard of people using fast food outlets as their address

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to recordari,

    used to love playing that Do Re Mi track #nostalgia

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • octopusgrrl,

    I'm enjoying the 80s Oz music love going on here - I grew up in Sydney and was lucky enough to be exposed as a teenager to 2JJJ/TripleJay during what I would consider to be the best period of Australian music #nostalgia

    Dunedin • Since May 2009 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    oh! it did it automatically! Wunderbar!

    Dude that's what we paying for :)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Just ’cos noones giving him the nod: Ed Keupper

    Sooo love the electrical storm album: not a dud track. For me, very evocative of arriving in Sydney (in something of an emotional storm) in 1987.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson,

    I saw H&C at Powerstation twice - once with brass section and then just bass, guitar and drums 3 piece. Both spectacularly good but I think the 3-piece was just that little bit better for the sheer raw beauty of it. Seymour was outstanding. I also lost my hearing at Mainstreet for Midnight Oil. They started playing and I couldn't actually hear what they were playing for about 20 seconds because my ears were just squealing. That, and all that other abusive listening, is why I have the permanent high pitched friend (tinnitus) now.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Sacha,

    #nostalgia

    That's the problem with this kind of thing. You get all caught up in the flow, and next thing you know you're out the back in the 3000s hunting for this.

    Crime & The City Solution - Six Bells Chime.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Dave Patrick,

    The band was Mondo Rock - I remeber that Eagle Rock 'event" it was classic.

    The Angels played on the Friday as I recall.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson,

    I also meant to say that I purchased Bannerman album from Amplifier today (round of applause). Lovely album and happy to part with my $$ but got to Bannerman by two free tracks from other sources. Free downloads is also a good way to find out if that album you loved back in the 80s has stood the test of time.
    "Under the Milkyway" has special place in my heart as the theme tune to an extraodinary night of music, alcohol, drugs, love lost/won and a ride in a red Mercedes with the devil.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

  • RaggedJoe,

    The Angels - playing a stange slightly hippy festival sometime late '80's near Hamilton - Mystrey Creek perhaps?. Heavy thunderstorm, rain, sleeping in a Kombi van on site, ah the memories (what's left of 'em).

    City of Sales • Since Sep 2008 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Luke Williamson,

    I also lost my hearing at Mainstreet for Midnight Oil. They started playing and I couldn't actually hear what they were playing for about 20 seconds because my ears were just squealing. That, and all that other abusive listening, is why I have the permanent high pitched friend (tinnitus) now.

    Being deaf let me indulge you; Losing your hearing is not a pretty thing. And tinnitus is not much better.

    The solution to your problem at concerts is pretty simple, but makes you look slightly naff. Earpulgs. Trust me. Wear them once to a concert and you'll swear the sound is miles miles better and clearer. It is. Because earplugs tend to block out reverberating loudness, and absorb sound levels coming into your ear, so you actually get better and clearer sound. Forgive me for preaching but I know whereof I speak.

    A hint for tinnitus: I gave this on another similar thread a few years ago - I think Ms Clark chimed in with her hint. Mine is to imagine a radio emitting the tinnitus sound, and that radio has a big volume control dial, like those old fashioned radios. Mentally slowly turn the volume down. Tends to work for me thankfully but (and this is the first time I've used this) YMMV.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    The solution to your problem at concerts is pretty simple, but makes you look slightly naff. Earpulgs. Trust me. Wear them once to a concert and you'll swear the sound is miles miles better and clearer. It is. Because earplugs tend to block out reverberating loudness, and absorb sound levels coming into your ear, so you actually get better and clearer sound. Forgive me for preaching but I know whereof I speak.

    I take earplugs to any show I think is going to be loud, and certainly to anything at the Powerstation. There have been gigs I simply couldn't have enjoyed without them -- like, for example, Shayne Carter's retrospective set at the Stroke launch. That was loud.

    I would advise not using the cheapo foam rubber ones though. For $20-odd you can get better ones that you can adjust by pulling in and out. Stuff sounds a lot better.

    I'd be interested in anyone else's recommendations.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I grew up in Sydney and was lucky enough to be exposed as a teenager to 2JJJ/TripleJay during

    TripleJ is still a fine institution and although I think highly of student radio, I still think NZ missed out on the opportunity for a national network... I'm sure this is a topic dear to many hearts here and that opinion will be divided. I recall when Deb Morris, briefly Minister for Youth Affairs c. 1997 tried to get the idea up but couldn't (not sure what went wrong though).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

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