Hard News by Russell Brown

Totally agree about the need for 'boxes'. Wellington is in the process of losing its best mid sized venue. The thoroughly box shaped San Fran Bathhouse. A bit of character in a venue is all good and well, but sight-lines and sound are unquestionably more important.

A thing which I love about a lot of US venues (and some UK/Euro venues) is having a cool, comfy bar that then leads into an entirely separate performance space. The performance areas quite often being really dull, rectangular spaces that couldn't be confused as anything other than a venue. I think it can encourage people to go to the venues early and socialise...or stick around after the shows and maybe have a drink with the band. When the bars is close to the stage it seriously restricts soundcheck, and when its time to turn on the lights and pack up it kills the vibe of the room wether the bar is staying open or not.

Ohhh. Hope it's not that bad for The Veils next month

I quite liked the idea of Koko in London - a theatre converted into a gig venue,with the balcony area used for a bar and viewpoint....for the people that want out of the crush below or who want a more relaxed place to be.
I'm guessing there are a few theatres or old cinemas around which have closed or in danger of it. They could get a new lease of life as venues for live music

A particular thank you to music venue managers who try to renovate successful venues leading to reducing my attending and spending at musuc venues.

St James theatre is another great Auckland venue. Please someone fix it up...but don't fix it up too much.

I'll also miss the St James, but perhaps there will be more demand for small to medium venues with the rise and rise of artist's 'direct to public' distribution and promotion methods leading to a greater range of smaller performances.

I've enjoyed Golden Dawn as a venue, anyone know if it will continue?

I'd also like to draw attention to this public music performance:
"We won't stab you"
Venue here:
http://goo.gl/maps/3D1Y3
Yes in the pedestrian tunnel. 4pm today (Friday)
Venues are passée, keep it public!

BTW Larz Randa's latest really deserves more appreciation! http://larzranda.com/

Hope your plane worked, Russell. I won't be joining you in Wellington as Hamilton Airport remains closed by fog--possibly generated by heavy breathing from the nearby Field-days,.
Will try to get up to the next Media3 screening.

Have you taken a listen to the new Vampire Weekend CD? Very good!

It's been too long since I went to a gig in NZ. However, FWIW, there's been outrage here about the closure, through bankruptcy, of a well establish pub/venue, the Annandale, following years battling the local council to get a later licence. The place has hosted every other major Australian band for over two decades - and many kiwi bands too, I've seen Dimmer and Shihad there. It's hard to know precisely what happened but I'm inclined to agree the view that neighbours' complaints to a weak council and dodgy process by the council generally led to the financial failure. Fortunately, rather than being converted to apartments, which seemed inevitable, it's now been bought and, under a new mayor and council, will continue trading and with an extended licence.

If its of interest, I'll happily post links to the 6 or so venues I'd recommend for visitors to Sydney?

Just because

Get us out from under Wonder Woman.

Another of the great soul men goes... "Let my People Go" should be an essential item in any decent record collection.

Well if you're in Napier and there's something good on, The Cabana is a pretty good box venue. It also has a good PA and pretty lights. It does sometimes lack an audience though. I'm sure it'll be packed for your show next month Sam.

It would be a really good venue in Auckland or Wellington, and for the bands the load in/out is easy

links to the 6 or so venues I'd recommend for visitors to Sydney

please do

And enjoy the fab new Phoenix Foundation video …

It is becoming my favourite track on the album. But, and apologies Samuel, I was a bit disappointed they cut the outtro short in the video. I found it so captivating I made a loop of it in Garage Band. :-)

Cabana in Napier is good simple venue. I like it. I assume part of why the sound is so good can be attributed to the late great Ian Morris.

My highlight from last night's smaller but perfectly formed venue, courtesy dj Peter McLennan and Jackson's hospitality:

For bonus points, imagine the latest Muppets movie on screen in background.

That was my favourite track all night (and there was some stiff competition). I have now become slightly obsessed with finding steel drum bands covering well-known songs. Trinidad Steel Band doing The Meters' "Cissy Strut":

You were dancing indiscriminately :)

My theory is that once you start dancing there's no point in stopping until you go home. :)

In the 'if only' box..... If only I had a copy of Candido Camero - Jin Go Ba La - then your own lounge becomes a boxy dance club....

That's true, Ian did a lot of work to get the place sounding very good but there's been upgrades since as well and some good in-house sound guys - the latest to move to the area is Ron Kessels, a young Dutch bloke who flicks back to Europe to do sound/monitors for Sigur Ros, Radiohead etc. He's made some pretty average bands sound very good at the Cabana.

The other box I remembered was the perhaps strangely located 'Howick by the Sea'. Saw the Chills there in 1992. This recording of Strange Case is from that gig.

If you'll forgive the shameless plug, Jonathan did an excellent post on venues over at Capture last year, Auckland Rock City. And Graham Reid did one here.