Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: My Year in Culture

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  • Pete Sime,

    Awesome thing of the year: The BBC's History of the World in 100 Objects
    Rotten thing of the year: the death of Paul Reynolds.

    Dunedin • Since Apr 2008 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Pete Sime,

    Rotten thing of the year: the death of Paul Reynolds.

    Absolutely. That still hasn't really sunk in.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    ":the death of Paul Reynolds."
    Yes.
    Not a celebration, but there was another death yesterday - Ruth Park, Her novel, "One-a-pecka, Two-a-pecka" was the first ANZ novel I remember reading. And it alerted me to our English-based folksongs ("Wanapeka, Tuapeka, Bright Fine Gold") and that there *were* ANZ writers...aue, gone to Australia just now, & died there. (She wrote several v. good novels based in Oz.)
    Along with the cultural highlights, maybe noting the deaths of artists is also a good thing?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • James Griffin, in reply to Simon Bennett,

    Simon, I do hope you're excluding the television you directed this year in your TV review. I know for a fact OF 6/6 touched you deeply at the time.

    Since Nov 2006 • 28 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Islander,

    Along with the cultural highlights, maybe noting the deaths of artists is also a good thing?

    Ruth Park is certainly someone to celebrate. Apart from her novels and children's books she produced two great volumes of autobiography, and was an active writer until very late in her long life. Sadly it was marred by tragedy, as she outlived her husband, the brilliant D'Arcy Niland, by more than four decades. No-one could ever replace him in her life. Her twin NZ-born daughters Deborah and Kilmeny became distinguished book illustrators. Kilmeny, who worked in animation in her younger days and was a top human being, died early last year.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Bennett, in reply to James Griffin,

    Ha! But of course, James. But you can''t include your own work in a thread like this. Too much like blowing your own trumpet or spamming!

    And OF 6/6 was bad touching!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 174 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to philipmatthews,

    Yes, he was also a cultural hero...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Samuel Scott,

    Black Francis coming out to the bar for wine afterwards took said blown mind and turned it into an awkward mush monster.

    Did you talk to him? #royalty
    Oh, and they were playing Buffalo on the AirNZ flight from Chch today. #royalties

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    While we're talking television -- and this might be a question for Fiona -- any news on when Mad Men season 4 plays here?

    On my laptop, starting two nights ago. (2011: the year I finally gave up on actual TV).

    Local musical acts that I’d recommend to anyone are Beyondsemble and Hot Club Sandwich. Delicous treats, both. Don McGlashan’s solo concert was splendid, too.

    Marcus is too something-or-other to blow his own trumpet. His band "The Chaps" played an absolutely fantastic gig at the Dunedin Folk Club this year. If you ever get the chance to see them don't miss it. Tremendously mature, talented, funny musicians. Marcus is one of those disgustingly people who could pick up any of about 20 instruments and play it tremendously well.

    My musical finds of the year Sufjan Stevens (coming here in February, fascinated to see what of his diverse range he plays) and Mirah who Ian Henderson brought here a few weeks ago. Ranging from rhythmic ballards who tease by never quite breaking out to quasi-rap songs, she was fantastic at Chicks and has been what my partner calls my current "music crush" since.

    And I got to see the Pixies, 18 years after finding them. Tight gig.

    RIP Tom Newnham also

    Bugger. I read his book on the tour for a 5th form history project :(

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Kyle Matthews,

    My musical finds of the year Sufjan Stevens (coming here in February, fascinated to see what of his diverse range he plays)

    Me too. Amazing stuff, and would love to see him in concert.

    The song Chicago was like 'I know this song. No I don't. Maybe? Wow! Where have you been all my life?'

    My only concern is the last two times this has happened were Jeff Buckley's Grace and Elliot Smith's Waltz #2 (XO). Hoping it's not a pattern.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • andrew r,

    Russ - repeat - seeing the fall requires not just good familiarity with whatever their most recent 2 albums happen to be at the time , but further you kinda need to really be a big fan of the same. Anything less and you get left in the cold . Remember for example those bend sinister and frenz experiment tours in london - we loved them because we loved the albums . Mark E will prolly never compromise on that position which is why he is such a unique artist in todays greatest hits music world. Gary S really likes their last 2 albums - thus his enthusiasim for the gig.

    auckland • Since May 2007 • 100 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    While I'm in RIP mode, Captain Beefheart too.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    After reading all these comments about personal highlights (and tardy I am to say the least) , I have tried to think about what did it for me this year and what I realised was pretty boring really but thought what the hey, I'll mention it anyway.
    It's every living day. With all the bullshit that baffles brains, I am happy to be alive!
    Was in the supermarket t'other day and after bumping into one friend who gave me the run down on how many of our friends had died (the liver has a lot to answer for)I heard a faint tune in the distance that tweeked my interest. I could not believe my ears. Here, in lil' ol' 3 Kings was Jerry Garcia singing "You Are My Shining Star"
    Summed the whole day up nicely.Friends, my amigos,
    So..
    Merry Jerry Xmas

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    And forget that... :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Damian Christie,

    I concur sir. I would even go as far as saying I have never understood the point of "Going to see a Band" surely the point is to enjoy the music? and yes, who actually does enjoy it when someone shoves a cameraphone in your face to share their miniaturised life experience?
    “Oh well, it will just have to be a memory”
    Indeed, life consists of three things, dreams, memories and right now. Whoops, missed it but I got a picture...
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Whoa-Barkers has combined with Flying Nun to produce new F Nun T Shirts. They come with a download code for the EP that's the shirt design.

    Yes, take that "Music Industry". Marketing is practically the only commercial activity left in the Music biz, aside from performing on stage and sometimes that is but marketing, I predict sponsorship and product tie ins to be the music business model for next year onward.
    You mark my words.....

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    What do you mean, without the chemicals & preservatives? If it doesn't have C2H6O (a chemical and a preservative) in it, you can barely call it beer.

    And that distinctive thwack of Di-hydrogen monoxide...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I heard a faint tune in the distance that tweeked my interest. I could not believe my ears. Here, in lil' ol' 3 Kings was Jerry Garcia singing "You Are My Shining Star"

    I don't know why but that bought tears to my eyes. Love you hun, see you at christmas...XX You are my shining star and I miss you....

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Do I love the sound of love spoken out loud over teh intertubes? O yes, I do-

    "dreams, memories, and right now" Steve B?
    There is a 4th component for perceptive literate &/or hearing humans - the encapsulated creative wisdom of our species WHICH WE CAN STORE & HAND ON TO THE NEXT GENERATIONS - which is surely what we are celebrating in this thread.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Islander,

    humans and dogs :)
    Merry xmas to you Islander.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    A wow type Gil Scott-Heron video of recent, remixed from one of the album's I've loved this year:

    Music: I swore I'd not do this again but it's habit.

    TV: Mad Men still, Steve Buscemi (but not the show itself) in Boardwalk Empire and watching the whole five seasons of The Wire the month parts of the city I'm in were burning outside.

    Yeah and Beefheart going was a huge bummer this morning as was waking up to Gregory Isaacs' passing in October.

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

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Islander,

    I was going for existentialist purity. A more Humanist approach would get too complex to make a short sentence meaningful, in fact you would have to consider everything in its entirety. But I like your point.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to philipmatthews,

    RIP Tom Newnham

    Geoff Chapple on Newnham's life from a 2004 Listener book review.

    Let’s take the leap and say that Tom Newnham was to New Zealand’s anti-Vietnam war, anti-nuclear and anti-apartheid years what Tom Paine was to the American Declaration of Independence – its letter-writer, pamphleteer, chronicler, analyst, activist and a strategist in what became a revolution.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    As inclusion of the scent world would make more scents to dogs* - but to all 3 of you, ka mihi aku mihi mo tenei Wa Hakari - me tenei ropu katoa - arohanui n/n Islander

    *sorry: irresistable...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

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