Posts by Mike O'Connell
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I saw Toy Love the once, the final ever Christchurch gig at the late, lamented Gladstone, August 1980. Forever indebted to a now passed away school mate for getting me a ticket. The wonderfully-named Stanley Wrench and the Monkey Brothers were support that night.
And what a fanboy’s dream indeed - 'I Don’t Wanna See You Again'! The Doublehappys made their Christchurch debut at the Gladstone, November ’83, hot as hell nor’ west day, caustic as hell Shayne Carter – with Herbie Fuckface on ‘drums’! Failsafe Records also captured 'Beer Cans on the Ground' on the Biding Our Time compilation.
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Hard News: When we had hope and change, in reply to Steve Ballantyne,
I think John Kirk ended up leaving the country, to where I'm not certain. His brother Bob was a well-respected academic (coastal geographer) and then became one of the best performing regional councillors with Environment Canterbury from 2004 through to when the government brought in Commissioners...but that's a whole different story.
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I recall we were going to sing ‘Big Norm’ as a key part of a school production - which not surprisingly got quickly canned when the news came through Kirk had died. The old Kirk house in Hillsborough Tce, Christchurch still stands. In fact we know the owners and are frequent visitors. Much of the older part of the house is little changed from 1974, especially the study.
This was in the day when the PM would take the bus from the airport to get home, satchel in hand, no minder or security whatsoever. How times have changed. My friends display a range of Kirk biographies in the hall including one I think written by Bob Harvey. The occasional (and unexpected) tour group sometimes turn up for a look 'at' or through.
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Robert Scott also joined the Snakeskin Suitcase line up as a 'late entry' on Saturday night at the Lucha Lounge to perform a short set of solo tunes (on Reb Fountain's guitar – his was ‘buzzing’). He was joined by the wonderful Tiny Ruins (Hollie Fullbrook) on backing vocals for a couple of songs.
Later, Adam McGrath of the Eastern closed proceedings, playing an enthusiastic and intimate set from the dance floor, joined by Reb for 2-3 tracks on backing vocals. Those 20 or so of us who remained at the close got a real treat - worth the price of admission alone!
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Capture: Humble Bragg, in reply to Glenn Pearce,
Aah, very good, thanks Glenn. Apparently, his nickname comes not from all his travelling but instead the countless stories he relates before answering the simplest of questions - he's still alive (81) and no doubt still ramblin!
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I always see these posts too late! I recall seeing seen the Bard in the late 80’s in Christchurch, where being the social animal he is, he kicked around a football with fans pre-concert on the Ilam playing fields . Billy ended up hoofing the ball high into a poplar tree where it remained I believe for some long time.
I was drawn this time by the Guthrie songs. Ingrid Bergman was simple but beautiful. Bergman, so Billy related, was reputedly photographed reading a book of Woody's poetry and thereby came the inspiration for the song. Agree, there was some lecturing but anecdotes in between songs were mostly a good laugh. The one about the folk festival and Billy having to contemplate the forth verse of This Land Is Your Land, following Seeger, Guthrie A and one folkie whose name I’ve forgotten was v funny
Adding to Jackson’s comment on Bill’s son Jack, Billy related his wife was complaining about the racket upstairs, saying ‘go upstairs and tell him to turn that crap off’ or such like as she couldn’t work in her study right underneath his room. As Billy was about to enter Jack’s room, he thought ‘I can’t tell him to turn this crap off, not when he’s playing this...’ and he launched into a blistering version of Milkman of Human Kindness! My highlight of the night – he played it out of his skin given Jack’s burgeoning reputation. Yes, I’d go and see Jack play too.
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Some encouraging signs with this announcement. Would be good to see FN get on the front foot and get some new signings and not be seen as a 'legacy' label. I imagine there'll be a balance of new and old releases. Though what a legacy! Talking of the Chills, there must be a whole suite of buried classics, live or studio recordings that are just itching to see the light of day.
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Hard News: A long way yet, in reply to Lilith __,
Great to be reminded of those bulls Lilith, they were, they are, fantastic. Also the Monopoly site (the mini-digger and pink houses!) in Manchester St on the site of the former Cycle Trading Company. We need more of these to liven up the spaces laid bare.
And venues, so the visiting bands that hit Auckland and Wellington also make it to Chch too. Paul Kean (of the Bats) was one of several musicians, etc asked for their views of what Chch needs in last Friday's Go, the Friday arts/entertainment supplement to the Press. Paul profiled his vision of a 500+ (or was it 1500) venue. It looked cool, a diamond shaped plan view. There might be a link to it somewhere on line. -
Hard News: Friday music: Worst DJ ever, in reply to Ana Simkiss,
M'kay, thanks, I'm just not techy enough! Though now you mention it, I do recall it doing the rounds.
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Brotherly love still hasn't been resolved in the case of the Kinks either - Ray and Dave Davies. I don't believe they even acknowledge each other these days. A big falling out. Proceedings at the closing ceremony could have been seriously amped up by, say, the Only Ones' classic Another Girl, Another Planet - but how many of the audience would have got that? And where were Pulp?