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August 2005
25 August
Not too much to say of late. Just this...
The Netherlands team who shares our floor have this ridiculous banner of what I can only assume are Dutch people smiling at each other. Probably high. Anyway, we've been eyeing it up for some time (mainly out of jealously, but also out of boredom and spite) trying to think of something witty to say in a speech bubble. Today we had a golden opportunity to deface it as they were out of the office and our boss was away.
After much deliberation, we decided that this team, as humourless as they are, are not the sharpest tools in the shed and thus are not smart enough to get any vague or clever Donald Trump references... so went with the direct approach. Neat huh?
Yeah, they didn't think so either. Rather hurtfully the speech bubble was removed before the afternoon was over. Bastards.
11 August
Just over a week ago I saw Interpol play... LIVE! At Victoria University Union Hall, the skeaziest of all the venues. Hot tip... security... should be TOIGHT for a sexy band like Interpol. If students (oooor ex-students) can wander into the venue without being questioned because they happen to have walked in and out of the bottom entrance door and past Vickys a million times before, then chances are they can also get in there and grafitti their names on the British singer. I'm just saying.
Support act was the Demi Whores, and yet even in a state of mind that usually yields a heightened appreciation of music... I thought they sucked. Oh well. You win some, you push your earplugs in further for others. Except when Interpol come out and you're so crushed and pinned to the person infront of you that you can't even lift your hands to your ears to insert said earplugs. I dropped em. Meh. Earplugs are for girls anyway. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... etc.
They played the vast majority of Antics, and a generous serving from Turn On the Bright Lights. Most delightfully received by myself was the gorgeous Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down. A little disappointed that he didn't introduce it a la Sean Connery as James Bond... but I still got to howl along STEEEEEELLLLAAAAAAA-HAAAA!!
It's been said time and time again that they're a tight little band and that they sound just like their albums. This is very true and I was happy to hear the songs sounding like the albums because I love the albums... however, a little shake up every now and then doesn't go a-miss. Aside from a brief jaunty interlude there was very little to distinguish the show from the thousand others they'll do this year. Not that they owe us anything like that, but still. Again. Just saying.
Check out this weeks Capital Times to see the photos taken whilst stalking said Superband. Tee hee.
Now, onto more important matters.
Ladies. Gents. Meet Dave and Tony. They're worker bees!
They started off as a poorly executed twink and orange highlighter mess, but soon evolved thanks to the suggestions of co-artist, some yellow paper cube, hole punch confetti and paper clips. A fine addition to any office. Just don't try to use them or you'll rip their little faces off.
7 August
If you really think I waste time at work... um, you'd be right. But now! It's highly documented! With images!
Judge Away
4 August
A bit controversial. But some would say the best yet.
Interpol was last night. More on that later. Also, saw Oliver Driver in Bash, a play at Circa tonight. More on that later. Too tired.
2 August
Here is a fascinating account of the Finn brothers show at the St James Theatre, 30 July 2005... I may or may not have simply cut and paste from somewhere else.
Suck it up!
We toddled into the St James, at a whopping 24 and 25 years of age... easily the youngest people there (again). What is it with the Finn brothers and the old people? I mean, I'm young, I'm hip (dooka dooka dooka dooka.. hey macarena!) and the people I know who love the Finns are my age. Why don't these people go to the shows? Is it because old people are richer? Maybe. Either way, it was unnerving to realise that we were in a room full of people who would probably be voting for Don Brash and National. BLECH. Neil Finn wouldn't!! Tim Finn definately wouldn't.
Anyway... we were in the 2nd to back row. Whoo! Crap seats! At least the St James is small, so even that far back we still had pretty good views. The downsides were that we could have been closer up on the balconey but I chose floor seats because last time (at MFC) the crowd rushed the stage and it looked like fun. Not to happen this night. Also, that far back we were under the balconey so the sound of the audience singing along was very muted. Oh well.
The Phoenix Foundation! They came out and performed Seaworld. Always a lovely way to lull the elders of the audience into a false sense of security... especially Luke's highland fling... only to wallop them in the back of the head with Damn the River. It was an even mix of songs I knew and didn't know (such ego slicing). Sam and Luke gabbed hilariously... their banter not quite Finn Brothers-hilarium yet, but getting there. After an absolutely STONKERING Nest Egg (holy fuck, I mean, could this song possibly be any better live? I THINK NOT!) which... honestly... made even the creepy naked moldings on the wall a little moist... the audience was pinned back in their seats like... everyone pretends to do when my dad drives. They tinkled the keys and plucked the strings and lull... lull... lull...
IT'S A LIIIIIIE!!!
Followed by the ferocious bashing and banging of their instruments, perfectly out of tune.
OHHHHH It's a liiiiiie!!!
... slipping neatly into the familiar sway and groove of the song.
Absolutely beautiful. One of the greatest songs ever. Without a doubt.
They finished up with another beautiful rocked up version of Sister Risk and the crowd whooped and cheered and waved their walking frames in the air in appreciation.
After a kerfuffle swapping seats with the people infront of us (so they could sit together and stop leaning over me with beer-stained breath to talk to one another), the lights went down and cartoonish music filled the venue. Beautiful lights and this awesome white foam creation that started out looking like the entrance to Santa's ...evil lair... lit up like a giant green hedge.
Then a donkey ran out on stage. I'm not sure who was the arse end. I think it was Neil. It trip tropped happily across the stage. Off it went into the wings and then Neil Finn flew out, drop kicking the head as he pranced.
I do believe they started off with Part of Me, Part of You. I do believe. Neil settled at the piano for a few songs. I uh... can't recall exactly what order they played things in. I can name pretty much every song... except one Split Enz song which escapes me.
So, in the interests of interest
Part of Me, Part of You
A Life Between Us
Anything Can Happen ...This started off with Neil getting the balconey to clap a steady beat and the floor to clap the fancy fast claps. It sounded awesome, but petered out once the song started properly because it was quite hard to keep up.
Gentle Hum ...The write up in the paper labelled this one dull. Oh no no. I beg to differ. Crowd participation made this one the nights winner in Dawn's book. It was definately a highlight for me too. Neil taught the men and women humming parts. It sounded so incredibly beautiful and the crowd managed to keep up the backing hums for the whole song.
Homesick
Nothing Wrong With You ...It gives me chills. It's so soaring.
Wont Give In ...Stupid song makes me cry. What does it mean when you promise someone, that no matter how hard, or whatever may come... it means that I won't give in... *sniff*
Suffer Never ...YAY!
One Step Ahead ...I wanted so badly to shriek in delight, but it's all very subdued sitting there in those fancy theatre seats. I hate sitting down for a Finn brothers show!
Bold as Brass ...Never heard this one live before... I don't think. Very awesome. The hedge lit up red like the inside of someone's mouth with a torch glowing through. Crazy uncle Tim and his crazy dancing!
I See Red ...The crazy dancing was intense but at the part where Neil comes in I'm fed up with crying, my despair is dying, turning into rage... day by day... Tim and Neil were holding each others necks really roughly and I'm sure they were pulling each others hair. Hehhehehe. In the papers review it said the tension between a surly Tim and ever-cheerful Neil made the show a little less magical. I thought it was a joke but looking back there were some touchy moments.
Six Months in a Leaky Boat ...Like here, where someone said something to Neil and he said "What's that?" and smiled at the person, ready for some banter... and Tim totally cut him off ... When I was a yooooung boooooy...
Time For a Change
World Where You Live
Weather With You ...You are not a NZer if this does not make you giddy with excitement!
Pineapple Head
It's Only Natural
Um... that's all I can remember right now, apart from the Split Enz song which escapes me. No Don't Dream it's Over (I think the first time I've seen Neil where he hasn't ended with that), no Four Seasons In One Day... no I Got You. It was still fabulous though. The between brother banter, when they were getting along up there was second to none. They tell the greatest stories (Neil recalled being chased by a priest with double jointed (?) shoulders who could hold a bible (a catholic one "Too bloody long!") between his shoulder blades... and the time his 5 year old friend electrocuted him by touching a metal door handle with some kind of crank telephone wire... hehe).
Spellbinding (tee-hee-hee).
And yay! Tomorrow night is Interpol! I'm so crazily excited about that.
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