BlueShift:

 

All of a sudden I'm slightly less miffed that I missed Tool this time round...

 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/120069317/coronavirus-ministry-of-health-updates-on-outbreak

 

Well, its been real guys... I was in GA, somewhere around the front-mid left, so I had better go and stock up on toilet paper and coffee

I'm off to see Like A Storm during their official NZ headline tour, doing 5 of the shows starting next week, around the North Island. So I'll spread things around for all ;)

Like A Storm

Black Smoke Trigger opening for them.

I was at Tool the night after but I'm still self-isolating, I need the break.

I attended the epic thrashfest, Alien Weaponry with openers Shepherds Reign

What a night that was at the old Town Hall in Auckland city. 

What made this so cool was the small venue and sheer volume of the music. My ears are still ringing and it was last Saturday night (6 days ago)

Both bands are really unique in the world of Thrash Metal: SR are a Polynesian group out of Sth Akl and play brutal Thrash with a real melodic feel to it, while AW are famous for singing a lot of their songs in Te Reo and really political anti-colonial lyrics. 

Would I see them again? Hell yes. 

a-ha - Rick Astley - The Beths

Villa Maria Sat 7th March 2020

The venue was great. Perfect night for an outdoor event, loved taking a picnic and hanging with groups of friends. Very well set up and run.

There was a DJ to entertain and fill in-between the bands and he was very good. Appropriate music for the crowd and fun.

The Beths were crap. Sound was very poor, could not hear the singer just loads of noise. Not what you expect for the setting and to start the evening off.

Rick Astley was very good. I had low expectations, the sound was great, you could hear clearly what he was singing and the backup singers and band were all good. His engagement with the crowded pulled everyone in and it was the best part of the night. Lots of dancing and singing along.

a-ha not so good. I went because of them and they were a disappointment. Sound problems at the start did not help meaning a 1/2 hr break to try and sort it. The lead singer Morten seemed to have trouble all night, he did not engage with the crowd at all and just stood in one place and sang. Generally I found the sound was good and you could hear the singing and band very well. They just did not perform well, poor engagement with crown and slow songs meant the crowd got bored and a lot left early. I liked the idea of them playing the original album but it should have been in a smaller indoor setting so the crowd could appreciate it.

I went to a "concert" the other night in the main bar of a local pub.

It's been in the past kind of an "open mic" show / jam with locals who play in other bands, kind of a fun thing that's been going on for years.

Marlon Williams and Delaney Davidson arrived  - and with the regulars and a couple of other guest performers treated us to an awesome show from 8 until after we left at midnight.

It was good for the soul - raw, intimate and world-class musicians.  It might be a while before overseas mega-acts return to fill stadiums.  In the meantime - don't despair - there's plenty of great local talent.  Go see them.

Attended Charlie Puth earlier in the week. He is a very talented guy. 

I could have done without the some of the more cringeworthy banter that is rolled out to every crowd, but other than that, I had a great time. He was very down to earth and has an excellent vocal range. Concert was quite short and I'd have loved a couple more songs, ideally some from his first album.

Off to see The Corrs/Toni Child/Natalie Imbruglia tonight. Looking forward to that. 

Paul McCartney at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane - 1 Nov 23. His voice isn't as strong as it used to be but what a bucket list experience.  Nearly three hours of magic.

First visit to Suncorp, impressive Stadium and far more immediate and personal than the Cake Tin (if you can say that about a stadium), free public transport, incredibly well organised with traffic and pedestrian control.

We bought tickets today for Ed Sheeran in January (in Dubai). It should be fun, we're going to his show one week then Hamilton the following week.

So I went to the Corrs who headlined, acompanied by Australian Alt Country sisters group the Germaine Sisters, then Toni Childs and Natalie Imbruglia. 

What a show it was! They were all awesome, but in particular, Toni Childs who's voice has held up almost perfectly. She got in and around the crowd and looked to be having the time of her life. 

The Corrs were fantastic, they are a wildly talented group of siblings and have very good chemistry together. 

It was all *very* entertaining. Arrived at 6 and left at just after 11, the seats at Spark Arena aren't that great, but compared to when it opened, both the acoustics and seating configuration means you get a pretty much excellent view/sound anywhere. 

Off to Iron Maiden next year, daughter is off to Foo Fighters, Royal Blood, and Iron Maiden. 

Shows I've attended lately have just been The People.

;)

Not just attended, but going to Napier for the Robbie Williams concert at Mission Estate tomorrow night. Driving up from Wellington after work tonight and staying with some friends.

Never been before. For anyone who has been to Mission estate, what's the best transport options given we'll be carrying chairs/chilly bin etc?

Is there anywhere walking distance suitable to park, or is Anderson Park and getting the provided shuttle which is suggested on their website the best option? Uber/Taxi would work on the way but I assume it's a nightmare to get one after.

Update to the above, Robbie Williams at Mission Estate was awesome on Saturday. He's been a favourite of both mine and my wife for a long time, and Angels was our first dance song at our wedding so it was pretty special. Had both seen him once before in Wellington in 2015, we didn't know each other then but we were at the same show.

No stress with the transport. The friends we stayed with live quite close to the venue - about 5 mins drive or 20ish min walk. Didn't want to walk that far in the heat carrying stuff so went a bit early and parked right on the edge of the road closure only a few mins walk, pretty much as close as you possibly could park. Joined the queue at 12.30 (gates opened at 2). At 1.30 they opened the main gate and then there was a stampede to get in so the queue barely mattered, but then 100m ahead you wait again at the actual ticket/bag check. Stampede wasn't really necessary, we got a good spot just to the side of the stage near the front without running so parked up there for the day. We took a full chiller bag with food/drink and a couple of bean bags to sit on.

Awesome show, although maybe a little short - it felt quite early when he went off before the encore. Maybe 2 or 3 more big songs he missed that would have been cool. But amazing entertainer and well worth the trip. A cool moment was when he arrived by helicopter flying right by the stage during one of the support acts. Really nice venue for a concert too. Would go again if there's someone we want to see. Helps having people to stay with. 

Again bit of a crush to get out but we just stayed behind and let the crowd shrink as we weren't in a hurry and had a car. Definitely appreciated having the car seeing how long the line for the shuttle buses was. I expect it was a bit of a wait for taxis/uber too.

Luke Combs at Eden Park night one. 

He has a fantastic voice, really something. Having said that, I was gutted to not be able to hear him talking esp during the bit about Fast Car, not sure if it was better night two.  I'd quite like to know what he said. 

I only knew 4 of his 13 song set, but was happy to have paid to hear just those.

Eden Park is a decent venue, you can see everything from anywhere in my experience. 

The police and security went into the GA area at a full run 3 times during the first night.