I make no apologies. I’m trying to get you to pay the money and go see Adam McGrath at Tuning Fork on Saturday Night. I’m pushing the show not as a favour to Adam, but more as a favour to you. If you’ve seen him play before, either with or without The Eastern, you’re more than likely already convinced. But it’s the dabbler in live music I’m trying to appeal to here, the person who doesn’t go to a heck of a lot of shows, doesn’t buy a ton of music. Likes the stuff, listen to the radio a bit – but don’t get too hung up on it. It’s just there. And some of it’s good. Like Barnsey & Springsteen. But some of it’s really good. Like the music Adam McGrath makes.

Continue reading “GO HEAR YOURSELF” →

The other day as I walked down the footpath, probably with the dog, a couple of young boys of say 4 & 6 passed me taking advantage of the gentle slope of Ponsonby Road. The older, annoying one, was on a scooter. The younger of the pair was on one of those little starter bikes with no peddles. I liked him. He was cooler. He was the natural born rider.

Continue reading “DO YOU RIDE OR ARE YOU JUST STANDING ON IT ?” →

The summer of 2018/2019 is pretty much over. I’ve had 54 summers and though I can’t remember all of them, I know this one is right up there with the best. Because once you’ve had 54 summers, you really do have a handle on what you like about them. I like being in the sun. I like surfing. I like driving my car to the beach to enable those activities.

Continue reading “ONE SURFER’S SUMMER” →

Surfers are probably going to think “What a kook” for writing this; frothing and foaming about something that for a lot of people, is quite standard. But for many, many more people, it’s not standard at all. And besides, the Piha Bar is legendary. Not the least because it’s not always there.

Continue reading “THE PIHA BAR: A GUIDE FOR NON-SURFERS” →

Christchurch in the early to mid 1980’s, and like they all must do, the family dog dies.Gordon may be gone, but Emily is still here. She’s 6 and she’s going to write a song.

Thirty odd years on and Emily Fairlight hasn’t strayed terribly far from the dark artistic path she chose while Gordon was finding his way over the rainbow bridge.

Continue reading “EMILY FAIRLIGHT” →

Over a year ago I interviewed Julia Jacklin for 95bFM. I thought jeez, what if I published it myself as well as it being on the radio? And then did nothing about it.

Julia played Laneway, was awesome, and then probably got overplayed on that radio.

The good thing is, that, not long ago, I gave Julia a bit of a spin and having had a rest, she sounded really good. So I thought maybe I could bring my interview back to life ‘cos she’s bound to be coming up with album number two any minute now.

So here it is.

Continue reading “JULIA JACKLIN” →

There’s a great scene as part of a chase in the third Matrix movie, Matrix Revolutions. In order to escape, they fly their rocketship above the clouds, the ship hangs there in the atmosphere above what is left of the earth for just a second or two before plummeting back into the darkness and chaos below. Arguably, the most powerful scene across the whole trilogy even though it’s only a few seconds long. It’s so powerful because it’s the only moment of beauty. And it’s beautiful because the characters make a connection with nature.

Continue reading “LOG-IN TO THE PLANET.” →