Grant Hart, SFBH Wellington, Friday 5 Feb, 2010

Above pic: Grant Hart

Below pic: Forcefields-Thanks to drummer Micheal for identifying this band




Arrived in time to catch the first support band who played a tight melodic aternative pop and they reminded me of Straitjacket Fits due to the vocals and guitar sound. Unfortunately I have no idea of their name or where they were from but know that they had an acetate for sale that I probably should have bought. Edit: The band are Forcefields.



Above pic: The Devil's Elbow

After a break of about half an hour or more The Devil's Elbow played. Why on earth did a two piece support band take so damned long to start? This band plays alt-country and listening to them I was reminded of one of the guys in New Zealand country band, The Warratahs saying in the cities they were hungry for country music but on the farms they desire the likes of AC/DC. I'm a dairy farmer's son so I found these guys not only boring and but also annoying due to their not starting earlier. I spent more time looking at my watch rather than watching the band. Good at what they dobut they're just not my homebrew batch of beer.

After another break and the time hitting 11:30 Grant Hart came on with just his guitar and played a mixture of his solo material and Husker Du tunes. "Don't Want to Know If You are Lonely" was a highlight. Before going I had been warned there was a 30 to 70 chance that Grant would call someone out for talking and during his Wellington set he called someone out for laughing at his lyrics. Grant spat with disdain from stage, "You're laughing at me. Am I entertaining to you? Am I like a clown to you?" Often requests were taken with Husker Du songs that were written by Bob Mould rejected. The clock hit 12:40. Grant Hart was still on stage and I had a train to catch home and didn't mind leaving even though I enjoyed what I heard and saw from Grant, I don't know if I would see him again. I really wish the bands hadn't taken long breaks so I could have caught Grant Hart 's full set as he was the reason I departed with my disposable income and bought a ticket and beer at the venue. The late finish contrast the previous weeks Them Crooked Vultures show which was sensibly over before 11:00 pm the previous night. Maybe the time the band or artists stop should be put on tickets as well as the times the doors open especially if they are likely to attract an older crowd.

Them Crooked Vultures, Wellington 29 January 2010

This show was about timing. I was in time to miss the support and entered the TSB arena after queuing for a little while. On the way home I found out that the support band was Cairo Knife Fight, who I hate on the basis that there is a worthwhile Wellington band called Knife Fight, they aren't even Egyptian and any band with a place name in any part of their chosen label truly isn't worth anybody's time.

I'd wondered how this concert would fare sandwiched between two AC/DC concerts. However I needn't have worried as the crowd was close to the TSB arena's capacity and the famed threesome walked onstage and Josh Homme announced, "We're AC/DC". Later in the piece he stated, AC/DC the night before us and AC/DC the night after us. That's fucking perfect in my book".

Them Crooked Vultures ran through most of the songs from their debut with Homme sometimes changing guitars and John Paul Jones often changing instruments as the crowd moved like a monolithic writhing sweating beast on heat. This really only changed for the laidback lounge psychedelia of "Interlude with Ludes" and Josh Homme proved his right to the Ginger Elvis tag as John Paul Jones stole the show with the keytar. In his rightful place behind the drums, Dave Grohl was the beating pulse and kept in perfect time except for making an error when a count-in was needed. Guitarist Alain Johannes held his own with the group's better known members and even heartily cheered when he soloed. It was clear that this was a group who are very comfortable playing together. Watching the interplay between the members made "Mind Eraser, No Chaser", "Dead End Friends" and "Reptiles" highlights.

Homme stated that, "Wellington was their best audience and before that it was Melbourne". He acknowledged most performers are dicks because they say that all the time and admitted to being a dick. I enjoyed being in the audience and compared to AC/DC the previous night, it was clear that this show was more about the music than the stageshow. In contarst to most bar shows it was all over before 11:00 p.m which was great for me but probably bad for anyone used to the late stars and finishes of most bar shows.

AC/DC Wellington 28 January 2010

Below pic :
Shihad


Despite or maybe because of this show selling out in only three hours after it was announced I was able to get halfprice tickets. I tend to avoid stadium shows because it's not really possible to see the band and there are way too many people.
Missed the first support band, The Checks. Arrived in time for local band Shihad, who supported AC/DC back in 1991 when they were mainly a thrash metal covers band.
Shihad played roughly seven songs and ignored their first two industrial albums preferring material from "The General Electric" and other newer material. The highlight was the poppy rock of "Home Again" being played in front of their hometown audience. Shihad were loud and difficult to see.

AC/DC were louder and big screens made them easier to see. They were great, running through their better known tunes with a few from "Black Ice" that weren't recognized by many. There's still no hiding the fact AC/DC is really a male strip show. Angus Young's striptease to "The Jack" made it obvious to those who never realized before. The band utilize their large stage and props better than most bands due to years of experience. It was a great show although Brian Johnson's gravelly voice was a little off at times and Angus Young's guitar solo seemed to go on forever.

AC/DC Setlist

Rock n Roll Train
Hell Ain't a Bad Place To Be
Back In Black
Big Jack
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Shot Down in Flames
Thunderstruck
Black Ice
The Jack
Hells Bells
Shoot to Thrill
War Machine
High Voltage
You Shook Me All Night Long
TNT
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock

ACDC set list encore:

Highway To Hell
For Those About To Rock

How Bizzare

RIP Pauly(40 is too young) also claimed by the grim reaper in January 2010 Howard Zinn, J.D Salinger and Jay Reatard(29 is way too young).

I've posted Jeff Dahl stuff before here so, if you haven't already, read it as I'm not in the mood for rehashing. Vomit Wet Kiss is Jeff doing The Stooges thang that this blog is often magnetically pulled toward. Jeff even givesThe Stones some Stooges treatment.

Vomit

Are you alright?

Here's proof there was Aussie hardcore in the 80's. Along with Vicious Circle, Massappeal proved that what happening in the US of A could be done just as well and often even better down under and provided the ultimate soundtrack for tic-tac-toing and doing ollies on fibreglass skateboards. This single should either make you want to rage, skate or weep. Maybe even all three simultaneouly.

Check it out.

Harder the Edge

Nothing says New Zealand punk as much as the dead sheep on the cover. This track of 9 punk band covers from 1985 seethes anger. No Idea are pissed off at the USA but Armatrak have their ears towards the US hardcore of 7 Seconds. My choice for stand out track goes to The Mindfuckers"I am a duck" which lets you know how a pissed off duck sounds.

Baa! Quack!