Category: Arts
It doesn’t matter how much I read, I never seem to make any headway on the literary canon: novels by the likes of Cormac McCarthy, Saul Bellows, Toni Morrison, and Virginia Woolf — not to mention the sagas of Homer… Read more →
The nature of reality. Existential crises. Free will versus determinism. These are all my favorite things and Westworld showrunner Jonathan Nolan continues to make wondrous contributions to the perennial debate: what is real and what is a mirage?
Check this… Read more →
Zadie Smith recently released a collection of essays in a book called Feel Free. One of the older essays, Generation Why?, is a review of the Facebook-inspired movie The Social Network as well as a savage indictment of social media… Read more →
Every time I chew through another great TV series I fear I’ve come to the end of the line. Having just finished, Stranger Things and Call the Midwife on Netflix, I checked to see what I’d missed on HBO. And… Read more →
What can I say about the Datsuns that I didn’t say last time I heard them play? Last night in a sweltering, sweaty Kings Arms they over-delivered on the rock n roll. Tight as hell while also—to my ears—more Beatle-ish… Read more →
This was my third trip to Splore, the scenic festival about an hour south of Auckland. They say it’s an integrated, eco-aware, family-friendly event and that it’s not all about the music—but the music is always gonna be top of… Read more →
The Auckland club scene is slowly crawling back to life but punters have few choices outside Ink Bar and Access on K Rd; Cassette 9 and Roxy downtown, or a smattering of upmarket venues around the Britomart/Viaduct area. And with… Read more →
All my Christmases came at once last night when I got to witness half of the original Queen line-up perform with my favourite American Idol contestant.
I’ve watched docos, read books and tried every one of the band’s 15 albums:… Read more →
Idly watching music videos on TV a few months ago, I sat up and took note of an upbeat house track fronted by an athletic girl dancing around the streets of Brooklyn. It was Canadian artist Kiesza with her runaway… Read more →
This doco was released in 2006 but the facts remain valid and it’s well worth a look. Oil is a pet hate of mine and I was half expecting to have heard all the horror tales before but there was… Read more →
First post of the year. Yikes! I’ve had nothing to say – been too busy muddling my way along in a limbo between thinking the New Age positive thinking/Law of Attraction/pray-to-the-relevant-angels school of thought is mumbo jumbo, and then, on… Read more →
I was born in Whakatane but moved to Gisborne when I was 3 so I’ve never really considered the place to be my hometown. My dad, however, has lived there most of his life and the last couple of times… Read more →
Today Beyonce surprised the world by releasing a 17-track visual album on iTunes. If you’re wondering what a visual album is, it means she’s made a video for every single track. The album is my favourite Beyonce material ever and… Read more →
Ingrid Starnes is an Auckland-based fashion label specialising in beautiful clothing that has a tailored, timeless quality. The brand has been extant a mere four years and yet today they launched a fragrance. The “other-worldly, mystical” scent is called Vetyver… Read more →
This is not a health-conscious rant about the dangers of drinking highly caffeinated, sugary drinks; it’s pure praise for the Red Bull brand. You could be forgiven for thinking I’m being paid to write such a one-sided glowing report but… Read more →
Salina-Pearl Nigro was evidently a mover and shaker in the Auckland house music scene about a decade ago and this year she’s made a comeback as a DJ/promoter with her 42 Below-sponsored party Manuka Jam. Saturday was the second installment… Read more →
Last night was the second installment of “Bad Habits” since it’s moved to Ink Bar from Bacco Room. As mentioned in a previous post, the monthly drum n bass party is hosted by State of Mind’s Pat and Stu, plus… Read more →
Tonight Bulletproof releases his 5th studio album with a party down at Ink Bar on K Rd. It will no doubt be a great night – full of fans, and pulsating with quality music.… Read more →
This party was spawned down at Ink Bar, where, for a few heady weeks, live bands sweated it up in the bunker lounge as a ragtag bunch of mods and rockers looked on from the foyer. But being as Ink… Read more →
Ponsonby Market Day never disappoints. It’s fun traipsing up and down the strip catching a soul band in a church yard, or a troupe of amateur drummers on a street corner, with such pleasure showing on the faces of the… Read more →
Having worked at Ink on and off for years, it’s easy to spot whether a night has a genuine point of difference, or if it’s just another DJ line-up with a pretty flyer. This party has been going for a… Read more →
This was originally published on worlddj.com when I lived in Japan and reviewed events for free entry. Yellow was an incredible club that has since been shut down. I took the booth pics and they supplied the others.
As one… Read more →
This was originally published on worlddj.com when I was living in Japan and writing club reviews for free entry. I’m not sure if my review conveys how absolutely awesome this club was! Note the lady dancing on stage in front… Read more →
The latest beautifully packaged offering from San Francisco’s OM Records is a live mix CD from Derrick Carter and Mark Farina respectively. To celebrate its release, Farina was invited to spin in Chicago at the Monday night industry party… Read more →
This is one of the dopest parties I’ve ever been to. Yellow is a serious nightclub and the 3 Chairs crew are serious about their music but the two factors combined to create a lot of fun. The Japan tour… Read more →
This was originally published on worlddj.com when I lived in Japan and reviewed events for free entry. The Tokyo club scene is super professional and sometimes there were no cameras allowed but they would give me ones from their pros,… Read more →
