these types of rivalry and snobbery really get to me, but i think they have always been there. in the past, say 80s-90s, it seemed to me to be geographical, plus if you weren't a friend of the sound engineer or hung out in his/her cliche, they didn't give a flying eff about you. these things are still a bit true, but not more than ever.

i think it's harder to be critical about other bands now because NZ is such a small community and it's very easy to offend someone and start off a chain reaction. (i've not been involved in such a thing, but shit have i ever seen it happen so many times!)

yeah there is a bit more competition, but that actually might be increasing the opportunity to criticise other bands, instead of the reverse ... NZ music sees to be undergoing a small burp of a renaissance right now - while that's great (i am sooooo poor with buying eps and singles and vinyl, all from Aotearoa) it's gonna increase the amount of bands there already are and there will be a lot more infighting ...

i don't think it will escalate out of control - the people who can't live without music will keep playing, and those who can no longer stand the shitty infighting will move on. pendulum swings back again.

great topic though Stefan, be interesting to see what other people predict.

I think you missed the point.
This isn't about "good" music.
This is about the state of NZ Music in terms of inter-band dynamics.

The illusion is you.

yeah blame ian.period.

saying
//Everyone wants to make the next HLAH SHIHAD FURPATROL WETA.
Is nothing to do with the sound it is to do with that level of professionalism and fame. You know kill yr fucking idols man.

andoru- expand that a little?

"that level of professionalism and fame. You know kill yr fucking idols man."

sorry, didn't want to sound challenging - i thought you were on to something - but I didn't quite follow. If you could expand further it may make for good reading.

Re: the bands and the "new era of welly rock" - I personally think that kind of comment is possibly grasping at former glory - and it drives a lot of people mad, especially those bands that are trying to be themselves NOT X-Welly band Version2. Influences will always be there but I'd like to think everyone's trying to move on. It also seems to alienate the Wellington support from people who witnessed the early nineties scene. They hear of these bands that are trying to be Shihad or whatever and hate the bands for it. The bands would never say they are X band version 2 even if they felt they were similar - I'm sure they are just spitting out the music that swirls around their heads - and of course some of it is from the scene they grew up in... there is some hate there for that that is unnecessary. but yeah...

also that punk band fest shit is wack. there is some that long for the good punk... me at least.

yeah matt is a LEGEND. he spoke some decent shit last night. so its all about staple then eh?

"wellington rock is dead" yeah well those dudes seem to think there is some kind of war. Weird people sometimes. You'd think that they would be onto it and enlightened but who knows?

The people i have met from marystaple are the opposite to what i have been saying: all very down to earth nice people who rock because they rock. period.

// don't think Carter will appreciate being compared to fur patrol.

i meant......... compared to "Julia deans"

whos carter? shayne carter?

Ian have i ever told you i love you?

Its true i do talk more shit than anyone else in this world. But still no need for the hierarchy put a show on with electrolite and ejector supporting.

it's not a heirachy thing bro. it's an overplaying thing, ejector have played about 18 times in wellington in the past year. I have had to turn down gigs because the timing isn't right. if people know that they can see your band in a few weeks, they'll just wait to see you then. ejector had to earn their stripes and get live experience by playing heaps of gigs, something electrolite are doing now.

I think after your first 12 gigs and people around the city recognise your name you need to slow down your playing, play lesss gigs and play better gigs. Make your shows an event, don't just play a little show at some rangi venue, get posters/radio advertsing put on a show. It has nothing to do with heirachy, a sensible band doesn't overplay.

You saw it firsthand buddy, meterman, who aren't even from wellington are a wicked band and play in welly at least once every 3 months, there were only about 6 people at their last show, they have 2 albums out....why so few people...OVERPLAYING...

// once every 3 months

thats alot bro, for an out of town band, even for a welly band once every 3 months to headline a show is a bit to much. Unless you are an amazing live band, and then again i remember when the Datsuns played in welly a month or so back, people were like oh yeah...just saw them a couple of months back....and if the datsuns can't get repeat punters, it's a fucking worry.

3 months doesn't sound like often, but it is bro. bands get stale if they play too much and don't release anything.

i blame rockquest :)))

i do blame the rockquest. As well as Ian

//there is always shit bands. is that a problem?

yes it is because these are the bands that are getting signed and pushed. So if remarks go around against these shit bands then i dont really care.

// if you knew you were better you wouldn't need to make any comments - let alone smart arse comments.

maybe or maybe you would find it quite frustrating.

im not saying all NZ signed bands are shit, but unfortunatly lots are.

//Influences will always be there but I'd like to think everyone's trying to move on. ... I'm sure they are just spitting out the music that swirls around their heads - and of course some of it is from the scene they grew up in

dust is my guru! i would vote dust :X

// next year, they mite have to compare a jazz band, to say a solo artist.... its shite

ahh, this happens every year...

// To me that is like saying don't play guitar for a week; it is simply something I have to do!

buddy...getting a bit over the top...aren't ya. I'm saying that is "my opinion" for home town gigs ONCE you have a minor fanbase that isn't just your mates and girlfriends...if you want to play heaps more..i reckon just get your ass to palmy, napier, wanganui, new plymouth all relatively short drives.

This is all just my opinion, that is reflected with various poeple i know in welly. The whole local industry is being affected by bands playing often for not much money...The world series gigs in Auckland are $20 to see 6 huge bands, so bands in welly put on small production shows for $3/$5..because they play so often this is the only way to guarantee punters...make the gigs BETTER, get lighting, get theming, charge $10. Put in place the same production standards as "dance events"

People will happily pay $30 to see sone crappy local DJs play but yet are hesitant to hand over $10 to see 4 local bands...this has got to end!

my creed. PLAY LESS, PLAY BETTER, LEAVE THE PUNTERS NEEDING MORE!!

bands should set goals to ...
//most days I am day-dreaming about playing to a packed room, having the whole crowd hanging off every note.
...so make it happen, playing every 2 weeks at valve or the cross bar..ain;t gonna make this happen. Practise and Practise so your band is the tightest mofo unit in town and then play the hell good rock shows

..........all my opinion...................
Andrew.....i'm not ray columbus!!, this is just how i feel.