I was at Kings arms for Ska-b-q on saturday night and it got me thinking.
ive been a fan of the Offbeats since the first time i saw them.. at Auckland Uni bar Shadows (*cringe*) a few years ago. Every time ive seen them since i have unreasonably high expectations for their show. Despite my Expctations, every time without fail, they blow me away. the energy, the music, the atmosphere, the vibe... EVERYTHING.
Being the cynic that i am, i cant say that for a lot of music i see live these days. Some (or most) of the international acts that come here cant even claim a show like that. (admittedly, theyre probly jetlagged as hell). its definately a quality that surpasses professionalism and musicianship.
I guess what im trying to get at is basicly this... theres a lot of hype surrounding NZ music at the moment (for better or for worse), so much so that i think NZers are getting some sort of "appreciation fatigue". we have started taking all these awesome acts for granted. whether it's having our senses dulled to high quality product, or just showing blind and un-worthy support for local acts.
i think its time that we, as new zealanders took an objective stand point on our music. Alot of the time i wonder whether i support a band cos theyre wicked, or whether i suport them cos theyre kiwis.
New Zealand music has reached such high standards that we no longer need to show undeserved praise because theres so much good stuff here that we shouldnt have to "put up" with anything less than perfection.
but i digress...
After dwelling for FAR TOO LONG on this i have decided never to watch another band that fails to deliver... and if that means only ever leaving the house to see the offbeats then so be it
:P
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Nah- watch more live music Chops, see ...
Nah- watch more live music Chops, see more local nz bands play live every chance you get. Watch the same guys play one week, then become twice as tight next time you see them play. Then you can say you've seen them grow up in front of you to become the kick-ass band they are. That's a pretty good thing to have under your belt.
Sadly, some of the best bands I've ever seen have lived and died in front of me in the space of a few months, before anyone else ever took notice. Now I think to myself how lucky I am to have been one of the few to have ever seen them play, and they really delivered it live.
tru. very tru. i guess im a brat cos im ...
tru. very tru. i guess im a brat cos im spoiled for choice
but having said that... i do actually ...
but having said that... i do actually see a shitload of live music on a regular basis
That's also true! But I don't mind a ...
That's also true! But I don't mind a little hurt because the pay-back is so good.
You can always go out for a breather ...
You can always go out for a breather during a set while you wait for the next set... sneaky, but do-able.
Maybe The Offbeats are causing you to ...
Maybe The Offbeats are causing you to set your standards too high. Not many bands are as good as they are live, but maybe thats because not many bands get as drunk as they do and still sound good.
oh, the offbeats were just an example. ...
oh, the offbeats were just an example. i just happened to be reflecting on them when i started thinking about this. there are plenty of other bands out there that also leave me in their dust
I was thinking about this sort of thing ...
I was thinking about this sort of thing today, actually. I reckon that while seeing a really good band doing a really good live show is a reason for living, it's still good to get out and see lots of local bands, even if they suck a little bit.
Like foetusboy said, it's cool to see a band grow, to get better over time. I think it's also healthy to see a really crap band from time to time to remind you of how good the really good ones are.
Support the scene, support venues, support bands, but ultimately you should make sure you're enjoying yourself. (Yay!)
some times when i go to an audience ...
some times when i go to an audience they expect 'orkid to sound like all the other bands they like,
then we play our music,
and people will eithier judge,stare or dance,
i like the ones that stare shows me they are thinking.
do you guys have anything recorded? if ...
do you guys have anything recorded? if so can i hear it?
...that way if i ever see you play i can stand perfectly still and contemplate the universe and your place in it
after ive memorised all the lyrics of ...
after ive memorised all the lyrics of coarse
There is something special about ...
There is something special about watching a band grow. Seeing them starting out, playing to small crowds....then seeing them play an amazing show, feeding off the audience, working the crowd into a frenzy. If i only saw amazing bands, i wouldn't appreciate the ones who truly were.
nice photos of deg k in the low hum ...
nice photos of deg k in the low hum thing,
made them look like the 70's wigged out trippers they are
love to those that love
Patriotism and Music? As an x-pat kiwi ...
Patriotism and Music? As an x-pat kiwi musician [ex-pumpkinhead drummer] I am pleased to hear these fantastic comments on NZ music and it makes for an interesting talking point. The problem is that music is very individual and what one person may deem as brilliant, being a kiwi band or not is besides the point - another may deem complete shite. I think its fab if you are into any kind of music - period [in fact I find it hard to relate to people who don't listen to music at all? its a very healthy thing!] If they happen to be a kiwi band great! And if the kiwi band are wucked in your opinion, cool support them - but I can honestly say that since I have lived in Australia for the past 2 yrs I have seen some brilliant OZ bands, and its not because they are Australian its because they are GOOD! Music has no bounds - Pacifier [shihad to the purists] are a prime example - I remember seeing these guys when they were 18 playing metallica covers, and have had the great opportunity to meet/play with them many times, and to watch them flourish into this International selling band has been a trip - but I didn't follow/like them because they were Kiwis its was because they were kick ass - well thats my opinion, so in conclusion, it doesn't matter if a band is from timbuktoo if they turn your crank, then go for it. Peace and Dingos JP :) p.s. the NZ music scene seems very healthy at present, I think this is attributed to Helen Clark - Good on ya mate! I just wish our cricket/rugby teams would do as well as some of the NZ bands at the moment :::::::
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I suspect that the strength of the NZ ...
I suspect that the strength of the NZ music scene has more to do with the musicians getting on with making music than Ms Clark or her government.
//myshkin dood are you blind or ...
//myshkin
dood are you blind or what? it has everything to do with Helen.... Other than the brunettes and The Datsuns id like you to name a contemporary NZ musical group making big waves that DONT have NZoA funding.
hi gandalf - you guys were on failsafe ...
hi gandalf - you guys were on failsafe records for a while eh? can i get your email address - want to ask you a couple of questions.
//[ex-pumpkinhead ...
//[ex-pumpkinhead drummer]
pumpkin-head like mushroom head?
pumpkinhead like mmmm pumpkinhead....
pumpkinhead like mmmm pumpkinhead.
Pumpkinhead were cool, nothing like ...
Pumpkinhead were cool, nothing like mushroomhead