Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed

Big Day Out 2010 in Auckland city started off with a 3-way clash between some of my favourite New Zealand bands to this day, they were The Drab Doo-Riffs, Cairo Knife Fight and Popstrangers. They were all playing different stages at 11AM when the doors opened, and even though I am happy for those bands because they get to play BDO, I would hate to have to choose between them. The day got easier after that, I saw Temper Trap and Passion Pit on the Green/Converse stages then I headed over to the main stage to join the Mastodon moshpit. After that I went straight to the NZ stage where I saw Tainted, who were possibly one of the best acts I saw that day. They had really amazing energy and the security guards kept spraying us with a hose, which was felt absolutely magical after spending all day in the sun. Kasabian was rather uneventful and I spent the next few hours checking out the other bands around, like The Horrors, Ladyhawke, The Veils and The Decemberists. I saw Peaches the night before at her sideshow, so I didn't go see her again that day but I missed seeing Devendra Banhart and Dead Prez which I am quite gutted about. As the evening went on, I headed up to the stands of the main stage to watch the head lining acts. Dizzee Rascal isn't really my thing, but watching the crowd all jump in unison was kind of amazing, then Lily Allen played her set but her sound quality was rather poor. The Mars Volta were my favourite band to play that night, but I didn't get a great view of them performing. It was dark by now and Muse were taking the stage for the final show of the night. They brought their crazy laser display down here with them and put on a brilliant performance. Their setlist was fantastic and the entire night was a real spectacle. I didn't take many photos during the day because everything ended up blurry, but these are the ones that turned out alright:

Big Day Out. 15/01/2010. Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand.

Tainted

Dizzee Rascal

Lily Allen

The Mars Volta

Muse

Made me a shadow in the shape of wonder

For the first time after the expansion of the band and their new album, Congratulations, MGMT were playing a show in Auckland. originally they were playing at the Logan Campbell Centre but for some reason, they changed it to The Powerstation which was great for me because that is one of my favourite venues. I was actually feeling a bit of deja-vu because exactly 1 year before, I went through the same thing with the Dead Weather, they announced a show at the Logan Campbell Centre on March 17th and then changed it to The Powerstation at the last minute. It was a little freaky that the exact same thing was happening on the same day but I would never compare the 2 events too closely (The Dead Weather are just too amazing for comparison). 2 of my favourite New Zealand bands were opening for MGMT, they were Popstrangers and The Drab Doo-riffs. It was my first time seeing Popstrangers since their drummer change, I loved their old drummer Elliot but the new guy seemed to do really well too (it will never be the same, but I can move past this). The Drab Doo-riffs were electric as always and really got everybody in the mood. Then MGMT played and it was a pretty fantastic show, they all seemed like they were having a lot of fun, which can be really contagious and the lighting was extremely psychedelic. The set list they played was phenomenal and I managed to get my hands on it afterwards (someone else tried to grab it too and it just ripped, but I got the majority of it while this poor other stranger only got a corner). I'm not the biggest MGMT fan in the world and they will never compare to The Dead Weather, but it was a really great show and a fascinating musical experience.

MGMT w/ The Drab Doo-riffs + Popstrangers. 17/03/2011. The Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand

Popstrangers - Jimmy Mac + Adam Page

Popstrangers - Joel Flyger

The Drab Doo-riffs - Karl Steven + Caiohme Macfehin

The Drab Doo-Riffs - Broke It Up

MGMT - Andrew VanWyngarden

MGMT - Benjamin Goldwasser + Andrew VanWyngarden

MGMT - Of Moons, Birds & Monsters

MGMT - Electric Feel

MGMT setlist 2011

New Zealand Music Month 2011

This is a dedication to all the great New Zealand bands out there today in honour of New Zealand music month 2011. Even though the comedy gala has overshadowed kiwi music in the month of may in NZ, I still think NZMM should be properly appreciated, so here are 4 amazing bands that everyone in the world should know about...




STREET CHANT

These guys are a heavy pop trio from Auckland, New Zealand formed in 2007 that sound like bubble gum with the liquid centre, and getting punched in the face. The band consists of Emily Littler (vocals/guitar), Billie Rogers (bass/vocals) and Alex Brown (drums). Their debut album Means is the best record to come out of NZ in 2010 and they have played some amazing shows including Big Day Out '11 and the We Means Kudos tour with Surf City and The Transistors. I was first introduced to their music when they opened for The Dead Weather in March 2010 and have been addicted ever since. Their live show is a unique and energetic experience with elements of the grunge/punk 'fuck shit up' attitude, they are truly the best band around these days.

Best Songs: Scream Walk, Less Chat More Sewing, Blister, Yr Philosophy.

POPSTRANGERS

This band is the trigger that started my obsession with New Zealand music. An Auckland trio consisting of Joel Flyger (Vocals, Guitar), Adam Page (Bass) and Elliot Rawson (Drums), they exploded onto the scene in 2009 with their unique combination of grunge, punk and noise. Their debut self-titled EP was flawless with every track just as brilliant as the next. I first saw them when they opened for Peaches at the Transmission Room and then a day later at Big Day Out '10, with one of their most notable shows being opening for MGMT in 2011. After the success of their first EP, they began work on their next record with new drummer, Jimmy Mac and in 2010 they released Happy Accidents which was another fucking brilliant EP. These guys would be the second best band around these days.

Best songs: 1000, Take It To The Grave, Happy Accidents, Arrest Your Body

THE DRAB DOO-RIFFS

An Auckland-based bluesy, surf punk five piece fronted by Karl Steven (Lead Vocals/Harmonica and former member of Supergroove). They are a band that is just focused on being themselves and having fun, with other members including Caoimhe Macfehin (co-lead vocals and percussion), Marcus Joyce (Bass), Mikey Sperring (Drums) and Lucy Stewart (guitars). The true essence of this band can be found at their live shows where their spastic and crazy energy is on display. They are committed to making lots of music, choosing to release their music on EPs because they are small and fast and playing as many live gigs as possible, including opening for The Cult in 2010 and MGMT in 2011. The DD-R's are a band that wants to be Spock and releases music as fast as a mongoose – what more could you ask for?

Best Songs: Hot Tanya, Ill Equipped, Broke It Up, Gold Coin

LEECHES

An Auckland-based hardcore punk band featuring members from many other NZ bands including The Bleeders. Forming in 2010, they have been playing shows and gaining momentum with the release of their self-titled EP in 2011. The band is made up of Angelo Munro (Vocals), Sam Crocker (Bass/Vocals), Ian King (Guitar/Vocals), Dan Brenndorfer (Guitar/Vocals) and Rob O-Conner (Drums). As all the members have come from other successful NZ bands, there was no hesitation when they erupted on the scene and they found their rhythm very quickly. Some of their more notable shows included opening for Cancer Bats at The Kings Arms and playing No Sleep Til Auckland in 2010 along with 10 other legendary bands.

Best Songs: Damnation, Never Forget, Already Dead

Check Out New Zealand Music Month 2011 - Part II

Take care not to make it angry, or it may inflate steadily

Yes, I did take the title from my Wigglytuff's pokedex entry on Pokemon Soulsilver

I got my first pokemon game when I was so young that I dont even remember what year it was. I was blesses with Blue version and a lime green Gameboy colour, I have never looked back since that day. My name is Harry, I am 20 years old and I am proud to be addicted to Pokemon. I also believe it gets more fun with age, because the level of planning and strategy becomes so much more interesting, but I always choose my pokemon based on what my heart tells me. I want my pokemon to be my friends, I love them like my family.

This is my Wigglytuff, her name is Mowgli (named after the Marina & The Diamonds song 'Mowgli's Road'). She is one of the co-leaders of my team, along with my Charmeleon, Spiral (named after the Nightrage song 'Spiral'). Spiral was my starter pokemon, but it wasnt long before my family started to expand. The next members to join were my Heracross, named Slider (after the T. Rex album and song by the same name) and Icky, my Muk (taken from The White Strpes album/song 'Icky Thump'). Then after a complex pursuit, an Abra named Wizard (a reference to the T. Rex song 'The Wizard) joned our band of friends. The final addition to my family was a Magnezone named 1000 (after the Popstrangers song '1000').

Charmeleon (Male)                                               Wigglytuff (Female)

SPIRAL                                                                MOWGLI

Abiliy - Blaze                                                         Ability - Cute Charm

Nature - Quirky                                                    Nature - Impish

Capable of taking hits                                          Often Scatters Things

Item - Dragon Fang                                              Item - Blackbelt

Smokescreen                                                        Sing

Flamethrower                                                       Hyper Voice

Dragon Claw                                                        Brick Break

Counter                                                                Bounce

Heracross (Male)                                                Muk (Male)

SLIDER                                                              ICKY

Abiliy - Guts                                                        Ability - Sticky Hold

Nature - Brave                                                    Nature - Gentle

Likes to fight                                                       Good Endurance

Item - Muscle Band                                            Item - Black Sludge

Night Slash                                                         Sludge Bomb

Earthquake                                                         Shadow Sneak

Close Combat                                                     Poison Gas

Megahorn                                                           Payback

Abra (Female)                                                 Magnezone (No Gender)

WIZARD                                                         1000

Abiliy - Synchronize                                         Ability - Magnet Pull

Nature - Calm                                                  Nature - Serious

Often lost in thought                                       Alert to sounds

Item - Focus Band                                           Item - Bright Powder                          Teleport                                                           Lock On                                            

Psychic                                                             Thunderbolt

Shadow Ball                                                     Flash Cannon

Light Screen                                                    Mirror Coat