I saw The Cult perform in Wellington in 1993. I was four months pregnant at the time and spent the whole concert trying not to breathe in order to avoid brain damage to my unborn baby from the *ahem* herbal cigarette smoke that wreathed the venue; and the very drunk guy standing next to us took exception to the way my (now ex) husband looked at him and threatened violence.

I didn’t enjoy the concert much at all. Not because of herbal smoke or dickhead drunks, but because it was, quite frankly, lacklustre. Some musicians make their audience feel a part of something. Even if lines like “wow, this is the best audience we’ve played to” are hackneyed and trite, with the right delivery and some genuine emotion behind it the audience will believe. Other bands give off an “if it’s Wednesday then this must be New Zealand” vibe that leaves the audience with the impression that the band would rather be anywhere doing anything else than playing this particular song for the 157th time, and The Cult was one of those.

But hey, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I still love their music and wouldn’t mind seeing them again, so I’m quite tempted to book myself tickets for their concert at Trusts Stadium on Monday 3 May. The Love World Tour follows a different format from your standard concert, with The Cult performing in its entirety their seminal 1985 album “Love”, followed by a “best of” finale showcasing their biggest hits.

So, what do you think? Should I give them another chance? Tickets are available from Ticket Direct.

Avenue Q won three major Tony Awards in 2004 and has gone on to be one of the longest running shows on Broadway, as well as being a huge hit on London’s West End. Most of the cast of Avenue Q are puppets (operated by actors on stage) and the show is largely inspired by Sesame Street.

The story centres around Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbors seem nice. There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fiancée Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod — a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate Monster. And would you believe the building’s superintendent is Gary Coleman?!? (Yes, that Gary Coleman.) Their lives also intermingle with renowned nightclub singer, Lucy the Slut, and school principal, Mrs. Thistletwat. Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

Avenue Q plays at The Civic for a strictly limited season from Thursday 13 May. Tickets are available from The Edge, and more information about the muscial can be found on its official website.

But seriously, the ‘In Wellington’ page in today’s Sunday Star Times section  documents ladies’ night at The Establishment.

It’s enough to make anyone want to live in Auckland.

So to celebrate my impending move, I am writing a list. All the stuff you say ‘I should totally do that one day’ – goes on the list. Thanks to my Wellington list, I’ve eaten dinner at the restaurant with Wellington’s best location and worst food (Fisherman’s Table), dragged flatmates on day trips (Somes Island), attended my first sports game (Phoenix) and investigated Welly’s urban legends (the trippy tree).

In return, I may provide vaugley interesting reports back on my list-based activities. So let me know! What needs to be on the list?

If you chose option b, congratulations, you are Fergus Cleaver.

And then let’s say that you’re the marketing person who receives a one word reply. Do you
a) ignore it or
b) reply back thanking them for their professionalism, and cc it in to the marketing departments of all the other liquor companies in town?

If you chose option b, congratulations, you work for Tiger Beer.

If you’re interested in checking out up and coming local bands, head to Global Cafe in Henderson at 7pm on Thursday 25 for the Young Guns Concert. Organised and hosted by Green Bay High School students, top young talent from West Auckland schools cover every genre from blues to punk, hip-hop and rock. Top performers will get to play a spot on the ‘Local Sounds’ stage at the Village Music Night on Friday.

Popular local eatery Hardware Cafe will be hosting some of Auckland’s hottest jazz talent in the Toolroom Bar on the Thursday and Friday nights. Situated beneath Hardware Cafe, Toolroom Bar is only open during the Festival.

Friday night is Village Night, and with several events happening around Titirangi at once the $15.00 Village Night Pass is well worth purchasing if you want to check them all out. I’m particularly keen to head to Titirangi Memorial Hall for Local Sounds, where ex-The Mockers frontman Andrew Fagan will be performing with his band The People.

On Saturday night the Titirangi RSA will be ringing with the sweet sound of Celtic melodies and pulsating modal fusion for Pagan Moon Dance, while over at Titirangi Theatre you are challenged to leave pre-conceptions at home and open your mind to the avant garde, strange, spooky or kooky during the Festival Club Late Nite Show.

Saturday night also sees the festival’s headline act perform: local and international hip-hop star King Kapisi and a six piece band will take the stage for Pacific Roots, along with Souljah, Manuel Bundy and MC Rhythm Slave.

There are many more events on offer than I have listed here, from a tour of Rolling Stones memorabilia to hand drumming classes for children – Titirangi is guaranteed to be buzzing for the whole weekend. For more information and tickets see the Titirangi Music Festival 2010 site.

A pastry-topped beef pot pie from Galbraiths on Mt Eden Road was an unexpectedly good start to the night. After that and a glass of wine we crossed the road to the Powerstation to wait with the 100-or-so other slighty-aging fans for the doors to open.

After a brief rush to the stage to secure spots, drinks were sourced (the cash bar at the Powerstation is unusual, but great for those that thought far enough in advance to bring folding stuff) and the wait began. After ominous introductory music, the Pixies took the stage at 9pm on the dot.

Being the 20th anniversary tour of their Doolittle album, most of the set list was pre-determined: b-sides from singles off the album, then the full album itself, followed by two more b-sides, then finally a run through of (mainly Surfer Rosa/Come On Pilgrim) hits for an encore.

The erstwhile Black Francis has lost none of the power in his scream, and while his face said ‘sleepy and a bit bored’, his voice screeched biblical Spanish alien sex. Joey Santiago looked nervous the entire night, though he needn’t have – he’s a man well in control of his instrument, so to speak. David Lovering was everyone’s dodgy old uncle, and Kim Deal offered the occasional comment in advance of the songs, as well as smiling through the whole shebang. Watching 1000 people trying to whistle along with La La Love You, and yodel along with Caribou, I reckon I’d have cracked a smile or two as well.

Our spot – second row from the front, stage-right, in front of Joey – was even closer than I let myself hope for. It was a privilege and a thrill to be that close to a band that formed a significant part of the soundtrack to my teens and 20s – let it not be said that I (and most of the crowd, by the looks) didn’t appreciate every minute of it. Speaking of the crowd – they were well-behaved, and the (fairly sparse) security team didn’t have a lot to do all night.

After a joint bow, each member of the band went along the stagefront to slap hands and wave to each section of the audience – a nice touch that further endeared them to an already happy crowd. We were out by 11pm, and then it was back home for an early night before round #2.

The next day we were pleasantly surprised by Bellota, on Federal St under SkyCity. I was expecting a sterile, hotel-restaurant style environment, but I got an intimate little tapas bar with excellent pork belly and a range of tasty pintxos. Not cheap, but not exorbitant.

A taxi to Vector Arena, and we were amongst the heaving masses. Purchasing alcohol at the Arena is fine if you get there early; by about halfway through the support band (Collapsing Cities), queues were about half-an-hour long and gettng worse. Drink early!

Sound at the Arena was fine (for a large arena-style show) – having been to a couple of previous concerts I wasn’t overly worried, and that was justified. Visuals were interesting and adding something from what we’d seen the previous night. The ominous opening music was revealed as a soundtrack to an excerpt of the Luis Buñuel/Salvador Dalí film Un Chien Andalou, which is referenced in the opening track (Debaser) on the album.

Set list was obviously very similar to the night before, with a few of the encore songs swapped in, out or around. Then, after giving their goodbyes with another round of waving and bowing, they were gone.

The Corner Bar under Hotel DeBretts on Shortland St provided drinks afterwards – though with only two barmen dealing to a large (if quite polite) crowd, and no drinking at the outside tables after 11pm, I think I’ll head further afield after future Vector gigs.

I look forward to the 40th anniversary concerts in 20 years’ time.

Setlist

Dancing the Manta Ray
Weird At My School
Bailey’s Walk
Manta Ray
Debaser
Tame
Wave of Mutilation
I Bleed
Here Comes Your Man
Dead
Monkey Gone To Heaven
Mr. Grieves
Crackity Jones
La La Love You
Number 13 Baby
There Goes My Gun
Hey
Silver
Gouge Away
Wave Of Mutilation (UK Surf Mix)
Into the White

Encore (Powerstation):
Isla De Encanta
Nimrod’s Son
U-Mass
Bone Machine
Vamos
Caribou
Gigantic
Where Is My Mind?

Encore (Vector Arena):
Where Is My Mind?
Broken Face
Isla De Encanta
The Holiday Song
Nimrod’s Son
U-Mass
Gigantic

What’s not to love about ice dancing? It’s just so very … sparkly. I like the sparkly and I’ve long dreamed of being an ice dancer. But then throughout my life I’ve variously dreamed of being a cabin steward (too short to reach the overhead lockers), a vet (allergic to lots of animals) and a trapeze artist (I cried when they tried to get me on the flying fox at school camp) so it’s safe to say when it comes to realistic expectations I fail.

If you’re a fan of the sparkly, or want to relive your ice dancing dreams then Swan Lake on Ice, performed by The Imperial Ice Stars could be just the thing for you.

Featuring 26 World, European and National Championship skaters who between them hold more than 250 competition medals, The Imperial Ice Stars will be performing Swan Lake on Ice at The Aotea Centre’s ASB Theatre from 21 to 25 July as part of a two year world tour. Tickets will be available from 9am Monday 15 March from The Edge.

Do you like classic cars and rockin’ guitars?
Candy floss and cupcakes?
Vintage clothes?
…Beer?
Then look no further than Pirate City Rollers’ first big fundraiser for 2010 – the Jukebox Jamboree!

Jukebox Jamboree is like the school gala you always wanted, but forget the white elephant sales and awkward Monkees cover bands of old, Jukebox Jamboree is going to be loud, fast, fun and fancy… and it’s all on your back doorstep.

The dear hearts at Mt Albert Primary School have (foolishly?) loaned Pirate City Rollers a fabulous space for the day, so come along, relive the days when you were three feet tall, and get a hot rod ride, candy floss, some new vintage digs and an ice cold beer while you’re at it.

The girls have a wealth of talent at their fingertips, so stick around into the evening for boisterous bands, burlesque beauties, and of course – brews.

This fundraiser is all in aid of getting the Pirates to their first-ever Australasian tournament. So if you promise to come along and support your local derby league, they’ll promise to get to Australia and do this country proud. Come one, come all!

So on Saturday March 20, get your ass along to Mt Albert Primary School from 4pm-10pm and have a great time for us. Thank you!

Back by popular demand – the hottest all-girl syncronised-wading water-ballet troupe this summer, the Wet Hot Bitches presents
Wet Hot Beauties!

Pretty ladies all in a row!
A fantastical aquacade!
A memorial to the King Of Pop!
A hand in glove mix of syncronised swimming and water boogie – don’t miss the underwater hit of the summer!

Two performances – Sunday 28 February at 5:00pm,
and Sunday 7 March at 3:00pm

At: The historic Parnell Baths, Judges Bay Road, Parnell.

WHBs performing for your koha at these glamorous outdoor heated salt-water pools. Entry to the Baths is $5.70 for swimmers (and please join us pre & post-performance for splashy fun) and $1 for spectators.

Deeply silly, delightful and glorious, the 40s era water musical aquacade is back, MJ styles!
Hilarious!
Hot!
Wet!
Wet Hot Beauties!