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Piha - April 2012
Through the kindness of a dear friend I feel very fortunate to have gained access to her lovely home in Piha, west of Auckland for five weeks. It's a chance to potter away at some new songs, finally complete series 1 of Game of Thrones, watch the entire Beatles anthology box set and eventually build up enough courage to brave the surf of this wild west coast beach, at least to waste high level.
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Above - the view of Piha north, then Piha south.
Below - engrossed in this album which is a collection of Brazilian pop hits from the 1970's-80's and was compiled by David Byrne.
Fup was a pleasant afternoon's read.
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Piha RSA and a rarely seen stainless steel pool cue
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Lawrence Arabia filming at Whangateau Hall, estb 1898
A jolly band of us headed north of Auckland last weekend to play the first Lawrence Arabia show with full ensemble - James, Alistair, Hayden, me, Tom, Will and a string quartet. In front of a fine gathering of invitees the show was also filmed by Hugh Sundae and crew. Pre show interspresed with cricket and watching two locals banging over rugby place kicks from 55 metres plus (with the wind mind you). Dad and Don Clarke would have been impressed. Last photo is Tom, not me, with Charlie the greyhound.
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Video
We've made a music video for Bright idea with Carla and Steve from Jenson Downes productions. It will star Delaney Tabron. That's her firing rubber bands at John's hand. When it's all cut together with mesmorising special effects, it'll be my face on the end of that barrage of flying rubber.
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Then this happened, but to say how would ruin the ending ending
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This is Gus, a 4 month old Burnese mountain dog with big paws as soft as silk made from the most pampered of Thai silkworms. He lives in Mt Eden and I met him two months ago.
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Show at Q theatre - 22 December with special guests She's so Rad. Q theatre is a fine recently built performing arts centre on Auckland's Queen street. Together with Chris O'Connor on drums we did the first show hosted by Q's loft space. It was a splendid night and as for our generously stocked green room, we really did feel like rock stars for one night only. With lighting by Dave Botting and sound by Rikki Morris, the show shouted everything arctic - sleds, snow shoes, arctic food tins (at least indicative of that early exploration period), old radio equipment, telephones and some sturdy old wooden storage boxes. Why I felt it was all necessary, I don't know, but it looked nice and it was like dress up time for black temporary staging. There were some lovely guest appearances by Claire Duncan, James Milne, Wayne Bell, Ben King and Victoria Girling-Butcher. Here are some photos.
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Below, this is Chris, who left his drum kit and ran through an obstacle course of unnecessary artic-related memorabilia to play an 'assorted' brass synth part next to me.
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Above, a heavily bearded James Milne, aka Lawrence Arabia on rendition of I have only eyes for you
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December 2011
F.E.U.C The Four Eyes United Club is a short film that my friend Aidee Walker's made for the cost of a good quality English willow cricket bat. Aidee asked if I'd contribute a little music for it. This photo's from the party scene and provides clear photographic evidence of an experimental dance movement that has swept through the Grey Lynn and Ponsonby suburbs of Auckland, The Thomas Sainsbury.
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Lawrence Arabia strings - November 2011
Have been working with James Milne (pictured below) on the string parts for his forthcoming Lawrence Arabia album. James has composed some splendid arrangements for this new body of work. He painstakingly sung in the various violin and cello parts into Garageband (he has a rather gigantic singing range which seems to strech beyond what the human ear can audibly process. It took him some time to be convinced of what I was convinced of - that he was singing in harmonies that lay somewhere in the upper reaches of what even a violin is capable of producing. I've notated them (evidence at piano) and along with Mahuia and Rachel (pictured below below), we recorded the parts with James and engineer Jason (not pictured) at Roundhead studio. To discover more about this fine release (July 2012 I believe) go to http://www.lawrencearabia.com/
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This is a drawing by my friend Katy http://katywakefield.blogspot.co.nz/
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These are some old family photos that I love, taken way before I was born
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Mum and Dad and my brother and sister moving to Canada. This is Christchurch airport, 1971 ish
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Mum had two possum hats. The second was gifted to me and was a contributing factor in ensuring that I remained girlfriend-less until the age of 16, at which time the hat went missing
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Mum and Dad's campervan, Canada
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Dad the Marlboro man, with no Marlboro
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My brother and sister, probably Universal studios in Los Angeles
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This bookends the family photos. Keith's not family, but he is music's Marlboro man
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CMJ music festival New York October 2011
For the New Zealand Music Comission's CMJ showcase I was joined by Dan Ward on drums and for this outing, Jol Mulholland on bass. We played a few in lower east side - Delancey Lounge, Pianos NYC and Rockwood Music Hall, with the highlight being our last performance at the Living Room.
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Below is John Maus in lower east Manhattan making everyone roar like a big hangry lion during cmj
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Enroute L.A to New York. Impressive how close planes take off in the U.S
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Melbourne, Australia - July 2011
Emma arranged a lovely short notice secret show at The Cullen, woo luxury, while I was in Melbourne. Mulled wine, pretty flower and candle hangings, fine folk, yummy foodies and food and bean bags. Very comfortable
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