Auckland Tumblr Meetup
Reminder for the locals: there’s a meetup at Neighbourhood Bar (498 New North Rd, Kingsland) this Thursday from 7pm.
Auckland Tumblr Meetup
Teresa Yang is organising an Auckland Tumblr meetup at El Camino in Kingsland on Thursday, 5th August. If/when that gets too crowded the venue will shift to Neighbourhood Bar along the way. From 7pm, see you there. Update: RSVPs are up.
What a beautiful, heavenly place you live in, with a very fine maritime museum.
— Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy complimenting Auckland’s facilites at today’s Big Day Out music festival. But really, where else would he hang out? Crappy video of the gig here.
Pretty happy with how this turned out: my daughter and nephews enjoying the sunshine on our southern hemisphere Christmas Day. This is my first use of the video capability of the Nikon D300s, paired with a 50mm f/1.4 prime. With the aperture wide open the shutter speed was very fast, hence the staccato effect where individual water drops are visible rather than a stream from the hose. Soundtrack is by Belle & Sebastian.
“Blinded By The Lights (Nero Remix)” from The Streets’ album A Grand Don’t Come For Free. The first time I heard the original track played on 95bFM I was on a short helicopter ride over Auckland and now can only picture that vantage point when I hear it. Turn it up loud. (via Dupstep Friday)
Tilt-shift footage taken from a helicopter along Auckland’s waterfront by erstwhile music video director Samuel Peacocke. I’m still amazed at how this effect makes everything look like such a toy town.
This interview with Andrew Bird at The A.V. Club has a lot of fascinating insights into Bird’s craft. If you haven’t heard Andrew Bird … he writes some of the most complex, beautiful pop songs out there. His concerts are amazing to watch because a number of songs involve him building up loops of the different parts, live.
His live show in Auckland last January was my highlight of the year, gig-wise.
Seattle five-piece Fleet Foxes, with goats. This video for “He Doesn’t Know Why” from the band’s self-titled debut album is directed by Sean Pecknold, brother of lead singer Robin. I was at their Auckland show late last week and they were charming, funny and downright good. No goats though.
The Alumni
12 July 2008 — 21 September 2008
Auckland artist Peter Stichbury’s seductive paintings engage in pointed dialogue with the world of popular culture. The Alumni: Peter Stichbury is the first major public gallery exhibition highlighting Stichbury’s work to date. Drawing directly from the commercial imagery of advertising and celebrity, he delivers back exaggerated renditions which question our attachment to such images.
Peter was kind enough to send me an invite to his opening tomorrow, alas it conflicts with the Auckland BarCamp to which I’ve committed. He’s one of my favourite New Zealand painters, so I’ll certainly be getting along in the next few weeks.
By 5:15pm all the prep is done. Every surface is spotless and ready for the evening’s service ahead. It feels like the calm before the storm, but something tells me Simon and his team don’t weather too many cyclones.
— My sister Emily spends a day with Simon Wright, head chef and owner of Auckland’s best restaurant, The French Café.
