CAKED IN FOUNDATION

Wellington's finest have a new album out October. God knows why I haven't seen this Phoenix Foundation clip before, but it has a quirky little sustainability bent to it.

SATURDAY SENSITIVITY - SPIKED

These guys pricked my attention because they appeared (apparently) on a Spike Milligan show in the 60's.

Spike was politically correct long before PC-ness eroded the foundations of British humour. You can almost sense a bit of Milligan in this clip...

CONSUMERISM RUN AMOK - McALBUM

Consumerism run amok hasn't graced the ShoppingFix screen in a while. And this one probably deserves different treatment.

Paul McCartney has done so much for music that according to Toronto's NOW Magazine, "whether the music is exciting or relevant to anyone but himself probably isn't a big concern". 41 albums (not incl. Beatles) is enough to make anyone tired.

This one star review is here for a few reasons. NOW call it "insipid" and "soulless", but the Guardian call it almost perfect. A Brit vs. a Canadian perspective?

Another reason is that it's 40 years since The Beatles' Sgt. Peppers album. In 1977, 87, and 97 McCartney released questionable stuff (although his '97 effort was a classical album).

Is the current schtik merely what's expected on a major anniversary?

SENSITIVE CONSUMERISM - THE MASHUP

You'll find regular pieces Consumerism Run Amok and Saturday Sensitivity here at ShoppingFix. Amok covers amusingly reviewed crap music. Sensitivity is a vid series where people express themselves and/or issues.

I was watching Scratch again the other day. DJ Shadow explaining digging made it clear to me that the hip hop DJ relies on "discarded" albums. The "quest for beats" is indeed dependant on time hunting through mountains of shit and not-so-shit records. Rare and obscure is best. No better evidence than with DJ Shadow himself.

PUNK FLOYD

This is no piss-take of the Kiwi accent. It's a practical environmental message with yoof in mind.



It's seriously good. Eric Prydz doesn't really do it for me, but the theme and the delivery are superb. I've certainly seen one of the brick tricks before - but the first one here was new to me!

SMALL ENGLISH MARQUEE

As our Kiwi summer thinks of drawing to a close those northern monkeys are preparing for another scorcher. And naturally, it's the season of music festivals.

Imagine taking the bare essentials and flying from London to Valencia (offset and during daytime of course), hopping on a ecofuel shuttle to nearby Bennicassim festival, lapping up four days of the Animal Collective, Peter Bjorn & John (etc etc), crashing in a recyclable tent, then heading back to recuperate in Hyde Park in your underwear.

It's possible to do with a light eco footprint - the flights being the only bummer.

Ecofuel being the logical next step for Valencia - a region that grows and processes oranges by the megaton. They're to turn the pulp waste into vehicle fuel.

Cardboard tents are the brainchild of a British design grad. He's commercialised the idea after talking to festival organisers and finding that the "biggest [waste] problem was the number of tents that are discarded" following events like Glastonbury.

The tents are conceived to be rented at festivals - the punter arrives, dances, sleeps in and leaves the tent which is recycled by the organisers. Its designed to withstand five days rain. Allright.

CULTURED
Healthy communities sustain a diversity of culture. I realised this morning that my community grounding has been unhealthy of late - until this weekend that is. Being hard up and house bound can be a perpetuating abyss so thank god two events spurred me to lap up some culture. The Fringe festival and the opening of The New Dowse gallery in Lower Hutt.

First, Friday, as part of the Fringe, at the Front Room, was Spartacus R. Their 8 channel octophonic sound extravaganza was something to behold. Experimental, clearly, but that's what these guys do. They held a full house spellbound for an hour or so with a seamless jam session that featured some spectacular bass work from Tim Prebble.

At moments gruelling, but all the time mesmerising - this was aural pleasure at it's most intense. Deep funk grooves held the eye on a combination some amazing guitar work and ridiculously simple hot-plate VJ mastery. This was a seriously great show.

The night ended with an airing of the Flaming Lips Zaireeka. I've been a Lips nut since seeing them at the BDO in 2004. But I don't own Zaireeka. Probably because I don't own four stereos. It was released as a 4cd set in 1997 with the intention that all four cds be played simultaneously. What better opportunity to run Zaireeka than through half of the eight channels set up by the Spartacus R crew.

Most of the punters had shot the gap by the time the channels were in sync, But for the few that remained it was something special. Kinda like having your very own sound studio (and knowing how to use it). I'd never heard Zaireeka before, and was somewhat surprised that it still sounded like the Lips. Coyne's distinctive voice, a typically absurd fibre-optic-jesus-esque story of dog toys, and more - all layered through and around some non worldly sounds. Thank you Spartacus R!

Second off the rank this weekend was Saturday's public opening of the souped up Dowse art gallery in Lower Hutt. It was crawling with people - so not ideal for taking it all in - but a feature is the VUW School of Design exhibition Domestic Futurists. I've gotta get out there and have a proper look, but this is urban sustainability at the cutting edge.

The exhibition poses the question "how will we live and work in 2017?" It's final year masters design student work that has significant industry support. The results are some brilliant efficiency solution prototypes - some of which will no doubt be commercialised. There's energy and water efficiency solutions, appliances, cladding, and a number of gems that combine all three.

I feel suitably re-charged. Especially having experienced the wonder that is Guy and Rosie's bean tortilla's!

More about: music - culture - design - Wellington

HERE WE GO AGAIN...
Al Gore and the bloke who put together Live8 have come up with a series of "Live Earth" concerts to be held on the 7th of July.

Because we're daft and inclined to forget dates, there will be 7 concerts on 7 continents on 7.7.07. It's pitched as Save Our Selves. "SOS is designed to trigger a global movement to combat our climate crisis".

Now awareness raising is one thing, but associating a real and manageable global phenomenon with a series concerts seems a tad abstract. Lets look back at a few recent "save the world through music" examples:

Live8 occurred as a series of concerts tied in with Make Poverty History campaign. Which was funny because you'll remember that the white bands on everyone's wrist symbolising MPH support was a key criticism of the Live8 concerts; white bands performing for African poverty.

Live8 was not much more than a plea to governments to shell out aid money. But then again what else could be done? Awareness of the results of poverty, sure there was that, but awareness of why poverty exists? Probably too ambitious an aim for a concert series.

The two Wellington SurfAid concerts have been fundraisers for the work of SurfAid in Indonesia. The first concert occurred after the boxing day tsunami of 2004. The Indonesian community in Wellington were actively involved and funds went directly to SurfAid field operations. There is no means of benefiting an earthquake zone other than being there, being aware, or dishing out cash.

I'm stoked that a massive event like Live Earth is being planned to raise awareness of climate change. My beef is that there are so many easy, direct, and cheap ways we can make a difference. Maybe Live Earth is like Gore's film - aimed at getting lethargic "middle America (etc)" off their arses. If that's the case then awareness of the issue is a noble step: miss with the movie, hit with the music.

Another beef is the lineup. In a word: naff. Live8 was criticised for presenting a bunch of has beens. Live Earth doesn't look much better... Bloc Party (great 1st album appalling 2nd) are playing - they'll be performing soft rock ballads with the likes of John Mayer and Snow Patrol. Shudder. My other beef is this "SOS/climate in crisis" language. Talk about dis-empowering.

But hey, I'm about good news - and on balance Live Earth is.

The good thing with climate change is that you can do something today. Page 4 of this weeks Capital Times has a starting point from yours truly. Although they butchered a paragraph in the edit room the message is simple: start telling your fave shops that you care about how they do biz. Pick up a copy - go to page 4...

CONSUMERISM RUN AMOK - JACK IT IN
Continuing the amok series is Slant magazine's one star review of Tenacious D's movie soundtrack The Pick of Destiny.

Don't get me wrong. Although this is crap, Jack Black is a clever chap. High Fidelity is one of my fave films and on the D debut album Black came up with the epitome of musical efficiency. Although inward singing hasn't taken off it held the potential to cross over piss-take and serious music.

Imagine the "filler tracks" on otherwise fine albums having (by decree of some recording supergod) to be halved in length through inward singing. Brilliant!

But I've seen this one in sale bins already. If only D took their own advice. This album would be ep length - thereby not subject to an album review. But they didn't and the Slant reviewer hated it:

"What was once a cult curio on HBO that affectionately sent up the inanity of the music business is now a brand name, something to be latched onto without really understanding what it's all about."

The music business. Abound with god-like talents, mindless egotistical pomposity, and morons. This cd review sums up the aims of the amok series in one clean hit.

THE GUITAR GOES VIRTUAL
Many rightly insist that the natural habitat for sitka spruce is SE Alaska and Canada, muso's say it's as the top of acoustic guitars, others insist it's home is in Asian houses. Wherever it is, a key component of great guitars is at risk.

If over cutting continues we'll have to satisfy ourselves with second rate sad-sap casino-circuit guitarists with a penchant for squinting. Air guitar will become cool and chaps like your man on the left will be heroes.

Either that or shitty sounding guitars will become revered.

In response Fender, Gibson, Taylor, and Martin recently teamed up with Greenpeace to establish Forest Stewardship Council certification for sitka spruce. Certified timber in guitars has been an issue for some time. Gibson started looking into it in 1994, and in 2001 partnered with the Rainforest Alliance - eventually creating the 100% certified Les Paul SmartWood.

If you're in the market for a new ax ask about certification. I'm looking forward to taking a closer look onstage at the next gig I get to - I may have to wear my specs...

SATURDAY SENSITIVITY - AFRICAN MELODY
Next in the ongoing Saturday Sensitivity series is Harry Belafonte. This is probably my favourite Muppets piece that doesn't involve Raquel Welch. It's mainstream magical and quite possibly the epitome of sensitivity.

CONSUMERISM RUN AMOK - CLAY OF AIKEN
Here's another regular(ish) piece that falls on the lighter side of sustainability. Consumerism Run Amok is dedicated to the humour of mediocrity in the music industry.

Consumerism Run Amok has emerged from my boredom (as a music lover) with reading three star music reviews. Why should we be interested that another ordinary music release has hit the shelves? We're seeking entertainment dammit!

If the work under review isn't entertaining surely the review itself can at least raise a giggle. Therein lies the potential of one star music reviews. Consumerism Run Amok is about celebrating the humour needed on the part of a reviewer with a one star release in their hands.

So, without further adu: the first amok subject is the Rolling Stone review of a recent album from that weaselly little dribbler Clay Aiken. "...[M]aking an album this soul-suckingly awful must have taken some hard work".

Just to make sure I did some checking: "...an exercise in earnest melodrama that" "...is still pure vanilla custard" according to USA Today. And no, I have not heard a note of this album...

THE SESSION GOES SUPER
No, not the brilliant Thursday night show on Active. The SuperSession. Coming to you this Saturday night at the Wellington Town Hall.

Wellies finest muso's and an equally fine bunch from up north are getting together to raise money for the work SurfAid International in Indonesia. What a lineup! The Phoenix Foundation, The Little Bushman, Twinset, Open Souls, OdESSA, and the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.

An unbeatable lineup and a fantastic cause. Tickets at Ticketek and Real Groovy.

SATURDAY SENSITIVITY
About time for a "regular" piece huh? With this whole GoogTube lark I thought it timely to introduce a vid slot. And I'm gonna stick to a theme: expressions of sensitivity. I'm talking the whole range of sensitivity here - "in" to "super".

Take it away Flight of the Conchords - talking "issues".

THE PADDLE RACE...
Its all on! 6pm Friday 27th October at Freyberg Beach, Oriental Bay, Wellington. More info here and here.

This is a promo event in support of the SuperSession concert to be held at the Town Hall on 11th November. Both events are about raising awareness and money for the life-saving work of SurfAid International.

BOOK IT
If surfing is your thing then listen up. If local music's your thing listen up too. If you're into both you'd better take a seat.

At 6pm Friday 27th October there's a paddle race at Oriental Bay to publicise this years SurfAid SuperSession fundraiser concert. The long-board and short-board races will both feature heaps of prizes - including spot prizes. There's boards, wetsuits, wax and t-shirts up for grabs so don't be shy.

The SuperSession concert itself is at the Wellington Town Hall on November 11th. "Who's playing" I hear you ask. Well. None other than The Phoenix Foundation, Open Souls, Twinset, OdESSA, The Little Bushmen, and the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra. Not a bad line-up huh?!

All proceeds go to the ongoing work of SurfAid International in Indonesia. SurfAid was set up by Kiwi surfer and doctor Dave Jenkins following a surfing trip to the Mentawai Islands. Sure, he enjoyed the infamously lush surf spot, but he was also motivated by the level of preventable disease locals had to deal with.

You may remember that due to their network of surf contacts in Indonesia, SurfAid were able to rally help faster than anyone following the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami. Their work continues, and you can help out by heading to one of the finest music events Wellington will see this year. Book at RealGroovy and Ticketek.

GOT CARTER
Well I got Dimmer on Friday night at The SanFran... bloody hell! As if I needed to be reminded of the live genius that is frontman Shayne Carter...!

I'll have to confess that I only saw Straitjacket Fits once when I was at uni. And I never owned an album until a year or so ago. But I experienced the brilliance at Bodega as part of last years Fits reunion tour, and then there was Dimmer on Friday night.

Carter is to guitar what Tenzing was to Eddie in knocking the bastard off. Friday night showed just what the world missed out on when the Fits split in 1993 - but would Carter be doing Dimmer if that didn't happen? Probably not. The gig featured ripping instrumentals engulfing the range of Carters moods, and (as many others have said) felt and sounded more like the Fits than much of his other recent work.

Friday's was the last gig of the tour - so back up north for Dimmer. In sharing the love with the nation over the last month, Carter and his crew are bound to have made a whole lot of people a whole lot happier. Cheers!

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Wellington is of course known for its vibrant creative community. Although I have about as much creativity as a goldfish I get to enjoy our city's creative output almost as often as I like. A prime example was my Saturday; taking in Transmission, the Radio NZ recording gig at Bodega, then up to San Fran-Indigo Bar House to lap up Phoenix Foundation. What a night...!

Whenever a "big" music weekend drags everyone out of the woodwork I am always struck by the power that creativity has in the community. Like going to a recent Bats gig or the Straightjacket Fits tour last year - all sorts of folk head out. I am of course showing my age here, but it great to be at a venue where 18yr olds are lovin music that has its roots back in the day when us 30-somethings were 18. Music, or creativity generally, has the power to galvanise communities.

This "force" is exactly why NZ On Air and other forms of funding for the creative community are essential. Those that sit way down there at the right hand end of the political spectrum would argue that ALL artists should stand commercially on their own feet ALL of the time. Of course the answer lies somewhere along a quality-impact scale where "value" to the community must be demonstrated.

I had a conversation some months ago with a local muso about creative funding. He was adamant that in choosing to be an artist, all Kiwi artists must recognise that they need to feed/house/cloth themselves, so in order to be able to work full time as an artist they must have some saleable/commercial quality to their work. Because they should not expect to be funded through life they must show relevance to the community. If not quantitavely (sales potential) at least qualitatively (galvanising benefits and the like). Touche...

SPEAK TO ME - I'M REAL
Last week I read news of the release of another Green Room compilation with glee and a little smirk. The press release is a friendly prod in the ribs to the conservative right who have saturated us with their desire for an easily harnessed homogeneous world of "mainstream New Zealanders" (or "middle America", "middle Australia", etc). Its great to see local product speak to the "real Aotearoa" through exploration of whanau - and broadening the commonly held pakeha notion of whanau to kinship between all peoples. In short it is a nod to social sustainability.

This post does have a little of the flavour of an earlier "you're all individuals" call. But what I am getting at is the need for a consciousness in our day to day lives. Rather than react to the same old lame old rallying cries (such as Bush's "go out and shop" response to 9/11), why not think about the fundamental relationships that exist all around us. Not only whanau and kinship, but our place in nature, our role as global citizens, and the fact that all our relationships dictate our future.

If we see ourselves in society as mere consumers - as the conservative right would have it - we are powerless, merely a demographic. We do have power as consumers. Not power contained in the pretty little things we purchase, but power in our act of support for the providers of those pretty little things. In the act of shopping we endorse individual methods of business. By shopping we are reinforcing a network of relationships. We therefore have the responsibility and power to endorse relationships that are positive. Relationships that are conscious.

So, the next time a politician says that mainstream is a mindset, think of what relationships are being endorsed. In relating to a demographic (no matter how vague) rather than to us as individuals the assumption is that all our relationships are the same, and therefore less-important. Inherent in the comments of a notable Kiwi politician is an economists familiarity with imaginary communities - where actions are packaged so as to be quantifiable.

Individual decisions incorporate quality judgments that economists find difficult to place. It just happens to be that in this space lies the power to build relationships on values that matter - whanau, kinship, nature, and our functioning as communities. This is the space where a sustainable alternative to a mainstream, mass-market, normalised consumer society is rooted. The current Green Room CD is just the surface of this potential...

ENVIRONMENTAL & COMMUNITY IMPACT
This post is short and sweet. Crazy busy at the moment finalising funding applications due this week. Eek! But while in town last week I had a chance to catch the Yann Arthus-Bertrand photo exhibition in the fabulous new Waitangi Park - as part of the NZ International Arts Festival. Wow! Stunning photos that look at sustainable development from a human impact perspective. If you're in Wellington, take a look, if you're not see http://www.yannarthusbertrand.com/index_new.htm.

On a lighter note, I went to the Paramount last night and caught Heavenly Burlesque at the Fringe Festival (http://www.fringe.org.nz). In the catalogue they have the show pigeon holed as "mixed bag theatre". And its no wonder why - pigeon holing this gem is futile. You name it and its in there - including a quite brilliant animated-short-come-music-video paying homage to Johnny Cash. Believe me, Heavenly Burlesque won't dissapoint.

In terms of sustainable consumption, a dollar spent at the Fringe has a whole lot more local benefit than at the movies. So go on, have yourself a laugh, a cry, a freak-out - catch a Fringe event while you can!

Toodle pip.