17th January Auckland NZ
After a rejuvenating stop-over in Sydney, my body clock woke me up for the final leg of the trip, three hours across the Tasman into Auckland allowing me to make real progress with Bill Bryson’s ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’. I’m here a few days before the Big Day Out (BDO) kicks off to do a couple of side-shows in clubs on the north island. At the first, in a converted sawmill in Leigh, near Auckland, I will confess to being a bit dozy, but the locals were well up for it and their sheer enthusiasm buoyed me to the end. The venue was a wholefood pizza joint with a stage at one end so the atmosphere was intimate which was just what I needed to wake me up. It took me several days to get the smell of wood smoke out of my clothing.
The audience are just as vociferous the following night, in a bar on Cuba Street in Wellington, the capital. I am reminded that the Kiwi’s once bought more Billy Bragg record per capita than any nation on earth. This was before parenthood curtailed my tour schedules somewhat, leaving NZ with nothing more than the occasional one-off gig in Auckland. Given the response I’ve got since I arrived, they appear to be willing to forgive me my long absences. I feel I may soon be heading down to Dunedin once again.
3 Responses to “17th January Auckland NZ”
By Deb on Jan 31, 2008
Leigh Sawmill was a good gig although you needed the kareoke machine for the lyrics of ‘the great leap forwards’ version 2.
I had the dubious pleasure of meeting one of your “fuckin’ saddos”… a curious breed.
And whilst I share their enthusiasm for your art, I really think their Obsessive Compulsive love-Billy Disorder should be checked out by those lovelies in white coats, especially if their going to celebrate their love for you with a pint of beer and a new kazoo!
Until next time… an A12 Essex girl.
By Matt Hancock on Feb 14, 2008
Deb, you are spot on. Me and a couple of mates made the trip up to Leigh from Auckland. For a moment I thought Billy was going to just play the guitar and we were all going to do the singing! In the end the bard won me over, as always with his (and its hard to not sound corny) “faith in you”. It was just like the Christchurch Town Hall in ‘87, minus the Burns guitar and plus a shade of alzheimers.
By alison on Feb 22, 2008
I moved here from the UK 16 months ago and attended your gig at the San Francisco Bathhouse which cured my home sickness for a while.
Have seen so many of your gigs over the past 20 years - so great seeing you here.
The best of British - Alison.