This is the whole band speaking here on behalf of itself. I hope you are all alright, all you people out there. Now as all of you have (hopefully) heard, we are all set for another tour (quite small in comparison), and this time we have a real EP! Subscribe to the new blog here:http://alizarinlizardohcolour.blogspot.com/ and we will keep you updated on our travels.
Check out the poster by Mishca!
And also check out the new EP covers by Sam 'Shipsy' Caldwell. Which is your favourite? Here's Ben.
Hey guys. here's a photo. aww shit actually it's here
shit it's been a while since I've done one of these.. havnt really had a decent enough chance to go on the internet since ages ago. so here we go.. cant even upload any pics either mwow wow.. ive just woken up so dont hate on me if it's not funny cos no ones funny at 9 in the morning.
We're in Auckland at the moment as you'll know been spending our time at The Aio Wira Centre where Oscar spent a whole bunch of his childhood. you'd think you were on the West Cost of the South island, such an amazing place (it's also a meat, cigarette and alcohol free place.. so staying there is like being on a detox. which was actually really good. we were allowed to smoke durries though.. let's not be silly) We arrived at Aio Wira on Sunday evening i think after spending the night in Theames where we sort of celebrated Pauls 23rd Birthday. (that night is a complete blur) we played to maybe 10 people through the whole night? but Mama Gins was a wicked venue. smallest place ive ever played. so small we couldnt fit 1/2 our backline. but it was a rad gig. Mama Gin treated us amazingly and got everyone hammered. a few things happened after that but im not really sure as i pretty much put myself to bed in some room while the other guys went next door to some old peoples house where they were smackin back home brewed whiskey and bourbon till the late hours. i think bugs mentioned that he went back to some guys house after that an then shit started getting "Real" so he gapped it. ..you'll have to ask him about that though..haha..
on Monday night we put on a gig at Aio Wira where a few kids an locals came out. was just a donation entry. Rackets played an A.A set, then we got up then Rackets played a bit more of a solid set for everyone else
that was a few days ago, we've since at one point abducted Tono for a night an took him out to one of the Rackets friends house/ farm which was out by the Airport. shit was awesome out there..got drunk an had a laugh.. bit of a fire outside all that sortve stuff. there was a 24 hour Driving Range about 2 mins walk from this place where we went afterwards. that shit was hilarious. we broke a lot of rules at that place haha.. paul even managed to break a club.. buttah..
We played The Kings Arms a couple of nights ago, that was a sweet gig. some dude from Dunedin jokingly punched me in the head whilst yelling " YOU SON OF A BITCH " . i think he thought i remembered who he was from about 3 years ago.. except i didnt. to me he was just some weird 1/2 cast "Punk" who was smackin me in the head while i was trying to get a beer out of the van.
it was all good though, he sheepishly came up to me before Alizarin came on an started talking properly to me. turns out he was Gaz from Dunedin an his band The Cheez Stix challenged Biff Merchants to a drink off (an old band i was in) once at The Backstage
so that was fuckin odd from Gaz.. but sweet
The Kings arms was a sweet gig. we had 5 acts on that night. Tono opened up the gig with a solo set which i really enjoyed followed by the Porpoise. SHERPA (a local Ak band) played after the Porp. i missed their set but everyones been saying that their set was awesome. they're supposed to be coming down to Dunedin in Feburary. Alizarin after that and finished by Rackets who played a beefy set to the local folk.
Mark from Straight Jacket Fits was the soundman too that night which i thought was pretty cool.
Yesturday after packing outta the Kings Arms we met up with some of Oscar and Vinnie's friends who they are starting a new project with.. So we went up to their apartment which was up there with the skyscrapers an shit. too high for me anyway.. we all had a jam and practiced some songs. it was real cool. bugs' took some sweet videos which il upload in Dunedin.
afterwards we went to Don Mcglashans Studio on K Rd an hung out up there for a wee bit, there was some weird kinda gig thing happening there.. some guy called Tommy Ill was rapping an as awkward as it was i had a good time. i even met Dons Daughter who stars on Shortland Street apparently. dunno..
Tim Finn was walking around outside the studio too..i had to hold lahgun back from getting a photo op with the guy haha.. he did have this sweet swagger though
after that we all split up a bit more.. Rackets, Bugs and Paul went back to the appartment and Lahgn Callum an I went to Eddie from An Emerald City's place to stay the night. Eddies a wonderful guy an we spent a few hours last night catching up over a few drinks. Eddie has a house full of Records and CD's. a jaw dropping collection.
an here I am.doin this blog whilst watching a Bob Marley DVD for breakfast..
We're playing Leigh tonight at the Sawmill Cafe. we get accom, munchies an pish tonight too which im looking forward too. might have a steak.
3 shows to go. tough times. though i get the feeling the last gig of the tour is going to be bananas.. Sol (the Beer company) have jumped on board for it so im sure we'll be chuggin that all night. also the ZM radio station are going to be out there giving out free drinks or some shit.. i dunno
cool. see you soon Dunedin i hope you're behaving. lets party when we get back
Today we have three days off in Rotorua, which will be spent by half of us at the lovely house of Covell, half of us at the auntie of Hampton, and Jeremy and Madi incommunicado in Napier with another Jeremy relative. A sweet sweet glorious sleep-in at the Covell house was followed by a magnificently cooked breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, hashbrowns, and tomato (made by Jess), followed by cigarretes (for all the lame people who smoke) in the sun, and then a coffee and beers at Essence (you should totally go there-Croucher beer kicks ass) in Ngongataha. Dr Suess has done some fine work in creating "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and "Hortron Hears a Who" which we watched on DVD in the original cartoon format, followed by some Cirque Du Soleil, which blew all of our minds. Several drinks and a dinner fit for kings later, we played 'Trouble' (surely you remember that game from your days of youth) although in addition to the usual rules there were several drinking rules added. All in all Bugs was 1st, Jess was 2nd, Paul was 3rd, and Ben was 4th, but teamwork was the winner at the end of the day as everyone got conveniently drunk.
Coincidentally Hamptons 1 and 2, Vince, and Oscar went busking, made some money, and probably did exactly the same thing (probably minus the trouble).
So! this is a brief round up of what's been happening..
Paekakariki: Jackie and Jay came and rocked out the gig with us alongside Daile(?) she was awesome, put 6 of us up for the night on the floor of her house, the smallest house in Paekak, the gig was fuckin' awesome! Followed by some casual passes.
Wellington: A renegade gig by Rackets outside Cosmic Corner was disliked by the French dude next door.
Mighty Mighty is one of the most fun places to play, fantastic hospitality, it was almost like a flashback to the great times we had on the West coast back in the South Island (shit that seems like a long time ago!) The gig was fucking sweet
Anthony Lander, what a guy, he partied with us, came to the gig, let us stay at his pad, plays in a few awesome bands (The Tweeks, The Blue Onesies, Fulangchangandi), and was just generally awesome at accommodating us, and is an all round good dude. Thanks man!
Palmerston North: The Royal Hotel; what a place! It's set up for some epic gigs, which would have been equally as epic if anyone had come to the gig. Soss, was so helpful, and partied with us until the early hours of the morning in Dil's apartment. They have some good people involved with the game there. We were feeling the pinch from the $61 worth of parking tickets we achieved in Wellington, so a quick game of paper/scissors/rock sorted out who was to wake up in the morning and put money in the meter. Here a video of the grand championship final.
Gisborne: The North Island is looking promising so far (as far as pubs and characters go), there is an actual plane going through the side of Smash Palace, if that doesn't impress you then stop watching TV so much and be a real person. We met up with my cousin Aaron at the gig, and he showed us some awesome hospitality, even though we were being looked after and accommodated by the good folks at The Lolly Stockman Hotel. A short stopover at Wairoa (we're totally playing there next tour) and we were on our way.
Napier: The shops were all shut by the time we arrived so printing flyers was not viable, however we managed to burn some more copies of the split EP, and some cricket was had. Cabana was another awesome venue, well setup and poised on the edge of something awesome about to happen… Something awesome did happen that night, the best performances so far by all the bands, sadly only witnessed by a small amount of punters.
The next day was full of rain, this is not a good thing because our van and trailer both suffer from leaks, and due to the nature of our profession, our equipment doesn't enjoy getting wet. Hopefully none of the gear that was left in the trailer during this nature spasm was injured, but we probably won't find out until next time we try and use it, which is Raglan on Wednesday. The rain Had subsided by the time we reached Tarawera and we stopped off at the Tarawera Tavern for some (fucking expensive) ice-creams, and cricket. The test match of Paul, Oscar, and myself, versus Ben, Callum, and Vince, with Logan as the super sub was tied at two all, and so had to be decided by a good old fashioned bowl-off (commentated by Logan)
Sorry, we'll get the rest of the vids up soon as.
Bugs
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
we're in Palmerston North at the moment, arrived a few hours ago..set up our stuff an now bugs' an i are at some internet cafe.i keep stearing into nothingness.
Wellington was great. we crashed at Anthony landers place and it was wonderful
gotta go.
ttyl bff <3
Chicks Hotel, Thursday 11 November. Somehow everyone managed to come back to life from the night before. Thanks to everyone who came out, especially those who came two nights in a row. Thanks Hector for having us. Another great night. Ben lost his jacket (and wallet) at Chicks, if anyone has seen it
Lyttleton was awesome. El Santo is somewhere that everyone should go to at some point in time. It was a very much like an alternate realm of sing star, but for some strange reason I had a great time. The world doesn't really seem to be a real place and the fumes in the back seat of the van almost dissolved Paul. We arrived at 8.05pm and were set up and ready by 9:15, I think that's a record so far. Here's a video of Rackets.
Timaru sucked, apart from my whanau, they're still rocking strong.
uh off to Picton tomorrow it's going to be a mammoth drive but the vans where we lay our eggs and then it gives birth to to eight randy gentleman, so we owe it.
Paul
mathew ridge, clarke gayford, suzanne paul, cocksy, the singer from autozamm, john key, paul holmes, the feelers(james reid), midnight youth, frankie stevens, erin simpson, paul reid from rubicon, all the guys from 48 may, goodnight nurse.
Logan
Shit.
It's three fifteen am and we're supposed to be employed tomorrow. Picton is next on the bill and it's an good few minutes away from Timaru...
A new van-packing record was achieved today, 16 minutes to load the entire van and trailer with all the gear and all the people. If you've seen how much shit we have then you should be impressed. After a cooked breakfast made Malcolm Miller style, and coffees (thanks!) we departed for Lyttleton to pick up the microphone we left behind on Friday. Picton is a long drive. We made it right on 8pm, just in time to not play. The gig had been double booked, and because of our late arrival, the decision was made to have the night off and let the other dude bask in the limelight. Our night consisted of a little cricket on the waterfront (if the ball goes in the water you get minus 4 runs) until it became too dark to see, which has become a recurring factor on this tour, followed by chess, and an introduction to Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job in Peters bach. Oscar and I awoke to a beautiful view, looking out down the harbour at the boats and shit. Great stuff.
We made on time to the ferry check in only to find out that the date on the ticket was for Saturday. Smooth-talker Logan had the mission sussed within minutes and everything was gravy again, there was even another band supposed to be playing so we don't have to do anything. The band turned out to be the one-man ska band from last night in Picton, so Paul is going to borrow his acoustic and do a set as well. I'll try video it or something.
No dice on the video but here's a new song paul made in the van today.
Bugs
Wow that got out of hand pretty quickly. Good morning. I don't know what happened to the rest of the crew, last time I saw them they were all upright though. Thanks everyone who came out to the gig. Thundercub are awesome. Great now it's raining. Wow it's raining a whole lot. The sky looked like this on my way home this morning (nice photo Louis). Wow thunder! This is getting epic... So Iain Sweetman is the man. He made the gig sound excellent. The Porpoise was massive with a couple of casual subs cranking. My toe didn't get blood everywhere, and Rackets kicked ass like usual. I remembered finding the special effects section on my ipod about a week ago, so I made a video just before it died for the evening.
Bugs.
we're playing Dunedin tonight. looking forward to it.
Chicks tomorrow, then we're back on the road for another month or so. all this sleep in Dunedin and i swear im more tired now then i was when i arrived.
