Catching Up On The Homework I Set Myself...

Weekend Links and Updates

I am back in Hawke’s Bay. Two weekends in a row. Last weekend it was all about seeing Crowded House - this weekend it’s all about seeing family. But, it turns out I am going to see some live music while I’m up here. Tonight, Matthew, I’ll be going along to see Margot Pierard and Wil Sargison out at Hygge in Clifton Beach. They are both wonderful musicians, together and alone. I had the pleasure of seeing them at a house concert in Hawke’s Bay late last year and I’m very much looking forward to seeing them do their thing again tonight. (Last week I met up with Margot and recorded a future episode of Sweetman Podcast, had a fabulous chat with her).

The rest of the time here is about reading and some retail therapy and the usual food and drink with the family.

Phil Judd released his brand new solo album this week and you can click that link to order a CD or buy the files from Bandcamp. I love his work. I think he’s a musical genius. In fact I was rather emotional listening to the new album and I wrote a wee tribute poem to Phil.

Speaking of poems, this week I read at Poetry in Motion in Wellington at the Fringe Bar. This is a monthly event - check out their Facebook page for details. It is pretty much the best open mic in the capital city (for poetry, anyway). I’ve been attending this on and off the past couple of years, and I get up and have a read. It’s always fun to test the waters. This week the special guest was Nadia Freeman aka “Miss Leading” (a recent guest on my podcast). Ahead of Nadia’s excellent set there was the usual open-mic; it’s a great showcase for poets of all styles and seems to be attracting brand new people each time which is very cool. On Thursday there were at least three brand new (‘virgin’) readers. I read three fairly new pieces, none of them were poems I’d read live before: The Youth of Today, Dear Nga Mihi and Now Is The Winter Of Our Disco Tent!

It’s been a busy week for me and performing actually, on Wednesday the band Ethersonic played at Valhalla - my first time playing there on that stage for about 20 years. It was good to rattle the sticks in the direction of a tune.

And I was on RNZ on Thursday talking about new music.

REVIEWS:

I’ve yet to see the film but I loved the soundtrack to The United States VS. Billie Holiday - Andra Day is superb at recreating the songs but putting just enough of her spin on them.

If Neil Young releases a new (old) project from his archives then I’m on board to hear it, and I usually love it. That’s certainly the case with Young Shakespeare, yet another solo 1971 show. It’s wonderful, worth it for the banter really. And for a few things like a piano rendition of the then unreleased Heart of Gold.

The second album from Punkt.Vrt.Plastik (called Somit) is the kind of out of this world jazz that I just love. What a group. What players. All of them. Magic. Check it out!

READING:

The focus has been the Charlotte Grimshaw memoir - which I talked about here on Wednesday. I’m nearly finished. Interesting stuff!

But I’m also enjoying delving right into the world of Billy Collins - and his latest book just might be my favourite. And I’ve got a few other books on the go which I will save up to talk about next week.

WATCHING:

My dad introduced me to American Pickers and I’m hooked!

And after Monday’s post in praise of Laura Dern I finally found the time to watch Inand Empire - one of the only David Lynch films I’d never seen. It was as mad and wonderful as many people have said. Loved it. Glad to catch up with it.

LISTENING:

After a wee break, I’ve got right back into the Halloweenies podcast - I’m up to the ones regarding A Nightmare on Elm Street (which is probably my all-time favourite horror movie franchise and almost definitely a future subject for a Substack newsletter).

LINKS:

I might have mentioned it before but David Slack’s Substack newsletter, More Than A Feilding, is worth your time.

And I know I’ve mentioned Emily Writes’ newsletter before but yesterday she shared this extraordinary link. So I’m sharing it too.

A shoutout to The Spinoff for its long-running and almost always brilliant Friday Poem. I loved yesterday’s one. For sure.

And if you’re not already checking in on The Quietus may I recommend it. A UK site that is mostly music but offers plenty of great stuff about visual arts, film and books. Always a great read. (And they have podcasts too).

That’ll do for this week. Happy Easter!