Music

Within Auckland I find Music, not just like a stumble upon a venue way of finding, though I guess there have been one or two of those. I'm talking about falling down on your face after tripping over something, to get back up and find that something is beautiful, amazing, and one of the most influential things in my life.

The Music scene here is not full of the cliche pop venues where you are paying an arm and a leg to go see a show. It is filled with back alley basements where you can find poppy folk music any given day of the week (The Wine Cellar). Roads that seem full of posh over priced clubs that maintain admittance standards based solely upon the souls of your shoes, too much character and you can't get into Ponsonby Road. However, within this posh night life you will find One2One, the original folk scene in Auckland Central. The Tuesday night open mic opened up opportunities, so that Dewey the banjo man, Krystal the harmony filled voice, and me the guitar guy that sings a mediocre lead so the other two can sing outstanding harmonies. The opportunities came with getting a Thursday night gig with the semi-professional artists of Auckland, a huge honor in this American boy's books.

Then there is the Thirsty Dog on K'rd (Karangahape), this place was our first taste of music in Auckland, well taste is an understatement, it was more like a buffet. The thirsty Dog every Monday night has an acoustic session in which everyone gathers in a circle, and plays whatever song is pressing on the back of their teeth or dancing in their musically experienced fingers. We assimilated into this grouping of people quickly as the leader of this band of gypsies, working class men, and Irish men from another time, were led by an interesting character that somehow embodies all of these aforementioned qualities, Bones, who just so happened to kind of like us. We played there from the second week we got Auckland till next Monday Nov. 15th. That will be our last time to all play together. It's pretty sad how fast it all goes by. the musical blending at the TD can be described as Irish traditional, folkie goodness, Bob Dylan-esk, Blues, Popular Contemporary that has been reformatted to the sound of more folkie goodness, and of course the occasional cliche everyone sing along guitar piece. I'm an American Boy, born and raised in the U.S.A, listen up folks i've got something to say, boy's I'm buying this round... It's sang every Monday night with a band of Irish Flutess to supplement. Basically, this place has given me the experience of a lifetime, I went every week, and never once regretted the time I spent there.

Busking is also a process that was new to me here. Busking- playing on the streets for no one but yourself in hopes that everyone likes the same stuff you do and would be willing to give you money in support of the music you like. Dewey, Krystal, and I decided one night to go down outside of a hopping street full of night clubs, stand outside, and play for all the drunk passerby's leaving or entering the clubs. It was more fun just having all the drunk people request songs like a 'Hill-Billy as country song' or 'do you know how to play that one song like "Do do dooo Bahhh"'. Sadly, I knew which song the second person was talking about at the time, I didn't know how to play it though. This opened up another door for us though! Playing outside of Margaritas the club owner came up and asked if we would be willing to host an open mic on Wednesday nights at one of her other bars.

Nacho's was the new establishment. It had a down home warm atmosphere inside with a Texas Country decoration style. We started playing there the first week with just us and some friends watching. Then the next week some more new faces came by, and in the third week we had about 5 different musicians playing with us, and then got to play with a wrap group after it was all said and done. Not to mention you get paid to do all of this, and they give you free Sol beer as long as you are there.

Looking back there were other minor times that I got to play along with some people. Claire's Inn, Krystal and I got invited up on the stage to play a couple songs. Then there is always the random jam sessions we would have in my room or in the commons of Krystal's room.

With all the playing we did, I also found some cool bands here as well.

Hold Dear

Fat Freddy's Drop

Anika Moa

The Eastern

Naked and Famous

Kids of 88

Will Saunders and the Lowest Fidelity

There are probably many more that I've heard that just didn't have an album out yet at the time, but I wish I could listen to all of their stuff.

That's about it for now. I'll update this one later probably...

So much for blogging...

Hello my many followers (mom),

This is more for posterity and my personal edification.

My time in NZ is literally 36 days away, and I have written 3 blogs in the entire time I've been here. I feel guilty about the situation, and at this point in time would like to say that my memory will be good enough in years to come that a picture or name will bring me back to the times I had within the context of the muse. I however realize that this is most likely a pipe dream, and senility will one day have an effect on my recall. So, this is my attempt to cover, in general, what I've done and where I've enjoyed most.

Auckland- you have done what many cities in the world cannot. Base yourself solely around privatization and denying a public transportation system to the 1.3 million citizens you engulf within your ever expanding grasp. I however find the adventure in this situation. Instead of allowing your lack of adequate transportation hinder and confine me, I have reached beyond your borders with friends out to where your urban fingers cannot taint the natural wilderness NZ embodies.

Piha and Huia out in the Waitakere Mountatin Ranges- have been such a beautiful place where only commuters from their million dollar lifestyle flats are willing to live because of the seclusion and far transportation, this makes for an ideal adventure spot only an hour out. The Hut out in the Waitaks owned by AUTC is absolutely the coolest hut in NZ. I've been to a lot of tramping huts, but this one has by far the most character. The signs on the wall from years past, some stolen from NZ roadways, some just reminding you of day to day life or the good old days where sign slogans weren't subtle about the information they were trying to convey. The Tasman sea laps at the shores of the west coast all along this mountain range offering some beautiful sunsets to those willing to wait for it. As the storms roll in, the sunset doesn't get any better... (to be continued)

It's been a while

Sorry it's been so long since I've been on and told you guys how everything is going!

First things first, I never realized how much I say y'all until i got here, and no one understands it. I constantly have to reword my sentences here so that the person I am speaking to understands me.

NZ is amazing! Some friends and I went on an amazing hike in the Waitakere (Why-tack-er-ee) mountain range and saw some beautiful and very lush landscape. It really puts into perspective the beauty that is really all around us, but often we take for granted. It took me being on the other side of the world to realize that I need to embrace the beauty that God has gifted me on this earth.

I really enjoy my friends here too, we are an eclectic blend of tastes and lifestyles, but we all mesh really well in our adventures. We are leaving for a tramping (hiking) trip this weekend in the Hanua Ranges which is where Auckland receives most of their drinking water from, so I will get to see heaps of waterfalls! So excited for that!

I miss my crew back home, and wish you guys could be here. I'll fill you in on how the hike was when i get back.

School here is dramatically easier than back home. I only have four classes, and for the most part the classes don't seem like they are going to require a huge amount of work, except my engineering class. There is a dramatically different amount of free time here.

Talk to you guys soon!!!

Leaving

The hour of my departure is getting closer and closer! Nerves are now starting to take a strangle hold on my stomach as butterflies fight to fly free in the back of my throat. I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be yet, but I'm sure getting to the airport I will be nervous enough for the entire family. I am going to arrive in what is to be a very cold climate. I don't know how to feel about going from 98 and 99.9% humidity, to 44 and the same humidity! It will be an interesting change. Life throws us so many opportunities, don't let one pass you up!