Author Archive
November 18, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Family Dynamics
he reckons i’m funny and she’s kind – and though he loves us equally it is in different ways she says, “i’m also funny!” i think about how hard I’m trying to be kind.
November 18, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poetry at The Fringe – Sunday, 17 November, 2019
I really enjoyed this month’s session at The Fringe. Wasn’t really feeling it last month but felt better about my own work this time around I guess – and just in general it was a very nice vibe. Another diverse open-mic with 15 poets performing, everything from sing-song and an actual song from a musician […]
November 17, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 216
John Williams / Maria Farantouri, Songs And Guitar Pieces By Theodorakis (1971) I would have bought this because I loved John Williams when I was a kid – and it was my essay-writing music at university – and I wouldn’t have known who Maria Faratouri was until I first heard this. Same with the composer […]
November 17, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Jeff Beck Group: Twilight of the Idols
The Jeff Beck Group Twilight of the Idols: Classic Broadcasts From San Francisco and London – 1967-1968 Code 7 – Shockwaves Here in one place – and with mostly very reasonable sound quality – is a set of BBC Sessions and some live radio broadcasts from the Fillmore West in San Francisco; charting the early […]
November 17, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Tour Announcement: Margaret Atwood To Speak At Three NZ Shows (Feb, 2020)
FANE presents In Conversation with Margaret Atwood live on stage across New Zealand in collaboration with Andrew Kay, Phil Bathols and BBC Studios Australia. The dates are a celebration of the global publication of The Testaments, Atwood’s highly anticipated sequel to her seminal work, The Handmaid’s Tale. The evening will also feature Atwood’s remarkable career, her diverse range of works and […]
November 17, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Prevarication
This poem doesn’t have a river in it but don’t worry, there’ll still be a flow… There’s no flowers or death and no symbols either – of any kind… And I lied about there being any sort of flow at all.
November 17, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: The Bootleg Beatles (November 14, Wellington)
The Bootleg Beatles Opera House, Wellington Sunday, November 14 I’ve seen The Bootleg Beatles before – so they’re not the only repeat-offenders. They were very good. And I’m not (often) a fan of tribute acts. But a) it’s The Beatles. And b) this is a very good-natured, well-meaning, deftly executed tribute show. It’s about celebrating […]
November 16, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Ronnie Wood with His Wild Five: Mad Lad – A Live Tribute to Chuck Berry
Ronnie Wood with His Wild Five Mad Lad: A Live Tribute to Chuck Berry BMG Right Management (UK) Ltd Well-meaning they’ll say. “Live” the album title tells us – but is it less about the celebration and more about pinpointing an excuse for the sloppiness? Ronnie Wood can play, and I’ll defend that every time […]
November 15, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Hammock: Silencia
Hammock Silencia Hammock Music I like that the label is called Hammock Music – there could be nothing more representative. Hammock makes Hammock music. The post-rock duo has fully transitioned to a modern-classical, deep ambient fix and it’s happened, well, over every album actually – you go back through a catalogue 10 albums deep and […]
November 15, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 217
The Rolling Stones, Flowers (1967) I almost never feel like listening to The Rolling Stones these days – possibly because I’ve heard it all and heard it all for too long and too often. They were a band I really cared about for the longest time, but now it’s very rare I can make it […]
November 15, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Charles Rumback & Ryley Walker: Little Common Twist
Charles Rumback & Ryley Walker Little Common Twist Thrill Jockey It’s as if whenever they have a gap in their schedules – and are seeking new creative space to explore – Charles Rumback (drums) and Ryley Walker (guitar) come together to make something interesting built from the parts of folk, free jazz and the spaces […]
November 14, 2019 by Simon Sweetman