*not my photo

The time has come to say farewell to Auckland or “Sky City” as the locals prefer. I’ve spent the last week here concreting the purchase of my new campervan whom I’ve named Gertrude. Purchasing a car has never been a simpler task. In New Zealand, a lot of the bullshit is removed from everyday tasks. When bought my car I simply paid for it, filled out an insurance form, the same for registration, and I was off. No DMV, no lines, no hidden fees or insurance companies. Just the way it should be.
Auckland as a whole is an under-rated city if you ask me. The kiwis in the surrounding territories don’t speak too highly of it but I think it’s just because they don’t understand what it is that makes up a proper city. Auckland has all the little nooks and crannies you’d like to find when exploring; the things that truly make it unique. Sure the people can be a bit crude but that’s the way it goes in most cities right? There is a small music scene to speak of and plenty to do on any given night. Tons of international residents also makes for a healthy mix of humans and interesting interactions around every corner. I found Auckland to be quite nice and really look forward to the next time I’m get to penetrate it.
Also, I apologize for the lack of photos. My camera has been in the repair shop eating money and is now healthy again. I will be heading up to Northland tomorrow where I’m told there is a visual feast to enjoy. Then my camera will get back on it’s proper diet of eating photographs, not money, as any good camera should. Wish me and Gerty luck as we plunge northward.

GREAT NEWS everyone.

I bought this today.

I’m so excited. Notice the incorrect placement of the steering wheel.

Needs a little cleanin but soon it’ll be a dream machine… Gonna head up north.

Any suggestions on names?

HEALTH is one of those bands that has been around for some time and never clicked for me. Until now. This is also one of those records, I’m sure, that all of their older fans will condemn because people like me can finally connect with it. It’s loud, dense, and chaotic but still sweet. The angelic vocals over the gritty chopped synth and pounding cacophony of drums allows for the perfect contrast in each song. I can get down with what they’re doing here. I recommend this record for those of you who have dipped your toes into the, “they-can’t-be-serious” waters that is noise music and turned back, confused and embarrassed. This puddle, this time, is warm. Try again.

Plus, they’re doing this awesome contest alongside the release of Get Color involving wacky prizes and golden tickets. Yes’m, YOU could be the proud winner of a copy of the new record signed with the band members blood, or if you’re really lucky, you might get a lock of their hair sent in the mail. Read more here

HEALTH – In Heat

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HEALTH – Before Tigers

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Three cheers for Tender Loving Empire, the grandest empire the world had ever seen! May they rise to their highest possible potential and never collapse. Recently the wonderful emperors put a t-shirt design by yours truly up online for sale. Have a look below and follow the links to buy, buy, buy! (Thanks to Tessa and Matt for modeling and Jared and Brianne for kicking general ass at a constant pace.)

BUY! (Guys)

BUY! (Gals)

Conceptually, the video will be based around a loose story structure but mainly focus on complex nonsense and visually rich imagery.

The story will follow one main character, a deep sea oil rig worker who is overtaken by his loneliness and homesickness and embarks on a journey to find any situation better than his current one, alone at sea.

All images will be constructed out of found textures to emulate a “cut paper” look. The color choice will emphasize saturated and other worldly extremes. Psychedelic.

A sketch of what the main character could look like.

A motion test and visual sketch of the oil rig.

First visual concept of whale breaching, may make for nice event whilst out at sea.

A sketch of a nautilus. Our hero may ride on the back of the nautilus to originally escape from isolation on the rig.

Visual test of bridges as our hero makes his way inland. Extreme color choices.

Some reference photos for landscape ideas. I love the idea of old buildings covered up by hills and grass just barely poking through.

All in all the video will take place in a psychedelic world of nonsense where really anything can happen without explanation. I’d like to place emphasis also on the use of “home” a motif. Perhaps our hero is trying to find a new home, or return to his previous home.

The conclusion is yet to be established. Will he ride off into the sunset destined to search indefinitely? Will he find a better situation and have his problem resolved? or will he find a different situation and realize that he’s no better off than he was before.. a tale of “grass is always greener” syndrome.

This is what I look like today:

My dad said I looked good.

I’ve been in New Zealand for 17 days. The majority of those days have been in Wellington, the nation’s capital. It’s a fine city, small by American standards. I’ve enjoyed the accommodation at a small hostel on the south end of town called Worldwide Backpackers where it’s been easy to meet heaps of international travelers. I have been aggressively looking for a campervan with which to drive aimlessly around the countryside.

With a mobile bed as my vehicle I will eliminate all costs of daily life aside from food. Then I will learn how to spear fish. I have grand plans my friends, grand plans. I greatly look forward to receiving visitors too. My good friend Liz B already has a ticket to come out in December. I am offering a prize of one filleted, spear-caught fish cooked over a fire to the first visitor that arrives.

I intend to head up north to Auckland this week to look at the campervan scene. Wish me luck and look for more substantial posts in the future.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to recently

Clara Clara – Dolphins

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The Watery Graves of Portland – Notre Mythologie

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The Ideal Husband – Terrified

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Ohakune is a strange town. Situated at the foot of Mt. Ruapaheu, this sleepy ski town has no business trowing MySpace and MTV sponsored secret shows. This became apparent this last saturday night when four kick ass bands from Aukland drove five hours out of their way to play at a crappy restaurant-by-day bar-by-night venue called the Projection Room. The show was under promoted and under hyped, I know it was secret show but come on. I’d be surprised if there was anyone in the room that actually came to see the bands that night. Most were just rowdy ski bros who’d been shreddin’ all day and decided to get sloshed at their favorite testosterone bar. This did not provided for an oportune atomosphere for these well-respected, unpaid bands to feel appreciated.

Since that wasn’t enough to squish the night, the lovely manegment at the Projection Room took it upon themselves to aggressively ruin everyone’s night. Right before the Ruby Suns set, the last set of the night, the asshole owner, standing at an impressive 5′ 2″ told The Ruby Suns that they couldn’t play. The HEADLINERS. It was ludicrous. He was pissing off his clientele, his sponsors, MySpace and MTV, and the bands. I was livid. I had hitched 5 hours up from Wellington to see them that night and I would have his short little head if I wasn’t gonne see the Ruby Suns. Fortunatley, they decided to set up anyway. They played about a song and a half before the lights came on and they were asked to stop. In an act of pure frustration, the band forced the lights back off and continued to play. Things were starting to get heated. The bouncers got involved and turned the lights back on. Then things got physical. Someone grabbed someone and next thing I knew the whole bar was in a headlock. The band was fighting the bouncers, friends were trying to help, the sound guy was getting his life threatend and the short asshole manager was nowhere to be found.

After a few small scuffles and the band hurridly trying to get their gear packed up things began to calm down. Nothing was ever explained. Why did the drunk asshole manager want to shut them down so bad? What the fuck? Bummer Projection Room, bummer Ohakune.

The above picture is a kick ass garage-surf band from Aukland called Street Chant.

NO.

It’s been just over one week since I’ve arrived in New Zealand. Thus far I’ve made the following generalizations: Kiwis are tremendously and outwardly kind. It is not infrequent for a stranger to offer up a helping hand whether or not the situation calls for it. One can travel in New Zealand effortlessly. The rail and bus system is very well established placed appropriately for ease of use in relation to the proximity of desirable destinations. New Zealand is very similar to America, almost disappointingly so. It is not uncommon to see familiar brands and chains, rules and cultural norms. The two most significant differences is the accent (which is far more discernible than I had expected) and the opposite direction of traffic (I nearly get killed daily trying to cross the road). I am, however, looking forward to driving in this country.

Tomorrow I will have my go at hitch-hiking as I make my way from Wellington up north to Ohakune to see the Ruby Suns last show in NZ before they head stateside for a nationwide tour. You all back home are lucky, they have a number of dates lined up with the Dodos…

The above pictures are mainly of Wellington city from atop Mt. Victoria. The lemons were growing on a hilltop in Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast.

See for yourself. I took this video in my sink in Paraparaumu, New Zealand a few days ago. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere please go to your sink and conduct a test for comparison’s sake. I think you’ll find the results quite startling. Oh and please refrain from observing your toilet; the jets obscure the outcome.