REVIEW: Tommy

FRIDAY 16 MARCH
CD AND DVD STORE
SUNDAY 18 MARCH
CIVIC SQUARE
TOMMY
By Charlette Hannah

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Tommy play – too long in fact. This week I got a double dose, in two very different situations.

On Friday I took an extended lunch break to see Tommy play solo at the CD and DVD store in Cuba St. Sadly, for there are many good solo artists, it is hard to pull off a gig when it’s just you, the mic, and the guitar. Tommy is one of the few who can. His intense vocals – both his lyrics and the quality of his voice – are arresting, and hold attention, while his confident guitar playing backs them up. Playing a selection of songs including one he had written that morning, some from the new album, and a couple of old favourites, Tommy sang to a small but appreciative crowd. At one point a woman ran in, saw Tommy, started screaming ‘no, no’ in excitement, and ran out again. Most interesting.

On Sunday, I strolled along to Civic Square for an unadvertised gig including Spartacus R, Tommy, and a hip hop dance troupe. The debut of the new Tommy line-up in the sunshine, surrounded by high school boys and girls, was a situation I wouldn’t necessarily have placed them in. Sunshine, yes, as the music is bouncy and upbeat and easy to dance to, but the crowd? As evidenced by the lack of dancers (I’ve never been to a Tommy gig before where it’s taken longer than the first song to get people up and dancing) it was perhaps not the ideal gig.

Having said that, they played well, the songs were great as always, and I look forward to seeing them again when they begin their New Zealand tour.

Note: On Saturday I caught up with Tommy for an in-depth interview – watch this space for the full thing.

Sun and earthquakes

If there's one thing that I think is universally over-rated (aside from all the other things) it's sunshine. Yes we need it now and then to get vitamins and feel positive etc etc. But honestly, who can function when it's so hot your fingers are melting into your keyboard and all you can think about is your flatmates ridiculous adult size paddling pool. Which is full of dead and dying bees and other such winged many-legged creatures.
Wellington has not been behaving itself lately! Where has our identity gone? Who are we if we have no wind? Well, we still have earthquakes. Today's one was 4.8 on the Richter scale.
Our office started to wonder if we should hide under desks or make a dash for the ground (5 floors down). On Monday it was only 3.5 but that one lasted for quite a while.
I personally avoid the sun whenever I can. A dose of about a minute is enough to satisfy me. Which is unfortunate as my partner could happily spend all day in the sun. But then, he tans, whereas I go from white to red, and count myself lucky if I catch it in the pink stage. Perhaps I wouldn't be so afraid of the sun if I didn't live under the ozone hole.
Personally I like it when it's misty. It's cooler so it keeps you alive and active, but it's not rain, so you don't smell like a wet dog when you get inside. It's also rather romantic somehow.
Of course, when it gets to winter, and it is colder and wetter, I'll wish for summer again. I think the ideal year would be alternate days of winter and summer so you'd appreciate it all the time.