A call for change...

So a friend of mine recently got back from a super short stint in the States, jet setting from Coast to Coast, and returning with a wad of culture shock stories in tow. Among the myriad of Venice Beach “it is actually what it looks like in the movies – there are people totally pumping iron on the shore and groups of ‘sex kittens’ parading bikini bodies on roller skates down the promenade" – and Disneyland – they went during off season so they could go on every ride and it was Amazing – stories, we finally settled into tales from the more culturally sound area of Brooklyn, New York.

Spending the majority of his trip in this particular burrough he divulged the type of social culture they uphold, in relation to music and partying and general community atmosphere, which ended up partially explaining why this area has recently become a mecca for creative pursuits.

It basically boiled down to the simple but often overlooked nuance of supporting ones friends rather than supporting ones party at all costs. So Brooklanders would pay cover charges, arrive before the bands played, and consistently turn out to nights that were more organically community focused chill out times.

Don’t get me wrong (or him – he was actually there after all) on the nights they party, they party – think free pouring shots when mixing drinks and cocktails (read: uber strong and dangerous) but they are also consistently supportive of almost every event taking place.

Anyway, this friend came back super morose. Wellington is the same size as Brooklyn – the Cuba Street and surrounding areas anyway – and yet the only time people go out is after midnight on a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, refusing to pay cover charge, missing bands, and generally just being obnoxious drunks.

Coincidentally, a couple of friends (Scott Nicolson from Radioactive, and Gemma Syme of The Kitchen Sink and Radioactive) and myself had jump-started the idea of hangin’ around in Wellington with The Listening Post.

OK, so it's an idea that's been kicking round in Auckland as The Eavesdrop, but it's so perfect, we had to copy! Particularly in the time of blogs and MP3’s and record labels folding and record stores closing down, the ‘real’ side of music has sort of been lost; you know, actually spending time with the physical album, looking at the artwork, listening to great songs in a social environment and discussing them.

PLUS, board games. Brilliant. So we hold it on the last Thursday of every month at The Watusi, and from this month on there, along with the board games and great music, will be a Happy Hour of some description from 9-10p.m, to coax punters from their semi-warm flats into the cold. And all on a Thursday night to ease you into the more salubrious weekend pursuits. If you’re in Wellington come along, we will totally make it worth your while and you might just learn something!

You can check out previous Run Lists at www.thekitchensink.co.nz

Written by CJS