Thursday night saw us heading out into the changeable spring evening to spend an evening thinking about ways to innovate our supercity at LATE at the Museum, along with Japanese punk jazz artist Miho Wada, the Drab Doo-Riffs and more…
We’ve tried to get to as many of the Innovate series of Late at the Museum as possible – not always easy when doors open at 6.30pm, in the middle of witching hour.
But thanks to a last minute offer from my sister, Thursday night saw my husband and I heading out into the changeable spring evening to spend an evening thinking about ways to innovate our supercity.
We missed the first band and DJ – but an old colleague said that Japanese punk jazz artist Miho Wada was phenomenal – dressed to kill in mini kilt, striped tights and brothel creepers, she lifter the roof and drove much of the grey-haired intelligentsia upstairs to grab good seats for the Finlay McDonald-chaired panel discussion.
We took seats towards the back in a near-capacity room and settled in to listen to architect Pete Bosley, planner Chris Harris and economist Rod Oram talk about our city. The talk was vibrant and positive – McDonald set the tone by asking each panelist to begin and end with an optimistic statement about the potential for the new city structure.
As is to be expected, roads and rail were mentioned A LOT; but the most interesting aspect, at least to me, was the way all three panelists emphasized the importance of the peoples of Auckland to making this new structure a success. Oram noted that Auckland is the sixth most immigrant intensive city in the world, with 37% of our population born outside New Zealand. Bosley stated that we have something like 167 first languages in everyday use in our metropolitan area. Harris talked about the notion of a mythologised or imagined city – a place that we invent to suit ourselves.
The discussion was fantastic; invigorating, innovative and positive in a way that encouraged Auckland’s citizens to imagine themselves as agents for change in their city. However, the highlight of the evening, at least for my husband and me, was what followed. We headed downstairs into the new foyer for a noisy forty-five minute set from ex-supergroover Karl Stevens’ new band, the Drab Doo-Riffs.
We’d seen these guys before, in an unplugged set at a friend’s baby shower, but in the larger space of the Museum Foyer, and somewhat perturbed by the (largely) seated and sedate crowd, the Doo-Riffs’ raucous rockabilly/punk/rock and roll was outstanding. We’d pay good money to see these guys again in a dark and dingy setting more suitable for dancing!
They were followed by new band Popstrangers – who were fine – and probably great without the Drab Doo-Riffs as a lead-in, but, with minds aflame from the great talk, and feet tapping, we headed back into the spring rain, pledging to organize the babysitter for next month’s LATE.
By Kate Hannah, 2 September 2010.
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