Shortcircuit: Diary of a Journey

We left Auckland, 5am, straight to Welly to get the ferry: we get on, John Campbell on the 6 o’clock news tells us our ferry (the Arahura) is in bad shape, and there’s troubled waters ahead!

The Interislander kindly sponsored us, but the onboard crew were keeping a low profile - hmmm. We fulfilled our sponsorship contract by playing a downbeat laptop set through Emerald Green’s guitar amp to the dazed commuters . . .

Betty put us up in Nelson and we had a good kai and sleep, ready for Dunedin the next day : Radio One hooked us up with a 2hour live set for which Matt took the helm, while others selected tunes. Re:fuel was a great start - SOS kicked it off with a Bang! You could say the Dunedinites were a little taken by surprise, but they soon got the gist and setup the scene for further gigs . . .

Queenstown was littered with foreigners, keen to get their beats. They did. They were also keen to taste our sponsor’s product ‘MPH750’. Indeed, when we woke next day, a couple lucky ones were still at it on the patio outside . . . responsible for parties , hell yes.

Wanaka has its good and bad sides - luckily we stay firmly on the good side: great bar and management, upforit peoples, DJ Nas-T - oh, did we mention Nas-T - she’s a one-woman DnB dance machine DJ with a colourful background in the arts. Everyone had an awesome time, and probably had way too much, er, stimulation.

The driving’s of course been beautiful, the van taking us through without a hitch, well, it can’t turn right properly, apart from that she’s ship shape, and has a ghettoblaster rigged to the battery, essential . . .

Resting is good, and the way it worked was a week off in Christchurch at family townhouse. We spread our stuff around and ate and drank. Wasn’t to last though, we got into two daytime performances at Polytech in their grassy squares, they even had a sausage sizzle, now that’s hospitality !

The Jetset was waiting, Jules the guitarist flew in from AK to complete the lineup. That night, Shane Hollands (our official door person) did some improv wordage styles, mixing it with the EMU.

Fiction andFunk’n Slocuts warmed up the PA in Nelson, we soon got busy with that blockbuster system. The crowd built steadily, EMU claiming his best ever gig and it was back to stay with Betty for some nourishment.

Wellington, we meet again - hello Disasteradio! Stepping up for Bodega Room 101, he soon whipped the crowd into an electro frenzy, also, spotted on the floor were various K’Rd luminaries. A good night and sure to return . . .

The lineup in Palmerston North was diverse with a folk artist opening, leading to some trip-hop duo, well appreciated, thanksShanna . . . the night was long and hot, 80-odd Palmy cats filtering through for their beats n groove.

Viper Room in Auckland - say what ! Apparently they’ve gone bust, or have they ? Either way, we got left high and dry with no homecoming gig ! After some sleuthing, we got the quality Galatos basement putting us up on the Saturday 11th July, rounding it out nicely for the Auckland fans.

Shortcircuit tour - yep we got sparks and fire . . . brains were fried, minds altered and the doors of perception once again blown clean away - If you’re a touring musician, you probably know what we mean. If you’re a punter, you get a tasty slice on the night - either way, you know we live for this !