More gigs, only a little rain
It's been a busy week. Since the Shins I've been:

-dragged along to a comedy night at Orientation. (Probably shouldn't have bothered: Michelle A'Court and Radar were OK but nothing special, and I just really don't get Ben Hurley, or how he managed to win the Billy T award).

-strode of my own free will to Orientation for the third time, to see Dimmer and Tha Feelstyle. Both good acts, but they suffered from a lacklustre crowd (the hall was maybe a third full). Dimmer's sound possibly works better on album, it was all a bit one-paced, and while they made a pleasant noise, I never really got that excited by it. I was pretty tired, so maybe that was the reason, as much as them. Carter doesn't really have much stage presence either - he's too grumpy whenever the audience acts like a rock audience.

-wandered around the Cuba St Carnival on my own and in the company of other consenting adults. I saw Phoenix Foundation play one of their quiet sets (they're just getting better - '40 Years' or whatever it is called is great); SJD for a few songs, went home with Rhonda for a while, watched some cricket then back for the parade with the usual suspects as well as some of Rhonda's friends; and some dancing to Tu Faan Express. The boys looked happy to be up there playing, and the crowd certainly dug it. The parade was good, but standard complaints about not being able to see most of it and fearing being crushed to death apply.

Also ran into Adrienne and Kelvin which was a neat coincidence. Good to see them both out and about after his accident. 
| ¶ 6:45 pm