The year was 2012. I was doing my post grad in Communications at Auckland University of Technology. My specialisation was Journalism. I was also working as a media monitor/content writer. On the side I volunteered for the student magazine, Debate as a columnist and article writer. I had a regular dating column called It's in his kiss, which was based on Carrie Bradshaw's Sex and the City. I've always had an interest in the serious issues though so I wrote serious articles. I wrote articles about crime, Kyle Sandilands and I also had a How to guide.
After the Colorado cinema shootings in July 2012 I was fascinated because unlike the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, the Colorado cinema shooter hadn't turned the gun on himself.
I was going to write an article that centred around the mental health of mass murderers, why they do it in the first place, why some choose to end their own life and why some choose not to. For that article I had planned to interview a few pyschologists and I also chose to interview then NZ Labour list MP, Jacinda Ardern. I emailed Jacinda's office and she personally replied and I may be wrong but I think I set up the interview for 3 or 4pm on a Thursday afternoon. I then created my list of questions.
I asked her about the Orlando shooting, what action she would like to see taken and a couple of other things that I genuinely do not recall. If memory serves me right though, we did talk about mental health and we did talk about prevention. I recall her being very compassionate and kind.
This was evidenced in the interview when my building had a fire alarm. She offered to end the interview and continue it later but I didn't want to do that so once the beeping had stopped we carried on with it.
After I interviewed her I also interviewed an Australian psychologist by the name of Susan. I don't recall what she said either but I don't recall her being as warm as Jacinda was.
Jacinda really seemed to care about people and their mental health.
That has been displayed this week in response to the Christchurch Mosque Shooting that occurred on Friday. She has been so kind and caring towards the families of the victims, the entire Muslim community and NZers in general.
I think I steered clear of questions about guns and wanted to focus on
the tougher issue because at the time I remember thinking that to ban
guns would just be to put a band aid on the wound and that it wouldn't
actually solve anything. I have since changed my tune but realistically,
in an ideal world I'd like to see gun ownership cut and people given
better access to mental health support services. On that note, I really
hope that the paramedics and other first responders on Friday are
receiving adequate medical attention.
Although nobody would ever wish an event like this on their worst enemy, if there's any world leader you'd want in your corner it's Jacinda and throughout the years she's always been a very kind, caring and considerate person.
There's no real point of this blog. I guess I'm just a little spooked out that I interviewed her about a massacre back in 2012 not even knowing back then that she would be Prime Minister of New Zealand or that she would be the one who would be the face of the nation dealing with such an atrocity.
I would be lying if I said I asked her what she'd do if it ever happened in New Zealand because to be honest, I don't think the thought even crossed my mind. I think I really wanted to get her views on the linkages between mental health and massacres.
I also guess I'm talking about it because although I want the assailant to receive the death penalty, I do want to understand what can drive a person, anyone to such a henious crime. How can someone be so angry and evil that they don't think what they're doing is wrong? Back in 2012 neither Jacinda nor I had the answer and sadly that's the case today. I do agree with her that a little kindness goes a long way.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Friday, March 15, 2019
NZ terror attack: peace not war shall be our boast
Here's a blog I had hoped I would never be writing. I suspected it would happen at some point, that eventually there would be a terrorist attack in New Zealand. I certainly didn't think it would happen in Christchurch of all places.
I was at work when the news started coming in. A friend sent me a message on Facebook saying: "Shooting in CHCH at the Mosque. 6 dead. Check stuff".
When I read that phrase I was shocked and immediately check the news. Given I am a writer and studied journalism at university I always like to verify information.
Anyway, it was true. There was an unfolding situation at a Mosque in CHCH. That ended up being much worse than first suspected. I listened to the radio all day for updates while working.
Throughout the day the death toll kept on rising and then around 6pm, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed a death toll of 40. That number would later rise to 49 where it has been for the last few hours, however there are still 48 in hospital.
Newstalk ZB's coverage was brilliant today and it is very clear that New Zealanders are feeling the pain today over this terrorist attack. It's the worst terrorist attack to ever happen in NZ. To put it into context, 49 dying in NZ in a terrorist attack is the equivalent of 2600 in America. That means it's the equivalent of the 9/11 twin tower attacks.
The really sad part is that it was an Australian who carried out this senseless attack on innocent people. Nobody has the right to take another person's life and nobody has the right to get violent with other people. The Australian who allegedly carried out these attacks released a manifesto online stating the reasons and the basic gist is that they wanted to stop invasion of Western nations.
I don't want to focus on them too much but it seems hypocritical because they went to New Zealand specifically to carry out this henious terrorist attack against innocent people. While details have not yet been released, children are amongst the dead.
Instead, what I want to focus on in this blog is how to stop terrorist attacks in the future because nobody should ever feel unsafe where they live, let alone in a place of worship. They should feel safe to go about their daily business.
Hate is what caused this crime and to prevent further crimes, hate is not the answer despite what some people are saying on social media. The best answer to prevent crime is to show compassion and love towards other people. Tolerance will stop these attacks.
Terrorists, regardless of what side they represent want to create division but instead, people need to all stand together and unite. They need to show they won't be broken and that they will not perpetuate hate.
Anyone who is suffering mental health issues (sociopathy and psychopathy included) needs to receive help for their issues and they need help so that they don't senselessly murder people, although this is much worse than murder. This was outright terrorism.
Another question that has to be asked is how the assailants got the guns to carry out these crimes. NZ is supposed to be like Australia, with tough gun laws yet somehow the assailant was able to get enough guns and ammunition to kill innocent people.
What's even more confusing is why the assailant has only been charged with murder. This crime extended beyond murder and was a terrorist attack.
I don't believe in the death penalty. I never will believe in the death penalty. I have however said previously that when it comes to treason and terrorism I make an exception and I stand by that. In this particular case, the assailant, whether they acted alone or with others, does not deserve to live. According to media reports, four suspects are in police custody.
The attack was senseless and served absolutely no purpose.
The really sad part is that New Zealanders and Australians are supposed to be family and yet an Australian specifically targeted New Zealand. They specifically targeted a quiet city that's already been through a lot with the Christchurch earthquakes from which it hasn't yet recovered and I can only hope that Cantabrians will be offered emotional and mental health support.
The attack doesn't make sense. That's not to say that all Australians are like this because they're not. The vast majority of Australians are friendly, welcoming, peaceful and would never carry out a terrorist attack. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the attack, as has NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and NZ Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Mr Peters has also indicated that NZ's national security will be looked at in due course.
It would be so easy to blame all white people for this attack, but I have to raise the point, when a Muslim carries out a terrorist attack that's exactly what happens, some people blame all Muslims but the reality there are only a small minority of Muslims who are terrorists.
It would also be so easy to blame all white Christians for this attack but the vast majority have also condemned this senseless attack.
I've read part of the assailant's manifesto (I couldn't read the rest because it was too disturbing) and the general gist was that they hated Muslims, hated immigration and wanted to reclaim their land (hypocritical given they targeted a country they're not even from) which indicates fear. A culture of fear does not help anyone.
Fear is what terrorists want.
The best answer and the best response to terrorist attacks is simply to be tolerant of other people. If someone isn't hurting you, what do their beliefs actually matter? It's not like they're actually hurting you.
So I would have to draw words from the NZ National Anthem because it feels appropriate today.
In the bonds of love we meet.
Hear our voices, we entreat.
Men of every creed and race
Gather here before Thy face
Asking thee to bless this place
From dissension, envy, hate,
and corruption guard our state
Peace, not war, shall be our boast
But should foes assail our coast
Make us then a mighty host
Instead of hating Australians, white Christians, Muslims, immigration etc, people need to come together to keep the peace and be more tolerant.
Hate, anger and fear is what caused this attack. Love is the antedote to it. Only when we treat others with respect will senseless terrorist attacks stop.
And to close this blog, I'm going to leave you with the extended version of the New Zealand National Anthem.
I was at work when the news started coming in. A friend sent me a message on Facebook saying: "Shooting in CHCH at the Mosque. 6 dead. Check stuff".
When I read that phrase I was shocked and immediately check the news. Given I am a writer and studied journalism at university I always like to verify information.
Anyway, it was true. There was an unfolding situation at a Mosque in CHCH. That ended up being much worse than first suspected. I listened to the radio all day for updates while working.
Throughout the day the death toll kept on rising and then around 6pm, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed a death toll of 40. That number would later rise to 49 where it has been for the last few hours, however there are still 48 in hospital.
Newstalk ZB's coverage was brilliant today and it is very clear that New Zealanders are feeling the pain today over this terrorist attack. It's the worst terrorist attack to ever happen in NZ. To put it into context, 49 dying in NZ in a terrorist attack is the equivalent of 2600 in America. That means it's the equivalent of the 9/11 twin tower attacks.
The really sad part is that it was an Australian who carried out this senseless attack on innocent people. Nobody has the right to take another person's life and nobody has the right to get violent with other people. The Australian who allegedly carried out these attacks released a manifesto online stating the reasons and the basic gist is that they wanted to stop invasion of Western nations.
I don't want to focus on them too much but it seems hypocritical because they went to New Zealand specifically to carry out this henious terrorist attack against innocent people. While details have not yet been released, children are amongst the dead.
Instead, what I want to focus on in this blog is how to stop terrorist attacks in the future because nobody should ever feel unsafe where they live, let alone in a place of worship. They should feel safe to go about their daily business.
Hate is what caused this crime and to prevent further crimes, hate is not the answer despite what some people are saying on social media. The best answer to prevent crime is to show compassion and love towards other people. Tolerance will stop these attacks.
Terrorists, regardless of what side they represent want to create division but instead, people need to all stand together and unite. They need to show they won't be broken and that they will not perpetuate hate.
Anyone who is suffering mental health issues (sociopathy and psychopathy included) needs to receive help for their issues and they need help so that they don't senselessly murder people, although this is much worse than murder. This was outright terrorism.
Another question that has to be asked is how the assailants got the guns to carry out these crimes. NZ is supposed to be like Australia, with tough gun laws yet somehow the assailant was able to get enough guns and ammunition to kill innocent people.
What's even more confusing is why the assailant has only been charged with murder. This crime extended beyond murder and was a terrorist attack.
I don't believe in the death penalty. I never will believe in the death penalty. I have however said previously that when it comes to treason and terrorism I make an exception and I stand by that. In this particular case, the assailant, whether they acted alone or with others, does not deserve to live. According to media reports, four suspects are in police custody.
The attack was senseless and served absolutely no purpose.
The really sad part is that New Zealanders and Australians are supposed to be family and yet an Australian specifically targeted New Zealand. They specifically targeted a quiet city that's already been through a lot with the Christchurch earthquakes from which it hasn't yet recovered and I can only hope that Cantabrians will be offered emotional and mental health support.
The attack doesn't make sense. That's not to say that all Australians are like this because they're not. The vast majority of Australians are friendly, welcoming, peaceful and would never carry out a terrorist attack. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the attack, as has NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and NZ Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Mr Peters has also indicated that NZ's national security will be looked at in due course.
It would be so easy to blame all white people for this attack, but I have to raise the point, when a Muslim carries out a terrorist attack that's exactly what happens, some people blame all Muslims but the reality there are only a small minority of Muslims who are terrorists.
It would also be so easy to blame all white Christians for this attack but the vast majority have also condemned this senseless attack.
I've read part of the assailant's manifesto (I couldn't read the rest because it was too disturbing) and the general gist was that they hated Muslims, hated immigration and wanted to reclaim their land (hypocritical given they targeted a country they're not even from) which indicates fear. A culture of fear does not help anyone.
Fear is what terrorists want.
The best answer and the best response to terrorist attacks is simply to be tolerant of other people. If someone isn't hurting you, what do their beliefs actually matter? It's not like they're actually hurting you.
So I would have to draw words from the NZ National Anthem because it feels appropriate today.
In the bonds of love we meet.
Hear our voices, we entreat.
Men of every creed and race
Gather here before Thy face
Asking thee to bless this place
From dissension, envy, hate,
and corruption guard our state
Peace, not war, shall be our boast
But should foes assail our coast
Make us then a mighty host
Instead of hating Australians, white Christians, Muslims, immigration etc, people need to come together to keep the peace and be more tolerant.
Hate, anger and fear is what caused this attack. Love is the antedote to it. Only when we treat others with respect will senseless terrorist attacks stop.
And to close this blog, I'm going to leave you with the extended version of the New Zealand National Anthem.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Concert review - Nickelback - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney - 15th February 2019
I go to a lot of concerts. It averages one a month, however this month it's more like one a week. These are all of this year's concerts:
I saw them back in 2006 at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium when they opened for the Rolling Stones. I thought they were very average live. I was not impressed at all.They might have been having a bad night or they've improved considerably over the last few years, which is entirely possible. I know that even a few months can make a huge difference to my performing so imagine what a few years can do to them.
As I had acting practice early in the evening I missed out on the opening act but as I've previously written about I'm not a fan of opening acts, which the exception being Japanese Wallpaper who opened for Lily Allen last week so I don't think I really missed anything.
Nickelback came onto the stage just before 9pm and opened with the title track from their new album, Feed the Machine.
Long time fans such as myself were extremely happy when the third song was Photograph which they were keen for the audience to sing, and sing we did. That enthusiasm carried through for the next song, Far Away, a ballad from the same album, All The Right Reasons.
Something In Your Moutth was a track that Chad Kroeger was very enthusiastic about , quite possibly because of the lyrics.
The set list had changed between concerts so I was a caught off guard when they launched into Someday, which is one of my favourite songs and a song that I practiced singing last night. It was the highlight of the show for me and is the song that got me into Nickelback in the first place. It also has a lot of meaning for me. In the past it's been a song that has been hard to listen to but tonight I just loved every second of it and sung along.
When we stand together and Gotta be somebody were two highlights for me as well. The songs had an excellent beat and lyrics as well.
As with most shows, Chad brought a couple of fans on stage to sing Rockstar from All The Right Reasons. One of the fans was so uncomfortable and like a fish out of water whereas the other was right at home. It was a pretty funny moment but in all honesty I could've done without the uncomfortable fan being on stage.
There were other moments when Chad and his bandmates interacted with the audience. He made a lot of jokes about his alcoholism and how everyone loves the drummer, not knowing of course that me, sitting in the stand has a major crush on him (there's just something about a lead singer) and when he talked about how he loves Sydney's weather.
The final song before the encore was How you remind me and there was only a short gap before the two song encore. The concert closed on Burn It To The Ground.
It may be that there's a few songs that I really love and that I feel truly connected to or it's that Chad Kroeger is incredibly hot but the show was one of the best I've been to lately.
I have to give it a 4/5.
Here are some photos from the show including the moment when two fans were brought on stage.
- Lily Allen (that was last week on the 5th of February)
- Nickelback tonight
- Red Hot Chili Peppers next Tuesday the 19th of February
- Beth Hart next Friday the 22nd of February
- Hanson the 5th of March
- Kylie Minogue the 6th of March
- Bryan Adams the 24th of March
- Maren Morris the 22nd of August
- Julia Michaels the 5th of September
- Elton John on the 7th of Janaury
I saw them back in 2006 at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium when they opened for the Rolling Stones. I thought they were very average live. I was not impressed at all.They might have been having a bad night or they've improved considerably over the last few years, which is entirely possible. I know that even a few months can make a huge difference to my performing so imagine what a few years can do to them.
As I had acting practice early in the evening I missed out on the opening act but as I've previously written about I'm not a fan of opening acts, which the exception being Japanese Wallpaper who opened for Lily Allen last week so I don't think I really missed anything.
Nickelback came onto the stage just before 9pm and opened with the title track from their new album, Feed the Machine.
Long time fans such as myself were extremely happy when the third song was Photograph which they were keen for the audience to sing, and sing we did. That enthusiasm carried through for the next song, Far Away, a ballad from the same album, All The Right Reasons.
Something In Your Moutth was a track that Chad Kroeger was very enthusiastic about , quite possibly because of the lyrics.
The set list had changed between concerts so I was a caught off guard when they launched into Someday, which is one of my favourite songs and a song that I practiced singing last night. It was the highlight of the show for me and is the song that got me into Nickelback in the first place. It also has a lot of meaning for me. In the past it's been a song that has been hard to listen to but tonight I just loved every second of it and sung along.
When we stand together and Gotta be somebody were two highlights for me as well. The songs had an excellent beat and lyrics as well.
As with most shows, Chad brought a couple of fans on stage to sing Rockstar from All The Right Reasons. One of the fans was so uncomfortable and like a fish out of water whereas the other was right at home. It was a pretty funny moment but in all honesty I could've done without the uncomfortable fan being on stage.
There were other moments when Chad and his bandmates interacted with the audience. He made a lot of jokes about his alcoholism and how everyone loves the drummer, not knowing of course that me, sitting in the stand has a major crush on him (there's just something about a lead singer) and when he talked about how he loves Sydney's weather.
The final song before the encore was How you remind me and there was only a short gap before the two song encore. The concert closed on Burn It To The Ground.
It may be that there's a few songs that I really love and that I feel truly connected to or it's that Chad Kroeger is incredibly hot but the show was one of the best I've been to lately.
I have to give it a 4/5.
Here are some photos from the show including the moment when two fans were brought on stage.
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Concert review: Shania Twain 14th and 15th December 2018 - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
I've been a fan of country singer Shania Twain since I was a kid so when her Now Tour was announced earlier in the year I knew I had to get a ticket and that's exactly what I did. I immediately got an A Reserve ticket within an hour of the presale for the show on the 14th of December at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. I wanted to be as close to the stage as possible. Say what you will, but where you are in an arena affects the enjoyment you have at a show.
The day of the concert eventually came around and Shania did not disappoint at all. Her opening act was Bastian Baker who had little charisma and it was easy to see why he was only a supporting act rather than the headliner.
Shania entered through the audience at the back of the arena before starting with Life's about to get good, the first single from her latest album, Now. The crowd was incredibly excited.
She introduced one of her newer hits, Poor Me, a song that had started out very angrily but changed as she went through the writing process and was now her drinking song.
Luckily the sombre mood did not last too long and it was back to the upbeat songs of the late 90s including That Don't Impress Me Much which saw her change into a leopard print gown and the graphics on the stage cubes change.
There was a Kiss Cam right after the song and at the end of it Shania kissed one member of the audience before singing a spectacular track, Any Man of Mine from her 1995 album, The Woman in Me.
The crowd joined in for the next two songs, Whose bed have your boots been under and Honey I'm home.
Again, the mood turned sombre and there was another outfit change for the track, I'm alright, which was about her divorce from Robert "Mutt" Lange.
After a brief interlude, Shania took to the second stage in the middle of the arena and was perched with just her guitar. She said it had been 21 years since the next song had been released and that everyone had been on a journey and grown up with that song. It was of course, the song that made her a superstar, "You're still the one". That was the highlight of the night for me and a very special moment. There's nothing I love more than seeing an artist up on stage with just their guitar talking about the song before they launch into the performance. I find it makes the performance much more personal than someone who just sings a song.
More Fun was a nice song but the inspiration for it was a bit cheesy and Shania talked about how Magic Mike had inspired the dance moves.
Next up was a video interlude of a few of her old songs before the 90s ballad From this moment on from Come on over.
The mood picked up again for I'm gonna getcha good and the stage cubes were lit up with neon writing.
She brought Bastian Baker back on stage for Party for Two and he stayed for the next song, Swinging with my eyes closed which she asked the audience to participate in.
The final song was If you're not in it for love I'm outta here which the audience sung along to.
Red Storm was played after a brief gap and then Shania came back on stage for the encore which was Man! I feel like a woman.
It was a great show.
It was so great in fact that after seeing an ad on Facebook for tickets to Saturday night's show at a heavily discounted price ($76.80 including booking fee) I had to go along.
I was delayed by public transport but my seat was even better. It was a side view which would normally put me off but I was actually right by the stage so I could see what was going on backstage. I could see the back up singers, the drummer, the dancers and the guitarists talking, taking selfies, taking photos and just taking in the surroundings. It was great to see. I could also see what was going on more clearly.
As I'd been to the show previously I could focus more on the performance rather than taking photos and videos.
I enjoyed both nights of the show and the standout moment for me both nights was when Shania sung You're still the one on the second stage and the epic costume changes and dance moves.
Shania's still got it and I give both shows 4.5/5.
The day of the concert eventually came around and Shania did not disappoint at all. Her opening act was Bastian Baker who had little charisma and it was easy to see why he was only a supporting act rather than the headliner.
Shania entered through the audience at the back of the arena before starting with Life's about to get good, the first single from her latest album, Now. The crowd was incredibly excited.
She introduced one of her newer hits, Poor Me, a song that had started out very angrily but changed as she went through the writing process and was now her drinking song.
Luckily the sombre mood did not last too long and it was back to the upbeat songs of the late 90s including That Don't Impress Me Much which saw her change into a leopard print gown and the graphics on the stage cubes change.
There was a Kiss Cam right after the song and at the end of it Shania kissed one member of the audience before singing a spectacular track, Any Man of Mine from her 1995 album, The Woman in Me.
The crowd joined in for the next two songs, Whose bed have your boots been under and Honey I'm home.
Again, the mood turned sombre and there was another outfit change for the track, I'm alright, which was about her divorce from Robert "Mutt" Lange.
After a brief interlude, Shania took to the second stage in the middle of the arena and was perched with just her guitar. She said it had been 21 years since the next song had been released and that everyone had been on a journey and grown up with that song. It was of course, the song that made her a superstar, "You're still the one". That was the highlight of the night for me and a very special moment. There's nothing I love more than seeing an artist up on stage with just their guitar talking about the song before they launch into the performance. I find it makes the performance much more personal than someone who just sings a song.
More Fun was a nice song but the inspiration for it was a bit cheesy and Shania talked about how Magic Mike had inspired the dance moves.
Next up was a video interlude of a few of her old songs before the 90s ballad From this moment on from Come on over.
The mood picked up again for I'm gonna getcha good and the stage cubes were lit up with neon writing.
She brought Bastian Baker back on stage for Party for Two and he stayed for the next song, Swinging with my eyes closed which she asked the audience to participate in.
The final song was If you're not in it for love I'm outta here which the audience sung along to.
Red Storm was played after a brief gap and then Shania came back on stage for the encore which was Man! I feel like a woman.
It was a great show.
It was so great in fact that after seeing an ad on Facebook for tickets to Saturday night's show at a heavily discounted price ($76.80 including booking fee) I had to go along.
I was delayed by public transport but my seat was even better. It was a side view which would normally put me off but I was actually right by the stage so I could see what was going on backstage. I could see the back up singers, the drummer, the dancers and the guitarists talking, taking selfies, taking photos and just taking in the surroundings. It was great to see. I could also see what was going on more clearly.
As I'd been to the show previously I could focus more on the performance rather than taking photos and videos.
I enjoyed both nights of the show and the standout moment for me both nights was when Shania sung You're still the one on the second stage and the epic costume changes and dance moves.
Shania's still got it and I give both shows 4.5/5.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
It's time for a Celebration because Kylie is bringing her Golden Tour down under.
Australian pop Queen Kylie Minogue has finally announced tour dates for Australia next year.
She will be bringing her Golden Tour down under for six shows in March.
She will be bringing her Golden Tour down under for six shows in March.
Monday, March 11th
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA (All Ages)
Tickets: Ticketek | Ph: 13 28 49
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA (All Ages)
Tickets: Ticketek | Ph: 13 28 49
Wednesday, March 13th
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, VIC (All Ages)
Tickets: Ticketmaster | Ph: 13 61 00
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, VIC (All Ages)
Tickets: Ticketmaster | Ph: 13 61 00
She will also be playing at the music festival A Day On The Green.
A Day On The Green Shows
With special guests Jake Shears & Hatchie
(plus an additional special guest to be announced!)
(plus an additional special guest to be announced!)
Kylie fans had better get their dancing shoes on because this is sure to be a show to remember with old classics and new music from Golden thrown in.
At this stage it looks like New Zealand fans will need to travel to Australia for the show, however with a few days between shows it's entirely possible more dates will be added later.
At this stage it looks like New Zealand fans will need to travel to Australia for the show, however with a few days between shows it's entirely possible more dates will be added later.
Pre sale tickets are on sale from Tuesday the 13th of November at 12pm AEDT, with the general on sale starting on the 19th of November at 2pm local time.
You can bet that I'll be there to see her in concert. I've been waiting a long, long, long time for this.
You can bet that I'll be there to see her in concert. I've been waiting a long, long, long time for this.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Thoughts on Charlie Sheen following his speaking engagement at Sydney's ICC Darling Harbour Theatre
Since his time on Two and a Half Men came to an abrupt end in 2012, actor Charlie Sheen has attracted mixed attention with him being dubbed one of Hollywood's bad boys.
He revealed in 2015 that he had HIV and that he was diagnosed in 2011 which may or may not have sent him into his downward spiral. He has never actually confirmed that it did, only hinted that it had.
The media was very cruel to him and mocked him and his assertations that he had tiger blood and was an Adonis who was winning at life.
He was also in the news for his relationships with his ex wives and accused of being violent and a womanising slimeball.
I can't really comment on whether or not these things are true because as anyone knows, only half the story is told by the media. I'm telling the Pro Charlie Sheen half but skimming over the details because without speaking to him directly I actually can't comment. It would just be conjecture and opinion.
Earlier in the year he announced that he would be coming downunder on a speaking tour. Given how many shows I go to, I couldn't exactly not go to it, so i bought a ticket.
Between buying the ticket and him arriving in Sydney I re-enrolled in acting classes after a five year break. I have three classes a week and then outside of that I have several rehearsals, one of which fell on the night on Charlie Sheen's engagement at the ICC in Sydney.
Fortunately, the event was held close to where acting rehearsals are. It was a five minute walk. I still thought I was going to miss out because as much as I wanted to see Charlie Sheen live, acting is way more important.
The speaking engagement started at 7:30pm so I did miss most of it but then just before 9pm decided I'd go to the final part. I caught the last half hour before going back to acting practice afterwards. As I walked in, Charlie was talking to host and well known Australian broadcasting personality, Richard Wilkins about Two and a Half Men. He said that given the chance he would return to Two and a Half Men and although he didn't explicitly say so, he indicated that he didn't like his replacement, Ashton Kutcher.
He briefly talked about his HIV diagnosis and how his mother had been there for him. Some photos of him and his family were shown on the screens in the theatre which has a capacity of 2500.
There was a brief question and answer session where Charlie answered pre-organised questions about Two and a Half Men, crazy things he'd done in a car by himself. He said something about falling asleep in a car and then being arrested. It's unknown if it was his car. That detail was left out of what he said.
He and Richard then answered a few other questions before the evening closed.
The impression I was left with from the brief half hour I was at the speaking event was that Charlie is extremely misunderstood and that he's not the bad boy that the media says he is, either that or he's learned from his mistakes and it's changed him. I also got the impression that he cares a great deal about his family whether that's his parents, his siblings or his children and grandchildren.
I don't really want to give this a rating as I was only there a short time so I'm not sure it would be fair, but I'd probably give it a 4/5 and the ICC staff were brilliant as well. They get a 5/5 which is very different to the staff at ANZ Stadium on Friday night at Taylor Swift's show.
He revealed in 2015 that he had HIV and that he was diagnosed in 2011 which may or may not have sent him into his downward spiral. He has never actually confirmed that it did, only hinted that it had.
The media was very cruel to him and mocked him and his assertations that he had tiger blood and was an Adonis who was winning at life.
He was also in the news for his relationships with his ex wives and accused of being violent and a womanising slimeball.
I can't really comment on whether or not these things are true because as anyone knows, only half the story is told by the media. I'm telling the Pro Charlie Sheen half but skimming over the details because without speaking to him directly I actually can't comment. It would just be conjecture and opinion.
Earlier in the year he announced that he would be coming downunder on a speaking tour. Given how many shows I go to, I couldn't exactly not go to it, so i bought a ticket.
Between buying the ticket and him arriving in Sydney I re-enrolled in acting classes after a five year break. I have three classes a week and then outside of that I have several rehearsals, one of which fell on the night on Charlie Sheen's engagement at the ICC in Sydney.
Fortunately, the event was held close to where acting rehearsals are. It was a five minute walk. I still thought I was going to miss out because as much as I wanted to see Charlie Sheen live, acting is way more important.
The speaking engagement started at 7:30pm so I did miss most of it but then just before 9pm decided I'd go to the final part. I caught the last half hour before going back to acting practice afterwards. As I walked in, Charlie was talking to host and well known Australian broadcasting personality, Richard Wilkins about Two and a Half Men. He said that given the chance he would return to Two and a Half Men and although he didn't explicitly say so, he indicated that he didn't like his replacement, Ashton Kutcher.
He briefly talked about his HIV diagnosis and how his mother had been there for him. Some photos of him and his family were shown on the screens in the theatre which has a capacity of 2500.
There was a brief question and answer session where Charlie answered pre-organised questions about Two and a Half Men, crazy things he'd done in a car by himself. He said something about falling asleep in a car and then being arrested. It's unknown if it was his car. That detail was left out of what he said.
He and Richard then answered a few other questions before the evening closed.
The impression I was left with from the brief half hour I was at the speaking event was that Charlie is extremely misunderstood and that he's not the bad boy that the media says he is, either that or he's learned from his mistakes and it's changed him. I also got the impression that he cares a great deal about his family whether that's his parents, his siblings or his children and grandchildren.
I don't really want to give this a rating as I was only there a short time so I'm not sure it would be fair, but I'd probably give it a 4/5 and the ICC staff were brilliant as well. They get a 5/5 which is very different to the staff at ANZ Stadium on Friday night at Taylor Swift's show.
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Taylor Swift - Reputation Stadium Tour - Sydney - 2nd November 2018 - Review
I don't know where to start this blog. I guess I'll start with saying that I was really excited about seeing Taylor Swift live again. You see, I last saw her in 2015 when I was close to leaving Sydney but as a result of one of her monologues about how the audience had chosen to spend the night with her when we could have spent it anywhere else in Sydney, I decided to stay. You see, she said how great Sydney was. Now I know that she is paid to say those things but it still resonated with me and so I was excited to be seeing her again. I was so excited that I actually ended up buying a second ticket on the day that I really couldn't afford and giving the other ticket to a friend (who I later found out didn't end up going), but I knew I had to be in the A Reserve section and that I wanted to be closer. I figured I'd have a more memorable experience near the front, and well, that I certainly did. The experience is one I won't be forgetting in a hurry. It's also one that I would rather not repeat.
Like Taylor Swift I can relate to caring about one's reputation and then not caring. I can relate to people thinking one thing about you but another being true. Taylor Swift is one artist who writes music that I can relate to. She also delivers that music in a way that touches me.
I had actually decided I would only go to acting practice (rep) for a short time tonight because of Taylor Swift, so she was right. There were other places that some of us could have been. I can't speak for others in the audience but I certainly did miss being at rep, though I managed to get a short rep in prior to the show which was good.
Anyway, let's fast forward though shall we? I was on my way to the show and people were walking slowly. I didn't want to miss my train and I run at the gym so I weaved in and out of the pedestrian traffic at Central Station. I finally got to Olympic Park and I got to my seat at ANZ Stadium and that is when the drama began.
When I go to a concert I like to take a lot of photographs and I also like to get video. I do this for two reasons. One is because I simply like to relive the concert and the other is because I write reviews of concerts I go to. One of the major reasons I ended up buying an A Reserve ticket at the last minute was because when I went to the 1989 World Tour I had to watch on a big screen rather than watching her in real life. When you watch on the big screen the experience is completely different.
When I got to the show there was this group of four girls in front of me who were totally oblivious to the fact people were behind them. They were completely ignorant. I did what any normal person whose view was blocked would do, I stood on my seat. Now again, as I say, if I'd wanted to watch on the big screen I wouldn't have bought another ticket on the spur of the moment. I would have kept my original ticket.
Here is where the drama began even more. A mother came up to me and whinged that I was blocking her kids' view. I explained the situation and stood my ground. If someone is blocking my view then I will have no choice but to block theirs, but that isn't what bugs me really. It was her shear entitlement. She thought that just because she has kids they have the right to everything. I'm sorry but the universe does not revolve around children. It never has done and it never will do, and they are probably too young to remember anyway. I know I barely remember my first few concerts. I remember who they were, where they were and that's about it. I couldn't tell you anything else. That's not even the real issue though. She got really nasty about it and started name calling. I was polite. I explained the situation.
Later on, maybe about half an hour later, the father came over and asked me the same. He was more reasonable, but again, why would I sit down when my view of the stage was being blocked by other people? If I'd wanted to watch on the big screen I wouldn't have bought another ticket at the last second. I would've kept the cheap seat but I wanted a different experience to what I had at the 1989 World Tour where I couldn't see a thing and had to watch on the big screen.
The father was more reasonable and he kind of gave up but this is where it gets really bad. I tried to reach some type of compromise so we would both win and so that I'd be happy and they'd be happy but they weren't having it. It was their way or the highway.
They got really abusive though and their body language was absolutely appalling. I'm an actor, singer and a writer, so when someone is cold towards me I sense it. It could be one word, maybe not even a word, sometimes all it is, is a look. They got security and security was rude to me, but here's the part that really offended me and got me quite riled up and here is the part that actually ruined my night.
A group of people behind this couple and their children laughed and clapped after security forced me to sit down. Now that might seem quite minor but if you've ever been bullied then sometimes it's only a little thing that will actually trigger that memory and being laughed at and having them clap got me really upset and yeah I cried. The people sitting directly next to me though were about the same age and they were nice. They were basically on my side. You could tell that this wasn't their first concert and that they knew that some people would miss out on a view, but where they seemed to understand me was that they recognised that I'd been bullied by the parents, this random group in the vicinity as well as security and another staff member. They actually seemed to understand the situation and were nice. Just before the show started we changed seats so that I would have the aisle seat. I'll explain why this is important later.
I'm not one to give up on what I want though. Anyway, Taylor Swift came on late because rain delayed the show but that was okay. I actually don't remember the first part of the show because I was fuming because of being bullied and abused by staff and customers of the stadium. A few songs into the show during Look What You Made Me Do I decided to stand on my seat because I didn't want to photograph the backs of people's heads. I wanted to photograph Taylor Swift and her dancers. The couple directly behind me glared at me and were really angry. I was willing to compromise though and just stand up when taking photos. If I'd had my way completely that would've been the entire show though, but it was what was fair. This couple didn't really fight me on it.
Midway through was Shake It off when one of the other stages was used and Taylor Swift brought Charli XCX and Georgia from Broods back onto the stage. By that point it didn't matter who was standing or what they were doing. Nobody was paying attention so I staged my move and stood back on the seat because I'd be damned if I wasn't gonna get some good photos of the show that didn't involve the backs of people's heads. I positioned the seat though so it was partially in the aisle so that nobody would really be affected. I looked around a few times though and I noticed other people standing on their seats as well. I also noticed this one drunk lady yet nobody was doing anything about them, so what I want to know is the following:
And that's actually my real gripe. I wasn't bullied by children. I was bullied and abused by grown adults, adults who should know better, adults who should know the meaning of the word respect, and I just wasn't shown any respect tonight by the people behind me. In fact, I'd actually go so far as to say that a vast number of people in Sydney don't even know what respect is and that they think they can mistreat people, as I was mistreated tonight. There is no excuse for laughing at someone, calling them names or abusing them and grown adults should know better. As I say, there were kids nearby and while I don't really about that, I do question what type of example the children are being set when they're around parents who think that bullying people at a concert is okay.
And of all the concerts to bully someone at it was a Taylor Swift concert. Taylor herself has been bullied and she's written numerous songs about it right from Mean to Clean, Shake It Off, Look What You Made Me Do, Bad Blood, This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things and Blank Space. People should know better than to bully others and there's never going to be any justification for it.
Anyway, how was the actual concert? Well, I was stewing until Shake It Off when Taylor moved to another stage. I did like the opening which was the song Reputation sung by Taylor Swift. I was definitely feeling that song. She sung a few other songs, Ready For It, I Did Something Bad, Gorgeous and a medley of Style, Love Story and You Belong With Me before Look What You Made Me Do which was when snakes really made their appearance on stage.
It wasn't until she moved to one of the other stages which was in the middle of the floor that the show got really good and the crowd was very enthusiastic. She brought Charli XCX and Georgia from Broods onto the stage and they belted out the song Shake It Off. Snakes continued to feature more and she did a few songs from that position before moving back to the main stage for Don't Blame Me and the rest of the final act of the show.
The final act of the show featured other songs including Long Live/New Year's Day which was sung with just her piano on the main stage before she launched into Getaway Car which had a video backdrop, Call It What You Want which was set up on stage like a castle.
The show finished with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things and there were fireworks which is very cool, especially given it rained for the majority of the show.
Sadly Taylor didn't do as many monologues as in previous shows and the ones she did do were much shorter and felt a lot faker. It didn't feel like she was as genuine as she has been in the past. She also didn't dance as much as during the 1989 World Tour. She relied much more on the dancers and she was much more in her own little bubble. It didn't feel like she cared about the audience like she had previously. The only time I felt like she did care was during one of the final video features before Getaway Car which was about how she'd been around fake people who didn't truly value her.
Unfortunately my opinion of the show was always going to be clouded by the bullying and abuse at the beginning of the show. I wasn't a fan of Broods. Charli XCX was good for the most part other than when she launched into a mini girl power monologue before her song Boys. I really liked her songs Break the Rules, 1999 and I Love It, which I now realise I actually have on my iPhone. I purchased Break the Rules and 1999 after the show. She had stage presence and definitely knew what she was doing. She deserved to be there.
Broods were inexperienced and I didn't really like their music. Taylor Swift was polished as ever but this time I felt like she was a little too polished and a little more impersonal than during the 1989 World Tour. The other disappointing part of the show (aside from the bullying and abuse) was that there was no encore. Welcome To New York would've been a good encore. I won't criticise Taylor Swift for being late onto stage. She didn't arrive until 9:30pm when she'd been scheduled to arrive on stage at 8:50pm. She was late onto stage because the rain caused logistical issues. I had also been expecting rain since tickets went on sale on the 13th of December.
It's mildly annoying though because had I known she was going to be on stage so late I could've spent longer at acting rep tonight.
Anyway, I can only give the show a 3.5/5 because aside from being bullied and abused by other customers (when others were also standing on chairs, which when you think about it, really says more about the ignorance of the people in front of me and the parents and other bullies behind me) Taylor didn't seem as genuine as in previous concerts, there wasn't as much talking and there was no encore. I always look forward to an encore during concerts. In some ways, Shake It Off's performance which was in the middle would've been an excellent encore but it wouldn't have fit at the end of the show, nor would Welcome to NewYork, Mean might have though.
Here are my favourite photos from the show though. Shake It Off, New Year's Day, Look What You Made Me Do and This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things were my favourite songs during the show and Shake It Off my favourite moment. It was during Shake It Off that I was able to shake off the bullies and start enjoying the show.
Like Taylor Swift I can relate to caring about one's reputation and then not caring. I can relate to people thinking one thing about you but another being true. Taylor Swift is one artist who writes music that I can relate to. She also delivers that music in a way that touches me.
I had actually decided I would only go to acting practice (rep) for a short time tonight because of Taylor Swift, so she was right. There were other places that some of us could have been. I can't speak for others in the audience but I certainly did miss being at rep, though I managed to get a short rep in prior to the show which was good.
Anyway, let's fast forward though shall we? I was on my way to the show and people were walking slowly. I didn't want to miss my train and I run at the gym so I weaved in and out of the pedestrian traffic at Central Station. I finally got to Olympic Park and I got to my seat at ANZ Stadium and that is when the drama began.
When I go to a concert I like to take a lot of photographs and I also like to get video. I do this for two reasons. One is because I simply like to relive the concert and the other is because I write reviews of concerts I go to. One of the major reasons I ended up buying an A Reserve ticket at the last minute was because when I went to the 1989 World Tour I had to watch on a big screen rather than watching her in real life. When you watch on the big screen the experience is completely different.
When I got to the show there was this group of four girls in front of me who were totally oblivious to the fact people were behind them. They were completely ignorant. I did what any normal person whose view was blocked would do, I stood on my seat. Now again, as I say, if I'd wanted to watch on the big screen I wouldn't have bought another ticket on the spur of the moment. I would have kept my original ticket.
Here is where the drama began even more. A mother came up to me and whinged that I was blocking her kids' view. I explained the situation and stood my ground. If someone is blocking my view then I will have no choice but to block theirs, but that isn't what bugs me really. It was her shear entitlement. She thought that just because she has kids they have the right to everything. I'm sorry but the universe does not revolve around children. It never has done and it never will do, and they are probably too young to remember anyway. I know I barely remember my first few concerts. I remember who they were, where they were and that's about it. I couldn't tell you anything else. That's not even the real issue though. She got really nasty about it and started name calling. I was polite. I explained the situation.
Later on, maybe about half an hour later, the father came over and asked me the same. He was more reasonable, but again, why would I sit down when my view of the stage was being blocked by other people? If I'd wanted to watch on the big screen I wouldn't have bought another ticket at the last second. I would've kept the cheap seat but I wanted a different experience to what I had at the 1989 World Tour where I couldn't see a thing and had to watch on the big screen.
The father was more reasonable and he kind of gave up but this is where it gets really bad. I tried to reach some type of compromise so we would both win and so that I'd be happy and they'd be happy but they weren't having it. It was their way or the highway.
They got really abusive though and their body language was absolutely appalling. I'm an actor, singer and a writer, so when someone is cold towards me I sense it. It could be one word, maybe not even a word, sometimes all it is, is a look. They got security and security was rude to me, but here's the part that really offended me and got me quite riled up and here is the part that actually ruined my night.
A group of people behind this couple and their children laughed and clapped after security forced me to sit down. Now that might seem quite minor but if you've ever been bullied then sometimes it's only a little thing that will actually trigger that memory and being laughed at and having them clap got me really upset and yeah I cried. The people sitting directly next to me though were about the same age and they were nice. They were basically on my side. You could tell that this wasn't their first concert and that they knew that some people would miss out on a view, but where they seemed to understand me was that they recognised that I'd been bullied by the parents, this random group in the vicinity as well as security and another staff member. They actually seemed to understand the situation and were nice. Just before the show started we changed seats so that I would have the aisle seat. I'll explain why this is important later.
I'm not one to give up on what I want though. Anyway, Taylor Swift came on late because rain delayed the show but that was okay. I actually don't remember the first part of the show because I was fuming because of being bullied and abused by staff and customers of the stadium. A few songs into the show during Look What You Made Me Do I decided to stand on my seat because I didn't want to photograph the backs of people's heads. I wanted to photograph Taylor Swift and her dancers. The couple directly behind me glared at me and were really angry. I was willing to compromise though and just stand up when taking photos. If I'd had my way completely that would've been the entire show though, but it was what was fair. This couple didn't really fight me on it.
Midway through was Shake It off when one of the other stages was used and Taylor Swift brought Charli XCX and Georgia from Broods back onto the stage. By that point it didn't matter who was standing or what they were doing. Nobody was paying attention so I staged my move and stood back on the seat because I'd be damned if I wasn't gonna get some good photos of the show that didn't involve the backs of people's heads. I positioned the seat though so it was partially in the aisle so that nobody would really be affected. I looked around a few times though and I noticed other people standing on their seats as well. I also noticed this one drunk lady yet nobody was doing anything about them, so what I want to know is the following:
- Why did security think it was okay to harass me yet they ignored the others who were doing exactly the same?
- Why didn't security tell the girls in front of me to sit down so they weren't blocking the views of other people?
- Why did the parents think it was okay to abuse and name call?
- Why did a random group of people think that laughing at some was okay?
- Why do people think bullying is okay?
- Why did the ANZ Stadium staff think it was okay to abuse me?
- Why did the ANZ Stadium staff think that bullying was okay?
- Why isn't there better crowd control? If people have seats then EVERYONE should be seated rather than having one rule for some people and another for others. It's as if they thought that harassing and picking on me was okay but others who were doing exactly what I was doing were allowed to.
And that's actually my real gripe. I wasn't bullied by children. I was bullied and abused by grown adults, adults who should know better, adults who should know the meaning of the word respect, and I just wasn't shown any respect tonight by the people behind me. In fact, I'd actually go so far as to say that a vast number of people in Sydney don't even know what respect is and that they think they can mistreat people, as I was mistreated tonight. There is no excuse for laughing at someone, calling them names or abusing them and grown adults should know better. As I say, there were kids nearby and while I don't really about that, I do question what type of example the children are being set when they're around parents who think that bullying people at a concert is okay.
And of all the concerts to bully someone at it was a Taylor Swift concert. Taylor herself has been bullied and she's written numerous songs about it right from Mean to Clean, Shake It Off, Look What You Made Me Do, Bad Blood, This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things and Blank Space. People should know better than to bully others and there's never going to be any justification for it.
Anyway, how was the actual concert? Well, I was stewing until Shake It Off when Taylor moved to another stage. I did like the opening which was the song Reputation sung by Taylor Swift. I was definitely feeling that song. She sung a few other songs, Ready For It, I Did Something Bad, Gorgeous and a medley of Style, Love Story and You Belong With Me before Look What You Made Me Do which was when snakes really made their appearance on stage.
It wasn't until she moved to one of the other stages which was in the middle of the floor that the show got really good and the crowd was very enthusiastic. She brought Charli XCX and Georgia from Broods onto the stage and they belted out the song Shake It Off. Snakes continued to feature more and she did a few songs from that position before moving back to the main stage for Don't Blame Me and the rest of the final act of the show.
The final act of the show featured other songs including Long Live/New Year's Day which was sung with just her piano on the main stage before she launched into Getaway Car which had a video backdrop, Call It What You Want which was set up on stage like a castle.
The show finished with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things and there were fireworks which is very cool, especially given it rained for the majority of the show.
Sadly Taylor didn't do as many monologues as in previous shows and the ones she did do were much shorter and felt a lot faker. It didn't feel like she was as genuine as she has been in the past. She also didn't dance as much as during the 1989 World Tour. She relied much more on the dancers and she was much more in her own little bubble. It didn't feel like she cared about the audience like she had previously. The only time I felt like she did care was during one of the final video features before Getaway Car which was about how she'd been around fake people who didn't truly value her.
Unfortunately my opinion of the show was always going to be clouded by the bullying and abuse at the beginning of the show. I wasn't a fan of Broods. Charli XCX was good for the most part other than when she launched into a mini girl power monologue before her song Boys. I really liked her songs Break the Rules, 1999 and I Love It, which I now realise I actually have on my iPhone. I purchased Break the Rules and 1999 after the show. She had stage presence and definitely knew what she was doing. She deserved to be there.
Broods were inexperienced and I didn't really like their music. Taylor Swift was polished as ever but this time I felt like she was a little too polished and a little more impersonal than during the 1989 World Tour. The other disappointing part of the show (aside from the bullying and abuse) was that there was no encore. Welcome To New York would've been a good encore. I won't criticise Taylor Swift for being late onto stage. She didn't arrive until 9:30pm when she'd been scheduled to arrive on stage at 8:50pm. She was late onto stage because the rain caused logistical issues. I had also been expecting rain since tickets went on sale on the 13th of December.
It's mildly annoying though because had I known she was going to be on stage so late I could've spent longer at acting rep tonight.
Anyway, I can only give the show a 3.5/5 because aside from being bullied and abused by other customers (when others were also standing on chairs, which when you think about it, really says more about the ignorance of the people in front of me and the parents and other bullies behind me) Taylor didn't seem as genuine as in previous concerts, there wasn't as much talking and there was no encore. I always look forward to an encore during concerts. In some ways, Shake It Off's performance which was in the middle would've been an excellent encore but it wouldn't have fit at the end of the show, nor would Welcome to NewYork, Mean might have though.
Here are my favourite photos from the show though. Shake It Off, New Year's Day, Look What You Made Me Do and This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things were my favourite songs during the show and Shake It Off my favourite moment. It was during Shake It Off that I was able to shake off the bullies and start enjoying the show.
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