Going straight for the jugular perhaps the easy answer is:
because Christchurch crowds are too ‘fickle’ (the pc word for ‘shit’)?
Worse than Dunedin, come on?
Now one of the benefits of me having a messy desk is the ability
to dredge up old copies of the Groove Guide, Penthouse mags from the 80’s etc.
I found 4 of them, Groove mags as opposed to Penthouse of which
I only discovered 2, from this year and decided I would do a completely unscientific
study as to what percentage of N.Z bands graced Christchurch on their N.Z
Tours.
Auckland punters got all but 100% of the bands.
Wellington just over half at 60%.
Christchurch was 40% and Dunedin not far behind at 35%.
Rider: I did fail School Cert maths.
So Christchurch is definitely no longer seen as a must-do ‘destination’
for N.Z bands doing the traps.
Perhaps it never was, but traditionally it was always one
tare above Dunedin gig wise.
Increasingly bands today are opting for Dunedin, Unknown
Mortal Orchestra springs to mind, over Christchurch.
Bands are signalling N.Z Tours that is better framed as
North Island Tours.
This death spiral trend (less crowds mean less visits, means
less venues willing to have bands versus a local DJ) is replicated with
overseas bands.
I spotted in the latest Gig Guide that The Hard Ons aren’t making
the trip across the ferry, picked New Plymouth over Christchurch and the
Japandroids are appearing in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, no Christchurch.
Just an hour ago via the Cheese On Toast Facebook link a
band I’m getting into, The Drones are crossing the ditch. Peoples of Wellington
and Auckland will no doubt enjoy them whilst I can but look on in envy.
This is all a sad indictment of Christchurch music-fans
malaise, people here have no one else to blame but themselves.
The post-earth-quake stupor continues to see people of all varieties
sitting-in front of televisions and computers wasting their lives away.
There is an old saying that is apt here: Once the rot sets
in.
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