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Some Candy Talking: Powerstation 4 March, 2016.

When the concert was announced last year, I quickly bought tickets thinking, 'wow cool, those shoe gaze pioneers are coming back after 28 years. Ace. I went last time and...' then having a few conversations with friends who you thought were fans, only to discover they were underwhelmed, and didn't they have better things to do with their lives yet?

So on the night I went with fairly low expectations, and had I encountered a hot mess in the Powerstation gloom, I wouldn't have been overly surprised, or disappointed.

But then something weird happened. They were bloody good.

For once a legacy band, dredging up their seminal album to tour, exceeded my expectations.

Thanks The Jesus and Mary Chain. You just cost me thousands, as every time another 80s or 90s band comes down, I'll now wonder if they too can live up to the hype.

Full setlist can be seen here.

Bespin in support were also very good. Expecting big things from this band.

Nailed it.

I imagine there were a lot of nerves leading into the inaugural Auckland City Limits Festival, but let's get this out of the way early. Bloody excellent job everyone. The day was as chilled as any festival I've been to, and even the pre-loaded cash bands, made of a silky, satiny material, seemed to fit with the flow.

Deciding not to run from one act to another, I set a path through the day, that started with Che Fu and the Crates and ended with Kendrick Lamar 9 or so hours later, still feeling surprisingly chipper. My phone tells me I walked 10km during the day, and climbed 22 flights of stairs. That might explain the hip pain I guess.

My set list:

Che Fu and the Crates - great welcome from a home-grown, that kind of set the scene for my largely antipodian day.

Jarryd James - I like this guy, and he has the most photogenic bass player. That is all.

Ladyhawke - Warmed up, and bumped out the classics.

Broods - I've seen the Broods set a few times now, and while their travelling show has polished the act a lot, I'm ready for something new.

Action Bronson - This guy. I don't know, but the kids seem to like him. Eh Danielle?

TNAF - Like Broods, their show is well shiny, and roll on the next album.

The Phoenix Foundation - Such a great way to spend a few moments in the late afternoon, eating an ice-cream biscuit on the lawn.

Fat Freddy's Drop - Festival favourites all over the world. Nice to see them in a large venue at home.

The National - Based in Brooklyn, these guys are still flying the New York flag. I'm not tired of them yet, being a sucker for the deep voice, but I suspect some are getting there.

Kendrick Lamar - Man for the moment. The kids were euphoric. He seemed pretty humble for all that. Smiled at M when she literally bumped into him while we were walking around the site. Oops.

Thanks to the CRS Management team, and hoping this becomes a regular event. It is a worthy replacement to the BDO, and good to have another alternative to the indie kids festivals. :-)

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It's been ten long summers since Sleater-Kinney last played in Auckland. The band took a break from touring and recording in 2006 to work on other projects – Corin Tucker's two solo albums, Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss's indie-rock supergroup Wild Flag, and of course Brownstein's acclaimed sketch comedy series Portlandia – before coming back with last year's No Cities To Love.

They returned on Monday night, weary and joking about jetlag, with a set that leaned heavily towards old favourites, a celebration of their iconic and often iconoclastic two-decade history.The performance was a bit subdued compared to their King's Arms shows in 2002 and 2006 (especially from Brownstein, who sipped tea between songs and opted for more low-key moves than her usual windmills and scissor-kicks) but they still managed to belt out a show that mesmerised the Powerstation.

This tweet sums it up far better than I could:

The last, last Laneway at Silo Park. Ever. Pinky promise.

Auckland turned on a scorcher. We went early, and consequently ran out of steam before the bigger night acts, which is a trap for the, something, generation.

For a more detailed account, you could read Russell's run down here.

I'll let the photos tell the story.

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Friday night The Chills played Galatos, on the back of their first full studio album in... ages. Like last century ages.

Much has been said about the new album Silver Bullets, most of it good. I'm certainly in the camp quietly squeeing over new material that evokes the best memories of my early experiences of New Zealand music.

Rolling Moon was one of the first singles I bought, and in spite of its growing collectors value, you can pry it from my cold, dead hands. Pink Frost with it.

Hearing Martin and his ensemble (incidentally, one of the most stable lineups in the band's history), play these two live would have been enough for me to leave with an aching foot and happy heart.

But they also offered up many songs from the new album, including the single When the Poor Can Reach The Moon, which reminded me what a hooky songwriter Martin is. Sits very nicely alongside Heavenly Pop Hit.

Sure, there was an element of high nostalgia, and the crowd couldn't help shouting out suggested favourites. For the record I retorted 'play whatever the bloody hell you like!'

I imagine you all have your own memories of The Chills. Favourite songs, or concerts. Be nice to hear them, if you care to add them to the comments.

To inspire your nostalgic recollections, friend Mat has some great recordings from the 80s and 90s on his Soundcloud. Find Darkstation, and enjoy. This one is my current favourite.

Martin mentioned The Chills will play Leigh Sawmill in January, but I can't seem to find the link for that yet. I assume it was around the time they were due to play the defunct Echo Festival, on 11th or 12th January?

Go see 'em.

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