New Brighton band Smoking Jacket reformed for a one off concert on Saturday at Thompson Park, 16 years after its last album.
The band was a key attraction at the We Love New Brighton Fun Day. “I wanted to support local bands and Smoking Jacket is legendary. I was stoked when they agreed to play for us,” said Marcus Puentener, one of the event organisers. “We didn’t need to twist their arm or anything; they played a concert at the same band rotunda for Green Peace 20 years ago and so they were pretty keen to return.”
On the stage the band looked as confident as ever. “We went up there without any practice or anything. Muddy (Ian Wilson) rang me up and said ‘Let’s just run with this.’ Once we were up on stage playing the tunes, it all came back,” said bassist Dennis Abbott.
“All the baby boomers have been through here today and it’s time to give something back to the community. They are all our friends. We are basically a people’s band,” he said.
The band might be little known today but before their break-up in 1995 they performed for 15 years, touring throughout New Zealand, predominantly in the South Island. Despite their hiatus they still have plenty of fans. People queued for autographs and copies of the band’s last album.
Debbie Shore confessed that they were the reason she came to the fun day. “I’ve come here just for the music. It’s really good to hear them. A lot of the girls here today hang out at the blues bar on Madras… It completes you that little bit each morning.”
In addition to playing their old hits, Smoking Jacket took on some old favourites breaking out with Wish You Were Here and Sweet Home Alabama.
The We Love New Brighton Fun Day was organised by the Belfast Community Network with the New Brighton Project, Youth Alive Trust, and the Christchurch City Council. Other activities included face painting and events run by Tiddlers, Cheap Skates Skool, the Flying Kiwi Circus and a sausage sizzle by 93.1 FM. Organisers estimated that about 1500 people turned up for the day.
Copyright © Peter Campbell 2013, www.intrepid-adventure.com
