Simon Grigg
@opdiner.com
Wanderer, scribe, street photog & music obsessive. Photos: http://opdiner.com Founder: http://audioculture.co.nz Me: http://simongrigg.info
Pinned
Simon Grigg
@opdiner.com
· Mar 17
A photography starter pack I put together a while back. Will update ASAP. go.bsky.app/2yfaZzi
After hearing all the horror stories about the new EU EES arrival delays, it took about 4 minutes. Arrive, passport on machine, photo, enter.
January 14, 2026 at 7:19 PM
After hearing all the horror stories about the new EU EES arrival delays, it took about 4 minutes. Arrive, passport on machine, photo, enter.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Out first new story of 2026! Whether it be for Headless Chickens, Children's Hour or This Kind of Punishment, Chris Matthews has written some very fine songs (including Flying Nun's only No. 1 'George'). Here, he picks some of his own Aotearoa NZ faves: www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...
Songwriter
Chris Matthews with The Headless Chickens, Big Day Out, Auckland, 1995. - Photo by Becky Nunes/Simon Grigg collection
System Virtue – Emma Paki
Emma Paki’s beautifully melodic and passionate plea for ...
www.audioculture.co.nz
January 14, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Out first new story of 2026! Whether it be for Headless Chickens, Children's Hour or This Kind of Punishment, Chris Matthews has written some very fine songs (including Flying Nun's only No. 1 'George'). Here, he picks some of his own Aotearoa NZ faves: www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...
So, free, fast-ish, internet in the skies seems to be a thing, thank you @emiratesairways.bsky.social
Not quite fast enough to load a decent res pic, but that can’t be far off.
Now all we need is a decent beer please, Emirates.
Not quite fast enough to load a decent res pic, but that can’t be far off.
Now all we need is a decent beer please, Emirates.
January 14, 2026 at 12:23 PM
So, free, fast-ish, internet in the skies seems to be a thing, thank you @emiratesairways.bsky.social
Not quite fast enough to load a decent res pic, but that can’t be far off.
Now all we need is a decent beer please, Emirates.
Not quite fast enough to load a decent res pic, but that can’t be far off.
Now all we need is a decent beer please, Emirates.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
I looked beside the stereo and thought I might write about the seven records that seemed stuck at the front of the stack. A mix of the very obscure and the obscure, I guess, but each one is kinda wonderful.
open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
January 13, 2026 at 11:43 AM
I looked beside the stereo and thought I might write about the seven records that seemed stuck at the front of the stack. A mix of the very obscure and the obscure, I guess, but each one is kinda wonderful.
open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
January 13, 2026 at 2:51 PM
January 13, 2026 at 2:50 PM
January 13, 2026 at 2:49 PM
I looked beside the stereo and thought I might write about the seven records that seemed stuck at the front of the stack. A mix of the very obscure and the obscure, I guess, but each one is kinda wonderful.
open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
January 13, 2026 at 11:43 AM
I looked beside the stereo and thought I might write about the seven records that seemed stuck at the front of the stack. A mix of the very obscure and the obscure, I guess, but each one is kinda wonderful.
open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...
Reposted by Simon Grigg
We're back on 95bFM, for our first AudioCulture feature of the year. At 6pm @garethshute.bsky.social will be joining Nick on the Tuesday Drive show to talk about his story 'Ten trailblazing Auckland dance parties and promoters, 1990-2000'. No doubt...
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ten...
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ten...
Ten trailblazing Auckland dance parties and promoters, 1990-2000 - Article | AudioCulture
The dance music scene in Auckland went through a seismic shift during the 1990s. In the previous decade only a handful of clubs took DJ culture seriously. Now there was a growing tide of new promoters...
www.audioculture.co.nz
January 13, 2026 at 3:47 AM
We're back on 95bFM, for our first AudioCulture feature of the year. At 6pm @garethshute.bsky.social will be joining Nick on the Tuesday Drive show to talk about his story 'Ten trailblazing Auckland dance parties and promoters, 1990-2000'. No doubt...
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ten...
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ten...
Reposted by Simon Grigg
To quote the ancient mating cry of Princess Isabella of Denmark's maternal ancestors: "Fuuuuuuck off. Wouldn't shag that drongo with a ten foot barge pole if I was pissed out of my tree."
January 12, 2026 at 4:51 AM
To quote the ancient mating cry of Princess Isabella of Denmark's maternal ancestors: "Fuuuuuuck off. Wouldn't shag that drongo with a ten foot barge pole if I was pissed out of my tree."
Reposted by Simon Grigg
"banking" must have been a typo
January 12, 2026 at 9:08 AM
"banking" must have been a typo
Tesla truly is the new arsehole car. Driver in one just said "You back up, I'm driving a Tesla" to our BYD driver.
January 12, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Tesla truly is the new arsehole car. Driver in one just said "You back up, I'm driving a Tesla" to our BYD driver.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
ICE is crawling all over my city. I heard a knock at the door. We didn’t answer it. Later I asked Matt if UPS had left a delivery & he said no. I believe it was ICE. Now they’re dressing up like someone from the power company. I told Matt not to open the door for anyone including the mailman.
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
January 12, 2026 at 6:39 AM
ICE is crawling all over my city. I heard a knock at the door. We didn’t answer it. Later I asked Matt if UPS had left a delivery & he said no. I believe it was ICE. Now they’re dressing up like someone from the power company. I told Matt not to open the door for anyone including the mailman.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
It looks like what is going on in Tehran, but it's the United States of America.
Tonight in Minneapolis.
Federal agents are deploying tear gas and sting balls against activists on the street outside the Whipple Building, where ICE operations are based.
Tonight in Minneapolis.
Federal agents are deploying tear gas and sting balls against activists on the street outside the Whipple Building, where ICE operations are based.
January 12, 2026 at 1:25 AM
It looks like what is going on in Tehran, but it's the United States of America.
Tonight in Minneapolis.
Federal agents are deploying tear gas and sting balls against activists on the street outside the Whipple Building, where ICE operations are based.
Tonight in Minneapolis.
Federal agents are deploying tear gas and sting balls against activists on the street outside the Whipple Building, where ICE operations are based.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Whatever you think of Powell’s interest rate policies, this is a highly commendable move. Standing up to a tinpot president. Putting some of the business community to shame.
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Whatever you think of Powell’s interest rate policies, this is a highly commendable move. Standing up to a tinpot president. Putting some of the business community to shame.
"Bezos and Musk, and Zuckerberg are crass upstarts. They will destroy the culture just to pad their already bloated bank accounts—and they are (for the most part) the worst kind of people. "
Ted Gioia’s hammer hits the nail.
https://www.honest-broker.com/p/fifty-people-control-the-culture
Ted Gioia’s hammer hits the nail.
https://www.honest-broker.com/p/fifty-people-control-the-culture
January 12, 2026 at 3:29 AM
"Bezos and Musk, and Zuckerberg are crass upstarts. They will destroy the culture just to pad their already bloated bank accounts—and they are (for the most part) the worst kind of people. "
Ted Gioia’s hammer hits the nail.
https://www.honest-broker.com/p/fifty-people-control-the-culture
Ted Gioia’s hammer hits the nail.
https://www.honest-broker.com/p/fifty-people-control-the-culture
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Marc Bolan endorses local band (Kevin Cummins; photo taken in Manchester, 23 Aug 1977)
January 11, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Marc Bolan endorses local band (Kevin Cummins; photo taken in Manchester, 23 Aug 1977)
January 11, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Tell them all that Threads is where everyone went
Like yeah i want twitter banned as well but this place is gonna be insufferable when the kinds of people who kept enjoying the nazi website come over
January 11, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Tell them all that Threads is where everyone went
The very best thing I've rediscovered this year (so far). It sounded like the radical future when I first owned it (on file) in 2005.
It still does and it's finally on vinyl
polarbearmusic.bandcamp.com/album/held-o...
It still does and it's finally on vinyl
polarbearmusic.bandcamp.com/album/held-o...
Held On The Tips Of Fingers, by Polar Bear
9 track album
polarbearmusic.bandcamp.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:28 AM
The very best thing I've rediscovered this year (so far). It sounded like the radical future when I first owned it (on file) in 2005.
It still does and it's finally on vinyl
polarbearmusic.bandcamp.com/album/held-o...
It still does and it's finally on vinyl
polarbearmusic.bandcamp.com/album/held-o...
I struggle with Ezra Klein sometimes but he and the always awesome M. Gessen are brilliant here today on the seemingly terminal American decline/end-game. youtu.be/U6DbiSMi6ik?...
Venezuela, Renee Good and Trump’s ‘Assault on Hope’ | The Ezra Klein Show
YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show
youtu.be
January 11, 2026 at 8:19 AM
I struggle with Ezra Klein sometimes but he and the always awesome M. Gessen are brilliant here today on the seemingly terminal American decline/end-game. youtu.be/U6DbiSMi6ik?...
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Speaking of soul jazz, as we were. Here's its apotheosis. Listen, children, to Pastor Adderley & the deacons of his sanctified church. m.youtube.com/watch?v=s4rX...
Cannonball Adderley Quintet - "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (1966)
YouTube video by Anthony Valente's Jazz Channel
m.youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:13 AM
Speaking of soul jazz, as we were. Here's its apotheosis. Listen, children, to Pastor Adderley & the deacons of his sanctified church. m.youtube.com/watch?v=s4rX...
Reposted by Simon Grigg
I feel like an absolute goomba for not even considering how desperately exposed Americans in Venezuela who did not know about the attack would be… that is NOT a position you would want to be in.
“US citizens should leave Venezuela immediately” … Checking in on the country President Trump executed a coup against a week ago
January 11, 2026 at 5:48 AM
I feel like an absolute goomba for not even considering how desperately exposed Americans in Venezuela who did not know about the attack would be… that is NOT a position you would want to be in.
Reposted by Simon Grigg
Sunday viewing: Documentary-maker Dan Salmon says, "old music docos are a goldmine. Music, fashion, period cars, houses, and haircuts, but even more than that, colourful shots of crowds smiling with infectious joy." Enjoy! www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/mus...
January 11, 2026 at 5:38 AM
Sunday viewing: Documentary-maker Dan Salmon says, "old music docos are a goldmine. Music, fashion, period cars, houses, and haircuts, but even more than that, colourful shots of crowds smiling with infectious joy." Enjoy! www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/mus...