Just as we had left Christchurch we heard that there'd been another big earthquake back home. I sent a text to my mother and father saying 'how was the earthquake?' The only indication I had of the scope of the damage was that it was '6.1'. News websites were down and Twitter only had apocryphal claims that 'the cathedral [was] down' and blurry phone-camera photos of dust and smoke in the air. I was at work, in an office. I just wanted to know if my parents were all right. That seemed all that mattered.
Lucy and I have been fortunate enough to not have anyone we were close to die in the February 22 earthquake, but some of our friends haven't been able to say this. It seems that a lot of people have lost their homes and businesses. The apartments--a converted Gothic 19th Century school--where my parents lived and where we recorded most of Skin to Soil and Glory Glory have suffered pretty extensive damage, was red-stickered, and face an uncertain future. Lucy and I are safe for now in Wellington sitting on the Southern fault line. Until then we walk to work and University past beautiful towers looking increasingly ephemeral.
Richard from Rose Quartz made a Christchurch-earthquake fundraiser compilation which features some sweet Christchurch bands and other cool bands who have played in Christchurch. You can donate to Red Cross here, and then (once you've made a generous donation), download the compilation here. We've contributed the first song, 'Feeeel It', from our upcoming album, Glory Glory. (It's all done, it's just getting mastered now!) It's a nice mix, including Shocking Pinks, Grouper, and our friends Canterbury Rams, Mount Pleasant, and With Moths.
