Nostalgia isn't, as has often been pointed out, what it used to be.
I blame it on the internet. You can blame anything you want on the internet and it won't talk back.

The real culprit is that fragmentation of society thing that's going on all around us and the internet is part of it because it's so big, a super-information-highway with so many off-ramps and arteries that everyone is in their own world, each person enjoying the scenery that suits them the most.
It didn't used to be like that, but I don't for a minute pine for the old days. Once upon a time New Zealand had one television channel, and then, for a long time, it had two.
If you talked to someone about what was on the box the night before, chances are they would have seen the same thing. Judy Bailey became the First Lady of Television, or the Mother of The Nation – or whatever absurd title was heaped upon her for competent reading of an autocue while looking sympathetic – because there were only two news shows and no one used to watch the other one.
There was a shared consciousness that came from limited options. Nowadays that only occurs when there is a national disaster of some sort or possibly if the All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup. But that hasn't happened for decades.
Which is why I say nostalgia isn't what it used to be. I don't know anymore whether my nostalgic memories are the same as anyone else's.
For instance, on the musical front, I remember The Stone Babies with a fair amount of affection. They were a mid-90s Tauranga band and a very good one. They're reuniting next week for a one-off gig and, if they are part of your particular nostalgic past, it should be a blast. If not, let me tell you what I remember about the band and maybe it'll ring a bell.
The Stone Babies were around from about '95 to ‘98. They were originally a five-piece with two hot guitarists, Terry Varhalamas and Bruce Rolands. Terry was a young wiz kid who had been discovered by current Brilleaux frontman Graham Clark and had been playing in a band of his. It could have been Electric Soup, or perhaps I'm just imagining that. Terry eventually went to England and Bruce stayed.
In fact, The Stone Babies was the first time I really noticed what a fine guitarist Bruce is. He's now playing with Brilleaux and everybody knows his tough fluid style, but I have a feeling The Stone Babies was the first time he really got stuck in a studio and showed how well he could layer multiple guitar parts.
Fronting the band was John Michaelz. He'd been playing with a cover band called the Love Vendors so it was good to hear him returning to original material. Pat Hawkins played bass and had a history in the area's metal bands. (Talking of which, I heard a rumour that Black Rose, a metal outfit Pat was with back in the 80s, will also be doing a reunion gig sometime soon. Keep the nostalgia-meters primed for that one.)
So, The Stone Babies. They played some great shows, even performing at the Mountain Rock Festival in a prime spot between Dave Dobbyn and the Exponents. They recorded one really good album called Goatepic, which is heavy and funky and still kicks the speakers when you put it on.
And they split up. Depressingly enough, that's what bands usually do after recording an album. I suspect there are still 500 Goatepic CDs under someone's bed. Shame. It deserved better, but then there are a million ‘I coulda been a contender' stories in the world of rock ‘n' roll. Perhaps there'll be some for sale at the gig.
But you'll be wanting details. The Stone Babies will be together again, or at least three of the principals will be, next week. John and Bruce and Pat, along with a mystery drummer will be playing three sets – two acoustic, one electric – at No.1 The Strand Thursday May 27. It costs $10 to get in. See you there.