The music is live and folksy; trad night at Auckland's Thirsty Dog on Mondays is such a welcoming affair that my expectations are high for poetry slam tomorrow night and reggae evening on Thursday. The bar itself comprises an eclectic mix of influences represented by idiosyncratic decor options secreted here and there, whilst leaning heavily on the Irish-accented London pub theme complemented by fresh flowers on the bartop and a hand-illustrated point-to-soup menu board which provokes a smile though my Guinness moustache. Most of the punters seem familiar with each other, and those that aren't are assimilating fast.