Blank Gold Coast Edition 5, 19 March 2014

19 Mar ‘14

free

PREPARED LIKE A BRIDE Tell deaf do us part

issue #005

MUSIC

Soundwave reviews Boy and Bear Baby Animals Courtney Barnett

MUSIC

Oliver Tank Rüfus Ash Grunwald Band of Frequencies

LIFESTYLE

Titans do yoga Bluebeard’s wax Wall décor

FOOD

Millers Hands Cocoluscious Skull & Bones

ENVIRO

Seagrass Beach Strategy Springbrook

#005 19 MARCH 2014 Editor: Samantha Morris Design: Chloe Popa, Blunt Pencil Design Music coordinator: Mella Bunker Advertising and distribution: Melanie Brennan Environment editor: Mic Smith Features: Anthony Gebhardt, Nev Pearce Photographer: Leisen Standen, Lamp Photography Contributors Marj Osborne, Catherine Coburn, Anthony Gebhardt, Nev Pearce, Jake Wilton, Emily Hosking, David Simmons, Christie Ots, Jarred Blunt, Christie Ots, Kyle Butcher, Linda Rosa-Hewing, Gina Martin, Katie Hooper, Terry “Tappa� Teece, Roselle Tenefrancia, Andrew Scott, Naomi Edwards.

With sincere thanks to Phillippa Wright from Essential Analytics who continues to be a generous benefactor to Blank.

Editorial: news@blankgc.com.au Advertising: advertising@blankgc.com.au Blank Gold Coast PO Box 878 Broadbeach QLD 4218 www.blankgc.com.au Blank GC is independently owned and published.

Opinons expressed in Blank GC are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or contributors.

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at the Terrace. Scott will be joined by musicians, comedians and other fascinating folk as he broadcasts the Drive show live from 3.00pm – 6.00pm. The Terrace Bar will be open for drinks and there will be a BBQ. All welcome.

Baltimore Gun Club introduced themselves to us by saying they enjoy moonlight strolls on the beach, red roses by the armful, and participation dances. They’re a 3-piece grunge band from right here on the GC and they’ve just released a new film clip for the song Aisle #2. They also play the Loft on Thursday 4 April. You can find their quirky clip on YouTube.

Sunshine Coast lads, Band of Frequencies get around, and last year half the band hopped in kayaks to traverse the Californian coastline between Santa Barbara and the Mexican border all in the name of coastal conservation and art. The film The Transparentsea Voyage captures the journey as well as the process of writing and recording 23 songs over the 23 day trip. Get along to the screening, along with live accompaniment by Band of Frequencies at The Soundlounge Currumbin this Friday 21 March.

Dust out the aloha shirts and hibiscus boardies and get into some serious island grooves this Sunday as Bustamento bring their upbeat Caribbean rhythms to Bond University.

Featuring Nicky Bomba – one of Australia’s most respected musicians, along with support acts from Thursday Island ukulele player Tyus Arndt and artist Di Human. It all goes down on Sunday 23 March at Bond University from 3.00pm and more details are available at bond.edu.au/bustamento.

Baltimore Gin Club

It’s a common occurrence these days: crowdfunding to record an album and Shaun Kirk was on the money when he jumped on the bandwagon – recruiting more than 100 fans who helped him record his new studio album Steer the Wheel. But the good vibes aren’t stopping there. Because of the support he received, he’s now able to donate a portion of sales profit from the album to Orphfund, a charity helping abandoned children across the globe. The project target was reached well before its completion date, and had participants pledging towards a bunch of rewards, including a feature role in one of Shaun’s forthcoming film clips and having their selfies included on the album’s booklet. You can see Shaun as he tours his album at The Loft, Friday 11 April and at Bluesfest on Thursday 17 and Monday 21 April.

Got a big creative idea? The City of Gold Coast is looking for local artists, creative businesses or organisations to apply for Regional Arts Development Fund grants to bring their big ideas to life. RADF is a Queensland Government initiative through Arts Queensland in conjunction with the City of Gold Coast to support local arts and culture. This is the third and final round for 2013-14. Applications close 4 April for projects that commence after 16 May. More information at cultural.goldcoast.qld.gov.au.

Those reggae rootsters Street 66 have just announced they’ll be playing this year’s Mardi Grass – the annual event held in Nimbin over the first weekend of May. They’re a skilled and exciting act and the Blank music team are massive fans. You can catch them on Sunday 3 May.

Band of Frequencies

If you’re my age, you’ll remember their catchy earworm Accidentally Kelly Street. Yes, it’s Frente. And they’re back.

After 21 years Angie Hart, Simon Austin are re-releasing their debut long-player Marvin the Album and supporting the release with a national tour. Sadly, there’s no Gold Coast show, but they are stopping in Brisbane, 28 June and Lismore 27 June.

It’s hard enough presenting a busy drive-time radio show from the comfort of a well equipped studio (although it is ABC, so perhaps we shouldn’t make assumptions). But at the end of this month, Scott Lamond and the 91.7 ABC Gold Coast team will be bringing their drive-time slot to the people. The ABC crew will descend on the Arts Centre Gold Coast, 28 March for a special outdoor broadcast: Drive Live

and Daryl Braithwaite on Saturday 5 April. The festival continues until 26 April and includes the Australian Street Entertainment Championships, Seafire Fireworks Challenge, One Way Street Party, Shorts in Paradise Film Festival and a new culinary addition Surf, Seafood and Symphony. More at surfersparadisefestival.com.

Send your news to news@blankgc.com.au.

GIVEAWAYS This doesn’t have much to do with music, but Mudd Rush will be an epic test of your fitness and stamina. Taking place Saturday 31 May, it’s an 8.5km long course with 24 obstacles. Start training now, because this is not something you can take lightly. Thanks to the muddy crew themselves, we have four free entries to give away. We need to get them out the door quickly so that the “lucky” winners have plenty of time to get in shape for the event. To enter, tell us about the most physically challenging thing you’ve done up until now in 50 words or less in an email to news@blankgc.com. au by Wednesday 26 March and we’ll be in touch soon after so you have at least 2 months to train. Get all the details about the event at muddrush.com.au/qld.

We have one double pass to give away to the screening of The Transparentsea Voyage at The Soundlounge this Friday 21 March. The show includes live performances by Band of Frequencies and special appearances by those involved in the voyage and the song writing process. Read the full story in this mag. Entries close 10.00am Friday 21 March.

To enter, just send an email with your mobile phone contact details to news@blankgc.com.au. Winner drawn at random.

Shaun Kirk

If you prefer your music at the heavier end of the spectrum, mark Sunday 8 June in your diaries right now. Because The Wallaby Hotel at Mudgeeraba has a stellar lineup of local and visiting artists to please your ears. It’s Wallapalooza and it’s big. The lineup includes HELM, Azreal, These Four Walls, Dollarosa, Smoking Martha, Gimpus, The Molotove, Lilly Rouge, along with Hailmary (Perth) and Wolfpack (Melbourne).

Surfers Paradise Festival is back and kicks off with some fine DJ sets right on the foreshore. The Launch It DJ party features Bombs Away, Mobin Master, Chardy, Orckestra and Tate Strauss on Friday 4 April followed by the Aussie rock party with The Angels with Dave Gleeson, Jon Stevens

BLANK IS HIRING We’re seeking an exceptional human to boost our advertising sales. Without advertising we won’t have much of a future. Do you think you can help? We’re offering a weekly retainer plus commission and we expect the right person to hit the ground running in a big way. The person we’re seeking must have experience in sales, must have an eye for detail, and must be prepared to work with a haphazard team, working from home offices across the coast with tight deadlines and hardly any budget. If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you. Email [sam@ blankgc.com.au] for a PD and selection criteria.

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TELL DEAF DO US PART The rise of Prepared Like a Bride appears to be meteoric, with 2014 already seeing the GC lads releasing a new album and debuting at 30 in the ARIA charts. Nev Pearce chatted to the frontman Ryan Bowles about how the group is holding up. Story Anthony Gebhardt.

To say that Gold Coast five piece metal-core merchants Prepared Like a Bride have made every post a winner so far in 2014 is somewhat of an understatement. Dropping a plutonium packed powerhouse of a record over the Australian heavy music landscape is one thing, but to also break out into the mainstream music charts with one’s first up release is mighty impressive stuff indeed!

For this is precisely what Prepared Like A Bride have achieved, eliciting a rapturous response from across the heavy music community while at the same time shifting some serious units of their debut record Overcomer and managing to infiltrate the Aria Top 30 in the process. For a band peddling in a form of extreme music (to the average listener), with a sound often marginalized or considered non palatable for mass consumption, this is an achievement for which they can truly be proud…and hey they’re local boys too!!

Frontman Ryan Bowles enthuses on their current standing; ‘’It’s been super positive and super motivating for all of us and it’s been really encouraging that people have been supporting what we have been working towards. We are stoked!’’

From their current standing as heady upstarts on the rise, the band has come a long way in a relatively short time.

Formed in 2009. ‘’It was quite random actually, we had known each other for years growing up and then I heard that the guys were having a jam. I was playing guitar and drums at the time so I called them up and we just ended up mucking around on covers to begin with.’’

And while the rise of Prepared Like A Bride may appear to be meteoric, the record was definitely no fly by night concoction, forged on the back of a relentless touring schedule which has seen the lads tear up stages across the country, converting legions of fans in the process and laying the groundwork for the rapturous response the album has received so far. In addition to their own ball tearing headline gigs, the band have more than held their own when sharing the stage with acts of the ilk of Impending Doom, A Plea For Purging and Volumes. They were also part of the recent Boys of Summer tour, which featured Arizona’s Blessthefall as well as The Colour Morale.

Festival appearances have also been a vibrant cog in their touring regime, with the band blowing minds and stages as part of the Vans Warped Tour and even heading across the ditch to wow our New Zealand brethren.

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‘‘We did New Zealand in January where we played the Parachute Festival, which is in Hamilton. This year they had The Devil Wears Prada and a few other Aussie acts that came over with us, it was a lot of fun!’’

While winning over crowds and honing their craft in the live realm, the band were also keeping themselves super-busy in the recording studio, laying down the tracks that would form the basis of the debut record, Overcomer.

Decamping to STL Studios, on the NSW Central Coast just outside of Sydney, the band collaborated with noted overseas producers Ben Humphreys and John Mitchell from the UK’s Outhouse Studios, who have previously worked with acts of the pedigree of Funeral For a Friend and Architects. The band also enlisted the services of Australian producer Sonny Truelove to help facilitate the recording process.

Bowles said at the time; “these guys were the dream team to work with, pushing us to reach our potential and I firmly believe we have done that. The album is something we are all very proud off.”

The themes and vibe of the record are very much reflected in its title, Overcomer - both as a statement of intent and also as a triumph of will and positivity over personal adversity.

The record’s subject matter is often highly personal, revolving around vocalist Ryan Bowles coming to terms with the recent tragic loss of his father in an unexpected aviation accident. Many of the record’s lyrics were taken from notes and reflections documented by Bowles during this time, with the album subsequently telling the story of the events that transpired shortly after the tragedy.

While acting as a form of therapy and release, the underlying themes inherent in the songs delve beyond such introspective parameters and embrace rising above ones circumstance, no matter how tragic. From catharsis comes deliverance and ultimately hope… ‘’It definitely delves into some of the darker stuff that I experienced in my own journey” elaborates Bowles, “but we didn’t want to leave it at that for our fans. We wanted to bring it back up to what we are about and really inspire hope in people and to maybe help them through a difficult time. ‘’Some of the lyrics and notes that I went back to hadn’t been touched upon for seven or eight months, I had them stored away in my phone. Coming back to those notes and having to go over them and rewrite them to fit the songs we were recording for the album was definitely challenging.

“As much as it was painful, it was in many ways a release and I guess that’s the joy of being a musician. To be able to get that out of your system and onto paper and into the music, it was definitely part of the process and I’m better off for it.”

When it comes to treading the boards and delivering their message in a live setting there’s certainly no letting up for the band, who are currently in the midst of a headline national tour which has taken in such far flung regional locations as Mount Gambier, Wyong and Wodonga in addition to more traditional capital city stop-offs such as Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The tail end of this tour sees then performing what will no doubt be two rapturously received homecoming shows, on 22 March in Brisbane and 23 March on the Gold Coast. ‘’We have a couple of bands we’ve taken out on the road with us for this tour, our good friends Vices from Sydney, who are like our best mates and who’ve played countless shows with us. We’ve also brought a younger band called Rivalries from the Central Coast, who we’ve also become good friends with - we can’t wait to show the rest of Australia how good they are as well!

We will also be heading back out on the road again in early April with For Today, who are coming back here for their third tour. We’ll be finishing up that tour at Easter Fest in Toowoomba, which is a rad event. We have a lot of friends and support crew up there who come out to see us, it’s good fun!’’

Overcomer, the debut release from Prepared Like a Bride, is out now via Faction/Sony Music. To date three cracking singles have already been lifted from the album, including the emotionally poignant title track (with over 70,000 youtube hits and counting) and Through Hell, which features a guest appearance by Landon Tewers of US metalcore band The Plot In You.

PAYING IT FORWARD Broken Arrow Projects is a new initiative here on the Gold Coast and they are all about instilling a sense of community, compassion and respect back into society.

Their spokesperson, who asked to remain anonymous was excited to tell me about their very first project.

And as their current Overcomer national tour wraps up, the band will be bringing the noise to local stages on Saturday, 22 March at Thriller in Brisbane, and Sunday, 23 March at Expressive Grounds on the Gold Coast (which is an all ages show.)

“These days some of us seem to get so caught up with our own lives and personal journeys that we forget we are all in this together,” he said.

So be sure to get yourself along for a punishing prescription of local progressive metal-core!!

“Random acts of kindness cards are not a new idea. The aim is to encourage people to practice and promote kindness.”

Enter Random Acts of Kindness.

The idea is that you grab one of these cards and leave it as a calling sign when you’ve fulfilled a random act to bring a smile to another person’s face.

“Now we just have to get them out into the world,” he said.

And it appears they’re already out there. This post appearing on the Broken Arrow Projects’ Facebook page just a few days after they launched their initiative: “So I went to get a coffee this morning and ended up getting it for free because the person before me had paid for an extra one so the next customer could have a free coffee ... best start to the day #randomactofkindness” To get your hands on one of these cards, join the FB page and ask the crew to send you some. Or, start manifesting a good deed and maybe one will end up in your hands as the beneficiary of a random act of kindness.

Hang 5 ideas for random acts of kindness • clean a neighbour’s windscreen when their car is parked outside • shout the person behind you a newspaper at the newsagents • put your neighbour’s bin out or put it back • mow your neighbour’s median strip as you do your own lawn • cook a favourite meal for a friend or relative Samantha Morris

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WAVES OF SOUND Amidst the controversy of punters storming the stage and one band decapitating an effigy of our esteemed Prime Minister, Nev Pearce gives us the low-down on Soundwave 2014 and exactly what you missed.

up. Their set is extremely well received by the crowd and it would not surprise me if they were invited back to a Soundwave lineup in the near future. Great stuff from a much loved Gold Coast band.

Darkc3ll - Having spent the last few years touring their arses off and making a name for themselves in the Australian scene, industrial juggernauts Darkc3ll take to the stage and show that they can hold their own against the big boys of the tour. They are another Queensland band that deserve a place on the main stage in years to come. Darkc3ll have worked hard and deserve to be on the Soundwave tour. Keep your eyes on these guys!

Gwar - One of the highlights of my day and one of the best live bands you will ever see. Having been slaying world stages for 30 years, this is only the second tour of Australia and the fans (including this one) are clearly nuts for them.

There is simply no way you can’t enjoy Gwar with all the blood, guts and onstage slayings of Tony Abbott, the Queen and other crazy characters from the slave pit crew. Gwar not only get you moving but also entertain like no other band.

There is also something hilarious about watching not only the crowd, but also photographers, getting sprayed in blood and filth while trying to take shots of this band and having the time of their life doing it (you’re a trooper Amanda Brenchly!) Let’s hope that they come back again soon to slay some more - the only way Gwar know how!

Hands down Soundwave is the best festival in Australia!

Even with the drama of certain bands pulling out this was by far the best year yet. The line up just worked, even with the odd clash here and there, I still had a hell of a time. I ask myself and people I know every year, how are they going to top it? Yet Soundwave Touring always come back with a bigger and better show every damn time without fail.

The Porkers - Kicking off the day on the main stage it was great to see Australia’s ska legends return in such a big way.

Pete Porker and crew know how to get the party started and there was no better way to get things rolling than a set from the legendary Porkers. If you weren’t in the pit dancing to this, you have no pulse.

Amon Amarth - The anticipation from the crowd for the Swedish Viking metal band is intense and one of the most talked about of the day. With a giant Viking ship dominating the stage, the band rip into to their set and take no prisoners.

They have simply come to conquer and they do it with ease.

As each song progresses the crowd becomes increasingly ravenous and once it’s over you can still feel the explosive energy from their loyal fan base.

Mushroomhead - It’s been a long time coming for the industrial metal band from Cleveland USA to tour here and they do not disappoint. Mushroomhead manage to deliver one of the best sets of the day. As a long time fan it was a dream come true to witness a set filled with classics such as 6

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Before I Die, Sun Doesn’t Rise and Solitaire Unraveling. We were also treated to a brand new track off their upcoming album Righteous And The Butterfly with guest vocals by Unsaid Fate singer Jackie LaPonza. Judging by the crowd response to Mushroomhead’s set, it’s a safe bet they will return, which makes this fan extremely happy.

The Black Dahlia Murder - This band does not mess around and manages to put on one of the most energetic and brutal shows you will ever see. For 40 minutes this band doesn’t stop moving and the pit from an outside perspective is, in a word, terrifying. A personal highlight from their set was Goat Of Departure from last years Everblack - brutal stuff!

Testament - “Are you ready to rise up?” yells frontman Chuck Billy as the legends of thrash rip into Rise Up from their Dark Roots Of Earth album. Chuck knows how to work his crowd and they love every minute of Testament’s performance. The band’s set up is over the top, rivalling Amon Amarth’s war ship with two skull emblems spewing out smoke from the mouth - you don’t get any more metal than this. They also have over sized guitar picks signed by the band that they frisbee into the crowd. Thrashtastic fun and a damn killer set from one of the best live bands around.

HELM - Having found out the morning of the gig they were playing, Gold Coast band Helm take to the stage and do their home town proud. This is a band that has worked extremely hard over the years and deserve to be on the line

Filter - As a long time Filter fan it is heartbreaking that the band only get to play four songs due to technical issues, and you can see that main man Richard Patrick is feeling it too. But as short as the set is they do not hold back and give 100% for their fans. Opening with Trip Like I Do and We Hate It When You Get What You Want from their latest album and following it up with a personal favourite Jurrasitol, the band ends their set with Hey Man Nice Shot from Short Bus with a special appearance by an unknown guitarist with only one hand. To witness this is nothing short of inspiring and makes it one of the best and touching moments of the day.

Alice In Chains - Another highlight of the day and one of the tightest sets I have ever seen. The last time we saw Alice in Chains in Australia was at Soundwave 2009 after the release of their comeback album Black Gives Way To Blue.

Something feels different seeing them this time though as it seems the band is more comfortable being back up there as one of the most legendary and much loved bands from the 90s. William Duvall is one hell of a front man and has been accepted with open arms by long time fans after the passing of singer Layne Stayley and fills those shoes perfectly. Opening the show with classics Them Bones and Damn That River it sets the scene for one of the most memorable shows of the day. Having not forgotten where they have come from the band dedicates Nutshell to the late frontman Layne and original bassist Mike Starr who passed away in 2011.

This is an emotional and moving tribute and it was hard to find a dry eye in the D (I had dust in my eye I swear!) Along with playing many classic songs from their back catalogue,

Jerry Cantrell and crew add in a few new tracks from their most recent album The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here which fit perfectly in with the older material. If you missed Alice then I feel sorry for you.

DOWN - This is one of the most anticipated sets of the day for many metal heads. Legendary frontman Phil Anselmo has his fans in the palm of his hand and gives one of the best performances of the festival. He also dedicates Hail The Leaf to Brisbane band Portal who he says gave him a personal performance only a few days earlier. Down are the masters of what they do and did not disappoint the legions of fans who waited most of the day just to see them.

SOUNDWAVE REFLECTIONS FROM AN INDIE-ROCK HIPSTER I was a last minute addition to the Soundwave lineup myself.

Hedging my bets for a better option, waiting to see if any other bands were going to disappear before our eyes. But I went along, with a mad heavy metal fan, to get my Soundwave fix for 2014.

Glassjaw - Sadly I missed most of their set but got there just in time to hear Pretty Lush off Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence. From what I caught the band were in top form and hopefully they will be back at some stage for their own tour.

Let me tell you this about Soundwave. It is, by far, the most chilled crowd you will find of any mainstream festival in Australia. Maybe it’s the fact that most of this crowd let their steam off in the pit. I can’t quite put my finger on it. But I will say, if you fall down at Soundwave, someone will most certainly pick you up, dust you off and throw you out of danger’s way, or back into the fray if that’s your desire.

Devil You Know - “Do you guys remember me?” Howard Jones asks jokingly. The crowd sure do and it is great to see him fronting a killer new band featuring drummer John Sankey (Devolved, who started on the Gold Coast) and All Shall Perish guitarist Francesco Artusato. Even though the album isn’t released yet, the band play a blistering set giving fans a preview of what’s to come from their soon to be released debut. We are sure to see big things from this band in the near future. Devil You Know are the goods!

This was not my first Soundwave, but I’ve honestly never seen such a diverse crowd – diverse in age, fashion sense, musical taste and home-town. People travel a long way for Soundwave. But there’s one thing that unites. And that’s a love of music. Loud, fast, heavy, ear-splitting music. After fooling myself into thinking I’d see Green Day and Placebo, The Living End and Living Colour from the comfort of a covered grandstand, I threw away my app and followed my

metalhead friend from one screaming pit of devil horns to the next. And I was in my element.

Here’s what else I learned: • Gwar are the gods of live music. Full stop.

• With music uniting the crowd, there’s not a lot of that usual festival rubbish you might find elsewhere. Very little bare-chested testosterone angst, very little “let’s dress as Indians” groups of 20-somethings, and very, very few wasted people running through the crowd being dickheads.

• It takes twenty minutes to move considerately from one end of the RNA showgrounds to the other. If you stop at the bar it takes 30.

• Black is a good choice of colour at Soundwave for many reasons, but mostly because it hides blood, sweat, beer and dirt.

• The walk home from Soundwave is a lot longer than the walk there.

Thanks for the metallic love, my main metal man Isha.

Where do I sign up for 2015?

Living Colour - “Give us a break we’re old!” laughs singer Corey Glover as the band are doing a quick soundcheck, which just amps the fans up even more. Once they do kick in, Living Colour have more energy than some bands half their age. The musicianship in this band is mind blowing and everything you have ever heard about them live is true.

The fans themselves are a mix of young and old, musos and general punters. But you can pick the guitarists in the crowd when Vernon Reid starts shredding up a storm (and a lot of them were still trying to pick their jaws off the floor after each song).

Living Colour are having the time of their life, you can see that even after so many years in the game they still love playing and interacting with their fans through music. While the band didn’t have time to play their massive single Love Rears It’s Ugly Head they did of course play Cult of Personality which resulted in an eruption of cheers and applause.

While many other people were watching Green Day or Avenged Sevenfold I personally couldn’t think of a better way to end the day and I would happily make that choice again. Living Colour are the real deal.

Overall it was an amazing day and the best Soundwave yet, but just when I think they can’t top it they do time and time again. If this year is anything by then next year Soundwave is going to be the festival to end all festivals.

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THIS IS NOT THE END FOR THE BABY ANIMALS After disappearing for a decade or so, Suze DeMarchi and the Baby Animals returned to the scene last year with their latest studio offering titled This Is Not The End. Emily Hosking caught up with Suze for a quick chat about the new record and live DVD, their current Australian tour, onstage antics and how the music industry has changed since their debut days.

Being born only a few years before the Baby Animals debut album release, it’s only been since their recent return to the scene that I was exposed to this truly iconic Australian rock band. From the hard-hitting riffs, Suze’s raw and powerful vocals and everything in between, the Baby Animals’ new album speaks the true language of rock and roll. Despite being Aussie rock royalty, Suze DeMarchi was not quite what I expected. Geared for an intense conversation full of rock and roll attitude, I was surprised that Suze was superbly down to earth, soft natured and, well, just lovely.

Happy Birthday for a few weeks ago and congratulations on turning 50! Your birthday coincided with the live screening of your brand new and debut live DVD. Ticking off a few milestones at once it seems?

Well we didn’t actually time it on purpose – it (the DVD screening) just happened to fall on that day. It ended up being an amazing weekend - it was really fun. It’s the first proper DVD that we’ve done. We’ve done little bits and pieces before, but not a proper concert, so it’s really great to have. It’s been really well received and nice to have something to capture our live shows which is really the most important thing to us.

This Is Not The End allows us to hear the classic Baby Animals rock sound, with a modern twist. What was it like jumping back into the studio with the band, and reinventing that classic rock sound?

It’s like riding a bike, you know. Dave (Leslie) and I know each other so well; it’s always the same. We both have our own style that seems to gel so it was amazing. We did it all by ourselves, we funded it ourselves, and we did it fairly quickly without all the people involved with having a major label. I think it was a really great thing for us to experience being responsible for it financially as well as creatively. It’s the state of the industry.

If you want to get out there and work, a lot of the time you do have to do it yourself. Labels are very different these days and to be honest it’s nice to have the control of an independent. It keeps it less hectic and gives you the control.

How have you found the fans’ reaction to the Baby Animals’ return over the last few years?

The fans are amazing, they are really the reason we can keep playing. They are incredible, very loyal and obviously have really good taste in music (laughs). Our fans are pretty hardcore, but we are lucky that we have that. They are now bringing their kids along to the shows, it’s a really broad age group that we get. Younger kids, older fans, a little bit in between. We get lesbians, gays, straights, hardcore rockers; it’s a good cross section.

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The Gold Coast is looking forward to having you here.

What can fans expect at a Baby Animals gig these days?

Well, there’s a lot of light and shade in our shows. We do some slower stuff, it’s not just all head banging the whole way through it. I really like to play a cross section of stuff.

Any pre-show rituals?

I always have a vodka usually, before I go on, and one when I come off. We don’t do much other than have a laugh. We’re not the kind of band that crowds around and does a prayer or anything like that. We always give each other a bit of a peck before we go on, that’s about it.

The Feed The Birds tour kicked off in the major cities last year, and you are now doing round 2 of the tour out of the cities. Do you find a difference between the city audiences and out of city audiences?

City crowds tend to be a little bit more ‘arms-folded’. The regional shows are a little bit looser crowd-wise, they really appreciate when people come to see them and they take the time to do the drive and get to the gig. I like doing the regional stuff, it’s a very different kind of vibe and it’s nice to get out and see the country and connect with people to. It’s proper touring, on the road you know.

Part Two of the tour kicked off at A Day on the Green alongside music legends such as Jimmy Barnes and Daryl Braithwaite. What was that like?

As far as festivals I’ve done, A Day On The Green is the best.

They are really well catered and they look after the bands really well. It’s a well organised festival with great facilities, and they are in beautiful locations at the vineyards. I really love doing those shows, they are great fun.

The name ‘Feed The Birds’ came from the tradition of pouring red-wine into the mouths of audience members in the front rows of Baby Animals shows. How did that ritual come about?

That just started in the last couple of years. I’ve never done that before at all, that was just one of those things that happened one night, and then just sort of kept happening.

People were down the front and just started opening their mouths like birds. It doesn’t happen every show, but it happens every once in a while.

With very little true and new rock and roll hitting the airwaves today, do you yourself or the band find that you are influenced by many modern artists/bands?

I try to listen to a lot of stuff that my daughter introduces me to. I need to listen to more, but I find that I don’t get a lot of time to sit back and put records on. The last album that I was really obsessed with was a Robert Plant and Alison Krauss record that I listened to non-stop. But there’s a few new bands that I like; Imagine Dragons, Heim, I like the Arctic Monkeys and bands like that. It’s a single orientated world these days.

It’s songs rather than albums and I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Unless you’ve got 10 brilliants songs, people are just going to want to buy the single. That’s the way the world is right now. If you’re going to make an album, it’s a really long process, well it is for me anyway. It takes a while to get the songs written and to get the songs right. I don’t mind the idea of just putting a song out every month or so, you know. It allows you to keep putting stuff out rather than taking a year to write it, then to produce and record it. It’s expensive, and it should just be about the song anyway.

After talking with some of your fans, the one thing most wanted to find out was where you disappeared to since the 90’s. So what have you been up to for the last decade?

You know what, there were two reasons I had time off.

One reason was that we were signed to a label that had no distribution so we couldn’t record. It took 6 years for us to get relieved. I was also a mum, it’s really hard to do both. And I was living in another country. My partner at the time was a touring musician too so someone had to be at home, and that was me. I missed it everyday, but I kept writing. Kids take up a lot of time (laughs).

Any chance of more albums from the Baby Animals in the coming years?

Yes, there is. We are definitely going to put more stuff out. I’m not sure what format we’ll do it in. I’ve been thinking about just putting songs out. I don’t know if I want to do an album, or maybe a shorter album. I’d rather concentrate on writing great songs and put them out when they are done, you know.

Unless we’ve got a story to tell in an album, we’ll just be thinking about putting songs out as we go. That’s the idea. It (the music industry) is what it is. You can’t change it. It’s not like it used to be, it’s a very different world out there and as an artist, you just have to embrace it.

Any parting words?

We’re excited to get back up to the coast and to see everyone.

And if you want to get fed, get up the front and bring a change of clothes.

March FRI 21 MAR Bleach* Festival Event

The Transparentsea Voyage Movie Screening with music by Band of Frequencies + special guests FRI 28 MAR

Mark Wilkinson

April FRI 04 APR

Darren Middleton (Powderfinger) FRI 11 APR

Uncle Jed with special guests The Firetree THUR 17 APR

The Bad Shephards Featuring Adrian Edmondson (Vivian, The Young Ones)

May FRI 16 MAY

Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi) with special guest Gena Rose Bruce FRI 30 MAY

Kevin Bennett & The Flood with special guest Kirk Lorange

Coming Up THUR 3 JUL

The Beards with special guest Franky Walnut FRI 11 JUL

Lloyd Cole

Tickets at soundlounge.com.au

www.blankgc.com.au

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While they are eagerly anticipating sharing their music with these new audiences, Symes was quick to assure that their loyalty remains true to their Australian fans.

“There’s nothing like playing in Australia for us. Obviously being an Aussie band we love it here, and we have such beautiful audiences.”

Upon the completion of their international tour, the boys will head back home to kick-start their next tour which will see them host a number of shows in regional venues throughout Australia through April and May. “A lot of these remote places are often forgotten about, but they are sometimes some of the best gigs we get to do. There are so many people living all over Australia and they are hungry for a bit of entertainment. We really love to play our music to as many people as we can, so we love to jump into our van and take our circus on the road,” Symes joked.

On the subject of their latest album release Harlequin Dream, I was interested (and slightly hesitant) to ask about the subtle country influence on this release in comparison to their previous album and EPs. “I don’t think we intentionally went for a country feel, but I think that country music has roots in so many genres. In a way, it probably comes from our blues and roots sound, with the type of harmonies, chord changes and rhythm section feels that (country) uses. We love a lot of older music from bands in the 60s and 70s, and they were all influenced by a lot of these old American country cities as well.”

HARLEQUIN DREAMS OF BOYS AND BEARS Backing up the release of their sophomore release with a brand new album, the boys from Aussie favourites Boy and Bear have had a jam-packed start to 2014. Emily Hosking caught up with bass player, Dave Symes to chat about their upcoming tours and get a bit of an inside peep behind the making of their new offering, Harlequin Dream.

The phone rang. I was anxious and a little bit nervous. It’s not every day that you get to speak with one of your favourite bands and ask all the questions you ponder about while driving around, being serenaded by their album on your stereo. But that I did, and on the other end of the phone was a very friendly Dave Symes who had plenty to say about the exciting few months ahead for the band.

“Culturally, Europe in particular, is a different experience with the infrastructure of how their music industry is set-up. With so many bands going through there, you sort of become a part of this big network of musicians, which is really exciting for us. We will play smaller clubs, and with the audiences over there really loving music the way they do, it will all mean new experiences for us.”

Having just completed their latest Australian tour, the boys are set for a tour of Europe and USA which kicked off in February. Symes commented on how they are looking forward to continuing their role in a network of touring musicians, and enjoying the difference of the international audiences.

During their time in America, the band is also dropping in to South By Southwest in Texas to showcase their music and give the music market a taste of some of the best Australia has to offer. “We did a brief spot there with the first album, but this will be more of a showcase. Because we are doing a tour, we will be able to go for a few days, see some of the bands and hopefully catch a few of the side shows.”

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With the band making a conscious decision to record this new album with popular record producer Wayne Connolly at Albert Studios in their hometown of Sydney, Symes reflected that it resulted in an album that portrays an accurate representation of the band.

“On the last record, there were a few things that didn’t come quite as easy while being away. It was a nice thing recording this album in our home town, using all the resources we have here, and working with the great engineers and musicians in Australia.”

Released late last year, the music video for the album’s title track Harlequin Dream was filmed in Palawan, Philippines just 14 days prior to the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.

“After the tragedy hit, we were relieved to hear that the locals involved in the video were all safe thanks to the surrounding mountains.”

“Australians have always been upfront with their support to our neighbours in South East Asia, and we wanted to make everyone aware that this is where we had filmed the video prior to the devastation and to give generously to those who were affected.”

Donations for this important cause can still be made through Unicef Australia, Oxfam, the Australian Red Cross and Save The Children Australia.

Symes suggested to keep an eye on their website for everything Boy and Bear related, and while their next tour doesn’t make a direct stop to the Gold Coast, I can assure you that their shows are well worth a small road trip to one of their regional destinations.

April but the majority of people hear everything anyway – that’s the beauty of the Internet, I guess.”

Having possession of the vinyl edition of Courtney’s double EP release myself, The Double EP: A Sea of Slip Peas, which combines her debut release in 2012 called I’ve Got a Friend Called Emily Farris and the eponymously quirky How to Carve a Carrot Into a Rose from last year, it’s the hand drawn artwork that gives the physical record its magnetic personality. The intensely DIY cover and inner sleeves of the vinyl are adorned with doodle-like sketches that raise more questions than they answer about the double EP’s lyrical content and Courtney’s idiosyncratic persona.

“The front cover is an appropriation of that really famous Japanese screen print. I guess it’s an outlet in its own way.

I keep a journal with all the little pictures and sketches in there as much as I keep all my lyrics.”

BORN IN THE AUS Courtney Barnett. Learn it now because it’s soon to become a household name. In the space of a couple of years, the Melbourne alt-country rocker has gone from penning lyrics and doodling sketches in a journal, to sharing said words and images to audiences worldwide. She’s made music out of suburban banalities and mindless procrastination, and it’s never sounded so compelling before. Her debut American tour in February sold out shows left right and centre with another run in the States around Coachella Festival.

With a shaky phone line, Courtney talks to Jake Wilton from a wide, dusty field in Perth about her recent shows with Billy Bragg and her passion for drawing and designing her album covers.

“I really respect [Billy Bragg’s] songwriting, I love his music, I respect his ideas and just really admire him as a musician.

He’s not someone I’ve listened to a lot growing up, but in the last few years, I’ve cottoned on.”

Speaking to me all the way from Perth, where Courtney is set to play her first headline shows in the region as a band, “It’s pretty f**king far away from Melbourne,” she tells me about her recent time in the US. Taking her band along for the ride, the very aptly titled Courtney Barnett & the Courtney Barnetts, she rarely thought that her charming songs about Twisties and canned tomatoes would appeal so well to that market.

“It’s uh, been crazy! Our first time overseas as a band and to sell out all of these shows in America and London - it’s something I never thought would happen. It’s insane. [The audiences] were very vocal about their appreciation.

Sometimes you get crowds that stand there and nod their heads; you can’t tell if they’re interested at all. Sometimes people don’t do anything and you don’t know what they’re thinking. But the Americans were really vocal; bopping and dancing around and singing along, coming up afterwards and telling us that they loved it. That was pretty cool.”

“I haven’t technically released anything [overseas] but everyone has got the double EP on iTunes or the Internet.

The actual release, the hard release of the vinyl, is set for

“Pictures are almost one-liners, for me – you know Leunig, the cartoonist, I love him! I could never do what he does, but if I had someone to aspire to in my ideas of the artwork, it would be him. He has those clever, witty one-liners within a picture, which I think is so hard to do, as well as keeping it so simple.”

Courtney’s music may have that Australian stamp of approval, with clear-cut influences of the Go-Betweens, Neil Young and Dick Diver, but it’s the universal language of her lyrics that speak to demographics worldwide. She writes of heartbreak and growing up, but also dives into her naïve, yet wonderfully edgy side and writes about a hypochondriac gardener who’s also heavily under the influence, “My throat feels like a funnel / With weet-bix and kerosene.”

“I spend a lot of time refining the lyrics because they’re as much about the idea of that particular story. The melody, or the music side of it, I don’t spend as much time on it; I wait until it comes naturally. You can work on lyrics and play around with them by mucking around with syllables and stretching out sentences, but I don’t really know how to do that music-wise; so I wait until a melody is right. Sometimes I sing words over and over, like a chord progression, until a melody appears, which is probably not the best way to do it but I really don’t know how else to write melodies or music. I don’t really know how to properly do that side of it. Both are equally important to me.”

Wrapping up the conversation due to a gradually malfunctioning phone line, we head the discussion towards our recent great, inspirational reads. While I mention mine to be a re-read of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, Courtney tells me of a book she’s just reached the tail end of that concerns an Australian musician very dear to her heart.

“The last book I finished was Paul Kelly’s book How to Make Gravy, which was amazing.”

Courtney Barnett is supporting Billy Bragg in solo mode at Brisbane’s the Tivoli Theatre on Thursday 20 March and at the Northern Byron Bay on Friday 21 March. www.blankgc.com.au

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SLOW MOTION ON A FULL TANK Clouds, waterfalls, breeze, ambience, expansion, impact – Slow Motion Music. These words are just a fraction of what can be felt and seen while listening to Oliver Tank’s second EP, Slow Motion Music. The Sydney lad makes incredibly fragile and stylistic music that echoes some of his musical heroes such as Boards of Canada, Mount Kimbie and the UK producer/ singer-songwriter who makes mankind buckle at the knees from the sound of his achingly beautiful voice, James Blake. Whereas some disgruntled James Blake listeners sometimes label his music as “drunk karaoke” as his music mainly revolves around his voice, Oliver Tank strides a different, yet parallel, avenue. A slight mix of trip-hop, post-dubstep and even hints of shoegaze makes Oliver Tank one of Australia’s most exciting up and coming acts. On the cusp of his national headline tour, Oliver took some time out of rehearsal to speak to Jake Wilton.

who said that I was the Australian James Blake. I can see people making the link there; we’ve both got the auto-tuned voice, down tempo. To be perfectly honest, I think anyone who’s spent a reasonable amount of time listening to James Blake and listening to me, I don’t know if I hear that much similarity. He’s definitely a big influence for me, but I don’t know if I’m hearing it that much anymore.”

Aside from the James Blake fandom, Oliver had the privilege to simultaneously wrap up 2013 and kick off 2014 in perfect style thanks to the good promoters of the Falls Music and Arts and Southbound Festivals. Oliver scored a sweet late morning slot for each leg of the festival and eased some of his biggest crowds out of their drowsy, hungover states.

“I haven’t really done many festival shows before so I was pretty nervous for the first couple, especially being on such a big stage by myself. I’ve done festival shows here and there but I’ve never done four shows in five days, so it was a really interesting experience. Honestly, it was a lot of fun and I’m hoping I can do some more festival shows. I feel like I’ve got some more music now that would probably be better suited to festivals.”

It felt appropriate to see Oliver’s name on the Falls and Southbound Festival bills. His dreamy and electronic presence rightly captured everything these festivals do well.

At these shows, Oliver has been able to flex the extraordinary material from his latest EP release, Slow Motion Music; a collection of songs that abridge the same vibe that UK group and the XX discovered on their self-titled debut in 2009 – the space between music. Stay, the first track from the EP, caught my attention the most and Oliver described it as a real, “beginning track.”

“One of my friends sent me this track that he heard in a taxi.

It’s a real cheesy ‘80s track but the beginning of it is actually really nice and I sampled some of it. I was kind of going for a vibe of two people who really care about each other and that are willing to do anything for each other. I was getting into the vibe of using rolling, delayed pianos and used some of that on the song. I felt it was a good start to the EP. I like to work with really nice sounds like pianos, guitars with little samples. I always try to mix electronic music with natural sounds.”

“I definitely had the mindset of an EP but I also wanted to do what I wanted to do. I really just wanted to put together a bunch of songs and have another EP with a solid idea behind it. It makes no difference to me, I just wanted to have seven songs on it because I felt like they all needed to be on there – I’m working towards my album now. I feel like an album is a really big deal and I want to make sure I get it perfect.”

“I tend not to get so nervous in the lead up, it’s only really on the day or a couple of hours before that I start to… not panic, just get very nervous. I used to be quite uncomfortable on stage, just because I feel kind of awkward and I never really felt comfortable in front of hundreds of people just by myself. But this last year I’ve become a lot more confident with it, I’m just trying to have a good time when I’m playing live and be as prepared as I can be.”

Oliver’s biggest tour around the country takes him to some of Australia’s most vivid and spacious venues so there’s no surprise at those feelings of nervousness. Yet these feelings pale in comparison to the scale of other shows he’s been lucky enough to play at. In the past few years, Oliver has had

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the chance to warm up punters anxiously waiting to see the beautiful Lana Del Rey, Youth Lagoon and the aforementioned James Blake.

As Oliver turns his focus onto this huge string of dates around the country for the next weekends, he’s still in a song writing groove which will hopefully develop into a fulllength record before the year is out.

“The James Blake show probably meant the most to me.

Just because, he was basically the reason I got into this sort of music. I really respect him and I think he’s essentially perfected the live show. So to get a chance to play with him was just incredible and it still doesn’t even feel like it’s even happened. Every now and again it does feel sort of surreal supporting people like Lorde and James Blake.”

“I think after the tour finishes, I’m really just going to lock in some studio time. I just want to improve my production, singing, guitar work and my song writing and just try to put together something really special for an album. It’s going to be really daunting, I’ve never made an album before, but I feel like I’ve got a lot of potential. I want to make sure I get it right and that the world hears it right.”

“I think that whole James Blake comparison came around, I think it was Dom Alessio on [Triple J’s] Home and Hosed

Slow Motion Music is out now through Create/Control.

SOÜLFUL RÜFÜS don’t possess any supernatural ability or superhuman powers – they just know how to play music. Their success isn’t unheard of in this day and age, but thanks to a loyal fanbase and festival after festival tour, Sydney’s RÜFÜS continue to rise. With the announcement of their debut North American tour, a European tour and another run of Australia, you’ll be able to catch another wave of swelling electronica. James Hunt got on the blower ahead of a visit to the Gold Coast to chat to Jake Wilton.

You have a huge tour in your sights and you’ve actually booked some all ages shows. Is it important for you to play to these all ages crowds?

I guess at this point it is, considering the success of the album has revealed that we have a lot of younger fans.

Unfortunately a lot of our shows on the last tour, the Atlas Tour, we did I think, one all ages show in Adelaide. We made a conscious effort to incorporate that age group [on this tour] and be able to give them the live show that we’re working on at the moment. Some of the venues we’re playing, like the Enmore and the Palace, it’s normal for them to host all ages shows – so, for us, it was a logical step.

Before you do your Australian tour you’ve got the massive US and European tour, including SXSW. Pretty psyched for this?

Yeah, we’re really excited for all those shows. I think what we’re going to have with the Australian shows is a little more luxury – whereas with the US and Europe, it’s kind of like starting again; trying to re-build a fanbase. I’m also excited about that because it’s more of an intimate stage; it’s a smaller venue and you can hang out afterwards and chat to people. It’s something that we’ve always expected to happen, every band goes through it. I think our music can, luckily, lend itself to both a large and pumping crowd or a smaller, more intimate club night in a darkened room where everyone is raving away with you; and those two worlds are something we’re interested in.

So which do you prefer?

It’s actually hard to choose – some of the best shows we’ve ever played were those Falls shows we played over New Years. They were some of the biggest crowds we’ve ever played to and that blew my mind. Yet, in that sense, we went to Europe and played a few showcases at the end of last year and they were comparatively very small. It was completely a different vibe - it was us and the crowd being crammed into a small place and only a small slice of people experiencing this one thing; it’s more special in that way.

The Big Day Out tour had to be something special.

Yeah, Big Day Out went really good – we weren’t too sure what to expect because we were playing the same time as Tame Impala, who are one of my favourite bands. Luckily we had a really good turn out and a positive response – I was really surprised and happy with all the Big Day Out shows.

But the Falls Festival tour, particularly Byron Bay, was my favourite show in the history of… all the shows I’ve ever played. It was just perfect with the sunset and positioned on the natural amphitheatre and that turnout was just a mind-blowing experience.

How do you think the American market will react to your music?

I’m not sure, that is something I’ve been thinking about; there’s obviously this explosion of more commercially friendly electronic and EDM music over there. It’s hard to say if the more understated, deeper trends will resonate over and that’s something we have yet to find out. I mean we’ve got the tour and the album is being released over there soon; so I’m just exited to see what the reaction is.

You are basically starting from scratch in the US market due to an unforseen name change to RÜFÜS DU SOL. There was already a band called RÜFÜS who were mainly active in the ‘70s or ‘80s – they were a funk band led by Chaka Khan. Basically they have started touring again so the copyright on the name is still active; we couldn’t sign the album internationally via digital release because no one would want to take up that risk, especially in America, being the land of litigation. It was an amazing opportunity to release the album over there. It was moreso we wanted to get the album out over there as soon as possible rather than battling over the name. We’re really happy with the name we’ve settled on – I feel like it reflects this foreign and exotic vibe that we originally felt came from the name RÜFÜS.

Atlas has been certified Gold here in Australia, what are you’re expectations as to how the album will perform overseas?

I guess we’re not expecting anything, just in the same way we never expected anything of that nature here. We wrote an album that we loved and it was just amazing that it connected so well with people here. We’re not holding any expectations for overseas markets but we’re definitely hoping that it makes a connection with people and that they enjoy it.

Speaking of connection, one track on Atlas that allowed me to connect with the album more was Simplicity is Bliss.

What was the process behind this track?

That was actually one of the last songs we wrote before we finished the album. We wanted something to break up the album, making it an instrumental track, something of a break vocally. It was an older idea that I think we wrote about two years before but dug up and started again. We decided we really wanted some acoustic guitars in the album, also got some shakers and more percussion; something more indulgent, musically.

RÜFÜS’ music is pretty susceptible to remixes. When an artist decides to mix one of your songs, is there an expectation for the final product?

We want the remixer to bring a new perspective to the song, or even bring their own perspective even if that is similar to what the song was doing originally. If it’s something a bit more dancefloor friendly and different – we really just want the artist to bring their own vibe to it. A lot of the mixes we’ve received have achieved that and we often play those tracks in our DJ sets.

After RÜFÜS tear up the US and Europe markets, you’ll be able to see them on tour again at the Coolangatta Hotel, 9 May and the Tivoli Theatre Brisbane, 10 May.

www.blankgc.com.au

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SENSITIVE SLOWMENTS IN TIME Michael DiFrancesco is no stranger to the music industry. Touch Sensitive, Michael’s solo project, has gained a tremendous amount of traction in the last couple of years, with 2013 bringing him his biggest hit Pizza Guy - a track that blasted him right to #38 in Triple J’s Hottest 100. But bigger and brighter things are still to come for the ex-guitarist of Australian super band Van She. David Simmons chats to Michael about what lays on the horizon.

Whilst there isn’t an album in the sights of the Sydney producer, Michael is still going to be making new music. His latest track, Slowments, follows in the footsteps of his amazing Pizza Guy, with 80’s sounds flowing from his fingers as smoothly as water, and his sampling ability still second to none.

But fans may be about to see a completely new side of Touch Sensitive with his new material.

“I think I’m going to do a bit more of a house kind of track, a bit of a faster one. Just because it’s a bit more fun to play,” said Michael.

And play he does. Punters lucky enough to catch one of his shows are in for a treat. His signature combination of DJing whilst playing his beloved bass guitar is truly a spectacle, and testament to the musical ability he possesses.

And this live performance aspect definitely comes from his love of everything 80s. Touch forms part of the recent nu-disco movement headed by megastars like Daft Punk, and perfected by friends of Michael such as Classixx. So it is no surprise that the new Roland gear, bringing the classic 808s drum machine back in an overhaul that has in many ways improved upon perfection, was attained by Touch as soon as possible.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been really excited about something,” he said, “and when I heard it I was blown away.

And like, those sounds, they’ve been with us since their

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bourgeoning Australian beat-making scene, Touch Sensitive does not consider himself to be part of the same crowd – but this does not detract from the respect he has for these musicians.

“I’m not even sure I’m part of that scene, like my stuff ’s pretty different sounding to all that stuff. But I’ve played at a lot of the same parties as those guys and the same festivals, but one amazing thing is that all those people are so young. Like they’re young and they’re making amazing stuff. It’s awesome and it’s exciting, but it’s also really humbling – like I’m older than all of them, and they run rings around me, so it’s cool,” he said.

conception and they’re not changing; they’re still in tracks now.”

But with all the highs of being Touch Sensitive comes a few lows – namely getting your eyes gouged at the Nina Las Vegas Presents show in Melbourne.

The Touch Sensitive project is one that has been around since 2004 when Michael released a track called Body Stop on the Future Classic label. But it is only recently that hype has really built around the project and he’s started to get recognition for the brilliant music he makes. But for Michael, it’s not something that has suddenly happened overnight.

“I jumped into the crowd while I was playing bass, and no one - this was really weird and I was really surprised - no one like touched the bass, no one unplugged it, no one tried to steal my wallet, no one tried to grab my private parts, but… someone was eye gouging me! Of all the things, why would you eye gouge me!? But it was in a loving way.”

“It’s [Touch Sensitive] never really been something that I’ve pursued because I was busy doing Van She stuff, and I kind of fell into this, I wouldn’t call it a trap, because I wanted to be there, but I became complacent,” said Michael. “I was doing that all the time and I was enjoying doing that and I was hanging out with my friends, playing music, travelling around doing shows. And then I did [a song] with Anna Lunoe and I was going to call myself another name and then they said we really think you should do it as Touch Sensitive.”

And as for the decision to step away from Van She for a while to focus on Touch Sensitive, Michael attributes it, not to a breakup in friendship, but rather differing musical ideas - but that didn’t make the split any easier.

“So I went along with it and started doing gigs. And they booked that for me, I had no intention of doing that, it just wasn’t in my brain. So it’s nice to have people that like what you do, and encourage you to do stuff, because otherwise I probably wouldn’t have done it. But I am enjoying it and playing gigs, and playing bass again.”

Most recently Touch Sensitive has been invited by Nina Las Vegas to play at some of her Nina Las Vegas Presents shows around the country, along with other Australian names like Wave Racer and Motez. And while these acts are all part of the

“It was like breaking up with your girlfriend, because they’re my best friends,” he said.

“It all kind of came to a head when my manager called me and asked me to do the Flume tour, and that was at the same time as I was supposed to do a Van She tour, and I was kind of like, ‘If I don’t do this I’m an idiot’.”

“I think it was a long time doing the same thing; it is quite draining. I just needed to do something else.”

You can check out Touch Sensitive’s new track ‘Slowments’ on Soundcloud.

UPS AND DOWNS Seminal Brisbane indie-guitar four piece Ups and Downs have recently resurfaced for an all too rare return foray into the live arena, recently supporting 90’s English alternative band The Wonder Stuff on the Brisbane and Sydney legs of their Australian tour. Prior to this run of special shows, Anthony Gebhardt chatted with drummer Darren Atkinson, with a bit of input from his brother Greg, who was also in 90’s indie-rock rumblers Big Heavy Stuff.

What was your experience like being part of the Pig City Festival and celebration of Brisbane music in 2007?

I think it was a defining moment for Brisbane music. I think the quality and diversity of sounds that day finally banished the idea that Brisbane is some sort of musical backwater and vindicated 4ZZZ’s faith in local music. And it was great fun to be part of!

The magazine that I write for, Blank, is a new street press publication that has recently launched on the Gold Coast.

I recall seeing you in Big Heavy Stuff guise (at a criminally under-attended show!) at The Troccadero, Surfers Paradise, many moons ago. Did the Ups And Downs ever play shows on the Gold Coast (such as at The Playroom) back in the (hey)day?

Oh yes, we did The Playroom pretty regularly, also The Jet Club and The Patch at Coolangatta, and Bombay Rock. I also recall a great festival we did at Tweed Heads with Midnight Oil in front of thousands of people. The Coast was always good to us and I hope we can come back some time soon.

Music wise what are you currently listening to/ inspired by?

How did these shows with The Wonder Stuff in Brisbane and Sydney come about?

Firstly, we are huge fans of ‘The Stuffies’. So when I contacted the promoter to find out who the support band was, turns out he is a huge fan of Ups and Downs. One email led to another and here we are.

What are your thoughts on the seeming proliferation of seminal Aussie bands returning to the live touring arena – there seems to be a real market for it?

I guess I have mixed views. The ‘younger’ me would say “get out of the way you oldies and let the young bands through”.

On the other hand, I think there is an increasing appreciation of some of the great bands Australia has produced over the past decades. From our own perspective, it is amazing to have our old fans come along to shows and bring their grown up kids, who get right into what we are doing.

Are there any thoughts of reforming the Ups And Downs in a more permanent guise either as a live entity or recording new music, or is life outside the band too all consuming these days?

I know Greg still listens to loads of new music, from dark electronic stuff right through to sweet pop. I think that wide variety of influences is the key to why we always stood apart from the whole ‘60s revivalist crew.

We do talk about it. Greg, John and I are currently playing around Sydney in the band Worker Bees and we have a Worker Bees album that Peter played on. It’s only a short step from there to calling ourselves Ups and Downs, so it may well happen.

Greg here…new music I’m listening to includes Kurt Vile’s latest, Shocking Pinks, Mount Kimbie and These New Puritans.

Do you recall your time based in Brisbane fondly?

The politics of the 80s made for a really determined and inspired art/music scene. Radio station 4ZZZ was really opening people’s ears to alternative music and our sound, and I guess our look, captured people’s imagination. So everything just fell into place for us.

Greg, any thoughts of resurrecting Big Heavy Stuff one of these days?

No plans at the moment to resurrect Big Heavy Stuff. We’re all moving in very different circles these days. Not to mention I’ve got my other music projects; Worker Bees with Darren and John, we’re working on the follow up to the first album, and Theories Of Everything who are finishing up an album at the moment. And I’m trying to make myself available if any Ups and Downs shows come up. Phew!!

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While Shannon had been involved in Taiji Bay (The Cove) and the Minds in the Water film previously (also made by Saltwater Creative) – both campaigns around conservation - he doesn’t see himself or Band of Frequencies as necessarily being activists.

“We’re always looking for ways we can employ our individual talents together. This is a really fun way to respect the coastline. It’s not a heavy, intense form of activism – we’re just bringing whatever talents we have to a larger team. It’s joy filled, talking, learning, hanging out.”

“Since the trip we’ve recorded the best of the songs at Rocking Horse Studio in Byron and we’ve filmed those tracks as well,” Shannon said.

It’s those tracks which will be profiled at The Soundlounge / Bleach* gig this weekend.

TRANSPARENTSEA VOYAGE SETS SAIL FOR THE GOLD COAST Writing songs, composing, telling stories through music – it’s a challenging process for aspiring artists at the best of times. But what happens when you take on the challenge of writing 23 songs, from kayaks travelling 350km along the Californian coast? Shannon Carroll, singer / guitarist with Band of Frequencies tells Samantha Morris exactly what happened. And why they were holed up in kayaks in the first place.

He’s a humble guy, there’s no doubt about it. When I asked him what his role in this whole project was he says, oh you know, we just facilitated the writing and recording of a song every day of the trip.

The trip in question was 23 days long, covering southern California’s coastline in five kayaks. It was a 350km journey to raise awareness about the sea.

The trip traced the southern migration of the California grey and blue whale from Santa Barbara, along the Californian coast, to the US-Mexico border and was a concept spawned

by Surfers for Cetaceans.

“OJ and myself, we were facilitating the writing and recording of a song every day on the trip. Look at the content of what was going on and telling a story about what was happening,” Shannon said.

“This was the second trip,” Shannon explained. The first trip travelled from sailing kayaks between Byron and Sydney and followed the migration of whales returning to Antarctica.

“It was a long journey. And it got the ball rolling. Then there was a crew in the US who said come and do it over here. So we did,” Shannon said.

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“We were just trying to learn as much as we could,” Shannon said. “About the impact of human beings on the coastline.

It was an opportunity to learn from community groups and also to shine a light on what they are doing and get them more support and publicity.”

“There was a core kayak crew and each kayak took a guest each day. Celebrities, surfers, artists, film makers would join us on the water. Depending on the conditions, we’d set sail in the morning, then wherever we got to we’d set up camp, organise food and accommodation. It was a lot more intense than we envisaged.”

The US trip saw much collaboration with artists including Angus Stone, Will Conner and Catherine Clarke participating in the trip and in the recording of songs. And it was this element of collaboration and the song-writing process that documentary makers Saltwater Creative focussed on when they produced The Transparentsea Voyage.

“This movie retraces the whole steps of the voyage and focuses on the music and song writing. It’s a cool angle,” Shannon said. “I didn’t expect that angle was the one they’d take.”

“Dave Rastovich, also involved in the project, will be joining us on stage. We’ll have music before the film and then we’ll screen it.”

It’s only the second time The Transparentsea Voyage will have been screened publicly.

“Then depending on who’s around, depending on who turns up, we’ll make the most of who’s there and Band of Frequencies will perform afterwards.”

He says this almost quietly, hinting that some of those artists who collaborated on both the voyage and the songs might turn up for the gig. Then he goes on to talk about Catherine Clarke, one of those collaborators.

I had to google Catherine Clarke. Wow. She’s an incredibly talented 19 year old lady, a writer, musician and model. And she’s she’s a sponsored surfer to boot.

“She has one of the most amazingly haunting voices.

Incredible. We did a few great song writing sessions with her.

Hopefully she turns up,” Shannon said.

Shannon spoke to me from WA where he and the Band had just performed at the Nannup Festival and a bunch of other southwest locations. We wrap up by talking about what Band of Frequencies has in store for the rest of 2014.

“We’ll be getting back into the writing process and working out how we’re going to record our next record. And also, after being in WA, we’ll be trying to work out how we can get over here again.”

“We also want to look at how we can launch the film here and in America.”

You can catch Band of Frequencies, where Shannon will be joined by OJ Newcomb (bass), Mark Henman (drums) and Andrew Szumowski (keys and backing vocals) at The Soundlounge as part of Bleach* Festival.

Band of Frequencies and The Transparentsea Voyage will be playing at The Soundlounge, Friday 21 March.

ASHES TO BEACHES He loves surfing, he loves touring and he’s a bit of an accidental advocate for the fight against coal seam gas expansion. Busy dad of two, Ash Grunwald, spoke to our editor Samantha Morris just before hitting the GC for Bleach*.

Ash Grunwald had only been back in the country for a few days when he took time to chat about touring, family and protest songs. He’d just returned from Canada where he played a three week tour. Home for one day, he was then off to Port Fairy Folk Festival, with stops in between.

“The Canada tour was the best winter tour I’ve ever done,” Ash said.

“There’s heaps of Aussies – we almost sold out some places.

We went to a lot of ski fields and in a way that’s like shooting fish in a barrel. It’s easy to turn up and have a fun gig.”

“I get on with Canadians well,” he said. And by the sounds of it, the trip wasn’t all popular snow fields. “We went to some out of the way places too. Like some of the places we went were mostly Canadian people. Every year that goes by, I feel like there’s more Canadians on board which makes me feel like I’m getting somewhere.”

“You go to the ski fields and because there’s so many Aussies there you’re well known. They tell their friends from all over the world. It’s been really good for me,” he explains.

It won’t be long before Ash is back in north America with a tour of the US not far off. “It’s a really good tour of the USA,” Ash said. Although he wouldn’t divulge who his “awesome” Australian support act is.

It’s tough for any musician being on the road, but it’s especially tough when you have two kids at home.

“One’s five and one’s nearly a year old,” Ash said. “My daughter who’s five has been to France three times, Canada twice, US, England. She’s well travelled. She’s been to more places than what I’d been at 24 or 25,” he laughed.

And he’s philosophical about the time away. “We have options that you don’t have in other jobs,” he said. “There are negatives but also positives. Last year, they came over to Canada. And next February we might just go and live in Whistler for a month, tour from there and be home a bit.”

“You know, we just take the positives and I hit the road and we mix it up a bit. If the US works out, that’s a lot of touring.

I just need to get as big as I can so I can afford a rock and roll tour bus,” he said.

Ash is next on the Gold Coast for Bleach* Festival and he agrees that it’s a unique opportunity for artists launching into the global market, especially as far as surf culture is

concerned. There are thousands of surfers from all over the world here on the Gold Coast for Bleach*.

“I’ll go on a boat trip to Indo or be in Sumatra somewhere and someone will paddle up and know my music. I was in Morocco and there were Canadians who knew my stuff. I’ve never played in Hawaii and I’ve had Hawaiians paddle up and know my stuff. “ “I could be confused and start thinking I’m huge, but that’s not the case. The surfing scene, it’s not just geographical.

Surfers travel all over the globe and they share music. They take music right around the globe.”

“The beachy context is something I love,” he said. “I love surfing. I’m passionate about it and I surf every day. It’s a natural fit for me.”

Something else Ash is passionate about is coal seam gas.

More specifically, the fight to halt the expansion of gasfields across the country. According to Lock The Gate, the practice of fracking has negative impacts on land, water and community prosperity.

“I didn’t want to write protest songs, but the situation certainly calls for it. It’s important for musicians to stand up.”

“I think with coal seam gas, they’re just selling us off. A couple of jobs here and there and they’re pushing it. We know fossil fuels are wrecking the environment and now they’re wrecking the Great Barrier Reef to get the gas out of Australia.”

“I’m just convinced that we, the people, run a mega second to corporate interest.”

Rest assured though, an Ash Grunwald gig isn’t all gas fields and rising up.

“I make gigs about having a good time. That’s my primary role and that’s how I play my music. That’s from a philosophy of, we’re only here once, we should really enjoy it. The way people are working so hard these days, they need a respite.”

“Having said that there’s no reason why a message as important as the coal seam gas one can’t be thrown in there as well.”

His most recent album Gargantua has been out for eight months and Ash says it’s been a good thing for him.

“It got me to a different level. It got playlisted on commercial radio and TV, so that was really cool. My music – I play differently now. I’m playing the same stuff and solo for this trip, but everything feels like it’s just tighter.”

“That makes it seem a bit groovy. It has more groove just because you’re tighter.”

You’d think he’d be feeling a little jaded after five solid weeks of touring, but no. “I have truly loved the gigs more than I have for a long time,” he said.

We wrap up talking about his Bleach* set which goes down right next to Burleigh Beach just before twilight.

“We’re just going to have an amazing time. It’ll be a cool vibe.”

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ANTIMATTER’S UNDERGROUND SOUNDS WOODEN SHJIPS Back To Land

My love affair with the band Wooden Shjips (no that’s not a typo!) goes all the way back to their embryonic beginnings some eight years ago, when psychedelic guitar wizard Erik ‘Ripley’ Johnson pulled together a rag-tag team of musically green acquaintances and channeled some of the most thrilling, in-the-red garage psych jams delivered outta San Francisco in many a moon. Early Wooden Shjips were an exercise in primitive minimalism, hypnotic, droney workouts teetering on the edge of oblivion, held in check by the vision and chops of their mastermind and creator.

A bunch of ridiculously collectable early 7 inch singles, which sold out in the blink of an eye, caused me to blow far too many dollars on eBay. These songs were later compiled across two full length releases, entitled Volume 1 and Volume 2. Such is the lot of the obsessive record collector.

In addition to the ‘psychedelic’ tag, the band’s sound touches upon associated genres such as space rock and Kraut rock, with bands such as Suicide, Loop and Guru Guru mentioned as kindred ghosts in the machine.

As the musical proficiency of the band as a collective grew, their sound became a little less abrasive and unhinged, refining their approach to exploring hypnotic horizons, but without drifting too radically from their original manifesto.

And with Back To Land, the fourth studio album for Wooden Shjips (not including the two previously mentioned compilations) the band have delivered their most streamlined musical statement yet. Most of the songs clock in at around the five minute mark now - still quite lengthy by pop/rock standards but fairly concise in the realm of psych music!

The band’s circular, locked rhythm section is the bedrock for Ripley Johnson to overlay his fluid, phased guitar excursions and subterranean, echo-laden vocals. Second track Ruins chugs along on an eerie, keyboard laden groove. And track three, Ghouls, isn’t 100 miles removed from Johnson’s other musical project, the hypnotic Moon Duo, which also features his partner Sanae Yamada, her keyboard and their trusty drum machine.

In the Roses delivers a sped up groove of phased guitars and organ, while Ripley’s ever present, trippily cosmic guitar lines flit over the top. Servants is probably closest to the definitive Wooden Shjips template, hazy, hypnotic and epic.

Yet final track Everybody Knows tinkers with the formula to deliver an almost alt-country melody, with fuzzier, less phased guitars and cleaner vocals filtered through the ever present psych kaleidoscope. A bold new way forward, or simply a dusty detour, time will tell I guess. In the meantime Back To Land is yet another Wooden Shjips release well worth immersing yourself within during that next long drive or inner contemplation.

Oh yes and if you can get your hands on the vinyl version of the album it’s well worth the effort - a gorgeous gatefold creation housed in a slip out cover and adorned with dazzling retro-psych artwork almost resembling some long lost Thirteenth Floor Elevators record.

METAL BYTES Soundwave Festival may be over for another year but the folks over at Soundwave Touring are still busy with some epic tours. They are bringing both Killswitch Engage and Kill Devil Hill Down Under for one massive tour kicking off at Eatons Hill Hotel, 11 April. Tickets on sale now through Oztix.

Morbid Angel have announced a three date Australian tour playing their Covenant album in its entirety, followed by classic material from their influential and legendary releases in Altars Of Madness, Blessed Are The Sick and more. See them at the HiFi Brisbane, 22 April. Tickets available at www.soundworkstouring.com.

IWrestledABearOnce are returning to our shores next month with two huge shows in Queensland. They’ll be in Brisbane at Thriller on Saturday 5 April and The Lap, 6 April for an all ages show. Tickets through Oztix.

One of Australia’s most legendary live bands Lord will be hitting the road for their Singing for our supper mini tour in 18

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May, See them at the Crowbar in Brisbane 24 May to help the guys raise some cash to fund their new album. You know they are worth it.

American death metal heavy weights Origin have just announced the End Of An Eternity Australian tour and will be playing a show at Electric Playground, 11 May with A Million Dead Birds Laughing and Eternal Rest.

Northlane are bringing their Free Your Mind mini-fest to the HiFi Brisbane, 22 May. The epic line up includes Thy Art Is Murder, Veil Of Maya, Volumes and Make Them Suffer.

This looks like one show not to be missed so make sure you get your tickets through Oztix before it sells out.

The Metal Heart Festival is back for its second year at the Tivoli on 26 April. The line up boasts 19 bands from Australia and New Zealand including 8 Foot Sativa, Frankenbok, Tria Mera, Demodocus, Chronolyth, Aeon Of Horus, Smoking Martha and more. Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Nev Pearce Nev Pearce

Darkc3ll and Witchgrinder are teaming up for Industrial Revolution Tour next month. The tour kicks off at Crowbar Brisbane, 3 April with Bound For Ruin and Black Swamp and then at the Coolangatta Hotel, 4 April with Black Swamp. Tickets through Oztix.

IWrestledABearOnce

gig reviews MAT McHUGH + DEAD BEAT BAND + FIONA FRANKLIN Coolangatta Hotel | 8 March I was surprised to find just a few people milling about in the dark cavern that is the upstairs venue of the Coolangatta Hotel. However as Fiona Franklin took to the stage more people began to filter in towards the spotlight. While I would have loved to see her with a full band in support, tonight Frankie as she is known was solo on the stage. At the beginning of the set she was a little muted and all I could really deduce was other people’s conversations. However after a spectacular cover of Blondie’s Call Me she seemed to find her inner rock star, and with some great work on her guitar and a swelling voice she shone over the gathering punters. Joking with the crowd she said, “For those who have come in late I’m Frankie and I have CDs to sell. I have some Zeppelin, some Brittney and some Beyonce that I sell out of my boot; so come see me after the show”.

Next up were local lads Dead Beat Band. Their surf-punk song Choose Yer Poison is a prime example of what happens when you mix The Beach Boys and good old-fashioned punk rock: guaranteed to get your hips shaking. Bass player and lead singer Mickey Mandrusiak’s piercing vocals rolled through the crowd as drummer Ryan Heterick kept the beat with perfect rhythm, smiling throughout the set. The dance

floor was filled with bodies that grooved to songs like Sea Sick and Gypsy Girl and each song was met with cheering.

Lead guitarist Joey Treasure’s cover of TV On The Radio song Wolf Like Me was velvety smooth and the band owned the stage. As I fought my way through the throng of happy people throwing themselves around, the Dead Beat Band finished on a high note to make way for Mat McHugh.

Having seen Mat McHugh perform recently I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh he kept the show. Mixing some of his recent solo work, like Summer Come Save Me with a few greats from his Beautiful Girls days, his live performance encompasses audiences in a melodic embrace. Combining solo-acoustic with electronic beats and his trademark good vibe feel, there wasn’t space to sway on the dance floor as the audience sang along to Fools and other songs from the Love Come Save Me album. A self-confessed gear nerd, McHugh’s use of pedals, samplers and drum machines keeps the show interesting and the audience engaged. Overall the night was a musical mash-up filled with fantastic artists.

Christie Ots

THE GROWLERS + TOMORROWS TULIPS + TSUN + WHITE LODGE Coolangatta Hotel | 6 March After the obligatory Cooly Hotel front door line-up masquerading as ID scan, I head up the stairs to ‘beach goth central’ for a date with first time visitors to Oz, Californians The Growlers.

Dead Beat Band @ Coolangatta

From the get-go the crowd are in a relaxed and joyous mood and I’m pleasantly taken aback by both the amount of people in attendance, as well as their exuberant embracing of tonight’s bumper four band bill, which regaled us until well after midnight.

I arrive in time to catch the last three songs of tonight’s openers, Gold Coast psych-garage act White Lodge. With one of the members sporting a t-shirt bearing the Burger Records moniker (home to many a fine obscure act!) the band channel some enjoyable ‘weird-garage’ leaning influences. I’m impressed by this brief snapshot of their wares, and make a note to check these guys out in full next time they play.

Next up it’s Gold Coast tie-dye psychedelic chameleons Tsun. Within five minutes of the band starting a girl in a wide brimmed beach style hat asks me if she can hop on my shoulders for a birds eye view of proceedings. I briefly consider accommodating her request before politely declining and she continues to try her luck in my vicinity, eventually being hoisted up by a young surfie looking guy nearby. A tap on the shoulder from security however soon puts paid to her elevated fun.

Meanwhile up on stage Tsun are launching into the stratosphere with an organically swirling set of epic psychedelia, as a bunch of random blow up balls are batted out into the crowd. As a unit the band both sound as well as look the part, each member decked out in their own uniquely dapper attire. While singer and keyboard conjurer Karl S Williams (best known for his very different solo oeuvre) is certainly a magnetic presence throughout, it’s equally thrilling to observe the chemistry and musical telepathy at play amongst all four members of the band.

Karl’s heavily treated vocals, which often sound like they’re being broadcast from twenty thousand fathoms under the sea, as well as his distinctive look, bring to mind Ripley Johnson of San Franciscan psychedelic jam-lords Wooden Shjips. The music ebbs and flows, time signatures morph (was that a waltz beat I detected in there at one point?) and Karl’s vocals swirl and soar in equal measure. Cavernous chasms of reverb and epic crescendos give way to blissfully dreamy interludes before touching down into organic jam-band territory. Colour me impressed!

Blonde haired beach-brotherhood trio Tomorrows Tulips are the anti-Hanson, if said boy-band had turned on, tuned in and hung out while dosing up on narcoleptic Velvet Underground ballads and the K Records catalogue. The band kick off with the bummed out ‘ear worm’ Flowers On the Wall, which sets the template for the first part of the set, which delivers chilled, slo-mo, downer grunge-pop with 60’s undertones. About half way through the pace quickens slightly to a canter, but for the whole the band stay true to their charmingly woozy, late night vibe. Primitively playful, these Tulips are definitely worth another round of tomorrows.

Which brings us to tonight’s headliners The Growlers, who are at the forefront of a self-monikered sub-genre of music known as ‘beach goth’, which for this reviewer elicits images of a pasty Robert Smith type in melting white make up passed out under a beach umbrella. The slogan is even www.blankgc.com.au

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emblazoned on one of the many t-shirts the band has on sale tonight. In fact the merchandise table is one impressively decked out set up, with a cassette tape (the recorded music medium of choice amongst the coolsie-underground) and an arty photo-book amongst the usual array of records, CDs and t-shirts.

But the term ‘goth’ in it’s traditional sense seems to me to be a bit of a misnomer in describing the ‘spooky’ component of the band’s sound. Think ghoulish, 60’s inflected garage-pop and you might be getting close. Guitar and keyboard multi-tasker Kyle Straka is a key component of their vibe, with his echo-laden fairground organ stylings. The only thing missing from their sound might possibly be a theremin.

But let’s not forget the ‘beach’ component of the band’s makeup, which is where the vibe of the night largely resides.

Chatty front man Brooks Nielsen is an exuberant and engaging proposition throughout and wears his hometown colours (Costa Mesa, California) with pride. His distinctive vocals are very much upfront in the mix, with his band mates slotting smoothly alongside in delivering a seamless array of tracks from across their entire catalogue.

The crowd lap it up, with plenty of spookily swaying dance moves breaking out randomly across the floor. And the band seem genuinely thrilled to be playing to such a large and rapturous crowd so far from home.

If there is one criticism to be leveled at tonight’s headliners, it’s the relative sameness of their highly distinctive sound across an entire set, a familiarity which occasionally results in one song blending inconspicuously into the next. But in the context of this evening their performance is by and large one enjoyably haunted hootenanny!

Tonight bore witness to a fabulously attended, eclectic four band bill, which augers well for shows of a similar ilk here on the Gold Coast.

Anthony Gebhardt

TOUCH SENSITIVE + MILLIONS + DZ DEATHRAYS (DJ SET) + THE OTTOMANS Coolangatta Hotel | 2 March Have you ever witnessed beach balls bouncing around inside the Coolangatta Hotel? Well, you have now. Whether it was the remnants of the Australia Day bash with Brisbane legends Dune Rats, the Coolangatta Hotel was briefly transformed into a summer festival with a less than adequate attendance.

Both hopes and Corona consumption were at an all time high, as it should be. This was the first in a series of shows put together by Sic Transit, with their delicious motto being, “Throwing you a party because you deserve it .” On paper it may have seemed like a strange bill with an eclectic mix of 20

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indie rock to thrashers not playing thrash music. Yet despite the spacious venue not being occupied to expectations, it was the oddly-blended music soundscape that triumphed over all.

The Ottomans were first to take to the stage to warm up the already warmed up Gold Coast crowd. Infusing musical elements from - this is where it gets confusing - Growlers’ woozy, sex-driven lyrics and performance to Perth’s The Growl for their metallic yet audacious bluesy riffs.

Melodically it was very enjoyable, yet frontman Mitchell Dave-Lewis did very little to uphold his end of the bargain and drive that melody even further. Little to no interaction or movement on stage, where at some points he was lounging and singing, appeared to make some audience members bored from their performance.

A shaky start to the night was thankfully put to ease as Brisbane’s finest thrashers DZ Deathrays took to the stage, not with guitars, drums and pedals that challenge Radiohead’s guitarist mastermind Johnny Greenwood, but with mixing decks and CD-J’s. The duo, while fairly fresh to the DJ scene, expressed no signs of nervousness or unwillingness to get involved with the equipment and party with the crowd. DZ Deathrays create some of the most inventive heavy music in Australia at the moment, but Shane and Simon were instead dropping tracks that don’t show any resemblance to their own music. Destiny’s Child, Django Django, Queen, and enough hip-hop to make Odd Future nod their collective heads in agreement. It was a pleasant change of pace for both the band and the crowd, where finally some dance moves began to appear. While dropping no tracks of their own, saving the best for their upcoming Australian tour in May, DZ Deathrays know how to get a crowd moving - even without their usual motifs of bass-heavy guitar and crashing drums.

Indie darlings Millions were up after a short break and broke straight into their usual routine. It’s easy to see why the band got to play Splendour In The Grass a few years back thanks to Triple J Unearthed. Millions have a huge back catalogue of music so it was refreshing to see a band delve into all their releases, rather than focus on their hits or their latest to give it a boost in sales.

Touch Sensitive is riding the Flume wave proud and true and in no way is that a bad thing. With a bass in hand and touch pads and laptops in front of him, Touch Sensitive transported the crowd… Back To The Future. A sense of ‘80s was brought back to life yet revived with today’s modern producer touches. His latest Slowments, gets a drop as well as his smash hit Pizza Guy which wins the dying Coolangatta Hotel crowd over. Again, unlike Flume who looks like he’s nothing on stage with the occasional fist pump and twist of nob, Touch Sensitive is a hard working live producer.

Constantly fine tuning the vocal pitches or strumming on his bass guitar. A refreshing way to finish a successful night with a producer who’s soon to be rubbing shoulders with the greatest.

Jake Wilton

WILLOW BEATS + SLUMBERJACK + GLASS TOWERS + J.A.W.S + VON VILLAINS East | 23 February As far as Sunday sessions go the Viral Brand Agency gig at East was a blast. The night kicked off with local band Von Villains. The guys have a loyal following, which turned out to kick up their heels and dance along to songs like Whisper, and the four-piece band brought their indie-rock sound to slam through the audience. One thing that did seem very apparent listening to Von Villains was that their sound is very similar to bands like The Arctic Monkeys and Kings of Leon. Unfortunately, for me, this was a negative. While the music is supremely listenable, it is also incredibly familiar.

J.A.W.S, former members of The Middle East and Matt Corby Band, took to the stage with a swell of voice that mingled with electro and acoustic sounds. Their music held the audience in a trance as bodies rolled and swayed to the Rhythm, however the songs tend to blend into one another until it feels like one giant song. With great individual components, this band could be something to keep an eye on in the future.

Sydney band Glass Towers were up next and while they may not have had the peaks and troughs of other bands, their upbeat songs make everybody move. Trying a slow song towards the end of their set they lost the audience for a moment, however they finished on a high note with Tonight and both Benjamin Hannam and Daniel Muszynski put on a great show.

Highlight of the night was WA DJs Slumberjack. They smashed into the crowd with the finesse of a sledgehammer, but damn did they get the crowd jumping. With sampling and mixing skills to rival the techno gods of a trance festival, the vibrating thump of bass heavy tunes shook the dance floor. Unfortunately their samples were a little short, but with a great mix of new and old hits they kept the audience dropping, popping and defrocking around.

Headline act Willow Beats were delayed in starting, singing a few songs before they had to leave the stage. Unfortunately the sound technician had left the event early and as issues abounded the two-piece act had to forgo their full set. While this was definitely disappointing it didn’t detract too much from the overall fun of the night and I can’t wait to do it all again.

Christie Ots

WIRE + PER PURPOSE + MULTIPLE MAN The Zoo | 19 February I’ve been meaning to catch Brisbane noiseniks Per Purpose for a while now, and tonight I arrive in suitable time to

discover what they’re all about. Apologies though to opening act Multiple Man, whose early start time meant that I was unable to review their set.

Per Purpose take a few songs to align and hit their stride, from there the band deliver a pleasing set of deconstructed, post-punkish workouts. Their disparate, seminalunderground influences are spot-on, and the band manages to integrate them in a pleasingly original manner. Unhinged yet tight, they can appear to teeter on the brink of collapse, before careering back on-course with a thrillingly elastic jam. Looking forward to hearing more from ‘em.

Steadily blinking lights and the rising hum of ambient sounds from the mother-ship signal the arrival of the one and only Wire, and the band do not disappoint the rapturous die-hards in attendance tonight across the course of their visceral set. Old punks they may be by definition, but the sound of Wire has always transcended well beyond such narrowly defined musical parameters. The ‘p’ word is certainly present in spades though in attitude and a willingness to confound and deliver cutting edge bite and creativity across whatever genre they choose to apply themselves to.

As is their anti-nostalgia modus operandi, the band delve only sparsely into their seminal early back catalogue. And while it would no doubt be magnificent to hear further lavish swathes from first three records Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154, the band’s more recent work delivers enough earth shaking thrills to satiate such nostalgic pangs.

Musically the band are tight, intuitive and loud, original members Colin Newman, Graham Lewis and Robert ‘Gotobed’ Grey combining seamlessly with newest member, flowing haired guitarist Matthew Simms, who replaced founding guitarist Bruce Gilbert in 2004 and is some 30 years younger than the rest of his grizzled onstage comrades.

Unsurprisingly their most recent album, Change Becomes Us, features heavily throughout tonight’s set, with tracks such as Doubles & Trebles and Stealth Of A Stork brilliantly showcasing the present day Wire blueprint. And on the track Adore Your Island, the band flit thrillingly between an epic stadium rock riff of Who-like proportions (possibly a first for the band) and a more familiar sped-up, punk’ish bile.

Bassist Graham Lewis takes vocal duties to deliver Please Take, the opening track from 2011 album Red Barked Tree, the nearly-pop of the music delivering a fine counterbalance to the biting kiss-off of the lyrics.

Tracks such as Comet, Drill and 23 Years Too Late display the band’s heavier, industrial tinged side, delivering amped-up, monochromatic excursions in guitar fury.

For our brief early Wire fix, tonight we’re treated to Map Ref 41 Degrees N, 93 Degrees W (from 154) and Another The Letter (from Chairs Missing), both tracks eliciting rapturous grins and even some pogo style dance moves from a few of the more exuberant folk in attendance.

As Wire exit the stage for the final time, we are left in no doubt that some 38(!) years from their formation, the band still have it in them to deliver challenging, creative and thrilling sounds. Long may they continue to do so.

Anthony Gebhardt

BODHI POWER YOGA PREPARES THE TITANS FOR A POWERFUL 2014!

Yoga for NRL players? William Zillman does Yoga? Isn’t yoga stereotypically for part-time hippies, who are in touch with their sensitive side and on a search for mindfulness?

It would seem the truth is quite the contrary. Yoga is rapidly emerging as a mainstream regime practiced to sustain a balanced lifestyle. Even The Gold Coast Titans are incorporating challenging sessions of a unique brand of yoga to enhance their game and gain the edge over their competitors.

Yoga has been utilised by professional football teams in the US for many years as an effective tool to increase flexibility, reduce injury and increase mental concentration.

Ian Cariaga, an elite athlete himself, experienced first hand that yoga can dramatically enhance your sports training and also change your life. After a disabling snowboarding accident and lingering lower back issues, Ian listened to a friend’s advice and tried yoga.

Soon Ian’s injuries began to improve and he was once again building his core strength while balancing his spiritual side.

Ian says that he became addicted to the sensation of accomplishment and strength.

Excited about how dramatic yoga’s benefits had been for him, Ian incorporated his years of sports training and devised a dynamic flow of yoga moves that are designed for those people with a sporting background who are looking for something more challenging and energising.

There are three very important elements for a great yoga class according to Ian. Essentially the class must be fun and instil happiness and joy within you. Secondly the class must not only result in psychical strength but also stimulate your spiritual and mental senses. Thirdly and most importantly the class must challenge and empower you.

Ian has been instructing the Titans in yoga since May 2013.

Yoga assists the players not only in recovery from injury and provides a myriad of physical benefits but also manages to gravitate their minds away from their ‘game mindset’. This is necessary Ian explains, because all the heated emotion and aggression the players store within their muscles necessary on field - can be released through yoga moves in a safe environment. The yoga also supports their game by promoting greater flexibility, balance, focus and strength.

Yoga is benefiting the players off and on the field and the best part is they seem to enjoy it!

I spoke with William Zillman who’s been playing with the Titans since 2009, after a power yoga training session at their state of the art training facility at Robina.

How do you feel after yoga?

Nice and loose, my muscles feel good so its always a good session to have after a couple of hard days training.

Had you done yoga before Ian’s classes with the team?

Actually I have done a bit of Bikram yoga and some other styles but Ian’s is definitely the most challenging and therapeutic I have done.

What are the benefits in your opinion that the team have derived from the yoga training sessions?

The training that we do is so hard especially at this time of the year. Having sore muscles that are also tight can really lead to a lot of injuries. This is probably close to our most important session of the week. It’s a chance for us to loosen up and mobilise our joints and it really does help to prevent all kinds of injuries. In our game that is a massive plus. It’s also very helpful in gaining more flexibility and balance.

How do you feel after a yoga session with Ian in comparison to other types of workouts? Is it different?

Yes, definitely. By doing our yoga session I always feel a lot better the next day in comparison to a couple of hard sessions where you wake up quite sore and tight and your joints are aching. This mobilising of the joints and loosening up especially helps in recovery the next day.

Do you find that the relaxing aspects of poses such as the corpse pose at the end of the practice, lying down on your back in a still position help with mental strength and preparation for your games?

Yeah, it’s a way to sort of wind down. Most of the guys are probably still thinking of football, but its great way to relax and find yourself and really go a bit deeper into the thinking process.

And do you enjoy doing the yoga?

Yeah, I do. I definitely enjoy it yes. It’s certainly a good feeling when you are finished. Your body feels a lot better and it certainly helps us all.

Linda-Rosa Hewing www.blankgc.com.au

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off the record

BLAST FROM THE PAST Crosby, Stills & Nash

I would have been about 16 when my dad took me to my first record fair. It was a year or so after my uncle had given me his record collection and I had been introduced to a whole other world of musical delights. There was so much I didn’t know about music (and there still is), but I had my favourite records at that time and when I told dad I loved ‘that Crosby, Stills & Nash album where they’re all sitting on the couch on the cover’ he bought me just about every Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) album we came across.

David Crosby, Steven Stills and Graham Nash had musical chemistry from the start and their vocal harmonies are beautiful and unique. Releasing the debut album Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1969 to commercial success, the group began to tour and Neil Young was soon added as a fourth member. The folk rock group are widely recognised for their influence and place in rock music history and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young are all deserving of their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions (twice each).

There’s a few things a like to do at the start of autumn.

1. I buy myself a new coat (I don’t always get to wear them here) 2. I rewatch the TV series Twin Peaks 3. I reorganise my record collection.

When I play this album, I am instantly transported to when I was a teenager, living in the garage with posters all over my walls. My records and turntable were in hand’s reach from my bed and the folky tunes of CSN filled up every sunny Saturday morning spent lazing around, enjoying my youth.

ODDBALL Nirvana

It’s this third thing that I find most comforting. A glass of red and a trip down memory lane sounds like a perfect Friday night in to me! Over the next few editions of Off the Record I’m going to share with you some of the records I have rediscovered in this process.

NEW RELEASE Beck

Now, before I get all nostalgic and start revealing far more about my teenage years than I probably should I wanted to bring your attention to the present. Many of us have been waiting in anticipation for some six years now for a new album from Beck and thankfully, that wait is finally over.

I first heard word of a new album from Los Angeles born artist Beck in October last year. I read an article saying that the album was going to be reminiscent of Beck’s 2002 release Sea Change and that gave me butterflies in my stomach. On first listening to Morning Phase the similarities in production and musicality are there, smack bang in the face however after many, many (MANY) listens, the lyrics and emotion of Morning Phase bring a different, more mature outlook 22

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Oh how I wish this record were mine! I borrowed this from a friend who got it for Christmas last year. I am so jealous but also thankful that someone I know has this on vinyl! I was a huge Nirvana fan in high school and still love them today. I used to wear my Nirvana shirt to school under my uniform and listen to Incesticide incessantly. Ah, the glory days.

on similar themes explored on Sea Change. Although I love the honesty and vulnerability of Sea Change and it remains one of my favourite breakup albums of all time, Morning Phase brings new perspective and light; there’s not as much bitterness anymore. As time goes by I think critics will stop comparing Morning Phase to Sea Change and both of these albums will be recognised for their strength and individuality as well as being complimentary to each other.

Hormoaning is an exclusive Australian tour EP released during Nirvana’s visit here in 1992. The vinyl is red with this blue storm going on in the middle (it’s freaking awesome) and features an image of the band hanging out in a small bathroom on the front cover. The back cover is part of the Australian Flag and has all of the tour dates at the bottom. The tour began in January at Sydney, passed through Fishermans Wharf on the Gold Coast on Australia in and ended up back in Sydney in early February. I can’t believe Nirvana played at Fishermans Wharf!

While I was reorganising my collection I stumbled on a single I had bought from the merch tent at Harvest Festival 2012. It was Beck’s Looking for a Sign. When I picked it up the whole day came rushing back. The hailstorm and the evacuation, and the sense of community and belonging I felt walking back into the festival grounds with all the other punters. That single is priceless to me now and it will always remind me of the day I saw Beck live after an entire festival was evacuated.

Hormoaning was actually the first second hand CD I ever bought. I had never heard it before but I saw the words ‘Nirvana’ and ‘Australian Tour’ and nabbed it for $4 from a market in Tweed. A few years ago I lost a bunch of my CDs and this is now the only Nirvana one remaining in my collection. The EP has no downtime, it’s high energy from start to finish and like any Nirvana album, must be enjoyed LOUD. Gina Martin

album reviews TYCHO Awake If you’re someone who likes sleek, cinematic scores that put a spring in your step, Tycho’s new album Awake is something you should definitely get your hands on. It was released 18 March.

Produced by San Francisco based Scott Hansen, who works as both graphic artist and musician, Awake features the familiar swirling combination of indie rock and electronic synth he is known for. It’s supremely obvious that Hansen has been putting the lion’s share of his time into his music as Tycho. However, this time around the meticulously arranged guitar lines take a front seat. The effect of this switch up lends his music a more purposeful and focused sound, with strong bass lines punching through the hovering layers of synth. This leads me to think the title Awake, is very fitting.

The album, like Hansen’s graphic art, is very minimalistic, and the graceful melancholic soundscapes feel like an ambient movie score. This sort of arrangement could have easily resulted in the individual tracks becoming indistinct; however, the strong pacing set out by drummer Rory O’Connor creates a focal point. This prevents Tycho’s overlapping melodic lines from drifting and ensures each track has a unique sound.

The compositions throughout are innately uplifting and you’ll find it difficult to dwell or introspect as you listen to the triumphant arcs. Especially earlier in the album, the bright windswept textures construct imagery of flowing landscapes of rolling, sun-touched hills and a cool, crisp breeze.

The album sways blissfully as tracks smoothly transition from bright to hazy. The focus of course, is on the energetic radiant lines; while the dreamlike sections serve as emphasising contrast, both eventually build to a powerful crescendo. Unlike Tycho’s previous works, Awake isn’t afraid to show its emotional side and when a track reaches a climax, you’ll really feel it.

Awake lags and languishes towards the end, with the perky pace falling away, almost as if struggling to stay awake after burning itself out so early on. In the end, the album attempts to rally against this slump with sharp but short bursts of intensity in the penultimate track Plains before ending with a sleepy whisper.

THE HOLIDAYS

PAPA VS PRETTY

Real Feel

White Deer Park

A four-year gap between albums can induce mixed feelings in fans. In the case of Sydney’s The Holidays, they return with a highly likeable psychedelic pop record that makes you feel you’re on, well, holidays. Real Feel introduces a diverse scope of new elements to the group’s music, adding a darker presence on glimmering summer beats.

Melbourne’s Papa vs Pretty used to rock pretty hard. Their debut was a triumphant mix of storytelling and grunge delicacies. United in Isolation was the underground Frogstomp or Innerspeaker – it brought Australian music out of a lull and propelled Papa vs Pretty to enormous stages and heaving cult followings. Progress is perhaps the correct word to use in this context. Lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Rawle continues his exquisite song writing, yet the band employ a new member Luke Liang, to incorporate a more synth-heavy and in parts, soft rock element.

In similar vein to 2010’s Post Paradise, the band’s debut full length record, interjecting melodies and harmonies are heavily layered – it takes multiple listens of Real Feel to feel like you’ve completely wrapped your head around all the textures.

Their debut was a light-hearted mix of sun-drenched pop that sounded like a cover of a Real Estate cover. Essentially, The Holidays didn’t take many risks on Post Paradise, but this extended break between records has allowed the band to open up and really explore their music making. Elements of trip-hop leak through the album with the first instance found of the anthem Home. The album allows no time for failure with opener Long Now making a brisk start with arguably the band’s best chorus – giving All Time High a run for its money.

Real Feel touches on some darker, progressive song writing.

Some songs act as holiday retreats, not delving too deeply into the lyrics’ meanings, others are angsty memories which may answer questions as to why the group’s second album took as long as it did to be released.

Real Feel is not a demanding listen, nor a Bleeding Knees Club 28-minute “album’s sake to make an album”. The Holidays blend countless genres into multi-layered pop delights which could be summer anthems for some. The Holidays can take another four years to create their next record if it’s going to turn out anything like Real Feel.

It’s not to say that Papa vs Pretty have entirely restructured their beefy grunge rock, they have perhaps further progressed it. First single to come off the group’s second album, White Deer Park, is the crescendo-laden My Life is Yours. While the song tells a heart-breaking story of life and regret, you’ll be able to find piano lines, strings and Tom’s vocals soaring higher than ever. The track is immediately proceeded by Rain Check which has to be the most straight-forward rock track on the record.

White Deer Park shares similarities with Montreal’s Arcade Fire, specifically their record The Suburbs. Besides the obvious song name similarities – see Suburban Joan of Arc – each song has a different presence and emotion to capture.

The Suburbs told a story of freedom, escape and isolation where each track had a perfect build and drop. Papa vs Pretty meanwhile mimic the effect where the second half of White Deer Park ebbs and flows perfectly and tries to attain a more personal affair with the listener. While To Do proves to be the highlight, the latter half of the record shows the band’s progress a darker side to their melodies and song writing.

Jake Wilton

Jake Wilton

Linda-Rosa Hewing www.blankgc.com.au

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singles

DZ DEATHRAYS Gina Works At Hearts

COLDPLAY Magic Coldplay’s return has been heavily anticipated; the fans are thirsty for more music, more tours, more melancholic beauty, and Coldplay has delivered, albeit without real drums.

METRONOMY Love Letters

Love Letters is Metronomy’s new piece after a three year departure from their acclaimed English Rivera, an album which sported enigmatic bass lines and catchy guitar riffs.

The three year gap has given us a rather under produced and yet profound album. One which will have you in love or going solo to the formal.

Metronomy explores love through a somewhat odd combination of early pop with a hint of glam rock. Love Letters begins with two of the strongest tracks on the record; The Upsetter and I’m aquarius which both hold some of the catchiest backing vocals and instrumentals on the album.

The Upsetter however holds arguably the warmest guitar instrumentals in the entire album. Love Letters takes listeners to the past with vocals similar to Bowie with backing vocals hinting the B-52s.

The album is at times rough around the edges, Boy Racers is rather confusing as it detracts from the underlying theme of the album entirely with a somewhat simplistic instrumental reminiscent of early 80s scores. One might argue it is a sort of intermission as the album heads toward a different emotion, however it is a rather bleak and underwhelming one. Even with such an odd addition the album is still able to finish off on a high with the tracks The most immaculate hair cut and Reservoir which could be mistaken for a Gorillaz track. As a whole, the album is a beautiful endeavor into the deconstruction of love through Mount’s odd lyrics and curious compositions, leaving the heart yearning for more.

Jarred Blunt

Magic is the first single from Coldplay’s new album Ghost Stories, to be released 19 May. The track begins much as it ends, with synthetic drums and a guitar riff reminiscent of Coldplay’s earlier album, Viva La Vida. It captures the theme Coldplay has held with every album apart from Mylo Xyloto - that of melancholic love. The vocal melody swims along the heavily reverbed guitar perfectly, and the listener easily forgets that Will Champion, the drummer, is largely left out of this composition.

The twinkles of synth notes and guitar harmonics shimmer throughout the song, and the all too familiar sound of Chris Martin’s acoustic guitar shines through the song after the three minute mark. The song isn’t perfect, but that’s not to say that it isn’t good. Coldplay are experts at progressing from each album to the next, and they have adapted to the electronic market that is selling in this day and age extraordinarily well. The song washes over you and envelops you in a rush of neither uplifting nor depressing love, and you just float along, wondering how it is that Coldplay can so subtly insert their musical emotion into you.

Kyle Butcher

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Yet these two new songs still have plenty in common and in a recent interview the duo said they aimed to “prove to people that we just don’t just do loud” and adding that Shane, lead vocalist and guitarist, wants to move away from screaming on Black Rat and provide, “a mashup of melodic and heavy.”

Gina Works at Hearts seems to fill that description quite perfectly where the song’s core riff acts as the heavy part and Shane’s double-tracked vocals and the chorus’ piercing guitar riff act as the track’s melodic element.

Melodic seems to be the choice word for DZ’s new track but it’s difficult not to enjoy that element of the music better than the heavier side. Shane and Simon, drums, even give some ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ their first DZ Deathrays appearance – again, the band clearly searching for more melody rather than screaming. Now with Black Rat’s release date on everybody’s calendar, we just sit back, play the waiting game and wonder what else these two thrashers have up their sleeves.

Jake Wilton

THE HORRORS I see you

I See You is the first track released from The Horrors’ upcoming LP entitled Luminous and is a generous insight into the new album with seven minutes of anthemic dream-pop sounds.

It begins with a somewhat Baba O’Riley (The Who) reminiscent synth which leads listeners into arpeggiated synths accompanied by vivid guitars layered with delay and wonder. Ferris’s vocals are enigmatic and reminiscent of such artists as Bowie and The Cure. As the first track released, it is a rather marvellous one, leaving listeners hungry for more.

Luminous is set for release 6 May, so for me May cannot come sooner.

The Horrors is led by Ferris Badwan on lead vocals with Tom Cowan on synth and bass, Joshua Hayward on guitar and piano, Joe Spurgeon on drums and Rhys Webb on bass and organ. The band began in early 2005 and within two years had produced the gothic/garage rock album Strange House with two releases since.

Jarred Blunt

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Brisbane thrashers DZ Deathrays shocked audiences worldwide with previous single, Northern Lights – a droning, almost shoegaze-esque, ballad that shook that DZ Deathrays formula. Now with the announcement of their sophomore record, titled Black Rat to be released 2 May, the band have also dropped Gina Works at Hearts. Take what you knew from Northern Lights, throw it out the window and empty your mind. DZ’s new track puts them behind the thrashing drums and looping, thick guitar lines again.

The Strums Rock N Roll

A four piece, hailing from Brisbane, these boys know their rock. And their roll. This single from yet to be released EP We are a Fucking Rock n Roll band makes no bones about its genre. It’s pure, unadulterated, rock and roll. And their press release makes it clear, boasting “no overdubs, all vocals, one single take.”

It’s impossible to review a single in 100 words, so let me just tell you this. The Strums are most certainly a fucking rock n roll band. And this song, quite simply, is the embodiment of rock ‘n’ roll.

They’ve just wrapped up a most impressive tour with Aussie rock legends The Baby Animals and their EP We are a Fucking Rock n Roll band is out mid 2014. Keep your eyes on these lads – they’re destined for awesome things.

Samantha Morris

gig guide MARCH Friday 21 March Bleach*: Band of Frequencies presents The Transparentsea Voyage, Soundlounge Currumbin SLAPSHOT, Shackles, The Lost Cause, Driven Fear, Bitter Lungs, Coolangatta Hotel Billy Bragg, Courtney Barnett, The Northern Byron Bay The Storytellers, Brewhouse Jams, Burleigh Brewery The Elliotts (Melb), Kip Casper, Loddy Whitmore, Julie Hayes, The Loft Chevron Island Saturday 22 March Hell and Whiskey, Mister Jonson’s Blues Bar Byron Bay 8.00pm Bleach*: Ash Grunwald, MTNS, GOVS, Robbie Miller, Justins Park Burleigh Sissybones, Karl S Williams, Q The Moon, The Loft Chevron Island Sunday 23 March Bleach*: Nicky Bomba and Bustamento, Bond University Sassin Fras, Swingin’ Safari Prepared Like A Bride, Expressive Ground Palm Beach Thursday 27 March The Scientists (original lineup) 35th anniversary tour, The Trans Brisbane Friday 28 March Sarah Frank, Café Urbia Dinkum Bohos, Pizza Paradiso, Suffolk Park Byron Bay Ben Amor, Brewhouse Jams, Burleigh Brewery Mark Wilkinson, Soundlounge Currumbin Boom Crash Opera, Lonestar Tavern Mermaid Waters Jordan Millar (Syd), Bree De Rome, Calan Mai, The Loft Chevron Island Saturday 29 March The Midnight Antics, Yes Sir Noceur, Eleea Navarro, Taylah Little, The Loft Chevron Island Sunday 30 March Dub FB, Opiou (Australian album tour), The Northern Byron Bay

APRIL Thursay 3 April Pack Animals (Bris), Baltimore Gun Club, Talicia Pyke, Milan Martin, The Loft Chevron Island Friday 4 April Launch It: DJ sets with Bombs Away, Mobin Master, Chardy, Orckestra and Tate Strauss, Surfers Paradise Festival on the beach Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Soundlounge Currumbin Josh Lee Hamilton, Brewhouse Bash, Burleigh Brewery Eddie Boyd & the Phatapillars (Syd), Morgan Bain (Perth), Liam Ward, The Loft Chevron Island Saturday 5 April Launch It: Aussie Rock featuring The Angels with Dave Gleeson, Jon Stevens, Daryl Braithwaite, Surfers Paradise Festival on the beach Hell N Whiskey, Southern Cross Tavern Coolangatta from 2.00pm The Urban Chiefs (Tamworth), Hell and Whiskey, Gavin Doniger, Nige, The Loft Chevron Island Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads Sunday 6 April Launch It: ABC Exhumed Finalists 2013 Aunty HuHu, Bec and the Big River Trio, Diddly Squat, Glitter Gang, Jahsifik, John Johnson and the Johnsons, Surfers Paradise Festival on the beach Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads Thursday 10 April Ball Park Music, Papa vs Pretty, Holy Holy, Cooly Hotel Electric Zebra, Benny D Williams, Steve Dorrington, Kath Haling, Jemma Lee, The Loft Chevron Island Friday 11 April Uncle Jed, Soundlounge Currumbin Sarah Frank, Genki Café Palm Beach Yacht Club DJs, Elsewhere Surfers Paradise The Winter of Reason, Brewhouse Jams, Burleigh Brewing Shaun Kirk (Melb), Lani and Lecia, Alisha Todd, The Loft Chevron Island

Thursday 17 April The Bad Shepherds featuring Adrian Edmondson (Vivian from Young Ones), Soundlounge Currumbin Bluefest Byron Bay Friday 18 April Bluefest Byron Bay Saturday 19 April Bluefest Byron Bay Lane-Harry x Ike Campbell, Tommy Sheehan, Aquila Young, Scott Dalton, The Loft Chevron Island Sunday 20 April Bluefest Byron Bay Monday 21 April Bluefest Byron Bay Thursday 24 April Daniel Champagne, Josh Lovegrove, The Loft Chevron Island Friday 25 April The Screaming Jets’ Paul Woseen + special guests, The Loft Chevron Island Saturday 26 April Fairchild, LA vs FC Dj Set, Calan Mai, KNDR, The Loft Chevron Island

MAY Sunday 4 May Sarah Frank, Genki Café Palm Beach Friday 9 May RUFUS, Cooly Hotel Saturday 10 May Tuesday’s Good LP launch, The Loft Chevron Island (all ages accompanied by adults) Friday 16 May Ella Hooper, Soundlounge Currumbin Friday 23 May Sarah Frank, Blues on Broadbeach

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Saturday 12 April Ball Park Music, The Northern Byron Bay Claude Hay (Syd), Cass Eager (Syd), Kenny Slide, The Loft Chevron Island Sarah Frank, Sheoak Shack Fingal Heads Sunday 13 April Cloud Control, Komune Coolangatta Sarah Frank, Bambu Bar Music Food Wednesday 16 April Cloud Control, Beach Hotel Byron Bay www.blankgc.com.au

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QUIKSILVER PRO Photos courtesy of Leisen Standen, Lamp Photography

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MY GANG’S BETTER THAN YOUR GANG Surfing has always had its own culture, particularly here in Australia. The ocean and the beach are as much a part of Australian culture, as the kangaroo, meat pie, and a snag on the barbie. You may say surfing is global, and what makes Australia’s surfing culture different from other countries? It is fairly simple, it is the boardriders club.

Boardriders clubs began to form in the 1960s, and it seemed to follow from the growing Surf Lifesaving culture. But obviously surfing’s tune-in, drop-out, and swing to the hippie side of life did not sit that well, or fit with those that wore speedos, funny caps, and liked to row big boats. For surfers it is about riding the waves not sitting on the beach doing patrols. It turned almost into a war at times, which still has its hangover today, though the nickname of “eals” for surf life savers is rarely heard anymore.

Surfers versus clubbies, it was war on the beach.

Particularly when surfboards straying into the flags back in the no-legrope days used to be confiscated by those lifesavers on patrol. Even my dad tells me of arguments and fights on the Gold Coast when a lifesaver tried to confiscate surfers’ boards. My old man straddled both sides of the fence, growing up as a competitive surf life saver, and then becoming a surfer around 1965. Now most of the lifeguards on our Gold Coast beaches are surfers, and good ones at that. They do know the ocean better than anyone else.

Gold Coast Boardriding Clubs have long been part of our culture, the first of them being the Kirra Surfriders, formed in 1962, and after a split followed by Snapper Rocks in 1963, Burleigh Boardriders in 1965, and Palm Beach in 1968.. The rivalry was strong and still is in today’s clubs. The Gold and Tweed Coasts now have more than 10 clubs from Kingscliffe to the Spit, with the mighty Snapper Rock Surfriders dominating results in local events. Stephanie Gilmore and Joel Parkinson are Snapper’s World Champion surfers, while Kirra Surfriders count 2013 World Champion Mick Fanning as their number one member.

Blake Ainsworth at the Jim Beam Surftag event. Photo courtesy Wes Lonergan.

Last weekend, 14 - 16 March saw the Kirra Teams Challenge held at Duranbah Beach. Teams from all over Australia came to get their hands on the trophy, the Kirra Eagle. Merewether Boardriders took out the title (beating 36 other teams) for the 3rd time in the events 30 year history.

But it was their first win in 27 years - an emotional victory for all involved.

From 28 – 30 March the Jim Beam National Surftag Series National Finals take place, with teams who have qualified from all over the country contesting to be the

number one club in the country. It is a tag-team format, very exciting to watch even for the non-surfers. There is a big cash prize up for grabs, and team spirit is well and truly on show.

Why not check out what’s on offer at your local boardriders club, the spirit and competition of Australian surfing club culture. Best not wear your lifesaving clubby cap though.

Terry ‘Tappa’ Teece

Each club has club colours just like your local footy team, and some even have their own mascot, and strange club rituals. Let’s just say that the stories flow from today back to the 1960s of many fun and sometimes dubious exploits.

Australia’s competitive success in surfing, can be traced back to the boardriders clubs, and any Australian surfer on the World Tour will tell you that their first heat was at their local boardriders club.

Which gang (club) is the best? Well March is the month when the National bragging rites will be decided.

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SEAGRASS: BRINGING TURTLES AND DUGONGS TO THE SEAWAY Try and gauge the age of the green sea turtle that divers rescued in the Gold Coast seaway recently.

This is what we know: Before the Sea World Rescue and Research team released him, Dale the water taxi operator saw the turtle and guessed he was about 70 cm long According to “Dugong and Marine Turtle Knowledge Handbook” green sea turtles measure a measly 5cm when they are born. As soon as they hatch they head out to the open sea, where it takes them five to seven years to grow to 30 or 40 cm, eating small marine animals near the surface.

Around the young age of seven this little sea turtle that Sea World called Twiggy came in from the open ocean and began “foraging on the sea floor among habitats containing seagrass or seaweed”, eventually finding the seagrass in the seaway and making it his home. The southern area of the Broadwater has about 340 hectares of seagrass.

Green sea turtles don’t reach breeding age till about 35 years old and they measure a metre when they are fully grown.

So it’s a fair guess that Twiggy is about 20 years old.

Twiggy probably wasn’t born on the Gold Coast either.

He may have been born at one of the turtle nesting sites on South Stradbroke Island, however green sea turtle migrations between breeding seasons average about 400km and can be up to 2600km. He was probably born a part of the decreasing Southern Barrier Reef population, but he could come from even further afield - possibly Torres Strait, or Gulf of Carpentaria or Raine Island in the northern Great Barrier Reef, which has the world’s largest number of breeding green turtles. Sadly the success of nesting on Raine Island is less than 10% because a rising water table is drowning the eggs. There are turtles on the Gold Coast that were born as far away as New Caledonia.

Where ever it was, he will definitely be heading back there when he’s 50 to breed. He will be away for a few months then come back to the Gold Coast to forage for four to six years before he’s ready to make the journey to procreate again.

Turtles eat about 2kg of seagrass a day, the coordinator of local Seagrasswatch monitoring group, Seagrass Gold Coast (SGGC), Daniela Wilken-Jones, said.

It’s important work because seagrass is vital for turtles and a myriad of species including dugongs and commercially important fish, plus it’s sensitive to impacts both human and natural making it like a canary in a coal mine, she said.

“Seagrass habitats are indicators of environmental health and provide an early warning of ecosystem decline,” Ms Wilken Jones said.

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A dugong in Moreton Bay is held for measuring and sampling before being released. Dugongs, turtles and seagrass are important indicators of the health of marine environments. Photo supplied by Dr Janet Lanyon.

Divers on the Broadwater see green sea turtles everyday sheltering in caves along the rock wall or feeding on seagrass along the Western Beach area.

Photo supplied by Devocean Dive.

Shona Pinkerton from Devocean Dive dives everyday and always sees turtles sheltering along the seawall and grazing on seagrass at Western Beach adjacent to Marine Parade and Bayview St.

had seen and heard of dugongs sighted at that time with tags on their flippers.

The seagrass beds near Loders Creek were thick but have been damaged by the last round of dredging, she said.

About once a year she sees a dugong.

Last year she saw a one off the sand-pumping pipe at Southport.

“They are pretty amazing underwater, very comfortable swimmers, big whiskers, very nimble, just gorgeous and they’re big, at least a couple of metres.”

SGGC volunteer teams within the Broadwater in 2013 sighted two dugongs and reported one feeding trail, where dugongs had mowed lines of seagrass down as they grazed.

There’s no research so it’s unclear whether dugongs sighted in the Broadwater are residents or visitors from the Moreton Bay population, Dr Janet Lanyon from the University of Queensland Marine Vertebrate Ecology Research Group said.

“It’s not an unusual occurrence, it happens quite regularly… always in the summer months… but they are not a migratory species… their genetic structuring is very localised,” Dr Lanyon said.

The internationally respected dugong researcher said that it was likely that there was an increase in the number of dugongs coming down to the Broadwater for foraging after the 2011 floods. In fact the water taxi operator, Dale Little,

Since the recovery from the flood dugongs wouldn’t come down for foraging, as the seagrass beds in Moreton Bay are ample, Dr Lanyon said.

But dugongs are like cows and they eat constantly around the clock, so when they are spotted on the Broadwater they are usually eating, she said.

A herd of 850-1000 dugongs live in Moreton Bay. Professor Helene Marsh is an expert on dugongs and Professor of Environmental Science at James Cook University and was instrumental in the writing of the “Dugong and Marine Turtle Knowledge Handbook. She said the Moreton Bay population is significant for a number of reasons.

• It is the southernmost significant population on the east coast of Australia • It is the only significant population close to a major city • It occurs in relatively oceanic clear water and so is less susceptible to terrestrial runoff and extreme weather events than many other populations on the urban coast • From a numerical perspective there are several other places in Australia with many more dugongs than Moreton Bay Prof. Marsh said dugongs in the Broadwater may not be nationally significant but they may be “very significant to the locals”.

Dugongs are considered vulnerable on a global scale and in Queensland, she said.

The southern Broadwater area from Paradise Point south to the Gold Coast Bridge has about 340 hectares of seagrass, according to research done in 2005, published in the Aquatic Botany Journal. The researchers noted a 10 year increase from 310 hectares in 1995. Mapping shows significant seagrass beds adjacent to Marine Parade going up to McDonalds and the Grand Hotel. Large beds around the mouth of Loders Creek, the western side of Wavebreak Island and the unnamed islands to the south and north. And substantial beds adjacent to Marine Parade and Bayview Street in Biggera Waters and Runaway Bay. The study shows that seagrass habitats while growing are increasingly fragmented and being dominated by three species one of which is favoured by dugong “The major problem in Qld is along the urban coast from about Port Douglas south where dugongs are subject to multiple cumulative impacts.”

Dr Lanyon said it’s possible that it’s always the same dugongs that are sighted at the Broadwater.

Some places are well known for lone resident dugongs: In Manly there was a well known dugong resident with distinctive scars from boat strikes, she said.

Herds such as in Moreton Bay are not the norm. Dugongs are most often solitary. Mother and calf is the second most common grouping.

Unless you are surveying from a plane, dugongs are not obvious. They spend 98 percent of their time underwater, quite camouflaged in the murky waters they live in and when they breathe their nostrils barely break the surface.

So Dr Lanyon said though the sightings are rare it’s possible that dugongs are there all the time.

Students at UQ have been researching dugong’s vocal repertoire. They found they make underwater sounds like bird trills and chirps and the research has revealed that the populations in Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay have distinct different sounds.

Experts had already known that mothers and calves exchanged chirps, but this new research has shown that dugongs are more vocal in bigger groups, pointing at the possibility of social communications.

“Dugongs have very distinct personalities,” Dr Lanyon said.

“Some are very docile, gentle; some are curious and confident; some are stroppy old dugongs.”

She said the boating in the Broadwater would be a threat to the dugongs sighted there. Anything with a propeller and a hard hull, particularly if it’s going fast. Dredging and land

runoff are equally bad. Anything that damages seagrass is bad for dugongs.

No seagrass, no dugongs, no turtles.

If seagrass is damaged like it was in the 2011 floods, dugongs die or leave or suffer health impacts. Natural weather events like storms cause runoff, which kills or damages seagrass until it recovers.

Dredging, particularly sustained dredging, affects water quality, particle suspension and light attenuation, impacting severely on seagrass thus impacting severely on turtles and dugongs.

Dr Lanyon said the dugong status should be changed from ‘vulnerable to extinction’ to ‘endangered’. One of the main reasons they need more protection is their special reliance on certain sea grasses. Another reason is their life history.

“Of all marine mammals dugongs are among the slowest breeders and the slowest growers. The breeding age is 17 and the mother has one calf. In Moreton Bay the mother stays with the calf for years. Energetically it takes a lot out of her.

The calf is normally chubby while the mother is underweight. They only have a few calves in a lifetime.”

The Moreton Bay population is in good shape, thanks to the ocean buffer between the urban shore and the seagrass beds, which are miles out adjacent to North Stradbroke and Moreton Islands. Most seagrass and dugong or turtle habitat is in shallow water close to shore, as it is in the Broadwater, vulnerable to human impacts.

Dr Lanyon said she has run out of funding for her research for now and is waiting for more.

Queensland is the dugong capital of the world, she said.

“They should be our iconic and special animal, it’s amazing they get so little attention.”

Mic Smith

ECO-BYTES Fancy yourself a twitcher? No, not a twittererererer, a twitcher? If so, here’s one for you. Friends of Federation Walk is hosting a bird walk through the coastal reserve heading up to The Spit. Led by Barry Davies from Gondwana Guides. The eventtakes place Friday 28 March from 7.00am with feather fanatics meeting at the carpark opposite Sea World roundabout. For more information about Gondwana Guides visit gondwanaguides.com.au. You can also follow Friends of Federation Walk on Facebook.

OK, it may just be a symbolic gesture, but next week you can participate in Earth Hour and at the same time send a signal about your support for protecting the Great BarrierReef.

Gecko – Gold Coast &Hinterland Environment Council is hosting a Earth Hour gathering which includes a screening of a world exclusive documentary Lights Out for the Reef and they’re calling on Gold Coasters to do the same in their own homes. Earth Hour is an annual event, this year taking place on Saturday 29 March. The shindig at Gecko House (139 Duringan Street, Currumbin) kicks off at 5.30pm. Visit getup.org.au/earthhour for more information.

While Queensland Conservation Council lobbies the state for a ban on plastic bags, San Francisco ploughs ahead with a goal of cutting its landfill waste to zero by 2020 with a city wide plastic bag ban in place for a couple of years. But this week we also heard news that the city will now ban plastic water bottles. The US bottled water industry is reportedly worth $60 billion, but it’s arelatively new industry with people seemingly becoming addicted to the habit of single-use water bottles in the 1990s. Read more about QCC’s plastic bag campaign at qldconservation.org.au.

The Mary River Turtle is special for a bunch of reasons – not least of which being that it breathes through its butt. It was brought to the brink of extinction by a practice, legal at the time, which saw collectors selling baby turtles to the pet industry. You might have even had one – they were sold as penny turtles. But a group located half way between Gympie and Maryborough are working to protect every single nest of the turtle they can find. And you can help. Every donation of $30 allows Tiaro Landcare Group to rescue one turtle. Read more about the turtle and donate at www.blankgc.com.au

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beach bits A STRATEGY FOR OUR BEACHES “there are many layers of management that are integrated to service the needs of everyone’s beach experience” It’s no secret that Gold Coast beaches are internationally renowned for their long stretches of sand, world class waves and cool coastal lifestyle. Together, they boast a strong coastal economy that brings to life many benefits to both the city and to those who thrive from the bountiful seaside opportunities it offers. The desire to live by the sea and enjoy the waterways further shapes the city and connects the community to their environmental and social values.

Seawall upgrade at Palm Beach – integrating engineering and science to protect our coastal lifestyle.

To achieve such a glittering Gold status along the Coast, the beaches are managed following an integrated coastal management approach. This links the triple bottom line (reaching a balance between the social, economic and environmental needs) and strategically directs and sets priorities – for instance the Ocean Beaches Strategy: 2013-2023.

Take your local beach for example. From the car park, to the parkland and viewing platform, to the access pathway and then the strip of sand, all the way to the surf, there are many layers of management that are integrated to service the needs of everyone’s beach experience.

Now imagine, as you walk towards the surf, you may have just walked over a seawall buried under the coastal dunes.

The dunes provide another integrated management and amenity feature, and help buy time by accreting sand to withstand the impacts of coastal erosion. As well as provide a natural environment for native coastal flora and fauna and soften the urban landscape.

Rodger Tomlinson, an advisory Professor of Coastal Management to the City of Gold Coast stated that “this approach aims to collectively incorporate the hard and soft sciences of the coast, and for the Gold Coast this is directed through a stewardship partnership between the City of Gold Coast and the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management.

The Gold Coast has successfully achieved this through the integration of coastal science, planning and engineering, to everyday management activities and community engagement.”

For more information please visit: www.griffith.edu.au/coastal-management

The big dune sand storage at The Spit is another strategy to enhance beach amenity after coastal storms (photo source: City of Gold Coast).

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Naomi Edwards Griffith Centre for Coastal Management

been there done that at hand. Bear Grylls would have been both ashamed and impressed for such city-girl preparedness.

On the edge of the carpark, the sign suggests a 4km, approximately 2hr return walk to the waterfall pools. Another option includes a wander deeper down the ravine but our accessory-clad hiker is already exhausted. She claims to be a fair-dinkom Cairns girl. Reared in the oldest rainforests on the planet. But the Douchi Bag, or Gucci Bag, whatever it is, slung over her left shoulder suggests differently.

The walk is pleasant. The path is a cinch. Even our Cairns girl quit complaining after the first minutes. Before you can say, well this has all been rather easy, you’re there. The rock pool is inviting but the decision is made to leave swimming for a next time.

WHAT’S A SPRINGBROOK? Having just finished a trekking tour of the Shaky Isles, my urge to get wild locally was accommodated beautifully yesterday after a visit to Springbrook. Waterfalls, check.

Spectacular views, check. Sweat induced, muscle spasming nausea… not quite. This one is for the everyday walker.

Most days in a week I cross south over the Tallebudgera bridge destined for my cosy apartment. I look due east and am consistently awed by the beautiful setting sun beyond Tally Valley. I make a promise to myself to get the boots on and get back to my ancient jungle roots. Where Jesus came from.

Luckily enough, not keeping promises with myself is easy to live with. I figure the hinterland is always going to be there and it’s only a matter of time before the promise is lived.

Next promise to self which I hope to fulfil is putting my keys somewhere I can find them. Just kidding, there is no way I am ever going to be mature or thoughtful enough to celebrate that milestone.

Back to the bush! What a dam fine day for it. Funnily enough, it was raining in the rainforest when we arrived. This caused one in our party much distress. Luckily an umbrella was

Our group partakes in a bizzare phenomenon which takes place consistently on such outings. The reflective chat is at a level of intimacy which you rarely ever get at the local café.

There is something about the space and the peace which steers the vocal ponderings well beyond the box. It’s grand. It’s like the sort of chat which takes a six pack and a few shots to flow. I feel privileged and honoured in such company. I am reminded of the promise I have been making to myself to go and “do the hinterland thing”. This moment is why.

You’re feeling suffocated by the grind and declaring to friends that you need a break? Why bother looking any further than the glorious backyard wilderness of the Gold Coast. It’s quick, it’s breathtaking and it’s always worth it. Drag some friends along and prepare yourself for the pats on the back. “This was such a good idea, thanks mate”, shall be your praise. If not, your friends are shit and it’s time to get shopping. Peace.

Andrew Scott

www.blankgc.com.au

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RECONNECTING WITH NATURE: SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK

The Gold Coast coastline is much adored. The city’s popular spots are by the beach: after all, surfing, sunbathing, events and parties, restaurants and cafes with ocean views are among our favourite pastimes. In the almost perfect weather of the sunshine state, who wouldn’t enjoy basking in the sun and being entertained by the ocean’s concert?

Interesting spots On our own daytrips, we stop to take a dip in the waterhole at the Forest Park Picnic Area, beside the Nerang River. It’s peaceful with shallow pools for swimming and sections of dry riverbed, particularly during the dry season. River sands feel good on the skin -- a natural body scrub!

But wait! GC is not just synonymous with beaches. Its hinterlands are as enticing as the glistening surf. Less than an hour’s drive from the glitter and glamour of the beachside is a huge National Park that has ancients in its midst.

From the swimming hole, head to Natural Arch. This scenic reserve is home to a natural water feature so amazing it makes you feel insignificant. The natural rock bridge was originally the lip of a waterfall. The basalt rock at the base was eroded by swirling waters into a cave that undercut the sheer wall. Rocks in the stream above swirled around to drill a pothole, which gradually deepened and broke through to the cave beneath. The creek fell into the cave and enlarged it to form the famous arch.

If you have more time to really connect with nature, there are campsites in the park. Campers can spotlight nocturnal animals, such as brushtail and ringtail possums, sugar gliders, spotted tailed quoll, and koalas. For birdwatchers, the park has more than one hundred different species.

Reptiles like lace monitors, skinks and carpet pythons are park residents plus frogs, crayfish, eels and platypus.

The easy trek to the bridge is an experience in itself.

Towering trees -- like the 3000-year old Antarctic beech -- and the symphony of bird and animal sounds stimulate the senses. As you walk down the path the roaring of the waterfall signals the spectacular sight ahead. The spray of spring water soothes your skin, while you encounter the glow worms, tiny creatures that emit light at night, not worms but the larvae of a type of fly. Glow worm tours are available at night.

Sometimes our busy lives, even in the midst of our laid back surfing culture - drain our energy and disconnect us from ourselves and our surroundings. To reconnect, we need to go back to a past that still stands in our midst - our forests.

A breath of fresh forest air, mist from the waterfalls, and the music of rustling leaves and birds are simple experiences that re-energise our senses and our soul.

Springbrook National Park is one of Earth’s great gifts. With rich biodiversity and a unique collection of flora and fauna in Australia, the park boasts pristine forests that refresh and invigorate visitors.

Drive The drive to Springbrook is a breeze, literally. Out of Nerang, the Nerang-Beaudesert Road changes into NerangMurwillumbah Road, the gateway to the park. The winding road is smooth and the scenery a treat for tired eyes. It brings you to a turn-off to Pine Creek Road leading to cliffs and falls or continue along Nerang-Murwillumbah Road to Natural Arch or Natural Bridge.

Another way is the Gold Coast-Springbrook Road from Mudgeeraba. It’s shorter, snaking up to the Park passing lookouts and falls.)

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The Pine Creek Road and the Gold Coast Springbrook Road wind up through valleys to towering lookouts. Several lookouts showcase the cliffs of the Springbrook Plateau. The best time to go is after rain, to see waterfalls appear on the mountain sides. The Best Of All Lookout is so named simply

because it has the best view of the Mt Warning Caldera – the largest in the world – formed by lava and shaped by erosion.

Reconnecting in GC’s backyard

Tourism is about exploring and appreciating the culture, nature and landscape of a destination, Springbrook National Park is a vast reminder of the scenic and tourism wealth of the Gold Coast.

Roselle Tenefrancia

THE MILLERS HANDS Cnr Railway St & Swan Lane, Mudgeeraba On coming to the Gold Coast from Cairns, I’d been struck by how little a sense of community was present here. It took me years to find it, hidden away in pockets defined by interest or creed, passion, suburb, or (fortunately for us) by street.

In a chance meeting over breakfast we rediscovered it. We met the miller.

Picture this: the chef on his day off, the blogger (as always) in search of a good story, sharing a table at a crowded restaurant.

“There’s no real menu,” I overheard him talking to the Main Squeeze. “It just depends on what we can source ethically, what’s in season. We barter for what we can.”

Barter! Now I was really interested!

And so began a conversation about food philosophy: • The concept of ‘food miles’: using fresh, locally sourced products • The chain of provenance, with growers and buyers spending time together • The use of whole and raw foods with minimal intervention • The ethos of ‘breaking bread’ and serving others.

Finally, as enough trust is built, we unveil our ‘alter egos’.

Community Gardens, Numinbah grass-fed beef, raw cakes and savoury pies from RawMania and great Allpress Espresso coffee).

“We try to buy certified organic products as much as possible, use homemade sauerkraut, house pickled cucumber and chutney... We’re starting slowly. I’d rather understate what we do, and over-deliver.”

Justin also told me about his mill, which he will soon be using to grind his own flour for bread. More interesting again is his connection to local clientele: allowing community wares to be sold in the shop, looking at a book swap area, and the possibility of book clubs and small community groups meeting in the café. He’s open to the unfolding of this space, according to its purpose of ‘community’ and the service he can give to the neighbourhood.

“It’s like having a baby,” Justin told me. “People say it’s like a little slice of Melbourne, but really it’s a little slice of me!”

I looked around at the wood-lined shop that is Justin’s labour of love. It’s eclectic, yet simple; understated, yet a vehicle for so much more. I realised that in the couple of hours I’d spent in The Millers Hands, I’d talked to several customers and producers and even made a friend or two. And I thought I’d just pop in for a coffee...

Isn’t that what ‘community’ is all about?

Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on Good Food Gold Coast www.foodgoldcoast.com.au

We’d just met Justin Walker, owner/chef of The Millers Hands, a recent addition to the Mudgeeraba dining scene.

Trained at the Hilton and Centra hotels in Auckland, Justin completed his culinary rites of passage with Laif Etournand (Onde, Sydney), Jorgen Lloyd (Mrs Brown in Malmö, Sweden) and Steve Davidson (Pier 10, Victoria), before owning his own restaurant: Pablo’s Vice, in Sydney .

“These three chefs taught me so much,” Justin told me, “Jorgen for his local cuisine. He tries to hunt, grow and forage for a lot of the food he uses in his restaurant. He’s also very humble.” While working with Jorgen Lloyd, as part of the Stars ‘chef swap’ programme, Justin spent a week in Noma’s kitchen with René Redzepi, a chef who has been credited with transforming Scandinavian cuisine. (Noma has won the title of ‘World’s best restaurant’ three times)! www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners/noma/.

“Laif, (who had worked at Bilson’s before I worked for him), had a saying ‘You catch more flies with honey than you do with shit.’”

“Steve Davidson was madly passionate about food, taking every opportunity to break down culinary barriers. He’d rethink everything, every combination, to get a different take. Amazing!”

Together these chefs have shaped Justin Walker’s culinary practice: using fresh organic or ethical produce with as few food miles travelled as possible (organic spelt bread from Britt’s Organic Bakery, produce from the Beechmont

We were surprised to see the place already packed for our 12.30 lunch appointment, and couldn’t believe our luck when we were seated at what I consider the best table in the house. The restaurant is built around a man-made lake, and our table was front and centre with the best outlook for admiring the Asian plants, water dragons, and Ernie the duck’s antics.

Our waiter Simon was pure class. Attentive, energetic, knowledgeable, friendly and discreet. It was like talking to an old friend when we discussed the various merits of different wines and spices. It was such a treat to have service like this, such a rarity in the fast paced, tourist obsessed standard restaurants in South East Queensland.

We started with a glass of Joseph Perrier champagne for me, and the Craggy Range Te Muna Road Sauvignon Blanc for him. It was a nice change to see the bottles brought to the table and poured into the glasses in front of us, which gave us a nice opening to talk about the superior merits of the Craggy Range vines. Alongside we ordered the Thai oyster duo. These oysters were claimed as ‘the best I’ve ever eaten’ by himself, which speaks volumes from an avid seafood lover. Shucked to order they were incredibly fresh with the favourite flavour being the granita, lime and chilli. The perfect aphrodisiac start to a romantic meal.

Following on I had the salt and pepper Moreton Bay bug served with sweet chilli syrup, the tiniest cubes of pineapple known to man, and pork floss on a rice noodle nest. The bug was sweet, the flavours were a delicate combination of all five taste sensations, and I loved it.

Himself enjoyed the show piece dish, whole crispy skin fish.

A squire (like a Snapper apparently), smothered in a tamarind and chilli sauce bought out to the table ‘upright’ and glaring at us in all its glazy eyed sharp teeth ferocity.

That didn’t put us off and we devoured this sinful delight which was everything we imagined and more.

We could only hope that dessert would be as awe inspiring as the rest of the meal… and it was. Whilst I savoured every mouthful of a chocolate terrine with raspberry chilli ice-cream and pulled mint sugar, himself devoured the kaffir lime and white chocolate mousse with coconut cake and liquorice ice-cream. So often restaurants fall down in the dessert category but The Spirit House kept the taste enjoyment up right till the last moment, and long after we had gone, as we were still talking about and reliving every incredible mouthful.

The Millers Hands

THE SPIRIT HOUSE 20 Ninderry Rd, Yandina QLD 4561 The Spirit House has been the Sunshine Coast’s secret foodie hideaway for over 15 years. Tucked off the main highway in non-descript bushland in Yandina, approximately 25 minutes from Noosa, it usually takes months to secure a booking at this uber popular Thai feast house. After 3 years of trying, we finally made it. And on Valentine’s Day to boot!

As an iconic food destination this contemporary Thai restaurant is a must for anyone who takes their food journey seriously. Loved not only the patrons but with a string of accolades to their name, 4 best-selling cookbooks and a sell-out cooking school with over 20 classes you can join in on, and you realise The Spirit House is the place for lovers of tasty Asian food.

This place is beautiful. Not just your tastebuds but your entire soul will be nourished, just by being here, enjoying the vista, the glorious food and wine, and professional service.

I can’t recommend this culinary experience enough. Book a special weekend away and make this the highlight.

Katie Hooper

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SKULL & BONES ESPRESSO BOUTIQUE

COCOLUSCIOUS

2577 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach Skull and Bones are all about the 4218. Well loved by the locals, who the staff welcome by name, it is also a necessary post-yoga destination for the students of Essence of Living studio next door.

From that first taste at the family dining table, it was only a whirlwind four months until Swami’s first coconut ice cream hit the shops! Two years to the day after Rawganic began, the brand CocoLuscious was launched. Starting with a production of three flavours (chocolate, coconut and vanilla), Swami set herself a five year goal of taking her ice cream Australia-wide, a target which remarkably she achieved in eighteen months! Even more impressive is her sales track record: a 100% success rate with the outlets she approached to stock her product.

Jesse and Dre are the laidback and friendly owners of the skull laden espresso boutique and whilst Jesse informs me that he is not actually a coffee drinker himself, Dre assures me he consumes enough for the two of them.

First up was an espresso of their single origin, the Toby’s Estate Brazil Carnaval. A sweet chocolate and fruit aroma follows through with a flavour to match, delivered with the perfect amount of sharpness. A piccolo of the single origin yielded a nuttier taste than the espresso and had a delightfully rich finish.

The Skull & Bones house blend is the Toby’s Estate Woolloomooloo, which comprises a combination of beans from Brazil, Mexico and El Salvador. Used in their long black, which has a very smooth and fruity taste, it is also a key component of their Bullet Proof coffee, an intriguing blended drink that brings together organic butter, coconut oil and black coffee. The Bullet Proof coffee has an enticing coconut aroma that pulls you into its coconut and berries flavoured depths.

My favourite drink was without a doubt the cold presse, a secret recipe concocted by Jesse in a lab where, he informs me, he loses a lot of sleep. A casually sweet fruit flavoured beverage with a slightly nutty taste, it is bottled in black, soy, skinny and regular. The first run of 50 bottles Jesse made sold out in just two days. Easy to believe as they are seriously that good.

Skull & Bones are open daily Monday to Saturday 6.00am to 3.00pm and Sunday 6.00am to 2.00pm. If you are looking for some awesome coffee in 4218 this is definitely the place for you.

Make no bones about it.

Catherine Coburn

CocoLuscious. The name says it all. Coconut milk based, this fully organic ice cream is simply luscious! It’s the ice cream of choice for some of our top Queensland chefs, the accompaniment to fine desserts, but we prefer it on its own – its raw natural goodness a rich delicious treat.

The story of CocoLuscious’ origins is one of serendipity, a clear vision, lots of drive, unerring passion and one woman’s insistence on the highest standards. Swami, the company’s founder and owner, had begun and run a successful raw chocolate business, Rawganic, for over a year, when she became pregnant. An unfortunate side-effect of her pregnancy was an allergy to chocolate. She couldn’t stand to smell it, handle it, even think about it, so her passion for her business dwindled.

“I was so frustrated. If I couldn’t be passionate about chocolate anymore, couldn’t even look at it, the business just wouldn’t work. What was I to do?” Swami thought, trawling through ideas to start a new venture, a healthy product that had not been made before.

“I sat down in despair to a tub of my favourite soy ice cream, turned it around to read the ingredients and was horrified.

There were 19 ingredients listed on the back. Surely, there must be a healthier option?”

When her market research didn’t find a real competitor, Swami realised the huge potential for a new business of her own. Purchasing a book about making soy ice cream, she started looking around for another suitable non-diary base to substitute for the often GM tainted soy.

“I knew that the core ingredient had to be high fat to make the ice cream work. Why not coconut?” she thought.

It was the cusp of recognition for the benefits of coconutbased products in Australia. Coconut fat is vegan, gluten-free, and full of high medium chain triglycerides which speed up the metabolism, raise resistance and help the liver burn fat.

Driven by her own belief in natural products and healthy vegan foods, Swami began experimenting making coconut ice cream without dairy, eggs or nuts, and with no artificial additives, colours, flavours or preservatives.

“I’d just made a new batch of coconut ice cream,” Swami says.

“My family all huddled together around the kitchen table. I’ll never forget seeing the look on their faces when they tasted it, knowing the recipe was an absolute winner!”

Isn’t it strange how taste memories are often infused with

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a sense of place. Swooning to the taste of the smoothest chocolate ever, your first smell of durian, you can probably remember where you were when these events occurred. Even the smells and sounds come back... It was Easter 2012 when I first tasted a CocoLuscious ice cream at Mandala Organic Arts, the Vanilla classic, accompanying a slice of raw chocolate cake. I could even tell you which table we were sitting at... just as Swami clearly remembers where she tried her first batch.

Two years into the business, CocoLuscious employs eight staff, all vegans, another high standard insisted on by Swami.

“I want staff to believe in what we’re doing,” she says. “It makes all the difference.”

A glance at her website shows her extraordinary attachment to this work family, with past as well as present staff members acknowledged. The CocoLuscious range boasts sixteen flavours, including raspberry, mango, blueberry, chai, vanilla chocolate chip, peppermint chocolate chip, coffee, Mexican chocolate (with chilli), and chocolate chip cookie dough.

Made from organic coconut milk from Thailand, all of the ice cream is certified organic, vegan and kosher. Most flavours are also soy free. The original twelve flavours were sweetened with agave nectar, the last four with coconut sugar.

“Coconut sugar is the world’s most sustainable sweetener,” Swami tells me. “It’s low GI and is suitable for people who are fructose intolerant.”

I buy some of the Vanilla ice cream, its coconutty creaminess beautifully complementing the natural vanilla.

But the Chocolate Christmas is something else again, its rich chocolate scattered with cherries and cranberries infused in brandy, sprinkles of coconut flakes, and a generous amount of choc chips. Oh, I’m in heaven! I would honestly rather eat this ice cream than any other dessert apart from fruit! It’s fantastic how the coconut flavour complements both the vanilla and the chocolate so well in each variety. Chocolate chip cookie dough and raspberry are next on my list. Even as a ‘nondessert’ person, I recognise a looming addiction – of the best sort!

And I’m not alone. From such a big vision and hard work has come huge success. Yet Swarmi is incredibly humble about her success.

“I don’t know why it took me so long,” she tells me, her tone regretful. I think of all the people who cannot eat regular ice cream, or choose not to because of its additives, preservatives, emulsifiers and saturated fats. Perhaps Swami is not fully cognisant of the difference she’s made in the lives of so many.

She’s given us food that is good for us; food that will sweeten our world.

NOTE: Factory direct sales are welcome, but please phone ahead.

Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews at www.foodgoldcoast.com.au

CLEANSING THE SOUL, ONE JUICE AT A TIME For years the juice cleanse fad has been rising amongst the general public, with differing results and opinions being thrown around. Christie Ots decided to try out local company Sol Cleanse to see exactly what benefits cleansing can bring and to discover the dos and don’ts of cleansing.

Preparation In preparation I made sure that on Monday I ate small amounts of healthy foods and was excited to open the delivery of Sol Cleanse that night. Inside were 18 jars of cold pressed juices, cute paper straws, a heart shaped tea ball, tea and a few other things to help you get set for the cleanse. Popping everything into the fridge I felt ready to start my cleanse the next day.

Day One I awoke early in the morning after a restless sleep and got stuck straight into the Energise Juice, which contains lemon, stevia, cayenne pepper and filtered water. Despite tasting quite acidic the drink was refreshing and I felt nice and light. An

hour later at work I felt my energy flagging so I tried what became my favourite of the juices: Joy, with kale, apple, cos lettuce, cucumber and mint. However over the next few hours I felt my energy fading even more and not even a tea, Love Juice and Nut Milk could stop me from feeling crabby and exhausted. I stumbled home to consume the next two, a banana smoothie and Dahl, and fell into bed.

Day Two A bit wary of how rough my first day had been I decided to keep my energy output as low as possible on day two.

Unfortunately the day had different plans for me and the biggest hurdle was a beautiful birthday cake at work. After running errands in the morning sipping on my Energise Juice

I walked into work to face a delicious sugary confectionary. It is safe to say that when you’re doing a cleanse you want to stay away from temptation, so try not to do one when you know you have food related events or plans with friends as you will not only be tired, but watching mates sip champagne or chow down pastries isn’t going to elevate your mood. While I didn’t feel as exhausted as I had the first day I was still tired and slightly grumpy by the end of the day. Physically though I did feel lighter and less bogged down by all of the food I would usually have consumed.

Day Three Excited to be on the final leg of my journey I awoke bright and early and had a tea and a juice. Talking to a coworker I realized that I had had unrealistic expectations going into this.

A lot of people, myself included, only really focus on the juice part of juice cleanses. I had expected to be joyfully drinking fruit juices and milky banana smoothies and neglected to consider the cleanse part. I finished my last juice later that night and went to bed feeling more upbeat and glad to have completed the cleanse.

Results While I will now scoff at the people who think a juice cleanse means instant weight-loss I understand that it is about feeling lighter and not fueled by sugar. From the morning coffees to the midday soft drinks and the random energy drinks, the amount of sugar floating around my daily diet is horrendous.

Funnily enough I found myself making a juice for lunch the day after I had finished. While I will be sticking to my normal fruit juices for a while I have to admit that I don’t regret doing the cleanse at all.

Sol Cleanse provided a great range of juices and all of the extras that came with it weren’t just useful, they were gorgeous. Having it delivered to my door was great and if you’re looking to ease into an introduction to the world of juice cleanses they’re great. Just keep in mind the reality of what a juice cleanse is – hard – and what it is supposed to do – give your system a clean out and reset your eating habits.

Whatever, just make sure you aren’t around birthday cake and everything will be all right!

Christie was provided with her 3-day cleanse at no cost by Sol Cleanse. You can find out more at www.solcleanse.com.

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BLANK CANVAS 2014 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award Now in its 14th year, The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award is considered one of the most important annual surveys of contemporary Australian photographic practice. Established photographers are showcased alongside emerging artists, resulting in a stunning reflection of contemporary practice that examines diverse themes and approaches.

The 2014 Prize is being announced this month at the Arts

Centre Gold Coast, with special presentations by previous award winners. The event takes place Saturday 29 March from 4.00pm. To RSVP or for more information contact gallery@theartscentregc.com.au.

The associated exhibition will run 29 March – 25 May 2014.

This highly anticipated award, with a total $30,000 in prizes and acquisitions (first prize is $20,000), is a highlight of Gold Coast City Gallery’s exhibition program.

for the opportunity all over again. Its kinda the same for working in the creative industries, if you want the good opportunities, you’ve gotta battle the crowd, but when you finally get a good wave, its definitely worth it... So, in this column I’m keen to let off a little steam as I battle through the hurdles this city throws at me on the path of ‘following my dreams’.

I have two major aspirations: 1. To become a feature filmmaker and revamp Australian genre pictures for our own cinemas. 2. To produce a TV show about youth leaders and their cultures, the food, the music and their community resilience. These are my dreams, yet I’m not really working towards them... actually I am 100% but not in the way I thought I would be when I decided I wanted to become a filmmaker.

At the moment I’m a small business owner, I run a little production house called Digital CinematiX, we rent a studio space at Rabbit+Cocoon in Miami. Currently we have 11 projects on the go, and I’ve gotta be honest, it’s doing my head in, I’m paddling up against the sweep for sure. I collaborate mainly with 2 blokes, Owen Novello (Camera Ops/Editor) Rob Barbuto (producer/editor) and a couple of other dudes learning and keen-as for the work experience, Tuan (Aka: Ghengis) and Pablo (Bond Uni Student). With the help of these guys somehow we manage to get through the workload. Some of the projects are exciting to work on and some, not so much... But we are making a living out of our craft and our clientele are very happy with the work we produce. Although financially it’s still very sketchy month to month which I believe does limit the motivation to do our work.

I’ve recently that the business model we use, or lack of, isn’t really working as part of the creative industry here on the GC for lots of reasons that I’ll cover in another post.

BLANK SCREEN With Salvador Emilio Cantellano

This is a new age of filmmaking, there is no doubt about it we are living at the birth of the future. In the last five years video cameras have become accessible to almost everybody in the world, and I mean everybody. From the booming film industry in Nigeria’s Nollywood, to grandparents filming and editing on their iPads and Tablets. These days everybody is a filmmaker and a photographer, which is both exciting and concerning for way too many reasons to cover in 200 words. In these monthly columns I want to focus on the cultural benefits of storytelling as well as trials and tribulations that I experience month to month as an emerging filmmaking here on the Sold Coast... I mean Cold Ghost... Oops I mean City of Gold Coast.

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Long story short, things need to change drastically in order to keep my sanity. I am not going to give up on my dreams and I can feel great things are coming around the corner, I have some brilliant projects on the go, but I need to do something to realign myself with my original goals, keep my studio and make a living. Oh and I didn’t mention that I need to save for a wedding and honeymoon this year as well.

I am inviting you on this journey with me to dream big, reach for the stars and ‘make it’, although a friend of mine said to me once, ‘I’m not really sure what ‘it’ is’.

It’s a tough place here for professionals in the creative industries, its a rat race, or perhaps its more like a cockroach race dodging a boot from the Man... Actually that’s a little dramatic, working in the creative industries is more like surfing at Snapper Rocks than a rat race. Picture yourself starting at Snapper on a 4-5 foot day, glassy conditions, sun shining, the water is beautiful and clear. Then you have to battle hundreds of guys and girls for an opportunity to ride 3-4 waves every 20 minutes. But you love it, so you do it.

The sweep is really strong when the surf is really good, so you have to continuously paddle to stay in the line up. If you stop you’ll be out of position and miss out. But luckily, Snapper isn’t the only place to surf, if you can catch one good ride a snapper you’ll end up at Greenmount, another point break. Catch a wave here and you’ll keep riding until Kirra, another excellent wave. This is the same for all the point breaks on the Gold Coast. You catch waves, some might be really good and some will be average, but if you want to get the good ones, you’re going to have to do a lap and walk back up to the start of the point break and battle

Month to month I’ll share filmmaking tips, reflect on conversations that I’ve had with amazing people and artists which I meet project to project, let you know how business is going and fill you in on how chasing those dreams is coming along. Sometimes I tend to get a bit dramatic when its hard to see the other side, but I figure it might make for some interesting reading.

This year, we have documentary projects in India and about the Australian Light Horse Brigade of World War II, we are covering the Bleach Festival, and taking a cinematic look at resilience and the 2011 Brisbane Floods. It’s all happening. So grab your camera, make sure your batteries are fully charged, bring a tripod, sunscreen and hat, the sun is flaring, now get ready for guerrilla filmmaking in the 21st century.

My name is Salvador Emilio Cantellano. I’ll catch ya between the lines. Peace!

EXCERPTS FROM A TRAVEL DIARY El Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) Whilst living in London, as part of our ‘better me, better you’ lifestyle reinvigoration, himself and I decided it would be a good thing to walk the Camino de Santiago. You know, the 800km walk across the north coast of Spain to Santiago de Compostela? If it was good enough for pilgrims to be attempting this harebrained scheme for the past 1200 years, then surely it was good enough for us?

After doing our research we realised with a walking distance of 15-30km a day between sleepover stops we would only make a third of the distance with our allocated annual leave, so we started at the beginning and set out from St Jean Pied de Port on the French/Spanish border in the foothills of the Pyrenees. It was a gloriously sunny, 20 degree day as we got our crucial Pilgrim’s Passports and scallop shells to attach to our backpacks from the Mayor’s office. We started with a short ten km uphill walk to our first Albergue (hostel for travellers), about halfway up the mountain we were traversing to get into Spain. We arrived in the evening and dined with our fellow pilgrims as the rain started drumming down.

One of the most wonderful aspects of the pilgrimage is the diverse people you meet. All walks of life, all ages, all races, all nationalities and religions are represented. Enjoying the homemade 3 course meals with a new group each night was the satisfying mental aspect of this challenge we had set ourselves up for. Of course the sleeping in dormitory style accommodation was not such an enjoyable social aspect but after half a bottle of Rioja and all that walking, we were asleep before our heads hit the pillows.

The next morning we were up bright and early to conquer the mountain, get into Spain and start the pilgrimage off at its birthplace – Roncesvalles. The Way is marked by scallop shells on stiles so we hadn’t bought a map, presuming that we would keep an eye out for the markers and follow the other hikers. We donned our army issue ponchos (they didn’t last half the day), our shorts (waterproof pants were too heavy to take) and boots and set off with our 3 walking poles between the two of us. Up, and up, and up we went. It started to sleet. It started to snow. We looked at each other. It is nearly summer right? Before we knew it we were trudging through foot deep snow, without long pants on, plastic bags wrapped around our hands to try and keep some feeling in them and wondering what in hell we were doing.

The headlines ran before my eyes, ‘Foolhardy underprepared couple die in Pyrenees snow storm whilst attempting to find themselves on the Camino’. I didn’t want to be those fools.

We met a shepherd who warned us not to attempt to cross the peak of the mountain in these conditions. We thought we should probably listen to him. So back we trudged, 17km downhill where we threw in the towel and with stiff knees and screaming Achilles admitted partial defeat and got a taxi to Roncesvalles to start the Camino again.

Traditionally when in Roncesvalles, pilgrims stay in the 200-bed draughty monastery before their walk of introspection. We were too cold. Too miserable. Too wet.

We stayed in a guesthouse with a heater to dry our clothes and a hot shower. We slept well. We did go to the traditional blessing of the pilgrims at the gorgeous old church where the priest’s sonorous words echoed around solemnly. If he was speaking Latin or Spanish I don’t know but we felt calm after our tumultuous day and ready to start again.

We carried on with better weather and made the 26km to Larrasoana with a constant upping and downing of hills. At this point we really weren’t sure what we were doing here.

Were we having fun? We were too tired and too sore to tell.

It was the third day that my Achilles just gave way and said ‘no more’. We got a lift to the next stop, Pamplona, and checked into a pension with bags of ice and 24hours of bed rest.

The next few towns, Puente la Reina, Estella, Torres del rio and Logrono with a gap of 21km between them each offered beautiful weather and incredible vistas. Passing through old villages built on hills, surrounded by vineyards and paddocks, at times following old Roman roads. It was all so picturesque, at times ornate, and really quite overwhelming to think that we were treading where Roman soldiers trod thousands of years ago. As we left before dawn each morning we stopped at a little hole in the wall and ordered what became our staple fare, a potato and egg omelette on a baguette. Carb loaded and tasty.

After paying usually 3-15 Euro a night for our accommodation we would walk to one of two establishments that offered the Pilgrims Menu upon presentation of your Pilgrims Passport. For not more than 9 Euros we would eat 3 course wholesome meals with half a bottle of wine each.

There is nothing like a long day of walking, contemplating, and chatting than sitting down and having hot, steaming food placed in front of you, and a beautiful bottle of Spanish red.

On our next day walking to Najera we stopped in a field of daisies and spent a few lovely hours meditating and frolicking. We really did frolic. I’ve always wanted to frolic in a meadow of flowers and this seemed the perfect opportunity.

The next day my Achilles again stubbornly refused to go on so we jumped on a bus to skip an industrial looking city and stayed in a gorgeous little town on the side of another mountain. We said goodbye to some of the wonderful new friends we had made and headed to Burgos, our final stop on this first third (and arguably the best part according to those who’ve walked The Way in its entirety) of the Camino.

It was enough that we all shared this incredible journey, the hardships and the good times, and all drew our own conclusions from the lesson the Camino taught us. Only being able to take 10% of your bodyweight in baggage makes 5kg consist of very little. Two pairs of knickers, two pairs of socks, toothbrush, water bottle and a few muesli bars plus the clothes I was wearing were the limit. I had never travelled with so little. I had never felt so free. It was exhausting, exhilarating and exciting. I can’t wait to go back and finish the Camino. Perhaps this time I’ll pay a little more attention to the weather though, walk slower, and rest more.

Oh, and if you do go, take a rock from your homeland.

Halfway along the trek you will come across Cruz de Ferro (The Iron Cross), leaving your rock at the base signifies letting go of something negative. Let’s face it, we can all do with letting go!

Buen Camino!

Katie Hooper

Although traditionally a religious endeavour, the people we encountered on the Camino didn’t share their beliefs or lack thereof. Everyone was there for their own private reason. www.blankgc.com.au

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WALL DÉCOR Don’t feel like talking? Let your walls be the window to your personality with these quirky designs. This season it’s all about the feature wall.

Introduce some incredible art, for a year or forever. Wallpapering has never been so easy. Selected by Katie Hooper.

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A.

B.

C.

D.

A.

BIRDHOUSE WALLPAPER: Bring the outdoors in and show your love of nature with these cute vintage birdhouses. Beautiful in the bedroom or lounge. Tweet tweet! Two rolls each 3m x 485mm. $195.00, theelephantroom.com.au.

B.

BLAM WALL ART: Reveal your inner comic book superhero with this retro perspex pop-art style wall art. Use your superpowers to fight the design fight! 30 x 90 cm. $170.00, fromagelarue.com.au.

C.

VINTAGE WOOD WALL MURAL: Always fancied living in a wood cabin? Showcasing your inner woodsman, this wall mural adds instant charm and character to any room. Chop chop! 1840 x 2500 mm. $180.00, theelephantroom.com.au.

D.

SCRIBBLE DRAW ON WALLPAPER: Fun for the big and little kids. Write your deepest thoughts, private ponderings, and marvellous musings straight onto the wall for all to read. Leave messages in the speech bubbles, colour in the pattern and create a whole wall of memories! 130 x 116.5cm. $119.95, thewallstickercompany.com.au.

fringe dweller

Perusing the ingredients list of a tube of commercial toothpaste can yield a laundry list of chemicals, additives, detergents, thickeners, stabilisers, flavours and sweeteners. These very small molecules can penetrate the tissue of your mouth, entering the blood stream, and build up in the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and tissues. Reading a list of ingredients and their uses on a toothpaste company’s website you can be forgiven for believing all those chemicals are necessary and beneficial for you. But like every story, there are two sides that need to be told so you can make the best decision for your health.

When you consider that the mucous membranes of the mouth have an absorption rate of over 90 percent, and we clean our teeth twice a day, the carcinogens in toothpaste can get into your blood, brain and cells in no time at all. Plus you probably swallow it sometimes too! Are these things really safe to ingest? There’s a reason we have to spit toothpaste out… it’s not really that good for us!

TOOTHPASTE Since the dawn of time we have been trying to freshen our breath and whiten our teeth. Now it’s been revealed that the very products we are using could be doing more harm than good.

Our herbal toothpaste sea-change came about because of my husband’s constant complaint of mouth ulcers. After a little research and staying away from the key ulcer causing ingredients he has gone from 10 ulcers in his mouth at a time to only the occasional one in times of high stress.

Regardless of where you sit on the fluoride debate, there are many ingredients in your toothpaste that could be accumulating in your body: sodium lauryl sulphate, triclosan, hydrated silica, propylene glycol, diethanolamine, artificial sweeteners, dyes and artificial colourings and sodium fluoride are common ingredients.

Natural toothpastes, however, are free from fluoride, detergents, synthetic fragrances, colours and preservatives.

The kind of stuff that you might not want to be putting directly into your body. However it’s important to note that just because a product is sold at a natural food store, it doesn’t mean that its ingredients are all natural. If you don’t know what an ingredient is on the list, it probably isn’t natural.

BLUEBEARD’S WAX Maria de Losa is an ideas woman, there’s no doubt about it. Last year she ran a heavy metal festival raising funds for Autism Queensland. This year she’s launching a new range of beard grooming products. And she’s asking for your help to get it off the ground.

“The idea started because my partner has this amazing moustache and wanted to style it, but like me, he didn’t want to just go buy some random product without knowing the ingredients.”

“I already make his deodorant, dry shampoo, shoe powder so I figured Id just make him a moustache wax. I made it up in a drinking glass from our cupboard and he still uses that. It worked really well so I made a pomade for his brother. Then I thought if they want it, then other people probably want it to.

I listed them on eBay a couple weeks ago and I’ve sold a fair few but it’s hard to get the word out just on eBay.” So, she’s running a campaign to take it to the next level. The products are organic and she offers a vegan option too.

“If you have the option to do something organic that doesnt kill any animals then why not?” Maria asks. “It’s pretty cool to have products that are edible. They’d taste like shit, but they are edible.”

You can chip in online and order your facial hair grooming products right now at tinyurl.com/beardgrooming.

Samantha Morris

To play it really safe, you can always make your own toothpaste at home. Take 1tsp baking soda, ½ tsp fine salt, 1 drop of peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove or cinnamon bark essential oil and mix to form a paste. Simple, inexpensive, odor-eliminating and teeth whitening!

Katie Hooper

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AFFORDABLE WEBSITES Tailored to suit your needs

From $750 Helping hand through decision-making plus tailored support booklet and training so you can take over CONTACT 0421 252 153 or mel@BlueBeeConsulting.com.au

Pollinating Community Projects + Ideas

BLANK IS HIRING We’re seeking an exceptional human to boost our advertising sales.

The person we’re seeking must have experience in sales, must have an eye for detail, and must be prepared to work with a haphazard team, working from home offices across the coast.

If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Email sam@blankgc.com.au for a PD and selection criteria.