BMA Mag 339 10 Dec 2009 by BMA Magazine

www.bmamag.com

#339 DEC09

TOP 10 ALBUMS of 2009 DARREN HANLON

Clare Bowditch gets her comedy on at Corinbank FRIENDLY FIRES

DYLAN MORAN

Tells us What It Is

REG MOMBASSA The man behind Mambo UGLY DUCKLING

Does anyone even read this bit? I think I spend far too much time coming up with something funny that is probably only read by very few people. If you do so religiously, send an email to

editorial@bmamag.com and I might just reward you.

1 HANGOVER HEAVEN After a stellar debut in January 2009, Days Like This!, Sydney’s unique one-day music event, will return to the Moore Park Entertainment Quarter on Sunday January 10, bringing yet another opportunity for music enthusiasts to begin their new year in style. Days Like This! is a boutique musical event and has once again sought an exceptional musical selection from a diverse range of genres, some of whom will be making their Australian debut and many others who will be performing exclusively in Sydney for the festival. Days Like This! 2010 features over 40 artists including legendary international acts Roots Manuva, Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues, Ugly Duckling, and some of Australia’s finest local talents including The Cat Empire and Pivot. We’ve got a massive prize pack filled with CDs by artists featured on the lineup. To win, tell us what you’re doing for New Year’s.

2 A Good Egg Brothers and sisters sound the siren, a new moon is rising and the return of Wolfmother is well and truly upon us. After the whirlwind journey the band went on with the Wolfmother album, a voyage that resulted in over one million sales, sold out riots disguised as shows the world over, multiple ARIA Awards and a Grammy, the time has arrived to break the self-imposed silence. The lupine

2 6

4 beast that is Cosmic Egg has arrived. To score yourself one of three copies, tell us how you like your eggs.

3 PLAY TIME The gorgeous scamps of Playground Weekender are offering one super duper lucky duck two four-day camping tickets to the fest, worth $416. Playground Weekender is kicking off at Wiseman Ferry in NSW on Thursday February 18 and runs for four days. The lineup is mesmerisingly eclectic, and features Lupe Fiasco, the choral symphonic rock collective Polyphonic Spree, The Cribs, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Jamie Lidell, Bertie Blackman and a sizeable swag of others. For more info head to www.playgroundweekender. com.au. To be in the running for tickets, describe your ultimate festival experience.

4 Got WOOD? Award-winning director Ang Lee directs Taking Woodstock, inspired by the true story of Elliot Tiber (Demetri Martin) and his family who, almost by accident, played a pivotal role in making Woodstock what it was. It’s 1969 and Elliot Tiber,

a down-on-his-luck interior designer has to move back upstate to help his parents run their dilapidated motel. With the banks about to close them down, all seems lost when a miracle solution is offered. The rest, as they say, is history… Three weeks later half a million people descend on his neighbour’s farm and Elliot finds himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that changes both his life, and American culture, forever. We have seven copies of the DVD to give away. Simply tell us who would be on the Woodstock of today’s line-up.

5 UN COVERED Like A Version is the name of the covers segment brought to you every week by triple j, and the fifth instalment of the highly successful compilation has just been released. The show sees an artist or band swing by the Js office to perform their interpretation of another musician’s song live in the studio. Once again, over the past year, triple j and jtv have recorded and filmed a huge number of artists and Like A Version Volume 5 will highlight the very best performances

on the CD/DVD set. The CD contains The Kooks doing MGMT’s Kids, Urthboy doing The Clash’s London Calling, Holly Thosby covering You Am I’s Berlin Chair and a whole lot more. To win, tell us the greatest cover of all time.

6 GAY PARIS! Put down that beer, turn off Australia’s Funniest Home Videos and put on Vincent by Don McLean. Good, now you’re prepared to win a high-culture experience with a rare opportunity to see the Musee d’Orsay’s collected works: Masterpieces from Paris, on at the National Gallery of Australia until April 2010. Post-impressionist artists such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Cezanne and Seruat are featured in the collection comprised of some of the most famous paintings in the world. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view priceless paintings that have never left the Parisian walls of the Musee d’Orsay and may never, ever return. We have five double passes up for grabs – yours if you can tell us what postimpressionist means, cos we’ve got no freaking idea.

Are you the one book-ended at the head of your birthday table quietly contemplating the perpetual horror of ‘another year’? Have you ever caught yourself cornering friends and barking the words “I can’t believe I’m <insert years> already – I’m old!”? It’s time to throw those out-dated age prejudices aside and think free-form about your future. From the creators of your invincible 20s comes a time period often dismissed by trend-critics as dowdy and disillusioned. It’s time to embrace the emotional and artistic second honeymoon of your 30s and beyond. Damn it, sometimes sequels are better, like Terminator 2, or The Bends. Dreading your 30s is so 30 years ago. It’s time to get all Michel Gondry on your consciousness and grab that paper mache stallion with both hands as you cruise into the cellophane sunset of your own imagination. Author Douglas Coupland said it best: “your 20s are like a car crash. 25 and 26 are statistically the worst. By 27 it gets better. By 30, you realise you’re not the only person going nuts like this. Everyone’s going through the same thing. You think everyone’s having a great time, and no one talks about it because it’s, like, uncool. We should have little cards or something… we can talk about this, it’s okay.” I was once withdrawing money at a Commonwealth Bank in Canberra, and volunteered to the girl that I’d just turned 23. “That’s a good age,” she lamented, before adding “life does get easier the older you get.” I was warmed to my core to be offered such profound advice in a capitalist wasteland. Could life really get easier as you went along? What a charming concept. We’re trained to look at each passing year with a death-like ritual of things we didn’t achieve, our celebrations marred by comparisons to misleadingly named ‘celebrities.’ I’m always watching the Beckometer. He was 22 when he released Loser, and now I’m currently up to Mutations age and gee I wish I hadn’t written that. But put things in perspective and look to such notables as Jarvis Cocker and Peaches who were both the ripe old age of 32 when their albums broke. Julian Barrett of The Boosh was 33, Charlotte Gainsbourg 35 and author David Sedar 41 when they had their first major commercial successes. I propose a new wave view of your 30s as ‘an extra set of 20s where you know what you’re doing.’ By 30 your wardrobe tastes, culinary abilities and general inter-personal skills all seem to solidify, along with the notion that you’ve finally grown into your face. Your 20s are about going LOL, screwing up your hair and looking nervously over your shoulder for some mystical answer. May we turn to the affectionate men and handsome women with distinguished laugh lines about the eyes, who sit chuckling in the back of bars, having cultivated their social circle to a glorious form, surrounding themselves only with the people who bring out their best. Grizzling in the corner, sucking back shots is never a good look. Next birthday, open your mouth like an advent calendar and see what uplifting message lies within. Unless you’re going for the Vogel award, age is just a number. Each year is a complex wine, to be savoured in the mouth and swallowed lovingly into the depths of your merry soul. JUSTIN HEAZLEWOOD www.bedroomphilosopher.com Justin performs as The Bedroom Philosopher and writes for Frankie, Jmag and The Big Issue.

Foxy!

It will never be this big again. Ever.

# 3 3 9 D E C 9 Fax: 02 6257 4361 Mail: PO Box 713 Civic Square, ACT 2608 Publisher Scott Layne General Manager & Advertising Manager Allan Sko T: 6257 4360 E: advertising@bmamag.com Editor Julia Winterflood T: 02 6257 4456 E: editorial@bmamag.com Accounts Manager Ashish Doshi T: 6247 4816 E: accounts@bmamag.com Sales Executive Danika Nayna T: 0408 657 939 E: sales@bmamag.com Super Sub Editor Josh Brown Graphic Design Ben Backhouse Exhibitionist Editor Naomi Milthorpe Film Editor Mark Russell Principle Photographers (The Flashbulb Posse) Andrew Mayo Nick Brightman NEXT ISSUE 340 OUT JAN 20 EDITORIAL DEADLINE JAN 11 ADVERTISING DEADLINE JAN 14 Published by Radar Media Pty Ltd ABN 76 097 301 730 BMA is independently owned and published. Opinions expressed in BMA are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or staff.

In what may end up being their last local show, beloved Canberra indie kids ...Like Foxes will be warming themselves up for their Brisbane tour with a slot at Thursdays @ Bar 32 this week, on December 10, from 8pm. They’re the odd band out on a hardcore bill featuring Adelaide’s Craterface, Sydney’s Fixtures and locals Eye-Gouge and Observer. ...Like Foxes launched their debut EP last weekend at a cracking afternoon Transit Bar show alongside Sydney’s Charge Group and the CD is already becoming scarce, with dedicated fans snapping up copies of all four alternate covers. Bask in their twinkly guitars once more.

What’s the Buzz? Meet the two-headed rock ‘n’ roll behemoth known as Buzz Deluxe, all the way from Canada, who are hitting up The Basement on Saturday December 12. Combining rockabilly, surf guitar, gypsy swing and garage rock, they are 100% blood, sweat, and rhythm. They slice fingers on guitar strings, chip teeth on microphones, and bludgeon knuckles on drum rims all without noticing; they are praying to the god of rock ‘n’ roll. Don’t miss it metalheads.

Swede-ish Sounds You must be really sore from kicking yourself after missing The Huckleberry Swedes last time they were in Canberra. But we’ve good news for you as they’ll be back for one night only at The Phoenix on Thursday January 14. Come and see what banjo rock alt country gospel squeeze box blues can do for you. The Swedes are regarded by musos and critics alike as one of Australia’s greatest musical secrets. Free entry – but bring $25 as you’ll want to buy their acclaimed debut Suburban Dreaming.

T’was the Night Before Christmas

The Creek is Back in Black

Fred Smith returns from Afghanistan in time to make his traditional Phoenix Christmas eve gig, joined by Pete and Fiete and 100 lost orphans. Join the fracas as they warm up for their Woodford trip with sing songs and shots, so you can bring that special ‘gettin’ British on ya’ hangover to Christmas lunch. Thursday December 24 from nine-ish, free entry.

Participate in the ultimate educational experience… watch as each act takes the viewer into a three-dimensional realm where live and local music brings Canberra to life! See local act The Chuffs and Syd guests Tiff & The Kids support our very own Black Creek at Phoenix on Saturday December 12. Support local music, visit www.hardact.com.au .

Skint? You Betcha!

It’s a Wonderful World

Electronic ticketing company moshtix.com.au recently launched a new cheaptix section giving gig goers the ability to attend the best gigs in town for under $25. cheaptix connects gig-goers with smaller budgets to a variety of live music events, comedy and festivals across Australia. Head to moshtix.com. au for more info.

WOMADelaide – one of Australia’s most loved and unique music, arts and dance festivals – will announce its full line-up this Friday December 11. Encompassing four nights and three days of music, arts, dance and food from every corner of the globe, WOMADelaide will take place at Adelaide’s Botanic Park between Friday March 5 and Monday March 8, 2010. Over 300 artists from more than 20 countries, from Azerbaijan to the Western Sahara, will transform Adelaide’s heart into a thrilling musical celebration of the arts and cultural diversity. The lineup so far includes Indian living legend Ravi Shankar alongside daughter Anoushka, Calexico, new triple j Roots ‘n’ All darlings Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Xavier Rudd, and many, many more mesmerising artists. For tickets and information head to www.womadelaide.com.au .

Cell Out Cell Block 69 are back for their annual Last Ever World Tour. The supergroup are promising to say goodbye to the 1980s. Lead singer Duane Le Corey Michaels, recently remarried for the 12th time, issued a statement saying “As the decade comes to a close we realise it’s time to move on - but before we do, let’s not move on, one more time.” Did you understand a word of that? We didn’t. Better check ‘em out to find out what the hell they’re on about. They’re at ANU Bar on Wednesday December 23.

RAVI AND ANOUSHKA SHANKAR

and

another

YOU PISSED ME OFF!

thing…

Seeds. You wouldn’t think they’d spark a near riot, would you? I don’t know about you, but once I’m airside at an airport I often forego the chance of a bite to eat in favour of something thirst-quenching instead, safe in the knowledge that there’ll be some solids proffered once you’ve gone up, up and away. It’s all part of the fare, after all. From where I was standing in Madrid’s Barajas airport, this certainly seemed to be the case, certainly amongst the contingent of overexcited, extremely demonstrative Spanish football supporters waiting to board our plane to London Gatwick. Obviously, we English are more of a reserved bunch – but you could tell that our flight (which was, after all, departing at lunchtime) was coming at just the right time for some travellers in need of something to soak up the Cerveza. A short delay, and we’re away. British Airways it is, and by God the staff are surly (I later find out that this may have something to do with most of them being asked to work without any wages for a month to ‘help the company out,’ but that’s not my concern). Still, after several days of foreign cuisine I’m looking forward to something dependably British going into the system, possibly watered down by a can of Fuller’s London Pride. Our flight reservation had promised ‘lunch and drinks’ and, as we headed out over the Bay of Biscay, I noted that the cabin staff had stopped telling off the Spanish football aficionados long enough to start deploying the lunch trolleys. Salivating like one of Pavlov’s Dogs, I imagined the plastic tray of English culinary delights that was just five feet away from me. What would it be? Fish and chips? Bangers and mash? Chicken vindaloo? To be frank, anything would have done by now, so when the faded blonde approached me, asking through gritted teeth whether I required “something to eat?” I almost took her hand off as part of the meal. Seconds later, after recovering from the shock, I took stock of what I’d been given for lunch. It was, and I’m not making this up, a packet of seeds. A packet of sesame seeds. This must be some sort of starter, an amuse bouche before the headline act, surely? But no. A staggered silence had fallen over the plane as the assembled passengers realised that this, indeed, was our ‘lunch.’ I looked at the lady wife who, despite being in the window seat and thus in possession of an unencumbered view of little ships chugging picturesquely over the sparkling briny, appeared to be apoplectic with a mixture of rage and hunger, much as I imagine a laboratory beagle might be after being given two bits of bonio after a heavy day on the fags. She brandished the packet at me, wordless with anger. Slightly aft I heard a man asking somewhat timidly, in an Oliver Twist-style voice, if there was anything else in the galley that might be deemed edible. Huffing, the stewardess said “there might be some bread rolls left over from the previous flight,” before stomping down the aisle to have a look. She returned with a tray with some forlorn looking bread rolls and, despite turbulence dictating that we keep ourselves belted up, people from all over the plane released themselves into the scrum now forming, Darfur-style, around the hapless trolley dolly… Did she get out alive? You’ll have to wait ‘til after Christmas to find out, I’m afraid – happy holidays! scott adams thirtyyearsofrnr@hotmail.com

Has someone yanked yer chain recently? Well send an email to editorial@bmamag.com and have your sweet vengeance. And for the love of God, keep it brief! [All entries contain original spellings] To the chat drunk chicks standing behind my sister and I at the Pink concert. Not only were you ugly and obese, you were so drunk that when pausing from groping each other (which I believe you thought was sexy -it wasn’t), you were stumbling around so much that you were hitting me, my sister and the gentleman standing beside us repeatedly. When we told your slightly more sober but equally unattractive friends to restraint you they laughed at us and did nothing. You clearly have awesome friends who like seeing you struggle. Once we informed you of our intention to notify security of your behaviour you told my sister she was a slut and tried to fight us. Tip for young players: If you are so drunk you can’t stand up properly, you probably aren’t going to do too well in a fight. I hope you don’t remember anything from your $140 night out + alcohol expenses you pathetic losers. YOU PISSED ME OFF!

FROM THE BOSSMAN And so here it is Canberra, you gaudy strumpet. The end of another year. The closing of another decade. And what a razzler the noughties has been. War were declared. Entire economies were brought to their knees. The word ‘razzler’ was invented by me just now. Yep, it had it all. Everyone seems to be jack of this year/decade. It hasn’t been an easy or indeed happy one for many; I’ve seen too many a friend’s business close their doors for good, and those left standing have had to work twice as hard for half the reward. But as Ma Joad said at the end of John Ford’s version of the thoroughly gloomy The Grapes of Wrath, “We’re the people that live. They can’t wipe us out; they can’t lick us. We’ll go on forever.” You said it, you dusty old bag. A new decade brings new prospects, new hope, new underwear, new car smell (sorry, lost my train of thought for a bit there). As long as you proudly wear your briefs of hope, and keep your friends close, nothing the world can throw at you will stick. So to tie you over and cheer you up, please enjoy this wristsplintering monolithic end-of-year edition packed with the kind of content that would see us banned in Canada. It’s the last one you get before Jan 20, so take ‘er easy now, y’hear? ALLAN “SEE YOU IN THE, ERRR, ‘10s PEOPLE... 10s? THAT DOESN’T SOUND RIGHT...” SKO

Who: The Grates, The Boxer Rebellion (UK), Ponytail (US) and more What: Purple Sneakers New Year’s Eve House Party When: Thu Dec 31 WHERE: The Manning Bar

School may be finished for the year but we’re still all about the word association! Tornado of awesome? Ponytail! Snarled up and punked out? Baddies! And she twists and kicks with glee? The Grates! Best freakin’ house party of the decade? PURPLE SNEAKERS NYE HOUSE PARTY! Spread across three levels of Manning House, Sydney Uni, over three stages and amongst 2,500 of your mates it’s the funnest way to ring in the New Year. Tickets are only $59+BF and you can grab them from the website at: www.purplesneakersnewyearseve.com .

WHO: Effigy Entertainment WHAT: Jaytech (Anjunabeats) WHEN: sat Dec 12 WHERE: Hippo Lounge

After the success of Matt Rowan in October, Effigy Entertainment returns to deliver you a night of epic proportions – one of Australia’s greatest exports, Jaytech. See Jaytech up close and personal in the only Canberra sideshow of the Australian leg of his world tour. Come along to enjoy a night of amazing melodic house music, and enjoy what is bound to be an unforgettable experience. But with only limited tickets available (less than 100 on the door), be sure to make it in early to avoid disappointment. Supported by Peekz, Fourthstate, Gabriel Gilmour and Yohan Strauss.

WHO: THE WOOHOO REVIEW WHAT: PARTY GYPSIES WHEN: WED DEC 16 WHERE: MACGREGOR HALL, ACTON

Melbourne gypsy party band,The Woohoo Revue will be headlining the Canberra Musicians Club Christmas Show at MacGregor Hall in Acton on Wednesday December 16. In keeping with the gypsy theme, the night will also feature Balkan honkytonk trio, Clankenstein. The Woohoo Revue have proven to be a huge underground success this year and have established themselves through constant touring. This will be a great opportunity to see the band ahead of their busy summer festival schedule, which includes a midnight New Year’s Eve slot at Peats Ridge Festival. Doors open at 7.30pm, admission $12/$10.

WHO: GUNGAHLIN YOUTH COUNCIL WHAT: GUNGAHLIN LIVE ‘09 WHEN: FRI DEC 11 WHERE: GUNGAHLIN YOUTHIE

Gungahlin Live ’09 is a free dance party put on by the Youth Council team at the Gungahlin Youth Centre. They were successful in applying for a Youth Interact Grant and want to show the youth of the region a great night out. Gungahlin Live ’09 is a drug and alcohol free event for youth aged between 11 and 25 years. Come down to the Gungahlin Youth Centre on Ernest Cavanagh St (behind the library) on Friday December 11. It all kicks off at 6.30pm and runs ‘til 9.30pm. There’ll be a DJ, free dinner, free soft drinks, fire twirlers, free mechanical surfboard and more.

WHO: HOT YOUNG THINGS WHAT: NATIONAL YOUTH WEEK GRANTS WHEN: NOW WHERE: HEAD TO www.youthcoalition.net

National Youth Week, an annual celebration of young people, will be held from April 10 to 18, 2010. Applications for Seeding Grants are now open. These grants support events that are planned and organised by and for young people aged 12 to 25 and occur during Youth Week. In 2010 there is a pool of funding for projects aimed at engaging young Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, young people with a multicultural or refugee background, and young people in detention. Applications close Monday January 18. For more info, call Anna Voronoff on 6247 3540, or email youthweek@ youthcoalition.net. For application forms www.youthcoalition.net .

WHO: Conway, Green and Hopkins plus KarismaKatz WHAT: Original roots inspired music WHEN: Fri Dec 11, doors at 6.30pm WHERE: The Folkus Room

Iconic harmonica legend Jim Conway is coming to town. His distinctive style is well known to blues, jazz and country music enthusiasts and his extensive career includes national tours with American bluesman Brownie McGhee, The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Circus Oz, The Backsliders and Jim Conway’s Big Wheel. For the Canberra Show Jim will be teaming up with Big Wheel members, Jess Green (emerging guitarist/vocalist) and rhythm ‘n’ blues pianist Don Hopkins. Canberra’s own KarismaKatz with special guest Dave O’Neill will open the show. It promises to be an outstanding night of original roots-inspired music. $28/$25.

Been drinking bong water lately? That’s a sign that you need to go outside, kiddo. Sometimes Canberra can seem as much fun as tongue kissing John Goodman, but occasionally, international musicians accidentally book Canberra. So this is where I force your attention to the wondrous Joanna Newsom, the harp shredding queen of freak folk. Now, you may not know the name (her music is not on any Tony Hawk soundtracks, sorry Cheech), but I assure you she is the eel’s hips. She is phenomenal to say the least, and is playing on your door step. Tickets are only 44 clams! To book call 6275 2700. You simply must go. Trust me.

WHO: JOANNA NEWSOM WHAT: HARP SHREDDING QUEEN OF FREAK FOLK WHEN: WED JAN 21 WHERE: THE PLAYHOUSE, CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE

Oooooo wee! A visit from the one and only Lupe Fiasco; modern day poet and hip-hop saviour. Heralding his arrival with one of the best slabs of hip-hop of the decade with Food & Liquor (including instantly iconic track Kick, Push), cementing his reputation with The Cool, and set to dazzle with new album Lasers, it’s no wonder Lupe’s stadium filling beats and consciencious lyricism has seen him described by Jay-Z as a “breath of fresh air.” Support the show early by grabbing your early bird ticket from Oztix for only $49 +bf and ensure we see more acts of this calibre in future.

WHO: LUPE FIASCO WHAT: HIP-HOP SAVIOUR WHEN: SAT FEB 27 WHERE: UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA

A licensed all ages event sporting over 17 artists over two stages for 12 hours… and it’s all going to charity? How can you say no! Especially when you throw in the likes of lovable electronic wizard Endorphin, who promises he will be bringing a man on stilts who can perform a backflip as part of his set. One of the best circus stilts performers in the land, Endorphin assures me, and you can take that man’s word to the bank. So jump onto www.moshtix.com.au and grab yer ticket, have a great day out, and support the Spinal Injuries Association.

WHO: ENDORPHIN @ SUMMER RHYTHM FESTIVAL WHAT: OVER 17 ARTISTS WHEN: SUN DEC 13 WHERE: GOOLABRI RESORT, (9 MINS FROM DICKSON)

You have the opportunity to crack out those pale pins and strut your stuff for a good cause. Taking place in every capital city and regional towns and cities across Australia, Walk Against Warming attracts ordinary Australians who are prepared to stand up for the rights of future generations to have a safe climate. Saturday December 12 is D-Day for the planet as world leaders meet in Copenhagen to do a global deal on climate change, and Walk Against Warming is your chance to give a shit with likeminded folk. Kicking off at 11.30am on the New Parliament House Lawns. Go to www. walkagainstwarming.org for more details.

WHO: YOU WHAT: WALK AGAINST WARMING WHEN: SAT DEC 12 WHERE: NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE LAWNS

The M.O.B. (Masters Of Beats) consist of five DJs/producers that have played in various clubs from Sydney to Canberra including Candy’s Apartment in Sydney and our own Lot 33 . Whilst dabbling in production, their major focus is to organise large events, with an ongoing goal to play in clubs Australia wide to hone their craft. Their most recent project is the Good Hope Bikini & Boardshort Festival located near Yass, NSW. Their objective with the event is to promote local talent and support local businesses by raising as much money as possible for the NSW Rural Bush Fire Service.

WHO: Masters Of Beats WHAT: Good Hope Bikini & Boardshorts Festival (24hr Charity event) WHEN: sat Jan 30 WHERE: Good Hope Tourist Resort, Yass NSW

New Year’s Eve at Monkey Bar will be hot and steamy with an exciting Back to the Future party planned to take you into 2010. It’s going to be party-mode all night. The music will be kept spicy as always with a tasty blend of styles and tunes from all eras, past, present and everywhere in between. Expect to hear the best music from ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, house, R’n’B, Latin and reggae. $4 spirits ‘til 10.30, $5 Coronas all night, cheap drinks on the hour every hour and free entry before 9pm. Sure to be a blast!

WHO: PARTY PEOPLE WHAT: BACK TO THE FUTURE THEMED PARTY WHEN: THU DEC 31 WHERE: MONKEY BAR

YOU CAN BANK ON IT katherine quinn After a long but (let’s be honest) entertaining day watching the Liberal party back-stab each other, I’m looking forward to a respite from policy talks with a lighthearted chat to CLARE BOWDITCH. She’s headlining CORINBANK in February, a local music festival held a mere 40 minutes from Canberra which incorporates Creative Camp workshops, all sorts of performance, visual art and, of course, a bunch of rad bands. Musicians are chosen in keeping with Corinbank’s policies of showcasing 50 percent local talent, sustainability and respect for the environment, and a commitment to reconciliation. You Am I, Ash Grunwald, Urthboy and Astronomy Class are just a few of the major acts audiences will be treated to this year. So I was silly to think my interview with Ms Bowditch wouldn’t be about politics. An ambassador for Reconciliation Australia and a volunteer for Oxfam’s Closing the Gap, Clare tells me, “I’ve always had that old idea that the personal and political are intimately entwined,” and her new song The Start of War is a bold enquiry into the state of the modern world. “The song popped itself into my head and I wanted it to go away because it was too difficult really, the question was too big. It got me thinking about these impossible questions of who started war and how do we forgive each other – how do we let go of revenge?”

Anyone who’s seen my live shows knows that it’s absolutely one third comedy

Clare recorded most of the album in Berlin at the legendary Hansa studios, saying of The Start of War, “it kind of followed me to Berlin – I put 13 backing tracks to it and somehow it started to make more sense to me.” I ask her whether she feels she’s taking a risk in dealing with such topical issues, and she responds emphatically, “yes, absolutely. I’m happy to take that risk and I’ll continue to take that risk, more so in this next album than ever before.” It’s unusual and refreshing to talk to a musician who has that 1960s perspective on songwriting – music as a mechanism for social commentary and hopefully, a catalyst for change, rather than simply a route to fame and adulation. We tend to think of politicians and lawyers as having ‘real jobs,’ when musicians often have a much clearer and more genuine voice on important issues. Clare confesses that when she was growing up, she initially wanted to be a writer. “I thought music was too much of an easy choice in a way, because I enjoyed it so much. It’s not logical in a kind of world way where you go, okay, so we muck around when we’re young and then we become more subdued and settle down and start making money. I actually think the majority of women become less and less conservative as they get older.” A fulltime mother as well as fulltime musician, Clare has her hands full looking after identical two-year-old twins Oscar and Elijah, and daughter Asha, aged six. Her partner, Marty Brown, is the drummer in her band, and between the two of them they manage to balance their family life with constant touring and recording. “We’ve had to find a way to make it work and we’ve had to make some unconventional choices,” she tells me. “As long as the kids are into it, we’re into it, and when they’re not, I get a job at a supermarket. Which I’d be happy to do.”

Having toured Australia for seven years, Clare is no stranger to the festival scene, and recently performed at triple j’s Paul Kelly tribute concert, Before Too Long. “The level of nerves was extraordinary – I’ve never actually seen anything like it,” she says. “Bob Evans threw up beforehand. Everyone was literally shitting themselves.” While she says that the experience was “totally awesome, of course!” she also loves the smaller, folksy festivals, like Corinbank, because “the people you meet there are extraordinary. If you’re going to choose to become an artist in Australia it’s quite a radical decision because it’s not easy to make your living. I commend anyone who makes that decision.” Clare aptly says that in today’s world “there’s a lot of pressure on human beings to be more than human,” but she seems very philosophical and content with her own existence. We get to talking about New Year’s resolutions and she says that she doesn’t believe in them, because “the smartest way to start anything is not to wait until the new year, or Monday, or any obligatory start date.” Ahh, she’s so wise, and I’m thinking exactly what she says next: “thank god for people who push our buttons and push us beyond where we’re comfortable, because surely that’s got to be the most exciting part about creativity and about the times we live in – that we’ve got the right to have an opinion.” Clare’s not talking about herself, of course, but personally I think it applies. “Anyone who’s seen my live shows knows that it’s absolutely one third comedy,” she tells me. “It needs to be, because otherwise how else do we deal with this massive question of living life in the times that we live in?” Well, if you need a bit of a laugh just look at the state of the Australian Parliament. Somehow, Clare says it all better than any politician I’ve ever heard, stressing that “there are a lot of things that need talking about.” Clare will play at the Corinbank Festival, which will be held from FridaySunday February 26-28. Head to the Corinbank website, www.corinbank. com, for more info. Tickets through Greentix.

ALL AGES Well, this is it folks. Not another issue of BMA until January 20. There are a lot of events that I have to fill you in on before then, so I had better dive on into it. The increasingly funky Pleased to Jive You are going to be at the Woden Youth Centre on Friday December 11, just for the satisfaction of all you movers and shakers out there who are craving a good old groove. Also to scratch your itch are local bands Goatfish, Slovac and Newcastle band The Great Escape. Doors open at 6pm, treat yourself to a dance folks. Although it seems that Pleased to Jive You may be facing some stiff competition that night. That’s right, the Gungahlin Youth Centre is hosting Gungahlin Live ‘09, an all ages dance party, also on Friday December 11! This free (that’s right, FREE) dance party will also provide you with a free dinner, free drinks (alcohol-free bubbles of course), a live DJ and who could forget the free mechanical surfboard! Absolutely everything is bloody FREE. For a literally priceless night, just rock on up to the Youth Centre between 6.30 and 9.30pm. There is nothing I love more than a gig with a good cause, which is why I am so proud to mention the first ever Summer Rhythm Festival. This 11 hour event at the picturesque Goolabri Resort will bring to you spectacular bands like Hancock Basement, Endorphin, King Tide, Tonight Alright, In the Flesh, Fat Controller and many more. All proceeds are going to Tim Markcrow, victim of a critical spinal injury, his family and the Spinal Injuries Association. The festival is held from 12pm ‘til 11pm on Sunday December 13. You can purchase your tickets for just $39 from www.strangehours.com. au . The 2009 School’s Out For Summer Tour will most likely be our last proper hardcore lineup of the year. Notorious Melbourne hardcore band Deez Nuts have joined forces with Ghost Inside, all the way from the USA, to give us a more than memorable curtain close for the 2009 hardcore scene. Joining them is Gold Coast band Mourning Tide and Mark My Words. This may be your last chance to cut loose and welcome the holiday season with a few bruises and bumps. Head on down to the Weston Creek Community Centre on Saturday December 19. Doors open at 6pm, tickets are just $17 + booking fee from Moshtix. On Saturday January 9 you’ll have a chance to experience the joyous, upbeat, shoulder boppin’, funky produce of Australia’s own John Butler Trio. This event at the Canberra Theatre is a rare offer folks, so take it. To accompany the band on their One Way Road Tour is Brett Dennen, all the way from the US. Tickets cost $55.50 + bf from Canberra Ticketing. Finally, the last reminder of the year. On Tuesday January 19 at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre the Boys of Summer Tour will give you a grand opening to the Canberra hardcore scene of 2010. To usher you happily into the New Year will be highly acclaimed US bands Every Time I Die and Trap Them, as well as renowned Australian bands 50 Lions and Mary Jane Kelly. Pick up your tickets for just $25 + bf from Moshtix. In advance, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Farewell! NAOMI FROST allagescolumn@gmail.com

LOCALITY

December 12 from 8pm. Punk fans, on the other hand, should head to The Pot Belly to see Rotten Opera play with The Decline (Perth), The Resignators (Melb) and Chris Duke and The Royals (Syd). The music starts at 8pm on Saturday December 12.

It’s time to say a fond farewell to 2009 and to get excited about all the lovely live music that 2010 will bring. Before we do, however, there are lots of musical goodies to enjoy throughout December.

There’s great news for fans of local music this fortnight, with the first Corinbank 2010 lineup announcement appearing at the festival’s website. Our finest folk and rock acts will be there, and there’s a troupe of gypsies and some surf music thrown in for good measure. Head to the website for the full list of performers, and stay tuned for further announcements from the Corinbank team.

On Sunday December 13, take a short trip across the border to the Goolabri Resort for the inaugural Summer Rhythm Festival. This is yet another local music event that will raise money for a very worthwhile cause, with the proceeds going to victims of spinal injuries. There are heaps of Canberra bands playing, including Hancock Basement, Little Smoke, Dub Dub Goose and Owen Campbell. Head to www.strangehours.com.au for the full lineup and other important info. The event is being held from 11am-11pm, and tix are a very reasonable $39/$29.

Local four-piece Kempsey gave Locality a heads up about three new tracks on their triple j Unearthed profile. The lads have been recording in a humble rumpus room, and the end result is really freaking good. The tracks get two large thumbs up from us, and we hope to see these guys live soon. You can listen to Kempsey at www.triplejunearthed.com, and can check out the other 560 Canberra acts while you’re at it. There’s a huge amount of great music available for free download, and there’s something to suit everyone’s taste, from dance and hip-hop through to punk and metal.

Surf music gurus Space Party are playing at The Pot Belly with 7set and The King Hits on Friday December 11. The music starts at 8pm and entry is $5. You can also catch local singer/songwriter Jane Williams at The Pot Belly, from 9pm on Friday December 18.

Domus Adultus is taking the rest of the year off, and Bootlegs will soon follow suit; however the good people at Cardboard Charlie assure us that both will be back from Monday January 18. The last Bootlegs session for 2009 is being held on Monday December 14 and will feature Sarah Daphne Foo, Lady Grey, The Glaciers and Readable Graffiti. The music starts at 8pm and entry is free.

Self-described psychedelic shoegazers JW Sparrow & The Miner Birds are playing at The Front Gallery on Thursday December 17. Sparrow and Co. will be joined by Alps of New South Wales (NSW), Tiger Saw (USA) and Castanets (USA). The music starts at 8pm and entry is $12 on the door. Rock enthusiasts will want to catch locals Black Creek and The Chuffs when they join forces with Sydney’s Tiff & The Kids. All three acts will be playing at Phoenix on Saturday

2009 has been a great year for local music, and it’s been a pleasure sharing it with you lovable people. Have a safe and happy festive season, keep the emails coming, and we’ll see you in 2010. Catherine James locality.bma@hotmail.com

DANCE THE DROP Dear 2009, When we met on the dance floor on the 1st of January, we had it all in front of us. Things started out new and fresh and you filled us all with hope for a new beginning. But after all those times we spent dancing the night away with you by our side it feels like the party is coming to an end, and alas we have already fallen for another chronological life

partner. Her name is 2010. I feel as if these next few dates might just be our last together… so let’s go out with a bang! The second weekend in December shall be known as the Electronic Olympics, with more events on than you can poke a performance-enhancing pharmaceutical at. The festivities come sprinting out of the blocks on Friday December 11 at Trinity

Bar where the Lollygag team present UK deep house wizard Jay Shepherd (live) for an evening of smooth tech sounds. Meanwhile, at the same time on the other side of town… Canberra’s own Disco Wookie Hubert and the PANG! crew serve up one of the best rosters since the early ‘90s Chicago Bulls. The Bang Gang 12” Party features Bag Raiders, Bang Gang DJs, G.L.O.V.E.S. and special guest Les Petits Pilous (Boys Noize, France). Entry is… actually, who cares! Just go, damn you, give them everything you have! P.S. It’s $30 on the door. Well, not literally ON

the door because then people would just steal it… right? Jaytech is known by many as the sexiest man in progressive house. His chiselled jawline and mesmerising paparazzi pout have seen him corner the world market in block mounted posters second only to Robert Pattinson. Oh, and his music is quite good too. Effigy Entertainment returns to Hippo Bar on Saturday December 12 for this night of prodigious proportions, headlined by the sultry starlet himself and all for a measly ten beans. Looking for a good cause that doesn’t involve having an annoyingly friendly clipboardtoting stranger trying to shake your hand in Garema Place? The Summer Rhythm Festival on Sunday December 13 at the Goolabri Resort in Sutton is an event set up to raise money for Tim Markcrow and the Spinal Injuries Association with a lineup including Endorphin, King Tide, Ganga Girl, Hancock Basement and many more, tickets are only $39. Saturday December 19 sees the newly named Kicks (formerly Friction and Lexington Music) present one man fashionista Tenzin for Alliance @ Academy, exorbitant fluoro sneakers are a must have for entry (kidding). Canberra’s only outdoor New Year’s Eve party New Paradigms is the place to go for all you colourful slaves of psychedelia. Performers include Autonomech, Hedonix, Wizdumb, [bio] diversity and Slytrance along with a gaggle of locals and guests. Keep your head to the ground for news of the secret venue closer to the event. Finally, the start to the Chinese Year of the Tiger already finds itself with stiff opposition in equalling the hype surrounding the Bikini and Boardshorts Festival at the Good Hope Resort in Yass. This NSW bushfire service fundraiser on Saturday January 30 is a must do, get your tickets from Moshtix. Auld Lang Syne bitches! STAKY staceymanson@gmail.com

single was laid down in just three minutes, revealing a knack for pulling together a helluva catchy tune. Yet they never stick to a particular formula for writing music, making each track one of a kind. Hard to believe they began as a post-punk band.

FIRE AWAY! DANIKA NAYNA Somewhere in a quiet little town called St Albans, a half hour south of London, Inspector Morse investigated the case of the missing pebble stone and the National Rose Society called their weekly meeting. All the while a group of three boys – Ed Macfarlane, Edd Gibson and Jack Savidge – sat very, very bored. They decided to form FRIENDLY FIRES, purely out of an unwillingness to succumb to small-town blues. “We tried to kind of make it with the band before we went to university, so we were trying to get things going when we were about 17 and taking it pretty seriously,” singer Ed Macfarlane says with a charmingly erudite English accent. “But then we all went to college as sort of a back up plan, in a way of stopping getting a proper job anyway. I did English literature and I haven’t got a fucking clue what it would’ve entitled me to for a job!” You’ve heard Friendly Fires’ dance-influenced rock all over the radio this year, born of their self-titled album impressively recorded one instrument at a time through a laptop in Gibson’s garage. Their first

“After that we thought we wanted to make concise pop music rather than these meandering seven minutes songs that we’d been doing before,” says Macfarlane. “So we’d just take the best bit of that and use it as the chorus. You don’t have to have this huge build up to it; you just get the hooks out there. Then we got into dance music more when we went to university and wanted that to be reflected in our music.”

Yeah, we’re in your bedroom looking over your shoulder

Their most well-known single Paris invaded request shows across the country and became the dedication song for many lovers. I ask Macfarlane how it felt to know he was a part of sexual interactions all over Australia. “I’ve never really thought about it actually!” He warmed up to the idea though, saying “when we write music it’s a pretty selfish thing because, first and foremost, you just want to do what sounds good to your ears and then it gets spat out to the wide world. It’s amazing when people get any kind of connection from it. It’s like sharing an intimacy with total strangers, someone that you’re never ever going to meet. Yeah, we’re in your bedroom looking over your shoulder.” Make sure you lock your door next time you’re having ‘special time.’ Friendly Fires are a part of the awesome Good Vibrations lineup, held at Sydney’s Centennial Park on Saturday February 13. Tickets can be purchased through Moshtix.

The album was mastered by well-noted engineer Alan Douches, who has mastered for bands including Mastodon and The Misfits. It turned out an energising and aggressive album, with razor-sharp production that is still able to bring out the band’s original raw and intense sound. “I’m pretty stoked, I don’t think you’ll ever get it exactly how you all envisioned it, but it’s I really feel like with pretty close to how we our new self titled, all wanted it.” really kicked

we’ve

GOOD MOURNING NAOMI FROST They’ve undoubtedly dubbed 2009 the band’s most productive year yet. Halloween saw the release of their energetic, powerful and sharply produced new self-titled album and finally this December the Gold Coast’s prestigious and tireless band MOURNING TIDE are embarking on the highly anticipated Schools Out for Summer Tour. Dynamic lead guitarist Vin Steel, who originally from a young age aspired to be a drummer, shares with us some insight into the band’s most significant year on record. Mourning Tide’s new self-titled album was mixed by esteemed US producer Steve Evettes, who has worked with big name metal/ alternative bands like Every Time I Die, Story of the Year and even The Cure. “It was killer! He was our number one choice to mix, so when he said he’d do it we were all stoked,” Steel remembers excitedly. “So two of us flew over, myself and Dale, we got to work with Steve a few weeks mixing. Then we flew across to New York to work with Alan Douches. So yeah, that trip was killer.” He continues, saying “it was great being there, seeing how A-game guys work.”

Spectacularly mixed into our sound and produced, Steel feels that their new self-titled has taken a major leap up from their previous album Trash ‘n’ Burn, which claimed a spot in Blunt Magazine’s Top 100 Albums of 2006. “Trash ‘n’ Burn was much more of a composition of hardcore and metal, a bit more of a mish-mash, whereas this one is more unified. It’s more streamline and I think it’s more us. The other one was sort of testing. We were trying things, testing the water with certain sounds,” he claims. “I really feel like with our new self-titled, we’ve really kicked into our sound.”

Mourning Tide’s upcoming gig at the Weston Creek Community Centre will bring Canberran fans their first opportunity to hear the band’s spectacular new material live. The band will be touring nationally this month with Deez Nuts, Ghost Inside and Mark My Words on the 2009 Schools Out for Summer Tour, giving us a brutal close to this year’s Canberra metal/hardcore scene. This being Mourning Tide’s first gig in Canberra since Myfest all the way back in 2008, Steel assures “we’ve definitely stepped it up since the last time. I think you’ll see us in good form and rocking some new material,” he announces. “So we hope to see you all there and ready to rock.” Mourning Tide play the Weston Creek Community Centre on Saturday December 19. Tickets through Moshtix.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS JOSH BROWN Juanita Stein, sultry lead singer of brooding Sydney-via-London act HOWLING BELLS, has undergone a huge transformation over the past few years. The first time I saw her perform at the Sydney Big Day Out in 2003, she struggled to overcome the taunts of rabid Frenzal Rhomb supporters during a main stage set as part of her previous band, Waikiki. These days though, Stein would have none of it. “I’ve grown big balls,” she laughs. “So I don’t think I’d put up with it this time around.” Her attitude isn’t the only thing that’s changed – her band has a new name, home and sound, and has subsequently begun to enjoy a good deal of international success. So what inspired the radical change of direction? “I just didn’t really care for it anymore,” she reveals, referring to her old outfit. “I wanted to do something heavier and more meaningful because that’s what I was drawn to. I wasn’t listening to music that sounded like Waikiki at the time, so I remember thinking ‘what the fuck am I making music for that I wouldn’t go and buy?’”

Changing musical styles went hand in hand with changing address for Stein. She and her bandmates packed up and moved to the UK to start their journey as the newly formed Howling Bells with a clean slate. But it wasn’t as easy as sitting down to a cup of tea and a few scones. “It I remember thinking was terrifying,” she ‘what the fuck am I admits. “Overwhelmingly making music for that I challenging logistically. It was not an easy thing wouldn’t go and buy?’ to do.” She tells me that the band contemplated throwing in the towel “every day” and they only overcame the relocation-related obstacles they encountered through “absolute pig stubbornness.” Thankfully it didn’t take too long for the band’s persistence to pay off. The Bells’ rise in popularity can be credited in part to hard work, but it also might just have had something to do with the bands they started to score support slots for. Some of the world’s biggest bands – Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Placebo and The Killers – came knocking on Stein’s door requesting the pleasure of her company on stage. She remains modest about the opportunities presented to her. “We’re terribly flattered that these bigger bands want us to support them and play with them and you learn a lot from watching them,” she says. “But you really need your own network within which to connect to an audience. It’s not enough to just support a big band.” Howling Bells will soon be in town to showcase songs from their second album, Radio Wars. Stein tells me punters might get a chance to hear new material as well, which they’ve been working hard on. “We’re taking our experiences into consideration and definitely drawing a middle point between the two records, which is somewhere in between earth and the galaxy, if that makes sense.” It certainly does, because it’s clear Stein has her sights set on the stars. Howling Bells play ANU on Thursday December 17. Tix through Ticketek.

AHEAD OF THEIR TIME

JUSTIN HOOK

Like many bands formed in the chaotic, free and inventive melting pot of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, SEVERED HEADS’ approach to music was simple and efficient as lead-Head Tom Ellard explains. “Yup, we just did shit and didn’t think about why or longevity or success. It was always just about enjoying life and if other people were interested you’d bring them in. All of this stuff can be so simple if you just cut the rules and regulations out of it.” Ellard is reflecting on a simpler past in the context of free associating about the future because not only are Severed Heads performing (possibly for the last time under that name) at the forthcoming Sydney Festival this January, but also because he is a key presenter at the Circa 1979: Signal to Noise Sessions panel discussion that dissects Sydney’s underground music scene of 30 years ago. Ellard’s session will focus on the culture of remixing, recycling and sampling which is somewhat fitting as Severed Heads were at the forefront of tape splicing, mashing up and looping long before digital technology nurtured a generation of bedroom producers and

remixers. Their most recognisable and commercially successful track Dead Eyes Open is in fact a mid-‘90s remix of a decade old track from a time where technology was different, more physical and it was all shoulder pads and Miami Vice sleeveless [There’s] no need sweaters, right? Well, not to write any really, as Ellard helpfully music – just get corrects. “There will be a lot of people coming to a website the festival who have a preconception of what the time was like but one of the things I am keen to do is sweep away that illusion. When I say ‘1980s’ to people I tend to get the same type of responses from everyone – pink legwarmers, Kylie Minogue, disco blah blah blah and it’s nice to have it encapsulated like that but you have to basically throw out the entire truth to get this perception.” And despite its reputation as a synth-laden, day-glo nightmare there was definite spartan aesthetic at work. “You see, technology was part of it – but there’s an attitude involved as well. The biggest thing is that we didn’t have the amount of communication available,” and this absence of information overload meant musicians tended not to update their status every half hour and focus on what they did best – make music. “Technology was important because there were a lot of new things coming along, but there was also a lot of time to think about things and try them out. These days, starting a band means you end up getting questions like ‘is it dirty south? Or crunk? Or R’n’B?’ All these rules that we live under… it’s really unnecessary. And the first thing you have to have is a web presence. No need to write any music – just get a website.” You can either catch Ellard playing as part of Severed Heads or at the Circa 1979: Signal To Noise exhibition, both held at the Sydney Festival in midJan. Tickets and more info are available from www.sydneyfestival.org.au .

LET’S GET FOLKED UP BMA had the pleasure of an email interview with DARREN HANLON, currently on tour in the US.

JULIA WINTERFLOOD JW: After the Australian Christmas tour you’re heading back to the US to record your fourth album. Can you tell me a little of what’s in store? I read you were planning on making it a lot more stripped back, a lot more low-key. Why so? DH: As always it’s just the way the songs are leaning. They seem to have more of a folk stamp on them, plus I just want this one to be simple and easy. Some of the songs have been influenced by paintings by a friend of mine and they have an earthy feel to them. If all goes well, those paintings will be the artwork for the album. JW: Where will you be recording it? Will the Majestic Theatre, where you recorded your last album, feel a bit neglected? DH: I’ve just had a few days on this trip researching the possibilities of making it all happen. The plan now is to head to Portland for a month to do it in mid-January. I seem to know a lot of great musicians there. We’re gonna set up a simple studio in a house and hopefully we’ll entice players in with the promise of cups of tea and biscuits. The Majestic has been renovated since we recorded there. I can’t wait ‘til I have a hit single and can buy it and make it look run down again. JW: Where do all your magic little lines come from? Were you always this clever, witty and charming? DH: I always say it’s easy to be clever, witty and charming when you have months to think about it! I am so easily distracted I have to lock myself away to get my mind on the job. That’s why I find myself sitting in caravans in the country eating tinned baked beans on crackers and handfuls of Nutri-Grain out of the box for weeks at a time. Some lines come from overhearing conversations in country town cafes. JW: What are your parents like? They must be very proud of you. DH: My parents are very supportive. In fact they convinced me to go to music college after I finished school and wanted to be a maths teacher. They’re still quite young and very adventurous. They’re farmers so they have that old fashioned hospitality thing. I took them on tour this year and they out-partied everyone. JW: How often do your performances get interrupted by marriage proposals?

DH: I’ve had quite a few and also get asked to play weddings all the time. In one year I had over 15 requests. When my music career is over I’m going to get my celebrant’s licence. JW: Do you own a pinball machine? I’m not sure if it coincides with your Canberra leg of the tour but if it does you should try and get along to the ANU Bar Pinball Battle Royale (I may have made this up – Ed.). DH: What!? Is it on when I’m there? I just competed in the Seattle pinball comp and got in the top 20 out of 100. Not too bad. It’s a funny story but too long for your pages here. And yes I do own one machine. It’s called Roadshow and is currently in the FBI radio studios in Sydney. JW: Have you thought any further about calling your band Metamucil? I’m sure there’re a lot of nans out there who’d be instant fans if you did. DH: We’re still trying to digest that name. That’s a really bad joke. You know that this is for our nursing home band though? I used to play at nursing homes a lot when I was younger. Actually when I was still at school I made a friend in one who was in his 90s and had fought at Gallipoli. His name was Ambrose and I spent a lot of time at the home just talking to him. My Nan is in one now and I go to visit her a lot and have had to endure the awful entertainment they’re subjected to. Just because they’re old doesn’t mean they don’t have any taste! I feel I need to do something about it.

I just competed in the Seattle pinball comp and got in the top 20 out of 100. Not too bad JW: You’re often touted as the Oz God of Quirky Folk Pop, or the Oz King of Quirk Pop, or something along those lines. Do you, like Justin Heazlewood, sometimes feel a small twinge in your heart about not being taken more seriously? DH: Of course, it’s really annoying. But I think my true fans can see through it all. Most of them prefer the more heartfelt songs anyway. They’re the ones that have more shelf life. I don’t go out of my way to write the more whimsical ones, they’re just another side of my personality. And they’re all true! I really did meet the guy whose uncle invented the kickstand. Otherwise I probably would’ve thought that a silly idea for a song. JW: I hope the Tilley’s gig goes well. Anything you’d like to tell Canberra punters about the tour? DH: I’m glad to be playing my first Christmas show there. I’ll try and convince Tilley’s to sell mulled wine on the night! Darren will play at Tilley’s as part of his annual Christmas tour on Sunday December 20. Tickets can be purchased from www.flippinyeah.com or on the door for $30. Get in quick though as he always fills the house!

E X H I B I T I O N I S T

Shakespeare’s 20th anniversary, and John Bell’s 70th birthday, the company will celebrate on stage with King Lear (with John Bell himself in the title role) and Twelfth Night. Hugonnet is especially excited about When The Rain Stops by acclaimed Lantana writer Andrew Bovell. “It’s an immersive journey, where you don’t know where you’re going. It’s beautiful, poetic, a bit of a ride. It started out at the Adelaide festival, then went to STC last year, and Melbourne this year, all with the original cast from Adelaide,” she says. “The other thing I like is that it’s with a big ensemble cast. At CTC we often look at scaled down productions or four-handers as they’re more feasible to produce, but large scale gives you excitement.”

STAGE? RIGHT!

On that end of the scale, there’s also the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Laurence Olivier Award-nominated production of Romeo and Juliet, which is a full 32 corps ballet.

EMMA GIBSON

“We’re also excited about Tammy Anderson’s show I Don’t Wanna Play House in the Courtyard Studio - it’s her life experience from the point of view of her at age 12. It’s quite intimate. What I like about this season is the scale of small to big.”

If you’re a hyper-neurotic thespian, you can start planning your 2010 theatre experiences now, with our preview of what the New Year holds for Canberra stages. Even if you’re not, you’re sure to find something to amuse, inspire, entertain, surprise and enlighten . Canberra’s two busiest theatres promise a year of variety, from drama to music, classics to contemporary dance, and opera to burlesque. Here’s a run down of the CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE AND THE STREET THEATRE’S 2010 SEASON. Let’s kick off with Canberra Theatre Centre’s 2010 subscription season, which features 14 shows from Australian and international companies and is full of crowd pleasers. “We chose shows we think will have strong appeal to our subscribers and general patrons. For example, we know ballet, opera and dramas are very strong” explains Programming Manager Gill Hugonnet. “The other aspect of our programming approach is about bringing Canberra shows that wouldn’t otherwise come here - because they’re not financially viable, or because they’re international or contemporary works.” The subscription season includes the stage adaption of Rain Man, starring Alex Dimitriades and Daniel Mitchell, as well as Sydney Theatre Company’s The Wharf Review. And, as 2010 marks Bell

There’s a balance between going for something tried and tested, and calculating risk. The CTC is pushing the limits this season with When the Rain Stops and Irish play The Wallwaugh Farce. Of course, sometimes it’s difficult to push audiences. Hugonnet wants to expand their horizons, but not at the cost of their enjoyment. “People have an idea of theatre. When it’s a big night out once in a while, you invest a lot and if it doesn’t meet your expectations you’ll be reluctant to go to the theatre again. People want a good night out.” She hopes the 2010 season will continue to develop the audience. “You’ve got to give them what they want and then a little bit more. We say, ‘if you like this, then try this’. It’s not simply about selling tickets, but the journey of the theatre goer and getting them to experience something we think they’ll like.” Caroline Stacey, Artistic Director of The Street Theatre, agrees. “I program work here that tells Canberra stories. Continued on page 30

Continued from page 29 “Equally, work that Canberra audiences deserve to see - and they might be difficult works or not mainstream.” She also says programming is subjective. “It reflects the aesthetics and interest of the person that’s programming. But that’s within a framework of trying to develop a set of experiences that are connected to The Street and celebrate risk taking with form, content, and theme. It’s a mixture of tastes and stories. It’s about a myriad of prisms through which you look at the world.” Unlike the CTC, The Street Theatre has no subscription season. “It doesn’t give us the flexibility, and it’s also not quite with the arts house model we have, which is more clustered around interest areas by genre, seasonal,’”Stacey explains. “We found with a subscription season we missed opportunities to work with indie artists and we like the capacity to be flexible, surprise and package around genre.” A big part of The Street’s philosophy is about supporting independent programming, especially through the popular Made in Canberra season, which supports and develops local independent artists. Stacey says it’s an approach that continues to be refined. Previously, music, theatre and cross-art performances have been mixed in with each other throughout the season, but in 2010, the theatre will hold a month of music performances, including international, national and local performers from a range of genres. Enderby Music will once again curate jazz music performances. Shoeb Ahmed from Abstraktions will develop a sound art performance. Both are independents who have achieved success through Made in Canberra. “It’s part of the whole initiative,” Stacey says. “We develop people’s capabilities and ensure they can build audiences, build a following, and build an income.” The Street will also produce a few works. One of them is Art, by French playwright Yasmina Reza. “It’s an examination of the modern art movement and more importantly, friendship. It’s very funny,” Stacey says. The Burlesque Hour (she’s back!) will take to the stage in February. Later in the year, The Street will hold a festival of solo work which includes work from Max Cullen, William Zappa and David Finnigan. Finally, Alana Valentine’s much-awaited commissioned piece, MP, is in development and explores the way women use political power. Julie Bishop, Maxine McKew and Tania Plibersek are just a few to lend their ideas. Between the two theatres there’s something for everyone in 2010. For information on the CTC 2010 Subscription Season head to www. canberratheatre.org.au. For information on Street Theatre shows throughout the year, head to www.thestreet.org.au .

The book traces the Sydney-based artist’s life and career from his childhood years in Auckland, through his success as lead guitarist with idiosyncratic pop loons Mental as Anything to the last 20 years since he left the group, which he’s spent working full time as a professional artist. All of this is complemented by a large selection of his work, from posters and record sleeves – for the likes of Public Image Ltd, Paul Kelly and Crowded House – to his creations for the Sydney Olympic closing ceremonies and his landscapes.

MR MAMBO PETER KRBAVAC

Nothing can quite prepare you for the marvellous, hulking volume that is The Mind and Times of Reg Mombassa. Basically, it could kill a man. “It’s very heavy,” Reg agrees. “It’s quite solid – like a bull terrier.” Taking a quick break from Dog Trumpet practice – a duo he’s fronted with his brother Peter O’Doherty since 1990 – REG MOMBASSA, perhaps Australia’s most prominent artist of recent times, is reflecting on the opus, penned by fellow painter and writer Murray Waldren. “We’ve been promoting it as the first book of its kind in the history of the universe,” he says. “Normally with an art biography it’s mostly text with a few pictures in the middle, or a coffee table book – all pictures with a bit of art theory and not much else. So it’s good to have the full biography and the full art book thing in one.”

Best known for his iconic, sometimes controversial Mambo clothing designs, Reg says he has always enjoyed the more accessible medium of shirts and posters to present his art. “There’s nothing wrong with art that’s very arcane and impenetrable,” he qualifies. “You need art like that as well, but obviously people are less likely to understand or appreciate that. I always liked the idea of good art for normal people, rather than just for an elite, fine art audience.” Much of Reg’s work is inspired by Australian suburbia, but while he admits to finding them visually interesting, he clarifies that he’s not “celebrating the suburbs” as such. “Suburban life can be very dull and conservative, and at times a bit rough and violent,” he explains. “I certainly enjoyed it, growing up in south Auckland. I remember it quite fondly even though I must admit I wouldn’t want to live in the suburbs now.” Reg does admit it was an odd situation to be compiling what is essentially a career retrospective midway through his career, but all this revision hasn’t stemmed his work ethic. “It is slightly strange putting it all together and thinking ‘oh well, maybe I can just stop now,’” he says. “But I’m not going to do that because as an artist, you always think there’s something better just around the corner that you haven’t quite got to yet.” The Mind and Times of Reg Mombassa is published by Harper Collins and is available to order online via www.harpercollins.com.au .

UNINHIBITED It’s the last issue of the end of a very big year for Exhibitionist – our first year. Remember, way back when it was (when was it again? March?), we first came into the world, kicking and screaming and banging on about art and whatnot? Oh, those were our salad days. Now we’re old and cynical, and easily bought (two quadruple whiskies ought to do it), and look upon the year past with quiet weariness. JUST KIDDING. This year has been tops!

D-DAY ALLAN SKO ‘Ere, you’re reading this article, which means you have at least a passing interest in Black Books co-writer and star, stand up maestro, and seemingly perpetual drunk DYLAN MORAN. So you’ll understand my excitement and trepidation when an interview to support the release of the man’s DVD What It Is arose. Excitement, because the man’s an acerbic comedy gem; every bit as cynical, intelligent, ranting and brilliant as his Bernard Black creation, a man unafraid to wave a nicotine-stained V-sign at the world whilst bearing his trademark luck-o-the-Irish smile. Trepidation, because it is told he is not particularly forthcoming with press and quick to end a conversation. It was pleasing, then, to indulge in a tight 15 minute conversation with the man late one evening. How was he? Very pleasant. Tired too, but that’s easy to understand. “The ting with the tour, the one I did in Australia it’s still going, but will finally be wrapping up here next week,” he says of What It Is in his instantly recognisable accent. He was out here in early April. Yikes. “I shall be celebrating my time off by lying face down in the middle of the floor for three weeks with a bottle of miscellaneous alcohol clutched in my right hand. The children will be able to use me as a form of trampoline.” Covering topics such as men refusing to grow up (“Grown men with these t-shirts that say ‘Zap’ and ‘Pow’ on the front”) and parenting (“You can tell the people who don’t have kids, because they ask you what you did over the weekend, like you have a choice”), What It Is is Moran at his best. “It’s very useful to have a channel with which to funnel through any annoyances you come across in your life,” he says of stand up. “To be able to share a grievance and have other people laugh at it allows you to realise it’s a shared thing. “It’s very difficult being away from the children for so long, it can be very hard. It does allow you to return to them more in love than ever,” he says wryly, “but it’s one of the downsides of the job certainly.” With the tour, DVD promotion, and deserved bout of unconsciousness out of the way, Moran can now look towards the new decade. “I have a few projects I’d like to do next year,” he reveals. “Perhaps start work on another series of some sort. Collaborations are enjoyable – to have someone to bounce ideas off – and it’s a change from constantly living inside your own head as you can end up doing with stand up. I’d like to put a book out at some point but it’s what you’d call a work in suspension. I don’t want to turn into one of those people that talks about things before they’re finished so I’ll talk about it when it’s out.” I’ll look forward to that. Dylan Moran’s What It Is DVD is out now.

Traditionally, the end of the year is the time to reflect and learn, and more importantly to celebrate. In Austin, it’s the time to give thanks at a quaint regional custom known as Thanksgiving, in which the chief pursuits consist of eating ‘yams’ and drinking Antipodean wine. Kinda like Christmas, but without the presents and wreaths. Meanwhile, in Canberra recently, there has been much to celebrate for certain artistes gilded with laurels by the Canberra Critics Circle. If you haven’t heard of the CCC, or ‘The Circle’ as it is known in certain… circles, it may be because in the combination of arcane seclusion and unflinching power they bear a passing resemblance to the Masons.* Every year ‘The Circle’ (convened by purveyor of fine arts criticism and grand dame of the critical arts, Helen Musa), bestows awards for achievement in the arts. Unlike the CAT Awards, ‘The Circle’ politely declines the choking stringency of ‘categories’ (like Best Chub Fuddler, or Outstanding Achievement in Douchery) and instead awards for excellence within a certain field. In 2009, David Finnigan and Gillian Schwab were rewarded for their work on 2008’s Made in Canberra piece …oceans all boiled into sky, in visual arts Geoffrey Farquhar-Still got a nod for his show Reflex, and Julian Fleetwood and Traverse Poetry got a writing gong for their efforts towards creating a scene in the Can.** Meanwhile, the Big One is the annual Citynews®™ Artist of the Year. In 2009 the award happily went to one of Exhibitionist’s favourites, tableaux artiste and Radiance Dance choreographer Min Mae. To quote ‘The Circle’’s listing, the award was given “for insinuating her tableaux vivants into the collective psyche of creative Canberra. Unique in Australia, her challenging works cross genre and art form using the diverse environments of galleries, shops and the streets to generate stimulating unions between visual artists, dancers, actors, writers, musicians and their audiences.” Here, here. Every silver lining, however, appears in the axilla of a cloud. Celebrating the award, Citynews featured Min on the cover of a recent issue starkers save for an artfully draped shawl; but the big scandal was the information that the mag had decided (without her consent, mind you) to digitally remove the hair from her one visible armpit. An odd method of veneration given the artist’s dedication to exploring and embracing all types, colours, sizes and textures of the human body. In spite of what could (in some circles) be described as a ‘cock-up’, it is mighty nice to see an award going to an artist who contributes something pretty unique to the nash cap, and whose achievements and efforts can only, we assume, increase. Definitely a cause for celebration. NAOMI MILTHORPE exhibitionist@bmamag.com *Not actually true. They don’t even have a windowless building in which they make their inscrutable decisions. ** There are more. You can find them out for yourself (head to ccccanberracriticscircle.blogspot.com).

IN REVIEW Artists Unite C Block Theatre November 20-22 Not Axel Harrison The Street Theatre November 26 – December 5 It’s great to see support for emerging artists. Canberra Youth Theatre’s Artists Unite (pictured) was a showcase of three plays by emerging playwrights, and a great opportunity for actors, writers and directors to gain experience. Director Jon Sharp brings Edmund Hogan’s Funny Bones to the stage. Morgan Hannah Thomas and Hannah Lawson are well matched as the languid, bored sisters who discover that whenever they say ‘knock at the door’ there is one. Sarah Dunn’s X is less accessible - a piece of absurdism about the unknown factor, and human nature. Directed by Shasta Sutherland, this piece used set and props well. Molly Caddy’s energetic performance and Chester Adamik’s wry comic wit are standouts. Alysha Herrmann’s The Trees is the most developed of the three pieces, and Alison McGregor’s direction is precise. A trio of eerie trees, played by Jemima Wilson, Morgan Ken and Lucy Matthews narrate the story of Angela (Freya Pilcher), a teenage girl escaping her horrific past, and her brother (Braiden Dunn). Artists Unite was enjoyable, but at times a bit hit and miss. Setting the bar is emerging writer Sam Floyd, with Not Axel Harrison hitting the stage at The Street Theatre as part of the Made in Canberra season. This comedy writer’s latest offering is a story of gangsters, mistaken identities, hit men… and floristry. Floyd’s script is blade sharp and gets funnier as it progresses. It’s full of great one-liners, mostly from Adam Salter, who revels in his role as wannabe hit man Val, the meathead bodyguard of mob boss Poncioni (adeptly played by David McNamara). A sure fire hit. Emma Gibson

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS YOLANDE NORRIS We tend to imagine that the great artists of the world have been making art their entire lives, but for some of our country’s most interesting and important artists this is not necessarily the case. For many Indigenous Australian artists, particularly those living in remote areas, it is common to take up painting much later in life, with age and wisdom coming well before a career in art. For some, this can be because they have been preoccupied for decades with raising families and taking care of life’s responsibilities. For others, it is because only upon reaching the status of an Elder within their community are they permitted to create artwork using certain designs or depicting certain stories. Despite their age and social standing these individuals are considered by the art world to be ‘emerging artists’, as they have only just embarked on their artistic careers. This summer, the National Gallery of Australia is showcasing a selection of works by such artists in the exhibition EMERGING ELDERS. Utilising the NGA’s permanent collection, the exhibition curator Tina Baum has hand-picked some of the very best contemporary Indigenous art being made today, all by older artists who are on their way to being art stars of the future. Not only does the exhibition break down the notion that an emerging artist is someone who is young and inexperienced, it challenges our preconceptions about what Indigenous art ‘looks like’. There are ‘traditional’ materials in some of these pieces, such as natural ochres on bark or hollow logs, but there are also more contemporary approaches, such as the use of stretched canvas and acrylic paints. Designs which have been used by the artists’ ancestors for thousands of years appear alongside experimental marks and modern motifs. Franchesca Cubillo, the Senior Curator of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Art at the NGA, points out that Indigenous art is constantly changing and innovative, and that the current exhibition is a testament to this. Knowledge of artistic practice, stories and ritual may be passed from generation to generation, but each artist contributes his or her own ideas and experiences, putting a fresh spin on tradition and history. The development of Indigenous art spans tens of thousands of years, but it is only in recent history that it has become a formidable force within the global art market. This recognition and celebration by non-indigenous Australians and the wider world has not only brought many financial and social benefits to Indigenous communities but has also helped to foster appreciation and preservation of Indigenous culture. Sadly, the life expectancy for Indigenous people is still drastically shorter than that of non-Indigenous Australians, meaning the careers of these talented emerging artists is shorter-lived than it need be.

Emerging Elders is a diverse array of artwork, from the subtle to stunning, to powerful and playful, and a must-see for anyone who is interested in what’s happening at the very forefront of contemporary Australian art today. Emerging Elders continues at the National Gallery of Australia until June 14 2010, and entry is free.

Pantjiti M MCLEAN, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Palunya: that’s all, 2002 – 2004, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Purchased 2006

ARTISTPROFILE: Alexander Boynes

What do you do? I make electric drawings. When did you get into it? I studied gold and silversmithing, and finished in 2004. In my final year, I began making light-based pieces and working with imagery. I travelled to Munich the following year where these works exhibited in Talente, a contemporary craft exhibition. Who or what influences you as an artist? My whole family – my parents are both painters, and my sister Laura is a contemporary dancer, choreographer and filmmaker. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by so many creative, passionate and supportive people. What’s your biggest achievement/proudest moment so far? I’m really excited about having my first solo show – as a child of two artists, I have been going to art galleries since birth (literally, I recently discovered a photo of myself having a nappy change at The Louvre… Thanks Mum!) I’m really humbled to have come full circle like that.

counter didn’t bat an eyelid. I mean, come on guys, when was the last time you saw a preschooler with a Prada bag the size of a milk crate and a gold Amex? Ahh, Belco… What pisses you off? The GDE, the GFC and QIC… What’s your opinion of the local scene? There are so many great makers and performers in this city – the Canberra arts scene is seriously underrated. I’m always amazed at the talent coming out of this place. What are your upcoming exhibitions? My first solo show opens Friday December 11 at Canberra Contemporary Art Space at Gorman House, from 6pm. My show, After Dark, opens alongside two more solo shows, from Nicholas Folland and Lucy Quinn. Contact info: aboynes@hotmail.com

What are your plans for the future? Keep making! I want to experiment with the scale of my work, making some really huge pieces, and trying some new materials. This year has been really productive for me, so I hope to continue churning out new pieces for upcoming shows. What makes you laugh? The other day I saw two five-year-old kids racking up hundreds of dollars worth of toys at a well-known electronics store after stealing their Mum’s handbag… They literally dragged away four bags of stuff and the three guys behind the

bit PARTS WHO: Oz Photographers WHAT: Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards Travelling Exhibition WHEN: Monday December 7 – Friday December 18 2009 WHERE: ACT Legislative Assembly Exhibition Room There’s not heaps of time to get along to this traveller, so get your skates on and head to the Legis Ass to see the Canon APPAs. More than one hundred photographs by Australia’s most recognised professional photographers will be on display in this one-hundredper-cent free exhibition which graces the walls of the Legislative Assembly Exhibition Room from December 7 to 18. And you can support your fellow citizens: three snappers from the Can will feature in the exhibition, including Leonie Keogh, Dan O’Day and Geoff Comfort.

WHO: Arj Barker WHAT: Comedy, dawg! WHEN: Friday December 18, 8pm WHERE: Canberra Theatre Centre The Age has called him “stand-up’s Dave Grohl”. You might know him as Dave from Flight of the Conchords. Whichever Dave he is, or isn’t, Arj Barker (the man who my friend Amy was briefly considering stalking, kidnapping, and forcing entry into a marriage contract) is coming to the CTC on Friday December 18. The show is called Original Style Bits’n’Pieces and comes with this metaphor-laden press release tagphrase: “Tender observations, mixed with hearty chunks of sarcasm and delicate slices of irony, smothered in that good ol’ fashioned, unwarranted anger you love. Mmmmmm. That’s quality you can hear.” Tix $40/$35. Bookings: www.canberratheatre.com.au .

WHO: Free Rain Theatre WHAT: 2010 Season WHEN: See above WHERE: Theatres around Canberra… Free Rain, that stalwart of the Can pro-am scene, has announced its 2010 season under the umbrella tagline of “a classic season of theatre”. Wonders! Featuring in this classic season will be such classics as Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, to be directed by Fiona Atkin; Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, directed by Cate Clelland; and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Liz Bradley. Onwards and upwards!

WHO: ANU School of Art students WHAT: 2009 Graduate Exhibition WHEN: December 4 - 13 WHERE: ANU School of Art In case you didn’t already know: the summer party season officially begins with the opening of the ANU School of Art Graduate Exhibition. Every year the departing students take over the School of Art buildings, filling them with artworks in every imaginable medium, not a single wall or space spared. They’re tomorrow’s art superstars, Canberra’s crème de la crème. If you’re still wondering how to spend your tax return, the Graduate exhibition is also your chance to grab shit-hot artwork for a very pretty penny. Visit before Saturday December 13 to take it all in. WHO: Artist Alexander Boynes WHAT: After Dark WHEN: December 11 2009 – February 13 2010 WHERE: Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Gorman House, Braddon Shamelessly quoting from the press release I am: “Alexander Boynes’ light-based works emerge at the intersection of street art and traditional printmaking techniques. Meticulous etching is combined with the immediacy of spray painting to reveal a moment in which time has been paused – an ‘Electric Drawing’. This suspended state – of falling, frailty, struggle and dancing, reflects on the changes and instabilities that surround us.” After Dark opens 6pm Friday December 11, and continues until Saturday February 13 2010.

WHO: You! (as long as you are one of the Can’s youf) WHAT: National Youth Week 2010 Seeding Grants WHEN: Seeding grant applications close Monday January 18 2010 WHERE: Info at www.youthweek.com Shamelessly paraphrasing the press release: National Youth Week is an annual, weeklong celebration of young people throughout Australia which aims to promote youth arts and music. The week-long event in April 2010, the theme of which is Live It Now, will feature exhibitions, information stalls, activities, demonstrations, live music and theatre for and by young people aged 12 to 25. And you can be involved! Leading up to the 2010 youth week, the Youth Coalition of the ACT will administer Seeding Grants, designed to fund events that celebrate and recognise the value of diverse young people in the ACT, and give young people the opportunity to get involved in their communities. Boo yah. For more info on Youth Week or on the Seeding Grants check out the website.

THE REALNESS It’s that time of the year again, so let’s just get down to business… Three releases stand out from the UK this year, my fave being United Colours Of Beggatron from those Foreign Beggars goons. Equal parts mayhem and gorgeous soul, it may well be their finest album yet. Producer Ghosttown served up most of the album’s amazing productions (along with some Noisia heatrocks!). Ghosttown also contributed some gems to Nine High’s dope self-titled debut LP, along with Melbourne’s M-Phazes (producer of the year, anyone?). Now residing in Aus, the Nine High fellas’ debut was accomplished, humorous, intelligent and worthy of repeated spins. UK veteran Micall Parknsun also returned with his second offering First Second Time Around complete with a slew of M-Phaze’s heaters and it was quality all the way. Thankfully, Jehst showed up numerous times, killing it with every verse (as he also did on the new Foreign Beggars!). Moving to the US and bottom line of the year belonged to Royce Da 5’9. His solo LP Street Hop was as dope as it gets. Over boomin’ raw sounds, the lyrically ferocious Royce proved that he is the complete package. Also forming one quarter of the Slaughterhouse supergroup with Joe Budden, Crooked I and Joell Ortiz, their self-titled debut was all swagger and braggadocio – a heavy hitting boom-bap hip-hop assault and completely addictive. In fact, 2009 was the return of the boom-bap hip-hop sound – dusty snares and chopped samples with echoes of that classic ‘94-‘95 sound. Exemplifying this was Marco Polo & Torae’s essential Double Barrell LP on Duck Down. Duck Down also brought us neck-crackin’ releases from Krs-One & Buckshot and Skyzoo – both underpinned by slammin’ production from the likes of Nottz, Illmind and Black Milk. More boom-bap came in with welcome new outings from veterans M.O.P. (Foundation), Blaq Poet (The Blaqprint), The Alchemist (Chemical Warefare) and Masta Ace & Edo. G (Arts & Entertainment – which could have been near perfect if it wasn’t for the irritating skits strewn throughout the record). Even People Under The Stairs stretched their party-funk to a welcome seventh outing full of braggadocio and dusty riddims. Renowned artists, Mos Def, Zion I and Brother Ali all returned with fantastic new records, and as expected from such veterans, each release was completely accomplished as well as showing unparalleled artistic and creative development. 2009 also gave us essential debuts from new jacks Fahshawn (Boy Meets World – produced by the amazing Exile) and Sha Stimuli (My Soul To Keep). Looking back though, no other release made more impact than the chef Raekwon’s dynamic Only Built For Cuban Links II which was an instant certified classic (check my full write up in my Top Ten of the year). Special mention also to Jay Stay Paid – a posthumous release from the legendary J.Dilla. The LP featured a collection of brilliant Dilla productions brought back to life by Pete Rock. Essential stuff. It wouldn’t be a complete wrap up with a quick look at local highlights. Horrorshow, Low Budget, Thundamentals, Gully Platoon and Delta all dropped killer LPs, while veterans Lazy Grey, Brad Strut and Urthboy all returned with stellar efforts. Ciecmate & Newsense delivered (and exceed expectations) with their long awaited LP and Melbournites Mata + Must and Fluent Form both dropped intelligent LPs full of razor sharp lyricism. Special mention also to debut albums from That’s Them, Phatchance, G Force and Thorts. If you haven’t got these releases, it’s time to get busy and catch up – and remember to support the artists, downloading LPs is for chumps. Until 2010... peace! ROSHAMBO roshambizzle@yahoo.com.au

MUSIC & LYRICS BORN PETER KRBAVAC Tom Shimura’s vocal chords are certainly in demand. No sooner has the Californian MC, better known as LYRICS BORN, stepped out of a recording studio then he’s straight into a string of interviews. He’s a busy man and so has been putting the studio time to good use, working on his forthcoming LP As U Were while also recording voiceovers for Cartoon Network franchise You Are Here. While between song skits on records are the bane of many a hip-hop head’s life, Lyrics Born explains these jocular interludes actually led to his television gig. “I got a call from my now producer out of the blue,” he remembers. “He was like ‘I’ve heard your records, I love the skits – you have a very distinctive voice so would you come in and give it a shot?’ Isn’t that something?” he marvels. “It’s funny how life is some times.” “Believe it or not, it really helps my rapping,” he continues, speaking about his voice work. “The producers really make me aware of things I’m not aware of in my repertoire, it really helps me grow and improve. To me, it’s no different [to rapping] – it’s all vocal research.”

I finally found a country that likes to party as much as I do!

Lyrics Born has just completed his latest US tour, The Deadliest Catch with Charlie 2Na and Gift of the Gab, and is now putting the finishing touches to his forthcoming LP – due in the first quarter of 2010. Originally slated for a 2009 release, he decided to take some long overdue and well-earned family time after he and his wife, singer Joyo Velarde, had a child. “It’s funk for the future – that’s probably the best way I can describe it,” he says of As U Were. “It’s urban, alternative, it’s wild, it’s crazy, it’s conventional, it’s sane, y’know what I mean? It’s everything. With every album I really try to grow and progress.” As well as established names such as Trackademicks, Sam Sparro, Lateef the Truthspeaker and Jake One, the new record will feature a host of up-and-coming talent. “They bring a fresh perspective... that burst of new energy that you have when you’re new to the gang,” he explains. “What I bring to the table is that seasoned refinement that you can only have when you’ve been doing this for ten years.” A frequent visitor to our shores, Lyrics Born is again returning for The Falls Festival and is anticipating the chance to preview some of his new tunes for Australian audiences. “I just have such a love affair with the country and with the fans,” he gushes. “I keep getting asked back, y’know, and I can’t say no. I finally found a country that likes to party as much as I do!” Lyrics Born will perform at the sold out Falls Festival, held at Marion Bay, Tasmania and Lorne, Victoria, between Tuesday December 29 2009 and Friday January 1 2010. For lineup and further information, head to www. fallsfestival.com.au .

“The album also looks at audacity, the nature of audacity, what it means to have audacity; the fact that it’s a quality of a person that can be viewed in a positive or negative way,” he continues. “‘Wow, that guy has such audacity’ you can say with admiration, or ‘I can’t believe the audacity of that guy.’ Having audacity is an important step towards getting where you want to go in life.”

SWANNING IT UP

allan sko

Thoroughly likable hip-hop trio UGLY DUCKLING – comprising DJ Young Einstein and MCs Dizzy Dustin and Andy Cooper – may not be as huge here as they were earlier this decade, a time when they filled Academy with 600 eager punters one year and close to 700 in Holy Grail the following. But they’re still here, they’re still lovable, and they’re still knocking out toe-tapping slabs of swear-free upbeat hip-hop. I caught up with the virtuous cloud-scraper of the group Andy C, who continues to be as lovely and humble as in previous conversations. New album Audacity has been kicking around for a few months now, and the lads are about to embark on an Australian tour taking in, amongst other things, the Days Like This! festival. “The album’s about two things, really,” Mr C tells. “It’s about dealing with getting older, living up to your responsibilities. That’s what the track Pay or Quit distils; the different vocal sections show a different responsibility, whether it’s rent, or car payments or whatever. And the opening track [I Won’t Let It Die] is about a refusal to grow up. It’s easy to stay naïve, but we’re all getting older now – Dizzy’s married with a daughter – so that’s what’s in our head space.

The album is instantly recognisable as the three from UD – there is no dramatic departure in sound – We try our best to but for the first time the boys make compelling have a go at a bit of singing. and interesting “It’s difficult to rap melancholy,” music Andy says. “It’s a lot better to be melodic. As you get older, you go through some things, trip up in areas, and there are songs on there that deal with that.” As well as lyricist for the group, Andy is the chief sample hunter for Einstein. “I’m the needle-in-the-haystack guy,” he says. “I spend days and days searching records to find that perfect sample for the next track.” That would make him one of the more knowledgeable authorities on music in the land then? “I don’t know about that,” he rebuts. And therein lies one of the most endearing qualities about Andy, and Ugly Duckling as a whole. Humility. Throughout the interview, Andy is self-deprecating and humble. “We’re far from the best band in the world,” he offers at one point, “but we try our best to make compelling and interesting music that uses pop songwriting to tackle serious subjects.” It’s good to know there are people like this in hip-hop. Let’s hope that as they get older, the desire to produce continues to burn brightly. Ugly Duckling are part of the stellar Days Like This! lineup alongside the likes of Method Man & Redman, The Cat Empire, Roots Manuva and many others. Tix through Moshtix. For more info, head to dayslikethis.com.au .

METALISE Merry 666-mas thrashers! The year has evaporated quicker than Roy Jones Jnr courtesy of a double jab with a looping right hand to the temple, in no small part due to the sheer volume of amazing shows that have happened this year and they just keep coming. Also congrats to Alchemist for picking up Best Regional and Best International

Export Act at the recent Australian Heavy Metal Awards. I mentioned last time that there were no tickets left for the Saturday December 12 leg of the Lamb of God, Shadows Fall and Devil Driver shows. The good news in two parts: there are still tickets for the Sunday December 13 show at The Big

Top Luna Park show and that my current favourite heavy band in the world have been added to the tour. Yes folks, High On Fire make their first visit to Australian shores and the three-piece hit the country on the cusp of releasing the absolute best work of their career in the form of their new ten track album. Buy a ticket to see the most vital riff master and warmongering rhythm section in action. Following on from the trend of packaging an eclectic bunch of bands is the welcome announcement of Polish death juggernauts Behemoth‘s return

to Australia. Also coming out for the tour is Arizona’s Job For A Cowboy displaying wares from their latest album Ruination and New Orleans’ absolutely killer black metal merchants Goatwhore. The tickets go on sale Friday December 11 for the Friday April 16 show at The Metro and the show is an all ages one. Ticketek or the Metro website for your tickets. Paradise Lost are coming back for the first time I remember them coming back since they played the first Cathedral tour with our own Alchemist back in ‘96. I’m sure they MUST have been here since then, but that’s not a concern for fans who can catch them at The Metro in Sydney on Saturday February 6. Locally, Slaughterfest III rolls through town Friday December 18 at The Basement in Belconnen, bringing a veritable mixed hamper of delights for your post-work Xmas party Friday. Captain Cleanoff bring the frankincense, Pod People the myrrh, The Kill will grind your faces off, Space Bong bring the gold, albeit very slowly and sludgily, Cuntscrape make an overdue visit from WA and Nothin’ Suss play the part of the candy cane to further sweeten the deal. Huge show, don’t miss it. Screamfest for New Year’s in Sydney also just got that much more brutal with the announcement of Malevolent Creation being added to the already massive bill. A recap – Cynic (USA), Dark Funeral (Sweden), Destroyer 666 (Aust/EU), Edguy (Germany), Ensiferum (Finland), Rotting Christ (Greece), Sonata Arctica (Finland) and Spawn Of Possession (Sweden) are joined by Black Majesty (VIC), Darker Half (NSW), Defamer (QLD), Eyefear (VIC), Eye Of The Enemy (VIC), Killrazer (NSW), Synperium (NSW), Universum (SA), Vanishing Point and Virgin Black (SA). Tickets at Ticketek. JOSH NIXON doomtildeath@hotmail.com Josh NP: Burn The Witch – Orodruin – Epicurean Mass

the word

BLACKBOX

on games So apparently it’s okay for 15-year-olds to slaughter innocent civilians in an airport, but they can’t mercilessly kill zombies, and it’s all care of Australia’s retarded censorship system. Yes, indeed, it seems that the classification board (the OFLC) has a bit of trouble being consistent. However, the real problem here is that mature games are inappropriately receiving an MA rating in the absence of an R rating. Join all the petitions you want; unfortunately it’s not going to change a damn thing, and this time it’s not even the OFLC’s fault (hell, they’re all for one). No, instead blame the South Australian Attorney-General who single-handedly has the ability to block the introduction of an R rating, and does so under the inaccurate pretence that it prevents immoral social behaviour. I think you’ll find he’s confusing the issue with that of free speech and namely, whether anyone has the right to ban you from playing a certain game. Personally, I’m still undecided about this last issue, or more accurately, I have double standards. Yes, I should be able to play everything, but there definitely are some people out there that really probably shouldn’t. The solution? Maybe some kind of IQ-based rating system? Failing that, maybe I’ll just take up a job working for the OFLC.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Platform: PS3, 360, PC Developer(s): Infinity Ward Publisher(s): Activision Length: 10+ hrs Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Successor to the amazing Modern Warfare, MW2 has got people talking by taking half a billion dollars of sales within the first five days of its release. For the most part, it’s well deserved. Like its predecessor, it features some intense combat that, in part, takes place on home soil, making for a welcome change of scenery. Throughout the game, the action comes thick and fast, featuring some standout moments such as the aforementioned highly confrontational airport scene. Unfortunately, with this greater push towards the blockbuster, it feels like the gameplay has suffered. For instance, whilst jumping a snow mobile across a ravine or scaling a glacier may sound cool, neither present much of a challenge and tend to come off feeling contrived. And whilst we’re on that topic the storyline, despite starting well, quickly starts creating more questions than it answers. Contrary to belief, the length of the campaign isn’t too bad (-10hrs) however, I never felt as challenged as I did in the first (possibly because the enemies had less of a tendency to respawn). So whilst the campaign isn’t quite as good as the first, the game also offers some co-operative challenges and a multiplayer mode that’s worth the ticket price alone (if you’re into that sort of thing). As a result, there’s a lot of fun to be had with this title, just don’t expect to mess your trousers in the same way you did for the original. TORBEN SKO

As we head into the silly season, a plethora of b-grade comedies are hitting our screens but don’t be too quick to write them off – classics like Blackadder got their start as filler when it rained in the cricket. The first of these is Teenage Kicks (ABC2, Mon Dec 28, 8pm) in which a washed up rocker (played by Adrian Edmonson, better known as Vyvyan from The Young Ones or Eddie from Bottom) gets turfed from the marital home and moves in with his kids. There’s also The Man Who Lost His Head (ABC1, Fri Dec 25, 8.30pm) about a British museum curator who goes to New Zealand, Accidentally on Purpose (SCTEN, Tue, 7.30pm) the new outing for Jenna Elfman, How Not to Live Your Life (ABC2, Thu Jan 2, 9.30pm), Taking the Flak (ABC2, Tue Jan 5, 7.30pm) about a film crew working in an African warzone, The Colbert Report (ABC2, Tue Jan 5, 7.30pm), an offshoot of The Daily Show and new Entourage (SBS1, Mon Dec 14, 10.55pm). Apart from comedy there’s Stargate Universe (SCTEN, Mon Dec 14, 9.30pm) which stars the sublime Robert Carlyle in a grittier version of the franchise, HG Nelson takes poetry out of dingey cafés and heads across Australia to talk to poets, slammers and MCs in Bush Slam (ABC1, Tue Dec 29, 8pm), The Fixer (SBS1, Mon Dec 14, 10pm) from the makers of Spooks and Seven Ages of Rock (ABC1, Thu Jan 7, 8.35pm) which does on a global scale what Long Way to the Top did with artists such as The Who, The Clash, Patti Smith, Black Sabbath, Oasis, The Pixies, Nirvana, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and more. There’s also some great repeats on offer – one offs and series – Wallace and Gromit: A matter of loaf and death (ABC2, Thu Dec 24, 6pm), The Proposition (ABC1, Sun Jan 10, 8.30pm), the Nick Cave penned Aussie western, Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar (SBS1, Thu Dec 24, 10pm) and British ‘90s dramedy Cold Feet (ABC2, Sun Dec 27, 8.30pm). For more back to the ‘90s there’s Seinfeld (Go!, Mon-Fri 8pm and more). Now if the fashion would just come back – sensible lace up shoes or boots with dresses – surely we’re done with the ‘80s now! If you’re in a doco mood check out HG Wells: War with the World (ABC1, Mon Jan 11, 8.40pm), Superspy: the man who betrayed the West (ABC1, Tue Jan 12, 9.35pm), Venice Carnival (SBS1, Thu Dec 31, 8.30pm), Hitler’s Favourite Royal (ABC1, Tue Dec 22, 8.30pm) and Jack Osborne: Celebrity Adrenaline Junkie (ABC2, Mon Dec 21, 8.30pm). As far as Christmas-related viewing goes, check out Santa Watch: A Very Specky Christmas (ABC1, Sun Dec 20, 7.30pm), Rockwiz Christmas Special (SBS1, Sat Dec 19, 9.20pm), Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation Christmas Special (SCTEN, Thu Dec 24, 7.30pm), Merry Christmas: Joyeux Noel (ABC2, Sat Dec 19, 9.30pm), the 2005 Cannes hit, Good Game Christmas Special (ABC2, Mon Dec 14, 8.30pm), Jamie’s Family Christmas (SCTEN, Mon Dec 28, 7pm), Star of Bethlehem: Behind the myth (ABC1, Thu Dec 17, 8.35pm), Compass: De-stuffing Christmas (ABC1, Thu Dec 24, 7.30pm) looks at more responsible gift giving – helping the less fortunate rather than signing up for a Chrisco hamper, Bush Christmas (ABC1, Sat Dec 26, 8.30pm), Clash of the Santas (ABC1, Thu Dec 24, 8.30pm), Miracle on 34th Street (SCTEN, Fri Dec 25, 1pm), The Grinch (SCTEN, Fri Dec 25, 5.30pm), The Legends of Santa (SBS1, Wed Dec 23, 8.30pm), The Real Family of Jesus (SBS2, Fri Dec 25, 7.30pm) and The Santa Clause 2 (Prime, Fri Dec 11, 8.30pm). TRACY HEFFERNAN tracyheffernan@bigpond.com

PUNKSKA

Last chance to dance to the bluebeat dance! Indeed, this is the final punk ‘n’ ska column I’ll write for BMA. After ten long years, countless gigs, interviews, tours and new releases, I’m stepping back to let someone new take over. Hopefully this happens and local punks and rudies have somewhere to promote their shows and musical output. That said, let’s get into it. The wait is finally over. The Porkers ‘ Persistence is Futile DVD is available. That’s 15 clips spanning their 22 year career with live and doco footage extras. Including the seminal gig, The Pork Hunts at the Sydney Teacher’s Club in 1988! Live footage covers Germany 1995, Japan 2005, in the studio 2007 and more. Soundsystem extras include clips from The Allniters, Backy Skank, Dr. Raju, Los Capitanes and Casino Rumblers et al. Visit www.soundsystemmusic.com for more information. Did you see The Toxicmen’s Halloween Misfits’ Tribute show at The Basement? Numbers were definitely up from last Halloween. Many in the crowd got into the spirit of the evening and there were some great tattoos on display throughout the grimly fiendish gathering. Recently reformed Buttnugget were joined by Elvis on vocals. Oxygen Thief killed it with a killer hardcore groove and The Toxicmen looked and were awesome in faithful Misfits get-up with eviscerated throats and flesh wounds. They even had dancing grrls straight from the Devil’s Whorehouse. Don’t miss next Halloween. You can also catch The Toxicmen when they appear for the Straight Vedge Tour as it blows through The Pot Belly on Saturday December 12. Together with Sydney’s party punks Chris Duke & The Royals,

Melbourne’s The Resignators, promising Perth four-piece The Decline and local streetpunks Rotten Opera. On Tuesday December 1, Fat Wreck Chords released an 88-song, 3CD boxset Wrecktrospective. Heaps of great bands. The first disc is a greatest hits of Fat, featuring 33 bands. The second disc, 28 previously unreleased demos and the third is the extremely limited Fat Club 7” series in its entirety, previously unavailable on CD. Never Rest In Peace is the brand new LP for Star Fucking Hipsters. Promo from AT declares it “Crust Pop” and, quote, “whether you like bouncy, pop-tinged punk or relentlessly messaged punk rock with gritty guitars and pounding drums, Star Fucking Hipsters easily find a way to please you with this release.” SFH member StzA Crack was in Oz recently for the Leftover Crack tour and had this to say on his blog. “Australia is... pretty fucking cool. I know a couple of you guys are a bit young and/or naive, but that’s what PUNK is. Sure the shows might be pricey, but we’re not getting paid, all monies made go to getting us down here and food (and a little booze) and we came down here only because we’ve been requested randomly for years and years. Gonna some marsupials today, practise Thunderstruck and eat a dingo, cuz it ate your baby...” We’ve come to the end of another column, only this time it really is the end. I hope I’ve been able to help the local scene (punks or rudies) and I’ve always tried to put a little historical perspective into the news, which I hope has been interesting/educational as well. My connection to ska and punk began when I saw Sid Vicious sing My Way on Donny Sutherland’s Sounds music video programme in 1983. In the intervening years since then, I’ve formed and been in many bands, recorded at the triple j studios in Sydney with a grunge/speedcore band and played at two Oz Ska Fests, in 1989 (Sydney) and 1993 (Canberra). I’ve been writing for BMA since 1995, took on the Ska/Punk column in 2000 and it’s never been a hassle. Thanks for reading. Oi Oi that’s yer lot! SIMON HOBBS

Not a bad year for ‘my kind of music’, 2009, although it has to be noted that most of the top notch tunage delivered this year in metal has been provided by artistes of a rather more ‘advanced vintage’… Anyways, here’s the pick of the year, with unhelpful comments from yours truly. Enjoy – I did.

10. Sunstorm – House of Lies [Frontiers/Riot] “Opening with the TITANIC hard rock of Divided, the class and quality doesn’t let up for a moment.”

9. Saga – The Human Condition [SPV/Riot]

10. la roux - la roux [polydor] This album is ‘80s-inspired candy-covered calypso-electro fun, with a LOT of falsetto thrown in for good measure. Great for dancing around the bedroom in one’s undies.

9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz! [Modular] It’s Blitz! is the album where everything came together for me and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. There’s a sufficient mix of ballsy attitude, raw energy, and passionate emotion that creates the perfect balance for a great album.

8. Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night [Dew Process]

“Whilst close-ish relatives (musically at least) Queen have wasted years messing about with bluesman Paul Rodgers trying to fit an octagonal peg into a square hole, Saga have bitten the bullet, found a bloke who can do the job (very well) and gotten on with the task at hand. This is how you replace a vocalist.”

I might be making an unpopular statement here, but Blasko’s last album didn’t do much for me at all. So it’s with great relief that I say welcome back Sarah! She is at her adorable (see We Won’t Run) and haunting (likewise All I Want) best.

8. QueensrŸche – American Soldier [Rhino]

7. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone [Anti]

“Heavy metal as a genre is often unfairly maligned by outsiders as having no interests beyond volume and power and of possessing Cro Magnon intelligence; those outsiders would do well to take a listen to the heart-rending Remember Me or album closer, The Voice, and think again.”

Apart from choosing to close this album with half an hour of cricket chirps, Ms Case didn’t do much wrong with this album. She gets the awards for Best Album Cover and Best Lyric of the Year (“I love your long shadows and your gunpowder eyes.”) Mmm.

7. Saint Deamon – Pandeamonium [Frontiers/Riot]

6. Florence + The Machine - Lungs [Island Records]

“Sitting on the hard rock side of Euro power metal, the likes of the tremendous Way Home point to a bright future for this Swedish outfit.”

6. THE Black Crowes – Before the Frost [Stomp] “Stunning.”

5. Levellers – Letters from the Underground [On the Fiddle] “Comfortably the best release from this band in a decade and a half, and one which sees a return of the righteous anger that was once such a trademark.”

4. Jorn – Spirit Black [Frontiers/Riot] “Spirit Black is almost perfect, with each song possessing something to make you want to revisit it time and again.”

Everything there is to like about Florence + The Machine can be summed up by their rollicking album opener Dog Days Are Over. Soulful female vocals, hand claps, stomping drums and delicate harp flourishes all combine to wind their way towards a howling crescendo. Bliss.

5. Fever Ray - Fever Ray [Rabid Records] I never did fully understand why Karin Dreijer Andersson’s voice was so warped in her work with The Knife. In its purest form, it’s such a beautiful asset – the mind boggles why you would want to distort that. It’s in full flight here, complimented by tunes that are simultaneously foreboding and captivating.

4. Metric - Fantasies [Metric Music International] Metric’s fourth album is as consistently awesome as their previous three. There’s plenty to love here – their brand of infectious Canadian indie rock is extremely pleasing to my ears. Highlights include Gold Guns Girls, Blindness and Waves.

3. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest [Warp] 3. Magnum – Into the Valley of the Moonking [SPV/Riot] “Tear-jerking ballad A Face in the Crowd is good enough to fit in on any one of the band’s albums from their glory years… they don’t make bad albums, but this is undoubtedly one of their best.”

2. Heaven & Hell – The Devil You Know [Roadrunner] “From the opening avalanche of heavitude that is Atom and Evil to the final hurrah of Breaking Into Heaven, TDYK quite literally doesn’t let you out of its grasp for one second. This is prime heavy metal of the first order.”

1. Lynch Mob – Smoke and Mirrors [Frontiers/Riot] “…an utterly marvellous hard rock record. Returning vocalist Oni Logan in particular is in sparkling form, and this is a must have for all fans of ‘80s metal.”

If you like harmonies, this album is definitely for you. This Brooklyn quartet sure give Fleet Foxes a run for their money in that department. Big single Two Weeks exudes so much charm it almost bursts at the seams. Believe the hype!

2. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns [Parlophone] Natasha Khan goes from strength to strength on her sophomore effort. She maintains an aura of mystique throughout the duration of the album, while the songs waver from the achingly beautiful (Moon and Moon) to the sparse and haunting (The Big Sleep). This lady is definitely an artist to watch.

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [Shock/EMI] I was ashamedly a latecomer to the Phoenix bandwagon, but as soon as I heard the opening plinks of Lisztomania I knew this album was going to be something special. It’s short, but that directness ensures there’s no time for filler and every track is a standout. Brilliant and extraordinarily catchy.

Josh Brown - Super Sub Editor and Contributor - Celebrity whore

Scott Adams - And Another Thing Columnist and Contributor - Is the new black

Top Ten Albums of 2009

10. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt II [SHOCK] It could have been a disaster, but the Wu-Tang wordsmith managed to match his classic album 15 years later. Again teaming up with the equally gifted Ghostface Killah, ‘The Chef’ served some of 2009’s finest rhymes.

9. Girls - Album [Inertia] Chris Owen’s dysfunctional childhood is written all over these scuzzy, deceptively simple tunes while Chet White’s production adds grit to Owen’s stark take on The Beach Boys ‘pocket symphonies’. A real grower, Album draws you into its tunefully morose world.

8. Mastodon - Crack the Skye [Warner] Mastodon single-handedly awakened my latent fondness of metal this year. With beautifully devastating guitar tones and oddball lyrics, this band of true eccentrics offered a stoned psychedelic masterpiece.

7. Bluejuice - Head of the Hawk [Universal] No other album offered such uncalculated, honest kicks. Broken Leg stripped back The Who’s bombast for 2009’s catchiest single and (Ain’t) Telling the Truth proved that the country’s top party band also has a heart.

6. The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love [4AD] Having cut their teeth running small record labels, Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell combined tub-thumping Britpop choruses with sublime shoegaze to make bonafide anthems, including Dominoes and Velvet.

5. The xx - xx [Young Turks] Like The Strokes’ Is This It, xx is one of those rare debuts that arrives fully formed. These 20-year-old South Londoners exercised musical restraint in a climate where more is more, giving Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim space to explore endearing tales of romantic fumblings.

4. Grizzly Bear - Vecktamist [Warp] An album in the true sense of the word, Brooklyn’s Grizzly Bear created a cohesive opus that peaks and troughs in all the right places. Vecktamist leaves behind a distinctive overall mood that is unique to this record, and that’s no mean feat.

3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion [Domino] The NYC indie gods shook off their penchant for tangential exploration with this focused, comparatively accessible work. But Animal Collective isn’t capable of making a conventional ‘pop’ record – this is a melting pot of idiosyncratic harmonies, unusual time signatures and off-kilter loops.

2. The Flaming Lips - EMBRYONIC [Warner] The Flaming Lips could have cashed in on their midnoughties mainstream success with their twelfth album. Instead Wayne Coyne and co made a sprawling, experimental epic that proved that bands 26 years into their careers could still have their best work in them.

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [SHOCK/EMI] Finally, this criminally underrated band experienced the success they’ve deserved for so long. The crowning achievement is Lisztomania – an example of the French four-piece’s ability to straddle sonic adventurousness and visceral pop pleasure.

10. Crayon Fields – All The Pleasures of the World [Chapter Music] Cheesecake pop that’s perfect for the summer, but with all the wise and wistful charm of their previous work. There’s a lot more depth than meets the surface, and once past the initial romanticism, there’s an album for keeps.

9. Volcano Choir – Unmap [Jagjaguwar] A mixture of Collections of Colonies of Bees and Justin Vernon makes this album a riddle in itself. If you were expecting Bon Iver on this record, you’ll be sadly disappointed, with his voice proving more of an instrument than narrator. It’s hypnotically blended and woven together and deserves to be heard over and over again.

8. Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care [Domino] Unassumingly thrusting their standapart brilliance in our faces once more with this record and making us all wish we could all channel soul the way Jeremy Greenspan can.

7. Bat for Lashes – Two Suns [Parlophone] Another standout sophomore for the year Khan returns, more brooding and troubled than ever. Add an alter ego, collaborations with dark lord Scott Walker, and single Daniel and you have art-sound at its best.

6. The xx – the xx [Young Turks] This is one of those rare albums that comes from a band at what is possibly their perfect moment, and hits us at it too. Young and full of disinterest, these guys have had everyone running to listen; all the hype is worth it.

5. Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport [ATP Recordings] While their noise has calmed since their debut, no raw hooks or turns are missed. The perfect harmony between melody and aggression.

4. White Rabbits – It’s Frightening [PopFrenzy] Production from Brit Daniels weighs heavily, but the slight veer in direction shows a more profound side to the sixpiece that leaves the clean Columbian sound behind, and one that from start to finish encapsulates darkened hollows and washes it with simplistic truths.

3. The Dodos – Time to Die [Frenchkiss] This is proof that not all sophomores need to be overzealous in their attempt to push boundaries and go beyond what works. Doing it slowly and comfortably, with as-per-usual phenomenal percussion, The Dodos have once again done it brilliantly.

2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [SHOCK/EMI] One of the most intricate and delicately overwhelming albums of the year, hands down. The singles are good, but as an entirety, it’s an absolute masterpiece.

1. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns [Saddle Creek] One of those albums a friend suggested and sat there a while. The instantaneous attraction hasn’t waned since the first listen. This snapshot tale of small town life, local legends and childhood memories has me hooked.

Katy Hall - Contributor - Sheer liquid awesomeness

Nick Craven - Contributor - He doesn’t just listen to Hancock Basement

Top Ten Albums of 2009

10. Eat Skull - Wild and Inside [Siltbreeze] The album art is so good for this I was too scared to listen to it. It gets in on the art alone.

9. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport [ATP] Google ‘Amanda Karmel’ to see the babe behind these beats! Phwooar.

8. Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light [Secretly Canadian] The Balkins favourite folk due, Antony is a blessing to all pan flute fans. World music can be tricky to get into, but these guys open the door for you. Ian Curtis’ favourite band before he was shot.

7. Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights [Load] Beautiful harmonies and violin so delicate it would melt jelly. Best surf guitar since Squarepusher.

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz! [Interscope] This would possibly be higher had I not been musically sheltered for six months of this year. This lot confound me, but it’s hard not to love ‘em to bits.

9. Franz Ferdinand – Tonight [Domino] My feelings toward this are similar to those toward The Resistance. A little inconsistent, but still strikingly smart.

8. Florence + the Machine – Lungs [Island] When I first heard this album I thought it was some new Kate Nash material. It only took two minutes to know for sure that it wasn’t, but it still makes me feel the same way.

7. Muse – The Resistance [Warner Bros] My initial dislike of this album was actually just disappointment that it wasn’t Black Holes and Revelations: The Sequel. It’s over-indulgent and a touch over-done, but on the right path toward a masterpiece nonetheless.

6. Cuthbert and the Nightwalkers – Mr Pickwick’s Camera [ABC Music] 6. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca [Domino] Fan of JJJ’s Short Fast Loud? Then freaking buy this.

5. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest [Warp]

Heroes in the Sydney music scene, (if only for their resemblance to a bratty Arcade Fire or The Polyphonic Spree), Mr Pickwick’s Camera picks up where their debut, Love Needs Us left off, sending their anthemic/baroque/cabaret/ indie jet plane smashing through the celestial plane of pop.

The Grizzly Bears combine spoken word and drone metal in such a beautiful way. A must for all the Stravinsky fans out there. I would have put this higher if I didn’t know the singer was a convicted woman beater. (NOT true, don’t sue, don’t sue - BOSSMAN).

5. Bluejuice – Head of the Hawk [Universal]

4. The Horrors - Primary Colours [XL Records]

4. THE Bloody Beetroots – Romborama [HUSSLE]

Euro-disco at its finest. I’m not one that normally fancies the turntablism/Euro beat mix, but this guy sure knows how to lay it down. Catch a Cold, Catch Some BEATS is my number one song of the year.

Another album that will keep you dancing late into the night, this Italian dance/electro duo’s groundings in everything from hip-hop and drum ‘n’ bass, to punk and classical have helped them appeal to fans of all tastes. Grab dem lazers, boy!

3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino]

3. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [SHOCK/EMI]

At only 19 minutes in length, this album shocks and astounds. I’m not sure what all the anti guide dog lyrics are all about, but it works. Sad considering lead singer Ponder Bear is no longer with us.

Luckily for us, Phoenix are still getting better with each album. With pop sensibilities nearing perfection and enough retro hipster ‘tude to boot, this piece of indie gold will keep you dancing for every minute, on every listen.

2. Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans [Sup Pop]

2. Antony & the Johnsons – The Crying Light [Secretly Canadian]

Who knew T-Pain could sing falsetto? No auto tune either, this is the real deal. Also, the jazz bagpipes really stand out. Lyrics are mostly about T-Pain’s struggle with HIV (Good grief - BOSSMAN). I had no idea to be honest. Sad, but still a floor filler.

1. Mew - No More Stories... [Rhapsody] Not as good as their last album, Glass Handed Kites (the best album of the decade) but still worthy of the top spot. A concept album about John Cusack might seem strange, but they really hit home. I saw one of the Landspeed Records guys tear up after playing it in the shop. A beautiful understanding of those terrible, haunted games.

No one was expecting these lads to do much better than Problems, but the refined pop melodies of Head of the Hawk show a group much more fun, interesting and capable than most other Australian outfits.

Not as heartbreakingly beautiful as I am a Bird Now, but heartbreaking nonetheless. Antony Hegarty’s haunting vocals and the group’s painfully controlled song-writing once again showcase alienation, mourning, and love like no one else.

1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino] When it was released in January critics and fans were already proclaiming it the album of the year. Nothing’s changed. The ‘Beach Boys on acid’ writing is as chaotically sharp as ever, but this time around the recording and production has flawlessly captured AC’s ability to form frenziedly nuanced pop gems.

Ben Hermann - Contributor and Previous Editor - His bum made Craven’s Top Five list (stayed tuned for the Jan 20 issue)

Travis Heinrich - Contributor - Has cool hair

Top Ten Albums of 2009

10. Jeff Lang – Chimeradour [ABC/Universal Music] Let the sinuous, seductive strings stimulate your senses in this outstanding album from a leading Aussie blues guitarist and songwriter.

9. Major Chord - The Rabbit Hole [Vitamin] A great package, where Dan Flynn’s mellow voice and minimal instrumentation cunningly combined to produce entrancing melody and home-spun wisdom about life with a real ring of truth to it. Not to mention a liberal use of black humour.

8. The Boxer Rebellion – Union [Cross Section/Inertia] Nathan Nicholson demonstrates the amazing flexibility of his vocal range in this exciting and bewitching new experience in rock.

7. Dragonette - Fixin to Thrill [Band Room Records] They must be doing something right in Canada, with both Dragonette and Metric appearing this year. This CD is chock full of addictive electro-pop that is guaranteed to get you dancing non-stop.

6. Ophelia of the Spirits - The Secret Garden [The Little Label] Could this be the voice of the angels when they come to take you away? If so, I’m ready to go right now! The fancy title is a pseudonym for Angela Little, who’s siren call would lure any sailor onto the rocks.

5. Bertie Blackman - Secrets and Lies [MGM] A stunning, sexy album by a new star on the Australian music scene.

4. Tiki Taane - Past Present Future [Dirty Dub] Former Salmonella Dub frontman Tiki Taane takes dub to a new level of sophistication whilst making a strong cultural statement in the process.

3. Metric – Fantasies [METRIC MUSIC INTERNATIONAL] Four piece indie-pop band Metric from Canada has released the pop album of the year. An incredible mix of danceable rhythms, and captivating vocals from the sublime Emily Haines.

2. THE Howling Bells - Radio Wars [Liberation Music] The Howling Bells have delivered a great second album that builds on their debut record by delivering a more sophisticated pop-rock sound.

1. Little Birdy – Confetti [Universal] Little Birdy’s third album Confetti captures earlier sounds from the ‘50s-’60s and gives them a modern flavour. This approach comes across strongly in the lead and backing vocal treatment, and Katy Steele’s high voice is well suited to this style of delivery. There is no mistaking the emotion invested in this record, which runs through every song.

Justification is necessary when your taste in music is a little more ‘above ground’, so each of my favourite albums tends to have its use. Here they are, divided into how they made every day that whole lot better!

10. Diplo – Decent Work for Decent Pay [Mad Decent] The pump-up: Diplo helped me get ready for plenty of nights out, providing the soundtrack to many mirror dancing sessions. Wait, did I write that out loud?

9. Basement Jaxx – Scars [XL Recordings] The cleaning rhythms: 12 guest vocalists and a return to their distinctive old sound made for many disco-cleaning times. Use number 2: this album annoyed the shit out of my boyfriend.

8. Yves Klein Blue – Ragged & Ecstatic [dew process] The office distraction: This was one of our favourite albums to throw on in the office and often ended up more of a hindrance than a help.

7. Gossip – Music for Men [Backyard Recordings] The mood-lifter: There’s nothing like screaming along with Beth Ditto to make you feel like a domestic rock star. One day I’ll either reach those high notes or break a vocal chord.

6. Fat Freddy’s Drop – Dr. Boondigga & The Big BW [The Drop] The warm-up: I love it when an artist or band releases a summer album in winter, it makes getting through the cold just that little bit easier.

5. The XX – XX [Young Turks] The lullaby: A sweet album that played me off to sleep on many occasions this year. I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard the last two songs.

4. Tijuana Cartel – They Come [Unsigned] The backgrounder: This album is a perfect example of an eclectic, multicultural Australian band. It became background music to every get-together at home.

3. Florence + the Machine – Lungs [ISLAND RECORDS] The sing-along: You can’t help but try to sound like Florence when you’ve got this album on, making for many awkward moments when you think you’re home alone...

2. Jesse Rose – What do you do if you don’t? [Dubsided] The car-groover: Super smooth fidget house that didn’t leave my car stereo for a good month. It’s also the closest thing to a new Hot Chip album this year.

1. The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die [Take me to the Hospital] The fall-back: This theatrical, easy to listen to come-back release became that album I’d play when I really couldn’t be stuffed looking for something to put on. And it never, ever disappointed.

Danika Nayna - Sales Executive and Contributor - BMA HQ’s Sexiest Woman of the Year

Rory McCartney - Contributor - We love a man in uniform

Top Ten Albums of 2009

10. Jamie T – Kings and Queens [Pacemaker Recordings]

10. Cicada – Roulette [Critical Mass Records]

The second album from this cheeky lyricist is (to borrow his own expression) a top banana. Insightful and hilarious. Bruv.

I’d been waiting for this release for ages! The album treads the same path as La Roux and Little Boots but in a less obnoxious manner. Surely Roulette will gain more recognition in 2010.

9. Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More [Dew Process]

9. Röyksopp – Junior [Astralwerks/Wall of Sound]

The title is entirely misleading, as Sigh No More is drenched with regret and heartache. It’s gentle energy and philosophical lyrics will probably make you cry, but in the same way you do at a beautiful sunrise. Plus ukulele is highly underrated in today’s society.

8. Simian Mobile Disco – Temporary Pleasure [Wichita] Definitely gets the prize for the sexiest album of the year, delivering beats dripping with hormones that will have you dabbing your brow and shifting in your seat.

7. Gossip – Music for Men [Sony] Relentless, hair-flipping, high-kicking pop punk delivered with such ferocity you’ll feel like you’ve been electrocuted. The picks: Heavy Cross and 2012.

A sure sign of a worthy album of the year is how long it is loved and remixed for. More recently Tricky Tricky remixes have surfaced, refreshing and dancing up the sound.

8. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest [Warp] Their most accessible work yet but by no means their best; this one blew Animal Collective out of the water (WHA? Lucky I love you so much P, otherwise there would have been dire consequences - Ed).

7. Little Dragon – Machine Dreams [Peacefrog Records] It’s unlikely this album will make it into any other Top Ten Albums of 2009 lists but while it at first sounds a bit blah, after a few listens it’ll hook you. This album is great for cleaning your house while shimmying.

6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [EMI]

6. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca [Domino Records]

These Frenchmen approach their craft with a curious mix of respect and irreverence (just look at the title), peddling snappy indie pop perfect for sunny bus rides on the outskirts of town or pink cupcakes by the pool.

Given the previous work by this band, led by Dave Longstreth, you wouldn’t expect something as accessible as this. Composition has always been Dirty Projectors’ forte but there are some catchy pop elements this time, and beautiful vocals.

5. Passion Pit – Manners [Columbia] A friend once said to me “You can never feel sad listening to Passion Pit” and he was exactly right. Whether it’s the bright, toe-tapping cheer of Little Secrets or the ethereal lyrics of Moth’s Wings, this album will leave you shimmering.

4. La Roux – La Roux [Polydor/Universal]

the year.

Regardless of whether Elly Jackson is the new Annie Lennox or a poor man’s equivalent, there’s no doubt that Bulletproof and In for the Kill are two of the slickest, catchiest tracks of

5. Florence + the Machine – Lungs [Island Records] Kate Bushian, beautiful, sad, playful… lasting value.

4. The xx – The xx [Young Turks] It’s impressive for 19-year-olds to produce an album which works as both a chill-out and dance album. Smartly exposing themselves via blogs and remixing songs by people like Florence + The Machine, The xx deserve all hyped accolades for this.

3. Florence + the Machine – Lungs [Island Records]

3. Bertie Blackman – Secrets and Lies [MGM/Forum 5 Recordings]

Lungs is so impressively diverse it’s like the girl has multiple personality disorder – in 45 minutes she’s a brave but broken-hearted young woman, a serial killer with his hand up your skirt and a knife in your heart, and, um, a masochist.

Wow, what an accomplishment! Bertie’s folk was always a little close to ordinary, with the exception of some stand-out songs. In collaborating with two producers, one song at a time, a slick and overlooked darkly electronic album comfortably sits alongside comparisons with Goldfrapp and Björk.

2. Hilltop Hoods – State of the Art [Golden Era] Honest? Yep. Abrasive? Sometimes. One of the most exciting musical talents to EVER come out of Australia? Oh, I’d say so! The Hoods once again prove themselves to be not only talented lyricists but skilled musicians; this album was everything I expected and more.

1. The Dead Weather – Horehound [Sony] He’s ‘only the drummer’, but Jack White’s fingerprints are all over this. From dangerous blues riffs to occasional touches of organ, TDW have all the swagger and bravado of The White Stripes, with better drumming and a lot more sex appeal (sorry Meg). Don’t miss it: it’s the third coming of Christ.

2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz! [Interscope Records] Yeah Yeah Yeahs have established themselves firmly in the rock scene, retaining their following and slowly drawing more and more new listeners. This album is arguably their most accessible, and considering this is their third, it reveals more great stuff ahead. The potential outweighs the delivery even though the outcome is so rewarding.

1. Miike Snow – Miike Snow [Downtown Records] On first listen you might not notice that one of the guys that make up this duo co-wrote Toxic for Britney Spears. That’s because the production of their own work is beautifully electronic. Heavy on the piano, varied in mood but working well as a whole, this new act has remained number 1 as my most loved of 2009.

Peter Rosewarne - Contributor - More indie than Raider’s of the Lost Arc

Katherine Quinn - Contributor - Cover girl

Top Ten Albums of 2009

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz! [Modular/UMA] For all the buzz about losing their bite, the band showed no such signs with It's Blitz!. Plenty of big festival-friendly moments alongside some elegant slow burners. Excellent.

9. Delorean - Ayrton Senna EP [Foolhouse] Sure it's only a little five track EP, but damn if it isn't truly sublime. French synth dudes Delorean delivered on early blog hype with this EP of sun-drenched and danceable gems. Hunt this down.

8. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms [Remote Control] Even though chillwave is looking like the next nu-rave, nothing can diminish the appeal of Neon Indian's debut record. It's all wavy electronics meshing with staggering production. It's wonderful.

7. The Xx - THE XX [Remote Control] London prodigies The xx flipped things completely with their hypnotically sparse brand of brooding indie. Who knew leaving space between notes could be so amazing, right?

6. Girls - Album [Inertia] The most un-google-able band name and LP title of the year, Girls' debut album, ahem, Album, officially made San Francisco cool again. With plenty of beachside hits thrown up against campfire moments, it's hard not to love.

5. Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care [Domino/EMI] Y'all might remember my pants-shitting love for Junior Boys' So This Is Goodbye back in 2006. Whilst not as striking or instant, album number three wins points for a kind of casualness hitherto unseen with the duo, and the more I listen to it the more I love it.

4. Florence + The Machine - Lungs [ISLAND RECORDS] While everyone was busy watching La Roux and Little Boots battle it out for schlock-pop supremacy, Florence and her Machinists proved to be the real winner. Grand, vibrant and most of all interesting, this is unstoppable stuff.

3. Memory Tapes - Seek Magic [Acephale/Inertia] Destined to be the sleeper hit of the year, Seek Magic, the enigmatic debut from Memory Tapes is definitely worth your attention. Hawk is overloaded with ideas. Whether it's some washy garage dirge linking arms with gameboy beats or bristling electronic gems, it's unlike anything you'll hear out there.

2. The Drums - Summertime EP [Popfrenzy] Another EP? Whatevs, y’all. When it’s as blissful as The Drums’ debut disc, the perfectly titled Summertime EP, it doesn’t matter. Indeed, this was stronger than a score of full length records this year, with the US indie dudes effectively reviving surf rock and all the waves, riffs and whistles that come with it.

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [Shock/EMI] Distilling the elegant Parisian pop of their first two records with the garagey swagger of It’s Never Been Like That, Phoenix crossed over in a big way with this year’s triumphant Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It’s got big accessible tunes alongside some thoughtful curveballs. It’s an album that will last this summer and beyond.

10. Devlin, Darko and XXXchange – Couche Tard [Fully Fitted] I’m not usually one for including compilations, but this

melange of old timey classics and modern day gems is a toe-tapping, hip-swinging delight, and the accompanying DVD mash-up is the ultimate back-to-mine party starter.

9. Mistabishi – Drop [Hospital] The poor bastard may have been rumbled faking a DJ set recently, but even that embarrassment can’t hurt a thoroughly enjoyable D&B record. Equal parts beauty and brashness throughout, Printer Jam alone makes this worthwhile. YouTube that shit.

8. The Black Crowes – Before the Frost [Stomp] After the slightly disappointing Warpaint, the Crowes prove they’re not over the hill with a good ol’ fashioned ‘recorded in front of a live audience’ album full of gems that transport you to another time. What Is Home = wistful awesomeness.

7. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino] The AC chameleons continue their prolific output with a record as mesmeric as its cover art. Echoey vocals, slow builds and outlandish sonics all combine to deliver a beautiful, uplifting LP.

6. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic [Warner Brothers] A gurgling, swirling psychedelic fuck you to everyone who jumped on the bandwagon with Do You Realize??. Sweeping, sprawling, grandiose… you get the idea. Aquarius Sabotage into See the Leaves is one of the year’s great moments of music.

5. Discovery – LP [Remote Control] The brainchild of Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot’s Wes Miles, this synth-heavy modern day reggae record drips in earnestness, and had me bleating along like a tit all year through.

4. Raekwon – Only Built For Cuban Linx Part II [Shock] A highlight of the Wu live show, The Chef finally dishes out another gangsta rap classic. A pleasure from start to finish, this is a dystopian tale of drugs, guns and decadence told over stellar production (Pete Rock, J Dilla, the list goes on) with the ultimate wingman in Tony “Ghostface” Starks.

3. The Bloody Beetroots – Romborama [Hussle] One two woop woop! Angry, anarchic, energetic fidget house that somehow makes the cross into the commercial arena. An exciting step for dance at the turn of the decade, and the defining sound of now. Butter = awesome. Love that piano line.

2. Passion Pit – Manners [Columbia/French Kiss/Sony] “Look at me o look at me is this the way I’ve always been o nooooOOOoooOoooo.” Yes, I’ve drunkenly shouted those lyrics one too many times this year, and lost many a friend in the process. I’ll miss you guys.

1. Mos Def – The Ecstatic [Downtown/Inertia] The soulful poet of hip-hop returns with his best album since sizzling debut Black on Both Sides. Welcome back, old friend.

Allan Sko - Bossman and Contributor - Spelt with two Ls for extra length

Dave Ruby Howe - Singled Out Columnist and Contributor - President of the Shakira Fan Club

Top Ten Albums of 2009

10. The Lonely Island – Incredibad [Universal Republic Records] I’m on a boat!

9. Hug – Greatest Hug’s [Kompakt Digital] Hug is one pseudonym of Swedish artist John Dahlbäck. This album focuses on his edgier tech releases for German label Kompakt. There is nothing on this album that could be described as filler.

8. Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3 [Roc Nation] Madonna’s 2008 effort Hard Candy reeked of an ageing artist trying to remain current by teaming up with the cool kids. Jay-Z has shown the right way this should be done. Risky collaborations with Kid Cudi and Empire of the Sun paid off.

7. John Tejada – Logic Memory Centre [Plug Reserach] Although this album was released in 2004, I only cottoned on to it this year. It is a great example of how well written music will always sound contemporary.

6. Passion Pit – Manners [Columbia/Frenchkiss Records] Tom Lyons of Strangeways fame first clued me in on Passion Pit in the second half of 2008 when their Chunk of Change EP was making waves online. I eagerly awaited the release of their first studio effort and was not disappointed. Quite simply their sound is bright and it makes me smile.

5. Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care [Domino Records] Albums that can’t be pigeonholed into a particular genre, which are redolent of originality, will always standout. Begone... is soulful and mesmerising.

4. Milton Jackson – Crash [Freerange Records] Milton Jackson is my standout deep house artist of 2009; I find his work subtle yet driving. Residing in a familiar deep territory, Rhythm Track is my standout single.

3. James Lavelle – GU037 Global Underground Bangkok [Global Underground Ltd] I listen to a lot of mixtape releases and if I can listen to one repeatedly for a good couple of hours it is of notable mention. One half of UNKLE, James Lavelle’s second disc is hard-hitting techno with a delicious UNKLE upon UNKLE upon UNKLE intro.

2. Claude VonStroke – Bird Brain [DIRTYBIRD] When the first single Beat That Bird dropped again after the track is already four minutes in and pushed the song to an even deeper level I knew that whatever else Claude VonStroke released from this album I would want to hear.

1. Tiga - Ciao! [PIAS] I loved Sexor and I love Ciao! Although many turn their noses up at Tiga’s limited vocal range I find his lyrics cheeky and intriguing. His production on this album is slightly darker with rumbling bass lines in Mind Dimension and Overtime. Though he still leaves room for the kitsch pop which made him famous.

10. Lynx + Kemo - The Raw Truth [Soul:R] Deep, dense, paranoid and moody, Lynx took D&B into new realms without ever sacrificing integrity of sound or clarity of idea. Kemo exhibited fearless passion, insight and intelligence.

9. Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban LinX PT II [IceH20/SHOCK] Rae brings back the classic Wu-Tang sound for the now with an epic long player brimming with blood, drugs, crime and Ghostface aplenty.

8. Hudson Mohawke - Butter [Warp] The Glaswegian prodigy delivered on his promise with a set of high-octane, schizophrenic broken beat neon soul. An over-the-top exhilarating listen.

7. Exile - Radio [Knowfool] Beat scientist Exile unleashes addictive instrumental hiphop created entirely of samples from LA radio waves. He also dropped a fantastic record with LA vocalist Fashawn.

6. Ben Klock - One [Ostgut Ton] & Stimming - Reflections [Diynamic] Cheating here, but the two Germans both released stellar techno/minimal full lengths respectively. While Klock’s LP was all icy and cavernous and pulsating with urgency, Stimming’s Reflections is layered in warm, rich textured melodies. Both are original, engaging and utterly essential.

5. Moderat - Moderat [Bpitch] A winning combination of the glitch-power and crunching action of Modeselektor and the atmospheric chin-stroking pop of Apparat. Taking influence from a myriad of genres, the trio ambitiously married sounds full of astral beauty and vigorous heavy bass.

4. Silkie - City Limits Vol. 1 [Deep Medi] A stark opposite to the incredible claustrophobic bass of Kryptic Minds’ new LP (just missing out on a spot in this list), Silkie’s experiments in dub takes inspiration from a city just waking from a deep sleep. Amongst the trembling sub-bass there is the promise of euphoria - amazing stuff.

3. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport [ATP/R] Full of momentum, chugging (post-rock influenced) digital triumph and a middle finger in the air, FB returned with a truly accomplished and rewarding long player that made life worth living. Dizzying, genre-defying, gorgeous and terrifying all at once, Tarot Sport is the perfect soundtrack to just about everything you can do whilst breathing.

2. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue [Warp] Bibio’s reinvented his glorious autumnal folk with lashings of J.Dilla/Madib hip-hop soul with incredible results. Beautifully low-fi with vivid collages of loops and melody. Effortless and completely addictive.

1. Martyn - Great Lengths [3024] An instant classic. Expertly crafted, diverse dancefloor oriented bass music. Blurring lines between dubstep, 2-step garage and techno, Martyn’s sound is full of passion, urgency and a love for creative and original music.

Rowan Thomson - The Realness Columnist - The Bald and the Beautiful

STAKY - The Drop Columnist and Contributor - Canberra’s best She J

Top Ten Albums of 2009

Shailla Van Raad - Contributor - Canberra’s One Degree of Separation

Last but not least, a nearing-40 American rapper, Jay-Z deviated slightly from the norm with his outspoken but hard-hitting phrases in his eleventh studio album. On the single Death of Autotune Jay-Z brazenly boasts to be the ‘only rapper to rewrite history without a pen’.

10. Nicky Bomba – Planet Juice [Transmitter] I put this on to combat the mind shattering D&B Al spins, which of late has been ALL the fucking time (we must be putting together a 72 page mag or something). It works really well.

9. Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night [Dew Process]

9. The Basics - Keep Your Friends Close [Unsigned] The musically diligent Melbourne-based band The Basics released their third album channelling their personal journeys into a poignant work. Coming Home strikes a chord in all those who have ever had a long distance relationship.

O Sarah, you had me with Relapse back in ’02, and now you’ve created one of the most sophisticated LPs an Australian woman has ever made. Share my wardrobe?

8. The Veils - Sun Gangs [Remote Control] This is a majestic and accomplished record, brimming like a full heart with love letters, longing and wild romanticism. Listen to it with your lover in bed on a Sunday morn.

8. Regular John - The Peaceful Atom is a Bomb [Universal] Regular John seemed to come out of nowhere, emerging from Sydney’s rock scene to blow our minds with their garage-punk guitar work on their debut album. Upon the The Peaceful’s release, Rolling Stone magazine eagerly pounced on the album, quickly declaring it “the perfect distillation of everything good that's happened since rock found a heavy, fuzzy imagination in the late ‘60s".

7. The Sneaky Weasel Gang - Body Slide Blues [Independent] The Gang fledged their old-world blues path from Perth to the East Coast. Guitarist Dan Carroll is a performance in himself due to his extraordinarily hot chops. The Gang definitely deserve their WAMI award for “Best Funk Act”.

6. Children Collide - Farewell Rocketship [Universal] Melbourne-based Children Collide showed off their chops, portraying a desperate future to audiences who just became desperate for more. If you’re ever lucky enough to see this band you’ll notice their infectious live sound is empowering and just makes you wanna move.

7. Yves Klein Blue – Ragged & Ecstatic [Dew Process] The Beatles and Bowie loving Brissie Boys have melded alt country sensibilities with twist and shout melodies and rollicking keys, and with the spirit of the great Hank Williams watching warmly over frontman Michael Tomlinson, they’re destined for big things.

6. Florence + The Machine - Lungs [Island Records] There’s good reason why this features on six other writers’ lists, and mostly in the top five too.

5. And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - The Century of Self [Justice] It’s an easy one to reach for but ‘epic’ is definitely it. Marching exultantly forth into battle, it’s bursting with thundering crescendos sent by Zeus himself, evangelical lyrics, euphoric choir-backed choruses, head smashing motifs and pure, unadulterated, unrelenting RAWK! Turn it up. We did.

4. Joe Gideon and The Shark - Harum Scarum [Bronzerat]

5. Kasha - Five Songs for Sunstroke [Independent] Local Canberra band Kasha wowed us with their musically technical and goose bump-inducing resonance. Music and band-geeks alike have something new to worship. Farewell Snowman and hello [!] Kasha.

4. Regina Spektor - Far [Sire Records] The Bronx’s Regina Spektor combined her kooky-word weaving through classically inspired piano chords and took us on another storytelling journey.

3. Bertie Blackman - Secrets and Lies [MGM] Sydney’s Bertie Blackman’s grungy guitar-ridden electronica was a force to be reckoned with.

2. Whitley - Go Forth, Find Mammoth [Dew Process] Our very own travelling troubadour, Whitley’s second album indicated he had matured in style and complexity.

far away.

The (real) brother and sister duo have produced a ballsy, bluesy, ballad-filled rock opus bristling with driving riffs, gospel vocals and spoken narratives that transport you far,

3. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love [Capitol] No one but Colin Meloy could belt out a ballad about triple infanticide (The Rake’s Song) and make you relish it with unashamedly disturbing delight. This concept album breaks away from their period pop label as it features heavy guitars, but in essence is true Decemberists; tender, bittersweet and beautiful.

2. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic [Warner] Listen to this on acid and you will understand. No, but seriously, they’ve traded the three-minute hit for lingering and languid sonic exploration, creating the eeriest of soundscapes; barren deserts on Earth and Mars, sandwiched between glitchy synth-heavy guitar freak outs peppered with yelps and yowls. It’s scary stuff, but in true Wayne Coyne fashion is always redeeming.

1. Future of the Left Travels with Myself and Another [4AD]

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino]

2009 saw the reincarnation of Welsh band Mclusky into Future of the Left, translating their reformation into a witty and laconic sound— a bit better the second time ‘round. Songs like I Am Civil Service hit the nail right on the head in Canberra: “If I fuck what I eat and I eat what I fuck, does it make me worthy?”

This is the most entrancing, sublime, psychedelic LP I’ve ever known. As Craven espoused back in issue 321: “Brimming with Beach Boy harmonies, captivating rhythms and a general disregard for conventional song structure… hidden worlds unfold over repeated listens. It’s an aesthetic maintained throughout, making this a cohesive suite of tracks that flows and ebbs the way a classic album should.” You said it, brother.

Julia Winterflood - Editor and Contributor - I’m done. I’m never doing this again... 80 next year Al?

10. Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3 [Roc Nation]

top ten films

WITH MARK RUSSELL

2009 was, overall, another disappointing year in film. This list is full of good little earners but only the top four really wowed me. I didn’t get to a lot of foreign-language films but the ones I did were hardly impressive – hence this being an almost all-Hollywood affair. It must be noted that as yet I haven’t seen Avatar, which looks very promising. Also, striving above the benchmark were Synecdoche New York, Frost/Nixon, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Reader (with these last two and Inglourious Basterds, 2009 gave us something previously thought impossible - original Holocaust films!) and Watchmen. Read on, and see you next year!

10. YIP MAN

back already.

5. milk This recreation of the life of Yip Man (perhaps the second most famous Wing Chun exponent after his student, Bruce Lee) was full of stylish action and sweeping story. It looked so slick and showed Donnie Yen at his ass-kicking, austere posing best. So maybe it’s not a black and white Norwegian film about crippled orphans learning to love again, but I learnt to love martial arts films again. Get off my

9. (500) Days of summer This oh-so-indie story told us from the get-go it wasn’t a romance, but we went and fell in love anyway. We worked our way through Joseph GordonLevitt’s pain, loss and record collection; over the year and a bit since he met Summer (Zooey Deschanel). There were some great lines, great laughs, and superb chemistry between the two leads. It was fun, funny and even a little surprising.

8. elegy Though far from perfect, this film stuck with me long after the credits rolled. The combination of a male screenwriter, adapting Philip Roth’s very male book, with a female directorial eye produced a nuanced character study on a profound level. We got an entirely fresh view into the male mind. Ben Kingsley was phenomenal in the central role while Penelope Cruz personified sensual allure. This should have been her Oscar nod, rather than Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

7. moon A master class in sci-fi. This low-spending, highthinking bit of celluloid was tightly written with spectacularly atmospheric direction. Director Duncan Jones could not have chosen a better actor than Sam Rockwell to hinge his debut feature on. Rockwell’s pitch-perfect performance brought much-needed believability to the concept. It was dark, moody and thought-provoking. As with the greatest of its genre, the twisted premise was full of allegory and metaphor, whilst being incredibly entertaining in and of itself.

As Sean Penn said in his Best Actor acceptance speech, he often makes it hard to appreciate him. But this was an incredibly intuitive performance in a strongly emotive film. Director Gus Van Sant brought honest, un-sensationalised gay relationships into mainstream cinema and (shock, horror, think of the children) we were mature enough to sit there and watch them. James Franco also put in a helluva turn, cementing him (in my mind at least) as the next Johnny Depp.

4. slumdog millionaire Ok, you had to suspend disbelief pretty hard to buy the coincidences - but once you made that leap, Slumdog paid back in full. It was a brilliantly cinematic narrative and a deserving winner of Best Picture at the Oscars. But as sumptuous as the cinematography was, as rousing the score and stark the thematic exploration; Freida Pinto trumped all these elements. She was sumptuous, rousing and I’d love to see her (wait for it) stark...ers!

3. where the wild things are Woo-freakin-hoo, what a great way to finish the reviewing year! Just when I thought the cinematic menu for ’09 was ‘shit sandwich, with a side order of bland’; director Spike Jonze dishes up a little filet mignon. Where the Wild Things Are had to be good though, right? The source material affected more children than the Catholic Church, and Jonze has rarely put a foot wrong. This film was so much more than that though. It gave us imaginative visuals up the yin yang and one of the best child performances ever through Max Record. So good.

2. up When you sit down to watch a Pixar film, you know you’re in for a treat. But Up lifted it another notch: wielding story, adventure and character into a fun and deeply emotional animation. Paired with last year’s Wall-E, Up showed that it’s possible to tell large parts of your story without dialogue, even when talking to children. Spectacular.

6. inglourious basterds Tarantino did what Tarantino does best: popcorndialogue; soaked in blood; spilt by stylised-violence. Inglourious was the ultimate Jew revenge fantasy as Brad Pitt and his merry band went round ‘scalpin Nazi’. The film’s historical poetic licence made it all the more entertaining as we were fascinated to see where everything would end up. Every one of the actors was terrific, but it was Christoph Waltz’s deliciously hammed Jew Hunter who really stole the show. We asked. Quentin delivered. And he did it in English, French and German.

1. samson and delilah Australia really showed a new level of class with this offering. Brilliantly acted, subtly directed and with only the sparsest dialogue; it showed we actually have something new to say. It was a beautifully haunting love story that wasn’t afraid to smack you in the gut with a two-by-four. The only person who probably didn’t enjoy it was Baz Luhrmann, since it further highlighted what an overinflated wank Australia was.

the word

on films

WITH MARK RUSSELL

Well, that’s another year down <sniff>. I hope you’ve enjoyed the film page in ‘09 and found at least a couple of reviews that didn’t make you want to commit seppuku with your slushie straw. In case you find emotional sharing a little difficult, I’ll balance out these heartfelt sentiments and stop it getting ‘awkward’, by sharing a final thought on my worst cinematic experience of this year – Astro Boy. One more time, for the cheap seats, fuck you David Bowers. Happy New Year to all the rest of you.

quote of the issue “I think we broke the king.” Ira (Forest Whitaker) “I don’t get it. Wait, yes I do... it’s stupid.” Judith (Catherine O’Hara) Where the Wild Things Are

where the wild things are Spike Jonze was born to do this film. As one of the most imaginative and visually innovative directors working today, he was perfect to breathe cinematic life into this superb children’s tale. The adventure, humour and wilful abandon all truly capture what it is to be a kid. Jonze’s eye constructs and imparts the fantasy landscapes, the wild things themselves, and the fun and playful destruction at the core of this film. Dialogue is very sparse in the opening scenes, doubtlessly a nod to author Maurice Sendak’s own syllabic brevity. When the words do start to flow later on, they do so with an understanding of childish nuance that will have you dreaming all wistful-like. Many of the lines are delivered with that breathlessness that comes from being so excited about what you’re doing that inhaling seems to take an unacceptably long time. Max Record (probably the best actor’s name since Rip Torn) is a revelation as Max. Acting for the most part with glorified muppets (voiced beautifully by James Gandolfini et al), his interactions with them go a long way towards humanising them. They’re also brilliant, working at once as both childish fun and manifestations of Max’s loneliness, home life and inability to express himself to those around him. Gun to my head, looking for a fault, it does have a few structural hiccups near the end. But if you’re willing to let your imagination roam, this film is escapism in its purest form. MARK RUSSELL

a serious man

the brothers bloom

Ahhhhh, the Coen Brothers. The seemingly effortless way they produce dazzling, varied cinema will ensure their place in the halls alongside the Howard Hawks, John Fords and John Hustons of the golden era.

This second feature from writer/director Rian Johnson brims with promise and potential. It’s got a great core cast with Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel Weiz. It’s painted across endless fantastic locations as these con artist brothers and their eccentric mark traverse Europe’s nicest vistas. And Johnson showed just how much talent he has for stylish and innovative cinema through his brilliant debut offering Brick.

Hot on the heels of No Country for Old Men and Burn After Reading comes a strange tale that tracks the gradual unravelling of Jewish everyman Larry Gopnick’s life, set in 1967 Minnesota where the Coens grew up. In the true style of a Hollywood pitch merchant, this is like the Coen Brothers meets Donnie Darko. This sometimes eerie, sometimes funny, and thoroughly Jewish story has mystery at its core; as Larry is plunged deeper into despair, he is increasingly desperate to find meaning. Through a number of odd encounters with rabbis and lawyers, he searches for an answer to the simple question we all eventually find ourselves asking: why? And the Coens are certainly not throwing up any easy answers. Peppered with strange, unexplained incidents (the film is bookended in bizarreness), the film owes as much to the David Lynch school of ‘here are some images, figure it out yourself’ as it does their own impressive body of work. And the ending is reminiscent of The Sopranos finale. This is not a film for everyone; if Michael Bay is your cinema God, then strap two kaleidoscopes to your eyes instead. But if you enjoy cinema for art’s sake, then you’ll love this slow burning, intriguing, beautifully shot piece of storytelling. allan sko

The Brothers Bloom is the story of the titular characters who grow up bouncing from foster family to foster family, gathering tricks for swindling and cheating along the way. There’s a semiconvincing morality to what they do, as older brother Stephen (Ruffalo) maintains that, in the greatest con – everyone gets what they want. Ah ha, but is that the outcome for us as the audience? Almost. The film is a little too back and forth to be great. It’s quirky and interesting and different in parts, but becomes too convoluted as it nears the finish line, losing much of its steam to unnecessary plot-twists. This considered, Weiz is an absolute delight and the other characters bring, well, character, to their roles. We also get shades of the same slick noir-ish feel and fresh vernacular that made Brick so brilliant. Unfortunately, the Bloom world is not as fully developed. The Brothers Bloom is an entertaining film, and a good one. But these adjectives are a far cry from the orgasmic superlatives Rian’s first effort warranted. mark russell

top five gig pics

andrew mayo & nick brightman 1. Midnight Oil Royal Theatre Thursday March 12, Friday March 13 A no-brainer, this one. The Oils turned back the clock for two memorable nights at the Royal Theatre.

2. The Music, The Big-O Festival ANU Bar Tuesday March 3 Don’t tell me you missed this one?

Alice Cooper’s Poison was the first cassette single I ever owned. He was great to photograph and more than happy to play up for the cameras.

2. Kate Miller-Heidke, Celebrate In The Park Commonwealth Place Monday March 9 I love this photo of Kate. She is one of my favourite musicians to photograph. She’s quirky, flamboyant and a really lovely lady.

3. You Am I Prince of Wales Hotel Melbourne Sun November 1, Sat 2

3. Simply Red Royal Theatre Tuesday February 17

You Am I’s annual Melbourne Cup Eve shows at St Kilda’s Prince of Wales Hotel in Melbourne were louder, sweatier and better than ever.

This was the first concert I have ever photographed from ON stage. A different experience to say the least.

4. Parkway Drive, Trackside Thoroughbred Park Saturday November 21

4. The Basics Transit Bar Thursday April 23

The best set at Trackside this year? Perhaps.

5. P!NK AIS Arena Thursday March 12, Friday March 13 You can’t beat a good old fashioned stage show.

1. Alice Cooper Royal Theatre Wednesday August 26

I love The Basics, their music is brilliant and they are genuinely nice guys. This shot of Wally smiling at his band mates is a personal favourite.

5. Chris Isaak AIS Arena Tuesday March 17 Chris doesn’t allow photographers in front of him while performing. Shooting from a restricted angle meant getting a good shot was all the more rewarding.

Ladyhawke / The Swiss ANU Bar Wednesday November 11 On my way to see this year’s golden gal and Modular’s biggest babe, I was, well, slightly psychotic. It’s been a solid two years of plugging away and dare I say over-releasing for Ladyhawke, but finally she found time to make it to Canberra.

the word

on gigs

First acts of the night were Modular’s latest offering to the disco floor, The Swiss. Proving that ignorance must be bliss, the rolling bass and predictable drums seemed to keep them content. Perhaps I misunderstand the concept of disco as a true entity, but even in my ignorant wasn’t-there-in-the-original-days early-20s state, I can say that the way they’re doing it is not the way it should be done. They made me turn to my delightful editor with the pained ‘why god, why?!’ look when I realised they were just taking a break for a beer sip and not exiting the stage. There were two definable moments in their set; the first was realising their keyboardist looked identical to Toby from Ready, Steady, Cook and the other was their cover of Daft Punk’s Robot Rock. The cover basically summed up the entire set; jamming in your room is fun, but it doesn’t make for an enjoyable, engaging or entertaining show. Thankfully, someone who was not only superior in sound, but also presence and looks (while also beating them with a bat and spitting on their bloodied corpse when it came to talent) was not far away. And then, like a dream, the stage blackened, the lights did some dancing, people started screaming and boom! On came the male compatriots (I can’t decide if I want to call them Ladyboys or Babyhawkes, but both work) to be met by a barrage of screams. Ladyhawke, aka Pip Brown, wandered on moments later, completely lacking any regal stage play, and jumped straight into the latest single, Magic. If she has one weakness, it’s that close to every single from the album has been released at some point, thus making the show fairly predictable. Or so we thought. Inclusions of b-side wonder Danny & Jenny, along with a ripping encore made things a bit livelier. Sadly, the lady herself was not. Clearly uncomfortable on stage, but enjoying her time nonetheless, I imagine punters further back would have felt slightly gypped. And you know when the sound level is perfect on the barrier, it’s bound to be past mediocre somewhere else. The energy before she entered the stage was electric, her fairylighted mic stand and fantastic lighting system hyped the crowd just the way they should, but by the end of the night the mood had changed to people that were impressed, but by no means blown away. The real treat of the night, of course waited itself out until the very end, when finally, after a slightly drawn out pause, the gang returned to the stage for the encore. As a slightly over-obsessed fan I was thrilled when Brown showed her home roots, covering the Split Enz classic, Message to My Girl. How does it get better than that? Simple – follow it up with a cover of Patti Smith’s Free Money. Some people found the gig to be slightly sterile, with the crowd interaction fairly minimal, but after the intro of Free Money I was nearly crushed by a swaying, sweating, screaming mass to my right (best date ever) (Why thank you, dearest Kate. You know the feeling is mutual - Ed.) and snippets of Brown’s personality came shining through, whether it was abundantly clear or not. When the bright lights and rat-tailed security guards chased us all away, I realised that while it wasn’t a gig to put on the most memorable of my life list, it did prove her reliability as a performer and confirm her obvious talent as an artist with a long future ahead of her. KATY HALL

top ten dvds

WITH ALLAN SKO AND JUSTIN HOOK

The last decade has seen the quality of television shows rise to the level where it’s no longer seen as a resting stop for actors, writers and directors on the way to the multiplex or a grave on the way back. The exponential growth in popularity of TV on DVD, a plasma screen in every home (government policy I believe) and ever more comfortable foot rests is part of the reason. Investment in script development, production design, nuanced casting and the audience’s intelligence is the bigger factor. For the first time in living memory ten hours in front of the box can be as rewarding as a trip to the gallery or book and a cigar. Cherish these moments.

The Wire 5 [Warner Home Video/HBO]

The Shield: Season 6 [20th Century Fox]

And so concludes the most magnificent series ever committed to TV. “Everything is connected” is the catch-cry and boy does it live up to it. Somehow, across this sprawling, multi-levelled multi-character series that spends as much time on the street as it does in the pollie’s office, we get a stunningly rich slice of society through superb interwoven storytelling that reflects Baltimore on a micro level, and human society on the macro. Although season five is the weakest of the lot, it still kicks the arse of just about everything else out there, and the full circle nature of the conclusion is both fitting, and satisfying. ALLAN SKO

Vic Mackey’s world is closing in, throttling him with the power of every lie, kickback, beating, scheme and murder he’s ever instigated. Lem’s dead and Shane’s in purgatory. Mackey’s worn down a revolving door of investigators and managers but hasn’t learnt his lesson – it’s too late to consider changing paths. The Shield keeps on getting better and better. One of the best dramas of the decade, it simply doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Michael Chiklis as Mackey is the definitive anti-hero. JUSTIN HOOK

Avatar [Nickelodeon] A mystical animated show that deals with the themes of conflict, death, depression and filial responsibility played out in the backdrop of war and martial arts? And it’s a kids show? Avatar is jaw-droppingly good; lovable, complicated, fleshed out characters, an engrossing storyline that arcs beautifully across all three series, often laugh out loud funny, often stirringly poignant and sad… this is one of the most engrossing series I’ve seen. And the martial arts are accurate to boot. Simply terrific. ALLAN SKO

Mad Men 2 [Sony] This sumptuous show sure does bring alive the ‘50s and ‘60s. Enormous vats of money were spent recreating the lives of ad execs and their families in this era, and it shows. The sets, the suits, the dresses (o boy, don’t get my girl started on the dresses) all tell the story of a completely different time when “men were men and women were women”, and it teaches us many things; the role of gender, the way advertising works, societal expectations and, perhaps most potently, the nature of identity. One of the year’s most striking shows. ALLAN SKO

Weeds 5 [Lionsgate]

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Season 1 & 2 [20th Century Fox] DVD is the best way to catch the bat shit insane antics of a group of alcoholic, offensive, ADHD-addled nonachievers as they create chaos with each step they take. It needs momentum to work – especially after Danny De Vito joins the cast. Invariably someone gets hurt. If it’s a good episode everyone will get hurt. The show revels in absolute, surreal obnoxiousness so don’t bother if you dislike yelling or logical plot lines. The only show I habitually watch on high rotation. JUSTIN HOOK

Generation Kill [Warner Home Video/HBO] We’ve yet to have our Iraq Part II-Apocalypse Now moment. Maybe a bit of time is needed. Maybe war isn’t hip at the moment. Whatever happens, Generation Kill will stand as a stunning achievement exploring the banalities of war, the lives of grunts and the fecklessness of middle management. At heart it’s a road movie and it doesn’t aim to cover every aspect of war – merely the slow creep towards (non) battle when nerves fray and minds wander. Unapologetically unaligned politically, it’s a refreshing kick of sand in the face. JUSTIN HOOK

In Treatment [Warner Home Video/HBO]

Sharp writers are the Weeds team. When you think back to the trembling beginnings of Nancy Botwin when she was but a humble suburban weed-slinger to where we are now, the transformation of the character, and her surrounds, is amazing. Each season ramps the tension and the stakes all the higher and yet remains believable, and while the more sombre tone of the latter series means it’s not the out-and-out laugh fest as before, the writing still ensures chewed fingernails and guffaws aplenty. ALLAN SKO

The conceit of In Treatment is both brilliant in execution and genius in simplicity. A show about a therapist struggling with clients in emotional denial and his own inner demons set within the confines of a room (pretty much) and 25 minutes. As such, it mirrors the claustrophobia of our urges and the impracticability of expecting problems to be solved succinctly and on terms we feel comfortable with. Gabriel Byrne slow-burn smoulders his way through 1200+ compelling minutes the way only he can. JUSTIN HOOK

30 Rock 2 [Universal]

Battlestar Galactica [Universal]

It was inevitable that Alec Baldwin would move from beloved side character to a main role, and the show is stronger for it. What I viewed initially as the poor cousin to the fantastic Arrested Development, 30 Rock has emerged with its own identity. All the side characters are enjoyable, but it’s Fey’s ferocious self-deprecation and Baldwin’s effortless cool that holds the show together. A “laugh riot” as I believe they say in Hollywood. ALLAN SKO

BSG was a show that was always on my to-do list. The reviews were glowing, the concept intriguing, it looked spectacular… but it simply had too much competition for my attention. Then I watched the pilot and was hooked immediately. A show that dealt with the destruction of humanity was always going to be complex – but BSG operates on a higher level. Like its counterpart and near-equal The Wire, BSG’s final season was a minor let down only for what preceded. It’s the sort of show that wins over trenchant sci-fi haters with effortless grace. JUSTIN HOOK

the word

on albums

album of the week the necks silverwater [rer] Silverwater is the sound of a hazy, humid, opiate summer evening settling down and smothering the dimly lit edges of town. You can hear crickets droning, distant rumbles of thunder over the hills to the west, and can glimpse crisp bleak stars when they emerge from the gathering clouds into pockets of clear sky. You can imagine yourself inside watching the moths throw themselves against the window, sipping a cold glass of riesling as you stew in the heat that simmers as the night becomes deeper. Then the spheres fuse and the celestial synths split open and a deluge of bubbling percussion and tinkling keys and dripping bass cascade out of your stereo and seep away down the storm water drain to somewhere icy. The Necks have once again proved themselves not only masters of ‘atmosphere’ but of the tension of the transition between calm and frantic. Each contrasting moment seems to last for ever, then suddenly it is consumed by the next. Silverwater is incredible. It will leave you in an oppressive trance like a sweaty night spent with a slippery lover, tossing and turning on sonic ripples, yearning for the release of the next washing climax. ALEXANDER JORGENSEN-HULL

blkout total depravity [resist]

the black ryder buy the ticket, take the ride [emi]

Perth hardcorists BLKOUT know what the score is – get in, hit hard, get out – so much so that the ten tracks on offer here will take up less than half an hour of your precious time – but it’s time well spent. In an age where much of the music filed under hardcore sounds like Slayer played by chimps suffering from something of a talent deficit, Total Depravity is the real deal – crunching riffage, sandpaper-hoarse vocals (with some occasional oh-so-appropriate gang backup come chorus time) and – get this – high quality songwriting. Indeed the title track and Suffer in Silence are two of the better tracks you’ll hear all year, in any genre, and they alone make this album worth the trouble.

For a band with not that much recognition outside the inner city buzz/ hype-machine scene, The Morning After Girls fattened out their Rolodex like globe-trotting chart toppers. Counting various members of BRMC, Dandy Warhols, Swervedriver as friends and colleagues – TMAG refugees Aimee Nash and Scott von Ryper have returned as The Black Ryder and refined their sound to its bare basics; effects pedals. And distortion. OK, here it is – the My Bloody Valentine reference. For starters, To Never Know You sounds like it fell directly off MBV’s Tremolo EP. So does every other song. Swervedriver’s Graham Bonnar assisted with knob twiddling and hints of that overlooked band can be heard in the recesses. Outside, though, is the main party; huge swirling, melodic feedback-drenched psych-pop. Feels like 1991 all over again.

Scott Adams

dr strangeways strange new world [red house recordings] Dr Strangeways, named after a formidable Alice Springs English teacher, are leading the charge when it comes to the enormous amount of exceptional music being produced in Central Oz of late. Combining countless instruments, the collective have created a record that is both impossible to pigeonhole and resist grooving to. Reggae rhythms, rollicking guitar, harmonica, keyboard and flute solos, masterful hip-hop flows and sophisticated sampling carry themes of volatile NT politics and central desert life, which are delivered intelligently and with razor sharp wit. One of many highlights, Racehorse is a brilliant slice of Oz hip-hop, infused with funk and served with soul; the MC’s erudite rhymes about NT possibilities are indicative of the band itself and the entire region at that. JULIA WINTERFLOOD

JUSTIN HOOK

A broken silence all for what [mgm] This is an impressive genre crossing LP that is neither solid hip-hop nor rock but an inspired hybrid. Those who dismiss mainstream hip-hop as plodding lyrics to music with all the appeal of a looped tape should attune their lugs to these guys. A Broken Silence comprises a five-piece band including hip-hop luminary Torcha. They employ rockin’ guitars and alluring keyboards to great effect (what us military types call a force multiplier) to boost their social commentary to a higher level. Standout songs are the title track All For What and The Road is Lost featuring the beloved Tim Freedman.

singled out

with Dave Ruby Howe

30 Seconds To Mars Kings And Queens [EMI] Curse Jared Leto and his 30STM cronies, sometimes they just nail it. Sure I can do cartwheeling eye rolls for their unwavering earnestness and self-importance, but when they make something this big, this ‘anthemic,’ I just can’t resist ‘em. Thankfully I know that the skyscraper hooks will soon fade for some second rate sludge soon enough and we can all go back to fobbing them off.

Shakira Did It Again [Sony BMG] Try as she might, Shakira just can’t seem to snag a hit. She Wolf was a strangely great flop and this unfortunate slice of sub-par Neptunes club pop certainly won’t fare any better. Cheese aplenty and not even remotely interesting like She Wolf was. Ignore this happily.

Stan Walker Black Box [Sony BMG] Quirky lyrical concept, decent hook and some glitzy American radio-ready production. Wow, the Idol string-pullers must’ve finally got their shit together and not saddled their winner with a limp turd of ‘winning single.’ How refreshing. Still, it’s pretty bland in the grand scheme of things and that outro may be the worst ten seconds of music I’ve heard all year.

RORY MCARTNEY

GIG GUIDE Dec 9 - Dec 12 wednesday december 9 Arts The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!

The off-broadway smash hit that’s charmed three continents comes to Canberra. CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE

Obfunc

New design collective combining architecture, fine furniture and graphic design. M16 ARTSPACE

Apogee / Perigee

Genevieve Swifte and Patrick Tisserand exhibition opens runs ‘til Dec 13.

CANBERRA CONTEMPORARY ARTS SPACE - MANUKA

ANU School of Art Graduates’ Exhibition 2009’s graduating School of Art students show off their hard work. ANU ARTS CENTRE

Live The Ellis Collective THE PHOENIX PUB

Something Different Carry-on Karaoke

Every Wednesday, from 9.30pm. P J O’REILLY’S, CIVIC

thursday december 10 Arts The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!

The off-broadway smash hit that’s charmed three continents comes to Canberra. CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE

Dance D’Opus

Faster Louder Xmas Party

Celebrate the coming of the fat man with your favourite online rock junkies. TRANSIT BAR

KarismaKatz

NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, BARTON

...Like Foxes

Check out Canberra’s beloved indie kids before they scurry off to Brisbane on tour. BAR 32

Something Different Le Chat Noir

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

Live

Llik Llik Llik DJs

Deep beats for the masses. TRANSIT BAR

DCup (Sweat It Out, Syd) LOT 33

QL2 pres. On Course

Rachel Thorne and Stuart Warner

New short dance works by young artists from around Australia. Tickets $10.

Nathan Frost

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

Karaoke

POT BELLY BAR

KREMLIN BAR

Cash prizes, 2 for 1 basic spirits and tap beer, and free pool. CUBE NIGHTCLUB

friday december 11 Arts Idle Hours

$5 entry.

Live

Mixed All Sorts Christmas Assortment

Kooky Fandango

Featuring Leanne Melmoth, Kooky Fandango and Killing the Sound.

Black Creek, Tiff & The Kids and The Chuffs

Pleased to Jive You

Buzz Deluxe

Move and shake with Goatfish, Slovac and The Great Escape. WODEN YOUTH CENTRE

The Bridge Between Duo

After Dark by Alexander Boynes

Am I ever gonna see your face again? You know the rest.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

The opening of Alexander Boynes’ latest in street art combined with print-making techniques.

CANBERRA CONTEMPORARY ART SPACE GORMAN HOUSE

The Musical of Musicals: The Musical! The off-broadway smash hit that’s charmed three continents comes to Canberra. CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE

Dance Mercury Switch DJs Hip-hop-a-plenty. TRANSIT BAR

Bang Gang 12 Inches Party

TRINITY BAR

LOT 33

The UK deep house wizard prestos a live performance... for free!

CASINO CANBERRA

HOLY GRAIL, CIVIC

Lazy days and nights as imagined by some of Australia’s great artists.

Astrochem, Paqman, Turbulence & The Sodapops

Sailing on the high-seas of smooth hip-hop and funk.

ACADEMY NIGHTCLUB

QL2 THEATRE, GORMAN HOUSE

Lollygag pres. Jay Shepherd

FILTHY MCFADDEN’S

Jemist

With local spunk bunnies The Aston Shuffle supported by Ashley Feraude and DJ Bricksta.

Space Party, 7-Set and The King Hits

Live

Bhagavad Guitars

GUNGHALIN YOUTH CENTRE

Alliance pres. Ministry of Sound Annual Tour

CASINO CANBERRA

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

THE BASEMENT

All ages, free dinner, free drinks, free mechanical surfboard. Free, free, bloody free!

A burlesque themed club night with DJs, live music, fashion and, of course, burlesque!

Featuring heavyweights Bag Raiders, Bang Gang DJs, Pilous, and Gloves with Les Petits

The skipper of the good-ship Knightsbridge.

Gunghalin Youth Centre

MOOSEHEADS PUB

The Angels Live Tour

VIKINGS - THE AUDITORIUM

Conway, Green & Hopkins Blues, roots and more.

FOLKUS ROOM - ITALO AUSTRALIAN CLUB

Raw City Rukus

Supported by Atlantis Awaits and Steady the Fall. Free entry. TUGGERANONG YOUTH CENTRE

saturday december 12 Arts The Musical of Musicals: The Musical! The off-broadway smash hit that’s charmed three continents comes to Canberra. CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE

Dance Jaytech

Supported by Peekz, Gabriel Gilmour, Yohan Strauss and Fourthstate HIPPO LOUNGE

THE PHOENIX PUB

100% blood, sweat and rhythm all the way from Canada ey. THE BASEMENT

Rotten Opera

With The Decline, The Resignators and Chris Duke and The Royals. All set for punkin’ good times. POT BELLY BAR

Fire on the Hill

FILTHY MCFADDEN’S

Something Different Impro ACT pres. Once Upon A... An improvised fairytale for the young and the young at heart. All tickets just $10! THE STREET THEATRE

Walk Against Warming

Move your shoes to move attitudes. 11:30am at New Parliament House Lawns. new parliament house

Poetry Splash!

The final Traverse Poetry Slam for 2009, celebrating the exhibition Water: H2O=Life. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA

GIG GUIDE Dec 12 - Dec 24 Something Different Impro ACT pres. Once Upon A... An improvised fairytale for the young and the young at heart. All tickets just $10! THE STREET THEATRE

monday december 14 Arts The CAT Awards

Who will win the golden CAT? Check out the contenders at the nomination party. TEATRO VIVALDI

Dance Hospitality Night feat. UniVibes DJs TRANSIT BAR

Live Bootlegs

The ‘09 finale feat. Sarah Daphne Foo, Lady Grey, The Glaciers and Readable Graffiti. THE PHOENIX PUB

tuesday december 15

thursday december 17 dance

Bad Slam No Biscuit

THE PHOENIX PUB

TNT: Karaoke Dynamite TRANSIT BAR

wednesday december 16 live Phil Moriaty

THE PHOENIX PUB

Kevin Blechdom

ANU BAR AND REFECTORY

The Woohoo Review

Melbourne gypsy party band and headliners of the Canberra Musicians Club Christmas Show. MACGREGOR HALL

The Reuben Lewis Quintet

Help the guys raise some cashola so they may make an album. THE FRONT GALLERY AND CAFE

Slaughterfest III

D’Opus + Jemist

The third installment brings Captian Cleanoff, Pod People, The Kill, Nothin’ Suss & more.

TRANSIT BAR

DJ Gosper’s Hot Flush Blues Band

Just like Romeo + Juliet, only with more tragedy.

Ashley Feraude The boy wonder.

THE BASEMENT

Something Different

Live

Arj Barker

The Road Warrior Tour

With Ayera, Sirkus, Mount Bloodkill, Altar of Sin and Maniaxe. THE BASEMENT

Castanets (US)

With JW Sparrow & The Miner Birds, Alps of NSW and Tiger Saw. THE FRONT CAFE AND GALLERY

Howling Bells

The indie band that boasts gigwise. com’s “sexiest woman in rock” make their way back home. ANU BAR AND REFECTORY

something different Karaoke

Cash prizes, 2 for 1 basic spirits and tap beer, and free pool.

friday december 18 dance A Very Merry Rev Xmas Party

sunday december 20 live KarismaKatz

CANBERRA YACHT CLUB

monday december 21

OLD CANBERRA INN

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

CUBE NIGHTCLUB

something different

Live

Tender observations, mixed with hearty chunks of sarcasm and delicate slices of irony. CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE

saturday december 19 Dance X-Mas Party

The Moose is getting festive with an all night X-mas party. MOOSEHEADS PUB

Dance Hospitality Night feat. UniVibes DJs

TRANSIT BAR

tuesday december 22 something different Xmas Karaoke

Making sure the night ‘aint so silent. TRANSIT BAR

wednesday december 23

Anthony Pappa (UK) TRANSIT BAR

live

Tenzin

Cell Block 69

Supported by RyFy and STAKY. ACADEMY NIGHTCLUB

Bite Sized Beatz

Presented by Canberra DnB and Dubstep. A BITE TO EAT CAFE

Stafford Brothers

Those crazy Queenslanders are back in town for another go! LOT 33

Decidedly the craziest cover band in Canberra, Cell Block 69 will rock your funny bone. ANU BAR AND REFECTORY

thursday december 24 dance Ajax

BAR 32

Full Frequency feat. Anthony Pappa

Los Chavos Xmas Party

Get your trance on.

Live salsa and drinks specials all night.

TRANSIT BAR

MONKEY BAR

D’Opus

Foreplay Friday

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

Strangeways Xmas

Live

TRANSIT BAR

Don’t miss the last Rev for 2009.

Get down with special guest drag queen Salzza Dipp in a brand new Xmas show. CUBE NIGHTCLUB

Cheese

Retro fromage. TRANSIT BAR

DJ T (Get Physical, Germany) One of the world’s best with over 20 years experience hits Lot 33. Bass Kleph (Syd) in support. LOT 33

Faux Real

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

Leisa Keen Trio CASINO CANBERRA

Axis Youth Centre Xmas Party Free food and live music with No Assumption and Steady the Fall.

This time there really IS only one more sleep ‘til Christmas! Bring it on with Australia’s best. LOT 33

Strangeways DJs give Christmas eve a right belting.

Knightsbridge Boathouse Xmas Eve: Yacht Rock The return of your favourite on-shore boat party. Hotpants, dirty mo’s and linen shirts all round!

AXIS YOUTH CENTRE, QUEANBEYAN

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

2009 School’s Out for Summer Tour

live

Cut loose with Deez Nuts, Ghost Inside, Mourning Tide and Mark My Words. WESTON CREEK COMMUNITY HALL

Fred Smith Band THE PHOENIX PUB

GIG GUIDE Dec 26 - Jan 16 saturday december 26 live Not Axel Harrison

Presented by Freshly Ground Theatre. THE STREET THEATRE

New Year’s Eve feat. Chris Fraser

Live

Ghetto Fabulous NYE

TRANSIT BAR

Bento Box

Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders

CUBE NIGHTCLUB

The Summernats after party takes over the Moose.

ACADEMY NIGHTCLUB

With DJs Peter Dorree & Matt Chavasse. Free drink on arrival!

Something Different

Live

Cinema Under the Stars: The Wiz

Casino Canberra NYE

Arc Cinema’s Cinema Under the Stars returns in summer with outdoor screenings of old favourites. ARC OUTDOOR CINEMA

Live entertainment with KarismaKatz CASINO CANBERRA

Screamfest

live Hospitality Night feat. UniVibes DJs

friday january 1 dance New Year’s Day Eve

DJ Peter Dorree and special guest Drag Queens welcome in the new decade. CUBE NIGHTCLUB

saturday january 2

TRANSIT BAR

Live

CUBE NIGHTCLUB

CASINO CANBERRA

something different TNT: Karaoke Dynamite TRANSIT BAR

thursday december 31 dance NYE

Soundtrap DJs NYE

New years gets a techno take-over. TRANSIT BAR

Back 2 The Future: New Year’s Eve Party

The very best (and worst) of all eras. Disco, ‘80s, ‘90s, R’n’B, house, Latin... anything goes. MONKEY BAR

THE PHOENIX PUB

thursday january 14 Live The Huckleberry Swedes

THE PHOENIX PUB

TRANSIT BAR

friday january 15

The Summernats after party takes over the Moose.

dance

Live

Retro only. Leave your modern coolness at the door.

MOOSEHEADS PUB

Sarah Byrne and James Groves CASINO CANBERRA

saturday january 9 dance Mingle & Paqman

Cheese

TRANSIT BAR

Mother Nature Festival 2010: Launch Party

The inaugural alternative arts, music and lifestyle festival launches with Raz (Israel). MERCURY BAR

saturday january 16

Academy Saturdays feat. The Proxy

Live

CASINO CANBERRA

Live

Rachael Thoms and Lachlan Coventry

Something Different

Brendan Drake Trio

Cinema under the Stars: Withnail & I

John Butler Trio

Annette Sloane and Tony Haley

Annie and the Armadillos

Arc Cinema’s Cinema Under the Stars returns in Summer with outdoor screenings of old favourites. ARC OUTDOOR CINEMA

Bring in the new decade on the Mooseheads dancefloor! Giveaways and prizes on the night. MOOSEHEADS PUB

Ug Beats

TRANSIT BAR

Cube Sunday

Party on after the weekend’s over with DJ TJ from 10 ‘til late.

dance

Summernats

The Bridge Between tuesday december 29

friday january 8

KarismaKatz

CASINO CANBERRA

With Cash Savage.

MOOSEHEADS PUB

New year, same Ug!

live CANBERRA YACHT CLUB

Summernats

For New Year’s Eve 2009 get metalised. Two day festival. THE ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY

sunday december 27

sunday january 10

dance

Quartessence Trio CASINO CANBERRA

thursday january 7

Bring in the new year with Canberran treasures Chris Fraser and Ashley Feraude.

tuesday january 5

ACADEMY NIGHTCLUB

CASINO CANBERRA

Something Different

Massive Day of Music

Arc Cinema’s Cinema Under the Stars returns in summer with outdoor screenings of old favourites.

CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE

What more do you want? Featuring Steady the Fall and many more. AXIS YOUTH CENTRE, QUEANBEYAN

Something Different

Charlie Parr

Cinema under the Stars: Malcolm

THE FRONT CAFE AND GALLERY

As Famous as the Moon

The joyous, upbeat, shoulder boppin’, funky Aussie band make a rare appearance in the ‘berra.

Live With Henry Wagons and guests.

CASINO CANBERRA

Arc Cinema’s Cinema Under the Stars returns in summer with outdoor screenings of old favourites. ARC OUTDOOR CINEMA

Cinema Under the Stars: Easy Rider

ARC OUTDOOR CINEMA

FIRST CONTACT SIDE A: BMA band profile

The Trivs Where did your band name come from? Trivs = Swedish adjective, to thrive or to be joyous, depending on the context… Sounds nice, ja? Group Members? Miller, Gaff, Bonesy and Byron. Describe your sound: Energetic indie that tickles the ears. Who are your influences, musical or otherwise? The Joggers, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Led Zeppelin should all take some credit. What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had whilst performing? Playing in the bathroom of a crazy house party and having people try to high-five us through the window. What’s your biggest achievement/proudest moment so far? Playing a couple of tour dates with Philadelphia Grand Jury was an absolute gem of an experience. Also, sharing the stage with some massive names at Stonefest but we are so stoked to be playing at the upcoming Purple Sneakers NYE party in Sydney! What are your plans for the future? A new EP for 2010 recorded at the legendary Big Jesus Burger! What makes you laugh? Rangas mostly. And other mythical creatures. What pisses you off? All the one way streets around Surry Hills. What’s your opinion of the local scene? Positive! There are a few movers and shakers, as well as a dynamic independent scene that is brimming with hidden talent waiting to be discovered! What are your upcoming gigs? Thursday December 10 – Fasterlouder Xmas party @ Transit. Thursday December 31 – Purple Sneakers NYE House Party at Manning Bar in Sydney with The Grates, Red Riders, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Boxer Rebellion and more. Friday January 22 – The Espy (Melbourne) with The Galvatrons and The Smoke. February – something new and very cool (in Canberra)... Ssh. Contact Info: Management and bookings: duncan. brown228@gmail.com Contact the band: thetrivs@hotmail.com www.myspace.com/thetrivs Find us on Facebook for band and gig updates.

Aaron Peacey Aaron 0410 381 306 Adam Hole Adam 0421 023 226 Afternoon Shift Adam 0402 055 314 After Close Scotty 0412 742 682, afterclose@hotmail.com Alcove Mark 0410 112 522 Alice 0423 100 792 Allies ACT (Oxfam Group) alliesact@hotmail.com/ myspace.com/alliesact Amphibian Sound PA Clare 0410 308 288 Amplif5’d Classic rock covers band Joy 0407 200 428, joybarac-heath@hotmail.com Annie & the Armadillos Annie 6161 1078/0422 076 313 The Ashburys Dan Craddock 0419 626 903 Aria Stone, sax & flute, singer/ songwriter (guitar) Aria 0411 803 343 Australian Songwriters Association (Keiran Roberts) 6231 0433 Arythmia: Ben 0423 408 767/ arythmiamusic@gmail.com Backbeat Drivers Steve 0422 733 974, www.backbeatdrivers.com Big Boss Groove Andrew 0404 455 834, www.bigbossgroove.com.au Bill Quinn, Overheard Productions (compere/MC). 0413 000 086 Birds Love Fighting Gangbusters/DIY shows - bookings@birdslovefighting.com Black Label Photography Kingsley 0438 351 007 Blister Bug Stu 0408 617 791 Bridge Between, The Rachel 0412 598 138, thebridgebetween.com.au Bruce Stage mgr/consultant 6254 9857 Caution Horses Nigel 0417 211 580 Chris Harland Blues Band 0418 490 640 chrisharlandbluesband@yahoo.com.au Clear Vision Films rehearsals/film clips/stunts - 0438 647 281 wcoulton.clearvisionfilms.com Cole Bennetts Photography 0415 087 833/colebennetts@gmail.com Cris Clucas Cris 6262 5652 Crooked Dave 0421 508 467 Danny V Danny 6238 1673/0413 502 428 Dawn Theory Nathan 0402 845 132 D’Opus & Roshambo hifidelitystyles@yahoo.com DJs Madrid and Gordon 0417 433 971 DJ Latino Rogelio 0401 274 208 DJ Moises (RnB/Latin) 0402 497 835 or moises_lopez@hotmail DNA Vic 0408 477 020 Drumassault Kate 0414 236 323 Easy Mode Daz 0404 156 482, easymodeband@gmail.com Entity Chris 0412 027 894 Epic Flagon band@epicflagon.com Fighting Mongooses, The Adam 0402 055 314 Final Lies Dan 0413 784 941 final.lies@ gmail.com Final Warning Brendan 0422 809 552 Fire on the Hill Aaron 0410 381 306/ Lachlan 0400 038 388 4dead Peter 0401 006 551 Freeloaders, The Steve 0412 653 597 Friend or Enemy 6238 0083, www.myspace.com/friendorenemy Funk Shui Dave 0407 974 476 Gareth Hailey DJ & Electronica 0414 215 885 GiLF Kelly 0410 588 747, gilf.mail@gmail.com Groovalicious www.myspace.com/ groovalicious Guy The Sound Guy Guy Gibson live & studio sound engineer, own PA, 0400 585 369, guy@guythesoundguy.com HalfPast Chris 0412 115 594 Hancock Basement Tom 6257 5375, hancockbasement@hotmail.com Happy Hour Wendy 0406 375 096 Haunted Attics band@hauntedatticsmusic.com

Heroines, The Belle417 453 811 (if room) Email: belindaleadbeatter@hotmail.com Hitherto Paul 0408 425 636 Infra Retina Kyle 0437 137 775/Michael 0425 890 023/www.infra-retina.com In The Flesh Scott 0410 475 703 Inside the Exterior Nathan 0401 072 650 Itchy Triggers Andrew 0401 588 884 Jacqui Seczawa 0428 428 722 JDY Clothing 0405 648 288/ www.jdyclothing.com Jenn Pacor singer/songwriter avail. for originals & covers, 0405 618 630 Jim Boots 0417 211 580 Johnny Roadkill Paulie 0408 287 672, paulie_mcmillan@live.com.au Karismakatz DJ Gosper 0411 065 189/ dj@karismakatz.com Kayo Marbilus myspace.com/kayomarbilus Kurt’s Metalworx (PA) 0417 025 792 Little Smoke Dan 0411 112 075 Los Chavos Andy 0401 572 150 los.chavos@yahoo.com.au Manilla Green Herms 0404 848 462, contactus@manillagreen.com, Mario Brujo Gordon world/latin/ reggae/percussionist and DJ. 0405 820 895 Martin Bailey Audio Engineer 0423 566 093 Mercury Switch Lab Studios mercuryswitch@internode.on.net Missing Zero Hadrian Brand 0424 721 907 hadrian.brand@live.com.au Moots aspwinch@grapevine.com.au Huck 0419 630 721 MuShu Jack 0414 292 567, mushu_band@hotmail.com MyOnus myonusmusic@hotmail.com/ www.myspace.com/myonus No Retreat Simon 0411 155 680 Ocean Moses Nigel 0417 211 580 OneWayFare Chris 0418 496 448 Painted Hearts, The Peter 6248 6027 Phathom Chris 0422 888 700 The Pigs The Colonel 0422 412 752 Polka Pigs Ian 6231 5974 Premier Audio Simon 0412 331 876, premier_audio@hotmail.com Redletter Ben 0421 414 472 Redsun Rehearsal Studio Ralph 0404 178 996/6162 1527 Rhythm Party, The Ross 0416 010 680 Roger Bone Band Andy 0413 483 758 Rob Mac Project, The Melinda 0400 405 537 Rug, The Jol 0417 273 041 Samsara Samahdi 0431 083 776 Sansutra J-Ma 0403 476 350 Sealegs Imagery/Photograpghy Mary Luckhurst 0433 022 476 Simone Penkethman (Simone & The Soothsayers, Singing Teacher) 6230 4828 Soundcity Rehearsal Studio Andrew 0401 588 884 Solid Gold Peter 0421 131 887/ solid.gold@live.com.au Super Best Friends Matt 0438 228 748 Surrender Jordan 0439 907 853 Switch 3 Mick 0410 698 479 System Addict Jamie 0418 398 556 Taboo Bamboo Greg 0439 990 455 Tiger Bones & The Ferabul-Zers Danny feralbul@aapt.net.au Tim James Lucia 6282 3740, luciamurdoch@hotmail.com Top Shelf Colin 0408 631 514 Udo 0412 086 158 Undersided, The Baz 0408 468 041 Using Three Words Dan 0416 123 020, usingthreewords@hotmail.com Voodoo Doll Mark 0428 650 549 William Blakely Will 0414 910 014 Words for You writer/publicity/events Megan ph 6154 0927, megan@wordsforyou.com.au Zero Degrees and Falling Louis 0423 918 793 Zwish 0411 022 907