BMA Mag 317 22 Jan 2009

THREE17 January 22.09

Variety is the Spice of Life February 6 - 14

bma magazine

FREE STUFF

Funny stuff and free stuff.

Send your answers and love-letters to: editorial@bmamag.com Hugs and kisses....

mickey out of yourself: the two things that make Australia great, and the two main ingredients of Show Us Your Roots. We’ve got five double passes for Show Us Your Roots on February 7 at the Canberra Theatre. To nab one, tell us about your favourite root.

My Kinda Guy Stayin’ Alive For the 22nd consecutive year, the superstars of WWE have come together for Survivor Series. Its unique five-on-five elimination matches have always been favourites among WWE fans, and 2008’s Survivor Series will see some unique teams built, and many of the biggest superstars in WWE look to leave an indelible mark on the sports-entertainment landscape.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, in all their worldly wisdom, and in an attempt to quell your salacious appetites for hilarity, have just released Family Guy Season Seven.

Featuring deleted scenes, commentaries, featurettes and more, the DVD set includes the season’s 12 episodes, as well as the show’s 100th episode. With guest appearances from Drew Barrymore, Neil Patrick Harris, Adam Carolla, Williem Dafoe and Simon Cowell, Season Seven is leaps and bounds above the quality of Season Six, and probably a kazillion times better than any of the other previous seasons. To get ya mits on one of seven copies and decide for yourself whether this is needless hyperbole, tell us the name of the actor who provides the voice of Chris Griffin.

The Roots Show Us Your Roots is a hilarious, fast-paced poke at multicultural Australia - how the things which appear to differentiate us are invariably the very things which make us the same. Join host Mick Molloy, who combines the scruffy appeal of a laid back larrikin and the acid tongue of the world’s toughest critic; Tahir, widely known for his performances on Thank God You’re Here and Pizza; Cuban born George Smilovici, the only comedian to top the Australian and New Zealand music charts and USA comedy charts with his hilarious hit monologue I’m Tuff; Green Faces runner-up Brian Chandler; The Axis Of Awesome (Good News Week); plus five talented young ethnic comedians with their cutting-edge, humorous stories about growing up in multicultural Australia. Multiculturalism and taking the

After probing the gaps between traditional CD ownership of a physical music product, and the extra multimedia diversity yet canthold-it in-my-hands nature of online music, D:Net Media are offering a compromise: The DDA. With a DDA, you get a hot new album in USB format, complete with lyrics, liner notes, artwork, and access to the D:Net Media System, where you can network with other people who swear by Sneaky Sound System to entertain guests. All for the price of a CD! Initial DDA releases include albums by Sneaky Sound System, Gurrumul, Grafton Primary and Skipping Girl Vinegar. To get your paws on a shiny new DDA from D:Net Media, simply tell us what the letters USB stand for.

Sword of Alexander Ninjas, aliens, the sword of Alexander the Great and a villain that can turn into a plague of locusts. Sounds like some dusty ancient history textbook, right? Wrong! It’s Japanese director Tsutsumi Yukihiko’s hilarious pisstake period piece Sword of Alexander. It follows the adventures of wandering swordsman Yorozu Genkuro as he journeys his lanky frame through an impossible genre-clashing world of satirical mayhem, rescuing the beautiful Princess Mai along the way.

Thanks to Shock, we have five copies of Survivor Series 2008 to suplex in your general direction. To hammer one down, tell us the former name of the WWE, and why it was forced to change its name.

DDA Like music? Think CDs aren’t cutting it with the age-old disk-in-a-case-with-some-pictures format? Like more variety? And fun? And value for money? And material possessions?

Oh yeah, and fighting aliens who want to take over the world, but I wont bore you with the historically accurate details. If you want to get your lighting-fast ninja hands on one of the two copies we’re giving away courtesy of Madman Entertainment, tell us the name of the ancient Greek ninja prince whose sword Yorozu Genkuro uses to slash his way to victory. Or alternatively, infiltrate our office and take the darn thing using ninja stealth [EdPlease don't do that. We're terrible with people.

Much less ninjas]. Choose wisely.

STRUTH BE TOLD Who could forget the feeling of first discovering your favourite band or show. Like a seasoned explorer, you sail the air waves, telescope poised, waiting for a particular hook, lyric or joke to glimmer on the horizon like a cheeky lighthouse. Eyes grinning through sea spray you throttle your badge encrusted wheel, drop the striped sail on the Good Ship Indie and lay a course for life-changing island. Reaching shore you dash out, plunge your headphone jack into the coconut tree and immerse your mind in its luxurious bounty. That which lay undiscovered now feels like home, and your map of the world becomes a little more complete.

In 1999 my friends and I discovered George. They were fronted by the mesmerising voice of Katie Noonan, best showcased by first single Holiday. We’d go to their gigs at The Gypsy Bar and sit cross legged in the middle of the modest crowd, happy to be sharing our island with fellow explorers. But people like to boast, and our secret location fell into the wrong hands. A few months later I awoke to find George’s album had gone to number one, accompanied by a truly sinister television commercial. Their next gig I stood up the back of the Royal Theatre while a Kon Tiki load of riff-raff scuffed up the sand, burped over the choruses and shouted out for singles. The next day I promptly took my seven inches and magazine clippings and burnt them, chanting a simple cleansing prayer into the flames. George were dead to me now.

It’s a testament to the human ego, the way we make our role as fan completely about us. It’s as if the art is the spiritual putty we need to patch up our sense of self. It’s such a one-sided, long distance relationship, that the true motives often become confused. We’ve all had that hip friend asking if we’ve heard of The Obscures, their eyes burning with rage and glee when we decline. They are at once delighted that their secret remains safe, and exasperated that such genius remains undiscovered. How to solve the paradox of wanting a band to be big, but not too big.

Dan Le Sac’s song Thou Shalt Not Kill goes there. ‘Thou shalt not put musicians and recording artists on ridiculous pedestals. No matter how great they are, or were. The Beatles were just a band. Oasis, just a band.

Radiohead, just a band.’ It’s true. Do you think your favourite indie artists are at home running commercial decisions past cynical Myspace fans?

‘Hey guys, even though we’ve struggled for ten years and are on the brink of a major record deal, after extensive messaging with SadGirl79 I think the best way to keep it real is to release an EP in eight years then all somehow die.’ With the decay of the music industry and the DIY internet age removing the fourth wall, surely there’s a little more empathy and understanding towards artists. Whereas the use of Feist’s song 1234 in a Mac commercial would have attracted cries of ‘sell out’ in the ‘90s, it was quietly chalked up as a valid industry manoeuvre.

I recently discovered Six Feet Under, only to find that for most of my friends that good ship had sailed about three years ago. Rather than be deterred I simply persevered and had a sense of rediscovering something beautiful, and have now joined the ranks of ambassadors for the show. Similarly, I’ve gone back and found incredible peninsulas within The Kinks, JJ Cale and Boards Of Canada back catalogues. Sure, The Boosh, Kings Of Leon and MGMT are all over-inhabited, and there are those who’ll sit up the back of their Tavern screaming ‘I discovered them first’ to anyone who’ll listen. But the truth is, you’re the captain of your ship and if you feel like it’s yours then no-one can take that away from you. Alternatively - No band is an island.

JUSTIN HEAZLEWOOD www.bedroomphilosopher.com

bma magazine 5

NEWS Party Pooper

More from Moran

This week brought the news that last weekend’s Trinity Block Party will be the last of its kind in Canberra. The organisers announced with great regret that government pressure, bureaucracy, and noise restrictions have made the event unsustainable and that it will not be going ahead in 2010. Despite having raised over $18,000 for charity since 2007, as well as providing a reason for young Canberrans to stay in town at a time of year when most of them are coast-bound, it seems that the once-a-year event which finishes at 10pm was a little too much of a burden for the government and noise-sensitive locals. See yourself in the Nation’s Capital? The ACT Government doesn’t seem to want us to.

Ranting, unkempt comic genius Dylan Moran is probably best known for his role as Bernard Black in the hit TV series Black Books, but as those who caught his last two Australian tours know, the man is downright spitefully brilliant at stand-up as well. Tour number three, the What It Is tour, sees Moran romping his absurd yet razor-sharp rants across the stage of the Royal Theatre on April 3. A quick stop at www.ticketek.com.au will sort you out for tickets, but be quick: the last two Australian tours were total sell outs.

Honey to the B Lucinda Williams will be coming down under for the first time in over 16 years in April 2009, taking her solid road band Buick 6 with her on her Little Honey Tour, Little Honey also being the name of Williams’ newly released album. The tour will cross the east coast of with shows in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Byron bay. 2009 will be the 30th anniversary of her first recording. Little Honey is the follow up to the Grammynominated and critically acclaimed West in 2007. Lucinda will be in Canberra on Saturday April 4, playing at the Canberra Theatre. To book call Canberra Ticketing: 6275 2700 or go to www.canberratheatre.org.au .

Our Days are Numbered Having just returned from a Brooklyn recording studio where they’ve banged out album number three, Central Coast rockers Something With Numbers are back on tour doing their energetic, melodic rock thang.

The cracking new disc is called Engineering the Soul, featuring the new single We’ll Fight - a dynamic call to arms infused with bombastic horns and a typically epic chorus. The lads hit the ANU on March 12, and you can politely ask for tickets through www.oztix.com.au . While you’re at it, have a look at the We’ll Fight vid on youtube for tips on how to raise an angry mob using just one catchy rock song.

I Live on the Second Floor Charming Irish troubadour Luka Bloom has knocked up a brand new album, simply titled Eleven Songs.

Breaking his recent penchant for recording at home, Bloom took his world-weary guitar and entered a professional Dublin studio to craft this new addition to an already rich back catalogue. With the album in the can, Luka Bloom returns to our shores for his ninth Australian tour, including a stunning three dates at Tilley’s Devine Café running April 4 to 6. A solo performer of exhilarating talent and impassioned delivery, Bloom is not to be missed. Tickets on sale now through www.ticketek.com.au .

Empire of the Sun Cat The Cat Empire, they of the boisterous greetings (Hello yourself, geez), and the big brass, ah, trumpets, and the insanely danceable grooves, are back. Yes, that’s right.

Back. The evidence trail is as incriminating as it is sexy: 1) A man was spotted, in Melbourne, sporting a hat. A good hat. Expensive. 2) The band has announced a new Australian tour. What’s more, there are rumours of new material on the boil, and it promises to be soul-scorchingly hot! Get down to the Royal Theatre (via ticketek) on March 1 and check ‘em out.

O Yeah!

If one had to find a positive side to a brand new university year getting under way, it’s the triumphant drunken bang of O Week. It’s both a welcoming celebration of new opportunities and possibilities and a sad farewell to summer holidays, and this year the Big O festival is going to make it one to remember. Catch a stellar musical line-up featuring The Music, The Fratellis, Ben Lee, Bluejuice, Yves Klein Blue and Cassette Kids at the ANU refectory on March 3. Tickets through www.ticketek.com.au, www.qjump.com.au or the good folks at Landspeed Records.

Take it to the Bank Preparations for Corinbank 2009 are now well into their final stages. With first release tickets for the three day festival (27 Feb – 1 March) no longer on sale, second release tickets are now on sale for $132 (plus booking fee), with day tickets on sale for $35 (plus booking fee).

Along with this juice gossip is the second line-up announcement, featuring Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter, Waiting For Guinness, The Little Stevies, Lee Rosser & Nicky Bomba, Dubba Rukki, The Ellis Collective, and many more. They’ll join the myriad of stellar acts previously announced, including Blue King Brown, Mat McHugh (The Beautiful Girls), Resin Dogs Sound System, Darren Hanlon, The Beez, D’Opus & Roshambo, and the Crooked Fiddle Band, among many others.

AND ANOTHER THING...

YOU PISSED ME OFF 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 GENUINE SPELLINGS.

Whatever. It’s the great panaceaic word of the noughties. Sassy teens use it when they realise they’ve lost an argument and want to bring a ‘discussion’ to a close without resorting to knife crime. It doesn’t actually mean ‘this is the end of our discourse’, of course, but that’s the beauty of our wonderfully flexible mother tongue, right?

I’ve wandered off topic. During the last decade, in a previous time, ‘Whatever’ meant something else entirely. Whatever was a marvellous band from Newcastle, in England’s misty and cold Northern wastelands.

I can here you shuffling restlessly, bursting to ask ‘but what did they - do they - sound like?’

And there’s the rub. Whatever were one of those bands that were impossible to categorise or, indeed, pigeonhole. On the face of it they were a heavy metal band. In fact, my first exposure to them came when they were the unlikely support act to Swedish noodleist Yngwie J. Malmsteen at a poky little club in London’s West End in late 1995. They went down like a lead balloon of course - the leather-jacketed faithful waiting to develop RSI by playing air guitar to Yngwie’s pompous sturm und drang were bemused by a bunch of dreadlocked, mohair jumper toting nobodies invading their space, but to my ears at least, there was something special going on on that cold London night.

Invigorated by the uniqueness of their sound, I sought further audiences, telling my bosses along the way that this was a band to look out for in the future.

Of course they got signed, and in 1996 their debut album, Sugarbuzz, was unleashed. Again it emphasized how difficult this band was to place - something that ultimately, I think, led to their demise - being as it was a tasty mélange of muscly metalliriffs (the album was produced by today’s metal producer du jour Andy Sneap to full-horned effect), shards of jangley indie pop, slacker lyrics and, crucially, a vocal performance by frontman Nick Parsons that brought to mind the soaring melodies of Irish punkers Therapy? rather than the guttural Hetfieldesque roar one might have expected from a band on legendary metal label Music for Nations. And if there wasn’t enough confusion over the sound, then the actual songs weren’t much different. Whatever were quite literally able to do it all; from chugging thrash (Sams Creation Bulldog .44 comes straight from the Master of Puppets school of battery) to soaring, pop-informed nuggets like the peerless Hooked on Mondays, Sugarbuzz covered all the hard-rockin’ boundaries. But it tanked.

The band worked the album hard, supporting a wide range of much-touted ‘big names’ from across the Atlantic - kicking many yankee arses into the bargain - but somehow they never seemed to capture the imagination of the wider musically-enthused public. I remember seeing them one night play an absolute blinder at Nottingham’s Rock City venue, absolutely crushing a crowd ostensibly there to see American grunge whinesters Pist.On, and the local billies went absolutely apeshit. And then went home and forgot to buy the album. The label gave the band a second chance, but by the time Sugarbuzz’s successor, Lies and Gold Dust appeared in 1997, the game was effectively up. L&GD, whilst good, was what you’d now call a pop-punk record, its testicles largely neutered by a spangly production, and the young metal crowd to whom the band should have been appealing had moved on. There are many bands who should have made more of themselves, but few who actively deserved success as much. Do yourselves a favour and run down a copy of Sugarbuzz on the interweb. You’ll love it.

SCOTT ADAMS thirtyyearsofrnr@hotmail.com

To the low life scum who decided to walk into my store at 5 past 4pm on boxing day when the the door was half pulled down, you fucking pissed me off you complete turd burger.

The store was obviously closed you moron. Clearly you are just one of those completely inconsiderate bitches who thinks that my every purpose in life is to find a tacky pair of 50 dollar shoes for your fat, ugly, bunion deformed foot, but for fucks sake, its boxing day and Christmas time...you would think for once in your life you could try not to act like a total shithead. But then you went and fucking pissed me off beyond belief by calling at 9 the next day asking for a refund...

OH FUCK YOU its a sale item u absolute wanker!

To the morons that I deliver pizza to every night of the goddam week: I'm glad you're eating that pizza. I hope you develope heart problems and pass away before you have the

FROM THE BOSSMAN Things I did over the break: Paid to go and see a film for the first time in awhile. Was alarmed at having to hand over the best part of $50 for the privilege. “There better be a happy ending with that!” I decreed, with dramatic eye-rolling for effect, to which the clerk, obviously unaware of the power of sexual innuendo for humorous effect, proceeded to reveal the ending to the entire queue.

Was barred from the cinema.

Went to a bird sanctuary and asked the lovely female keeper to “show us your tits”.

Was barred from the sanctuary.

Tracked down the people responsible for those Rivers ads and set fire to their house.* Was awarded Australian of the Year.

Which means there’s now only seven places left in Canberra that I can legally visit. Result. Next stop, Fyshwick!

It’s good to be back, Pooglets, and it’s good to have you back, especially with a face like that. Cor! Strap yourselves in and together we’ll make 2009 one to forget. ALLAN “FEELIN’ FINE IN THE OH-NINE” SKO *now remember, kids, arson’s not big, and it’s not clever. Try swearing instead.

bma :: Issue317

Fax: 02 6257 4361 Mail: PO Box 713 Civic Square, ACT 2608

"bma: recovering from the festive season is useless when you're an alcoholic anyway."

Publisher Scott Layne General Manager & Advertising Manager Allan Sko: T: (02) 6257 4360 E: advertising@bmamag.com Editor Ben Hermann: T: (02) 6257 4456 E: editorial@bmamag.com Accounts Manager Fahim Shahnoor : T: (02) 6247 4816 E: accounts@bmamag.com

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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.

chance to spawn any equally stupid offspring. No, I can't change your $100 bill you stupid twat. They told you on the phone I carry $20 in change.

No, you can't decide only when I arrive at your house that you want a garlic bread and have me "pop back and pick one up".

Reason? You live in Kambah you git. No, when I saw a snarling greyhound behind your fence I didn't think it worthwhile to take the chance that he's "actually really friendly". If you were holding two pizzas and were confronted with a vicious dog between yourself and the door of the house, what would you do? Would you assume it's actually friendly? I don't think so, you degenerate venerial disease-ridden scumbot. The fact that you're as dumb as a rat's arse and actually have the money to live in premises with electricity and running water simply astounds me. You fucking pissed me off.

Super Sub Editor Peter Krbavac Graphic Design Jessica Condi Film Editor Mark Russell Principal Photographers (The Flashbulb Posse) Andrew Mayo/Nick Brightman/John Hatfield Issue 318 out February 5 Editorial Deadline January 23 Advertising Deadline January 29

TIDBITS Trinity Bar is about to add extra sizzle to your summer with Sound Baked Sundays. Every WHO Sunday afternoon you can find local DJs pumping a blend of soul, hip hop, disco and funk CHEW FU PHAT, tunes through the Trinity beer garden while you lap up the summer rays and sip on some of DJ MONEYSHOT the best cocktails in town. Be entertained, enjoy the sun and feast on the gourmet BBQ for WHAT the very competitive price of FREE. The party happens every Sunday from 2pm, so get down TRINITY SOUND BAKED SUNDAYS early and fit some serious Sunday-arvo hanging out into your weekend schedule.Then, as WHERE the sun goes down, the beats will rise. From twilight the party pumps it up a notch or five (TRINITY) BAR and the dance floor becomes a haven for a final boogie as we say goodbye to the weekend.

WHEN Once a month, Sound Baked Sundays transforms into the biggest Sunday party in town.

SUNDAYS, BEGINNING JAN 25 This Sunday, January 25, you can catch international mash-up kings, Chew Fu Phat (Brooklyn Zoo, NY) and DJ Moneyshot (UK, Ninja Tunes Solid Steel).

WHO EAGLEWAHK MUSIC FESTIVAL WHAT THREE DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL WHERE EAGLEHAWK HOTEL, FEDERAL HIGHWAY WHEN FRI JAN 31 - FEB 1

Local legend holds that the Eaglehawk region got its name when founding father J. Edgar Hoochimama saw a mythical bird surfing the thermals high above the earth, hunting for children. Replacing the annual child sacrifice to the great hawk-spirit is the first ever Eaglehawke music festival. Three days of some of the nation’s finest rock, country, blues, folk and jazz artists, as well as the hospitality of local volunteers and the kind folks at the Eaglehawke Hotel which ought to sell you on the region. Artists include Sharon Lane, Legless, Sean Hale, The Fry Brothers, End of Days, 3rd Strike, Julia & The Deep Sea Sirens, and many more. Tickets can be purloined from Landspeed, the Music Shop, or at the door. So venture just outside the city limits and kick start this local festival on its way to becoming a major regional attraction.

WHO NIKKITA MC WHAT ARSE-SHAKIN HIP HOP WHERE MERCURY BAR WHEN FRI FEB 13

Mercury Bar will get its groove on this February when Nikkita MC, Convict and Rhyme Ministers hit the joint for a night of funky bass-driven, crowd-yellin' hip hop. Launching the Ruff Craft mixtape as well as Nikkita's Hypothesis mixtape, the lads have, in the last year, raised the bar far above your common mixtape standard, bringing swagger, relevance and though-provoking head-knodding beats to your ears. Nikkita's Hypothesis mixtape was released earlier this year as a dual CD alongside Elefant Tracks MC The Tongue and is comprised purely of original material. Entry to this red hot boot-scootin' event is a mere $10, yet for a further 10 clams you'll also get both the Ruff Craft and Nikkita's mixtapes.

How's that for ya! Doors open 8pm.

WHO PURPLE SNEAKERS WHAT FASHION STAREFEST, SNOGGING WHERE TRANSIT BAR WHEN FRIDAY JAN 30

There are many different kinds of indie kid, and all are welcome at Purple Sneakers’ debut Canberra club night. That’s right, Sydney’s longest running indie club, Purple Sneakers, will be bringing their achingly hip DJs down to Canberra once a month to get indie kids’ pointy elbows moving and brittle, malnourished hips shaking. That hip shaking thing might be involuntary, but the elbows will definitely be due to the glorious indie tunes raining down on the dance floor, as if from indie heaven - where the rooms all have shoe racks with space for 200 pairs, organised by colour, and Jarvis Cocker licks your face every night before you fall asleep. So if you’re underweight, well-dressed, and love underground credibility but aren’t prepared to sacrifice social interaction to get it, come on down to Purple Sneakers at Transit Bar. It’s free, and everyone there knows you’re cool. Why else would you be there?

To win a five day pass to indie heaven, simply send us in your top 150 bands that will never make a second album. Otherwise, get your booty down to Purple Sneakers!

WHO CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT WHAT COMMUNITY ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE WHERE PARLIAMENT HOUSE WHEN TUES FEB 3

On the first day of Parliament, February 3, Australia's Climate Action Summit will hold a large peacfeul community demonstration. Thousands of orgdinary Australians are expected to attend the event, encircling Parliament in a human chain of defiance.

Compelled to action by the recent announcement from Rudd that Australia will only commit to a token 5% emissions reduction target under his lead, community action groups and unlikely activists from around the nation are heading to the capital to demand the strong and urgent climate action that Rudd promised during his election. The community rally will be followed by speakers including Georgina Woods and a video message from Tim Flannery, as well as performances by 11-piece costume junkies The Bakery and gypsy six-piece Lola Lovina. The rally will begin at 8am.

WHO LEGLESS WHAT ZOMBIE GIRL PUNK WHERE EAGLEHAWK MUSIC FESTIVAL WHEN FRI JAN 31 - FEB 1

All-girl punk rock concept band Legless are coming to our sleepy, gentle city to play the Eaglehawke Music Festival. They’re also zombies. All of them. Not alive. One is dressed as a nurse, one as a bride, one as a police woman, and one as a school girl, but all of the dead variety. Legless have taken their zombie punk village-people-in-reverse formula across Australia and even over to East Timor, where the band entertained our troops, bless their stagnant hearts. Influenced by Kiss, The Village People, AC/DC, Alice Cooper and the Sex Pistols, Legless use strong harmonies over a wall of crunching guitars, yet are not too proud to chase a catchy hook. If the idea of zombie girls in character playing high-octane punk rock appeals to your twisted sense of humor, then you’re a creep. But if you can tee it up with your parole officer, head five minutes north of Canberra to the Eaglehawke Music Festival on the Federal highway. Alternatively, you can also catch them at the Hush Club, Woden, on Sunday February 1 at 2pm.

Takin' It Up A Gear Justin Hook

*Tickets thru Ticketek.

Transaction fees apply.

Pre-purchase tickets and guarantee entry!

It seems like a lifetime away, and I guess for some readers it is, but in 2002 THE DATSUNS were on the verge of something huge. Finding themselves passengers on the new garage rock revival road show with The Strokes, The Vines et al this Cambridge, NZ band were tipped for greatness of sorts. Admittedly it was mainly the notoriously absent minded NME behind the proclamations, so let’s view history through that particularly corrupt prism but nevertheless The Datsuns were a blast of simple, effective, major chord chugging rock.

“You know we never really had a plan to conquer the world or anything. We just enjoyed making music together and it was great that other people enjoyed it as well” The live shows were incendiary. The buzz was loud and leery. Then all of a sudden, nothing really happened. Despite appearing to be stadium ready, it all dissipated rather quietly. Not that this worries guitarist Christian Livingstone. “You know we never really had a plan to conquer the world or anything. We just enjoyed making music together and it was great that other people enjoyed it as well.” Thankfully he sounded positive and the furthest from bitter about the band’s career trajectory. You see after the success came expectations and after expectations came John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, as it always does.

Jones produced the disappointing Outta Sight, Outta Mind although Livingstone hastens to add “we pretty much have always produced our own albums anyway.”

You’d be hard pressed to fault the band’s comfort with the control board with the results of their latest and most satisfying release, Head Stunts.

Equally a welcome return to riff-busting form and an extension towards longer more mind-jam based song writing it’s cohesive, tight, melodic and warm. And all this despite the band living on separate continents.

Livingstone is based in the UK now; “it just makes more sense to be based here. It’s close to Europe, easier for touring and besides I really like London.” And no, it has nothing to do with the sizeable ex-pat Antipodean community based around the SW5 post code. “It’s great.

We have heaps of touring bands and friends dropping in and crashing all the time. We had John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, veritable demi-God) sleeping on the floor the other day after a gig.”

As any good real estate agent would proclaim, it’s all about location, location, location. And as any RFTC would say…. you bastard! Yet despite some minor hiccups on the way (label swapping, member changes) The Datsuns are located pretty well themselves. Touring an album that deserves recognition – one they clearly believe in – and enjoying their time beyond the tyranny of expectations, as Livingstone concludes, “We’re playing better than ever before.” It’s pretty simple really, as it always should be.

February/March JOSH PYKE + SPECIAL GUESTS

SAT 28th

Tix on sale now @ Ticketek $36.75*

TUES 3rd

THE BIG O feat: THE MUSIC, THE FRATELLIS BEN LEE, BLUEJUICE, YVES KLEIN BLUE CASSETTE KIDS Doors Open 6pm!!

Tix avail @ Ticketek & Landspeed Records $55.25*

THURS 12th

SOMETHING WITH NUMBERS + SPECIAL GUESTS Tix on sale Mon 15th Dec '08 @ Ticketek $23.45*

*Tickets thru Ticketek. Transaction fees apply.

Pre-purchase tickets & guarentee entry!

The Datsuns' new album Head Stunts is out now through Cooking Vinyl.

bma magazine 9

Bakery's Delight

Shailla Van Raad The Bakery seem to have appeared magically out of Sydney’s inner west suburbs, spouting their original party anthems and enticing crowds of pleasantly surprised onlookers to tap their feet, swing their hips and bust out into rhythmic dance. Bursting onto the Sydney music scene in late 2006, THE BAKERY is an explosion of genres in flamboyant flair.

Vocalist Emily Collins explains the eclectic mix and fusion of a colourful audiovisual burlesque: “We all got together because everyone wanted to make music to dance to; party music. We’re a costume band. No-one in particular really co-ordinates our costumes, we all just get together at rehearsals and one of us says ‘Let’s wear that.’ Whether it be kimonos or dresses, we do it.”

The origins of The Bakery are quite mundane - surprising, considering the musical stage show they produce. “We know each other through university,” Emily explains. “There was a core group of five of us who initially formed the band: myself, Jesse, Ruth, Rosie and Byron. Everyone else came after that.”

Not surprisingly, though, “Everyone in the band has a different background. We have a lawyer, a scientist, a university student and a nanny. And most of us are also musicians who play in other bands.

Although there are 11 people in The Bakery, we still have a nice flow to our dynamics. There are tensions sometimes, as to be expected with such a large band, but surprisingly there really isn’t a lot of conflict.”

The music The Bakery creates spans decades of musical development.

Soul, funk, dance and jazz are just some of the genres the band explores.

“One day we all realised that we should label ourselves as ‘party-core’ because it’s what we essentially do,” says Emily.

Due to the ostentatious show they create, The Bakery do get slapped with the ‘gimmick band’ label. “In a sense we are one,” Emily admits. “The band doesn’t really care for that label because regardless of this, we still make good music and have a good time doing it. In fact, we think our music deserves its own label, because as a band, we aren’t restricted to a particular genre.”

Although they are crazy party animals that enjoy a laugh, the band takes writing music quite seriously and makes sure that all members remain equal.“ We all get together; write and jam together. Everyone contributes and everything is done with the collective. People fall into certain roles and we each have a different responsibility.”

Because they work hard, playing hard comes quite naturally, as evident on their recent tour launching their debut album The Bakery & The Beast. “This tour has been great, we’ve spent the whole time partying.

The most amazing part of it was when the band was running around a macadamia farm near Byron Bay.” Debauchery perhaps? No further comment was made regarding these circumstances.

“During New Year’s Eve we played at Peats Ridge to quite a large crowd and we counted down the New Year. It was pretty amazing. It’s been a crazy ride; there have been so many good times. The most memorable experience so far was playing at the Newtown Festival last year in front of thousands of people. It was pretty amazing.”

So, what next for this inspirational group? Like any self-respecting fresh new artists they would like to tour Australia and then the world. “We have all sorts of dreams. After this tour, we’re planning to work really hard in February and get some more music written. Hopefully, very soon, we’ll produce a new album and go on a national tour. We really want to go to Adelaide and Melbourne. Eventually, though, we’d like to tour Europe.”

“With what funds?” I ask. “Circus funds,” Emily laughs, “we’ll turn into a circus to fund the trip. Maybe I’ll learn to juggle.”

Besides the ongoing day-to-day musical project development, the band is using the influential power of their sound to send an important message at the Climate Action Summit here in Canberra, drawing attention to the devestating effects of climate change..

“We’re playing at Action Day because as humans and musicians we feel we need to be positively involved in getting people together and raising awareness for climate change. The Rudd government isn’t doing enough to combat it. We want people to understand that the battle against climate change is a positive thing.”

The Bakery will play at Australia's Climate Action Summit on February 3, joining thousands of ordinary Australians converging on the lawns of Parliament House to demand urgent climate action from the Government.

There will also be joined by speakers including Georgina Woods, and a video message from Tim Flannery. Community action begins at 8am, with bands and speakers following

and. b e m u t s o “We’re a cit be kimonos Whether s, we do it” or dresse

bma magazine 11

ALL AGES Hey Canberra, you cheeky bitch. I trust we all had a fabulous Christmas and New Year? I most certainly did - it was pretty much comprised of sleeping, watching The Mighty Boosh and possibly a bit too much Passion Pop. Now it’s a brand new year and I’m coming at ya like a shark with knees! Yeah, you’d better watch out you slags, ‘cause I’m gonna creep inside you like a warm kitten.

Crack out your calendar and circle January 31, because The Amenta and The Bezerker will be taking the stage for the Chaos ACT V Festival at The Basement. It’s probably best to double-check the details for this closer to the date, as word on the street is that the all ages component of the event is in a wee bit of limbo. Yikes!

Misery Signals will be jammin’ out along with The Amity Affliction and Confession on February 12 at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. You can grab your tickets from www.moshtix.com.au, Landspeed Records, and The Music Shop.

Australia’s favourite midget and slightly incestuous twins, The Veronicas, will be rolling into the Royal Theatre along with Metro Station and Short Stack on February 21. So get ready to shimmy shimmy go go and shake it for everybody’s favourite teenyboppers. Tickets are available from www.mytickets.com.au and start at $55.55 and up to $117.80.

And now we have that out of the way, Wollongong lads Never See Tomorrow are crimping their way into our boring little town for an all-out show at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre on February 7. Since forming in 2006, this amazingly talented (and handsome, might I add) five piece have fast been making a name for themselves, and in such a short time have developed a huge fan base and played numerous shows all over Australia. These guys are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon, so prepare yourself for an evening of brutal screams, insane pits and a titillatingly unique brand of metalcore.

February 22 will see Australia’s very own hardcore/hip-hop four piece Deez Nuts moshing into the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. The brainchild of I Killed the Prom Queen’s former drummer JJ Peters, these guys will smack you across the face and leave you begging for more. Deez Nuts have been raising all hell and bringing their fuck-you attitude to masses of Australian hardcore fans since forming in 2007.

So make sure you’re there you little tarts, or I’m coming at ya like a kestrel.

That’s all the must-see shit coming your way in the near future, so get your fannies along and be sure not to miss out.

Otherwise, I may be forced to have a crimp off with you. Yep, scary I know, so don’t risk it.

Deez Nuts

And that’s why I don’t like cricket.

LIZZY LIZ-LIZ ROWLEY elizabeth_rowley@live.com.au

LOCALITY Happy New Year, dear readers!

I hope your NYE celebrations were as remarkable as mine and that you were surrounded by loved ones all wading in rivers of alcohol.

I’ve always favoured the toast “May the best of your past be the worst of your future,” and there is no time more apt for that particular bon mot than at the close of a fat December. It is with that spirit that I hope the best local gigs you have encountered in years past will pale in comparison to those about to present themselves.

At The Basement on Friday January 23, Looking Glass will be trialling new material in the lead up to a fresh album later in 2009. The band have recently come back from a successful tour in New Zealand, and with sets at the upcoming Devil’s Kitchen shows in Melbourne

and Sydney, they are gearing up for a boon 2009. Also playing at The Basement are Sister Scarlette, Annie Finelle and Scaramouche.

Some bands start the new year with a whimper, blindly stumbling into the light of a further cycle of rehearsals, gigs and recordings. Others, like Julia And The Deep Sea Sirens, prefer to set off with a bang. Not pulling the covers up over a lousy January, the band will be playing at both the Art:House art + design festival (Benedict House, Queanbeyan) on the Friday

SUPER BEST FRIENDS

January 23 for a paltry $3, AND will be playing Canberra’s newest bar Hush, on the Sunday January 25 from 4pm. By all accounts, Hush Lounge (on the corner of Launceston & Irving St, Philip) has a great beer garden worth checking out on its own.

Projects. Pledge your allegiance to home-grown music and your country at the same time. Ooh, and it’s all ages, so take your kid brother and sister (‘cause it’s never to early too start indoctrinating them in the ways of the Rock).

If you like your acts local, and your entertainment free, you can do no better than heading to Commonwealth Park at 2pm, Australia Day (Monday January 26) and checking out the crème of the scene, including Super Best Friends, Los Capitanes, Hancock Basement and Casual

A little early warning to clear your schedule for Saturday February 7 (or Sunday 8th or heck, even Monday 9th), ‘cause the “unstoppable faux-gypsy warhorse” that is MR FIBBY will be performing their new musical offering Little Girl Lost In The Devil’s Black Beard over the course of said three evenings.

To say that MR FIBBY live is an experience is like saying, “gee, that Presley boy can hold a tune”. Part music, part theatre, part inspired lunacy, part with $15 ($12 concession) through Canberra Ticketing and simply turn up at the Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre.

Until next time dear readers, it’s been real.

LUKE MCGRATH lukemcgrath@hotmail.com

bma magazine 13

METALISE New Years wishes to all the metal faithful and good news on the international gig front for local audiences to kick off 2009, starting with the distant yet unexpected show in June with none other than Iron Maiden’s original lungsman Paul Di’anno hitting The Basement in Belconnen for a night of classics and solo material. That will be very interesting indeed.

Chaos V is at The Basement on January 31 and February 1 with a selection of bands for every metal fan. The Bezerker and The Amenta will bring their respective world class sounds to both shows - the 31st being over 18s and the 1st being an all-ages show. Mytile Vey Lorth, Aeon of Horus and Ne Obliviscaris join Beyond Terror Beyond Grace, Synpernium, Templestowe, Gasma, Deprivation and New Blood on Saturday. The all ages show features The Bezerker, The Amenta, Templestowe, Ne Obliviscaris and Leichotica. That’s a big weekend’s Basementing.

A few weeks back I was very excited to hear of France’s absolutely monumental Monarch coming out for an Australian tour. The band deliver an astoundingly dense blend of considered blackened doom metal at an orbital pace, layering bludgeoning, entrancing repetitions of riffs accompanied by an unholy shrieking female vocal presence in the form of vocalist Emilie. Think Corrupted’s long form doom with a more black metal like vocal performance. Their albums are crushing works of doom mastery and their show is essential attendance for all doom fans as they test the structural integrity of The Basement in Belconnen on February 21. They will be joined by our destructive 4Dead, Melbourne doom scientists Agonhymn and Bowcaster.

In more doom news, The Basement is also hosting a more deathdoom inspired joint CD launch with Sydney’s Ironwood and Canberra’s Futility releasing their debut records. I got to hear some of the new Futility record at The Basement recently and it’s sounding the perfect summer compliment to fans of entrancing repetitions Evoken, Morgion and the like. Also along will be The Veil (Sydney), Nevetherym (Newcastle), and Tranquil Deception (Canberra).

Tickets are selling fast for the Summer Slaughter Fest so don’t miss out on grabbing yours to the Manning Bar in Sydney on March 13 for Necrophagist, Dying Fetus, Aborted, The Red Shore and The Faceless. Check the myspace page - www.myspace.com/ summerslaughteraustralia - for details. Also at the Manning Bar, this big international bill is followed up on April 7 with Deicide’s return to Australia, following a late scratching from last year’s heavy meal bill bonanza.

You really gotta try get down to Melbourne this weekend for the Grindcore 2009 show, which features pretty much every good grind band in Australia hitting the Corner Hotel stage on January 25. The bands playing are Fuck I’m Dead, Agents of Abhorence, Captain Cleanoff, The Kill, Roskopp, Beyond Terror Beyond Grace, Super Happy Fun Slide, Shagnum and Doubled Over, to put some sludge and slow to prepare for the day’s blasts ahead. Huge line-up.

Have a great year.

JOSH NP: Wino – Eyes Of The Flesh – Punctuated Equilibrium

DANCE: THE DROP January: It’s a confusing time for us party people.

It’s not unlike being born again from the silver womb of a dry wine cask, long since removed from the carton.

We’ve washed down Christmas dinner with several too many glasses of white wine with our loved ones and then heralded the New Year with a boozy hug-fest after way too many bottles of champagne.

Now, in this annual hangover our spirits are as raw as Eddie Murphy, our mouths are as dry as Monkittee creek and our tired eyes unwilling to take in the glossy print of the gig guides and magazine ads showing that the dance music scene is a maniacal unrelenting insomniac and that, from the bleary-eyed, sunburnt ashes of 2008 rises an immediate 365 day party plan full of bright club nights and gargantuan music festivals.

We have no time to waste young disciples, so stumble to the sink and grab that first clean-looking used glass in reach, clumsily fill it with warm tap water and rehydrate yourself for 2009.

Transit Bar are bringing barter back with a whole bunch of complimentary gigs in January. It’s straight forward really, you simply swap your presence for free entry. Seems fair, dosen’t it? Thursday January 22 sees UK house music legend Paul Woolford (Space, Ibiza) front the impressive new Pang! Thursday night DJ roster, supported

by Scottie Fischer, Fourthstate, Hubert and Tim Galvin, while Saturday January 24 plays host to the epic digital battle between the Exposed and LLik LLik LLik DJs, featuring Alex McLeod, Biggie, Gabe, Staky, Beat It, Sean Kelly, The Duchess and Bicipital Groove. For those rocking the indie/dance crossover vibe, the Purple Sneakers DJs are also appearing on Friday January 30 for a night of thrashy electronic emogasm.

Sunday January 25 proves that Monday hangovers are oh-so-hotright-now. The Australia Day long weekend plays host to not one but two stellar parties with DJ Moneyshot (UK) and Chew Fu Phat (NY/USA) rocking Trinity Bar with their trademark floor-filling party styles. Get your cocktail on early in the afternoon for a free BBQ. Oh, and it’s also free entry.

At the very same time over at Minque, Pang! have teamed up with NKOTB (the acronym, not the boy band) promoters SeventySeven to present the exciting return of the main man of deep house Kaskade (USA), supported by Ashley Feraude, Hubert, Dave Norgate and Michael O’Rourke. Tickets are available from Moshtix and Landspeed Records.

Monkey Bar proves it’s the venue that keeps on Gibbon with the Canberra leg of the One Love Mobile Disco Tour featuring Melbourne favourite Andy Murphy appearing on Saturday January 31. Entry is a paltry $15 and the supports are regular residents Trent Richardson, Tim Galvin, DJ Kiz and B-Tham.

Not to leave them out in this issue, Lovers of DNB have also been given the good news that UK legends Roni Size and Dynamite MC will be taking centre stage at Academy (of all places) on February 20 - more on this massif show in the next issue.

So, to all my clammy-handed club compatriots I wish you the best of luck with your New Year’s resolutions and hope that they don’t involve not partying with as much exuberance as you managed to do in 2008… because then you won’t be bloody reading this column anymore, will you, eh? Peace and Wiki to all.

TIM GALVIN tim.galvin@live.com.au

bma magazine 15

BLACKBOX So it looks like another year of crime drama, but at least it’s getting slightly more imaginative. No doubt the over-hyped show of 2009 will be the new Underbelly series A Tale of Two Cities (WIN), set in the ‘70s and ‘80s in Griffith and Sydney. It’s going to have to do big things to even come close to the intensity of Roberta’s bogan ways. Sure, you can believe Matthew Newton as a sleazy drug boss, but whether we can see the man most famous as the Mayor of Parkes as a mafia boss or Sally Fletcher as a gangster’s wife remains to be seen. The beauty of the first series was the relatively unknown actors in the lead roles - sure there were a couple of faces from long dead ‘80s soaps, and Frankie J Holden, but our faves, like Roberta, were newcomers. The ‘70s garb and the locations in downtown Griffith alone won’t cut it - Blackbox is just praying the script is as good as the original.

One show that most of you have probably already put on the don’twatch-unless-every-other-channel-goes-to-test-pattern list is the US version of Life on Mars (SCTEN), and while the fact that they killed the continuing mystery in the original series and David E. Kelley pulled out before the pilot was re-written, there is one reason to tune in. Harvey Keitel. That makes it at least worth a peek.

The show you really should put on the list is the Australian version of Ladette to Lady (WIN). Cringe (non-cultural).

Elsewhere it’s wall-to-wall observational docos, reality and lifestyle.

Bondi Vet (SCTEN) doesn’t promise anything new apart from a vet who’s more attractive than Dr. Harry, but Guerrilla Gardeners (SCTEN) might prove more interesting – instead of the backyards of battlers it makes over urban spaces. Talkin’ ‘bout my Generation (SCTEN), a panel show that will feature different generations discussing issues, could prove entertaining depending on the panelists. While it could be completely self indulgent, Toasted and Roasted (WIN) brings the US concept to our screens. The only problem is we’ve been doing it for years without a TV show deeming it OK. As usual Auntie wins in the comedy stakes with The Chaser’s War on Everything (ABC1) returning and John Safran taking on yet another taboo topic with John Safran’s Race Relations (ABC1).

Dr Who fans will be pleased that a new Doctor has been announced – Matt Smith from summer hit Party Animals (ABC1, Tue, 8.30pm) - and that Auntie will screen this year’s Christmas episode with David Tennant at the end of February. Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VLFli9i9Jw for a preview.

While the summer viewing was pretty thin on the ground – Chez Blackbox managed to get through at least two seasons of The Wire and some other assorted retro fare such as The X-Files and Northern Exposure – the pick of the new shows was Big Bang Theory (WIN, Sun-Mon, 8pm). Sure, there are a lot of predictable geek jokes and some of the peripheral characters are lucky to make two dimensions, but Jim Parsons is brilliant as the arrogant yet whiny Sheldon and Johnny Galecki and Sara Gilbert successfully recreate the chemistry that often saw them steal the show on Roseanne.

Of course special mention should go to the highly addictive Gossip Girl (WIN, Wed, 11.30pm), although WIN seems to have ditched it a few times in favour of Temptation (WIN, Mon-Fri, 11.30pm). Game shows are not an 11.30pm show. Bring back the bitches of New York society!

While you wait for the new shows to start, keep yourself amused with Animation Season (SBS, Tue, 10.55pm), Rockwiz featuring Adalita of Magic Dirt fame (SBS, Sat Jan 24, 9.20pm), new comedy Chandon Pictures (ABC1, Wed, 9.05pm) and Food Safari USA (SBS, Wed Jan 28, 7.30pm).

TRACY HEFFERNAN tracyheffernan@bigpond.com

THEATRE COLUMN New Year, New You. At least that’s what all the magazines tell us. Theatre Column doesn’t know: it feels the same. Same gearing up for a year of ranting fruitlessly to the silent witnesses of these pages, same fear of retribution and rage from fevered egos offended by pointless pot-shots, the same inexplicable third-person voice, the same sallies into the sordid world of the berra pro-am scene…

Speaking of sordid, we should mention the nominations for the CAT Awards, announced oh-so-long ago at the end of 2008. I know that you, like me, are on tenterhooks wondering who got noticed. Well. Let’s have a look. How interesting. It seems that the judges have once again given a golly-gosh-large number of nominations to Free Rain Productions, begging the question: if your founder is on the board of judges, does it help your chances at getting a nod? Theatre Column doesn’t want to enter into some kind of Frost/Nixon fracas, but we are committed to asking the hard questions.

Free Rain got their notices for Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Shape of Things, with design, acting, and directing noms spread liberally over the two. In terms of individual achievement, Soren Jensen cleaned up with nominations for his role as Lewis in Rep’s Cosi, and direction for the aforementioned Shape of Things. Jess Brent and Jerry Hearn earned noms each for their leading performances in Rep’s Pygmalion, which they most definitely deserved, as did Hannah Meredith for her supporting role in The Shape of Things. Other than that, none of the nominations thrilled Theatre Column to the core. But then, you can take that how you will. The ceremony is held on February 21, and you can, as always, buy your tickets through the Canberra Theatre website. If, you know, you want to.

Fringe 09 It’s my favourite time of the year, when all the theatre and art and music and beer and gozleme one could possibly desire is lumped in the one tiny tent in front of the Legislative Assembly: that’s right, it’s the Multicultural Fringe Festival! Fringe is included in the Multicultural Festival proper, running from February 6 to 15. News HOT OFF THE FRINGE PRESS is the appointment of devil-may-care A STACKED songstress Alice Cottee to the DECK role of Creative Producer. More HOT PRESSED NEWS is the inclusion of A Stacked Deck, a massive burlesque night hosted

by Liberte Bell. I know there are more theatre shows on in Fringe (because I know someone who is directing one) but the website is oddly silent (or I’m reading it wrong). Stay tuned for more HOT NEWS PRESSES from the Multicultural Fringe (or head to the site yaself, at www. multiculturalfestival.com.au/fringe_festival).

Hungry like the…

Ickle Pickle are almost pretty much first cab off the rank this year with their production of Peter and the Wolf, adapted and directed by Wayne Shepherd and running at Belco Theatre til January 28. I can only assume that it tells the classic story of Peter and the Wolf. And is probably for kids.

Ickle Pickle presents Peter and the Wolf at Belconnen Theatre, til January 28. Various times (mostly matinee). Tix $14. For bookings and info call 6262 6977.

Happy new and all that. You’ll be hearing from me.

NAOMI MILTHORPE princessnaea@gmail.com

DISCOLOGY SINGLED OUT

WITH DAVE RUBY HOWE Friendly Fires Paris (Remote Control) This group is so full of good ideas. Like getting Paul Epworth to help produce their album, or having a Mediterranean rhythm track for their singles, or the one where they decided to get Au Revoir Simone to lend backing vocals to an already very gorgeous Paris.

Here’s an idea; love this band.

Heartsrevoltion Ultraviolence (Kitsune) I’d happily stop fawning over each successive Kitsune 12” if they would just stop releasing such excellent singles.

Ultraviolence is no exception to the Kitsune gold-standard, a thumping slice of odd-ball electronica. It’s all awash with gutteral screams and jagged beats while a circus of bubbling synths battle for domination. Oh, and remixes courtesy of Spank Rock, Vitalic and Chateau Marmont. Come fucking on.

Jessica Mauboy Burn (Sony BMG) I dunno, put some cream on it or something, bitch. Nobody cares.

Kevin Rudolf ft. Lil Wayne Let It Rock (Universal) This is dumb stuff, make no mistake.

The slick and glossy production is only meant to distract you from that and the basic instinct that you won’t remember who Kevin Rudolph is in six months. Weezy doesn’t even need to do this kind of thing anymore, does he? It’s like a waste of his time.

Metro Station Seventeen Forever (Sony BMG) I think it’s hilarious that these are the kind of dudes who would’ve got bashed down at the Tuggeranong Hyperdome five years ago. Affected whines for vocals, straightened fringes and girl jeans as tight as their crippling teen angst. But now kids like Metro Station are heroes for both the would-be emo youths and the drongomainstream. Shit. At least it’s got a good hook.

White Lies Death (Universal) Probably the most hyped band of 2009 (and we’re what, one month in?), White Lies are a rarity in that they might actually deliver on their colossal buzz.

While Death isn’t mind blowing, it’s incredibly solid indie-gloom. There’s a swell of organ dirge, dramatic orchestration and impeccably miserable songwriting. And the album is even better.

The Aerial Maps In The Blinding Sun Light (Popboomerang Records) Adam Gibson is a poet, novelist and writer of some note and The Aerial Maps is his musical project where wistful memories

bounce up against pleasant, inoffensive low-key guitar rambles courtesy of Simon Holmes of The Hummingbirds.

Well, that’s one way of looking at it.

Here’s another. It’s nothing more than middle class, middle aged, middle of the road novelistic nasal-Strine reminiscing more commonly co-opted for the marketing of automobiles or alcohol. There are real stories and truths in these tracks – no doubt – but I struggle to find their resonance in Australia 2008 other than feeble “Oh, remember the days” conversations at over-masculinated BBQs where the resignation of ‘Haidos’ is a worthy and hotly contested topic of debate. The imagery is presented as being uniquely Australian and possibly this may be correct.

Certain smells, sounds and sights native to this land cannot be replicated elsewhere but more often than not I’m staggered at the simplicity of his conceit. Take for example Gibson classing himself an outsider. For fucks sake, he grew up in the Anglo stronghold of Bondi in the ‘70s and ‘80s, so how on earth does that qualify as life experience as being an outsider? This cloistered ultra-OZ part of Australia (and the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney in general) is simply not representative of this country or its people and does not qualify one for treatises of the street.

The characters are obvious and one dimensional, recollections of London are neither interesting or new and it’s no surprise to find a shout out in the liner notes for another pathetic, Eastern Suburbs-bred, boofhead apologist also resolutely stuck in a bygone era, Sam de Brito. I’m hardly an effete, dandy ponce but ultimately In The Blinding Sunlight is meaningless and it’s the sort of reductionist, monoculturual garbage the Cronulla thugs would adore. I appreciate the fact that memories are personal and Gibson is simply telling his stories, fine. But don’t be so vulgar as to suggest this is Australia. I live in an unbelievably rich, diverse, difficult, infuriating, harsh and gorgeous country a universe away from the one proffered here.

JUSTIN HOOK Bob Marley and The Wailers One Love - At Studio One 1964 - 1966 (Heatbeat) There’s any number of Wailers compilations, so news of yet another can be easily passed over. However, One Love: Bob Marley and the Wailers at Studio One 1964-1966 outshines other, often bootlegged compilations. The 41 tracks, across two disks, cover the mid‘60s when the reggae icon first entered Studio One to record for the great ‘Sir Coxone’ Dodd. Originally a vocal group, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Junior Braithwaite and Beverly Kelso were backed by the awesome Studio One House band. Before entering the legendary studio, Marley and co. had been closeted away for months with Jamaican singing sensation Joe Higgs, rehearsing and learning harmony and vocal technique. Filled with confidence, they were elated to find that The Skatalites, who had been brought together as a unit only a month earlier, would back them. The Skatalites were Jamaica’s premiere recording band and the true creators of the ska beat.

The Wailers had sat for untold hours in a rusted out van, set up on blocks in the back of Coxone’s studio, composing, rehearsing and smoking herbs in terrible heat. Songs that had been rehearsed to the point of boredom were like new creations when arranged and backed by The Skatalites. Favourites like One Love, Love and Affection, Sim-

mer Down and Bend Down Low sound incredible, with a warm production that places you right there, in that little studio at 13 Brentford Road, Kingston.

Harder to find classics like Hooligan Ska and Rude Boy are genuine treasures.

Included are many unreleased tracks or alternate takes, and Marley’s influences, from US R&B, soul and gospel, can be heard throughout. With extensive and enlightening liner notes, this compilation is a must for any true Bob Marley fan.

SIMON HOBBS Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy Is It The Sea? (Domino) A notoriously restless artist, Will Oldham’s latest release as the Bonnie is a slender addition to his unique and untouchable discography, especially so given it’s the third live release within three years. It’s true that each Bonnie show is an event for the faithful and the level of reinvention of his back catalogue is impressive - though not quite Dylan-esque - and deserves attention. However, this show, recorded in Scotland in 2006 with Harem Scarem and Alex Nielsen, seems a bit pointless. The addition of fiddles, banjos, flutes and accordions often overwhelms the fragility Oldham has nurtured over the years, but the fact is the man has moved on. He’s no longer the prince of sparse desolation and doom and if anything Is It The Sea? is a perfect companion piece to his latest run of upbeat albums. So unsurprisingly, it’s the material from the recent albums that fares best, particularly Love Comes To Me, which emerges as a friendly and muscular folk jam, and a teeth-clenching rendition of Cursed Sleep, both from 2006’s The Letting Go. Personal preference is for the more chaotic Wilding In The West, but that’s an insubstantial quibble, because Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy is one of the finest songwriters of our generation and should happily release multiple albums per year if that’s his wont, so I couldn’t give a rat’s fig about live albums that don’t meet my contrarian oversized expectations.

JUSTIN HOOK

Brightblack Morning Light Motion to Rejoin (Remote Control/ Matador) For the life of me, I simply cannot figure out why anybody fawned over this album when it was released last year. Firstly, it’s a real drag. A monotonous, moribund drag empty of drama, insight, melody, inventiveness or, at the very least, purpose. The fuggy stench hovering over each sludgy indulgence is a kick in the guts for every unsigned band with a genuine good riff, interesting chord progression or snappy turn of phrase. It’s a kick in the guts for the mug punters who fall for it as well and for once I’m siding with them. The blind reverence for rock, soul and pop staples like Neil Young, the Dead and any old hack with a Fender Rhodes is a maddeningly shallow exercise that chases its own tail down a predictable hole. As we approach the end of the first decade of the new millennium if this is the best we can hope for from those who want to push the boundaries of ambient folk, or even work within its constrictive grasp, then abandon hope. Jump ship. Pronto.

Motion to Rejoin was recorded in a hut powered by solar panels so there’s every possibility Rachael Hughes and Naybob Shineywater are engineering a weary escape from the world at large and encouraging everyone to chill the fuck out. A worthy gesture for sure, but it requires a far better soundtrack than this cobbled together nonsense and obnoxious narco-folk.

JUSTIN HOOK Cradle of Filth Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder (Roadrunner) FACT: Cradle of Filth is one of the most important, and indeed brilliant, heavy metal bands ever. I state this merely because a) it needs saying and b) the fact is that GOTDT isn’t much cop. CoF are at the stage in their career

Pavement Brighten the Corners (Deluxe Edition) (Matador) This album is one great 1990s indie-rock recording from one of the most musically compelling bands of that decade. And although I tend to regard Pavement’s 1992 debut album Slanted and Enchanted as a landmark release in the annals of American music, when a band this inventive is given due consideration, it turns out that everything is pretty much first-rate. That includes the 1997 outing Brighten the Corners, which sails as close to the purified, all-out rocknroll of later Velvet Underground as any band ever has. The unadorned experimentation of the earlier Slanted and Enchanted, of which I am so fond, drew comparisons with post-punk innovators such as The Fall and Sonic Youth, which can only be a good thing. But by the time second album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain rolled around in 1994, Pavement had outgrown its early influences and settled into an all encompassing mid-range vibe that comes across like a down in the basement jam, but from a band in full control at all times. This is often revealed through an attention to detail where intricately woven melodics are enhanced by the one consistent element in the band’s history, Steve Malkmus’ unusual, yet endlessly inventive word-play. Malkmus’ lyrics give little away in terms of the Pavement vocalist’s experience of the world, but at times drops hints such as on Brighten the Corner’s third track Transport is Arranged where he provides an insight into some of the bigger questions by drawling, “I vent my spleen with the Lord, he is abstract and bored, too much milk and honey.” The words conjure an enticing rhythm that Malkmus maintains even at other times when you can’t be quite sure what the hell he is talking about. This album is also a major winner musically, and I love how Fin’s languid dreaminess recalls the Velvet Underground’s hidden masterpiece Ocean. The Matador label should be commended for this ongoing series of Pavement reissues which include excellent remastering and worthwhile bonus material, and recordings like this remind me of the sheer pleasure of listening.

DAN BIGNA

when they can afford a duff record - Iron Maiden don’t seem to be hurting after two on the trot, after all - but that doesn’t stop Godspeed… being a massive disappointment. Put simply, there’s an awful lot of huff and puff here - I’m assuming that’s the Devil’s Thunder - but precious little actual result. Like every Cradle album there are moments of breathtaking metal brilliance and at least 312 riffs that’ll have you clawing the air like a demented loon as you seek to recreate them in air form, but this time around there don’t seem to be too many actual songs with which to give said riffs flesh. Despite being an ‘extreme metal’ band, the Filth, like their distant cousins Slipknot, have always given the sheer heaviness of their music a chance by couching it in the recognisable form of ‘songs’- and there just aren’t many here. So, what you’re left with is Paul Allender’s excellent guitar work and Dani Davey’s ludicrous barking, and if that’s enough for you good luck - it’s just that the Deliria ears need more these days.

NAMBUCCO “VEMPIRE” DELIRIA Cyndi Lauper Bring Ya to the Brink (Epic) Oh god, I wish Cyndi Lauper had not made this album. I wish she had just stayed in the background in her awesome clothes with her hot 55-year-old body and laughed at her old foe Madonna with the rest of us. Instead, she has made an album which sounds like she is trying too hard to make it in the gay-housemusic scene. Why would Cyndi do this? Does she need money? Is she bored with being an icon of tasteful ‘80s pop music? This backing music is high quality because Ms Lauper has enlisted the help of producers such as Peer Astrom and Johan Bobeck, but it does not sound at all different to other recent dance music. Tracks four and 11 are good, but the rest is filler. In fact, at times I thought that strange lady from Madison Avenue was back along with her big furry hats. I don’t understand why Cyndi Lauper didn’t just ask to be a guest singer on some dance albums, rather than anchoring herself and her talent to this uninspiring collection.

LUCY BATTERSBY Epicure Postcards From A Ghost (MGM) There must be something in the water in Ballarat.

Whatever the cause, Epicure could stake a claim to being the country rock version of black metal.

Their third album The Goodbye Girl was a masterpiece with a heavy suicide emphasis (definitely not call waiting music for Lifeline). Whist not as dark, Postcards From A Ghost is still pretty mournful, with plenty of references to death creeping into the lyrics. In lightening the mood, some of the great mix of melodies that made The Goodbye Girl so good has been lost. Snakes and Foxes, Empire in Decline, Landslide and Blood on My Hands are all strong tracks, but the rest of the album is rather run of the mill. Past Epicure fans will still appreciate this offering, but it takes a bit of listening to get into it.

RORY McCARTNEY

Heather Nova The Jasmine Flower (PID) In botany, there exists both a true and a ‘false’ jasmine flower, the latter from a completely different genus and poisonous for human consumption. But there’s nothing toxic about Heather Nova’s seventh studio album.

This is a stark album recorded with just Heather, her acoustic guitar and a solar-powered laptop – with the occasional flourish of violin. It has a funereal landscape of sound and Nova’s lyrics are sparing. It’s a quiet record, with only the closer Always Christmas demanding more than closed eyes and open ears. And on Hollow, Nova’s voice is simply mesmerising. The Jasmine Flower is unlikely to garner Nova heaps of press in Australia, but it is a lovely, unadorned album that fits beautifully with the songwriter’s career.

CECILIA PATTISON-LEVI Marina V Modern Fairytale (Independent) Marina V, a Russian-born, California-based singer, pianist and songwriter, returns with her sixth album, waiting for the long-overdue moment when her considerable talent is recognised and acknowledged by the whole world. She was at the Hollywood Music Awards and was up for best video, though was pipped at the post by Garry Schyman. Marina has a pitch-perfect, crystal clear, breathy voice and a dozen well-written, intelligent, dramatic soft rock/pop songs. Citing influences such as The Beatles and Tchaikovsky and, given her delightfully quirky style and her incredible ability as a pianist, comparisons with artists such as Tori Amos or Sarah McLachlan are inevitable, but Marina has her own very distinct, unique sound. Modern Fairytale is a very enjoyable listen and tugs an emotional chord many times with the wonderful I’ll Stand Up For You, the beautifully fragile Love Me Back and the joyous Sunshine Guaranteed.

CECILIA PATTISON-LEVI Melissa Lefton Hello (Independent) Melissa Lefton is a singer/songwriter from USA with a very wicked sense of humour.

Her first album was supposed to be released on September 11, 2001 and was shelved.

It is very rare, but worth tracking down.

She has re-invented herself on Hello and it is a sonic invite into the fantastic dimensions of personalities Misty and Data. Hello is described as a rare and epic body of work in the tradition of Queen, Bowie, and The Beatles; a daring, chordal odyssey of self-exploration. You will not find music of this sort within the straightjacket of contemporary radio. Lefton is like a child of ‘80s new wave - she sounds like Patti Smith’s teeny-bopper kid sister. This album is treacherously smart yet still up for a lot of fun. She sings about romantic angst, flying glowbots and of her own soaring ambitions. Great fun, and musically smart.

CECILIA PATTISON-LEVI

Mr Sister Empty Places (Same Road Records) Had a stress filled day? Then sooth your jaded senses in Mr Sister as this West Australian duo takes you on a journey to tranquil places. This is folk music with an orchestral feel, as cello notes chase each other like circling eagles and the delicate keys sound like a laughing, sunlit stream. This chill out package is completed by the luscious voice of Mel Robinson. Rather than sing-along folk, you are invited to sit back and listen to the story woven by the vocalist. The feel is slightly ‘hippy, hippy shake’ with recurring themes of the natural elements and peace. No CD for black metal addicts, the overall vibe is one of happiness and serenity.

The title track invites you to celebrate life as ‘every day is a gift’. Several songs feature rain or storms as their topics. In Shelter, the cello notes resemble heavy rain drops and track two, Rain, was the highlight of the album. Definitely a must for hippy types and those seeking music to meditate to.

RORY McCARTNEY Saxon Into the Labyrinth (SPV/Riot) Eerie, atmpspheric intro? Check.

Majestic power metal opening track? Check. At least one song featuring the word ‘rock’, or variant(s) thereof? Check. All of which means another latterday Saxon opus must be in the ol’ death deck, right? Well, yes, but such mirthful jibing, whilst rooted in truth, is absolutely redundant once the album gets started. Saxon were big, huge even, in Britain in the early ‘80s, then got badly burnt working for the yankee dollar, went AWOL in the indie label wilderness for a decade and then, ten years ago, commenced a slow yet steady return to their place in the pantheon of metal greats, culminating in this, their 18th studio album. And, whilst it's far from their best - try 1980’s Wheels of Steel for size on that count - it’s another in the line - stretching to five now - of career-resurrecting albums since the band refound its mojo on 1999’s appropriately-monikered Metalhead that only serves to enhance the Saxon ‘brand’. Majestic epics such as Battalions of Steel and Valley of the Kings are worthy additions to the band’s canon, whilst Live to Rock and Come Rock of Ages - respectively the 13th and 14th songs in the Saxon oeuvre to use the word rock in their title - let no-one down in their commitment to the cause. A great start to the new year.

NAMBUCCO “747” DELIRIA Silica Bliss Cast in White (Inertia) I am so confused and lukewarm about this album.

It just doesn’t stir anything inside me.

It doesn’t make me cock my head and look at the stereo in wonderment or rush to the album cover for visual confirmation of snappy lyrics or the goodness of the music. It actually took me multiple listens to come to those conclusions. Silica Bliss have been together for many years now and this is their second album.

The Melbourne-based artists met while busking in Eastern Europe, and

have both played with other bands.

While the musicians in Silica Bliss are extremely technically competent, they are not very imaginative and every song sounded like a b-side from an already-famous band. “Doesn’t this sound like Turin Brakes?” I wondered.

“And this one sounds like Smashing Pumpkins. Now he’s singing like Thom Yorke.” See the problem? Cast in White is not bad, but it isn’t going to really surprise anyone either.

LUCY BATTERSBY The Tossers On a Fine Spring Evening (Victory Records/Stomp) Years ago, trawling through record label websites for new music and free MP3s, I discovered a band called The Tossers. The blurb boasted that they “out-Pogued” The Pogues. Doubtfully, I downloaded a sample track and, shite ‘n’ onions, it was fantastic. Two more sample songs convinced me. Indeed, they did out-Pogue the Pogues. Their latest long player is now available and it’s 13 tracks of the finest paddy-punk around. Celtic inspired punk anthems like Whiskey Makes Me Crazy and The Unfamous Paula Spencer are delivered, along with timeless classics like Katie At The Races, Teehans and the traditional favourite, The Rocky Road to Dublin. If you liked The Pogues, you’ll love The Tossers!

SIMON HOBBS Various Artists Easy Fever: A Tribute to The Easybeats and Stevie Wright (Sony/ Albert) Oh bloody hell, what is there to say about tribute compilation records that hasn’t been said a thousand before? So instead of trotting out the usual explanations and excuses for shoddy covers and tired retreads revisions I’ll be straight: purchase the originals, lord knows Stevie Wright needs all the royalties and general help he can get. Having said that, he sounds rather alright yet strangely Don Henley-esque dueting with Jimmy Barnes on Motherfigure. The Easybeats were world class, no question. Not only did they find an easy audience here and abroad for three minute, skiffleesque hook-laden pop rock nuggets but post-break up, Vanda and Young gave massive leg ups to numerous artists in their adopted homeland, including a little known family-linked combo called AC/DC. Tracks like She’s So Fine, Sorry, Friday On My Mind and I’ll Make You Happy belong on ‘60s best of mixes from now ‘til eternity; they stack up against anything from Merseyside.

And, frankly, they deserve better than the car crashes holding together this release. There are probably four worthwhile tribute versions on this album - that’s a meagre 20% return.

Compare that to the source materials that yield at a rate of roughly 100% and it's obvious where your attention should be directed - the bonus second disc of original versions, handily supplied gratis! Thanks Mr Record Company Man. JUSTIN HOOK

Mammal/Poetikool Justice @ ANU Bar, Friday November 27 There’s something about being lead backstage and speed skating in front of a band before they perform. Perhaps it’s because you’re trying really hard not to fall in front of the motivated and talented musicians from Mammal. Or maybe it’s because you’re also trying to listen to the increasingly interesting support band from Adelaide, Poetickool Justice, who just get better and better whilst you try to balance your way through their acts. Poetikool Justice got off to a rocky start, but grew on you bit by bit with their reggae and funk sound. It was reminiscent of a cross between a Jamaican Summer and the exchange of words during a car raid in the western suburbs of Sydney. Their underlying Jamaican inspired beat is contagious and eventually grows on you like an unstoppable fungus. As they played on, the geeky band, with their board shorts and yanked up socks, grew in confidence and their last track was definitely one of their best.

Mammal, on the other hand, certainly create chaos when they visit Canberra. Attracting a largely male audience, they set up an environment for radicalism so a mouthpiece such as Ezekiel Ox can spout his politically-biased lyrics and create awareness through the band’s music. It’s a proud Australian tradition that has been adopted by many bands from Crowded House to Gyroscope and Mammal are Gen Y’s delegate for the next stage of this tradition. It’s surprising to think that the group only formed in Melbourne in late 2006, and already their following both in Canberra and nationwide is sizeable. Their music speaks volumes and celebrates life; it’s an infectious charisma that permeates the crowd, like a miasma in its droves. Mammal’s social commentary is simple and well done, like a good mid-week steak and beer. Steak, beer and charisma; what more could you want?

Why Mammal attracts a male audience is easily seen; far from sentimental, they look at the bigger picture and give a blunt and fresh perspective in contrast to much of the indie whine ‘n’ whinge out there. They induce a vibe that makes you want jump up and down like a Duracell bunny, and the audience laps it all up as if it’s cream off a MILF’s stomach. Not to say that Mammal haven’t tried tapping into the emotional side of things, but from the quieter response of the crowd when Mammal attempt to romanticise love and hate in a song, the band should stick to what they know. Obviously the band has got it right when they focus on the original formula; exploring music that focuses on anger, awareness and celebration, feelings that are bigger than some sentimental schmooze between two individuals.

Mammal are more practical in their musical approach and work hard to sway the audience with their thrumming bass, vociferous guitar jams, honest vocals and the consistently energetic drumbeat. The combination converted even the non-hardcore funk fans which I dragged to the show. It’s fantastic yet simple, just like steak and beer.

SHAILLA VAN RADD 8 Women @ The Centrepiece Theatre, ANU Arts Centre Wednesday December 10 The Christmas cabaret theatre season began early with Centrepiece Theatre’s production of Robert Thomas’s 8 Women. Small tables nestled close to the stage in the ANU Arts Centre provided a cosy viewing platform for this melodrama about eight women trapped in a house with a murdered man. There was action a plenty with heaps of screaming, hysterics, feminine spite and red herrings to keep the audience guessing. There was quite a twist in the plot at the very end too - which I won’t reveal so as not to spoil the story for future potential punters. The play is filled with a range of strong characters, and were well portrayed by the cast. Local songstress about town Cathy Petocz was great as the scheming Catherine, and the part of the victim’s sister was deliciously played by Jenna Roberts, who has a blues voice guaranteed to melt the jelly in your Christmas trifle! Teatro Vivaldi provided the catering which was of the usual dinner ‘n’ show standard.

The beans may have been undercooked, but the crepes were fantastic!

RORY McCARTNEY

Welcome to Fringe ’09 – The National Multicultural Fringe and Festival Club.

With hundreds of per performers over nine nights, our feature this year is the great music our fine city produces – with a few blow-ins thrown in just to prove that other states and territories can do it well, too!

Bands take to the stage every night in various genres from rock to country, bluegrass to funk; there are local groups-made-good like Casual Projects, Roshambo and D’opus, Omar Musa and The Cashews (just to name but a few) and there are hot interstate acts such as The Crooked Fiddle Band, The Snowdroppers, Erin Black and the Page-

turners and Triple J Unearthed winner, the songbird with a steel stringed guitar, Abbie Cardwell. Then there’s Aussie music legend Dave Graney playing with his band The Lurid Yellow Mist – he’s in a category all by himself.

Theatre-wise our “Court @ Fringe” program, features a premiere work by Canberra Youth Theatre Six Billion Love, Little Girl Lost in the Devil’s Black Beard from rapidly rising performance band Mr Fibby, the return of our popular show from last year by Centrepiece Theatre, Hot Audio Wallpaper, and sick circus in Le Petite Sideshow. Watch out for Shadow House Pits performing our third instalment of Theatre in a Car - Dying Love, Reflections of Love on the Windscreen of a Car directed by Joe Woodward; and don’t forget to visit our international stencil art exhibition Your Kid Can’t Do This at the ACT

Legislative Assembly, first floor gallery.

Then there is A Stacked Deck – Fringe’s threeday celebration and salute to the art form that is Burlesque presented by the Magnificent Liberté Bell and Gale &Valance. Turn the pages, see the biggest bringing together of burlesque performers ever seen - and join in, too, with workshops galore...

Thanks to all our sponsors, in particular the ACT Government through the National Multicultural Festival, DFO, and our media partners CityNews, and the only other mag not to wipe ya bum with, BMA. Come enjoy. Fringe is (mostly) FREE, FREE, FREE, I TELLS YA!!!

Jorian Gardner Director

Fri Feb 6 Opening night

A plethora of performers opens Fringe 09 with beautiful destruction amid a flurry of drums, music, theatre and experimental movement in Min Mae’s La Belle Apocalypse; Triple J Unearthed winner Abbie Cardwell and Her Leading Men; National Poetry slam winner Omar Musa, The Crooked Fiddle Band and many more surprises!

Sat Feb 7 This is Big...

With community groups and market stalls on all day there is something for everyone, then from 6pm, DJ k-rad with DJ Simon provide the glue that sticks Chanel Cole, The Zawadi African Dancers, Abbie Cardwell and Her Leading Men, Tom Woodward’s The Orphanage, D’Opus and Roshambo and Casual Projects together; The CYT’s Six Billion Love and Mr Fibby’s Little Girl Lost in the Devil’s Black Beard opens in the Courtyard Studio.

Sun Feb 8 Sunday evening romp

Alice Cottee, Sean Smeaton, The Ellis Collective, Omar Musa and DJ Rush and DJ Tori Mac.

Mon Feb 9 Canberra Musicians Club Night

Featuring super solos, The Wedded Bliss, Fire on the Hill, The Band Broke Up, Los Chavos and much, much more.

Tue Feb 10 Laugh-o-rama – The Fringe Comedy night

Hosted by Jay Sullivan and featuring Ray Badran, Brian Chandler, Shane Matheson, Oliver Phommavanh, Smart Casual, Luke MacGregor, Neil Sinclair, Ryan Coffey, Mat Keneally, Tom Gibson, Emo Willis, Kale Bogdanovs, Daniel Connell, Mark Kulasingham, Herbie and the Coleslaws. Join in the National Hecklers Competition. Live music by The Fuelers. Hot Audio Wallpaper opens in the Courtyard Studio for two nights.

Theatre in a Car opens for the rest of the festival.

Wed Feb 11 Live in the spotlight...

Simone Penkethman Album Launch, Dave Graney and the Lurid Yellow Mist and Dubba Rukki plus surprise performers.

Thurs Feb 12 Swing it for me!

Dr Stovepipe’s Old Time Medicinal Radio Show with Jacquie Nicole, Minouche A Trois, The Jumptown Jammers, and Jonno Zilber. Dress in your best vintage threads. A Stacked Deck opening night in the Courtyard Studio.

Fri Feb 13 A Stacked Deck

The biggest night of burlesque you’ve ever seen with live music from Erin Black and the Pageturners, all night free on the fringe stage. Le Petite Sideshow opens in the Courtyard Studio for two nights.

Sat Feb 14 Closing night

A massive closing night party including Mr Fibby, Smitten, and The Snowdroppers.

Also, burlesque workshops throughout the day.

Visit www.multiculturalfestival.com.au for more madness...

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February 13 Burlesque Extravaganza

An eye-popping line up of Australia’s crème de la crèm e of burlesque, cabaret and sid eshow. Something for all tastes!

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The Beautiful (fringe) People

Director: Jorian Gardner; Creative Producer: Alice Cottee; Publicity: Chanel Cole; Design & Photography: Cole Bennetts; Technicals: Eclipse Lighting & Sound; Go-to-guy: Jim Sharrock; Court@Fringe FOH: Chenoeh Miller and Violet Barnett; Fringe performers: Peta Ward, Kat Henry, Erica Field, Lloyd Alison-Young, Hanna Cormick, Joe Woodward; A Stacked Deck: Lani Gerrish and Amy Gale; For the Canberra Theatre Centre: Freyla Ferguson and Bruce Carmichael; For the Multicultural Festival: Nic Manikis, Kabu Okai-Davies.

Fringe reserves the right to make program changes where needed and without notice.

THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2008 Dan Bigna 1. The Black Keys Attack and Release (Shock Records) The band’s finest release to date swings from emotionally raw balladry to blistering garage raunch.

2. Various Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story (Big Beat) Superb collection of 1960s and ’70s garage rock and power pop from Memphis. Disc two is given over to the undeniably brilliant band Big Star.

3. Various Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-Rock and Fuzz Funk in 1970s Nigeria (Soundway) Raw funk with liberal doses of guitar wah-wah and fuzz. These lesser knowns from Nigeria came up with the goods to match James Brown and Funkadelic.

4. Prisonshake Dirty Moons (Scat/Rubber Records) An indie rock gem apparently 12 years in the making from this Cleveland band.

At points, the rock ‘n’ roll tinkering on offer sounds like 1995 all over again.

5. Dennis Wilson Pacific Ocean Blue Deluxe Edition (Sony BMG) Beautifully composed solo album from the Beach Boys drummer which originally appeared in 1977. It is full of aching melodies and a penetrating melancholy.

6. The Wedding Present El Rey (Vibrant Records) The Weddoes’ David Gedge turns the spotlight on the beginning and unfortunate end of a personal relationship.

This is nothing unusual from Gedge, but the tunes are also spot on and producer Steve Albini provides an essential rawness.

7. Various Never Ever Land: 83 Texan Nuggets from International Artists Records 1965-1970 (Charly) Garage and psych-rock at their absolute finest. It seems the 13th Floor Elevators were just the tip of the iceberg.

8. Deerhunter Microcastle/Weird Era Continued (4AD/Inertia) I remain a big fan of the UK shoegazer scene of the early 1990s and Deerhunter confirms why this is so.

9. The Wreckery Past Imperfect (Fuse Music) Gut bucket Australian blues from the furthest reaches of 1980s indie across two compelling discs.

10. Boris Smile (Southern Lord) Japanese noise fiends take listeners on yet another strange journey to the centre of the mind.

Nick Brightman

Jess Conway

1. Kings Of Leon Only by the Night (RCA) This album has not left my car since I bought it. Awesome.

1. Birds of Tokyo Universes (Egg Records) You gotta love the Aussie rockers, and they aren’t bad live either. I love being behind the wheel of my car for this album.

2. The Presets Apocalypso (Modular) The ARIA Award winning album delivers some great beats and catchy tunes with My People becoming an instant dance-floor hit.

2. The Grates Teeth Lost, Hearts Won (Dew Process) Such an odd voice, a fun album to jump up and down with, bang your head to, sing along with or at the very least a little toe tapping.

3. Mammal The Majority (Independent - Dist

by MGM) In my opinion, one of the best live acts in Australia at the moment. One of the most exciting to photograph too.

3. Kings Of Leon Only By the Night (Sony) Have you met anyone who doesn’t like Sex On Fire? I sure as hell haven’t and I’ve tried. Another good driving album, windows down and all.

4. Chasing Gravity Autumn in the Platinum Desert (Kid Audio) Not a very well known band but these guys are going to go far. They have some very catchy well written songs.

Check them out next time they are in town.

5. Kate Miller-Heidke Curiouser (Sony BMG) A great follow up album to last year's Little Eve. Some nice songs from a very talented and beautiful lady.

6. Gyroscope Breed Obsession (Mushroom) I was lucky enough to see these guys perform twice this year; both times they blew me away with their performance. This is a top album that really captures that. In my opinion, one of the best live acts in Australia at the moment. One of the most exciting to photograph too.

7. Me The Conqueror Sleeping Alone (No Label) It was a long, rough road but after three years it’s finally here.

8. Snow Patrol A Hundred Million Suns (Polydor/ A&M) A very hard task to beat their 2006 album Eyes Open, but the boys from Scotland and Ireland did a bloody good job again.

9. Cog Sharing Space (Difrnt Music/MGM) Cog – fantastic as always.

10. Various Artists Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (Mutant Enemy) Co-written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, this musical shows exactly what can be done during a ‘writers' strike’. If you haven’t seen or heard it yet, check it out on iTunes.

4. The Presets Apoclypso (Modular) As if you don’t know ’em! Points to these guys for getting out there and putting a different spin on dance music.

5. Chris Brown Exclusive (Zomba) You just gotta love Mr. Brown, he is so damn smooth and damn can he dance!

6. Sara Bareilles Little Voice (Sony BMG) You know when you are in that sort of mood and you just wanna chill to a female voice, with a bit of spunk, and have a cup of tea, read a book, paint your toenails or stare out at the rain? This is that album for me.

7. Jordin Sparks Self Titled (Zomba) It is pretty stock standard US pop, but the hooks and riffs are catchy and No Air is still a favourite, despite the excessive radio and TV rotation.

8. Good Buddha Hit The Sky Running (Fresh Jams) A surprise for me; I discovered these guys by accident and love their funky, soul, Aussie hip-hop tracks. You gotta give ’em a listen 9. Jessica Mauboy Been Waiting (Sony/BMG) I initially thought Jessica was American; highly polished catchy tracks and with some very big names associated.

10. Britney Spears Circus (Sony BMG) So her album may not be amazing, she hasn’t got the voice of Christina or Mariah but Britney is the Madonna of my generation! I can’t help but support her persistence. Not to mention that she keeps the gossip mags in business, panel beating or a hair cut, anyone?

Erin Cook 1. Be Your Own Pet Get Awkward (XL Recordings) Somtimes there’s just nothing better then a squealing bunch of kids with songs about murdering the mean girls and food fights. And then they broke up and ruined my year.

2. Santogold Santogold (Atlantic Records) The Cook family love affair with Santogold started simply with the Creator sample in a hair product ad and has continued on to be the soundtrack of our infamous room-cleaning parties.

the most part.

3. Catpower Jukebox (Matador) Not nearly as good as 2007’s album The Greatest, Jukebox follows her ‘Covers Record’ formula of re-working pop and traditional songs and it works for 4. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! (Mute) Nick Cave turned 50 this year. He turned 50 and recorded this.

5. Christina Aguilera Keeps Getting Better (RCA) Sure, it’s a Greatest Hits compilation with only one new track, sharing the same name as the title, but it is a perfect reminder why when all her contemporaries fall to the wayside afflicted by dud releases and cases of the crazys, my girl Christina just rose and rose.

6. TV On The Radio Dear Science (Interscope Records) TV On The Radio escape any adjective I can think of. Consistently evolving throughout every release Dear Science is often cited as being their most ‘accessible’ release to date, but whether this is a cheap blow by the major media or not is irrelevant, TVOTR are one of the best bands of the decade. Fact.

7. Girl Talk Feed The Animals (Illegal Art) Listening to thirty second excerpts of all of my favourite songs ever all mashed in to one glorious hour long iPod party? Yes, please.

8. The Raconteurs Consolers of The Lonely (XL Recordings) Although not The White Stripes album I had hoped it would be, Consolers of the Lonely came pretty damn close.

Closing track Carolina Drama has topped my iTunes most-played since March and it’s classic White.

9. Beck Modern Guilt (XL Records) Beck’s 10th album proved both that you can never pick which direction he’ll head next. It was also a promising partnership with Danger Mouse.

10. Miley Cyrus Breakout (Hollywood Records) If you don’t get it, don’t ask. And don’t listen to her cover of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, it’s been bursting blood vessels of tweens’ dads and boyfriends the world over since July.

Nick Craven 1. TV on the Radio Dear Science (4AD) Topping the startling Return to Cookie Mountain was an unenviable task, but New York’s TV on the Radio sidestepped the issue with ease, deliveringan album that made apocalypse sound downright sexy.

Tim Galvin 2. Lil Wayne Tha Carter III (Cash Money/UniversalMotown) Cementing his reputation as one of hip-hop’s weirdest MCs, Lil Wayne nabbed some of the finest beats around to complement his raspy oddball musings.

Many proclaimed him a genius, not least the man himself.

3. Mercy Arms Mercy Arms (MGM) The Sydney quartet finally came good on the promise that was only ever hinted at in its live show. A sprawling, tender epic of sadness, hope and reverb.

4. The Hold Steady Stay Positive (Vagrant) By no means as spine-tinglingly brilliant as its last effort, Boys and Girls in America (one of the albums of the decade), Stay Positive nonetheless proved why the ‘world’s best bar band’ should be a household name. Lyricist Craig Finn’s pen remained as sharp as ever while the band experimented with everything from harpsichord to talk-box solos.

5. Eddy Current Suppression Ring Primary Colours (Aarght!/Goner) Raw, unpretentious punk rock with a distinctly Australian flavour. Eddy Current’s iconic guitar style and tone meddle perfectly with frontman Brendan Suppression’s wry social observations. An absolute breath of fresh air.

6. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Cardinology (Lost Highway) Last year’s Easy Tiger was an accomplished but safe effort, each track sounding overly polished and considered. Cardinology finds Adams tapping a similarly tuneful songwriting muse, but he thankfully allows things to get a little messy at times making for a rawer and longer lasting work.

7. Kanye West 808s and Heartbreak (Roc-A-Fella) Most people seemed to think this would be Kanye’s first misstep (me included), but instead the great man continues the winning streak he began with his debut, The College Dropout. A fragile, melancholy modern masterpiece that earns Brownie points not only for its refined songwriting, but also the fearlessness of its songwriter.

8. Portishead Third (Mercury) One of the few ‘reunion’ records that actually lives up to the artists’ previous works. More challenging than anything they’ve done before, Portishead quashed any claims that they only made dinner party music with this unsettling, intriguing release.

9. The Drones Havilah (ATP) Picking up the pace a little from 2006’s Gala Mill, Melbourne’s finest offered another snarling work of skewed guitars and confrontational lyricism.

Both terrifying and moving, Gareth Liddiard’s voice traverses diverse lyrical territory with stories ranging from the end of the world to the bowel movements of astronauts.

10. My Morning Jacket Evil Urges (ATO) On a roll after 2005’s Z, it would have been very easy for My Morning Jacket to simply keep re-writing that record for years. Instead, they dropped one of this year’s most polarising works – a rollercoaster through guilty pleasure genres including AM softrock and mainstream country. Simultaneously confusing and frustrating, but also endlessly fascinating.

1. Sasha Invol2ver (Global Underground Ltd) This album ‘knows’ you, it adapts to your mood and gets inside your mind to deliver the ultimate listening experience. Whether you’re driving to work in peak hour or banging a supermodel on a priceless grand piano, it is the soundtrack to your very existence. The only issue with this is not being able to discern where one track ends and the other begins; seamless progressive nirvana. 10/10 2. The Presets Apocalypso (Modular) Proving that Australian club music is thriving in 2008, The Presets have gone from support slot heroes to headlining schoolgirl posterboys with the release of this juggernaut. Not even an Egyptian embalming hook could remove the catchy vocals and electronic beats from your skull, just try and stop The Presets.

3. Q-Tip The Renaissance (Universal/Motown) Q-tip can do no wrong, smooth and all conquering with all the flow of a black Jesus Christ. Q-tip IS hip-hop and this long awaited album is his masterpiece.

4. Santogold Santogold (Atlantic) Biggest out of nowhere surprise of the year definitely goes to this stunning debut… and not just for the cool cover. It’s a mixture of everything ‘now’ and gets better with every listen. Tracks like LES Artistes and Lights Out are stand outs for pure summer balcony bliss.

5. Cut Copy In Ghost Colours (Modular) Overall the best 2008 album to have sex to. That is all.

6. Ladyhawke Ladyhawke (Modular) Making it look even more like I have cut and pasted the album list from the Modular website, yet another inclusion from the Australian indie stable makes an appearance in my Top 10. Ladyhawke are from New Zealand and just like Russel Crowe, I would definitely claim them as our own based on their inherent artistry. Sexy band electro so pop you could drink it through a straw, and boy does it go down smooth.

7. Kings of Leon Only by the Night (Columbia) The biggest ‘commercial’ surprise for me this year, a very solid listenable rock album that grows on you like man stubble.

8. D’opus & Roshambo The Switch (One Six Three) Killer head nodder from local boys done good, Do’s production is as tight as Donatella Versace’s forehead and Ro (and guests) spit rhymes like a jacked up cobra. Best local release by a country mile.

9. Various Artists 10 Years of Finger Lickin mixed by Soul of Man (Finger Lickin) Earlier this century, breakbeat was laid to rest in a shallow grave. Its tombstone read ‘F*ck you Electro House’ and it has lain dormant ever since. But in 2008, like a slobbering digital zombie hunting for punters it has returned in the form of a three CD pack. God I miss breaks and this is everything I love about the genre all rolled up in one neat package. The only pure mix CD to make the list this year, nuff said.

Paul Kelloway 10. The Game LAX (IGA) Best real Gangsta Rap release of 2008 slips into the top ten. When people think of The Game they will now think of this tatood rap singer/gunslinger and not the awesome stoner headtrip starring Michael Douglas.

Justin Hook 1. Randy Newman Harps and Angels (Nonesuch) This year, I really liked this album. Best played at weddings and funerals. Or if you have a mobile music playing device, anywhere else.

2. The Night Marchers See You In Magic (Vagrant) This was another good album to be released this year. See you in 2009.

With another great album and cabinet, Premier Reis!

3. Rodney Crowell Sex & Gasoline (Shock) Of the many albums released this year, I liked this one quite a bit. Just don’t light a cigarette near it. Cos it’ll explode. In a ball of fire and semen.

4. Deerhunter Microcastle (Remote Control) Oh yeah – this one is cool as well. It was released in 2008. I got caught in its headlights! Zoom!

5. Brian Eno and David Byrne Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (Self Released) They may be quite old, but they released an album together again this year. Good? You bet. It sure did ‘happen’ for these spastic veterans. And by that I mean total consumer indifference.

6. Fucked Up Chemistry of Common Life (Matador) A big bald fat man fronts this band.

Make of that what you will.

7. the redsunband Like a Shiralee (Enchanted/Shock) Down with capitals! Up with the sun!

Ease the squeeze. Working Families. An album that was better than a previous one from another time. By the same band. Spooky. Graveyards, certainly are.

8. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! (Mute) Don’t bother looking in the garden.

Take your spade to the local record store and unearth a pile of great tracks.

9. Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks Real Emotional Trash (Matador) He may not be on the ‘pavement’ any more, but Stephen’s a real walker. For quality songwriting! You can find nine examples on this album.

Allan Sko 10. Girl Talk Feed the Animals (Illegal Art) Deftly layering over 300 songs ‘n’ samples in a mere hour = impressive. But this disc gets a run because it serves as a warm reminder of my dear friend and departing editor Ben Hermann, who played this disc as often as the slags he loves so much. Myself, and the fine suburb of Fyshwick, will miss him dearly.

9. Empire of the Sun Walking On a Dream (EMI) This one inched in at the last minute, thanks almost entirely to the title track, and the majestic, ethereal and utterly beautiful We Are the People. The Mayes/Littlemore/Steele triumvirate can do no wrong.

8. Grafton Primary Eon (Independent/MGM) Partially flying the Canberra flag, the brothers Garden (Ben and Josh) and Robbie Mudrazija proved that these electro fruits could deliver us the fruits of electro, with the fist pumping slow electro-squelch of opener Records for the Righteous, the blissful mindmelt of Heart in Space and the magic We Are All Stars.

7. Time Machine Life is Expensive (Glow in the Dark) I wasn’t a fan at first, but the boombap hip-hop stylings of Washington trio Time Machine have delighted me since. Don’t be fooled by laidback opener In The City of Everything; this is a distinctly more up-tempo affair, and its slick production and ball-tearing breaks and chunky beats make this album a repeated winner.

6. The Butterfly Effect Conversation of Kings (Roadshow) Since my delivery driver Sime lent me this disc, I haven’t given it back; the first three tracks gallop out of the blocks, with the epic World’s on Fire and the earnest vocal and spine-tingling melodic guitaring of Window and the Watcher making it <ahem> worth the album price alone.

5. TV on the Radio Dear Science (Geffen/ Interscope Records) Making a slight lean towards accessibility, thus allowing angst, anger, despair and humour to play out over massive orchestrated choruses and intricate, everchanging soundscapes. As our own Justin Hook espoused: “Where in the past the songs felt like a worthy ordeal, now there are melodic, snappy yet complex Prince-style soul rock rave ups – and with no cost whatsoever to intensity.” You said it, Hook Balls.

4. Van She V (Modular) 2008 was the year dance music had sex with pop sensibilities and produced loads of attractive children.

Along with PNAU, The Presets and Cut Copy, Van She were one of the big daddies, birthing beautiful sonic kidlets Changes, A Sharp Knife and So High; the greatest song the ‘80s never wrote.

3. SOS Balance 013 (Global Underground) I don’t do deep house/trip tech, but supergroup SOS lulled me in with a 3CD compilation of effortless beauty.

The masterful blend of Speedy J’s De-orbit into Jody Wisternoff’s Starstrings is one of my most played pieces of 2008, with Starstrings providing an emotive and intricately built gem of electronica.

2. The Presets Apocalypso (Modular) Putting The Presets in your top ten is about as obviously as saying Barack Obama’s election was “a good thing”.

But it is a good thing, so just go with it, baby. Go on. Give it another spin, you bandwagonjumping electro house hussey you.

1. Cut Copy In Ghost Colours (Modular) Mesmeric synth-swirls, ear-worm melodies, earnest lyrics and deft blending. There’s the one-two knock out combo of singles Hearts On Fire and Lights and Music, the snarling, insistent bass-synth of So Haunted and the introspective and beautiful Far Away. A modern masterpiece of electro-house that’s sure to delight for years to come.

1. Snowman The Horse, the Rat and the Swan (Dot Dash Recordings) My views on Horse... were neatly summed up in issue 315 when I wrote “ Whatever your interpretation of The Horse, the Rat and the Swan, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more devastating album this decade. A masterpiece.”

2. theredsunband The Shiralee (Enchanted Recordings) The most beautiful album of 2008. I saw theredsunband live three times this year and I intend to make it four when the ‘sunnies appear at Freakscene in East Gippsland later this month.

3. The Drones Havilah (ATP Recordings) With Havilah, the Drones made an album that you can lean on through hard times. Their Stonefest set (and Canberra debut) was the festival highlight for many.

4. Xiu Xiu Women As Lovers (Kill Rock Stars) Out of the blue, Xiu Xiu made their most organic, accessible album in years. Percussion, acoustic guitar and woodwinds are most prominent here.

My review of this in issue 297 was my first attempt at music journalism. For some reason I emailed it to lead vocalist Jamie Stewart. God knows the man has suffered enough, but he replied to thank me. Such a nice lad.

5. Ladytron Velocifero (Nettwerk) From the opening beats of Black Cat, Ladytron’s drums would never be the same again. Velocifero sees Mira Aroyo make a welcome return to the spotlight. A tour de force every bit as good as Witching Hour.

6. Naked on the Vague The Blood Pressure Sessions (Siltbreeze) Actually a 2007 release, but the Sydney duo’s full-length debut didn’t receive international distribution until this year. Perhaps the only band in the world with legitimate claim to Suicide’s throne. Blood Pressure... is about as bleak as it gets.

7. A Place to Bury Strangers A Place to Bury Strangers (Rocket Girl Records) Another 2007 album only getting international release this year, this time from “the loudest band in New York”. Take some British shoegaze, add a dash of earsplitting Noo Yawk noize and you get these guys. One to watch in 2009.

8. The Raveonettes Lust Lust Lust (Amphead) An earlier entry from this year. By far the best of the Jesus and Mary Chaininspired noise pop bands to appear in recent times.

9. My Disco - Paradise (Stomp) In issue 305 when I said of These New Puritans that “pounding an open string has been done better elsewhere” I was referring to this.

10. Saul Williams The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust (Fader Label) Hip-hop meets industrial. Simon Reynolds had hoped something like this would happen, and now here it is. The successor to In Rainbows’ pay-what-you-want model, for a while it didn’t look like this would get physical release. Niggy… changed the way I looked at identity in pop songwriting.

Marianne Mettes 1. Marianne Mettes A peep, a glimpse and a preview...

(Independent) Ok, yes it’s an EP and it’s mine, but I’d feel kinda silly if I didn’t include my own release in my Top 10, right?

2. Ash Grunwald Fish out of Water (Delta Groove Records) Produced by TZU beatmeister, who mixes the best of blues and roots together with some beats, awesome stuff right here.

3. Pico Morning Sun (Bombora Creative) Ok, so I might have a little crush... But who wouldn’t after hearing him talk about the water and the waves, singing his song, Morning Sun...

4. Little Red Listen to Little Red (Hooch Hound / Shock) This is probably the only band I would watch while getting hailed on.

5. Skipping Girl Vinegar Sift the Noise (Popboomerang) Sweetest and most professional bunch of peeps. I love their owls.

6. Harry Manx & Friends Live at the Glenn Gould Studio (Dog my Cat Records) This dude is an awesome Canadian singersongwriter/blues-smith. He blends sliding blues guitar with a Middle Eastern twang.

7. The Boat People Chandeliers (Shock) These dudes are really charming and fun to dance to!

8. Mat McHugh Seperatista (Die!Boredome Records) Lead singer of The Beautiful Girls gone solo. All the best of TBG rolled into a beautifully produced album.

9. Emiliana Torrini Me And Armini (Rough Trade) I love Big Jumps. A beautiful Icelandic songwriter.

10. The Bakery The Bakery & The Beast (Independent) These dudes are an awesome 13piece from Sydney who get people dancing in full Lycra body suits!

Naomi Milthorpe This is kind of retarded. I don’t buy albums. I see plays. Not that I don’t listen to music. Not at all. It’s just I’m poor, and I have a job where awesome guitar licks become distractingly problematic. But this is what I’ve been listening to this year, a lot.

1. Beirut The Flying Club Cup (Ba Da Bing) Lush, dense arrangements inspired

by Balkan and French folk music conjure images of broken sideshows and sad carnivals. Zach Condon’s lilting, gypsy-ish tunes are, to put it bluntly, perfect.

Josh Nixon 2. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (Columbia) Blame my housemate. There’s only so much of the Boss you can hear before it starts seeping into your bloodstream.

Tramps like us, baby. Tramps like us.

3 & 4 Stephen Sondheim Sweeney Todd Original Cast Recording (RCA) Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story (Sony) This is Theatre Column speaking. Yes, I am a big one for musicals, and got into ’em in an even bigger way this year. Having only heard Sweeney sung by Johnny and Helena, the original cast (with Angela Lansbury!) was a revelation. Much, much funnier; much, much darker; much, much better. West Side, its lyrics by a very young Sondheim, has taken over much of my brain. Especially ‘Gee, Officer Krupke’. P.R.s. Polacks. Buggin’. Mother-lovin’.

5. Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights (Matador) Most of the time I spend revisiting old loves. This is one. After last year’s awesome tour, I couldn’t get Paul Banks off my mind – especially the issue of how to kill Helena Christensen and make him mine. ‘Stella was a diver and she was always down’ remains in my best songs of all time list.

6. John Prine In Spite of Ourselves (Oh Boy) Blame Luke McGrath for my burgeoning obsession with country music. This 1999 album sees gravelvoiced legend John Prine duetting with a gaggle of girl singers, covering classic country toons and just being… well, frickin awesome. The title (and only original) track, featuring Iris DeMent, is completely addictive.

7. Radiohead Hail to the Thief (Capitol) It ain’t everyone’s favourite Radiohead album and it’ll have a hard time knocking The Bends off top perch in my categorisation, but… damn! is this a good record. And I don’t think anyone realises until they get to The Wolf at the Door, right at the end, and go ‘wait… wait… that’s the end? Shit, I have to hear this again’ and presses loop and listens to it constantly for the next two weeks. I mean, that’s what I did. That isn’t how you feel about it?

Trust me. Listen again.

8. Nico Chelsea Girl (Polydor) I love Nico. I want to be Nico. Maybe without the heroin addiction, but still.

9. The Commodores Machine Gun (Polygram) I’ve had this album for years now (on Side 2 of a tape my brother made!

The other side is Counting Crows!

It was 1996!) but I recently started listening to it again. It is… magic. Young Girls Are My Weakness is my favourite, because you just wouldn’t get lyrics like that these Henson-vilificatory days.

10. Augie March Watch Me Disappear (BMG) A late but definitive entry. These guys make me happy: from 2000’s smashingly gorgeous Sunset Studies to the highs and lows of 2006 (JJJ Number 1! One Crowded Hour totally overplayed!) to this, their latest, the Augies’ brand of lit-pop appeals to the nerd in me.

1. Ufomammut Idolum (Supernatural Cat Records) My favourite Italian band ever follow up the essential Snailking with an even more inspired work that just knocked my dick in the dirt and left it there all dusty since I heard it midway through the year. Brilliant.

2. Cough Sigillum Luciferi (Forcefield Records) The Moss album was doomier, but this hit the right notes and blended the slude with the doom and the nihilism that made it one of the best records of ’08 by a long shot.

3. Torche Meanderthal (Robotic Empire) Not as heavy as their debut, but certainly not lacking in sheer songwriting quality. Juan Montoya has recently departed from guitar duties, hopefully not the last Torche album.

4. Gates of Slumber Conqueror (Profound Lore) Doom. Proper no nonsense, get on or fuck off doom.

5. Coffins Buried Death (20 Buck Spin) Japan is rapidly developing a reputation for the best in heavy music. This album is out to kick ass and take names and its address book is full.

Autopsy worship at its peak.

6. Captain Cleanoff Symphonies of Slackness (Goatsound) This band’s back catalogue just hasn’t done justice to the amazing drumming of Murray or the ample talent in the fingers and riffs of Rowan and Adrian.

Grind-tasia 2008 I say.

7. The Day Everything Became Nothing Brutal (No Escape) Goregrind done as it should be.

Catchy and rockin’ whilst, well der, utterly BRUTAL. 8. Genghis Tron Board Up The House (Relapse) These guys have probably forgotten more about innovation than most generic breakdown ‘core’ bands will ever know. Utterly masterful.

9. Lair of the Minotaur War Metal Battle Master (Southern Lord) Their goal with this record was “To scare off the posers”. When you start with that concept how can you go wrong?

10. Grand Magus Iron Will (Rise Above Records) This band has just grown in stature and quality with each album. This kicked more than a few heads in during 2008, put it in your Xmas stocking at once.

Hon Mentions: Melvins, – Nude With Boots, Witch – Paralyzed, Jex Thoth – Jex Thoth, Moss – Sub Templum, Pod People – Mons Animae Mortuorum – Hey – It was a lot of work…

Dave Ruby Howe 1. Cut Off Your Hands You And I (Speak n Spell) You And I is doo-wop meets indie, haircuts and cheekbones doing Smokey Robinson, a collage of first kisses, heartaches and last dances,

and my heart doing summersaults. Cut Off Your Hands got me back into ‘bands’ this year. Not French electro producers, not bedroom producers, but actual bands. A thrilling and engrossing record from start to finish. I can’t think of a record that I’ve enjoyed more all year. Oh boy.

2. Cut Copy In Ghost Colours (Modular/Universal) I don’t know if you can call this electro.

Sure it’s built on a mess of vintage synths and block rocking beats, but there is truly so much more going on than just a bunch of dudes trying to be The Human League. This is a near perfect record, with bits of disco, Detroit techno, indie, shoegaze, noise, dream pop and whatever else they felt like weaved together with golden thread to create something utterly stunning to listen to. It’s not electro, it’s not pop, it’s not anything we’ve known before. It’s just Cut Copy.

3. Mercy Arms Mercy Arms (Independent) I didn’t expect to love this nearly as much as I do, but here we are at the year’s end and it’s still with me.

It’s an exhilarating debut from what will probably be one this country’s more important bands. And we’ll still be talking about this record in ten years time. At least I hope I will.

4. The Teenagers Reality Check (Remote Control) The Teenagers will not turn into Radiohead. I know that and they definitely know that. They don’t care. They write songs about being cool, getting laid, and uhm being cool. They’re not going to change the world or even your life, but they’re funny and more importantly, fun. And that’s what I care about.

5. Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head Glistening Pleasure (Team Swan) You’ll either love or hate the name, and you’ll either love or hate the music. I for one love it. NPSH do ridiculously enjoyable geeked-out electro-meets-indie party tracks with names like Sophisticated Side Ponytail, Beard Lust and Iceage Babeland. Self-aware, Gen-Now sugar jams never sounded so good.

6. Late of the Pier Fantasy Black Channel (EMI) A cocktail of (don’t call-it-new-rave) new-rave, A-Ha style keyboard pop, Audioslave-ian guitar heroics, du jour electro, Queen-loving space operas and good old fashioned psychedelic weirdness, this record could’ve got smothered by its parts. But it’s great. You should hear it.

7. Friendly Fires Friendly Fires (Remote Control) Another in the array of bands peddling exploratory-indie-rock, UK’s Friendly Fires spice up their sound with lashings of afro-beat, krautrock, acid synths and ambient pop. With helping hands from friends like Paul Epworth and Au Revoir Simone, the Friendly Fires record is one you’ll love more and more with every listen.

8. Van She V (Modular/Universal) I played their original EP to death all those years ago, but this may as well be an entirely new band. Despite the sublime ‘80s rush of Kelly appearing on both EP and LP and the band retaining their slickpop chops, Van She have reinvented themselves as a big, powerful space-pop four-piece who’re no longer listening to the scene, but dictating it.

9. M83 Saturdays = Youth (Mute/EMI) Kind of like a trio of John Hughes classics, Saturdays = Youth fuses Sixteen Candles, Pretty In Pink and the Breakfast Club (the Molly Rongwald bunch yo) into a totally cinematic album, with exuberance and heartbreak in abundance. It’s all done in M83’s unique dramatic gothic-synth style which makes it all even better.

10. Sebastian Tellier Sexuality (Record Makers) Whatever’s gotten into Sebastien Tellier, whether it’s working with Daft Punk’s Guy-Man, or just a new found hunger for booty, I know that I like it. This sexed-up and funked-out disc is like a dip into Tellier’s golden jacuzzi… in short, hypnotically sexy.

Call it hypno-sex. Or better yet don’t. Just call it one of the most interesting listens of the year.

Rowan Thomson 1. Black Milk Tronic (Fat Beats) Detroit stand up! The most accomplished, dynamic and engaging record of the year. MK delivered on his early promise with a drum heavy, bionic, soul-snapping record of epic proportions. Coupled with his Caltroit LP and The Set Up LP with Fat Ray, 2008 was the year of Black Milk!

2. Heltah Skeltah D.I.R.T (Duck Down) Reunited again, Sean Price and Rock slaughter weak chumps over a barrage of booming annihilating production from the likes of M-Phazes, Illmind, Evidence and Khyrsis. Their chemistry undeniable and energy unmatched, D.I.R.T was the hardest record in a year full of fake studio gangsters.

3. The Roots Rising Down (Def Jam) Can they do no wrong? Complete with perfect guest appearances from established artists (Common, Peedi, Mos, Kweli) and dope newcomers (Truck North, P.O.R.N), the supergroup delivered their second dope set for Def Jam and some of the toughest hip-hop tunes of the year.

4. Roots Manuva Slime & Reason (Big Dada) Another classic from Mr. Manuva, full of intensity and unique vision. The production is out of this world, taking Manuva into the next century while paying homage to dub, raggae and soul. Slime & Reason is the sound of a true original putting another quality notch in a belt already full of accolades.

5. Elzhi The Preface (Fat Beats) The best overall emcee performance of the year over pounding dusty Black Milk production. Slum Village’s Elzhi corrodes the mic with lyrical dexterity combined with highly conceptual song-writing.

6. Young Jeezy The Recession (Def Jam) The Recession displays Jeezy’s development over mega-sonic production from Drumma Boy, Midnite Black, Don Cannon and more. Layers upon layers of synths, effects and 808s create incredible walls of sound over which Jeezy lays his trademark atmosphere and swagger. Turn it up!

7. Q-Tip The Renaissance (Universal/Motown) Tip silences the haters (and record label problems) with a highly accomplished soul-drenched set, recapturing the vibe of the Ummah for 2008! An intensely listenable, addictive and head-nodding ride into the mind of one of hip-hop’s most underrated veterans.

8. Guilty Simpson Ode To The Ghetto (Stones Throw) The dark knight of Stones Throw takes it to the Detroit streets over bugged out production from Madlib, Oh No, Black Milk, Babu and Mr. Porter. What on first listen is a left-field gangster-rap record,

flourishes on repeated spins displaying a rare sense of humour, stuttering rhythms and Guilty’s addictive style.

9. People Under The Stairs Fun DMC (Gold Dust Media) PUTS walk to the beat of a different drum. Bathing in their own sun washed vibe, the independent veterans take hip-hop back to more enjoyable times and who dare challenge them! Good times music for a troubled world.

10. Nas Untitled (Def Jam) Highly controversial, Nas’ untitled epic is a heavy-going and scathing examination of the now, whilst paying homage to Ice Cube’s ‘Death Certificate’ in both structure and sound. The production was much maligned (and misunderstood) by critics, but all agreed that Nas puts in a exceptional lyrical performance - full of passion, anger, sorrow and hope.

This one will grow on you in time, trust me!

Ben Hermann 1. TV on the Radio Dear Science (Interscope Records) Any group that makes people want to dance endlessly – even if they’re not sure whether they should be putting on their vagued-out shoegaze stare, their, polished doo-wop shoes, or indie skinny jeans – is deserving of similarly endless acclaim.

2. The Presets Apocalypso (Modular) The sense of damnation and redemption evoked by the earth-shaking beats of this album are matched only

by Julian Hamilton’s haunting vocals.

3. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! (Mute) This might not give you nightmares, but it still shows that Cave is one of Australia’s poet laureates and the Bad Seeds a group of legendary musicians.

4. Girl Talk Feed the Animals (Illegal Art) The science geek hits it big time with his fourth album, where he takes his mashup hedonism to grandiose new extremes.

5. The Grates Teeth Lost, Hearts Won (Dew Process) Patience and the gang have shown a level of darkness and maturity coupled with their pseudo-innocent pop sensibilities.

6. Little Red Listen to Little Red (Shock) For those with a penchant for ‘50s barber-shop harmonies and taking girls out for milkshakes.

7. MGMT Oracular Spectacular (Sony/Columbia) It’s amusing to observe the inverse relationship which the growing popularity of Electric Feel had for this album’s critical acclaim.

8. The Andi & George Band Sun and Moon (Independent) The much-anticipated release from one of Canberra’s most worshipped groups. Each song is laced with subtle intricacies, displaying the creativity and talent of this amazing group of musicians.

9. Of Montreal Skeletal Lamping (Polyvinyl) Great soundtrack for a bit of hankypanky. Fo’ sure.

S O T O H P IN R A E Y E H 2008: T Andrew Mayo

John Hatfield

You Am I, ANU, November

The Getaway Plan, Albert Hall, July

You Am I, ANU, November

I Killed the Prom Queen, UC Refectory, May

The Donnas, ANU, May

....Like Foxes, Vegan BBQ in Downer, September

The Living End,, Trackside, November

Deez Nuts, Tuggeranong Youth Centre, September

Gyroscope, Trackside, November

N I R A E Y E H 2008: T EW REVI

Deez Nuts, Tuggeranong Youth Centre, September

Nick Brightman

Mammal, ANU Bar, November

Def Leppard, AIS Arena, November PNAU, Foreshore, November

Dan Bigna Top Five Reasons for Listening to the Music I Enjoyed Last Year and Continued to Enjoy This Year 1. I don’t like Nickelback.

2. I don’t like Katy Perry.

3. I don’t like Australian Idol.

4. I don’t like the Ting Tings.

5. I don’t like JJJ. 2008 was the year that I could’ve gone on about all sorts of political issues which in the end are far more important than personal music tastes, but I might have gotten carried away, so I didn’t. I also saw Sonic Youth perform the classic Daydream Nation album in its entirety which was nice, very nice. My list of don’t likes must make me a bit of a twat for even raising it. Oh well!

Nick Brightman Top Five Memorable Moments at The Greenroom 1. Witnessing a piano get pushed down a flight of stairs on closing night at 4:50 in the morning.

2. Gaz calling “Open Bar” on closing night and the huge consumption of Jagerbombs that ensued.

3. Car Jumping in the carpark the morning after The Greenroom closed.

4. Gaz deciding Christmas had come early by firing the fire extinguisher into the air.

5. Getting the opportunity to make lots of great friends and take photos for an awesome venue.

2008 was the year of amazing things; Obama becomes President.

Fuel prices drop below $1. But above all that, Axl Rose finally released his new album. About bloody time!

Jessica Conway Top Five Drinks I discovered in 2008: 1. Amaretto Sour- 2 shots Amaretto, 1 lemon, 2 limes, egg white shaken hard, bitters (over the ice) and served with a maraschino cherry and flaming orange twist. Served in a short Boston glass.

2. French Martini- 1 shot grey goose, 1 shot Chambord, 40ml pineapple juice, shaken over ice (in a chilled Martini glass).

3. B-53 (shot)- Kahlua, Baileys, Absynth (layered). A smooth shot with a little kick.

4. Monks revenge (shot)- Equal parts Benedictine, Frangelico, Chartreuse, Absynth. Sit a slice of lemon on one half of the shot glass with brown sugar sat on top and light shot for a good few seconds.

Drink from the side with the lemon on, or you’ll get burned! Warning: Consume in moderation.

5. Tempus Two Merlot (silver label)A very nice red.

2008 was the year that... I finished my first year of university, I moved out, I learnt money isn’t free, I acknowledged that I can’t fix everything and that friends fight.

I learnt that it’s not so bad to lose your hair; it grows back and really doesn’t hurt. A piece of advice to readers; always use a certified hair dresser to bleach your hair, don’t be a tight ass! I survived a drink driving accident, being hit by a motorbike in Cambodia, a tropical ulcer, Cambodian hospitals and anaphylactic shock (and all of this within a month). All in all a developmental year, how was yours?

Erin Cook Top 5 Best Funny/Fun Things of 2008 1. Booking flights with Kate to

Def Leppard, AIS Arena, November

Me The Conqueror, ANU, November

Japan and finding places to rent puppies and drink pig placenta.

2. Little sister Caito finishing up Year 12 looking all cute at the formal and doing farewell speeches.

3. Making the second round of Ladette to Lady and enjoying a fine day on the Packer dollar.

Resolving to change my ways immediately for fears of being stabbed.

4. The fear and the lolz provided

by Sarah Palin only to then watch her chances of world domination disappear. At least, for now.

5. Finding the perfect planner for 2009. Even though Kate copied me.

2008 was the year that... Britney bounced back, Madonna busted more balls, Rolling Stone finally apologised for the gross ignorance of AC/DC for the coveted cover story over the decades and promptly resolved this with a multiple page spread, Australia won the electro Wars, Kings of Leon turned into Bon Jovi and I got some sweet moccasins. All worked out nicely.

Tim Galvin Top 5 Tunes of 2008 1. Human Resource - Dominator (Herve Mix) 2. Karton - Never too Late (Tommy Trash & fRew Mix) 3. Basskleph & Anthony Paul Helium (Wolfgang Gartner Mix) 4. Herve & Kissy Sellout Rikkalicious 5. Myles Dyson - Anthem 2008 was a great year for contrast.

Kids flocked to festivals but deserted club nights, Global warming panic was met with some of the coldest weather we have experienced, trent from punchy got more youtube hits than our own prime minster and finally (for the good of all humanity) a black man was voted into the white house. Music wise it was a massive year for club records, 2008 gave birth to a whole new array of hybrid genres as the grimy underground clashed with the fluro generation in an explosion of massive hits.

2. Mates Rates requires Acquaintance Maintenance.

3. Smoking’s only cool if you looked cool to start with.

4. If you wouldn’t talk to them at a party, don’t have them as Facebook friends.

5. Making an album is like running the country of yourself when you’re at war.

television of your unachieved goals. All it takes is the right Beatles lyrics, a hot meal, a pash at a party and the smell of childhood flowers blowing fresh over the city streets and you’ll find the reset button on your subconscious.

Failing that, punch the back of your knee. Hard!

Mix it up. Ride your bike in a swimming pool.

Do it yourself. Take a popcorn machine to the flicks.

Slow it down. Repeat Grade Nine as a refresher.

Take a chance. Fly to Afghanistan to do your grocery shopping.

Believe in yourself. Hang a mirror up in an art gallery and stand there all week.

Take stock of your life. Go busking in the street reading out your will.

Don’t be afraid to laugh. Especially at children, they’re wrong in the skeleton!

Cry often. There’s NO DORITOS! You can be anything you want to be, within your own natural limitations. The only person stopping you is yourself, and usually for good reason because you have a reputation at stake and no-one likes a show-off. Life isn’t a rehearsal, but if it is, God is going to be wild and no-one needs a million page script thrown at them. Get off the computer, smell the roses, eat the Cadbury roses, listen to the Stone Roses, stone the crows, watch The Crow, support the Adelaide Crows, get stoned in Adelaide with a girl called Rose listening to The Stones and have something to crow about.

See you in Two Thousand And Fine!

2008 was the year that a little grey slipped into my outlook, and my sideburns. I found out what happens when you fall off the edge you’ve been riding for years.

There’s no safety mat and the circus don’t employ broken clowns.

The key to happiness is accepting things as they are – but once you’re happy you’ll realise the key to survival is accepting happiness as a construct and the key to acceptance is being happy just to survive. Counselling is helpful but seriously, you’re so bored of yourself you have to pay someone to listen to you? Psychologists are prostitutes. Insomnia is caused when the muesli of thought spills over onto the track pants of fear while watching the daytime

Tracey Heffernan Top Five TV Shows of 2008 1. Free view – OK so it’s not strictly a show but with my set top box it’s going to turn my antiquated telly into a plethora of programming for freeeeee!

2. Girls of the Playboy Mansion – totally addictive trash.

3. The Wire – so it’s not on TV but it’s a TV show and it should be.

Yes WIN. Once again I am looking at you.

4. Dexter – the creepy guy from Six Feet Under turns out to be even

John Hatfield Top Five Bands That Broke Up This Year: 1. Jungle Fever 2. No apologies 3. Her Nightmare 4. Hard Luck 5. The Dead Walk 2008 was the year that The Jamison Inn was replaced by the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. Bad. I stopped drinking. Good. I got a job. Indifferent. I didn’t finish uni.

Bad. A whole bunch of Australian hardcore bands broke up. Bad. I made some short films. Good. I got better at taking photos. Good. This year was a goodish one.

Justin Heazlewood Top Five Lessons I Learnt: 1. Love isn’t always enough to keep a relationship together. Get them pregnant.

creepier as a serial killer.

5. Californication – the misunderstood guy from The X Files turns out to be slightly older, sleazier and more misunderstood.

2008 was the year Heath Ledger died far too young, Duran Duran were resurrected and a reality TV show turned a violinist into the most successful touring act of the year. Life was busy and chaotic – I got stranded in Perth with the cashed-up bogans mid year and finished 2008 planning my trip to see Santa in his official Lappish village. Roll on 2009.

Ben Hermann Top 5 Top 5 Ideas (and the reasons I didn’t use them) 1. Top 5 Youtube videos. Reason: I realised that, apart from watching the New Zealand beached whale cartoon five times a day and Ida Maria’s I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked, I don’t really use Youtube.

2. Top 5 facebook statuses. Reason: I didn’t want my Top 5 to come across as a veiled plug for internet social networking sites.

3. Top 5 drinks. Reason: Aside from beer, I can’t remember most of the stuff I drank. The list would probably read something like: “1.

That shit that Nick bought me. 2.

That shit that the guy from Transit made me with Tabasco in it even though I only asked for tequila", etc etc.

4. Top 5 girls I macked on. Reason: I don’t want to spawn jealous feuds.

5. Top 5 gigs that I’ll miss out on when I’m overseas. Reason: I kept on putting down Propagandhi as number one, only to then erupt into hysterical fits of crying and be unable to finish the list.

2008 was the year I finally moved out of my Kambah shack and developed a borderline addiction to Aldi canned salmon. I wrote my Law honours thesis and graduated in July, farewelling my hedonistic life as a student and opening the door to my hedonistic life as a street press editor. I decided that the best way to avoid becoming yet another bland young professional who

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

spends their spare time at B Bar or buying homewares, was to defer my grad position for a year and ship off for six months by myself to a continent where I know no one and don’t speak the language. I’ll see y’all in August. I’ll be the one discussing the best way to get white wine stains out of a silk tie.

Simon Hobbs Top Five Reasons to be Cheerful 1. The birth of our beautiful baby grrl, Millie.

2. Americans moving on from 400 years of slavery and racial bigotry to elect a black president.

3. Jughead Howard losing his electoral seat to a former ABC current affairs host in last year’s election and thereby denying Peter ‘The Smirk’ Costello his chance to ever be PM. 4. Having two good venues/pubs within walking distance of me flat.

5. There is no God, so just be good for goodness sake.

2008 was the year that my world seemed to turn upside down. The Government said sorry, showing empathy for the appalling treatment of the peoples that were here first. The US voter finally got over their love affair with the idiot son of the Bush crime family and instead of electing another ‘old white man’ and his beehived, bespectacled creationist hockey mum VP, they voted for CHANGE. Well, maybe, maybe not. Also, a little grrl came into my life and suddenly, the year was ending.

What the…where did it go?

Henry Holland Top Five Items On My List of Things To Achieve in 2008 1. Marry a supermodel – umm didn’t quite do this one.

2. Make a million dollars – I was going to get around to that.

3. Have a threesome with crazy hot cheerleader types – unfortunately didn’t cross this one off the list. I did have a twosome though! No

wait… that would require two people wouldn’t it? Scrap that.

4. Punch Sam Sparro in the neck – it hasn’t happened yet but watch your back Sparro.

5. Marry a supermodel – why is this one on the list twice? Did I think it would make it twice as likely?

2008 was the year that I didn’t achieve much, it seems. I did start a clothing label called Eleventh Commandment which we got to launch at Sydney Fashion Week. It hasn’t landed me any supermodels or threesomes or threesomes with supermodels though (yet). If only I could think of a way to market the label to the sexy readers of this fine rag. Some kind of blatant plug should do it.

START PLUG: Step 1: Go to www. eleventhcommandment.com.au or visit itrip iskip in Braddon. Step 2: Buy everything. END PLUG. Done.

Paul Kelloway Top Five Regrets of 2008 1. Leaving my bottle of birthday vodka at a New Year’s Eve party in Gordon.

2. Saying “I fancy you”, unwittingly sounding like a character from Eastenders.

3. Not yelling at John Stanhope when I saw him cross the road against the lights.

4. Giving Blood Death Ivory by Angelspit a positive review in issue 306. Bloody Stepford goths.

5. Failing to convince The Follow to change their name to Inflatable Ingrid.

2008 was the year that authenticity made a comeback.

Seasick Steve, a man who could be Popeye’s dad, took the world by storm. I started listening to Einstürzende Neubauten and Cat Power at the same time. This made me a better cook. I needed only to pour a small amount of tea into my red lentil soup (Sorry, Shannon).

Luke McGrath

Megan McKeough

Top Five Christmas Songs 1. Donde Esta Santa Claus – Augie Rios 2. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight) – The Ramones 3. Let It Snow – Dean Martin 4. We Wish You A Reggae Christmas – Yellowman 5. Let’s Make Christmas Mean Something This Year – James Brown

Five Awesome Things I Was Introduced to This Year: 1. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog 2. Losing the game 3. Pirate Facebook (change the language to ‘English [Pirate]’ for laughs and hijinks) 4. Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs 5. Stone’s Ginger Beer

2008 was the year I rediscovered my childhood love for comic books. It didn’t hurt that, with the release of movies like Iron Man and The Dark Knight, comics became cool again. As a kid, my tastes were shallow (and narrow) – I’d be drawn to the covers with the embossed metallic edging, or the first issues of some fledgling series, hoping to amass a collection one day worth billions.

The main draw used to be the characters; the idea of following the writers never entered my mind.

Thanks to the De La twins, I have now been obsessing over the work of writers like Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, Matt Fraction and Frank Miller. These comics have covered the whole gamut from expletivefilled superhero shenanigans (Miller’s All-Star Batman) to futuristic gonzo journalists (Ellis’ Transmetropolitan), mystical kungfu (Fraction’s The Immortal Iron Fist) and beyond. What’s more, reading comics has broadened my other reading – I read both The Picture Of Dorian Grey and Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde after Moore’s League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

So whether you’re a returning old-timer like me, or have never touched a comic book in your life, I suggest you ditch your preconceptions and take a fresh look. I’d be happy to recommend a few.

2008 was a year of cinema craziness, editing early childhood publications, (moderately) capping (some) fools in Halo 2, Entourage marathons, getting sick every second week, violin lessons, wanting to be a screenwriter, strip Uno, Veronica Mars, loving MGMT, hating MGMT, rocking Rock Band, Dendy proms and rediscovering my love of Edward Furlong. I danced to The Rapture, became addicted to Skins, ate too many roast beef sandwiches and saw plenty of great, but not that many amazing, films.

Marianne Mettes Top Five Singer/Songwriters That I Loved in 2008: 1. Lennon/McCartney 2. Ben Harper 3. Jewel 4. Randy Newman 5. Eric Clapton 2008 was the year I got the chicken pox ;-(

Naomi Milthorpe Top Five Plays 1. Moonlight’s The Goat by Edward Albee, directed by Bridget Balodis.

O o o o o o. O man. What a show.

Beautiful, devastating writing; assured direction; nuanced performances. Albee’s examination of marital breakdown and taboo is heartbreakingly, mindscrapingly amazing. Moonlight’s production

THE YEAR IN REVIEW is the only show ever to have made me cry.

2. Bell Shakespeare’s Anatomy Titus Fall of Rome by Heiner Muller, directed by Michael Gow. Elegant critique of the humanist faith in art, soaked in blood.

John Bell unforgettable as anthropophagic paterfamilias.

3. Bohemian Productions’ A Prisoner’s Dilemma.

Precocious local lads David Finnigan, Jack Lloyd, Mick Bailey and David Shaw make good with compelling audience-interactive theatre based around game theory.

4. Hunting Season’s Papyrophobia in Yellow by Amelia Searle.

Little to no expectations engendered massive rewards with bundah’s entry into the Hunting Season. Gorgeous literary bricolage examining mental illness and wymmyn’s iss-yews performed by a gaggle of fresh, talented young ‘uns. Be warned, girls: Theatre Column now expects great things from you.

5. Not to be stupidly democratic, but the No.5 slot has to go to five equally satisfying (for different reasons) 2008 shows, viz: the MTC’s Thom Pain (based on nothing), Moonlight’s True West, Bell’s As You Like It, the Street Theatre’s Berlin, and Jigsaw’s The Red Shoes. I can’t choose. Maybe you can.

2008 was the year in which a one-eyed man introduced me to Kenneth Patchen. It was the year of Texas and country music, of new world beginnings and old world stylings, of love and other catastrophes, of 90210 and Shannen’s melting face, of punctuation rants and rediscovering Shakespeare… and the year in which every second word out of my mouth had something to do with satire.

Josh Nixon Top Five KOs for 2008 1. Rashad Evans Vs Chuck Liddell – The Iceman got iced leading with a right uppercut against the lateral movement of Evans, who connected with the biggest overhand right in any combat sport this year. Picture perfect.

2. Manny Pacquiao Vs David Diaz – Pinoy uber hero Pac faced a faded and laid a beating on a weight drained Oscar De La Hoya in a match on paper he should not have won. However, fighters that start their career’s weighing less than jockeys shouldn’t be able to do one punch KO’s like this on much naturally larger fighters either. An amazing 08 for the worlds best boxer pound for pound.

3. Vic Darchiniyan Vs Christian Mijares – After being KO’d in my top 5 of last year by Nonito Donaire, Vic defies all the critics for this benchmark career best KO. 4. Juan Manuel Marquez – Joel Casamayor – Pac’ man’s arch nemesis Marquez shows why he is the most underrated fighter in the last 5 years 5. Seth Petruzelli Vs Kimbo Slice – There were better KO’s this year in all sports, but were any as satisfying as watching a bully crumble from a punch thrown by a guy on one leg? Take that youtube fight club!

Hon mentions: Abraham V Miranda 2, Casamayor V Katsidis and Margaritto V Cotto (which was also my fight of the year for 2008). everything. END PLUG. Done.

Miranda O’Brien Top Five Songs/Albums 1. M.I.A. - Paper Planes 2. The Presets - Apocalypso 3. New Buffalo - Somewhere, Anywhere 4. Ash Grunwald - Give Signs 5. Amy Winehouse - Monkey Man 2008 was the year I witnessed my first Welcome To Country, which in fact came to represent my year. I travelled Oz, from the Torres to Tassie to the wicked little town of Kalgoorlie. I met some lovely people and learnt about Australia, the lucky country. I was welcomed to many countries, England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and the Netherlands, and literally made a dream come true by going to Venice – one of the best days of my life! I discovered M.I.A., my love of krumping and that I’ve got good skills at opening doors!

I danced, I drank and feel like the luckiest girl in the world due to my amazing family and friends, and the wonderful Steve.

Cecilia Pattison-Levi Top Five Albums of 2008 1. Heather Nova 2. Dido - Safe Trip Home 3. P!nk - The Funhouse 4. Aimee Mann - @#$% Smilers 5. She and Him - Volume One 2008 was the year of the rat and the potato. It says a lot! It was a year of US election fever and economic meltdown, but during it all, music was being made. Life in 2008 might have sucked, but some of the albums made during the year were outstanding. Like most years I am singling out the albums that females have made during the year, and what a crop of fine and emotional driven records they are.

The five above are in no particular order, but these would be the pick of the year, except I had to leave out Thea Gilmore’s Liejaker that was another excellent record. The international crowd has it this year with outstanding releases from England, Sweden, Norway, USA and Canada. But, I am hoping that the notable mentions to Aussie artists will be picked up by media in 2009 like Missing Hours, Kate MillerHeidke, Jess McAvoy and Dash & Will. Great music is out there – just take some time to look and listen for it.

Dave Ruby Howe Top Five Things We Stole When Stef And I Were In Ice Cube’s Dressing Room 1. Lots of room temperature Fried Chicken 2. Four beers 3. A sweat-drenched white singlet (double XL yo) 4. Assorted blocks of Lindt chocolate 5. A jar of peanut butter (Smooth,

much like Ice himself ).

2008 was the year that – wait, what? 2008? Shit. While it doesn’t feel like just yesterday I was tapping out the words ‘2007 was the year that blah’, it certainly doesn’t feel like it was a year ago. What the fuck? How quickly has that gone? And now I’m 22.

TWENTY TWO. Gotta get my shit together, man. I should get a mortgage right? Then get a new car, some home & contents insurance, some Andre Rieu CD/DVD bundles, and a nice orthopedic cushion. Well before all that, let’s do some karate shout outs. Thanks to Al and Ben (and Peter-Poon-Eater) for their patience with my column, thanks to Stef for living with me and making it lovely, thanks to Ice Cube for the KFC, to Bag Raiders for making Shooting Stars, to Japan for being awesome, to Chuck Bass for being Chuck Bass, and thanks to people who still buy singles.

Who the fuck is Jordin Sparks anyway?

Mark Russell Top Five Favourite Drinks Drunk in 2008: 1. Whiskey sour – sitting on my porch, shining my shotgun.

2. Caipirinha – this is the main way used to drink the four billion litres of cachaca that’s consumed in Brazil each year. I reckon they’re onto something.

3. Martini – Miller’s gin, noily pratt vermouth, three olives, what a wanker.

4. Banrock station Shiraz in a cask – an unexpectedly classy specimen; like a tramp wearing a tiara.

5. Coffee – cause I’m not a total alcoholic!... and it helps with the hangovers.

2008 began with a slogan for me. It was coined by a friend of mine but I will shamelessly pilfer it here: Clean Slate ’08. New year, new outlook, new everything. This often meant firing up the party train and steaming on to new experiences – or old experiences armed with this new mindset.

There was Falls Festival, Kiss My Grass (weirdest festival ever – full of never-nudes), Big Day Out, Good

THE YEAR IN REVIEW Vibrations, Splendour in the Grass and finally docking at Trackside. All with great friends and great music.

In between there were many gatherings, soirees and shindigs.

Here’s to Repairing My Mind, In ’09.

My highlight for Stonefest was the afternoon set from this Brisbane group fresh off the release of their second effort, Teeth Lost, Hearts Won. This album could be named after those granny panties Patience was wearing on that afternoon, although I think following on from an excellent set by The Drones only helped The Grates. They truly were great, loadsa fun.

Geoff Setty

2008 was the year that Ween returned to Australia, Goldfrapp blew me away, Splendour was a bit meh, and The Hold Steady showed the world that Rock ‘n’ Roll is king.

With a tour from these guys in 2009, just bring it on...

Top Five Gigs of 2008 1. Ween @ Enmore Theatre, March 1 Ween had taken over ten years to return to Australia, but played a series of incredible sold-out shows. Weighing in at over three hours each, they displayed their incredible variety. And finishing it all off with the sing-along charm of Buenos Tardes Amigos was a stroke of genius. Come back soon Ween.

2. Kings of Leon @ Horden Pavilion, January 3.

Kings of Leon have great live presence and while not much was said between songs, we were there for the music. As short-arse part of what made this gig so good were the people who were happy to move out of my way so I could see. Over two hours of great blues rock working through Aha Shake Heartbreak and Because of the Times.

3. Goldfrapp @ Sydney Opera House, October 2.

This one had so much style and substance as well as the purely delectable Alison Goldfrapp (that voice, those legs). Covering a heap of their back-catalogue as well as the stylish recent Seventh Tree, the capacity crowd saw not only Goldfrapp themselves but also a string section accompanying them. Magic, mystical music with loads of alliteration – loooking forward to their return.

4. The Panics @ ANU Bar, May 10.

Supported by the next ‘it’ band, Little Red, The Panics played their wonderful brand of mellow-rock for two hours with their beautiful melodies and stunning lyrics.

Coming back for a second encore proved how much the crowd were into what was on stage. And the fact that The Panics go from strength to strength shows you how right a choice JJJ made in naming Cruel Guards one of the albums of forever.

5. The Grates @ Stonefest, November 1.

Allan Sko Top 5 Drunken Text Messages I Received From Prominent Members of the Canberra Community (names have been removed to protect the not-soinnocent).

1. Hey al! Youre a Fuck! Fuck Fuck!

Yeah im gonna Fuck you up you Fuck. But seriously, why don’t you make me make out with some tarmach? It would be about as hot. You Fuck. Fuck you. Fuck off  (it’s the smiley face at the end that sells it for me) 2. You love the sneakers. All dirty bitches love bridge. Herman lover it too. Fuck you sko. Christmas eve.

Little her is dissing you. I’ll kill him.

Love hugh (this text wasn’t sent by a Hugh) 3. I just bumped into ash and roger looking like they’d just climbed out of a crack den having naught seen sun in a week. Good times…

4. (received at 3am) Just woke up in my office. Weird experience, and my leg is so boned. Where are you?

5. I just woke up under the trampoline in the back garden.

Holy shit balls! I can’t believe it’s 2009 already. Time really is rocketing along like the strumpet of inevitability it is. Do you know how old I’ll be turning this year?!?

No, neither do I. My Facebook page says eleventy six, but I think the damn thing’s just glitching again. Looking back, it’s safe to say

2008 was the year that saw black become the new hope. It showed us money is worth its weight in gold (which isn’t very much) and it showed me first hand the ugly face of binge drinking at the BMA Christmas bash. Fantastic. Here’s to feelin’ fine in the oh-nine™.

Rowan Thomson In 2008, I: 1. Broke my rib.

2. Wore skinny jeans.

3. Told my friends to get out of my house.

4. Watched the Backyard Shoe Olympics.

5. Witnessed the rise and fall of the mischievous Freyda Bisque 2008 was the year I discovered that hard work really is the foundation of success. That love is not just a word you say, but the actions that back it up. That your brain is meant to be your friend and not your enemy. That eels will try to get up inside you and find an entrance where they can. That sometimes, one needs assistance.

That everyone wants to be ‘acknowledged’. That we all need an entourage once in a while. That the word ‘bugle’ is the best. That beagles are the bossiest (apart from Frankie). That crayfish are glorified yabbies.

Julia Winterflood Top Five Gigs of 2008 1. Arcade Fire @ The Forum, January 29. Euphoria tears didn’t stop. It actually got annoying, but they loved the front row crying girl; must’ve made them feel like The Beatles.

2. Patti Smith @ The Sydney Opera House, October 15. First woman of beat poetry punk rock – 61, wizened and horse-haired – had lost nothing of her tear-you-apart vivacity and ruthless banshee to bedroom-soft voice. The entire Concert Hall danced in the aisles.

G.L.O.R.I.A! 3. Smashing Pumpkins @ Hordern

Pavilion, March 27. Billy Corgan is a god. After hoping for weeks they’d play Beware! The Night Mare but knowing they wouldn’t, then hearing it played second, was complete, pure magic.

4. Queens of the Stone Age @ The Big Top, March 28. Queens live: need I say more? One of the best moshes ever; knowing I’d see them the next day at V Fest brought life to my wasted, elated state. My red imitation velvet pants will never be the same.

5. Interpol @ Hordern Pavilion, February 21.Kurt Cobain may’ve said “I’d rather be dead than cool” and Daniel Johns “If only I could be as cool as you”, but Interpol don’t even have to try.

2008 was the year First Australians finally received an apology for the intentional desecration of their 60,000 year old culture and stupid white men admitted a black man could do it better. I moved into my first share house and discovered the joys of endless cups of tea, changing seasons and a well stocked spice cupboard. I found my greatest love and he gave me The Beatles; their entire collection on vinyl has not stopped spinning since. As Darren Hanlon sang, “The record stays still, while the world revolves around it”. It’s the year I’ll embark on my Odyssey to India, the world’s spiritual supermarket.

No guarantees, no refunds, and it will break me. But it’ll make me too. Happy New Year to you, dear readers. I’ll be seeing you all next year!

Cell Out THE BEST FILMS OF 2008 WITH MARK RUSSELL

This year was a slightly disappointing one in film really. The ten mentioned here all knocked my socks off in one way or another; but it’s difficult to think of many others that showed the same power. There are some interesting seeds of silver screen possibility that are due for harvest in ’09 so here’s crossing our fingers for a bumper crop.

1. The Dark Knight Heath motherfucking Ledger. Undoubtedly the performance of the year. The voice.

The laugh. The constant licking his lips, as though in snake-like tasting of his own malevolence. Who could’ve ever thought that Christopher Nolan could follow Batman Begins with something as good as this? Christian Bale returned as Bruce Wayne – the billionaire playboy with a penchant for crime-fighting. Ledger’s Joker is definitely the highlight of the film though they don’t strap onto his torn purple coat-tails. The script flows beautifully. The action scenes are exciting. And it manages to set up for the third film whilst still finishing everything set up in this instalment. Best of all, two and a half hours long without boring you for a moment – take that Australia.

2. Kung-fu Panda Skedoosh! A superb film and the most fun of the year. Hilarious, impeccable voicecasting and a story that soars along at a rate of knots. Po, a compulsive emotionaleating panda joins a troupe of kung-fu fighting animals, desperate to defeat the evil Tai Lung. There was action, fun, exciting animation and a nice moral that wasn’t rammed down our throats. I saw this twice in a week and still loved every second. There’s no extra charge for awesomeness!

3. Burn After Reading The Coen brothers stepped up with another great film in ’08. Proving yet again their talents as all-rounders, they followed the chilling and tense No Country for Old Men with this hilarious commentary on the quirks of espionage and life in general. A cast full of top quality actors and every single one of them gives a stellar performance. It’s funny, very entertaining and, as with all of the Coen brothers’ stuff, has a whole bunch of universal truths about the amoral side of humanity. We cheat, we lie, we are greedy and lonely. But most of all we play well out of our league and end up gasping for air as the swell of our own incompetency threatens to drown us.

4. There Will Be Blood A dark, twisted fable with an ever-creepy undertone of archaic mysticism. Daniel Day-Lewis envelopes himself entirely in the skin of menacing oil-man Daniel Plainview. Along the way, he and director P. T. Anderson have created one of the great anti-heroes of cinema. A man whose pursuit of wealth and power is a relentless juggernaut: crushing lives, beliefs and families (including his own) in its inevitable forward movement. Long shots, sparse dialogue and a chilling score. Silence is also put to great use to further heighten the unnerving mood.

5. Juno “You’re, like, the coolest person I’ve ever met, and you don’t even have to try, you know...”

“I try really hard, actually.”

A great bit of dialogue though not in any way representative of the film itself. Juno coasted in on snappy one-liners and brilliant indie sensibilities. Sex blogger turned screenwriter Diablo Cody won an Academy Award for this script about a sharp-witted teen’s pregnancy. Ellen Page was never really in the Best Actress race but her nomination and Cody’s win suggest a shift in the Hollywood policy. Very funny and sardonic with a strong structure and catchy soundtrack.

6. Gone Baby Gone Few films manage even a hint of the moral ambiguity that constantly seeps out of this film’s pores. The tense script and rounded characters create a world that opens up all kinds of questions. These questions will split audiences and perhaps reveal your inner optimism or pessimism. No one is totally clean and it’s just a matter of how dirty you need to get to do your job, and how far you can fall before you can’t get back. Gone Baby Gone also had a nice surprise in the suggestion that maybe Ben Affleck wasn’t a complete creative freeloader on Good Will Hunting. It’s entirely possible that he’s actually got a bit of talent. I know, I know; I’m surprised too.

7. Wall-e Most parents can’t get their kids to sit still for five minutes without singing a jingle or reciting a string of limericks. These guys kept the tikes (and the parents) enthralled for nigh on an hour with little more than a few blips and some scattered names in dialogue. Pixar showed us once more that they are the kings of family entertainment. Strong messages against pollution, corporations, virtual entertainment and poor exercise habits lent a social conscience that seemed a little odd coming from Disney.

8. Lars and the Real Girl A great premise – socially-stunted man orders a life-like sex doll and treats her like a girlfriend – taken to its full extent. Ryan Gosling is perfect as the chronically shy Lars whose fear of contact is so acute that he actually feels physical pain from being touched. The most amazing part of this film is the characters. It’s incredible to experience a film without anyone showing signs of mean-spiritedness. Everyone cares so much for Lars that they share in the ruse to the point that they begin to believe it.

A very original and affecting bit of cinema.

9. In Bruges Comedy, brutality, a midget; this film balanced so many things at once. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are perfect as the two London hitmen stuck in a tourist town in Belgium. The acerbic one-liners, great acting and constant references to the absurdity of it all made this a short, enjoyable exercise in film. Ralph Fiennes principled crime boss and the numerous bit-part characters kept everything rollicking along and made proceedings short, funny and very, very punchy.

10. RocknRolla Welcome back Guy Ritchie! Darker and much more mature than his other stuff – RocknRolla showed that the former Mr Madonna has more in him than just extreme fun. All the elements of his earlier hits were there but were more refined, and more potent for it. This may mark a turning point for Guy. He’s got two more films following in the next two years. I, for one, can’t wait to see what he does with this new inspiration.

Cell Out

With Mark Russell; he wants to be a quadtrizillgoogolplexubajillion...aire. But at the moment he still strips for a bus fair .

In the great porno show that is the award season, the Golden Globes are undoubtedly the ‘fluffer’ compared to the Academy Awards ‘money shot’. Of course they can cry all they like about being more fun, and being kind enough to include television honours, but in the end we like the pomp. Personally though, I think it goes deeper. It’s really just another facet of the homoerotic misogyny of Hollywood.

I mean, Kate Winslet showing off her Golden Globes should be just as great a draw card as watching Mickey Rourke grasp his Oscar. Boom-tish - welcome to 2009!

Seven Pounds The team behind The Pursuit of Happyness have aimed another cinematic missile at the Academy Awards by way of our tear ducts. Will Smith and Director Gabriele Muccino throw their hats in the ring once more, hoping that Seven Pounds is the dramatic powerhouse they’re desperately hoping for. In many ways it is. Oh, it won’t win in this year’s quality climate, but it’s a valiant effort.

Smith is Ben Thomas, an IRS agent with a penchant for helping those in need.

Things really get going when he adds Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson in luminous form) to his to-do list - thankfully the film doesn’t work too hard on the metaphor of their love blossoming

Slumdog Millionaire This film comes ready built with a heady breeze of anticipation as its Golden Globes Best Picture win suggests that, just maybe, it could do the same at the Academy Awards. It’s got all the tools for it too. An epic narrative, an unfamiliar world; and a political issue knee-jerk liberals can feel bad about. But above and beyond this cynical view of Hollywood politics: it’s bloody good.

Jamal (Dev Patel) is a very successful contestant on the Mumbai version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. In fact, he’s one question away from winning the whole bloody lot. There’s a long way to go before he wins however, as we meet him in a different kind of hot seat. You see, Jamal’s being questioned by the police on suspicion of fraud.

The Wrestler When people asked me what I thought about The Wrestler, my response for days after was “…I really don’t know.”

The Wrestler follows beaten-down pro-wrestler Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Mickey Rourke) through the later years of his glory. We see him struggle with his health, loneliness and his relationship - or complete lack thereof - with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood).

Rourke is, indeed, brilliant in the wrestler. Randy isn’t necessarily likable, he’s pitiable if anything, but as the film progresses he gradually earns respect as you begin to understand him and recognise his love of wrestling. Marisa Tomei plays a stripper Randy fancies, but again she manages to avoid being too much of an empty stereotype and really delivers.

“Shut up! The man with the Colt 45 says shut up!”

Adolescent Salim (Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala) Slumdog Millionaire

from her weak heart condition. But this romance and Dawson herself are merely extras for a story about Ben. So our story becomes about Will Smith’s performance. It’s a very challenging role for him and requires a level of subtlety he’s never displayed before. It is an unfair comparison as he’s nowhere near this good, but there are touches of Heath Ledger’s Brokeback Mountain turn. Like Ennis Del Mar, Ben Thomas has a lot more going on underneath than what is on the surface. The occasional glimpses we get of his emotion, reveal that this is a man near breaking.

Seven Pounds is a great film if you have some patience. This is not because it is an excessively long movie, it’s just that

you have to endure half an hour of disjointed scenes straight off the bat.

This is a terribly misguided attempt to force us into paying attention. If you can make it past this, Seven Pounds is an innovative and moving piece of cinema. Watching Smith rein in his performance is worth the admission price alone.

No one believes that an uneducated slumdog (someone from the poorest district in the city) could possibly have got so many difficult questions correct without cheating. All of this however – the interrogation, even the game show itself – is merely a framework on which to hang a sweeping story of Indian lower class struggle.

Jamal was born amongst abject poverty, religious quarrel and lecherous swindlers. It’s not long before he and his brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) are left to fend for themselves. They gain a companion in Latika (Frieda Pinto), a similarly destitute slumdog. Jamal and Latika form an attachment that will take them across many years and miles.

If that sounds like a lot of references to poverty, well, it is. Director Danny Boyle

has sewn a brilliantly cinematic film with beautiful shots of some of the most garbage-infested housing areas in the world. A powerful sense of sadness is balanced by some truly joyful moments in a script that wears its coincidences unapologetically on its sleeve.

Slumdog Millionaire is superb, and easily powerful enough to win the Oscar. It would also be great to see Danny Boyle get the award recognition that has somewhat eluded him up till now. Get along and see it so you can hold up your end in the water-cooler conversation.

The direction is exceptional and Darren Aronofsky (see: Requiem for a Dream) makes poignant moments out of Randy’s first day at a new job and the atmosphere backstage before the wrestling matches. The rapport between the pro-wrestlers is notable and there are some fantastic exchanges as they discuss what they have planned for the evening’s ‘entertainment’.

That is where my problem with this film lies. The wrestling scenes are graphic and very realistic. As Randy and his opponent go for gold, pounding each other’s faces and effectively glassing/stabbing/mauling each other, you can’t help but feel queasy and disturbed. Yes, these scenes serve a purpose - whether the initial set-up is fake or not, these men are clearly

taking some serious hits. But I still cowered in my seat, feeling ill, and several people left the cinema.

The Wrestler is an excellent film - perhaps too good. It reeks of realism and emotion, and the close-ups of Rourke’s craggly but expressive face prove powerful. This film is not escapism, nor by any means easy entertainment, which is perhaps why some people may dislike it. I myself left feeling depressed and too unsettled to have enjoyed watching it at all. But the film stuck in my mind and I realised that The Wrestler is oddly compelling and maybe too much like life, but I could never watch it again.

MARK RUSSELL

MARK RUSSELL

MEGAN McKEOUGH

FIRST CONTACT: Write your band’s name as well as the name and phone number of the

BMA BAND PROFILE

Futility Where did your band name come from?

We actually had lyrics for some of the songs before we settled on a band name. The name pretty much reflects lyrical content.

Group Members: Brendan (Deviant Plan, Machete) Vocals/Bass; Nafe (Psychrist, Infinitum) Guitar/vocals; Kurt (Reign Of Terror, Soundguy@The Basement) Guitar; Duncan (Band whore) Drums/Beer; Describe your sound: Oppressive melodic doom metal. Only fatter.

Who are your influences, musical or otherwise?

Metal, but particularly the melodic and melancholic variety. A lot of Opeth, Katatonia, Swallow the sun, Cult of Luna, Gojira, Rapture, and of course the masters, My Dying Bride.

What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had whilst performing?

(Duncan) I think I saw Nathan smile on stage once. That was odd. It could have been gas I suppose.

(Nafe) Performing what?

What’s your biggest achievement/proudest moment so far?

Playing the Under a Blue Moon (gothic festival) gig in Sydney to a surprisingly great response: a packed, receptive house and lots of positive interest afterwards. At the moment it almost feels as if we go down a lot better away from home. Also having just sent our album off for pressing is a pretty big deal for us!

What are your plans for the future?

More gigs. Get the album disseminated as much as possible before recording another one. Nafe wants to be an astronaut.

What makes you laugh?

Organising a gig for the same day that Duncan’s partner is supposed to give birth.

(Nafe) Nothing! We’re dark and brutal and filled with hatred What pisses you off?

The thought that we might have to miss the gig.

(Nafe) Everything! We’re dark and brutal and filled with hatred What’s your opinion of the local scene?

The heavy music scene in Canberra is going great: there are really frequent gigs by great bands (international acts, but also top notch local acts). What is noticable, though, is the lack of venues that are open to this style of music. The Basement is carrying a huge load at the moment (particularly since the Green Room closed). As much as we love the joint, it would be nice to see other venues opening their doors. (Kurt, who does sound at The Basement) No it wouldn’t!

What are your upcoming gigs?

CD Launch, Feb 7 at The Basement. Somewhere in Goulburn, March 7.

Supporting The Eternal (‘cept they pulled out) March 28 Contact Info: myspace.com/futilitycanberra We’ll get around to doing a real website at some stage, but for now there are some demo tracks on myspace for people to check out.

person to contact (limit of two contacts ie. phone and email) and send $5 (cheque or money order made to Bands, Music, Action) to bma: PO Box 713, Civic Square, ACT, 2608. For your $5 you’ll stay on the register until you request removal. Changes to listings also cost $5.

Aaron Peacey Aaron 0410 381 306 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 Ampli5'd Classic rock covers band Joy 0407 200 428, joybarac-heath@ hotmail.com.au Annie & the Armadillos Annette 6161 1078/0422 076 313 The Ashburys Dan Craddock 0419 626 903 Aria Stone singer/songwriter(guitar), sax & flute Aria 0411 803 343 Australian Kingswood Factory Sharon 0412 334 467 Australian Songwriters Association (Keiran Roberts) 6231 0433 Arythmia: Ben 0423 408 767/ arythmiamusic@gmail.com Backbeat Drivers Steve 0422 733 974, www.backbeatdrivers.com Bastards Jamie 0424 857 282/ www.bastards.altpro.net Big Boss Groove Andrew 0404 455 834, www.bigbossgroove.com.au Birds Love Fighting Gangbusters/DIY shows - bookings@birdslovefighting.com Blister Bug Stu 0408 617 791 Bridge Between, The Rachel 0412 598 138, thebridgebetween.com.au Bruce Stage mgr/consultant 6254 9857 Casual Projects Julian 0401 016 885 Catchpenny Nathan 0402 845 132 Caution Horses Nigel 0417 211 580 CD and Website Design Brendan 0404 042 574 Chris Harland Blues Band, The Chris 0418 490 640 chrisharlandbluesband@yahoo.com.au Chuffs, The Glenn 0413 697 546 Cold Heart Projects Andrew 6294 5450 Cole Bennetts Photography 0415 087 833/colebennetts@gmail.com Colourful Racing Identities Josh 0410 135 605 Cool Weapon Luke 0410 983 450/ Josh 0412 863 019 Cris Clucas Cris 6262 5652 Crooked Dave 0421 508 467 Cumulonimbus Matt 0412 508 425 Dance With Amps Marcus 0421 691 332 Danny V Danny 6238 1673/0413 502 428 DayTrippers, The Reidar 0414 808 677, daytrippers@grapevine.com.au (dp) New Media Artists Mal 0414 295 297 Dogact dog-act@hotmail.com, Paulie 0408 287 672.

DJs Madrid and Gordon 0417 433 971 DJ/MC Bootcamp Donte 9267 3655 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 Dubba Rukki Jim 0409 660 745 Easy Mode Daz 0404 156 482, easymodeband@gmail.com Entity Chris 0412 027 894 Epic Flagon band@epicflagon.com EYE eye@canberra.teknet.net.au Fighting Mongooses, The Adam 0402 055 314 Final Warning Brendan 0422 809 552 Fire on the Hill Aaron 0410 381 306/ Dan 0410 480 321 FirePigs, The Danny 6238 1673/0413 502 428 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 Guff Damian 6230 2767 HalfPast Chris 0412 115 594 Hancock Basement Tom 6257 5375, hancockbasement@hotmail.com Happy Hour Wendy 0406 375 096, Haunted Attics band@hauntedatticsmusic.com Hitherto Paul 0408 425 636 Adam Hole Adam 0421 023 226

Infra Retina Kyle 0437 137 775/Michael 0430 353 893/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 Jennifer Folk siner/songwriter looking for guitar player and other musicians 0422 158 362 Jim Boots 0417 211 580 Karismakatz DJ Gosper 0411 065 189/dj@ karismakatz.com Kurt's Metalworx (PA) 0417 025 792 Lenders, The Tim 6247 2076 Little Smoke Sam 0411 112 075 Los Chavos Jules 0413 223 573 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 Malumba Dan 6253 5150 MC Kayo Marbilus 0405 648 288 kayo_101@hotmail.com, www.myspace. com/kayo_marbilus, Meatbee Ben 0417 492 560 Missing Zero Hadrian Brand 0424 721 907/hadrian.brand@live.com.au Moots aspwinch@grapevine.com.au Huck 0419 630 721 Murder Meal Combo Anthony 0419 630 721 MuShu Jack 0414 292 567, mushu_band@hotmail.com Myriad Kath 6253 8318 MyOnus myonusmusic@hotmail.com/ www.myspace.com/myonus Neptune's Necklace Mark 6253 1048 No Retreat Simon 0411 155 680 Ocean Moses Nigel 0417 211 580 OneWayFare Chris 0418 496 448 Painted Hearts, The Peter 6248 6027 Para 0402 277 007 Petra Elliott Petra 0410 290 660 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 Queanbeyan Music & Electronics 6299 1020 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 Sara Vancea Sara 6247 9899 Seditious Intent Toby 0419 971 547 Sindablok Duncan 0424 642 156 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 Stalker and Liife Darren 0413 229 049 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 That ‘80s Band Ty 0417 265 013 The Morning After (covers band) Anthony 0402 500 843/ myspace.com/themorningaftercovers Tim James Lucia 6282 3740, LUCIAMURDOCH@hotmail.com Top Shelf Colin 0408 631 514 Transmission Nowhere Emilie 0421 953 519/myspace.com/transmissionnowhere TRS tripstate@hotmail.com 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 Woden Youth Centre Jeremy 6282 3037 Zeitgeist www.zeitgeist.xwave Zero Degrees and Falling Louis 0423 918 793 Zwish 0411 022 907

GIG GUIDE January 22 - 23 THURSDAY JANUARY 22

THURSDAY JANUARY 22

THURSDAY JANUARY 22

ARTS _____________ Peter and the Wolf This original and imaginative re-telling of Peter and the Wolf

by Sergei Prokofiev, adapted and directed by Wayne Shepher, represents a departure from Icke Picke's musical/panto program.

From 11am and 2pm BELCONNEN THEATRE Open Air: Portraits In The Landscape Australia is full of rich expressions of ideas and feelings about the landscape. This exhibition, with its evocative works from public and private collections across Australia, invites visitors to reflect on what places mean to people, and on how our views of ourselves are shaped by place. Open Air: Portraits in the Landscape has been organised by the National Portrait Gallery and curated by Andrew Sayers with Dr Sarah Engledow and Wally Curuana. Free entry. Runs until Mar 1 NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY KING EDWARD TERRACE, PARKES 2009 Actors Ensemble Acting courses for people aged 18-25. Develop core skills in acting, movement, voice, improvisation and performance making, and perform in Canberra Youth Theatre's major production Tank

by Hadley. Applications close Feb 23. Enquiries and enrolment call 6248 5057 or e mail pip@cytc.net CANBERRA YOUTH THEATRE Locked Inside Artist Ibtihal Samarayi explores detention and freedom through a series of huge padlocks which will be installed in the Belconnen Library. Ibitihal’s work comes from her experiences as an Iraqi artist who lived in refugee camps in Iran and Turkey before gaining a permanent visa in Australia. She would like the detainees’ experiences to be communicated to the public and feels a deep responsibility as an Iraqi refugee to support them. This exhibition is dedicated to Jan Wawrzynczak.

Extended until Jan 25 BELCONNEN LIBRARY

FRIDAY JANUARY 23

ARTS _____________ Arc Cinema: Nixon Anthony Hopkins stars in Oliver Stone's extraordinary political epic. The sequel to JFK. Starts 7:30pm NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON Blaze 08 - CCAS Residents Exhibition Featuring Owen Lewis, Anna Raupach, Amy Nguyen, Rosalind Lemoh, Kress Beecher, Sonja Barfoed and Fiona Little. Continues until January 31 CCAS GORMAN HOUSE Charles Darwin Exhibition The Charles Darwin exhibition details the life and work of naturalist Charles Darwin. It includes his travels and research work and shows how they helped shape his publication: The Origin of the Species. Runs until Apr 12. Free entry NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA, LAWSON CRESCENT, ACTON PENINSULA Advancing To Victory, 1918 This exhibition focuses on the battles fought in 1918. Five Australian divisions fought in France that year and made their greatest contributions to the allies’ final victory. Free entry AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, TRELOAR CRESCENT, CAMPBELL Home at Last Features prints, drawings, photographs and paintings linking art making and the home. Running until Feb 1 NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA, PARKES In The Can This exhibition examines social life in Canberra through the stories of Capitol Theatre, Civic Theatre, Center Cinema and Electric Shadows. Until Feb 1.

Free entry CANBERRA MUSEUM AND GALLERY, CNR LONDON CIRCUIT AND CIVIC SQUARE Brutal, Tender, Human, Animal: Roger Ballen Photography

By South African photographer Roger Ballen (b.1950, New York).

Runs until Mar 29. Free entry NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA EXHIBITION GALLERY, PARKES PLACE

Shell-Shocked: Australia After Armistice On November 11, 1918 the Armistice was signed to end World War I. There were great efforts to bring serving Australians home from foreign fields.

Our service men and women came home to a different world.

This exhibition explores how the government, local communities, families and individuals dealt with the effects of war over the next 20 years. Follow journeys of repatriation and resettlement.

The exhibition combines government records with personal stories. Runs until Apr 27. Free NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, KING EDWARD TERRACE

DANCE _____________ Trash Thursdays $2 drinks until 2am and discounted cocktails. With DJs Adam and Esscue. 2 for 1 entry with Uni sticker ACADEMY, CIVIC Pang! Thursdays featuring Paul Woolford (UK) Free entry. With Scottie Fischer, Fourthstate, Hubert and BMA's own Tim Galvin TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC

LIVE _____________ Molton Mike (USA) Fresh from the Thredbo Blues Festival, Molten Mike is a true Folklorist, is a fascinating story teller and has a dynamic presence on stage. From 7-10pm NATIONAL PRESS CLUB

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Carry On Karaoke PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC Karaoke From 9-11pm. Cash prizes and 2-4-1 basic spirits and tap beer CUBE NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC

The Ripe Collective Exhibition 2 is opening at 7pm PARVAIZ CAFE, MINTER ELLISON BUILDING, NATIONAL CIRCUIT Peter and the Wolf This original and imaginative re-telling of Peter and the Wolf

by Sergei Prokofiev, adapted and directed by Wayne Shepher, represents a departure from Icke Picke's musical/panto program. From 2pm and 7pm BELCONNEN THEATRE Queanbeyan Poetry Slam Part of the Benedict House Art: House festival. From 7:30pm11:30pm. Open mic, cash prizes and music performed by the delightful Julia of Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens. Entry is $3 (free for performers) BENEDICT HOUSE, ISABELLA ST, QUEANBEYAN Circle Of Rhythm Workshop And Show A chance to attend the Open the Circle of Rhythm workshop with renowned percussion trio: Greg Sheehan, Bobby Singh & Ben Walsh. An interactive workshop that will include learning about rhythms from all over the world and a body percussion session. All workshop participants will have the opportunity to be involved in part of the cracking show that the trio will be putting on after the workshop! All levels welcome and no drums necessary. $30.

Bookings from Drum Effect on 0414 236 323 THEATRE 1 AT THE STREET THEATRE, CHILDERS ST, ACTON Art:House A month-long summer festival celebrating art and design in the local region. From visual art, photography, illustration and graphic design, the festival aims to bring together emerging artists and designers in a program that will showcase and celebrate our region's creative talents. Exhibitions open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am to 5pm BENEDICT HOUSE, ISABELLA ST, QUEANBEYAN

GIG GUIDE January 23 - February 4 FRIDAY JANUARY 23

SATURDAY JANUARY 24

SUNDAY JANUARY 25

MONDAY JANUARY 26

DANCE _____________

DANCE _____________

DANCE _____________

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________

Cheese '80s and retro dance grooves TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Australia Gay Come dressed in Aussie theme for free entry and the chance to win brilliant prizes. DJ Matt Chavasse will be on show. Doors open 9pm CUBE NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC

Igloo & Nikkita Playing with DJ D*Phy as part of the J Dilla inspired Ruff Craft Mixtape Tour MERCURY BAR, NORTHBOURNE AVENUE, CIVIC Exposed vs Llik Llik Llik DJ battle. See who becomes victorious! Featuring Alex McLeod, Biggie, Gabe, Staky, Beat It, Sean Kelly, The Duchess and Bicipital Groove TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Academy Fifth Birthday Help blow out the dance candles with Chris Fraser, Ashley Feraude, MC Jemist and DJ Rush in the Candy Bar ACADEMY NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC

<<NULL>> Electro industrial underground.

Visit http://null.thruhere.net for more details TBA Sound Baked Sundays With DJ Moneyshot (UK) and Chew Fu Phat, Ashley Feraude, Jemist, Bipicital Groove and Tom Tomz. Free entry (TRINITY) BAR, DICKSON

Hospitality Night Come and be hospitable TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Trivia in the Trams at the Tradies From 7:15pm TRADIES CLUB, DICKSON

LIVE ____________ Funky Brothers Take those great songs from all the Blues Brothers movies, shake your tail feather and get on down to the Inn for this great five-piece line up featuring both leading male and female vocalists. From 9pm-midnight OLD CANBERRA INN, LYNEHAM Looking Glass The group will be trying out some new material in the lead up to a new album later in 2009.

The band have recently come back from a successful tour in New Zealand, with sets at the upcoming Devil's Kitchen shows in Melbourne and Sydney at the end of the month. They'll be joined by Sister Scarlette, Annie Finelle and Scaramouche THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN Delta Goodrem Back on the road for her Believe Again tour. Cussons Pure are delighted to be presenting the award winning singer songwriter for her first national Australian tour in over three years.

The concert tour, promoted by Dainty Consolidated Entertainment, will see Goodrem up close and personal around the nation performing hits from her seemingly neverending career and current hit album Delta ROYAL THEATRE, CIVIC SATURDAY JANUARY 24

ARTS _____________ Peter and the Wolf This original and imaginative re-telling of Peter and the Wolf

by Sergei Prokofiev, adapted and directed by Wayne Shepher, represents a departure from Icke Picke's musical/panto program.

From 2pm BELCONNEN THEATRE Arc Cinema: The Silver Brumby John Tatoulis' Australian family classic, starring Russell Crowe.

From 4:30pm NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON

DAY PLAY _____________ Gorman House Markets GORMAN HOUSE Burley Griffin Antique Centre KINGSTON FORESHORE

LIVE _____________

SUNDAY JANUARY 25 25 SUNDAY JANUARY 2525 25

Chris Harland Blues Band From 2-5pm WEST BELCONNEN LEAGUES CLUB Australia Day Live The annual celebrations on the lawns of Parliament House, featuring Trial Kennedy, Lovers Electric, Jessica Mauboy, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Dan Kelly & The Ukeladies, Wendy Matthews, Gurrumul, Brian Cadd, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew. Free PARLIAMENT HOUSE LAWNS

ARTS _____________

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________

CMAG On Sundays Join us on the first Sunday of every month for an afternoon of structured and free-range activities for children aged 4-8 years. Structured workshops run throughout the day and bookings are strongly recommended.

Workshops are led by artist Hanna Hoyne. For: Families with 4-8 year olds. Free. From 1–4pm.

Bookings: 6207 3968 CANBERRA MUSEUM AND GALLERY, LONDON CIRCUIT, CIVIC

Rudd, Glorious Rudd!

After years of satirising Howard and co, satirical duo Shortis and Simpson sharpen their lyrical and musical wit to take aim at the new kids on the block. Bookings essential on 6208 5021.

Free. 11am-12 noon or 2-3pm NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA, VISIONS THEATRE

LIVE _____________ The Remnants KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC The Huckleberry Swedes THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC

DAY PLAY _____________ Old Bus Depot Markets KINGSTON Burley Griffin Antique Centre KINGSTON FORESHORE Tuggeranong Homestead Markets TUGGERANONG HOMESTEAD Famous As The Moon This class act provides the cool jazz sounds of the '40s and '50s as well as the rhythmic brazillian tunes and calypso grooves.

Pangaea is also providing BBQ style seafood from 1pm PANGAEA RESTAURANT, FURNEAUX ST, MANUKA Funky Fedoras Enjoy an afternoon of jazz groove and lounge moves with one of Canberra's most popular bands. Featuring Angela Lound on vocals and Paul Dal Broy on keys. The band has recently launched its CD and has performed at the Moruya and Merrimbula Jazz Festivals. From 3-6pm CANBERRA SOUTHERN CROSS YACHT CLUB, YARRALUMLA Cube Sunday From 9pm until late. With DJ Peter Dorree CUBE NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC

MONDAY JANUARY 26

ARTS _____________ Colour Of The Sun Colour of the Sun is an exhibition of contemporary embroidered panels from the Jabaal Al-Hoss women’s cooperative, Syria. Runs until Feb 7 THE Q EXHIBITION SPACE, QUEANBEYAN

DAY PLAY _____________ Canberra's Official triple j Hottest 100 Party From 2pm. Live music from 7pm TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Australia Day Jam With Hancock Basement, Los Capitanes, Casual Projects, Super Best Friends, and Barbarian.

Also featuring skateboarding and BMX demonstrations and workshops by Monster Park.

From 2-6pm LAKE STAGE, REGATTA POINT

TUESDAY JANUARY 27 Music For Everyone’s Smokefree Rock School Do you play in a band? Do you want to play in a band? School’s in this summer for young rock musos aged 11-16 years at Music For Everyone’s SmokeFree Rock School. Enjoy a fun week of afternoon workshops for players of electric lead guitar, bass guitar, drum-kit, and vocalists. Get expert tips on playing rock music, plus great jam sessions together as bands, with professional band players as your coaches. At the end of the workshop, participants will give a showcase performance for family and friends, and on Sunday February 1 there will be an opportunity to perform in an outdoor gig at the National Museum of Australia. $220.

Applications from www.mfe.org. au or email info@mfe.org.au AINSLIE ARTS CENTRE CORNER ELOUERA ST & DONALDSON ST, BRADDON

LIVE _____________ Filthy's Musical Madness With Ocean Moses from 8:30pm and Amax from 9:30pm FILTHY McFADDEN'S, KINGSTON

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Fame Trivia From 7:30-10:30pm THE DURHAM, KINGSTON Pot Belly Trivia Every Tuesday POT BELLY BAR, BELCONNEN Carry-On Karaoke TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Trivia Night PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG Trivia Night HOLY GRAIL, KINGSTON Trivia Night THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ $5 Night Come along and try something new, for $5!

TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC

THURSDAY JANUARY 29

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3

ARTS _____________

LIVE _____________

Eaglehawk Music Festival Three great days of country, rock, roots and blues music. WIth Sharon Lane, Legless, Sean Hale, The Fry Brothers, End of Days, Glenn Bidmead, Jose, Bobby Ricks, Miracle, Nightmare, 3rd Strike, James McLeod, Navid Sabet, Joe Kellaway, Julia & the Deep Sea Siren,s and many more. Tickets from Landspeed, the Music Shop or at the door EAGLEHAWK HOTEL & GOOLABRI RESORT, FEDERAL HIGHWAY

CMAG On Sundays Join us on the first Sunday of every month for an afternoon of structured and free-range activities for children aged 4-8 years. Structured workshops run throughout the day and bookings are strongly recommended.

Workshops are led by artist Hanna Hoyne. For: Families with 4-8 year olds. Free. From 1–4pm.

Bookings: 6207 3968 CANBERRA MUSEUM AND GALLERY, LONDON CIRCUIT, CIVIC

Blues for You With the Bridge Between FILTHY McFADDEN'S, KINGSTON

SATURDAY JANUARY 3131 SATURDAY JANUARY 31 31

DAY PLAY _____________

FRIDAY JANUARY 30

ARTS _____________ Arc Cinema: Southland Tales Richard Kelly's follow up to Donnie Darko; a twisted apocalyptic tale starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, The Rock and Justin Timberlake. A Canberra premiere! From 7:30pm NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON

DANCE _____________ Trash Thursdays $2 drinks until 2am and discounted cocktails. With DJs Adam and Esscue. Two for one entry with Uni sticker ACADEMY, CIVIC Pang! Thursdays featuring Nic Fancuilli (UK) Free entry TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC

LIVE _____________ Dos Locos KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Karaoke From 9-11pm. Cash prizes and 2-4-1 basic spirits and tap beer CUBE NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC FRIDAY JANUARY 30 30 FRIDAY JANUARY 3030 30

DANCE _____________ Purple Sneakers Sydney's favourite club night begins in Canberra! Free entry TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Acadamy Fridays With Nick Skitz, Tim Galvin and DJs Adam and Esscue ACADEMY NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC

LIVE _____________ Miss Del Rey The world acclaimed blues and boogie guitarist, blues ukelele player and singer will be topping the bill tonight. Doors open at 6pm, main acts from 8pm. Entry $15/$12 MERRY MUSE, POLISH WHITE EAGLE CLUB, DAVID ST, TURNER Rev Weekly punk/indie/dance/ electro/alternative night. Woo! BAR 32, N'THBOURNE AVE, CIVIC Groovin' in the City A mix of free outdoor entertainment for Canberrans of all ages set in the City Centre GAREMA PLACE, CIVIC Casual Sets KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC Surf Skate Slam 2009 With Australian Kingswood Factory (Melbourne), Hytest (Wollongong), Charlie Greaser, Reign of Terror, Toxic Men and Space Party. Doors from 8pm.

Entry $10. 18+ THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN

ARTS _____________ Special Stories From Australian Journeys Sicilian-born Carmelo Mirabelli recorded life as a cane cutter in '50s Queensland with his Zeiss Ikon camera. Guna Kinne created her national dress in Lativa, in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany and in Wangaratta, Victoria. Bookings essential on 6208 5021. Free NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA, VISIONS THEATRE Another World Is Possible Opening Night Installations by Amina McConvell. From 6-8pm.

Runs until Feb 8 M16 ARTSPACE, MILDURA STREET FYSHWICK Arc Cinema: Some Came Running The original Rat Pack in Vincente Minnelli's technicolour masterpiece From 4:30pm NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON

DANCE _____________ Academy Saturdays With Ashley Feraude, Pred, Sean Kelly & Staky, and Nathan Frost in the Candy Bar ACADEMY NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC One Love Mobile Disco Tour Featuring Andy Murphy. With Trent Richardson, Tim Galvin, DJ Kiz and B-Tham. Entry is $15 MONKEY BAR, BUNDA ST, CIVIC

Tuggeranong Homestead Markets TUGGERANONG HOMESTEAD Sunday BBQs $10 BBQ lunch between 1 and 3pm. Happy hour from 2-4pm and live bands between 2-5pm THE BRADDON CLUB Cube Sunday From 9pm until late. With DJ Peter Dorree CUBE NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC

LIVE _____________ Legless Adelaide all girl concept band, from 2pm THE HUSH LOUNGE, IRVING STREET, WODEN Chaos ACT V Day Two Featuring The Bezerker and The Amenta, Templestowe, Ne Obliviscaris and Leichotica. All ages THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN MONDAY FEBRUARY MONDAY FEBRUARY 22222

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Hospitality Night Come and put your moves on a spunky hospitality employee on their night off TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Trivia in the Trams at the Tradies From 7:15pm TRADIES CLUB, DICKSON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3

LIVE _____________

DAY PLAY _____________

The Cool, KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC Nice Shoes Music for head and heel. Deep Balearic indie disco. From 9pm until late. Free entry HIPPO LOUNGE, GAREMA PLACE Chaos ACT V Day One Featuring The Bezerker and The Amenta, Mytile Vey Lorth, Aeon of Horus, Ne Obliviscaris, Beyond Terror Beyond Grace, Synpernium, Templestowe, Gasma, Deprivation and New Blood.

Over 18s only THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN

Climate Action Summit Join thousands of people and community groups to form a human circle around Parliament on the first sitting day in 2009.

Stand together and demand urgent action on climate change, for a safe climate future. From 8am, on the lawns of Parliament House, with speakers and a performance by the Bakery and Lolo Lovina PARLIAMENT HOUSE LAWNS

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Carry-On Karaoke TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Fame Trivia THE DURHAM, KINGSTON Pot Belly Trivia POT BELLY BAR, BELCONNEN Trivia Night PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG Trivia Night HOLY GRAIL, KINGSTON Jumptown Swing Beginner Classes Learn to swing dance. No experience or parter required. No registration required. Just turn up. Classes from 6:30-7:30pm. $12/$10 HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB, NARRABUNDAH WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4 4 444

ARTS _____________ The Myths and Legends of the Ancient Race of the Kangaroo Men Sculpture, drawing and photography. by Stephen Harrison. Until February 10. Official opening February 5 THE FRONT GALLERY AND CAFE, LYNEHAM

LIVE _____________ Captain, My Captain With Skadamouche, Cartesian Discotech, Jonno Zilber, Trenton Smith and Remember Little Grace THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Fame Trivia PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC Carry-On Karaoke From 9:30pm. $1000 grand prize THE DURHAM, KINGSTON Karaoke Night HOLY GRAIL KINGSTON $5 Night Try something new!

TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Jumptown Swing Beginner Classes Learn to swing dance. No experience or parter required. No registration required. Just turn up. Classes from 6:30-7:30pm. $12/$10 WHITE EAGLE POLISH CLUB, TURNER

DVDEVOTEE THE BEST RELEASES OF 2008 WITH GEOFF SETTY, ALLAN SKO AND JUSTIN HOOK Whilst it would be easy to pepper any DVD best-of list with excellent pieces of cinema such as There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men, it would merely be treading on old ground. We all know they’re good, we’ve all seen and loved them, and if we haven’t, then we’re reading the wrong column because you obviously have no real interest in films whatsoever. Hell, let’s throw the re-release of The Godfather and Citizen Kane in there while we’re at it to be truly imaginative. No. The focus this year is very much upon those nuggets of TV brilliance that we eagerly await to own on digital versatile disc, or indeed Blueray if you have more money than you know what to do with. So press play on your eyeballs and enjoy the bounty of our countless hours hunched in dark rooms. ALLAN SKO Mad Men – Series One Mad Man is a sumptuous, anachronistic, anti-PC blast from an imagined past. Don Drapper (John Hamm) works on Madison Ave at a time when that address meant something. A successful advertising exec, he sighs his way through an unfulfilling marriage, overseeing co-workers who spend a large portion of their day trying to hook up with broads and dames, hitting the bottle at 9.30am and frankly doing very little other than living the country club lifestyle par excellence.

On the side Drapper has a few things on the boil himself, but it’s the cloak of despair and gloom that betrays his should-be Alpha Male archetype that lifts this series above Graphisporn circa 1963. It looks amazing. It is amazing.

JUSTIN HOOK The Wire – Seasons 3 and 4 David Simon wrapped up his epic 50 chapter chronicle of urban America in 2008 with the fifth series. But, here in Australia, we were lucky to get the 3rd and 4th instalments of this incomparable, soaring television series in the second half of the year.

I have already raved about The Wire in pages, and in person, for what seems like volumes and years. But it just isn’t enough. You simply must give this show a chance. Get through the dense layers, arcane plotlines and murky characterisations, and butterflies will be your friends for eternity. Promise. JUSTIN HOOK The Shield – Season 5 Another cop show that came to the end this year. First no more McNulty, now no more Vic. Cripes! The vice gets tighter and tighter as each season of this show progresses. As usual, the real marvel is Michael Chiklis as obscenely corrupt LA cop Vic Mackey covering tracks of blood and cash.

Forest Whitaker joins the cast this time around, a swap that fairly offsets the loss of Glenn Close from the previous season. The Shield

uses over egged drama and flaming set pieces where The Wire relies on understatement. But they both work in their place, and The Shield belongs near the top. JUSTIN HOOK The Mighty Boosh – Season 3 It seems amazing that this once humble radio show – listened to by BMA’s Scott Adams and not many others to begin with – has grown to the point where someone three pints to the good can bellow “I’m Old Gregg!” and have half the pub chuckle merrily in shared hilarity. It was a nervous wait to see if season three would hold up; many a comedy series has been struck down by “third time’s the death charm” syndrome, but Fielding and Barratt have pulled it off again, delivering us The Crack Fox, I Did a Shit On Your Mum, more of the utterly marvellous Tony Harrison and another thousand odd pieces of bizarre brilliance. This shouldn’t be popular.

But I’m glad as fuck it is. ALLAN SKO The Boondocks – Season 2 The premise of this animated series is simple; two ghetto kids – one a Martin Luthur King style poet (Huey), the other a swaggering nut-grabbing gangsta (Riley) – move in with their grandad (Robert “Grandpa” Freeman) in the affluent suburbs. To say hilarity ensues would be like saying Catholic priests bum the odd alter boy – a massive understatement. Famed for its relentless use of the n-bomb, the Boondocks is a staggeringly funny expose of black culture, and white culture’s interaction, through a series of 15 20-minute episodes. With premises including a closet gay rapper (voiced by Mos Def ) and a gangster rapper, Thugnificent, moving into the area with his cronies (voiced

by Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg), this is magnificent American social satire and funny as all hell. Type “Boondocks My Crib” into YouTube and be converted. ALLAN SKO Weeds – Season 4 The most remarkable thing about this show – and there are many remarkable things – is the development of central character Nancy Botwin (MaryLouise Parker) from series to series, and the subsequent plots that play out in telling her story. She has morphed from a doeeyed ganja-slinging housewife to a slightly unhinged force of shocking occasional violence. What could have been a flimsy premise dragged to its death in its fourth season has flourished due to some of the sharpest writing currently doing the rounds on the box. It’s didactic in that is manages the impressive feat of being both consistently one of the funniest and shocking shows doing the rounds. Bring on season five. ALLAN SKO

30 Rock Season 1 This year 30 Rock stopped being a cult hit and become something of a sensation. Has it got something to do with the fact that it won 1,000 Emmy awards this year? No, it’s because the show is consistently funny and thoroughly enjoyable.

Without a dud episode in the first two seasons, and with rich characters and subversive, funny dialogue, 30 Rock is the reason Tina Fey has become the ‘it’ woman of the moment - along with her alarmingly accurate Sarah Palin impersonation, of course. But the real star is Alec Baldwin who is exceptional as president of this fictional NBC world Jack Donaghy. Just watch the damn show, okay. Season 2 of this one is available in January. GEOFF SETTY The Flight of the Conchords S1 This was a great year for the Conchord boys, who really cracked it big in Australia.

Shot on a fuck-all budget and released to mass appeal, this show highlights the talents of Jermaine and Brett, as well as Rhys Darby as Murray the group’s manager and the delectable Kristen Schaal as Mel their only fan. Highlight episodes include Bowie, The Actor, and The Third Conchord. In fact, just thinking about these episodes make me smile. With great music, fun characters and a wonderful sense of the absurd, Conchords is where it’s at. GEOFF SETTY The Office Season 3 part 1 Okay, at the risk of creating one hell of an argument amongst every person walking the face of the earth, this is a DIFFERENT SHOW to the English version, with its own characters and scenarios. The only similarity is that it’s set in a paper company office; that and the fact that this is the series where the creators of the original Office, Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant wrote an episode for the US version. Featuring the talents of Steve Carrell and Rainn Wilson (along with the sublime Ed Helms), the US The Office is superlative.

Hopefully next time they’ll release a whole season instead of a bit of one. GEOFF SETTY Life On Mars The Brits sure know how to leave on a high note. The second/final series of Life On Mars easily sustained the alluring mixture of retro wink-wink comedy, acceptable misogyny, ambiguous realities, hallucinatory possibilities and good old fashioned fish-out-of-water madness. Credit to the writers in allowing Sam Tyler to decide his own fate via a leap further into his own mind or the pavement. The answer of sorts can be found in the similarly themed not quite follow up, Ashes to Ashes. JUSTIN HOOK