Sauce - Issue 13, 06-04-05

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On The the only street 1st Wed every month Tasmanian-owned newspaper

#1317/02/04 06/04/05 #1:

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NIGHTCLUB

191 Charles Street Launceston PH: 03 6331 7355 FAX: 03 6331 2414 :: hotel@saloon.com.au

SATURDAY 9TH APRIL

MACHINE GUN

FELLATIO Followed by Super Saturday the party continues with Sgt.GREEN

april in main room: Wed 6 Thu 7 Fri 8 Wed 13 Thu 14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri 29 Sat 30

LEGENDARY UNI NIGHT WITH USA DJ JFA TIME WARP WITH THE BEST OF 70’s, 80s, & 90s WIN A TRIP TO QUEENSLAND WITH THE AIR GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL LEGENDARY UNI NIGHT WITH LIVE BANDS OPEN MIC NIGHT FOR BIG CASH PRIZES WHO LOOKS GOOD IN THEIR LITTLE BLACK DRESS COMPETITION SUPER SATURDAY THE PARTY CONTINUES WITH TOP MELBOURNE BAND THE MACHINE LEGENDARY UNI NIGHT TIME WARP WITH THE BEST OF 70’s, 80s, & 90s WHO LOOKS GOOD IN THEIR LITTLE BLACK DRESS COMPETITION SUPER SATURDAY THE PARTY CONTINUES WITH DONUT ANZAC DAY EVE MULTI BAND NIGHT LEGENDARY UNI NIGHT WITH LIVE BANDS TIME WARP WITH THE BEST OF 70’s, 80s, & 90s WHO LOOKS GOOD IN THEIR LITTLE BLACK DRESS COMPETITION FINAL SUPER SATURDAY THE PARTY CONTINUES

april in the loft: Sat 9 Sat 16 Sat 23 Sun 24 Wed 27

SWEETBE@TS | W.BOAZ, CAMMO, BEC & GUESTS TRASH | HOUSE, BREAKS, ELECTRO, ANYTHING YOU CAN DANCE TO! CHRIS FORTIER TRASH | HOUSE, BREAKS, ELECTRO, ANYTHING YOU CAN DANCE TO! TRASH | HOUSE, BREAKS, ELECTRO, ANYTHING YOU CAN DANCE TO!

Plus coming soon:

Cog Fri 6th May & The Cat Empire Sun 8th May Visit the new saloon website www.saloon.com.au Calendar of upcoming gigs // To Signup to become a Saloon VIP // Photo gallery

Rock Salt

Unleash The Nugget (Hbt) Despite missing out on a support gig with Joel Turner, who has cancelled his Tassie shows due to “publicity commitments” , things are still looking up for massive (there’s 10 of them in the group) Hobart hip hop band, Unleash The Nugget. Why are they in the Rock Salt section, you ask? Well, we thought, ‘cause they actually play instruments, instead of computers or turntables, and a wide variety of styles of music, we thought we’d put them here, but really, it’s hard to put them in a “pigeonhole”. MC Anton Heath told us what the group were up to.

So, what sort of music do Unleash The Nugget play?

It’s pretty hard to say, because we take our inspiration from so many different types of music, but all of it has an underlying theme of hip hop … I’ve got songs that are reggae, latin songs, a bit of funk and some rockier stuff, as well. So, I suppose it’s hip hop/ whatever … hah, hah.

What do you do in the band?

I’m one of the MC’s. We’re a ten piece, at the moment. There’s three MC’s, a three piece brass section, guitar and drums.

Ten? Is that hard to organise?

Hah. Definitely.

Hard to agree on songs?

We don’t write in that way. Generally Gillan, the guitarist, will program ideas he has on a computer, in the keys, and program the brass section and stuff like that so we get the idea and learn our own parts. Then we’ll come together once we’ve all got our own bits and try and make it work.

Did you move to Melbourne and then back and why?

That’s not really what happened, at all. What happened was me and Ben were accepted into RMIT for sound production, so we went over there to do that and Gillan got into VCA (Victorian College of Art) for a Bachelor of Improvisation, or something, so he went over

Even Remember Aussie hard rock band, “The Meanies?” If you do, then you must be old, or over 30 anyway. And that’s old isn’t it, at least in terms of the current global music industry. And if there are any popular artists over thirty, you can be sure Photoshop and the blur tool have been working overtime in the press-photos and videos. So, anyway, former “Meanie”, Wally Kempton, plays bass in Even, a Melbourne band known for manic live shows and lots of piercings. Dave Williams spoke to front man Ashley Naylor, before these legends of the Aussie pub circuit set sail (Does the Spirit have a friggin’ sail – get the pirate joke?) for our emerald isle (or is that Ireland?) for a couple of shows in Tassie in April. Their gig at The Republic Bar, freak me out, will be accompanied by international legend, former “The Posies” member and current REM tour member, Ken Stringfellow, before they lose him for an Even show at “The Gunners” in Launnie.

Ash, where are you at the moment?

I’m in Melbourne.

How’s that?

It’s good. It’s my home.

I don’t know a lot about your band.

You can put this in inverted commas. (And so I will) We’re “the greatest fucking Australian rock and roll band.”

Ok. Cool. If you’re not going to promote yourself, who is?

Put dot, dot, dot … who play pop songs as well, as rock songs?

Cock songs and rock songs?

Hah. Hah. Pop songs and rock songs.

Oh, I thought it was cock and rock.

Hah. Hah. No, we aint a cock-rock band, mate.

there for that. We went over there to further our music (skills) in that aspect. But the band never moved over, though. We were going to get a band over there and do some gigs over there, but the band didn’t move over there, as such.

Did you guys finish your courses?

I didn’t, ‘cause I got glandular fever. Gillan didn’t cause he got an injury to his hand, from practising so much. Ben finished his course.

You were going to support Joel Turner down here. What happened.

We were only going to the one support at The Republic Bar. Did you get that gig because your dad is the owner?

Well, they asked for a hip hop act as a hip hop support. As far as bands go, ‘cause that’s what they’ve (Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets) got, as well, we’re one of the only bands with hip hop happening as well, as opposed to an MC’s with a DJ. Yopu know what I mean?

Definitely, there’s not many out there, in Tassie, doing what you’re doing. I didn’t mean to insult you, asking if you got the gig through your dad.

(Emphatically) Oh, no. If we’re going to get a gig, as a support, we’re not going to say, “No.” If we can get a gig, we’ll take every opportunity we can get. The last gig we did was as a support for Downsyde at Huon Quays.

How did that go?

That was awesome.

Did you learn anything from their performance?

Yeah. They knew exactly what they were doing on stage. They were pro’s. That was only our second gig, really, with the new line-up. Our (previous) drummer moved to Melbourne and our old trumpet player moved to Brisbane, so it was a bit shaky, I suppose, in terms of confidence in playing the music correctly, but it turned out fine. It was a good gig and Downsyde are great. They know how to get the party started.

There’s too many other people doing that.

Where do you see yourself in “the musical landscape?”

We’re like the emergency lane on the highway.

Hah. Hah. Is that the “I’m late for my wife” lane?

Yeah, it’s the “we didn’t quite make it into the mainstream lane”. We didn’t quite make the “white line” so we’re still getting there.

Does that matter to you?

No. Not really, especially when you see what you’re up against. When you see what you’re up against, it’s almost a comfort to know that we haven’t broken into the suburban households of Australia. In that, there’s so much dire, dire music out there, but that’s purely a taste call, by musical snobbery.

Yeah. You’ve got to stand for something, I suppose.

Yeah, you do.

You guys are from Melbourne and you’ve been doing the pub tours around Melbourne for how long?

Well, we’ve toured nationally and internationally since our inception in 1994. We’ve been overseas on four occasions and done four albums.

I’m totally ignorant, aren’t I? No, it’s just that everyone moves in different circles, my friend.

Ok, thanks for being generous.

Now our circles are inter-weaving.

And you guys are coming down here?

We are. It’ll be our third trip to Tassie in the last 12 months.

Smashing.

And what stands out about the last trip?

Well, the last trip was good. We played at The Falls Festival, at Marion Bay and the time before that was at The Republic Bar, which is where we’re playing this time with Ken

How old are you?

I’m 20.

How many line-up changes have there been and how did you first get together?

We got together because my brother, Mick and Gillan were at Rose Bay High School together and we went to Rosny College and decided to do something, on the hip hop side of things.

There weren’t any bands doing what we wanted to do, so we thought it’d be something cool to do, so it started with Mick, me, Gill and Ben. How many line-up changes have there been?

We started as a six piece, changed drummers about three times, and now we’ve got a sax player, a trumpet player, trombone player, keys, bass, drums and three MC’s.

How much support do you get from venues and the public, for groups like yourself in Tassie?

Every gig we’ve played has been awesome.

There’s always a lot of people and everyone gets into it. When we play at The Republic, everyone watches us and, I guess, it’s ‘cause we play such a wide range and it’s so varied and has a real funk feel, not just raw hip hop, I guess. So, it’s probably more “easy listening” than some acts. There’s not that many venues we play, ‘cause the problem is that there’s ten of us and probably six nights out of seven, members are playing in other bands. For example the keys player plays a gig every night of the week and so we have to pick and choose our gigs a bit. So it’s got to be viable for us to play a gig, I guess.

What have you guys done, in terms of CD’s and production?

We recorded an EP a year and a half ago, at Red Planet studios, in Hobart and that was really good to get it down. It was only our first few songs, but we still didn’t have any idea of what we were doing. We didn’t have keys, really. We just had Bob play a couple of lines on one song.

feel about it?

Hah. It’s definitely outdated, now, compared with what we are now. We didn’t have any idea of what we were doing, but we do now. We know what’s going on. If we want to get it together, we know how to go about it. Then, we wrote three choruses the night before the recording and made stuff up when we were there. It’s a pretty experimental recording.

But, I think that still happens with really big (in terms of record sales and profile) bands.

They’re still writing in the studio.

Yeah, definitely, but at least we know how to go about it now and we’ve got the sound that we want. Then, we didn’t. We just added keys because there was a keyboard there and Gillan could play keys. But now, we’ve actually got a keys player, so we know we can draw on that sound.

What are the plans for the future?

We’re going to record a demo CD, just for us, not to sell, so we can use it to get some gigs and they can get a feel for what our band is now, as opposed to our old tracks.

Are you ready to send it to record companies and the like?

I don’t know about that, but just to get it around the place to get some more gigs, support acts and stuff like that, ‘cause it’s hard to get gigs when we don’t have anything that we really want to show someone, an example of what we sound like. (The old EP) is not what we sound like anymore. We’re probably more hip hop than our EP was. We were probably just kids and we wanted to play everything, all the time, and had no dynamic – everyone doing everything. Hah. Now, we’ve brought it back a bit and there’s more of a dynamic and more elements.

Unleash The Nugget Mick Heath - MC/Vox Anton Heath - MC/Vox Ben Korkmaz - MC/Vox Gillan Gregory - Guitar Dan Sulzberger - Keys Jordan Hooper - Bass Paul Parnell - Drums Marty Smith - Trombone Dave Titherley - Trumpet James Maddock - Saxophone

So, when you listen to it now, how do you

Stringfellow. And the time before that was in 1996. And we’re also playing Launceston on this trip as well. So, it will have been an eightyear gap between shows in Tassie, which is disgraceful, on our behalf. (I don’t really get that bit!) So we’re going to try and make up for that by coming more regularly.

And the live show, a pretty tame affair with you guys sitting down on stools, strumming lyres and so on (my sarcasm gland is working overtime at this point!)?

Hah. Hah. No, We’re upstanding. We’re not a hard rock act, but we are a passionate rock act.

Not really.

We look to The Band, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Kinks. David Bowie. We love good punk rock, but we’re in our 30’s. When we think of punk we think of The Clash and The Sex Pistols.

Yeah.

I can’t imagine the words “Greenday” and “Punk” in the same sentence. It’s astonishing, but it’s just a tag. It’s quite astonishing. You see all these American bands and they look like rock bands, but the music they’re making is no different to what bands lke “Reo Speedwagon” were making in the ‘80’s. It’s like stadium rock with short hair, but people call it punk rock.

Yeah. I know. Working in the media, it’s hard not to use the tags put on bands, but I’ve been going, “Mmmm … where are the safety pins and the anarchy?”

Where’s the punk element?

Yeah.

Exactly. We’re a band that’s trying to recreate our record collection for modern-day punters. I mean, I’m still obsessed with 60’s and 70’s rock, but as I get older I start to look back to the 80’s and 90’s, as well. There was great music out of those era’s, as well. So, you can’t be totally blinkered. There’s great music from every era, you just have to be introduced to it.

Your’re a three piece?

Yeah.

Drummer, bass and you sing (as well as play lead guitar) as well?

Yeah.

And your recent album, “Free Kicks” came out a while ago, how’s it gone?

I guess we’re still touring on the back of that. It came out in June last year. So we’re still in the throes of alerting people to it. It’s going pretty well. We’ve toured pretty constantly for the past year. We’re really keen to go back to Tassie, We had a great time last time and The Republic … we had such a good time there last time.

It’s a fun venue. It’s got a good atmosphere.

Yeah. It’s really band friendly, as well. A lot of venues we play don’t even have a fucking band room, you know. At least they have, The Republic Bar management, set aside a room where we can just “chill” and have a drink afterwards. It’s nice.

Yeah. Cool.

And the punters are great. The vibe was really good and we’re very keen to get back there.

And you’ve scored Ken Stringfellow as a support?

It’s, kind of, a co-headliner. We first met Ken in ’96 in Austin, Texas, when his band, “The Posies” played South By South-West (The mega US festival) and we played with “The Posies” in Seattle in ’99. And we did a brief opening set for them.

Rock Salt

Rocket Noodle (Ltn) You’re the lead singer. Does anybody else in the band sing as well?

Yeah. As in most bands, we all do back-up vocals, but Luke sometimes comes on the guitar. Luke and Morgan do a swap and Luke’s got one song he sings and takes the lead on guitar.

How long have you been singing? Have you done any training and why are you the singer?

All my vocal training was done at The Lubritorium at The Saloon (Now called The Loft). I used to be a big Karaoke junkie.

It seems to be a good training ground, karaoke.

Definitely.

I’m out the back, at the Rocket Noodle House, in Launnie, in the “beer garden” as, Dave McGuiness likes to call it. There doesn’t seem to be much garden, of the green variety, but the concrete lawn is doing well. I think it’s a good sign for the band that they (except for Connor O’Neill) live together and play together. Half the house is band zone with chords, instruments and amps strewn about the place, while the other half is a normal, and surprisingly tidy, share-house, probably because of the two girls in the house, Dave’s sister and his girlfriend, Michelle.

Dave, for people who haven’t been to one of your gigs and are wondering whether or not they’ll enjoy what you do, what sort of band is Rocket Noodle?

That’s hard one to answer really (Where have I heard that before?!), ‘cause when we write songs all the other guys are the biggest comedians you will ever meet, whereas most of the lyrics tend to be serious. By no means do we take ourselves seriously. We enjoy our music and if you enjoy it, all the better for it, but this is what we are.

So rap, hip hop, electro, metal, what?

Rock and roll. Rock and roll is the best way to describe it.

Where did you guys meet and how did you get together?

Luke and Morgan were in a rival band in college. They moved up here and I moved up here, didn’t know anyone, so I started jamming with them, then we picked up last year, sometime.

Which college was that?

Hellyer College, in Burnie.

Why did you move to Launceston?

Originally, to do a Certificate 3, Music Industry skills course and the other boys were down here doing Uni. So most of the band are doing “music” degrees at Uni? Yeah, a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Rock and Jazz.

Wow, that’s cool. When you play live, what can people expect to see?

Well, we’re a four piece. Most of the time, it’s lead guitar, bass, drums and vocals, but for certain songs, where the extra guitar is required, I pick it up and play a bit of rhythm.

I’ve heard the whole band puts on a really good live show, how hard is it to transfer that onto a CD? That’s one of the things we’ve been having trouble with, in ourrecording, is to really capture that, but as for a live show, whenever we decide we’re doing a gig, we do it like it’s our last gig, so we put in one hundred percent. We’ve played to bugger-all people and we still

put the same performance on, ‘cause that small amount of people have still paid to come and watch us and they still deserve the same quality performance as if the place is packed.

I’ve heard that you, personally, go pretty mad on stage, launching yourself off speaker stacks and crawling around the ground like Angus Young (ACDC). Why do you do that?

Showmanship. There are so many bands around these days – on stage they sound tight as a nun’s cunt, but you can put a CD on for the same quality.

You go to watch a band as well as listen to it. You want a show. You want to be there and say, “What is this fucker on?”

How much of that is spontaneous and how much is planned?

Well, some things are planned, there are certain things I do, in certain parts of the songs that I always do, but half the stuff, like climbing on speaker stacks and stuff is to do with the night and if I feel like it, I do it.

Where’s the emphasis for the band at the moment? Is it on the lyrics or the tunes?

If you’re asking how we write the songs, what the guys do is, usually, come up with a “riff”, a tune, whatever you want to call it. I listen to it and listen to it for a few days, practise it and get really tight and then I’ll work out, judging on what the song sounds like, what I think the song should be about, and then write something.

But I wrote a song when I was pissed in Hobart one day, so it varies, but the majority of the times, it’s to do with the music I remember an interview I did with The Hilltop Hoods and they thought that you couldn’t put happy lyrics over a dark melody, for example. How much do you agree with that?

It’s all to do with the music and it’s all to do with the way you take the music that you’re writing. You can write the darkest song in the world, but people will always put their “twist” on it. I like to write as cryptically as I can, so people think it’s about something that it’s not.

Let people read into it what they want?

Yeah, let them work out what it’s really all about.

I think it’s interesting to have, for example a happy tune with really dark lyrics. What do you think of that?

Yeah, definitely. I’m a big fan of Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) because his lyrics are so cryptic. Some of the

stuff he says will mean something completely different.

One of my favourite lyrics, it’s not Eddie Vedder, but Daniel Johns (Silverchair & The Dissociatives) is, “Come and join the mass debate,” and that refers to a large argument but when you listen to it, it sounds like joining a big orgy.

Have you put any of your work onto a CD and what are your plans for the future?

Yeah, Morgan is trying to master Pro Tools, so he can do it himself. We’ve done two recordings now, plus one with Matt, from Barratts (Music in Launceston) and our next recording we’re spending the whole year on it and we’re working on every specific tool. We’re taking kick drum sounds and we’re experimenting with them, for example, until we get the sound that we want.

When’s that going to start?

It’s started already.

Estimated finish time?

Six to nine months.

What will you do with it then?

We’ll send it about and give it to anyone that wants it.

Lastly, the Rocket Noodle band members would be ideal to take home to meet your mum, because ….?

Because, we’ve all got charming smiles. Hah. Hah. After the interview the boys shouted me a couple of beers, which leads me to the origin of their band name, Rocket Noodle. Apparently, according to Michelle, Dave’s girlfriend, the boys were at The Saloon one night and there was a strip-trivia quiz.

Morgan was down to his jocks, lost to a girl who had just lost her bra, but had two pairs of undies on and so Morgan had to bare all, exposing his “noodle’, or as he likes to call it, “little flapper” and then later, Morgan and Luke were trying to pee up a wall and they claimed it went like a “rocket”. And so Rocket Noodle was born. By the way, Michelle makes a great chicken breast, brie and tomato “pocket strudel”. Rhymes with …

Rocket Noodle Dave McGuiness –Singer Luke Young – Drummer Morgan Colgrave – Guitar Connor O’Neill - Bass

Rock Salt

Pretty Mess

“Hello?”

We get it all the time. They say, “Oh, you’ve just done a tour with Killing Heidi, you must be pulling in the bucks.” We got only hundreds of bucks a gig. The mixer cost us almost what we were getting. It’s insane.

And people ask, “What covers do you play? And we’re like, “Fuck off! We don’t do fucking “American Pie” anymore,” and, you can’t blame people, they don’t really know. Tripping was about tripping our time away, working our asses off for nothing. Hah. Hah. Hah. I’m glad you’ve said that, because it educates people, that we are working our arse off and for bands who aren’t doing so well, and may be getting down about it, there are a heap of bands out there, like them.

Yeah, that’s true. Even other bands think it. There’s abig, big gap between a band that’s struggling and a band that is actually making it. There’s no middle ground. I won’t mention names but there are friends in bands around Melbourne who make huge money and we get nothing. There is no middle ground. You either get $150 or $5000. It’s insane. Between you and me (and now, Tasmania) it’s a part of the music industry that is just not right, and never will be right. It’s just the way it is.

And I talk to venues down here and original bands cost less than cover bands!

They do, and I guess it’s because people want to hear songs they know and the venues will pay people to play those kind of songs. People come out to have a good time and they don’t know the songs they’re like, “Fuckin’ play something we know!”

Following the success of their debut EP, “Surface Glow”, Melbourne Band, Pretty Mess have just released their debut album, “Greyscale Broadcast” and will be touring Tassie this month.

Formed about two years ago, Pretty Mess were a band I’d heard about long before I’d heard the pop melodies, soaring, jangly and crunching guitars that forms their music. I went in search of more.

Lead singer, John Baxter, filled me in. We did an interview over the phone and John actually called me 5 minutes early, which is just not rock and roll, or is it? I said no. Anyway, I wasn’t ready and so John, referring to the rock mantra made famous

by Ian Dury and The Blockheads of “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll”, John jokingly said he’d go take some more drugs, have some sex and call me back. Just jokes, ok!

Hi, David. It’s John here, again.

Thanks, I’m organised now. (Joking) Had your drugs?

Yeah, all ready to go now. Arms are killing me. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. We’re just talking Sudafed and Panadol and that sort of stuff, aren’t we?

Oh, yes, of course. Hah. Hah. Hah. ‘Cause nothing illegal ever happens in rock and roll, does it!

Never! Not that I’m aware of, anyway. Hah. Hah. Hah. What are you up to today? Interviews?

Another one in a while. It’s a fairly quiet day for me and I’m at work as well, so I’m actually out my car doing this, ‘cause the boss is upstairs somewhere. That’s rock and roll for you, isn’t it? Hah. Hah. Hah. Is that so the boss can’t find you?

Yeah, I would be downstairs anyway, so he won’t know anything about it, so that’s great!

What work are you doing, for work, during the day?

I do three days a week as a graphic designer, in Collingwood, so it pays the bills. And the drug habit, of course! Hah. Hah. Hah. What sort of work is it? Corporate identity or advertising …?

I do a bit of freelance in that stuff, but this is a fabric design company for the furniture industry and the media industry and all sorts of different stuff. I’ve got a bit of a weird CV. I used to work for the Herald Sun and I wanted to do something completely different, for a change … it’s an interesting job, but I’m a little bored, nowadays. Three days a week is good.

Did you have gigs over the weekend?

No, it’s been a good weekend. We had the weekend off. What am I saying! Hah. Hah. Hah. It’s been a pretty busy couple of weeks (with the album launch and promotion). We played five gigs a week and it’s been pretty full on. It’s nice to have the weekend off and get a few chores done around the house, you know?

The gigs you’ve been doing, I guess you’ve been playing most of the stuff off the new album?

We have. There a couple of tracks we don’t do, ‘cause they’re a bit too moody and spacey to do in a drunken, pub environment. So, we do eight or nine of the new tracks from the album and we’ve got a bunch of new

material running through the set as well, which has been great. We’ve got a couple of shows coming up where we’ll be doing two sets, so we can do all the songs off the album and new material. That’s what we’ll be doing in Tasmania.

Are you on a high still with the release of the new album, or has the gloss worn off a bit now?

I think it has only a little bit. Only, that it was done a while ago. You know how these record things go. You record it over a two or three year period, work on it for ten months and then the record company tries to find a good release date and, by then, you’re already writing new material. We’re really excited to have it out, no doubt about it, but when you’ve got new material ‘in the wings” you turn to that, really. It is great. It’s exciting to have it out after all this time. It’s one of those things, really. It’s such a milestone, when you work on something over such a long period of time. So, it’s right.

Which record company is it released through?

Through Shock.

That’s good. Was that the only record company that gave you a deal or did you choose them?

It was up to us. We had interest by a couple of other labels and a management company that were affiliated with Warner and, without mentioning any names, they were trying to map out a plan for us and intent on changing our style and direction and stuff. It got a bit freaky for us, so we decided to back off from that and we’ll stick with what we want to do, and our sound and we went with a P& D with Shock and they’ve been great. They’ve given us some money and given us a chance. We’ve put out an EP, a single and now the album and there’s something about doing it on your own terms that is really rewarding, so I think we’ve done the right thing, regardless of sales and stuff, you’ve got to do what’s right and we feel great about it.

What’s a P& D? It’s a packaging and distribution deal. It varies per company, but with someone like shock, it’ll cover the cost the manufacturing of the stock and distribution and sometimes there might be and enhanced PD deal, where they throw in a bit of promotional money to help you out, which is not a lot, but, at the end of the day, when you’ve all got nothing, it’s a great help. It certainly reduces the burden, for sure.

I’ve read that “Greyscale Broadcast” is about being a musician in Melbourne. Do you think the general public are going to identify with that?

It is, largely. Its an observation. I’ve been living in Melbourne for the past 15 years. It’s a collection.

Some of the songs were written over eight years ago.

Observations of life in Melbourne, and you know Melbourne, it’s the hub of insanity. Everyone in the country migrates to Melbourne and your up against everybody and the expectation are huge. You’ve got Jet playing down the road and The Living End around the corner and there’s all this stuff going on and it’s really an observation of how it’s been, not literally.

There are a lot of analogies used. One song which was a recent single, “Tripping” is about that whole thing where your in a band in Melbourne and everyone is expecting you to be doing this that and the other and you’re, really, just struggling to make ends meet.

I think that can be applied to any industry though.

I get it here a bit. They think, “Oh, your putting out a magazine, you must be rich,” and I’m like,

I think this also goes to the importance of lyrics and the importance of “pushing” the vocals in a live gig, so that people can learn the lyrics. Even if you’re only a quarter of the way through a song, and you’ve got a catchy chorus, and you can, clearly, hear the lyrics, people will start to sing along. I find all the time, that you can’t hear people’s bloody vocals.

We get that all the time. In some songs we have all of us singing, and it’s a glorius thing to be in the middle of, but at the end of the gig, they’ll say, “Oh, couldn’t hear anyone singing.” And we’ve been working our arse off to make this sound great and why bloody even bother. It’s so frustrating.

I think it’s, largely, a big responsibility on whoever is mixing on the night. They’ve got a really big responsibility, I think.

More than the band, in some respects, because they can fuck you up or make you sound like absolute gems. Depending on how they are or what’s going on in their head, it’s a huge amount of control over how a band will be perceived. And what can you do about that? As a band, you don’t even know how it sounds.

You just slog away and hope they’re turning all the right knobs. And quite often people will be looking at you, they’re looking at the mixer and you’ll be wondering, “What are they doing that for?”

And then there’s the theory that they fuck up the support band to make the main act sound good.

Yeah, we avoid that one. We often get headline bands saying, “Use our mixer,” and we’re like, “Yeah, right!”

Hah. Hah. Hah. Not any more. Sometime’s you’ve got to pay all your income to get a mixer you can trust. At the end of the day you’re there to play and make it sound good, so that people can enjoy it. Something they can respond to.

It is lyrics that brought about the death of the big band era, because people wanted to learn and sing along.

Yeah, it’s all about “hook” and how “sweet and cheesy” we can get it, nowadays and it’s disappointing, in some ways, because being able to tell a story and have some real substance in the lyrics is something that’s far and few between.

Going back to the album, “Greyscale Broadcast,” largely with songs that are about being a musician in Melbourne, do you think they will have much wide appeal? Will the public be able to identify with those songs?

Not at all. Hah. Hah. Hah. That’s not a really good answer for you, but at the end of the day, they’ve been painted with a broad enough brush, that people can perceive them how they like. There’s a song on there, called “Rentakit Man”. It sound like I need love, I need company, but actually it’s an analogy for me saying, “I need acceptance for what I’m doing.” People will now understand, who read this what the song’s about, but for the rest it’s about love, “He’s lonely and heartbroken.”

So, luckily enough for me they’re open enough to interpretation.

Shane O’Mara (Stephen Cummings, Paul Kelly, Christine Anu) produced the album. Did you choose him or did Shock choose him?

He’s fantastic. We chose him. Shock leave all that stuff up to us. They didn’t pay for the recording, we did. We approached him, due to his background, I sort-of knew him and work he had done with other people. He was really fantastic to work with. He’s a really creative guy.

He is a songwriter, himself, and such a great person to

work with. For me, I’ve worked with a lot of producers who are engineers and they’re great at tweaking knobs and getting sound, but there’s nothing quite like working with a guy who understands songs, arrangements and structures. As we were going through the process, he was saying, “Let’s do this, shorten that, I think we can highlight the melody here,” as he’s thinking in song writing terms and he was such a joy to work with. Some of the songs turned out far better than I thought they would have. All came out with a “different” kind of bent on them, really quirky, which I thought was worth it for sure. He’s great. And such a charming guy to work with, laughing all the time.

How many times have you played in Tasmania and how do you feel about your upcoming gigs down here, compared, for instance with going to playa gig in New York, for example?

This is our fifth trip down there and every previous trip we’ve played with The Fauves, Dave McCormack or Love Outside Andromeda. This is our first headlining tour, so to speak, as we’re launching the album down there. So, we’re a little bit apprehensive. We don’t have the “pulling power” of some of those bigger bands and we’re hoping that, doing our own shows it’ll be fine, we’ll have people down there and stuff. But, we love playing down there. I say to people here that it’s like playing rock and roll in the ‘80’s. People are happy to come and see bands and have a great time and hung up with all the shit we have in Melbourne, like, “Are they famous? Are they dressed right? Are they cool?” And every time we play in Hobart, people are having a great time, they’re drinking and the whole interaction thing is going on. And we absolutely love it.

We love coming down. We’re hoping we can do our own shows in Launnie and Hobart and they’re good and they’re successful, so we get to come back again.

I’ve heard a lot about you guys, before I heard any of your music. Do you think that’s the process, that people hear about you before your music?

How surprised are you with that level of fame, before someone’s heard a note.

That’s a tough one, isn’t it, because the old way used to be you’d do the clubs and pubs and build up a reputation, which seems to be the way we’re doing it at the moment, ‘cause we haven’t had a great deal of love from the radio and so, for other bands that get onto Triple J straight away and get big rotation, it opens doors for them nationally to tour and people come along on the basis that they know their songs on the radio, but for us, Triple J have really turned their backs on us, in some ways. They’ve made it really difficult to make that in-road, so we’ve been fortunate to get some great gigs and it’s been slowly building that way. It’s a lot longer process .Everyone would like radio airplay across the country and that’s not always possible. And there are a lot of bands that are left out in the cold at the moment. It’s a change of the guard.

Triple J are making it much more difficult for emerging artists to get a break and it’s a really tough time at the moment. Everyone’s been saying that every year since I’ve been in the music industry, but, at the moment, you really need some national coverage to get out there and play to some people and without that you’ve got to do it the way that we’re doing it..

I think a lot of people are turning away from Triple J at the moment, finding it like the commercial radio station of alternative music. I think if someone did something similar to what Triple J started out to be, they’d smash Triple J. What do you think of that?

It’s amazing, I grew up listening to Triple J and the last few bands I was in really had Triple J styled music and all the bands we played with, like The Fauves, Dave McCormack, Custard, all got their breaks through Triple J and they’ve decided they’re not into what we do, for whatever reason, I don’t even know why, I just find it a shock. Because, I’m part of that generation that grew up with Triple J and, in the band we’re all dumfounded and we don’t know what to do, ‘cause there’s this void between the real commercial stations and Triple J. There’s this huge gap and all these bands are falling through, ‘cause there’s nowhere else we can go. Sure, we can can keep playing, but to progress you need to get some assistance through radio, to move ahead to the next level and I don’t know what’s going to happen.

Are you guys a hard rockin’, hard drinkin’ band or are you al mama’s boys?

Hah. Hah. A bit of both. There’s a couple in the band that like to take it pretty hard and there’s a couple that like to take it easy, stand back and laugh at everyone else making fools of themselves. Hah. Hah,. Hah. So, it’s a good balance. There’s always people keeping the others in check. Hah. Hah. Hah. I like it that way. It’s better than all one way or the other.

Is there someone in the band that always draws the short straw or do you tend to take turns?

We take turns or we try to. It’s very difficult, in my position, where I’m both managing and singing, I tend to get most of the “short straws”, but … hah. Hah. … I try to share it ‘round so everyone feels like they’re part of the experience, which is good and everyone’s right into that. Hah. Hah. Hah. I want to make it more “juicy than that, but sorry. Hah. Hah. Hah.

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Kingpin 440, drawing on influences from all corners of the musical spectrum, from rockabilly legends to jazz greats, such as Django Reihnhart, early hardcore to the punk rock of the Clash, with eerie sound scapes in the realm of David Lynch, and old 50’s horror flicks all bundled up with the deliverance of good ol’ fashioned pub rock! With an upcoming tour to Tassie, Dave Williams spoke with singer, Billie Graham, about what we can expect.

I’ve read that you are a psycho-billy band. Your name is Billie, so to what extent are you a psycho with a band?

Completely. 100% But we, really, have elements of psycho-billy, as well as hardcore and rock.

What does psycho-billy really mean?

It’s essentially ‘50’s rockabilly on speed. And with an urge to kill! (Joking) With an axe.

Your axe being your guitar, I suppose.

Yeah, good one. Hah. Hah. Hah. It’s a pretty tired question, but when I think of Kingpin, I think of Punisher comics, so what does the name say about the band?

We were trying to find a word that best described the eclectic nature of what we wanted to do. We were skateboarders and had a few problems with the law and that sort of stuff. It seemed the best word that related to us.

So, you’re a group of badass motherfuckers that are ready to kill. With Axes.

Hah. Hah. Hah. And skateboards. It had so many different meanings.

So, how do you guys stand apart from other bands?

Well, completely original. We had a guestbook on our web site. We actually had to have it pulled down, because people got quite angry at each other trying to classify us into a genre, just because we have so many, eclectic, styles, ‘cause we’ll go from a ‘50’s influenced metal song to something that is, almost, radio friendly, almost a soundscape, like a ‘50’s horror movie or a David Lynch film.

Are you all strange-looking like the characters in David Lynch’s films?

I might, sometimes, look like Eraserhead. But apart from that, no. We’ve all got two eyes, two arms and two legs. Not two heads though.

Hah. Hah. Hah. Thanks mate. I’ve still got the scar.

Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. So, where do you look for inspiration for your music.

Horror movies.

Do you have a favourite?

Yeah, it’d be one called “Tombs of the Blind Dead”.

There are three all time favourites, “Juon,” which is Japanese, another one called, “At midnight, I Will Possess Your Corpse”. That’s a Brazillian horror. And “Tombs of the Blind Dead”.

Is that camp horror? Or are they more like the American style of horror.

No, not really a fan of the American horror, uinless it’s 30 or 40 years old.

What are your goals for the band?

Goals? Entire world domination.

Ok. No. Realistically, it’s not really a goal oriented band, other than we want to perform live without having to have day jobs. That’s all we want to do, but of course we have goals. Anyone who says they don’t want to become rich off playing music, is lying.

Now, three words to describe your live show?

It’s hard to put into three words. I’d probably say, Eclectic. h-energy, if you’ll count that as one word. And scary.

Rock Salt

Irrelevant exploded onto the Australian underground music scene with their inception in 1999. With their unique blend of heart wrenching melody and sonic intensity, they quickly captured the attention of audiences countrywide, making a name for themselves as Sydney's hardest working band.

The release of their 2001 'Reflecting and Refracting' EP only served to bolster their titles as the 'kings of their craft' and crowds flocked to their high energy, high emotion, blistering live performances. National tours and supports followed seeing them play with the likes of Grade, No Use For A Name, Strung Out, Hot Water Music, Livid Festival (2002), Poison The Well, Thursday and later this month with Rise Against. With nowhere to go but up, they enlisted the services of producer Phil McKellar (Silverchair, Grinspoon) and prepared to take their next step up the evolutionary ladder.

“Ascension”, the end result speaks for itself.

It acts as both a testament to the ideologies of the band and a hallmark for Australian independent music. Twelve tracks of pure, unadulterated aural bliss. Switching from transcendental melody to shear brutality in a matter of seconds, it creates nothing less than a rollercoaster ride into the beautiful chaos that is Irrelevant.”

With an impending tour to Tasmania, Dave Williams caught up with drummer, Mick Anderson.

I've heard that you're a hardcore punk band.

What's the difference between hardcore punk and metal?

I guess they’ve got a lot of the same roots, that’s for sure. I think hardcore, when it first came about, was more going against all the music that was around at the time. As for

because some of the members didn’t have the same attitude as the rest of the band, so it was a matter of trying to get them to change and they didn’t want to change, so we parted ways.

At that stage we all wanted to play a lot better and play as tight as we possibly could and we were putting in a lot of work but you’re only ever as strong as your weakest link. So, we didn’t want anybody letting the team down, so we had to sort it out.

Hardcore stage show?

Yeah, we all get into it. We love playing live and, it’s a bit of a hardcore stage show, I guess. We just have a lot of fun.

One way or the other, huh. How’s “Ascension” (released March 31st) going?

Awesome. It’s been selling really well and all the feedback has been really good, as well. And all the review I’ve read have been awesome. I read one review that said the artwork looked rushed and I thought if that’s the only thing you can pick on, I’m happy with that. It’s going really well. Triple J have it on high rotation.

Your touring on the back of that, I guess.

After working the pub circuit in Sydney the band disbanded for two years from 2002 to 2004 to sort yourselves out musically and personally. Why was that necessary?

We didn’t disband. We had a break. The band released our “Reflecting and Refracting” EP and we toured that really hard and we hadn’t written much new material, at all, and I think we were guilty of overplaying and over touring off that EP. We weren’t writing and had a bit of member trouble. A couple of guys left and then it was good year and ahlf of trying new guys and we had friends fill in from other bands and toured, but we weren’t releasing anything new, so we weren’t getting anywhere, then we got the lineuip we’ve got now.

When will it be available and where will Tasmanians be able to get it?

It’s available through Stomp distribution, so you should be able to get it through any store. With Stomp knowing where we’re touring, I think they’re contacting different stores, trying to get them to buy in CD’s on the fact that we’re touring. I’m guessing a lot of people in Tasmania, haven’t heard of us before, or our music.

2004?

It was early 2003 Mahesh came, but we’d all been pretty burnt out from playing a lot and then member trouble, losing members. No one wanted to quit, we just needed some time out, so we all had a break and that was probably for six months and we didn’t do a great deal, at all.

We got it out of our system and everyone came back, really fresh and we had a bunch of new songs that were written, for the new album, then we knuckled down and sorted them out.

Well, the Strung Out show sold out yesterday and I went to a “punk” gig the other night and it was packed.

Awesome.

So there’s a really strong scene down here at the moment.

Awesome. That’s really good.

I've read you have real international ambitions. How are you going to achieve that with so much competition?

Yeah we want to take our music as far as we can. I guess we can do it one of two ways.

Either work and develop a market, and go because people like your band or just go and

Talking in general terms did the people that exited the band leave due to musical differences, or was it personal?

It was more on an attitude and performance level. The band wasn’t getting anywhere

tour hard, to get your name out there. Getting signed, a deal overseas, is definitely what we want to do, because it makes the music our music that much more accessible, whether it’s a label or licensing, then they’ll be pushing the band and the CD. And if they’re interested in doing that we’re committed 110% to touring overseas.

Play a bit of sport do you?

Sport? I do a bit of surfing, a bit of skating, but not really sport. Why? Just the 110% thing. You know, “It was a good game and the team played well. We put in 110%.”

Hah. Hah. Hah. Well, we’ve been doing it for six years and I know what it’s like to be unproductive until we recorded the album, but we’re keen to go as far as we can with it. Not saying we want to be huge or anything, but want to be able to go overseas and tour the band.

What influence did producer Phil McKellar have on the album?

I guess he brought to the table a lot of different influences –looking at our music from different angles. Being in the band and writing and in that circle, you never really leave that circle, so it’s hard to step away from your music and look at it objectively. He questioned a lot of the writing and structures and things like that. He’d ask us, ”What do you guys think if we do this a bit more, give it this sort of vibe?” and we’d go away and work on something, come back and he’d ask us how we felt about it. Either we liked it the new way or the old way. We didn’t take it on everything. It was all up to us. It was good that he was there to offer us a lot more ideas and different approach to the music, which is cool. It made us look at our music a lot differently.

Irrelevant Mick Anderson – Drummer Ben Worger – Guitar Daiman Sutherland – Vocals Nick Groenestyn – Guitar Mahesh Roy - Bass

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Irrelevant

differences to metal, I think that gap is getting a lot closer. You get a lot of metal-core bands. I guess we’ve taken on a lot more metal influence, but we’re different from a metal-core band, for sure. I would even say we’re on the lighter side of hardcore. More melodic hardcore.

A lot of our music is melody based, but hardcore is our roots. It’s where we come from, for sure.

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Bangers & Mash

MrTimothy I was very impressed to read the list of famous artists that you've worked with, including Madonna, Cher, INXS, J Wess and Marcia Hines. What did you do with these people?

Most of them were just remixes, which means the vocals get sent to me and I recreate the music for a different market.

Marcia is a different situation tho, I have also recorded with Marcia for her Album and also for a new release of her 70's hit "You".

I spent time in the studio recording vocal takes to complete new productions.

Are they just "normal" people who have worked hard with talent or to what extent is there a star quality?

When you work in a studio with people you are in a different relationship to the standard member of the public.

They always want you to be happy because ultimately I am the one who makes them sound good or not.

Star quality comes from their professionalism.. most of the big names know how to control their craft and usually work very fast.

Do you believe in fame by association and to what extent is it justified?

No, I believe in hard work and like every industry you are only as good as your next project.

You've also worked with "legends", E Smoove, Steve "Silk" Hurley & Felix Da Housecat. What did you get from those experiences?

Basically I was over producing tracks.. Each producer has an interesting way of approaching music, to have the oppertunity to work side by side with these people helps you to understand why different decisions are made.

I also got some great friends that are all NUTS! What's the "funniest" experience you've had working with all these "stars" of the music industry?

I always seem to be laughing when I work in the studio, but I think getting knocked back from a Miami House Party with Steve Silk Hurley was hysterical.

How did you come to their attention and get to work with them in the first place?

Steve Silk Hurley was in Australia DJing @ Freakazoid and needed to complete a remix for a Bob Marley remix album. He was running out of time and needed a studio to work in.

He was suggested to me as I was a known

by David Williams

Chris Fortier

more then likely get to a city that a good, or name, DJ is playing with ease. In the USA, a small town kid maybe hours and hours away from the nearest cool club and traveling may mean driving 10 hours in the car. It wouldn’t be as easy as hopping on a train. With dance music in the USA, there are many hurdles fans need to go through to get good music and DJs if you don’t live in a metropolitan type city. But all that effort breeds passion for the music that other countries may take for granted.

house producer and working in a great studio.. so we spent a day in the studio and completed a remix, he couldnt believe how fast we did it and asked me to go to the US to work on CeCe Peniston's album.

Steve Hurley lives 5km from E Smoove and about 5kn from Felix Da House Cat and everybody knows each other..

To what extent did you get a 'big break" in your career and how did it change things for you?

I never got a big break. I worked my ass off and John course and Andy Van worked their asses of pushing "I Am Tha 1" we got enough of the right DJs on to the track and we created a succesful track.

The only change for me was that I began answering questions about my music with interviews etc.. my music has always been the same.

In terms of working as a DJ, what are your strengths?

Clearing dancefloors.. (come down and watch me) Favourite tracks that you'll be bringing and playing in Tassie?

Depends on the crowd, but the new Tiga track "Loud As A Bomb" is hot..

And I am playing lots of tuff vocal house and electro at the moment.

Your track, "I am The 1" was #1 on the ARIA Club Chart for five consecutive weeks, played by every dance music radio show across Australia, 3rd most-added song to Australian radio in its first week and selected as FOX FM's television commercial track. Why do you think it deserved this level of success and what did the experience teach you?

I dont know if you can say a song deserves success.. I never fall in love with my work until the end, and even then I am more proud than anything.

Success is hard to measure.. I think success for a club track is to have any size club with any amount of people in it, partying to your music.

Radio Adds, Fox commercials, Chart positions are all fantastic, but not what I measure success from.

I believe that "Stand By Me" is a stronger song.. but you asked me about "I Am Tha 1".. so your view of success is different to mine.

by David Williams

This year you started the monthly mix for the syndicated radio show Resident Nation.

The show appears on Music Choice TV www.musicchoice.com. The show broadcasts through 650 different cable companies as well as DirecTV. This breaks down to 1 out of every 3 homes in America or over 35 Million homes nationwide. How do you feel about coming to little Tasmania to play?

Yes, most definitely I am excited about coming to Tasmania. Since I have had the ability to travel around the world DJing, a main goal is to continue to go to as many new places as possible. I could easily just do the staple cities, but that would be boring. Looking forward to coming to Tazmania and seeing a country and meeting people I would most definitely not otherwise.

I understand you played in South America in early January, before concentrating on production. Where in Sth America did you play and how did that compare with other gigs you do?

South America has one of the most vibrant scenes in the world now. Each country there is different, but they are all not satisfied with things just being. They are eating it up down there and cannot get enough. The atmosphere in Argentina, not just Buenos Aires either, is fantastic. It is electric. I have not done a bad gig there ever and I have traveling down there for about 5 years.

I've read that you know how to build a night from nothing and create an atmosphere at any point in the nights festivities? How do you do that?

I wouldn’t say that it is as easy as giving someone instructions and then they just do it. I don’t think it works that way. The art of a DJ playing an entire night from start to finish is rare now, and I find myself fortunate that I got into music when I did, because that is how it was then. You were the only DJ on the night, there wasn’t just a 1 or 2 hour set. It was starting when no one was in there, learning how to warm the room up, set the pace of the music and also the very difficult attribute of being patient. Putting a night together and make it build correctly is something you learn through lots of experience. Learning the crowds ups and downs and learning how far you can really push before you have to give. To go from start to finish is very rewarding and I still do a party in NYC called Decks in the City where I do the whole event. The payoff at the end when you have the crowd and club with you is enormous.

Not by playing hit records, but but creating a groove and vibe in the room that is infectious enough that they cannot resist.

You now live in New York, after starting out in Orlando, Florida. To what extent are there musical differences between DJ's from the USA and those from, for example, the UK or Australia and what are the differences, if any?

I don’t know what musical differences there are, that may only come down to taste. But I will say that one thing that young UK/European DJs, and Australian too, is that the music is front and center to them. And there are outlets to hear dance music from the start. In America, it is still very underground. Kids have to seek out the music and discover it, then keep seeking it out.

In the UK, if you live in a small town, you can

We're lucky enough to have a countryman of yours, JFA, who played in the States under the name of Sqwidboy, in Tasmania at the moment. He's, apparently, played alongside DJ Icey, what role has DJ Icey had in your career?

Icey was one of the leading beacons for our music scene in Orlando in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He, along with Kimball and Dave Cannalte, were forward thinking enough in the music that they helped create a generation of music fans who constantly needed and wanted new music. Each week at clubs could be completely different records and no one bothered. We trusted them. Kimball and Dave ran the Saturday night club that was our Mecca, but Icey had always done a small mid-week club that was just cool to hang out. It was Icey who heard one of my early mixed tapes in my car and was impressed I guess. He took the tape from me, then called me that night to offer me a gig at his club. From that night, Dave and Kimball heard me play, then gave me a residency at Aahz which was the club that started my love of house music. I don’t know what would have happened if Icey hadn’t taken that tape from my car that day? It was just by chance that day I guess. Although I never started buying records and making to tapes to “become a DJ”, I did it for fun. What has turned out to be an incredible career and life for me was and is still a grand hobby that I love with all my heart and would be doing with or without paycheck.

Regarding the Balance 007 CD. I've read that you see it as "vastly different then anything I have done before. I have really pushed myself and have gone in the most adventurous directions musically possible. I am eager to get it out there to let others hear the madness and "let the chips fall where they may". What is it about this CD that is so different from anything you've done before?

I think I am at a point in my career, and really my life, where I am confident in what I am doing and have no other reason than to push the boundaries further and further away. I am not interested in status quo and I don’t think I have ever been. I have always tried to contribute to the positive growth of the music I love the best I possibly can. With this album, I wasn’t satisfied with just doing another mix and putting exclusive tracks or special whatever to have people think I am cool. I have never been about that, but probably have had the outside perception of that because of the music I played in the past. The last few years, my hunger for new music has taken me well beyond the typical progressive or whatever sound people think I play. I have moved on and continue to move on each day searching for exciting music. Exciting music to me that is and hopefully there are others out there that like it too? With all my albums, I have always looked into my own collection, not worrying about old or new, but I think I just had so much new stuff that the mixes were full of that. With this album and even my past year of DJing, my music comes from so many different places and genres and times that this album is probably more of a reflection of me as a total person, DJ and musician then any other album I have done. People that really and truly know me wont be surprised or shocked, but people that are only familiar with me on paper or my last cds maybe. But hopefully for positive reaction. I tool my time and really crafted something unique to me and my history.

This is 6 months of hard day in and day out work with music and a permanent marker of the last 15 years of my life.

Lastly, will you be playing any particular styles of music when you come down here or what do you have in store for us?

I have no pre-planned sets or music. My record boxes can change drastically from week to week. All I know is that it will be, hopefully, cool and underground. And leave people happy and wanting more at the end.

MrTimothy

Bangers & Mash

DSKO (Hbt)

Ken Cloud The man behind Sydney's notorious Mad Racket nights, and one half of production and remix outfit Poxymusic, started his musical adventure in Canberra, promoting, DJing, establishing connections with the larger cities, ran successful club nights Raw, Smile, set up record shop 'UMM' also did parties featuring Prodigy, Derrick Carter, Mark Farina etc. Also did a lot of early Acid Jazz parties and bands...

Moved to Sydney, and within a year was DJing and the main buyer for Reachin Records, this put him in the middle of the Sydney 'scene'… Set about establishing himself as one of the class A DJ's in Sydney, played all the big parties of the time, Sabotage, Love, Vertigo, Big Day Out, Tweekin, Cream... and supported many international's..

Started DJ'ing interstate, moved onto the role of manager at Reachin.

Was resident at the club 'Tweekin', which won the 'Aussie Club of the Year', he accepted the award at the inaugural DMA's on behalf of the club...

Released DJ Excursions CD with cohort Simon Caldwell, DJ excursions, critically acclaimed across Australia, one of the first tech house CD's in Australia before it was called tech house.

Was voted 'most popular Aussie Dj' by his peers in the industry poll in Juice magazine, came 5th overall behind, Mills, Cox, Basement Jaxx & Fatboy slim.

Started doing promotions with Simon

Caldwell, first starting ‘Phony’, deep techno & house, which feat. Luke Slater, Ian Pooley etc. Moved onto the ‘Deep End’, which became the most popular place to hear 'real' deep house music, more of an industry night, the long weekend parties are now part of Sydney folklore, they were the first parties to play the minimal house sound that is now so popular.

In the late 90’s, Ken held residencies at Chinese laundry and Tweekin, probably Sydney's 2 most credible clubs of the time.

Started producing with flatmate, Brett Mitchell (ex Boxcar & Thunk main man), as 'Dillon St Rangers', had his first vinyl 12" released the 'Black & Fuzzy ep' on Thunk, distributed exclusively by Intergroove in the UK.

ago, mate. Hah. Hah. At The Lodge Nightclub. It used to be a nightclub above what is now The Wild West. There used to be a club up there, called The Lodge.

Is it as much fuin to be a DJ as you thought it was, when you were on the dance floor?

Oh, shit yeah. Of course it is. There’s nothing better than playing a whole bunch of records that you love and making the people dance.

What are the most important skills for a DJ? Good taste in music. Good taste in music and the ability to read the floor.

The name DSKO may seem familiar especially to those in the Hobart dance scene, as a DJ, but also may be familiar to dance music lovers across Tasmania, as he is one of the guys behind the popular web site, www.freshdisko.com, specialising in the Tassie dance music scene.

Hi, how are you going?

I’m very well, how are you?

Went onto promote Mad Racket parties which have now been running for 7 years and are considered the premier underground house music party in Sydney.

Over the years they’ve featured, Herbert, Tom Middleton, Steve Bug, Chris Duckenfield, Metro Area, Jamie Lidell, Martini Bros and many more. Mad Racket are a literal oasis in a Sydney scene overly dominated by more commercial styles of house music.

I’m almost very well. I’m sniffling a bit, but I’m ok.

Hah. Hah.

Ken has toured New Zealand twice, Czech Republic (where he played a '3' cities party representing Sydney in the Sydney, San Fran & London party) also played in the UK at Chris Duckenfields night in Sheffield 'Scuba'.

Why don’t you specvialise in one genre?

I never have. Hobart’s too small, mate. Too many different types make up the club scene in Tasmania, so you can cater for everybody and over ten years as a DJ my tastes have expanded and I’ve got a bit of a taste for everything.

You’re supporting Steve Hill and DJ Nervous soon. Does that mean you are a trance DJ? No, far from it, mate.

So what sort of DJ are you?

Me, I’m a bit eclectic. Everything from house through to techno, generally on the harder side of things, but definitely not a trance DJ.

How did you get started and where was your first gig?

Like everybody else,. On the dance floor is where I got started, and thought, Gee, that’d be fun.” First real gig … ummm …. It’s too long

Randall (Lton) Where are you playing at the moment?

At Lonnies, The Saloon Bar and occasionally, The James Hotel.

What sort of DJ are you?

I’m, primarily a house DJ. That’s the style of music I love. I play a bit of breaks, a bit of tech-house, but mainly pure house.

Isn’t breaks the big movement at the moment?

Why are you concentyrating on house?

I played breaks for a while and I enjoy it, but at the end of the day, I’m a house DJ and that’s what turns me on and I’ll continue down that path. Everyone in the world is different, and breaks is on the way up in some countries, but on the way down in other countries. House is always there. It’s me.

Why do you DJ? For the money?

Definitely not for the money. Maybe I’ve got some control issues. Hah. No, really, I just really love music.

It’s what I do 24-7. I DJ because I really, really love getting a crowd going as well. Ultimately, that’s what you love about doing it.

What are the most important skills for a DJ? A good ear. Good timing.

What do you mean by “a good ear”?

A good ear is being able to blend, whether it be different styles or if you’re blending the one style, to be able to put things together, so it doesn’t sound bad, so it sounds smooth. That’s the sound I like. I like a smooth sound. And, I guess, somebody who is not too into themselves and is into what the people want.

To what extent is the music a DJ plays an expression of what’s happening in their life?

Yeah, I definitely agree with that, actually. I’ve been through some pretty dark periods and I’ve played progressive. Hah. Hah. Hah. And I’ve been through up periods where I’ve played really “girlie” house music. Even in rock and roll your emotions affect what you play and if you’re having a bit of a dud night, in yourself, as a person, you maybe play a bit that way. Sometimes, you put tunes in the wrong spot and do things you wouldn’t normally do.

Have you got three favourite tracks at the moment?

Oh, shit. Not off the top of my head, mate. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Too much music. I’d have to have a real think about that. There’s just too many tracks that I love at the moment.

Is there any one figure that’s had a big influence on you, as a DJ, locally, nationally or internationally?

There’s lots of different people I’d give kudos to.

Especially, for the pure mentality of the man, John Ferris. He’s not afraid to do anything.

Internationally, a guy out of Eastern Europe called Corbin Dalek. He has a very unique and interesting sound.

Can you please finish these two sentences for me? Tassie nightclubs should have more ….?

Better sound systems.

And less …?

Less pretension.

How happy are you to work just in Hobart or do you have greater ambitions and how will you realise them?

I’ve seen clubbing in Australia and overseas and, in all reality, Hobart, when it gets its act into gear has one of the best scenes in Australia. For a local, little scene it’s fantastic, so I have so aspirations to go anywhere else at this stage. I’m quite happy. When Hobart is rockin’ it’s as good as being anywhere else.

I agree with you mate. Tasmania rocks!

How much do you let the crowd influence what you’re playing?

At the moment, quite a bit. It all depends on what venue I’m playing at and who else is playing. If I’m supporting someone who is a deep house DJ, it’s a chance for me to play deep house, which I, probably, don’t play a lot of. So, it all depends.

What are your favourite three tracks at the moment.

Feel The Vibe by Axwell Salty by Dylan Rhymes Love Shit by Martin Venotjki Who’s had the biggest influence on your career and why?

As a DJ, I’d say Derek carter.Just because of the house he plays and the way that he plays it. It’s not necessarily always up-vibe, but somehow he always manages to blend it and make some very simplistic music rock hard.

Tassie DJ’s should do more … ?

Outdoor parties.

And less?

Getting up their own arses.

Where do you want to take your DJ career and how will you get it there?

I’d like to travel a bit more around Australia and support some bigger name DJ’s and for me, that’s just a matter of making some CD’s and putting them out there and, hopefully, meeting the right DJ’s when they come to Tassie. If they like what I do, hopefully, it’s a foot in the door.

Bangers & Mash

Steve Hill

by David Williams

DJ Nervous DJ Nervous has been one of the innovative, movers and shakers of the trance music scene in Sydney for the past eight years with his parties attracting upwards of 5000 people. Soon he’ll play alongside Steve Hill for a treat of trance at Syrup. Tassie must really be ”on the map” for such legends to come down and play. We decided to find out.

I understand you are the engine behind the massive Transmission trance parties, with around 5000 people attending. What’s the story of evolution with that?

I’ve been doing them for about eight years.

They started with about 500 people, then 1000, then 2000, 3000 and now it’s about 5000.

What do you think has been the key to the success of those parties?

I’ve done lots of different things and really excited people overtime I’ve done them and I’ve kept them really reflective of the local scene that’s going on, just with a few international DJ’s. For example on the fifth birthday, we had three DJ’s all playing on six decks all night – all the big name DJ’s in Sydney, which was interesting. And the first birthday one we broadcasted on radio, which was before anyone had had done a radio broadcast (of a party) and then the second birthday we broadcasted ‘round the world on the internet, and no one had really done that, so it’s all these exciting, new, innovative concepts and our production standard has always been really high. So people come along for the big lighting shows and laser shows and all that kind of stuff.

When’s the next party and are they still attracting that many people?

Yeah, yeah. The next one is on the third of September.

In 2004 you released 16 singles and three compilations. I've read that in 2004 you performed over 60 gigs to 250,000 people, 3 world tours in over 25 cities, productions on 5 top Hard Dance record labels, with 30,000 vinyl singles, and mixing 3 compilations. How do you keep it as a enjoyable thing to do, rather than just a job?

Every time you step in front of a crowd it's a different energy. Every time you record another record it's a different feeling. And every time you mix another compilation it's a different vibe. That's what keeps it interesting...there's not a day that goes by, a gig that you do, or a track you hear that is the same...so it's never a job - it's a never ending experience!

You've played in the UK, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. How do trance parties compare from country to country?

They are all differnet because of the taste in music - Australia is more influenced by Europe, South Africa by an amalgamation of Europe and the UK...and the UK by...the UK so you play differently everywhere you go...every country I've played goes off!

Where do you like playing the best and why?

My DJ career started in Wellington, New Zealand so that's my spiritual home, but at the same time you can't compare to playing in front of 60,000 at Dance Valley in Amsterdam or 5000 people at Brixton Academy in London!

How many times have you been to Tassie and how do you feel about your upcoming gig here?

I've never been to Tassie so I'm looking forward to it - other DJ's who've been have said how much they've enjoyed it so...bring it on!

How did you get started?

I used to work in a record shop in Wellington, New Zealand and sorted all the DJ's out with tunes. Then I got trained up by one of the guys I sorted out and gained a residency at the top club. After a while I moved to the UK and started work at Pure Groove Records running and recording for their labels...and here I am 8 years later...it's all been a blur really to be honest!

Who has the the most important person influencing your career and why?

Dave Stewart, my marketing supervisor, Tarik at Pure Groove for the music industry experience, Colin Morris for the knowledge, Wayne Mills for the turntable skills, and my partner Alexis Hart for the vocals and patience every weekend I'm away on tour You were voted the best set of the year in 2002, at the Hard House Academy, London by www.harderfaster.net and www.energyuk.net. What do you think it was about that set that got you the award?

Pure energy and preparation. 5000 of the most critical punters in the world descend on Hard House Academy. Promoters from all over the globe, punters from every corner of the earth...so I wanted to do a set they didn't forget in a hurry...was the most enjoyable 90 minutes seeing the crowd bounce off the walls!

What is your most memorable gig and why?

Has to be playing to 60,000 people at Dance Valley...just a sea of people moshing all day to massive Trance tunes!

How do you motivate yourself to play a comparatively smaller venue, like Syrup, after playing such massive events?

I just get off on the energy of the crowd and I’ve heard there’s a wicked crowd at Syrup and that there’s a really good room down there. I’ve never been there, but generally it’s the atmosphere of the place that gets me going and I, actually, enjoy myself playing to a small crowd as to a big crowd, ‘cause with smaller gigs you can say hello and it has a much more friendly atmosphere.

What is it about trance music that compels you to specialise in that genre?

When I first started as a DJ, I was playing funk house and, basically, mellow music and I got really bored playing to bars and restaurants, so I wanted something more up-beat. At that time there was happy hardcore or trance and I

by David Williams wasn’t really into happy hardcore so I moved to trance and that gets people going and that’s what I’ve ended up playing. Not that I like to specifically play that, but I’ll probably be playing that down in Syrup.

How are the shows for MTV for OptusVision going?

I haven’t been doing many of those. We generally do one of those everytime we do a Transmission and we haven’t done of those for a while. We’ve been doing them for the past eight years, but in the last six months, we’ve only done one.

How much are you still involved in radio?

Not much.

Why? Because there’s no decent radio stations in Sydney. There are, but they’re playing funky house or weird electro stuff. Or they’re playing mainstream. There’s noone playing up-beat stuff.

How have your CD’s Transmission White and the recent Transmission Red gone?

Extremely well.

How’s your partner, John Ferris, going after he was slapped with fines for remixing without permission?

That’s Pee-Wee Ferris you’re talking about.

Do you have much to do with Pee-Wee? He plays at some of my parties, sometimes.

It’s pretty unfair they’ve slapped him with a fine. It should really go on the record label and not the DJ, who mixes the music.

I think both of them were fined.

I don’t know why the DJ has, because the DJ just mixes.

And then it’s up to the record label to gain permission?

Yeah. Exactly. I don’t understand, but I think they want to make an example of him, in that situation, so no one ever does it again.

You’ve got residencies in the biggest clubs in most capital cities in Australia, what do we have to do to get you to take up a residency down here?

Nothing, really. Just ask me, and I’ll come. If it’s really good, I’ll come back. Hah. Hah. Hah. Cool.

You should mention that I’m bringing down 100 DVD’s of the party before last, called Embrace 2005, that features, amongst others, Dumonde and The Organ Donors and Astronat, with about 2000 people on New Years Day, at Luna Park in Sydney, and the first 100 people that show at Syrup up get a free DVD.

Bangers & Mash

Smithmonger lucky. Its pretty hard. But if you look at it this way, a record label has to spend a million quid on publicity when they sign a band, today.

I understand you started your musical career as a professional trumpet ploayer in Hobart.

Yeah, and singing in the Grand Chancellor in Hobart.

You were singing?

Yeah and playing in a band.

Smithmonger, aka Paul Smith, now lives in London working as a DJ, but he started his musical career as a professional trumpet player in Hobart. Recently, he returned for a one-off party at Halo, put on by SpinFx and the digitalthugz crew. How did he end up in London and what was it like to return to Tassie from the epicentre of dance music?

To find out we went straight to the source (or is that Sauce?)

Hi Paul.

Hi mate, how’s Tassie?

Beautiful.

Is it? It’s pissing with rain here.

Often pissing with rain here, too, mate, as you’d know.

Yeah. Hah. Hah. How long have you been based in London and why?

The first tune I ever did won 3D World’s Great Australian Byte Competition and I decided, because jazz was going nowhere … well, it was going somewhere, but it wasn’t my music …

You didn’t want to go where it was going?

Yeah, but it’s all been done and dance music was exciting. You can get things done that no one else has done, which is, kind of, not the case now, but it’s still moving forward, I think.

So, we moved to London, to the source, ‘cause that’s what it’s all about.

It’s a global thing though, isn’t it?

Yeah, but everything comes out of London. All the labels are here. There are a few labels in the States and ‘round abouts, but everything gets pressed here. All the distribution is here, especially for breakbeat.

Would you say that’s the biggest movement, worldwide?

Yeah. House is still massive and having a big comeback. We’ve got loads of funky house in the Top Ten in the UK at the moment.

And vocal house?

Yeah, all the normal crap. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. So, you like things out of left field a bit?

Yeah, the underground. I’m trying to keep it real, but, to be honest for the last five years dance music has taken a bit of a dive, which was always going to happen, but, unfortunately it was just when I’ve been “hitting my stride”. I’m trying to keep it real, but I’ve got loads of other things happening, down-tempo stuff. You’ve got to do as much as you can. I’m doing some Playstation stuff .

Is the underground and financial success at other ends of the spectrum?

It used to be. The first release I did in London, I got paid a fair bit for. Now, you’re lucky to get paid 300 quid, apart from my latest, “Granite Jelly,” which is coming out on 10 Kilo, I got paid 600 quid, but you’d think that after doing something for five years the money would have gone up, but there’s a lot more people doing it now and the software is incredible. It’s a lot easier to get things happening and there’s a lot more competition. That’s why we’re doing other things to make money like games music.

There’s still money, but you’ve got to be doing as much as you can.

I’m really surprised that you’re being paid that for original tracks.

I don’t want to sound too negative in this interview, but it has been really hard for the last five years. But I went up to Leeds the other day and got 350 quid for an hour and a half’s work.

But, the money has gone down.

Compared if you composed an original rock tune, you’d expect a lot more.

Yeah, if you can get a tune signed, you’re pretty

As a trumpet player?

Yeah and trombone. That was a long time ago. I was doing engineering at Uni and my parents were having trouble supporting me, so I needed a job that paid loads of money, but didn’t take much time.

Was it that there wasn’t enough work in Tasmania that required you to leave?

No, if you have a lot of self belief, you want to …. I mean, you can’t get anything happening from Tasmania. It’s a lovely place, and Klaus “Heavyweight” Hill and my gigs were packed out, but it’s too far away. You have to be in London to get the work (producing and remixing). I mean, Sydney is too far away.

Everyone thinks there that they’re not too far away, but they are.

What was it like to come back and play.

Were you surprised at the scene that is happening down here?

I was surprised. I didn’t think the population of 500, 000 people was enough to support two breaks nights, two days apart and pack the place out, but they were.

You did the re-mix of The Propellerheads’ track, “Take California”. How did you get to do that.

It was one of my favourite tracks from years ago and I gave it (the remix) to Finger Lickin’ (records) and they contacted The Propellerheads, and it all cracked up.

The Tasmania University Union presents...

WICKED

BEAT

SOUND

SYSTEM

4ormation Sat 16th April Uni Bar – Hobart Special guests: Seb and Robbery

How do you differentiate yourself from the hundreds of other DJ’s who are working in the UK? It’s pretty hard. There’s stiff competition. I find a lot of people get stale really quickly and you can’t take anything for granted. And every time I play, I try not to drop any beats and keep it really fresh. You’ve got to try as hard as you can … it’s a long process. It takes years and years.

That’s why all the DJ’s here are fucking old.

How old are you?

I’m 31. It’s taken six years to get this far and I’m still on the bottom rung. I think I’m on the bottom rung, but others might think I’m higher.

Who do you see as being on the top rung?

Because it’s now so hard and there’s so much competition, Dance music, at the top is very protected. Because of the hard times we’ve had selling records, the people at the top are more ruthless about holding onto their position and that’s totally fair enough. So, we’ll see how it goes for the next couple of years.

Is there any bias against you because you’re Australian?

It’s easy to think that, but that’s rubbish I think.

It’s been really hard foe everyone. And, I’m thinking 6 months ahead of what everyone is hearing anyway.

Do you think there will ever be a time when you move back to Australia, or Tasmania?

Probably not. My wife’s from Darwin and she hates the cold weather. We’ll live in Sydney and be between the two families and all the DJ work is up there as well. But mate, at the moment, we’re looking at buying a house in London.

Thanks for your time.

Have you got enough stuff?

Yeah, I’ve got juicy stuff.

Juicy stuff, oh, no! I don’t want to sound too negative. I’ve had a bad day already.

We just transcribe what you say.

I guess it is for Tasmania.

Yeah, who’s going to read it anyway?

Yeah, right. Hah. Hah. Hah.

Tickets: Uni Contact Centre 6226 2495 Entrepot Art Supplies 6226 4313 Lazenbys on Liverpool 6234 1154 TUU Members: $13.50 Non Members $20.50 Licensed event ID required Doors open 8.00pm

Bangers & Mash

Wicked Beat Sound System It was only while transcribing this interview that I realised the irony of The Wicked Beats Sound System’s title for their new album, “4ormation”, as the group was now down to 3 members, not four, with the recent “holiday” taken by original member, Crucial D. Damian Robinson (producer) assured me, however, the band’s flexibility would compensate for his absence.

things. I think it’s just experience in the situation.

Hi David, it’s Damian from Wicked Beats here.

Yeah. So, new album, 4ormation.

Congratulations. How do you feel about it?

Thank you. (AFTER A FEW SECONDS) I feel it’s really strong, actually. There’s always that nagging thing, “Is it is good as the previous stuff,” when it’s written, but (A COUPLE MORE SECONDS) … just lighting my cigarette … now it’s out people are commenting on it and it’s getting a good response, I feel it’s justified.

Thanks very much for calling.

That’s alright. How you going?

Oh, I’ve had a shit of a day, mate, actually.

To be honest. How’s yours going?

Oh, mine’s been nice and quiet. I’ve got to sit in my studio for change, which is nice. Why’s your day been so shit?

Oh, my computer blew-up and then I blewup at somebody.

Oh, well, that happens. It’s a chain reaction.

And more trust in your own decisions?

Exactly. And also, you have a lot more recollections of good songs you might have ruined by “overdoing”, so you’re more aware of that possibility, as well, so you’re more careful. With something sounding fresh, it’s best left that way. Hah.

It’s hard to put a qualification on what is “good” too.

For us, this fourth album is not so much an album that we’ve tried to write a massive world it. It’s more that we tried to get back to

you earn an income, it just means you’re dedicated, I suppose. Linda does some graphic art and some other things, but, pretty much, music is her life. So we’re all professional and all the players we use are professional. That’s what they do. They play music. In that sense, we’re all “fully into it”.

You’re coming down here, playing at the Hobart Uni Bar on the 16th of April.

We’ve only been in Tassie once before and that was in November (2004, for the Telegraph Hotel Street Party) and that was fantastic. It was a great, great event and it was because of that we all decided it was worth going again. I didn’t know much about (the Tassie scene). I have been to Tasmania quite a few times fishing, but I didn’t realise there was a scene happening there, but where there’s a scene, we will go! Hah Hah. Game fishing or trout?

I do a bit of fly-fishing, actually. Trout.

There’s definitely a good little scene down here.

I’ve got no idea what sort of numbers we’re

I’m to reclaim, you know, bring it back within myself.

Yeah, yeah … count to ten.

Yeah, that sort of stuff. So, what have you been doing in your studio?

Answering bloody questions. Just doing interviews.

How the band’s changed since you formed?

No, one of the band’s members, Dave, Crucial D, is no longer in theband. Well, it’s a vague situation. It’s not like, “He’s not in the band!”, but he’s not totally in the band, if you know what I mean. So, a lot of people are inquiring about that and think that’s interesting.

Cool. Dancing girls? (I’ve always liked dancing girls on podiums.)

No. No dancing girls. No, we’re very serious.

(Not sure if he’s being sarcastic).

Dancing boys?

No. No dancing boys. Hopefully, there’ll be dancing boys and girls in the front few rows.

Now a silly question. How many times have you been electrocuted during your career?

On stage, never. I’ve been electrocuted a few times, soldering stuff. Hah. Hah. Not badly.

Never had a really hard hit.

Do you get much bitchiness and jealousy?

Yeah. Yeah. That’s everywhere, not just in dance music.

It’s amazing. Down here, we’ve got bands ripping each other’s posters off the poles and stuff.

Oh, gee, that’s been going (for ages). There’s a whole company in Sydney that do that. If you don’t use them to put your posters up, they go ‘round and rip all yours off. These people are collecting GST and charging tax!

It’s not just bands.

They’re looking for some dirt.

I think so. I think that’s generally it, something to muddy it all up, but that’s cool. It’s basically attrition that happens when you’ve been together so long. He needed a break. He got offered some work overseas and we all decided it’d be a good thing for him to do.

I was going to ask you how you go about achieving consensus or decide when something is finished?

Generally, as far as something “finishing”, it’s abandoned. Hah Hah. I try very hard not to polish the bloody thing too hard, but on a more general level, the older I get, the more musically mature I get, the less I overdo

And when you are playing, down here, what will it look like on stage? Will it just be keyboards and computers or what?

No, it’s a full band. Drums, bass, keyboards, samplers and computers and singers.

So what’s your view on dance music scene in Australia at the moment?

I’m probably a bit out of it, really. I used to be a lot more interested in what was happening.

But what do I think? There’s a lot more people doing a lot more stuff. With the advent of computers, it’s really opened it up for anyone to have a shot. It isn’t the domain of nerds as it used to be. I think it’s really strong.

What’s the most common question you’ve been asked today?

Probably, “How’s the band changed without Dave in it?” is , pretty much, the “staple” on that’s come through from everyone.

So how do you go about creating your sound? Does one of you, pretty much, have something finished before presenting it to the band or what happens?

I’m pretty much the musical writer. So, I’ll write stuff with either singers and present stuff or even do it on my own. There’s no general (method). We don’t all go into a rehearsal studio together and jam out riffs and pull out our song book. The writing process is generally done in the studio and with only three writers, there’s, generally, never too many arguments.

For sure.

So, we thought, “If people are going to be appreciative, we’ll make an effort.”

Putting speakers back together?

Not so much speakers, just wiring up equipment, testing it without full, basic precautions, ‘cause I’m in a hurry.

Really?

Yeah, a few things on the internet and I’ve had a couple on this afternoon. You’re the last, which is nice. So, I can get back to music.

So, is there someone that will be replacing him? For your tour down her, for example?

No. We’ve been performing without him for the past four or five months. I don’t want to replace him, because I feel that he’s not strictly “not in the band”. He’s more just having a hiatus and Wicked Beats has always been a fairly fluid thing that can change and the live set up has never been something that we’ve been really strict about. It’s not like there’s a lead guitarist and when they leave the band, it doesn’t sound the same, you know? It’s not the same sort of vibe.

For everyone, I suppose … the band, the promters etc.

Yeah. It’s a bit like Perth (WA) was a few years ago. The response has been really good from Perth. I think people really appreciate you getting off your butt and getting down or across or whatever ..

ore of what we’re about and what we started up, too. It’s a return to our “roots”, actually.

There’s quite a lot of different styles on the album.

We’ve always been a band that has done very different styles. Part of the process of creating the Wicked Beats sound is trying to keep them all within the sound of the band, the earthiness, the“dub” vibe, even “Dis Sound” which is almost a “two-step” track, really, but it still has the sound of Wicked Beats really.

But, I think “two-step” came from ska, originally, which came from reggae.

Exactly. It all came from somewhere. I didn’t know that, but, if you think about it, that’s correct.

Thanks. Hah. Hah. How many of you still have day jobs and how many of you are full-time, professional musicians?

I’m a full-time, professional musician. Kye is also a professional musician. He’s in a few other bands and working on a solo project.

Being a professional musician doesn’t mean

going to do at (The Hobart Uni Bar).

The band thing .. really, it’s silly, but it’s competitive. Maybe that’s a symptom of how competitive it is. In Australia, there’s a small market, in general and there’s a lot of people who want to do it. We’re very creative people and, I suppose, that competition drives that.

It’s a hard industry, generally, anything you do in the music world and you’re doing it for love, more than anything else. Whether you’re a journo or muso or whatever, there are very few people collecting a serious wage.

I think you’ll get a big crowd.

I hope so. On one of your radio stations, we were pretty heavily played.

I’m feeling that right now.

Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. You’re not alone. You’re not alone.

Edge Radio?

Cool. Last thing from me to you. Please finish this sentence. “I will always …

Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. I will always … well the obvious one is, “Look on the bright side of life.”

Yeah. Edge Radio. Is that a popular station down there?

From what I know, It’s a popular station at least amongst the pseudo-underground.

And it was Australian Community Radio Station of the Year in 2004.

Oh, wow.

They are really, really good.

They’ve been really, really helpful and obviously liked the record. It’s one of those things. In the past, we haven’t really considered Tasmania, but these days, I suppose our sound is getting a little bit more accessible in the scheme of things. So, with that comes people in places, like Tassie, there being enough people into it to make it worthwhile.

That’s not true.

Maybe not, but it depends where you come from. I will always be near a set of speakers.

Hah. Hah. Hah Cool.

Which is actually dead true! Life without electricity would be pretty scary, let’s face it.

It’d be hard to endure.

We’d be getting callouses from rubbing sticks.

Especially, if you knew what you were missing out on, it’d be horrible.

GIG Guide 06/04/05 - 04/05/05 Republic Bar 10pm PRETTY MESS+Kingpin 440 $5/$3 Cover

Saloon Legendary Uni Night With Sgt Green THURSDAY14TH

Mobius Lounge Bar 9 til Late

Syrup Upstairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out with LIVE BANDS: THE SHE RATS + THE FUZZY ZELLA’s. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs10.30pm: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly Upstairs 11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ present DIRTY FKING DANCIN – the best of house, electro & breaks with SPECIAL GUEST DJ from the USA – ERIN HINES + resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B.

Republic Bar 9pm Jan Preston

Telegraph Hotel Oscar

Trout Cocktail Blue

Syrup MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! _ price Margarita mayhem with 50’s,60’s, 70’s Retro DJ’s, Sven Gali and T.H.C

Trout TasMusic Showcase Night – Enola Fall, The Kicks,The Rakes ($5)

Launceston

Telegraph Hotel Dj Gnosis and friends

Launceston

WEDNESDAY 6TH

Hobart Heat Nightclub Jalopy FREE DRINKS:10pm - 2am BASIC SPIRITS | TAP BEER | SOFT DRINKS ENTRY: $20 WITH STUDENT ID | $25 WITHOUT

Trout EDGE Radio 99.3 Club Night

Launceston Irish Murphys Mick Attard Waiter James Hotel Cheap Ass Wednesday Green Berets Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage Saloon Legendary Uni Night With Usa Dj Jfa THURSDAY 7TH

Hobart Republic Bar 9pm Dutch Tilders $2 cover

Batman Fawkner Inn Dirty Harry & The Rockets Rics Bar 10:00pm - 2:00pm W/ Drilling The Void $5 18+ Irish Murphys 24 Seven James Hotel Carl Fidler Reality 4 Finger Saturday Dj Mac D Lonnies Groove Saloon Sweetbe@ts | W.Boaz, Cammo, Bec & Guests The Royal Oak Sow How SUNDAY 10TH

Hobart

Syrup MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.

Republic Bar 8.30pm Roz Pearson & The MK Latin Band

Trout Sean & Luke

Telegraph Hotel H2O Liquid drum and bass (from 4pm)

Launceston

Trout Sunday School (4pm)

Irish Murphys Brett Boxhall

Launceston

James Hotel Reality Home Grown Prettymess (Melb) plus Fell to Erin (Hobart)

Irish Murphys John Collighan Steve Moore Funkin Unbelieveable

Lonnies Groove

James Hotel Sundaze in the City Dj Randall and Bec

Saloon Time Warp With The Best Of 70’s, 80s, & 90s

MONDAY 11TH

The Royal Oak Ultimo Trem

Hobart

FRIDAY 8TH

Republic Bar 8.15pm Quiz Night

Hobart

Launceston

Heat Nightclub DISCOTHEQUE RETROFUTURE | THE BEST FROM 80’s - 90’s + TODAY

Irish Murphys Carl Fidler

Mobius Lounge Bar 10 til Late Republic Bar 10pm PRETTY MESS+Kingpin 440 $5/$3 Cover

James Hotel Ho Club Bistro plus Ben Castles TUESDAY 12TH

Hobart

Republic Bar 8.30pm Those Bloody Mckennas $2

Republic Bar 9pm Kevin Borich + Band $12/$10 Cover

Telegraph Hotel H2O Liquid drum and bass (from 4pm)

Syrup MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.

Trout Sunday School (4pm)

Irish Murphys Glenn Moorhouse James Hotel Reality Home Grown Rocket Noodle plus Carl Fidler (Dead Abigails) Lonnies Groove Saloon Open Mic Night For Big Cash Prizes The Royal Oak Modus ‘Unplugged’ FRIDAY 15TH

Saloon Win A Trip To Queensland With The Air Guitar Championships Final The Royal Oak Launceston Blues Club Jan Preston

Ulverstone River Arms Ulverstone Co-Starter#6 Featuring; Dirty Harry and the Rockets, The Zip Up Casuals and another act TBA. $5 cover, bands 10pm till late SATURDAY 9TH

Hobart Heat Nightclub DISCOTHEQUE RETROFUTURE | THE BEST FROM 80’s - 90’s + TODAY Mobius Lounge Bar 10 til Late

Republic Bar 9pm LEO + Friends Trout Punk & Hardcore -Up to Our Necks, Lab A, Solvent Intake & Separatist Syrup MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! _ price Margarita mayhem with Retro Dance DJ’s, Mr Sven Gali and T.H.C Telegraph Hotel Dj Gnosis and friends

Launceston Irish Murphys Jesse Mad Uncle James Hotel Cheap Ass Wednesday Phil Picasso Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage

Launceston

Republic Bar 9pm Blue Flies

Syrup Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Khunks “O” Funk’ Downstairs 10.30: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan.

Upstairs 11pm: LaCasa – House Funk with resident DJ’s Matt B, Gillie and Guests.

Launceston

Trout Coda

WEDNESDAY 20TH

Launceston Irish Murphys Touring Act –Those Bloody Mckenna’s James Hotel Mick Attard Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage Lonnies Groove Saloon Who Looks Good In Their Little Black Dress Competition The Royal Oak Leo & Mick SATURDAY 16TH

Hobart Heat Nightclub DISCOTHEQUE RETROFUTURE | THE BEST FROM 80’s - 90’s + TODAY

Syrup Upstairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out to LIVE BANDS from 3pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs 10.30: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly.

Upstairs 11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ – present DIRTY FKING DANCIN – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests. VICIOUS VINYL CD LAUNCH. FREE CD’s & GIVEAWAYS.

Mobius Lounge Bar 9 til Late

Trout JamJar

Republic Bar 10pm Even / ken stringfellow(ex posie usa) $10/$8conc

Irish Murphys Steve Moore

Lonnies Groove

Republic Bar 8.30pm G.B. Balding

TUESDAY 19TH

Trout The New Pollutants with Pilot (electro), Kashishi (tribal), Paso Bionic, Adam Curse (both Melb Hop), Dubwise (Adelaide Dub) ($5)

Heat Nightclub Jalopy FREE DRINKS:10pm - 2am BASIC SPIRITS | TAP BEER | SOFT DRINKS ENTRY: $20 WITH STUDENT ID | $25 WITHOUT

Hobart

Mobius Lounge Bar 10 til Late

Launceston

James Hotel Glenn Moorehouse Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage

MONDAY 18TH

James Hotel Ho Club Leigh ratcliffe plus Mick Attard

Republic Bar 10pm Deborah Conway+Band $15/$12 Cover

Hobart

James Hotel Sundaze in the City Dj Randall and Bec

Heat Nightclub DISCOTHEQUE RETROFUTURE | THE BEST FROM 80’s - 90’s + TODAY

Telegraph Hotel ASA wax Lyrical Australian Songwriters Association

Irish Murphys Ripsister

Irish Murphys Robbie Elliot Tim Rozemoulder Jesse Sgt Green

Irish Murphys Glenn Moorhouse

Republic Bar 9pm Shane Thomas Duo

WEDNESDAY 13TH

Launceston

Hobart

Syrup Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Khunks “O” Funk’ Downstairs 10.30pm: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan.

Upstairs 11pm: LaCasa – Vocal House with resident DJ’s Matt B, Gillie and Guests.

James Hotel Toss the Rox

Hobart

Hobart

Mobius Lounge Bar 10 til Late

Launceston

SUNDAY 17TH

Hobart

Irish Murphys Carl Fidler James Hotel Toss the Rox

Hobart Heat Nightclub Jalopy FREE DRINKS:10pm - 2am BASIC SPIRITS | TAP BEER | SOFT DRINKS ENTRY: $20 WITH STUDENT ID | $25 WITHOUT Republic Bar 9pm Four Letter Fish Mobius Lounge Bar 9 til Late Syrup MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! Margarita mayhem with Retro Dance DJ’s, Sven Gali and T.H.C Telegraph Hotel Dj Gnosis and friends Trout Target Practice

Launceston Irish Murphys Tim Rozemoulder J Christopher Hanson Band James Hotel Cheap Ass Wednesday Carl Fidler (dead abigails) Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage Lonnies Groove Saloon Legendary Uni Night With Sgt Green THURSDAY 21ST

Hobart

Trout Buttplug, Howardcide, The Kicks, and others

Republic Bar 9pm Spondooli Bros.

Telegraph Hotel Dirty Robinsons

Syrup MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX + Loki + Scott Woodhouse.

Uni Bar Tas Wicked Beat Sound System

Launceston Gunners Arms Even w/ The Styles Irish Murphys Well Strung James Hotel Reality 4 Finger Saturday Dj Mac D

Trout Billy Whitton

Launceston Irish Murphys Distro (acoustic) James Hotel Reality Home Grown Halfmast plus The Belchers Lonnies Groove

Lonnies Groove

Saloon Time Warp With The Best Of 70’s, 80s, & 90s

Saloon Super Saturday The Party Continues With Top Melbourne Band The Machine Trash | House, Breaks, Electro, Anything You Can Dance To!

FRIDAY 22ND

The Royal Oak Launceston Blues Club Annie Piper Duo

Hobart Mobius Lounge Bar 10 til Late Republic Bar 10pm Sugartrain

GIG Guide

@Venue where?

06/04/05 - 04/05/05 Syrup Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Khunks “O” Funk’ Downstairs 10.30pm: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan.

Upstairs 11pm: LaCasa – House Funk with resident DJ’s Matt B, Gillie and Guests.

Heat Nightclub DISCOTHEQUE RETROFUTURE | THE BEST FROM 80’s - 90’s + TODAY

conspiracy sampler cd Republic Bar 8.15pm Quiz Night

Launceston Irish Murphys Carl Fidler

Trout Fashion Victims

James Hotel Ho Club Beano plus Glenn Moorehouse

Launceston

TUESDAY 26TH

Irish Murphys THE DEAD KILKENNY’S

Hobart

James Hotel Ben Castles Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage Lonnies Groove Saloon Who Looks Good In Their Little Black Dress Competition The Royal Oak Dave Adams

Smithton Tall Timbers The Richie Benaud Allstars 9.30pm-12.30am SATURDAY 23RD

Hobart Heat Nightclub Jalopy FREE DRINKS:10pm - 2am BASIC SPIRITS | TAP BEER | SOFT DRINKS ENTRY: $20 WITH STUDENT ID | $25 WITHOUT

Mobius Lounge Bar 10 til Late

Republic Bar 9pm Blue Healers

Irish Murphys Icon

Launceston

Heat Nightclub DISCOTHEQUE RETROFUTURE | THE BEST FROM 80’s - 90’s + TODAY

6334 7231

Syrup Upstairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out to LIVE BANDS from 3pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs 10.30pm: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly.

Upstairs11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ present DIRTY FKING DANCIN– “if it’s good we’ll play it” – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests.

Syrup MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! Margarita mayhem with Retro Dance DJ’s, Sven Gali and T.H.C

Launceston

1 2 2 Yo r k S t

Hobart

Launceston

Heat Nightclub DISCOTHEQUE RETROFUTURE | THE BEST FROM 80’s - 90’s + TODAY

Trout The Roobs

SATURDAY 30TH

Republic Bar 10pm Carus & The True Believers $8/$5con

WEDNESDAY 27TH

Telegraph Hotel Dj Gnosis and friends Trout Ballpoint & Stand Defiant

Launceston Irish Murphys Samuel Bester The Uprising James Hotel Cheap Ass Wednesday Green Berets (dead abigails and sgt green) Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage Saloon Legendary Uni Night With Live Bands In the Loft : Trash | House, Breaks, Electro, Anything You Can Dance To! THURSDAY28TH

Reality Niteclub James Bar

Republic Bar 9pm Patrick+Anna

James Hotel Toss the Rox

James Hotel

The Royal Oak Sow How

Irish Murphys Mick Attard

Hobart

Syrup Upstairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out to LIVE BANDS from 3pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs 10.30: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly.

Upstairs 11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ present DIRTY F*CKN DANCIN “if it’s good we’ll play it” – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests.

Telegraph Hotel Oscar

Irish Murphys Hobart Rock Band – Oscar

Mobius Lounge Bar 10 til Late

Mobius Lounge Bar 9 til Late

Republic Bar 10pm Irrelevant [syd $10/$8con

Saloon Who Looks Good In Their Little Black Dress Competition Final

Telegraph Hotel Live Music Trout Rocket Fuel featuring live bands & DJs ($3)

info@jameshotel.com.au

Syrup 1st Floor 39 Salamanca Place Hobart 6224 8249 syrupclub@bigpond.com

Lonnies Niteclub 107 Brisbane St Launceston

Launceston

6334 7889

Irish Murphys Distro

www.lonniesniteclub.com

James Hotel Reality Retro Night 4 Finger Saturday Funkin Unbelievable plus Dj Mac D Lonnies Groove Saloon Super Saturday The Party Continues With Donut

lonniesniteclub@yahoo.com

Republic Bar 299 Elizabeth St North Hobart 6234 6954

SUNDAY 1ST

w w w. r e p u b l i c b a r. c o m

Hobart Trout Sunday School (4pm)

The Batty

Telegraph Hotel H2O Liquid drum and bass (from 4pm)

The Batman Fawkner Inn

Launceston

35 Cameron St

James Hotel Sundaze in the City Dj Randall and Bec

Launceston 6331 7222

MONDAY 2ND

Launceston

Uni Bar - Hobart Campus

James Hotel Ho Club Ben Castles plus Leigh Ratcliffe

1 C h u r c h i l l Av e

Syrup MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.

TUESDAY 3RD

6226 2495

Launceston

w w w. t u u . c o m . a u

Launceston

The Royal Oak Time Rosemulder

James Hotel Toss the Rox

Irish Murphys Leigh Radcliffe

WEDNESDAY 4TH

I r i s h M u r p h y ’s

SUNDAY 24TH

James Hotel Reality Home Grown Modus plus Glenn Moorehouse (dead abigails)

Hobart

2 11 B r i s b a n e S t

Heat Nightclub Jalopy FREE DRINKS:10pm - 2am BASIC SPIRITS | TAP BEER | SOFT DRINKS ENTRY: $20 WITH STUDENT ID | $25 WITHOUT

Launceston

Mobius Lounge Bar 9 til Late

Heat Nightclub

Hobart

FRIDAY 29TH

Syrup MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! _ price Margarita mayhem with Retro Dance DJ’s, Sven Gali and T.H.C

Hobart

Launceston

Heat Nightclub DISCOTHEQUE RETROFUTURE | THE BEST FROM 80’s - 90’s + TODAY

James Hotel Cheap Ass Wednesday Carl Fidler (dead abigails) Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage

James Hotel Reality 4 Finger Saturday Dj Mac D Lonnies Groove Saloon Super Saturday The Party Continues With Donut Chris Fortier in the Loft

Devonport Alexander Hotel Co-Starter#7 Featuring; The Muddy Turds, Dave McKenna Trio and Sheyana No cover, bands 5-8pm

Hobart Republic Bar 8.30pm Cakewalking Babies Syrup WE ARE OPEN for partytime from 9pm till late!

Trout Sunday School (4pm) Telegraph Hotel H2o Liquid drum and bass (from 4pm)

Launceston Irish Murphys John Collighan Ben Castles Jade And Glenn Well Strung James Hotel Sundaze in the City Dj Randall and Bec Reality Anzac Day Eve Dj Mac D Saloon Anzac Day Eve Multi Band Night In the Loft : Trash | House, Breaks, Electro, Anything You Can Dance To! MONDAY 25TH

Hobart Lewisham Tavern Cornerstone Roots / the Sunshne Soundsystem (members of shapeshifter) and GSAN (hiphop/beats dj from melbourne) Gig starts at 3pm and goes through to 8pm that night $19 plus b/f and all tickets receive a dub

Hobart Republic Bar 9pm Nellie &the Fat band $2 cover

Lonnies Groove Saloon Time Warp With The Best Of 70’s, 80s, & 90s The Royal Oak Samuel Bester

Mobius Lounge Bar 10 til Late Republic Bar 10pm Dave McCormack + The Poloroids sup andy white $10/$8 Syrup Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Chunks“O”Funk’ Downstairs 11pm: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan.

Upstairs 11pm: PICKLE- presents TRANSMISSION with UK DJ STEVE HILL (aka Ed Real) + SYDNEY DJ NERVOUS. Full flavoured Hard dance – Techno, Hard house, hard trance, psy-trance & NRG with resident DJs CORNEY + DSKO Trout The Reactions

Launceston James Hotel Glenn Moorehouse (dead abigails) Reality Dj Mac D and Wreckage Lonnies Groove

Sandy Bay

6331 4440

121 Macquarie St

P r i n c e O f Wa l e s H o t e l 55 Hampden Road Battery Point 6223 6355

FRIDAY 6TH MAY

Devonport TJ's Bar Sexy Devonports premiere dance party

Launceston Saloon Bar Cog SATURDAY 7TH MAY

Hobart UNIVERSITY OF TAS Hobart Cog

To list your gig in the Gig Guide, email details to gigguide@sauceonline.net

Gig Reviews Ninth Blinding, Kronik, Rocket Noodle and Spank Paddle Batman Fawkner Inn 2/4/2005

UNLEASHED! 2005 Ulververstone 20/4/04

The Roobs and The Reactions Trout,

By Nita Walker 24/4/04

By Eggy It’s great to see the Batman Fawkner Inn supporting the local scene again. Tonight’s show in Rick’s Bar was a showcase of bands that find it hard to come by a gig. First Band on tonight’s bill were Ninth Blinding, interesting mix of metal and rock, the lead guitarist and bassist were sharing vocal deputies which is always a interesting mix. I enjoyed the tool sort sound they had happening but at times I thought they were a bit loose, you know a band is finished when the guitarist just

Kronik

throws his Gibson and walks off. Kronik, wouldn’t look out of place, if it was still 1999. No offence but Nu-Metal is dead boys, musically I thought Kronik were tight and have an interesting future, just lose Joel Turner as your vocalist. Rocket Noodle have to be one of the most promising bands I have seen in the last few years, after a few sound problems during the first song, they really picked up their game. This band have the energy and the stage presence to mix it with the

Rocket Noodle

best of them, Morgan’s guitar solo’s add something new to this style of music and I don’t know where to start when I talk about Luke’s drumming. It’s great to see the crowd get right into these guys; after the crowd cheers on 2 encores they finally left the stage. Last band up were Spank Paddle, everyone in the crowd seemed to be there to see them, I don’t think much of these guys, they can’t seem to find one

Spank Paddle

style and stick to it, but Jesus were they on fire tonight, after over coming some sound problems at the stage of the set, the paddle got the crowd going, for a big fella, the paddle vocalist can move. The rest of the band just have the right chemically happening which is ready hard to find these days. I respect the fact they don’t want to be just the one style. All in all, a great night and it’s good to see the people coming to see live original music.

The 2005 Unleashed! Concert was held in its final destination Sunday afternoon/night at the Ulverstone Football Club Grounds. With a fully energetic line-up, the following performances would have been enough to satisfy any music loving personality. The line-up consisted of local Tassie bands: Dave McKenna Trio, Nassology, Seventh Storey Red, Abacinate, Red IQ, Muddy Turds, After the Flames, Dirty Harry & the Rockets, A Fallen Empire, The Uprising, and Scream Media. Headlining acts for Unleashed!

Were Gerling and Antiskeptic. The football gates flew open at 2, and in poured the crowd. The Dave McKenna Trio kicked off the first of eleven twenty-minute spots. As the bands finished and the next band set up, comedian MC Luke Snare kept the crowd amused with his jokes and all round great personality. Nassology was second on the list and greatly amused the crowd with their tactful lyrics and music. Abacinate was well accepted by the crowd with their heavier more metal style music and vocals, and intense head banging. Muddy Turds had the audience in fits of laughter with their well-embraced “Mountain” song. By this time the crowd had grown and up stepped the next act, After the Flames. These guys brought the beginning of the show together with their talent. If you ever hear of them playing a gig near you, they do a great show and we highly recommend them. Dirty Harry & the Rockets had amazing talent for their various aged band members, including their awesome 12 year old drummer. The crowd was growing tense, filled with nervousness and excitement, Gerling was due to play in less than an hour. Unfortunatly we missed seeing The Uprising as we managed to catch up with the Gerling boys. Coming from what they call “a small very unknown plant somewhere in between Mars and Jupiter.” Gerling is a 3 piece line up, consisting of Burke Reid, Adam Yee & “The Burger”. The boys didn’t want to categorize their music genre, but after a little bit of encouragement, they decided that if they had to be classified, they’d be a cross between, The Rapture, Talking Heads, and The Kinks. Gerling would LOVE to come back and play in Tas, the only downside for them was lack of people at the shows. So this means if you guys want more “well known” bands to play in Tas, you need to get out there and support them! The boys are currently signed with Festival Mushroom Records and have been together for 10 years and describe themselves as “Driven and inspired people”. Look out for these guys in years to come, as we are sure they will become internationally renown. Well the crowd got up and gave Girling a whole lot of support, as they played a 40 minute spot, it seemed to go to fast.

Next on stage was Antiskeptic. The crowd get right in with these guys as they rocked a hard, energetic, exciting, heart racing show. They involved the crowd and the response was great, even naming a guitar in the end. Antiskeptic got everyone’s adrenalin pumping. The show ended up finishing at 9:30, instead of the advertised 9pm wrap up. The concert was fully wrapped up at 9:30… but we didn’t go home. We managed to grab Nick, Antiskeptics drummer, and ask him a couple of questions. Antiskeptic guys are Andrew kitchen (vocals, guitar) Sean Daily (Bass) and Nick Coppen (drums). These guys come from Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs and have been together for 5 years. They have 2 albums currently available for purchase, Memoirs of a common man and Aurora. These are available through Sanity. Antiskeptic are independent and loving it. These same guys are the original line up and they look for the positives in every situation. Antiskeptic are currently sponsored by: Hurley, MacBeth shoes, Converse shoes, Arnette sunglasses, Dickies and PPS hair products. Watch out for these guys – they maybe back in Tas one day soon.

We’d like to thank Steve Martin and all those that helped make this day possible for the North West Coast. All gate sales were donated to the Tsunami fund. Remember to get out there and support these gigs so we can have more bands come down to Tas! Also guys jump online, have your say and help create our own Tasmanian music industry, just fill out the survey on: a

Phil K Halo 19/4/04

By Andrew Devine

By Spencer

The Reactions were up first. There was the usual strong turn out for this band, or it may have been a combination of crowds for both The Reactions and The Roobs, About 100 people packed into this intimate venue and were obviously enjoying themslves. I only managed to see The Reactions' last few songs, but they were impressive. They had the crowd charged. It was obviously the end of a really good set. They're a young band, but they seemed to have learnt a lot in their time together about stage performance. With a bit of a punk-rock edge (in the current meaning of the word "punk") this four piece, with a classic rock line-up punched it out!

About 9 of us cruised down to Hobart, met up with three mates and headed up to Halo after a couple of “starters’ at Isobar. It was my first time at Halo and we all had a great night. It was about 1am when we arrived, but we were a bit surprised to see only about fifty people there.

And we were a bit freaked out by the number of flights of stairs we climbed to reach the club, from the back entrance. We kept wondering if it was around the next corner, but when we got

The Reactions

Up next were Hobart legends The Roobs. With Chonga out front, in the bar and all over the tables, going mad, he takes crowd participation to another, awesome level. They played a standard 45 minute set with many tracks from their "Sweetheart of the Garage" EP. The members of this band have been playing around Hobart for the past fifteen years and their experience showed from the first chord, in a good way! They played tight, loud and

there we weren’t disappointed. By about 2am, the number of people had, at least, tripled, which was a great number of people for this cosy venue. There were enough people there to make it seem busy, but not so many that you were always bumping into someone. Last month’s Sauce interview with Phil K was right – the man had attitude, but not the ego you might find from someone who is as big a DJ as Phil K. He played slower stuff and warmed up the room, then played more breaks and the crowd

The Roobs

together. It was fucking loud, in fact. I like it loud, but I don't go in the front row anymore for fear of permanent tinnitus. And Chonga seems to always pick me to sing right in my face. It was some others' turn that night. There were a few "poggers" getting into it and it's always a good reflection on the band when people are dancing and the windows are fogged up. it was the first really cold night in Tassie this year.

Unfortunately there wasn't an encore,m as the band went straight to the bar for some refreshment. Gaylords!

Phil K

was pumping on the dance floor. For the last hour of his set, especially, everyone was going off –us included. After the gig, probably because we were up the front near Phil all night, he came over and had a drink with us, told us how he liked to play smaller clubs instead of big events, where only some of the people have come to see him play. If another big name DJ plays at Halo again, I’ll be going. Wicked night!

Dirty Harry & The Rockets Sunday 9th April with special guests Drilling The Void In Rics Cafe @ 10pm - $5 Entry

The Irrelevant Friday 22nd April With Stand Defiant & After The Flames In Rics Cafe @ 10pm - $10 Entry

Albums - reviews

by Elona Bonnici 50 CENT

ATHLETE

HEY MOOK

THE MARS VOLTA

MASSACRE

TOURIST

NEVER GETS YOU

FRANCES THE MUTE

EMI

ANYWHERE.

UNIVERSAL

Its not that I'm scuuuurrrred, it’s just that most people that end up around fiddy end up with a couple of caps in there ass, so I’m gonna write this while my ass is bullet proof! The follow up to one of hip hop’s biggest debuts, crack dealer turned superstar with “Get rich”, he re-evolves his verbal revolver this time, with some heavy thugged up beats, some delicious melodies and an explosive gun blasting intro in true G. Unit style.Violence is Massacres undertone and blatant overtone as the title establishes.. "In My Hood," 50 Cent cruises Southside streets where "you can be a victim or you can lock and load." Yet while the pulsing riff of "My Toy Soldier" is chilling, 50 still like to relax.

"Ryder Music" is as chilled as a Sunday spliff. Inevitably, Teflon and Gats go from the street to the club, where 50 takes in a "Disco Inferno." "In My Hood" gets down to business and gives way to four tracks of the same-old, same-old macho macho and beats that are still just as impressive.

Number one in the U.K., this south London Band is monopolizing the UK. If you didn’t catch them in Sydney recently get on the flametrail, cos they’ll ignite the Australian charts with the single “Wires”, an emotional bluesy track with rhythms that rock you. With Tourist the melancholy magic continues with the singer’s raspy voice that gives him a defined sound, The tracks “Half Light” and “Street Map” continued to impress.

The clarity of his vocals will reach you, with his vocal range and invite to get entranced by his philosophic musical therapy that Athlete provides to the listener.

It’s a rock that rolls and soothes, with a balance of vocal ranges that seem to lift and reach to tell each song, with a likeness to Coldplay, this compilation is easy listening, vulnerable and moving.

From start to finish, this country rocking Tasmanian Band, has it all - the twang of guitars, the kind of music you can imagine them playing in the American mid west diners when the waitress steps up and keeps refilling your cawfeeeeee, although the slow moving depressive track of “Up all night”, worried me....but then in “I Signed a Heart Beat” they scared me with their joy.

There seemed to be an imbalance between instruments and vocals in most tracks.

It's like a mixture of Joshua Caddison with Billy Ray Cyrus and then Crocodile Dundee country rock. Whatever it is, its not working for them, and their overall sound lacks their own personality stamp, and doesn’t do much to make you want to listen in to it again. The Lyrics are too vast and impersonal which makes it harder to connect and relate to their music. In one ear and out the other.

Mute is a 76 minute explosion of intense concept rock, not unlike Mr Bungle with the manic frenzy of distorted guitars, drums that chew up every empty space between the music, schizophrenic vocals changes that still leave me wondering... Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala are a breakthrough in indie progressive rock, with industrial and blatant undertones. Chilli Pepper John Frusciante swaps guitar solos with Omar as “L’ Via” dodges between an “Interstellar Overdrive” of sorts and pure Latin burning steaming sensuality, featuring New York salsa pianist Larry Harlow. The last two overdrives in “L’Via,” sounding similar to the jams from the Chilli Peppers,’ “Uplift Mofo Party,” are sure to makes some more heads turn. “De-loused” already captured Anthony Kiedis and Eddie Vedder. The music is full of so many samples , snippets of genres that mark the Mars Volta trademark and half of the samples and effects Omar uses are with vintage equipment, analog and choppy, at times.

MOBY

NIGHTWISH

THE D4

THE GAME

HOTEL

SINLE REVIEW NEMO

OUT OF MY HEAD

The Documentry

ROADRUNNER

FESTIVAL

RECORDS.

Hotel, Moby's new album. The diversity of it blew me away. I mean the dexterity of this man is amazing. He's a genius, an unmistakeable mood changer. His almost transparent voice never competes with the rest of the instruments, it just blends ,like its always meant to be there, Moby is in perfect equilibrium with his music. Slow track like ‘Temptation’ that is gentle and hypnotic, ‘Forever’ goes deeper within the spiritual realm, and the love trance track where you end is a catchy little tune. I find the trend of the 80's and 70's shines through in this album , Moby's use of electro dynamo and honest lyrics, as well as blending the traditional guitar in such songs as Beautiful and Spiders, and then his building up to a peak dance highly intensified trance dance track Lift me Up, celebrates the synthesiser. In true Moby form. Moby once again the charismatic chill zone man, if you like something cruisy and food for thought Moby’s your man!

Nightwish, is smooth metal, gothica soul.

Tarja Turunen fuses her vocals into a range so intoxicating and haunting, it is nothing short of purity against the distorted guitars, simple bass and uncomplicated drums.

This polished metal is definitely in a class of its own and the perfect blending of all instruments, vocals and elevating tempo of the song, carries you through Nemo.

They’re making a huge impact in Europe outselling such bands as Beastie Boys, Norah Jones and winning a coveted "Album of the Year" for obvious reason.

Its dynamic and powerful, dramatic and dark, and a sound so unique it's hauntingly familiar but unlike anything you have ever heard before, De Ja Vous? Perhaps, what ever it is it is, it’s a sound you will want to hear more of.

If you like your music hard fast and loud, sparse guitars overdriven distortion, noisy and manic with a few mating calls of the punk thrown in, you’re gonna love D4.

There are a lot of heavy bass, fast rhythms and head shaking moments of madness.

“Stops Me Cold” is a surprising slower soothing track, with sweet lyrics and sad vocals, this electrifying modern punk rock album will leave you wondering why you haven’t heard them and when will you again.

“Out of my Head”, “Sake Bomb”, “Savage” and “Too Stupid to Live” impress and will have you ready to dive off the stage and into a sea of unsuspecting mosh-pitting villans. They aim to be the filthiest and wildest rock band to come out of New Zealand. All metal heads try and catch them on their Tough Guys Don’t Dance Tour. Should be a night that your body remembers for the rest of the week!

MUSHROOM

The Game (aka Jayceon Taylor) has a compelling story.

And he tells it in his debut, “The Documentry”.It’s clear The Game has got that street spirit in his vocal delivery. There’s no mistaking his flexing is focused and he’s got that thrust to make an impression. His lyrics have got depth, feeling, a good dose of soul and a bit of bad boy with the expression that we expect in hip hop .The Game, his nickname given to him by his grandmother, cos he always had game for everything, is bound to be one of Hip Hops greatest. He has the blue-print. He is a magician of the MC, a lyrical badboy and bringing some history and home truths back to the bling bling world of hip hop. The Game has arrived. Beginning with Westside you get a glimpse at his mc skills with wicked lyrics, following with Dreams include some heavy vocals and head bobbing fronting beats.

“How we do”, has some sneaky beats that lead into the track with his husky voice and fiddys stamp of emphasizing the last words on each linnnnnnnnnnnnnnne.

DVD - reviews

by Elona Bonnici EUROTRIP Universal

THE EXORCIST ROADSHOW ENTERTAINMENT

Euro Trip is about Scottie who after discovering on his graduation that his girlfriend has broken up with him, and the guy she’s been banging ( a cameo

by Matt Damon) the lead singer of a rock band who sings a son about Scottie, ignites in Scottie the idea to meet his pen pal Mike. Mike sends Scottie an email, and dense Scottie confused has an attack of the homophobies until his smart ass little brother helpfully tells him that Mike or Mika is German for Michelle. In his panic he emails Mika to keep his hands of his genitals and she blocks him. When he realizes Mika is a Hottie, he and his side kick decide to go to Europe to try and find her. What seems to start off as another American Jock college movie turns into a movie that will have you laughing out loud.

Australian Band Jet will be heard through the movie as they arrive in the UK, they befriend some Manchester Soccer hooligans who get them shitfaced and on there red bus to Paris, with the side of the bus painted if your not a manc your a wank!, In Paris they hook up with the twins their friends from college.

Director of 'Driven' and 'Deep Blue Sea' brings us the prequal to the thirty year old classic ' The Exorcist', This supernatural cinema has scenes that comes straight out of Hecate's nightmares, set in the tribal African scenary, with beautiful scenes captured on film setting the vibe of the land, into this timeless ancient world. As they discover a Byzantine church unearthed in the desert , Merrin enters the church to find statues of Lucifer, he mutters the line..."You can't even trust angels can you?".

Horror, mystery, evil and utter caos that unleashes . Merrin a priest turned archaelogist gets to test his sinking faith against the face of evil. Besides some cheap shape shifting effects, a somewhat bland storyline, it relies soley on its venegeful carnage to keep you glued to it.

With no strong actors, suspense scenes that go for so long you actually WANT something bad to happen, it's a mass of seperate suspense moments, but no plot to keep your mind fully entertained. So if you don’t mind getting itchy feet during a horror movie and into some stomach churning flesh slicing fun, watch it.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11 DOG EAT DOG PRODUCTIONS MGM

There are somethings you must see in life, and watching this documentry is one of them, WHY? ...because as long as our prime minister is involved with Bush, it's your duty to know exactly what Bush didn’t want you to know. Enter Michael Moore. The academy award winning success of Moore's previous “Bowling for Columbine”, Moore once again defies all odds on government cover ups and exposes Bush's links with the 9/11 terrorism disaster, uncovering his hidden business dealings with the Bin Laden family, including rare footage and expert testimonies. Moore hunts down the truth in a country so full of public manipulation and deciet, even the secret service attempt to stop Moore telling the truth. Extremely powerful, comical, thought changing, unbelieveable and inquisitive, Moore gets you the facts before Bush had a chance to edit it!

One documentry that maybe John Howard should watch, but definietly one that will change any misconceptions you might have, and by the end you'll wonder why More men like Moore don't get into politics and wish Less men like Bush would.

IRON MONKEY Universal

Its set in 19th century China, but with a Robin Hood / Zorro Oriental twist, the story is about a masked bandit named Iron Monkey who steals the goods from the corrupted leaders of a small village, and gives to the poor. But really, you won't focus on the comic strip drama. What you'll be gob smacked by is the action, and believe me, there's plenty, in this action-comedy flick. After all, Monkey's director Yuan Woo-ping, directed the action scenes for both The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, and who can forget those techniques used in films. It was a trend that revolutionalised fight scenes, and resurrected the notability of the cameraman and the realisation that the digital world was truly upon us. The Orient has a way of turning the simple things into a balance of fine tuning intricacies that they truly master.

The stop-start fight scenes emphase each kick, block and manicured executed punch, then lead the audience into a swift, clean, fastly-honed spinning, flying and airborne delicacy that will prove a favourite for Kung Fu Fanatics.

Moby

Life Bytes - Software

By Tim Duggan Dragon Naturally Speaking 7 Preferred RRP-$399

Moby, the 39 year-old politically vocal producer, still leads the pack. He’s been releasing his music around the world since the drug-fuelled raves of the early 90s that helped to shape his sound. The seeds of Moby’s ethereal sound emerged from those seminal techno warehouse parties that breathed life into New York’s nightlife a decade and a half ago. “What’s stayed with me from acid house and rave culture is just the spirit of celebration,” says Moby today. “It’s been many, many years, but just that feeling of ten thousand people on ecstasy throwing their hands in the air to a big piano house track with female vocals. It’s a very profound experience and one that hopefully still influences me.”

Dragon Naturally Speaking is software that allows your to dictate to your PC instead of using a keyboard to type.

When you first load up Dragon Naturally Speaking, you must train it to your voice. The initial training takes about 5 minutes.

This product definitely showed how badly I speak. I had to put on a very proper accent to get it to recognise all the words properly.

There is advanced training that you can do to improve accuracy. Dragon Naturally Speaking's major selling point is that you can dictate at up to 160 words per minute.

His latest release is the innocently titled Hotel. But as with most things that he does, there is a lot of thought hiding underneath the seemingly simple title. “The most intimate human things happen in hotels, but yet they feel so anonymous,” begins Moby. “When you check into a hotel room, it invariably feels as if you’re the first person to ever walk in to that room, but yet in the back of your mind you know that six hours before, someone else was having sex on that bed and like the day before that someone was breaking up with their girlfriend and before that they’re going to the bathroom.”

I could manage to get to about 100 words per minute with only a small amount of training. You definitely need to proof-read your work after you've dictated it, as I got quite a few random words in amongst the text I spoke.

If it has a particular problem with certain words you can train them in separately by speaking the word in and then typing the word on your keyboard.

The program has different profiles for the different people who use the computer. I would recommend this product to anyone who does a large amount of typing or can't get the knack of touch-typing.

Delve a little bit further, and there are ever some deeper double meanings for Moby the philosopher.

“Every 24 hours the hotel is just wiped clean. This might sound odd, but I think that that’s sort of in some ways analogous to the human condition. We spend a brief amount of time here and we attach so much significance to our actions and to our emotions and to our identity and then we die and the world is wiped clean as if we’ve never been here. In some ways that’s sort of a depressing thought, but I think it also makes the brief time that we’re here seem perhaps a little more precious, knowing that in a day or a month or years it will be as if we were never here.”

Drawing on influences as varied as David Bowie and George Gershwin for his latest release, one of the most touching moments on the new album is a slow dirge-like cover of New Order’s “Temptation”.

Moby got the inspiration for the cover while having lunch at his vegetarian restaurant Teany in the Upper East Side of New York. He heard the original version playing in the background and started listening to the lyrics for the very first time. “I was struck by how poignant and personal they were,” he says. “So on a whim I went home and did a very slow, ballad-esque version of it and got my friend Laura to sing it and it just came together.” Despite re-recording and polishing the track many times over, the version that appears on the album is the original, rushed version. “I used that one, because it was just, I thought, more simple and poignant.”

For Hotel, the artist who built his career almost entirely on samples has created an album without one sample in it. But it wasn’t intentional, he says. “I wasn’t trying to make a record without samples, but all of a sudden it was finished and I looked back on it and I realised that there weren’t any samples on the record, which is kind of ironic, considering a lot of people see me as being, you know, purely a sample based artist.”

Hotel is one-hundred percent Moby, with the musician playing every single instrument (except the live drums) and singing on almost every track.

“What I’m trying to do is make very warm, emotional, human music that people can respond to on a very human level,” he says.

As for the future, Moby is keen to follow his strange career path wherever it goes, with a hint that he’s preparing himself for some time off. “It’s a weird job,” he says of his work. “Half the time you’re at home working intensely on the record and then you put your life on hold and go on tour. Then you come back and pick it up again. It’s hard to really develop much of a home life when every year your life is interrupted for months on end to go touring.”

“It’s not a bad life,” he is quick to add, “but as I get older, I think at some point it might be nice to have a bit more of an established, stable domestic life. I always want to make music and I’d love to continue making records, I just think it might be nice at some point, who knows, maybe in five years, to scale things back. But there’s a good chance that in the next five years I’ll make a record that no one will like and the market will scale things back for me!”

For an artist who’s already seen more than his fair share of lifetimes in dance music, it’s a safe bet that the market won’t be scaling Moby back any time real soon.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking allows you put text into Word documents, e-mails or even browse the Web. Dragon Naturally Speaking preferred also allows you to dictate into your pocket PC and transcribe onto your PC later.

The minimum system requirements for Dragon Naturally Speaking are a 500Mhz processor and 128megs of ram, although I would reccomend a higher spec system if you want the program to work at full speed and accuracy.

Life Bytes PS 2 GAME REVIEW – ACE COMBAT: SQUADRON LEADER Namco is a major third party software developer that helped put the Playstation 1 and 2 on the map and developer of such classics as the Tekken Series, Ridge Racer and Soul Blade series.

So, as you can imagine my expectations for this game were high.Upon boot up I was greeted with Namco’s usual high quality intro movie (even though it was quite a bizarre storyline to follow). Essentially a flight combat game at heart, this game took me down memory lane being reminiscent of old school arcade classics, Afterburner or G-L.O.C. With two modes of play - Firstly, story mode following the manga flavoured storyline, completing missions to unlock the next chapter. The second mode of play was my favourite, arcade mode - pure game playing with action not too frustrating and not too easy. The “just one more go” factor is high in this game as completing or failing a mission can come down to missing a target due to the tight time constraints. Missions usually consist of shooting a number of enemies or targets within the time limit, as you nail the targets this adds vital seconds to your time enabling you to progress to the next level.

Graphically the game is functional, but the now ageing PS2 hardware is showing its limitations especially in low altitude sections where ground emplacements and terrain have a tendency to look a bit too blocky. This aside I found Ace Combat Squadron Leader to have it where it counts, in the gameplay department.

The fast paced action will have players frantically diving and shooting, hoping for that elusive missile lock that will take out that pesky MIG before your last five seconds counts down. With multiple planes and stages to unlock AC SL is easy to get into, but harder to master. Sound is of generally high quality with all the appropriate plane, engine, gun and explosion sounds, generating a suitable atmosphere. No multiplayer, unfortunately, but the single player modes should keep most gamers satisfied.

Overall, not the best looking game on PS2, but graphics aren’t always everything. Control and gameplay are where AC SL excel and those looking for a quick arcade fix need look no further. Now, if you excuse me I have a MIG or two to frag.

SCORE Graphics Sound Gameplay Multiplayer Overall

*** *** **** No ***1/2

Digital Equipment Reviews Microsoft Optical Desktop With Fingerprint Reader

By Elona Bonnici

If a keyboard could be sexy, this is it...sleek silver lines, black trimmings, flat square buttons, but wait there's more.... The thing that makes this Microsoft desktop set stand out is the intergrated fingerprint reader, a wireless mouse and a reciever. What does this mean?

Convenience, ladies and gentlemen. That's right, you can now log into your web sites, and programmes without having to type a password, however it does state that this is not a security feature, and it definitly should not should be used in corporate networks or to protect security data such as financial information, bank accounts etc. Besides that, though, there’s the loading of software, waiting, then storing your print and all the annoying boring stuff. Don't you hate the practical stuff you have to do when you get a new toy? Anyway, once you get your fast little ferrari of a keyboard hooked up, it's wicked.

Very easy to get used to and you wonder how you could ever be bothered moving your fingers before..true true. It also warns you and your very bad memory to write the passwords down that you replace with your print. Actually its telling me in a physically secure place, see the program even worries for you. Isn’t Microsoft nice,,,yes very thoughtful indeed. Oh, you have to keep it lovingly clean, otherwise if it gets all dirty and nasty and it won’t pick up your fingerprint and thus won’t recognise you and then you can't get into anything.

And that’s a pain in the ass....hmmmmmmmmmmm. Ok, after that little experience, this is my final conclusion on the optical Desktop Fingerprint Reader. If you live with only clean adults, you are going to love it, If you smoke , drink, snack while you work at your computer and have kids using it who probably pick their nose and, well ... I guess you get the idea. It might be a little high maintenance and impractical, but it's still sexy...Like look at me now, I could have finished this review back at that last full stop, but I am still typing, becasue when I finish I will have to give the sportscar keyboard back, so I'm prolonging the luxury, before returning to the old trusty workhorse...actually I'm hooked. I want one, and you probably will too.

Lexmark Photo Printer 310 series DIGITAL

By Elona Bonnici

in, as stated, loaded the ink cartridge, which was a breeze, thanks to the clear on-line screen that comes to life, leading you through the set up progress, which saves time. So, within 5 mins I'm pulling my memory card out of my digital, and thrusting it into the printer.... and then it's time to play!

As easy as that, you better believe it.

Once you get your photos on the screen you can pick and choose, crop and resize, rotate, turn colour to black and white, anything you can do on your computer you can do on this. It even goes on energy saving standby when the phone rings and you are stopped mid-project.

So, I chose my first picture, resized it, changed it from colour to black and white. It's as easy as using a cell phone. Press start and it prints.

The impressive clarity... crystal clear. The quality is as true as taking it down to your local photo shop.

Actually that's what it is like, a cell phone on steroids - slightly inflated, only easier to use, and trust me when I say this is user friendly, ( I am one of those people who can not even plug my DVD into my TV)... sad but true.

Honestly, I think this is a fabulous product for anyone who owns a digital camera and for those of you who are thinking of getting one and don’t have a computer, then this is the one you want. If you are thinking ,”Oh I have a printer already through my computer,” trust me, I bought a new printer three days before I reviewed this. When I held the photos up next to each othe,r Lexmark won hands down.

When I got it out of it's nicely packaged box, this compact unit sat there pretty casually, until I plugged it in and it lit up.

From that moment on, it continued to impress me, am I sounding cheesy? Well, that's what happens, when a product actually does what it claims does!

As I hesitantly got the instructions out, I was relieved to see a big, glossy poster with simple instructions. So, in the 4 easy steps I plugged it

The finished product of print is photo shop quality, clear defined, perfect.

I had no problems with it at all (sighs)...no grief, and that ladies and gentlemen is a beautiful thing. So, for anyone thinking of buying a home printing unit, this is as brilliant as it states and if you don’t believe me come check out my home office......it's now covered in pictures that I did right here in my own home....watch out though it gets slightly addictive...

Motorola Motorazr V3 Two members of Sauce’s staff have the V3 and yeah, baby, we like it and on first impressions, when we flip it open in front of someone new, they like it too. You get the “Ooh” factor straight away as this phone looks more like a Star Trek communicator than a mobile phone. Which century was Star Trek set in, anyway? Of course, there are things with the phone we’d like improved, but overall, we are impressed.

Positives + “Oooh” factor + Easy menu navigation. + Nice flat keypad with no loose buttons. + Nice and loud speakerphone. + Decent Camera + Play Video + Mp3 ringtones + Bluetooth connectivity with included headset. + One single USB connection for charging directly from your computer and included power socket. + SMS via your pc with included UBS cable and software. + Second outside screen for seeing whose calling. + Good battery life (depending on usage, we get about 4-5 days) + Very slim, 15mm thick + All metal construction (very sturdy) Negatives - Poor software for pc.

- Tricky placement of volume control.

- Small memory capacity compared to other phones.

- Average resolution on main screen

Food Review - Irish Murphy’s (Ltn) By Dave Williams We wolfed it down.

Next up were oysters, natural for me and Kilpatrick for my friend, as it is, after all, an Irish pub. I’m not a big fan of Oysters Kilpatrick, but I am a big fan of oysters and mine were firm, fresh and delicious. We found out they were Tasmanian, as they should be. My friend enjoyed his and soon they were all gone.

For our main meals, I ordered the Calamari and Octopus Salad and my friend had the Beef and Guinness Pie. He was immersing himself in the Irish theme, and loving it. My salad was also firm and fresh with the baby octopus marinated, I think, before being char grilled. It’s not an easy thing to cook Calamari and Octopus correctly, as just a few seconds too long can turn tender to tyre-rubber, but chef prepared and cooked to my liking. However, my friend’s Beef and Guinness Pie was the pick of the two with the beef so tender, the filo pastry crisp and the Last month we reviewed the food and service served up to us at Irish Murphy’s in Hobart, so this month we thought we’d try out Irish Murphy’s in Launceston.

On the outside of the Irish Murphy’s building in Launceston is a sign that reads, “Drinking Consultants” and this may be true, but we would not argue with the management if they were to change the sign to read, “Drinking and Eating Consultants” as my friend and I enjoyed a thoroughly satisfying meal for dinner. And by dinner, I mean the meal eaten at night time and not in the middle of the day.

We learnt that the two Irish Murphy’s Hotels, in Hobart and in Launceston share their name only, with each venue owned and operated independently. Soon after arriving at the Launceston venue, it became apparent that we were to have a vastly different, and improved, experience in dining. It is not fine dining, but it is not a “counter meal” standard either. We decided the food, the service and the atmosphere was more like a Café, and a good one at that.

Upon arrival we were greeted and seated by a pleasant waitress, who exuded professionalism, without the gushy servitude that can come sometimes, from those new to the job. Asked if we would like a drink to start, my friend and I dived in the deep end and splurged with a bottle of what we though was the finest wine on the menu, the Tasmanian made, Tigress 2004 Pinot Gris, made by Tassie’s own Bay of Fires winery.

Tassie wines, are due to the, generally, smaller size of the wineries and relatively high production costs are a little more expensive than equivalent mainland wines, but we found the ‘drop” was worth it. The wine was dry, in nature, and easily drunk. I would find out later just how easily.

With the waitress arriving promptly to take our order, my friend and I started by sharing a serving of Bruchetta, a couple of pieces of thickly sliced and toasted baguette, topped with diced fresh tomato, Spanish onion, basil and fetta cheese, drizzled with olive oil. Although the serve was suitably generous, the dish didn’t last long. The tomato and onion were firm and crisp and the bread toasted enough to hold the toppings, but still soft and warm on the inside.

gravy inside delicious. Top marks. It should be noted that the waitress came to check that we were happy with our meals. More professionalism. We were fed and full, with generous serves all ‘round. We polished off the last of our wine, gladly paid the bill and made our way to the front bar, feeling happy from the shared bottle of wine to enjoy a half a pint of Guinness. Just to settle our stomaches, of course. Or was it a pint, or two? Ok, I’ll ‘fess up, we ended up having a ripper of a night, entertained by a local band, the name of which I forgot to get. Well, hey, I had a lot to remember!

We had splurged a bit and eaten and drunk our full, but we were happy to do it.

Bruchetta - $8.50 Oysters Natural (1/2 dozen) - $9.50 Oysters Kilpatrick (1/2 dozen) - $11.00 Calamari & Octopus Salad - $16.50 Beef & Guiness Pie - $15.50 Bay of Fires “Tigress” 2004 Pinot Gris - $32.50

SAUCE CLASSIFIEDS New section starting May 4th edition FREE Listing - items up to $500 (Individuals only - Not Free to businesses)

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A Little Heat From Heat

Last year Heat Nightclub opened in the building that had previously housed the nightsclub Taboo.

Not long after opening, the Hobart City Council forced Heat to close. After installing new state of the are smoke detectors. Heat was allowed to reopen, with conditions. Heat is now trading well, with changes being made to the musical policy and upgraded facilities. As the latest club on the Hobart scene, it was time for sauce to find out what happened in the past and what is happening for the future of this venue.

David Williams spoke with Heat co-owner, Colin Latham.

I hear that you’re making changes to the musical policy at Heat. What are those changes?

We’re going to be playing music, predominantly, from the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, with the odd ‘70’s classic and modern track as well, but predominantly ‘80’s and ‘90’s.

Why are you making those changes?

We’re not trying to re-invent the wheel, just playing what people want to hear –good, fun, party songs that they can sing along to and dance to as well.

What are you doing as far as DJ’s? Who’s going to be playing the music and who’s going to be making the choices?

We’ve got Andy, who’s spent a lot of time at two successful clubs on the Gold Coast, The Party and Cocktails and Dreams and another guy, Mike Naughton, who played the clubs here in the ‘80’s, like The Hideaway Bar and, in the ‘90’s, ‘Babylon’.

Is there anything new in the club, in terms of facilities?

We’ve cut a hole in the floor of the first level, the ceiling of the ground floor, which exposes a new, four metre video screen. So, all the old songs that we’re playing, people will be able to see the old video clips, as well.

There are some absolute “beauties” around.

You opened last year, then closed down for a while. What happened there?

The Council decided that, because the building had timber floors, and no sprinkler system, it was deemed a fire hazard and they closed it on a public safety issue, when I’m sure all of your readers would know many other similar entertainment venues that have timber floors and no sprinkler system.

So, why do you think the Council made the decision to close your club, when, apparently, other venues kept operating under similar conditions?

I have no idea…. Political perhaps?.

Could it have been that that they are trying to raise the standards within the industry and that they are starting with new venues, instead of ones already operating?

I have no problem, if that’s their reasoning I would expect every other venue to be brought up to this standard as well.

What conditions have been placed upon Heat, to have enabled it to re-open?

As an interim measure, we’ve installed a smoke detection system, with a direct line to the fire department. There are 26 smoke detectors dotted around the whole building. But, a sprinkler system must be installed. That’s the ruling that they’ve made.

And will that be in place in time?

Yes. Definitely. The work is already under way.

And what do you see as the future of Heat?

What’s your vision?

Without letting too much out of the bag … I’d just like to say, “Watch this space,” on that one.

You got some pretty bad press in the past from the mass media, how did that come about and how did it impact on you?

I think what some media outlets did to Heat was, pretty much, irreparable. I can show you all the documents I got from the Council. Three times, three weeks in a row, they tried to close Heat. The first week is was that I was using the building illegally, because it was registered as a restaurant, not a nightclub and I,

successfully, argued that it had been used as a nightclub for three years.

Then the following week is was that the ground floor did not have enough emergency exits, but their own engineer said that we had floor space for 260 people and exits safe for 275 people.

Then the third week, they got the General Manager to sign an “emergency order” where they threatened me with a $60,000 fine and police closure, because we had timber floors and no sprinkler system. I said, “So has everyone else in Hobart,” and yet, in their own engineer’s report, dated 27th of September item two in respect to fire safety, it says the building meets the current Building Code of Australia standards. And yet, they still shut me down.

I rang the guy who wrote the report and asked where he got the information from. That report came out on the 27th of September and this guy wrote another report that said it didn’t comply on the fifth of November. I said to him, “You tell me when you inspected the building, to write such a damning report.”

And he said, “No, I haven’t (inspected it)” I said, “I know you haven’t. I know who comes into the building during the day, and you’ve never been in the building.”

Then certain media outlets jumped on-board and said we were closed down as a safety hazard. And the public go, “It’s a safety hazard. It’s a fire risk,” when there are so many other, existing venues that have timber floors and no sprinkler system.

Are you sure you want me to print this?

I don’t see why not, it’s the truth and I’ve got the paperwork to back it up.

The mass media loves a good headline.

That’s it, mate. And then, when we re-opened, we sent out a media release, and got jack shit!

It’s not a good enough headline.

Yeah, it’s a “good news” story.

I think that’s the way the whole of the mass media operates these days. Their number one news value is conflict, and they’ll print anything, without verifying the facts, for the sake of a good headline and some inflammatory comments.

I’ve experienced it, personally. It appears to be symptomatic of the mass-media, in general. And for the journo’s reading this, yes, that is a generalisation. Thanks Colin and good luck.

Cheers Dave, and congratulations on Sauce’s first birthday, the first year is always the hardest.

To get the other side of the story, we contacted Hobart’s Lord Mayor, Rob Valentine, who said the matter was not political, but administrative.

We were then put on to the General Manager of The Hobart City Council, Brent Armstrong.

WEDNESDAYS | JALOPY The Hobart City Council says:

(JA-LOPPI) noun; informal: ‘An old car’

Mr Armstrong, there have been conditions put on Heat Nightclub to reopen after they were closed down earlier in the year, and then they re-opened, can you please summarise the dealings Mr Brent Armstrong the HCC had with Heat General Manager of The Hobart City Council Nightclub and the reasons behind the Council’s actions?

In general terms, Nightclubs have to comply with the Building Code of Australia regulations and we’ve been working with nightclub owners to ensure that, where it’s been necessary, the premises have been brought up to comply with the requirements of the building code. That’s been an on-going process and we’re pleased to see that these places are in operation within the bounds of the Building Code.

FREE DRINKS:

Are the regulations of the Building Code being applied to new operations and existing operations on an equal basis?

Yes. What, we’ve been doing is progressively working through those, but first have been those that have come to our attention and we’re just working our way through them, progressively.

$1.50 DRINKS:

Have you got any deadline for all deadlines for venues to be fully complying with the Building Codes?

No, not a specific deadline, but we’re working our way through them and ensuring that things are brought up to scratch.

Is it easier for you to apply those requirements to new operations than to existing operations?

There can be some issues in that. We need to look at a whole range of matters surrounding that, including such things as, perhaps, existing use rights for existing establishments or whatever, but if there’s a change in use or new premises, they need, obviously, to comply

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Aries If you haven’t already received a gift this month, you most likely will. Why not initiate a triangle triangle?

Perhaps on the full moon? It shits on a drumming circle.

With Mars eclipsing Uranus this month, you are best off avoiding the fire poi. Stay away from drumming circles.

Stay away from dogs with scarves. Stay away from hippies. Just because she’s got dreadlocks doesn’t mean she’s cool.

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Gemini If you’re a single Gemini, consider changing star signs.

Two heads are better than one. Head from two heads is better than head from one.

Cancer Women. Men. Children.

Feeling clucky, but the best way for you to conceive this month without the mess is to indulge in some text sex. It’s all the rage. Just keep a full turkey baster handy for that special moment.

Leo ROAR. Bore. Snore. Gnaw.

More. Whore. Door. Floor.

Poor. Law. War. Store.

Sure. Yeah

TOP 40 Tony Christie Mario McFly 50Cent Elvis Persley Will Smith Gwen Stefani ft Eve Natalie Imbruglia

Virgo Beware of knife throwing aliens. They are likely to attack at any MOMENT.

HOTTEST 100 50 Cent Candy Shop Kelly Clarkson Since You Been Gone The Game feat 50cent Hate It Or Love It Frankie J Obsession Greenday Boulevard of Broken Dreams 50 Cent Disco Inferno Mario Let Me Love You Usher Caught Up COLLEGE AIR

TOP 8 SINGLES William Shatner Common People Ani DiFranco Studying Stones Jack Johnson Sitting, Waiting, Wishing Bright Eyes Take It Easy Cake Wheels Modest Mouse The World At Large This Photograph is proof Taking Back Sunday Mars Volta The Widow

Libra Sick of those annoying tampon jokes? Don’t worry, even our future king has a tampon fetish. His tampon wish is coming true this month, yours might too if you just believe.

Scorpio This is a month to truly exploit your god given gifts to humanity. This may or may not work, and you may or may not like it. Take challenges by the balls and slam dunk

Wicked Beat Sound System 4ormation The Panda Band Sleepy Little Death Town Flamingo Crash Your Television..

Asian Dub Foundation Tank The Brian Jonestown Massace Tepid.

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You might feel like you haven’t had a birthday for 6 months. Find some quiet time for book reading, paying bills, watching colours, and walking the dog/cat/rabbit. Bit boring really so spice it up with some violent crime

When masturbation feels better than the real thing, it’s time to get a haircut, a real job, and consider donating sperm to a genetic engineering clinic as a way to create a future.

Aquarius Stop wrapping scarves around your dog’s neck. It doesn’t make you a hippy.

This is not the age of a hairy arse. Try a Brazilian. Or if you’re too scared try a Bolivian. It’s all the rage.

SAUCE Sauce Recommended Albums Daft Punk Jack Johnson Evolutionary Vibes VHS or BETA Idelwild Trivium The Flaming Lips Endorphin

Get Into Music Music is cool, seeing your favorite band live is the best..But why not play music yourself?.. You don’t have to be the rock star, just get into it, jam with your mates, learn to play your favorite songs, just pick up your instrument and mellow out.

Barratts have a huge range of awesome instruments at various price points, we can put you in touch with a cool teacher, and provide all the learning media like books, cd’s cdroms & DVD’s to get you going. Barratts music, get into music!

Piesces Just face it: you act like a fish.

You look like a fish. You smell like a fish. You taste like a fish. Take a risk this month.

Come up for air.

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The Scoop EXCLUSIVE: BACKSTAGE AT THE MTV AWARDS The inaugural MTV Australia Video Music Awards busted out in more ways than one when it was held at the iconic Luna Park on March 3. In an Australian first, the awards highlighted the very best in music videos from both home grown and international artists but were overshadowed by queen of controversy Anna Nicole Smith who exposed her prized assets while presenting the award for Video of the Year to the Dissociatives. Bemused front man Daniel Johns even received a personal ravishing from the topless widow while wife Natalie Imbruglia looked on in horror. But it was music that was the real winner on the night with more than 1200 guests and VIPs (and a potential 1 billion TV viewers world wide) being treated to sensational performances by artists such as Simple Plan, Green Day, Grinspoon, Eskimo Joe, The Dissociatives and Missy Higgins.

On the awards front, a trio of artists dominated the night walking away with two gongs each. Delta Goodrem picked up the Best Female Artist and Pepsi Viewers Choice awards, Green Day won Best Rock Group and Best Rock Video for 'American Idiot' and

By Danny Canak wrecks." (Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong commenting "equally" on 'American Idiot' and the Anna Nicole Smith incident.)

"I think it’s cool that we got to civilise the word pimp.

Pimp is a very derogatory statement and we have made it a household name and I’m very proud of that."

(Proud American rapper Xzibit) "I think it’s very sexy for a girl to have an Australian accent. I don’t have a girlfriend but if I have to have one, I’d tell her you know, start practicing." (Simple Plan singer Pierre Bouvier on the Oz accent) "It’s a pretty silly name but I guess 'The Beatles' was a pretty silly name." (Eskimo Joe commenting on their name) "Actually it’s a very silly name ‘Grinspoon’ but it’s just one we had to come up with and unfortunately it stuck so don’t hate us ‘cause we’re beautiful." (Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon -also commenting on his band's name)

say anything right now but it’s kind of like 70s kind of rock. Keeping it real for the kids." Chris Joannou has also been keeping busy producing for the Mess Hall for the past six months. Expect some new material from them in 2005 as well. With all of this activity, the boys seemed in no rush to discuss the next Silverchair record. They said, "We did catch up with Dan backstage and he was in good spirits. Hopefully we’ll do another Silverchair record toward the end of the year or next year…it’s just one of those things at the moment. We’re all quite busy so it’s hard to kind of pinpoint a time." *2004 Australian Idol runner up Anthony Callea was clearly chuffed with the news that his debut single 'The Prayer' is now the highest-selling Australian single of all time. He was even happier to talk about his debut album and its producer Brian Jones. He said, "He’s great to work with and he really guides you through the

"Not getting mobbed in the streets no. I should pay people to come over here and do that." (Keith Urban comparing his success in Australia to the US)

Anna Nicole-Smith a new album. He said, "Basically I’ve just finished my album. It’s taken a bloody long time. It’s coming out mid year this year. I’ve finalized everything and Sony’s cracking the whip and wants me to release it."

"I don’t think that we’ve ever had a music competition that’s had Australian acts and American acts that are on the one competition. It feels good to beat Maroon 5." (Missy Higgins on picking up her Breakthrough Artist award).

*Author and Big Brother host Gretel Killeen also revealed that she has a new book in the pipeline. She said, "It’s going to be about 1995 and it’s called ‘Stupid Cupid’. It’s coming out in October and yes it is about being a TV host but the woman gets ripped off. It’s hilarious, it’s deep and meaningful. It’s one of those life changing books."

"I definitely enjoy playing now more than I ever have."

(Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong) "If you act like an American in Australia you’ll get laughed at but an American in Australia acting like an American – it’s just like great! No offence to our American friends." (Eskimo Joe speaking about some of Carmen Electra’s backstage antics)

Delta Goodrem the Black Eyed Peas triumphed with Best R&B Video & Sexiest Video for 'Hey Mama'. Other winners included Shannon Noll (Best Male Artist), Missy Higgins (Breakthrough Artist), Usher (Best Dance Video for 'Yeah'), Guy Sebastian (Best Pop Video for 'Out With My Baby') and Gwen Stefani (Best Dressed Video for 'What You Waiting For').

"That song is what I think is a great song and I’m very happy to be a part of it. I think it was wonderful to get up and sing a song that I love so much." (Delta Goodrem on singing her duet with boyfriend Brian McFadden)

Hosted by that whacky family collectively known as the Osbournes, the event featured a number of international guests including Carmen Electra, Chingy, Brian McFadden, Ja Rule, Bryan Adams, Switchfoot and Xzibit. But it was the local talent that fired off some of the more unforgettable quotes backstage. Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon commented on the Awards giving the ARIAs a kick up the behind in the entertainment stakes. He said, "It’s all bling tonight but at least it’s fun – and the ARIAs should be fun right?"

He then recalled, “Oh we haven’t won any”. Eskimo Joe, who failed to receive any nominations, were asked just what it would take for them to be nominated. They responded by saying, "I think we’ve just got to sleep with someone famous and it’s all ours.

So tomorrow we’ll probably be nominated for something." The man with the longest surname in Australian rock Ray Thistlethwaight of Thirsty Merc joked about getting himself a stage name. He said, "I’m thinking if I get a stage name, I might add Griffith Smith to the end of Thistlethwaight. And I might change my first name to Trish - Trish Thistlethwaight Griffith Smith.' Bankstown hip hop MC Figg Kidd also provided an insight into how he got his name. He said, "To tell you the truth, I just wanted a name where I could just pick any server and I could get the email address that I wanted. Now Figg Kidd is probably the most ridiculous name you’ve ever heard but the good thing is I’ve got my email and all you guys have to put 01 or an underscore or something in your name so I’m pretty happy with that." The MTV trophy, a platypus with the MTV logo on the bottom, was also a hot topic of discussion. Delta Goodrem joked, "The platypus is a little bigger than the ARIA but I know who would win in a fight." Daniel Johns was clearly still dazed after the Anna Nicole incident when he said, "I’ve always wanted a platypi – seems we only got a platypus which is unfortunate given platypi would have been ideal." But the most memorable quote backstage had to be when Johns was asked what his band were disassociating themselves from. Johns' cheeky response was, "the rest."

*Occasional road worker and former AFL star Warwick Capper provided some light entertainment backstage with some bizarre questions. Like when he asked a

OTHER BACKSTAGE QUOTES Speaking of the rest, here are some other quotes that this columnist was privy to backstage: "I think we’re all idiots equally. It’s nice to watch train

IN OTHER NEWS…

"I really want it to be a lot stronger. The good thing is that everyone is just up in the professionalism. It’s getting a lot stronger and which I think in the next year or two it’s definitely going to be something that’s on the main stage." (Figg Kidd on the oz hip hop scene).

BACKSTAGE GOSS

Simple Plan clearly buffed Ja Rule if he worked out much to which Rule responded, "All the time. At least three or more times a week." Then when Nitty came backstage, there were almost fisticuffs when another journalist tried to outdo Capper in the comedy stakes to which Capper responded, "Leave the funny stuff to me."

Intriguing! *Former Baywatch babe and model Carmen Electra revealed that her husband Dave Navarro (Janes Addiction, ex Red Hot Chili Peppers) has a new band.

According to Electra, they’re called ‘Panic Channel’ and are currently recording. She said, “They’ve been doing a lot of shows and just working on music. I just love to see my husband happy and music makes him happy so I’m happy for him.” She also talked about her own plans to get back into music. She added, "I would love to do music again. Who produces after Prince – he’s the best. I’m definitely open to it and I think now that I started a new group ‘The Bombshells’ I think we’ll have more opportunities to sing and perform." *Silverchair's Chris Joannou and Ben Gillies also talked about some new projects that they're currently working on. Ben Gillies revealed a new unnamed project that will release an album this year. He said, "It’s with a friend of mine and we’ve written it over the last kind of 18 months and we’ve actually finished mastering it a few days ago and hopefully it will come out in the next couple of months. Our band name has actually changed about half a dozen times so I won’t

MUSIC SALES DOWN

Sophie Monk whole recording process and he makes you feel very comfortable and he gets the best result out of you as well so that’s really cool." Of the album he said, "The album’s a big mix – there’s a few power ballads on there and there’s a few songs on there which are the same sort of genre as ‘The Prayer’ and there’s pop tracks on there too so it’s a bit of a mixture. From the word go with the album I’ve had a lot of an input in that I’ve chosen all the songs on there and I’ve co-written a couple. I’ve had a say in virtually everything that’s happening so it’s cool." *2003 Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian revealed that he'd like to do some writing with Diesel. He said, "I’ve actually been wanting to hook up with Diesel. I really dig his writing so I think we’d kind of make a good combination." On a different note, he also mentioned how he has mastered the art of signing autographs. He said, "I was in a gospel band, and it’s weird gospel bands signing autographs, but we did a few tours in the States. And I remember doing some record signings and I was signing ‘Guy T Sebastian’ – like my whole name. After about 1000 I was getting some serious RSI. It was then that I looked across and it was the girl who was in the band Sam and she was doing a little love heart and Sam. So for the rest of the signing I just did ‘Love Guy’ and that kind of stuck so it’s easy. But I’ve got a little trademark with my autograph and I draw like a little smiley afro." He also talked about a lot of the urban talent that we have in this country. He said, "A lot of people have said that I’ve contributed to making urban type flavours a little bit more accepted in this country. There’s a lot of talent in this country that we just don’t look at. There’s a lot that we just kind of don’t expect. We accept it if it’s from America but you know there’s a lot of feel and there’s a lot of soul in Australia." *International urban star Nitty revealed why he had girls in uniform as opposed to the usual skimpy outfits on the clip to his #1 single ‘Nasty Girl’: He said, "What I was actually trying to show was that usually when you see most rap videos you see women wearing like short skirts and tight tops and everything and what I wanted to show was that that was not the only women that are sexy. The working class women are also very sexy. Like the nurses and the doctors and the lawyers and the teachers and everything like that. Sex appeal comes all the way across the border and I wanted people to appreciate the other women that are working and say they’re beautiful just like the other girls that are in the clubs shaking that thing." *Son of Jimmy Barnes and occasional crooner David Campbell was happy to inform that he has completed

ARIA has announced that the wholesale market for recorded music in Australia is continuing to decline. In 2004, overall music sales by volume were down by almost 4% while the overall value fell by 6%. ARIA blamed this overall decline on the continuing effect of competitive entertainment products (such as digital music carriers, advanced mobile phones and nonmusic DVDs), the increasingly competitive retail environment and the impact that such an environment has on wholesale prices, and the significant growth over the last 12 months in the uptake of high speed (broadband) internet access in Australia, which more easily enables the illegal downloading of music.

However, industry commentator Alex Malik disagrees.

According to his analysis, the major record companies released a whopping 1,574 fewer albums, singles and DVDs in 2004 compared to 2003! The study suggests that consumers had less choice than ever before in available titles and that is a more likely explanation as to why they have turned to competing entertainment products and downloads. It also suggests that the major labels are investing less money in developing new artists and this trend is set to continue in 2005. On a positive note, sales of Australian artists actually increased in 2004 - helped along by massive albums from Jet, Shannon Noll, Pete Murray and the John Butler Trio.

BUTTER FINGERING FMR Congratulations to Brisbane's Butterfingers who have just announced that they have signed a licensing deal with Festival Mushroom Records (FMR). And artists chasing a deal take note - Managing Director Michael Parisi gives us an insight into how the band scooped the deal. He says, “My ass is red raw but any band who can write a song with the lyric, `Your Mama's on the top of my things to do list' deserves a recording contract. End of story!” The hip hop/rock four piece plan to head back into the studio shortly to record their 2nd album - the follow up to the 2004 debut `Breakfast At Fatboys'. The album will be released nationally on Valley Trash records through FMR. KYLIE SPEAKS Kylie Minogue finally kicked off her 'Greatest Hits Tour' in Glasgow last month. Before hitting the stage, she told us, "Tonight means so much to me. This show has taken a year to produce, but it's been a lifetime in the making. It's a wonderful opportunity to share some great memories with the audience and a way to celebrate our relationship. Every tour we do somehow becomes bigger than the last, more of everything, including the compulsory glitter and feathers not to mention the multiple costume changes. Here's to a great night in Glasgow and to the start of an amazing tour." The tour hits Australia in May.

Spotlight WHO IS CHEVY RATT PRODUCTIONS?

Monika Zechetmayr’s Art Works

By Catherine Batten

BY ELONA BONNICI other horrors?

Briggs: No, Forest Creatures was my first horror.

Is there alot of support for film makers in Tasmania?

Briggs: No idea, what support, I dont know, tafe, Isaac and family, Tafe helped with the gear.

Ben: We got the heads from there..starts laughing Briggs: Yeah tafe helped with gear equiptment, effects, oh we used the security gueard too, he was an extra in the film.

When I picked up the professional looking DVD, I began to read what Forest Creatures was about. I read, “They were geneticall designed by the government to be perfect fighting machines.

They were created in a high tech laboratory by skilled scientists. What would happen if these beings turned bad and escaped? Nick found out the hard way.

Would you be looking for bands or composers to create some original music for future films?

Briggs: Yeah that would be alot easier definitely, music written and composed for different scenes.

After finding his son brutally murdered in a nearby forest at the hands of the creatures who had taken refuge there, he had nothing left to lose, and nothing to gain, but revenge.

What genre of music would you be interested in for future movies?

Briggs: Yeah 70's music and 80's rock.

Chevy Ratt productions presents A Briggs 'n' Bazz film. I flip to the front cover. It reads, “Stephen Briggs Ben Barrett. Forest Creatures”. Underneath is then a collage of

I heard you had a fetish for 70's music.

Briggs: yeah I have always loved it Are you entering into any film festivals this year?

Briggs: If they wanted us too, I guess. I have sent Forest Creatures to Roger Scholes a producer on the mainland , he is going to watch and review it.

So do you act, write produce and direct in all?

Briggs: At the moment, yeah.. laughing, but in the future I will be directing,writing and editing.

Ben: Co writer, and assistant director, at the moment acting too.

Isaac: Camera man.

Didnt you win an award?

Isaac: Yeah I won a media award, and when I filmed for Sally Wilson for a film called " Frisson" which came a close second in the inaugural student screen festival.

movie stills and below it reads.....THEY AINT NO RABBITS..... "Oh my God" I say outloud looking at Isaac, "It's Brigg's movie" answers Isaac laughing.Suddenly I'm remembering the today tonight skint of Isaac , Ben's and Brigg's college assignemnts that kind of got a cult following, due to these three's bizarre quirky offhand humour, stupid humour, yes but of the tear jerking, laughing so hard nothing comes out kind.

I beg Isaac to let me watch his DVD, within minutes you can't help but laugh your ass off at the incredulous length Briggs goes too, I mean this man has no shame to get a laugh, and keep his audience entertained.

next 25 years were devoted to an academic career in North America with extensive travels such as to Japan and elsewhere. Most importantly, for stress release, in 1981, she began to paint. While she worked at Penn State University she already had exhibitions in galleries in State College and Lemont in Pennsylvania and galleries in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

I first met Monika in Ceramic 5 Studio in Launceston. She had retired from the trails and tribulations of academic life. She was studying for a Degree in Art Craft and Design at TAFE Launceston and experimenting with clay as an expressive tool. The driving force behind this study was to find a medium within which to express and put forward all the ideas and emotions that the Australian landscape, foremost the “outback”, had engendered in her.

Yet clay proved to be too restrictive curtailing the sense of freedom. Its only use came about in the free sculptured and thrown (not on the wheel) landscape plates.

I heard you had some problems with the music for the film - the soundtrack. What happened?

Briggs: Copywriting music to film is expnsive to use and have that right.

Isaac: Although Colleges have permission as long as you include them in your credits and as long as its a college production.

Will he succeed? Or will he become just anotehr victim of the forest creatures?”

2004 was a very busy year for Tasmanian Artist Monika Zechetmayr, an Australian artist living in Rosevears, West Tamar Valley, in Tasmania. The year started with the successful Northern Visions, an exhibition of paintings, “landscape” plates and scarves at Launceston’s Highfield Gallery. It focused on a recent three-months outback trek travel.

A few months later Monika and her husband, Peter, ventured into the vastness of the Simpson Desert. These two journeys’s experiences culminated in a solo exhibition at the Arts Alive Access Space Studio. This time, we were showered with the beauty of Terra Australia – My Journey from Tasmania to the Kimberley (Nov-Dec. 2004). A lot for Launceston, 300 visitors saw her work, she sold 50% of her works on opening night alone.

Utilizing her personal perspective and experiences and both visual and sensory perception her works show strength and sensitivity. During these months-long adventures into the remote lands sometimes alone, in company or with her ever supportive partner Peter Monika finds her inspiration in this strong and inspiring remote land.

Monika has a rich and diverse background in the arts. Bavaria, the country of her birth, is a country entrenched in all the arts with a heritage of preservation and enhancement of all genres.

The arts is steeped in the history of her family and their devotion to the beautiful of all kind.

Because she was surrounded by art, she decided to focus on science. In addition to her career focus she also left the European soil (M.Sc. University of Washington, Seattle; Ph.D. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada). The

So any other projects in the works?

Isaac laughing" tell them about Ned and Stanley."..

Briggs: Oh nooooooo, They are two boys I play both characters , they are abit simple, and its about there daily adventures in the house doing stupid things.

Where do you find your actors?

Briggs: We prefer to use people we know Ben: yeah their free laughs Isaac: We did a take off Of Jackass once called Fat ass.

Ben: yeah I would tie a rope around Briggs, while he was infront of a bench and then pull the rope on a bike down a hill.

Briggs: sighs and I would fall on my face.

Most humiliating time infront of a camera guys?

Briggs: humiliating where do I start.........The Uno Stacker championship..I play a mentally ill guy called Coathanger Smith, ( we used a coathanger as braces, so the coathangers wrapped around my head, the wire

I thought I would catch up with Stephen Briggs this 19 year old Launceston based film maker of Chevy Ratt productions, his accomplice Ben Barrett and camera man Isaac Dare and pick their brains.

What inspired Your first full length horror film Forest Cretaures?

I have always enjoyed horror films, like Sam Remi and Peter Jackson films, I like their style so I wanted to make my own.

Were the characters basd on anyone in particular?

We wanted the characters to be annoying.

And to Die! I loved the dorky little boy character, i have to know who was he based on?

Briggs: Well....ummmmm pauses cringes..I guess it was based on my early childhood.

Ben and Isaac start laughing laughing ,he was so insanely orcquid, I loved him... how many short films have you made?

Briggs: Half a dozen short films...comedies All with the same sick dry peculiar humour? No

M pushing my lips up above my teeth) and i have 3 shirts on.

Isaac: I dressed up as Moses and stood on Kings Park Wall.

Ben: No none for me, I leave that to Briggs.

All in the name of Art, so where can people look out for more of your films?

Briggs: When Chevvy Ratt productions get our website up,I will post it on the sauce forum online.

Cool thanks guys.

Chevy Ratt: thanks

From 7th April

at the...

375 Elizabeth St. Nth Hobart 6234 6318 www.statecinema.com.au

Xtreme Sports - Skateboarding

West Hobart Bowl Bash

By Jimmy McMacken

George Newsholme Australian Skateboarding Champion Well, when I was growing up in Tas, the person I most looked up to would have to have been Laif (Johannesen). (laughter) Why’s that?

Skating with Laif was just the best possible thing. (laughs) You should definitely put that in because Laif will be digging it.

My next question was who’s your favourite skater, but I guess that would be Laif.

(Laughs) Laif would come a close second to possibly Nate Jones or Mike Carrol.

A few years ago I met George and he was a quiet, polite kid that had more natural ability on a skateboard than anyone I’d ever seen.

Three years down the track and he’s the Australian Skateboarding Champion. He’s the hottest young kid on Element Skateboards (the biggest skate company in the world) and he’s just spent a month travelling the country for the feature interview in Australia’s biggest skate mag.

But you wouldn’t really know that from the following interview with the young ripper.

Believe me I tried to get him to tell me all about being Australian Champ, but all he wanted to talk about was his buddies and shooting the breeze. Why’s that you ask?...Well a few years ago I met George and he was a quiet, polite kid, that had more natural ability on a skateboard than anyone I’d ever seen and with all that’s happened to him, he hasn’t changed a bit.

For those of you not in the know, the ‘West Hobart Bowl’ is one of the gnarliest, roughest, meanest and most harsh places to skate in the world. Its the second oldest sk8 park in the southern hemisphere and believe me it’s a rare beast!

Hey George, thanks for doing this for us.

No worries Jimmy.

So what’s been goin on mate? What you been up to?

Not much. Just constantly skating. I’m having a rest now cause I’ve been skating flat out in the last five months, trying to get stuff done.

Now I’m just going to rest for a week or so.

The ‘Bowl Bash’ is not just a comp, it’s a JAM. That means everyone just sk8s their asses off, drinks beer, eats sausages and basically does whatever the fuck they want while Duncan (the main man) hands out some prizes whenever he feels like it. That means if someone eats shitthey might get a prize. If little grommy Aiden Knight does a Rock n Roll for the first time-he gets a prize. If George Newsholme throws a back disaster revert (fucking sick)-he doesn’nt get shit! That’s the way the day works and it was all about fun.

So what music you listening to at the moment?

Music I’ve been getting into lately is just rap music.

Really (I ask this question because every time I’ve travelled with George in the past he’s listened to the craziest 70s and 80s music) Yeah. Straight up. The most gangster gangster rap that ever existed. (laughs) That’s a bit of a change for you isn’t it?

No not really. I’ve always listened to that kind of music.

You’ve always been a gangsta? (laughs) Yeah.

Movies. What’s your favourites? (without a moments hesitation) Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Ace Ventura – When Nature

Ok, first up the boring stuff, your age, where you were born, and where did you grow up?

I’m 18 years old; I was born in England, moved to Australia and grew up in Hallet Cove.

everyone else whoe came along and shredded the beast.

I guess life has changed a bit since you won the Australian Skate Titles, what’s been going on in your life since then?

(Shy laughter) Since I won the AST?

This event would not have happened without Duncan Ewington, so give him a pat on the back if you see him. Also pats on the back to Vans, Independent, Element, Globe and Black Label for their support.

Yeah.

Um. I’m not sure, just heaps of travelling and stuff.

Props to everyone who showed up and keep an eye out for the next Bowl Bash in the not so distant future!

Where you been travelling?

Back and forth from Melbourne to Sydney a fair bit and now I’m in Adelaide.

So who have you been skating with?

Um. Pedro Dais and Josh Rio a bit when I was in Melbourne and Sydney and Jamie Hawley.

Now I’ve been skating with a lot of people. This guy called Eric that I live with and all the skaters in Adelaide.

Anyone else?

Just the Element guys. Hold on Jimmy, there’s someone at the door (shuffle, shuffle, etc.) sorry man.

Highlights were Josh Evins with his stand up, frontside, Judo grind on k.t (fuck n what?) Alex Gavins front feebles, Pogas shuv-it rock n roll, the three Bens, Willy Santos just being there, Dayne Brummets nose blunt slide and Sean Hollands front lips. Big shout outs to Gorge Newsholme (Aust sk8 champ), Matt Maunder (front man from Mindsnare & all around fucking legend) and Esther Cody (sweetie). All from Element and for showing their faces. Sean (editor foe A.S.M) and Steve Gourlay (photographer) for coming down for the event.

Also to the Premium team for dragging themselves out of bed after putting on a huge show at Taroona the night before and to

That’s what gets you going?

Yeah. And mini ramp. Stuff like that, its heaps of fun.

So where are you living now?

I’m residing at Cristies Beach in Adelaide, S.A.

This was undoubtedly the biggest weekend of sk8 boarding Tassie has ever seen and the level of sk8ing was off the fucking hook. Not only by the visiting pros, but at both events over the weekend the locals ripped and proved they can mix it with the best.

This was the fourth time the bowl bash had been on and with the sun shining, the premium team in town (after the Taroona demo) and heaps of smiling faces, this was the sickest one yet.

What’s your favourite thing to skate?

Um, most enjoyable thing for me to skate would probably be ledges and flatground and stuff like that.

So being based in Tas was it hard trying to come up? (phone rings) –Sorry Jimmy there’s a ridiculous phone ringing now. (pause etc) So was it hard being based in Tas? Yeah it was. It was very difficult.

So is that why you moved away from Tassie?

No, It was just because I wanted to move back to here (Adelaide). Living in Tassie wasn’t much fun Who did you look up to in the Adelaide and Tassie skate scenes growing up?

Um, I’m not sure. Just heaps of different people I guess.

Come on bro, name some names.

Calls, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, Hang Em High, The Outlaw Josie Wales, A Fist Full of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and High Plains Drifter. (laughs) Well you’ve got to give us a Clint Eastwood quote.

A Clint Eastwood quote? Oh shit, I don’t know what an appropriate one is.

The mule (I’ve had to put up with many of George’s quotes on roadtrips) About the mule? Aw shit I haven’t watched that one for a while. Alright. See, I understand that you guys are joking, but you see, the mule, the mule he just don’t get it. (laughs) Ok so what’s George up to tomorrow?

Um, just resting and stuff. I’m gonna go down Beach Rd and probably buy myself some tie dyed t shirts. I might even make some.

Nice.

Yeah, me and my friend will probably make a few tie dyed shirts.

What about in a week?

Skating a little bit. I’ve been resting just because I’ve been a bit sore of late, Ill be rolling around and hopefully (sarcasm sets in) fully skating intensely in a while.

What about in a month?

Just skating flat out again and hopefully, yeah, well HOPEFULLY, if all goes well with Element stuff, I might do a little more travelling and stuff.

I think that might be on the cards.

Continued next page...

Xtreme Sports Continued from previous page...

And in a year?

Just keep skating and see what happens, see where it goes. Hopefully it’ll all be good because it’s the most enjoyable thing to do.

So after becoming Aussie champ expectations are kinda high, if not from yourself because I know you’re mellow, but from people around you. Are you feeling any pressure?

G– No. Not at all. I’m not feeling any pressure, I’m just enjoying myself and I’m not letting any of that kind of fuss pressure me or anything. It’s just a skate competition, it’s not like (pause) It’s not like it’s super duper important.

So do you want to turn pro? Are you trying to make a career out of this?

It would be awesome, but I’ll just see how it goes and everything. (pause, changes the subject) Um, yeah, no doubt I’ll be coming down to visit you guys in the near future Jimmy.

Sick.

Yeah hopefully I’ll be able to get down there soon, cause my mums still living down there.

So where’s the best place you’ve been?

For skating?

For skating or anything I guess. Whatever you want.

Um, skating wise it’s like a toss up between Melbourne and Sydney, because they’re both really, really good. But just to hang out, it’ definitely Adelaide. It’s rad being here.

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

Um, um, holy crap. Somewhere like (pause) I don’t know.

The moon?

Oh, anywhere?

Yeah.

Um shit, where? Um if I could go anywhere it would be to somewhere like (laughs). I don’t even know. What a difficult question. You wouldn’t even think it would be. (pause) Maybe just America or somewhere like that. Or maybe somewhere more like Antarctica. I’ve never been somewhere like there. (laughs) Any girls?

Not really. But maybe there’ a girl that I like and maybe one day I’ll able to ask her on date or something. I don’t know (laughs). Jimmy that was just for fun (laughs).

So who are your sponsors?

Element Skateboards, Lakai Shoes, Von Zipper Sunglasses and Red Herring Surf.

For the grommies out there, how did you hook those sponsors up? How did it come about?

Well a lot of it had to do with Red Herring, those guys helped me out enormously. Ages and ages ago, Jono (Red Herring Team Manager) told me to put a tape together, I did and he sent it to the nice people at Element and they sort of hooked me up. So it came through Red Herring and the tape that I sent off and now it’s worked out real good.

COMPETITIONS:

Sam Faulkner Sam Faulkner, at just 16, won both the titles of Junior and Open Women’s Champion at the recent Rip Curl West Coast Classic 2005.

It’s cheesy, but the future does, indeed, look bright for this Clifton girl. We caught up with her at another competition, the Rip Curl East Coast Classic, at Scammander, after she had just made it to the finals of the junior section.

How does it feel to have won that?

It was a bit of a shock, for the Open Section, but it's pretty good.

What do you think it's been about your surfing that has got you those?

I don't know, becausee I used to never be able to surf well in competitions, but I guess I'm getting the hang of it.

Cool. Is there anyone you want to thank or anything?

Yeah, my sponsors and everyone that’s helped me out along the way, especially my mum and dad and all my homies All your dawgs. (laughs) Yeah, all my dawgs Cheers George That’s alright Jimmy.

Win one of 3 Double Passes to Even & Stingfellow @ Republic on 15/4/05 18+ Photo ID Required Competition ending 13/4/05: Name:...........................................AGE................

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What do you think was the standard of the competition, honestly?

The girls' standard has kept increasing. All the girls are improving heaps. It never used to be a big competition with the girls, but now more girls are starting to go in it.

Generally, there are more guys surfing than girls.

Yeah, lots.

How did you get into surfing in the first place?

I moved to Clifton when I was in grade four and, because it was a surf beach, I asked my parents to get me a surfboard for Christmas, and it all happened from then.

And you still live at Clifton?

Yes. How much sponsorship did you have before the titles and have you had an approaches since?

No, I haven't, at all.

No sponsorship?

Well, I have, sort of, with Barney 'Boards. I just get cheaper boards from him.

What's the best thing about surfing for you?

Competitions?

No, just the fun of it, really.

How do you handle the cold water?

Oh, you get used to it. Hah. Hah. In winter, you only go numb after about two hours.

And what's the best thing about surfing in Tasmania?

There are a lot of surfing competitions, not in your local area, so you get to surf other places.

Have you surfed on the mainland, at all?

Yeah, I competed over there, at the nationals, for the last couple of years.

Do you like surfing in tassie better than other places, or it doesn't matter, just as long as there's a wave?

Yeah, I love it in Tassie, 'cause it's not as crowded.

Luke Johannsen So, two brothers in two years. How much preparation did you put in before the competition?

I surf as much as I can. two or three times a week, I get to surf. I work full-time, so I can only get to surf two or three times a week. That's pretty good preparation. I go to the gym every now and then, as well.

PHOTO BY DALE CUMMING

So who have you been living with in Adelaide?

I’m living with this guy Eric Hoburg and we just live a very easygoing carefree existence.

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What do judges look for in surfing contests?

Big powerful turns and long rides.

Cool. Anything else you want to say George?

Uh, no. But how’s Hobart Jimmy?

Yeah all good. Laif was in here before.

Laif, doing it up. (laughs)

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So what are the titles you hold now?

I think it's State Junior and Open Women's Champion.

Why do you think that is?

I don't know. It's just a male-dominated sport.

Luke Johannsen, 27, took out the recent Open Men's title at The Rip Curl West Coast Classic, 2005. It was a day of high emotions for Luke, as it was the anniversary of his parent's wedding and his father and surfing mentor passed away last year. We spoke with Luke about the experiences of the day.

It's the number one question for all journo's to ask, and a bit corny at that, but how did it feel winning the title?

It was pretty good. It was a pretty emotional time. It was my parent's wedding anniversary on the day that I won, but my 'old man' passed away last year.

Oh, ok. I'm sorry for your loss, mate.

That's, ok. No one, really, knew that it was mum and dad's wedding anniversary until the presentation.

So, it was very special.

Yeah, it was. My brother, Jy, won the title last year and dad got to see that.

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Where do you live that you've got access to waves?

I live at Oakdowns, near Lauderdale.

Honestly, what do think of the standard of the competition?

The standard was pretty good. The first round was pretty ordinary, but from the quarters onwards, you had to pull your finger out. You had to go for it, basically.

Will this lead to you competing in other places, other than Tasmania?

There's the possibility of competing in the nationals. I came third overall, in the state titles, but I think one of the first two guys can't go.

How are the state titles decided?

There are four rounds.

How did you you get into surfing in the first place?

Through my dad. We'd go to the beach. The beach was where we used to hang out. He's been the biggest influence on my surfing.

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Do you feel like you get closer to him, when you're out there?

Yeah. And a week after the day that dad passed away was the East Coast Classic, one of the other rounds, and my brother won and I came second, so that was pretty good too. We've had a pretty good season between us.

Have you got any sponsorship or attracted any since this State Titles competition?

Yeah, I've been sponsored for a a few years. I've been surfing since I was about 10 and I've been sponsored since I was 14 or 15. Various different companies, but I've got solid ones now, which back me pretty well.

Surfers talk about being close to nature and away from the rubbish of modern society. Is that what's best about surfing for you?

I like going to the beach and it's not a team sport. I like to play team sports and hang out with friends, but with surfing you get to hang out at the beach and you're the one with the options. With a team sport, like footy, you have to wait for someone to kick the ball to you.

How do you handle the cold water?

Not too bad. Just get a decent wet-suit and just put up with it. There's always a fire and you can always get warmer, with a jumper or something to get you warm (afterwards).

Have you ever had a shark experience?

I've had one, but that was in Queensland, and it wasn't that major. It went past and then came back again. If came back one more time, I was out of there, but it didn't.

Where's your favourite spot to surf in Tasmania?

Boneyard, which is at Marion Bay.

Special Feature

67 Special

own back, before we were signed to a record company and then FMR picked up on it. When we signed with them we went straight in to record the album and we decided to release the single EP to get people’s interest going a bit more for the album and, hopefully, people get to hear our name, around. We’ll tour off the back off it for a while and people will get to know we put on a good live show and our album will be coming out in June and hopefully, by that time, there’ll be a bit of a “domino-effect” in place.

Talking of your mates before, how important have they been to your career so far, in terms of supporting your gigs, loading in and bumping out?

Especially at the start of the whole process, when we were just getting off the ground and playing gigs around Melbourne in, kind-of, shitty pubs and stuff, we’d have ten or twelve people and calling our mates every weekend to come down. They were really good to us and a lot did come down. Now, we’re at the point where we don’t have to call, but they still come to the gigs, which is good. They are important. Having a close friendship group around that will support you and they keep on telling you your music’s good and you believe them. It always takes a while to get off the ground and friends are a part of getting it off the ground.

Does Tassie still have reputation in Melbourne for everyone having two heads?

Hah. Hah. Hah. Not really, but it does seem like a place where people either go to hide or are running away from stuff. Been a lot of ex-crims down there. Been a lot of stories. Lovely people.

They love their live music down there. They “tongue” for it down there.

(My mobile goes off) Go for it.

When Ash Santilla and Gavin Campbell met each other in their hometown of Benalla in 1994, it was Ash who overheard Gav playing Led Zeppelin's 'Black Dog' on guitar and was immediately drawn to Gav's ability to play this fine classic riff. The pair, who'd each been fed blues and rock'n'roll from an early age, subsequently built a strong bond on their passion for rock'n'roll.

After a few years of separation, Gav and Ash found each other again in Melbourne in 2001 and began writing furiously. They soon recruited Ben Dexter on drums, Louis Macklin on keys and Bryan Dochstader on bass, and 67Special was formed. A natural ability to write, arrange, improvise and rock was present within each member of the band and by early 2003, 67Special had recorded their first demo at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne with Producer/Engineer Dave Davis.

Dave Williams caught up withGavin Campbell to chat about their new EP Boys and Girls out on Festival Mushroom Records.

Hey, how you doing, Dave?

Good, mate. How are you?

I’m excellent.

Oh, cool (surprised).

Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Up here in Sydney, this is excellent. Hah. Hah. Hah. How are you? You’re not excellent?

but I moved down about four or five years ago with Ash. Your brother?

Aaah … no, he’s the lead singer of the band.

Sorry. Ok. I’m getting people mixed up.

Hah. Hah. Hah. Your brother is in the band, though?

No, no.

Fuck. I’ve got totally confused.

That’s Jet, mate. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. There goes one of my questions.

Hah. Hah. Hah. And … how bored are you with interviews?

No, not at all, as long as the questions are good.

Hah. Hah. Hah. Every now and then you get interviewers who throw in a few strange questions. I think there was one, in New Zealand, asking, if I was a horse, what would I be called in a horse-race.

From my point of view, it is a challenge to come up with interesting questions.

Exactly. You, probably, get a lot of similar responses and have to think up something different to get different responses.

I’ve got one of those, “If you were a …” questions, but we’ll get to that later.

Awesome. Hah. Hah. Hah.

I am excellent.

Yeah?

I saw your video clip the other night on Rage.

Terrific. What did you think?

Just don’t ask me at what.

Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Cool.

I thought it was great.

Hah. Hah. Hah.

So, what have you been doing today?

Just got into the FMR (Festival Mushroom Records) offices and had a couple of interviews, so far today, which has been … pretty cool. Had a couple of radio stations in different regional towns, which has been funny … they have quite a similar and distinctive voice timbre. So … Hah. Hah. Hah.

Excellent! Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Good answer.

How about me?

Oh … aaaaah …. I think you could work on it, Dave.

I’ll try and “English” myself-up, now. (In my most proper voice) I’ll try and speak correctly.

Hah. Hah. Hah. You’re from Melbourne aren’t you?

Yeah, I grew up in Benalla in north-east Victoria,

How much did you enjoy that? Making videos is a slow process. Did it get on your nerves?

It is a bit of a long day and with the “Boys and Girls” video clip we had about 50 extras down there and we wrangled in a lot of our mates for it.

It was about six or seven hours for them, in a small, confined tunnel, so I’m not sure I’ve got too many mates left now. Hah. Hah. But they put in a really good effort for us and it came out all right, so we’re very lucky and thankful for them.

You’ve done two EP’s in two years. Is that something you’re going to try and keep up and when is the LP coming?

The first one, “Hey There, Bomb” we did off our

Hey Steve, I’m just doing an interview with the lead guitarist of a band called, “67 Special”. I’ll get back to you, all right That’s one of my mates. Go away. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. I’d better turn my phone off, or we’ll be doing this all arvo.

Yeah, so … we’ve got Chopper down here and people are either really gentle, or … but I think it’s a pretty tough place.

It is a tough place. When we went down there, we weren’t sure how the gigs were going to go, ‘cause we went down with Dallas Crane and it was a fantastic response and they all loved Dallas Crane and a few people got to see us as well. Hah. Hah. When will you come down again?

Probably for the album tour in June or July. It was a great response down there. And when we were there Grinspoon, Regurgitator and another (mainland) band were all there at the same time, so there is definitely a market for it.

We’re getting more interstate bands here all the time. Here goes my first “funny” question.

Beautiful. Go for it. Hah. Hah. Hah. Is the title (of your single and EP), “Boys and Girls” a cheap marketing ploy so that the EP appeals to everyone, except hermaphrodites and trans-gender individuals?

Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah. Aaaaaah.

Yes. Hah. Hah. We definitely didn’t want to piss anyone off with this EP, so we tried to get everyone in on it.

“Funny” question number two. If all the members of “67 Special” were in the circus, what would each of you be doing and why?

That’s a good question, actually. Let’s think of Ash, the lead singer as the ring-master. Let’s consider Benny, our drummer, as the lion-tamer, ‘cause he’s always the one putting out fires.

Brian and Louie, the bass player and keyboard player would be a couple of clowns. Hah. Hah. Hah. I could put myself in a bit of strife saying what I’d be.

Oh, go on!

Probably … could be anything, mate … the bearded lady, or … a trapeze artist.

Do you want to ‘fess-up about something?

I’ll wait for the album release … get more promo out of it. Hah. Hah. Hah. Dire Straits once sang that the rock business was “money for nothing” and “chicks” for free. Is that how you find it?

Not yet. Maybe when the album comes out. Hah. Hah. Hah. No, not yet. We haven’t quite seen

that success or fame. We’re still all hungry for it and writing lots and haven’t been taken up by the pleasures of fame. Hopefully, we won’t take advantage of it too much, if it happens, cause I’ve just been reading Motley Crue’s autobiography, which is great, and excess is definitely one of the things we’ve got to watch out for.

Have you got a really interesting “rider” written into your gig contracts at the moment?

No, just a couple of slabs and a bottle of vodka at the moment, but we’ll be firing some Evian in there soon and fresh towels and socks. Hah. Hah. Hah. What sort of beer do you like?

I love Boags, so that’s why Tassie’s great as well.

I love my Boags.

Is that the beer you specify in your contract?

We try to, but most of the time it’s just domestic, Carlton Draught, but when we’re in Tassie, they’re nice enough to give it to us.

Has it been a long hard struggle, generally?

Yeah, there have been a lot of tough gigs, playing to no people in small towns, but, as the manager keeps telling us, it just makes you stronger and everything is about putting into the live performance and making it more professional. That’s what the next couple of years are about, for us, making us more professional, making sure the audience is enjoying it as much as we are and getting in on the live act. It’s a very important thing.

Did you hear about Tim Rogers scrapping with his band at The Falls Festival down here?

Yeah, and the Missy Higgins thing.

Have there been any biffs in the band.

It’s an interesting question, ‘cause we live in each other’s pockets. We spend so much time together. Apart from touring together we are best mates outside of the band as well. We do like to socialise together as well, in the same friendship groups. We do have the occasional tiff, but we know what pisses each other off and we tend to work around each other and know when we’re getting on each other’s nerves. Hopefully, we’re smart enough and mature enough not to push each other. I’m sure it’ll get tougher, to manage.

Lastly, playing to small crowds and with the late nights etc, how do you keep yourself motivated?

Well, we have been playing the same set for the past year and a half, except for the odd new song here and there, cause we’ve had this album together for a while. Before the show, for myself, I sit by myself and focus and think about the show. When people are inside waiting for you and they’ve paid to see you and they’re really interested in how the show’s going to be and, if it’s Friday night, they want to make a night of it, you’ve got to do that for them. That’s how I revup.

How important is it that you guys are mates outside the band, because I know bands who spend no time together outside the band.

They are really good musicians and they get together as a band, but they don’t seem to spend much time together outside and, to me, it seems to have an influence on their set.

It does work differently for each band, but for us we’re friends away from the music as well, but we can, any day of the week, get together and have low-key jam sessions at each other’s houses and have a few beers and relax. Before a night of going out, we can pick up a guitar with each other and be mates enough to say, “That’s a piece of shit,” and not get offended by it and not step on anyone’s egos. Just be mates enough to go, “You’re right. That does sound like shit.”

That’s all I’ve got. Interesting at all for you?

Yeah, it was good. You warmed into it well, David. Hah. Hah. Hah. Maybe, it was excellent?

Hah. Hah, Hah, Fantastic. Was it all right for you, as well?

Yeah, look it was beautiful. I’m going to have a cigarette now.

Cool. Hah. Hah. Hah. Me too, Hah. Hah. Hah. Excellent. See you down in Tassie, mate.

See ya.

Profiles

Hot Mod Belinda Forster’s 97 Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi

Bartender of the month Emma Thorold James Hotel Name: Emma Thorold Venue: James Hotel Address: 122 York Street Launceston Phone: 6334 7231 How long have you done this work? Just over a year.

Car: Make/Model: Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi ‘97 Colour/Paint: Silver Engine: Inline 4cylinder + Computer Horsepower: 95KW Suspension: Lowered a bit, Adjusted.

Rims: 17” Alloy OZ Racing Rubber: Front: Silverstone FTZ Sport Low Profile, Back: Michelin Pilot SX Trim: Grey Cloth Steering Wheel: Mitsubishi sports Sound System: Pioneer CD Player Standard Speakers Exhaust: Extractors - Twin Remus Exhaust Spoilers: EVO IV Body Kit with rear spoiler.

Extras: Tinted windows, electric sunroof, electric windows, Ralliart stick duco.

Owner: Name: Belinda Forster Age: 24 Occupation: Nursing Student When did you first get into cars?

How did you get started? 1st One Why did you buy/modify this car? Looks Awesome, cheap to run, to do it up wont cost a heap.

How did you pay for it? Money!

How much have you spent?Nothing, Its only 10 days old.

What was the most challenging part?Not modyfiying it.

What's the most most memorable experience you've had with the car? Taking it to the drags.

How fast will it go?As fast as you want, maybe 180km/h How fast have you taken it?160km/h How many points have you got left on your licence?All my points, “I’ll never get caught” Do you race? No. Is it good for pulling the fellas/chicks?

Insurance cost? Getting Quotes.

What's next for this car? Clear Tail Lights, nice gear stick, pedals, amp & speakers, filter. Only a student!

What's your ultimate, dream car? Gemini, just joking! Dodge Viper, it was good at need for speed in grade 11

How did you get started? My daddy wants me to own a pub one day so he can drink in it..hehe.

Where have you worked before? Making coffee @ the Coffee Tram What do you enjoy most about bartending?

Happy Faces, being under the pump.

And Dislikes? Bogans What are some of your favourite licenced premesis? Lonnies (l’ton) & Halo (H’bt) What is your favourite drink? Vodka / Cranberry What drink do you like to most to make and why? “Head to Head” (Tequilla, peach shnapps and apple juice) Its a different taste for Launceston.

Describe your ultimate Bar: Wicked lighting, crankin tunes, great staff.

Have you had a bartending mentor or someone you admire in the industry? Anyone who is willing to teach me new things - Mac Daddy, G-ROX, Hoppa.

What makes a great bartender? Momory, what different people drink, and speed, pace.

Tell us one of your bartending secrets: Every bartender should own a bar blade and know how to use it !!

Advice for aspiring bartenders? Be a good patron first.

To make things better, Tassie bars should have more...? Dresscodes.

And less? Of the same kind of bars... its all dance clubs or true pubs, theres nothing different.

Behind The Scenes Makeda

By Elona Bonnici Behind the Scenes - the backbone to any industry, especially the entertainment industry. Sauce is going to be investigating careers which are as necessary as the performers in the limelight. Although they may seem invisible, their profession is undeniably crucial to the artist.

I was looking for some interesting people to interview when I bumped into Makeda Smith, Hollywood’s Queen of PR. I was so fascinated by her story that I decided to interview her, as she is the publicist and promoter of stars and musicians. Even though celebrities, musicians and personalities are talented in their own right, it takes a good team behind them to sculpt their fame into a polished presentation to the public. So, for my first behind the scenes article, I went straight to the top. Makeda Smith, from Jazzmyne Public Relations, is a woman who started in this business 20 years ago from home, a single mother, a determined spirit and a passionate business woman who strives for perfection. She knocks down barriers and crushes obstacles in her path.

Makeda Smith's clients include DMX, Mac Dre, WORLD CLASS WRECKIN' CRU, Vibe, The Source, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Vanessa Williams, Ike turner, The Kid Rock Tour, as well as a smorgasbord of other celebrities, Artists, film makers and music producers.

So we decided to go behind the scenes and find out what Public relations is all about, after all without it, we the public wouldn’t know who the celebs are!

Can you describe your business for our readers?

I am a publicist. I generate media exposure for celebrities, businesses, and special events. That’s the short end of it.

The long end of it is as a publicist, I influence what people think about and how they think about it !

Can you tell us about your humble beginnings, what was the biggest challenge you faced?

I quit my job one day as a publicist working for someone else, and started my own business from my home with no savings. Eighteen plus years later, and I am still happily working from home!

My biggest challenge in the beginning was getting clients to pay me on time!

How hard was it breaking into such a male dominated industry, without any financial backing?

I never viewed being Black and Female as a deterrent. I consider it a total positive. Being female and black, I draw on a huge reservoir of power from our many roles models and past ancestors.

In my lowest moments, I think on how so many before me have met challenges far greater than me and succeeded… so I ask the Mother God for blessing to do as they did … and I continue on .

Also, when you are a female in a male dominated industry – woman power can take you far! Women are the mothers of the universe.

With regard to the lack of financial backing … God(dess) is my source.

Who stood by your business and you in the early idea stages when " jazzmyne" was in its embryonic state, and how did their support help you?

My immediate family was always tremendously supportive. There will always be naysayers and haters … but I have a strong will and I don’t hear them !

When I first started my agency, folks said: “you can’t work from home” and a “black client base will not be profitable.”

Almost 20 years later – and now everyone works from home! And with my black client base, I’m now recognized as a pioneer and specialist in urban entertainment!

Can you tell us about 'the moment' you knew this was what you wanted to do as a career?

I’ve known I wanted to have a public relations career since I was in high school. I don’t recall the moment. But its in my blood!

Who was your breakthrough client and how did you feel at that moment when you secured that first big contract?

I don’t really recall who was my breakthrough client. Several folks I have worked with in the past have gone on to become huge stars, i.e. Paula Abdul (American Idol), Kevin Eubanks ( The Tonight Show with Jay Leno), Jamie Foxx ( Ray ). I have been blessed to have always had an exciting client base. Even now I can claim Playboy TV as a client, which is a wonderful coup.

Who inspires you and why?

My ancestors inspire me daily. Their perseverance is the reason we are here today Tell us the best, the worst and the weird parts of your job?

The best - it can be exciting at times and the money is good. The worst entertainers are crazy personality types, and it takes a lot to deal with them. The weird - Hollywood is Babylon – so I have to stay balanced and spiritually grounded.

When I have a risqué project – like a gangsta rapper – I make sure to take on a pro bono account for something or someone charitable to keep the karma good !

What advice would you give to people who are interested in Public Relations within the music industry?

Take on an internship at a pr company to learn the ropes.

What makes a Good PR person in your eyes? A good pr person is an ethical one. One who delivers her best work and effort on the client’s behalf.

And of course who do you listen to when your not working, who is your favourite muscian?

I love Kem ( Kemistry ) - his music is very healing! I love jazz as well .. its good for the soul!

Rock Salt

COG COG are a three-piece from Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The story goes drummer Lucius Borich, left for America to live, work, and pursue other musical endeavours. Nevertheless, he maintained contact with his friend and previous bandmate, Flynn Gower. The guitarist, meanwhile, had holed himself up, practicing and working on new material. The two continued to exchange riffs and ideas over long-distance. The idea for an new project had begun to germinate, and Gower, through necessity, was teaching himself to sing. As the project took on new form, Borich returned from his exile, and liking what he heard, took up his drumming role again. Thus, in 1998, COG were formed, a new band that would eventually see Flynn Gower at the vocal helm, simultaneously handling guitar duties, with his younger brother Luke Gower, eventually joining in on bass.

August 2004. Enter Sylvia Massy, an American producer who had worked with such names as Tool, REM, System of a Down and Spiderbait.

Enter Aloha Management, whose stable of artists included such bands as Shihad and The Superjesus. And enter Paul Krige and his new independent label, Different Music. In a whirlwind of motion, whereby everything came together at the right place, right time, the members of COG found themselves on a plane to San Francisco, to work with Massy in Weed, California, and record their recently released debut album, “The New Normal”. It is the shit! I predict MASSIVE things for this band and am looking forward to their upcoming gigs in Tassie.

I was lucky enough to speak with guitarist, Flynn Gower about the band, the album and good art, amongst other things.

Hey, I was really impressed with your CD, “The New Normal” and the single “Real Life”. Fuckin’ super! A really fat, full sound, mixing it up. I was surprised that you were only a three piece. How do you get that big a sound?

Well, obviously, in recording you can do other things, that you can’t do live. You can double track and triple track guitars, or beyond that, if you want to. But, I think with this album and with the songs on the album, there’s a lot more backing vocals and harmony stuff. That definitely thickens it up and adds other layers, especially if Lucias and Luke are doing something different. If they’re in a different pitch or a different phrasing, that can thicken it up.

I’m sure you’re not going to say the sound is thinner when you play live, though, so how dfo you do it live?

Again, live, the three of us are all singing, so it comes through to the live environment, as well. I’ve got two guitar cabinets on stage, one on either side, which splits the guitar sound evenly across the stage. And then two different cabinets, so they produce slightly different sounds and our engineer usually puts up to three or four microphones on them, two on each, and then he crosses them over. The one on the left, front of stage, is actually coming out of right, front of house, so it gets blended in and creates a big guitar sound for one guitarist.

by Dave Williams pushing the boundaries, but I don’t think the’ve really struck a popular note.

I think it’s on the way back. I’ve heard a few bands lately that have a harder edge to them, like yourselves. Your music I find fairly accessible, though, too. It’s not that constant thrash. It mixes it up.

I guess we like a lot of music that’s got nothing to do with metal and I suppose some of that comes through in the music. I think we’re just big fans of solid grooves and good swing, which you don’t tend to find in metal bands.

Who are some of your all-time favourite bands?

Midnight Oil, for sure. They’re definitely one of my favourite bands. There’s countless others. I think Pink Floyd, without a doubt.

Do you get into Black Sabbath and music from that era?

I did, but I didn’t get right into it. I think, from that era, I prefer Pink Floyd stuff to Black Sabbath stuff. I still like some of the stuff they did. And Led Zeppelin.

They were a band I really loved.

What do you think it is about those bands that hook you in?

I think it’s just the talent, the passion, but beyond that, the total creativity, the intelligence, the intention behind it and, perhaps, I think, there’s a magic that those bands had, for some reason, that is intangiable, but when you listen to them, or watch them play, it’s there. You can’t help but just get caught up in it.

Do you guys ever sit down and say, “I don’t know about this one,” and someone says, No, fuck it, we’re going to do it,”?

Sometimes. Sometimes we agree to take a risk or to do something that might not be the best thing for us commercially, but at the same time, sometimes we turn around and do the opposite and take a more simplified way, as opposed to a more complicated one, because if all you ideas are complicated, then there’s nothing surprising, If you’ve got one that's complicated and one that’s simple and then one that’s simple, then one that’s complicated, then one that’s simple, you create this environment wher people are not sure. Until they sit down and listen t the same thing over and over again, it’s like an edgeof –the seat ride, where you never really know if you’re going to be hit with a hard section or a soft section or a complicated section or an easy section.

I think that’s interesting.

“The New Normal” has taken you a while to get out, with lots of stops and starts. Can you describe how that was for you and how you feel about it now?

In short, it was extremely frustrating, for a lot of the time, but now it’s a feeling of relief.

Was it an unwillingness to sell yourself short, as well?

Not really. There was a bit of that, but in the end, we were prepared to put an album out, however we could. If that meant that we got to go to America and record with Sylvia Massey, that was the top possibility, but if it meant that we had to record it with a mate in a studio in western Sydney, with no money for marketing or publicity, then we would have done that, as well. Luckily for us, the best option, eventually, came to us.

Do you think hard rock and metal is going through a resurgence at the moment? Obviously, you guys aren’t a metal band, but Yeah. Look, I’m not so sure about that. There has always been a massive pool of distorted musicians – musicians that play distorted types of music – across the country, but I think they’ve been relegated to the underground foir a long, long time and they never get the mainstream exposure that artists in other genres get.

I know that there’s hundreds, maybe even thousands of hard rock/metal bands in Australia, but they just don’t reach the ears of most Australians.

To me, it’s a little unusual that a woman is working as a producer in hard rock. Am I just being sexist, or what?

No, no., I just think that’s the reality, mate. If you looked at the amount of males compared with females that were successful in that occupation, you’d find that there are hardly any women there. It is completely dominated by men.

What is it that has got you to the forefront then?

Hard work and persistence. I think we’ve, also, had something a bit different to what what other people have had, ‘cause I also know that, perhaps eighty per cent of acts in Australia are almost carbon copies of whatever is popular overseas in the last two or three years. So, there was a lot of gigs where we were being supported by bands in different areas, but they were all sounding the same.

Are you happy with that?

Oh, yeah, I am happy with it. I’ve got mixed feelings about it. Basically, because it wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to sound like, but at the end of the day, we paid Sylvia to help us create this album and her primary objective was to look after the sonic end of the album and to make sure everything was recorded correctly and that it was mixed right and she’s a consummate professional and wins throughout her career, she;’s experienced and accomplished, and you’ve got to trust that person to bring their input to the table. And that’s what we did and that’s why we went to work with someone like her, so they could have their input.

So, where do you look for inspiration, musically?

I suppose, just from good music, no matter what it is, but to be honest, there hasn’t been a lot of distorted music that’s come along in the last two to three years that’s really got me going. That’s internationally. I’m not just talking about Australia. I think there’s, almost, like a creative lull, I think, internationally, as far as distorted music goes. I think there’s acouple of bands who are trying to take it into a different direction and

How much influence did she have on the eventual sound of the album?

I think she had a big influence on the sound.

A little touch of magic.

Yeah. So what we’ve ended up with is something that Cog have contributed to and Sylvia has contributed to. Yeah, I’m really happy.

Bare Threads

NAME: ALEX FAVOURITE DRINK: SCOTCH FAVOURITE MUSIC: TOOL FAVOURITE BAND: TOOL IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THE OUTFIT YOU WERE GOING TO HELL IN WHAT WOULD IT BE? same as I'm wearing now, so I'm comfortable

street fashion

NAME: AMBER FAVOURITE DRINK: JOLT COLA FAVOURTIE MUSIC: ROCK PUNK FAVOURITE BAND: LILLIX IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THE OUTFIT YOU WERE GOING TO HELL IN WHAT WOULD IT BE? a little latex devil suit!

NAME: Anthoney FAVOURITE DRINK: bacardi and red bull FAVOURTIE MUSIC: everything FAVOURITE BAND: savage garden IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THE OUTFIT YOU WERE GOING TO HELL IN WHAT WOULD IT BE? an angel suit!

NAME: Ben FAVOURITE DRINK: Black Douglass FAVOURTIE MUSIC: metal FAVOURITE BAND: Korn and Disturbed IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THE OUTFIT YOU WERE GOING TO HELL IN WHAT WOULD IT BE? I'd have to dress up good then, lots of black and lots of chains!

Fashion Feature I DARE TO DESIGN FOR ROCK STARS Tasmania is the home to fashion designers, fashion victims and fashion fighters, As we all know, Alannah Hill was nurtured on Tasmanian soil and now the new generation is here.

17 year old Imogen Dare from IDARE designs who has been only been designing for one year, now

has her designs being sought after and worn by Rock Stars including alternative Rocker Mandy Kane, who supported Marilyn Manson on his Australian tour. Lead singer of local band, The Voyeurs, Ben Miller also has adorned Idare designs on a recent Melbourne gig. Coming third in the Wearable Art Competition last year, with one of her famous concept pieces this edgy designer thinks outside the box, with her black silver buckled tailored straight jackets, her blatant fight and anarchy against the labels with her “affix brand here” t-shirts, and then her elegant range of punk princess purity. There is nothing stopping Idare as her namesakes tell us, she dares and she conquers, regardless of her age. Her designs speak for themselves, fashionably challenging and fighting against the conservative and mainstream pretense, offering a specialized original design for her stage wear clientele.

Idare says " I am a band stage-wear concept designer". "I just like making different one-off pieces, which is why stage wear for bands inspires me. I am a believer in individuality and I don’t believe in uniforms and mass production, which is why I stick to concept pieces, even my t-shirts are hand printed and stitched".

Sauce Staff

David K Q Williams Publisher / Editor

Simon Hancock Graphic Designer

NAME: Elle FAVOURITE DRINK: water FAVOURTIE MUSIC: R&B FAVOURITE BAND: Modest Mouse IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THE OUTFIT YOU WERE GOING TO HELL IN WHAT WOULD IT BE? A leather catwoman suit!

NAME: Ben R FAVOURITE DRINK: beer FAVOURTIE MUSIC: punk FAVOURITE BAND: The used IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THE OUTFIT YOU WERE GOING TO HELL IN WHAT WOULD IT BE? Clothes

NAME: Katie FAVOURITE DRINK: Beam FAVOURTIE MUSIC: lots of different stuff FAVOURITE BAND: R.E.M. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THE OUTFIT YOU WERE GOING TO HELL IN WHAT WOULD IT BE? not much cos it would be pretty hot!

NAME: Rusty FAVOURITE DRINK: bourbon and coke FAVOURTIE MUSIC: R&B FAVOURITE BAND: Usher IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THE OUTFIT YOU WERE GOING TO HELL IN WHAT WOULD IT BE? Knee hight boots and a whip!

NEW WINTER STOCK IN NOW!

You will notice on Idare designs what she calls additives spikes, zips, buckles, studs, and of course the safety pin.

The famous Idare safety pin, even her logo is stitched up tight, with her favourite punk rock accessory the big pin, featuring the Idare trademark colors red, black and white.

Idare's experience in fashion retail sparked her drive to create something that she couldn’t find, just with the right amount of rock, and chic and glam and punk. A talented keyboardist as well, an aspiring band manager and stylist, her combined love of fashion and music birthed the Idare label.

Idare is industrial meets vintage, contemporary yet

timeless, futuristic yet threaded with retro. It’s a defined look calculated to hit hard.

Idare will be veering into more concept alternative pieces for her already growing stage clientele, as she has been currently approached by all girl band the Jane Doe's for stage costumery.

When I asked Idare what mark she wanted to leave in the evolution of fashion, she said" I want everyone to be wearing my safety pin cross on the back of their necks, thats my trademark" she says laughing........."otherwise I'll put you in a straight jacket and stab you while your arms are all bound up"....and on that note we may be seeing a fetish range next season by Idare!

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Wed 06/04 - MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! ½ price Margarita mayhem with 50’s,60’s, 70’s Retro DJ’s, Sven Gali and T.H.C Thurs 07/04 - MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.

Fri 08/04 - Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Khunks “O” Funk’ Downstairs 10.30pm: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan.

Upstairs 11pm: LaCasa – Vocal House with resident DJ’s Matt B, Gillie and Guests.

Sat 09/04 - Upstairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out with LIVE BANDS: THE SHE RATS + THE FUZZY ZELLA’s. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs10.30pm: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly Upstairs 11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ present DIRTY FKING DANCIN – the best of house, electro & breaks with SPECIAL GUEST DJ from the USA – ERIN HINES + resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B. Wed 13/04 0- MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! ½ price Margarita mayhem with Retro Dance DJ’s, Mr Sven Gali and T.H.C Thurs 14/04 - MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.

Fri 15/04 - Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Khunks “O” Funk’ Downstairs 10.30: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan. Upstairs 11pm: LaCasa – House Funk with resident DJ’s Matt B, Gillie and Guests.

Sat 16/04 - Upstairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out to LIVE BANDS from 3pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs 10.30: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly. Upstairs 11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ – present DIRTY FKING DANCIN – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests. VICIOUS VINYL CD LAUNCH. FREE CD’s & GIVEAWAYS. Wed 20/04 - MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! Margarita mayhem with Retro Dance DJ’s, Sven Gali and T.H.C Thurs 21/04 - MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX + Loki + Scott Woodhouse.

Fri 22/04 - Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Khunks “O” Funk’ Downstairs 10.30pm: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan. Upstairs 11pm: LaCasa – House Funk with resident DJ’s Matt B, Gillie and Guests.

Sat 23/04 - Ustairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out to LIVE BANDS from 3pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs 10.30: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly. Upstairs 11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ present DIRTY F*CKN DANCIN “if it’s good we’ll play it” – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests.

Sun 24/04 - WE ARE OPEN for partytime from 9pm till late!

Wed 27/04 - MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! Margarita mayhem with Retro Dance DJ’s, Sven Gali and T.H.C Thurs 28/04 - MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.

Fri 29/04 - Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Chunks“O”Funk’ Downstairs 11pm: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan.

Upstairs 11pm: PICKLE- presents TRANSMISSION with UK DJ STEVE HILL (aka Ed Real) + SYDNEY DJ NERVOUS. Full flavoured Hard dance – Techno, Hard house, hard trance, psy-trance & NRG with resident DJs CORNEY + DSKO Sat 30/04 - Upstairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out to LIVE BANDS from 3pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs 10.30pm: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly. Upstairs11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ present DIRTY FKING DANCIN– “if it’s good we’ll play it” – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests.

Wed 04/05 - MARGARIT-A-GO-GO! ½ price Margarita mayhem with Retro Dance DJ’s, Sven Gali and T.H.C Thurs 05/05 - MESH – Hobart’s oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX+ Loki+ Scott Woodhouse.

Fri 06/05 - Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Guests ‘Laying down the Khunks “O” Funk’ Downstairs 10.30pm: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan. Upstairs 11pm: BREAKEVEN – Phat breaks & Electro with resident DJ AdamTurner + Dave Webber Modal and guest.

Sat 07/05 - Upstairs 3pm: SATURDAY ARVO LIVE SESSIONS – Rock out with LIVE BANDS from 3pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY. $2 BOAGS ALL ARVO Downstairs 10.30pm: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Roly. Upstairs 11pm: The BEEZ NEEZ presents – DIRTY F*CKN DANCIN – house, electro & breaks, with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and Guests.

COMING EVENTS The BEEZ NEEZ present DIRTY FKING DANCIN – with SPECIAL GUEST DJ from the USA – ERIN HINES + resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B. SAT 16 APRIL– The Beez Neez present DIRTY FKING DANCIN - VICIOUS VINYL CD LAUNCH. FREE CD’s & GIVEAWAYS. SUN 24 APRIL – WE ARE OPEN for partytime from 9pm!

FRI 29 APRIL - PICKLE presents TRANSMISSION with UK DJ STEVE HILL (aka Ed Real) + SYDNEY DJ NERVOUS. Full flavoured Hard dance – Techno, Hard house, hard trance, psy-trance & NRG with resident DJs CORNEY + DSKO

SYRUP

THURSDAY - SATURDAY -39 SALAMANCA PLACE, HOBART manager@syrupclub.com