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#1: 040804 17/02/04 #5
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READY? OPENING SEPTEMBER 107 Brisbane St, Launceston ph: 63347889 email:lonniesniteclub@yahoo.com.au
quick shots latest local, national & international news Macca (also known as Andrew McCreadie) from The James Hotel in Launceston is officially Tasmania’s best cocktail barman after winning the state championships of The Suntory Cup at Halo in Hobart. Macca went on to do Tasmania proud coming second in the nationals in Sydney, with his cocktail creation, “Paradise Abord” and yes, it is spelt like that! The Black Eyed Peas – the all-rapping, allbreakdancing, all-live hip hop entertainment machine – return to Australia in October to bring
peace, love, and one hell of a party. The Black Eyed Peas’ live show is spontaneous, electric, interactive and always surprising. As Reuters raved of a May 2004 gig, “the Black Eyed Peas bring the crowd to life… with wonderful zeal. The group's funk-doused hip-hop was cranked out by a live wire of a band, while the quartet showed they didn't need any cadre of dancers because they have their own moves." Check for more info later. Waych out for the WWF’s RAVE for Raves. In a
nutshell, a dance party to remember our rare and vunerable endangered species. The Hobart Comedy Festival is cranking up for another series of events. Although not until January next year the festival will soon launch a new web site. For more info contact Craig Wellington, Television, Theatre, Media, Events, GPO Box 1174 Hobart Tasmania AUS 7001 Tel 03 - 6234 6330 wellington@netspace.net.au whose motto is “Eagles may soar but emus don't get sucked into jet engines."
Running every Wednesday,Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9pm till late and Sundays also open from 5am is Hobart’s newest club night Eden. Run by top local promotion group Evolution, Eden sets up home at the newly refurbished Duke of Wellington on the corner of Barrack and Macquarie St. Eden occupies a medium sized room, with a large dancefloor for when the crowd builds up later in the night and also plenty of seating and couches in the bar area. With special drink offers, a fresh paint job as well as new lighting and sound, Eden may rival the best clubs in Hobart but according to promoter, Ben Wilkinson, comes minus the attitude and arrogance normally associated with the scene. He says make no mistake, however, Eden is still a club, and has a music policy to match. ... quick shots continued over page
Celebrate with Casca d e Draught Simply fill out the coupon to go in the draw to WIN four cartons of Cascade Draught for your
favourite drinking occasion Terms & Conditions : Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these conditions of entry. 1). Entry is only open to Australian residents, who are 18 years of age or older. Employ ees and their immediate families of the promoter, participating magazine and their agencies assoc iated with this promotion are ineligible. 2). To be eligible, participators must fill in coupon and cut out from Sauce Magazine 4th Edition during the promotional period. 3). The promoter reserves the right to verify the validity of claims. 4). The compet ition commences Wednesday August 4 and finishes Tuesday August 31. All entries must be received by this closing date. 5). The draw will take place at 12 Noon on Friday September 3 at 131 Cascade Road, South Hobart. Winner will be notified by phone. 6). Only original coupons cut from Sauce Magazine 4th Edition will be eligible. 7). The prize includes 4 cartons of Cascade Draught. Total prize value is $124.08. 8). The promoter accepts no responsibility for any variation in the prize values. Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable and can not be taken as cash or credit. 9). Printing and other quality control errors will not invalidate an otherwise valid prize claim. 10). Unless otherwise due to fraud or ineligibility under these conditions of entry, all prize claims in excess of the advertised prize pool will be hon oured. 11). The promoter shall not be liable for any loss or damage what so ever (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss) of for personal injury which is suffered or sustained, as a result of taking any of the prizes, except for any liability which cannot be excluded from the law. 12). The Cascade Brewery is collecting this information for the purpose of supply ing or promoting its goods and services. Generally we only disclose the information to organisations who help us supply or promote our goods and services and to companies within the Corporate Group. You can access information we hold about you or obtain a copy of our privacy policy by contac ting our Privacy Hotline on (03) 8606 5666. 13). The promoter is Carlton & United Beverages Ltd (CAN 004 056 106) of 77 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, VIC. 3006.
SEND ENTRIES TO 131CASCADE ROAD, SOUTH HOBART 7004
quick shots
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latest local, national & international news Starting at the beginning of the night with more commercial dance, the music picks up over the course of the night with the resident DJs and guests providing a mix of house, breaks, trance, tech and Drum n Bass throughout the night. With a grand opening planned, set to feature one of Australia’s top 10 DJs, Eden may be set to win many fans, over and above those already converted to it’s atmosphere. Check it out sometime. They hold recovery parties too. The last one after GT vs Goodwill at Syrup. Eden. Second Floor, The Duke of Wellington Corner of Barrack St and Macquarie St The annual contemporary music event, FUSE, has put out a call nationally for up-and-coming bands, solo artists and DJs to apply for a gig in Adelaide in November this year. FUSE is a three-day contemporary music event held in around a dozen of Adelaide’s most popular West End venues from 25-27 November 2004. FUSE incorporates the FUSE Conference (formerly known as Music Business Adelaide) featuring seminars, workshops and masterclasses, and FUSE festival, an allAustralian showcase of unsigned music artists from all genres, from across Australia. FUSE offers the selected artists the chance to perform in front of more than 200 conference delegates, including key figures from all sectors of the music industry, as well as a large, local live music audience. Artists selected from outside South Australia are provided with return flights and two nights’ accommodation. Local production costs marketing and production equipment for all selected artists’ gigs are covered by FUSE. Previous FUSE events have resulted in the selected artists winning record label and publishing deals, national radio airplay and national and international touring support gigs. Some of the artists who have benefited significantly from their involvement with FUSE are Angelik (SA), Hilltop Hoods (SA), Coda (NSW), Pete Murray (QLD), The New Pollutants (SA), The Charlie Parkers (TAS), Special Patrol (SA), Rollerskates (WA) and The Dead Abigails (TAS).
Bands, soloists and DJs can apply now by contacting the FUSE panelist in their state or territory. Panelist details, application criteria and forms can be found at www.fusefestival.com and the deadline is 5pm sharp Monday 9 August. For further information please contact Anne Wiberg, Event Manager, P: (08) 8271 1488, F: (08) 8271 9055 or check www.fusefestival.com Hard Act To Follow, the ball-tearing new single from the Grinners has blasted onto Australian radio play lists, making it the number 1 most added track in the country, as reported by industry tip sheet, The Music Network. Hard Act, was provided to radio alongside other releases such as Ashlee Simpson, Lenny Kravitz, The Streets and Evermore. Hard Act To Follow was one of 50 songs Grinspoon took to producer Howard Benson in Los Angeles. The album was recorded in LA for the follow-up to 2002's double Platinum New Detention. While Hard Act To Follow might sound like a classic slice of Grinspoon, the rest of the new album will be something of a surprise, Thrills, Kills and Sunday Pills is scheduled for release on September 20. For now, there is Hard Act To Follow - classic Grinspoon that marks a new beginning for one of this country's most popular and successful rock acts.
GRAND CENTRAL announce the release of NIKO’s debut album ‘Life On Earth’. Niko has previously worked with MR SCRUFF for his album ‘Trouser Jazz’ on the track “Come Alive” and with ONLY CHILD on two tracks from last year’s ‘Solitaire’ album. She also fronted the AIM live band on the tours of 2002 and 2003. As well as working and writing with her own band in New York, she has collaborated with established jazz bands, funk bands and hip hop DJs from the city’s scene earning her a ‘One To Watch’ accolade in VIBE in 2002. Her debut album is a fusion of soulful Hip Hop and Beats, 80’s Electro, classic Jazz and Pop, and was made possible through her collaborations with a dream list of producers including AIM, MARK RAE and MR SCRUFF. Welcome to ‘Life On Earth’. Niko has 2 previous 12”s – “Sound Off” an army-style marching song over RITON’s quirky beats and “You’re My Favourite Music” – a screaming electro guitar driven anthem.
THE LIBERTINES self titled album will be released in Australia on August 30 to match the UK release. The 14 new tracks have been said to confirm the group are now among the best of contemporary British guitar bands and proves once and for all that all the hysteria surrounding their stunning debut album, UP THE BRACKET was entirely justified. Opening track “Can’t Stand Me Now” is immediately recognisable as prime Libertines. It will be serviced to radio on August 2, accompanied by a live performance based video. The album was produced by Mick
Jones (The Clash), while Bill Price (Sex Pistols, Guns ‘n’ Roses) engineered. They have both brought a heap of experience to a youthful band, the sound is incredible and they’ve coaxed ‘live’ performances from the band in the studio – no-one’s going to be disappointed by this slab of rock ‘n’ roll. The Love Police bring The Libertines to our shores in August for two shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Due to his unavailability, guitarist Pete Doherty has been replaced by Anthony Pasquale Rossomando for the Australian/ US tour.
Rock Salt Battle of the Bands - Wrest Point Casino Heats 4, 5, 6 & 7
Battle of the Bands at Wrest Point Casino on Friday, July 30 revealed an array of musical expertise and originality. The evening began with Fuse, a three piece band with reluctant bass player. They
Heat 4 Winner - Elyssium songs skilfully and with verve. The evening finished up with Stardust Hawker, who struggled through the cover songs, but had sweet originals.
Wednesdays
Thursday Nights
Free 8 Ball 8 - 12pm $4.00 Basic Spirits
Social Club Membership draw $50 a week jackpotting
Wed 10:30pm til late
Fridays
Roundabout (Batty Bar) Roundabout (Batty Bar)
Happy Hour 5:30 - 7:30 $2 Pots of Boags $3.50 Basic Spirits
Upcoming Bands
Friday 13th August
Thurs 9:30pm til late
Friday 20th August Homegrown Sulo & Cog
Friday 27th August Sweetbeats
Symposium of Sickness Festival 9:00pm $10 Excarnated (Melb) Zero Degrees Freedom (Laun) Goreverk (Hob) Three Victims (Bur) Mutilated Spastic Iguanas (Hob) Corpse Carving (Laun) Intense Hammer Rage (Bur)
AND DON'T FORGET MISS NUDE TASMANIA AT THE BATMAN FAWKNER INN'S Heat 5 Winners - Daystream
rehashed standard rock and even their original song did not sound so original.
The three bands competing in this heat were
The lead signer’s outfit was set off marvellously by the Wrest Point logo on his shirt – he was the sound guy. Loquacious, the eventual winners, consisted of the drummer, two blonde girls with big guitars and the lead singer. The band performed a marvellous rendition of ‘Time Warp’ as well as two of their own
not encouraged by much audience participation – there were a maximum three or four people on the dance floor, although at one point there was a curious rendition of pogo.The semi finals will be held on August 13 and 20 and the grand final will be battled out on August 27.
Club
54night club
Heat 6 Winners - End Game
35 Cameron St. Launceston 6331 7222 Heat 7 Winner - Loquacious
Rock Salt Spiderbait ride Black Betty to the top to Europe as well. Where did you record it? In a place in northern California a little town that’s actually called wee. A really small town, like 2000 people, the woman who was the producer of it used to live in LA, had this sorta sea change and has gone up and bought this theatre in this little town, and moved all the studio equipment there. People just go and hang out in the mountains and make records.
Yea it’s really beautiful. And I guess that says that you don’t need to be in the middle of the big smoke to do well in your chosen profession.
Yea, I guess it becomes a collector thing.
The Black Betty success, that’s pretty awesome I guess for you guys?
Yea it’s ticking along, it’s going to come out overseas, and we’ve got a few countries releasing it later in the year. So we’ll do an album tour here, then go overseas and do it all again.
It was sort of unexpected and quite overwhelming. It got to a point where the record company deleted the single because it getting to big and overwhelming the record, they deleted it so you couldn’t buy it anymore. So it’s sold out and you can’t buy it anymore?
What’s happening with the album?
So I guess the States, have you been there recently? Not for ages, I mean we recorded this album in the States, but we didn’t play any shows, so that’ll be one of the places. Then Canada and we’ll go
Killing Heidi Wazza, Ella & Spiderman 2 You recorded the new a lbum in Los Angeles?
but it'll probably be the first half of September.
Yeah ...in a suburb.
Is it going to be your push into the States? Is that why it's going to be self-titled?
How long did you spend over in the States? On the recording we used our whole visa, so that's 90 days .. and we did a 2 to 3 week trip a month before that to work out who we were going to work with. Do you think time like that and being in the States has an effect on the band? Yes and no. When we first went there on a writing/producer trip we came back and demoed six songs. Out of that six, 3 or four actually made it onto the final album, so we had a bit of influence from LA or from being in Hollywood for a little while. (On this trip) we were placed particularly so we weren't anywhere near Hollywood or anything like that. It'd take us about an hour to get down to things like that, so you had to make a big effort, and we were working 7 days so it was strategic placement by the record company. So you were insulated from the hype? Yeah, pretty much. We could have been anywhere in the world. The studio put us into a 3 storey mansion and we ... woke up and started recording each day. So it was all around us all the time. How do you think your music has changed over the years? Now, with Adam and I writing as well, it makes a big difference, 'cause we've got four different angles that we can come from with a song, now. And I think everyone's writing skills have improved, just from working with really talented people, it lifts your game. You start to get really good at cutting out shit. (laughs) You start to realise what not to waste your time on. When will the new album be released?
No, it's more our first album all together, the first album where we didn't work with our old producer and we got to make a lot of decisions on our own and call a lot of shots and, virtually, co-produce the record. So we feel like it's way more our product and that's why we selftitled it. With wanting to get into the States, it's one of those things where we haven't particularly geared our stuff for it. We just write the songs and let them become themselves, but we did record over there for more of a ... international guitar sound, for want of a better term. Something that we could possibly put into Europe or Japan or the States. Somewhere else than our territory, 'cause, we've had a fair break now, but for a while our country was sick of hearing of our band ...
So they were convinced, I bet they’re pretty happy about that. Yea, there where saying, oh no to risky. So its funny how it turned out. So it could totally blow up in your face, or do what its done. Or it could do nothing at all.
That sounds allright.
Dave found out how things were unfolding for rockers Spiderbait after their success with a cover of the classic, Black Betty.”
did it, not really knowing if it would go on the record or how it would sound. We were really happy with the results. Then approached the record company about putting it out as a single. And they were like kinda like not really sure about that, they needed some convincing. And yea we put it out.
Absolutely, we demo’d the this entire record before we got into the studio, which is the first time we’ve done that since we started. We usually just write on the fly, it really drags out the recording making it expensive. We’ve never really had the option to go overseas cause we couldn’t afford it. If you can demo well enough at home, technology is such these days, you can really hear what a record is going to sound like. So by the time you get out into the studio your pretty much right to play the songs, roll the tape and put it down. Was it a band choice or a record company choice to cover “Black Betty?” We’ve been playing that song for ages. We used to play it when we were kids, and we’ve played it at a couple of sound checks and gigs over the years. We did a demo of it, and sent it to the record producer Silvia who worked with us, we sent over about 20 songs asking what’d you think, what do you like, what do want to work on etc. And she came back with “oh we’ve got to do Black Betty, that’s hilarious, that’ll be fun”. And we
Do you get many questions that you just hate being asked, really personal questions? Not really, you always get asked where your band name came from, stuff like that. But when you’ve had it for so long (band name) the really the stories aren’t all that interesting. Any probably isn’t that hard to find on the net. Being the only girl in the band, do you get asked about that? Yea quite a lot, especially with the punk scene, that’s an odd place, but it kinda wasn’t in the Melbourne punk scene, there were a lot of girls playing music, a lot of my friends were in bands. That was the good thing about the punk scene in Melbourne it was open to everyone. You didn’t have to be a super musician; you didn’t have to know every guitar lick in the world. Or be the musician shop drummer. You know it was much more egalitarian I suppose. I guess the sex pistols couldn’t play when Malcolm McClaren got them together. And they were phenomenally good too. Yeah, to this day, timeless.
The search for:
MISS NUDE TASMANIA 2004 7th year running Special guest appearance by last year's winner Portia Dane
I don't know about that mate. (Laughs) But it certainly felt like a bit of overkill for us for a while.It felt like we were heavily on the promotional trail as opposed to the touring trail. How much do you think about the audience when you're writing music? We generally let every song become itself, but there's certianly a lot of tracks, from Ella's lyric and her age, there's a lot of tracks that are centred around her basic demoghraphic, which, I guess, is 21 year olds. She's had, almost, a sheltered life since quitting school at 15 or something, so, in a sense, she hasn't done alot of growing up. She's sort of been frozen in time a little bit, but by the same token she's one of the most grounded people that I've ever met in the music industry, that's for sure. ... Ella's like a little sister to all 3 of us (laughs) complete with smelly feet and bad ass friends and all the rest of it (laughs). Who's got the smelly feet? Ella.
I think it's going to be self-titled. Hopefully in August, Right.
Final at The Batman Fawkner Inn Wednesday 25th August 2004 Doors open 7.30pm sharp don't be late.
Contestants please call 0414 556 634
Rock Salt Dave McCormack - Custard now Polaroids years. I think I get a little bit restless, but it’s good, its quite nice to move I reckon. I’m moving to a nice place now, hopefully it’ll be conducive to some creative activity. So why did you move from Brisbane in the first place? Oh I got married. Year and years ago. I got married to someone and she lived in Sydney. And then that all ended a couple of years ago. And now I’m still here. It’s a good place to be in a band because most of the music business is here
What do you think the result is? A much more wide spectrum of sound, and maybe, its a dirty word these rock and roll times, but a bit more polished, having said that I do like mistakes that make it onto the final thing. Things that only happen once Any of that on this record?
I think sometimes things that happen by accident can produce something brilliant. Yea I love that stuff
Dave McCormack, former Custard-man, is on the move again, out of love and not expecting crowds. Dave Williams asked him why.
Why did things end up so much more complicated with this one?
Doing today, well I’m moving on Friday. So packing up
I think there were a lot more options available with this one. I got some string players in. Exploring a lot of different avenues. The record before this was quite a direct recording, straight down the line, where is this one is a bit more full colour, layered and different types of sound, chopping stuff up.
Moving house? Just sorting through what you want to keep? And what you don’t?
How’s your sound evolved from the first album?
Yea finding enough boxes and bags for everything
Well with my first solo album I had these rules, like doing it really quick. I had these rules just for rules sakes, whereas this one I was much more relaxed, I didn’t imposed those restrictions on myself
So what have you been doing today?
So why are you moving house? I tend to move once a year, I have for the last 3 or 4
Yeah it’s the only place we’re doing 2 gigs back to back, why is that, I have no idea! I’m as shocked as anybody. Well Tassie is starting to crawl back, there’s a lot going on down here.
Yea plenty of that.
So hows the new album been received? Well it’s not out till August so I think you’re the first interview I’ve done for it. It took a long time, we started it in September last year, it took a long time. The album I did before this we recorded and mixed in 6 days. With this one we started in Sydney with Wayne Connelly producing then went down to Bendalong with Magoo producing, then came back to Sydney did some overdubs. So off and on it took most part of a year, so when it was done it was quite a relief
On this national tour that your doing, your doing 2 gigs in Tassie which is as many as Victroria and New South Wales.
“The truth about love”, it describes love as a poison.
That’s great, I haven’t been down in ages. So I’m looking forward to it. The last time was with custard in 1996 for a O-Week thing. It was great fun, it was huge. But I’m under no illusion that these gigs are going to be so well attended! You don’t think so?
It does yeah.
I don’t think so. Well I think were only playing at a place that holds 150 people, The republic?
How much is that song inspired by your own love life?
Yeah. But then you’re playing the Launceston Uni Bar.
Not really, little snippets, not really of my love life, but like observed conversations that other people may have had, or might have had with other people. It was more about love not being some magical thing that comes down from above, bang your in love with someone. The lyrics are talking about love being a feeling. Like there a drug that the government is putting in the water that makes people feel like their in love. It was about me attempting to deal with science fiction, like instead of people falling in love they are controlled through a drug in the water. Like a 1984 big brother thing, I don’t know wether that worked, but it sounds good.
Oh well hopefully there will be thousands there!
Are you in love at the moment? Oh no, I’m quite happy at the moment doing my own thing
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Rock Salt The Rakes (Launceston) - in it for the money ... not!
After seeing the Rakes play at The Royal Oak in Launceston, Dave Williams caught up with Damien and Dan of The Rakes, to find out more.
Damien: We found a term to describe a ‘loose’ lifestyle, I guess …
Ok. So, what’s the best thing about being in an original band in Tasmania?
Dan: …. Like The Cassanovas … The Libertines. It’s, loosely the same ter, roughly describing the same type of lifestyle.
Damien: Freedom.
Damien: But it’s not cliché, because it’s not obviously rebellious, but … the definition of it is, “ a deterioration of life due to excess,” but most people think we’re a gardening implement, but we can hide behind that, so it works quite well. “Most people think we’re a gardening implement”
Damien: We can do anything that we want and nobody can us any different but our own conscience, which is usually half asleep anyway.
Dan: Freedom. Absolutely.
Dan: It’s a big buzz, actually, getting people sayin, “That song was wicked,” knowing it was one of ours, rather than, “That version of that song was wicked.”
So, what have you guys been up to today?
Dan: People our age, the scene we play to, don’t usually get it, but the older guys do. It’s a term that hasn’t been in use for the past fifty years.
Dan: Work.
Damien: Plenty of rakish behaviour around, though.
Damien: They’ve heard it only once, whereas the (other) songs they’ve probably 300 times. If someone hears that song once and it’s a hit, that’s an amazing feeling. It’s a huge, proud moment too.
Yeah?
Yeah … and how would you guys describe your music?
Ok. So what’s the worst thing about being an original band in Tasmania?
Dan: I like to think of it as Blues-Funk-Jazz-Rock. Probably in that order of accentuation. Damo’s pretty heavily into the Blues side of things. The funk always come through to keep the groove going and get people “tapping their feet.” I’m from a jazz background and I also really appreciate the progressive rock of the sixties, the British progressive rock. The thing that pioneered those guys was the use of jazz drummers in rock bands, which wasn’t really used across the Atlantic … a lot freer kind of approach to rock.
Dan: Ah, money.
Dan: Yeah … and recovering from a string of shows … been playing in 42nd Street … percussion … And, Damien, what have you been up to? Damien: Ah, well, I’m on leave, mate, so I’ve just been kicking back, taking it easy … doing some home recordings. Right. Damien: Just sitting on the balcony playing the Dolbro. That’s about it. And home recordings, what (about that)? Damien: I’ve got a computer set up with mixing desk and mics and things like that to record straight onto the hard drive. That’s how we did our five song demo, which we did in a spare room we’ve got at home. Right. Why do you guys call yourselves, “The Rakes”?
Damien: Experimentation and improvisation. And that’s what we excel in with our music. We don’t just get three chords banged together as a song! When we’re performing we really come to our fore, ‘cause we really get in and squeeze out everything we can from that form, and we’ve got so many different styles to draw upon, it can become a “hotpotch” of all different things. I mean, we’ve got so many different influences. It’s hard to put us into a box really, and I think (if) we are in a box, we can’t really grow from there. The focus is originality, at the foremost.
it’s the other way around, and you will get the money eventually. And it helps pay the bills. We both did degrees in music not to make money out of it. So how long have you guys been playing music? When did you start? Dan: I started at a reasonably early age, I’ve been through a lot of different syles and scenes. Rock bands and a brief stint in the metal scene, a few years back in Launceston when the trades was going. Lots of rock and jazz lately, which is a huge influence from the course that ive done, always been interested in it, always tried to do something that sounds new. That’s what I really like about this band, I cant recall hearing anything like us before Damien: I’ve been playing seriously for about 14 years on guitar and probably singing for about 4-5 years, I noodle around a range of instruments, but music has always been in my family as long as I can remember, its not really a dedication thing, I’ve just always loved music Dan: Instead of doing it as a job, its just what we do
What, too much of it? Damien: (Laughs) You’re a shakey investment. People don’t know, particularly pubs, how well you’re going to do, ‘cause they can’t judge you against how well the cover band down the road does. You get a $1000 gig up at the casino, they know what they’re going to get out of it, but they don’t know what they’re going to get out of an original band. So, we’re sort passed over or paid minimal. Dan: it’s getting better and better, the more we play … more publicans getting to know us … I made the conscious decision, pretty much from the get-go of taking up music, not to play covers. I don’t know why I did it in the first place, but I’ve stuck to it, haven’t done it , haven’t played in a cover band. Damien hasn’t either.
Damien: Yea its what we do, instead of what we have to do. It comes back to freedom, there’s so much freedom if you have the confidence in yourself to do it. You won’t get shot down, people won’t laugh at you. Dan: They do a bit (laughs) Damien: You just get up there and have a great time. And to be rewarded for that in any way is just magic. it’s a bonus really. Do you guys get nervous at all before gigs? Damien: Too a certain degree, I don’t think your human if you don’t. How do you deal with that?
Damien: We’ve never made money the point. We don’t chase the dollar, so it’s never really an issue. It’s the music that comes first. There are examples where
Dan: Play, you just get on with it
Reflex - Hobart A Ska band?
about them. A lot of our songs are named after the character they're about.
Dave catches up with singer, Tom,and finds that he’s ready to quit his day job.
Where do you draw inspiration for those characters?
What's Reflex up to these days? We just got back from Melbourne a couple of weeks ago. Had a quick tour over there, which was pretty cool. Played a few gigs and had a lot of fun. We're having a quick break for a few weeks before we get into another few big shows. We've got supports for TZU and Butterfingers as well, so we're looking forward to them. You get a few supports for Hip Hop and electronic acts, why is that? I dunno. I think it's because of the party atmosphere of it. it's pretty different kind of music, but it's still the same up beat kind of feel to it. I'm a massive Hip Hop fan so I really enjoy these gigs. I'm a massive TZU fan, so I'm looking forward to that one. How would you describe the music of Reflex? It's an interesting question, 'cause we always have aproblem trying to hit that on the head. Would you call yourself a Rock 'n' Roll band or a Hip Hop Band or ... ? I'd say Rock 'n' Roll. The other day we almost decided on Theatre-Rock. Something different. 'Cause it's all about the live show with us. We're going to ... make it into a proper show, more than it is. We've been labeled as a Ska band, and we sort of are, but not so much anymore. We started off pretty-much straight down the line Ska, with Swing as well, but now we're branching out into different song writing ... but still using all those elements. Is there any general theme going through the song writing? Are they personal, political or what? They tend to be stories. A lot of the time we've made up characters. Raph (guitarist) and I write the songs and we come up with the character and tell a story
It's just like writing a story ... a theme and a person with that kind of character or a funny situation you've been involved in and take it from there? How diid you guys get together and when was that? Probably two and half years ago we played our first gig. That was an amateur night at uni when there were six of us. A couple of those guys decided they wanted to start a Ska band and they got me in on it ... we dragged in about six people. We played about five covers on amateur night and it went pretty well ... and took it from there and built it up. two and a half years later and heaps of lineup changes, we're still here. How long has this lineup been together? We've had a new trumpet player for the past month or so, but before that we were settled since last November. Do you see there is a role in the industry for cover bands? You started out as a cover band. Yeah we started and we quickly gave that the arse. I don't think there is. I really don't like that kind of thing. We started as one, but we were taking these old tunes and giving them a makeover, but couldn't get any inspiration behind it. It kind of gets dead. and it's dull to listen to as well. I think a lot of people, especially in Hobart, are starting to realise that as well. A lot more people are coming to original gigs and not go out and watch "Captain Ralph" or whatever they call themselves, at Isobar. A lot of people used to say, "We're going to Isobar to watch this cover band" and that's bullshit man. Now peoplea re going out and seeing original bands, which is really cool. What do you know about the rivalry between Hobart bands and Launceston bands? I didn't realise there was one. (laughs)
Original Music in August Thu 5th
Samuel Bester & The Rakes; 9pm
Sat 7th
The Coven ($7/$6) 9pm till very late
Sat 21st
The Roobs & The Reactions; 10pm
Sat 28th
Rocketfuel featuring live original bands & DJ's - Botox - Monster - Howardcide - Scott Cotterill - Jeffe 9pm to late
Bar & Café 381 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart PH: 6236 9777
Rock Salt The Jane Does - sisters are doin’ it for themselves
Elle Tiffen caught up with the new chicks in Rock, The Jane Does to find out a little bit about the girls who have burst onto the music scene amongst great interest, local and internationally. Band Director and Vocalist, Rebecca Miller, gives us the goods. (Photos by Rebecaa and Ben Miller) HOW DID THE BAND GET TOGETHER? Rebecca M: It's actually a really long story. I knew Natalie when we were at college, and we weren't really friends but we'd seen each other in lots of different projects. We ended up working together on a musical and we talked about wanting to start a band but we were both really busy at that time. But then a bit later on we caught up again and started to be a little bit more friendly and thought well, lets do it. My husband, Ben, plays in the band The Voyeurs with Cara's husband and so Cara decided she was going to play bass. Then we needed a drummer and knew that Rebecca was a really hot drummer, so we stalked her at other gigs until she agreed to join us. My husband teaches Jharna rock music and he always talked about this really hot guitarist, so we chased her too, beat her around a bit until she agreed to join and that was that! Nat was at Allanvale and I was at LC, so we were rival colleges. We didn't really like each other at college much, but we got over that, I guess it was just an age thing. SO YOUR FIRST GIG WAS AT THE LOUNGE? Rebecca M: Actually we played our first gig at the Newport Hotel in St Helen's,( with The Voyeurs). Both our bands played ... Cara: The was awesome. Rebecca M: There was such a good vibe between the two bands. Jharna: They were our support band! Rebecca M: Well, no, we called them special guests. They're too good. They are really musical, amazing musicians. They played before us and we thought, oh no, we don't want to go on. Then we played our first Launceston gig at The Lounge and then a private function and we were at the Republic Bar Friday 23 July with Fizard in Hobart. Then Launceston again....
YOU'VE HAD A PRETTY FULL SCHEDULE THEN? Rebecca M: Ridiculous. It has been just mad. We kind of had a marketing frenzy with posters and the web site and all that. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH YOUR IMAGE? Rebecca M: I used to be a stylist in different places, in Sydney and modelling for magazines and things like that, so we are big on image. We have a very big makeup and hair call before every show. It's casual, but glam, it's not cheap, it's kind of rocky, it feels cool, but its not confronting. The last thing we want to do is alienate the females in the audience, for them to go "Look at that bunch of skanks"! YOU GUYS LOOK PRETTY HOT UP ON STAGE. WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN LIKE? Rebecca M: So much support from everybody. It's crazy. People we don't even know come up and say "Oh, your in the Jane Does. Yeah I've heard of them." and its like, well we've only played 3 gigs, so how have you heard of us? But it's good. People don't seem to think we are a local band because our posters and all that look a bit slicker. If you're an original band with a crappy poster, they kinda think you're just jamming at the garage at home. So you have to move it up a notch to get that credibility. Jharna; Someone said to me (before we played anywhere) "Oh you should hear the Jane Does" and I said "But we haven't played a gig yet" and they said " Yeah they're really good" and I said "But we haven't played!" Rebecca M: Its been a really good response and just from having the website out there, we have had so much interest. We've got bookings from people we don't even know. That's how we got the Republic Bar gig. They saw the website. We had a very strange interest from a guy from LA, an American Scout, from UEG, United Entertainment Group. He just emailed us coz he was in Australasia doing a scouting thing. I thought it was all shonky so I emailed them, but the CEO of the company emailed me back and said "No, its real, they're the management company for Nickelback. They wanted us to send them some recorded material but we didn't have any, so we are busting our guts to get this EP done in time to send it to this guy before he heads back to LA. It's just mad.
Rock Salt Tas Music - what do they do? aware of the talent that we do have down here. Since then, we've noticed a real increase in the number of people attending original (music) events. Bands have picked up on the fact that people really want to see original music a lot more down here, so the bands are getting out and staring to organise their own events and run their own gigs, which, I think, is a huge boost for the industry. For a long time there'd been a lot of animosity between Hobart and Launceston bands and it's something I've never really understood, but now the bands in hobart and launnie and starting to work together so much better. Now Hobart bands are inviting Launceston bands to go down to Hobart and play and launceston bands are doing the same ... a lot of the bands are really starting to work together more now to help support each other's events and gigs, getting the crowds in there. The original music scene in Launceston has picked up since The Falls festival as well. The Batman Fawkner, LLoyds, Irish Murphy's and O'Keefe's are all supporting original music which has been really good.
Ok, so last issue saw the biggest fuck-up yet in the life of Sauce, with statements saying Tassie had only one record label in an article which was pretty critical of Tas Music. So, we talked with Programs Manager, Phil Dearing to set the record straight.. Can you tell me, who is Tas Music and what do you do? TasMusic is the peak body for contemporary music in Tasmania and what we do is offer advice and referrals for musicians and bands throughout tasmania. we also help organise events like Gone South. we organise all the Tasmanian bands for events like Gone South and The Falls festival. probably our flagship event for th year is the Rock Challenge, in which, this year, we've got 68 bands competing, which is the biggest ever ... How successful do you think TasMusic has been in promoting Tasmanian bands? Well, we're not promoters, as such. What we do is try and encourage bands to treat it like a business and point them in the right direction. We don't manage bands. We are really just there to offer support and advice, assist bands with grant application, really encourage them to treat it like a business and treat it in a professional manner, encourage them to deal with venues in the appropriate manner, point them in the direction of organisations like APRA and AMCOS, the people who pay the rouyalties for the artists. Really, just make them aware of what's actually out there to support the bands, like APRA, the Music Managers Forum and organisations like that. How do you encourage them to do those things? Well, for a lot of bands, they get their performance fee for playing in the venues. We encourage them to join APRA, cause APRA pay the royalties and that's another source of income for bands. We try to help the bands in that way because it's important that the bands are recognised out there. If the band registers with APRA, they're more known to the wider music industry throughout Australia. With bands going to APRA, it broadens their horizons a bit more ... different ways the bands can earn income, other than just playing live ... Is it Tasmusic's role to develop contemporary music in tasmania? That's what we're looking to do in the future. We've got a few plans in the pipeline, which, at this stage, I can't say too much about, 'cause it's still in the early stages. In, probably the next 7 or 8 months there will be some major changes in the music industry in Tasmania. What we're trying to do is encourage bands to stay in tasmania, instead of going to the mainland. With these new initiative we're looking into art the moment, we'll be creating more opportunities for bands to perform in Tasmania, giving them more opportunity to go and record at affordable costs. Really, just encourage bands to stay here so we can develop the industry here and make it bigger and better. It has improved a lot over the last eight or nine months, due to events like The falls festival. I think The Falls festival was a really big break for a lot of Tasmanian bands. the Tassie bands that played down there were not billed as Tasmanian bands. they were all put on the bill amongst the other national and international acts and treated as such. There was no, you know, "Oh, you're a Tasmanian band, so we'll put you on first and let all the other national and international acts follow." the tassie bands were slotted in amongst all the other bands and what that did, I think, is the public became
What role do you think TasMusic has had in that coming about? The current management has only been in for the last 3 years. Before that there had been a few problems with management and we were based in Launceston. A lot of people thought we were just a Launceston organisation and only supported Launceston musicians. In the last 3 years, since Martin Stuart has been manager, we've been trying to branch out statewide and let the bands know we're here to help them. Bands have started to make more use of our resources and that, in turn, has given the bands a little more encouragement and they can start to see where we're coming from as an organisation and what they need to do to help develop themselves. Bands are notorious for not getting themselves organised and i think now that bands are startring to see the benefits of hard work, being organised and treating it in a professional way, they can see they can actually achieve what they set out to ... How do you actually encourage those bands to work in a professional way? Do you put them on courses or what do you do? At this stage there are no set courses outside of the school system at the moment, but long term, like what I was saying before with our future plans, that's what we're hoping to do. So we usually just deal with bands on a band basis. We also do run the Behind The Music seminars here, which recently had the John Butler trio manager come down here and talk about touring and ... Powderfinger's tour manager talk about the art of touring as well. We also had some seminars last year where we had some industry labels come down and just talk to the bands about what's required and what's expected of bands and what the studios and the labels are looking for. And one of the interesting things that Marshall Cullen (who runs a label up in Sydney) was that a lot of Tasmanian bands seem to think they've got to go to the mainland to make it, but he's saying no, they don't. Stay in Tasmania it's a good, small scene here and you're more likely to get noticed in Tasmania. if you leave Tasmania and go to melbourne you're going from a small pond to a big ocean of bands, so you're already going into hugely competitive market. So, his advice was, "Stay in Tasmania, work hard, play your gigs and record. get a name for yourself here and then start sending your demos off to record labels and radio stations on the mainland." And the bands have now started to get good quality bios. they're getting good quality demo CD's out there. They're putting them in professional kits and really coming up with a good professional package, but when I first started working at Tasmusic, bands would come in with a one page bio on a word document. it just didn't look professional, so now we encourage them to come up with a cd-rom package. It's got the photos and the bio and a couple of tracks on there as well ...an entire package on one CD for labels and venues and recording companies and i think that's the way bands have got to start approaching things. Can you think of any bands that you could point out as successes, having come to Tasmusic for assistance and then they've gone on to do good things? We had a fair bit to do with helping The Dead Abigails out, initially, and they've gone on to do bigger and better things. They've toured England and played some pretty big festivals over there, lots of Triple J airplay. They regularly go over to the mainland and tour. The Swedish Styles are about to head off to Melbourne to do 8 gigs in 6 days over there and the Charlie Parkers are a band which we've tried to help out over the past few years...
WILL.CO - CHUNKY CHEESE. POGA - HOUSE / FUNK. HAVIER - PROGRESSIVE TECH HOUSE TYBALT - TECH HOUSE SCOTTY - D'N'B BEGSI - TRANCE / HARDSTYLE UMAN - BREAKS / FUNK WILL - D'N'B HUWBA - HIP HOP / FUNK and special guests weekly OPEN WED 9pm - LATE. THURS 9pm - LATE. FRI 9pm - LATE. SAT 9pm - LATE SUN 5am - ONWARD. Occasionally closed to public till 12pm due to private functions. Bookings welcome on 0439386776.
Level 1 @ The Duke Cnr Barrack and Macquarie St Hobart
GIG Guide 04/08/04 - 31/08/04 Wed 4th August
Simon Russell Guilty as Charged ($2)
Kenny and Dave
Launceston
Trout The Coven ($7/$6)
Syrup MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.
Reality The Last Kings of Hollywood The Saloon The Legendary Uni Night Donut and Kamakaze Reality The last Kings of Hollywood
Syrup Downstairs: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Rollie. Upstairs: The BEEZ NEEZ – “if it’s good we’ll play it” – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests.
Burnie Stars At No. 25 The Cold Cold Ethyls (Featuring Members of Trenchcoat) Launceston
Sportsmans Hall Song Writers Night – Featuring Roots’N’All The Batman Fawkner Inn Roundabout
Customs House Oscar
Saloon Bar Super Coaches of AFL
The Prince of Wales Hotel Marita + Jeremy & The Humans
Friday 13th August
Launceston
Hobart
Reality 24 Seven
The Republic Bar Pete Cornelius & The DeVilles ($2)
Saloon Bar Saturday Night part Hard + Chilli Dance Party in the Lube
Wrest Point Casino Battle Of The Bands – Semi Final One
Hobart The Republic Bar Toasted Hammond Quintet Customs House Pete Thomas Thursday 5th August Hobart Syrup Mesh - Hobarts oldest night club, breaks/drum and bass with resident dj Spin-FX and Guests. The Republic Bar Fuzzy Zellas & Tyrant Trout Samuel Bester & The Rakes 9pm Customs House New Age Hippies
Blue Café Our House DJ Matt C + Friends
Customs House Donut Sirens Tzu
Sunday 8th August Hobart The Republic Bar Cake Walking Babies The Prince of Wales Hotel Thomas, Kim & The Fox Customs House Jordan Miller
Syrup Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Gnosis ‘Laying down the Chunks“O”Funk’ Downstairs: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan. Upstairs: MINISTRY OF SOUND presents SESSIONS TOUR, DJ’s: JOHN COURSE, MARK DYNAMIX + Gillie, Matt B and Adam Turner.
Monday 9th August
The Republic Bar Ajax
The Batman Fawkner Inn - Club 54 Symposium of Sickness Festival Excarnated (Melb) Zero Degrees Freedom (Launc) Goreverk (Hob) Three Victims (Bur) Mutilated Spastic Iguanas (Hob) Corpse Carving (Laun) Intense Hammer Rage 9pm $10
Wednesday 11th August
Reality Carl Fidler
Hobart The Republic Bar Republic Quiz Night Tuesday 10th August Hobart
Hobart
The Republic Bar Space Like Alice $2
The Republic Bar TasMusic
Saloon Bar Miss University Model Competition Final
Customs House Pete Thomas
Blue Café Our House DJ Matt C + Friends
Launceston
Burnie
Launceston
Reality 24 Seven
Reality 24 Seven
The Saloon The Legendary Uni Night
Magintys Irish Bar Denise Sam (Vocals and Percussion) with The Viktor Zapper Swingnet Burnie
Burnie Magintys Irish bar Yoly Tores, Andy farrel
Saturday 14th August Blue Café Our House DJ Matt C + Friends
Thursday 12th August
Customs House Morning Glory Launceston Reality Funken Unbelievable Saloon Bar Saturday Night part Hard + Chilli Dance Party in the Lube Blue Café Our House DJ Matt C + Friends Sunday 15th August Hobart The Republic Bar Jeff Lang with Angus Diggs & Tim Hall $15/$12 Customs House Charles and Peron The Prince of Wales Hotel Thomas, Kim and The Fox Monday 16th August Hobart The Republic Bar Nat Science Week Quiz Night
Hobart The Republic Bar Joe Pierre Wednesday 18th August Hobart The Republic Bar Jungle Kings (Syd) $5 Customs House Pete Thomas Launceston Reality The Last Kings of Hollywood The Saloon The Legendary Uni Night Thursday 19th August Hobart The Republic Bar Brian Fraser Syrup
Hobart Hobart
Hobart
The Republic Bar Amnesty Fundraiser (The Reactions, Enola Fall & More)
The Republic Bar
Customs House
Saturday 7th August
The Venue Tzu
Tuesday 17th August
Hobart
Customs House No Means Yes
The Prince of Wales Hotel Timbre & The View
Launceston
Friday 6th August
Syrup Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Gnosis ‘Laying down the Chunks“O”Funk’ Downstairs: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan. Upstairs: MINISTRY OF SOUND presents SESSIONS TOUR, DJ’s: JOHN COURSE, MARK DYNAMIX + Gillie, Matt B and Adam Turner.
and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Rollie. Upstairs: The BEEZ NEEZ – “if it’s good we’ll play it” – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests.
The Republic Bar Jeff Lang with Angus Diggs & Tim Hall $15/$12 Syrup Downstairs: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s
Customs House New Age Hippies Syrup MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.
GIG Guide
@Venue 04/08/04 - 31/08/04
Burnie
Sunday 22nd August
DSKO, Corney.
Stars At No. 25 The Good, The Bald , The Ugly (Featuring Chris Lynch of Love Gods)
Hobart
Customs House No Means Yes
The Republic Bar Fabio & Band (African Music)
Launceston Saloon Bar Love Outside Andromeda Friday 20th August Hobart The Republic Bar Love Outside Andromeda supp: Pretty Mess ($5)
The Prince of Wales Hotel Thomas, Kim & The Fox
Launceston
Customs House Jordan Miller
The Batman Fawkner Inn Sweetbeats
Lewisham Tavern Butterfingers
The Royal Oak Roadhouse Deluxe
Monday 23rd August
Blue Café Our House DJ Matt C + Friends
Hobart Syrup Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Gnosis ‘Laying down the Chunks“O”Funk’Downstairs: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan. Upstairs: LaCasa – Vocal House with resident DJ’s Matt B, Gillie and Guests. Customs House Oscar Wrest Point Casino Battle Of The Bands – Semi Final Night Two
The Republic Bar G.B Balding
The Batman Fawkner Homegrown – Sulo & Cog
Hobart Hobart The Republic Bar Patrick & Anna (Guitar and Violin) Wednesday 25th August Hobart The Republic Bar Harlem Lounge Mobius LoCaL PrOdUcE - Round 3 9pm
Saturday 21st August
The Republic Bar Old Des Peres + Nellie and The Fat Band ($2) Trout Rocketfuel featuring live original bands and DJ’s ($5) - Botox - Monster - Howarcycle - Scott Cotterill - Jeffe Customs House Donut
The Saloon The Legendary Uni Night
Syrup Downstairs: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Rollie. Upstairs: The BEEZ NEEZ – “if it’s good we’ll play it” – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests.
Reality The Dead Abigails
The Prince of Wales Hotel Airto & Ballpoint
Thursday 26th August
Launceston
Hobart
Saloon Bar Saturday Night part Hard + Chilli Dance Party in the Lube
Customs House Pete Thomas Launceston
Blue Café Our House DJ Matt C + Friends
Saturday 28th August
Tuesday 24th August
Launceston Reality Jesse Pitcher
Wrest Point Casino Battle Of The Bands Grand Final
Hobart The Republic Bar Love Outside Andromeda supp: Pretty Mess ($5) Syrup Downstairs: TACKYLAND – 70’s 80’s and 90’s RETRO with resident DJ’s Nick C and Rollie. Upstairs: The BEEZ NEEZ – “if it’s good we’ll play it” – house, electro & breaks with resident DJ’s Gillie, Adam Turner, Matt B and guests.
The Republic Bar Son Del Sur (Cuban Salsa Music) $2 Customs House Oscar Acoustic Syrup MESH – Hobarts oldest club night, breaks/drum+bass with resident DJ SPIN-FX and guests.
Blue Café Our House DJ Matt C + Friends Sunday 29th August Hobart
Customs House No Means Yes
Burnie
The Republic Bar Delta Rhythm Section
Trout The Roobs & The Reactions 10pm
Stars At No. 25 Richie Benaud Allstars
The Prince of Wales Hotel Sun
The Prince Of Wales Hotel Trent McNamara & Stardust Hawker
Friday 27th August
Customs House Pete Thomas
Hobart
Saloon Bar Saturday Night part Hard + Chilli Dance Party in the Lube Blue Café Our House DJ Matt C + Friends
The Saloon H o t e l Ta s m a n i a 191 Charles St Launceston 6331 7355 w w w. s a l o o n . c o m . a u Reality Niteclub James Bar James Hotel 1 2 2 Yo r k S t Launceston 6334 7231 info@jameshotel.com.au
Syrup 1st Floor 39 Salamanca Place Hobart 6224 8249 syrupclub@bigpond.com Republic Bar 299 Elizabeth St North Hobart 6234 6954 w w w. r e p u b l i c b a r. c o m The Lewisham Ta v e r n 46 Scenic Drive Lewisham 7173 6265 8144 Club 54 The Batty The Batman Fawkner Inn 35 Cameron St Launceston 6331 7222 Blue Cafe Inveresk Railyards 6334 3133 Eden Level 1, Duke of We l l i n g t o n H o t e l Cnr Barrack & Macquarie St., Hobart 0439 386 776
Monday 30th August
Launceston Reality The Big Swifty
where?
The Republic Bar Leo De Castro & The Warriors $2 Syrup Downstairs 8pm: KO – Resident DJ’s Seb, SPIN-FX & Gnosis ‘Laying down the Chunks“O”Funk’ Downstairs 11pm: BOOGIE – 70’s & 80’s FUNK with resident DJ’s Nick C and Duncan. Upstairs: PICKLE – TECHNO, HARD HOUSE, ELECTRO,TRANCE & NRG with resident DJ’s: Kir, Modal, Doofa,
Hobart The Republic Bar Republic Quiz Night Tuesday 31st August Hobart The Republic Bar Pete Cornelius Solo
To list your gig in the Gig Guide (Free), email details to
Bangin’ Beats Declan Lee - who is he? through the barometer of dance-floor libido. You get it when you hear it. The sampling, the mixing and his commitment to keeping his hands unstuck from the mixer and the mission. It’s all in the record collection. It’s all in the technique. It’s all in the energy. Declan is brimming over with all three. Declan cut his teeth in almost every house club in Sydney before being voted Best Up-AndComing DJ by pivotal dance music magazine 3D World in 1995. Skirting the perimeters of the loop of cool and getting on with what he damn well pleased, Lee notched up residencies at a diverse range of electronic establishments.
Having recently been responsible for the emergence of both Ministry of Sound and Hussle Recordings as key labels both locally and globally, its safe to say Declan Lee is a key figure in the Australian Dance community. A well respected DJ, producer, touring agent and A&R consultant, Declan has run his finger across every aspect there is to electronic music. It is, as a DJ however that he has forged a most respected and solid reputation. With a current style that spans genres including house, techhouse, electro-tech and breaks his music is tasty, cutting edge and infectious. His deep never utters the bourgeois beats synonymous with the all too serious house doyens. It’s all about a large amount of funk. Whether he’s dropping downbeat grooves or driving tech house, people’s mercury shoot
He has toured twice nationally for the Ministry of Sound, having completed the Club Nation Tour in 2001 touring Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. In addition, he mixed the Club Nation CD with Mark Dynamix for simultaneous release with the tour. In 2003, under his production guise of Wok Institute, Lee mixed a disc on the Alfresco Soiree (Hussle Recordings) compilation which was subsequently nominated for the ‘Best Mixed CD’ category at the national Dance Music Awards in 2004. However, Declan Lee’s experience doesn’t start and finish with a DJ set in a club. Lovers of fine music can’t live and breathe it on a part time basis and Lee has never been content to sit back and let it all wash over him. His role at Ministry of Sound Australia saw him take on roles including Head of Touring and a 3 year stint as A&R Manager until recently. Up his sleeve are skills in event management, having programmed music for street festivals and dance parties to founding the seminal Splash recovery party on New Year’s Day. Declan and co-founders had an inkling for a clubber’s need for something different and hired a public pool, 6 DJs, some marquees and the day has been a runaway success, drawing up to 3,000 people every year.
Bangin’ Beats John Course & MOS lot of scratching on those old Hip Hop records so I wanted to find out how it all worked and I was very into music through the whole breakdance thing and just decided I wanted to try and do it. I didn't know I'd still be doing it 17 years later, but there's no complaints. Talking about things coming full circle, I heard you described as flavour of the month. how does that feel?
Vicous label founder. Ministry of Sound CD mixer. Aussie dance legend, John Course plays Syrup in Hobart 13/8/04. John Course ... is that your real name? Yeah. I think I started DJ'ing before they had trendy DJ names and I just went with the flow. I was wondering why you didn't pick a pseudonym. I started DJ'ing 17 years ago and the whole DJ name thing started about 10 years ago. So, '87 you started. Where was that? How did you get started? Through the breakdance movement. I used to be into that, saw the movie, "Beat Street" and there's a
Oh, really? I've been DJ'ing long enough that I've probably had 3 or 4 waves of popularity where you're playing the best clubs and then you go through a period where there's another club that's hot and you're not playing there and then you go back to a period where you're DJ'ing at the place to go and vice versa. I thin, really, as a DJ, you do your thing and you do it well, or you don't do it well, and from that point on it comes down to how often you play places and whether people get sick of you. For example, I'm a resident at the Prince of Wales (Melbourne) but because I'm doing the Ministry of Sound tour at the moment I've only played in Melbourne, on a Saturday night, one night in the last weeks. And that means that last Saturday I got a fantastic ovation from the people there, because they know me, but they haven't been able to hear me for six weeks. So it comes down to supply and demand. Flavour of the month is just a way of saying, "Hey sometimes, the music that you play and the way that you play it, is right for the time," and sometimes you're on the outer with what you play because there's another trend in music happenning and it just so happens that the music that I play and love, basically House music, has got quite a resurgence at the moment, so that helps me.
SE PTEMBER 9 UNI OF TAS BAR L AUNCESTON Special Guests - Carl Fidler (The Dead Abigails), Da men Brown e & Jaso n Bakes S t ude nt tickets $6.00 : Non-Students $10.00 ava i l a bl e from the uni and at good music stores
Bangin’ Beats Rigby - a rare rose amongst the thorns much as I usually do.
other now, our styles …
Don’t worry about that. Honestly, everyone swears. So, what have you been up to today?
I heard that some international DJ’s are interested in doing some work with you?
Today? Actually I’ve been studying Spanish .. I’m supposed to have been doing it for weeks, but I’m a slack bastard and so I’m cramming. My mates just finished her degree in linguistics at Melbourne Uni, and she’s my tutor, and she’s actually in Bolivia at the moment. I had four weeks to do all this work and I realised she comes back in a week and I haven’t done anything.
Yeah, that’s pretty cool, actually. Mark B came down here to do a set with MC Delta, a few months back, and they had an instore appearance at Ruffcut and my brother got up and started freestylin’ in there and Delta did some freestylin’ and I got up and had a pretty abortive attempt on the mic, but later on at their gig Mark B asked if I’d sing … and he really liked it and so he left four of his tracks down here for me to write melodies and vocals for and then send them over so he can work on them in the UK.
Bummer. Are you performing this coming weekend?
Wow. Yeah, my brother’s got a set at Koolism … Who’s your brother? Tommy Butler. Mdusu. He’ll be doing a set with Cerberus, a 3 man Hip Hop crew. Cerberus, it’s the 3 headed dog that guards the gates of Hell, if you look at it that way. Girls working in the DJ/dance musicscene are not common, but this diva shows that even from little Tassie, if you’ve got talent the world wants to know. I’ve got to tell you, I’m recording this or I get into trouble. From what’s recorded, you use anything from that? Yes. Actually, pretty much write the interview out as it’s said. Ok. Yeah. (Eleanor laughs) I have to make sure I don’t swear as
And what will you be doing? It’s actually their set, but I might get up and do a bit of impro vocals with them at the end. He said come along and have a sing if you want to.
Parky: A lot of it's influenced by old ... 70's Funk or Rock. A lot of remixes or ripped off riffs from old tracks .. that influence us. We were doing the Prince of Wales and that was really good, but just ended up wanting a change. Somewhere bigger and a bit less pub environment. More where people come for the music, I suppose, and we thought Mobius would be a good place to do it and we've been doing that for about 3 months. Is it going well? Parky: Yeah it's been awesome.it's such a good vibe when you get heaps of people there and everyone is so chilled and we've got heaps of couches and there's still enough room for people to dance. We just try and keep the whole happy, daggy vibe rather than the furious, clubbing sort of thing. Parky: And we're, hopefully, going to start bringing down interstate Hip Hop DJ's once a month. Mainly Hip Hop? Parky: Hip Hop and Breaks and Funky Breaks. 'Cause we play .. a bit of Hip Hop, but mostly broken Jazz and Party Breaks and a lot of Funk. Moving into the business side ...? Parky: That was the first gig thatme and Mez had together. Mez:The day I turned 18 ... Rob Spinner (Spinfx) and Corney, hooked me up a gig at Syrup and I could hardly even mix back then and I was playing funky disco and real cheesy house and stuff and ... ended up playing downstairs ... 4 nights a week and did that for a couple of years. At the moment you're playing the "Freshly Breaked Stuff" and ... also down at Mobius?
Parky: Yeah Mez: Yeah. Absolutely. Parky: Yeah, but still trying to keep it the sam old vibe that we had at The Prince of Wales and Mobius and try and keep it all fun, rather than get too sucked into the business side of things. I suppose once we get to know everyone, we might be able to hook up and go up there and play with some of them. Mez: That'd be a long term goal.
Parky: Yeah, we're doing "Bunker Funk" every Thursday night ...
Yeah, I’m working on vocal bits and pieces with Crixus, he’s a DJ as well as scratch artist. He is a good MC as well. So he and I are working on a track together at the moment and I’m working on doing some stuff with my brother as well. And also with Rob as well, ‘cause he writes his own music. So that’s what you’re up to at the moment?
Yeah, all the sets we do in the clubs are impro. Rob (Spinfx) and I might get together and he’s bought new records and whatever we should go through. It all depends upon who we’re supporting, because, for instance at the Salmonella Dub gig we played less hard music than we normally would. It can be tricky though ‘cause quite often we don’t do any rehearsal, so we’ll be standing up there, looking at each other going AAAARGH! Rob and I are getting quite used to each
Mez: Yeah, just a Lounge night ... play music anywhere between Hip Hop, ... Funk, Breaks, House, Lounge.
Mez: Basically, we're playing at a lot of other people's gigs. There's the "Freshly Breaked" events where you've had Krafty, Stanton Warriors ... just mates who put on parties ask us to play. It started off with the Prince of Wales. We started the Thursday night thing up there and that's got a really, really good following .. we did that every Thursday for around about a year.
Was there anybody else that you’re doing stuff with?
Is that what you do generally, improvised vocals?
Parky & Mez (Hbt)
What are you doing now? Where are you playing?
Yeah. It’s pretty cool. He called up the other week and we’ve been in contact a fair bit about what we’re going to do and he’s, apparently, organising some new album deal and wants me to do vocals on that. So that’s pretty sweet …
Yeah (laughs) at the moment I’m writing a ridiculous amount of music and trying to stay motivated to get it out there.
brother has always been in bands. I’ve always been around bands and that kind of thing, always played instruments through high school, then in college I headed towards musical theatre, ‘cause that’s a big part of what I do as well, theatre work. I did a couple of musicals at college and then left school and started doing musicals in Hobart as well as working. I did shows back to back for about three years and then I decided no to do the shows anymore and pursue singing, separately from the acting and see where that took me and it’s gone ridiculously well. (laughs) What actually happened with the MC’ing was that I was freestyling in the pub with my mate, as we do … the girls all hang out … and the guys were in the pub as well having a bit of a freestyle and this guy, Ruben, and I started battling each other and it went for hours and we had a great time. After he asked me to come down and do some vocals and rhyming over a set that he was doing with a friend of his … and that was about a year and a half ago now. Then things picked up with Rob and I from there and then it, pretty much, went non-stop at all the parties where we’re doing our thing and now I sing with whoever, whenever. That’s with the guys with the records and picked up some performance work, in theatre again, just a few months ago. So, it’s all going pretty strong. And do you find many girls in the scene? In Hobart, no. (laughs) I’m the only girl doing what I do in Hobart, in the MC’ing sense, which is interesting. It was quite interesting when I first started, as well, ‘cause there are so many guys doing it. There are so many DJ’s everywhere. They’re spunky DJ’s. (laughs) No, so there are other girls that I do vocals with or are in bands, but that’s a bit different, really, from what I do. On the nights they have the MC battles down at Mobius, I used to go in those. I’d get up and sing and I was, pretty much, the only girl going in it, but bit by bit there’;s more girls. I think there’s four now.
And how long have you been doing MC’ing stuff as well as music in general?
And where do you hope to be in 12 months?
Music in general, I’ve always been involved in. My older
In 12 months? Making music for a living.
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Bangin’ Beats What’s up with TZU?
Blue Cafe presents
Our House Friday and Saturday nights from 21:00 Resident DJ Matt C + Friends
Melbourne Hip Hop outfit, TZU head to Tassie for a couple of Hobart gigs this month. Dave spoke with Emseed. So how do you pronounce the name? Zu. And where does that name come from? It comes from 2 sources, the first one is an ancient Chinese philosopher named Lao Tzu, who you may know, wrote in text the fundamental philosophies of Tzuism. Were not Tzuists!. We just felt a bit of a connection with what he talked about. And then apart from that you can throw the word into many different contexts like checking mikes or pretending its an acronym and making up a fresh new acronym for each interview. So today’s acronym is Terribly Zany Underflow. Does the band get into some of Lao Tzu’s philosophys? To be really simple and slightly superficial in light of getting the interview done, he talks about slow, the world around is, and the individual tap into the world around us, there’s a bit of a metaphor, in that wether be in the music, especially in lyrical music, where there is a rhythmical flow of words. And we call the flow when someone’s freestyling. That’s just how we put it together. Do you guys do a lot of freestyling? Depends on the gig, if it’s a big gig and it’s loose and everyone’s kinda drunk we’ll probably play half the set or two thirds of the set songs and the rest freestyle. And we just freestyle the rest over beats we’ve made or our producers made. He’s got them on a sampler so bring parts in and out and we just freestyle on them. When it’s our own gig we’ll freestyle more than if we’re the support band. Do you feel like you’ve got a bit more freedom? Yea exactly, you can express yourself across the board rather that just get your music across to a new audience. People have come to see you so you can experiment Taking about support gigs you guys supported the black eyed peas earlier in the year? Yep Can you describe what that was like? The show was good, didn’t really meet any of them. I watched the start of their show, they were excellent then we left. It was nothing to cream your pants about. They’re a really good live band, and we warmed up for them really well. We played a great show. There were a lot of people there who must have seen black eyed peas on video hits or fox fm and they were coming along, there was nothing underground about it. It had a real teenybopper feel, but that’s cool, I’ve got nothing against that, it just wasn’t coming from the underground hip hop or indy side of things it was coming from a mainstream point of view. So when they saw a bunch of Aussie dudes get up wearing you know normal clothes. Jumping around being
funny and playing this sorta raw music the didn’t know what to make of it at the start. Once we kinda used our charms (laughs) and they were pretty into it by the end. Any my fly was undone, in front of all those people, it was one of my classic moments of live performance. Its one of those zips that doesn’t stay up when its not in the right spot, one of the girls in the front row pointed it out to me, and I made a bit of a show out of it and kinda covered it up. So is that kinda the mood of your shows, fun or do you get political? Definitely light fun, but at the same time, were not just rapping about the good things in life. The vibe of the gig is party, that’s what we try and create. Humorous fun and relaxed, high vibrations. But we’ll drop a whole segment of political lyrics, but they still come under the umbrella of the whole vibe of the show. It’s still about having a good time. Were politically minded people to some extent, but it doesn’t mean we need to get angry or stern faced.
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Where do you see Aussie hip hop at the moment? Do you see it as an underground thing or a mainstream thing? It’s teetering, I think we need to take into account what were calling Aussie hip hop now, in a few years, because its about to get popular, there’ll be a lot more pop music using hip hop aesthetics, its probably got a rapper and hip hop production but it’s a pop song, stuff like that will start to come out. Or it will be completely awol hip hop that’s underground that’s really experimental. I don’t think the real hip hop, the straight up and down hip hop is going to be the only thing, when we say the future of Aussie hip hop it’ll have many prongs that’s going to spread itself across the genre. As far as just the straight stuff, it’s always going to be there, and its always going to be popular. But I don’t think its ever going to become completely mainstream. Because Australians aren’t sexy enough and were too honest and too earnest. Especially in that real raw hip hop which includes rapping. It’s a miracle that the hoods have got so far. And I think that’s really good. And hopefully more of that will come out. There’s never going to be a hip hop ACDC from Australia. There’s never going to be a world market for straight hip hop from Australia. I’m kinda waiting for the next record selling ground breaking ban out of Australia, who do you think will be? I’ve got no idea. Maybe Jet or something like that. Well I would have thought they would have already made it, with a 5 million dollar record deal. Yea I guess so, its longevity. Like acdc stayed in the charts and kept selling albums their whole career. Now there one of the top 6 selling artist in all of recorded music, that’s pretty cool. Australians are an earnest bunch and that’s not always desirable. So until hip hop takes on different shades of other genres I think it will always just teeter on successful and popular but your still in the under regions of pop.
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Bangin Beats Butterfingers to bring their slippery beats
Recent success for Butterfingers means good fortune for Tasmania with the groovy Hip Hop heads heading down south. Dave Williams spoke with Dave Crane. What effect has success had on the band? Places that'd wouldn't even look at us will now give us a go. We can play in a place that we've never been to before and we ... not guarantee the crowd, but we usually do pretty well, you know." Have you been approached by any record labels? We're pretty happy to be independent, to be honest with you. It's pretty hard . It would definitely be a lot easier if we had people calling the shots, but then ... I'm a real indie fan and I don't think, at this point, we need to do that. Magoo is working out of Brisbane. Why did he work on the album? Actually, we sought him out. He's worked with people that have influenced me ... He brings something to a recording. He has an approach to it all, which is amazing. It's ... kind of, Zen sometimes, but he brings something out of people. We didn't want someone to totally reshape our songs, or rewrite them or anything ... we'd been rewriting them and demo-ing them , trying them out ... We've got a pretty good idea of where we're at. We just wanted someone who ... could make the songs sound like they should. We tried producing ourselves and we didn't end up using a lot of that. We kept some of the tracks .... You need fresh ears and he's definitely got fresh ears. How long have you been together? 3 Years ... a bit more Eddie was working at The Zoo in Brisbane and he wrote his name on the "bookings board' and the girls who own (The Zoo) held him to it and so he had a couple of weeks to get something together, and so he called on a a few friends and put a band together .... I wasn't in the band at that stage ... but, from all accounts, it was pretty bad (laughs) ... Eddie reckons it was because he didn't have the "balls" to be a solo artist What's your philosophy on life?
I dunno that's really hard ... I'm a bit of a hedonist. I definitely believe in enjoying yourself ... I do like working hard too. So maybe something to do with working hard to achieve the things you want to be doing. That's what we're trying to do and you get to enjoy yourself the whole way, which is cool. What mental picture did you get when you knew you were playing in Tassie? (Laughs) Actually, the first thing I thought of ... was the old "map of tassie." I've never been to Tasmania so ...We're really excited. We're all really excited. Everyone, I know, who's ever gone there has said it's amazing, so .... but I don't know about the nightlife or anything, but ... I'm thinking more ... fishing and green pastures. i wouldn't mind staying down there for a while, but unfortunately, not this time ... gotta play a show in Melbourne ... so it's a bit of a fly-by mission. We were recently shutdown at the Valley Fiesta. They didn't have the infrastructure to cope if thousands of people turned up. And that's what happenned. Thousands of people turned up and ... you couldn't move ... apparently there were some fights and people climbing up on roofs and shit going on, but it was making the Police really nervous... Then they asked us to calm the crowd on ... then, we were about three quarters of the way through the set and that was it. They pulled the plug.
LIFE BYTES DVD
‘Cold Mountain’ Miramax
‘Porocora’ Universal
I missed Cold Mountain in theatres, but I was finally able to watch this critically acclaimed film on DVD. While I think the smaller screen takes away from the epic look of the movie, it is still a very impressive display of acting talent, scenery, and folk music. Cold Mountain is an interesting Civil War romance even if it does depart from the original story. Leading the cast are Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Rene Zellweger as the main characters with an excellent supporting cast, . That leads to the next feature of the film… the bloody, realistic battles.
This is set to become a classic surf film. With the dry season drawing to a close and the full moon setting in the west, a great roar“Pororoca” in the native Indian dialect- can be heard through the mouths of the Amazon. With rivers at a minimum, the vast Atlantic tides are about to hurl the waters back with devastating fury. This is the story of the search for the endless wave. It features 4 of the world’s top surfers who travel deep into the heart of the Amazon jungle to ride a tidal wave, kilometres from the ocean You will be amazed of the footage of Picuruta Salazar setting his record of riding a dirty brown wave for over 30 minutes up the Amazon River. For the first time this natural phenomena has been captured on 16mm film, bringing to the audience the fascination of one of the last great adventures of our century. A definite must see for all
The battle of Petersburg, Virginia is graphically recreated. . Smaller fights between Inman and various other soldiers along the way of his quest also offer up some cool action moments.
by Matt C
Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2
You bad ass motherfuckers. Yeeah, maaan. Watch out Tassie. Here we come. Actually, Damien and I were shut down once when we were playing in his mum's garage ... the (suburb) is really hilly and his house was right on top of a hill. We were just cranking out a jam in his garage and after about half an hour this cop turns up. We just spun out. (He) went off at us. What happened was they had about fifty complaints, but he couldn't find where the ... noise was coming from. It was reverberating off all the mountains. He'd been driving around for about half an hour. (It) was pretty cool. So will you be having back up dancers? I wouldn't rule it out. Maybe we could put it out to the public with this article ... (laughs) preferably women, but we're open.
Tennis games have been around now since the beginning of computer entertainment, starting way back with good old ‘Pong’ in the late 70’s and now with improvements in computer technology and graphical processing, tennis games are still being produced with unbelievable realism whilst still hanging on to the original roots. Whilst having perhaps the longest title I have ever seen slapped on a game case, SMCPT2 is a really good and realistic tennis game. I have played the first of the smash court games and there has been loads of new features added that make it a worthy sequel to its original, which in sport genre games is rare these days. Cosmetically, the graphics are much sharper and detailed than the original, which make the characters look more like the 16 pro players they represent. The frame rate is more stable and the court surfaces look better too, the grass court looks like it has grass sticking up, instead of just a muddy green flat surface texture, as in the original. The most important new features of this game are in
improvements to the analogue controls, with shot control and placement given greater accuracy. Serves can be given last minute adjustments making aces possible for better players. There has also been included drop shots and big flat shots, to make it a deeper tennis experience than its predecessor. The problems with the game start to appear at this end, with character animations having to complete their course of action before another can be attempted, giving the game a more realistic feel but, I believe, sacrificing a bit of fun in the process. I f you want to intercept a shot you have to plan your moves in advance which at first is a bit daunting but soon becomes intuitive after some time spent with the game. One problem inherent to most tennis games that Pro Tournament 2 also suffers from is depth perception. Placing the ball is a difficult task at times, as a high shot that your player can't reach might not look all that different from a lower shot that will cost you a point if you decide to ignore it. Some sort of visual indicators would have been a nice inclusion within the game. The game modes are what would be expected from a sports game: Arcade Mode for quick single player games, Exhibition Mode for single and multiplayer games, Tutorial Mode for learning the ways of the game, Challenge Mode for the chance to overcome specific goals, and Pro Tour, where you create a tennis player from scratch and try to make your way towards becoming the top ranked tennis player in the world. This game is very straightforward and doesn't play around with any out of place RPG elements or anything of that sort – it's all about tennis, and tennis is what you will get. The problem that will arise with this is that tennis is a fairly repetitive sport, and so is this game; once you've played a certain amount, you might not feel the urge to touch the game again for a long time. Graphics **** Sound **** Game play *** Multiplayer Yes Overall ***
Albums by Kris
& Shane
Win Tickets to Spiderbait Win one of 3 Double Passes @ UTAS Unibar Hobart 3rd September (18+ Event, Photo ID req.) Competition Closes 31/8/04
‘I’d rather be a bass player’ Gus and Frank
‘Riot on an empty street’ Kings of Convience
‘Tonight Alright’ Spiderbait
Zudio Music
EMI
Universal
This Melbourne outfit, formed in 1997, will relate well to anyone that has spent time slumming in ski hills across the World, spending their money on food but more specifically in the bar and pub listening to local touring bands.
Norwegian duo the Kings of Convenience put forth a warm album of acoustic guitar duos and vocal harmonies from Erik Glambek Boe and Erlend Oye. Riot on Empty Streets is reminiscent of the stylings of Simon and Garfunkle merged with Belle & Sebastian and Nick Drake.
With upbeat tracks and an ever-present bass riff, Gus and Frank sing about partying, love and livin’ life to it’s fullest. The album has a distinctively live feel to it, giving the listener the intimate feeling that they are at a live venue with a low ceiling, thick smoke wafting through the air and a beer in their hand.
The album opens with the line ‘…I can’t stop listening to the sound of two soft voices blended in perfection from the reels of this record that I have found.’ This sums up the album fittingly as Boe and Oye weave their tender music and lyrics in a consistent style that enables the listener to detach yet still remain cognisant of the soothing sound enveloping them.
The CD also offers some extra features that will treat those who have not experienced the band live with a video for ‘Miss My Maniac’ and photos of the band on tour. It proves an inspiration to support local Aussie talent when they put forth the effort to come down to the Apple Isle
Helped by producer Ken Nelson (Badly Drawn Boy), Kings of Convenience’s third album is a beautiful disc to relax to or come down with after a destructive evening
For their latest offering Spiderbait have gone back to rock, gone are the pop sounds from their previous album, Grand Slam. Their first single Black Betty is a hard-hitting rock song through and through. Cram belts out some heavily distorted vocals whilst pummeling the shit out of his drum kit. Nicely accompanied by some thrashing guitars and some nice hillbilly banjo action. The rest of the album falls short of this performance but still kicks along in true rock fashion. With heaps of distortion and screaming guitars, when turned up loud an ear bleed is almost a guarantee. Very much has the sound of bands like The Donnas. As always Janets sweet sounding voice makes an appearance and is just as well suited to this album as it is any of their more pop releases. Songs like, 5th Set and Alright thump along with heaps of speed and power, this album needs to be played loud.
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Win Tickets to Dave McCormack Win one of 3 double passes @ UTAS Unibar Launceston 9th September (18+ Event, Photo ID req.) Competition Closes 31/8/04 Name:................................................ Address:............................................ ............................................................. ................................Postcode:......... D.O.B:................................................. Email:................................................. Phone:............................................... Return to: Dave McCormack Comp 13 Lawrence St Launceston TAS 7250
Win John Course tickets & CD's Win one of 4 double passes & 4 CD's @ Syrup Friday 13 August (18+ Event, Photo ID req.) Competition Closes 11/8/04 Name:............................................... Address:........................................... ............................................................ ..............Postcode:.......................... D.O.B:................................................ Email:................................................ Phone:.............................................. ‘Good News for People Who Love Bad News’
Modist Mouse Island/Def Jam Indie rockers Modest Mouse have put out their most sold album to date in Good News. Following on their eclectic genre swapping that has carried them over the last eleven years, this album should not disappoint long-time fans and will hopefully result in some new tagalongs. Opening cinematically and switching from sound to sound, semi-professional drinker Isaac Brock guides the album in typically difficulty to classify Modest Mouse direction, at times sounding indie-rock-pop-folk. The lyrics follow the similar obscurity of Mouses previous album the Moon & Antarctica, but remain more upbeat than past albums despite touching on subjects like death and the afterlife.
‘One Step Ahead’ Reason
‘If you lose it’ Last Days of April
Obese Records
Geffen
This probably the album that will bring this veteran of the Aussie Hip Hop scene to the ears of a larger audience than just the hardcore. There are fourteen tracks. The album contains new productions as well as five remixes of earlier material. The track, “Have You Ever” is my pick, followed by the inspirational and motivational “Weather The Storm” and the remix of “True Aussie Icon”. In some ways Reason has a similar sound to the Hilltop Hoods with solid beats and jazz and rock samples, but Reason sounds a little more “old school”. Reason delivers his lyrics clearly , covering personal and political subjects, with lots of Aussie specific references, which helps the listener to connect. Overall, a cool album and valuable addition to the Aussie Hip Hop scene.
Swedish duo the Last Days of Aprils If you Lose It is a more toned down album than previously produced in their eight-year existence. Despite being more subdued, it is a beautiful album that can be easily listened to as the backing soundtrack to a relaxing evening or chill out session after a big night. Similar sounds to the old Manchester sound of Joy Division, Last Days touch on cliché topics of relationships and locales, but still provide some insightfulness. Surprisingly, the same team produces the album as countrymen The Hives, who’s louder sound matches past Last Days albums more than If you Lose It. The album holds well over the first half but loses some momentum as it nears completion.
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Win tickets to Butterfingers Win one of 3 double passes @ Lewisham Tavern 22nd August (18+ Event, Photo ID req.) Competition Closes 18/7/04 Name:............................................... Address:........................................... ............................................................ ..............Postcode:.......................... D.O.B:................................................ Email:................................................ Phone:..............................................
Return to: Butterfingers Competition 13 Lawrence St Launceston TAS 7250
Travel Bug food & accommodation Central City Backpackers (Hobart) was pretty full, for such an enormous place. This unique hostel had a great atmosphere and plenty of character, complete with three buckets catching the rain in the lounge area,following the deluge Hobart received during the week I was there.
straight to my room. I crept down the hallway so as not to wake people, only to find that with every step, the floor creaked loudly, as did the bed when I got into it, as did my other roomy who woke up really early and rustled around for about an hour.
I wandered off to find my room through the rabbit warren hallways. I was sleeping in a four berth room, one half with bunks, the other with two single beds.
I have to say I have had better nights sleep. The bed was creaky, the mattress was not that flash, and the walls are thin. Even after I think I may have asked, half asleep, Bottom Bits Bus Tours and Rafting the Franklin, many of which are geared specifically to backpackers and often offer discounted places to fill up tours.
The Central City Backpackers is in the heart of Hobart and this is definitely its strong point. Situated on Collins St, between Salamanca Place and the city, it is within walking distance to everything and buses to anywhere else are just next door. Sleeping 171 people, you are almost guaranteed to get a bed. First a word of advice: if you are driving, don't try to find Central City Backpackers during peak hour. The one way streets and traffic will drive you NUTS! When I did eventually find the place, I thanked my lucky stars I wasn't carrying a huge backpack after a 6 day hike in the mountains, because I had to walk up what is essentially three flights of stairs. Huffing and puffing, I made it to reception, then had to wait for, well... ages, as I had timed it perfectly to arrive just after a huge group of Architecture conference people. The upside of this was that it meant the hostel
They carry the best international calling cards I have seen which don't charge you extra because you don't live in Sydney or Melbourne, and there is even a masseuse available if you need. The standard check-out time of 10am is fine with the buses nearby. My roomy was from Japan, and there was a good international mix of guests, travellers and students. The kitchen proved a challenge as I had brought canned food to make pasta. Like almost every hostel I have ever stayed in, the can openers were less than effective. I got third time lucky after Steve, the manager, gave me what appeared to be his own personal canopener and when I finished dinner I wandered into the night to see some local music.
if the rustler could stop!, she went into the hallway and I could still hear her, if not more. But to be this close to everything, and with competetive rates starting at $18, the Central City Backpackers is a great base.
When I got home at 1.30am, I used my night door code to get in and was glad the stairs led me
They book tours for around Hobart and the rest of Tasmania, such as Tiger Trails into the Tarkine,
Trish and Steve, who run the place, offer plenty of services such as bag and bike storage, laundry and linen hire. There is also a $5 key deposit for each key required.
Blue Cafe (Launceston)
Situated downstairs from the Powerhouse gallery on the Inveresk railyards site in Launceston is Blue Cafe. In contrast to it's name the Cafe appeared at night as a warm, happy place shining amongst the darkness. As it was cold, and in Winter, there was nobody seated at the tables outside, enclosed by a manicured heedge, but inside there was only one table available, ours, as the cafe was booked out.
thanfully together. I think it's a golden rule for restaurants that meals should arrive together, and having run restaurants, I know it is not that hard to do if you're organised and prepared.
We ordered a bottle of the House Merlot, which we though was from South Australia, according to our wine list, but it turned out to be a cleanskin from the Margaret River region. It was delicious though.
I had the Risotto of tigher prawns, fennel, shaved parmesan, fresh tomato and baby spinach drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. My friends had a woodfired pizza with tomato, parmesan, cal;amata olives and fetta, which he liked. My other friend had the spagetti with chargrilled figs, torn prosciuto, basil and smashed hazelnuts with a white wine and garlic reduction. He said it was very good, but a little small and I would say the same about my risotto. However, it is an old saying in the retaurant game that they're there to feed the customer, not stuff them. My risotto was very well cooked, very tasty with a bit of a tangy spice. It was a little annoying though, that I had to take the tails off the tiger prawns, all nine of them, which is a good serving, but why leave the tails on so I have to stick my fingers in my mouth to retrieve the tail each time? Is it to show that they're fresh, because it doesn't really.
My two friends and I sat at our table, shown by one of the owners, Paul Alexander. Paul does not look like your typical restauranteur, but one should never judge a book by the cover as Paul knows what he's doing, if our visit was anything to judge by.
Overall the three main meals, the bread (with an extra slice) and oils, plus the two bottles of wine came to $88, which is pretty good value. Blue Cafe provided us with good service, well cooked tasty meals in a warm, friendly, groovy but classy environment.
Seated at our table, I became a little uncomfortable with the length of time it took for us to be offered menus or a drink, but the cafe was busy and I can be a little impatient. We received the menus, which were on clip boards in a no-nonsense kind of way. The menus were a little confusing, as one had different dishes to the others and, because the pages were loose, the pages were in a different order, so discussing dishes with my friends took a little more effort. Soon we were attended by a friendly waitress, Clare (not sure of the spelling of her name) who efficiently took our order. It is worth mentioning here that during our entire meal every order was
Cafe Review
correct. She was not gushy and was even a bit funny, which was nice, and later, when we received our meals she enquired as to whether everything was okay, which was professional.
Whilst waiting for our main meals, we skipped entrees, we dipped bread into flavoured oils and balsmaic vinegar, of which the tumeric flavoured oil caught my attention, probably because I've had balsamic and olive oil so often before.
The interior of Blue Cafe is groovy, classy and comfortable. There is an eclectic art feel with original paintings and prints on the walls and sculptures, as well as a quasi-industrial overall design. The lighting is textured and mellow, with light and dark areas. There is a mixture of colours with an earthy theme, contrasted by modern furniture. After about 15 minutes our meals arrived,
Overall, the Central City Backpackers is a good, cheap base for anyone coming to Hobart.
Our House/DJ’s
“Our House” is the name of the gig at Blue Cafe on Friday and Saturday nights from 9.00pm. Matt C and Simon C play, as the name suggests, House music in Blue Cafe. It’s a mellow affair, with patrons “chillin’” in the comfy couches or at the bar. On the night I went, there were a few people dancing on and off throughout the night, but mostly people seemed to be there as a “warm-up” to going out proper later on. The lights are low and the music loud enough to enjoy without killing the atmosphere of the Cafe, which is important to those who have dined earlier and stayed to enjoy the tunes. There was a mix of people there with the younger people in close to the decks while the older ones stayed at their tables and polished off the last of the wine. It was a luxurious atmosphere to have a DJ spinning tunes instead of piped music from a CD player, which was enhanced by the decor featuring original paintings and sculpture. This venue has great potential and I hope, when Summer comes, to see it packed out with people, overflowing into Inveresk.
O u t o n t h e To w n GT vs Goodwill @Syrup, Hobart - Saturday 24th July
Halo, Hobart - Saturday 24th July
GT vs Goodwill @ The Saloon, Launceston - Friday 23rd July
Stompin dancer profile Ashley Smith
much muscle strength and not much, I suppose, control over my body. But ... over the four years that I've been doing it, it's gently locked into place and ... you know how to control it better. If you have to lift people, or something like that, it can be strenuous, but over the 10 weeks that we usually have, you can build ... up. usually, we all come in first day and we're all unfit. We can't touch our toes. it doesn't matter. I still can't touch my toes. You don't need much at all. What's it like working with so many other people? It's like a huge family. The first week you come in ... you've got the old members and the new ... but by the end of the week ... though work ... you just mould into a giant family and we're all comfortable working with each other. People do say it's harder working with big groups. 25 dancers is a large group and it is when you're in small rehearsal spaces, but when it's broken down and you see the space and what you've got to play with, because you all know ... you all know what you're doing and you have that trust. trust is really important.
What are your ambitions with dancing? I'd love to keep studying dance into the future, maybe at VCA or the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. If I don't make that, I'll keep it as a hobby. it's in my blood and I love doing it, so I can't really stop it ... It's such a release for me and i'd like to continue it, hopefully, if my body allows me. So, how hard is it physically? The last shows that I've done were "Joyride" and "Sync" and they were in pools around the state for 10 Days on The Island. That was quite hard, because you're in the water and it's another medium that you have to contend with, work with. But not really. When I first came in I was a lanky person. tall, lanky and didn't have
People dance in nightclubs and in their bedroom. What motivates you to take dance to a career level? First, I'll say, "It's a drug." (laughs) Everyone has a different thing which just clicks for them. When Stompin finishes and we have a six month break, you want to get out there. You're ready for the next Stompin project. It's a drug. It's an addiction. A loving addiction, though. A healthy one? Definitely. I feel so good afterwards. Who would you recommend may be interested in joining Stompin? Everyone. Everyone should try it at least once and see if it's for you.
SPOTLIGHT EXHIBITIONS “96 Miles” Mutlimedia exhibition 6th August - for 3 weeks 6pm, Russ J Wheeler Fine Art Framer 102 Bathurst St, Hobart 6th September - 3 wekks ArtsAlive,178 Charles St, Launceston “Come Closer” Adam Foster Powerhouse Gallery Inveresk, Launceston 5-16 August
T H E AT R E “Blood Wedding” by Federico Garcia Lorca Directed by Robert Lewis The Annexe Theatre Academy of the Arts, Inveresk, Launceston “Defending the Caveman” Rob Becker Theatre Royal 3-4 August Hobart
Bare Threads
Name: Adriana Age: 30 What’s your passion: Creating Most important issue today: Selling Bags Favourite band: Xavier Rudd Favourite track: Lets Get It Started (Blackeyed Peas) Favourite drink: Tea with milk and honey I’m gonna: Get a really good sleep tonight, I hope.
Name: Magda Age: 20 What’s your passion: History & Graphic Design Most important issue today: Refugees Favourite band: Cat Empire Favourite track: No Not Reality (Allover Place) Favourite drink: Vodka I’m gonna: Have a great night tonight.
street fashion
Name: Andy Age: 29 What’s your passion: Music & Art Most important issue today: More Beer Fave band: Conflict Fave track: Yo Mama (Butterfinger) Favourite drink: Single Malt Scotch I’m gonna: Break shit up.
Name: Ted Age: 20 What’s your passion: Girlfriend Most important issue today: Hecs fees Favourite band: Sonic Animation Fave track: Better Man (Robbie Williams) Favourite drink: Stella Artois I’m gonna: Be all i can be.
JOIN STOMPIN AND BE A PART OF AUSTRALIA’S HOTTEST YOUTH DANCE COMPANY
Hobart's Coolest Clothing Store
IT’S TIME TO GET........
Men's and Ladies' Street Wear, Rave Wear, Club and Evening Wear. With real one-off clothing designs and funky accessories. Get your tickets for all Dance Parties & Concerts here.
4 -19 September 2004, Stompin’s studio, Launceston Call now and register (03) 6334 3802 or email: info@stompin.net
Present this ad for 15% discount off full price clothing & accessories during August.
BACK IN THE LAB
138 Collins Street, Hobart ph: 62245445
Wednesday's Legendary Uni Night - Great live bands - Best drink specials - Best happy hours in Tassie - Free buses to and from uni - Free student entry before 11.00 pm
Karaoke - Wednesday and Friday night - Upstairs in the "Lube" - Great competitions - 100's of songs to choose from
Super Saturday Ever y Saturday downstairs in the Saloon with Tassie's Best Party Atmosphere.
Chilli Dance Party With the best of Local and Interstate DJ's playing ever y Saturday night in the Upstairs "Lube Bar".
UPCOMING EVENTS IN AUGUST:
Super Coaches of AFL A motivational and inspirational night with Ron Barassi, Tom Hafey and Alex Jesalenko. Thursday 12th
The Miss University Modelling Competition On Friday 6th and Friday 13th
Love Outside Andromeda One of Triple J's hottest bands Thursday 19th August
191 Charles St Launceston 6331 7355 www.saloon.com.au