Sauce - Issue 87, 4-2-09 by David K Q Williams

FREE

. ISSUE 87 . FEB 04 - FEB 17 2009 . TASMANIA’S STREET PRESS

Weekends at Irish Murphy’s Hobart

The best bands. Your favourite tunes. Every Friday and Saturday night on the waterfront. COVERING FEBRUARY: Running With Scissors — Damage Control — Dr Fink — The Smashers

HOBART | 21 Salamanca Place

Sunday through Thursday, growing new music and nurturing good times

6223 1119 | www.irishmurphys.com.au

DANCE - UK // CARL COX

The Art of Noise

the Big Day Out last night. I didn’t play,” teases DJ legend, Carl Cox, “only because I’ve done a big festival o“Ioverdidhere already and normally with the Big Day Out they ask that you only do one big festival within a six-

week period of doing them, which is fair enough. I just went as a guest yesterday, which was great cause I just got to watch everybody else work, and just get drunk. And that’s what I did,” he laughs. “I got to see Hot Chick, Simian Mobile Disco, and Prodigy to finish at the end. And it was absolutely amazing.”

Despite his status as ‘legend’, Carl has room for others. “Simian Mobile Disco surprised me, the way they make their music and perform,” he says, “I thought that was really clever… they’ve got some sort of kitchen table and all their stuff’s sort of on top of it and it’s kind of going round and round and round until they find a really good beat. And it seems to work really well! You know, obviously they’ve got some really good records that people know, but I thought it was just great the way they interacted with the crowd - a non-conformist stage appearance with a couple of dudes up there with a lot of great toys that they make a lot of great noises with. They surprised me. It wasn’t just like a couple of girls singing in a band and that kind of stuff, it was just great and people just had to embrace what they were doing.” So they were kind of challenging the audience in a way? “Big time, yeah,” he agrees. “Because sometimes they weren’t even looking at the crowd, they were just into what they were doing. Which sometimes, from a performance point of view, that’s not really what you want; but the idea really is that in the end it’s the music that prevails, what comes out of the speakers is the thing that makes you move. Rather than a big show performance. But when they turn out and are looking at the crowd, acknowledging, getting their hands up and it just all brought it together. So they were really toying with the crowd in that way but with their music as well, which is what is important. So for me, I thought that was a really good show.” This assessment feeds into Carl’s philosophy about what he does, that he wants to take people on a journey through sound. “Always,” he asserts. “The thing with bands is that they’ve got an album to sell. An album takes around an hour and ten minutes, maybe an hour, and fifteen to sell. A DJ can be on for from three to six to seven, eight, hours. So you’ve got to keep the attention of the public for at least a minute and a half per record, before they get bored,” he laughs. “With a band, each record’s about three and a half minutes and then the crowd are like ‘woo, wicked tune, on to the next one, next one’. And for an hour and a half they are captivated by that band. And that’s why, no matter what band’s on, as soon as they have a break from that band, every one buggers off, gets a drink or whatever until the next band comes on. But with a DJ, they’re there the whole time, so it’s always challenging for me, especially at festivals, to be able to represent myself based on who I am as a DJ, but also from a performer’s point of view: to keep people captivated. So when I’m doing a three-hour set, it’s a three-hour set. It’s a journey of what I believe is the best music I can produce or I can perform to you what I believe to be good music right now. And it’s like that every single party that I do worldwide.”

“…For me, techno music was a dirty word...” To what extent does he find himself acting as some sort of aggregate for people? “Well it’s basically like bringing people out of what the sound was like last year, and bringing them into what sound is potentially going to be big this year. And that happens every single year. Because obviously for me to be interesting, I’ve obviously got to be seen as moving the music forward. I can’t really play the same music I was playing in 1991, 92. Even so, it’s become cult now to hear that music!” He laughs. “That’s the thing though, it’s become an evolution of music and sound which is going round again. For me, techno music was a dirty word, techno music was a great cult underground word, now it’s just the music. And it was always the music. No matter which way you sugarcoat techno; techno has always been something that I see as covering everything. Techno-house, techno-funk, techno-techno, technoreggae, it covers everything, because everything’s made of the technology. The music you’re hearing is coming from a technological point of view. All I’m doing is going, ‘well this is a great piece of music’ whether it’s got strings, violins, or it’s got bass lines or drums or whatever, organic sounds integrated with today’s technology, which I really enjoy.” “So when you’ve got some sort of rock records with electronic records, I think that’s great,” he elaborates, “because at least you know that the person who wrote that in the first place can perform kind of thing. So Prodigy for me was amazing because they completely did that yesterday. They had guitarists, lead guitar, bass guitar, drummers and Liam and vocalists, and Liam was basically driving the sound from a technical point of view and it was just undeniable. So that is where I’m at, where I’ve always been. And I’ve tried to be the one that rocks the party, but also the one who pushes things forward musically at the end of the day.” sCHRIS RATTRAY

Let Carl push you! 0 14 February @ Syrup, Hobart

124 DAVEY ST HOBART 03 6224 9494 WWW.HOTELSOHO.COM.AU

HOBART CUP DAY Around the clock jug from 5pm - $5.00 Beer jugs from 5pm All Basic Spirits from 8pm till 12pm are only $3.00 Tom & Nick Wolfe

(One for the Road) Playing all the favourite covers

Hotel SOHO this cup day the only place to be. WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

Monday

Wednesday

Sunday

Industry Night

Uni Night

Around The clock Jug

Around the clock Jug

Open Mic from 9pm

Happy Hour 10pm – 11pm

Around the clock Parmi

Cover Bands from 10pm

$3.00 Basics from 9pm

Around the clock Jugs Around the clock parmi All from 5pm . ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 -FEBRUARY 17 2009 3

EDSPACE

NEWS

EDSPACE

#87- February 04 to February 17

Contents: 3

Carl Cox

Contents / News

Barons of Tang

ROOT!

Grant Smillie

Funkoars / Beaverjam

Stand Defiant / Jolie Holland

Invisible Boy / Off The Shelf

Mike Noga & The Gentlemen of Fortune

Entertainment Guide

Soundcheck

Arts

Cinecism

Zzapped

Hot Mods

ROFLMAO

Street Fashion / CD Reviews

The festive season has well and truly gone the way of this cliche, but that doesn’t mean there’s no more festivals out there vying for the last vestiges of your holiday spendy money from Santa. In Hobart, the Clarence Jazz Festival looks like a nice way to come down off your Mona Foma high, and in the north, MS Fest should help you get back into that “back to school” vibe. And further north, on the big island, the Future Music Festival should help you forget that “I’m back at school” vibe! We’ve got some stuff about those festivals in the next couple of issues, but in this issue you’re holding onto right here, right now, you’ve got stacks of teh AWESOME to keep you occupied - Carl Cox! Barons of Tang! ROOT! I know, it sounds kinda dirty, but that’s the way ah huh, ah huh, I like it, ah huh, ah huh. Quick, stop reading this now before the disco funk meme INVADES YOUR BRAIINNN!!!1!!one!!one1 sCHRIS RATTRAY chris@sauce.net.au

SAUCE STICKER WINNER

Sauce Team: Hobart: General Manager - Advertising: David Williams Email: david@sauce.net.au Phone: 0400 940 699

Launceston: Production Office Phone: 03 6331 0701 Editor: Chris Rattray Email: chris@sauce.net.au Art Director: Simon Hancock Email: simon@sauce.net.au Editorial Assistants: Belle McQuattie & Meegan May Opinions expressed in Sauce are not necessarily those of the Editor or staff. Sauce Publishing accepts no liability for the accuracy of advertisements.

IS THIS YOUR REGO? YOU WIN! If this is your car, email a pic of yourself in front of your rego to competitions@sauce.net.au, with STICKER WINNER in the subject line by Friday 13th of February @ 5pm to win some CDs! If you don’t get to us in time, the prize will JACKPOT, so next edition there will be twelve CDs to be won. And so on … Get a SAUCE sticker (email chris@sauce.net.au with your postal address and CAR STICKER in the subject line if you want one!) and whack it on your vehicle! Check each edition of SAUCE to see if you’ve won. It’s that easy!

Next Edition: Sauce #88 - 18/02/09 to 03/03/09 Ad Artwork Deadline 13/02/09 @ 3pm

The Younger Dryas - Launceston Style: Rock/Roots Music/Blues Members: Bass - Michael Townsend Guitars, Vox - Jesse Higgs, Lead Guitar - Gary Higgs, Drums - Ayden Demeijer Four piece, The Younger Dryas, are a band rising out of hibernation from the back hills of Ben Lomond. The name “Younger Dryas” describes the Jurassic period that existed over 40,000 years ago, a time just before the mini ice-age. They project strong influences from John Butler Trio, Chili Peppers, Jimi Hendrix, and John Mayer. Currently recording a plethora of songs, the band is aiming to release a full length album in a few months. The band and I decided to purposely record the whole band live, keeping a strong atmosphere and groove in their live performance. www.myspace.com/jhiggsandyoungerdryas Shine On Casanova - Devonport Style: Punk/Hardcore After recording two songs at FatLip, this brutal five piece has had nearly 2000 plays on their MySpace page in only two weeks. If you like your music heavy, check these guys out! This band was very tight and slick to record. So I’m sure their live show is impressive too. The band will definitely be back to record some more material. www.myspace.com/shineoncasanova 4

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 - FEBRUARY 17 2009

Joni’s Plastic Sunday win a recording package with Melbourne’s SingSing Studios. KOOLISM DROUGHT OVER After nearly three years of hiatus, Koolism are set to release their fifth album this year. You may have heard the new single, Jam Hot already, but get ready for a hot jam when they visit Tassie later in February! Koolism plays: 0 28 February @ The Republic Bar, Hobart IAN CAREY COMES TO NEW YORK HOTEL New York, that is! A legendary key player in the house scene worldwide, Ian will be sure to get you shaky on the dancefloor in Launceston. Get shaky! 0 27 February @ Hotel New York, Launceston SUBMIT TO WAMI! Submissions are now open for original artists based outside of Western Australia to showcase during the 2009 WAMi Festival in Perth from Wednesday 6 May – Sunday 10 May. By submitting your act for the 2009 WAMi’s, you have the opportunity to be selected to perform at the WAMi live music showcases, WAMi Awards night and the Saturday Spectacular. Selected acts have the opportunity to be profiled through WAMi Festival media such as the WAMi website and through Western Australian and national press coverage. The acts selected from outside of WA will be offered unique performance opportunities within the 2009 WAMi Festival. Submissions close on Friday 13 February at 5pm. Original contemporary music acts of all styles and at any career stage are encouraged to apply to join some of Western Australia’s finest acts on the stage during the 2009 WAMi Festival! 2009 WAMi Festival runs from Wednesday 6 – Sunday 10 May . 0 wam.asn.au

COLLECTOR’S CORNER

Contributors: Carl Fidler & Glenn Moorehouse, Dave Venter, Luke Ranson, Meegan May, James Young, Nicole Connelly, Georgina Freeman, David Quinn, Tiarne Double, Kate Gordon, Justin Heazlewood, Mick Lowenstein, David Walker, Meegan May, Trent Saunders, Belle Mcquattie, Michael Blake

FIRST HARVEST WINNERS Congratulations to the winner’s of Irish Murphy’s First Harvest competition, held in November last year... JONI’S PLASTIC SUNDAY!

392 - 394 Elizabeth St. North Hobart Ph: 03 6234 5975

CDs & DVDs New + Second Hand 37 Wilson St Burnie 03 6431 6616

GROOVE ARMADA TO RELEASE EP WITH BACARDI B-LIVE Groove Armarda’s latest EP is now available for release via Bacardi’s new online file-sharing application, B-LIVE Share. “BACARDI B-LIVE Share is a pioneering online application encouraging and rewarding consumers who share music from Groove Armada’s new EP with their own online communities. Sharing can take place through the site and widgets that can be integrated into social networking environments. The more consumers share, the more tracks from the EP are released to them. Additionally, Australian users have the chance to win a VIP experience with Groove Armada onboard the BACARDI EXPRESS this March.” 0 www.bacardi.com THE INVISIONARY RELEASES CITY OF DARKNESS Launceston-based electro practitioner, The Invisionary, has released his debut album, City of Darkness, on Italian label Nuform Music. It’s out now on iTunes and other MP3 sites and will be hitting shelves in Europe, Asia and Australia soon. For more information hit: 0 www.myspace.com/theinvisionary TRIPLE J HOTTEST 100 WINNER 800,000 votes were registered in triple j’s annual song poll, making it the biggest Hottest 100 ever, and Kings of Leon’s Sex on Fire took out the coveted number one position. Indie darlings MGMT also featured prominently with two songs in the top five: Electric Feel (#2), Kids (#5) and their track Time To Pretend in at #18. The top five was rounded out by local artists Empire of the Sun’s Walking on A Dream (#4). Other Aussie favourites included The Presets, Pez, Drapht, Pnau, The Herd, Cut Copy and Birds of Tokyo who all scored hits in the top 20. MS FEST 2009 Be sure to slip, slop, slap at MS Fest, 7 February at the Inveresk Showgrounds in Launceston! Main Stage: The Living End, The Presets, Cog, Faker, Gyroscope, The Butterfly Effect, Josh Pyke, Drapht, Funkoars, Paris Wells, Calling All Cars, The Stoics, Cruel Like That, New Saxons. Clubber’s Stage: The Potbelleez, The Scientists of Modern Music, Dukes of Windsor, The Stafford Brothers, Goodwill, Hook N Sling, Kid Kenobi & MC Shureshock, Art vs Science, Sam La More, The Aston Shuffle, Klaus Hill, Two Fresh For more info... 0 www.msfest.com SIMON ASTLEY Simon Astley (and his penis, small though as it is), will be launching his new EP, Sunset Avenue, in Hobart at The Republic Bar, 10 February. Check his website for more details: 0 www.simonastley.com 33 AUSSIE BANDS IN THE US AT SXSW 33 Australian artists accepted an invitations to showcase at the world’s largest and most prestigious music festival and conference, South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin Texas from March 18-22. Out of a total of 52 artists invited to play from Australia, 19 dropped out so this should be the final list. More then 240 Australian artists applied for the 1800 showcase slots in 70 venues, over 10,500 applied from around the world. 0 For the complete list and more information: www.sxsw.com CUT COPY GET AMPED! The Australian Music Prize (The Amp) is gearing up for the announcement of its 2008 Shortlist. And this year, it’s letting the cat out of the bag early about one of The Amp’s Shortlisted nominees. The Amp is pleased to announce that Cut Copy is one of this year’s Shortlisted artists. The Melbourne outfit’s album In Ghost Colours was one of the most critically acclaimed Australian releases of 2008, as well as achieving commercial success and going to Number One on the ARIA Album Chart. 0 Go to www.australianmusicprize.com.au to see the full shortlist from Sun 8 Feb. The winner of The Amp will be announced at an event in Sydney on Fri 13th March.

WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

GYPSYDEATHCORE - MELBOURNE // THE BARONS OF TANG

Gypsy Death Core, WTF? “Essentially the core members of the band, the original members, met at a play… in Melbourne, put together to do the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2007, I believe,” says double bassist, Julian Cue, displaying an uncanny knack for recollection. “So we did this theatre production and we basically lived in a warehouse for six weeks and ran a bar and did a show every night and commanded this space which was really quite amazing, in the middle of Adelaide, and it was perfect, a really great time. And then we got back to Melbourne and the same company wanted to put together a circus, which didn’t end up eventuating, but we got commissioned to do the music for the circus and the band just kept on playing and playing and it all stemmed from there.”

“Funnily enough it was myself, and I play double bass, our accordion player, Carlos, and Annie, who does percussion for us,” Julian elaborates. “All different elements there. Me and Annie sort of have a punk rock background and Carlos comes from a more traditional route, but we chucked it all together.” Things may very well get chucked together, like some kind of mutant smoothy with Clinkers and berries, but that doesn’t mean it will sound (or taste) that great, so how naturally did it meld together? “I’m not sure,” he reminisces. “There were many hungover rehearsals going, ‘wouldn’t it be funny if we did this, or this?’ We recorded an EP, which is basically the first four songs we wrote, and which is the one that we’re still playing, but we’re working on a new one at the moment. But the first maybe eight gigs we did, we only had like two or three songs. Our first gig was at like a circus themed night at a club in Melbourne in front of 300 people or something like that. Coincidentally it was a really successful night and we had like three songs. We just had to fill this time, I don’t know how we did it. And we did it again and again for about the first eight shows and then we finally got a set together about a year ago. I can actually go as far to say we’ve been a proper band since then.” And this core group has somehow drawn another five members to itself. How many people does a band need to play gypsy death core? Julian laughs, “I think you definitely need a good drummer, and a guy willing

to step outside the box a little bit. And some coming from a classically trained background, which some of the members do. They struggled conceptually at first I think. I know Taylor, our saxophonist, really wasn’t used to playing so loud and it was a real issue for him at the start. But after he sort of left some of his hesitations at the door he’s enjoyed it immensely. Coming from a background that’s basically taught him not to play like that, so it was a bit of a conflict of interest at first, but now it’s worked out beautifully.” And they’re getting paid for it. “Yeah, that’s it.” To what extent was creating this band a) a rebellion against his strict upbringing, b) the second best thing to joining a circus or c) something to do in order to you’ve got to dance like it’s your last day on earth. As pull the birds? Julian laughs again, but he opts for, long as we could keep the deck level enough to keep “it was definitely the second best thing to joining a all our instruments on it , we’d be rockin’ that ship,” he laughs. “People would be falling into the sea next circus. Yeah, it’s feltfor likeglory it ever since. Travelling ztrip frid 23and Guns +ballpoint/ with seven people, and there’s usually someone else to us and we’d be still arguing amongst each other as sund 26 oraust day wild marmalade to help with 25/ the sound merch or whatever, so we to whether we should go to the fifth or the diminished travel like a small army. So yeah, it’s definitely felt like fifth of the next chord. We’d be arguing to the bitter 31 dirt river radio we’ve joined the circus. We’ve got a lot of great crew in end!” What a way to go. Melbourne, performers and stuff around us that will sometimes get up on stage and swallow a sword or do a The Barons are playing off the beaten track on their hoops routine, just cos they’re in the crowd and feeling Tassie tour, at the Golconda Circus Festival. “We’ll be playing and we’ll be there for the training week the vibe, so it’s a lot of fun.” prior to when it opens to the public. We’ll just be sort Their music is reminiscent of the kinds of sea shanties of networking, and who knows what the shows at the children enjoy singing in music class, so how could end of the week are going to be like. We may have extra it not be fun? Julian concurs but says of the band’s performers on stage, there may be some crazy skilled dynamic that they’re “probably Titanic. Because tricks going on, I couldn’t tell you. But I’m sure we’ll

Tix Available Online www.republicbar.com FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7

MARTIN MARTINI & THE BONE PALACE ORCHESTRA

FUNKOARS

come up with something interesting.” And what will he learn at the festival? “I don’t know,” he pauses, “how to be around a circus festival for a week without hurting myself too bad!” sCHRIS RATTRAY

It’s a groove tang! 0 6 February @ Tasmanian Circus Festival, Golconda 0 7 February @ The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart 0 9 February @ Tasmanian Circus Festival, Golconda 0 13 February @ The Alley Cat Bar, Hobart 0 14 February @ Florentine Cabaret Festival, Upper Florentine Valley

REPUBLIC BAR & CAFE

299 Elizabeth St North Hobart Ph. 6234 6954

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13

BRIGETTE HANDLEY & THE DARK SHADOWS

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14

THE GO SET

+ BON RATTLERS + J.ISCARIOT +THE SWELL TONES + THE NO NO’s $15 PRE / $18 Door 10PM $12 PRE / $15 DOOR 10PM $8 PRE / $10 DOOR 10PM $12

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15

JOLIE HOLLAND

10PM (USA)

8.30pm

Wednesday, 4 February

New Retro Club

9pm

Wednesday, 11 February

Wahbash Avenue

Thursday, 5 February

Shagpile

9pm

Thursday, 12 February

Sarah Humphrey + Michael + Peter

Friday, 6 February

Funkoars

10pm

Friday, 13 February

Briette Handley & The Dark Shadows

Saturday, 7 February

Martin Martini & The Bone Palace Orchestra + The No No's

$15pre/$18door

$12pre/$15door

9pm $3

9pm

+ Bone Rattlers + J. Iscariot + The Swell Tones

$10/$8

10pm

$12

10pm

Saturday, 14 February

The Go Set

Sunday, 8 February

Cake Walking Babies

9pm

Sunday, 15 February

Jolie Holland (USA)

Monday, 9 February

Quiz Night

8:15pm

Monday, 16 February

Domonic Fransis

9pm

Tuesday, 10 February

Simon ASTley

9pm

Tuesday, 17 February

Joe Piere

9pm

WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

8:30pm

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 -FEBRUARY 17 2009 5

ROCK - MELBOURNE // ROOT!

The Façade of Fiery Balls

“…it allows me the shocking self realisation of showing my face in public...”

all know it’s a pretence, but that’s the beauty of it,” says DC Root, on the common rock guise delusion, “It’s how you pretend, that’s the key o“We thing. The artifice is in the form, not the content - that’s important in rock music. Like, Kings of Leon for example. It’s not what they’re singing about, it’s how sexy he sounds when he’s singing it. You know, ‘my balls are on fire’ or whatever it is he’s singing.” It’s another astute observation from the man who may, or may not, have been the frontman for TISM, but don’t tell anyone because we’re not supposed to talk about it…

But we can talk about Tex Perkins. Is he really like that? “Yeah, good question,” DC says, with the knack of a man who makes friends easily. “Well of course I, like you and like most people wonder, because I’ve never met him. Not so much Tex, well Tex comes across as reasonably bonafide, but you get the feeling that Tex would have a nice sort of salty armpit sort of sweaty smell to him. He does seem to have that sort of gritty credibility to him, which is why my ode to him [I Wish I Was Tex Perkins, from the album Root Supposed He Was Out Of The Question – Ed] is actually quite affectionate in parts. It’s certainly a pertinent question. I often ask it when I look at people on the telly, you know, how can that person really be like that all the time? Do they get up in the morning and just act like that the whole time? It’s hard to know, isn’t it? Is Tex fallible like the rest of us? We like to presume he is I suppose, and that’s why the ladies love him.” “I like to look at blokes like Chris Martin from Coldplay, in fact I branch off into a little monologue about him sometimes about how tough would it be to be him? I mean, there he is, fabulous rock star, wakes in the morning to the sun’s optimistic rays, turns to see his beautiful sleeping wife, reflects on his child, on his incredibly charmed life and then it dawns on him that he has to write their next suicidal album. That would be a tough job.”

He’s had to buy into that artifice that he’s created for himself. “I guess so, yeah. I kind of wonder, and I wonder about these grindcore bands. When they get together at rehearsal, what if they’re not feeling that angry? What if they just happen to see that we won the cricket, have a small win in Tattslotto and they pop down to rehearsal, it’s hard to imagine them turning around and singing, ‘fuck off I’m dead’. I mean everybody has some sort of level of pretence. For those of us in the rock world it’s sometimes quite hard to maintain it. I certainly struggle when I look in the mirror, this sort of pudgey faced, wrinkly, gnarly old thing looking back at me. It’s very hard to continue your 25 year old fantasies. But we’ve all got our cross to bear I suppose.” Comparison to those little creatures from The Dark Crystal aside, what does Root! allow DC to do that he may or may not have done in any other band that he may or may not have been in? He laughs, “Well that’s a fabulous question Chris, it’s very well done. You’ve managed to skirt all the no-go zones with a beautiful, deft, ballerina like step. And a good question too, because I can sort of answer it and not give anything terrible away. Well, it allows me the shocking self realisation of showing my face in public, demanding for it to be treated as a kind of sex symbol, that’s what I’m trying to push, and I suppose an opportunity to

have a bit of fun being in a rock band. It ain’t quite The Darkness but it’s certainly a rock and rolling good old-fashioned rock band in many senses. So I’m quite enjoying that, hanging around with people that are much better on their instruments than I am at my craft, that’s pretty amazing too. I’m having a lot of fun. It’s a little bit self deluding, what I’m doing, but we’re trying to defy convention in many ways, we’re this band wearing cowboy hats but we don’t play country, we’re playing music with humour in it but we’re not attempting to be a joke band, you know we’re certainly attempting the suicidal approach really of being hard to pin down. So we’ll see where that takes us. Probably nowhere, I guess, but here we go.” The entire sense overall, including the packaging of the CD is somewhat reminiscent of an old Australian magazine, The Australian Post. DC agrees, excitedly. “The Australian Post used to be part of my consciousness, when I went to the dentist I think, in the waiting area there. It was pretty exciting for a kid, there were these girls with non-plastic enhanced breasts, wearing string crocheted bikinis and that sort of thing, so I definitely think there’s a bit of that. I do have a bit of affection for that era of say The Paul Hogan Show, that kind of Australia. I wouldn’t for a second presume that that sort of thing is relevant today, it’s a completely different multi-cultural society

and that’s a fabulous thing. But I must admit I have a sneaking affection for the whole FJ Holden, Sunbury rock concert sort of era.” “It’s very easy to kind of gloss over the past or to idealise certain areas of the past and forget the others,” he continues. “I do like the sort of ‘don’t suffer wankers’ kind of persona that supposedly used to be part of the persona of being Australian… and I know that obviously it goes hand in hand with terrible ignorance so I don’t wanna go down there too much, but I like that. I think it always too was an English thing to a certain degree and I think a lot of the people who I really like in rock music are English and sort of display that kind of lack of pretension in the way they write, in the way they observe. People like Ray Davies and Markie Smith, Robin Hitchcock. These are the sort of people that I’d like to think that if there’s any tradition I’m following, it’s a bit of that. And it does seem to be unusual these days to be a rock lyricist. You mainly just have to write unintelligible stuff, ‘my balls are on fire’ and that sort of thing.” sCHRIS RATTRAY Alleviate your fiery balls with a Valentine’s ROOT! 0 14 February @ The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart

Friday February 6 DJ Skip Friday February 13 DJ Skip Saturday February 14 Oﬀ The Cuﬀ

Thursday Febuary 5

Karaoke 8pm til late

Biggest & Best Pub Meals Dining & Function Room Real Beer Garden Alfresco Dining THE COMMERCIAL HOTEL DINING HOURS 7 DAYS A WEEK

Lunch 12 noon - 2.30pm | Dinner 5.30pm - 8.30pm (9pm Fri & Sat) 27 George St Launceston, 03 6331 3868 6

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 - FEBRUARY 17 2009

WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

DANCE - AUSTRALIA // GRANT SMILLIE

MS FEST BAND SHOWCASE @ Lonnies, 25 January

y e l l A Cat The Alley Cat Bar The Stoics, New Saxons, and Cruel Like That played hard in the final MSFest Band Showcase at Lonnies Niteclub on Sunday, January 25. However, only one band could win.

381 Elizabeth Street North Hobart 03 6231 2299

Friday 13th of February

First up were The Stoics, with their eclectic brand of rock/pop. They presented not only some amazing music, but a hugely entertaining stage show, anchored by Ciaran’s inimitable stage presence, and Maria’s ethereal beauty and playing - not only the keyboards! She swapped with the drummer to provide percussion at one point. I’ve never seen a band so delicate and fragile, yet at the same time, so assured and solid in their delivery. The indie-rock trio and technically brilliant New Saxons were up next. Also, very solid and assured, they powered through their set - an almost perfect reproduction of their EP. Their powerful, catchy tunes were performed with earnest confidence, but their technical strength was undermined by their inability to move, tethered as they were to their instruments. Their music should speak for itself, but there needs to be a bit of involvement with the stage in a live setting. Cruel Like That burst onto the stage to provide a set that can only be described as “blistering.” With a thick, fat, grand stadium rock sound and presence, these North West coasters really brought the party home. You could feel the sweat from the stage as they cranked out electrically-charged mosh-worthy mayhem, in the best Aussie pub rock traditions. I was surprised that we didn’t experience the second coming... of Barnsey. Then there was silence, as the judges deliberated and the crowd drank expectantly as the bands awaited the final verdict. Finally, Dave Sykes took the stage to announce THE STOICS as the winners! Congratulations to all the bands for the effort they put into their sets - they all rocked the foundations in their own, unique ways. sCHRIS RATTRAY Catch the MS Fest After Party w/ The Stafford Brothers + The Scientists of Modern Music + Klaus Hill & Spikey Tee! 0 7 February @ Lonnies Niteclub, Launceston

Variety the Key to Longevity

days you’ve got to keep and eye on all aspects of what we do,” says Grant, fresh from recording o“These his radio show. “The music business is one that’s been an ever changing one, I mean downloads and

all sorts of stuff have changed things – it’s put some record shops out of business, a lot of labels too. So for me, I’m trying to incorporate my DJing with running a successful label and having a music show to help break new music, well trying to anyway. We try and do as much as we can to be honest, to try and stay afloat. It’s not enough to just be a DJ these days, I mean they’re selling more turntables then they are guitars, so you’ve got to be doing something different.”

What made Grant pick up his first turntable? “Well back in the day, you know I’ve been DJing for about thirteen years now, so back then I was running one of the biggest clubs in Melbourne at the time and just as sort of a collection, I mean a lot of international guests would come out and give you some of their vinyl and I started collecting. Then in about ’96 I decided to play my first couple of records out. I’d been collecting and playing at home and one thing led to another and it became a week-to-week thing playing records. And five years ago started mashing stuff and teamed up with Ivan Gough and we started up TV Rock and that’s how it all came about.” Quite successfully as well, with a few ARIAs under his belt and a nomination for GQ’s DJ of the Year, which he says “was handy,” but “It doesn’t really open any DJ doors, it’s more like all of a sudden you’re playing the opening event of Louis Vuitton. So it’s not really high energy DJ kind of gig, just a different circle of people I guess.” What does he prefer? “I guess they each have their different sort of vibes that you get contracted to create,” he says. “Yeah they’re different, they might be dressed up a little better at the corporate type of things but they certainly don’t rock out and you tend to watch the minutes tick by, but you’re drinking better champagne than you are at a festival. But I kind of like WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

the energy of a club or a festival. When you first make a record and put it out there, I’m not gonna judge the strength of it by playing it in a store, I think at the end of the day the real strength of our theme is in the clubs, that’s the real heart and soul of it. At the moment we’ve got so many festivals happening in Australia, I think it’s having an impact on week to week clubbing so I’m really looking forward to this year.” But he has no plans to attend any festival as a punter as “I’ve been working at a lot of them,” he explains, “so when it comes to my day off I’ve either generally seen most of the people that are playing on a festival bill or I’ll go to a sideshow. I like the kind of intimacy of that sort of thing. But I do like festivals, the vibe that you create on the day and the fact that you get to see everyone you like at once too. There’s certainly a vibrant culture of it in Australia but I really like to let my hair down and stuff when I go to Europe or Ibiza or whatever when you’ve got big players in the world on at any given night more in a club environment, which is my favourite setting for anything, a more intimate sort of vibe. You just get a kind of atmosphere in the club that you can’t replicate at a festival, because it’s generally day time or whatever, whereas a club is just sweaty and dark and fantastic and I love it.”

When was the last underground dance event he attended - the sort where you had to turn up to a certain car park at a certain time and someone gave you directions to someone’s house and they gave you a coded message that says ‘go to this forest and someone will be spinning some decks there’. Is that culture still alive? “No, not really, it’s been kind of shut down. I was talking about it with a friend of mine and we used to go to these rave parties in Melbourne. There was nothing better than when you’d find the shed that it was at and you could hear it a kilometre away, reverberating and you would just be so excited. It would be just low style, just twenty lights and a massive sound system and that was it. It’s been a while since that sort of stuff happened. You needed to have the low technology in those days to make it work, you’d dial up an answering machine at 4 o’clock in the afternoon but now it’s like a text message or an email that goes out on Facebook and everyone knows about it. Nothing’s a secret anymore unfortunately.”

The Barons of Tang + McKisko Saturday 14th of February

McKisko + Kiss Whisky UPCOMING SHOWS: Wednesday 4th of February Bridget Pross Thursday 5th of February The Truth - The Cecil Brown Show Friday 6th of February The Double Shuffle + Sara Jane Band Saturday 7th of February Stedfast Shepherd + Broken Flight + Andy Brazendale Thursday 12th of February Hayley Couper + Abbey Dogget Friday 13th of February The Barons of Tang + McKisko Saturday 14th of February McKisko + Kiss Whisky Friday 20th of February DJ Russ Jones Saturday 21st of February Peter Joseph Head + Milk Teddy + Billy Whims + Sam J Nicholson Thursday 26th of February Syrevilo + Crystal Campbell and the Middle C Friday 27th of February Super Massive + Kiss Whisky

sCHRIS RATTRAY WEDNESDAY NIGHT SPECIAL 6PM - 9.30PM

Keep Smilling! 0 6 February @ Syrup, Hobart

$10 Beaut Beer & Bonza Burger Night. Your choice of beef, chicken or vege Alley Cat Burger with a 10oz. of Cascade Draught or Pale Ale. . ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 -FEBRUARY 17 2009 7

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY With Michael of Beaverjam

“We began in year eleven, when Hamish (guitar, vox) and John (bass) were looking for a drummer and I suggested Lachy,” says Michael, of his misspent youth. “They jammed a couple of times and got on really well. From there they wrote and jammed and drank too much and one day Hamish announced that unless I started contributing to the band I wasn’t allowed to drink any more of his beer. So I started playing keys and co-vox on tracks. We’ve been slowly amassing enough recording equipment to do our own recording, and have had more attempts at getting this EP done than Tom Cruise has had good movies (three).” What was the most challenging thing about creating your new EP? The actual recording of it, I’d say. It’s tricky having to balance your own performance while also having to work as sound engineer and keep an objective ear out for the overall sound of the track.

OFF THE SHELF

sCARL FIDLER & GLENN MOOREHOUSE

I first heard of Ciaran van den Berg many moons ago through his sisters who asked me to “check out their little brother.” Apparently he could sing, play guitar and had charisma to go with it. Not long after that I experienced the first incarnation of The Stoics via the Rock Challenge and I was intrigued as to where his sound would head next. More recently I raved about The Stoics acoustic performance late last year. Well Wednesday January 21 at Irish Murphy’s I realised where he was headed all that time. Ciaran is the ringmaster. He is the central figure in one of my favourite bands going around. His insecurities and quirks are revealed not only through his stage antics but more so in his lyrical honesty and storytelling, wrapped up in a band that forces you to listen and move to their beat.

Ciaran and Maria’s connection melodically and harmonically is beautiful and fragile, yet at the same time sadistic and treacherous. Beau’s playful round groove is solidified by Q’s ever steady bass. Monty provides extra sonic depth on demand. Many people are already aware of The Stoics, for those of you who aren’t, don’t miss the circus next time it rolls onto the Top Shelf stage. Last week, Wednesday January 28, My Escapade arrived from Devonport and brought a good solid sound with them. This was pop with a British edge reminiscent of Foreign Films and Van Diemen. We were really happy to give these guys their first gig in Launceston and will definitely have them return in the not so distant future. Tonight, Wednesday February 4, we are featuring another band from the north west scene, Novella. This four piece melodic rock act have been fine tuning their sound for a few years now and should give us a great performance. Supporting will be Mick Attard who is a unique performer with a great collection of songs. This will be a great night of music so don’t miss it. Wednesday February 11, Black Japan and Nathan Wheldon. Be there. Nathan Wheldon and The Two Timers return to the Top Shelf stage on Wednesday February 18 supported

What particular track are you most proud of and why? For me it’d be Red Salmon Proton Yard, the closing track. It was a really tough track to get down, and then our computer sharted and we lost half the drums, and the bass sound was impossible but we eventually knuckled down and it ended up not being too awful. Also I get to play squeaky aggressive organ.

Describe to me the journey you hope people will go on as they listen to the EP? A good one, hopefully. Maybe they’ll be sucked in by the one-two-three ah! and dirty guitar at the start of Afterhome Blues and roll with us through the funking jive of Apricotica, before the aggressive drumming and (ahem) organ soloing of Sixes and Sevenths, stepping it back a notch with Closer to Home, before the more surreal buildup and climax of Red Salmon Proton Yard. And they won’t agree with what Lachy says at the very end. What were some of the things that influenced you (as in other literature, music, art, culture) during the making of the EP? Tough question. Music-wise, it’d be Pavement, Bloc Party, Jamiroquai, Primus, and Supertramp. We were also trying to get away from a lot of stuff, and try to focus on just making music we’d want to listen to with a flagrant disregard for the wants of others. Not an ideal recipe for commercial success, I suppose. But we enjoyed being able to go ‘Hey, let’s not get bothered about the fact that there’s someone talking in the next room and it’s getting picked up by half the drum mics. Nobody will notice and we’re too indie to care about that.’ We got very tongue-in-cheek about the indie thing. It’s a bit of a joke. What other albums could this one be compared to? Hrm. Someone said we sounded like Yo La Tengo jamming with Pavement once. But then again, people have said we sound like early Chili Peppers and Pink Floyd as well. So it sounds like people don’t think before they open their mouths. I really couldn’t say though. The Interstate ’76 soundtrack by Bullmark. That, we could be compared to. If not quite as tight. Under what conditions would this EP best be experienced? Well ideally, you’d first go and download it for free at www.beaverjam.com, then you’d listen to it on whatever you wanted to – preferably your home hi-fi system though – loud enough to annoy everyone who lives on your block. It only goes for fifteen minutes, so you could either enjoy while savouring a single icecold Chang, or hastily smash two lukewarm Cascade Draughts. Your call. Once you’d listened you’d go get your mum to listen as well.

Get an eyefull of Beaverjam! 0 11 February @ The Greenhouse (Irish Murphy’s Hobart) 8

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 - FEBRUARY 17 2009

As we always say, we really appreciate all your support and hope that you continue to come out and experience the great music on offer every Wednesday at Irish Murphy’s Launceston. Massive thanks to Frontline, Jase Howard, Matt Neil, Julz, Dane and Toni, Sauce Magazine and of course James and Dave at Irish.

Reach for the Top Shelf! 0 Every Wednesday night @ Irish Murphy’s, L’ton Photography by Toni M.

February 4th Novella / Mick Attard February 11th Black Japan Nathan Wheldon February 18th

What was the biggest challenge during the making of the album for you, and why? The production. The rest of the band recorded all the base-tracks to start with, which always left me in the sound-engineer’s seat, fiddling with the nine million knobs on the mixer and the (often) cantankerous computer. Although it did mean I got to boss people around and request more cowbell. What was the most rewarding aspect of making of the album for you, and why? Finishing it. It’s the culmination of three years of on-and-off tries, so yeah. It was great to hold a disc with BEAVERJAM EP FINAL MASTER scrawled on it by Linc le Fevre, who was kind enough to master it for us (thanks mate!).

by Frankie. The Two Timers last appeared on X-mas eve and are firing on all cylinders at the moment. This will be Frankie’s first visit to Top Shelf and she is sure to impress with beautiful songs and thoughtprovoking lyrics. A great night out for sure.

THE BEST OF TASMANIA’S

ORIGINAL MUSIC EVERY WEDNESDAY

Nathan Wheldon & The Two Timers

Frankie

There ’ s Always Something ...

Thursday February 5 TASH & cAZ Friday February 6 VICTOR CHARLIE CHARLIE Saturday February 7 MICK ATTARD, MAYFIELD Sunday January 8 LUKE PARRY, PADDY DUKE, BRIEF ILLUSION Monday February 9 BEN CASTLES Tuesday February 10 GLENN MOOREHOUSE

Thursday February 12 KRISTY & STEVE Friday February 13 THE GARY GARY’S Saturday February 14 LONG WAY HOME Sunday February 15 BEN CASTLES, GLENN MOORHOUSE, LONG WAY HOME, BRIEF ILLUSION Monday February 16 KRISTY TUCKER Tuesday February 17 MICK ATTARD

... Happening At Irish Murphy’s L I V E M U S I C 7 DAY S 3 BARS / FUNCTIONS AVAILABLE / RESTAURANT WOOD FIRED PIZZAS / LOG FIRES / ROOFTOP BAR OUTSIDE

211 BRISBANE ST LAUNCESTON 6331 4440 WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

PUNK - HOBART // STAND DEFIANT

Metal Uprising Brews in the South Luke Ranson of Separatist gave Stand Defiant’s Mischa Calcagno the grilling he deserves, in the lead up to the inaugural Psycroptic Festival, Initiation Day in March… Hey dudes! Excited to be playing with the Hobart metal masters? Yeah it’s going to be a great showcase of some of the best music in Tasmania, I hope we can keep our end up! Plus Dave and I have been meaning to get our shit together and play a show for ages so I’m glad it’s finally happening. What does the future hold for Stand Defiant? Any interstate shows? Right now we’re in writing mode, we’ve just finished the music bed and a couple of rough tracks for the demo of our full length, which will come out later this year, hopefully. We have some new music on our MySpace for the first time in a while so it’s exciting to see what people think. I’m having a gnarly case of writer’s block at the moment so I’m struggling to push through and find things that have not been said before you know? Most likely an impossible task so I guess you go about saying things your own way and hope people identify with the music and how you have gone about it. What’s the most memorable moment for Stand Defiant? So many man, I think for me it was the first time we went to Adelaide and Melbourne we were still fresh from our first split EP with The Scandal and the guys from an amazing Adelaide band called Stolen Youth heard us on JJJ and asked us to come and do their CD launch in... shit, must have been 2004 or 5? From there we also did a national tour with them in 06 for our EP Our Own Destruction and those dudes are still some of our biggest fans and best friends, you can’t ask for more than that. Any tips for youngsters starting a band? Practice. Listen to yourself practicing and then practice more. And only when you’re happy listening to what you’re doing start booking yourself some shows, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need a booking agent or a manager or any of that wank, if you need those things you’ll know when the time is right, when you’re starting out the only way you’ll get shows is to go to shows and talk to the people already putting them on, if you have a demo so they can hear what you’re doing more the better. Who are your favourite Tasmanian/Australian bands currently? Hmm, locally I’d say it’s a toss up between The Turnaround and Your Demise, they’ve both worked hard and have got records coming out soon so it will be good too see what the response is. I did see this rad

band called Resilient on the weekend that hopefully will keep up what they’re doing and can only get better, think Miles Away mixed with Shai Hulud. If someone reading this has not heard you guys, who’s a similar band that could put them on the right track? Take some 90s skate punk(Pennywise, NUFAN, Strung Out, Lagwagon etc) add some progressive thrash (Propagandhi, AWS, Darkest Hour), hit it vigourously with a hammer, add some guitarmonies and three-part vocals, shake, serve… You?ve supported some amazing bands both from national and international origins, who’s been the most enjoyable band to support and why? Um, it’s a hard one because all of them have been fun in their own way, I think the recent(well, June) A Wilhelm Scream show was my favourite because those dudes are all so nice and like Scrubs and fast music as much as me, so we had a rad time. What’s the most frustrating thing about being in a band? Well being in a band from here it’s trying to break into

the mainland scene, and manage to keep a profile over there while trying to be a working band here and also get records out at the same time. Pyscroptic have done an amazing job of juggling all these things but are at a point now where they only need to play Tas once or twice a year and it’s working for them. Favourite Australian cricketer? The dudes Kenny makes on his Xbox cricketing game who hit sixes all the time. Favourite South Park episode? The first movie man, f*cking funny, smoking and watching that with Anton Nugget soaked up so much of my time in college... no regrets though - let me quote for you: [To Phillip] Terrance: “This is worse than the time when I fell asleep and you put your dick in my mouth and took a picture.” Comedy gold. sLUKE RANSON Catch the comedy double act that is Stand Defiant with Separatist: 0 7 March @ The Brisbane Hotel

IN THE BOATSHED

Friday, 6 February @ 9pm

FatSmalls IN THE PUBLIC BAR

ALTERNATIVE/POP/FOLK - USA // JOLIE HOLLAND

Lone Star Jolie Holland heads Down Under The Living and the Dead marks Texas-bred Jolie Holland’s fourth album and this time she’s bringing her ‘work between worlds’ to the home of the Devil’s themselves. Touring around the country throughout February, lucky patrons will be able to catch Jolie’s beautiful rock songs at the Republic Bar in Hobart on the 15th. With a new rock sound progressing from her folk, jazz and country roots and some extremely well crafted tunes, it’s easy to see why this singer-songwriter has gained outspoken fans such as Tom Waits and Sage Francis, Waits even nominating her for the Short List Music Prize in 2004 for the album Catalpa.

Luke Parry Thursday, 5 February @ 9pm

Samuel Bester Friday, 6 February @ 9pm

Ben Castles Saturday, 7 February @ 9pm

Invisible Boy

Her new album, which features contributions from Marc Ribot (who’s played with the likes of Tom Waits and Elvis Costello), M. Ward (My Morning Jacket, She & Him) and drummer Rachel Blumberg (M. Ward, Bright Eyes), features songs written at home in San Francisco as well as on the road across America and Europe, and from a writing retreat in New Zealand. What’s produced gives Holland a sound that’s both contemporary and with an old-time rock feel, songs that affect your emotions and get you grooving, and a great setting for her unique and ageless voice.

Wednesday, 11 February @9pm

The timeless quality and strength of her music will no doubt give Jolie Holland the kind of staying-power most overly popular singer-songwriters will miss out on, so catch her now in Hobart, before this remarkable artist hits legendary status.

Friday, 13 February @ 9pm

sMEEGAN MAY

You’ve been warned! 0 15 February @ The Republic Bar, Hobart www.jolieholland.com WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

Wednesday, 4 February @ 9pm

Open Mic Night

(earlier due to L'ton cup) Thursday, 12 February @ 9pm Original Music Showcase Tess Kasper, Mick Attard, Halfway to Forth and Guthrie

S&M Saturday, 14 February @ 9pm

Sara and Dave

GREAT FOOD

OPEN MIC NIGHT

THE LAST WEDNESDAY

OF EVERY MONTH

OPEN 7 DAYS

14 Brisbane Street, Launceston 6331 5346 . ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 -FEBRUARY 17 2009 9

DEEP INSIDE… Dan Townsend of Invisible Boy

HIP HOP - ADELAIDE // FUNKOARS

Free Verse Association

Triggy Stardust, of the deep and meaningful Funkoars, shared some of his thoughts on the lyrics he’s had a hand in and displays a deeper than natural appreciation for The Nanny...

Beyond the trappings of fame, below the wells of fortune, the creatures we know as “humans” share common needs – to love, to be loved, and to listen to bloody good music. Luckily, we have the opposable thumbs that have made the latter feasible, otherwise we’d probably still be flinging poo at each other in vague territorial wars. Dan of Invisible Boy stopped flinging poo long enough to have a D&M (Deep and Meaningful) with SAUCE… What was the last, deepest conversation you ever had - who was it with and what was it about? Ben, Mary and I talked into the wee hours after Monday’s rehearsal. In amongst the conversation, I spoke about the traitorous little black dogs in my veins... and crying my guts out in the shower the day before. Strange things, people. We hugged. We often hug.

“Thinkin’ out the box with my finger stuck in one” - Blackout Yeah, that’s one of my favourite ones… I don’t even know why. I heard that beat and I was like, ‘f*ck, that is incredible, let me on it’, and I only had a small window of opportunity so I just wrote my verses straight away and just recorded it that day. And I remember writing that line thinking, oh no I’d regret it when I heard that shit again! “When my shit fresher than Fran Drescher in maid dress up” – This is How Yes, she was fantastic man. Just because she played like the crazy comedy role and had the annoying voice, people don’t give her enough credit because she was smoking hot man. And then when she started flattening her hair toward the end of the seasons, I was like ‘damn’, that’s when she really came to age man. [laugh] “I’ve got a slight abuse problem from a sick porn addiction” - Da Na Na Yeah, it’s only slight man, ever so slight. It’s all to do with Fran Drescher. Yeah, very much so. It’s all about her. Get a sick funk addiction! 0 6 February @ The Republic Bar, Hobart

What did you learn about yourself or your life? I’m learning to talk about the things I only used to be able to sing about. Do you ever get pleasantly surprised by the words you hear coming out your mouth when you are relaxed? When you’re in good company? Yeah. I’m learning to almost... expect that. To enjoy that. How do you give meaning to your life? I get out of bed... Make my wife a coffee to show her I think she’s fantastic, get my daughter out of her cot and look her in the eye as she chats about the pictures of teddies on her wall... I’m at my best when I’m living for others rather than for my own comfort. I know I’m doing okay when the gaps and cracks in the world that used to make me angry are the gaps and cracks I’m doing my best to fill. Might fill one with a song... Might fill one with a cup of tea... Might fill one with a letter to the editor or a march down a city street or a handful of change into someone’s coin cup. It’s always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness and I could be dead tomorrow, so I do it today. Try to, anyways. Do things happen for a reason, or are you the reason things happen? “It’s amazing what people will put up with if there’s a purpose in the pain.” Viktor Frankl said that. If we can’t find a meaning for what we do we go quietly crazy, we drink too much, we dream of different jobs, we whinge about everyone else... Who are you when you’re alone at night, with nobody to pretend for? I guess I’m a kid in short shorts and socks up to my knees, singing quietly and drawing a picture of a horse. Isn’t everyone? To what extent do you feel in touch with some other, intangible aspect of life? There is no wind tonight, but I wish there was. Is it even important to feel some kind of connection to a greater cosmic whole? “Oh God (if there is a god), save my soul (if I have a soul).” Who said that? I don’t know... I reckon it’s important to know what matters and what doesn’t matter, what you’re here on earth for... what size shoe you are... Some people think everything matters and they get irritating to be around; some people think that nothing matters and they’re often drunk and loud... It’s important to be connected. Most people live alone these days and we’re sadder than we’ve ever been. That’s why we text so much. Nobody wants to be the kid lost in the supermarket. Who is the deepest person in your band and why? I swim a lot in my own soul and probably only skim stones on the surface of theirs. They are as beautiful as people get... I’m sure they have a lot of cool fish on their ocean floors... a few shipwrecks... maybe a plug. I don’t know. There’s a lot to them - to everyone. Nobody is shallow - some people are still learning to hold their breath. What have you learned about yourself in answering these questions? I can have a man change into his pyjamas in the room with me and not notice if I am thinking about my soul, the cosmic whole and pictures of horses. I would like to listen to The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan but the neighbours are asleep. I might dream about it. Real loud.

Dream a dream of Invisible Boy! 0 7 February @ The Royal Oak, Launceston 10

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 - FEBRUARY 17 2009

WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

ROCK - MELBOURNE // MIKE NOGA AND THE GENTLEMEN OF FORTUNE

Australia’s Next Supergroup? and I have known each o“Mike other since we were young,” says Gus Agars (yes, the drummer from The Vandas!) on how he met Mike Noga, who has conscripted him into his new project, The Gentelmen of Fortune. “His family billeted me out when I was young and school tripped down in Tassie. So I’ve known him since we were very young, and we’ve kept in touch, and just sort of recently got to know each other, around about three or four years ago. So I think we played a show where he was playing drums with The Drones and we sort of got talking and he was getting an album together and so we ended up putting this band together and it was just so much fun that we thought we’d put the album on the to do list and just play live.”

So there’s no truth to rumour that we’d heard that involved copious amounts of alcohol, hookers and blow? “Oh, there’s not blow and alcohol, there’s just hookers,” he laughs. And then there’s an uncomfortable pause. “That makes it weird, doesn’t it?” Clearing our throats, we press on. Gus says that The Gentlemen of Fortune gives him room to explore new ways of playing. “I’d been playing with [The Vandas] for a long time that it becomes such a relationship that you make a certain type of music together. It’s always, oh how do I explain it? You’ve got a certain way of playing music together and to play with not only Mike and Pat and Graham, very close friends of mine, we just very much enjoy playing together that it was silly not to… it’s a very open band. A lot of input from everyone and a lot of discussion about songs, and the reason we’re all playing in the band is because we enjoy the way each of us play. So it’s less up to you what to do. Does that make any sense?” Inasmuch as any musician rambling on about what they do makes any sense… The Gentlemen of Fortune consists of members from notable bands such as The Drones, Dallas Crane, and The Gin Club, so could they be Australia’s answer to that other supergroup, The Travelling Wilburys? “Oh we’re not a supergroup, we’re just another bunch of drunken idiots,” Gus laughs. “It ruins the illusion somewhat… Nah, we’re just good mates that like playing together. It’s lucky that the music works, otherwise you wouldn’t want us to do it! We were talking about it the other day and we’ve decided to stay another night in Hobart, just to hang out together. I mean there’s bands that I’ve played in where I just wouldn’t want to, but we actually enjoy each other.” Maybe young mothers and daughters should avoid being on the street that night… “It’s like that Simpson’s episode – ‘I’m going to punch like this and if you get in my way that’s your fault!’” he laughs again. But we’ll urge all the hookers to be out though. Gus chuckles. “Oh, oh no, cancel that hooker part!” Pressing on down the dark avenue of this interview, we draw Gus’s attention to their band photo, and the very distinctive porno-mo’ sported by one of the band members. “Oh, isn’t that amazing? I saw a picture of him without the mo’ and it was the scariest thing I’d ever seen. So I don’t know him without a moustache. That’s Graham… Graham’s a librarian. He’s got this repressed rock and roller into him that we’ve managed to crack open again… he used to play in a band called Machine Translation. I think [or] in a group called The Soldiers, but yeah, his moustache is incredible.” “I’ve tried to have the same moustache but it just doesn’t look as powerful as his,” Gus continues, “which almost makes it better, almost like a Bryan Ferry sort of thing. You need to make it understated, if you make it too obvious people think it’s just a joke. If you make it a bit weird and passable, people don’t know whether to be offended or laugh. That’s my favourite sort of facial hair.” The George Michael three-day growth? “Ah no, that’s just plain gay,” says Gus, alienating a potential target market. sCHRIS RATTRAY Get hooked on the Gentlemen of Fortune! 0 20 February @ The Republic Bar, Hobart 12

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 - FEBRUARY 17 2009

WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE Wednesday, 4 February sHobart Hotel SOHO Dj Macca 9pm The Alley Cat Bar Bridget Pross The Brisbane Hotel El Guincho (SPN) The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s Pat Berechree, Dali & the Paper Band, The Middle Sea The Republic Bar New Retro Club 9pm sLaunceston Hotel New York Front Bar The Royal Oak Luke Parry in the bar @ 9 Top Shelf @ Irish Murphy’s Novella, Mick Attard Thursday, 5 February sHobart Syrup Mesh - DJs: Adam Turner + Guests 000 10pm The Alley Cat Bar The Truth - The Cecil Brown Show The Brisbane Hotel The Sign + The Tokyo Room + The Frets The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s Ryan Kinder, The Middletones The Loft THE COMICS’ PLAYGROUND 7:30pm

103 Elizabeth St Hobart 03 6231 5578

The Republic Bar Shagpile 9pm sLaunceston Hotel New York Uni Night, Victor Charlie Charlie, DJ Doctor J

"Tasmania's own"

REDLINE Coach Services

DISCOUNTED STUDENT FARES University Student Semester Special $12.50 per sector * Hobart to Launceston $55.60 (Return) * Devonport to Launceston $39.10 (Return) *Conditions Apply

Reservations/Credit Card Payments 1300 360 000

Brookﬁeld Vineyard. 1640 Channel Highway. Margate. 7054. Ph 6267 2880

Licensed cafe open 7 days & late for all events

Friday, February 6 Ben Wells Brookfield Idol Saturday, February 14 Andy Sugarcane Collins All have meals available. www.brookfieldvineyard.com - info@brookfieldvineyard.com WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

Irish Murphy’s (LST) TASH N CAZ The Mersh (The Commercial Hotel) Karaoke The Royal Oak Samuel Bester in the bar @9 Friday, 6 February sGolconda Tasmanian Circus Festival The Barons of Tang and Agency Dub Collective (instrumental) sHobart Brookfield Vineyard Ben Wells Brookfield Idol Irish Murphy’s (HBT) Nick & Tom Wolfe, Running With Scissors Syrup The One Love Mobile Disco Tour with Grant Smillie $12 Boogie - DJ Nick C & Stirlo 10pm The Alley Cat Bar The Double Shuffle and Sara Jane The Brisbane Hotel Riff Hogs + The Ritz + The Red Light Disko The Republic Bar Funkoars $15pre/$18door 10pm sLaunceston Country Club Adam Brand $48.50 8pm Hotel New York Feb DJ Randall, DJ Doctor J, DJ PD Irish Murphy’s (LST) VICTOR CHARLIE CHARLIE Lonnies Niteclub Ralph Australian Swimsuit Model of the Year Heat 1

The Mersh (The Commercial Hotel) DJ Skip

Wednesday, 11 February

Saturday, 14 February

sHobart

The Royal Oak Ben Castles in the bar @ 9 / FatSmalls in the Boatshed @ 9ish (cover charge)

The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s James Parry, Beaverjam, Syrevilo

Brookfield Vineyard Andy Sugarcane Collins $15

Saturday, 7 February sHobart Irish Murphy’s (HBT) Katie & Ado, Damage Control Syrup Tackyland - DJs Noughts, Rollo, Stirlo, & Billy Bob 11pm Dirty F’king Dancing DJs: Parkey, Gillie + Corney The Alley Cat Bar Broken Flight, The Stedfast Shephard & Andy Brazendale The Brisbane Hotel The Barons Of Tang (Vic) + Gene Bob & The Slaughterhouse Band Late Night Krackieoke w Bleeter & Bluurter The Republic Bar Martin Martini & The Bone Palace Orchestra + The No No’s $12pre/$15door 10pm Wrest Point Adam Brand 48.5 8pm sLaunceston Hotel New York DJ Luke Warren 10:00-12:00 DJ Doctor & PD, Back 2 Back, 12:00-2:00 DJ Gilli (Hbt) 2:00-Close MS Fest

The Loft DONT FORGET THE LYRICS KARAOKE HOSTED BY LOCAL COMEDIANS, PRIZES! Gold coin donation 7:00pm The Republic Bar Wahbash Avenue 9pm Wrest Point Jose Gonzalez 49.5 8pm sLaunceston Hotel New York Front Bar The Royal Oak Open Mic Night (earlier due to L’ton cup)

Irish Murphy’s (HBT) Katie & Ado, The Smashers Syrup Carl Cox $45 10pm Tackyland - DJs Noughts, Rollo, Stirlo, & Billy Bob 11pm The Alley Cat Bar McKisko & Kiss Whisky The Brisbane Hotel ROOT! (Vic) + The Muddy Turds + Smother Brothers The Republic Bar The Go Set $8pre/$10door 10pm Wrest Point James Reyne 28.5 8.30pm

Hotel New York DJ Cam 10:00-12:00, DJ Doctor J 12:00-2:00, DJ Randall 2:00-Close

Thursday, 12 February

Irish Murphy’s (LST) LONG WAY HOME

Syrup Mesh - DJs: Adam Turner + Guests 10pm The Alley Cat Bar Hayley Couper, Gretel & the Teramachi, Abbey Dogget The Brisbane Hotel Quiz Em All

The Mersh (The Commercial Hotel) Off The Cuff The Royal Oak Sara and Dave in the bar @9 sSydney

The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s Frankie Andrew, The Trolls, The Ozones

Good Vibrations Various

Irish Murphy’s (LST) MICK ATTARD & MAYFIELD

The Loft IMPRO-VICE COMEDY 7:30pm

Lonnies Niteclub MS Fest After Party w/ The Stafford Brothers + The Scientists of Modern Music + Klaus Hill & Spikey Tee

The Republic Bar Sarah Humphrey + Michael + Peter $3 9pm

Florentine Cabaret Festival The Barons of Tang and Agency Dub Collective (instrumental)

Sunday, 8 February sHobart The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s MIQ with Stephe The Republic Bar Cake Walking Babies 9pm sLaunceston Irish Murphy’s (LST) LUKE PARRY, BRIEF ILLUSION, PADDY DUKE Monday, 9 February sGolconda Tasmanian Circus Festival The Barons of Tang and Agency Dub Collective (instrumental) sHobart The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s Johnno Coleman, Ben Wells The Republic Bar Quiz Night (First for 2009) 8:15pm sLaunceston Irish Murphy’s (LST) BEN CASTLES Tuesday, 10 February sHobart The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s Sam Page, Andy Wear The Republic Bar Simon Astley 9pm sLaunceston Irish Murphy’s (LST) GLENN MOORHOUSE

sUpper Florentine Valley

sHobart

Hotel New York Uni Night, Long Way Home, DJ Doctor J

The Brisbane Hotel Tenniscoats (Japan) + Liam Constable + Andy Brazendale

The Royal Oak Tess Kasper, Mick Attard, Halfway to Forth and Guthrie

The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s Jam Jar The Republic Bar Jolie Holland 8:30pm

Friday, 13 February

sLaunceston

sHobart

Irish Murphy’s (LST) BEN CASTLES, GLENN MOORHOUSE, BRIEF ILLUSION, LONG WAY HOME

Irish Murphy’s (HBT) Dr Fink Syrup Boogie - DJ Nick C & Stirlo 10pm La Casa - DJs: Matt B, Discotouch, Timo

sMelbourne Good Vibrations Various

The Alley Cat Bar The Barons of Tang & McKisko

Monday, 16 February

The Brisbane Hotel Chi-Roh (CD LAUNCH)

The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s Jess Patmore, Al Campbell

The Republic Bar Bridgette Handley & The Dark Shadows + Bone Rattlers + J. Iscariot + The Swell Tones $10/$8 10pm

sHobart

The Republic Bar Domonic Fransis 9pm sLaunceston

Wrest Point Joe Camilleri 28.5 8.30pm

Irish Murphy’s (LST) KRISTIE TUCKER

sLaunceston

Tuesday, 17 February

Hotel New York DJ Doctor J 10:00-12:00, DJ Cam 12:00-2:00, DJ Randall 2:00-Close

sHobart

Irish Murphy’s (LST) THE GARY GARYS Lonnies Niteclub Ralph Australian Swimsuit Model of the Year Heat 2 The Mersh (The Commercial Hotel) DJ Skip The Royal Oak S&M in the bar @ 9ish

The Biggest Variety Of Comedy In Tassie! Stand up, Sketch, Physical, Musical Comedy, Burlesque, Sitcom.

Next Show: Monday March 2nd

@ The Backspace Theatre Sackville St Hobart

FACEBOOK GROUP: SHORT BACK AND SIDESHOW

Sunday, 15 February

sLaunceston

Irish Murphy’s (LST) KRISTY & STEVE

Launceston Studio www.myspace.com/fatlipstudios

Lonnies Niteclub DJ Havana Brown

Inveresk Showgrounds, LST MS Fest

The Royal Oak Invisible Boy in the bar @ 9ish

Bookings Essential Call Dave Venter for a quote 0408 373 066 or email fatlipstudios@gmail.com

sLaunceston

Top Shelf @ Irish Murphy’s The Dog Line, Nathan Wheldon

sHobart

Recording Mixing Mastering Production

Simmon’s Park, Lindisfarne Clarence Jazz Festival The Greenhouse @ Irish Murphy’s Ruth Berechree, Sam Cole, Martin O’Brien The Republic Bar Joe Piere 9pm Wrest Point Roberta Flack & The TSO A Reserve = $112 B Reserve = $88 7pm sLaunceston Irish Murphy’s (LST) MICK ATTARD

Venue Guide HOBART Brookfield Vineyard 1640 Channel Highway Margate 6267 2880 Hotel SOHO 124 Davey Street 6224 9494 www.hotelsoho.com.au Irish Murphy’s 21 Salamanca Place 6223 1119 irishmurphys.com.au The Loft 152 Liverpool St Hobart 7000 (03) 6231 6552 www.myspace.com/ theloft142 The Metz on the Bay 217 Sandy Bay Road 6224 4444 www.themetz.com.au

Wrest Point Entertainment Centre 410 Sandy Bay Road 6225 0112 wrestpoint.com.au LAUNCESTON The Commercial Hotel 27 George Street 6331 3868 Irish Murphy’s 211 Brisbane Street 6331 4440 www.irishmurphys. com.au Hotel New York 122 York Street 6334 7231 Lonnies 107 Brisbane Street 6334 7889 www.lonniesniteclub. com

The New Sydney Hotel The Royal Oak 87 Bathurst Street 14 Brisbane Street 6234 4516 6331 5346 www.myspace.com/ Syrup leapinlimpout 1st Floor 39 Salamanca Place 6224 8249 www.syrupclub.com The Republic Bar 299 Elizabeth Street 6234 6954 www.republicbar.com The Brisbane Hotel 3 Brisbane Street 6234 4920 www.myspace.com/ thebrisbanehotel The Alley Cat Bar 381 Elizabeth Street 6231 2299 www.myspace.com/ thealleycatbar . ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 -FEBRUARY 17 2009 13

SOUNDCHECK - out and about in the hottest venues THE TRUTH, THE CECIL BROWN SHOW @ The Alley Cat Bar, 29 January

DOCTOR WILLIS @ Syrup, 30 January Hobart’s recent dance health crisis was given a shot in the arm by the Doctor - Dr. Willis! Photography by Nicole Connelly.

the

LOFT

142 Liverpool Street

REGULAR FEATURES 5th & 19th Feb @ 7:30pm

THE COMICS' PLAYGROUND EVERY SECOND THURSDAY 11th & 25th February @ 7:00pm

DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS KARAOKE

A balmy Hobart evening ensured The Alley Cat filled with a thirsty crowd eagerly awaiting to find out just who was Cecil Brown. I had no knowledge of what this guy was all about, figuring I should at least see if what he has to say was relevant to members of Generation X, such as me.

HOSTED BY LOCAL COMEDIANS PRIZES TO WIN! EVERY WEDNESDAY

Entry by gold coin donation

A dowdy young man, dressed in sensible pants, a brown cardigan (complete with iron on transfer) and thick bottle glasses appeared before us to the sound of smooth hip hop beats. He explained the format of the evening’s show, providing a brief introduction of himself and candid sample revelations about his life, whilst asking the crowd to stand, asking who was out there.

12th & 26th February @ 7:30pm

IMPRO-VICE COMEDY EVERY OTHER THURSDAY COmING ATTRACTIONS 21 February @ 8:00 pm

The audience were enthused by his manner and eccentric questioning with many punters erupting with raucous laughter. He eased in a little more, with rants about fashion, being special, and the difference of reality between generations Y’s to gen X. A favorite was Brown’s rendition of I Touch Myself by the Divinyls - I Google Myself was hilarious! Brown’s discussion of life as a magazine, how some people have to be the people who aren’t special, coupled with his stage theatrics kept the crowd cooing for most of the evening. He provided insightful advice on what to do when we’re sick of trying to be happy and look great all the time, making me feel a little more comfortable on a hot night! There were a few moments where Brown lost his thoughts and had to refer to notes, however his quick wit and sense of humour ensured the audience was always entertained.

DIAMONDS OF BURLESQUE 27 February @ 9:00 pm

sGEORGINA FREEMAN THE BERZERKER @ The Brisbane Hotel, 23 January WHITLEY + LISA MITCHELL @ The Republic Bar, 16 January Whitley and Lisa Mitchell gave a passionate performance at The Republic Bar, 16 January. Photography by Nicole Connelly.

Originally, I only went to this show to see up-andcoming death metal act Separatist, having not seen their set since July last year; as I must confess my ignorance regarding the Australian grind scene: I came into this show as a Berzerker first-timer. Before that encounter, the supports provided the crowd with a fine display of Hobart’s extreme metal offerings. I was happy to see Mephistopheles guitarist Ben Lawless riffing it up; re-quipped with a recovered Les Paul. Second up was Separatist: I have only been to two of their shows now, but each time they’ve proved they deserve all the acclaim they’re starting to receive: Separatist’s effort is truly epic; the scope of the sound is simply huge. As one fan said, “Sam Dishington’s vocals are below subterranean: I’m talking the oil wells near the core.” The last support up was Solar Thorn. Now, I will be the first to admit that black metal is not my thing, nor did I particularly enjoy the band’s set; but I’ll trust their many dedicated fan’s statements during the night of the band’s “epic greatness.” Last up was the night’s centrepiece: The Berzerker. At first I was taken aback: their sound can be described as what they themselves label “Extreme Industrial Grind.” This band’s sound is nothing generic and entirely unique. The kick drum triggered a buzzy distorted sample, and in places the cymbals were reversed and washy. Every full-neck slide of the distorted bass shook the room: the result was a huge sound from a fivepiece that has its act together. The Berzerker are held in very high regard among Australian (and even international) grind, and their unique, signature sound sets them, thankfully, apart from the rabble. sJAMES YOUNG 14

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 - FEBRUARY 17 2009

THE NO NO'S

+ supports 6 March @ 10:00 pm

DJ FERRIS (ELECTRO HOUSE) + support 13 March @ 11:00 pm INTERNATIONAL DJ REBEL D (HARDSTYLE DANCE) 3 April @ 8:00 pm

ANDREW MARSHALL (UK) + supports

THE LOFT IS A VENUE FOR HIRE

Best rates in the city

Contact: Paul 0420 305 910 WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

OWEDWEEK 09 25TH FEBRUARY MID WEEK METZ

CAMO VS WOODHOUSE @ 6PM 7pm – 9pm $8 Beer Jugs, $5 Metz Breads, $10 Pizzas 9pm – 11pm $4 Basic SpiritS www.themetz.com.au, 217 Sandy Bay Road, Restaurant – Café – Bar, Phone 6224 4444 WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 -FEBRUARY 17 2009 15

BURLESQUE - HOBART // THE DIAMONDS OF BURLESQUE

ARTRAGE @ John Lees Atrium - QVMAG at Inveresk, Launceston

Perfect Cups of Tease

Untitled by Thaleia Nizamis All the young dudes in Tassie are rather an arty lot, aren’t they? Well, that’s what I reckon anyway, and the dudes at ArtRage seem to be in concurrence. Want to make your own mind up? Then make like an art aficionado and head to ArtRage, 2008, at QVMAG, Inveresk.

“…enjoy the beauty and power of being a woman...” Diamonds are all about the art of tease…,” says Bec Nichols, the evil mastermind behind Hobart’s o“The Diamonds of Burlesque, “but we do it with our own unique ‘sparkle!’ We are a group of sexy ladies who

have bought together our many talents, including our natural sex appeal, to create shows involving dance, pole dance, swing, gymnastics, theatre, comedy, and satire! We take more of a modern approach mimmicking or making a satire of what is mainstream entertainment today… We even have a male burlesque artist on board known as ‘Mr D’ who teases the audience with his strong stage presence and fun/comedic yet ever sexy male strip acts… still leaving enough to the imagination of course!”

To what extent does it empower women? It empowers women to be confident in the bodies they are in, we believe that every woman has the power to be sexy and to find their inner ‘Sparkle’! It is a power trip on stage and you really get a high from performing for a room full of people who are watching in anticapation, your every move! More than this though it is empowering using your womenly wiles to keep their attention, you have to work at it though, but that makes it all the more empowering. There is nothing better than leaving a stage knowing the audience is hungry for more and that you are not going to give it to them. That might sound harsh... but that is the appeal of the Diamonds and burlesque in general! Where do you source your fantastic costumes? Everywhere...I mean that too! We have even sourced costuming from pet stores!! That sounds crazy I know... but that particular costume (comprising of squeaky burgers) helped win us the ‘peoples choice’ award at the Flip Top Festival and get on Australia’s Got Talent! We have spent many hours sourcing costuming bits and pieces from eBay, secondhand stores and from loads of quirky and wonderful stores around Australia including Capri in Hobart! We have also spent many hours making a lot of our costumes from scratch and our props. I buy corsets from the mainland for the Diamonds and also sell corsets to the public, because everyone is always asking where we get them so now they can purchase and wear them too! Got to share the ‘Sparkle’ sometimes! What do your parents think of it? I think every parent would be a little concerned to hear their daughter, or son, has joined a burlesque troupe, however once our parents understood the Diamond’s own unique burlesque style and class, they became quite supportive. They know that there isn’t any full

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 - FEBRUARY 17 2009

nudity in the shows and that we always stay classy. It does make them nervous however, that we are up on stage in our lingerie and sexy costuming. Whose parent wouldn’t be nervous? But on the whole they are really happy for us and see how important it is to us, how much it has done for our confidence and how far it is taking us!

a stage and you will see her naughty side, especially if she has bubbles! She is also a bit of a sneaky prankster! Miss Eternal Princess Diamond (Samantha Quinn) seems shy and reserved, but you can tell she is hiding something naughty within her personality. Give her a sexy tune and she will bedazzle you with her sexy swinging hips!

Why is burlesque enjoying something of a revival? It has always been there, people have tried to ignore burlesque, but the hunger to be teased had just become too overwhelming! A revival was imminent! I believe that people may have taken feminism too far in the past and ironically, in the process, forgotten how to be feminine and enjoy the beauty and power of being a woman. It is okay to be beautiful and glamorous and it is okay to be teasy. I think you just have to stay proud and feel confident about how you present yourself. Never drop your standards and keep your respect high.

What can we expect at the next Diamonds of Burlesque show? I could tell you what to expect... but that wouldn’t be very ‘teasy’ of me now, would it? I will tell you a little, but I will leave you wanting more of course! The next show is called ‘Detention with the Diamonds’ and is set for Sat 21st Februauy at The Loft, 8pm and is a low $12 entry. It is a back to school themed show set in a rather naughty school where things happen that aren’t really allowed in typical schools, but is a lot more entertaining! The show will be MC’d by the talented Rose Ottavi Kokkoris and will star Mick Lowenstein as the sly school Janitor, Ben Collins as the German exchange student, Mr D as the sexy P.E teacher and of course the sexy Diamonds as naughty schoolgirls who will perform schoolgirl acts along with a variety of typical ‘Diamond’ acts. Miss Dazzle Belle Diamond will also be playing a school nurse, so if you fall ill at the show, be assured you will be well looked after! There will be prizes for best school dressed, so bring out your old uniforms... it’s time for detention! It’s never been so good to have been so naughty!

Who is the naughtiest diamond and why? Well, having thought long and hard about this question...I would have to say myself, Miss Dazzle Belle Diamond (Bec Nichols)! I have always been a very mischievious tease and enjoy giving people a good taunting… in a fun and cheeky way of course!! I am extremely flirty too and I guess you could say I started The Diamonds of Burlesque up as an outlet for myself to be free to act and entertain in a cheeky and sexy manner! I am like this in my everyday life too, it just amplifies when I’m on stage. Don’t get me wrong, the other ‘Diamonds’ are naughty in their own way too… you have to be a little naughty to be a Diamond! Miss La Marquise Diamond (Sarah Mashman) seems quite controlled and innocent in her day to day life... but don’t let that fool you. Give her a sexy costume and

sCHRIS RATTRAY Be teased! 0 21 February @ The Loft, Hobart Photography by Emilija Saleta.

Now, ArtRage has been around in Tassie for... well, it must be ages now because it was going on when I was at school, and that was back before the Internet (“Oh my God, you mean, like, before Facebook? That is so, like, retro!”), and even back then (yes, in the Dark Ages), it was kind of the Holy Grail for wannabe Warhols and Matisses in the making. Now, it is even bigger, better and barmier than ever. These young people sure are a kooky lot! The ArtRage exhibition is made up of artworks taken from the TCE folios of students from Tassie schools and colleges. The works are chosen by selectors from QVMAG who make like Maxwell Smart and sneak into the end of year displays of every school, and report back on their hits and misses on their shoe phones (sorry, showing my age again. Of course, I meant their “Blackberries”). The selectors are on the lookout for works that are exciting, dynamic, and just downright bizarre enough to contribute to a really interesting (read: “out there”) exhibition. This year, they have outdone themselves. Every piece is more original, and more skilfully executed than the last. The winner of the Examiner’s Choice, Madeline O’Connor, has done some particularly inspiring work. Her prints are incredibly well-realised, and their whimsical, capricious nature, and deft use of dreamlike colours would have been been a source of pride for an artist twice her age. She definitely has a bright future ahead of her. Lucky oversized sunnies are in fashion this year... another medium that is definitely in vogue with this year’s crop is digital photography. More and more, the use of digital imagery is becoming an accepted art form, as techno-savvy kids learn how to manipulate their images into truly striking works of art. Indeed, the digital images in this show are among the most eye-catching and original works. This exhibition also fills me with hope, that the world of visual art is truly a living, breathing and vibrant one in Tassie, and if the talent on show in this exhibition is anything to go by, it will be for many years to come. Maybe even way into the future when digital cameras seem retro ... Whatever the media, though, the young dudes have their fingers on the pulse on contemporary society, and they have the skill and talent to back up their ideas. Keep carrying the news, you boogaloo dudes. Find out more about how to be all the rage! Visit www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/whatsoninv.html ArtRage runs until 26 April. sKATE GORDON

WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

CINECISM

BY DAVID QUINN - DAVID@DREAMWALKMEDIA.COM

DRAMA // THE WRESTLER

The Harder They Fall Professional wrestling changed its way of referring to itself a few years back, from a “Sport” to “Sports Entertainment” and with it came a change of perception of the spectacle and glitz. No longer could audiences fool themselves into believing that what they were watching was actually a sport. Its focus was, by its own admission, entertainment first and physical prowess second. Yet do not for one second think that the men and women who fling themselves over the top rope are not athletes of amazing prowess. And like so many athletes, their lights burn very brightly for a short period and then sputter and die.

NEWS WHO KNEW? NEW WHO IN 2010!

British actor, Matt Smith, was recently announced as the next actor to portray the Doctor in the BBC series, Doctor Who. At 26, he is the youngest actor ever to play the Time-Lord. It is anticipated he will assume the mantle of the eleventh Doctor, in place of David Tennant’s tenth, at the end of the year. Tennant is still to appear in four more 60 minute Doctor Who specials.

The Wrestler, directed by Darren Aranofsky, takes an uncompromising look at one such light, long after its brightest moment has been and gone. Randy “The Ram” Robinson is in his fifties, deaf in one ear and living in a trailer park. He works in a local supermarket during the week and on weekends he wrestles in small venues for dwindling crowds and meagre returns. His relationship with his daughter has fallen apart many years ago and the closest thing he has to a friend is a stripper he regularly visits. Yep, it’s laugh a minute stuff right here.

“…outside the ring he is as human as the next man…”

The film is a character study of a man unable to deal with the life he is living. Randy lives for the ring and his past glories. When he is forced out of competition by a heart attack he begins the process of becoming a normal person. He starts to reconnect with the everyday world and makes moves towards a life that does not involve constant physical pain. What he finds though is that while he may be unbreakable on the mat, outside the ring he is as human as the next man. Mickey Rourke’s star is on the rise once more thanks to this movie; he has been nominated for a “Best Actor” Academy award and the offers are starting to come in again. He first came to fame in the 1980s with films like 9&1/2 Weeks and Barfly but a volatile nature and some high profile problems took him out of the limelight for most of the 1990s. He returned to his early career of boxing for a time but then came back to acting with 2005’s Sin City playing the brute, Marv. The Wrestler shows the breadth of acting skill that Rourke possesses. His ensemble cast are equally fantastic with Marisa Tomei’s ageing stripper providing a perfect foil for Randy’s gruff but heartfelt character. It is a beautifully paced film that builds towards a crescendo that is at once magnificent and gut wrenching. Cleverly shot to mimic a documentary with subtle hints towards the real world of professional wrestling, it is a film that demands to be seen. To viewers who have never seen a wrestling match it may seem unbelievable, but this is a film that does not shy away from any of the realities of “Sports Entertainment” - be they steroid abuse or familial breakdown. Combine this film with the documentary Beyond the Mat for an evening of depressing yet riveting viewing. Cine-COOL s DAVID QUINN 0 THE WRESTLER IS OUT NOW.

Matt had been sworn to secrecy about his casting, forcing him to not even tell his flatmate or closest friends about the epic job. He also had the unenviable task of working out what he’ll be wearing as the Doctor, which appears to be a much harder job than you might first think. Doctor Who airs occasionally on Saturday nights on ABC. The regular series returns in 2010. Series 2 airs on the ABC Tuesday night at 8pm.

ST KILDA FILM AND MUSIC VIDEO COMPETITION

Have you made a short film or a music video recently? Would you like the opportunity to have your film screened as part of Australia’s Top 100 short films of the year... or your video included in SoundKILDA - Australia’s only dedicated competition for music videos? St Kilda Film Festival screens Australian short films in all genres including drama, comedy, documentary, animation and digital media. In 2009 the competition will screen the top 100 short film entries received, and the competition is fierce! The short film competition awards over $33,000 worth of cash and in-kind craft awards, including a $10,000 prize for Best Short Film – the highest cash prize for short film in the country! The Festival Also features the SoundKILDA Music Video Competition, Australia’s only dedicated competition for music videos. For more information and to enter, go to: stkildafilmfestival.com.au

CINECISM RATINGS EXPLAINED We’ve introduced a simplified, yet more puntastic, ratings system for this section! Can’t distinguish your meh from your muck? Here it is for the slow.

Cine-COOL: Go see it now! Cine-MEH: Check it out, sometime, maybe. Cine-MUCK: Do not see it, ever. Mastery of the rating system will ensure your continued cinematic enjoyment for years to come.

THE INTERNATIONAL TICKETS GIVE AWAY! The International, starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, is set for release in Tasmania on 19 February, and we have FIVE INSEASON PASSES to giveaway! Write to chris@sauce.net.au with YES I WANT TO SEE THE INTERNATIONAL FOR FREE in the subject line. Please provide your full postal address and a contact phone number so we can inform you of the good news, and be sure to check out SAUCE #88, due out Wednesday, 18 February for an interview with the star, Clive Owen! Entries close, Friday 27 February! WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 -FEBRUARY 17 2009 17

17>22 FEBRUARY 2009

CO UN CI L/ EV EN TS CL AR EN CE CI TY

FESTIVAL DATES DAY ONE

TUESDAY 17 FEB

SIMMONS PARK, LINDISFARNE 6.00pm–8.00pm DAY TWO

WEDNESDAY 18 FEB BELLERIVE BEACH PARK 6.00pm–8.00pm DAY THREE

THURSDAY 19 FEB

ROSNY FARM (ADJACENT TO EASTLANDS) 6.00pm–8.00pm DAY FOUR

FRIDAY 20 FEB

BELLERIVE BOARDWALK 6.00pm–9.30pm DAY FIVE

SATURDAY 21 FEB BELLERIVE BOARDWALK 4.00pm–9.00pm DAY SIX

SUNDAY 22 FEB

THREE NIGHTS

OF CONTEMPORARY GROOVE JAZZ

BELLERIVE BOARDWALK 11.00am–5.00pm

19–21FEBRUARY

Call 6245 8600 or visit www.ccc.tas.gov.au for a Festival Guide

ROSNY FARM, ROSNY HILL ROAD ADJACENT TO EASTLANDS

all sessions are free!

6PM–MIDNIGHT

CLARENCE JAZZ FESTIVAL IS A CLARENCE CITY COUNCIL EVENT PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

ROSNY PARK

ROOT!

Brisbane Hotel, Hobart Saturday 14th of Feb “DC Root’s turn of phrase makes Oscar Wilde sound as exciting as the phone book” Beat Magazine, Melbourne, August 2008 “ROOT! don’t play country. Taut, twanging little slabs of pure pop with the most spot-on, viciously funny lyrics you’ll hear. That’s more like it.” Elevator Magazine, Sydney, September 2008 “The smartest dumb rock ‘n roll band in the country” Rave Magazine Brisbane, September 2008 “It’s all bullshit.” DC Root. 18

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 - FEBRUARY 17 2009

WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

games, gadgets, and other digital distractions: zzappped@sauce.net.au PLATFORMER // XBOX 360

Banjo Kazooie A valiant romp with a honey-bear and his sheila bird companion...

TIARNE’s FINAL SCORES Banjo’s younger sister Tooty has been kidnapped by the witch Gruntilda who has the devious device that will exchange Tooty’s beauty with her own ugliness, to make herself the cutest in the land. Banjo grabs his bird, Kazooie and takes off with the assitance of Bottle, the short-sighted and short-tempered mole, and Mumbo Jumbo, the magical shaman, to save his younger sister who is held captive in Gruntilda’s lair. After the rather long cutscene at the start and more subtitles than a foreign film festival you are plunged into the game and learn basic moves. Depending on the time of the month for Bottles you can ask for his assistance or decline and spend the next few minutes grovelling at him for hints. Some of the funny points of the game include when you bother Bottles the mole and he punishes you for disturbing him or when you quit the game and Tooty is dealt the ugly stick by fate because you turned the other cheek and didn’t save her. This makes me feel the characters have more personality proving consequence than the regular 2D protagonists that litter the video game shelves professing superpowers or mad gangsta skills.

DOMESTIC COWBOY

WWW.SAUCE.NET.AU

There isn’t really anything that you have to change with classic games. No matter how much grunt, pixel capacity and boobage that you put on screen it is little (or none at all) replacement for steadfast gameplay. Banjo Kazooie may boast increased screen resolution and some graphic tweaks but it is essentially the same catridge game that held the admiration of 90s children back in the glory day of home gaming consoles. No gimmicks like skateboarding dragons or prancing jesters and gems in sight as Banjo Kazooie contains useful moves and Disney-esque plot devices - Save the sister, defeat the witch, live happily ever after.

throughout the game - the only Nintendo reference is the gameboy that Banjo is seen to play in one scene. You no longer have to scour the retro gaming shelves for a decent platformer to occupy the little ones nor keep your defunct Nintendo console. This solid platform game has risen up from the ashen grave of the Nintendo 64 and given flight on Xbox360. What with the popularity of Rare’s previous titles it’s little wonder how this got a foot in the door to have a port on this next-gen console. A good ten years after its birth it’s good enough for your spare Microsoft points.

Those familiar with the original game will notice the ingame plugs for Nintendo have been removed

GAMEPLAY: 80% 0 Without the reflexes of an eight year old I managed to get the gist. GRAPHICS: 70% 0 Colourful and standard backgrounds considering it`s a 64bit port and not ‘Banjo Kazooie Anniversary’. SOUND: 70% 0 Satisfying FX for an oldie that could be happily played in mono. PLAYABILITY: 80% 0 An oldie but a goodie. OVERALL: 75% 0 Great to see the original given one last fling before being overrun by its ancestor. 0 BANJO KAZOOIE IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR XBOX 360.

sTIARNE DOUBLE

claymcintosh@gmail.com

. ISSUE 87 . FEBRUARY 04 -FEBRUARY 17 2009 19