Beat Magazine #1306 by Furst Media

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1306 MELBOURNE’S HIGHEST CIRCULATING STREETPRESS ISSUE 08 FEB 2012 online www.beat.com.au email info@beat.com.au telephone (03) 9428 3600 facsimile (03) 9428 3611 print for post publication # 34274800004 cab audited

STONEFIELD

ALPINE

MIAMI HORROR DJs

WORLD’S END PRESS

THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH

SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM

MANTRA

CUSTARD

DEAD LETTER CIRCUS

ENTER SHIKARI

100%: TINIE TEMPAH

ANTISKEPTIC, SLEEPMAKESWAVES, SCARAMOUCHE, SHAVE FOR A CURE, SA4QE, THE VENDETTAS, RIVER OF SNAKES, BLANCHE DUBOIS, EMPERORS, TIMOTHY CANNON BAND

Thursday 9 February

Friday 10 February

Saturday 11 February

GUEST ACT:

Resident DJ’s DAMION DE SILVA, FMR, A STYLE, K DEE & SIMON SEZ. RnB, House, Old Skool and Commercial Anthems. For guestlist 9426 0800 or guestlist@restless.com.au

Resident DJ’s DEAN T, PHIL ROSS & CHRIS MAC every Friday punch out the best of House. Plus JOHNNY M & DJ JAY-J playing sexy RnB tunes in the Mezzanine.

MGMC

Resident DJ’s TATE STRAUSS & MISS SARAH play the best House tunes Plus JOHNNY M & DJ NOVA playing Sexy RnB tunes in the Mezzanine.

Doors open at 9.30pm // Outdoor smoking terrace open on Level 3 from 11.00pm – 6.00am // For functions and guest list enquiries contact 03 9292 5750 or email fusion@crownmelbourne.com.au // To enhance the safety and welfare of all patrons, we kindly request that all customers submit their drivers licence or other photo identiﬁcation to be scanned upon entry // Personal information collected by Crown will be handled in accordance with Crown’s privacy policy // Management reserves all rights // Photo ID required + 18 years // Dress standards apply // Crown practises responsible service of alcohol.

FNC12686

THIS WEEK:

DAN MANGAN

OWL EYES

CITY STORE NOW OPEN

OPENING SPECIAL! Hippo Box + Headphone Amp with Bass Boost

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AIAIAI TMA-1 w/ Mic DJ Headphone

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Wireless Headphones

JH Audio Custom In-Ear Monitors

$150

Ukuleles and Guitars

Queen St

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Shop 2 398 Lonsdale St Melbourne

Mon-Thu | 10 - 6 Fri | 10 - 9 Sat | 10 - 6 / Sun | 12 - 6 Closed Public Holidays

p 03 9670 8231 e info@jaben.com.au www.jaben.com.au

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3 MONTHS FULL-TIME OR 1 YEAR PART-TIME ENROLLING NOW FOR FEBRUARY 2012

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THE RULES (SA) THE MORRISONS, DRUNK MUMS, UDAY’S TIGER SATURDAY THE 11TH OF FEBRUARY - FROM 4PM

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OPEN STAGE READINGS AND SPOKEN WORD WELCOME WITH FEATURE PERFORMERS EVERY FORTNIGHT, $10 JUGS TUESDAY THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY - FROM 8PM

THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT GIVING CHANCES TO UP AND COMING LOCAL TALENT! THIS WEEK:

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WEDNESDAY TRIVIA NIGHT FREE ENTRY - 7:30

FRI 10th February

HIGHWATER BALLROOM BAND 10.30 - 11:15 MY FAVOURITE COLOUR IS GOLD 11.30 - 12:15 LUNARS 9.30 - 10:15

SAT 11th February

9.30-11.30

THE PERFECTIONS

SUN 12th February

4.00-5.00 5.00-7.00

CATHERINE TRAICOS MUSTARD COURAGE

OPENING HOURS

MON-THURS FROM 3PM - LATE FRI-SUN FROM 12PM - LATE NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH ON FRIDAY!!

FOOD SPECIALS

MONDAY $12 PARMA TUESDAY ALL PIZZAS $6 WEDNESDAY $12 STEAK THURSDAY $12 BEEF OR HALLOUMI BURGER SUNDAY $12 ROAST ALL DAY

SATURDAY 11TH FEB 5.00PM

LEAH FLANAGAN & BAND (DAR) WOOHOO, SHE’S IN TOWN! CATCH TWO FAT SETS OF LEAH’S UKE-FUSED, DISTINCTIVE TAKE ON FOLK, SOUL AND COUNTRY. A SPECIAL SHOW INDEED. FROM 9.00PM

CHRIS WILSON & SHANNON BOURNE LEGENDARY HARMONICA PLAYER CHRIS WILSON TEAMS UP WITH BLUES GUITARIST SHANNON BOURNE.

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THURSDAY ANNA’S GO GO ACADEMY $10 - 6:30

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GUY AND MARCUS EXPERIMENTATION PROJECT + ALLY OOP AND THE HOOPSTERS + BRAD BARRY FREE ENTRY - 9:30PM

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MONDAY $12 STEAK NIGHT FREE POOL TUESDAY

$10 VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN MEALS

WITH SPECIAL GUEST FULLY RESERVED SEATING

2ND & FINAL SHOW FORUM THEATRE

Special Guests

bombay bicycle club

FRIDAY MAR 23*

Festival Hall

Wednesday March 21

ON SALE

New album The Old Magic out now

MONDAY FEB 13

with special guests

rod laver arena

saturday march 24 on sale

tomorrow!

In store now

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PROUDLY PRESENTS

s e i r e S r e Summ

NICHEPRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS

NICHE PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS

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Nation in tions and Live Niche Produc ustralia present A ns llio Bi th conjunction wi

CHARLES BRADLEY & HIS EXTRASTORARLIADNINTOURAIRES THE 2012 AU

NICHE PRODUCTIONS & LIVE NATION PRESENT

TWO HUGE MELBOURNE SHOWS

Saturday 10th March Hi Fi Bar

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+ DJ SLIM CHARLES

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FRI. 30 MARCH PRINCE BANDROOM SUPPORT

& SPECIAL GUESTS

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Beat Magazine Page 13

IN THIS ISSUE...

HOT TALK

TOURING

ST KILDA FESTIVAL

WHAT’S ON, THE SLICKMAN A4 QUOTATION EVENT, FREE SHIT

ART OF THE CITY, THE COMIC STRIP

KIMMO POHJONEN

WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE, PENGUIN CAFE, RAW COMEDY

THE MAN IN BLACK: TEX PERKIN P. 58

DEVIN TOWNSEND P. 59

CUSTARD

DAN MANGAN

DEAD LETTER CIRCUS

BEAT EATS

INDUSTRIAL, LOJO

SLEEPMAKESWAVES

ANTISKEPTIC

SCARAMOUCHE

THE MAN IN BLACK: TEX PERKINS

DEVIN TOWNSEND

CORE, CRUNCH!, ENTER SHAKIRA

MUSIC NEWS

ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS

THIS WEEK IN 100%:

TINIE TEMPAH 3 NEWTON STREET RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au www.beat.com.au BEAT MAGAZINE EMAIL ADDRESSES: (no large attachments please): Gig Guide: online at beat.com.au email gigguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Club Listings: online at beat.com.au email clubguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Music News Items: music@beat.com.au Artwork: art@beat.com.au Beat Classifieds 33c a word: classiﬁeds@beat.com.au

32,788 copies per week

SLEEPMAKESWAVES P. 53

ANTISKEPTIC P. 54

PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Taryn Stenvei ARTS EDITOR / ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR: Tyson Wray EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Sean Gleeson SUB-EDITORS: Krystal Maynard, Tash Anderson, Scott Williams GENERAL MANAGER: Patrick Carr SENIOR ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR: Ronnit Sternfein BEAT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Patrick O’Neill GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Luke Benge, Matt Crute, Patrick O’Neill, Rebecca Houlden, Gill Tucker COVER ART: Patrick O’Neill ADVERTISING: Taryn Stenvei (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) taryn@beat.com.au Ronnit Sternfein (100%/Beat/Arts/Education/Ad Agency) ronnit@beat.com.au Aleksei Plinte (Backstage/ Musical Equipment) mixdown@beat.com.au Adam Morgan (Hospitality/Bars) adam@beat.com.au Kris Furst (beat.com.au) kris@furstmedia.com.au 0431 243 808 Grace Arena (Indie Bands/Special Features) grace@furstmedia.com.au CLASSIFIEDS: classiﬁeds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au ELECTRONIC EDITOR - BEAT ONLINE: Stephen Forde: webmaster@beat.com.au

ACCOUNTANT: accountant@furstmedia.com.au ADMINISTRATION CO-ORDINATOR: Alice Furst: alice@furstmedia.com.au ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Stephanie Mason: admin@furstmedia.com.au RECEPTION: reception@furstmedia.com.au DISTRIBUTION: distribution@beat.com.au Free Every Wednesday to over 1,500 places including Convenience Stores, Newsagents, Ticket Outlets, Shopping Centres, Community Youth & Welfare Outlets, Clubs, Hotels, Venues, Record, Music and Video Shops, Boutiques, Retailers, Bars, Restaurants, Cafes, Bookstores, Hairdressers, Recording Studios, Cinemas, Theatres, Galleries, Universities and Colleges. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au DEADLINES Editorial Copy accepted no later than 5pm Thursday before publication for Club listings, Arts, Gig Guide etc. Advertising Copy accepted no later than 12pm Monday before publication. Print ready art by 2pm Monday. Deadlines are strictly adhered to. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Boukouvalas, Lauren Cass, Ben Clement, Ben Gunzburg, Andrew Gyopar, CC Hug, Tim Hyland, Anna Kanci, Ben Loveridge, Mathew Murphy, Charles Newbury, John O’Rourke, Chris Parkinson, Naomi Rahim, Richard Sharman, Leon Struk, Michelle Tomadin, Peter Tsipas, Amy Wallace, Woodrow Wilson SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR: Christie Eliezer SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS: Christine Lan, Simone Ubaldi,

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Patrick Emery, Jesse Shrock. COLUMNISTS: Emily Kelly, Toby McCasker. CONTRIBUTORS: Tyson Wray, Adam Baidawi, Helen Barradell, Matt Bendall, Cam Binger, Graham Blackley, Mary Boukouvalas, Chris Bright, Rose Callaghan, Adam Camilleri, James Carthew, Paige Cho, Stefan Chrisp, Nick Clarke, Talitha Conway, Dave Dawson, John Donaldson, Justin Donnelly, Georgia Doyle, Cam Ewart, Paul Fischer, Lawson Fletcher, Jack Franklin, Danielle Frazzetto, Chris Girdler, Aleisha Hall, Louise Hardwick, Daniel Hedger, Nick Hilton, Lyndon Horsburgh, Briony Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Greg King, Stuart Lynch, Rhys McCrae, Ruth McIver, Adam McKenzie, Kylie McLaughlin, Nick Mason, Tyler Mathes, Anna Megalogenis, Al Newstead, James Nicoli, John O’Rourke, Matt Panag, Jack Parsons, Liam Pieper, Steve Phillips, David Prescott-Steed, James Ridley, Gav Ross, Leigh Salter, Tim Scott, Denis Semchenko, Side Man, Matt Sutherland, Lin Tan, Steve Tauschke, Rene Schaefer, Melanie Sheridan, Jeremy Sheaﬀe, Kelly Theobald, Andrew Tijs, Alistair Wallis, Etienne Waring, Dan Watt, Rod Whitﬁeld, Katie Weiss, Tom Whitty, Cara Williams, Simon Williamson, Bronius Zumeris, Joshua Kloke, Sean Gleeson, Krystal Maynard. © 2011 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.

B I L L I O N S AU ST R A L I A P R E S E N T S

W I T H S P EC I A L G U E S T S D A P P L E D C I T I E S

T U E 2 1 F E B R U A RY

SOLD OUT

PA L AC E T H E AT R E , M E L B O U R N E

W E D 2 2 F E B R U A RY

ON SALE NOW

PA L AC E T H E AT R E , M E L B O U R N E

www.oztix.com.au | www.palace.com.au ARTIST WEBSITE www.deathcabforcutie.com TOUR INFORMATION www.billions.com.au

N E W A L B U M ‘ CO D E S a n d K E Y S’ O U T N OW CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

Beat Magazine Page 15

HOT TALK

THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS

For all the latest news check out beat.com.au

FREE SHIT MARCIA HINES TV Week’s 1976-78 Queen of Pop is going to the Melbourne Zoo! “How does this information concern me?” you may ask: “After all, we live in a liberal-democratic society and she should be free to look at caged primates at a time of her choosing!” Well, she’ll also be singing there on Sunday February 12, and we’ve got three double passes to give away to three lucky readers. Get in quick before those damned baboons snap them all up again. TEX PERKINS AND THE BAND OF GOLD Tex’s latest outfit will be getting hot and messy on Friday February 17, at the renovated Art Deco wonderland that is the Regal Ballroom, right up near the top of Northcote Hill. We’ve got two double passes and maybe we’ll give you one if you say pretty please. JASON LYTLE The former Grandaddy frontman and aficionado of depressed astronauts is coming to Melbourne Town! Returning to the Southern Hemisphere after experimenting with futuristic synthesisers atop his orbital platform on the far side of Neptune, Jason Lytle will be playing two solo sets at the Toff in Town. We’re giving away one double pass to his show on Thursday February 23. BETWEEN THE BAYS Mark Seymour! Jordie Lane! The Ooga Boogas! Custard! No, it’s not a recipe for snot and singer-songwriter dessert, it’s the seventh annual Between the Bays Festival, coming up down in Moorooduc on Saturday February 25. Two double passes for the chosen ones. JORDIE LANE Jordie Lane’s off to Mother America soon, but not before a grand send-off at East Brunswick’s finest Club, The East Brunswick Club. We’ve got two double passes to his show on Friday February 10. HEADPHONES A trusted name in the world of headphones, Jaben Audio aims to be the first (and last) destination for headphone enthusiasts in Australia. With its hand-picked ready to audition range and knowledgeable staff, the Jaben experience is one not to be missed. To celebrate the opening of their new Melbourne store (on Lonsdale St), they’re giving away one pair of “Goldring NS1500” noise cancelling headphones worth $249. To win, head to beat.com.au/free-shit and just tell us what you look for when you’re buying a new pair of headphones. For more info about Jaben Audio visit their website at jaben.com.au. Mustard keen? Head to beat.com.au/freeshit.

XAVIER RUDD One of Australia's most-loved folk sons has announced a massive national tour, with Xavier Rudd celebrating the launch of his new album, Follow The Sun. One of the most hotly anticipated local releases of the year, Follow The Sun marks the culmination of Rudd's decade-long career, one which has seen the Torquayraised performer gain a worldwide reputation. This March will see the ever-chill songwriter wind his way around the country to catch up with friends, catch a few waves, and reconnect with his fans in person, from the stage, where he belongs. Xavier Rudd performs at The Forum on Wednesday March 21.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Death Cab For Cutie are just under two weeks away from the start of their tour of Australia and NZ in support of the fantastic (and grammy nominated) Codes And Keys album. They are very pleased to conﬁrm Dappled Cities as their support in Melbourne. Last November, following on from their appearance on the Harvest Festival, Dappled Cities convened for a series of small Australian dates where they performed their ﬁrst new material in more than three years. This month, Dappled Cities announce the radio release of their brand new single Run With The Wind which will coincide with an Australian tour with cult US band Death Cab For Cutie. The tour will serve as the opening celebration for Dappled Cities’ upcoming campaign on their (as yet untitled) fourth studio album. Death Cab For Cutie play two shows at the Palace Theatre with Dappled Cities in support on Tuesday February 21 and Wednesday February 22, tickets are still available for the latter from Oztix and palace.com.au.

NKOTBSB

ALEKS AND THE RAMPS

Guys, really. We're not playin' game with your heart. Due to an insatiable demand by Melbourne fans for tickets to see New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys, Live Nation are very excited to announce that NKOTBSB will perform an additional show in Melbourne on Friday May 18 at Rod Laver Arena. NKOTBSB ﬁrst shocked and delighted fans when they took to the stage together for a medley at the sold out NKOTB Radio City Music Hall show. The two groups wowed audiences again in their ﬁrst joint televised performance at the American Music Awards in November 2010 and have toured consistently through 2011 since coming together. Tickets for the second Melbourne show go on sale today at 9am from Ticketek.

To celebrate the release of their monumental third album Facts, Aleks And The Ramps will be hitting the road in March to play twelve dates around the country. Armed with their slanted pop treasures, Aleks And The Ramps will be zigzagging their way through the country on the band’s biggest tour yet. Get down to the Northcote Social Club on Friday March 23, tickets are on sale now and are just $12+bf from the venue website or on the door if available.

THE CUBAN BROTHERS Everyone's favourite Central American siblings, The Cuban Brothers are heading back to The Espy to whip you into a frenzy with their zany cabaret on Friday February 24. There are two things The Cuban Brothers do better than absolutely anyone: perform and party. This shizz is a wild act of camp musical theatre serving beats, soul and sex; shaken and stirred. It’s Cuban. It’s cabaret. It’s comedy. It’s damn cool. And the best bit? It's absolutely free.

BLUESFEST Following hard on the heels of last week’s enormous artist announcement comes this wild bunch of killer sideshows. With shows rockin' from coast to coast there’s something for everyone and every taste. Head to the Corner Hotel on Monday April 9 to ﬁve-time Grammy-Award winning musician, actor, artist, acitvist and humanitarian Ziggy Marley's side show, catch the Queen of Southern Soul, Candi Staton when she plays the Toﬀ In Town on Tuesday April 10 and South Africa's premier male recording artist Vusi Mahlasela at the Recital Centre on Thursday April 5. A second show has also been announced for major headliner Steve Earle on Thursday March 29 at the Corner Hotel, as well as new announcements for Joanne Shaw Taylor (with special guests Kenny Wayne Shepherd) and Canned Heat & The Fabulous Thunderbirds also performing at the Corner Hotel on Wednesday April 4 and Sunday April 8. Head to the venue's respective websites for more and info and to purchase tickets.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES

CLAIRY BROWNE AND THE BANGIN' RACKETTES

With their dark-edged punk attitude and cock-rock swagger Black Veil Brides are ready to take their place among the most popular young rock bands in the world today. The hard rock industry is beyond saturation so anything that steers away from the norm seems like a blessing. Their sophomore album Set The World On Fire has alternative press declaring it “Anthemic arena metal that draws equally from '80s (Iron Maiden) and the present day (Avenged Sevenfold)." Black Veil Brides will be playing an all ages show at Thornbury Theatre on Thursday March 1, with tickets on sale on Friday February 3 at 9am from Oztix.

After blowing the roof of the Famous Spiegeltent in Sydney last month, ﬁerce leading lady Clairy Browne and her harmonising gaggle of girls, The Bangin’ Rackettes bring their explosive soul show to the Melbourne Spiegeltent for one night only this Friday February 10, taking you though the hard-hitting sounds of northern soul, jump blues, doo-wop, ska and gospel. Tickets available from artscentremelbourne.com.au.

SAT 11TH FEBRUARY

360

CNR SPRINGVALE & WELLS RD, CHELSEA HEIGHTS PH 9773 4453 WWW.CHELSEAHEIGHTSHOTEL.COM.AU

WITH BAM BAM & JOELISTICS TIX $27

SAT 10TH MARCH

FRI 16TH MARCH

SAT 17TH MARCH

BELINDA CARLISLE

BABY ANIMALS

BRAITHWAITE & MOSS TIX $38

10CC (UK) TIX $55

SEL

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SAT 25TH FEBRUARY

TIX $63

Beat Magazine Page 16

TIX $37

WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV

Justin Townes Earle

HOT TALK

THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS

For all the latest news check out beat.com.au

60 SECONDS WITH…

GRANDE FLASH VS. ALITHIA BOOGIE First up, the sad news – Perth rock 'n' rollers Pond have had to pull out of the upcoming Boogie 6 due to shit starting to blow up for them in the States. The good news – a massive second batch of artists has been served up on the already-impressive bill. Following on from last year's psuedo-supergroup Rogers, Kent, Hopkinson, Lane & Friends comes The Superholics – an outﬁt consisting of Beau Campbell from Front End Loader, Jamie Cibej from Bluejuice, some chap called Kram and another guy about town called Dan Sultan. Nice! Also joining in on the action will be the incredible talents of My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, performing tracks from his Yim Yames, MMJ, Monsters Of Folk, and whatever other bodies of work he fancies. If that wasn't enough, Dead Meadow, Eileen Jewel, Dawes, Pink Mountaintops, The Rubens, The Gooch Palms and Sures will also be gracing Tallarook with their presence. These acts join Justin Townes Earle, Royal Headache, James Reyne, Lanie Lane, AC/DSHE, Snakadaktal, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizzard, Bittersweet Kicks, Baptism Of Uzi, Merri Creek Pickers and Love Migrate. Boogie 6 takes place at Bruzzy's farm, Tallarook on April 6-8.

UNDERGROUND LOVERS With overwhelming reviews for the Wonderful Things: Retrospective release in November 2011, Melbourne’s legendary undergroundLOVERS are playing one last show in Melbourne, before bunkering down in the studio to ﬁnish recording a new batch of songs. See them at The Northcote Social Club on Saturday February 18, performing rare album tracks and b-sides that have never been played before, along with a taste of some of the new material set to come, and pick up your copy of Wonderful Things: Retrospective double album (Rubber Records through CoOperative Music) at the show. The undergroundLOVERS play the Northcote Social Club on Saturday February 8, tickets are on sale now and available from northcotesocialclub.com and the Corner Box Oﬃce.

BROKEN STONE RECORDS SHOWCASE The Broken Stone Records touring showcase of music and mixed media rolls into town next week, featuring live performances from Sister Jane, Caitlin Park, Magnetic Heads and The Maple Trail. The bands’ performances will be accompanied by live footage VJing and projections of their video clips. An exciting display of artworks created as part of Broken Stone’s recording releases (including sculptural work used in ﬁlm clips, photographs from live shows and illustrative cover art) will be on show in the venue space for audiences to explore. It happens at Horse Bazaar on Sunday February 19. There is also a regional, free, all-ages show at the Kyneton Town Hall on Saturday February 18 featuring artist talks and live acoustic performances.

NICK LOWE Enduring musician, master songwriter, band leader-comesolo artist and producer. 62-year-old Nick Lowe is critically praised and followed by a devoted audience, and luckily for us, he has confirmed a second and final Melbourne show when he heads to Australia for a national tour next month. There are limited tickets available for his first show at the Forum Theatre on Thursday March 22 and a second show has just been announced at the same venue on Friday March 23. Tickets are on sale from 9am Monday February 13.

WILL & THE PEOPLE Will And The People are a collective of people who have decided to play and make music together forever. They are perfect for main stages at festivals, living rooms, sweaty packed pubs and clubs at 3am, in tents, fast cars, slow cars, and on boats and in the morning sun with a Bloody Mary. They all write songs and then play reggae, pop, grunge, ska and house, four to the ﬂoor and mix them all together. Catch them at The Toﬀ In Town on Saturday March 3.

UNEARTH Unearth proudly stand at the forefront of modern metal leaving a trail of mosh pit devastation in their wake. Unearth have delivered their most compelling statement with their ﬁfth full length Darkness In Light driving a ﬁst into the collective gut of every image-obsessed wannabe metal band currently cluttering up the landscape. Unearth set the new standard. Experience it live at their Sidewave taking place at The Espy on Tuesday February 28, with support from Kittie and Heaven Shall Burn.

BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY A second Melbourne show has been announced for folk/country royalty Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. The 'Prince' has amassed a catalogue of some 12 studio albums, all weirdly inventive takes on the roots genre: countrywestern, bluegrass, Appalachian folk, which has seen cover versions from the likes of Johnny Cash, Cat Power and Mark Lanegan and the list of renowned public admirers would ﬁll a press release on its own. The new show is happening at the Regal Ballroom on Thursday March 8, with tickets on sale from webtickets. com, Polyester Records (City and Fitzroy), Thornbury Records and Basement Discs. You can also see the Prince on Friday March 9 at the National Theatre, with tickets available from Ticketek and the venue box oﬃce. Both shows are selling fast, so get in quick.

So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? GF: Grande Flash. We started from Chico Flash, and invited musos that we like combining drums, bass, guitar, violin, sax and flute! A: I'm the video guitarist from AlithiA. I cue and mix live video using a custom made guitar and software. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? GF: According to the zeitgeist, we sound like an amalgamation of the Top 5 songs from the latest Hottest 100. A: People say we sound like being on acid. What do you love about making music? GF: It's fun. It can take you places, sometimes not very nice places, like Frankston. I don't believe in the mysticism of energy passing through you, but I do believe that Iggy Pop is some sort of seraphim. A: Projecting visual ideas and feelings to music. What do you hate about the music industry? GF: Nothing. It’s in a very interesting state of flux at the moment. A: Record companies suing poor teenagers for downloading music. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? GF: I’d show a Triceratops what we do. Maybe get a T-Rex on congas. A: Andy Warhol. He was so into video, film and computers. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? GF: I don't want to kill anyone, but I’d ask Nova’s programming director why they play the same 10 songs all day, every day. A: I wouldn't assassinate anyone. I’d just turn off the radio. What can a punter expect from your live show? GF: Some very talented musicians displaying their craft, and me giggling behind them with my wahwah pedal. A: Epic ethereal space anthems from our blood, sweat and sacrifice. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? GF: Nothing yet, but on YouTube there’s a clip that’s different to what we do. A: Two EPs A Realm O Null and The Rising. When’s the gig and with who? Thursday February 9 at the Workers Club with Grande Flash, AlithiA, Vultures of Venus, and National Airlines. Anything else to add? GF: If you have a friend who's a musician, support them. They're only trying to make this world a better place. A: 2012 AlithiA Europe tour.

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60 SECONDS WITH… TIMOTHY CANNON BAND So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? The band name is the incredibly unimaginative Timothy Cannon Band. I write the tunes, play the acoustic guitar and warble, and the rest of the lads make the songs actually sound good by adding their magical instrumental superpowers to the mix. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? I'm not afraid to wear my inﬂuences on my sleeve. David Gray is a huge one. There's a touch of Bright Eyes, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, and a huge dollop of Steve Poltz (just to name a few). What do you love about making music? Making it with this band. They are the goshdarndest best band in the universe, and a brilliant bunch of mates.

GRAVEYARD TRAIN

THE ORBWEAVERS The Orbweavers return to Northcote Social Club for an encore matinee show on Sunday February 12, with special guest Yuko Kono. The Orbweavers’ latest album Loom has warmed many hearts with evocative songs of local creeks and quarries (Merri), the yearnings of a bridled greyhound (You Can Run - Fern’s Theme), volcanoes (Japanese Mountains) and historic sewerage pumping stations (Spotswood). Loom is out now through Mistletone Records. Tickets are $10+bf or $15 on the door, available for purchase at northcotesocialclub. com.

THE BARONS OF TANG Join the world’s leading exponents of gypsy deathcore The Barons Of Tang in a showdown to the death with Surf’n’Western cowboys Mikelangelo & The Tin Star for the second last night at The East on Tuesday February 28. Accordions will bellow, guitars will twang, blood will be split, and Go Girl Gadget Go Go! will dance up a crazy Go Go frenzy. Miss this gig at your own peril.

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After a huge summer festival season (Meredith, Pyramid, Peat’s Ridge, Woodford) Graveyard Train return home to Melbourne for two cracking local shows this week. Thursday February 9 they’re at the world famous, world-travelling Spiegeltent, and on Saturday February 11 they’re playing at Brunswick’s stationary but no less charming Phoenix Public House. Graveyard Train are in the midst of recording a new album and will be showcasing a bunch of tunes from it, as well as rolling out all the old boot stompers.

THE RAY MANN THREE In September 2011, Australian soul singer/songwriter Ray Mann relocated to Berlin and began recording and releasing his new album Sketches, online, one track at a time. Instead of disappearing for 12 months and then resurfacing with a ﬁnished album, Ray is exploring the interactive realms of the internet by completing each song – and its accompanying video – online, month-to-month, with audience participation. 12 songs, 12 months. Forsaking the glitz and glamour of Berlin, the Ray Mann Three will be heading back home for a string of intimate shows along the east coast to showcase the Sketches project thus far. Don’t miss their gig at Melbourne’s The Toﬀ in Town on Thursday March 1. Tickets are available through Moshtix.

What do you hate about the music industry? Hate is a strong word, but I really loathe artiﬁcial hype. To me, music is just a simple, natural thing that we all have in common. More often than not, a gig is just a gig and song is just a song, and an album is just an album. It's not always “OMG the best thing ever!”, and it shouldn't have to be.

THUNDER ROAD Back by popular demand, Thunder Road are bringing their amazing three hour Springsteen show to the Corner Hotel once again. For any Springsteen fan in town make sure you pencil in Saturday March 3, as a night like this doesn’t come around very often for lovers of the Boss. Thunder Road are without doubt Australia’s number one Bruce Springsteen show. Formed in 2010, featuring a lineup of seasoned and professional musicians and a repertoire of over 35 songs, Thunder Road is dedicated to enjoying and sharing Bruce’s music in a live setting. Featuring a full seven piece E street style backing band, including saxaphone, piano, hammond, guitars, bass and drums – Thunder Road deliver the full Springsteen show like no one else. Come witness it for yourself on Saturday March 3 at the Corner Hotel from 8.30pm, tickets are $20 and available on the door.

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If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? If I could travel back in time, I'd just try to sit in on any Beatles recording session ever. I doubt I'd show my stuff to them though - might as well show them some finger painting! If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Call me controversial, but I've been a fairly staunch antiassassinationist for quite a while now. What can a punter expect from your live show? Everything from quiet-as-a-mouse acoustic murmuring, to big-loud-obnoxious rock posturing. Hopefully you'll also have your brain prodded, and your heart-strings unashamedly yanked. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? It's our debut album - Sleeping On The Shoulders Of Giants – which we recorded last year, and which is now finally available in the actual physical universe. When’s the gig and with who? 3pm, Sunday February 12 at the Toff In Town.

TEX PERKINS AND THE BAND OF GOLD The Band Of Gold is Tex Perkins and Rachael Tidd on vocals, bassist Steve Hadley, guitarists Shane Reilly, and Dave Folley on drums. These fine folk became a unit by chance, bound by much-lauded deeds performed in the hit stage concert The Man In Black. After more than a year of relentless roving together these five souls found themselves locked tight in a kind of musical shorthand. So when talk of recording began, it was the briefest of chinwags that prompted the making of this album. The result is as close as you’ll get to having The Band Of Gold in your lounge room and calling the tunes yourself. Warm, authentic and uncovered together, this is a crack team of music-makers clocked off and kicking back. Come catch this legendary man and his Band Of Gold when they play the Spiegeltent on Thursday February 16 and the Regal Ballroom, Northcote on Friday 17. Tickets are available from the venues’ respective websites.

60 SECONDS WITH…

HOT TALK

BLANCHE DUBOIS So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? We’re called Blanche DuBois and I’m Adriana Begovich, the guitarist/vocalist. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? Our latest record Young Heart drew a lot of comparisons to Sarah Blasko’s earlier stuff. People have also always compared us to The Waifs – but I think that’s mainly because we’re sisters and we’re also from WA. What do you love about making music? We tend to write a lot about personal experiences, so it’s quite cathartic a lot of the time. I love that – it’s a good release and it’s always nice to write stuff people can relate to. What do you hate about the music industry? Overtly sexual top 40 female artists get my goat. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Jeff Buckley – because he was absolutely amazing, and I’d love a date. That is all. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why?

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I’m a lover, not a fighter – so I don’t feel I can answer this question! Although there are a few top 40 female artists who need some singing lessons… What can a punter expect from your live show? Whilst Blanche DuBois is just my sister and I, we’ll be playing with our live band at this show – so expect a bunch of lovely boys on keys, electric guitar, bass and drums playing songs from our latest record Young Heart as well as a few oldies and some embarrassing covers. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Young Heart is our latest record – released Friday January 20 – it’s 12 songs about love, loss, life and stuff like that. When’s the gig and with who? Saturday February 11 at The Toff in Town – we’re playing with Melbourne’s Emmy Bryce and Sydney’s Jack Carty. Anything else to add? We hope to be back again in Melbourne for more shows soon – but people should come see us now in case we can’t afford it! The cost of domestic travel in this country is ridiculous!

THE SMOKING HEARTS As if the already huge bill of Underoath and Dream On, Dreamer wasn’t enough to get punk fans into a frenzy, the contenders for ‘Kings of British Punk, The Smoking Hearts, have been added to this massive Sidewave. It’s taking place on Monday February 27 at The Hi-Fi.

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MESA COSA The Infernal Cakewalk EP is Mesa Cosa’s first solid release after a limited (yet ravenously devoured) cassette last year. Pressed into ten inches of sleek black vinyl, the ICW EP offers seven of Mesa Cosa’s most enigmatic fist-pumping garage songs from their huge ouvre. They’re having a launch party at The Tote on Friday February 24 featuring The Murlocs and Chook Race. You should probably head along.

THE TOFF NATIONAL SLAM DAY In support of National SLAM day, the Toff In Town is proud to present a massive night of Melbourne’s most chaotic bands featuring The UV Race, Bitch Prefect and Repairs. The full-length debut masterpiece from Melbourne avanttard six piece UV Race, follows two limited-edition (and now highly sought after) 7” singles released here and in the USA, and has fulfilled the potential only hinted at on those EPs. Produced by Mikey Young of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, it brings to mind some of the cornerstones of mid ‘70s proto-punk (Modern Lovers, Gizmos, Electric Eels and the like), the UV Race likewise avoid rote punk trappings with their sophisticated use of piano and saxophone, and the over-riding presence of singer Marcus’ introverted musings on life as a small town misfit. His sincerity and unconventionality is what makes the UV Race truly compelling listening. Head down to the Toff In Town on Thursday February 23 to watch them tear up the joint, with help from Bitch Prefect and Repairs. Tickets are on sale now from Moshtix, Polyester Records (city) and on the door if available.

THE GIN CLUB, TEXAS TEA Two of the country’s ﬁnest bands are heading out on the road in March for a co-headline launch tour. Launching a brand new live album and a new ﬂexi-disc single respectively, legendary nine-piece collective The Gin Club and two-piece alt-country kids Texas Tea will be hitting the John Curtin Hotel on Saturday March 31 in a folk/country/rock celebration.

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TOURING

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INTERNATIONAL ROGER WATERS Rod Laver Arena February 8, 10, 11 INCUBUS Festival Hall February 8 TORO Y MOI, WASHED OUT The Hi-Fi February 9 GIVERS, PORTUGAL THE MAN Corner Hotel February 9 AA Workers Club February 13 CORNERSHOP Prince Bandroom February 16 ROD STEWART Rod Laver Arena February 17, Hanging Rock February 18 LA DISPUTE Corner Hotel February 18, 19 DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE The Palace February 21, 22 JASON LYTLE The Toﬀ In Town February 22 GAME Festival Hall February 22 ROXETTE Rod Laver Arena February 22 ERYKAH BADU Palais Theatre February 22 DAN MANGAN Northcote Social Club February 22 MURDER BY DEATH Hi-Fi Bar February 23 THE CUBAN BROTHERS The Espy February 24 ATTACK! ATTACK! The Espy February 27 MASTODON Billboard February 27 BAD RELIGION The Palace February 27 UNDEROATH The Hi-Fi Bar February 27 THE SISTERS OF MERCY Corner Hotel February 28, March 1 BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, HELL YEAH, BLACK TIDE AND HOLY GRAIL The Forum February 28 UNEARTH The Espy February 28 ENTER SHIKARI Billboard February 28 MACHINE HEAD Palace Theatre February 28 FOUR YEAR STRONG, I AM THE AVALANCHE, FIREWORKS AND CONDITIONS Hi-Fi Bar February 28 HATEBREED Hi-Fi Bar February 29 DEVIN TOWNSEND, MESHUGGAH DREDGE The Forum February 29 MAYER HAWTHORNE Corner Hotel February 29 THURSDAY, SAVES THE DAY Billboard February 29 SYSTEM OF A DOWN Rod Laver Arena February 29 STEEL PANTHER, ALTER BRIDGE The Palace February 29 UNWRITTEN LAW, ZEBRAHEAD AND ROYAL REPUBLIC The Espy February 29 MEN Phoenix Public House March 1 SLIPKNOT Rod Laver Arena March 1 BLACK VEIL BRIDES Thornbury Theatre March 1 NEW ORDER Festival Hall March 1

CATHEDRAL, PARADISE LOST, TURISAS The Espy March 1 HYRO DA HERO Laundry Bar March 1 LOSTPROPHETS Billboard March 1 BUSH/STAIND The Palace March 1 ANGELS & AIRWAVES The Forum March 1 SOUNDWAVE Melbourne Showgrounds March 2 PLAYGROUND WEEKENDER Wisemen’s Ferry March 2 - March 4 LANA DEL REY The Toﬀ In Town March 3 RYAN ADAMS Regent Theatre March 3 ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI Corner Hotel March 4 BEN KWELLER The Hi-Fi March 5 URGE OVERKILL The Espy March 6 THE RAPTURE, AZARI & III The Forum March 6 BLACK LIPS Corner Hotel March 7 MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA The Hi-Fi March 7 CHIC Billboard March 7 BON IVER Sidney Myer Music Bowl March 8 URGE OVERKILL The Espy March 8 BONOBO Corner Hotel March 5, 8 ADAM COHEN Regal Ballroom March 9 WILD FLAG Corner Hotel March 9 BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY Regal Ballroom March 8, National Theatre March 9 ROOTS MANUVA Prince Bandroom March 10 ENDLESS BOOGIE The Tote March 10 GOLDEN PLAINS Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre March 10-12 FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL Flemington Racecourse March 11 REAL ESTATE Corner Hotel March 12 FIRST AID KIT Famous Spiegeltent March 12, The Corner March 14 ROKY ERICKSON Corner Hotel March 13 TAYLOR SWIFT Rod Laver Arena March 13 ST. VINCENT Hi-Fi Bar March 14 AQUA The Palace March 13, March 15 LENNY KRAVITZ, THE CRANBERRIES Sidney Myer Music Bowl March 17, 18 A DAY ON THE GREEN All Saint’s Estate Rutherglen March 17 ONE PERFECT DAY South Gippsland March 17 CHARLES BRADLEY Corner Hotel March 18 BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB Corner Hotel March 20 TIM MCGRAW, FAITH HILL Rod Laver Arena March 20 ELBOW Festival Hall March 21

ROOTS MANUVA Prince Bandroom, March 10 DURAN DURAN March 21 NICK LOWE The Forum March 22, 33 ELECTRELANE Corner Hotel March 23 JAMES WALSH The Espy March 23 BORIS Corner Hotel March 24 EVANESCENCE Rod Laver Arena March 24 JOHN FOGERTY Rod Laver Arena March 27 WOODEN SHJIPS Corner Hotel March 28 CROSBY, STILLS & NASH Palais Theatre March 29 STEVE EARLE Corner Hotel March 29, 30 G3 Palais Theatre March 31, April 1 DEAD MEADOW Corner Hotel April 1 LUCINDA WILLIAMS Palais Theatre April 2 BRIAN SETZER’S ROCKABILLY RIOT The Palace April 3 BLITZEN TRAPPER Prince Bandroom April 3 THE POGUES Festival Hall April 4 MY MORNING JACKET The Palace April 4 YANN TIERSEN Recital Centre April 4 CANNED HEAT Corner Hotel April 4 BYRON BAY BLUESFEST Byron Bay April 5-9 TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE The Corner April 7 NEW FOUND GLORY, TAKING BACK SUNDAY Festival Hall April 8 THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS Corner Hotel April 8 SUBLIME Palace Theatre April 9 ZIGGY MARLEY Corner Hotel April 9 SEASICK STEVE Corner Hotel April 10 CANDI STATON Toﬀ In Town April 10 JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE Prince Bandroom April 12 PETER HOOK The Palace April 12 LOU BARLOW Northcote Social Club April 17, April 18 HENRY ROLLINS The National Theatre April 18, 19 SUPAFEST TBA April 21 DIG IT UP! HOODOO GURUS INVITATIONAL The Palace April 25 THE EXPLOITED Corner Hotel April 28 CHERRY ROCK Cherry Bar April 29 THE MOUNTAIN GOATS Corner Hotel May 10 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK/BACKSTREET BOYS Rod Laver Arena May 18, 19 FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE Rod Laver Arena May 20 MELISSA ETHERIDGE The Plenary July 15

NATIONAL ST KILDA FESTIVAL St Kilda February 8 – 13 PHIL JAMIESON Northcote Social Club February 10 JORDIE LANE East Brunswick Club February 10 SLEEPMAKESWAVES The Espy February 10, The Evelyn February 11 THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS Melbourne Zoo February 11 GRAVEYARD TRAIN Phoenix Public House February 11 ANTISKEPTIC The Northcote Social Club February 11 MARCIA HINES Melbourne Zoo February 12 THE NECKS Corner Hotel February 13, 14, 15 GENNY B FUNDRAISER Corner Hotel February 16 RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL Echuca-Moama February 17-10 ROCK THE BAY The Espy February 18 BETWEEN THE BAYS Penbank Morning Peninsula February 25 LAST DINOSAURS The Toﬀ February 28 LIOR Melbourne Zoo March 3 CHILDREN COLLIDE Ferntree Gully Hotel March 9, Pelly Bar March 10, Karova Lounge March 12 and Corner Hotel April 13 360 Corner Hotel March 10 HOLLY THROSBY Famous Spiegeltent March 11 PUSH OVER Abbotsford Convent March 12 DIRTY THREE The Palace March 16 THE BEARDS Corner Hotel March 16 SNAKADAKTAL Northcote Social Club March 16, 17 CLARKEFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL Clarkeﬁeld March 18 XAVIER RUDD The Forum March 21. BODYJAR, ANTISKEPTIC, ONE DOLLAR SHORT Corner Hotel March 31 BALL PARK MUSIC The Corner April 14 JOHN BUTLER The Hi-Fi Bar April 24

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ST KILDA FESTIVAL The ST KILDA FESTIVFAL is Victoria’s largest annual free community event, kicking off last week with its huge grassroots Live and Local program and Indigenous festival, Yalukit Willam Ngargee, and continuing throughout this week, ending with a massive music extravaganza this Sunday February 12. If you head down this weekend, you can see all of these bands for free: Sneaky Sound System, Stonefield, British India, Boom Crash Opera, Blue King Brown, Miami Horror DJs, World’s End Press, Alpine, Harry James Angus Band, Big Scary, Busby Marou, Lady Lash, Owl Eyes, The Vaudeville Smash, Archie Roach, The ReChords and heaps, heaps more. Phew. All in all there’s more than 150 artists performing across 7 stages and at more than 40 St Kilda venues throughout the nine days. Head to stkildafestival.com.au for the full lineup, timetables, band information, forums, bits and bobs.

STONEFIELD BY DAN WATT

It’s hard to imagine that Victorian band Stonefield, that’s members range from 13-21 years of age, could be ‘veterans’ of St Kilda Festival, but as lead singer and drummer Amy Findlay explains, they are. “I guess you could say we’ve kind of grown up as a band at St Kilda Festival!” explains a genuinely excited Findlay. “In 2010 we played on The Push stage through a Freeza thing for younger bands, last year we played on the New Music stage on Acland Street and this year we’re doing the main stage down on the foreshore. So it’s really exciting to play there again and again, to progress each year!” Amy Findlay is the eldest of the four Findlay sisters with Hannah on guitar, Sarah Keyboards and Holly, the youngest, on bass. To gain insight into Stonefield’s dynamic and to have a wee bit of fun, Findlay is asked to describe herself and her sisters as though they were super heroes. “I’m the organisational freak one – my power would be to make everything make sense and work. Hannah is super serious, super professional, I’m not sure what power that would be but super cool,” with Findlay searching for a manifestation of her sister’s super cool and controlled demeanor it is suggested that some kind of ice related power. “Yeah something like an ice power, yeah that makes sense. Now, Sarah is like the super funny super hero. And Holly is a crazy party animal… super hero,” Amy giggles. Coming back to the topic of St Kilda Festival, Findlay discloses that since last year’s festival appearance she has moved to the bayside suburb and loves it. Living closer to Carlisle Street in St Kilda East, Findlay talks about one of her favourite places to go. “Los Chicas just near Balaclava

station is my favourite place to eat in East St Kilda.” Los Chicas is a very popular café renowned for its coffee but is infamous for its long waits to get a table. “They have awesome food – I don’t actually drink coffee but I know that it is known for that. But the food is pretty good. I’ve been lucky every time I have gone and got a table pretty much straight away.” Since breaking through into the rock’n’roll mainstream after winning triple j’s Unearthed High in 2010 and the runaway success of the single Through The Clover Stonefield have had many highlights with 2011 being a particularly strong year for the band. It started off with a raved about performance and Victoria’s super cred Boogie Festival and then peaked with a performance at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival. Findlay talks about the band’s Glastonbury experience. “It was so good. Both our parents came over with us and we all had such a good time. “Backstage at Glastonbury was very professional but chilled out at the same time, if that makes sense. The whole backstage set up was pretty strict but you step out from backstage and everyone is just chilled out and having a good time – we found that out in the actual festival was the best place to be!” However, with hype and success comes the pressure to follow it up with more quality releases. Talking to Findlay, one realises that Stonefield, despite their age, are an extremely professional outfit – four young people with the

drive to become adept in all aspects of the professional recording industry. The band is just weeks away from releasing a new six track mini-album. Findlay discusses the mini-album and its producer Lindsay Gravina, who as in-house producer at Melbourne’s Birdland Studios has produced a multitude of successful Australian bands from The Living End, Magic Dirt and Spiderbait. “His biggest influence is probably teaching us to listen to mixes properly. He’s just really taken the time to make sure everything is done properly and explore all options and not just whack down your first idea and get the best out of the song.” Off this forthcoming mini-album, there is one song that animates Findlay because of its left-of-centre atmosphere. “Ruby Skies is the song from the forthcoming EP that I am particularly excited about. I just like that it’s more experimental and not so typical. We’re doing a thing where the melody will be guitar and vocals doubled and then in the chorus I going to do some vocal layering and a heap of harmonies. I’m going to try and find some delays and stuff to put on the vocals and just experiment a bit more.” For those planning to see Stonefield at St Kilda Festival there will be two new songs included in the set, “We will be playing the two songs from the mini-album Bad Reality and Move Out Of My Shadow!” STONEFIELD play at 1.15pm on the Main Stage at St Kilda Foreshore. Entry is free.

HARRY JAMES ANGUS BAND BY JAMES W NICOLI

“The last time I played at St Kilda Festival was with Jackson Jackson and it was the day of the bushfires, and it was a strange feeling,” recounts Harry James Angus. “It was hot and everyone just heard that something was happening out in the hills, you know such a strange vibe. So hopefully this will be a bit more fun than last time.” The Melbourne based musician has got to be one of the busiest and most productive in town. Alongside Jackson Jackson and The Cat Empire, one of his newest projects is the Harry James Angus Band, and it’s in this incarnation he will be taking to the stage at this year’s festival. Despite the slightly tainted memories of the last time he played, the festival and indeed the entire St Kilda area still hold a special place in his heart. “I grew up on the south side of town and kind of spent a lot of time in St Kilda,” he remembers of the good old days. “We used to play on Acland Street in a café, we played out on the street on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and it was an amazing time. That was a few years ago now but there were so many people coming through that street on the weekend. Like we’d sometimes have the whole street filled with people and across the other side of the road, an amazing outdoor musical vibe. You don’t see it so much these days, but I guess you’ve got to just take the opportunity to bring it out of the woodwork again.” For a time, St Kilda was the beating heart of Melbourne’s live music scene and its venues dominated the pub circuit. Over the last decade however, for some reason or another the suburb has lost its reputation as the musical capitol to the north side and has been in a steady decline since. Angus however still has many great memories from those good old days. “Yeah it’s true, it’s a fact that St Kilda is really struggling for bands to play. There’s not much space for it these days and the St Kilda Festival is a big reminder of how much of Melbourne’s musical history is actually wrapped up in St Kilda. You know, St Kilda is the birthplace of so much of Melbourne’s rock and roll and a place where everything I’ve been involved in started there, and I think that spirit’s still there it’s just, you know, it needs a little tweak. The St Kilda Festival is probably one of the last remnants of that.” The St Kilda Festival has certainly come alive in recent years and is one of the very best summer excursions – one that won’t cost you hundreds of dollars. It’s firmly established itself as a quintessential summer outing hosting a variety of bands, covering just about every genre. The Harry James Angus Band will be soothing attendees with their jazz songs taken from the golden age of the 1920s and ‘30s. For a trumpet player like Angus, it was only a matter of time before jazz music made an impact on him. “I wouldn’t say I fell in love with jazz at first it was just something, I guess my deeper appreciation for music came over time and just learning about the amazing qualities of improvisation. And improvisation is something I’m very passionate about and you know jazz is obviously the 20th Century’s vehicle for Beat Magazine Page 22

improvised music. Jazz is such a broad world of music. The history, which is 100 years old, and one of the reasons this band concentrates on songs from kind of the first half of the century, kind of pre-World War II, is because I feel like that was the time there was a very strong sense of song, as well as a sense of the improvisation around the song.” Being in so many different musical projects, The Harry James Angus band offers a different approach to his craft and just as importantly, a sense of fun.“In some ways there’s no denying that the music of that era has a much higher level of craftsmanship and requires a much higher level of skill to play,” he admits. “The music itself is fun; you know that’s something I like about it. So few, so little music in the modern era has that kind of unashamed feeling of, I guess you’d just call it like joy. Like it’s joyful music. It’s innocent you know, it’s almost naïve because it was okay to stand up on stage and be like happy.” It sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a lazy summer’s afternoon in St Kilda. HARRY JAMES ANGUS BAND play at 7.15pm on the O’Donnell Gardens stage.

PLAYING TIMES - MAIN STAGE 12.15PM – 12.45PM THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH 1.15PM – 2.00PM STONEFIELD 2.30PM – 3.15PM ARCHIE ROACH 3.45PM – 4.30PM BOOM CRASH OPERA 5.00PM – 5.45PM BLUE KING BROWN 6.15PM – 7.15PM BRITISH INDIA 7.45PM – 8.45PM SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM 9.15PM – 10.00PM MIAMI HORROR DJS

DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION

Lyrebird presents

ONE PERFECT DAY MOSSVALE PARK

Fu llll u F lin e up i nte u p lou t Noo wu! w

THE DIRTY THREE CHARLES BRADLEY AND HIS EXTRAORDINAIRES THE BAMBOOS ERIC BIBB WITH STEFAN ASTNER BEN SOLLEE SAL KIMBER AND THE ROLLIN WHEEL LIZ STRINGER AND VAN WALKER KRYSTLE WARREN AHAB

Mossvale Park, Leongatha, South Gippsland.

Saturday March 17, 2012

ARTISTS INCLUDE Baaba Maal Senegal Mad Professor UK Dirty Three Australia Tété Senegal/France Pajama Club New Zealand Joe Bataan & The I Like It Like That Orchestra Philippines/USA/Australia Tinariwen Mali Penguin Cafe UK Toninho Ferragutti Brazil The Bombay Royale Australia Electric Wire Hustle New Zealand Lo’Jo France Eddi Reader Scotland Staff Benda Bilili Democratic Republic of Congo Groundation Jamaica/USA Chic USA Grace Barbé Seychelles/Australia DJ Krush Japan Kimmo Pohjonen Finland Shane Howard Australia Gurrumul Australia The Pitts Family Circus Australia Nano Stern & the Sindicato Chile Mo’ Horizons Germany Cambodian Space Project Cambodia/Australia Frigg Finland/Norway La Voce Della Luna Italy/Australia Anda Union China Pascals Japan Narasirato Solomon Islands Chris Finnen Australia TORI Ensemble Korea Bunna Lawrie Australia Sivouplait Japan Shantala Shivalingappa India Tenzin Choegyal & Monks of TIBET Tibet/Australia Picture Box Orchestra Australia/UK/Pakistan ... PLUS: KidZone, Taste the World, a Global Village, visual arts, street theatre and so much more!

Tickets and information www.lyrebirdartscouncil.com.au

G ro u p g B o o ki nn ts d i s coSuOF 6+

GROUP FRIDAY CLOSE RUARY 24 FEB 2012

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Fri 9 - Mon 12 March 2012 Botanic Park Adelaide BOOK AT WOMADELAIDE.COM.AU

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Beat Magazine Page 21

THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN

What do Sofia Coppola and Toadie from Neighbours have in common? They’re both shit actors. However, whilst her performance in The Godfather III was panned, Coppola’s filmmaking career is widely applauded. Though her two most recent films, 2006’s Marie Antoinette and 2010’s Somewhere were criticallyacclaimed, Rooftop Cinema will be showcasing my two favourite films in her oeuvre – The Virgin Suicides and Lost In Translation. The latter is a stunningly enchanting film and stars the wryly hilarious Bill Murray, who’s a fucking legend. The Virgin Suicides is on at Rooftop Cinema (order the sangria) on Saturday February 11 and Lost In Translation is on Sunday February 12.

ON STAGE

Set in a Melbourne in the near future following mass flooding, TWO BY TWO is the tale of a couple and a sick woman who have been denied passage on Noah’s Ark. The play explores their final moments as the trio fight over the one thing that could get them a ticket – a baby, found floating in the water. Inspired by the Noah’s Ark story, TWO BY TWO features a bold design evoking a slowly flooding room, and explores what it would be like to be left behind, and how it feels to be pushed to the margins of society. Winner of the 2011 Malcolm Robertson Prize, it’s on at fortyfivedownstairs from this Thursday February 9.

ON DISPLAY The National Gallery of Victoria are exhibiting free late night showcases of their brand new contemporary project space. Drop by after hours to view Ranjani Shettar’s amazing Dewdrops And Sunshine exhibition, smash a drink and listen in on a free talk. Shettar transforms natural phenomena into magical forms, further exploring his interest in the relationship between water and light to living things. The six sculptures, from 2003 to the present, examine natural phenomena such as the kinetic response of plants in the presence of sunlight, the human sneeze as a response to bright light, the interaction between water and sunlight and the fluorescence of fireflies – elegantly giving form to the complexity of nature. It’s on Thursday February 9, with speaker Alex Baker. The gallery and bar open 5pm–7.30pm, free talk begins at 6pm.

BEAT’S PICK OF THE WEEK:

Interrogating society, politics and the world of art, Sydney-based artist, lecturer and curator Oliver Watts’ concern with the representations of history is something that runs through much of his work. Beginning with loaded events and images that span politics, religion and sport, Watts explores the oft-underestimated role of art in understanding and challenging the frameworks that support social relationships. Upcoming exhibition Kafka’s Painter uses seminal novella The Trial as a starting point for such explorations — re-imagining and reappropriating the work of Titorelli, the court, and sometime landscape, painter. The results are deeply moving, rich and complex paintings — the exhibition begins at Helen Gory Galerie from Wednesday February 8 – Saturday March 3.

Beat Magazine Page 24

THE SLICKMAN A4 QUOTATION EVENT BY NICK TARAS “It might just be another case of the world needing the artist to die before they can look ‘em in the face,” remarks John Hand, a passionate participator in the Slickman A4 Quotation Event — a yearly celebration in which fans in hundreds of cities worldwide write quotes from the novels of American expatriate author Russell Hoban on yellow A4 paper and spread them throughout cafés, train stations, libraries, zoos and more. Hoban, who passed away in December last year, was a maverick writer who fascinated readers with his complex and highly-imaginative tales filled with words that seemingly invite self-realisation within the reader. His ability to shun literary tradition and form his own unique blend of magical realism and fantasy, whilst resulting in neglect from the academic world, received much praise from critics, readers and fellow authors. Hoban found commercial success (mostly with his children books) but the level of popularity of his novels, however, was not proportionate to the brilliance of his writing. “Who really knows?” questions Hand on the topic of his relative lack of popularity. “It might be because there’s nothing obviously common to all his books — he has such a range of ideas and weirdnesses that anyone trying to ‘sell’ him haven’t a clue where to start. The result seems to have been different Hoban books gaining their own cult audiences. Riddley Walker, for example, is huge in the sci-fi community, while The Mouse And His Child became a children’s literature phenomenon even though it wasn’t written for children specifically... It should be said, though, that his work for children — especially his strange and powerful picture books — are hugely loved, especially in the USA and the UK.” The Slickman A4 Quotation Event (SA4QE), now in its tenth year, is celebrated worldwide on the birth date of Russell Hoban. Anyone can participate; it simply involves writing a quote from one of his novels on a neatly-folded piece of yellow A4 paper (a motif in his books) and leaving it in a public place for someone else to pick up and be inspired or intrigued. “I’ll be doing lots of 4Qating (fork-you-ate-ing), mainly in the CBD — cafes, libraries, a tango hall if I can find one. Usually it’s one or two quotes a year for me but it’s the tenth anniversary this year, and the first SA4QE since Hoban’s death, so I’ll be going for 44. And probably continuing into the next week.

“At least one Melburnian has been involved since the beginning, and she tends to focus her 4Qating on the underground City Loop train stations, as the London Tube is a recurring Hoban theme. There are those who 4Qate every year — the State Library and the hipster end of Chapel St have been done repeatedly — and don’t announce it on the website, and some who do. Their quotes are always intriguing. And it’s all over Australia — Toowoomba, Sydney, Bendigo. Actually it’s all over the world, at least 14 countries so far. In London they go all out and make a day of it, going to places out of the stories and reliving/re-enacting scenes — generally initiating as many passers-by into the cult as possible. Someone was going to bury themselves in the mud on the bank of the Thames and pretend to be the (severed) head of Orpheus. There are also Christo-inspired plans to cover public monuments and train platforms with yellow paper.” Hoban himself once sorrowfully admitted that perhaps his death would be a wise career move: “People will say, ‘Yes, Hoban, he seems an interesting writer, let’s look at him again’.” However, as John says, Hoban has already left an indelible impression on the literary world and in the minds of his readers. When prompted for his personal favourite quotation, John drops this gem from Hoban’s ﬁrst novel: “I tell you what I have paid years to learn: everything that is

found is always lost again, and nothing that is found is ever lost again. Can you understand that?” While Hoban has now left us, his oeuvre is a gift to those that discover it, and the profound way his works affect his readers may well define his legacy. “If he wasn’t to gain any more recognition, [his legacy] would be that he was the writer’s writer, as he’s often described now. Quite a few authors happily admit to nicking his ideas — Will Self and David Mitchell are a couple. But his fan base is slowly growing, and I’ve never heard so many people describe their reading experiences in such personal terms — for such a variety of stories to find a way to the heart blows the mind. In one novel a couple fall in love while planning to free sea turtles from London Zoo, in another a hippogriff from a 16th-century painting wants to have sex with a woman in present day San Francisco. So I think his legacy will eventually be recognised as a fearless encounter with the strangeness of being alive, and the ability to take bring the reader into that encounter. You do feel so much more alive when reading a Hoban novel.” Head to sa4qe.blogspot.com.au to learn more and keep your eyes peeled around Melbourne for the pieces of yellow A4 paper.

FREE SHIT ROLLING STONE AT THE MAX The Rolling Stones are one of the greatest rock bands the world has ever seen. It’s also kinda remarkable that they’re still alive. IMAX, in relaunching Rolling Stones At The Max, will bring these legends back to the huge screen for the first ever feature length concert movie to be shot using IMAX cameras. Filmed over five nights in July and August 1990 during the final leg of the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle tour, Rolling Stones To The Max captures the brilliance of the live event as Jagger, Richards, Woods and Watts smash out their hits live in a thrilling showcase of rock, all of it captured on the giant IMAX screen. We have some double passes to give away.

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL Following a record-breaking 130,000 attendees to the event in 2011, the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is ready to again make a splash in our country for its 23rd year. The festival will host brilliant cinema talent including the likes of Anouk Aimee, Woody Allen, Niels Arestrup and Daniel Auteuil, plus more. Amongst the 45 ﬁlms that are to be presented, Declaration Of War will launch the festival when it heads Down Under. Hosted at Palace Cinemas throughout Melbourne, the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival will run from Wednesday March 7 – Tuesday March 25. We have a few passes to giveaway.

ARTS NEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS ONLINE – BEAT.COM.AU/ARTS

Hypatia

William of Ockham

Voltaire

Galileo

Leonardo DaVinci

Thomas Paine

Jeremy Bentham

Charles Darwin

Charles Bradlaugh

Robert Ingersoll

Mt Mark

Nietzsche

Twain

Cd Clarence

Br Bertrand

Ms Margaret

Ae Albert

Hm HL

Mk Margaret

Sb Simone

Rf Richard

Darrow

Russell

Sanger

Einstein

Mencken

Knight

de Beauvoir

Feynman

Carl Sagan

George Carlin

Sam Harris

Richard Dawkins

Stephen Hawking

Christopher Hitchens

Ah Ayaan

Hirsi Ali

Tickets available now WWW.ATHEISTCONVENTION.ORG.AU

Douglas Adams

THE COMIC STRIP CHECKPOINT CHARLIE COMEDY

With Tyson Wray. Got news, gossip, reviews, thoughts, tip-oﬀs, complaints, hate mail? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by ESP before Friday.

BUTTERSCOTCH

MTC EDUCATION 2012 Following on from last year’s success, MTC Education is getting prepared to aim for higher success in 2012 as they present brand new Australian works by recent Sydney Theatre Award-winning playwright, Angela Betzien. Theatrical hit, Boy Girl Wall is a magical, hilarious, postmodern romantic comedy, depicting two lonely individuals dependent on the wall that separates them. Betzien’s other piece, Helicopter, follows the life of 14-year-old bully victim, Jack. Get the opportunity to see how both of these performances unravel as Angela Betzien’s pieces Boy Girl Wall runs (April 17 – May 4) and Helicopter (August 2 – August 17) hit the MTC Theatre stage.

VALENTINE’S DAY AT MOONLIGHT CINEMA February 14 is coming up ladies and gentlemen, and no pressure, but we’ve got some decent suggestions lined up for you. The Ford Focus Moonlight Cinema have released the second half of their season program, with an extra dash of romance to ﬁt the date. The timeless adaptation of Truman Capote’s novella Breakfast At Tiﬀany’s is slated for Tuesday February 14, the tale of free-spirited ‘Holly Golightly’ trying to make it on her own in New York City. Perhaps Audrey Hepburn’s most memorable role, Hepburn’s depiction of Golightly is perfectly juxtaposed with the George Peppard’s role as struggling writer Paul Varjak – no place else to be on February 14, we should think! Check out the full run of dates on the Moonlight Cinema’s website.

REVOLVER POSTER WALL Next time that you’re hitting up Revolver Upstairs, be sure to head to the Back Bar’s feature poster wall. Stretching all the way from the ﬂoor to the ceiling, the Back Bar’s poster wall has featured the likes of Beci Orpin, Brendan Elliot and Brendan Huntley, amongst many others. And now, joining that list, will be work by graphic designer, Matt Goldman – all the way from downtown LA. For all the latest information on exhibitions, walls and openings at Revolver, head to Revolver Upstairs Arts Page on everyone’s pal, Facebook.

BLAK NITE CINEMA Spanning over three days this month will be Melbourne’s Indigenous Arts Festival’s Blak Nite Cinema. The festival’s purpose? Well, to celebrate the breadth of contemporary and traditional artistic expression amongst Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with the likes of theatre, music, writing, film, cabaret, dance and much, much more. The festival will showcase the finest performers throughout various locations around Fed Square, with ACMI playing the integral role of host for Blak Cabaret. ACMI’s exclusive screening of Blak Nite Cinema kicks off on Saturday February 11, 2pm, and continues onto Sunday February 12, 12pm. Melbourne’s Indigenous Arts Festival will be held at Federation Square from February 10-12.

Beat Magazine Page 26

With an imagination that’s both sweet and salty and deemed “utterly captivating...a superb songstress”, it’s no surprise that you need to share yourself with the world. This month, Melbourne-based cabaret artist, Emma Clair Ford, is getting set to debut her latest solo creation Butterscotch in an exclusive Melbourne season before taking her show to Adelaide audiences for their Fringe Festival. Ford has made a clear name for herself as a solo writer and performer since bursting onto the Melbourne cabaret scene with the highly acclaimed comic vocal trio, The Candy Tops. Now ﬂying solo, Ford proves to everyone why she doesn’t need any help to keep her audiences constantly entertained. Emma Clair Ford will present Butterscotch at The Butterly Club from February 21-22.

PARADISE LOST As of next month, our good friends at ACMI will present the acclaimed documentary trilogy, Paradise Lost. The event comes as multi-award winning filmmaker, Joe Berlinger, visits Melbourne for the Australian premiere of his third and final instalment to the trilogy, Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory. The HBO series documents the gripping account of a small-town justice system operating for a community that is rocked by horrific crime. It follows the conviction of three teenagers accused of brutally raping, mutilating and killing three eight-year-old boys. The Paradise Lost trilogy will hit ACMI on Saturday March 3. For more information, head to acmi.net.au.

SA4QE “In the morning I came awake as I always do, like a man trapped in a car going over a cliﬀ.” So said Russell Hoban, the London-American author dubbed “the best sort of genius” by The Guardian and “a weirdo” by his fans. While Hoban died late last year, these devotees will continue their annual tribute, writing their favourite quotes onto yellow A4 paper and scattering them throughout cafés, train stations, libraries, zoos and tango halls the world over. It’s the Slickman A4 Quotation Event, devised by members of Chicago’s theatre troupe the Neo-Futurists, and it’s been in Melbourne for years. The yellowness of the paper is mysterious but that’s seemingly the ﬂavour of Hoban’s oeuvre: a boy conjures the ghost of a lion to stalk his deserting father; a helmetless astronaut tumbles in deep space with pictures frozen in his mind; lovers conspire to free turtles from the London Zoo. See sa4qe.blogspot.com for more details.

DEATHSTAR COMEDY

THE SHADOW ELECTRIC The gorgeous surrounds of the Abbotsford Convent are conducive to all sorts of hangouts and events, as Melbourne has kindly demonstrated to us over the past few years – and the latest to join it is The Shadow Electric, the city’s only independent openair cinema. Successfully launched in January with a sell-out program, the dates for February have just been announced: running from Thursday to Sunday each week, the selection of ﬁlms they’ve curated for us is likely to be just as popular as their ﬁrst month in operation with Stanley Kubrick’s haunting take on Nabokov’s Lolita, Australian classic Animal Kingdom, Danny Boyle’s ‘90s cult classic Shallow Grave and plenty more on the schedule. Check out the full their website.

JUMP CUT Consider yourself a bit of a filmmaker? Well, this is right up your alley. Submissions are now open for Jump Cut – the competition element of Bayside Film Festival. Anyone aged 10 – 25 from any walk of life is invited to submit their short films to be part of the 9th annual Bayside Film Festival. Held in late July, the festival will allow short films of any genre to be submitted, with the only proviso being that they had to have been made within the last two years. But don’t worry, it won’t be the ten-year-olds against the older kids. They’re not that rough. Each participant will be categorised in one of the following categories: primary, secondary, tertiary or international. Tickles your fancy? Well, it’s time to submit, people. Head to bayside.vic.gov.au/jumpcut for more details.

Deathstar Comedy is back this week with the fantastic Tommy Dassalo as MC! With a great lineup including Bart Freebairn, Tony Besselink, Erin Melville, Kirk Mckenzie, VIctoria Healy, Duﬀ, Ryan Walker, Suren Jayemanne, Dean Watson and Ronny Chieng! Starts at 8.45pm, $5 entry, downstairs at CR Dirty Secrets, 80 Smith Street, Collingwood.

FELIX BAR COMEDY We’re in the middle of St Kilda Festival this Wednesday, so it’s sure to be a massive night! Our headliner is Australian comedy legend Greg Fleet, plus another great lineup including Steele Saunders, Anyone For Tennis?, Lawrence Mooney, Pete Sharkey and Col Cameron! In summer, Felix Bar is the place to be on a Wednesday night in St Kilda! It’s all happening Wednesday, February 8 at 8.30pm for only $12, at 11 Fitzroy St, St Kilda.

SOFTBELLY COMEDY Another big night planned this Thursday night at Softbelly Comedy! We’ve got heaps of great comics coming down, including Mick Molloy trying out some new gear! It’s a very rare appearance from Mick, and you won’t see him during the Comedy Festival! Plus Daniel Connell, Cam Marshall and heaps more! It’s going to be another awesome night at Softbelly, 367 Little Bourke Street, in the city, this Thursday February 9 at 8.30pm, all for only $12! Get in early for a good seat!

COMMEDIA DELL PARTE This Thursday Commedia Dell Parte presents a killer line up of amazing awesomeness. This week stepping up to the mic is Ryan Walker, Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, Nick Cody, Khaled Khalafalla, Angelo D’Costa, Vic Plume and Greg Fleet with your MC Craig McLeod. This room runs on a ‘pay as you like’ basis, so come along and have a great laugh, then pay what you believe the show is worth on the way out. All proﬁts will be shared with the comedians who performed on the night so if you enjoy the show chuck in a few sheckles and show your appreciation. Commedia Dell Parte runs every Thursday. 8.30pm at George Lane Bar, 1 George Lane St Kilda. Get in early to secure yourself a comfy couch.

THE SUNDAY SHOWDOWN

REDCHENKO 120 From April through to June of this year, the agIdeas International Design Week presented by Melbourne Museum will feature work from the great Russian avantgarde artist, Alexander Rodchenko, on the 120th year anniversary of his birth. The annual festival celebrates the best in design and creativity and is one of Australia’s largest and longest running design events, attracting both national and international audiences. With an array of things to discover, the program is sure to entice and tingle every fan of art as it presents work by a man who is seen to have paved the way for avant-garde artists. Paying homage to the great artist, sculptor, photographer and graphic designer, Rodchenko 120 will be held at Melbourne Museum from April 26 – June 26.

Cheap piss and piss-cheap entry at Checkpoint Charlie Comedy, the city’s premier above-ground underground comedy room. Tonight, come ﬁll yourself with $6 drinks and put your continence to the ultimate test as Mick Neven hosts a huge line-up featuring Geraldine Quinn (Spicks & Specks, Rockwiz), Nick Cody (NovaFM), Simon Keck and a special surprise headliner spitting funnies into the business end of a loud stick. Check in 8pm tonight at Eurotrash Bar – 18 Corrs Lane, Melbourne. $5 entry.

MONSTER MASH They did the mash, they did the mooooonster mash. No Vacancy Gallery is getting set to present the monster mash-up of Victorian local artists, Piers Redmond and Nina Waldron – a fresh collaboration which sees the two artists also spreading their love to interns Tara, Bridie and Cara, who were happy to lend a hand. Using their somewhat diﬀering and creative imaginations, the two artists have come together to present the monsters that their heads have come together to create. The team will set No Vacancy Gallery alight from Monday February 13.

ARTS NEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS ONLINE – BEAT.COM.AU/ARTS

Week 5 of Australia’s newest comedy competition The Sunday Showdown features local comedy megastar Dave O’Neil. Also there’s resident judge the ‘Fabulous’ Adam Richard. As well as host Dil Ruk, with Xavier Toby and Micah Higbed pitchforking current events. With contestants: Khaled, Ryan Walker, Jaymie Wilson, Morven Smith and Alisdair Tremblay Birchall. At The Portland Hotel, cnr Russell and Little Collins, 2pm-5pm. It’s Sunday afternoon. You’re hungover. Do this. It’ll be funny. Promise.

SOFTBELLY COMEDY This Sunday, we do it all again with Adam Hills coming down to muck around and try out some new jokes for his show on ABC, “In Gordon Street Tonight”. As well as Hillsy, we have Glenn Robbins, Hannah Gadsby, Jeﬀ Stilson, Josh Earl and Tommy Dassalo! It’s the hottest ticket in town, so get down early, because it will sell out again! All at the early time of 6.30pm! It all happens at Softbelly, 367 Little Bourke St, in the city, this Sunday, February 12, at 6.30pm. It’s only $12!

MALTHOUSE THEATRE PRESENTS

WINNER OF 3 HELPMANN AWARDS (2011)

A BELVOIR PRODUCTION DIRECTED BY SIMON STONE WRITTEN BY SIMON STONE WITH CHRIS RYAN AFTER HENRIK IBSEN

★★★★★ TIME OUT SYDNEY

PHOTOGRAPH: HEIDRUN LOHR

“DEVASTATINGLY GOOD” SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

FEBRUARY 17 - MARCH 17 113 STURT STREET SOUTHBANK BOOKINGS malthousetheatre.com.au

“THE PLACE WENT NUTS”

“GENUINELY FREAKISH AND TREMENDOUSLY SHOWY”

FLASH IN THE CAN PRESENTS

MAT FRASER (UK)

THE ADVERTISER AN END-OF-THE-WORLD COMIC CABARET OF STRIPTEASE, FREAKSHOW AND SONG

PERTH Fringe World 2012 10, 12 -18 FEBUARY fringeworld.com.au

MELBOURNE The Gershwin Room 21, 22 FEBUARY espy.com.au

AND

JULIE ATLAS MUZ (USA)

SYDNEY The Gaelic Hotel 29 FEBUARY, 1 MARCH thegaelic.com.au

BRISBANE Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts 3 MARCH judithwrightcentre.com

CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

Beat Magazine Page 27

KIMMO POHJONEN BY TAMARA VOGL

Little known fact: aside from providing a traditional ambience to Finnish wrestling matches, accordion music was utilised as a cover for wrestler’s farts, Kimmo Pohjonen explains. The idiosyncratic artist hails from Finland and is renowned for his exploration and development of his much loved instrument – the accordion. Due to hit our shores this March for the WOMAD festival, Kimmo speaks with me about breaking the rules, his unique music projects and the avant-garde accordion. Like most beloved European stories, Kimmo’s musical journey began in a small village, in the town of Viiala. The son of a father who loved the accordion, Kimmo received his very own when he was just ten years old and began playing at the local accordion club with his father (only in Europe…). Fast forward six years, he began studying music more seriously in Helsinki, which is where Kimmo began to contemplate the idea of pursuing music professionally. After studying at the renowned Sibelius Academy for ten years, Kimmo says he was still frustrated with classical music and was on a quest to “find himself”. “I did a solo concert,” he explains. “It was then that I said to myself that I had to do something with the accordion. Because that’s the instrument I know best.” The limitations of the traditional folk instrument didn’t bother Kimmo as he says, “I played in bands and saw guitarists use improvisation. I then went to music shops to experiment with electronic accordions. That was when I thought, ‘Hey, this is something for me.’ It encouraged me to compose music, because I felt love with this instrument. That’s the way I’ve been the last 15 years.” With his Mohawk, billowing pants and metallic vests, performing on stages bathed in coloured lights and a fog of dry ice, Kimmo smashes the conventional image of an accordion player. Pushing the sound to extremes, in his hands the instrument can sound like a pipe organ or a full orchestra. Since the ‘90s, Kimmo has created thick avant-garde electronica through conjuring unlikely sounds, creating loops and rhythmic patterns. While embracing modern ideals, having collaborated with sampling master Samuli Kosminen and Kronos Quartet to perform original compositions in the Uniko project, Kimmo also respects accordion folk traditions – even reviving bizarre Finnish wrestling showcases from the early 1900s, where accordion was included as a musical accompaniment for wrestling matches. “It is a very special project,” he says of the wrestling matches. “I met an accordion player that used to play music for wrestlers. It was used to keep some flavour for the sport because it was considered a cool instrument and it encouraged more women to come and watch because there were dances after the matches. It was also meant to cover the farts when the wrestlers were squeezing each other too tightly. So basically, I have resurrected the wrestling matches again in my own way. We created a show with choreographed wrestling, which can sometimes look like dancing. It’s a great and interesting project and we are travelling all around the world, even to New York.”

“I PLAYED IN BANDS AND SAW GUITARISTS USE IMPROVISATION. I THEN WENT TO MUSIC SHOPS TO EXPERIMENT WITH ELECTRONIC ACCORDIONS. THAT WAS WHEN I THOUGHT, ‘HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING FOR ME.’” Through it all, Kimmo enjoys freewheeling musical exploration, from King Crimson and Frank Zappa-tinged technical epics to a whole globe of ethnic influences, through folk, classical, black noise and disturbingly primeval sounds. The resulting music is a sonic theatre, punctuated by a visual image that evokes high Gothic drama. With his experimental music Kimmo particularly enjoys live performances, explaining that energy exchange is the main focus of the concert. “I kind of want to somehow give freedom to my audiences,” he explains. “I want them to sit down and relax and go through motions with the music. Most people have a lifestyle that is busy and ritualistic, at my concerts I want them to just come and sit down and jump into the music. It’s one deep dive into somewhere, to liberate the brain and body. And ultimately, they can decide what they want to do, if it’s to simply sit, or get up and dance. It’s a great moment when I connect with my audience.” When asked what his favourite musical achievement is, it’s no surprise that Kimmo struggles to answer. “It’s hard to pick one project,” he laughs. “I’ve done wrestlers, drummers, dancers, strings and more! I have done so much more than I would have ever expected. I am proud that I broke free from the limitations I was taught at school. That is a big one.” This isn’t Kimmo’s first time performing in Australia having played some years ago at the Sydney Festival and then later embarking on an “interesting” tour in the Queensland outback across three farms. “I composed music with farmers,” he says. “This will be my third time coming to Australia. I’m excited because I know that when I come it’s so different every time, so it’s great to see something new.” If it’s not clear already, don’t be fooled into thinking this accordion player is traditional. His shows can even get a little bit crazy, he warns. “Once I broke my ankle from spinning around so much,” he begins, “but I didn’t notice it at all when I fell down. I had so much adrenalin because performing really creates a special mood. You could walk through the wall and wouldn’t hurt yourself.” Kimmo Pohjonen will be performing at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday March 8. He also plays WOMADelaide on Saturday March 10 at the Botanic Park, Adelaide. Beat Magazine Page 28

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More and more I find that life is a series of disappearances followed usually but not always by reappearances; you disappear from your morning self and reappear as your afternoon self; you disappear from feeling good and reappear feeling bad. And people, even face to face and clasped in each other’s arms, disappear from each other. Fremder, 1996

Happiness can be unsettling, like catching a baby that someone has thrown out of a window. Amaryllis Night and Day, 2001

“What’s pathetic about trying to understand what happens to you?” “It’s cowardly, besides which I don’t believe you. I bet you’re writing it all down trying to make a story out of it, I can tell by the miserable look of you. You’re not really living your life - you’re pulling the legs and the wings off it one by one. Why don’t you take up vagrancy or crime, it’s more manly.” The Medusa Frequency, 1987

What does it all mean? said Kleinzeit. How can there be meaning? said Hospital. Meaning is a limit. There are no limits. Kleinzeit, 1974

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Beat Magazine Page 29

WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE BY SOFIA LEVIN

Picture Kiss’ curls and Mötley Crüe’s mullets. Visualise Slayer’s silky hairstyles and Slash’s curly shock. Aside from screaming and rocking out to legendary guitar solos, these musos have one overwhelming feature in common: long hair. Now say these mangy men decided to get office jobs — bear with us — and chopped off their manes. Would it be their Achilles’ heel? Would the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll curl up into a lifeless ball, like a toddler in a mosh pit? Local Portland musician, Aaron Smith, says no. “I associate long hair with rock and metal…but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done with short hair,” he explains. And Aaron (Azza to his friends) would know. As front man of metal band Xenos, his head banging skills were afforded to him by his dreadlocks. But these weren’t just any dreads; these knotted ropes were nearly five years in the making. The last time Aaron cut his hair was in 2005, but in November last year, that all changed. As part of The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave, Aaron cut off every one of his 40 golden locks. And then he sold them. Once $3200 in donations was locally collected for the cause, Aaron held a special gig at Kokopelli’s Ice Bar and Kafé in Portland to reach his goal sum of $5000. Thanks to the performers donating their wages on the night, a charity auction (including a professionally framed Eagles of Death Metal poster) and Aaron’s dreadlocks (which sold between $5 and $150 each), the total amount raised came to exactly $5,405.41. Even Aaron’s grandmother attended the fundraiser, more than happy to donate some cash to remove a dreaded dread. “I had a hairdresser there to shave my head…but just about everyone there donated money to cut off a dreadlock. Everyone got into it. We weren’t expecting it to work out that well,” says Aaron cheerfully. This year, over 11,500 people will be diagnosed with blood cancer or a related disorder in Australia. That’s 31 people every day. Blood cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in our country behind

lung cancer. Aaron, who still slips into present tense when talking about his much-loved hair, was inspired to decapitate his dreads after hearing a family member with leukaemia give a moving speech on his wedding day. Not surprisingly, Aaron was incredibly nervous before his big shave. “Everyone could tell I was really quiet; I was starting to panic a bit. I was worried what I’d look like with a bald head…When they started shaving I started freaking out, so I asked someone to go get me a beer,” he recalls. (Is there anything that beer can’t do?) Contrary to popular belief, deadlocks aren’t “just knotty hair.” According to Aaron, they took over 40 hours to put in. You’re meant to twist them every day. You have to wear shower caps. If you get them wet, drying dreads takes up to an hour. You have to wash your hair with a special dread shampoo (every week or two — not never — thank you very much). “It was a lot of maintenance,” Aaron sighs, “but being able to jump in the shower and not worry about it at all was awesome.” These days, people regularly approach Aaron in the street and confide that they have a family member with leukaemia; they have leukaemia themselves; or that they know someone who has passed away from the disease. Even the original singer in Xenos, Aaron’s band, lost his mother to a range of cancers, including leukaemia, a month before the big shave. “He was there on the night and he was really stoked. He said

PENGUIN CAFÉ BY JACK FRANKLIN

Following your dad into the family business is never a good idea, be it accounting or cobbling, as far as I am concerned, it’s just begging people to make comparisons. Especially if your father is a genre defining musician. Wolfgang Van Halen now plays bass in Van Halen, everyone thought Julian Lennon was singing some unreleased song of John’s, Zak Starkey (son to Ringo Starr) plays in The Who, Jakob Dylan had the Wallflowers — one hit then ended up covering Bowie, however Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones branched out and directed the fantastic films Moon and the slightly more mainstream Source Code. Following Dad is a tough and heart-breaking thing to do. Strike out on your own I say. Penguin Café Orchestra were a classical/folk/modern jazz collective that ran from the early ‘70s until the death of founding member Simon Jeffes. They played the kind of music that’s often compared to Phillip Glass and praised by Brian Eno types. This is worse than damning with faint praise, it’s damning by the association of Glass and Eno, their music has the high-minded, intellectual credibility but no heart, it lives in the head and I find myself not pushing play twice. But listen to Penguin Cafe Orchestra’s Telephone and Rubber Band or Perpetuum Mobile, you’ve already heard it I promise, it is odd, intellectual and most importantly enjoyable. Simon Jeffes’ son has both struck out on his and followed his father; he has revived Penguin Café and recorded new material, a very dangerous combination for a band with such a specific sound and fan base. “It could have gone horribly, horribly wrong,” Arthur Jeffes explains of his decision to toy with his father’s legacy. “It was always

a risk, from the outset it was always very difficult to put into words just why this was a good idea and why it was something that should just be avoided at all costs. The last thing I wanted to do was in anyway dilute or muddy the waters of what my dad had managed to do and invent. The whole point of doing it is to celebrate my dad’s music, it’s a lovely thing. It is a uniquely odd position we now find ourselves in, on paper it didn’t make sense in terms of taste and decency but on the ground when it happened it proved impossible not to do, any one step along the way seemed perfectly reasonable. It only seems like a leap when you step back and look at the ark of the story.” More than anything else, you get the sense in talking to Arthur, that this is not an ego driven project, it seems purely driven by his love and loss of his father. “Growing up if I wanted to avoid doing homework or tiding my room I was always allowed to just play the piano, that

RAW COMEDY BY SIOBHAN ARGENT

Chris Dewberry has tough times ahead. He’s jumping between two jobs. One involves cracking jokes as a stand-up comedian, while the other is being editor of Comedy Beast, a monthly mag that reviews comedy shows and showcases comedy news. As a RAW Comedy contestant for the second year in a row, Dewberry will be competing against other up-and-coming comedians in this well-known open-mic comedy competition. Here, the Dingley resident details his wild life as chief chicken nugget expert and laugh slut. The title of his comedy show, Chris Dewberry – Sex, Money, Power, Chicken Nuggets leaves him ripe to queries about what he has learned about the mighty processed snackfood. Dewberry’s list of chicken nugget pros includes: “They can convert weak vegetarians” and “They are 50 per cent more fun than other finger foods.” Dewberry does concede the animal rights angle, admitting, “Some people won’t eat chicken nuggets because they disagree with how chickens are treated, but you have to admire the way they’re recycled.” Indeed. Beat Magazine Page 30

Chicken jokes aside, why has Dewberry entered RAW Comedy for the second time in two years? “For me there was never any reason not to give RAW a go,” Dewberry says. “It’s a chance to have a great crowd at a convenient timeslot with a massive incentive. I also like that it encourages you to get a good set together that doesn’t rely on dirty pub jokes.” He even appreciates the admittedly gruelling work hours. “I really like the idea of working between five and 30 minutes a day.” Dewberry also waxes poetical about his style of comedy, throwing in a healthy dose of sexual titillation

his mum would have been proud. There were a lot of moments like that when losing my hair seemed irrelevant.” So what’s it like post-dreads? “It feels weird. They were pretty long and I used to tie them back a lot… I was used to carrying a weight behind me so I was a little bit off balance after they were shaved off,” laughs Aaron. Friends who don’t recognise Aaron sometimes snub him in the street. Even his Kelpie tilted her head in confusion when he arrived home bald. But there’s another side to it too. Kids no longer tap their mum on the shoulder and point at “the man with the funny hair” and the elderly now speak to him like a human being. “When you have dreads, people make all these assumptions about you. It’s pretty funny that I get more respect just because I don’t have dreads anymore, but it’s frustrating at the same time.” Aaron misses twirling his dreads. He misses head banging when he’s on stage. He misses the friendly, all-knowing nod he used to get from dreadlocked strangers. Lately, he’s been channelling Peter Garrett

was always a morally ‘good’ thing to do according to my parents,” Arthur says of his start in music. “Often for me and my Dad, we would spend time together on the school run, dropping me off we would find albums that we both thought were brilliant, so I have still got a very strong soft spot for New Orleans R&B like Professor Longhair, Dr John, we listened to a lot of Phillip Glass. My father’s albums were always around and I loved listening to them but there was something very particular about the live experience. As a small child there was something incredibly amazing to see an audience beyond counting and them all clapping. During the concert I would be really excited at the beginning but then towards the end of the first half I would almost certainly fall asleep but in a nice and comforting way.” His reforming of the band is a way to recapture that. “Now when we play the music in a live concert once again, it’s like going back to my childhood and being terribly, terribly content. This remains the real treat for me, everything was so silent for 10 years after my dad died. So when I first did some concerts with my dad’s old band, to hear it live again was such a treat, like an old friend coming home.” As lovely and sad as it is to hear Arthur talk with such passion of his father’s work, life is not Tim Burtons Big Fish, reforming a band can’t be one’s exercise in selfindulgence. Thankfully it isn’t. “I didn’t want it to be a museum,” he says of forming an entirely new group to keep the music alive. “I didn’t want it all to be nailed to the floor, we didn’t want to be a cover band. We wanted a freedom and openness, to allow the musicians to try things out and come up with new stuff, not saying yes to everything but a give and take.” With the “Orchestra” dropped from the name, Penguin Café have recorded their own material that retains the spirit of his father’s work, and incorporates that into a new entity that helps to make his father’s work relevant and fresh again. “It

for good measure. “I guess I would I say I aim for cheeky social commentary. I like to think there’s some depth to my material but I’m a slut for laughs, so sometimes my routines are a little more playful and aren’t as direct as I’d like them to be.” Being editor of Comedy Beast, in contrast, comes with its own set of challenges. Dewberry approaches it from the three-pronged angle. “The biggest thing I’ve learned from watching comedy is to keep your ego in check, because it’s applicable at all levels. I’ve seen nervous comics die on stage because they don’t acknowledge when a joke goes over badly and it makes the audience tense. For the next level of comedian that has the audience’s attention, they’ve got to watch for rants, because when you start getting better, it’s easy to think the audience will just laugh at whatever you say. Then at the higher-levels, the [comedians] who tend to make a name for themselves in Australia are often self-deprecating (even though they’re actually awesome and should be able to be as cocky as they like) because that’s what an Australian audience likes.” If you see a round of RAW Comedy this year – where chicken nuggets are a show in themselves and laughsluts compete for the adoration of the crowd – you may just get to see a big-name comedian before they’ve even been discovered. What’s not to love?

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in Midnight Oil instead of Jonathan Davis in Korn. Although there’s a significant amount of regrowth, dreads are out of the question for now. “I miss [my dreadlocks] but I was happy to get rid of them for a good cause. It’s really rewarding and it’s a great thing for the community. You get other people involved and really put yourself out there… and it’s nothing compared to what the people with leukaemia and their families have to go through.” Having always been attracted to Melbourne’s music scene, Aaron has decided to move here. He hopes to play benefit gigs for other charities and put his Diploma in Welfare to good use by incorporating music therapy into youth counselling work. Register today for the World’s Greatest Shave from Thursday March 15 to Saturday March 17, visit worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 088. You can see Aaron and his band Xenos at their upcoming gig at Kokopelli’s in Portland on Friday February 24.

was a funny old time,” he says of recording those new songs. “It was like having the courage of your own convictions to say, ”Well I think this is good, it makes sense and worth doing, so let’s record it.” It was nerve racking but very nice how everyone seemed get the point and understand why we did it. It was an enormous relief.” He has walked a tightrope and somehow found a new path rather than the prescribed straight line to follow, his new Penguin Café is both faithful to the old while being fresh and new, it’s a lovely thing. Penguin Café will be illuminating the Melbourne Recital Centre on Monday March 5. Visitmelbournerecital. com.au for more information and ticketing.

RAW Comedy is running heats around Melbourne weekly in February. The Victorian Semi Finals and Victorian State Final are in February and March respectively. Visit rawcomedy.com.au for more info.

CUSTARD BY PATRICK EMERY

It’s been over a decade since Brisbane band Custard pulled the pin on their hectic career. Burnt out by years of touring, the decision to split was, according to drummer Glenn Thompson, a collective and amicable one. “Those times are a bit blurry now, but it just seemed to peter out,” Thompson recalls. “Even if we hadn’t broken up, I reckon I could have just quit anyway because it was pretty hard touring. I had an 11-year-old daughter, and because we were always working and touring constantly, that was really hard,” Thompson says. “But at the time I felt that it had all run its course.” Prior to joining Custard in 1997, Thompson was well known on the Brisbane music scene, having played drums in former Go-Between Robert Forster’s band in the 1990s (after Custard’s break-up, Thompson would join Forster, Grant McLennan and bass player Adele Pickvance in a reformed and recalibrated Go-Betweens). “I’d played in bands with David [McCormack] before I joined Custard,” Thompson says. “I knew Custard pretty well – I’d gone to their first single launch in Brisbane, and I played bongos on the first album. Plus I’d done the artwork on their first EP. I suppose I was on the periphery of the band for a while,” he says. Thompson nominates the band’s tour of the United States in 1997 as one of the highlights of his tenure. “We recorded in Memphis, and I couldn’t believe how much fun it was,” Thompson says. “But I also had a young family at the time, so it was really tough on them. I was away for 11 weeks overseas, and then as soon as we got back, we’d have to get back on the road and tour the new album.” Thompson also wrote one of Custard’s best known songs, Music Is Crap from 1997’s We Have The Technology. Alongside fellow Brisbane band Regurgitator’s We Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff, Music Is Crap illustrates perfectly the ‘90s Australian punk-pop sensibility. “I think I was just being contrary when I wrote that song,” Thompson laughs, when I ask what inspired him to write the song. “It was probably a case of ‘what’s the most punk thing I could say’!” Despite remaining active in the Australian music scene, Thompson confesses to having limited awareness of new music – whether it’s crap or not is an illusory enquiry. “I think I’m a bit more sheltered than I used to be!” Thompson laughs. “Back when we were together we used to be on radio stations a lot, and we’d be exposed to new stuff being made and played on the radio. But these days I suppose I just to pick what I want to listen to,” he says.

“I WASN’T THAT SURPRISED WHEN WE GOT BACK TOGETHER...” After Custard broke up, Thompson continued to play with McCormack (and McCormack’s then wife Emma Tom) in The Titanics before joining the Go-Betweens. Thompson stayed in contact with McCormack, and eventually the call came in 2009 to play alongside Powderfinger at a concert organised for the 150th anniversary of Queensland’s proclamation as a colony. “I wasn’t that surprised when we got back together,” Thompson says. “There had been talk of it every now and again, and the right time arose and we were invited to play with Powderfinger,” he says. Since that initial reformation gig, Custard has continued to play the odd show, generally at a summer festival. With the band members each having other professional and domestic duties to juggle, Thompson sees the occasional festival slot as the extent of Custard’s future schedule. “That’s definitely the point where we’re at the moment,” Thompson says. “When we split, it was a clean break. Now that we’re playing again it might be a bit like The Eagles and hell freezing over, but we’re very keen not to overstay our welcome,” he says. With various other ‘80s and ‘90s bands reconvening on a semipermanent basis, Thompson says the members of Custard are content to appear a couple of times a year to remind audiences of the band’s music – but no more. “We don’t want to be seen as a cover version of ourselves,” Thompson says. “So we’ll only play a couple of times a year – there are no plans to be more busy than that.” The band’s next reformation is at the Between The Bays Festival on the Mornington Peninsula, alongside former Hunters and Collectors’ singer and guitarist Mark Seymour, Jordie Lane and Melbourne’s much missed troglodyte garage icons The Ooga Boogas. “I know that’s a beautiful part of Victoria, but I haven’t spent much time there,” Thompson says. “I’ve driven that way before when we did the coast road from Sydney to Melbourne. I’m definitely looking forward to checking it out again,” he says. In its prime. Custard promulgated a certain goofy, adolescent aesthetic, complimented with the band’s power-pop punk sound. Despite the passage of time, Thompson says Custard is just as vibrant as ever. “I suppose we huff and puff a bit more, because it’s quite fast music!” he laughs. “When we got together originally to rehearse it started off as just jumbled memory, but then it fell straight into place. When we were in the rehearsal room and we realised how good it was sounding, we just looked at ourselves stunned. So it’s surprisingly the same as it once was – I know that sounds a bit boring, but it’s true,” Thompson laughs. CUSTARD will appear at the Between the Bays Festival at Moorooduc on Saturday February 25.

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DAN MANGAN BY JOSHUA KLOKE

Dan Mangan has learned to exercise a little more caution in life. The heartwarming Canadian born singer-songwriter now finds himself in a place where his consistent efforts have to pay off; he doesn’t have to risk his sanity and credit rating for opportunities to bring his gutsy brand of folk rock to audiences far and wide. While many in Mangan’s boat suffer from a Canadian complex, in that they manage success and acclaim in their homeland but fail to break through elsewhere, the soft spoken and pensive Mangan has managed to make hopping across oceans look routine. But it didn’t come easy. “Before Canada had taken off for me, I’d really laid a lot of groundwork overseas,” says the 28-year-old, reached on the phone from his Vancouver home. “I look back on those years, playing alone with a guitar and it’s absurd how optimistic and naïve I was. I’d get an email from somebody who might run a coffee shop in Cologne, Germany and they’d ask if I ever toured Europe and if I’d like to come play their coffee shop. I thought, “Yeah, okay, I’ll go over there, lose $6,000 and tour Germany.” I was so steadfast and dedicated to the idea that this was what I was doing that I would lose money hand over fist, over and over. I ran up a big, long credit line. It was pretty risky, but it meant that all my eggs weren’t in one basket.” The release of Oh, Fortune, Mangan’s latest full-length, marked not only a stirring change of aesthetics, but also his outlook on his future. Nice, Nice, Very Nice, Mangan’s 2009 album, was an undeniably surprising record, garnering him a shortlist nod for Canada’s Polaris Prize. While many of his contemporaries might seem intent on milking the proverbial cow as much as possible, Mangan speaks with a sense of poise that distances himself from Nice, Nice, Very Nice. Oh, Fortune is a more complex listen, rich with thought-provoking turmoil. When Mangan offers insight on said turmoil, his songs end up stretching onto a canvas as grand as the country he calls home. “When Nice, Nice, Very Nice was released, I never expected the reception it got. Those years, 2009 and 2010 were such life-changing years. I did a lot of growing up; I’m touring all the time, going around the world, playing all these festivals. And really, I’m not done. If I’m going to make a lifetime of music, that’s only the beginning. We kind of got a head start on the game; so what do I want to do from here?” It’s an overwhelming question. But for Mangan, the only option was to look at the big picture. “I thought about what a body of work means and what kind of legacy I might leave behind. I began to think about Oh, Fortune as being very crucial. I got a little bit of attention because I made a silly song about robots. So what do I want to do with that attention? It’s a darker record, it’s a deeper record and it’s a sadder record. I don’t want all of my records to sound like that, but it’s the beginning of taking new directions and not wanting to be put into any sort of box. Not wanting to have any labels. I had a little bit more confidence on this record to tackle grand things. I had to show my chops or prove something to myself. I want to do something that has legs. I want to do something that lasts a long time.” Early critical response to Oh, Fortune has been immensely positive. So much so that The Guardian, one of the world’s most respected newspapers, asked Mangan to pen a story on what makes for a successful gig. Still, Mangan stays guarded. He understands that while critical acclaim may have immediate benefits, it is the validation of his peers which could ultimately provide the staying power he desires. “It’s been incredible to get such praise in the press. But still, as a general rule, I try not to believe anything that’s written in the press about me,” he says with a dry chuckle. “If I believe the good stuff, then I’ll probably end up believing the bad stuff as well. Because the truth is, they’re both right and they’re both wrong. The real validation for comes from my peers and musicians that I respect. To hear them say what I do is worthwhile is what works. At the same time, as proud as I can be of anything, it’s hard for me to take credit. I’m not good at that. I’ve got some safety mechanisms that separate myself from positive feedback. But I’m just so glad to have the record out; I feel like it lived in my brain for a very long time. So now people can actually hear it and form opinions of it.” It’s when Mangan brings Oh, Fortune to life onstage that he finally lets his guard down. He understands that vulnerability is an important quality in a performer, as is the ability to continue his quest. “It’s a weird thing. Sometimes you can step onstage and from the first note, you know you’re just going to conquer. Then other times, you get towards the end of the set and you’re fighting to get people’s attention. And that’s what [The Guardian article] was getting at; the importance of just being able to allow whatever is going on to go on. And then get over it. And then use that energy to proceed and move forward in a positive way. You have to take whatever energy the crowd is giving to you and give it right back to them however possible. It’s an interesting world, getting up onstage every night. To use a colloquial term, it’s a bit of a headfuck.” Still, Mangan seems entirely capable of keeping focus and admitting who he is: a man with room to learn, and a penchant for growth. “When I wrote that article, I was worried that I was going to come across as the all-knowing guy, because I play gigs. And the truth is, I’m just learning as I go. It’s very freeing and exciting. I still feel very young and I know I’ve got a lot to learn.” DAN MANGAN plays the Northcote Social Club on Wednesday February 22. Oh, Fortune is out now on ABC Music/Universal.

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DEAD LETTER CIRCUS BY BIRDIE

It’s certainly an interesting time to be a human being on planet Earth, according to Dead Letter Circus frontman Kim Benzie. There’s a revolution coming – a changing of the guard – the singer warns, and the old, grey men currently in power had better watch their backs. “Our last album [This Is The Warning, 2010] was like the wake-up call. Opening your eyes and realising that as humans we’ve been pushed or forced to live in this society. Our new album is taking shape right now and it’s pretty much looking like it’s going to be a call to stand up and fight against this old guard… The next phase after that could be about finally breaking out of the cage and escaping from this prison in our minds. I suppose it could be a kind of a trilogy! It’s funny, though, because the countries who are at the forefront of these changes, the ones who are actually having some success in fighting back against those in power, are First World countries like South America and Bolivia! People in South America are successfully kicking out all the giant food companies and fighting the oil companies and indigenous communities are actually winning. I think the future design will be more about what the people choose and we’re only just at the foetal stages now where we’re realising that nothing is working. We’re becoming suspicious of the people at the top who are making the calls.” It’s pretty heavy stuff, but then Dead Letter Circus is a pretty heavy band – not only lyrically but sonically, too. And while Benzie and co. had previously suggested more electronic leanings on their sophomore release, the singer now claims that guitar, bass and drums are at the core of this band and most likely always will be. “Yeah, we sort of might have made a statement six months ago about possibly going more electronic, but we’ve got a lot more material together now and they’re turning out to be straight-up rock songs, really. We’re just more confident in that element, we’ve always been a predominantly guitar-based band, but every now and then we’ll have an electronic addition to a rock song or whatever, depending on our mood.” If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, basically. When you’re a band capable of reaching the number one spot on the ARIA Album Charts with your debut album, chances are you’re doing something right. And that’s what it’s all about anyway, according to Benzie, who claims that audience reactions override any kind of praise, chart or award at the end of the day.

“WE STARTED TO FEEL LIKE MERE VESSELS AND THE MUSIC ITSELF BELONGED TO EVERYONE.” “When we got the call about being number one, we seriously thought that it was a joke!” chuckles Benzie. “We didn’t believe it for a while. Like, we thought maybe if we’re lucky we could reach number 17 or something, so it was pretty unbelievable, we had no words for it. It’s easier to be number two than number one. But none of that really matters all that much – it’s just cool to be able to tell you mum or whatever. We do care about what our fans think, though, the people that come to the shows. When that album came out, we reached a stage where people were screaming the songs back at us louder than we were playing them! At one point we started to feel like mere vessels and the music itself belonged to everyone.” The reaction wasn’t much different on the other side of the world as Dead Letter Circus headed to the United States for two extensive tours last year. It was a physically brutal experience but a priceless one at that, according to the singer. “We ended up doing 29 shows in 30 days in America and we crossed about 22,000kms in that time,” recalls Benzie. “We adapted quite well to the fact that we weren’t getting any sleep. You tour America for three months straight whereas in Australia you just can’t do that unless you’re going to do all the regional towns too. It was really hard work but it made us a better band for it because it forced us to live and breathe music day and night. We’ve toured in Europe as well and scenery-wise Europe does beat America because there’s are lots more interesting things to see out the window. A lot of America looks like Australia – except for the Arizona desert. There is a weird, phenomenal, mystical, spiritual quality about it that you just can’t put your finger on.” With yet another American tour coming up for Dead Letter Circus in March, Benzie says he’s looking forward to unveiling the band’s brand new single upon their arrival back home. “The first single will come out in April, then we’ll release another one shortly after that, so yeah, I’m really excited,” enthuses Benzie. “I like to think we did a good job with the last album and now I’m excited about writing about the next phase in that story – more about unity rather than separation. That’s the basic human craving, isn’t it? Unity. All you have to do is just come to a show where everyone is moving to the same beat and singing the same song – that’s unity.” DEAD LETTER CIRCUS headline Rock The Bay at The Espy alongside Floating Me, Twelve Foot Ninja, Bellusira, Tim McMillan Band, New Skinn and heaps more on Saturday February 18. For more info head to rockthebayfestival.com. DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION

Beat Magazine Page 49

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Robert Burns Hotel BY RICHARD McCONNELL As a citizen of Great Britain, I have to say that I am kinda at home with the notion of what constitutes British “culinary identity”. It generally involves getting a big slab of meat, sticking it in an oven, and roasting the shit out of it. Add to that a load of seasonal veggies and gravy, and there you have it; a fine roast dinner. I’m all for it, but have to admit you couldn’t eat it everyday. It’s this no-nonsense approach to food which could explain why British food is the laughing stock of Europe. So, when I saw the Robert Burns Hotel on Smith Street, and I was informed of the quality of it’s food, I had to ask “They sell Scottish food in there?” to which my friend stated “Oh Christ, no! What kind of restaurant would that be?!” So, as this is my first time at The Robert Burns Hotel, I am actually surprised that the designers actually managed to avoid removing any character the building has, during its recent renovation. There is still enough of the old building to remind you of its heritage as a tradies’ pub, but they have taken away the rough edges, and opened it up to the burgeoning cosmo-clientele of Melbourne. The tartan carpets, and backdrop keep the Scottish theme, but they have replaced the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with fine Spanish Tapas style food. As a business plan goes, it is working a treat. The real trailblazer was the legendary Urbano Gutierrez – the “Godfather of Spanish cooking” in Melbourne, who helped with the transition back in 1980’s.

We left the ordering in the capable hands of restaurant manager, Scott, and commenced by tucking into some Jamon Iberica ($6.50 tapas menu/$18 main menu), followed by Pulpo a Feira Galycian style octopus ($14.90) both of which were excellent. I haven’t had the pleasure of sampling octopus before, but I suppose the purpose of tapas is to broaden the palate, and try the unusual. The portions were healthy, and the presentation was noticeably appreciated by many fellow diners, who would gawp with delight at the food which was placed in front of them. We continued with Costillas De Cerdo (pork ribs in a tangy sauce, $6.50), and Txipis Pelayo (baby calamari, $14.90). The calamari was a particular treat, as they avoided the usual gimmick of covering it in breadcrumbs. By this point, I was already getting ahead of myself,

and I had to admit that we couldn’t clear each plate. What followed hit it home, and as the signature Paella de Marisco (seafood paella, $24 p/p) was placed at our table, and I saw the size of the prawns, clams, scallops in the paella filled me with regret that I had feasted so gluttonously earlier. Although it is a little on the pricey side ($48 for two people), the portion we received was pretty daunting. However, this does not detract from the taste, and I was left wholly satisfied, if a little over wheezy from the amount of food I had just taken on board. Although is it situated away from the majority of restaurants on Smith Street, The Robert Burns Hotel is still a cut above the ordinary. You won’t be disappointed.

SNAG STAND Snag Stand is the home of heavenly ‘haute dogs’ and devastatingly delicious sausages. Their hand crafted artisanal sausages are gluten free, free from artificial flavours and colours, produced in small batches, and are made from lean, low fat meats. Try it for yourself at their Melbourne shop on the corner of La Trobe and Swanston St, Melbourne.

The Robert Burns Hotel is located at 376 Smith Street, Collingwood. HAWTHORN BREWING CO In the days of old, travelling merchants criss-crossed the globe, journeying to exotic lands in search of the finest treasures. Following in this bold tradition are the flavour merchants at the Hawthorn Brewing Co. From their base in Hawthorn, these intrepid explorers scour the beer world, risking life and limb to bring home the secrets of its best brewers. It is only by trialling and refining these techniques that they are able to create award winning beers of distinction including their Premium Pale Ale, Amber Ale, Pilsner and Witbier.

MOON DOG BREWING Moon Dog Craft Brewery is the story of three handsome gentlemen with a passion-cum-obsession for big beers. Their brewery in Abbotsford – tucked in next door to CUB – is fully operational and pumping out amazing smells, and their beers are big and beautiful with a focus on creating something unique and challenging. Their creations, such as Skunkworks Double IPA, can be found at specialist stockists like Blackhearts & Sparrows in North Fitzroy, and Purvis Beer in Richmond.

21 HOPE ST, BRUNSWICK VIC 3056 LUX FOUNDRY IS OPEN 7 DAYS MON-FRI: 7.30 AM - 4.00PM SAT-SUN: 8.00 AM - 5.00PM BREAKFAST & LUNCH 376 Smith St. Collingwood 3066 Phone: +61 3 9417 2233 www.robertburnshotel.com.au facebook.com.au/robertburnshotel

Beat Eats Page 50.....................

PRIVATE FUNCTIONS PHONE/FAX: 03 9387 8075 EMAIL: INFO@LUXFOUNDRY.COM.AU

BEAT’S GUIDE TO EATING OUT IN MELBOURNE

THE HAWTHORN HOTEL Located in Hawthorn’s leafy Swinburne University precinct, it is no surprise that by day the Hawthorn Hotel is a favourite spot for the local student population. With an extensive menu that is soon to be updated and some great nights on, get down there for a feed and a boogie! CHEF NEEDED IN COLLINGWOOD There’s a great opportunity in a Collingwood pub for an up and coming chef or kitchen crew to lease kitchen at a bare minimum. Creative menus are most welcome. Please email expressions of interest to guy@bendigohotel.com.au

LupĂŠ

Cruzao Arepa Bar

Wine lovers, take heed! Since its launch last November, LupĂŠ wines have been shaking up the way we consume wine with their wonderful â&#x20AC;&#x153;class without glassâ&#x20AC;? policy. Yes wine lovers, LupĂŠ has heard your cries and felt your pain. No longer shall you be forced to suffer waterside events, outdoor festivals, or even the common-place picnic without your cherished chosen drop at your disposal. LupĂŠ is the brainchild of young entrepreneur Georgia Beattie. Hailing from a family of reputable wine makers, Beattie is certainly no stranger to the wine industry, having started her love affair with wine at young age by picking grapes for her dad when she was eight years-old. However, the idea for LupĂŠ wines all started in 2009 when Georgia was told that it was too hard to serve wine after she had asked for a glass at a festival. It was then that Beattie experienced a brilliant â&#x20AC;&#x153;light-bulbâ&#x20AC;? moment and made it her mission henceforth to find a way to package wine in a form that could be easily distributed and consumed outdoors. Quite simply â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wine for oneâ&#x20AC;?, LupĂŠ wines are prepackaged inside a tamper-evident seal within glasses made of fully recyclable material, allowing

you to enjoy your drink as though you were sipping from an actual glass in the luxury of your own home except a LupĂŠ wine, thankfully, is completely shatterproof. Available in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, RosĂŠ, or Shiraz, LupĂŠ aims to offer consumers the varieties of wine that they love from regions they know. LupĂŠ wines are available at selected independent liquor retailers throughout Victoria, and also â&#x20AC;Ś wait for it, wait for it... home delivery (no, we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t kidding about the brilliance of that â&#x20AC;&#x153;light-bulb" moment).

The deep voice of Cruzao Arepa owner Eyal Chipkiewicz, is barely audible above the buzz of the small Brunswick St restaurant and bar on a Saturday night. The sound of laughter and conversation steadily grows as waiters with hot plates of lovingly prepared Venezuelan arepas navigate the chairs and tables to make their way to hungry diners. The speakers around the bar pump out an endless catalogue of Latin music and in front of most people is the barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specialty, a mojito with emerald green syrup sitting at the bottom. Eyal explains that the syrup contains everything needed to pack a punch in a mojito, just blended for convenience and flavour sake. A mojito is put down in front of me. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good way to start an interview. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the first sign of a tooth, we are fed an arepa,â&#x20AC;? Eyal says. The Venezuelan dependence on the corn-based arepa seems to be stronger than any connection Australians might have to meat pies or lamingtons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a working class food, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for everyone.â&#x20AC;? When Eyal came to Melbourne, the gap in the food market instantly became apparent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One day I thought an arepa should be an alternative to the burger, the sandwich and the souvlaki,â&#x20AC;? he says. Eyal believes the slow-cooked meats and the grilled corn give the arepas â&#x20AC;&#x153;major health advantagesâ&#x20AC;? over other low cost quick meals. Everything is made on site, except for the corn flour which is imported from Venezuela, of course. Cruzao Arepa has been open for little over a year and continues to grow in popularity. Eyal says food, in particular the arepa, used to dominate the ethos of the restaurant, but slowly, things are changing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the last few months it has become really clear to me that the cultural mission is just as important as the arepas,â&#x20AC;? Eyal says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We try to make it a cultural experience, you can see some people come in here and they just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sitting a bit too close to the people next to them, the music is a little too loud for them... itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

not for everyone, but I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of it. We want to be who we are and people can decide for themselves if they want to be here,â&#x20AC;? he says. The cultural experience that Cruzao Arepa provides has started to make the Brunswick St venue the go to place for people who want to connect or reconnect with South America. Eyal estimates up to 70 bands have played everything from salsa to Colombian Cumbia on the small stage. The stage has featured such an eclectic mix of styles and bands that it has earned the title of â&#x20AC;&#x153;the amazing music repertoire of a fascinating continent.â&#x20AC;? As well as the music and the food, Casa De La Cultura has set up regular Spanish language classes at Cruzao Arepa for those wanting to learn or to keep in touch with the language. Eyal says Cruzao Arepa has started to take on a life of its own, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve allowed the cultural vibrancy to overtake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to stand for itself and for what it is.â&#x20AC;? Cruzao Arepa is at 365 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. To see the menu or which bands are playing, go to www.cruzao.com.au.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Smith has been ďŹ tted with a tailored new suit, a new face, a fresh attitude, a savvy team and a fresh start. The Smith is elegantly relaxed not ďŹ&#x201A;ashy, but smart yet casual, perfect for all occasions planned or spontaneous. Spaces have been designed for lounging about, lingering over tastes and sips or privately entertaining a crowd.â&#x20AC;?

213 High Street Prahran VIC 3181 (03) 9514 2444 Reservations and Events 03 9514 2444 Open 7 days lunches & dinners 364 Days

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SLEEPMAKESWAVES BY TEGAN BUTLER

Making it in your home country is one thing, taking on the global market is another. Sydney experimental instrumentalists sleepmakeswaves are certainly not afraid of the challenge, gearing up for a solid jaunt in the big wide world come March. With appearances at South by Southwest in the US and an expansive tour of Europe already etched into their itineraries, it won’t be long before the bright-eyed four-piece play a national tour to bid their Australian fans farewell for now. Kicking around the post-rock scene since 2006, sleepmakeswaves have steadily built small but loyal followings in countless cities across the globe. Their unique brand of ambient, climatic instrumental rock has an effortless cinematic quality that makes it hard to believe they are still relatively unknown on their home turf. Thanks to the endless virtual opportunities via the internet, the band have worked tirelessly to spread their sound through word of mouth and have offered their music through a pay what you want contribution model online. It’s a tactic that Kid and Otto from the band say has worked in their favour to get their foot in the door overseas. “We really thought about what we wanted to do when recording the album.” Kid says about the process behind last July’s full length, And So We Destroyed Everything. “We thought, you know, we’ve got to get our music out there.” “If you want an example of a band that has been helped immeasurably by the internet, sleepmakeswaves would

be right up there. Ever since our first two track EPs, the internet has been there to distribute the material far and wide around the world,” says Otto. However, in an industry where money or major label support is often necessary for bands to be able to tour nationally, let alone to foreign shores for a showcase at SXSW, it makes you wonder whether offering their music cheaply online is a sustainable choice for a band growing in profile. “You just stop eating basically – home brands in the supermarket do wonders!” Kid jokes. And getting to Texas? “SXSW is going to be expensive but we think that in the long run it’s worth it and we gotta do it. It’s our passion.” Hoping to make the most of the trip by squeezing in a few extra shows in the States, sleepmakeswaves will also be heading over to Europe for an extensive headline tour and performance at Germany’s Dunk! Festival alongside some of the band’s musical heroes. Debuting a mixture of old and new material, plus some freshly written and previously unreleased tracks, sleepmakeswaves are

Q&A KELLY AUTY So then, what do you ‘do’ in the band? I sing, I dance, I entertain the fans – that’s the performance bit. For every gig there is the booking, repertoire and rehearsals, promotion and so on. It’s a busy schedule and well worth the work when the lights go up and the music starts. Feels like herding cats sometimes but I wouldn’t want to spend my life any other way. What do you think people will say you sound like? People tell me they are inspired by my singing and that they are amazed by my energy. I have been called awesome Auty and that suits me just fine. What do you love about making music? Everything. It is liberating, empowering and a privilege to

eager to make an impression on audiences abroad. “I’m just going to have the little fish in a big pond sort of thing going on, especially at a festival like Dunk! in Germany where we’re playing alongside our heroes like 65 Days Of Static and We Will Destroy You and Pelican. There’ll be fans there who have journeyed along to see those bands and if we can hold any sort of candle to them, I’ll be happy,” says Otto. Australian fans should not fear for losing the boys to distant lands just yet. The group have decided to throw in just one more national tour for loyal homegrown fans. It’s this sort of dedication to putting on a great show that

make sleepmakeswaves a refreshing and welcome part of the Australian live music scene. For them, band life is something they continually hope to improve in. “I think part of being in sleepmakeswaves is doing stuff that’s weird and in doing stuff that pushes the envelope a bit – that’s the zone we want to stay in.’” SLEEPMAKESWAVES play The Espy front bar on Friday February 10 and The Evelyn on Saturday February 11. And So We Destroyed Everything is out now through Bird’s Robe Records.

Repertoire ranges through gospel, blues, jazz, country to rhythm and blues and rock: Bessie Smith to Tina Turner. Something for everyone.

have experienced a career in music. I have met amazing people, travelled to fantastic places and never have to stop being creative. Creativity is the spice of life. What do you hate about the music industry? Nothing. Isn’t it wonderful that we have such a thriving live music industry in Melbourne which brings communities together? We also have a fabulous festival circuit in Australia. We need to be aware of how precious our venues are because…don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. What can a punter expect from your live show? Fun, variety, energy, great singing and playing by an extraordinary ensemble of Melbourne minstrels.

When’s the gig and with who? A special event at the Regal Ballroom, 218 High Street, Northcote on Friday February 10. The show is Wild Women and Divas, songs, stories and fashions of great women singers over the past century. The show will be with the big band: Linda O’Brien on Piano, Max McIntosh Bass, Nick Carrafa on drums, horn section Paul Williamson, Paul

Dooley, Brian Kemp, accordionist Dave Evens, Guitarist Brenden Mason – great lineup of musos. The event is a big dress-up opportunity for the fans as 2012 is the hundredth anniversary of the magnificent Regal Ballroom.

EEEE FRR

ISSUE 1264 13 APR 2011

MELBOURNE’S OLDEST & HIGHEST CIRCULATING STREET MAG

What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? I’ve produced seven CDs and each time do a short run of copies. When they sell out I don’t do a re-pressing – this makes them special. There are a number of regular fans who have all of the CDs. At the moment I have some Big Gold Sun which is a compilation of fave covers from the Wild Women Show.

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We are seeking a full-time, experienced and qualified graphic designer to work across a wide range of projects including Fashion Journal, Beat, Big Ticket, printed catalogues and brochures, websites, online banners and e-newsletters, advertising and other marketing collaterals. You will have three years relevant industry experience and exceptional graphic design and print/production skills, including the ability to: • Work to tight deadlines • Provide timelines to printers / sales reps • Use software packages including Adobe CS4, Flash and Dreamweaver • Develop visual design concepts based on a verbal briefs • Coordinate and develop high-quality briefs for external consultants If this sounds like you please forward your resume to jobs@furstmedia.com.au

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Beat Magazine Page 53

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP

with Christie Eliezer * Stuﬀ for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm HEATWAVE COLLAPSES, COO MISSING

CHEUNG LAUNCHES ON THE MAP PR

THINGS WE HEAR

Heatwave promoter Patrick Whyntie aka MC Mastacraft has his share of problems. Following the festival going into voluntary insolvency in its first year – with some suppliers still owed, although he says all artists have been paid – police are trying to find its COO, Olivier Lokolomba/ Reckom. The 26-year-old Sydneysider was last seen on January 21 at a Bendigo Bank in Potts Point about 11am, with $30,000 on him. Whyntle told triple j, “We just fear possibly something bad has happened to him.”

Former Sony Music executive Emily Cheung has launched a new communications firm, On The Map PR, focusing on music, restaurant and corporate public relations. Following on with her love of food and cooking, Cheung will also be representing Victoria in Channel 7’s new season of My Kitchen Rules, alongside her sister, Carly. Cheung has eight years’ experience in PR, including WA Promotions Manager and Victorian Promotions Manager with Sony. She is contacted at emily@onthemappr.com

GOTYE BREAKS INTO THE US TOP 40

NINE SHORTLISTED FOR THE AMP

Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know has broken into the US charts, jumping from #50 to #31. It also went from #36 to #18 on the Hot Digital Songs chart, and #7 to #5 on Rock Songs. The video has now racked 57 million views on YouTube. Meantime, a second cover version of the song has appeared. This one by Right The Stars featuring Karmina — the brainchild of Los Angeles producer Rich Jacque — incorporates a portion of The Police’s King Of Pain and had the thumbs-up from Gotye who called it “super slick”. The cover by Canada’s Walk Off The Earth has over 40 million views.

Shortlisted for the 7th Australian Music Prize (The Amp) are Abbe May’s Design Desire, Adalita’s Adalita, Boy & Bear’s Moonfire, Gotye’s Making Mirrors, Gurrumul’s Rrakala, Jack Ladder’s Hurtsville, Kimbra’s Vows, The Jezabels’ Prisoner and The Middle East’s I Want That You Are Always Happy. Up to 50 albums were judged for the $30,000 cash prize for creativity, and Amp founder Scott B. Murphy revealed The Panics, Oh Mercy and The Orbweavers almost made the final cut. Winner announced on March 8.

BUTLER MEETS HIGH FLYING BIRD

Singer Clint Boge will leave The Butterfly Effect after their April-June tour. He will focus on his other band, Thousand Needles In Red, a solo album and a series of touring music workshops. The other band members will seek a replacement. Roadshow Music is releasing a Best Of to coincide with the tour.

* We’re assuming that Frontier locking in Coldplay for a tour this year will be announced when they arrive next week for two corporate gigs in Sydney for Huawei Mobile. Meanwhile, Mylo Xyloto went double platinum in Oz last week. * Charlie Walker and Charlie Jones of Big Day Out’s new US partners, C3 Presents flew out from Texas to catch BDO’s Sydney and Melbourne shows — and to reassure media that there were exciting plans for it in coming years. This year’s BDO wound up on the weekend in Perth at its new WA home McCallum Park before 15,000 fans (half of last year’s crowd). Altogether, the tour sold 150,000 tickets in Oz and NZ — down from the 260,000 to 280,000 it normally moves and a far cry from the 300,000 who attended the Muse-headed run in 2010. * Rihanna splashed out US$150,000 for a 5 sq.ft sparkling portrait of ‘60s icon Marilyn Monroe made out of 65,000 crystals. The 30-stone thing creates a rainbow effect in her living room. * Does a series of tweets by George Michael suggest his tour may be pushed back from March to September? * Australian Music Group’s director John Helme denied on CX TV that the National Australia Bank is about to close down Allans Music, Billy Hyde and MusicLink Australia. He said they expect to refinance soon. * Eskimo Joe went on radio to ask listeners to lend them stuffed (as in taxidermist) animals to put in a fake zoo that they’re building in their studio. * Gold Coast DJs The Stafford Bros look like being offered a third series of their global TV show. Our eavesdropping mole heard them nutting out ideas at Japanese restaurant Benihana’s with show producer Wes Dening. * Thousand Needles In Red guitarist/songwriter Tristan ‘Trizo’ Bouillaut is working on rap/rock side project called Dead In A Second. Apparently the members of the band will remain a mystery even at shows. A EP will be out in early June to coincide with his birthday. * A new course at Rutgers University in New Jersey called ‘Politicising Beyonce’ looks at her lyrics to explore US race, gender, and sexual politics. * Lexus joins Toyota, Audi and BMW in adding digital radio as a standard feature in some of its models. * Florence And The Machine singer Florence Welch told Q Magazine she got so drunk one night (17 martinis will do that) after clubbing with Kanye West and Lykke Li that she later accidentally set fire to her hotel room. But the cost of the drinks, which she put on her publicist’s card, was more than the damage. * Canberra poet and hip hopper Omar Musa turned down an invitation from the Queanbeyan City Council to be an Australia Day ambassador, saying that the January 26 date was creating cultural clashes and should be changed. * Kanye West caused a traffic jam at Melbourne’s King Street strip when 600 fans tried to squeeze into his aftershow bash at underground electro club Tramp Bar. Aside from a $3,000-a-day hair stylist in huge entourage, his luxuries included having Versace towels sent from America so his lackeys could mop his brow during his shows.

Former Oz Idol finalist Jacob Butler was pestering his radio plugger Michael Matthews to set up a meeting with his hero Noel Gallagher at his Palais show. In the meantime, he picked up early copies of his new CD. Driving home through South Yarra he stopped at the lights – and noted the great man himself was in the passenger seat in the van in the next lane. Butler waved, Gallagher nodded back, Butler realised he had a copy of his CD in the car, wound down the window and handed it over. “It was all over in 10 to 15 seconds,” Butler recalled. “But it’s nice to know he has the CD.”

VENUES #1: PHOENIX LAUNCHES MOONLIGHTING 1 AM The Phoenix Public House in Brunswick, which has grown in reputation since throwing open its doors to live music last September, is upgrading its facilities, offering new menus under Michael Baroud, and initiating new programs. The venue’s booker, Paris Martine’s Contrary, is this month launching a late night electronica slot called Moonlighting 1am. Held on Fridays and Saturdays, it features new electronic underground side projects featuring members of Forces, My Disco, Zond and Night Terrors. The Phoenix is also named one of the venues for next month’s 24th Brunswick Music Festival. Contrary has also expanded its work with the owners of the Grace Darling in Collingwood’s Smith Street, which has bands in its upstairs area and more recently used its basement for special punk, garage and tropical disco events. The owners recently opened a 3am licensed sister venue, Strange Wolf, in Strathan Lane in the city for late night arts-related events as fashion launches, after-parties and exhibitions (like the tattoo art exhibition on the weekend).

BOGE LEAVING BUTTERFLY EFFECT

METALLICA, U2, “GOOD FOR THE BRAIN” Feeling down? A dose of Metallica will fix that! Want to be ‘up’ for an important project? Songs with 100 to 130 beats per minute can put you on high alert and improve your memory. These includes Pride (In the Name of Love) by U2, Lady Madonna from The Beatles, Don’t Phunk With My Heart by Black Eyed Peas and Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson. To feel less anxious, whip on John Lennon’s Imagine. Muse’s Uprising and Guiding Light will build energy. A new book Your Playlist Can Change Your Life: 10 Proven Ways Your Favorite Music Can Revolutionize Your Health, Memory, Organization, Alertness and More by Prof Galina Mindlin of Columbia Uni says changing your playlist through the day can have a definite effect.

WANNA PLAY PUSH OVER? Wanna play all ages Push Over festival on Monday March 12 at Abbotsford Convent? Upload your music to triple j unearthed by Sunday February 19. Then listen to triple j on February 22 to see if you won. Previous winners included Husky, Big Scary and Fearless Vampire Killers. Push Over offers hardcore, rock, hip hop as well as local emerging artists across four stages in the day. This year’s line up is Parkway Drive, 360, Tonight Alive, Yacht Club DJs, Dangerous!, Snakadaktal, Mantra, Redcoats, Eagle and The Worm, Glass Towers, 8 Bit Love, Northlane, Skyway, Hands Like Houses, Mindset, Hallower, This Town A Forest, Awaken I Am and Boris The Blade.

LIFELINES Born: daughter Anwyn for Peter Bayliss, managing director of First Base Music, and wife Brianna. She’s a sister to Finley, 2. Dating (according to the Sydney Sunday Telegraph): Noiseworks’ Jon Stevens and former Mrs James Packer, Jodhi Meares. Married: Greg Matthews, who runs Fanny’s nightclub in Newcastle, and Shop Till You Drop magazine editor Justine Cullen. Split: Channel [V]’s Danny Clayton and South American CSS singer Lovefoxxx. Hospitalised: Anthrax’s Scott Ian with a severe viral infection. Arrested: Public Enemy co-founder Flava Flav’s daughter Dazayna Drayton, for hitting him when he intervened in her argument with her brother. In Court: A homeless New Yorker, Stephen Lee Pieck, is suing Eminem for US$9 million for using his idea for the rapper’s Born Of Fire Chrysler ad without credit or money. Pieck says he was, er, having dinner with Christina Aguilera, when she rang Em, and Pieck detailed his idea for the ad. In Court: Ray Dorset who wrote the 30 millionselling In The Summertime for his band Mungo Jerry in 1970 claims his former management company siphoned off his royalties by up to £2 million without telling him. In Court: ‘70s disco act Sister Sledge are suing Warner Music Group, alleging they are owed millions of dollars based on improper calculations of revenue from digital music sales. They blame Warner’s calculating digital music purchases (a standard industry policy) as “sales” than “licenses”. Died: Don Cornelius, creator of US TV show Soul Train which broke black acts into the mainstream, 75, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Died: Leslie Carter (sister of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and singer Aaron Carter), 25, suspected overdose. Her Like Wow was in the Shrek movie. Died: Dale Alexander, 34, breakfast host and chairman of the board for Bendigo community radio station 101.5 Fresh FM, passed away in his sleep. Died: US folk bassist Dick Kniss, 74, of respiratory disease. He played with John Denver (co-wrote his Sunshine On My Shoulders) and Peter Paul & Mary, and was active in the civil rights movement.

MUSIC TO BLUBBER ALONG TO Which music tracks make you blubber and reach for the tissues? A survey in Britain by theatrical producer David King found that REM’s Everybody Hurts was the one to set the Poms weeping. It was followed by Elton John’s Candle In The Wind and The Living Years by Mike And The Mechanics. Nine out of ten women, and seven out of ten men, cry over a song.

HUNT FOR THE LOWEST BASS SINGER Universal Music has instigated a worldwide search for the lowest human singing voice. The winner will record a new choral work by Paul Mealor, which features a low E (an extremely low note over two octaves below middle C). The closing date for entries is February 24. See howlowwillyougo.com.

LO’JO BY THOMAS BAILEY

Ah, France. Such a multitude of mental images arise when one thinks of France. Beautiful architecture, fantastic museums, government workers on strike. But perhaps the most striking about the French landscape is its music. There’s something so romantically poetic about strolling along the banks of River Seine, accompanied by the lilting melodies of a little trio with a double bass, an accordion and a snare drum – it’s really quite magical. Throw in some Latin inﬂuences with gypsy ﬂair and a North African rhythm, and frankly, I think you might just have captured the essence of Lo’Jo. Formed exactly 30 years ago in the western town of Angers by keyboardist and poet Denis Péan and violinist Richard Bourreau, Lo’Jo has thrived on the world music scene with their intensely passionate combination of Old World/New World compositions. Speaking by phone from wintry Paris, Monsieur Péan regales me with stories about his youth, the evolution of Lo’Jo and what exactly music means to him. His accent is – to put it bluntly – quite strong; in fact, on more than one occasion, I picture Serge Gainsbourg. One thing that becomes crystal clear during the course of our conversation is that Lo’Jo – “I imagined this word, when I was looking for a magical word; it’s something I’ve been looking for all my life,” reveals Péan – is not just a band. It’s a way of life. The path to Péan becoming a musician stemmed from an innate desire to create. To create anything. “I always wanted to create something with different materials,” he reveals. “In the beginning I was interested in painting and pictures [as well as] writing. It was easy for me to find [ways of creating art]. But [Angers] was not very famous for its music; we didn’t have a specific ‘scene’ for music there. Music was a way to express and realise my creative mind. I would like to express something, it was a strong power in me to give me the impression to play!” When I ask Péan about playing music with his friends on the streets of Angers (about 300 kilometres southwest of Paris) and if it was somewhat akin to busking, he tells me a Beat Magazine Page 52

story that’s just … well, it’s freaking cool. “I never thought I’d ever be published,” Péan recalls fondly, “I had only the passion to play. [My friends and I] had played at this club, and we were approached after the show by some people, and they asked us if we’d be interested in playing music for the street circus. We thought, ‘Why not?’ I had no real job, I had no family; I was free to go and I [played for the circus] for four years. “We travelled by car and by trucks and by camper vans throughout Europe to play in villages and towns. My first memory of [the period] was meeting these incredible Gypsy musicians. It was my first experience outside my native town. And I learned for the first time in my life [how] to improvise with acrobats, to know when to start playing and when to stop. To be in the light or out. We learned when to play something violent or valiant or something soft or something with a very quick beat – it was a good school to improvise or create!” Currently comprising six members, Lo’Jo has released eight studio albums, the most recent of which was 2009’s Cosmophono. One thing that might strike the listener right off the bat is how deftly the writing changes languages. One song might be in French, the next in Spanish, and then suddenly one might be transported to the desert landscape of North Africa. It’s a bewitching journey by sound, and it’s a key ingredient to Lo’Jo’s mystique. “I like to imagine music,” Péan states, “and I like to

imagine language too. I [used to] imagine strange words as incantations, but now [that I’m older] I use more French. “[Lo’Jo] has a deep connection with Africa,” he continues, when I ask him about Lo’Jo’s role in creating the Desert Music Festival in Mali 15 years ago. “There are places in Africa; Algeria, Morocco – all of West Africa, we find it easy to communicate with the peoples of West Africa and North Africa. And it is easy for us to play music [with Africans] in this way. “[Fifteen years ago] we’d met the nomadic peoples in Bamako (the capital city of Mali) to organise [the Desert Music Festival] in the dunes. It was really crazy, because never do Bedouin people play music [in this way] before;

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there has been a lot of fighting between people; from Northwest people and Southern people; loads of history! It was quite dangerous! But music has this power, sometimes. “For some reason, we cannot fight with sound. We can appreciate being together to hear something.” LO’JO will perform as part of the WOMADelaide Festival in Adelaide’s Botanic Park from Friday March 9 – Monday March 12. Other acts performing include Dirty Three, the Barons of Tang and Gurrumul. Visit womadelaide.com.au for information on ticket purchases and transportation.

ANTISKEPTIC BY JAMES W NICOLI

When the punk rock institution that was the Arthouse closed its doors for the last time in 2011, anyone that had ever seen a show there, played there in a band or just got really drunk in the beer garden knew that Melbourne was losing an iconic live music venue that would never be able to be replaced. But as it is with life, more often than not as one thing ends, another thing begins. For much loved rockers Antiskeptic, those last shows at the infamous venue would mark the beginning of the second stage in the life of the band. “We did a reunion show in April 2011 with Horsell Common at the Arthouse,” remembers guitarist/vocalist Andrew Kitchen. “We got to play there and that all came about through a casual chat on Facebook that turned serious. We were amazed to see the response and the fact that there were people from every part of Australia at that gig, it was just amazing. And for me personally and for the other guys, it was just a highlight of 2011 just to get back and play these songs again. In the three years that we didn’t do anything, we got the occasional offer and none of them really sat well with us, we were like ‘we could play that’, but we didn’t want to be that band, you know, that finished up and just kept doing gigs. So I really, for no other reason than to have integrity and that, I really just wanted to go ‘well look, it’s going to have to be unreal for us just to go, “Alright, well let’s really consider it.”’” Those final shows at the Arthouse; which brought together bands both old and new and in many cases reunited, proved to have just the right ingredients to get the guys in Antiskeptic back up on the stage again and from there, according to Kitchen, there really was no turning back. “The main reason was actually the response from that gig, and I guess I also feel like the band took several years to kind of really find our sound. And I reckon by the last EP that we put out, we’d actually kind of found it and arrived.” With the help of hindsight, the last few years really helped Kitchen put the whole thing into some sort of perspective and realise just exactly what the band meant to him. “I guess in the time off, being in a band for so long and then not being in a band you just very quickly realise just what the band was for you,” he adds. “In some ways it was like your social circuit as well, so like you’d have really good mates in other states around Australia and then you’re not in the band anymore and it’s like, when do I see them again? So its like, if anything the three years off has just made me realise just what an amazing experience Antiskeptic was and the main thing is that I get to have however much of that over again. Writing music, recording music and performing music to people really is just such an honour.”

When life is perfect, what’s to question?

“THE THREE YEARS OFF HAS JUST MADE ME REALISE JUST WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE ANTISKEPTIC WAS”

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Phase two of Antiskeptic has seen the band unveil a new lineup, as well as expanding to become a four-piece with the addition of a second guitarist. When the upcoming tour finally comes up in our conversation, Kitchen cannot contain his excitement at the prospect of getting up on stage again and rocking out just like the old days. “I think potentially that moment when you walk out on stage and hopefully people just raise up a big chant, you know, and the first thing I’ll do is swing the guitar around my back and do a whole massive row of high-fives across the front of the stage. It’s just a magic moment performing songs for people and we’ve got a few new songs that we’re pretty keen to play for people as well.” In under a year Antiskeptic has gone from a chance reunion show to preparing for their first Australian tour in years. There’s a new lineup, new songs and in talking to Kitchen, you get the sense that there is a whole new energy to the band and a whole new sense of enjoyment. “Part of the whole experience, in fact most of the experience of getting over to Adelaide and Sydney just for this particular tour, is the travel. And we are not flying, we are driving in the Tarago all together so it should be a lot fun. As cheesy as it sounds, half this tour will be about getting that energy and half of that develops, I think, off stage and getting to know each other, having fun driving and talking to each other about books and songs and movies and life and relationships and whatnot. And that’s kind of how I think the band really becomes a unit.” The ANTISKEPTIC Back In The Game tour will stop into the Northcote Social Club with support from Move To Strike and Emperors on Friday February 11.

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SCARAMOUCHE BY JOSHUA KLOKE

It’s been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Yet this isn’t the case for Scaramouche, the Melbourne via Canberra five-piece act. Known for their propulsive rhythms and old-school, classic rock-influenced mentality, Scaramouche is remarkably content in their new surroundings. “It was the music scene that brought us here,” says drummer John Milton, on the line from his Melbourne home. “There’s a bit of a complex in Canberra; people think the city doesn’t get a lot of music. So nobody will go out to see music, because they assume there isn’t any there. Obviously though, there’s the perception and the understanding that there is lots of great music here in Melbourne.” And Scaramouche are focused on contributing to Melbourne’s already well-established music community. With the release of Access Denied, their debut EP, Scaramouche quickly figured out the best way for them to gain footing in their new city. And soon, this approach became an indelible element of their overall aesthetic: make consistent gigging top priority. “There are some bands that play less shows, in order to make the few shows they play more of an event. And that’s got its merits. But at the moment, we’re trying to get our name out there by playing a lot. And we’re just trying to get better. Sometimes the only way to get better is by gigging as much as we can.” “Recently we’ve been trying to book some regional shows,” continues Milton, when asked about the pressures of bringing their sound to a national audience. “I mean, it makes sense for a lot of bands to book

shows in bigger cities, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, etc. But there’s a lot of energy to the music we play. We love pub rock bands. So we thought, let’s bring this energy, this music we play into pubs. And maybe play to audiences that wouldn’t normally get our kind of sound.” After all, with five members in Scarmouche, all with equally diverse tastes and influences, the band refuses to leave anything to chance. There is a healthy variety of sounds on Access Denied, from funk to hints of psychedelia. “There are a lot of bands that really love to recreate a certain sound or a certain era. Maybe you have a few influences and you’re really passionate about recreating that vibe. We just want to bring our own individuality to it. And of course, there are influences. Bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Kings of Leon. But we all just want to see if we can bring all of our influences to the table and try to make it work.” With Access Denied in the bag, the band will now take to the road. Work on their debut LP has begun, and Milton insists Scarmouche may still have a few tricks up their sleeves. “We’ve done some demos and pre-production. We’ve been sculpting it for the last year and a half. With the EP, we knew we’d only get six or seven songs, so we had to pick some of the punchiest tunes we had. But we left some longer ones off the EP. We had some

Q&A THE VENDETTAS So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? The Vendettas and I ‘do’ Rock. What do you reckon people will say you sound like? Our influences mainly come from 70/90’s Aussie and Swedish rock and roll. What do you love about making music? Playing awesome venues.

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What do you hate about the music industry? Carrying our own gear and flying our own private jet. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Mozart – Just to see if he is good enough to play it. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Rock and Roll has no enemies. It loves everybody.

more intricate arrangements that were influenced by progressive rock that weren’t typical verse-chorus-verse songs. In my mind, while the EP has some cool tunes, if you listen to it as a whole, it doesn’t have a cohesive flow. The LP will have more flow and more songs of the 11-minute variety.” What can a punter expect from your live show? Rock moves, beer and loud guitars. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Our Album Burn. Available from Off the Hip, Polyester Records and Broken Glass Stored. Also check out our website www.thevendettas.com.au for links to iTunes and other merch. When’s the gig and with who? Friday February 10 at the Gershwin Room (the Espy) with Wingman, Remission Theory, Giants Under The Sun and Bad Karma. Anything else to add? Be nice to your Mum or we will.

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SCARAMOUCHE play The Evelyn on Thursday February 9 and the Bendigo Hotel on Sunday February 12. Access Denied is out now.

SWITCHFOOT BY ROD WHITFIELD

At the risk of stating the blatantly obvious, American rock band Switchfoot are far from the heaviest band on the Soundwave bill. They’re also probably the least debaucherous and party-ready band in the lineup, with all members being staunch Christians. With all that said, they may seem an interesting choice for a massive bill chock-full of ungodly, murderously heavy bands such as Meshuggah, Slipknot, Lamb of God and Gojira. But bassist and backing vocalist Tim Foreman, speaking from his home in San Diego, welcomes the challenge of playing alonside such brutality, and is very confident they will give an excellent account of themselves. “No, we like mixing it up like that,” he states with conviction, “we’ve been playing on those types of bills our entire career. Especially over here in the States. We grew up going to punk and metal shows, those are the shows that really got us into music as kids, you know? We’re honoured to be on the bill, and I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun! “We do a lot of these types of festivals,” he continues, “here in the States and over in Europe as well. You get to see a lot of bands in one day, which we enjoy just as much as the people who buy tickets to go do. We’re fans of the music just like everyone else, and a lot of the times it becomes a big reunion backstage. You see a lot of bands you played with in the past, so it’s always good times!” Not only have they played on many bills of this nature in the past, the band tend to switch things up for these type of festivals, and bring their hardest rocking A-game to the fold, as Tim explains. “Well for Soundwave, we’re gonna be bringin’ our rock!” he foretells, “and so it’ll be a pretty high energy show. We tend to just go for it onstage. Jon (Foreman, Tim’s brother) is one of those frontmen where you never know whether he’s going to jump into the drum set, or dive into the crowd! Anything can happen, and that’s what I love about it, the recklessness of just getting onstage and going for it. “We’re doing some headline shows while we’re over there as well,” he says, “we’ll be able to catch our breath with those, and mix it up a little, be a little bit more diverse.” Speaking of which, it’s been a solid decade and a half that Switchfoot have been around. And it’s been a pretty damn successful career to boot, with eight highly successful albums, a Grammy and many other accolades and multiple chart singles under their collective belts. Tim often finds it hard to believe that so much water has passed under the bridge for the band. “It sure doesn’t feel like it,” he states, “but I think that’s the truth, I think we just closed 15 years as a band. And that just feels unbelievable to say that. There’s not many bands that I can just rattle off the top of my head that have been around that long. We certainly never expected to still be doing this 15 years later, that’s for sure. So there’s a lot to be thankful for. It’s ironic though, because we still feel like a baby band. We’re still figuring it out, and learning, and we

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“WE’VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF ADVERSITY AS A BAND, AND I THINK MUSIC IS A GREAT WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT. I GUESS WE WRITE MORE ABOUT THINGS WE DON’T UNDERSTAND THAN THINGS WE DO.” still feel fresh, like we’re still just getting going here!” Something that keeps them going for so long has been the pure joy of writing new music and releasing albums, and they have been quite proliﬁc in that length of time. Eight albums since their debut was released in 1997 is better than a new record every two years, and they never seem to run out of inspiration to create new sounds and songs. “Yeah, we love makin’ songs, it’s what keeps us going,” he enthuses, “the music, the songs, all have a story, and I think we write better through hard times than through good. We’ve been through a lot of adversity as a band, and I think music is a great way to deal with that. I guess we write more about things we don’t understand than things we do. And the music that’s always spoken to me as a fan has always been the same way, music that really takes you somewhere.” Another thing that spurs the band to keep going through tough times has been their faith. Plus while they don’t actually consider themselves a ‘Christian band’ as such, it puts them in a very good position, where they are able to appeal to both Christan and non-Christian fans. “You know, that’s a funny one,” he understates the situation, “we’ve always been completely honest about our beliefs, and where we’re coming from. At the same time people are always trying to put you in boxes. Our music is just honest, it comes from an honest place, of beliefs and doubts and struggles, and I think it’s something that speaks to a lot of people, but not to everyone... we write songs that a lot of people do appreciate, and the ones that don’t, we couldn’t care less about at this point. You kinda have to have that attitude these days, if you’re gonna make music that you believe in.” SWITCHFOOT play the sold out Soundwave Festival on Friday March 2 at Melbourne Showgrounds. They also play a side show at the Prince Bandroom on Thursday March 1. Boogie reminds you to party responsibly

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TEX PERKINS: THE MAN IN BLACK BY THOMAS BAILEY

The date was January 13, 1968. Johnny Cash was in the midst of performing two now-legendary shows at California’s infamous Folsom Prison. The performance was being recorded, the inmates were going positively nuts, and Cash was hitting his stride. But then a photographer invaded his personal space. In a moment of rage, Cash flipped the bird to the unfortunate snapper. The resulting photograph became an iconic image as the decades passed, now blutacked on the back walls of just about every trendily grungy bar in Fitzroy. Fast forward to present day times. I’m halfway through my 30-minute chat with the one and only Tex Perkins regarding his starring role in The Man In Black, a “music-driven documentary-style story” about Cash’s rise to stardom. Perkins is recreating that famous flip-off, his middle finger hovering only five centimetres away from my face. I’m thinking, “Holy shit, this guy was born to play Johnny Cash.” And just as well. For 18 months, Perkins has allowed his “inner Johnny” to run amok on the stage in Australia, accompanied by The Tennessee Four. Now in 2012, The Man In Black is back, gearing up for another run. Perkins and Cash go way back. Perkins’ first band, The Dum Dums, played Cash tunes, and the offer to play the legend in a theatrical production was simply too good to pass up. “It was a – I don’t like this term – but it was a ‘no-brainer,’” Perkins admits. “It was a walk-up gig, it was too easy! I should have said ‘no’ because it was too easy,” he laughs. Perkins laughs a lot, in his deep and easy-going baritone, and it’s infectious. “But [the offer] came up at exactly the right time, as I’d just come to the end of a very long contract,” he continues. “Even though it wasn’t all tears and threats with the record company, I wanted to end it and move on. But there was a clause that said that 12 months after the contract ends, anything I recorded or released [the record company] would still be able to sink their hooks into it! “THEN THERE APPEARS IN MY LIFE THIS MAN,” Perkins bellows. “[Producer Simon Myers] said, ‘Do you want to do a show about Johnny Cash?’ And I agreed, instantly. Without considering it. It was a very risky thing, but I actually did not use my brain! There could have been plenty to consider, but it just seemed like, ‘me, Johnny Cash, yes.’” But what is it exactly about Johnny Cash that transcends genres? I mean, rockers love him, as do indie-pop people, punks and just about everybody else. Perkins has a couple of theories. “First off, he had his eye on his own mythology,” Perkins says. “Not that he was a bullshit artist, but you know, he associated himself with prisons, and singing songs of those types, and maybe there are a lot of people out there who have ideas about him that aren’t true! A lot of people assume that he did hard time; you just think those things, because of a sort of mythology. Not that there’s not a great story there, of course there’s a great story. “Bottom line is he wrote a lot of great songs,” he continues. “They’re all very simple and … all-encompassing. I mean me, as a 16-year-old, my first band was playing Johnny Cash; [the songs] were simple and accessible and achievable for a 16-year-old.” At this, Perkins pantomimes playing guitar of Walk The Line. “And it’s like, ‘Wow, that sounds really cool!’ You know, you didn’t have to play well. Just make contact with the strings and you’re halfway there!” he continues. Given Perkins’ experience and knowledge of all things Cash, I wonder aloud if the script had already been completely written when he made his ‘no-brainer’ decision to take the lead. Or did Perkins help write any of it? Perkins leans forward intently and presses his hands together. “Well, there was a script,” he begins, arching his eyebrows. “And during the course of most of the initial rehearsals, we did some rewriting; going back to the main writer (Jim McPherson) and saying, ‘Uh, we changed this, is that okay?’ ‘Yeah!’ And then occasionally he’d go, ‘No, NO, you can’t change that!’ “So, yes, we all threw in ideas and changes in the initial stages. But then as the show goes on – we’ve done over 150 of the fuckers – we sort of change it naturally. We’d go, ‘Oh, this doesn’t work anymore,’ or maybe I’ll say something spontaneously and it’s ‘Whoa, that’s hilarious!’ And then it goes in the script and then after three weeks it’s ‘Oh, this is getting really tired.’ “[The Man In Black] is a living thing, and to Simon’s credit, he’s allowed that to happen to the benefit of the show, and it keeps it alive.” As our talk winds down to a close, I ask Perkins about his own mythology. How does he feel he’s managed it? “TERRIBLE,” he laughs. “The Ladyboys for instance. A lot of people will never forgive me for the Ladyboys. There’s a group of people in rock‘n’roll that think serious artists don’t do things like that. It’s an unwritten rule some people have: Thou shalt not do self-parody. Anyway, I’ve broken all those rules before, whatever they are. There’s not a consistent narrative with my career. From release to release, I’m working with different people each year: I’ll do a Don & Charlie album, I’ll do a Beasts Of Bourbon album, I’ll work with Tim Rogers and an orchestra, then I’ll do the Ladyboys, back to Dark Horses, then I’m doing the Johnny Cash thing … so I think that’s just the way that I am, and it’s the way that I’ve been, and the way I always will be. It would be hard to lodge a narrative by the way my career goes!” So it’s difficult to pin Tex down? “That’s the idea!” he bellows, laughing.

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THE MAN IN BLACK returns with Tex Perkins and his band The Tennessee Four at the Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort on Saturday February 25. Support acts include Dan Sultan, Adalita and The Fearless Vampire Killers. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster. For further information, visit mtbuller.com.au or themaninblack.com.au. TEX PERKINS & THE BAND OF GOLD also play the Spiegeltent on Thursday February 16 and The Regal Ballroom on Friday February 17.

DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT BY PETER HODGSON

Devin Townsend first came to the world’s attention via guitar hero Steve Vai in 1993. Vai, usually known as an instrumental artist, wanted a vocalist for his Sex & Religion album. All the demos the label sent over were from real pretty, safe-sounding singers. Vai was despondent. Then Devin Townsend’s demo landed on his desk. Today “hard rock vocalist for hire” is the last thing Townsend’s name makes us think of. Terms like ‘Heavy Metal Auteur’ and ‘Progressive Iconoclast’ are considered more apt. His latest opus, the Devin Townsend Project, took in four albums and was recently capped off with a huge box set and a four-night live run where each album was performed and filmed for an upcoming DVD. “I came away from it feeling that I had purged something that was holding me back,” Townsend says of the four night stand. “There’s a freedom to writing music that I think I had lost somewhere along the way when there were expectations that came into the picture, with Strapping Young Lad or the Devin Townsend Band. So getting away from music for a while and allowing myself to reconnect with the things about music that are important to me, and my love for it, allowed me to realise that through a lot of my hang-ups I’d ceased to allow myself that freedom. And doing these four records, it was like the sky is the limit, in a lot of ways now.” Next for Townsend is Epicloud, to be followed by Z2 (Ziltoid Squared), the sequel to his first post-Strapping release, 2007’s Ziltoid The Omniscient - the tale of an inter-dimensional, coffee-guzzling, axe-shredding alien intent on wiping out the fucking earth because of bad coffee and proving he’s the ultimate guitar hero. Townsend says Epicloud essentially serves as a bridge to Z2, which he says will be “…the biggest thing I’ve ever done. Epicloud is very much a reaction to the complexity of Deconstruction. What it is is a very awesome, epic hard rock record without that depth of metaphor, that overt complexity for complexity’s sake. It’s a bunch of really cool songs that I really like listening to that go well with summer.” A similar description could be applied to Addicted!, the second album of the DTP tetralogy. “The thing I had a problem with with Addicted! is, if I was to refine it I think that without the contrast of a bit of melancholy it loses some of that impact and has

the potential of becoming delusional, in that sense of everything being awesome all the time. Because it isn’t! And it’s like, when I was doing Addicted!, I wanted to make a record where every song is like, ‘It’s awesome!’ That’s why all the titles have exclamation marks. Like, this is living, y’know what I mean? But when it was done I remember thinking, ‘But it isn’t!’ There are elements of life that really are hard, and really suck. Today I just finished this ten-day cleanse where you don’t eat, and it’s something I do every year and it’s very difficult. It’s not too difficult not to do, but it sucks, right? But the realisations I get from it are really cool. Like when I ate again I was like, ‘Wow. Food is fucking great. Any food is great.’ Because you have the contrast to know what it’s like to go without it. So with Epicloud what I’m trying to achieve is that sort of beautiful glorious sense that certain elements of Infinity and Addicted! had, but mixed with some minor chords. Because when those minor chords come in they don’t affect me the way I thought they would. It used to be that if I chucked a minor chord in I thought it was going to have this gothic, black metal vibe to it, right? But really what it does is it just provides a release from relentless major chords!” Did he avoid that on Addicted! because he knew Deconstruction was on the way? “In a way. It was supposed to be a quarter of a definition of where I was as a musician, and to be honest it’s no longer where I am as a musician. If someone asked me to write Deconstruction again, it’s like, there’s no way!” Townsend is returning to Melbourne for the Soundwave festival on Friday March 2, preceded by a

Sidewave with the mighty Meshuggah on Wednesday February 29. The two acts have a long history together, most recently expressed on Deconstruction, the third album of the Devin Townsend Band. Deconstruction features a solo by Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendal on the title track, but more tellingly the song Planet Of The Apes contains the line “While we all have lots of bands who influence still… we all rip off Meshuggah!” Strapping and Meshuggah first toured together a decade ago. “My relationship with Meshuggah goes way back,” Townsend says. “In a way I’ve kind of grown in parallel with them and have a very implicit knowledge of how they’ve affected the scene from, say, ‘94 on. So a lot of times I think bands in general who are those innovators rarely get the acknowledgement as being such a contributing factor to the current state of affairs in a particular genre. I know for myself that when I first started Strapping I was so influenced by Fear Factory, and towards the end I was so influenced by Meshuggah. So I think it’s

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very important for me, as a person at least, to wear it on my sleeve and say ‘The reason I do that is because of these guys.’ Instead of trying to compete with that, as a fan I think it’s awesome. And on Deconstruction I tried to incorporate guys who I think are unique and have that capacity to influence.” Townsend says the Sidewave in particular is a good opportunity to make a statement with his own music. “I think it’s good to be Devin, as opposed to being Devin trying to be Meshuggah, or Band X who’s the current hip band or whatever, right? I like the idea of being able to play with Meshuggah and Dredge and just be the best version of myself that I can, and I think the show as a result will be very interesting.” DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT plays the sold out Soundwave Festival on Friday March 2 at Melbourne Showgrounds, as well as a Sidewave with Meshuggah and Dredj on Wednesday February 29 at The Forum.

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CORE

PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS AND GOSSIP BY EMILY KELLY: EK1984@GMAIL.COM

So last week was a bit epic, what with Big Day Out and then all the ensuing sideshows. I acted like a most mature adult and ditched the whole festival thing and bee-lined straight to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl sideshows. My wallet still hates me for it. So Mariachi El Bronx were excellent on Monday night but they weren’t quite The Bronx, ya know? And then I was ﬁnally one of the lucky Bronx fans to witness them supporting Soundgarden and it was – I’m really sorry to say – deeply depressing. Not one single, gnarly, grumpy Soundgarden fan gave a shit about The Bronx. To witness all your favourite songs banged out with typical Bronx fervor but with no massive crowd rush, no ﬁsts to the back of the head, no writhing crowd surfers, no mate screaming in your ear…It wasn’t the same. And so as I stood, 20 metres from the stage, kicking out jams and generally being an annoyance to Soundgarden fans, I decided that it was incredibly cruel for The Bronx to make the decision to abandon their many, many, dedicated Melbourne fans in preference of the big support slot. I know dozens of people who sat at home, cursing their lack of funds, knowing somewhere out there in Melbourne, one of the best live bands in the world were making a ruckus and they were not able to witness it. That’s fucking cruel. And now we get the standard 12-18 month hiatus until they return again. Call me greedy but I call bullshit.

CRUNCH It’s been a crazy week for metal and hard rock – particularly the more weathered of our metal brethren. Bill Ward cracks it with the Black Sabbath reunion and the band decides to record without him; Van Halen releases the comeback album to destroy all other comeback albums; Slash’s rhythm guitarist Bobby Schneck bails, and Motley Crue kicks oﬀ their Vegas residency and – gasp – Vince appears to have lost weight. Whoda thunkit? But there’s plenty going on in Melbourne metal too. Releases, gigs, tours… so let’s get into it!

NED KELLY: BADASS, BANDIT, ROCK MUSE Perth-hailing but now Melbourne-based Gasoline just released their new EP, The Wanted One. The title track is about one Mr. Ned Kelly and his struggle to outrun the authorities and it’s a worthy slab of hard-rockin’ hard rock if ever there was one, while the rest of the EP explores alternatingly ethereal and anthemic territory. You can pick it up via iTunes, from their web store at gasolineinc. bigcartel.com/ or at gigs.

GIG ALERT: HOMAGE TO DARKNESS Check out the debut EP by Melbourne melodic death metal band Catacombs. Killer death vocals, shredding guitar work, epic songwriting, elements of classic thrash – you can pick it up at http://catacombsaus.bandcamp. com/album/ep-2 now, or grab the physical CD around March. They’re opening up Homage to Darkness at The Prague in Thornbury on February 11 with Inverloch (the latest incarnation of Funeral Doom pioneers Disembowlment), Altars of Sin and Internal Harvest. Catacombs are on at 8:30pm so get there early.

Fans of New York hardcore will be excited to hear that Sick Of It All will return once again to Australia with Agnostic Front this May on Resist’s New York United Tour. Sydney’s Toe To Toe are jumping on board as the local representatives making this one damn ﬁne ticket. This will roll into Melbourne on Wednesday May 9 at The Hi-Fi Bar. Tickets on sale this Friday. Underoath have revealed that they’ll headlining their own sidewave this March in Sydney and Melbourne only. They’ll be joined by local band and Rise Records signing Dream On Dreamer. These guys have booked in the Hi-Fi Bar on Monday February 27. Tickets are available now. Destroy All Lines have announced a rather large international tour due to steam into the southern hemisphere this April. Pennsylvania’s August Burns Red and Arizona’s Blessthefall will co-headline an Australia-wide tour and they’re bringing Sydney’s metalcore up and comers Northlane along for the ride. Melbourne’s been treated to an overage (Sunday April 22 at Billboards) AND underage (Saturday April 21 at Billboards) show. Tickets are available from Friday.

MMF METAL FORUM I’ll be one of the panelists at the MMF Metal Forum on Wednesday February 8 at the Alliance Francaise De Melbourne in St Kilda. This event, by Music Managers Forum Australia, is part of the St Kilda Festival and it’s a great opportunity for anyone interested in metal, but especially those who play it, to pick the brains of some very knowledgable experts. And me [boom-TISH]. The other participants are Ben Ralph (General Manager

SO HOW ABOUT THAT VAN HALEN, HUH? By now I’m sure everyone who cares has checked out the new Van Halen album, A Different Kind Of Truth. And they all know that the album’s amazing. VH haven’t rocked this hard since – well, since forever really: the new album is probably the hardest hard rock they’ve ever recorded. And although I miss Michael Anthony’s backing vocals and tight bass work, Wolfgang Van Halen has proven himself an incredibly capable low-end overlord in Mikey’s absence. Now, Melbourne’s pretty skint on Van Halen history since the band has only ever toured here once, with Gary Cherone of Extreme on vocals in 1998, but if you go to Fiesta Mexican on Toorak Road in South Yarra you’ll find a photo on the wall of Eddie Van Halen and Gary Cherone enjoying that fine establishment’s authentic Mexican cuisine during the Van Halen III tour. Have your own little Van Halen pilgrimage right here in town without having to negotiate the sticky sidewalks of LA’s Sunset Strip.

Last week UNFD records announced a new local signings in Sydney’s Buried In Verona. UNFD will release the band’s third full-length album Notorious (Notorious BIV?) this June. The band are currently in Sweden where they plan to tour, write and record with metal go-to-guy Frederik Nordstrom.

Arizona’s The Maine will join the huge New Found Glory/Taking Back Sunday/This Time Next Year show at Festival Hall in April. It’s certainly a huge venue to ﬁll, so let’s hope four international acts can do the trick. Tickets are on sale now for the show on Easter Sunday April 8.

Excellent Viking metal dudes Amon Amarth with return to Australia for a national tour this April for the ﬁrst time since 2009. Locals Orpheus and Eye Of The Enemy will join them on the Surtur Rising Tour which hits Melbourne’s Billboards on Monday April 16.

The Trapped Under Ice tour has also enlisted some further supports. The Sunday March 11 show at The Corner Hotel will now feature Outsiders Code and Phantoms. Tickets are up for grabs now.

of Roadrunner Records Australia), Chris Jervis from Destroy All Lines and Gary Carson from PBS/FM’s Screaming Symphony metal radio show. It’s free but you need to book. Tickets are available from trybooking. com/ZYS. Come along, participate, and let’s have a beer afterwards. There are plenty of other forums and masterclasses run by MMF up until Saturday February 11 as part of the Festival. Check out the schedule at mmfaustralia.com.au for info about the other forums.

OH FECK YEAH The Feckers have just released their debut single, Just, which will be the first in a handful of singles coming out in the lead up to the It’d Be Rude Not To album later in the year. It’s available on CD Baby, iTunes etc with more to come, was written by heck-of-a-guitarist Chris Szkup and Richard Anderson, and features Roy Bratbakken on vocals, Dennis Leeflang on drums, and Chris on guitar and bass. Mixed by Dennis Leeflang, mastered by Maor Appelbaum.

GIG ALERT: CIRCLES GIG ALERT: BRITISH STEEL After Judas Priest stiffed Australia on their “British Steel” 30th Anniversary tour in 2010, a bunch of loyal Melbourne metalheads banded together to rectify the problem. British Steel – Joe Stanley, Bo Remy, Bob Miller, Damion Harrison and Jim Sinclair – will pay tribute to the metal gods by grinding through a set of rapid fire rage at the Hi-Fi Bar on Saturday February 18. Also featuring Kill Em All and Overdrive, along with special guest DJ Sinister cranking up the metal. Doors at 8, entry is $20, over 18s only. Presale tickets from Moshtix. Bonus fun fact: I briefly played in a Judas Priest cover band called Rapid Fire with Matt “Skitz” Sanders from Damaged on vocals. Recordings exist. Be afraid.

Melbourne’s Circles are bringing their crunchy modern metal to the masses via the Swarm Tour with Twelve Foot Ninja and Jericco, kicking oﬀ on March 1 in Canberra and taking in four shows in the Melbourne area. Meanwhile the band has posted an exclusive 8 minute video diary from the current Eye Embedded tour exclusively on Terrorizer TV. Circles are kicking arse in the UK, where their technical, emotionally charged and progressive-edged metal has found them winning favour with Radio 1 DJs Fearne Cotton from the Daytime Show and Daniel P Carter from the evening Rock Show. Swarm Tour dates are: Mar 24 - Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne Mar 29 - Mac’s Hotel, Melton Mar 30 - Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully Mar 31 - Pelly Bar, Frankston

GIG ALERT: G3 - JOE SATRIANI, STEVE VAI & STEVE LUKATHER

GIG ALERT: DEAD STAR RENEGADE

A second Melbourne date has been added for the G3 tour featuring Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & Steve Lukather. The new show is on April 1 (seriously). Doors at 7, show kicks oﬀ at 7:30. Tickets from Ticketmaster from Friday February 10, but the internet presale kicks oﬀ at midday on Wednesday February 8. Go to palaistheatre.net.au for the presale password. I can’t wait to see what Lukather cooks up on this tour. We know Vai and Satch are masters of instrumental rock excess, but Lukather is better known for his session work and his oeuvre with Toto, so it’s anybody’s guess what he might pull out at a G3 gig.

Metal Madhouse presents Dead Star Renegade at the Central Club in Richmond on February 11, promoting their debut album Blackwing. Supports are Mary Washington, grunge revivalists Scot Bell & The Reasons Why, two-piece Dirty Elvis and Severed Oath (promoting their debut EP A Dark Place Of Mind. Tickets are $10, the gig is 18+ and doors open at 7pm.

BY THOMAS BAILEY

Hailing from St Albans in the UK, alternative metal band Enter Shikari is a tough bunch to pin down, style-wise. Sure, they’re a bloody heavy mob – exhibiting the bombastic flair of metal with the speed of thrashing hardcore, these guys will certainly get a mosh-pit going! But what their fans find so endearing about their sound is that they mash electronic subgenres into the mix, in the process becoming a completely different beast altogether.

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Thursday February 9: Street Fangs, The Naxalites, Art Of Later at The Bendigo No Way Out!, Trainwreck, Ill Vision, Divisions at Next Friday February 10: I Exist, Anchors, Ill Vision, Outright at The East Brunswick Club Bodies, Poison Oak, Ferry Tails, Mikey Madden at The Bendigo Mondo Phase Band, Bad Aches, Rig Richard Insect at The Gasometer Scott Kelly (Neurosis) and John Baizley (Baroness) at Corner Hotel Saturday February 11: I Exist, In Trenches, Shit Weather, Backlash at Black Goat Warehouse (AA) Filth Fest featuring The Mung, The Kill, Disentomb, Garbage Cuts and more The Mission In Motion, The Aura Cura, D At Sea at Bang Au Go Go Records Reunion Party feat Snout, The Onyas, Guttersnipes and more

METAL, HEAVY ROCK, CLASSIC ROCK, LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT WITH PETER HODGSON EMAIL CRUNCHCOLUMN@GMAIL.COM

ENTER SHIKARI Vocalist and chief electronics man Roughton “Rou” Reynolds was recently on the phone from his home in England to talk about their third studio album A Flash Flood Of Colour (AFFOC), released in January, his band and what makes them tick. Before Enter Shikari, they went under the moniker Hybyrd, and they were solely guitar-driven. Reynolds then moved over to electronics and they became the band they are now. “I think we were just getting interested in such a wide range of musical genres,” Reynolds explains. “I wanted to not be so held back by guitar – I had really started to get into electronic music. We were just developing a new sound in those early days. It was still very much straight-up in terms of rock or post-hardcore but we added in these atmospherics and then we just grooved on from there, really.”

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Touche Amore’s Jeremy Bolm has launched his own label, Secret Voice, which is in partnership with Deathwish Inc. The label won’t be limited to just music releases, he said, “It’s an excuse to release diﬀerent things that I fully believe in, whether it’s a record, book, video, etc.”

This writer makes the supposition that with electronics mixed in it’s much harder to pin down the sound and gives greater scope for exploration. Reynolds agrees. “Yeah, definitely,” he says. “Obviously we have a completely diverse amount of textures and instrumentations at our fingertips, and it gives [us] more freedom to sonically experiment.” One central theme that runs through Enter Shikari’s oeuvre is a complete and utter distrust of government and authority. Whilst they don’t stray too far into anarchic tendencies, the message is out there: Don’t Believe What The Bastards Tell You. Growing up in St Albans (about 35 kilometres north of London) gave Reynolds his first taste of what incredible douchebags town councils can be. “Yeah, when we were growing up, we were lucky to have

an amazing scene with thriving punk, hardcore and ska … we got involved with that, and actually ended up promoting ourselves at the local youth club,” Reynolds reminisces. “But the local council, for some reason, made it clear that they wanted to shut down anything that the youth could do! And then we had to fight with them to actually put on any shows at all, so it gave us a very early lack of respect for the local authority! Naturally, I cannot resist asking him about his thoughts on the current state of the world, and how useless the political systems around the globe have become. Surely there’s a boon of inspiration for some serious music making? “Yeah, very much so!” Reynolds agrees. “I mean, the main thing with this band – when we first started out it was just music for music’s sake as a hobby … and then it got completely out of hand! Before we knew it, we found we have all these people coming to shows, and actually listening to us and shouting lyrics back at us, so I immediately felt a sense of responsibility, especially when the musical landscape and popular music [in general] is very, very bland and almost mind-numbing with its lyrical content. We begin to talk about their new album AFFOC, which literally came out three days before our conversation. I ask about the recording process; did they approach it differently than with the previous album, their sophomore effort Common Dreads? Absolutely, admits Reynolds. “With the other albums, we’d played the material live for years, really,” he says. “But AFFOC is probably the first album that really feels fresh to us – everything on it is no more than a year old. With Common Dreads, we’d written

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most of that on tour. But [AFFOC] felt really exciting and fresh for us, and we were lucky to have quite a bit of time to write the tunes and really experiment [with] them.” Recording their previous two albums, according to Reynolds was more an exercise in trying to ﬁnd a theme for the music. Not so with AFFOC. “We’ve always had that thought in the back of our minds: ‘How are we going to do this live?’ And that does kind of limit the creative process. But with this album, literally for the ﬁrst time we treated each song as its own individual entity. “We didn’t have to hold ourselves back for anything!” Reynolds laughs triumphantly, and it sounds to this writer as if 2012 is going to be a great year for Enter Shikari. ENTER SHIKARI play at the soldout Soundwave Festival at the Melbourne Showgrounds on Friday March 2. They play a Sidewave at Billboard The Venue on Tuesday February 28. A Flash Flood Of Colour is out now through Liberator.

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Q&A RIVER OF SNAKES

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SLEEPMAKESWAVES Sydney based instrumental rockers Sleepmakeswaves have announced an extensive Australian tour, celebrating the recent success of their debut ...and so we destroyed everything. The band’s (hello) Australia tour sees them visiting six states in February and March, before heading overseas to showcase at SXSW in Austin, Texas and then embarking on a headlining European tour, including coheadlining Belgiums Dunk! Festival, alongside Pelican, This Will Destroy You and 65daysofstatic. Sleepmakeswaves will play at The Evelyn on Saturday February 11 with support from This Is Your Captain Speaking, Xenograft and Jarek.

DANE CERTIFICATE Dead Leter Circus

ROCK THE BAY St Kilda is set to explode when the fourth annual Rock The Bay Festival hits The Espy on Saturday February 18 across the entire venue. Brisbane heavyweights Dead Letter Circus will headline the event and join a stellar lineup of Aussie rock acts including triple j favourites Floating Me and Melbourne’s ﬁnest in Twelve Foot Ninja, Bellusira, Tim McMillan Band, Ten Thousand, Bugdust, New Skinn and heaps more. Tickets on sale now via saltar.oztix.com.au, The Espy, Polyester (City & Fitzroy), Greveille Records, Fist 2 Face, The Nash (Geelong) and Karova Lounge (Ballarat). Check out rockthebayfestival.com for full lineup and ticketing info.

FRIENDLY YEN Rock reggae four-piece outﬁt Friendly Yen are about to unleash the second single Imagine oﬀ their debut minialbum. The single will be released with a clip shot by good friend Hamish Bassett, featuring the band trading their axes for spatulas in a tale that is sure to leave the viewer salivating. In celebration of thesecond single, Friendly Yen will be hosting a night at The Evelyn Hotel to commence their Imagine tour. Joined on the night will be the mighty 11-piece Reggae ensemble The Dub Captains who serve up a signature sound of reverb drenched guitar, big horns and catchy melodies and also Scaramouche, A quirky rock band that has crafted a fresh, dynamic and appealing sound delivered with a staunch rock attitude. This Thursday February 9.

Dane Certificate makes home studio recordings and magic tricks, bringing his innovative and forward thinking to the stage to entertain, stimulate and engage the audience. Dane Certificate Magic is Dane Williams (aka Dane Certificate) from Melbourne Australia - a solo act utilising magic/ illusion and music, bringing to the world a new genre of music and redefining “live performance”. Dane Certificate has another album mastered and is currently being shipped downunder. It’s called Miss Imagination and it is weird. The 20-song fourth release has a bonus album Fadeou64 and single Lion. To launch the release Pop Singles, Popolice and Pronoun will join Dane Certificate in the Grace Darling Hotel Basement for a night of noisy pop and magic tricks on Saturday February 11. $8 on the door.

FREDDY FUDD PUCKER Freddy Fudd Pucker began, circa 2006, as a solo project out of Dunedin, New Zealand. A city at the bottom of New Zealand, not far from the edge of the earth, mildly famous for it’s musical heritage and cheese rolls. After two self produced and funded albums, a solo tour was planned for the USA in 2009. Not three shows in, the tour was hijacked by a small Texan woman (The WhippyDip) and her accordion. They make a lot of sound for two people. Freddy plays guitar, banjo, ankle-bells, harmonica and a relentless kick-drum accompanied by Whippy on accordion. That much time in a tour van together can do strange things to the relationship between two human throats. Their howls vary from screaming, to dark brooding harmonies. They will be playing the Monday night residency at their favourite Melbourne haunt, The Old Bar. 8pm, Monday February 13, free.

What are your names? Oh. And the name of your band… My name is Raul Sanchez... and my name is Elissa Rose and the Band is called River of Snakes And what do you do? Raul: I play fuzzed out guitar, sing, scream, jump around, and act like an idiot. Elissa: I play Bass and sing.

as bat-shit, so I opted for being poor but having fun. Elissa: House-wife

When did you start doing that? Raul: I think I was born slightly tweaked, but I started playing music in 1989, yeah a long time ago. Elissa: I started playing bass when I joined River of Snakes in early 2010, but I've been playing guitar for 17 years now

And what makes you unhappiest about what you’re doing? Raul: The unquestioned adulation/disdain of the crowd. Elissa: Loading my-own equipment through drunken crowds at 3am

Why did you start doing that? Raul: I heard a band called the Sex Pistols and I was never the same, then I realised that girls liked guys with guitars and there was no turning back. Elissa: I always wanted to be in a band, it was a way to get my teen angst out. I guess I'm still pissed oﬀ.

What’s you proudest moment of doing what you do? Raul: To still be playing a shit load of shows every year. Elissa: To have worked with good musicians

Do you think you’re good at doing that? Raul: Being liked by girls who like guys with guitars? Most deﬁnitely. Elissa: I don't know, but I persist in doing it anyway, does it really matter? If you weren’t doing that, what would you be doing? Raul: Marine biology or Baking Bread, either are boring

What makes you happiest about what you’re doing? Raul: Loading heavy equipment up and down narrow stairs in dark places at 3am Elissa: Getting beer poured in my eye while I try and sing

And your least proud? Raul: Thinking about giving it up almost every day. Elissa: I am proud of everything we've done, the good and the bad. When are you doing your thing next? Raul: We are doing a Residency at Cherry Bar every Wednesday in February. Elissa: And touring in ACT-NSW later in the week.

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In recent years, the Davidson Brothers have toured extensively throughout Australia and America, which included representing Australia at the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass in the USA in 2004 and 2009. They were later invited to present at the 2010 International Bluegrass Awards held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. In June of last year, the brothers completed their ﬁrst European tour and performed at the 2011 European World of Bluegrass in the Netherlands. The Retreat Hotel Brunswick is stoked to bring you The Davidson Brothers, performing two sets on the Retreat’s brand new beer garden stage, from 4pm every Sunday in February.

DEEP CUTS LAUNCH

JORDIE LANE

M I X

Jordie Lane will be playing a very special farewell show at the East Brunswick Club in February before heading oﬀ to the US to tour and record album number three. Since releasing his second album Blood Thinner in July this year to wide acclaim, (including a nomination for Best Blues and Roots Album at the Jagermeister Independent Music Awards), Jordie Lane has not stopped his relentless touring. Jordie is currently releasing his album in New Zealand and on a 13 date tour there, but you can catch him this February for one show only accompanied by his band and some very special surprise guests at the East on Friday February 10.

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PUTA MADRE BROTHERS The most spectacular act you have never seen, the threeheaded one-man-band-band, the gringo lunatics of garage soul cacophony, Puta Madre Brothers will make a big style party to celebrate their new album It’s A Long Long Way To Meximotown before setting oﬀ overseas again to teach the world Spanglish dance technique. As part of the ﬁnal days of The East Brunswick Club they will paint the club like the bathroom of a Mexican gaucho on Saturday February 25 with very special genuine Mexican rock’n’roll guests Mesa Cosa.

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SUNDAYS IN THE SUN Heritage Hill will host a new series in 2012 called Sundays In The Sun. The free events will provide a relaxing afternoon of live music, family friendly activities and entertainment in the gardens of this historic building. Sundays in the Sun will feature some of Melbourne’s ﬁnest and up and coming talent and will be held on the second Sunday of the month during the warmer periods of the year. Sundays In The Sun will be held on February 12, March 11, April 8, October 14, November 11 and December 9 from 12pm to 3pm.

RADIO STAR Engine Three Seven

SALTAR HYPE’S 5TH BIRTHDAY BASH On February 23, 2007, event management company Saltar Hype (Rock The Bay, Creepshow Halloween Festival, Showdown At The Corner) launched itself onto the scene with a ﬁve band lineup at the Hi-Fi Bar. Five years on and it’s time to do it all again! Get down to the Hi-Fi Bar on Saturday February 25 for Saltar Hype’s 5th Birthday Bash - featuring some of Melbourne’s best live acts in Engine Three Seven, Sleep Parade, Black & White, The Evening Son and Anna Salen. Tickets on sale now at thehiﬁ.com.au.

ALITHIA Astral space core band, Alithia, has just finished up supporting The Red Paintings, and has also completed their own national tour in support of the release of their latest EP A Realm O Null. On top of this, they recently included a new member to their line-up, the world’s first video guitarist, playing a custom made guitar that controls astral video projections! Alithia will play the Workers Club on Thursday February 9. Headlining the night is Grande Flash, which features musicians from Melbourne’s finest underground and progressive acts, including members of Ennis Tola, Xenograft, A Lonely Crowd, and Chico Flash, whose fusion of world music, funk, and progressive rock this is an act not to be missed. Joining the bill is Melbourne’s dirtiest and wildest glam rockers Vultures Of Venus, and ambient electro progressive band National Airlines.

Four Melbourne boys in a band taking cues from an array of classic Pop, rock’n’roll and R&B. Having recently been released from the shackles of University and full time jobs, the boys are now readying for life on the road. Come down to The Evelyn on Friday February 10 and see the boys in one last Australian show before they relocate overseas and attempt to take on the musical juggernaut that is London.

GABRIEL LYNCH In recent months, Gabriel Lynch has shared the stage with Australian icons, The Whitlams, and conducted a lavishly received solo tour of Europe and the UK. And with the attention that has increasingly surrounded his emotionally charged and often cathartic live shows, witnessing Lynch and his ﬁve-piece band in action makes is easy to see why he is quickly becoming regarded as one of Melbourne’s leading songwriters and performers. He plays Thursday February 9 at The Drunken Poet.

EMPERORS Perth-based Emperors are heading back on tour in February in support of their latest single Plastic Guns, and will be stopping in at Revolver on Wednesday February 15 for a headline show with special guests Undercolours and Them Swoops. Plastic Guns has been on rotation on triple j for the past few months and is the ﬁrst taste of Emperors’ forthcoming debut album Stay Frosty, out in April on Gun Fever Music. Emperors are also playing at the Northcote Social Club on Sat February 11 supporting Antiskeptic, and Thursday February 16 at the Espy, supporting I Am Giant.

GROCERY BAR As part of St Kilda Festival‘s Live and Local, The Grocery Bar will be featuring once again young artists on Friday February 10 and Saturday February 11. Friday night features Sarah Rzek from 6pm and Elysium Fields from 7pm. On Saturday, between 10am and 2pm, buskers will perform outside of Grocery Bar, and music throughout the day comes from Julia Webster, The Nomads, Julian Byrne, Dani Leever and The Bluestones. The Grocery Bar is proud to once again support Live and Local, keeping good music alive.

THE RIPE LAUNCH PARTY Tehachapi and Private Life will be supported by some of Melbourne’s best emerging live music acts on Saturday February 18 at Phoenix Public House to celebrate the launch of a new Melbourne based music network, The Ripe. Red Leader, Indian Summer DJs and Art Van Delay will also join the bill with other support acts; Blue Jays and Acolyte. Tickets are $5 through MoshTix. You can ﬁnd more information at theripe.tv The Ripe aims to cut through the clutter to provide a place to discover, listen and share the best new music in and beyond Melbourne.

KATE VIGO With her next musical mission Kate Vigo continues her cosmic journey through and outside of genres, calling upon her uncanny non-linear perception of time that allows her to see everything that was, is, or could be at the same time. Coming from an enriched musical platform Kate has unrelentingly launched herself at a vast array of projects, including a recent collaboration with Clare Bowditch. As no stranger to The Toﬀ In Town Kate will bring her band together for an intimate evening tonight with special guests Adam Martin, The Tealeaves and Atalana. Tickets $10+bf on sale from Moshtix.

SISTERS FOR SISTERS On Sunday February 12 at The Toﬀ In Town, Sisters For Sisters will create an amazing night of music, dance, spoken word and creative expression from some of Melbourne’s leading ladies. This project is created by women – for women, but we encourage all people to come in support and enjoy this diverse and captivating event. The money raised by Sisters for Sisters will fund a Women’s Wellness project within the Refugee Support Program at FLN. The purpose of the project is to strengthen the community by addressing the physical and emotional health issues faced by these women.

PLAYWRITE February is the month to celebrate love of life, music and each other with the band who do nothing but just that...After only nine months together, it’s safe to say that Melbourne band Playwrite have accomplished quite a lot in that time. After nearly 50 shows, two EPs, a host of international and national support slots and a passionate fan base captivating music lovers and makers alike. Playwrite create a wild and haunting wall of sound; animalistic and undeniably catchy. Hear it for yourself Tuesday February 14 at The Toﬀ.

BANDA SIN FRONTERAS In a unique performance, Alejandro Espino Aldana and his Banda Sin Fronteras will lead you on a journey through Mexico’s amazing palette of genres such as norteño, bolero, mambo, cumbia, ranchero, son, quebradita, huapango, banda and more, performing classic Latin American anthems as Si Tu Boquita Fuera, La Banda Está Borracha, Si Nos Dejan and many more. This Saturday February 11 at Cruzao Arepa Bar from 9pm.

Last week River of Snakes began what promises to be a great month of rock’n’roll, playing the ﬁrst of their February Wednesday night residencies at Cherry Bar, to a great crowd. This week they return with psychedout noise-niks Silence Dead Silence to smash the jeebesus out of that dark-little club in AC/DC lane with another blistering set. Its free entry, bands start at 9pm and there is cheap Jeigers, what else can you ask for on Wednesday night...to get laid? ...There’s still time.

KIM SALMON & SPENCER P JONES Kim Salmon & Spencer P Jones! Many thought it wouldn’t happen. Seeing these two greats share the stage again. Well here it is suckers. Every god-damned Sunday in February at The Old Bar you’ll be able to witness two of the best get up on stage at The Oldie and show you why they’re the best. Damn I’m excited. This is going to be something else. Solo sets, guests and who knows? They might even play some songs together. You’re gonna have to be here to ﬁnd out. This Sunday January 12 and every following Sunday in February. 8pm, $8 at The Old Bar.

ALI E Ali E is pleased to announce the launch of her debut album, Landless, to be held at The Workers Club for a Matinee Show on Saturday March 3. Ali E will be joined at the launch with her full band. Special guests are Ben Salter and Elephant Eyes. There will be a free BBQ and other exciting things happening – so stay tuned for more details. Doors at 2pm, ﬁrst band on a 3pm. $10 on door with free download card of latest single.

FILTH FEST 2012 The Putrefaction Project brings you Filth Fest 2012. Southern gore slammers The Mung launch their second CD entitled Showering In Shit. Expect total sex appeal as these bad boys rock the stage and try to extort every punter into a sale. The Kill are eight times faster than anything in the universe. This riff machine will melt your face, and testicles, so it’s advised that you bring some lotion. This is Disentomb’s first show back in Melbourne since their massive Euro tour. They’ll be bringing the brutes, and the headaches. Garbage Guts will serve pitchshifted old school gore-grind. They don’t play half as much as they ought to, so don’t make me warn you twice. Iconic Vivisect are recent signees to Inherited Suffering Records, these dudes mish-mash all the best of brutal tech death. The Seaford Monster will give you bonged out slam from the satanic swamps of seaford. Heavy. As. Fuck. Headless Death are new and brutal and will kick off the show nicely!. This Saturday February 11 at The Bendigo Hotel.

TIMOTHY CANNON BAND

TWERPS

Timothy Cannon was born and bred in Sydney’s northwestern suburbs, and narrowly avoided indie-rock fame as bass player for sometime rockers Kingbayler. After moving to Melbourne in 2005, Timothy gradually reverted to his singer-songwriter roots, leading to a generous handful of writing, recording and performing projects with two handfuls of amazing musicians and friends. Launched in 2012, Sleeping On The Shoulders Of Giants is Timothy’s ﬁrst full-length album, a collaboration with the dream team of Andrew Rostas, Stewart Taylor, Mark Leahy, and Brad Jackson. Writing in the mould of David Gray, Bright Eyes and Steve Poltz, Timothy’s songs are simple and thoughtful; bittersweet and silver lined. The Timothy Cannon Band is launching Sleeping On The Shoulders Of Giants on Sunday February 12 at The Toﬀ in Town.

Melbourne’s favourite lo-ﬁ pop dweebs, Twerps are heading to the US in March for SXSW, and then a ﬁve week US tour. To say goodbye, and to raise a few much-needed funds for their trip, Twerps are playing an awesome show with besties Lost Animal and Super Wild Horses. The band will have their much-loved debut album available on the night on CD and vinyl. Tickets available on the door only – so get there early. It’s on Friday March 2 at Phoenix Public House.

Developing musicianly drumming. Using technique as a means to bring out the best in your drumming.

Free half hour introductory lesson. Upstairs at Greville Records (the coolest record shop in town) 0415 118 390 or asho179@optusnet.com.au

www.ashleydaviesmusicanddrums.com REGISTERED TEACHER VIC ED

Beat Magazine Page 64

RIVER OF SNAKES

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THE BOWERS With two LPs and ﬁve 7”s packed in the cone, The Bowers bong is ready to pull. And you’re going to have to breathe deeply ‘cause the chamber is so ﬂush with hits your lungs will dance all the way to the emergency room – X-rays proof of youth well spent making the best Bower-power garage pop. Their Odds Or Evens LP had received heaps of sick reviews and has just picked up a Spanish licence with the band to return to European shores in May. They play every Tuesday night in February in The Tote front bar, free from 8pm.

DRAWN FROM BEES Brisbane’s indie art rockers Drawn from Bees head out on the Dusty Midnight Cowboy Tour. Starring in their very own Comic strip; a story of four outlaws who wreak havoc on the Wild West. Check the Drawn From Bees website for weekly updates on the outlaws’ adventures, and catch them in Melbourne performing at The St Kilda Festival on the New Music Stage, Sunday February 12.

ANTISKEPTIC

SCARAMOUCHE Majestic rockers Scaramouche, will be unleashing their explosive live show across Melbourne and regional Victoria this month, as the Victorian Cavalcade tour kicks oﬀ. The tour will see Scaramouche rocking out at prominent regional cities including Traralgon, Geelong and Shepparton, and will showcase a set of brand new tunes for the band as they prepare to head into the studio to record a new album. The band is also playing a number of dates around town, including the Brunswick Hotel on Saturday February 4, the Evelyn on Thursday February 9, and the Bendigo Hotel on Sunday February 12.

PBS DRIVE LIVE It’s live, it’s local, and it’s coming out of your radio. PBS’ Drive Live is taking over the airwaves for a full week from Monday February 6 to Friday February 10 during drive time. Here’s the deal; three acts, three studios in one drive time show, for a full week! Featuring blistering live in-studio performances from a bunch of local talent, including Lost Animal, Twerps, Graveyard Train, Howl At The Moon and Stella Angelico, there’s sure to have a lot of something for everyone. There’s a bunch more to be announced, so stay tuned! Literally. PBS members also have the exclusive opportunity to head down to the station to witness the mayhem in person, live and uncut. You can RSVP on pbsfm.org.au to get your name on the door, or join the convo on Twitter with #drivelive.

MR JIMMY Mr Jimmy are launching their self-titled second album in an intimate and theatrical show at the Old Council Chambers at Trades Hall on February 9, 10 and 11. Drawing from a whole palette of styles, early rock’n’roll and striding blues included, there’ll be plenty of unheard of sounds for those familiar with the band as they open up from their folk and country roots into the humming ambience of electric improvisations.

HOWL AT THE MOON Continuing to bring their visceral strum and drang to Melbourne’s live venues, Howl At The Moon take to the Northcote Social Club stage to launch their highly anticipated debut album Squalls. Showcasing the breadth of the band’s musical largesse, the album is an at times turbulent journey over emotional high seas. From the sonic violence of first single Let The Mainsheet Down My Love to the more reflective tone of second offering Just A Kid like its name suggests, Squalls is unrelenting and enveloping. They launch it at the Northcote Social Club on Saturday March 24.

DEVOUR THE MARTYR Touring nationally this February is Australia’s Devour The Martyr, showcasing their brand of heavy groove and melody, alongside some of the ﬁnest talent this genre has to oﬀer. They play The Prague on Saturday February 18 with special guests Whoretopsy, Tortured, Order of Torment and Diprosu.

It was almost 12 months ago when Melbourne trio Antiskeptic came out of a two year retirement to play a very special reunion at the Arthouse. After ﬁnding their passion still lay in Antiskeptic, they are back for good as a four-piece and will be playing the Northcote Social Club as part of their Back In The Game tour on Saturday February 11 with guests Move To Strike (SA), Emporers (WA) and The Miracle Is Now.

ANIMAUX Make sure you catch Animaux at their favourite venue each week in February for endless amounts of moving, grooving and general good times. With a list of supports you won’t see anywhere else, such as Poco La Pax, Rosie & George, Secondhand Heart, Better Than The Wizards and Coash Bombay, you absolutely cannot go wrong. Mondays in February at The Evelyn.

BUCKLEY WARD Buckley Ward launch the second single from their forthcoming album So Pretend, Into The Darkening Blue, Saturday February 18 at the Buffalo Club. The Melbourne indie-pop quintet spent the last half of 2011 turning heads with the release of first single So Pretend as well as a slew of prestigious support slots opening for the likes of Howling Bells, Oh Mercy and Big Scary to name a few. Joining Buckley Ward on The Buffalo Club stage will be Boats of Berlin (SYD) and Eliza Hull. Tickets are $12 on the door – get there early.

THE SCATTER SCATTER TROPICAL DISCOTHEQUE DJ Manchild (The Public Opinion, PBS FM) steps out from the shadows of the group to bring you a new night of heavy African funk, deep Island disco, ﬁery Colombian salsa and psychedelic Cumbia records. The POAO Sound System set will see members of the band joining him with live percussion, vocals and dance. This sold out last time, and was one hell of a party! Don’t miss it this time around! The Grace Darling Cellar on Friday February 10.

MUSIC NEWS

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE

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MOONLIGHTING 1AM

Glenn Richards

Phoenix Public House has just announcd a new project titled Moonlighting 1am, a free late night electronica series. The Moonlighting 1am slot features some of Melbourne’s ﬁnest musical artists in electronic dance side project mode. Weekend nights in February, come down for a late night kick-on with live original electronica from the dance crazed alter-egos of Melbourne’s underground music scene. Free entry, from 1am ‘til 3am. Dance til you drop.

WEEKENDER YAH YAH’S On Saturday February 11, head along to the ‚90s incarnation of Weekender at Yah Yah‘s, taking place by popular demand for all of your Brit pop/slacker/shoegaze needs. Blur, Charlatans, The Prodigy, Pavement, KLF, Radiohead, Beck, Pulp, Ride, Dinosaur Jr, Pixies, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Sonic Youth, EMF, Ratcat, Primal Scream, Oasis, James, The La‘s, East 17, REM, Teenage Fanclub, Wonderstuﬀ, Inspiral Carpets, Underworld, Bjork, Edwyn Collins, Stereolab, Menswear, Suede, Placebo, Ash, PJ Harvey, Smashing Pumpkins, Shed 7, Sleeper, Adorable, Lemonheads, Lightening Seeds, Cornershop, Beastie Boys, Boo Radleys, Bluetones, Supergrass, Super Furry Animals,Violent Femmes, Weezer, The Verve, Underground Lovers and so many more.

CHERRY ROCK 2012 Californian stoner rock giants Fu Manchu have been announced as the headliners of the sixth annual Cherry Rock. Cherry co-owner, booker and onesie-wearing extraordinaire James Young, was understandably ecstatic releasing the announcement. “It has been a decade since Fu Manchu’s California Crossing tour in Australia” he shared, “In the past when we’ve had The Datsuns, Rose Tattoo and Died Pretty, to a certain extent we were after the best that was available and presented to us. This year we just sat back and said, who would be the best band in the whole world to play Cherry Rock ‘12? Fu Manchu. Agreed. OK. Let’s go get ‘em!” Also adding to the festivities are Black Cobra, Matt Sonic & the High Times, Bitter Sweet Kicks, Vice Grip Pussies, My Dynamite, The Ramshackle Army and Valentiine with many more soon to be announced. The sixth Cherry Rock takes place at Cherry Bar and in AC/DC Lane on Sunday April 29. Tickets on sale now.

GENNY B FUN RAISER Being unwell, as anyone knows, is a pain in the arse. Suﬀering from ongoing illness is truly some next level shit. Melbourne’s Genny B – RRR regular and Livewire co-host, guitarist of Your Wedding Night and The Bites – has been in the trenches for the past year battling with an aggressive cancer, and the experience has left her working overtime just to cover her rent in between her debilitating treatments. Thanks to a mighty Melbourne music task force, a one night only show at The Corner Hotel will bring together a cream-of-the-crop collection of the town’s ﬁnest for a special gig that’s not only fun, but with all proceeds being donated to Genny B, will enable her to continue with her treatments into this year and the next. Join Dan Kelly, Glenn Richards, AIH DJs (Architecture In Helsinki), Alan Brough (Spicks And Specks), Teeth & Tongue, Chapter Music DJs, plus Dan Luscombe, Davey Lane and Jess McGuire (RRR Breakfast) and support a worthwhile cause. Tickets for the bigger than life show are only $25 + bf, and all goes down at The Corner Hotel, Thursday February 16.

TRIO ALVORADA Trio Alvorada is a Melbourne based acoustic ensemble playing traditional and contemporary Brazilian songs. Blending styles from Samba to MPB (Brazilian popular music) and forro their energy will have you out of your seat. Trio Alvorada have travelled to Brazil to learn the ‘Suinge Brasileiro’ (Brazilian swing), melody and dance – bringing to you the real Carnaval summer vibes. They play Cruzao Arepa Bar this Friday February 10 from 9pm.

eat arepas, drink mojitos listen to

liveusic latin m

RY FREE ENT

wednesday 7:30

jonathan cohen thursday 7:30

the simon hudson duo friday 9:00

la rumba

THE BOMBAY ROYALE The Bombay Royale is a Melbourne band dedicated to honouring and reviving the funky, bizarre and mysterious music of vintage Indian cinema. Dusting oﬀ near-unheard relics, smashing out Bollywood classics and putting down surfadelic Hindi originals is all in a day’s work. This band brings the sound of the Golden Age of Bollywood back to the future, where it belongs. They play the Evelyn hotel every Tuesday in February, with special guest DJs spinning tunes throughout the night! Free entry.

saturday 9:00

santiago son sunday 6:00

jose nieto monday 7:30

santiago vela tuesday 7:30

julian posada

bookings recommended

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Beat Magazine Page 63

MUSIC NEWS

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE

For all the latest news check out beat.com.au

STREET FANGS

GRUMPY NEIGHBOUR Grumpy Neighbour play contemporary old time folk’n’roll. Throw in a bit of colonial gothic and an element of cheeky larrikan for good measure, among others, and that’s a good starting point. Theirs is a narrative steeped in the blood, sweat and dirt of a country and a myth and brought to fruition in the rich soil of ﬁnely manured imagination. grumpy neighbour is folk from the country, and then some. They play The Old Bar on Friday February 10 with The Death Rattles, Rattlehand and Sue Ray.

SINGER-SONGWRITER COMPETITION The Sydney Road Brunswick Association have announced an exciting singer-songwriters competition taking place at the Sydney Road Street Party on Sunday March 4, including categories for kids, youths, an open category and the silliest song ever written category. There are sweet prizes to be won. Registrations close February 24. For guidelines and info, contact info@sydneyroad.com.au.

INTERNATIONAL EXILES International Exiles were the darlings of 3RRR for a month way back in 1980 with Let’s Be Sophisticated. Thirty something years later and the same song is on the Slap soundtrack and the band is gigging around Melbourne with a new singer, drummer and a new set. It’s the same post punk pop rock but it has evolved with far more developed songs delivered with a seething, spacious menace. You can hear every time a pick hits a string, every time a stick hits a drum. And the lovely Vanessa wrings every drop of meaning out of the words with pitch-perfect gravel. This Saturday February 11 at The Victoria Hotel from 10pm, free.

SIME NUGENT Sime Nugent is a ﬁercely unique voice in Australian music. His wily pallet draws from the deep well of roots, traditional and popular music and propagates songs that are oddly timeless and strangely uplifting at the same time. Nugent’s music is deeply political at a macro and micro level, unapologetically articulate and hauntingly beautiful. The songs are acutely observed snap shots of us all. He plays The Gem this Thursday February 9.

LEAH FLANAGAN

Street Fangs have evolved from the remote swamps of Western Victoria. Now based in Melbourne they bring to you a combination of hard rock tunes to bite into. With a combination of raspy voice sounds achieved by drinking whiskey and a shot of scorpions down the throat, thunderous drum beats coupled with a swig of Wild Turkey, Marshall amps on full click, distorted guitars and raw bass licks pounding into your brain, Street Fangs have got you set for a wild ride. This Thursday February 9 at The Bendigo Hotel. The Naxalites will join them to smash out some epic stoner jams and do not miss the live debut of The Art Of Later; desert rock’s newest disciples. It’s only a school night in your head.

BODIES This Friday February 10, Bodies will headline a bill at The Bendigo Hotel featuring some of the best music you’re likely to hear anywhere, anytime, anyplace. Bodies, Poison Oak, Ferry Tails and Mikey Madden ply their musical chops from their innards straight to your ears. Sounds good so far, hey? Bodies play burdensome, lumbering riﬀs with more than a hint of desperation about them. Like getting run down by a really rusty car. $8 entry

THE STILLSONS The Stillsons are announcing their first Melbourne show for 2012. It will be at The Retreat Hotel, Brunswick on Sunday February 19 at 9pm, and entry is free. The band kicked off 2012 with their Mammoth east coast summer tour: 23 shows throughout the whole of January. During the first two weeks of the tour, The Sydney Morning Herald declared their album Earnest the ‘best of the week’. So get down to The Retreat to experience a truly unique live show for no cost. You’ll be making money!

BLANCHE DUBOIS Saturday February 11 sees Perth band Blanche DuBois grace the stage of The Toﬀ In Town to celebrate the release of their album Young Heart. Their ﬁfth studio release since forming back in 2002, Young Heart is Blanche DuBois at their best. They’ve played alongside international artists including Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, Ben Folds, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills and Nash and local greats Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Clare Bowditch and Kasey Chambers. Don’t miss this chance to catch one of their intimate live shows.

FEST LA FROG Fest La Frog 2012 will be taking place again at CERES Environmental Park in Brunswick on Saturday March 3. This second annual event will be a showcase of sustainable organic music and art. The ﬁrst acts announced on the bill include Playwrite, Charles Baby, White Summer and more, with other acts soon to be announced. For more information head to festlafrog.com.

LUNARS Lunars make twisted pop. They have just ﬁnished their debut triple A-side (if there is such a thing), and it’s full of lush noise and dark melodies. The band is Andrew, Alexander and Jaclyn and they have brought together their love of ‘80s punk, ‘50s/’60s harmonies and ‘90s noise to create left of centre pop. The ﬁrst single from the three tracks is Headlight, a sweet and eerie introduction. They play The Penny Black this Friday February 10.

Hailing from Darwin might be perceived as a disadvantage, given it’s as far from Melbourne as you can be while still in the country, but Leah Flanagan has turned it into a distinct advantage. Flanagan sings sweetly but wields a mean ukelele – as Darwin locals will attest, she’s been playing original songs to hot-blooded acclaim since she could swing a tune, and is the darling of the tropical north. The release of her second album, Nirvana Nights, is not a tribute to that grunge band’s nocturnal habits, but to a small, deﬁantly seedy bar in Darwin where everybody plays. This testament to Flanagan’s home-town sums up the tone of the album. Which is not to say it’s small-time – this is a beautifully recorded document of Northern soul, with full-blooded melodies and Flanagan’s voice. Catch her at The Union Hotel Brunswick this Saturday February 11.

THE BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB Members of Redfish Bluegrass, Red Hot Poker Dots, Maurice Frawley’s Yardhands and The Remains try their hand at traditional country. A masterful combination of fiddle, pedal steel guitar, telecaster, bass and drums brings these old sounds back to life. Bakersfield, California, a place where townsfolk seemingly had a high threshold for treble frequencies, 10 to 50khz. A place where telecaster, pedal steel and fiddle reigned supreme behind a rock-solid rhythm section. Watch the Bakersfield glee club attempt to chicken pick, pluck and slick slide their way thru some of country music’s treasure chest whilst maintaining the same humourless expressions as their heroes. They play The Standard Hotel tonight.

THE DAMES The Dames are Clare Moore, Kaye-Louise Patterson and Rosie Westbrook, three unique female musicians each with their own history in the Australian music scene. The Dames have come together to whomp those tricks with their highly original,mind expanding and innovative material. Sounding like no-one else this formidable all female trio of musicians have been recently blowing people away with their finely crafted pop songs in a lush '70s style, with songs featuring complex arrangements and far reaching influences. West Coast pop, sci fi themes, crazy time signatures and instrumental grooves. The Dames will be playing on Thursday February 9 at the Retreat Hotel Brunswick, with guests Emily Mae and the Alarum Belles.

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Beat Magazine Page 65

MUSIC NEWS

JAMES HAMPTON YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE

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THE IVORY ELEPHANT

THE SOLOMONS The Solomons headline The Retreat on Saturday February 11 in their ﬁrst and quite possibly last show for 2012. They’ll be spending the rest of the year concentrating on recording what they hope to be something that resembles their debut album. They’re also launching their new single – False Prophets / On My Own. Support comes from The Rules (SA), free entry 10pm onwards.

GUY AND MARCUS EXPERIMENTATION PROJECT Guy Blackman from Chapter Music, Montero and Sleepy Township teams up with Marcus from the UV Race to produce a surprising set of well crafted, heartfelt music. Nothing will be left alone, covering topics such as sex trances and awkward share-house living. They are playing with Ally Oop And The Hoopsters who are fronted by Ally Spazzy, while Eddy Current bass player Brad Barry will kick the night oﬀ solo. This Friday February 10 at The Victoria Hotel. Free entry.

IDLE MINDS Local punkers Idle Minds will be playing Pony on Friday February 10 to launch their freshly recorded demo of four quick, fast and harsh songs which you can purchase from this show for two bucks. You’d better start saving your pennies so that you can buy three of them. Joining them will be pals Soma Coma, Headless Death (members of Rort) and Cuntz. Get down and support what matters. Doors 9pm.

With killer guitar solos, political undertones and blues/rock riﬀs seldom heard today, The Ivory Elephant are a welcome addition to the original music scene in Melbourne. Joining the modern day blues renaissance of bands such as The Black Keys and The White Stripes; The Ivory Elephant put their own branding on the style. With soaring guitar riﬀs, bluesy lows, thumping delta and the occasional Psychedelic freak out, it’s the perfect segue to the end of the working week. Catch them for a night of all original music with Dirty Elvis and The Sweaters, Thursday February 9 at Yah Yah’s. Doors at 5pm, bands from 9pm and $6 entry.

STRAW KING EYE Straw King Eye are travelling at break-neck speed this summer. Following on from the release of their debut demo at the Old Bar residency, playing New Year’s Eve at the Bonnie Doon festival then headlining Australia Day at Bar Open, they’ve seen few shows that are less than a packed out venue with an un-ruly audience. Therefore, it only makes sense that they ﬁnally tackle Yah Yah’s. Hosting the Friday night time-slot, they’re privileged with the support of an equally exciting lineup. Opening the night will be the toe-tapping grassroots sounds of The Fletcher. Then, kicking up the decibels will be Reds Under The Beds, a similarly country inspired four-piece with a driving rhythm section and some truly spectacular face-melters. Followed by local heroes The Philistines, a band comprised of frontmen from numerous reputable live acts. If you’re feeling the back-to-real-life end of summer blues, this should be an ideal night to let oﬀ some steam. Doors from 5pm, bands at 9pm, $6 entry.

STORMING VEGAS After playing a smoking hot debut gig at the Espy, the boys in Storming Vegas are back for round two and hungry as ever to blow the roof oﬀ with their own special brand of classic rock’n’roll. Come on down to Pony this Thursday February 9 at 1am for some original old-school pub rock that the people of today are so desperately missing out on. Prepare yourself for a night of nonstop headbanging, moshing and that classic Marshall sound. Stick around after the gig and the boys won’t let you leave until you have a beer with them. Drink responsibly.

James Hampton won the 2011 Australian Songwriting Contest for the title track on his second album Decent People. As a jazz pianist and an accomplished songwriter he will take you on a journey through jazz, funk, soul and pop with quirky lyrics that will make you smile. Performing tracks from his current album James will play a stripped back set at Richmond’s Great Britain Hotel on Thursday February 9, 9pm and free.

60 SECONDS WITH… EMPERORS

ONE PERFECT DAY Saturday March 17 is the 10th year of Roots Music at Mossvale Park in South Gippsland, just two hours from the Melbourne CBD. And what a stellar line-up. This year the stage is graced by none other than epic Melbourne violin heroes The Dirty Three, plus perfomances from Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, The Bamboos, Eric Bibb With Stefan Astner, Ben Sollee, Sal Kimber & The Rollin Wheel, Liz Stringer & Van Walker, Kyrstle Warren and Ahab. The super relaxed atmosphere and BYO food and drink policy makes for a superb day out of the city. Tickets from OzTix and more information from lyrebirdartscouncil.com. au.

LOURDES Lourdes (pronounced “loord”) resides in the Pyrenees Mountains of Southern France, abundant in miraculous healing, where Virgin Mary appeared in 1858. For Songwriter Scott Frantz, Lourdes means something more. After many years of playing in bands, Scott Frantz created Lourdes as a solo musical venture. Now with a band behind him, Lourdes has hit the ground running. Having only played a handful of shows, Lourdes are releasing their ﬁrst single titled No More Sleep (Til The Sun Rises In The Sky), a lyrically morbid song about not having enough time in life to do what you want and exhausting yourself in the process. The music reﬂects the mood that has been set, whether it be a heavy melancholy of mundanity or a joyous combustion of positivity, its marriage is in pop. Lourdes plays the Grace Darling on Saturday February 11 with support from The Kilniks and The Removalists. $8 entry.

THE BARON The Baron is heading to Melbourne to celebrate the release of their new self-titled EP The Baron. Formed in 2006 by brothers Mark & Michael Turner, The Baron has forged its own unique blend of sounds that are inspired by below the belt booty grooves from the 70s, the stadium rocking sounds of the 80s, and the punching grunt of the 90s. It has been over a year since their last visit to Melbourne, and they are set to play three shows, on Thursday February 16 at Pony Bar, Friday February 17 at The Espy with The Scholars, Deadly Are The Naked, and Lucys Crown, and Saturday February 18 at The Brunswick Hotel.

DIEFENBACH Brisbane-based songwriter, Jake Diefenbach has picked up a Green Room Award for Best Original Songs in Cabaret, Best Cabaret at Melbourne Fringe '08, and a Matilda Award nomination for his work in Lady Of The House Of Love with Sandro Collarelli. He is known for his no-holdsbarred brand of confessional storytelling, his imaginative piano accompaniment, and his head-turning, androgynous vocal sound. His dramatic sophomore LP, Missing Person is a naked, and compellingly fragile maturation of his song writing. Diefenbach launches Missing Person, which was coproduced by Powderfinger’s Darren Middleton, at The Butterfly Club on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday February 10, 11, and 12. Book your tickets online to receive half off the price of a new Missing Person CD.

ATOMIC BLISS Atomic Bliss, Melbourne’s own alt psychedelic rockers return from the summer break with a series of shows at the iconic Esplanade hotel in St. Kilda. The Bliss are in the process of shooting a video clip for their third single and have been busy finalising the mastering for their debut album release, due April 2012. The first Espy show is this Saturday February 11 during the St. Kilda Festival weekend where the Bliss will be joined on stage by three other great local Melbourne acts. Entry is free and there will be CD give-aways to the first ten people through the door.

So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? My name is Adam James, and I’m from Emperors. I sing and pretend to play guitar. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? Bearing the equally clichéd nature of this answer - The future. What do you love about making music? I love the process of writing and recording. You start with nothing and end up with something that wouldn’t exist if you hadn’t done it. If that something happens to be good, it’s the best feeling. What do you hate about the music industry? Novelty bands. If you want to write songs then write songs, not fucking nursery rhymes. There’s a lot more than that though, I’m a very hateful guy. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? There was a Persian polymath/musician called Ziryab who lived from about 789-857 AD. He was one of the first trend setters and I think he would have dug rock and roll. Look him up, he invented toothpaste. He seems like he would have been a cool guy. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it be and why? Whoever started this flowery, synth driven, “lets do all our artwork in cyan/magenta/yellow cos we’re so fucking 80s” bullshit. Also The Beach Boys, if I’m allowed two. I bet everybody asks for two. What can a punter expect from your live show? No-bullshit rock and roll. Our drummer Dane is also a highlight, dude is a monster. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? We’ve got an EP called Sam and a stack of Plastic Guns singles. We also have a few copies of earlier singles left. Unfortunately our album won’t be out in time for this tour but we’ll be smashing that one around May. When’s the gig and with who? Saturday February 11 at The Northcote Social Club, with Antiskeptic, Move To Strike, and The Miracle Is Now Wednesday February 15 at Revolver Upstairs, with Undercolours and Them Swoops Thursday February 16 at The Espy, with I Am Giant Anything else to add? There are so many more bands I would love to assassinate…

JACKY WINTER Phil Gionfriddo is Jacky Winter; he says it is fun to play under another name as opposed to just saying that he is playing solo. Phil plays in The Bowers, Dynamo and Melbourne’s coolest party band the Chrome Nips. He also spent close to ﬁve years playing with Spencer P. Jones & the Escape Committee. As Jacky Winter, Phil has had the honour to share the stage with American Country Music legend Steve Young, Gareth Liddiard, Dan Kelly, Joel Silbersher and Bon Iver. Also playing solo on the night is Danny Baeﬀel who also likes to go under another name, despite being a one man show, under the guise of Cisco Rose. Musically it is a mix of Loudon Wainwright and Ryan Adams with a tip of the hat to the ‘Outlaw countrymen’ Waylon and Willie. Doors at 5pm, free entry and music from 8pm, this Sunday February 12 at Yah Yah’s.

THE RASH OF SATAN Back by popular demand, The Rash are performing a sweaty set on Saturday February 11 with their favourite “male nurse” band The Rectal Tubes. 9.30pm at The Cornish Arms in Brunswick. Beat Magazine Page 66

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DANNY MCDONALD Local indie pop veteran Danny McDonald returns to the Standard Hotel tonight to support old friends the Cliﬀords. McDonald is known and respected for his unique acoustic folk-pop songs that vividly capture the essence of Australian beach and suburban culture, and has been a regular on the Melbourne music scene since the early ‘90s – originally as a member of P76, Jericho, Oscarlima and the Stoneage Hearts, and more recently as a solo artist. He has released over 30 records around the world over the last two decades, and is currently penning a new record likely to surface later in the year. Expect to hear some of his new songs together a selection from his large back catalogue at the Standard.

BETWEEN THE WARS From the humble beginnings of two friends in a room came the seven-piece onslaught of Between The Wars. In the same way that the Pogues and the Dropkick Murphys stayed true to their own genre while blending in a strong Irish influence, Between The Wars are setting Melbourne stages on fire with their clever and unique fusion of Irish folk music with punk rock. This makes it mainstream enough for everyone to find elements they can enjoy, without losing their edge and unique flavour. They play The Cornish Arms this Friday February 10.

SOLO ACTS AT THE EVELYN Tonight at the Evelyn Hotel, four solo acts play. Tané, Max Impact of ESC, Two Birds (Callan Taylor) and Freingeist (Gareth of Ghosts). See just how diverse the sound of a dude and a guitar can be as these four musicians spill their guts to Fitzroy. It’s $5 on the door but seating is free, so there’s that.

MISTRESS MONDAYS, SHERIFF Mistress Mondays and Sheriﬀ team up this Thursday February 9 for the second of their four week coheadline residency at Revolver Upstairs throughout the month. Set for breakthrough 2012s with the release of their debut EPs, do yourself a favour and get on the Mistress Mondays and Sheriﬀ bandwagons.

CORAL LEE AND THE SILVER SCREAM

CHERRY BAR It’s set to be another massive week of live music at the Cherry Bar. Kicking oﬀ tonight, the grungy punk rockers River Of Snakes, featuring Raul from Magic Dirt continue their February residency with support from Silence Dead Silence. Entry is free and DJ Jack Favies will spin the decks ‘til 3am. On Thursday February 9 PBS Presents Women Of Soul February Residency featuring Chelsea Wilson and Deep Street Soul. DJs Vince Peach and Pierre Baroni. Open 5pm, door-charge $10 from 8pm ‘til 5am. On Friday February 10 Cherry Bar will play host to the DEAF Session featuring three-piece Melbourne band Red Lights, with support from Modern Age and Opener. DJ Max Crawdaddy. Doors 5pm, $13 from 8pm 'til 11pm, then $10 'til 5am. Saturday February 11 will see Sydney tough rockers The Lazys rock the Cherry Bar with support from The Balls and Royal Ace as well as DJ Billy Walsh. Doors 5pm. $13 from 8pm ‘til 11pm, then $10 ‘til 5am. Cherry Blues is happening on Sunday February 12 from 2pm to 6.30pm. This will be the last week to see Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk over two sets with Dean Muller, DJ Max Crawdaddy. Then Kitty K plays ‘til 3am, free.

4TRESS This Sunday February 12 will be a arvo/evening of hard rock, rock and punk with 4tress headlining a show at The Bendigo Hoterl. 4tress are a rock/pop punk band with hints of surf, country and rockabilly. 4tress perform with high energy, rockin’ guitar licks and solos and awesome vocal harmonies. 4tress have an all girl front line. Supporting 4tress will be Scarramouche, who are originally from Canberra, they moved down to Melbourne and have had huge success with regular gigs all over Melbourne and country Victoria. Also on the bill are punk groups Thunda box and Secret Crack Pipe Handshake.

TEX & DL Following the indeﬁnite hiatus of local group The Rostovs, frontman Tex Moon and keys player Andrew Dalziell have taken a temporary step away from their ampliﬁers to pursue a gentler acoustic endeavor. Simply called Tex and Dalziell, the duo will perform a double set with a mix of their original tunes written in alt-country ilk, along with covers of some of their favourite songs this Sunday February 12 at The Victoria Hotel. Free entry.

SYSTEM OF VENUS System Of Venus will be playing a rock-fueled fundraiser this Saturday at IDGAFF Bar in Collingwood. Entry is a gold coin donation, and all proceeds will be donated to Beyondblue to help fund research into depression, anxiety and related conditions. Bands for the evening include We Disappear, Thick Line Thin Line, System Of Venus and Model Planes. Get along and support the cause. Doors open at 7.30pm. Bands kick oﬀ at 8pm.

TI C K E

Hands are clappin’ toes are tappin’, Coral Lee And The Silver Scream, have gone and put their own spin on things with an up-tempo swing-tinged, late ‘40s jump blues/R&B band. The music shouts with a steam train rhythms; vintage seductive vocals, and gritty guitar picking – you couldn’t sit still even if you tried. This Saturday February 11 at The Labour In Vain.

MARKET SESSIONS Make your visit to the Queen Vic Market a musical one with Market Sessions. Enjoy free live performances on the second Sunday of every month from November until February. Catch up with friends in the beer garden while enjoying live entertainment from some of Melbourne’s best established and emerging bands, and browse the summer artisan market at the same time. This Sunday February 12, 9am ‘til 4pm with free performances from Skipping Girl Vinegar, Flap! and the Timothy Cannon Band.

SUZUKI NIGHT MARKET Now in its 14th year, the Suzuki Night Market attracts over 200 stall holders and showcases some of Melbourne’s ﬁnest artisans, producing locally made clothing, jewellery, prints and an array of cultural goods. The hawker style food stalls oﬀer everything from traditional African curries through to the sweetest of honey dumplings. It’s taking place at the Queen Vic markets again tonight, with live, free performances from the Woohoo Revue, Dusha Balkana and Jali Buba Kuyateh.

MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS Catch the explosive live rhythm’ n’blues orchestra Major Tom & The Atoms this Saturday February 11 at Richmond’s Great Britain Hotel, for a concoction of foot-stompin’ funky-tonk blues, spy-chedelic shoot-out tunes and howlin’ growlin’ jungle grooves. Featuring Little Red’s illustrious baritone crooner ‘Major’ Tom Hartney on vocals, this dazzling six-piece sees Hartney return to his classic honkytonk roots. Be swooned early up by the psychedelic magic of The Ovals. 9pm, entry is free so get involved. They also play Pony’s 2am late show on the same night.

ANDRE CAMILLERI & THE NORTHERNARIES Andre Camilleri & The Northernaires have been playing gigs regularly across Melbourne following the release of Andre’s sixth album of original material, Nothing Left To Lose, midway through 2011. Andre’s songs are played on shows such as Twang (RRR) and Acid Country (PBS) and he and his current road band have gained plenty of experience playing at major festivals and venues across Victoria. Special guests are Black Swans of Trespass who have toured all over Australia and produced two albums available at CD Baby. The Great Britain Hotel, Sunday 12 February, 7pm free.

AL S N O TS

MUSIC NEWS

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UNDERCOLOURS

BLAK ROOTS

This Friday February 10, Pony has Undercolours back for another helping of late night antics in the 2am slot at Pony. The local lads are reaching for timeless songs and sounds, moving from explosive rock songs and emotive storytelling far beyond their years, their music demonstrates a boldness to put songcraft before trends. Their ﬁrst single Spirit The Ghost has received an impressive response both locally and internationally being featured in NME and on numerous high proﬁle blogs such as Neon Gold. Having recently supported The Naked And Famous and scoring a spot on the Parklife bill, Undercolours are quickly emerging as a new force in the Australian rock scene. So be sure to check them out on Friday night in the wee hours at Pony.

Combining some of the rarest vocal talent to hit our shores in recent times and an all original repertoire of soulful African reggae tunes, Blak Roots is taking the reggae genre in Melbourne to new and higher heights. Led by African born vocal extraordinaire William Kadima, Blak Roots formed in early 2008 bringing together an eclectic mix of talented artists from some of the planet’s most exotic locations. Blak Roots have created a fresh and exciting musical brew that truly represents African Reggae musica razor tight mix of driving reggae rhythms, refreshingly sweet vocals and African inspired harmonies. Come see Blak Roots as the take the stage at Bar Open this Saturday February 11. 10pm, free entry.

THE FOURFRONT

GENEIEVE & JEZABEL

Street Credit Productions is a hip hop production company that dedicates themselves to bringing a party to every show and this Saturday February 11 at Pony, Street Credit Productions present Melbourne hip hop crew The Fourfront. Known for their full energy sets and a live party atmosphere, The Fourfront have recently graced the stage with a hard-hitting show at Revolver in early January. After recently releasing their EP What Is This? they are creating noise in the Melbourne hip hop scene. Joining them on the lineup for this Pony show are Matte Blac, Nothin Suss and Cult Fiction. Doors 9pm

Genevieve is a girl and Jezebel is a 36 string harp. They compose little dark folk ditties and melodramas together with their band; playing, plucking and bowing variously cello, glockenspiel, glass percussion, drums and other curious implements. For this very special performance they will also employ the capable lips of trombonist Paris, and perhaps some audience participation... think new folk chamber pop with graphic scores and projections thrown in. Genevieve & Jezebel will be supported by Olivia Bartley whose vocal looping and pulling guitar patterns will weave their live and lucid sounds around you. And ﬁnally, Paddy from Footy and Space Cadets presents his side project uqbbq; experimental improvised acoustic and electric soundscapes will warm the room and leave you feeling happy, hushed and just a little light headed. A special and intriguing summer soiree indeed. 7.30pm at Bar Open this Sunday February 12. Free entry.

BROOZER This doesn’t happen often. Fast sludge, up-tempo stoner, punk and tech funk on a Wednesday eve in Fitzroy. Tonight, Bar Open presents The Volatiles, Broozer and Two Quirks. Come and see Broozer in their only February show after totally crushing Sydney last weekend at Comafest. Hump day after work drinks just got tough. 8pm, free entry.

PHANTOM AGENTS Phantom Agents are a lively indie rock four-piece from the northern suburbs of Melbourne. They have been together for almost seven years and have just released their eponymous EP. Having played so many iconic Melbourne venues over the years notably The Tote, The Espy, Federation Square and The East Brunswick Club, the group have gained a solid and steadily growing fan base, centered around Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Phantom Agents take over Bar Open on Thursdays in February. Door 9pm, free entry.

PHIL JAMIESON Phil Jamieson has certainly made his mark on the Aussie music landscape. His wildly successful musical adventure has spanned four continents and 14 years. Whilst capturing the audience as Grinspoon’s enigmatic and electrifying frontman, Jamieson has also proven himself as a proliﬁc songwriter, penning tracks on several of the bands albums. Having completed a run of evocative and dynamic Sold Out solo shows across NSW last year, we’re now thrilled to learn that Phil will be gracing the stages across three Victorian stops in February this year. He stops in to the Northcote Social Club on Friday February 10, The Palais in Hepburn Springs on Saturday February 11 and Wheelers Hill Hotel on Sunday February 12.

RAPSKALLION Electric troubadours, Rapskallion, shall be swashbuckling to the stage at Bar Open on Friday February 10, with their heady concoction of rabble-rousing revelry, reckless riﬃng, and rhapsodic romanticism, for their ﬁrst Melbourne show of 2012. Returning from their recent roisterous East Coast tour, the ‘Skallions are raring to deliver their rollicking, Dantesque collection of vaudevillian rockn’roll sonnets, guaranteed to intoxicate, arouse, and inspire joie de vivre. Doors 10pm, free entry.

VALENTINE’S DAY LOVE-IN Hey all you star-crossed lovers and lonely-hearted desperadoes, you’re invited to spread your love around this Tuesday February 14, upstairs at the Grace Darling. To woo you with songs of romance and broken hearts, New York’s most eligible crooner Gary Olson (of The Ladybug Transistor) will be joining the northern suburbs’ most lovelorn bands, The Icypoles, Monnone Alone and Sheahan Drive. You may well lock eyes with your soul mate or at least your next temporary squeeze. For a brief dalliance, a chance encounter or a night to remember… see you at the Grace, darlin’. $12 at the door.

JESS RIBERIO AND THE BONE COLLECTORS With comparisons made to Cat Power, Patsy Cline and the man in black himself, Johnny Cash, Jess Ribeiro And The Bone Collectors will be playing a full band show with special guests Immigrant Union at The Retreat Hotel on Sunday Febuary 12 from 7pm onwards. Free show, head on down for some summertime musical loving.

THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2012 ZOO TWILIGHTS – a Summer of music at Melbourne Zoo BOOK NOW! Part of

ONLINE: zoo.org.au/twilights or ticketmaster.com.au PHONE: 1300 ZOOSVIC or 136 100

CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

Beat Magazine Page 67

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

AIRIT NOW CHARTS

PRIMAL SCREAM AND DTK-MC5

1. No Sleep DZ DEATHRAYS 2. Summertime KEEP ON DANCIN’S 3. Nothing To Do BLEEDING KNEES CLUB 4. Howlin’ Belle THE PEEP TEMPEL 5. Louise THE LOVE JUNKIES 6. Sword To A Gunﬁght CHILDREN COLLIDE 7. Oh Me Oh My MIKELANGELO & SAINT CLARE 8. Cool Change PRESIDENT ROOTS 9. Feet First TIARYN 10. Ready ELIZABETH ROSE

Black to Comm (Easy Action/Fuse)

WEDNESDAY 8 FEBRUARY

FREINGEIST TWO BIRDS MAX IMPACT TANÉ

ENTRY $5, 8:30PM

THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY

THE DUB CAPTAINS

FRIENDLY YEN (FILM CLIP LAUNCH) SCARAMOUCHE ENTRY $10, 8.30PM

FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY FAREWELL SHOW

RADIO STAR INDIGO KIDS ALIE PICKIN ENTRY $10, 9PM

SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY

SLEEPMAKESWAVES THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING XENOGRAFT JAREK

ENTRY $15 DOOR, $10 PRESALE THRU MOSHTIX, 8.30PM

SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY MATINEE

RADIO VERTIGO SAM & F

ENTRY $10, 1PM

EVENING

Back in 2008 Primal Scream – at the time still trying to steer clear of the chemical abyss into which so many of the band’s ‘60s heroes had fallen – appeared at the Meltdown Festival in London alongside surviving MC5 members Wayne Kramer, Michael Davis and Dennis Thompson (alias DTK-MC5). With a common heritage in drug abuse and intra-band tension, this was a marriage made in rock’n’roll heaven. After three years – possibly tied up in the litigation that MC5 seems unable to extract itself from – the concert has been released in a 2CD/DVD boxset. As concert packages go, this is a doozy. Led by the rake-thin and cognitively complex Bobbie Gillespie, Primal Scream is in psychedelically good form. With tracks spread across the breadth of the band’s drug-addled career – Accelerator, Miss Lucifer, Rocks, Swastika Eyes, Shoot Speed Kill Light, Kowalski, Beautiful Future – Primal Scream is a kaleidoscopic force to be reckoned with. The DTK-MC5 set is saturated with the unbridled passion of rock’n’roll. William DuVall – sometime front man with the recalibrated Alice in Chains – is arguably the deﬁnitive surrogate Rob Tyner, replete with afro and gravelly tones. With his stars-and-stripes guitar and grimacing duck-walk Wayne Kramer is the perennial showman, while bass player Michael Davis is as reliable as he manifestly wasn’t back in the day. On drums Dennis Thompson ﬁres beats with the ferocity of a mid-western National Guardsman following orders to suppress adolescent insubordination.

HOWL AT THE MOON

Just A Kid (Independent) A mellow new single from Howl At The Moon, taken from their forthcoming debut album. Just A Kid is a rumbling, atmospheric folk pop tune with a light and sweet lead vocal. It has a vague whiﬀ of cabaret about it, and that distinctive Melbourne adult contemporary feel popularised by The Audreys (and others). Not for me, but beautifully put together.

BLAK ROOTS

VELOCIRAPTOR

ENTRY $10, 8PM

Awesome melodic garage rock from Brisbane’s Velociraptor, heavy on the screaming harmonies and jangling R&B guitars, more Mersey Beat than Black Lips. This wicked fun single has one of those odd, stupid and memorable lyrics: “I tell her she should read the book / She says, ‘Why? I’ve seen the ﬁlm.’” It’s funny, in a Norwegian Wood kind of way.

KATTIMONI SALT LAKE CITY AJAK KWAI AFRO BONGO DANCE

MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY RESIDENCY

ANIMAUX

BETTER THAN THE WIZARDS DJ THOMA SUPERJUICE

Cynthia (Independent)

BLEEDING KNEES CLUB

TUESDAY 14 JANUARY

Nothing To Do (I Oh You) Battle of the QLD garage punks this week. Let’s say, for the sake of eﬃcacy, that the new BKC single sounds a lot like the new Velociraptor single, but leaning more towards the post-Ramones teenage riot sound of the Black Lips. It’s great too, full of bolshy energy, but maybe a fraction more forgettable than the one I heard ﬁrst.

THE BOMBAY ROYALE

EMELI SANDE

ENTRY $8, 8PM $10 JUGS!

RESIDENCY

DJ MANCHILD FREE ENTRY 9PM $10 JUGS!

COMING UP: (TIX AVAILABLE THRU MOSHTIX) ANIMAUX (MON IN FEB) THE BOMBAY ROYALE (TUES IN FEB) STAR ASSASSIN (15 FEB) HAMISH ANDERSON (16 FEB) BLIP FESTIVAL (17 + 18 FEB) **SELLING FAST** BIG WORDS (19 FEB) CHANGETHEBEAT.ORG FUNDRAISER W/ THE BENSON CAMPAIN (23 FEB – SLAM DAY) YOU & YOUR MUSIC – FILM CLIP LAUNCH (24 FEB) RAW COMEDY (19, 21, 25, 26, 28 FEB)

The encore is murderous. The members of Primal Scream join DTK-MC5 on stage for a killer set including I Can Only Give You Everything, Primal Scream’s Movin’ On Up and Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa. John Sinclair, MC5’s original ideological benefactor, shuﬄes on stage to oﬀer some choice lines of Rob Tyner free-jazz rhetoric in the infamous MC5 freak-out jam Black to Comm. It’s not the Grande Ballroom, but it’s on the same wavelength. PATRICK EMERY Best Track: Black to Comm If You Like This: You should be a member of the White Panther Party. In A Word: Perfect.

ANNA CALVI

Wolf Like Me (EMI) Anna’s growling, dynamic cover of the TV On The Radio hit is more wolf-like than the original, dark and stalking. The only problem is that it languishes in a very Anna Calvi style – soft/loud, squalling guitars, husky vocals – and ends up sounding exactly the same as everything else she does.

KATY PERRY

The One That Got Away (EMI) “Summer after high school when we ﬁrst met / We’d make out in your Mustang to Radiohead.” Way to crud up Radiohead, fuckstick.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

We Take Care Of Our Own (Sony)

Bruce is about to release his 17th studio album and he’s still awesome, and let me tell you why. Like many of his greatest hits, We Take Care Of Our Own appears on the surface to be this bombastic Red State Yay America anthem, but it isn’t. It is the exact opposite. If you listen to the lyrics in the verse he’s all like, “From Chicago to New Orleans / From the muscle to the bone / From the shotgun shack to the Superdome / We yelled help but the cavalry stayed home / There ain’t no-one hearing the bugle blown.” The whole ‘we take care of our own’ refrain is a very blunt and caustic sort of irony. Because Bruce Springsteen hates America. Fact*.

LIONEL RICHIE & SHANIA TWAIN Endless Love (Universal)

Next To Me (EMI) The next belle entering the UK soul ball is Emeli Sande, who was going to be a doctor before she opted to sing brassy, soulful pop tunes. The most impressive element of Next To Me isn’t her voice – which is just OK beside Florence and Adele and pure vanilla compared to Amy Winehouse’s dearly departed pipes – but the thumping Tusk-style drum beat. They’ve really ramped the bass and it sits in a nice, minimalist contrast to the belting vocal performance.

THESE KIDS WEAR CROWNS

Break It Up (EMI) These kids enunciate way too clearly. It is really the word that I am not allowed to say anymore because it is oﬀensive even if the intention is not to reﬂect or refer to the character of homosexual people. It is so gay that I am not allowed to say that word anymore.

ANGUS STONE

Broken Brights (EMI) The ﬁrst single from Angus Stone’s new solo album is yet another milky, seductive indie pop tune. Amidst a slow spatter of drums and rich strums of acoustic guitar, his voice creeps like honey, hypnotic and melancholy, like a latter day Elliot Smith. Beat Magazine Page 68

OFF THE HIP

SINGLES BY SIMONE Who the fuck keeps sending me Troy Cassar-Daley singles? That doesn’t end well for anyone.

TOP TENS

I’m not going to listen to this. I just want you all to know it’s out there.

POND Moth Wings (Modular/EMI) A second single from the WA collective, which takes the familiar, swirling sound of ‘60s psychedelic rock and does nothing in particular with it. As my friend Kristy said on the weekend, “I’ve already heard it once.” Innovate or die, children. *Not a fact. Bruce Springsteen actually hates Canada.

SINGLE OF THE WEEK M.I.A.

Bad Girls (Universal) Another chunky, sulky single of taffy stretched beats and lazy, savage rhymes from the pint-sized would-be freedom fighter. This one has a sharp ghetto booty flavour: “My chain hits my chest when I’m banging on the dashboard…Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well.” (Pssst, I think she’s talking about sex.)

FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO BEATTV.COM.AU/REVIEWS

1. Physical Education CD RUSSIAN ROULETTES 2. Sacred Music 10x7” box THE CRAMPS 3. I Can’t Win 7” HURRICANE FIGHTER PLANE 4. S/T CD BRAT FARRAR 5. Dead Grass 7” PUTA MADRE BROTHERS 6. New Start Again LP DICK DIVER 7. Skin & Tonic LP MONOMEN 8. Let’s Go Eat The Factory LP GBV 9. Fabulous Sounds CD LA BASTARD 10. I Ain’t Missing You 3” NIGEL

WOOLY BULLY RECORDS TOP 10 1. File Under Sacred Music: Early Singles 78-81 7” Box Set THE CRAMPS 2. Woollen Kits LP WOOLLEN KITS 3. Split Personalities Tape OS MUTANTES 4. Cats Of The Apocalypse Calender 5. Paying For It Book CHESTER BROWN 6. Calculator 7” CHINESE BURNS 7. Bughouse 7” THE GORIES 8. Fire Of Love LP GUN CLUB 9. Hammering The Cramps LP HAMMERING THE CRAMPS 10. Diﬃcult 7” USELESS EATERS

PBS TIPSHEET Uhuru Peak MOUNTAIN MOCHA KILIMANJARO Let it Burn RUTHIE FOSTER Tiritando ANTONIO GONZALEZ EL PECAILLA Let’s Go Eat The Factory GUIDED BY VOICES HyperParadise HERMITUDE Mazes/Mazes Remixed MOON DUO Mama Thinks We’re Crazy Too DOM TURNER & IAN COLLARD Diversions Vol. 1 THE UNTHANKS Frente Cumbieri Meets Mad Professor Sound Travels JACK DEJOHNETTE

3RRR SOUNDSCAPE Woollen Kits WOOLLEN KITS Facts ALEKS AND THE RAMPS Blues Funeral MARK LANEGAN BAND E Volo Love FRANCOIS & THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS Mazes/Mazes Remixed MOON DUO Given To The Wild THE MACCABEES Dirty, Dirty JIM KEAYS Wet Stallions 2 WET STALLIONS Hunter Gathered KIKUYU Let’s Go Eat The Factory GUIDED BY VOICES

COLLECTOR’S CORNER MISSING LINK 1. The Way Of All FlesH LP TEARGAS 2. 8 Tracks LP KROMOSOM 3. Woollen Kits CD/LP WOOLLEN KITS 4. Issue #32 - The Lens Issue NEGATIVE GUEST LIST 5. Tally Ho! - Flying Nun’s Greatest Bits 2CD VARIOUS 6. Slit Slut Slap/Reserection 7” RUPTURE/NIHILISTS 7. Blues Funeral CD/LP MARK LANEGAN 8. Mazes/Mazes Remixed 2CD MOON DUO 9. The Kremlings CD THE KREMLINGS 10. Before The Doors - Live 10” SOUNDGARDEN

SYN TOP 10 1. Moth Wings POND 2. Panic Attack IOWA 3. In The Mortuary WITCH HATS 4. That Was Was DIRTY THREE 5. Steam DEEP SEA ARCADE 6. In Retrospect BATTLESHIPS 7. Sleigh Bed RAINY DAY WOMEN 8. Light Games KOOL THING 9. We Should Be Swimming ZULU WINTER 10. Satellites (First Mix) CATCALL

BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT LANEWAYS, STREETS AND AVENUES 1. Streets Of Your Town THE GO-BETWEENS 2. Street Halo BURIAL 3. Down In The Alley ELVIS PRESLEY 4. On The Road Again CANNED HEAT 5. Gasoline Alley ROD STEWART 6. Wide Open Road THE TRIFFIDS 7. Sweet Avenue JETS TO BRAZIL 8. Sweet Road ANIMAL COLLECTIVE 9. Backstreet’s Back - BACKSTREET BOYS 10. Betty Baby LANIE LANEWAY FESTIVAL

BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT BEACHES 1. A Song For Starlit Beaches YNDI HALDA 2. Contempt for the Beach LEE NOBLE 3. The Beach At Redpoint BOARDS OF CANADA 4. Life’s A Beach! STUDIO 5. Petrcane Beach Track LONE 6. Piano’s On The Beach JACQUES RENAULT 7. Sandy CARIBOU 8. Shifting Sands NEGGHEAD 9. Stress Waves ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER 10. Green Water COIL

ALBUMS

STEPHIN MERRITT

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VARIOUS ARTISTS

Love, Love, Love (Warner) Just out in time for the commercial catastrophe that is Valentine’s Day, this love song compilation by Warner Music is guaranteed to pull the heartstrings of both lovers and cynics all over the country. The album opens with Avalanche City’s infectious Love, Love, Love. This up-tempo, catchy pop tune makes you want to quit your job, star in a corny rom-com and skip down a sunny street into the arms of a ridiculously good-looking male model. Other feel-good tunes such as Florence’s You’ve Got The Love and Mark Ronson’s Somebody To Love Me keep the movie fantasy alive whilst Kimbra’s Cameo Lover exemplifies that love songs don’t have to induce lumps in your throat and sting your eyes with tears of remorse but can in fact impel you to put down the tissues and get off your couch. Alas, it wouldn’t be a V-Day compilation without a substantial dosage of those saccharine symphonies that bring out the bitter cynic in even the most romantically inclined. Ed Sheeran’s Kiss Me, Lisa Mitchell’s Romeo and Juliet and Christina Perri’s Arms provide the soppiest moments in this collection as they fail to evoke any genuine emotion and subsequently fade into the background amongst a catalogue of otherwise top shelf musical love letters. This compilation also narrates the love stories of some of Australia’s most talented artists. The Jezabels’ tune Easy To Love exhibits the distinctly emotive rock/folk sound that has garnered them respect and admiration in their homeland, whilst Sia’s piano ballad My Love proves that the current queen of dance-song collaborations possesses one of the most moving voices around. Ryan Adams’ acoustic cover of Oasis’ most famous love song, Wonderwall, is a notable addition; however Death Cab For Cutie’s I Will Follow You Into The Dark is the strongest love anthem in the whole bunch. This timeless contribution about love enduring beyond the inevitable event of death is truly heart-wrenching and enough to make anyone cancel their plans, change into pyjamas and reach for the cookie dough ice-cream. As a whole, Love Love Love is a killer compilation that Best Track: I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab caters to all lovers and it will put many significant others in the good books on February 14, making it the perfect for Cutie If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Love Actually soundtrack Valentine’s gift for even the most cynical of sweethearts. or any other Hugh Grant rom-com soundtracks TASH ANDERSON In A Word: Love-ly

SKELETONWITCH

Forever Abomination (Shock) You all have one: the album that got you into metal. Maybe it was Master Of Puppets. Maybe it was a Sabbath album. Whatever it was, you listened to that album from start to finish multiple times – on a daily basis. You savoured every drum fill and tempo change. You perfected air guitaring what you believed to be the correct guitar parts while headbanging around your room and trying not to stomp too hard on the floor so as to avoid your mother coming up and catching you acting like your walls should have some layers of padding on them. It’s the album that made you realise there is a whole world of loud and heavy music out there just waiting for you to drink to. As you placated your addiction, you found more and more awesome records. Maybe your tastes changed; maybe you found an album that is so amazing it was all you listened to for the next six months. But you rarely find something that fills you with the thrill of discovering metal like that first record. Everything about Skeletonwitch’s Forever Abomination makes me feel like I’ve discovered how awesome heavy music is for the first time again. There is so much energy here and a good amount of variation between tracks. The mix is spot on, the snare snaps, the vocals are guttural and the guitars. Holy shit snacks. The freaking guitars. I can honestly say that each individual track has more riffs than some albums – not an easy feat considering that Forever Abomination clocks in at 32 minutes. Despite the metric-fuck-ton of riffage, nothing feels like the guys have just cut and pasted the best riffs they could come up with. The album flows like a solid stream of lava and is just as destructive to listen to. One of the greatest things about this record is that it is isn’t genre defining. There is no power metal, black metal or thrash metal wankery. This is an unadulterated Best Track: Shredding Sacred Flesh metal band and it is definitely working to their favour. If You Like This, You’ll Like These: GOATWHORE, Warning: Bangovers may result. DESTROYER 666 In A Word: Cataclysmic OSCAR SCHIESSER

THE PAINTED HEARTS Volume 2 (Rolantone)

Everything comes in threes for The Painted Hearts. The Canberra trio release their second disc nearly three years to the day of after their debut. They have also seen two-thirds of their orginal lineup depart, with only vocalist, guitarist and pianist P. R. Davis remaining constant. Kevin Nicol and Owen Andrews make way for Mike Oakley and Matt Nightingale on drums and bass respectively. You may know of Matt Nightingale, who plays with another Canberra export The Wedded Bliss. The Painted Hearts, like the late and lamented Morphine, play low end minimalist quasi blues-jazz with a sly bureaucratic bent. Smoky fervour fires up and burns in the belly as Davis rambles away about an entitlement to love which borders on stalking in For All She Knows, or yearning for the bright lights big city feel of New York in Looking Northeast. Except that Davis wants to flick off the light switch and enjoy the darkness, the black velvet, the frustration and nervous twitching. These are songs of fear and doubt but without the grinding, threatening savagery. Befitting the grey mass that inhabits our capital, Davis searches for answers to the impossible questions, and like the finest politicians obsessively seeks justification for acts for which he takes no responsibility. Yet for all that, the band remain true to their aesthetic. One can like a lot of music but one can only give oneself to one music. The cover suggests this — shadowy figures in a loungeroom. That is their lot. The accented drumming and rumbling bass relentlessly suck on the tension in Davis’ voice and climax in a dreamlike state. By the time they reach The Sun Goes Down you fully understand why they reaching the end of their journey, not with daredevil haste, but with drawn-out idiosyncracy Best Track: Looking Northeast that is muffled and subdued but no less powerful for it. If You Like This, You’ll Like These: MORPHINE, THE DUMB EARTH, TOLEDO BRONIUS ZUMERIS In A Word: Awkward

60 SECONDS WITH… So then, what’s the band name and who are the members? We’re called The Funky Brews, and we’re a ﬁve piece band that’s been together for seven years. Our lineup is Bill Ashworth on beats, Cal Burns on bass, Steph L’Aimable on guitar, Dan Lazner on sax, and Sean Riley on vocals. What do you think people will say you sound like? We’ve often been described as a hybrid mix between The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jamiroquai. Hard rockin’ funk, but with many other styles and elements, hence the name ‘The Funky Brews’.

THE FUNKY BREWS What do you love about making music? We make music to give the punters the same feeling that we get when we write a new song. Every member in the band writes their own part, and the fact that it all comes together is a pretty special experience. What do you hate about the music industry? Every industry has its pros and cons. The main one is that it’s super hard to make it in Melbourne with so much good competition! But we prefer to keep a positive attitude and keep writing tunes that ooze good vibes.

Obscurities (Domino) Although it makes sense to package this collection of odds and ends from late last century under the ‘Stephin Merritt’ umbrella, it wasn’t really until after 1999’s classic 69 Love Songs that Merritt started to record music – mostly soundtracks – under his own name. Although his main vice was The Magnetic Fields, he also recorded as The Gothic Archies, Future Bible Heroes and The 6ths. He’s the one constant factor, but almost always surrounds himself with a variety of collaborators who fall in line with his eye-rolling, deadpan vision. The best songs on this compilation are the more pared-back, voice-and-ukelele numbers, Forever And A Day and The Sun And The Sea And The Sky. Elsewhere, alternate takes on familiar songs with diﬀerent vocalists give them subtle new twists. A couple of clunkers slip through the net (Scream ‘Till You Make The Scene swiftly prompts the skip button), but the jumps from morose ballads from musicals to lo-ﬁ electro-pop from audiobooks are fun and make up for the inconsistencies. The more recent Magnetic Fields albums have been more measured and disappointingly short on surprises. The unevenness of this collection somehow actually ends Best Track: The Sun And The Sea And The Sky up being a positive – this was, after all, one of the things If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Wasps Nest THE 6THS, that made 69 Love Songs so endearing. 69 Love Songs - Disc 3 MAGNETIC FIELDS In A Word: Droll CHRIS GIRDLER

THE MACCABEES Given To The Wild (Fiction)

Given To The Wild is the third album by inventive English five-piece band The Maccabees, who are enjoying the heady delights of receiving that rarest of treats: popular success mingled with critical caresses. This atmospheric thirteen-track opus stormed into the Number Four spot on the Official UK Album Chart upon its first week of release and has been praised heartedly by English music magazine the NME while the band appears to be popping up all across the Brit media landscape. It only takes one listen to realise just how deserved this flurry of positivity is as The Maccabees have forged an expansive sound that is almost cinematic in scope yet retains a touching indie pop edge. This is music that will fit as comfortably into an arena as it will in your darkened bedroom. The songs can be enjoyed as the soundtrack to solitary nocturnal musings or as the sparkling backdrop to a collective festival-going experience. The up-tempo and transcendent Pelican will make you feel as if you are flying gently into the stratosphere while Go is a mini-epic full of unexpected time changes, shiver-down-the-spine vocal harmonies, beautiful instrumentation, spooky sound effects and the type of drama normally associated with Pink Floyd at their best. With the impressive Given To The Wild, The Maccabees have revealed themselves to be serious contenders ably equipped to play in the same sand pit as crossover Best Track: Pelican titans such as Coldplay. If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Parachutes COLDPLAY In A Word: Atmospheric GRAHAM BLACKLEY

LANA DEL REY Born To Die (Universal)

It’s always a concern when an artist’s image draws as much attention as their music. There’s no denying that New York songstress Lana Del Rey has been both perpetuator of and victim to such a fate. Del Rey’s ’50s inspired marriage of retro fashion and Hollywood glam has defined her as much as that sultry, husky voice. However, the greatest concern is that Del Rey’s major-label debut album – Born To Die – is a frustrating case of style over substance. Video Games and the title track present moving moments, but Del Rey’s expressions of pain and heartbreak sound contrived for the bulk of the record. Describing herself as the “gangsta Nancy Sinatra” with a “Lolita got lost in the ’hood” look proves that there is, indeed, a playfulness to Del Rey’s artistic persona, but it’s artificial without conviction and authenticity. A fondness for gangsta culture has led to a purported interest in the glamour of danger and the death of the wholesome American dream, but Del Rey’s ‘I feel the pain of life’ shtick isn’t particularly compelling when expressed via adolescent diary entries, clichés and vacant eyes. One is left wondering whether Del Rey is actually oblivious to her own shallow perspective or overestimating her tact when it comes to dark humour. Either way, Born To Die is only alluring on the surface and difficult to connect with emotionally. The saddest thing, though, is that Best Track: Video Games she’s painted her female song characters with the same If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Crazy For You BEST limitedness. COAST In A Word: Superficial CHRISTINE LAN

YELAWOLF

Radioactive (Interscope Records) With the ingredients of a record label’s wet dream, Yelawolf continues in the grand white-trash tradition of mentor and label boss Eminem. Cementing his persona, the Alabama wordsmith has a thick country twang and tattoos. After several acclaimed mixtapes, Yela adapts his formula to the grand stage that has birthed the likes of 50 Cent on his Shady Records maiden voyage, titled Radioactive. Whether he succeeds or not depends on what you appreciate about his style. His rapidfire flow is stamped all over the 15 cuts on offer, while slightly simplified. On one of the album’s most calculated moments, Let’s Roll, he is accompanied by fellow white-trash specialist Kid Rock on for a mostly quality anthem. If you like his tales of growing up southern and dirt poor you’ll definitely get your fix. The height of this would be the cinematic Made In The U.S.A, spitting lines like “single mother child raising, from a stripper pole swinging/daughter’s in the red light, coats for the cold season.” Somewhat appropriating his mentor’s formula, Yelawolf looks to have his own Love The Way You Lie moment on cuts like The Hardest Love Song In The World, which sound too calculated for their own good. While not everything on Radioactive clicks, it’s hard to not root for this talented Best Track: Everything I Love The Most underdog. Whether his style can evolve and stand the If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Recovery EMINEM, test of the time remains to be seen and heard. Stankonia OUTKAST, Ridin’ Dirty UGK In A Word: Promising ANDREW ‘HAZARD’ HICKEY

Who are your musical heroes? The band has such a broad taste in music and styles, but our common heroes, and people we draw inﬂuence from are Prince, James Brown, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jamiroquai, and even local Australian bands like The Bamboos, and Lowrider. What can a punter expect from your live show? Danceable tracks that people will be driven to move in ways they have never done before. Ain’t nothing but a party y’all! When’s the gig and with who? We’re currently playing a fortnightly residency at Noise Bar in Brunswick. Our next gig is Saturday February 11, with Shotgun Funk and special guests. Come and get funky!

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Beat Magazine Page 69

GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY 8 FEB ROCK/POP ACTIVE CHILD + CAITLIN PARK + OLIVER TANK East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 8:00pm. $45. BITTERSWEET HEARTS + BRENDAN WELCH + THE GUILTS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 2:47pm. BROOZER + THE VOLATILES + TWO QUIRKS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. DAN WEBB & KYLIE AULDIST Republica, St Kilda. 7:00pm. GIRLS + TWERPS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $45. INCUBUS Festival Hall, West Melbourne. 7:08pm. $90. MAN BITES GOD St Kilda Rsl, St Kilda. 9:00pm. RIVER OF SNAKES + SILENCE DEAD SILENCE Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. SLOWJAXX & HIS FLYING BONG BROTHERS Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 10:30pm. SUE RAY + AINSLIE WILLS + NATHAN SEECKTS Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. THE SUNDANZE KID Coco, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. VICE GRIP PUSSIES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. YOUNG REVELRY + SHAMAN SON Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BATTLEGROUND Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. BEN SALTER Kent St, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. DANNY MCDONALD & THE CLIFFORDS DUO Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. IRWELL STREET FEATURING HETTY KATE AND SAM LEMANN + ADAM MARTIN + ATLANTA + THE TEALEAVES Toﬀ In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $15. JAMES MCCANN + RUTH LINDSEY Willow Bar, Northcote. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC Dancing Dog, Footscray. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC & JAM NIGHT Grind N Groove, Healesville. 9:00pm. THE PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUG BAND Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. THE POPE’S ASSASINS + QUANG DINH Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 7:00pm. THE SHIVERING TIMBERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm.

THE TIM GUY BAND + AND MICROFLORA + GLORY B Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10. WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: FREYA HANLY + MICHELLE MEEHAN Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.

JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC BLACK ICONS Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $15. BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. COOKIE Iddy Biddy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. DIZZY’S BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14. FROCK Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. JONATHAN COHEN Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. LAUREN ELIZABETH Laika Cocktail Lounge, St Kilda. 7:00pm. MATTRIKS & THE B.O.K Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:00pm. THE ADAM KATZ QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15. THE PUTBACKS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10. TIM MINCHIN VS THE MSO + THE MSO + TIM MINCHIN Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

THURSDAY 9 FEB ROCK/POP 1AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: STORMING VEGAS Pony, Melbourne. 1:00am. A NIGHT OF ROCK - FEAT: STREET FANGS + THE ART OF LATER + THE NAXALITES Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $8. ASAMI + THE MIGHTY SUN + THE WELLINGTONS Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8. CHANGE ATLANTIC + ARMOURED EARTH + ASPERITY WITHIN The Prague, Thornbury. 8:00pm. EMILY MAE & THE ALARUM BELLES + THE DAMES Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. FRIENDLY YEN (FILM CLIP & SINGLE LAUNCH) + SCARAMOUCHE + THE DUB CAPTAINS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. GIVERS & PORTUGAL THE MAN + GIVERS + PORTUGAL THE MAN + GUINEAFOWL Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $46.

JORDIE LANE Sad news for the People’s Republic of Moreland last month. The East Brunswick Club announced it was winding up its live music shows for good, allegedly to capitalise on the inner-north’s reputation as Melbourne’s ‘70s dance music heartland by converting the bandroom into a roller disco. Seeing the venue off in style on Friday February 10 is sing-song dreamboy Jordie Lane, his last show in town before an extended musical sojourn through Badlands, USA. Joining Lane onstage is sultry popabilly queen (and possible blood relation?) Lanie Lane, Jarrad Brown of Eagle and the Worm and Emily Lubitz of Tin Pan Orange. Ben Salter of The Gin Club and Luke Legs will be supporting. $18+bf – cheaper than a $22 parma. GRANDE FLASH + NATIONAL AIRLINES + VULTURES OF VENUS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10. MISTRESS MONDAYS & SHERIFF Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm. MOTH Felix, St Kilda. 9:00pm. PHANTOM AGENTS + ROSENCRANTS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. PUBLICIST & HAWNAY TROOF + HIGH TEA Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $20. SON OF SET + ACETONE + BRAVO JULIET Pony, Melbourne. 8:30pm. SUPERDARLING Big Mouth, St Kilda. 8:00pm. THE ELIZA BAND + MILK TEDDY JAM + THE FREE FIELD Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. THE MERCY KILLS + PONY GIRL & THE OUTSIDERS + PRETTY DULCIE Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. THE SWEATERS + DIRTY ELVIS + THE IVORY ELEPHANT Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $6. THRASHER JYNX + I MILK TIGERS + LIQUOR SNATCH + LITTLEFOOT Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. TORO Y MOI + WASHED OUT The Hi-ﬁ, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $50. VOXANGELICA Cushion Lounge, St Kilda. 8:30pm. WHIPPED CREAM CHARGERS + HEAVY YOLKS + MARF LOTH + THE BROKEN NEEDLES Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8. YUNG WARIORS + BIG LUKE + DIZZY DOOLAN + JONNY MAC + KARNAGE & DARKNESS + SNEAKE 1 + YOUNG PHILLY Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $10.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BEN SALTER Bar Nancy, Northcote. 8:00pm. BRUNSWICK BLUES SHOOTERS Railway Hotel, Fitzroy North. 10:00pm.

60 SECONDS WITH…

JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC HANK BERRY Coco, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. JAMES OSBORNE COLLECTIVE Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15. LORA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. LOUISA RANKIN Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14. MARC HANNAFORD TRIO Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. O’ZIRIGUIDUM Republica, St Kilda. 7:00pm. RASTAH UNITY Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. SASKWATCH Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $8. SLEEPING BAG 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10. THE ANDY SUGG GROUP Cape Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. WHITESPLOITATION Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.

SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR

What is your band name: Skipping Girl Vinegar What do you ‘do’ in the band? Chris finishes off meals, Mark turns down the music so he can answer the phone, Kelly naps, Sare provides iPads, iPods, iMacs, etc so that we can do admin and Amanthi bakes and exaggerates. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? People never agree on our sound. These are adjectives from our reviews: folk/pop, folk/rock, force/subtle, dark/ dreamy, heart-ache/hope. Keep ‘em coming. What do you love about making music? We’re currently in the studio starting the process of writing our third album. This is one of the most rewarding areas of being in a band – deconstructing ideas and pushing ourselves into unknown musical areas. Then having lunch. What do you hate about the music industry? Downloads. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie are some of our heroes. Beat Magazine Page 70

BUSY KINGDOM Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. DAN BANKS Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm. DAVY SIMONY St Kilda Branch, St Kilda. 6:00pm. GABRIEL LYNCH + BRAD MARTIN Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. IRISH NIGHT - FEAT: AINDRIAS DE STAIC Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. JAMES HAMPTON Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. JASON LOWE + AL PARKINSON + CHLOE TULLY + ELK & WHALE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:30pm. LONGYARD + BGB + RED MOON JUKE Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10. OPEN MIC Acoustic Cafe, Collingwood. 7:30pm. RUBY’S SHOWCASE Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 7:00pm. SIB & EDDIE JAMES Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. TULLY SUMNER Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 7:00pm. TURNER Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

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They always have and had great lyrical ideas and imagery in their writing. Their opinion, whether good or bad, would still be meaningful. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it be and why? Anyone on a saxophone. We do not care if the saxophone is making some ‘cool’ comeback. It is not justified in any form. Even Lisa Simpson better move out of the way. We are armed and dangerous. We are carrying baseball bats and we are showing no mercy. What can a punter expect from your live show? A free pre-Valentine’s Day trial date experience. SGV will bring good vibes, tunes and baked goods. You just need to supply the date. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Our second album Keep Calm, Carry The Monkey. It comes in an audio library bag. How do you like them apples? When’s the gig and with who? Sunday February 12 for the Queen Victoria Market Sessions. Skipping Girl Vinegar is on stage at 2.20pm. Also playing is FLAP! and Timothy Cannon Band from 11am.

WOMEN OF SOUL - FEAT: DEEP STREET SOUL & CHELSEA WILSON + CHRISTINA + LISA FAITHFULL + MAY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.

FRIDAY 10 FEB ROCK/POP 2AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: UNDERCOLOURS Pony, Melbourne. 2:00am. 360 + BAM BAM + JOELISTICS Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 8:00pm. $27. APES + DJ XANDER + HOLLOW EVERDAZE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. BETTER THAN THE WIZARDS + FAT SPARROW + PRORATA + T-BIRD & THE LUMBERJACKS Felix, St Kilda. 8:00pm. BETWEEN THE WARS + LAST OF THE GOOD MEN + ROAD RATZ Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8:00pm. BROOKLYN’S FINES + HUNGRY HEARTS + LIGHTS ON AT HEATHROW + THE COMMMUNISTS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $10. BUNNY MONROE + PATRON SAINTS + THE COUNCIL Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. DIRTRY YORK Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. DIRTY F Cushion Lounge, St Kilda. 8:30pm. ELYSIUM FIELDS + SARAH RZEK Grocery Bar, St Kilda. 6:00pm. HUW JOSEPH St Kilda Rsl, St Kilda. 9:00pm. IDLE MINDS (DEMO LAUNCH) + CUNTZ + HEADLESS DEATH + SOMA COMA Pony, Melbourne. 9:00pm. INEVITABLE ORBIT + MAD NANNA + PEOPLE PERSON Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8. LUNARS + HIGHWATER BALLROOM BAND + MY FAVOURITE COLOUR IS GOLD Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. PHIL JAMIESON + EVIL J & ST CECILIA Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $27. RADIO STAR (FAREWELL SHOW) + ALIE PICKIN + INDIGO KIDS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10. RAPSKALLION Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. RED LIGHTS + MODERN AGE + OPENER Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13. RETRO SEXUAL - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS One Twenty Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. RHYS CRIMMIN + DAVE HAVEA + THE GROVES + WHITE SUMMER The Prague, Thornbury. 8:00pm. SCOTT KELLY & JOHN BAIZLEY + JOHN BAIZLEY + SCOTT KELLY + BLACKIE + MATT SONIC Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $30. SIBLINGS + ISENBERGS + STAFFAN GUINANE 6:00pm. $7. SLEEPMAKESWAVES + GATHERER + QUIET CHILD! + RUSTY FROM ELECTRIC MARY + SOLKYRI Espy, St Kilda. 6:00pm. STRAW KING EYE + FLETCHER + REDS UNDER BEDS + THE PHILISTINES Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $6. THE DEATH RATTLES + DJ HILLBILLY FILLY + GRUMPY NEIGHBOUR + RATTLEHAND + SUE RAY Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. THE GUY & MARCUS EXPERIMENTATION P{ROJECT + ALLY OOP HOOPSTERS + BRAD BARRY Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. THE RULES + DRUNK MUMS + THE MORRISONS + UDAYS TIGER Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. THE VENDETTAS + GIANTS UNDER THE SUN + REMISSION THEORY + WINGMAN Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $10. THE WELLS + RISE ELECTRIC + SHE’S THE DRIVER + THE ATLANTIC FALL Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. VALLEY FLOOR + FRAZER A GORMAN + ROGERTHAT + THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $10.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ACOUSTIC ELEMENTS Sugar Reef, St Kilda. 7:00pm. BIG BUG TRIO Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm. CORAL LEE & THE SILVER SCREAM Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. DRIFTER + THE ART OF LATER + THE UNDERHANDED Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $5.

FLYING ENGINE Railway Hotel, Fitzroy North. 10:30pm. HELEN BEGLEY + MYRON LYSENKO + THE CHICKS WITH PICKS + THE SOPHISTICATED HULAS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10. HETTY KATE & 2020S Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:30pm. JORDIE LANE + BEN SALTER + LUKE LEGS East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 8:30pm. $18. KELLY AUTY The Regal Ballroom, Northcote. 9:00pm. $15. KIM SALMON Tago Mago, Thornbury. 9:00pm. MICHAEL WAUGH Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6:00pm. MILDSPARROW & THE MIGRATIONS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda. 9:00pm. RAISED BY EAGLES Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. THE PAPER KITES + KATE MARTIN 7:30pm. $12. TOBIAS HENGEVELD + JAMES KENYON + RONIT GRANOT Wesley Anne, Northcote. 5:30pm. $10. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSIONS - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. TROY CASSAR-DALEY Federation Square, Melbourne. 7:00pm.

JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC DIEFENBACH Butterﬂy Club, South Melbourne. 9:00pm. $27. EUCALYPSO + THE JUNES Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $20. JULIA MESSENGER + MATT KIRSCH Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 7:00pm. $20. KATTIMONI Laika Cocktail Lounge, St Kilda. 8:00pm. PAUL VAN ROSS QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $15. REBECCA MENDOZA QUARTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25. REMCO KEIJZER QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. SUPER JUICE + + SAMMY SAX + THE NUDE FUNK ORCHESTRA Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:00pm. SUPERJUICE Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:00pm. TANGO NOIR (CD LAUNCH) Chapel Oﬀ Chapel, Prahran. 8:00pm. TRIO ALVORADA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

SATURDAY 11 FEB ROCK/POP 2AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS Pony, Melbourne. 2:00am. ANOTHER BRUNNY GIG - FEAT: CADS OF YORE + HOLLIAVA + PAUL MCMANUS + SEVEN HEARTS + STEVE BOYD & PAUL FIDDES + THE FAKES + WARAWEE DRUMMERS + WAVERLEY + BRONI + CIRCULATION + GPOP + JAREK + NICE BOY TOM + TREE OF MAN Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. $12.

GIRLS Girls! Now that I’ve got your attention, Girls are playing the Corner Hotel on Wednesday February 8 after a stellar performance at Laneway on the weekend. The San Fran pop-psych boys of Girls may not believe in the strictest adherence to truth in advertising, but then, Girl Talk isn’t really an all-female spoken word outfit either, and you probably like them – so why not, I say? Twerps are supporting, and they’ll be gone to the States soon, and you’ll be upset that you missed them. Tickets are $45+bf – cheaper than a $50 Kogan TV that’s just going to break a week after the warranty expires anyway. ANTISKEPTIC (BACK IN THE GAME TOUR) + EMPERORS + MOVE TO STRIKE + THE MIRACLE IS NOW Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $22. AU-GO-GO RECORDS REUNION SHOW - FEAT: THE ONYAS + GUTTERSNIPES + SNOUT Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. BANG - FEAT: THE MISSION IN MOTION + D AT SEA + THE AURA CURA Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20. BLANCHE DUBOIS (YOUNG HARTS TOUR) + EMMY BRYCE + JACK CARTY Toﬀ In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10. CLAMPDOWN Rochester Castle Hotel, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. CLIP CLOP CLUB Transport Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. DANE CERTIFICATE (ALBUM LAUNCH) + POP SINGLES + POPOLICE + PRONOUN Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $8. DAVID DALLAS + DJ PENFOLD + LUIE NUX + PHIL PARA + SPIT SYNDICATE + SURREAL Espy, St Kilda. 6:00pm. DEAD CITY RUINS + DEAD STAR RENEGADE + MARY WASHINGTON + SCOTT BELL & THE REASONS WHY + SEVERED OATH Central Club Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $10. DV8 - FEAT: DEATH OF ART + GLITCH + SON OF SET Cbd Club, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $15. EINSTEIN TOYBOYS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10. FILTHFEST - FEAT: THE MUNG: CD LAUNCH + DISENTOMB + GARBAGE GUTS + ICONIC VIVISECT + INFA-

MOUS BUTCHER + THE KILL + THE SEAFORD MONSTER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 5:30pm. $15. FORTRESS OF NARZOD Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 10:00pm. HOUSE OF ROCK - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Palace Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. I EXIST + ANCHOR + BACKLASH + ILL VISION East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 8:30pm. $10. INVERLOCH + ALTARS OF SIN + CATACOMBS + INTERNAL HARVEST The Prague, Thornbury. 8:00pm. JOHNNY ROCK & THE LIMITS The Vineyard, St Kilda. 12:00pm. JULY DAYS + EMPIRE + RAINY DAY WOMEN + THE PEEKS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $5. LABJACD Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. LET THE CAT OUT + THE WANDERER St Kilda Rsl, St Kilda. 10:00pm. LOURDES + THE KILNIKS + THE REMOVALISTS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8. MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS + THE OVALS Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 9:00pm. NO BAGGAGE - FEAT: BROC O’CONNER + FABIAN INMAN + PETER NEWSON Bar 362, St Kilda. 9:00pm. RED TAPE (LAUNCH PARTY) - FEAT: COINS + DAMN TERRAIN + GATHERER + HIGH TEA + ON SIERRA + THE DOOM + UDAYS TIGER Workers Club, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. RUSSIAN ROULETTES (LAUNCH) + BAD ACHES + YIS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.

74 JOHNSTON ST FITZROY 9417 4155

www.theoldbar.com.au OPEN EVERY NIGHT 12PM - 3AM FREE WI FI

wednesday 8th february

BITTERSWEET HEARTS THE GUILTS BRENDAN WELCH

8:30PM FREE

thursday 9th february

THE ELIZA BAND

THIS FREE FIELD (LOVE OF DIAGRAMS) MILK TEDDY JAMS

8PM $10

friday 10th february

THE DEATH RATTLES RATTLEHAND (QLD) GRUMPY NEIGHBOUR, SUE RAY

8:30PM $10

saturday 11th february

RUSSIAN ROULETTES (LAUNCH) YIS BAD ACHES

8:30PM $10

sunday 12th february

KIM SALMON & SPENCER P JONES

8PM $8

SUNDAY ARVO GIG:

GERRY HALE

4PM FREE

monday 13th february

FREDDY FUDDPUCKER

ANTISKEPTIC Back in the game after a three year hiatus, local boys Antiskeptic are headlining a show at the Northcote Social Club ahead of a national tour. Supporting are Move to Strike and Emperors. Tickets are $22+bf.

GOYIM THE DROOLING MOUTHS OF MEMPHIS 8PM FREE

tuesday 14th february

HUMANS

MILES BROWN (NIGHT TERRORS) JULITHA RYAN

8PM FREE

band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au

SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU

Beat Magazine Page 71

SUNBURST Tago Mago, Thornbury. 6:00pm. THE BLUESTONES + DANI LEEVER Grocery Bar, St Kilda. 3:30pm. THE GET GO + KEL DAY + SAINT JUDE Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5. THE LEAH FLANIGAN BAND Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. THE PATRON SAINTS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. THE PERFECTIONS Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. TREVOR LUDLOW + HISSY LOCO & THE WLD MUTATIONS Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $5. WILD DOG CREEK + A SECOND UNDERSTANDING + FASPEEDELAY Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 4:00pm. $6.

JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC

ST KILDA FESTIVAL Younger readers may struggle to remember a certain time, back before a certain Claudia Karvan TV series paved the way for the gentrifying hordes and the permanent rabble of British backpackers, when St Kilda was the epicentre of live music in Australia. I know this is historical fact, I read it on the bottom of a Carlton Draught bottlecap. This Sunday February 12, the St Kilda Festival atones for 20 years of displaced prostitutes and bayside property booms with World’s End Press, The Harry Angus James Band, Sneaky Sound System, Brothers Grim, Rapskallion and plenty more over half a dozen stages along the foreshore. And it’s all free! SATURDAY NIGHTS - FEAT: ADAM ASKEW + CONSTANZE The Carlton Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. SLEEPMAKESWAVES (HELLO AUSTRALIA TOUR) + JAREK + THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING + XENOGRAFT Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS + THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 8:00pm. THE CLOUDS + LAURA IMBRUGLIA + THE BEN MASON BAND Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $23. THE FOURFRONT + CULT FICTION + MATTE BLAC + NOTHIN SUSS Pony, Melbourne. 9:00pm. THE LAZYS + ROYAL ACE + THE BALLS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13. THE MORRISONS + HIGH TIMES Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. THE SOLOMONS + DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL + THE RULES Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. VOLTAIRE 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $25. WEEKENDER - FEAT: CONSTANT KILLER + CLASS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10. ZEPTEPI + ATOMIC BLISS + DIRT UNIT + LEEZ LIDO Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK A NIGHT TO REMEMBER 2 - FEAT: DAMON SMITH & THE QUALITY LIGHTWEIGHTS + ALEX ARONSTEN & THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS + MRS BROWN + THE STILLSONS Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $25. AINSLIE WILLS Fitzrovia, St Kilda. 5:30pm. AZADOOTA (CD LAUNCH) Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.

CHRIS WILSON & SHANNON BOURNE Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. CLARE BOWDITCH + HIGH VOLTAGE + TIN PAN ORANGE 6:00pm. CORAL LEE & THE SILVER SCREAM Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. DAVID COSMA + ROSIE BURGESS TRIO Pure Pop Courtyard, St Kilda. 4:00pm. GRAVEYARD TRAIN + JACKALS Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $22. INTERNATIONAL EXILES Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. JAMES MCCANN Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. JORDIE LANE + LUKE BRENNAN + SWEET JEAN Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $20. LIONEL LEE St Kilda Branch, St Kilda. 6:00pm. LOUISE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. PETER BAYLOR & THE ROADHOUSE ROMEOS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. PHIL JAMIESON Palais, Hepburn Springs. 8:00pm. $27. POCKET OF STONES + HUNGRY HEARTS + JAMES SIDEBOTTOM + TRIO AGOGO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 5:00pm. RASH OF SATAN + TUBES Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ROCKY & THE TWO BOB MILLIONAIRES Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm. SATURDAY NIGHT FISH FRY Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. SIMON HUDSON Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 5:00pm. STACKFULL Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 6:00pm.

ALBARE + RORY CLARK Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 7:00pm. $20. BANDA SIN FONTERAS Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. BLAK ROOTS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. DIEFENBACH Butterﬂy Club, South Melbourne. 9:00pm. $27. GIAN SLATER & THE JAMIE OEHLERS BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25. IRWELL STREET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $20. PAUL WILLIAMSON QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ROBERT RICH + STEVE LAW Northcote Uniting Church, Northcote. 8:00pm. $30. THE FUNKY BREWS + SHOTGUN FUNK Noise Bar, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $5. THE FURBELOWS + DAIMON BRUNTON QUARTET Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.

SUNDAY 12 FEB ROCK/POP 4TRESS + SCARAMOUCHE + SECRET CRACK PIPE HANDSHAKE + THUNDA BOX Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 3:00pm. ANDRE CAMILLERI & THE NORTHERNAIRES + BLACK SWAN OF TRESPASS Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 7:00pm. DREW HARRISON Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 6:00pm. JACKY WINTER + CISCO ROSE Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. JESS RIBEIRO & THE BONES COLLECTORS + THE IMMIGRANT UNION Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. JVG GUITAR METHOD Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. KES O’HARA + SERI VIDA Bar Nancy, Northcote. 6:00pm. MARCIA HINES + BONNIE ANDERSON Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 6:00pm. MONDO PHASE BAND + BIG RICHARD INSECT + CREEPERS + STU THOMAS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm. $5. NEIL MURRAY Way Out West Roots Music Club, Williamstown. 2:00pm. $15. PIONEERS OF GOOD SCIENCE + BFAVO CANYON & ZAC KEILLER + GRAND PRISMATIC + LITTLE KILLING Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. SWANSONGS - FEAT: THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING + GREAT EARTHQUAKE + THE SPHERES East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 3:00pm. $10. THE GENERAL + CALADONIA + DEAR STALKER + THE BLAZING ENFIELDS Blue Tile Lounge, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. THE KATIA PSHENICHNER BAND Red Bennies, South Yarra. 7:00pm. $15. THE KILLJOYS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. THE ORBWEAVERS + YUKO KONO Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 2:00pm. $10. THE TIMOTHY CANNON BAND Toﬀ In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 3:00pm. $10.

60 SECONDS WITH…

What do you reckon people will say you sound like? We have only done three shows to date but so far “new Prodigy” has come up a lot. What do you love about making music? Everything! It IS the love of my life. What’s not to love? It truly is the highest art form. What do you hate about the music industry? The term “music industry” is an oxymoron and an offensive one. Too many things to hate about it but not enough interest to give it any time discussing.

SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BOBBY ALU + FRUIT JAR Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. CARROLL & HOPKINS Strangeloves Bar & Tapas, Moonee Ponds. 4:00pm. CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK + DEAN MULLER + DJ MAXWELL VON CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. DAREBIN SONGWRITERS GUILD 303, Northcote. 3:30pm. GENEVIEVE & JEZABEL + OLYMPIA + UQBBQ Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. GLENYS RAE & EUCALYPSO + KEN MAHER & TONY HARGREAVES Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm. JAM NIGHT Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm. KIM SALMON & SPENCER P JONES Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8. LIVE & LOCAL SESSIONS Sorrento-portsea Rsl, Sorrento. 5:00pm. MIKELANGELO Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm. MUSTARD COURAGE + CATHERINE TRAICOS Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:00pm. PAADMOOSE & THE RIVER MACHINE + HIDING WITH BEARS Noise Bar, Brunswick. 1:00pm. PHIL PARA The Bay, Mordialloc. 4:00pm. RATTLEHAND + MERRI CREEK PICKERS + THE PERFECTIONS Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 3:30pm. $8. SAMMY OWEN BLUES BAND Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. SIME NUGENT + WAZ E JAMES BAND Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm. TEN GALLON HEAD Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 5:00pm. THE BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. THE NUDGELS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. TINSLEY WATERHOUSE Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8:00pm. THE MERRI CREEK PICKERS Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 3:00pm. TOM FRANCIS + SHANE WALTERS Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 5:30pm. WARREN EARL & THE ATOMIC ROCKERS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC AFRO BONGO DANCE + AJAK KWAI + BLAK ROOTS + KATTIMONI + SALT LAKE CITY Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 2:00pm. $10. AZADOOTA + MEL’BONES TROMBONE QUARTET Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm. BRAD MCCARTHY JAZZ TRIO Mentone Hotel, Mentone. 3:00pm. DAVID DOWER & JOSH KELLY DUO (FAREWELL PERFORMANCE) Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. DIEFENBACH Butterﬂy Club, South Melbourne. 8:00pm. FREQUENCY 8:00pm. JOSE NIETO Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. MISS BASS & MASTER EVERYTHING 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. SISTERS FOR SISTERS - FEAT: CANDICE MONIQUE + MIRRAH + AROWE + QUASHANI BAHD Toﬀ In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15. TONY GOULD Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.

SUB ATARI KNIVES

So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? Sub Atari Knives. I am one third of a collective that combines organic drums, bass and vocals with electronic sounds. I do all of the above.

Beat Magazine Page 72

TONY BARNAO + INPUT/OUTPUT Kent St, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. VASCO ERA + AC/DSHE + BAD BOYS BATUCADA + CLAIRY BROWNE & THE BANGIN RACKETTES + DALE RYDER BAND + DESTROY SHE SAID + GANGA GIRI + HOME TO KELLY + JOELISTICS + PAST TO PRESENT + PATRON SAINTS + RED INK + THE MARABOU PROJECT + THE PRETTY LITTLES Espy, St Kilda. 4:00pm.

If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? I wouldn’t. I find it hard showing my closest friends and even my bands mates sometimes! What can a punter expect from your live show? An honest, positive, high energy, no bullshit, danceinducing smashfest! When’s the gig and with who? Saturday February 18 at Rock The Bay at The Espy with Dead Letter Circus, Floating Me and a whole bunch of homegrown talent too numerous to mention. Anything else to add? Go start a band…..

SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU

Beat Magazine Page 73

MONDAY 13 FEB

Givers

+ BEAT PRESENT... ROCK/POP

whatson@thepush.com.au

ANIMAUX + BETTER THAN THE WIZARDS + DJ THOMA + SUPERJUICE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8. DANIEL CHAMPAGNE + EATEN BY DOGS Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. FREDDY FUDPUCKER + GOYIM + THE DROOLING MOUTHS OF MEMPHIS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: DUCK DUCK CHOP + HIGH TEA + WILD DOG CREEK Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6:00pm. PUGSLEY BUZZARD + BEN WRIGHT SMITH Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. SECRETIVE GEORGE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. SEX ON TOAST + MR LANEOUS Toﬀ In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK TURNER Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm. LEBOWSKIS 303, Northcote. 9:00pm. $8.

JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC LEBOWSKIS 303, Northcote. 9:00pm. $8. SANTIAGO VELA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. THE ALLAN BROWNE TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.

TUESDAY 13 FEB ROCK/POP BRUNSWICK DISCOVERY - FEAT: LIETENANT JAM Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. HUMANS + MILES BROWN Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. PLAYWRITE + GOSTELERADIO + NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH Toﬀ In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $7. SPENCER P JONES + TRISTEN BIRD Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. THE BOMBAY ROYALE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. THE NECKS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $26. THE WORD + ANDREW SWIFT & THE RATTLESNAKE CHOIR + DOM COOLEY & THE CHILDREN OUT OF WEDLOCK + THE PIERCE BROTHERS Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. VALENTINE’S DAY LOVE-IN - FEAT: THE ICYPOLES + GARY OLSON + MONNONE ALONE + SHEAHAN DRIVE Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $12.

Portugal. The Man

Wednesday February 8, 2012 With Ruth Mihelcic

PHIL JAMIESON The Grinspoon frontman, usually more renowned for his Rock Shows, is playing a subdued acoustic set down at the Northcote Social Club on Black Friday February 10. Should be Just Ace. Good thing he’s headlining, because he would be a Hard Act To Follow. (Are you over the Grinspoon puns yet? Hopefully I’m not being too Pedestrian.) Tickets $27+bf – cheaper than ten milkshakes, and you probably shouldn’t be drinking that much milk at once anyway.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BEN & ASH BLAKENEY Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. EATEN BY DOGS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. OPEN MIC Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 7:30pOPEN MIC & JAM NIGHT Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. SKINNY LEATHER TIES Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm. OPEN MIC Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:00pm. THE CULT OF MARCUS AURELIUS + JOSH PARISH + MIYAZAKI Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.

JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC JULIAN POSADA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. PLAN B BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14. STEVE MAGNUSSON TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. THE KING’S SINGERS Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm.

GIVERS & PORTUGAL.THE MAN Ye Gads! Another Laneway sideshow at the Corner! Givers and Portugal. The Man, are playing together on Thursday February 9. They’re here from America and they’re going back soon, so git on down or you’ll have to fly to the opposite side of the world to see them again. Tix $46.40+bf – cheaper than paying someone $50 to punch you in the coccyx, and a shite sight easier on the spinal cord too.

CLASSIFIEDS

33c PER WORD PER WEEK (INC GST) • Send your classified listing information to Beat Magazine at 3 Newton St, Richmond 3121 with a cheque, money order or credit card number (including expiry date and name on card, NOT AMEX or DINERS) (1.5% surcharge on Visa and MasterCard) OR deliver it yourself with cash OR you can email your classifieds to us - classifieds@beat.com.au with credit card details • DEADLINE IS THURSDAY 5pm, prior to Wednesdays publication • Minimum $5 charge per week. We do NOT accept classifieds over the phone - sorry.

MUSICIANS WANTED

If you can make it to one day of the St Kilda Festival this year, head down for Festival Sunday to catch more than 60 bands across the stages for FREE! On The Push Stage will be Closure In Moscow with supports Brighter At Night, Ever Rest, Animaux, Defective Trigger and FReeZA Push Start 2011 Battle of the Bands Grand Final winners Amber Lamps. You can find us on Cavell Street next to Luna Park from 12pm – 5pm, thanks to FReeZA, and the cities of Port Phillip, Stonnington, Kingston and Bayside. All the info you need is at stkildafestival.com.au or call their hotline on (03) 9209 6306. See you there! Lastly, head over to thepush.com.au for a list of upcoming hip hop and music career workshops on our Opportunities page. And keep sending us your news to whatson@ thepush.com.au.

ALL AGES TIMETABLE Wednesday February 8 Incubus w/ Papa v Pretty, Festival Hall, 300 Dudley Street, West Melbourne, $89.90, ticketmaster.com. au or 136 100, AA Dan Webb and Kylie Auldist, Republica, St Kilda Seabaths, 18 Jacka Blvd, 7pm, Free, stkildafestival. com.au, AA Lauren Elizabeth, Laika, 9 Fitzroy Street, 8pm, Free, stkildafestival.com.au, AA

BANDS & PROMOTERS WANTED. Any style for Collingwood venue. First gigs welcome, live CD recording available. Contact Jane after 12pm on 0425 796 828.

Thursday February 9 Davy Simony, The St Kilda Branch, 204 Barkly Street, 6pm, Free, stkildafestival.com.au, AA

BANDS WANTED for artist showcase in the Espy Gershwin room. A great step towards bigger shows. Contact mark@ gunnmusic.com.au

Friday February 10 Schools Back Underage Dance Party w/ DJ Nigel and DJ Az, Wyndham Youth Recourse Centre, 86 Derrimut Road, Hoppers Crossing, 7pm – 11pm, $10, Jamie Cooke on 9742 8155, U18 Sarah Rzek and Elysium Feilds, Grocery Bar, 135 Fitroy Street, 6pm, Free, stkildafestival.com.au, AA Acoustic Elements, Sugarreef, 23 Fitzroy Street, 7pm, Free, stkildafestival.com.au, AA Spacecadet Lullabies, Secret Garden, 60 Fitzroy Street, 7:30pm, Free, stkildafestival.com.au, AA Kattimoni, Laika, 9 Fitzroy Street, 8pm, Free, stkildafestival.com.au, AA

EXPERIENCED DRUMMER with a commitment to practice and regular rehearsals required for alternative rock band. Inﬂuences QOTSA, Foo Fighters, Nirvana etc… www.myspace.com/mollydredd 0411 372 469. FIGHTING FOO (FOO FIGHTERS COVER BAND) looking for singer/guitarist. Singer only considered but preferably singer/guitarist. Must be willing to jam weekly, own transport and gig. For more info call Dan 0425 391 009. LOOKING FOR ACOUSTIC ACTS to perform in COCO’s monthly competition in Smith Street, Fitzroy. $100 Cash PRIZE. Phone Sandra or Michelle 9417 3937 or drop in at COCO – 129 Smith Street, Fitzroy. VOCALIST WANTED for Hallam/Rowville based metal band. Contact Brad 0402 786 369. www.myspace.com/ tokenofruin

SERVICES DRUM LESSONS AVAILABLE for students who wish to learn. For enquiries phone Paul 8786 3421. MAN WITH A VAN. Best value movers in Melbourne. Now with trucks!!!! Equip with 1 or 2 experienced men, trolleys and removal blankets. Available 7 days. Check out www.manwithavan.com.au or call us on 9417 3443. PROFESSIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTIONS SERVICES for musicians & businesses from conception to upload. Highly creative, 2D & 3D option, unique style and experience in the industry. Talk to the pros at the screaming eagle ﬁlmco. “Live your passion” Ph: 0415 100 444 www. screamingeagleﬁlmco.com SOUNDPARK RECORDING/REHEARSALS. Large 5 room recording studio, loads of vintage gear/instruments. Hire without engineer $450 day, or with $650. Rehearsals from $50. Phone Andrew 0425 706 382. TATTOO COURSE. Tattoo seminar for one day. Instructor with over 20 years experience. Will go through all procedures A-Z and troubleshooting. $500. Call 0414 652 065. THINK MOVING SUCKS? Think Little Red Trucks! Moving Melbourne everyday. Call 9380 6444 or head to www. littleredtrucks.com.au.

EMPLOYMENT FLAUNT IT. Internationally acclaimed producer of profeminist erotica looking for conﬁdent, adult women to smash the stereotypes and earn good money ($500 and up). Don’t overlook this til you’ve found out more about it. Rebecca 9495 6555 or www.feck.com.

Beat Magazine Page 74

ACCESS ALL AGES

SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU

Saturday February 11 The Last Teenagers w/ A Sleepless Melody, The Sunny Side Up, Wake The Giants, Way With Words + more, TLC Bayswater, 265 Canterbury Road, Bayswater, 12pm, $15, AA 3630 Festival w/ Hannah Magee, Mother Dearest, Sweet as Taylor, JaySea, Keshie + more, Shepparton Showgrounds, Benalla Road, 12pm – 9pm, $50 kids, $65 adults, AA Wang Dong! w/ Asperity Within, Empires Fall, Blood Union, Any Last Words, and Rules Of Chernobyl, LB Davern Reserve, Wandong, 2pm, $10, AA Access Insanity w/ DJ Heath Renata, DJ Van-G, DJ Micky, DJ Frankie, DJ Julez, DJ Polatidis, and Forever Young, Banchory Hall, Banchory Ave, Hillside, 7pm – 11pm, $10, AA Phil Jamieson w/ Evil J and St Cecelia, The Palais, 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs, 8:30pm, $27, oztix. com.au or (03) 5348 4849, AA Dani Leever and The Bluestones, The Grocery Bar, 135 Fitzroy Street, 3:30pm, Free, stkildafestival. com.au, AA Sunday February 12 I Exist w/ Trench Sisters, Shit Weather, and Outright, Black Goat Warehouse, French St, Melbourne, 2pm, resistrecords.com, AA A Day on the Green w/ Hall & Oates, Icehouse, and Michael Paynter, Rochford Wine, Maroondah Hwy (Cnr Hill Rd), Coldstream, 2:30pm, $110 $230, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA Fairfield Summer Concert Series Silk & String w/ Xuanxuan, Tenzing, Amraa, + more, Fairfield Amphitheatre, Fairfield Park, Heidelberg Road, 5pm – 7:30pm, Free, Andrea Makris on (03) 9188 3681, AA St Kilda Festival Sunday w/ Miami Horror DJs, Sneaky Sound System, British India, Stonefield, The Vaudeville Smash, Alpine, Big Scary, Mantra, Owl Eyes + more, The Esplanade and surrounding streets, St Kilda, 10am – 11pm, Free, stkildafestival. com.au or (03) 9209 6306, AA

GS T GI TS A L AL VEN GB ! E E & THE FRE E AR

THURSDAY FEB 9TH

GREAT BRITAIN HOTEL

SIME NUGENT Wed. Feb. 8th: (Wine, Whiskey, Women)

8pm: Michelle Meehan 9pm: Freya Hanly Thurs. Feb. 9th:

8pm: Brad Martin 9pm: Gabriel Lynch Fri. Feb. 10th:

6pm: Traditional Irish Music Session With Dan Bourke & Friends Sat. Feb. 11th:

9pm: James McCann & Friends Sun. Feb. 12th:

4pm: Waz E James Band 6.30pm: Sime Nugent

FRIDAY FEB 10TH

RAISED BY EAGLES

THU 9TH FEB

JAMES HAMPTON FROM 8PM

SAT 11TH FEB

MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS + THE OVALS

SATURDAY FEB 11TH

FROM 9PM

SAT NITE FISH FRY

SUN 12TH FEB

ANDRE CAMILLERI & THE NORTHERNARIES + BLACK SWANS OF TRESPASS FROM 7PM

SUNDAY FEB 12TH

MON 13TH FEB

THE RECHORDS

BOOZER SOUL (DJ’S) FROM 8PM

WEEKLY ASSORTMENTS MonDAYS

Tues. Feb. 14th:

8pm: Weekly Trivia

“All Shows Always Free” The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.myspace.com/drunkenpoets

FREE POOL ALL NIGHT $10 PIZZA & POT

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TueSDAYS

MRS SMITH’S TRIVIA $10 PIZZA & POT 9PM

WEDNESDAYS

OPEN MIC NIGHT FROM 9PM

KITCHEN OPEN 6 NIGHTS

447 CHURCH ST RICHMOND 9429 5066 www.greatbritainhotel.com.au

• • • • • WEDNESDAY • • • • •

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FROM 8PM. GREAT PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS.

SATURDAY 11/2, 6PM STACKFUL, then at 10PM

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SATURDAY FEB 11 SUNDAY 12/2, 6PM

DREW HARRISON SUNDAY 19/2, 6PM CRAIG-LEE SMITH & LISA WOOD FRIDAY 24/2, 10PM SHED ZEPPELIN SATURDAY 25/2, 6PM GREASY HAWAIIANS SUNDAY 26/2, 6PM ADRIAN WHYTE

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AND THE SILVER SCREAM - R&B, BLUES & ROCKABILLY FROM 5 - 7PM

JVG GUITAR METHOD - ROCKIN’ R&B FROM 5 - 7PM

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EE Y FRNTR E

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EATEN BY DOGS - ACOUSTIC SHOW -

FEB RESIDENCY FROM 8.30PM

• • • • • SATURDAY • • • • •

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• • • • • SUNDAY • • • • •

ROCKABILLY SUNDAY LIVE BANDS, 2 DANCE FLOORS.

33 ERROL STREET, NORTH MELBOURNE (03) 9328 1983 FOR BAND BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT MILES: TOWNIEBANDS@GMAIL.COM SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU

Beat Magazine Page 75

BACKSTAGE

DO YOU WANT YOUR STORE, STUDIO OR MUSIC SERVICE FEATURED IN BACKSTAGE?

THE PLACE FOR MUSICIANS

CONTACT ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600 OR MIXDOWN@BEAT.COM.AU TO FIND OUT HOW.

for more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600

STORE PROFILE

AA DUPLICATION SERVICES

Location: Suite 42. Level 1, 247 - 255 Drummond St Carlton Victoria 3053 Established:1998 What exactly do you provide: We provide a complete packaged solution to the music industry whether it is for a simple single launch to a full on production run of CDs or DVDs with all the merchandise included. Runs ranging from 50 – 50,000 units can be produced. Digital or screen printing capabilities for printing and replication: At AA DUPLICATION we have some of the latest Digital printing equipment available to ensure our clients will receive the best possible ﬁnished product. Our liaison with screen and oﬀset printers enables us to quickly turn around the 500+ runs within 8 – 10 working days. If clients require help with the design and placement of their artwork we are here to help. What sets you apart from other replication/ duplication/printing facilities? What sets us apart from other companies is that we care, we take a personal interest in the artists’ projects and launches, making sure that the items are ready on time and the quality is better than the industry standards.

Any favorite printing finishes? Most artists and designers require a highly visible disc, colorful and most importantly long lasting. We tend to use a thermal print for quantities under 500 which guarantees a permanent gloss ﬁnish.

Special packages: The cardboard digipack has made a very strong comeback along with the 4 panel wallet. The look and feel of the cardboard packaging gives the album a higher visibility with a quality ﬁnish.

Artists and companies you have worked with: We have a large range of clients ranging from local, state and federal government sponsored initiatives to bands and artists who have performing for 2 - 40 years, musicals that require CDs and DVDs for their upcoming premiere to be sold in the foyer.

Extras: Along with the usual merchandise we are heavily involved in the production of printed guitar picks, bumper bar stickers, button badges and fridge magnets. A3 band posters that don’t require tape and can be adhered onto practically any surface and reused.

Average turn around time: Turn a round times depend on the quantities usually for under 500 it is 24 – 48 hours where 500+ runs are 8 – 10 working days depending on the packaging required.

Phone: (03) 9347 9311 Website: www.aaduplication.com.au E-mail: design@aaduplication.com.au

Toyland Recording Studio Live Bands, Demos, Albums Digital or 2” Analog Tape Live room for a big natural sound Neve preamps, Urei Compressors

30m rooms s Air-con and ventilation in s 10everylargeroomand identical s PA/foldback combos at 1000w s Storage and amp/kit hire s Acoustic Engineer-designed soundproofing

www.toyland.com.au

PH: (03) 903 88101 M: 0417 000 397 Email: hydrastudios@bigpond.com

18 Duffy street Burwood 3125 2

T-Bone Tunes Recording Studio, St Kilda www.tbonetunes.com Albums • EPs • Singles • Demos Former London-based EMI Studio Engineer • CALL TODAY! • 03 9005 5946

•

0437 244 371

BAND REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOMS FROM $55

Become a part of our Musical Community

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p r o d u c t i o n s

Daytime rates available 11 Fully-equipped rooms Storage available Drive-in loading & parking Only 5min from Spencer St All amenities provided 100% green energy

for bookings ph: 9687 0233 cnr whitehall & harris st yarraville

91 Cochranes Road, Moorabbin Vic 3189 Tel 9532 2288

THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600 Beat Magazine Page 76

BACKSTAGE: BEAT’S ONE STOP SHOP FOR MUSICIANS

REVOLVER REHEARSAL STUDIOS & MUSIC TUITION *Under New Ownership & Management* Brand New World Class PA Systems Clean studios with storage available Drum Practice Room On Site - Guitar, Amp & Drum Tech.

SESSION TIMES: Mon - Fri Day Session: 11am-5.30pm Night Session: 6pm - 11.30pm Saturday: 11am- 5.30pm LATE NIGHT ACCESSORIES STICKS, STRINGS, SKINS.

MUSIC TUITION: All teachers are professional performing musicians with qualifications. Lessons available in Drums, Piano/Keys, Guitar, Vocals, Bass and Ensemble.

Ph: 9529 1123 24 Maquarie St Prahran www.r2revolverrehearsals.com

PA HIRE “A fresh mix for your recordings” Production, Mixing and Mastering services With D’Opus/Ross Garrett

Vintage, New & Second Hand Amps, Effects Pedals & Rigs

Specializing in Electronic, Indy-Dance and Hip-hop

Huge Selection – All major Brands

Pro Tools HD, Avalon, UA, Analog outboard gear, drum machines and synths. By Appointment only, Email: info@mercuryswitch.org

Ph: 0413 321 244

Comprehensive PA systems delivered, set up and operated with crew. Compact, easy, sound systems you can pickup and assemble yourself.Components such as microphones, speakers and effects are also available separately. Lights also available. For details phone Mark Barry on 03 9889 1999 or 0419 993 966

www.bssound.com.au bssound@bigpond.com

571 High Street Preston VIC 3072 Tel (03) 9471 1023 Fax (03) 9471 1919 Internet: www.jamhutstudios.com

Guitars and Amps wanted Top CA$H Paid

Clean and fully ventilated rooms with professional equipment. Complimentary tea & coffee.

REHEARSAL

Expert Guitar & Amp Repairs Mods & Restoration Fast Turnaround Affordable Rates Technicians on site

3 hr sessions from $40 6 hr sessions from $65 RECORDING

$60 per hour, ProTools HD with engineer

313 – 315 Whitehorse Rd BALWYN 3103 Phone: 03 9888 6899 www.eastgatemusic.com

EQUIPMENT HIRE Vocal PA’s from $80, ampliﬁers and drumkits available.

IMPLANTMEDIA CD with 2 PAGE INSERT

SPECIAL! 100 A3

colour posters for

in PVC (sleeve)

100 - from $2.35 each 500 - $1.40 each 1000 - $1.08 each

CD with 4 PAGE INSERT + INLAY Jewel case (black tray)

100 - from $3.15 each 500 - $1.80 each 1000 - $1.45 each

CD in CARD SLEEVE 100 - from $2.95 each 500 - from $1.80 each 1000 - from $1.30 each

CD with GATEFOLD

4 panel gatefold, single or double pocket

100 - from $3.95 each 500 - from $2.40 each 1000 - from $1.60 each

CD with DIGICASE 100 - from $4.45 each 500 - from $2.70 each 1000 - from $1.70 each

$70

With any disc order of 50 or more.

12” Vinyl in PRINTED SLEEVE

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500 - from $7.50 each 1000 - from $5.45 each 7” and 10” also available

DVD with CASE & SLICK Black DVD case

100 - from $3.25 each 500 - $2.19 each 1000 - $1.85 each

BACKSTAGE: BEAT’S MUSICIANS DIRECTORY

HUNDREDS OF OTHER PACKAGING OPTIONS AVAILABLE! FOR A PRICE ON ANY PACKAGE AT ANY TIME VISIT: WWW.IMPLANT.COM.AU/QUOTES Beat Magazine Page 77

PHOTOS BY ANNA KANCI

LIVE PHOTOS BY MARK BOUKOUVALAS

LANEWAY FESTIVAL Saturday February 4, Footscray Community Arts Centre

BIG DAY OUT Sunday January 29, Flemington Racecourse Ah, Big Day Out. We meet again. As I was just getting over our hot date from last year, you’ve come around to greet me for another year. And, as always, you delivered me with some humour, a stack of fun and that extra bit of skin colour. Thanks for that, by the way. Big Day Out is one of those festivals that always keeps me entertained. If not for the weird and wonderful array of patrons that attend, it’s counting just how many Southern Cross tattoos I can spot in one sitting. Trust me, if – for whatever reason - you ever get bored at Big Day Out (or anywhere, for that matter), play the “spot the” game. Indulging in a little bit of “Spot the Southern Cross tattoo”, “Spot the Derrick Rose basketball jersey” and “Spot the protruding ass cheeks” kept me entertained between so many acts. Arriving an hour or two past midday, I rocked up just in time to see those quirky cats from Odd Future. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word “swag” or seen so much Supreme clothing in one destination before in my life. The people love them. And the moment that Yonkers dropped...I honestly don’t think that Tyler, The Creator had to rap one word. The crowd were in their element. The hardest part about music festivals for me is timetabling issues. You see a lineup when it gets released and automatically go “Hell yeah!” But the harsh reality, kids, is the amount of people that you’re going to see that you actually wanted to see on that line-up is not as many as you’d hope. I’ll never forget the moment when I discovered that Kanye and Noel Gallagher were clashing... My life still isn’t the same. But whether you were rocking out to the likes of Soundgarden, having a good ol’ boogie to Girl Talk, indulging in some Aussie hip hop with Hilltop, or reliving

your 15-year-old skater days with the likes of Tony Hawk, there was something for everybody. Parched? They had you covered; whether it was with their water taps or, my personal favourite, their Lipton Ice Tea booths. Hungry? How does Nando’s and Grill’d sound? Simultaneously hungry and thirsty? There’s nothing better than indulging in a raspberry and pineapple Callipo and dancing to Kasabian. As the sun began to set on Flemington, Soundgarden took me back to some of my most formative years. Thanks to my brother, their music helped shape my youth. I never thought that I’d get the opportunity to witness Spoonman and Black Hole Sun live, but I did. What could only be the cherry on the top of this? Ending the day with a bit of Kanye, actually. By some miracle or another, despite having dispersed in numerous directions throughout the day, my entire group and I managed to ﬁnd each other right before he came on stage. We danced, we drank, we got a little bit crazy, and we owned that day in as much style as ten 20-somethings could. And although I’m still bitter about missing so many acts that I wanted to see, it was one of those days – as cliché as it sounds – that I’ll never forget... Probably because of how many pertruding ass cheeks and Derrick Rose basketball jerseys I saw. SIMONE ZIADA LOVED: How many protruding ass cheeks and Derrick Rose basketball jerseys there were. HATED: How many protruding ass cheeks and Derrick Rose basketball jerseys there were. DRANK: Whatever the people with protruding ass cheeks and Derrick Rose basketball jerseys were drinking.

THE DAMNED Friday January 20, Billboard The crusty old farts of Howard’s History Wars would have us believe that history can be taught as a sequence of chronological dates. In 1976 Margaret Thatcher wrestled control of the British Conservative Party from the insipid leadership of Ted Heath; in less salubrious circles, The Damned released New Rose, subsequently described by Bob Geldolf as one of the seminal punk rock singles. In 1990 Thatcher was victim of an internal party revolt and lost her iron grip on England; thousands of miles away in South Australia, Dr Sphincter, Nick the Bastard, Lovely Luscious Legs Leanne and Andrew the Annihilator hosted an irreverent community radio show on Triple M. In 2009 Daniel Poulter headed to Los Angeles to imbibe the sights, sounds and other assorted wonders of the city of angels, where the average entertainment egotist has less grip on reality than the contemporary Maggie Thatcher. In 2012 The Damned – minus Rat Scabies and Brian James – are still going, celebrating 35 years of razor sharp punk rock riﬀage with a gothic twist. Dr Sphincter has morphed into Dr El Suavo, an old school magician with a public embarrassment bypass; Daniel Poulter has returned to Australia and formed a new band, Kill City Creeps, to explore his glistening Seeds-esque garage-psych melodies. Kill City Creeps might just be everyone’s next favourite band. Poulter has the spaghetti-leg rock star thing down to a ﬁne art. Every song could be a classic garage track revived and resuscitated into a modern day hit track. Poulter’s three female bandmates are tight and enigmatic, and the licks just keep on coming. La La Blues tells the story of Daniel’s scrambling exit from LA; Wrong Way Street is everything a garage pop track should be. Kill City Creeps will be back. Beat Magazine Page 78

The Damned are coming off the back of a successful 35th birthday European tour and in top form. Dave Vanian has traded the big hair and Victorian cuffs of yore for a 1920s slick-back and city suit; with his de rigueur uniform of red beret and white-rimmed sunglasses, Captain Sensible looks the same snotty punk he always was. There’s a guy on keyboards who looks like Aunty Jack, and who who’s on a quest to win the 2012 rock’n’roll liturgical dancing championship. It’s a largely hits and punk memories set – New Rose, Neat, Neat, Neat, I Just Can’t Be Happy Today, Feel the Pain. Vanian is the suave frontman, outgrowing the theatrics of The Damned’s golden era like an old punk trading lager and crisps for shiraz and caviar. Captain Sensible is as manic as ever, writhing away with adolescent intensity. The final run home is perfect. Dave Vanian asks if anyone remembers The Young Ones, and we’re given Video Nasty. 1970, Eloise and Smash It Up round up the evening, and we’re all grinning like Cheshire cats on ecstasy. The night ends with minor farce, with the members of Kill City Creeps ready for a big bash sing-along. Dave Vanian signals the end of proceedings and the gig limps to an awkward conclusion. It’s a frustrating finale, but who really cares. JERZY BELOWSKI LOVED: when Dave Vanian asked the crowd if anyone remembered The Young Ones. HATED: the obligatory bell-ends in the crowd who don’t know the difference between enthusiasm and aggression. DRANK: a few beers in the park beforehand to usher in the evening.

A great festival is meant to cement the zeitgeist of the times and properly represent those in attendance. If this is the case, we’re living in a fairly atmospheric world, heavy on complacency and light on knock-out punches. And the punters are more than happy to ride that wave. Laneway Melbourne didn’t get the most auspicious of starts, with train delays early in the day meaning many missed out on two of the days heavier acts, local heroes (and soon to be legends) Total Control and the urgency of Brisbane axe and drums duo DZ Deathrays, a killer onetwo punch if there was one at Laneway. Total Control let loose their chunky, synth-tinged punk rock eﬃciency on a sparse crowd, and DZ Deathrays shook oﬀ any hangovers that existed. After these two however, things got decidedly quieter and much more moody. Where festival organisers succeeded was in pulling together a lineup of artists in a similar vein. And in doing so, they made the day-long festival last much, much longer. The afternoon, that chunk of time when festivalgoers either sink or swim, was awash with artists that, while brought from all corners of the hipster universe, still sounded remarkably similar. Canadians and recent Polaris-nominated Austra led the crowd through a full-body sway, America’s Active Child sounded charming but at times, stagnant, and the fuzz of English rockers Yuck eventually turned into one long,

temperate groove. Was any of it unpleasant? Certainly not. But when one looked around at the steadily growing hordes of dazed hipster faithful (there was, after all, more fake Ray Bans at Laneway than a dodgy Balinese souvenir shop) it became evident that many were moving out of their own volition, sometimes without caring who was on what stage at what time. Perhaps Laneway is ushering in a new age of festivals, where showing up to see certain artists is of less than importance than simply showing up and being seen. Headliners M83 and Washed Out were on par with many of the other performers throughout the day as far as popularity goes (though you’ve got to hand it to Feist, who breathed life into a stoned afternoon crowd with her bouncy set) and discussions on the train home afterwards on who “impressed” the most brought forth a variety of answers. So kudos to Laneway for organizing a festival that one won’t soon forget. It’s just a matter of now of ﬁguring out exactly why it’s so memorable. JOSHUA KLOKE LOVED: The collection of local food vendors, which augmented the day’s music. HATED: The lack of unique festival merch. DRANK: A few beers, until I realised it was damn near impossible to get drunk.

BEIRUT Monday January 9, Hi-Fi Bar Otouto’s artful, wispy little non-songs hung limply in the air over a disinterested crowd at the Hi-Fi Bar and Ballroom. Hazel Brown stared at her guitar in a careful way as she picked out awkward notes and Martha crowded over her synth in a similarly concentrated way. Only drummer Kishore Ryan played with anything resembling grace or skill, still looking like the ringer in this odd little art pop collective. Their arch, layered ditties lacked immersive power, ﬂuttering oﬀ the stage in a wistful, slightly tedious way that only served to illustrate the lack of musical talent behind their cute musical ideas. Beirut didn’t fare much better, unfortunately. Zach Condon’s glorious collective of über-nerds took to the stage without much fanfare and gathered up a heavy range of brass to open the show, armfuls of tubas and trumpets that promised a rich and atmospheric set to match their doleful, atmospheric albums. Scenic World opened the set, with its rolling piano accordion, and Zach’s Morrissey-esque voice winged its way across the room, but immediately it felt like something was missing. On record and at previous shows, Beirut have created an

aged, romantic mood that goes deeper than the trilling horns, but the sound at the Hi-Fi seemed smaller than the sum of its parts. We were watching an okay indie band with a particular aesthetic bent, not a ghostly reminder of lost musical worlds. The set was populated with tracks from 2011 album The Rip Tide, including an early appearance of bouncing pop single East Harlem and a show-closing performance of Santa Fe, but even these relatively upbeat songs fell ﬂat. There was nothing wrong with them, really, but they lacked energy. In the end those tunes, which promised to lift the plodding delivery of early classics like Gulag Orkestar, Nantes and Cherbourg, only contributed to an evening of quietly boring music. SIMONE UBALDI

LOVED: The elephant-like sway of tuba player Ben Lanz. HATED: The overall mediocrity. DRANK: Nothing. I am a professional cricket.

WOOLLEN KITS Friday January 20, John Curtin Hotel Greasy hipsters lined the sidewalks outside the John Curtin Hotel, giving their pints a good home. There was a sense of expectancy in the air; the fact that it was the start of the weekend didn’t have everything to do with that. It was after all, the record release party for local heroes Woollen Kits’ self-titled debut on infamous garage label R.I.P Society. It was ﬁtting that the whole evening went down at the Curtin, which is quickly becoming a hub for stellar garage acts. Loose Grip, UV Race and Dead Farmers did their part, bringing waves of thrashing punk and fuzzed-out pop for a crowd that seemed to grow with every song. For garage fans worldwide who don’t think Melbourne and labels like R.I.P Society can keep up with cities like Memphis and Brooklyn and labels like Goner and Hozac (Respected all those cities and labels are) this was an evening to prove them wrong. There was, then, a serious buzz before Woollen Kits took the stage. The crowds at record release parties are often a blend of fans who’ve long waited for the evening and those who want to see what this band is all about. Woollen Kits stepped onstage looking relaxed but conﬁdent and wasted little time working their way

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through their debut LP. Sure, they didn’t stray much from the formula on the record, but that’s not what the Kits are all about. As proven on Friday evening, they espouse a tight-Modish aesthetic that’s strangely full of paradoxes. The bad were able to pack a succinct punch even on the cramped stage, all the while sounding loose and jangly enough to keep patrons heading back to the bar. Tracks like Out of Whack, Sloan and University Narcolepsy were standouts, showcasing the originality within their song-writing. Yet still, the band looked remarkably carefree, considering all eyes were on them. Their attitude and performance certainly bodes well for their upcoming American tour. Their set lasted around half an hour, but in the eyes of the crowd, that hardly mattered; their weekend had gotten the incredible kick-oﬀ they’d hoped for. JOSHUA KLOKE

LOVED: Picking up a new LP for the sake of “research.” HATED: That I couldn’t listen to the LP on my walk home. DRANK: As many pints as my light wallet would allow.

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