The Brag #377

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The Killers frontman

BRANDON FLOWERS His debut solo album

FLAMINGO Featuring the single “Crossfire” Deluxe version with 4 extra tracks available for a limited time

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8 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

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BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 9

Professor Nigel Harrison.

Senior Engineer in charge of the Making the Wagon Wheel Incredibly Handsome Department.

Wagon Wheels Product Innovation Team.

A healthy tan on the outside is always desirable.

On incredibly handsome men, and incredibly handsome snacks.

“Brown. The colour of success. It says you’re rich. It says you’re desirable. It says, potentially, that underneath your sexy exterior that you’re all squishy and mushy like marshmallow and jam. But you have a hard edge made of biscuit that the women of the world will just love to sink their teeth into.

Engineering something as incredibly handsome as the choc-coated, biscuit, jam and marshmallow wonder that is Wagon Wheels takes many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many years of something or other. And it took someone as incredibly handsome as Professor Nigel Harrison to help develop its incredibly

10 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

handsome visage. Because the Wagon Wheel is no ordinary snack. No. It’s an extraordinary snack. We add the extra just before it goes into its outstanding packaging.

But time waits for no man. Not even incredibly handsome men like Professor Nigel Harrison. The incredibly handsome (and some not so handsome, unfortunately) populace of Australia, that’s you, has the opportunity to reinvent the Wagon Wheel.

Go to www.wagonwheels.com.au and you could win the amusing total of $8008 if you come up with the best, most handsome new Wagon Wheel. Mmmm, delicious. Just like Professor Nigel Harrison.”

>RANDOM. BUT RIGHT

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HOLY GHOST! MEMORY TAPES CLASSIXX NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB JESSE ROSE GRUM THE SWISS FLIGHT FACILITIES ANNA LUNOE & MANY MORE BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 11

rock music news

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on, down and around town. With Nathan Jolly & Cool Thomas

he said she said

WITH

CHRIS MURRAY FROM SOSUEME (BRING BACK BANDS!) bands like Art Vs Science, Lost Valentinos, John Steel Singers, Cassette Kids, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Richard In Your Mind, Muscles, Cloud Control, Bridezilla, teenagersintokyo and Yves Klein Blue. We thought we’d give promoter Chris Murray a bit of space to tell us what happened.

W

e got a very sad press release last week with an ominous and all-toofamiliar heading: “Iconic Sydney Indie Night Forced to Cease Live Music.” This time, it’s Sosueme @ Q Bar-. BRAG HQ have drowned more than a few Friday night deadline sorrows at Sosueme since it began three years back, and is a supporter of anyone who has offered a stage to

Wait, what? No more bands at SOSUEME? What happened?

Unfortunately so. The live music component of SOSUEME is the latest casualty in a very long line of compromises the Exchange Hotel has had to make in order to keep their doors open. First there was the crippling lockout and drink restrictions of last year - which has been shadowed since by unbelievable levels of police monitoring to the point of victimisation. Add to the mix continued council and licensing issues and relentless noise complaints by a handful of residents, who are

aiming to see Oxford Street’s entertainment district shut down... You’ve already read about the pressure Oxford Art Factory is under – now it’s our turn, and there will be more to come.

Yeah, we’re starting to see a bit of a trend here…

The problem is that residents have too much power. All it takes is one resident to continuously complain about the noise coming from a live music venue (regardless of the decibel reading, or what time they’re legally allowed to be open til) and they can have the venue shut down or smacked with crippling fines. The council seems to side with the residents 100% of the time, and venues are too scared to fight back –costs and legislation makes it increasingly difficult for them to do so with any kind of effectiveness. It is systematically killing live music in this city.

Live music venues exists because of the passion of their owners – there are much easier ways to make money with these venues, like turning it into a bar or club, or bringing in pokies. But venue owners believe in supporting the brilliant live music scene in this city. It seems like the powers that be won’t realise how important it was until it’s been killed.

Do you see a resolution for Sosueme @ Q Bar, or do you see a venue shift?

SOSUEME has supported live music for three years, and in turn the bands and their fans have supported SOSUEME – so they’re of the utmost importance for us. We love Q Bar and want to see what can be done to fix the situation and move on, but knowing that without warning we might need to cancel 40 or more bands again like we had to do this week is devastating. We’re looking into options that mean that we don’t have to let down over 150 musicians ever again, and one of these options may well include a venue change.

We have some very exciting names booked over the next couple of months, so stay tuned for all the juice.

And in the meantime?

Show your support by joining the ‘Petition to Bring Back Bands at SOSUEME’ group on Facebook - and together we can prove to the community how passionate this city is about live music!

More: www.sosueme.com.au, and join the Facebook petition to win a thousand cool points.

JINJA SAFARI LAUNCH

PUBLISHERS: Adam Zammit & Rob Furst EDITOR IN CHIEF: Adam Zammit 9552 6333 adam@peergroupmedia.com EDITOR: Steph Harmon steph@thebrag.com 9552 6333 ARTS EDITORS & ASSOCIATES: Dee Jefferson & Caitlin Welsh dee@thebrag.com 9552 6333 STAFF WRITER: Jake Stone jake@thebrag.com NEWS CO-ORDINATORS: Chris Murray, Chris Honnery ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant GRAPHIC DESIGN: Jake Bruce SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER: Tim Levy SNAP PHOTOGRAPHERS: Ashley Mar, Rosette Rouhana, Daniel Munns, Patrick Stevenson, Susan Bui, Robert Lee, Maja Baska COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Violet Parr SALES/MARKETING MANAGER: Blake Rayner 0404 304 929 / (02) 9552 6672 blake@thebrag.com ADVERTISING: Les White - 0405 581 125 / (02) 9552 6618 les@thebrag.com ADVERTISING: Sara Golchin - (02) 9552 6747 sara@thebrag.com GIG & CLUB GUIDE CO-ORDINATOR: Christian Moraga - gigguide@thebrag.com (rock) clubguide@thebrag.com (dance) INTERN: Rach Seneviratne

Jinja Safari have launched onto radio everywhere, have launched into slots with some of the best bands in the known universe (ohh, you know, just The Strokes, Grizzly Bear, Band of Horses…) and now they’re launching their sun drenched debut EP at Goodgod Small Club on September 23. Strange Talk are supporting, and it’s a Thursday night so start complaining about a stomach bug on Thursday around lunchtime, get audibly headachy in the afternoon, then finish the three-step-Friday-sickday by calling in croaky-voiced on Friday 8am…

MORE LIKE EL AWESOMEO

Alright! Time to dust off the flamenco dresses, pull out the traditional matador getup and oil up the castanets! Prepare yourself for an invigorating fiesta of tapas, sangria and sexual live music! To what do I owe this super bueno offer, you ask?

Your mates at Mistletone are bringing out El Guincho. It’s their third visit to our sunny land of kangaroos, monotremes, Fosters™ and race riots, and there is no doubt that The Gaelic (a club dedicated to Celtic culture, fine ales and basketmaking) is going to collapse with the extensive awesomeness of the Barcelona outfit. It’s a while off yet - Friday December 10 in fact - but tickets will be onsale through Moshtix soon. Still

Please send mail NOT ACCOUNTS direct to this address 153 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 ph - (02) 9552 6333 fax - (02) 9552 6866

unconvinced? Keep an eye out for the upcoming album, Pop Negro, due out September 10. It will blow your tiny little mind…

CHINA LANG

EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Publisher, Editor or Staff of The Brag.

DEADLINES: Editorial Wednesday 12pm (no extensions) Art Work, Ad Bookings Thursday 12pm (no extensions) Ad Cancellations Tuesday 4pm Published by Cartrage P/L ACN 104026388 All content copyrighted to Cartrage 2003 DISTRIBUTION: Wanna get The Brag? email distribution@furstmedia.com.au or ph 03 9428 3600.

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PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY SAVE THE WORLD

Wow, the Phillies Jays are kicking major goals overseas (stay tuned to BRAG over the next few weeks for updates so awesome they make RSS feeds seem like a tin-can string phone.) Due to oft-repeated rumours they’d cruelly abandoned their loving homeland FOR GOODSIES, they are returning with a 26-date Australian tour, a new 7”, and a deluxe ultra 21-song (plus bonus live DVD) re-release of their album. What was that you said about them abandoning you? The single is even called ‘Save Our Town’, and the B-side is a cover of ‘99 Problems’ by Jay-Z. They hit Sydney on November 13 for an all ages Metro show.

Tickets available from September 6, single out September 17, album out October 1, electro out in about a month or so, and grunge back in by Christmas, mmkay?

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Joshua Blackman, Mikey Carr, Bridie Connell, Bridie Connellan, Oliver Downes, Tony Edwards, Christie Eliezer, Murray Engleheart, Chris Familton, Lucy Fokkema, Mike Gee, Alice Hart, Kate Hennessy, Chris Honnery, Nathan Jolly, Andy McLean, Amelia Schmidt, Romi Scodellaro, Xanthe Seacret, Jonno Seidler, RK, Luke Telford, Beth Wilson, Alex Young

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Stephen Forde : accounts@furstmedia.com.au ph - (03) 9428 3600 fax - (03) 9428 3611 Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond Victoria 3121

Philadelphia Grand Jury

Red Riders

NEWTOWN’S CHANGING LANES FESTIVAL

Heard you liked festivals, Newtown!

The list of acts set to play the upcoming Changing Lanes Festival is pretty much just plain great. Tame Impala, Bridezilla, Spit Syndicate, Cabins, Bag Raiders, Red Riders, Ernest Ellis, Itch-e and Scratch-e, Richard In Your Mind and numerous others will be filling Eliza Street, The Courthouse Hotel and Zanzibar Hotel in the heart of Newtown, with a host of street artists, performers and markets lining the streets – thanks to FBi Radio and Maps Entertainment. The festival is scheduled for September 19 and you can get your tickets through Moshtix.

China will be the next world superpower according to those who know more than us, so Jeff Lang decided to beat the rush, and played a massive 15-date tour of China recently.

Returning from this trip, and along the way to conquer France, Germany and Spain like some crazed dictator, he’s managed to squeeze in a show at The Basement. It happens on Friday September 10, and he is supported by Leroy Lee.

U2OZ

U2 have announced an Australian tour for December, with Jay Z supporting. With Jay Z supporting. Yeah. Holy shit yeah. Tickets go on sale Friday September 3 for all cities – and now it’s time to vote for your favourite Bono quote - all entries to steph@thebrag.com: a) Africa is a continent in flames. And deep down, if we really accepted that Africans were equal to us, we would all do more to put the fire out. We’re standing around with watering cans, when what we really need is the fire brigade. b) As a rock star, I have two instincts: I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both. c) U2 is an original species...

there are colours and feelings and emotional terrain that we occupy that is ours and ours alone. (I mean, the man is amazing.)

CUTEFACE BOWDITCH

At the Clare Bowditch MySpace secret show the other night she told a sweet, sad story about her ex-boyfriend; a few minutes later she did a cute clap thing with her hands, and then I fell in love with her. I spent the remainder of the set swinging between crush-butterflies, and plotting ways to off her drummer (and husband) Marty Brown. My next chance might be when she supports Leonard Cohen at his two Sydney shows in November. Cymbals can only shield so much, Marty…

LILITH FAIR

Unlike Liz Phair, the music of Lilith Fair has become bigger and better over the years, returning after a ten-year hiatus to put the grrrl back in girl power (or something). Now heading to Australia under the banner of A Taste Of Lilith, this tour - designed to celebrate the awesomeness that is women (and especially women with guitar pedals) - will swing through Sydney (and the doors of The Enmore) on October 4, with Sarah McLachlan, Courtyard Hounds, Kate Miller-Heidke and The Verses in tow. Tickets go on sale Thursday September 2 through Ticketek.

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T O N G U E / ALTERNATIVE ENERGY /

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BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 13

rock music news

free stuff

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on, down and around town. With Nathan Jolly & Cool Thomas

five things WITH

KLAXONS

JAE LAFFER FROM THE PANICS FOR THE JD SET Growing Up I come from a big 1. family - I’m the youngest of seven, so there was always a lot of noise around. We had a piano in the kitchen and Dad would play in the evenings, while Mum cooked for the tribe. They’re Polish immigrants, so there was a lot of traditional Polish songs. Dad taught me the piano accordion when I was about ten, and I took it from there.

boys are playing football at school or in a classroom somewhere. A few of us started working on a song around the age of eleven in the library, just some words, but that’s the first memory I have of getting to work…

The Music You Make We’re a few weeks away from heading 4. into the studio to make an album. We’ve been working on the songs for a while now, and have got it to a place that’s sounding like it should. We’re recording for a couple of months in a church in the countryside in upstate New York, so we got pretty lucky there. Should be a good one.

Inspirations Music, Right Here, Right Now I remember really liking 5.There are lots of good bands about at 2. this bush band that used to the moment, lots of party music - I like the play all the time near our house, that’s the first band I remember. They had that stick with the beer caps and sang about shearing sheds and things... I didn’t know what it was but I thought they were the coolest thing around.

Your Band Our band met in 3. primary school. My first memories of most of the

FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM

youngsters Tim and Jean for that. Oh Mercy from Melbourne are a top band too, they’ve got some really good lyrics going on. And Dom from Little Red - one of the best songwriters going around.

Who: Jae Laffer (The Panics) With: You Am I, Washington, Nic Cester (Jet), Tex Perkins, Adalita and Vanetta Fields What: The JD Birthday Set Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Wednesday September 15

NO SLEEP TIL

Festival. Megadeth, NOFX, Dropkick Murphy, Descendents, Gwar, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, Frenzal Rhomb. Yes, this is an actual factual 2010 festival lineup, and yes, it goes on. Alkaline Trio, Katatonia, Atreyu, 3 Inches Of Blood, Suicide Silence, August Burns Red, We Came As Romans, House VS Hurricane, Break Even, Heroes For Hire, Confession, Antagonist A.D., The Outsiders, Shitripper and Leeches. Get out your Parkway Drive basketball shorts and flat cap then start stretching up!

It’s at the Entertainment Quarter on December 18, tickets go on sale September 9 and you love Gwar, why don’t you join the band.

Indie-rave princes Klaxons swoop by Australia in the wake of their superduper-hyped sophomore, on the aptly named ‘Down Under The Void’ tour.

Since their 2007 gem of a debut Myths Of The Near Future, Klaxons have shed their fluoro/neon skins and have emerged as unrelenting musical hedonists; conspicuous dynamos in a pool of indie tedium. Their raved-about (get it?!) show will feature chunes from both Myths and their latest release Surfing The Void – oh lordy. We have three special Klaxons packages to give away; each containing a double pass to the September 2 show at The Enmore as well as a brand spankin’ copy of their fresh album. To win, tell us the name of their new single.

CHICKS WHO LOVE GUNS

Wonderfully described as “the musical bastard children of Gallows and the Arctic Monkeys”, Chicks Who Love Guns are a careless crew of drunk punks whose lyrics and lifestyle seem to revolve around violence, drugs, sex, and violent drugged-up sex. (Fuck yeah). They’re playing at Melt Bar on September 3 with Melbourne’s off-kilter grunge animals Reptiles, whose fans have allegedly drunk bleach in homage to their song ‘Drank Bleach’. Geez…only in Melbourne, right?

To win a lovely prize pack which contains (deep breath) Chicks Who Love Guns’ EP Vomit On The Dance Floor, Reptiles’ 2010 release Come Get Me, as well as a double pass to the gig, just tell us what your favourite reptile is and why.

Jezabels, Richard In Your Mind & Guineafowl playing live on September 3. Tickets have probably sold out by the time this goes to print but it’s worth checking anyway, yeah?

XIU KYU ON HIGH

Just a reminder that Popfrenzy are being rad again, and presenting Xiu Xiu, High Places and kyu this Thursday September 2. If you enjoy the acts on the Popfrenzy rosters (most of the good things that have been released this year), but haven’t checked out any of these bands, maybe go, and stuff.

EARLY BIRD GETS APPLE

There’s a big glass building in the CBD, housing many ergonomically sound computer products.

September 24 sees Basement Birds (Kav Temperley, Josh Pyke, Bob Evans, Jeff Lynne) play there at 9pm. Be there Tuesday to secure your place.

THE MESS HALL Roxy Music

Everything I’ve ever read about The Mess Hall compares them to either The Black Keys or The White Stripes, solely because they are a duo who play slightly bluesy rock. The idea of being compared to a band based on the number of members is silly, so I would like to make the following comparisons following the same logic. Silverchair are like the Cohen family prior to Ryan Atwood’s arrival. Sonny and Cher are like Slater and Gordon Legal Firm. The cast of Friends when Paul Rudd joined for a bit are pretty much like Belle & Sebastian. The point is that comparisons are silly. The other point is that Mess Hall play September 11 at The Annandale. And there’s two of them.

Muse

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

ROXY BOXING

Laughing at the idea of chillwave, glowave, lo-fi, glo-fi and other genres you try and lump your generic rock outfit into, Roxy Music have announced they are touring Australia with Mondo Rock next February (the 25th in Sydney, for those who buy those five-year-diaries at Savers). No word yet on whether Eno will be joining the band for their Sydney Entertainment Centre date, but who knows... At the very least he will probably come and shine his flashlight on the outside of the building for a bit.

The unGoogle-able Girls’ Album was one of the most indie-jizzed records of 2009, despite not featuring anyone from of the Animal Collective. Frontman Christopher Owens was raised in a cult, and just like Charles Manson he recorded an odd little insular album on reel-to-reel tape and, aside from an obsession with Dennis Wilson, that’s where the similarities end (we think). Girls play Manning Bar on December 8, and tickets go on sale…soon.

MANNING BAR TURNS TEN

Before you write in smugly pointing out that Manning House is over 100 years old and we should fact-check & lay off Bono - we obviously mean it’s the 10th birthday of the newer bar, balcony and live music area. They’re throwing a bash as part of the epic Verge Festival celebrations (check out our Verge special on page 26 & 27), with Cloud Control, The

MUSE AND BIFFY CLYRO

Muse will be casually mincing into town this December, and have just announced that they will be bringing Scottish ace-machine Biffo Clyro along for the ride. The show on the 9th has long sold out, but tickets for the following night are still available. If you have never seen Muse live the presser sums it up by saying: “HUGE three-dimensional towers, lasers, silver trousers and a hit-heavy set that envisions rock and roll’s symphonic glittering future.”

“Inflatable doll, lover ungrateful. I blew up your body... but you blew my mind” - ROXY MUSIC 14 :: BRAG :: 377 : 30:08:10

ANZ STADIUM

MONDAY DECEMBER 13 ON SALE 9AM THIS FRIDAY! ticketek.com.au/U2360 or 132 849

For complete tour information, visit www.U2.com For local information & tour updates sign up at www.livenation.com.au I www.coppel.com.au For official Travel & Hospitality packages visit www.U2360packages.com.au Produced by Live Nation Global Touring in association with Michael Coppel and Live Nation Australia All concert tickets include Major Event rail and bus services to and from ANZ Stadium

U2 360 Live at The Rose Bowl in stores now BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 15

dance music news

free stuff

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... With Chris Honnery onthefly.com.au

he said she said

FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM

Chase The Sun

WITH THE TONGUE and thin, and the respect is mutual. We deal in positivity at Elefant Traks, we always make an effort to show love and reach out to other crews around Australia. We like to collaborate and build and lift each other up, which is why you never hear about trouble or violence at our shows. The vibe at an Elefant Traks show is always about love.

Love is necessary.

The Tongue

I make hip hop. The aim with my latest album Alternative Energy was to challenge people’s perception of what Australian hip hop should sound like and be about.

There’s more to hip hop than ‘party tracks’ over boom-bap beats - people need to lift their expectations of artists. Artists need to expand their vision and push the envelope.

That’s how we progress.

I

grew up on a healthy diet of Public Enemy, Primus, Redman and Sarah Vaughan. While hip hop is my first love, in more recent times I’ve found myself listening to a lot of soul like Lee Fields and Mayer Hawthorne, and reggae.

I’m inspired by the power of music think about all the different effects it can have. It can be educational, it can help you

HEAPS DECENT SPRING PARTY

This Saturday, Oxford Art Factory plays host to the Heaps Decent Spring Party, which doubles as a fundraising event for upcoming projects - helping indigenous and under privileged youth find their musical feet. A broad array of performers are locked in for the event, including artists from various Heaps Decent workshops and members of the extended Heaps Decent family. Stunna Set, Young Nooky and Tweak will all be playing live, while DJs like Bag Raiders, Beni, Kato, Ro Sham Bo, Anna Lunoe, Nina Las Vegas, Bad Ezzy, Wax Motif, Pablo Calamari, Dizz1, Disco Punx, Splitter, Fuzzy DJs and Generic Collective repping from 8pm. Entry will set you

chill out after a long day, it makes you want to dance, it can make you want to fight, it can set the mood in the bedroom, it might make you feel suicidal, it can bring back memories from 20 years ago in a second.

It’s a very powerful thing, very magical and very important.

The Elefant Traks crew is my second family. They have my back through thick

back just twenty dollars – and it all goes towards a good cause. To read more about Heaps Decent, head to page 26.

LA LECHE!

Europe’s hedonistic gay and lesbian white party, La Leche! comes to Australia for the very first time on Sunday October 3 (the Labour Day long weekend). The official Sleaze Ball After Party, La Leche! boasts a lineup that includes Barcelona DJ Lydia Sanz, who has been playing on the Ibiza and European club circuit of late. House impresario Peyton has also been added to the lineup, with local stalwart Alex Taylor, DJ Kitty, Dan Murphy, Murray Hood and MC Glammer set to perform. They’ll be joined by a plethora of

Elefant Traks has had a lot of victories of late. We’re beginning to tour overseas, we’re selling out shows all over Australia, and the quality of the music is always increasing. It was also great to see Bliss N Eso get the number one record in the country a few weeks back, proving yet again how commercially legitimate this music has become. The scene is very healthy and I believe Alternative Energy will only add to that.

Who: The Tongue What: Alternative Energy is out September 10 on Elefant Traks Where: ‘The Show’ single launch @ The Sandringham Hotel When: Friday September 17

Kato

BOUNDARY BONDS WITH...

DAMIEN RD, COMERFO FORUM BOSS, THE

How did you score your job?

I left Ireland on a trip to Australia in 1999 and it all sort of started from there... I ran The Gaelic Club from its 2001 inception all the way through to its sale, and then set up the Forum as a live venue to offer a space for bands and music lovers to play in.

DANCE 4 DONATIONS

The lineup for the first Yacht Club of the summer has been announced, and it’s an absolute jaffer. The international triumvirate of Martin Buttrich, Jazzanova and Gunnar Stiller will each be throwing down aboard the luxurious Starship Cruiser come 3pm Saturday November 20. Buttrich is something of a Svengali-type figure in the tech scene, working behind the scenes for people like Loco Dice and overseeing the Desolat label. Buttrich unveiled his debut artist album Crash Test earlier in the year, adding to a production oeuvre that also includes remixes for the likes of Tracey Thorn and Josh Wink, and he will apparently be playing live on his maiden trip down under. Jazzanova are no strangers to Australian crowds and will be delivering their trademark mix of jazzfunk and classic re-edits on the open-air rooftop of the Starship. Gunnar Stiller is a highly touted youngster at the forefront of the ‘next-gen’ of German tech DJs, and has built up a strong underground following through regular spots at world-renowned Berlin nightspots Watergate and Bar 25. Presale tickets are available online.

Chase The Sun like to play rock ‘n’ roll.

They also have fun playing bluesy blues, rootsy roots and country….country. (That could have been rude). Channelling all the classic gurus from Stevie Ray to Hendrix as well as touring with modernday maestros like John Butler and Jeff Lang, Chase The Sun have sure earned their stripes in the Australian blues ‘n’ roots fraternity. The band is bringing their innovative approach to hard-rock blues to The Annandale on September 2, supported by Fisher King and Hussy Hicks. We have five double passes to give away. To win just tell us the name of Chase The Sun’s debut album.

dancers, acrobats and performance artists, and there are also promises of an elaborate audiovisual set up. It all goes down from 10pm at The Metro Theatre – and presale tickets are available online.

Jazzanova

AGWA YACHT CLUB

CHASE THE SUN

Here’s a stat for those of you reading this week’s magazine from the comfy confines of a trendy inner-city café, forking out $5 a coffee in a futile attempt to win the affection of that beguiling waiter/waitress. Ready? OK: An estimated 32,444 young people between 12 to 24 years are homeless in Australia each night. In an attempt to support the country’s disadvantaged and homeless youth, Dance 4 Donations 2010 brings together a collection line-up of well-known DJs for a party with a philanthropic twist.

Kato, DJ Eko, Act Yo Age, DJ Samrai, Carlito Bangs, Cester and DJ Libre are among those supporting the cause, with the music set to span everything from hip hop and R’n’B to “dirty electro” – that takes me back to ’07 (shudder) – and house. Dance 4 Donations will be held at Cabana Bar in St Leonards on Sunday September 12, with entry via a $10 donation – that’s a mere two overpriced coffees, buster.

The most stressful part of the role?

Some of the most stressful times end up being the best memories, and usually involve the unusual antics of certain artists... Anton Newcombe of Brian Jonestown Massacre, Shane MacGowan of the Pogues and Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe have all helped keep the adrenaline pumping.

How do you feel about the live music scene in Sydney?

It’s certainly come a long way in the last few years. The festivals are so frequent now that there are lots of opportunities for bands to tour, and this usually means sideshows aplenty. I’ve started a new company called Waterfall Entertainment and am a partner in Days Like This! festival, so all things being equal I’m hoping the music industry goes from strength to strength and we all continue to grow together.

What’s coming up at The Forum?

I have just announced a New Young Pony Club show at the Forum for October 1. Also coming are Red Bull Music Academy, Surgeon, Musica, L.A.Guns, Aslan ...lots and lots....

“There’s a new sensation. A fabulous creation. A danceable solution to teenage revolution”- ROXY MUSIC 16 :: BRAG :: 377 : 30:08:10

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 17

dance music news

free stuff

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... With Chris Honnery onthefly.com.au

five things WITH

FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM Calvin Harris

STEPHEN ALLKINS people is all about fun and respect, and I’ve been blessed to have worked with my mentor Bill Morley who was a genius, musically and otherwise. The stuff he put together was mindblowing in its variety, and he had exquisite taste. He taught me how to just love all sorts of music and not restrict my tastes. He passed away a couple of years ago.

Stephen Allkins

The Music You Make The music I make is the same as the music 4.

I play as a DJ - it’s based on my life beliefs.

Love, equality, life, politics, dancing for the spirit, rhythm and melody and occasionally tripping you out to make you laugh and keep you on your toes. I’ve been working with my friend James Atherton for two years. He’s just turned 25 but is a fucking wiz with technology. We both decided we don’t want do the live thing, just produce and make music – we go under the name SpunkBucket.

1.

Growing Up As far as growing up goes, I had a pretty normal childhood with no real musical influences in my house. We used to have a portable record player and a stack of 7” singles that I used to play over and over, all the time. My first real musical blowout was being in our car when I was about 4 or 5 and Aretha’s ‘Respect’ came on, and I sat there being blown away, saying to myself, ‘What is this? Why am I feeling so amazed and tingly all over?’ The rest is history.

2.

Inspirations More than individual musicians, it’s music that inspires me and always has. I’ve always loved all sorts of music, and just feel the vibe different stuff gives you. I find soul, funk, disco, afro, jazz, South American, reggae etc always makes me feel good all over, no matter what mood I’m in. Roxy Music and David Bowie were a big influence on me as well.

3.

Your Band In 35 years of going out and DJing, I’ve had lots of people to play with. Working with

Music, Right Here, Right Now At the moment I’m love playing with my 5. friend Matt Vaughn who is the first DJ in a while [who] I think plays from the heart. He has great taste in music and doesn’t follow trends - and by doing that, I think you help create trends, or maybe just show people a really good time on a dancefloor. That’s what we’re supposed to be here for.

Who: Stephen Allkins With: Simon Caldwell, Gian Arpino & Cam Brown Where: Electric Avenue @ Tone Venue When: Friday September 3

would become known as deep house, with a string of releases on Prescription in the early 90s. Damier then took a lengthy break from production work and hence might not be known to house neophytes, though his hiatus ended last year when he committed to a series of releases for the German label Mojuba – and launched his own new project, Balance Alliance. See you Saturday September 4 at the Civic Underground.

Femi Kuti

MR. INTL

Hercules & Love Affair’s Andrew Butler has revealed details for a new house label called MR. INTL. The label’s first release is ‘And I’m (So In Love With You)’, a collaboration between Butler and Jason Kendig, resident at San Francisco’s Honeysoundsystem parties. It also includes remixes by Deetron and KiNK. MR. INTL will focus exclusively on music made in the spirit of first wave house and techno, favouring production with analogue equipment.

“I want to evoke strictly that sound on this label, so I’ve been pretty hard-ass with people in terms of what the output is,” says Butler, via press release. “I don’t want anything that sounds pre-’85 or post-’94.” Meanwhile, word has it that the next Hercules & Love Affair album has been delayed, and won’t hit shelves till early next year.

SHIT ROBOT LP

FEMI KUTI

There was a sudden commotion at Brag HQ this week when Tony E sprung up from his laptop and let out a primordial bellow of excitement before bursting into a strange dance routine vaguely reminiscent of his infamous ‘Afrobeat’ demonstrations. Looking at the email he had just received, his cause for excitement was apparent: Niche Productions are touring Afrobeat royalty Femi Kuti and his 14 piece strong band, The Positive Force, in November.

The eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti – who is the subject of an apparently excellent musical currently doing the rounds in NY – Femi has continued his father’s strong commitment to social and political causes throughout his career. A two-time Grammy nominee, Femi Kuti is recognised across the world for merging Afrobeat with contemporary soul and hip-hop influences. His 2001 album Fight To Win combined these different sounds to great effect, featuring collaborations with Common, Mos Def and Jaguar Wright and even spawning a remix from French house producer Ernest Saint Laurent, which demands a listen from anyone with a penchant for 4/4 club sounds done a la Francais. Femi Kuti and The Positive Force perform at The Metro Theatre on Saturday November 20.

In news straight from DFA HQ, our man Marcus Lambkin aka Shit Robot, who you’ll remember headlined Deep Impressions at GoodGod Small Club back in January, has unveiled the details of his eagerly anticipated debut artist album, From The Cradle To The Rave. Lambkin is a good pal of James Murphy, with the pair putting on parties and DJing together in NYC throughout the 90s, and it was Murphy himself who was on production for Lambkin’s first LP. From the Cradle to the Rave includes collaborations with Murphy, Juan MacLean, Planningtorock, Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip, D.C. indie icon Ian Svenonious and Saheer Umar from House of House - and you can download the first official track off the album, ‘I Found Love’, for free through www.onthefly.com.au

MARCEL DETTMANN

CHEZ DAMIER @ ADULT DISCO

Chicago luminary Anthony Pearson, AKA Chez Damier, will headline Adult Disco at The Civic Underground this Saturday. Ye-ah.

Demier has borne witness to many of the pivotal moments in the development of house and techno since opening The Music Institute in Detroit in the late 80s. Jointly responsible with partner Ron Trent for Prescription Records, Damier crafted the blueprint for what

Ostgut Ton’s Marcel Dettmann headlines ‘Disconnected’ at Plantation on Saturday September 18 with a four-hour set. Dettmann has been name-checked as one of the more cutting-edge techno producers in the underground Europe scene for the past few years, notching up a string of acclaimed

ONELOVE <3s STEREOSONIC & SMASH YOUR STEREO

Contrary to their name, onelove are busy lovin’ it up with two major projects at the moment – the gargantuan dance festival staple Stereosonic, and their newest 3-disc offering Smash Your Stereo.

Stereosonic boasts some of the biggest names in dance right now – Calvin Harris, Tiesto, Robyn, Major Lazer, Sebastian Ingrosso and many more. And Smash Your Stereo has a smorgasbord of the dirtiest disco cuts your ears can possibly fathom; with each disc being mixed by Denzal Park, Nervo, and Yolanda Be Cool respectively. Thanks to onelove, we have two glorious packages to give away, featuring both a double pass to the Stereosonic Festival and a copy of the Smash Your Stereo mix CD. To get your sweaty hands on this prize, tell us Calvin Harris’ birth name…

productions culminating in the release of his debut self-titled LP, which hit shelves earlier this year. Dettmann has also remixed the likes of Fever Ray, Junior Boys, Modeselektor and Scuba, and has a sound that merges Detroit and European influences. Support from Dopamine, Defined By Rhythm and Ben Dunlop.

MR BIRTHDAY SEX

Oz nightclub, located above Foot Locker on George St, is the venue for The Swag Fest Party featuring Def Jam’s Jeremih, direct from the USA. Jeremih is the man responsible for the chart-topping single ‘Birthday Sex’, lifted from his debut album - the track sold over 1.8 million in ringtones worldwide. Ringtones!

Limited early bird tickets for this event are available online for $38, and he’ll be supported

by Phinesse and Neeq & Candy.

KLAXONS TOUR

Nu-rave upstarts Klaxons return to Australia on the back of their sophomore LP, Surfing The Void. Klaxons have always divided fans, and indeed Brag writers/readers – who could forget Seidler’s no-stars review of their debut LP way back in December ’06? – but few could deny their impact on the scene when they dropped their Mercury Prize-winning debut album, Myths Of The Near Future. Remixed by Soulwax, Van She and Erol Alkan, Klaxons became the poster boys for all dem young sconies entering the club fray sporting the lurid accoutrement of glowsticks and assorted flouro attire. The UK troupe have apparently matured somewhat on their new LP (check out Seidler’s review next week), courtesy of some production touches from Ross Robinson, who has worked with The Cure in the past.

Klaxons play the Enmore Theatre on Thursday September 2, and Surfing The Void is out now through Modular.

TONGUE SINGLE LAUNCH

Aussie hip hop juggernaut The Tongue (see profile, p.16) will drop his new album Alternative Energy early next month through Elefant Traks. The LP features beats from M-Phazes, Cam Bluff, Dizz1 and El Gusto, and guests include Gift Of Gab, Urthboy and Joyride. Throughout the album, The Tongue covers the themes of love and frustration, politics and bullshit (which certainly aren’t mutually exclusive), and coming up and down in a city of sin. He’ll be launching lead single ‘The Show’ at The Sandringham Hotel in Newtown on Friday September 10, where he’ll be flanked by cohorts Joyride and DJ Skoob.

“Though the world Is my oyster It’s only a shell Full of memories” - ROXY MUSIC 18 :: BRAG :: 377 : 30:08:10

UNDERWORLD Barking

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NEW ALBUM

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AVAILABLE 10.9.10

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 19

Industrial Strength themusicnetwork.com

Industry Music News with Christie Eliezer

HAWKER EXITING AS EMI A&R Craig Hawker is exiting EMI Music’s VP, A&R Labels Australasia on Nov 16. He signed Empire Of The Sun and The Cat Empire who sold half a million records each, Operator Please, Bob Evans, Faker and Paul Dempsey. Becoming a music fanatic at 14 after triple j arrived in his hometown Cairns, he set up a fansite for Grinspoon, did work experience at Murmur Records and at 18 joined as a talent scout at EMI. He wants to “re-charge the batteries, and ultimately look for different challenges” adding, “I’ve spent my entire 20s in A&R roles at EMI.”

CLUB WOES IN NEWCASTLE & CANBERRA Six hotels in Hamilton, Newcastle have to introduce lockout rules as part of a 15 month trial. The idea was first mooted in July, when the hotels argued the move lost them business, and suggested they set up a group of bouncers and cops to patrol the area.

Life lines Ill: Poland metal band Behemoth frontman Nergal is diagnosed with leukemia.

Injured: Four clubbers at Townsville’s Mad Cow, when a 20-year old, who’d been thrown out, tried to sneak in again through the ceiling. It gave way, and he crashed down on to the dance floor, bringing bits of ceiling down with him.

In Court: Sydney club DJ Scott Pullen was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond, over an incident where he assaulted DJ Kate Monroe by pinning her against the wall at the Oxford Hotel in February. The judge also told him not to accept gigs which would bring him into contact with Monroe.

In Court: a number of Amnesty International activists were arrested outside U2’s Moscow show, with police claiming they had no permission to hand out leaflets. Meantime, U2 were fined £14,723 for playing too loud at their gigs in Barcelona.

In Court: Sydney nightclub operator Justin Hemmes is heading to the Land and Environment Court, over opening hours for his Ivy club. He was recently allowed to keep it open until 4 am until 2012 — but wants it extended to 2015.

Sued: Eminem is being hit with two lawsuits. One is by a Michigan couple asking for unspecified damages after his tour bus (which he was not on) crashed into their tractor trailer in July. Meantime, two of the rapper’s relatives said he reneged on a deal to give him a home if they relocated closer to his Detroit home.

In Court: Aaron Fagan, drummer with British band N-Dubz was found guilty of sexual assault — groping two women’s breasts and asses after a gig. He claims miscarriage of justice, as there was no CCTV evidence.

Jailed: Happy Mondays dancer and founder member Bez, for four weeks, for assaulting his ex-girlfriend Monica Ward (mother of his two-year-old son), after a row over money. He was initially sentenced to four weeks of community service but he growled at the judge, “I’m not doing it.

Bothered?”

Died: US songwriter George David Weiss, co-wrote hits ‘What A Wonderful World’, ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ and ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’, 89, natural causes.

But the Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority rejected it. The ACT government is also overhauling its liquor licensing laws.

Late night venues will cop a risk management regime, and clubs with the most alcoholfuelled agro will pay more for their licences.

The ACT government found money to pay for 10 extra cops to help enforce the laws, and $250,000 to extend the ‘Nightrider’ late night bus services. David Dalrymple, owner of The Basement at Belconnen, told The Canberra Times that the new fee system would send smaller clubs broke.

US RADIO TO PAY TO PLAY MUSIC?

THINGS WE HEAR * Fuzzy Events will know by early this week if they can also hold their Harbourlife event on the Gold Coast a week after the Sydney event in November. * At least two music-related associations have their fingers crossed that Labor returns to power. The ALP granted $95,000 to FBi 94.5FM to rebuild its transmitter, and $3 million for the upgrade of Queensland’s Woodfordia site which hosts the Woodford Folk and Dreaming festivals, and hosted 2010’s Splendour. * Speaking of which, Tim Freedman took election day seriously. In Adelaide for two shows with The Whitlams, he handed out how-to-vote cards for Labor at a booth. Through the show he got a Gillard lookalike to run onstage every thirty minutes to come up with the latest votes.

When it looked like a hung parliament, he finished off the set, telling the crowd he had to watch the tally on telly.

After 70 years of playing music for free, things are changing with American radio.

The National Association of Broadcasters has suggested a framework where stations would pay US$100 million a year. The deal means that the larger stations will pay 1% of their profits, while the smaller ones won’t pay anything. In the past, radio has argued that it won’t pay because firstly, it gives free promotion to artists and secondly, it will send small stations bankrupt. But America’s Congress is pushing for radio to pay, and the stations figure it’d be smarter to come up with the rate than the politicians…

Jon English’s The Rock Show as well as an auction. For tickets info or to donate, go to www.devilrock,com.au.

SOSUEME FORCED TO DROP LIVE ACTS

INDIGENOUS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ONE MOVEMENT

After three and a half years, Sydney indie night Sosueme has had to drop its live acts or face thousands of dollars of fines. The indie night, at Q Bar & 34b Stereo on Oxford Street, attracted complaints by residents — whom promoters describe as “that extreme minority who can be described as no more than bullies.” They also gave a serve to “the bullying tactics of police reaching fever pitch (with numbers as many as 10 at a time walking through the venue as many as 10 times a night).”

PLEDGE LAUNCH SETS UP DATE A few months ago, this column exclusively revealed that UK’s Pledge Music — the website which arranges for fans to invest money so that bands can make records or tour — was looking at entering the Australian market. At the time, its CEO and founder Benji Rogers had visited the country to speak to managers and artists, and told this column he was delighted with the local response.

The Australian operations will launch on September 8 — when Rogers visits the country to speak at Brisbane’s Big Sound summit. Among the acts who use the service are Gang Of Four, Funeral For A Friend, Duke Special, Natty and Aussie-expatriates Emily Barker and The Red Clay Halo, who raised $7,000 in 60 days. Mark Muggeridge of Evil Genius Media will liaise with Australian acts and managers, to help them use the platform to their best advantage.

RUN TO THE HILLS Iron Maiden are riding another wave of success at the moment. Their The Final Frontier album debuted at #1 in 21 countries — including the UK (their fourth chart topper there), Japan, New Zealand, France and Germany. In Australia, Maiden had its highest chart debut, coming in at #2. They’ve just finished 25 shows in America to 350,000 fans. Singer Bruce Dickinson insists they won’t play the Glastonbury festival because its crowds are “too polite” - or never appear on reality shows like “X-Factor”. He moaned, “I’ve been offered all sorts of reality TV. One guy offered me a programme which involved me having my poo examined. I thought it was a wind-up. I told him where to go in no uncertain terms.”

TOKYO BIRDS GO GOLD Birds Of Tokyo failed to topple Eminem’s four week stay at #1 on the ARIA chart when their self-titled third album came in at #2.

Last week it was also #2 on the AIR chart.

Four weeks down, the album has gone gold for sales of 35,000. Their national tour with Silversun Pickups and fellow Perth band The Chemist sold over 5,000 tickets in the first 24 hours.

DEVIL ROCK “Devil Rock” is a fund-raiser and awareness campaign spearheaded by Jon English to prevent the extinction of the Tasmanian devil. It is held on Monday October 4 at the Seymour Centre in Chippendale, featuring The Delltones, Jonah’s Road, the cast of

One Movement Perth is bringing back for its second year its Indigenous Music Scholarship (AIMS), to provide music industry skills for indigenous artists around the country.

AIMS is a partnership with Darwin label Skinnyfish Music and MGM Distribution, and is supported by various state governments of Victoria (through Songlines), QLD (Arts QLD) and SA (ArtsSA). Last year’s winner Lee Morgan had an album produced by Kerryn Tolhurst of The Dingoes, and distributed nationally. Recipients will showcase at One Movement, get a three-hour development and

* Not content with co-touring U2 and Jay Z, Live Nation Australia is also negotiating to bring out a major British-born superstar in January… * Reports that David Bowie was lurching out of semi-retirement to record with Lady Gaga have proven to be a hoax. * triple j’s magazine has changed its name from jmag to triple j magazine. It’s part of a relaunch that includes a new masthead, new design, more input from j’s on-air yackers, and a greater push to attract more brand-focused advertising. * Instant hot water system maker, Zip Industries, has become the principal sponsor of the Sydney Festival. * Aussie alt-country expat Anne McCue says she’ll be touring here in November, following the release of her Broke Promise Land album on Laughing Outlaw. * Hamish & Andy’s suggestions as their replacements: Kyle Sandiland (“he wants extra work”), Ben Cousins, Tom Cruise and a thawed-out Walt Disney.

mentoring session covering areas such as A&R, marketing, management, presentation and publishing, and a three month Sonicbids membership. The winner also gets a four-hour mentoring session in a Perth radio station and the chance to play the Share The Spirit festival in Victoria in January. Apply online via Sonicbids.com

NO MORE HUGS Remember the “free hugs” guy in Sydney, who was featured in The Sick Puppies’ video that made them a viral hit six years ago, with 38 million views? Mr Free Hugs aka Juan Mann told The Business Insider that he is no longer on friendly terms with the Puppies’ Shimon Moore. He says that he got no money for his involvement in the video, nor from the Puppies’ ‘Free Hugs’ merchandise...

›› TMN TOP 40 The top 40 most ‘heard’ songs on Australian radio.

TW LW TI HP P1 P2 P3 ARTIST

TRACK

LABEL

TEENAGE DREAM

CAP/EMI

1 12 1 14 30 57 ADAM LAMBERT

IF I HAD YOU

SME

3

2

8

1 11 25 52 EMINEM FT. RIHANNA

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE

INT/UMA

4

6

6

4 13 26 52 USHER FT. PITBULL

DJ GOT US FALLIN’ IN LOVE

SME

5

5

5

5 13 25 52 TAIO CRUZ

DYNAMITE

ISL/UMA

6

7 10 5 13 25 46 FLO RIDA FT. DAVID GUETTA

CLUB CAN’T HANDLE ME

ATL/WMA

7

8

7 14 27 54 LADY GAGA

DANCE IN THE DARK

INT/UMA

8 12 23 44 THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS

CLOSER TO THE EDGE

VIR/EMI

IF IT’S LOVE

SME

10 3 14 1 13 28 53 ENRIQUE IGLESIAS FT. PITBULL

I LIKE IT

INT/UMA

11 10 13 1 18 43 81 UNCLE KRACKER

SMILE

ATL/WMA

12 11 9

LOVE THE FALL

SME

1

4

2

5

1 14 30 58 KATY PERRY

5

8 16 7 9

9 13 5 17 44 68 TRAIN

7 13 30 61 MICHAEL PAYNTER

13 19 2 13 16 31 82 TAYLOR SWIFT

MINE

BIG/UMA

14 13 3 13 11 25 52 GOOD CHARLOTTE

LIKE IT’S HER BIRTHDAY

CAP/EMI

15 14 17 2 18 43 71 SCOUTING FOR GIRLS

THIS AIN’T A LOVE SONG

SME

16 20 8 16 15 25 46 BIRDS OF TOKYO

PLANS

CAP/EMI

17 17 4 17 11 28 59 THE SCRIPT

FOR THE FIRST TIME

SME

18 12 9 12 14 36 59 MAROON 5

MISERY

A&M/UMA

19 21

GRACE

SME

7 16 10 30 48 ED KOWALCZYK

20 18 8 18 10 39 51 NICKELBACK 21 15 15 6 22

22

11 28 43

14 12 15 31 57

23 26 11 18 12 37 58

TRAVIE MCCOY FT. BRUNO MARS

THIS AFTERNOON

RR/WMA

BILLIONAIRE

ATL/WMA

GYROSCOPE

BABY, I’M GETTING BETTER

UMA

JOHN BUTLER TRIO

REVOLUTION

JAR/MGM

24 23 16 1

15 29 53

KATY PERRY FT. SNOOP DOGG

CALIFORNIA GURLS

CAP/EMI

25 24 25 6

16 46 59

JET

SEVENTEEN

VIR/EMI SME

26 31 4

26 11 23 51

KE$HA

TAKE IT OFF

17 42 54

LIFEHOUSE

HALFWAY GONE

GEF/UMA

28 11 21 39

PARAMORE

CAREFUL

ATL/WMA

27 25 29 7 28 45 4 29 28 6

21 12 26 58

VANESSA AMOROSI

HOLIDAY

UMA

30 41 4

30 13 25 61

STAN WALKER

CHOOSE YOU

SME JAR/MGM

31 29 26 6

16 42 68

JOHN BUTLER TRIO

CLOSE TO YOU

32 27 28 1

18 49 61

TRAIN

HEY, SOUL SISTER

SME

33 33 18 3

15 28 46

TAIO CRUZ

BREAK YOUR HEART

ISL/UMA

34 32 19 6

12 26 52

KE$HA

YOUR LOVE IS MY DRUG

SME

THE POTBELLEEZ

HELLO

VICIOUS/UMA

36 34 19 11 14 28 54

AMY MEREDITH

LYING

SME

37 40 25 2

ADAM LAMBERT

WHATAYA WANT FROM ME

SME

38 42 14 26 12 23 40

OU EST LE SWIMMING POOL

DANCE THE WAY I FEEL

HUS/UMA

39 38 16 11 10 44 69

THIRSTY MERC

MOUSETRAP HEART

40 37 19 4

DAVID GUETTA & CHRIS WILLIS FT. FERGIE & LMFAO GETTIN’ OVER YOU

35 30 5

30 11 26 50 15 42 58

12 27 46

“The bogus man is at your heels Now clutching at your coat” - ROXY MUSIC 20 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

MUSH/WMA VIR/EMI

2010 DELEGATES WILL RECEIVE ACCESS TO: s All MUSEXPO Asia Pacific conference and panel sessions s Opening night function s Daily networking functions including breakfast, lunch and tea breaks s VIP delegate facility at ONE MOVEMENT MUSIC FESTIVAL s Full access to all artist showcases

2010 Speakers Include:

6TH – 10TH OCTOBER 2010

TODD RUNDGREN (USA) Hit singer/ songwriter and producer

STEVE SCHNUR (USA) Worldwide Executive and President of EA Music Group

TROY CARTER (USA) Founder, Chairman & CEO, Coalitiion Media Group and Worldwide Manager for Lady Ga Ga

RON SPAULDING (USA) President, Fontana Distribution

PERTH

THE ESPLANADE SAT 9 & SUN 10 OCTOBER 2010

Delegate Passes Now On Sale: www.onemovementmusic.com BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 21

KELE

A Positive Tension By Jacob Stone

K

ele Okereke has come a long way to release his solo debut. The 29-year-old Liverpool-born vocalist saw the highs of music stardom when his band Bloc Party broke the mould of mainstream rock with their genre-mashing debut, 2005’s Silent Alarm. The album seemed to turn the tide of mainstream music toward indie, and indie music toward dance. It was an inspiring, modern record with very few flaws. Filled with spiky guitar and desperately fancy dancefloor footwork, emotionally intelligent urban indie kids found a voice in Kele.

Then 26, a second generation Londoner of Nigerian decent, the young man’s emotional reach and expression as a songwriter was arresting. Bloc Party songs were revelations of syncopation, angular guitar and drive that meshed disco, electronica and rock. Silent Alarm peaked at #3 in the UK charts, and Bloc Party were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. In the resulting windstorm, two rushed LPs followed. 2007’s A Weekend In The City heralded a deepening interest in keyboards and dance production. It was patchy, but also brave and forward-thinking, notching in at #2 in the UK. 2008’s Intimacy fared worse, peaking at #12 in the UK and failing to chart in the US. The content also

“My time in Bloc Party was incredible, and I never would’ve been able to make The Boxer without having those years... It will be interesting to see what happens when Bloc Party are back in a room together.”

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seemed to reveal a group slumping into a release schedule.

A spectre hovered over Bloc Party, and Kele seemed a man constrained. With a break announced for Bloc Party, Kele had the chance to do something different. He released his first solo LP – the pop/electronic-influenced album The Boxer. “The Boxer didn’t feel like a challenge; it felt like a continuation,” Kele says down the line from some English motorway. “I started writing in 2009 between touring Bloc Party. I would lay ideas down in studio, and it happened organically. I haven’t found the creative aspects of making this record difficult at all.”

Over the phone, Kele is likeable and terribly British. Deliberately spoken, a little plummy and bright, he is a man who has seen and done a lot of things. He has a mild stutter which grows more pronounced as he gets excited. “There are a lot of songs that deal with confidence and assertiveness,” he says.

“I spent my teenage years trying to get to the point that I’m at now. Once you get to that point, your perspective changes. I’ll be thirty soon.” He’s talking about the touching ballad ‘New Rules’ - a symphonic, downtempo tune that sees our hero melancholic in the twilight of his twenties. Lines like ‘I used to want to bend the world, but now I just get by’ resound, and vulnerability, age and romantic desperation are recurring themes throughout the album.

Kele is contrary and adventurous by nature; The Boxer doesn’t keep Bloc Party’s breathless pace. The sense of the impending-endof-youth isn’t galvanised by the live band; instead we get to enjoy producer XXXChange (Spank Rock) ferocious synthesisers, massive electro-dancehall and Marshall breakbeat as a backdrop for Kele’s occasionally groundshaking portrait of a developing soul singer with a ferocious emotional life.

Thumping keyboard bass and rave synthesisers tear through single ‘Tenderoni’, and it’ll surely prove a favourite with this year’s Parklife crowd. But Kele admits that he wasn’t initially grabbed by the tune. “Everything slotted

into place with ‘Tenderoni’, and it was because my producer had a strong vision for it.” He says the song only came about because of XXXChange’s insistence. “I laid down a skeletal idea, and he tinkered with it. He insisted on making it leaner, tighter and more propulsive.”

Elsewhere, Kele blossoms into a classic soul vocalist – like on stadium torch song ‘Everything You Wanted’. XXXChange supplies a colossal backbone and Kele towers above, haunted by The Fine Young Cannibals and Peter Gabriel. Watching his relationship burn, his pain is thrown into high relief. ‘I could have given you everything you wanted, everything you needed...’ A brilliant second single, ‘Everything You Wanted’ is epic electroballadry. “I think it was [about] the last time I was in love,” Kele explains, tongue in cheek at the obviousness of the remark. He’s unsure if his confessional lyrics have helped his weakness for heartbreak. “Yes and no… It’s helped to vent, but the pain doesn’t go away,” he admits. “That’s something I’ve always had a problem with.

“When I love, I love wholeheartedly,” he continues. “I give everything, that’s something I believe in. So when it ends, it’s still the saddest thing… I’m lucky, but the thing that worries me is that it feels like a part of me has changed.

I’m not so good with heartbreak, really. And I fear that I’m getting worse as I get older.

It does haunt me. Everything always ends, doesn’t it? And I can be a bit delicate about that.” He composes himself before adding, “But there’s plenty to be positive about.”

He avoids talk of Bloc Party’s status at present, but will comment on the process of his solo debut. “I don’t want to speak ill of my time in Bloc Party. It was incredible, and I never would’ve been able to make The Boxer without having years of learning to sing, write songs and perform,” he says. “I learned a lot, and it will be interesting to see what happens when Bloc Party are back in a room together.” He tells me that making The Boxer, he did things in the studio that he’d never done before. “We sampled classical records and drum and bass, went through sound libraries. I’d never been involved with the production process before, and I found it fascinating.”

We chat for a while, and he’s open about some issues he had with cocaine around 2009, saying of the song ‘The Unholy Thought’ that “When the business of enjoyment becomes compulsive, problems arise. That song is about seeing the problem, and not being able to do anything about it.”

Having recently bought a flat in London, Kele at 29 sounds settled and mature, and past some of his turbulence. He is genuinely excited to be experimenting, and gives the sense of a journeyman singer with the potential to release brilliant pop singles. It sounds like he’s been busy: “I’ve been back at home for a month, and writing. It’s the part I enjoy most - the moment of pulling something out of the air. And it’s been great to be able to do The Boxer as quickly and as fully as I’d like.”

He won’t discuss what the next record might sound like though, nor offer any predictions on future trends in mainstream music. “The thing about The Boxer being an electronic record... the intention was to not repeat where I’d been,” Kele says. “And that’s one of the important things that I hope everyone got from Bloc Party’s first record.

It was about working in a new medium. Now that I’ve made The Boxer, I’m excited about doing the opposite. That’s how you keep yourself excited.”

He tells me he’s been listening to a lot of nu-metal, so maybe he’ll be producing the next one with Fred Durst? “No, because I think he’s still a bit of a douchebag. But we played a festival in Europe with them, and watching that many kids going crazy... it was scary, but the fact that they could encourage that kind of response was no mean feat.” Yeah, not bad for a date-rapist, I offer - and Kele laughs. “Your words, not mine.”

Who: Kele What: The Boxer is out now With: Soulwax, Missy Elliot, AC Slater, Busy P, Sinden, Holy Ghost, Groove Armada and more Where: Parklife 2010 @ Kippax Lake, Moore Park When: Saturday October 3

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Klaxons Weird Pop And Space Cat By Bridie Connellan

I

f James Righton had his way, Bourke Street Bakery in Surry Hills would seriously consider sponsorship options. “Oh man, that’s my favourite place in the world,” he tells me. “That’s where we source our rider when we’re in Sydney we always get a little selection of bits and pieces...”

The keyboardist for UK nu-rave-post-punkintergalactic-genre-spanning-whatevers Klaxons is taking some time on a Wednesday morning to choose a year’s worth of reading material and get through some interviews. As we chat he’s horizontal - “watching a bit of internet”, scouring Amazon, and stocking up on Michelle Welbeck books in a bid to prepare himself for the lengthy world tour that’ll see him in Sydney on Thursday.

With their sophomore album Surfing The Void only just settled on Australian shelves, Klaxons are back from the obscurity of their light hiatus. “I guess we’ve been away from people’s minds for a bit, but that only means the album build-up has been quite powerful for the people who loved the first,” he tells me. “It’s hard to know what will happen with this one; all we know is that we’ve made a really great record that we all absolutely love.”

It’s been a hard journey for Klaxons. The foursome’s follow-up to their debut smash Myths Of The Near Future found itself initially turfed by their own label. In March 2009 Polydor ordered the group to re-record parts of their hard work; UK press reported the sound was deemed “too experimental” and quite simply “a really dense, psychedelic record” ill-fitting with Klaxons’ branding. “Apparently we make pop music, weird pop music, and now we’re not afraid of continuing to do that,” he tells me. So with their second album, Klaxons compromised.

Righton tells me the band were “quite naïve musically” in the lead-up to their debut Myths and that flash-in-the-pan nu-rave thing that seemed to follow. “We were making it all up really as we went along. It worked, and we made the most of it at the time - but we’ve connected with people this time around, and we couldn’t really do the same thing [again].” While Myths sent the crowds into delirious spins of electrified wonderment, oooweeeing to ‘Golden Skans’ with fluoro fervor, Righton claims that for the follow-up the quartet have progressed beyond their symbolic identification with extraterrestrial Partay Magick. “I think we have moved past being a concept,” he agrees. “I mean the concept is still there, but with [Myths] the concept was all that was really there. We weren’t a band, we were an idea.”

Outlandish ideas still remain at the forefront of Klaxon’s philosophy - illustrated famously by the astronaut feline splashed across the album’s cover.

“It’s Space Cat!” Righton laughs. “There was a very similar image on the desktop while we were recording, so we’d always call out ‘SPACE CAT!’ during takes. It was an homage.” The band used vocalist Jamie Reynold’s cat Orphee for the shoot, which Righton claims was intended as a little dig at the avalanche of cosmic covers which followed their debut release. And boy did they nab one apathetic kitty. “After our first album, a lot of artists and bands started using a lot of space imagery - but our image is a cat who’s been to space and really couldn’t care less about it,” he muses. “I mean look at his face, look at the indifference…”

“The concept is still there, but with Myths Of The Near Future, the concept was all that was really there.

We weren’t a band, we were an idea.”

The recording of Surfing the Void wrapped up back in February, and the quartet have spent the time between then and now previewing the album at exclusive club dates and European festivals. “It’s better than it’s ever been,” Righton tells me. “I’ve got amazing company, I’m in an amazing headspace, we’re all just really happy people. The recording process brought us even closer, and it’s really great to be in a position where we’re just loving each other’s company. We live as a batch.”

Producing the latest album was “The Godfather of Nu Metal” Ross Robinson (Sepultura, Slipknot, Machine Head, The Cure). Klaxons could certainly have been turned into something of a heavier thrash outfit by his hands, but Righton tells me the influence only lit a match under their electronic feet.

“I don’t really see [Surfing] as a heavy record - I think there’s a little bit more depth, that’s all,” he says. “It’s live, the drums drive it and there’s none of us playing to a click or a syncopated beat. It’s very much about capturing a moment - there’s no heavy editing or attempts to auto-tune. We wanted to put a bit of a fire into the music, an intention. It’s all real.”

The first taste offered from Surfing is the sickeningly addictive single ‘Echoes’, and its accompanying video – a wash of 90s-esque pastel Egyptian desert.

It was the first clip that Klaxons made outside a studio. “It’s actually a location I stumbled across on holiday,” Righton recalls dreamily. “In Western Egypt there’s this incredible phenomenon where all these white sandforms have gradually materialised, so it really tied in with the otherworldliness and natural wonders which appear on the record.” Shooting from sunrise to sunset was nothing short of enlightening for the four, although Righton admits that stovepipes, blazers and sand are not the most temperature-friendly fusion. “You know, it’s not easy running in that heat on the desert,” he tells me. I point out that Phar Lap trained on sand dunes, and Righton replies that they imagine their stint to Oz will hardly go without its fitness merits. “If you see us running towards Ayers Rock, you know what we’re there for.” To work off that Bourke Street, yeah?

Who: Klaxons What: Surfing The Void is out now on Modular Where: The Enmore Theatre When: Thursday September 2 24 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

Xiu Xiu Drinking, Beating Off, Eating Chocolate By Luke Telford

I

t’s hard not to feel a bit of empathy with the character that inhabits the violently personal lyrics and sprawling, attention-deficit arrangements of Dear God, I Hate Myself - but familiarity with his latest record only half prepares you for Jamie Stewart’s erratic manner.

The force behind Californian experimental group Xiu Xiu answers some questions listlessly, as though he’s almost bored - and then flattens you with something outrageously shocking, or cruel, or insightful.

At these moments you have no idea what to say next; gauchely pregnant pauses litter the conversation, silences usually broken with the avant-indie equivalent of the eye-roll: “Ohhh…” he groans, when probed for details of his greatest indulgences. “Fuck…” [painful silence] … “Probably self pity and jealousy,” he eventually laughs. “I think those are indulgences, because I think of an indulgence as something that’s an extraordinary waste of time. I certainly don’t enjoy them.”

Right. So, did he foster any enjoyable indulgences during the making of the record? “Yeah…” he laughs, slowly. “Lots of drinking. Lots of drinking, lots of beating off, lots of eating chocolate...”

It’s not a particularly strange question for me to ask.

Indulgence is a notion that comes to mind more than once throughout Dear God; the songs sound like the products of intense periods of selffocused isolation. It’s a mark of his talent as a composer that this insularity yields such playfully inventive and disarmingly peculiar pop music – and it helps that Stewart has an ear for picking collaborators. Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier co-produced the release. “Oh, he’s totally wonderful,” sighs Stewart. “Probably the perfect producer for us. He has perfect pitch and he’s extraordinarily creative and amazingly diligent.”

potentially be a service to the world,” he explains, “rather than something that’s constantly selfreflective. Reality can sometimes inspire you to be giving, rather than complacent or selfish. And considering that I spend most of my time listening to it, music seems to be the vehicle that makes the most sense.”

Somehow I manage to twist the contemplative intimacy of the silence that follows this answer into a question about perhaps one day writing music that’s a bit more, well… reserved? “Ohhh…” another ruminative groan that thankfully resolves into resigned laughter. “I mean, I’m not a very reserved person,” he says, smiling. “It would be antithetical to my everyday existence.” His fans probably wouldn’t have it anyway, would they?

“Well,” Stewart laughs, “maybe they’d be relieved…”

Who: Xiu Xiu What: Dear God, I Hate Myself is out now through Popfrenzy With: High Places, Kyu Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Thursday September 2

24 - 26 SEPT siaf.uts.edu.au

Music as dense as this is best arranged in collaboration; too much isolation can result in over-baked work. Stewart explains that his working relationship with Saunier is very open.

“He comes to it usually after I’ve been working on something for like a year, and I have absolutely no perspective on it whatsoever. I’m really ready to hand it over to somebody I trust at that point.” Their friendship has been maintained out of the studio, too - Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu recently played together in Vienna and New York, at concerts paying homage to Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures. “It was really wonderful...

We were just trying to say thankyou to them for having made such a wonderful record.”

“If there’s something that I know is going to trouble me for more than just a minute, it’s become necessary to turn it into a song.”

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As we continue to talk, it transpires that Stewart’s own writing method is as convoluted as you would expect. “This record in particular took a long time to write,” he says of Dear God. “There was a lot of leaving songs alone for a while, and coming back to them. It’s very much a matter of building them up really slowly; I think that’s what probably led to them being so dense.” Dense, certainly – but with a rapturous cartoon paranoia evident throughout Stewarts delivery. I’m curious to know if the process is cathartic for him. “I don’t feel better, or something,” he replies. “Exploring it gives that negative emotion some meaning, rather than it just being oppressive - and then somehow it’s a little less fuzzy. But it doesn’t go away after we play this one line, we don’t feel refreshed.”

NEW!

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Stewart’s lyrics are genuinely unsettling; the way he offers intense personal detail with near comical conviction is without parallel. “Each record tries to document the more intense events in my life, and in the lives of the people that I care about,” he explains. “If there’s something that I know is going to trouble me for than just a minute, it’s become necessary to turn it into a song - this is going to sound almost pathetic, as I’m more and more addicted to dealing with it…” he trails off again...

Being this obsessive about expression may be a burden, but it’s not without its own peculiar delights. Case in point are tracks like ‘Chocolate Makes You Happy’. “That’s a song about body image… having friendships with people who deal with that particular issue, and I think just trying to explore what that could mean for them,” he explains, earnestly. “And also being completely obsessed with chocolate,” he adds as an afterthought.

Stewart’s impulse to make music goes deeper than all of that, too. Considering himself to be a spiritual person (“very, very privately, yeah”), this spirituality relates to his art in a strange way. “I try to think of music as something that could

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Sinden Grizzly Dare By Tyson Wray

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They started working on it two and a half years ago, after they got signed to Domino.

And apparently the album has changed a lot over that time, taking in different directions and a bunch of collaborations. “The album is really eclectic, and the single with Mystery Jets is actually one of the most ambitious things we’ve ever done. It’s very Afrobeat orientated; it’s summery, even indie and poppy.

It’s something people wouldn’t expect from us.

But overall we’re really happy that the album is finished now. It’s very us, it doesn’t feel like we’re trying to sound like anyone else. We’re only following what excites us”.

raeme Sinden is a peculiar player in the underground dance scene. The idea of being able to stay relevant year after year is unusual enough, let alone pushing the boundaries of genres, revitalising the club movement and creating unmistakable infusions of styles from all regions of the world.

All this while still managing to meld it into his own distinctive sound, capable of melting any dance floor in any post-code. Since his careers humble beginnings in 2005, Sinden has been a resident at the iconic club Fabric, hosting his own show on London’s influential ‘Kiss 100’, and recently even founding his own label, Grizzly. To put it simply, the guy is unstoppable: a key player in the revival of pure, thriving and unadulterated electronic music.

“2010 has been a really good year, probably the best for me personally,” Sinden tells me. “There’s a lot of change happening and the record coming out this year is a massive release, it’s a massive achievement. We’ve just founded my record label Grizzly which is three releases deep, but it’s already being received very well.”

He pauses here, before humbly stating, “all of that aside, most importantly I’m still enjoying it.

The DJ gigs have been great, the productions have been working really well and I’m really just ecstatic about how the year has treated me”.

Quite possibly his highest achievement to date, Mega Mega Mega was produced with The Count. “We’ve had a lot of freedom with the album, we’ve been able to make something that’s true to ourselves, something that’s unique and distinctive”, he tells me.

Sinden’s legacy of distinguished and electrifying productions is amplified further with the critical acclaim his live show receives; it combines a plethora of genres, influences and techniques. “I really like the freedom to play a bit of everything, not just 4-4 music. I hope that people enjoy it for that really, for those reasons, and of course because it makes them dance”. Sinden is more than able to produce such varied and unique live performances, due to his immense knowledge and implementation of music cultures around the world. “There are a lot of fractured scenes around at the moment, you never know which directions scenes are going to take so you have to keep a watchful eye on them.”

After last year’s dancefloor-shattering tour with Fake Blood, Sinden returns this year for the Parklife festival - and he has high expectations. “I love travelling Down Under, I’m quite lucky - there’s a really cool market there, and quite a rare love [of] and enthusiasm for dance music. Every time I’ve been to Australia it’s been crazy, the festivals have been nuts, the club shows have been hectic. People come out and they know what they’re listening to, they follow the music with a passion. It’s not like playing to a bunch of people who don’t know what’s going on, boring hipster stuff,” he says. “You guys can expect to hear some new tracks with some exclusive tracks off my new record, along with a bunch of classics. Come down and party to a mad bunch of tunes!”

Who: Sinden (UK) What: Mega Mega Mega by The Count & Sinden is out now on Domino Where: Parklife 2010 @ Kippax Lake, Moore Park With: Kele, Soulwax, Missy Elliot, AC Slater, Busy P, Holy Ghost, Groove Armada and more When: Saturday October 3

Heaps Decent Spring Party By Oliver Downes

In order to reach those young people who need the most assistance, Levins and other Heaps Decent facilitators regularly travel to far-flung corners of the state like Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga and most recently, the red-dirt surrounded hamlet of Wilcannia. “It’s an amazingly beautiful town, with big sense of community” Levins enthuses. “That’s where I really want to go back – I want to find appropriate people in remote areas, give them training [and] equipment and set up this Heaps Decent hub, so that they can encourage young people to keep making music with them, and pass on the knowledge that we’ve given them.”

!!!

The Best Medicine By Topher Healy

alifornia’s !!! (“chk chk chk”) have always seemed to be a band with enough energy to overcome anything. But the time between their third album - 2007’s Myth Takes - and their latest punchy full-length saw the currentlyseven-piece group endure the kind of revolving door membership and internal pressures that would crush weaker souls. Members John Pugh and Justin Van Der Volgen left the band before principal writing began on Strange Weather, Isn’t It?. Then bassist Tyler Pope left during recording – he’s currently playing with LCD Soundsystem on their John Farnham-like “final” tour. And then of course came the tragic, accidental death of drummer Jerry Fuchs late last year.

C

After all of that, you might expect frontman Nic Offer to be reticent when it comes to the grind of doing press, but having just come offstage from a Fuji Rock performance, he’s happy as he marvels at the unusual discipline of Japanese audiences.

“We really do well over here, [but] they do this really weird thing that freaked us out,” he tells me.

“Between songs, you’ve finished playing and they clap really hard, and then immediately stop. It’s unnerving, ‘cause it’s like an awkward silence … like ‘Ahhh... OK, we’ll play another one…’”

If you’ve ever experienced a !!! show, you’ll know that the idea of silence is an alien thing to Offer and his bandmates. He’s renowned for his onstage attire (short-shorts) and antics (insane dancing), and despite approaching 40, he’s not one to shirk some sweaty clubbing in the name of research. Which is exactly what the band did while in Berlin for two months, recording Strange Weather. “When Bowie and Iggy were there it was a completely different vibe than what we found.

Rather than oppressed we found it more open and free. No one really has to work and they just go to clubs and stay up late. Being Californian, I found that we affiliated well.”

He admits that Berlin’s celebrated club scene did seep its way into what they were making. “If you’re playing music all day, and going out and hearing

music similar to that through really loud speakers all night, when you go back the next day, it’s in you. It does change you a bit,” he explains. “We didn’t exactly make this a ‘Graceland of techno albums’… but I do believe that it is in there.”

The resulting songs on Strange Weather are noticeably different to those from Myth Takes and their breakthrough 2004 album, Louden Up Now. For starters, they’re more succinct (no nineminute ‘Me And Giuliani Down By The School Yard’ here), and any ramshackle looseness has been exchanged for a streamlined, almost icy structure, still underpinned by a wiry funk bottom end. Offer says the new directness sprang from a surprisingly ordinary source – a friend of his, who complained that the songs were too long and jammy. “Really, at the end of the day you want to please your friends,” he laughs. “When you’re looking out into an audience you don’t want to see your friends look bored. That’s the ultimate compliment if your actual friends are listening to your work. I heard her voice in my head when making that record and so we made something that was a bit more pop and concise.” !!!’s more pointed new songs concentrate the already existing energy in the band, songs like ‘Even Judas Gave Jesus A Kiss’ powered by an apparent bitterness and controlled anger equal to that of earlier tracks like ‘Pardon My Freedom’. But how healthy is it for a hard-touring band to revisit angst-filled memories on a nightly basis, while simultaneously giving everything on a physical level? Especially after the turmoil of the last few years… “It almost feels better to sing a song that means that much to you and release that kind of emotion, than a song that doesn’t,” says Offer seriously. So that’s mental health taken care of, then - what about the rest? “I’m never healthier than on tour,” he cheerfully affirms.

Who: !!!

What: Strange Weather, Isn’t It? is out now through Warp/Inertia

H

eaps Decent is what happens when committed folks who love music set out to change the world. It started back in 2007, when Sydney promoter & DJ Andrew Levins and Nina Agzarian (better known as triple j’s Nina Las Vegas) began putting on workshops for disadvantaged young people, under their own steam. “We do a lot of workshops, and that means going out to jails, community centres and schools out in the suburbs [to reach] indigenous youth, or kids with behaviour problems and learning difficulties” explains Levins.

“They’re usually music based workshops - DJ, song writing, beat making, recording – the aim is to raise the self esteem of the young people involved in the workshops. We get them to do that by writing lyrics about themselves or a situation they’re involved in and sharing that with everybody.”

The results have been impressive, the workshops often providing the catalyst for lasting change in the lives of those who need it most. “It’s all about keeping them interested and expressing themselves in ways other than getting in trouble” says Levins. “It’s about giving back to a community that you’re a part of – or that needs you to be a part of it.”

To this end, Heaps Decent acts as an intermediary, developing songs written through workshops, often with the aid of high profile touring artists like M.I.A, Diplo (‘Smash A Kangaroo’) or A-Trak (‘Anywhere But Here’).

Helped along by some famous friends, the finished tracks are shared with the broader music community and the media (check out the Parklife 2010 DJ Mixtape for two choice samples), before feedback was delivered to the kids who were originally involved. “[That way] they can see that being creative, you feel good about yourself, you get your voice heard by other people – that’s what Heaps Decent is all about,” says Levins.

Making Heaps Decent as self-sustaining as possible is the plan as far as Levins is concerned, the goal for 2011 being to open more permanent regional facilities as well as a Heaps Decent studio space somewhere around Redfern providing former students with a place to come and continue to make music, and facilitators with a greater ability to self-finance the project.

Things have gained considerable momentum over the last year, the philanthropic enthusiasm of guest facilitators such as Diplo, Jack Beats, Sinden and A-Trak leading Fuzzy to step up as the organisation’s official benefactor, providing staff, equipment and helping raise funds through Parklife and Field Day. But all things cost money - sound equipment and long-distance travel, especially. Which is why Heaps Decent is throwing a huge fundraiser on Saturday night. Featuring live sets from artists from the Heaps Decent workshops and members of the family, as well as a wealth of DJs including Ro Sham Bo, Beni, Kato and Dizz1, it looks set to be a pretty mad bash – and there’s a raffle happening too. “We rarely have an opportunity where people can come and support us like this,” says Levins with characteristic enthusiasm. “It’s going to a really awesome fundraiser, it’s cheap and I really hope that tons of people come and show their support.”

What: Heaps Decent With: Live: Kween G & Belizian Bombshell, Stunna Set, Miracle, Young Nooky, Tweak, DJs: Bag Raiders, Beni, Kato, Ro Sham Bo, Nina Las Vegas, Dizz1, Wax Motif, Disco Punx and more Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Friday September 3 More: heapsdecent.com

“You’re so sheer you’re so chic Teenage rebel of the week” - ROXY MUSIC 26 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

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Underworld Toughest Of The Infants By Chris Honnery

“A

rt is about looking at the same things with different eyes,” Underworld frontman Karl Hyde affirms in an affable, measured tone as we gaze out over Sydney Harbour from his room at the Four Seasons. “You’ve only got one pair of eyes, but your perception has to keep evolving if you’re an artist; if you don’t evolve you’re dead.”

Together with production partner Rick Smith, the self-described pair of “Essex urchins” have been living by that mantra since their nascent musical forays in the early eighties and it’s evident once again on Underworld’s latest album. Barking features a range of collaborators, including Dubfire from Deep Dish and UK DnB producer High Contrast. “I’ve never really understood groups that close the door to learning from people who’re younger than themselves, because there’s a whole different energy going that you can exchange,” Hyde says. “I think the way we see the group going now is more along these lines; more jamming with people, which in a way is a natural evolution out of the remixes. Rather than the remixes coming after the album, it’s

like we can start the conversation before the album’s finished.”

A warm and effusive person to talk to, Hyde admits that the collaborative approach often starts with a bit of apprehension. Barking’s opening track ‘Bird 1’ is a case in point. “We’d been testing it out [live] for about 18 months and it had been going down really well,” Hyde recalls. “Then we passed it on to Dubfire and he came back with this version of it. At first it was a bit of a shock, I was like ‘Well I’m not really sure about this’, because I really liked the version that Rick did. But it’s so familiar that feeling, it will always come from hearing a remix - and six months later I’ll be in a club and hear it and go ‘This is fantastic, what’s this?’ and Rick will say, ‘You twat, this is us, it’s that mix you didn’t like!’ I remember even in one club going to him, ‘This is the kind of track I think we should be doing’, and he said ‘But that’s you, this is us - what are you talking about?’”

Despite some distinct Dubfire touches, ‘Bird 1’ possesses many of the hallmarks of classic Underworld cuts from the nineties, and Hyde agrees that the pair has returned to their German electronic roots with several of the tracks on Barking. “It was pointed out to us quite recently that things we were doing a long time ago were very current, and we should revisit them. People have assimilated our sound into their way of thinking and we’ve grown closer to other people’s sounds... Listening to Dubfire present our music to us reminded me of music I used to love - and, it’s us!” Hyde beams. “It was so different and yet so much more the same, it was peculiar. It was fabulous what he’d done, he’d kept the guitars but he’d worked with them in a completely different way, and it really sounded like the track, but it just sounded so much more German.”

“When Danny Boyle approached us to see if he could use our music in the film, we said no.

We never saw our music as being about getting fucked up...”

While Underworld released a succession of landmark singles throughout the nineties, including ‘Rez’ and ‘King of Snake’, they only came to be ubiquitous with UK club and rave culture following director Danny Boyle’s use of ‘Born Slippy .NUXX’ in Trainspotting. Though Hyde now views Boyle as “a member of the group,” he confesses he and Rick initially rejected Boyle’s request to use their music. “Danny was apparently shooting Trainspotting and cutting it to our album dubnobasswithmyheadman. When he approached us to see if he could use our music in the film, we said no,” Hyde admits. “We’d heard Irvine’s book was all about getting fucked up - and we never saw our music as being about that.

Then Danny invited us to the edit suite and he showed us some of the scenes. We were like ‘Yep, this is fantastic, this is not bringing drugs up, it’s completely in the other direction’, and then we said he could do whatever he liked with our music.”

Underworld have since scored a number of soundtracks themselves. Boyle approached them again to score his film Sunshine after they’d worked on the soundtrack to Anthony Minghella’s Breaking and Entering with composer Gabriel Yared, of Betty Blue fame. Far from being a sign of mellowing, these disparate side projects are more indicative of Underworld’s ongoing pursuit of the challenge to create new art. “This is a fantastic job and a terrible job all at the same time,” Hyde muses. “Performing takes you to wonderful places and there’s the joyous coming-together of thousands of people who are buzzing and giving you their energy; at the same time, when you make the music, when you actually record it, you get about thirty seconds of happiness… and then there’s another challenge.”

Hyde elaborates, explaining his view of art as a continual challenge that never truly ends. “I’ve just finished a painting exhibition that’s opening in Tokyo in a few months. Every time you finish a painting, you walk out of the room and walk back in and think, ‘Yeah, that’s really buzzing’. Then you walk back in an hour later and feel that it’s already challenging you, saying, ‘What’s next? Is that it?

Are you dead? Come on!’ And that’s what music is like; it’s constantly going, ‘Yeah that’s all right, it’s a great album but what are you going to do next?

Because if that’s it, then that’s not good enough’.

And I like that,” Hyde concludes. “That’s what keeps us going.”

Who: Underworld What: Barking is out September 10 through Shock 28 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

Anton Nestarovic.

Team Leader and captain of the “E Grade” Wagon Wheels mixed cricket team.

Wagon Wheels Product Innovation Team.

(Clocking Pacman + DeLorean) x Teen Wolf < Wagon Wheels “All my entire life, since I was born, I’ve been intrigued by the paradox of life itself. Love and Hate. Good and Evil. Teeth and Potatoes.

And the more I’ve pondered life and its pre-ponderences, the more perfect paradoxes have become apparent. For example, Venus Fly Traps are pretty, but dangerous. Chickens have wings, yet cannot fly. Cows are big, but delicious.

It’s this dichotomy, this fuzzy logic, this contradiction in terms that has become my life’s passion. They are the ying to my yang. The Fred Astaire to my Ginger Rogers. The hip to my hop, and you don’t stop. So, when my team and I began on the search, the quest, the… project,

if you will, to create the perfect snack, this life force of chaotic perfection was my starting point. The result? It’s chocolate, but it’s biscuit.

It’s jam, but it’s marshmallow. It’s a Wagon, but it’s a wheel. It’s big, but it’s light. It’s random, but right.

It is my proposition, my theorem, my absolute belief that nothing can top Wagon Wheels for perfection. But you, you young upstart, might think different. If you do, go to www.wagonwheels.com.au and reinvent the Wagon Wheel. If you can improve upon perfection you could win $8008 and I might invite you around to play Dungeons and Dragons.”

>RANDOM. BUT RIGHT BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 29

Hello Satellites Hello Parenthood By Patrick Emery

Becoming a mother not only made Popov more acutely aware of her physical environment, it also changed her perspective on a range of topics. “Being a parent made me rediscover things I’d taken for granted,” she figures.

“I was reading a lot of picture books, and that had an effect. I realised I could play around and take things less seriously, rather than just doing really serious folk songs.”

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bout two years ago, with her first child still occupying large slabs of her mental and physical energy, Melbourne’s Eva Popov sat down to write some new songs. Although she thought they’d be a simple continuation of her solo project, she very soon realised that these ones were different. She enlisted the help of producer Nick Huggins, and began the process of working the nascent tracks into fully developed songs. “My solo project was about me and my guitar,” Popov recalls. “This was about what I could achieve in the studio.”

Hello Satellites offers Popov an opportunity to contemplate notions of joy and freedom which she hadn’t appreciated so vividly prior to becoming a mother. While the album explores different aspects of those emotions, Popov aimed for the record to have a clear, visual aesthetic. “I wanted clear images and stories in the lyrics,” she reveals, “and I also wanted a rich score to go with it.” While her solo project tended toward lyric-based songs, Popov wanted to “strip it back to the melody and words” with her new band.

While past Eva Popov tunes have tended toward a folk style, with Hello Satellites she chose to indulge rhythms and the occasional drum loop. “As the album progressed, it became clear if a song was a Hello Satellites song, or if it was an Eva Popov song,” she recalls. Having recruited a supporting cast to assist with her musical vision, Popov took the opportunity presented by the studio to pay closer attention to the arrangements for the tracks. “Some of the songs were written around the studio arrangements, and some were written initially as folk songs and then re-written and re-arranged,” she tells me.

With Hello Satellites currently in the ‘getting it out there’ phase, Popov doesn’t anticipate returning to her solo project in the short term.

“I’m in a different phase at the moment – it’s about bringing the album out to the world,” she says. “I’m playing some shows and giving it to the audience. And then I’ll go into the back room and starting writing more songs.” The major impediment to returning to her solo work is more platonic than artistic. “At this stage I don’t want to go back to my solo work, because I’m working with a bunch of really great musicians!”

As the songs were moulded into shape, Popov realised the recent seismic change in her life caused by motherhood was having a significant impact on her music. In the course of long walks with her baby, she began to revisit her assessment and observations of her city and its suburbs. “There was a suburban part of it,” Popov says, “but it’s also about Melbourne, particularly Melbourne at night,” she qualifies.

“After my daughter was born, I spent a lot of time walking around the streets at night with her, and I was able to see the city in a completely different way.”

As for motherhood, Popov has moved from the mania of the baby phase to toddler-ville.

“We’re currently suffering from the dictatorship of the Wiggles,” she laughs, and it’s clear that music will always play a big part in Popov’s life – especially with a young child in the mix. “We sing all the time at home; everything in our day gets sung about,” she grins.

Who: Hello Satellites What: Hello Satellites is out now through Two Bright Lakes Where: Spectrum When: Friday September 3

Martina Topley Bird Stripped Back By Alex Young

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f you were lucky enough to catch Massive Attack at the Opera House Forecourt earlier this year, you would have witnessed a young British woman in fluorescent pink heels stun the audience with a magical opening slot - before performing with the trip-hop pioneers in a spine-tingling version of the classic ‘Teardrop’.

Many present that night may not have known that Martina Topley Bird has an outstanding career in her own right; she counts Mike Patton and Damon Albarn amongst her admirers, and has two critically acclaimed solo albums to her name – one of which was nominated for the highly esteemed British Mercury Prize. Yet that night back in February, in little old Australia, Bird admits that she was shit scared.

She laughs nervously, as she frantically searches for a tea bag. “I mean it was scary because it was one of the very first shows I’ve ever done totally solo, and I have a little bit of an immature problem with preparing for things. It was scary, and I didn’t quite prepare properly in a way that I ought to have… I’m a bit rubbish like that.”

Although she’s worked in the past with some of the world’s biggest producers and artists (think Tricky, Dangermouse and Mark Lanegan, who she fondly describes as a “mysterious superhero” who is “fucking up for just about anything”), Bird used the Sydney shows to showcase material from her latest album Some Place Simple - a low-key, stripped back affair reworking songs from her solo catalogue. A stunning compilation of simple arrangements that show off the breathtaking vulnerability of Bird’s voice, the album is a departure from the down-tempo electronica of her previous albums Quixotic and The Blue God. So when she was invited to tour with Massive Attack in Australia, it was time to perfect her solo performance. “I cut my teeth in

Australia. So now I know I have a little staple…

I’ve learned the dynamic of the crowd, and sonically where I’m at so far. And sonically, what I can do. So, thanks for that!” she laughs.

The idea behind Some Place Simple was born during an intense touring schedule across Europe in 2009, after Gorillaz and Blur key man Damon Albarn witnessed Bird experimenting with different, sparse arrangements of her most celebrated songs - including ‘Sandpaper Kisses’ and ‘Poison’. Despite the little time available in their schedules, Albarn was set on recording he convinced Bird to create the album around previously written songs. Bird muses: “I think at that time I kind of looked at the future yawning ahead of me, which was about a year of touring or more, and was scared of being taken away from that process of recording [to write new material]… Damon recognised that the old songs were different enough to warrant recording them in a new configuration.”

Most notably, Some Place Simple is a true reflection of Bird and her talents. With few collaborators and a simple recording process creating a delicate sound to match, the album is an intimate affair – and one that Bird was finally able to relish. “I just don’t like it, or find something scary, when loads of people are doing so many things at once,” she tells me. “I think there are so many points of error, so many opportunities for human error when there are so many humans involved. I like a smaller troupe, just so there’s more focus… I can go with my instinct.” And what an instinct it is.

Who: Martina Topley Bird What: Some Place Simple is out now through Honest Jons/Fuse

Chicks Who Love Guns

High Calibre Shots By Richie Fester

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enough to head to their shows. It’s the band’s enthusiasm for playing live and the freedom to chop and change things that leads to this disparity. “I like to think we represent our live show in a nutshell on the EP,” says Cass.

“Perhaps that’s something we will get better at next time around - but there are always going to be differences. Otherwise you’re just one of those robot bands that sounds the same live as they do recorded, who may as well just use a backing track.”

natching the attention of punters and critics alike with their colourfully titled Vomit On The Dancefloor EP, Sydney’s Chicks Who Love Guns aren’t afraid of catching people’s eyes and ears. Presenting a mix of tongue in cheek lyrics with a highenergy punk rock ‘tude, the band formed in 2009 out of the ashes of former bands The Wahas, Stukas and STD Vending Machine.

While you might think having played in past bands would be a great advantage when forming a new one, the guys seem to believe it was more a mixed bag of pros and cons.

“I think we’ve just got some experience now as far as playing shows, but it’s really hard to prepare yourself when you’re leaving something you’ve worked hard on - to build up and then start again from scratch,” lead singer Cass Navarro explains. “We’re probably more switched on in terms of the business side of things though,” drummer Xavier Diekman adds, “just through experience.”

This experience has certainly served the band well, having already received critical praise for their live show. The EP oozes confidence too - sounding much more professional than what you’d expect from a first recording. “We nailed the EP pretty quickly,” Xavier tells me. “It was pretty damn smooth, we just got in and nutted it all out quickly, like all teenagers do,” Cass jokes before Xavier rejoins, assuring me that the band “had rehearsed the fuck out of the songs beforehand.”

Luckily for fans of good, old, ugly rock and roll, the band aren’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon they’re set to play Melt Bar in Kings Cross this Friday. Their first show since Cass’s return to Sydney from overseas, the guys promise they’ll make it a night to remember. (“Maybe some impromptu nakedness is in order,” Xavier suggests.) And aside from their ongoing love affair with playing live, the band are eager to get back in the studio too, to offer fans a follow up to Vomit On The Dancefloor. “We’re writing songs for a new EP as we speak,” says Xavier. “Hopefully we can do it as quickly and painlessly as last time; we can’t wait to get that shit rolling.”

As happy as they are with the EP, the band is much more at home onstage – their recordings offer only a taste of what their high-octane live shows can do. “The EP paints you a picture of where we’re coming from and certainly gets the message across, but a CD cannot punch

you in the face. Not saying that you will get punched in the face at our show,” guitarist Mody Grant qualifies. “We don’t want that.”

Lucky for us the EP is meant as only a morsel; the band hold back the feast for fans hungry

Who: Chicks Who Love Guns With: Reptiles, Myth & Tropics What: Vomit On The Dancefloor is out now Where: Melt Bar, Kings Cross When: Friday September 3

“Peeling walls of cheap hotels Neon flare A sudden chill” - ROXY MUSIC 30 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

Concrete Blonde Still Bloodletting By Mike Gee

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early two decades ago, Concrete Blonde frontwoman Johnette Napolitano and I spoke for nearly 90 minutes about her alien abduction experience. It was a story that eventually ran worldwide – and when we revisited the topic in 2002, she told me, “Eight million people can’t be making up the same thing. That’s too many people to call crazy liars.

It’s about getting the truth out there.” Later in the same interview, we were talking politics. “We have 100 million cable channels, and crap on every one of them. I don’t have a TV anymore…

If I saw that plane fly into that building one more time I was going to lose it.”

That’s Napolitano for you. Now 53, she has five acres of desert in Joshua Tree, California, where she’s a gallery artist, working with discarded and reclaimed materials. And Concrete Blonde are back together for a third time. The first bout ran from 1982-1995, round two from 20012004 - and by 2006 it was all over, apparently for good. Johnette left this farewell message on the Concrete Blonde website: “Thanks to everyone who heard and believed in the music.

Music lives on. Keep listening. Keep believing, keep dreaming. Like a ripple, the music moves and travels and finds you. Drive to the music, Make love to the music, cry to the music. That’s why we made it. Long after we’re gone the music will still be there ...” But on the 20th anniversary of the band’s most celebrated and remarkable album Bloodletting, popular demand has demanded that, as the tour is titled, ‘The Vampires Rise’.

and went out and played them. It’s a great set, and people went nuts.”

Johnette seems happy in this do-ityourself-if-you-want media world. No need for a record company; publish and make available your own music on the Internet. It’s all there, if you want it. “It separates people out,” she says. “It asks questions of you: Do you wanna be an artist? Do you wanna be a rock star? Can you support yourself doing what you like to do? I consider myself tremendously successful at being able to do that.

Whether living in the desert on five acres is successful or not…” she says, before pausing. “It is to me.”

That Mexican moon is still shining brightly.

Who: Concrete Blonde Where: The Enmore Theatre When: Thursday October 21

Johnette is her usual talkative self today, hardly pausing for breath. “I’m older and I’m wiser enough now to know there’s no point in being wiser!” she says. “So, yes, we’re back again.

We didn’t plan on it. It’s not like I sit around with an alarm clock going, ‘It’s 20 years since Bloodletting’.” Turns out she actually had no idea that the album’s smash hit single ‘Joey’ was already two decades old. “It’s been strange year,” she tells me. “My dad died a year ago, and he’d have said go and do it.”

It’s not like Johnette hasn’t been keeping herself musically busy. “I never stop playing,” she tells me. She’s released two solo albums since the band split, and has done some film work too – including vocals on the score for Australian film West, and music on Candy as well. “So for Jim [James Mankey, guitarist] and I, it was like, ‘Should we do this?’ We talk all the time.

What we asked ourselves was, ‘Is it worth it?

Are we going to have a good time?’ We went out in North America, and wow, it was great, everybody was incredibly excited. So then it was like, ‘Fuck, let’s go to Australia’.

“Mankey and I have been around a long time and we respect what we’ve done - so we’re not going to do it if it loses anything. We’re also musicians; we’re lazy, we like to sit around and smoke pot. There’s no point being a musician if you can’t do what you want.”

“We’re lazy, we like to sit around and smoke pot.

There’s no point being a musician if you can’t do what you want.”

Johnette tells me that one of the best things about doing these shows are the kids that come with their parents to the gigs. “They’re 18 years old!” she exclaims. “I can’t remember being with my parents around music. My dad was into outlaw music and the Rat Pack, Johnny Cash. What I’ve found though is that I have a spectrum musically that I didn’t appreciate before. And as you get older, you realise you know some shit. Usually it’s kids that do it for people - I don’t have any kids, but my dogs think it’s good that I can open a can of food …

I’m like a God to them.”

Johnette tells me that there’s no new record on the way for Concrete Blonde. Of course they thought about it, but the answer was ‘No.’ Johnette says she and Mankey respect each other on a level they didn’t before, and while they like the idea of doing something new, maybe some singles some time, the notion of a whole album over a year…? “I don’t feel like either one of us has to do that,” she says.

The set list for the ‘Vampires’ tour was put together the old-fashioned way - by watching YouTube and working out from the number of views what were the most popular songs.

“Playing the whole Bloodletting album from beginning to end over and over again was not a consideration - by the third show I’m pretty sure I would rather have killed myself. So we worked it on the most views, saw we had a lot of hits, BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 31

VERGE Festival (And Manning Bar’s B’day!)

What happens when some of Sydney’s best writers, story-tellers, artists and actors get together at uni for a big old party...

Whether you study there or not, there’s no denying that Sydney Uni is an eclectic hub of creativity. Verge Festival is an open showcase of all that - and this year it’s extra special, as the uni celebrates ten years of one of BRAG’s favourite venues: Manning Bar. Here are our festival highlights, in a roughly chronological and super-wordy grid. Come and play!

Story Club: And When We Were Young Telling tales – a little theatre, a little comedy, a little Play School. By Caitlin Welsh

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roject 52’s monthly Story Club night has been an audience favourite since its inception last year, hosting names like Virginia Gay (All Saints), Vijay Khurana (triple j) and Rachel Corbett (Triple M). Usually held at Hermann’s Bar, it will relocate for just one night to the infamous Verge Festival Tent; with visuals and live musical accompaniment, as well as a special guest storyteller - Benita “Benita from Play School” Collings. True.

Verge Story Club host Alex Lee believes (as we do) that Benita is a perfect guest for an evening titled ‘And When We Were Young’. “The theme was something I wanted to do for a long time. I found a lot of Story Club stories had come from being young, growing up, things like that,” Lee says. “It’s going to be really nice to tell stories alongside someone who told so many of us stories when we were growing up.”

chair, a book and the host introduces everyone and tells a little story - it’s pretty lo-fi. I thought that, being Verge, and being in the beautiful festival tent, that it might be really nice to incorporate, if [storytellers] want to, videos of when they were kids, or photos.”

While Story Club began as part of the Project 52 comedy nights, Lee says it’s not all about relentless mirth. “Some of our best stories haven’t been riotously funny, but people are still sort of engaged in it. There’s less pressure than if you’re doing just straight stand-up. There’s a performative aspect to it, where you have to bring the story to life. I think it sits nicely somewhere between comedy and theatre.”

What: Project 52 presents Story Club: ‘And When We Were Young’ When: Thursday September 2, from 7pm

Lee also plans to include an AV element for the first time ever. “It’s normally just a big green

Where: Verge Festival Tent, University of Sydney

Manning Turns Ten! ...And Makes Some More Bands Fight Each Other

Eclipsefest Bring It Together By Oliver Downes

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ydney has a famously close-knit, but at the same time strangely segregated, arts scene. There’s tremendous potential for collaboration across different platforms and media, but for some reason it’s rarely realised. Enter James Domeyko (scholar, tea connoisseur, True Blood aficionado and one half of live electronic duo Domeyko/Gonzalez) and Scarlett Di Maio (charm incarnate), creators of Eclipsefest. Bringing together performers, artists and fashion designers, the eclectic evening of creative cross-pollination is set to hit Hermann’s Bar on September 4.

Under the umbrella of Verge Festival, these enterprising impresarios have selected some of the city’s most exciting emerging performers, including experimental pop powerhouse Danimals (fresh from a bout of recording with Mark Ronson in New York – as you do), the lysergic spatter of Megastick Fanfare, hiphop from before the dawn of time with the Old Men of Moss Mountain as well as Domeyko/ Gonzalez.

But as Domeyko explains, Eclipsefest is not solely about the music. “The idea is to have art forms overlap, to create something that is captivating.” With that in mind, the first two performances will be accompanied by fashion

Silent Disco A Quiet Riot By Bridie Connellen

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n 1969, a Finnish science fiction film called Ruusujen Aika put a journalist and model into a futuristic headphones-only danceoff that boggled the mind and ensnared the imagination. Those crafty Fins are so ahead of trend it’s hirvittää. Minimising noise pollution, maximising loungeroom dancing, Silent Discos are just one of those things that make everyone involved just so flipping happy. With franchises spilling like locusts over Europe and the US, the phenomenon will find it’s way to Verge, with DJs battling it out for dominance of the ears next week.

Audible boom-boxes? Communal speakers?

Oh please... With the power of a wireless FM transmitter, Purple Sneakers DJs M.I.T and Ben Lucid are set to battle the eardrums with more soundless headthrashing than an iPod commercial. “It’s going to be really weird - we’re so used to seeing and hearing the crowd’s reaction to a song,” says Lucid. “From the outside, this gig is going to be more of a hushed ambient footstomping.”

MANNING BAR TURNS TEN @ VERGE FEST Who: Cloud Control, The Jezabels, Richard In Your Mind and Guineafowl Where: Manning Bar. Obvs.

When: Friday September 3

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anning House at Sydney Uni is over a hundred years old already – apparently it started as a NO MEN ALLOWED club (read: women’s union) in 1917. Eventually they started letting dudes in, but the really fun part wasn’t born until 2001.

Manning Bar celebrates its tenth birthday this Friday September 3 as part of Verge Festival, with Cloud Control, The Jezabels, Richard In Your Mind and Guineafowl all on the bill. And hey, do you know what those bands have in common? Other than being from Sydney and brilliant? Well, they all cut their teeth at the Sydney Uni band competition…

The Sydney Uni band comp history reads like a hall of fame – Dappled Cities Fly, Cloud Control, Frenzal Rhomb, Front End Loader, Tim Freedman, The Jezabels and The Laurels have all battled it out in Manning’s hallowed halls. This year offers up another competitive grand final, which will be held on Thursday September 2. Richie Cuthbert has been the competition’s go-to guy for the last five years – we asked him about the highs and the lows…

It’s the band competition’s 26th year this year. What have been the best moments, and what have been the hardest?

The best moments are definitely seeing new young bands that have blown us all away.

Cloud Control winning the competition in 2006, and Richard In Your Mind perplexing everybody the same year; seeing The Jezabels & We Say Bamboulee for the first time; last year watching Kyu play their first ever show at the heats to a packed and absolutely silent Manning Bar – and going on to win the entire competition. And seeing this year’s finalist, Jackson Gunn, take the whole crowd from Manning into a side room that has a piano to finish his quarter final set from there...

The hardest moments are deciding who doesn’t go through. Letting Seekae and Megastick Fanfare get defeated in a semifinal one year was a questionable choice in hindsight! And trying to explain to upset parents why their son or daughter’s band didn’t get to the finals is always tricky…

It’s the band competition grand final next week. Can you tell us a bit about the bands in the running to win?

This year it is going to be very close! It’ll all come down to how well Set Sail’s violinist plays; how sweetly The Tourist hit their harmonies; how mental the lead singer from The Dead Heads goes; how tight The Future Prehistoric are; how epic The Mind Priorities get; or whether Jackson Gunn takes his shirt off again…

SYNDEY UNI BAND COMP @ VERGE FEST Who: Set Sail Vs The Tourist Vs The Dead Heads Vs The Future Prehistoric Vs The Mind Priorities Vs Jackson Gunn Where: Manning Bar When: Thursday September 2, from 7pm

FOR MORE VERGE FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, CHECK OUT VERGEARTSFESTIVAL.COM

32 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

shows from designers Christina Bau and Lulu Ross. “‘I don’t think there’s been enough focus on emerging fashion designers in Sydney,” says Di Maio. “Usually it’s the ones on a certain level being promoted. But this is about embracing all art forms and our idea of art includes fashion – it is an art form in its own right.”

The packed evening will also include a live culture jam from the Oh Really group, videojamming from Joel Burrows, stopanimation from Kurt Davies and a light installation from the irrepressible Tara Cook, while Katerina Valentine is set to document the evening with a series of photographs around the concept of the eclipse. “It’s nice to have something more going on while the music’s going down,” explains Domeyko.

In keeping with the collaborative spirit of the night, proceedings are being supported by both 2SER and FBi. “[Organising Eclipsefest] has been really rewarding” says Di Maio. “Through this process we’ve seen the support that’s thrown behind this kind of event. So many people have offered their help, willingly, for free – it’s inspirational!”

Who: Eclipsefest With: Danimals, Domeyko/Gonzalez, Megastick Fanfare, Oh Really & more Where: Hermann’s Bar, University of Sydney When: Saturday September 4, from 7pm

The faceoff will see Lucid and MIT fight for the duo-channel love of their listeners - and dear god has there been trash talk. “It’s odd to compete with your partner-in-crime - Usually we’re a team who have to work the room together,” Lucid says, fronting up about challenging his fellow spinner.

“This time it’s a matter of keeping cards close to the chest, and hoping he’ll fall on his sword.” We talk while Lucid feeds his ferret Tank Girl, named suchly because “she has little goggles and a bad attitude”. He’s adamant that a Sneakers faceoff is a perfect Sydney Uni match - bringing that sticky Friday night grit to the campus house on a Tuesday.

“It’s a perfect match really, a bit of a no-brainer,” he laughs. “If you make the beer cheap and the music obscenely loud, you’ve got yourself a hoedown.” Except for that this hoedown aint gittin’ no noyse complaynts…

What: Silent Disco With: Purple Sneakers DJs: MIT and Ben Lucid Where: Verge Festival Tent When: Tuesday September 7, from 8pm

Two Gentlemen of Lebowski The Bard and the Coens, together at last By Jacqueline Breen

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arlier this year American screenwriter Adam Bertocci ignited the blogosphere with his Shakespearean shake-up of the Coen brothers’ cult stoner-noir film The Big Lebowski. In a line-by-line transformation, Bertocci spun the quotable classic into the mash-up-of-the-moment. And in an Australian exclusive performance, the mischief will unfold over one early spring evening in the University of Sydney’s sandstone quadrangle, as part of, yes, the Verge Festival. Before a crowd of picnicking punters, ten actors in full Elizabethan regalia will tackle thirty characters, iambic pentameter and surreally improbable plot twists.

At first glance, the links between the Bard and the Dude may appear thin, but director David Harmon spotted them straight away. “I love the film for the same reasons I think it makes a good Shakespeare [play],” he tells us, during a break in rehearsals. “It’s a farce about a ridiculous situation featuring ridiculous people, but grounded by an amazing central character in the Dude.”

If Shakespeare’s central characters are traditionally plagued by a fatal flaw, Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski’s must be his classically early-90s slacker-stoner inertia. Perpetually unemployed and unperturbed, he keeps busy with bowling and trips to the supermarket in his dressing gown. When stand-over men mistake him for a millionaire of the same

name and piss on his living room rug, the Dude is drawn into a psychedelic plot spiral featuring kidnapping, ransom and German nihilists threatening castration. Harmon spots recognisable Shakespearean devices in the film’s prologue and epilogue, its cases of mistaken identity and its delight in sexual innuendo. “You also have such an array of strong characters with desires and opinions.

Everyone wants something with all of their being, and when you’re that passionate you can speak in heightened text,” Harmon says.

The unique characters immortalised in the film are so iconic that Harmon agonised over casting. He eventually settled on actors with strong skills in comedy and verse, who could embody, rather than imitate, the characters fans know and love.

Performing in the gothic surrounds of the University quadrangle will also lend a certain antique authenticity to this tale of pot, plot and identity politics. Bring your dressing gown and grab a White Russian from the bar. The Dude abides, the Knave abideth, and just like that a modern cult classic has entered the Shakespearean canon.

What: Two Gentlemen Of Lebowski When: Thursday September 9, 6pm Where: Main Quadrangle, Sydney University

24-Hour Comedy Gig

The funniest all-nighter youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever pull By Jacqueline Breen

guaranteed giggles and late-night delerium. Or it sounds like, you know, a terrible idea... â&#x20AC;&#x153;It sounds like a marathon, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really see this as an endurance event,â&#x20AC;? Ben says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think you can perform it like one. The attitude isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got 24 hours, can we do it?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The attitude is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve only got 24 hours, how much can we do?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hopefully that attitude infects people.â&#x20AC;?

As the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s host, Ben is behind the wisecracking wheel - but he stresses he is not the star of the show. On the contrary, the night turns into a warm, fuzzy, funny jam session. Inspired

by Matt Watsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 24-Hour show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Ben is aiming for creative collaboration with the crowd, seeking to build a comedic adventure that draws all attendees into the fun. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been called a 24-hour exercise in manufacturing in-jokes,â&#x20AC;? says Ben, adding that the show can go wherever the audience wants to take it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the word go, everyone has a job or a role and everyone feels ownership over the project. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got 24 hours, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got all these resources, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got imagination â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who has always wanted to do a Thing?â&#x20AC;?

I

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3am. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on stage. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not wearing a shirt. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re holding a broom. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re battling the king of the sea. You might not make a habit of this, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just another (really long) day at the office for Ben Jenkins.

The comedian, student and festival co-director (duties shared with Shannon Connellan) is limbering up for a comedy marathon as part of the Verge Festival. With a little help from student comedy troupe Project 54, Ben is staging an allday-all-night comedy gig, pumping out the gags from sunrise to sunrise. It sounds like a path to

26TH ANNUAL SYDNEY UNI

BAND COMP FINAL + THE DEAD HEADS + JACKSON GUNN + MIND PRIORITIES + SET SAIL + THE FUTURE PREHISTORIC + THE TOURIST

The first attempt, at the 2008 festival, still lives in university mythology as a trippy, epic, legendary experiment. In that blurry haze after midnight when the funny bone was feeling funniest, dueling sea gods were just one bizarre punch line among many. Nobody, not even Ben, knows whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in store â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether you drop in during daylight hours, rock up smashed at 3am or stay for the long haul, the only guarantee is youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be laughing.

What: Project 54â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 24 Hour Comedy Gig

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;LIVE HOUSE 3â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TAIK OZ DUO

When: Thursday September 9, from 8:30pm Where: Verge Festival Tent, Sydney University

Eviction Party

The funnest all-nighter youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever pull By Bridie Connellan

As regular campus residents, the raging farewell is personal for this infectiously catchy power of three, as the possibility of playing for a home crowd (house pun absolutely intended) is as welcome as a cup of sugar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Say BamboulĂŠe is a born and bred Sydney Uni Band and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had some great gigs on campus,â&#x20AC;? says Doug. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If things are getting a little out of hand, our plan is to turn off the PA, turn on the mood lighting, and engage in smooth acapella RnB singalongs. Then Russell can clean up and we can all avoid doing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hard timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the insideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;domestic disturbanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;public nuisanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.â&#x20AC;? What: Eviction Night With: We Say Bamboulee, DJ Shag (FBi) When: Friday September 10, from 8pm Where: Verge Festival Tent

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FBiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DJ Shag and Blue Mountains-based electro poppers We Say BamboulĂŠe are an apt choice to send the festival on its merry way. With a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;close-to-album-lengthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; EP set for release in September (produced by Jordy Lane of Shady Lane fame), lead BamboulĂŠe vocalist Doug Wright says the threesomeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buffed and polished party tunes will gladly soundtrack the sayonara. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even the greatest soirĂŠes must come to an end,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually quite fitting that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing the party night, as Russell [drummer] has a penchant for sticking around the morning

after, to help vacuum, put out the recycling and wash up... Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning to celebrate. With cleanliness.â&#x20AC;?

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he best (and possibly only decent) part about being evicted is having a sangriasoaked, television-tossing, how-do-youlike-this-Mr-Whitaker neighbourhood send-off.

After ten days of Verge antics, the tenants of the Festival Tent are getting booted - though certainly not without a struggle and a fuss.

With an Eviction Party to make even the most lax property manager develop an eye twitch, the festival may be over but the shindig has just begun.

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 33

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arts, theatre and film news... what's goin' on around town and more...

brushstrokes WITH JESS

COOK OF TOKEN IMAGINATION

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considering Andy Uprock is the only artist who has worked on fences before. In some way or another I have worked with them before under the same festival umbrellas or on the same projects. They all share a positive attitude and friendly approach to collaboration. It’s about having artists you know you can rely on when it comes to versatility, imagination and deadlines.

hat Sydneysider doesn’t have a local construction-related eyesore they’d love to pretty up? Artist collective Token Imagination are realising the dream with Oh Alfred!, a community art initiative, as part of Art & About 2010. They’re running workshops to create artworks that will then be used to decorate the construction fence around Prince Alfred Park ahead of its re-opening. The workshops and the projects are open to all, and will also feature the work of 10 local artists, including “cuprocking” artist Andy Uprock.

What is your artistic background?

Deciding not to go to an arts school was a little frustrating, but eventually it paid off doing Arts Management at uni. All my practical training has been learnt on the job - one of the most important being my contribution to the fantastic ARI at 107/342 Elizabeth St where The Frequency Lab and Knot Gallery resided.

Here I was able to really grow as an artist and have hands-on experience in DIY production & promotion. In these kinds of environments you feel comfortable with risk-taking and have fewer infringements on your concepts and presentation. From here I’ve been able to gradually grow Token Imagination into a busy creative factory, taking on both community and corporate projects.

What was your vision for Oh Alfred!?

As a Surry Hills local, I really miss the pool and I would walk past the construction site frequently, thinking “When will it open again? What could make it look better in the meantime?”

Token Imagination took part in Art & About last year, transforming an empty shop on Oxford St into an interactive installation. It was a fantastic

How are the workshops going so far?

Really well! They are so diverse - from picnics in Shannon Reserve, to cheese platters and drinks at The Clock Hotel, to a series of local school workshops... The Oh Alfred! team has been busy having fun with the community. It’s not often you can get crafty in public!

Can we still turn up to workshops?

Yes, please do come and make stuff with us! Every Wednesday at The Clock Hotel, and Saturdays at Shannon Reserve Park and Prince Alfred Park. [All materials are provided.]

experience and we knew we wanted to apply for 2010. The two thoughts came together and really fit in with core objectives of the brief. A huge aspect of Oh Alfred! is community engageent, working with local artists and providing a vibrant artwork for the public. The end goal is to transform the construction fence into a fun outdoor gallery for anyone to enjoy.

How did you pick this line-up of ten artists?

The artists all come from very different backgrounds with different skills and materials.

I was attracted to that diversity especially

What else are you up to in 2010?

Currently working on Guerrilla Poetry Project for The Australian Poetry Festival, and “Wishing Well” for The Sydney Children’s Festival, then it will be production work for Chalk Urban Arts Festival.

What: Oh Alfred!

When: Workshops, until September 18; “exhibition” from September 23 – October 24 Where: In and around Surry Hills More: www.ohalfred.wordpress.com for times, dates, venues and other details on workshops, and to follow the project as it unfolds.

THE CRAZIES

Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood) and Australian actress Radha Mitchell (Melinda and Melinda, Phone Booth) star as upstanding small-town sheriff David Dutton and his wife Judy in this sophisticated zombie feature. Sheriff Dutton is enjoying a high school baseball game when he finds himself having to use lethal force on a local resident, who has intruded on the game with apparently murderous intent. The situation quickly escalates, and before they know it the Duttons are running for their lives; their fellow townspeople have been infected with a mysterious illness that turns ordinary citizens into mindless killers. This stylish remake of George A. Romero’s 1973 cult classic made over US$50 million at the box office this year and has been hailed as even better than the original.

Thanks to Roadshow Entertainment, we have 5 copies of The Crazies on DVD to give away. To get in on the action, email us and tell us briefly what your favourite zombie movie is, and why.

qualifications and Head of Department available to discuss courses. All are welcome to attend.

Course applications open on September 1 and close November 1. For more info, visit the School’s website at www.aftrs.edu.au

Tim Minchin

SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL

Have you opened up a Fringe Festival program recently and been overwhelmed by the deluge of amazing-looking shows, revues, fashion parades, openings, stand-up, exhibitions, literary scams and musical shenanigans on offer?

Yeah, us too. We’ll point out a few likely-looking events next week, but for the most part, you’ll be on your own. Get out the butcher’s paper, colour-coded textas and Post-it notes, and start planning your fortnight NOW… The Sydney Fringe Festival runs from September 10 to 26. thesydneyfringe.com.au

Works by Tamara Maynes, available at Object pop-up shop.

OBJECT GALLERY

TIM MINCHIN VS SSO

More rock than Metallica, more Australian than the Hilltop Hoods, and at least four times funnier than both combined: the hairy musical cavalcade of vitriol and verbosity that is Tim Minchin is also the latest act to be given the Symphony treatment.

The barefoot comedy-rock god will regale audiences with his uniquely hilarious tunes – possibly including the epic “Canvas Bags”, “If You Really Loved Me” and “If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out (Take My Wife)” – accompanied by the Sydney Symphony, at the Sydney Opera House. What could be more rock than that? A third Sydney show is on sale this Monday (August 30), with tickets starting from just $49(+bf) from Ticketek. Minchin plays the SOH in March next year.

STORMIE MILLS

Renowned Western Australian artist Stormie Mills began painting in 1984, when on a dark, wet night he ventured into the streetscape to make his first mark on the world. More than 25 years later, he’s carved a distinctive niche with his unique style of work, which 34 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

To mark the launch of their blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pop-up shop, filled with typography related jewellery, art & design objects, and the new exhibition Stereotyped: Sound & Typography, Object Gallery on Bourke St will host a special one-off late night opening on Friday September 3 from 5-8pm. The exhibition, to which entry is free, examines the ways in which text and sound create meaning in our lives. The pop-up shop will be open on Saturday September 4 and Sunday September 5, and the exhibition runs until September 26. For more info on the exhibition, the Australian Centre of Craft & Design and Object’s spring program, visit www.object.com.au Roadhouse Billboard No. 1 by Mini Graff segues from the somewhat traditional forms of graffiti writing and street art. Stormie’s latest exhibition, In Celebration of Second Best examines the championing of the underdog in Australian culture, and was born out of the artist's fascination with the psyche of boxers.

In Celebration of Second Best is on display at Richard Martin Art in Woollahra from August 28. Check him out at stormiemills.com

DBC PIERRE

Hot on the heels of a visit by Bret Easton Ellis, the Oxford Art Factory plays host to another literary event: the only Sydney appearance by Adelaide-born novelist DBC Pierre (Vernon God Little, Ludmila’s Broken English). In a special out-of-season Sydney Writer’s Festival event, the Man Booker Prize winner and citizen of the world will give a short reading from his latest book Lights Out In Wonderland and conduct a Q&A session; there will also be a special solo set from Drones frontman Gareth Liddiard.

The whole shebang hits the OAF on August 31st – tickets are available from Moshtix. More details at www.swf.org.au

BAMS & TED

A concept pop-up vintage store? Why not?

The Bams & Ted team are back with their new themed collection, “Spring on the Farm”.

Following on from the success of their Brideshead Revisited shop in June, the new edit will help you kick off your spring in delightfully down-home style. The store is open now and will remain so until Saturday September 18th, at Gaffa, 281 Clarence St, Sydney, Mondays to Saturdays 11am-6pm. Check out their blog at bams-and-ted.blogspot.com

AFTRS OPEN DAY

The Australian Film Television and Radio School has produced such local luminaries as Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah), Jane Campion (The Piano, Bright Star) and Phillip Noyce (Rabbit-Proof Fence and this month’s spy thriller Salt), so if a career in film, television or radio appeals, it just might be worth getting yourself along to their Open Days. From 11am-3pm on the weekend of September 4 & 5, the AFTRS throws open its doors to prospective students, with information sessions on different

THE PLACES IN BETWEEN

From next week the fellas at aMBUSH Gallery will be presenting The Places in Between – a pop up exhibition featuring new work and installations by some of Australia’s best emerging artists, showcased at 580 George, home of the HSBC Centre and the 580 George shopping precinct. It’s the same concept as last September’s In Full Bloom exhibition, and some of the same artists: Apeseven, Beastman, Ben Frost, Bennet, Bridge Stehli, Drewfunk, Ears, Jumbo, Max Berry, Meggs, Mini Graff, Numskull, Phibbs, Roach, Sam Smith, Shannon Crees and Yok. The exhibition will be open daily from Monday to Saturday from 1 to 30 September. www. theplacesinbetween.com.au

As seen on Talkin’ ‘bout Your Generation & Good News Week - LIVE ON STAGE!

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As heard on triple j

SAM SIMMONS FAIL SMASH HIT FROM THE 2010 EDINBURGH FRINGE

‘Sam Simmons show is a masterpiece of surreality, silliness and sadness wrapped up in a comedy performance of such passion and complexity that it approaches genius’ THE SCOTSMAN (18 AUG 2010 EDINBURGH FRINGE)

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BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 35

TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN

Writer/director Stuart Beattie and producer Andrew Mason talk about bringing the war back home

By Joshua Blackman

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llie, Homer, Lee, Kevin, Corrie, Robyn, Fiona and Chris are names close to the heart of anyone who grew up in the 90s. They're the teenaged d central characters of John Marsden’s sd den’s Tomorrow series of action-adventure en nture novels, which were hugely popular ular with young audiences long before ore the Twilight and Harry Potter juggernauts rn nauts dominated bestseller lists. Essentially en ntially World War II-style resistance thrillers hrrillers - set in contemporary rural NSW, W, as Australia finds itself suddenlyy under attack from a faceless and nd d heavily armed foreign power - they hey are compulsively readable stories, es, written for a generation of Australians ra alians unspoiled by the horrors of war..

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With such an inherently cinematic attic premise, it’s surprising it has taken ken so long for an adaptation of the e first book, Tomorrow, When the War War Began, to make it to the screen. n.. Says writer & director Stuart Beattie, “I “I think a big part of it was money. We just ju ust don’t usually have the money to o make films like this. You need a certain in n budget, and the money’s money s just not no ott usually there. And then there ar are re very

few properties like this that are aimed pr aimed at the main movie-going audience, ncce, the teenage crowd, and have alllll these tee big action set-pieces in them.” ac With the t exception of a burgeoning ning horror niche (Wolf Creek, The Loved oved Ones) and genre films such as the Spierig Brother’s Daybreakers, Sp ers, Australia Austra is not known for making ng straightforward action-adventure straigh e stories with clear conflict and a commercial bent. And that’s exactly comm acctly what Tomorrow is. From its glossy T sssy cinematography to its Hollywoodcinem daction sensibility, it feels like thiss will be one movie that may play well ell overseas. overse “Absolutely. I mean, why wh hy not?” continues Beattie. “There’ss no c reason why Australian films can’t n’’t travel, especially in a story like this where the themes are so universal. rssal.

At the end of the day it’s about eight eight teenagers who want to get away teenag ayy from their parents – what teenager in p n the world doesn’t fantasise about that?” ha at?”

Beattie’s Beattie enthusiasm for his baby byy – his first film l as a director – is palpable. ab ble. An established Hollywood screenwriter establ wrriter with a long list of high profile credits edits including includ g Collateral, Pirates of the he e Caribbean Caribb bean and d uncredited uncredit dited d work work k on

3:10 to Yuma, he’s been waiting g for for the right opportunity to make the move o mo ove to behind the camera.

“I always alwa wanted to direct. And I basically basica learned how to direct by by writing films and watching otherr directors directo direct my screenplays,, but certainly certain stings like 3:10 to Yuma a [make you realise] you’re going to to keep getting screwed, because that’s g that’s the way wa the business works.”

“Initially “Initial [Omnilab Media, who were were developing the project] wanted me develo me just to write [Tomorrow], and I said sa aid no. I was w afraid some other filmmaker mm maker would come in and just wreck it. t.. I felt very protective of it, so I said no p o for about six months. Until they said, d, no, we really rea want you to write it. And nd by that stage they wanted me to write st wrrite it so much mu that I said, ‘Well, I’ll write riite it if you let me direct it.’ And they were were like, well, w okay.”

“It was a huge risk on their part,” t,”,” Beattie continues. “I think it’s a huge huge risk any an time you take on a firstt time filmmaker because you just don’t lmma n’’t know how they’re going to be. They Th hey can talk talk in the room and ta great g an nd they can c be be really realllly prepared. prepared d. I think th hink I

did both bo those things – I storyboarded oarded about three-quarters of the film and and had very ve detailed shot lists. All signs signs [said] this was going to work, but ut I don’t think it’s till you get through t gh h that first day da that you know for sure. From my experience in everything I had ex ha ad done, [I just] knew what I wanted ed d and knew when I had it. To me anyway, way, that is the key to directing.”

Helping Helpin Beattie bring his faithfull adaptation to the big screen was adapta ass veteran vetera visual effects creator turned rned producer, produc Andrew Mason, who’ss worked worke on The Crow, Dark Cityy and all al three Matrix films. While e Tomorrow is also a character study Tomor tu udy about growing up and how people ple act in extreme circumstances, Mason’s Mason technical background proved invaluable when creating g the film’s slick action scenes. “There’s s e’s CG involved everywhere,” he says. inv ayys.

“Obviously, I don’t think you could “Obvio ulld make this movie without a lot off visual effects work, so it sort of helps having having a background in visual effects. I back haven’t haven kept up with every refinement ement of the business, but I certainly know kn now how to approach those scenes.”.” such resourceful In one e su ch h sequence our reso ourceful

GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO COMPETITION W e don’t bandy words like “phenomenon” and “juggernaut” about willy-nilly, but with more than 22 million books sold in 35 countries, the late Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo has certainly earned some serious bandying. The story of disgraced journalist Mikael Blomqvist, troubled young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander and their quest to solve a forty-year-old murder mystery has captivated millions of readers and moviegoers.

The first film adaptation has enjoyed huge box office success worldwide, and shows no sign of slowing down – if you’re still among the uninitiated, there’s never been a better time to get amongst it.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is available on Blu-ray and DVD September 2. We have 5 DVDs to give away – for your chance to win, email freestuff@thebrag.com and tell us what country Stieg Larsson hailed from.

36 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

heroine, heroin Ellie, flees armed enemy troops in an industrial garbage truck, a pyrotechnic set-piece that Beattie pyro couldn’t couldn have pulled off without extensive extens pre-production work. “You make a plan and stick to it. That helps everyone everyo enormously because they can get ge their jobs done and they can be ready rea for you, and you don’t walk on the set and go, 'No, it’s all different, let’s change it.' That just screws ch everybody over and costs time and everyb money we didn’t have. You know, we spent every second working our arses off and every cent we had to put it up there on o screen. We all took pay cuts [so that tha we could] make the film look as big and epic as it looks, because that is what we all wanted. We wanted to make mak a big, contemporary, fun rollercoaster of an action film.” rollerc With six s more books in the original series, series both Beattie and Mason are optimistic about sequel possibilities. “If optimi it’s successful there’s an opportunity suc to run this as a franchise,” Mason says with a smile. “It’s just too much fun.”

What Tomorrow, When the War What: Began Bega When: Whe e Opens Ope s September Sep e be 2

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BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 37

Quack

[THEATRE] A new Australian romantic-Western-dramedy…with zombies. By Holly Orkin

T

here was a time at the beginning of cinema where filmmakers looked to theatre for the tricks to create a crazy, terrifying and awe-inspiring spectacle. With his upcoming production for Griffin Theatre, director Christopher Mead has turned the tables, drawing on cult films to help make the blood-splattered theatrical romp that is Quack.

“It’s fun going back to it and seeing just how crap-tastic we can make it,” says Mead. It's his second project for Griffin, and the first to be staged in the newly renovated Stables Theatre.

the play is set. Although there were no reports of the specific symptoms (brain-eating, for example) that feature in Quack, it called into question the trust the people put in medical professionals. At the time, anyone could call themselves a doctor. Many of the richer ‘quacks’ were also in government and, Mead says, “The idea of leadership and change was entirely bound up in medical possibilities.”

A brand new play by Ian Wilding (who won his second Patrick White Playwright’s Award last year for Forever Seven), Quack has been hailed as a mix of Shaun of the Dead, Deadwood and A Country Practice. Our protagonist is Fanny, a young woman stuck in a late 19th-century Australian town where the people only talk about mining and money and where no one wants to read the short story she’s written. Fanny wants to abandon ship, escape the boredom, but as the townspeople start succumbing to a mysterious sickness, she is persuaded to stay by dashing young newcomer, Doctor Waterman.

The play itself started as only a possibility, having been programmed in the Griffin season before anyone was sure what it was going to be. “It was a really brave move from the then artistic director Nick Marchand to program something that wasn’t written,” acknowledges Mead. “All that existed a year ago was a paragraph, the idea that a town was sick and a visionary young doctor arrives to fix the town, and part of the motivation was the idea of a Kevin Rudd-type person that really inspires people.” Mead also says the starting point grew out of questions about the miracles we expect of our leaders and the abnegation of social responsibility, leading to disillusionment – something audiences may be able to relate to this month.

“The old doctor is inherently conservative [and] has no interest in new methods or new technologies, and the new doctor is full of rhetoric about change and how we need it and that transformation is really important,” says Mead. There actually was a terrible disease outbreak in Broken Hill around the time when

Though there are political ideas woven throughout the story of the play, Mead says that they have backed away from being too literal about Howard and Rudd, because ultimately, that wasn’t the story that Wilding was telling. Setting the play in a time where people were desperate for leadership, stricken

Yellow Moon: The Ballad of Leila & Lee

Quack by disease and hardship but at some remove from the present day, has enabled the Quack team to explore allegorically things that are happening now without getting too caught up in commenting specifically on the politics of the present day. Like any good romantic historical Western drama noir exploitation comedy, “Quack is good fun, it’s rude, it’s nasty, and it’s got zombies in it.” Clearly, Mead has his priorities right.

What: Quack When: Previews: August 27, 28, 30 & 31; Season: September 2 – October 2 Where: SBW Stables Theatre 10 Nimrod St, King’s Cross More: Check www.griffintheatre.com.au for details on tie-in screenings and talks

Reel Anime 2010

[THEATRE] A coming-of-age tale that’s more than just words on a page. By Simon Binns

I

n the UK, Scottish playwright David Greig is known for being prolific and poetic. One of the few playwrights who can say that they’ve written more plays than they’ve lived years (41 years, in this case), he has also garnered attention for his skilful translations of classic texts such as Camus’ Caligula, and Strindberg’s Creditors. One of his newer plays, Yellow Moon: The Ballad of Leila and Lee, opens September 2 in Belvoir’s Downstairs Theatre.

Originally written for TAG Theatre Company, a Scottish youth-based company, Yellow Moon is an adventurous coming of age story. “It’s kind of a twisted Wizard of Oz,” says director Susannah Dowling. “These two troubled teenagers do something bad, panic, and go on the run, and on the way they find out more about themselves, face up to what they’ve done, and fall in love. It’s very grounded and real and gritty, yet it’s poetic at the same time.”

Perhaps more exciting than the story itself, however, is Greig’s experimentation with form. “He jumps in and out of these beautiful naturalistic scenes into this hyper-realistic narration… It’s really four people in a theatre telling you a story, so there are moments that are a bit like The Matrix where they can control things that are happening.”

This struck Dowling as the perfect text with which to launch her new company 'white blackbird', which aims to bring a physical approach to text-based work. “I’m from Ireland and I grew up in the theatre there, and it’s a very text-heavy scene... but I’m really fascinated by movement as well and wanted to find a way of combining the two.” To that end she teamed up with choreographer Johanna Puglisi and

38 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

The next step was finding the right actors for the two young leads. After Yellow Moon a week’s creative development through B Sharp earlier in the year, it was Layla Estasy & John Shrimpton’s willingness to experiment that won over Dowling. “To try and get to where we’re going to, you have to sort of come on board… It’s a little bit of trust and risk-taking and they were both up for that, they just went with it.” Joining these young talents are two actors who should be familiar with Sydney audiences. Acclaimed New Zealand actor Danielle Cormack has worked on everything from TV’s Xena: Warrior Princess to Tom Stoppard on Australia’s main stages, and Kenneth Moraleda (who has won awards at international film festivals) is a local TV regular, with appearances in shows like City Homicide and East West 101.

This production is the next step in a life spent in the theatre for Dowling, who grew up amidst the theatre scene in Dublin. “My dad’s a director so my earliest memory is being on a stage as a two year old. I grew up in his rehearsal rooms and in tech-weeks, and as a 16-year-old when I had to go and do work experience, it was always on a show.” But it wasn't the limelight of acting that enticed her to take up the family trade - more the “big picture” endeavours of directing and creating a story. Moving to Australia was her rebellion, but it seems she’s happy to follow in her father’s footsteps. “I’ve never wanted to do anything else but this. I love it so much.”

What: Yellow Moon: The Ballad of Leila & Lee When: September 2-26 Where: Belvoir St Downstairs Theatre

Reel Anime 2010

[FILM] The festival returns with four stunning new features. By Alex Parker

S

eptember’s the time to take your love of all things Japanese to the movies. Madman Entertainment’s Reel Anime festival is touring the nation, calling Dendy Newtown home from September 2 -15. Four new releases are on offer: Evangelion: 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance, Summer Wars, Redline and King of Thorns.

There’s something for everyone in the mix, from fast cars, explosions and Elvis hair to creepy appropriations of children’s fairy tales and giant monster robots. If you happen to liken yourself to a nerdy teenager hoping to save the world someday through sheer brainpower, there’s more than enough here for you.

Hideaki Anno directed the smash hit Neon Genesis Evangelion film series in the ’90s and is now engaged in a quest to ‘rebuild’ the work in four new parts. For those unaware, an Evangelion (or Eva for short) is a mammoth robot, usually piloted by an angsty teenager, which is used to protect the post-apocalyptic ‘Tokyo-3’ from the constant threat of giant super-powered mutants known as ‘Angels’. That’s right, this tangle of religious allegory ultimately results in super-sized monster vs. robot war, and lots of it.

The new films promise to be beefier than the first with enhanced original characters, some spunky newer ones, even bigger robots and an extra lick of shiny metallic paint. Evangelion: 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance is the highest ranking blockbuster in the Reel Anime program and should not disappoint on the big screen... unless you haven’t seen Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone, in which case you'll have no idea what unbelievably confused hell you’ve found yourself in or how to get out. Luckily for you, the ever-thoughtful Reel Anime is screening the first installment alongside the sequel, so newcomers have no excuse not to dive in.

Keeping with the promise of explosions, if you like girls, fast cars and big hair then look no further than Takeshi Koike’s racing epic Redline.

It may sound ridiculous, but this film manages to embody Grease meets Star Wars, on speed. It lures you in with an intoxicating retro anime style, and manages to sneak some cheeky Japanese schmaltz into the high-stakes action. Meanwhile, King of Thorn is a different tempo altogether; imagine Sleeping Beauty meets Inception. It would be remiss of me to say any more, except that it’s set in a castle in Scotland and involves a disease with a 100% mortality rate known as ‘Medusa’.

If explosions aren’t so much your thing, then check out Summer Wars. There are still explosions, but they’re mostly in a stylised cyberspace, and one heroine of the piece is a ninety-year-old granny who wields a Samurai sword exactly once. This film is really about coming home to your large family for the holidays and playing cards with your Gran; it also involves bringing a dork mathlete friend from school and telling everyone he’s your rich boyfriend. It’s not til your fake paramour accidentally releases a murderous artificially intelligent virus named ‘The Love Machine’ into an online social network that things all start to go a little haywire. Summer Wars is directed by Mamoru Hosoda who was responsible for the Reel Anime 2008 favourite The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and the art direction is by Youji Takeshige of Studio Ghibli fame. The film’s quirky sense of humour and comic timing is perfect, making it a must-see of the festival.

It’s not often that a program of this calibre pops up in our fair city. Be sure to grab a taste of what’s big in Japan (besides hentai) while you can.

What: Reel Anime 2010 When: September 2-15 Where: Dendy Newtown More: www.dendy.com.au for session times www.madman.com.au/reelanime for more information

Yellow Moon photo by Patrick Boland

composer Ekrem Mulayim to try and figure out how create such work without descending into mime. “I was looking for a piece that we could do that with, and Yellow Moon came along and it fit perfectly,” says Dowling.

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 39

Arts Snap

Film & Theatre Reviews

At the heart of the arts Where you went last week.

What's hot on the silver screen and the bareboards around town.

■ Theatre

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Until September 25 / Sydney Theatre

go font ur self* 5

PICS :: TL

One of the main recurring threads running through Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton’s STC program this year has been the American classic – from Eugene O’Neill and Thornton Wilder to Tennessee Williams. August: Osage County has been programmed within that context, as a ‘new classic’, from 42-year-old Oklahoman actorturned-Pulitzer-Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts. And if you thought the Tyrones in Long Day’s Journey were dysfunctional, well… you ain’t seen nothing yet.

19:08:10 :: Lo-Fi Collective :: L3 383 Bourke St Darlinghurst

At three and a half hours, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County is an absolute marathon of family dysfunction, focusing on the Weston clan and their sprawling, turn-of-the-century homestead on the plains of Oklahoma.

Three semi-estranged sisters reunite in their childhood home when their alcoholic father, Beverly (Chelcie Ross), goes missing. As well as dealing with this crisis, they must try to manage their completely unmanageable, pill-popping, acid-tongued mother, Violet (Tony Award-winner Deanna Dunagan).

Old resentments resurface, old wounds are re-opened, seeping messily into the present crisis; secrets are uncovered, and bonds are irreparably severed. And throughout, the newly hired housekeeper, Native American local Johnna, watches on impassively. Even as she becomes drawn into the family’s dramas, she retains the only sane point of view, as an objective outsider. She’s onstage when the play opens, with Beverly, and when it closes, with Violet.

August is remarkably entertaining; Letts wrote it darkly comic, and the (outstanding) cast of this original Steppenwolf production play it deadpan, and punctuate it for laughs.

At times, it almost feels like you’re watching a family sitcom – albeit something twisted like Arrested Development. It’s not just entertaining, though; it’s engaging, and provocative. As if it were a sports match, the audience find themselves cheering, gasping, holding their breath.

PICS :: RR

stef mitchell

PICS :: TL

If there was one misgiving I had at the end, it was the predominance of silly or shrewish women, and long-suffering men. But at the end of the day, the cast of characters fall away, and it is Violet who emerges as the complex centre – that bitter, twisted matriarch, with her voracious appetite for the ‘souls’ of her daughters. If we can feel empathy for Violet, then everyone’s done their job.

12:08:10 :: Absolut Stairwell Gallery :: 33-37 Darlinghurst Rd Kings Cross

Dee Jefferson ■ Film

GOING THE DISTANCE Released September 2

Arts Exposed What's on our calendar...

LO-FI Collective presents

DON’T GO IN THE ATTIC From September 2 383 Bourke St, Darlinghurst Sydney’s newest and sexiest art spaceslash-bar presents another week of edgy, irreverent art. Expect the unexpected as Marty Routledge curates DON’T GO IN THE ATTIC, full of colourful, “low-brow” works from a huge range of local artists (deep breath): Jumbo, Saynt, Roach, Blends, Pudl, Zap, Easlinn, Two One, Ben Frost, Beastman, Helen Mycroft, Karena Zerefos, Phibs, Joel Birch, Brent Smith, Mia Taninaka, Numskull, Cameron Smith, OnShow, Trent Whitehead & Thomas Jackson. LO-FI’s usual M.O. is to run shows for only a week and this is no exception, so get along from September 2.

YO BIG CHIEF artwork by Helen Mycroft 40 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

Justin Long and Drew Barrymore are both likable performers, which makes it all the more disheartening that this sloppy romantic comedy numbs much of their charm. Helmed by documentary filmmaker Nanette Burstein – whose style makes infrequent, but welcome, intrusions – there’s little wit, heart or humour in this tale of lovers struggling with a long-distance relationship.

In today’s electronic, Twittery world, longdistance relationships aren’t as rare as they once were. But despite all these extra means of communication, SMS micromanaging and phone sex (the latter of which gets a raunchy, rather embarrassing workout in the film), it doesn’t make them any easier. This is not lost on Erin (Barrymore) and Garrett (Long), who meet and fall in love over six weeks of summer

in New York City. Their romance is cut short by her impromptu return across the country to San Francisco, where she moves back in with her over-protective sister, Corrine (Christina Applegate). The couple satiate their lustful pangs by hopping back and forth across the country, but doubts still remain – will they ever be able to reconcile their individual career and life goals whilst maintaining a relationship?

If it sounds like your regular, post-2000 romantic-comedy dreck, it probably is.

Going the Distance isn’t as bad as its godawful trailer suggested, but it wastes the talents of its likable leads with an overdose of random, raunchy humour (think autofellatio and dry humping), that feels at odds with the movie’s soppy sincerity. It’s funny when it involves Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live) as Garrett’s hovering friends, but painfully awkward when it does the passive-aggressive Corrine and her husband (Jim Gaffigan).

In her first fiction film, Burstein struggles to find a consistent tone – one minute it’s a traditional studio comedy, the next it’s a deliberately mis-framed slice-of-life. She seems more comfortable with the latter, though never does it approach the delicate Judd Apatow balance of pathos and below-the-belt comedy. There’s room for an insightful look at long-distance relationships in the modern age but, despite affable leads and good intentions, this isn’t it.

Joshua Blackman ■ Film

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT Released September 2 The Kids are All Right centres on an unconventional two-mum family, but its themes are universal; turns out marriage, children and relationships are equally difficult, rewarding and complicated regardless of one’s situation, sexual orientation or social status.

The mums here are played by Annette Bening (Nic) and Julianne Moore (Jules). They’ve mothered two children, Joni (the radiant Mia Wasikowska, Alice in Wonderland) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson), using donor sperm from Paul (Mark Ruffalo). Even before the groovy Paul whirls into their lives and causes havoc with their strained family unit, both Joni, 18 and Laser, 15, are reaching the age where their parents seem dorky and overbearing (“Huuugs?” Nic and Jules ask Laser sweetly in unison, to which he can only derisively point to Nic and reply, “Hug her. That’s what she’s there for.”)

The film is filled with such funny, dead-on observations about family relationships, and like the beautifully observed Sideways (2004), it captures the minute awkwardness of social situations. A scene when Joni and Laser meet their biological father for the first time, for instance, is a near-perfect blend of subtle writing and nuanced acting.

All the performances are outstanding, especially from the striking Bening as the family breadwinner, an ambitious, determined doctor who’s understandably protective of her family. She’s starkly contrasted by Moore as the loose and lovable Jules. They make a fascinating pair, and though they’re not allowed as much overt sexuality (and this is a sexy, liberated film) as some others, their connection is obvious and strong.

The film’s heart, though, lies with Wasikowska’s Joni, genuinely enamoured

by Ruffalo’s charm (who wouldn't be?), but attuned to her mothers’ struggles. It’s her character’s imminent move to college that frames the story and adds to the dramatic momentum.

The film is co-written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko, who herself has a son conceived through artificial insemination.

She has the first hand experience, but The Kids are All Right is refreshingly devoid of a political agenda. It’s the smartest, most wellacted dramedy in recent memory. It’s one of the year’s best movies.

Joshua Blackman

See www.thebrag.com for more arts reviews

DVD Reviews What's been on our TV screens this week The Good, the Bad and the Totally Unicorn

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Roadshow Home Entertainment Released September 2 With The Girl Who Played With Fire out on September 23, it’s time to revisit Niels Arden Oplev’s adaptation of the first book in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium crime trilogy. Larsson, who died of a heart attack after submitting the manuscripts to his publisher, was a longtime opponent of right-wing racism; specifically, he set up a group designed to expose neo-Nazi activity in Sweden.

The subject matter, therefore, is close to his heart – a journalist trying to uncover the truth behind a series of killings in rural Sweden, that seem to have anti-Semitic overtones.

After resigning from his job as editor of an independent magazine, following a muchpublicised (but unfair) libel conviction, Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is hired by the patriarch of one of Sweden’s biggest companies, to investigate the disappearance of his niece 40 years ago.

If you’re not familiar with the books, it takes a while to realise that the heart of the film is Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), the young computer hacker who helps the journalist solve the crimes. In one of the final scenes of the film, Oplev tantalises us with a glimpse of a far more complex and intriguing character than we've imagined.

Oplev’s film packs a lot into 146 minutes, and you can still sense that the material has been cut down from the far longer TV series that aired in Sweden – most obviously in side characters who appear under-developed. This is a welldone crime thriller, with some added historical spice; unexpectedly, its standout feature is the chance to absorb yourself thoroughly in a different universe for two-and-a-half hours.

THE REBOUND

Roadshow Home Entertainment Released August 17 It’s hard to imagine this film’s target audience; I assume it’s these “cougars” we keep hearing about, but I am absolutely a decade or so short – and a socio-economic class or two wide – from understanding the chemistry between a 40-year-old New Jersey soccer mom, and a sweet young fella of 24.

Sandy (Catherine Zeta Jones) is a New Jersey mother of two, in her cashmere sweaters and Liberty Lawn shirts, yelling like a soccer mom at other 4WD-drivers, sanitising her children’s hands as they walk into school, and being a general pushover; until she discovers a video of her hubby banging another woman.

Cut to mom and kids moving to New York City, with all the attendant clichés: homeless people who are disgusting perverts; classmates who play “pimp vs ho” in the lunch breaks; wizened lesbians who teach self-defence at the local Women’s Centre. The first half of this script wastes a lot of time - and audience patience – running skit after heavy-handed skit.

Then, when the cougar’s prey, Aram Finkelstein (Justin Bartha) enters the game, it’s paint by numbers all over again: a nice young Jewish college student who has been treated badly by a woman; he likes children, he’s romantic, he’s the total opposite of her prick-of-an-ex-husband. She hard-balls him into babysitting her kids, he falls in love with her…

Bartha is actually good in his role, and the film unexpectedly takes a persuasively warm turn in its second half – but it’s too little, and too late.

Dee Jefferson

Dee Jefferson

Street Level With Sian McIntyre from The Paper Mill graduated from Printmaking (Hons), Steph is currently doing Honours in Printmaking at SCA and I graduated last year in Printmaking undergrad and Honours in Sculpture.

While studying I volunteered with the Biennale, Performance Space, John Kaldor Arts Projects and Carriage Works. I have volunteered and worked for Papunya Tjupi Arts Centre since 2008, teaching and producing prints. I also teach life drawing and kids’ art classes.

T

he Paper Mill is an exciting new artistrun space located behind the mammoth Ivy complex, aiming to beef up the artistic presence in the city’s laneways.

Having already given an epic performancebased launch party over two nights, featuring appearances from the Paper Scissors and local theatre performers, among others, the space officially opens on September 7th.

Co-founder and director Sian McIntyre tells us a little about the Paper Mill.

Tell us about your team and how The Paper Mill concept began.

It was a bit of a daydream really. All of us often thought about how incredible it would be to have a centrally-based space dedicated to works on paper. When the City of Sydney put out a call out for expressions of interest for the space on Ash St, we responded with The Paper Mill concept. Thanks to them, we have now secured a lease with subsidised rent until 31st March 2011.

We have four directors - Anne-Louise Dadak, Christopher Hodge, Stephanie Peters and me. We also have three committee members - Sandra Di Palma, Simon Greiner and Amelia Wallin. We all muck in with getting things done but also each have particular interests in The Paper Mill, which really helps to keep the space active and inclusive.

What are your respective backgrounds in the arts?

Anne-Louise graduated from Design, Chris

What will The Paper Mill bring to the Sydney arts community?

All artists work with paper – we sketch ideas down, write notes or make models.

The Paper Mill aims to create an inclusive, affordable space for artists to connect, show work and learn from each other. We also want to give the Sydney community a glimpse behind the scenes of the ‘art world’ and the opportunity to get involved through events and workshops.

What have been the biggest challenges in setting up the space?

So far, fingers crossed, challenges have been minimal. It’s all been a bit of a crash course in business and finance but we’re learning, and are always open to any advice or ideas offered. We’ve been very lucky to have support from some incredible people in the community. We are currently self-funded, which can be hard, but we’re putting on some fundraisers and really hoping the public and local businesses will get behind us.

What’s on the Paper Mill menu for the rest of the year?

We have a full program of workshops, exhibitions, artist talks, forums, studio space, a zine library, and special events kicking off from September, so keep an eye on our website, or just pop in and visit us!

What: The Paper Mill Where: 1 Angel Place, Ash St, Sydney CBD When: From 7th September More: www.thepapermill.org.au BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 41

Album Reviews What's been crossing our ears this week...

ALBUM OF THE WEEK MOGWAI

Special Moves Spunk / EMI For a band with a reputation for being the loudest live band in the world, it seems criminal that we’ve had to wait 15 years for them to release an official live album (radio sessions not included), but sweet Jesus have they delivered here. This album fucking rocks.

Going from delicate minimalism to mind-flooring effect-laden crescendos, Special Moves is a perfect snapshot of a band at the height of their powers. I can't wait for the DVD.

Admittedly I’m a massive Mogwai fanboy, with a lot of my teenage years spent sitting around in silence smoking weed and blissing out to their brooding post-rock - but still I feel confident in saying that Special Moves is quite unique in how perfectly encapsulates

ISOBEL CAMPBELL & MARK LANEGAN Hawk Shock/V2

During publicity for their third collaborative effort, Glaswegian Campbell (ex-Belle & Sebastian) and taciturn desert-grunge institution Lanegan have emphasised the idea that they serve as sonic counterweights to one another. They’ve got their schtick pegged, all right. Campbell’s feathered, Happy-Birthday-MisterPresident whisper and retro-cinematic compositions are anchored wonderfully

by Lanegan’s tarry Leonard Cohenrumble. Unfortunately, there’s just not quite enough of that delicious yin-andyang here.

Hawk is a bit of a strange beast, dotted with interesting contributions (James Iha strums on a few tracks; Willy Mason subs in for Lanegan twice), and an uneven patina of countrified charm.

And it suffers noticeably in comparison to its more coherent predecessors.

‘Get Behind Me’ is a slightly awkward alt-country number. It’s clearly meant to be an up-tempo highlight, but ends up sounding way too much like Ryan Adams’ ‘To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)’ - dropping token lyrical catchphrases about Tennessee and old Chevys, and overstaying its welcome with a repetitive guitar jam through the final two minutes.

Two Townes Van Zandt covers are handled beautifully, and raucous roadhouse instrumental ‘Hawk’ is fun, if messy. But then it leads unsubtly into the spare Campbell-only ballad ‘Sunrise’, as if rubbing the listener’s nose in the diversity. It’s a hair’s breadth, the line between dull and shiningly lovely.

All up it’s a sweet listen, but the eclectic hints of genre experimentation stray too far from the perfect contrasts of the original idea.

the spirit of the band, and the experience of seeing them live. The quality of the recording is just impeccable, and the playing is flawless.

It captures a raw quality in the sound that eclipses all of their studio work; so much so that I’d recommend the band just record all their new material live from now on.

Matched with a forthcoming live DVD Burning directed by Take Away Shows founder Vincent Moon, both were recorded at the bands three-night residency at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg. The album is essentially a greatest hits with a tracklist that leaves little to be desired, showcasing material from across their career as lords of wall-of-sound sonic assaults.

Mikey Carr

LITTLE RED

WAVVES

Midnight Remember Liberation My favourite ‘60s revival band has grown upa bit, but they haven’t lost what made them so awesome the first time around. Little Red’s new record sees the Melbourne group flexing their song-writing muscle beyond the doo-wop harmonies of its predecessor; and here they push the leading mens’ voices to punishing limits. It’s dangerous, it sometimes falls flat but ultimately, it’s the only kind of album you’d want from a band so young and so full of promise.

From the current single ‘Rockit’ through to ‘Place Called Love’ and beyond, what really marks this album out is space. Little Red, all arms akimbo and multi-skilled, weren’t very good at that when they burst onto the scene two years ago. But by shaving points off the BPM and concentrating on the structure, Little Red reap the benefits of penning very good songs rather than pretty little ditties.

Though the opener holds a little too much wank for them to get away with just yet, it's more than made up for by a solid middle section which packs together five great tunes in a row.

Having three alternating leads means every song on Midnight Remember is a pleasant surprise, even before you know what’s happening.

Dominic Byrne deserves special mention, because far from the crooning he demonstrated previously, the kid’s now going balls to the wall.

It’s important to remember just how talented and young these guys are; many bands with five or ten years on them wouldn’t be able to make an album this resonant in such a short space of time.

It’s not hard to hate Wavves. He comes off as an arrogant brat who plays pithy garage pop, drinks too much and can’t manage his drug intake. His ecstasy/valium/xanax-fuelled onstage breakdown at Primavera last year was a tantrum that cost him a drummer, an inordinate number of Spanish fans, and a slew of seethingly scornful quips from a motley array of indie luminaries.

Which is funny, really, as this album fairly clearly demonstrates that he’s got the talent to back up his cocky, deadbeat, post-adolescent, woe-is-mytrust-fund-sponsored-bong-hit bullshit.

Wavves doesn’t take himself too seriously, and this allows him to cut right to the heart of what can make garage indie so infectious. The record kicks off with ‘King Of The Beach’, in which Williams relates the near-physical ephemera of a hazy beach dream. It’s no surprise he casts himself as the defiant monarch of the title, but the track is so full of effervescent two-chord fuzz that it makes more sense to help him build a sand-castle than depose him.

‘Super Soaker’ follows (notice a theme?), and ups the pace a couple more notches. As the chorus hits, and chords 3, 4, 5 and yes even 6 roll around, it becomes pretty clear that the simplicity of Williams’ music is a disguise. ‘Baseball Cards’ resembles The Beatles’ ‘Lovely Rita’ ironed flat with a piping hot synth.

‘When Will You Come’ is a loom of acid-trap SoCal balladry. ‘Post Acid’ follows, and we’re thrown back into the 1-2 quagmire - but by this stage, you’re dancing with the tadpoles and hi-fiving the fluoro dragonflies. ‘Do you understand / That I’m just having fun / With you? / With you?’.

They get better every day; let’s call them Medium Red for now.

Aiight, Wavves. You got me.

Jonno Seidler

Luke Telford

BLISS N ESO

GRINDERMAN

King Of The Beach Pod/Inertia

Running On Air Illusive

Grinderman 2 EMI

The second round of Grinderman mayhem opens with Nick Cave in midlife crisis mode, announcing to the universe, ‘I woke up this morning and I thought “what am I doing?”’

With the first Grinderman album (Cave’s sideproject with a few fellow Badseeds, principally Warren Ellis), many were left asking exactly that, dismissing it as little more than an exercise in grossly indulgent whining from a bunch of aging lotharios. But those who managed to discern the blaring self-parody underscoring the lewd posturing of songs like ‘No Pussy Blues’ will find much to enjoy in this sequel of razorbacked blues and whirring psychedelia.

The absurd deadpan tone of the first album is carried here by songs like first single ‘Heathen Child,’ Cave mocking the existential quandaries that plague the young with some surreal lyrics delivered with a leer and a snicker. But he’s at his best in the role of arch-seducer (aka dirty old man), like on ‘Worm Tamer’ or ‘Kitchenette’ – with lines like ‘I stick my fingers in your biscuit jar / and crush all your gingerbread men’ delivered in a voice dripping with post-peepshow mank.

Not that the lecherous and the grotesque are the only tones striven for here - they're just the ones that Cave and co. seem to relish most.

‘When My Baby Comes’ contains all the mawkish desperation of the washed-up flip-side to the Grinderman persona; ditto the rasping pathos of ‘What I Know’.

There are misfirings sure, but if you’re in on the joke then Grinderman 2 is plenty fun. And if not, well, you can clean yourself up.

Oliver Downes

Remember walking into a CD shop as a ten year old with $30, thinking ‘I can buy any CD I want’? Empowered by choice, you move away from the Pop section and start looking at the weird and at times spooky artwork on albums under Metal and Hip-Hop. The artwork on Bliss N Eso’s fourth album carries on the psychedelic apocalypse of their previous release Flying Colours, which featured that resplendent hooded angel in mid flight. This time, Bliss N Eso’s hooded Hip-Hop angel is preparing to run across the ocean towards a setting sun... But what lies beneath this surreal packaging is Running On Air Bliss N Eso’s most accessible release to date.

‘Down By The River’ is a rollicking party song and celebration of life – in particularly, the life of MC Bliss and his colleague Esoterik. The song recounts the time between albums, discussing the group’s experiences - from Melbourne to Las Vegas. ‘I Can’ is a life affirming casual rhyme with a delicate mix of sparse drums, strings and piano samples, and it will come as no surprise that this thought provoking yet effortless arrangement is the work of Melbourne producer M-Phazes. It features legendary UK MC Jehst, who opens the song’s lyrical account with casual efficiency.

As well as the outright party tunes, and an array of international guests, Running On Air also features straight-up ballads – no rapping, just singing. With style in mind, the song ‘Reflections’ spins quite close to Everlast’s 1998 hit ‘What It’s Like’.

Attention cashed-up ten-year-olds: Running On Air has the depth and texture that its artwork alludes to.

It’s worth taking the risk.

Dan Watt

Caitlin Welsh

INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK DISCO NAP

Running Red Lights Independent I should say at the outset that I’m a stone-cold sucker for sweet, broadly Antipodean melodic pop of this sort – bands like Lazy Susan and the Lucksmiths just march straight through some secret door in my music-nerd heart and settle in for the long haul. Disco Nap are shooting for Death Cab For Cutie’s oft-imitated (but rarely matched) earnest emotion. In most bands, this kind of thing falls flat and grates horribly – but not here, even when front man Ross Hope sings a line like “The truth is it’s you I

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see / In a nursing home next to me” (‘False Teeth’) without a scrap of sheepishness.

Hope, an alumnus of terrific but defunct Brisbane outfit Iron On, has a preternatural talent for inventive pop melodies. ‘Home Karaoke’ is catchy-as-fuck, delightfully-wistful late-90s pop-rock - and I can’t begin to tell you how much I love ‘The Soft Sell’. I don’t think there’s an Australian song I’ve listened to more times this year or last. The second last track ‘Can’t Concentrate’ is the closest the rest of the album gets to approaching that sublime couple of minutes; the tense

dreaminess and sneaky build of the revamped track (which appeared first on Iron On’s The Verse EP) hints at the potential for an epic new direction, as Hope learns to edit himself more ruthlessly and challenge himself a bit musically. His gift for a tune clearly benefits from a good pruning.

Long-time bandmate and producer Darek Mudge seems to be a good influence – the wintry haze he lays over Hope’s plaintive pop doesn’t so much temper its overwrought moments as cuddle them gently until they settle down.

The cynical hipster in me wants to say something snarky about feelings, but it’s just – so – pretty.

Caitlin Welsh

OFFICE MIXTAPE Wondering what the 'experts' listen to?

Here's the music that drives The Brag... for this week, anyway.

LES SAVY FAV - Inches MESS HALL - Notes From A Ceiling SUFJAN STEVENS - All Delighted People

TOM JONES - Praise & Blame THE BRONX - III

Single Reviews

Vinyl Record Review

By Jacob Stone

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

THE NATIONAL

FOSTER THE PEOPLE

High Violet [180g 2LP, 2010] 4AD / Inertia

Pumped Up Kicks

Goddamn, is there anything The National don’t do right?

I’ve been trying to resist reviewing this particular LP because the world has little need for another hundred and fifty words of rabid, rapturous Nationalism. You know how good they are. But the vinyl release really does deserve examination, because it’s yet another example of The National model of doing things: just do it thoughtfully, and do it well.

On their debut single, this American group mix lo-fi samples, backbeat and groovy reverb with a simple indie aesthetic, delivering a very clever and very catchy song.

This reeks cool, and the lyrics prove the singer is no slouch in the writing department - “All the other kids with the pumped up kicks better run, better run... outrun my gun...” A lovely mixture of groove and menace, this tune cruises along innocuously underneath surf guitar, with an AM radio effect blanketing the vocal. The singer sounds a bit like our own Dan Kelly, and the chorus seals the deal; a classic singalong that is at once strange, familiar and scary... Perfect, understated indie pop.

LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH

FLYING LOTUS

BLUE KING BROWN

DIE! DIE! DIE!

KELLY ROWLAND

US cut-and-paste electronic/ hip hop producer Flying Lotus has turned in another idiosyncratically downtempo, jazz-tinged single here. The spacious and measured structure doesn’t always lend itself to radio, but his mixture of sounds - the thick, bassbooming drum programming, the synthesizers and the lighter, more natural guitar and Rhodes keyboard production - is to be admired.

The choral, glassy-sounding soul vocal is nicely D’Angelo, and elsewhere you can hear him re-work The Roots to a dance template. But as good as this is, I don’t think the song is strong enough to lead a record...

Rushing, pulsing synths and crunchy kick introduce a step up from this politicallyconscious reggae/dancehall act. The Melbourne band sound better and better as they move toward club production, and singer songwriter Natalie Pa’apa’a and bassist Carlos Santone have written a tight and confident rhythmic format here. Pa’apa’a is convincing on the lead vocal, but there’s something repetitive about her global take on women’s rights, and strident personal council.

Re-phrasing her struggle as the struggle of “women all over the world”’ almost works, but after a few singles with the same concerns, I don't feel her as much here.

The first single lifted from the new LP of New Zealand’s favourite professional alcoholics is more melodic than previous offerings.

The rhythm section doesn’t slop and crash as it has in the past, Michael Prain borrows some frenetic disco rhythms from Bloc Party, and singer/songwriter Andrew Wilson’s vocal sloganeering seems to nick from Silent Alarm, too - emulating the lean feel of indie rock from early 2004/2005. It’s slack in composition though; the chorus doesn’t adequately lift the mood in the melody, and the feel doesn’t do much either. I think this band should be able to do better but NME likes it!

A commanding bit of electro-trash from the former Destiny’s Child, and perhaps the best work-out tune since ‘When Love Takes Over’.

Rowland says some hilarious, tough things on the verse “the DJ is my bodyguard... he keeps me safe, with the treble and the bass” - and Guetta brings his usual pounding take on trance and house. When the muted verse explodes into pulsing synths and driving kick drum, Rowland’s vocal explodes with the chorus and you can almost see the Reebok Step class ecstatically cranking their weights toward the ceiling. Dumb, aggressive and brilliant.

MmmHmm

Never Fade Away

HowYe

Bubblegum

This pop act come fresh from Brisbane’s bubbling indie scene, and this single is the first evidence of their dancehall/club-literate pop vocabulary. It’s the most contemporary setting for the band, and the electronic and junk percussion palette suits them more than the lighter ska and rock sounds they’ve previously explored. It’s more likely to find them on the radio too. The warped, cheap keyboard textures and synth bass offset the male/female gang vocals nicely, and M.I.A wouldn’t disapprove of Laneous’ low budget take on her style... Check them out touring with Regurgitator verrrry soon.

Commander feat. David Guetta

The thick, matte cover stock is a gorgeous way to showcase the delicate Mark Fox sculpture up front, and upon opening the gatefold cover (swoon), one is presented with a moody black and white snapshot of Bryce & Aaron Dessner. The album is spread over two LPs, which sometimes bugs me with the constant hopping up and flipping and all, but I can’t stay mad at 4AD each record is housed in a separate, slim cardboard inner sleeve, with B&W portraits of the rest of the band on one side, and HIGH and VIOLET printed on the other in BIGASS BLOCK CAPS. And in case it hadn’t quite been hammered home yet, the vinyl itself is fabulously heavy, subtly marbled, and – yep – bright purple.

Is it all a bit obvious? Of course. But the visuals tie in with the CD release without lazily replicating it, and the staggering quality of the noises contained therein make this my new favourite late-night listening ritual.

Caitlin Welsh

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live reviews What we've been to see...

EELS, LAURA IMBRUGLIA Enmore Theatre Saturday August 14

I tried to get to the Enmore earlier than I did, because the first act on the bill tonight was listed as “Ventriloquist”. I can only assume it was not an actual ventriloquist, but I cling to the possibility that it may have been [it totally was – ed.]. That would have been AWESOME. Promoters take note: more novelty acts before gigs. The scene would benefit from a little of the vaudeville spirit.

I’ve tried to get into Laura Imbruglia for a while now, but I just can’t do it. She’s going for the same chatty, self-deprecating sharehouse-pop angle as your Smudges and Darren Hanlons, but she can’t quite get the balance right. If you’re going for troubadour you need more coherent narratives in your songs, and if you’re going for that Hanlon-esque punchline-folk, you need to be funnier. Imbruglia eschews sophisticated structures for an easy chattiness, and the melodies aren’t quite complex enough to balance out the often cringingly conversational lyrics.

I always think of Eels frontman E’s default setting as Miserable Bastard. While last year’s Hombre Lobo had a growling blues backbone, newer offerings End Times and Tomorrow Morning are admittedly skewed more towards the Miserable side, so I did expect a slightly morose set - maybe peppered with crowd-pleasing treats from Daisies of the Galaxy and Electro-Shock Blues, but consisting mainly of recent material.

Mark Oliver Everett (E) arrives clad in white boilersuit, giant ridiculous beard, sunglasses and low-over-the-eyes bandanna, and gives us a couple of low-key numbers by himself - beginning with Daisies’ ‘Grace Kelly Blues’.

The crowd is quietly appreciative, happy with Morose E because even on his own he’s a world of sad and sweet and eloquent with that scuffed-leather voice.

Then we get the rest of the band, and the band fucking rock. They’re wearing suits and sunglasses, and ooz flawless Southern rock.

“Are you sick of winter, Sydney?” E enquires huskily. “Well, fuck winter! We’re here to blow some sunshine up your asses!” They bust into a big, filthy cover of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s ‘Summer In The City’ – bookended later in the set with a 'Summertime' that's sexed up with distortion and fuzz and E tossing icecreams into the audience from a cooler.

Even Billie Holiday’s looking down and thinking “Damn, that looks fun.”

Old favourites appear in new clothes too – ‘Mr E’s Beautiful Blues’ meshes seamlessly with ‘Twist & Shout’, which feeds into a manically fun, punked-up ‘I Like Birds’. ‘Fresh Blood’, from Hombre, drips red menace before personnel introductions erupt into a five-minute jam, sounding a bit like Grand Funk Railroad’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The new material is lovely and the show doesn’t lose too much momentum with the more downbeat interludes, but it’s the rock’n’roll that really brings the fun.

Caitlin Welsh

BASEMENT BIRDS Metro Theatre Friday August 20

FRIDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER CABINS DJ SET . PhDJ

M.I.T vs BENLUCID . FANTOMATIQUE . ANDRE 1700 . T-ROMPF

WAVVES

KING OF THE BEACH

GIVEAWAYS COURTESY OF INERTIA

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HOWL

BROTHERS IN VIOLENCE EP GIVEAWAYS COURTESY OF SHOCK

Ah, music fans. They’re a fickle bunch. While a decent-sized crowd welcomes support act Ohad Rein (aka Old Man River) onto the stage, their attention fluctuates. While they are willing to clap along to the hits from Rein’s first record, they are easily distracted during his (very promising) new songs. When you think about it, ‘fandom’ is a strange thing. Footy fans support their heroes through thick and thin, even when their idols perform below par while music fans seem to remain loyal only up to a point. And apparently this means that when musicians form supergroups, it's only the hardcore fans that turn out to see them.

This is a blessing and a curse for Basement Birds. They didn’t sell enough tickets to fill the Enmore as planned but, having moved to a smaller venue, they’re playing to a concentrated crowd of committed followers. Everybody here is a fan of Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans/ Jebediah), Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe), Steve Parkin (Autopilot) and/or Josh Pyke;

which makes for a pretty special atmosphere.

When the band open with radio hit ‘Waiting For You’, one thing is immediately obvious: the vocal interplay and harmonies are going to be the highlight this evening. It’s one thing to perfect complex vocals in the studio over several takes – but it’s quite another to do it on stage.

Yet Basement Birds manage it. Again and again and again. The rockabilly swagger of ‘Cinnamon And Smoke’ is propelled along by some impeccable chorus harmonies.

The Whiskeytown-inspired ‘Not The One’ is nailed thanks to Pyke and Mitchell’s call and response vocals. The craving lyrics in ‘Holly’ are well articulated by Temperley’s raw vocal delivery. The four-part harmonies in ‘Ghosts’ echo round the room in suitably haunting fashion.

But it’s not all plain sailing. Tickets were sold with promises of ‘surprises and special guests’, but when Temperley invites Julia Stone onto the stage, she never materialises.

In fact there are no surprise guests all night.

Perhaps to make up for it, we are treated to cover versions that range from the sublime (‘All I Want’ by Sarah Blasko) to the ridiculous (‘The One That I Want’ from Grease). Unique moments like these are what die-hard fans treasure the most, so tonight’s audience savours every note.

If this does turn out to be “the first ever and last ever Basement Birds show in Sydney” (as Mitchell speculates), then at least the musicians gave their devotees something to remember.

Andy McLean

ART VS SCIENCE, TIM & JEAN, JINJA SAFARI Metro Theatre Saturday August 21

Jinja Safari win the hearts of the swelling crowd instantly, with a high-energy set boasting frenetic bongos and the boys ricocheting across the stage like beach balls.

Their enthusiasm is contagious, and there are crowd clap-alongs before we even reach 9pm. A pretty cracking start to the night. Tim & Jean follow, with an earnest and enjoyable performance - but for the most part remain hunched over keyboards (why are they always so low?), thrashing their dishevelled manes in dreary unison. After the antics of Safari this feels a bit flat, but they finish on a high with their synth-tastic single ‘Come Around’. And all of a sudden it's headliner time...

Skinny jeans? Tick. Infectious dance beats?

Tick. Random but catchy lyrics? Tick. Girlsjust-wanna-have-fun attitude? Tick. Inflatable penguin? Biiiiig tick. Art vs Science give the people what they want, but quite apart from being sooo Gen Y right now, there’s a great deal of unexpected substance to their live act. For a start it’s 100% live, and in an increasingly laptop dominated dance scene that’s both refreshing and commendable. And despite the skinny jeans and ties, the boys know how to make a fat sound, setting a deliciously heavy tone early on that’s driven by deep chunky synths and powerhouse drumming from Dan W. “It’s good to be home!” roars Dan Mac at the start of the set, and all present go predictably ballistic. There’s nothing so satisfying as being the home crowd. Art vs Science make up for a relatively small repertoire by demonstrating a level of showmanship beyond their years; they go that bit further to make the night memorable. Mac disappears off stage mid-song, for instance, only to reappear amongst the audience, laying a high-five on a neighbouring fan and then delivering an absolutely face-melting guitar solo.

Against the backdrop of a no-expensesspared laser show, the trio unpack all their big hits in style - including a savage new track, ‘Higher’, and the ‘Boom (Shake The Room)’ cover which first surfaced at Splendour (and went down a treat there too). The night ended with their breakthrough hit ‘Flippers’, during which the customary inflatable penguin emerged on stage and found its way into the crowd (at which point Dan Mac sheepishly requested we throw it back please. Heaps rockstar.) The set was one big party, and in the amplified words of the band, “We don’t want it to end!”

Jordan Smith

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The Minor Chord The All Ages rant bought to you by Indent.net.au. By Melody Forghani

Mannequins

INDENT GRANTS APPLICATIONS OPEN

It’s that time of year again to apply for Indent’s Partnership Grants for 2011!

We’ve made a few changes this time round, but the main idea stays the sameall ages drug and alcohol free music events, run by young people for young people. The beauty of Indent-funded events is that no one event is the same - what better way to reflect the diversity of events staged through Indent than to create a grants program that can best support and sustain them?

The Grassroots Grants are similar to the Partnership Grants of old – they are set at $2,500 and are for entry level, small-scale local events. On the other hand, The Event Development Grants are set at $5,000 and are geared towards the larger events in the Indent spectrum – regional events, youth stages at bigger festivals, and events that tie in a range of communities and community aspects. The only catch is that you must have held a Grassroots Grant (or 2010 Partnership Grant) to be able to apply for an Event Development Grant – walk before you run!

Applications must be received (or postmarked) by Thursday 5pm, November 5 2010. They will be assessed late November and successful applicants notified on December 6.

Head to the Indent website to read up on the guidelines, download your application and away you go! If you have any questions you can get in contact with Meg, Indent’s Partnership Grants Manager at meg@musicnsw.com, or by calling the Indent office on (02) 9281 1600.

RED BULL BEDROOM JAM

For most great musicians, it all starts in the bedroom - where belting out tunes into hairbrushes and practicing your guitar face in the mirror seemed completely normal, where your first sold out show was imagined and where your dreams were, well, dreamed. Cliché or not, that’s just the way it is. The team at Red Bull Bedroom Jam aren’t denying it either and are in fact encouraging you to do just that: play music in your bedroom

ALL AGES GIG PICKS SEPTEMBER 3 – 8 Yarn Australian Institute of Music

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5 Generationext Museum of Contemporary Art

for the chance to win a recording trip to LA worth over $80,000! The competition goes a little something like this: young musicians aged between 14-19 submit a video of their band performing one of their songs, then the cream of the artists who enter get the chance to stream a live performance from their bedroom to the world and go on to play a Backyard Jam with a massive Aussie band.

The competition doesn’t end there – an industry panel will then choose a final winner based on their song recordings, social network presence and popularity, and live performances at Bedroom Jam live webcasts and the Bedroom To Backyard Jam gig. The final winner will get a trip to record at Red Bull’s studios in LA, where Anthrax, NaS, Erykah Badu and Jamie Foxx have all recorded in the past. The sound engineer looking after the winning band will be Eric Stenman whose credits include Dashboard Confessional, Saves The Day, hellogoodbye, and Good Charlotte. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Head to www.indent. net.au for full details.

AIM MUSIC THEATRE SHOWCASE

The Australian Institute of Music (AIM) is building up to be one of Australia’s finest music schools, and they can prove it. This September they will be showcasing their annual music theatre production event with a series of shows, titled Yarn. The production combines five Australian musicals - ‘The Silver Donkey’, ‘Someone’s Son’, ‘Hash Honey’, ‘The Virgin Wars’ and ‘Love Bites’ - to bring you an exploration of Aussie storytelling with original scores and performances by students studying the Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre. Entry to the performances is FREE; however bookings are essential for each show.

Bookings can be made through calling AIM on (02) 9219 5444 or via events@ aim.edu.au by Friday September 3.

GENERATIONEXT @ MCA Get ready for the spring edition of Generationext this September 5 at the Museum of Contemporary Art - a night of art, live music and food, with no teachers and no parents. If you haven’t already been to one of these events, then you really are missing out. Generationext is all about delivering contemporary art and local music, in a way that’s designed to interest and challenge your minds.

Set out on four floors, there is much to discover and with emerging musical delights Mannequins bringing you a spectacular live set and food guaranteed, it’ll be a great way to end the weekend.

Are you interested in becoming a Generationext Youth Committee member?

Generationext are always looking to recruit new members so go ahead and send in an application form available from www.mca.com.au.

As always, tune in to FBi 94.5fm every Wednesday from 5pm to hear more from The Minor Chord.

Send pics, listings and any info to minorchords@thebrag.com 46 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

Remedy More than The Cure since 1989 with Murray Engleheart

Mogwai

SUNN O))) CURATE ROADBURN

It’s been announced that Sunn O))) - Greg Anderson (who doubles as boss of the Southern Lord label) and Stephen O’Malley - are curating the 2011 Roadburn festival, which in our ever shrinking world is pretty damn exciting. It means that they’ll not only be playing a special performance at the event but are picking the other performers.

We’re not expecting them to ask The Darkness to reform or to call on Warrant, The Vines or Powderfinger. No, we’re hoping for maybe Godflesh to get back together for the event, or maybe a special appearance by The Swans running right through a full album and right over the top of the audience, or Glenn Branca with a 50 strong guitar army all feedbacking as one - or even our own Slugfuckers. Roadburn, by the way, runs from 14 to 16 April in Tilburg, Holland: www.roadburn.com

NEW JIMMY PAGE BOOK

There’s a book coming out in September on Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page that’s been carefully overseen by the man himself. It’s called Zoso and, like most artistic type products these days, it ain’t no normal tome. We’re talking a special limited run of “a leather- and perspex[???!!!] bound book with its own silk and leather slip case”, signed by Mr Page himself.

All 350 copies of that version have already been snapped up for a mere 445 pounds a pop - which we calculate is about what, $1000? Plus postage? …Humans, eh? There are lesser versions for the peasants, but they’re limited to 2500 copies.

THE LOST SHEPHARD

There was a time when Ben Shepherd, the bass beast from Soundgarden, was

the go-to guy when specialised assistance was required for underground mining exploration… The guy was notorious for blowing up even the biggest bass rigs. Yet while there’s a Soundgarden box on the way from the reunited band, the poor guy has reportedly been of no fixed address, broke and battling all manner of personal hells over the past few years. Rock seems so cool and romantic when the artists are at the top of the heap, but it’s the long fall down that does the damage.

MOGWAI

A new Mogwai slab is always something to smile and yell happily about, but Special Moves - an eleven track live effort that’s a virtual best-of affair - plus an accompanying DVD called Burning is really worth creating a civil disturbance for. The two aren’t a mirror of each other track-wise, but were drawn from a three-night residency at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg in early 2009. The pretty stuff is there, but so too of course is their sonic tsunami side, which we’re more than slightly partial to - with ‘Like Herod’, ‘Mogwai Fear Satan’ and a monstrous ‘Glasgow MegaSnake’. It’s out now. Go get.

BORIS’ VARIATIONS

It must be Boris season, and we’re doing anything but complaining. Our Japanese heroes have done an EP with, of all folks, The Cult’s Ian Astbury, which includes a version The Cult’s ‘Rain’. Who’d ever have thunk it, eh? But we ain’t judging, we’re sure that the Borisisters know what they’re doing - and we should just trust them. There’s also a Boris release called Variations, which is a best-of that also includes B-side ‘Floor Shaker’, along with five songs that've been specially redone for the project.

ON THE TURNTABLE On the Remedy turntable is The Sword’s newie Warp Riders, which has been blowing our pants clean off. Get a head-full of this and you’ll soon be haggling like crazy to swap tickets with someone who’s going to see Metallica the night these guys are opening. If there’s such a thing as conceptual stoner rock this is it, and while we always figured that those two terms were mutually exclusive (and one just plain nauseating…), we now have to say that we’d be wrong. It happens. Also spinning is Albert Ayler’s The Bells (the great man must have gotten migraines playing stuff as gruelling as this), and Cream’s Goodbye Cream. At maybe 30 minutes long in total, it’s way too short - but much too great at the same time.

TOUR AND INDUSTRY NEWS We’re going to start writing this whole column about festivals at this rate. The latest is No Sleep Til, which comes our way in December. The bill is lead by Megadeth who’ll be doing the Rust In Peace slab in its entirety, plus NOFX, The Dropkick Murphys, Parkway Drive, The Descendents, GWAR (they’re still around? huh…), Alkaline Trio, Frenzal Rhomb, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes and stacks more. It’s all happening on December 18 in the Entertainment Quarter, Hordern Pavilion and surrounding area. Tickets on sale midday September 9: www.nosleeptil.com.au With the Kuepper/Bailey reunion behind him, Saints, Laughing Clowns and Bad Seeds guitarist Ed Kuepper returns later this year for three intimate shows.

On November 11 he’s at The Vanguard,

November 12 at Lizottes in Newcastle and November 13 at Lizottes on the Central Coast. With performances of over 90 minutes, no support act and with an interval, Kuepper and co will be drawing on material from across the K man’s extensive catalogue, as well as debuting some soon-to-be-recorded new material.

The bill for the 20th Meredith Festival on the Nolan Farm in Meredith, Victoria from December 10 to 12 has been announced, and includes Dirty Three, The Reverend Horton Heat, Hoss and The Fall. Tickets are on sale September 7 at select stores, and then September 9 online at www.mmf.com.au.

The Celibate Rifles, Grand Fatal and Molten Universe are at the Sando in Newtown on September 24.

Send stuff for this column to remedy@ozemail.com.au by 6pm Wednesdays. All pics to art@thebrag please. www.myspace.com/remedy4rock BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 47

snap sn ap

bedroom philosopher

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up all night out all week . . .

pvt

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20:08:10 :: The Factory :: 105 Victoria Road Enmore 95503666

19:08:10 :: Spectrum :: 34 Oxford St Darlinghurst 93316245

party profile

hot damn

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21:08:10 :: Manning Bar :: L2 Manning House Sydney Uni 95636100

The Checks – Album Launch

It’s called: The Checks’ ‘Alice By The Moon’ album launch, the Kids At Risk remix EP launch & Convaire single launch (3 launches and only one cab fare now that’s value!)

It sounds like: ADHD rock, indie, electro-pop What to expect: Kids At Risk hop onstage with Convaire for one of the tracks off their remix EP. Rock meets electro-pop? You want to see this.

The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Having supported acts like AC/DC & Oasis, The Checks visit from their native NZ to show us their brand of psych-rock.

Kids At Risk have been busy recording the soundtrack for upcoming film Griff The Invisible so it’s their first gig in a while. And Convaire just won Triple J’s Unearthed comp to play Parklife 2010. So, basically, the line-up is ten million shades of awesome.

Crowd specs: Maybe some Kiwis, but hopefully just normal people.

Wallet damage: $10 on the door Where: Spectrum – Oxford St, Darlinghurst

19:08:10 :: Enmore Theatre :: 130 Enmore Rd Newtown 95503666 48 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

belles will ring 19:08:10 :: Melt :: 12 Kellett St Kings Cross 93806060

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bliss n eso

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When: Wednesday, September 1 from 8pm

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macquarie hotel

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up all night out all week . . .

club blink

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26:08:10 :: Macquarie Hotel :: 42 Wentworth Ave Surry Hills 82628888

20:08:10 :: Agincourt Hotel :: 871 George St City 92814566

It’s called: Manning Turns Ten! It sounds like: A rollickin’ 10th birthday party with balloons & cake & you’ve just discovered music & all of your favourite bands happen to be playing!

DJs/live acts playing: Cloud Control, The Jezabels, Richard In Your Mind & Guineafowl Sell it to us: $5 could get you a small Subway meatball sandwich (no cookie though), a stapler (no staples though), a 2L bottle of mineral water (no bubbles though)… Or a ticket to see Cloud Control, The Jezabels, Richard In Your Mind and Guineafowl! Woah! Even if you’re not a USyd student $15 is still pretty awesome!

The bit we’ll remember in the AM: The cake and balloons in all your photos.

Crowd specs: Music lovers, party lovers, current uni students, ex-uni students, anyone else & absolutely everybody!

Wallet damage: Presales: $5 Access / $15 everyone else. (More on the door…)

Where: Manning Bar When: Friday September 3 from 7pm

mum

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19:08:10 :: Beach Road Hotel :: 71 Beach Road Bondi 91307247

party profile

beach road hotel

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Manning Turns Ten!

trash

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20:08:10 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700

21:08:10 :: Agincourt Hotel :: 871 George St City 92814566 50 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

) :: ASHLEY S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER KA :: ANDREW VIDLER BAS A MAJ :: NA HAN ROU E ROSETT

MAR ::

presents presents...

TUE CULT SINEMA 31st August 7:30pm

$5 suggested donation

WED

JAGER UPRISING

1st September 7:30pm

w. Thin Air + The Written Crusade + Belle Curve + Castlecomer $8 @ door

THU 2nd September 8pm

CHASE THE SUN w. Fisher King + Hussy Hicks $12 + bf

FRI 3rd September 8pm

TONE DEFEAT featuring SIMON CARTER (ex The Cops) + Ranger Spacey + Montpelier (QLD) + Mothers of Bastards + Shiny Brights (SA) + Daniel Lee Kendall ONLY $12 door

SAT 4th September Early Doors 5.30pm

STONE PARADE Single Launch w. The Affairs + Static Silhouettes + Alphabet Cities The Dead Heads + Red Wall Fan Come down early for some dinner at WokĘźnĘźRoll. Book a table now! $10 door

SUN 5th September 11am - 4pm

SPOIL YOUR FATHER THIS FATHERS DAY with PUB CHA *Yum Cha with a Twist*in our beer garden

3!4 35. AM PM "OOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL ON

COMING UP: CALLING ALL CARS | THE MESS HALL | CANCER BATS LORD | HELLMEN | THOUSAND NEEDLES IN RED | SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL RAISE THE CRAZY | ELECTRIC MARY | DAN KELLY | JONNEINE ZAPATA

0ARRAMATTA 2D !NNANDALE &ULL LIST OF UPCOMING SHOWS INFORMATION AND SHOW BOOKINGS VISIT

WWW ANNANDALEHOTEL COM

YOUR LIVE MUSIC CHANNEL

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 51

small bars guide Smaller Than Your Average Hordern Pavilion...

Is There A Bar We Should Know About? Email listings@thebrag.com

Cafe Lounge

brag

bar

EK

OF

with comfort, anachronism TH E E W and eclecticism…

Six years ago it was impossible to get a great meal, a cocktail, a nice coffee, art and music while feeling like a part of the creative community. Then Raise The Bar launched their website at Lounge, to raise public awareness about the lack of decent drinking holes in Sydney - two years later, the small bar revolution was born!

LOCATION LOCATION The Lounge has chosen to settle at the corner of Crown and Goulburn Street in Surry Hills, in the basement of what was once an old style pub in the 70’s, a gay leather club in the 80’s, & a bohemian café in the 90’s. That sets up the mood for this indoor/ outdoor space, tucked away behind its famous side street door. Café Lounge is a lady; beautiful, private and surreal.

She wouldn’t live anywhere else.

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS We wanted to have a space that would be like your own living room or courtyard, only more colourful. No architect, no designer, we made it ourselves - and it’s still evolving. But remember: no place looks good enough to sound bad.

277 Goulburn Street, Darlinghurst THE HOSTS We are Cedric Sarret and Adrian Taylor – and we’ve been piloting the Lounge for six years now, Cedric at the bar and Adrian in the kitchen. Adrian arrived from Byron Bay after many years of experience in diverse kitchens, while Cedric came from a background in the music industry as a DJ, party promoter and tour manager. Our love for music, good food and drinks settled the deal, and we’ve been working since on developing a world we can be proud of with the help of an A list staff.

THE PITCH The Lounge is about comfort, casual time with friends, great food, nice drinks, live music, DJs and parties… Over the six years, a great community has built up made up of artists who exhibit at the Lounge, DJs and live musicians who play there, fashion and creative types who support the arts, and all of their friends. It’s warm, feels good and the buzz comes from deep down – and then you try the thin crust pizzas, our signature cocktails and relax in the sofa… You’re in, no attitude, and we’re thongsfriendly.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Café Lounge is synonymous

THE MENU Our signature drink is El Che, a cigar-infused Bourbon mixed with coffee, coconut and pineapple. If it sounds like a banana republic to you, you’re right! Café Lounge infuses spirits and re-interprets classic cocktails according to the season or the mood. Our thincrust pizzas are world famous, with the menu developed so that everything can be shared amongst friends. Check out the mixed plate with saucisson (French dried sausage) and homemade rabbit terrine.

HINDSIGHT In order to provide DJs and live music, we’ve had to learn how to respect our community. I guess we found an equilibrium that’s fun enough for everyone while not infringing on our neighbours’ comfort.

brag cocktail of the week: Pour it in your mouth-hole... (responsibly).

The Floating Lotus @ Tone 16 Wentworth Ave Surry Hills NSW 2010 best drunk with: gourmet pizza during: the witching hour while wearing: Converse shoes and listening to: future beats.

52 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

Ingredients: 60ml sake 15ml Tanqueray gin 60ml ruby red grapefruit juice 3 lychees 2 tsp of lychee juice 2 or 3 slices of ginger 1 Kaffir lime leaf Method: Muddle ginger with Kaffir lime leaf & sugar; add lychees and muddle. Add spirits and juice, shake, strain and serve Glass: Chilled Martini Garnish: Float a lime leaf with sliced lychee on top.

THE BRAG’S GUIDE TO SYDNEY’S BEST NOOKS SYDNEY CITY Alira Shop 120, 26 -32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont Wednesdays: $25 Paella & Glass of Wine Ash St Cellar 1 Ash St, Sydney CBD Balcony Bar 46 Erskine St, Sydney CBD Firefly 17 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay GoodGod Small Club / Jimmy Sing’s 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney The Grasshopper Bar & Café Temperance Lane, Sydney CBD Number One Wine Bar 1 Alfred St, Circular Quay, Sydney Small Bar 48 Erskine Street, Sydney CBD Monday – Thursday 12pm – 3pm: Any main meal, with glass of wine or beer for $20 Verandah Bar 55 – 65 Elizabeth St, Sydney CBD Tuesdays 12pm – 9pm: $9 Schnitzel

INNER WEST Berkelouw Wine Bar 70 Norton Street, Leichhardt Friday 3pm – 8pm: 2 for 1 sparkling wine Bloodwood 416 King St, Newtown Corridor 153a King Street, Newtown Monday – Friday, 5-7pm: $9 Mojitos Wednesday Mexican Night - $12 for a bowl of soup, crispy turkish bread and a glass of red wine.

Different Drummer 185 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe Daily, 6 – 7:30pm: Cocktail Happy ‘Hour and a Half’ The Hive Bar 93 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville Monday - Thursday: Any pizza with a free glass of wine or E’ville Pilsner, $12 Kuleto’s 157 King Street, Newtown Saturday 6-7pm: Happy Hour (2 for 1 Cocktails) Madame Fling Flong Level 1, 169 King St, Newtown Tuesday: Movie Deal - $20 for Mezze plate for one and a glass of wine/beer Soni’s 169 King St, Newtown

INNER EAST Absinth Salon 87 Albion St, Surry Hills Boteco 421 Cleveland St, Surry Hills Café Lounge 277 Goulburn Street, Darlinghurst Tuesdays, 6:30pm: Sin-e with live music, $5.50 champagne cocktails, free entry Ching-A-Lings 133 Oxford St, Surry Hills The Commons 32 Burton St, Darlinghurst Jazz Thursdays, from 8pm Doctor Pong 1a Burton Street, Darlinghurst Sundays: Doctor Pong’s Grand Royal Roast, $19 with DJs, mulled wine and fire place Eau de Vie 229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst Thursdays, 8pm: Jazz, free entry El Rocco @ Bar Me 154 Brougham St, King’s Cross The Falconer 31 Oxford St, Surry Hills Fringe Bar 106 Oxford St, Paddington Tuesdays, 7:15pm: Trivia Thursdays 6-9pm: All you can eat pizza Thursdays 9-11pm: $8 cocktails Fringe Bar 106 Oxford St, Paddington Sundays, from 4pm: Lounge Olympics - exhibit your athletic prowess with favourites such as table tennis, foosball, giant Jenga,

UNO & Connect Four.

The Gazebo 2 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Potts Point Iguana Bar 13-15 Kellett St, King’s Cross The Local Taphouse 122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst Low 302 302 Crown St, Surry Hills Name This Bar 197 Oxford St, Paddington Happy Hour Every Day 4pm – 7pm: $4 Tap Beers, $5 Dumpling Boxes, $6 Mojoitos The Passage 231a Victoria St, Darlinghurst Piano Room Cnr Darlinghurst & King’s Cross Rd, King’s Cross Pocket Bar 13 Burton St, Darlinghurst Mondays: ‘Pocket Change’ - $10 Crepes Shady Pines 256 Crown St, Darlinghurst Solas Bar 557 Crown St, Surry Hills Stanley Street Station 85a Stanley St, Darlinghurst Sunday – Thursday 5pm-7pm: Early-bird dinner, two courses for $26 (excluding pork belly & New Yorker) Supper Club @ Will & Toby’s 134 Oxford St, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst Toko 490 Crown St, Surry Hills Tone 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills Velluto 7 / 50 Macleay Street, Potts Point Saturday & Sunday, 2-5pm: High Tea The Winery 285a Crown St, Surry Hills Yulli’s 417 Crown St, Surry Hills

EAST Bondi Social 262 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction Cream Tangerine Swiss Grand, Campbell Parade, Bondi Mocean 34A Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach Ravesi’s Corner of Campbell Pde & Hall St, Bondi Beach Thursday - Friday : 6pm - Late Saturday: 3pm - Late Sunday: 2pm - Late Until August 31st: Winter Magic Specials, 2 Course Menu - $26 The Rum Diaries 288 Bondi Road, Bondi Mondays: Live acoustic sets, $5 house wine, $5 Coopers, $5 wedges Speakeasy Bar 83 Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach Until October 20: ‘The Speaker’s Table’ is a desk harbouring the works of writers. Anyone can leave their short written work in the desk for others to discover.

White Revolver Cnr of Curlewis & Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach

NORTH Firefly Lodge Lane Cove 24 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove Firefly Neutral 24 Young St, Neutral Bay Miss Marley’s Tequila Bar 32 Belgrave St, Manly Small Bar 85 Willoughby Rd, North Sydney The Winery 8-13 South Steyne, Manly

Your bar’s not here?

We’ve missed something?

Email us! listings@thebrag.com

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 53

Presented by

Gig Guide

send your listings to: gigguide@thebrag.com

pick of the week

They Call Me Bruce Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney free 9.30pm

JAZZ

Cloud Control

The Alco Hotlicks, Prophets 505 Club, Surry Hills $8–$10 8.30pm Delilah, The Bob Gebert Trio Goldfish, Kings Cross free 9pm Mark Costa The Basement, Circular Quay $20 9pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 5pm

ACOUSTIC/FOLK

Tuesday Night Live: Tony Gibson, Matt Heath, Sye Mcritchie Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach free 8pm

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1 ROCK & POP

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3

Manning Turns Ten @ Verge Festival Cloud Control, The Jezabels, Richard in Your Mind, Guineafowl Manning Bar, Sydney University, Camperdown 7pm $5 (Access) – $15 MONDAY AUGUST 30 ROCK & POP

Bort & The Trobes, Yolanda Thomas & The Stolen Boys, 30Three, Last Cavalry Scruffy Murphies free 8pm Gary Johns Novotel Homebush, Homebush Bay free 4pm Nicky Kurta Opera Bar free 8.30pm Sarah Paton The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Songwriter Sessions Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills free 7.30pm Unherd Open Mic: Derkajam, Arnold Luichareonkit, Hard As Nails, Hey Maverick Sandringham Hotel free 8pm Wellsy’s Music Club Northern Star Hotel, Hamilton 8pm

Olivia Pipitone Town Hall Hotel, Newtown free 7pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Camden Valley Country Music Club Hope Christian School, Narellan 7pm Songsalive!: Henderson Road Society Club, Sam Newton, Chelsea Gibson, Salome CerdaVargas, Willow Jones, Matt Gerber, Lauren Augarten, Russell Neal, Helmut Uhlmann Kellys On King, Newtown free 7pm Songsalive!: Roger Corbett, Amanda O’Bryan, Lisalive, Jimmy, Tahni Devine, Under The Purple Tree Springwood Sports Club free 7pm

TUESDAY AUGUST 31 ROCK & POP

JAZZ

Dilworth Organ Trio 505 Club, Surry Hills $10 8.30pm John Hill Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm

The Amity Affliction Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West $23.50 7pm

Andy Mammers, Mandi Jarry Dee Why Hotel free 8.30pm Ash Grunwald, Ray Mann Three Roundhouse, Kensington Kensington $5 (student)–$20 7pm Buried in Verona, Safe Hands, Vanstorm Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West free 8pm Dan Lawrence The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Dave White Duo Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney free 9.30pm Deep Sea Arcade, WIM, Sleepyhands, Martin Doyle Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $5 8pm Godswounds, Grun, Lumiere, Fabulous Contraption Sandringham Hotel, Newtown 8pm Goodnight Dynamite O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 9.30pm Jager Uprising: Thin Air, The Written Crusade, The Belle Curve, Castlecomer Annandale Hotel $8 7.30pm Junk, Raprager, Bears with Guns, Kids Of Yesterday Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 8pm Katie Carr, Daniel Bruce Raval, Surry Hills free 8pm

Live n Local: Kirsty Larkin, Sam Buckingham, Rhys Zacher, The Chestnuts Lizotte’s Restaurant, Lambton $13.50 8pm Nicky Kurta Marlborough Hotel, Newtown free 7.30pm Paradise City: Ronnie Rocker, El Mariachi Q Bar, Darlinghurst $5 9pm Powderfinger, The Vines, The Ghost Hotel Newcastle Entertainment Centre & Showground $95.75 (sold out) 7.30pm Sideshow: MTV/LG Unsigned Finalist Showcase - Amy Meredith and ME (Melb) Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach free 8pm Sophie Hanlon Brass Monkey, Cronulla free 8pm The Checks (NZ), Kids At Risk, Convaire Spectrum, Darlinghurst $10 8pm The Study: Huntings, Valar, John Vella Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills free 7pm Verge Festival Housewarming: Jonathan Boulet, Fishing Verge Festival Tent, Sydney University free 7pm YourSpace: Cinder Cut, Victa, Monannlisa Wilde, R.J. Chops, Double Crosses, Mark Passlow, Eve Goonan Town Hall Hotel, Newtown free 7pm

JAZZ

Darryl Beaton Band Civic Underground, Sydney free 9pm Bernie Segedin Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm John Redmond Trio The Manhattan Lounge, Sydney free 7pm Soundgun 505 Club, Surry Hills $10 9pm

ACOUSTIC/FOLK

Anne Kirkpatrick The Vanguard, Newtown $20 (+ bf)–$23 (at door) 6.30pm Jess Chalker, Ben Fletcher The View Factory, Newcastle free 7pm Magnetic Heads, The Falls Hotel Hollywood, Surry Hills free 8pm Songsalive!: Matthew James, Men With Day Jobs, Russell Neal and guests Harbourview Hotel, the Rocks free

Powderfinger

Chris Klondike Masuak & The North Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm DBC Pierre Literary Event: Gareth Liddiard Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $20 7pm Doobias, Pax Koan, 30Three Peachtree Hotel Penrith free 9pm Lambton High School Talent Show Lizotte’s Restaurant, Kincumber $10 7pm Local Legends Jam Sessions The Valve, Tempe free 8pm Mick & Josh Northern Star Hotel, Hamilton 8pm Mr Percival Raval, Surry Hills $20 (+ bf) 8pm Open Mic Night: Tom Lawson Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle free 7pm Rob Eastwood Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm Rob Henry The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Sin-e: Lanie Lane Cafe Lounge, Surry Hills free 6.30pm Steve Tonge O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 9.30pm

“I am into friendship and plain sailing through frenzied ports of call” - ROXY MUSIC 54 :: BRAG :: 377 : 30:08:10

Presented by Pres

Gig Guide

send your listings to: gigguide@thebrag.com Songsalive!: TAOS and guests Coach & Horses Hotel, Randwick free 7pm

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2 ROCK & POP

Amelia Cormack, Amanda Bloom, Matt Glass The Vanguard, Newtown 8pm Angus & Julia Stone, Luluc Uni Bar, Wollongong University, $47.50 (student)–$52.50 8pm Best of Songwriter Sessions: Danny Ross, Burning Violet Bridges, Tamara & James, David Mark The Basement, Circular Quay $15 (+ bf)–$17 (at door) 9pm Chase The Sun, Fisher King, Hussy Hicks Annandale Hotel $12 (+ bf) 8pm Dangerous Dames, Nina Stamell, Bridie O’Brien, Lilac Raval, Surry Hills free 8pm Dead Letter Circus, Black Devil Yard Boss, Evening Son Newcastle Leagues Club, Newcastle West $23.50 8pm Death Before Dishonor (USA), Against, Restless, The Hollow, Taken By Force Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West $20 (+ bf) 8pm Disco Nap, Cameras, The Villainares Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 G3 Marble Bar, Sydney free 8.30pm Hot Damn!: Buried in Verona, Vanstorm, The Caulfields, Azlock pectrum, Darlinghurst $10–$12 8pm John Butler Trio, Blue King Brown WIN Entertainment Centre,

Wollongong $70–$70.50 7pm Klaxons (UK), Parades Enmore Theatre $61.60 (+ bf) 8pm Kobra Kai, Royalston, Boot & Sook, Linken & Vertigo, Tony Why vs Toddy Trix Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills $10 7pm Seattle Sound Selina’s, Coogee Bay Hotel free 8pm White Bros New Brighton Hotel, Manly free 10pm - late Wollongong Wail Band Comp City Diggers, Wollongong free 8pm Wormwood: Live: Whipped Cream Chargers, Strangers, Pregnancy, DJs: Jack Shit, Catinabox, Art: Punk Monk Propaganda, The Bang Bang Twins, Creon & Edgar J Hooves (live mural), Charlotte (poetry) The Loft, UTS, Ultimo free 6pm Xiu Xiu (USA), High Places Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $35 (+ bf) 8pm

JAZZ

Bondi Blues Jam: Greg Nunan BB’s - Bar Bondi, Bondi Beach free 8pm Colbourne Ave: Greg Coffin Trio Cafe Church, Glebe $10–$20 7pm Lionel Robinson Dee Why RSL Club free 7pm Lulo Reinhardt Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Muso’s Club Jam Night: Jim Finn, Al Britton Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill free 8pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 5.30pm Sonido 505 Club, Surry Hills $15–$20 8.30pm Steve Edmonds Band Amber Ale Hotel, Annandale free

Sydney Sound Big Band Rockdale RSL Club free 7.30pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Bacon & Cabbage, TeeJay Cock ‘n’ Bull Tavern, Bondi Junction free 9pm Bukhu, Vilardo & Quaglia The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre, Chippendale $25 (conc)– $28 (adult) 8pm Songsalive!: Andrew Denniston + guests Pittwater RSL, Mona Vale free 7.30pm Songsalive!: Matthew James, Selftort, Helmut Uhlmann, Carolyn Crysdale + guests Penshurst RSL free 12pm Songsalive!: Under The Purple Tree and guests Henry Lawson Club, Werrington County free 7.30pm SSA Concert: Gav Fitzgerald & Peter Thompson, Paul McGowan, Nick Punal, Billy Sunday, Pat O’Grady, TAOS Newtown RSL free 7pm

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3 ROCK & POP

1927, Dale Ryder, Scott Carne, Paul Gray Enmore Theatre 8pm $85 89 Ebley, Video8, Spectacles, The Fires Cock and Bull Hotel, Bondi Junction free 7pm A-Live Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club, Bondi Junction 4.30pm free AM 2 PM Celebrity Room, Blacktown RSL Club 8pm free

TUE 31 AUG

wed

01 Sept

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

Death Before Dishonor An Infinity Room Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium of Music 8pm $20–$12 (conc) Barnstorming Hawkesbury Hotel, Windsor 7.45pm free Benn Gunn East Hills Hotel 7pm free Big Radio Dynamite Mounties, Mount Pritchard 9pm free Big Whoop: The Creepers, Hollo Panda Melt Bar, Kings Cross 11.30pm $10 Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen Tribute Notes Live, Enmore 7pm $17.85 (presale) Brazillian Brothers Iron Horse Inn, Cardiff 6.30pm free Brown Sugar Marble Bar, Sydney 9.30pm free Chicks Who Love Guns, Reptiles, Myth & Tropics Melt Bar, Kings Cross 8.30pm $10

MUSIC TRIVIA ft MC JAKE GRIGG

Sept

WED 01 SEP

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

fri

03

THU 02 SEP

Sept

(5:00PM - 8:00PM)

(9:15PM - 1:00AM)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

sat

Sept

FREE ENTRY

THE STUDY presents

02

FRI 03 SEP

FREE ENTRY

ROCK-STEIN

thu

04

Daemon Foetal Harvest, Alice Through The Windshield Glass, Infernal Reign, Putrefaction Caringbah Bizzo’s 8pm $10 David McCormack & The Polaroids, The Bakelite Age, Dunhill Blues Sandringham Hotel, Newtown 8pm Dead Letter Circus, Black Devil Yard Boss, Evening Son Metro Theatre, Sydney 8pm $30.60 (presale) Death Before Dishonor (USA), Against, Restless, Phantoms Live at the Wall, Leichhardt 8pm $20 (+ bf) Dirty Love MJ Finnegan’s Irish Pub, Newcastle 10.30pm free Every Breath You Take - A Tribute to Sting & The Police: Bernie Segedin, Randall Waller, Floyd Vincent, Paul Wheeler, Steve Bull, Michael Rohaek, Nick Meredith The Basement, Circular Quay 9pm $25 (+ bf)–$28 (at door)

HUNTINGS + VALAR + JOHN VELLA DUO

KOBRA KAI + ROYALSTON + THE ABYSS + LINKEN & VERTIGO

HORRORSHOW + SETH SENTRY + LOOSE CHANGE

sun

SATURDAY NIGHT

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

05 Sept

SUNDAY NIGHT

SAT 04 SEP

IN SEARCH OF SUNRISE

RICHARD DURAND + JONAS STENBERG + NATHAN CRYPTIC v TRENT MCDERMOTT + ROSSCO + ALEX PANIK v PATO DE GOMAH + MORE

(8:30PM - 12:00AM)

COMING SOON FRI 10 SEP

TRASHED MILF

SAT 11 AUG

THE WONDER YEARS

THU 16 SEP

OH, SLEEPER

WWW.THEGAELIC.COM EVENT EVENT &&FUNCTION FUNCTIONBOOKINGS: BOOKINGS: clayton@selectmusic.com.au danielle@thegaelic.com BAND BANDBOOKINGS: BOOKINGS:clayton@selectmusic.com.au clayton@selectmusic.com.au

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 55

Presented by

Gig Guide

send your listings to: gigguide@thebrag.com Galleri, Tom Lawson, Dom Lowe The View Factory, Newcastle 7pm free Ghostwood, New Navy, The Pink Fangs, Jenny Broke The Window The Grand Hotel, Wollongong 8pm $12 Granite Revolution Fire Station Hotel, Wallsend 8.30pm free Halal, How Are You?, Yes I’m Leaving Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst 8pm free Highway To Hell Engadine Tavern 9.30pm free Hot Gossip Warners Bay Hotel 9pm free Hue Williams Avalon Beach RSL Club Auditorium 8.30pm free In Pieces Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL 10pm free John Butler Trio, Blue King Brown Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park 7pm $70–$70.50 Kieran Glasgow Chatswood RSL Club 5pm free King Tide Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm LA Guns (USA), Hell City Glamours, The Ride Ons The Forum Theatre, Moore Park 8pm $47 (+ bf) Lj Mill Hill Hotel, Bondi Junction 8.30pm free Manning Turns 10!: Cloud Control, The Jezabels, Richard in Your Mind, Guineafowl Manning Bar, Sydney University, Camperdown 7pm $5 (student)–$10 Matt Bourne Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club, Bondi Junction 5.30pm free Mick Buckley Padstow RSL Club 8pm free Millennium Bug Campbelltown Catholic Club 9pm free MUM: Live: Khancoban , Me , The Love Parade, Arc Archer, Sendfire, Bonfire Nights, Post Paint, DJs:, Walkie Talkie, Animal Chin, Nic Yorke, Jack Shit, Alvin , Banshee, Sammy K, Wet Lungs, 16 Tacos, 10th Avenue The World Bar, Kings Cross 8pm $10 (guestlist)–$15 Murray Byfield Docks Hotel, Darling Harbour 7.30pm free Ninetynine (Melbourne), Machine Machine, Mere Women Red Rattler, Marrickville $10 8pm Pink Chevys St Marys Leagues Club 9pm free Purple Sneakers: Cabins DJ Set, BenLucid vs M.I.T, Fantomatique,

Andre 1700, Josh Kelly Gladstone Hotel, Chippendale 7pm free–$12 Real Deal Mattara Hotel, Newcastle 8pm free Rolling Stoned Towradgi Beach Hotel 8.30pm free Seattle Sound Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor 8pm $10 Sluice, Delinquent, The Presence, Pink Ribbons Newtown RSL Club 8pm free Sosueme: Protectors, Step Panther, Mrs Bishop, Sleep Debt, Joyride, Alison Wonderland, Bridezilla DJs, Cries Wolf DJs, Sammy B, Total Mind Fuck, Leonid Technologic Q Bar, Darlinghurst 8pm $10 (at door) Straight 8’s Toukley RSL Club 8pm free Talk It Up Marlborough Hotel, Newtown 10.30pm free Tempo De Naughty, Ruby Wilde, Reno Nevada, Chris Haskett Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $12 8pm The Doors Experience Heathcote Hotel 8.30pm free The Fitz Band Comp Fitz Cafe, St Ives 7pm free Hello Satellites, The Jewel & The Falcon, Jefrey Siler Spectrum, Darlinghurst 8pm $10 The Rebel Rousers Wallsend Bowling Club 7.30pm free V Tribe The Lucky Australian, North St Marys 7pm free Video8, Spectacles, Fires 89 Ebley, Bondi Junction 7pm free Vika & Linda Bull, The Baker Suite Lizotte’s Restaurant, Lambton 7pm $45 (show only)–$99.50 (dinner & show) We’re Back Duo Vineyard Hotel 9pm free Zoltan Town Hall Hotel, Balmain 9pm free

JAZZ

Bridge City Jazz Band Club Ashfield 7.30pm free Dom Turner, Surpo The Vanguard, Newtown 6.30pm $17 (+ bf) Full Swing Quartet Lane Cove Golf & Country Club, Northwood 7.30pm free Jive Bombers Club Five Dock, Five Dock RSL 8pm free Joey Talam Trio Dee Why RSL Club free 7pm Judy Bailey Trio 505 Club, Surry Hills 8.30pm $10–$15

Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 8pm Shawnuff Swing Band Newtown Jets Rugby League Social Club, Tempe 8pm free Steve Balbi & Raoul Graf Dee Why RSL Club free 10.30pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Adam Roycroft, DJ Black Jade Tavern, Haymarket 7pm free Illawarra Folk Club: Maureen O’Brien, Amanda Broberg, That’s That City Diggers, Wollongong 7.30pm Songsalive!: Kyle Horsley, AmyLee Wilson, Damion Stirling, Russell Neal + guests Ryans Hotel, Thirroul free 8.30pm Songsalive!: Naomi Crain, Andrew Denniston + guests Casa di Musica, Enmore free 7.30pm

HIP-HOP

Dustones: K Note, Killaqueenz, Bentley Beach Road Hotel, Bondi free 8pm Horrorshow, Seth Sentry, Loose Change The Gaelic Hotel, Surry Hills $17 8pm

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4 ROCK & POP

blakhatz, Suns of Su & Stray Roxbury Hotel Glebe $10 7.30pm Blue Moon Quartet Fairfield RSL 7pm free Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen Tribute Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Celebration Mix St Marys Leagues Club 9pm free Chartbusters Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club, Bondi Junction 9pm free Chris Byrne MJ Finnegan’s Irish Pub, Newcastle 8pm free Colour Theory MJ Finnegan’s Irish Pub, Newcastle 10.30pm free Creedence & Beyond Diggers @ The Entrance 8.30pm free Dead Letter Circus, Black Devil Yard Boss, Evening Son Uni Bar, Wollongong University, Gwynneville 8pm $23.50 (presale) Fatt Lipp Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill 9pm free Funkstar Marble Bar, Sydney 10.30pm free Horrorshow

Geoff Davies Heathcote Hotel 8pm free Ghetto Disco: Block Rockers, Hoodlmz, Hobogestapo DJs, Wacks, Omz Lay, j3nova, Alpine Circuit, Heroes of the Party Q Bar, Darlinghurst 9pm $10–$15 GJ Donovan Dee Why RSL Club free 10.30pm In Pieces Castle Hill RSL Club 10.30pm free Kamikazi Kowboys Catherine Hill Bay Hotel 1.30pm free Kathleen Williamson, Mick Hanna Raval, Surry Hills 8pm Kieren Glasgow The Entrance Sails Stage 9am free Late Night Lounge: Libbi Gorr, Matt McMahon The Studio, Sydney Opera House 10pm $39–$49 Lee Rolfe Lake Macquarie Tavern, Mount Hutton 7.30pm free Matt Bourne Ingleburn Hotel 8pm free Mish, Paper Champion, Cities of the Red Night, Space Project, Sicaria Live at the Wall, Leichhardt 7.30pm $10 Miss Min & Mitch Dee Why RSL Club free 7pm Napalm Death (UK), Dying Fetus (USA), Daemon Foetal Harvest The Factory Theatre, Enmore 8pm $66 Nat Cole & the Kings Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle 8pm Noize Events, Assemble The Empire, Tsar Bomber, Scara Moosh Tea Club, Nowra 8pm $8 (conc)– $10 Patio de Tango Milonga: Tango Bar Bexley RSL & Community Club 8pm $22 Pets With Pets, Circle Pit, Dark Bells, Nhomea Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst 8pm $5 Red Hot Numbers Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL 10pm free Rolling Stoned, The Doors Experience Celebrity Room, Blacktown RSL Club 10pm free Sleight of Hand, Caleb Skips Chemistry, Sendfire Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West 8pm $10 Speedster Vineyard Hotel 11am free Stone Parade, Shotgun Blonde, Alphabet Cities, Red Wall Fan Annandale Hotel 6pm $10 (at door) Straight 8’s, Grizzly Adams Ashfield RSL Club 8pm free Strictly Bassey: Jennifer Green Workers Blacktown 8pm $5.50 (member)–$7.70 Talk Of The Town Newcastle Panthers, Newcastle West 8.30pm The New Christs, Hits, Familia Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $15 8pm The Salvagers, Pockets Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst 8pm free This Gentle Flow, The Conspiracy, Everything’s Coming Up Milhouse, The Spitfires Caringbah Bizzo’s 8pm Useless Children, Dead Farmers, Bed Wettin Bad Boys, Ether Rag Blackwire Records, Annandale 7pm $10 Zoltan Revesby Workers Club 9.30pm free

JAZZ

Eclipse Alley Five Strawberry Hills Hotel, Surry Hills 4pm free Equinox, Chantal Rawson The View Factory, Newcastle 7pm free Janet Seidel Lizotte’s Restaurant, Lambton 7pm $30 (show only)–$69.50 (dinner & show) Monica Trapaga, The Bachelor Pad 56 :: BRAG :: 377 : 30:08:10

Moby’s Whale Beach 9pm $42 Susan Gai Dowling Jazushi, Surry Hills 7.30pm free The Doig Collective 505 Club, Surry Hills 8.30pm $10–$15 The Gangster’s Ball: The Velvet Set Metro Theatre, Sydney 8pm $60 (+ bf)–$70 (+ bf)

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Songsalive!: Carolyn Crysdale + guests Grumpy’s Inn, Hurlstone Park free 8pm Songsalive!: Russell Neal and guests Picton Bowling Club free 8pm The Shack: Luke Escombe, Swoon, Spasm Band Tramshed Community Arts Centre, Narrabeen 7.30pm $15

COUNTRY

Jo Meares & the Honey Riders, Liz Martin Notes Live, Enmore 7pm $17.85 (presale)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5 ROCK & POP

2days Hits Harbord Beach Hotel 6pm free Angelgear Catherine Hill Bay Hotel 1.30pm free Blues Sunday Artichoke Gallery Cafe, Manly 7.30pm Chasin The Train, Kirk Lorange, Kevin Bennett, Mark Meyers, Ian Lees Lizotte’s Restaurant, Lambton 7pm $25 (show only)–$65 (dinner & show) Cletis Carr, The Tonedogs Macquarie Arms Hotel, Windsor 1pm free Drew McAlister Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor 8pm Glenn Whitehall Miranda Hotel 6pm free Helpful Kitchen Gods, The Forenzics, Special Patrol Group, The Far Canals (Canberra), Dr Delites Gladstone Hotel Chippendale Free 5pm Hue Williams Bankstown RSL Club 1.30pm free Irish Sundaze: The Bad Penguins P.J. O’Brien’s, Sydney 5pm free Jason Hicks Docks Hotel, Darling Harbour 5pm free Jim Gannon Dee Why RSL Club free 6pm Johnny Gretsch’s Wasted Ones Riverstone Bowling & Recreation Club 2pm free Kirk Burgess Rosehill Hotel, Granville 2.30pm free Klassic Blak Belmont 16 Foot Sailing Club 3pm free Lj Moorebank Hotel 3pm free Local Harvest - Tribute to Neil Young: Sam Newton, Christopher Burns, Simon Larry, Luke Cox, Frank Sultana, Daniel Hopkins, Richard Henderson, Tommy Pickett, Morgan Bourke, Neil Caesar, Russell Neal The Vanguard, Newtown 6.30pm $15 (+ bf)–$17 (at door) Mandi Jarry Dee Why Hotel 3.30pm free Mario Bros Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club, Bondi Junction 7pm free Matt Bourne Waverley Bowling Club 2pm free McArtney Fringe Bar, Paddington 8pm Me Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Robin Lee Sinclair Band Marrickville Bowling and Recreation Club 4.30pm free Sail Sessions The Entrance Sails Stage 11am

Presented by

Gig Guide

send your listings to: gigguide@thebrag.com

gig picks

Stone Parade free Skinpin, Nudist Colonies of the World, Elephant, The Ghost of Bob Shepherd Sandringham Hotel, Newtown 7pm $7 Steve Edmonds Band Premier Hotel, Broadmeadow 4.30pm free Straight 8’s Towradgi Beach Hotel 2pm free The Bluetongues Botany View Hotel, Newtown 7pm free Young Docteurs, Chickenstones, The Brothers Primitive, Nick Van Breda Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 5pm Zoltan Penrith Panthers 4pm free

JAZZ

Bill Dudley’s New Orleanians

Norfolk Hotel, Redfern 5pm free Soul Shakedown Party The View Factory, Newcastle East. free 3pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Bacon & Cabbage, Mark Oats, Dan Lissing Cock ‘n’ Bull Tavern, Bondi Junction 5pm free Bondi Sundays: Flatwound (live), Swat DJs Beach Road Hotel, Bondi free 6pm SSA Concert: Sam Newton, Tommy Pickett, Christopher Burns, Neil Caesar, Luke Cox, Richard Henderson, Daniel Hopkins, Simon Larry, Neil&Morgan, Frank Sultana, Elle Kennard, Cameron EmersonElliott, Russell Neal The Vanguard, Newtown $12 8.30pm

Disco Nap

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1 Deep Sea Arcade, WIM, Sleepyhands, Martin Doyle Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $5 8pm The Checks (NZ), Kids At Risk, Convaire Spectrum, Darlinghurst $10 8pm

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2 Disco Nap, Cameras, The Villainares Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 8pm

Klaxons (UK), Parades Enmore Theatre $61.60 (+ bf) 8pm Xiu Xiu (USA), High Places Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $35 (+ bf) 8pm

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3 Big Whoop: The Creepers, Hollo Panda Melt Bar, Kings Cross 11.30pm $10 Chicks Who Love Guns, Reptiles, Myth & Tropics Melt Bar, Kings Cross 8.30pm $10

Dead Letter Circus, Black Devil Yard Boss, Evening Son Metro Theatre, Sydney 8pm $30.60 (presale) Hello Satellites, The Jewel & The Falcon, Jeffrey Siler Spectrum, Darlinghurst 8pm $10

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4 Stone Parade, Shotgun Blonde, Alphabet Cities, Red Wall Fan Annandale Hotel 6pm $10 (at door) The Gangster’s Ball: The Velvet Set Metro Theatre, Sydney 8pm $60 (+ bf)–$70 (+ bf)

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 57

club guide send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com

club pick of the week Bag Raiders

The Argyle Hotel, Rocks Bo Funk & Liam Sampras free The Eastern, Bondi Junction John Glover, Tenzin, Here’s Trouble, Cassian, U-Go-B, Steve Frank, Mistah Cee, Kavi-R free The Gaff, Darlinghurst New Generation Franny, Alex, Triky, Electroholics, Con-x-ion, Psygnosis, Calico, Kermy, Deceptikon free The Lincoln, Kings Cross Kareem the DJ free (guestlist) World Bar, Kings Cross The Wall/SUGD free

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3

Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst

Heaps Decent Spring Party - Fundraiser Live: Kween G & Belizian Bombshell, Stunna Set, Miracle, Young Nooky, Tweak, DJs: Bag Raiders, Beni, Kato, Ro Sham Bo, Nina Las Vegas, Bad Ezzy, Wax Motif, Pablo Calamari, Dizz1, Disco Punx, Splitter, Fuzzy DJs, Generic Collective $23 MONDAY AUGUST 30 202 Broadway, Chippendale Hospitality Crew free Empire Hotel, Potts Point Bazaar HBK, I Low free One World Sport, Parramatta Ricky Ro free Soho, Kings Cross Comedown free The Sugarmill, Kings Cross Mondays James Rawson (live), Kavi-R free V Bar, Sydney Monday Mambo Mambo G $5/$10 World Bar, Kings Cross Mondays at World Bar Ooh Face, Hot Carl and friends free

TUESDAY AUGUST 31 Xxx Establishment, Sydney Rumba Motel DJs Willie Sabor and Guests free Martin Place Bar, Sydney Louis M, Sammy free Oatley Hotel Suburban Alternative DJ Mini Mullet free Opera Bar, Circular Quay DJ Jack Shit free The Gaff, Darlinghurst Coyote Tuesday Kid Finley, Pee Wee Pete free/$5 World Bar, Kings Cross Pop Panic Spring Break (live), DJs Shipwreck, Diago and Gatsby free

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1 Bank Hotel, Newtown Girls’ Night DJ Murray Hood free Cruise Bar, Circular Quay Rockstar free Establishment, Sydney Mid Week Hurdle Nic Phillips, Craig Patterson free Gasworks Nightclub, Albion Hotel, Parramatta DJ Fresh free Goldfish, Kings Cross The Salsa Lounge Latin Mafia Sound System free Q Bar, Darlinghurst Paradise City Ronnie Rocker, El Mariachi Sly Fox, Enmore Queer Central Sveta, DJ Beth, DJ Bel free

202 Broadway, Chippendale Basic Foreign Dub, Headroom, Space is the Place, Void free Beach Road Hotel, Bondi The Camera Club free Collingwood Hotel, Liverpool After School Detention DJ Rangi, Mac, K-Note MC Buddy Love free Cruise Bar, Circular Quay DJ Dwight ‘Chocolate’ Escobar free Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown Brett Hunt free Dug Out Bar, Burdekin Hotel Speakeasy Magda, Dave Fernandes Empire Hotel, Potts Point Episodes DJ Schoder, Wanted, Zahra, Jason K, Johar free Enmore Theatre Klaxons (UK), Parades $61.60 (+ bf) Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills Kobra Kai, Royalston, Boot & Sook, Lincoln & Vertigo, Tony Why, Toddy Trix $10 (+ bf) Gasworks Nightclub, Albion Hotel, Parramatta Da Bomb with DJ Fresh free Goldfish, Kings Cross The Funk Quarter Phil Hudson, Phil Toke, Dave 54, Michael Wheatley free Home Terrace, Darling Harbour Unipackers Rnb, Top 40, Electro $5 Judgement Bar, Taylor Square Judgement Night. Sex Worker & Ymerej, weekly guests free Kinselas Hotel, Darlinghurst Simon Alexander free Mansions, Kings Cross Van Sereno and Cavan Te Live on rotation free Q Bar, Darlinghurst Hot Damn! DJ Sarah Spandex, Mark C, Heart Attack $10/$12 Sapphire Suite, Kings Cross Flaunt Nacho Pop, Diaz, Eko, Tom Piper, R-Son, Zero Cool free Shelbourne Hotel, Sydney The Social Club Beth Yen free The Eastern Hotel, Bondi Junction Sneaker Husky, Ant Best Shy, Travis Hale, Dave Rizzle, Yogi free World Bar, Kings Cross Teenage Kicks The Vines DJs, Vivienne Kingswood, El Mariachi, Johnny Segment free

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3 Bank Hotel, Newtown Absolut Fridays Soul Patrol (live), DJ Delacroix free Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach Dustones K Note, Killaqueenz, Bentley free Burdekin Mini Bar, Darlinghurst Miami Vices Johnny 5, Asterisky, DJ Betts, Karl Anderson $5/$10 Candy’s Apartment, Kings Cross Liquid Sky Dirty Disco Youth, Skrillex, Vengeance, Bloody Disco, Jackpop, Itchy & Scratchy $10/$15 Chinese Laundry, Sydney Groove Terminator, Dave Winnell, Adam lance, Skep, Ryzer, Simon Pinnick, Marc Craven, Typhonic $15 before 11pm/$20 after Civic Hotel, Sydney Bug In The Bass Thomas Muller,

Dario Zenker, Andrew Wowk, Altay Altin, Daniel Lupica, Matt Gatt $25 Civic Undergound, Sydney Plus One Fridays Murat Kilic, Robbie Lowe, Trinity, Dave Stuart, Jamie Mattimore, Sam Watkins, Alex Caminer, Daniel Lupica $20 Collector Hotel, Parramatta Corner Shop Tikelz, DJ Browski, J Lyrikz, Naughty, Gunz free Establishment Hotel Carnival La Fiesta Sound System and Special Guest DJs all night free The Gaelic Hotel, Surry Hills Horrorshow, Seth Sentry, Loose Change $17 Gladstone Hotel, Chippendale Purple Sneakers Cabins DJs, Ben Lucid, M.I.T, Fantomatique, Andre 1700, Josh Kelly $12 Goldfish, Kings Cross Sugar & Soul Phil Hudson, Paul Hatz, Agey, Danny De Sousa, Matt Cahill, Tom Kelly free Home The Venue, Darling Harbour Sublime Aaron Camz, Nomad, Arbor, Big Dan, Matello, Yev, Peewee, Losty, Dover, DJ JTS, Zander, Kinekt 4, Monk3y, Prototype $17 (presale)-$25 (door) Kinselas, Taylor Square Toby Wilson free Kit & Kaboodle, Darlinghurst Falcona Fridays Falcona DJs, The Gameboys $10 Mansions, Kings Cross Nick Polly, Little Rich, Nick T, Stevie S, Adrian Allen free Martin Place Bar, Martin Place Jimmy Mac, Sammy free Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill ITM50 Wax Motif free Middle Bar, Kinselas, Darlinghurst Flavours on Friday MC Q-Bizzi, C-Bu, Trey, Mike Champion, Naiki, Tekkaman $20 Oatley Hotel We Love Oatley Hotel Fridays DJ Tone Free Omega Lounge, Sydney Unwind Greg Summerfield, Matt Brunton free Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Heaps Decent Spring Party - A Heaps Decent Fundraiser Live: Kween G & Belizian Bombshell, Stunna Set, Miracle, Young Nooky, Tweak, Plus DJs: Bag Raiders, Beni, Kato, Ro Sham Bo, Nina Las Vegas, Bad Ezzy, Wax Motif, Pablo Calamari, Dizz1, Disco Punx, Splitter, Fuzzy DJs, Generic Collective $23 Q Bar, Darlinghurst Sosueme The Protectors, Step Panther, Mrs Bishop, Sleep Debt, Joyride, Alison Wonderland, Bridezilla DJs, Cries Wolf DJs, Sammy B, Total Mind Fuck, Leonid Technologic $10 Queens Wharf Brewery, Newcastle Unite free Raval, Surry Hills Listen Hear Huwston, Micah, James De La Cruz, Chris Coucouvinis free Sapphire Lounge, Kings Cross Sapphire Fridays Miss Match, Rob Morrish, Dave 54, Kate Monroe, Chiller $10 (guestlist) Sly Fox, Enmore Sly Fridays free Soda Bar, Golden Sheaf, Double Bay Mike Who, Mr Glass, Brynstar free SoHo, Potts Point UniJam Back 2 School Uniform Party Tommy Trash & Nino Brown, Ember, Reekay Garcia, Kristiano, Guy Tarento, Eko, J-Smoove, Devola free Spectrum, Darlinghurst Silent Alarm Silent DJs $5 Tank Nightclub, Sydney RnB Superclub G Wizard, Def Rok, Troy T, Eko, Lilo, Jayson, Losty, Ben Morris, Matt Nukewood, Charlie Brown, Oakes & Lennox, Venuto, Adrian M Tao, Sydney Access Oblique Industries, Sasha (Deep Impressions), Richie Jay, Orphea, Fabeta $15/$20

“Education is an important key – yes. But the good life’s never won by degrees?” - ROXY MUSIC 58 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE NIGHT

club guide send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com Rumpunch

$10 DONATION

The Argyle Hotel, Rocks John Devechis, Heidi, Kate Monroe The Sugarmill, Kings Cross The Gameboys, Calling In Sick, Joyride $10 after 10pm Tone, Sydney Electric Avenue Stephen Allkins, Simon Caldwell, Gian Arpino,Cam Brown free before 9pm/$10 after Woodport Inn, Erina ITM50 Mobin Master, Snob Scrilla Sound System

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4 202 Broadway, Chippendale Headroom Monk Fly, Jonny Faith, Know-U, Suburban Dark, Elliot $15 Bank Hotel, Newtown Jack McCord, D*Funk free BB’s, Bondi Beach Wildlife DJs Mesan, James Roberts, Adriano Giorgi, Dinseh Sundar, Matt Singmin, Chris Kyle free Candy’s Apartment, Kings Cross Shake!! Shake!! Shake!!

Teez, Smokin Joe Mekael, Toddy Trix, Disko Riot, Joe Le Fro $15/$25 Chinese Laundry, Sydney Marc Romboy, Aston Shuffle, Blaze Tripp, A-Tonez, Alison Wonderland, Spenda C, Luny P, Murray Lake, Bella Sarris, Mc Adam Zae $15/$25 Civic Underground, Sydney Adult Disco Chez Damier, Agoria

Dean Dixon, Future Classic DJs $15/$20 Clarence Hotel, Petersham Caesars Sandy Bottom, Justin Scott, DJ Chip free Collingwood Hotel, Liverpool Pop Fiction, Zoltan free Copacabanabondi, Bondi Junction MonumenteL: The Animal Within Spellbound, AudioDamage, Tempa, Spir@L, Rushnosh (Qld) The Saint, Gee Wiz, Simple, DJ Peter, Buddha, Kobuki, Sonar, Bammbamm, Pugsly, Gaga, Jon Ray, Zac Slade, Terageist, The Khemist $30/$35 Cricketer’s Arms, Surry Hills Pod War free Cruise Bar, Circular Quay DJ Simon Neal, Ben Vickers Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown Kaki $20 Eastern Hotel, Bondi Junction I Love Saturdays Zannon, Tony Shock, Matt Ferreira, Tass, Akay, Don Juan, Dante Rivera, Dennis Agee, Willie Sabor, Oscar Cadena free eleven, Paddington Empire Hotel/Plantations, Potts Point Agoria, Superflu (Germany), Diatribe, Kerry Wallace, Ben Dunlop $20 (A Res) Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills In Search of Sunrise: South Africa Richard Durand (Holland), Jonas Stenberg, Trent McDermott, Nathan Cryptic, Rossco, Pato De Gomah, Alex Panik $39 Gasworks Nightclub, Albion Hotel, Parramatta DJs Matt Hoare and Andy

Marc $10 Goldfish, Kings Cross Abel, Tom Kelly, Phil Hudson, Ross Middleton on Sax free Home, Sydney Homemade Saturdays The 808s, Aladdin Royaal, James “Saxman” Spy, Matt Ferreira, Hannah Gibbs, Tony Venuto, Dave Austin, Flite, LKO, Seiz, Uncle Abe $20 VIP/$25 door Ivy, Sydney Pure Ivy Prok & Fitch (Germany), Tass, Cadell, Liam Sampras, Marc Us, Dave 54, Danny De Sousa $20 Kinselas, Taylor Square Brynstar, Shaun Keble, Yin Yang, Beth Yen and Matt Hoare free Kit & Kaboodle, Kings Cross Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Elaine Benes, Gabby, Cassette (NZ), Alison Wonderland free/$10, members free all night Mansions, Kings Cross Reckless, Little Rich, Shaun Keeble, Nick Polly free Martin Place Bar, Sydney Bamboo Eko, Nude-E, Mirage, Shorty, Ace, Moto, Qrius, IllDJ $5 Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill Fiddler Bar free Melt Bar, Kings Cross Swing Them Hips Nina Las Vegas, Disco Punx, Elaine Benes, Charlie White, Drop Dead Ed $10 onefiveone, Wollongong Pang! D.I.M., Ruslan, Knocked Up Noise, Jeremy Quinn, Bounce Crew DJs, Squeaknbleep DJs, Sweet Distortion, Cheese, Offtapia, and Phantoms. $15

SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER

FEATURING THE BOWIE-OKE ALL STARS

PRIZES & BOWIE-LOOKIE-LIKEY COMPETITION ALL DONATIONS GO TO THE PRODUCTION FUND FOR GREG’S FILM “EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE”

THE SIDESHOW WEDNESDAYS

GHOSTWOOD 8TH SEPTEMBER - 8PM

+ SURF CITY (NZ)

FREE

COMING SOON

OMAR MUSA+MORGANICS+13TH SON+BROTHABLACK +DJ JAYTEE+MIKE WHO+BENTLEY 10TH SEP CABINS+ALTER EGO MANIA+STEP-PANTHER 15TH SEP THE JEZABELS+THE OWLS 22ND SEP

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 59

club guide

Deep Impressions

clubguide@thebrag.com Opera Bar, Circular Quay Krishna Jones free Phoenix Bar, Darlinghurst Johan Khoury, Dan Murphy, DJ Chip $10 /$15 Q Bar, Darlinghurst Ghettodisco Blockrockers Launch, Hoodlmz, Hobogestapo DJs,Wacks, Omz Lay, J3nova, Alpine Circuit, Heroes Of The party $15 Sandringham Hotel, Newtown Freshly Squeezed Gareth Ivory Foundation Fundraiser: Rumpunch, Backyard Lab, Dirtbox Kings, True Vibe Nation, Benji, Jewson, Gabi, Mute MC, Periskope, Scott Burns, Swarmy, Herb, Dialectrix, Daily Meds, Jack Prest, Luke Presto $10 Shelbourne Hotel, Sydney Shipwreck, Daniel Nall, Leon Pirello $10 after 10 Soho, Potts Point ITM50 Ajax, Raye Antonelli, Tenzin, Kid Crookes free before 11 Stonewall Hotel, Darlinghurst Greg Boladian, Nick J free The Argyle Hotel, Rocks Husky, Casa, Phil Hudson free The Bank Nightclub, Kings Cross Sin City Don Juan, DJ Willie, Mista Kay, MC Q-Bizzi The Dolphin Hotel, Surry Hills DJ Chris Skinner, DJ Carl O’Brien free The Forum Theatre, Moore Park Say Cheese Lisa Scott-Lee $59 (+ bf) The Gaff, Darlinghurst Perfect Day Resident house DJs Mark Alsop, DJ Chip, DJ Murray Hood, DJ Miss

Underground Dance and Electronica with Chris Honnery

Match, DJ Brett Austin, DJ Scotty Tanner, DJ James Tobin, DJ Man and DJ Dirty Dan free The Venue, Double Bay Pure House Ben Morris, Illya, Robbie Lowe, Matt Mandell, Ollie Brooke, Matt Roberts, Simon Caldwell, Kato, James Taylor, Lummy, Mitch Crosher, Phil Smart Tone, Surry Hills Buff1, 1NFO, Loose Change, Chasm, Stolen Records Skrillionaires, DJ Naiki. $12 World Bar, Kings Cross Wham! Klaus Hill, Raye Antonelli, James Taylor, Q45, Johnny Rad, High Spirits DJs, Foundation, Matt Weir, Temnein, Daigo, Kingpin $15/$20

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5 Bank Hotel, Newtown DJ Kitty Glitter Colombian Hotel (Downstairs), Darlinghurst Hotrod Sunday Sandi Hotrod & G.I Jode free Colombian Hotel (Upstairs), Darlinghurst The Deep Disko Phil Hudson, Mark Matthews on sax, Vincent Sebastian on Percussion free Cruise Bar, Circular Quay Sassy Sundays free Docks Hotel, Darling Harbour Salsa Caliente Sabroson, DJ Vico free Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown DJ Metal Matt, Louis Tillett free Goldfish, Kings Cross Martini Club Live DJs Illya,

Johnny Gleeson, Miss Match, Jack McCord and Tom Kelly free Ice Bar, Sydney The Kitsch Sound System, Phil Hudson, Chloe West, Mark Matthews free Kinselas Hotel, Darlinghurst The Fifth Dimension free Kit and Kaboodle, Darlinghurst Easy Sunday Mo Hat Mo Play DJs, Adam Bozzetto, Mr Belvedere, Stu Turner, Max Smart, King Lee $10 (at door) Sapphire Suite, Kings Cross Random Sundays Mike Rukus, Tom Piper, James Taylor, Matt Nukewood, Goodfella, Adam Lance, RobKAY free (guestlist)–$15 The Argyle Hotel, Rocks MarcUs, DJ BBG free The Bank Nightclub, Kings Cross Soul On Sunday Nino Brown, Don Juan free The Forbes Hotel, Sydney Church Of Techno Mitch Crosher, Kerry Wallace, Joey Kaz, Jey Tuppaea, Jaded, Shepz $5 The Rouge, Kings Cross Cheap Thrill$ Matt Nukewood, J Smoove, Josh Flanagan free The Sugarmill, Kings Cross Neighbourhood Kate Munroe free Trademark Hotel, Darlinghurst Soul on Sunday Nino Brown, Don Juan Watershed Hotel, Darling Harbour Miss Gabby free World Bar, Kings Cross Fortune! Disco Punx plus dumplings! free

club picks up all night out all week...

Kobra Kai

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2 Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills Kobra Kai, Royalston, Boot & Sook, Lincoln & Vertigo, Tony Why, Toddy Trix $10 (+ bf)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3 Candy’s Apartment, Kings Cross Liquid Sky Dirty Disco Youth, Skrillex, Vengeance, Bloody

Disco, Jackpop, Itchy & Scratchy $10/$15 Chinese Laundry, Sydney Groove Terminator, Dave Winnell, Adam Lance, Skep, Ryzer, Simon Pinnick, Marc Craven, Typhonic $15 before 11pm & $20 after The Gaelic Hotel, Surry Hills Horrorshow, Seth Sentry, Loose Change $17 8pm Tone, Sydney Electric Avenue Stephen Allkins, Simon Caldwell,

Gian Arpino,Cam Brown free before 9pm, $10 after

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4 Civic Underground, Sydney Adult Disco Chez Damier, Dean Dixon, Future Classic DJs $15–$20 World Bar, Kings Cross Wham! Klaus Hill, Raye Antonelli, James Taylor, Q45, Johnny Rad, High Spirits DJs and more $15 before 10pm, $20 after

Francesco Tristano

This Week’s Episode: Down Like Oil

LOOKING DEEPER

L

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4

uxembourgian pianist and composer Francesco Tristano will release his third solo album, Idiosynkrasia, in November through French producer Agoria’s InFiné label. It follows 2007 s Murcof-produced Not For Piano and ’08 s Auricle Bio On (which was mastered by a certain Moritz Von Oswald), and finds Tristano exploring further into the grey-area between classical and electronic music.

“This record is the fruit of a quest for an idiosyncratic language that is somewhere between acoustic and electronic, a quest that spans time and space,” Tristan explains, adopting a sci-fi motif. “I want to bring the piano into the 21st century. My ambition is to provide the piano with a new identity, because it is often associated with classical music and viewed as an instrument of the past, while I genuinely see it as an instrument of the future.” Tristano teamed up with Detroit tech auteur Carl Craig for the release, and though Craig did not produce Idiosyncrasia, it was recorded at his Planet E studios in Detroit - and Tristano acknowledges his influence on the LP. “Carl and Detroit played an essential part. Some of the tracks wouldn’t even exist or might have sounded completely different if I hadn’t recorded in Detroit. The city’s atmosphere, the people I worked with and the equipment in the studio, all of it had a great influence on me. The wealth of equipment there provided me with an endless source of ideas and sounds. To me, Planet E was the Mecca of sound.”

It’s a shame that Tank Nightclub, located beneath The Establishment Hotel in the CBD, isn’t used as a ‘proper’ club more often - I remember seeing Chicken Lips perform there many years ago, and the atmosphere was electric. When Tank is packed out with a world-class DJ behind the decks, it’s hard to refute it is potentially Sydney’s premier club space; the problem is, such an occurrence is a rarity. But enough lamenting, as on Sunday October 3 (which is a long weekend) the venue will host veteran UK duo Layo & Bushwacka! for an extended four-hour set, while the Co-Op lads will be spinning upstairs alongside the likes of Claire Morgan. I urge any of you who haven’t been to Tank to get behind the event – it’s the closest Sydney has to a super club, and hopefully we get more top-echelon acts there in the future.

Agoria Plantation

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18 Marcel Dettmann Plantation

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27 Kaito and Tobias Becker Earthdance

SATURDAY OCTOBER 30 Superpitcher Boat Party

soundscapes and occasional bursts of pop – check out his cover of ‘Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometimes’ and his remixes of Thom Yorke and Annie to hear Wilner at his most accessible.

Berlin-based duo Modeselektor, comprised of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary, are preparing a new compilation in Modeselektion Vol. 1; an 18-track disc that is said to showcase “the progression of dubstep’s offsprings and related, or unrelated but similar sounding, techno producers in London, Berlin, or elsewhere.”

Covering material from Marcel Dettmann, Robag Wruhme and Feadz, the pair said in a press release that their “main concern was the idea of defying genres and the usual beef between different camps, to create without borders and be completely freestyle,” say the duo. “When we now look at the lineup on this CD, it pretty much goes down like oil.” You’ll have to wait until early November to tap Modeselektion Vol. 1, but there’s a fair few releases hitting shelves between now and then to keep you occupied in the meantime…

Modeselektor

The lineup for this year’s Meredith Music Festival in Victoria is noteworthy for the inclusion of some of the more innovative electronic producers in the underground scene. Hendrik Weber, better known as Pantha Du Prince, will be making his Australian debut at the event courtesy of Future Classic, and he will be flanked by Axel Wilner, aka The Field, and disco stalwart DJ Harvey. Pantha Du Prince debuted on the esteemed Dial imprint but released his latest LP, Black Noise, on the traditionally indie stable Rough Trade. The shift did not have a detrimental impact on his sound though – indeed Black Noise ought to feature on many year end ‘best of’ lists come the end of the year, and I have it on good authority Weber will also be doing a Sydney show. Meanwhile The Field is something of a maverick even by the standards of his Kompakt label, merging neo-trance influences with ambient

Deep Impressions: electronica manifesto and occasional club brand. Contact through deep.impressions@yahoo.com.

60 :: BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10

Soul Sedation Soul, Dub, Hip Hop & Bottom Heavy Beats with Tony Edwards Soul Sedation goes live every Wednesday night on Bondi FM (88.0 or bondifm.com.au). Tune in 10pm 'til midnight to hear a deep and soulful selection of the tunes covered here, and plenty more that I don't have room for.

This week’s column is brought to you by the sounds of Canadian emcee Shad K, AKA Shadrach Kabango. Born to Rwandan parents in Ontario, Canada, Shad has been pumping out deep, soulful quality hip hop since the mid-noughties. He funded his first album by winning Ontario radio station 91.5 FM’s annual Rhythm Of The Future unsigned talent competition and has since dropped three full-length albums - the most recent of which is this year’s TSOL, out on Black Box Recordings.

Soul Sedations is particularly feeling his tunes ‘Rose Garden’ and ‘The Calling’, but it seems there loads more gold to be mined.

Definitely check him out.

The Canadians are featuring promisingly this week. Also in the Soul Sedation player is an album from Jules Chaz, Toppings, out on the Vancouver based, erstwhile-techno-pushing Wagon Repair label. The release moves through hip hop, future beat, reggae and soul styles, all presented in beat tape format. Chaz is a jazz percussionist who shares a studio with the Cobblestone Jazz outfit (one of those collectives my esteemed technophile colleague across the page at Deep Impressions would happily turn gay for… maybe too happily…). Anyway it’s a genuinely interesting, largely instrumental album built on high calibre productions. Full points.

The new Roots Manuva record that this column touched lightly upon last week is also causing me generous amounts of joy. It’s an album Manuva’s released with WrongTom, entitled Duppy Writer.

Around the time that he released Slime & Reason, journalists were charting his demise (as was he, with his prevalent themes of aging), but instead he’s turning out to be quite prolific. On Duppy Writer there’s a sense of inevitable continuation in his vocals; the idea that a rapper’s just got to keep on rappin: “The choice is there ain’t no choice but to pursue it”. It’s a wicked album, more enjoyable than his recent solo efforts to my mind; a lot sunnier, a bit more laidback, and dripping with dubreggae vibes. Riddla, Seanie T and Ricky Ranking all drop by for guest spots.

The Tongue’s new record has hit the Soul Sedation desk - it’s called Alternative Energy. Soul Sedation’s pick of the album is ‘Sunday’ thus far - can you guess why?

Yep, it’s deep and chilled. The record also features three collaborations with Sydney’s own Joyride, who has a full length of his own in the works. Between all the new Elefant Traks material and the new Loose Change record to boot, inner-west hip hop is having a damn productive year.

ON THE ROAD FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3 Horrorshow Gaelic Theatre

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4

Xxx

Buff-1, 1NFO, Loose Change Tone

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23 Chico Mann Melt Bar

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25

Martyn, Tokimonsta & Illum Sphere The Forum

OCTOBER 15 & 16 Mulatu Astatke The Basement

Mulatu Astatke

GRINDIN & MANIFEST WORLDWIDE PROUDLY PRESENTS

Saturday September 4. Keep your eye on Soul Sedation for word of the official Tone launch party in the coming months.

In tour news, Chico Mann heads to Sydney courtesy of Love Police, bringing with him him “1970s Afrobeat, 1980s Freestyle & Afro Cuban music”. As part of Antibalas, Mann plays his role in the global afrobeat scene – and this time around he brings with him his three-piece band. It all goes down at Melt Bar on September 23.

Two new BBE releases have arrived through the letterbox! Drop by next week for the verdict on Pugz Atomz’s The Decade and Spinna’s version of the Strange Games & Funky Things series.

Peace.

Number 16 Wentworth St, Surry Hills has been a hive of activity over the last few week. On the ruins of the old Mars Lounge a new venue, Tone is slowly taking shape.

With a focus on quality live music and credible DJs, the venue is undergoing an extensive makeover, and gaining a new stage and soundsystem – and nights of a certain soul aesthetic have been migrating towards the venue too. You can eat, drink and play. Tan Crackers Soul Club has already moved to Tone, leaving Tonic Lounge behind. You can also look forward to the sounds of Electric Avenue, programmed by selectors Downtown Brown and Gian Arpino, which will run on the second Saturday of each month. JC Funkdafied’s Soul Power night also relocates to Tone from Sol Sutra, as does electro boogie/ rap party Cold Crush, heading over from 202 Broadway. Grindin’ get involved to boot by hosting their next Step In The Arena event there featuring Detroit’s Buff-1, which goes down this Shad K,

IT’S NOT ABOUT KEEPING IT REAL, OR BEING TRUE TO THE GAME – IT’S ABOUT BEING TRUE TO DETROIT’S OWN BUFF1. WHETHER ROCKING A PARTY ANTHEM, A POLITICAL BURNER OR SOULFUL BANGER, OR WITH A WORLD FAMOUS BEAT JUNKIE, ONE THING IS CERTAIN – BUFF1 CONSISTENTLY DELIVERS. IF YOU THINK THERE’S ANOTHER LIKE BUFF1 IN THE GAME, KEEP SEARCHING…“THERE’S ONLY ONE”.

BUFF1 {DETROIT}

1NFO & LOOSE CHANGE FEATURING

PLUS DJS CHASM {OBESE} NAIKI {DETROIT HIP HOP SET} & THE STOLEN RECORD

SKRILLIONAIRES

SHANTAN WANTAN ICHIBAN HOSTED BY

STOLEN RECORDS / FBI RADIO

@ TONE SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2010 16 WENTWORTH AVENUE, SURRY HILLS 8PM–3AM ENTRY: $10 MOSHITX OR $15 ON THE DOOR *

*

WWW.GRINDIN.NET Send stuff for this column to tonyedwards001@gmail.com by 6pm Wednesdays. All pics to art@thebrag.com BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 61

snap sn ap

teenage kicks

PICS :: RR

up all night out all week . . .

wham

PICS :: DM

19:08:10 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700

Cameo It’s called: Cameo It sounds like: Cam-E-YO! DJs/live acts playing: MC D-Minus , DJ Mo Green, DJ Q-Bizzi, DJ Klev DJ Samrai and DJ C-Bu er C, Sell it to us: Great R’n’B, great vibe , great crowd, awesome waterfron location! t The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Taking your shirt off when DJ Sam drops some T-Pain! rai Crowd specs: Up to 1200 beautiful people!

Wallet damage: $15 on the door Where: Docks Hotel, Harbourside, Darling Harbour When: Saturday, September 4

cameo

PICS :: RR

20:08:10 :: Q-Bar :: 34-44 Oxford st, Darlinghurst 93601375

party profile

sosueme

PICS :: PS

21:08:10 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700

hoops

PICS :: RR

21:08:10 :: Docks Hotel :: Shop 225 Harbourside Cntr Darling Harbour 92802270

21:08:10 :: Goodgod Small Club :: 355 Liverpool St CBD 92673787 62 :: BRAG :: 377:: 30:08:10

) :: ASHLEY MAR :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER :: THOMAS WALK SON VEN STE ICK PATR :: RENEE RUSHBROOK

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falcona fridays

PICS :: AM & PS

21:08:10 :: Candy’s Apartment :: 22 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93805600

PICS :: MB

purple sneakers

20:08:10 :: The Gladstone Hotel :: 115 Regent St Chippendale 96993522

friends

PICS :: AM

big guns

PICS :: JS

up all night out all week . . .

18:08:10 :: Fringe Bar :: 106 Oxford Street Paddington 93605443

Evidence (Dilated Peoples)

It’s called: Evidence (Dilated Peop les) It sounds like: A hip hop orgasm.

DJs/live acts playing: MC Evidence of Dilated Peoples and DJ Total Eclip of the X-Ecutioners. se Sell it to us: If you love hip hop and you miss this you will never, ever forgive yourself.

The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Evidence’s mind-blowing skills on the mic.

Crowd specs: Young, old, black, white, hot, ugly hip hop heads.

Wallet damage: $30, from Moshtix Where: Tone, 16 Wentwor th Aven ue, Surry Hills When: Friday October 15 @ 9pm

strike bowling

PICS :: TL

party profile

20:08:10 :: Kit & Kaboodle :: 33-35 Darlinghurst Rd Kings Cross 9368 0300

20:08:10 :: Strike Bowling :: 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park 1300 787 453

) :: ASHLEY MAR :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER :: THOMAS WALK SON VEN STE ICK PATR :: RENEE RUSHBROOK

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 63

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girl thing

21:08:10 :: Q-Bar :: 34-44 Oxford St, Darlinghurst 93601375

PICS :: AM

the wall

PICS :: AM

up all night out all week . . .

18:08:10 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700

chinese laundry

It’s called: Grand Central NY Par ty Hip Hop It sounds like: East Coast DJs: Kavi-R and Naiki led Quest - ‘Award Tour’, r on the night: A Tribe Cal & I’ Three records you’ll hea elf Mys ‘Me l p’, De La Sou DAS EFX - ‘The Real Hip-Ho ’t: 2Pac - 'California Love' won ly And one you definite le thought it was high le sometimes… Kit & Kabood Sell it to us: It’s like a jung old-school hip hop night, so get your hands in the an time that they brought you pump out some seriously ing while Kavi-R and Naiki air and your shell toes tapp good tunes. music! So imagine a blur the AM: It’s all about the oor!

The bit we’ll remember in cefl dan the on g, and hours of good song after good son school. old – be uld way hip hop sho Crowd specs: Lovers of the Entry is free, free, as. pizz r, $5 cocktails and $10 Wallet damage: $5 tap bee free! per Club Where: Kit & Kaboodle Sup 8pm When: Every Thursday from

PICS :: AM

party profile

Grand Central

midnight juggernauts rnb superclub 20:08:10 :: Tank Bar :: 3 Bridge Ln Sydney 92403109 64 :: BRAG :: 377:: 30:08:10

PICS :: TM

20:08:10 :: Forum Theatre :: Bent St Moore Park 93602610

) :: ASHLEY MAR :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER :: THOMAS WALK SON VEN STE ICK PATR :: RENEE RUSHBROOK

PICS :: RR

21:08:10 :: Chinese Laundry :: 111 Sussex Street Sydney 82959958

BRAG :: 377 :: 30:08:10 :: 65

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chinese laundry

PICS :: AM

up all night out all week . . .

starfuckers

PICS :: AM

20:08:10 :: Chinese Laundry :: 111 Sussex Street Sydney 82959999

sienna

PICS :: DC

21:08:10 :: Club 77 :: 77 William St Kings Cross 93613387

kontrast

PICS :: AM

21:08:10 :: Establishment :: 252 George St Sydney 92400300

oaf 3rd birthday

PICS :: TL

21:08:10 :: Melt :: 12 Kellett St, Kings Cross 93806060

20:08:10 :: Oxford Art Factory :: 38-46 Oxford st, Darlinghurst 93323711

66 :: BRAG :: 377:: 30:08:10

) :: ASHLEY MAR :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER :: THOMAS WALK SON VEN STE ICK PATR :: RENEE RUSHBROOK

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