SEPTEMBER 22ND
THE JEZABELS + THE OWLS
SEPTEMBER 29TH
THE HOLIDAYS + WE ARE FANS + THE CAIROS
free
Baaba Maal / Mulatu Astatke Diego Guerrero Flamenco Latin Quintet / Lulo Reinhardt Ego Lemos / The Monks of Tibet / Ash Grunwald / The Bamboos Grrilla Step / The Versionaries / The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra The Cumbia Cosmonauts / UniďŹ ed Gecko / VulgarGrad / Fyah Walk The Woohoo Revue / Way Out West...plus many more www.globalcarnival.com
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with special guest
2nd & final show hordern pavilion tuesday 9, wednesday november 10 on sale now! 132 849 or ticketek.com.au UT SOLD O
In stores now
All the passion, all the power, all the hits (and more) in a powerful new full-band performance!
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
THE WIDOWBIRDS FINAL TICKET RELEASE New album ‘Wake up the nation’ out now
ENMORE THEATRE
SATURDAY OCTOBER 23 BOOK NOW!
132 849 or ticketek.com.au
Level 1 Newcastle Leauges Club Saturday October 30 On Sale This Friday!
bigtix.com.au, oztix.com.au, or in person at the venue
Sydney Enmore Theatre Sunday October 31
On Sale Now! 132 849 or ticketek.com.au
Presented by Michael Coppel I jasonderulo.com I paulweller.com I edkowalczyk.com I coppel.com.au 8 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
New album out now!
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rock music news
welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on, down and around town. With Nathan Jolly and Cool Thomas
he said she said WITH
DENIS FROM PENSIVE PENGUIN (QLD)
O
Our songs are melodic, catchy, cacophonic and layered. There’s a strong element of whimsical storytelling, with an emphasis on lyricism – we have one song which is a tale about a fellow who meets and falls in love with a woman in his dreams, much to the jealous chagrin of his real-life girlfriend, who reacts by spiking his tea with speed to stop him from seeing her… Alex, Jesse and David are brilliant at finding creative ways to express the themes of the songs musically. Our aim is to capture the truth of everyday human existence in grand musical stories, which also happen to be insufferably catchy and totally rockin’. We tend to be very loud.
ur family moved around a lot when I was younger. I tallied it up one time; I think we lived in around 15 different towns from Rockhampton to Hobart and everywhere in between before I was eight. Bee Gees, The Beatles, The Loved Ones and Roy Orbison CDs would get spun on the radio late at night - we’d sing along to them at the tops of our lungs. The thing I got the most out of moving around a lot is the need to be adaptable and observant. Meeting lots of people and learning how to accept different styles and tastes was pretty integral to the whole process. Augie March are a huge inspiration for me. They’re the band that I never get tired of - I pretty much think Glenn Richards is the most amazing lyricist ever. My main inspirations are not always musical though; I consider myself more of a storyteller than a musician, and this band is just one extension of that. The great storytellers who inspire me are Kubrick, Van Gough, Jorge L. Borges and Rumi. Their unique views and passions shaped the world in a positive manner, and the main inspiration, the core of why I started this band, is to inspire people to remember how beautiful life is.
We’re all a little bit smitten with Grizzly Bear and Arcade Fire right now. I’m also a die-hard local music fan, and think everybody should see Brisbane acts like Charlie Mayfair, Montpelier, Skinny Jean, Little Scout, Lion Island and Oh Ye Denver Birds. Pensive Penguin is a Brisbane-based indie rock/pop band which has been around since February this year. We’re a four piece – your standard rhythm, lead, bass and drums setup. I demoed the songs late last year when I was putting the band together, which
caught the attention of Tony Salter, an ex-EMI ex-London-based producer/engineer, who heard them on MySpace and invited us down to record with him in Melbourne, which we did in March.
One Day As A Lion
PUBLISHERS: Adam Zammit & Rob Furst EDITOR IN CHIEF: Adam Zammit 9552 6333 adam@peergroupmedia.com
Who: Pensive Penguin Where: The Lansdowne Hotel When: Sunday September 26, from 6pm
STOP START $7 SOCIAL CLUB
Get on board with one of Sydney’s freshest labels. The crew from Stop Start are going to be tossing a $7 party on Friday September 24. Hungry Kids Of Hungry, Maniac and Pluto Jonze will be playing AND they’ll give you a free CD Sampler. Sounds alright, hey?
SAY CRACK AGAIN
EDITOR: Steph Harmon steph@thebrag.com 9552 6333 ARTS EDITORS & ASSOCIATES: Dee Jefferson dee@thebrag.com 9552 6333 STAFF WRITER: Jake Stone jake@thebrag.com NEWS CO-ORDINATORS: Nathan Jolly, Cool Thomas, Chris Honnery
The Cracks have taken out the LG Unsigned competition, and because of this the band are forced to take time off work to fly out to Singapore to play at the Singapore Grand Prix alongside Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott. They also have to tidy the house to make room for all the hand-held milk frothers they’ll be buying with their $5000 LG voucher. Congrats!
ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant GRAPHIC DESIGN: Dara Gill SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER: Tim Levy SNAP PHOTOGRAPHERS: Ashley Mar, Rosette Rouhana, Daniel Munns, Patrick Stevenson, Renee Rushbrook, Maja Baska, Jay Collier 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) INTERNS: Liz Brown, Charlie Collingbourne REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Joshua Blackman, Mikey Carr, Bridie Connell, Bridie Connellan, Benjamin Cooper, Oliver Downes, Tony Edwards, Christie Eliezer, Murray Engleheart, Lucy Fokkema, Mike Gee, Thomas Gilmore, Alice Hart, Kate Hennessy, Chris Honnery, Nathan Jolly, Andy McLean, Amelia Schmidt, Romi Scodellaro, Xanthe Seacret, Jonno Seidler, RK, Luke Telford, Caitlin Welsh, Beth Wilson, Alex Young
Richard In Your Mind
NEWTOWN FESTIVAL IN CAMPERDOWN
Please send mail NOT ACCOUNTS direct to this address 153 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 ph - (02) 9552 6333 fax - (02) 9552 6866 EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Publisher, Editor or Staff of The Brag. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Stephen Forde : accounts@furstmedia.com.au ph - (03) 9428 3600 fax - (03) 9428 3611 Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond Victoria 3121 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. PRINTED BY SPOTPRESS: www.spotpress.com.au 24 – 26 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville NSW 2204 Win a giveaway? Mail us an stamped and addressed envelope, and we’ll send it on over
10 :: BRAG :: 380 : 20:09:10
SOUNDWAVE SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT
We’re way too spoiled for choice when it comes to Soundwave - and this year’s lineup has yet again somehow surpassed their last. Their final announcement adds One Day As A Lion (Rage Against The Machine’s Zach de la Rocha and The Mars Volta’s Jon Theodor), Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon, Millencolin, Fucked Up and more to an already morbidly obese bill – including Iron Maiden, Queens Of The Stone Age, Slayer, Primus, Slash, The Bronx, Pennywise, Sevendust, The Ataris, Anberlin, Rob Zombie and so many more that your brain just started bleeding. Yep, Soundwave pretty much nailed it. Again. Sunday February 27, at Eastern Creek Raceway.
FRIENDLY VIBES
Friendly Fires have joined the massive Good Vibes lineup – featuring Faithless, Phoenix, Nas & Damian Marley, Sasha, Cee Lo Green, Kelis, Ludacris, Erykah Badu, Miike Snow, our delicious cover-star Janelle Monae and a whole bunch more. Tickets went on sale Friday through Moshtix – go get ‘cho vibe on….
YA MUM
We’re going to give the next MUM a plug, even though they forgot to ask us to help
them put the party together. (THANKS, YOU GUYS.) Still, the delightful teams at Music Feeds and Spit Press did a damn fine job: with 13 bands and 30 DJs across three floors, it’ll be a huge party even if no one shows up. But there’s no way that that’ll happen - Mother & Son, Whipped Cream Chargers (aka “Da Nangs”), Spookyland, Arc Archer & The Carnival Of Souls, ME, Animal Farm, Blonde On Blonde, Strange Talk and a host of others will be pulling in the masses. So head on down and get a teapot up ya*. (*responsibly.)
Another Newtown festival is about to hit Camperdown! The last time I was at Newtown Festival (in Camperdown), a dude with a massive bubble hoop thing (yeah, you know what I mean) started talking to me. He asked me if I enjoyed “festies” and if I wanted a crack at his bubble thing. I walked away pretending to be cooler than him, but secretly, I’ve always regretted it. The bubbles are just so big. What kind of soap do they use? Anyway Richard In Your Mind, Skipping Girl Vinegar, Thundamentals, The Snowdroppers and heaps more are playing this time around - Sunday November 14 in Camperdown Memorial Park.
Skipping Girl Vinegar
GIG OF THE WEEK
BURLESQUE UNDERWATER LOVE
LAUREN LA ROUGE BRIANA BLUEBELL HMAS HEIDI HOOPS HOLLY J'A DOLL ROSY RABBIT ELECTRIC DREAMS MELISE AVIGNON WITH MC RENNY “COUSTEAU” KODGERS & DJ GOLDFISH-FOOT After the sensational, seductive and sold-out Vamps, Vixens and Dolls, 34B returns with a spectacular journey under the sea with the sublime Underwater Love. Oarsome! Take a deep breath - What urchins will be revealed, what nautical mysteries uncovered! This is shore to be sea-riously marvellous marine mayhem. Tickets: 20 Clams General Entry Reserved Tables - 30 Clams pp (min 3 people) Tix Thru tenderloins.com.au
WED 22 SEP
THUR 23 SEP
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THUR 23 SEP
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BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 11
rock music news
free stuff
welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on, down and around town. With Nathan Jolly and Cool Thomas
FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM
five things WITH
Linkin Park
BRIDGEMARY KISS
LINKIN PARK
1.
Growing Up We all grew up listening to completely different music, but music none-the-less. It’s only recently that we’ve all come together with a love of a similar style. The first gig we ever played was at Yoyo’s youth centre in Sydney’s north. We got socially murdered by four metal bands for having an electric drum kit, and for wearing straw hats. We ended up replacing the electric kit with a real one - but still rock the straw hats now and then.
Inspirations The Clash, T-Rex and Blur. Listening to 2. them from an early age has helped us form our sound and make us who we are. We also believe ‘Return Of The Mack’ and ‘The
Skat Man’ are two of the best songs ever written.
Your Crew We moved to LA in May this year for 3. Music, Right Here, Right Now three months and began working with Dave The music scene is getting tough now 5. Jerden (The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, - it seems to be all about singles and sync, RHCP, Janes Addiction). After working on a bunch of songs with him, he helped us establish our sound. We also worked with Ghost Writer Jimmy Boyle (Mick Jagger, RHCP), who really encouraged us and brought out our influences, helping break our musical boundaries. The Music You Make We are a brit-rock band with an Aussie 4. sense of humour. Big backing vocals, strong
CELL
The Basics
guitars and a tight rhythm section with singa-long melodies. You can expect a musical punch in the face at one of our live shows.
New Zealand band Cell are hopping various forms of transport for a four-and-a-half week Australian tour, in which they’re playing a bunch of venues including schools, pub, prisons (although we are almost certain this won’t happen), and four all ages shows. But if you’re over 18, head to the one at Club Blink on October 29 – it’ll be huge.
APPROACHING WARP SPEED
the day of the album is dead… A good thing about the Sydney music scene is that there’s a large youth contingent surrounding varying genres - and you don’t have to be 21 to get into a pub or gig! Who: Bridgemary Kiss Where: Oxford Art Factory When: September 25 & October 8
‘Nintendogs’ (yes!), fits the bill nicely. They will probably play both at Excelsior on September 30, and World Bar on October 1.
DIESEL TOUR
Multi ARIA winner Diesel is set to embark on his 7 Axes To Grind national tour, also bringing with him his huge and eclectic collection of guitars. He’ll be at the Vanguard on October 15 and 16, grinding all of those axes and potentially playing some tunes as well.
Any day now Lightspeed Champion is going to release a single so odd and cool and undeniably awesome that he will break through and sit on top of the chart for weeks. At this point we’ll have to stop liking him, but until then we can watch him at Oxford Art Factory on December 29 and say things like, “Xmas was good, wasn’t it? Watch the Queen’s speech? Nah, neither. Lightspeed Champion’s sick.”
Linkin Park weren’t always high on stardom - they were once a group of Californian students messing around, not really expecting any kind of fame. That was 1996. Since then, they’ve released three albums, toured the world a bunch of times and sold over 50 million albums internationally. Not bad, right? They haven’t stopped there. Their long awaited fourth album is upon us - A Thousand Suns which has been described as their most cutting-edge album yet. Send us an email and tell us what the band was called before it changed to Linkin Park, and you could be in the running for a Deluxe Fan Edition Boxset - a custom-made hinged box, containing two 12” vinyl records, CD and DVD digi-packs (including a making-of doco) and a hardcover art book. Huge.
THE BOHO BALL
For me, talk of the Bohemian Masquerade Ball conjures up images gleamed mainly from David Lynch films smashed into scenes from Andy Warhol tele-movies. And that scene from Stoned where ‘White Rabbit’ plays and they drop acid and dance around in masks. The Factory Theatre may house all this and more as The Barons of Tang, The Crooked Fiddle Band, Lolo Lovina and others perform. Dress up, have fun, and get your inner-West on.
Cypress Hill
THE PARADISE MOTEL
BASICALLY…
The Basics have spent thousands of dollars and countless hours in the studio - pouring their collective heart and soul into a document that will stand as a representation of the band and their ethos circa 2010. How can you put a price on that? Turns out you can’t, which is why they’re giving away their latest album. Not on the sidewalk or anything; you’ll have to visit freebasicsalbum.com and follow the conventions of the information super highway. Also, album launch at Oxford Art Factory on November 6. Go go go!
GENRE HOPPING SERJ
Serj Tankian’s new album contains a number of melodically pleasing passages which adopt perfect harmony. Imperfect Harmony is the name of this album. Isn’t it ironic! [See: misuse of the word ‘irony’]. The album is due out September 24, and Serj himself describes it as “electro-orchestral-jazz-rock.” Due to the confusion this will cause in record stores, many of which don’t contain this genre section, we predict a riot.
Back in 1986, I was just an urchin playing in a band called Hollywood Rose with my friend Axl. Once evening we chanced upon an amazing place called Paradise City, and ended up injecting Jack Daniels in a lovely place called The Paradise Motel. I was reminded of my dubious past by the news that The Paradise Motel are playing the Sando this Saturday, September 25 - their first shows after a ten year hiatus.
PARIS WELLS
Certain names are names for hot girls, and hot girls only. Scarlett Johannson is one. Paris Wells is another. Paris is playing at Raval this Thursday, September 23 – so go along, just don’t approach her. Unless she looks at you or near you during her set, because that means the songs she sings are being sung for You.
JINJA SAFARI
Jinja Safari! Debut EP! Launching! The five tracker features current single ‘Peter Pan’, which can be heard on high rotation across triple j and is also pretty great. The EP also features brand new single ‘Forest Eyes.’ Which is equally, if not more, great. They’re bringing up Strage Talk from Melbourne for the show - which will be held at GoodGod Small Club on Thursday September 23. We’ll be the ones at the front, waving our arms in the air like idiots.
RE:AWESOME.
Re:Enactment have promised us two fresh summer jams, and I take declarations like this very, very seriously. Luckily all of this checks out, as their latest double A-side, ‘Problematic’ and
SO SUE ME. AHH, I GET IT!
You know how when someone you have a crush on tells you that they broke up with their partner, and you have to act all consoling but are really trying hard to hide your glee. This is how I feel when I hear Sosueme are farewelling their time at Q Bar with a DJ set by Cypress Hill, this Friday September 24. “End of an era” I wistfully sigh, while quietly humming ‘Insane In The Brain’ under my breath…
“Corrupted from memory, No longer the power. It’s creeping up slowly, that last fatal hour.” – JOY DIVISION 12 :: BRAG :: 380 : 20:09:10
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dance music news
free stuff
welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... With Chris Honnery onthefly.com.au
FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM
he said she said WITH
STOP START $7 SOCIAL CLUB
OLD MEN OF MOSS MOUNTAIN We make nerd-rap gangster-forest-pop. Anyone familiar with Mush, Anticon and Def Jux will know where we’re coming from. We recorded Swamp in both shitty living rooms and tasty studios - Ghost mixed and mastered it at his secret lab.
W
e're the children of 90's grunge and gangster rap, 8 tracks and BMX, Nintendo 64 and Miyazaki. We grew up with music around the dinner table and we’ve been making our own since high school. The listening history of everyone in OMOMM couldn’t be more all-over-theshop - growing up with Beethoven, Beatles, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Dr. Dre and Public Enemy. That said, the biggest source of inspiration for OMOMM comes from Anticon artists like cLOUDDEAD, and
rappers like Sage Francis, Aesop Rock, Kool Keith and Del. Their respective takes on hip hop should inspire anyone. OMOMM is made of MC’s Polyphics, Mister Whisper and Maatzi. We went to school together, been producing and writing for a few years, met producer Ghost in 2008 and we made the Swamp EP together. Our live show includes Jaie (Domeyko/ Gonzalez, danimals, i like cats) on bass and keys, and Bill (i like cats) hitting drums. Jaie pretends to be shy...
N.E.R.D.
Flying Lotus and EL-P are releasing some phenomenal stuff right now; bank-robbing music for sure. No one is really doing what we’re doing in Sydney at the moment. There’s an underground electronica/hip hop scene growing with bands like Seekae and Domeyko/Gonzalez, but we’re the original nerd-rap gangsterforest-pop MCs. OMOMM can be pretty out there so it’s been mad fun grounding it in the fatness of a banging live show that people can get into to, which they’re starting to do. A new single’s coming out to pave the way for the next EP, and there’ll be an album when the time’s right. For now, OMOMM’s rocking Chocolate Jesus at Iguana bar this Sunday, before the massive Double Dragon at OAF on October 1. Who: Old Men Of Moss Mountain What: Chocolate Jesus Industries presents Double Dragon II With: Bridezilla, WIM, Zeahorse, Arkestra, Dark Bells, Piano Is Drunk and more Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Friday October 1
The team at Stop Start are launching their Stop Start $7 Social Club at Melt Bar this Friday September 24. Actually, the term ‘Club’ is used loosely here, since there will be no secret handshake or exclusive password; however the terms ‘social’ and ‘$7’ are deadly serious – which basically means you can expect more bang for you buck. For instance: the mighty’ Hungry Kids of Hungary’, the debut performance for Maniac AND the talented Pluto Jonze. All for $7. (We think this is what’s known as WYSIWYG). If you head along this Friday, besides being ahead of the game, you’ll also get a free Stop Start sampler CD featuring their artists. But if you want to be stingy, then head along to facebook.com/stopstartmusic and try your hand at winning tickets...
MC EVIDENCE
Touring to support the release of his sophomore EP Cats & Dogs, Dilated Peoples-frontman MC Evidence is tearing the roof off Tone on Friday October 15, in his first ever solo head-line tour of OZ. Supporting him on decks is the legendary Total Eclipse, member of legendary DMC DJ team and production crew, The Xecutioners. With releases on Stones Throw, Rawkus Records and Copsetik as well as multiple DMC world titles to his credit, Total Eclipse’ razor sharp skills on the 12”s and inspired production creativity have earned him a place in the annals of hip hop history. All you have to do is email us and tell us the name of his debut solo record, and you could score one of two double passes to see MC Evidence and Total Eclipse at their show at Tone. Fo sho.
Digitalism
BOUNDARY BONDS WITH...
MAX BECKER ENT PROJECT MANAGER, IND
Tell us a bit about Indent? Indent is a not-for-profit organisation that provides funding, resources, advice and information to young people in NSW interested in staging their own all-ages gigs. We have a small events grant program, the Partnership Grants (which are open now), and also do workshops in music business and event management for young people.
N.E.R.D/CHROMEO/BOYS NOIZE
Some people may be tempted to celebrate the New Year a week later this – or rather next? – year, with the news that heavyweight internationals N*E*R*D, Chromeo, Boys Noize and Tinie Tempah will be playing the Horden Pavillion on Friday January 7 2011. While Chromeo will also be appearing at Field Day, this show represents the only chance to see the other three perform in Sydney. Now for a brief rundown of the lineup for the uninitiated few: N.E.R.D, the conception of The Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, are responsible for such hits as ‘She Wants To Move’, ‘Provider’ and most recently ‘Everyone Nose’. Chromeo are in town on the back of their third LP Business Casual, Boys Noize is the electro brainchild of German producer Alexander Ridha and Tinie Tempah is a UK grime act who has only recently ‘broken through’... Tickets to this quadruple bill will be available online from this Friday September 24, and will set you back a mere $95.
HARBOURLIFE
Fuzzy has announced the lineup for its annual Harbourlife party, held in the picturesque surroundings Fleet Steps at Mrs Macquaries Point, right on Sydney harbour. The Temper Trap, Metronomy and Yacht Club DJs have all been confirmed, while more local acts are still being locked in. Harbourlife has always sold out extremely fast due to the intimate venue, limited to a capacity of circa 5K. Rest assured we’ll give you ample warning as to when tickets go on sale, but for now just jot Saturday November 20 in the diary and be ready; we’re talkin’ proper, on the ball alert!
JACK IS BACK
Murphdog is getting more creative with his press releases for Jack. It’s his popular monthly bash that celebrates old-skool Chicago House, disco, Detroit, and acid house sounds with residents Mark Murphy and Speakeasy’s Magda. This Friday, he advises you that Jack is “back at the Polo Lounge, Oxford Hotel for
its first spring dance, so wear some flowers in your hair and a little baby’s breath beneath your ears.” I’m not sure how strictly this ‘flower power’ theme will be enforced, but I’m guessing it’ll be fine if you stumble in off the street sans flower. But what’s not to love about embracing your inner (or outer) love child? After all, it’s free entry - so it really is the least you could do.
ASTON SHUFFLE WIN ITM GONG
DJ troupe the Aston Shuffle took out the gong for Australia1s #1 DJ at the inthemix50 Awards last Thursday, breaking Brisbane trance DJ Tydi’s three-year reign. Conducted through the inthemix website, more than 65,000 people voted to give the lads from Canberra the nod. “We’re not really sure how this happened to be honest!” said The Aston Shuffle, via a media release. “We are so, so appreciative of everyone who voted, everyone who comes to see us play and everyone who listens to our music - you guys rule and are the reason we do what we do.”
HARBOUR PARTY ANNOUNCED
It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again: the time when people begin to tentatively plan New Year’s Eve. (Where has all the time gone? What have I been doing with myself? How old am I know? etc...) The Harbour Party at Luna Park offers a prime vantage point to party away the annual milestone, and this year boasts a lineup headed by French electro outfit Digitalism - signed to French tastemaker label Kitsune, and responsible for those huge singles that just couldn’t shut up if they tried, ‘Zdarlight’ and ‘Pogo’. US house don Dennis Ferrer will also be popping by, as will party-timers Sneaky Sound System, Dirty Bird’s Riva Starr and Goodwill. Fireworks, rides, beats and an allround carnival atmosphere – not a bad way to party in the New Year, eh? More acts are still to be announced, and tickets go on sale next Thursday - so you have a week to digest, mull it all over, and decide to be there.
What have you got happening at the moment? We’re currently about to embark on our first state tour. The Indent Ten Year Tour will see us take Urthboy and some special guests on the road, to play ten dates across regional NSW. All the shows are all-ages, and we’ve been working with local young people in each community to stage them. What’s the most challenging part about working with kids under 18? Probably apathy – young people can show an unbridled amount of enthusiasm for something one week, and then the next week seem not to care at all. But hey, we were all like that when we were young, so it’s not really an issue – if they come to one workshop or gig and learn a little bit about the business, then that’s awesome. Where in NSW would you most like to take an Indent tour? I would love to do a tour of remote NSW – Bourke, Broken Hill, out west... Website (for grants or tour info) – www.indent.net.au
“Oh, I’ve walked on water, run through fire, Can’t seem to feel it anymore.” – JOY DIVISION 14 :: BRAG :: 380 : 20:09:10
BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 15
free stuff
dance music news welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... With Chris Honnery onthefly.com.au WITH
WITH
FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM
ALISON WONDERLAND (SOSUEME)
five things
ALISON WONDERLAND FROM SOSUEME Growing Up It all started with my mother playing 1. The Beatles to me when I was still in her womb - followed by crawling around my grandpa’s loungeroom while he played jazz on the piano. I then took to the cello - playing in orchestras - which lead to the bass and playing in bands, which lead to DJing.. Sweet, sweet progression! In my teens, I remember my mum confiscating my Snoop Doggy Dogg (as he was know back then), Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead and Prodigy albums, telling me I could have them back in a year when I “grew up”… Music is and will always be very important in my life; actually, I think it pretty much is my life.
2.
Inspirations James Murphy, The Knife, The Beatles, Radiohead, Outkast, Prince, Bach, Justice, David Attenborough, Bruce Lee. Nuff said. You I roll with a group of people who 3. are cooler than Chuck Norris, nicer than Ghandi and share my love of music! Apart from all of this, the only fact of real importance is: I can’t tell my left from my right. I have pursued my musical aspirations despite this little set back… The Music You Make I wouldn’t say I have a type. Due 4. to my hard core A.D.D, I sometimes
discriminate age or style, and you can definitely hear that when I play a set. If the music is amazing, it’s amazing. Anything from Boney M to Big Boi to LCD Soundsystem to Hudson Mowhawke to Riva Starr... as long as the crowd are dancing in some form of John Travolta/ Saturday Night Fever homage, I’m happy. I also make music too... Stay tuned for some exciting news real soon. Music, Right Here, Right Now Well I think music, and in particular 5. electronic music, is moving forward in leaps and bounds. I’m excited for whatever comes next - the bar has been set pretty high so I’m confident that our minds will be blown by whatever happens starting frommmmm... NOW. Definitely one thing that worries me though is the slow disintegration of our live venues. I’ve been a resident at SOSUEME since it began, and know the promoters well. To build a night and a venue up over the years only to have the live music element (which really is the foundation) banned by a select few is pretty damn unfair. Luckily they have taken SOSUEME on the road, venue hopping around to visit some awesome live venues like OAF & The Gaelic. Awesome. Who: Alison Wonderland With: Cypress Hill (DJ set + live percussion show) Where: Sosueme @ QBar, for the last time When: Friday September 24
get bored with just one genre. I don’t
Urthboy
the venue will offer “pleasant hour drinks” from 5-7pm. Loop launches this Saturday with a set from respected Sydney veteran Peret Mako, who released the hugely impressive album The Devil’s In The Detail on the Future Classic imprint a few years back. Tone is located at 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills.
Wippenberg
GODSKITCHEN
To celebrate the release of their latest mega compilation, the Godskitchen tour juggernaut is back in Australia next week, with a trance-tastic line-up: Andy Moor, Musical Madness pioneer Marcel Woods, genre-warping electronic music adventurer Wippenberg, John O’Callaghan – and scores of other angels, carrying you to another plane. The ship takes off on Sunday October 3 at Hordern Pavillion, Sydney. If you’re over-18 and have a rhythmical bone in your body, Godskitchen really is one of those mustdo experiences, and there’s nothing quite like it: eight hours of mind-blowing trance topped up with powerful laser lights and amazing 3D effects. If you want to take this shit to the next level, email us and tell us where Godskitchen held their first event...
2 Many DJs
BOTTIN
INDENT TEN YEAR TOUR
This Sunday, September 26, Sydney’s Factory Theatre in Marrickville will host an all-ages Aussie hip-hop show as part of MusicNSW’s Indent Ten Year Tour. Urthboy, Jane and El Gusto are headlining proceedings, while Yung Nooky will kick things off prior to performances from True Vibenation and Daily Meds, two new offerings from independent new hip-hop label Big Village. The event has been put together by Indent working with teams of local people aged (12 – 25 year olds) who have managed the event themselves. Nice one! A free workshop about the music industry, business and performance will be conducted before the show.
LOOP @ TONE
The crew behind Loose Kaboose have a new Thursday night weekly concept, Loop, which will be held at Tone - a venue that is rapidly establishing itself as a favourite among discerning beat aficionados. The Loop mission statement promises, “We’ll tantalise your ears with future beats and fill your inners with tasty treats”, courtesy of regular DJs on rotation such as Simon Caldwell, Lorna Clarkson, Jimi Polar, Magda, Mark Murphy, Kali, Trinity, Dave Stuart, Raffi Darkchild and Glebe personality Jordan Deck. Loop kicks off at 6pm so you can go straight from “work” – though this would be inconsequential to a significant portion of Brag’s readership, who our market research team have informed us are on weekly “arts grants”. Misers take note:
Italian disco proponent Bottin makes his Aussie debut and plays at GoodGod Small Club this Friday. With heavy praise and a MySpace sign up from Italians Do It Better boss Mike Simonetti, Bottin has been an avid ambassador of Italian Disco for a while now. It was the 2009 releases of ‘No Static’ on Simonetti’s Italians Do It Better label and his ‘Horror Disco’ on Bearfunk that first put him on the map, but with remixes of Lindstrom, In Flagranti and even local lads Lost Valentinos all circulating, Bottin has continued to broaden his listenership in recent times. Though many have come before him during the current disco resurgence, Bottin’s playful - and at times kitsch tracks have cemented his prominent standing in the disco paradigm. Support comes from the Loin Brothers, Mirror Mirror, Dan De Caires and Kali.
CATCALL
Sydney’s Catherine Kelleher, aka Catcall, has just released Swimming Pool, her follow up to the Anniversary EP. The 23-year-old popstress first cut her musical teeth in DIY punk outfit Kiosk before morphing into Catcall, where she gained the attention of the Aussie public with performances at festivals like Big Day Out, Homebake and Parklife. Her latest release purportedly has her delving into disco influences with the aid of production guru Julian Mendelsohn, the man responsible for such classics as INXS’ ‘Need You Tonight’, and ‘Relax’ and ‘Two Tribes’ by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. (“I invented the piano key necktie!”) Mendelsohn’s 10-minute extended version of ‘Swimming Pool’ has set the blog sphere ablaze, and Catcall plays The Civic Underground on Saturday October 9 with support from Alpine, Worlds End Press, Golden Ron, Bad Ezzy and the Future Classic DJs.
MC EVIDENCE
Rhymesayers Records heavyweight and Dilated Peoples front man, MC Evidence, will embark on his first ever head line tour of Australia shortly - and is slotted to play an exclusive Sydney show at Tone on Friday October 15. Evidence unleashed his debut solo record The Weatherman (a nickname a fan gave him early in his career) in 2007, after a long struggle with his then-label Capitol Records. The album featured production from Evidence
2MANYDJS @ PARKLIFE
With Parklife but a few weeks away, news has come to hand that Belgium DJ duo and festival favourites 2manydjs have been added to the lineup. Also part of the band Soulwax, 2manydjs join Oregon-based rock outfit The Dandy Warhols, UK stalwarts Groove Armada, lascivious Frenchwoman Uffie, Missy Elliott (accompanied by her 27-strong all dancing entourage), Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys, Kele from Bloc Party, New Young Pony Club, Holy Ghost!, Busy P, Memory Tapes, Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernauts, Brodinski, DJ Mehdi, Jesse Rose and Bag Raiders along with a host of others at Moore Park on Sunday October 3.
himself, Jake One, the Alchemist and Babu, among others, and was followed a few months later by Red Tape Instrumentals - an album of beats. Evidence shifted labels to the esteemed hip hop imprint Rhymesayers Entertainment mid-last year, and is gearing up to release his sophomore EP, Cats & Dogs, on that stable before the year is out.
TONGUE SINGLE LAUNCH
Aussie hip hop monolith The Tongue and duo Spit Syndicate join forces for a national tour in November, and play a double header at the Gaelic Club on Thursday November 11. The Tongue’s new album Alternative Energy has just been released on Elefant Traks and has already featured as ‘Album of the Week’ on FBi, 2SER and Austereo’s Radar Radio [and indie AoW right here! - ed.]. The LP features beats from M-Phazes, Cam Bluff, Dizz1 and El Gusto and guests include Gift Of Gab, Urthboy and Joyride. Not to be outdone, Spit Syndicate have had a busy year themselves, touring extensively on the back of the release of their sophomore
LP and supporting the likes of Cypress Hill. The double header will be embellished by the presence of Melbourne MC Class A, who’s launching her album Me, Me, Me and Him: The Secret Life of a Receptionist. Presale tickets will be available from Thursday September 23.
KOMPAKT SESSION 3
Kompakt Session 3, featuring the dual international headliners from Kompakt Records Tobias Becker and Kaito, will be held at The Civic Underground this Friday, before the pair back up at the annual Earthdance open-air fiesta the following day. Becker will be making his Aussie debut after having to postpone his tour earlier in the year, while Kaito is a producer with Japanese and American heritage who has released three acclaimed LPs on Kompakt and holds a residency at the famed ‘Save The Robots’ party in NYC. Local support comprises two of the more respected DJs in the Sydney scene: headphone connoisseur Matt Aubusson and Thug Records’ Carlos Zarate, who you will remember from his days repping at Sweet Chill.
“Violent, more violent, his hand cracks the chair, Moves on reaction, then slumps in despair” – JOY DIVISION 16 :: BRAG :: 380 : 20:09:10
BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 17
Industrial Strength themusicnetwork.com
Industry Music News with Christie Eliezer
GAGA, PRODUCER, MAKE UP The animal activists still want to boil Lady Gaga in oil for wearing a meat dress to the MTV awards, but she’s made up with her first producer Rob Fusari. In March, he sued her for US$30.5 million, saying that he helped kick-start her career by co-writing her hits ‘Paparazzi’ and ‘Beautiful, Dirty, Rich,’ coming up with her stage name (from Stefani Germanotta), and getting her a record deal. He has a producing credit on Gaga’s 2008 debut album, The Fame and claims their contract promised him 20% of her royalties - but he’s only been paid $611,000. Gaga counter-sued, saying Fusari was just an agent for her, and she was an inexperienced singer when he got what she now says was an unfair agreement in 2006. But last week the two withdrew their lawsuits.
JO WALKER JOINS PEER AS MD Former Austereo and MTV executive Jo Walker has joined Peer Group Media (PGM) as its strategic partner and co-owner, taking on the role of Managing Director. At Austereo, Walker was National Tour and Promotions Manager, overseeing all their tours for the past six years, and recently working on their newly launched digital station Radar Radio. She will work alongside PGM’s founder and CEO Adam Zammit. Peer publishes The Brag and The Music Network, represents The Vines, Gypsy And The Cat, Blue Juice and John Steel Singers through its Parker And Mr French management agency, and holds the
Life lines Expecting: British singer and pianist Jamie Cullum and model, author and TV presenter Sophie Dahl will have their first kid in February. They married this year. Marrying: 50 Cent has proposed to R&B singer Ciara, whose 2007 single ‘Can’t Leave Them Alone’ he produced. Ill: Illness by a Grinspoon member caused the band to blow out shows for the first time in their career. In Court: Los Angeles TV producer Roxanne Davis has settled her lawsuit against Johnny Rotten out of court. She claimed that Rotten, who was a judge on the reality TV series she worked on, threw a hissy over being accommodated at the five star Los Angeles Ritz Carlton hotel, called her a “cunt” and punched her. Sued: The estate of the late New York-based DJ AM (aka Adam Goldstein) is being hit with a US$88,000 claim for unpaid taxes. Last month one of the DJ’s neighbours sued him for $25,000 in damages over a “gaseous foul odor and/or smell” emitting from Goldstein’s property. Sued: LA punk band The Vandals, by the publishers of entertainment magazine Daily Variety for allegedly using its stylized logo font on the cover of their album. The band hired an attorney, Joe Escalante - who happens to be their bass player. Died: Highly decorated indigenous country singer Gus Ntjalka Williams from the Northern Territory, aged in his early ‘70s. Died: Queensland country music songwriter Tony Brooks, 83, cancer. Died: NSW radio executive Tom Crozier, after a series of strokes. Died: Alphonsus “Arrow” Cassell, best known exponent of Caribbean-born soca (derived from soul and calypso), 60, complications from brain cancer. His best known song was the 1982 club hit ‘Hot Hot Hot’.
commercial rights to The Big Day Out, Parklife and Fuzzy group of events.
BIG EARS AUDIO LAUNCHES B.E.A.M. Big Ears Audio are launching B.E.A.M (Big Ears Audio Music) in the coming months as part of their new site that launched last week. They want songs and music submissions of all styles for possible placements in ads, films and TV shows. Send submissions to bigearsaudio@ yahoo.com.au, attention Tony.
TRIBUTE NIGHT FOR MANDY ROLLINS The Extra Dirty party on October 3 has become a tribute to club DJ Mandy Rollins, who took her life at the Gap on September 4. Her former partner DJ Feisty says the night will raise money for an education campaign aimed at teaching people how to look after each other in regards to depression. Rollins’ death shocked the club and gay communities. Last Friday’s Hellfire was also a tribute, with money raised donated to a suicide prevention group.
JACKSON’S MUM SUES AEG LIVE Michael Jackson’s mother is suing AEG Live, the promoter who organised what were to be the singer’s comeback concerts. The lawsuit contends that AEG Live failed to provide lifesaving equipment and oversee the doctor it hired to look after Jackson as he rehearsed for the shows. Dr. Conrad Murray was paid US$150,000 a month to look after Jackson. “AEG’s representations to Jackson were false,” said the lawsuit, which was also filed on behalf of the three Jackson kids. Jackson died before he signed the agreement.
GIGPAL HITS THE CHORDS Roger Corbett, a member of The Bushwackers who runs his own Valley Studios in the Blue Mountains, has invented a new iPhone app called Gigpal (gigpal.com.au). It allows musicians, songwriters and students to create chord charts for any song they play, make arrangements, and listen to the actual guitar chords while they play along in real time. It seems to be the only one of its kind in the 200,000 items on the iTunes App Store. Stage two will allow players to upload chords to use at shows when people request songs. Corbett invented it over six months in association with the Brisk Mobile team in Toronto.
AUSTEREO REJECTS H&A BLACK HOLE Austereo has rejected as “wrong” a report by Morgan Stanley’s media analysts that the broadcaster stands to lose advertising revenue of between $30 million and $40 million after the departure of Hamish Blake and Andy Lee’s high rating drive-time show in December. This constituted up to 17% of Austereo earnings in 2009/10. But Austereo CEO Guy Dobson told The Australian Financial Review that the ads on the show were booked for other shows as well, and that “very few ads (were) booked specifically in the program”. The broadcaster is about to announce its new drive-time program shortly, Dobson told the paper.
THINGS WE HEAR * The inaugural Sun Beach Camping and Music Festival near Byron Bay over the October long weekend faces an injunction by the local council. It says the organisers, who have booked twelve acts for it, didn’t apply for a licence for the shows - only for camping for 800 people. * While Cold Chisel confirm they’ll do a warm-up club show in Wollongong before their Muster headline show, look out for secret gigs by The Living End as they roadtest new material. * The Music Network revealed that seven staffers were axed by Warner Music Australia last week.
* Lady Gaga has just claimed the Guinness World Record for notching up 154 consecutive weeks in the UK Top 75, breaking Oasis’ record. * Best Coast singer Bethany Cosentino says they’re looking at touring in March. * John Mayer closed 3.7 million-follower Twitter account, his final twitter being “what does this button do?” * UK dance label Renaissance has gone into administration. * Britney Spears could be in charge of her finances again by the end of the year. * Clare Bowditch is looking for an extra gig writing for TV to supplement her not-so-great income from music, reports Undercover.
DREADS ARE BURNING Bob Marley’s estate lost a battle to claim the copyright to his five best known albums Catch a Fire, Burnin’, Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibrations and Exodus - including hits like ‘Get Up, Stand Up’, ‘I Shot the Sheriff’, ‘No Woman, No Cry’ and ‘One Love’. They were recorded between 1973 and 1977 with The Wailers for the Island label, which is now owned by Universal Music Group. But the reggae legend’s wife Rita and his nine children claimed that a 1995 agreement assigned them the rights under the original recording deal - and that Universal diddled them out of millions of dollars. The family was also furious that Universal was using Marley’s music in ads and ringtones. But U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in New York found that Universal were the correct owners of the rights, and rejected the Marleys’ claim that they should be assigned digital rights to his music. She wanted the family and Universal to go back for further talks in late October. And that wasn’t the only bad news for the Marleys last week. 29-year old daughter Makeda J. Marley pleaded guilty to growing marijuana plants in her home. She was also
charged with trying to remove a plant from the house when cops arrived to search it.
BRAND CRAM Waterfront Entertainment Marketing and B&T Magazine have organized the day-long Entertainment Exchange on Thursday Oct 14 at Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf . It will bring entertainment and music executives together with corporations to tie-up business partnerships for tours and events, celebrity endorsements, movies, festivals and DVDs. Making presentations are 20th Century Fox, EMI Music, Paramount, Walt Disney, Warner Home Video, Warner Music, Roadshow Entertainment, Roadshow Distribution, Universal DVD, Mixitup and Rock the Schools. See www.bandt.com.au/eex
FLASHING FOR [V] Channel [V] has brought back its public-voted [V] Oz Artist award for its 14th year, to celebrate Australian music. The channel revealed the Top 50 nominees on the weekend, among them Powderfinger, Amy Meredith, Lisa Mitchell and Guy Sebastian. See www.vmusic.com.au
›› TMN TOP 40
The top 40 most ‘heard’ songs on Australian radio. TW LW TI HP P1 P2 P3 ARTIST
TRACK
LABEL
1
1
8
1 14 30 59 KATY PERRY
TEENAGE DREAM
CAP/EMI
2
2
8
2 13 25 53 TAIO CRUZ
DYNAMITE
ISL/UMA
3
3
9
2 14 26 58 USHER FT. PITBULL
DJ GOT US FALLIN’ IN LOVE
SME
4
4
8
4 14 27 55 LADY GAGA
DANCE IN THE DARK
INT/UMA
5 NEW 1
5 15 24 49 KINGS OF LEON
RADIOACTIVE
SME
6 17 3
6 14 24 51 CEE-LO GREEN
FU
WMUK/WMA
CLOSER TO THE EDGE
VIR/EMI
8 10 11 8 17 30 53 BIRDS OF TOKYO
PLANS
CAP/EMI
9
CLUB CAN’T HANDLE ME
ATL/WMA
10 5 11 1 11 25 51 EMINEM FT. RIHANNA
LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE
INT/UMA
11 9
7
7 10 7 12 25 58 THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS 6 13 5 13 25 46 FLO RIDA FT. DAVID GUETTA
FOR THE FIRST TIME
SME
12 11 7 11 13 24 51 KE$HA
TAKE IT OFF
SME
13 14 16 5 15 43 67 TRAIN
IF IT’S LOVE
SME
14 31 7 14 12 24 43 MIKE POSNER
COOLER THAN ME
SME
15 8 15 1 14 30 56 ADAM LAMBERT
IF I HAD YOU
SME
16 24 3 16 14 24 47 BRUNO MARS
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
ATL/WMA
ART START GRANTS
17 15 5 10 16 35 87 TAYLOR SWIFT
MINE
BIG/UMA
Submissions have opened for the latest round of applications for the Australia Council’s ArtStart grants, to help emerging artists. More than 100 grants worth $10,000 each are available for those who’ve graduated from an accredited artist training course in the last three years (or are about to). Applicants can use the grants to develop skills, rent studio space, get business advice and mentors, or market their work. To apply go to www.artstartgrant.com.au the deadline is October 5.
18 20 10 16 11 32 57 ED KOWALCZYK
GRACE
SME
19 13 16 1 17 42 82 UNCLE KRACKER
SMILE
ATL/WMA
20 NEW 1 20 11 23 47 RIHANNA
ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD)
DEF/UMA
TIMBALAND US hip hop performer Timbaland won the first round of lawsuits over the Australian tour he cancelled at the last minute in 2008. Queensland-based promoter Showtime Touring Group filed a $1 million breach of contract suit in the NSW Supreme Court. He countersued in New York, alleging that Showtime had not paid him the $1.26 million fee for his five shows, and had arranged sponsorships and commercial tie-ins without his permission. Showground retaliated that it had paid him half the fees upfront. The Australian court said that Showtime had to pay Timbaland’s legal fees. Moving forward, Showground’s Sire Kailahi has teamed up with Kevin Jacobsen to bring out the Usher-headlined six-act Urban Music tour in November.
7
9 12 34 61 THE SCRIPT
21 12 6
12 12 28 55
GOOD CHARLOTTE
LIKE IT’S HER BIRTHDAY
CAP/EMI
8
22 11 26 50
B.O.B FT. RIVERS CUOMO
MAGIC
ATL/WMA
23 21 7
21 13 26 62
22
22
STAN WALKER
CHOOSE YOU
SME
24 16 17 1
13 28 52
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS FT. PITBULL
I LIKE IT
INT/UMA
25 18 12 7
13 31 62
MICHAEL PAYNTER
LOVE THE FALL
SME
POWDERFINGER
IBERIAN DREAM
UMA
27 19 11 15 11 39 54
NICKELBACK
THIS AFTERNOON
RR/WMA
28 25 14 18 12 38 64
JOHN BUTLER TRIO
REVOLUTION
JAR/MGM
29 28 17 12 15 30 56
GYROSCOPE
BABY, I’M GETTING BETTER
UMA
30 27 20 2
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS
THIS AIN’T A LOVE SONG
SME
31 29 12 12 16 38 58
MAROON 5
MISERY
A&M/UMA
32 30 7
ATL/WMA
26 23 4
23 14 37 69
19 43 71
PARAMORE
CAREFUL
33 32 28 6
15 46 59
JET
SEVENTEEN
VIR/EMI
34 26 19 1
15 29 53
KATY PERRY FT. SNOOP DOGG
CALIFORNIA GURLS
CAP/EMI
35 34 31 1
17 49 67
36 41 5
27 11 21 41
36 12 22 44
37 33 32 7 38 35 3
17 42 54
31 10 25 59
TRAIN
HEY, SOUL SISTER
SME
ZOE BADWI
FREE FALLIN’
NEON/WMA
LIFEHOUSE
HALFWAY GONE
GEF/UMA
BRIAN MCFADDEN FT. DELTA GOODREM
MISTAKES
ISL/UMA
WHATAYA WANT FROM ME
39 39 28 2
16 42 58
ADAM LAMBERT
40 40 22 4
12 27 46
DAVID GUETTA & CHRIS WILLIS FT. FERGIE & LMFAO GETTIN’ OVER YOU
SME VIR/EMI
“I may not always love you But long as there are stars above you. You never need to doubt it I’ll make you so sure about it” - BRIAN WILSON 18 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
OUT NOW
SEE LINKIN PARK LIVE AT ACER ARENA - SATURDAY DECEMBER 11 TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY THROUGH TICKETEK
BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 19
M
ake no mistake about it: Janelle Monaé is not just ‘another female R&B singer’. More afro-punk than soul diva, she’s developed her own brand of cyberfunk that sounds mostly like a musical score for a sci-fi parallel universe. With no interest in modern-day, producer-led and formulaic R&B, the 25 year-old performer has made a mark for herself with her striking voice, innovative production styles, and cohesively-themed concept album, The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) – the second and third parts of her Metropolis series. In conversation, Monaé is seemingly from another planet – one part paranoid android, two parts deliciously-kooky, and the rest nothing if not bizarrely intriguing. Where she finishes and her alter-ago Cindi Mayweather begins is not altogether clear. The character was lifted from the 1927 film that inspired her work to date, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis - in which android Cindy Mayweather is sent back in time to free the citizens of Metropolis from emotional suppression. There’s a lot of art-school pretense in what she has to say, but her creative charge is undeniable. It’s unlikely that ‘conventional’ is ever a word used to describe Ms. Janelle Monaé. Originally from Kansas, Monaé moved to New York City to study at the American Music and Dramatic Academy - but it wasn’t until she moved to Atlanta that she began to find her true artistic identity. Coming to the attention of hip hop duo Outkast, she went on to feature on a number of their projects a musical connection that continues to thrive today. “He’s always been a huge supporter of me and our company, the Wondaland Arts Society - he’s just chosen to endorse it,” she says of Big Boi. (The Wondaland Arts Society is a label, a creative space and a blog helmed by Monaé, with a manifesto that you’ll either love or hate: “We at Wondaland are inventors. We wear tuxedos every day. We jump in pools during performances. We wear Civil War hats and rock vintage Jordans. We believe truth can be broken down with the following formula: Truth = Love x Imagination.”) Monaé enlisted Big Boi to appear on the first single from the album: the sweatsoaked, James Brown-funk nod ‘Tightrope’. “[Big Boi] is like a big brother to me, as well as a mentor,” she says. “I got him involved on the song ‘Tightrope’ – which is a song for the people – because we wanted to create a kind of tutorial on how to stay sane.” She believes balance to be the key to sanity – balance, and dancing. “Dancing for me is a release, and sometimes I think we need to have a release so that we don’t explode in dealing with our issues and our problems… I felt that he was the best person to speak about it because there are so many highs and lows in our business.” The music on her debut may be connected through its over-arching theme, but its eclectic range of styles ensures that the album twists and turns through a series of futuristic leaps and innovative, unusual, arrangements. ‘Mushrooms & Roses’ is a slice of 80s-influenced psychedelic pop, ‘Dance Or Die’ comes off like Grace Jones meeting with Fela Kuti, while ‘Locked Up’ is a nod to the 70s soul-boogie of Stevie Wonder. Most noticeable throughout all of this is Monaé’s apparent love of off-kilter rhythms and quirky sounds, but she’s happy to own her influences. “A part of being an artist is realising who came before you,” she says. “Taking the best from those artists, and using it to your advantage to create something new. Those are the tools. In creating great music, to me, if you leave out certain elements that are absolutely brilliant and have worked previously, you take the risk sometimes of creating something different for the sake of being different. I know deep down in my heart that Michael
Jackson and Stevie Wonder are definitely people to pull from - as their music has impacted in such a great way.” Having said that, Monaé hates labels and comparisons. Music media have been quick to describe her as the female version of Andre 3000, or a disciple of Prince (who himself has turned up at a number of her live shows, and recently hand-picked her to take part in his induction at the Hall Of Fame at the BET Awards – all this despite the fact that Janelle says that growing up, Prince use to give her nightmares!). But Monaé dismisses the comparisons with a shrug. “Labels and categories diminish the beauty of the artist for me,” she says. “I think people should listen to things themselves, and they can decide what’s good and bad themselves. I just create art, and I let everybody else discuss it.”
it’s very spiritual. Sometimes I feel very possessed by the spirit, and I’m unaware of what I’ve done. When I look back on videos, or when someone reminds me, I’m like, ‘Really. I did that?’” Who: Janelle Monaé What: The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) is out now through Warners With: Faithless, Phoenix, Sasha, Nas & Damian Marley, Cee Lo Gree, Kelis, Ludacris, Erykah Badu, Friendly Fires and more Where: Good Vibrations Festival @ Centennial Park When: Saturday February 12
From music magazines, to cutting-edge blogs, to major features in fashion magazines, Janelle Monaé is certainly one of the most intriguing artists of the year. ArchAndroid has received rave reviews and united urban and indie fans alike, but she takes it all in her stride. “I don’t read blogs, and I don’t get involved in the hype of it all. This is the beginning of my career - I’m not trying to be an overnight superstar. I define success in a completely different way than the next person; I feel like I’m successful when I feel like my music is bringing people together. I like looking out into the audience and seeing so many different shapes and colours. I’ve erased genres, and I’ve allowed the individual to believe in the individual again. “I definitely want to be the type of artist who has helped redefine the way a young black girl can create music, and dress,” she says, before owning that the message may have gotten lost along the way: “This outfit that I wear started off as a uniform to represent the working-class, but I’ve already been in Vogue magazine three times - and my intention was never to be this fashion icon. It just started off with me wanting to stay connected to the people - I don’t create music for the Kings and Queens, but I create music for the people who can’t speak out and are going through life’s obstacles. I’ll be around for a while.” Bringing together all the complex elements of the album are Janelle Monaé’s live shows. In concert, it’s like watching a possession at a revivalist church, as she sheds all inhibitions and gets lost in her music. She’s become renowned for her mesmerizing, captivating stage performances, which Australian audiences will get a rare chance to witness when Monaé heads down-under in February 2011, as a part of Good Vibrations. When asked to describe her live shows in one word, Monaé doesn’t give it a second’s thought. “’Electrifying’, I would say - mainly because I don’t choreograph anything I do. The music moves me. I love my music and it touches me in a different way each time I hit the stage – I have an out-of-body experience;
“Where did your long hair go? Where is the girl i used to know?”- BRIAN WILSON 20 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
HARBOURLIFE 2010 [\IZ ZQVO
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The Dandy Warhols A Monkey House In Urban Bohemia By Christine Lan
â&#x20AC;&#x153;W
e just have to keep touring. We have to go out on the road, just so that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t self-destruct.â&#x20AC;? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m talking to Peter HolmstrĂśm, guitarist and founding member of The Dandy Warhols, about the peculiarities of band dynamics. The Dandies are about to head to our shores again for Octoberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Parklife Festival - and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a damn good thing, too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sitting at home not doing anything music-related, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supposed to be doing together... and all sorts of weird little nasty things start happening,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing shows and touring together, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the respect and understanding of why this group of people is together... Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a weird thing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no other reason for [us] to ever be in the same room.â&#x20AC;?
only had one lineup change since their inception. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played in a bunch of other bands, and I know for a fact... that this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy to come by,â&#x20AC;? he says.
When HolmstrĂśm formed The Dandy Warhols with Courtney Taylor-Taylor in 1993, writing music for parties seemed to be their prime aim. And as HolmstrĂśm notes, 17 years is longer than most marriages. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Probably 75% of all marriages never last that long,â&#x20AC;? he surmises. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So for four people to stay together that long, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insane. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown apart, but at this point itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family... itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not necessarily friends.â&#x20AC;? He tells me that whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happened with their band doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen with other people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve
Its follow-up, 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia, featured â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bohemian Like Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; while their fourth, Welcome To The Monkey House, unleashed another explosive hit in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We Used To Be Friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The Portland groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest and sixth studio album ...Earth To The Dandy Warhols... was the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first self-release, which came out to mixed reviews. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good record â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the only complaint I have is that we did a pretty lousy job of getting it out to the people,â&#x20AC;? HolmstrĂśm says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good at making records; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re terrible at releasing them. We really, really need help, so hopefully we can find more of a proper record company outlet for the next one.â&#x20AC;?
This year, The Dandy Warhols released their Best Of compilation, The Capitol Years 1995-2007. A major label bidding war was provoked in 1995 by the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing popularity and notoriety â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one that was triggered as much by their Velvet Undergroundinspired psychedelic rock as their seductive aesthetics, naked performances, and indulgences in acid and roguish behaviour. Capitol Records won, and would release the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major label debut, ...The Dandy Warhols Come Down - with hits â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Boys Betterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Every Day Should Be A Holidayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most other bands donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise how much hard work it takes to be in a successful band. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pretty much on the verge of a nervous breakdown.â&#x20AC;?
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Drummer Brent DeBoer recently stated that two years in The Dandy Warhols is equivalent to more than two decades for most people. As HolmstrĂśm affirms, there are plenty of misunderstandings and under-appreciated elements of being in a band. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even most other bands donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise how much hard work it takes to be in a successful band,â&#x20AC;? he asserts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The thing about it is a lot of the hard work is enjoyable, but touring is a non-stop crazy thing. And making records, it screws up your head in a big way â&#x20AC;&#x201C; trying to think about the way everything should sound or is gonna sound. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty much non-stopâ&#x20AC;Ś Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pretty much on the verge of a nervous breakdown, as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying to pull all this stuff together constantly.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change a thing,â&#x20AC;? he clarifies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing. I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten this far, and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever want it to go away. And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll work my arse off to keep it going.â&#x20AC;? With a new Dandy Warhols album in the works, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem like a break is on the way... â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got probably about somewhere between 12 and 15 song ideas that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve recorded,â&#x20AC;? HolmstrĂśm informs, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but I would guess about six of those will actually turn into songs. And I know Brentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a couple of ideas that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be setting down next week. Ever since Brent wrote the new song (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This Is The Tideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) on the The Capitol Years, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve essentially got a new songwriter, so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great.â&#x20AC;? HolmstrĂśm tells me that in the lead up to the new album, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been comparing their sound to Phoenixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new LP, and listening to the latest Massive Attack album too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gonna sound like that when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finished, probably not â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d really like to make a record thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s somewhere in between rockabilly and back-breaking metal... whatever that means Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure yet - but really, really heavy rockabilly.â&#x20AC;? The bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s connection to Australia has grown pretty strong since DeBoer got married to an Aussie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re related to Australia,â&#x20AC;? quips HolmstrĂśm. Last time they were here was in 2008, part of a tour that he recalls as â&#x20AC;&#x153;too much funâ&#x20AC;?. As a band who always embraced the listenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of their biggest hits, euphoria is obviously a common presence at their shows - but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had their fair share of odd responses too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Early on, we had a group of people from Texas that used to wave toilet plungers in the air,â&#x20AC;? HolmstrĂśm recalls with laughter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They would show up in Europe in various places to wave plungers, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never known whyâ&#x20AC;Ś I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know why they stopped. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re probably out there somewhere, or maybe theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown up and have families and are responsible human beings now,â&#x20AC;? he chuckles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got to be the weirdest reaction to any of our music, ever...â&#x20AC;? Who: The Dandy Warhols What: The Capitol Years 1995-2007 is out now through EMI With: Missy Elliot, Mix Master Mike, 2 Many DJs, Classixx, Groove Armada, Uffie and more Where: Parklife 2010 @ Kippax Lane, Moore Park When: Sunday October 3
Tokyo Police Club Chewy Pop By Bridie Connellan
“I
’m sorry, I’m in a van,” Dave Monks says, explaining the noise that crowds our phonecall. “I’m back in the homeland, at my parents house. I’m going to help my sister move into her apartment tonight.” The Homeland is Newmarket, Canada – where the frontman of uber-hyped Tokyo Police Club is taking some well-earned “me time” after two solid months of touring and album promo. “I am exhausted, but I like to keep active when I get home” he says. “[Newmarket] is actually extremely mellow, but when I’m in town I want to see people, hang out with my friends and make it very action packed.” Supporting the likes of Passion Pit and Weezer, and snagging spots at Pop Montreal, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Coachella and Lollapalooza is one thing – but scooting across the world and back by the headlining seat of their own name, with spots on Letterman and (oddly) Desperate Housewives, is quite another. Monks admits that taking their live show abroad keeps both food and fire in their bellies. “I mean [touring is] definitely where our Benjamins come from… not that we have Benjamins in Canada,” he clarifies. “Touring is what frees you up from relying on radioplay and sales - but really, we just love getting out there and making a connection with people. So many good things are brought into your life when you travel.”
Tokyo Police Club’s new album as “chewy”. “We’ve got some good stuff there for a meal and it tastes good, but you can chew on it, and stick with it a while.” Monks & Co are about to head off once more on a huge headlining tour – no Aussie dates as yet, but fingers crossed and breath baited... With such a globally located band-name, by the end of our chat the intrigue has reached breaking point: so much touring, but have they ever visited a Tokyo Police Club? “Well, kind of,” Monks laughs. “We were in Tokyo and there was a little police outpost; a drive-thru station; a toll booth with a cop in it. We took a photo outside, and then got escorted off the premises...” So the band moniker hasn’t got much of a heartfelt hold? “Ah, that would be a question to ask my 18-year-old self. I can’t tell you why we’re called that; I can only tell you that we are called that. In the greater scheme of things, there are way worse band names than ‘Tokyo Police Club’.” There’s truth in that. Chumbawumba is a case in point. Who: Tokyo Police Club What: Champs is out now through Dew Process
In the face of their well-received (yet somewhat temperamental) debut, TPC’s brand new followup Champ displays an undeniable positivity and sparkle for the Canadian outfit. It’s a jaunty upbeat edge, visually exposed in the wondrously sweet film clip for ‘Wait Up (Boots of Danger)’, which depicts a troupe of neighbourhood pets getting their bounce on at a canine pool party. “My friend Mike had this great idea: wouldn’t a great video just be a whole bunch of dogs having a really great time, since that accounts for about 50% of all YouTube content? It came about in the flash of a day - they were all amazing actor-dogs, and the woman looking after them could teach them little things, and get them to stand on diving boards in a certain way...”
“My friend Mike had this great idea: wouldn’t a great video just be a whole bunch of dogs having a really great time? It came about in the flash of a day - they were all amazing actor-dogs...” For their Australian release, the band have signed to Dew Process – and if you donate through the label website you download the clip for free, with 100% of all proceeds going to the RSPCA. “We all love dogs,” Monks tells me, “and as a band we feel we should dedicate our time towards something we care about. I think it’s important to choose causes that you have a direct relation to.” So there’ll be no Band Aid-style themed track about canines then? “Ahh no, we canned the dog tune song.” Our loss, certainly. With a cache of live favourites and something of a signature sound, the release of Champ expressed the foursome’s penchant for crafting infectious grabs of wistful sunshine - as Billboard described, “The brilliance is in the brevity.” For Monk, short fizzy pop is hardy undesirable - he sees the prospect of cultivating a virtuosic electronic guitar/synth fusion of extended textures and timbres as downright boring. “Pop songs are a format that generally package time,” he says. “What can you really say in three minutes? I don’t like jammers, and I don’t like ten-minute drum loops that degrade over an entire track.” In his somewhat upbeat Oberst-post-Bright Eyes drawl, Monks is half-heartedly keen to defend the snappy nature of his four piece - the majority of Champ fails to breach the four-minute mark. Their second track ‘Favourite Colour’ sits pretty at 2:38, and their entire first EP comprised of a mere 16 minute flash. The man is intrigued when I suggest the lads actually sound very Sydney, but it turns out that’s because he thought I said ‘singy’. “S-i-ng-y, is a word we actually use. ‘Songy’ is also a very valid descriptor in our band,” he says. “I also think songs can not be songy – like, I wouldn’t really describe Kraftwerk as very ‘songy’, despite the fact they have songs.” It’s here where the wordsmith side of Monks starts to reveal itself, as he proceeds to define the German electronica masters as “pointy” and BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 23
Linkin Park Balancing Your Diet By Mikey Walsh
A
fter reaching an impasse with early sessions for their fourth album, Californian band Linkin Park burnt the rulebook. The punchy hard rock construct that had seen Hybrid Theory, Meteora and Minutes To Midnight sell more than 50 million albums was jettisoned in favour of a completely new approach. The result, A Thousand Suns, is a textured and intense collection, with Linkin Park manning their instruments like heavy artillery. Graphically, it outlines the futility of conflict, through impressive soundscapes and brutal lyrics a long way from the punchy fix of a lot of their past radio hits.
“It was kind of a subtle thing,” co-vocalist, programmer and producer Mike Shinoda says. “Over the course of the last four years we’ve been really trying to understand the ways in which we confine ourselves as musicians and writers. We’d found ourselves sticking to an old way of doing things, and decided to call ourselves out. We wanted to do something different.” Having broken sales records and picked up multiple awards in the ten years since their 2000 debut Hybrid Theory, the band refused to repeat the artistically deficient cycle. More than just a vehicle
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New album from probably the best live band in the world.
Scottish indie legend is joined by Franz Ferdinand, Drums, Cribs & other friends.
Debut album from exciting new Paris band. Features ‘I Think I Like U 2’.
Root For Ruin
Losing sleep
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EELS
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9th studio album from EELS, the ever-changing project of singer/songwriter & multiinstrumentalist Mark ‘E’ Everett.
It’s the album’s closing moments that elevate Lisbon toward greatness” - MEN’S STYLE.
Wow! One of the revelations of 2010. Features singles ‘Acid Reign’ & ‘Violent Sensation Descends’.
Tomorrow Morning
Lisbon
Amoral
INTERPOL
JUNIP
UNDERWORLD
NYC superstars return with brilliant 4th album. Contains the single ‘Barricades’.
Jose Gonzalez, Tobias Winterkorn, Elias Araya. Debut album. Touring for Falls Festival 2010/2011. Gorgeous.
To celebrate their 30th year together, Underworld return triumphantly with their first new album in almost 3 years.
Interpol
Fields
Barking
08 TH OCT
THE BLACK PACIFIC
DRAGONFORCE
Jim Lindberg (ex-Pennywise singer)’s new band, on SideOneDummy Records.
Double live album from power metal legends.
The Black Pacific
Twilight Dementia
BRING ME THE HORIZON
There Is A Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let’s Keep It A Secret
THE SWORD Warp Riders
Touring with Metallica! Touring Soundwave Festival 2011! Oh, yeah! We love it.
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for more hit singles and Grammy nominations, A Thousand Suns was devised to push Linkin Park into new sonic territories - and create a conceptually driven album, rich with intent. “I remember a couple of years ago we were sitting around at the studio and the subject of the next record came up,” Shinoda says. “Phoenix [Farrell, bassist] said one of my favourite things around that time, which was that he was frustrated by music. He was frustrated about finding music that he liked to listen to, because he felt like the stuff on the radio and the stuff out there in the mainstream is like candy. He started using this food analogy that music like that is like sweets; you can have a little of it in moderation and you have a good time - but in reality, what you also need is some substance. “We took that analogy a step further and asked ourselves what kind of album we wanted to make, and what sort of food we wanted to be. The answer was that it had to be something exotic, something with a different flavour, that had some real substance to it.” So what meal did A Thousand Suns eventually become? “Let’s take the analogy way too far,” Shinoda chuckles. “I think that some people are just used to eating Italian food, but when they’re presented with an Asian/Indian/ Japanese fusion the spices are so unfamiliar to them they might not have the words to describe the thing when they eat it. That’s the kind of experience we would love people to have when they hear this album. We want them to not even be able to put words together to describe what they’re hearing, so that the only way for others to understand is for them to hear it too.”
“We’d found ourselves sticking to an old way of doing things, and decided to call ourselves out. We wanted to do something different... something that had some real substance.” Rick Rubin once again joins Shinoda as Linkin Park co-producer, following the pair’s collaboration on 2007’s Minutes To Midnight. A studio connoisseur with past successes including Grammy winning efforts from Jay-Z, Johnny Cash and Dixie Chicks, Rubin’s non-interventionist style allowed the band the breathing space to find their new sound. “Rick is an amazing person, and an awesome mentor,” Shinoda insists. “I think my favourite thing about our relationship with Rick is the balance between his ideas and ours in the studio. He’s very respectful of our space.” Shinoda tells me that the writing is usually done by himself, with the help of one or two others – they never write as an entire band. Rick shows up once a week or a month, just to check in. “When we need help we can always call him up for a bit of direction, but he just tends to have that really potent direction when you really need something. He’ll give you the smallest idea and it can snowball into something incredible and really special. Not many producers are capable of doing that.” The incidental segues that link A Thousand Suns’ key songs conjure up bombed fields, displaced citizens and the aftermath of war. The chillingly evocative pulse of the album is enhanced by three sound bites lifted from history; speeches by US political activist Mario Savio, human rights leader Martin Luther King Jr and physicist J Robert Oppenheimer – with the latter rueing his involvement in The Manhattan Project, the US development of atomic bombs during World War II. “The thing that struck me about the Oppenheimer quote, aside from the obvious political ramifications of the subject, was that here was a human being who was probably told his whole life that his intelligence was something that made him special. At a certain point his greatest asset, his defining characteristic, turned against him and he had no control of it,” Shinoda explains. “I don’t think anything I have ever done could be as heavy as what was going on there. None of us will ever understand the weight of what he was feeling at the time.” With A Thousand Suns now unleashed, and a heavy block of touring ready to kick in that will see Linkin Park in Sydney this December, Shinoda is currently in the midst of transferring this new epic to the live stage. Mostly, they’re excited; “We can’t wait to come back and play in Australia.” Who: Linkin Park What: A Thousand Suns is out now through Warner Where: Acer Arena When: December 11
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Grinderman The Empire Strikes Back By Mikey Carr
I
n the music world, the ‘difficult second album’ is very much like the troublesome sequel in a movie franchise. Often overambitious and under-realised, both movie sequels and sophomore albums run the risk of on the one hand trying to offer too much by spoiling the formula fans found so engaging at first, or on the other simply dropping into stale repetition. Nick Cave & Co.’s follow-up to Grinderman’s self-titled debut is pretty much a Terminator II- or Alienstype deal - it builds strongly on the original, while still keeping the essentials well in play.
Compared to the vitriolic and swaggering bluespunk of the first album, Grinderman 2 wades into muddier and more psychedelic waters. Cave and his Bad Seed bum-chums Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey and Jim Sclavunos toy with the same rudimentary components present on the first album – but this time, the scope is much larger. The themes are more ambitious and thought-out, Cave delivering esoteric, ambiguous and poetic lyrics which play more of a supporting role, and leave more space for instrumental freakouts. He’s still the leading man no doubt, but the rest of the cast have been allowed their own monologues here and there. As a result, Grinderman 2 feels
more fleshed out, and more full bodied. And apparently, that was the plan. “With Grinderman 2, we made a conscious decision to create a different sound to the first album - although I think it’s fair to say that the specific nature of that sound didn’t follow any kind of pre-planned blueprint,” drummer Sclavunos says. “We don’t like to repeat ourselves if we can avoid it; [we] try new ideas, push ourselves creatively - all that good stuff. I’d say that compared to the first album, it’s more atmospheric. It feels more open-ended: a bit less visceral and maybe a little more cerebral. It’s not like dreampop psychedelia. It’s more like a mind-blowing hallucination, an assault, a psychedelic assault like Maggot Brain, or like Hawkwind.”
“Once you reach this point of collapse where everything falls apart, out of sheer desperation something comes out of it. And then it gets interesting.” Shaped from raw material gathered out of improvised recording sessions at legendary producer Flood’s Assault & Battery studios in Willesden, London, the album holds on to a sense of freewheeling urgency and danger that’s difficult to capture on recordings. There’s a sense that the whole thing could come crashing down around the band in a tumult of fuzzed-out octave generators, and seething sexual wordplay. “The process feels very much like a series of wonderful failures in many ways,” Warren Ellis explains. “You’re going in there not really knowing what you’re looking for, but it feels like once you reach this point of collapse where everything falls apart, out of sheer desperation something comes out of it. And then it gets interesting.
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
“For me, the great part about making a record are the accidents that happen in the studio,” Ellis continues, “and the things that you just never expect to work out the way they did. It seems to me that when you go in with ideas, they’re quite often the ones that can let you down - because you think it’s going to work out in a certain way and it doesn’t.”
THE DOMAIN
Unsurprising then that a lot of what they record is created as it happens. “We go into the studio, the four of us,” Cave explains. “We plug in, turn on and play and tape continuously for about four or five days - and then, out of all that sea of stuff, we collect little snatches of songs that we think have the potential to… that we can form some kind of song out of.”
SATURDAY DECEMBER 11
This revelling in the chaotic that runs through the project is what really sets Grinderman apart from Cave’s other work. While to the uninitiated the band could seem like a low fat version of The Bad Seeds (or just another excuse for Ellis and Cave to pursue their bromance), to those who’ve spent the time to get to know the music, it’s much more than that. Grinderman is a band in the true meaning of the word, rather than a solo artist with accompanists; a fact reflected in the different ways Cave approaches the projects. “The working process is different,” Cave says. “With the Bad Seeds… basically I sit on my own and come up with songs, come up with the lyrics and the music, and take these songs into a studio situation, present them to the band and they try to make these kind of inconsequential doodlings into something much more important and pleasing to the ear. Whereas with Grinderman, we pretty much go in together,” he continues. “I mean obviously we come in with our influences and thoughts on the thing, but really, once we start playing, all of that stuff seems to fall away and we arrive at something that a band would arrive at something quite pure in that way, I think. There’s a purity to it and an abandon to Grinderman that I really like.”
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This abandon makes the album breathe with a sense of excitement, a sense that the band are relishing every moment; it bleeds out of your speaker into your brain like some kind of jungle fungus. A lot of artists could get carried away on a wave of their own self-importance, but Grinderman tap back into the raw passion that should surround music. And thankfully, the franchise is destined to become a trilogy; when asked what’s next, Cave replies “Grinderman 3.” Who: Grinderman What: Grinderman 2 is out now through EMI
Peter Hook Thirty Years Of Unknown Pleasures Patrick Emery
F
or a band that existed for less than four years and released only two albums, Joy Division left a potent legacy. Formed in the industrial city of Manchester, and fronted by the charismatic and chaotic Ian Curtis, their dark, angular sound captured the intensity and angst in the punk scene of northern England’s working class. Curtis’s tragic suicide in May 1980 cut short Joy Division’s tenure just as the band was on the cusp of its first ever American tour. The surviving members – Peter “Hooky” Hook, Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris – went on to achieve considerable success with New Order, but the image and sound of Joy Division remains as powerful as ever. 30 years after Curtis’s death, Hooky is bringing his Unknown Pleasures tour to Australia, celebrating the music of Joy Division. “I hate seeing these cover bands doing it,” he tells me. “If anyone does it, it should be one of us.” Manchester in the 1970s was a cold, culturally desolate city struggling with the harsh reality of economic transformation; within ten years, the city’s industrial fabric would be suffering under the weight of Margaret Thatcher’s monetarist policies. But for Hook, his memories of growing up aren’t so bad. “The memory is a wonderful thing – I only remember the good things,” he laughs. “Actually, when I watched Control [the biopic on Ian Curtis’s life], I never noticed that it was filmed in black and white - because that’s just what it was like to me when I was growing up,” Hook says. He describes Control as a “great film”, and says it captured the mood of Manchester accurately. “It was a tough time in Britain in the 1970s,” Hook says. “There was a lot of unrest.”
of performing Curtis’s songs, Hook decided to follow up the idea and put together a show based on the Unknown Pleasures album. “I thought, ‘Bugger it, I’ve got my own friends and my own band,” he says. “So we put on a show, and we had an exhibition upstairs. On the night, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.” 30 years after his death and Ian Curtis remains an iconic figure, his image plastered across t-shirts and posters alongside other tragic rock’n’roll icons. For Hook, however, the legacy of Ian Curtis is that of a friend. “Ian’s frozen in time,” Hook says. “He’ll always be my mate. He was a friend and a wonderful colleague to work with.” No longer in contact with the other bandmates, Hook isn’t sure what their perspective is on the Unknown Pleasures tour. But he hopes Curtis appreciates the celebration of Joy Division’s music, which is finally getting a chance to travel the world. “I like to think if he’s up there he’s thinking, ‘That’s not bad, he’s done a good job’.” Who: Peter Hook (Joy Division) & The Light What: The Unknown Pleasures Tour Where: Enmore Theatre When: Saturday September 25
Hook and guitarist Bernard Sumner had been friends since school, sharing a common bond of music and a disdain for the dominant culture of the time. In 1976 they headed to the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall to see The Sex Pistols play their first gig in the northern industrial city. “It was a complete shock really,” Hook recalls. “We hadn’t seen anything like that before.” The crowd was replete with teenagers who shared the same sense of alienation and cultural dislocation as Hook and Sumner, and it was during a subsequent Sex Pistols gig in Manchester that Hook and Sumner met Ian Curtis. “There was a new breed of [London] punks who came down and chased the art school punks away,” Hook says. “But Ian was one of us – he was a punk like us.” Curtis eventually joined Hook and Sumner in the latter duo’s fledgling outfit Warsaw, before drummer Stephen Morris came into the picture: “We met Stephen after we’d had a bunch of turkeys try out on drums”, Hook remarks dryly. The band changed its name to Joy Division in early 1978.
“It was only after Ian [Curtis] died that I really got to savour what was going on in his lyrics. When I’ve had to transcribe them for this tour, I’ve been able to analyse them a bit more.” While Curtis was Joy Division’s principal lyric writer, Hook and Sumner collaborated to write the band’s music. “I don’t think I ever really heard Ian’s lyrics until we went into the studio,” Hook tells me. “And it was only after Ian died that I really got to savour what was going on in his lyrics. When I’ve had to transcribe them for this Unknown Pleasures tour, I’ve been able to analyse them a bit more.” Joy Division began recording what would become Curtis’s posthumous album, Closer, in 1980. His epilepsy had evolved into a significant problem, and Joy Division’s gigs were characterised by the sense of chaos and volatility that surrounded his performance. In May 1980, Curtis hanged himself in his Macclesfield home and the era of Joy Division was over; the emotionally charged ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ (released a month after Curtis’s death) came to symbolise Curtis’s troubled personality. When they went on to form New Order, Hook, Sumner and Morris laid the foundations for the Manchester revival of the late 1980s – but it took a while for them to feel comfortable playing the music of their old band again. “We didn’t play any of the Joy Division songs for about five to seven years... And then we played ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ for a friend’s birthday,” Hook says. “We literally ignored Joy Division for many years, but then we realised we could do justice to it.” Hook was initially approached to perform a show in Macclesfield on the 30th anniversary of Curtis’s death – an event that never proceeded. But despite admitting being “terrified” of the prospect BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 27
Jamaica
All Good Things End In ‘A’ By Bridie Connellan
J
amaica have never been to Jamaica. They don’t even play reggae. They’re Parisian locals who are about as French as French can be so, well, what’s with the band name? “Three reasons,” answers vocalist Antoine Hilaire. “Firstly, it was available. Second, we wanted a name directly related to a place. And third, we wanted a name that ended in ‘A.’ . Like ‘Madonna’, or ‘Nirvana’. All good things end in ‘A.’” Fair enough, really. Hilaire is doing a une superbe job of stereotyping himself when we talk: heavily accented and smoking a carefree cigarette, he’s taking in the French rays of soleil, sipping un café atop une terrasse in a Parisian petite ruelle. But the duo themselves (completed by Florent Lyonnet) are anything but a typecast. “The sound we have come up with is very classic,” he says. “We didn’t try to make a danceable record, it just happened that people liked our rhythm.” As one of the more traditionally guitarbased artists within the Ed Banger universe, Jamaica teamed up with the likes of Grammy award-winner Xavier de Rosnay of Justice and infamous American producer Peter Franco (Daft Punk), to produce one playful and heartfelt musical catch. “We were really happy to help those young guys get some exposure,” he says, laughing. “Actually the process was very simple; we had one song to make good enough to propose to those two, and we’d been friends with Xavier for a while so we knew about the sorts of things he wanted to record.” With no access to bass amps or electronic keyboards for the duo’s sampler, Franco and de Rosnay enforced
a ‘no synths’ rule for the production - a mindset that successfully lifted them out of the throng of their genre. “We don’t play synth onstage, and we were a bit bored by the bass lines everyone was conjuring. That general WEEEP WEEEP WEEEP is on every track from Katy Perry to the newest indie bands. So we decided to leave the disco beats and the synths aside.” “I think the closer a relationship with a sole second member, the easier it is to make music,” he says, when we talk about the pair’s pairing. “When there are too many opinions in the room it becomes difficult to get anything done. I think you should have passionate conversations about how a song should be played - it’s never bad to argue about that - but we want things to be exactly what we want. A third or fourth member would be a bit of a drag. Oh, also, we can only afford two people on the road.” Unfortunately for the two friends, their recent single has misconstrued their music taste - ‘I Think I Like U 2’ has been confused by many as a proclamation of love for Irish stadium rock. “Ah, Bono could be listening so I won’t say more about that – at least not on record,” he laughs. “When we were making the songs we listened to a lot of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U”, and noticed that not a lot of people use a number and a letter in a song title. If Prince was doing it, why couldn’t we? We are big Prince fans, and nobody had dared to have that kind of song title. Generally if nobody dares, we think it’s cool.” This kind of anti-trend mantra has fared well for the duo, with their Americanesque twang of indie pop evading the kind of gimmicky electronic/ rock/jangle fusion so common in contemporary French sounds. “We don’t try to redefine cool it’s about being real,” he says. “We love 10CC, Television and The Police, who aren’t cool at all, not by a long stretch. I hope people recognise the hard work, authenticity and attention to detail on this record and really understand the complexity behind this uncool kind of pop.” Nous le ferons, Monsieur Hilaire, nous le ferons. Who: Jamaica What: No Problem is out now through Shock
Mulatu Astatke The Father Of Ethio-Jazz By Mikey Carr
M
ulatu Astatke is hardly the most recognisable name in music today. In fact even amongst the jazz music scene his is not a name with which most people would be familiar. The Ethiopian’s music, on the other hand, is very recognisable. Not only has it served as the sonic backdrop to films like Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers, but it’s been sampled and remixed by countless artists, most recently on ‘As We Enter’ - the opening track from Damian Marley and Nas’ collaborative album Distant Relatives. Astatke is widely considered as the founder of ‘Ethio-Jazz’ - a fusion of jazz, Ethiopian folk music and Afrobeat. Born in 1943, as a young man he trained in London, New York City and in Boston, where he was the first African student at the Berklee College Of Music. Working with some of the greatest jazz artists of his time (most notably Duke Ellington), it was his encounters with the forward-thinking jazz of the time which first inspired him to pioneer his own style. “I’d been listening to the genius musicians like Coltrane and Miles Davis, and I’d always admired these people,” Mulatu tells me, in his slow and deliberate voice. “I wanted to be like them, you know? To come up with my own music, to come up with engaging sounds. These artists, they have their own character, their own sound - and I always wanted that for myself.” Not content to play in other people’s bands, Astatke began studying traditional Ethiopian music - searching for his own sound somewhere between jazz and the music of his home country. “You have to be educated; you have to know exactly what you’re doing,” he makes clear. “I’d been studying a lot of traditional Ethiopian music, and finally we came up with the sound we call Ethio-jazz about 14 years ago. Now it’s just about the continuation of that music.” While Astatke has been refining the sound over the past 14 years, Ethio-jazz has been gaining popularity the world over - and he’s become somewhat of a victim of his own success. With touring weighing heavily on his shoulders, as well as media commitments and other projects, developing the genre further has had to take a back seat. “Well, I’m still working on it, but I’m a little busy doing other things,” he tells me, resignation entering his rich deep voice. “It’s on hold for a while, because I’ve been touring a lot. Now I’ve been travelling and doing television, writing for movies, and I’ve also just set up a musical school in a very big complex in Ethiopia - so I’m very busy with that as well.” The lack of time aside, Astatke is overjoyed to be in such high demand and to have the opportunity to give back to the musical community of Ethiopia. He’ll be bringing the genre of music he created to the mid-North coast of NSW next week, as he plays the huge
and diverse Bellingen Global Carnival. This ever-growing awareness of Ethio-jazz around the globe represents the realisation of a fantasy he had as a young man studying jazz in New York City. “That was always my dream, I wanted to be different and create something interesting to give to the world, which is really happening now,” he tells me. “I remember seeing Coltrane in New York at Birdland when I was there, and we’d line up for hours and hours to get in. And what’s really interesting now is that when I go to New York or Paris or wherever, I see people lining up to see Ethio-jazz,” he says joyously. “That was my dream, and I’m so pleased and so happy that I’ve lived to see it.” Who: Mulatu Astatke and The Black Jesus Experience With: Baaba Maal (West Africa), Diego Guerrero (Spain), Ego Lemos (Tiimor-Leste), Ash Grunwald, The Bamboos and more What: Bellingen Global Carnival Where: Bellingen Showgrounds, Bellinger Valley When: October 1 – 3 More: globalcarnival.com
Les Savy Fav The Cheerleader For The Armageddon By Caitlin Welsh
T
im Harrington - the cheerful, epicallybearded frontman of NYC’s Les Savy Fav - likes kick-in-the-teeth music. That’s what we christened it during our conversation, and that’s what we ran with: music that jumps out at you and refuses to be ignored, bleeding punk spirit and a little pop appeal. “I feel like there’s this residual, unstoppable OK Computer thing. It’s about making Important Music,” explains Harrington, for whom this seems to be a source of frustration. “It’s like, are you a fan of Pink Floyd or Alice Cooper? Pink Floyd is… academic. Alice Cooper’s like, [growls heartily] ‘That was pretty awesome!’ It doesn’t beg you to stare at it and applaud it in its complexity. We spend a lot of time thinking about music and working on music, and we’re by no means like a stoner garage-rock band. But the finished project is not what matters at all - it’s how it hits you,” he says. “There aren’t a lot of seminal kick-in-the-teeth records, but all my personal seminal records are kick-in-the-teeth records… I guess it’s like, some people like softboiled eggs. And a delicious soft-boiled egg is a beautiful thing. But I could definitely use a coffee with a shot of bourbon in it.” LSF have flirted with various different territories in this spectrum, from the visceral art-punk anthems of their earlier work, to the airy melodies of ‘Pots & Pans’ and ‘What Would
Wolves Do?’ from 2007’s Let’s Stay Friends which listened more like the Shout Out Louds than Fugazi. Latest LP Root For Ruin sounds like the band have managed to marry the arresting pop tunes of Wolves with the Pixies-punk of 1999’s The Cat And The Cobra, and Harrington says it was borne of a need to do some teethkicking again. “I think on Let’s Stay Friends we were kind of enjoying our newfound competence. ‘Wow, this is pretty good, man, let’s get the 12-string out!’ Now we were just like, none of this high art shit, let’s make a record that yells at you. And at first it was like, ‘Remember to do that! Put that fucking flute away!’ But the more we got into it…” he trails off. “It’s like lifting the weight off the 10,000 songs sitting in your pocket.” The album, originally due to drop midSeptember, leaked in late July. While the band were disappointed (”It was like a friend opening a Christmas present before Christmas. It was all wrapped up and we were going to put it under the tree and we were going to hang tinsel, and bake gingerbread cookies…”), they took it in their stride. They arranged for an immediate digital release, and also set up a PayPal account where downloaders who’d enjoyed the album could pay what they liked, if they liked. “I think if there was a band that I liked, and the options were just download the album for free cos it’s out there for people to hear, or sit on your hands for two months and wait for it to be released.. It’s
just natural; you’re like, I wanna hear it! But then it doesn’t even give you the choice to support the band.”
Harrington is geared up already: “I’m so excited it’s been too, too long. Really excited to come out there, really excited about the record.
The other way to support them, of course, is to go see them live. But you should do that for you, anyway – their live show is legendary, in no small part due to Harrington’s apparently boundless energy and punk showmanship. He tells me they’ll be out here in February, which suggests a sequel performance to the abseiling, lipstick-covered antics of Laneway 2006… And
“We could have just called the album Really Excited. Although Root For Ruin kind of sums up the way I write [songs] – someone characterised me as the Cheerleader for the Armageddon.” Who: Les Savy Fav What: Root for Ruin is out now through Shock
“I’ve lost the will to want more, I’m not afraid, not at all, I watch them all as they fall, But I remember when we were young”- JOY DIVISION 28 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
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Enter Shikari Something To Shout About By Birdie
T
ake punk, drum’n’bass, electronica, hardcore, dubstep and rock, then mash it all up into one sound. Sounds like a mess, sure - but in practice, Enter Shikari is far from mere noise. “It might sound stupid to some people, but it’s stupid to me [when] people can’t understand where we’re coming from,” insists vocalist Roughteon ‘Rou’ Reynolds. “You can tell when music is fake and when it’s only being written to appeal to a fickle fan-base – trust me, you can tell. It sounds a lot different when it’s got heart and soul and meaning.” Reynolds tells me that the UK four-piece see music as an art form – and as such, there should be no restrictions. “Yeah, it’s aggressive and it might sound all over the place, but we’re passionate about it and we love it,” he continues. “We wouldn’t be running around the stage like mad, shouting our lungs out and stuff, if this wasn’t something we believed in. If you’re not into it you’re not gonna shout about it, are you?” Fair point - especially when considering the reputation Enter Shikari has garnered, for their schizophrenic, riot-inducing live shows and pure, raw on-stage energy. Fresh off this year’s Vans Warped Tour in California, Reynolds says he’s
pumped to bring the chaos back to Australia; they’ll be playing in Sydney this weekend. “Warped was like a foreign festival that always looked good on TV when I was a kid,” recalls the frontman. “America and Australia – it always felt like a complete other world out there somewhere, when I was growing up. The farthest I’d ever traveled to was France! Lots of the American bands on Warped were fairly generic, but we’re huge fans of Dillinger [Escape Plan], so it was enough for us just to get to watch them every day.” But when we talk about the band’s upcoming American tour, in support for 30 Second To Mars, the feelings are a little more mixed... “It should be interesting - I’m not really sure how that’s going to go down! I don’t see a lot that our music might have in common, but we’ll give anything a try, really.” Australia is fast becoming a second home to Enter Shikari, thanks to the band’s ever-growing army of fans. This is the third time they’ve been in Australia in just two years, but the first time they’ve had the chance to headline. “I had so much fun at the Big Day Out especially,” says Reynolds. “To be honest, I never expected that. It was such a big party everywhere we played, and I totally can’t believe that this will be our third time now. I think a lot of bands can only dream about something like that - it feels good that we will actually be able to say we’ve done it now. “I’m really keen to show the fans some of the new stuff that we’ve been putting together too, because we’ve been playing Common Dreads for a little while,” he says, referring to their 2009 sophomore LP. “At the moment we’re pretty much wrapping up the tour for that album anyway.” Hopefully Australia will serve as some inspiration for Enter Shikari’s next album too, Reynolds adds.
“You can tell when music is fake. Trust me, you can tell. We wouldn’t be running around the stage like mad, shouting our lungs out, if this wasn’t something we believed in.” Not that the band has put too much thought into the idea – these guys don’t work like that. “We’re too scattered to even come up with a proper plan,” he laughs. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to record some demos while we’re on tour in Australia and America. We’re going to have to search around for the right gear, and I know we’ll end up doing it all in the back of the bus or something. “It’s not like we even think about it, really,” he continues. “I guess it’s because we started this band as a hobby, and we’re still in that mindset. That’s why we’re so unorganised, and don’t think anything through properly. I think it’s a positive thing, because you can’t ever take yourself seriously that way.” While Reynolds describes the band’s attitude as “pretty loose”, he’s a lot more direct when it comes to the quality of their sound. After all, they’re doin’ it for the fans as much as for themselves. “Every band wants to get better at what they do, and we’re not much different in that regard,” confesses Reynolds. “As much as we liked the first album we did [2007’s Take To The Skies], we know that the production techniques were a bit naïve and the music technology that we were using was really basic. You’ve got to remember, though, we were just out of uni, and we didn’t have as much confidence.” He tells me that Common Dreads was a big step for the band. “It was nice to be able to take it into our own hands and really get the time to experiment with what we could do in the studio. We wished we could to it with ’Skies, but we couldn’t afford to.” On Common Dreads, they also had the bonus of producer Andy Gray (U2, Gary Numan, Korn) - which Reynolds says was something they could never have imagined when the band first started out. “It would be great to work again with someone who is as open to experimenting and causing trouble in the studio as Andy was,” he says. “But the main thing with the next album will be to outdo Common Dreads technically...” A hint of things to come... Who: Enter Shikari What: Tribalism (B-sides & remixes) is out now With: House Vs Hurricane, Hand Of Mercy Where: The Roundhouse, UNSW When: Thursday September 23 30 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
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brushstrokes WITH YASUMASA YONEHARA AKA YONE
I
f you go to YONE’s website Cexwork.com your first impression is that his provocative pictures of cute semi-clad girls looks a lot like the American Apparel ad campaigns… Actually, the general consensus is that AA CEO Dov Charney appropriated YONE’s ‘lofi sexy’ style of photography, which he has been practising since the 90s, and which has made him one of Japan's most sought-after photographers/editors, and most collectible artists. Appropriately, YONE’s latest exhibition is showing in Sydney at LO-FI Collective… Head along for some serious eye-candy. You moved from law school to being a magazine editor, to photography – why? In Japan, going to colleges is just a process to get a decent job at decent companies, so there are only a few students who are willing to study hard. Most students think days in college are all about having fun. The reason why I majored the department of law was not because I wanted to study laws but because it was comparatively easy to major for my college, which is one of the most prestigious colleges in Japan. I almost didn’t attend classes at all as I was too busy working parttime as a magazine editor. After graduation, I fell into freelance editing, and became a photographer later on. Were you interested in photography growing up? I cut every single horny picture - even tiny ones - out of all kinds of magazines and saved them. The oldest picture I can remember is a magazine pin-up photo that my friend’s brother had when I was 2nd grade in elementary school.
Do you remember your first camera? The very first time I brought camera for myself was when I was in fourth grade in elementary school. It was a single-lens reflex camera for kids and I remember taking pics of nature. However, I wanted to shoot pics like the one my friend’s brother had, so I got bored of taking photos, and eventually stopped. How and why did you come up with the idea for egg magazine? Around in 1995, gangsters called “Chi-ma” started to gather together in Shibuya, and the girls who were with them were really cute. Their after-school outfits were mini-skirts and loose socks. In those days, they were the only people who could dress like that, so many girls in town stared longingly at them. I had no doubt that it would be a big hit if I featured the reality of those girls on the street – which was totally opposite of conventional high school girls, with their white socks and mediumlength skirts. I wanted to make a stage where they could express themselves, and that was egg magazine. How do you feel about your style being copied by American Apparel? I actually feel glad that I have been asked about this by many interviews because I feel like the only way to cease artworks being copied and commercialized is by sharing the fact with as many people as possible. Your photographs are pretty sexual - do you think sex is more common in the Japanese media? And if so, why? Japan is originally a male-dominated society and the image of sexual women held by men
At The Mercy - courtesy of James Jirat Patradoon and Boutwell Draper Gallery
JOSH THOMAS
Surprise! We have a double pass up for grabs to see the new show from pint-sized television comedian Josh Thomas; you might remember Josh from Talkin’ Bout Your Generation, where he stars as the Gen Y Team Leader; or from the 7pm Project, or perhaps even Good News Week – where he disarms audiences with twee tales about his romantic and sexual misadventures. If you need a refresher, then email us with the name of his latest show, and you may get your hot little hands on a double pass to the performance on Thursday September 30, 8.15pm at Sydney Opera House. is still everywhere. I do not regard it strange but take advantage if it by creating something based on sexual images that are held by Japanese girls towards other girls. As a result, I established the field called “Ero Kawaii”, meaning erotic and cute. “Ero Kawaii” photos are sexual photos for women not for men. Outside Japan, my fans are mostly men, but maybe in Japan I have more female fans than men. What: Shake That Ass, by YONE When: Opens Saturday September 25, 6pm Where: LO-FI Collective / Lvl 3 / 383 Bourke St, Taylor Square More: wearelofi.com.au
into residency, and created a new strand of “amplifying events” (screenings, parties, anything) called Between The Lines. If this all makes you feel hot and sweaty between the ears, then consider subscribing before November 1, coz you’ll get to see the eight plays in Griffin’s Main Season for just $180. You know you're worth it. www.griffintheatre.com.au
tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ!
Sydney theatre ‘label’ Arts Radar and Darlinghurst Theatre Company have teamed up to present Mark Packer’s sharp comedy tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ, which smashes punk anarchy in the face with a mid life crisis: four washed-up, aging punk rockers who need to 'sell out' their debut album, in order to cash in for retirement. tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ runs until October 3. Thanks to Arts Radar, we have two double passes to the show up for grabs; to get your hands on one email freestuff@ thebrag.com with the name of one other Arts Radar production from 2010. artsradar.com.au
the Incubator Launch, on September 30, from 6-11pm, at Oxford Art Factory – we’ve got these amazing home videos involving cats that the world needs to see. If you want to be part of the launch event too, head to www.incubator.org.au The Wild Duck
BLACK CHERRY 4TH B'DAY
Black Cherry is back Saturday October 2 to celebrate its 4th Birthday with an extra big slice of burlesque, bands, and beats, and a line-up that runs the gauntlet from punk to rockabilly, garage, soul, ska, alt-country, blues, swamp, glam and alternative. On the performance front, Sydney sex-bomb Melise Avion and bent burlesque babe Lillian Star will be strutting their stuff, and Melbourne’s Frankie Valentine will be sauntering north of the border to ply her wares… Live acts include the sartorially surreal Bob Log III (USA) – of ‘Clap Your Tits’ fame - and the super stylish fellas from La Mancha Negra, with Simon Day of ‘80s Ratcat fame on the decks. Happy hour is 8-9pm, we’ll see you there, bitchez! blackcherrypresents.com.au
ART & ABOUT LAUNCH
Boutwell Draper punches out of the corner heavyweight-style this week, with two shows from the low-brow side of things: Heartaches, by 25-year-old Sydney-based artist/ illustrator James Jirat Patradoon, that purveyor of pimped up punks and superheroes gone wrong. His latest is, we quote, an “exploration of authenticity and identity in the form of massive graphite-on-canvas drawings”; and The Art of Noise, by Ben Frost (Stupid Krap, Paste Modernism) who (and this time we quote the man himself) explores our “love/hate relationship with the visual signifiers of consumerism that we are bombarded with every day”. Two shows, one night, thousands of fond memories you can share with your children one day. Opens September 23 from 6pm at Boutwell Draper Gallery (82 George St, Redfern).
YES WE CANNES
Metro Screen and the Screen Producers Association of Australia teamed up this year to run the SPAA Fringe Pitching Competition for budding young producers, with a grand prize that includes a trips to the Cannes film festival, the chance to pitch at SPAA Fringe and the SPAA Conference, cash, production subsidies, and (of course) glory. They’ve narrowed entries down to 12 young guns who are pitching a range of projects, from transmedia to documentaries, children’s television, animation, a travel series, and even an historical drama… To see the finalists pitch (and perhaps meet the producer of your dreams) head along to Metro Screen on Thursday September 28 from 6.30-8.30pm. Tix are $20 from metroscreen.org.au 34 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
GRIFFIN 2011
‘Tis the season of ‘seasons’, in which all the major theatre and performing arts companies unload both barrels of their 2011 program for the hordes of potential subscribers. We hope you’ve been saving, okay? First out of the gate this year was Griffin Theatre Company, with shiny new Artistic Director Sam Strong announcing a line-up that includes Andrew Bovell’s masterpiece Speaking in Tongues (On the 15th anniversary of the original SBW Stables production and the 10th anniversary of the film it spawned - Lantana) plus new works from award-winning playwright Tom Holloway (Don’t Say the Words), Berlin Schaubuhne’s Marius Von Mayenburg, Ireland’s Enda Walsh (The Walworth Farce), and Melbourne humourist Lally Katz. Strong has also lured hot young thangs Shannon Murphy and Kate Mulvaney
ARTS INCUBATOR
So we were chatting with Kween G (you know, from the KillaQueenz) the other day, and she was explaining this rad event she’s involved in called INCUBATOR: a creative expo for musos and filmmakers where you can show your stuff, sell your stuff, or just network your pants off with distributors, licensers, funders, collaborators, marketers… Damn Kween G (we said), this sounds totally rad, we wish we’d thought of that! Well (she replied, with a knowing look) you didn’t; it was actually the folks at PIIP –the Pacific Incubator of Intellectual Property Ltd. PIIP is a new non-profit, non-government organisation established in 2009 to support the Australian creative industries. Anyway, it’s been ages since we’ve had such an informative, straightforward conversation. We told her we’d make it along to
BELVOIR 2011
Don’t say we didn’t warn you: competition on Sydney’s stages will be fierce in 2011. The second horse out the gate is Belvoir St Theatre, who ALSO have a hot young new Artistic Director, Ralph Meyers. The panting climax of Meyers' first season is a production of Chekhov’s The Seagull, directed by the theatre’s intellectual pin up, Benedict Andrews (Measure for Measure, The War of the Roses), and starring Emily Barclay, Gareth Davies, Judy Davis, Maeve Dermody, and John Gaden. Bite me off a piece of that. Decidely more demure, but swinging out of the heritage corner with style, is Ray Lawler’s Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, directed by outgoing Artistic Director Neil Armfield, and starring Robin Nevin. Elsewhere, the line-up is smattered with usual suspects Brendan Cowell, Toby Schmitz, Ewen Leslie and Charlie Garber. We’re backing Lally Katz for a potential trifector of companies in 2011, but we won’t know if the Wharf loves her until later this year… If you’re 30 or younger, become a subscriber to get the eight Mainstage plays for $186; or the five Downstairs plays for $100. www.belvoir.com.au/subscribe/30down
The Wild Duck photo by WILK
HEARTACHES & THE ART OF NOISE
You know summer is imminent when Art & About is in the air – and it’s leaping skywards this Thursday September 23, when 'Our Clover' officially launches the festival in Hyde Park. You might want to swing by after work, to catch Dappled Cities and DJ Kate Monroe, plus the announcement of the 2010 Sydney Life photography prize. Then you may like to amble towards the promenade and check out the massive canvases of the 22 finalist works – and mutter under your breath about how ‘we was robbed’ – before being distracted by the flamboyantly-dressed stalker who looks a lot like Captain Cook, if he were standing very still on a podium, and dressed by Ken Done… Art & About runs September 23 - October 24, check out the program at www.artandabout.com.au
Life imitates art in Julie Bertucelli's emotionally raw second feature. By Dee Jefferson “My husband was ill, but I didn’t really believe he would die, so I didn’t make the link with my own life. When it came to be my story it was very powerful, because the film helped me, and my life helped the film, too.”
The Tree
Charlotte Gainsbourg stars as a grieving mother (again) in The Tree
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n 2009 at the Sydney Film m Festival opening night, I unexpectedly met French director Julie Bertucelli – w who ho directed Since Otar Left, one o off my favourite films of 2004. She was wa as sitting with a friend of mine, and I ended up walking with her to the the afterparty, and chatting aboutt what she was doing in Australia. I quickly became intrigued; she he was en route to Brisbane, to begin begin shooting a film about a spirit in a tree, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg bourg – who had, at that time, just won won the Best Actress gong at Cannes nn nes for Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist..
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Exactly one year later, I met Julie Julie again, at Sydney Film Festival all where The Tree was showing iin n competition – just weeks after err closing the Cannes Film Festival, tival, and getting a much-publicised d ‘seven-minute standing ovation’ on’. In the interlude, and in preparing r ing for the interview, I had become me increasingly fascinated by everything about her: the daughter of director Jean-Louis uis Bertucelli, Julie studied philosophy sophy at university before moving into filmmaking – where she apprenticed under master directors ectors like Krzysztof Kieslowski, Otar arr
Iosseliani and Bertrand Tavernier. Iosse rn nier. She went on to make almost a w dozen documentaries, all of which which were well received. For her first rsst dramatic drama feature, she chose a French-Georgian co-production, Frenc on, shot in i the Eurasian republic with with a multi-national cast and crew: mul w: a challenge, by anyone’s standards. challe ards. How did d she end up in Brisbane, ane, filming an Australian story? At first rs look, The Tree has lotss in common comm with Since Otar Left, t,, since both explore the creation on of a fiction to cope with grief. In Otar, Ota a mother colludes with th her daughter to protect her own da wn mother mothe from finding out that her son has h died; in The Tree, a woman woman who has h lost her husband in a car accident facilitates her young ac ou ung daughter’s fantasy that his spirit daugh piirit is living livin in their Moreton Bay Fig Fig tree. “I’m always interested in how “ people peopl cope with sadness, how ow they transform it into something t in ng creative,” Bertucelli acknowledges. creati dges. “It was wa interesting to have the e same theme [as Otar], but to try and d find another anoth way of talking about that.” that.” It’s only on after considerable discussion around the topic off grief discus that Bertucelli opens up about B utt the the
fact that th her own husband died ed d in 2006. 200 She's quick to point out, out, however, howev that the film actuallyy had its it genesis in 2004, when n the director direct read Brisbane writer Judy Judy Pascoe’s novel, Our Father Who Pasco Who Art in the Tree. In her ‘Directors rs Notebook’ for The Tree Bertucelli Noteb ce elli writes: writes "Italo Calvino’s Baron in in the Trees has long been my roman an fétiche [literal translation: book okk mascot]. masco I was very disappointed nted to find out that the rights to the he book will never be available. As As I was still s dreaming of a tree story, sttory, a friend frien gave me Judy Pascoe’s oe e’s book…" book… The subconscious is a powerful s rfful thing. Two years into development ment on The Th Tree, Bertucelli’s husband ba and died. “[He] was ill, but I didn’t really believe believ [he would die]… even n though thoug I knew it was possible… e… so I didn’t make the link, really, d lyy, with my m own life. When it came me to be my story – well not really mine, mine, because becau my daughter didn’t talk alk to her father in the tree luckily," y," she laughs. "It was very powerful, la erful, because becau the film helped me, and and my life helped the film, too.” Even when she transitioned to o narrative films, the documentarian’s narratt aria r n’s
quest for the ‘truth’ of the story ryy – the emotional truth, and the e authenticity of the mise en scène, authe cène, rather than factual truth – remained mained Bertucelli's driving force as a Bertu filmmaker. Talking about Since lmma ce e Otar Leftt in a 2004 interview she said, sa aid, “[This film] is based on a true e story that I was told. It was true butt it seemed seem so unlikely that it made ad de me want wa to appropriate it. And d in any case, it was a story that could c could not be told as a documentaryy – it was much too intimate. That’ss why m I had to embark on a new kind nd d of storytelling.” storyt
The storytelling style she s developed was infused with her develo he er experience making observational exper onal documentaries, often based on docum filming people in their workplaces. aces. "[Making documentaries or dramas] "[Mak ra amas] is not so different, in fact; it’s always alway movies, it’s always cinema," ne ema," she says. "It’s not the same way s way of doing things, for sure, but you u can use the th same eyes, and try to o put the most ‘real life’ in the movie... m e... And the th way you approach the he e set, or the scene – like in documentary, entary, where you study what is the life, what is the furniture of the place ace – you can do the same thing in fiction…” ction
At the same time, Bertucelli’s approach to filmmaking is also appro infused infuse with her experience on feature featur productions. For example, when she worked as assistant director direct on Kieslowski’s Three Colours: Colou Blue and White, he sent her location scouting in Paris. “He lo looked at thousands of flats, for just one flat; and even when we found twenty twent that were really great, he asked me to [keep looking] – and in fact, it i was also his way to discover the country… He took several co details detail [from all these flats] – a window windo from here, an aquarium from there – and put everything t back in one studio in the end." Subsequently Bertucelli adopted Subse this osmotic approach to location o for her he own films: for The Tree, she visited Australia three times prior to shooting; during production, sho her children (and Gainsbourg’s) ch attended attend the local school. "My approach was just to discover appro life, meet people, to put as much m real detail as we need, to be d believable… A film has to be really believ realistic realist to have a universal power.” What The Tree, Dir. Julie Bertucelli What: When: Opens September 30 Whe
GIRL WHO PLAYED AWAY GIVE WITH FIRE
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ased on Stieg Larsson’s world-famous amous Millennium Trilogy, this follow-up to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo takes us deeper into the world of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. Accused of a triple murder, Lisbeth is drawn into tangled web of intrigue that leads back to her murky past, while journalist Mikael Blomkvist does everything in his power to prove that she is innocent. The Girl Who Played With Fire opens at cinemas this Thursday September 23. Thanks to Rialto, we have ten in-season double passes to giveaway; to get your hands on one, email freestuff@thebrag.com with the name of the actress who plays Lisbeth!
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Women Of Letters [LIVE LITERARY] Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire bring a bevy of literary ladies to the Fringe. By Amelia Schmidt
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elbournites Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire are both wellknown ladies in the Australian literary scene, writing for The Age, starring on ABC TV and triple j, and appearing at various writers’ festivals across the country. Their latest project, a collaboration, celebrates the lost art of letter writing. In the Women Of Letters series esteemed and emerging female writers who are sassy, smart and seriously entertaining read letters in the McSweeney’s style of “A Letter To My Self-Respect” - and Marieke and Michaella MC.
Co-curator and host Michaela McGuire
Women of Letters was created after Marieke and Michaela met at The National Young Writers Festival in Newcastle last year. “We really got along like a house on fire,” Marieke remembers, “and we met a lot of great female writers and performers at that festival. I wanted to work with her, I wanted to do something that was female-based and I wanted to do something that was a fundraiser for Edgar’s Mission which is an animal rescue shelter.”
“We’ve had such a good mix – actors, musicians, standup comedians, performance poets, journalists,” Marieke says proudly. “It’s just been a really formidable mix, so every time it’s different.” Having established a loyal fan base in Melbourne, Marieke and Michaella are bringing an expanded version of the show to The Red Rattler as part of the inaugural Sydney Fringe Festival. “It’s going to be, yes, fairly large,” Marieke explains to me over the phone. “I think we thought that because it was our first Sydney show and we don’t get to do the monthly thing there, we wanted to gather together a lot of Sydney talent... It’s a very fortuitous thing that all the people we asked said yes! It’s going to be quite big and different to the ones we’ve had in Melbourne but tonally the same – a very gentle afternoon’s entertainment – but there will be a lot more readers, obviously.
letters and have a glass of wine and a chat. In the second half there’s usually a discussion panel where we have the five women on stage and Michaella moderates the chat. [In Sydney] we think we are going to do two mini-panels with each group of four - but we’ll do it in the two halves, so the readers will read, there might be a little panel and then a break and then the same again for the second half. It’s sort of Melbourne squared. A smidgen bigger.”
So if you’re looking to listen to some lovely literary ladies read their letters, and enjoy long, languid prose, then check out Women Of Letters, which is fast establishing itself as an important part of the live literary scene. What: Women Of Letters When: September 26, 1pm We’ve got Tara Moss, Sally Seltmann, Jennifer Byrne, Virginia Gaye, Claudia Karvan, Sacha Horler and Sophie Braham, who’s a young blogger.”
With a large line-up, Marieke and Michaella will slightly adjust their usual format. “[Usually] in the first half, the readers read their letters and then there’s a break where the audience write
Where: The Red Rattler More: Sydney Fringe Festival / Greentix
The Namatjira Project [THEATRE] The iconic painter’s legacy continues on-stage and off. By Simon Binns
n 2008 the stunning show Ngapartji Ngapartji was brought to Sydney as part of the Sydney Festival and Belvoir Street's 2008 season. It sold out and went on to be nominated at the Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Mainstage Production, Best Direction and its lead actor, Trevor Jamieson, won Best Actor in a Lead Role. The same creative team are now back at Belvoir with a new show, Namatjira: a tribute to Albert Namatjira, one of our best known painters, and Australia’s first Aboriginal citizen.
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As producer Sophia Marinos explains, Namatjira evolved directly out of the Ngapartji Ngapartji performances. “The young artist Elton Wirri did chalk drawings throughout the show… at the end of every night audiences would be introduced to him as the grandson of Albert Namatjira and this was met with palpable applause.” This audience reaction inspired writer-director Scott Rankin to develop a show that would tell the story of the artist’s life and tragic death. Albert Namatjira was born in 1902, in the desert in central Australia, but in his 30s he rose to prominence as a painter of watercolours after a visiting Melbourne artist, Rex Battarbee, recognised his talent and encouraged him to paint. This talent brought him a lot of success. “He sold thousands of watercolour paintings, became the first wealthy Aboriginal man… and he met the queen,” says actor Derek Lynch, who will be performing alongside Trevor Jamieson. At the same time, every success Namatjira enjoyed was equally matched with hardship. “We want to tell the message about his life, what actually happened to him,” says 36 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
Lynch. “He got citizenship 10 years before the referendum, something that’s often glorified, but really that was so they could tax him, because suddenly you had this black man making lots of money and not paying any taxes,” explains Marinos. Ultimately, the painter died a broken man, accepted by neither his indigenous community, nor Australian society. Namatjira was created in tandem with an ongoing cultural community development project being run by award-winning arts and social change organisation Big hART, in partnership with the Ngurratjuta Iltja Ntjarra ‘Many Hands’ Art Centre in Alice Springs. The resulting paintings, many of them created by the grandchildren of Albert Namatjira, will be displayed in an exhibition, timed to coincide with the theatre show - giving audiences the opportunity to see contemporary paintings that are directly informed by the iconic painter’s life story. For the Namatjira team the Alice Springs community, particularly the painter’s descendants, were integral to the development of the show. “I was worried about what the family would think,” Lynch admits. “Lots of people have tried to do the story without permission.” Marinos adds, “One of the first things we did was to meet up with the family… we were really diligent in talking with all the grandchildren and sharing bits of the play with them.” The show’s first outing was in Alice Springs, and the community’s blessing was given. “They loved it” smiles Lynch. What: Namatjira, by Scott Rankin When: September 30 – October 2 Where: Belvoir Street, Upstairs Theatre More: www.namatjira.bighart.org Exhibition: Namatjira: Next Generation at Birrung Gallery, Wooloomooloo, from September 28 - October 16.
GIVEAWAY As sponsors of Big hART’s Namatjira project, Winsor & Newtown Art Supplies have donated a double pass for the October 2 performance of Namatjira. To get your hands on it, email freestuff@ thebrag.com and mention this article.
The Suitcase Royale [THEATRE] Junkyard Theatre at the Wharf. By Simons Binns
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kating the lines between genres is never easy, let alone between mediums. But for Melbourne trio The Suitcase Royale, finding a mix between the life of a band and the life of a theatre troupe has brought them nothing but success. Miles O’Neil, Glen Walton and Joseph O’Farrell met whilst studying theatre at Deakin University in Melbourne, but it was their love of music that brought them together. “I met Miles and Glen because they needed a drummer, we started writing music together and had a great time - but we were also studying theatre,” explains O’Farrell. Combining their two loves in their last year of study resulted in the show Felix Listens To The World which made quite an impression for a debut, winning the Best Show award at the Melbourne Fringe. On the back of this success, the trio got on a plane to North America, bought a car and have never looked back. "We toured that show for three months right across Canada, then continued down to America. That was about four and half or five year ago and we’ve continued to write music, do shows and tour the world, which has been wonderful.” Wonderful is an understatement; with an artistic CV that spans four continents, and a unique style of performance they call “junkyard theatre”, the trio have carved themselves a place in the international theatre scene. Built from junk they find by the side of the road, The Suitcase Royale’s lost-and-found approach often adds a layer of excitement. “The props are so old and rickety, getting through the show can be a bit of a rollercoaster,” says O’Farrell. To this day, their beginnings as a band have a big influence on their theatre work, with a variety of instruments from double bass to accordion creating both the live and recorded soundtrack of the play. “We basically play music together everyday… that’s kind of how we make our shows
now, we start from the music and build on that,” O’Farrell explains. The trio’s success in the theatre world has been matched in the music scene, with a successful self-titled LP now under their belts, and recent spots at such impressive locations such as the Latitude music festival in the UK. “We played on the same stage as Tom Jones,” laughs O’Farrell. The Suitcase Royale will have their Sydney Theatre Company debut at Wharf 2 with The Ballad of Backbone Joe, an old-fashioned noir with an absurdist twist: set in a small-town in prewar Australia, where the local abattoir doubles as an amateur boxing ring, bare-knuckle fighter Backbone Joe has recently lost his wife, and Detective Von Trapp is called in to investigate a possible murder… The first incarnation of Backbone Joe was performed in a car park In Melbourne in 2007, but the show has since run the festival gauntlet from Darwin Festival in 2008 to Sydney’s Imperial Panda Festival in 2009, and most recently the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it was nominated for the highly coveted Total Theatre award. Restaging the show presents its own problems, O’Farrell explains: “We usually have to repair the set before we do a show, It’s always a busy couple of days running to the hardware store… we have a different set [at the Wharf] to in the UK, so we also have to remember what it’s like. It’s good though, it keeps the show fresh.” What: The Ballad of Backbone Joe Where: Wharf 2, Sydney Theatre Company When: September 21-October 2 Tickets: $25/$30 at sydneytheatre.com.au
Namatjira photo by Heidrun Lohr.
Derek Lynch in rehearsals for Namatjira
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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.
YELLOW MOON
Hamish Michael brings power to whatever stage presence is required, whether it be a gushing school-girl or a jilted lover.
Until September 26 / Belvoir St
This is high-class work. See it.
■ Theatre
Troubled youths are good fodder for fiction. They make compelling protagonists, because we always tend to forgive then when they do stupid things, and they’re always throbbing with potential.
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Yellow Moon is a coming of age story of two such youths. The first is Stag Lee (John Shrimpton) a teenage boy who’s never taken off his hat and talks big about making money from a life of crime. He loves his girls and his money, but most of all his abs. The second teenager is Silent Leila (Layla Estasy) who one day stopped talking. Her battles are not with police, but with existence, as she constantly fights low self-esteem. The two are brought together by a moment of catastrophe and go on the run. This conventional story is told through unconventional narration, with it more being a case of four people in a theatre telling you a story and occasionally taking on the roles of characters to better tell you that story. This production also employs a physical language to draw out the subtext of this poetic storytelling. The marriage here between the physicality and the language is a relatively happy one, working beautifully at times to perfectly illustrate the emotional journeys of the protagonists, particularly for Silent Leila who naturally has less to say. However, there are moments when the physical language becomes a bit too literal and mimey for my tastes, but these are few and far between.
09:09:10 :: Luxe Studios :: 279-283 Liverpool St CBD 93610077
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Shrimpton and Estasy are accomplished as the young protagonists, and the chemistry between them is palpable. Danielle Cormack and Kenneth Moraleda have a great time telling the story and taking on the older roles demanded of the play which vary from bipolar parents to b-grade stars.
11:09:10 :: Lo-Fi Collective :: L3, 383 Bourke St Darlinghurst 93113100
This exciting new production shows off some great new talent, and some great new ideas. Henry Florence ■ Theatre
THE TRIAL Until October 16 at Wharf 1, STC
PICS :: MB
365 year of self-portraits
It has been said that Kafka’s work places his characters in a cage from which they can never escape. In this new rendering of perhaps his most important novel it seems that the cage is in fact a plywood box.
14:09:10 :: Andrew Günsberg @Mart Gallery :: 156 Commonwealth St Surry Hills
Arts Exposed What's on our calendar...
SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL
Please Say Something
September 25-26 University of Technology, Sydney The second SIAF is a spoonful of sugar, with a program that includes shorts by Shaun Tan, Academy Award-winning animation studio Autour de Minuit, godfathers Barry Purves, Georges Scwizgebel and Raoul Servais, Sydney creative collective The Glue Society, the ever-innovative pranksters at Pixar, the highlights from the Japan Media Arts Festival, and a showcase curated by UK’s onedotzero… It’s like SIAF have skimmed the cream from the top of the animation scene, put it in a weekend-shaped saucer, and handed you a silver spoon… The full menu and tickets at www.siaf.uts.edu.au
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Joseph K (Ewen Leslie) is an assistant manager at a bank. As the play begins, he awakes to find that he has been arrested before he was even able to eat breakfast. From this absurdly comic beginning, the play then spirals in a nightmarish reality as Joseph K searches for innocence. Director Mathew Lutton has done a brilliant job of bringing the logic (or rather illogic) of this nightmare to life. He delights in theatricality, taking full advantage of Claude Marcos’ multi-faceted set, which keeps you guessing til the very end. Both the composition and sound design from Ash Gibson Greig and Kelly Ryall respectively, are an indispensable part of this haunting production, constantly informing Joseph’s deterioration. Yet perhaps the most impressive thing about the play is the performances. Lutton has created an ensemble in the truest sense of the word. The cast are some of the absolute cream of Australian actors. On the back of his Helpmann for Richard III, Leslie gives a strong performance in the lead role, but it is often those around him who are given true opportunities to shine as they take on Kafka’s hoard of eccentric characters. Peter Houghton, who was last seen at STC in Travesties, is a particular standout, weaving in and out of a broad range of roles, with the semi-naked artist being particularly memorable, while
Henry Florence ■ Film
I’M STILL HERE Released September 16
Shot over 12 months, I’m Still Here follows Joaquin Phoenix from his announcement in October 2008 that he was quitting acting, through his disastrous attempt to transition into a hip hop career, and ends with the star retreating to the ‘family home’ in Panama, his tail between his legs. In between, we see Phoenix brawling, boozing, snorting coke, getting intimate with prostitutes, surfing the web for porn, and treating his friends and colleagues with spectacular arrogance and disregard. At the climax, after his infamous (disastrous) Letterman appearance, the actor crawls out of his limo and into roadside bushes, where he has a tearful breakdown: “I made an announcement and said I quit acting, and now I can’t go back – and my music sucks, and I’m a joke… I fucked my life.” I’m Still Here is directed and partially shot by Casey Affleck, Joaquin’s brother-in-law – and up until September 16, there was a lot of media speculation that the film was a mockumentary, rather than the documentary it professed to be; speculation fuelled, rather than diffused, by Affleck’s coy fielding of questions at the Venice Film Festival, where the film premiered. As we go to print, however, Affleck has admitted that the whole story, from 2008 announcement to the premiere of I’m Still Here, was part of an elaborate performance; which must make it one of the longest running and committed acting performances on record: apart from posing as a dishevelled, mentally unstable version of himself for almost two years, Phoenix must have burned up goodwill among colleagues (including director and friend James Gray, whose film Two Lovers Phoenix was supposed to be promoting when he had his ‘breakdown’). This also makes I’m Still Here part of one of the most fascinating media experiments and pieces of performance art of this decade, and Phoenix one of the most gifted and fascinating actors of his generation. But is it a good film? Having watched it pre-hype, under the assumption that it was at least largely authentic, I’m not sure that this film's success (as an emotional journey and/or a commentary on celebrity) doesn’t rely on the viewer’s assumption that the meltdown they are watching is authentic. I'll definitely be watching it again, however. Dee Jefferson ■ Dance
SINGULAR SENSATION September 14-19, Sydney Opera House It’s not often in a dance work that you get to turn to the person next to you and ask, ‘did we just see a woman spit a mouthful of glitter while stabbing her fake orange fruit breasts with a pair of scissors?’ Yes, we did. Israeli choreographer Yasmeen Godder’s provocative work examines a world of excess, shot through with the look-at-me! attitude of your average Terry Richardson fashion shoot. In Singular Sensation, Godder asks how we can manage to find ‘excitement, a true thrill or a deep connection to sensation’ in a hyper-stimulated world that
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Film & Theatre Reviews What's hot on the silver screen and the bareboards around town.
has become numb with excess. Tongues snake and eyelids flutter, chests are pounded, bellies slapped, faces wrapped in clingwrap and raw spaghetti flies across the stage, in a bizarre, bestial and hypnotic dance vocabulary. Each of Godder’s five dancers is driven by their own quest for authenticity, scaling extreme heights of sex and violence in the struggle for a truth that doesn’t exist. Godder’s choreography is spirited, raw and not a little bit cheeky, setting two dancers writhing in a mash of strawberry jelly while another cops a facefull of green paint. The splatter-factor is high, necessitating protective plastic bags for the front row. Teasing the borders between childishness, sexiness and ugliness, the dancers are at times reduced to a gratuitous spectacle; maybe that’s the point. Standout moments included the swirling pas de deux between two glitter-covered dancers who roll, swing and crawl together with a kind of seasick grace. And, of course, the thundering finale - think white paint explosion, bizarre, fragmented choreography and a dash of nudity. Singular Sensation is not an aesthetically beautiful experience, but it’s an experience unlike any other. Even with the risk of a facefull of glitter, I want to see it again. Lucy Fokkema
■ Dance
SUTRA September 16-19, Sydney Opera House Prepare yourself for a rave review. Sutra is quite simply incredible. The centrepiece of the Opera House’s Spring Dance festival, Sutra is a stunning collaboration between acclaimed Flemish/Moroccan choreographer/ dancer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Turner-Prizewinning British sculptor Antony Gormley, and 17 monks from the original Shaolin Temple in Henan, China. The endlessly inventive choreography mixes the physical strength and deadly acrobatic precision of the monks (including an adorable eight-year-old) with Cherkaoui’s own exquisitely fluid dancing style. With shades of Chaplin’s gentle humour, Cherkaoui seems to float, weightless, birdboned and delicate. Gormley’s elegantly sparse design of 21 open-sided wooden boxes provides an everchanging setting, imitating everything from stone pillars to dominoes to the slow opening of lotus petals. Polish composer Szymon Brzóska’s score is a gentle watercolour that slowly builds to a powerful, moving finale. With a host of mesmerising moments to choose from, the superb finale is the standout, as Cherkaoui and the monks together perform a dance melding kung fu and tai chi with contemporary European dance, with enough gravity-defying aerial work to make Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon look a bit average. In fact, I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.
Lucy Fokkema
Street Level With Heidi Hillier (a.k.a. Heidi Hoops)
T
his month’s 34B Burlesque takes its inspiration from impending summertime with a seaside frolic, an Underwater Love-fest, and a line-up of their best burlesque beauties: Lauren La Rouge, Briana Bluebell, Rosy Rabbit, Holly J’aDoll, Electric Dreams, and Melise Avion – all MCd by the inimitable Renny ‘Cousteau’ Kodgers. And throwing us a line from the shore is H.M.A.S. Heidi Hoops… What’s your training as a performer? I am a trained visual artist but I joined a women’s circus about 8 years ago and just fell in love with circus life. So... I packed my bags and headed off to the Fruit Fly Circus to get some training in hula hoop from a good coach. Since then I’ve sought out trainers all over Australia to teach me what I need to learn and worked the rest out myself. I “came in through the out door” so to speak. How did you get into this wet and wild world of Burlesque? I made friends with a man named The Birdman who juggles plastic bags in the most beautiful poetic way and next thing you know I was on stage with him at 34B! It’s certainly not where I expected to be performing but since then I have fallen in love with the burlesque world - punters and performers; they’re the most gorgeous people! Do you remember your first show? Tell us! I remember the first time I stepped on stage. It was one of those life-changing moments. Time stood still. I felt connected - and the earth moved! I had an overwhelming feeling like I had finally found my place in the world! What is your signature routine? H.M.A.S Heidi Hoops is my now my favourite and most exciting routine. It's got fast-paced, high-skill hula hooping, rope tricks, a great soundtrack, and the cutest official uniform the Navy has ever seen! I am also known for my two-headed hula-hooper - 'Sugar Candy' - and when I head out west they know me as Heidi Hodeo - The One Woman Rodeo. I like variety! Who are your performance inspirations? Trash and Kira are my favourite hula hoopers.
Circus Monoxide. Nicci Wilkes, Drew Fairly. Doris Day. Cowgirls. Wanda Jackson. Yayoi Kusama. Yoko Ono, The Wizard of OZ. What’s Underwater Love about? It’s finally time to celebrate the onset of summer! Underwater Love is a sexy Burlesque show exploring our fantasies beneath the deep blue sea. Get wet, frolic with mermaids and lick the salt from your lips! The perfect party! And what are you bringing to the Party? A naughtical pin-up girl smile, a set of pins, a length of rope to tie up the most unsuspecting sailor boy, and a shiny pile of hula hoops to make your jaw drop. What else is going on in 2010 for you? I’ve just finished a season at the Sydney Fringe with my solo show Lost And Found - The Sugar Candy Show so I’ll be working on touring it. Teaching hula hoops at Legs on the Wall spring master classes. And on my way to Coonamble Festival of Song right now as Heidi Hodeo Rodeo, on my silver Brumby, a glint in my eye and the wind in my hair. What: Underwater Love: 34B Burlesque When: Saturday September 25, 8.30pm Where: 44 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (entry through Q Bar) Tickets: GA or table seats available through tenderloins.com.au
BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 39
Album Reviews What's been crossing our ears this week...
ALBUM OF THE WEEK KYÜ
kyü Popfrenzy Alyx Dennison and Freya Berkhout played their first ever gig last year at the heats of a band competition that they swiftly went on to win. The quality of singles they've since released, coupled with the rapturous reception of every live show they've played, has paved the way for some fierce anticipation - but who could have predicted that this casual, friendly and young new project would turn out such an original, blissful and exhilarating debut? Produced with finesse, this inspired debut seamlessly weaves organic and electronic elements together like fabrics of the night sky; cosmic, uplifting and positively sparkling.
INTERPOL Interpol Matador
When you’ve been big on Interpol since Turn On the Bright Lights, it’s pretty easy to hear the sound of a band in crisis - even when that band thrives on the melancholic and depressing. And Interpol is the most depressing of all four of the band’s records, because it showcases a band running out of ideas. They just don't have it anymore. There’s nothing as good as ‘Narc’ or ‘Slow Hands' here, nothing as engaging as ‘Obstacle 1’ or ‘Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down’, and, quite frankly, absolutely no emotion whatsoever from Paul Banks. Given that Banks and his I’mnot-flat-this-is-how-it’s-supposed-tosound voice has typically kept things cold and detached in the past, fans should get a good idea of what this record sounds like. The two standout tracks, ‘Barricade’ and ‘Summer Well’, bounce along well enough, but they’re held back by the dirgy mess of the songs which surround them - particularly ‘Lights’, which should never have been laid down on record. Everyone is aware that the fun quarter of Interpol has since fled for the dance-floor or somewhere equally alluring, which may explain why the bass lines which usually propel Interpol’s brand of sadness into popular consciousness aren’t nearly as prominent on this record. In reality, Interpol without Carlos D is not the same band. They’ll probably be able to fool die-hards until their latest record contract expires, but they need to do something very different if they’re going to keep the rest of us interested. The epic ‘The Undoing’ still has a bit of kick to it, particularly in its dissonant string synths, but it’s just not enough. Damn. There goes my adolescence.
I think what makes this album so effervescent, so refreshing, is that it comes from a set of influences very different to your standard indie fare. The local duo clearly draw from Animal Collective, Bjork, CocoRosie, Sigur Ros and other ethereal, crystalline music - but with one half classically trained and the other addicted to world music, the harmonies, rhythms and ideas in this LP have a unique
PHONAT
It gets going right from the start; ‘A Warm Welcome’ engages in a measured build, only allowing snippets of vocals to infiltrate. All the attention here is on the key riff, whose seemingly endless repetition is just an excuse to get you juicy for the contained horns and party vibe of track two, ‘Get Down My Dirty Street’. The samples mesh, but never collide, as producer Hal Ritson keeps everything tight. Given this is a Onelove release, a smooth aesthetic is to be expected – but it’s a credit to both Ritson and Phonat that these tracks not only seamlessly blend into one another, but actually augment the drive of the album through clever ordering and restraint. Even more basic, bass-driven tracks like ‘Love Hits The Fan’ have been carefully created and selected, to act as counterpoints to the complex synth sounds elsewhere on the album. Sam Blue repeats his refrain in ‘Set Me Free’, where shit looks like it’s about to get synth-wash freaky four minutes into the track - but then there’s a disappointing shift towards the more bland, for an unnecessarily long fade-out. A nasty guitar hook heralds ‘Ghetto Burnin’, with Yolanda Quartey’s vocals competing with some musclyass synths for control of the floor - fast and furious beats, with the nifty little analogue keys that flash through like the cheeky bonus that they are. This is cheesy, fun and assuredlyexecuted club music that’ll have your shirt off, regardless of the company.
Jonno Seidler
From ‘Sistar’, the first vocal track, it’s obvious that these ladies are vocally talented. Their lyrics paint delicate pictures, but the very sound of their voices is enough to make you shiver – showcased especially on the fragile and stripped-back ‘Cyathea Anintae’, all acoustic guitar and glittery glockenspiel. Dappled with occasional atmospheric moments, ‘Pixiphony’ and ‘Trains’ also stand out as key tracks, as well as the now (somewhat) famous ‘Sunny In Splodges’. Amelia Schmidt
JUNIP
Phonat Onelove / Sony Phonat is a Londonbased Italian who’s just thrown down a slab of solid dance. It’s smart electronic work, not innovative by any stretch, but it doesn't need to be - these are tunes intended to remove clothes, so that hairless bods can get a-movin’.
and percussive tribal flavour, too. Adding to the mix is a playful curiosity for audio technology (and a hereditary one, too – Dennison’s parents are renowned foley artists and sound designers), which has driven kyü to lace some incredible electronic beats and samples through organic melodies and startling harmonies.
José Gonzáles used to be a rock band. The band was called Junip and, in addition to his lustrous, ropily eloquent cat-gut guitar, it featured Tobias Winterkorn on keys and Elias Araya on drums. At some stage, the band went their separate ways, and José set out to become the Nick Drake of the noughties. Two incandescent solo albums later, and he’s back with his old band. Ardent JG fans might be a bit bewildered by Fields, as it’s much more Burn To Shine than Bryter Layter. Hearing Gonzales’ delicate guitar and pensive lyrics engulfed by swirling Moog and driving brush-stroke percussion reveals a peculiar reliance on the blues. It’s always been a subtly integral part of his music, but with the solo stuff you were drawn so closely into it that it was somehow difficult to hear. The wood for the trees, if you will. There’s something deeply alluring about the sound of Fields, though; the guitar is compressed to the point of warm, static-y studio distortion, and the keys feel similarly unhinged, spinning about your head as if from a thousand ratty old and punctured speakers. The percussion is deceptively complex, tying everything together with a bewildering sleight of hand. And the more you listen to it, the closer you come to realising how good the album really is. Sometimes it feels as if it’s been crafted as a radio-friendly treasure-trove – most of the tracks are around the 3:30 mark. But the brooding textures it conjures, and the delicate songs they conceal, make for such a sumptuous listen that Fields is really difficult to dislike. Give it two listens and you’ll wake up with half the songs spinning through your head. In a good way. Luke Telford
Benjamin Cooper
I love pretty much everything about this record. It could be Sydney’s answer to chill-wave, but better. It could be a much-needed injection of calm into the frenetic indie pop that’s been circulating our airwaves of late. It could be Paul Simon on Bondi Beach. What Post Paradise is, amongst all of these things, is a highly accomplished record that is an absolute pleasure to listen to.
Sky’, The Holidays snatch the best licks from foreign climes and blend them seamlessly with their own delightfully blissedout tunes. The shimmering haze that washes over this record comes care of Tony Espie (Cut Copy, Avalanches), a man who has made daydreams a viable template for music production. But technical wizardry is only as good as the music itself - and the music here is really, really good.
From the rolling steel-drums that open ‘Heavy Feathers’ through to the bongo refrain of ‘Golden
When you’ve spent as much time kicking around the traps as this band has, you learn how to play to your strengths. Those
Post Paradise Liberation
Hilariously, Weezer chose to open this album with a song containing the refrain “Memories, make me wanna go back there”. The song is about the tour shenanigans of the band way back when they were peeing in cups backstage and messing with rock writers – easily romanticised from the perspective of a dude with babies and responsibilities. What the 40-year-old Rivers Cuomo really means is “Dudes, The Blue Album was sixteen years ago. We’re not making it again.” Weezer are a power-pop band now. They’re not raw, nerdy kids in an L.A. garage. You might not like it, but what the fuck do you know about Weezer anyway? Pinkerton was voted one of the worst albums of 1996 in a Rolling Stone poll at the time – what the fuck does anybody know about Weezer? Co-writers abound here, including heavyweights like Desmond Child and Linda Perry, with eclectic results: Ryan Adams adds some light country sweetness to ‘Run Away’ - and ‘Where’s My Sex?’ (see 'bombast', 'dick-brandishing' below.) is a collaboration with Greg Wells, who's also responsible for Katy Perry’s ‘Ur So Gay’ (nice one, dude). The sound that results is pretty commercial across the board, but it’s as silly and appealing as Jorge Garcia’s round, scruffy face beaming out from the cover. Hurley is all chugging downstroked guitars, earnest lyrics, catchy singalongs and Cuomo’s trademark wry humour. It’s also an overproduced morass of dick-brandishing, self-pitying, selfaggrandising sonic bombast. No single track here approaches the pathetically grandiose meta-pop genius of ‘Can’t Stop Partying’, but on the whole it’s an improvement on Raditude. Kelly Clarkson would sing the shit out of almost everything here, but there's magic in a giant power chord. You know it, I know it, and Rivers knows it too. Caitlin Welsh
40 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
come in the twin form of the arcing vocals of Simon Jones and the swooping guitars of Will Magnus, who mark out The Holidays’ sound with style and substance. And though it’s tempting to be seduced by the mountains of percussion which pour in on ‘Moonlight Hours’ and ‘Conga’, tracks like ‘Indian Summer Anniversary’ - a pure, simple stunner - show that this is a band for which rhythmic tricks are just an added bonus. For a debut, this is seriously impressive, both technically and aurally. Now hit play and take me back to Senegal. Like I’ve alwaays said, Phil Collins never went out of style. Jonno Seidler
Reimagines Gershwin Disney Pearl
Hurley Epitaph
INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK THE HOLIDAYS
BRIAN WILSON
WEEZER
Fields Shock
This album is the unlikely meeting of two musical minds from different eras. First we have the spectacularly gifted, spectacularly erratic Brian Wilson, the Beach Boy who almost singlehandedly invented surf pop and the legendary Pet Sounds in the 1960s. Second we have the late, great composer George Gershwin, who spliced opera, jazz, folk and classical music to conquer Broadway in the 1920s and 1930s. As the album title suggests, this is Wilson’s interpretation of Gershwin’s formidable back catalogue. Like all the best cover versions, the tracks are not faithful copies of the originals. Wilson has tinkered with melodies and counter melodies, tying them together in a classic Beach Boys style. He’s also syncopated rhythms, deviating from the familiar beats and tempos that Gershwin fans know and love. While purists may shudder at this, you’ve got to admire Wilson’s chutzpah. Tracks like ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’ are so familiar, so frequently covered, that the only way to record them and retain any artistic integrity is to fuck about with them a little. He’s even taken fragments of two unfinished Gershwin tunes and, with lyricist Scott Bennett, fleshed them out into fully realised songs to bookend the album. This is both Wonderful and ‘Swonderful to witness. In the three decades that followed Pet Sounds, Wilson weathered a professional and personal storm that nearly killed him. It’s good to see that, in 2010, he's rediscovered Summertime. We’re still waiting for the day when a five star album of brand new Wilson originals will be released but this is the next best thing. Andy McLean
OFFICE MIXTAPE Wondering what the 'experts' listen to? Here's the music that drives The Brag... for this week, anyway. BROADCAST & THE FOCUS GROUP - Investigate... SHADY LANE - Here We Go, Down The Black Hole THE LOVETONES - Lost
ROBERT PLANT - Band Of Joy SONGS - Songs
BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 41
The Minor Chord The All Ages rant bought to you by Indent.net.au. By Sean Calalang
The Paris Crash
THE PARIS CRASH
INDENT GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN Recently Indent announced that the Partnership Grant applications were open for submission, so we thought we'd catch up with one of the all-ages sceneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movers and shakers - someone who has had heaps to do with Indent and the all-ages scene.
Enter Greg Carey - current manager extraordinaire at Umbrella (Cloud Control, Le Kingste, Urthboy and Belles Will Ring), former Indent Project Manager and archetypical specimen of the Indent project. The first Indent-funded event he ever worked on was an all-agesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; festival held at the town hall in Forbes, called Spoonfest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had bands from all over the region come and play. I got involved because I was a big music lover, and being six hours from Sydney in the middle of NSW, there was limited opportunity to see live music and touring acts - so Indent saved our day, and we saved the boredom of about 500.â&#x20AC;?
+ GUESTS
Gregâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked for Indent for four years, after having done an internship with the not-forprofit project during uni. Moving up through the ranks in quick successful steps, he found himself at the helm, steering the project into new directions, and championing the Indent Save the Scene tour which would eventually evolve to become the Indent Ten Year Tour. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess looking back to my â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;career pathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; it all comes down to loving good music and following my instincts. If I could have fast-forwarded 11 years from that first Indent event to know I would be traveling the country the and world with some great artists, I would have pinched myself on the spot. I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change a thing.â&#x20AC;? Indent has forged a path that gives young people the opportunity to realise their ideas, by giving them the support - both financially and as mentors - to stage music events. The Indent Partnership Grants are open for submissions - a great way to start your career in music! For all the finer details on how to get funding and get your ideas happening, go to www.indent.net.au.
ENTER SHIKARI AT THE UNSW ROUNDHOUSE
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If you can get yourselves over to the University of New South Wales Roundhouse this Friday, you should! Trance rockers Enter Shikari (UK), who shot to fame with their song, Sorry, Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Not a Winner, are hitting the stage with House vs. Hurricane. Tickets are available through Ticketek for a scrumptious sum of $53.55+bf â&#x20AC;&#x201C; doors open at 8pm.
Spoilt for choice on the same nightâ&#x20AC;Ś Parkway Drive, Byronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own melodic metal boys, are in Sydney town for their Deep Blue Australian Tour. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing with The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Indie and 50 Lion at the Hordern Pavillion.
The Annandale Hotel has you covered this Saturday September 25. Head over for an all-ages gig from midday, with The Paris Crash - an indie rock band from Perth who relocated to Melbourne to feed their creative musicality. Melody Black and Ricky Bloomfield will join the three-piece, to pleasure your auditory senses with their oscillating sound waves. Tickets are available only on the door.
KYĂ&#x153; ALBUM LAUNCH
Freya Berkhout and Alyx Dennison form the Sydney duo, kyĂź. Their songcraft makes for a haunting mĂŠlange of melody and harmony - a distinct style that intersperses vast soundscapes with vibrant melodies. To celebrate the release of their self-titled debut album, which came out late last week, the young duo will be hosting an all-agesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; album launch party at the Paddington Uniting Church on Friday October 2 with Psuche and a Choir of Very Special Guests. Tickets are available now, but get in quick because there are only a few available.
URTHBOY WITH EL GUSTO & JANE - GIVEAWAY
Just a reminder that the Indent Ten Year Tour hits the Factory this Sunday with Urthboy, Jane & El Gusto plus special guests True Vibenation, Daily Meds and Yung Nooky. We have TWO double-passes to giveaway to the show! Tell us in 25 words or less how you get around? Yep, just like the song. The two most creative answers will win a double pass each; just send an email to minorchords@thebrag.com with your response. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a FREE music industry workshop with Urthboy at the venue before the gig, so check out www.indent.net.au for all the details.
ALL AGES GIG PICKS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24
Enter Shikari, House vs. Hurricane UNSW Round House Parkway Drive with The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Indie & 50 Lions Hordern Pavilion
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25
The Paris Crash, with Melody Black & Ricky Bloomfield The Annandale Hotel, midday
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26
Indent Ten-Year Tour: Urthboy and more The Factory Theatre, 5pm.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 22 kyĂź Album Launch Paddington Uniting Church
Send pics, listings and any info to minorchords@thebrag.com 42 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
Remedy More than The Cure since 1989 with Murray Engleheart
QOTSA REISSUE
That reissue of the Queens Of The Stone Age debut, which was meant to be out in August, is now out on November 26 - but we still don’t get why they’re doing it, or why now.) But then we don’t get a lot of stuff that goes on…) It’ll include three tracks from the original sessions.
HIT SINGLE
Brisbane’s hot new rock thang Hits are about to release a single, a cover of Devo’s ‘Gates of Steel’.
JACK WHITE’S THIRD MAN
Jack White and his Third Man label continue to fly the old-school-is-da-bestschool flag, with the Dead Weather’s new single ‘Blue Blood Blues’. It’s a multiple format thang of course, with a 7” and 12” version plus - and here’s where it gets interesting – a second 12” with a 7” inside it. If we understand correctly, you play the 12” and then it flows into the 7”...
PARKWAY DRIVE
Congrats to Parkway Drive who are returning home for a huge tour. The Deep Blue slab debuted at number 39 in the US Billboard 200, and received raves in Metal Hammer and Rocksound in the UK and Alternative Press in the US. If that ain’t big enough, their show at the Hordern Pavillion on September 24 has sold out too… No small thing, that.
for real… Kinda. 1993’s smokinest, Extra Width, has been repacked up as a pair affair with the Oz-only Mo Width effort on one disc, and unreleased stuff from that wonderfully raucous period on a second. A highly concentrated lo fi high-garage-octane spectacular is what it is.
MATADOR TURNS 21
Speaking of Mr Spencer’s crew, they were on the Matador label which is about to mark its 21 years with a six-slab boxed set drawn from their catalogue, called Matador at 21. Part of the set will be a disc of unreleased live stuff from folks like Mogwai and Pavement. To cap it all off, there’s that festival in Las Vegas from October 1 to 3, which includes the reformed Guided By Voices, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Superchunk, The Clean, Pavement, Spoon and more.
ROWLAND S. HOWARD
On October 29, Liberation Music release a deluxe 7” single of ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’ by the late Rowland S. Howard, which is lifted from his Pop Crimes LP. On the B side is the previously unreleased instrumental ‘Lost In Space’, which was composed for Pop Crimes but never finished, and was mixed after his passing. There will only be 500 individuallynumbered copies of the single worldwide.
METALLICA’S AUSSIE EP
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER
Good ol’ Metallica - just when you think they don’t care no more, they come out with this. On September 20, they release the Australia-themed EP, Six Feet Down Under, to coincide with their Oz tour. All eight songs on the Australian-only release were recorded live on our soil during past tours, including several from the classic …Justice visit. Tracks are: ‘Eye Of The Beholder’ and ‘…And Justice For All’ (1989, Festival Hall, Melbourne), ‘Through The Never’ (1993, Entertainment Centre, Perth), ‘The Unforgiven’ (1993, Tennis Centre, Melbourne), ‘Low Man’s Lyric’ (acoustic) and ‘Devil’s Dance’ (1998, Entertainment Centre, Perth), Frantic (2004, Entertainment Centre, Sydney) and ‘Fight Fire With Fire’ (2004, Entertainment Centre, Brisbane).
Queens Of The Stone Age
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ALTERNATI V
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PARTY BA N
25th
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There was a time when it seemed like the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion were releasing two albums a year - which after a while felt like, you know, it’s enough already and we just wanna get some sleep. And now they’re doing that twin attack thing
RO O M S
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JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION
B E F O R E 9.3
On the Remedy turntable is The Butthole Surfers’ very obviously heavily-acid-etched Rembrandt Pussyhorse plus Ornette Coleman & Pat Metheny’s bruising free jazz noise collaboration, Song X. Also spinning around is the latest from our new fave band, Canada’s Quest For Fire, who do a Hawkwind-meets-Comets In Fire thing on their second and pretty much brand new slab, Lights From Paradise. It’s right up and down all our alleys.
TOUR AND INDUSTRY NEWS Repressed Records at Newtown are having a huge sale on Saturday September 25 with second-hand CDs from $2 and brand newies from $5. If you’re a subscriber to their newsletter, you get a further 20% off. So get in there and give Uncle Chris Sammut a big hug while you’re at it. Repressed are also having an in-store on October 2 with The Boomgates and Dead Farmers, at 2pm.
15 they’ll be at the Annandale with The Hellmenn and Grand Fatal and then October 16 at Manly Fishos again with Hellmenn plus Octopussy, the Pandadolls, Mope and Wild Men From Borneo (which might just be one of the greatest ever rock names). There’s an Asylum comp coming out too called Teenage Tiger that collects live and rare action from 1985 to 1989.
Utopia, the home of heavy metal, has returned to the heart of the city. The store’s new location is 511 Kent Street, corner of Kent and Bathurst Streets - only one block from Town Hall. Nice to have them back, we gotta say. The day they reopened on September 14 we saw a Utopia Records bag in someone’s hands for the first time in ages…
Now, we haven’t done a thorough family history check, but word is that David Simon - the genius behind The Wire - is related to Jason Simon, singer and guitarist from the mighty Dead Meadow. This grab of info leads our news of a tour by our heroes, which will see them doing not one but two shows at the Metro on October 16. The first is from 4pm – 7pm and the second from 8pm.
Killer mid-to-late 80s trio Asylum have reformed for at least two shows. On October
Melody Black are doing an all ages show on September 25 at 11am at the Annandale.
Send stuff for this column to remedy@ozemail.com.au by 6pm Wednesdays. All pics to art@thebrag please. www.myspace.com/remedy4rock
A THOUSAND ALBUM M SUNS
LAUNCH
MIAMI HORROR ALBUM LAUNCH
LIVE BANDS:
OVERREACTOR feat. Zeke from Mammal and Full Scale Revolution
DELSANTO, ME VS YOU
PARTY ROOM: DJ BZURK VS M.I.T. AND GUESTS
ST JAMES HOTEL 114 CASTLEREAGH ST, CITY BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 43
live reviews What we've been to see...
WASHINGTON, WINTER PEOPLE
Oxford Art Factory, Sunday September 12 Megan Washington is a polarising presence in Australian popular music. I know this because reviewing her show has brought me into the orbit of two of this country’s most formidable music critics; Everett True, who hates street press as much as Washington’s debut (and with whom I started a Twitter war after calling him deaf and retarded) - and Bernard Zuel who, for the first time in a long time, I actually agree with. “Washington is a star,” Zuel announced in SMH last week, and I concur. Starting with a ramshackle onstage persona, she’s grown into a serious front-woman who deserves all the airplay she’s getting at the moment. She really is That Good. On that subject, for fresh talent I can’t go past first support, Sydney’s Winter People. Led by shaggy troubadour Dylan Baskind, and flanked by singing violinists and a tambourine-shaking guitarist, this band revel in depth, colour and intricacy, without alienating anyone in the audience. The cheers get louder as their short set progresses, and though they’re yet to release anything definite, you can expect big things from this engaging and talented group. Most guys in the audience fall in love with Megan from about ‘1997’ onwards, with their girlfriends soon following suit. Self-deprecating, raw, honest and funny “I’ve got no boobs, man. But I have really nice knees!” - Washington plus piano plus band evokes the heyday of Ben Folds Five; unashamed of her knack for songwriting, and happy to goof off and cover Sublime’s ‘Santeria’.
in4mal entertainment presents…
MAL’S (ALL AGE)
OPEN MIC NIGHT openmic1@hotmail.com
Taren Point Hotel Wednesday weekly
Panania Hotel Saturday fortnightly
Peakhurst Inn Thursday fortnightly (coming soon)
Sponsored by:-
Soundbasement Studios Jumbonote Recording Shire Music
Murrumbateman Inn Every 4th Sunday
Bowral Hotel Every 4th Friday
Appin Hotel Thursday fortnightly
* UNDER 18’S WELCOME Strict conditions apply
Go to blogs at: myspace.com/in4mal_entertainment for all venues, dates, artists and photos 44 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
As ‘Cement’, ‘Clementine’ and ‘Sunday Best’ roll past (already standards), it becomes apparent that aside from her image and her tunes, Washington is a fantastic lyricist…and anybody who says she’s a polished major label factory production needs to see Washington after two whiskeys. That Australia has embraced her is in fact indicative of a swing away from scene and back to skill. This band feels like it’s been on the road for ten years, and the songs on I Believe You, Liar are more accomplished than those on many other bands’ third albums. Amid the cheers and demands for an encore emerges the sound of hard work and the beginning of a long and fruitful musical career. Megan Washington is a star. Everett True can kiss my ass. Jonno Seidler
JEFF LANG, LEROY LEE
The Basement, Friday September 10 Leroy Lee strikes a rather lonely figure on stage, reminiscing about his seventeenyear-old self trying to sneak into the club in which he now plays. He seems genuinely stoked to have scored the support slot for one of his heroes, but the moment slips him by - his mellow style struggles to maintain the energy. Lee’s fancy fingerwork and creative use of loops reveals a deeply talented musician, but the size of the room, and the fuzzy-edged vocals, reduce the impact of his songs. Perhaps he’s better suited to a smaller venue. Around 10.30pm Jeff Lang pops out from behind the curtain in a dapper jacket and flat cap, followed by a twinkling-eyed, bushy-bearded member of Ned Kelly’s gang - who actually turns out to be his drummer, Danny McKenna. In front of the dimly-lit red curtain the two look like relics of a forgotten era when nobody had a credit card and everyone loved the blues. The duo open with 'Always Moving', from one of Lang’s earlier albums, Cedar Grove (back when he still had loads of hair). Only three minutes in they prove to be musicians of the highest calibre - the connection between the two is palpable, as complex rhythms are thrown back and forth across the stage, remaining in perfect sync during each (seemingly) spontaneous crescendo or solo. They keep the tempo thundering along for the
next few tracks, producing so full a racket that it’s difficult to believe there’s only two of them, Lang making up for his absentee bassist Grant Cummerford by tuning his guitar down to growling depths mid-song. Throughout the epic two-and-a-half hour set, Lang employs three different guitars to fold over thirteen albums and fifteen years of music. Highlights from his latest album Chimeradour included ‘Two Worlds’ (during which Lang’s two hands seem to dance along the steel lap guitar independently of each other) and the more savage ‘I Don’t Like Him Being In Here’. It was a very appreciative crowd crammed in under the Basement pipes, with a distinctly Aussie flavour easily discerned by raucous volleys of “yiiieeeew”s from all angles. Lang plays up to the crowd from time to time with his quiet humour. “Look at him,” he nods to McKenna “banging away like a feral beast…” Jordan Smith
KLAXONS, CANYONS & PARADES The Enmore Theatre, Thursday September 2
The rolling wonderment of Sydney fourplus-more-piece Parades tears out of the stage in a rapid succession of beautifully structured creativity. In every way shape and form, these guys just get youth, from sound to spirit to a sonic understanding of what makes a captivating tune. Tonight, they’re followed by Sydney (via Perth) kit Canyons – who proceed to express the subtlety that a down-tempo duo can bring. Their sound proves a warm and welcome opener, for both new hangers-on and the original day-glo Klaxonites that have come out in force tonight... The anticipation of something extraordinary is a source of anxiety for many a Klaxon-devotee, and the tremor of anticipation is hardly assisted by a lengthy delay before the headliners arrive… After a dramatic, silhouetted set-up, the British tour de force finally take the stage, after a foot shuffling bout of waiting waiting waiting drinking waiting watching wishing. But when the monochrome-clad Klaxons saunter to the stage it’s all worth it - the room revels in an explosive rendition of heavier grit-filled new track ‘Flashover’. But as if to reassure us that the evening is hardly just for Surfing The Void newcomers, an immediate follow-up of ‘As Above, So Below’ from debut Myths Of The Near Future conjures so much emotion that approximately 4.5 couples designate my periphery as prime macking real estate. The Brits hold on to the format, alternating between the kicks of their newer, crisper sound and the more anomalous adventures of their debut – and they hold a rather majestic presence, too. There are some cavernous echoes, as ‘Gravity’s Rainbow’ sits gingerly next to the likes of anthemic hand-holder ‘Venusia’, and the huge single ‘Echoes’; the outer regions and new horizons of their sound have certainly melded for the best… The supportive crowd give Jamie Reynolds and James Righton every reason to sing their throats out, and they do so with distinct improvement since their last visit to The Enmore. They dedicate the excitable favourite (and anticipated woo-er) ‘Golden Skans’ to the diversely gyrating crowd - who promptly hail for an encore. And encore they do, coming back with a two-toned bookend of ‘Surfing The Void’ and favourite danthem (danceanthem) ‘Atlantis to Interzone’. Now sure, their consistent thanks was expected; sure, their token awarding of “best crowd ever” was enough to hurl a glo-stick at their well-groomed mugs; but when you’re trotting home in a burgundy poncho glittered with good tunes, dance perspiration and a teenage smile on your twenty-something dial, you may easily pity those fools who forgot how to enjoy Klaxons… Bridie Connellan
snap sn ap
first aid kit
PICS :: RO
up all night out all week . . .
lo-fi bar
PICS :: RO
09:09:10 :: Hordern Pavilion :: 1 Driver Ave Moore Park 93834000
34B Burlesque
It’s called: Underwater Love: 34B Burlesque beneath the waves It looks and sounds like: A sunken-treasure trove of deep-sea burlesque sensations at the world famous 34B! Performers: Lauren La Rouge, Briana Bluebell, H.M.A.S. Heidi Hoops, Rosy Rabbit, Holly J’aDoll, Electric Dreams, Melise Avion, MC Renny ‘Cousteau’ Kodgers, and DJ Goldfish-foot. Sell it to us: After the sensational, seductive and sold-out Vamps, Vixens and Dolls, 34B returns with a spectacular journey under the sea with the sublime Underwater Love - shore to be sea-riously marvellous marine mayhem. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Bubbles, bodies, spins and dives. Crowd specs: Captains, fisherman, first mates, mermaids, sea nymphs, scuba divers, general adventurers… Wallet damage: $20 general admission / $30 pp reserved tables (min 3 persons) through tenderloins.com.au Where: 34B Burlesque / 44 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (Q Bar entry) When: Saturday September 25, 8.30pm
09:09:10 :: The Roundhouse :: UNSW Kensington Campus 93857630
hot damn
PICS :: RO
soulfly
PICS :: JC
party profile
09:09:10 :: Lo-Fi Bar :: L2, 383 Bourke St Darlinghurst 93113100
up late: jim shirlaw
PICS :: RO
09:09:10 :: Spectrum :: 34 Oxford St Darlinghurst 93316245
09:09:10 :: Oxford Art Factory :: 38-46 Oxford st, Darlinghurst 93323711
:: ) ::MAJA BASKA:: ASHLEY MAR S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO STEVENSON :: ICK OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER PATR K ROO H::B RUS EE HANNA:: REN DANIEL MUNS::ROSETTE ROU ANDREW VIDLER :: JAY COLLIER
BRAG :: 379 :: 12:09:10 :: 45
snap sn ap
bullet for my valentine
PICS :: RO
up all night out all week . . .
the mess hall
PICS :: RO
trash
PICS :: RR
10:09:10 :: Hordern Pavilion :: 1 Driver Ave Moore Park 93834000
11:09:10 :: Agincourt Hotel :: 871 George St City 92814566
Stop Start $7 Social Club It’s called: Stop Start $7 Social Club It sounds like: a party! Acts: Hungry Kids of Hungary, Maniac, Pluto Jonze and Stop Start AllStar DJs. Three songs you’ll hear on the night: Hits, hits and more hits! And one you definitely won’t: Yacht rock (although that can NEVER be guaranteed). Sell it to us: $7, three bands, AllStar DJs, good times! The bit we’ll remember in the AM: The free Stop Start sampler CD on entry, featuring all of Stop Start artists. Crowd specs: Partygoers. Wallet damage: $7 – bargain! Where: Melt Bar / 12 Kellet St, Kings Cross. When: Friday September 24
46 :: BRAG :: 380:: 20:09:10
surf city+the laurels
010:09:10 :: Spectrum :: 34 Oxford St Darlinghurst 93316245
PICS :: AM
party profile
11:09:10 :: Annandale Hotel :: 17 Paramatta Rd Annandale 95501078
:: ) ::MAJA BASKA:: ASHLEY MAR S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO SON :: VEN STE ICK OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER PATR K ROO H::B HANNA:: RENEE RUS DANIEL MUNS::ROSETTE ROU ANDREW VIDLER :: JAY COLLIER
presents presents...
TUE CULT SINEMA 21st September 7:30pm
$5 suggested donation
WED
Sydney Fringe presents A SHRILL CHUCKLE OF IRREPRESSIBLE DELIGHT A visual art, ďŹ lm & music night feat. Brian Campeau + Fag Panic + Bud Petal + Sister Jane. Punk Monk Propaganda visuals and Jay Katz as DJ.
22nd September 7:30pm
$10 door
THU 23rd September 7.30pm
Sydney Fringe presents
Whiteknuckle Bosomclutchinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cheerypoppinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Deathmatch!!! The dirtiest, rockinist, event of the fringe feat. White Knuckle Fever + Cherry 2000 + Bosom + Toy Death + The Luke Hoskin Experience $12 door
FRI 24rd September 7.30pm
RAISE THE CRAZY w. Devine Electric + Buzzkillers + The Prehistorics $12 door
SAT 25th September Midday-4pm
THE PARIS CRASH *All
Ages* w. The Violet Flames + Melody Black + Ricky BoomďŹ eld
$15 door
SAT BILLYGOAT & 25th September THE MONGRELS 7.30pm w. Day of the Meerkat + Green Mohair Suits + Skull Squadron $10 door
SUN 26th September Midday- 4pm
SCREAMING SUNDAY *All
w. McLovin + Enthrone + The Underground Architect + Conspiracy + The Struts + Black Label + Perfect Fit + Brainwashed $12 door
SUN SUNDAY DRIVE 26th September Early Doors 5pm
Ages*
The Last Sunday of Every Month
w. Castlecomer + The Tin Can Clan + Our Monk + Morgan + Vacations $10 door with $1 from every ticket going to FBI
3!4 35. AM PM "OOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL ON
COMING UP: SYDONIA | ELECTRIC MARY | DAN KELLY | HELLMENN | ILLY | HEROES FOR HIRE
0ARRAMATTA 2D !NNANDALE &ULL LIST OF UPCOMING SHOWS INFORMATION AND SHOW BOOKINGS VISIT
WWW ANNANDALEHOTEL COM
YOUR LIVE MUSIC CHANNEL
BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 47
small bars guide Smaller Than Your Average Hordern Pavilion...
Is there a bar we should know about? Email listings@thebrag.com
Solas
brag
557 Crown Street, Surry Hills THE HOSTS Myself (Ian), Dan and Joe are the owners, three friends from Ireland. I was the only one with a history of working behind the bar, though all three have put in long apprenticeships on the other side. One day, as I was stopped - sober at that - for about the 1,184th time trying to get in somewhere, I just decided, ‘Screw it, I am going to open my own place and at least then I can get in.’ Luckily, I was able to rope the lads into coming along for the ride…
THE PITCH Solas is simple: bars are supposed to be fun so we
took out all the crap, and just welcome anyone that wants to have a good time. Super relaxed, friendly vibe and personally, I think the music is pretty good.
WHAT’S IN A NAME? Zero. Would love to have some kind of profound answer but the reality was that we came up with some really horrible ones first… like ‘Black Steel!’ Realising how bad this could be, we knew we needed a change of direction. We then decided to go for an Irish name, but the language is next to impossible to speak - even for natives. We knew we’d have to keep it simple, so Solas was agreed upon.
LOCATION LOCATION I live in Surry Hills and like the vibe, so it was a natural choice.
TH
EK
OF
bar
E E W
We picked the un-cool end of Crown Street (Cleveland street end), because there were lots of restaurants but no other small bars in that area - so we’re hoping we can spread the small bar vibe to another part of the suburb.
DESIGN INSPIRATIONS Not so much ‘designed’ as ‘thrown together’, in a completely random way. We always wanted some cool art, so I was lucky to get a couple of pictures on the walls (thanks to George). But other than that, it just kind of happened.
SIGNATURE DRINKS Nope! Much like God and his children, I love all alcohol equally.
HINDSIGHT Fu*king council…
brag cocktail of the week: Pour it in your mouth-hole... (responsibly).
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 Tone Venue 16 Wentworth Ave, Sydney CBD 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 or beer Soni’s 169 King St, Newtown
INNER EAST
The Shady @ Firefly
24 young street, Neutral Bay Phone: (02) 9909 0193 best drunk with: your partner during: a stakeout
48 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
while wearing: a fedora and listening to: Barry White. Ingredients: 45ml Angustura 1919 8 y.o Rum 15ml Apricot Brandy Dash of Bitters Dash of gomme Frozen pineapple chunks
Method: Muddle pineappple with 1919 Rum, Apricot Brandy, bitters & gomme, fill with ice, stir, double strain into tumbler with ice chucks and frozen pineapple chunks. Glass: Tumbler Garnish: Air-dried pineapple peel
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 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
Dr Pong 13-15 Kellett St, King’s Cross The Local Taphouse 122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst Lo-Fi L2, 383 Bourke 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 mojitos 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: Earlybird dinner, two courses for $26 (excluding pork belly & New Yorker) Supper Club @ Will & Toby’s 134 Oxford St, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst Tea Parlour 569 Elizabeth St, Redfern Toko 490 Crown St, Surry Hills Velluto 7 / 50 Macleay Street, Potts Point Saturday & Sunday, 2-5pm: High Tea The Winery 285a Crown St, Surry Hills Yullis 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 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 :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 49
Presented by
Gig Guide
send your listings to: gigguide@thebrag.com
gig pick of the week Regurgitator
Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 8pm Rob Eastwood Dee Why RSL, Scores Bar free 6.30pm The Leonard Cohen Birthday Bash: Monsieur Camembert, Ngairre, Christa Hughes, Emily Lubitz The Avenue, Tempe 7pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK
Songsalive!: Simon Marrable, Russell Neal and guests Raby Tavern free 7.30pm Beth King & The Hemingway Collective, Karl & Ultan Beach Road Hotel, Bondi free 8pm
COUNTRY
Tim McGraw, Jonah’s Road Sydney Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park 8pm $99.90 (silver)–$129.90 (gold)
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 22 ROCK & POP
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25
Manning Bar, Sydney University, Camperdown
Regurgitator,
Rat Vs Possum, Laneous & The Family Yah $28.60 (presale) 8pm MONDAY SEPTEMBER 20 ROCK & POP
Andy Mammers Opera Bar, Sydney free 8.30pm Bernie Segedin The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Now Now Series: They Live, James Waples, Emily Morandini Serial Space, Chippendale $8–$10 7.30pm Songwriter Sessions Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills free 7.30pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Swallow & Exit: Ghostboy with Golden Virtues The Vanguard, Newtown $18 (+ bf)–$20 (at door) 6.30pm Unherd Open Mic: Derkajam Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm
JAZZ
Dave Panichi Youth Orchestra 505 Club, Surry Hills $10 8.30pm John Hill Dee Why RSL, Scores Bar free 6.30pm Mrs Bang Notes Live, Enmore $20 7.30pm Open Mic & Jazz/Latin Jam Session: Daniel Falero, Pierre Della Putta, Phil Taig, Rinske Geerlings, Ed Rapo Bar Me, Potts Point free 7pm
ACOUSTIC/FOLK
Andalusian Honey The Great Hall, University of Sydney, Camperdown $35 7pm Songsalive!: Roger Corbett, Stuart Hale, Phil Cole, James Fletcher & Jimmy, Kristian Jackson, Eddie Boyd, Stephen Hunt, Under the Purple Tree Springwood Sports Club free 7pm Songsalive!: Ruby for Lucy, Roxanne Kiely, Stephen Kiely, Pave Leclair, Pat O’Grady, Ross Bruzzese, Russell Neal, April Sky Kellys On King, Newtown free 7pm
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 21 ROCK & POP
Beau Smith Duo, Chris Masuak Stamford Grand North Ryde, Macquarie Park free 6pm Klondike’s North Forty Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm Nicky Kurta Novotel Homebush, Homebush Bay free 4pm Open Mic Night Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle free 7pm Phil Spiller Artichoke Gallery Cafe, Manly free 7.30pm Refraction: Oscar Vincente Slorach Thorn, Scissor Lock,
Gentleforce, Rosituck, Sarah Mitchell Serial Space, Chippendale $8–$10 7.30pm Songwriter Sessions The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Soup Jam Session Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills free 5.30pm Steve Tonge O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 9.30pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Tom Waits - Way Down in the Hole: Jason Geary & The Diamond Dog Band Fusebox, The Factory Theatre, Enmore $20 (conc)–$24 6.30pm The Tree Believers, Old Man Crow Valve, 900 Princes Highway Tempe free 7.30pm They Call Me Bruce Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney free 9.30pm Tuesday Unplugged Uni Bar, Wollongong University, Gwynneville free 4pm
Corduroy Pillow, The Playtapes Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle free 9pm Dereb the Ambasaador Macquarie Hotel, Sydney free 8pm Fur Burkas Sandringham Hotel – street level bar, Newtown free 8pm Glenn Shorrock The Basement, Circular Quay $35 9.30pm Herman’s Hermits (UK) Weston Workers Club $30 8.15pm Ian Simpson, John Kane, Mike Kerin Cat & Fiddle Hotel, Balmain $20 8pm Live n Local: Emily-Rose Sorensen, Grayson Lizotte’s Restaurant, Lambton $13.50 7pm Mal’s Open Mic Night Taren Point Hotel free 7.30pm Mark Hopper Artichoke Gallery Cafe, Manly free 7.30pm Merewether Fats, Jennifer Young The View Factory, Newcastle free 7pm Only the Sea Slugs, Tales in Space, The Arachnids Spectrum, Darlinghurst 8pm Open Mic Night Excelsior Hotel, Glebe free 7.30pm Open Mic Fubah on Copa, Copacabana free 7pm Songwriter Sessions Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm
The Jezabels, The Owls Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach free 8pm The Study: Huntings, Matt Ross, The Tourist Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills free 7pm Uni Night Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale free 9pm Untitled Krautrock Jam feat members of Whipped Cream Chargers, Domeyko/Gonzalez, Nhomea, Arkestra, Danimals, Warhorse & PING! Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 8pm YourSpace Muso Showcase Town Hall Hotel, Newtown free 7pm
JAZZ
Bernie Segedin Dee Why RSL, Scores Bar free 6.30pm Blue Taboo, Danica Beutler, Moondance Raval, Surry Hills $15 8pm Freddie & Eden Notes Live, Enmore $20 7.30pm John Redmond Trio The Manhattan Lounge, Sydney free 6pm Magnetic Heads, The Falls Hotel Hollywood, Surry Hills free 8pm Paul Sun, John Blenkhorn Jazushi, Surry Hills free 7pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free The Tango Saloon 505 Club, Surry Hills $10 8.30pm
ACOUSTIC/FOLK
Songsalive!: Gavin Fitzgerald" , Eve Goonan, Pave Leclair, TAOS, Daniel Coates Coach & Horses Hotel, Randwick free 7pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: The McMenamins The Vanguard, Newtown $12 (+ bf)–$15 (at door) 6.30pm
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23 ROCK & POP
Andy Mammers Harbord Beach Hotel free 8pm Art & About Launch: Dappled Cities, Kate Monroe Hyde Park North, Sydney free 6pm Buzzard, Birdmouth, Last Trip, Jam Hog Live at the Wall, Leichhardt $10 (presale)–$12 (at door) 8pm Crushed Ice Camden Valley Golf Resort, Catherine Field free 6.30pm Declan Kelly & The Rising Sun Macquarie Hotel, Sydney free 8.30pm Jinja Safari
JAZZ
Chris Komorowski, Peter McDonald Jazz Band, Sandy Evans The Basement, Circular Quay $20 9.30pm James Valentine’s Supper Club Golden Sheaf Hotel, Double Bay free 7pm Jazzgroove: James Annesley Quartet, Nick Bowd Quartet 505 Club, Surry Hills $8–$10 8.30pm
“I’m a cork on the ocean Floating over the raging sea How deep is the ocean? How deep is the ocean?” - BRIAN WILSON 50 :: BRAG :: 380 : 20:09:10
Presented by Pres
Gig Guide
send your listings to: gigguide@thebrag.com Edens March, Shotgun Blonde, The Owls, A Message From the Sun Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills $10 (+ bf) 8pm Enter Shikari (UK), House Vs Hurricane, Hand Of Mercy Roundhouse, Kensington $53.55 (+ bf) 7pm Forenzics, Violence In Action, The Effing Seas, Ye Luddites Sandringham Hotel, Newtown Hot Damn!: In Trenches, Enter Shikari DJs, Hot Damn DJs Spectrum, Darlinghurst $10–$12 8pm Jellyfish Artichoke Gallery Cafe, Manly free 7.30pm Jinja Safari, Strangetalk Goodgod Small Club, Sydney 8pm Johnathan Devoy Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm Juan Cortez Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm Mal’s Open Mic Night Appin Hotel free 7.30pm Metallica Show Selina’s, Coogee Bay Hotel free 8pm Paris Wells, Alphamama Raval, Surry Hills $12 (+ bf) 7.30pm Pensive Penguin, Atticus Five Islands Brewing Company, Wollongong 8pm Reyes De La Onda Macquarie Hotel, Sydney free 12am Rod Mitchell Windang Bowling Club free 8pm Rose of York Brass Monkey, Cronulla $12.25 8pm Rosie Burgess Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills 8pm Ross Ward GJ’s Coffee Lounge, Cronulla Mall free 7.30pm Shannon Noll, Mark Wilkinson Lizotte’s Restaurant, Lambton $45
(show only)–$113.50 (dinner & show) 7pm Songwriter Sessions Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills free 8pm Steve Edmonds Band Empire Hotel, Annandale free 7pm The Dark Shadows, Veil Club 77, East Sydney 8pm The Lovetones, The Laurels, The Prayer Circle Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $12 (+ bf) 8pm The Monks of Mellonwah Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale free 9pm The Suspects Marble Bar, Sydney free 8.30pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Mic Conway’s National Junk Band The Vanguard, Newtown $16 (+ bf)–$20 (at door) 6.30pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Tom Waits- Way Down in the Hole: Jason Geary & the Diamond Dog Band Fusebox, The Factory Theatre, Enmore $20 (conc)–$24 6.30pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Whi teknuckleBosomclutchin’Chee rypoppin’Deathmatch!!!: White Knuckle Fever, Cherry 2000, Bosom, Toydeath, The Luke Hoskins Inexperience Annandale Hotel $12 (at door) 7.30pm Thousand Needles In Red Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor free 8pm Wollongong Wail! Band Comp City Diggers, Wollongong free 8pm Zeahorse, Nikko, The Nice Folk, Strangers Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 8pm
JAZZ
Armandito y Su Trovason 505 Club, Surry Hills $10–$15 8.30pm
Colbourne Ave: Matt McMahon Trio Cafe Church, Glebe $10–$20 7pm Hello You, Kamikaze Cabaret, Cohen Koans Notes Live, Enmore $20 7.30pm Jazz Factory The View Factory, Newcastle free 7pm Jazz: Cool For School: The Space Cadets, Jess Green Trio The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre, Chippendale $17.50 12pm Lionel Robinson Dee Why RSL, Scores Bar free 7pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free Tina Harrod, Lily Dior, Virna Sanzone The Basement, Circular Quay $25 (+ bf)–$73.80 (dinner & show) 8pm
ACOUSTIC/FOLK
Bacon & Cabbage, TeeJay Cock ‘n’ Bull Tavern, Bondi Junction free 9pm Dennis Aubrey’s Songwriters Night @Newtown RSL free 7pm Kim Sanders, Bobby Singh Efendy Restaurant, Balmain $10– $35 (dinner & show) 8pm Rock Out With Your Wok Out!: Daniel Hopkins and guests Narrabeen Sands free 7.30pm Songsalive!: Ken Stewart, Under the Purple Tree and guests Henry Lawson Club, Werrington County free 7.30pm Songsalive!: Laurie McKern, Andrew Denniston and guests Pittwater RSL, Mona Vale free 7.30pm Songsalive!: Pauly Vella, Carolyn Woodorth, Russell Neal and guests Pennant Hills Inn free 8pm Songsalive!: Stanmore Phoenix, Carolyn Crysdale and guests Penshurst RSL free 7pm
TUE 21 SEP
wed
22 Sept
(9:00PM - 12:00AM)
Pensive Penquin
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24 ROCK & POP
Alter Ego Massey Park Golf Club, Concord free 7.15pm Basement Birds The Apple Store, Sydney free 9pm Brown Sugar Marble Bar, Sydney free 9.30pm Chris Arnott Artichoke Gallery Cafe, Manly free 7.30pm City Riots, Made in Japan Spectrum, Darlinghurst 8pm David Agius Harbord Beach Hotel free 8pm Hit Machine Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club,
Bondi Junction free 9.30pm Hogan’s Heroes St Marys Leagues Club free 9pm Holly Kristen Central Coast Leagues Club, Gosford free 5.30pm Jive Katz Wests Illawarra Leagues Club, Unanderra 8pm Luke O’Shea & Medicine Wheel, Chasing Bailey Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Mal’s Open Mic Night Panania Hotel free 8pm Mayhem (Norway) The Factory Theatre, Enmore $58 (+ bf) 8pm Mr Breeze Hawkesbury Hotel, Windsor free 7.45pm MUM: Blonde On Blonde, Mrs Bishop, Rockets, The Gameboys, Mother & Son, Me, Whipped
FREE ENTRY
COOPERS presents
ROCK-STEIN TRIVIA
thu
FREE ENTRY
THE STUDY presents
23 Sept
WED 22 SEP
(9:00PM - 12:00AM)
HUNTINGS + MATT ROSS DUO + THE TOURISTS
fri
24
THU 23 SEP
Sept
(5:00PM - 8:00PM)
(9:15PM - 1:00AM)
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
SUNDAY AFTERNOON FRI 24 SEP
sat
(4:30PM - 7:30PM)
Sept
SATURDAY NIGHT
25
sun
(4:30PM - 7:30PM)
Sept
SUNDAY NIGHT
26
SAT 25 SEP
EDENS MARCH + SHOTGUN BLONDE
+ THE OWLS + A MESSAGE FORM THE SUN RAMPANT + RICH UNCLE SKELETON + DESTINED + YOLANDA & THE STOLEN BOYS
RICHARD IN YOUR MIND PIKELET (MEL) GHOUL + COLLARBONES
(9:00PM - 12:00AM)
(8:30PM - 12:00AM)
COMING SOON SAT 02 OCT
LOUIS BERTIGNAC (FRA)
FRI 08 OCT
TRASHED MILF
SAT 09 OCT
SOSUEME
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 :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 51
Presented by
Gig Guide
send your listings to: gigguide@thebrag.com
Cream Chargers, Spookyland, Arc Archer, Strange Talk, The Upskirts, Brittle ,The Black Paintings The World Bar, Kings Cross $10 (guestlist)–$15 9pm Next Best Thing Burwood RSL Club free 8pm Nobby Grooves, DJ Karey Gasworks Nightclub, Albion Hotel, Parramatta $10 9pm Parkway Drive, The Devil Wears Prada (USA), The Ghost Inside, 50 Lions Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park $41.30 (+ bf) 7pm Purple Sneakers: Cloud Control DJ Set, BenLucid, Toki Doki, Stolen Bones, Retox, Happy Go Lucky Gladstone Hotel, Chippendale free 7pm Raise the Crazy, Devine Electric, Buzzkiller, The Prehistorics Annandale Hotel $12 8pm Rampant, Rich Uncle Skeleton, Destend, Yolanda & the Stolen Boys Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills $15 (+ bf) 8pm Regurgitator, Rat Vs Possum, Laneous & the Family-Yah Uni Bar, Wollongong University, Gwynneville $17.50 (student)–$25.50 8pm Rosie Burgess Tomerong Hall 8pm Satellite, Fluid Exchange, Danger Bus 89 Ebley, Bondi Junction free 7.30pm Seabellies, Fire! Santa Rosa Fire!, Step Panther, Bearhug Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $10–$20 (incl CD) 8pm Shade Of Red Engadine RSL & Citizens Club free Songwriter Sessions Live at the Wall, Leichhardt $10 (presale)–$15 (at door) 8pm Sound Series: Pimmon, Anna Chase, Edwin Montgomery, Laura Altman & Peter Farrar, Mere Women Hardware Gallery, Enmore free 7.30pm Steve Edmonds Band Mona Vale Hotel free 10pm Tensions Arise, Pulseeffect, Vendetta Of The Fallen, Syko Sapian, Never Trust a Bunny Lewisham Hotel $10 6.30pm The Bohemian Masquerade Ball: The Barons of Tang, Kira Puru & The Bruise, Jephthah Francis & The Forbidden Zone Gallipoli Club, Hamilton $26 (+ bf) 7.30pm The Celibate Rifles, Grand Fatal, Molten Universe Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $15–$20 8pm
The Cool Charmers, Carrie Phillis & the Downtown 3, The Escapes, Eager 13 Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 8pm The Cover Up Central Coast Leagues Club, Gosford free 8.30pm The Fitz Band Comp Fitz Cafe, St Ives free 7pm The Magic Strings Ensemble, The Volatinsky Trio Eastside Arts, Paddington $28 8.15pm The Midnight Ramblers, Mal Eastick, Bridie King, Dom Turner Notes, Newtown $25 8pm The Retreat, Scenes From A Train Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm The Sacred Truth City Diggers, Wollongong 8pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Tom Waits - Way Down in the Hole: Jason Geary & the Diamond Dog Band Fusebox, The Factory Theatre, Enmore $20 (conc)–$24 6.30pm The Wharf Sessions: The Suitcase Royale Wharf 1, Sydney Theatre Company, Walsh Bay free 9.30pm Third Time Lucky Celebrity Room, Blacktown RSL Club free 8pm Thousand Needles in Red City Diggers, Wollongong 8pm Undercover Cronulla Sharks free 8.30pm What U Need INXS Show Engadine Tavern free 9.30pm Zeroes Heathcote Hotel free 8.30pm Zoltan Revesby Workers Club free 8pm
JAZZ
Bridge City Jazz Band Club Ashfield free 7.30pm Cass Eager & the Velvet Rope Old Manly Boatshed $10 (at door) 9pm Full Swing Quartet Lane Cove Golf & Country Club, Northwood free 7.30pm James Morrison, Emma Pask The Basement, Circular Quay $25 (+ bf)–$30 (at door) 9.30pm Johnny G & the E-Types Macquarie Hotel, Sydney free 8.30pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 5.30pm Pianoman Cruise Restaurant, The Rocks free 10pm Punch Gillard & Collins Empire Hotel, Annandale 8pm
Dappled Cities
Fire! Santa Rosa Fire!
SIMA: The Richard Maegraith Band The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre, Chippendale $12 (conc)–$18 8.30pm Steve Hunter Band 505 Club, Surry Hills $10–$15 8.30pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Collard Greens & Gravy, The Widowbirds The Vanguard, Newtown $20 (+ bf) 6.30pm Yuki Kumagai, John Mackie Well Connected Cafe, Glebe free 8pm
ACOUSTIC/FOLK
The Furry Animals, Mental Elf The Hero of Waterloo Hotel, Millers Point free 8pm Maura Walsh, Tony O’Rourke Irish Gaelic Club, Surry Hills $10– $15 8.30pm Simon Paparo The Nag’s Head Hotel, Glebe free 8pm Songsalive!: Andrew Denniston and guests Casa di Musica, Enmore free 7.30pm Songsalive!: Ethan Blencowe, Brett Gedge, Pave Leclair, Vitaley Ovchinnikov, Russell Neal Ryans Hotel, Thirroul free 8.30pm
HIP HOP
Dustones: Mantra (Obese), Dj Wasabi, Gabi & Lou Lou, Bentley Beach Road Hotel, Bondi free 8pm
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25 ROCK & POP
3 Speed Dog Box Iron Duke Hotel, Alexandria free 8pm Billy Goat & the Mongrels, Day of the Meerkat, Green Mohair Suits, Skull Squadron Annandale Hotel $10 7.30pm Boston Shaker Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale 8pm Bridgemary Kiss Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm Buddy Brown Stone Artichoke Gallery Cafe, Manly free 7.30pm Coaster Festival: Cypress Hill (USA), Birds of Tokyo, Art vs Science, bluejuice, Basement Birds, Silversun Pickups, Cloud Control, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Boy & Bear, Illy, Spit Syndicate, The Ashton Shuffle, The Holidays, Slow Down Honey, The Chemist, City Riots, Manic, Jinja Safari, Old Music For Old People, The Foreign Objects, The Vox Angelicus, Sam La More, The Bang Gang Deejays, Purple Sneakers DJs, Sosueme DJs, Cheap Lettus, triple j Unearthed artists, Bass Kleph Gosford Showground $89 (+ bf)– $120 (premium) 12pm Collard Greens & Gravy Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Dean Carroll, Kindread Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor free 8pm Doors Tribute Pittwater RSL Club, Mona Vale $15 8pm Glen and the Peanut Butter Men, R.U.S.T., Bladder Spasms, Hell Crab City, Headbutt, THUG, Gutterstomp Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $12 4.30pm Jesse Morris & the Three Beans Harrigans Irish Pub, Pokolbin 8pm Lazy Susan, 49 Goodbyes Raval, Surry Hills 8pm Memory Loss Carousel Inn - Rooty Hill free 8.30pm Millennium Bug Campbelltown Catholic Club free 8.30pm Overkill, Mortal Sin Metro Theatre, Sydney $59 (+ bf) 8pm
Pensive Penguin, The Owls Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, Wickham 8pm Plasticine Machine Excelsior Hotel, Glebe free 8pm Pop Fiction Castle Hill RSL Club free 10pm Radio City Cats Marble Bar, Sydney free 10.30pm Regurgitator, Rat Vs Possum, Laneous & the Family-Yah Manning Bar, Sydney University, Camperdown $28.60 (presale) 8pm Richard in Your Mind, Pikelet, Ghoul, Collarbones Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills $12 (+ bf)–$15 (at door) 8pm Rosie Burgess Tea Club, Nowra 8pm Ross Ward Vault 146, Windsor free 8pm SFX: Over-Reactor, Del Santo, Me Vs You St James Hotel, City $15 Snape Bros Newcastle Panthers, Newcastle West 8.30pm Songwriter Sessions The Basement, Circular Quay $25 9.30pm Speak Purcussion Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium of Music $20 (conc)–$30 7pm Spring Sprung!: Found At Sea, Valar, I Am The Agent, The Cerulean Set @Newtown free 8pm Steve Edmonds Band Dicey Riley’s Wollongong free 8.30pm The Bohemian Masquerade Ball: The Barons of Tang, The Crooked Fiddle Band, Lolo Lovina, Mr Fibby, The Caravan of Doom The Factory Theatre, Enmore $26 (+ bf) 8pm The Celibate Rifles, Grand Fatal, One Bollock Peep Show Hotel Gearin, Katoomba 8pm The Deckchairs Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale free 5pm The Paradise Motel, Sienna Lee Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $20–$25 8pm The Paris Crash, The Violet Flames, Melody Black, Ricky Bloomfield Annandale Hotel $15 (at door) 12pm The Radiators Celebrity Room, Blacktown RSL Club free 10pm The Rod Stewart Show: Dave Battah Wentworthville Leagues Club, Starlight Room $8–$10 7pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Tom Waits - Way Down in the Hole: Jason Geary & the Diamond Dog Band Fusebox, The Factory Theatre, Enmore $20 (conc)–$24 6.30pm The Waves Harbord Beach Hotel free 8pm Tim Freedman, Perry Keyes Lizotte’s Restaurant, Lambton $40 (show only)–$105.50 (dinner & show) 7pm Too Many Guitars St Marys Leagues Club free 9pm Unknown Pleasures - A Joy Division Celebration: Peter Hook (UK), The Wreckery Enmore Theatre $79.90 7pm Vinni & The Moonlighters, Grizzly Adams Ashfield RSL Club free 8.30pm
Zeni Geva, Nunchukka Superfly, Summanuss, Dead Farmers Live at the Wall, Leichhardt $20 (presale)–$25 (at door) 8pm
JAZZ
70 Years: A Birthday Celebration of the Work of John Pochee: Ten Part Invention The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre, Chippendale $12 (conc)–$18 8.30pm Cass Eager & the Velvet Rope Wickham Park Hotel, Islington free 8.30pm Jive Bombers Club Liverpool free 8pm Monica Trapaga, The Bachelor Pad Carrington Hotel, Katoomba $42 8.30pm Old Time Band The Hero of Waterloo Hotel, Millers Point free 2pm Pianoman Cruise Restaurant, The Rocks free 10pm Pugsley Buzzard 505 Club, Surry Hills $15–$20 8.30pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: The Blues Preachers The Vanguard, Newtown $20 (+ bf)–$25 (at door) 6.30pm Willoughby Art Festival: Yuki Kumagai, John Mackie, Tony Burkys Willoughby Park Art & Recretaion Centre, North Willoughby free 10am Young Womens Jazz Workshops Concert: Jane Irving, Monique Lysiak, Jess Green, Zoe Hauptmann, Alex Silver, Craig Scott, Toby Hall Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music $16.50 (child)–$21.50 6.30pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK
Songsalive!: Matt Heath, July Morning, Chris Neto, Tom Price, Brian Ridge, David Shepherd, Zoë Vaughan, Russell Neal Grumpy’s Inn, Hurlstone Park free 8pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26 ROCK & POP
Blues Sunday Artichoke Gallery Cafe, Manly 7.30pm Chase The Sun Davistown RSL $10 5pm DJ Fresh, Adrian Allen, Jorgie Jay Gasworks Nightclub, Albion Hotel, Parramatta free 6pm Fisher King, Danielle Spencer, The Retreat Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Hue Williams Ocean Beach Hotel, Umina Beach free 5pm Irish Sundaze: The Bad Penguins P.J. O’Brien’s, Sydney free 5pm Klassic Blak Ettalong Bowling Club, Ettalong Beach free 2pm Matt Jones Harbord Beach Hotel free 6pm
“I know perfectly well I’m not where i should be I’ve been very aware You’ve been patient with me”- BRIAN WILSON 52 :: BRAG :: 380 : 20:09:10
Presented by Pres
Old Man River, Dead Letter Chorus Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba $18 (+ bf)–$60 (+ bf) 6pm Outer Space Cowboys Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 4pm Pensive Penguin, The Former Love Pirates Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale free 8pm Songwriter Sessions Live at the Wall, Leichhardt $15 (presale)–$16 (at door) Songwriters at The Factory The View Factory, Newcastle free 7pm Soulfox Blues Revue, Reno Nevada, The Thing O’s Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 5pm Steve Edmonds Band Kent Hotel Hamilton free 8.30pm Sunday Drive: Vacations, Tin Can Clan, Our Monk, Morgan Annandale Hotel $10 (at door) 6pm Terry McIntosh The Entrance Sails Stage free 11am The Devil Wears Prada (USA), The Bride, Buried in Verona Live at the Wall, Leichhardt
The Sydney Fringe Festival: Tom Waits- Way Down in the Hole: Jason Geary & the Diamond Dog Band Fusebox, The Factory Theatre, Enmore $20 (conc)–$24 8pm The Sydney Fringe Festival: Ungus Ungus Ungus, Fag Panic Hermann’s, Darlington $10 (at door) 7pm Toby Martin, Tim Kevin Low 302, Darlinghurst free 8pm We Are the Bird Cage Notes Live, Enmore $12 7.30pm You Me At Six (England), theAudition (USA), Kids In Glass Houses Metro Theatre, Sydney $52.50 8pm
Old Time Band The Hero of Waterloo Hotel, Millers Point free 2pm Pugsley Buzzard Nepean Rowing Club, Penrith free 1pm Robbers Dogs Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks free 3pm Shawnuff Quartette Oatley Hotel free 2pm Sydney Blues Society Blues Jam: Sydney Blues Society Botany View Hotel, Newtown free 6pm
JAZZ
COUNTRY
Alan Solomon’s Jazztet Central Coast Leagues Club, Gosford free 2pm GT Nash Velluto Champagne and Wine Lounge, Potts Point free 6.30pm Jazz Serenade Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle 4pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK Songsalive!: Shane Coombe, Russell Neal and guests Cat and Fiddle Hotel, Balmain free 2pm
Belrose Country Music Club Belrose Bowling Club free 2pm Benjamin Eastwood Fubah on Copa, Copacabana free 2pm Cash Only Marrickville Bowling and Recreation Club free 4.30pm
gig picks
P
SE RE
NT
S
up all night out all week...
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 22
Parkway Drive
The Jezabels, The Owls Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach free 8pm
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23 Art & About Launch: Dappled Cities, Kate Monroe Hyde Park North, Sydney free 6pm Enter Shikari (UK), House Vs Hurricane, Hand Of Mercy Roundhouse, Kensington $53.55 (+ bf) 7pm Jinja Safari, Strangetalk Goodgod Small Club, Sydney 8pm The Lovetones, The Laurels, The Prayer Circle
Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $12 (+ bf) 8pm
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24 Parkway Drive, The Devil Wears Prada (USA), The Ghost Inside, 50 Lions Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park $41.30 (+ bf) 7pm
Seabellies, Fire! Santa Rosa Fire!, Step Panther, Bearhug Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $10–$20 (incl CD) 8pm
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25 Coaster Festival: Cypress Hill (USA), Birds of Tokyo, Art vs Science, bluejuice, Basement Birds, Silversun Pickups, Cloud Control, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Boy & Bear, Illy, Spit Syndicate, The Ashton Shuffle, The Holidays, Slow Down Honey, The Chemist and more Gosford Showground $89 (+ bf)–$120 (premium) 12pm Richard in Your Mind, Pikelet, Ghoul, Collarbones Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills $12 (+ bf)–$15 (at door) 8pm The Paradise Motel, Sienna Lee Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $20–$25 8pm
The Lovetones
MANTRA + DJ WASABI GABI LOULOU BENTLEY
8PM SEPTEMBER 24TH COMING SOON
BIG RED & THE P HOUND + BETH KING & THE HEMINGWAY COLLECTIVE + TIN CAN CLAN + ALISHA FRITTMANN 21ST SEPT THE HOLIDAYS + WE ARE FANS 29TH SEPT
Unknown Pleasures - A Joy Division Celebration: Peter Hook (UK), The Wreckery Enmore Theatre $79.90 7pm
BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 53
club guide send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com
club pick of the week Cypress Hill
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 20
Chico Mann
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
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 21 Xxx
Enmore Theatre
Cypress Hill (USA), Spit Syndicate $86.10
Q Bar, Darlinghurst
Sosueme Cypress Hill Afterparty: Cypress Hill (DJ set / Live Percussion show) Joyride, Alison Wonderland, The Babymakers, Mailer Daemon, Rogers Room, Lonewolf, Erectro, DJ Fresco $10 on the door
Cruise Bar, Circular Quay DCE Salsa Lessons $20 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 Karaoke, DJs Shipwreck, Cris Angel, Daigo and CM free
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 22 Bank Hotel, Newtown Girls’ Night DJ Miss B free Cruise Bar, Circular Quay Rockstar free Establishment, Sydney Mid Week Hurdle Nic Phillips, Craig Patterson free Fringe Bar, Paddington F.R.I.E.N.D/s $5 drinks & pizzas, free entry 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 The Argyle Hotel, Rocks Ben Peterson, Casa free The Boiler Room, The Factory Theatre, Enmore The Sydney Fringe Festival: Sketch the Rhyme $16 (conc)–$20 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) The Sugarmill, Kings Cross Battery Operated DJ Matt Hoare free The Valve, Tempe Underground Tables Loko, Disco Rossco 6.30pm World Bar, Kings Cross The Wall/SUGD free
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23 202 Broadway, Chippendale Basic Foreign Dub, Headroom, Space is the Place, Void free Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Camera Club DJ Enari 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 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 Martin Place Bar, Martin Place Thursdays at MPB Louis M free Melt Bar, Kings Cross Chico Mann (USA) $38.50 (+ bf)
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 Argyle Hotel, Rocks Husky & Yogi free The Basement, Circular Quay Soul Showdown Lily Dior, Virna Sanzone, Tina Harrod, Mitchell Anderson $29 Tone, Surry Hills Loop Thursdays Rotating guests; Simon Caldwell, Lorna Clarkson, Jimi Polar, Magda, Mark Murphy, Kali, Trinity, Dave Stuart, Raffi Darkchild, Jordan Deck & B.C. $15 World Bar, Kings Cross Teenage Kicks El Mariachi, Johnny Segment, Urby and Mucky Fingers free
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24 Bank Hotel, Newtown Absolut Fridays Soul Shepherds, DJ Playmate, Marc Us free Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach Dustones Mantra, Wasabi, Gabi, Mike Who free Bungalow 8, Darling Harbour Bungalow Nights free Candy’s Apartment, Kings Cross Liquid Sky Peace Treaty (LA) DJs: Vengeance, SMS vs Lights out!, Slipperywhenwet, Knocked up Noise $10/$15 Chinese Laundry, Sydney Skool of Thought, Ryza, The Audiophilez, D-Funk, Methodixx, Ben Dunlop, Nick!, Dirty D & Ahab $15 before 11pm & $20 after Civic Undergound, Sydney Subsonic Plus One Tobias Becker, Kaito, Carlos Zarate (Thug – AU), Matt Aubusson (Glitch - AU) $15-$20 Collector Hotel, Parramatta Corner Shop Tikelz, DJ Browski, J Lyrikz, Naughty, Gunz free Enmore Theatre Cypress Hill (USA), Spit Syndicate $86.10
Haven’t you heard? Unsigned artists can now get their music to radio for free, via Amrap’s AirIt! AirIt is community radio’s exclusive Australian music catalogue. So if you’re serious about getting your music heard sign up now to AirIt www.amrap.org/airit Since Oct 09 AirIt has delivered 8000 tracks | to 150 community stations | 700 broadcasters & music directors | from 70 Australian labels | & 1000 Unsigned artists 54 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
club guide send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com Establishment Hotel Carnival La Fiesta Sound System and Special Guest DJs all night free Gladstone Hotel, Chippendale Purple Sneakers Cloud Control DJs, Ben Lucid, Toki Doki, Stolen Bones, Retox, Happy Go Lucky $12.00 Goldfish, Kings Cross Sugar & Soul Phil Hudson, Paul Hatz, Agey, Danny De Sousa, Matt Cahill, Tom Kelly free Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Bottin, The Loin Brothers, Mirror Mirror, Kali, Dan De Cares $15 (presale)–$25 Hermann’s, Darlington The Sydney Fringe Festival Monkee See Monkey Do: Mainstream, Dislaysystem, Abortifacient, MOTHBALL Z, Infekta, Ear Wax Candy, Def Leprechaun $10 (conc)– $15 Home The Venue, Darling Harbour Sublime Peewee, John Ferris, Nasty, Hardforze, Aurora Astralis, Nick Farrell,, D83Suae, Pulsar, Kinekt 4, Makio, Monk3y, RaversMVP, Jin Kang, Concept, Chubby, Juzzy Raver and Losty $17 pre/$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 Middle Bar, Kinselas, Darlinghurst Flavours on Friday MC Q-Bizzi, C-Bu, Trey, Mike Champion, Naiki, Tekkaman $20 Newcastle Panthers, Newcastle West Indent Ten Year Tour Urthboy, Jane, El Gusto $18 (+ bf) Oatley Hotel We Love Oatley Hotel Fridays DJ Tone Omega Lounge, Sydney Unwind Greg Summerfield, Matt Brunton free
Onefiveone, Wollongong Lee Curtiss (USA), Filth Collins, Lachlan Holland, Aka, Dan Le Beat, Scuba Stew & Matt Formosa, Simon Guererra, P. Danger, Autoclaws, Rubio, Pop The Hatch $10-$15 Opera Bar, Circular Quay Gian Arpino free Q Bar, Darlinghurst Sosueme Cypress Hill Afterparty: Cypress hill DJ set, Live Percussion show, Joyride, Alison Wonderland, The Babymakers (Devola vs Hansom), Mailer Daemon, Rogers Room, Lonewolf, Erectro, DJ Fresco $10 on the door Raval, Surry Hills Listen Hear Huwston, Micah, James De La Cruz, Chris Coucouvinis free Spectrum, Darlinghurst Silent Alarm Silent DJs $5 St James Hotel, Sydney One Night in Cuba Mani, Yemaya, Nandez, Av El Cubano $15 St James Hotel, Sydney Club Blink DJs Bzurk, Luke, Nick, Naked Dave, Firefly, Absynth 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 Tao Fridays DJ Husky, Yogi, DJ Marc Us, Dan Copping, DJ Agey, Frankie Romano, Phil Toke $15-$20 The Argyle Hotel, Rocks John Devechis, Heidi, DJ BBG free The Polo Lounge and Supper Club, Darlinghurst Jack Mark Murphy, Magda free The Sugarmill, Kings Cross The Gameboys, Calling In Sick, Joyride $10 after 10pm Tone, Surry Hills Cold Crush Simon Caldwell, OSC-001, RETALI8, Japeye $5 World Bar, Kings Cross MUM Walkie Talkie Vs Animal Chin Vs Felix Lloyd, Alvin, Biff! Bang! Pow!
DJs, Jack Shit, Nude DJs, Throw Shapes DJs, Gatsby Vs Cosmic Explorer, Electrorash DJs Vs Vivienne Kingswood, Sweetie Vs Skully Boo, Mush Vs Seabas, Claire Knight Vs Fuck Hugo, Swim Team Vs Sammy K, D-Train, 10th Avenue, Kitty Monroe, Hollatron Vs A-Bomb, Spitpress DJs $10
Alison Wonderland
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25 202 Broadway, Chippendale Headroom Monk Fly, Jonny Faith, Know-U, Suburban Dark, Elliot $15 Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo Trash DJ M!Veg, DJ Absynth $12 Bank Hotel, Newtown DJ Delacroix & 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 Ritual SMS, Lights out!, TEEZ, Stik, Tetris $15 – $25 Cessnock High School Indent Ten Year Tour Urthboy, Jane, El Gusto $18 (+ bf) Chinese Laundry, Sydney Lee Burridge, Mike Khoury, Tom Piper, Chris Fraser, Matttt, Spenda C, DJ Moto, Teejay, Murray Lake, Adam Lance, MC Adam Zae $15-$25 Civic Underground, Sydney Jimmy Edgar, Egyptian Lover $25 Clarence Hotel, Petersham Caesars Sandy Bottom, Justin Scott, DJ Chip free Collingwood Hotel, Liverpool Slinky Saturdays DJ Steve, DJ Trisha free Cricketer’s Arms, Surry Hills Pod War free Cruise Bar, Circular Quay DJ Simon Neal, Ben Vickers free
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 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 Andy Murphy, Tass, Cadell, Liam Sampras, John Devecchis, Alley Oop, Yogi $20 Jacksons On George, Sydney Leno, Aladdin Royaal free King Street Hotel, Newcastle West Clubbers Guide to Spring John Course, Anna Lunoe
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 before 10pm, $10 after, 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 Name This Bar, Darlinghurst Lee Curtiss, CO-OP DJs, Jamie Lloyd, Dave Slade Sackville Hotel, Rozelle Maike free Spectrum, Darlinghurst P*A*S*H Goldfoot, DJ Knife $7 St James Hotel, Sydney SFX DJs Bzurk, Snowflake Stonewall Hotel, Darlinghurst Greg Boladian, Nick J free The Argyle Hotel, Rocks MarcUs, Levi 5 Star, Phil Hudson free The Bank Nightclub, Kings Cross Sin City Don Juan, DJ Willie, Mista Kay, MC Q-Bizzi
SEPTEMBER
24 FRIDAY
CLOUD CONTROL DJ SET BENLUCID . TOKI DOKI STOLEN BONES . RETOX HAPPY GO LUCKY
THE HOLIDAYS POST PARADISE
GIVEAWAYS COURTESY OF LIBERATION
BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 55
club guide
Deep Impressions
clubguide@thebrag.com The Boiler Room, The Factory Theatre, Enmore The Sydney Fringe Festival: Sketch the Rhyme $16 (conc)–$20 The Dolphin Hotel DJ Chris Skinner, DJ Carl O’Brien free The Forum Theatre, Moore Park Red Bull Music Academy On The Floor: Martyn, Illum Sphere, TOKIMONSTA $15 (+ bf) The Gaff, Darlinghurst Perfect Day Resident house DJs Mark Alsop, DJ Chip, DJ Murray Hood, DJ Miss Match, DJ Brett Austin, DJ Scotty Tanner, DJ James Tobin, DJ Man and DJ Dirty Dan free The Manhattan Lounge, Martin Place Hushhh... DJs Stunna, Sonny, Special K $10 after 9pm 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 Tonic Lounge, Kings Cross Tonic Saturdays Gian Arpino $15 Verandah Bar, Sydney The Booty Bar George B, Nasser T, Lenno, K Sera Watershed Hotel, Darling Harbour Paul Moussa free World Bar, Kings Cross Wham! Like Woah (Bang Gang 12”/ Kitsune), James Taylor & MC Shureshock, Blaze Tripp vs Wax Motif, Kato vs Bad Ezzy, Illya vs Hannah Gibbs, Ben Morris vs Kerry Wallace, Mitch Crosher vs Ben
Underground Dance and Electronica with Chris Honnery
Dunlop, Discopunx, Moriarty, Adam Bozzetto, Andy Webb, D*Funk, The Jackal $15 before 10pm, $20 after
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26 Bank Hotel, Newtown DJ Scott Pullen Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Mojada free Colombian Hotel (Downstairs), Darlinghurst Hotrod Sunday Sandi Hotrod and guests free Colombian Hotel (Upstairs), Darlinghurst The Deep Disko Phil Hudson, Mark Matthews, Vincent Sebastian, Michael Wheatley 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 Home Terrace, Sydney Spice After Hour Int’l Guest (DE), Schwa, Matttt & Tomass, Murat Kilic $20/$10 Ice Bar, Sydney The Kitsch Sound System, Phil Hudson, Chloe West, Mark Matthews free Kings Cross Hotel Jammin Sundays free Kudu Bar & Lounge, Darlinghurst The Funky Church 7pm-
midnight free Oatley Hotel Sunday Sessions DJ Tone & Friends Free 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 Charley Bo Funk, DJ BBG free The Bank Nightclub, Kings Cross Soul On Sunday Nino Brown, Don Juan free The Boiler Room, The Factory Theatre, Enmore The Sydney Fringe Festival: Sketch the Rhyme $16 (conc)–$20 The Factory Theatre, Enmore Indent Ten Year Tour Urthboy, Jane, El Gusto $18 (+ bf) 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 The Village, Sydney Sunday Surgery DJ Russ Dewbury and friends free Trademark Hotel, Darlinghurst Soul on Sunday Nino Brown, Don Juan Watershed Hotel, Darling Harbour Miss Gabby free World Bar, Kings Cross Fortune! Discopunx + dumplings free
club picks up all night out all week...
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23 Tone, Surry Hills Loop Thursdays Rotating guests; Simon Caldwell, Lorna Clarkson, Jimi Polar, Magda, Mark Murphy, Kali, Trinity, Dave Stuart, Raffi Darkchild, Jordan Deck & B.C. $15
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24 Civic Undergound, Sydney Subsonic Plus One Tobias Becker, Kaito, Carlos Zarate (Thug – AU), Matt Aubusson (Glitch - AU) $15-$20
Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Bottin, The Loin Brothers, Mirror Mirror, Kali, Dan De Cares $15 (presale)–$25 Newcastle Panthers, Newcastle West Indent Ten Year Tour Urthboy, Jane, El Gusto $18 (+ bf)
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25 World Bar, Kings Cross Wham! Like Woah (Bang Gang 12”/ Kitsune), James Taylor & MC Shureshock, Blaze Tripp vs Wax Motif, Kato vs Bad Ezzy, Illya vs Hannah Gibbs, Ben Morris vs Kerry Wallace, Mitch Crosher vs Ben Dunlop, Discopunx, Moriarty, Adam Bozzetto & more $15 pre-10pm, $20 after
Carl Craig
I
’m rarely short on words, particularly wanky adjectives, but some weeks I confess I struggle to pad out this column. On other occasions, such as this, it really writes itself. So to begin, I really must say “holy, fuckin’ shit”. Contrived and hardly articulate I know, but nonetheless such perfunctory astonishment is a fitting response to the news of the D25 party slotted for The Forum on Saturday December 11. The three internationals announced thus far are all bona fide electronic luminaries, and news of any one of them playing a headline show in Sydney would warrant significant cause for excitement. Put them all together on the one bill and you have… well, you have what we have on December 11: Carl Craig, Theo Parrish and Kenny Dixon Jr – aka the great Moodymann – all playing in the same space within the space of a few hours. What’s with the ‘D25’ title? Well, apparently 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of the birth of techno in Detroit. But it wouldn’t matter if it was the 14th or the 37th anniversary of the so-called birth of Detroit tech - for no one can dispute the influence these guys have had on the dance scene in modern times. In a landscape that is outwardly prosaic to all but the few of us who know where to look, these producers bring an individuality, a sentiment, a culture, a ‘bite’ to the art of crafting of dance music. Or perhaps more simply put, they affirm that it is an art, and not a case of predictable programming via software. Play a cut by any of them and you immediately know it stands for something; you mightn’t know what, but you grasp that there is some sonic significance worthy of a closer listen. And ultimately, that’s what a musical subculture such as dance music should offer: an alternate, an escapism, your own ethereal realm of substance. So dust off your classic Brown Mahogony vinyl or, if you’re a newcomer, check out – well, you could check out any number of tracks - but let’s go with the Carl Craig remix of Theo Parrish’s ‘Falling Up’, just cos it fits rather nicely. Without needing to embellish this party on any level, I can safely declare this is the biggest [pseudo-]club event Sydney has experienced in years. Tickets go on sale October 6, so pencil the date in your diary and be sure to snap them up… This ain’t no flavour of the month or fickle trend. This is the real deal. Tired of ‘big name’ DJs going through the motions and trotting out ‘safe and standard’ compilations to fund their rack habit? Keep reading then, droogie. One
Nicolas Jaar Urthboy
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LOOKING DEEPER SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27 Kaito and Tobias Becker Earthdance
SATURDAY OCTOBER 9 Gregor Tresher Redfern Warehouse
SATURDAY OCTOBER 30 Superpitcher Boat Party
SATURDAY DECEMBER 11
Carl Craig, Moodymann, Theo Parrish The Forum
Moodymann
of the producers of 2010, Nicolas Jaar, is set to release a new compilation, Ines, through his Clown And Sunset label. The LP features Jaar alongside fledgling – and we’re talking practically infantile – producers Nikita Quasim and Soul Keita. Keita is a seventeen year old originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who creates tracks using his 808-drum machine, while Quasim is a 20 year-old Russian who “explores her interest in sound with incremental and minute elements”. The ten track EP is a digital-only release that features three tracks by each of the artists as well as one threeway collaboration between the trio under the moniker of the ‘Clown n’ Sunset Collective’. It’s out with the old and in with the new in a big way on Ines, which I certainly advise more discerning readers investigate further. In a standout option over the October long weekend, Switzerland’s Deetron headlines HaHa at Marrickville Bowling Club – the same hallowed ground that hosts the Mad Racket parties. Local vinyl-pusher Murphdog declared on his Spank Records blog that “the best thing about Deetron is that he is still around, changing and adapting his own style to the new flavours of House and Tech, even incorporating vocalists in his latest productions.” Indeed, some of Deetron’s more recent projects, such as his ‘Each Step’ collaboration with the so-hot-right-now Seth Troxler are well worth a listen – but while crate-digging you should go back a little further to the excellent single ‘Let’s Get Over It’, created with the aid of vocalist Justin Chapman. As for this weekend, details for the secret Earthdance party are available online if you know where to look. You’d be well advised to seek them out, as last year’s bash with Slam was a severely underrated fiesta, and this year again boasts a lineup laden with local and international talent.
Deep Impressions: electronica manifesto and occasional club brand. Contact through deep.impressions@yahoo.com.
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.
Meantime, check out the Soul Sedation calendar below if you’re searching for a strong upper! I know it helps lift my spirits...
ON THE ROAD Ice Cube
Well, I sincerely hope you enjoyed last week’s rant. An advance warning: in the absence of Days Like This! 2011, this column may get a little dull in the final issues of the year... But all is not lost, because only last year the Subsonic Music Festival was born! Subsonic is something of a change of pace to DLT!, being techno- and reggae-based rather than steeped in hip hop, funk, soul and electronica. And it’s a camping fest in the Barrington Tops, not a one day Sydney event. But there are a heap of reasons to enjoy it - it’s BYO, the promoters are dedicated to building amazing walls of sound (with no whiney neighbours), and there’s a crystal clear river running around the whole site. The line-up hasn’t been announced as yet, but you can expect a smattering of the SouthPacific’s finest dub reggae bands, and a very generous swathe of the best the international tech scene can offer. Soul Sedation enjoyed last year immensely, and can’t wait to get back there again... Making my two wishes to the cosmos this year as follows: 1) Long live Subsonic! and 2) May Days Like This! be swiftly re-instated to the Sydney summerscape - because the gaping hole that it has left is at least eleven different shades of ugly… But the festivals are still a way off yet. To return to the all-important present, Chico Mann plays Melt this Thursday night! Of Antibalas fame, Mann is touring the country backed by his trio - so slightly more trimmed down than the full eleven-piece Antibalas Orchestra. If live percussive Latin and afrorhythms float your boat (and they should), don’t miss this guy. Tan Crackers Soul Club arrives at Tone once again this Saturday. It’s free if you walk through those double doors before 9pm, or $10 if you haul your arse in after. Selectors Gian Arpino and friends will be manning the ones and twos. But the triple-header Martyn, Tokimonsta and Illum Sphere bill might just turn a few heads the Forum’s way on that same night. It’s an RBMA-promoted event, along with Void/Index plus Space Is The Place - and as such the door charge is only a measly $15. That’s some pretty serious value right there; all signs point to you getting involved. Digi-dub fans heads up. German label Jahtari has just released the label comp Jahtarian Dubbers Vol 2. It features the cream of the low-end digital scene, with tunes from Disrupt, Soom T and Pupajim. Soul Sedation rates these sounds very highly, and you can often hear these artists if you tune into the Bondi FM show, late night every Wednesday. And The Afrodisiac Soundsystem are back with another Afro-Heat EP. The NY duo’s mashups are absolute dancefloor-destroying DJ weapons, and some of the coolest stuff I’ve heard over the last few years. This fifth installment in the series uses First Choice’s ‘Love Thing’ as a disco base to lay their own rhythmic afro track over, and features three others tunes, with Slick Rick and Diana Ross vocals jacked for maximum effect.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23 Chico Mann Melt
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25
Martyn, Tokimonsta & Illum Sphere The Forum
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25 Tan Crackers Soul Club Tone
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26
Urthoy, El Gusto & Jane Tyrell Factory Theatre
OCTOBER 15 & 16 Mulatu Astatke The Basement
SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER
Flatwound (album launch) Sandringham Hotel
FRIDAY OCTOBER 22 Ice Cube Luna Park
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force The Metro
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25 Fat Freddy’s Drop Enmore Theatre
DECEMBER 3 - 5 Subsonic Music Festival Barrington Tops
Nas
US funk specialists Orgone have a new instrumental record out on Ubiquity, called Killion Vaults. Sydney’s own Ray Mann 3 are almost ready to drop four brand new tracks upon us. Eric Lau has an instrumental EP out this month called Makin’ Sound. Look out for lead single ‘Cruise Control’ on Kilawatt Music. The Good Vibrations line-up hit the streets last week. Hip hop and RnB heads should be well happy with the result: Nas & Damien Marley, Cee-Lo Green, Erykah Badu, Kelis, Ludacris, Janelle Monae, Koolism and many more. They all play Centennial Park on Saturday February 12 next year.
Send stuff for this column to tonyedwards001@gmail.com by 6pm Wednesdays. All pics to art@thebrag.com BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10 :: 57
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friends
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up all night out all week . . .
wham
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08:09:10 :: Fringe Bar :: 106 Oxford Street Paddington 93605443
11:09:10 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700
It’s called: Wham! presents Und erwater Love It sounds like: What noise does a jellyfish make? DJs/live acts playing: Like Woa h (Bang Gang 12”/ Kitsune), Jam es Taylor & MC Shureshock, Blaze Tripp vs Wax Motif, Kato vs Bad Ezzy, Ben Morris vs Kerry Wallace, Mitch Crosher vs Ben Dunlop, Discopunx, Moriarty, Adam Bozzetto, Andy Webb, Adam Lanc e VS Scott Lung, D*Funk and The Jackal. That’s 22 DJs in total… new reco rd! Sell it to us: Darling it’s better, dow n where it’s wetter, take it from me! The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Blowing bubbles on the dancefloor at 6am.
Crowd specs: Sailors, jellyfish, pirat es, sharks, turtles, lobsters and tropi piranhas. cal Wallet damage: $15 B4 10pm/ $20 after… Or dress for the sea and get in FREE ALL NIGHT! Where: The World Bar, Kings X When: Saturday September 25
tone venue
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party profile
Underwater Love
starfuckers
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11:09:10 :: Tone Venue :: 116 Wentworth Ave Surry Hills
11:09:10 :: Club 77 :: 77 William St Kings Cross 93613387 58 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
:: ) ::MAJA BASKA:: ASHLEY MAR S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO ICK STEVENSON :: OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER PATR K ROO H::B RUS EE REN HANNA:: DANIEL MUNS::ROSETTE ROU ANDREW VIDLER :: JAY COLLIER
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purple sneakers
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up all night out all week . . .
falcona fridays
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10:09:10 :: The Gladstone Hotel :: 115 Regent St Chippendale 96993522
10:09:10 :: Kit & Kaboodle :: 33-35 Darlinghurst Rd Kings Cross 9368 0300
It’s called: SOSUEME Farewells Q Bar w/ Cypress Hill DJ set & after party It sounds like: If Biggie and Tupa c rose from the dead, rekindled their friendship, threw a party in hono ur of said rekindling, then performed at said party of said reunion. DJs/Live acts playing: Cypress Hill DJ set + live percussion show (seriously!) and all the SOSUEME legends: Joyr ide, Alison Wonderland, The Baby makers (Devola vs Hansom), Mailer Dae mon, Rogers Room, Lonewolf, Erec tro, DJ Fresco. Sell it to us: After three years of joy, happiness, debauchery and overall drunken going-ons we bid farewell to Q Bar + 34b Stereo, as we mov e on to greener pastures. To help commem orate this massive farewell we’ve enlisted the help of Cypress Hill, who will be joining us for an extra-exclusiv e DJ and percussion set. This will quite possibly be the loosest party on history! “So-Punch-Me Buckets all-round! ” Wallet damage: Ten Bones throu gh Moshtix /$15 on the Door (goo dluck..) Where: Q Bar + 34B Stereo / 44 Oxford St / Darlinghurst When: Friday 24th September from 9pm
ghettodisco
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SOSUEME
11:09:10 :: Q-Bar :: 34-44 Oxford st, Darlinghurst 93601375 JA BASKA:: ASHLEY MAR :: DANIEL S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO) ::MA ENSON :: ANDREW VIDLER OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER STEV ICK PATR OOK EE RUSHBR MUNS::ROSETTE ROUHANNA:: REN
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the wall
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up all night out all week . . .
08:09:10 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700
MUM @ World Bar
party profile
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Kontrast
eds & The Spit Press. sented by Music Fe together for It’s called: MUM, pre of the moon getting party freak this side ing lov ie ind ery Ev It sounds like: ck up night. , Mrs Bishop, a mid semester mu n, The Gameboys, ME skirts, The Up ge Talk, Mother & So e an Th Str ts, d, an cke kyl Ro , oo ttle Sp Live: argers, Bri Whipped Cream Ch uls. Blonde On Blonde, The Carnival Of So & r he Arc Arc d k an Black Paintings f! Bang! Pow! DJs, Jac Vs Felix Lloyd, Alvin, Bif s Vs DJ in sh Ch l ora ctr ima An Ele Cosmic Explorer, DJs: Walkie Talkie Vs Knight Vs Fuck apes DJs, Gatsby Vs ire Sh Cla row as, Th ab s, Se DJ Vs de Shit, Nu o, Mush ron Vs Sweetie Vs Skully Bo , Kitty Monroe, Hollat Vivienne Kingswood, D-Train, 10th Avenue K, y mm Sa Vs m Hugo, Swim Tea ss DJs. r, and the last A-Bomb and Spit Pre stival ruckus this yea ssy, awesome mini-fe me , rth fou r Ou : us Sell it to nds to one til December. iet drink between ba caping away for a qu Es : m. AM roo the kie in r po be old The bit well remem t to be World Bar's ss - which turned ou e ‘em. this new bar in the cro d the peeps that lov s and musos, one thir DJ ds thir o Tw s: ec Crowd sp lists. 0, $10 on band guest Wallet damage: $2 r, Kings Cross Where: The World Ba
grand central station
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11:09:10 :: Melt :: 12 Kellett St, Kings Cross 93806060
mber 24 When: Friday Septe
chinese laundry
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09:09:10 :: Kit & Kaboodle :: 33-35 Darlinghurst Rd Kings Cross 9368 0300
teenage kicks
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10:09:10 :: Chinese Laundry :: 111 Sussex Street Sydney 82959958
09:09:10 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700 60 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
:: ) ::MAJA BASKA:: ASHLEY MAR S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO STEVENSON :: ICK OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER PATR K ROO H::B RUS EE HANNA:: REN DANIEL MUNS::ROSETTE ROU ANDREW VIDLER :: JAY COLLIER
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funk-da-fied
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up all night out all week . . .
mum
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10:09:10 :: Tone Venue :: 16 Wentworth Ave Surry Hills
10:09:10 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700
It’s called: Hot Damn’s fourth birthday mega party! It sounds like: Party, punk and a heap of other junk DJs/live acts playing: In Trenches (live), Elegy (live), The Turning Tide (live) and Infinite Thought Process (live), plus Hot Damn DJs all night AND a special guest DJ set by Enter Shikari. Sell it to us: A free drink on entry to every one, $4 Vodka all night, $8 buckets in Phoenix; Sydney’s best (worst) kids out. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Unise x bathrooms, what?! Crowd specs: Hardcore sell-outs, party dudes and babes Wallet damage: $15 or $12 if you know the right people Where: Spectrum / Q Bar / 34B / Phoenix / Vegas When: Thursday September 23, from 8pm
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good vibes launch 11:09:10 :: Chinese Laundry :: 111 Sussex Street Sydney 82959958 62 :: BRAG :: 380 :: 20:09:10
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04:09:10 :: Dr Pong:: 1a Burton St Darlinghurst 93323565
party profile
sunday matinee
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Hot Damn
10:09:10 :: 320-330 George St Sydney 92403000 :: ) ::MAJA BASKA:: ASHLEY MAR S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO SON :: VEN STE ICK OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER PATR K ROO H::B HANNA:: RENEE RUS DANIEL MUNS::ROSETTE ROU ANDREW VIDLER :: JAY COLLIER
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