ofest Step 23
feb
2011
right up!
Starts 2p pm m! U UTS TS T Tower ower Building Building 1 1,, multi multi sstages: tages: Glasshouse lasshouse Bar Bar T The he Loft Loft Alumni Green A lumni G reen G
POTBELLEEZ P OTBELLEEZ ((LIVE) LIV IVEE) MIAMI MIAMI HORROR HORROR ((LIVE) LIV VE) GRAFTON GRAFTON P PRIMARY RIMARY((LIVE) LIV IVEE) TIMMY TIMMY TRUMPET TRUMPET & TTENZIN ENZIN S TAFFORD B ROTHERS STAFFORD BROTHERS AJAX AJAX LA LA FIESTA FIESTA SOUND SOUND SYSTEM SYSTEM BASSJACKERS BASSJACKERS DJ DJ SAMRAI SAMRAI NINO NINO BROWN BROWN MARTINI CLUB CLUB MARTINI TOMMY TOMMY TTRASH RASH KID KENOBI KENOBI & MC MC SHURESHOCK SHURESHOCK KID S SAM AM LLA A MORE MORE DCUP DCUP D DJJ W WILLI ILLI TTOM OM P IPER PIPER BEN BEN MORRIS MORRIS & MC MC LOSTY LOSTY O AKES & LLENNOX ENNOX OAKES JOHN JOHN GLOVER GLOVER V EMBER EMBER NIGHT N IGHT DIMENSION DIMENSION N CADELL CADELL DANNY DANNY SIMMS SIM MMS E-CATS E-C CATS LEVI STAR LEVI 5 S TAR RAYE RAYE ANTONELLI ANTO ONELLLI J-SMOOVE J-SMOOVE
tix on sale at uts:
A ADVANTAGE D VA A N TA TAG GE M MEMBERS EMB EM B ER RS $ $20 $20, 20,, OT 20 OTHE OTHERS HER HE R S $30 $ 30 FROM FR R OM M THE T HE U UTS TS U UNION N O N IINFO NI NFO NF O DESK DEE S K LEVEL LEE VE VELL 3 TOWER TOW TO W ER E BUILDING B UI UILD LDIN LD ING IN G1 15 B BRO BROADWAY ROA RO AD DW WAY WWW.UTSUNION.UTS.EDU.AU W WW W. U T SU SUNI N O N .U NI U T S .EE DU DU.A .AU .A U P: 9514 951 9 514 51 4 1140 11 40 FOR F OR MORE M OR OREE INFORMATION INFF OR IN ORMA MATT I O N MA NO ALCOHOL ALCOHO ALC H L TO TO BE BE SERVED S VED SERV D TO T UN UNDER NDER 18S. UTS S UN U UNION ION LLTD TD D FOLLOWS FOL OLLOWS A RESPONSIBLE R RESPONSIBLE SER SERVICE E VIC V EO OFF ALCOHOL ALCO L HOL PO LCO POLIC POLICY. LI Y.. LIC
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 3
+++++is simply
“
WASTED ON THE YOUNG
fantastic. Electric direction and editing of a superb, high intensity, teen drama leaves you guessing & gasping to the end.”
Giles Hardie - SMH Online
“It’s a film for
the mind, the eyes, and the heart.” Annette Basile, FILMINK
thriller that’s fresh and worthy of high praise” “a slow-burn
VARIETY
youth is innocent. youth is beautiful. youth is dangerous.
3 MARCH 2011
facebook.com/WastedOnTheYoung
facebook.com/WastedOnTheYoung
MARCH 3 4 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 5
6 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
triple j, VIDEO HITS & CHANNEL V PRESENT
NATIONAL ALBUM TOUR
SYDNEY THU MAY 12 THE ENMORE THEATRE WITH THE HOLIDAYS TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25TH TICKETS FROM TICKETEK - WWW.TICKETEK.COM.AU & PH:132 849 ALSO FROM ENMORE THEATRE BOX OFFICE PH 02 9550 3666 ALSO APPEARING AT GROOVIN' THE MOO FESTIVAL WWW.GTM.NET.AU
NEW ALBUM, ZONOSCOPE OUT NOW THRU MODULAR / UNIVERSAL MUSIC WWW.CUTCOPY.NET WWW.MODULARPEOPLE.COM
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 7
8 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 9
rock music news welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on, down and around town. With Nathan Jolly and Cool Thomas
five things WITH YAE!TIGER Growing Up There are many of us 1. in the band, but only one of us who actually grew up in Sydney. We hail from smaller cities and towns like Newcastle, Young, Adelaide, and Cowra, so having opportunities to see super live music growing up was really limited. Most of us were lucky to have switchedon older siblings, and sometimes we tagged along to bigger gigs. One such highlight Vincent had was catching You Am I and Silverchair amongst other great Australian bands at the FBi fundraiser, back in 1995.
2.
Inspirations Being such a large band, we draw on a variety of influences, musical and otherwise. We always try to inject a
strong sense of fun into our live shows and after seeing bands like the Flaming Lips or Polyphonic Spree, we’ve been inspired to provide people with energetic and entertaining performances. We all have artistic passions outside of the band, and always try to incorporate this into the Yae!Tiger experience. From hand-crafted CD cases to animated film clips, we’re inspired to make Yae!Tiger as creative as possible. Your Band Yae!Tiger met over a mutual love of 3. Stone’s Ginger Wine, NBA Jam and good music. Yae!Tiger is an ongoing collaboration of Brooke Cotton, Cat St Clare, Dwayne Barry, Jack Hanner, Jill Reeves, Johnny Sunshine, Ska Macaque and Vincent Scagnetti with tidbits from many other friends along the way. The Music You Make We’ve spent the last two years recording 4. our debut album Casualty Of The Avalanche in various bedrooms and lounge rooms around the place. Because we did all the recording ourselves, we had no time or money pressures and were able to be really creative. It began as a five-track EP to be released in 2010, but has grown into a
schizophrenic indie bossa nova pop beast that we hope people will like to listen to, and want to share rad times with. Live, we have fun x10,000, and our hope is that the crowd has fun as well. Music, Right Here, Right Now It’s fortunate that there are some local 5. bands, venues and promoters that still have a good sense of community about them in Sydney. We’ve been privileged to play with bands like Little Lovers, Baby X, 78 Saab and Telafonica who are all in it for the right reasons. It’s hard for new bands in Sydney to cut their teeth as venues move towards pay-toplay type scenarios, where numbers through the door need to be guaranteed. We like to play venues with free entry, so that people can spend their money on booze and have a top night. What: Casualty Of The Avalanche is out now With: Step-Panther and Bright Knights Where: The Town & Country, St Peters When: Friday February 25 More: Saturday February 26 @ The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
EVIL EDDIE TOUR
So, I was planning a heinous crime which involved removing the handles from the inside passenger-seat doors, and naturally I needed a sidekick. My friend suggests Evil Eddie from Butterfingers - but when I explained the plan, Eddie was horrified. Seems it’s just a stage name then... I’ll be catching him live this Friday February 26 at the Gaelic Club regardless, where he’ll be playing with an all-star backing band that includes members from Butterfingers, Laneous & The Family Yah and Spitfireliar. They’ll definitely perform that awesome ‘Queensland’ song, and probably some others too!
PUBLISHERS: Adam Zammit & Rob Furst EDITOR IN CHIEF: Adam Zammit 9552 6333 adam@peergroupmedia.com EDITOR: Steph Harmon steph@thebrag.com 9552 6333 ARTS EDITOR & ASSOCIATE: Dee Jefferson dee@thebrag.com 9552 6333 STAFF WRITERS: Jonno Seidler, Caitlin Welsh NEWS CO-ORDINATORS: Nathan Jolly, Cool Thomas, Chris Honnery ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant GRAPHIC DESIGN: Dara Gill, Matt Roden SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER: Tim Levy SNAP PHOTOGRAPHERS: Lauren Farmer, Ashley Mar, Daniel Munns, Thom Peachy, Tom Polo, Tom Tramonte, Cowan Whitfield COVER DESIGN: Sarah Bryant COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Ken Leanfore 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: Jessie Pink - (02) 9552 6747 jessie@thebrag.com GIG & CLUB GUIDE CO-ORDINATOR: Conrad Richters - gigguide@thebrag.com (rock) clubguide@thebrag.com (dance) INTERNS: Liz Brown, Rach Seneviratne REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Simon Binns, Joshua Blackman, Mikey Carr, Benjamin Cooper, Oliver Downes, Max Easton, Tony Edwards, Christie Eliezer, Murray Engleheart, Lucy Fokkema, Mike Gee, Andrew Geeves, Thomas Gilmore, Chris Honnery, Nathan Jolly, Alex Lindsay Jones, Amelia Schmidt, Romi Scodellaro, RK, Luke Telford THANKS TO: Lucy Carter & Charles Purcell 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 a stamped and addressed envelope, and we’ll send your prize on over...
10 :: BRAG :: 400 : 21:02:11
MUSIC, MARKETS, TAMBOURINES
The Dandy Warhols
THE DANDY WARHOLS RULE OK
Everyone bangs on about Brian Jonestown Massacre, but the truth of the matter is that The Dandy Warhols make better albums, better singles and aren’t a dysfunctional group of angry man-boys. Courtney Taylor-Taylor famously declared that all he has to do is sneeze to make a hit, and you know what? It’s kinda true. Catch them at the Enmore Theatre on May 29 BRAG are presenting this, which means we will not be happy unless every one of our readers has the time of their lives at the gig. So meet us at the bar and we might buy you all a drink...
A grotty, beer-stained crampy pub is not the worst environment to listen to psychedelic music, but it’s certainly not the best - that’s Kevin Arnold’s older sister’s van, as you smoke weed out of a Mello Yello can... Coming a close second is Markets by Moonlight, which plays host to Belles Will Ring and The Lovetones on Friday February 25. It’s not only just music though, it’s free music – with food, fun and 60 specialty stalls. It all happens at The Rocks from 6pm. Nice.
NOT SO BIG OR SCARY
A few years ago, Daniel Johns mentioned he was planning to record an EP for each of the seasons. Instead he took acid and collaborated with Van Dyke Parks. When Melbourne’s Big Scary had the same idea last year, they followed through with it - another win for Don’t Do Drugs, You Guys. They’ve slammed the four EPs together as the Four Seasons album, and are touring in celebration of this Lego-esque feat. They stop in at Spectrum on March 25, and will be playing their new single ‘All That You’ve Got’, too.
WASHO TO TOUR!
Betraying a little too much about her callous process of dealing with loss (either that or her Milan Kundera obsession), Washington is embarking on The Tour of Laughter and Forgetting. She’ll be hitting the Metro on May 6 with special guests including the irrepressible American popette Lissie, and the irrepressible Sydney pop rock band Deep Sea Arcade.
OH HEY, RADIOHEAD.
The band that once asked “Who’s in a bunker?” and then refused to answer written correspondence on the matter (Radiohead; tipped by some to be the next Muse) rudely sideswiped the media ramp-up by casually dropping their eighth studio album over the weekend. The Kings Of Limbs is available to purchase RIGHT NOW from the band’s website in two versions; an el-cheapo digital download (mp3s and that), and a made-to-order (but still reasonably priced) ‘deluxe edition’, which comprises two clear 10” vinyl records (good), a CD (good), a digital download (still mp3s) and exclusive artwork all in a special ‘newspaper’ format. It will be available for normal release (remember record stores?) on March 25.
Jinga Safari
GOVERNMENT HOUSE PARTY
On Sunday March 13, Government House on Macquarie St is set to host its annual Garden Party - with Jonathan Boulet, Jinja Safari, Deep Sea Arcade, Lanie Lane, Ngaiire and First Flight Crew performing live music for you to pass laws to. If the last part doesn’t ring entirely true, at least there will be croquet and badminton in the garden, lovely food to purchase, and Government House itself will be open to stalk about in. Touch some stuff! Sit in a chair! Find Harold Holt hiding and giggling in the attic! Walk to a meeting while you’re having a meeting, just like Josh in The West Wing! Apples and peanut butter! ...Tickets $25 $35, at tickets.hht.net.au
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 11
rock music news
free stuff
welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on, down and around town. With Nathan Jolly and Cool Thomas
five things WITH
Growing Up When I was a kid we used to 1. live in the base of a big fat fig tree.
our best to hold a convincing wooden-like expression.
Me and my brothers would jam for hours in that fig tree... Mainly roots. We thought we were pretty good. Fig jam good. Ever since then, I’ve had a thing for music, and for trees. So when I heard about Music for Trees, I couldn’t help but dig the idea.
The Music You Make I recently recorded a new album, Dance 4. a Little, Live a Little, due out in early April. It
together, play some music, have some fun. And along the way, every dollar raised means five trees are planted - $200 starts a forest. That is an awesome, inspirational thing.
3.
Your Band The Liz Martin Band is always growing and bending depending on the sound we’re going for for that particular gig. For this gig, we pay homage to the tree. We will play only with things made of wood! Me on guitar, Kate Adams on cello, and Trevor Brown on clarinet and pandeiro. If we do sneak in the occasional plastic, metal or electronic devices, we’ll at least do
JOHN LEGEND SECOND SHOW
John Legend was sitting at home practicing his scales when his manager walked into the room and told him his State Theatre show had sold out and so a second needed to be booked for the following night. Legend said “State Theatre? Which state? Everywhere is a state, knowhatimean?” His manager told him “Sydney,” to which Legend replied “Sydney ain’t a state, it’s a city,” before continuing his scales. (April 25 at The State Theatre, tickets on sale February 23).
THE SMITH KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Gavin Smith (The Cants/Sons Of Lee Marvin) recently tragically lost his partner, which has left him to raise his one year old twins alone. A benefit show has been assembled to help him out financially, and it’s a massive lineup with The Camels, Hell City Glamours, Spurs For Jesus, Dave Larkin, Jamie Hutchings, The Rumjacks, Go/No-Go and many more lending a hand. It goes down on Saturday February 26 at the Annandale Hotel for $20, from 12:30pm ‘til midnight.
ROXY MUSIC + CAMERAS THIS SATURDAY
Cameras have not only signed with Manimal Vinyl (the overseas label who released the amazing desert-psyche-cute-explosion of
EVIL EDDIE
LIZ MARTIN
Inspirations Music for Trees is an 2. inspiration. Get a bunch of people
features some of the best musicians in Sydney (incl. Dave Symes, Hamish Stuart, Stu Hunter, Veren Grigorov, Dirk Kruithof, and Mr Percival), and references glam rock, Hebrew melodies, New Orleans big bands, Parisian noir thrillers and sci-fi romanticism. We’ll be launching the first single at Raval on Wednesday March 2: the title track. It’s a rocking, rumbling homage to living joyously; a big, fat, happy, positive-changeinspiring, singalongable dance track. The lineup will be a little different to the Carriageworks gig - so well worth going out on a limb, and heading down to both. :) Music, Right Here, Right Now The music scene in Sydney is very 5. much alive and vibrant. Evergreen. What: Unplugged + Uncomplicated, curated by Music For Trees With: Liz Martin, Bhanglassi, Tom Hespe & Rich Mason, The Brutal Poodles and more Where: Carriageworks When: Saturday February 26, from midday More: Single launch at Raval, Macquarie Hotel on Wednesday March 2
Not to be confused with that guy down the street who ritually sacrificed baby animals, Evil Eddie’s modus operandi is infinitely more musical – in the kind of badass punk way you’d expect from a former-frontman of Brisbane hip hop outfit Butterfingers. In his solo incarnation, Evil has already been ripping up the turf at Peats and Woodford this year, and is now working his way down the East Coast, with an all-star band that includes members of Butterfingers, Laneous and the Family Yah and Spitfireliar. If you’re one of the 80,000-or-so punters who’ve seen his filmclip for ‘Queensland’ online (or one of those enthusiasts that keeps requesting they play it on triple j), then you’ll know to expect cheeky lyrics, unflappable delivery, and sartorial hijinx. To score a double pass to see Evil & Co. at the Gaelic Theatre this Saturday February 26, just describe one of the suits he wears in the ‘Queensland’ film clip…
THE STRIDES
Sydney’s finest Afrobeat/reggae/jazz/ hiphop/ETCETERA band The Strides are hitting their stride (LOL!) at just the right time – in anticipation of the release of their second studio album, Reclamation. With members spanning London, Barbados, Fiji and all places reggae, the band’s worldly urban grooves pay homage to Bob Marley, Mos Def, Femi Kuti, and all dem other geniuses in the musical universe. The official Reclamation album launch is at Newtown’s Notes Live venue on February 25, with The Liberators as special guests. To score one of three double passes to the evening, tell us the name of The Strides’ first studio album.
Warpaint), but will be supporting Roxy Music at the Entertainment Centre this Saturday February 26. On the same evening, Eno will be sitting in his pajamas, eating a McCains Healthy Choice meal and holding the phone, waiting for Bryan Ferry to ring him “to reconsider doing the gig...”
OMAR SOULEYMAN
Does Syrian street culture, overdriven Casiocraziness strained through the timeless folk world of the Middle East sound like something you might like? Come check out the musical genius of Omar Souleyman at the ‘Dale on March 12. Tickets on sale now through Oztix.
CLEANING THE SMUDGES
You know music? Well Flying Nun ‘80s indiedemi-Gods The Clean and Sydney pop geniuses Smudge both do it the way it should be done: jangly, sloppy and, for one night in Sydney, on the same stage. March 9 is the night, The Factory Theatre is the venue, and cherish is the word I use to remind me of your love.
IMOGEN HEAP TOUR
I will always know Imogen Heap as the singer who soundtracked the moment on The OC when Marissa totally capped Ryan’s brother Trey. It was a television high, and Imogen’s “hmmm whatyasaaay” was responsible for burning it into my brain. She sold out five shows when last in
Queens Of The Stone Age
SOUNDWAVE IS HERE!!
Well at this late stage there isn’t much more we can tell you about the huge day that Soundwave has in store for you this Sunday. Iron Maiden, QOTSA, Slayer, One Day As A Lion, Primus, The Melvins, Gang of Four, Slash, 30 Seconds To Mars - there is loads here for you. Don’t drink too much, alcohol and heat don’t mix too nicely and remember, it’s at Sydney Showgrounds now, which is good news for everybody. Some tickets were still available at time of print - but if you miss out, get thee to the Sidewaves!
Australia, so I daresay she has other music beside you can drive toy cars over vinyl to make music. this song - but even if she didn’t I’d still probably go. You know you want to. Check out the rest of the She plays State Theatre on April 21, and tickets go events at theimperialpanda.blogspot.com/ on sale Friday February 25. Better rush - five sold out shows last time!
Jebediah
ALPINE TOUR ZURICH
Melbourne’s moody-driving-in-the-middle-ofthe-night-synth-and-vocal band Alpine are launching their debut EP Zurich on Thursday February 24 at GoodGod Small Club with friends (we assume) Boy in a Box and Fearless Vampire Killers. After that they’ll be touring with Sparkadia, but more on that in a few weeks… when you’re ready.
THE IMPERIAL PANDA FESTIVAL
JEBEDIAH! THEY’RE BACK!
FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM
Jebediah have announced their national tour in support of their fifth album Kosciuszko, which is due out on April 25 through Dew Process. The Sydney show is at The Factory Theatre on Friday May 27 – and they’ll be hitting up Newcastle the next night at The Cambridge. And for the record, Kevin Mitchell has said that Kosciuszko is in the same spirit of their debut Slightly Odway. Very good news indeed. Now, for that Pollyanna tour…
Outside of the rocking arts lineup of Imperial Panda Festival (flick over to the arts section for more on that), the good panda folks are putting on a bunch of awesome-sounding music bits and pieces, too. Remember The Magic Theatre? That weird mix of music, performance, art and peculiarity that Richard In Your Mind used to host one Sunday every month in an Annandale garage? It’s back at Serial Space on March 5 for $10, and will be followed by a set from SPOD (chuck on $5 to stay and see that guy do his thing). On March 17 at Goodgod Small Club you can catch Canyons and FLRL for $10, on March 19 there’s a record swap at Firstdraft from midday, and from March 15-20 at The Orchard
LAST NIGHT: THE MELBOURNE EDITION
The Purple Sneakers crew have put together another sweet Last Night – they’re calling this one The Melbourne Edition. The pots-and-pans indie-pop of headliners OTOUTO are worth the $10 door price alone – but if you like your music a little more LSD-influenced, Love Connection could be the thing for you. Opening the night are Laptop spell-casters City Calm Down, with DJ sets by Indian Summer DJs. But don’t fear, Sydney’s representing as well – we’re getting an Andy Bull vs Owl Eyes DJs Set, backed up by Rigs + Rads and Kill The Landlord. Not terrible. The Gaelic Club, $10, 8pm till late.
MY DISCO
The boys from My Disco are touring again, this time in support of a 2LP version of their third studio album, Little Joy. The group have just returned from sharing the stage with Crystal Castles, Holy Fuck and Wire, and are doing a quick lap before ducking off to Europe once more. Make sure you catch them Friday April 1 at Goodgod Small Club, and at the Croatian Club (for Totally Autumn Festival - a must attend either way) in Newcastle on April 9. Tickets $10 and $15 respectively, if you book now through Oztix.
“Powder your nose. Pull off your pantyhose. Let me love you from behind”- FELICE BROTHERS 12 :: BRAG :: 400 : 21:02:11
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 13
dance music news
free stuff
The Coffee Boy Chronicles: A New Beginning. Dance Music News... With Chris Honnery
five things WITH THE
ILLY + M PHAZES
BRUTAL POODLES which is a less offensive, loop-based set catering for the music snobs. The Music You Make [Will]: We recorded and mixed the EP 4. ourselves in studios we set up all over the place, but we were lucky enough to land a permanent space down at Studios 301. It’s essentially their storeroom/rubbish dump that we converted. Doing it ourselves had its pros and cons. Not having a clock ticking while recording is fantastic, but there was no one there to tell us that after six days of no sleep, your ability to record may be impaired…
1.
Growing Up [Will & Nick]: We were all brought up listening to Beethoven and The Beatles; any parent who doesn’t give their child a serious dose is robbing them big time. All of our parents dabble in an instrument or two, and felt inclined to force us to practice until our fingers bled. It’s taken us two decades to realise that we should be thankful for it.
Inspirations [Will]: I’ve found that my hatred of Gene 2. Simmons is as much an influence on my writing as my love for the Beatles. I’m as much a lover as a hater, it’s just that ‘the hate’ gets the wheels rolling faster. Cheers Gene. I will crush you. [Nick]: I think soul music is the greatest.
Artists like Bill Withers and James Brown, and more wacky soul/pop acts like Prince and N.E.R.D float my boat.
3.
Your Band [Will]: We pride ourselves on being unsure of what sort of music we will be making that day. This EP found itself in dance land, a clear reflection of our day-to-day lifestyles. [Nick]: I was recently kicked out of Sparkadia due to what was dubbed “The Incident” - so now I’m doing this. I think that we’re essentially a pop act; we’ve really given up trying to fit into a scene. The show basically consists of four dudes with synthesisers, guitars, things that go zap and things that go blip. We’ve also begun doing some sideshows as our other incarnation, “The Poodle’s Pedal Parlour,”
goals through my pictures is to take the normal and present it as odd and to take the odd and present it as normal.” Conceptual indeed. Prior to the release, Moby is giving away three album tracks for free in the form of the Be As One EP, which you can download now on the interweb – a basic Google keyword search will get you there.
CUT COPY’S ZONOSCOPE TOUR
Timbaland
SUPAFEST: BUSTA RHYMES, TIMBALAND AND MORE ADDED
Supafest 2011 has wheeled out more big names in its second round of acts, with the announcement of Timbaland, T-Pain, Busta Rhymes, Ciara, New Boyz, Benny D and local artists Israel, Miracle and DJ Nino Brown. They’ll be joining Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Taio Cruz and Bow Wow on the enormous bill. Kaboom! That’s nine hours of serious hip-hop and RnB, courtesy of an array of pop culture monoliths. A producer with the Midas touch at the mixing desk, Timbaland has tweaked knobs for everyone from Justin Timberlake and The Black Eyed Peas to Beyonce and Snoop Dogg, who he now finds himself vying for top billing with at festivals like this one. Supafest is slotted for Saturday April 9 at ANZ Stadium, with tickets available now.
MOBY
Versatile sonic chameleon Moby is set to release his ninth studio album in May. Destroyed will be complemented by a book with a series of photos shot by Moby himself, during his travels across the globe. The tracks on Destroyed are purportedly “late night hotel room sessions” produced in various cities, and the album is said to have a “nocturnal, isolated and organic feel to it”; it was mixed using old-school equipment, to give it a little more liveliness. The 128-page book consists of 55 of Moby’s photos. “One of my
Having finally released their long-awaited Zonoscope album, Melbourne indie/dance act Cut Copy have announced a national tour, and will perform at The Enmore Theatre on Thursday May 12 with support from The Holidays. Zonoscope is the follow-up to In Ghost Colours and, in the words of frontman Dan Whitford, “revises the whole palette of what Cut Copy is about.” Album opener ‘Need You Now’ has been announced as the latest single to be lifted off the album, and serves as a solid entry point for any listeners seeking a distillation of the current Cut Copy sound. Tickets to CC have been on sale since Friday, so chop chop!
FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM
Music, Right Here, Right Now [Will]: I think it’s an exciting time in the 5. Sydney music scene right now; there are so many great little venues and warehouse spaces popping up all over the place. We prefer playing at art spaces to 20 or less disinterested punters than a sold-out stadium of dickheads. What: The Brutal Poodles EP is available for free download at thebrutalpoodles.bandcamp.com Where: TV Party @ Tone When: Thursday March 10 More: The Poodles Pedal Parlour play ‘Jurassic Lounge’ @ The Australian Museum on Tuesday February 22
ELECTRIC EMPIRE
Electric Empire will play Oxford Art Factory on Friday March 18 in support of their forthcoming self-titled debut album. The trio have gradually cemented their standing as one of Australia’s foremost soul acts, supporting the likes of The Bamboos, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Brand New Heavies and Mayer Hawthorne & The County, and they have garnered considerable accolades for their infectious energy and disarming, visceral charisma. At least that’s what Soul Sedation’s Tony E told me – but while you must excuse the clumsy turn of phrase, the enthusiasm is certainly warranted.
LEFTFIELD
Tickets are now on sale to see UK electronic luminaries Leftfield play a Future Music Festival sideshow at The Enmore on Thursday March 17. With a couple of bona fide classic LPs in Leftism and Rhythm & Stealth on their sonic CV, Leftfield boast a discography littered with classic tracks like ‘Phat Planet’, ‘Open Up’, ‘Release The Pressure’ and ‘Afrika Shox’. Having reformed last year, core member Neil Barnes will be joined by original
Melbourne emcee Illy and Obese Records labelmate (and producer extraordinaire) M Phazes are on the road this month to tour the former’s second album, The Chase, released in October last year. With a ‘spitfire flow’ and influences as diverse as Nas and Bob Dylan, the real proof of the pudding is the popularity of tracks like ‘It Can Wait,’ his sweet lil colab with Melbourne pop folkstress Owl Eyes –which nabbed #29 in this year’s Hottest 100. And if you Can’t Wait to see Illy (oh har!), you’re in luck, coz we have two double passes up for grabs to see him and M-Phazes in unflappable live action at Manning Bar on Thursday April 7. To get your hands on one, tell us the name of Illy’s first album…
ROXY MUSIC
Billed as ‘one of the most influential artrock bands in music history’, Roxy Music actually have the musical chops to back up the hype. Exhibit A, words and vocals wizard Bryan Ferry; Exhibit B, ‘Let’s Stick Together’. An inspiration to many and beholden to none, Roxy Music are bringing their original magic mix to Sydney Entertainment Centre this Friday February 25, including Ferry on vocals, guitarist Phil Manzanera, saxophonist Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson on drums. Playing cuts from their four decade career, this is a chance to nod knowingly to your friends, whilst casually dropping some Roxy bombs into conversation. We have one double pass to rock history up for grabs: to get your hands on it, tell us one other seminal Roxy song.
vocalists Djum Djum, Earl 16 and Cheshire Cat for this tour, though Barnes’ former partner in Leftfield, Paul Daley, will not be taking part in the shows. Support comes courtesy of dynamic local acts Infusion and Casey Taylor.
RECLOOSE REISSUE th
With its 20 anniversary celebrations in full swing, Carl Craig’s Planet E label is readying the first release in a forthcoming monthly series of remix 12-inches: a three-song record featuring Recloose’s ‘Can’t Take It’ (a classic cut from back in 2000), with new remixes from Luciano and Milton Jackson. Talk about Soul Sedation meets Deep Impressions! On being asked to craft a new version of the song, Swiss/Chilean artist and Cadenza kinpin Luciano purportedly espoused, “I’ve been following Planet E since my early days. I could only say ‘Yes, thanks’ when Carl asked me to do this remix for the 20th birthday of the label.” Illuminating, no? The single will drop in March, and more remix records are expected down the line from the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Richie Hawtin, Seth Troxler, Francois K and Dennis Ferrer as the birthday celebrations ramp up.
JOHAN AGEBJÖRN
Johan Agebjörn will release a new album, The Mountain Lake, this month via California’s Lotuspike Records. The Mountain Lake apparently takes influences from “ambient, 80s disco, drum machines, science fiction movies, Buddhism and the Swedish landscape” and features guest turns from Glass Candy, Lisa Barra, Sylwia van der Wonderland, Steve Moore, NeonCoil and Sally Shapiro, whose LPs Disco Romance and My Guilty Pleasures were co-written and produced by Agebjörn. Agebjörn will follow this record with a “solo pop disco” album on Paper Bag Records later in 2011, so keep your ears to the ground.
LOOSE KABOOSE
Local tech brand Loose Kaboose celebrates five spanking years on Saturday March 5 with a warehouse party at an as yet undisclosed location. Headlining the event is Rick Bull, aka Deepchild, one of the most sincere and passionate figures in the Australian music scene and arguably our most recognisable techno export. Deepchild will be performing live, showcasing his “rambunctious take on machine music. My machines, my sound, is rust-stained, noisy, unquantised,” the eloquent producer affirmed. Loosekaboose favourite from Melbourne, Haul Music’s Christian Vance will also be playing live, alongside residents Jimi Polar, Claire Morgan, DJ Trinity and Jay Smalls. Rounding off the production is visuals by Snez and Vlad while street artist Frank Fable will be creating a live piece inspired by the events of night. At the time of writing, only a handful of $15 first release tickets were left on Resident Advisor – don’t sit on this one, peoples!
Mitzi
MITZI
Four-piece outfit Mitzi have the distinct honour of being responsible for the 50th record put out by Sydney’s renowned Future Classic imprint. FC bring up the 50 by pushing Mitzi’s ‘All I Heard’ past extra cover and into the public sphere. The cut was mixed by Lost Valentinos’ Jono Ma at Ewan Pearson’s studio in Berlin, and apparently fuses the sounds of garage disco, NYC indie and the light-hearted insouciance of Australian pop. Having played festivals such as Parklife and Stereosonic and been added to high rotation on triple j, Mitzi continue to build momentum, with their bourgeoning juggernaut scything through Sydney shortly, stopping only to play shows at UNSW on Wednesday March 16 and The Civic Underground on Saturday March 19.
“Everybody said it was a shame cause her mama was working on the chain-gang”- TONY JOE WHITE 14 :: BRAG :: 400 : 21:02:11
When have you had enough?
When you get a little silly?
When you get a little stupid?
When you make a mess?
When you just turn into one? www.whentosaywhen.com.au Call the Alcohol and Drug Information Service: 02 9361 8000 or 1 800 422 599 (outside Sydney)
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 15
free stuff
dance music news welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... With Chris Honnery
FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM
he said she said WITH
DETNUM music I’m feeling at the moment. Alex Rae’s latest EP blew me away - get on to that shit hey? - and the Melbourne scene like the 4am Crew, and Wah Wah Lounge kids, especially Samual James... People who stay true, and just do what they love - it shows through their music. I’m trying not to get into one style of music production. Like this Bits Of Tonight EP I did with Campbell (UK/Jack Union) is jacking house, and I just finished a remix for Aout6 - ‘Na Na Na’ - which is out on his label Leave Late, that’s a little more techy and minimal, and I have some other jacking bootlegs out too. Having said that, I’m really feeling that progressive, tech house and techno for me is coming back hard.
M
y most poignant childhood memory about music would definitely be being in the car late at nights with my mum, listing to artists like Seal and Eric Clapton. It varied from that through to Celtic and religious anthems, through to the gangster rap and hip hop my brother and I grew up with. To me as a kid, music was about pure escapism, and still is; it can remove you from the worst situations anytime, anywhere.
My favorite musicians early on were Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, Eminem, Seal, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Lauren Hill, Jay-Z and Biggie. These days it’s artists like Hick Up, Samual James, Roby Howler, Campbell, Booka Shade, DJ Zinc, Round Table Knights and labels like Dub Noir, Top Billin, It-Izz, Dirty Bird and Young Gunz, because they’re all using great samples, and their music production is really pushing the
CHRIS BROWN
Chris Brown - aka C Breezy - is about to hit Australian shores, but like, in a good way. Flanked by J Mauzy (Jessica Mauboy), J Crewzy (Justice Crew) and H Breezy (Havana Brown) and his impressive sack o’ songs, he’ll be showing off his soon-tobe-dropped album F.A.M.E and no doubt some schmick new dance moves. His smoother-than-a-baby’s-bum vocal pipes and aforementioned moves have earned him comparisons to the likes of Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, which aren’t comparisons that are just thrown around willy-nilly. To get your hands on a choice Gold-Reserve double pass (we have two doubles to give away, total value $596!), tell us what the letters F.A.M.E stand for. He plays at Acer Arena on April 26. Chris Brown
The music scene in Sydney is pretty good at the moment – there’s a lot of variety breaking through the crap. There’s different nights going on at the moment all with different flavors, but there needs to be more people throwing parties like the United crew, Sideways crew and the Generic Collective boys. What: Top Billin Single Launch ft. Detnum, James Taylor & MC Sureshock and more Where: Wham! @ The World Bar When: Saturday February 26
JACK @ POLO LOUNGE
“Jack your body to the bass… Don’t let no one get in your way. Tonight’s your night, today’s your day, I’ll jack you, I’ll jack you, I’ll jack you, I’ll jack you.” While these profound lyrics were the result of a 2005 collaboration between P Diddy and Felix Da Housecat, they are also pertinent to monthly night Jack, overseen by local house proponents Mark Murphy and Magda Bytnerowicz. Jack celebrates old-skool Chicago House as well as a touch of disco, Detroit tech, acid house and “everything in between”. Hear for yourself when Jack returns to the Polo Lounge this Friday February 25, with the party continuing its altruistic free entry policy.
DEAD PREZ
Koolism
KOOLISM ADDED TO PLATFORM HIP HOP
Now in its fourth year, the Platform Hip Hop Festival is headed to Carriageworks for a month-long extravaganza in March. The focus will stretch beyond music and also traverse dance, street art, photography, film and hip hop theatre, punctuated by performances from the big guns of the international hip hop stage. Rahzel (AKA the Godfather of Noyze), Supernatural and DJ JS-1 will unite for a one-off performance as The Magnificents on Saturday April 2, with Aussie duo Koolism just announced for support duties in their only Sydney show. You can also catch Korea’s B*Boy Blond, Poe 1 from the US and Germany ‘s B*Boy Storm as part of the event. Full program details are available at www.platformhiphop. com.au
After their tour with the Big Day Out in 2010, hiphop pioneers Dead Prez return to Australia to play Oxford Art Factory on Tuesday March 15. Inspired by self defence political parties such as the Black Panthers, the Florida-based pair - comprised of M-1 and Stic.man - have been crafting politically conscious material since the late 90s, releasing two studio albums (their 2000 debut, Let’s Get Free, featured production from a young Kanye West) and two underground mixtapes of highly political hip hop that draws inspiration from figures like Malcom X. No less an authority than London’s Daily Telegraph affirmed, “Dead Prez use music not to lie about having expensive cars or girlfriends with big bottoms, but to rail against the inequities in American society. They do so with an insight and honesty that are rare in any art-form, let alone hip hop.”
MUSCLES AND BAG RAIDERS TOUR
Murs & 9th Wonder
MURS & 9TH WONDER / R.A. THE RUGGED MAN
MURS & 9th Wonder and R.A. the Rugged Man headline The Gaelic Club on Thursday May 5. The announcement makes up for the cancellation of last year’s Rap City Summer Throwdown, at which the lads were scheduled to perform. While Murs may have sold out his previous solo tours of Australia, this will be the first time he’s ventured downunder alongside veteran producer 9th Wonder, who has worked with the likes of Jay-Z and Erykah Badu in years gone by. R.A. the Rugged Man has been honing his craft since the early 90s, and is an interesting creature to say the least... Aside from his incandescent hip hop CV, RA also used to write a monthly movie column, has written three screenplays with cult horror film director Frank Henenlotter, and also recently signed a book deal for a book that will explore his love of boxing. Tickets are on sale from this Monday February 21.
Muscles & Bag Raiders
Aussie party starters Muscles and Bag Raiders are the dual headliners for The First Degree Tour, a series of shows aimed squarely at Coffee Boy’s target market: university students. After a lengthy absence from producing, Muscles has returned to the fray with his aptly-named Young and Immature EP, which spawned the single ‘Girl Crazy Go!’. Sydney duo Bag Raiders meanwhile finally released their self-titled debut LP, and the numbers don’t lie: the lads debuted at no.7 on the ARIA Album Chart. They’ve proceeded to spend the summer pushing their new single ‘Sunlight’, an agenda that will click into overdrive with that uni market in attendance. The First Degree Tour hits the University of New South Wales on Wednesday on March 16 – which gives us plenty of time to rewatch Animal House, and prepare to get our Belushi on.
“I go to meet the crewmen on a thousand ships of glass”- FELICE BROTHERS 16 :: BRAG :: 400 : 21:02:11
GET TESTED PLAY SAFE
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 17
The Music Network
themusicnetwork.com
Industry Music News with Christie Eliezer
WHY DIGITAL HAS BEEN A FLOP FOR BUSINESS
Digital music has not been the savior of the music industry as we first thought, says Mark Mulligan, music analyst at Forrester Research. Writing on the MIDEM blog, he said that so far it has not offset the impact of declining CD sales, not generated a format replacement cycle, or competed effectively with piracy. Forrester’s latest consumer report shows that adoption of digital music has flattened out, with only 18% of Americans and 10% of Europeans paying for digital music. Mulligan says that record companies are making a mistake in targeting 16-24 year olds because “they started out in the analogue era. They are the transition generation with transitional behaviours.” Instead, he suggests, the future is with 12-15 year olds, who’ve only known digital. Mulligan also believes that neither the 99 cent download nor $9.99 streaming services are the future. “They were useful for bridging the gap between analogue and digital, to get us on the first step of the digital path, but now it’s time to start the journey in earnest. We’d be naïve to argue that we’re anything close to the end game yet. The problem is that consumer demand has already outpaced product evolution, again.” The answer is to get to the mindset of the younger generation. The services that appeal to younger consumers are interactive and accessible (“ownership still matters, but access matters more”), and their music experience has to be connected to two or three devices.
BRADBY TAKES OVER WARNER A&R
Artist manager Heath Bradby is the new head of A&R at Warner Music Australia. He manages Karnivool, Drapht, Jebediah, Bob Evans, Downsyde and Papa vs Pretty. He will keep his management company Fidelity Corps going, bringing in Sydney Festival associate director Kirsty Pinder to help. In other Warner news, Beth Appleton fills in as director of marketing, while Mardi Caught goes on maternity leave.
FEBRUARY 23 BECOMES NATIONAL SLAM DAY
A year ago, 20,000 stomped up the streets of Melbourne to voice their fed-up-ness with new liquor licensing laws which threatened live music. The government fell in a heap and signed a new accord which recognised that the live sector had economic and cultural value, and made live music venues risk-free. To celebrate its first anniversary, February 23 will from now on be known as national SLAM (Save Live Australian Music) Day. It reminds us that there is still more work to be done to secure live music around the country. Music fans are urged to go out and support live music venues – and venues are urged to plan for SLAM Day 2012 by registering their interest at slamrally@slamrally.org, and coming up with exciting initiatives to keep fans coming back.
IVY LEAGUE SIGNS DEEP SEA ARCADE
Ivy League Records has signed Sydney band Deep Sea Arcade, adding them to a roster that includes Cloud Control, The Mess Hall, Sparkadia, Youth Group and Josh Pyke. The band is currently recording its debut mini-album in between touring commitments. It’s due for an April release.
18 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
BAD CELEBS
Miley Cyrus topped the poll for worst living celebrity influences for the second year in a row, according to a poll by AOL’s ‘Just So You Know’, which targets the 9 to 15 year olds. Footage of her smoking a bong that emerged online is said to be why she got 58% of the votes. Second was Kanye West, and Britney Spears was third.
GRAMMYS: A GOOD LESSON FOR ARIAS
This year’s Grammys were the most watched in America for ten years, drawing 26.5 million. That was a 3% rise from last year, and the best result since 2004. The Australian ratings were not available in time for this week’s column, but let’s hope Australian TV executives were watching the ceremony as a model on how to resuscitate the ARIAs – there were exciting performances, brief speeches, and mercilessly few attempts at comedy. Many of the tie-ups (Eminem, Dre, Rihanna; Usher, Bieber, Smith; Bruno, Janelle Monae, B.o.B; Dylan, Mumford & Sons, Avetts; Cee Lo, Paltrow and The Muppets) worked a treat. So did the single sets by Arcade Fire, Muse and Mick Jagger, with his high energy tribute to Solomon Burke. The artists seemed genuinely excited to be there; Gaga and Cee Lo certainly got into the spirit of things. Meantime, in America, the industry is looking for sales leaps for Arcade Fire, Cee Lo, Mumford & Sons, Black Keys and Bruno — many of whom were noticed for the first time by middle America. Esperanza Spalding, the jazz singer who beat Bieber in the New Artist category (and had her Wikepedia page savaged by his fans!) could well put the spotlight on the rising New Jazz movement. For worldwide audiences, the wretched Lady Antebellum looks like the new name to get excited about.
RIHANNA CENSORED
“Are you fucking kidding me???” a furious Rihanna twittered when she heard that BBC Radio in England was broadcasting a clean version of her single ‘S&M’. It edits out all references to “sex,” “chains” and “whips” and changed its name to ‘Come On’. But after kicking arses, Rihanna discovered that the clean version had been released by her own record label to get her daytime airplay.
BLISS N ESO ADDED TO MMAD CONFERENCE
Bliss N Eso will appear at the inaugural Musicians Making A Difference Access All Areas Conference, held at the Seymour Centre on February 25 and 26. Artists and execs will give tips to aspiring musicians on how to get into and survive the music industry. Bliss, aka Jonathon Notley, and the band’s manager Adam Jankie will also be part of a panel where young players will perform and get constructive feedback. “An event like this would have been amazing when we were starting out,” said Bliss, who formed his group in high school. “The networking opportunities alone will be incredible!” Others involved include Gina Jeffreys, Miracle, Mind Over Matter and Mirrah, as well as representatives from Universal Music, Island Records, Video Hits, triple j and MySpace. All proceeds go to Musicians Making A Difference (MMAD), which seeks to transform the lives of troubled or disadvantaged young people through music, dance and mentoring. Conference tickets are $195 (which includes a
THINGS WE HEAR
* MTV’s Darren McMullen is off to Japan to interview Pete Wentz. Wonder if they’ll cry on each others’ shoulder, as they’ve both become single… * Fanny’s Nightclub in Newcastle had to bring in a snake catcher to remove a 60-centimetre juvenile red-bellied black snake, which was found in the club’s office. * The city of Austin, Texas took to the internet, asking users to choose the new name for its Solid Waste Services Department. The current leader? “The Fred Durst Society of the Humanities and Arts”, by a huge margin.
free photo shoot worth $600) - hit up www.seymourcentre.com.au
LIQUID LAUNCHES STREAMING MUSIC SITE
Brisbane-based Liquid Online Media will launch a beta version of its new platform at the end of March; a worldwide public launch date is scheduled for July. The site allow users to stream available music in audio and video, select a playlist for their tastes, download music they wish to buy and chat with online friends. The fact that this is all on one site makes it the first site of its kind within Australia, says CEO Shayne Locke – and makes it different from iTunes and Spotify. The site has one million tracks, and the artist or label sets the price of download. See www.liquidonlinemedia.com
GOOD WORK #1: GOLDEN STAVE GOLF DAY
The 20th anniversary of the Golden Stave Golf Day is on Friday March 4 at St Michaels Golf Club, Little Bay. Proceeds go to children’s and youth charities. Over the years, the Golf Day has raised $80,000. Become a sponsor or register a team of four; www.goldenstave.com.au
GOOD WORK #2: NORDOFFROBBINS TRIVIA NIGHT
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia holds its 13th music and entertainment trivia night on Thursday March 24 at the Kirribilli Club in Lavender Bay. Tickets are $78 each or $600 for a table of 8, which includes dinner. Tom Williams is host, Deni Hines is quizmaster and we hear the auction includes a signed Nigel Kennedy violin and autographed Cold Chisel CDs. Universal Music is the team to beat – they took home the title last year with a score of 133. Manager/events producer Peter Rix’s team The Desperates came second with 129, and JB Hi Fi third with 126. Rix named his team because he’s long been desperate to win.
GOOD WORK #3: BENEFIT FOR FBI’S NEW VENUE
A benefit gig is being held on Tuesday March 8 to raise money for FBi’s upcoming late night live music venue, FBi Social. After seven years of playing new Sydney indie music, the station is now showcasing them at a 200-capacity room on the second floor of the Kings Cross Hotel. The benefit is at a Surry Hill’s Church on Chalmers, including Swedish pop duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums, California’s Sonny & The Sunsets and New Zealand’s Tiny Ruins.
* So how did Good Vibrations cope with Kelis and Nas, who had an almighty court run-in after four years of marriage, being on the same bill? They kept them at opposite ends of the backstage area, and put them on stage at the same time. * Frenchman Martin Solveig will shoot a new video using footage from his Australian Creamfield shows. * Noel Gallagher won back the domain name noelgallagher.com, after a fan in Spain bought it ten years ago. Gallagher flew him over to London; in the deal, the man dropped his demand for money and made do with signed items.
WASHINGTON IN DELL AD
Megan Washington appears in the new 30-second TV ad for Dell Computers, which features her walking along seeing street artists spell out her name, to the background of track ‘Cement’. Washington has turned down other offers, but Dell and its production company MediaCom gave her a lot of creative license.
BONE THUGS –N- HARMONY: WE WANNA SIGN YOU! When Bone Thugs N Harmony return to tour in April, they’ll be holding an open-age talent search in Sydney. They want to find talent for their new record label The Life Entertainment. Krayzie Bone said, “Apart from America, Australia was first on our list after hearing some of the artists last time we were there.” For further information regarding the talent search, including registration details, go to www.hiphoptvonline.com
KOOL SKOOLS RETURNS
Now in its 15th year, Kool Skool gives high school bands the chance to record and play live at their awards show. One in four schools are involved. See facebook.com/ KoolSkools
ABC TV’S ‘STAY TUNED’ SEEKING VIDEOS
ABC 3’s new music show Stay Tuned is looking for 30 original bands (majority of each band must be under 21) to support. Send in a one-minute video made by the band itself that profiles them and their sound, and in a location which inspires them. It’s not a promo opportunity to plug your latest CD or gig, and don’t link it to social networks. More info: staytuned@thefeds. com.au. Upload your video to http://dropbox. yousendit.com/StayTuned, or send a DVD to Stay Tuned, PO Box 1611, Crows Nest NSW 2065.
NOVA LAUNCHES PLAYLIST PROJECT
Nova’s new initiative, ‘The Playlist Project’, allows music lovers to broadcast their personal playlists on commercial radio. Submit your playlist to www. theplaylistproject.com.au. 15 finalists will be chosen to broadcast a one-hour show from 10pm weekdays on Nova. The playlist which gets the most votes by listeners will do a week-long show and get $5000. The initiative is in collaboration with MySpace: apparently over 110,000 playlists created each month in Australia. Registrations close February 28.
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 19
T
rue to the second half of their moniker, Art Vs Science really love tests. “My friends are sick of me playing it,” says singer Dan Mac of the band’s long-awaited debut record, which is finally dropping this week. He’s been testing it out on them for a while now... “I swear, every time we get drunk, I say ‘Do you wanna hear one?’ - and before I know it, I’m playing them the whole album.” According to drummer Dan Williams though, those first experiments were vital: “They’re great guinea pigs, we study every one of their reactions.” I’m sharing a couch with the trio - Mac, Williams and keyboardist Jim Finn - at their Surry Hills management HQ, before they head off overseas for gigs in London and Japan. They’ll be back on home soil in March, after their album has dropped, to play Future Music Festival and the coveted support slot for the Chemical Brothers’ tour. After that it’s on to SxSW, and their first string of shows around the United States. After last year’s Magic Fountain EP (their second) went gold and won them ARIA nominations, it’s fair to say that Art Vs Science’s debut full-length lands amidst a fair amount of anticipation. But those impromptu listening parties of the album - aptly named The Experiment - were unlikely to yield fair results… “It was just our close friends,” admits Finn. “Yeah,” adds Williams, “nothing major, just all of my Facebook friends...” Other fortunate parties to have heard the secret jams include producer Magoo’s five-year-old daughter, who apparently spent a lot of time jumping around to the new material screaming ‘COOOOL!’ at the top of her voice. “That’s our retarded peer
review process,” laughs Williams. “A hundred drunk mates and an infant.” It seems strange that Art Vs Science should even need to conduct tests anymore, after such resounding success with the biggest human sample sizes available in one place at one time: music festivals. Serial offenders at every gig from Parklife to Falls, Dan, Dan and Jim have built up a fearsome live reputation which quite simply goes off the charts. In 2009 the trio were already pulling larger crowds during opening slots than headliners did later in the day, solely on the back of their independently-released (but ARIA-nominated) debut EP. So to have been part of that drunken circle of one hundred getting those early listens to The Experiment would have been a prestigious position indeed. As for what to expect from the long-awaited full-length, after the overwhelmingly catchy singles like ‘Flippers’ and ‘Parlez-Vous Francais?’? “You want to do a certain amount of what people are expecting, but also a good dose of stuff they didn’t see coming,” offers Mac. To save you the research, that means a healthy dose of ear-crunchers (‘Higher’ and ‘Bumblebee’ amongst them) to satisfy the swathes of Daft Punk-heads they converted the first time around, but also some forays into more nuanced and all-round stronger songwriting. And that’s where the real experimentation begins… The epicentre of this seismic shift occurs smack bang in the middle of The Experiment, with two songs that will challenge any
hypothesis as to what this band is all about. First comes ‘Meteor (I Feel Fine)’, a grinding jam that builds upon itself and breaks the cardinal Art Vs Science rule by not having lyrics for fans to repeat en masse - patently because there aren’t any lyrics at all. It’s followed by ‘With Thoughts’, a beautiful downtempo pop track that breaks the only other Art Vs Science ‘rule’, by not having a massive backbeat, and not belting you around the head with synth lines the size of an invading army. But as the band is quick to point out, rules are easily broken when you’re the ones making them. “We really enjoyed writing ‘With Thoughts’, so hopefully we can release it as a single somewhere down the line,” says Mac. “And we’ll know if people like it, I guess, once we play it live.” It seems Art Vs Science have returned to their first love: experimenting. “Well if people throw stuff at us, that’s not going to tell us anything,” says Finn, “I mean, shit gets thrown at us all the time now - good or bad!” Mac concurs: “I think we get more things thrown at us if the audience is excited. It’s like, ‘Oh, I love this song! Where’s my hammer?’” Thanks to the particularly obvious imagery of their breakout hit, Art Vs Science are treated to some very weird projectiles, regardless of when and where they are playing. “I’ve been hit by a couple of thongs, and narrowly missed many flippers,” muses Finn, on crowd reactions to their hit song of the same name. In fact, the band may be the sole reason fans bring flippers to festivals; what the hell else would they need them for? “Some of those soft ones that people use for bodyboarding are okay, because they’re round and they sort of bend,” continues Finn. “Yeah, we conducted a whole lot of experiments,” laughs Williams. “We just sat Jim in a chair and slapped him with an array of different flippers.” “Maybe we should do that for a video clip!” Mac suggests, “- but then that will really give people a reason to
throw flippers at us… So maybe we could do a video where we’re surrounded by hot girls and then dudes will throw their girlfriends at us!” Having been around the traps for quite some time and garnering more-than-adequate results, it’s clear that Art Vs Science can’t wait to unleash The Experiment and get back into the touring cycle. “I’m more excited than nervous,” says Finn. Williams is just happy he can give the CD to his grandma, who keeps telling her friends that he’s in AC/DC, because she doesn’t like the sound of his actual band. With production credits from Magoo and Berkfinger (Williams’ old Philly Jays bandmate), and mixed by Adrian Bushy (who has worked with Muse and Foo Fighters), The Experiment is pretty damn huge; the kind of thing that may easily turn Art Vs Science from inspired lab technicians into the Stephen Hawkings of the dance-rock world. “Interestingly, when we started we were very much like, ‘How do we make this sound like Daft Punk?’” says Williams, before Finn adds, “But we didn’t end up sounding like that at all. We ended up creating our own sound and [now] we can experiment around that, without having to be like anyone else.” You can’t argue with those results. What: The Experiment is out February 25 through Green/MGM With: The Chemical Brothers, Dizzee Rascal, Pendulum, MGMT, Mark Ronson & The Business INTL, KE$HA, The Presets, Gypsy & The Cat, Tame Impala and loads more Where: Future Music Festival @ Royal Randwick Racecourse When: Saturday March 12 More: March 10 @ Sydney Entertainment Centre, with The Chemical Brothers
“I put some whiskey into my whiskey. I put some heartbreak into my heart” - FELICE BROTHERS 20 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 21
Nick Murphy Not Just Anyone By Mike Gee mine who have this band, and they never know what the next song is going to be, and the music is all instrumental - it could be just a chord and noise. I can’t do that.” This doesn’t mean that Murphy doesn’t occasionally revel in the old atmospheric. “One of my strengths as a pop writer is that I like soundscapes, soundtracks and sound effects,” he tells me, and it’s particularly evident on the last track of his album, ‘The Crooked Generation’; all instrumental, and a perfect album closer.
L
istening to Nick Murphy’s tunes has me thinking about Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, The Beatles circa-Revolver and The Beach Boys’ ‘God Only Knows’; psychsmeared pop with a country tinge, he makes me want to dig out my old paisley shirts and, if I still had them, my old ‘70s bell-bottom flares. His second solo outing, What’s In Your Mind?, confirms the talent of his that has run over 20 years in various projects, with little major league success but plenty of critical praise whether it be for Melbourne’s The Anyones (the band Sydney eventually discovered after it had been long ignored by its hometown), or his own quirky, edgy but oh-so-melodic compositions. You can hear elements of the late lamented Anyones within his work, but Murphy solo is a more insouciant beast. “I don’t see myself as a particularly visionary songwriter or artist. I’m a music lover who’s stuck in a rut with a love of ‘60s and ‘70s folk, psych and pop - and that informs my music,” he tells me, frank in his selfappraisal. “My aim with this record was to embrace a broader range of styles, but it’s also a bit self-indulgent in another way. It took me a lot longer to do this record because it took me a lot longer to fine-tune the songs.” Murphy became disillusioned with the idea of his latest record being a full band blow-out; “It didn’t speak to me in the same way the quieter songs did,” he admits. “That quietness was more powerful than five people banging away at the same time.” The Beatles, those harmonies
on ‘Sun King’ from Abbey Road (“everybody’s laughing, everybody’s happy”), those perfect harmonies over glissando guitar; the atmospherics of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Albatross’ all of that is Murphy turf. But that said, he sees What’s In Your Mind? as a thing of time and place. “I’ve now gone full circle and feel the next album should be a band thing, because that would suit the songs I’ve written best.” Murphy goes on a journey when he does an
interview. His answers are long and detailed but along the way you can hear him finding out things, articulating conclusions perhaps he’d never thought he’d made. He even finds contradictions in himself. “With What’s In Your Mind? I was trying to push away the electric guitar and pick up the acoustic, and do something more down home,” he explains. “Sometimes I wish I could be weirder – but I can’t. There are these friends of
Now it’s a matter of Nick Murphy getting on the road, and saying thanks to Sydney. It was Sydney after all that eventually got The Anyones - the band spent more time here than in its native Melbourne. “The Anyones were banging away putting out EPs, and the too-cool-forschool Melbourne gang were ignoring it,” Murphy laments. “In the end Sydney picked us up, but it was like we were a new band. Now it’s happening again.” Murphy’s been picked up by the bourgeoning new Sydney label/distributor Other Tongues, which seems to be going from strength to strength. “I sent my stuff out to all the Melbourne labels and got nothing - so it seems Sydney is embracing me again!” What: What’s In Your Mind is out now on Candles Flicker, through Other Tongues With: Ben Nash (78 Zaab), Jason Walker Where: Raval, The Macquarie Hotel When: Thursday February 24
Alexander Ebert Sharper Image By Matthew Hogan
Roska
Mentor In The House By Simon Hampson
T
he lobby of a major hotel in the city is buzzing on Big Day Out day with traffic controllers ordering roadies to load up, and the days’ earlier acts scrambling to get on a bus to the showgrounds - but Alex Ebert is wandering about casually in a heavily damaged t-shirt, held together by safety pins and shiny new untied Converse All-Stars. He’s at the festival to play one of his final shows on the current Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros tour off their back of their debut album Up From Below, before releasing his own solo album under his given name – Alexander. “I just love recording so much, so I found myself recording more,” Ebert tells me, about the origins of his solo record. “Instead of recording demos for a band to then re-record, I just felt like I wanted to share that style of recording me by myself in my bedroom - without having to redo it over and over. I tend to have a high output of songs and when you’re touring a lot... I just knew it was going to be a little while longer until Edward Sharpe got in the studio again. I’ve sat on songs for a long time before, and you end up writing new songs and you want those to be on the album - and then you forget the ones that you wrote before,” he explains. “I just wanted to make an album of what I was recording.” Taking inspiration from Disney soundtracks and Mungo Jerry’s In The Summertime, Ebert aimed to make an infectious and optimistic album. “I wasn’t listening to those songs at the time, but I took solace in knowing they exist, and that the feeling that they give me was similar to the feeling I was feeling,” he tries to explain. “They’re simplistic songs with plenty
of whistling, and I always hum those songs, so I guess they were in the back of my mind. I recorded most of the album over the summer and it started at the beginning of the year - it was that kind of atmosphere.” Although the album took inspiration from summer and Disney, and the music comes across as optimistic and positive, the lyrics tell a different story; lead single ‘Truth’ is a prime example of the heavy subject matter on the record. But the lyrical tone is not surprising Ebert succumbed to the Los Angeles party lifestyle and drug addiction prior to creating his “evangelical” alter-ego of Edward Sharpe a few short years ago. “I guess I was experiencing a feeling like running away or trying to ignore the shadow side of the darkness, or thoughts that were a little decrepit,” he explains. “It didn’t feel right and it wasn’t particularly working in the way that I wanted it to. So I had to turn and face the darkness and embrace it, and make it shine in its own way, and love it. That’s sort of what that song is about.” He says recording under his own name has made the songs “more real and grounded... As opposed to with Edward Sharpe, where it’s more throwing it forward and then catching up to it,” Ebert explains. “So instead of throwing hope forward and then leading yourself towards that, I’m talking about what’s actually happening right now with myself, in this present state. I wouldn’t say it’s more honest, but it’s a bit more present, and dealing with real time things.” What: Alexander is out February 25 on Community Music, through Inertia
A
lthough he only started making waves in the UK funky house scene in late 2009, Roska’s Wayne Goodlitt has been working solidly in music for years. Tunes like ‘Squark’ sit somewhere between tribal house and UK garage, delivering a funky vibe with a trademark minimalism that stands out in any mix. Add to that a weekly show he’s hosted for the last two years on the influential London radio station Rinse FM, and it’s clear why Roska’s popularity has extended around the world. On the phone from his London studio, Goodlitt is appreciative of the support. “It’s been a long journey and hard work, but I’m really happy to be doing it,” he says. “I’m looking forward to coming out to Australia and New Zealand. It’s a challenge that I’m up for - spreading the sound and getting new people into it.” Goodlitt started his career in 1998, as an MC for his cousin who was a UK garage DJ. At that time his name was Mentor, which evolved to Mentor Roska and then just Roska. “When my cousin stopped DJing I couldn’t be bothered finding another,” he explains. “I was always making music, so I decided to stop MCing - and that was when I started DJing myself.” At first, Goodlitt focused on grime and then tried his hand at hip hop for a short time – until 2006, when he received a mix CD from DJ Pioneer which inspired him to delve into house, nu-jazz and broken beat, starting him on the path towards the sound we now know him for. “I want to explore the fun element in music, which everyone enjoys.” Things really accelerated for Goodlitt after the release of his self-titled album on the Rinse label in early 2010. It included tracks that had been setting dance floors on fire for
more than six months, like ‘Wonderful Day’ and ‘Love 2 Nite’ (both featuring the vocals of Jamie George), and many instrumental tracks that echoed the infectious groove of ‘Squark’. “It’s weird,” reflects Goodlitt. “For the last six months, it’s been much easier than it has been previously… Now people can relate to what I’m playing - but best of all, everyone is open to new sounds! People are just up for good music.” It’s a great position to be in, considering the constant variation of UK dance music; it’s hard to put your finger on definite styles now, as producers are more and more working across a number of scenes. But it’s a shift that suits Goodlitt just fine. “It’s the way forward - all the sounds are coming closer together. Of course there are going to be differences in the music, but all the sounds are similar now.” And as for Goodlitt’s opinion on where UK funky is going? “I don’t think anyone that I know is making funky now, to be honest. I’ve come off the back of funky and I have been producing it for so long. It’s a hard label to use, really,” he explains. “I mean, if you listen to Kiss FM in London, and DJ Pioneer, his funky is on the other side of the world from my sound.” At the end of the day, most of these genre labels are just ways to group scenes together - the true impact of Roska’s tunes is on the dance floor. Who: Roska (UK) + Lorn (USA/Brainfeeder) With: Kato & Prize Where: Tone When: Saturday February 26
“Steamy windows...zero visibility. Steamy windows...coming from the body heat”- TONY JOE WHITE 22 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
MGMT Shit Got Real By Andrew Geeves
F
or a man stuck in the nightmare that is Brooklyn traffic, MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden seems particularly genial. “Hopefully I won’t distract you too much from the road,” I venture. “Oh no, I need the distraction,” says the at-ease New Yorker. “Driving here can be pretty stressful.” Still, returning from Rockaway Beach where he’s been scoping new songwriting locations with a friend, navigating through his old neighbourhood doesn’t seem to be stressing VanWyngarden too much. In fact the whole conversation is a decidedly more casual affair than might be envisioned, considering his group skyrocketed to an iconic status within a very short few months of 2008, and haven’t really had time to look back. VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser formed The Management, as the group used to be known, during their first year at college together. It was there that they recorded Climbing To New Lows, a demo which would become MGMT’s unofficial first album when it was leaked in 2005. “Ben and I don’t really consider Climbing as an official release; it was just us fucking around in college,” VanWyngarden explains. But Climbing did provide the seed from which big things would grow for the two college kids. “It definitely captures the spirit of the early incarnation of the band. I think that’s what gave birth to the songs ‘Kids’ and ‘Time To Pretend,’ and ‘Electric Feel’, too, to a degree,” he says, referring to the hits from Oracular Spectacular, the breakthrough album which hurled the band into pretty much every house party of 2008. “Even by the time we were writing Oracular, I think we were still [sounding] similar to that early style, but just not all about it… We were listening to different kinds of music.”
We want to establish that we can do that with our music.” The band will start working on a new album after their schedule eases off in the second half of the year; their current tour will see MGMT in Sydney next month for Future Music Festival. So with their next LP, will the pattern of stylistic evolution continue? “I hope there’s another change,” hesitates VanWyngarden, before asserting, “There’ll definitely be another change,” and then retreating back to: “I mean, like, I don’t know. The fourth album will be different but who’s to say how. We haven’t really gotten into writing for it yet.” Given their track record, the likelihood of change on MGMT’s third official studio album seems more assured than VanWyngarden makes out… As the old maxim goes, expect the unexpected. With: The Chemical Brothers, Pendulum, Dizzee Rascal, Mark Ronson and The Business INTL, Ke$ha, The Presets, Art Vs Science and more Where: Future Music Festival @ Randwick Racecourse When: Saturday March 12 More: The JD Summer Set, with Pond @ Beach Hotel, Byron Bay on Thursday March 3
If the dominant sounds on Oracular signalled a change from the neo-psychedelic alt rock of MGMT’s inadvertent debut, last year’s Congratulations shattered the style with which most fans of the group would have been familiar. Produced by Spaceman 3’s Sonic Boom, gone was the heady glam pop, synthesisers, party anthems and extraversion that had been lapped up by mainstream music crowds. And gone too were the carefree electropop tales spoofing rockstar lives of fast times with drugs, models and luxury cars. “Oracular was more about this kind of fantasy world of surviving the apocalypse of 2012, and surfing on the beach. It was fantastical,” VanWyngarden reflects. “Congratulations is much more about real life emotions and relationships; real people, and the heaviness of that. It’s about figuring yourself out, and figuring out what you’re doing here.”
“People were looking for more New York party anthems... It didn’t really suit what we wanted to do.” Woah. Sounds like shit just got real for the band and VanWyngarden implicitly agrees. “Considering the timing of when Ben and I were writing and recording Congratulations, it was almost therapeutic. It’s difficult to come off tour and try to write again, and get back into that mindset. Writing a very personal album and doing it in the space of all these expectations of people who were looking for more New York party anthems... it didn’t really suit what we wanted to do,” he says. “So the whole process of writing and recording and releasing Congratulations was an emotional rollercoaster.” Given that Congratulations was far less commercially successful, I wonder whether there’s a part of VanWyngarden that feels resentful towards the type of fans that Oracular attracted, and the expectations that they held for Congratulations. “No! I don’t think so,” comes the quick response “I think it would be one thing if we’d gone into the studio and reluctantly tried to recreate the success of Oracular, or done something that didn’t feel right. Then I would have a lot of regret about doing that; we wouldn’t have had the right motivations. But we’re really happy for all the success and all the fans that come to our shows. It’s all part of the band. Oracular was the poppy side, and people get that.” By keeping true to their individuality and honouring their urges to be stylistically innovative, MGMT appear to have taken a leaf out of Television Personalities’ Dan Treacy’s book. The Brooklyn duo isn’t shy of admitting it, either - they even named a track after him on Congratulations. “Dan Treacy has had a major impact on the way that we make music. We’ve hung out with him in London and played a couple of shows with Television Personalities,” enthuses VanWyngarden. “It’s cool that he’s done his own thing and is just a songwriter at heart. He’s a really prolific, creative guy; we’re inspired by the way that he can change styles. The Television Personalities catalogue, it wasn’t the one thing for each album; the sound of that band was changing. We want to do that too. BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 23
Gang Of Four That’s Entertainment By Chad Parkhill
D
on’t call it a reformation. While lead guitarist Andy Gill admits that there have been long periods where Gang Of Four has lain fallow as a project, he’s adamant that their new album Content and its associated world tour shouldn’t be interpreted as a comeback – or even as part of a “post-punk revival”. “With The Fall, they never really went away,” Gill explains. “They’ve kept going for all these years, and god knows how many records they’ve made – 30? 40? 50? I don’t know, an awful lot. And Wire: Wire has basically been going all the time. And then you have bands like The Mekons, our friends The Mekons, who have never really stopped...” Gill explains that there have been a number of periods where Gang of Four haven’t done a lot; the second half of the ‘80s, for instance, and a decade of quiet from the mid-‘90s on. “With Gang Of Four, it’s been helpful to us – having time away from a project gives you time to get perspective and to reflect on what you’ve achieved that’s really good, and what you’ve done which is not so good,” he explains. “This record [Content] is the first we’ve written in terms of new songs in quite some time, and I think the fact that we’ve had a period to be away from
writing new Gang Of Four songs, and to reflect on that, makes it a better record.” It’s reassuring to hear that Gill doesn’t think of Gang Of Four’s new incarnation as a reunion – after all, the phenomenon of ageing rock stars getting the band back together one last time for another sold-out world tour is exactly the sort of thing that Gang Of Four would turn their witheringly cynical eye to... “There certainly are bands from the ‘70s and ‘80s trying to milk the cash-cow one last time,” Gill says. “We go about the things that we do in a surprisingly similar way to the way we did things 30 years ago. The way we approach songs, the way we approach doing anything – we certainly don’t want to lose money, and if we can take home something at the end of the week, that’s nice, but that’s not the end-all or the be-all, and it’s never been our motivation.” Indeed, one of the frequent criticisms levelled at Content has been that Gang Of Four are still doing the same things they were doing 30 years ago - in that their particularly sarcastic, Frankfurt School-reading anti-capitalist politics have been outmoded by capitalism itself, with its ability to reflexively recuperate even the most hard-hitting criticism. But Gill is adamant that the band’s tools are still up to the task. “Well, the interesting thing is that capitalism is fundamentally the same as it was in the ‘70s,” he explains. “Some of the stylistic things may have changed, the Internet and stuff like that, but a century hasn’t changed the basic economic relations and the power relations that are built into it… Like, mobile phones used to be so big, and now they’re so tiny, and just imagine a time without mobiles – so it seems like the world is changing so rapidly, but it’s largely the details that are changing. The fundamentals remain the same.
“If you were to ask me six months ago, what would be the ideal thing for Gang Of Four’s music to be used in, I would say, ‘an Xbox commercial.”’ “We tend to shy away from making moralitybased pronouncements or morality-based analyses; [what we do is] more descriptive,” Gill explains. “What you’ve described as capitalism – I think in a post-Marxist analysis, it’s much more than that, it’s all the complexities of late capitalism, and all the social relationships that are tied up in that. For example, it’s very popular these days to herd bankers into a corner and hurl abuse at them, because that makes us feel better,” he explains. “People with excessive mortgages, they can feel guilt-free, and get all their pain out on those nasty bankers. That’s incorrect thinking, to us; it’s more complex than that, and nearly all of us have played a role in what’s happened.” This critique of capitalism most recently played out for Gang of Four in the public sphere when the band licensed one of their best-known songs, ‘Natural’s Not In It’, to Microsoft, for their XBox 360 Kinect system’s advertising campaign. Gill shows no mercy to those critics who claim that the band has sold out. “The nature of the music business has changed,” he says, “so you have to find sponsorship somewhere. I think you’ll find that 90% of the people who felt it necessary to go online and complain about Gang Of Four being involved in advertising are those who just download peer-to-peer filesharing, and don’t pay for records. That would be my guess. If people actually bothered to pay for the bands they like, we’d be in a very different situation. People are looking around for different ways to survive the situation we’re now in. “I would go much further than that, though,” he continues. “Gang Of Four being involved in an Xbox commercial is pretty much the perfect example – if you were to ask me six months ago, what would be the ideal thing for Gang Of Four’s music to be used in, I would say, ‘an XBox commercial.’ I cannot think of any better use for a song where the first line is ‘The problem of leisure / what to do for pleasure?’ – I cannot think of anything better.” What: Content is out now on Groenland, through Inertia With: Queens Of The Stone Age, Iron Maiden, Slayer, One Day As A Lion, Primus and more Where: Soundwave Festival @ Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park When: Sunday February 27 More: Tuesday March 1 @ The Gaelic Theatre 24 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
M-I-H & Superdisco present
H C R A M 3 0 Y A THURSD HOME NIGHTCLUB DARLING HARBOR
TICKETS ONSALE NOW moshtix.com.au credit cards 1300 GET TIX
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 25
Darren Hanlon The Storyteller By Caitlin Welsh ay what you will about living under the flight path, but it does provide a giggle on occasion. Two minutes into my chat with Darren Hanlon, I leap up to close the window against a jet engine roar, and then hear a faint echo of it on his end. We quickly establish that in fact, we’re both in Stanmore, about a three minute walk apart. When we ring off, Hanlon and his manager are off to Stanmore’s generally unremarkable Salisbury Hotel for some pinball – a pastime for which his passion is welldocumented. “I actually just won the Town Hall comp, in Newtown,” he tells me proudly, then pauses. “That’s nerdy, isn’t it?”
S
single, ‘Butterfly Bones’ from I Will Love You At All – is there in the self-deprecating way he speaks, especially when he talks about becoming “kind of buddies” with Billy Bragg during their US tour together last year. “He was one of the first artists that I heard when I was a kid, when I was really young, and wanted to communicate like he does,” says Hanlon, of the folk-music legend. “The last few gigs we actually got up and played some of his songs together, and it was such a shame that the tour had to end then, when that was just getting started – so I’m sure we’ll be doing more tours down the track. Oh, that was a dream.”
Hanlon is a notoriously affable interview subject, as plain-spoken and charming as his decadelong back catalogue would suggest. That’s not to say he won’t get a little riled up when talking about, say, illegal downloading or interviewers who haven’t done their research. (“I’ve had one before when someone said, ‘Oh, you’re playing at the Metro! Who are you supporting?’ Actually, it’s our show. ‘Oh, have you played there before?’ Yeah, ten times.”). But the sweetly candid protagonist of his songs – from his first solo release ‘Falling Aeroplanes,’ to his latest
Bragg does sound like the ideal tour partner and mentor, imparting wisdom both musical and general between shows. Many a folk-pop aficionado would do terrible things to have been a fly on the wall for this one: “We’d do these things when we were warming up for a show - we’d sit in the band room and play a folk song, folk chords, and we’d have to improvise verses,” recalls Hanlon, with a laugh. “So he’d start singing a song about what we’d done during the day, what we’d eaten and stuff, and then he’d throw it to me and I’d have to come up with something. It was like doing Theatresports or something!” While they did tape some of the jams, Hanlon hurries to assure me they’re “not broadcastable”. Hanlon and Bragg weren’t averse to the odd deep and meaningful, either. “We’d sit down and talk about relationships, he’ll tell me about things he went through personally that I went through, Hanlon says. “It’s history repeating itself. Everyone has breakups, hardships, great loves. Sweeping romances that we can relate to. It’s great to hear that he’s been through the same stuff as me, and the things you go through as a touring musician - trying to hold relationships together when you’re away so much, and relationships that you know aren’t good for you, but for some reason they’re a muse. You’re writing about them, you’re drawing things from them, you’re finding it hard to get
“ I actually just won the Town Hall pinball comp, in Newtown... That’s nerdy, isn’t it?” out of them. That was a revelation.” The relationship stories in I Will Love You At All, to my ears at least, certainly carry a sense of finality, loss and wistfulness. Hanlon won’t be drawn on his current romantic situation, saying that his songs are usually a while behind what’s actually happening in his personal life anyway. “I think for any relationship, and for me anyway, it’s not so immediate, it takes time to filter through and work out what you’re really feeling,” he muses. “And a lot of those songs I wrote really quickly and sometimes I didn’t know what they were about, until I went back and listened to them and I went, ‘Oh, ok’.” While his candid and often cathartic storytelling style is a trademark, Hanlon confesses to censoring himself quite strongly. “I never want the songs to be bludgeoning the audience with some heartbreak,” he explains. “I always try and at least have some kind of redemption in there, or light at least. There was a song a couple of albums ago where I was just pissed off at some relationship or whatever. I regret it... I think it could have been a good song, if I’d just stood back from it. I let the emotions take over.” Next week Hanlon embarks on a tour for the new EP, named for and featuring IWLYAA’s delicate opener, ‘Butterfly Bones’. He and his band will start at the Majestic Theatre (where they’ve recorded before and played shows on the previous two tours) in Pomona, a dot on the map near his hometown of Gympie in Queensland. His family comes along, he says, and people even drive out from Brisbane. “It’s becoming iconic, then,” I remark solemnly. “It’s your Big Pink.” This comment elicits a chuckle and yet more jealousy-inducing recollections from Hanlon’s jaunt in the States – notably, he made his way to a couple of Levon Helm’s ‘Midnight Ramble’ shows at his home and studio in Woodstock, NY. “He actually puts a show on in his house, and you go there and everyone brings a plate of food and he jams with his friends,” says Hanlon. “And this time it happened to be Steve Earle, and then the next night it was My Morning Jacket who played. That was an experience.” What: Butterfly Bones tour EP is out digitally on iTunes, via Flippin’ Yeah Industries/MGM Where: The Factory Theatre, Marrickville When: Friday March 4 26 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 27
Third Eye Blind Semi-Charmed Living By Amelia Schmidt want something else / to get me through this / semi-charmed kind of life / bay-BEE!” I was sure that Third Eye Blind had written other songs, so I downloaded their Best Of, but none were quite so catchy; that “doo doo doo, doo do-do doo” refrain remains pretty much one of the most famous non-verbal vocal riffs of the ‘90s. Speaking cheerfully down the phone from his home in San Francisco, Stephan Jenkins - the vocalist and main man of Third Eye Blind - has just had a pretty productive summer. “I went surfing, wrote 24 songs in Bali, and we just recorded a bunch of demos - about to record a new album,” he muses casually. Quite a bit for a holiday… “Certainly Bali does help things flow a little bit,” he shrugs.
“I
Third Eye Blind officially reformed in 2008, after a long but not entirely useless hiatus. “In 2007 we had our ten year anniversary; we did a show and all of these people came! The show sold out really fast, and the audience was very young - like 15-25 year olds,” Jenkins beams, proud of the ongoing attention his band has retained after their big hit. “It was just such a positive thing,” he says. “It just gave me this kind of confidence that people really got … the feeling
LIVE@PRODUCTIONS
$10 ENTRY 830 TILL CLOSE
25TH
PRESENTS
SLEEP DEBT
FEBRUARY
THE WALKING WHO MATT BANHAM
(NO THROUGH ROAD)
fRIDAY NIGHT
IGUANA BAR AFTER MIDNIGHT a design made by
LUCAS PRODUCTIONS
28 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
“We just did a show for 12,000 people two nights ago in Baltimore and that audience were young, they’re kids, and they’re doing all the things that I was doing when I was 17. So I have no interest whatsoever in nostalgia, I’m interested in what’s happening now. I guess that’s why I didn’t go out to do a solo project - because I want to keep Third Eye Blind’s music alive,” he explains. “A lot of kids [who come to our shows] were twoyear-olds when we put out our first record, which doesn’t make any sense... but that we get to share that [with them] now is great.”
“There’s something kind of erotic but also immediate, something that I think provokes and has kind of a rebellious quality... I’m looking for a transcendent state. when I write.” In testament to the deeply ‘90s aesthetic that Jenkins and his music seem to embody, he explains that in his time off he produced for another memorable, if not terribly overplayed ‘90s star. “I produced a couple of albums for Vanessa Carlton, and built the studio. And I did some touring [with her]… is that enough?” he laughs. Still, for Jenkins, the most important thing is writing the music. He’s been doing it for almost twenty years now, and I’m interested to know if his process has changed - but when he starts talking about writing, Jenkins gets worked up and a little scattered. “I never understood my writing process,” he murmurs. “I know I’m looking for a transcendent state, and then I want to create lyrics that are evocative, that amplify that musical state. That’s essentially what I’m trying to do as a writer… But things change over time and I think the last album is more overtly political, usually toward more interior politics. I don’t know what it would be on this album. It’s just not an intellectual process for me at all,” he finishes leaving me a little confused, but in no doubt of his passion. Something else you might not know about Third Eye Blind: their albums Red Star, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major all relate to astronomy. This doesn’t particularly represent Jenkins’ interest in the science of the sky - more astrology, the mythology of the sky. “I like the idea of the night sky, and the way you gather around it and you use very specific things to talk to it; things that you can’t understand,” he says mystically. “Stories and narratives, and accounting for things that you can’t really account for. It’s all of those things that make me like looking at the night sky.” ...Well I guess you’ve got to be a bit mystical if you’ve magically transported yourself from the ‘90s into 2011 without even noticing.
LIVE AT KELL ET ST KING S X
that Third Eye Blind was interested in evoking.” I ask what kind of feeling that is, exactly - and Jenkins suddenly becomes very deep and meaningful. “God, I wouldn’t be able to even say that in words; I wouldn’t even try. But it’s like…” he struggles here for words. “Let’s see, how will I put this? There’s something kind of erotic but also immediate, something that I think provokes and has kind of a rebellious quality. That’s my best try at it. The process of [creating] that is to foster connections with people so that they find themselves, and they find each other. That’s exactly what it is.” Jenkins is unashamedly proud of his band’s success, and has no trouble convincing me that Third Eye Blind are definitely more than just one or two songs. In fact, he doesn’t bring up ‘SemiCharmed Life’ once, subtly pushing the point instead that after many years and many shows, his fanbase are still dedicated and obsessive proving the broader success that Third Eye Blind have achieved. “If we were to release that first album now, I feel that it would [still] be really relevant and I’m really proud of feeling that way, whether that’s true or not,” he says. “I feel like Third Eye Blind is relevant now, and that’s a very real thing.
t-REV SEXAZZAWEAPON
What: Ursa Major is out now With: Iron Maiden, Slayer, Queens Of The Stone Age, Stone Sour, Slash and heaps more Where: Soundwave Festival @ Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park When: Sunday February 27 More: Tuesday March 1 with The Rocket Summer @ The Annandale Hotel
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 29
Os Mutantes Tropical Feasts By Andrew Geeves
“H
ave you ever been in an earthquake?” Have I what? “Have you ever been in an earthquake?” persists Sérgio Dias Baptista. Batista is the lynchpin of Os Mutantes, Brazil’s most well known psychedelic rock export. And no, I can’t say that I have... “Well it’s a funny thing to happen, especially when you don’t get injured. I was in a 6.3 earthquake in San Francisco years ago. The great thing about it was total silence - there wasn’t that crazy rumble that you see in the films. You realise that the earth is a sleeping being and we are so insignificant. Our civilisation is three feet deep, and then there’s just this bare earth.”
With a charming, rapid-fire and hippy-tinged quirk that I come to realise is something of a modus operandi, Dias is attempting to articulate what made him fall in love with Henderson, Nevada. The city lies to the south east of Las Vegas, and he calls it home when he’s not in Brazil. “That’s the great thing about Nevada,” he continues, “it gives you a perspective of an identity with this planet, that makes you feel very much alive. I could hear the whisper of the angels in the air and all this history. It was just pure, simple,
internal magic.” The beauty of the Nevadan landscape seems a far cry from Brazilian Tropicália, the scene in which Os Mutantes rose to prominence. A counter-cultural arts movement of the late 1960s, Tropicália shared similarities with other free-spirited movements occurring across Europe, the States and Australia at the time except that in Brazil, it played out against the backdrop of a right-wing military dictatorship. Raised by a famous concert pianist and a renowned singer/poet, Diaz grew up mixing with renowned members of the Brazilian Arts scene like Luiz Gonzaga, Dorival Caymmi and Elis Regina. When he eventually formed Os Mutantes in 1966 with brother Arnaldo and Arnaldo’s then love interest Rita Lee, they started keeping company with fellow Tropicálians whose stars were also on the rise, like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. Veloso and Gil were both arrested for their politics in 1969 before being excised, but back when he met them, Dias didn’t quite clock the significance of his new friends. “I was like 16 years old when I was playing with Gil. This is a priceless man, but it wasn’t until later that I realised I was surrounded by all of this genius. It’s a blessing to be able to look back and realise that you were part of this thing.” As an integral part of a movement whose spirit was so at odds with the prevailing political power, and with Gil and Veloso both incarcerated, did Dias ever fear for his own safety? “We were under threat of being kidnapped or arrested, but I think that when you’re young you have this feeling of indestructibility and eternity. You think you’re going to live forever … I still do,” Dias admits. “That’s the most important thing of being young – being able to defy everything, to basically get rid of the old skin and slide into a new skin. We were daring then. I think we were very lucky not to get arrested.”
“We were under threat of being kidnapped or arrested, but when you’re young you have this feeling of indestructibility and eternity. You think you’re going to live forever.” Cut to 1978 and, after various lineup changes due to tensions between founding members, Os Mutantes decided to call it a day. But with artists like David Byrne and Beck citing them as a crucial musical influence in the ‘90s, a resurgence of public interest in the band outside of South America was prompted - Kurt Cobain even famously wrote to Dias urging him to reform the group. In 2006, Dias and Baptista played a one-off reunion gig at a Tropicália exhibition in London and from there a new incarnation of Os Mutantes was born, spearheaded by Dias as the only remaining founding member. They put out a new album, Haih Or Amortecedor, in 2009, and began touring again. Was it surreal for Dias to discover there was new demand for his music more than 30 years after his band’s first release? “It was amazing!” he enthuses, before admitting that the best thing has actually been introducing his music to an entirely new and receptive audience. “I don’t think that Kurt or Beck or David were putting in somebody’s heart that they would or would not like this or that song,” he says. “The kids started to listen, and they liked it. For us, to release the new album in Portuguese and to be accepted into hearts and lives the way that we were was a beautiful thing.” Dias couldn’t be more excited about visiting Australia for the first time in his life this March. “It’s going to be a dream come true; I’m dying to get into the new stuff that’s happening there. I’m going with my heart totally open.” So what should Australian audiences expect from Os Mutantes, in their second incarnation? “Total freedom, total happiness and joy. That’s basically what we’re there for. To celebrate life,” Dias gushes, and it’s difficult to think of a more appropriate celebrant than a music legend who, at 60 years old, is still so effervescent and inspiring. With: Best Coast Where: The Enmore Theatre When: Wednesday March 9 More: Golden Plains Festival @ Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, Victoria on March 12-14 with Hawkwind, Belle & Sebastian, The Hold Steady, Joanna Newsom and more 30 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
LIVE MUSIC
CARRIAGEWORKS
ENROL TO VOTE. BE HEARD ON 26 MARCH. The State Election is on Saturday, 26 March 2011. To be heard, you must be correctly enrolled. If you’ve changed address, you will need to update your enrolment. Or if you’ve turned 18 or become an Australian citizen, you’ll need to enrol to vote for the first time.
LIZ MARTIN
+ BHANGLASSI + TOM HESPE & RICH MASON + EMAD YOUNAN + JAMES BRENNAN + THE BRUTAL POODLES CURATED BY MUSIC FOR TREES
SAT 26 FEB F R E E ! NOON-5PM (ARTIST TIPPING WELCOME)
CARRIAGEWORKS’ CAFÉ & BAR OPEN CARRIAGEWORKS 245 WILSON STREET EVELEIGH MAIN ENTRANCE: CNR CODRINGTON STREET | TRAIN: REDFERN OR MACDONALDTOWN
CARRIAGEWORKS.COM.AU | FACEBOOK.COM/CARRIAGEWORKS | TWITTER.COM/CARRIAGEWORKS
REMEMBER VOTING IS COMPULSORY.
To check your enrolment, update your address details or enrol, visit www.votensw.info or call 1300 135 736. For enquiries in languages other than English, call our interpreting service on 13 14 50. Hearing or speech impaired? Call us via the National Relay Service on 13 36 77.
YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE. BE HEARD.
UNPLUGGED + UNCOMPLICATED IS PRODUCED BY CARRIAGEWORKS + OCCURS ON THE LAST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH
Authorised by Colin Barry, Electoral Commissioner, Level 25, 201 Kent Street Sydney, NSW, 2000.
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 31
If we learned one thing from Uni, it’s to leave your preconceptions at the door and embrace the spirit of adventure – and O-Week in particular is a chance to test the waters of your campus before settling down to the business of, you know, getting your degree. In the following pages we’ve helped decipher some of the shindigs and mixers on campus, to help get you started...
Step Right Up @ UTS! Until Friday February 25 / University of Technology, Sydney City Campus / orientation.uts.edu.au
The Loft At UTS party profile
This year, UTS brings you one of the biggest parties in their O’Fest history. After spending the day working out which of the 100+ social and sporting clubs to join, head down to the the giant circus-themed O'Fest party, spanning across three stages and featuring dancefloor superstars The Potbelleez, indie wonder-kids Miami Horror and a manic lineup of supports. Or if you feel like exploring, take a break from the welcome sessions, library tours and skills workshops of O-Week to head on some sightseeing and adventure tours, put together by the UTS Union and Peer Networkers. Nice!
It sounds like: Chilled, laid-back lounge music, with the odd indie hit. Who’s playing? Total Science, Martini Club, La Fiesta Sound System, Cassette Kids. Sell it to us: Catch live acoustic sounds Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with a notto-be-missed last Thursday, end-of-month special event. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: The amazing new cocktail list and friendly staff. Crowd specs: 21–29-year-olds - UTS students and the people who love them. Wallet damage: Entry is free, beers start from $4.50, $12 for a cocktail ($6 during cocktail happy hour). Where: The Loft / UTS, 15 Broadway When: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays!
“Y
A
fter being holed up in their Bondi Beach studio, Sydney’s favourite electrohouse party band The Potbelleez are back with their second album this March: Destination Now. Co-produced by Paul Mac (Itch-E & Scratch-E, The Dissociatives) and Shave, the first single ‘Hello’ went gold last year, and their second, ‘Shake It,’ was a huge radio hit. The Potbelleez are gearing up to tour across the country with Usher – but before then, they’ll be hitting up the huge O-Fest. We got some words from the band’s Blue MC about growing up, inspirations and the Sydney scene… My parents are avid music lovers. My dad’s parents squeezed a 13-piece jazz band into their lounge room when he was a kid; he still plays classical guitar and trombone. My mum played some piano as a kid and she loves to sing. My favourite records as a child were Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. My biggest rapping influences would have to be Slimkid and Phat Lip from The Pharcyde - across all their work, but particularly their first album Bizarre Ride. I just love those guys, and was lucky enough to hang out with them during the Good Vibes tour in 2009. It’s their unique rhythms that inspire me, and their marriage of rap and melody. Other rappers I rate highly are Gift of Gab from Blackalicious for the speed of his flow and the integrity of his content, and also Lauren Hill for her skill as a poet, singer and rapper.
Marly Student Night Launch party profile
It sounds like: Funky beats with the old, the new and the favourites! Who’s spinning? DJ Moussa Sell it to us: Basically, Marlborough Hotel is the “Students’ Local” for 2011 – so if you’re not there, then you’re missing out. We have a student-dedicated night every Wednesday: drink specials, food specials, plus exclusive student membership entitling you to even more! And did we mention the outdoor courtyard, balcony, VIP deck, pool tables, dance floor and Cellar Bar? The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Who could ever forget the infamous DJ Moussa on the decks?! Crowd specs: The ‘IT’ Students – if you’re not at Marly Student night, you must be in bed with your books. Wallet damage: Free entry all night long; $7 cocktails (the whole list) from 6.30-8pm on Level One / $10 beer jugs til 8pm / $10 pizzas all day and night! Where: Marlborough Hotel / 145 King Street, Newtown When: Launches Wednesday February 23, and then every Wednesday after that!
32 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 28:02:11
The Potbelleez consist of four members: Dave Goode & Jonny Sonic (DJs); Ilan Kidron & Blue MC (vocals). Dave & Jonny started DJing as a duo under The Potbelleez banner in 2002. I became associated with them part time in Summer 2004/05, and Ilan began courting them in the studio around the same time... I joined The Potbelleez properly in 2007 with the release of ‘Junkyard’ (our first single), and Ilan was fully on board later that year with the release of ‘Don’t Hold Back’. We all come from very different backgrounds and influences musically: Dave is strictly house and techno; Jonny goes through hip hop & pop via house; Ilan is a true jazz cat and was into rock as a teen; and I’ve come up through funk, hip hop and primarily breakbeat. I guess you could say that behind the scenes there’s a lot more going on in our band than you see on TV, and that’s what makes our new album so eclectic… Essentially, our music comes to rest in two camps: the “dance floor driven club rockers” and the “hands in the air singalong anthems”. Having two totally different yet complimentary lead vocalists gives us the advantage of exploring and merging both avenues. This also makes our live shows very dynamic, and keeps things fresh for the audience (as opposed to an hour and a half of the same sound…) The Australian music scene is and always has been overflowing with raw talent. Oz music really has its own flavour that's coming to be recognised internationally more and more. One place I go to be immersed in fresh local and interstate talent is the Cafe Lounge on Goulburn and Crown St, in Surry Hills. Every Tuesday night (and a lot of the time in general), they’ve got really impressive performers on show, in a very intimate and supportive setting. With Destination Now is out in March With: Miami Horror, Grafton Primary, Stafford Brothers, Timmy Trumpet & Tenzin, Bassjackers, Ajax, La Fiesta Sound System, Kid Kenobi & MC Shure Shock and loads more Where: UTS Tower Building 1, multi stages: Alumni Green, Glasshouse Bar & The Loft When: February 23, from 2pm How much: $20 (Advantage members) / $30 (others)
UTS
O -Week Picks
ay for hipsters!” remarked one of those ever-eloquent and insightful YouTube commenters, below Miami Horror’s Sometimes clip. “Summer is coming early! This makes me happy I’m still young,” quoth another. Far be it from me to cite YouTube comments as valuable sources of information (or even as complete sentences), but I couldn’t help but agree with the sentiment. The Melbourne-based four-piece have knocked out one single after another, each of which almost instinctively associate themselves in our brains with the ultimate trifector - Summer, Youth and Fun Times. Miami Horror is an appropriate choice then as headliner of the huge O'Fest, the highlight of UTS’ O-Week festivities – they’ll be sharing a bill with Potbelleez, Grafton Primary, Stafford Brothers, Timmy Trumpet & Tenzin, Ajax and loads more. Ben Plant - Miami Horror’s founder, producer and keyboard mastermind - confesses he doesn’t remember a whole lot of his own O-Week, but lets hope that rocking out on the brighter side of the barriers might make this time around more memorable. Plant never expected to make a career of his music when he began exploring the possibilities of compositional software at the tender age of 14. Working his way up from using pre-made samples to creating his own, Plant began making a strong name for himself through remixes, with bloggers picking him up and spreading him like Swine Flu (but with actual longevity this time…). “[Remixes] get the ball rolling - it’s a great way to get your name established,” he says. “But then I realised I was using all my own sounds on other people’s stuff, which of course you get no royalties for…” It was a logical step then to start creating his own tracks – and one that Plant hasn’t looked back from since. Keen to avoid the limitations of being a purely electronic act, Plant added Josh Moriarty (guitar), Daniel Whitechurch (keys/guitar/ bass) and Aaron Shanahan (drums) to the Miami Horror fold, a move which resulted in the unique blend of genres that defines both Miami Horror’s sound, and their killer live show. But Plant wasn’t always so amenable to teamwork; he was previously of the belief that “if you’re doing something professional, it's best to just do it yourself.” It was an attitude which stemmed from a film course at
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23
Harbour Bridge and pylon lookout 9am-11.30am. Walk the iconic Harbour Bridge and climb a pylon!
O’Fest UTS Tower Building 1 from 9am-4pm. Meet new students, pick the clubs you want to join, grab some freebies and join UTS Union’s Advantage Program. And then head along to the massive party…
For more, visit orientation.uts.edu.au
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25
uni that was strongly based on ‘group work’ – a demon most of us know only too well. Plant grew disillusioned; “people not showing up, not coming through with the work – just too many things like that...” Freshers, take heed. Don’t let Miami Horror’s synth-rich album Illumination fool you - Plant’s synthesiser collection is surprisingly modest. “That’s the thing; a lot of people do collect so many of them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they end up writing anything with them. You know, they just sit around making a lot of weird sounds,” he says. “I have just enough, but I actually use all of them.” Sensing a responsible attitude? Plant admits he’s the most responsible of the group, “…or maybe just the most normal, by comparison.” He happily dobs in his bandmates as the most likely to exhibit rockstar antics, for instance: “It definitely revolves around Aaron and Josh,” Plant laughs. “They climbed up the scaffolding of a huge tent at a festival in Perth, while another DJ was playing.” Apparently the two have also stolen go-carts... But let’s be honest, who hasn’t? – By Jordan Smith What: O-Fest Where: UTS Tower Building 1, multi stages: Alumni Green, Glasshouse Bar & The Loft When: February 23, 2pm How Much: $20 - $30
Harbour Sailing Double Bay Sailing Club, from 1pm, $40-$45. Coogee to Bondi walk Spend the day sailing on UTS’ Yacht, Impulse! 10am. Walk the spectacular coastline and enjoy some SATURDAY shopping and a drink in FEBRUARY 26 Bondi. Northern Beaches Tour Manly Wharf, all day. From Manly to Palm
Beach - have an Aussie BBQ and see the famous Summer Bay! SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 Blue Mountains Tour 8am – 6.30pm. Visit a world heritage national park, and meet a kangaroo and a koala!
The Roundhouse promotes the Responsible Service of Alcohol. Over 18+ only event. Valid identification is required upon entry.
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 33
Go Wild @ UNSW! – Friday February 25
/ University of New South Wales, Kensington / oweek.info
ARC, UNSW’s student organisation, has put together a veritable feast of delights for O-Week – parties, comedy, gigs, movies, games, campus tours and a bunch of workshops and Q&A sessions to help you survive in the wilderness of uni life. Join O-Week eXtreme to make the most of the week, by teaming up with other first years in a week-long comp that includes Capture the Flag, flash mob, paint wars and Quidditch! …And if you’re wondering around campus looking a little confused, the Yellow Shirts will be there all week to help you out.
Back to School Theme Party @ the Crowie! party profile
Monday February 21
It sounds like: A massive uni night launch on the North Shore! Who’s playing? Ember, Joey Kaz, G-Wizard Sell it to us: The launch of something special – for the first time on Sydney’s North Shore there will be one hell of a uni night! Commencing with the Back to School Theme Party, the Crows Nest Hotel will be running weekly uni parties, monthly themed parties, the cheapest drinks and the best night out for North Shore kids! The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Winning ping pong, cheating at board games, scoring cheap drinks, cutting up the dance floor - and still having change in your wallet! Crowd specs: 18-25yo looking for a great local night out! Wallet damage: Minimal - $4 beers / $5 spirits and wine / $6 slushies / $10 beer or cocktail jugs (8.30-10.30pm). Where: The Crows Nest Hotel aka THE CROWIE! When: Wednesday March 2 launch party, then every wed after that!
I
t’s 1975. UNSW Medical Society is making medical and comedy history, embarking on the university’s first ever Comedy Revue. “Next matter: show titles,” barks the Chair. “It’s not brain surgery” is proffered. Murmurs. “Scrubs” says another. “Too postmodern,” comes the reply. “Amateurs!” shouts David, one of the student body’s great minds. There is a hush, followed by a triumphant: “Rumpleforeskin!” And the rest is history.
T
wo long years since Kisschasy gave us Seizures, and the band is ready to get back into the studio and onto the stage; but according to bassist Joel Vanderuit, they needed to take a break. “By the time we got to the end of the Seizures touring cycle, the Big Day Out, the festivals and stuff… we needed to step back a bit,” he explains. “We didn’t want to overexpose ourselves which we’d done on previous records, I think. It got to the point where people would be like, ‘oh yeah, I saw those guys last week.’ So we thought we’d take a proper break, maybe do some side-projects, for everyone to go out and get other things out of their systems.” Lead vocalist Darren Cordeux continued creating, writing music more suitable for a sideproject with his girlfriend, but Vanderuit took a complete break from the business. “I decided to chill out,” he says. “I love my golf and my game suffered a lot because of touring, so I’ve been getting stuck back into practicing that!” Sounds like his game is set to take a dive again; this year Kisschasy are ready to reclaim their status as Australia’s favourite indie-pop lads with a brand new, fourth album. In the meantime, the bassist says it’s time to get their butts into gear and reignite the spark again. And what better way to practice than with a massive gig at the UNSW Roundhouse, alongside Papa Vs Pretty and Enola Fall, as part of the O-Week festivities. “We had a small show in Adelaide a couple of weeks ago which was the first thing we’d
really done in months,” says Vanederuit. “The UNSW show will be a great way to reignite things for us again, to reignite the fun we have playing as a band.” He says that fans of the band can expect some old favourites from the set, too. “It kind of changes from city to city, but it seems like ‘Opinions Won’t Keep You Warm At Night’ is still our biggest single to date. We could have sworn that would have got worn out with people quite quickly because it’s an old song and such a simple song too,” he says. “It could actually be a toss-up between that song and ‘Do-Do’s & Whoa-Oh’s’.” There’s no letting up for Kisschasy, that much is clear. After all, as Vanderuit claims, these days the Melbourne four-piece consider themselves a ‘career band’ rather than a group of mates with a fun hobby. And so they should, as they get ready to soon hit the 10 year mark at the end of 2011… “It’s definitely a job because it pays our bills and rent while we’re touring,” he points out. “It can demand lots of long hours and lots of travel. It requires responsibility too, because once you start selling out the bigger venues, you can’t exactly have that extra beer before you play - people are paying good money for tickets. For the first five years you can allow yourself to do that, but after a while you start to realise this is a business and you have to treat it a bit like you would a company,” he says. “It’s a career - but you couldn’t ask for a much better career.” – By Birdie With Papa Vs Pretty & Enola Fall
party profile
Where: The Roundhouse @ UNSW
UNSW roundhouse
It’s called: Acoustic Night ft. Andy Bull and Owl Eyes It sounds like: Alternative indie meets alternative folk. Who’s playing? Singersongwriter Andy Bull and Melbourne indie pop songstress Owl Eyes. Sell it to us: After a looong week, we all just need to chillax and listen to music that massages our ears. Oh and the drinks are cheap as – we’re students after all! The bit we’ll remember in the AM: All the good music... Wait, who signed my chest? Crowd specs: Inner city hipsters, students who know what ‘jeggings’ are. Wallet damage: FREE, BABY! Where: UNSW Roundhouse When: Friday February 25, 7-9.30pm 34 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 28:02:11
When: Wednesday February 23, 7pm – 10:30pm How Much: $15 for UNSW Students; $10 for Arc Members; $20 for everyone else
UNSW O - WE E K PICKS MONDAY FEBRUARY 21 Movie Night: Jurassic Park Quad Lawn, from 7pm. Relax on the grass with free popcorn, a cool night breeze, and a modern classic...!
Well, ok, some of this only probably happened; but the historic first UNSW medical society revue was titled Rumpleforeskin. Fortunately, UNSW comedy has come a long way since 1975, and O-Week 2011 boasts Fat Pizza’s Tahir playing host to U.S. star Eddie Ifft and popular local talent Dave Williams. Dave Williams is known for his riffing skills, and often freestyles entire sets, employing a canny sixth sense that taps into a deep vein of the hilarious that exists in ordinary, everday life. He’s the kind of performer who can spin Donut King, stepping on gum, or magpie attacks into comedy gold – and make it seem effortless. The secret to Dave’s much-touted impro skills is – at least partly – the fact that he’s a prolific writer. Once a head joke honcho at Comedy Channel’s Stand Up Australia, his job was to pump out scores of monologues for host and buddy Cam Knight; so when Dave hits the stage, there’s a draw full of jokes somewhere in the back of his mind. Add lightning wit, rock star charisma, and a few choice Williams phrases like “sweet”, “fully” and “rad”, and Dave Williams is a good time. Dave isn’t just popular with the punters, however; he’s proved himself to be a comic’s comic, with guest spots for Wil Anderson on his Wilosophy DVD, and a support slot for crooner Michael Buble on his recent tour. That’s right, he sings: Dave is part of Sydney’s Man Choir, a group of hairychested, blue-bonds-singlet-clad men who produce acapella versions of rock standards like 'Fat Bottomed Girls', and the Home & Away theme song. Speaking of Home & Away: Dave’s gig buddy Eddie Ifft recently stripped down to speedos and a lifeguard outfit during a Bondi Beach shoot for his new album, Live from Australia. It’s a good fit for the American comic, who has almmost become an adopted son of our country.
For a frequently PC nation, Australia has taken a shine to Eddie’s knack for saying what should usually remain unsaid. Ifft stomps heavily and unapologetically into the realm of the contentious, and audiences go with it because there’s no heavy-handed shock tactics: it’s just a man saying true things. Plus if things get rough, Ifft has a cheeky ‘Dennis the Menace’ grin to temper the audience’s mood. Aspiring comedians could learn a lot from Ifft in terms of career – and maybe political science students, too! A Political Science graduate turned intern to a Washington DC Senator, Ifft eventually found a career in insurance – which (happily) propelled him into stand up. After a long day selling insurance at his father’s Pittsburgh firm, he jumped up at an open mic night, and found his calling. His current slate of work involves international touring, TV, a role in a Stephen King film, and a podcast called Talking Shit with LA roommate and Australian bad boy Jim Jefferies. Incidentally, the two recently raised awareness and dollars for Queensland flood victims, throwing together a fundraiser at the Hollywood Improv, featuring L.A.-based expats Wil Anderson and Tim Minchin. If you’ve been to university you know this, and if you haven’t, you will: nothing in the [real] world is free. This show is, so get along. – By Michael Brown What: O-Week Comedy feat. MC Tahir, Dave Williams, Eddie Ifft (USA) When: Tuesday February 22, 7pm Where: UNSW Roundhouse More: FREE, and all-ages.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24
Quidditch match! Physics Lawn, 12.30pm. The muggle-version of Quidditch has traversed the globe from Harvard to UNSW, equipped with chasers, beaters, keepers and even a human snitch! This will be the first Quidditch game UNSW’s ever hosted, so register with O-Week eXtreme to be part of the fun!
Free 'Latin salsa' class! Dance Society Roundhouse, 1-2pm. Because what better way to meet people than to dance embarassingly around them? Seriously though, if you don't embarass yourself at O-Week, it aint O-Week.
Laser Skirmish Pool Lawn, 6-9pm. Free laser skirmish? FRIDAY What is this, the best uni FEBRUARY 25 ever? Putt Putt Golf Go Wild In The Quad Lawn, from 10am Jungle Dance Party – 4pm. Roundhouse, 6pm-2am. It’s like normal golf, but smaller, cuter and heaps Uni is all about the balance, but O-Week is more exciting. Crack pretty much all about out your finest golf
the party… Reggae, dancehall, RnB and house across three stages, for just $5-$10.
For more, visit oweek.info
pants and vest combo! Acoustic Night feat. Andy Bull & Owl Eyes Roundhouse Beer Garden, from 7pm. Sydney’s Andy Bull and Melbourne’s Owl Eyes will serenade you and hold your (metaphorical) hand as your O-Week draws to a close. Nice.
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 35
Welcome Aboard @ USYD! – Friday February 25
/ University of Sydney, Camperdown / oweek.com.au
The good folks at Access, the Sydney University's Union, run the clubs & societies program at USYD – one of the best ways to meet likeminded peeps. Access are also the people you can thank for the music, parties and comedy that’ll be held across three days at Sydney Uni, to whet your appetite for university life on the iconic campus. Speed dating? Band battles? Dance offs? Parties? Gigs? …Speed dating? Pretty much everything you’d want.
party profile
Wednesday February 23
Weekend Warm Up @ Manning It sounds like: Whatever the kids are playing at the time Who’s spinning? A regular and ever-changing rotation of the best up and coming Sydney Uni DJs Sell it to us: Head on up to Manning on a Friday afternoon for a well-earned spritzer; ease out of the week and launch into the weekend! The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Haha - depends where you want to take it! Crowd specs: Young students, scraping together their last hard earned for a beer. Wallet damage: Free Where: Manning Bar, Sydney University When: Every Friday from 4pm-8pm
I
“I
’ve actually thought about this before, which is ridiculous,” says Russell Fitzgibbon, one half of Sydney’s Fishing – so I’m feeling a little better about asking him what form his instrumental band would take if reincarnated as an aquatic vertebrate. “I’d say it would be an Australian Bass because it’s really nice, natural, from the Australian bush and it’s probably my favourite fish. Bass is obviously (spelled) the same as bass, and Fishing is basically Australian bass, too” Next to ‘So Hot Right Now’ in any current urban dictionary, you’re guaranteed to find a picture of Fitzgibbon and his electro-pop partner in crime Doug Wright beaming back at you. Playing their first gig just over a year ago, the boys have been as busy as they are popular, with 2010 seeing them tour with Jinja Safari and John Steel Singers, support Cloud Control (Doug’s brother Alister is the frontman), Jonathan Boulet and Dappled Cities, and play Peats Ridge festival. They’ll be sharing a stage with The Holidays and Jinja Safari at Bands Ahoy! this Friday night, the big night on Sydney Uni’s O-Week calendar.
party profile
Fishing have just released their infectiously catchy first single, ‘OOOO’, on 7-inch vinyl, accompanied by Sydney visual artist Bernadette Murray’s stop-motion video that made the rounds on the blogs last week. “I think so much of music works on the internet and MP3s these days,” Fitzgibbon explains. “Then you have the other extreme of having a nice physical product that you can listen to on your turntable. It’s a more aesthetically pleasing experience.” Keeping it real whilst making their music accessible is a high priority for Fishing. For the first half of 2011 they plan to release HOOKZ - a monthly series of EPs that can be downloaded for free. “We decided that because we make stuff fairly prolifically it would be really nice to
Friday Night at Hermanns
It sounds like: a weekly mix-up of DJs and bands. Who’s playing? This Friday (Feb 25) it’s The Holidays, Jinja Safari and Eagle & The Worm; next Friday (Mar 4) it’s Roger Vs. The Man, the Married Bachelors and Don’t Panic, We’re Hispanic Sell it to us: Hermanns is a great little room for live entertainment, with 300 capacity, so it has a nice little vibe going. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: the flavoured vodkas (a highlight is Grape or Strawberry Nerd Vodka). Crowd specs: If people were a lolly then our crowd would be licorice allsorts. Wallet damage: Price depends on the act. Sometimes it’s even free… Where: Hermanns Bar / City Road, on the bottom end of Newtown. When: Fridays Nights from 8pm
36 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 28:02:11
keep the flow on, so people have something to come back to every month,” Fitzgibbon explains. “We’re going to release a whole bunch of this old stuff in the next couple of months plus some remixes that we’ve done of Cloud Control and (fellow Sydney artist) Guerre. After that, we’ll just keep doing some new little collections.” I tell Fitzgibbon that this strikes me as quite a generous gesture. “Well personally we always download a lot of free music, and so you like to give stuff away just so that people can listen to it. A lot of those things we wouldn’t necessarily be releasing on an actual physical product anyway. So it’s just a nice way to give people something to listen to. It’s cool that is comes from us instead of just coming from another source like a blog.” Given their name and that the HOOKZ titles released so far include Salmo Trutta (the Latin name for Brown Trout) and Fishing In The Colo Wilderness, is it right to assume that Fishing have a certain penchant for nature? “Actually . . . yes” confirms Fitzgibbon “I love fishing, and Doug and I are very much into bushwalking and hiking. I think nature does inspire a lot of what we do. Rather than having to explain our feelings as we would in a pop song, writing instrumental music is more about just creating a vibe. You’re taking (inspiration) from places you’ve been and things you’ve done and hoping to create a little bit of a snapshot… Hopefully it transports the listener to a place. A really nice place” Given that Fitzgibbon used to make music to avoid doing uni work (“it was pretty much procrastination”), playing at USYD’s O-Week may be something of a surreal experience for Fishing… Regardless, with a year on the horizon that includes supporting Cloud Control again in March, the release of an EP or album and a possible visit to the UK, Fitzgibbon and Wright seem destined to be transported to some deservedly nice places themselves in 2011. — By Andrew Geeves What: Bands Ahoy! with The Holidays, Jinja Safari, The Eagle & The Worm, Idea Idea and the O-Week Battle of the Bands winner Where: Hermann’s Bar When: Friday February 25, from 1pm More: oweek.com.au
FEB 23 – FEB 25
USYD O - WE E K PICKS For more, visit oweek.info
Pool Party! Breakfast Island (Front Lawns) 10am – 2pm. Cool down at O-Week! Bring your Access card along for a free Sunnyboy Icy pole (yay!), upbeat summer tunes and paddling pools. Battle of the Bands The Good Ship Shanty (Front Lawns) 10am – 4pm.
f you’ve ever sat on the impeccably manicured grass at Sydney University in the shadow of its epic sandstone 'Quad', it’s clear that this is a place of prestige, tradition. Even in the world of comedy, its alumni range from Adam Spencer to members of The Aunty Jack Show and The Chaser. Today, Project 52 carry that torch. They’re a collective of writers and performers who present a weekly Wednesday-night sketch, impro and stand up show at Hermanns bar, on City Road. During O-Week, Project 52 will present a special edition of Campus Comedy, featuring USYD comedy alumni Axis of Awesome and special guests Tripod. Comprised of Scod, Yon and Gatesy, musicalcomedy trio Tripod are at a point now where they’ve won an ARIA, released eight albums and three DVDs, been on pretty-much every television and radio show in Australia, snagged a swag of five star reviews, and toured extensively both nationally and overseas... Where do you go next when you’ve done so much, been so acclaimed? You write a musical about Dungeons & Dragons, called Tripod versus The Dragon. The show was developed during a residency at the Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art, and made its Australian debut at Adelaide Fringe 2010, scoring remounts at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Comedy Festival. After a long haul in geektastic musical theatre, the trio will be reincarnating the old-school, rock’n’roll Tripod for their Sydney Uni appearance this week; and if you’ve forgotten what Tripod’s rock mode sounds like, it’s worth remembering that they supported Presidents of the United States of America at The Metro in 2005. Tripod’s co-stars are The Axis Of Awesome, Australia’s self-professed ‘most tolerated’ musical comedy trio. In one of their final shows before the their upcoming US tour, Jordan Raskopoulos (vocals, kazoo), Benny Davis (keys, vocals, short), and Lee Naimo (guitar, vocals, acting) will bring it back to where it all began for the Axis – the improv and comedy revue scene at Sydney Uni. Axis are best known as the band behind the viral YouTube sensation ‘4 Chords Song’, a medley of 36 pop songs revealing the identical chord structure behind each of them. Pushed along by radio play on BBC, and a fortuitous tweet by Ashton Kutcher, their song has reached almost 20 million views. Even before ‘4 Chords’ went gangbusters, Axis had pulled lots of attention in 2007 with a series of rap parodies lampooning the Federal Election, no doubt flexing satirical muscle toned at Sydney University revues. Fast-forward to the present, and Axis has perfected their little comedy love triangle: tightly-written jokes, three-dimensional characters, structured relationships between band members, and clever genre-spoofs. The cumulative effect is an act that matches its musical prowess with comedy chops. Sydney Uni is known for launching some of the best bands around (Cloud Control? Jezabels? Richard In Your Mind?). Check the new class out, as they compete to open the Bands Ahoy! Festival on the Friday of O-Week. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23 Speed Dating Manning Forecourt, 4pm-6pm
Sydney Arts Students Society want you to get to know your peers – they’ll be giving away drinks, playing sweet tunes, and setting you up with each other. Quickly.
If their recent shows at Sydney Opera House are anything to go by, punters can expect the Axis to turn the rock up to eleven with smoke machines, laser shows, wailing electric guitar solos, and sublime vocal harmonies. Prepare to laugh – hard. – By Michael Brown What: Sydney Uni O-Week: Campus Comedy When: Thursday February 24, 7pm Where: Manning Bar, Sydney University Tickets: Tickets $15 / or $10 for Access Members. oweek.com.au
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24
Console Competition Manning Bar, from 12pm Show off your n3rd skillz on classic consoles – or, if you like, the Xbox. There’s Deap Sea UV Party four screens, prizes and Manning Bar, from 7pm. everything! It’s all about the ultraviolet here, so don Strike Human-Sized your whites, fluoros Tenpin Bowling and flippers ! Free with Front Lawns, all day. your Access card, or $5 Yep. This means you get without. to crawl in a giant plastic
ball and let your friends push you towards some giant pins. Finally. Monsta Exhibition Battle Manning Bar, from 4pm. The Hip Hop Society are hosting this one: a dance-off between some of the best hip hop teams from various unis around Sydney featuring performances by MATUSE & Kween G. It’s free, too!
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 37
arts frontline
free stuff email: freestuff@thebrag.com
arts, theatre and film news... what's goin' on around town and more...
brushstrokes WITH DANIEL
MUDIE CUNNINGHAM
T
his week Performance Space is presenting a special Queer Week program, to coincide with the Mardi Gras festivities. Perhaps the most intriguing item on the menu is Jodie Foster’s Beaver, a ClubHouse ‘storytelling’ night by performance artist, writer and Senior ‘Artbank’ Curator Daniel Mudie Cunningham. Daniel will be discussing his ongoing project, the ‘Jodie Foster Archive’… Jodie Foster’s Beaver? Please explain! The title is a pun on Jodie Foster’s new film, The Beaver, which she directed and also stars in. It comes out later this year, and stars Mel Gibson as a depressed man who communicates using a beaver hand-puppet. Jodie appears to be the last person left in Hollywood who still believes in Mel Gibson! I liked the shock value of saying Jodie Foster’s Beaver, when people might not have heard about the forthcoming movie. You posit that Jodie is an icon of queer cultural resistance – what does that mean? I’ve always been interested in Jodie as relatively closeted movie star. The first Jodiethemed work I performed in 1996 was a response to the politics of outing seemingly gay celebrities, which was at that time a big deal for many gay activists. In that performance I accepted Jodie’s Oscar for Silence Of The Lambs on her behalf, and then outed her in the acceptance speech. Another Jodie performance from 2008 sees me dressed as Jodie from Taxi Driver and mock-raped over a pinball machine by a fat butch lesbian (a reference to The Accused). My Jodie performances use humour to appropriate, resist and distort the codes of her on-screen heterosexualisation. In doing so she
DAVID! SUZUKI!
David Suzuki is getting on now, so if you want to hear what this environmental pioneer, activist and broadcasting hero has to say – and you really do want to hear what he has to say – then this might be one of your last chances. Almost 75 years of age, Suzuki is coming to Australia with his new documentary, A Force of Nature – which he describes as “a last lecture … a distillation of my life and thoughts, my legacy, what I want to say before I die.” Don’t be sad face: you can see the film at Moonlight Cinema on Monday February 28 – plus distributor Curious Films is inviting individuals to set up local screenings of the film; for just $100, you can screen the film to as many people as you want, whenever you want, however you want - to can raise funds, or just raise awareness. davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/ force-of-nature-the-david-suzuki-movie/
ANNIE PROULX
Note for everyone who likes beautiful prose: Annie Proulx (The Shipping News, Brokeback Mountain) arrives in Sydney next month, and will be speaking at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, on Thursday March 10, 8.30pm. Starting off in journalism, Proulx published her first short work of fiction in her mid-to-late 20s, and her first novel in her late 50s… In the interim, we imagine she was honing her craft. If you’ve never experienced her, try and find a copy of the short story that was remade into Brokeback Mountain – and a box of tissues, coz you’re gonna cry. Now 75, she’s just released Birdsong: A Memoir – her first nonfiction release in more than 20 years. Student tix are $25, and we reckon Annie’s worth every cent. cityrecitalhall.com
ROUGHT DRAFT #9
Rough Drafts are free events run by Sydney Theatre Company, with the aim of connecting emerging theatremakers and their fledgling projects with curious audiences. Rough Draft #9 features rising star Tahli Corin (winner of the Philip Parsons Playwrights Award in 2009) and director Susanna Dowling (Yellow Moon Belvoir 2010), who are developing a project called Girl In Tan Boots. Something about ‘loneliness, desire, fantasy, desperate Sydney women, feeling invisible, tan boots, MX (don’t pretend you’ve never read it), a prank, a disappearance’ – and a magician. See you there: Saturday February 26, 5pm. Entry is free but seats must be reserved, via boxoffice.sydneytheatre.com.au
DORKBOT SHOW
The kids at Dorkbot (not literally children, because electricity is complicated) are back with a show this week. As legend has it, Dorkbot are a collective – or a gathering – of people who do strange things with electricity; and to strange 38 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
LET ME IN PRIZE PACK Director Matt Reeves somehow pulled off a miracle with this remake of Swedish cult sensation Let the Right One In. While most American remakes of foreign fare are disposable, Let Me In is a powerful film in its own right, relocating John Ajvide Lindovist’s story of blood-soaked sexual awakening and friendship to smalltown, Reagan-era America, with all the undertones of religion, materialism and xenophobia that entails. Its biggest strengths, however, are the emotionally intelligent performances by rising stars Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) and Chloe Moretz (aka Hit Girl from Kick-Ass). is made out to be some kind of queer agenda setter. When/what was your first ‘Jodie’ time? Jodie Foster was my hero growing up. In films like Freaky Friday she did the tomboy thing so well that it made me wish she was my older sister. I realised I was gay at 16 when watching one of the creepy prisoner extras in Silence Of The Lambs throw cum on her face. What is your Jodie Foster Archive actually comprised of? Mainly documentation of my live Jodie performances, which is augmented with a lot of collected research material for future performances: magazine clippings, bios, posters, photos of me meeting the Madame Taussauds wax replica of Jodie. That kind of thing. Recently I acquired on eBay for $2 the movie tie-in novel for the script of The Accused.
we’d add wonderful, because this exhibition features work by Wade Marynowsky, whose robot masquerade ball The Hosts blew our minds last year. Also on the bill are Luke Calarco, Jiann Hughes, David Kirkpatrick, Ross Manning and Michael Petchkovsky. Curated by Dorkbot ‘overlord’ and Serial Space co-director Pia Van Gelder, it’s billed as a hybrid of art exhibition and science fair, and should be fun. Opens Tuesday February 22 from 6pm, at the Dorkbot mothership, Serial Space; for the artist talk and sausage sizzle be there Sunday Feb 27. dorkbot. org/dorkbotsyd
You asked people to send you their Jodie fantasies... What’s one of the most bizarre ones you’ve received? Probably the one featuring Jodie Foster helping Richard Gere extract the gerbil out of his ass during a break on the set of Sommersby. Could you share one of your own? Let’s just say it involves Jodie Foster presiding over a gay sex club called The Panic Room.
Let Me In releases on DVD and Blu-ray on February 23; thanks to Icon Home Entertainment, we have two special prize packs up for grabs, each containing: Let Me In DVD Let the Right One In DVD (courtesy of Madman Entertainment) Let the Right One In book by John Ajvide Lindovist That’s a lot of awesome, right there. To get your hands on one, email us with the name of the director who made the original Swedish version of the story, Let the Right One In.
What: Jodie Foster's Beaver When: Thursday February 24, 7pm Where: The ClubHouse @ Performance Space / CarriageWorks, Eveleigh More: performancespace.com.au / danielmcunningham.com
www.iconmovies.com.au
Zoe Coombs Marr: And That Was The Summer That Changed My Life
MONEY FOR ART
Dear Serial Space: please stop sending us emails about your awesome artist residencies. Yes, we’re the ‘arts section’ – and yes, we do consider what we do with words to be ‘Art’. But we seriously doubt that’s what you mean when you say you’re offering paid three-week artist residencies… For the rest of you artsy types: Serial Space are taking applications from artists who would benefit from a three-week ‘development’ residency in their Chippendale space, culminating in a four day public presentation. Thanks to $30,000 funding from Arts NSW, Serial Space are ALSO offering selected applicants an artist fee of $1200. Not too shabby. Deadline is February 28 – for all the details, hop to serialspace.org
FIRST DRAFT CALL OUT
Your friendly creative depot, Firstdraft, is putting the call-out for artists who are interested in exhibiting at their Gallery. They're also introducing a new paid (!!) Emerging Curators program this year that's almost identical to their current program, but specifically geared towards curators interested in experimental methods/ approaches. (Curators are like artists, except their art = arranging other people’s art. Sort of.) Applications for these three different programs are all due on March 12, and there’s quite a lot of information that we can’t fit in a 100-word blurb. So head to firstdraftgallery.com
ENCHANTED LIPS
One of our favourite things at last year’s Mardi Gras was Natasha Hill’s Night of Kings, which featured a gender-baffling line-up of ladies getting their man on – and a lot of George Michael, it must be said. Hill is back this year with the opposite side of the coin: a night celebrating the splendid bits of being a lady - featuring: fearless chanteuses Ava Torch, Jade Starr and Naomi Palmer; burlesque babes Bonnie La Toosh and Danica Lee (Miss Burlesque Sydney 2010); performance from Tokyolovekitten; hoops from Tutu Tricky; belly-dancing from Emi L’Ètoile, polewrangling by The Blushettes, ‘light dancing’ from Feroshus, and music from Jilha Døttsdöttir. If you
IMPERIAL PANDA FESTIVAL 2011
Christmas wishes will be fulfilled - an New Year’s Resolutions abandoned, we suspect – when the third annual Imperial Panda rocks into Sydney next week. Much anticipated, when the line-up finally dropped last week, it blew our legs off: a slew of Next Wave shows we were worried we’d never see – including Zoe Coombs Marr’s And That Was The Summer That Changed My Life (pictured above), and Eddie Sharp/Kenzie Larsen’s Some Film Museums I Have Known; Sydney performance mainstays Brown Council doing A Comedy; a reboot of Cabaret Sauvignon, and a Night Of Male Impersonations courtesy of Man Jam and Cab Sav; a Masterclass with Charlie Garber and Gareth Davies; the return of Unlovable, for a Smiths appreciation night in partnership with Rainoff; Panda regulars The Suitcase Royale; Pig Island’s Claudia O’Doherty asking What is Soil Erosion?; and a pictorial exploration of friendship courtesy of Ampersand magazine. At this point the program becomes a roll call of anyone who’s doing anything 'hip' and 'interesting' in Sydney… The central hub of the festivities will be GoodGod, with cocktails and conversations taking place on a nightly basis. So yah, Imperial Panda will take over your life between March 4 – 20; for all the exhausting details, head to their Facebook page, and ‘Like’.
like sexytimes, and want to celebrate everything that’s female, Enchanted Lips happens Thursday March 4 from 6.30pm at The Vanguard. thevanguard.com.au
KING STREET HUSTLE
Voting is currently open for the final round of the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT – that web-tv initiative that you were probably too lazy to enter, coz it turns out making films takes work. (Violin music). Meanwhile, filmmakers Melvin Montalban and Richard Vilensky were making a pilot for King
Street Hustle, a web comedy about a bunch of out-of-work-actors-turned-con-men. We’re rooting for this one partly coz it’s our hood, partly coz the team are all so grossly young and talented, and partly coz we empathise with unemployment - but also coz it has some serious acting talent up front, including rising star Josh McConville, who has skyrocketed onto STC's Main Stage (he’s currently being hilarious in The Vibrator Play) and Sarah Snook – both tipped for great things. VOTING CLOSES ON March 4 – so head to one80project.com.au to suss out the top ten.
Here Today Gone Tomorrow ABOVE comes Down Under By Dee Jefferson
S
treet artists are inherently concerned with impermanence – but probably none more than ABOVE. Besides the fact that his globetrotting lifestyle keeps him constantly on the move, the 30-yearold Californian lost his older brother in a car crash just three months ago – so mortality is very much on his mind. Lured to Sydney for a visit barely two months after his brother’s death, he's been working out his grief the best way he knows, by throwing himself into a massive art project. Entitled Here Today Gone Tomorrow, the exhibition opens at LO-FI Collective this week, and will be ABOVE’s first ever solo show in a 15-year body of work. When I meet ABOVE, he’s coming down from an 11-hour, caffeine-fuelled allnight printing session at Ben Frost’s StupidKrap studio on Parramatta Road. “I’ll be the one sleeping out the front of the building,” he tells me over the phone, as I try to find the building. However by the time I arrive – to find that the infamously ‘anonymous’ and potentially fearsome ABOVE is in fact a blue-eyed, goldencurled 30-something with a tan – he is pacing restlessly along the curb, talking on the phone with someone about a preshow ‘viewing’ for collectors looking to buy his work. He's clearly landed on his feet in Sydney. I first discovered ABOVE in early 2010, when he contributed to the Go Font Ur Self: Chapter 4 exhibition. His artistic trademarks are large-scale outdoor wordplays (always witty and often cheeky), playful site-specific stencils, and various permutations of the ‘arrow’ symbol, which is both an insignia for his moniker, and an encapsulation of his life philosophy, which is overwhelmingly optimistic: onwards and upwards.
LINE UP
INCLUDES
Before you even meet the man, his website and work suggest someone who has a deep fascination with his fellow beings. His picture captions
are peppered with exhortations to really think about the work. Beneath a stencil of a turbaned man selling cheap Eiffel Tower souvenirs in the street, ABOVE writes: I sat for a while considering if i should describe this piece, and the multi-layered meaning portrayed in the stencil?! The stencil and symbolism take on some very heavy current topics of social, racial, and political issues, just to name a few. I decided it’s best for you the viewer to interpret and decipher what issues you feel from it. And the interaction is not oneway: he’s just as often inviting readers to post their comments and send him their thoughts. At the extreme end of this spectrum is his compulsory ‘online store’ questionnaire. It is a condition of purchase that buyers answer a series of questions, which range from the mundane (Where do you live currently, and How do you make your living?) to the personal (Describe A Past Personal Challenge And How You Were Able To Rise Above It?) to the downright thorny (In Helping Others, How Does A Person Help Himself In The Process?) “I think a lot of times in life people don’t check in with themselves - about what they like, what they do; their interests, their ambitions; why they are where they’re at. [The questionnaire] gets you to check in with yourself – and a lot of people say that they’ve never even been so open with people they know; but it's almost easier just to send it off into the ‘digital world’.” ABOVE estimates that he has collected around 800 of these questionnaires now. “I like hearing people’s stories; you know, you start to question why… All of a sudden you wake up 20 years later, and you’re like, 'Who am I? Why am I at this office job? And why do I have four kids?'” Did ABOVE ever do the 'office thing'? “No, I worked at restaurants for a very long time, as a waiter; I actually miss it. It’s very social.”
ABOVE's addiction to painting and travelling kicked in at the age of 16. “I would skate with some of the older kids, and they were already into going out and painting trains. And so I started painting trains a lot.” During this time, he picked up his moniker, ABOVE. At the age of 19 he moved to Paris, where he found the street culture incredibly supportive, and his art flourished. These days, ABOVE is able to finance his itinerant lifestyle by selling his works online, through his website – an income stream that has seen him visit and create works in the following cities over the last 12 months: Havana (Cuba), Cayman Islands, San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, London, Berlin, Miami… He landed in Sydney on New Year’s Day, as news of the Brisbane floods was reaching fever pitch. Inspired to interact with the situation – and with a couch on offer courtesy of fellow artist and friend Anthony Lister – he hopped a flight north. He was halfway through his second stencil – a mother kangaroo and her baby joey in life vests, on a ‘floaty’ – when the Brisbane police apprehended him. “They were going, ‘Well, to be completely honest, we actually enjoy what you’ve done; but we’ve already made the call, and we have to follow up on it.” 10 hours and one $200 fine later, he was released. Back in Sydney, he’s done no street work as yet, preoccupied instead with the upcoming show, in which he goes back to his early practise of making collages using ‘found objects’. In this case, it’s layers of advertising and gig posters gleaned from walls around Leichardt, which he has ripped through to expose the sub-strata of past events. Some of the works are superimposed with the faces of artists like Hendrix, Cobain, and Joplin – talents who lived fast and died too young. Although LO-FI (and GFUS) curator Marty Routledge
Above: Stencil done in Brisbane, January 2011. Below Left: Wordplay created in Lima, Peru (2008) Below Right: work in progress from Here Today Gone Tomorrow.
had to twist his arm a little to agree to a solo show, ABOVE concedes that the ideas and emotions behind Here Today were already fermenting, ready for an outlet. “Honestly, even before my brother passed away – I mean, I think about death a lot. I just turned 30 two weeks ago – as a kid, I never thought I was going to
be past 29-years-old. I just couldn’t see it.” A few moments later he backtracks to the topic, to add, “[Thinking about] life and death gives me a lot of energy and power to live as fully as I can, and do as much work as I can, and experience life at its fullest.”
e TRINIDAD & TOBAGO AUSTRALIA Calypso Ros TRALIA Archie Roach AUS ne Sto USA Juan De Marcos a Juli som & New us IRELAND Joanna y NEGAL/GAMBIA Ang Ma /SE LIA lda TRA Ime AUS NA nko CHI i ndi Ma gga Afro ie Natiembé REUNION TRALIA Han RANCE The Gadflys AUS a Wainwright CANADA Nathal rth Ma D LAN IRE om Blo a Don Letts UK Féfé NIGERIA/F Luk ence HAREM’de TURKEY... Le Phun “Les Gûmes” FRANCE Group NEW ZEALAND Yasar Akp ce Dan eia itir Wh ADA Afro-Cuban All Stars CUBA CAN aq Mutantes BRAZIL Tanya Tag Omar Souleyman SYRIA Os
What: Here Today Gone Tomorrow When: Opens Thursday February 24, 6pm Where: LO-FI Collective / Lvl 3, 383 Bourke St, Taylor Sq. More: goabove.com / wearelofi.com.au/collective AND the first 50 people through the door will get a limited edition ABOVE pack.
PLUS:
bal Village, KidZone, Taste the World, a Glo much more! so and e atr the street Dir. Danny Boyle s,Hours, visual art What: 127 When: Whe n: Ope Opens ns February Februa Feb ruary ry 10. 10
Over 4 days in March, 550 artists from 32 countries will perform across 7 stages in Adelaide’s magnificent Botanic Park!
4 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF HEAVENLY MUSIC FRIDAY 11-MONDAY 14 MARCH BOTANIC PARK ADELAIDE E E WEBSIT CHECK THATEST ARTIST FOR THE ULNCEMENTS! ANNO
Book at www.womadelaide.com.au or Venue*Tix or 1300 30 40 72
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 39
Tommy Tiernan
[SYDNEY COMEDY FEST] Cheerleading Footballer. By Michael Brown
First Love [FILM] You can take the girl outta the surf… By Matthew Pejkovic
“It’s really important to go to places where you’re not known so much, and to not let yourself get soft” says Tiernan. On being an Irish comedian in a global context, Tiernan exclaims, “I’m absolutely Irish, with an Irish style, Irish prejudices and an Irish way of looking at the world. There’s a difference between having an Irish outlook and the information just being too parochial to Ireland to be able to travel. It’s about leaving behind stuff that’s only specific to an Irish audience. You’re bringing a flavour of your own country and if people can connect with that then well and good, and if not, at least you’ve had a trip to somewhere exotic.” Something audiences universally connect with is Tiernan’s stories. A brilliant raconteur, he crafts stories from rounded characters, tight joke-writing, and huge, suspenseful, clinching laughs. He attributes this storytelling skill to his heritage and finding unique experiences. “It’s a very Irish thing [storytelling]. I think good conversations are harder and harder to access. We get told so much nowadays by newspapers and television shows that we’re just kind of stunned all the time into an odd silence. For me part of the experience of trying to be a better storyteller is not receiving so much information, to come up with stuff that people maybe don’t get on TV or on the news so that the style of your show is a little bit more interesting.”
"My attempt is to do the cheerleading
while I’m playing football..."
A
s I’m thanking Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan (down the phone) for his time, it’s after 10pm in Ireland; he’s on a single night off from a record-breaking 21-show soldout stint at Dublin’s 1000-seat Vicar Street Theatre, and I ponder how he finds time to prepare for his upcoming Australian tour. “I’m not really stopping to write a new show. It’s more that I’m performing all the time, so over the course of 12 months the show changes entirely. It’s a bit like if you take a football player who also wants to be a cheerleader. My attempt is to do the cheerleading while I’m playing football, to have lots of different things going on in the show that I’m interested in. It’s constant digging.” Despite sitting pretty as Ireland’s biggest comedian – in Ireland, only U2 sell more tickets than Tommy – he has global ambition.
F
or filmmaker Claire Gorman, First Love started as a straightforward ‘observational’ documentary about three surfer chicks from her home turf of Phillip Island, Victoria: Nikki van Dijk, India Payne and Jess Laing. However, after one of them was injured, the film became a testament to the sheer tenacity of these young women. “We knew Claire, who was six years above us in school”, India explains. “Originally, she approached Nikki, and began filming her. Then she got Jess into it all, and they called me one day and asked me to come surfing with them, and it just went on from there.” As Gorman followed the teens, the film’s scope stretched to include their daily home and school lives. “It was weird at the start having someone follow you around”, Jess confesses. “But Claire is really good with the camera. It was ok because we were friends with her, and we felt totally comfortable around her. Some of the things she did film were embarrassing, and of
course she did put it all in the film!” Passionate about surfing, and determined to find success on the professional circuit, the best friends decided to pack their surfboards and head to Hawaii, to test their mettle against its infamous North Shore. Excitement turned to tragedy, however, when Jess suffered a severe shoulder injury just days before their scheduled departure. “It was really hard, because it was winter at home and they are going over to Hawaii where it’s summer; I wasn’t allowed to do any stuff at home, let alone surfing, so I became even more determined to get better, and had it my head that I was going to go over there, which I think was my way of getting through it. It made me appreciate surfing so much more.” With Jess recuperating in the winter chill of Phillip Island, Nikki and India pressed on with their trip to the sunny climes of Hawaii. The experience proved invaluable, exposing them both to professional surfing culture, and the kind of waves that they had only dreamed about. Besides being a personal document, First Love also explores the current state of women’s surfing, featuring appearances by the likes of Australian champ Stephanie Gilmore, surfing pin up Alana Blanchard, and surfing royalty Coco Ho.
Refreshingly, Tiernan diverts from the ofttrodden path of comic assimilation via disingenuous Australian in-jokes and obvious cultural references. His observations instead are honest, mature and fully explored, which is testament to his experience. Perhaps it’s because Tiernan, a philosopher comedian who counts Bill Hicks and Lenny Bruce as influences, and who has delivered doctrines such as, ‘governments try to legislate instinct out of society’, is rarely trite. After his 2010 Australian tour, witnessing our Asylum Seeker crisis, he returned to England and told a BBC Live at The Apollo audience that “the [boat] people from Afghanistan should be let into Australia. Why? Because they’ve gone all the way from Afghanistan to Australia, by boat. From Afghanistan. It doesn’t even have a coastline.”
“Surfing is so male-dominated at the moment”, says Jess. “But the professionals like Stephanie Gilmore and all of those girls are pushing it, so hopefully people will see the movie and see what’s going on, that these amazing girl surfers are doing just as well as the guys.” In the end, First Love is a testament to the boundless passion these three girls have for surfing. “The feeling you get from surfing is so hard to describe,” explains Jess. “When you go out there, everything else that is worrying you pretty much just goes. You focus on just you and the ocean. I don’t know where else I could get that feeling from.” The film is also a nice contrast to the predominant media conception of generation Y as tech obsessed, quasi-literate, and directionless. Nikki concedes that while that is certainly part of the picture, “There are still people in our generation out there, fighting to get whatever they want, and hopefully people will be able to see that.”
It’s an exploration of big ideas like this that has kept Tommy atop his game. “It can’t be too clever. It has to be loose, it has to be wild, it has to be effortless. You have to get yourself in that state of mind where things just flow, and hopefully they flow to funny places.”
What: First Love, Dir. Claire Gorman What: Tommy Tiernan - Designer Wino
When: Opens February 23, 2011
When: Tuesday April 12
Where: Event Cinemas Bondi Junction + George St, Randwick Ritz, Cronulla Cinema
Where: Enmore Theatre
Have board, will travel: Nikki van Dijk, India Payne and Jess Laing
More: sydneycomedyfest.com.au
More: firstlovethefilm.com
The Colour Blind Project
[MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL] Changing our theatre culture, one short-play at a time. By Simon Binns
F
ar away from the glitz and glamour of the Parade and the parties, the Mardi Gras Festival’s theatre program is excavating some of the more serious issues for Sydney’s GLBTI community. Leading the charge is The Colour Blind Project, run by a trio of young theatremakers who are determined to change the mindset of our theatre scene, starting with their mini-festival of short plays. The Colour Blind Project is a relatively new company, started in 2009 by two actors who were sick of being pigeonholed because of their race: Stephanie Son and Josipa Draisma. “I would always get sent to the castings for the Thai prostitute or the immigrant boat person, and [Draisma] would get sent to be the wog girlfriend,” groans Son. “We got frustrated and decided: lets start a company that challenges the status quo and give the opportunities to those kind of actors who go to those auditions and feel they’re marginalised because of their cultural background.” Determined to be proactive, rather than sitting around complaining, the pair started producing work and had a successful 2010 with a short play festival at the Tap Gallery and a Shakespeare adaptation for Sydney Fringe.
40 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
The company is presenting its second short play festival for Mardi Gras, with works based around the notion of queer Sydney - from family life, to burgeoning sexuality, to the story of a man obsessed with Grindr (an iPhone app that allows users to find and chat to other gay men in their location from the safety of their smartphone). This festival of short plays is the brainchild of Gavin Roach and Jason Dixon, who saw in The Colour Blind Project a chance to tackle some of the harder issues that the queer community often ignores. “A lot of people don’t see the racism because it’s a community that’s very embracive and together and happy and wonderful and all fighting together,” explains Roach. “But the unfortunate side of it is racial prejudices have leaked in.” Roach sees clear parallels between the pigeonholing of actors in the television and theatre community and the pigeonholing of people in the gay community. “I’ve had conversations with Indian friends of mine who aren’t allowed on Oxford Street, they’ve been asked to go or met with violence. People of Asian descent are only allowed in one club… And the media doesn’t help when the classical idea of the gay man is the blond, blue-eyed Adonis who rules Oxford Street with an iron fist.”
The plays are being presented at Marrickville’s Sidetrack Theatre, with the inner-west location being a deliberate move on the part of Roach and the team. “When you go to Oxford St, you can’t help it, you just become this exaggerated personality. Meanwhile, the inner-west has become a place where you can just be a person first and gay second, rather than Darlinghurst where being gay is really front and centre.” The aim for Son as leader of the company and for Roach with this production is to truly reflect Sydney and Australia in all its multicultural glory. As Roach articulates, “We live in one of the most multicultural cities in Australia, but yet everything that we see in advertising and in media is just one look and one thing, and it doesn’t show the truth of what this city is and doesn’t embrace that truth which is disappointing because it misses out on the beauty of the difference.”
What: The Colour Blind Project: Short-Play Festival When: February 23 – March 4 Where: Sidetrack Theatre, Marrickville More: thecolourblindproject.org
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 41
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.
January Jones is a tall glass of icy-cold water in Unknown. ■ Theatre
THE WILD DUCK Until March 27 / Belvoir
PICS :: TL
objectify
In the last four years, Simon Stone has gone from being television and theatre actor, to one of the most sought after directors in Australia. His bread and butter has been breathing new life into classic texts, and he’s set for his best year yet, with a slew of main stage gigs lined up. The first is a new adaptation of Ibsen’s The Wild Duck, which takes pride of place as the first show for Belvoir’s new artistic director Ralph Myers. This exciting new production showcases an incredible cast, whilst bringing an old story to a new audience with clarity and vigour.
10:02:11 :: Polymorph Gallery ::7/82 Enmore Road 95198923
laughing conference
10:02:11 :: MOP :: 2/39 Abercrombie Street Chippendale :: 9699 3955
PICS :: TP
The Wild Duck tells a classic tale of unfaithful fathers, destroyed mothers and confused sons. In this new adaptation by Stone and Chris Ryan, the story is rendered truly modern, complete with Macbooks and fraud cases. The plot is compelling and Stone has made his mark on the work. Wearing his influences on his sleeve, the play is set behind a Benedict Andrews-eque glass wall, with the actors speaking through microphones for the majority of the play. As well as distancing us, the wall serves to create a film-like frame for the action. The first section of the play is separated by blackouts which allow for almost magic, clear-cut scene changes. As the plot devolves into chaos, so does the structure, with changes becoming more and more choppy until the final moment of horror. The performances are stunning. Toby Schmitz is more restrained than usual, forgoing his normal Australian twang and excessive gestures to play the frustrated, well-meaning Gregers. This leaves space for Ewen Leslie to dominate the stage as he absolutely inhabits the young father Hjalmar whose journey is the central story of the work. Anita Hegh continues to impress every time she steps on stage, taking on the complicated mother Gina, whilst Eloise Mignon seems to be carving out a niche for herself as the teenage daughter, a role she plays with skill and truthfulness. Not to mention John Gaden and Anthony Phelan, the elder statesmen of the cast, who deliver the quality performances audiences have become accustomed to.
Henry Florence ■ Film
UNKNOWN Released February 17
GetUp! tv ad launch 14:02:11 :: Martin Place :: getup.org.au 0415 182 402
42 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
PICS :: LF
Liam Neeson is a fine actor, one of the few who seems equally at ease in sophisticated indies like Kinsey as B-grade actioners like Taken. Unknown falls firmly in the latter category, a middling who-am-I thriller with a cold war bent. The clichéd setup certainly has potential. Neeson awakens from a watery car crash to discover his wife (January Jones) believes another man to be her husband. No one seems to know who he is, and soon the university professor is starting to have his own doubts. Could his confusion be caused by post-traumatic stress from his near-fatal incident? Desperate to regain his identity, he unwittingly enlists the help of the Bosnian taxi driver who saved his life (Diane Kruger) - herself an illegal immigrant looking to save enough cash to obtain residency - and becomes mired in a world where nobody is what they seem.
Unknown suffers from a depressing case of ordinariness. Director Jaume ColletSerra’s work here has the anonymity of Luc Besson’s underlings (and that’s saying something), and he misses too many opportunities to create suspense. In one scene, for instance, Neeson is strapped to a hospital gurney with a lethal liquid creeping ever closer to the drip needle in his arm. Hitchcock would have milked this scene for tension, cutting back and forth between the liquid and Neeson’s desperate reach for the pair of scissors just out of his grasp. ColletSerra and his editor, Tim Alverson, just don’t have the same touch. As it is, the scene works well enough, but there are too many similar scenes of greatsetup and poor-execution. The film suffers from a tepid script, too many lapses in logic and repetitive doses of exposition. The cast is adequate, though there is impressive supporting work from veterans Frank Langella and, especially, Bruno Ganz, who’s the only one to elevate himself above the hokey material. The film’s best asset is the snow-drenched Berlin setting, which gives the impression that Unknown will achieve the moral complexity of the better political thrillers of the 1960s. Unfortunately, the allusions to the Middle-East and the Stasi secret police amount to little more than a few explosions, a fist-fight and a car chase.
Joshua Blackman ■ Theatre
SPEAKING IN TONGUES Until March 19 / Griffin Theatre The intimacy of Griffin’s SBW Stables is a perfect match for the emotionally raw content of Andrew Bovell's Speaking In Tongues (which premiered there 15 years ago). A story that begins with two couples deciding to cheat on each other, the play is a beautiful piece of interwoven narratives, with connections occurring between plots throughout the evening. The result is an intellectually intriguing thriller/relationship drama that keeps you guessing. The compact cast, comprised of Lucy Bell, Caroline Craig, Andy Rodoreda and Christopher Stollery, all have strong backgrounds in television and theatre - and deliver excellent performances across the board. With all four performers taking on multiple roles over the course of the play, Rodoreda is a particular standout, with his three characters being very clearly defined. The clear-cut lines and reflective perspex of Dayna Morrissey’s set match well with Sam Strong’s crisp direction, with the actors never looking crowded in their tight working space. However, the set’s one “trick” reveal was a little unnecessary, and seemed like a weird attempt at box-set realism that the rest of the production had cleverly eschewed. In the end though, it is the play itself that steals the spotlight. Andrew Bovell’s words having lost nothing in the fifteen years since they were first written, with the scenes feeling truly fresh and relevant as they roll off the tongues of these experienced actors. This is of course indicative of the work done by Strong and his team, who as well as including the obligatory update in club music and drinking tastes, have well and truly placed the story in the present day.
Henry Florence
See www.thebrag.com for more arts reviews
Arts Exposed
OTHER TONGUES PRESENTS...
What's on our calendar...
Rhubarb Rhubarb & Imperial Panda 2011 present
Some Film Museums I Have Known
February 22 – March 12 / The Old Fitzroy Theatre, Woolloomooloo
(UK)
WEDNESDAY 23RD FEBRUARY RAVAL 42 Wentworth Avenue Surry Hills
Written by Panda co-founder Eddie Sharp (Wonka! and The Mad Max Remix) and sometime-tee-shirt-empress (and most-time artist) Kenzie Larsen, Some Film Museums was originally commissioned in 2009 as part of the Next Wave Festival’s ‘Kickstart’ program, was premiered in Melbourne at Next Wave 2010, and comes to us now in what we assume must be a flawless incarnation…
with SCOTT SPARK Tickets available at moshtix.com.au
Billing itself as ‘A darkly comic journey into the heart of one woman’s cinematic obsession,” Some Film Museums combines film, performance and holograms to explore the inner world of a cinema-obsessed loner (played by Nat Randall); it also features The Holographic Ghost of Nicholas Coyle (Pig Island). We have high hopes… rocksurfers.org
Street Level
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER OUT NOW ON OTHER TONGUES “The type of artist who filled Weimar and New York prohibition basements in the ‘30s, delivering music that uncorked champagne and good times... One of the finest voices you’ve never heard” – RECORD COLLECTOR
With Ghostpatrol (ghostpatrol.net) elbourne artist Ghostpatrol is bringing his street art credentials northwards for the third instalment of Project 5, an ongoing fundraising collaboration between aMBUSH Gallery and Western Sydney’s Information and Cultural Exchange (I.C.E.). Project 5 gathers four Aussie street artists to create a one-off piece of art, in front of an audience, to raise funds for I.C.E., which runs creative arts programs for disadvantaged youth in Western Sydney. So this weekend you should head along to Darling Harbour to watch GP, Kid Zoom, James Jirat Patradoon and Deb in action, while Future Classic deejays crank out sweet tunes…
M
www.othertongues.com.au
win a lawn party
What is your background/training? I don’t have any formal art training. I grew up drawing all over my schoolbooks and skateboards. I fell into making stickers and stencils in 2003 and after moving from Hobart, Sydney, England then landing in Melbourne I became involved in street art which led the way for me to develop my drawing style as well as painting murals and continuing to put work on the street.
see website for details
What about this cause appeals to you? ICE is a great organisation as it offers a great opportunity to newly arrived migrant and refugee communities, as well as for youth arts. It works at the cutting edge of new technology, specialising in digital media and community cultural development that involves thousands of people every year. How has your art evolved over time? I’m deep in the process of learning to paint, and I don’t imagine that slow evolution and experimentation with different ideas and mediums will ever change. I also enjoy the new opportunities to work with different people and different projects. There’s a lot of animal-play in your works – where does that come from? Like most people I feel connected to the animal world; I’m fascinated by learning about animal behaviours. They are a constant source of cosmic wonder. What were your favourite picture books when you were a kid? I always enjoyed Beatrix Potter, though my early childhood was occupied by early ‘80s cartoons (Voltron, Ulysses 31 and Masters Of the Universe). I think I was more attracted to folk stories and children’s books later in life. What would you prefer: a canvas or a street/wall? I enjoy all, depends on the situation or mood. I think I would get bored sticking to one over the other. Gouache on paper is hard to beat.
What kind of work/image will you be creating for Project 5 next weekend? A mystery of warp points, hidden worlds and forests. And are you comfortable with working in public like that, or do you prefer anonymity? I’ve become used to painting in public, it’s an odd change to painting in the comfortable silence of my studio.
22 23 24 25 26 27 *
Tu We Th Fr Sa Su
Breakfast at Tiffany’s* PG Enter the Dragon MA15+ Unstoppable M The King’s Speech* M Morning Glory* M CLOSED
No free list
What else are you working on at the moment? I have a few solo shows coming up in the first half of this year. New sculptures and video works. What: Project 5 #3 feat. Ghostpatrol, Kid Zoom, James Jirat Patradoon & Deb When: Fri Feb 25, 6pm – Sunday Feb 27 Where: Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour More: The completed work will be sold at auction on Thurs March 3. project5.com.au
Centennial Park
Tickets at moonlight.com.au or at the gate. Gates open at 7pm, screenings at approx. 8pm BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 43
Festival Fashion
@ Westfield Sydney’s Urban Precinct Level 1
F
estival season seems to last longer and longer these days, and this summer in particular has taught us that choosing the right threads is just as important as picking the right stage on a clashing schedule. We were all left frozen and unprepared at Laneway, heatstroked and sweaty at Big Day Out and who amongst us has ever properly prepared for Peats Ridge? PITT STREET MALL
JONNO’S JOURNEY We’re sending our long-term staff writer & resident wit Jonno Seidler along to the hipsterhappy Golden Plains camping festival in Victoria this March. He wanted to look like Zoolander before the petrol accident...
So when the newly refurbished Westfield Sydney on Pitt Street offered BRAG their awesome urban basement level for some pre-festival makeover fun, we said HOLY CRAP YES PLEASE THANKYOU. With a huge range of different stores - from sportswear to shoes to designer tees - they had everything we needed to plug those gaping wardrobe holes.
e X
v
4
3
e
Capsule Superdry 8246 9124 9232 1719 superdry.com.au capsulestore. com.au That Store Nike 9223 1086 thatstore.com.au 8246 9166 nikestore.com. au
Graniph 8246 9199 graniph.com
Lonsdale 9221 1701 lonsdalelondon. com.au
Sneakerology 8072 8889 streetology.com. au
3
2 2
s
e 1
<
JONNO’S JOURNEY
<
RACH’S ROUTE
1
JONNO 1
SUPERDRY
Jonno’s first pit stop at Westfield Sydney was the Superdry store, known for its Japanese street style edge. Jonno needed a good shirt for the unpredictable Victorian weather - to layer over a T-shirt in the cold, wrap over a face in the heat or swing around above the head in the excitement of a Stay Positive-era Hold Steady song. Nothing says Melbourne like an alt-country Lumberjack, so in the end it came down to a choice between Lumberjack checked shirt in blue, or Lumberjack checked shirt in orange. Jonno settled on ‘Battery Blue’. Nice.
44 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
2
THAT STORE
Next up was the denim superstore, That Store. Jonno was like a kid in a candy store here; every type of jean you could think of covers the walls of the sexy-lookin’ space, and soon enough he was covered in a delicious concoction of denim and drool. After draping himself in jeans, Jesus-style, he came to the realisation that tight was right, and went ahead and tried on all the skinnies the store had. He soon he found the perfect pair - ‘Black Noise/ White Rain’ by Chronicles of Never - and spent a good ten minutes modelling them for us...
3
CAPSULE
Last stop was Capsule, a high concept menswear boutique specialising in contemporary streetwear from around the globe. Admiring the array of awesome shoes, bags, chinos and classic hip hop tees on offer, Jonno finally selected a pair of Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes because “that’s what all the dudes are wearing these days, right?”. He also walked out with a totally practical (and conveniently stylish) rucksack for all the camping essentials: socks, sunscreen, notepad, pen, come-hither aura of writerly mystique…
RACH’S ROUTE
RACH
3
Our intern Rach Seneviratne went from BRAG coffee boy to regular contributor within a few months when we plucked him off the streets last year. He’s heading along to Future Music Festival in March where it’s all about the dance, electro and this year, the hip hop. An outfit that’s part-indie, part-fluoro and part-baller is a tough task... Rach needed some colour, he needed some kicks, and he needed them stat.
1
NIKE
2
Rach’s first stop was Westfield Sydney’s Nike flagship store, where a wall of T-shirts and jackets made eyes at him like so many fawning women. We had to coax him from the changeroom mirror after he slipped on the pink and black Nike ‘Windrunner’; he called it his “dream jacket”. They were very much in love.
GRANIPH
Graniph is an awesome Japanese label which collaborates with musos, artists and illustrators to come up with unique and limited designer T-shirts. They even have a gallery exhibiting the designs, meaning that a T-shirt from Graniph is pretty much a reasonablypriced and wearable piece of art. In keeping with the vibe of festival headliners MGMT, Rach wanted a hotness-meets-hippy mix for Future Music - so chose the ‘Nature Saved My Life’ tee.
SNEAKEROLOGY
Rach was in his element at Sneakerology, with its wall of retro kicks by the likes of Puma, Nike, Reebok, Adidas and Gravis. Actually, it was nearly too much for him to handle - and it ended up extending the shoot by close to forty-seven hours. Trying on pair after pair in search of “the one,” he finally pulled on the blue Nike Dunk Highs, and it was love at first wear. The shop keepers Nike Dunk High-fived each other when they finally saw the back of us…
AFTER
4
LONSDALE
Finally on to Lonsdale to find some shorts; like most festivals this year, Future Music’s bound to be a hot day. Sportswear is perfect for festival conditions, and as Rach says, the Numair shorts were “more breezy and liberating than freeballing”. He flitted past Shadebox Sunglasses on his way out of Westfield - Marc Jacobs was calling his name - and we were all done.
AFTER
REVIEWED With both Rach & Jonno ending the day looking totally boss, their only complaint was not getting around to sampling all the other stores in Westfield. Yeah, yeah, we saw you make puppy dog eyes at Adidas and Henleys, guys... And Platypus Shoes... And Le Coq Sportif... Next time.
Jonno
Jeans: ‘Black Noise/White Rain’ by Chronicles of Never, $245 from That Store Shirt: Lumberjack Twill shirt in battery blue, from Superdry for $129.95 Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider A/O Brick boat shoes, $159 from Capsule Rucksack: Herschel Supply Co rucksack, $129 from Capsule
Rach
Jacket: Nike’s ‘The Windrunner’ Jacket, $119.95 T-shirt: ‘Nature Saved My Life’ Tee, $40 from Graniph Shorts: Lonsdale ‘Numair’ Shorts in blue, $59.95 Sneakers: Nike Dunk High, $170 from Sneakerology Sunnies: Marc by Marc Jacobs sunnies, $290 from Shadebox Sunglasses
Credits
Photographer: Jessica Klingelfuss Styling & words: Hayley Hughes Assistant: Samnang Sou
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 45
Album Reviews What's been crossing our ears this week...
ALBUM OF THE WEEK JAMES BLAKE
at the edges of the track, coalescing into a cavernous elegy of synthetic texture. ‘Lindisfarne’ consists almost entirely of a solo vocoder, an intimate paean to lullaby blues. The deciphered lyrics reveal a calculated idiosyncrasy that recalls that of Talk Talk’s Mark Hollis. That man’s barely-there solo album is a curious parallel for this debut; the pairing of intimate warmth with the coldly aloof character at the centre of each is quite striking.
James Blake Universal
James Blake’s self-titled debut is a strange and wonderful beast. Opening track ‘Unluck’ sets the tone for much of the rest of the album; a miniscule softsynth drawing muted soulful chords across a gentle electronic kick drum and rimshot. Blake’s brazenly autotuned croon rides in on a clutter of skittering ticks, derailing the simple mood set in the first thirty seconds, before it all climaxes into a ripe ream of robotic R&B strut. ‘The Wilhelm Scream’ starts almost identically. “I don’t know about my dreams” he sings, like an android Marvin Gaye, his voice so wrung with crestfallen earnestness that you can’t tell if it’s the machine or the musician despairing. Reverb gradually crawls in
Blake melds Burial's post-club loneliness with the tuneful bass music pragmatism of Mount Kimbie and Shackleton, borrowing hypnagogic pop’s obsession with 90’s RnB.
PAPERCUTS
COLD WAR KIDS
Fading Parade Sub Pop/Inertia
Woah. Fading Parade sure is a creeper. The fifth album for Papercuts - the indie pop outfit centred around San Franciscan Jason Quever - is pleasant initially, but over time, Quever weaves a particular type of dreamy magic. It sneaks under the skin with subsequent listens, and morphs from inoffensive to indispensable. With reverb-heavy vocals at the front of the mix, above the chime of belllike guitars, lilting melodies and clever textural builds, Quever gently guides the listener through a pleasant dream. A sonic landscape is generated in which a fuzzy, mellow New Wave-ish background plays host to goings-on reminiscent of Elvis Costello, Augie March, Elliot Smith, Summer Camp and Camera Obscura. While the careful use of restraint on the album is one of its biggest drawcards, it also means that Fading Parade runs the risk of being overlooked. Quever’s cleverly calculated manipulation of nuance between and within tracks on the album is responsible for its slowburn release of pleasure - but if the value of this is to be appreciated, an appropriate amount of time needs to be allocated to becoming familiar with the music, and letting the differences between these subtleties sink in. With time, the sounds on Fading Parade become those that are craved; the aural equivalent of a comfort food. “Home is where you run to” Quever pines on ‘Do What You Will’, a Ryan Adams-esque traipse through languid longing; it’s a lyric that’s particularly resonant here, given the sense of homely comfort to be found in Papercuts’ music. Due to their fondness for subtlety, Papercuts have slipped under the radar with past releases. Given room to breathe, this album is astonishing. Andrew Geeves
The only real fault is that the second half of the record settles for experiment over song. “Why don’t you call me what we both know I am?” intones Blake, over distractedly pawed piano chords sliced beyond recognition, while ‘I Mind’ is an exercise in stasis, all processed vocal and piano loops. But all in all, the album is as quietly weird as it is addictive. You should listen to this.
GENTLE BEN AND HIS SENSITIVE SIDE
Mine Is Yours Outta Sight Records/ Co-op/Shock
Sometimes it’s funny how things change - but sometimes, there’s very little to laugh about. With Mine Is Yours, Cold War Kids have undergone a change that sees the introduction of very sleek and familiar production values, with mixed results. While Mine Is Yours possesses moments of the quality that saw 2007’s Robbers & Cowards mark their place as darlings of the indie circuit, it’s let down by desperate songwriting and some serious overproduction by the duly lauded and criticised Jacquire King (see his revitalisation of Tom Waits against his influence on Kings of Leon.) Indeed, Mine Is Yours could have been more appropriately titled Ours Is Theirs, as Cold War Kids take on stadiumsized choruses awash with Nathan Willett’s now reverb-drenched vocal - a description that just as adequately describes the last three albums by the Followill brothers to whom this album seems to hold a free-burning candle. While the songs aren’t entirely disparate from the earlier CWK works, they have fallen a long way from grace as they attempt to reach into stadiums from their lo-fi roots. The introduction of King as producer had serious potential, but unfortunately, the result plays out like a forced attempt at commercial success in the vein of KoL, rather than the intriguing soundscapes of the latterday Waits records. Not even Willett’s lyrical turn of 2008’s Loyalty to Loyalty is seen here, and while tracks like the anthemic ‘Louder Than Ever’ and ‘Finally Begin’ do their best to recover lost ground, there’s just not enough on this record to prevent it from collapse. There are moments of great songwriting here, but they’re too scarce to be noted amongst the bland filler; not even the highproduction polish shines this album’s dull interior. Max Easton
Luke Telford
ERLAND & THE CARNIVAL
Magnetic Island is simultaneously softer but even more intense than previous Gentle Ben outings. Spiked, as always, with a razor sharp riff courtesy of Dylan McCormack, ‘Regret It’ is a tale of admission and forced humiliation, the narrator acutely aware of his failings while almost taunting his interlocutor to act on them. The flamenco-style opening and apple pie-sweet pop of ‘Tomorrow Afternoon’ provides a welcoming soundtrack for an addict’s romantic overtures, while the luscious melody of ‘Rally Around’ paints a tawdry picture of a life lost to cheap, pathetic confrontation. But it’s when Gentle Ben runs his eye over the outer margins of so-called civil society that his Sensitive Side comes into its own. ‘The Story Of The Swan’ offers a few salient lessons in dealing with the anger of others, ‘Nothing That I’m Needing’ is a story of teenage innocence lost down the drain of contemporary indulgence, while ‘Suicide Machine’ suggests the end is closer than many of us would ever be prepared to admit. You don’t need to shout to attract attention; Gentle Ben throws up confronting, almost painful images of the seedy underside of humanity, with the lush pop beauty of his Sensitive Side. Geoff Dymock
Erland & The Carnival are resolutely, self-consciously English. Frontman Erland Cooper hails from Orkney, a windswept collection of islands off the northern coast of Scotland so deliciously folkloric they still use some Norse words. (His actual first name, Wikipedia tells us, is Gawain.) Their first album was recorded in Damon Albarn’s studio - Cooper’s bandmate Simon Tong might be better known for his work in Blur. But Nightingale, their second release, was recorded in the hull of a ship moored along the banks of the Thames. There’s an eldritch complexity to the sound that’s subtly creepy; part of this is imbued by the “ship hull” noises the band recorded during the session, which, once you know they’re there, are easily audible, muddy and hulking. The recording is crisp, though; at one point Cooper’s voice emerged from the murk so clear and close that I started. Nightingale suffers a little from cramming too many ideas in; the weaker songs are the meatier, frenetic numbers, too crowded or disjointed in their efforts to be quirky. When the songs can breathe, the mood emerges more effectively; the lovely ‘East & West’ has a delicate acoustic arrangement flecked with electronic noise, allowing Cooper’s voice to shine properly for the first time in eight tracks. And it’s a wonderful folk voice, melancholy and foggy with a soft, strange strength, like Albarn at his most ethereal. There’s a dank, peculiarly British folk strangeness that characterised a lot of The Good, The Bad & The Queen’s work, too; reference points abound, from Samuel Barber, Radiohead and A. A. Milne to ‘Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen’. An atmospheric album of complex, supernatural-folk, that gains strength even as it drops the intensity.
Killin’ One Bird With Two Stones Code One/MGM Intense, tortured and affecting, Spooky Land is the nom de plume of Sydney’s Marcus Gordon - and diverting from ragged country-infused rock to astoundingly intimate and occasionally morose folk ballads, his debut EP is striking. The musically-restrained but wordy opening track ‘An Eroding Song’, complimented by slide guitar and harmonica, is followed by the rollicking swagger of ‘Eight Split Knuckles’, its rustic twang accentuating Gordon’s Americanaccented vocals. From then on in, Gordon
46 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
invites the listener into his plaintive and evocative neo-folk balladry.
gestures, to the heartache of discovering her father’s cruel discipline.
The emotive singer-songwriter may have Bob Dylan and Daniel Johnston embedded into his deepened consciousness, but Gordon possesses a uniquely expressive potency. The urgent acoustic strains of ‘Dizzy Blues’ are accompanied by the warm organ-playing of Dead Letter Chorus’ Cameron Potts who, as producer of Gordon’s EP, has captured the singersongwriter’s raw intensity superbly. But opening with a harmonica solo, it’s the epic and moving ‘Ballad Of The Dead Doctor’ that proves most arresting. Simultaneously heart-breaking and beautifully articulated, Gordon details a tragic love story with sensitivity and poise - from the portrayal of his lover’s oppressive and the romantic
As if this chilling predecessor wasn’t heartrending enough, Gordon ensures that his closing statement 'Failures' is remarkably unsettling. It’s evident that Gordon sings with a heavy head and loaded heart when he wails “Wasn’t sure if I should pick up my guitar / How could it possibly sound even half as sad as I feel,” before his final disconcerting cry of “try so hard all goddamn day” pierces the suffocatingly stark silence. Spooky Land is the work of an intriguing, persuasive songwriter, and deserving of qualitative attention. Christine Lan
Sometimes people forget that before Newtown was vintage shopping Mecca, it was the rock and roll capital of Sydney. The Art, in all their glamrock splendour, are a very serious reminder that for every hipster on King St there’s a goth – and that they’ve been cultivating their status far longer than their competitors. The Art, formerly The Follow, have been around for so long now that they can even put a song called ‘Newtown’ on their debut, recorded in L.A, mixed in Austin - and derivative no matter which way you look at it. Cribbing from Marilyn Manson (for whom they opened on his tour last year), Trent Reznor, Depeche Mode and various other anti-heroes, The Art present themselves as highly polished, but not very original. Which is sad, because it’s clear that they have the intentions to rock out and bring back some theatricality to a scene spiralling into it’s own navel. Unfortunately, nothing can lift these arrangements out of chicanery; not even the admirable screaming of vocalist Azaria Byrne, the selling point of the band hands down. For an outfit who have a long history of stellar live performances, it seems puzzling that nobody sat down to look at the lyrics, and how they significantly take the music out of the realm of believability and back into that of angry teenagers. With vocals as the primary indicator here, the words are the most important – as with Manson and Reznor – but this stuff has the effect of reducing the hard-rocking soundtrack to the banal, keeping a band who have aspirations beyond that stretch of the Inner West unfortunately tethered to it. See them live first; it’s much more electrifying. Jonno Seidler
Caitlin Welsh
INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK SPOOKYLAND
Here Comes The War Silverback Records
Nightingale Full Time Hobby/Other Tongues
Magnetic Island Spooky Records
In the blood- and sweat-drenched atmosphere of the average Six Ft Hick gig, it’s hard to imagine Queensland's Ben Corbett indulging his sensitive side. Prowling across the stage like a starved wild animal, blood dripping from his self-inflicted wounds, Corbett is a man lost to the ethereal mania of rock ’n’ roll. Yet paradoxically, it’s this same persona that provides the foundation for his side project, Gentle Ben And His Sensitive Side.
THE ART
OFFICE MIXTAPE And here are the albums that have helped BRAG HQ get through the week...
THE BOOKS - The Lemon of Pink THE FLAMING LIPS - The Soft Bulletin GORILLAZ - D-Sides
SHACKLETON - Fabric 55 SPOD - Superfrenz
Art vs. Science // the experiment
AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 25 Magic
Featuring the singles Fountain and Finally See
Our Way
TOURING NATIONALLY IN AUGUST w w w. a r t v s s c i e n c e . n e t BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 47
live reviews What we've been to see...
WARPAINT, RICHARD IN YOUR MIND Oxford Art Factory Tuesday February 8
“I wore my Star Trek shirt tonight because it’s like ‘Warp… 8’,” explains Richard Cartwright of Richard In Your Mind; “It went down a treat.” If the palpable enthusiasm of the audience is anything to go by, Cartwright’s t-shirt isn’t the only thing that's welcome. With their inimitable blend of upbeat psychedelic rock peppered with hints of electronica and reggae, RIYM are marvelously difficult to pigeonhole. Add to the mix the intrigue of rangy lead vocals that oscillate between a sound reminiscent of Ween, Sublime and tracks from Sgt Peppers’, theremin-like three part harmonies and a touch of the absurd highlighted in droll lyrics and humorous onstage banter, and what do you have? An affable five-piece more than capable of fulfilling their duties as support. As the curtains open to Warpaint, it’s clear that the choppy sea we’ve been rollicking around on has transformed into a foggy ocean of mysterious serenity. Four backlit female figures, draped in swathes of black and white, are here to help us navigate our way via the sounds of a bass-driven rendition of ‘Bees’. There’s enough reverb to make even Ulysses duck for cover, but this apt layering of echoes upon echoes
SIA, THE HOLIDAYS The Enmore Theatre Wednesday February 2
Add an extra fifteen degrees to whatever you’re currently experiencing and come with me on a journey back to Sia’s show at the beginning of the month. I missed out on a chunk of The Holidays; a great pity, because the upbeat sounds of the bongo-beating Sydney kids were something I was looking forward to. What I saw was fun and pretty polished, and reminded me to pick up their debut album, Post Paradise. Sia Furler strode onto the stage in a variation on her recent theme of wallpaper outfits, where she dresses to match a coloured board she wears adhered to her back. She was in a pink tutu and what looked like the same tutu dyed black and worn as a top, with her face and arms painted in the shoe-shine blackface that Harry Connick Jr. would have hated. She began the night by encouraging the crowd to please heckle her - “I love being heckled!” – and made it through one, sometimes two songs max before breaking into lengthy chats with crowd-members, suggesting the rest of us plug in our iPods if we weren’t interested. And maybe it was the heat, or that we couldn’t really see her face so she was a largely disembodied mouth, or that she kept teasing herself for having to use gimmicks instead of talent to get through her shows, but this time, for the most part, I really wasn’t interested. Sia is talented. And funny, quirky and delightful, and her music and voice are freaking brilliant. But while I normally find her non-sequiturs and baby-voice endearing, this time, as she flounced around the stage reading out notes and commenting on gifts before tucking them into her undies, I found myself wishing, in the nicest possible way, that she’d hush. For just a minute. Please. Because while I love her, it detracts from the power of a song like ‘Cloud’ for her to cheerfully call out, “Okay wait! I have to sound really angry for this song!” It seemed particularly incongruous for a night where she played so many of her ballads. And when audience members yelled out annoyingly during ‘Breathe Me’, I couldn’t really blame them, because they’d been encouraged. But enough about bad stuff. Overall, the set was really strong musically, and the bubble-filled ‘Clap Your Hands’ encore was great – and I’ll still see Sia whenever she comes back to visit.
Romi Scodellaro 48 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
upon echoes serves only to enhance the seductivity of Warpaint’s ethereal siren song. In a live setting, Warpaint know how to maximise the intoxicating lull of their recorded sound. Precise harmonies, lush wallowing in the depths of lower guitar registers, haunting contralto vocals and enticing gestures are hypnotically anchored in Sydney-born Stella Mozgawa’s meticulous drumming. There’s minimal spoken interaction with the audience but it’s understandable; to speak would risk breaking the spell woven by the well thought-out setlist, which includes ‘Warpaint’, ‘Composure’, ‘Set Your Arms Down’, ‘Undertow’ ‘Krimson’, ‘Majesty’, ‘Stars’ and ‘Elephant’. We become progressively more enchanted, swinging and swaying as the pulsating sound gently settles on the room, embracing the audience it in its warm thrum. A dreamy, extended version of ‘Beetles’ closes the show - and if a criticism could be levelled at this performance, it would be that Warpaint have left it until now to truly lose themselves in an exploration of their music - an opening-out process so pleasurable that it’s a shame it wasn’t initiated until encore. But it’s a small qualm. As we snap out of our trance, we’re left feeling satisfied, whilst hungering for more. Like the good sirens they are, Warpaint have ensured their allure remains untarnished.
Andrew Geeves
SISTER JANE, DARK BELLS, THE KREMLIN SUCCESSION, THE MAPLE TRAIL The Annandale Hotel Saturday February 12
In the confines of the carefully manicured seediness of the Annandale Hotel, four bands are lined up to drench the night in noise and drums. Sister Jane are releasing their debut album Mercy, and have invited folk act and labelmates The Maple Trail, Melbourne band The Kremlin Succession and Sydney threesome Dark Bells to join them. Tonight The Maple Trail are stripped back to two scruffy men who look like Canadian lumberjacks (which seems to be the prerequisite look for folk singers nowadays). But while their look is typical, the music crafted by frontman Aidan Roberts is anything but; the band has fashioned an innovative sound out of the worn elements that make up traditional folk. The guitar twang is powerful, and coupled with a booming foot pedal rumbling out like peals of thunder, the songs are wrested away from the closed world of simple guitar folk, into darker and more alluring territory. The vocalist sings with a put-on accent and the songs are too loose and unstructured to be truly memorable, but the sound is a powerful one, appreciated by an enthusiastic crowd.
LES SAVY FAV
Manning Bar, Sydney University Thursday February 10 Caveat lector - Les Savy Fav is my favourite band. As in - I listen to them, and have seen them live, more than I have any other artist. So, read into the following what you will. Here is a list of novel kinks that lead singer/ fidgety genius/performing gorilla Tim Harrington enacted on the night: Arrived through the audience in full fluoro tribal face paint and flesh-coloured poncho; stole a professional photographer's camera, forced him to crowd surf and captured the moment himself; became mock-aggravated at a lamp when he couldn’t make a phone call on it; revealed his tribal painted heaving belly; wore a two-foot tall hair hat; wore an audience member’s glasses throughout a song before delicately returning them; treated crowd dividers as balancing beams; treated crowd members as long-time lovers, etc etc. Is that what this band is about? Certainly it sits as their reputation - a wild, wild ride of in-your-face interaction by the unlikeliest looking of frontmen. Les Savy Fav jams are written to be kicked out. They are a taught operation. Guitars cough and hack, shoutand-hail choruses are full of phrases that are just witty enough that you expect them to be mass-produced by a poet, or a very clever skate brand. (“The good we must savour. The bad we must slough. Sooner or later the focus gets soft.”) Their songs are one-hitter gut punches of emotion – the desperation in partying, finding the strength to persevere, then partying through desperation. These are simple, blunt quests, but walk through the lonely dark with a drink under your belt and these songs can fill you to the tops of
your lungs. There has to be something in these songs or we’d just be watching a clown. And sure, there’s fan projection, and some people just like to see a show; but as Tim charges forth, mic chord whipping in his wake, he and his act are held aloft by excitement and arms; this is more than a circus. Encore – the band starts chugging through the echo chamber chords of classic single ‘Sweat Descends’. Harrington erupts in a piebald fur shirt, fright-mask face and pate gleaming in gold, a barbiturate-stuffed Buddha. He twitches and screams through multiple songs, then, a central beacon in a charged sea, he bullies the crowd to sit until the last chorus. And then they all jump up, together.
Matt Roden
: TIM LEV Y (HEA D HON CHO ) OUR LOV ELY PHOTOG RAP HER
The Kremlin Succession follows, and the opening bars of the first song calls a galloping Spaghetti Western to mind. The song soon morphs into very good 60s revivalist rock, the dominant sound that characterises the band throughout their set. There are moments of brilliance from this fine young band, and a return visit to Sydney ought to be encouraged, but they’re a little overshadowed by the transcendent Dark Bells. Drenched in the stunning sound pummeled out by the band, there’s really little to say, except, ‘Holy Jesus they’re incredible!’ Echoes of John Lennon’s nasal chant sounds across a howling guitar squall, and washes the listener into a sea of sublime noise. The music is a rushing river that makes one want to go freewheeling out along the perimeter. A great set from a brilliant band. Headlining act Sister Jane kick into gear with the pulsing opener ‘Great Highway’, and immediately have the crowd shuffling and shaking. The set is a thrilling one; eerie western psychedelia mixes with Americana rock'n'roll and some beautiful pop melodies, to create a sound that is truly captivating. With a wonderful Dylanesque acoustic track, and the splendid ‘Free Ride,’ Sister Jane prove they are as fantastic live as they are on the record they’re launching.
Duncan Idaho
live reviews What we've been to see...
The Metro Theatre Wednesday February 9
There’s something intimidating about The Metro Theatre when it’s near empty. Blame poverty induced by the recent slew of summer festivals and sideshows, or that it’s a Wednesday night, but tonight there’s just so much space being so... unoccupied. Thoughts are with Super Melody, who are faced with the earliest, emptiest slot. Nevertheless, they step up to the challenge and look as though they’re having a damn good time. Their synthy set, laced with reggae beats, bongos, pop samples and the odd bit of free-versing, gets the crowd moving, and deserves a bigger audience. A slightly larger crowd gathers for World’s End Press. With soaring vocals, house beats and a jingle-jangle of guitars uncannily similar in timbre to Franz Ferdinand, the four Melbourne boys take the energy already in the room, amplify it, and feed it back to the audience. All group members are fond of moving but lead singer John Parkinson’s body is especially spaghetti-like - bending and stretching into all kinds of entertaining postures that ensure the group is exciting both visually and sonically. !!!, a.k.a Chk-chk-chk, emerge to appreciative whooping, and waste no time getting all up in their badass funk-dance with punk attitude. Frontman Nic Offer is a Chimera of Beck’s head, Mick Jagger's torso and Beyoncé’s booty, prancing around stage in short-short-shorts while rockstar posturing, gyrating against speakers and putting the microphone down his pants. That man can move. He brings the party to the audience numerous times, weaving and dancing his way through
: TIM LEV Y OUR LOV ELY PHOTOG RAP HER
the crowd, his face pushed up against those of various punters. His dynamism extends to crowd banter as he meets the challenge of the shouted between-song heckle - “What the fuck are you going to do?!” - with a comedic pause and then return quip “What the fuck are you going to do? I ask myself that every day!” The rest of the seven-piece outfit are also enjoying themselves, with Sharon Funchess demonstrating a penchant for delivering lyrics with such machine gun rapidity that Amanda Blank must be quivering in her boots. ‘Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard’ is possibly the most enthusiastically received track but, all up, !!! deliver an outstandingly energetic set that ensures no one leaves without having a bit of a booty shake.
Andrew Geeves
!!!
PICS :: TL
!!!, WORLD’S END PRESS, SUPER MELODY
09:02:11 :: The Metro Theatre :: 624 George St Sydney 95503666
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 49
snap sn ap
deerhunter
PICS :: AM
ariel pink's haunted graffiti
PICS :: AM
up all night out all week . . .
08:02:11 :: The Metro Theatre :: 624 George St City 92642666
local natives
PICS :: RR
09:02:11 :: Manning Bar :: @ Sydney Uni City Rd Chippendale 95636107
phatchance + coptic soldier
PICS :: AM
10:02:11 :: The Metro Theatre :: 624 George St City 92642666
Last Night
the lockhearts
11:02:11 :: Melt :: 12 Kellett St, Kings Cross 93806060
It sounds like: That time your friend from Melbourne got hold of the iPod at your house party, and blew your minds with new music. Who’s playing? Otouto, Love Connection, City Calm Down, Indian Summer DJs, Andy Bull vs Owl Eyes DJ set, Rigs + Rads, Randall Stagg, Kill The Landlord. Sell it to us: Super cheap booze ($4 Fosters cans, $4 champagne fruit cocktails) and indie DJs till 4am. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Waking up beside a traffic cone and a lifesize cardboard cut-out of John Farnham. Student specs: The babe you wanna pash behind the bike shed, the chess club, the teacher’s pet, your dreamy crush, and the naughty kids who snuck off to smoke at lunch time…. Wallet damage: $10, or $8 on a host list (email lovers@boundarysounds.com to find out how) Where: The Gaelic Theatre / 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills When: Friday February 25
:: ROSETTE ROUHANNA :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO) MER :: COWAN WHITFIELD OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER FAR EN ::THOM PEACHEY :: LAUR ASHLEY MAR :: DANIEL MUNNS
50 :: BRAG :: 400: 21:02:11
last night
PICS :: CW
party profile
It’s called: Purple Sneakers presents Last Night – The Melbourne Edition
PICS :: AM
10:02:11 :: Oxford Art Factory :: 38-46 Oxford st, Darlinghurst 93323711
11:02:11 :: The Gaelic Theatre :: 64 Devonshire St Surry Hills 92111687
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 51
The Minor Chord
Remedy
The All-Ages rant bought to you by Indent.net.au. By Kate Dean
More than The Cure since 1989 with Murray Engleheart
ALL-AGES GIG PICKS INDENT OPEN DAY
Indent has just announced some more very special additions to their Open Day lineup: Chris Stacey and Jack Glass, aka Bag Raiders. One of the most exciting dance/pop acts of recent years, their selftitled debut transcends genre boundaries and pitches the duo at the vanguard of innovative production and songwriting. Bag Raiders will be speaking about the process of releasing their debut album, their experience on recent international tours, and the highs and lows along their road to becoming the top dance act in Australia. Papa Vs. Pretty will be playing live at the Open Day, showcasing cuts from their forthcoming album (due later in the year). Drawing comparisons to the young Silverchair, Papa vs Pretty demonstrate songwriting, performance and a shoegaze sound beyond their years. This intimate gig will be semi-unplugged, and a stand-alone opportunity to experience the band before that imminent rise (and before they sneak off on tour with Last Dinosaurs). As we keep saying, the Indent Open Day is ‘open’ to everyone aged between 12 and 25 who are interested in finding out about a career in the music industry, or who are just fans of music! More info, including how to RSVP, at Indent.net.au.
THE WAIFS
The Waifs are 100% Australian, even though all members now reside in the USA (hey, that’s just a minor detail). Ask your older siblings - maybe even your parents - and they’ll no doubt remember a time when you could catch a Waifs gig every other weekend. Fast-forward to now, and we haven’t seen The Waifs on an Aussie stage for two years. Thankfully, their sixth and latest album, Temptation, has brought them back down under for a highlyanticipated tour. So don’t risk missing out: catch them down at the Enmore Theatre this Saturday February 26 - you never know when they’ll be back.
THE MELVINS
The Waifs are not the only veterans with another live show: ‘Godfathers of Grunge’ The Melvins, are bringing back the madness for their Australian tour this month. Pioneers of the grunge movement, the Melvins rose out of Washington circa1983, drawing inspiration in equal parts from punk and metal; the result was a sludgy, heavy sound that inspired bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden to their own greatness. Supporting them for their tour are Aussie heroes Primus, known for their killer combination of eclectic style and supreme skill. Catch The Melvins and Primus at Enmore Theatre this Monday February 28.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26
The Waifs, Mama Kin Enmore Theatre, Enmore
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 Soundwave Festival Sydney Olympic Park
MONDAY FEBRUARY 28
Mastodon
Primus Sydney Olympic Park
SLAYER SHUFFLE
Stone Sour, Coheed and Cambria The Big Top, Luna Park
Yep, we’ll sadly be seeing a reshuffled Slayer lineup at Soundwave, after guitarist Jeff Hanneman was sidelined with an arm infection. But fear not, Gary Holt from Exodus has stepped in and stepped up for the dates.
The Gaslight Anthem Metro Theatre, Sydney
LIVE AND COOKIN’
Millencolin UNSW Roundhouse, Kensington
SOUNDWAVE
But if you can’t wait that whole extra 24 hours to see Primus and Melvins, you can always head to Soundwave this Sunday February 27. Also on the never-ending lineup is Iron Maiden, Queens Of The Stone Age, Slayer, Slash and a whole bunch of others to help you rid yourself of any built-up angst... But everyone, a quick reminder that Soundwave has moved venues! Their new site is at Sydney Olympic Park, and includes plenty of access to shade, water and public transport – because Soundwave cares for you.
SIDEWAVES
With Soundwave come Sidewaves, and this next one is our pick of the bunch: reigning rockers from the empire state, Coheed and Cambria have been consistently developing their groundbreaking sound for the past decade. Coming out for Soundwave, the four-piece will bring their intensely hypnotic live set to the Big Top in Luna Park on Monday February 28, supporting Stone Sour. If you aren’t aware of Stone Sour, it's the side project of the face behind the scowling mask of Slipknot, Corey Taylor. With the new album Audio Secrecy continuing to rise, jump on board the phenomenon that is Stone Sour. Also joining Stone Sour and Coheed and Cambria this Monday is Sevendust and 36 Crazyfists, so catch a ferry down to Luna Park and have a ball. As always, tune in to FBi 94.5 around 5ish on Wednesday for the Minor Chord with Eva and Kate for more great all-ages gig picks.
Long deleted on both vinyl and CD, Howlin’ Wolf’s mighty 1972 effort, Live And Cookin At Alice’s has been reissued on the Raven label with two bonus tracks: ‘The Big House’ and ‘Mr. Airplane Man’. Backed by a crack band that included Wolf’s “son,” guitarist Hubert Sumlin, and Sunnyland Slim on piano, it’s all killer and no damn filler. This is the Wolf after all...
STONER GOVT.
We don’t really do politics here at Remedy, but if we do get an “O’Farrell/Stoner Government” in late March as many seem to think we will, we wonder if that means we’ll all be listening to Sabbath, Kyuss, Sleep and Fu Manchu?
DECLINE OF THE REPTILES
Decline of the Reptiles put in a killer performance at Mojo Music (York St, CBD) last week as a warm-up for the launch of their excellent new album, 13 Songs For The Rodeo Grrls, which is releasing through the true rock sanctuary that is I-94 Bar Records. Led by singer Mark Roxburgh and guitarist Dean Coulter (a man who for 30 years has been one of the great ignored songwriting talents in this country), the band came out of the post-Radio Birdman scene of the late seventies, but quickly marked out a
pop stratosphere all their own. 30 years ago they could and should have been The Sunnyboys or bigger; now, with the industry as it is, they have to shuffle away in relative obscurity. This is so bleedin’ wrong. The recording includes Slaughter House Five’s ‘Where The Action Is’ and is dedicated to the late James Darroch, who was in Slaughterhouse and The Fifth Estate with Coulter, and Allan Marr, who drummed in ME262 with Roxburgh.
MASTODON LIVE
Mastodon do the live album thing come March with the mysteriously titled Live at the Aragon. The CD and DVD set was recorded in October 2009 at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom and captures their Crack The Skye effort from start to finish, along with a version of The Melvins’ ‘The Bit’, and of course grabs from Blood Mountain and Leviathan. In a cool twist, the DVD is a collection of the projections that were screened as the band performed.
HEADY NUGGS
The Flaming Lips unleash Heady Nuggs: The First 5 Warner Bros. Records 1992 - 2002 on April 16 – which, by no small coincidence, is also Record Store Day. The limited edition boxes of vinyl - one pressed on 140 gram and the other various colours - will contain the following albums: Hit To Death In The Future Head, Transmissions From The Satellite Heart, Clouds Taste Metallic, The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. Seeing that the Lips didn’t really hit their straps until the masterpiece that was Soft Bulletin, their more obscure and very weird earlier stuff mightn’t sit all that well with modern day tripsters. But then maybe now it will, given that everyone's had time to acclimatise to the band’s cosmic dusting...
ON THE TURNTABLE On the Remedy turntable is The Manic Street Preachers’ 1992 debut effort, Generation Terrorists - a title we doubt would pass muster these days. This was long before the band were framed as dour-faced sub-practitioners of what The Clash did; no, this is the outfit that had the now literally lost Richey James as its fulcrum – the guy who once deliberately sliced his arm open during an interview – and were as enamoured by Guns n’ Roses as they were with great pop. They had every right to think big things of and for themselves on this evidence – even if, at 18 tracks, it’s way (way!) too long a testimony. Take The Curse, the ultra heavy metal effort by Ramesses (who feature former and sadly-missed members of Electric Wizard and are the musical equivalent of one of those huge dump trucks that you see at open cut mining sites) is also moving everything for several blocks.
TOUR AND INDUSTRY NEWS Solid Gold Hell roars back into Sly Fox Hotel at Enmore on February 26, with The Smith Kids Are Alright official afterparty, featuring guest DJs from some of the bands playing – Dave Larkin (Gun Street Girls) and Robbie Potts (Hell City Glamours) – along with SGH’s regular DJs, cult films, cheap booze and giveaways. 9pm til 3am. Free. Many still talk of their first Oz tour in hushed, reverential tones – and now the Dead Kennedys are returning in April. Instead of Jello Biafra the band is fronted by former Wynona Riders’ singer Ron “Skip” Greer. On April 9 they’ll be at the Manning Bar. In the meantime there’s two new DK DVDs out now - The Early Years, live stuff from between 1978 and 1981, and In God We Trust, which features footage from the “lost” recording session of In God We Trust Inc. On March 5, Hell Crab City, Daredevil, Pecking Order and The Dirty Grotto
bring the rock in the biggest way to the Sandringham at Newtown. That next bout of Sydney Trade Union Club reunion shows at the Excelsior in Surry Hills just keeps expanding. Not only are The Dropbears, The Spectre’s Revenge and Samurai Trash all re-forming for the shows, but guests now include Annalise Morrow from The Numbers, and Chris Flynn, who will be tackling ‘She Got No Love’ and another Dubrovniks’ tune with Spectres Revenge. Michael Lieberman from Mushroom Planet is drumming with Spectres and Steve Simpson from Darker Half is guesting with the band on guitar. Dates are March 12 (8pm to 12pm) and March 13 (5pm to 9 pm). The Hard Ons are hitting the road in a few weeks. Dates are March 3 at the Cambridge in Newcastle, March 4 at the Sando and March 5 at the Patch in Wollongong.
The Waifs
Send pics, listings and any info to minorchords@thebrag.com 52 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
Send stuff to remedy@ozemail.com.au by 6pm Wednesdays. All pics to art@thebrag www.myspace.com/remedy4rock
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 53
g g guide g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com
pick of the week
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27
Andy Bull
Iron Maiden
Sydney Showground, Homebush Bay
Soundwave Festival Iron Maiden (UK), Queens of the Stone Age (USA), Slayer (USA), Primus (USA), Slash (USA), Social Distortion (USA), Rob Zombie (U.S.A), Avenged Sevenfold (USA), 30 Seconds to Mars (USA), Stone Sour (USA), Gang Of Four (UK), New Found Glory (USA), Pennywise (USA), Sum 41 (Canada), Anberlin (USA), The Gaslight Anthem (USA), Third Eye Blind (U.S.A), DevilDriver (USA), Sevendust (USA), Less Than Jake (USA), The Bronx (USA), Monster Magnet (USA), Terror (USA), MxPx (USA), Protest The Hero (Canada), Melvins (USA), 36 Crazyfists (USA), Ill Nino, The Ataris (USA), The Starting Line (USA), Bayside (USA), Mad Caddies, The Maine (USA), Trash Talk, Mayday Parade (USA), Foxy Shazam (USA), Never Shout Never (USA), The Blackout (Wales), Alesana, Asking Alexandria (England), All That Remains (USA), High On Fire (USA), Dommin (USA), The Sword (USA), Kylesa (USA), A Skylit Drive (USA), There For Tomorrow (USA), Breathe Carolina (USA), Taking Dawn, I See Stars (USA), Rise To Remain (England), Nonpoint (USA), Veara, Every Avenue (USA), Sevendust (USA), One Day As A Lion (USA), Bullet for My Valentine (Wales), Bring Me The Horizon (UK), Murderdolls (USA), Dimmu Borgir (Norway), Millencolin (Sweden), Coheed & Cambria (USA), The Amity Affliction, Feeder (Wales), H20, The Rocket Summer (USA), Saxon (UK), Silverstein (Canada), Fucked Up (Canada), We The Kings (USA), triple j Unearthed artists
$159.15 (presale) (+ bf) 11am MONDAY FEBRUARY 21 ROCK & POP
Jim Gannon Dee Why RSL free 6.30pm Matt Jones The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Monday Club Cock ‘N’ Bull Tavern, Bondi Junction 4pm Olivia Pipitone Town Hall Hotel, Newtown free 7.30pm Open Mic Night Macquarie Arms Hotel, Windsor free 7pm Outlier Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney free10pm The Songwriter Sessions Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills free 7.30pm
Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session Playhouse, Sydney Opera House $39.90–$55 (+ bf) 7.30pm
JAZZ
Katya Sourikova Quartet 505 Club, Surry Hills $10 8.30pm Open Mic & Jazz/Latin Jam Session: Daniel Falero, Pierre Della Putta, Phil Taig, Rinske Geerlings, Ed Rapo El Rocco Jazz Cellar, Woolloomooloo free 7pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK
Songsalive!: Ross Bruzzese, Chris Brookes, Russel Neal Kellys on King, Newtown free 7pm
Songwriter Sessions Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills free 7.30pm The String Contingent Humph Hall, Allambie Heights $15–$25 2pm Unherd Open Mic: Derkajam Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22 ROCK & POP
50 First Dates: Dan Parsons, Steve Grady Raval, Surry Hills $10 (+ bf) 7.30pm Jurassic Lounge: The Brutal Poodles, Jack Shit The Australian Museum, Sydney $15 5.30pm
Rob Henry The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Steve Tonge O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 9.30pm They Call Me Bruce Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney free 9.30pm Toro Y Moi (USA), Bon Chat Bon Rat Goodgod Small Club, Sydney $25 (+ bf) 8pm Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session Playhouse, Sydney Opera House $39.90–$55 (+ bf) 7.30pm
JAZZ
James Valentine’s Supper Club: James Valentine Quartet Golden Sheaf Hotel, Double Bay free 7pm Jazzgroove: James Muller Trio, Aaron McCoullogh 505 Club, Surry Hills $10 8.30pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 8pm Tony Slavich Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK
Songsalive!: Rebecca Moore, Kathryn Hartnett, The Maze, Shunky Zen, Tom Price, Russel Neal The Basement, Circular Quay $15 8pm Tuesday Night Live: Sun Soldier, Jessy Wadeson Beach Road Hotel, Bondi free 8pm
Inner West Fest Band Comp: Lennox, Drop Tank, Lie Dormant, The Blindfolds Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $5 8pm Jager Uprising: The Glimmer, Sealion, Elle Kennard, UIS Annandale Hotel $8 7.30pm JP O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 9.30pm Kisschasy, Papa Vs Pretty, Enola Fall Roundhouse, Kensington $23.40 (+ bf) 7pm Mandi Jarry Northies, Cronulla free 7.30pm Mike Bennett The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Red Riders, Convaire Beach Road Hotel, Bondi free 8pm The Study: The Widowbirds, Monsieur Moon, Jess Chalker Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills free 7pm Toro Y Moi (USA), Bon Chat Bon Rat, Future Classic DJs Goodgod Small Club, Sydney $25 (+ bf) 8pm The Trews (Canada) Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $13.30 (presale)–$18.40 (incl CD) 7.30pm Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session Playhouse, Sydney Opera
House $39.90–$55 (+ bf) 7.30pm Uni Night Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale free 9pm YourSpace Muso Showcase Town Hall Hotel, Newtown free 7pm
JAZZ
Alison Penney Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 8pm Tim Bruer, Elana Stone 505 Club, Surry Hills $10 8.30pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK Songsalive!: Gavin Fitzgerald, Peter Jones, TAOS Coach and Horses Hotel, Randwick free 7pm
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24 ROCK & POP
Alpine, Boy In A Box, Fearless Vampire Killers Goodgod Small Club, Sydney $12 (+ bf)–$15 (at door) 8pm
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23 ROCK & POP
Andy Mammers Duo Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney free 9.30pm Ben Finn Duo Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill free 6pm Champagne Wednesday: Lucky Starr, Vicki Forrest Workers Blacktown $12 (member)–$15 7.30pm Cruzade Blues Jam: Rhythm Method Crusade Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor free 8pm The Frank Bennett Affair Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm Gabby Young, Amaya Laucirica Raval, Surry Hills $20 (+ bf) 7.30pm
Toro Y Moi
“Fried chicken to go and they got live bait for sale, anything you need at the Tunica Motel”- TONY JOE WHITE 54 :: BRAG :: 400 : 21:02:11
g g guide gig g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com Nick Murphy, Ben Nash, Jason Walker Raval, Surry Hills $15 (+ bf) 7.30pm Nikki Thornburn, Tin Sparrow, Young Lions Notes Live, Enmore $12.25 (show only)–$34.70 (dinner & show) 7pm Open Mic Mars Hill Cafe, Parramatta free 8pm Russel Morris, Darryl Cotton, Jim Keays Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $43–$100 (dinner & show) 7pm The Suspects Marble Bar, Sydney free 8.30pm The Trews (Canada) Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $13.30 (presale)–$18.40 (incl CD) 7.30pm Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session Playhouse, Sydney Opera House $39.95–$55 (+ bf) 7.30pm
JAZZ Alpine Andy Bull, Owl Eyes Brass Monkey, Cronulla 7pm Brian Gillette Guildford Leagues Club free 10pm Craig Laird Duo Marlborough Hotel, Newtown free 8.30pm The Dash The Valve, Tempe $8 8pm Fergusson, Phillip Bracken The Vanguard, Newtown $13 (+ bf)–$15 (at door) 6.30pm
Gary Mara Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain free 4pm Genevieve Chadwick, Two Girls Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor free Grand Tango Fandango, Terry Serio’s Ministry of Truth, Aidan Roberts Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $10 7.45pm House of Shem, VTribe Coogee Bay Hotel $34.30 8pm
Iron Maiden (UK) Sydney Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour $145.60 (+ bf) 7pm Johnathon Devoy Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm Martha Wainwright (USA) Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House $49–$89 8.30pm Matt Purcell & the Blessed Curse, Knievel, Sam Shinazzi Annandale Hotel $12 8pm
Lionel Robinson Dee Why RSL Club free 7pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 8pm SIMA: Gwilym Simcock Trio The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre, Chippendale $20 (student)–$25 8.30pm Sonido 505 Club, Surry Hills $10–$15 8.30pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK Up Close and Personal: Craig Laird The Marlborough Hotel, Newtown free 8.30pm
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25 ROCK & POP
2 Of Hearts Camden RSL Club free 8.30pm Absolutely 80’s: Scott Carne, Dale Ryder, Sean Kelly, Paul Gray Mounties, Mount Pritchard $25 8pm Andy Bull, Owl Eyes Roundhouse, Kensington Anton Korytnyj Guildford Leagues Club free 10pm The Art, Creo, The Sculptures, The Blush Foundation Annandale Hotel $15 (+ bf) 8pm Barnstorming Revesby Heights Ex-Servicemen’s Memorial Club free 9.30pm Belles Will Ring, The Lovetones The Rocks Market free 6pm Blaze of Glory Mosman RSL Club free 9pm Bright Knights Town & Country Hotel, St Peters 8pm Brown Sugar Marble Bar, Sydney free 9.30pm Bryan Adams and Johnny Cougar Tribute: Reckless Scarecrow The Cube, Campbelltown $10 (member)–$15 7.15pm Creedence & Beyond Taren Point Bowling Club free 9pm Errol Earl Guildford Hotel free 7pm The Frocks Workers Blacktown free 8pm
GTS Club Rivers, Riverwood free 9pm Jenny Morris Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $33–$90 (dinner & show) 8pm Last Night: Otouto, Love Connection, Andy Bull, PSDJs, Ben Lucid, Randall Stagg, Kill The Landlord Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills $10 8pm The Little Stevies, Mr Percival Raval, Surry Hills $16 (+ bf) 7.30pm The Manly Fig: Mr Percival, Dan Granero, Sam Buckingham, Sarah Humphreys, Kent Eastwood, Renny Field The Manly Fig $13 all ages 7.30pm The Maristians Rag and Famish Hotel, North Sydney free 8.30pm MUM: Alba Varden, The Bennisons, Hattie Carroll, Artifical International, Atom Bombs, Disco Club, No Art, Walkie Talkie Cunninpants, Electro Rash DJs, Bennisons DJs, Jack Shit, Nude DJs, The Cosmic Explorer, Animal Chin, Swim Team DJs The World Bar, Kings Cross $10-$15 8pm Natural Selection: Slow Waves, The Maladies, Sooners Melt Bar, Kings Cross $10 9pm The Nevilles Commercial Hotel, Parramatta free 8pm The Retreat, The Coincidents (Melb), Tom Stone & The Soldiers of Fortune Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills
wed
23 Feb
(9:00PM - 12:00AM)
thu
24 Feb
(9:00PM - 12:00AM)
fri
25 Feb
(5:00PM - 8:00PM)
(9:15PM - 1:00AM)
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
(4:30PM - 7:30PM)
(4:30PM - 7:30PM)
sat
26
SATURDAY NIGHT
Feb
sun
27 Feb
(9:00PM - 12:00AM)
SUNDAY NIGHT
(8:30PM - 12:00AM)
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 55
g g guide gig g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com $10 8pm Roxy Music, Mondo Rock Sydney Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour $129 (silver)–$159 (gold) 8pm Sound Stream Engadine RSL & Citizens Club free 8pm StickMike Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor free Stranger Cole, King Tide, Firehouse The Basement, Circular Quay $40–$50 8pm The Strides, The Liberators Notes Live, Enmore $14.30 (show only)–$36.75 (dinner & show) 7pm That’s Life! Western Suburbs Leagues Club Campbelltown, Leumeah free 8pm Tina Petroni Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club, West Ryde free 8.30pm Tombstone Ramblers, The Escapes, The Mentals The Valve, Tempe 8pm Tongue & Groove Marlborough Hotel, Newtown free 10.30pm The Trews (Canada) Old Manly Boatshed $13.30 (presale)–$18.40 (incl CD) 8pm Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session Playhouse, Sydney Opera House $39.90–$55 (+ bf) 7.30pm Zu2 Hawkesbury Hotel, Windsor free 7.45pm
Club, West Ryde $30 (member)–$33 8pm Desperado Penrith Panthers, Evans Theatre $18 (show only)–$55 (dinner & show) 6.30pm Jump Ship Western Suburbs Leagues Club Campbelltown, Leumeah free 8pm Kissteria Blacktown RSL Club free 8pm Lazy Susan, 49 Goodbyes, D Rogers Raval, Surry Hills $15 (+ bf) 7.30pm Leah Flanaghan, Emma Donovan Notes Live, Enmore $17.85 (show only)–$40.30 (dinner & show) 7pm Nat Col & The Kings, Indigo Rising, Rusty Brown The Vanguard, Newtown $15 (+ bf)–$20 (at door) 6.30pm Paul Greene Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $25–$67 (dinner & show) 8pm Radio City Cats Marble Bar, Sydney free 10.30pm Red Hot Numbers Earlwood-Bardwell Park RSL Bowling Club free 8.30pm Ron Ashton Guildford Leagues Club free 10pm Royal Chant, Thieves Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm The Smith Kids Are Alright, The Camels, Hell City Glamours, The Rumjacks, Spurs for Jesus, Dave Larkin, Jamie Hutchins, Bow & Davis, Ben Nash, The Maladies, The Cants (Melb), Handsome Young Strangers, Sons of Lee Marvin (Melb), Go/No-Go, Vegan Mosquitos, Denver
SIMA: The Sandy Evans Trio, Bobby Singh The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre, Chippendale $10 (member)–$20 8.30pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK
Karavan International Gypsy Music Festival: Gipsy.CZ, HAREM’de, Bandaluzia Flamenco, Lolo Lovina, Delay The Factory Theatre, Enmore $35 (conc)–$37 8pm The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $18 (+ bf) 8pm
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26 ROCK & POP
2 Of Hearts Brighton RSL Club, BrightonLe-Sands free 8pm Absolutely 80’s: Dale Ryder, Paul Gray, Sean Kelly, Scott Carne North Sydney Leagues Club, Cammeray $25 7.30pm The Bandits Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain free 9pm Bluestock Festival: Pj Fothergill Blues Point Reserve, McMahons Point free 1pm Chartbusters Epping Hotel free 10.30pm Cliff Richards & The Shadows Tribute: Twilight Shadows Auditorium, Workers Blacktown $5.50 (member)–$7.70 7.30pm Cotton Keays & Morris Ryde Eastwood Leagues
JAZZ
Barry Leef Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain free 8pm Costa Rae 505 Club, Surry Hills $10–$15 8.30pm
WWW.THEGAELIC.COM
OPEN 10AM- 4AM
$12 or LESS MEALS
DRINK SPECIALS
SUNDAY NPL POKER
MONDAY JELLY WRESTLING
TUESDAY ROCKSTEIN
2PM - FREE ENTRY - CASH PRIZES
1st MON of EVRY MONTH
7PM - MUSIC & MOVIE TRIVIA
ROCKSTEIN MUSIC TRIVIA
TUE 22 FEB
FINALS THIS WEEK $700 FIRST PRIZE
ENTRY
FREE
“SOMETHING WITH NUMBERS”- JAKES HOME COMING
WED 23 FEB
THE STUDY PRESENT ENTRY FREE
THE WIDOWBIRDS IRON BAR HOTEL, JACK CARTY PURPLE SNEAKERS presents: MELBOURNE EDITION
FRI 25 FEB
LIVE: OTOUTO, LOVE CONNECTION, CITY CALM DOWN DJ’S: ANDY BULL Vs OWL EYES, INDIAN SUMMER, RIGS N RADS, RANDALL STAGG, BEN LUCID, KILL THE LANDLORD
GAELIC PRESENTS SAT 26 FEB
EVIL EDDIE
”the voice of butterfingers”
HERB, JOYRIDE
#/-).' 3//. TUE 01 MAR
'!.' /& &/52
56 :: BRAG :: 400 : 21:02:11
FRI 04 MAR
0520,% 3.%!+%23
WED 02 MAR
/4(%2 4/.'5%
One Day As A Lion
Airport (Melb) Annandale Hotel $20 (+ bf) 12.30pm Symbols, Alien Zoo, Ali Meriskandari Spectrum, Darlinghurst $10 8pm Tice & Evans, Kaki Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 4pm TransPunkMetal Ball: Dread Circus, Shanghai, Mechanical Black, Bitsu Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $13 (conc)–$15 8pm The Trews (Canada) Bridge Hotel, Rozelle $13.30 (presale)–$18.40 (incl CD) 8pm The Trip Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor free 8.30pm Twilight at Taronga: Salute To Van Morrison: Rick Price, Floyd Vincent Taronga Zoo, Mosman $56.50 (child)–$68.50 (adult) all ages 7pm
Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session Playhouse, Sydney Opera House $39.90–$55 (+ bf) 1.30pm, 7.30pm The Waifs, Mama Kin Enmore Theatre $56.50 (presale) 7.30pm The Wil Maisey Band, The Lazy Flies, Dusker, The Spoon Collectors Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $12 8pm
JAZZ
Edouardo Santoni, Sam Keevers 505 Club, Surry Hills $10–$15 8.30pm Peter Head Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 5pm SIMA: Mike Nock Quintet The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre, Chippendale $10 (member)–$20 8.30pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK
Cool Room Australian Hotel & Brewery, Rouse Hill free 9pm Miriam Lieberman, Kate Adams, Zoe Halptman, Steve Mariner Camelot, Marrickville $25 8pm Paddy Casey, Cameron Mather, Matt Purcell The Factory Theatre, Enmore $35 (+ bf) 8pm
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 ROCK & POP
Daryl Braithwaite Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $53–$93 (dinner & show) 12pm
gig guide send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com Drive: Peter Northcote Bridge Hotel, Rozelle $10 3.30pm Green Beaver, The Sunshine Laundry, Apex Breed Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $10 7pm Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras: Harbour ‘11: Wayne G, Paul Heron, Kate Monroe, Johan Khoury, Troy Cox, Jessica Mauboy, Dan Murphy, GI Jode, Damien Reddrop, Johnny Blue Boy Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Sydney $115.10 (conc)–$145.80 2pm Hard as Nails, Paradox Park, Lie Dormant, Scatterfly The Valve, Tempe 3pm Kim Sanders, Modern Gong Ritual Camelot, Marrickville $15– $25 7.30pm Mental As Anything Manly Fisho’s 8pm The New Christs Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills $12 5pm Open Mic: Carolyn Woodorth Avalon Beach RSL Club free licensed all ages 6.30pm Sleek Sunday Supper Sessions The Tea Gardens Hotel, Bondi Junction free 8pm Soundwave: Iron Maiden (UK), Queens of the Stone Age (USA), Slayer (USA), Primus (USA), Slash (USA), Social Distortion (USA), Rob Zombie (U.S.A), Avenged Sevenfold (USA), 30 Seconds to Mars (USA), Stone Sour (USA),
Gang Of Four (UK), New Found Glory (USA), Pennywise (USA), Sum 41 (Canada), Anberlin (USA), The Gaslight Anthem (USA), Third Eye Blind (U.S.A), DevilDriver (USA), Sevendust (USA), Less Than Jake (USA), The Bronx (USA), Monster Magnet (USA), Terror (USA), MxPx (USA), Protest The Hero (Canada), Melvins (USA), 36 Crazyfists (USA), Ill Nino, The Ataris (USA), The Starting Line (USA), Bayside (USA), Mad Caddies, The Maine (USA), Trash Talk, Mayday Parade (USA), Foxy Shazam (USA), Never Shout Never (USA), The Blackout (Wales), Alesana, Asking Alexandria (England), All That Remains (USA), High On Fire (USA), Dommin (USA), The Sword (USA), Kylesa (USA), A Skylit Drive (USA), There For Tomorrow (USA), Breathe Carolina (USA), Taking Dawn, I See Stars (USA), Rise To Remain (England), Nonpoint (USA), Veara, Every Avenue (USA), Sevendust (USA), One Day As A Lion (USA), Bullet for My Valentine (Wales), Bring Me The Horizon (UK), Murderdolls (USA), Dimmu Borgir (Norway), Millencolin (Sweden), Coheed & Cambria (USA), The Amity Affliction, Feeder (Wales), H20, The Rocket Summer (USA), Saxon (UK), Silverstein (Canada), Fucked Up (Canada), We The Kings (USA), triple j Unearthed artists
Sydney Showground, Homebush Bay $159.15 (presale) 11am The Trews (Canada) Brass Monkey, Cronulla $13.30 (presale)–$18.40 (incl CD) 6pm Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session Playhouse, Sydney Opera House $39.90 (+ bf)–$55 (+ bf) 5pm
JAZZ
The Martini Club: Johnny Gleeson, Tom Kelly Goldfish, Kings Cross free 9pm The Subterraneans Town Hall Hotel, Newtown free 6pm Unity Hall Jazz Band Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain free 4pm
ACOUSTIC & FOLK
Mahogany, Ella Freestone Newport Arms Hotel free 3pm Matt Jackson Pontoon, Darling Harbour free 2pm Sunday Sounds The Apple Store, Sydney free 3pm
COUNTRY
Cash Only Marrickville Bowling and Recreation Club free 4.30pm The Dennis Boys Band Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 4pm
gig picks up all night out all week...
TUESDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22 FEBRUARY 25 FEBRUARY 26 Jurassic Lounge: The Brutal Poodles, Jack Shit The Australian Museum, Sydney $15 5.30pm Toro Y Moi (USA), Bon Chat Bon Rat Goodgod Small Club, Sydney $25 (+ bf) 8pm
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23 Gabby Young, Amaya Laucirica Raval, Surry Hills $20 (+ bf) 7.30pm Kisschasy, Papa Vs Pretty, Enola Fall Roundhouse, Kensington $23.40 (+ bf) 7pm
Belles Will Ring, The Lovetones The Rocks Market free 6pm Last Night: Otouto, Love Connection, Andy Bull, PSDJs, Ben Lucid, Randall Stagg, Kill The Landlord Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills $10 8pm Roxy Music, Mondo Rock Sydney Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour $129 (silver)–$159 (gold) 8pm The Strides, The Liberators Notes Live, Enmore $14.30 (show only)–$36.75 (dinner & show) 7pm
Royal Chant, Thieves Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm The Smith Kids Are Alright Benefit: The Camels, Hell City Glamours, The Rumjacks, Spurs for Jesus, Dave Larkin, Jamie Hutchins, Bow & Davis, Ben Nash, The Maladies, The Cants (Melb), Handsome Young Strangers, Sons of Lee Marvin (Melb), Go/No-Go, Vegan Mosquitos, Denver Airport (Melb) Annandale Hotel $20 (+ bf) 12.30pm
SE
FEB 8PM 18+
Nick Murphy, Ben Nash, Jason Walker Raval, Surry Hills $15 (+ bf) 7.30pm
T
(USA)
+ THE STARTING LINE + BAYSIDE
+ H20 (USA) + POLAR BEAR CLUB (USA) + F*CKED UP (USA)
3
MAR 8PM
Martha Wainwright (USA) Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House $49–$89 8.30pm
FA S
(USA)
The Waifs, Mama Kin Enmore Theatre $56.50 (+ bf) 7.30pm
THU
Iron Maiden (UK) Sydney Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour $145.60 (+ bf) 7pm
ING
28
Red Riders, Convaire Beach Road Hotel, Bondi free 8pm
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24
LL
MON
18+
BEACHBALL
FEAT.
MUSCLES (LIVE)
2011
+ THE ASTON SHUFFLE + WORLD’S END PRESS + SOFTWAR + MANY MORE
Booking fee applies to all presale tickets. Presale tickets will always be cheaper than doorsales. All events are 18+ unless noted as All Ages. Management reserves the right to refuse entry. Please note a current ACCESS Card must be produced to receive USU Member’s Price.
Martha Wainwright BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 57
club guide
send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com
club pick of the week The Potbelleez
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23
The Gaff, Darlinghurst College Party Goodgod Small Club Front Bar, Sydney Club Al Levins free 8pm Home Terrace, Sydney Unipackers Steve Frank, John Young $5 10pm Hugos Lounge, Kings Cross Beth Yen Macquarie University Atrium Onelove Sonic Boom Box Tour Andy Murphy, Generik 10pm Space Nightclub, Sydney Killuminati – Spirit of Tupac Tour Outlawz $43.80 8.30pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Teenage Kicks City Calm Down DJs, Urby, Nik V, Johnny Segment, Monkey Genius free
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25
UTS Tower Building 1, Broadway
UTS O'Fest
The Potbelleez, Miami Horror, Grafton Primary, Stafford Brothers, Timmy Trumpet & Tenzin, Bassjackers, Ajax, Kid Kenobi and more from 2pm - 1am $20 (AP Members) / $30 MONDAY FEBRUARY 21
Myme, Ato, Gee Wiz free 8pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Pop Panic Karaoke, Cris Angel, Diago free
The World Bar, Kings Cross Mondays Mista Killa free
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22 The Australian Museum, Sydney Jurassic Lounge The Brutal Poodles, Jack Shit $15 5.30pm Establishment, Sydney Rumba Motel Willie Sabor free 7.30pm The Gaff, Darlinghurst Coyote Tuesdays Johnny B, Kid Finley, MC Pee Wee Pete Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Toro Y Moi (USA), Bon Chat Bon Rat $25 (+ bf) 8pm North Sydney Oval LAN Brazilian Festa Hot Brazilian DJ $18-$25 4pm Star City Sports Theatre & Bar, Pyrmont Djawowenz free 9pm The Valve, Tempe Underground Tables DJs
Bank Hotel, Newtown Girls’ Night Sandi Hotrod free The Gaff, Darlinghurst R&B Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Future Classic Presents Toro Y Moi (USA), Bon Chat Bon Rat, Future Classic DJs $25 (+ bf) 8pm Goodgod Small Club Front Bar, Sydney Special Moments Long John Saliva free 8pm The Marlborough Hotel, Newtown Student Night DJ Moussa from 6.30pm Star City Sports Theatre & Bar, Pyrmont DJ Kitsch, Funkstar free 5pm The Tea Gardens Hotel, Bondi Junction Anthony K free 8pm
Tracks Nightclub, Epping Hotel Inthemix Sound of Summer Tom Piper 9pm The World Bar, Kings Cross The Wall presents Lucid Delirium XOS free 8pm UTS Tower Building 1, Broadway UTS O’Fest The Potbelleez, Miami Horror, Grafton Primary, Stafford Brothers, Timmy Trumpet & Tenzin, Bassjackers, Ajax, Kid Kenobi and more from 2pm $20/30
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24
36 Degrees Bar, Star City, Pyrmont Diago free 10pm Australian Hotel & Brewery, Rouse Hill DJ Retro free 9pm Bank Hotel, Newtown Ben Kelly, Jeremy Kirschner free The Basement, Circular Quay Stranger Cole, King Tide, Firehouse $40-$50 8pm Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Neon Nights Cassian free 8pm Bristol Arms Retro Hotel, Sydney Club Retro Club Retro DJs $10-$15 9pm Candys Apartment, Kings Cross Liquid Sky Vengeance, SMS vs Light Out, Teez, Slippery When Wet vs Kocked Up Noise, Moowho, Kyro & Bomber, Guttermouth DJs $10$15 8pm Chinese Laundry/Slip Inn, Sydney Dubrave Greg Packer, Will Styles, MC Shureshock, Blaze Tripp, DJ Royalist, Gabriel Clouston, Audiobotz, James Daveny, MC Hayley Boa $15$20 10pm Civic Underground, Sydney Shrug & Tribalism +1 Present Kruse & Nuremburg, Robbie Lowe, Dave Stuart, Adam Carter, Robbie Myers $15-$25 10pm Cohibar, Darling Harbour DJ Mike Silver, DJ Anders Hitchcock, DJ Matt Roberts free 5pm Collingwood Hotel, Liverpool Fuego K-Note & DreadJuan, Mac, Dennis, C-Major, The Empress MC free (guestlist)-$20 9pm The Gaff, Darlinghurst DJ Heaven, Duress, Ruby, Man, TK1, Aklure $15 9.30pm Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Cutters Records Party Dan & Tim, Nile Delta, Das Moth $12 (+ bf) 9pm Home The Venue, Sydney Sublime presents Home Fridays Nasty (ACT), Nick Farrell, Peewee Ferris, MC
Losty, Iko, Flite, MC Suga Shane, Dirty Stopout, Person 3, Energizer Bunny Monkey, Fazed, Tulz Hugos Lounge, King Cross Rat Pack Graz, Jimmy2Sox Iguana Bar, Potts Point Wolfden Sleep Debt, The Walking Who, Matt Banham from 8.30pm $10 Jacksons On George, Sydney DJ Michael Stewart free 9pm Le Panic, Kings Cross Box Social MYD, 3Hundreds, Sotiris, Jamie What, 14th Minute, Jordan F $10 9pm The Loft, Darling Harbour Late at the loft Somatik, Noel Boogie, Noodles, DJ Huwston, Meem, The Swat DJs, Lippo Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown DJ Michael free 8pm The Mansion, Darlinghurst Heaven DJ Man, TK1, Ruby, Alure, Duress $15 9.30pm Oatley Hotel We Love Oatley Hotel Fridays DJ Tone free 9pm Oxford Art Factory Gallery Bar, Darlinghurst Phatchance, Coptic Soldier free 8pm Petersham Bowling Club La Vista 8pm The Polo Lounge, Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst Jack Mark Murphy, Magda free 9pm Pontoon, Darling Harbour Nic Phillips free 9pm The Red Rattler Theatre, Marrickville Fistful of Queers Sveta, Fancy Piece Productions, Lillian Starr, Pluto Savage, Necrotitties & The Dapper Cadaver, Solid Gold, Xavier $20-$25 8pm The Roxy Theatre, Parramatta Good Times Society Aladdin Royal, DJ Seiz $10 8pm Sandringham Hotel, Newtown That’s Them, Kerser & Rates, Skeamo, Mathmatics, Max Gosford, Juzlo $10 8pm St James Hotel, Sydney Club Blink Club Blink DJs Tank, Sydney RNB Superclub G Wizard, Def Rok, Troy T, Eko, Lilo, Jayson, Losty, Ben Morris, Matt Nukewood, Charlie Brown, Oakes & Lennox, Venuto, Adrian M $15 9pm The Tea Gardens Hotel, Bondi Junction Mish, DJ Peej free 6pm Tone, Surry Hills Dust Tones Dialectrix, Fdel, Axiom, Kade & The Karneez, Bentley $15 (+ bf) 8pm V Bar, Sydney Tom Yum free 11pm Watershed Hotel, Darling Harbour Club Miami free 10pm Wentworth Hotel, Homebush Wentworth Weekend Warm Up Wentworth DJs free 8pm The World Bar, Kings Cross MUM Alba Varden, The Bennisons, Hattie Carroll, Artifical International, Atom Bombs, Disco Club, No Art, Walkie Talkie Cunninpants, Dialectrix
Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach The Camera Club Alex Mitchell free 9pm Cheers Bar, Sydney Cheers Nightclub Cheers DJs free 9pm Coogee Bay Hotel House of Shem, VTribe $34.30 The Exchange Hotel, Oxford St Hot Damn! Bloodshed Remains, Mark My Words, Taken by Force, Crowned Kings from 8pm, $12-15
“She was an undercover agent for the blues”- TONY JOE WHITE 58 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
Electro Rash DJs, Bennisons DJs, Jack Shit, Nude DJs, The Cosmic Explorer, Animal Chin, Swim Team DJs $10-$15 8pm
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26 36 Degrees Bar, Star City, Pyrmont Temnein, Blaze free 8pm Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville Cafe Carnivale Fiesta Armandito & Trovason, Los Cuervos, Afro Peruvian Project $16 (member)-$20 8pm Arthouse Hotel, Sydney The Tongue Twister Kate Monroe, Sandi Hotrod, Sveta, GI Jode, Beatrix, Beth Yen, Jen Anderson, Effie, DJ Shalyn Gray 9pm Bank Hotel, Newtown Emma Jay, Bust free Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Borich & Borich $12 8pm Bristol Arms Retro Hotel, Sydney Club Retro Club Retro DJs $20-$25 9pm The Burdekin Mini Bar, Darlinghurst StickUp Kids present ANTE UP! Lo-D, D-Lect, Kase, LinoType (LA), Ology $10 Candys Apartment, Kings Cross Ritual Teez, Zomg! Kittens!, Disco Volante, Boy Genius, La Dooda Peeda $10-$20 8pm Cheers Bar, Sydney Cheers Nightclub Cheers DJs free 9pm Chinese Laundry/Slip Inn, Sydney MYNC, Raye Antonelli, Light Year, Chris Fraser, Punk Ninja, Matttt, Bella Sarris, Samrai, Marty Mark, DJ Eko $15-$25 9pm Civic Underground, Sydney Generic Party Cooly G, Monkfly, Max Gosford, Generic DJs $8 10pm Cohibar, Darling Harbour DJ Matt Roberts, DJ Anders Hitchcock free 8pm Empire Hotel, Darlinghurst The Temple Alex K, Sunset Bros, Outsource, Rata, Steve Play, Andre Jay, Dk1, Wilz, Frantic, Benino G, Blinky, ScottyO, Nick Nova, Danny P, Rath free 9pm Establishment, Sydney Sienna G Wizard, Troy T, Def Rok, Eko, Lilo free 9pm The Forbes Hotel, Sydney We Love Indie We Love Indie DJs $10 8pm The Forum Theatre, Moore Park Mickey Avalon (USA) $45 (+ bf) 8pm Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills Evil Eddie $15 (+ bf) 8pm The Gaff, Darlinghurst Secret Saturdays 6pm Helm Bar, Darling Harbour Helm Bar End of Summer Party Mr Wilson 2pm Home The Venue, Sydney Homemade Saturdays Hotel Chambers, Sydney Red Room Troy T, K-Note, Mac, Mike Champion free (guestlist)-$20 8pm Hugos Lounge, Kings Cross Dolso Ivy, Sydney Pure Ivy Presents Cissy Strut (live), Graham Cordery, Tass, Tony Montana $15 5pm Jacksons On George, Sydney DJ Michael Stewart free 9pm Lady Rose Cruise Ship, Sydney She End of Summer Boat Party Beth Yen, Liam Sampras, Tikyo, Kocho, Robbie Santiago, Graham Cordery $43.50-$53.80 11.30am The Loft, Darling Harbour Late at the Loft Somatik, Noel
club guide send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com Boogie, Noodles, DJ Huwston, Meem, The Swat DJs, Lippo free 10pm Jacksons On George, Sydney DJ Michael Stewart free 9pm Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown George B free 8pm Manning Bar, Sydney University, Camperdown DZ, BlogWars, Pop The Hatch, Keiran Helmore, Low Society DJs, Kina, Sariss, Same The Chemist, Foreign Dub $18.90 9pm Marlborough Hotel, Newtown Ignition free 8pm The Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst Pre Parade Platter DJ Gemma, Ben Drayton, Avra Cybele, Vanessa Wagner, Matt Vaughan $20 10pm Petersham Bowling Club American Graffiti 8pm Phoenix Bar, Exchange Hotel, Darlinghurst Phoenix Rising Dan Murphy, Johan Khoury, Mark Alsop $10 4am Pontoon, Darling Harbour Phil English, Nobby Grooves $10 8pm The Rouge, Kings Cross Le Rouge Chris Fraser, Nick Walsh, Coops, Keli Hart $10 9pm Space Nightclub, Sydney One Masif Saturday Shock:Force (UK), Dark by Design (UK), Steve Hill, Nomad vs Nasty, X’Dream, Suae, Pulsar, HSB, Astral (NZ), MC D, Weaver, Dover, Ravine, Tom-E, Team Rocket, JTS, RaversMVP, Executive Project, Tezzr, Energizer
Bunny VS DJ Tulz, MC Panhead, MC Destiny 10pm St James Hotel, Sydney Trash Trash DJs 8pm The Tea Gardens Hotel, Bondi Junction Shifty free 7pm Tone, Surry Hills Roska (UK), Lorn (USA), Kato, Prize $30 (+ bf) 8pm Watershed Hotel, Darling Harbour Sky Bar free 10pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Wham! Top Billin’ Single Launch DETNUM, James Taylor & MC Shureshock, Raye Antonelli, Ben Morris, Illya, Discopunx, Negghead, Mitch Crosher, Mo’ Funk, Richee Carter, The Jackal, Say Whut?, Pipemix $15-$20 8pm
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 Alexandria Hotel Sunhaze Ewan Pearson (Germany) free 3pm Bank Hotel, Newtown DJ Tony Montana (UK) free Beach Road Hotel Rex Room, Bondi Beach The Sunday NiceUp! Lanie Lane, Joyride, Mike Who, Ability, Bentley free 6pm Cohibar, Darling Harbour DJ Brynstar free 3pm The Forbes Hotel, Sydney Church Of Techno Mitch Crosher, Kerry Wallace, Joey Kaz, Jey Tuppaea, Jaded, Shepz $5 9pm The Gaff, Darlinghurst Quiz Day Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney
Calvin Harris (Scotland), John Glover, Matt Nukewood, Cadell, Ember, Steve Play, Ben Morris, Joey Katz, Sancho, G Wizard, Trotty $53.70 (+ bf) 4pm Home The Venue, Sydney Spice Nic Scali, Schwa, DJ YokoO, Murat Kilic, Robbie Lowe, Telefunken $20 5am Hugos Lounge, Kings Cross Sneaky Sundays Sneaky Sound System 8pm Jacksons On George, Sydney Aphrodisiac free 9pm Oatley Hotel Sunday Sessions DJ Tone, Undie Sundie DJs free 7pm Penrith Panthers Sunsets On The Terrace 2 Faced free 2pm Petersham Bowling Club Kojo $10 3pm Phoenix Bar, Exchange Hotel, Darlinghurst Loose Ends Matt Vaughan free 10pm The Rouge, Kings Cross Cheap Thrill$ free 8pm Tone, Surry Hills Life & Times Tour 2011 Planet Asia (USA), Copywrite, Tage Future, Tristate $28.60 (+ bf) 8pm Trademark Piano Room Johan Khoury Presents Love Muscle Lee Yeomans (UK), Mike Kelly (EU), Justin Ryan (NYC), Alex Taylor Chip $24.80 9pm Watershed Hotel, Darling Harbour DJ Brynstar free 5pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Fortune Disco Punx free 6pm
club picks Mickey Avalon sho by Kris Krug
up all night out all week...
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24 Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach The Camera Club Alex Mitchell free 9pm Macquarie University Atrium Onelove Sonic Boom Box Tour Andy Murphy, Generik 10pm
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25 Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Cutters Records Party Dan & Tim, Nile Delta, Das Moth $12 (+ bf) 9pm Evil Eddie
Mickey Avalon The Polo Lounge, Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst Jack Mark Murphy, Magda free 9pm Tone, Surry Hills Dust Tones Dialectrix, Fdel, Axiom, Kade & The Karneez, Bentley $15 (+ bf) 8pm
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26 Gaelic Theatre, S urry Hills Evil Eddie $15 (+ bf) 8pm The Forum Theatre, Moore Park Mickey Avalon (USA) $45 (+ bf) 8pm Tone, Surry Hills Roska (UK), Lorn (USA), Kato, Prize $30 (+ bf) 8pm Das Moth
The World Bar, Kings Cross Wham! Top Billin’ Single Launch Detnum, James Taylor & MC Shureshock, Raye Antonelli, Ben Morris, Illya, Discopunx, Negghead, Mitch Crosher, Mo’ Funk, Richee Carter, The Jackal, Say Whut?, Pipemix $15-$20 8pm
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 Alexandria Hotel Sunhaze Ewan Pearson (Germany) free 3pm Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney Calvin Harris (Scotland), John Glover, Matt Nukewood, Cadell, Ember, Steve Play, Ben Morris, Joey Katz, Sancho, G Wizard, Trotty $53.70 (+ bf) 4pm
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 59
Deep Impressions Underground Dance and Electronica with Chris Honnery
Steve Bug
T
his week 21-year-old Chilean prodigy Nicolas Jaar, currently studying at Brown University, unveils his fulllength debut, Space Is Only Noise, via his very own Circus Company label. The LP arrives amid ascending choruses of anticipation and expectation that have been growing steadily ever since the release of his plangent breakthrough single ‘A Time For Us’, which was pushed by Seth Troxler and the Wolf + Lamb crew, and generally lauded as one of the best tracks of last year. Atmospheric and nuanced, Space Is Only Noise might not be as instantly accessible as some of Jaar’s previous EPs, but there’s no doubting the quality of the brooding, down-tempo soundscapes showcased on what is an impressively controlled and ‘mature’ debut. A 4.5/5 review on Resident Advisor says it all really – check it out, pronto.
A division of R & R Collection Pty. Ltd. Est. 1987
Australia’s biggest range of Licensed Rock Music and Character Merchandise
Berlin-based techno label Highgrade Records is gearing up to release a new compilation, Group of Connected Heads Vol 2. On it you’ll find a dozen unreleased cuts from Highgrade mainstays like Tom Clark, Todd Bodine, Jens Bond and Daniel Dreier, old hands such as Markus Homm, Mihai Popoviciu and Ludwig Coenen and lesser-known ‘up-and-comers’, including Andri, Dachshund, Cab Drivers, Phono & Kemi and Julie Marghilano. The collection comes just a few months after the first Group of Connected Heads release, which hit stores and the interweb last October, and prefigures Highgrade’s head honcho, Tom Clark, touring Australia – he’s playing Mad Racket on Saturday March 5, alongside Guido Schneider. That same night across town local club brand Chemistry will be throwing its now traditional Mardi Gras bash at Velvet Lounge underneath The Beauchamp, an intimate venue located ‘ringside’ to the parade path. Kicking off at the early time of 9pm, this is a prime option to prelude Clark and Schneider et al with some quality house and techno, in a location sure to be brimming with the festive energy from the Mardi Gras parade. But with a lineup including Pulse Radio’s Jimmy Posters – back in Sydney after an extended spell in Berlin – Subsonic’s Marcotix and Luke Bowditch from Melbourne, this is very much a main attraction in itself.
We stock the entire range of Alchemy Jewellery Free postage in Australia www.rockonline.com.au
Steve Bug’s Poker Flat will release a compilation titled Forward To The Past next month, on which producers show their love for the house sounds of the 80s and early 90s. Whereas Poker Flat usually draws on its trusted artist roster for compilations, this one includes tracks from artists who haven’t released on the label before, such as techno producer Redshape, The Revenge and TJ Kong. And as proof that Steve & co. take their jacking Chicago house and Detroit techno sound seriously, all of the (previously
LOOKING DEEPER SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 Ewan Pearson The Alexandria
SATURDAY MARCH 5 Chemistry Presents A Mardi Gras Extravaganza: Schwa, Trinity, Jimi Polar, Jamie Lloyd The Velvet Lounge Tom Clark, Guido Schneider Marrickville Bowling Club
SATURDAY MARCH 19 Paul Kalkbrenner Chinese Laundry
unreleased) tunes have been mastered on tape to get to that vintage vibe. Snap, crackle, pop! This sounds like a rather unusual compilation, but definitely one worth checkin’ once it drops in early April. Celebrated Detroit artist Rick Wilhite will release his debut album, Analog Aquarium, in about a month or so. Wilhite has been throwing his weight around the dance scene for decades, both as a solo producer and DJ, as part of Three Chairs with Theo Parrish, Marcellus Pittman and Kenny Dixon Jr (aka Moodymann), and as owner of the Vibes New & Rare Music record store. Analog Aquarium marks his first ever album, collecting nine new Wilhite productions plus the 2005 track ‘Cosmic Jungle’ from the In the Dark (The Soul of Detroit) compilation. Parrish, Pittman and Osunlade make appearances on the album, which will be released on March 21 through Chicago label Still Music. This Sunday, perennial tastemaker Ewan Pearson plays a free show at Sunhaze, Future Classic’s weekly bash which is held every Sunday afternoon in the sunny confines of The Alexandria. Pearson’s pedigree is beyond reproach, with three memorable mix compilations in Sci.Fi.Hi. Fi, Fabric 35 and most recently We Are Proud Of Our Choices on Kompakt, while also chalking up production credits for The Rapture, Tracey Thorn, Delphic and Sydney’s own Lost Valentinos. As adept at bushing melodic, mid-tempo Baleric cuts as banging out bona fide minimal techno ‘stonkers’, Pearson is rightly regarded as one of the finest in the electronic music field, so this opportunity to see him spin for free is not one that should be missed. Consider it your homework assignment for next week – and it’s a damn good one at that!
Deep Impressions: electronica manifesto and occasional club brand. Contact through deep.impressions@yahoo.com. 60 :: BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11
Soul Sedation
Soul, Dub, Hip Hop & Bottom-heavy Beats with Tony Edwards
Watussi
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.
A
s the buzz continues around Erykah Badu’s Good Vibes performance - this column heard a lot of good things - you might want to track down her new single, ‘Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long’. It’s a typically great recording from Erykah, and comes with a film clip directed by Flying Lotus no less, the producer injecting himself into the visual art world. The Philadelphia-based Record Breakin’ Music is celebrating five years in the business with the release of their five year compilation, featuring selections from their catalogue. Acquiring it will enable you hear from names like Anthony Valadez, Kissey Asplund, Spinnerty, Joy Jones, Dotmatic and M64 (a collaboration from Ohmega Watts and Ragen Fykes). Responsible for putting out some brilliantly eclectic soulful music, Soul Sedation wishes RBM another five healthy years to come. Sydney band Watussi have begun prepping audiences for their upcoming album with the single release ‘Tu Te Vas’. It’s a traditional sounding Latin funk jam replete with Spanish vocal, but I expect the album will come with a fairly hefty dose of the Watussi rock repertoire as well. You’ll also find a Nickodemus remix on the single. The new Lanu album has hit the Soul Sedation desk. Her 12 Faces is a considerable departure from Bamboos frontman Lance Ferguson’s previous nu jazz/future soul leanings as Lanu, and is in reality more like a joint album with vocalist-of-the-moment Megan Washington, who features on six of the tracks (if you include the bonus track). I like it in general, but this record should appeal to the indie pop set more than the hip hop crowd - although there is some Bonobo-esque material on the record, like ‘Portrait in 50hz’ for example. Perhaps Lanu will try his hand at some of the future beat, wonky styles next time around... UK emcee Ghostpoet’s debut album is out now on Brownswood Records. Entitled Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam, it’s 100% worth
ON THE ROAD SAT FEB 26 Roska, Lorn Tone
SUN FEB 27
Planet Asia, Copywrite Tone
TUE MAR 15 Dead Prez Oxford Art Factory
WED MAR 16
Horace Andy, Dub Asante Metro Theatre
FRI APRIL 8 DMZ Oxford Art Factory
THU MAY 5
MURS and 9th Wonder, R.A the Rugged Man Gaelic Club checking out. Those into experimental beats and beat poetry will eat it right up. Sydney afrobeat outfit The Strides have released a new album entitled Reclamation, upon which they enlist the services of Ras Roni and Lil Gzeus (Little Jesus) on the mic. The album features ten cuts in all, ranging from dancefloor afro workouts to deep late-night dub.
- Weds 23rd -
- Fri 25th -
Gallery Burlesque
Dust Tones Dialectrix + Fdel
Recently invited onto the Glastonbury 2011 line-up, Melbourne soul cats Electric Empire will be in town for a brief show to mark the release of their debut selftitled album. Fans of The Ray Mann Three and real, back-in-the-day RnB should be checking this out. You can catch them Friday March 18 at the Oxford Art Factory.
Desired Outcome
Speaking of The Ray Mann Three, Ray Mann himself is off to Europe on a quest to engage new audiences. There’s a farewell show going down at Melt Friday on March 11. Bon voyage, sir.
- Thurs 24th -
Roska + Lorn
Oh No
+ Kato & Prize
Stones Throw beatsmith Oh No will hit town for a show at Tone on February 24. It’s sure to be a night of deep sounds – the man loves to get busy on the instrumental and often experimental beat tip. US hip hop fans will also be keen to know that mic specialist MURS and producer 9th Wonder are set to tour this May. Appearing Thursday May 5 at the Gaelic Club, they’ll be joined by R.A the Rugged Man out of New York City.
Send stuff for this column to tonyedwards001@gmail.com by 6pm Wednesdays. All pics to art@thebrag.com
Sounds of LA Tour
- Sat 26th -
- Sun 27th -
Planet Asia & Copywrite www.tone.net.au facebook.com/tonesydney twitter.com/tonevenue
16 Wentworh Avenue, Surry Hills NSW 2010 (02) 9287 6440 BRAG :: 400:: 21:02:11 :: 61
snap snap
12:02:11 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700
P*A*S*H
PICS :: AM
12:02:11 :: Qbar :: 34 Oxford St Darlinghurst 93316245
wham!
PICS :: DM
ghetto disco
PICS :: TT
upall allnight nightout outall allweek week...... up
hot damn
PICS :: RR
11:02:11 :: Qbar :: 34 Oxford St Darlinghurst 93316245
10:02:11 :: Spectrum :: 34 Oxford St Darlinghurst 93316245
It’s called: Wham! presents the Detnum single launch. It sounds like: The Mario Brothers in a fist-fi ght.
Who’s spinning? Detnum, Raye Antonelli, James Taylor + MC Sureshock, Ben Morris, Disco Punx, Illya, Mo’ Funk, Negghead, Mitch Crosher, Ritchie Carter, Say Whut?, The Jacka l, aaaaaaand (drumroll) Pipemix! Sell it to us: Detnum is one of our favourite DJs EVER, and he’s got a release out on Top Billin’! He’s playing our club to celebrate. We’re excited. You should be too. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: Seeing Luigi finally get the princess! Crowd specs: Farm animals and dinosaurs. Wallet damage: $15 before 10pm / $20 after Where: The World Bar, Kings Cross When: Saturday February 26
62 :: BRAG :: 400: 21:02:11
mum
PICS :: TP
party profile
Wham! Back to School
11:02:11 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700 :: ROSETTE ROUHANNA :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO) OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER FARMER :: COWAN WHITFIELD EN LAUR :: Y CHE PEA M ::THO ASHLEY MAR :: DANIEL MUNNS
Wash Your Face in Orange Juice with legendary kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performer
Peter Combe All ages school hols matinee at 11am 1300 GET TIX (438 849)
FINAL TICKET RELEASE! METRO THEATRE
WEDNESDAY MARCH 9 BOOK NOW! 132 849 or ticketek.com.au
Presented by Michael Coppel belleandsebastian.com I coppel.com.au
and the
Newspaper Mama Band Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St Darlinghurst Fri April 15, 18+ show Doors 8pm
Bring your toffee apples, newspaper hats and sing along with Mr Clicketty Cane, Newspaper Mama, Toffee Apple, Spaghetti Bolognaise, Juicy Juicy Green Grass, Chopsticks, Tadpole Blues, Jack & the Beanstalk, Baghdad, Saturday Night, Spangle Road, Tell Me the Ti-i-ime Please, Syntax Error and many more. The songs that a million Australian kids grew up on!
Tickets: $24 (+BF) from 1300 GET TIX (438 849) or moshtix.com.au Support: Vaudeville Smash, The Preachers
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 63
snap
mowgli
PICS :: TT
up all night out all week . . .
adult disco
It’s called: Hot Damn! It sounds like: Punk / party / indie / hip hop Who’s playing? Sweet live hardcore bands every single week and Hot Damn DJs playing punk / party anthems. Sell it to us: The cheapest drinks with even cheaper kids. Now Sydney’s biggest Thursday night, still #3 most pretentious. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: No BS happy hours, just $4.50 drinks all night! Crowd specs: The easiest and most party dudes and dude-babes in town. Wallet damage: $15, or $12 if you know the right people. Where: The Exchange Hotel - Q Bar, 34B, Vegas , Spectrum, Phoenix / 34-44 Oxford Street. When: Every single Thursday night! Doors at 8pm!
PICS :: TT
04:02:11 12:02:11 :: Chinese Laundry :: 111 Sussex Street Sydney 82959958
Hot Damn!
party profile
PICS :: TT
chinese laundry
PICS :: AM
12:02:11 :: Supper Club :: 134 Oxford St Darlinghurst 93313437
PICS :: TT
PICS :: RR
teenage kicks
shameless valentine's day party
10:02:11 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700
64 :: BRAG :: 400: 21:02:11
PICS :: TL
12:02:11 :: The Civic Hotel :: 388 Pitt Street CBD 80807000
12:02:11 :: Iguana Bar :: 13-15 Kellet St Kings Cross 9357 2609
:: ROSETTE ROUHANNA :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO) LD OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER EN FARMER :: COWAN WHITFIE LAUR :: Y CHE PEA M ::THO NS ASHLEY MAR :: DANIEL MUN
ELY *BOY R B a k a ER ICK POW N R O T C DIREC ARTISTI
FEATURING RAHZEL (USA) / SUPERNATURAL (USA) / DJ JS-1 (USA) / B*BOY BLOND (KOREA) / B*BOY STORM (GERMANY) / POE1 (USA) / THE NARCICYST (USA) / KOOLISM (AUS) / RESIN DOGS (AUS) / Q BROTHERS (USA) / AND MORE…
BRAG :: 400 :: 21:02:11 :: 65
snap sn ap
up all night out all week . . .
GOOD VIBRATIONS FESTIVAL 2011 Centennial Parklands Saturday February 12
Good Vibes is no stranger to rainfall, but the festival took saturation to a new level in 2011. From the rolling sweat inside the makeshift marquees, and the downpour as punters dashed to the bar, to the washout at 'Mr J' stage during Phoenix and Bag Raiders, Justin Hemmes might have benefitted from an ark (or at least better coverage). But then, when you’re full throttle at a festival, a bit of rain ain’t so bad. This review starts and ends with Erykah Badu. The freak-soul queen of the universe drew an absolutely ridiculous crowd and proceeded to give them the show of their lives. With a voice equal parts Chaka Kahn, Aretha Franklin and Beyoncé, and the mannerisms of Bootsy Collins spliced up with her ex-lover Andre 3000, Badu is not only a consummate professional but entertaining as all hell. With a crack live band who bent over backwards to accommodate her every whim - including some difficult time changes, sudden stops and syncopated madness - Badu reminded the drug-free amongst us that music, when it’s done well, can do the job for you. Dropping bombs from Baduizm through to her wacky new shit (which sounds far better live than on record), Badu swooned, screamed, hollered and serenaded her audience twenty minutes overtime, and nobody complained. She went for notes that literally had to be heard to be believed, with spontaneous cheering breaking out as she explored the outer regions of the human register and transformed into the otherworldly being she’s been crafting visually for the last decade. Sure, we didn’t need that extended lecture about occupation and a drawn-out anecdote about the Zapatista uprising in Mexico, but Badu was so utterly transfixing it didn’t even matter. It’s criminal that it’s taken fifteen years to get her down here, and she more than made up for the gaping absence of Cee Lo and Janelle Monae. Bag Raiders have decided that guest vocalists are too expensive, so now they sing their own hooks live. Not the best move, but with enough time Chris Stracey will train himself - and for cuts like ‘Shooting Stars’, the vocals are so static they’re pretty hard to get too wrong. They’re not the Presets yet, but then, they’re not trying to be; their songs are killer, and their set was a great distraction from the fact that we were practically underwater. Nas and Damian Marley should have been rebranded ‘Damian Marley with the occasional Nas’ - too much Bob’s son, not enough God’s son - but aside from an extended journey into Damian’s reggae back catalogue (which couldn’t finish fast enough), the team made for a fantastic live prospect with their Distant Relatives material, accompanied by a blistering band. Nas comes out swaggering like a bull in the ring, and dropped a few gems of his own by way of ‘Hate Me Now’, ‘Hip Hop Is Dead’ and ‘Represent’ - but those hoping to hear the whole of Illmatic were left scratching their heads as the dreads returned in full force. Damian’s an interesting rapper, an average singer and a cult icon’s descendant, but even that couldn’t save a bunch of songs that never matched his breakout, ‘Welcome To Jamrock’. Still, they were infinitely more engaging that the tepid Phoenix, who whimpered through another Wolfgang set like they haven’t been here 10 times in the past two years…
good vibrations
12:02:11 :: Centennial Parklands :: 93396699 66 :: BRAG :: 400: 21:02:11
PICS :: TL
Oh Ludacris, you sell out; everyone’s favourite actor-slash-comedian-slash-rapper has really disappeared into the smoke of his own selfcongratulation. Nobody came to hear him drop the guest spots that made him a bucket of money on Enrique, Usher or Taio Cruz songs. They came for cuts like ‘Number One Spot’ and ‘Area Codes’, some of the few bangers he thankfully played in their entirety. With nothing but a DJ and hype-man for company, Luda really didn’t cut the mustard after stellar sets from his contemporaries, and people were heading for the exit after only half an hour. Good Vibes lose points for some of the worst scheduling this side of Big Day Out, with Badu on too early, Nas’ ex-wife Kelis scheduled to clash with him, and Ludacris sapping crowds that Faithless deserved. The festival's redeeming qualities, on the other hand, included the sound quality in The Roots tent, and the phenomenal work put in by Badu and Nas; but realistically, we could have seen that in the comfort of the Enmore Theatre. Having missed Faithless (by all accounts, spectacular), Badu was pretty much the stand-out – and for most, she more than justified the ticket price. By Jonno Seidler