The Brag #442 by The Brag

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OH MY GOD MORE T H IS IS A P O C A LY P T IC

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rock music news welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with Nathan Jolly and Steph Harmon

five things WITH

DUANNE LE COREY-MICHEALS LEAD SINGER, POET, INSPIRATION OF CELL BLOCK 69 inspire me with rage, with anger, with vitriol – especially that Bono fellow. How dare he try and save the world with my music! In the wrong hands it will destroy us all!! ...In terms of more positive inspiration, the view from my castle in Generic Europe is most enigmatic.

Xxx

Prince tried to sue us (yes, he tried to sue us!) for claiming his song ‘Controversy’ was stolen from our song ‘Contention’. So with each new hit I pen there is a little sadness, knowing it is destined to be stolen by a ‘hip new artist’. Which is why I haven’t written too many since the 1980s.

Your Crew Let me see, I don’t often spend 3. Music, Right Here, Right Now time with the hired help… Ah, well Yes! ‘Right Here, Right Now’ 5. there’s Corey Bumcrack – he’s been was another song I wrote in the with us from the start, always rolling leads and making sexist jokes. Oh how we laugh! Then there’s Corey Icefreak – he leads the team of semi-trailers between the shows. Just don’t ask him why he scratches so much.

The Music You Make When I wrote the hit ‘Don’t You 4. Forget About Me’ and it was used

Growing Up I think my parents and immediate 1. family recognised my genius when

I wrote the 1960s hit song ‘Yummy Yummy Yummy I’ve Got Love in my Tummy’ at the age of four years old.

Inspirations Most of the bands of the 1980s 2. who stole our hits inspire me. They

Lana Del Rey

EDITOR: Steph Harmon steph@thebrag.com 02 9698 9645 ARTS & ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Dee Jefferson dee@thebrag.com 02 9690 2731 STAFF WRITERS: Jonno Seidler, Caitlin Welsh NEWS: Nathan Jolly, Chris Honnery ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant GRAPHIC DESIGN: Alan Parry SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER: Tim Levy SNAP PHOTOGRAPHERS: Katrina Clarke, Domino Jack, Ashley Mar, Daniel Munns, Thomas Peachey, George Popov, Sam Whiteside Tim Whitney

DANGNAMMIT!

Speaking of names, Dan Mangan’s sounds like the kind of angry utterance a ‘70s dad on a network television show would yell in place of real swearing – and to capitalise on this amazing stroke of luck (or possibly to tour in support of his completely wonderful, BRAG fave record Oh Fortune), the Vancouver singer-songwriter will be performing his Mumford And Sons-meets-Beirut jams on February 24 at Notes in Newtown. We’ll be up the front, warming our little hearts.

ADVERTISING: Matthew Cowley - 0431 917 359 / (02) 8394 9492 matthew@thebrag.com ADVERTISING: Les White - 0405 581 125 / (02) 8394 9027 les@thebrag.com ADVERTISING: Meaghan Meredith - 0423 655 091 / (02) 8394 9168 meaghan@thebrag.com GIG & CLUB GUIDE CO-ORDINATOR: Conrad Richters - gigguide@thebrag.com (rock) clubguide@thebrag.com (dance & parties) INTERNS: Sigourney Berndt, Alex Christie, Antigone Anagnostellis

Please send mail NOT ACCOUNTS direct to this address 8a Marlborough Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 ph - (02) 9552 6333 fax - (02) 9319 2227 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 phone 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...

8 :: BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11

SET SAIL TO THE BEACH ROAD HOTEL

The busking scallywags of Set Sail took off from Sydney with no plans and 800 bucks, and ended up touring the world and becoming famous (and also, at one point, arrested). They’re going to be showing you all how they did it when they play Beach Road Hotel in Bondi on Wednesday December 14, with support from newbies Holland. On the Friday at the same venue, Niche Productions presents Movement featuring Andy Bull. The acclaimed singer-songwriting multiinstrumentalist may have a name that rhymes with “randy bull”, but he displays his talents with far more grace than one of those.

PUBLISHERS: Adam Zammit & Rob Furst EDITOR IN CHIEF: Adam Zammit 9552 6333 adam@peergroupmedia.com

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Simon Binns, Michael Brown, Liz Brown, Bridie Connell, Bridie Connellan, Ben Cooper, Oliver Downes, Alasdair Duncan, Max Easton, Tony Edwards, Christie Eliezer, Murray Engleheart, Henry Florence, Mike Gee, Chris Honnery, Nathan Jolly, Alex Lindsay Jones, Robbie Miles, Peter Neathway, Hugh Robertson, Matt Roden, Emma Salkild, Romi Scodellaro, Rach Seneviratne, Luke Telford, Rick Warner

in the movie The Breakfast Club, I knew that my art had reached its pinnacle. This turned to savage rage when I heard they had used the version created by those thieves Simple Minds. This has been so often repeated in my life – like when

1990s, stolen by a stupidly named band called Jesus Jones. How embarrassing for them. They’ll never tour again with a name like that! But I am comforted by the little things, like when my illegitimate daughter Drew Barrymore rang me up the other day and said, “Dad you are an inspiration to us all.” I replied, “I know Drew, I know…” A beautiful moment. Like I said – it’s the little things. What: Cell Block 69’s Last Ever World Tour™ Where: Oxford Art Factory Arena When: Sunday December 18

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA

Manchester Orchestra love it in Australia, possibly because we love their mix of indiepop and Brian Molko-esque vocals, and they are suckers for attention. Anyway, this probably isn’t the right place to be speculating about the reasons behind their show at The Hi-Fi in Sydney on March 4. “Hi-Fi in Sydney?” you say, with that face you make when reading Far Side comics. It’s in the Entertainment Quarter where the Forum used to be, and they’re gutting it, re-vamping it and making a sparkly new live venue. And you can’t wait.

LOST PROPHETS

You know when you realise a fact you’ve believed to be true for a number of years turns out to be false, and the very structure your world is built upon momentarily shakes? Like that time you found out that discreet and discrete are both different words that mean different things? Well, I always assumed massive punk rockers Lost Prophets were an American band, because of their aggressive, epic music and those black leather arm-bands, and then one day on [V], Jane Gazzo interviewed them and they were all, “Alright, geezer, lovely to be in the countryside, innit?” and I almost spilled my earl grey tea. They’re playing a Soundwave sideshow on February 28 at The Metro Theatre; tickets are on sale now.

Kobra Kai

LANA DEL REY TOUR

If you’ve been anywhere near the internet over the last few months, you can’t have missed the phenomenon of NYC’s Lana Del Rey. She’s a bona fide fox with the talent to match, whose dreamy, sparkly, sun-drenched, retro pop has been captivating BRAG HQ for far longer than we’re comfortable admitting. (Also, those lips?) Lana’s heading to Australia next year to bring us Born To Die, her debut album out February 3 – and she’ll be hitting Oxford Art Factory on Tuesday February 28. If you have no idea what any of this means, Google ‘Video Games’, and you’re welcome.

LUCINDA WILLIAMS TOUR

Lucinda Williams’ fate was minted the minute her parents christened her Lucinda Williams, and therefore sentenced her to a lifetime of singing lovelorn country-ballads – ‘cos with a name like that you aren’t gonna work at no butter mill now are you honey? After four decades of performing, and with three Grammys under her belt (country-music folk have those holsters on their belts specifically for Grammy-holding), she’s coming back to Australia to tour her latest album, the I’mmarried-but-I’m-still-sad record Blessed. Catch her at the State Theatre on April 3, or at Bluesfest, where she’s playing April 5 and 7.

KOBRA KAI

A few summers ago I moved to a different city and began getting bullied by Kobra Kai. An old Chinese guy in the same block of flats started teaching me karate (and home maintenance) for me to defend myself, so when I heard Kobra Kai would be at the Gaelic Club on December 17, I figured it could be the perfect chance to unleash my patented crane move. I later realised it was the Sydney five-piece, dubstep/hip hop/electro/live hybrid that won triple j Unearthed a few years ago – and not the karate school. …But a challenge is a challenge, so I will see you there, and I will be unleashing the crane.

Q Bar + Phoenix Vegas + Spectrum

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CHRISTMAS PARTY 9021BROS, MELROSE WASTE, DOH J. SIMPSON, PINKY & THE BRAIN, BASH BROTHERS, PUSHIN’ POP, URBY COOKIE COLLECTIVE, REN & STIMPY, DAWSON’S FREAK, DJ SMITHERS, RED HOT TILLY PEPPERS, DJ TOMBOGOTCHI, BASS VENTURA, CRASH TEST MUMMIES, SPICE CUBE DJs, DOOGIE HOWSER MDJ

WED 14TH DEC 7PM $20/$25

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Presents

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Ben Lucid, Cunningpants, Nat Noize + Guests

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Australia Day isn’t just about freedom and wide-open spaces. We’re not just celebrating our diverse blend of cu cultures. And it’s not just about friends coming together for a all-day eat-a-thon. We celebrate on 26 January because an ttomorrow, we get to live it all over again. To ﬁnd out about celebrations near you, visit australiaday.org.au

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rock music news

free stuff

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with Nathan Jolly and Steph Harmon

FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM

he said she said WITH

DANIEL R MULLER FROM XANTHOPAN

y earliest living memory of music was in an ‘80s gym with my mum, hearing Wham! pumping over the sound system: ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’. I distinctly remember thinking, “that’s not a bad tune”. Fast forward to ’94, and I’m discovering Nirvana after Kurt Cobain’s death, which was a gateway act to the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, then Regurgitator, then the one, the only, The Prodigy! Liam Howlett is still a god to me. I’m absolutely in awe of great producers. The brains behind the music, rather than the performers per se – although sometimes they are one and the same. So people like Vangelis, Jacques Lu Cont, Chopin; their music is always so well put together, and always stimulates the heart and mind for me. We are your typical electro duo, with the guy on the keys and the chick out front singing. I think the thing that sets us apart right now is that we’re not about “putting

Manu Chao

on a performance”. The music itself is the performance, in conjunction with the crowd. When we play a show, we expect people to dance, and if they don’t at first we always get them moving. We’re looking forward to our next show because it’s all about burlesque, which brings that movement element in – exactly what we love. We pull in traditional dance music concepts like acid and breaks, and reformat it for a new audience using chunked house beats, half-time dubstep moments and indie lyrics. You can’t talk about music production right now without dropping the D word. Dubstep has transformed the electronic music landscape, and has freed artists of all types to do whatever they feel with tempo and sound design. It’s also a highly compatible genre that seems to lend itself to a variety of modifications – like trance, rave, acid, drum ‘n bass, rock, metal and even power ballad (if that’s a genre… check with Bryan Adams). With: Bands – Fait Accompli, Xanthopan, The Strides; Burlesque – Bunni Lambada, Evie Va Voom, Memphis Mae; DJs & more Where: Burlectricity @ Valve Bar, Tempe When: Friday December 23

COLD CHISEL TO HEADLINE BLUESFEST

Those beer-slugging, footy-watching, arse-grabbing guys at the RSL aren’t a true representation of the legendary Cold Chisel, and we’ll tell you why. In the 1980s, commercial radio was owned by the Catholic Church, and Chisel landed a subtle little ditty about abortion (‘Choir Girl’ – Google the lyrics) smack bang onto high rotation for most of the decade without anybody noticing. That’s a fairly monumental achievement and a hilarious story, and you can tell it to a stranger when the band become the first Aussie group to headline the huge Bluesfest next year. They’re closing the main stage on the first day of a five-day festival, and it’s a festival which will blow your mind with likes of Crosby Stills & Nash, Roger Daltrey (The Who), Earth Wind & Fire, The Pogues, My Morning Jacket, The Specials, Lucinda Williams and loads more. Bluesfest happens April 5 – April 9 in Byron Bay.

TRIPLE TREAT

We were already sending triple j Unearthed daily thanks for ‘Champion’ by Grinspoon, and now we can also thank them for introducing us to garage nuggets Millions, the tastefully textured Nantes (check out their awesome clip for ‘Charlie’), and the dance-rock act Northeast House Party. All three of them are taking advantage of the leap in profile that comes from being Unearthed by cramming in a van, wedging amps and guitars and bags around their bodies, and driving around the country for hours, only to stop at various points to unload all the gear, set it up, play for a bit and then reload and drive some more. It’s called the Triple Treat tour, it hits Oxford Art Factory on February 24, and it’s going to be a whole lot more fun than I just made it sound. Get down there and buy them a beer.

We know a lot of things. We know that once you open a jar of vegemite you keep it in the cupboard, not the fridge. We know what happens when you put a CD in the microwave (very cool). We also happen to know what you’ll be doing on Friday December 16, and that is boogeying down to the sweet, glitchedout, soulful sounds of Oscar + Martin, when they hit Oxford Art Factory to celebrate the release of their new single, ‘What I Know.’ To make sure you get there, BRAG has a double pass to give away. Just tell us the name the duo used to go by.

THE DEATH SET

The Death Set was formed in 2005, when Beau Velasco met Johnny Siera. In 2008 the band released their first album Worldwide. In 2009 Beau Velasco passed away, and Dan Walker was brought on board to fill his shoes. Early 2011 saw the release of Michel Poiccard, which pretty much knocked everyone’s socks off. On December 29 2011, you went to The Standard and had the time of your life with your fist in the air, screaming along to your favourite Death Set songs at the launch of new creative agency 199, also featuring Dune Rats, Humans and Doc Holliday Takes The Shotgun. If you don’t want to make liars of us, tell us your favourite Death Set song – and we might just shoot you back a double pass.

in support; New Jersey’s post-hardcore pioneers Thursday are playing one of their last ever headlines shows at The Metro Theatre on Monday February 27, alongside Saves The Day (who played with them on their first show) and Circa Survive; Lamb Of God are bringing apocalyptic heavy metal to the UC Refectory in Canberra on Thursday March 1 (bit of a drive, but guys, Lamb Of God) with Swedish metal giants In Flames; and Enter Shikari are doing whatever the fuck it is that they do (everything all at once?) at The Metro Theatre supported by Letlive and Your Demise on Wednesday February 29 – the same night that Machine Head are bringing their sweet, soothing harmonies to the UNSW Roundhouse, with support from indietronic darlings Chamaira, brother-sister fixie-folk duo Shadows Fall, and the melodic orchestral melodica twee of Times of Grace. All shows are licenced/all-ages, we made up what those last bands sound like, and tickets go on sale this week.

BLACK CHERRY NYE

FESTIVAL FIRST NIGHT The first night of Sydney Festival seems like the real start to the new year, a massive free concert in the Domain where you can sit on the grass, drink wine and watch the sunset. This year it’s being headlined by Manu Chao, who are unleashing their multicultural, cross-generational reggae, Afropop post-punk (basically all the styles Sting plundered in the ‘80s). Washington and Gurrumul are also playing, and anyone who lives in Australia knows how fiercely talented those two performers are – so grab a picnic blanket, pack the Jatz (not a euphemism), and get on down to the Domain on January 7.

OSCAR + MARTIN

Cold Chisel

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?

Jimi Hendrix may have redefined the parameters of guitar playing, becoming a counter-culture icon who wrote a bunch of amazing tunes and left an indelible legacy, but we think the ballsiest thing he ever did was insert the word “kinda” into the first line of Dylan’s ‘All Along The Watchtower’ when he covered it. Who hasn’t thought that Dylan’s masterworks could be improved with a few ‘umms,’ ‘kindas’ and ‘innits’ thrown in? …You can ponder this thought and many others at Are You Experienced – The Jimi Hendrix Tribute at the Basement on New Year’s Eve, when The Mick Hart Experience tear through Hendrix’s back catalogue, with a special late night set filled with covers of other ‘60s classics. Tickets are available through Moshtix now.

YOUTH LAGOON

You know how sometimes it’s just really, really hard to plaster on a smile and go outside and deal with how incredibly difficult the world is? Trevor Powers understands, and under the moniker of Youth Lagoon, has written an entire album about it – the excellent The Year Of Hibernation, which he will be performing songs from on February 16 at Oxford

Art Factory. 2012 triple j Next Crop artist Oliver Tank is supporting (also nominated for the ‘Next Big Thing’ SMAC Award), and by February he’ll be twice as famous as he is now. Enjoy!

If you like to spend your New Year’s Eve doing the rock’n’roll, rockabilly, burlesque thing, you already heard the news: Black Cherry are throwing a huge NYE party at The Factory Theatre. It’s set to take in three rooms of entertainment, with live sets from Bob Log III, The Art, Pat Capocci Combo, Gay Paris, Los Capitanes and Virginia Killstyxx, burlesque from Lillian Starr, Jamilla Deville and Kelly Ann Doll, a bunch of DJs, drink specials and prizes, plus the infamous Jungle Rump Rock’n’Roll Karaoke. So, you know, it’ll be pretty big yeah? Tickets are on sale now. Dress up.

CSN SIDESHOWS

Laurel Canyon in the late ‘60s, early ‘70s seems to be the time and place when the earth peaked: Joni Mitchell was sitting around writing lovely heartbroken songs, James Taylor was locked in a mental asylum singing about aeroplanes, and Crosby, Stills and Nash were cataloguing the war and their generation’s slow loss of innocence with close harmonies, back-porch strum-alongs and old-man facial hair. Relive these heady days on April 4 at the Hordern Pavilion, when they play their Bluesfest sideshow. During ‘Teach Your Children Well’ I’ll lift you onto my shoulders and we can pretend like it’s Woodstock.

SOUNDWAVE SIDEWAVES

The mammoth 2012 Soundwave Festival unleashed the details for a bunch more huge sideshows last week. Mastodon are bringing their complex, concept-driven metal to the Hi-Fi on Thursday March 1, with Gojira and Kvelertak

Bob Log III

“I’ve sided with you. I cried for you. I put my knees aside for you” - LUCINDA WILLIAMS 10 :: BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11

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The Music Network

themusicnetwork.com

Music Industry News with Christie Eliezer

THINGS WE HEAR * Southern Cross Austereo is doing an online survey of its listeners, to see if Kyle Sandiland should be given his marching orders. Some of the advertisers who stampeded from Kyle and Jackie O’s 2DAY show will quietly return in 2012, and Sandiland’s popularity will soar as a result of his increased bad boy reputation. But last week, 15 major brands — including Myer, Vodafone, McDonald’s and Ford — said they would not return next year. That’s about 60% of the show’s revenue. More than 26,500 signed an online petition demanding Sandiland be stood down. * Big Day Out sideshows by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Girl Talk and Foster the People have sold out. In NZ, however, there were some negative vibes when the Auckland Council, which owns BDO site Mt Smart Stadium, declared that sales dipped after Kanye West dropped out. BDO said sales were fine, and that sales

REECE MASTIN GOES PLATINUM… X-Factor winner Reece Mastin’s single ‘Good Night’ went platinum in its second week. It debuted at #1 with gold certification, selling a copy every 2.7 seconds on the day after his win was watched by over 2 million. At 17, Mastin became the youngest male solo artist to chart since Chris Brown first topped the charts aged 16 years in January 2006, with ‘Run it!’.

…WHILE JEZABELS GO GOLD The Jezabels’ debut album Prisoner went gold in Australia. Meantime, shows at London’s Heaven and New York’s Mercury Lounge sold out. Their ‘Catch Me’ track was showcased on an episode of Ringer. Prisoner is released in March in the US and Europe, where the band will be touring heavily.

GUNNERS, BEASTIES, PEPPERS, FOR HALL OF FAME Guns N’Roses, The Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers will be inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in April in Cleveland. Also to be honoured are late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro, British folkie Donovan, influential British band Small Faces/Faces, late US bluesman Freddie King, late TV producer Don Kirshner and three record producers – the late Tom Dowd, Glyn Johns and New Orleans RnB legend Cosimo Matassa. Missing out on the final cut: Donna Summer, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, The Cure, Eric B. & Rakim, War, Spinners, Heart and Rufus with Chaka Khan.

360 TAKES OUT [V] OZ ARTIST Melbourne hip hopper 360 was announced as the Channel [V] Oz Artist of the Year on Saturday morning on The Riff. He polled well ahead of Guy Sebastian, New Empire and Short Stack. 360 took the occasion to stick it up his tweet rivals Short Stack: “Told you I’d fuckin’ win, ay, silly fuckers. Nah, but thanks very much to my loyal fans. Sorry shirtstack and their fans.”

HOLLYWOOD IMMERSIVE EXPANDS TO SINGERS Australian solo singers have the chance to get noticed in the USA through an initiative called Hollywood Immersive. Created by

traditionally rise during the Christmas/New Year break. * Meantime at home, Port Macquarie’s Festival of the Sun sold out a week before, while 4,500 attended the Mullum Music Festival, which showcased 100 performances by 60 musicians. But Newcastle’s zombie-themed New Beginnings next month was axed due to low ticket sales. * All those Ozzy Osbourne fans who couldn’t understand his thick “brummie” accent now have an iBrummie app to translate it into the Queen’s English. * Altiyan Childs denied rumours sweeping Twitter and Facebook that he and his keyboard player had been in a major accident. * Just after their Light The Nitro tour became the biggest ever by an Australianbased band, drawing nearly 300,000 to 36 shows, Cold Chisel also became the first Aussie act to headline Bluesfest (on Thursday April 5). We hear Bluesfest is Australian casting agent Lilly Dawson, in the last 18 months the program took 80 actors from around the world to Hollywood, to train and network. Eva Mendes, its international ambassador for the acting program and awards, provides a scholarship to an underprivileged student – and from 2012, it is expanding to singers of all styles. The Australian rep, Alexis Porter, tells this column that film voice coach Steven Memel teamed with Dawson to give singers an equal chance. Music Immersive commences Jan 17 – 24, with the AU$5250 fee covering voice and performance, digital aggregation, songwriting, choreography and the chance to cut a demo. See hollywoodimmersive.com

TONIGHT ALIVE HEAD TO EUROPE On the back of the success of their current USA dates, Sydney pop punkers Tonight Alive will play 14 European dates between January 11 and 27, before returning to Oz to be one of three homegrown acts to play Soundwave. The Euro dates come just as a UK release of their Sony debut album What Are You So Scared Of? is being finalised. 2012 will see it also released in the USA, Japan, Indonesia and NZ.

FUSE MUSIC TO DISTRIBUTE GONER RECORDS Fuse Music takes on distribution of Memphisbased garage label, Goner Records. Set up in 1993 by Eric Oblivion of The Oblivions to release a Guitar Wolf CD, it signed The Reigning Sound, King Khan, The Reatards and Ty Segall. The label and store also run the annual garage/punk love-in Gonerfest, at which Sydney’s Royal Headache played this year.

LIGHTSOUNDS LEICHHARDT'S MASSIVE MOVING SALE The huge iconic Lightsounds store, at 776 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt, has just one month to liquidate almost a million dollars worth of gear for professionals and beginners, with brands like Pioneer, Native Instruments, Ableton, AKAI and loads more – and on-thespot finance approval to boot. The huge sale started Monday this week, and will continue all month. Under new management, ‘Lightsounds Mega Store’ will open at 443-453 Canterbury Road, Canterbury in Jan 2012, at twice the size of the Leichhardt store. For the full list of gear on sale, check out lightsounds.com.au

trying to snare one of the world’s biggest bands. * The Daily Telegraph reported that former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum almost didn’t make it to Sydney to play at the opening of the Hard Rock Café last week. He lost his passport between Mexico and LA and had to miss his flight. “But Customs somehow had it all along, and the fine people at Qantas got me on the last flight out.” * Arcade Fire promised fans they will match donations of up to $300,000 to Kanpe, the charity helping to rebuild Haiti after its earthquake last year. The band’s Régine Chassagne is on the charity’s board of directors. * To mark what would’ve been Jimi Hendrix’s 70th birthday, Seattle will next year open a 2.5 acre park shaped like a guitar, with a fretboard-shaped bridge. * Sydney cabaret venue, Slide, will produce its first Cabaret Festival from Monday February 6 – Saturday March 3, with 23 artists from around the world.

BEDROCK RAISES $4000 The November 24 event bedROCK at the Sandringham raised almost $4,000 for Sydney Homeless Connect, to expand its work with the homeless.

SECRET SERVICE PR LOOKING FOR PUBLICIST An expanding Secret Service Public Relations is looking for an experienced publicist from mid-Jan for its Sydney OR Brisbane office. They’re looking for someone who is practiced in working national publicity campaigns across print, radio and TV of all levels. Clients include Dew Process, Splendour In the Grass sideshows, Australian Music Prize, Valley Fiesta and Brisbane Festival. You need a love for credible music, attention to detail, experience in spreadsheets, a bubbly personality and skills in Photoshop, In Design, Illustrator, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word. Submit your resume, along with your ten favourite albums and why you love them, to Megan Reeder Hope at megan@secretservice.com.au by December 21.

HMV HOSES DOWN X FACTOR SCANDAL HMV Britain apologised after it uploaded a pre-order of the new single by X Factor UK’s winner, naming finalist Amelia Lily five days before its final on the weekend. It created a mini-scandal that the competition was rigged, and the winner pre-fixed. But HMV explained it also meant to upload the single under the names of the other finalists, Marcus Collins and Little Mix, but goofed.

BLUE BEAT LAUNCHES IN SYDNEY Blue Beat, Sydney’s latest venue, has launched at 16-18 Cross Street in Kings Cross. It was set up by Chris Richards (former manager, co-owner and booker of The Basement) and Nicholas Rice (Bar Broadway, The Marquee). It opens 5.30pm to 3.30am; see bluebeat.com.au

KIMBRA, THE ART, OH MERCY OFF TO SXSW Kimbra, The Art and Oh Mercy are among Aussies off to SXSW. Others include Big Scary, Sparkadia, The Vasco Era, Busby

Lifelines Engaged: Isaac Koren of US-based Australian rock band The Kin, and New York based model and songwriter Sophie ‘sister of Gemma’ Ward Divorced: Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz have finalised their split. Ill: six weeks after revealing she has breast cancer, E! News host Giuliana Rancic, 37, says she will have a double mastectomy. Recovering: It’s been confirmed that Anthony Toohey — the ‘Becks’ half of MIX106.5FM’s Ant and Becks, who’s been off air for two months — has had a breakdown and will return in 2012. In Court: British guitarist Johnny Marr was fined £535 and lost his license for 56 days, for doing 72mph in a 40mph zone. In Court: Michael Simon Joseph Bottrill, 25, was fined $500 for drunkenly scaling 30 metres up the outside of Brisbane’s Rendezvous Hotel in Ann St. Died: US soul singer Dobie Gray (‘Drift Away’, ‘The In Crowd’), 71. Died: Sydney community radio presenter and SWR FM board member Paul Hussey, 59, after suffering a heart attack on air during his drive shift. Died: Annie Smith, who presented Metalmania on 2REM Albury, from a motorbike accident on November 17. Died: Barbara Orbison, widow and manager of Roy Orbison, 60, after being hospitalised since May. Died: Mississippi blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin, best known as axeman for Howlin’ Wolf, from a heart attack, aged 80. Died: Grammy winning Philly soul singer Howard Tate (‘Get It While You Can’), 72. His superb voice was eventually let down by his drug addiction. Died: Philip ‘Fattis’ Burrell, Jamaican reggae producer (Sugar Minnott, Luciano), manager and head of Xterminator Records, 57, from a stroke

Marou, Electric Empire, Grace Woodroofe, Voltaire Twins, Pets With Pets, Emma Louise, Jonti, Gold Fields, Electric Jellyfish, Dead Letter Circus, Clubfeet, The Black Ryder and Lanie Lane.

attention advertisers Our next issue is our last issue of 2011, and it hits the streets Monday December 19. We’ll be back in the office on January 3, with our first issue of 2012 out on January 9 – so make sure you book all your New Year’s Eve and holiday season ads into next week’s issue! N A DA M BE :: – Please send all artwork, gig guide listings and press releases to coverTDecember January 9S :: O P D O G ) 19 GRAPHERS : TIM LEVY ( TO E LY P H O O U R LOV O IBANEZ :: G E I before 5pm on Thursday December 15. And we’ll see you in the new year! Happy holidays! D : : A D U K U F I H S O S K I : : S AT

N KO W DA N I E L B O U D : : V I C F R A T :: SEXYNINJAMONKEY L E Y M A R : : K AT E M O F FAT H S A : : K E Z RYC K N I C R A M Thanks, The Brag ERS... ROCK ON! LT WA S I R H C N S TA N T O N : : : : J O S H UA S O U T H : : J O H

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TINTIN TIMELINE 1907 – Georges Remi is born, Belgium. 1927 – Starts work as ‘assistant cartoonist’ at conservative Belgian newspaper, adopts the nom de plume ‘Hergé’ (his initials – G.R. – reversed and pronounced in French: air– zhay). 1929 – The very first adventure, Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, is published in serial form, as weekly comic strips in the youth supplement of his paper.

Andy Serkis and Jamie Bell as the odd couple

1932 – Hergé meets Chang Chong-chen, a student at the Brussels Academy of Fine Arts, and takes him on as an adviser for his forthcoming adventure, The Blue Lotus; Chang suggests that he infuse his tales with real events, spurring an obsession for historical research that was to last the remainder of Hergé’s career. 1976 – Tintin and the Picaros, the 23rd (and final) Tintin adventure, is published.

Blistering Blue Barnacles! Our Favourite Globe-Trotting Boy Reporter Tackles 3D! By Dee Jefferson & Kelly Griffin

f you’re one of the few still scratching their head and wondering why the Boxing Day release of The Adventures Of Tintin is such a big deal then read ahead, as we unpack a little of the vast cultural legacy that began in 1929 with a comic strip in a humble Belgian newspaper, about an intrepid boy reporter and his fox terrier side-kick. As it stands today, Hergé’s Tintin tales have sold more than 350 million copies worldwide, been translated into more than 80 languages, and even spawned a bona fide branch of cultural studies known as Tintinology. To experience this Tintin mania first hand, you only have to read the emotionally-charged media coverage that has been unfolding over the last two months, as Spielberg’s silver screen adaptation was released in Europe and the UK, where the mania is at its strongest; people feel really strongly about their Tintin. “What makes him so intriguing is his relentless pursuit of the truth,” says director and Tintin convert Steven Spielberg, “although that always leads him down some treacherous paths. It often seems he’s gotten himself into terrible trouble, but somehow he finds a way out. From the first reading, I knew that Tintin and I were destined for some kind of collaboration.”

FILM SPECS

CAST: Jamie Bell (Tintin), Andy Serkis (Captain Haddock), Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Thompson & Thomson), Daniel Craig (Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine – the bad guy). KEY CREATIVES: Steven Spielberg (producer and director), Peter ‘LOTR’ Jackson (producer and second unit director), Joe Letteri and Weta Digital (visual effects), plus a writing team of Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), Joe Cornish (Attack The Block) and Stevan Moffat (BBC’s Doctor Who)

TECH SPECS Some of the biggest thrills of watching The Adventures Of Tintin are the extended fight and chase sequences, in which the camerawork seems completely unfettered by physical or technical constraints – because in a way, it is. Spielberg and Jackson – both pros when it comes to shooting live action films – pushed for the creation of a new system that allowed them and Academy Award-winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski to wield a ‘virtual camera’ inside a fully-built virtual environment, created by the animation team.

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This virtual environment was then digitally superimposed on a blank sound stage called ‘the Volume’ – which to a naked eye looked like a white-and-grey box. The ceiling of this space was rigged with 100 high-definition cameras, which capture the movements and facial performances of the cast (who were also fitted with special reflective dots, which the cameras pick up) and render their performance on top of the virtual world. What does all that mean? Basically, Spielberg & Co. were able to shoot

For young British actor Jamie Bell (who shot to fame playing the title role in Billy Elliot, and more recently starred in Jane Eyre alongside Michael Fassbender and Australian Mia Wasikowska) being cast in the eponymous lead role for The Adventures Of Tintin was momentous in both a career and a personal sense.

“When I watched the cartoons as a little boy, I wanted to do everything he did. I wanted to be heroic, I wanted to be courageous, and I wanted to travel the world,” he remembers fondly. “What set Tintin apart from all the other characters I was watching as a kid was that he was solving political corruption; he wasn’t just blowing stuff up, he was dealing with the problems of the world – and I thought that was very noble.” On set, Bell and fellow cast-members were rigged with the latest version of the performance-capture technology that Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital utilised in The Lord Of The Rings, Avatar and Rise Of The Planet Of the Apes. Acting alongside Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and “the Gandalf of motion-capture,” Andy Serkis (who has played Gollum, King Kong, and more recently, Caesar in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes), Bell says he felt he was “in good hands” working with the new technology.

“What I realised was that my involvement with the technology and what I actually had to do was no different from what I’d do on a live-action movie anyway,” says Bell. “It’s not like you’re having to act any differently, and so motion-capture becomes another tool for the actor and another way of recording that actor’s performance. So once I figured that out, it was less complicated, less confusing.” On working with Spielberg, Bell says, “Steven has a direct link to that cavity in people’s hearts, that sense of nostalgia; he has a key to that part of your heart. There’s no other filmmaker who has managed to do that.” Naming Close Encounters Of A Third Kind and Heavenly Creatures as his favourite Spielberg and Jackson films respectively, Bell says, “Both those guys are great creators of worlds. The world of Middle Earth is unbelievable; what a rich, vibrant, colourful and dangerous place that is. And the world of Jurassic Park – what an unpredictable, rollercoaster ride that was. They’re both really good at taking you somewhere, and when you leave you feel like you miss that world. We had to recreate the universe of Tintin, and there’s no two better guys to do that.” – KG

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost play Thompson & Thomson

1983 –Spielberg approaches Hergé for the film rights, shortly before the artist’s death in March. Hergé says that Spielberg is the only director he believes can do his series cinematic justice. 2006 – To mark the centenary of his birth, the Pompidou Centre in Paris (equivalent of Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney or MoMA in New York) open a major Hergé exhibition, tipping his body of work as significant to 20th Century art history. Spielberg asks Peter Jackson and his visual effects studio Weta Digital (behind The Lord Of The Rings series and Avatar) to test some motion capture and 3D animation techniques for him; when they come back with a perfect Snowy, he suggests they partner-up to bring Tintin to the big screen. 2007 – Spielberg and Peter Jackson announce a threepicture deal for Tintin. 2009 – January: principal production starts on The Adventures Of Tintin, in Los Angeles. 2011 – October 11: The Adventures Of Tintin has its World Premiere in Brussels.

the film (albeit in low res) and see the results in real time. “I didn’t want to divest myself of those instinctive moments that occur on traditional sets, so we came up with a new way to make it more seamless,” the director explains. Finally, Spielberg and his long-time collaborator Michael Kahn edited the film and delivered a final cut to

Jackson’s Weta Digital visual effects studio, to do the labour- and timeintensive animation and effects, and begin the behemoth rendering process (93 minutes of footage, with 24 frames per second, and each frame taking between four and five hours to render…). Long story short? This is animation as you’ve never seen it before.

Want more Tintin? Check out: • Tom McCarthy’s Tintin and the Secret of Literature – in which he compares Hergé’s oeuvre to Balzac, Joseph Conrad and Charles Dickens! • Michael Farr’s Tintin: the Complete Companion • Harry Thompson’s Tintin: Hergé and His Creation – for more info about how Hergé’s life influenced his work. • Jean-Marie Apostolides’ The Metamorphosis of Tintin: or Tintin for Adults – for a psychoanalytic take on Hergé’s characters and themes • tintinologist.org – the place where Tintin obsessives convene.

STORY: The Adventures Of Tintin fuses elements of three separate Tintin adventures: The Crab With The Golden Claws (1941), in which Tintin first meets irascible booze hound Captain Haddock, and The Secret Of the Unicorn (1943) and Red Rackham’s Treasure (1944), in which the two team up to hunt down the three model ships that hold vital clues to the location of a pirate treasure. The result, says Spielberg, is “part-mystery, part-detective story, as well as a pure unapologetic adventure, all built around a tremendous story of friendship, loyalty and belief between Captain Haddock and Tintin.”

BEING TINTIN

1981 – Spielberg first hears of Tintin during the French publicity tour for Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, during which a review compares his film to Hergé’s chronicles. He has an assistant buy all 23 Tintin volumes, and the first one he reads is The Seven Crystal Balls.

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The Red Paintings Start A Revolution By Benjamin Cooper

ome people dream of making exciting music, but wilt at the endless rejection of the industry; others lose focus on their artistic goals amidst the swirl of publicity and back-slapping. Not Trash McSweeney, though. The frontman of Geelong via Los Angeles orchestral prog rock/theatre/art collective The Red Paintings is on a short sojourn to Australia, and tells me he can’t help but give his art his all. “To be honest man, I really don’t know how to go in half-arsed. I never hold back.” The group’s journey has shades of the epic, beginning with their inception in Geelong before McSweeney’s shift to Brisbane, which saw an almost entirely new lineup and the kind of profile that comes with supporting Missy Higgins and playing at Big Day Out. With even more attention following the release of a number of EPs and a live album, McSweeney started to find it difficult to focus on the task at hand: engaging with and pushing the boundaries of his music. “I think the biggest fault of the band at the time was we were not aware enough yet,” he says. “I remember triple j hammering [2005 EP] Walls, and people kept asking, ‘When’s the band gonna come up with an album?’ And inside I’m thinking,

‘Oh my god, this is insane!’ But then we kept working ... and we worked very hard – but we just didn’t get anywhere in Australia.” In fact, the group did notch up significant achievements in Australia, with their local legacy demonstrated by a domestic fan base who helped raise the funds the Red Paintings needed to record their long-awaited debut album, The Revolution Is Never Coming. The relationship between the group and its supporters is curiously democratic; their upcoming 2012 Australian tour, for instance, is going ahead thanks to Facebook ‘likes’. “I wouldn’t have come if there wasn’t a thousand likes up on the Facebook page,” McSweeney says. “I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen. It’s pretty incredible.” Australian fans will be rewarded for their dedication with the full live Red Paintings experience. “We still have a string section and all the trimmings... Usually when you tour you’ll cut down to a three piece to keep costs down, but I’ve got 13 people so far on ours!” In spite of the ardent support of their followers, when McSweeney started shopping around his conceptualisation of the group’s debut record way back in 2006, he encountered a less than encouraging home market. “Regardless of who it was, every person I sat around with [in the industry] looked at what we were trying to do with the music and the visuals and they pretty much all said, ‘You’re making The War of The Worlds. Australia isn’t ready.’” The shift to America in 2007 was only natural, but the land of excess presented its own pitfalls. After having “a lot of money spent on our recordings”, McSweeney was taken aback by the sub-par production. “I was listening back to it, looking around the room thinking, ‘What the...?’ I really wanted it to be as big as a Muse record, but [the production] wasn’t what I wanted.” But it’s looking up these days. “Things are really good with the band at the moment,” he confides. “I’ve actually just started sleeping again and dreaming again, after five years of not being able to. I think a lot of it comes back to the space you’re in. I’ve met some really good artists that have been painting with us in the States, plus I’m living with our bass player and our photographer,” he muses. “I guess the lifestyle of the band will bring some critics, but there’s so much feeling in what we do that people who have a closer look are usually won over. I know that people don’t like you to educate them; they can sense they’re being sold something. So I use metaphors,” he explains. “I’m not just going to do this so people can have a good time. There’s also something of the ‘How can I help people to be more positive in the world?’”

“I guess the lifestyle of the band will bring some critics, but there’s so much feeling in what we do that people who have a closer look are usually won over.” His own positive outlook is encouraged by sunny Brisbane, where McSweeney is temporarily staying with his uncle. “Brisbane is honestly my favourite city in the world. It’s just so chilled out. I’ve just come up here from my younger brother’s wedding – he got married at Werribee Zoo [Victoria], and through the ceremony there was this silverback gorilla going batshit in the background, jumping up and down on a tree, grunting. We’re all just sitting there watching this huge gorilla, then the guy says ‘You may kiss the bride’, and then there’s this loud noise and it’s like, whoa, gorilla chorus!” In addition to touring through 2012, the group will be releasing a series of new music videos. “The next three videos were directed by me. They’re kinda like if you walked into the left-hand side of Bjork’s head, but it was mashed into the inside of Trash McSweeney’s and The Red Paintings’ heads. It took me three and half years to edit, and it’s definitely coming out next.” The new year will also offer Australian audiences the latest development from the collective’s stage show: ‘The Black Paintings’. “I’ve actually built a stage show that’s inspired by black holes,” McSweeney says. “It basically explains how the human race is a kind of black hole. We’ve got human galaxies with canvases floating around the space. It’s going to be amazing.” What: The Revolution Is Never Coming is due for release next year When: Wednesday January 11

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Xxxxx

Where: The Factory Theatre

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Oscar + Martin Living The Highlife By Luke Telford

arlier this year, Melbourne’s Oscar + Martin released their first album, For You. It’s charming and playful, indebted as much to modern RnB and hip hop as to avant-garde pop. And it sounds as though they don’t take any influence for granted; one track plays like mutant doo wop, underpinned by naggingly dense percussion, and the next almost resembles a tranquilised Usher tune, with little but rubbish-tip percussion to cling to amidst indolent swirls of bubbling, textural synth. Listened to as a whole, one of the most striking things about the record is its consistency; it’s clear the pair share a few ideas about music.

“We both really appreciate the idiosyncratic side of sound,” says Oscar Slorach-Thorn. “We like finding objects and using tape and broken things – obscure sounds and interesting rhythms. But then we also really appreciate RnB and pop and that kind of stuff, in a very similar way. We both like romantic stuff, too. And stuff about dancing.” Dancing. That’s one thing this music can lord over most of its peers in Australia. Without any contrivance or apparent pretence, an Oscar + Martin live set somehow manages to make

everyone in a room move unselfconsciously. Arrangements melt and become malleable, billowing into jams in which both members abandon their instruments to cut loose along with the crowd. That it manages to successfully pour elements of highlife and Afrobeat into an already packed sound can be understood in the context of the music that informed the record. “I was listening to a lot of soul at the time – like Curtis Mayfield and Al Green and Marvin Gaye. But there was also stuff like Flying Lotus,” says Oscar. “With the highlife stuff, Martin’s parents run a thing called the Bawat, which is an international music thing. I really like to dance to it, and like the feel of stuff like that.” Perhaps most importantly, For You reveals two young dudes who have their heads firmly screwed on with respect to the process of writing and arranging pop music. Some of the tracks sound as though they only just hold together for all of their generic allusions and muted weirdness, but everything – from rudimentary guitar to happy accidents arising out tape-loop experiments – has been carefully considered. This respect for the elements of a piece of music makes sense in light of Slorach-Thorn’s other musical love. “I listen to a lot of modern classical stuff like Benjamin Britten, Gavin Bryars, and Steve Reich,” he says. “I listen to that probably about 50% of the time.”

“We both really appreciate the idiosyncratic side of sound. We like finding objects and using tape and broken things – obscure sounds and interesting rhythms...” Curiously, he has the most to say about spiritual minimalist Arvo Pärt. The appeal of this composer to him is apparently ineffable, although Oscar does his best to explain it. “Arvo Pärt I listen to more than anything,” he says. “To me, it’s the sense of relationship within his music and the fact that there are clear melodic figures – the way that there is, within his music, a sense of strife and a sense of grief and flaw, and struggle. And within that music, as well, an absoluteness that comforts that struggle, holds it to itself, and caresses it within. Every single sound is so equally important.” This throws new light onto For You. Note how whole the pieces sound, in spite of their disparate and sometimes eccentric elements. It’s even more remarkable given that Oscar’s method of composition couldn’t be more different from how you’d imagine Pärt would write. “Most of my songs I write while riding my bike,” he says, “so I’m quite adept at doing chest hits and clicks and claps and stuff to make a beat – and I’ll just sing along to that while riding.” Far from an indie affectation, this has more to do with the peace and absence of distraction that often accompanies exercise. “Your body’s just in a loop, and your mind has more space than it ever does, really,” he says. “You’ve just really got this internal place that you can kind of contemplate on things, and things just come up into your brain. They just sort of appear.” Once the spark of an idea has emerged, SlorachThorn spins it into perspective by recording and re-recording demos. Given that this results in a number of final versions for some tracks – ‘Chaine Maile’ has no fewer than three finished versions – and that the music itself is so intricately layered, it comes as something of a surprise that no remixes have yet surfaced. “It’s actually a bit heartbreaking,” he says. “We’ve set up a whole bunch of remixes, but the hard drive we had all of our sessions on carked it, and it’s been getting file restoration done. We’re picking it up tomorrow, actually, and then we’re going to be sending out a lot of stems to hopefully get four or five remixes done over the summer.” For such a restless-sounding act, it’s unsurprising that they’ve got a lot in the pipeline for 2012. Besides producing a hip hop record for a friend, Oscar shyly admits a solo record will see the light of day in the next few months, as well as more O+M material shortly thereafter. “Martin and I have a bunch of work that we are developing, and kind of figuring out. We definitely want to make another album, and possibly not play as many shows in the mid-year – and then I would, ideally, like to take the music overseas.” What: ‘What I Know’ single launch With: Mrs. Bishop, Flume, Conics When: Friday December 16

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Xxxxx

Where: Oxford Art Factory

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The Checks

Seether

One Deadly Summer By Jonno Seidler

Staying Power By Nina Bertok Morgan says that at the end of the day, the formula has been simple: just keep it simple. “There’s no fireworks or pyro or anything like that when you come to see us,” the singer explains. “We don’t rely on any distractions to entertain you – I think our music speaks for itself. We’ve never been into gimmicks and trends actually – we’ve watched them come and go! I was in a place for a long time where I always felt a level of insecurity about what we do, and it’s only now that my eyes are starting to open as to the talent and ability of this band.

sk Seether frontman Shaun Morgan about some of his personal highlights of 2011, and he’ll tell you his single ‘Country Song’ going gold in the United States tops the list – as does a Loudwire nomination for Rock Album Of The Year… “And that’s just today’s news,” Morgan laughs. It’s no wonder the South African rock trio are looking towards 2012 with great expectations. “It’s been phenomenal – we beat Evanescence and Foo Fighters in the Album Of The Year category,” enthuses Morgan. “There’s a part of me that’s really going ‘Yes!’, but it gets even better because the very last news I heard today was that ‘Country Song’ also turned out to be the most played rock song in the ‘States this year. And that’s today’s highlights! What makes it all the sweeter is that we’ve had such a long break, so to come back to this kind of reception is almost unheard of… We’ve never looked forward to the new year more than we do right now, because we have a lot more singles coming out – and next year is going to have twice as many tours. We normally do about 200 shows a year, but this year we only did 100 – it’s amazing that we’ve done so well based on that.” After a few years’ absence since 2007’s Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces, the band certainly received a very heartwarming welcome back – and the sheer fact that Seether is even still going is probably even more surprising for the singer. Having survived just about every trend that came and inevitably disappeared over the last ten years,

“We’ve never fit into the music business mould; we’ve always been a rock band, but which kind of rock band? This band has survived the emo trend, the screamo trend, the whole gothic prettyboy bullshit scene. Now [the industry’s] gone back to the cock-rock of the ‘80s glam days, and in the meantime we’re still beating them in the charts. We’ve always been about rock and chaos and all of that too, but for us the rock’n’roll and the getting drunk and the getting laid has always come before the posturing. That’s the difference.” Coming straight from the heart rather than the fashion pages has certainly played a big part in their success. On their new album, Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray, Seether learned to let go and say goodbye – to love, family and friends all at once. Talk about a rough four years… “There comes a certain point in your life when you realise you’re holding onto things that have become negative factors in your life,” Morgan explains. “That could mean relationships, friendships, or family – sometimes, unfortunately, it means all three at the same time. There’s no point harbouring grudges and projecting negativity and carrying that shit around; these days I would much rather just let it go. This album has been a bit of a sounding board for me, in order to understand [that] these relationships have been poison for me and that I need to move on. Sometimes these decisions are difficult, but you know they’re for the sake of your own sanity.”

ew Zealand’s The Checks burst out of the garage rock revolution at the beginning of the last decade, alongside the likes of The Strokes and The Hives. The band who the best in the world want as their support are getting set to preview their new record Deadly Summer Sway and launch its lead single ‘Candyman Shimmer’ at GoodGod next week. Having played alongside the big guns, including AC/DC, Oasis and the now-defunct R.E.M, drummer Jacob Moore tells me that it’s been a long road for his hard-working group, but they’re happy with where they’re at. It’s no secret that the Checks were heavily inspired by The Strokes, but that’s not their only defining influence these days. Having been in the game for such a long innings, Moore cites “big and small bands, including The Mint Chicks, The Hives and Coshercot Honeys” as some of the groups who keep them on their toes. “You learn how to be professional by playing with the big bands, and you learn how to be mean by working with the smaller bands,” he laughs. The Checks, like the true stalwarts they are, are on tour pretty much all of the time. Having just completed a gigantic loop of their native nation, they’re about to head off on another jaunt that will incorporate the Australian East Coast – and you have to wonder how the hell they do it. Moore is typically stoic about the amount of road and air miles his band is racking up. “Look, it’s great just being out there and doing it, you know?” he says. “We get to see how the audience respond to new tracks and how the songs change throughout the tour.” Deadly Summer Sway began life in an abandoned office block in Auckland’s CBD, which became The Check’s 24-hour living-and-working space. Their manager took over the floor and began renting out the space to artists in order to supplement the band’s income. “We had lots of late nights with Bassy Bob [Brockman, Grammyaward winning producer] in there, and sometimes it got a little hairy,” Moore admits. “The fire alarm

went off a few times and we just kept going. You can actually hear it on one of the tracks, ‘Jetplane’. But it was really inspiring to not have any limits on ourselves and get the work done.” Of course, you can’t actually put out a record that you mocked up in an empty building, so the group soon relocated to greener pastures, otherwise known as Roundhead Studio, owned by none of than NZ rock royalty Neil Finn. The Checks are fiercely patriotic when it comes to talking about their country. “New Zealand has a great history of very different interesting music genres, and it’s certainly a lot to be proud of,” he says. “Most of these indie bands that are becoming popular now sound like old ‘70s and ‘80s groups [anyway].” On working with Brockman, an industry heavyweight who has worked with The Fugees and TLC among others, he’s relatively evenhanded. “Usually the heavier these ‘heavyweights’ are, the more apprehensive you are about working with them,” Moore says. “Naturally you assume that people who are puffed up are full of air and not actually that good, but that wasn’t the case with Bob. He really brought out a new side to our playing.” Having ditched SonyBMG to go independent (“been there, done that”), and already garnering praise from all sorts of international outlets and local press, it looks like The Checks may be puffing themselves up before long. “We’re just enjoying the experience. Any chance to get our stuff out there and go overseas is a good one for us.” What: ‘Candyman Shimmer’ is out now With: Underlights, Thieves, Pineapple Head Where: GoodGod Small Club When: Thursday December 15 More: Also playing with Andy Clockwise at Upstairs Beresford on Saturday December 17.

What: Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray is out now Where: The Metro Theatre When: Sunday February 5

Deerhoof This Could Actually Work By Christine Lan

reg Saunier could talk all day, but speaks with a genuine enthusiasm that immediately makes him stand out. Few musicians are more captivating live and even fewer communicate more passionately than the Deerhoof drummer/musical genius. It’s this deep-seated fervour that may explain why the US experimental rock/noise-pop quartet – completed by Saunier’s wife Satomi Matsuzaki (lead vocals/bass), John Dieterich (guitar) and Ed Rodriguez (guitar) – are among alternative music’s most vibrant mavericks. “My passion for music was uncontrollable even as a kid,” says Saunier, whose sentences are often punctuated by a gleeful giggle. “I always knew it was what I wanted to do, even as I became politicised and saw my friends going into what seemed more useful pursuits, like being a doctor, politician or working for a foundation. I knew there was no way I was going to be happy unless I was making music. I felt compelled to do it. Music is practice for interacting on other levels and [in other] aspects of life.” Despite the mind-blowing showcase of drumming that Saunier demonstrates at each Deerhoof gig, his sticks have always come second to his songwriting. “Drums isn’t a daily thing for me – songwriting or considered music-making as a compositional thing is... I’m often writing songs on guitar or in my head.” It’s an approach that’s similar to one

of Saunier’s all-time favourite drummers, Charlie Watts from The Rolling Stones. “Charlie uses his drumming to punctuate a phrase or something special that just happened on the guitar,” Saunier enthuses. “He’s very much reacting to the playing and energy, and I really admire that very much. He’s all about what’s happening around him and not about what he’s doing. I try to be as unconscious of what I’m playing as I can, because I want to really be listening to everyone else and riding the weight that they’re creating on whatever waters we’re sailing across. Sometimes I’m creating my own ripples in there too, but a lot of times it’s an automatic or intuitive reaction to what I’m already hearing.” The thematic vision of Deerhoof’s tenth album, Deerhoof vs. Evil, began to form after Saunier read an article about Poland’s reputation as “the merriest barracks in Europe” under Soviet domination; it inspired a theme which revolved around the interrelation between light and darkness, order and chaos, good and evil. “As a thematic idea, it was trying to explore that particular type of humour ... of being able to smile even when things are going very poorly around you, that goes back to Poland’s history; a way of putting perspective on the trials and tribulations that life throws at you. “I don’t consider myself to be someone who’s gone through any kind of real difficulty in life compared to slavery, racism, war or

totalitarian governments,” Saunier continues. “Nevertheless, the wisdom that comes across in certain cultural expressions, whether music or other art forms, or even in just a conversation with a group of homeless people outside a venue where you just played a show – those kind of things teach you something and stick with you and they can have an impact somewhere deep inside that trains you as a human being for how to live, how to feel and think when you do come into contact with your own miniscule adversities.” It’s no surprise that the thrillingly unpredictable four-piece are already venturing into foreign terrain for their next album. “We’re at that point where we’re starting to plot what our next move might be for our next record,” Saunier says, “so we’re in that free brainstorm/let-yourimagination-wander phase, and looking for inspiration somewhere. What I feel like I’ve learned over the years is not so much how to write songs, but how to recognise when an idea has just presented itself to you. It may come in a form of something that looks nothing like a song or idea, but if you’re aware enough, you’ll notice and go, ‘Wait a second, this could actually work’.” What: Deerhoof vs. Evil is out now With: DJ Yamantaka Eye (The Boredoms) Where: Keystone Festival Bar @ Sydney Festival When: Monday January 9

“From the cradle to the grave you will always be a slave to the quiet darkness of your memories” - LUCINDA WILLIAMS 20 :: BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11

Architecture In Helsinki

SYDNEY FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE

In The Moment By Joshua Kloke

tuffed up, sniffling and in general quite depleted, Cameron Bird is suffering from a bad cold. “The road, you know?” he says dryly, between sniffs. It’s an elusive comment, but one that makes total sense if take a look at Aussie heroes Architecture In Helsinki’s recent schedule. This year alone, the band has had three separate tours of Europe, have made stops in exotic touring locales like Vilinus and Beirut, and are currently winding their way down the East Coast of the United States. They’ll finally make their way back into the Southern Hemisphere, including a headlining spot at ‘NYE On The Harbour’ at Cargo Bar at the end of the year. Sensing that Bird was hiding something salacious up his sleeve, it’s worth asking if any touring vices are to blame for his illness... “No, not really,” he answers. “I try not to overindulge too much on the road. But I do have a whole whack of herbal remedies and the like by my side, so I’m hoping to get this thing cleared up in the next day or two.” Bird’s ability to run through a handful of interviews while fighting a cold and still stay focused for the next day symbolises the resiliency of Architecture In Helsinki as a whole. From humble Fitzroy roots in 1999, to opening slots for Death Cab For Cutie, Belle and Sebastian and David Byrne, it’s been a steady climb for the band – and it’s not one they’re willing to give up on any time soon. Before the release of Moment Bends, their latest full-length record, members of the band were living in various locations across the globe. While this kind of distance can often drive some bands apart, Bird insists that the physical disconnect actually brought the band closer together when they did return to the studio. “We were all so fresh with ideas,” he says. “We’d all been writing so much that when we did start recording, things began to emerge like never before.” Bird can’t be faulted for sounding proud of Moment Bends. It’s an expansive listen, weaving together synth-laden textures and genuine pop numbers, all infused with a general sense of buoyancy and elation. Though Moment Bends does indeed borrow heavily from pop luminaries of the past, it still contains a certain indie sensibility – a concoction that saw the record nominated for the 2011 J Award for Album Of The Year. So are Architecture In Helsinki on the verge of becoming the next fullblown pop sensations? Bird isn’t so sure. “[The band members] are fans of pop, sure. I don’t know who could actually resist a well-crafted pop song. Stuff like Michael Jackson – I mean, you can’t really deny that. But we’re fans of all kinds of music, so I don’t really want to limit us. Our next record’s sound could be taken in any direction.” Architecture In Helsinki’s genre-bending formula has certainly served them well so far. Fingers Crossed, their 2003 debut full-length, was filled with the rich and textured pop tunes that the

“I don’t know who could actually resist a well-crafted pop song. But we’re fans of all kinds of music. Our next record’s sound could be taken in any direction.” band would soon become renowned for, and included a hefty variety of instruments, from glockenspiels to tubas. From the beginning, Architecture In Helsinki could not be pinned down – and 2005’s In Case We Die and 2007’s Places Like This saw the band continue to push themselves. When it came time to record Moment Bends, which was a two-year procedure, AiH returned to Melbourne to record in Buckingham Palace, the band’s home studio (named for a massive photo mural of Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham on the studio wall). Bird maintains that the band was treated “very well” upon their return – and save for “a bunch of new clubs opening and some others closed,” Melbourne is still the same warm, vibrant city that they once called home. This renewed relationship with their hometown could be the reason for their hook-laden, pop-happy approach, but one thing is for certain; after a year spent touring the world, Architecture in Helsinki will be ready to return home again. For the three years leading up to their 2011 tour, the band essentially gigged only at festivals – so they are well accustomed to playing to crowds of thousands. And following the huge New Years Eve party, AiH will return to the festival circuit, playing one of the country’s most venerable festivals: Big Day Out. Between some of today’s pop heavyweights, Architecture In Helsinki will bring their sound to the masses who’ve been pining for them. “It’s our first time playing the festival, and we couldn’t be more excited. I mean, it really is a big day out, isn’t it? I can remember as a teenager, saving up my cash, getting together with your buddies and just spending the day listening to all kinds of acts.” Cameron Bird may be a little under the weather now, but it’s hard to imagine anything keeping him or his band down. With: Bag Raiders (DJ Set), Yacht Club DJs, Sampology (AV/DJ set), French Horn Rebellion (USA) and loads more Where: NYE On The Harbour @ Cargo Bar; final release & VIP tickets still available More: Also playing at Big Day Out, alongside Kanye West, Soudgarden and more, at Sydney Showground on Thursday January 26

FIRST EVER AUSTRALIAN PERFORMANCES Monday January 9 | Enmore Theatre Ticketek: 132 849 | sydneyfestival.org.au/manu

Also appearing at Festival First Night on Saturday January 7

BRAG :: 437 :: 07:11:11 :: 21

2011 FBi SMAC AWARDS Voting closes Wednesday January 4; to have your say, head to smacawards.com

Bi Radio’s Sydney Music, Art & Culture awards are back for their fourth year, with a lineup of nominees that reads like a shopping list of everything that makes Sydneysiders happy. “These awards are important because they remind people of all the excellent things happening right here under our noses,” says FBi’s Creative Director Alice Fenton, “and because they celebrate things that don’t really get a mention anywhere else: collectives, interesting uses of public space, arts events, and people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make this a better place to live.” At the end of the day, it’s all about YOU, and what makes YOU happy; to help you vote for your favourites, we’ve listed the nominees below for your perusal – now all you have to do is choose.

2010’s awards at National Art School

Holly Austin - Boxing Day (Old Fitz) Tim Stitz - Lloyd Beckmann, Beekeeper (Old Fitz) Nick Coyle - Me, Pregnant! (Old Fitz) Post (Zoe Coombs Marr, Mish Grigor and Eden Falk) - Who’s The Best (STC) Belinda Bromilow - This Year’s Ashes (Griffin) Claudia O’Doherty - What Is Soil Erosion? (Belvior) Gareth Davies and Charlie Garber - Masterclass (Imperial Panda Festival)

The SMAC Awards ceremony (hosted by Max Lavergne) will be broadcast live on Thursday January 19

NEXT BIG THING

presented by Alberts Oliver Tank – The co-winner of FBi Radio’s Northern Lights comp (which sent him all the way to Reykjavic), Oliver Tank’s EP Dreams showcased his chilled-out twist to that James Blake sound, to masterful, intimate and dazzling effect. Catcall – Catcall dropped off the scene after the Neapolitan EP of 2007, but she’s well and truly back; signing to Ivy League in 2010, releasing the retro-funk insta-classic ‘Swimming Pool’, and getting set to let loose her debut record in 2012. Jonti –The first Aussie album released through Stonesthrow, Jonti’s brilliant debut record Twirligig won him shout-outs from Tyler, The Creator and ?uestlove, a collab with Hodgy Beats, and writeups on every blog the world has ever seen. Lanie Lane – Jack White took an interest in Sydney’s rockabilly queen this year, inviting her to Nashville to lay down two tracks at his iconic Third Man studio. Her debut LP To The Horses followed in October, and continues to be played in every well-dressed café/bar/saloon in town. Matt Corby – Matt Corby spent this year throwing off the stigma of his Australian Idol past by building a cult local following with his Secret Garden shows; his Into The Flame EP is an intimate collection of warm, rounded, superb songs that belie his super-young age. Royal Headache – Everyone’s favourite pop-garage-punkers lived up to a rabid onslaught of hype when they launched their debut LP – and who can forget that infamous Repressed Records in-store, which crammed up King Street for hours? Dudes can write a tune. WIM – Meld the drama of Rufus Wainwright with the harmonies of Fleet Foxes and the madness of Bowie, and you’re getting close to Wim. Their self-titled debut was released through Modular this year, with the next one destined to be huge.

Last year’s winner: The Jezabels

Last year’s winner: Greedy Hen for ‘There’s Nothing In The Water’ by Cloud Control

Alps - ‘Sail Away’ Flume - ‘Sleepless (feat. Anthony & Cleopatra)’ Ghoul - ‘Lodum (Rising)’ Hermitude - ‘Speak Of The Devil’ Jack Ladder - ‘Cold Feet’ Jonathan Boulet - ‘You’re A Animal’ Matt Corby - ‘Brother’ Melodie Nelson - ‘My Johnny’ Lime Cordiale - ‘Say It’ Nantes - ‘Fly’ Palms - ‘The Summer Is Done With Us’ The Rescue Ships - ‘On The Air’ Last year’s winner: Guineafowl - ‘In Our Circles’

RECORD OF THE YEAR

Africa Hitech - 93 Million Miles Belles Will Ring - Crystal Theatre Megastick Fanfare - Grit Aglow Collarbones - Iconography Lanie Lane - To The Horses Royal Headache - Royal Headache Seekae - +Dome Last year’s winner: Cloud Control - Bliss Release

BEST MUSIC EVENT Goodgod Long Birthday Nights Radiant Live VOID Rabbit Hole Hoops Wormwood Mad Racket Last year’s winner: Changing Lanes

REMIX THE CITY Alaska Projects – This new artist-run-initiative exhibits art in the basement of a Kings Cross carpark. The Gate presents No Fixed Address – An indie music showcase that started off with gigs in a backyard in Ryde, before upgrading to a roving schedule. Jurassic Lounge – This weekly soirée puts music, arts, activities and booze in with the dinosaur and precious gem exhibits at the Australian Museum. Art & About – City Of Sydney’s annual public art festival, bringing performance, photography and arts-and-crafts into the street.

Jinja Safari at 2010’s SMACs

presented by Allans & Billy Hyde Music Thundamentals The Jezabels Jinja Safari Kirin J. Callinan Step-Panther The Snowdroppers The Laurels Last year’s winner: Cloud Control

BEST SONG

Last year’s winner: Toby Schmitz - Measure For Measure

The Paper Mill – An artist-run-initiative in Angel Place, devoted to paper-based arts and projects. Queen Street Studios – An artist-run-initiative and studiospace located in the former Carlton Brewery precinct, on Broadway. Last year’s winner: Art & About for Sydney Statues, Oh Alfred! and the Laneway Art project

MAJOR FESTIVAL

presented by BRAG

Harvest – The inaugural Harvest: The Gathering won back as many fans as promoters Soundwave saddened after they called off their Revolution. The all-killer lineup (Flaming Lips, Portishead, Bright Eyes, The National…) and intimate, lavish, art-filled surroundings will be hard to top next year. Peats Ridge – Peats has always been the family-friendly NYE festival that festival haters love; a three-day music and arts extravaganza in the idyllic Glenworth Valley. This year it was Trentemøller, Built To Spill, PVT, Angus & Julia and all our finest local indie bands – and the weather was a treat. Vivid LIVE – Vivid LIVE 2011 was put together by Modular head honcho Stephen Pavlovic – and who else would be able to predict that The Cure, Spiritualized, Bat For Lashes, Chris Cunningham, Yo Gabba Gabba and Odd Future would look so damn good on the same lineup? Musica /Tumbalong – Another first-timer, the Musica festival at Tumbalong Park offered a rare chance for Sydney to celebrate underground electronica in the heart of the city, instead of the middle of the bush. SBTRKT, Lunice, Ghostpoet and Tiger & Woods headlined a day filled with more varied BPMs than you can point a rhythm stick at. Graphic – Sydney Opera House’s annual Graphic festival is a celebration of visual and musical storytelling, and this year brought together Reg Mombassa, Masaya Matsuura, Tekkon Kinkreet and more – including talks, workshops, games and screenings, plus Gotye’s spellbinding animated album launch of Making Mirrors. Last year’s winner: Laneway Festival

Jimmy Sing and Hana Shimada pick up the 2010 SMAC Of The Year for Goodgod Small Club

BEST VISUAL ARTIST

Dara Gill Bridie Connell Dan Boyd Daniel O’Toole (aka Ears) Justin Shoulder Tim Moore Last years’ winner: Beastman

2010’s Record Of The Year winners Cloud Control

BEST COLLECTIVE presented by Pedestrian

Ampersand Magazine – An eclectic quarterly literary journal dedicated to the exploration of creativity and societal change through non-fiction, fiction, poetry and visual art. Dirty Shirlows – An artist-run-initiative/warehouse in Marrickville that has inherited Lanfranchis’ mantle as the home of Sydney’s underground music scene. Applespiel – A prolific Sydney-based performance collective that was forged in the furnaces of Wollongong Uni. Big Village – A Sydney-based independent hip hop label and collective whose roster includes Ellesquire, Tuka, True Vibenation, Rapaport, Daily Meds and Loose Change. Makeshift – Aka Tessa Zettel & Karl Khoe; a cross-disciplinary design studio with a focus on sustainable projects and installations. Dorkbot – A collective of people who do interesting/strange things with electricity, from robots to DIY guitar pedals and everything in-between.

Last year’s winner: Heaps Decent

BEST ARTS EVENT

Imperial Panda Festival – An annual showcase of Sydney’s creative (and comedic) talent, held in various nooks and crannies of the CBD, Surry Hills and Redfern. Gallery A.S. – The roving exhibitions project of Joseph Allen Shea of Izrock Pressings and ex-Monster Children Gallery fame. Late Night Library – A weekly arts/performance event held Xxxxxxxxxxxxx in Surry HIlls Library Outpost – A brand new annual graffiti and street art festival, housed on Cockatoo Island. Secret Wars – A regular series of live art battles. Underbelly Arts Festival + Public Lab – An annual showcase of Sydney’s emerging and experimental arts scene, that invites the public behind the scenes and was held this year on Cockatoo Island.

Last year’s winner: Superdeluxe@Artspace, for the 17th Biennale Of Sydney

BEST EATS

presented by The Thousands Sydney Youeni Provides - 379B South Dowling St, Darlinghurst The Dip - 55 Liverpool St, Chinatown Feather and Bone - Factory 1, 2-8 Parsons St, Rozelle Bar H - 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills Izakaya Fujiyama - Shop G09, 52 Waterloo St, Surry Hills FourAteFive - 485 Crown St, Surry Hills Orto Trading Co. - 38 Waterloo St, Surry Hills

“Sittin’ in the kitchen in a house in Macon. Loretta’s singing on the radio... smell of coffee eggs and bacon”- LUCINDA WILLIAMS 22 :: BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11

All photos by Maja Baska

BEST LIVE MUSIC ACT

BEST ON SCREEN Sam Bennetts for ‘Act Your Age’ (Bluejuice) Brendan Cowell for ‘Run’ (Charge Group) Emma Tomelty for ‘Speak of The Devil’ (Hermitude) Luci Schroder for ‘Sophisticated Lover’ (Donny Benét) SPOD for ‘Pixyphony’ (kyü) Byron Quandary for ‘Feel A Thing’ (Emma Davis) Sixty40 for ‘Out In The Streets’ (Africa Hitech)

BEST ON STAGE

NICHE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

LV L 3 , 3 8 3 B O U R K E S T S U R RY H I L L S

L I V E M U S I C , V I S U A L A R T, T H E AT R E , CO M E DY, B U R L E S Q U E & B O O Z E

THU 15 DEC

FRI 16 DEC

ISSUE 5 LAUNCH

SAT 17 DEC

WIM Single launch

FRI 23 DEC

AN EVENING OF DISCO/HOUSE, DUBSTEP, HIP HOP, LEF TFIELD ELECTRONICA & FUTURE SOUL

ANDY BULL 16 DEC ALL LIVE EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT 8PM TIL MIDNIGHT

XMAS PARTY

NICKY NIGHT TIME + KATO VALARIE YUM + LUX LIFE Mi-Life Exhibit

FREE ENTRY FREE PIZZA

THU 29 DEC SAT 31 DEC 199 LAUNCH PARTY

DIRTY TALK

NYE

WHITE PARTY

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

OPEN TIL 3AM

SAT 17TH DECEMBER

COME VISIT US AT FACEBOOK.COM/THESTANDARDSYDNEY

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT MOSHTIX.COM.AU/THESTANDARD WEARETHESTANDARD.COM.AU

TICKETS THROUGH MOSHTIX OR ON DOOR BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11 :: 23

arts frontline

free stuff email: freestuff@thebrag.com

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

five minutes WITH ENZO TEDESCHI

it was more of a case of re-purposing it for the medium, and then finding an interesting way of presenting that to the Movie Extra Webfest audience that piqued interest, rather than giving it all away. That’s when we decided a ‘less-is-more’ approach would serve us and the project well.

riter-producer Enzo Tedeschi is having a good year; he premiered his debut feature The Tunnel at A Night Of Horror film festival in March (and you can catch it on Foxtel’s Showcase channel throughout December) and he’s just won Movie Extra Webfest, with his 60-second trailer for a web series called ‘Event Zero’ – which means he has $100,000 to create seven ‘webisodes’. What’s your background/training as a filmmaker? I studied Communications at UWS Nepean, and got my first job in TV as an editor at Channel Nine. It was during that time that I edited numerous short films in my spare time and got to know a few local filmmakers. I also met my Distracted Media partner Julian Harvey there. We worked on a lot of TV shows together and ended up partnering-up to create The Tunnel. Who’s in your Event Zero team? My co-writer and co-producer is Julian Harvey. We’re the core team of Distracted Media projects, and from there we bring on people to work on projects as appropriate. Carlo Ledesma was part of our development process on Event Zero as director. We really enjoyed working on The Tunnel with him and are always eager to work with him as much as possible – though he’s in high-demand these days! How did you come up with the idea for Event Zero? When Jules and I were throwing

What were the main challenges? Encapsulating a complex premise and the multiple point-of-view notion in a 60-second teaser was tricky. Getting the dialogue just so, and getting the main plot concepts across in such a short time and still keeping an audience interested. Fun problems to tackle!

Enzo Tedeschi & Julian Harvey

around ideas for what could be our follow-up to The Tunnel, we started talking about this idea based on the Sarin gas attacks in the Tokyo subway in 1995. It’s such a frightening and gripping story that we felt it really lent itself to the screen. We took the core of that story and transplanted it to Sydney (as we like to do!) and it developed from there. It also was obvious to us very early-on that the concept lent itself to being a series, rather than a movie – there is so much in it to explore. What was your winning strategy? This was an idea that we had bubbling away already, so

FLICKERFEST 2012

Every year, you know Flickerfest is going to have a massive lineup of the best short films from the next wave of new homegrown and international talent; the only thing you don’t know is exactly where they’ll point their gaze – until they drop their lineup, which they just have. Horror and animation fans are taken care of with the Friday the 13th Short Bites Of Horror showcase and the World of Wacky Animation showcase (including Dave Shrigley and Chris Shepherd’s award-winning short Who I Am And What I Want); the Aussies are going strong with Anthony Maras’ award-winning short The Palace, and Oscar-nominee Peter Templeman’s new short Crosshairs; and fans of funny (who isn’t?) can overdose with the Short Laughs comedy showcase. Of course all your favourites are back, including Australian and International Documentary showcases, Greenflicks, the Oscars showcase, and the massive five Best Of International sessions. Your summer is sorted. To check out the program head to flickerfest.com.au

Adelaide Fringe has an international rep for showcasing the best fringe cabaret, comedy, performance and theatre from around Australia and the world; it’s the festival that artists want to be in, which logically makes it the festival you want to be at. Case in point: Russian avant garde art collective AES+F will be presenting their five-channel video installation Allegoria Sacra; there’s bath-time acrobatics in Soap; sell-out smash-hit Spontaneous Broadway is back; Sammy J and Randy have a new show; Charlie Pickering and Hannah Gadsby are gonna be strutting their stuff alongside internationals like Ross Noble and Stephen K Amos; and theatre-wise the pickings include Edinburgh Fringe faves Les Enfants Terribles, mime-slapstick from Theatergroep Wak, Melbourne Fringe hit Uta Uber Kool Ja, and a newie from Loungeroom Confabulators. Adelaide Fringe runs February 24 – March 18. Lineup and tickets at adelaidefringe.com.au 24 :: BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11

GIFTED

Give the gift of ARTZ this Christmas: head down to Kaleidoscope Gallery this week for their last exhibition of the year – a group show of affordable art by over 20 emerging Sydney and Melbourne artists, ranging from photography and painting to jewellery and graphic art. Gifted opens Thursday December 15 from 6-8pm, and will run til Christmas eve! 3-7 Danks Street, Waterloo; kaleidoscope-gallery.com

SHORT+SWEET

Short+Sweet has just dropped its programme, kicking off on January 3 and stretching across three months, 180 short plays, 300 directors, and over 500 actors. Which means there’s a good chance you know one of these people. If it all sounds a bit daunting, or if you just want MORE, circle March 30-31 on your calendar: it's the Gala Final at Seymour Centre, where the best-of-the-best will duke it out for top dog. All the rest at shortandsweet.org

Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia is sensitive, apocalyptic, visually ravishing, and has Charlotte Gainsbourg AND Rampling, Kirsten Dunst, Alexander Skarsgård, Kiefer Sutherland, John Hurt and Udo Kier as a wedding planner on the edge; but rather than talk about that (just read our review over the page) we thought we’d give you an excerpt from possibly the best director’s statement ever: “It was like waking from a dream: my producer showed me a suggestion for a poster.‘What is that?’ I ask.‘It’s a film you’ve made!’ she replies.‘I hope not,’ I stammer. Trailers are shown ... stills ... it looks like shit. I’m shaken.” Lars – if this is what your shit looks like, bring that shit on. Melancholia opens in cinemas this Thursday December 15. Thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have 10 double passes to check it out; to get your hands on one, tell us one other Lars Von Trier film.

What: Movie Extra Webfest 2.0 When/Where: Check out the winning trailer for Event Zero NOW at facebook.com/ movieextrawebfest

MARDI GRAS 2012

PADDINGTON MARKETS

BLACK CHERRY: NYE

Collage by Hilary Sloane

With the recent events in Queensland and Canberra, and the prospect of a bill to amend the Marriage Act being presented to Parliament in early 2012, next year’s Mardi Gras could just be the biggest muthafocking party ever (touch that wood). In the meantime, get excited about the lineup, which has just dropped: we’re eyeing off Lauren LaRouge’s new show Lost L’Amour, Irish indie-theatre cult hit The Year Of Magical Wanking, Britney Spears: The Cabaret (a sellout smash hit at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival) – and, of course, the Parade (applications are still open to do a float, don’t be so lazy). Mardi Gras 2012 runs February 12 – March 4, and there’s still oodles more lineup TBA. mardigras.org.au

Who I Am And What I Want

ADELAIDE FRINGE 2012

What’s your plan for the full series? It’s going to be a combination of clever storytelling and smart use of special effects to create a sense of scale that is bigger than what we’re actually able to film on the budget. We’re no stranger to this idea, as it’s very similar to what we did on The Tunnel in a lot of ways. I think people will be surprised at what can be achieved on this kind of budget if it’s well thought-through. Each episode will focus on the perspective of a different character involved in the disaster, and retell the story through their eyes, spanning the first hour or so after the train crash at Circular Quay.

MELANCHOLIA! TIX! WIN!

There's only so many times you can buy your loved ones a Dyson/Nespresso/card; if you're running out of ideas for how to make them happy, perhaps experiment with the notion of of hand-made, one-of-a-kind or limitededition. Paddington Markets are holding a one-off special shopping night on Thursday December 15 from 4-9pm, in their normal possie on Oxford Street. It’ll feature over 70 stalls, including wines and gift baskets, candles, clothing, Christmas cards, jewellery… And If you'd like to feel even more smug, the markets also raise money for the Eddie Dixon Homeless Shelter. paddingtonmarkets.com.

Black Cherry is celebrating the new year with a cracker-box of bands and burlesque, featuring Jungle Rump’s live Karaoke, oneman crazy-band Bob Log III (USA), rockabilly heroes Pat Capocci Combo, Gay Paris, rock’n’roll heartbreak in the form of The Art and Virginia Killstyxx, and performances by cabaret chameleon Lillian Starr, pole queen Jamilla Deville and Kelly Ann Doll – not to mention sass patrol by MC Lauren La Rouge. Black Cherry NYE goes down Saturday December 31 at Factory Theatre, it looks sexy as all hell, and tickets and full lineup are at factorytheatre.com.au

SHAKESPEARE FEST

If you love a bit of the Bard, or enjoy words such as ‘fashionable’, ‘dauntless’, ‘embrace’, ‘inauspicious’, ‘lustrous’, ‘outbreak’ and ‘pander’, all of which he MADE UP out of thin air (or by smashing together other words in the world’s first linguistic mashup), you will love the Sydney Shakespeare Festival, which starts January 5 with performances (on alternating nights) of Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew. It’s at Bicentennial Park, Glebe Foreshore every Thursday to Sunday at 8pm from until February 12, and peeps under 12 and over 65 get in free. It’s a foregone conclusion (he made up that phrase too!).

PENGUIN PLAYS ROUGH

If you're anything like us, then your last day at work is this Friday December 16 - which means Saturday December 17 is the beginning of a whole new post-work life: 'holiday'. Celebrate it convivially with eggnog and stories about re-imagined cities, from expat comedian Nick Sun (re-imagining London, where he is now based), the serially provocative Annaliese Constable (reimagining Sydney), multi-talented manabout-town Luke Ryan (reimagining Perth), Adelaidian author Sonja Dechian (reimagining Melbourne), and Elena Maria Gomez (re-imagining Brisbane) – all of them reimagining these cities the way they should be. Kicks off 8pm at 4 Lackey St, St Peters.

COLLAGE

aMBUSH are celebrating the art of the cut-n-paste this week, with Alterations, Disturbances & Rips. Looking at the lineup – Danilo Brando (Brazil / NSW), Hilary Sloane (VIC), Joel Lambeth (NSW), Kareem Rizk (VIC) and Mauro Palmieri (VIC) – the works should range from the surreal to the popcultural, photographic, and possibly the whimsicalnostalgic. Opens Thursday December 15 from 6pm at aMBUSH (4A James Street, Waterloo) ambushgallery.com

LA SOIRÉE

Lovers of La Clique – and those cursing themselves for missing it – will find the same heady mix of the bizarre, beautiful and unbelievable in Sydney Opera House’s summer variety show, La Soirée. By Dee Jefferson

he brainchild of La Clique co-creator Brett Haylock, La Soirée features many of that show’s favourites, plus a few new ones and a dash of local flavour, in the same mix of circus, sideshow, neo-burlesque and cabaret that has been taking the world by storm since Haylock & Co. debuted at Edinburgh Fringe in August 2004. In fact the only thing that’s really changed (apart from the name) is the venue: instead of the Famous Spiegeltent, Haylock and his troupe are now tearing up main stages – currently, London’s Roundhouse. A promoter-turned-creative-producer who is originally from Melbourne, via Adelaide, Haylock has spent around 11 months of every year since August 2004 on the road, with one permutation of ‘the show’ or another. It’s a rigorous schedule of eight performances per week, but he says the momentum doesn’t show any signs of diminishing, and the rewards are addictive. Still, he never set out to create the world’s most popular cabaret show; it just kind of happened one year at the Fringe: “It was a tiny little cabaret show created for very late at night, at Edinburgh – no-one could have anticipated the rollercoaster ride it’s taken us on,” he laughs.

Even from its first night (which was the first time the show was ever performed – no ‘dry run’) it was getting rave reviews. “The show spent a few years being developed,” Haylock admits. “It evolved out of the club that we ran, Club Spiegel – the international ‘festival club’. So we’d seen a number of these artists come through the club, and the show evolved out of that.” Even though journalists have tried to quantify and qualify the ingredients that differentiate La Soirée and La Clique from their peers – the balance of male and female flesh is one point of interest – the truth is that it happened very organically. “We didn’t have any preconceived ideas of, ‘Oh, this is how you have to present cabaret or circus’, you know… I guess we, um, just kind of made it up on the spot! It’s just a big two-hour celebration of what the human body can achieve. We’ve never wanted or needed to force a narrative on it, or some hidden agenda – I mean, it’s just a two-hour party! All these people have these extraordinary skills, and they’re celebrating that on stage.”

Over the years, the lineup has shifted only by degrees, rotating core favourites with new discoveries; what all the acts have in common is a ‘magical connection’ with their audience. Each performer knows how to work every inch of their 2.5m by 2.5m stage. “In this world of fabricated celebrity, it’s really refreshing to see people up on stage who have spent five, ten, 15 years of their life creating eight minutes of pure magic,” says Haylock. “All the artists have that old-fashioned showmanship.” Even within each season, the lineup from night-to-night is fluid. “Wherever we go we invite local artists to guest with us,” says Haylock, “often for the late-night shows, [which] have a looser feel to them; we refer to them as ‘pants-down’ late shows – they can be pretty wild.” What: La Soirée When: January 6 – February 12 Where: Studio, Sydney Opera House More: sydneyoperahouse.com/lasoiree Hamish McCann of The English Gents

All photos from the London Roundhouse season of La Soirée, courtesy of photographer Prudence Upton

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LA SOIRÉE Captain Frodo

Le Gateau Chocolat

DAVID O’MER

Aka Bath Boy. The bath-time antics of this Berlin-based aerial acrobat have been one of the jewels in La Clique’s crown for many years – in fact, ever since it debuted in 2004 at Edinburgh Fringe.

CAPTAIN FRODO

Aka the Incredible Rubberman. This Norwegian contortionist also holds Guinness World Records for sword swallowing. Most importantly, he can fit his entire body through the head of a tennis racquet.

THE ENGLISH GENTS

Aka Aussies Hamish McCann and Denis Lock. Imagine Tim Brooke-Taylor from The Goodies doing gymnastics, and you’ve kind-of got the picture. These guys must be crazy strong, because what they can do with just one arm is breathtaking. Besides their perfected two-handed routine as the Gents, they’re each bringing new solo acts – including Hamish’s oneman ‘pole-dance’ routine, inspired by Singin’ in the Rain.

URSULA MARTINEZ

This British comedienne became famous after her playful striptease act for La Clique, ‘Hanky Panky’, unexpectedly went viral (subsequently informing the subject of her first solo show, My Stories, Your Emails, which played Sydney Opera House last November). Ursula has also been with the show since the very beginning.

LE GATEAU CHOCOLAT

This British-Nigerian baritone, whose costumes are almost as fabulous as his Prince and Pet Shop Boys routines, will be making his Sydney debut with La Soirée (although he actually broke through at Adelaide Fringe in 2008). “Obviously he’s got this incredible, operatic voice – it can fill any room,” says La Soirée director Brett Haylock, “but his character is what makes him special; he’s really really endearing and loveable; he’s soft and cuddly – Sydney will adore him.”

S AY W EA IV G

Just a few more sleeps until the world’s most famous (and well-travelled) boy reporter and his canine sidekick Snowy burst onto Australian screens, in full 3D glory. A labour of love by visionary directors Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, The Adventures Of Tintin follows the intrepid young reporter and his friends as they discover directions to a sunken ship commanded by Captain Haddock’s ancestor, and set off on a treasure hunt. With a cast that includes Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig and Andy Serkis, and a never-before-seen fusion of motion capture technology, 3D animation and live-action shooting techniques, this reimagination of the beloved adventures series will delight fans and newbies alike. Thanks to Paramount Pictures Australia, we have 15 in-season double passes for The Adventures Of Tintin up for grabs; to get your hands on one, email freestuff@thebrag.com with the name of the writer and artist who created Tintin.

Only at the movies December 26TH www.TINTIN-MOVIE.com.au Facebook.com/TINTINAU

Twitter #TINTIN

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Jungleboys TV [COMDEDY] Looking For Laughs In All The Right Places By Michael Brown

ever fear: the internet, formerly the comedic domain of cats playing pianos and kids biting fingers, is being served a big chunk of funny in the form of a new online channel curated by the makers of Review with Myles Barlow. Jungleboys TV was created by Phil Lloyd (who played Barlow in the award-winning series), Review co-creator and director Trent O’Donnell, and Executive Producer Jason Burrows – “as a way of giving a home to all those little ideas that sort of sit in the top drawer and never seem to get made,” says Lloyd. The site features curated content, a sketch competition, and the Jungleboys’ own exclusive online sketch series, The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting. “We like to think, you know the web doesn’t necessarily have to be the poor second cousin to television,” says Lloyd. “Why can’t you have great stuff on the web that you can’t see on TV?” For O’Donnell, who directed The Chaser’s War On Everything, Laid and Woodley, the need for fresh content on the channel “means that we’re sort of obligated to continue making stuff. I think that’s a good thing.” Burrows adds, “We’ll be shooting more stuff in our downtime.” It is surprising that this lot have any downtime. “As I was saying that, I was thinking that’s a load of bullshit,” he laughs. For the trio, being free of the network approval process will allow them to push the envelope, something O’Donnell, who was a director at The Chaser during the ‘Make a Realistic Wish’ sketch which saw heads roll at the ABC, is familiar with. “We can make content that isn’t necessarily TV friendly. If we make something that’s terribly offensive, we’re just really representing ourselves in a bad light, there’s no other innocents.” The three are united by common comedic

The Birthday Boys

[THEATRE] Darren Gilshenan Takes A Surprise Turn By Simon Binns

influences: The Office, Mr. Show, Big Train, Alan Partridge, Rob Brydon and Curb Your Enthusiasm, to name a few. “A bunch of good actors who are really good at playing it straight and no matter how absurd the situation they take it really very, very seriously," says Lloyd, I think that’s always been the stuff that’s made us laugh the most.” Looking to build their community of comic visionaries, Jungleboys TV sketch competition is open for submissions. As Burrows says, “a lot of the funniest people I know don’t work in the industry, and it’s a bit of an outlet for them.” Lloyd says that he and O’Donnell have been fortunate enough to make a few series, so are thrilled to offer a leg up to an emerging comic mind. “We put the call out to people who likewise might have ideas but are never going to get a chance to make it, that’s sort of how we felt, and so we’ve invited people to maybe pitch us their ideas and we can make it.” One such idea-maker, who has already submitted a sketch about a Kite Liberation Front, is Pat Magee, of cult Sydney sketch groups The Delusionists and Comicide. "A really great sketch is one that goes beyond the obvious punchline and explores the bizarre world where the sketch takes place. Big Train and Mr. Show used to be really good at that sort of thing,” says Pat. “I was attracted to the competition because I have lots of ideas for sketches but very little money or resources – so it’s great to see a bunch of talented people willing to put in the hard yards for me. As long as I get some or all of the credit, I’ll be happy – or at least stop crying so much.” What: jungleboys.tv When: Now!

Trent O'Donnell, Phil Lloyd and Jason Burrows

f you’ve seen a Sydney Theatre Company or Bell Shakespeare show in the past decade, chances are you’ve seen Darren Gilshenan. Add memorable recent performances in Our Town, Loot, The White Guard and his own show Fool’s Island, and he’s a more than familiar face to Sydney audiences. Sydney is perhaps less familiar with Gilshenan’s work as a director, which so far has largely involved helming NIDA graduate shows. This month, however, Gilshenan helms the Sydney premiere of The Birthday Boys, for new theatre company Ion Nibiru. Written by young American playwright Aaron Kozak, The Birthday Boys is about three US marines who find themselves captured in Iraq after an attack by insurgents. As they await their fate, blinded and tied up, the trio find themselves struggling with fear, betrayal and a hefty dose of boredom. It debuts in Sydney off the back of numerous awards in the States. One of the most notable features of The Birthday Boys – and the most interesting, given that Gilshenan is known for his physical comedy – is that the three protagonists spend the majority of the play blindfolded and with their hands and feet tied. “I don’t think I’ve ever come across a piece of theatre where the actors are so physically limited and having to do so much,” says Gilshenan. “We generally read theatre through the eyes (the windows to the soul) and the body in space: it’s kind of a head-to-toe camera shot in theatre. [Whereas] the dynamic of this piece is all in the language and the desperateness off the situation that these guys are trapped in.” To try and bring that desperation to life, Gilshenan got a bit ‘method’ with his actors, putting them through some serious paces from the first rehearsal – starting with a twohour long activity known as ‘The Wolf Game,’ which is designed to push actors to emotional extremes.

“Basically all the actors are blindfolded, holding a balloon, and put in a corner of the room filled with cushions etcetera, and as long as they’re in there, they’re safe,” he explains. “Then I tell them the story about this wolf that’s terrorising the community and they’re all that’s left and the balloon they’re holding is their soul and as long as they hold [their balloon], they exist.” The actors are then required to venture out into the unknown, to collect food. “I watch them start to venture out of this safe place and I start to torment them as this wolf character,” Gilshenan continues, with obvious enthusiasm. “By the time you’re two hours in, what people go through and what people express is so incredibly revealing… Some people scream like crazy men, some people swing and punch, some people laugh, some people just walk around offering their balloons so they can be executed.” As the game goes on, the group diminishes as Gilshenan pops their balloons and takes them out of the game to observe the survivors with him – leaving the rest of the group to wonder as to their fate. “I really wanted [the actors] to truly understand what it was to be powerless in the situation.” Gilshenan’s passion for the play is obvious, and no more so than when he’s talking about the ending, which in his humble opinion (and for a man who must have read several hundred, if not thousand, plays in his life it’s probably an accurate one) is one of the best twists you’ll ever see. “I will never give away the twist, it’s got a fucking awesome twist, when I read it I burst out laughing.” What: The Birthday Boys When: December 13-23 Where: NIDA Parade Theatre / 215 Anzac Pde, Kensington Tickets: $22/$30 from ticketek.com.au

Ghost Protocol

[FILM] Simon Pegg Tackes Another Mission: Impossible By Kelly Griffin onfession: the 15-minute preview of the new Mission Impossible that I saw at London IMAX had me literally on the edge of my seat, palms sweating. The scene involved Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, scaling the outside of an epically tall glass building (filmed at the 829.84 metres high Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest structure), and no joke, when the camera panned from Cruise to the ground, I literally felt like I was falling. To my death.

and to go from that to doing seven months on this one was great.”

Needless to say, I came away with the distinct impression that director Brad Bird, despite his background in animation (The Incredibles, Ratatouille), sure as hell knows how to make the most of the IMAX cameras used to shoot Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol.

Mission: Impossible III came out in 2006, so it feels like a long time between drinks for the series. In the intervening years, Pegg has – among many other things – gone on to co-write and co-star in the 2007 British action comedy Hot Fuzz and the 2011 sci-fi comedy Paul (which he is particularly proud of: he’s sporting a tattoo of a spirit wolf from Santa Fe where Paul was shot, “to remind me of that time”). He’s also had a baby girl, and penned his pseudo-autobiography Nerd Do Well.

I’m sitting in a hotel room with the affable Shaun of the Dead star Simon Pegg, who rather famously once replied to a journalist’s question about his career ambitions with: “It’s not like I’m going to run off and do Mission: Impossible III”. He subsequently went off to do just that – and now his character, the technician Benji Dunn, has an even bigger part in the latest M:I blockbuster. “I got an email from JJ (Abrams) one morning that said, ‘Hey, what if Benji was an agent?’ I was like ‘What, what, what!?'” Pegg recalls. “I was just overjoyed. I only did two days on the last movie, 26 :: BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11

Ghost Protocol is less Tom-Cruise-centric and more an ensemble piece about four agents – played by Pegg, Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton – who are in the field, cut off from the rest of the I.M.F. espionage agency, and forced to work together as a “sort of dysfunctional family,” Pegg explains.

Pegg emphasises that this is a new chapter in the Mission: Impossible series rather than a sequel: “It’s very pointedly called Ghost Protocol and not M:I 4,” he says. “It is very much part of the series, with Tom going to a different director for each film, but with this one it’s sort of a new chapter in Ethan’s life. He’s older now, he’s not the young star of I.M.F. anymore, he’s a senior agent.”

Simon Pegg and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol On working with Cruise – one of the most talked about actors in Hollywood and not necessarily for the right reasons – Pegg says, “he is just utterly dedicated to his craft. As a producer he is aware of every department and as an actor he is totally committed to his role. As a person, he is really warm and funny and generous and utterly keen for everyone on the crew and cast to feel like they’re part of something special, which is really kind of awe-inspiring at times, because it’s like, ‘When do you rest? When do you switch off?’”

As is the norm these days in Hollywood, Pegg is signed on to do more M:I films should this one do well. “Hollywood is a strange place,” he admits. “It’s been slightly overrun by marketing people, and a lot of the time people just want to put on firework displays…However, it is possible to make smart blockbusters. Inception showed that you can, and I think that Mission Impossible has something of that.” What: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol When: Opens December 15

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Arts Snap

Film & Theatre Reviews

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

Hits and misses on the silver screen and the bareboards around town.

■ Film

MELANCHOLIA Opens December 15

06:12:11 :: Icebergs :: 1 Notts Ave Bondi Beach 9130 3120

Of all our filmmakers, Michael Haneke and Lars Von Trier stand out as the philosophers of our age and the prophets of our civilisation's doom. Both have been misconstrued, in the past, as nihilists, when their films actually show a keen understanding and appreciation for the individual and for humanity (albeit an equally piercing gaze into the faults of society). Melancholia should once and for all put paid to any notion that Von Trier is a nihilist, misogynist or cynic. It’s a profoundly humanist (and in that sense optimistic) answer to the sense of impending doom that sometimes afflicts us in this catastrophic age. It’s also extremely beautiful, particularly its opening sequence of slow-motion tableaux, each of which are pieces of art in their own right.

PICS :: TL

graduate show 2011

Using two sisters as his field test – troubled bride Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and her long-suffering and ‘dependable’ older sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) – Von Trier asks what a rational versus an acute depressive would do when faced with the end of the world – and comes up with some interesting results that, if not entirely radical or surprising, have the feeling of real profundity. Only someone suffering from depression could come up with this film, and I suspect no-one who’s never suffered from it can totally appreciate it.

01:12:11 :: National Art School :: Forbes St Darlinghurst 9339 8744

PICS :: TL

in action, inaction

The first part of the film takes us through Justine’s wedding, as it slowly spirals downwards from the giddy heights of happiness to the depths of disillusionment and even despair. Justine has every thing a person could want: beauty, physical health, a great job, money, a loving family and a devoted partner (who is, you know, the broodily hot Alexander ‘True Blood’ Skarsgård). None of it can entirely penetrate her melancholia; not even the prospect of impending doom, as a meteor hurtles toward Earth, can arouse in her some spark of life-lust. The second part of the film takes up with Claire, whose reaction to the meteor is far more ‘normal’: anxiety, escalating to panic, followed by hysteria, despair, calmness, and then resignation.

01:12:11 :: MOP Projects :: 2 / 39 Abercrombie St Chippendale 9699 3955

Von Trier pulls no punches, and of course there’s no Hollywood happy ending in sight; but he does present a solution to this sense of doom, and it’s some comfort after all. It’s impossible to ignore that in this scenario, the men are at best quitters, and at worst, emotionally, morally or spiritually bankrupt; only Von Trier's women are endowed with the strength of character to shuffle off this mortal coil with grace, compassion and dignity.

Arts Exposed What's in our diary...

THE DESIGN KIDS & THE WALL @ WORLD BAR PRESENT

TERRIBLE TWOS

Dee Jefferson

Wednesday December 14 from 7pm

career to some unforeseen (but probably financially secure) future. What he’s found is fluffy comedy with a frosting of social commentary – tasty if you have a sweet tooth, but destined to make you sick.

Xxxx

flickerfest programme launch

PICS :: KC

Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia

Like a strange cross between Shirley Valentine, The Help and Upstairs Downstairs, The Women on the 6th Floor is a tale of inter-class and inter-cultural exchange, sexual awakening and mid-life crisis, set in early-‘60s Paris (before the revolution could sweep the conservative bourgeoisie out of their immaculately decorated apartments; in the early ‘60s, everyone was apparently being very charming about the whole thing). When young Spanish woman Maria (Natalia Verbeke) turns up on her Aunt’s doorstep looking for work and is taken in by Monsieur and Madame Joubert (Fabrice Luchini and Sandrine Kiberlain), her beauty, graciousness and unaffected vivacity quickly cause little stirrings of romance, adventure and compassion within Mr Joubert, upsetting the balance of his painfully dull life. All the clichés are here: the rustic charm, earthy physicality and practical wisdom of the rural working class; the frigid bodies and frivolous minds of their middleclass masters; the salutary effects of poverty on one’s soul – and the magical properties of ‘down-home’ cooking. Even more implausible, for me, is the romance between the paunchy white 60-something stockbroker and his radiant young maid; for all his sweet generosity, this is a guy who secretly perves on his maid while she bathes, zips next door for sex with his wife, only to go back to daydreaming about the maid. This would be fine if we were in the land of social realism – I might even empathise; but when Mr Joubert seems to be wandering through a candy-coloured mid-life crisis, I feel like he’s getting a free pass (which ultimately, he does). Adding some weight to this incredulous script are performances by a top-notch ensemble cast (including Almodovar favourites Carmen Maura and Lola Dueñas), and some moments of genuine warmth and even charm (as with the scene where Maria’s Aunt commandeers her fellow maids to help her niece, with throaty exhortations yelled across the inner courtyard of the building; or the running gag about Mr Joubert’s egg). I understand I’m not the target demo, but I am susceptible to well-applied charm; this film lays it on too thick. Dee Jefferson ■ Theatre

THE HORSE’S MOUTH FESTIVAL – PROGRAM B: HELL FOR LEATHER Until December 17 / Old Fitzroy Theatre

THE WOMEN ON THE 6TH FLOOR Opens December 15 Watching Les Femmes du 6eme Étage, is like a fascinating anthropological excursion to the “other side” of French cinema: the mainstream. Writer-director Philippe Le Guay has stopped here on his way from the rigorous think-pieces and above-average dramedies of his early

The second program in this autobiographical festival serves up a classy double bill of home truths in Zoe Norton Lodge’s This is Not a Possum, a poetic tale about a friendship forged with a foraging possum; and Jono Burns’ Home, a character-driven tale of his time spent living in New York and studying at the world-renowned Actors Studio Drama School. Possum is part slam poetry, part wildlife documentary, part sitcom. The wordy Xxxx

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■ Film Terrible Twos – artwork by TOKO (toko.nu)

The Design Kids is a rad collective of emerging designers who make limited-edition wares, from tees and totes to posters and prints… They’re turning two this month, and putting on their own show at The Wall@ World Bar, appropriately titled Terrible Twos. The lineup is a mix of baby-new, quasi-established and big gun: e.g. Vince Frost and Saatchi alongside Toby & Pete, Naughtyfish, and Toko, to Gemma O’Brien and Bianca Chang, etc. TDK director Frankie Ratford has divided the lineup into pairs (one emerging, one pro), and given them one half of a compound word (e.g. line-up) to play with – in any medium they like. To see what happens (and be in on the silent auction) head along thedesignkids.com. au / artonthewall.tumblr.com

See www.thebrag.com for more arts reviews

Film & Theatre Reviews Hits and misses on the silver screen and the bareboards around town. waves of rolling rhyme with which Lodge rebuilds her teenage world are so full you can almost touch them, and the audiovisual media of Vanessa Hughes adds sensual richness to the mix. Concise verse is matched by subtle, restrained design – desk, lamp, chair, and an internally lit dollhouse succinctly reveal Zoe’s world. Oh, and laughs. Zoe has a firm grasp on her comic voice and wields it deftly. One of the most impressive elements of Burns’ autobiographical tale is that he is rarely in it, at least not as himself. He mainly narrates, but plays out the action through keen characterisations of the ten-or-so main players that peopled his New York life. Burns is his classmates, his teacher, his roommates; there’s even a cameo from Harvey Keitel and Al Pacino. In a particularly virtuosic display – from a presumably onceoff encounter with a Central Park street performer – Burns recreates the character, and his act, which hilariously runs the gamut of short-form poetry to swordsmanship. Strong scores underpinned both shows: Possum’s score by Benny Davis and Emily Irvine (performed by Irvine on glockenspiel, violin and accordion) was sweetly delicate; Home’s Sunny and Sarah offered a twist on NYC anthem 'Walk on the Wild Side', and played the straight-men for Burns’ banter. Do see. Michael Brown ■ Theatre

THE HORSE’S MOUTH FESTIVAL – PROGRAM A: BOLTED Until December 17 / Old Fitzroy Theatre This brand-new festival of autobiographical theatre has assembled some of Sydney's finest theatrical talent and crammed it into three nightly programs currently on rotation

at the Old Fitz until December 17. Bolted is a night of strikingly diverse theatrical styles and subject matter, with three talented writeractors presenting hilarious, provocative and personal works. First up is Phil Spencer’s The Great Apeth, which invites you into his relationship with his 82-year-old Nanna, Gaye (played by Maggie Blinco). Comprised of short scenes depicting childhood memories that mix appendicitis and wrestling with a good dose of Devonshire slang, the work never quite dips far enough beneath the surface to present any compelling insight into what makes this relationship tick. However, Spencer’s charm and winning on-stage charisma is simply delightful. And did I mention you get cake? Zoe Coombs Marr is a show-stealer in the best way. Her characteristically cringe-worthy story of an outback adventure gone awry is thoroughly engrossing (and often just grossing – dead birds and a vomit pash are involved) not to mention extremely funny. I’ve been everywhere, man is a humorous story about both wandering and wondering and carries a somewhat sadder through-line as she warns from the get-go: she ends up pretty much where she started. The most challenging work of the night is Tim Spencer’s Show Me Yours, I’ll Show You Mine. And it pays dividends. Spencer has jumped out of his armchair and is running in a new and exciting creative direction as he explores verbatim theatre through the world of sex work. Whilst some of his own scripted on-stage deconstruction threatens to patronise the audience, and whilst using an anonymous sex worker’s story (played by the cool, calm and collected Charles Purcell) to create a piece of intriguing theatre is morally questionable, he does force us to face truths, ask ourselves how we feel and admit to ourselves we want to be loved. However you look at it, Spencer has created a complex and emotionally affecting work.

vie Va Voom is a relative newcomer to Sydney’s neo-burlesque scene, debuting in March 2010 at Velvet Garden, but she’s already making her mark at events like Gallery Burlesque and the brand-new Burlectricity parties. A bit of a chameleon, she seems as comfortable channelling a leather-clad Gaga as a classic fetish diva or a sweet-as-pie pin-up. Her next show is at Burlectricity’s Xmas BBQ, alongside Memphis Mae and Bunny Lambada, and a lineup that includes Fait Accompli, The Strides, DJs, kranskies – and sunshine.

Special skills? I’ve been told I’ve perfected the forward roll. Costume inspirations? Pop culture and social stereotypes with a touch of vintage styling thrown in! Performers who inspire you? At this very moment Lady Gaga, she is a raving genius! In burlesque? Anna Fur Laxis, an amazing performer from the UK. And here in Aus? Betty Grumble…brilliant! Any interesting fetishes? My fetish is actually fetish heels; I own multiple pairs, and also have a framed print of a dominatrix in

Discount Wednesdays fantastic New York-style street food Heaps more previews Your favourite classics and cult ﬁlms

@moonlightcinema Facebook.com/moonlightcinemaSydney

8 December y 25 March Centennial Park moonlight.com.au

MARC ANTONA

With Evie Va Voom

What’s your signature routine? To date probably my ‘Dorothy from Oz’ routine: the classic character from the movie/musical teasing to a jazz instrumental version of ‘Over the Rainbow,’ with a cheeky reveal at the end.

Roslyn Helper

Street Level

What’s your background/training as a performer? I was thrown into dance and drama classes from the age of 3, and although the dance classes didn’t stick, my spirit hands came in handy as I went into theatre later on.

NOW ON

DISSONANT | FRA

fetish heels on my bedroom wall… Too much info? What was your first burlesque experience? I first started researching burlesque back in high school, which started from a combination of interests in everything from musicals to silent films. My eventual (awkward) debut was a classic strip to a framed photo of Tony Abbott in Speedos. The best part of this story is that I then met one of Tony’s daughters a week later at a party and took great enjoyment in telling her (in my drunken state) that I had gyrated semi naked on stage to a photo of her dad. Her face was priceless. What routine are you performing for Burlectricity’s Xmas BBQ? My Dorothy routine actually! It is my very last show in Aus before I head to the UK to spread my wings, so I’m saving the best for last! What: Burlectricity Xmas BBQ When: Friday December 23 from 3pm Where: Valve Bar / 900 Princes Hwy More: free shuttle from Tempe station to Valve / venturesome.com.au

SAT 17 DEC www.thespicecellar.com.au

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BRAG EATS

News Bites PHILANTHROPIC FOODIE

If you’re feeling both lazy and generous, The Philanthropic Foodie has got you sorted for Christmas gifting, with its swanky Sydney-centric food hampers that can be ordered online and delivered sans hassle, and help out the city's homeless. The latest addition to the music-peeps-into-food trend (see: Levins, Bang Gang et al), the project is the brainchild of Ben Korbel (We Love Sounds), Nathan McLay (Future Classic) and Daimon Downey (ex-Sneaky Sound System). And the hampers are certainly a cut above Chrisco: expect olives and tapenade, Peroni, Prosecco and San Pellegrino, boutique coffee and pistachio nougat, and a bunch of locally-made fare… What’s more, the profits go to Youth Off The Streets, so you can feel all virtuous and that. Check out foodie.org.au

BREAD & CIRCUS Alexandria's Bread & Circus Wholefoods Canteen only opened on Tuesday, but it’s already attracting locals like bees to organic honey. Owners Danny and Amanda can be seen slaving away in the huge homey kitchen as customers lounge on benches adorned with flowers, fresh fruit and veg and, yes, pots of honey. The menu changes daily depending on what’s in season and available, but they've started it off with a delicious choose-your-own

breakfast plate; an amazing sounding cloud-egg and some ingenious sandwich boxes, with bread from either Iggy’s, Infinity or Sonoma, amongst other tasty morsels. As it’s hiding behind the recently-opened Don Campos on Fountain Street, Alexandria (opposite Dan Murphy’s), they have wisely opted to only serve (really good) teas – but don’t worry, you can bring your take-aways across the room. breadandcircus.com.au

PARCHED MARCH

If it’s not already in your diary, the inaugural Parched March charity ‘bar odyssey’ is coming around again in 2012. Scheduled happenings include ‘Pets in Pubs’ gatherings (like that time you took Snaffy to preschool, except with BEER!), tastings, master classes and live acts. The Winery, Gazebo Wine Garden, Eau De Vie, The Rum Diaries and The Norfolk are just some of the bars taking part in the festivities. Head along to drink in support of the Animal Welfare League NSW and Sydney Dogs and Cats Home. Could there be anything more feel-good than a tipple for charity? parchedmarch.com

LIAWWWW!

Chinatown has long been a mysterious labyrinth of unusual smells and tastes, but alas! Its cover is about to be blown by none other

GOT SOMETHING FOR BRAG EATS? Email us news tips or story ideas at

food@thebrag.com than former MasterChef winner Adam Liaw, who last week launched Urban Walkabout's Food Lover’s Guide to Chinatown and Haymarket, a veritable treasure map of dumplings, yum cha, bakeries and bubble tea. So instead of going to point at the pictures at ‘that-noodle/dumplingplace’, you’ll be able to figure out if what you’re eating is Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Japanese or Uyghur, and sound impressively knowledgeable on dates. Pick the guide up around town from midDecember.

NORTH? SURE. We sample four of Neutral Bay’s newest troublemakers. By Dorian Grey

few years ago, if the young, bourgeois professional types of the lower North Shore wanted somewhere local to drink, they had three choices: The Oaks, the Cremorne Hotel, and Hotel Mosman. But that’s all changed now. The relaxing of liquor licensing laws has seen a crop of new eating and drinking establishments pop up in Neutral Bay, centred along Grosvenor Street, with the choice of everything from Italian to ribs and burgers or Japanese. But the lower North Shore has never lacked for restaurants – it’s the liquor emporiums that interest us...

DRAWING ATTENTION

First there were pop-up books, and then there were pop-up shops, then pop-up bars and pop-up galleries and now there are pop-up, restaurants popping up too. To coincide with Showcase Gallery’s latest exhibition, Drawing Attention by Barry Patenaude, the first in a pop-up dining series will pop-up this Thursday December 15. Considering the dinner includes stuffed zucchini flowers, confit lamb shoulder and matched Argentinian wines, we will probably all be popping (out?) after this too... eating popping candy while popping bubble-wrap to calm down. It goes down at 85 William Street, Darlinghurst / showcasegallery.com.au

WHITE HART

19-21 Grosvenor St, Neutral Bay

FIREFLY

24 Young St, Neutral Bay STYLE: The bar that kick-started Grosvenor Street’s renaissance, franchise Firefly seems guaranteed to be buzzing (excuse the poor pun) at any time, even early on a rainy Sunday evening. Bar manager Phil says that, “ever since White Hart and Garden Brasserie opened up [10-18 months ago] we’ve really noticed the crowds picking up, on the weekends especially.” It seems most folks start or finish their night at Firefly, getting stuck into the pizzas ($15 on special from 3-6pm) or sharing plates of pork belly, scallops, zucchini flowers and duck breast. DRINKS: Firefly has an amazing wine list, ranked by palate and ranging from $36 to $300, as well as a commendable cocktail list. We tried the 5 Bells Shiraz Grenache (which was fresh out of the crate, light and full of black cherry), as well as Phil’s Espresso Martini with a slug of Havana Club 7yo ($19), which somehow managed to taste exactly like an afogatto. The Firefly Sweet Fire Margarita (Cuervo Traditional, chilli, and a blood orange, cherry and lime sorbet made in the kitchen: $18) was thick, sweet and had plenty of chilli kick. A plate of perfectly seared and moist scallops and (slightly too heavily battered, for my taste) blue cheese zucchini flowers had us set up nicely.

STYLE: A joint venture between a chef, a sommelier, a mixologist and a designer, the White Hart has style to boot, attentive staff and prices to match. The cosy interior melds British country pub (dart board, rifle and stag’s head mounted on the wall) with Shoreditch House chic – and the Gastropub nibbles list (think fancy pork scratchings) completes 'the Monarch of the Glen in Dalston' feel. DRINKS: The cocktail list may be compact and carefully chosen, but the liquor list is huge and ridiculous – you get a page each of whiskies, rums, bourbons and gins, all imported and priced from $8.50 to $22. We tried their signature summer cocktail, the Cider Ball Sour ($17.50) – appleflavoured Belvedere vodka with homemade cider, fresh citrus and a cider sphere (a frozen globe of homemade cider) that melts as you drink it, replenishing your glass with more delicious cider – my companion found the resultant dry cider aftertaste off-putting, but I found the drink tasty, potent and good value.

HONEYRIDER

230 Military Rd, Neutral Bay

STYLE: With its marble floors, glass front walls, mezzanine balcony level and a wall covered in ferns, Garden Brasserie accurately captures the feeling of al fresco courtyard drinking, while staying sheltered from the elements. Downstairs has an open, airy feel and a pool table, while upstairs is cosy with Baroque-style furniture – but on both levels you can get stuck into their tapas bar menu and well-priced cocktails.

STYLE: Squeezed into a row of shops around the corner on Military Road, Honeyrider has the feel of a hole-in-thewall pop-up bar; if you didn’t know it was there, you’d likely miss it. Which would be a shame, as its narrow saloon-bar layout lends it an intimate charm, with exposed brick walls, four bench tables and a hodgepodge of vintage store-pillaged furniture and decor. No food on the menus (which are cleverly hidden inside antique theatre programs), but the compact cocktail list ($16 to $18), half a dozen beers on tap and dozen reds and whites ($40 to $50 a bottle) will keep thirst at bay.

DRINKS: The Kyoto Gardens Martini ($15) blends rhubarb-infused sake, a deep taste of black cherry and Sencha tea with a thick and creamy Jasmine tea foam, while the Aperol and Cinnamon Sour ($13) was the evening’s favourite for my drinking companion – blending Aperol and green apple with an in-house apple and cinnamon syrup and lime, and served in a Hendricks tea cup, it was tart and refreshing, and served as an excellent respite from the syrupy sweetness of most cocktails. Pulledpork empanadas, soft and crispy and full of pulled-pork flavour, rounded things off.

DRINKS: We tried the Porn Star Martini ($16), Honeyrider’s most popular drink and definitely one designed for sweet teeth (Smirnoff Vanilla, Passoã, passionfruit puree and lime juice), while the Bon Bon Margarita ($16) was also very sweet but with a manly tequila punch (1800 tequila, strawberry syrup, fresh lime and a popping candy rim). The popping candy rim made for a neat novelty, although we couldn’t help thinking it would be better placed on the Porn Star Martini, where it might inspire endless jokes about things going off in your mouth…

GARDEN BRASSERIE Grosvenor St, Neutral Bay

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CHRISTMAS TRADING

24th & 31st December

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homebake 2011 were you there?

HOMEBAKE FESTIVAL The Domain Saturday December 3

After taking a break in 2010, the (usually) annual Homebake festival returned to Sydney’s Domain for its 14th iteration. Featuring some of Australian music’s most respected names, amongst the next crop of rising local artists, it promised to be a day of cross-generational musical highlights – but proved to be somewhat hit and miss. The highs of Nick Cave’s guttural yelps and the Triffids' moving tribute to their passed frontman were balanced by the somewhat uninspired beats of Drapht, and the plodding disco-rock of Damndogs. At any one time you could bear witness to acts who were past their prime, coming into their own or exploding onto the scene. The Vines returned with a new record this year – but despite drawing one of the first big crowds of the day, they haven’t come back with too many new tricks. Controversial frontman Craig Nicholls deadpanned through their back catalogue, diluting the unbridled excitement that saw them surge to international acclaim in 2004. Instead, they seemed to be a little lost in time – a trait that traditional bluesman CW Stoneking personified with gusto. With an orchestra of horns behind him, Stoneking’s mumbled drawl was as charming as it was bizarre, bringing together Delta, Mississippi and Depression-era blues into one of the true highlights of the day. Equally lost/trapped in time were ‘80s staples Icehouse, playing their iconic record Flowers in full. Grinning with tales of the past (“back when we were punks, we had a dance called the pogo”), Icehouse played out as a snapshot of their era, certainly not embodying the timelessness that their era-mates on the Dome stage were about to demonstrate.

Taking the ‘classic album in full’ set on board also, the reformed Triffids were fronted by a revolving roster in place of the late Dave McComb. Each fill-in brought a touching take on McComb’s words, and the baby-faced Alexander Gow from Oh Mercy brought an earnest touch to proceedings, his youth a foil to the bandmates twenty years his senior – but surprisingly (and maybe criminally), it took the English singer Simon Breed to bring the most accurate touch to the Triffids, finishing off Born Sandy Devotional with Jill Birt’s ominous announcement: “This will be our last song… In more ways than one.” Earlier in the day, the stage was set for the youth. Architecture In Helsinki’s infectious absurdity made them Homebake’s most appealing dance act, while The Jezabels packed out the main stage with their cavernous gloom-rock. Beating each EP and record out of the same cast, they may not be venturing too far out of their comfort zone, but there’s no denying the fast-rising band's ability to meet their audience’s huge expectations. But the night belonged to the headliners: with Martyn Casey swaggering over from the Triffids to join dirty-old-men-in-arms Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Grinderman was a ferocious end to proceedings. Playing with unparalleled fervor, Cave crawled through the front row, screaming through Ellis’ fucked-up guitar. Thundering through the Grinderman ethos of improvised chaos, it was Cave who broke form, sporadically reading from lyric sheets throughout the set – the only complaint from an otherwise masterful show. With their first ever Classic Edition, Homebake may have stumbled upon a formula that works. Adding a welcome dose of nostalgia to a festival that has long been Sydney’s celebration of contemporary Australian music, it was a chance to see the future meet the past – which will hopefully be repeated next year. Max Easton

D HONCHO) & ASHLEY MAR ::

S : TIM LEVY (HEA OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER

34 :: BRAG :: 442: 12:12:11

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

DOLLY PARTON

Allphones Arena Tuesday November 29 You can keep your Shania Twain and your Taylor Swift; older than their ages combined, Dolly Parton is still hotter by far. She took the stage bang-on 8pm amidst a riot of colour and too-bright lights, launching into a kick-arse countrified medley that included ‘Walking On Sunshine’. It’s hard to overstate just how good she looked – although one imagines that the camera crew were given a strict no-close-ups policy. Riding the wave of applause, she kept the energy up with the disco bluster of ‘Baby, I’m Burning,’ before cleverly silencing the shouts for requests with the classic ‘Jolene’. Her on-stage banter is wellpractised but hilarious, as she explains that having been married to the same man for 45 years, she “shoulda just let Jolene take him”. After seeing so many rough and tumble(dried) indie acts, it was refreshing to see a gig of this scale, professionally executed and polished down to the smallest detail. Her treacle-thick voice drips southern charm and it’s clear that the spotlight is her natural habitat: no lipsyncing here. After such a glamtastic opening, Dolly called for her banjo as she and the band crowded around a Grand Old Opry-style microphone to deliver a toe-tapping, jug-blowing bluegrass medley. A cover of ‘Stairway To Heaven’, although well suited to her voice, had me channelling the guitar store employee from Wayne’s World… Thankfully she cooled it down and took a seat with a lap guitar, and with a backdrop of simple mountain shacks she told stories of growing up poor, citing her oft-repeated catch phrase, “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap”. A pitch perfect rendition of ‘Coat Of Many Colours’ was followed by several new songs – but while they were good, they weren’t really why we came. A comedy-rap (which stopped just short of cringe-worthy) rounded out the first half, and after a costume change we were treated to a high-energy finish including ‘9 To 5’ and an

encore of ‘I Will Always Love You’. The only real downside was a rather strict setlist with no room for the most commonly shouted request, ‘Applejack’. Considering I was there with my father who used to play me that song in the car growing up, it would have been the cherry on top of an otherwise fabulous night. Robbie Miles

FUCKED UP

The Standard Tuesday December 6 After listening to the barking vocals and swirling guitars on any Fucked Up album, one can’t help but sit back and conjure images of the manic live show that could surely ensue. It’s fair to say that my expectations were not only met but were surpassed when the Canadian sextet took over Sydney’s freshest live music institution. Primarily in Australia to support the Foo Fighters’ national stadium tour, a live show at the Standard must have been a refreshing change for a band that feeds so heavily off crowd interactions. At around 10pm, they took to a stage that was ultimately dwarfed by the six band members, particularly by the heavyset microphone destroyer that is Damian Abraham. With the burly frontman swinging his mic around like a lasso, the guitars entered with the riff for ‘Queen Of Hearts’, as Abraham belted out his own brand of visceral, gritty vocals. The diehard Fucked Up fans surged to the front of the mosh pit, with the frontman embracing just about every person that knew the lyrics to the songs, kissing, hugging and shoving the mic at any fan that struck his path. Given the number of guitarists and their abundance of effect pedals, and Damian’s frequent drives through the crowd (where he triumphantly jumped onto the bar counter, climbing over the railing onto the elevated level) whilst nursing about 20 feet of microphone chord, there were surprisingly few, if any, technical difficulties – the sound was pristine.

Racing through a combination of tracks from their latest offering David Comes To Life and seminal release The Chemistry Of Common Life, the show climaxed at the final song before the encore, ‘Son The Father’. A small yet fierce circle pit erupted into minor altercations, only to be defused by savior Damian himself, imploring everyone to “chill” as he physically got between the testosterone-fuelled brutes. Abraham’s on and off stage antics evolved the show from an exceptionally musically tight performance to an enthralling one. The appreciation he has for his fans was a welcome change from the reserved demeanour of the modern-day frontman. It’s always nice to know that the artist appreciates the support as much as the fans value the music. Greg Clennar

DAPPLED CITIES, ELIZABETH ROSE, MILLIONS The Standard Friday December 2

After some time away from the limelight, Sydney’s Dappled Cities climbed back on stage ahead of their forthcoming album, with some early slots at Harvest Festival and a sideshow support gig for Brooklyn’s TV On The Radio. But absence be damned: these constantly evolving art rockers have maintained their eminence in the local scene since the early 2000s, when they played a key role in Sydney’s live music revival. Elizabeth Rose (recently featured as part of triple j’s 2012 Next Crop) bravely took the early support slot, around three hours before the headliners were due to play. She treated our ears to a smorgasbord of sampling and song, accompanied by some pretty peculiar dance moves... She has a beautiful voice, which, combined with her edgy electronic samplings,

evokes a slightly up-tempo Fever Ray. Millions were up next, and there was something that kind of annoyed me about them. I could look past their gaudy talent quest vibe, but the boyish frontman’s glib remarks (“Well I reckon we’re pretty cute”) cracked through my veneer of tolerance. There was also the whole wearing-matching-tees thing, and their cover of a Wings song, which didn’t quite fit the vibe of the evening. It was a shame, because their singer is quite good – and as a whole they played a pretty tight set. Ultimately though, Elizabeth Rose really deserved their timeslot. Dappled Cities took the stage, and from those opening horns of ‘Wooden Ships’ they threw us head-on into a remarkable show. Displaying the same eccentric stage presence that devotees have enjoyed over the years, they churned out hits from A Smile to Zounds – plus five new songs from the upcoming album. I was worried all their new-fangled sounds would be a strain to hear live (as they have occasionally been in the past), but The Standard’s audio set up was immaculate. Dappled Cities are like a bottle of good wine: their live presence and well-crafted songs have aged well, and their sound has become increasingly refined over the years. I couldn’t have left this gig any more excited to hear their next album. Matthew O’Neil

PHOTOGRAPHER : TIM LEVY

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snap sn ap up all night out all week . . .

sosueme xmas party party profile

It’s called: SOSUEME Xmas Party

It sounds like: Rick Astley’s Best Of Christmas album... if there was one. Incredible. Who’s playing? Live bands include Furnace & The Fundamentals, The Polar Knights, Tokyo Denmark Sweden and Couples. Scratching turntables and breaking hearts are Kristy Lee, Starjumps, triple j’s very own Brendan Maclean, Shantan Wantan Ichiban, InTheMix DJs. Sell it to us: Egg nog, smutty Santa assistants and inappropriate amounts of mistletoe all over the place. Oh, and some of our favourite and seriously festive bands, DJs and music makers, all combined to create one mother of a perfectly moist yet well-rounded Christmas pudding. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: The first, second, possibly not the third stranger we locked lips with under the mistletoe. Crowd specs: Silly boys and girls who know exactly how a SOSUEME party’s supposed to be done (and the kids rolling down the street that can’t refuse the smell of lush free popcorn). Wallet damage: Ten-dow-lah. Where: Oxford Art Factory / 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst

andy bull

PICS :: GP

When: December 17 / 8pm til tha wee hours

veen

PICS :: KC

04:12:11 :: The Annandale :: 17 Parramatta Rd Annandale 9550 1078

the exchange hotel

PICS :: GP

03:12:11 :: The Standard :: Lvl 3/383 Bourke St Surry Hills 9262 4500

01:12:11

:: FBi Social @ Kings Cross Hotel :: 248 William St Kings Cross 9331 9900

:: KATRINA CLARKE :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO) POPOV :: TIM WHITNEY OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER RGE GEO :: Y CHE PEA MAS NS :: THO :: ASHLEY MAR :: DANIEL MUN

36 :: BRAG :: 442: 12:12:11

stevie nicks

PICS :: AM

love of diagrams

PICS :: AM

02:12:11 :: The Exchange Hotel:: 34 Oxford St Darlinghurst 9331 6245

29:11:11 :: Sydney Entertainment Centre :: 35 Harbour St Darling Harbour 9320 4200

snap sn ap up all night out all week . . .

unpopular music party profile

It’s called: Unpopular Music 2011

It sounds like: Psych-drone / post-hardcore / new weird folk / electronic noise / abnormal audio – aka something you might play to piss off your loved ones. Who’s playing? Strange Forces, Zeahorse, Secret Birds, Scattered Order, Thomas William vs Scissor Lock, Monolith, Anna Chase and Und – plus DJs Paul Gough (aka Pimmon) and Jack Shit. Sell it to us: A bunch of Sydney’s experimental promoters come together for a strange night out. New Weird Australia, Octopus Pi, Sound Series and Refraction combine forces to stage two shows on one night with eight bands, all raising cash for FBi Radio. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: The ringing in your ears. Crowd specs: Reserving the right to change their minds at any time. Wallet damage: $12 for both shows. Where: Early show at Hardware Gallery (Enmore) / late show at Dirty Shirlows (Marrickville).

misfits

PICS :: KC

When: Saturday December 17 from 6pm

sand pebbles

PICS :: KC

01:12:11 :: Manning Bar :: Manning Rd University Of Sydney 9563 6000

01:12:11 :: GoodGod Small Club :: 53-55 Liverpool St Sydney 9267 3787

:: KATRINA CLARKE :: S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO) POPOV :: TIM WHITNEY OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER RGE GEO :: Y CHE PEA MAS NS :: THO :: ASHLEY MAR :: DANIEL MUN

teeth & tongue

PICS :: GP

belles will ring

PICS :: AM

03:12:11 :: GoodGod Small Club :: 53-55 Liverpool St Sydney 9267 3787

02:12:11 :: GoodGod Small Club :: 53-55 Liverpool St Sydney 9267 3787 BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11 :: 37

The Minor Chord The all-ages rant brought to you by Indent.net.au & Janette Chen

Remedy

More than The Cure since 1989 with Murray Engleheart

WENT OFF!

50 Lions

Off! blew the roof from the Annandale on a wet Wednesday night last week. The newish band from Keith Morris (ex-Black Flag) and Steve McDonald (ex-Redd Kross) offered a textbook example of old-school punk before a rightly packed house. They played for about 40 minutes rather than the rumoured quarter of an hour, and that included an encore that saw them start their set again, because they had no other songs (just like Flag in their early days, as Morris told the crowd). The singer’s raves were big fun too; the best was about the greatness of Jeffrey Lee Pierce and The Gun Club (Morris urged everyone to own a copy of their 1981 album, Fire Of Love). Great stuff.

PRIMAL CHUNES

ALL-AGES GIG PICKS

ur feature gig this week is the aptly named Loud Festival, happening this Saturday afternoon at the Annandale Hotel. The lineup is a veritable who’s-who of life-changing hardcore and punk bands from Sydney, including 50 Lions, Hopeless, Endless Heights and Relentless. The whole shebang kicks off at the early time of 11am, so make sure you don’t have a big Friday night; if you’re a punk and/or hardcore enthusiast, missing this one would be criminal. Aussie expat Andy Clockwise will be playing an intimate acoustic show at FBi Social at Kings Cross Hotel on Thursday night. His brand of soulful, contemplative rock is fast becoming extremely popular (being featured in shows like 90210 and CSI: Miami doesn’t hurt), so this is one of those rare chances to see him on home turf, and lo-fi. Supporting him are Illawarra psychedelic freak-popsters The Walking Who and Melbourne grungelovers Udays Tiger. Definitely worth a trip to the Cross! If you’re into Swedish metal (and really, who isn’t?), legendary collective Opeth will be tearing the roof off of the Enmore Theatre on Friday night with their doomladen sludge metal. Drawing from over ten albums of material, this one’s going to be all killer, no filler. Opeth are well-known for their fantastic live sets, which showcase their virtuosic musicianship and create an intense atmosphere throughout every venue they play. The band’s Heritage tour is the first to showcase new keyboardist Joakim Svalberg, adding an extra layer of aural power.

Andy Clockwise, The Walking Who FBi Social @ Kings Cross Hotel

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16 Opeth Enmore Theatre

SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 Loud Festival Annandale Hotel

Distorted Sound Theory, Alithia, Fifth Fiction Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor supported by Melbourne's Alithia and alliteratively-named alterna-rockers Fifth Fiction, who’ve just released their first video clip. The first band starts around 8.30pm, so make sure you get down to Windsor to enjoy some local sounds. So as we come to the end of another year, we look back on all of the positive releases and news we have had the privilege of writing about in this column: we’ve had Tonight Alive explode, with an excellent debut record and a sold out show at The Metro Theatre; Sydney electro-popsters New Empire have also made the leap into the mainstream, with supports for Owl Eyes and Good Charlotte – not to mention being voted in the Top 4 Australian acts for Channel V’s Oz Artist of the Year competition. Finally, Australian hip hop has had a wonderful year too, with the massively successful Come Together festival, and a sold-out show at the Enmore Theatre for Drapht. What a huge year – thanks for being part of it!

MOTHER EEL

Sydney’s Mother Eel are moving to Svalbard during the polar night to record their next EP, titled Total Fucking Svalbard. Svalbard – if you don’t happen to know – is located approximately halfway between Norway and the North Pole. There are no roads connecting settlements, and they appreciate people trying to be invisible. So no, they won’t be playing any live shows during this time.

RIP: HUBERT SUMLIN

Hubert Sumlin, the young guitarist who did for Howlin’ Wolf what Randy Rhoads would much later do for Ozzy Osbourne, has died at the age of 80. Hugely admired by ‘60s British blues scene acts like The Stones, Cream, The Yardbirds and later Led Zeppelin, he began playing with Wolf at 23, a role he maintained for the next two decades – during which time he drove such classics as ‘Forty Four’, ‘Smokestack Lightning’, ‘Back Door Man’ and ‘Spoonful’. He also had a front-row seat for the titantic, ego-charged battles for dominance of Chicago between Wolf and Muddy Waters. And a lovely bloke on top of it all.

At the other end of the blues scale in terms of excitement, there’s word that a movie about B.B. King’s life is on the way. We just hope it ain’t too long. We’ve struggled for an age to see what all the fuss is about with that particular King.

MARK OF CAIN

There’s been a sudden tsunami of The Mark of Cain activity in the past week or so. On December 1, triple j’s Home & Hosed premiered their first new material in ten years with the broadcast of ‘Barkhammer’, the crushing first single produced by TMOC’s John Scott and long-time band associate Tim Pittman, which comes from the Songs of the Third and Fifth album, out early 2012. ‘Barkhammer’ is available from iTunes. The excitement travelled fast, and even stretched across the Atlantic: on December 3, Henry Rollins was salivating on his weekly radio show on KCRW, and told listeners that during his Oz tour next year he’ll be appearing in one of the videos for the album.

LOVELESS

David Brent in The Office once uttered sage words to the effect that, “If you try something and make a mess of it, erase any evidence you tried in the first place”. That wisdom might apply to the double-disc reissue of My Blood Valentine’s Loveless, the release of which has been endlessly pushed back for quite some time. Well, they’ve done a George Costanza, and just given up completely. Poor Amazon UK had this to say last week: “Our supplier has informed us that this item is no longer available... We apologise for the length of time it has taken us to reach this conclusion. Until recently, we had still hoped to obtain this item for you.” Like it never existed in the first place. Which it kinda didn’t.

FUGAZI

By their own reckoning, between 1987 and 2003 Fugazi played over 1000 shows around the world. Over 800 of them were recorded, and from December 1, in an effort that easily dwarfs similar endeavours by The Grateful Dead, The Fugazi Live Series was launched – a complete online archive of all those gigs. Each show gets a page, which will feature related photos, flyers and MP3 downloads. In true punk style, visitors will be encouraged to comment on the shows and recordings, and to contribute their own content to fill in the gaps. Initially the band will release 130 concert downloads (100 new shows, plus the 30 shows released on the now out-ofprint Fugazi Live Series CDs). Additional downloads, photos, flyers, etc will be added regularly until the entire archive is available. In keeping with the band’s overall philosophy, the suggested price of a concert download is $US5, but there will also be a sliding scale option where you can set your own price. The Fugazi Live Series is at dischord.com/ fugazi_live_ series.

Fugazi

ON THE TURNTABLE On the Remedy turntable is Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous. A bit of a no brainer, we know, but like many things in life it is one of those things that gets taken for granted when really it deserves more regular respect. A bit like, say, Sabbath’s Paranoid, which we still argue will be deemed timeless classical music in 100 years. We’re looking forward to wading through the new seven-album set of Lizzy’s entire sessions for the BBC.

TOUR AND INDUSTRY NEWS In early 2012, Dirty Three will return to Oz not just with an already glowingly acclaimed new album (their first since 2005’s Cinder), but also their first ever performance at Sydney Opera House. On March 21, they’ll be playing at the Concert Hall. Tickets on sale now. Opeth

Send all-ages listings & info to theminorchordradio@gmail.com 38 :: BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11

Send stuff to remedy@ozemail.com.au by 6pm Wednesdays. Pics to art@thebrag.com www.facebook.com/remedy4rock

Fugazi photo by Cynthia Connolly

To our last gig pick this week: alternative reggae punks Distorted Sound Theory are bringing their sweet jams to the Fitzroy Hotel in Windsor on Saturday night,

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15

On June 24, 2008, Primal Scream and the reborn MC5 shared a stage at London’s Royal Festival Hall as part of the Meltdown festival – and now all the action is out on DVD, and a deluxe double-disc + DVD set. Primal Scream always had at least as much to do with the real rock action of The Stooges and The MC5 as they did the sounds on their classic Screamadelica album, as evidenced by songs like the blistering ‘Accelerator’. First up in this package, the Primals play a set followed by The MC5 featuring singer William Duvall (Alice in Chains); then they join forces for versions of ‘I Can Only Give You Everything’, ‘Movin On Up’, ‘Skull X’, ‘Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa (Rocket Reducer No.62)’ and an epic take on ‘Black to Comm’, featuring former MC5 manager and jailed ‘60s revolutionary John Sinclair. The cover artwork for the package is a painting by MC5 bassist Mike Davis based on a sketch that was done while on the road in the ‘60s, which was redone exclusively for this release.

B.B. BIOPIC

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g g guide g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com

pick of the week Oscar + Martin

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16

Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst

Oscar + Martin, Mrs Bishop, Flume, Conics $10 (+ bf) 8pm MONDAY DECEMBER 12

TUESDAY DECEMBER 13

ROCK & POP

Blue Mondays: Frank Sultana The Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm Bobby Fox & The Treatment Civic Hotel Underground, Sydney $15 9.30pm Matt Jones The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm

JAZZ

James Muller Trio 505 Club, Surry Hills $10 8pm Jim Gannon Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm Latin & Jazz Open Mic/Jam Session: Rinske Geerlings, Daniel Falero, Philip Taig, Pierre Della Putta The World Bar, Kings Cross free 7pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Senani, Huntley Mitchell, David Johnstone, Steven, Russell Neal Kellys On King, Newtown free 7pm

Adam Pringle and Friends Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm Australian Singer Songwriter Association Christmas Party & Showcase Valve Bar, Tempe 7pm Frank Fairfield Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Hue Williams Jack’s Bar & Grill, Erina free 6.30pm Mickey Pye Novotel Homebush, Homebush Bay free 4.30pm The Nuts Camden RSL Club free 8pm OMG Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney free 10pm Rob Henry The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm The Songwriter Sessions The Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 7.30pm Steve Tonge O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 9pm They Call Me Bruce Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney free

8.30pm Voices of Angels: Sydney Children’s Choir, Gondwana Voices City Recital Hall, Sydney $54 7pm all-ages Zoltan Coogee Bay Hotel free 9pm

JAZZ

Glenn Rhodes Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm Jazzgroove: Cameron Undy’s Abstract Brotherhood, Tim Clarkson 505 Club, Surry Hills $8–$10 8pm Steve Morrison The Basement, Circular Quay $15 (+ bf) 9pm

Ashliegh Mannix, Jordan Millar, Morgan Joanel 34 Degrees South, Bondi $6 7pm Ben Finn Duo Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill free 6pm The Checks (NZ), The Rubens, I Know Leopard Rock Lily, Pyrmont free 8pm English & The Doc Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Goodnight Dynamite O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 9pm Harbour Masters Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Sydney free 6pm In Pieces The Orient Hotel, The Rocks free 9pm Jamie Lindsay Northies, Cronulla free 7.30pm Johnny Casino Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm The Lonely Boys Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney free 10pm Luke Hoskins Inexperience, Intel Outside, Elephant, Jess Locke Valve Bar, Tempe 7pm Mandi Jarry Summer Hill Hotel free 7.30pm Maux Faux, Face Command, Rocket Head, Bloody Jon Kenner The Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $10 8pm Mike Bennett The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Musos Jam Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt free 8pm Naughty or Nice Rock n’ Roll Xmas Show: The Darkened Seas, Lite Feed Frenzy, The Berks, The Brown Horn Orchestra, Plight of the Mystical Dugongs The Annandale Hotel $8 7.30pm Open Mike Night Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor free 7.30pm Robert Dunne Spectrum, Darlinghurst $20 (+ bf) 8pm Set Sail, Holland Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach free 8pm Snakadaktal, Fishing, Elizabeth Rose Goodgod Small Club, Sydney $10 (+ bf) 8pm Sons of Summer, Aaron Lyon Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $15 8pm The Study: Toy, Burning Violet Bridges, Fierce Mild Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills free 7pm

JAZZ

Jimmy Vargas and The Black Dahlias Blue Beat Bar & Grill, Double Bay $10 7pm Shane Flew Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm Steve Barry Trio 505 Club, Surry Hills $10–$15 8pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Daniel Hopkins Taren Point Hotel free 7pm Frank Fairfield (USA) The Basement, Circular Quay $20 (+ bf) 9pm Petersham Ukulele Group, Shining Whits, Emad Younan, Warren Munce, Robert Ephraums, Russell Neal Cat and Fiddle Hotel, Balmain free 6.30pm TAOS, Men With Day Jobs, Josie Critter, Gavin Fitzgerald, Alan Watters, Simon Li, Paul McGowan, Ken Mclean Coach & Horses Hotel, Randwick free 7pm The Yellow Canvas, Jaime Baquiran, Greg Sita Cookies Lounge and Bar, Bakehouse Quarter, North Strathfield free 8pm

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15 ROCK & POP

031 Rockshow Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney free 10pm Alithia, Domino, Spectacles The Square, Haymarket $10 8pm Andy Mammers Harbord Beach Hotel free 8pm Anthems Of Oz The Orient Hotel, The Rocks free 9pm Benn Gunn Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Sydney free 6pm Briscoe, Heart attack Machines, The Paris Club, Our Monk Valve Bar, Tempe 7pm Canyons, Steele Bonus Civic Hotel, Sydney $10 (+ bf) 8pm The Checks (NZ), Underlights, Thieves, Pineapple Head Goodgod Small Club, Sydney $8 (presale)–$10 (+ bf) 8pm David Agius Northies, Cronulla free 9.15pm Go / No-Go, No Illuminati, MA, Bonney Read The Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $10 8pm Hat Fitz, Cara Robinson Empire Hotel, Annandale $12 8pm Hot Damn: War From A Harlots Mouth, Hot Damn DJs Spectrum, Darlinghurst 8pm Joe Meares & The Honeyriders, Charles Jenkins, A Casual End Mile Notes Live, Enmore $14.30 7pm Johnathan Devoy Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 8pm Jon Stevens Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $63–$121 (dinner & show) Kellie Lloyd, Sounds Like Sunset, Grant Tango Fandango, Tape/Off Annandale Hotel $12 (+ bf) 7.30pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK David Christopher, Russell Neal Kogarah Hotel free 7pm

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14 ROCK & POP

Andy Mammers Duo Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney free 9.30pm

The Checks

Mandi Jarry Dee Why Hotel free 8pm Matt Andersen, Claude Hay The Vault, Windsor 8pm Michael McGlynn Greengate Hotel, Killara free 8pm Musos Club Jam Night Carousel Hotel, Rooty Hill free 8pm Polaroids of Xmasroids: Ernest Ellis & The Panamas, The Fighting League, Unity Floors, Sean Lockhart Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm Postcards O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 9.30pm Renae Kearney Toxteth Hotel, Glebe free 8pm Rope’s End: Andy Clockwise, The Walking Who, Udays Tiger FBi Social @ Kings Cross Hotel, Darlinghurst $10 8pm Sam & Jamie Trio Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney free 9.30pm Sarah McLeod Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Set Sail, Holland, Tigertown Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $15 (+ bf) 8pm Speakeasy The Whitehouse Hotel, Petersham 8pm Steve Tonge The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 9.30pm

JAZZ

Away in a Basement: The Idea of North The Basement, Circular Quay $30 (+ bf) 8.30pm James Morrison featuring Emma Pask Blue Beat Bar & Grill, Double Bay $25 7pm Lionel Robinson Dee Why RSL Club free 6.30pm Rhythm Hunters 505 Club, Surry Hills $15–$20 8pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK Simon Shapiro The Marlborough Hotel, Newtown free 8.30pm

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16 ROCK & POP

1st Blues Platoon, Emma Woodorth Trio Bristol Arms Retro Hotel, Sydney $5 7.30pm American Graffiti Ramsgate RSL, Ramsgate Beach free 8pm Andy Bull Beach Road Hotel, Bondi free 8pm Andy Mammers Duo Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel free 8pm Bah Humbug Annandale Hotel free 8pm The Beatnix Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $46–$104 (dinner & show) 8pm Bell Weather Department, The Ruminators, Udays Tigers Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm Ben Finn Castle Hill RSL Club free 8.30pm Big Radio Dynamite Bankstown Sports Club free 9pm Big Way Out Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills free 9.30pm Good Evans It’s Xmas! – Bob Evans, Adalita Notes Live, Enmore $49 8pm The Bobhawks Vineyard Hotel free 9pm

“Once we rode together In a metal firecracker. You told me I was your queen” - LUCINDA WILLIAMS 40 :: BRAG :: 442 : 12:12:11

g g guide gig g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com Carl Fidler The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 10.30pm Colonies, Taylor King Candys Apartment, Kings Cross $10 8pm Constant Project, Sally Faherty Duo, Nutty Nut Excelsior Hotel, Glebe free 7.30pm Crossing Red Lines, Papa Pilko and The Bin Rats, Rufflefeather, Equal Army The Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $10 8pm Dan Lissing Duo Crows Nest Hotel free 6.30pm Dave Phillips O’Malley’s Hotel, Darlinghurst free 8pm Dave Stevens The Observer Hotel, The Rocks free 8.30pm Dave White, Luke Dixon Duo Kirribilli Hotel free 8pm David Agius Duo Penrith Panthers free 6pm Drew McAlister PJ Gallagher’s Drummoyne free 10pm Endless Heights, One Vital Word, Fixtures, The Perspectives, Clipped Wings Chatswood Youth Centre 8pm Flamin’ Beauties Mortdale Hotel free 8pm The Flood The Vault, Windsor 8pm Foo Fighters Tribute Engadine Tavern free 9.30pm Geoff Rana Macquarie Hotel, Liverpool free 4.30pm Harbour Master Club Hotel, Leumeah free 8pm The Headliners Westmead Tavern free 6.30pm Heath Burdell Northies, Cronulla free 9pm Hit Machine Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney free 10pm

Hue Williams Avalon Beach RSL Club free 9pm Jackmanfriday, Elliot the Bull, Sex In Colombia, Bridgemary Kiss Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills $13.30 8pm Jess Dunbar The Grand Hotel, Rockdale free 5.30pm John Vella Collaroy Beach Hotel free 5.30pm Jon Stevens Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $63–$121 (dinner & show) 8pm Kent Eastwood Orange Grove Hotel, Leichhardt free 8pm King Tide, Jaime Robbie Reyne, Morgan Joanel, DJ Johnny Gleeson Upstairs Beresford, Surry Hills free 6pm Kirk Burgess Collingwood Hotel, Liverpool free 5.30pm Kurt Williams Duo Steelers Club, Wollongong free 7pm La Vista Petersham RSL Club free 8.30pm Lovers Jump Creek, Jackmanfriday, Elliot The Bull, Sex In Colombia, Bridgemary Kiss The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills $10 (+ bf) 8pm Mandi Jarry Duo Red Cow Hotel, Penrith free 5pm Martin Mulholland Novotel Homebush, Homebush Bay free 5pm Matt Jones PJ Gallagher’s Parramatta free 9pm Matt Vaughan The Rocks Market free 6pm

Mickey Pye Parramatta RSL free 5pm The Mick Hart Experience: Hendrix Tribute Show Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Mish, Nobody Knew They Were Robots, Rock ‘n’ Roll Weapon, Damarill, Not Like Horse Valve Bar, Tempe $10 7pm The Nickelback Show Pioneer Tavern, Penrith South free 9pm Nicky Kurta Mill Hill Hotel, Bondi Junction free 7.30pm MUM: Gung Ho, Ships Piano, Bang Bang Rock N Roll, Bright Yellow, Pirates Alive, The Nectares, MUM DJs The World Bar, Kings Cross $10-$15 8pm Opeth (SWE) Enmore Theatre $74.20 (+ bf) 8pm all-ages Original Sin INXS Show Ettamogah Pub, Kellyville free 9pm Oscar & Martin, Mrs Bishop, Flume, Conics Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $10 (+ bf) 8pm Party Vibe The Marlborough Hotel, Newtown free 10.30pm Pawno Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor $5 8pm Pete Hunt Chatswood RSL free 5pm Postcards Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill free 8pm Professor Groove & the Booty Affair Blue Beat Bar & Grill, Double Bay $10 10pm Reckless The Orient Hotel, The Rocks free (early bird)–$5 9.30pm Red Hot Numbers Penrith Bowling & Recreation Club free 8.30pm

The Road Crew Overlander Hotel, Cambridge Park free 8pm Rob Henry Harbord Beach Hotel free 8pm Rumours - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac: The Australian Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show The Basement, Circular Quay $28 (+ bf) 9pm Sam & Jamie Show Castle Hill Tavern free 6pm Scott Donaldson Crows Nest Hotel free 10pm The Spitfires, The Shake Up, DJ Alley Cats The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale free 9pm Steppin Out Kingswood Sports Club free 7pm Steve Flack’s Guitar Heroes, Dom Turner, Dennis Wilson, Martin Cilia Empire Hotel, Annandale $20 8pm Steve Tonge Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill free 9pm Stray Roots Richmond Inn free 8pm Talk It Up Crows Nest Hotel free 11.15pm Terry Serio’s Ministry of Truth, The Glimmer, Them Apples, Tara Lawrence The Square, Haymarket $12 8pm They Call Me Bruce Sportsman’s Hotel, Blacktown free 5pm Tone Rangers Kingswood Sports Club free 7pm White Christmas Wolf Call: La Mancha Negra, Atom Bombs, Jessie Redwing, Leone Carmen, Flash & Crash DJs GoodGod Small Club, Sydney $10 8.30pm

Opeth

The Winstons Trio Kro Bar, East Leagues Club free 8.30pm Zac Slater Castle Hill RSL Club free 6.30pm Zoltan Pittwater RSL Club, Mona Vale free 8.30pm

JAZZ

Edoardo Santoni 505 Club, Surry Hills $15–$20 8pm Urban Gypsies Quartet, Zoe Elliot The Vanguard, Newtown $24 6.30pm Yuki Kumagai, John Mackie Well Connected Cafe, Glebe free 8pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Elissa Shand, Hannah Wisse, Archilleas, Sureel, Jack Davison, Alyxanthe Hull, Russell Neal Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy free 7pm Josh McIvor The Belvedere Hotel free 9pm

SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 ROCK & POP

2 Of Hearts Brighton RSL Club, BrightonLe-Sands free 8pm 3rd Axle, When Thoughts Fail, Rubix, City Of Ghosts, Angharad Yeo, Lines Of Charlie The Valve, Tempe free 12pm Alithia, Distorted Sound Theory, Fifth Fiction Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor free 8.30pm all-ages Altitude Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney free 10pm Andy Clockwise, The Checks (NZ), Radio INK, DJ Magic Happens Upstairs Beresford, Surry Hills free 6pm Andy Mammers Duo PJ Gallagher’s Parramatta free 9pm The Australian Pink Show Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills free 10pm The Avo’s Carousel Inn, Rooty Hill 9pm

wed

14 Dec

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

thu

15 Dec

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

fri

16 Dec

(5:00PM - 8:00PM)

(5:00PM - 12:30AM)

s PA R T Y D J D O W N S TA I R S

(4:00PM - 7:00PM)

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

sat

FACEBOOK.COM/ROADSHOWFILMS

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

17 Dec

THEINBETWEENERS.COM.AU

(12:30AM to close)

sun

SATURDAY NIGHT

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

18 Dec

SUNDAY NIGHT

(8:00PM - 11:00PM)

Strong sexual references, coarse language and nudity

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g g guide gig g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com Bandits Band Ramsgate RSL, Ramsgate Beach free 8pm Bang Shang a Lang Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain 8pm Ben Finn Duo Ettamogah Pub, Kellyville free 6.30pm The Blackeyed Susans, Holiday Sidewinder The Vanguard, Newtown $25 8pm Bondi Cigars Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why $28–$70 (dinner & show) 8pm Caramel Castle Hill RSL Club free 10.30pm Chartbusters RG McGees Hotel, Richmond free 9.30pm Christmas Party Of Enormous Proportions: Asthena, The Kumpnee, Winslow’s Cancer, Hidden Ace, One Day Soon, Coredea, Griveyre Valve Bar, Tempe 2pm The Church Enmore Theatre $55-$65 (+ bf) 8pm Crushed Ice Regents Park Sporting & Community Club free 7.30pm Dam Vamp, Spirit Valley, Danger Dannys, Finn Baulch, Moon Age DJs, DJ Alvin Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm Dave Tice and Mark Evans Downstairs, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 4pm Dave White Crows Nest Hotel free 11.15pm David Agius PJ Gallagher’s Drummoyne free 10pm David Agius Duo Sydney Rowing Club, Abbotsford free 3pm Dora D Band Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill free

Expatriate FBi Social @ Kings Cross Hotel, Darlinghurst 8pm Fatt Lipp Engadine Tavern free 9.30pm Favourite Thing #2: Bang Bang Rock n Roll, Particles, The Electric Vogues, The Summervilles, The Upskirts, Atom Bombs, Electric Flu WholeBean Café, Marrickville free 8pm Flap! Camelot, Marrickville 8pm Finn Pendle Inn, Pendle Hill 8.30pm Foreday Riders Empire Hotel, Annandale $15 8pm Ghost Train Excelsior Hotel, Glebe free 7.30pm Glenn Whitehall Picton Hotel free 8pm Jive Bombers Club Merrylands free 8pm Johnny G & The E Types Notes Live, Enmore $28.60 7pm John Vella Crowne Plaza, Terrigal free 1pm Kid Mac Beach Road Hotel, Bondi $15 8pm Kobra Kai The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills $20 (+ bf) 8pm LGT, Nick Latta Band, Annie Szota The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale free 9pm Loud Fest Part Two: 50 Lions, Hopeless, Relentless, Resist The Thought, The Bride, Endless Heights, Pledge This!, Turning Tides, Villa Rise, Perspectives, Where The Enemy Sleeps Annandale Hotel $22 11am all-ages

Melody Black, Mercy Kills, Virginia Killstyxx The Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $15 8pm A Memphis Soul X-Mas: Johnny G & the E-Types Notes Live, Enmore 8pm Mental As Anything Brass Monkey, Cronulla 8pm Peabody, Sister Jane, Super Best Friends Town Hall Hotel, Newtown free 8pm Pete Hunt Hollywood Café & Bar, Broadway free 6pm Professor Groove & The Booty Affair Blue Beat Bar & Grill, Double Bay $10 10pm Raise The Crazy, Devine Electric, Spirit Valley Spectrum, Darlinghurst 8pm Ramshackle, How To Survive A Bullfight, The Double Crossers, Jekyll Live House, Lewisham $10 7pm Resistmas: A Death In The Family, I Exist, Toy Boats Annandale Hotel free 7pm The Road Runners Matraville RSL free 8pm Robin Lee Sinclair Band Marrickville Bowling and Recreation Club free 5pm SFX: Endless Heights, Hopeless, One Vital Word, Hearts Like Wolves St James Hotel, Sydney $12$15 8pm The Silvertops Trio Kro Bar, East Leagues Club free 8.30pm Stormcellar Royal Hotel, Bondi 8pm Tim Freedman & The Idle, Gossling Metro Theatre, Sydney 8pm Yum Kingswood Sports Club free 9pm

JAZZ

Frank Sinatra Show: Jeff Duff, Ed Wilson’s Big Band Manly Fisho’s $25 8pm Jazz Nouveau Supper Club, Fairfield RSL Club free 7pm The Pinks 505 Club, Surry Hills $15–$20 8pm A Tribute to the Fania All Stars: Gualbertas Casas (Peru), Gonzalo Porta (Uruguay), Wilson Ozoco (Colombia), Evelin Ruiz (Colombia) The Basement, Circular Quay $35 (+ bf)–$45 9.30pm Yuki Kumagai, John Mackie Wellco Café & Wine Bar, Leichhardt free 7.30pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Bill Knight, Helmut Uhlmann Terrey Hills Tavern free 7.30pm Mark Da Costa The Marlborough Hotel, Newtown free 10.30pm Muddy Feet The Belvedere Hotel free 9pm Sarah Charles, Simon Marrable, Carolyn Woodorth Picton Bowling Club free 8.30pm

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 ROCK & POP

Benn Gunn Peachtree Hotel, Penrith free 1pm Bob Evans, Adalita Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why 8pm

Cell Block 69 Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $15 (+ bf) 8pm The Generators Riverstone Sports Hotel free 2pm Harbour Master Collaroy Beach Hotel free 1pm Kirk Burgess Oatley Hotel free 2pm LJ Waverley Bowling Club free 3pm Midnightman, Psyberia, The Stringsmiths, Kirrakmere Valve Bar, Tempe 4pm The Missing Link, The Roadrunners, Doni Raven and the Blackjack Wolfpack The Sandringham Hotel, Newtown $10 7pm Mojo Juju’s Mofo Christmas Show: Mojo Juju, Steve Smyth The Vanguard, Newtown $15 (+ bf) 8pm Pete Hunt Kro Bar, Easte Leagues Club free 6pm Pete Hunt Rosebay Hotel free 1pm Satellite V Marrickville Bowling and Recreation Club free 4.30pm Screaming Sunday: The Corridors, Obviously Your Superhero, As Fear Sets In, Seeking First Light, Justice For The Damned, Under The 8 Ball, Button Down, In Between Dreams Annandale Hotel 12pm allages The Slowdowns Downstairs, The Sandringham Hotel, Newtown free 4pm Smudge, Sam Shinazzi, DJ Stuart Cope Annandale Hotel $11 (+ bf) 6pm

Spaceticket, The Summervilles, The Dead Heads, Narrow Lands, Feral Scab The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale free 6pm Sydney Blues Society Botany View Hotel, Newtown free 7pm Vibrations At Valve Band Competition: 3rd Axle, When Thoughts Fail, Rubix, City of Ghosts, Angharad Yeo, Lines Of Charlie Valve Bar, Tempe 12pm

JAZZ

Elixir, Dayna Kurtz 505 Club, Surry Hills $25– $30 8.30pm Jimmy Shaw & Shaw’n’Uff Big Band, Peter Power, Paige Delancey Randwick Labour Club $8 (conc)–$10 3pm The Peter Head Trio Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks free 4pm Yuki Kumagai, John Mackie, Tony Burkys, Paul Furniss, Bob Gillespie Central Coast Leagues Club, Gosford free 2pm

ACOUSTIC & FOLK

Bill Knight, Russell Neal Avalon Beach RSL Club free 6.30pm Matt Toms The Belvedere Hotel free 4pm Sarah Charles, David Christopher, Callum Wylie, Le Trio de Lee Cass, Helmut Uhlmann Hotel William, Darlinghurst free 6pm Shane MacKenzie Cohibar free 3pm

L2 Kings Cross Hotel www.fbisocial.com

Tuesday December 13

Thursday December 15

FIRST LOOK SCREENING:

ROPE’S END:

Hobo with a Shotgun 6:30pm FREE for FBi supporters RSVP to offers@fbiradio.com

Andy Clockwise + The Walking Who + Udays Tiger 8pm $10

Saturday December 17

+ MIDNIGHT UNTIL LATE

FREE

LATE NIGHT SOCIAL XMAS PARTY: SOFTWAR + MCINNES + FRAMES

Sunday December 18

Wednesday December 14 Saturday December 17

LUNCH BREAK Proudly presented by Alberts: WINTER PEOPLE 1pm FREE & broadcast live on 94.5FM 42 :: BRAG :: 442 : 12:12:11

EXPATRIATE + PALMS 8pm $12+bf from Oztix or $15 at the door

FOREIGNDUB AIRWAYVZ LIVE BROADCAST from FBi Social with special guest MOGz + Mc KYE aka Budspells

5pm - 9pm $5

gig picks

up all night out all week...

Ernest Ellis & The Panamas

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14

Expatriate FBi Social @ Kings Cross Hotel, Darlinghurst 8pm $12 (+ bf)

Snakadaktal, Fishing, Elizabeth Rose Goodgod Small Club, Sydney $10 (+ bf) 8pm

Kobra Kai The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills $20 (+ bf) 8pm

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15

Peabody, Sister Jane, Super Best Friends Town Hall Hotel, Newtown free 8pm

The Checks (NZ), Underlights, Thieves, Pineapple Head Goodgod Small Club, Sydney $8 (presale)–$10 (+ bf) 8pm

Tim Freedman & The Idle, Gossling Metro Theatre, Sydney 8pm $32 (+ bf)

Polaroids of Xmasroids: Ernest Ellis & The Panamas, The Fighting League, Unity Floors, Sean Lockhart Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst free 8pm Rope’s End: Andy Clockwise, The Walking Who, Udays Tiger FBi Social @ Kings Cross Hotel, Darlinghurst $10 8pm

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 Cell Block 69 Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $15 (+ bf) 8pm Smudge, Sam Shinazzi Annandale Hotel $11 (+ bf) 6pm

Set Sail, Holland, Tigertown Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst $15 (+ bf) 8pm

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16 Good Evans It’s Xmas! – Bob Evans, Adalita Notes Live, Enmore $49 7pm The Mick Hart Experience: Hendrix Tribute Show Brass Monkey, Cronulla $20 (+ bf) 7pm Opeth (SWE) Enmore Theatre $74.20 (+ bf) 8pm all-ages

SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 The Church Enmore Theatre $55-$65 (+ bf) 7pm

Gossling

The Church

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brag beats

BRAGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guide to dance, hip hop and club culture inside

scratch perverts stanton warriors fritz kalkbrenner

tim sweeney new york cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s space cadet also: + club guide + club snaps + columns

BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11 :: 45

dance music news

free stuff

club, dance and hip hop in brief... with Chris Honnery

FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM

five things WITH

MIA LUCCI

Growing Up My family and I are crazy. My dad is 17 1. years older then my mum for one thing, so I

and teach me everything they know. Big ups to my mates Wax Motif, and also Johnson & Sylvester from Yolanda Be Cool – who, although they have had a commercial hit, love it deep and dark and definitely know how to produce it!

was lucky enough to be surrounded by music from the ‘50s right up until the ‘80s – and that was just when I was born. Growing up, Kool & The Gang, The Jackson 5 and Hall & Oates played a big part, and although I hate admitting it, I was guilty of listening to MC Hammer, New Kids On The Block and Cyndi Lauper… Is this going to press?

The Music You Make I won’t lie and say I’m a genius in 4. the studio. It’s all still quite new to me. Unfortunately, my love for music entered through the other door; DJing first, producing after. I’m starting to get a handle on it though – needless to say, the more you know the more you realise you don’t know! My first track will be out by the end of the year. Expect deep basslines, warm vocals and smooth builds. And that’s pretty much what you’ll hear in my DJ sets too!

Inspirations I guess I take inspiration from a lot of 2. things. DJs in clubs, watching my mates work in their studios, tribes banging bongos, the laundromat man who makes music in his laundromat – but seriously, if I had to mention some names I’d say Metro Area have been one of my long-standing favourites when it comes to production… always well ahead of their time. Ricardo Villalobos is a favourite DJ because of his sheer loose and genius approach. And Luciano – solid DJ and what appears to be a solid, honest, all-round good family dude.

Music, Right Here, Right Now I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised 5. to return to Sydney after spending five months in Ibiza, only to notice the huge following that has erupted around underground beats by people like Jamie Jones and Danny Daze. It’s incredible – I LOVE IT!

Your Crew They’re loose! ...Nah, it depends what 3. I’m doing, really. Kitchen teas on Sunday

Who: Marc Antona, Tim Turmspringer, Tiago Oudman, and locals Murat Kilic, YokoO, Brohn Smith and Mia Lucci. Where: The Spice Cellar When: Saturday December 17

means spending time with friends with babies; late nights on Saturday mean I’m in the club with my music-obsessed crew; and when in the studio, I’m lucky enough to have a lot of friends who are happy to inspire

CARL COX @ IVY POOL Marc Antona

Fritz Kalkbrenner

After first making a name for themselves holding down the back room at Lost Baggage way back when, Lost Disco are throwing their first standalone party in lavish fashion: by recruiting Carl Cox and Eric Powell for an eight-hour set in the opulent confines of Ivy Pool Bar on Saturday February 11. The pair will apparently be showcasing a different side of their DJing sensibility, digging into their crates for old and nu disco, old skool jazz, funk, soul and classic house, for a daytime set that commences at midday and finishes at 8pm. There’s also talk of an afterparty in the changeroom area of Ivy Pool, featuring Brohn, Co-Op, Mia Lucci and Dreamoz. Presale tickets are available online.

Theatre in some style; with an international triple bill comprised of dual Detroit techno pioneers Carl Craig and Octave One, along with one of the more promising house producers to emerge in recent times, John Roberts. Both Craig and Octave One were in Australia last summer, with the former delivering a rollicking closing set to a packed Forum crowd at the D25 party, while Octave One performed at the Beck’s Festival Bar for Mad Racket. As the man behind Planet E Records, who has remixed the likes of LCD Soundsystem and Australia’s Cut Copy in recent years and produced for artists such as Etienne Jaumet (Zombie Zombie), Craig’s sonic pedigree is well known

FRITZ KALKBRENNER

Some things just sound fun – jumping castles, fairy bread, etc. Fritz Kalkbrenner is fun to say, and even more fun when you’re busting a move to his soulful beats. The German DJ/producer has spread his craft all over the place, laying down vocals for the likes of Sascha Funke, Alexander Kowalski and Monika Kruse, and all that talent is being concentrated and shot straight at you at Chinese Laundry on Saturday December 17. If you’d like a double pass, just tell us the name of Fritz’ famous brother... in clubbing circles, as is that of Octave One. But although clubbers don’t bandy Roberts’ name about with the same zest that they express when dropping ‘Octave One’ – or indeed a C-bomb – the American artist is highly regarded by those in the know for crafting ‘intelligent’ dance music. Roberts has been featured on Dial compilations alongside the likes of Efdemin and Lawrence, and released his debut LP Glass Eights last year on the same label, an album which ultimately ended up on many year-end best of lists. Throw in a sideroom of local acts, and this ought to be quite a birthday celebration. Presale tickets are available online.

Crazy P

BIG VILLAGE XMAS PARTY

PIRATES OF THE UNDERGROUND

Subsonic sets sail for the fifth annual Pirates of the Underground Cruise this Saturday December 17, with a lineup laden with international heavyweights. Leading the global armada is UK veteran A Guy Called Gerald, a chap who has collaborated with the likes of Derrick May and Frankie Knuckles over the course of his 25-year career, who demonstrated he has not lost any of his magic with an inspired set last weekend at the Subsonic Music Festival. He’ll be flanked by Frenchman Marc Antona, who recently released his debut album, Rules Of Madness, through his label Dissonant, and plays an influential – and often unheralded role – behind the scenes at the Cadenza label. Also representing will be Portuguese duo The Bastards (who were regulars spinning at the now defunct, fabled Berlin clubspot Bar-25), along with Berlin’s Turmspringer, the French pairing of Solead and D-sens, Brasil’s Anna Leevia and Japan’s Yoko, and a sprinkling of Subsonic locals. The boat departs Rose Bay Wharf at 1.30pm and docks at 10pm; needless to say that a pirate costume is mandatory for this one. Presale tickets are available for $60 through Resident Advisor – and as it’s a limited capacity boat, you’d better get in quick. For any of you who can’t make the boat, it’s worth noting that Antona, Turmspringer and one half of The Bastards, the inimitable Tiago Oudman, will all be playing at The Spice Cellar in the early hours of Sunday morning.

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Sydney hip hop label Big Village will throw its annual Christmas party at the Annandale Hotel on Friday December 23, which will offer live performances from the entire Big Village roster plus a packed fixture of special guests. Headlining the festivities will be True Vibenation, who recently released their debut album The Sunshower Phenomenon. They’ll be joined by Ellesquire, who are currently basking in the success of their recent cut ‘On The Prowl’, a triple j favourite. Tuka, Daily Meds and Rapaport will all be representing the label, while Sketch the Rhyme featuring Ozi Batla and Joe New, She Rex, MCs Herb and Ruthless, DJ Migz and the Hi-Tops Brass Band will all be performing live. A limited series of 100 Big Village Remix CDs, featuring unreleased remixes of tracks from Big Village artists, have been pressed especially for the occasion, and will be given to the first 100 people through the door. The frivolity commences nice and early at 7pm, with $10 presales available online.

CUT CHEMIST

American DJ and record producer Lucas MacFadden, better known as Cut Chemist, returns to Australia next year, and will perform at The Metro Theatre on Friday February 17, with what is being touted as a “cut ‘n’ scratch audio-visual blowout” show, dubbed ‘Sound Of The Police’. MacFadden is a founding member of Jurassic 5 and the hugely successful Ozomatli, and collaborated with DJ Shadow on two of the most in demand remix CDs of modern times. Accompanying Cut Chemist is long-time visual collaborator Tom Fitzgerald, the virtual founding father of LA’s Cinefamily and a man who is able to “manipulate, warp and destroy clips in ways that are hilarious, musical and psychedelicised like no other.”

GOLDEN CAGE FT CARL CRAIG ET AL

This Saturday night, the Golden Cage club night celebrates its second birthday at The Metro

HIGH FLYERS LITTLE SECRET NYD

Funkdafied and Dig Deep are hosting a New Year’s Day Warehouse event at Sun Studios, Alexandria, dubbed ‘High Flyers Little Secret New Year’s Day 2012’, and featuring live funk and soul, hip hop and disco. Popular Manchester troupe Crazy P (formerly known as Crazy Penis) will be performing with their full five-piece live band, along with Dutchman DJ Maestro, who recently toured Australia and performed at the sold out Blue Note Trip event at the Basement. Sydney impresario Katalyst will also be representing on the back of his latest album, Deep Impressions, while you can expect to be entertained by over 40 other acts across several indoor and outdoor stages, including Omegaman Sound System playing live. First Release $59 tickets are currently available online.

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dance music news

free stuff

club, dance and hip hop in brief... with Chris Honnery

FREESTUFF@THEBRAG.COM

CARL CRAIG

five things WITH

ADAM ZAE OF DOCTOR WEREWOLF and drumstep. Basically anything that makes people foam on the floor and spill their amyl everywhere. If you still need an explanation, look for us on SoundCloud or hold tight for our upcoming release on Kid Kenobi’s legendary Klub Kids imprint. Our live set features a large number of genres mixed poorly, with beer splashing everywhere and a heaving dancefloor. Expect club anthems crashing into underground belters, rowdy MCing and a fair number of hands-in-the-air moments. Ladies, prepare to toss those knickers.

Celebrating its second birthday this month is Golden Cage, the host of Sydney’s best dance parties that bring in the biggest names, from Le Panic to Church of Techno. Headlining the night will be creative icon and epitome of the Detroit sound Carl Craig, who’ll be joined by Berlin-based electronica-meets-retro producer John Roberts, techno bros Octave One and Sydney local Claire Morgan. If you wanna join the menagerie at The Metro Theatre on Saturday December 17, we’ve got two double passes. Just tell us the name of Carl Craig’s record label. Carl Craig

Music, Right Here, Right Now I love the music industry at the moment. 5. Small labels are taking the global spotlight,

Up I grew up a f**kin screw up. 1.Growing Inspirations My inspirations in music and life are 2. Ice Cube, Yella, MC Ren, Dr. Dre and Eazy Motherf**kin E.

journey of our lives together to arrive at this place. He’s the Beatles, man. I’m Elvis. So we have that kind of yin and yang mojo during our sets, which comes from knowing each other like brothers and doing about 1000 gigs together. He’s like musical peanut butter and I’m the jelly. We got that sangwich bass.

Your Crew I DJ, tour and produce with my fellow 3. Doctor, Andrew Bell. We’ve been mates for

The Music You Make Funky rage bass. Dubstep, drum ‘n bass, 4. house (only the pants down stuff, no girly

about 15 years, so we did the whole musical

tunes), moombahcore, country & jungle, breaks

and sites like SoundCloud are democratising the means of distribution, so that you can get famed up without having to sign your life and output away to a major. More sites appear every month that support undiscovered and independent artists, either with promotion or by allowing them to sell their wares directly to the public, bypassing traditional sales channels. Our following very definitely grew out of our online presence, and our Facebook and SoundCloud fans mean the world to us. These sites enable us to talk directly with thousands of people who feel the same way about music as us, and that is utterly amazing. With: Jackmaster (SCO) Where: Chinese Laundry When: Friday December 16

AGWA 013 FT LEE BURRIDGE & GREG WILSON

DANCE CLUB BOXING DAY: MOWGLI & THE SHAPESHIFTERS

The next installment of Pulse Radio’s AGWA boat parties will take place on Saturday February 25, and will feature club veterans Lee Burridge and Greg Wilson, both of whom deserve their lofty standing in the clubbing pantheon. Burridge has released a number of memorable mix compilations, namely with Craig Richards as Tyrant and also Balance 12, and has wowed Sydney audiences at venues such as Chinese Laundry and The Civic Underground on visits past. Wilson meanwhile is best known for championing early electro with his nights at Wigan Pier, which was Manchester’s Legends club in the early ‘80s. Off the back of this, Wilson quickly earned himself prestigious mix slots on Mike Shaft’s popular Piccadilly Radio show – his mixes would prove profoundly influential on a whole generation of budding dance music DJs and producers, and, as Dave Haslam once remarked, “they were some of the most taped programmes in Manchester radio history”. First release $55 tickets are currently on sale through Resident Advisor.

SPICE XMAS EVE FT MATTHEW DEKAY

Dutchman Matthew Dekay is headlining The Spice Cellar’s Christmas Eve bash on Saturday December 24. Dekay’s collaboration with Lee Burridge on the Cecille imprint, ‘Wongel’, was one of the bigger/better club cuts to hit floors at the back end of last year, and the pair have again been working together in launching the new record label, All Day I Dream. Aside from Dekay, Spice mainman Murat Kilic, regulars Robbie Lowe and Carlos Zarate and emerging selectors Dean Relf, Steven Sullivan and Christian Verlaan will all be spinning. And here’s an inside tip: if you submit a guest list and arrive before midnight, entry is free.

Shapeshifter

GARDEN PARTY WITH BASSNECTAR

Dance Club is descending upon Ivy Pool for a Boxing Day bash featuring sets from Italy’s Mowgli, the head honcho of Dead Fish Records, and UK duo The Shapeshifters. The Shapeshifters are of course the pair responsible for one of the biggest house anthems of the past decade in ‘Lola’s Theme’, which sampled Johnnie Taylor’s disco cut ‘What About My Love’ and successfully appropriated it in a house context. The internationals will be flanked by locals Kato, Moonchild, Ember, Emoh Instead, Three Fingers, Mattrad, Cube DJs and Coven DJs. Procure your tickets from courtyardparty.com

The 6th Borough Project

Californian dubstep producer Lorin Ashton, aka Bassnectar, rolls into town to headline a Garden Party at Chinese Laundry on Saturday January 28. Ashton describes his music as “omni-tempo maximalism”, and explores dubstep and electro in his productions and DJ sets – though as the man himself states, “I guess Bassnectar is an amalgamation of every sound I’ve ever heard, mixed with ultra-wicked basslines.” UK robostep producers Bare Noize will also be representing, along with Spenda C, Karton, Asylum (Sam Scratch & A-Tonez) and Hydraulix. The revelry commences from 2pm, with first release $30 tickets available online now.

SHRUG

Renowned local club brand Shrug is celebrating both its third birthday and the festive season with a bash at The Vault (located at 122 Pitt Street) on Friday December 23, featuring one of Australia’s brightest dance exports, the now London-based Luke Porter. Porter has released on labels like Sudbeat, microCastle and Flow, and had his productions supported by the likes of Hernan Cattaneo and Nick Warren, while his ongoing collaborations with industry veterans Cid Inc & Medway have consistently garnered widespread acclaim. Also throwing down on the night will be an array of Sydney’s finest local DJs, including Robbie Lowe, the Co-Op DJs, Dave Stuart and Trinity. Email shrug.nights@gmail.com for discount entry.

MAD RACKET NYE

Craig Smith and Graeme Clarke, collectively known as The 6th Borough Project, will headline Mad Racket’s New Year’s Eve celebrations at Marrickville Bowling Club. With their roots in jazz, boogie and funk, and their tips in disco, deep house and warm tech, the pair should prove well suited to the Racket vibe. Aside from their work as a duo, which culminated in the release of 6th Borough Project’s debut album, One Night In The Borough, earlier this year, the pair also have formidable solo sonic pedigrees. Smith has released records on labels such as Jisco and Permanent Vacation, and crafted remixes of Roy Ayers, Moloko and Illya Rudman, while Clarke is known for his output as The Revenge and is of course also playing Spice Afloat cruise on NYD morning. $50 presale tickets are currently available online.

THE HERD TOUR Matthew Dekay

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Aussie hip hop crew The Herd are embarking on a national tour in the new year to support the release of their new single ‘A Thousand Lives’, lifted from their acclaimed fifth album Future Shade, which was heralded as “the most

complete realisation of the band’s vision, and their most carefully produced record to date”. The national tour includes a Sydney show at The Manning Bar on Friday March 30, where

The Herd will be supported by Thundamentals, who themselves have recently supported the likes of Big Boi and Drapht. Presale tickets are on sale as of this Thursday December 15.

Tim Sweeney New York Beats By Alasdair Duncan

he dance music landscape has seen a lot of changes over the last decade, but with his internet radio show Beats In Space, New Yorker Tim Sweeney has been there to capture the very best. The show began with Sweeney spinning his favourite records, but it wasn’t long before he began to attract highprofile guests; everyone from James Murphy and Joakim to Junior Boys and Morgan Geist has appeared on the show, each contributing a top-notch playlist. That’s pretty impressive for a show that started out as little more than a labour of love for a life-long music geek, transmitting his beloved tunes over the internet. “When I started Beats In Space 12 years ago, I would record to cassette tape and then record that back into the computer in real time,” Sweeney tells me, reflecting on the show’s decidedly lo-fi origins. “That was a pain in the arse! Then I started using mini discs and DAT tapes, then CDRs, and now I record onto a portable digital recorder. It’s definitely made things easier for me.” Recording technology has improved vastly in the last decade, but when it comes to being a DJ, Sweeney is still a purist – he insists on physical formats. “I still play vinyl and CDs on the show,” he says. “I haven’t switched over to using a computer during my sets. I just can’t do it. Sorry!”

there! The next release is from Secret Circuit, out of Los Angeles. That should be coming out very early next year.” Starting the label has, of course, come with its own unique set of challenges. “Yeah, the business side of things sucks,” he says resignedly. “I just want to focus on finding good music to put out and good artwork for the record sleeves. That’s why I’ve hooked up with Matt Werth from RVNG to run the label with me – he takes care of the dirty work so I can just do the music... Well, almost.” One of the perks of Sweeney’s success is the opportunity to bring Beats In Space on the road; his DJ tour sees him coming down to Australia this month. What kind of vibe can we expect from his show? “Hopefully a lot of people getting drunk, doing drugs, having sex, dancing all night and generally having a good time,” he says. And who can argue with that? With: Inkswel, Long John Saliva, D&D Where: HAHA @ Marrickville Bowling Club When: Friday December 16

“You can hear how the show has changed over the years. When we’ve gotten into a new style of music, and when another one has maybe faded a bit. It’s nice to have all that documented through Beats In Space.” Beats In Space has chronicled the many developments in dance and electronic music over the last decade. In the early days, it focused on techno and art music, with names like Bill Laswell and Steve Reich appearing on the playlist. When the DFA label came into the ascendancy, the mutant disco and house sound of early noughties New York began to creep in; since then, the show has highlighted the best in outsider dance music, from minimal to cosmic and beyond. “I think that’s been a nice thing about it,” Sweeney says. “You can hear how the show has changed over the years. When we’ve gotten into a new style of music, and when another one has maybe faded a bit. It’s nice to have that all documented through Beats In Space.” Given that Sweeney is New York-based, I ask just how much of an influence the city has on the show; unsurprisingly, he says that the Big Apple is a key ingredient. “A lot of the guests on the show are people who I love, who happen to be coming to town to DJ,” he tells me. “The record stores in New York also influence what I’m playing, just through what they have in stock. I really only buy used records here in New York now, but I go out every week looking for stuff, and it’s the New Yorkers dropping off their old records that I’m picking up. And then there’s going out to parties here and hearing my friends DJ, and that influencing what I play and how I play it.” DFA group Holy Ghost! released their debut album this year, and in the liner notes, there is a fold-out photograph of various members of the DFA label collective standing on the street outside a grocery store in Brooklyn. James Murphy and Nancy Whang are there, as are The Rapture, The Juan Maclean, Holy Ghost! themselves, and, standing in the crowd, a youthful-looking Tim Sweeney. The photo has a jovial feel to it, and I ask Sweeney if being a part of DFA feels like being part of a family. “It used to a lot more than it does now,” he says. “I guess the family grows apart as it gets older. But at the beginning, for sure! I was hanging out in the DFA studio every day for a couple years when I was still at New York University. That was my education!” In recent times, Beats In Space has branched out into a record label of its own, and I ask Sweeney to tell me about its aims and ethos. “It’s just an extension of the radio show – for music I’d play on the show or out at the clubs. The first release was from this group out of Paris that has never released anything before, named Paradis. They just sent me a demo, I really liked it, got in touch and we went from BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11 :: 49

Fritz Kalkbrenner Berlin Soul By Dorian Grey

Scratch Perverts Bros 4 Life By Alasdair Duncan

Js are generally considered to be lone wolves – it’s rare to find a collective who can keep it together for too long without descending into in-fighting and petty squabbling. The UK’s Scratch Perverts, however, have been going strong for the better part of 15 years, a longevity that founding member Tony Vegas attributes to how their career was launched – at DJ competitions. “When we started out, there would be three of us doing it, with six minutes to play each, so we had to learn to be very respectful of each other’s input,” he says. “The pace in those early battle sets was pretty hectic, and we’d frequently be on top of each other, so those days really taught us to respect one another!”

ritz Kalkbrenner has succeeded where many others have failed – he’s made a genuinely soulful, accessible techno record. Not accessible in the David Guetta way that makes you want to sew your ears shut, but in a way that melds deep house and Berlin minimal with catchy hooks and true radio playability. Here Today Gone Tomorrow is the kind of techno record you can play to your mum and neither of you will want to turn it off. This should be taken as high praise. The brother of acclaimed German producer Paul Kalkbrenner, and co-author of their 2008 hit ‘Sky And Sand’, Fritz grew up in Berlin tagging along with Paul and his mate Sascha (now better known as techno wunderkind Sascha Funke). But while Paul Kalkbrenner and Sascha Funke were getting heavily into the emerging Berlin techno scene, Fritz was more into Wu Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest and the Stax back catalogue, musical persuasions for which his brother teased him no end. When Fritz was around 17 years old, he discovered that he could sing – in warm, mellow tones perfectly suited to deep house and emotive techno – but it wasn’t until 2002 that he took his gift from the shower and into the vocal booth. Collaborations with Sascha Funke, DJ ZKY and his brother Paul followed, and led to Fritz linking up with Suol Records, a Berlin imprint dealing in the deep, organic end of techno music. Indeed, with label mates like Trickski, Zander VT, Till von Sein and owners Chopstick & Johnjon, there’s little surprise that Kalkbrenner has found a like-minded family at Suol. One of the most noticeable aspects of Here Today Gone Tomorrow is that it blends straight techno tracks with vocal tracks built around hooks, and yet still holds together as a complete album. Kalkbrenner says that one of his key aims in the year he spent producing Here Today... was to create a selfcontained longplayer. “I love these completely

rounded masterpieces, like Van Morrison’s Veedon Fleece or Common’s Like Water For Chocolate. I had a vague idea of how the album should sound when I started out; I was producing straight dance tracks as well as vocal tracks before, so I wanted keep the balance between those two fields. The rest came up along the way.” Unusually, for an album of electronic music, Here Today Gone Tomorrow also features lyrics that have meaning and narrative; lyrics which will resonate, in particular, with many a listener at the sharp end of an epic night. “Surprisingly, most of my lyrics have a melancholic touch,” Kalkbrenner says, admitting to a penchant for the likes of Nick Drake and Sigur Ros. “I listen to all kinds of stuff all the time, so it influences me of course – but I think that happens on a subtle level.” But it’s not an album to slit your wrists to; the emotive lyrical content goes hand-in-hand with Kalkbrenner’s voice and the warm swing of the production, to produce that elusive element of true soul. “I think to capture that core [of soul], it doesn’t depend on what technique or sampling trick you use,” he explains. “It’s the abstraction and knowledge you use to achieve that feeling. It’s about what you have in mind and heart, not how your studio is equipped.”

Though they no longer battle it out, Scratch Perverts retained the ethos of the early days. “We’re quite competitive still,” Vegas tells me, “and if we’re playing on a night when there are five other acts on the bill, we want to make sure that we’re the one people are talking about when the event’s done. Really, we just like to go out and play as much good new music as possible, and play it well. We don’t want any dropped mixes in the set; if we play freestyle sets, we want them to be good, and for the crowd to appreciate it. It’s more about the music than the turntables – we want to make sure we play exclusively good stuff.” The dubstep sound has exploded in the UK in recent years, and it has definitely found its way into the trio’s sets. “Dubstep is absolutely massive in this country, which probably comes down to the fact that the biggest names on the scene – people like Skream and Benga – all come from here.” As someone unconnected to the scene other than as a fan, Vegas is

fascinated by some of the things he has observed. “There are a lot of young producers in the dubstep scene,” he says. “They’re coming up with new ideas. Thirty different young producers will come up with thirty different styles of dubstep, because that’s what young people do – they create and change. The scene is so fascinating in how it grows and changes – dubstep really is life or death in this country.” Given his fascination with dubstep, I ask Vegas if he and the rest of Scratch Perverts will be playing a lot of it when they return to Australia. “I’ll be playing some, definitely,” he says. “I’m not keen on the mind-numbingly hard side of it; I prefer the melodic stuff. Maybe that’s because I’ve done my fighting in my life. The aggressive stuff is the music you listen to if you want to get drunk then go out and punch someone. Luckily, though, there are a lot of different strands to choose from.” As for what else might come up in their sets, Vegas tells me that he and the guys don’t really play as much hip hop as they used to. “I don’t hear as much hip hop that I like anymore – whether I’m not paying attention or what I don’t know, but I don’t play much. “Generally speaking,” he continues, “we like sounds that are fresh and energising, but that have also had some thought put into them. Hearing an exciting new take on a genre – any genre, old or new – really excites me. We like to play new music and play it quick, and keep it current. We’ll play anything good, as far as I’m concerned.” Who: Scratch Perverts ft. Tony Vegas & Prime Cuts Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Friday December 30

Kalkbrenner is out on the road now, taking Here Today Gone Tomorrow around the world with a live show set for Sydney this month, although sadly, you won’t catch the man singing in person a la Jamie Lidell – he finds it too intimate. “Right now I don’t perform live vocals – maybe on the tour for the next album...” Give the man a warm reception, then, and we may soon have him performing live with a full band – the world can never have enough electronic music with soul. With: DJ Serafin (USA, Crooklyn Clan) Where: Chinese Laundry When: Saturday December 17

Stanton Warriors Come Out And Play By Alfred Gorman

arlings of the breaks scene, the Londonbased duo of Mark Yardley and Dominic B have never allowed themselves to be restricted by pigeon-holes; The Stanton Warriors have always blurred the genre lines for a wide audience. Their long-awaited debut artist album, this year’s The Warriors, is a journey through breaks, house, electro tech-funk and hip hop; all the elements that sum up who they are now, and how they got there. “We’ve always been about mashing up anything,” Dominic B tells me, on the eve of an Aussie tour. “It’s just about good music, a good beat and a fat bassline. We’ve always just done our thing.” Regular visitors to our shores, this year Dom’s coming down without Yardley, but with Hollywood Holt, one of the rappers on the album. One of the hardest working acts around, the Stantons rarely get a break in their hectic tour schedule. “We have literally toured non-stop for about ten years,” Dom says. “The world’s a big place,

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so there’s always somewhere to go! And then with making music too – there’s little room for much else.” Despite the constant touring and an eightyear residency at Fabric, they have remained incredibly prolific, churning out remixes, singles and their legendary Stanton Sessions mixes. “We’re currently in London finishing up the new Stanton Sessions and working hard in the studio to get a few tracks done, so we’ll have some more ammunition for our arsenal [in Australia],” Don continues. “I think it’s important to have lots of new material to play out, and to re-edit tracks so that they fit into your set. Then you’re getting something a bit more special, rather than just playing the latest deep house tune.” It’s taken this long for the boys to produce a full album of original material; as Dom explains, making an album requires quite a different approach to a single. “It’s quite hard, an artist album – to make tracks that aren’t all club bangers, that you can listen to in an album format. It’s hard to get that balance. It’s more song orientated.” The Warriors also features a variety of collaborations and sounds; the boys have sampled some old movie soundtracks, including the John Carpenter classic, Assault on Precinct 13 and cult flick The Warriors (“Warriors, come out an

play-ayyy!”). Dom tells me one of their main sources of inspiration is collecting new and obscure music; a passion retained from the early years, when DJs spent hours digging through crates of records, it’s a pastime and mentality that’s been somewhat lost in this digital age. “When we’re on tour, we’re always digging for samples. We’ll go to old secondhand record shops and buy really random records or obscure tunes. When we were in China we bought some mad Mongolian monk, bell music!” It’s inspiring and affirming to hear a man of Dom’s stature still have that passion and love for his craft. His is a true devotion to music that lesser acts could perhaps learn something from. “You just gotta do it, it’s important to keep on looking – to cast your net wide to find a sound,” he says. “There’s nothing better than when you hear a new sound and you can hear it over a beat, and visualise it in your head… I get excited about that, y’know? The more ingredients you have, the better the meal you can cook.” What: The Warriors is out now Where: Chinese Laundry When: Friday December 23 More: Also playing at Peats Ridge Festival, held December 29 – January 1 at Glenworth Valley.

Deep Impressions Underground Dance And Electronica with Chris Honnery

Nina Kraviz

Soul Sedation

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

ON THE ROAD FRIDAY DECEMBER 30 Scratch Perverts Oxford Art Factory

SUNDAY JANUARY 1

Crazy P & DJ Maestro Sun Studios

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 4 Easy Star All Stars Factory Theatre Aloe Blacc Enmore Theatre uscovite DJ and producer Nina Kraviz, whose gorgeous looks are matched only by her production abilities and DJ prowess, is set to release her debut full-length album, Nina Kraviz, through Radio Slave’s Rekids imprint in late February. Kraviz has released a number of luscious EPs with the likes of Jus-Ed and Sascha Funke over the past few years, on labels like Underground Quality, BPitch Control and Efdemin’s Naïf imprint, while as a solo producer she’s also had her fair share of highlights, including her debut EP Breaking Through, which featured ‘Pain In The Ass’, an absolute stonker that became a club staple for many DJs after Radioslave featured it on his Fabric mix. In fact, the only Kraviz release that I wouldn’t classify as a home run was her most recent EP, Ghetto Kraviz, the title track of which was more stripped-back than her previous productions, to the extent that the brooding layering of her prior output was flattened and dare I say nullified.

Nonetheless, I’m still eagerly anticipating her debut LP, which will purportedly traverse a mixture of “stripped-bare house to deepest Detroit sounds via beautifully ambient pockets and more soul infused slo-mo jams. All coated with an authentic analogue finish, the vast spaces Kraviz marks out for herself provide perfect chambers in which her own delicate vocals can be so beautifully suspended.” Standard presser spin sure, but Kraviz has been one of the more interesting figures in the underground house milieu for a number of years now, and is deserving of the hype that surrounds her. Her album is also said to include a number of cuts that surfaced throughout her 2009 mix for Underground Quality’s Club Tape, one of the best mixes of that year and definitely worth seeking out (it comes as part of a package of mixes released by the Underground Quality label in conjunction with Berlin nightclub Tape, which also includes excellent mixes from the likes of Anton Zap, Levon Vincent and label main-man Jus-Ed himself). And just to crush the hearts of the many who fancy Nina, track 9 on Nina Kraviz, ‘4 Ben’, appears to be a not-so-covert reference to her partner, the one and only Ben Klock, himself a revered techno producer, and resident at Berlin superclub Berghain. Axel Willner, the Swedish artist who is known for his work as The Field, will release a new album in January as Loops Of Your Heart, entitled And Never Ending Nights. Marking Willner’s move from Sweden to Berlin, the album is said

THURSDAY JANUARY 5

LOOKING DEEPER FRIDAY DECEMBER 16 HaHa ft. Tim Sweeney Marrickville Bowling Club

SATURDAY DECEMBER 17

Pirates of the Underground ft. A Guy Called Gerald Subsonic Boat Party Carl Craig, Octave One, John Roberts Metro Theatre

THURSDAY JANUARY 26 Matthew Dear AGWA Boat Party

to be steeped in German influence, with a press release citing sonic touch points like Cluster, Holger Czukay and You, and indicating that the album trades the melancholy of The Field for a more sparse and cosmic sound. Given that a track from And Never Ending Nights is included on the forthcoming Pop Ambient 2012, the annual ambient compilation from Kompakt Records (due for a January release), it seems safe to deduce that Willner’s new album will showcase a more restrained side of his sonic palette (although this has been glimpsed both in his work as The Field and as Cologne Tape, alongside the likes of Ada). As with everything Willner does, his latest project will be well worth a listen. Finally, to anyone who missed the annual Subsonic Music Festival last weekend – which was hands down the festival of the year – give yourself an upper cut. Then give yourself another. As all those who attended will tell you, it was a sublime weekend in an alternate clubbing paradise held in the beautiful Barrington Tops mountain valley resort, with music that was consistently of the highest level. For something of a consolation prize, Subsonic is throwing its annual Pirates of the Underground boat party this Saturday, which I advise all Deep Impressions readers to attend in their most outrageous pirate accoutrement! Presales are on sale through Resident Advisor and, given the limited capacity of the boat, you’re ill advised to hesitate!

The Field

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

ubsonic has been and gone. While its roots are firmly in electronica, there’s a good swathe of hip hop, dubstep and reggae that gets programmed at the three-day-er, so it’s become a celebration of all music in all its glory. Chali 2na and Hermitude were standout performances for this column. While Chali seemed at the beginning to be just going through the motions I think the crowd warmed him up and he hit his stride. Hermitude were massive and rocking, and finished us off with their new hook ‘Speak Of The Devil’. Dubstep and bass music heads will be keen to know that there’s now an entire stage dedicated to those styles, a fact that may get you over the line for next year’s event. Look out for the full review elsewhere in this issue. Eminem has also been and gone, causing roadblocks around east Sydney for his stadium event, with Lil Wayne and our very own Hilltop Hoods on support. Peats Ridge is next up for SS, and my pick of that lineup goes something along the lines of: established legends Salmonella Dub, LTJ Bukem and A. Skillz, with relative newcomers Tijuana Cartel, Sietta and Hermitude (once again) still looking to build a legacy for themselves. And of course – because this column has a massive soft spot for him – Gotye, who’ll be on the mainstage for the NYE countdown set. If you’re staying in town for NYE, you’ll be interested in the news that Katalyst Sound System has been added to the High Flyers Little Secret NYD party at Sun Studios, Alexandria. And as you’re recovering from all the fireworks, the proper fans among you will want to bounce back in time for the Hold Tight event at the Metro on January 6. Mr Future Beat himself Flying Lotus is joined by Martyn, Africa Hitech and ARP.101, and I don’t imagine there’s many places those four won’t take you. It’s gonna be huge – no excuses for not making this one. Bonobo is bringing his full live band to Australia for the very first time. Soul Sedation has seen this show previously, and it’s all the right kind of soulful and downtempo. The British musicians play a range of material spanning the man's 11 year career, and vocalist Andreya Triana will be on the plane

Pete Rock Upstairs Beresford

FRIDAY JANUARY 27

Stepkids & Electric Wire Hustle Keystone Festival Bar Kanye West Entertainment Centre

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24 Mayer Hawthorne Metro Theatre

MARCH 2-4

Playground Weekender Wiseman’s Ferry with him too, which is incredibly good news. That goes down March 2, at the Metro. Those of you at the Playground Weekender will just have to catch him at the festival. Cut Chemist is also headed our way. The founding member of J5 as well as Ozomatli (a good friend of our man Chali 2na no doubt) is touring his new audiovisual show 'Sound Of The Police', which borrows heavily from Ethiopian, Colombian, Sudanese and Afro-Brazilian sounds. Long-time visual collaborator Tom Fitzgerald will be working the screens. It all goes down Friday February 17 at the Metro. Essex band The Milk have put out their first recordings, the B-Roads and B-sides EP. Check this Manchester band’s take on modern funk and reggae and pop, you can pick that one up digitally. Sydney hip hop imprint Big Village are taking over the Annandale Hotel on December 23 for their XMAS Party. Current movers and shakers True Vibenation will headline the bill, pushing their debut album The Sunshower Phenomenon, and label-mates Ellesquire, Tuka, Daily Meds and Rapaport will follow up. Sketch The Rhyme crew will be on deck as well, featuring Ozi Batla, Joe New, She Rex, Herb & Ruthless, DJ Migs and the HiTops Brass Band will pad out the massive lineup. Tickets will only set you back a tenner if you pre-purchase. Local hip hop stand up. P.S. there’s happy hour drinks from 7-9pm – Merry Christmas!

Salmonella Dub

Send stuff for this column to tonyedwards001@gmail.com by 6pm Wednesdays. All pics to art@thebrag.com BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11 :: 51

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

club pick of the week SUNDAY DECEMBER 17

Scubar, Sydney Schoonerversity 3pm Shelbourne Hotel, Sydney Sincopa free 7pm The World Bar, Kings Cross The Wall High Rankin (UK), Haters, Glovecats, Ella Loca, Pablo Calamari, Pipemix, Lights Out free 8pm

Hoops

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15

Octave One

Metro Theatre, Sydney

Golden Cage 2nd Birthday:

Octave One (USA), Carl Craig, John Roberts,

Claire Morgan, DJ YokoO, Carlos Zarate $50–$69 10pm MONDAY DECEMBER 12

TUESDAY DECEMBER 13

The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale Monday Jam Danny G Felix, Djay Kohinga free 9pm Scubar. Sydney Crab Racing 7pm Soho, Potts Point Freddy’s Boom Boom Room $30 (+ bf) 8.30pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Jazz DJs free 7pm

Establishment, Sydney Rumba Motel DJ Willie Sabor free 6pm Scruffy Murphy’s, Sydney Frat House free Scubar, Sydney Backpacker Karaoke 8pm Trademark Hotel, Kings Cross Coyote Tuesdays DJs free 9pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Tuesdays Mike J, Spice Cube, Ping Pong Tiddly free 8pm

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14 Beach Palace Hotel, Coogee Palace Uni Night DJs free 9pm Cargo Lounge, Sydney Menage a Trois 5pm Kong’s Jungle Lounge, Bondi Junction Voodoo DJs free 9pm The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale Frat House Friend DJ free 8pm

Cargo Lounge King St Wharf Thursdays I’m in Love DJs free 5pm GoodGod Front Bar, Sydney Rhythm & Booze Eric Shortbread, DJ Hey Man free 8pm Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney Tenzin, Cadell, Zannon, DJ K-Note free 8pm Hugo’s Lounge, Kings Cross Bad Apple DJs $5 8pm Ivy, Sydney Ivy Live DJs 5pm Kong’s Jungle Lounge Easy Lei Convaire DJs, Jen n Erik DJs free 9pm Low 302, Darlinghurst Thursday Switch DJs free 9pm Sapphire Lounge, Kings Cross Flaunt Dim Slm, Troy T, G Wizard, Mistah Cee, Mo Green, Soprano, DJ Rask, DJ Rocboi, MC Jayson 9pm The Sly Fox, Enmore Inhale Foreigndub DJs free 6pm Spectrum, Darlinghurst Hot Damn Hot Damn DJs, War From A Harlots Mouth 8pm The Standard, Surry Hills Pizza Parties DJs free 9pm Theloft, King St Wharf Thursdays at theloft Nad, Stu Turner, Mr Belvedere 9pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Propaganda The Postman (UK), Urby, Dan Bombings free (student)–$5 9pm

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16 Arthouse Hotel, Sydney RnB Superclub G-Wizard, Troy T, Lilo, Def Rok, Eko, MC Jayson $15 9.30pm Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Movement Andy Bull free 8pm Candys Apartment, Kings Cross Button Down Disco Night riot, Cunningpants, Stalker, Chick Flick, Blanco Negro, M.A.I.N. St Victims, Colonies, Taylor King $10$15 8pm The Cellar, Boradway Void Sound Prize, Koolade free-$10 9pm Chinese Laundry, Sydney Jackmaster (UK), Sample Sex, Enochi, Doctor Werewolf, Detektives, Dainbread, Blanco Negro $15-$25 10pm Civic Hotel Underground, Sydney Canyons, DJ Steele Bonus $15 8pm GoodGod Front Bar, Sydney Yo Grito! King Opp, Daniel Darling, Silky Doyle free 9pm Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney DJ Cadell free 5pm Home Nightclub, Sydney Delicious & Sublime Fridays DJs 10pm Hotel Chambers, Sydney Jump Jive & Wail Limpin’

Jimmy & the Swingin’ Kitten free 9pm Hugo’s Lounge, Kings Cross Rat Pack DJs 9pm Imperial Hotel, Erskineville The Foundry Decker, Raptor, Rawk, Requ13m, Caterwall $10 10pm Jackson’s On George, Sydney Ultimate Party Venue Resident DJs free Kit & Kaboodle, Kings Cross Falcona Fridays Devola, Starjumps, isBjorn, Bernie Dingo, Stoney Roads $10 8pm Kong’s Jungle Lounge, Bondi Junction W!ldlive Fridays DJs $10 10pm The Marlborough Hotel, Level 1, Newtown Resident DJs free Marrickville Bowling and Recreation Club Sydney Versus New York Tim Sweeney (USA), Long John Saliva, Dean Dixon, Dave Fernandes, Inkswel $20 (presale)–$30 10pm Nevada Lounge, Darlinghurst DJ Hayden free 6pm Oatley Hotel We Love Oatley Hotel Fridays DJ Tone free 8.30pm Omega Lounge, Sydney Unwind Fridays DJ Greg Summerfield free 5.30pm Q Bar, Darlinghurst Feel Good Inc. DJs free 10pm Sapphire Lounge, Kings Cross Club Onyx Sim Slm, Discokid, Lavida, Peeping Tom, DJ D, Tenkix $15 8pm Scruffy Murphy’s, Sydney Frisky Friday DJs free 6pm Shark Hotel, Sydney Pulse8 Jono free Shelbourne Hotel, Sydney Mixtape free 6pm Soho, Potts Point Soho Fridays – Jungle & Army Party Nukewood, Ember, Steve Frank, Heke, Grimlock, Minus 2 free 9pm Space, Sydney Zaia Savvy, Edo, D’Kutz, Em-Tee, Ming, Ace, Flipz, DJ Sefu, MC Suga Shane, Arbee, Suae, Pulsar, Askitz, Jinkang vs Tezzr vs Rhe3, MC D 9.45pm Spectrum, Darlinghurst Teen Spirit Teen Spirit DJs 11pm The Whitehouse Hotel, Petersham Jungle Theory $5 (early bird)–$10 9pm The World Bar, Kings Cross MUM MUM DJs, Gung Ho, Ships Piano, Bang Bang Rock N Roll, Bright Yellow, Pirates Alive, The Nectares $10-$15 8pm

SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach Kid Mac $10 (+ bf) 8pm Bondi Beach Pavilion, Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach Gorlitzer Beach Adze,

Fabz, Cedric, Blind & Folds, Bonser, MPB, Kaisun $20 6pm Candys Apartment, Kings Cross Big Guns DUI, MooWho, Teez, Leanzy, Fawkes, Le Bronx, Scott Tonkin, Zim City $15-$20 8pm Cargo Bar, King St Wharf The Institute of Music DJs free 9pm Chinese Laundry, Sydney Fritz Kalkbrenner (GER), DJ Serafin (USA), Club Junque, A-Tonez, Ctrl Alt Delicious, Spenda C, Georgia & Morgan, Ella Loca, Cassette $15-$25 9pm Civic Hotel Underground, Sydney The 12 Trance DJs of Christmas Pato De Gomah, Zac Slade, Nathan Cryptic, Nick Arbor, Toby Matrix, OneKid, Lui Raptor, Matty Duress, Galaktik, Titan, Lindsay Le Strange, Alex ‘Chico’ Arias $15-$20 9pm Cohibar DJ Brynstar free The Cool Room, Australian Hotel & Brewery, Rouse Hill DJ free 9pm Cream Tangerine, Swiss Grand Hotel, Bondi Beach Bondi Sounds Kissy Sell Out, Round Table Knights, Smacktown, Redial, Ajax, Trashbags DJs 12pm Dee Why Hotel Kiss & Fly DJs 8.30pm Edge Nightclub, Central Coast Swagger DJ Booth, Gay-Z, Boyonce $15 9pm Establishment, Sydney Sienna G-Wizard, Troy T, Def Rok, Eko, Lilo 9pm Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills Kobra Kai $20 (+ bf) 8pm GoodGod Small Club, Sydney Hoopsmas Bad Ezzy, Anna Lunoe, Nina Las Vegas $10 10pm Home Nightclub, Sydney Homemade Saturdays DJs $20-$25 9pm Ivy, Sydney Pure Ivy Minx, Cadell, Ben Morris, Robbie Santiago, Johnny Sommerville $20 9pm Jackson’s On George, Sydney Ultimate Party Venue Resident DJs free Kit & Kaboodle, Kings Cross Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Miss T, Gabby, Cassette, Alison Wonderland 8pm The Marlborough Hotel, Level 1, Newtown Resident DJs free Man O War Steps, Sydney Opera House Pukka Up Boat Party Sam Walker (UK), Digital Love, Lam, DJ Bilman MC, Lenden Kuris, Michael Galluzzo, John Alexander, Dibbs, Matt Mellor, Grant Lewers, The HLP, Bravo $45-$55 11.30am Metro Theatre, Sydney Octave One (USA), Carl Craig, John Roberts, Claire Morgan, DJ YokoO, Carlos Zarate $50–$69 10pm Nevada Lounge, Darlinghurst DJ Hayden free 6pm Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst

club guide send your listings to: clubguide@thebrag.com Sosueme Xmas Party Polar Knights, Tokyo Denmark Sweden, Furnace and The Fundamentals, Couples, Brendan Maclean $10 (+ bf) 8pm Rosebay Wharf Pirates of the Underground Boat Cruise A Guy Called Gerald, Mark Antona, Solead, Turmspringer, The Bastards, YokoO, Anna Leevia, Volta, Jordan Deck, Marcotix, MSG, RifRaf $60$70 1.0pm Sapphire Lounge, Kings Cross The Suite Troy T, Joey Kaz, Charlie Brown, Disco Kid, Dim Slm, Jo Funk, Steve S 8pm Shark Hotel, Sydney Pulse8 Jono free The Sly Fox, Enmore Tampered & Shake That Monkey XXXmas Toecutter, Kemik, DJ G-Mo, Deft, Typhonic, Stuart Harrin, Kate Doherty free 1pm Soho, Potts Point The Usual Suspects The Aston Shuffle DJs, John Glover, Oakes & Lennox, Jack Bailey, Jack’d Up, Rogers Room, Here’s Trouble, Recess, Astrix 9pm Spectrum, Darlinghurst P*A*S*H* P*A*S*H* DJs 11.30pm The Spice Cellar, Sydney Marc Antona (FRA), YokoO, Mia Lucci, Bambalam & Johnny Powell $20 10pm Star Bar, Sydney Situation DJs free 10pm The Watershed Hotel Watershed Presents… Skybar The World Bar, Kings Cross

Wham! BKCA, James Taylor, Trent Rackus, Hannah Gibbs, Brendan Fing, Mitch Crosher, Foundation, Reno, Illya, Astrix Little, Adam Bozzetto, Deckhead, Nate Perry, The Jackal $15-$20 8pm Zeta Bar Christmas Party Antonio Zambarelli, Toby Neal, Jools $20 9.30pm

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 Basement Level, 58 Elizabeth St, Sydney Spice Tim Turmspringer, Tiago Oudman, Murat Kilic $20 4am The Beresford Hotel, Surry Hills Beresford Sundays DJs free 3pm Duke’s Lounge, Randwick The M Shift Turns 6 D-Funk, Def Tonez, MC D, Tony Why, Toddy Trix, Duke Von, Andy Wright, Bruno, Brendan Clay 4pm all-ages FBi Social @ Kings Cross Foreigndub Airwayvz Live Broadcast Mogz and MC Kye $5 5pm Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills Don’t Sleep on This Brad Strut, Dialectrix, Hyjak, DJ A$K $34.70 3pm Goldfish, Kings Cross Martini Club free 6pm Hugo’s Lounge, Kings Cross Sneaky Sundays DJs 8pm Jackson’s On George, Sydney Aphrodisiac Industry Night

Resident DJs free Kit & Kaboodle, Kings Cross Easy Sundays Stu Turner, NAD, Mr Belvedere, Murray Lake, Pat Ward 6pm Kudu Lounge, Darlinghurst Timeless Sundays Dan Copping, Ravi Ravs, Thomas Waldeier free 2pm Name This Bar, Darlinghurst Sunday Sets Flight Deck, Mashed, Ben Mitchell, Kate Weston, Adam Kain 5pm Oatley Hotel Sunday Sessions DJ Tone free 7pm The Moorebank Hotel My House Christmas Party Rave Starfuckers DJs, Narrator, Trelz, Youngblood VS A-Ron, 2Step 3pm Sapphire Lounge, Kings Cross Sapphire Sundays DJs free 8pm The Sugar Lounge, Manly Jungle Fever Christmas Special Ritual, Alf, Lucian King B $5-$8 7pm The Watershed Hotel Afternoon DJs DJ Brynstar free The White Horse, Sydney S.A.S.H. Christmas Party Robbie Cordukes, Jake Hough, Sam Roberts, Nick McMartin, Mitch Crosher, Telefunken, Pete Nouveau, Gabby, Shamus, Tom Brereton, Marc Jarvin, YokoO, Matt Weir, Kerry Wallace 12pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Dust Mr Dorris (Ibiza), Ben Korbel, James Taylor, Alley Oop free 7pm

club picks up all night out all week...

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14 The World Bar, Kings Cross The Wall High Rankin (UK), Haters, Glovecats, Ella Loca, Pablo Calamari, Pipemix, Lights Out free 8pm

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15 The Standard, Surry Hills Pizza Parties DJs free 9pm The World Bar, Kings Cross Propaganda The Postman (UK), Urby, Dan Bombings free (student)–$5 9pm

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16

Marrickville Bowling and Recreation Club Sydney Versus New York Tim Sweeney (USA), Long John Saliva, Dean Dixon, Dave Fernandes, Inkswel $20 (presale)–$30 10pm

SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 Chinese Laundry, Sydney Fritz Kalkbrenner (GER), DJ Serafin (USA), Club Junque, A-Tonez, Ctrl Alt Delicious, Spenda C, Georgia & Morgan, Ella Loca, Cassette $15-$25 9pm Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills Kobra Kai $20 (+ bf) 8pm GoodGod Small Club, Sydney Hoopsmas Bad Ezzy,

Anna Lunoe, Nina Las Vegas $10 10pm The Spice Cellar, Sydney Marc Antona (FRA), YokoO, Mia Lucci, Bambalam & Johnny Powell $20 10pm

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 The Spice Cellar, Basement Level, Sydney Spice Tim Turmspringer, Tiago Oudman, Murat Kilic $20 4am The White Horse, Sydney S.A.S.H. Christmas Party Robbie Cordukes, Jake Hough, Sam Roberts, Nick McMartin, Mitch Crosher, Telefunken, Pete Nouveau, Gabby, Shamus, Tom Brereton, Marc Jarvin, YokoO, Matt Weir, Kerry Wallace 12pm $10

Chinese Laundry, Sydney Jackmaster (UK), Sample Sex, Enochi, Doctor Werewolf, Detektives, Dainbread, Blanco Negro $15-$25 10pm Civic Hotel Underground, Sydney Canyons, DJ Steele Bonus $15 8pm

Marc Antona

BRAG :: 442 :: 12:12:11 :: 53

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

SUBSONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL Barrington Tops December 2-4 As so often happens with these kind of parties, it was the third year of Subsonic that really exploded crowd-wise. The increased interest manifested itself in the three-hour vehicle queues on arrival, as everyone raced to the site after clocking off from work on Friday – something that will need to be looked at for next year.

THE GASLAMP KILLER Oxford Art Factory Friday December 2 “The seventies: Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Can…You could see all those bands live back then. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.” William Bensussen aka The Gaslamp Killer didn’t need to think for long when I asked him about his preferred musical era earlier this year, and his live set serves as evidence; heavily relying on the 1960s/’70s era, ballads like ‘The House of the Rising Sun’ seem to be working well for him. But as a DJ, Bensussen is most passionate about brand new beats so radical they rip all traditional rhythmic conventions to shreds. And Bensussen is an innovator in more than just one way. While some DJs reckon being secretive about play lists adds to their credibility, this hyperactive turntablist is a proud name-dropper – especially when he plays tunes by some of the more obscure electronic beatniks. “I got some brand new Dimlite!”, he calls out to the packed room, filled with a young mix of music nerds and B-boys & girls. Bensussen may look like an off-his-nuts, fire-spitting animal behind his precious Serato set-up, but he’s one of the savvier businessmen in the scene. With

at least one out of every five cuts being a GLK exclusive, the idea is to literally blow a tune out of proportion, helping pump up both the artist and the Californian selector. Bensussen is an ambassador of the hip hop, wonky and dubstep artists he’s passionate about; Zomby, Hudson Mohawke and Mono/Poly all get the credits he thinks they deserve, and his fast-paced, headphoneless take on DJ-ing requires a high degree of skill. This is the visionary approach of club DJ-ing in the 21st century: smooth and fluid mixing has given way to YouTube-style walls of tunes, where the man in control grabs the mic like a true entertainer in the (almost) traditional sense of the word. His signature in-your-face style works perfectly; people have come to roll their eyes, and it's happening all over the place tonight. With just a few hours left until his take off to gigs in Melbourne and Adelaide (both on the following day), it would have made sense for Bensussen to find a few hours of sleep in his hotel room – but GLK’s a true rock‘n’roll animal, seventies style: “My flight is at eight in the morning,” he announces to the room. “But you know what? I don’t give a fuck!” Christiaan de Wit

On the reggae front, Dubmarine were a powerful force on the Saturday afternoon, their dual lead vocalists working hard to impress. German techno producer Frivolous owned Saturday evening when he rocked the Paradiso stage with quality 4/4. The Paradiso has established itself as the main stage alternative at Subsonic, and showed diverse high standards over the course of the weekend, an improvement from the minimal staple that was pushed from there the past two years. In fact, Subsonic seems to have moved past its obsession with mimimal techno, perhaps in line with broader electronic culture. Year three was characterised by variety. After Frivilous, Chali 2na and then Hermitude smashed apart the main stage, and the crowds they drew turned the soft main stage hillslope to mud; people were losing their footing. The river stage was transformed this year into a dubstep/future bass music stage, which provided yet another flavour. But I’m not sure that’s the best location for the dubstep style, as the multi-tiered riverbank dancefloor can make for a disjointed crowd already, even without the experimental soundtrack of post-dubstep. Saturday night finished with biting cold.

APPARAT, BON CHAT BON RAT The Standard Thursday December 1 Back in the country for the second time for a string of club dates and a headline slot at Subsonic, Sascha Ring AKA Apparat arrived in Sydney a tad dusty, along with his three bandmates. Having partied a little too hard in Perth the previous night, they were clearly tired – and it didn’t help that they’d (reportedly) spent a fair chunk of the afternoon at Sydney Airport dealing with our friendly authorities. But the situation was far from lost: “Vokda Red Bull is the solution,” Sascha calmly informed the crowd, with his lanky frame hunched over the microphone stand. There was hope for us yet. As I ventured into the venue I was greeted by a sea of model-looking fashionistas, mixed with a scattering of surlier, furrowed types populating the Middle Bar balcony. Bon Chat Bon Rat were on the top floor, treating the already solid crowd to their brand of blissed-out electronic pop; they were hypnotising and charming, and I was disappointed I’d missed their opening songs. Swathed in blue and purple lights, the Apparat collective wandered on stage. Guitars donned, the delicate introductory notes of ‘Your House Is My Way’ drifted across the room. Unfortunately, the fragility of Sascha Ring’s voice was submerged in the murky acoustics almost immediately, and remained there for a lot of the set. But whatever was taken away with occasional loss of vocal clarity was made up for by the band’s sprawling, ethereal instrumentation.

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Sunday threatened a washout that never came (praise be to the gods of techno), which allowed Swedish duo Minilogue a real opportunity to steal the main stage with their rocking three-hour set. They didn’t fail. Playing slow then fast then light then massive, they used their generous timeslot to full effect, warming the stage for Apparat’s festival-closing set to follow. And thus came the biggest let down of Subsonic. Apparat, admittedly a diverse artist, decided not to rip, and showcased his four-piece, harmonic electronic, arguably depressing, arguably whiny, slow shoegaze techno band. I for one didn’t feel like standing there and swaying from side to side, and lots of people voted with their feet and headed for other soundscapes. Luckily, Alex Kidd was still on the decks down by the swimming area, and he closed the Sunday night with a suitable set, one with a little more balls (even navigating through an appearance of an angry landowner). The most crucial element of a weekend at Subsonic, and they boast this in their manifesto, is the freedom. From the first contact with the ticketing staff at the gate, you are welcomed to the party. Housekeeping things like not bringing glass and using a butt bin for your cigarettes are addressed, but this is all the interference you’re likely to receive from anyone over the course of your adventure. And herein lies the base appeal of the event: for anyone that feels perpetually confined by will-to-live-sapping rules and regulations, Subsonic is a brief taste of real freedom. Eat, swim, laugh, drink and dance as you please. Let’s just hope it stays that way. Tony Edwards

Through songs like 2007’s ‘Arcadia’ to ‘Song of Los’ from this year’s The Devil’s Walk, the crowd was mesmerised. Heavily drenched in reverb, ‘Rusty Nails’ sounded almost My Bloody Valentine-esque. Glockenspiels were broken out for a version of ‘A Bang In The Void,’ with Ring and his drummer hammering out intricate rhythms with surgical precision. As the night drew to a close, Apparat finished with two of his more emotive efforts, the beautiful ‘Escape’ and ‘Black Water’ for encore – and despite the sound issues and the loud crowd, this show still managed to convey the fragile splendour that is Apparat. Rick Warner

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01:12:11 :: The Enmore :: 118-132 Enmore Road Newtown 9550 3666

the argyle

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hot damn

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up all night out all week . . .

02:12:11 :: The Argyle :: 18 Argyle St The Rocks 9247 5500

the immigrant

It’s called: Sideways Fridays It sounds like: Minimal, techno, tech house and all things wonderful. Who’s spinning? Monthly residents Detnu m, Manjazz, Paper Cranes, plus more TBA! Three songs you’ll hear on the night: ‘Wood ‘Flashmob (Popof Remix)’ – Vitalic; ‘Female y Woodpecker’ – Aka Aka; Minimal’ – Joe Maker. And one you definitely won’t: ‘Promises’ – Nero. No matter how many times you request it. Sell it to us: Sideways Fridays brings the Sydne y underground tech scene... well, underground. But if a soundtrack of the enough, we’ve added a bed to roll around on,city’s best tech DJs isn’t those that like it a little more private, an astrot a curtained sideways area for fairy lights than that elderly couple down the urf-ed picnic area, and more street from you put up every year. The bit we’ll remember in the AM: There’s a free shot with entry on a guestlist, $5 drinks and $8 buckets. Memories by Saturday morning aren’t too likely…at all. Crowd Specs: Anyone with an appreciation of tech, minimal and David Attenborough. Wallet Damage: $10 Where: Phoenix @ The Exchange Hotel / 34 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst When: Friday December 16

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party profile

sideways fridays

claude von stroke 01:12:11 :: The Spice Cellar :: 58 Elizabeth St Sydney

56 :: BRAG :: 442: 12:12:11

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mum

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03:12:11 :: Chinese Laundry :: 111 Sussex St Sydney 82959958

02:12:11 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700 :: KATRINA CLARKE :: DOMINO S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO) Y OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE POPOV :: TIM WHITNE :: Y CHE PEA MAS THO :: NS MUN JACK :: ASHLEY MAR :: DANIEL

SONNY FODERA PLUS RESIDENT DJ’S

T WO R O O M S

L I V E A C T S T I L L AT E F I R E W O R K S PA S S O U T S

FI RS T R E L E AS E $50 S E COND RELEASE $60 W W W. T H E A R G Y L E R O C K S .C OM 1 8 A R G Y L E S T, T H E R O C K S , S Y D N E Y N S W 2 0 0 0 P HONE 02 9247 5500 T H E A R GY L E R O C K S.C O M R E S E R VAT I O N S @ T H E A R G Y L E R O C K S . C O M FAC E B O O K .C O M / T H E A R G Y L E R O C K S

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propaganda

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up all night out all week . . .

01:12:11 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700

motorik

It’s called: Propaganda feat. The Postman (UK) It sounds like: Indie chart anthems and POPa ganda party-tune room! Who’s spinning? The Postman (UK), Urby and Spice Cube DJs Three songs you’ll hear on the night: ‘Chan ged The Way You Kiss Me’ – Example; ‘Last Night’ – The Strokes; ‘You Got The Love’ – Florence & The Machine. And one you definitely won’t: There’s no limit to what you could hear here! Sell it to us: The Postman’s sets have a tende ncy to expose flesh, display record-breakingly bad dancing, and bring the dancefloor to its knees. Literally. Plus there’s POPaganda on the first floor, with Spice Cube DJs for the chart lovers too! The bit we’ll remember in the AM: The Postm an’s nipples. And possibly some panda action. Crowd specs: Anyone who is ready and willing to see the postman’s nipples and dance like a potato. Wallet damage: $5 / free with student ID Where: The World Bar / 24 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross When: December 15 & 22

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26:11:11 :: Sydney Showground :: Homebush Bay :: 9704 1111

party profile

falcona fridays

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propaganda

wham!

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02:12:11 :: The Spice Cellar :: 58 Elizabeth St Sydney

hed kandi

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03:12:11 :: World Bar :: 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross 93577700

01:12:11 :: Australian Brewery :: 350 Annangrove Rd Rouse Hill 9679 4555 58 :: BRAG :: 442: 12:12:11

:: KATRINA CLARKE :: DOMINO S : TIM LEVY (HEAD HONCHO) Y OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE POPOV :: TIM WHITNE :: Y CHE PEA MAS THO :: NS MUN JACK :: ASHLEY MAR :: DANIEL

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