Drum Media Sydney Issue #1035

Page 1

SYDNEY • NEWCASTLE • WOLLONGONG • CANBERRA

www.drummedia.com.au info@drummedia.com.au


STUDIO OPEN NIGHT 23 Nov 2010 @ 6.30pm Get up close & personal with the gear & the staff of AIM AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MUSIC STUDIOS 1-51 Foveaux St | Surry Hills

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MUSIC

THE LEADING SCHOOL FOR TODAY’S MUSIC INDUSTRY

Register Your Interest E: events@aim.edu.au T: (02) 9219 5444

www.aim.edu.au


THE DRUM MEDIA 9 NOVEMBER 2010 • 3 •


Also touring Metronomy (UK) Tue 23 Nov, Oxford Art Factory | Broadcast (UK) Wed 8 Dec, The Forum | HEALTH (US) & Wire (UK) Thu 20 Jan, Sydney Festival | Deerhunter (US) Tue 8 Feb, Metro Theatre | Les Savy Fav (US) Thu 10 Dec, Manning Bar | Holly Miranda (US) Jan 15, 16 & 18, The Famous Spiegeltent | The Books (US) Fri 18 Feb, Seymour Centre | Best Coast (US) Mon 7 Mar, Oxford Art Factory - www.popfrenzy.com.au • 4 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 5 •


• 6 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


THE DRUM MEDIA 9 NOVEMBER 2010 • 7 •


niche productions Presents

UR LIVE AT ROUNDHOUSE WORLD TO

dj support: Huwston + James Locksmith

THIS WEEK

! T U O SOLD

Tickets now on sale: www.metrotheatre.com.au & www.ticketek.com.au for more info: nicheproductions.com.au myspace.com/femikuti afrobeatmusic.net

NEW

Tour dates and more details at:

ALB

UM

ON DH OU SE LO ND LIV E AT RO UN

www.fatfreddysdrop.com www.nicheproductions.com.au

NICH ! # " E # T ! ! O T

he Nic

uctio Prod

SPA are proud to prese ns, FBI & nt

# # " ! ONE STA #! GE, IN ONE "% "

ONLY!

{USA}

WA LOW " END %

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NICHE

PRODUCTIONS

PRESENTS

NEW

ZEALAND’S

DYNAMIC

SOLA ROSA 2010

AUSTRALIAN

‘GET

IT

TOGETHER’

ALBUM

TOUR

SYDNEY

BARRINGTON TOPS

FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER THE GAELIC THEATRE

SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER SUBSONIC FESTIVAL

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MOSHTIX.COM & ALL MOSHTIX OUTLETS

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT SUBSONICMUSIC.COM.AU/BUY-TICKETS

THE BRAND NEW ALBUM ‘GET IT TOGETHER’ AND ‘GET IT TOGETHER - THE REMIXES’ AVAILABLE NOW AT MUSIC.SOLAROSA.COM, ITUNES & ALL GOOD RECORD STORES

NES STO $ ! "

FOR MORE INFO: SOLAROSA.COM, MUSIC.SOLAROSA.COM, MYSPACE.COM/SOLAROSAMUSIC & NICHEPRODUCTIONS.COM.AU

LOW " END %

DJ !# %

T THE " FU%*ING

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SATURDAY Y 19 F R A U EBR R MANNING BA

Tick et FLYING-LOTUS. & %! # ! & ! & %! # & # " S.COM.AU

lets out htix mos d n ua s on s om .com.a ale now ow.c through manningbar.com, moshtix e – stonesthr ni horn cheprodu ctions.com.au – myspace.com/mayerhawt

#!" " ! ' $ $ " !! !" ! " # ! .COM

proud ductions is Niche Pro

to present

Peace Music, Niche Productions & Max proudly present soul legends

8 2 y a d i Fr y r a u n a J y e n d y S E M E H C S l D a N v A i R t G s E e H F T & r a B s ’ k c Be ION 1 / DEVIAT O I D A R C UK / BB

CITY / PPP / FAT 7 4 G N I L B USA / S RP RECORD A W / k e c ve Spa hard & Ste Mark Pritc • 8 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

12 PIECE STAGE SHOW

n sale now u Tickets o dneyfestival.org.a y s h g u o thr

AND HIS 6 PIECE BAND

*!Vb` ]\U — U_\aZ' !Vb`"W]UXa bWhVg\baf!Vb`!Th VX cT lf Vb` — ` a\V[Xce T_bXU_TVV! b`"TYe\VT[\gXV[ — `lfcTVX!V

FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2011 ENMORE THEATRE Tickets Now on Sale through enmoretheatre.com.au koolandthegang.com • facebook.com/pages/Kool-the-Gang • peacemusic.com.au • nicheproductions.com.au



• 10 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


THE DRUM MEDIA 9 NOVEMBER 2010 • 11 •


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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 13 •


Y L N O T H G I N E N O Y A D THIS FRI CELEBRATE OUR HUGE STORE EXPANSION AND MEET

rock metal bas s giant

OF MEGADEATH | LYNCH MOB | OZZY OZBOURNE

EXCLUSIVE SYDNEY BASS CLINIC FREE ENTRY - LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE! WHEN - 19TH NOVEMBER 2010 @ 5:30PM WHERE - 85 ALEXANDER ST (CNR ERNEST ST), CROWS NEST NSW 2065 MORE INFO - PH: 02 8622 6555


2ND & FINAL SHOW

NEW TICKETS RELEASED AT ALL PRICE LEVELS FROM $39.90*

ANZ STADIUM LD OUT O S MONDAY DECEMBER 13

TUESDAY DECEMBER 14 BOOK NOW! ticketek.com.au/U2360 or 132 849 *additional handling fees may apply. Availability is limited

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

U2 360 Live at The Rose Bowl in stores now THE DRUM MEDIA 9 NOVEMBER 2010 • 15 •


MAKE IT HAPPEN... DIPLOMA & DEGREE COURSES IN AUDIO ENGINEERING & FILM MAKING

OPEN DAY

SAE SYDNEY – DECEMBER 4TH, 11AM - 3PM 55-57 WENTWORTH AVE SYDNEY 2000

O F N I E R O FOR M ww.sae.edu

VISIT: w 0 723 338 CALL: 180

SYDNEY – MELBOURNE – BYRON BAY – BRISBANE – ADELAIDE – PERTH CRICOS: 00312F (NSW) 02047B (VIC) 02431E (WA) Please contact relevant campuses for further information regarding open days, tours, course programs and FEE HELP options.

• 16 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010



• 18 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


ANDREW MCMANUS PRESENTS

S K E E W GO T O IS S

2

M T ’ N D O O U T!

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

&

3!4 $%# s HORDERN PAVILION ON SALE NOW

TICKETEK.COM.AU 132 849 KORN.COM

SHIHAD.COM

FRI 28 JAN

18+

PARRAMATTA PARK

MARY J. BLIGE JIMMY CLIFF MAXI PRIEST SEAN PAUL THE ORIGINAL WAILERS THE BLACK SEEDS KY-MANI MARLEY THE RED EYES WITH DJ K-NOTE & DJ NICK TOTH TICKETMASTER.COM.AU 136 100 Line up may change without notice

EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW ON SALE For travel & accommodation packages contact info@impactravel.com

RAGGAMUFFIN.COM.AU

ampresents.com


PSR-E323

YRS24B Australia’s favourite e student recorder Durable ABS resin construction ction . Easy to play and keep clean. an. Includes fingering chart and d bag.

The perfect beginning for anyone learning music 61 touch sensitive keys giving piano playability and added expression. Learning music is fun and easy with Yamaha Education Suite lessons and 102 preset songs.

YRS20B

AUDIOGRAM 3

Have fun with Yamaha’s rainbow coloured recorders

Recording with yourr computer has neverr been so easy!!

Made of ABS resin which is strong, durable and easy to keep clean. Available in translucent green, pink or blue.

YDP-S31 Slimline, compact, high-quality piano - a perfect addition to your home!

Featuring one mic/instrumentt input and bundled with Cubasee AI recording software thee o AUDIOGRAM 3 makes it easy to C record your music on the go. PC and Mac compatible.

Authentic sound, weighted keys and an absolute joy to play. Only 30cm cabinet depth with keyboard cover and 3 pedals. Built-in recording features and metronome make this instrument ideal for piano lessons and practicing. Optional piano stool available.

POCKETRAK C24** Pocket full of sound

PSR-E223

DGX-640W

The ideal way to start

Incredible value and great style for the whole family to enjoy

61 keys and 100 different accompaniment styles. Remarkable sound and amazing value.

88 weighted keys that feel just like a real piano. 305 built-in song set ups and the ability to download more from Yamaha’s Music Finder Plus website. Includes stand, sustain pedal and power supply.

P95B

The POCKETRAK C24 is a light and portable recorder that is capable of recording both 24bit/96kHz high quality audio and compressed MP3 audio. Audio files are stored directly to the 2GB internal memory or optional microSD card and files can be transferred via USB directly to your computer. Bundled with Cubase AI recording software.

The ideal portable solution Dynamic sound and natural piano touch packed in a slim, exceptionally affordable instrument that’s perfect for home, school or the rehearsal room. Includes music rest, sustain pedal and power supply.

GIGMAKER DRUM KIT G P Play Pl on the brands the th h pro’s demand

DTXPLORER

Q Quality Qu Yamaha shells, ball-clamp tom holders with double braced hardware. h o

Loud or silent - it’s your choice

PST3 PACK A complete starter package Brass copper based alloy 14” hi hats, 16” crash and 20” ride.

Excellent value for the begin beginner nner or hobbyist. With 100’s of traditional, traditional, um sounds, s electronic and exotic drum m kit you can build your own drum and play along to your MP3 gs or to the 22 preset songs rt to recreate a live concert in your headphones.

CS40 C S40

CG142S

F310P

FG700

FGX720SCA

PAC012

RBX270

Built especially for younger players

Exceptional value solid top classical guitar

Become the future of rock

Modern features at an affordable price

This full-size classical guitar gives lots of bold balanced tone. The nato neck, back and sides provide the force behind this instrument’s tone, bringing out the deep sound of nylon strings.

Excellent quality entry level acoustic solid top guitar with deluxe features

Awesome acoustic electric guitar

A great sounding 3/4 size guitar. Available in natural gloss finish. Limited stock.

Impress your party guests and start playing guitar now

This solid spruce top, thin neck and low action guitar, adds value to the classic FG series with the inclusion of an in-built tuner and pre amp. Available in natural gloss. FGX720SCABL black finish - $649 and FGX720SCABS brown sunburst finish - $649.

This excellent quality guitar is the perfect choice for future rock stars! Available in three great colours: black, dark blue metallic and red metallic.

This model features a pick-up system that provides a variety of tones from jazz to blues to rock. Available in black, mist green, red metallic, yellow natural satin or silver. Limited stock.

Everything you need to get started, featuring a great quality guitar and all the accessories: gig bag, strap, strings, string winder, capo, pitch pipe and picks. Available in natural gloss finish.

VT+ SERIES Seize the power and sound famous fast! Introducing the new Valvetronix+ Series amps, all featuring a 12 AX7 tube for true valve tone, 99 readyto-play presets, 25 in demand effects, plus an all-new Power Level control to increase or decrease volume. Available in 20, 40, 80 and 120 watts. VT20+ $249 and VT40+ $349.

Features the same design concepts as Yamaha’s premium high-end guitars. Available in natural gloss or matte finish. FG700MS - $349.

PATHFINDER 10

AMPLUG CABINET

Little yet loud

Mini headphone amp stack

Powerful 10 watt amp that is perfect for home practice, backstage warm-up and recording.

Equipped with a 3” Vox speaker and 0.7 Watts of power, the amPlug Cabinet is compatible with all amPlug models, so you can use a variety of amPlugs with a single amPlug Cabinet. Limited stock. AmPlug not included.

AMPLUG Plug in, rock out Vox’s pint-sized headphone guitar amp available in different styles. All models feature Gain, Tone and Volume controls along with an AUX-IN jack so you can jam along with a CD/MP3 player. Limited stock.


NEW SOUTH WALES Bankstown Music Shop

Shop 225, Lady Cutler Avenue, Centro Bankstown

BANKSTOWN

2200

02 9790 3777

Bass ‘n’ Blues Music Mega Store

Shop 10/20 Albert Street

TAREE

2430

02 6551 5067

www.bassnbluesmusic.com.au

Bavas Music City

252 Macquarie Street

LIVERPOOL

2170

02 9824 2211

www.bavasmusic.com.au

Big Music & Multimedia

85 Alexander Street

CROWS NEST

2065

02 8622 6555

www.bigmusic.com.au

Billy Hyde Allison Music

114 Baylis Street

WAGGA WAGGA

2650

02 6921 2696

www.billyhydemusic.com.au

Byron Music

Shops 1 & 2 South Plaza, Jonson Street

BYRON BAY

2481

02 6685 7333

www.byronmusic.com.au

Carlingford Music Centre

320 Pennant Hills Road

CARLINGFORD

2118

02 9873 2333

www.carlingfordmusic.com.au

Cheapa Music

427 Peel Street

TAMWORTH

2340

02 6766 6555

www.cheapamusic.com.au

Coastal Music

5/148 Lake Road

PORT MACQUARIE

2444

02 6581 3016

www.coastalmusic.com.au

Dickson’s Music Complex

Shop 6, 3-9 Spring Street

CHATSWOOD

2067

02 9419 2144

www.dicksonsmusic.com.au

Dream Music

610-612 Canterbury Road

BELMORE

2192

02 9787 4177

www.dreammusic.com.au

Drummers Dream

610-612 Canterbury Road

BELMORE

2192

02 9787 4177

www.drummersdream.com.au

Dural Music Centre

Unit 32, 286 Newline Road

DURAL

2158

02 9651 7333

www.duralmusic.com.au

Engadine Music Education Centre

25 Station Street

ENGADINE

2233

02 9520 3044

www.engadinemusic.com

Gallin’s Musicians Pro Shop Annandale

55 Parramatta Road

ANNANDALE

2038

02 9517 1901

www.gallinsmps.com.au

Guitar Factory Gladesville

280 Victoria Road

GLADESVILLE

2111

02 9817 2173

www.guitarfactory.net

Guitar Factory Parramatta

255 Church Street

PARRAMATTA

2150

02 9635 5552

www.guitarfactory.com.au

Haworth’s Music

Shop 2, 22 Durgadin Drive

ALBION PARK RAIL

2527

02 4256 0088

www.haworthguitars.com.au

High Street Music

491 High Street

PENRITH

2750

02 4722 8608

www.highstreetmusic.com.au

Hutchings Pianos

5 - 7 Edgecliff Road

BONDI JUNCTION

2022

02 9387 1376

www.hutchingspianos.com.au

Lander’s Music

286 Summer Street

ORANGE

2800

02 6362 6588

www.landersmusic.com

Lathams Music

4/6 Bradford Close

KOTARA

2289

02 4952 4311

www.lathamsmusic.com.au

Lathams Music

3a/11 Molly Morgan Drive

GREENHILLS

2323

02 4934 4661

www.lathamsmusic.com.au

Logans Pianos

250 Burwood Road

BURWOOD

2134

02 9744 2400

www.loganspianos.com.au

M & M’s Music & HiFi

Shop 2, 50 - 66 Boorowa Street

YOUNG

2594

02 6382 2836

www.mmmusicstudio.com.au

Macron Musicw

Shop 11 Fountain Plaza, 158 The Entrance Road

ERINA

2250

02 4367 8500

www.macronmusic.com.au

Macron Music

Shop 1000 Westfield (Enter Tonkiss Street)

TUGGERAH

2259

02 4352 3377

www.macronmusic.com.au

Mall Music

Shop 430, Warringah Mall

BROOKVALE

2100

02 9905 6966

www.mallmusic.com.au

Musos Corner

1 National Park Street

NEWCASTLE WEST

2302

02 4929 2829

www.musoscorner.com.au

Park Beach Music & Hi-Fi

Shop 57, Park Beach Plaza

COFFS HARBOUR

2450

02 6652 3725

www.parkbeachmusic.com.au

Pipers Wollongong Music

390 Crown Street

WOLLONGONG WEST

2500

02 4228 9286

www.wollongongmusic.com

Planet Music

25 Molesworth Street

LISMORE

2480

02 6621 7784

www.planetmusic.com.au

Planet Music

83 River Street

BALLINA

2478

02 6681 1125

www.planetmusic.com.au

Powerpoint Music Centre

409 Bong Bong Street

BOWRAL

2576

02 4862 5344

www.powerpointmusic.com.au

Shire Music Centre

Shop 1, 593 Kingsway

MIRANDA

2228

02 9525 8700

www.shiremusic.com.au

South Coast Music

Shops 7-10 Shoalhaven Arcade, 19 Kinghorne Street

NOWRA

2541

02 4421 8688

www.scmusic.com.au

The Drum Shop

1 National Park Street

NEWCASTLE WEST

2302

02 4925 3155

www.thedrumshopnewcastle.com.au

The Music Man

27/191 Parramatta Road

AUBURN

2144

02 9648 1199

www.themusicmansydney.com.au

Turramurra Music

1267 Pacific Highway

TURRAMURRA

2074

02 9449 8487

www.turramusic.com.au

Tweed Heads Musicland

121 Wharf Street

TWEED HEADS

2485

07 5536 4093

www.tweedmusicland.com

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Better Music

29 - 31 Colbee Court

PHILLIP

2606

02 6282 3199

www.bettermusic.com.au

DW Music

27 Altree Court

PHILLIP

2606

02 6260 5626

www.dwmusic.com.au

Pro Audio Supplies

87-89 Gladstone Street

FYSHWICK

2609

02 6249 7766

www.proaudio.com.au

Promotion commences 1st November 2010 to 31st December 2010 at participating dealers. Not all products listed in this catalogue are available at all Yamaha dealers. # These products are listed at normal RRP and are not part of this special distributor’s promotional offer. † The “value” specified for the bonus offers is Yamaha Music Australia’s recommended retail price of these products. *Price drop of 40% applies to selected product only. Visit yamahabackstage.com.au for full terms and conditions


• 22 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 23 •


LIVE MUSIC VENUE & RESTAURANT

• 24 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


COLLECTOR’S EDITION TOUR EP’s

PART I

PART II SPECIAL EDITION DIGIPACK DESIGNED TO HOLD BOTH DISCS

RECORDED LIVE IN AUSTRALIA 1989-2004

RECORDED LIVE IN AUSTRALIA & NZ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

THE BIG 4 LIVE 5 HOURS OF METAL MAYHEM ON DVD & BLURAY

OUT NOW ALL SOLD SEPARATELY Strong coarse language

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 25 •


THU

10

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LES SAVY FAV

FEB

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• 26 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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L

VE POLICE PRESENT

Black Keys Brothers Live

January 2011 Sat-29 ENMORE THEATRE With Special Guests TICKETS ON SALE NOW lovepolice.com.au/tours

with guest

CHRIS ALTMANN

WED 17.11 | RED RATLER | MARRICKVILLE Tickets: lovepolice.com.au/tours THUR 18.11 | RAVAL | SYDNEY Tickets: moshtix.com.au, 1300 GET TIX (438 849)

Debut album 'Messenger' Out now on Shock

FIRST AUSTRALIAN TOUR - FEBRUARY 2011

TUESDAY 8 | OXFORD ARTS FACTORY TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM LOVEPOLICE.COM.AU/TOURS The debut album The Fool out now via Rough Trade/Remote Control

WITH PUTA MADRE BROTHERS

WED DEC 15 Bondi BEACH ROAD HOTEL Annandale THUR DEC 16 ANNANDALE HOTEL

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM ANNANDALEHOTEL.COM & LOVEPOLICE.COM.AU/TOURS

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 27 •


WWW.THEGAELIC.COM

OPEN 10AM- 4PM

$10 - $15 MEALS

DAILY DRINK SPECIALS

SUNDAY NPL POKER

MONDAY I 90’s

TUESDAY ROCKSTEIN

2PM - FREE ENTRY - CASH PRIZES

WED 17 NOV

THU 18 NOV

FRI 19 NOV

8PM - DRINKS SPECIALS + DJ’s

7PM - MUSIC & MOVIE TRIVA

THE STUDY presents

FREE ENTRY

ONE JONATHAN

+ TAUYLOR AND THE MAKERS + EYE TO EYE FAT THURSDAYS presents

V.I.P. THURSDAYS ft DANE RUMBLE (LIVE) + DJ TIKELZ + DJ MOTO + MORE

THE JEZABELS

SOLD OUT

+ TWO HOURS TRAFFIC + MERE WOMEN SOSUEME END OF UNI PARTY SAT

20 NOV

ft THE TOURISTS + THE DEER REPUBLIC + THE PREACHERS + BOATS OF BERLIN + RAINBOW CHEN + DJs COMING SOON

SUN 21 NOV

BONE THUGS N HARMONY

• 28 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

THU 25 NOV

V.I.P. AFTER PARTY

FRI 26 NOV

BELLES WILL RING


New album out now www.grinderman.com | www.billions.com.au THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 29 •


Contents Issue No. 1035 Tuesday 16 November 2010 All entries must be sent to giveaways@drummedia.com.au and include your full name, address and a contact number. Please note – prizes that are to be collected from the office must be done within four weeks of notification of winning.

DRUM MEDIA Giveaways – Look to your left for free stuff, silly! 30 The Front Line hits hard with industry fact and conjecture, plus with the deadline looming, we check in on the APRA Professional Development Awards. 32 Mailbag – your say on what floats your boat or makes the red mist descend, plus Backlash and Frontlash. 34

SALLY SELTMANN

SALLY NO BUFFALO After two albums as New Buffalo, singer/songwriter Sally Seltmann finally stepped up under her own name with her ‘debut’ album, Heart That’s Pounding – and a popular move and album it’s proven. Joined by special guests Oh Mercy and Jessica Says, Seltmann is performing a run of dates that sees her at the Grand Hotel Wollongong Friday, The Factory Theatre Saturday and The Brass Monkey Sunday. We have one double pass for each gig to give away, so email us with Sally Seltmann giveaway in the subject line by 5pm Thursday stating which gig you’d like to attend.

MARTIN & RICHMOND: NOT LAWYERS You all know Jeff Martin, the Canadian Australian Tea Party/Armada frontman, plus you all know Terepai Richmond, the drummer providing the heartbeat to The Whitlams and many others. Back in August the pair got together for a one-off show that proved so much fun they’ve decided to do it again – Wednesday at the Brass Monkey, Thursday and Friday at The Basement Circular Quay, Tuesday 23 November at Lizotte’s Newcastle and Wednesday 24 at The Vault 146 Windsor for starters. We have three double passes to the shows at The Basement, so email us with Jeff & Terepai giveaway in the subject line by midday Thursday stating which night you’d like to go.

PIETA MAKES GOOD FOLK

36

My Chemical Romance kick out the jams.

42

The Jezabels are growing in confidence.

43

“Give me my termite powder,” says Tim Harrington from Les Savy Fav. No, we don’t know what he means either. 44 Metronomy spend their video clips dodging polystyrene balls.

46

Gemma Ray shares her love of guitars. 48 Alkaline Trio make the record they want to make, then worry about the business side of things later.

49

Blondie remember Molly Meldrum making a mistake on Countdown. Join the club.

50

We The Kings attempt a little known world record. 52 Kisses bring out their inner disco.

52

Songwriting provides a healing influence for Pieta Brown.

58

Despite the walls of distortion, AXXONN’s melodies are actually quite dainty and pretty. 58 Things sneak up on Kaki King.

58

Africans should love and care for Africa, according to Femi Kuti. 58 Joe Pug is a head down and get through the songs guy.

60

American gypsy singer, songwriter and poet Pieta Brown introduces herself to Australia for the first time fresh off opening for John Prine and before him Mark Knopfler, both traversing North America the past three months. Brown plays the Basement Monday 22 November and we have three double passes to the show so you can make her acquaintance. Email us with Pieta Brown giveaway in the subject line by 5pm Thursday.

Hailer explore a dark fantasy.

60

Chris Maric gets local with hard rock and metal in The Heavy Shit.

66

FEMI SINGS UP FREEDOM

Stu Harvey delivers a Short Fast Report on punk and hardcore.

67

Taking up the mantle not of the foremost exponent of Afrobeat but also the conscience of Africa from his pioneering father Fela, Femi Kuti brings his vibrant musical crusade and 15-piece band The Positive Force to the Metro Theatre Saturday night and we have one double pass to the show to give away, so email us with Femi Kuti giveaway in the subject line by 5pm Thursday.

GIN & POLAROIDS Could be the makings of a classic rock’n’roll night down at the Annandale Friday night with Brisbane collective The Gin Club and ex-Brisbanites Dave McCormack & The Polaroids co-headlining. If you haven’t checked out their fourth album, Deathwish, The Gin Club have released the third single off it, Choppin’ Wood, by way of introduction and if you haven’t checked out McCormack and co. where have you been lately? There are five double passes to the night to give away, so email us with Gin & Polaroids giveaway in the subject line by 5pm Thursday.

NIGHTLIFE EXCHANGE ON US Saturday 27 November, the finale of the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, sees a one of a kind global experience in which Australia will swap its nightlife with Brazil’s birthplace of Carnivale, Rio and the bossa nova capital Sao Paolo with music from Brazilian baile funk and electro band Bonde do Rolê. For further information check out the Facebook page, but we have three double passes to the event to give away, so, if you’re over 18 (don’t even think about it otherwise!) and live in Sydney, email us with Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project giveaway by 5pm Tuesday 23.

AND THE BEST AUS ALBUMS ARE... We have been inundated with entries for our 100 Best Australian Albums competition, in which ten lucky readers of SPA titles around the country (Inpress, Time Off, The Drum Media - Sydney and Perth) can win a copy of The 100 Best Australian Albums and its accompanying CD box set, with ten runners-up also scoring a copy of the book. With the competition closing this week, next week we will unveil the lucky folk who score the books and discs as well as publish a list of the albums that you voted for. Already there are some surprises, with the outcome set to be very different from the book’s list. In The 100 Best Australian Albums, Midnight Oil are at number one with Diesel And Dust, followed by AC/DC’s Back In Black, Crowded House’s Woodface, Cold Chisel’s Circus Animals and The Triffids’ Born Sandy Devotional. Of all things, it looks like our readers reckon Circus Animals ain’t Chisel’s best... and you may prefer northern state heritage indie over west Aus heritage indie. Look out for the full results of our Best Australian Albums poll next week.

DESIGN OUR COVER AND WIN BIG! Our Big Day Art competition is back. All you have to do is send us your impression of an artist on the current Big Day Out schedule (take a look at who’s performing – you won’t be short of options) and upload your entry at summerfestivalguide.com.au (go to the Big Day Art section). The competition is now open and entries close Friday 7 January. The prize? Not only will your entry appear on the front cover of Drum Media, but the lucky winner will also win a pass to the BDO and CDs by BDO artists. • 30 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

The News – just like it says, with tours, releases and more.

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On The Record reviews new release albums and singles from Glenn Richards, Neil Young, The Audreys and more. 62

Adam Curley muses on another article on Facebook by writing another article on Facebook in The Breakdown. 68 Viktor Krum asks you to Get It Together with the latest in hip hop.

68

Scott Fitzsimons gets Young & Restless with all ages goings on.

68

Tom Hawking sends us a snapshot of life in the Big Apple with New York Conversation. 68 Dan Condon features the world of blues and roots with Roots Down.

69

Michael Smith delivers some Blow with jazz and world music news. 69 Go south as you enter Pedro Manoy’s Swamp Shack. 69

FRONT ROW This Week In Arts runs you through the must-see events of this week’s cultural calendar; Robin Williams’ stand-up show gets reviewed; we select the best films to see at the upcoming Japanese Film Festival. 70 With the Sydney Festival announced, Front Row selects the ten best events you simply cannot miss; this week’s Film Reviews include Machete and The Messenger; Made You Look wraps up the recent Tracey Emin talk at AGNSW. 71 Tom Gleeson talks about getting back to stand-up.

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Director Debra Granik discusses her highly acclaimed second feature Winter’s Bone; Cultural Cringe wraps up the week in arts news and gossip. 74

LIVE It’s all here: gig reviews, tour guide, what’s happening this week, charts, gig guide, random shit, being on Australian Idol showed Owl Eyes what she didn’t want to be, Wons Phreely gets invitations to sleep on people’s couches overseas and Numbers Radio keep on creating.

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Backstage and BTL – your guide to studios, recording, gear, courses and more.

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The Classies – need a singer/bassist/ drummer/any other service/product you can think of? Your answer is here. And on iflog.com.au. 103


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 31 •


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NEWS? ANNOUNCEMENTS? TIP-OFFS? RUMOUR AND GOSSIP? SEND THEM THROUGH TO FRONTLINE@STREETPRESS.COM.AU

KYÜ’S GOT THE SPIRIT

NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY WITH SCOTT FITZSIMONS

Sydney’s kyü have won the music category of the QANTAS Spirit Of Youth Awards (SOYA), a grant program championing local creative arts. The program provides the award winner practical support in the form of flights and cash, as well as the opportunity to build a professional mentoring relationship with creative leaders in their field. As part of their prize, producer Lee Groves (Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Gwen Stefani) will be assisting kyü throughout 2011 to develop opportunities both locally and internationally. “When you get to meet people that you genuinely respect and admire and want to work with – and in our case that was Lee Groves who we’re going to be able to work with – that’s exciting,” kyü’s Alyx Dennison told The Front Line. The win is yet another in a growing list of accolades for the band, coming off choice support slots and the well-received release of their debut album and accompanying tour. Dennison admits to having an “objective perspective” on the growth of the band over the past little while. “We’ve been aware of it but it’s been hard to feel because it’s been partly gradual, but also partly rapid. I think since the album’s come out there’s been a huge… like we went up a few notches in terms of recognition I suppose and that’s something we have not a great grasp on. And there are moments here and there where things remind us that we’re not in the same position were a year ago.” The win seems to be perfect timing for the band as Dennison explains the upcoming plans for kyü. “We’ll start recording album number two over the next couple of months and we’re so excited to do that and get that done fairly soon over summer and really excited to work with Lee on that. Then in February, we’re going to the States for six weeks and we’ll play some shows and maybe tweak the recordings that we did here over there or whatever. When Freya [Berkhout, the other half of kyü] flies back to Australia, I’m going to fly to England and do some travelling. So next year’s really about travel and stimulation and growth and hopefully it will be a really creative year, because this year’s not been so much compared to last year, as it’s mostly about getting the album out and touring and things.” Other winners included Victoria’s Ariel Kleiman in the film category, and Victoria’s Penny Lane in the photography category, whose work has appeared in Street Press Australia (publisher of The Drum Media) publications Drum Media Perth and Inpress.

MELBOURNE GETS $25M, SYDNEY STAYS SILENT Following on from the Live Music Agreement signed by representatives of the music industry with the Victoria government, the Premier John Brumby has outlined his support for the state’s music scene with a $25 million pledge. The injection of funds and support includes a $12 million Music HQ to be located in Melbourne, extra grant money for local musicians, $750,000 more in funding for the peak music body Music Victoria, a “code of best practice” for music venues and a dollar-for-dollar matching for investments like sound proofing, acoustic treatments and sound system improvements. This is all dependent of course on a re-elected Brumby Labor government as the Victorian election (27 November) draws near. The support is miles away from the rest of the East Coast, where Brisbane music venues are beginning to close – most notably The Troubadour – to no response from the council and Sydney, where worrying new council powers have still not prompted Lord Mayor Clover Moore to show her support for the live music scene. After stories, such as one in The Front Line, berated Moore for her nonchalant stance on the inner-city entertainment scene, her media department reacted against the “negative campaign” being run in the media and she appeared in the daily and community newspapers to ensure residents she is not trying to inflict a curfew on Sydney’s venues. What The Front Line would like to see is an assurance from the Lord Mayor that she is supportive of live music venues, but she has ignored requests for comment. With a state election in March next year, where there’s an opportunity for music to become a major issue in NSW as well, a floundering incumbent Labor Government may even find it an attractive option to get voters back on side.

KYÜ

INDIE TOURERS MERGE

MICHAEL JACKSON

JACKO CONTROVERSY CONTINUES After a new track from Michael Jackson’s new album, Michael, began streaming on the late star’s website, questions were raised about the authenticity of the track’s vocal line. The claims prompted an Epic Records spokesman to release a statement in damage control: “We have complete confidence in the results of our extensive research as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael that the vocals on the new album are his own.” Producer Teddy Riley also went on the record saying, “I have no doubts that these are Michael’s vocals. I stand for myself with no discrimination.” He also added that the vocals sounded “very polished, very on key and processed.” Slated for a mid-December release, the album is a patchwork of unreleased Michael Jackson material apparently recorded relatively recently and features guest appearances from Akon, 50 Cent and Lenny Kravitz. There has been industry and family backlash surrounding the album, with father Joe Jackson’s attorney Brian Oxman releasing a statement saying, “If Michael had wanted this music released he would have done so before his death. The songs which are being released on the new Michael Jackson album were unfinished and incomplete tracks that Michael said over and over many times he never wanted released. We should honour Michael Jackson’s wishes.” Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am has called the endeavour “disrespectful”: “Whoever put it out and is profiting off of it, I want to see how cold they are... He just wasn’t any ordinary artist. He was a hands-on person. To me it’s disrespectful. There’s no honouring... Michael Jackson songs are finished when Michael says they’re finished. Maybe if I never worked with him I wouldn’t have this perspective. He was very particular about how he wanted his vocals, the reverb he used... he was that hands-on.” • 32 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

involve music, fashion, film and visual art, with eyes for a 2011 release.

Civil Society and Handsome Tours have announced that they will be merging business activities and trading under the Handsome Tours name as of 1 July, 2011. Handsome’s directors Mat Everett and Dave Chatfield and Civil’s Ashley Sellers and Colin Daniels will become the directors of the new business and it is understood that all staff will continue to work out of their respective locations and while it’s too early to tell, they anticipate taking on more staff in the publicity/marketing department. Chatfield told The Front Line that being long-time friends with Sellers meant that over dinners they’d discussed working together previously, but not really wanting to enter the festival arena had decided that this was the best option, considering they’ve been touring similar acts (Handsome: Interpol, Pavement, Bon Iver/ Civil: The National, Grizzly Bear, The xx). “It felt right very quickly and we couldn’t see any reason not to [merge],” he said. There’s no “hard and fast” agenda for the new company but Chatfield does think that by pooling their resources and infrastructure “it will put us in a better position to chase bigger acts,” all the while maintaining their current relationships. With both Civil and Handsome touring approximately 20 to 25 acts annually, “we should be doing 50 tours a year”. He also stressed, “chasing new acts is still a major priority.” Despite sharing directors with Civil, Inertia Records will remain separate from this new entity.

CADD’S SIDE OF THINGS Hall of Fame inductee Brian Cadd has released his book, From This Side Of Things, through New Holland this month. Starting out in the bands The Groop and Axiom, which scored with the track A Little Ray Of Sunshine, Cadd has also worked with Ringo Starr and Joe Cocker since.

AUSTRALIANS ABROAD British India are currently in the UK promoting their EP, Vanilla – a track from their latest album, Avalanche – and have launched a new website to coincide with it. Their single, 90 Ways To Leave Your Lover, has been picked up by New Zealand radio and the band will be touring there in December to support it. After emerging as the inaugural winner for triple j’s Unearthed High band competition for school kids, Tom Ugly (originally [is]) will be travelling to America to collaborate with as yet unrevealed artists on a new project. The self-titled debut EP under Tommaso Parisi’s moniker has not provided the solid foundation he’s needed to solidify his position on the national scene and the new project will reportedly

OBJECTS IN THE SUN Port Macquarie-based The Foreign Objects has been announced to play the Festival Of The Sun after winning the Mid-North Coast triple j Unearthed competition. Headlined by Xavier Rudd, Regurgitator and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings it happens Friday 10 and Saturday 11 December.

BON CHART TOP Ahead of their impending tour, a new best of from Bon Jovi debuted at the top of the album charts this week, with the accompanying DVD second in its respective chart. Susan Boyle’s festive album, The Gift, was forced to settle for second (although her previous record, I Dreamed A Dream, re-entered the chart at #20). The top Australian debut is ARIA Awardsbumbling Jessica Mauboy with her newie, Get ‘Em Girls, whilst James Blunt didn’t manage to crack the top ten with Some Kind Of Trouble, which debuts in 11th place. Meanwhile, winning and performing at the recent ARIA Awards have had a tangible effect on chart positions. Angus & Julia Stone’s ARIA-winning Album of the Year, Down The Way, and Single of the Year, Big Jet Plane, moved up the charts again (to #5 and #21 respectively, the latter a peak), while Washington’s album, I Believe You, Liar, jumped 22 places up to #13. Another big leap came from Sia’s Independent Album Of The Year, We Are Born, up 21 spots to #18, while her single, Clap Your Hands, moved up to #17 and I Go To Sleep debuted at #32. Performers on the night (and winners earlier in the week for best rock album) Birds Of Tokyo had their self-titled album and single, Plans, both move higher into the top 20. Despite coming up emptyhanded at this year’s ARIAs, John Butler still felt a flow-on effect from performing live on the big night, with his Trio’s album, April Uprising, jumping up ten spots to #21, while their song, Revolution, re-entered the top 50.

EMI EXODUS Criticised for their aging roster, Queen are the latest band to leave the EMI ranks, the struggling and cashstrapped major losing the act to Universal. The band is planning to release remastered versions of their albums next year through Island Records coinciding with the band’s 40th anniversary. Since private equity Terra Firma took control of EMI in 2007 they’ve lost artists such as Radiohead, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney. Meanwhile Terra Firma recently lost a court case against Citibank where they claimed

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they were tricked into paying an inflated fee for the company initially. They intend to appeal the decision. Mute Records also opted to become an independent label again recently as well and there’s an expectation that more affiliated brands will look to jump ship.

IN FOR A HOOT The Owls have won the online band competition the JD Set, meaning they’ll join a lineup of Gyroscope and The Living End at Western Australia’s Rottnest Island Sunday 28 of this month.

COUNTRY AWARDS EXPAND The Country Music Channel has announced that their annual Oz Artist Of The Year award – won each of its four years to date by Adam Brand – will evolve in its fifth year into the CMC Music Awards. The expanded event will also include awards for International Artist Of The Year, New Australian Artist Of The Year and Music Video Of The Year, the latter available for voting online now while the other nominations will be announced in the coming weeks.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Natalie Reiss, publicist for The Latern Group, has left her post at the Sydney-based company to travel to London.

ROWLAND DOCO TO BE MADE One of three projects to receive part of the $495,000 grants offered by Film Victoria is a documentary about the late Rowland S. Howard, titled Rowland S. Howard: Autoluminiscent. The film will include interviews, performance footage, photographs and music and is being out together by Ghost Pictures. The other recipients were a new John Saffran project and a TC series.

TROPSCORE RETURNS Max Tropscore is returning for its third year, with the national competition celebrating the union of music and film and providing a creative platform for musicians and composers. Entrants must create an original musical score or synch for a three-minute short film that has been produced by emerging Australian filmmaker David Hansen. The winner will have the opportunity to perform their score at Tropfest 2011, have their composition included on the Tropfest Finalist DVD and win $5000. To be a part, register your entry online at www.maxtv.com.au/tropscore and supply your completed score or synch compiled with the vision on DVD to Movie Extra Tropfest by Thursday 13 January. The winner will be revealed at Tropfest on Sunday 20 February.


ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT

WITH THE APRA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUBMISSION DEADLINE LOOMING, BRYGET CHRISFIELD PRISES SOME HELPFUL HINTS ON HOW TO SCORE ONE FROM APRA DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP MILLY PETRIELLA AND FORMER WINNER KATRINA BURGOYNE.

S

ince the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) first introduced the Professional Development Awards in 2001 to mark APRA’s 75th anniversary, eight emerging songwriters have been rewarded every two years. As well as taking home $12,000 in cash, a changeover in sponsors this year means additional prizes for successful applicants in 2011. “APRA was able to add the MacBook Pro and the Logic Studio to the $12,000 cash,” APRA’s Director Of Membership, Milly Petriella, explains, “but then we also got a full day of recording with an engineer at Studios 301. MGM and Leading Edge decided to come on board and donate a distribution deal, which is really awesome and they’re covering Popular Contemporary [three awards are chosen for this category that encompasses pop, rock, blues, folk, hip hop, dance and R&B], Country, Film & Television and Indigenous. And the ABC came on board and covered the Jazz and Classical so that those two categories have distribution.” There are also a Roland keyboard and microphone contained in each prize pack, the three Popular Contemporary winners receiving a guaranteed spot at The Seed Management Workshop and the successful Film and Television candidate wins a place in ASCAP [American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers]’s Film & Television mentorship program. “And,” Petriella adds, “the first year AIM [Australian Institute Music] came on board they have offered a Bachelor Of Music. It’s pretty hard to put a value to.” Katrina Burgoyne took out the Country category in 2009 and was among the last round of lucky recipients alongside artists such as Wally De Backer (Gotye) and Abbe May. “It was just really, really exciting for me because I’m a little country girl – I come from Gunnedah,” Burgoyne explains, “and I had to travel that extra hour just to go to a singing lesson. That was the turning point for me, where I actually started to see all my work that I’d ever done was paying off. ‘Cause I’ve been doing it for… I know I’m still really young [22-years-old], but it gets to a point where you kinda wonder, ‘Am I really bad and that’s why nothing’s happening?’ [laughs]” Burgoyne already had plans in place to head to Nashville to chase her dream before she knew her submission for

front

LINE they’re gonna achieve it and how this money’s gonna help them and how this opportunity that we’re giving them is going to allow them to do that. “We don’t want them to have to go out and source an artist and go to a studio and spend squillions of dollars to record the song to submit to us, because they’re not submitting to us for a record deal. So they just have to be able to really show their skill at songwriting and the judges and partnering organisations are very aware of what to look for ‘cause, you know, ultimately it’s a songwriting competition, it’s not a performance competition.”

KATRINA BURGOYNE a PDA had been successful. “I had a hundred dollars to my name, I booked the ticket and I asked mum if I could please, please, please borrow the ticket money to go over there and I’d pay her back. At that point I was doing gigs and I was doing lots of promotion work. So I would hand out fliers in a shopping centre or I would dress up as Santa Claus or something silly, just to make a few extra bucks. And I worked out that, if I budgeted myself, I would eventually have five thousand dollars by the end of the two or three months. So, you know, it was a lot of hard work and, actually, there’s no way I would have been able to go to America. In the end of it, I would’ve been calling mum and going, ‘Mum, can I please have some money?’” she laughs again. “So the relief of winning the APRA [Professional Development] Award was like a burden had been taken off my shoulders.”

her idols. “Until the very, very last day I was over there, I actually didn’t know who I was. Then on the last day it all clicked to me and I got it. And I think if it wasn’t for that trip to America, I wouldn’t have understood who I was as an artist.” Burgoyne’s debut album is scheduled to drop next March and the emerging country star muses, “It doesn’t sound Nashville at all, but I had to go to Nashville to realise what I wasn’t and come away with who I was.”

A month in Nashville allowed Burgoyne to meet with many publishing houses and record labels while also participating in songwriting workshops with some of

“For us they have to specifically talk about what they’re gonna do with their cash,” Petriella stresses. “So it really has to be about their business of songwriting and how

Reading back over her application form, “I just basically poured my heart out in this and made sure I gave them every little bit of information I could. I actually spent months just writing the application and made sure I adjusted it and edited it to make sure I gave myself the best shot.”

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Petriella says that the judging panel’s final decision is usually unanimous. “We’ve got twenty-nine partnering organisations that assist us in going through and culling all the applications. The culling process is very strong because they are state-based, genre-based, established associations that are very equipped to do the culling.” Where an organisation is genre-specific (“Jazz Group is our jazz partnering organisation in Sydney”), culling is restricted to this one category. Each partnering organisation submits their top five per genre, which then go to a panel of approximately 40 judges. “The forty judges will have four to six weeks to listen to all of them, grade them based on their musical merit and also the written application,” Petriella continues. The judges then assemble at APRA to determine a winner in each category plus the three Popular Contemporary winners. “It’s really quite funny, because it quite often boils down to one or two really strong contenders in each category and then the judges will literally go through the criteria and determine it together. And then, of course, we announce the winners in March.” Applications for APRA Professional Development Awards close on Monday 29 November WHAT APRA Professional Development Awards WHEN & WHERE Winners announced March 2011

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 33 •


YOUR SAY

LETTERS@DRUMMEDIA.COM.AU

All letters must have author’s correct phone number, name and address to verify identity – not for publication (NFP)

FITTING TRIBUTE Dear Drum, Thank you to Andrew Mast for his tribute to the late James Freud (Drum #1034). He too was one of my idols, starting at the age of seven after hearing the wonderful pop of Modern Girl. I loved the Models, but being too young, missed seeing them live, until two years ago at The Gaelic. They were awesome and James was charismatic, funny and seemed to be having a great time playing beside one of his sons. I soldiered through the abysmal ARIAs, expecting a fitting tribute to someone who was such an important part of Australian music history. Instead a few short, kind words and an image on a background screen! Powderfinger covering Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight could have been an amazing tribute. Thankyou Drum for giving James the recognition and respect he deserves. James, Rest in peace. My deepest condolences to your family and the Models. Rachel Russell Lea

It was the debutt show of the revamp, so let’s see how it goes next year. – Ed

DIFFERENT STROKES Dear Drum, So the reviews are in and this year’s ARIA Awards have been soundly panned for the chaotic, confusing mess that they were. What a surprise – not! The problem is I think that the poor old organisers, desperately trying to justify the event. What a contrast, having watched it the weekend before on SBS, the ARIA Hall Of Fame, where you got the backstory on the acts being inducted, saw them or someone else perform their best known works and they gave an acceptance speech that meant something, including a particularly funny one from Steve Kilbey. Perhaps, in all this kowtowing to commercial television, the real point of the ARIA Awards has been lost – celebrating the best (yeah I know – subject to the industry judges) Australian music from the previous 12 months, not this week’s TV soap hotties. Ja Rules Bexley

Indeed, Drum also echoes your condolences – Ed

We reckon after his Hall Of Fame speech, they should have let Steve Kilbey host the whole event. – Ed

NOT CUT AND DRIED

WRONG SWERVE

Dear Drum,

Dear Drum,

I tuned into the ARIAS last night to see a celebration of Australian music and was greeted with what seemed to be a disorganised shambolic affair that could be described as half awards night/half weird pub gig. I felt the format of the awards night was terrible. It’s as if Channel Ten sourced as they could (who’s career is dying or dead - oh great you can become an MC at the ARIAS). I felt that the winners didn’t get the opportunity to have at least two minutes to bask in their own glory – and they should have as they had just won an ARIA. The whole night seemed to be a joke, it felt like respect had gone out the window. I understand that ARIA wanted to revamp the awards but they have gone too far. They have taken the pomp and ceremony away and the ARIAS has the risk of becoming another dodgy awards night. I think even the Logies may have more style!

Just some info for whoever wrote the “Back Together, Back In Town” piece in your The News section (Drum #1034). Graham Bonnar is not in fact a newcomer to Swervedriver, he is their original drummer who famously went AWOL in Canada whilst they were touring and of course he drummed on their fabulous first album Raise!! Regards, Anna Well spotted. We obviously meant to say he was returning, but the brain to keyboard message doesn’t always work too well shoes megaphone grunties – Ed

Stiles Styles Darlinghurst

FRONTLASH

#IAMTWITTER

GAGA CRAZY

So a guy gets arrested for tweeting a jokey airport bomb threat and now thousands are tweeting faux threats in support. The tweets are hash-tagged #iamspartacus (if you don’t understand, go watch the film Spartacus). A tad juvenile? Must be why we like it.

THE ALMOST CHAMP

Lady Gaga’s got a crazy fan that she’s taken action against after the New York student sent her a letter that read, “You come to my dreams. I want to die and I want to die together with you. I am not Mark Chapman. It is not only you who will die. I will shoot a bullet through my head too.” No way are you comparing GaGa to John Lennon.

So Webber didn’t get up in the end, but let’s not forget than a few years ago it was unthinkable that he would even win a Grand Prix, let alone one like Monaco. Rising through the ranks from then-guaranteed backmarkers Minardi, a true Aussie fighter.

Hey we aren’t really that upset (or surprised) about the latest QANTAS mechanical failure – we just wanted to see how the headline about the cockpit filling with smoke would look in print.

BON JOVI’S OUR MAN

2011: YEAR OF THE BIEB

Keeping Susan Boyle out of the top spot – we’ll Frontlash anyone for that.

Pre teen sex object Justin Bieber will be touring in April. Our daughters/sisters are under house arrest until he leaves. In other news, we thought Brains from Thunderbirds had released a single but then we just realised it was Beib’s new look.

PUBLISHER Street Press Australia Pty Ltd

GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Mast

EDITOR Mark Neilsen

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Michael Smith, Scott Fitzsimons

FRONT ROW EDITOR Daniel Crichton-Rouse frontrow@drummedia.com.au

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Adam Curley

STAFF WRITER Bryget Chrisfield

CONTRIBUTORS Aarom Wilson, Adam Wilding, Alice Tynan, Anita Connors, Anthony Carew, Ben Preece, Ben Revi, Benjamin McInerney, Bethany Small, Brendan Crabb, Chris Familton, Chris Maric, Clare Dickins, Craig

• 34 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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NEWS@DRUMMEDIA.COM.AU Summerbeats 2010, which lands at the Acer Arena Saturday, has regretfully advised us that Soulja Boy will not now be appearing, for reasons beyond the control of both promoter and artist. The good news is that Ja Rule will be replacing him.

FREE DOWNLOADS

Here earlier this year on a co-headline tour with Dead Letter Chorus, Canadian four-piece Two Hours Traffic return to support The Jezabels on their Dark Storm tour, which kicks off Thursday at the Harp in Wollongong, then hits the Gaelic and the Clarendon Guesthouse Saturday.

Thanks once again to the good people at Universal Music, we’ve got some tracks from emerging talent for our fortnightly free downloads. Head to universalmusic.net.au/freedownloads/streetpressaustralia to get yours. Ernest Ellis – Heading For The Cold Ernest Ellis may have been forced to postpone his co-headline tour with Parades due to illness, but his divine debut record Hunting continues to gain fans and praise. Heading For The Cold with its layered build up and blown out crescendo is just one reason why this Sydney songwriter has been getting top reviews.

Described as melancholy rock, Arizona four-piece Lydia are down this side of the planet to introduce themselves and also say goodbye as they leave that incarnation behind, and with Central Coast band Elliot The Bull they play 34B Saturday, Blush Nightclub in Gosford Sunday and Hamilton Station Hotel Newcastle Wednesday 24 November. Direct from Cuba, JJ Son will be sharing the bill Saturday night down at the Basement with our own Son Veneno, themselves fresh from a five-month tour of Asia.

ANDREW WK

MIA

THE BLACK KEYS

RATATAT

Just as the promoters announced the supporting artists, Melbourne’s Electric Empire, opening for NZ’s mighty Fat Freddy’s Drop at the Enmore Theatre, news came through that the show is sold out.

Guineafowl – Botanist Sydney’s Guineafowl brings a hint of what’s to come with handclappin’ tune Botanist. The pulsing track melds Guineafowl’s hypnotic and bold voice with a bouncy guitar line. Buoyed with a fresh spirit, Botanist will have you feeling better and saying what you want to.

The Stereosonic Festival in the Sydney Showgrounds Saturday 27 November has added two more big names to the bill – The Swedish House Mafia, Benny Benassi, Switch and Phonat – and if you go to the webside you’ll see the organisers have launched a Stereosonic App too. Fresh off opening for Ice Cube, Briggs hits the road once more to open for Drapht, taking over the Gaelic Saturday 4 December where they’ll both be joined by Dialextrix. All the way from Switzerland, DJ/production team Round Table Knights will be showing us all what they’re about Saturday 18 December at United Colours in the Good God Small Club. When Lightspeed Champion and his Brooklyn-based band Spacecamp, land at the Oxford Art Factory Wednesday 29 December, kicking off proceedings will be Brisbane’s Bleeding Knees Club. The Champ and crew will also of course be performing at Peats Ridge the following day. New Year’s Day Saturday 1 January sees the iconic Home The Venue in Darling Harbour transformed into Day One the party, featuring UK house maestros Freemasons with singer and collaborator Katherine Ellis. Second release and limited edition VIP tickets are now on sale. The John Steel Singers will be doing the honours, opening for visiting Berkeley, California-based popsters The Morning Benders at the Oxford Art Factory Tuesday 4 January.

THE MIDDLE EAST The Middle East have been announced as the special guests invited to open for The National whose now completely sold out shows happen Friday 7 and Saturday 8 January at the Enmore Theatre. Here a couple of weeks ago in his solo artist guise, Nicholas Roy is back in town Saturday with his other project The Weekend People with guitarist Mark Woodward, launching their self-titled album at the Roxbury Hotel, also playing the Phoenix Bar Canberra Sunday. Featuring two former Sunk Loto brothers, Electric Horse are currently travelling the country with Melbourne four-piece Engine Three Seven, the touring caravan pulling into the Cabbage Tree Hotel Wollongong Thursday, The Excelsior in Surry Hills Friday and the Great Northern in Newcastle Saturday. Sunday sees Birds Of Tokyo, who release their next single, Wild At Heart, Friday 17 December, playing the Open Arms Festival in Coffs Harbour, followed by the Newtons Nation Festival in Mount Panorama Sunday 28 November. Melbourne’s Twelve Foot Ninja are launching their second EP, Smoke Bomb, with a run up the coast that will bring them to Wollongong’s Grand Hotel Wednesday 1 December, Newcastle’s Hamilton Hotel Thursday 2 and SFX at the St. James Hotel Saturday 4. Dividing his time now between Australia and LA, the Caloundra-born Scott Mellis is back and playing Raval Thursday 2 December then opening for Daryl Braithwaite at Lizotte’s Kincumber Friday 3 and Wendy Matthews at Lizotte’s Dee Why Saturday 4. • 36 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMEBR 2010

KE$HA

MANY BIG DAYS OUT

And now what many a Sydneysider has been waiting for – Big Day Out sideshows! They’re here and there’s a lot of them, so listen up, get your credit card ready and prepare for some great shows. He’s becoming a pretty regular live fixture here now, that Lupe Fiasco, having toured our fine nation for the last few years running, and he’s back yet again at the Enmore Theatre on Monday 24 January – the same night that Plan B takes over the Metro and CSS comes to Oxford Art Factory to make love and listen to Death From Above. The Jim Jones Revue brings their British garage rock to the Metro on Tuesday 25, and party boy Andrew WK plays Oxford Art Factory that same night supported by Levins and Royal Headache. The controversial MIA will be joined by Die Antwoord at the Metro on Friday 28 – she’s pissed a lot of people off this year, but at least you know it’ll be a show that will definitely provoke intense reactions either way. The same night will see Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes return to our shores for a show at the Forum. Rock heavyweights Deftones are also back in town, playing the Roundhouse on Friday 28 – the same night that Nick Cave’s incredible powerhouse Grinderman bring their gritty rock show to the Enmore Theatre and New York City’s electronic maestros Ratatat burn up the dance floor at the Manning Bar. Scottish legends Primal Scream will perform their 1991 classic Screamadelica in its entirety at the Metro on Saturday 29. On the back of their latest record Brothers, The Black Keys have gone from a cult favourite to a recognisable group worldwide, perhaps also thanks to their appearance on the Twilight soundtrack – check them out at the Enmore Theatre on Saturday 29. And another gig on the 29th – German house duo Booka Shade will be playing a live set at The Forum.

DOOBIES ARE BACK American legends The Doobie Brothers are coming back to our fair nation to prove to spellbound audiences exactly why they were – and continue to be – one of the most lauded bands of the ‘70s. They’re touring on the back of World Gone Crazy, their first record in a decade, and play the Enmore Theatre on Friday 25 March. Tickets are on sale from Friday 26 of this month.

CHRISTMAS WITH CASS Aussie roots lady Cass Eager shared the holiday spirit last year with her Christmas album Santa’s Got Soul, playing a bunch of festive shows to accompany the record, and she enjoyed them so much that she’s doing it all over again this year. She’ll be playing at the Seymour Centre on Saturday 11 December, the Old Manly Boatshed on Friday 17, the Beaches Hotel in Thirroul on Sunday 19 (free) and the Vanguard on Thursday 23, supported by Claude Hay.

The queen of boozy pop, Ke$ha, is coming to our nation for the first time in March for Future Music and will also play a string of her own headline shows around the country. Sydney’s turn comes on Thursday 10 March, when she’ll be waking up feeling like P. Diddy at the Hordern Pavilion. Love or or hate her, it’s undeniable that this girl certainly turns heads either way.

ALL OVER YOUR EARS Breaking out internationally with their huge debut album Songs About Jane that had that single She Will Be Loved which we’ve just got stuck in your head again after a two year absence – no thanks necessary – Maroon 5 were comparatively quiet on their second album It Won’t Be Soon Before Long (which went platinum, it must be said) and they’re looking to make plenty more noise with their third Hands All Over. To help in that cause they’ll be playing Australian arenas next year, bringing with them somewhat surprise supports – pop/punk teen faves Cobra Starship, Sara Bareilles and Australian singer/songwriter Ry Cuming. They hit Acer Arena Friday 6 May.

A VERY SPUNKY CHRISTMAS Spunk Records are celebrating Christmas on Tuesday 14 December in the old fashioned way – by partying on down to some good old rock’n’roll. Within the four walls of GoodGod you’ll find the likes of Jack Ladder, Leader Cheetah, Bearhug, DJ Rock Throsby and other guests still to be announced. It’ll be a great night of local music and a good way to round out what has been a wonderful year, so get along if you don’t have to work Wednesday morning, or even if you do.

A+ FOR GRAMMAR His solo exploits were put on hold while his other engagements have started to take over the world but, Jonathan Boulet’s got a brand new grammatically incorrect single You’re A Animal that is bringing him back to the fore. After releasing a debut album last year, he’s also released a record and toured extensively with the band he drums in, Parades, and indulged in production duties for Little Scout, Megastick Fanfare and Halal, How Are You?, all of which are building his reputation within the scene. With a brand new record due early next year, Boulet will be launching the single on a tour that hits Newcastle’s CBD Hotel Friday 3 December and the Beach Road Hotel Saturday 4.

TIK TOK – THE WAIT IS OVER

THE HOLD STEADY

HOLD ME After wowing Australian audiences at the Laneway festival in 2009, The Hold Steady are set to return again in March on the back of their latest release Heaven Is Whenever. Catch them at the Metro on Tuesday 8 March, supported by Gun Street Girls. Heaven Is Whenever, which received rave reviews for continuing to show the scope, depth and heart they bring to chronicling the American rock myth. There’s very few that do the rock narrative like the Steady do.

TWO TRIOS Jazzgroove is also getting into the Christmas spirit, presenting Drip Hards at 505 on Tuesday 14 December. Launching their debut album This Is Dripping, the three-piece will also be joined by The Alister Spence Trio for what promises to be a swinging night of smooth jazz tunes.

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RAP THIS CITY The concept of Rap City is simple – bring together some of hip hop’s finest, sit back and enjoy the ride. Having made its debut in June this year, the bi-annual event is back for the ‘Summer Throwdown’ edition, which hits the Forum on Thursday 16 December. Featuring Blackalicious, Lifesavas, Murs & 9th Wonder and R.A. The Rugged Man, with more acts still to be announced, this will be an essential night for all hip hop enthusiasts.

BLACK CHRISTMAS The Black Cherry Christmas party at the Factory Theatre on Saturday 4 December is set to be a big one, with The Meanies headlining as Torch Le Monde, Gay Paris and Graveyard Train also offer their tunes. There’s also a slew of burlesque artists set to appear and many DJs spinning tracks into the wee hours. The dance floor will be on fire, there’s a sausage sizzle if you get a bit peckish and there are prizes for best dressed, so get pretty and get down.


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 37 •


NEWS@DRUMMEDIA.COM.AU

NICK OLIVERI

OS MUTANTES

MUTANTES DOWN UNDER WIRE

BRANT BJORK

SUFJAN STEVENS

JOHN GARCIA

THEY LIVE! Stoner rock icons Kyuss have reformed under the name Kyuss Lives! and are ready to bring their ferocious show down under in 2011. The lineup includes original members Nick Oliveri, Brant Bjork and John Garcia, and though it’s a shame that Josh Homme wasn’t in on it too it should still be a cracker. They’ll blitz their way into the Metro on Saturday 7 May, with tickets on sale Thursday 25 November.

DEATH AND GLORY

OLOF ARNALDS

THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION

PROGRESS MADE

SYDNEY COMES ALIVE

One of the most important artistic events in this city’s yearly calendar, the Sydney Festival is back once again in 2011 to kick off the year with an amazing month of music which should satisfy even the pickiest punters. Kicking things off, the Festival First Night on Saturday 8 January will see the city transformed into an enormous party starring the likes of Emmylou Harris (headlining at the State Theatre on Sunday 9 and Monday 10), Arrested Development (also headlining a show on Monday 10 at the Hyde Park Barracks alongside The Last Kinection) and Michael Tuffery. Chinese prog rockers Hanggai will play the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith on Friday 7 and the Famous Spiegeltent on Sunday 9, making their debut appearances in Australia. Beck’s Festival Bar plays host to The Dynamites on Sunday 9. Siblings and multi-instrumentalists Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are back at the Famous Spiegeltent for two nights, Sunday 9 and Tuesday 11. Bluesmen The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion hit Beck’s Festival Bar on Wednesday 12 and Berlin-based electronic artist Henrik Schwarz will be heating up the dancefloor at Beck’s Festival Bar on Thursday 13. For two nights, Vermont folk trio Mountain Man will take over the Spiegeltent with their lavish tunes – mark Thursday 13 and Friday 14 into your diaries. Friday 14 at Beck’s Festival Bar will see Gold Panda strut their stuff and Los Lobos joins forces with Victor Valdes Trio that same night at the Enmore Theatre (they’re also at the Domain for Summer Sounds with The Real Mexico the following night). Saturday 15 at Beck’s Festival Bar is sure to be a party thanks to the spinning skills of DJ Harvey and DJ Garth, who will be providing some beats deep into the night. Singer-songwriter Holly Miranda is set to charm spellbound crowds on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 at the Famous Spiegeltent, Chinese pipa virtuoso Wu Man weaves her magic at Sydney University’s Great Hall on Sunday 16, and minimalist composer extraordinaire Philip Glass takes to the piano at City Recital Hall Angel Place on Tuesday 18. NZ hip hopper Scribe hits Hyde Park Barracks Museum on Wednesday 19, bringing Ru C.L, Radical Son and Katalyst along for the party, and Owen Pallett brings his brilliant one-man show to the Famous Spiegeltent from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21. British new wave veterans Wire are joined by Los Angeles’ HEALTH at Beck’s Festival Bar on Thursday 20. Dance-punksters Matt and Kim take TheDeathSet along to Hyde Park Barracks Museum on Friday 21. Irish fiddler Col Mac Con Iomaire, known for his work with The Frames and The Swell Season, plays the Sutherland Entertainment Centre on Saturday 22, the Parramatta Riverside Theatre on Sunday 23 and the Famous Spiegeltent from Tuesday 25 to Thursday 27. Icelandic chanteuse Olof Arnalds will bring her magic to the Famous Spiegeltent on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23. Favourites Beach House take over Beck’s Festival Bar on Wednesday 26, before heading to City Recital Hall Angel Place the next night. Jazz buffs – head along to Beck’s Festival Bar on Saturday 22 to see Cobblestone Jazz and Mathew Jonson in action. Gotye will be getting personal at City Recital Hall Angel Place on Thursday 27 – the same night the delicately named Holy Fuck appears at Beck’s Festival Bar. The elusive Sufjan Stevens is back in town too, playing the Opera House on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 with a set that will undoubtedly borrow heavily from his first album in five years, The Age Of Adz. If you’re in the mood for some soul check out Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme with Benji B. Waajeed at Beck’s Festival Bar on Friday 28, or if it’s jazz you’re after the Tomasz Stanko Quintet will be at City Recital Hall Angel Place that same night. The Unthanks are hitting up the Famous Spiegeltent as a five-piece from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 with their folky bits and pieces, and Beck’s Festival Bar will be spruced up with techno partiers Octave One on Saturday 29. And finally, Dublinite Conor O’Brien, better known as Villagers, wraps up the month a couple of days late when he plays his first Australian shows at the Famous Spiegeltent on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 February. Needless to say the Sydney Festival has truly outdone itself this year with this enormous and varied lineup and tickets are all available online now.

ANNANDALE HOLIDAY FUN

GURUS ARE BACK AGAIN

The Annandale has a host of holiday festivities in the form of gigs for all your merry needs coming up this festive season. Just announced for Sunday 26 December, aptly named Roxing Day, are Front End Loader, Celibate Rifles, Peabody, Gay Paris, Zeahorse, The Shake Up and more taking the stage for a Christmas comedown. On the last day of the year, the ‘Dale has a party in store for the year ahead including performances from The Holy Soul, The Gin Club, The Maladies, The Jewel and the Falcon, Psychonanny and Babyshakers, as well as a bunch of DJs to bring the New Year in. Don’t say they don’t look after your gigging needs.

Local legends Hoodoo Gurus released their latest album, Purity Of Essence, earlier this year and have been relentlessly touring the globe ever since. The special edition of the album has also just come out, including a DVD, and third single, Are You Sleeping?, is set to hit the airwaves soon. Supporting them again on this Australian tour is The Break, and you can catch both these bands at Manly Fisho’s on Tuesday 25 November, Revesby Workers Club on Friday 26 November, The Forum on Saturday 27 November and Sharkie’s Cronulla on Sunday 28 November.

• 38 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

If the phrase ‘deathrock’ excites you, then you might be interested in the Cobweb Club event happening at Hermann’s Bar on Saturday 27 November. Teaming up with Melbourne deathrock institution Helter Skelter, the evening boasts appearances from Sydney’s Brigitte Handley & The Dark Shadows and Brisbane’s 13 Bats. The Dark Shadows will also be launching their EP and attendees of Newtown’s Black Mass festival receive discounted entry with a stamp.

After years of work, Melbourne hip hop/reggae artist ISHU is finally ready to unleash his debut record, A World In Progress, which dropped this week. It’s his second release all up and to showcase the tunes he’s worked so hard on, he’s playing at Newtown RSL on Friday 17 December ahead of his appearance at Peats Ridge, which will round off the year.

500 REASONS TO GO Joining Guns N’ Roses at the Sydney Telstra 500, set to take place at Sydney Olympic Park Friday 3 through Sunday 5 December, is a slew of Australian artists. Saturday 4 you can catch Spiderbait and The Delta Riggs storming the stage, with The Angels, Mondo Rock and James Reyne taking duties the next day. It’s one of the biggest events in the year for V8 buffs who also love a bit of music.

EMMURE TACKLE THINGS HEAD ON New York metallers Emmure, fresh off a series of gigs around the world, are coming back down under for their first ever Australian headline shows in January. The band was here earlier in the year in support of Machine Head, Bleeding Through and Hatebreed, but this time will take the forefront, supported by our own Shinto Kantana. They’re at the Bald Faced Stag Thursday 13 January, with tickets available next Tuesday.

Emerging with an intent that was fuelled by their environment, the formative years of Os Mutantes are legendary among their fans. Inspired, like most, by the sounds of Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, they started in the late ‘60s, a period in Brazil’s history that witnessed severe repression from corrupt government and they used their music to protest against that government in guerrilla public appearances. They will make their first ever Australian appearance next year for the Golden Plains festival. Wednesday 9 March however they’re at The Enmore Theatre, along with Pitchfork darlings Best Coast.

GENTLY ROCKING Brisbanites Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side are coming down the coast to play some good old rock and roll, showcasing their new single from the upcoming album, Magnetic Island, to be released in February. Playing the Excelsior in Surry Hills on Friday 10 December, they’ll be joined by The Holy Soul.

STRIPPED BARE Melbourne chanteuse Abbie Cardwell, who has been dubbed ‘the belle of rootsy-rockabilly-twang’, is gearing up to release her new album, The Bare Bones Session. While making this record, her one rule was that there would be no editing or overdubbing – what you hear is simply Abbie and her band, Her Leading Men, playing live on record. To hear them live before your very eyes though, The Vanguard is the place to be on Saturday 5 February.

GET IN THIS GIG Blue Mountains hip hoppers Hermitude are launching their new single, Get In My Life, with a couple of shows in Sydney and Melbourne. The track is lifted off their as-yet untitled 2011 album and is available for free download at the Elefant Traks site. Check them out on Saturday 11 December at Tone nightclub.

NEW VENOM Aiming to give the Sydney club scene a whole new edge, Venom is a new night launching on Saturday that should give the scene some new fangs. It’s run by the same people who were behind Trash Saturdays and The Basement, and is going to call the Agincourt Hotel home. DJs will be spinning tracks all night and upon entry, membership and a free drink can be acquired.

GIVE AND RECEIVE Live music for a worthy cause? Yes please! Oxfam is presenting a charity gig on Tuesday 23 November featuring Sydney acts Bon Chat, Bon Rat and Bricks of Berlin, as well as a number of DJs. It’s happening at the Civic Hotel underground and is a great way to both help out a cause and hear some rad local tunes.

GOOD CHARLOTTE

POP PUNK EXTRAVAGANZA The world premiere of Good Charlotte’s new album, Cardiology, took place in Sydney, testament to the fact that the pop-rock punk-styled band has their attentions focused on the great down under. Helmed by the gossip column-prone Madden twins Joel and Benji, they’ve announced their first tour of Australia in three years in support of the new record. They’ve also got some crowd-drawing supports in close tow, with Short Stack and Boys Like Girls. Saturday 9 April they’re all at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

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BIFFY CLYRO

BIFFY’S BACK Scottish favourites Biffy Clyro have visited Australia time and time again, always to the same rapture, and are returning in December on the back of their latest album, Only Revolutions. As well as supporting Muse on their tour here next month, the band will also play their own gig on Saturday 11 December at the Factory so if you’re a fan and want a more intimate experience with Biffy Clyro, keep that date free.


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 39 •


LOCAL ARMS The Open Arms Festival, set to take place at the Coffs Harbour Showgrounds this Saturday 20 November, has had two more acts added to its bill – triple j unearthed winners Tiger Tiger and Open Arms Battle of the Bands winners CryWolf. Both bands came out on top in fierce competitions comprising hopeful young bands from all over. Battle of the Bands runners-up The Proposition have also scored themselves an opening slot on the Enchanted Woods stage. These bands join an extensive local and national lineup including The Living End, Behind Crimson Eyes, Birds of Tokyo and Hungry Kids of Hungary.

WAVVES DISTURBED

DISTURBING WEAPON Metal faves Disturbed are set to return to Australia in 2011 on the back of their latest album, Asylum, which was released in August this year. Coming along for the brutality are Trivium and As I Lay Dying, so for any fan of heavy music this is a show not to be missed. The Music As A Weapon 2011 tour blazes its way to the Acer Arena on Monday 25 April and the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Thursday 28 April.

SLACKER VVIBES There’s something in Nathan Williams’ nonchalance that makes his Wavves project so enticing. Lauded last year by keyboard warriors the blogosphere over, there might be something in the claim that his tracks reminded those looking at computer screens of younger years spent skateboarding to the beach. Regardless, he’s riding that wave of kind words – built upon with this year’s album, King Of The Waves, recorded with bassist Stephen Pope and drummer Billy Hayes, they previously of Jay Reatard’s backing band – to Australia for the Golden Plains festival. Wednesday 9 March they also play at the Manning Bar.

THE VERY BEST As well as their support slot for Os Mutantes, lo-fi favourites Best Coast will also take over Oxford Art Factory in their own side show Monday 7 March. The Californian duo, whose debut record, Crazy For You, was released to a critical frenzy worldwide earlier this year, have never before visited Australia so catch them while they’re here.

IT REALLY IS HAPPENING Sydney’s Straight Arrows are gearing up to release their debut album, It’s Happening, which hits shelves this week, and are hitting the east coast throughout December to show off the goods. Help them celebrate the launch of the album by heading along to their shows at Newcastle’s Croatian Club on Wednesday 8 December and Sydney’s Good God on Thursday 9 December.

BACK TO THE OLD DAYS Those who like a bit of the olden day magic will be delighted to hear that the legendary Joe Cocker is making his way back to our shores early next year, headlining shows as well as appearing at A Day On The Green gigs. Coming along with him will be the equally iconic George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Catch them both at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Thursday 10 February.

RETURN MAKE A RETURN First formed in the ‘70s and reforming in 2008 after an almost three-decade touring absence, jazz fusion veterans Return To Forever are embarking on a world tour next year which kicks off in this very country. Featuring the original band members - Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and Bill Connors, and also featuring Jean-Luc Ponty - this show promises to be something very special indeed for fans of the genre. They’ll be taking their tunes to the Opera House stage Tuesday 15 February, and tickets are available from Tuesday 30 November.

HOPING FOR A GOOD SHOW Sydney-based acoustic singer/songwriter Jack Carty continues to make his presence felt, with his new single, Hope, ready for release and accompanying launch show locked in. There’s a string backing on the recorded version and for the launch show Carty will be joined by double bass, drums and support act Sarah Humphreys. Just off the east coast support slot for indie darling Ingrid Michaelson, the launch event happens at Raval Wednesday 24 November.

Parkway Drive do the honours 11.30pm Monday 22 November on ABC when triple j presents their Festival Hall Melbourne gig from the end of September. Tuesday 23 November, The Temper Trap will perform in St. Stephen’s Church in Newtown for Live At The Chapel, tickets for which are only available from the Live At The Chapel website and Facebook page. Earlier this year, Eric Clapton called in a few friends including Jeff Beck, Stevie Winwood, ZZ Top, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, BB King, Derek Trucks and Ronnie Wood among many to join him in the third Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago’s Toyota Park. The best bits from across the 11-hour event have now been released on two DVDs as Crossroads. A new 3CD collection of tribute covers from the David Bowie songbook by the likes of Carla Bruni, Duran Duran, Lipstick Traces, Devendra Banhart, Vivian Girls and A Place To Bury Strangers among many, David Bowie: We Were So Turned On, has been put together to raise money for the War Child charity. Returning to hometown Melbourne after several years living and working in New York, Monique diMattina recorded her second album, Welcome Stranger, which she releases Tuesday. You should have heard the first single, Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na etc,), by now, so Friday, prepare yourself for the arrival of the latest album from My Chemical Romance, Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys. Central Coast hitmakers Short Stack release second album, This Is Bat Country, Friday. If you’re in Tuggeranong Wednesday, 3.30pm get yourself round to Songland Records in the Hyperdome and meet the guys and get your record signed. In Sydney, they guys will be signing in the Myer basement in Pitt St Mall from 5pm Thursday. Out Friday is a new 4CD/1DVD deluxe box set from Jimi Hendrix, who died 40 years ago. The Jimi Hendrix Anthology includes the most complete collection of pre-Experience performances from the guitarist’s time as an R&B session man working with the Isley Brothers, Little Richard and King Curtis among others, as well as previously unreleased live recordings, studio outtakes and more. San Francisco duo Girls, who play the Manning Bar Wednesday 8 December, release a mini-album titled Broken Dreams Club Friday. • 40 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 41 •


SICK OF DRESSING UP LIKE VAMPIRES, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE TOOK 18 MONTHS TO DECOMPRESS AFTER THE BLACK PARADE TOUR, THEN TURNED SOMEWHERE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FOR INSPIRATION – DETROIT. GERARD WAY, MIKEY WAY AND RAY TORO KICK OUT THE JAMS WITH TOM HAWKING.

MOTOR CITY I

t’s been four years since The Black Parade sent My Chemical Romance into the absolutely-not-emo rock stratosphere. The album sold bucketloads of copies the world over and also cemented the band’s image to the world at large as angst-ridden pseudo-Goth types with a penchant for making concept albums. The ensuing tour, meanwhile, dragged on for over a year, sending the band to places as far flung as Bratislava and Ho Chi Minh City. You often hear bands talk about how difficult it is to return to normal life after touring, but if you’ve never actually spent a year travelling the world, arriving in a different city every day and sleeping in a different bed every night (if you sleep at all), it’s difficult to relate to what a grind it must be – a crazy, wonderful grind, but a grind nonetheless – and to how difficult it must be to just... stop. My Chemical Romance bassist Mikey Way summarises the experience as follows: “It’s like... Say you ran around the block a hundred times and then stood perfectly still. It’s like that.” Guitarist Ray Toro nods in agreement. “It’s like, y’know, I wanna keep running! I think it’s weird because you almost convince yourself that you want to sit at home and do nothing, but when it actually comes to it, you’re fucking going nuts. My wife said that I wasn’t the best person because I was at home sitting there and she could tell I wanted to do things, to create and do stuff. It’s definitely a little hard to adjust.” In the end, it took the band a good 18 months to return to normal life. And then came the inevitable question: what next? It’s a conundrum with which the band struggled for quite some time – as singer Gerard Way says ruefully, “What have I been doing since I got back? Just this [the new album], really. I couldn’t even read a book for four years. I couldn’t do anything.” When the group did eventually reconvene to record what would eventually become their fourth album, Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys, the process wasn’t remotely smooth. Gerard noted a while back that each of their previous albums has been a reaction to its predecessor and also a reaction to the reaction to its predecessor. Drum asks Way if this was the case again. “This [album] was definitely a reaction to The Black Parade and a reaction to ourselves. But no, it wasn’t a reaction to the reaction – and [ignoring] the reaction to this one… is an important part of this record. It wouldn’t have the art to it if we were paying attention to what people thought.” As such, they knew what they didn’t want to do, as the singer explains. “We could have made a record where we still dressed up like fucking vampires, but all that would have meant was that we weren’t outsiders anymore. It would have been really easy for us to go and be a part of that Twilight soundtrack. For certain individuals who were pushing us to do that, it was harder for them to hear us say no.” (It turns out that album track, Vampire Money – which contains the lines “Give me some of that vampire money/ Everybody party ‘til the taxman comes” – references this particular disagreement with their record company). • 42 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

BLUES

But quite what they did want to do proved harder to nail down. They arrived at the studio with only a bare sketch of what it might contain. “This [recording] process was really similar to The Black Parade in that there was some stuff going into it that we had written, but a lot of stuff was written [in the studio]. Most of it was not even written in a live room together. We built stuff from the ground up.” Notably, there’s also no ongoing lyrical narrative of the type that characterised all three of the band’s previous records. “It was actually a lot harder to write without a narrative,” Way explains. “That’s why I think being able to go as far as I wanted visually and thematically – that stuff really helped me. So that was important, to find that – but then to realise that was all I needed. I didn’t need a story. That took a long time to find, but when I did, it made [writing] a lot easier.” Until Gerard did find his, um, way, progress was slow. Indeed, the band eventually ended up canning their first attempt at the record – as Way explains, “There was a lot of things going on under the surface, a lot of me not realising what made the band special to me, a lot of being dishonest with myself and...” He pauses. “Really,

We could have made a record where we still dressed up like fucking vampires, but all that would have meant was that we weren’t outsiders anymore.

at the end of the day, what happened was that we gave it a good try.” The answer, he says, came with a change of producer – they returned to working with Rob Cavallo, who also produced The Black Parade. “We called Rob, met up and it was instant [clicks fingers]: this is what we’re supposed to be doing.” Drum suggests that the moment where you realise several months’ work are gonna have to be scrapped must be pretty shitty. The singer disagrees: “Mmm… It could be, sure. And when we were trying to mix it, for sure. But, if you start thinking about it as part of the process to get to where we are, it becomes very awesome. When you think about it as, ‘We’re making the same record; these are just a bunch of recordings that didn’t make it.’” He does note also that several songs from the original sessions did end up on Danger Days…, albeit in a substantially different form: “Bulletproof Heart, Party Poison, Save Yourself [I’ll Hold Them Back] and The Only Hope [For Me Is You]. So four songs out of twelve [on Danger Days…] were from that first attempt. And they were the best.” The result is certainly a departure from the band’s

previous work. It features an unashamedly radio-friendly sheen – ignore Gerard Way’s distinctive nasal vocal tone and there are times when you could be listening to a classic rock record straight out of ‘70s LA, although, as it turns out, its inspiration stems from a bit further east. Way’s spoken in the press of wanting to tap into “that Detroit sound” on this record and the references are there alright - never more so than in Party Poison, wherein he hollers gleefully, “Kick out the jams!”. The singer laughs when Drum mentions this joyously unsubtle piece of MC5 homage. “For me and the guys, The MC5… One of the cool things was that when we first played that song, we got to play it for [MC5 main man] Wayne Kramer – he loved it and he said the spirit was alive and well. I think he’d feel the same if he heard the song today, even though it has a new incarnation. It’s important to put that stuff in your music, recalling old things.” Another Detroit legend with whom Gerard Way recently became acquainted is Iggy Pop – the two did the singerinterviews-singer thing for Spin magazine earlier in the year. Disappointingly, Way admits he didn’t actually get to meet the man. “No, I didn’t get to meet him, unfortunately. It was on the phone. But I think he’d be more proud of this record than he would have been of the first attempt. Actually, when I did that interview, we were in the midst of doing the re-attempt. So everything I was saying was very pertinent to this album, not the last one. I think if he’d heard the last one, he’d have thought it was a boring rock record.”

This respect for the past taps into a theme that runs through Danger Days…, both sonically and (occasionally) lyrically. There’s a palpable feeling of nostalgia that runs through several songs on the record. Gerard nods eagerly at this observation, citing The Kids From Yesterday as a particular example of this: “[That song] is all about nostalgia. It’s about remembering what it was like when I was ten... If I thought I was wild when I was 25, or 19, what about when I was ten? All these crazy imaginative ideas I had...” At age 33, though, Gerard Way is looking very much to the future – as we conclude our chat, he gushes about how much he’s enjoying fatherhood (his daughter Bandit Lee Way was born in May last year): “Ohhhhhhh it’s great, man. I love it. [My daughter]’s a year and four months [old] and she’s getting so funny and interactive and she’s definitely got a personality that’s different to me and my wife. You watch it come out. She’s very independent; has a ton of energy.” She sounds like she’s going to be trouble? “I think so! [laughs] I told [my wife] Lindsey that when we named her: that she was gonna be trouble no matter what!”

BOYS ON FILM

THE NEW MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE ALBUM WAS INTRODUCED TO THE WORLD WITH A TWO-MINUTE YOUTUBE TRAILER CALLED ART IS THE WEAPON. TOM HAWKING LOOKS AT SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF BANDS STARRING IN THEIR OWN FILMS. Gerard Way co-directed the trailer that unveiled the title of Danger Days… and also unveiled the band’s corresponding new look – no more bleached buzzcuts! No more vampires! It makes My Chemical Romance the latest in a long line of bands who’ve starred in their own movies. So here’s Art Is The Weapon in Way’s own words, along with some other classic rock’n’roll celluloid moments.

Art Is The Weapon – My Chemical Romance “It’s got a lo-fi superhero vibe. That’s a new thing. I read this interview with [comic artist] Grant Morrison about seven years ago, which is what inspired me to write [Way’s own comic] The Umbrella Academy. Morrison said, ‘There’s this new wave of lo-fi weirdness that’s coming.’ I remember reading it and going, ‘I want to be part of that wave.’ [Art Is The Weapon] is inspiration and appropriation from everything from manga to old science-fiction shows from the ‘70s to... everything! All mashed into one thing. It also doesn’t have a solid story, which is something else I love about it. It’s got all that stuff, but it’s new.” Way says the classic-era Doctor Who special effects are entirely deliberate: “It’s not relying on amazing special effects – although the special effects I think are awesome it’s not relying on any of that stuff. It’s supposed to look low-tech. It’s supposed to be more about the idea than it is about entertainment.”

The Wall – Pink Floyd Roger Waters’ grand metaphor for rock star alienation reaches its overblown extremity in this 1982 film. Although the band themselves don’t actually appear in the movie, it’s all about Pink Floyd (the main character’s called Pink, for Chrissakes). Pretty much no one likes it, with director Alan Parker famously denouncing the finished product as “the most expensive film ever made” and Waters calling the whole experience “unnerving and unpleasant”.

Help! – The Beatles Probably the first star vehicle, Help! introduced the world to the concept of the rock star movie. It also introduced the film industry to the joys of working with musicians – apparently the band, having recently discovered the joys of smoking weed, were majestically baked from start to finish. Lennon later confessed, “Nobody could communicate with us. It was all glazed eyes and giggling all the time,” which must have been a great laugh for him ‘n’ Paul ‘n’ George ‘n’ Ringo, but was probably hugely tedious for everyone else involved.

This Is Spinal Tap – Spinal Tap

WHO My Chemical Romance WHAT Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys (Warner) out Friday 19 November

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It’s probably indicative of something that pretty much the best and most accurate rockumentary ever depicts a band that didn’t actually exist and 25 years after its release remains absolutely priceless start to finish. All together now – “This one goes up to 11!”


A QUESTION OF CONFIDENCE

NEXT STOP: THE DEBUT ALBUM. AS THEIR TRILOGY OF EPS FINISHES AND A NEW DEADLINE APPROACHES, SAM LOCKWOOD OF THE JEZABELS CHECKS IN WITH SCOTT FITZSIMONS TO SHOW THAT THEY’RE A BAND GROWING IN CONFIDENCE.

H

ype is an interesting beast, offered to more than deserve it and often misguided in its direction. For the careers that have been built on the back of the initial ripple effect, there are more that have been dropped into obscurity harder than they were elevated out of it through no fault of the band themselves, and the Sydney scene’s no exception. One band for whom the hype machine’s cogs are beginning to whir into action are The Jezabels and after a trilogy of semi-themed EPs it is beginning to look as justified for them as it would be anyone else in the world. Formed when Hayley Mary and Heather Shannon relocated from Byron Bay to Sydney and met Sam Lockwood and Nick Kaloper at Sydney University, they stated they would be releasing a series of three EPs before looking at an album, a pledge they honoured and recently fulfilled. The first, The Man Is Dead, introduced a band in the class of Sydney’s more promising acts but did little more than that, but the second, She’s So Hard, with single, Hurt Me, saw the national broadcasters start to take notice. It’s attention they’ve held with the third, Dark Storm.

I think our EPs do sound a bit naïve. I really like that about them.”

Now they’ve got more than their parents, partners and friends waiting to hear the debut album, they’ve a whole national – indeed even international, following American radio service and a recent trip to Canada – fanbase in anticipation. “Personally I felt that after Hurt Me,” says guitarist Sam Lockwood of those pressures, “because that song was the one that got people interested. I’ve worked out to not worry about it but when you do a song that goes okay, it’s the measuring stick for everything else you do in your own mind. We don’t really worry about that stuff too much as a band generally. Maybe we do in private and just not tell each other.” Only now evolving into something more than a distraction from university studies, their humble goal of headlining the Hopetoun Hotel was achieved before the venue closed. Needless to say, everything beyond that’s been a bonus. The album’s in its infancy at the moment, but ideas are starting to form with a schedule that looks towards an album release in the first half of next year. “The intention is to take a big step [from the EPs], to hopefully write a good album,” Lockwood indicates with his usual and natural buzz. “I think our EPs do sound a bit naïve. I really like that about them. We had heaps of time to talk about this in Canada and we were saying that the EPs are really organic; there’s not much production, they’re very wide and nothing’s really refined, but the intention’s to expand the sound but refine it more, so you can fit more in. To me I think that makes it sound more professional, maybe more affecting I guess; more approachable.” That step comes after the progression they’ve already enjoyed from the EPs. “The first EP, with Disco Biscuit Love and Be A Star especially, Hayley didn’t write complete songs. Me and her workshopped them and turned them into rock songs, because they were originally folk songs and it was just that process of having complete songs and bringing them to the band and working on them that way. And since the last two EPs we’ve actually written all the songs together. I guess that’s the big difference.” It’s blatant throughout a discussion with Lockwood that he and the band are “blown away” by the attention, but they’re also very young still and that’s something they’re very aware of. “We struggle with confidence I think still. We’re really bad at talking on stage and banter because we get really nervous, but we’re definitely getting better. Once you realise you do good things you can be proud of what you’re doing and assured what you’re doing is right. To do your own shows that have sold out [see: this week’s tour], you don’t worry about talking to the audience or you’re not scared to because they’re there to see you and you feel right, you feel okay to say whatever you want.” Their growing confidence also extends to songwriting. “Having no bass player has made it hard for each of us to define what we need to do. Nick plays a lot of tom work and I think that’s necessitated by the fact that we don’t have a bass player and I do a lot of basic bass guitar work and Heather does a lot of bass on her [keys], just things like that you realise there’s a material reality of having no bass player so you have to compensate for that. We’ve realised that now and it’s helped out songwriting. That’s just a small part of it but it’s indicative of the whole.” In compensating for that bass, Wilco-fan Lockwood manages, perhaps inadvertently, to create an atmospheric backdrop for the band which is an essential part of their appeal. “I really love restraint. That’s my big thing and what I try to do is a loud noise, but not do much. If you just do one note throughout a whole chord progression and it’s like a suspended note or something like that, it can do so much more. And I think since I’ve learnt how to do it better and make the sound more clear and refined… A Little Piece, the first chorus of that I did it on the spot with an EBow and you don’t need to do anything. Just hold the note and change it and it just creates this atmosphere and it’s just this simplicity that I try to achieve. Do as little as possible, like how I like my life,” he laughs. “There’s obviously competing forces in that respect because our manager wants us to do as much as possible, but I think we’re all like that. The people in the band know me for this, I’m a force of just doing as little as possible for every song. I’m always telling Nick to play the same drumbeat for the whole song. He hates that.” WHO The Jezabels WHAT Dark Storm (Independent) WHEN & WHERE Thursday, Harp Hotel; Friday, The Gaelic; Saturday, Clarendon Guesthouse Katoomba; Wednesday 29 December, Peats Ridge

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 43 •


ROAD TO RUIN

WITH THE RELEASE OF ROOT FOR RUIN, LES SAVY FAV HAVE STRETCHED CRITICS’ OPINIONS – SOME CONTINUE TO HAIL THEM AS POST ROCK SAVIOURS AND SOME BEMOAN THEIR MORE ECONOMICAL SONGWRITING AS SELLING OUT. AS FAR AS FRONTMAN TIM HARRINGTON CARES, NONE OF IT MATTERS. LUKE MONKS FINDS OUT WHAT IS GOING THROUGH THE SINGER’S HEAD.

“W

hat are you wearing?” laughs the singer after a long and hilarious spiel about the guy who connects the interview call (“I need a little guy like that to control my life – ‘Tim, you have fifteen minutes to read the whole Internet.’”). Introductions were strange, to say the least, including a description of his “mystery horror closet, full of Crayola model magic clay, all of the old polaroids in the world and termite powder”. No, there are no termites that he knows of, but it’s there. And what about obscure Chinese strategy games? Them too. “I never play, but I’m obsessed with it.” This ramshackle neo-monologue is only to be expected from the frontman of one of the strangest bands to take up the indie rock monolith crown in the last 15 years. Known for his wild, shirtless performances (and shirtless studio sessions), Harrington has become a drawcard himself, making huge splashes on the Internet with faked job interviews, public service announcements and other antics more in line with an avant-garde comic (or possibly just some dude like Tom Green) than a respected ‘artist’. Once past the pleasantries, Harrington is asked about the new Les Savy Fav record, the fifth full-length that the group has produced and the first that had been leaked online before the band were ready for it. “I don’t think that the Internet has done us wrong, it’s just been a little bit naughty,” he giggles. “I hope that you’re asking me about the record leaking, not the other ways in which the Internet has done me wrong. You know I only signed up to that adult site for three days and they’re still billing me at eighty dollars per month. Is that what you’re talking about?” No, Tim. The former. But this is all good info. “The record leaked and that was a little disappointing. My analogy is though, if you buy your friend a Christmas present and they unwrap it in November, you don’t ask for it back… but it’s a little bit of a bummer. We had planned this kinda Advent calendar of things to do to get in the mood for the album; pre-album release version of hanging the lights, trimming the tree and setting the table. Instead we find that someone has gone to the refrigerator and eaten the whole turkey. But I guess it’s not that big of a deal.” Harrington explains that while he isn’t too upset about the leaking of the album and rushed online release by the record label to save the band’s proverbial buttocks (though you virtual brigands who have downloaded Root For Ruin illegally can donate money to the band on their website – go on, ease your conscience), it is the lack of community that this act showed that gets to him. Having grown up amidst the DIY New Jersey hardcore scene, the singer says what has always mattered most to him was experiencing the process of music, from gigs to record releases, with the band. “There is a social component to it. Maybe it’s bigger than the musical component even. With Root For Ruin, we were really excited about having it come out with a narrative and interaction with those who want it. The fact that it leaked kinda turns it into a commodity, like, do you want a story? Do you want to hear it how the band wanted you to hear it? Do you just want it like, ‘Give me my termite powder?’ There should be that greater movement.” Having begun 15 years ago when hardcore bands were stretching their wings after only flexing muscle for a decade or more (and creating the grandparent bands of what later became emo), Harrington says that it was the grassroots interaction between bands and fans that allowed people to experiment and discover new things – if Les Savy Fav had started last year, aping bands that are all but crammed down their aural gullet, things would have panned out very differently. Today’s music not only lacks that interaction, it lacks the element of surprise that once made acts like Les Savy Fav so mind blowing. “I’m not one to be super nostalgic, but the way that we started, with people not knowing what to expect from our shows, it was amazing. From the very beginning, I’ve always been very forward as a singer, even with a very small audience. We used to have more people on stage than in the audience and I’d just try to entertain the band by doing crazy things. We got better at it and by the time we got to Europe, with people who only had ever heard us on the record, it was amazing. People’s jaws were just dropping. “Now, it would be hard. My performance and the whole band’s energy when we play live would have come across as more of a stunt or gag because everyone has seen it sooner, rather than letting it develop for a really long time.” What has obviously developed within the Les Savy Fav camp over the last decade and a half is a strong sense of purpose. “We wanted to do something that was contrary to the trends that are out there at the moment,” says Harrington of their new record. “The du jour right now is to have all this beautiful, pacifying headphones music. Now, that kind of stuff is great to go to sleep to, but we really want to do what makes us excited and passionate. It’s louder.” As time grows short (and Harrington’s ‘little man’ pops up again with a one minute warning), Harrington grows introspective when asked about success and how it pertains to his perceptions of what Les Savy Fav has done and what they will do in the future. “That’s such a western concept, man,” he drawls. “There have been thousands and thousands of bands and over time they just fade away, until by Darwinian standards, only the best ones are left… it’s fucking bullshit man!” WHO Les Savy Fav WHAT Root For Ruin (Wichita/Shock) WHEN & WHERE Sunday 6 February, Laneway Festival; Thursday 10 February, Manning Bar

• 44 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 45 •


A THING FOR THEM

WHETHER HE’S RECOILING FROM THE IMPACT OF A POLYSTYRENE BALL ON A STICK OR TRYING TO RECRUIT DANCERS WHO WILL COVER THEIR OWN FLIGHTS TO ACCOMPANY METRONOMY ON TOUR, JOSEPH MOUNT FINDS PLENTY TO LAUGH ABOUT. BRYGET CHRISFIELD JOINS IN.

“C

an you hear me?” Metronomy’s composer/frontman, Joseph Mount, echoes down the line. “There’s a bit of a delay.” Will we persevere? “If you like, any jokes are gonna be ruined [laughs].” As the delay comes, Mount is currently in London mixing their new record and rehearsing for their trip to Australia. Metronomy’s last album, Nights Out, which came in at #6 on NME’s Top Albums Of 2008 list, is a collection of tunes documenting crap nights out on the town that ironically became the preferred soundtrack for many awesome nights out. Mount apologises that the follow-up “will not be ready to sell at the merch table” when his band tours our shores. “I think it will drop probably in March in England and hopefully in Australia at the same time.” There’s a squelchy danceability to Metronomy’s music in a live setting would be perfectly enhanced by a troupe of choreographed backing dancers. “At the moment we can’t really justify the price of five return flights to Australia for some dancers,” Mount laments, “but I’d love to – I’d love it if we were that irresponsible. I don’t know if you’ve come to England, but it’s not the cheapest trip in the world.” A suggestion that he should make some dancer friends who are prepared to cover their own flights results in the following confession: “I don’t even know where I could begin to hang out to meet those kind of people.” Ahem, Pineapple Dance Studios? “What was that? In London? Is that something on English television you’re telling me about and I don’t know it?” It’s in Covent Garden. “All right then. I’ll go there,” he jokes. “I’ll go there now.”

On whether his bandmates – Gbenga Adelekan (bass/vocals), Oscar Cash (saxophone/keyboards/vocals) and Anna Prior (drums) – bring songwriting ideas to the table these days, Mount replies cheekily, “Well, they bring ideas to the table but I kind of dismiss most of them. It’s still me that does the writing and is in charge of the recording and I think that could change, but I guess I’m still quite precious about it still for now. It’s just me-me-me,” he laughs. “No, I mean, I guess it’s a strange set-up because it’s something that I started and I’ve been developing in one way or another for a while. So it’s changed over time, but for now, I kind of feel like I should be in charge ‘cause it’s my baby. I don’t think the others have quite the same affection for it that I do, if you know what I mean.” Well it is a singular band name and ‘Metronomies’ isn’t nearly as catchy. “Oh, no,” he plays along. “Yeah, exactly. They’ve already printed up a load of bios, you know, so it’d be a pain in the arse.” Mount has a playful manner and laughs easily and this finely tweaked sense of humour extends into Metronomy’s music videos. You could easily lose a day on their YouTube channel. If you’re curious to see what would happen if the bouncing karaoke ball escaped through the TV screen, check out the film clip for A Thing For Me. How did the band and extras know when to dodge the ball? “What they did, right,” Mount chuckles, “they’re this team called Megaforce and one of them’s more the director and one of them deals with the post-production and one of them, for this particular video shoot, basically had a polystyrene ball on the end of quite a long stick.” Is Mount having a giraffe? “No, it’s completely true,” he assures, “and he moved it onto each of our heads. And then they’d shoot one version of the clip with the ball and the next one with – I can’t really remember, I think we’d then try and remember the timing or they’d shout out to us, like, ‘Now! Now! Now!’ I’d forgotten about that [laughs], but there was a polystyrene ball involved.” When pondering the process of selecting a single for release, Mount estimates that at least five people end up getting involved. “When it comes to writing and stuff, you have your own ideas of what you think could be a single and you imagine it getting played on the radio and you think, ‘Oh this’d be brilliant, everyone’s gonna love this!’ And then, of course, the record company gets involved and it just seems like a lot of people have ideas, different ideas. I guess it would start with me saying, ‘Oh I think this would be a good single,’ then it would be my manager saying, ‘Yeah, I think you’re right,’ then it would go to the record label, who would be like, ‘No, I don’t think that’s a very good single, I think you should choose this one instead.’ “My attitude is like, ‘Well, these people – it’s their job to know what a good single is and to know what would work, so I guess I kinda put quite a bit of faith in that, just as they did in me writing the songs in the first place. So I think you’ve gotta be trusting, you know.” In terms of estimating how well a release will be received, Mount suggests, “It would seem like the music industry is full of people telling you, ‘This is incredible.’ That’s a bad way to kind of base your career, but I think everyone goes into stuff thinking, ‘This is gonna be brilliant. People are gonna love this.’ If they don’t have that kind of attitude, then it’s not gonna do well. So I guess even for the most terrible single that you can imagine, there’s probably at least a handful of people going, ‘This is gonna change the world.’ So it doesn’t necessarily relate to how well anything does in real life.” Despite being released as a single almost a year earlier, Metronomy’s My Heart Rate Rapid scored a lot of independent radio airplay last summer. Reflecting on how that song came together, Mount says, “I mean, it’s a bit unusual because you don’t really sit down and think, ‘Oh, I’ve got this idea for a song. It goes, like, “Doo-doo-doo-doo,” or whatever.’ I’m not really sure. It probably started as a rhythm idea, or something I had that I was working on and then it just kind of expanded. I think I probably just wanted to make a weird dance track. I think with a lot of the stuff off our last album, that’s what I was trying to do.” A comment from ‘MrMega 131’ posted under Metronomy’s Trick Or Treatz video on YouTube just about sums up this band’s atypical allure: “Too many of their songs are like addicting [sic]... you can’t listen to it just once, even if the song sounds odd at first.” WHO Metronomy WHEN & WHERE Saturday, Harbourlife; Tuesday 23 November, Oxford Art Factory • 46 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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In Stores Now THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 47 •


GUITAR GIRL

SHE’S BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE BEST THING TO COME OUT OF ESSEX SINCE BILLY BRAGG AND THERE’S MORE TO SINGER, SONGWRITER AND GUITARIST GEMMA RAY THAN THE RETRO FASHION SENSE AND LATE ‘50S APPROACH TO HER CRAFT, AS MICHAEL SMITH DISCOVERS.

they’re hard to play, where I wasn’t given this amazing electric guitar because I wanted to play. That’s not the way I grew up, I’ve had to earn every guitar, so maybe that’s why it took me a while to fall in love with guitars, because it took me a long time to get one I liked. So it definitely came second and sound in general is something I’ve become more and more infatuated with really, the more I write music, which I kind of like.”

I’ve had to earn every guitar, so maybe that’s why it took me a while to fall in love with guitars

O

n her fourth album, It’s A Shame About Gemma Ray, Gemma Ray steps back from the lush production of last year’s Lights Out Zoltar! to present an eclectic set of covers in a very Bragg kind of way for the most part, being just voice and clanking great chunks of for the most part raw unbridled solo guitar. “It was all a sort of unconscious decision to do that album anyway,” Ray admits. “It was a happy accident. The first time I went to New York, maybe a year ago, Matt Verta-Ray from Heavy Trash, who’s on the same label as me, kindly offered to lend me his Hagstrom [guitar] and his amp for a show I was doing. After that show he invited me back to his lovely analogue studio – that’s his kind of forte; he’s got loads of amazing old amps – to record a few songs which ended up on the album and then we kind of fell into spending a few days together last Christmas and recording more songs with the same guitar and amp. But what appealed to me about recording in that way was keeping it minimal and it’s kind of more me really ‘cause that’s the way I sound when I plug in and play guitar at home. The kind of amps I choose to use and that sort of fat reverby sound is often slightly buried in the bigger production I might use on my own original albums. It’s just one element of it, but I really liked the idea of doing a record like that. “I just wanted to see how much a voice and guitar could fill up a room and just push it to the limit, I guess. Live I use a band and play on my own; two extremes I really enjoy and I hadn’t really tried that on record. I was just used to playing on my own and that’s kind of the way I strive to sound when I play on my own, seeing how

• 48 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

much I can fill up a room with sound just as one person, so it was just really nice to capture that element of the way I perform on a record, capturing a moment in time without agonising about it. It’s a bit more honest and a bit more real.” Like a lot of kids growing up in the ‘burbs, Gemma Ray found the Essex of her childhood the kind of cultural desert that almost guaranteed that when she fell in with a bunch of other disaffected teenagers who’d transformed a couple of demountables from off the back of a couple of trucks into a sort of rehearsal cum club space, she’d gravitate towards the music the guys were playing. It was initially Sonic Youth and that sort of scuzzy experimental kind of rock and then, as she took up the guitar herself, the sounds of an earlier, more innocent time. “I guess I’ve fallen in love with guitars really slowly over a long period of time,” Ray, still in her twenties, explains of her passion for electric guitars. “I do like acoustic guitars but once I found the semi-acoustic guitar, with

the right pickups you can just get a tone that for me is really transcendent and suggestive. The harmonics with reverb and delay kind of hint at other instrumentation that could be there but isn’t and has kind of got a ghostly feel to it and for me, as a songwriter, it’s a lot more suggestive and imaginative when you’re writing songs with a guitar that sounds like that. Primarily I just love that sound and I guess if I’m going to analyse it it’s because there are so many different facets to that tone that sort of suggest the depth of a song more so than an acoustic would. “It’s only since I’ve had a guitar in my hand that I’ve realised I could write a song, although thinking back to my childhood I kind of was [writing songs] in my own weird way. So I think first and foremost I was a songwriter and just really gradually I’ve got more and more into guitar and it took me a long time to even get a decent guitar, which I think is kind of best. I mean I played on a massive half broken classical guitar where my hands are tiny [laughs], which I learned guitar on and probably became a better guitar player because

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As mentioned earlier, you couldn’t want for a more startlingly eclectic collection of songs than those Ray gathered together for her covers album, from Lee Hazlewood to The Gun Club, George Gershwin and Alex Harvey, plus Sonic Youth’s Drunken Butterfly somehow perfectly evolves out of the theme from Rosemary’s Baby. “Without sounding too pretentious, it sort of crept up on me this album. I was recording with a friend and didn’t have a massive agenda but it sort of became obvious – oh, it’s an album – and my label wanted to release it. So I didn’t sit down and think I’m going to do a covers album, what shall I choose? If I’d done that I’d have just gone mental and never been able to resolve what the final list would be because there are so many amazing songs out there. It was more songs that I had in my head from certain periods in my life or songs I grew up with or songs I happened to be messing around with at soundcheck one day and came to the front of my mind when I was in the studio. A couple of them I put a little bit or work into arranging beforehand, but a lot of it was kind of subconscious choice really.” WHO Gemma Ray WHAT It’s A Shame About Gemma Ray (Bronzerat/Inertia) WHEN & WHERE Saturday, Shine Dome Canberra; Tuesday 23 November, Raval; Wednesday 24, The Brass Monkey


FREE AGENTS

DAN ANDRIANO FROM ALKALINE TRIO TALKS TO SAMUEL J. FELL ABOUT MAKING THE ALBUM THEY WANTED TO MAKE, THEIR AWESOME FANS AND BONUS SURPRISE PAINT.

D

espite the fact pop/punkers Alkaline Trio are out and about touring their seventh album release, This Addiction, at the moment and are heading our way next month, bassist Dan Andriano has other things on his mind. “I’m just here in my hometown of St. Augustine, Florida, thinking about how I’m gonna make this scarecrow,” he muses, with Drum’s interview happening not long before Halloween. “I’ve never made a real scarecrow before, so I’m pretty excited. So I’ve got a pair of jeans that I’m stuffing with straw and I’ve got a big scary-looking post I’m gonna hang him on… well, as scary as a post can be I guess. It kinda looks like it has blood on it. It’s red paint – I found it in the field next to my house.” Sounds like he’s gonna scare the hell out of someone. “Hopefully not my young daughter,” he smiles. This flurry of creative activity for Andriano comes during a brief period of downtime for the Alkaline Trio – as mentioned, they’re currently in the middle of touring This Addiction, released earlier this year. This is a record which is taking them all over – it is, in fact, their most successful record to date, at least according to chart positions and sales figures and whilst that may seem like a very ‘business-like’ way to describe things, it’s the business that is paramount to the band at the moment. The three of them recently flipped the bird to their old major label and started their own independent label, Heart & Skull – there’s that DIY ethos (belatedly) shining through. “Yeah, that was something we’d talked about for a while,” Andriano says on the formation of the label. “We were actually talking about it whilst we were making (2008’s) Agony And Irony but we thought it’d be worth it to give a big label (Epic) one more shot, which didn’t work out very well, which I suppose we should have expected. So we had a bunch of songs we wanted to record and we were free agents, as they say in the sports world, so we thought, ‘Well, we have songs, we have a studio we can go to and make a record.’ We knew we didn’t need a heap of money to make a good record, so we just went and made the record we really wanted to make and worried about the label stuff afterwards. “To me, the old way of making records seems very backwards. It makes sense to go in and make the record you want to make and then try and find someone to help you put it out, or put it out yourself.” This is what the Trio did with This Addiction, which in turn led to the formation of Heart & Skull – the rest as they say, is history. Of course, this begs the question – why did they sign to a major in the first place? Isn’t that against the punk rock ideal, against the ethos? “I guess it’s about how big you wanna make your band. We wanted to try and make our band as big as possible – we never made any bones about that. We’re a rock band and for want of a better term, we wanted to sell as many records as possible; we wanted our music to be heard by as many people as possible. When we were on Vagrant and they told us they were gonna partner up

with Universal, we were like, ‘That’s great, good for you, now we’ll sell more records.’ “Then when we left Vagrant and were looking to make Agony And Irony, we were initially looking at V2, but they went under and the people we liked there got hired by Sony, which is how we ended up at Epic. And unfortunately it didn’t work. We made a record that we loved and they said they loved, but that’s the problem with major labels; they say they love your record but all they want to sell is R&B and pop records.” That’s the down side of majors for sure, so there is, quite obviously, a plus side to DIY. “Yeah, it’s nice being able to pick our own bands we want to take on the road with us, if we wanna make a video we can and we can determine how much we want to spend, no one tells us how to make it – all those little things make it better.” The result is a record that is free of such hang-ups, a record that Andriano says the band really wanted to make – just them, no outside influence, which is what they seem to have been craving all along. Further, the fact, My Addiction is their most successful record to date certainly validates the hard work and the decision to strike out on their own. “Honestly, I think it speaks the loudest about how awesome our fans are really,” he shrugs. “A lot of people these days can take the option of getting a record for free and not care about the people recording the album, but we have some great fans out there. They helped a lot. The record charted really well, but like I said – and this is really the most important thing – the people who like our band went out and got the record and supported us. That’s really what’s important.” Alkaline Trio are at a point in their career now where anything is possible – and not just because they’ve started their own label. They’ve released seven records over a career spanning 14 years, they’ve toured the world multiple times and have fans in every corner of the globe. That’s got to be a solid feeling. “Absolutely,” Andriano smiles. “I mean, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t getting harder and harder to leave home and my family, but we still love this band and the band has evolved and it’s our job and we feel very fortunate because it’s not the kind of job you look at as a burden. It’s a part of who we are, it’s gonna be a part of my daughter’s life, it’s an extension of my family. So in a way, it holds a very different allure, but we’re still very excited by what we do.” Andriano goes on to say that next year, the band’s 15th anniversary, they’ve got something special planned. He doesn’t go into detail, but it highlights how seriously these three take Alkaline Trio – there is certainly no end in sight. WHO Alkaline Trio WHAT This Addiction (Heart & Skull/Epitaph/ Shock) WHEN & WHERE Saturday 18 December, No Sleep Til

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 49 •


DIFFERENT TIMES

AS THE TIDE IS HIGH FOR BLONDIE’S AUSTRALIAN TOUR, DRUMMER CLEM BURKE DOESN’T LEAVE MATTHEW HOGAN HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE AS HE WAITS TO SEE THEM IN THE FLESH.

G

earing up for a massive co-headlining tour with The Pretenders, Blondie return to Australia for the first time in over five years. Still featuring founding members vocalist Debbie Harry, guitarist Chris Stein and drummer Clem Burke, the latter still fondly recalls meeting his band in New York City in the early ‘70s. “We hung out particularly at Club 82 on East Fourth Street, which was sort of a gay disco that had rock bands one night a week,” he begins. “The New York Dolls would play or Wayne County & The Electric Chairs – it was kind of the tail end of the glam rock scene. For Manhattan, it was the centre of the glitter glam rock scene that changed into the Beatnik scene that took over CBGBs. So we were all in the same place. I saw The Stilettos, the trio that Debbie had with Chris and you know, we’re all just hanging around the same area just waiting for things to happen, sort of.” With serious aspirations to drum in a successful band, Burke and Blondie started life in ’75, becoming a staple at iconic NYC venues CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City alongside bands like Television, The Ramones and Patti Smith. “Being in New York, that’s why it kinda happened – that’s what really brought everything together, the syntax of everyone being in at one place at one time. I think if we had not been part of the CBGBs scene, we would not have had the success that we came to have. It was a very creative atmosphere; CBGBs was like a workshop and we were allowed this intimate space in public. It was very sort of inspiring and creative bouncing off other musicians and artists that were in the same building.” Oddly enough, it was Australia where the band found their first success after Ian “Molly” Meldrum played In The Flesh on Countdown… by accident. “Accidentally on purpose, or whatever it was, he played the B-side of the 45 at the time. He announced it as being the song X-Offender, but it was actually the song In The Flesh – a ‘50s pastiche doo-wop ballad that wasn’t particularly typical of what we were doing at the time. We had ‘50s roots influences, but I think it kinda confused a lot of people over in your country at the time. It was pretty controversial when we arrived there for our first concert tour because we were a lot more aggressive than that particular song would have portrayed. But Ian’s great, we try to see him whenever we’re over there. Times are so different now, but back then his show was a very influential program and he was a very influential industry person and to be on his was great. Even though it was kind of a pop show, I think he really tried to break down some barriers by having the Pistols on. I remember we were in Australia at the end of ’77 and we actually saw the Pistols video on Countdown, which was pretty extraordinary at the time.” Burke still remembers a lot about that first Australian tour, like visiting Perth. “We drove across the desert in a school bus. We spent Christmas off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef on a place called Great Keppel Island. Michael Gudinski was our tour promoter at the time and the tour was great. Our support band was The Ferrets. I just remember thinking when The Who and The Small Faces went there back in ’66, I have a great book about that and after reading that book we had a similar experience where people thought we were a bit outlandish and a bit uncouth and a bit rowdy and I guess what you would call ‘punk rock’. I don’t know if the Aussies were ready for all of that, but I think we left our mark. I remember seeing bands like Rose Tattoo, a band called The Boys Next Door that was Nick Cave’s band and saw them playing at a hotel in Melbourne. I remember there being a fantastic live music scene there when we went there in the ‘70s.” Returning to New York, the band continued to cross other genres and traded CBGBs for Studio 54 with Heart Of Glass, a song inspired by The Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive. “Saturday Night Fever is definitely one of my favourite records. New York City is the ultimate personification of the United States melting pot. There’s all kinds of cultures and all kinds of people and a lot the stimulus of coming from a place like New York City has to do with the different cultures and different forms of music and disco and if you wanna call it punk rock was happening simultaneously and also with Heart Of Glass, we were really trying to do something like Kraftwerk. I guess at the time Kraftwerk was considered to be pretty avant-garde, so we didn’t think we were ‘going disco’, we were taking advantage of all the music that was out there as music was changing. If you look at the record as the track listing, that song is buried in there; it’s not like a featured track. We actually thought we were being experimental by using synthesisers and drum machines and things like that. So we were pretty surprised that it became such a hit, but I guess it caught the disco thing that was happening with Rod Stewart’s Do Ya Think I’m Sexy and The Rolling Stones had Miss You and we had Heart Of Glass – and it happened at the same time. It was just all these people being influenced by dance music, which obviously nowadays is very prevalent. We just thought we were experimenting; we never wanted to have one particular sound. The artists we liked, whether it be The Beatles or the Stones or David Bowie – a great influence on us – they were always changing but stayed the same. You could identify their music and they were always pushing the envelope a little bit and that’s always what we tried to do – intentionally and unintentionally, we were just trying to be creative.” Preparing for their tour with The Pretenders, it turns out the two bands have somehow never toured together before, “but we’re all friends. I saw Chrissie [Hynde] out in LA at the beginning of summer when we first announced the tour and she was very excited about doing it. Martin Chambers, the drummer, we have the old drummer camaraderie thing. I’ve known Martin forever and I think it’s a great combination and I’m really looking to forward to just hanging out with everyone.” WHO Blondie WHEN & WHERE Tuesday 7, Wednesday 8, Thursday 9 December, Enmore Theatre; Saturday 11, A Day On The Green; Tuesday 14, Royal Theatre

• 50 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER

Beach Party

20th

ministry of sound ANNUAL 2010 album launch

wear a bikini, hawaiian shirt, boardies or leis

LIVE BANDS

duck sauce BARBARA STREISAND album launch

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FREE ENTRY $4 BEFORE 9.30PM

SCORE A FREE DRINK!!

TIL 11PM

FREE MEMBERSHIPS AT T H E D O O R

FUCK YOU cee lo green album launch

FREE ENTRY WITH SUMMERBEATS SUMMERBEA WRISTBAND

ST JAMES HOTEL 114 CASTLEREAGH ST, CITY

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 51 •


RIDING THE CARRIAGE

TRAVIS CLARK FROM WE THE KINGS TALKS TO JEREMY WILLIAMS ABOUT RECEIVING THE KEYS TO THE CITY, WORLD RECORDS INVOLVING PRINGLES CANS AND NASCENT REALITY TV SHOWS.

Whilst the Grammy nomination still evades Clark and his crew, the Guinness Book of World Records entry might not be as ludicrous as it seems. Clearly an individual who achieves those things he sets out to, Clark jumped at the chance to get into the book with the record for, um, the most people drumming on a Pringle can to We Will Rock You. “It was actually done at one of our shows, right before we played. Hopefully we make it into the book but we will see.” Accolades aside, We The Kings’ achievements in the three years since their eponymous debut are more than notable. Whilst many bands spend their life dreaming of touring the world, We The Kings have already conquered the States and Europe and now have their sights firmly set on Australia. “It has been one of my biggest dreams to play over there, so I absolutely cannot wait. It is probably going to be one of my favourite shows ever.” Admirably, Clark is seemingly coy about how far he has come with his school chums. “I have never been the kind of person to be like, well in the States we are celebrities. I just wouldn’t do that as it is kind of arrogant. So, I would just play it down. I’ll just name

• 52 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

ANTHONY CAREW TALKS TO JESSE KIVEL FROM KISSES ABOUT WHY HE LIKES THE NIGHTLIFE AND CURING BOREDOM.

I

n a grand case of side-projects overtaking the band that spawned them, Kisses – the ‘disco’ outing for Jesse Kivel, who normally fronts Los Angelino indiepoppers Princeton with his twin brother Matt – seem set to obliterate any notoriety Princeton’s ever found. Kisses’ inspirations, the heroes of the disco genre – Giorgio Moroder, Jean-Marc Cerrone, Alec Constandinos and Arthur Russell – loom large over the debut LP, The Heart Of The Nightlife.

“I

t was awesome. It is something that we never ever thought we’d be able to achieve. We got an email from the mayor of our home town, Bradenton. He was just like, ‘You have made the city proud. We want to present you with the key to our city.’” Florida power-pop quartet We The Kings have come a long way since they formed at King Middle School in 2003. Not only have they got two hit albums and a Demi Lovato duet under their belt, but their success has now been recognised by their hometown. “It was something so unexpected. It is one of the highlights of our career so far.” Yet, 25 year old lead singer Travis Clark has several goals left to achieve, “maybe like an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. That would be entertaining on a whole different level. The key to the city is pretty much up there with some of the best nominations ever, like if we got a Grammy, that might top it. But we are happy if we don’t get anything else.”

CONCEPTUAL DISCO

the songs we’ve had that have been on the radio. Then they’ll be like, ‘Oh my God, I love that song! You are in that band?’ We are just like, ‘Yep!’ The way I explain it to people who have never heard it is that it is just upbeat music that makes you want to dance and jump up and down.” He also seems remarkably aware of just how fortunate he has been. “Everybody has a dream to play in front of a million people. You just never know, it is hard to judge whether it can ever really happen or not.” Though he doesn’t credit the Internet for the group’s overall success, he is aware that as a medium it has helped his band’s popularity no end. Having won over swathes of fans via many of the popular social networking sites, he and his cronies decided to give some thing back – The King’s Carriage. “We wanted to have like these webisodes, which are a bit like a reality TV show, to show people what it is like on the road in the King’s Carriage. It was something that kept us entertained. We love filming those videos. I hope it could grow into something bigger.” Like a We The Kings reality TV series? “Definitely. If we can make the videos we make by ourselves with zero budget or zero idea of what we are doing, I can only imagine how the videos would be with a film crew and people that know what they are doing. I just think it would be awesome.” WHO We The Kings WHEN & WHERE Sunday 27 February, Soundwave

“I wanted to really focus on making dance music,” says Kivel, on the phone from somewhere on the road in Manchester. “I was interested in sentimentality and sincerity; toeing that line, making something that you hope can sincerely affect people without it getting too cheesy. And I wanted to try to do that by making music inspired by long-playing disco records.” Yet, Kivel can’t escape his regular ways. His tracks, as Kisses, are no nine-minute shrines to mindless hedonism, but three-minute pop-songs filled with nostalgia, longing and heartache. Kivel’s sad, Jens Lekman-ish croon speaks of another wrinkle of influence on Kisses: Swedish indiedance acts like Lake Heartbeat, Pacific! and Studio. “I liked the idea that they could keep people dancing for these extended periods, by luring them into these repetitive rhythms and I initially tried to make these long tracks,” Kivel admits. “But, after four minutes, I just got too bored; I didn’t have the discipline to write anything but pop songs. So, I think it’s more a conceptual than literal disco record. I don’t think these are songs people could actually play in clubs. I didn’t record them with this super hard-hitting low end that’d be perfect to pump in a club. I don’t think any DJs are going to mistake this for a dance record.” As mentioned Kivel grew up making music with his brother harbouring, as teenager, a love of Oasis and “really awful commercial British rock”. Slowly, his tunes grew more sophisticated and unique and, from that, Princeton grew. The project began as amorphous entity: part Kivel’s home-recording project, part him playing music with his brother/friends. Beginning as a band in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2007, when its members had graduated college, that Princeton became a full-time

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endeavour. Arriving at such a time, Princeton found themselves endlessly compared to Vampire Weekend for their jaunty indie pop, smart lyrics, summery vibe, vague African-ish guitar tone and, most of all, for their name. Though it was the name of the Californian street the Kivels grew up on, Princeton is also an Ivy League institution, making the band critical fodder for both pro and anti VW camps. “We had a bunch of people tag us as elitists, I guess for a lot of people there are connotations of arrogance just from even referring to the very idea of academia.” As for being eternally compared, often unfavourably, to Vampire Weekend? “It’s weird: some musical genres or styles, people love to see a ton of bands do. There could be a million bands that sound like Animal Collective or a million bands who are really, really lo-fi and that’s totally welcome. But then, other styles it seems like the world only allows one band and anyone else doing anything similar is a poser, or a rip-off.” Princeton have just polished off a “darker sounding, more orchestrated” follow-up to their “twee-sounding” debut LP, 2009’s Cocoon Of Love, but, now the ‘main’ band find themselves in a strange position: trying to piggyback off Kisses’ momentum. For Kivel, how audiences perceive the ‘duel’ between his two guises isn’t the ultimate concern. “The only hope I really have, both with Kisses and with Princeton, is that people spend time with the records. I’m just glad that people seem to really like [The Heart Of The Nightlife]. I don’t care if they think it’s just a fun record to dance to, as long as they spend quality time with it.” WHO Kisses WHAT The Heart Of The Nightlife (Pod/Inertia) out Friday





DIPLOMA & DEGREE COURSES IN: Games Design 3D Animation Graphic Design Games Programming Web Design & Development QANTM EXHIBITION & OPEN DAY

DECEMBER 4TH, 10AM TO 2PM

74–78 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills, 2010

infosydney@qantm.com.au


Tuesday 16th November...................

NICK ARNOLD & THE LIKELY FEW + Michael Dorman *9PM START* Nick Arnold and The Likely Few return with a whole bunch of what they call Dirty Country. Mixed with a delectable array of Blues riffs and smooth sexy bass lines, The Likely Few will sit you in an old country house laden with melodies and a type of story telling which has been likened to Van Morrison meets Bob Dylan.

Wednesday 17th November..............

ALBARE Album Launch Although renowned as part of the AcidJazz movement in 1990’s Australia, Albare’s recent recordings and live performances embrace Jazz in its lyrical form, of which his latest outing, Travel Diary lays testament. Joining Albare this evening, some of the finest come together: Joe Chindamo, Rob Burke, Evripides Evripidou and Tony Floyd to join Albare in an elegant sonic journey of Albare’s fresh and original compositions.

Thursday 18th November.................

JEFF MARTIN & TEREPAI RICHMOND + Gabrielle & Cameron (Dead Letter Chorus) Place two very gifted and extremely passionate musicians together and let the magic begin. That is exactly what happened when Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) and Terepai Richmond (DIG, The Whitlams) came together for what was to be a one off back in August. Given that the artists hadn’t actually rehearsed, or even met prior to the show, the two hit it off famously, playing off of each other as if they’d been jamming together for years. And to put it in Martin’s words, the shows will be “… uncharted territory, massive ethereal jams between two musicians from two very different worlds".

Friday 19th November......................

JEFF MARTIN & TEREPAI RICHMOND + Spookyland Place two very gifted and extremely passionate musicians together and let the magic begin. That is exactly what happened when Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) and Terepai Richmond (DIG, The Whitlams) came together for what was to be a one off back in August. Given that the artists hadn’t actually rehearsed, or even met prior to the show, the two hit it off famously, playing off of each other as if they’d been jamming together for years. And to put it in Martin’s words, the shows will be “… uncharted territory, massive ethereal jams between two musicians from two very different worlds".

Saturday 20th November................

SON VENENO + JJ SON + Special Guest DJ’s. Inspired by the music of bands like Irakere and Los Van Van, Son Veneno’s journey began through the music of Cuba but soon combined its AfroLatin origins with modern elements of Funk, Rock, HipHop, Jazz and Soul. Led by brothers Steve and Cesar Marin, Son Veneno has expanded to a mighty 14 members. Plus, direct from Santiago, JJ Son.

Sunday 21st November....................

Evening: FIONA JOY HAWKINS & BLUE DREAM + Guest WILL ACKERMAN (USA - Windham Hill) + BUKHU *8.30PM* Blue Dream is a group of musicians with a diverse range of styles and improvisational skills that brings to life the musical compositions of Fiona Joy Hawkins. The group has an eclectic and musically diverse range of experience that includes World music, Jazz rhythms and classical influences. Spanning genres, styles and with no convenient pigeon hole, there is no ‘sounds like’ when it comes to Blue Dream. Afternoon: BEHIND WINDHAM HILL - Up Close With WILL ACKERMAN Workshop *3PM* Spend an intimate afternoon with Will Ackerman and his guitar, take a journey behind the scenes of one of the most successful guitarists in the world and the legend of Windham Hill. CHECK WWW.THEBASEMENT.COM.AU FOR SHOW & WORKSHOP TICKET SPECIALS

Monday 22nd November..................

PIETA BROWN (USA) + Bo Ramsey ‘…a gifted singer-songwriter whose lyrics are pieces of polished poetry’. -Huffington Post. A striking poet-songwriter with a haunting voice and an unmistakable style, Pieta Brown’s unique blend of AltCountry, Folk, Blues and Indie rock has been embraced by music fans across the spectrum and put her at the forefront of the hip Americana scene in the US.

Tuesday 23rd November..................

EMMA PASK Album Launch with Special Guests James Muller & Dale Barlow Following the enormous success of her first two albums, Emma’s brand new offering, Some Other Spring is full of exciting arrangements of songs she loves performing live. Whilst Emma’s voice and style are individually her own, her performances are reminiscent of the classic era of Jazz, when Swing was top of the charts.

Wednesday 24th November.............

RICHARD BONA (CAMEROON) ‘Imagine an artist with Jaco Pastorious’s virtuosity, George Benson’s vocal fluidity, Joao Gilberto’s sense of song and harmony, all mixed up with African culture. Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you Richard Bona!’ - Los Angeles Times. With band, Etienne Declin Stadwijk, Lee Tatum Greenblatt, Jean Christophe, Marie Maillard and Ernesto Siverio Simpson.

Coming Soon Book Now 9251 2797 Sun 25th IAN MOSS. Fri 26th DJ KRUSH (JAPAN). Sat 27th NOWHERE BOY - A 70th Anniversary of JOHN LENNON. Sun 28th GEOFF ACHISON'S Classically Blue Featuring Violinist Adrian Keating *8PM*.

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 57 •


HEALING INFLUENCE

TAKING TIME OUT

TAKING ALL THE HYPERBOLE AND JIVE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, PIETA BROWN TALKS TO NIC TOUPEE ABOUT HER GIFT.

IT’S OBVIOUS THAT NOT ONLY DOES AUSTRALIA LOVE KAKI KING, BUT THE GUITARIST LOVES AUSTRALIA AND SHE’S RETURNING FOR HER SIXTH TOUR IN A LITTLE OVER FOUR YEARS. SHE CHATS TO MICHAEL SMITH.

U

S singer/songwriter Pieta Brown, she of the honeyed voice and legendary wearing of decidedly herbal headbands, is headed to Australia for a series of dates. Having lived in 17 different rural areas between Iowa and Alabama by the time she was 18, Brown has rambled more than enough to earn the right to a career as a folk troubadour. She’s now pointed the caravan towards Australia to promote her third album, One And All, straight from her US tour supporting ex-Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler. Brown is a firm believer that you can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country music out of the girl. “My time in both Iowa and Alabama have left their marks on me, no doubt about it. The music within my family – my father, my great-grandparents, my uncle Roscoe – that is something I can’t really separate myself from. The sound of the American country blues and artists like John Lee Hooker, who I got deep into when I was a teenager, and Led Zeppelin were a part of all of that for me too.” Brown has received many compliments from the press throughout her career and particularly with regard to her new album. She has even been called ‘one of the great American songwriters’. Exceptionally grounded, she shrugs off the hype with ease. “Since it seems like that kind of hyperbole gets thrown around like candy I take it all pretty lightly,” Brown laughs. “On the flip side, I do feel a deep passion for songs and songwriting and for me it is a gift. And by that I mean a gift to me – it has been such an open and healing influence in my life.” Particularly, extra emphasis often seems to be placed on Brown’s undeniable beauty. She’s not buying into the flattery, but believes there is beauty in an honest good nature. “As the saying goes ‘true beauty comes from within’,” Brown observes sagely. “But so much of it seems like jive to me and there’s a lot of jive in the music industry; a lot of jive in the world. I try to sidestep it as much as possible. By the industry standards I’m an old lady at this point anyways, so I’m not too worried about it [laughs]. Luckily I’ve got my mind on a lot of other things that seem vastly more interesting and urgent and, meanwhile, no one’s putting me on the

K

aki King is as charming as ever when she picks up the phone at her home in Brooklyn, New York, but there’s a problem. It’s mid-September and basically, she’s taking time out. It’s been a pretty intensive couple of years, lots of touring and, really, the last thing she’s thinking about is her musical career. She’s just been outside messing in the garden. cover of Rolling Stone or Vogue. If they ever did, I’d be holding up either a picture of the Earth or Muddy Waters – or both.” Naturally reserved, Brown’s stagecraft has been a long work in progress and she had to learn the difference between just singing and ‘performing’. But don’t expect a chatty show. “It took me quite a while to figure out that people expected me to ‘perform’ my songs. I thought I could just hit the stage and sing – and in the end that’s pretty much what I still do – but along the way I’ve learned how to not let my natural shyness get in the way so much. I still believe that the ultimate goal of live performance is to connect through the music, not banter and talk. The best nights for me are the ones where the songs take off and connect.” Brown’s experience accompanying childhood hero Knopfler on tour proved educative – certainly the Dire Straits frontman lived up to her youthful adoration. “I found a Dire Straits cassette in one of my parents’ tape decks as a girl and I played it over and over – it was the only tape I’ve ever worn out. The tour was many things, but above all it was inspiring on a lot of levels. Mark is a really serious musician and he and his band were/are all master musicians and truly sweet people. And they work hard.” WHO Pieta Brown WHAT One And All (Vitamin) WHEN & WHERE Monday, The Basement Circular Quay

PLAYING IT STRAIGHT

Let’s Get It Straight is the new single and title track of Axxonn’s new album. Hall explains the writing and recording process and the evolution of the tracks that have ended up on the album. “It was lengthy and definitely varied in terms of process. From being home here in Brisbane, just belting stuff out in the studio to recording in San Fran and everything in between. Half the sketches of the album were written on a plane flight from Australia to Japan, which was just the base, core of each track. And then the tail end of the album was written last year when I was in America on a residency in San Francisco. “I teamed up with Scott Arthur, an infrasound expert who puts on these super physical sound performances with recordings of giving birth and people having orgasms because it’s so brutal and low. I teamed up with him; he has a renowned studio in San Fran called Seven Hertz. He basically just threw me the keys and said, ‘Take it for a spin,’ and I walked in there and it was analogue heaven. I just plugged into the mixing desk and just kept working out songs. It definitely added life to a lot of my tracks.” • 58 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

From Australia, King and her band – multiinstrumentalist Dan Brantigan and drummer Jordan Perlman – went over to Europe where they toured for

While she didn’t play there, King attended the North Sea Jazz Festival where Chick Corea’s Australian bass player Tal Wilkenfeld introduced her to Herbie Hancock, where, as she notes in her blog, she discovered that while he might be in his seventies, he’s “a dirty, dirty old man”. As for touring Australia, she’s still getting to know the place despite having visited so many times within the past few years. “It’s funny, you start playing the major, the more popular areas and then you kind of branch out more and more and I’ve done so many types of gigs in Australia – everything from tiny little places to arenas to being an opening act to the main thing – I mean some of the festivals have been really, really cool and some of the dates have been amazing but unbelievably hot. It’s always cool to come and sort of see what happens.” Meanwhile, that garden beckons – at least until the next tour. WHO Kaki King WHEN & WHERE Friday, Oxford Art Factory

NIGERIA’S PHONE SYSTEM BEING AT BEST UNRELIABLE, IT TOOK FOUR GOES AND FOR THE CROWNED PRINCE OF AFROBEAT, FEMI KUTI, TO BE ON TOUR IN FRANCE FOR MICHAEL SMITH TO FINALLY GET THROUGH FOR A CHAT.

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“I’m trying to evoke some kind of reaction from everyone. Not so much physical, just more about stimulating people and making them feel good. Axxonn off the bat can sound pretty tense and sick, especially given the level of distortion I use. At the end of the day, if you disengage all the distortion pedals, the melodies are quite dainty and pretty – just with walls of distortion. As such, I’m quite often astounded at the variety of people that really get into Axxonn.”

There are however a clutch of festivals whose invitations she just couldn’t knock back – Queenscliff and the Mullum Music Festivals – so she’s taking the opportunity to get reacquainted with Sydney on her way through, touring off the back of her latest album Junior, which was released in April. One thing she’d definitely done though since taking a break was performing at a benefit to help raise funds for the then still relatively recent victims of Pakistan’s disastrous floods. “That was something that Imogen Heap and Zoe Keating organised some artists to do [essentially an impromptu event run at the end of August presented online at Live4Pakistan. TV with Ben Folds, Josh Groban, K.T. Tunstall, Mark Isham and Amanda Palmer performing]. I also did a benefit for residents of the Gulf Coast that we did out in LA, [beginning of July, with Ben Lee among others sharing the bill at The Mint] so yeah, I’ve done a bit of fundraising here and there, to do my bit.”

five weeks through March and April. “The gigs in Italy really stood out for us because we always do really well there, Cologne was amazing, Berlin… We did a bunch of great shows in Holland. I always wanted to tour in Scandinavia and that was really cool. They were kind of the best of that tour. The hottest gig I’ve ever played in my life though was Rotterdam, which is not used to warm, warm temperatures and we were playing in one of the outside tents.”

SINGING AFRICA

TOM HALL, THE REAL MAN BEHIND THE SOUND MERCHANT MONIKER AXXONN, REGALES STORIES TO BENNY DOYLE REGARDING HIS INSPIRATIONS AND THE WRITING PROCESS BEHIND HIS NEW ALBUM.

om Hall has a head cold at the time of this chat. As he explains, it makes him “angrier than anything. Everything just ends up sounding more brutal. I feel sorry for the audience.” An idea that Axxonn could be a soundscape any more brutal than what is presently being peddled by the young Brisbanite is a scary prospect. But don’t be scared, Hall just wants to see you enjoying yourself.

“Just seeing lots of friends, taking some time off,” she begins. “It’s been about a month and a half at this point – I stopped touring at the end of July – so I’ve had this time off to regain my bearings and try and feel normal, make my house nice and all that. And do some gardening.” Asked if she’s been doing any writing, “Maybe,” she says with a cheeky laugh. “I’ve got no idea right now when I’ll go back in to record another album. A lot of times these things sneak up on me so I don’t know. I kind of need to conceive what it is I want to do first and then go and figure out how to do it.”

N Pointing out just how remarkable all this is considering his age, Hall is refreshingly blasé when noting and reflecting on such achievements, experiences and events and how they have all come about. “I think it’s my attitude towards what I do. I’m not hung up on being a musician or how I look. At the end of the day what’s important to me is the sounds and sonics – that’s the most important aspect. I’m not intimidated by people who are, at this moment, more successful than me. I just approach them on a personal level and ninety-nine percent of the time doors open. I grew up with really down to earth parents that said ‘always be yourself.’ I’ve stuck to that ethos and it’s certainly worked so far.” At various times, the bleeps, bloops and brutal distortion that make up Axxonn have been described among other things as, “stretched metal”, “art metal”, “fucking stupid loud” and “gloom pop”. However these are from people who undeniably do not know Axxonn’s music as well as the man himself. Hall is careful not to wrap himself up in any tag that slick writing and PR types want to attach to his work “At the end of the day, Axxonn for me is taking segments of different genres I enjoy and putting them together,” he says. “I’m constantly amused at how other people explain it. It definitely sits somewhere between electro and doom. I really try and keep it open. I don’t have one word that can really sum it up other than ‘honest’.” WHO Axxonn WHAT Let’s Get It Straight (Useless Art) WHEN & WHERE Friday, The Wall; Saturday, Dirty Shirlows

igeria, the most populous country in Africa, gained its independence from the UK in 1960. But for much of the intervening 50 years, it’s endured a series of, for the most part, corrupt governments, which are often military and repressive. So for artists like Femi Kuti, just as much as for his father Fela – who essentially created the musical form Afrobeat that his son continues – the fight for freedom continues undiminished. It’s a fight not just for Nigeria, but also for all Africa. It addresses everything he does it is all over his latest album, Africa For Africa. “Exactly what’s happening in my life today,” is how Kuti, who was two weeks into a tour of France with his 15-piece band The Positive Force, explains the themes of his new album. “I want the title, Africa For Africa, to be a slogan in Africa; that Africans should love and care for Africa. Africans need to understand that African countries are colonial structures [created] by the colonial slave dealers. Africans must understand what more than one hundred years of colonial rule and fifty years of independence by corrupt African governments have caused us, so we need to go back to the drawing board and think and love and care for Africa. We need to understand that fighting will only bring more unhappiness and hunger – Africa must love Africa.” Though Kuti was born in London, he grew up in Nigeria and, after taking up the saxophone, inevitably joined his father’s band before pulling together his own band in the late 1980s. So he’s all too aware of the endemic problems his homeland has had to struggle with throughout his life. Back in 1977, when he was 15, he saw his father’s home attacked by 1000 soldiers, with the house and recording studio burnt to the ground and his father beaten while his elderly grandmother was thrown out of a window, dying later from her injuries. This happened simply because the then-military dictatorship didn’t like what Fela Kuti had said on his album of the day. Like his father before him, Kuti has been the target of government repression as a consequence of

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his unswerving commitment to speak out against the injustices he sees. “I’m sure it’s not just an African problem,” he continues in his slow, considered way. “I’m taking the message all over the world and it’ll get back to Africa and I’m sure Africans on the streets will love it. Africans – lawyers, doctors – will love the album. I don’t know if the governments will like it. I don’t care if they like it because I’m sure the people of Africa will surely like it. “I think the music is dictating the pace for me now, which I want. I’ll not be commanding the music. I’ve always wanted to be overwhelmed by the music itself and I think I’m arriving there slowly but surely, so that’s a good sign for me. I’ve stopped thinking about Africa For Africa; I’m thinking about what next now, worrying about the future now. So I think I’m going to have to think up new ideas and create something different again and look at world opinion and sing about it; try to find a way of what we aim to be through music. “I’ve done so much already and when you are creative, you don’t want to repeat yourself, you don’t want to sound the same, you want to improve. And there are still only twelve notes and thousands of people who do music, so the older you get, the more challenging it becomes, so you have to work harder.” WHO Femi Kuti & The Positive Force WHAT Africa For Africa (Shock) WHEN & WHERE Saturday, The Metro Theatre


Beck’s Festival Bar once again serves up eclectic sounds and cutting-edge music. Make the most of summer and experience some of the world’s best bands and DJs over 14 balmy, star-lit nights at the historic Hyde Park Barracks Museum. January 9

The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, I Like It Like That Orchestra & Russ Dewbury (Jazz Rooms) January 10

Arrested Development & The Last Kinection January 12

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion & Super Wild Horses January 13

Future Classic: Henrik Schwarz January 14

FBi Night: Gold Panda, Djanimals & kyü January 15

PICNIC: DJ Harvey & DJ Garth January 19

Scribe, Ru C.L, Radical Son & Katalyst (DJ set) January 20

Wire, HEALTH & Popfrenzy DJs January 21

Matt and Kim & TheDeathSet January 22

Cobblestone Jazz, Mathew Jonson & Murat Kilic (Reckless Republic) January 26

Beach House & Parades January 27

FBi Night: Holy Fuck & My Disco January 28

Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme, Benji B, Waajeed & Africa Hitech January 29

Mad Racket: Octave One (Live) Hyde Park Barracks Museum. January 9-29. Doors open 8pm. Free entry after 11.30pm (subject to capacity). Over 18s venue only Sydney Festival: 1300 668 812 Ticketmaster: 1300 723 038 sydneyfestival.org.au/becks *Booking Fees from $2 apply

Tickets on sale now

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 59 •


HEAD DOWN

DARK SIDE OF POP

WITH A NAME THAT SOUNDS LIKE HE SHOULD BE A 1950S PUGILIST, CHICAGO’S JOE PUG HAS LIVED THE LIFE OF PLAYWRIGHT, CARPENTER AND NOW TROUBADOUR. HE TELLS NICK ARGYRIOU ABOUT INSPIRATION AND BORROWING FOR HIS MUSICAL FOREBEARS.

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hrowing away a potential career as a playwright when, as a student on the verge of studying the craft in his senior year at the University of North Carolina, Joe Pug (nee Pugliese), then 23 years old, chose to follow the musical path. In between gigs as a carpenter, Pug pulled out the guitar he hadn’t played in years channelling material he’d had in his mind while learning to be a dramatist. His debut EP, 2007’s Nation Of Heat, was marketed by Pug himself, managing through a word of mouth campaign to ship out 15,000 free copies of a two-song sampler CD to fans through his website. He went on the road and toured relentlessly taking in the States, the UK and Europe and would become tight touring partners with the Earles (both Justin Townes and Steve) and Josh Ritter before releasing his debut full-length, Messenger, this year. It’s all class and a record that mingles folk and country twang, soul and blues. Calling through while on tour (where else) in the US, Pug has just tweeted “Who’s got a good mechanic in Iowa City?” hours prior to our yarn, his beloved passenger van – affectionately named Keith – having potentially blown its transmission. “We’re in the middle of… um… sixty miles west of Omaha, Nebraska at the moment, which is probably a place that you guys down there in Australia aren’t too familiar with because we’re barely familiar with it here in the States,” he laughs. Luckily Keith’s transmission was not the issue and Pug was free to keep moving through on his 12-hour drive across Midwest America. “Yeah it was something more innocuous,” he admits. Taking great comfort from the rousing reception Australia has given his pal Justin Townes Earle over the years, Pug is eager to capitalise on his opportunity. “Yeah well, from what I can tell Justin’s a bit of a celebrity down there and he’s been pullin’ on my coat

THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A BUILDING ONE FOR HAILER, BOTH IN TERMS OF FINALLY GETTING TO RECORD A FULL ALBUM AND IN ADDING MEMBERS. SINGER AND GUITARIST PHIL ORR CHATS TO MICHAEL SMITH.

for quite a while now tellin’ me to get there because he just loves it.” With Townes Earle being such an emotive performer with robust guitar playing and spinning his agitated tales between songs, the firebrand Nashville native is a hard act to follow. So what’s Pug’s live show allure – is he a talker or get down to business type? “You know what, I talk a little bit, maybe more than I should, but I’m definitely more of the head down and get through the songs guy… It all depends on the audience.” Playing all the material from Messenger and his Nation Of Heat EP, Pug also confirms that he has a new batch of tunes he’s readying for another release next year. Although he ‘probably’ won’t trial any in Australia he’s still buzzed by the sonic direction they’re heading in. “Well for some reason I’ve gotten into some really oldschool country balladeers like George Jones – I’m really into him right now but as far as what the new record will sound like – I’m still trying to figure that out.” Tapping into the fingerpicking guitar style of Townes Earle of late, Pug informs how he is immersed in perfecting/knocking off the technique. “There’s so many patterns and picking up single notes and you’re using your thumb for the first time to pick the strings… Dylan’s The Freewheelin’ and John Fahey’s style and even Justin’s stuff rubbed off on me… I probably stole some of his tunes, but that’s what this art form is – this folk art of listening to others and stealing it to make it become your own style,” concludes a true Dylan disciple. WHO Joe Pug WHAT Messenger (Lightning Rod/Shock) WHEN & WHERE Wednesday, Red Rattler; Thursday, Raval

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yrically, the debut album from Hailer, Good Canyon, gets darker and darker as the album progresses – not that there’s some overarching concept or that it’s a concept album, but there’s something definitely happening. “We did the record with Liam [Judson] from Belles Will Ring,” Orr explains. “He’d just come off the back of Cloud Control’s record and basically the first half [of the album], even with the production we were trying to go for a kind of psych pop, nice and breezy kind of vibe, but towards the end of the record, we had the dark songs and the darker sides to get out – almost a side A and B to the record. It’s not that explicit, but it is definitely two different points in the trip if you know what I mean. And some of the songs are a little more literal in content and others are a bit more darker fantasy that we’re into.” The Redundancy Song is one of the more literal, with lyricist Orr having found himself made redundant from a corporate gig he was naturally glad to escape, but while Dead Bodies is very much in the Nick Cave murder ballad end of the spectrum, though it seems we’re only getting half the story. “That’s actually the second part of a two-part story. The first part is actually this joyous kind of song called Johnny, who is this kind of simple guy, works hard, meets up with a lady, they run off, get married and all things are rosy and Dead Bodies is actually after he finds out he has a cuckolding woman, that she’s been stepping out on him and he kills her. That’s the point of the song really. At the pop end of the song he’s pretty happy – he gets by ‘cause he gets by – but in Dead Bodies, it’s the wrong end of it. Traditionally we’ve played Dead Bodies last at the gigs and it’s been a boiling point of the old punk energy coming out. “Unfortunately Johnny isn’t on the record, which is a bit stupid. It was a totally different energy and it was becoming twenty minutes man, so we made a few decisions, but Johnny will definitely come up maybe on the next record and it can probably exist in itself. We didn’t want to turn [the album] into a rock opera – this

the WILDSIDE

is our first proper record – we just wanted to punch out as many songs as we could and try and get it all cohesive and flowing together.” As an addendum to that, as Dead Bodies fades out, there are some suitably unearthly sounds mumbling around for a few moments before the final, almost cathartic resolution of Heaven Knows finishes the album. “That’s fucking Liam,” Orr chuckles. “Initially Liam denied that they were there and saying we were hearing things, so it was like this massive joke, but yeah it’s sounds ghoulish. It popped up all over the record but eventually we told him to edit it all out except for that one. It’s pretty funny. Heaven Knows is our cruisey little California thing out the other side to kind of make it all okay, to finish things off.” As the recording began, the core trio of Orr, bass player Angus McDonald and drummer Scott Spence became four with the addition of keyboards player Greg Burgett. “We’re actually expanding [to five] live now with another guy, who is allowing us to do the record and some stuff that we kind of hit upon on the record that we’re building upon now for our live show and the next record.” WHO Hailer WHAT Good Canyon (Laughing Outlaw) WHEN & WHERE Saturday, Mu-Meson Archives Annandale; Friday 10 December, Notes

TOUR

SPIT THE SYNDICATE TONGUE Presented by Elefant Traks, New World Artists and Select Music

F

plus

CLASS A

Sat 27th November

THE GAELIC

Tickets on sale from tickets.newworldartists.net, Oztix phonecharge 1300 762 545, www.oztix.com.au & Oztix outlets, Moshtix phonecharge 1300 438 849, www.moshtix.com.au & Moshtix outlets more info see www.elefanttraks.com www.thetongue.com.au // www.spitsyndicate.com

SPIT SYNDICATE • EXILE

OUT NOW ON OBESE RECORDS

THE TONGUE • ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OUT NOW ON ELEFANT TRAKS VIA INERTIA

CLASS A • ME ME ME & HIM... OUT NOW ON OTHER TONGUES

• 60 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 61 •


WITH ROSS CLELLAND

ABBE MAY Mammalian Locomotion Sandcastle The queen of the May built her name – and the mantleshelf she keeps her variety of WAMIs on – with a well-honed grasp of an orthodox, some may say old-fashioned, blues rock approach. A relocation to New York and reworking of her craft has this as its first result. The band hangs back, while still offering a deep groove, but her voice has a new slink and longing to it. Her quality has always been accepted; whether this is the distinction to bring her to a wider audience remains to be seen. Real good though.

BLACK EYED PEAS This Time (Dirty Bit) Interscope/Universal As previously advised, the closer we get to December the more of the guaranteed big unit-shifters are trotted out by the corporations, whether in compilation form or the rarer new material guise. Seemingly still diminishing in quality before own eyes, Das Peas offer a bit of both: hacking out a great chunk of Dirty Dancing’s Time Of My Life, smothering it in the accursed AutoTune and adding the usual electro bit, rap bit, girly bit and dancey bits, and the apparent hope the formula still has some legs. Whether it deserves it or not.

MUSCLES Younger & Immature Modular/Universal And look who’s friends with their record company again. Gosh, the cynical might suggest that whole little imbroglio (no, not Natalie - or even Laura) might have just been an exercise in attention seeking. Surely not. Anyhoo, what Muscles musically makes is good squelchy electronic stuff you can shake yourself rhythmically to. And has some delightfully immature entreaties to rumpy-pumpy, particularly in the opening Forever, which throws itself smugly at your feet and rolls over waiting for you to rub its tummy.

GLENN RICHARDS

I AM ABOMINATION

KINETIC METHOD

Sony

Good Fight/Riot!

Independent

Glimjack

To Our Forefathers

With Augie March taking the break it needed, Mr. Richards goes off and makes the expected ‘solo’ album. But unlike The Drones’ Gareth Liddiard’s solo beast – that is just he and his guitar – this singer surrounds himself with a beyond-competent combo, to give him a different framework than the habitual one of a decade. The further link is getting half The Drones aboard as the accomplices. Mike Noga is an inventive drummer/ instrumentalist in a different way to Dave Williams. He can drive rather than steer. And Dan Luscombe guitars manfully, or can just underpin the structure. Now, if you’re worried that means Glimjack is going to be Drones-lite – or Augie-harder – it isn’t. There is an identifiable jig and reel to it in parts, as in the akimbo rush of the opening Torpor And Spleen. Or the music can restrain itself – the hungover awakening of Barfly Prometheus working at rousing the energy, correct in the context. Perhaps all realise they’re all here to serve the song and the singer, rather than trying to add their own thing.

I Am Abomination’s vision is big; they cram metallic hardcore, electronic music and samples, pianos and vast string arrangements. However it seems as though they have taken the throw it against the wall and see what sticks approach to songwriting; the structures are fractured and, at times, rushed. While it works in songs like Invisible Titans and Creatures Of The Night, the majority of the time it makes it difficult to maintain interest as one frenetic shredding riff indistinguishably becomes the next. Despite this there is no denying that the members of I Am Abomination are talented musicians. Guitarists Nick Sampson and Zac Felps make this incredibly obvious and each track is densely layered with fast-paced arpeggios, big solos and lightning quick fret-work. Unfortunately, the strong musicianship on show is undermined by the feeling that the band are overcompensating for that lacklustre songwriting. There are moments of absolute brilliance, like the opening of Thoughtcrime Is Death and the assaulting 7/4 breakdown in The Deceiver, but they are lost between the myriad other riffs.

Find A Friend

Here’s a refreshing local take on the guitar/drums duo with Sydneysiders guitarist Luke Koteras hooking up with pianist and percussionist Byron Mark not to cut an album’s worth of raw, searing blues-soaked dialogues but a few soft funk/R&B-tinged pop songs that owe more to Steely Dan or even Craig David than Sleepy John Estes. The other twist in the Kinetic Method take is the fact that Mark eschews the drum kit for flamenco’s core percussion instrument, the cajon, essentially a wooden box from which he manages to extract some pretty impressive sounds, along with the djembe, again without a hint of world music/Afrobeat, and a variety of percussion bits and bobs. Throw in his subtle jazz/ Latin-tinged piano embellishments and you’re already a world away from The White Stripes or The Fumes. Many of you will have seen him performing in any one of his other incarnations, The Bakery and Van Sereno most prominently. The latter also cowrote one tune on this album, Too Good, with Koteras.

Augie fans will find much to like – though they were probably going to be sold on it already – others may be happy with Richards’ words being more to the fore. A record you may well find more in on repeated listenings.

From the opening line of To Our Forefathers, hearing the robotic production, the slick finish and uninspiring voice of Phil Druyor, a dark cloud loomed over this album: AutoTune. The prevalence of overly-produced and touched-up vocals on ‘nu-post hardcore’ is an interesting trend and one I Am Abomination have not hesitated to jump on board with, as Art Attack and Cataclysm are testament to. Post-production can help hit the notes, but it can’t give a voice heart, which unfortunately is sorely missed on this record.

Koteras’ voice also sits at the sweeter end of the spectrum, like a cross between the aforementioned (minus AutoTune) David, most obviously in the way he tackles the P&B Banton-composed Feeling You, a track that also gives Mark a chance to stretch out a little on the keys, and, say, Lior. It is beautifully matched by his caressing yet virtuosic acoustic playing, itself particularly showcased in this album’s three instrumental tracks. Koteras’ admiration meanwhile for another acoustic guitar virtuoso, Tommy Emmanuel, is evident in the construction of two of those instrumentals, Ardeleigh Road and the closing track, Ambush II.

Ross Clelland

Dave Drayton

Michael Smith

NEIL YOUNG

PAUL SMITH

THE RUMJACKS

Reprise/Warner

Cooperative/Shock

Laughing Outlaw/Inertia

Richards’ voice remains a thing of expression and thought. And comes at stories and emotions with some typically odd angles. Apple Of My Eye the quiet rebellion in the pubs of an invaded Tasmania, Turn On You also having some grog in it, but the result is carnal rather than political.

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE Sing Reprise/Warner Another for under the tree, but thankfully more welcome than the above big ‘un. Surprising probably even themselves with the embrace of The Black Parade, and thinking this concept album lark is a good idea, they’re apparently role-playing again and every such item seems an anthemic overture as introduction. This is such. On evidence of this, certainly not as melodramatic as the previous, this is a ‘Let’s go!’ clarion call of the sort Bon Jovi wish they could still write. There’s something likeable in their suburban nature.

SPOOKYLAND Killin’ One Bird With Two Stones Codeone/MGM Marcus Gordon is 19. He likes words. He has listened to a lot of old Dylan records. He likes playing dressups. He has listened to a lot of old Bowie records. His songs sometimes have some dark edges. He has listened to a lot of old Nick Cave records. Whether he has the maturity and talent and knowledge to put those bits together to make something individual will take more than one EP to work out. Some have spent whole careers working out they can’t. We will currently allow him the bravado of youth.

THE NYMPHS The Nymphs EP Independent Always interesting when the indie kids discover some music past and embrace the good bits without irony. With a touch of Andrews Sisters fourpart harmonies (yes I know they were only three) and some Cole Porter subversive wit (ask your, er, great-great-grandmother…), Les Nymphettes get past the novelty and, thankfully, slightly beyond the sometimes second-rate wink and nudge that passes for burlesque hereabouts and into something of slightly more worth to be enjoyed with cucumber sandwiches and a flask of gin hidden beneath the table.

Neil Young is 65 years old and shows no signs of slowing down. Although Le Noise stumbles into the terrain of too much noise, too little substance, there are glorious moments to unearth. Le Noise is Young looking back, not with nostalgic intentions but to judge his own past. Young has always been viewed as a poet, so it’s best to ignore the somewhat cringeworthy lyrics on opener Walk With Me and skip to Love And War, in which a confessional Young sings “When I sing about love and war, I don’t really know what I’m saying.” An acoustic guitar paints the background while he muses on families torn apart by war and pulls heartstrings instantaneously. With more analytical depth than any Rolling Stone interview, Young leaves enigmatic thoughts about the songs he’s sung and mistakes made in his political activism, not to mention writing about love, ending with the line “I tried to sing about love and hit a bad chord.” Young’s voice still retains a nasal falsetto that conceals his age, as he shrilly derides modern malaise in Angry World with grating guitars and an echoing voice filling the soundscape. Hitchhiker is a five-minute opus taking the old-fashioned storyteller stance, a running narration from being a hitchhiker on the road to bright lights and drug addictions. The music is simple with no percussion and this continues with the soft, questioning undertones of Peaceful Valley Boulevard. Le Noise proves Young remains well ahead of the pack as a folk poet.

Sevana Ohandjanian • 62 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

Margins

Le Noise

When Maxïmo Park frontman Paul Smith told his bandmates that he was going to release an album of his own compositions, alarm bells must have started ringing in their heads. Should they see this as the beginning of the end and start applying for jobs in the local supermarkets? Not according to Smith. His press release insists he’s not going solo; this is not like George Michael leaving Wham it says. Rather Margins is a way for the singer to release a collection of songs he had written that didn’t really fit in with the breakneck, rallying anthems of Maxïmo Park. Produced by Matinee Orchestra’s Andy Hodson and featuring occasional bass from Field Music’s David Brewis, Margins is an intimate affair. Opener North Atlantic Drift doesn’t sound a million miles from Maxïmo Park but, while there are signs of Smith’s day job scattered throughout – the intelligent lyrics and tasty hooks – generally, the feel is far less hectic and more melancholic and ruminative. While You’re In The Bath is a good example of this. Written in an Australian hotel room four years ago, the song is stripped back, with just Smith’s fragile voice and a single guitar. The problem with Margins is that, while the minimalist numbers are lovely and perhaps even a better vehicle for Smith’s poetic lyrics than the relentlessly-paced Maxïmo Park songs, there just aren’t enough of them. Too often, the songs sit in the dull middle-ground between being interestingly pared-back and jauntily upbeat. There are probably enough moments of delicate beauty here to make Margins an interesting experiment; it’s just a genuine shame there aren’t more of them. Rob Townsend

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Gangs Of New Holland Folksier than most of the popular Celtic folk-punk at the moment, Gangs Of New Holland has more in common with The Pogues than, for example, Flogging Molly or The Real McKenzies. The Rumjacks’ debut full-length sees a new and improved version of My Time Again, which first appeared on their preceding Sound As A Pound, but this album is quite different from earlier material, probably due to better production resources and the departure of songwriter and accordion player Will Swan. There are enough repetitive Boom! Bap! polka beats (on roughly half the songs) to keep the punk kids happy, but there are some admirable experiments in dynamics and breaks in McLaughlin’s Rant and The Black Matilda. There are also three songs that feature minimal accompaniment (a lonely tin whistle and/or a strummed guitar) to Frankie McLaughlin’s snarled brogue, which is limited in its range (not that this has mattered for any of the most admired of folk or punk vocalists) but suits the genre to a fault. McLaughlin’s lyrics are fantastic, with some of the most charming of these featuring on the witty An Irish Pub Song, a raspberry at the many inauthentic shamrock-covered watering holes. The ‘jacks are at their finest on the rollicking, up-tempo The Jolly Executioner, a clever look at a proud family business coming to a sad end. Roll Away Alone is a fine Clashinfluenced reggae effort, benefiting smartly from a guest trumpet, and is the biggest surprise here. If modern-day Paddy punk with a traditional influence is something that tickles your fancy, then Gangs Of New Holland should be on your stereo.

Brent Balinski


Sometimes The Stars is a little bit jazz, part blues and at times country; but it is 100 percent Coates and Goodall. The true essence of The Audreys, their progression and exploration has been captured perfectly within this record. Christine Caruana

FACT FILE Length: Ten songs, 41 minutes

THE POOR

WOLF PEOPLE

Riot!/Warner

Jagjaguwar/Inertia

Moods: Elegant, enigmatic and calming.

DID YOU KNOW

Steeple

Round 2

The Poor have said, when asked about reforming, that they have stayed true to their roots and evolved little as a band. There’d be no point denying it, and these guys sound very much like early ‘90s rock, with a nod to Soundgarden here, a riff that could’ve come off an Ugly Kid Joe album there and the occasional Scatterbrainesque speed metal number elsewhere. After their debut release in 1992 and climbing to minorlevel stardom through Who Cares, which featured the anthemic More Wine Waiter Please, in 1994 (don’t act like you don’t remember it), The Poor called it quits at the start of the millennium, before reforming in 2008 and releasing Round 1 last year. Round 2 includes both old and new material. It doesn’t suffer from glossy production, any phony attempts to capture a younger audience by modernising their sound or pretends to be anything other than music by a band of dirty pub-rocking brutes from a time when people wore Shit Happens shirts. The strongest track is probably Trouble, an uptempo low-life romp with delightful gang vocals that punctuate a simple chorus that would be certain to get punters nodding as they sip their beer. Kiss My Arse has some splendidly bluesy guitar leads and a boppy hip hop-influenced groove that seems borrowed from Living Colour’s Time’s Up. The Poor have promised a Round 3 (to be titled TKO) reasonably soon and it’d be a surprise if it isn’t another collection of songs that could have been dug up and removed from a time capsule marked ‘1992’. The Poor know who they are, what they do and how to do it. Brent Balinski

From the opening riffs of Silbury Sands, first track on the latest from UK prog-rockers Wolf People, it’s clear there’s a fixed obsession with experimental bands of the ‘60s and ‘70s such as Syd Barrett-era Floyd and all manner of psychedelic nods from Dead Meadow to Dungen, to put it in a modern context. Bass fuzz one minute, flying flute hooks and space jams the next, it’s music that feels more at home on vinyl and old speakers than through tiny ear buds. Each song averages about five minutes so best avoid if you like your music to get to the point; if however you’re one who likes bands to take their time exploring the space then this will satisfy on a number of levels thanks to stacks of revelatory guitar solos and humming, layered vocals. Apart from the obvious, there are a number of subtle genre jumps, with some folkier moments like Morning Born eventually coalescing into groove territory and Bo Diddley blues numbers like Castle Keep keeping things interesting. To top all this off the drumming, which is the backbone of Wolf People, is all manner of sporadic and clinical in one sitting and it’s musically the type of stuff you wish you were listening to when you first picked up an instrument. It would be fair to say these four guys are never going to head to our shores any time in the next decade, which is a shame, but while just one of many millions of blips of the musical radar, Steeple is a significant blip without a doubt.

THE AUDREYS

Sometimes The Stars ABC Music/Universal

For the first time since the release of their debut album, Between Last Night And Us, the songwriting duo of Taasha Coates and Tristan Goodall find themselves working alone on this album, though with regular producer Shane O’Mara. Sometimes The Stars is probably the most honest album of their discography, being brought back to what is truly the ‘heart of the band’, as Coates has mentioned. The album opens on a very personal level with Comfort Me, set upon a wistful layer of strings. Most songs on the album follow a slow, melancholy rhythm as a background to Coates’ seductive, sultry vocals.

• Despite the tracks being written by Coates and Goodall – collaborator Danika Coates offers additional lyrics – and most of the instruments being played by the core duo, producer Shane O’Mara, Michael Barker, John Bedggood, George Butrumlis, Brett Canning, Selena Cross, Grant Cummerford, Scott Edgar, Steven Gates, Paul Grabowski, Steve Hadley, Simon Hall, Dave Palmer, Mel Robinson and Tim Rogers are thanked in the liner notes. • Speaking to Drum recently, Taasha Coates said, “We found that, on our second record, because everything was written with the band, when we stripped it down, sometimes they were hard to do just on our own. So we were really determined not to make that mistake again.â€? • Songwriting for this record took about a year, a lot longer than the six weeks that they forced When The Flood Comes, their second album, through.

The first and really only track to break away from the predominant jazz/blues mood on Sometimes The Stars is Troubles Somehow. Musically this track is the most upbeat, however the lyrics are rather depressing. The contrast of the music and lyrics makes the track one of the more interesting on the album and a no-brainer as to why it was chosen as the first single. Along the intimate journey that is their third record, The Audreys have included a cast of Tim Rogers, Paul Grabowsky and ex-John Butler Trio member Michael Barker. Barker drums throughout the length of this record, his best work heard on the track Poorhouse. His drums have more of a leading role rather than simply keeping beat and paired with Grabowsky’s renowned jazz piano the song is strikingly beautiful.

Adam Wilding

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 63 •


ALBUM ROUNDUP BY MICHAEL SMITH Though things kick off with a youthful Costello urgency, overall there’s something comfortingly familiar about the essentially gentle collaboration between pianist Nicholas Roy and guitarist Mark Woodward that has evolved into Melbourne fourpiece The Weekend People, currently touring their solidly crafted self-titled debut (Green/MGM). Even more sensuously lush is the debut solo album from ex-Blindside/The Earthmen, now Cordrazine guitarist and Blackchords producer Nick Batterham, Second Lovers (Head), another ludicrously talented Melburnian who’s played everything on it as well as written and produced it. A mix of minimal singer songwriter, sweetly orchestrated and broadly brushed soundscapes, it’s an album for all moods and seasons. Also coming out of Melbourne is singer/songwriter Leticia Maher, whose bright, limpid voice traverses ten original tunes that drift between folk pop and light country, along with a dramatic interpretation of the traditional Black Is The Colour, on second album Fallen Angels (Independent). Including a song about not giving a shit, even ironically (as Recycle is), might not have been the best move to kick off the eponymous debut album (Foghorn/MGM) by Sydney roots/reggae artists Jesse Morris & The 3 Beans, but there you go. At least in feel it’s pretty representative, bouncing along as casual as you like. Oddly enough, not a dreadlock in sight, though there are probably sandals to match a bunch of songs perfect for an afternoon chilling down at the beach. Morris and co. would sit quite comfortably on the same label as California’s Matt Costa – Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records – except perhaps the semirap Turn It Into Music. Costa’s deeply ‘60s southern California sensibility wouldn’t have seemed out of place opening for pre-Pet Sounds Beach Boys, except for the occasional Mamas & Papas vocal backing and darker, more jangling and echoey production that smothers his third album, Mobile Chateau (Brushfire/Universal), on which he plays practically everything himself. Do we need another Doobie Brothers album? Obviously the latest incarnation, featuring the two founding guitarists Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons, felt they did so here’s their first album in a decade, World Gone Crazy (Eagle/Shock). On the whole, yes, it’s good to hear two of the great rock voices still as passionate as ever powering over the snaky swamp grooves that made these guys famous back in the day. Nothing here will necessary become classic, but it’s still tight, intelligent Southern funk rock.

BEST OF

An altogether noisier, trashy exercise is Hello Rock’n’Roll (Shock) from Sydney two-piece Smitty & B. Goode, all big drums and crunchy guitars as is de rigueur in this format, the emphasis on early rock forms – rock‘n’roll, rockabilly, etc – rather than the blues that propels other more famous two-piece combos. The scuzzy energy will certainly get them across the line live. His years of experience as a multi-instrumental session player – and he’s only 25 – have obviously give Byron Bay hinterland denizen Connor B. Fitz something unexpected in his debut album, The R-complex (independent). A hugely pleasant surprise and a real find, here’s a collection of really interesting, diverse, well-arranged pop songs that inevitably tip the hat at the best in the field, from The Beatles to Squeeze, again with a Lennon-esque Fitz playing everything. Do your ears a favour – seek this out. David Bridie continues his championing of George Telek, who is sort of Papua New Guinea’s elder statesman musician, on a par with our Archie Roach and Mandawuy Yunupingu. Co-producing this latest album, Akave (The Planet Company), with Cole, Bridie contributes keyboards and backing vocals, though it’s Ngaiire Petra’s contribution in that area on opening track, West Papua (Merdeka Mix) that’s the more impressive. Overall Telek is this time placed in a more contemporary Western folk-rock context, albeit still informed by a Pacific sensibility, than some of their previous more traditional or stringband collaborations.

CROWDED HOUSE

SMUDGE

EMI

Capitol/EMI

Half A Cow/MGM

Singles 01-10

The Very Very Best Of

British band Athlete have always been much more popular in their homeland than in Australia. Sure, they’ve made their mark here with the crowd that loves atmospheric guitars, sensitive lyrics and the hint of an English accent. But at home they’ve won the Ivor Novello Award for songwriting, had a number one album and been nominated for the illustrious Mercury Music Prize. While these types of singles compiles are designed to give the casual fan a chance to follow up on a band they hear in passing, Athlete have never really been on the radio here, so anyone other than genuine fans is unlikely to be that interested and as a collection of songs, this album doesn’t really do Athlete justice. The band’s ability to build up a tense, swirling album like their debut, Vehicles And Animals, is stripped away on such a track list. At their best Athlete are achingly beautiful, but like any band, it’s not always the singles that show that best. There are some real gems here though; the sparkly, shimmery Superhuman Touch, the casual roll of El Salvador, the muscley push and pull of Tokyo and the sincere sentiment of Black Swan Song, a song frontman Joel Pratt wrote about the death of his grandfather. On a song like Tokyo you can hear the beginnings of what Athlete have achieved on their albums. It’s a slow build, centred around anxious and edgy guitar lines and the hint of keys, but the mood shifts and it’s on to the next song. They deserve to be heard in full and not in small out-of-context snippets like this. Danielle O’Donohue

This Smudge Is True

When did Fingers Of Love become a song that was to be included on a greatest hits album or played live? And Never Be The Same or even Hole in The River for that matter? But we mustn’t complain because here, on this new Crowded House Best Of, unenergetically titled The Very Very Best Of Crowded House, you will find not only the aforementioned oddities but also, for no extra charge, Recurring Dream, a live version of Better Be Home Soon and if you slap your cold hard cash down for the three disc set, a DVD of 25 of their videos.

The early ‘90s provided the discerning music fan with a wealth of melodic and intelligent underground guitar rock. In Australia there were a slew of such bands and at the vanguard from the get-go was Sydney three-piece Smudge. Bursting out of the blocks with their 1991 (oft-misunderstood) homage single, Don’t Want To Be Grant McLennan, the band spent the best part of the next decade producing top-notch indie rock, becoming the darlings of the Australian scene and making some inroads into international markets in the process.

There’s something old (Mean To Me), something new (Don’t Stop Now), something borrowed (Throw Your Arms Around Me) and something blue (Not The Girl You Think You Are).

The adroit songwriting skills of frontman Tom Morgan carried Smudge, ably abetted by two great rhythm sections over the band’s lifespan and an infectiously fun live show. The fact that Evan Dando became enthralled to Morgan and ended up co-opting a slew of his songs for his Lemonheads project (Divan, Down About It and The Outdoor Type are included here) as well as roping Morgan in to co-write many more speaks volumes of the regard in which he was (and is) held in illustrious circles worldwide.

If you don’t own a Crowded House album or the last Best Of (titled Recurring Dream, whilst astonishingly not actually including the song of the same name) then you quite simply need to have this in your life. No home is complete without at least one Finn tune in its library and this one has 32. Okay, 31 and a Mark Seymourpenned Australian classic, but close enough. Nit pickers may ask why it was decided to include Pour Le Monde from Time On Earth and not, say, English Trees, or want to argue endlessly over the tracklisting, but these people are trainspotters and best avoided at all times. It matters not what isn’t here, it’s what is, because for first time delvers into one of the greatest Australian/ NZ bands, this collection is perfect.

BEST OF

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND

SOUNDGARDEN Telephantasm

Greatest Hits

A&M/Universal

The second best of for Soundgarden (the first, in A-Sides, was released in 1997, the same year they originally disbanded), Telephantasm comes in a period of renewed activity for the band, not only in their recent reformation, but their online presence has been significantly increased. So should the world still care via this? In one sense, yes. Gaining notice with the advent of grunge in the early ‘90s, Soundgarden differed from Nirvana and Pearl Jam in that they more heavily drew from the likes of Sabbath and Zeppelin and their riffs noted this. You can see the development via Telephantasm – running chronologically, early tracks Hunted Down and Hands All Over hint at what was to come with breakthrough album Badmotorfinger – the sludgy riffs (such as Outshined) combined with Chris Cornell’s massive vocals. As they went on, the riffs, although still present (Spoonman) seemed to take a back seat to melody driving the song (Black Hole Sun, Blow Up The Outside World). As with most best ofs, there is a token “new song”. Here, it is Black Rain, which initially found life in the Badmotorfinger sessions. This is obvious by the massive, downtuned riffs similar to those found on most of that album. As much as it chugs along in the verse though, it is let down by a weak chorus - you can see why it failed to make the original cut. The single disc version of Telephantasm is a pared-back release at only 12 tracks (only one question mark, the absence of breakthrough hit Jesus Christ Pose), but there are songs here that easily stand at the summit of alternative rock’s best, Outshined probably leading the way.

This Smudge Is True collates 27 of the band’s best tracks and listening to them collected together showcases the band’s unrelenting ability to put irreverent and often hilarious ditties to loose but always entrancing music. Songs such as Pulp, Impractical Joke, Ugly Just Like Me, Mike Love Not War, Hot Potato and Breadcrumb Trail simultaneously hark back to a bygone era while standing the test of time – always the sign of a great band. The fact that they’re conducting a headlining east coast tour for the first time in nearly a decade and re-issuing two albums allows us to dream that maybe there’s still more to come. Steve Bell

Beck

BEST OF

Mark Neilsen • 64 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

BEST OF

ATHLETE

Back to Melbourne and another eponymous debut album (Popboomerang) from another indie-pop chanteuse, Georgia Fields, begins things ambitiously with the orchestral Overture, appropriate as it leads into the Moody Blues-esque Seven Years. In fact, orchestration is key to Fields’ sensibility across this gently sublime collection of otherwise simple, occasionally ukulele-propelled snapshots from ordinary life, two years in the making. The four Plazzer sisters who travel as Rezzalp mix real strings, flute and piano with synthesisers to push their more fulsome baroque pop debut, In My Dreams (independent), with the added advantage of sweetly eccentric sibling harmonies creating a quixotic extra layer. Rich Webb used to front Melbourne’s The Stiff Kittens but the fact that Beautiful World (All Killer) is his fourth solo album tells you that was a while ago. The fact that he launched it in his hometown after a 42-date European tour also tells you he’s already making his mark internationally. Webb’s name might be on the cover but this is very much a band effort, the other three members co-writing with him, the results taut and thoughtful.

BEST OF

Sony

There are few artists of this longevity who have kept the credibility – let alone the quality – of Bruce Springsteen and his superlative band of such long standing. It’s a little scary they’ll start cranking out 40th Anniversary editions of his early albums in the not too long. To try and distil their work onto a single disc is a bit of an ask. There’s already an Essentials set, which is on to its third or fourth updated edition of a three-disc set, as he keeps putting out albums worthy of representation. Now if that’s the essential, and a reasonable primer it is, maybe you have to count this as some sort of Bruce For Dummies? Although, unlike some Springsteen overviews, this does go back to the early days of sub-Dylan tumbling wordplay, to the still unmatched highway escapism of Born To Run and the stillmagnificent Thunder Road, through to the character studies of little people with big problems and/or dreams, which keep him his workingman credentials. There is also some darkness, and not just On The Edge Of Town. Most now recognise the bitterness in Born In The USA that the Republicans somehow missed, but even the bright ‘pop’ of Dancing In The Dark isn’t quite as vacantly happy as grinningly bopping with Courtney Cox may have suggested. While later, The Rising is still the most human of 9/11-related mourning songs.

BEST OF

THE CHURCH

The Best Of The Radio Songs EMI

Thirty years on, The Church remain a magnificent infuriation. And now in the Hall Of Fame for – among other things – all-time great Hall Of Fame acceptance speeches. But what music they made – indeed, can still make. This is some of this country’s richest, smartest, most enigmatic pop music. The basic elements: Peter Koppes’ and Marty WillsonPiper’s spiralling and interplaying guitar textures – retro and timeless at once. Byrds-ish Rickenbackers ring and/ or dreamily meandering, ‘shoegazey’ before the term was invented. And then there’s the singular Steve Kilbey. A lugubrious, sometimes seemingly distracted, voice. Often claiming his words are merely afterthoughts over the music. But go through the character flaws in Reptile, or the seductive rush of Tantalized and maybe he’s just underplaying his own creativity. Although the charge of false modesty could rarely be levelled against him. There are even songs they wish to disown, perhaps contrarily because their audience loves them so much. Their first moment of beauty, The Unguarded Moment, arrived so fully formed, all those pieces in place, and it still stands up. Kilbey dismisses it like a red-headed stepchild – did it give too much of his real self away too soon?

If you’ve wondered why Springsteen has provoked such devotion from his faithful over so long, there are some hints here and could/should encourage you to deeper study.

And, of course, Under The Milky Way. Rightly an international hit of sorts it was always just there, part of the Australian rock firmament, and it takes a fresh pair of ears recently to realise again just how good it is. Even as they continue taking risks and making music to please themselves above all else, be thrilled they exist.

Ross Clelland

Ross Clelland

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JOHN LENNON

John Lennon Signature Box EMI

For better or worse, John Lennon’s solo career has surpassed the quality – or lack thereof in cases – of the tracks themselves. The first Beatle to die, the victim of romantic celebrity assassination and the one whose passing nullified the greatest songwriting partnership that the world’s ever seen, it’s difficult – nay impossible – to look back at his output without a sense of historical context, as in his colourful post-Beatles period he was known for much more than the songs he was writing. Not included here are the three outrageous ‘experimental’ albums, the two Unfinished Music titles and the Wedding Album, collaborations with Yoko Ono, which perhaps were the public’s first indicators that he was looking for more than the Fab Four. Instead it picks up (not including a singles disc that offers early singles Happy Xmas, Instant Karma! and Cold Turkey) where most fans did, with Lennon’s two masterpieces, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970) and Imagine (1971). The songs speak for themselves, but the remastering job has been executed with the same meticulous care that we saw offered to The Beatles’ back catalogue last year. From the original tapes, everything that’s part of the performance has been kept – imperfections in the playing, background sounds – while hisses and cracks of the tapes have been eradicated. Tracks like Crippled Inside sound as ‘real’ as ever, if anything you’re closer to the playing. These two records stand by themselves and should inhabit any record collection, but it’s the rest of the patchy catalogue that has to justify the box set. They probably don’t to a passing fan but for the narrative study of his life. For example there’s the controversial Somewhere In New York (1972), made with druginfused outfit Elephant’s Memory and housing such cuts as Woman Is The Nigger Of The World; it’s one of Lennon’s more stretched moments. As one of the more obviously collaborative efforts the interplay between Lennon/Ono tracks is another piece of his story, but it’ll polarise those – as it did in ’72 – that are still feeling sore over his partner’s perceived hand in The Beatles’ implosion. The accompanying Live Jam album is great though, sounding better than ever in these re-issues, the tortured track Cold Turkey given room to breathe with improvisation.

Mind Games proves it’s one of his most underrated records here, a real mental effort recorded in one of Lennon’s most tumultuous years (1973). Introspective and emotional, it wouldn’t have the same weight to it if it hadn’t been self-produced and while not his best ever work has a pleasing level of desperation. Also blatantly present are his worries and paranoia against the US government, but he still manages to keep a sunny disposition on the whole situation. The battle of trying to hold his nerve under intense 1973 pressure gives the record incredible strength. Walls And Bridges (1974) continues the downward critical arc from brilliance in the first half of the ‘70s, essentially a break-up album during a split from Ono and recorded during a time he would later call his “lost weekend”. Despite this it’s an uplifting – almost unnecessarily so – album and went to the top of the American charts, supplying Lennon with his only solo number one single, Whatever Gets You Thru The Night, a duet with Elton John. Looking back though, it’s messy and inessential – more relevant as love letters between

Lennon and Ono. Equally as debatable is 1975’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, a cover album that is executed well by Lennon no doubt, but little more than a touch of indulgence on the part of both Lennon and the listener. Originally panned, some will claim that it’s one of the albums that’s lasted the test of times, but either way it’ll always be the closing chapter for the main part and best moments of Lennon’s solo career. It takes five years for another album to be released as he entered home-husband mode for his son Sean, and 1980’s Double Fantasy is a good comeback for the era. A collaborative record with Ono, all the hallmarks of ‘80s production are here – and none of The Beatles ever really starred during that period. The production’s still annoying, as are Ono’s tracks, but by this time you’re either used to or have come to expect it. Assassinated three weeks after this record’s release, the nostalgia aspect perhaps lifted its calibre initially, but here it’s not a patch on his earlier efforts. Neither is posthumous release, the underdone Milk And Honey (1984).

and while there are certainly bits missing from this set – all the vital movements are here. Accompanied by glorifying liners notes and essays from sons Sean and Julian and the never far away Ono, there’s reason for interest for Lennon fans and historians.

You probably already know which Lennon you like –

Scott Fitzsimons

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 65 •


METAL AND HARD ROCK WITH CHRIS MARIC

AXL ROSE

ANOTHER SLOW RE-LOAD It perhaps comes as little to no surprise that there’s not going to be a new Guns N’ Roses album anytime soon considering their last, the long fabled Chinese Democracy took over a decade to create. Due in Australia to play the Olympic Park V8 Supercars race, guitarist DJ Ashba had hinted that the band was contemplating new material at an interview when the band played at the launch of the new Call Of Duty video game (they’re getting all the big corporate gigs these days). Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal posted on his Facebook page, “We’ve yet to get in a room and write as a band – [I] know DJ mentioned something about a new album, but don’t want y’all expecting anything soon – other than old unreleased Chi Dem [Chinese Democracy] songs, songs need to be written, jammed, recorded, tweaked, re-worked, re-recorded, mixed, re-mixed, mastered, re-mastered, art, new art, label approval, a game plan from the label that Ax approves… not as simple when it’s on such a big scale.”

METAL MAYHEM While on tour in North America with Nile, San Diego’s Pathology have been involved in a car crash that has totalled their van and equipment, forcing them to pull out of the tour, but luckily left members with only minor injuries. The accident was caused when their van hit black ice, rolled and slid a few hundred feet. Blabbermouth have quoted drummer Dave Astor as saying, “[This was the] worst car wreck in my life! [I feel] lucky to be alive. Everything is destroyed! Extremely traumatised. This tour is absolutely over for us. Infuckingsane!” Not long ago, Swedish metal outfit Enforcer were involved in a head-on collision with a snow plough whilst on tour with Australia’s own Airborne. In both cases it is virtually unbelievable that no one was killed.

• 66 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

The grand old Lewisham Hotel is playing host to the second East West Deathgrind Festival from 3pm and has a pretty farken heavy lineup. Check this out: Daemon Foetal Harvest are headlining, and then Backyard Mortuary, Roadside Burial, Disentomb, Tortured, Ether Rag, Granny Fist (love that name), Corotted, Corpsickle, New Blood and Burial Chamber. Looks like a fine afternoon and evening of grinding is to be had!

I don’t know how but I forgot to mention one of the Metallica shows from last week but I guess I was preoccupied with my naff intro. At the Thursday show I was backstage and we were all grinning with glee as the guys went over Orion for about 20 minutes behind closed doors in their jam room. It was kind of like listening to your brother’s band rehearsing in the garage except it was the band whose Garage Days are far behind them. I’ll stop now before I embarrass myself further.

Meanwhile oop norf in Newcastle, Electric Horse and Engine Three Seven featuring Origin of Janken will be playing at the The Great Northern Hotel along with The Tillgera Damned.

There’s been a tonne of local band action lately so before we get into this week’s events, check this out. Nekrofeist, who play a kind of Testament/Exodus-style Aussie thrash that harks back to the Neophobia days (there’s one for the old school!) are currently being featured in the Indigenous segment on The Spirit, which is the international channel on Qantas In-Flight Radio and hosted by Rhianna Patrick and ex-triple j-er Robbie Buck. So next time you leave the rock, you could be kicking back on an international flight, listening to Nekrofeist instead of Brian McFadden! Ahead of their assault on the US, Canadian and European hordes mid-next year in support of their debut album, The Will To Sin, Sydney metal-rockers Recoil have announced a slight change to their name and will be henceforth be known as Recoil v.o.r.. Lead singer, Wade McKay said in a press release, “Adding ‘v.o.r.’ – which stands for Voice Of Rule – helps us to more uniquely define our band and brand and to express the passion, energy and power of our music and not just my voice.” The guys also recently signed a management deal with well-known American band manager Mark Mazzetti and his company, Record Company In A Box. Metallers Rampart have parted ways with drummer Morris Markovic. The band thanks him for all his excellent work over the last several years. His replacement is Richie Duarte-Rudder (ex-Art Imitates Crime). The plan is to unleash the new lineup early next year. Keep an eye out for news on Black Asylum. I’ll probably add it in next week but in a nutshell they have some new members and will be coming down from the Central Coast to play for Sydney in mid-December along with Daysend.

www.utopia.com.au

NEKROFEIST There are also two brilliant new local websites to add to your bookmarks for all your rock and metal needs. Check out Loud Mag and Sludge Factory (both with dot com dot au) and check out a huge array of album reviews, international and local interviews and a stack of other good stuff. Loud was born out of the ashes of the long-running print fanzine of the same name and Sludge is headed up by veterans of the Sydney scene so both sites are more than qualified to keep you informed.

FRIDAY Club Blink is hosting an album launch for Comeback Kid who will also be here in early December with Architects, so if hardcore is your thing, you will be all over this one. They are also hosting a Megadeth pre-tour party and tribute night in advance of Megadave’s return in December for the No Sleep Til Festival. Cutwing will also be playing live. Julian and Rocky from the band will both be celebrating their birthdays on the night so make sure you heckle them from the front! Joining them will be Bellusira from Melbourne, These Four Walls from New Zealand and Ape BC. Say Cutwing’s name at the door and your ticket in will be instantly five bucks cheaper.

SATURDAY The Basement, Blink’s heaviest bit, has moved back to its original home at The Agincourt Hotel on Broadway and will be called Venom Nightclub.

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Canberra on the other hand will be putting on the Capital Rock Music Festival at The Maram. Fifteen of the best heavy alternative bands and some great progressive and alternative rock will converge for a weekend of pure madness. These are the bands making the trek up or down the Federal Highway to get there, as should you: Sydonia, Jericco, Atlantis Awaits, Breaking Orbit, Frozen Alice, Tonk, These Four Walls, Zero Degrees, Bellusira, Escape Syndrome, The Blaqk Year and Steady The Fall.

SUNDAY I mentioned it a few weeks back but Centenary Hall in Albion Park by way of Wollongong is putting on a tattoo show. Well, it would look like that to an outsider but to those inside, it’s another metalcore show featuring The Red Shore, Thy Art Is Murder, Third Strike, Kohere (who are playing a reunion show) and Never Content. It’s all ages and $15. And getting this one in ahead of next week’s Heavy Shit. The long-awaited debut show for Age of Menace has been announced for Friday 26 November at the Excelsior Hotel in Surry Hills. They will be supported by Pecking Order and Thin Air. Opens at 8pm and is also $15.

BAND PLUG BIT The Mark Cashin Band. You might have seen their clip, Ordinary People, (not a Frente cover) on Rage or Max, and they play a fairly commercial brand of mainstream rock, but amp it up a bit when they play live. It’s not always about thrashing till death y’know. heavy@drummedia.com.au


PUNK AND HARDCORE WITH STU HARVEY frontman for Sydney’s No Apologies and most recently as a member of Blkout has launched a new label, Bloke Records. The label will commence with a release that is sure to become an instant collectors item, a split 7” featuring exclusive unreleased tracks from No Apologies, Blkout, 50 Lions and Parkway Drive. Pre orders have started so for details head to blokerecords.bigcartel. com because with only 500 being pressed these won’t last long!

We spoke to Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory on Short Fast Loud last week and he shared the news that they are about to hit the studio to work on a new album. The band will again work with producer Neal Avron, who produced what Gilbert described as “our three most popular records,” being their self-titled, Sticks & Stones and Catalyst albums. Most exciting was how Gilbert described the songs for the new album: “This is our most fun punk record, this record is super punk, very Descendents, very upbeat. It’s definitely from the songs we’ve been writing, from start to finish our most anthemic upbeat punk record”. The album won’t hit stores until the band tours on Soundwave in 2011, but Gilbert did promise the band would play at least one new song live. Trouble in the world of Civet with the band losing their entire rhythm section mid tour! Singer Liza Graves shared the news on the band’s Facebook last week. “It is heartbreaking to come to you guys today to share our bad news. In the middle of our Nashville Pussy tour our rhythm section walked out on us. Granted, Jacq gave us a little more notice than Roxie, but in the end it’s all one and the same. It is unfair to leave the band in the middle of a tour and leave us scrambling to piece our lives back together. We have a finished record on the way and all the opportunities in the world, not to mention the BEST fans anyone could ever ask for! These are things to be truly thankful for, not to run away from. We can’t speak for them on why they left, only that it’s hard to understand why two people we loved and trusted would do something so selfish and leave when there are still shows to be played and commitments to be fulfilled. The fact is that this hurts YOU, our fans… it hurts the people that believe in us. Suzi and I are brokenhearted to lose two people who were our best friends, but we cannot give up on our dream because others decided to grow up.” The band are still aiming to release a new album in February 2011. On a similar subject, Closure In Moscow officially announced a couple of changes to their lineup that sees the departure of bassist Brad Kimber and drummer Beau McKee. Kimber departed from the band in the hopes of pursuing a future in the United States with his dearest fiancée. As for McKee, a statement from the band explained, “In the case of Beau; after years of playing and travelling together it became apparent that he was, unfortunately, not the right fit for CIM and our plans for the future.” Melbourne muso Salvatore Aidone has

NEW FOUND GLORY stepped up to the drum stool and according to the band it “is already working out incredibly” while friend of the band Joshua Collard has taken up bass duties. After numerous lineup changes over the journey, Gwen Stacy have finally announced they are bringing the band to an end, with a final show in their home town of Indiana next week. A post on their MySpace reads, “After six years, 19 countries, countless US tours, two albums and an EP, Gwen Stacy has decided to call it quits. We feel like now is the best time to end the band and pursue other options and directions in life. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the band’s career over the years.” Melbourne punks The Duvtons will release a new single, Aliens Done Took Mah Sanity, this Friday. The song was recorded at the legendary Sing Sing Studios by Matt Voigt and mastered by Tom Baker in LA (Bad Religion, Parkway Drive) and will be available exclusively via iTunes.

SHORT FAST REPORT TOP 5 1. La Dispute Tour! Worst kept secret of 2010, but yes, La Dispute are returning to Australia in January and now it’s official! They will be again hitting the road with Brisbane’s To The North. Friday 14 January The Annandale Hotel, Saturday 15 The Beach Bar Wollongong and Sunday 16 The Red Rattler (all ages). 2. Bloke Records. Pete ‘Bloke’ Abordi, well-known as

3. The Celebrated Summer movie project. This Saturday at Dirty Shirlows everyone is invited to bring their own video recording device, but it’s not conditional. You can just come and watch close to ten hours of music from a range of genres, all performing for your cinematic recording pleasure: Hacks, Fag Panic, AXXONN, Godswounds:Twin Battery, Mekare-Kares and heaps more are due. The fun starts at 1pm. 4. Ben Jorgensen. Former Armor For Sleep frontman Ben Jorgensen will tour in January to support his new solo EP, There Is Nowhere Left To Go. Friday 21 January at the Cabbage Tree Hotel, Saturday 22 January at The Gaelic and Sunday 23 at the Cambridge Hotel. 5. Dropsaw final show. Yes, the Newcastle hardcore unit Dropsaw are playing their final ever show Friday 3 December, on home turf at The Cambridge. Special guests are Mindsnare, Against, Relentless and Phantoms. This show will be huge.

LOCAL GIG GUIDE

THURSDAY

Endless Heights, The Hollow, Lovers Grave, Aftermath, Violence – Hot Damn, Phoenix/QBar

SATURDAY Sienna Skies, Tonight Alive, Chemical Transport, The Sunnyside Up, Zygotic – Masonic Hall The Rumjacks, Handsome Young Strangers – Jets Sports Club Catch Stu presenting Short.Fast.Loud. every Wednesday night from 10pm on triple j.

SOCIAL DISTORTION

NEW FEEDBACK After pulling out of their last planned tour of Australia sceptics still holding a proverbial question mark over Social Distortion’s announced appearance at next year’s Soundwave lineup. The classic ’80 cowpunk pioneers are looking more and more likely to follow through on their promise this time though and radio station KROQ have premiered the band’s new track, Machine Gun Blues, on their website. The track comes from their forthcoming and seventh studio album, Hard Times & Nursery Rhymes, their first release in six years. Talking to the station Ness explained, “The record only took four months to make; we’re a touring band… we’ve been touring all over the world the last six years. The thing is – if you want to make a record you have to stop touring. I didn’t want that much time to go by, but what can you say… I didn’t have these ideas yet. I didn’t know that I would have had them two years ago.” With regards to self-producing the record, Ness said, “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I love being on that side of the board. Even though I’ve co-produced all of our records, I always was there for everything. It just came to a point where I was like ‘I think I want to try this, I want to do this ourselves.’ By being at the helm this time allowed so much more focus for me to the fine details of every aspect of it, whether it was performances, or tones, or arrangements, backing vocals, everything.” The track is streaming on the KROQ site at the moment and will be available to download from iTunes from this month.

Contact Stu at shortfast@drummedia.com.au

TAFE Entertainment, Blacktown Arts Centre, Blacktown City Council and BYSA Present

Get Your Music Career Off The Ground!

Free music industry info sessions and Q&A, including a song-writing workshop with

Rai Thistlethwayte of

Thirsty Merc

Blacktown Arts Centre

Saturday 27th Nov 11.00am-4.30pm Reservations: 02 9839 6385

Launch 2010 is a drug and alcohol free event

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www.launchevent.com.au

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 67 •


HIP HOP WITH VIKTOR KRUM Keep an ear out for the new EP, the third in fact, from Taylor King, Running Circles. The young singer/ songwriter has recently turned 18, so he’ll be gigging even more and hopefully a graduate of Sydney’s all ages scene can really extend his impact in the coming year.

Bigfoot’s Giant Steps is out. The title is well earned. He’s a legend. Get this. Seriously. Graffiti At The Wall is coming up on Saturday 27 November, my dudes and dudettes. It’s pretty exciting times. Don’t be scared by the entry fee either. That’s how much gigs cost. OK? We good? Good. Graffiti at The Wall is an all ages festival that is also – get this – independently run. That means it’s a festival that doesn’t operate with the support of other festivals? It’s a festival that no longer has a curfew? That got its P plates first try? That abandoned the Labor party because it became disillusioned? Who knows. But, independently run or not, it’s a festival worth rubbing your chin about. The lineup is Mind Over Matter, Phatchance & Coptic Soldier doing a joint set, Johnny Utah, Billy B, Daily Meds, Electric Elements Crew, Dseeva and DJ Skae. Quite a lineup! And it was all put together without help from any other festivals. You know the date. Ignore the price ($22 pre-sale, $25 on the door). Your job is to get to 343 Parramatta Road and enjoy the graffiti (and rap battles!). Your mother and I agree that you’re mature enough to go without a chaperone. One of the (independent?) acts playing on 27 November is – as we discussed – Mind Over Matter. Our two likely lads from Sydney’s North Shore are set to tear the country up with a tour called Rappers In Wonderland. It’s a tour based on their free single of the same name available online if you’re quick (and lucky). Some people are going nuts about it. Among them: the triple j Unearthed boffins. Make of that what you will. The important (sub) fact of all this is: if you miss the single download and you miss Graffiti at The Wall then you can still catch those lovable MOM youngsters playing in Wollongong at the Cabbage Tree Hotel Thursday 25 November and in Newcastle at the Great Northern Hotel Friday 3 December. What fun! Warning! Potential double booking heading your way! I know you had already sorted out what you are going to be up to Saturday 27 November but I thought it would be worth telling you about a fundraiser also happening that night. It’s a fundraiser for – get this – the first and only non-profit surf school (!) in Cuba (!) Totally! There are some youngsters in Havana who have had a difficult time of it and – with your help – they could be hanging ten in no time. Tickets are $18 and you’ll get to see a series of Cuban skating documentaries as

ALL AGES WITH SCOTT FITZSIMONS

There’s a free youth forum offering information and advice regarding the film industry happening at the Customs House Library Tuesday 23 November, from 6–8pm. Forums will be led by professional speakers who’ll be answering questions regarding the industry, how to break into it and how to stay there. Speakers include documentary maker Ruth Cullen, TV and film expert James Findlay and creative Kate Taylor. It’s aimed at people aged 15 – 30 years of age and is limited to 45 spots, so RSVP as soon as possible to ctorrington@ cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9245 1503.

OUT AND ABOUT OZI BATLA well as a surfing doco. Also: Ozi Batla is headlining! Head online for further details and get ready to feel good about helping other people surf! Let the diarising begin… Who was your favourite guest emcee in American pop music? That’s right: Ludacris. He always seemed to be able to arrive, explain that his little finger was worth “over three hundred thou…sand!” and drift away; quick as a flash. Songs were improved. Charisma was added. Fans were entertained. Money was made (I imagine). This year has, if nothing else, seen the relative decline of Ludacris as the pop-rapper du jour. In his place sits Nicki Minaj; she of the odd voice and magnificent bottom. She’s popped (popped! Get it?) up with a bunch of chart-toppers recently, and it’s good news. Her verse with Trey was pretty great. Her verse with Rihanna is better. You should hear her brief Weather Girls impression. Wonderful! Anyway, her rap on Kanye’s Monster is one of the more exciting things that has happened recently and… her album’s not out yet! No album! Let’s just hope she doesn’t follow crazy ol’ Luda’s formula: incredible guest, not so comfortable flying solo. “It’s raining men/bad bitches.” getittogether@drummedia.com.au

Hoping to make all ages shows a regular occurrence in Wollongong, SOL Studios are branding themselves as a new all ages venue in the city. To kick things off their hosting a show this Friday from 6.30pm which will be headlined by The Holy Soul, highy regarded in local circles thanks to their album, Damn You, Ra. Also on the bill are Nice Folk, Dinkibike, Tzar Bomber, The Flat White Cats and Thomas Covenant. They’ve done their bit, now it’s up to you to get along and support your local bands and the local scene. The two ends of Australia’s pop-rock spectrum will be on show this Friday, as both the old guard and newcomers make their way to Sydney’s stages. Playing The Factory Theatre, Amy Meredith are starting to break to the surface of mainstream success (appearing on TV left, right and centre) with their debut album, Restless. Also with a new album, Mousetrap Heart, Thirsty Merc are well into their career with a solid and loyal fanbase. Touring on the back of that record they’ll be at The Metro Theatre on the same night. After playing around town last week on Despised Icon’s first and last ever tour of Australia, national deathmetal/ deathcore favourites The Red Shore are returning to those regional venues that that run of shows missed for headline appearances. Saturday they’re due at the Cambridge Hotel, which’ll is followed up by an appearance by Wollongong’s Centenary Hall. For the

POP CULTURE THERAPY WITH ADAM CURLEY Yet another article about Facebook by the author Zadie Smith was published in the New York Review Of Books in the light of Jesse Eisenberg turning Mark Zuckerberg into a damaged babe-genius in The Social Network. In the article, unimaginatively headlined ‘Generation Why?’, to paraphrase, Smith decries the “pack mentality” Facebook inspires as well as the “flattening” of individual personalities through what she sees as infinitely limited technology that is accepted as reflective of the human experience only because we want it to be or can’t do better. Smith writes that our lists of ‘likes’ and the sharing and appropriation of “personal trivia” skims over the need to develop deeper, nuanced views and habits, feelings and relationships – to ‘become somebody’ – because “to Zuckerberg, sharing your choices with everybody (and doing what they do) is being somebody.” It might seem ironic that the woman whose name, in that annoyingly large white font, can be spotted on the bookshelf of every sharehouse anyone’s ever been to is writing about the homogenisation of culture but her article, and a response piece published in the The Atlantic by senior editor Alexis Madrigal, have had me thinking about the failures of the recent ARIA Awards. And not because Jessica Mauboy resembles a Harvard graduate. In Madrigal’s article, he argues Smith is wrong about Facebook encouraging homogenisation because we “live in the time of the hyperniche” where we have many more outlets to publish and receive information we’re interested in than ever before, as well as more communication with people interested in the same things. It might seem as if everyone on Facebook has suddenly decided to ‘like’ that woman from Vivian Girls’ side project, but in fact it’s a tiny percentage of people using Facebook and an even smaller percentage of people interested in music, or western music, or American ‘indie’ music. The ways in which Madrigal’s true sentiment can be related to the music industry are obvious: fragmented recording and publicity sector, influx of small-scale and online media outlets, blah blah etc. When at times it appears as if our music culture is becoming more and more homogenised, the actual sales and listening (or viewing or reading) figures show a culture with more options being taken by fewer people. Or, to put it in less humanistic, capitalism terms, a marketplace of niches. • 68 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

After years of falling interest and a format that didn’t seem to reflect what was happening in our culture, this year the ARIAs attempted to remedy things by loosening up proceedings and incorporating more and varied artists and ‘genres’ (the extent of which is contentious, but I addressed that last week) – this time, not just what can be heard on drive-time radio but more of what less people, everywhere, in Australia are listening to. And still no one cared. Why? Because attempting to converge ‘niche markets’ to create a product that appeals to all people is a fundamentally flawed endeavour. It’s like trying to cook a meal that will appeal to everyone who eats, or that point at a party where the person you’re talking to tries to hook you up with their friend because “he’s gay too”. It’s a lesson that should be heeded by other awards initiatives, particularly those like the Australian Music Prize, which has shown signs of trying to be more ‘inclusive’ in its shortlists and its judging process. In fact, many of the awards comps in recent years have been leaning towards models that make it possible for genres and acts outside their traditional markets/audiences to be shortlisted or win, as well as more objective judging processes. That’s fine (even great) as far as the critical process goes, but let’s face it, there’s often a disparity between the critical process and audience ‘taste’, and if audience is key to continuation, it doesn’t make for potential market success. As more niche markets pop up, in the “time of the hyperniche”, the music industry doesn’t need larger events that include them all. We need smaller events grown by and targeted towards specific music communities, as crosspollinated as they may be. breakdown@drummedia.com.au

hardcore fans there’s also a VIP tickets package for these headline shows which includes a ticket, copy of their new album, The Avarice Of Man, exclusive T-shirt and meet and greet with the band. Head to their website so get into that action. The Rock’n’Roll Alternative Market is back again this weekend - the regular event seems like it’s taking off. Once again from 11am to 4.30pm there’ll be a range of stalls with a range of clothing, accessories, records, CDs, art, collectables, comics, candle makers and all the rest of that stuff that you’re unlikely to be as interested in anywhere else. On top of that from 12.30–6pm there’ll be live music and DJs, with this week The Rumjacks (check out their new album, Gangs Of New Holland) as well as Handsome Young Strangers. DJing will be regulars DJs Limpin’ Jimmy & The Swingin’ Kitten. This is your last warning to RSVP for the next Generationext event, which you have to do before 5pm Thursday. For 12-18 year olds, the Museum Of Contemporary Art throws its doors open to its exhibitions for teenagers on a Sunday evening where they can talk art and drink mocktails without the pressures of teachers or parents. Supervised by the MCA staff, the dress-up theme is film noir/black and white this time with Willow Jones the solo performer. It runs from 6–8pm this Sunday. allages@drummedia.com.au

TALES FROM THE BIG APPLE WITH TOM HAWKING The glorious madness of CMJ is over, the clocks have gone back, the temperature is slowly heading downwards and NY Conversation is settling in for the autumn (or the fall, if you will). This time of year is beautiful here, mainly because a) it’s neither uncomfortably hot nor soul-crushingly freezing and b) the leaves on the trees go through a spectacular gamut of vivid autumnal shades before they finally fall for the winter. Americans tend to look at me with a measure of pity when I tell them that in Australia, the leaves just, y’know, turn brown and die.

JESSE EISENBERG

THE HOLY SOUL

To coincide with the changing season, NY Conversation’s home base is also on the move to the next stop on the sublet express. Having spent the last couple of months in the Brooklyn riverside enclave of Red Hook, we’ve moved uptown to Harlem. Growing up in Melbourne, the word “Harlem” conjured up all sorts of images – mainly negative ones. It was the archetypal neighbourhood to which you just don’t go: tumbledown tenements, crack dealers, gun crime, deprivation, riots. Stereotypes all, obviously, but ones perpetuated by Hollywood and the breathless only-in-America stories you get in the Australian media. Such attitudes aren’t confined to foreigners raised on blaxploitation films and Murdoch news either. At least one friend who lives downtown in Chelsea expressed horror at the thought of us living here: “It’s not safe,” she gasped. We decided against telling her that our new place was directly opposite the 125 St projects. But touching wood and crossing everything remotely crossable, we’ve not had any trouble so far. Harlem’s rough and ready, certainly, but it’s not intimidating. In some ways, it reminds me of India – there’s a happy sense of chaos to the scrum of street vendors selling aromatic oils and pirated hip hop CDs along 125 St, and definitely a touch of the subcontinent about the guy who sold me a packet of 40 daily contact lenses with the promise that each pair could last a month (“They put the same lenses in all the packets, man! Daily, monthly… it don’t make no difference!”) And where else in the world would you find a barbers’ showdown (featuring, inter alia, Jay-Z and Diddy’s personal barbers)? As ever in New York, too, there are also many threads to

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unravel. I find myself wondering if there’s any conflict between the large Christian and Muslim populations here – along 125 St, the hajjis selling Korans and Black Panther memorabilia seem to coexist happily enough with the gospel choir and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I wonder if that’s always the case. And occasionally, there are aspects of black culture that verge on open hostility to whites – like the crazy preacher on Malcolm X Blvd who wants to force all property owners out of the district or the van that’s always parked on 125 St with a sign on the side that says, “Mugabe is right! UN hands off Zimbabwe”, which I always walk quickly past. But the lunatic fringe aside, I’ve never felt unwelcome. People are friendly. People say hello. In fact, what I find most endearing about Harlem is the sense of community that seems to endure here. Like all big cities, NYC is a transitory place – everyone’s from somewhere else and, ultimately, everyone is going somewhere else. And then there are the hours – downtown, everyone works so hard that they pretty much don’t have time for friends. I’ve heard several people complain of the impossibility of maintaining relationships in a city where everyone works 12-hour days and then some. (Unless you’re a freelancer like me of course, in which case you don’t work at all and spend all your time agonising over how you’re going to pay the rent.) Such concerns seem more than just 100 blocks away up here. People may struggle to make ends meet, but they know one another – it’s really rather heartwarming to see all the kids from the projects heading off to the school across the road together. It’s of course easy to idealise such things – and certainly, I’m glad that I’m living opposite the projects, not in them – but still, there’s a palpable feeling of being part of a larger community here that’s almost entirely lacking in the city’s more fashionable areas. It may be presumptuous or idealistic to count myself part of this, but for now, at least, it feels like home up here. And after six peripatetic months bouncing from one place to the next, that’s a good feeling indeed.


BLUE MOVES BLUES AND ROOTS WITH DAN CONDON Well, as I’m sure you’re all aware by now, the Sydney Festival lineup has dropped and organisers have yet again pulled some mighty big names out of their bag of tricks for the 2011 edition of the festival. There is a lot of amazing blues and roots-related stuff including performances from Los Lobos, Emmylou Harris & Her Red Dirt Boys, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Holly Miranda, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, The Necks, Gareth Liddiard, The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, Mountain Man, Olof Arnalds, Villagers and a whole stack more. The shows are littered all around the city and the cost of each event varies quite a bit so your best bet is to head along to sydneyfestival.org.au and suss out all of the finer details for yourself. With the announcement of the lineup for the Golden Plains festival in rural Victoria a couple of weeks ago came that all too familiar pang of hope that we might get some sideshows up this way. So far things aren’t looking too bad in that regard with a couple of the acts announced to be playing club shows in Sydney town early next year. Readers of this column ought to be more than interested in the first ever Australian tour from Brazilian psych legends Os Mutantes. The story of this band cannot be done justice in this short amount of space, but I strongly recommend you read some of the material readily available about their history – it is absolutely fascinating. At the time of their formation, the band’s mix of traditional Brazilian music with American psychedelia was gutsy to say the least. The songs they

Fans of the hard-driving blues rock of The Black Keys who aren’t interested in venturing out to the Big Day Out next year will be rejoicing after hearing that the duo has announced a Big Day Out sideshow to hit the Enmore Theatre on Saturday 29 January. They’re out here on the back of their Brothers album, which seems to have done pretty well for them, and you’re always guaranteed an energetic live show when they come to town so this one ought to be very popular. Tickets are on sale now for $67.60. Local organ-driven groovers Clayton Doley’s Organ Donors have just announced that they’ve inked a deal with a record label in the US, which is very exciting news indeed. They have a new record due for release fairly soon, but in the meantime you can catch them playing plenty of the new material each Wednesday night this month at The Macquarie Hotel from 8.30pm.

OS MUTANTES performed were stunning though and it will be a real pleasure to see them in Australia. They play the Enmore Theatre on Wednesday 9 March; tickets are on sale from Ticketek from Thursday morning onwards. Baroquetinged American folk sensation Joanna Newsom will be back in town when she’s out here for the festival as well, playing the City Recital Hall Wednesday 9 March and we reckon there’ll probably be a couple more announcements as the festival draws closer. It would be nice to see Justin Townes Earle, Hawkwind and Imelda May up here at the very least!

Axe-slinging man-about-town Steve Edmonds has about a million shows on the horizon as per usual; the guy likes to keep busy. If you get a hankering to see the man live in action some time this month then you can find him at the Empire Hotel this Thursday and Thursday 25 November, as well as a part of the Jimi Hendrix Tribute at the Enmore Theatre on Saturday, and also Wickham Park Hotel Sunday, Mona Vale Hotel Friday 26 November, Dicey Riley’s Wollongong Saturday 27 and the Kent Hotel on Sunday 28. Get in touch with the venues for details on starting times etcetera. rootsdown@drummedia.com.au

A collaboration between songwriter and guitarist Geoff Achison and electric violinist Adrian Keating, the Classically Blue series is being reinvigorated at The Basement, Circular Quay, Sunday 28 November in a gig that will be recorded for DVD and CD. Geoff Achison spoke about the project.

What’s inspired you to return to the Classically Blue series? “I guess we all got so busy with our other musical pursuits that Classically Blue was beginning to fade into history. All the same, when visiting Sydney I was working with the same guys – violinist Adrian Keating and bassist Steve Sampson – but playing more original materiel under the Souldiggers moniker which it’s the usual band name no matter where I am. The difference with this group is Adrian’s incredible talent for string arrangements. He doesn’t just come up with a part to play in the band, he invents a whole arrangement with counter melody’s and harmonies.”

What is it about the violin/guitar duo that inspires you? “To make an analogy I guess if our usual rockin’ blues combo goes like a tough old Holden, the strings make it go like a Porsche.”

Why do you think the partnership works so well? “You have are several musicians who are very serious and passionate about music with very broad tastes. So while I‘ve learned to play listening to old blues records, it doesn’t mean I don’t have an appreciation for Bach or Beethoven. Sadly I can’t play classical music. With the strings players it’s the opposite.”

KEEP WALKING JAZZ/WORLD WITH MICHAEL SMITH TUESDAY

Jones takes the band up to the Carrington Hotel.

SUNDAY

The Jazzgroove doubleheader at 505 features the keyboards-led Gerard Masters Trio, who also plays The Hollywood Hotel Wednesday night with The Falls, and the tenor saxophonist Sean Coffin project known as scQuintet.

Blues boogie pianist Bridie King shares the Bald Faced Stag bill with Cuban salsa band JJ Son And Idalbelis, direct from Santiago, the Dili All Stars and the Solidarity Choir in a fundraiser for Timor, from noon.

Singer Paul Sun and Monique Lysiak play Jazushi tonight, while Sun hits the Leichhardt and Frenchs Forest Organic Food Markets Saturday and Sunday mornings in trio mode.

Casula Powerhouse presents music from Sudan with Yasmin Ibrahim Mohamed from 2pm.

TINA HARROD

The versatile Elana Stone joins the James Valentine Quartet down at the Golden Sheaf.

Bassist, composer and bandleader Lloyd Swanton leads The catholics into 505.

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY

Trumpeter Nick Garbett takes his six-piece roots/groovebased project Garfish into 505. The John Redmond Trio plays the Manhattan Lounge.

THURSDAY Veteran pianist and composer Bobby Gebert opens the night down at The Vanguard for Katy Wren, who launches her debut album, Human. Taking a break from recording their latest album, Urban Gypsies play 505.

FRIDAY The inimitable Judy Bailey and her trio will share the headline with the sax-led Andrew Robson Trio in the Sound Lounge tonight.

Brainchild of trumpeter and composer Eamon Dilworth, The quintet known as The Dilworths hit the Sound Lounge. Tenor saxophonist Tim Clarkson takes his trio, featuring double bassist Phil Stack, into Colbourne Ave. 505 hosts an evening of Amnesty International presenting Global Sounds with African choir Mungano, Kurdish group The Weeping Kaval, transcultural ensemble Sun, Cloud And Rose, Mexican singer Pilar Angon, Maltese band Skorba and more.

The afternoon jazz at Berkelouw Wine Bar comes courtesy the Steve Barry Quartet. Vaucluse House hosts its annual Jazz In The Garden, this year featuring Dick & Christa Hughes, Tina Harrod and The Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra performing from 6pm. Pianist and composer Fiona Joy Hawkins and her special guest, American guitarist Will Ackerman, along with her Blue Dream Band play the Basement Circular Quay.

TUESDAY Singer Emma Pask launches her third album, Some Other Spring, at the Basement Circular Quay with an all-star band that includes special guest Dale Barlow.

There’s a Latin flavour to the Berkelouw Wine Bar courtesy The Amada Trio.

The Mike Nock Quartet with tenor saxophonist Karl Laskowski play 505.

Armed with a new live album, Modern Folk, Vince

blow@drummedia.com.au

ROCKABILLY/PSYCHOBILLY/ALT.COUNTRY WITH PEDRO MANOY TUESDAY Adam Pringle & Friends jam at the Sandringham Hotel from 8pm.

WEDNESDAY Bernie Hayes plays the downstairs room of the Sandringham Hotel while the Muso’s Club Jam Night is the spot for all blues fans, at the Bald Faced Stag. Clayton Doley’s Organ Donors continue their monthlong residency at the Mac Hotel.

THURSDAY Residencies for the Steve Edmonds Band at the Empire Hotel from 7pm and Ross Ward at GJ’s Coffee Lounge in Cronulla as well as the long-running Muso’s Club Jam Night at the Carousel Inn continue. Geoff Achison is up from Victoria to play the Old Manly Boat Shed and Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson drop in from Queensland to play Lizotte’s in Dee Why.

FRIDAY Jump Jive & Wail takes over the Chambers Hotel in the CBD with Limpin’ Jimmy & The Swingin’ Kitten spinning a great range of neo-swing and jump blues from 9pm. Geoff Achison moves to the Laycock Street Theatre while the John Leigh Calder Trio have their regular date at the Hotel Clarendon in Surry Hills. The Loungephonics revive memories of the legendary courtesy bus at the Iron Duke Hotel in Alexandria. At the Mortdale Hotel you’ll find the very upbeat Flamin’ Beauties.

JAN PRESTON SATURDAY Patonga Blues Across The Bay features Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson, piano boogie queen Jan Preston and more at the Broken Bay Sports & Rec Centre from 12.30pm with bookings and info on 0417 671 261. Dave Tice & Mark Evans are longtime regulars at the Sandringham Hotel from 4pm. There’s a big night at the Enmore Theatre with the Experience Jimi Hendrix Show featuring Kevin Borich, Nathan Cavaleri, Phil Emmanuel, Steve Edmonds and more. Marshall & The Fro play the Vanguard from 8.30pm and the Shane Pacey Blues Trio swing the Bald Rock Hotel.

SUNDAY The Sydney Rock’n’Roll & Alternative Market at Jets Sports Club, Tempe features The Rumjacks, Handsome Young Strangers and Limpin’ Jimmy & The Swingin’ Kitten with all the fun of the fair from 11am. Psycho Zydeco have a bayou style cruise on Sydney Harbour

aboard the Rocks Rhythmboat, departing 11.45am from Pyrmont Bay Wharf with bookings essential on 0421 395 619. BluesAngels are at Randall’s On The Beach at Killcare from 12.30pm and the Canberra Blues Society Jam takes over the Statesman Hotel in the ACT from 1pm. Finn play the Macquarie Arms Hotel and Marshall & The Fro swing the Towradgi Beach Hotel, both gigs from 2pm. The John Leigh Calder Trio play the Hotel Clarendon in Surry Hills from 3pm and The Project are at the Lidcombe Hotel from 4pm. Marrickville Bowlo hosts the Blackhill Ramblers and guitarist Ray Beadle is solo at the Kiama Golf Club. Geoff Achison headlines Beaches in Thirroul and the Steve Edmonds Band rock the Wickham Park Hotel from the late afternoon onwards. The Sandringham Hotel features one of its regular Gang Bang jams and Michelle Van Der Meer & The Midnight Ramblers get jiggy at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel from 5pm. Chris Turner & The Cavemen go ape at the Bald Rock Hotel while Kristina Olsen with Jim Conway’s Little Wheel have a big night in store at the Cat & Fiddle Hotel, both shows from 6pm. The Underground Blues Jam heads to the Manhattan Lounge hosted by Texas blues man Frank Macias and Ross Ward is solo at the Sutherland United Services Club. Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson switch to Lizotte’s in Newcastle and the omnipresent Terry Batu is at the Royal Hotel in Orange. swampshack@drummedia.com.au

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With a new band Albare Travel Diary, who take their name from the title of their CD, jazz guitarist Albare will be launching said CD at The Basement, Circular Quay, this Wednesday. Renowned as an acid jazz purveyor he’s developed his sound quite dramatically on this new project, as he tells Drum.

Can you please describe the evolution of your sound in the new album? “The sound is a function of the story you tell. The story of Travel Diary is a dream story. Travel comes with dreams, the romantic side of the travel when it’s over and you feel how fantastic it was to be here or there, or perhaps what a blessing it is to be back home. Travel is also a life journey and the sum of the experiences you bring to this music, and in that sense nothing can beat experience. My experience was enriched by also being the Artistic Director of one of Australia’s largest jazz festivals (the Melbourne International Jazz Festival) and this also plays a part of my own musical evolution.”

Was putting the new band together an easy process? “Very. Rob Burke and I have been playing together for 20 years, 17 years with Joe Chindamo, 16 with Evripides Evripedou and the only newie, although we’ve known each other for a long time, is Tony Floyd.”

How does this album – and period of songwriting in general – sit with the rest of your career? “It’s always where you’re at, at the time of publishing. I am particularly happy with the way Travel Diary sounds; it should make people dream. That would fulfil mine.”

ENTER THE COUNTRY The first announcement of the Central Coast Country Music Festival has been made, with the event eventually set to sprawl over 25 venues encompassing 80 artists over Friday 11 – Sunday 13 March. Having become one of the biggest festivals outside of Tamworth in recent years the first announcement boasts some of the nation’s best with most of the events being free. Gina Jeffreys and Felicity Urquhart will both play in free events in Memorial Park at The Entrance. Also due to perform over the weekend are Amber Lawrence, Catherine Britt, Daniel Thompson, Lianna Rose and McAlister Kemp. The buskers of the region will also have their chance to shine as they line the city’s streets. The festival also hosts a youth showcase, poet’s event, line dancing displays, busking competitions, stalls and amusement rides.

NEW COUNTRY AWARDS The Country Music Channel has announced that they will be expanding their annual CMC Oz Artist Of The Year events next year to incorporate three new categories, which will make up the new CMC Music Awards collectively. Now in its fifth year, the now four publicly-voted categories will be International Artist Of The Year, New Oz Artist Of The Year, Music Video Of The Year as well as the major gong, Oz Artist Of The Year. Voting for the awards will commence Wednesday 15 December on their website, countrymusicchannel. com.au, but nominations for the video of the year are now being taken from a list of 50 selected by the station. The awards will be announced Friday 4 March, with Adam Brand looking to win the major award for the fifth year in a row. THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 69 •


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THIS WEEK IN TUESDAY 16 Robin Williams: Weapons Of Self Destruction – first stand-up tour of Australia by the Hollywood superstar actor/comedian. Support comes from The Umbilical Brothers. Final show. Sydney Entertainment Centre, 8pm.

WEDNESDAY 17 Dancing Athletes – sixty-minute programme of dance showcasing the athletics of the Australian Ballet. Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, 11:30am.

FRIDAY 19 Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life 1990-2005 – presented in Australia as part of the biennial Reportage photography festival, this exhibition, the largest collection of photography by Annie Leibovitz ever to be shown in Australia, was organised by the Brooklyn Museum and comes to Australia after touring the US and Europe. The exhibition feature Leibovitz’s portraits for Vanity Fair and Vogue among other publications, as well as fieldwork and intimate shots. Opening day. MCA until 27 March 2001.

SATURDAY 20 Kreutzer vs Kreutzer – the Australian Chamber Orchestra teams up with director Sarah Giles to bring two Kreutzer sonatas (one by Beethoven, the other by Janácek) and a play by Laura Wade, Kreautzer vs Kreutzer. World premiere performance of both pieces of music and the play together. Starring Robin McLeavy (STC’s A Streetcar Named Desire,The Loved Ones) and Samuel West (Notting Hill, Enron). City Recital Hall, Angel Place, 8pm. (Repeats Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Sunday 21, 2:30pm.)

SUNDAY 21 Primavera 2010 – last day to see MCA’s annual showcase of the work of Australian artists under the age of 35. Consistently the most exciting exhibition held on these shores. MCA. Runa Islam – last day to see video artist Runa Islam’s first solo exhibition in Australia. MCA.

ARTS Tom Gleeson: Get It Into Ya! – Australian funnyman takes up residency in Sydney, returning with his rejigged Sydney Comedy Festival show. Final night. The Comedy Store. We Call Them Pirates Out Here: MCA Collection selected by David Elliot – last day to see this exhibition, curated by 2011 Biennale of Sydney artistic director David Elliot from works in the MCA’s collection. MCA.

MONDAY 22 The Films of Kenneth Anger – three films by US experimental filmmaker Kenneth Anger: Scorpio Rising, tracing the cult of the tribal motorcycle gang; Inauguration Of The Pleasure Dome and Lucifer Rising, involving Egyptian mythology and the rise of Lucifer. Chauvel Cinema, 6:30pm.

ONGOING Angela’s Kitchen – new piece from Paul Capsis and Julian Meyrick about Capsis’ grandmother that begins at the dinner table and spirals into a dense family history. Griffin Theatre’s SBW Stable Theatre until 18 December. Dobell Prize For Drawing 2010 – exhibition showcasing the finalists in and winner of the 2010 Dobell Prize, Australia’s more respected award for drawing. AGNSW until 30 January 2011. True West – written by Sam Shepard, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and starring Wayne Blair and Brendan Cowell, this is theatre dripping with sweat and testosterone involving two brothers who have just reconnected and come head-to-head with a clash of ideas. Wharf 1, Sydney Theatre until 18 December. Uncle Vanya – final Main Stage production for Sydney Theatre Company’s 2010 season and it’s a star-studded affair, with Cate Blanchett, John Bell, Richard Roxburgh, Jacki Weaver and Hugo Weaving all in the cast. Based on the Chekov classic but updated by Andrew Upton. Sydney Theatre until 1 January 2011.

UNSETTLINGS GROUP PERFORMANCE Twelve artists about to complete the PACT Ensemble Program are joining forces for Unsettlings, a group performance and series of visual performances highlighting the various cultural layers within us, translated from Japanese and Afrikaans. Unsettlings performs Wednesday 18 November to Saturday 4 December at PACT, Erskineville. Head to pact.net. au for more information.

SCORE BIG An important element of every film is its soundtrack (even silence is soundtrack if intended) and each year we are presented many fine examples (can you imagine Inception without its foreboding BAHM-BAHMBAHM-BAHM?). There’s even an Australian Screen Music Awards. Max Tropscore recognises this and is, for the third year now, celebrating

COMEDY ROBIN WILLIAMS

Sydney Entertainment Centre, 18/11/2010 Touring his stand-up comedy in Australia for the first time, the Sydney Entertainment Centre was packed with folk who were keen to see the eccentric performer and star of Mrs Doubtfire. Williams’ fame and manic persona naturally preceded him and, you’d hope, justified the price tag for tickets. Unfortunately, poor old Robin is as funny as the heart surgery he’s recently undergone. We are the last stop on his Weapons Of Self Destruction tour, the last to see a routine he has performed over 200 times. Splashing water around the stage and saying ‘fuck’ like most people breathe, it surely must be the best comedy show a disobedient nine-year-old could hope for. Jokes that ‘could have’ demonstrated Williams’ alleged wit are uncomfortable to hear. Nazis have

GIVEAWAYS

DREAM A BIG DREAM The Indian Film Festival: Bollywood And Beyond will be returning in 2011 and whilst details are still scarce on the event, organisers are calling out for entries from you to enter their short film competition, which kicked off at this year’s event. The theme this time is ‘dream’ and films are to be no longer than ten minutes. Entries close Friday 15 January. Head to indianfilmfestival.com.au for details.

REVIEWS silly voices. Monica Lewinski is a slag. Barack Obama is a secret muslim. Don’t you hate it when taxi driver’s don’t speak English? But hell, this is the country of Hey Hey It’s Saturday! and it was a hit with the white middle-class bigots that decided to enjoy it. Appearing on David Letterman after having recorded Happy Feet 2 in Australia, Williams commented that Australians are “basically English rednecks”. It’s hard to disagree. Supporting Robin Williams were The Umbilical Brothers, a duo that specialise in particularly unfunny sound effects and physical comedy. The highlights of their set were a) when they pretended to blow up the audience with an invisible army tank; b) a sequence where they imagined that their fingers were ‘people’ and had a race along the stage; c) when they left. 5SPROCKET

Sporting Michael Jordan on its cover, NBA 2K11 also features many game modes that allow you to play as the former Chicago Bulls star including legendary matches from Jordan’s history and a career-path mode to take the Number 23 from rookie to, well, there’s no other word to describe him but ‘legend’. Of course, in addition is the regular NBA 2K gameplay, featuring a whole new host of enhancements. Thanks to 2K Games we’ve got a copy of the title for Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo Wii up for grabs, each coming with a branded T-shirt. For your chance to win, email giveaways@drummedia. com.au with ‘NBA 2K’ in the subject line and your preferred console in the email body. Possibly the greatest trilogy in motion picture history (apologies to The Godfather and Toy Story), the complete Back To The Future series has finally been given the Blu-ray treatment to mark the 25th anniversary of the first film’s release and we can confirm that it’s a lush package. Containing all three films and over five hours’ worth of bonus features, including deleted scenes, outtakes and various featurettes, this is must-own material if you’ve a Blu-ray player. Thanks to Universal we’ve five copies to give away. For your chance to win one email

giveaways@drummedia.com.au with ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ in the subject line.

Featuring cameos from the likes of Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Moby and Henry Rollins and starring Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), Suck already has star-power behind it, but then add its plotline – the tale of a struggling band that succumbs to the temptation of vampirism – and you’ve got yourselves the workings of a cult film set to become a perennial favourite. Released on limited run in cinemas now’s your chance to catch it. Loaded with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, thanks to Universal we’ve five copies of the film on DVD to give away. For your chance to win one email giveaways@ drummedia.com.au with ‘SUCK’ in the subject line.

TOP 5: JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL THE JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL KICKS OFF THIS WEEK, BRINGING WITH IT A HOST OF FILMS THAT MIGHT NOT ORDINARILY SCREEN IN AUSTRALIA. HERE IS FRONT ROW’S PICK. SWORD OF DESPERATION Forget guns, bombs, even knives, there’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of a well-choreographed sword fight. Sword Of Desperation is the latest in a long line of samurai films and fans of the pseudo-genre will recognise the name Shuhei Fujisawa, the famed author of such works as The Twilight Samurai, the film adaptation of which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2002. It stars Etsushi Toyokawa (20th Century Boys, The Sinking Of Japan, A Good Husband) as swordsman, Sanzaemon, released only a year after killing a powerful yet corrupt figure. WHERE & WHEN: Event Cinemas George St Sunday 28 November, 4:15pm

TIME OF EVE Time Of Eve is an anime television series and its film version, simply released under the TV show’s name, is the complete series. In the film, a science fiction tale set in the future, androids are as commonplace in • 70 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

the best in motion picture scoring. Musician and composers from across the country are invited to submit a three-minute score to accompany a short film that’s been produced by filmmaker David Hansen. The winner will perform their score at Tropfest 2011 and have their song included on the Tropfest DVD, as well as scoring cash. You have until Thursday 13 January to get your entries in. Head to maxtv.com.au/tropscore for details.

society as humans. When lead protagonist Rikuo realises that his android Sammy has started showing signs of independent character, he decides to investigate, uncovering the beginnings of robot independence in the process. WHERE & WHEN: Event Cinemas George St Saturday 27 November, 2pm

SOLANIN Based on the popular manga series of the same name, Solanin is the live action adaptation and is kind of like a Japanese Scott Pilgrim, which in itself was taking inspiration from manga. A young couple has left university, work in bum jobs and search for meaning in life – all the while one of them dreams of success with their pop band. A hip coming of age story. Trainspotters will notice the lead actress, Aoi Miyazaki. WHERE & WHEN: Event Cinemas Friday 26 Noember, 6:30pm

ZERO FOCUS A stylish film that’s billed as “Charlie’s Angels meets Alfred Hitchcock” it’s the latter accolation

FLAVOR OF HAPPINESS

cooking? Check. We’re suckers for all of the above and, whilst to some this has the potential to be a sleep-inducing nightmare of tedium, we’re pretty sure the Japanese will be as meticulous to detail with this film as they are with their sashimi. Set in a Chinese restaurant in the fishing village of Kanazawa, west of Nagano, a restaurant owner and widow strike up a bond in the kitchen, he teaching her the secrets of Chinese cooking. Here’s hoping it’s the cinema equivalent of the Oishinbo manga series.

Picturesque seaside town? Check. Set in a restaurant? Check. Lots of

WHERE & WHEN: Event Cinemas Thursday 25 November, 6:30pm

that’s drawn us in. A remake of the 1961 film of the same name, this new adaptation of Seicho Matsumoto’s novel marks the 100th anniversary of its publication. That such a story is still chilling today speaks volumes of the story: a newlywed man goes missing not long after the wedding ceremony, sparking his wife to trace his steps across Japan in search of him, unlocking secrets of his past along the way. WHERE & WHEN: Event Cinemas Wednesday 24 November, 9pm


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ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF

installation called Live, performing alone to the viewer, who will be provided with headphones to experience an intensely intimate performance. We can’t wait. It’s a world premiere, too.

SYDNEY SYDNEY FESTIVAL HAS LAUNCHED ITS JANUARY 2011, AND WITH OVER 100 PERFORMANCES BEING STAGED IT CAN BE A DAUNTING PROCESS DECIDING WHAT TO SEE. WITH THIS IN MIND, DANIEL CRICHTON-ROUSE TRIES TO HELP WITH HIS TEN MUST-SEE SHOWS AND EVENTS. and Kronos Quartet – and the classic story of Dracula, this is a must-see event for anybody interested in cinema, or music for that matter.

PHILIP GLASS AND KRONOS QUARTET PERFORMING DRACULA Dracula is a black&white classic from the Universal vault, released in 1931 and starring one of the most well-known stars of B-moviess in the first half of last century, Béla Lugosi (also know for his roles in such films as Plan 9 From Outer Space and The Raven with Boris Karloff). The film was never released with a soundtrack but in 1998 composer Philip Glass (Koyaanisqatsi, scores for Candyman, The Truman Show, Kundun) was commissioned to write and record a score. The resulting soundtrack, performed by Glass with Kronos Quartet, came out just in time for the film’s 2000 addition to the US National Film Registry. Bringing together three icons of the 20th Century – Béla Lugosi, Philip Glass

FILM

SEEING JOHN MALKOVICH Most of us – well, probably almost all of us – have only seen John Malkovich on a screen, via films such as Burn After Reading, Con Air or Being John Malkovich, but come January he will be in Sydney, in the flesh. It’s almost unnecessary what he’s here for, but we should probably tell you for good measure. Malkovich will be playing Venetian playboy Giacomo Casanova – known simply to you and I as Casanova – in The Giacomo Variations and will be performing excerpts from his Historie de ma Vie with accompanying music from Casanova contemporary Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE DOMAIN We’re a sucker for any event in the Domain, whether it be music festivals or theatre. Having the city as your backdrop, there’s nothing quite like the experience of dusk in the Domain with a drink and friends. Sydney Festival can be relied on to provide at least a couple of events – free ones too – in the park, and whilst, sure Festival First Night and Los Lobos are happening, our money’s on Midsummer Shakespeare, a highlights package of the Bard’s work, featuring musical highlights from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Prokofiev’s Romeo And Juliet, before Bell Shakespeare’s John Bell will deliver scenes from Henry V accompanied by the Symphony and Philharmonia Choirs. An evening picnic in the park sounds good by us.

PUT ON YOUR RED SHOES AND DANCE THE BLUES The Red Shoes is a title that’s been thrown around a lot this year, thanks to Martin Scorsese’s restoration of the 1948 film that’s universally recognised as being a masterpiece. It’s been doing the rounds across the world either at film festivals or gaining cinema runs (the Chauvel

MAKING FIRST CONTACT AT CHIFLEY SQUARE

Cinema jumped on board earlier this year) and so it’s perfect timing to be bringing a live theatrical show that has its roots in the same place as the film: Hans Christian Anderson’s fairytale of that name about a girl gifted shoes that make her dance.

A ROOM FOR REVUE One of the most exciting nightclubs in Sydney’s history, Trocadero, was the place to be in the 1940s and 1950s, and met its demise – as so many clubs do – in the 1970s. This year, Sydney Festival is bringing the spirit of the Troc back, through its Trocadero Dance Palace at the recently refurbished Town Hall. Expect the place to be full of swing dancers, lindy hoppers, zoot suits and quiffs. For its first two nights, the headline act will be UK brass ensemble Orkestra del Sol and then for the last two nights, Californian neo-swing group Royal Crown Revue will be bringing the zip-gun-bop. Maybe it’ll be so good the club remains?

INTIMATE PERFORMANCES FROM JARVIS, FEIST, AND RUFUS How would you like one-on-one performances from some of our favourite musical artists? Jarvis Cocker, Rufus Wainwright, Sarah Blasko, Gareth Liddiard and Warren Ellis among others will each be performing songs by way of a video

REVIEWS

MACHETE A throwback to B-grade guilty pleasures and ’70s genre films, Machete is as ultraviolent as it is hilarious, a revenge adventure complete with big fuck-off shiny knives, drug-dealing mofo baddies and lots and lots of naked ladies. Readers, you are challenged to find a cooler movie about Mexicans than this. And no, worthy as they may be, dipping into ‘shot, chopped and scored’ director Robert Rodriguez’s body of work for films like El Mariachi, Desperado and Once Upon A Time In Mexico won’t cut the mustard. Not bad for a film that originated as a fake trailer screening during Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse doublefeature. Danny Trejo is Machete. You may know him from such films as Con Air, From Dusk Till Dawn and Spy Kids. Here, he is in supreme badass mode as an ex-federale and illegal immigrant up against no good

Festival First Night is a behemoth of an event, a world-class night of entertainment that’s quickly become one of the city’s anticipated events. Of course, being a free event you’d be mad not to take in a bit of everything, from Eddie Perfect to Arrested Development, but we’re going to point out the most interesting part (well, to us anyway) of the night: First Contact, a huge projection of artwork by NZ artist Michel Tuffery based on Captain Cook’s exploration of the South Pacific, at Chifley Square, making for a 12-storey high wall of art accompanied by live soundtrack from DJ Nomad.

ENTITY, FEATURING JON HOPKINS AND THE DIVINE COMEDY’S JOBY TALBOT Contemporary dance is so fucking hot right now. If you’re yet to take the plunge (it’s an acquired taste) we reckon Wayne McGregor | Random Dance’s Entity will be a great place to start. One thing that dance provides that most other forms of live performance lack is sensuality, which it oozes whether intended or not. McGregor’s a name with a significant pedigree, having choreographed films, headline sets for Glastonbury and for some of the biggest names in ballet. The icing on the cake of Entity is that this work features a score by electronic artist Jon Hopkins, which, according to a post on JH’s website, is comprised of music that made it onto his album Insides (the post is dated early 2008). So there you go – if you’re a fan, there’s reason enough

MADE YOU

THE MESSENGER

lawbreakers on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border following the murder of his wife. In America he meets feisty taco vendor Luz (Michelle Rodriguez), as well as by-the-book immigration official Sartana Rivera (Jessica Alba) before enlisting their help in his fight against the corrupt Senator John McLaughlin (Robert De Niro) and samurai sword-wielding drug lord Torrez (Steven Seagal). Also along for the ride are a very starkers Lindsay Lohan, Cheech Marin and Don Johnson. Rodriguez is a frequently overlooked director, particularly as he has a penchant for kid’s films. As well as that many see him as a poor man’s Tarantino. However the Sin City filmmaker has pistol-whipped out yet another not-to-be-missed bloodletting action spectacular, and it’s fucking amazing. WHERE & WHEN: Screening in cinemas from 11 November ANITA CONNORS

The subject of the Iraq War has recently made for a number of great documentaries and TV series and even a very few great – or even good – fictional feature films. A cynic could make the case for a good deal of The Hurt Locker’s hosannas being an overreaction in relation to preachy dreck like Lions For Lambs or Home Of The Brave. Enter The Messenger, an account of the human toll of the war, to buck the trend. On a military base in New Jersey, recently injured soldier Will (Ben Foster) is assigned to the Casualty Notification Team under the guidance of the older and more experienced Tony (Woody Harrelson), who shows him the ropes. After several harrowing experiences on the job, Will becomes intrigued by the curiously muted reaction of Olivia to the news of her husband’s passing and a tentative relationship begins between her and Will that affects all three players in unpredictable ways. That such an engaging and unexpectedly entertaining film emerges from a premise based on what is often considered the least desirable job in the military is

to see Entity because that album’s amazing. In addition to Hopkins’ involvement, there will also be music by The Divine Comedy’s Joby Talbot.

largely a testament to Harrelson’s performance. As the motormouthed, tough-shelled career soldier, he undergoes a fairly standard arc, his cocky bravado eventually dissipating to reveal a broken man (cue waterworks-in-private scene). But he’s magnetic enough that his character’s familiarity is kept at bay. Foster too is a revelation, dialling down his usual bug-eyed scenerychewing for a unexpectedly tender turn, while Samantha Morton is Samantha Morton, i.e. as incapable of a false moment as ever. A long, mid-film interaction between the two, played out in a single fluid take, is one of the best-acted scenes in recent memory. What could’ve been frustratingly opaque characters are given immense clarity in moments like this one. The Messenger is ultimately an unabashed male weepie and engagement with the film will depend on one’s threshold for wounded machismo. Indeed, it’d be roughly 30 minutes shorter without all the scenes of Foster drinking whiskey straight from the bottle, alone in his room with metal pumping in the background. But for fans of the ‘actor’s showcase’, it’ll be harder to find more flawlessly embodied grief and angst at the movies this year. It’s also a must for Steve Buscemi completists – his brief performance is one of his best. WHERE & WHEN: Screening in cinemas now IAN BARR

THE NIGHT GARDEN OF DARLING HARBOUR The Chinese Garden at Darling Harbour gets a facelift for the latter part of January and a second name to boot: Power Plant. Not only this but its makeover will be night-focused, creating a nocturnal world of visual and aural delights. Using site-specific installations the gardens will become animated and illuminated with unusual animals, sounds and lighting. We’re hoping it’ll be like stepping into the Secret Garden by way of Wonderland and, uh, Blade Runner. (Hey, we’ve got your attention, right?)

IT’S MILLER TIME In a nutshell: Bigger Than Jesus is by the same guy that created MacHomer (that run-through of Shakespeare’s work through the characters of The Simpsons) so, you know, if you liked that you’d be crazy not to be snapping up tickets to this already. Rick Miller conducts a multimedia mass looking at the historical and modern views of Christianity. Featuring a preacher, a flight attendant on Air Jesus and a return of Homer Simpson, one thing’s for certain: this isn’t going to be just another boring mass. WHAT: Sydney Festival WHERE & WHEN: Various locations around the city Friday 8 January to Saturday 30

LOOK

WITH BETHANY SMALL I saw Tracey Emin the other day, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. She was in the central foyer with Edmund Capon, the gallery’s director, and the couple of hundred people in the audience. My arrival ten minutes before the talk was due to begin was too late to get even one of the emergency camp stools let alone the massed chairs set up to accommodate these other visitors, so I stood off to the left in stupid heels and tried to avoid eye contact with a couple of people specifically and the crowd in general. We may have been there to see an artist who’s made a career of examining and documenting and explaining herself, but that does not mean we have to talk to each other! I thought about how slightly strange it was to have Capon act as mediator for Emin in a public appearance. She is headlinesweepingly controversial and famed for opening up her private life in her art, while he, well, it’s not quite the same for people running museums. Is Capon maybe in some way a moderator of the public as Emin encounters them? I.e. is he making sure she’s comprehensible to us, or is he ensuring that the event’ll have a certain shape for her? Whatever shape that might be, you can bet it won’t have a fourth wall. How authentic can a public conversation, the full official deal with the microphones and big red armchairs and the film crew from the ABC and all the people there

to watch it, really be? Especially between two people who already know one another and have a whole stack of common ground that they need to keep off in order to not be confusing and potentially irrelevant to the spectators, who have their own performances to engage in. At an event like this the necessity of appearing to be totally into what’s going on gets so intense that it’s distracting even when you really are interested. You can actually see people around the room get their little momentary kick of pride when they realise they’ve been caught up in the talk rather than storing up bits of it to quote later or scanning the crowd for people who should see them there. Then that sad little moment of working out that by thinking that they aren’t anymore, followed by the brief phase of imagining that they’re going to ask a question at the end, a question so insightful and charming that the addressee and the asker will immediately form an inviolable bond. A bond just like the one that Tracey Emin developed with Louise Bourgeois when they were working together just before the latter’s death, which you’d know all about if you attended the talk. What? No, no vicarious insights here beyond her boat being named after her cat. Make your own friends! *I did not ask a question, at the talk, and, at time of writing, Tracey Emin and I are yet to become friends. THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 71 •


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TOM GLEESON TALKS TO BAZ MCALISTER ABOUT HIS EXHAUSTING TELEVISION COMMITMENTS, HIS PHILOSOPHY OF FUNNY, AND BRINGING THE LAST HOORAH OF HIS FESTIVAL SHOW TO SYDNEY.

THE GIGGLE OF

GLEESON Tom Gleeson’s one of those comedians everybody knows, but he’s refreshingly pragmatic and modest about the whole thing. He’s a familiar face around the nation from television, mainly from skitHOUSE, but in actual fact his first telly gig was writing for a show called O’Loughlin On Saturday Night, hosted by The New Inventors’ James O’Loughlin.

“Like all stand-up comedians I thought it was all going to be about TV. I thought that was the end point of a career,” Gleeson explains. “When I got the O’Loughlin gig I thought ‘This is it, I’ve cracked it.’ Then that show just petered out and I didn’t get any other writing jobs. I thought I would because hey – I’d ‘cracked it’. “So I was doing stand-up and getting to the point where I thought, ‘I’m a comedian, this is what I enjoy doing,’ and I’d resigned myself to doing that for the rest of my life, then I get a phone call saying, ‘Do you want to be on a sketch show on Channel Ten?’ So when skitHOUSE finished I was more prepared and I started to change my perspective – I’m a comedian who does stand-up and because of that you sometimes get asked to do other weird jobs, which include TV.” You’ll still see Gleeson pop up on the idiot box, on Good News Week or The 7PM Project and the like, but he says guesting on those

•72 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

shows is far from taxing on his time. It’s not as if Gleeson’s on as much as Glee. “Sure, I’m looking busy from a comedian perspective but, I mean, I turn up on TV once a week for an hour. I can’t really call that flat out! Okay, sure, sometimes there’s some preparation time of up to... two hours! It’s not busy when you compare it to most people’s schedules. I hope I’m on TV often enough that people won’t forget who I am but not so often I become annoying.”

If you can’t get enough of Gleeson in the corner of your lounge room he’s coming to a comedy club stage near you soon to perform the best bits of his sold-out solo festival show from this year, Get It Into Ya. Not only that but he’ll be releasing his first DVD in the next few months too. “I did Get It Into Ya at Sydney Comedy Festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival and at the Sit Down in Brisbane back in February this year. My shows sold out then – so essentially I just thought I could

bleed more money out of those towns! If you hit gold, you don’t just throw your pan away. You go back to the creek and have another go,” he laughs. But Gleeson says not to worry – it won’t be money for old rope. His show has evolved on the festival circuit, as they often do. As a comic working on topical TV shows he’s often called upon to work up new material on current events and he says that’s something he’s learned not to ignore. “Some people’s style is so off-thewall that they take the audience to a complete fantasy place. But if you’re onstage and you’re talking about other topical things and you leave something out, like an earthquake that’s in the news and that all the other comics on the bill have talked about – suddenly you look like your act’s a bit dusty.” WHO: Tom Gleeson WHERE & WHEN: The Comedy Store until 22 November


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 73 •


frontrow@drummedia.com.au teenagers find themselves joining the military.

GNAWING AT THE

BONE

“That was a very big learning curve for me,” Granik admits. “I remember I was trying to speak initially to real recruiters and they said, ‘Look, we’ll talk to you but, you know, you are from the coast, we are from the heartland, you don’t know a thing about our lives and you don’t know how the military really works. We’re third or fourth generation military family, it’s always been our way out; when it’s not a wartime military, it’s always been our route to education and training. It’s always been the employment that we could count on. And it’s a serious part of life here and it always has been.’

ANITA CONNORS SPEAKS TO FILMMAKER DEBRA GRANIK ABOUT HER HIGHLY ACCLAIMED SECOND FEATURE, WINTER’S BONE.

MAIN PIC: JENNIFER LAWRENCE AS REE INSET: DIRECTOR DEBRA GRANIK A young girl’s father goes missing after being released from prison on bail. Up against her own community, she has to find him no matter what the cost, the only other option is to lose everything. This is Winter’s Bone. “It kinda came down to the fact that we all trusted Ree; that the protagonist was written in such a way that made people from the region feel proud,” says director Debra Granik of the central protagonist, played by Jennifer Lawrence. “She was someone who exhibited characteristics that are very valued: that she is a very self-reliant person; that she is a person that values the wellbeing of her siblings; that she knew what to fight for; that

she was really standing against meth. She was very aware of [what] it was costing her family and the damage it was doing and she was kinda calling that out as much as a teenage kid can do.” Set and shot in the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri, Winter’s Bone is a breathtaking and compelling story which, in large part, is about rural poverty and drugs. But more than that, this international film festival favourite was made ultimately through a joint collaboration between Granik and her crew and locals from the area. “It’s a hard area to live in, a hard area to make a go of; there are a lot of people living in poverty in that region

and so it’s definitely hard to look at. That’s hard to see up onscreen and it’s hard to have that mirror held up especially when you add meth to that mixture. Many people took a big leap of faith to make the film, [but] we feel confident that good things will flow from Ree’s story. People will find her life worthy and her struggles and, by definition, then take some time to look behind the houses. Even if they have things in the yard that look unsightly or that the house looks poor, it’s still worthy to get to know who’s the girl who lives inside that house.” Another particularly arresting feature of the film is the discussion it opens up about how so many American

“The United States Army, it was made up primarily from the heartland. Then [we met] one recruiter, a real sergeant, [who] was just very soulful and he was just very, very amenable to conducting the interview with Ree - very much how he would conduct an interview with any high school student. And what was interesting for us as filmmakers was we had total cooperation, his superiors totally permitted him being in the film. “He was very frightened, he’d never done his work in front of an audience; he’d only done it one on one with students. He took that risk and, in the end, we did find him very soulful because he seemed to have a lot of understanding of her situation economically, and it was just clear to me he was no newcomer to young people seeking military service and employment out of dire financial circumstances.” WHAT: Winter’s Bone WHERE & WHEN: Screening in cinemas now

C U LT U R A L

CRINGE

WITH JAMELLE WELLS Underbelly and Home And Away actor Alan Cinis has been charged with drug offences after police allegedly found 12 bags of cannabis and six plants in a raid on his Leichhardt home. The 50-year-old is also a Greens Councillor, elected in 2008 after campaigning on traffic issues and the need to help underprivileged children. He’ll face court next month. There have been mixed reaction in the theatre world to the National Institute of Dramatic Art signing a sponsorship deal with the Seven Network, thought to be worth more than $1 million over five years. It’s the first time NIDA has done such a deal in its 52-year history. NIDA chief executive Lynne Williams says the money will go towards a film and television programme, to be launched next year. She says Channel Seven employees will do master classes at NIDA and also invite students to sit in on their work. NIDA has previously been criticised by actors such as Robyn Nevin and its former artistic director John Clark for focusing on television and neglecting theatre. Screen Australia’s annual Drama Report shows spending was up two per cent last finanical year, with expenditure by television drama for adults at a ten-year high. The organisation says the results are partly due to the producers offset tax rebate.

Joan Sutherland’s memorial service at the Opera House included a tribute from Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The Concert Hall was full of celebrities, Margaret Whitlam, Ros Packer, Neil Armfield, John Bell, Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean, Greens senator Bob Brown and Premier Kristina Keneally among them. There were filmed excerpts from Sutherland’s performances in La Traviata with Luciano Pavarotti and her signature role in Lucia di Lammermoor. Last week the City of Sydney council reminded us of its ‘in kind’ sponsorship for a string of mainstream musicals. This week we’ve been reminded of the $2 million cash support it’s giving the 2011 Sydney Festival. Lord Mayor Clover Moore says it’s money well spent with the three-week event likely to attract more than one million people. The winner of this year’s Dobell Prize For Drawing, Suzanne Archer, has beaten 45 finalists from 635 entries. Her rather strange self-portrait, Derangement, has lots of dead things in it and is on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Entertainers from the world of musical theatre will celebrate the work of composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim at the Sydney World AIDS Day concert at the Conservatorium of Music next Monday. The lineup includes David Harris, Geraldine Turner, Lucy Durack and Trevor Ashley among many, backed by a 30-piece orchestra.

WWW.DUEDATEMOVIE.COM.AU Strong coarse language, drug use and sexual references

• 74 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

IN CINEMAS NOV 25


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 75 •


• 76 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


live@drummedia.com.au BARONESS @ ANNANDALE HOTEL. PIC: ROD HUNT

NATIONAL

BARONESS

AKANAME SUMMONUS

Annandale Hotel 12/11/10 Like Baroness, local doom aficionados Summonus were ultimately spawned by Sabbath, so it was fitting that the band got down and dirty with the rising stars from Savannah Georgia. Describing the experience isn’t brain surgery. Summonus came, they “doomed” (look, a new verb was just invented) and left. The walls shook, heads banged (slowly) and the faithful were left smiling. Melbourne’s genre bending Akaname were a confusing proposal more suited to fans of The Dillinger Escape Plan and any number of Hydra Head records’ shoegazing roster than anyone else. Nonetheless their fierce angular sound was explosive and hard hitting and their performance no doubt won them some new converts. Baroness are an act on the rise. This is a band that can score a support slot with the family-friendly metal titans Metallica and then turn around and rip through Sydney’s metal underground without breaking a sweat. The appeal of Baroness quite clearly crosses cultural and musical boundaries. The sold-out crowd featured everyone from grizzled beardos in Pelican T-shirts through the Newtown crust brigade right up to guys who looked like they’d taken the wrong turn in their search for a jazz quartet. Why all the fuss? Quite simply Baroness is the real deal. They put out real albums with real songs and then they hit the road and then play these songs like their lives depend on them. With a minimum of banter Baroness belted out track after track of sludgy, stony brilliance cushioned by an overt nod to classic ‘70s rock. While their set was primarily drawn from both the Red and Blue LPs, it was the tracks from the latter that got the most cheers. Whether it was the hypnotic rumble of The Sweetest Curse, the riff-o-matic assault of Jake Leg, or even the pummelling brilliance of A Horse Called Golgotha, Baroness could do no wrong. Their no-frills live assault was honed to perfection thanks to an endless touring cycle and the songs themselves were instantly engaging. But what was really different about Baroness is that this was a band obviously brimming with ideas. Existing tracks were tweaked on the run and the band jammed away with snippets of new loose instrumentals that sounded intriguingly awesome. For once the hype is probably justified – Baroness are one of the bands that will ensure metal’s survival well into the 21st Century. Mark Hebblewhite

DJANIMALS: Nov 17 Beach Road Hotel, Nov 18 Oxford Art Factory JEFF MARTIN & TEREPAI RICHMOND: Nov 17 Brass Monkey, Nov 18 & 19 The Basement Circular Quay, Nov 23 Lizotte’s Newcastle, Nov 24 Vault 146, Dec 4 Heritage Hotel, Dec 5 Hotel Gearin, Dec 7 Lizotte’s Kincumber, Dec 8 Lizotte’s Dee Why GARETH LIDDIARD: Nov 17 Lizotte’s Newcastle, Nov 18 Lizotte’s Kincumber, Nov 20 Oxford Art Factory, Nov 21 Clarendon Guesthouse THIRSTY MERC: Nov 17 ANU Bar, Nov 18 Grand Hotel, Nov 19 The Metro AXXONN: Nov 19 The Wall, Nov 20 Dirty Shirlows WORLD’S END PRESS: Nov 18 Good God, Nov 19 Coogee Diggers ANDY BULL: Nov 18 The Clarendon, Nov 19 Spectrum THE JEZABELS: Nov 18 Harp Hotel Wollongong, Nov 19 The Gaelic, Nov 20 Clarendon THE MONITORS: Nov 18 Excelsior Hotel Surry Hills, Nov 19 Great Northern Newcastle, Dec 9 Valve Bar BONJAH: Nov 18 The Brewery DIESEL: Nov 18 & 19 Brass Monkey OWL EYES: Nov 19 Melt AMY MEREDITH: Nov 19 The Factory CLAIRY BROWN & THE BANGIN’ RACKETTES: Nov 19 The Vanguard KOOLISM: Nov 19 Gearin Hotel, Dec 9 Melt Bar BOAT PEOPLE: Nov 19 Sandringham Hotel, Nov 20 Beaches Hotel Newcastle NUMBERS RADIO: Nov 19 World Bar, Nov 20 Northern Star KASEY CHAMBERS: Nov 19 Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nov 20 State Theatre, Nov 21 Canberra Theatre SALLY SELTMANN: Nov 19 Grand Hotel, Nov 20 The Factory, Nov 21 Brass Monkey JERICCO: Nov 19 Fitzroy Hotel, Nov 20 The Maram, Nov 25 Harp Hotel Wollongong, Nov 26 Hamilton Station Hotel THE VASCO ERA: Nov 19 The Maram, Nov 20 Annandale Hotel THE RED SHORE: Nov 20 Cambridge Hotel, Nov 21 Centenary Hall SYDONIA: Nov 20 ANU Bar EMMA DEAN: Nov 20 Raval CROWDED HOUSE: Nov 20 Hope Estate CHEMICAL TRANSPORT: Nov 20 Church On Chalmers, Nov 26 Crest Hotel BAG RAIDERS: Nov 21 King St Hotel Newcastle, Dec 4 The Forum HOODOO GURUS*: Nov 23 & 24 Manly Fisho’s,

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FEATURE TOUR

NEIL FINN

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, YORK THEATRE From Split Enz to Crowded House, the Finn brothers and a variety of supersized side projects, New Zealander Neil Finn is one of the most influential and gifted songwriters from this region of the past three decades. Performing only with the aid of a piano and an acoustic guitar, Finn is taking the stage for some rare solo performances within the intimate surrounds of the Seymour Centre’s York Theatre. Finn will play songs from his entire back catalogue, including the aforementioned acts, as well as some unreleased solo material.

Nov 26 Revesby Workers, Nov 27 The Forum, Nov 28 Sharkie’s MY DISCO: Nov 24 ANU Bar, Nov 25 Cambridge Hotel, Nov 26 Manning Bar JEZ MEAD: Nov 24 View Factory, Nov 25 Front Gallery, Nov 26 Heritage Hotel, Nov 27 Raval PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY: Nov 25 Beachcomber Hotel, Nov 26 ANU Bar, Dec 16 Caringbah Bizzo’s, Dec 17 Mona Vale Hotel, Dec 18 Grand Hotel CHILDREN COLLIDE: Nov 25 Blush Nightclub, Nov 26 Manly Fisho’s, Nov 28 The Maram THE LUCKY WONDERS: Nov 25 Lizotte’s Kincumber YOU AM I: Nov 25 Castle Hill RSL BELLES WILL RING: Nov 25 Grand Hotel, Nov 26 The Gaelic, Nov 27 Cambridge Hotel, Dec 10 Hotel Gearin THE CAIROS, YOUNG HERETICS: Nov 26 World Bar JIMMY BARNES: Nov 26 Royal Theatre, Nov 27 Enmore Theatre PENNY IKINGER: Nov 26 Cabbage Tree Hotel, Nov 28 Sandringham Hotel THE CHEMIST: Nov 26 Melt, Nov 27 Hamilton Station Hotel WENDY MATTHEWS: Nov 26 State Theatre BETTY AIRS: Nov 26 Grand Hotel, Dec 18 Roxbury Hotel ILLY, 360, SKRYPTCHA: Nov 27 Transit Bar THE TONGUE, SPIT SYNDICATE: Nov 27 The Gaelic PHATCHANCE, COPTIC SOLDIER: Nov 27 The Wall TASH PARKER: Nov 28 The Vanguard THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS: Nov 28 Baroque, Nov 30 Brass Monkey, Dec 1 Beach Road Hotel, Dec 2 Grand Hotel, Dec 3 ANU Bar, Dec 4 Oxford Art Factory ADAM COUSENS: Nov 29 Phoenix Canberra, Dec 2 Lansdowne Hotel, ADAM BRAND: Dec 1 Rooty Hill RSL, Dec 4 Katoomba RSL, Dec 19 Wests Leagues Newcastle TWELVE FOOT NINJA: Dec 1 Grand Hotel, Dec 2

Hamilton Station Hotel, Dec 4 St. James Hotel CUSTOM KINGS: Dec 1 Harp Hotel, Dec 2 The Clarendon, Dec 3 Old Manly Boatshed PARIS WELLS: Dec 2 The Vanguard DEAD LETTER CHORUS, DAN PARSONS, SEAGULL: Dec 3 Oxford Art Factory, Dec 5 Brass Monkey MARCIA HINES: Dec 4 State Theatre SIERRA FIN: Dec 4 Raval DRAPHT: Dec 4 The Gaelic JONATHAN BOULET*: Dec 4 Beach Road Hotel THE CHURCH: Dec 4 Tilley’s, Dec 5 Notes, Dec 8 Lizotte’s Kincumber, Dec 9 & 10 Lizotte’s Newcastle MATT CORBY: Dec 7 Brass Monkey, Dec 8 OTIS Bar, Dec 9 Independent Theatre, Dec 10 View Factory STRAIGHT ARROWS*: Dec 8 Newcastle Croatian Club, Dec 9 Goodgod CLOUD CONTROL: Dec 8 Beach Road Hotel, Dec 16 Transit Bar, Dec 18 The Factory JEBEDIAH: Dec 9 Annandale Hotel LAURA JEAN: Dec 10 Red Rattler SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR: Dec 10 The Factory, Dec 11 Street Theatre THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS: Dec 10 Mona Vale Hotel, Jan 6 Waves, Jan 7 Entrance Leagues MR PERCIVAL: Dec 13 & 14 Brass Monkey GOSSLING: Dec 15 The Vanguard HUMAN NATURE: Dec 17 & 18 State Theatre DARREN HANLON: Dec 18 St Stephen’s Anglican Church Newtown GRINSPOON: Dec 30 Entrance Leagues, Dec 31 Shellharbour Workers, Jan 7 Selina’s, Jan 8 Mounties

INTERNATIONAL ELECTRIC WIRE HUSTLE: Nov 17 Tone JOE PUG: Nov 17 Red Rattler, Nov 18 Raval THAT 1 GUY: Nov 18 Transit Bar, Dec 5

Cambridge Hotel, Dec 8 Hotel Gearin, Dec 10 The Factory NEIL FINN: Nov 17 & 18 Seymour Centre KAKI KING: Nov 19 Oxford Art Factory FEMI KUTI: Nov 20 The Metro GARY PUCKETT: Nov 20 Ettalong Bowling Club SUMMERBEATZ* feat. FLO RIDA, JAY SEAN, JA RULE, TRAVIE MCCOY: Nov 20 Acer Arena BONE THUGS N HARMONY: Nov 21 The Gaelic PIETA BROWN: Nov 22 The Basement Circular Quay GEMMA RAY: Nov 23 Raval, Nov 24 Brass Monkey METRONOMY: Nov 23 Oxford Art Factory RICHARD BONA: Nov 24 The Basement Circular Quay FAT FREDDY’S DROP: Nov 25 Enmore Theatre PHAROAHE MONCH, JEAN GRAE: Nov 26 The Metro CUTE IS WHAT WE AIM FOR: Nov 26 The Factory DJ KRUSH: Nov 26 The Basement Circular Quay DNBBQ feat. MAKOTO, LYNX & KEMO: Nov 27 Manning Bar STICK TO YOUR GUNS: Nov 27 (arvo) Blacktown Masonic Hall, Nov 27 Teen Wolves, Nov 28 Oasis Youth Centre, Nov 30 Axis Youth Centre SMOKIE: Nov 28 Enmore Theatre ELIZA DOOLITTLE: Nov 30 Oxford Art Factory THE EAGLES: Nov 30, Dec 2 & 3 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Dec 6 & 7 Acer Arena THE LEMONHEADS: Dec 1 The Metro SHAWN MULLINS: Dec 1 The Basement REEL BIG FISH, THE AQUABATS: Dec 3 UNSW Roundhouse SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS: Dec 3 Enmore Theatre FOZZY: Dec 3 The Factory SOLA ROSA: Dec 3 The Gaelic KORN: Dec 4 Hordern Pavilion GUNS N’ ROSES: Dec 4 ANZ Stadium ARCHITECTS: Dec 4 The Metro

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 77 •


live@drummedia.com.au

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

LITTLE SCOUT

Manning Bar 10/11/10 MARY GAUTHIER: Dec 4 Notes LINKIN PARK: Dec 4 Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Dec 11 & 15 Acer Arena GOTAN PROJECT: Dec 5 Sydney Opera House THE FALL: Dec 7 The Metro BLONDIE, THE PRETENDERS: Dec 7, 8, 9 Enmore Theatre, Dec 11 Bimbadgen Estate, Dec 14 Royal Theatre GIRLS: Dec 8 Manning Bar BROADCAST: Dec 8 The Forum WASHED OUT: Dec 9 Oxford Art Factory MUSE: Dec 9 & 10 Acer Arena THE BOUNCING SOULS, HOT WATER MUSIC: Dec 10 The Metro EL GUINCHO: Dec 10 The Gaelic JENNY HVAL: Dec 10 Red Rattler JOEY CAPE: Dec 11 Sandringham Hotel JACK JOHNSON: Dec 11 The Domain THE FIELD: Dec 11 The Gaelic BIFFY CLYRO*: Dec 11 The Factory REVEREND HORTON HEAT: Dec 11 The Metro CLIPSE: Dec 12 The Metro U2, JAY-Z: Dec 13 & 14 ANZ Stadium THOSE DARLINS, JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD: Dec 15 Beach Road Hotel, Dec 16 Annandale Hotel RAP CITY* feat. BLACKALICIOUS, MURS & 9TH WONDER and more: Dec 16 The Forum GORILLAZ: Dec 16 Sydney Entertainment Centre ROBY LAKATOS: Dec 17 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall BON JOVI: Dec 17, 18 & 19 Sydney Football Stadium BOBBY BROWN, JOHNNY GILL, RALPH TRESVANT: Dec 18 Enmore Theatre BUILT TO SPILL: Dec 29 The Metro LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION: Dec 29 Oxford Art Factory MARINA & THE DIAMONDS: Dec 30 The Factory SHORE THING feat. DAVID GUETTA, ARMAND VAN HELDEN: Dec 31 Bondi Beach SHOUT OUT LOUDS: Jan 2 Annandale Hotel BORN RUFFIANS: Jan 3 Oxford Art Factory MYSTERY JETS: Jan 3 The Metro INTERPOL: Jan 4 Enmore Theatre THE MORNING BENDERS: Jan 4 Oxford Art Factory FUTURE OF THE LEFT: Jan 5 Annandale Hotel DARKEST HOUR: Jan 5 The Factory THE SOFT PACK: Jan 5 Manning Bar COLD WAR KIDS: Jan 6 Enmore Theatre HOT HOT HEAT: Jan 6

Warming up the stage, Brisbane five-piece Little Scout captured the audience with their sweet harmonic pop tunes. Relying mainly on reverbdrenched guitars with a strong emphasis on dual female vocals, the set was a solid showcase of their growing repertoire. Swirling drums and jangly guitars provided a gentle push that ensured a fluid set, while several songs were also adorned with singer Melissa Tickle’s tambourine, sprinkling a shine atop the mixture. Through some songs upbeat and others more chilled, Little Scout were on the mark tonight with their airy, mid-tempo pop tunes that, while not revolutionary, did possess a certain distinctiveness that will ensure that they don’t fall through the indie pop cracks like countless other hopeful bands of the same ilk.

SWERVEDRIVER

DRUM PRESENTS

OPEN ARMS: Nov 20 Coffs Harbour Showground MY DISCO: Nov 24 ANU Bar, Nov 25 Cambridge Hotel, Nov 26 Manning Bar THE LEMONHEADS: Dec 1 The Metro FOZZY: Dec 3 The Factory KORN: Dec 4 Hordern Pavilion THE FALL: Dec 7 The Metro GIRLS: Dec 8 Manning Bar FESTIVAL OF THE SUN: Dec 10 & 11 Sundowner Breakwall Tourist Park BUILT TO SPILL: Dec 29 The Metro PEATS RIDGE: Dec 29 – Jan 1 Glenworth Valley MARINA & THE DIAMONDS: Dec 30 The Factory SHOUT OUT LOUDS: Jan 2 Annandale Hotel MYSTERY JETS: Jan 3 The Metro INTERPOL: Jan 4 Enmore Theatre FUTURE OF THE LEFT: Jan 5 Annandale Hotel COLD WAR KIDS: Jan 6 Enmore Theatre JUNIP: Jan 8 The Metro THE NATIONAL: Jan 7 & 8 Enmore Theatre ANDREW WK: Jan 25 Oxford Art Factory RAGGAMUFFIN: Jan 28 Parramatta Park YEASAYER: Feb 7 The Metro TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB: Feb 7 Enmore Theatre STORNOWAY: Feb 8 Annandale Hotel FOALS: Feb 9 Enmore Theatre BEAR IN HEAVEN, THE ANTLERS: Feb 10 Annandale Hotel CARIBOU, FOURTET: Feb 17 The Metro SWERVEDRIVER: Feb 18 The Metro THE HOLD STEADY: Mar 8 The Metro THE CLEAN: Mar 9 The Factory Theatre WAVVES: Mar 9 Manning Bar BLUESFEST: Apr 21 – 25 Tyagarah DISTURBED: Apr 25 Acer Arena, Apr 28 Newcastle Entertainment Centre KYUSS LIVES: May 7 The Metro The Factory THE NATIONAL: Jan 7 & 8 Enmore Theatre JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS: Jan 7 Annandale Hotel FLYING LOTUS, HUDSON MOHAWKE, DAM FUNK, GASLAMP KILLER: Jan 7 The Forum NERD: Jan 7 Hordern Pavilion HANGGAI*: Jan 7 Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Jan 9 Famous Spiegeltent JUNIP: Jan 8 The Metro SLEIGH BELLS: Jan 8 The Forum MOS DEF: Jan 9 Enmore Theatre THE DYNAMITES*: Beck’s Bar KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS*: Jan 9, 11, 12 Famous Spiegeltent EMMYLOU HARRIS*: Jan 9 & 10 State Theatre ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT*: Jan 10 Beck’s Bar JUDY COLLINS: Jan 12 Wests Leagues Club Newcastle, Jan 17, 18, 19 The Basement Circular Quay THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION*: Jan 12 Beck’s Bar EMMURE*: Jan 13 Bald Faced Stag HENRIK SCHWARZ*: Jan 13 Beck’s Bar MOUNTAIN MAN*: Jan 13 & 14 Famous Spiegeltent GOLD PANDA*: Jan 14 Beck’s Bar LOS LOBOS*: Jan 14 State Theatre DJ HARVEY & DJ GARTH*: Jan 15 Beck’s Bar HOLLY GO LIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS*: Jan 15 & 16 Famous

• 78 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

Spiegeltent HOLLY MIRANDA*: Jan 15, 16, 18 Famous Spiegeltent OWEN PALLETT*: Jan 19 – 21 Famous Spiegeltent HEALTH, WIRE*: Jan 20 Beck’s Bar MATT & KIM*: Jan 21 Beck’s Barr SKILLET: Jan 21 The Metro COBBLESTONE JAZZ*: Jan 22 Beck’s Bar OLOF ARNALDS*: Jan 22 & 23 Famous Spiegeltent COLM MAC CON IRONMAIRE*: Jan 22 Sutherland Entertainment Centre, Jan 23 Riverside Theatre, Jan 25 – 27 Famous Spiegeltent LUPE FIASCO*: Jan 24 Enmore Theatre PLAN B*: Jan 24 The Metro CSS*: Jan 24 Oxford Art Factory COCOROSIE: Jan 25 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall ANDREW WK*: Jan 25 Oxford Art Factory THE JIM JONES REVUE*: Jan 25 The Metro AMANDA PALMER: Jan 26 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall BEACH HOUSE*: Jan 26 Beck’s Bar, Jan 27 City Recital Hall

FESTIVALS OPEN ARMS: Nov 20 Coffs Harbour Showground HARBOURLIFE: Nov 20 Mrs Macquarie’s Point NEWTON’S NATION: Nov 26 & 27 Mount

Canadian stalwarts The New Pornographers are known for their high-energy shows and tonight was no different. Bringing along the much-loved Neko Case for the ride, the evening saw the proverbial brake pushed very rarely as the group – a sevenpiece tonight – powered through a set of rambunctious tunes with incredible vigour. It’s true that there isn’t much variety to their songs – many adhere to a rather pedestrian structure, especially rhythmically – but when you’re bouncing off the walls from the enormous vivacity emanating from the stage, compositional values are hardly an issue. Older songs like The Laws Have Changed and The Body Says No sat comfortably alongside upbeat cuts from this year’s Together and several more relaxed acoustic numbers (Challengers), but what really elevated the performance was the enthusiasm of Case and singer A.C. Newman verbally as well. Genuine banter is a difficult thing to come across and yet the two yammered on amusingly, extending it to the songs as well – after discussing The Black Crowes there was a bit of a jam of their tunes, that drum pound from AC/DC’s Thunderstruck made a brief appearance and there was a failed foray into Miss Teen Wordpower – Newman insisted that he wanted to play it despite protests from Case and the whole thing fell apart less than a minute in when words and brains could no longer make any sense of one another. The beauty

Panorama STEREOSONIC: Nov 27 Sydney Showgrounds SUBSONIC: Dec 3 – 5 Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort FESTIVAL OF THE SUN: Dec 10 & 11 Sundowner Breakwall Tourist Park NO SLEEP TIL: Dec 18 Entertainment Quarter PEATS RIDGE: Dec 29 – Jan 1 Glenworth Valley HARBOUR PARTY: Dec 31 Luna Park FIELD DAY: Jan 1 The Domain ILLAWARRA FOLK FESTIVAL: Jan 13 – 16, Sticky Flat Bulli Showground A NEW BEGINNING: Jan 15 & 16 Lake Macquarie SUMMER VIBES: Jan 16 Newcastle Croatian Club BIG DAY OUT: Jan 26 & 27 Sydney Showground RAGGAMUFFIN: Jan 28 Parramatta Park ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL: Feb 6 Sydney College Of The Arts AUSTRALIAN BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL: Feb 10 – 13 Goulbourn GOOD VIBRATIONS: Feb 12 Centennial Park PLAYGROUND WEEKENDER: Feb 17 – 20 Del Rio Riverside Resort SOUNDWAVE: Feb 27 Eastern Creek Raceway CMC ROCKS THE HUNTER: Mar 5 & 6 Hope Estate FUTURE MUSIC: Mar 12 Randwick Racecourse BLUESFEST: Apr 21 – 25 Tyagarah * indicates new or amended listing this week Check with agencies for booking fees.

LEONARD COHEN

CLARE BOWDITCH

Acer Arena 08/11/10

The anticipation that greeted Leonard Cohen’s 2009 Australian performances was justified, the return being a series of unforgettable concerts that highlighted Cohen’s continued relevance and remarkable canon – a career retrospective that rewarded those who had waited through the long years of his absence. It beckoned then whether these encore performances would contain the same thrill of rediscovery, sitting as they were at the tail end of world tour that had essentially gone unabated for three years. It only took the opening strains of Dance Me To The End Of Love, coupled with his humble grace suffusing the room, to affirm this.

of this band is that things like this can happen and rather than seeming unprofessional, they just seem genuinely human, being a bunch of people having a bunch of fun playing music they love for a bunch of people who love them. Samey? Yeah, sometimes – but just shut up and dance. Giselle Nguyen

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS @ MANNING BAR PIC: CHAZ WEBB

Avalanche rolled into Tower Of Song and, when The Partisan arrived, anyone left doubting Cohen’s persuasive charm surely would have succumbed to the strains of “J’ai repris mon arme”. The night continued with renewed energy, with the band rejoining, augmenting Cohen’s words, until culminating with a joyous rendition of Take This Waltz, as Cohen skipped from the stage like a wizened sprite. Any doubts of Cohen’s staying power dissipated with rousing encores and standing ovations, as Closing Time was finally called. The only question left now was when the troubadour and his troupe would waltz into our lives again. Dave Harvey

This was still unresolved when Clare Bowditch took the stage earlier. Though outweighed by the revered stature of who was to follow, she delivered an assured performance, backed only by Pikelet on drums, culminating in a stirring rendition of Starting A War. That couldn’t have been further from the reality as Cohen entered the arena to rapturous applause. It was evident from the outset that Leonard Cohen had enveloped himself with a stunningly accomplished group of musicians, but, rather than dominating, their prowess allowed his voice to come into focus – the silken tones and cartwheels of the Webb sisters providing liquid punctuation, vocal commas to Cohen’s polished-gravel delivery. He implored us, down on his knees, that Everybody Knows, ordered us to redemption through The Future, but it wasn’t until Who By Fire sent a sublime physical jolt through the solar plexus that the inherent spirituality within his work drew the audience closer. The second part of the performance revealed another facet as Cohen, armed only with a guitar, delivered a stripped-back selection of earlier works without any adornment besides that voice of charcoal and satin. That was enough. Although the voice has lowered an octave or two, when he searched for the higher notes, the same plaintive, haunted and beautifully flawed tones of decades past carried the same poetry, seemingly tempered harder over time.

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LEONARD COHEN @ ACER ARENA. PIC: LINDA HELLER-SALVADOR


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 79 •


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THE SNOWDROPPERS

THE BEARDS THE DELTA RIGGS

Manning Bar 12/11/10

energy and introduction of “Weellllllll”, matched the ‘droppers’ original stuff perfectly. Fans who’d seen several of the band’s performances agreed that this wasn’t the best one, but was more than worth the admission price.

Openers Vigilante, a relatively new hardcore band, features Dean and Jake from Ill Brigade, and so expectations were set that the band sadly didn’t meet. While the five-piece had some interesting riffs and great shredding they spent the entire time on stage looking as though they were waiting for someone to bang on the garage door and tell them to shut up. Up next were Legions, who must have been doing some real work on their live show. The band on stage tonight were miles ahead of the Legions that supported Marathon a few months ago. A sludgy, groovy intro before the band kicked into The Lesser Gods showed why the band were the perfect support for I Exist. Legions mixed up the set with some new tracks from their upcoming 7”, which were loose, fast and fun, plus a great cover of Cro-Mags’ Hard Times.

The Beards’ first song set the tone of their performance, with the curiosity and size of the audience swelling massively before No Beard, No Good is through. Most of the songs seem to start with the words “This is a song about beards” and finish with, “Whoa! Beards!” This is not a criticism however – The Beards know exactly what they are doing, are hilarious doing it and have ample chops to carry an original-sounding set of folk/rock/country/blues. Vocalist Johann Beardraven has a Jack Black-like register and a similar ability to belt out ridiculous lyrics with complete conviction. Sure, they’re a one-joke band, but it helps that it’s a damn fine joke and they’re a damn fine band. By the time they’re done with the wonderfully chunky Best Beard Out, they have won over any initially sceptical (and cleanshaven) punters.

WarBrain wasted no time on stage and for only their second show in Sydney, the band had quite a few people singing along in the crowd and worked their way through a tight set of hardcore with the showmanship of rock’n’roll. While the singer worked the stage the other three members played relentlessly. After only five songs the band launched into the closer, Temperature’s Rising, where the bass and drums sounded absolutely huge as they pummelled out the track and left the crowd wanting more.

THE SNOWDROPPERS @ MANNING BAR. PIC: LUKE EATON

I Exist looked a little underwhelming as they took the stage. Having played shows with up to four guitarists before, it was strange to see just four members on stage. With only one guitarist, key riff writer Aaron Osbourne, the song choice was limited and resulted in a heavier set. Despite this the band’s sound remained enormous and frontman Jake Willoughby had a voice that sounds as though he had been stabbed in the throat mid croon, the perfect match for the band’s doomy, stoner sound. It was a disappointingly short set, with two tracks from their 7” and the rest coming from now sold-out album, A Turn For The Worst, including a sickeningly heavy rendition of the title track. The band, short on members, played a set short of time, but all was forgiven when the screams of “woman” sounded over the outro to The Temptress. Dave Drayton

DESPISED ICON

DAN SULTAN & SCOTT WILSON

ANDREW MORRIS

Heritage Hotel 12/11/10

It was a night for the singer/songwriters with a stripped-back Dan Sultan and Scott Wilson playing to a packed venue. Andrew Morris was the stand-in support act, as Archie Roach had taken ill. Morris has a strong, Mark Seymour-type voice with an accent as broad as the Hume. Toeing the line between surfer hippie folk and alt. country, his voice and songwriting was captivating. The crowd were appreciative and would no doubt come back for another round next time he blows through town. It was a rare treat to catch Dan Sultan and Scott Wilson in their pared-back form. Their self-declared indulgent opportunity to talk shit and play some tracks was one of those genuinely intimate affairs that phone companies and music channels try to manufacture. With songs off their first album including Miss Linda (about getting locked up by coppers), Forever (Sultan’s favourite Wilson-penned track), Enemy (the dreary ode to a trucker’s life) and the growling Lonesome Tears. The smooth crunch of Sultan’s voice was nicely paired with Wilson’s more traditional alto. A couple of covers slipped into the mix, with a tribute to Ray Price and Jerry Lee Lewis, a heartwarming Jimmy Chi track and the best version of Sam Cooke’s I’ll Come Running Back To You this reviewer has ever heard. The highlights were definitely the newer tacks from most recent album, Get Out While You Can, with the biggest round of applause saved for Old Fitzroy. It’s hard to remain humble performing with INXS, winning two Deadly Awards, two AIR Awards and two ARIA Awards – and even harder not to mention it at least eight times without bursting into a fit of giggles. Despite the obvious shock and appreciation of the accolades, Sultan and Wilson kept touch with reality, revelling in showbiz ironies, honouring their country, blues, folk, rock and punk influences and busting out a killer show. Kristy Wandmaker

THE RED SHORE THY ART IS MURDER

ELECTRIC WIRE HUSTLE Why are you coming to visit our fair country? ‘Cause it’s been way too long and we love jamming in Aus. We’ve also just released our debut album to your great continent so it’s time to help spread the word.

Is this your first visit? No – we’ve been over a few times before, as a sound system recently supporting our crew Shapeshifter as well DJ Krush.

How long are you here for? This stint is quite short, just two days.

What do you know about Australia, in ten words or less? Huge, diverse, colourful, inspiring and challenging with its dark history.

Any extra-curricular activities you hope to participate in? Definitely gorging on some Bomboloni from Baker D. Chirico in St Kilda and indulging at the Morrocan Soup kitchen in Fitzroy. Finally some salt water bathing before heading out to the bush to reunite with our old wolf pack in the Dandenongs [They be Victorian references – Ed].

What will you be taking home as a souvenir? A postcard from Coogee.

Where can we come say hi and buy you an Aussie beer? Wednesday – Tone. We’re big fans of Coopers and Little Creatures too (just so you know).

For more info see: electricwirehustle.com

ep FOCUS

Factory Theatre 13/11/10

Sydneysiders Thy Art Is Murder are less than distinctive on record and even in the live environment their deathcore fare was short on a distinguishable personality. A bucket-load of exuberance somewhat compensated in spite of technical difficulties, with their set an amalgam of limbs flying, pulverising breakdowns and widespread crowd interaction. Some bands can’t take a trick – as Geelong’s The Red Shore know all too well. Hot off the back of a blistering, genuine album of the year contender in the form of latest effort, The Avarice Of Man, the quintet had recently experienced another lineup shift in the form of a new bassist, making his debut on this tour. Despite this, they turned in another ruthlessly efficient and intense performance. Within a death metal scene seemingly segregated more by fashion sense than the actual music itself, tracks such as The Avarice Of Man, The Forefront Of Failure and Sink Or Swim went a long way towards uniting the clans. The band’s current purely death metal output operated in noticeable contrast to their beatdown-oriented past (material from which still elicited the more savage response), but maintained a viciousness throughout that previous incarnations arguably couldn’t. Making their first and final visit to Sydney (the show among the last of their farewell run), Canuck deathcore sextet Despised Icon was clearly focused on going out on a very brutal note. Vocalists Alexandre Erian and Steve Marois stalked the stage, exuding considerable presence and the pit responded with an enthusiasm bordering on fanaticism. Crushing renditions of The Sunset Will Never Charm Us, Diva Of Disgust, The Ills Of Modern Man and Le Chêne Et Le Roseau covered all four of their studio albums. The punters ate up every blast-beat, pig squeal and of course, breakdown, which to be fair the band incorporated in a more natural, less gimmicky manner than the vast majority of their peers. Deathcore seems to have the markings of another passing fad, so Despised Icon have likely made the smart move of getting out before the bloated scene collapses upon itself, while also giving their devotees something crushing to remember them by. Brendan Crabb

• 80 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

justVISITING

Hermann’s Bar 12/11/10

Brent Balinksi

Plying their “we just stepped out of Dazed And Confused” shtick to a building audience, The Delta Riggs fairly reek of ‘70s blues rock, op shop corduroy and bong resin. Singer Elliott Hammond is still working on his swagger and managed to drop his mic a couple of times while swinging it around, but has a good deal of charm and a look and sound somewhere between Robert Plant and Mitch Hedberg. This young Central Coast band sound great at moments when they manage to find just the right groove between straight and swung time, but could do with a few more gigs to grow their confidence. They’ll only get better.

The Snowdroppers’ broad crossover appeal was highlighted by the eclectic audience that had assembled to see them, with checked cowboy shirts, polyester vests, fluorescent v-necked T-shirts, goth make-up and suspenders all represented among the crowd. Their set was broken up by Johnny Wishbone’s often-amusing stage banter – with one anecdote recalling a threat to the band after a misunderstanding with the RSPCA – and beefed up by the addition of the guest four-piece Horny Horns and a keyboardist, but hampered by an indistinct, thudding bass. The best response was saved for (no surprise) the horribly infectious Do The Stomp and a gospeled-up cover of Shout, which, with its

I EXIST

WAR BRAIN LEGIONS VIGILANTE

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PLATINUM BRUNETTE What’s the title of your new EP and where did it come from? What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Prettier – it’s the title track and explores the correlation between great suffering and a healthy Maybelline glow!

How many releases do you have now? This is the third PB release but first with this lineup and definitely the most morally bankrupt of the three.

How long did it take to write/record? About as long as a Rob Oakeshott speech – a few hours and then some.

Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? Just our mutual desire to wrap it up quickly and head down to Hungry Jack’s.

What’s your favourite song on it? They’re like kids, we despise them equally!

Will you do anything differently next time? We always do things differently.

Will you be launching it? Ha ha, we’ve launched it about five times already and will happily do so again at the Lansdowne Friday 17 December with our pals L.U.S.T, Contraban and Mad Charlie.

For more info see: platinumbrunette.com.au What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Prettier is available now from their website.


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 81 •


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FREE AS THE CHINESE

SPENDING SOME TIME IN BEIJING RECENTLY THE VASCO ERA DISCOVERED THAT THE GREAT WALL HASN’T KEPT ALL THE RABBITS OUT. GUITARIST AND VOCALIST SID O’NEIL’S DIARY TAKES US TO THE FORBIDDEN CITY.

I

met some Mexicans at a bar. They took Ted and I to a canal and we sat there all night, I jumped in and pulled up some shrimp, Edison (the crazier Mexican) and I ate one each. The whole next day I was asleep feeling sick, either from the beer, the polluted water or the shrimp. I was guilty ‘cause Bonnie and Fitzy were at the Forbidden City and I was in the dark. I felt better when I went to Ted’s room and he was as sick as me. Well not because he was sick, but because I knew that it couldn’t be the shrimp that was making me sick. We went to a music festival that night. The taxi driver took us on the scenic route, he drove like a maniac but we couldn’t speak enough Chinese to complain and it was kind of fun anyway. There were a few Chinese bands playing and the crowds were great. They sing every word and head bang the whole time regardless of how fast the music is. After the festival we got up at 6.30am and went to the Great Wall. It was apparently the clearest day of the year and we could see a long way. Someone told me that, on

epFOCUS

A CLEAR DAY ON THE WALL, WITH A SHERRIN bad days, you can’t see more than 50 metres in front of you because of the dust and pollution so we were real lucky. The wall is thousands of kilometres long and you can catch a toboggan down when you get tired. There were rabbits on the Chinese side of the wall so I guess that Telstra ad doesn’t know what it’s talking about. After the Wall Ted and I went to the Forbidden City. We had a nice tour guide and she told us that once a eunuch tried to kill the Emperor so in return he had his skin shaved off. She also said that five thousand girls between 13 and 16 would be let into the city with the chance of becoming concubines. They would be measured in five areas of their bodies and the thousand with the right proportions could stay. Then their faces would be measured and analysed and the five hundred with the ‘best’ faces could stay. They would then have to perform speeches and those with perfect pronunciation

Peabody – New Riffs

What’s the title of your new EP and where did it come from?

Directed by Miguel Valenzuela

This will be our second independent release; first EP came out in 2007 and was titled So Blind.

How long did it take to write/record? There was no real set time frame; we started writing new songs about a year after the first EP till February this year when we started recording.

Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? The bands we listen to are always inspiring (Saosin, Emery, August Burns Red, Anberlin) but I think this time in particular it was finding out some hard truths about the music industry.

What’s your favourite song on it? We all have our favourites on there. Personally I like track two, titled Your Last Request, as it sums up every musical aspect of our band.

Will you do anything differently next time? Our next release will be a full-length album. Only thing we’d do differently is set aside additional mixing time.

Will you be launching it? Friday – Candy’s Apartment

For more info see: myspace.com/theunderstatementrock facebook.com/theunderstatement

The Great Wall and the Forbidden City were obvious highlights, they are so spectacular. Wandering the cities we went to and finding little lanes and alleys was a lot of fun and the amount of good people we met was really humbling. The Vasco Era play The Maram Friday, The Annandale Hotel Saturday

1. We R Who We R KE$HA 2. Like A G6 FAR EAST MOVEMENT FT. CATARACS & DEV 3. Only Girl (In The World) RIHANNA 4. Raise Your Glass P!NK 5. Heartbeat ENRIQUE IGLESIAS FT. NICOLE SCHERZINGER

6. Firework 7. Just A Dream 8. Just The Way You Are 9. Cooler Than Me 10. The Time (Dirty Bit)

KATY PERRY NELLY BRUNO MARS MIKE POSNER BLACK EYED PEAS

ARIA TOP 10 ALBUMS

vimeo.com/15975951

WEEK OF MAC

JUNIOR KING

Clayton Dooley’s Organ Donors continue their residency at the Macquarie Hotel this week, holding fort on stage this Wednesday. Dojo Cuts featuring Roxie Ray strut their stuff each Thursday. Midnight Thursday belongs to Reyes De la Onda, Friday evening Weird Assembly and midnight Friday The Leisure Bandits. Johnny G & The E Types have the Saturday.

Kaki King was last in Oz back in April and this Friday she’s back in Sydney performing her amazing new album, Junior, at the Oxford Art Factory with special guests Rescue Ships.

THE CLASSICAL YOUTH Classical music pushes into the contemporary pop domain this Tuesday at Ravál when young up and comers Aston deliver numbers from the likes of Lady GaGa and AC/DC.

HE’S THE MANN Chris Altmann has the supporting slot for Joe Pug when he visits Ravál this Thursday as part of his first ever Australian tour.

REMIX MISSION Between working with famed American producer Memory Tapes and working on remixes for Midnight Juggernauts and The Temper Trap, Melbourne trio Mission Control have found time for a Sydney show. They play Oxford Art’s Gallery Bar on Thursday with No Art.

reported that Me Do, mber, 2000, it was drums on The Beatles track, Love ve No 17 on at th … ed OW ay pl earn KN o t U no wh , YO d DID , woul Andy White eatest Hits album Gr s . le at Be ew -n io al sess n fee of £7 on the then only paid his origin s which was featured wa te hi W es lti With no roya buy his own copy. enough from it to • 82 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

We only knew one word before we went – Ni Hao which, translated, means ‘You good’? Other words we learnt (which weren’t all that many as we had a guy with us who spoke fluent Mandarin and it helped because we had no idea what was going on!) included (phonetic spelling here) Siare Siare – ‘Thank you’; Tai Quela! – ‘Too much!’ and, for myself, ‘Booyah Ro’ – don’t want meat (I’m a vego, obviously).

ARIA TOP 10 SINGLES

THE UNDERSTATEMENT

How many releases do you have now?

Not knowing much about China before we went, I thought that there would be a lot of restrictions on what people could and couldn’t do. That may be true to a certain degree, but in everyday life people have a fair amount of freedom. Everyone seems very happy and friendly. They find it amusing when you try to communicate and will do their best to help you out as much as they can. We didn’t meet anyone who wasn’t nice!

The Chinese music scene is really thriving. A lot more underground than over here, a lot of punk, but there are masses of people that turn up to shows just because they love music. For example, in Wuhan, we had 160 people turn up who had never heard us before and they were so enthusiastic, dancing the night away. On the wall at the club were wooden blocks decorated with the names of the bands that had played there. Hundreds.

ESSENTIAL VIEWING Peabody’s new album, Loose Manifesto, has been heralded as a tongue-in-cheek big middle finger to the industry, so why shouldn’t their video clip be the same? Like the song says “There’s nothing amazing/ there’s nothing going on.” It’s just a simple single-take clip with too many guitars, confetti and a bit of wind. Visually stunning in the same way as the plastic bag scene from American Beauty, but less wanky and more fun.

Violent Words With Violent Ends, inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Basically refers to how the things you say or do often come back to haunt you.

were kept. These sorts of challenges were continued until there was a final 50 (kind of like the X Factor). Out of these people only maybe half would ever meet or sleep with the Emperor. One of these would become Empress and her name would usually be either Guy Sebastian or Kelly Clarkson. Seriously though I thought the Forbidden City was the best building I had ever seen.

There were two bands we played with in Beijing called The Lazy Camels and one that I can’t pronounce, but they both showed so much energy and spark onstage, which was exciting to see. Two bands I didn’t see but I heard a lot about were P.K. 14 and Carsick Cars. I was shown some of their music, which is great. I managed to get my hands on a P.K. 14 CD, which I’m really looking forward to getting to know better.

TURNING JAPANESE Into the second week of their residency in Oxford Art’s Gallery Bar, Made In Japan take a night off from their tour with Drawn From Bees on Friday night to rock Sydney yet again.

YOU SHOULD KNOW BONJAH Roots-driven Kiwi ex-pats Bonjah are getting acquainted with Australia in the best possible way: touring. Hawking new single, Something You Should Know, they play the Brewery on Thursday night.

STILL HEATED Hot Damn’s still out of Spectrum while the renovations take place, so the party’s taking place over Phoenix, QBar and 34B once again this week. Playing live there are Endless Heights, The Hollow, Lovers Grave, Aftermath and Violence.

ONLY THE PSYCHEDELIC Oxford Art’s Gallery Bar has lined up a night of moody rock and pop this Saturday. Psychedelic newcomers Bell Weather Department kick things off and will be followed by the dark pop of Cameras and live favourites Only The Sea Slugs.

QUIRK LIVE AND ON DECKS Metronomy, those UK pushers of quirky pop, are playing Oxford Art Factory tonight with Worlds End Press and Oglugbenga. As a special treat the Metronomy gang will be doing a DJ set too.

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1. Bon Jovi Greatest Hits BON JOVI 2. The Gift SUSAN BOYLE TAYLOR SWIFT 3. Speak Now 4. Come Around Sundown KINGS OF LEON ANGUS & JULIA STONE 5. Down The Way 6. Get ‘Em Girls JESSICA MAUBOY 7. Teenage Dream KATY PERRY 8. Jack JOHN FARNHAM NEIL DIAMOND 9. Dreams 10. Fly Me To The Moon… The Great American Songbook: Volume V ROD STEWART

TRIPLE J UNEARTHED TOP 10 1. Rising Sun 2. Tombstone 3. Hearts Hearts Hearts

POCO LA PAX DEAD ACTORS CLUB DEAD ACTORS CLUB

4. The Promises I Promise Not To Break BOY ON A STRING

5. In The Balance 6. Mr. Diver 7. They Want Me 8. I Never Knew 9. I’m Not A Rapist 10. Ain’t Got Nothing

PIRATE THE PHAT CONTROLLER THE PHAT CONTROLLER LUNCH TAPES THE PHAT CONTROLLER COME BACK TO EARTH

ARIA TOP 10 AUSTRALIAN ALBUMS 1. Plans BIRDS OF TOKYO 2. Clap Your Hands SIA ZOE BADWI 3. Freefallin’ ANGUS & JULIA STONE 4. Big Jet Plane SHORT STACK 5. Planets 6. I Go To Sleep SIA 7. Get ‘Em Girls JESSICA MAUBOY FT. SNOOP DOGG 8. Revolution JOHN BUTLER TRIO 9. Rock It LITTLE RED 10. Fader THE TEMPER TRAP


BIG DAY ART DESIGN OUR COVER

AND WIN BIG! READERS’ CHOICE AWAR Vote for your favourite artwork D in the Readers’ Choice vot Check out the entries exhibit e. summerfestivalguide.com.aued at vote via Twitter. More details and soon!

TO ENTER: ENT NTERR CCompetition i i opens TTuesday d 2 NNovember. Create your impression of an artist on the current Big Day Out schedule and upload your entry at summerfestivalguide.com.au (go to the Big Day Art section). WIN: Drum Media cover art. Artist profile. Double pass to the BDO Festival. A cd prize pack – the latest releases from BDO artists. Design software for each state winner. Free entry to a CATC Workshop for each state winner. ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 7 JANUARY

MELBOURNE SYDNEY BRISBANE

THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 83 •


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ARTISTICALLY STRONG A NEW STAGE NAME AND A NEW OUTLOOK ON MUSIC SEES BROOKE ADDAMO, AKA OWL EYES, MOVE AWAY FROM HER TELEVISED PAST. BY NIC TOUPEE.

B

rooke Addamo is a name that might ring a bell to TV-loving music fans. Here’s a hint: national TV talent show with the initials A.I.? Currently kickstarting her solo career, ex-Australian Idol contestant (she made the top 11 in 2008) Addamo has deliberately distanced herself from that 15 minutes of fame, using the name Owl Eyes to symbolise a separate, altogether more creative identity and keeping the Australian Idol experience as far from her public profile as possible. “It [Australian Idol] was just a stage in my progress. I’ve been singing since I was twelve and appeared on … Idol when I was seventeen. I didn’t know what to expect when I signed up, but it was fun and gave me experience – it helped me see what I didn’t want to be. It taught me that I want to become artistically strong, it showed me a lot about that side of the music industry, made me tougher and made me work harder to improve myself,” Addamo says determinedly.

ber, that on 16 Novem e DID YOU KNOW… on, drummer for Th 1987, Topper Head ne aidsto for 15 months at M Clash, was jailed lypp su r fo d, an Crown Court, Engl later died. o wh an m ing heroin to a

BEDLAM, BEGGARS AND JAGER

Already songwriting and collaborating with local musicians before her …Idol appearance, she views it as educative but otherwise largely irrelevant. Addamo believes her current upward career trajectory came from putting in the hard yards on little-known stages. “I was a shy child, but fell in love with singing. I started off singing jazz covers and then wrote songs in my bedroom for years. Eventually I progressed to looking for collaborations and at that point I was so keen, I’d work with anyone who wanted to. I did free charity gigs in community centres, basically – any show I’d do it,” she states adamantly. “The more people know about you and the more people find you the more you can perform.” After absorbing what knowledge she could glean from her experience in the fame-lab, Addamo was motivated to take her original compositions public, ready to improve her craft. In doing so she found some irresistible opportunities came her way. “I went away after …Idol and wrote a lot of songs and started actively seeking people to write with. I wanted to improve my skills – you can learn a lot from different people. I got out there with my songs a lot, recorded a lot of demos and as I kept going I could see improvements.” were a formidable force in Australia’s music scene. This Sunday Peter Fenton (Crow), Greg Atkinson (Big Heavy Stuff), Sophie Hutchings (sister of the band’s Jamie), Chris Moller (Midget), Hira Hira and more pay tribute to the band at the Annandale.

ALL ROADS TO NOTES A veteran of stage, screen and sound, Aussie rocker Jon English will be performing all his hits this Friday when he takes to Notes’ stage. Country pop trio Jonah’s Road will play a set and act as the backing band for English.

BUCKLEY DREAM BROTHERS

As the year draws to an end things are starting to heat up in one of Sydney’s most prestigious band comps, Jager Uprising. Bedlam In Belgium, Sealion, Beggars Orchestra and Elle Kennard take to the Annandale’s stage this Wednesday.

Local Sydney artists including Matt Anderson, Krystal Rogers, Frank Sultana, Greg Cade, Luke Dickens, Michael Azzpardi and more will pay tribute to father Tim and son Jeff Buckley on Wednesday at the Vanguard for the annual Dream Brother concert.

GIN CLUB’S DEATHWISH

THE RIGHT VALVE

It’s a case of third time luckier still for The Gin Club who, having just released Choppin’ Wood, the third single from acclaimed album Deathwish, are touring yet again. The band play the Annandale on Friday with Dave McCormack & The Polaroids, The Maladies and The Stress Of Leisure.

The Valve Bar’s hosting a night of blues, rock and psychedelia this Thursday, with The Cleanskins, New Archetypes, Helpfun Kitchen Gods and punk rock cover outfit Pharoes Of The Farout.

BLUEBOTTLE KISS TRIBUTE

Australian jazz veteran Bobby Gebert and Quiet Titans will be warming the crowd up for Katy Wren Thursday at the Vanguard. Wren’s launching her new album, Humans.

From their inception in the mid ‘90s Bluebottle Kiss

WREN’S HUMANS

THE MONITERS Your music is…? Sub indie dirty electro rock. That is, The Killers with bigger balls.

Which acts inspired you to produce your own music and why?

WHO Owl Eyes WHAT Faces (Warner) WHEN & WHERE Friday, Melt

She Wants Revenge, for their drum sampling and droney vibe. Interpol for their clever clashing guitars and arrangements. Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil/The Break for his high energy performances.

What’s your wildest ambition for your music?

BANGING EP Only a short year after their debut performance and Melbourne-based soul ten piece Clairy Brown & The Bangin’ Rackettes have supported The Cat Empire on a national tour and released an EP. They launch it in Sydney on Friday at The Vanguard.

PICK A BARGAIN The Rock’n’Roll Alternative Market is on once again, with The Rumjacks, the mighty Handsome Young Strangers and DJs Limpin’ Jimmy & the Swingin’ Kitten providing the soundtrack. Up for sale are various vintage rock’n’roll odds and ends, jewellery and all sorts of bric-a-brac. With free admission it’s happening at Jets Sports Club Sunday.

MATURE KIDS Destroy All Lines’ new night Teen Wolves is keeping the ball rolling this week with Old Music For Old People set to headline the new Saturday night event at the UTS Glasshouse.

We just want to keep writing good songs that people dig and tour continuously.

Why should we come and see you? We put on a pretty rad show. Our EP has a lot of electronic drums throughout, but when we play a show, it’s all live drums.

What’s your greatest rock’n’roll moment? We played a gig in Gladstone and an overenthusiastic 50 year-old flashed her breasts at us. Jimi also had a Spinal Tap moment while doing a guitar solo on a bar table. Yep, the table broke. A few weeks ago we played a show in Sydney and we ran out of fuel in Tamworth. Also, Matt played along to samples that only he could hear, the soundie forgot to put them through front of house.

For more info see: myspace.com/themoniters

Next available at: Thursday – The Excelsior, Surry Hills

FRIENDS FOR LIFE Hailing from the coastal surrounds of the NSW North Coast three-piece Marshall & The Fro play a powerful blend of roots and rock. They are launching their new album, Friends For Life, on Saturday at The Vanguard.

ACROSS 3 Blondie launched their 1999 comeback on the back of which single from their No Exit album? 4 Numbers Radio recently shared the stage with Grinspoon at which festival? 7 Who is the man Brisbane noise-pop artist Axxonn? 8 Touch Me I’m Sick, from Gemma Ray’s latest album was originally performed by which band? 9 Bear in Heaven’s Jon Philpot previously played in which experimental duo?

DOWN 1 Which company manufactures Kaki King’s custom guitar? 2 Femi Kuti’s son Made plays which instrument in the band? 3 What is the name of Joe Pug’s debut album? 5 Metronomy featured a cover of which Britney Spears song on their MySpace? 6 Which Pieta Brown track featured on the Shimmer EP and the album One And All?

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS 1. Kvelertak 2. Valencia 3. Manning 4. Umbrella 5. Evatrout 6. Beer 7. Two 8. Indian Rope 9. StopStart • 84 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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ANNA WEATHERUP Your music is? Kinda folk/rock with a slight country twist.

Which local acts are you inspired by/admiring at the moment? I’ve only just moved here from Brisbane, but so far 49 Goodbyes and Jo Meares & The Honey Riders I’ve heard and love!

What’s so great about live and local music? It gives artists the opportunity to play and share original material. Nothing better than connecting with an audience using your own song material.

What’s your wildest ambition for your music? Be a full-time artist. Write/record/sell music from my lounge room. Oh and tour of course.

Why should we come and see you? Because I love you already Sydney!

What’s your greatest rock’n’roll moment? Supporting Colin Hay and James Reyne was a huge buzz!

For more info see: annaweatherup.com

Next available at: Wednesday – Live & Local, Lizotte’s Dee Why


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 85 •


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DAN VS THE MAN

A

CAITLIN HARNETT Your music is? A mix of acoustic, folk and pop.

Which acts inspired you to produce your own music and why? I was brought up in a household where music playing all the time. I think that’s partly where my inspiration and need to write has come from. I love Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Patty Griffin, Bob Dylan, The Mamas & The Papas. Everything!

What’s your wildest ambition for your music? To be able to travel and play music in all different parts of the world.

Why should we come and see you?

brand on yoghurt in the United States has got in the way of Danimals, so Jonti Danilewitz is now using the moniker Djanimals to save himself from a lawsuit from a giant company no mere indie musician can afford. In other news, Djanimals recently signed to the revered label Stones Throw records and is about to hit the road in support of their new single, Nightshift In Blue. Before Danilewitz and co. hit the Beach Road Hotel Wednesday and the Oxford Art Factory Thursday we caught up with him. At what point did you realise – ‘Oh shit, we’re going to have to change this’? “I remember the precise moment, I was watching Nickelodeon with my little cousins and those kids from the Danimals commercial popped up in their own show. MSN reported them as the richest teenage twins in the world!” Was there a list of possible names that you drew up – and why’d you decide on this one? “I actually didn’t decide, a giant J fell on my head in a nightmare. It was inscribed with all the people in the Djanimals family ‘James, Jaie, Julian and Joe’. A Djembe drum soon followed. I rubbed my head, looked up and

saw the Danimals mascot gorilla wink.” What’s the best band name of all time? “I really like Os Mutantes. Might just be bias towards them being an awesome band.” New name, new sound at all? “All the music has been irrespective of the name.” Can you describe your new single Nightshift In Blue? “It’s a simple song about a man dreaming of love. It’s one of the first songs I did when I bought my laptop and I thought it would be good as a first official single because I thought it was quite honest to what I was about. I know it’s not really commercial or even flashy or anything.” Now that there’s a “Dj” in your name, will we see more DJ sets or are you focused on the live show?

plenty of big things on the horizon? Is there a lot of pressure?

“Working real hard on different variations of the live shows. I’ll DJ whenever an opportunity comes up because it’s real fun!”

“Cheers! You know Stones Throw Records are the reason I got into production, so I just wanna work hard and make my peers proud. It’s all baby steps and before anything else, I just want to make sure I’m proud of these two records I’m working on.”

You’ve signed to Stones Throw, kudos to you, so

Because I have free bookmarks and I want to sing to you!

How do you find the local live scene? It’s wonderful and challenging all at the same time. The support and encouragement you get from musicians and audiences is the best feeling in the world.

What’s your greatest rock’n’roll moment? Singing a song backstage for Justin Townes Earle, him asking me for my CD and putting me on the door for his show. Definitely made me feel rock’n’roll!

For more info see: caitlinharnett.com myspace.com/caitlinharnettmusic New EP All In the Golden Afternoon

Next available at: Friday – The Rocks’ Markets By Moonlight, 6pm

ep FOCUS

GOODBYE WOUNDS

HAIL TO THE BAND

TOURISTS AROUND

Perpetually elaborate, mystical and always entertaining experimental Sydney band Godswounds are playing their final show for the year before heading to the States to record their debut album. They play Bald Faced Stag on Saturday with heaps of supports.

Alt.folk outfit Hailer launch their new album, Good Canyon, at Mu-Meson Archive on Saturday night. Entry is by $10 donation and 49 Goodbyes are opening the show.

All the way from the US of A, Lydia are headlining 34B this Saturday, with supports from Elliot The Bull, Ghost Of York and Karl Christoph. Sunday the headliners are at Blush nightclub.

BIRD’S ROAD Progressive/experimental label The Bird’s Robe Collective have once again assembled for the Menagerie tour. They’re presenting a huge mix genre lineup featuring Kidney Thieves, Mish and more at the Excelsior, Surry Hills, on Thursday, Hermann’s on Friday and Sunday, and the Bald Faced Stag on Saturday.

SANDO SUPERGROUP SHOW The Jewel & The Falcon, an indie supergroup boasting members of The Vines, The Red Sun Band, Youth Group and Talons, will be playing tracks from their new selftitled EP when they open for The Boat People on Friday at the Sandringham Hotel.

GADIGAL MUSIC SHOWCASE The Sandringham Hotel is hosting a night of Indigenous metal mayhem on Sunday. Nekrofeist will be launching their debut EP of thrash metal tunes with support from Pulseffect and Tainted Toys.

HEAD SPACE SOLSKYR What’s the title of your new EP and where did it come from? Hemispheres. It’s about the different components – backgrounds, families and experiences – that come together to make the whole (and maybe partly due to our northern hemisphere guitarist feeling a bit homesick at the time).

How many releases do you have now? Two. Four From The Floor (a live EP recorded in April 2009) and this one.

How long did it take to write/record? We wrote the tracks about a year ago and then fine-tuning and recording took about three months.

Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? The usual – money, fame, the chance to play with lots of cool-looking electronic equipment…

What’s your favourite song on it? We all disagree on this! But if you make me have to choose one, Hold On. It’s got really good hooks and it always seems to kick things off when we play it live.

Will you do anything differently next time? We learnt a huge amount just from going through the process and I’m sure we’ll learn more next time around. The main thing we will do is have a ‘next time’!

For more info see: myspace.com/solskyr Hemispheres is available now for download on iTunes.

• 86 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

Grindhead Records are holding a showcase event this Saturday at the Lewisham Hotel with Daemon Foetal Harvest, Backyard Mortuary, Roadside Burial, Guild Of Destruction, Disentomb, Tortured, Granny Fist, Corroted, Beer Corpse, Corpsickle, New Blood and Burial Chamber. Kicks off at 3pm and runs until 3am, so have those energy drinks ready.

SPIN MASTER Gerard Masters is launching the videoclip for new single, Spin, on Wednesday at the Hollywood Hotel. The launch features a screening of the clip and sets from Masters and The Falls.

BYE BYE BADDIES Sydney punk band The Baddies are playing their last show for 2010 this weekend. Get down to the Botany View Hotel from 6.30 on Sunday to farewell the band.

LAUNCH (FEAT. YOU) Six-piece Canberra ska outfit Los Capitanes spent their last trip to Sydney rocking a harbour cruise ship. Now they’re here again with new single, You (feat. Me), and playing the landlocked Lansdowne on Friday night.

LOSE YOURSELF PK Crew have put out a call to arms for all budding MCs to strut their stuff at The Valve on Friday night as part of MC battle. Live acts on the night include Kerser & Rates, Braydead, Kaoe Stats and PK Crew’s own Benji.

RUMBLE IS HERE His debut album, The Experiment, having gone gold in his native New Zealand, Dane Rumble set his sights on Australia. It seems to be working, as his single, Always Be Here, is everywhere, as is Dane, who plays Beach Road Hotel on Wednesday and The Gaelic Thursday.

APOCOLYPTIC POP

WE’RE TOO YOUNG

Euphoric disco pop up and comers who you’re going to be hearing a lot from this summer and all of next year World’s End Press are doing the rounds with their new EP, Faithless, a collection of dancey, synth-laced numbers out on Love + Mercy records. They launch it on Thursday at GoodGod Small Club and Friday at Coogee Diggers.

Sydney singer/songwriter Andy Bull tirelessly worked two jobs to fund his debut, We’re Too Young, but it’s starting to pay off, with Andy getting big supports around the country after the big initial push behind the album release. He headlines his own shows on Thursday at The Clarendon Guesthouse and Friday at 34B with Tin Sparrow and Emma Davis.

DOWN THE MASONS Chemical Transport are farewelling fans for 2010 with a final tour in support of their single, Down, Down. They play an all ages show at the Masonic Hall, Blacktown, on Saturday with buddies and headliners Tonight Alive and Sienna Skies.

THE HOLY SOL SOL Studios is a new venue striving to establish a healthier all ages scene in Wollongong. This Friday they’ve lined up a huge bill featuring The Holy Soul, Nice Folk, DinkiBike, Tzar Bomber, The Flat White Cats and Thomas Covenant. It’s a show well worth supporting.

AMAZING EP Bhanglassi have been enjoying the positive response to their recent EP, Everything’s Amazing, so much that they have decided to play a show. The lads are headlining the Annandale this Thursday night. Indigo Child, The Grand Lethals and Ethan Joe will also perform sets.

OWL EYES AND FACES Brooke Addamo has changed a lot since her days on Australian Idol – so much so that if we hadn’t mentioned it you probably wouldn’t have remembered, sorry about that. Adopting the moniker Owl Eyes she released an EP, Faces, and the singer/songwriter’s taken it to the stage. She plays Melt Bar on Friday.

THEIR PLACES As part of the Spaces And Places series, The Scrapes are drawing to the end of the year with a show at Cockatoo Island this Saturday. Sunday you’ll also be able to hear them on FBi radio.

RESTLESS MEREDITH ARIA Award ceremony performing Amy Meredith’s Restless tour is drawing to a close. This Friday the band, which has been enjoying success from the Restless album, play the final Sydney show of the tour, an all ages gig at the Factory.

ith Moon collapsed with The Who, Ke with er m um dr , 74 19 ed ber, that on 20 Novem concert, his drink having been spik m on DID YOU KNOW… dience, replaced hi during a au e th in s wa o wh , in lp t Ha r. 19 year-old Scot horse tranquillise rs. aining three numbe drums for the rem

ESSENTIAL VIEWING Lo! – Fire At The Child Actor’s Guild This clip is like all the best things about mid-’90s Rage clips at four in the morning; grainy, black and white and with the only colour coming from the glaring sunburnt lights. It was filmed using head-mounted cameras on all the band members, which puts you smack bang in the middle of all the action. Watching this is like being force-fed nostalgia by a muscled-up hardcore dude, and that is just plain fantastic. Edited by Syndicate Films vimeo.com/14955534

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 87 •


KEEPING IT REAL THEY ACTUALLY RECORDED 14 SONGS BUT NUMBERS RADIO MANAGED TO CUT IT TO SEVEN FOR THEIR NEW MINI-ALBUM, THE FINAL DAY. GUITARIST DAVID ORR EXPLAINS IT ALL TO MICHAEL SMITH.

“W

the time. We want to keep evolving as a band, so we’re always trying to keep creating.”

The Brisbane three-piece – singer and guitarist Orr, bass player Robbie Carlyon and drummer Mark Henman – is pretty prolific. It’s just over a year since Numbers Radio released their debut album, Acquiring Satellites, and two years since they were Unearthed by triple j off the back of a self-titled debut EP and, as mentioned, The Final Day could easily have been another full album. “Definitely something we always try and do is write new material. That’s something that makes us put fuel in the fire. We’d hate to be running over the same stuff all

That said, the EP was in fact something of a looking back, a reaction to the way the debut album came out. “It was almost back to the roots a little bit. The first EP had a very raw kind of punky feel and that’s something we deviated from a little bit on our album and we kinda wanted to go back there a little more, back to the skate-y punk kind of sound, just ‘cause we like to do it. And the other reason is that we just wanted to do a record that didn’t have too many overdubs, too much production – you know, something that someone can listen to and then when they go to the show we can pull it off.

e were going to cull it down to five,” Orr admits, on the line from Brisbane on a break from his day gig, “but when we put it all together it ran so well that we couldn’t agree on what to leave off.”

“We didn’t want to do some record that was overproduced and we couldn’t pull off live. It’s very much a three-piece sound, the new record, not too many vocal overdubs; it’s really captured the sound. The fact that our bass player has now got a studio set-up gave us the chance to do a lot more pre-production. It’s really great to have that studio; you can record and come back to it, you know.” WHO Numbers Radio WHAT The Final Day (Independent) WHEN & WHERE Friday, World Bar; Saturday, Northern Star Hotel

ELECTRIC HORSE Your music is…? Hard rock/melodic rock.

Which acts inspired you to produce your own music and why? Most of us in the band have been around for a while now, we are all experienced players and songwriters after all the years, so I don’t think any act in particular prompted the decision to self-produce – just more confidence and experience and having a vision.

What’s the wildest ambition for your music? To make a modest living off performing and writing songs, that would be my dream.

MTV’S TOP 10 MOST VIEWED VIDEOS 1. All Night DUTCH THA KID 2. Firework KATY PERRY 3. Thug Story TAYLOR SWIFT & T-PAIN 4. Whip My Hair WILLOW DJ KHALED 5. All I Do Is Win (Remix) 6. C’mon TIËSTO VS DIPLO 7. Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

8. I’m Single 9. Bottoms Up 10. Raise Your Glass

LIL WAYNE TREY SONGZ P!NK

ITUNES AUSTRALIA TOP 10 SOUNDTRACKS 1. Glee: The Music

GLEE CAST

2. Get Him To The Greek (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) INFANT SORROW

3. Eat, Pray, Love (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) VARIOUS

4. Glee: The Music, Vol. 1 GLEE CAST 5. Doctor Who: Series 5 (Soundtrack from the TV series) MURRAY GOLD & BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES GLEE CAST 6. Glee: The Music, Vol. 2 7. Grease (The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) VARIOUS

8. TRON: Legacy DAFT PUNK 9. The Social Network (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) TRENT REZNOR & ATTICUS ROSS 10. Offspring (Music from the Original Series) VARIOUS

UK TOP 10 INDIE SINGLES 1. Make You Feel My Love ADELE 2. Hold You GYPTIAN 3. 2 Minute Silence THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION TIM BERG 4. Seek Bromance NADINE 5. Insatiable 6. Gold Dust DJ FRESH PETER ANDRE 7. Defender 8. Kickstarts EXAMPLE 9. Yeo Valley Rap YEO VALLEY BOYZ FT. MR GEORGE 10. I’m In Love (I Wanna Do It) ALEX GAUDINO

MYSPACE AUSTRALIA TOP 10 ARTISTS 1. Angus & Julia Stone 2. Washington 3. Anthea Joy 4. Sia 5. The Jezabels 6. Ke$ha 7. Hungry Kids of Hungary 8. Burning Brooklyn 9. Kings of Leon 10. Stuart Guthrie

DANCE TO MY PAIN The Boat People have conceived a magical, musical cure-all: dance. With a new double A-side/remix package they have kicked off the Dance To My Pain tour. They play Friday at the Sandringham Hotel and Saturday at Beaches Hotel Newcastle.

TOO KOOL Aussie hip hop stalwarts Koolism are getting in the zone before they cross the country with the Good Vibes festival. The duo play the Hotel Gearin in Katoomba on Friday night.

SHORE TO ROCK

Illegible font or not, metal albums have offered up some of the greatest album covers of all time, as have folk poets. Last week we had two legends from each domain – Metallica and Leonard Cohen respectively – tour our region and so we figured we’d give you a heads up on the logos and imagery you’re currently seeing on newlybought, still jet black, band t-shirts around the way by way of some classic album covers.

We are a new band with our debut release only out a few months ago, so we are keen to play and having heaps of fun with it.

What’s your greatest rock’n’roll moment? I played on the Footy Show some years ago. When we finished a soundcheck I accidentally walked straight into Ray Martin’s green room! He was there reading the paper with his glorious silky hair and cracked his famous gap-toothed grin. I was stoked.

For more info see: myspace.com/electrichorse

Next available at: Thursday – Cabbage Tree Hotel Friday – Excelsior Hotel Surry Hills

After doing the rounds with international heavyweights Despised Icon, The Red Shore are embarking on their own regionally focused headline tour in support of new album, The Avarice Of Man. They play the Cambridge on Saturday and Centenary Hall on Sunday, both gigs are all ages.

Saturday – Great Northern Hotel

(MIDDLE) EAST COAST TOUR Jerrico’s unique, Middle-Eastern-influenced sound has seen them play some high profile gigs of late, most notably a slot at Canberra’s Stonefest. On the road for a string of headline dates, they play the Fitzroy Hotel on Friday and The Maram on Saturday.

EMMA DEAN & DR DREAM With all the showmanship and glamour of a top-notch theatrical cabaret performer, Emma Dean really brings her shows to life. She is launching her new album, Dr Dream & The Imaginary Pop-Cabaret, on Saturday at Ravál.

STORMING ANU Sydonia’s brand of industrial melodic metal is well loved - their announcement as support for the upcoming Korn tour is proof of that. Currently plugging their single, Ocean Of Storms, the band play Saturday at ANU Bar.

KATY WREN Your music is…?

METALLICA – MASTER OF PUPPETS Arguably their highest-regarded album – although there are plenty of opinions on the matter – it’s typical Metallica for a band who really haven’t had too much diversity within their album artwork. It’s one of the best though, with the right shade of red and a field of graves held together by the being with the hand holding strings.

Neo alternative east meets alt.country folk pop (I’m not very good at summarising).

Which acts inspired you to produce your own music and why? Everyone and everything has inspired a big inspiration pie in my head… largely – Nina Simone, Björk, Danny Elfman, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ennio Morricone, Brian Wilson and my muso peers… had a big influence on me to let out my quirky side without fear.

What’s your wildest ambition for your music?

DJ DECK KINGS

To somehow make it a better place by touring the world playing original music with great musos (namely Grun who I sing and co-write with).

Proclaimed kings of house music, DJing and all things party, Bag Raiders have been on top of the world following the release of their self-titled debut. The band play a DJ set at King St Hotel on Sunday to launch the album.

Why should we come and see you? ‘Cause you want to, ‘cause you’re curious, ‘cause you’re adventurous, ‘cause you love The Vanguard, ‘cause you love music, ‘cause you love, ‘cause your soul is restless and you’re searching…

THE MERC TUG HEART-SPRINGS

What’s your greatest rock’n’roll moment?

Consolidating the success of their Mousetrap Heart tour, which saw them cross over the 300 show mark, Thirsty Merc are on the road again, this time for their Spring tour. They play Wednesday at ANU Bar, Thursday at the Grand Hotel and Friday at The Metro. White Bats, featuring students of the Australian Institute of Music, have the support slot.

-old Britney llywood mber, 2003, 21 year gest singer to get a star on the Ho ve No 17 on at th … un yo OW e th KN e U m YO ca r DID Spears be llywood star at he rformer to get a Ho pe r he ot ly on e Th Walk Of Fame. a Gilbert. rie actress Meliss ai Pr e Th On e us age was Little Ho • 88 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU

Why should we come and see you?

LEONARD COHEN – SONGS OF LOVE AND HATE One of the most striking album covers of the late ‘60s/ early ‘70s, the black and white imagery as forceful as the tracks on one of his most emotionally heavy records. It would have taken on a whole different meaning if his expression were more sombre, but it looks far better on a T-shirt with the positive one.

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I was on tour in Alice Springs one time with a rock’n’roll band and this big rough-looking Amazonian-looking lady with tattoo sleeves and lady friend, bared her extremely generous bust to me and my mate Shet and said, “You’re a reeeeal looker; we’re takin’ yas home after the show!” I had a personal revelation “Wow, I really am on an authentic real rock’n’roll tour!”

For more info see: katywren.com.au myspace.com/wrenkaty

Next available at: Thursday – The Vanguard


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 89 •


live@drummedia.com.au

(not so) AND IN OTHER NEWS… LOST SONGS

OUR TOP 10 TRACKS FROM HAPPY HARDCORE

You see, our ‘friends’ over at 3D World* magazine thought we were listening to too much of that “rock” music and “folk” music and “indie’ music and that “singer/ songwriter stuff”. So they kindly gave us a copy of Happy Hardcore Top 100 Best Ever, complete with the token Manchester rave yellow smiley face on the front. It is three discs, nearly four hours of pounding “happy hardcore” in which each track is as interchangeable as the last. Nevertheless, we’ve tried to pick out ten ‘high’-lights. *This exchange may not have happened.

GARETH LIDDIARD

1. Right at the top of disc one there’s a track by The Ultimate Seduction called The Ultimate Seduction. Their uninventiveness in naming equates to the downright annoying siren beat and vocal loop. Yep it’s, “The ultimate seduction/the ultimate seduction/the ultimate seduction…” and so on and so forth…

GIG OF THE WEEK

STRANGE TOUR

Having recently released one of the most critically anticipated Australian albums of the year in the form of Strange Tourist, Gareth Liddiard takes to the road this week. Gareth plays Lizotte’s Newcastle on Wednesday, Lizotte’s Kincumber on Thursday, Oxford Arts on Saturday and Clarendon Guesthouse in Katoomba on Sunday. The divine Loene Carmen has managed to score the supporting slot throughout.

vid Bonderulti-billionaire Da m ld n xa Te , 02 20 r, be th birthday party he that on 16 Novem es to play at his 60 on St ng lli Ro DID YOU KNOW… e Th man hired e was £4.4m. gas. The band’s fe Ve s La in l te Ho at the Hard Rock

NATION-WIDE, WORLDS APART After what was meant to be a one-off show in August, Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) and Terepai Richmond (The Whitlams) realised an undeniable chemistry and have joined forces for a national Worlds Apart tour. They play the Brass Monkey on Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday at The Basement Circular Quay.

NEW SALLY Both as Sally Seltmann and under her old stage name New Buffalo, Seltmann has always captivated audiences with her voice. You can get the best of both worlds on her current tour, where she will play from her entire catalogue. Sally plays Friday at the Grand Hotel Wollongong, Saturday at The Factory Theatre and Sunday at the Brass Monkey.

GIANT SHOWS

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS Canadian imports Two Hours Traffic and Mere Women have the support slot for currently exploding, in the best possible way, The Jezabels at The Gaelic.

NEW LOOK 5 Punters getting down to the Lansdowne Hotel on Saturday will be entertained by Bernie Lomax 5, who have ve a new keyboard player all the way from Venice Beach we’re told; Walking With Mirrors, Citizen Dog, Judah Call and Hot Grass.

ALL YOU YOU YourSpace at Newtown’s Town Hall Hotel has Dave Bourke, Tubs, Redundant Technology, Carrie Tong, Dean Stafford, Mattie Slur, Massimo and Van Hulsen as well as the free jam session this Wednesday.

SCHOOL’S OUT

Wons Phreely and I Am Giant have scored the supporting slot for The Vasco Era on their Back From China tour (see: tour diary elsewhere in this section). They’re at the Annandale Hotel Saturday.

The rejuvenated SoSueMe is holding an end of uni party this Saturday at The Gaelic with The Tourists, The Deer Republic, The Preachers, Boats Of Berlin and Rainbow Chen and various DJs, so you can forget everything you’ve crammed over the last year - or four your choice - finally.

NEW BITE

LIVING THEIR NAME

Once the Basement of Club Blink, the re-branded Venom will return to the Agincourt Hotel this Saturday. To celebrate the night, entry’s free before 9.30pm.

Arriving from Melbourne, more than a side project now The Weekend People are launching their debut self-titled album Saturday at the Roxbury Hotel and the Phoenix Bar this Sunday.

2. …until it leads into the ultimate classic track by DJ Issac. “Face down/ass up/that’s the way we like to fuck!” 3. A little further down the first disc of hardcore invigoration there’s Stingray & Sonicdriver’s As Cold As Ice that introduces as respite a somewhat melodic piano line. Forty-five seconds in, however, it descends into 200bpm and chipmunk vocals. You know, just ‘cause it can. 4. DJ Houseviking has to get a shout out for his name and contribution Ragga Beat (remix) is pretty much what it’s like to watch Playschool under the influence of speed and whatever the hell else you took last night. Not as cool as it sounds.

6. We’re happy to say My Future Lies’ cover of Died In Your Arms Tonight is better than Sonic Driver’s. One and three quarter hours into this epic listening session and we’re fading, we’re ashamed to admit. 7. Luckily there’s Sweat On My Balls by The Forze DJ Team (who are merely called Forze DJ Team for their disc one contribution, they’ve picked up ‘The’ somewhere in between) to perk us back. Disappointed that we have to wait one minute 20 seconds in to hear the track’s title mentioned by the computer-generated voice in between pounding – pounding – beats. 8. DJ Paul brings the calypso vibe to Boom Boom on disc three, sampling a track that we’re sure was sung by a boy band/girl group but we really just don’t care enough to find out who it was. 9. As the end draws near, Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo’s Wonderful Days (hard mix) makes us wonder what the soft mix sounds like and ensures that we promise ourselves to take a long break from chipmunk vocals. Also encourages a headache worse than New Year’s Day. 10. A century of songs, three hours 50 minutes and 29 songs in, it all ends with Happy Is Voor Hobo’s (sic) by Bodylotion. Starts quirky, gets epic and then just rips your ears in two. Sure we heard the line “Do you want to be a faggggoooooottt?…/you faggot.” Makes sense when we’re told the track was originally called Happy Is Voor Homos, but legal problems meant the name had to be changed.

people – I’m thinking about going back to those places again too. I guess what the experience did was get me excited about music again. I don’t know, I guess I wrote more about people – I think I did; maybe a bit less personal – tried to understand people and what makes them tick. Also I was in a happy mood ‘cause I really enjoy travelling and meeting people; the whole thing was going out to weird clubs in Berlin and Manchester.”

“I

The first fruit of all that is the new EP, Tonight. The first single from it, The World Has A Bank Account, for instance recalls a conversation he had with a girl at a Patrick Wolf concert in New York. So why another EP rather than a full album? “I guess I was thinking about albums and their place in the world and whether they still have much of a place in it. I kinda like EPs. I’ve always got lots of songs lying around, but I think EPs are an interesting artform in a way, but I guess making an album is technically in the works and hopefully the EP will help me set it up. I’ve got some people who want to make an album with me back in the UK, so that’s something I’m probably going to be doing pretty soon.”

•90 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

CLAIRY BROWNE & THE BANGIN RACKETTES Your music is…? Northern Soul, jump blues, old R&B, doo-wap with moments of gospel.

Which acts inspired you to produce your own music and why? Tina Turner is the ultimate vocal powerhouse and she and her Ikettes took doo-wap soul to a sexy, raw and expressive place in the ‘60s.

What’s your wildest ambition for your music? To write, record and perform our music for those that love it nationally and worldwide. And of course front the cover of Rolling Stone and roll with Oprah.

Why should we come and see you? The Rackettes are fine, the boys groove hard and we will take you from prom night to dance hall New Orleans.

How do you find the local live scene?

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, FRESH OUT OF PERTH, SINGER/SONGWRITER WONS PHREELY INTRODUCED HIMSELF WITH A VERY WELL-RECEIVED DEBUT EP – AND PROMPTLY LEFT THE COUNTRY. HE’S BACK WITH A NEW EP AND TALKS TO MICHAEL SMITH.

So over the next year and a half Phreely invaded couches in Manchester, London, Berlin and outer-state New York. “All really good places I think for music and

STAYING AT HOME CIRCA 2004

5. The pre-teen female vocals of Critical Mass urge you to be Dancing Together not long into disc two, and it’s good to know that the chipmunk effect is continuing. Despite the fact there’s a pretty solid beat up to and down from the peaks we couldn’t figure out how to dance to it.

THE HAPPY WANDERER

’d started writing some new things after I’d done that first EP [The Rules Of Nature] and did lots of shows,” Phreely explains, “and started thinking I could learn more about music and learn more about the world. So I just contacted a few people I’d met through MySpace and stuff like that, other musicians, producers, writers – thought I’d go and meet some of them – and they were all interested in letting me sleep on their couch. So I just took the opportunity to go and discover things to write about.”

Sydney’s Staying At Home were heralded as a youthful, energetic and intelligent answer to America’s Mid-West. Described by Australian press as, among other things, like “Something For Kate on no-doze” and “Hey Mercedes crossed with Fugazi”, the band managed a productive five years before calling it quits in 2005. Their final release was the posthumous album Boundless (2006), a short and sharp collection of intelligent alt rock. Sadly, due to the band’s break-up, the album’s quirky, punk pop single, Gil Elvgren, never got the attention it deserved, despite the syncopated handclaps and fuzzed-out guitars. Since 2005 members of Staying At Home have been sighted under such monikers as The Riot And The Trauma, Lungs, Oh Messy Life and Animal Shapes.

I was punched in the guts by Sweet Jelly Roll with phenomenal shows and DJs.

What’s your greatest rock’n’roll moment? That will remain classified information! However I can share that playing at The Forum at the Melbourne International Arts Festival to a crowd of 1500 as glitter canons shrouded the auditorium and stage in glitter rain was pretty rad.

For more info see: clairybrowne.com

Next available at: Friday – The Vanguard

GET YOUR SHIT IN WHO Wons Phreely WHAT Tonight (Ivy League/Liberation) WHEN & WHERE Friday, Maram; Saturday, Annandale Hotel

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ATTN: Local bands! If you have a gig or release in the pipeline that you want to promote, send the details, blurb (no longer than 100 words) and pic (no bigger than 1MB, NO SMALLER THAN 200 DPI and in .JPG or .PDF format) to live@drummedia.com.au. Get in quick, it’s fuckin’ FREE!


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 91 •


live@drummedia.com.au

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

THE OPEN ARMS FESTIVAL WELCOMES ONE AND ALL THIS SATURDAY TO COFFS HARBOUR SHOWGROUNDS, SO WE GOT SOME OF THE ACTS IN THE MOOD.

Boyz II Men. I really want to learn Spanish.” BCE: “I return with gifts for my brothers in BCE. I have an amazing new hard-drive sent from the future for Josh. A neverending bottle of Canadian Club and a Les Paul for Az. A set of the finest Cuban cigars and a nice coffee for Garth. And for myself, maybe a beautiful Spanish women named Adelina who enjoys playing drums and has a thing for skinny white guys who have no money.”

Who would you most like to see cover Creed’s With Arms Wide Open and why?

CR: “VD, a funny walk and a black eye.”

Birds Of Toko, Adam Weston: “I’d have to say Horrorshow, because God knows the original didn’t work, so I think these guys should be able to chew this one up and spit it out properly. Adit would provide the mad beats and Solo would have to change all the lyrics except for the Arms Wide Open chorus tag. Brilliant!”

TBOT: “A rash.” M: “Two sharks with laser beams attached to their foreheads.” What is the best hug you have ever received?

Hungry Kids Of Hungary, Kane Mazlin: “That’s a hard question as I don’t really wanna hear that song at any time in my life. However, if I had to choose I’d pick The Living End. They could smash out an unhinged crazy version of it, complete with an awesome solo.”

BOT: “I’m really glad you asked because Australia needs to know that our keyboardist Glenn gives the best hugs. It’s really quite the spectacle; he hugs by stretching his arms out while not quite making body contact, tilts his head to the side, again not really making contact, slips a quick pat on the back in there and he’s done!”

Behind Crimson Eyes, Dan Kerby: “I would have to go with Birds of Tokyo, simply because they are amazing! I’m sure they would come up with a version that blitzes the original.” City Riots, Ricky Kradolfer: “I don’t think classics like the ones off Creed’s discography should be tampered with.” The Barons Of Tang, Julian Cue: “Geez such a great song, who could possibly do it justice? Let’s say Grafton Primary, some phat beats could only make that trainwreck a little less fatal.” Moniters, Matt Schrader: “Cabins. I reckon they would actually make it sound better than the original, especially with Scott Owen from Living End joining them for the outro throwing his big double bass around.” No one likes to see a lazy punter with arms folded across their chest. How do you plan to keep the crowd’s arms open?

• 92 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

BIRDS OF TOKYO BOT: “Yeah that’s true. Once I saw someone in the front row just yawning! Almost makes you feel like you’re not doing your job properly. If Kenny [vocalist] sees anyone who doesn’t have their arms open to receive the love, he’ll single you out and embarrass you in front of everyone.” HKOH: “We’ve got some colour-coordinated outfits and matching board shorts we found at Lifeline in Perth. We’ll probably just try to jump around a lot, point at people, smile. Like The Wiggles I guess.” BCE: “At our last show Josh jumped from a huge front of house speaker into the crowd. He’s always jumping off things, I love that guy.” CR: “Two large sticks and some gaffa tape.”

TBOT: “By constantly encouraging the audience to tell fishing stories of the one that got away. Failing that we’re bringing 2,000 giant beach balls with us, which we’ll periodically fire into the crowd with a homemade beach ball cannon. M: “I’m planning to do Merv Hughes-like stretches on stage so everyone will hopefully follow suit. Other than that, some high-energy dance rock’n’roll should get them moving..” You’re lost for a few hours in the Enchanted Woods. What do you return with? HKOH: “I magically return with a copy of my side project hip hop record sung completely in Spanish. Guest stars on the album include Nelly Furtado and

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HKOH: “I got a hug from a shoe shiner in Philadelphia when we were in the States earlier this year. He told me a story about how his landlord attacked him with a hammer and then for an extra few dollars sang a song about Obama. It was called We’re Taking It To The Top. He then gave me a hug and was told to move on by staff as he was shoe shining illegally outside a hotel.” BCE: “I haven’t been hugged in so long. Oh man, I need to get myself a Mrs!” CR: “From a man wearing a woman’s leotard in a Brooklyn diner this morning at 5am after the NYC Halloween parade. That’s not weird is it?” TBOT: “Every time I turn on the TV popular culture gives me a long, warm, numbing hug whether I like it or not. Viva la Reveltio… aw, whatever.” M: “I actually hugged the Sick Puppies free hugs campaign guy! It was awesome.”


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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 93 •


gigs@drummedia.com.au

16 - 22 NOVEMBER 2010

TUE 16

ADAM PRINGLE BAND: Sandringham Htl downstairs ALISON PENNEY: Dee Why RSL ASTON, THE CONSCIOUS PILOTS: Raval BNO ROCK SHOW: Scruffy Murphys CROWDED HOUSE, OH MERCY: WIN Entertainment Centre DISCOROSSO, GRAND WIZARD MYME 01, LOKO 1, GEE WIZZ, BENJI: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe JAMES VALENTINE QUARTET: Golden Sheaf JAZZGROOVE feat…, SCQUINTET, GERARD MASTERS TRIO: 505, 280 Cleveland St Surry Hills JMC SHOWCASE: Enmore Theatre KARAOKE, DJ MADHONOUR, THE COSMIC EXPLORER, CRIS ANGEL: World Bar Kings X MOJO JUJU: The Vanguard MUSHU, MATTHEW BOOTH BAND, MARK BERRY, KATHRYN HARNETT: Beach Rd Htl Bondi NICK ARNOLD, THE LIKELY FEW, MICHAEL DORMAN: The Basement PAUL SUN, MONIQUE LYSIAK: Jazushi Restaurant Surry Hills PETER HEAD: Harbourview Htl PHIL SPILLER: Artichoke Café Manly STEVE TONGE: O’Malleys Kings X THEY CALL ME BRUCE: Maloney’s Hotel

WED 17

ALBARE: The Basement BEDLAM IN BELGIUM, SEALION, BEGGARS ORCHESTRA, ELLE KENNARD: Annandale Htl BERNIE HAYES: Sandringham Htl downstairs BOXING WITH GHOSTS, DEBBIE, BEN AYLWARD: Sandringham Htl CLAYTON DOLEY’S ORGAN DONORS: The Mac DAVE BOURKE, TUBS, REDUNDANT TECHNOLOGY, CARRIE TONG, DEAN STAFFORD, MATTIE SLUR, MASSIMO, VAN

HULSEN: Town Hall Htl, Newtown DJANIMALS, DOMEYKO GONZALES, DAN: Beach Rd Htl Bondi DREAM BROTHERBUCKLEY TRIBUTE, MATT ANDERSON, KRYSTAL ROGERS, FRANK SULTANA, GREG CADE, LUKE DICKENS, MICHAEL AZZOPARDI, MATT TONKS: The Vanguard DRUM MEDIA PRESENTS…, LIVE AND LOCAL: Lizottes, Dee Why DYLAN DREW: Hawkesbury Htl ELECTRIC WIRE HUSTLE: Tone, Sydney GARETH LIDDIARD: Lizottes, Newcastle GARFISH: 505, 280 Cleveland St Surry Hills GEMMA: Observer Htl GERARD MASTERS, THE FALLS, GFY: Hotel Hollywood HAPPY HIPPIES: Ettamogah Htl JEFF MARTIN, TEREPAI RICHMOND, CAM & GABRIELLE: Brass Monkey JENNIFER YOUNG: The View Factory, Newcastle JO ELMS: Dee Why RSL JOE PUG, CHRIS ALTMANN: Red Rattler, Marrickville KOOLISM: Hotel Gearin, Katoomba LIVE AND LOCAL: Lizottes, Kincumber MAL’S OPEN MIC NIGHT: Taren Point Htl METAL MELEE: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe MONKS OF COOL: Mars Hill Café MUSOS CLUB JAM NIGHT: Bald Faced Stag NATASHA STUART, MICHELLE MARTINEZ: AB Htl Glebe NEIL FINN: Seymour Centre NIKKI THORBURN: Artichoke Café Manly PETER HEAD: Harbourview Htl RECKLESS DUO: Maloney’s Hotel SHANNON BACALL: Belmont 16ft Sailing Club SIMON KENNEDY, TOM OAKLEY, BEN ELWOOD: Oatley Hotel THE GIN CLUB: The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle THE RIVET SOLED JUMP UPS, DIRTY NICE, THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS, SPECTACLES, LIAM GALE: Excelsior Surry

• 94 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

THIRSTY MERC: WEDNESDAY 17, ANU BAR, THURSDAY 18, GRAND HOTEL, FRIDAY 19, THE METRO Hills THE WALL WEDNESDAY, SIGNAL STENCIL, GRAF AND STREET ART: World Bar Kings X THIRSTY MERC, WHITE BATS: ANU Bar ACT TWO MINDS TRIO: Scruffy Murphys

THU 18

AKIL, LOUIS LOGIC, NIKITA, IGLOO, D PHY: Tone, Sydney ANDY MAMMERS: Northies Cronulla HtlSport Bar ANTHEMS OF OZ: Orient Htl BHANGLASSI: Annandale Htl BODY HEAT: Albion Park RSL BONJAH: Queens Wharf Brewery Newcastle BONJAH: The Brewery, Newcastle CANYONS: UniBar, Wollongong CHALKIE WHITE: Windang Bowling Club COLIN JONES: Artichoke Café Manly CRUSHED ICE: Camden Valley Golf Resort DAVID ANGIUS DUO: Harbord Beach Htl DAVID GOYEN: Club Five Dock DEE DONOVAN, GROOVEWORKS: Revesby Workers, Whitlam Theatre DENNIS DEMELLO: CLUB BELMORE DIESEL, MAX SMIDT, KELLIE MARIE: Brass Monkey DIRT RIVER RADIO, ONE EYED KINGS, THE GOATS: Port Macquarie Hotel DJ ALEX: Beach Rd Htl Bondi DOJO CUTS feat…, ROXIE RAY: The Mac ELECTRIC HORSE, ENGINE THREE

SEVEN, MIND AT LARGE: The Cabbage Tree Htl, Fairy Meadow GANGGAJANG: Lizottes, Newcastle GARETH LIDDIARD: Lizottes, Kincumber Good Charlotte: Big Top Luna Park HAPPY, RUSSELL CRAWFORD, BRIAN ESTEPA: Hive Bar, Erskineville HAT FITZ: Lizottes, Dee Why HORRORSHOW, URBAN FREE FLOW: Fitzroy Htl Windsor HOT DAMN! feat…, ENDLESS HEIGHTS, THE HOLLOW, LOVERS GRAVE, AFTERMATH, VIOLENCE, +DJs: Spectrum JAZZ FACTORY: The View Factory, Newcastle JEFF MARTIN, TEREPAI RICHMOND, GABRIELLE & CAMERON (DEAD LETTER CHORUS): The Basement JEZ MEAD, LANIE LANE: Buddha Bar, Byron Bay JOE PUG, CHRIS ALTMANN: Raval KATY WREN, QUIET TITANS, BOBBY GEBERT: The Vanguard LATIN STYLE: Scruffy Murphys LOUIS: Martin Place MAL’S OPEN MIC NIGHT: Appin Htl MANDI JARRY: Green Park Hotel MATT JONES: Observer Htl MICHAEL MCGLYNN: Greengate Htl MISSION CONTROL, + SPECIAL GUESTS: Oxford Art Factory, Gallery MONANNLISA WILDE, THIEVES, HOWLER: The Wall (The Bald Faced Stag) MUSOS CLUB JAM NIGHT: Carousel Inn Rooty Hill NEIL FINN: Seymour Centre

NICKY KURTA: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta NUMBERS RADIO, FANGS: Great Northern Byron Bay ONE NIGHT ONLY feat., JOHN DEVOY, + SPECIAL GUESTS: Sandringham Htl downstairs PETE: Marlborough Htl PETER HEAD: Harbourview Htl PHATCHANCE & COPTIC SOLDIER, JOHNNY UTAH: Armidale Club PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY, HOWL, BEARHUG: Beach Hotel, Byron Bay PIANOMAN: The Loft RAY RAY RAY & THE JETSONS, SPOOKYLAND, BRADLEY CORK, SKINNY D & THE JELLYFISH: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe REYES DE LA ONDA: Macquarie Htl Surry Hills ROSS WARD: gj’s Coffee Lounge ROYDEN DONOHUE: Dubbo RSL SALSA ON THE ROCKS, DWIGHT ‘CHOCOLATE’ ESCOBAR: Cruise Bar, The Rocks SAM & JAMIE TRIO: Maloney’s Hotel SAMANTHA BRAVE, KATE GOGARTY: Newport Arms Hotel SCOTT DONALDSON: Campbelltown Catholic Club - Caf‚ Samba STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Empire Htl STEVE TONGE: Hillside Htl Castle Hill TEENAGE KICKS, URBY, BABY DECKS, JOHNNY SEGMENT, EL MARIACHI: World Bar Kings X THE DUTCHESESS, MONITERS, BRIGHT QUITO SPRING, LE

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KINGSTE: Excelsior Surry Hills THE GIN CLUB: Headlands Hotel Austinmer THE JEZABELS, TWO HOURS TRAFFIC: Harp Htl Wollongong THE LUCKY WONDERS: Railway Friendly Bar THE SUSPECTS: Marble Bar Hilton Htl THIRSTY MERC, WHITE BATS: Grand Hotel, Wollongong TONY SLAVICH: Dee Why RSL URBAN GYPSIES: 505, 280 Cleveland St Surry Hills WHERE’S JEROME, JESSAMINE, KIDS IN CULTS: Sandringham Htl WORLD’S END PRESS: Good God Small Club

FRI 19

AARON LYON: Artichoke Café Manly ACHTUNG BABY-U2 SHOW: Pioneer Tavern AFTER PARTY BAND: CLUB CRONULLA AKINGA: St Marys Leagues ALEX KUUSIK: Pyrmont Bridge Hotel AMY MEREDITH: The Factory Theatre ANDY BULL, TIN SPARROW, EMMA DAVIS: 34B Oxford St Darlinghurst Andy Mammers Trio: Jewells Tavern, Jewells, Central Coast ANTON KORITNI DUO: Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club APPLES FOR EVE: Wagga RSL Club AXXONN, PARADES, East Brunswick Club, SEALION: The Wall (The Bald Faced Stag) BARRY LEEF, PETER NORTHCOTE: Unity Hall Htl BEAU SMITH, MANDI JARRY: Greengate Htl

BEN FINN: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta BERNIE HAYES, The Delroys: Rose of Australia BIG RADIO DYNAMITE: Mounties Club Mt Pritchard BIG SHOTS DEULLING PIANO SHOW: Club Five Dock BONE IDOL: Port Macquarie Hotel BONJAH: Laurieton Hotel BOTTLE ROCKET: Club Umina BROWN SUGAR: Marble Bar Hilton Htl CARDBOARD CUTOUTS: The Point Bowling Club CHRIS ALEXANDER: Kingswood Sports Club CHRIS ORCHARD: Oasis on Beamish CLAIRY BABY BROWNE & THE BANGIN’ RACKETTES: The Vanguard CLUB BLINK feat., APE BC, BELLUSIRA, THESE FOUR WALLS, CUTWING: St James Htl Sydney DAMIAN ENEMARK: Roxbury Htl Glebe DANIEL LISSING DUO, BLACK DIAMOND HEART CLUB: Crows Nest Htl DAVE WHITE, LUKE DIXON: Kirribilli Htl DAVID AGIUS: Macquarie Htl, Liverpool DIESEL, MAX SMIDT, KELLIE MARIE: Brass Monkey DIRTY DEEDS - AC/ DC SHOW: Heathcote Hotel DJ MYME, DISCOROSSO, GEE WIZZ, SKAE, G THE DEVIL, BRAY DEAD, + HEAPS MORE!: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe ED WORLAND & THE GREEN TEAS, ASHTON TREMAIN, JAMES WILLING, KENNA DONOVAN: Manly Fishos ELECTRIC HORSE, ENGINE THREE SEVEN, GEMININE, GODS OF RAPTURE: Excelsior Surry Hills ENDLESS SUMMER BEACH PARTY: Scruffy Murphys ENORMOUS HORNS: Ettamogah Htl FALCONA FRIDAYS, FALCONA DJ’S: Kit & kaboodle, Kings Cross FLAMIN’ BEAUTIES: Mortdale Htl FUNKWIT: The View Factory, Newcastle GAMBIT, BLOODY LOVELY AUDREY, LOVERS JUMP

CREEK: 89 Ebley GANGGAJANG: Lizottes, Dee Why GLENN WHITEHALL: Pittwater RSL HIP NOT HOP: Hillside Htl Castle Hill HORRORSHOW, SHANTANWANTAN, DJ ABILITY, MIKE WHO: Beach Rd Htl Bondi HP DUO: Albion Htl HYPE: Brewhouse Pub St Marys IDOL KARAOKE: Carousel Inn Rooty Hill INTIMATE LOUNGE MUSIC: Fairfield RSL, Supper Club JAMM ZONE: Matraville Htl JEFF MARTIN, TEREPAI RICHMOND, SPOOKYLAND: The Basement JERICCO: Fitzroy Htl Windsor Johnny Vinyl, STRIKE: Cruise Bar, The Rocks JON ENGLISH, JONAHS ROAD: Notes, Newtown K.P: Quakers Inn KAKI KING: Oxford Art Factory KAKI KING, + SPECIAL GUESTS: Oxford Art Factory, Live Art Space KASEY CHAMBERS: Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre KEEP THE FAITH - BON JOVI SHOW: Bombaderry Htl KRISTINA OLSEN: Clarendon Guest House LINZEE DIXON: Stamford Grand Nth Ryde LIQUID SKY feat., SLIPPERYWHENWET, KNOCKED UP NOISE, KYRO, BOMBER, SWEET DISTORTION, + HEAPS MORE!: Candys Apartment LISA HUNT, JO ELMS TRIO, GREG BRYNE, CHRIS BOOTH: Dee Why RSL LITTLE FISH DUO: Yamba Bowling Club LJ: Kro Bar, East Leagues Club, Bondi Junction LOS CAPITANES: Landsdowne Hotel LOVERS JUMP CREEK, BLOODY LOVELY AUDREY, GAMBIT: Cock & Bull LUKE ROBINSON: Parramatta RSL MAD COW: Campbelltown Catholic Club MARK DA COSTA AND THE BLACK LIST: Bull & Bush MARK TRAVERS: Australian Hotel & Brewery, Annangrove MARSHALL & THE FRO, THE VILLAIN: Junkyard Htl, Maitland MATT PRICE DUO: Mean Fiddler Htl


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 95 •


gigs@drummedia.com.au

16 - 22 NOVEMBER 2010 MENTAL AS ANYTHING: Lizottes, Newcastle NAT COLE AND THE KINGS: Cambridge Htl Newcastle NICKY KURTA: Novotel - Brewery Bar, Olympic Park NUMBERS RADIO, DEAD ACTORS CLUB, FANGS, THE MONEY SMOKERS, THE BUNGALOWS, ATOM BOMBS, + DJ’s: World Bar Kings X NUTHIN 2 SERIOUS: Cowra Services Club OAKES & LENNOX, SUSHI, FRESHMIX: East Leagues ONE WORLD: Crown Htl City OUTLIER: Marlborough Htl OWL EYES, NEW NAVY, ADRIAN DEUTSCH: Melt Bar Kings X PAUL GREENE: Kareela Golf Club PEABODY: Grand Junction Htl Maitland PENNY AND THE MYSTICS: Old Manly Boatshed PETER HEAD: Harbourview Htl PURPLE SNEAKERS feat., CATCALL DJ SET, WHITE BATS DJ SET, PHDJ, BEN LUCID, M.I.T, T-ROMPF: Gladstone Htl RAPTURE: Customs House Sydney REBECCA JOHNSON BAND: Narrabeen Sands REGGAE GOT SOUL, KID MINCE, THE SCORCHER, CHUAN: The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle RENAE KEARNEY: East Hills Htl, East Hills ROADHOUSE ROCKERS: Belmont 16ft Sailing Club ROB HENRY, CARL FIDLER: Observer Htl ROYDEN DONOHUE: Dubbo RSL Sally Seltmann, OH MERCY, JESSICA SAYS: The Grand Hotel, Wollongong SAM & JAMIE BAND: Woolloomooloo Bay Htl SARAH PATON: O’Malleys Kings X SCOTT: Hills District Bowling Club SHADE OF RED: Woy Woy Leagues SKYSCRAPER: Miranda Htl STEPHEN KIELY, MATT JONES DUO: Penrith Panthers SUVI: Vineyard Htl

TED NASH: Chatswood RSL THE BOAT PEOPLE, THE JEWEL AND THE FALCON, THE RETREAT: Sandringham Htl THE CATHOLICS: 505, 280 Cleveland St Surry Hills THE CONSCIOUS PILOTS: Excelsior Glebe THE DOORS EXPERIENCE: Penrith Htl THE FLAMES: Blacktown RSL THE GIN CLUB, DAVE MCCORMACK & THE POLAROIDS, THE MALADIES, THE STRESS OF LEISURE: Annandale Htl THE JEZABELS, TWO HOURS TRAFFIC: The Gaelic THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS, DEEP SEA ARCADE, GLASS TOWERS: Great Northern Byron Bay THE KANDY APPLES: Newtown RSL THE MARISTIANS: Rag & Famish Nth Syd THE WAVES: Harbord Beach Htl THE WAVES: Harbord Diggers THINK BIG: Mosman RSL THIRSTY MERC, WHITE BATS: Metro Theatre UNMARKED DJ: Crown Hotel Motel, Camden WARREN BERRY: Taree Leagues Sports Club WEIRD ASSEMBLY, THE LEISURE BANDITS: The Mac WORLD’S END PRESS: Coogee Diggers ZOLTAN: PJ Gallaghers Drummoyne

SAT 20

031 ROCK SHOW: Scruffy Murphys ADAM MILLER: The View Factory, Newcastle AFTER PARTY BAND: Campbelltown Catholic Club AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESENTS GLOBAL SOUNDS: 505, 280 Cleveland St Surry Hills ARREBATO ENSEMBLE: Lizottes, Dee Why BACK TO THE 80’S, DJ: Mounties Club Mt Pritchard BANG SHANG A LANG, GREG POPPLETON & THE BAKELITE DANCE BAND: Penrith RSL, Castle Lounge BEN FINN: Brewhouse Pub Marayong BEN KORBEL, MICAH, JAMES TAYLOR, LEVINS, BEN MORRIS, DISCO PUNX, + HEAPS MORE!:

THE GIN CLUB: WEDNESDAY 17, GREAT NORTHEN HTL, THURSDAY 18, HEADLANDS HTL, FRIDAY 19, ANNANDALE HTL World Bar Kings X BEN VICKER, DANNY PRESTI: Cruise Bar, The Rocks BIG GUNS feat…, ZOMG! KITTENS!, DOWN N DIRTY, PRETTY YOUNG THINGS, + HEAPS MORE!: Candys Apartment BLACK DIAMOND HEART CLUB: Golden Sheaf BLACK LABEL: Bargo Hotel Bon Jovi The Show: Revesby Workers, Whitlam Theatre BONJAH: OPEN ARMS CAMBO: Waterworks Htl, Botany CHRIS ALEXANDER: Dooley’s, Lidcombe CLIVE HAY: Hills District Bowling Club COUGAR DUO: RICHMOND GOLF CLUB COVERGIRL: Malborough Hotel DAN LAWRENCE: Sir Joseph Banks Hotel DARREN JOHNSTONE: PJ Gallaghers Drummoyne DAVE AGIUS DUO: Penrith Panthers, Fluid Bar DES GIBSON: Lansvale Htl DOC NEESON: Hotel Gearin, Katoomba DRAGON: Brass Monkey EMMA DEAN, + SPECIAL GUESTS: Raval FEMI KUTI, THE POSITIVE FORCE: Metro Theatre FLO RIDER, STAN WALKER, SOULJA BOY, TRAVIE MCCOY, JAY SEAN, NINO BROWN, AKON, CIARA: Acer Arena Homebush FOUR OF A KIND: Gosford RSL GANGGAJANG: Lizottes, Kincumber GARETH LIDDIARD, + SPECIAL GUESTS: Oxford Art Factory, Live

Art Space GARY JOHNS DUO: Mean Fiddler Htl GILBERT WHYTE: Artichoke Café Manly GLENN WHITEHALL: Picton Htl GODSWOUNDS, SLIMEY THINGS, THE KIDNEY THEIVES, 10K FREE MEN, LUCAS ABELA: The Wall (The Bald Faced Stag) HACKS, FAG PANIC, AXXONN, TWIN BATTERY, MEKARE KARE, + HEAPS MORE!: Dirty Shirlows, Marrackville HEATH BURDELL: Northies Cronulla HtlSport Bar HELLO CLEVELAND: Australian Hotel & Brewery, Annangrove HIT SELECTION DUO: Miranda RSL IGNITION: Bull & Bush JEFF MARTIN, TEREPAI RICHMOND, GABRIEL: Corner Hotel, Richmond JIMI HENDIX TRIBUTE SHOW: Enmore Theatre JOHN CALDER TRIO, THE DONOVANS FLOYD & RAOUL: Dee Why RSL John Hill: Stamford Grand Nth Ryde JOHNNY G & THE E TYPES: The Mac JOSH MCIVOR: Bankstown Sports Club K.P: Liverpool Bowling Club KAFE KOOL: Fairfield RSL, Supper Club KEEP THE FAITH - BON JOVI SHOW: Blacktown RSL KEITH ARMITAGE: Harbord Beach Htl KOLONEL BIZARRE: Landsdowne Hotel KOLONEL BIZARRE: Lucky Australian Tavern Sydney LEPROSY, NONE REMAIN, UNKNOWN TO GOD, DEATHCAGE: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe LOVE JAM: Beach Rd Htl Bondi

LUKE DIXON: Woolloomooloo Bay Htl LYDIA, ELLIOT THE BULL, GHOSTS OF YORK, KARL CHRISTOPH: 34B Oxford St Darlinghurst MAL’S OPEN MIC NIGHT: Panania Htl MANDI JARRY TRIO: Kirribilli Htl MARK DA COSTA AND THE BLACK LIST: Mean Fiddler Htl, Woolshed MARK TRAVERS: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta MARSHALL & THE FRO, BRASS KNUCKLES, DADDY LONG LEGS, THE SWAMP DONKEYS: The Vanguard MATT JONES DUO: Ettamogah Htl MATT PRICE: Woolwich Peir Hotel MENTAL AS ANYTHING: Lizottes, Newcastle MOONLIGHT DRIVE, THE KRANSKY SISTERS: Belmont 16ft Sailing Club NICKY KURTA: Greengate Htl NUMBERS RADIO, FANGS: The Northern Star ONE HIT WONDERS: Tracks, Epping Htl ONE WORLD: Courthouse Htl ONLY THE SEA SLUGS, + SPECIAL GUESTS: Oxford Art Factory, Gallery OSCAR AND MARTIN, GHOUL, COLLARBONES: Excelsior Surry Hills PARTY CENTRAL: East Leagues PETE GELZINNIS: Bank Htl Newcastle RATTLE & HUM-U2 SHOW: Warragamba Workers REPLIKA: Carousel Inn Rooty Hill ROB HENRY: Rydges Parramatta SAFIRE DUO: Kareela Golf Club

SFX feat., FIFTY SIXX, SIERRA MONTANA, WORST CASE SCENARIO, THE INITIATION: St James Htl Sydney SON VENENO, JJ SON CON IDABELIS, + SPECIAL GUEST DJS: The Basement SOSUEME END OF UNI PARTY, THE TOURIST, THE DEER REPUBLIC, THE PREACHERS, BOATS OF BERLIN, RAINBOW CHAN, + HEAPS MORE!: The Gaelic STEVE TONGE, DAVE STEVENS: Observer Htl STEVE TONGE TRIO: Maloney’s Hotel STORMCELLAR: Pendle Inn THE BOAT PEOPLE: Beach Hotel THE CAPITOLS: Club Five Dock THE GENERATORS: Ingleburn Htl THE VASCO ERA, WONS PHREELY, I AM GIANT: Annandale Htl THINK BIG: Smithfield RSL THROUGH THE GLASS, DARKLY: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe (Afternoon) TICE & EVANS, DJ KAKI: Sandringham Htl downstairs UNMARKED DJ: Crown Hotel Motel, Camden VANILLA CHAINSAWS, THE RUM BABAS, THE DRAGSTRIPPER: Sandringham Htl VINCE JONES: The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba WE’RE BACK: Riverwood Inn WILDCATZ: Crows Nest Htl

SUN 21

ACCA DACQUIRIS: Bankstown Sports Club ANTOINE: O’Malleys Kings X BAG RAIDERS: King St Htl Newcastle BIKE FESTIVAL: Beach Rd Htl Bondi BLUES SUNDAYS:

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Artichoke Café Manly BRAZIL NUT SUNDAE, SAMBA FROG: The View Factory, Newcastle CATE COUNTRY BAND: Penrith RSL, Castle Lounge CHRIS ALEXANDER TRIO: Campbelltown Golf Club CHRIS TURNER & THE CAVEMEN: Bald Rock Htl Rozelle CHRISTIE LAMB, MICK AQUILINA: Campbelltown Catholic Club DAMO SUZUKI, THE HOLY SOUL, NAKED ON THE VAGUE: Excelsior Surry Hills DAVID ANGIUS DUO, DAVE WHITE DUO: Northies Cronulla Htl DOLLSHAY: Mean Fiddler Htl FINN: Macquarie Arms Htl FIONA JOY HAWKINS, BLUE DREAM, WILL ACKERMAN, BUKHU: The Basement FRANKY & JOHNNY, PETE GELZINNIS: Belmont 16ft Sailing Club FUNHOUSE: Beach Hotel GLEN BAIN: Hurstville RSL Club GLENN WHITEHALL: Miranda Htl HAT FITZ, CARA ROBINSON: Lizottes, Newcastle JAZZ NOUVEAU, JOSEPH CALDERAZZO & EVELYN DUPRAI: Dee Why Hotel JED ZARB: Woolloomooloo Bay Htl John Hill: Dee Why RSL JOHN LEIGH CALDER TRIO: The Clarendon Hotel JOSH MCIVOR, ROB HENRY, MIKE BENNETT: Observer Htl LAWRENCE BAKER: Harbord Beach Htl LET IT BE - BEATLES TRIBUTE: The Vanguard LJ: Waverley Bowling Club MALIANA HAS FRIENDS, JJ SON, IDALBELIS: The Wall (The Bald Faced Stag) MAL’S OPEN MIC NIGHT: Iron Duke Htl Alexandria MARIO BROTHERS: East Leagues MATT JONES DUO: Hillside Htl Castle Hill MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS: Pyrmont Bridge Hotel NEKROFEIST, PULSEFFECT,

TAINTED TOYS: Sandringham Htl NICKY KURTA: Crows Nest Htl PAUL SUN, ALEX COMPTON, MONIQUE LYSIAK: Organic Food Mkts, Frenchs Forest PETE HUNT: Oatley Hotel PETER FENTON, THE MALADIES, GREG ATKINSON, SUI ZHEN, Found At Sea, CHRIS MOLLER, DAVE CHALLINOR, MARK MOLDRE: Annandale Htl PETER NORTHCOTE, MARK DA COSTA: Bridge Htl Rozelle ROSS WARD: Sutherland United Club Sally Seltmann, ALEX FROM OH MERCY: Brass Monkey SHINE: Gosford RSL STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Wickham Park Htl Islington SUN SETS, DJ STRIKE: Cruise Bar, The Rocks THE BADDIES: Botany View Htl THE RAINY SEASON, TERRY SERIO’S MINISTRY OF TRUTH, KAT KISS: Petersham Bowling Club THE RUMJACKS, HANDSOME YOUNG STRANGERS, LIMPIN’ JIMMY & THE SWINGIN’ KITTEN: Jets Sports Club, Tempe THE SMOKIN’ WILLIES: Royal Htl Springwood THE WHITE BROS, MATT PRICE: Ettamogah Htl TOBRUK, THE BLUES LIZARD: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe WHITE BROS: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta WILLOW JONES: Museum Of Contemporary Art

MON 22

BERNIE: Observer Htl Carribean Soul: Paddy Maguires Haymarket DILWORTH ORGAN TRIO: 505, 280 Cleveland St Surry Hills JAZZ @ THE WALL: The Wall (The Bald Faced Stag) JIM GANNON: Dee Why RSL NATHAN KAYE: Railway Friendly Bar PIETA BROWN, BO RAMSEY: The Basement SONGWRITER SESSIONS: Excelsior Surry Hills

The Benchmark in Mastering Th International standards at affordable rates for f Australia’s independent music scene Make M a your budget sound big! For Fo or all a studio and mastering inquiries: info@benchmarkmastering.com www.benchmarkmastering.com www.level7studios.com.au (02) 9211 3017

Benchmark Mastering • 96 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

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THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 97 •


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BEHIND THE LINES WITH MICHAEL SMITH BTL@STREETPRESS.COM.AU

GEMMA RAY: MADE IN AUSTRALIA “I’m actually recording at Albert Studios [in Sydney’s Neutral Bay],” Essex, UK guitar-slinger, singer and songwriter Gemma Ray told BTL. “I started doing some recording there back in April [she was here for Byron Bay Bluesfest] when I got stranded here because of the volcano [the eruption of Iceland’s Mt. Eyjafjallajökull], which was pleasant, so I’m picking up where I left off really. I’ve been travelling a lot and recording in different places so I’ve already recorded an album really that was over the top production, which I love, really ambitious and I’ve sort of come full circle and put a lot of that material on the back burner and what I’m focusing on now is actually quite classic in the songwriting sense. I always like to let the dust settle – I don’t like to force it too much – but I’m recording it live with a great bass player from Melbourne I met in the UK when he played bass with C.W. Stoneking, and drummer, who’s come with me from London via Wales, and that’s going to be the backbone of it this time, rather than me playing lot of things myself and layering it up.”

PAUL GOES FROM A TO APPS Paul Kelly’s memoir, How To Make Gravy, is now available as an iPhone/iPad App through iTunes. This app not only lets you read the unabridged ebook but will also consult your iPod library so you can listen to any versions of songs you might already have. The first six songs referred to in the book are included to get you started. The app also contains a very personal video introduction by Kelly as well as six audio extracts.

FIRST TIME FOR AIAIAI Danish headphone manufacturer AIAIAI have just released their first ever series of headphones designed specifically for professional and amateur DJs, their name, the TMA-1, derived from the magnetic irregularity found at the Tycho crater on the Moon’s surface described in Arthur C. Clarke’s seminal science fiction novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey. The TMA-1 has a 1.5 metre cable that comes with a mini jack connection in both ends, as well as a reinforced plug with adaptor option at the end of the wire, and was designed in association with a number of DJs from the Tartlet label. For details, contact Lightsounds on 1800 55 22 05.

DENON GETS TRAKTOR CERTIFICATION One of the leading manufacturers of premium-grade DJ equipment, Denon DJ, has announced that its very popular DN-X1600 Digital DJ Mixer has now received Native Instruments’ Traktor Scratch Pro certification, which ensures that the unit will work in perfect harmony with the Traktor setup, allowing users to connect their computer, analogue turntable or Denon DN-S3700 Digital Media Turntables directly to the mixer and use time-code control instead of the external Audio 8 DJ interface.

REAL FINE PRODUCTIONS Describing themselves as a commercial Urban-Electro music production house, Real Fine Productions is the brainchild of singer, songwriter and producer Semra Michaels, and already boasts a client bass that includes hip hop artist Nigee E and dance artist Merce. For details, check into the website or call 0423 020 324.

SOUND BYTES Due for release towards the end of January, UK threepiece The White Lies went into Assault & Battery Studios in London to record their second album, Ritual, with producer Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails). To celebrate their formation 50 years ago, singer Colin Blunstone and keyboards player Rod Argent are currently in Argent’s Red House Studios in Bedfordshire, UK, with the current lineup of one of the most influential psychedelic band of the ‘60s, The Zombies, recording a new album which Argent is also producing. Mike Silverman aka That 1 Guy took himself into producer Billy Hume’s studio The Zone in Atlanta, Georgia to write and record his third album, Packs A Wallop, complete with a new version of his infamous ‘magic pipe’. Hume’s CV includes working with Nelly, Heavy Mojo, Nas and Ludacris among many. Ontario, Canada five-piece Finger Eleven recorded their latest and fifth album, Life Turns Electric, at Wind-up Studios in New York with founding guitarists James Black and Rick Jackett producing. Due out second week of January, the new album, 21, from English singer songwriter Adele, was for the most part recorded in Malibu, California, with the unlikely Rick Rubin, • 98 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010

GREEN RECORDING & MASTERING

George Markousis (Owner and Engineer)

What’s the studio set up you have there equipment-wise?

Analogue vs digital – discuss.

Controller for Nuendo, Barefoot MM27 monitors, Avalon, Buzz and DW Fearn pre-amps, AKG, Manley Gold and other mics, Lexicon, Eventide and TC effects, many hardware synths. For a full list of equipment, visit the site.

Can bands bring in their own engineer or do they have to solely use a house engineer?

What’s the access to the studio like with regards to parking, flat load, etc?

There’s no problem if they want to bring their own, but no one ever has, since it’s a small studio maybe.

It’s a quiet street, there’s always somewhere to park directly outside.

Is the studio capable of holding a full band at once for recording?

Working in the studio can be arduous and we’ll need a break – what are the amenities in the local area?

Analogue has the sound, digital the flexibility.

Any tips for artists entering a studio for the first time? Learn the songs well, and rehearse with a metronome. Which notable artists have worked at the studio? Penny Pavlakis from The Ten Sopranos. Who do you have on staff and what’s their background in the industry? I’m the only person here for now. I have 20 years experience in Greece as a sound engineer and in the last three years in Australia I have had my current studio and been front of house engineer for Notes Live, Enmore and Factory Theatres.

Yes. We’re an impoverished indie band – do you offer any deals for acts in our situation? I usually do a price to suit any situation I see, and I believe the studio has quite good prices in general. Do you have any in-house instruments at the studio acts can use, or is it totally BYO? There are many hardware synths, a 1975 Fender Stratocaster, a 1964 Fender Telecaster, an 1980 ESP, Mesa

boogie tube guitar pre-amp and a Roland TD20 drum kit. There is no extra charge to use any of these.

There’s both a pub and a shopping centre three minutes walk away! What are your contact details? 3 Bellona St, Winston Hills 9620 7584 (9am – 2pm) greenrecording.com.au george@greenrecording.com.au

ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

LEADING UP TO WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 68TH BIRTHDAY AND MARKING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH, NOTED LOCAL GUITARISTS STEVE EDMONDS, KEVIN BORICH AND PETER NORTHCOTE DISCUSS THE LEGACY OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST KNOWN GUITARISTS WITH MICHAEL SMITH.

I

t should go without saying that, when it comes to the electric guitar, Jimi Hendrix changed everything. Sure there had been plenty of great players before him, pioneering innovators like Les Paul, Chet Atkins and Scotty Moore among others in the first wave of rock’n’roll. But what this remarkable musician brought to guitar playing took things to a whole other level no one at the time could ever have imagined and no one since has really had such an all-encompassing impact. Even more remarkable is the fact that Hendrix achieved all that essentially from the time he arrived in London in September 1966 until his death on September 18, 1970. Celebrating the legacy and commemorating the 40th anniversary of his death, Saturday night sees the Enmore Theatre hosting an evening dubbed Experience Jimi Hendrix, featuring ten local guitarists – Nathan Cavaleri, Kevin Borich, Randall Waller, Bob Spencer, Grant Walmsley, Peter Northcote, Dave Leslie, Chris Kamzelas, Steve Edmonds and Phil Emmanuel – performing songs from the Hendrix catalogue. “Hendrix’s impact on me personally was profound,” Edmonds says, whose CV includes stints with Jimmy Barnes and Shannon Noll as well as fronting his own trio. “I was a drummer from a family of drummers and we had a rehearsal one night in the school hall and one of the guys drove me home and he was playing Hendrix on a tape. I was so obviously impressed or whatever as this guy took the tape out and gave it to me and I had

into [drummer] Mitch Mitchell, who just happens to be working in Jim Marshall’s shop – is that coincidence?”

PETER NORTHCOTE that tape in the cassette player by my bed for the next two years; played it every day. “I still went on playing drums. It was only after I went to see Kevin Borich one night – I went into Selina’s and saw Kevin play and I walked out a guitarist – that was the other turning point in my life.” “Basically the three-piece, big stack of amps, let’s go for it!” is how Borich describes what prompted him to put together the band that he fronted from 1976, the “pop/rock” band that had brought him to Australia from New Zealand, The La De Da’s, having broken up. “I’d got into Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, that was the sort of thing I liked so that’s what started coming out of me I s’pose, that heavy guitar-oriented stuff.” “Technically,” Edmonds continues, “it’s ridiculous the impact and the level of invention that Jimi Hendrix has had on the world. The whole thing about trying to copy Hendrix – you just can’t, it’s as simple as that, because it comes from a different place. “He was the first guitarist to really use the amplifier and effects as a whole musical device, an incredible thing at that time. And it’s not like the way Hendrix played his [right-handed] guitar upside down has revolutionised things to the point where all guitarists are playing left-handed and upside down. Stevie Ray Vaughan used the upside down [guitar] bridge because he thought the tremolo worked better for him. Other than that, it was a totally unique concept. And then he bumped

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Voyageur Press recently published the first serious overview of the guitars, amps and effects Hendrix used across his career, Jimi Hendrix Gear, by Michael Heatley, which includes a very brief forward by Roger Mayer, who became Hendrix’s electrical engineer and developed several of the effects pedals most often associated with the guitarist. Most notable of these is the Octavia, which reproduces the note being played an octave higher and mixes it with the original note and a dash of fuzz, as heard on the solo in Purple Haze. The aforementioned Jim Marshall was of course the drummer with an interest in electronics who developed the iconic Marshall amp, which, along with the Fender Strat guitar, was the other vital ingredient in creating the Hendrix sound. “And it was still essentially a very clean guitar sound,” Edmonds adds. “Yes there was a fuzz pedal and a wah and so on but it was still a Strat through a [six eventually] very clean, bright JMT [100w] Marshalls. With that he was able to create these themes, which is how I see them, which are so rich in harmony and melody that sound so beautiful on the instrument.” “I just liked his whole thing,” is how Borich sees it. “He wrote fantastic lyrics, he wrote fantastic songs, I liked the way he sang, the way he played – he had everything.” In complete contrast, Peter Northcote admits that, “I didn’t like Hendrix much when I first heard him. I liked all the later stuff; Band Of Gypsies, Crash Landing, etc. But I thought he was a bit sloppy and was often out of tune, until one day I listened to Are You Experienced and I just ‘got it’. It was like hearing guitar for the first time. I was like a virgin being touched knowing that I shouldn’t be allowing this to happen… but it felt so good. We as musicians ultimately strive to find our ‘voice’. Like Jeff Beck and many other masters, Hendrix found his early. I just wasn’t tuned it to it. Now, I tune in to Jimi to tune out (minus the acid). Hendrix ‘is’ the guitar!” Experiencing Jimi Hendrix happens Saturday at the Enmore Theatre.


THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010 • 99 •


• 100 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


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EMPLOYMENT

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GUITAR AMPLITUBE IRIG

CALL CENTRE/CUST. SERVICE Telemarketer required with music industry experience by Sydney based established music production company. Possible work from home, if more suitable. Hourly rate plus commission neg. Please email your details for an appointment. leon@ oriium.com.au iFlogID: 9367

ENTERTAINMENT

Using our professional grade automated disc repair service ensures your discs have the very best chance of working again. Suitable for all disc formats incl. CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and especially all game formats such as Xbox360 & PS3. Ph 1300 728 094 for booking. Visit www.discstation.com. au to book online. iFlogID: 9303

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Brand New Fender standard Stratocaster.(Mexico) Updated model including new tinted neck. Different colour options available. Package includes Guitar, gig bag and stand. RRP $1100 Logans Price $756 Heaps of other Fender bargains instore. Logans Music (02) 9744 2400 www. loganspianos.com.au AUTHORISED FENDER DEALER iFlogID: 6618

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Roland DEP-5 Digital Effects (guitar or any instrument) $60 BBE Optical Compressor (bass) $75 Zoom G1 Guitar effects pedal $60 All with manuals - OR - $150 THE LOT Phone : 0408 300 152

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BOOKING AGENTS Gig Launch has heaps of opportunities for artists in Australia and around the world. We’re always on the hunt for new artists, so head over to www. giglaunch.com.au and get submitting! Go Aussie, Go Gig Launch iFlogID: 9386

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City Recording Studio. Award winning songwriters and engineers. Ideal service for singers and songwriters wanting a quality recording of ideas.Logic Pro and ProTools,12 guitars,heaps of midi modules and outboard.5min from Central station. Call 8212-4522. iFlogID: 8861

Do You Want That Million Dollar Sound On A Small Budget! CityOfNineGates is a studio near Bondi Beach that specialises in Contemporary and Urban music. To hear samples of recent projects and see testimonials – www.cityofninegates.com For Pricelist- cityofninegates@gmail.com iFlogID: 9057

Have you got a song in your head? Get it recorded with a multi-instrumentalist producer in a relaxed, friendly studio. Experienced in arrangement, composition, performance and production. Affordable rates Call Greg 0425 210 742 iFlogID: 9377

RECORDING SERVICES

We are experienced risk takers that not only know the rules, but also know when and how to break them! We have been engineering and mixing for over 15 years and have worked in Sydney’s top studios. We also have our own Mixing/Production studio called The LAB, located at the famous Level 7 studios which is decorated in some of the most appreciated vintage and modern gear in combination of a myriad of assorted software and plug-ins that provides our clients an incomparable advantage in the sense of both the analogue and digital domains. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH MANY STUDIO CONTACTS AROUND TOWN, YOUR PROJECT WILL SOUND GREAT AND PROFESSIONAL WHILST WORKING WITHIN A BUDGET!! For a full list of our credits see myspace. com/mixinthelab. Contact us on 0424 462 945 or Email at thelab1@ hotmail.com

iFlogID: 9280

Would you like your EP mastered for $450 (ex GST)? Or how about your album mastered for $900 (ex GST)? Matthew Gray Mastering - world class mastering from where you are right now. Check out the blog for details matthewgraymastering.com/ blog.

REPAIRS Complete Album & Demo Recording, Production, Instrumentation,CD Mastering. Pop, RnB, Country, Gospel etc. I’m comitted to acheiving for you the highest quality in a creative, friendly environment. 30 years of experience. Email info@johnertler.com or visit www.johnertler.com for more info and to hear examples of my work. ph 02 9654 8143 mob 0400 323 982 iFlogID: 8842

Recording Studio in Wollongong! Professional equipment (Pro tools, Rode, Audix, TLAudio). Record your EP/Album for $40 p/hour or $280 p/ day. Email: studio@silversound.com. au Phone: 0434246064 iFlogID: 8867

SEAN CAREY - PRODUCER

ROCKIN REPAIRS - GUITAR TECH RESTRINGS-SETUPS-UPGRADESREPAIRS Do you live to play? Whether you’ve bought a new guitar or a favourite is feeling faded, we’ll rejuvenate it! We work hard to give you the feel/sound you want! 0405253417 tara@rockinrepairs.com www.rockinrepairs.com iFlogID: 9340

TOYROOM guitar effects pedal modification. Modding Boss Vox Digitech Dunlop MXR EHX and more. E-mail greenguitargear@hotmail.com or visit www.toyroomguitareffects.com iFlogID: 9248

TUITION Drum Tuition in Stanmore with a Billy Hyde trained teacher. Dip Ed, Dip Drums with10 years teaching experience. All styles and levels taught. Beginners Welcome! Call Lee - 0403307796 ************ITALIAN VIOLIN TEACHER************Years of experience, also AMEB. All levels welcome. West Ryde $30/half hour. 0415783160 or 1300 28 38 58 iFlogID: 8863

iFlogID: 8597

Sean Carey (ex Thirsty Merc) is now the In-House Producer/Engineer at the original TRACKDOWN Studios in Camperdown. Multi-platinum artist with over 10 years of production experience. Vintage guitars, mics, gear. Get the most out of your songs! www.myspace.com/seancareyproducer. Ph: 0424923888. iFlogID: 9141

iFlogID: 8951

CONTEMPORARY SINGING & PERFORMANCE $30 half hour lessons in small recording studio (Leura). Singing, Performance, songwriting, beginner keys/guitar. JMC Academy graduate, (02)47842354 sing_with_ amelia@hotmail.com iFlogID: 8873

CREATIVE GUITAR TUITION

iFlogID: 6285

The MUDA Studio is offering a “Production Pack” including Writing, Recording, Mixing and Mastering for $300 per track ONLY. This pack is available for a period of time so hurry up and contact us at studio@ mudasutdio.com

iFlogID: 8924

iFlogID: 9136

As Engineers/Producers our passion is to create tracks that give the listener a hard hitting, fresh sound that sonically sounds PHAT and pushes the boundaries of what music currently sounds like in Australia, which stands up amongst the international market. WE SPECIALIZE IN HIP HOP/R&B BUT LOVE ALL GENRES. We’re located at Level 7 studios and the studio is dec-

iFlogID: 6426

BASS FOR BEGINNERS

**VOCAL RECORDING** $50 AN HOUR! PRO STUDIO IN SURRY HILLS INCLUDES ENGINEER! If you need good quality vocals for demos/ albums/auditions, simply bring along backing track/s or pre-recorded track/s to sing over! Call Danielle: 0425-213-721 blaco.recording@ gmail.com 5mins walk from Central Station

iFlogID: 9427

Detax will maximise your tax refund or minimise your tax liability, by applying years of Entertainment & Arts industry tax knowledge & personal industry experience into each and every tax return. Individual Tax Returns from only $99. Discounted rates available for multiple years. Phone Dave Elliott 0434 979 269 or email Detax@optusnet.com.au

A four week course that gets you playing fast. Individual tuition. Chords, Rhythm, Songs, Theory. 25 years specializing in teaching beginners! Gift vouchers available. Call David on 96603877 Annandale/ Inner West area.

RECORDING STUDIOS

THE LAB STUDIOS

iFlogID: 8852

iFlogID: 9373

SUPPORT LOCAL ACTOR IN L.A FEATURE FILM AUDITION VOTE FOR BENN ALLSOP Need Your Support Your Time & Effort is Greatly Appreciated So Please take the 5 minutes and go to www.idancemachine.com/ blog/2690 and vote! contact me @ www.riverlanemusic.com

ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS 4 GUITAR & KEYS

SONGRIMES STUDIO-INDIE SUMMER SPECIAL 5 SONG EP PACKAGE-$5500 INC GST INCLUDES: PRE-PRODUCTION MEETING/REHEARSAL 8 DAYS RECORDING PRODUCTION MIXING/ MASTERING 10 SONG ALBUM PACKAGE-$8800 INC GST INCLUDES: PREPRODUCTION MEETING/REHEARSAL 15 DAYS RECORDING PRODUCTION MIXING/MASTERING CALL: 0419 509 461 FOR MORE INFO songrimes@ songrimes.com

Equipped with 13 years of bass guitar and musical experience, Rachael offers an introductory level of tuition for beginning musicians focussing on areas of technique, music theory, rhythm and performance. Open to all ages. Bass ownership not essential, studio location Eastern Suburbs. Contact 0415273252 or rachael.rees@ hotmail.com.

SELL YOUR BANDS C.D’S ONLINE!!!! www.rocknpops.com/unsignedmoozik

iFlogID: 9191 iFlogID: 9001

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METALLICA - 1 x Magnetic Zone GA Standing Ticket 4 sale -Acer Arena 13th Nov. Payment & collection arrangements to be confirmed on sale. Email $$$ offer & contact number to melchrisso@optusnet. com.au RADIO BONDI IPHONE APP - FREE!

orated in some of the most appreciated vintage and modern gear which provides our clients an incomparable advantage in the sense of both the analogue and digital domains. Artists we’ve worked with include: Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D., Kanye West, INXS, Black Wallstreet and a myriad of local artists such as Hyjak, Potbelleez, Vice Verser, Thundamentals, Fame, Tycotic, Rai Thistlewaite (Thirsty Merc), Wendy Mathews, Gin Wigmore, Tim Freedman (The Whitlams), Carl Riseley, Hoodoo Gurus, Wes Carr, You Am I, and many more. Contact us on 0424 462 945 and check out myspace.com/mixinthelab

THE CHEMISTRY OF SOUND

iFlogID: 9276

iFlogID: 9155

BRAND NEW BLACK AB2 BASS STARTER PACK: $350 AB shape bass 34” scale length 20 fret Builtin tuner VOL/TONE controls Comes with: BA15, DVD, Bag, Extra Set of Strings, Strap, Cable, Picks, Manual + COMPLIMENTARY WHITE PAGES BASS TAB

Lowden acoustic guitar. Made in Ireland 2003. Model 032C cutaway. Rosewood back and sides, sitka spruce top. Abalone inlays. Hiscox case. Mint unused condition suit new buyer $3500. Ph Brendon on mobile 0417644600.

I’m seling my Digidesign MBOX2 including Pro Tools LE 8 for $450. It has been kept in a box and used only a couple of times since i bought one year ago. Mobile: 0421250023

iFlogID: 9207

BASS

iFlogID: 6545

MIXERS

iFlogID: 8850

Bass combo 180 Ashdown -electric blue Little beauty on wheels hardly used since new 2006 15” speaker 180 watts Low mid treble Subharmonics, DI input send return effects loop Analog amp head, punchy, deep warm sound

AmpliTube iRig. Plug your guitar into your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad and jam anywhere with world class guitar and bass tone right in the palm of your hand - from the leader in studio-class guitar and bass software. Simply plug the iRig interface into your mobile device, plug your instrument into the appropriate input jack, plug in your headphones, amp or powered speakers, download AmpliTube for iPhone Free and start rocking! You’ll have at your fingertips the sound and control of 3 recombinable simultaneous stompbox effects + amplifier + cabinet + microphone just like a traditional guitar or bass stage rig! Add amps and effects as you need them — you can expand your rig with up to 11 stomps, 5 amps, 5 cabinets and 2 microphones in the AmpliTube iRig app custom shop. ONLY $59.99 UNBEATABLE Logans Music (02)9744 2400 www.loganspianos.com.au

iFlogID: 9430

love to party? love going to the cross? We are Currently looking for New Promoters to join our promotions team get paid to party

AMPS

BAND MERCHANDISE

Electronic Drums for hire. Legacy dd502 @$15 per week. Free delivery and set up in Sydney. Simon 0418 674 363 email: mrboomwhacker@ gmail.com

iFlogID: 8945

iFlogID: 9033

MANAGEMENT

ELECTRONIC DRUMS FOR HIRE

TATTOO ARTIST WANTED www.oceanink.com.au Full time position is available to join our team of artists. MUST HAVE: portfolio with quality work - shop experience professional attitude and passion for tattooing. NO APPRENTICES PLEASE!! Great conditions and $$$ in a well established busy professional enviroment. Email portfolio: ocean-ink@ hotmail.com iFlogID: 9415

MUSIC SERVICES

ABSOLUTE BEST GUITAR LESSONS Do what you’ve always wanted - get that guitar singing!From beginers to professional - studio & recording environment.Lifetime pro Chris Turner can get you there. Ph 9552 6663 Lilyfield. www.big-rock.com. au/artists

Petersham/ Leichhardt/ Sydney. Real guitar for committed students. Attentive, one on one guitar lessons with Craig Corcoran. Fully equipped music studio in centrally located in Sydney’s Inner West. Learn Jazz, Rock, Blues, Contemporary , Funk, Latin , Gypsy, Folk and other popular styles. Learn at a pace and in a direction you want to go. Beginners to advanced, all aspects of guitar are supported. Incorporate a practical approach, using rhythm, harmony, melody and improvisation. Learn theory and all about scales and modes and how to apply them effectively. Learn songs and practice techniques. Ear training, song writing, composition and sight reading. Learn all about chords, arpeggios, substitutions, synonyms and inversions. Alternate tunings, slide guitar, finger style, chord melody and world music. Study your favourite players and learn how to develop your own sound. Comfortable, air-conditioned studio with huge resource library and comprehensive digital recording available to those wanting to demo. Days and evenings, Monday to Thursday and Friday, Saturday day. All guitar lessons are private. Ask about special introductory offer and gift vouchers. Contact Craig Corcoran: 0430344334 (02)95726702 creative-guitar@hotmail.com www. creativeguitar.com.au iFlogID: 8988

Drum Lessons - Petersham NSW. Or I can come and teach you in your home on your own kit, in the Inner West. All styles covered - learn how to play what you want in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. www.steeledawson. com iFlogID: 9214

Drum Lessons Location: Gladesville Billy Hyde Drumming Academy Trained. 15 years experience, all ages, levels and experience. Home Studio. Michael Mob: 0402 663 469 iFlogID: 9041

DRUM LESSONS on the Central Coast with Chris McCaig. Professional air conditioned studios. Basic, Intermediate & Advanced Drum Kit Studies syllabus + AMEB available. 1st lesson free! www.beatindustry.com

iFlogID: 7445

For a limited time. Free online and print classifieds Book now, visit iflog.com.au

iFlogID: 9289


Drum teacher in Wollongong, 10 yrs experience, Bachelor of music/ performance. $25 p/half hour. Rock, Funk, Technique, Recording. Phone: 0434 246 064 Email: studio@silversound.com.au iFlogID: 8869

Easy way to learn saxophone for students of different ages (from kids to adults) and different levels (from beginners to advanced). $35/hour Lorenzo 0410041979 iFlogID: 9138

Guitar and Bass tuition, Electric & Acoustic.Private one on one lessons, all age groups catered. Beginner to intermediate. Theory, Rock, Blues, Slide, Finger picking and Improvisation techniques. Phone Terry 0402 993 268. Sutherland Shire. iFlogID: 9274

GUITAR LESSONS with experienced and qualified tutor. Who has 20 years of studio and live performance. Rock, pop, jazz, etc. Beginners to advanced. In the convenience of your own home. Good results guaranteed. Phone Oles on 0407413143 or email oa@olesart. com

SINGING LESSONS - MODERN VOCAL Singing & Songwriting Lessons Rock/Pop/Indie/R’n’B/Punk. Signed artist with 10 years experience. Recorded over 100 times. Pay per lesson - no contracts. Lessons can be either at music school rooms at Gordon or in Wahroonga. Beginners through to experienced singers welcome. 1hr Lessons/Low Rates. Also open in school holidays! Call AJ on 0448-080-619 iFlogID: 9161

SINGING LESSONS Certified Speech Level Singing (SLS) Instructor. Learn the Technique of over 120 Grammy award winners. Extend your Range. No more Breaks/Flips. Develop Strength. All Styles. Eastern Suburbs. www.myspace.com/mazvocalstudio Contact Maz: maz@mazmazak.com iFlogID: 9090

SINGING LESSONS THAT ROCK<<<<<

VOICE LESSONS

iFlogID: 9337

Sing with the TONE, POWER, CONTROL and RANGE you’ve always wanted! Achieve natural breath support & dispel vocal mysteries. The Deva Method, developed by Hollywood Celebrity Voice Coach Jeannie Deva, will unlock your voice and develop your unique sound. SPECIAL OFFER: Get your initial 30min consultation valued at $30 FREE when you purchase 4 or more voice lessons. Contact - Certified Voice Instructor of The Deva Method® - Maureen Longo ph:0402007453 devavoicesydney@ optusnet.com.au www.jeanniedeva. com iFlogID: 9159

iFlogID: 8825

GUITAR LESSONS with experienced and qualified tutor. Who has 20 years of studio and live performance. Rock, pop, jazz, theory, etc.etc. Beginners to advanced. In the convenience of your own home. Good results guaranteed. Phone Oles on 0407413143 email oa@olesart.com iFlogID: 9322

GUITAR LESSONS all levels, all styles. fully qualified and professional tutoring. bachelor of music perf w/ hon. Mascot Eastern Suburbs area. check out www.musicteacher.com.au/peter-bursky/guitarlessons/ or email guitarpete26@ hotmail.com iFlogID: 9029

VIDEO / PRODUCTION HAVE YOU SEEN MIKE HUNT

Your voice has the ability to sing at the Audioslave/ Muse/ Aretha/ P.J.Harvey level because of Design. Pick any singer you like and you can sing as good if not better using a relaxed technique. Starting off with extending your vocal range learn to sing the right technique the first lesson, how to start a band or just fun. Microphone technique - recording techniques – songwriting –. Beginners to advanced Newtown 0405-044-513

SINGING LESSONS

Guitar tuition customised to the individual-all levels. Blues, rock, theory, equipment & tone my specialties. 37yrs professional experience in Tuition, gigging, recording, production, songwriting, arrangements, the enjoyment of music & improving your best. Central suburban Sydney location. Limited vacancies. Phone: 0407 461 093 - Email: mal@maleastick. com

iFlogID: 8239

SINGING LESSONS

iFlogID: 8799

LOGIC PRO 9 COURSES NOW !!

iFlogID: 9282

iFlogID: 6007

MUSIC VIDEOS offer a great way to gain exposure. Immersion Imagery has worked with over 20 artists and strives to offer quality creative Music Videos at an affordable price. Visit www.immersionimagery.com or email info@immersionimagery.com iFlogID: 9354

We’ve made clips for El Duende, Line Drawings and Grace Before Meals. Get your band on Rage and Youtube, or make a video for your myspace page. Fantastic concepts and slick production that wont break your budget. www.dynamicscreencontent. com.au, facebook.com/dynamic. screen.content 0413555857 iFlogID: 9080

MUSICIANS AVAILABLE BASS PLAYER

Voice science is out there to help improve your singing quickly. One on one lessons in hi tech multi award winning studio with fully qualified singing and performance expert. First assessment FREE. Beginners and professionals. I Look forward to helping you find your voice. www. avic.com.au studio - 9588 2184 mob - 0414 453 066 Stephen Baker iFlogID: 8241

Learn Logic Pro from an Apple Certified Trainer with 18 years experience.Are you a DJ,singer-songwriter or musician requiring a real world working knowledge of Logic Pro? My courses are tailor made for individuals, class sizes are small,so you learn quickly.Before you waste your money on “industry boutique courses” Call me Now! Song Surgery,making music technology simple.Courses from $299.00 Ph:8212 4522 www. songsurgery.com

Australian Bands Only.Do you have A You Tube Rock Band Video you want to promote,if so Mike Hunt wants to promote it.Just send your link to admin attention Mike Hunt and we will do our best to list you for free worldwide at www.clearhunt.com

TEACHER TO THE STARS STEVE OSTROW VOCAL COACH who started the careers of Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Peter Allan, and countless others now accepting limited amount of private students all styles pop, classical, beginners welcome. Call me on 0408461868 iFlogID: 9225

BASS PLAYER ~ available for working band. Pop/rock/country/folk, anything melodic. Long experience, strong harmonies, some lead vox [+originals] if wanted. Not young but suit experienced, enthusiastic, young attitude band. [Have some daytime Sydney based work] razza50k@ gmail.com [Epping] iFlogID: 9017

Bass player available for working situations, Mature age, high standard + the best gear. Specialise in 50’s to 90’s music. Huge repertoire. 0403357019

OTHER SAXOPHONIST AVAILABLE. Experienced saxophonist based in Sydney is looking for bands and studio sessions. Jazz, funky, afro, reggae, latin, rock, folk. If interested contact Lorenzo at 0410041979. Cheers. iFlogID: 9134

SINGER Singer and acoustic guitar player available (Hank, Cash, Cline, etc some originals). Looking for band, drummer or hand percussionist. I have some contacts for supports. Will try any genre. 0408 300 152

19yr lead guitarist with 7 years experience playing guitar looking for openminded punk/metal/rock musicians to start youthful innovative band with attitude, based around inner-west as of start of next year. Must be open minded. No Screamers/hardcore. Call Ben 0448221479 iFlogID: 8865

CALLING ALL BASS PLAYERS Sydney Fusion Band , The Three Wise Monkeys has just launched a Free iPhone app for a limited time. Search on your iPhone APP store for “Three Wise Monkeys” or go to www.threewizemonkeys.com

Drummer wanted for Sydney rock band. Currently gigging and recording. Prefer aged from 19 to 25. Own Kit and Transport. www.myspace. com/ramshackleau For details call Jared on 0437 670 480.

GREEN DAY SHOW require a pro bassist with great BV’s. 18-35 with the “look” preferred. Sydney metro gigs paying $200. no beginners please. gigs waiting. call Rick 0419 437 794 iFlogID: 8914

New dedicated band looking for bassist and drummer for an industrial/ metal/horror type project. Writing and live experience preferred, must have own gear & total passion for creating something unique. City rehearsals. Call for audition: Lily 0423584617 Zac 0405033618 Kurt 0432470463 iFlogID: 9172

NOT AVAILABLE FOR FREE ADS. CL need bass playa!

iFlogID: 9178

iFlogID: 8990

Drummer wanted to play in solo project. Similar to Radiohead, John Frusciante, Mars Volta, Mesell Ndegeocello. Rehearsals start Dec 2010. Live work beginning in 2011 with occasional short interstate touring. Please call Pete on 0438 637 942 for info/demos. iFlogID: 9329

DRUMMER WANTED-PRO METAL BAND! Hard-rock / Metalcore band seeks committed, self motivated drummer capable of playing to a Pro standard. Must be available for regular gigs, rehearsal. Must have a great work ethic and be easy to get along with, and share the same passion to pursue music full-time. iFlogID: 6445

BASS PLAYER

PRO FUNK BASS PLAYER WANTED

HATEMAIL

*SECOND NATION SEEK BASS PLAYER* Bass wanted for Inner West Aussie Beer Punk band. Powerful, driving bass player with vocals/yelling preferred. Your ideas are important. EP released and on iTunes etc, album written due early 2011.Checkout www.myspace.com/secondnation Contact 2ndnation@gmail.com

Pro Funk Bass Player wanted by Pro Funk Drummer looking to start a band. Must have a love for Funk music. Backing vocal ability will be an advantage. I want a solid rhythm section for my band, once i’ve sorted the bass I will be looking for a guitaist and vocals. Give Luke a call far a chat on: 0405 471 667

~Rock band Black Matches are seeking a good quality bass player to complete their four piece. Originals ready to go and keen to gig asap! If you’re like minded with good gear/ transport please contact Simon on 0414859684. Demo’s at www. myspace.com/blackmatchesband

Slappin’ double bass player needed to complete rockabilly trio. Ph: 0403 30 288

MUSICIANS WANTED

iFlogID: 9365

iFlogID: 9109

3 mid week inner Sydney original venues looking for original solo/duo acoustic acts and commercial rock acts. Acts touring interstate welcome. For more information contact: NowMuzik nowmuzik@gmail.com iFlogID: 9051

Bass player required for rock cover band for high end pubs and corporate work. Experienced, mature, professionals only. Starting committment is two nights per week, every week. Serious, talented players call Peter 0418603619

iFlogID: 8994

iFlogID: 9381

iFlogID: 9199

DRUMMER 3 mid week inner Sydney original venues looking for original solo/duo acoustic acts and commercial rock acts. Acts touring interstate welcome. For more information contact: NowMuzik nowmuzik@gmail.com iFlogID: 9053

An experienced drummer needed for blues/roots band Tortured Willow. Soon to release E.P, planning to gig at venues/festivals in Sydney and beyond. Influences: Dallas Frasca, Ash Grunwald, John Butler. Rehearse Monday nights, city. 20-40ish, good gear and transport. Jordan 0411451976

iFlogID: 8909

iFlogID: 9074

BASS PLAYER WANTED FOR REGGAE TRIO - Male/Female bass player with backing vocals required, must be experienced, reliable and have own gear and transport. Management supplied, gigs waiting. Min $200 per gig. Call Raj 0432 089 495

Band with completed album looking for drummer, permanent member or sessionist. For more info visit: www. myspace.com/mojoblitz

iFlogID: 9394

BASSIST NEEDED FOR SPACETICKET

iFlogID: 8978

iFlogID: 9212

Sydney based heavy rock band, Hatemail looking for a kick to the arse rock-god slammin’ drummer. Call Steve 0407 239 494 iFlogID: 8980

New dedicated band looking for bassist and drummer for an industrial/ metal/horror type project. Writing and live experience preferred, must have own gear & total passion for creating something unique. City rehearsals. Call for audition: Lily 0423584617 Zac 0405033618 Kurt 0432470463 iFlogID: 9174

Sydney metal band seeking Drummer, music is a mix of prog, power and death. Demos can be heard at www.myspace.com/thedragonsclaw contact can also be made through the same place. iFlogID: 9128

Synth-Pop act seeking Electric Drummer with own gear. 2-3 rehearsals a week. Gigs being booked now! Must be experienced, love the genre and be a great performer. Check us out at www.myspace.com/divineknightsmusic and email divineknightsmusic@myspace.com iFlogID: 8877

GUITARIST 20-30 yo Guitarist and drummer wanted to start a punk/rock band with 29 yo Singer / Bassist. Have some songs written, looking to collaborate and start gigging. Inner-west area. Email battlecat@live.com.au iFlogID: 9111

3 mid week inner Sydney original venues looking for original solo/duo acoustic acts and commercial rock acts. For more information contact: NowMuzik nowmuzik@gmail.com

Covers band playing good music from 70s & 80s up to today looking for drummer. We rehearse in Alexandria. Basically we are doing this for fun but looking to play gigs where we can. Call Peter on 0412 305 378.

CALLING ALL GUITARISTS Sydney Fusion Band “The Three Wise Monkeys” has jst released an iPhone APP. Get it free for a limited time. Search for “Three wise Monkeys” on your iPhones App Store or go to www. threewizemonkeys.com

iFlogID: 9272

Bassist needed for psychedelic grunge band. We have over an albums worth of material that we can teach you but we also want someone who is able to write their own baselines down the track. Ability to play and rehearse, decent equipment, and a good attitude is a must. We plan to release an album when we have found someone and tour, so time wasters need not apply. To listen to our stuff go to www.myspace.com/ spaceticket

iFlogID: 9413

CALLING ALL DRUMMERS Sydney Fusion Band , The Three Wise Monkeys has launched a Free iPhone app. Search on your iPhone APP store for “Three Wise Monkeys” or go to www. threewizemonkeys.com iFlogID: 9063

DRUMMER NEEDED FOR NORTH SHORE GOSPEL FUNK BAND MUST BE COMMITTED & HAVE GEAR & TRANSPORT CONTACT: Ben – 99444984 OR snapper_watson@hotmail.com iFlogID: 9193

Drummer required for rock cover band for high end pubs and corporate work. Experienced, mature, professionals only. Starting committment is two nights per week, every week. Serious, talented drummers call Peter 0418603619 iFlogID: 8904

Drummer wanted for established touring rock band from Sydney. Hard hitter, solid, tight. Committed, reliable and driven by ambition, prepared to play interstates shows. Big opportunity for the right person. Please contact for more details.

Guitarist wanted to collaborate with singer songwriter. Open mind in writing,Blues and rock influences but also will fuse many styles. Looking to form band with more than basics to bring new elements and sounds to the music. Fabian 0415847710. iFlogID: 9392

GUITARIST WANTED TO TEACH

KEYS/ORGAN PLAYER NEEDED FOR NORTH SHORE GOSPEL FUNK BAND MUST BE COMMITTED & HAVE GEAR & TRANSPORT CONTACT: Ben 99444984 OR snapper_watson@ hotmail.com iFlogID: 9195

SYNTH-POP ACT SEEKING SYNTH KEYBOARD PLAYER. Rehearsals 2-3 times a week in Newtown. Gigs being booked now. Must have own gear, be experienced, love the genre and be a great performer. Visit www.myspace. com/divineknightsmusic and email divineknightsmusic@myspace.com iFlogID: 8879

iFlogID: 9039

French signed band 6NOIR now based in Sydney is looking for very good live drummer and bass player w good gig exp. Influence Qotsa/Black sabbath/ Brmc/...EP released, 2nd EP to be released January.Gigs coming soon. Contact Louis contact@6noir.com www.6noir.com Myspace.com/6noir

GUITARIST

iFlogID: 9082

iFlogID: 9325

DRUMMER WANTED FOR METAL BAND. WOLLONGONG AREA, ORIGINALS, HOME RECORDING. influences: Amon Amarth, Bloodbath, Tool, COG, Strapping Young Lad, Pantera... Contact us for more details. Mark Email: krammusil@hotmail.com Phone: 0402621247 Troy Email: mrc.1984@ yahoo.com.au Phone: 0431165853

Pro Drummer and Guitarist looking for Bass Player for Commercial Rock Originals. Looking to jam with view to record and play live. Must have good gear Vocals would be nice as well. Rehearse at Sound Check Studios Belmore

iFlogID: 8220

18 Year old northern beaches guitarist specialising in metal, hardcore, death metal, deathcore and technical death metal available to join band or for session work. Have previous stage and studio experience and gear. 0403 483 960

Bassist wanted to play in solo project. Influences Radiohead, John Frusciante, Mars Volta, Mesell Ndegeocello. Rehearsals start Dec 2010. There’ll be live work beginning in 2011 with occasional short interstate touring. Please call Pete on 0438 637 942 for info/demos.

iFlogID: 9065

iFlogID: 9115

iFlogID: 8918

Voice science is out there to help improve your singing quickly. One on one lessons in hi tech multi award winning studio with fully qualified singing and performance expert. First assessment FREE. Beginners and professionals. I Look forward to helping you find your voice. www. avic.com.au studio - 9588 2184 mob - 0414 453 066 Stephen Baker

TUITION WITH BROTHER JOHN (The Blues Preachers). Fingerstyle guitar, open tunings, slide, flat picking, improvisation, country, blues, folk, celtic styles, music theory, ear training, singing and vocal harmonies. Banjo: up-picking and three finger picking. Mandolin, songwriting and arranging. All styles from Doc Watson and Mississippi John Hurt to Robert Johnson and Eric Clapton. www.acousticfingerpicking.com, www.rosestudios.com.au, mob:0431953178

iFlogID: 8953

Singer and/or lead guitarist available for fill in/corporate work or working band. pro gear and attitude. have large repetoire and happy to learn most set lists. Male 36yo Rick ricfen@optushome.com.au or (02) 8807 0166

MUSIC VIDEOS - B.Y.O. concept or let us serve you up something fresh! Let’s grab a cuppa and flesh it out ;) www.sketchbook.tv

iFlogID: 9375

GUITAR, BANJO AND VOICE

Tired of paying exorbitant amounts of money for studios? Get professional quality guitar tracks done for your demo/album online. Contact for more info.

iFlogID: 9035

iFlogID: 8451

GUITAR TUITION BY MAL EASTICK

INTERNATIONAL SESSION GUITARIST Credits: Marcia Hines, Candice Alley, (ex-Toto) Fergie Frederikson and toured the world with Darlene Zschech, Nathan Eshman is available for remote guitar sessions. All services available over the internet / ALL STYLES & NO STUDIO FEES / www. nathaneshman.com

iFlogID: 9049

iFlogID: 9055

central coast band seeks rock guitarist with creativity, enthusiasm, own equipment and partial to a drink! we are influenced by a wide variety of rock music, particularly guns n roses. soloing ability is a must! no emos. 18-26 preferred. iFlogID: 9333

Enthusiastic, versatile rhythm guitarist for Blue Mountains originals/ covers rock band for CD launch, gigs and possible tour. Paid gigs are a split of the payment,Some unpaid promotions/rehearsals. launch is a split of door. Open age. Phone Lel 02 47822421

OTHER

We seek guitar players who are looking to earn money teaching guitar. Training and teaching materials are supplied. Teach from one of our schools or your own location. Limited positions available. Visit www.g4guitar.com.au for details. iFlogID: 7447

guitarists wishing to improve their playing wanted for regular music workshops covering rock, blues, jazz and funk- mature dedicated players only please.enquiries 0402112557 or 0414421252

Festival4Stars International Songwriting Contest - now accepting submissions. Prize of an all expenses paid trip to London, and all song submissions receive written feedback from the judges. Heat 3 winners receive $300. To submit your song, head to www.giglaunch.com.au iFlogID: 9388

Funky guitar,bass,keyboard & horn players wanted for groove oriented covers band.Backing vocals an advantage.Females encouraged to apply,commitment & a sense of fun required.Please call Allen on 0403347822. iFlogID: 9107

iFlogID: 8887

MUSICIANS WANTED

Like to have the opportunity to join a band and play guitar? We are looking for someone who loves the 50’s & 60’s R&R. Any age but able to practice weekly email guitartime6@ gmail.com with your details. iFlogID: 9070

looking to start up a new acoustic band from scratch and am keen to get it started. looking for over age of 18 and needs to be able to contribute as a two piece band. Shane iFlogID: 9371

NOT AVAILABLE FOR FREE ADS. CL GUITARIST WANTED FOR WORKING COVERS BAND. Must have experience playing rock/pop/dance covers to join 4piece working band. Bright personality and committed and professional attitude wanted. Guy or girl,any age. Call Shannon on 0406 346 239 iFlogID: 9312

Singer Songwriter seeking guitarist/ singer for acoustic gig work and writing. Female preferred but not essential. Please contact me at tmusicj@ gmail.com if interested. iFlogID: 8885

WANTED Easy going & reliable Guitarist with some vocals 55+ to join 60+ Bassist and drum machine for booked paid gigs in Retirement Homes on North Shore - Swing, Country, 60’s Pop. Ring Monty 0412067590 iFlogID: 9318

KEYBOARD Indie pop band The Blue Belladonnas are looking for a talented and committed keyboard player. We rehearse weekly in the Lower Blue Mountains. www.myspace.com/ thebluebelladonnas contact Claire on 0413416210 or Amelia on milly_ moo_7@hotmail.com

If you want to join a band, form a band, find a new band member, get exposure, or just jam, then www. ozjam.com.au is for you! Whatever instrument or genre of music you play, Ozjam can connect you with other talented, like minded musicians who are looking to jam, gig, and even tour the World! Ozjam is loaded with features, it’s free to join and with over 4000 members its fast becoming the largest online music community in Australia today! iFlogID: 6499

My names Gary I’m a drummer from Campbelltown with 10 years experience in garage/small bands wanting to expand. I’m looking for musicians to start a heavy prog metal band in style of Judas Priest/ Queensryche/Savatage conatact me on 0432043771 (after 4pm) iFlogID: 8723

Producer/musician wanted by female singer/songwriter seeking to colaborate with view to record electronic dance track demo. Contact Michelle if interested: michelle.bella@hotmail. com iFlogID: 9402

Sydney gigs available - Empire Hotel. Launching Empire Unplugged November 25th as a showcase for Sydney artists. To submit to play, go to the Gig Launch website at www. giglaunch.com.au

iFlogID: 8875

iFlogID: 9398

Keyboard player required for rock cover band for high end pubs and corporate work. Experienced, mature, professionals only. Playing rythm guitar is a huge advantage. Starting committment is two nights per week, every week. Serious, talented players call Peter 0418603619

Sydney gigs available - Low302. Darlinghurst. Looking for bands to play, show usually starts around 9pm. To submit to play, go to the Gig Launch website at www.giglaunch.com.au

iFlogID: 8907

Keyboard player wanted for original folk, acoustic, gypsy band. Must be committed to at least 1 rehearsal a week plus gigs and festivals.We are looking for a like minded individual to add another colour to our songs.Contact Susie on susiehurley@live.com iFlogID: 9410

Keyboardist wanted to play in solo project. Similar to Radiohead, John Frusciante, Mars Volta, Mesell Ndegeocello. Rehearsals start Dec 2010. There’ll be live work beginning in 2011 with short interstate touring. Please call Pete on 0438 637 942 for info/demos.

iFlogID: 9400

SYNTH-POP ACT SEEKING PROGRAMER/MD/KEYBOARD PLAYER. rehearsals 2-3 times a week in Newtown. Sydney gigs being booked now. Must have own gear, be experienced, love the genre and be a great performer. Exp in Logic. Visit myspace. com/divineknightsmusic and email divineknightsmusic@myspace.com iFlogID: 8881

Wanted all singers and musicians! Join for free and post your clips on the all new website, www.nu2talent. com.

iFlogID: 9327

iFlogID: 9157

iFlogID: 9453

For a limited time. Free online and print classifieds Book now, visit iflog.com.au

iFlogID: 9168


SINGER ** METAL SINGER WANTED **

Cold Chisel tribute show requires lead vocalist. Not necessarily looking for a ‘Jimmy Barnes’ impersonator, just someone capable of delivering such a challenging vocal. Send a small mp3 demo & bio to glenn@sevenyearitch. com.au - Interviews/auditions will based on the promo received. iFlogID: 9180

Metal band DESTEND is seeking a full time singer. EP & gigs waiting in the wings. Inlfuenced by Slayer, Megadeth, Kreator & others, we’re looking to create a new sound based on the 80s thrash roots. You must be 18+, Open, Committed, and have clean vocals(no screamers or growlers). For more info go to destend.com or call 0449 542 838. iFlogID: 9436

A heavy, sludgey, Sabbath inspired band require an EXPERIENCED singer. We’re looking for an EXPERIENCED singer with who LOVES heavy, riffy, metal style music to develop our sound & write songs with a view to gigging ASAP. Contact: Jason on 0431-836-604. iFlogID: 9182

ATTENTION!! ALL SINGER/SONGWRITERS, are you: between 18-30? have a unique style and voice? If so then I want to collaborate with you!! Call Justin on 0420312864, or add me www.myspace.com/justinacooke, castlehill area. iFlogID: 9278

Central Coast - Newcastle. X inner city guitarist/writer seeking mature aged vocalist as well as other musos (35+) for casual jambing collabration. Originals electric or acoustic. Sound style to that of Powderfinger. Something more serious if personalities gel. Craig kiahaycra@live.com.au iFlogID: 9205

Do you love the 50’ & 60’s music and can sing? Join us to play Holly, Elvis, Berry, Beatles etc Weekly practice, own mic and transport, can definitely sing. Mature age welcome (relive your past) email your details to guitartime6@gmail.com iFlogID: 9072

Female and Male Singer wanted to feature on Commercial Quality Recording Project, taking place after mid November. Must be available for gigs after recordings are mastered. All lyrics and singing structure provided. Send demo and contact details to jhaldupaul@hotmail.com

Male Singer Wanted! Sounds like Rob Zombie / Wednesday13 / Alice Cooper. Call 0423 764 009.

iFlogID: 8922

Require a strong professional female singer with cover band experience for high end Corporate and private Functions Party Covers Band and agency backed! Send CV/bio to info@ techwebdevelopers.com on receipt I will send applicable band website, setlists, songs etc iFlogID: 9287

ROCK N ROLL SINGER WANTED Newly formed Bluesy hard rock band seeking experienced vocalist/lyric writer with charisma and powerful voice, Your influences Stones,Expensive Winos, Creedence, Aerosmith, Crowes,GNR,Cult Dacca,Kinks,60s Garage, be hitting gigs and recording studio asap, phone 0435475921

iFlogID: 8891

iFlogID: 9119

Female singer wanted for Sydney band with gigs. Playing hits from the 70’s to today. Rehearsing in Liverpool. For more info call Maurice on 0414 752 352 after 4 PM.

Seeking singer for hard rock band in Alexandria. Currently 2 gtrs, bass & drums. Infls inc. Tomahawk, Deftones, Them Crooked Vultures. Newly formed and looking to write. A driven, talented & confident singer needed. Call Pete 0404200893

iFlogID: 9320

Im after a singer or singer/guitarist, male or female to form a duo. professionals only please. i have full equipment and will be ready to work as soon as your ready located in Sydneys west Rick 8807-0166 iFlogID: 9078

Looking for experienced singers to join ‘Sincopa Band’, a cover band performing for weddings and corporate events. Located in the Eastern Suburbs area. Contact: 0433938278 iFlogID: 8960

Looking for singers/songwriters for electronica/indie/dance project. More info mail to reigovilbiks@gmail.com Location Perth. Reigo iFlogID: 9442

iFlogID: 9044

Singer wanted for established rock band from Sydney. Big voice, melodic and must posses showman qualities. Must have a good image and prepare to suit the image of the band. Committed, reliable and driven by ambition to play interstates shows. iFlogID: 9455

Singer wanted ok

iFlogID: 9113

SINGER/GUITARIST FOR ROCK DUO An experienced Singer/Guitarist is required to join a drummer for Sydney based Rock Duo. Classic rock anthems and retro favourites. Management and PA gear supplied. Min $250 per gig. Rehearsals in Rydalmere. BIO & DEMO to rockduo@ smoketheband.com.au iFlogID: 9011

SINGERS MALE/FEMALE NEEDED FOR NORTH SHORE GOSPEL FUNK BAND MUST BE: Committed, Available for rehearsal & Shows, Able to sing parts & or lead vocal, Able to learn dance routines, & HAVE TRANSPORT CONTACT Ben – 99444984 OR snapper_watson@hotmail.com iFlogID: 9197

Sydney Band looking for creative singer to write some original music with. 18 - 25 years old, music genre ranging from soft modern rock (Temper Trap) to alternative (tool/ porcupine tree). Give us a call. 0431 485 328 (Toby). iFlogID: 9438

Sydney metal band seeking singer, open to any type of vocalist, music is a mix of prog, power and death. Demos can be heard at www.myspace.com/ thedragonsclaw contact can also be made through the same place. iFlogID: 9126

SERVICES BEAUTY SERVICES www.blackstar.com.au 100 Colour A4 Gloss Posters = $40. 100 Colour A3 Matt Posters = $50. 100 Colour A3 Gloss Posters = $80. More options to choose from Posters • Flyers • Handouts • Business Cards. We print your job within hours. • bsd@zip.com.au

specialise in building websites that work. When you hire us to design your website we’ll give you a product that looks great and that actually works for your business or service. Packages start from $400 Call Richard or Kelly on 0424 125 169 iFlogID: 6665

MYSPACE BAND PROFILE FROM 200$

AWESOME DESIGNS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES www.melissahowarddesign. com for a full list of services including logos, posters web and much more. 0402796254

I’m starting a new business in CSS programming and I’m willing to charge very cheap to gather some folio with customized myspace profiles. This price will certanly increase after some productions, so be quick to not loose the oportunity. To know more about my work visit www. fugadalula.com.br/blog To quote: renato@fugadalula.com.br Thanks!

FULL COLOUR POSTERS

OTHER

iFlogID: 8928

GRAPHIC DESIGN

iFlogID: 6481

iFlogID: 8943

Vocalist Wanted. Western Sydney punk band require male vocalist aged between 20-30 to front band. Exp not important. Looking for a mix between clean melody and screaming. Influences: Nofx, Pennywise, The Bronx.

EARPLUGS FOR MUSICIANS Protect your hearing with custom moulded earplugs designed to reduce the level of sound without adversely affecting the frequency response of the music. Choose between 10,15 and 25dB attenuation. Fitted by professional audiologist, by appointment only. Ph 9387 3599

iFlogID: 9145

SONG WRITER

iFlogID: 7742

CREATIVE SONG WRITER WANTED versatile singer/lyricist looking for equally versatile musician/songwriter to collaborate with to start a new project. Old school metal/hard rock as a primary sound base but also wish to be able to cover other musical styles in a “unique” way. Primary sound influences: Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Rob Zombie, Type O Negative. Vocal style description: classically trained, good range and power, also has vocally rough sounds ie. Cooper, high range vocals ie. Halford and “Screaming” on pitch ie. Blackie Lawless If interested in working together, please email dmin741@gmail.com with subject header SONG WRITER iFlogID: 9100

Visit our website for an extensive price list and other services!

HIGH QUALITY BAND PHOTOS.

iFlogID: 6348

MUSICIAN & BAND WEBSITES

Is your life a cluttered mess? Take it Shake it Life Coaching visit www.tisi. me Xmas gift vouchers available.

iFlogID: 9458

LIVE MUSIC photographer with industry experience. Rates open for negotiation. Sydney based photographer who is a big supporter of the underground music scene. Visit - www. alicepractice.net to view pictures or - alicepractice_x@hotmail.com to contact. iFlogID: 8895

Looking for a New Job? Maybe my Website can help. www.theworkguru. com.au

Create your presence online and get noticed. Sydney based web designers are here to help you create and design your website with ease. We

Experienced and talented producer available for your project now. Comfortable and isolated studio 30 mins from city. I can supply all musical services including mobile recording setup. Great team of musicians for any music writing project also available. I have many writing / recording credits including music and television in various style and genre. Please contact for a quote to suit you. Studio : 02 97731149 Mobile : 0412 621330 Email : tonx@optusnet.com.au www. myspace.com/simontonx iFlogID: 9369

iFlogID: 9419

Need a high-quality website you can update yourself? Want your customers to be impressed with your level of professionalism? One-Click Australia helps businesses reach the next level with an impressive website. Call for a FREE consultation -(02)9126 3202. iFlogID: 9266

NOT AVAILABLE FOR FREE ADS. CL LEARN TO SING!!IMPROVE TECHNIQUE VOCAL LESSONS FOR BEGIN.TO INTERMEDIATE.PRIVATE TUITION$25HALFHOUR $40 HOUR. PHONE SHANNON 0406 346 239.

SHARE ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE Room for Females in St Helens Pk $130 p/week or $140 with internet Clean Share house with professional male in 20’s, Air Con + Close to Amenities call matt 0425820547 iFlogID: 9425

WANTED

iFlogID: 9291

Professional Band and Business Websites: Videos, audio clips/jukebox, Photogallery, Gig Dates, About Us, Contact Us and much more from $399 fully hosted. See www. bizwebsites.com.au or contact info@ bizwebsites.com.au today!

iFlogID: 9258

Are you tired of you current promotional images? Let us help you stand out from other bands with high quality professional photography and affordable packages. Location shoots start at $150 and studio shoots start at $250 including retouching, graphics and full res along with web optimised versions of your final photographs. www.sheerimage.com.au

STUDIO AND PRODUCTION SERVICES

SENIOR FIRST AID TRAINING $90 Senior First Aid training fully registered and approved. Just $90 Blacktown area. Group discounts avail. www.valiant.net.au Call 1300 600 343 iFlogID: 8972

AMPS Rnb artist seeks volunteer web designers and online promoters/ managers to help create a buzz and distribute music online ultimately an building international a fan base checkout www.myspace.com/parafnaliasynced and email me exel1@ live.com iFlogID: 8831

OTHER missing .. man from sydney central yha.. with red hair and leather cuffs.. this is maxine kezerle..chick with roxy pants...would you like to go out for dinner sometime?? 0432470048

iFlogID: 9130

For a limited time. Free online and print classifieds Book now, visit iflog.com.au

iFlogID: 9356


• 106 • THE DRUM MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 2010


BEST BRANDS BEST PRICES BEST SERVICE Money Back Guarantee Aussie Dollar Price Drop SALE

3 CHATHAM RD WEST RYDE NSW PH: 1300 28 38 58

www.iconmusic.com.au

PRE CHRISTMAS PRICE Reduction on all Fender Fender eca cast stter Special Telecaster

with GIG BAG

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*All discounts are calculated of the manufactures RRP. Sale prices are on Floor Stock items only, Limited stock. The RRP is our suppliers Recommended Retail Price and is shown for information only.This Price may not have been charged by ICON MUSIC in the past and will not necessarily be charged in the future. Prices are correct at time of printing however subject to change in colours and RRP. All items Available at time of going to press. ^^Ezipay available to approved customers *Ezipay is not available on all sale items see store staff for full Details.



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