Halfass Music Blog

Listen to Kingfisha

2008-11-03T23:04:00.001-08:00

Have you ever been to DNBBQ? It's awesome. I can't believe it took me so long to get my lazy ass there.

Besides the actual dnb there's a heavy dub/reggae presence happening, and thank god for it cause it meant discovering Kingfisha.

Think sexy songs. If you want to seduce, refer to these guys. Maybe don't go watch them though, in the terms of stage presence/ live, they still have a long way to go.

Ed, here's ten reasons which prove Australian music doesn’t suck (in no particular order)

2008-10-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

1. The Saints – ha! Throwing this one back at cha…

2. The Presets – even if you don’t personally love their work, it’s undeniable that they have almost single handedly changed the landscape of Australian dance music.

3. Architecture in Helsinki – everything I’ve ever wanted in a pop band

4. My Disco – Perfect Perfection, need I say any more about these guys?

5. Machine Gun Fellatio/ Pinky Beecroft - Not just cause I saw him last week. “The Girl of My Dreams” says it all

6. The Avalanches – ‘Since I Left You’ is one of the best albums ever. EVER.

7. Spoonbill – Knowing him there may be some bias, but in any case, a ton of other people agree he’s amazing too.

8. Unkle Ho – A story and fantasy to float away to in every track he’s touched. Plus the fact he seems so incredibly dorky adds to the genius. I hope he doesn’t think I’m stalking him. Cause I am, but it would be awkward.

9. Pendulum – Drum and bass? From WA? Famous? There’s a reason why.

10. Gotye – See past the mainstream pop and you get an amazing voice, an amazing drummer and work that’s totally unique.

And that’s leaving off all the stuff you wouldn’t even like….Horrorshow…Rumpunch…Deepchild…The Herd…Made in Japan…

What put me in a good mood this morning

2008-10-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ahhh.....

P.s. Before you get disappointed, this isn't an actual video, just music.

Listen to Day of the Meerkat

2008-10-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

I saw Day of The Meerkat play at that warehouse party a few weeks back and were awesome live. This clip, along with their songs on myspace don't compare at all to the energy they bring in person.

They're are a local Sydney band who you can probably see without lots of dosh, so if you have the chance you must go see them!

Listen to Metronomy

2008-10-15T01:35:00.000-07:00

Metronomy's music makes me happy. Even the first ten seconds!

Listening to these guys make me remember how much I love music and how exciting it is finding new things.

Think Crystal Castles crossed with ....? Let's go with Crystal Castles with a big fat injection of pop, rock and maybe a little soul.

Also check out Heartbreaker.

BAM!

A Gaye Science Fiction Adventure

2008-10-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

Popolice (aka Marc) will be playing in Sydney tomorrow. I know it's late notice, and the venue looks kinda dodge, as does the poster...but Marc's fuzz rock always mades me feel nice and fuzzy inside. So get out your spock ears and head down to the Spanish 1/4, 8pm

Empire of the Sun- Ouch!

2008-10-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

If you have a chance this week, check out the reviews in Brag and Drum Media in regards to their new album- OUCH! The one in Brag is scathing.

It can't possibly that bad can it? After all, Walking on a Dream is freakin awesome! They have another two songs up on their myspace...and they really aren't so bad....at all. Was the bar too high?

The MyDisco cult

2008-10-13T02:03:00.000-07:00

The way I felt last Friday night - tinglely, short of breath and speechless, could only be explained by one thing:

a) Having lots of really good sex
b) Having lots of really good drugs (or what I imagine it would be like)
c) Seeing MyDisco live at the Annandale

Join the cult. You'll be better off I swear.

PS Tic Toc Tokyo

2008-10-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

In a similar minimalist vein is Melbourne's Tic Toc Tokyo - they have a new single Ritual which is well worth checking out if like me you are a sucker for some awesome percussion and slightly tortured curtis-esque vocals

My Disco Countdown

2008-10-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

My my disco countdown has begun, thanks to Jo for letting me know they were playing in Sydney. I missed their last show because I am a notorious piker, (in my defence, it was a bad hangover) but this one promises to be excellent and I can't wait to see the boys hammer out the new material on a bigger and better stage. You really need to see My Disco live to undertand their aesthetic, there's just this build up of sound, not a wall, more like a the unfolding of an enormous maze constructed from basic bolts and enormous steel bolsters. The vocals are sparse and barking, but hey, less is more. Last time I saw them it was also a spiritual experience at Revolver, the crowd was in this perfect state of silent appreciation throughout the set - I know silence at a gig sounds bad, but it was a good silence - as though noone wanted to break the spell...

So, see you there then...

Joan as Policewoman

2008-10-07T20:38:00.000-07:00

Joan Joan Joan. Such an unglamourous name but I would almost name my first born child (male or female) after her after last night’s concert at the Metro. This is a big call, but I think her singing on the night was actually better than her recordings – she has such a pure, direct, powerful voice. The final note of To Survive actually made my chest constrict. Enough to make the blood rush to your head – well, at leat for the person who fainted cold onto the wooden floor with a thump early in the set. Unsettling for the crowd, Joan didn’t notice the fallout, and soon lulled everyone back into their blissful stupor. Being a shorty, I only got to catch a glimpse of her full getup at the end of the set – a full length white jump suit – unkempt hair with a blunt fringe – and she even promised to come back after the set to sign merch. Joan’s only drawback is her hockey attempt at charm between songs, it’s too American cutesy, and she’s not great at small talk – dedicating one of her best songs to a f**cking Koala (Real Life) but hey, I can forgive this lady almost anything. ESPECIALLY after she pulled out a brilliant and understated cover of one of my all time favorite Jimi Hendrix songs, Fire. Move over rover, let Joan takeover indeed.

In sum. I love Joan.

Ohh mannn...Underworld is playing Shore Thing

2008-10-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Arghh!

Why? We already bought Field Day tickets, but also said if Underworld was doing Shore Thing we'd do both. I'm broke and it's just the beginning of summer!

Also- Shore Thing has always been crap. Went to see Fat Boy Slim, Basement Jaxx and whoever else they had one year and the sound was bad every single time. Really bad. Plus it's just kinda this weird atmosphere that just isn't quite right. Even trashed.

Oh well. It's Underworld. My hands are tied.

I want to go to the Big Day Out 09

2008-09-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

But I'm pretty sure my bank account doesn't.

Why?

TV On The Radio
Cog
The Prodigy
Arctic Monkeys
Pendulum
Simian Mobile Disco

I like all these people, but not enough to go see all the sideshows (except maybe SMD, and I've already seen Pendulum this year). Hmm...Simian Mobile Disco sideshow...

Plus I haven't gone to the last two BDO's cause the line-up had been so hum-worthy, but I'm feeling nostalgias! Part of me is sick of trending through mud.

Speaking of mud, Parklife is this weekend. Whoo!

Listen to The Last Shadow Puppets

2008-09-27T22:48:00.001-07:00

Innocence and arrogance intwined, in the flithiest of minds.

My other obsession at the moment are The Last Shadow Puppets. They've even changed my life to some degree. There's something so familiar and evocative about their music. Then of course there's the lyrics- it's always about the lyrics.

I love the title "My Mistakes Were Made for You". Also check out "Standing Next to You".

Epic win.

Listen to Trouble Andrew

2008-09-27T22:32:00.000-07:00

When I really get into into something, it goes on high rotation. And by high rotation, I mean repeat.

Trouble Andrew is one of the artists I'm really into at the moment, and I swear to god, if you look past the fluro and wank (well, I'm assuming, but then again I've never met him), I swear you'll be hooked too.

I found him on Diplos/ Santogolds mixtape, and it's somewhere in between rock and r'n'b. I think.

Check it yo.

The Horrorshow album launch

2008-09-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is the last post about Horrorshow I swear (at least until something else happens). Just wanted to mention I went to their sold out (hells yea!) album launch at the Annandale on Friday night, and they freakin rocked it. I’ve seriously listened to the album almost every single day since it the day I came out, and they did it justice live.

On fire baby, and the crowd were eating it up. It scares me that they’re so good so young.

All Summer Long was the highlight of course, but Manifesto, which is the killer opening track on the album, blasted the place. For the rest of the weekend I couldn’t help but scream the lyrics.

We’re like, who’sssssss house?
Mom’s house
It’s rent free, you don’t like it, you get the fcuk out
(at 3:15)

Ode to Sydneys warehouse parties

2008-09-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

I love warehouse parties, and hell why would I? Everyone should love warehouse parties.
I’m not going to try and score cool brownie points by saying I’m down with the scene. I’m just lucky enough to have found myself in a circle of people who love music and parties, and get invited to these things.

The real brownie points go to the crews (DSS, Paradise Lost etc) who put in a hell of a lot of time and effort to put on these parties for the love of it. They get instant hall of fame cool cred in my books.

So what’s all the fuss about?

Well firstly they’re free. And byo. Then there’s the music, it’s always about the music. And it’s not always the doof doof you think it is. There’s usually lots of stages, with different types of doof doof! No really though, I was at a warehouse do in the back of Marrickville once getting down to disco funk all night long. Til I got tired and walked home in the freezing fcuking cold. Yay for walking home though.

You can’t talk about warehouse parties without mentioning the obvious- the kick-ass venues. There’s just something so comforting about being in a dirty venue. It’s exciting too cause there’s always more to explore. I love the thrill of finding random room after room and not know what to expect. Although, they also come with their downfalls. For example, no running water at Taren Point, which meant no flushing toilets- yep, EW. The upside was, we did find a ‘secret’ toilet that no-one else knew about- but see, it’s all part of the adventure.

And finally, what I love the most is the crowd. It’s sans the wankers, posers and dodgy sleazebags who inhibit the rest of the social world. Everyone is there to have fun and are 99% of the time about the music- not just about getting trashed.

You get the most random people and you can never be too much of a freak- no one gives a shit. There’s also this mutual understanding of what you’re experiencing is the most awesome thing ever, and there’s always this feeling of intimacy. Afterall, chances are if you’re there, you probably know every person around you by 6 degrees. Hell, this is Sydney, even less.

So all this brings me to the best party ever- the Chanel party on Parramatta Road in Camperdown two weeks ago. The really outdid themselves this time, and it was so unbelievably awesome. It was such a great massive venue, the what really gets my respect was they fact they set it up so well. 7 stages, 3 venues, and the sound was perfectly set-up for the space. They even had a live stage which I couldn’t drag myself away from. Rumpunch even played which I missed out on damnit! Nevermind, Day of the Meerkat blew my mind just as much.

So this is how is went. Cops turned up. It was bound to happen, we all knew it.
Hell, is WAS on Parramatta Road. I didn’t think much of it, cause then they left. But a little while later Joe told us they had shut down Parra Rd. WTF? We went to peep out the windows and apparently so. It was seriously so weird and surreal. My theory was they were going to kick us out anyway so we should stay and enjoy it while it lasted, but Joe was seriously freaking out, and my housemate Ben messaged me saying they were about to storm the place. As we were walking out of the doorway, the riot police were walking (well storming) in. Check it out mom- I made the channel 9 news!

I can’t wait to use this story on my teenage kids one day.

Big in the 90’s? Haven’t done much since? Tour Australia!

2008-09-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Following the footsteps of Boyz to Men, Jodeci and Bel Biv DeVoe (who tried, but didn’t actually make it out, cry), Salt’n’Peppa are the next urban act to try and captitalise on how big they used to be down under.

Not to sound too cynical or anything. Salt’n’Peppa are good! ‘Ain’t Nothin But A She Thing’ was my favourite song for probably a good whole month. I even bought the single!

Ahh……I can feel the high school reminiscing now (but not enough to actually go).

Listen to The dø....now!

2008-09-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

There's something so so sexy about her voice. I've been listening to this all day and The dø have won me over.

Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream

2008-09-02T23:24:00.001-07:00

I swear this gets catchier each time you hear it...

It has 'summer anthem' written all over it!

What I learned from Panic at the Disco’s gig the other week.

2008-09-01T16:05:00.001-07:00

The Academy Is…… the biggest pop rock cliché ever. Lanky kids with skinny leg jeans and long hair, screaming lame ass songs to teenage kids in a mosh. Oh yea, all under flashing strobe lights. I felt like I was in that Sony Ericsson Ad.

Free tickets are hella good! Best seats ever, right next to the stage. Jo and I had the option of going into the ‘Panic Pit’ (she had actually bought tickets ages ago), but one look at the crowd confirmed that we, in fact were kidding ourselves to even think we could deal with ‘mosh’ (it was PATD for gods sake- mosh?!).

PATC aren’t all emo-y anymore. I’m kinda disappointed.

Their new stuff isn’t well, like their old stuff. It’s all happy and not so cynical. I’m a little more disappointed.

The guitar dudes- all three of them- talk a lot. I’ve never seen an artist/s talk so much.

They’re down with detail. The stage set was gorgeous and themed with their album artwork, so all whimsical, storybook garden like. Just as awesome was their video artist. Probably the best I’ve seen besides Dj Shadow’s.

Listen to Jennifer Cardini

2008-08-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my happy place is a huge dark techno warehouse in Berlin.

I love Kompakt. And today I’m loving Jennifer Cardini.

(Wow have times changed...)

The next big thing

2008-08-25T02:06:00.000-07:00

So often I wonder. If I wanted to be business saavy- yet still wanted to keep my hip hop street cred, what should I wear?

Duh! A SHOODIE!

(p.s. The Herd at the Metro were awesome)

So obviously I have an obession with Horrorshow....

2008-08-17T00:42:00.000-07:00

So when I saw the cover of their new album 'The Grey Space' I totally flipped out- it's downstairs from my apartment!!

Check it out on google maps!

Oh dear god....start the mental preparation

2008-08-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

I bought tickets to Parklife.

As of late, I'm completely freaked out by festivals. The crowds, the people, the trashiness. I just can't handle it! Here's hoping Does it Offend You, Diplo and Peaches get me though it.

Rubies - Stand in a Line

2008-08-16T01:48:00.000-07:00

This is for you Laura! Rubies are a femaleish version of Kings of Convienience don't you think?

I actually love 'I Feel Electric" more though....who am I kidding- all of their stuff!!

I went to yum cha and came back with...

2008-08-12T03:03:00.001-07:00

1. Summer festival fever. After watching Benjis clips of Glastonbry, Exit Festival and Benicassim it makes me want to stop being so blah and dance in the sunshine on the grass again. Could my party mojo be back? I kinda even want to go to Parklife (but MyDisco are on the same night?!)

2. Music envy. After watching Benjis clips of Glastonbury, Exit Festival and Benicassim. Bastard.

3. An impulisvely bought Ticket to Cirque du Soleil's Dralion.

4. Being enlighted by Fujiya & Miyagi. Wow. Just like Air only not so sucky live (according to to Benji). Who wants to be a hippy and dance? Me! me! me!

Green Light - John Legend ft. Andre 3000

2008-08-08T00:17:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure I'm obsessed with this song at the moment.

OMFG! My Disco are touring!

2008-08-07T02:39:00.000-07:00

Want dirty? Want hot? Want minimal?

Want to have a life changing experience?

MyDisco are everything and more.

Be at the Annandale on October 10. That is all.

Horrorshow, Spit Syndicate & Made in Japan @ The Roxbury Glebe

2008-07-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

Reasons why last Friday was a super awesome gig:

• Nick Lupi is hot. Like really hot. And also very 21.

• Spit Syndicate and Horrorshow are good. Amazing. They can actually sing as well which is a huge point of difference between them and other mcs.

• Lyrics. I LOVE lyrics. I don’t want to use the line ‘Backstreet Boys of ‘hiphop’ but in terms of whooing girls- these guys have hit the mark. A song called ‘Walk you Home’?, and basically all of ‘All Summer Long’…..swoon!

• It was an acoustic gig, got that- hip-hop acoustic! Not that way out there, but has it been done before? Not that I’ve seen so far.

• We had the best seats in the house. Had the conversation with Josh about how you know you’re getting old when you start turning up to gigs early to get seats. I like to think we’re somewhere in the middle (although we did do it for CSS), cause we turned up and rearranged the furniture so we had a couch on the balcony looking onto the stage. A COUCH!

• Cause they got drunk. Like, really drunk. I don’t know why but it made it all the more amusing. They started off all good, but then the JUGS of beer they were drinking started to all kick in. So funny. I don’t know if they timed it really well, or they were just really lucky they didn’t have another song.

• Made in Japan played acoustic as well. I think I saw these guys at the OAF, but I don’t really remember (hazy). Fyi, they’re NOT hip-hop, but they are really good. I like them alottt. They remind of Kings of Convenience- he has a great voice. My favourite song is Interscope (such a sucker for lyrics!).

CDB are reforming!

2008-07-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

Yep, CDB are officially reforming and are signed to Mercury Records.

You know you’re excited.

Artrush – Can you be any cooler?

2008-07-28T00:20:00.000-07:00

From a bulletin sent out on myspace:

I’ve had this idea in my head for a while now and i think this year is the time to do it: THE LEAGUE OF ZOMBIES, a band done up in full zombie makeup who stumble out of the grave once a year on halloween night, or perhaps halloween eve at midnight, to play Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety, then return to the sweet embrace of the crypt. doesn't that sound like the coolest thing ever? the zombies could change song-by-song, like a big revolving supergroup, or maybe have the one lineup.
i have a gig promoter interested and possibly a venue so if you're in a band, or play guitar or drums or sing or whatever, and this sounds interesting to you, let me know asap!
I’m so overwhelmed with Artrush coolness I don’t know what to do. I’ve missed his last 2 gigs. If I miss the next one I think I’m going to have to sacrifice a puppy something (I think it's Aug 8 at levity Nights).

Getting me through work today

2008-07-23T23:28:00.000-07:00

Lior – Heard of snippet of it leaving lunch today. Plus puppies in the office are making me mushy.

Peret Mako – Kinda like Spoonbill and apparently been compared to Dj Shadow in regards to number of samples.

Curse of Company – I wish I knew the words to ‘All the Mines’ so I could singalong!

Onepoll.com's Top 10 Pop Songs

2008-07-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

1. Bohemian Rhapsody Queen

2. Y.M.C.A. Village People

3. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You Bryan Adams

4. Angels Robbie Williams

5. Red, Red Wine UB40

6. Imagine John Lennon

7. Sweet Child O Mine Guns N Roses

8. Billie Jean Michael Jackson

9. Dancing Queen Abba

10. Cant Get You out of My Head Kylie Minogue

The article here

Gigs to diary NOW

2008-07-16T03:11:00.000-07:00

Spit Syndicate are doing a FREE gig at the Roxbury in Glebe on the 25th July.Should be cool- the word "acoustic" was dropped, as well as the word "covers".
It'll be probably be worth it to see if the lead singer is as cute as I thought he may of been last Saturday night (mind you I was trashed and without glasses).
Whoo! Horrorshow are going to be there toooo...

The Basics, who, I will never be able to be obessed with the same way after lmac told me the Chris and Hungry Jacks story (ask us when you can!), are doing another residency at The Hopetoun. Every TUESDAY (not Wednesday like I thought) night for the month of August, there's no excuse really.

The Firekites are playing at the Annandale on the 27th July, and it's only $5!!! More info here.

Children Collide

2008-07-13T22:22:00.001-07:00

I came across this video for Children Collide's latest single Social Currency over the weekend. YES, it's true, I tape RAGE like a true child of the nineties. Nevermind that we have the technology to download video on demand.

If you've never seen Children Collide live, you must be hating yourself right now.

How big and spiraling is the main riff? Blisssssssssss...

Also, I like that the video makes no claims to originality at all - just smash shit up and set your vacuum cleaner on fire. All the cool kids are doing it.

Jo as Police Woman

2008-07-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

I am hijacking this blog to further my campaign for Joan as Police Woman who is touring Australia in early October. Can all readers of this blog please explain how truly amazing Joan is, and why Jo should fork out her hard earned cash for a ticket on Friday?

Check this out – Horrorshow

2008-07-10T00:55:00.000-07:00

I’ve been listening to this all afternoon and love it.

They’ve just signed to Elefant Traks, home of my beloved acts The Herd and Unkle Ho, so how could they not be good?

On first listen they sound similar to other ET artists, and um, I even thought they could possibly just be another combination. But after lots (and lots) of listening, ok I can’t really explain it, but they are different, maybe a smoother, more laid back feel?
But who cares! Who doesn’t want more?

I love “All Summer Long”. It’s making me feel too warm and fuzzy.

I also love how Aussie hip-hip is staying away from the "hip-hop" stereotype- how great is their press shot (above)??.

Listen to Horrorshow.

Early declaration of “Group of The Year” – Ruuuuumpunch!

2008-07-09T21:25:00.001-07:00

I’ve just got to put that out there- wow- talk about hype huh.

I saw these guys last night and was blown away. Ok, so I know I say that about a lot of things, but trust me, blown away to be able to declare them the hottest thing in 2008. Let’s just say, on a raining, Wednesday night, in a dodgy(ish) pub that no-one even notices, they got the house rockin, and people up and dancing.

The played two-ish sets. The first was lots of instrumental, laid-back jazz/dub/reggae. Sexy. The second was more get up and dance, with an extra infusion of hip-hop.

They’re young, and yet so incredibly tight already. They may look like stoners (I use the word “look” sparingly) but the energy is amazing and best of all, they all look like they’re having a ball. They’ll make you wish YOU were part of the band.

The lead vocalist has such amazing skills and I love the fact he has such range and isn’t afraid to push it. Although he probably doesn’t look like it on first appearences, he is a great front man. He is going to freakin rock it a year from now.

So that’s the hype. Best of all you can run out and see them for FREE. They’re playing the next two Wednesdays so check this out for more info.

Listen to Rumpunch. The biggest band that isn’t so big yet.

Listen to Lisa Mitchell!

2008-07-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

So Guy (ex-Lover…umm, Love as in the agency, not..oh ewww!), sent me his new ad for 3- it’s gorgeous! Even more gorgeous is the song to it by none other then Lisa Mitchell. I’ve seen her name around lots but for some reason thought she did more soul/funk kind of stuff. Oh how I was wrong!

Kinda reminds me of the song from the Visit Melbourne campaign (hope it’s not her, how rocked would I be?)

Listen now.

How did I get this far in life without Booka Shade?

2008-07-02T03:56:00.000-07:00

It's great to sometimes be that cool kid on the block, you know, be slightly ahead of the pack, where you're rightly allowed to be a wanker and scoff, "*insert cool band here*?, I was so into them about a year ago, now they've just sold out".

Other times, you discover a track or group when you least expect it, and it takes you off guard. It's so much more personal! And as much as I think that I'm super cool, this is the way it usually works for me. Added to this the fact I think I'm allergic to hype (really I am).

Which brings me to Booka Shade who I'm sure everyone else in the whole wide wide already knows and loves- and guess what? me too now!!

Ben brought home The Sun & The Neon Light limited edition double cd and I'm blown away by it. My favourite tracks are Numbers and Charlotte. Both of which are being added to the 'songs to seduce me' list.

Booyah.

The Black Keys @ The Manning Bar, Sat 22nd June

2008-06-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Halfassed readers,

I thought I should finally live up to my contributor status on this blog. Or perhaps I’m the half assed component? Hmmm. Anyway, last on Saturday arvo The Black Keys played Sydney Uni’s Manning bar. I haven’t seen a gig there before (being from Melbournia), and was pretty impressed with the venue choice – not too big, not too small, and sound balance was just about right.
The macho crowd looked like they enrolled in agriculture course at the uni in 1985, and hadn't left the Manning Bar since. There were sideburns galore, a guy with no perceptible waistline and a very thick neck, and plenty of authentic flannelette shirts.
On the downside, the bar line was insanely long throughout the gig – although we still managed to down three beers each, which isn’t bad for a Saturday arvo session.
The support acts weren’t announced prior to the gig, and both played short sets – Flying Foxes and The Dead Farmers. The names say it all really.
So, the Black Keys. I’ve seen them play twice before, and it’s reassuring to see that some things haven’t changed. Dirgy, dirty, low-fi Southern rock. Two guys who don’t muck around with small talk, working the simple combo of sublime guitar and pounding drums to hypnotic affect... oh also, the singer has now grown insanely long hair (see pic) which added a nice cave man element to the proceedings.
They played a pretty good mix of songs from across their four (?) albums, but the best stuff was still from ThickFreakness. Kicking off with ‘Girl Is On My Mind', and keeping a steady pace, they rocked hard (especially ‘Stack Shot Billy’), and then rocked some more. Considering they had booked another gig straight after, doors opening at 9pm, it was a pretty impressive and suitably sweaty effort.

On a sad note, they didn’t play my favourite cover at the afternoon show – ‘Have Love Will Travel’, but apparently the later show didn’t start til 11pm and had an aggressive over- sauced angry crowd vibe.

Viva la Techno!

2008-06-21T02:03:00.001-07:00

Mandate My Ass

2008-06-20T03:26:00.000-07:00

My addiction for this week.

Mandate your ass here.

Following The Herd

2008-06-16T02:05:00.000-07:00

I was excited, Ben was excited, and the guys next to us were really excited.

But let’s not burst yet.

I’m always one to insist on seeing the support. We got there during Rapaports set and it was pretty cool. The more I watched and listened the more I got into it. It was a shame (as is the case more most support acts) that there wasn’t more of crowd for them to feed into because it would have added heaps to their act. I also couldn’t help but think he didn’t quite have the ‘look’ for being up on stage. (His female singer did look great though) One of his lyrics mentioned being a music teacher, and after that I couldn’t help but see it…….

Next up were Illzilla, who I’d heard ‘of’ before, but not much else. How I’ve been missing out! In ten seconds they had a empty dancefloor full, and from there on it was an amazing, upbeat, funky-ass funfair. From Melbourne, The Herd later called then the best live hip hop band at the moment, which I don’t doubt at all.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the lead singer- I couldn’t figure out if he was terribly cute, or if it was because of his hat. In the end I decided it didn’t matter at all because his charisma totally won me over. Totally cheeky and full of energy- it’s what every lead singer should be! Hopefully you can check these guys out cause the rest of the band are character to say the least……

Onto The Herd. Were they everything they expected? Did they live up to my (own) hype?
Yes and no- but it could be my own fault. I’m been dragged up to the front row, and I was 100% aware that where we were standing, the sound was crap (because the sounds was going past us). I made the choice though, either move back, and get good sound, or stay where I was, and be up close and personal.

I chose to stay for a couple of reasons:
1. Jane Tyrell is magnetic (though she did look really sick).
2. An unhealthy obsession with Unkle Ho.
3. Ozi Batla looking like hell- was he going to get through it completely fcuked up?
4. Urthboy in very fine form. I didn’t realize had it in him to put on a real show (I’m now kicking myself for missing him at the OAF)

I have to mention they did have a pretty crap opening- or maybe it was because I was too close. For there on, despite the bad sound, everything was amazing. Performances we’re totally on the ball, and lots of my favorite songs came up. They look like they’re having so much fun up there it hardly seems far!. Not sure what else to say. Discussing it later, one of the best things about The Herd is the fact that every single member is amazing talented. “No one in The Herd controls The Herd” rings completely true.

The next time they play is going to be in August at the Metro and I’m already there.

Countdown...one more sleep

2008-06-13T02:12:00.000-07:00

I'm so damn excited about seeing The Herd tomorrow night at the Factory Theatre that I think I'm going to burst.

I'm so excited that walking down King Street last night, I impulsively bought Unkle Ho's album Circus Maximus. I'm not sure if you know, but I'm pretty sure he's a genius.

I'm lovinggg track the Hiroshi Waltz. I'm pretty sure if I were to be seduced, playing this track wuold be the first thing on the list.

Sigh.

Spoonbill @ the Loft

2008-06-10T01:44:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to be not talking to Benji for not coming to my party. Then I get a message saying his cousin, Jim was playing at the Loft at UTS, “new material I believe”.

Damn.

Seeing Spoonbill play is always an absolute pleasure. I’m always surprised and disappointed at the lack of turnout whenever he’s in Sydney- I can’t help but feel like everyone is missing out. Which of course they are.

If you haven’t heard of Spoonbill yet, in essence, he’s a Melbourne producer who samples everything and anything and makes it sound damn good. His first album, Megafauna, wasn’t something to get down and dance to, but it made you wish you could. It was album of the week on FBI, and the video for the main track “Gum Tree” won 2 awards at the Electrovision comp in 2004. Won over yet?

The new material was indeed worthy of trekking out on a cold rainy school night. Up with Vj King Aphid, it was the place to be for me. The show is always entertaining and I love his facial expressions and just how into he gets. The new tracks are a lot more danceworthy, and had a great flow to it- a direction that I love. I’ve just started listening to the new (well for me) album Nestegg and so far so good. His albums take a little while to get into (you have to be in the zone for something slightly unexpected), but I’m already excited!

Stephan Bodzin and Dubfire @ Arq

2008-06-10T01:36:00.000-07:00

I haven’t been out clubbing for a while, or even to Arq, but I’m glad Ben bought tickets to this and told me I was going. The main act for me was always going to be Dubfire. I was told earlier in the night (at work of all places) that Bodzin was going to be way better, and I could see the potential, but on the night it was just a bit too cut and paste for me.

Dubfire rocked it, and got me up dancing even when I thought I couldn’t go on any longer. I could probably comment more, but it got a little hazy. All I know is, but there seemed to be a fair few gay guys at the end of it with their shirts off slightly confused and wondering where the rest of the gay fun was.

Also got to witness the unthinkable for a dj (specifically, David Choe), by seeing his laptop freeze, go nuts then blackout. Which in essence means no music. At all. One of the few times you are actually happy the room is half empty. Talk about handling a situation well though! Respect.

Falling for the Firekites

2008-06-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

The Firekites have been a band I’ve been excited about for a little while. And for the good reason too. From Newcastle, these guys make music that makes me wish I was wandering the streets in the rain with someone I was hopelessly in love with.

I had a feeling I wasn’t the only one who felt this way, and not surprisingly, the Hopetoun was packed by the time they came on. They didn’t disappoint at all. For a band just releasing their first album, they were incredibly solid and tight. Looking at their album later, I found they started recording way back in 1995 (which explains why the production is so damn good). I haven’t been able to stop listening to the album and neither has anyone else who have listened to my rants about them.

One of the highlights for me was also seeing the amazing Jane Tyrell (despite her commenting she was sick). Also playing as part of The Herd, to me, she is one of the most interesting and exciting women in Australian music at the moment. Seeing the contrast between her two projects rocks my world and I can’t wait to see The Herd in hip hop mode next week.

Signed to Spunk (a label with more and more cred), the Firekites are a band bound for bigger and better things- watch out!

Also worth mentioning were the two supports- Lola Flash (who get points for an awesome name) and the Sly Hats. How to describe Lola Flash? You know how Portishead are really awesome but at the same time kinda make you sleepy and all emo like? Yep. That’s them. The emo screaming freaked me (and others) out a little, but I’m pretty sure there’s a good time and place.

The Sly Hats are a Melbourne band that my Melbourne friend was excited about. The crowd was absolutely awful the whole way through and dare I say, completely rude. If the Firekites made music that made me wish I was in love in the rain, then The Sly Hats make me wish I was running wistfully in a field, basked in the golden setting sun. Gorgeously nervous and nerdy, I can’t wait to check out these guys again with an audience they deserve….

Santogold & her PR people

2008-05-28T00:56:00.001-07:00

Damn them. Here I was all ready to make some witty remarks about how Santogold hardly lives up to the hype, and how really, she just sounds like a rocker up version of Tegan and Sara (well she does).

But I'm just too busy bopping to it and jumping around in my head.

Bah!

Classic Quote #1

2008-05-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

"The drummer is so gay he's a member of Faker and he doesn't even know it*"

Overheard @ The Hopetoun about a certain bands drummer (who wasn't Faker).

*Btw, Faker rocks. Even if I can't 'hit that'.