Y-Bother..?

Contrary to popular belief

2007-03-26T12:21:00.000+10:00

I haven't died, it has been some time since I have posted though. Rest assured that I have been saving stories for a mega-post when I finally re-join the blog world. Here goes (please click the headings for links to more info):

Essential Festival (Sydney) - Very pleased to hear that it has returned to fill a weekend otherwise filled with two-up and drunken chats with old diggers.
Bluesfest (Byron Bay) - Final Announce has finally been made (shame about Dave Matthews pulling out). Timetable is up now too.
Cold War Kids - coming to Oz in May/June.
Little Barrie - coming to Oz in April.
Pitchfork Music Festival (US) - First announce.
Garage to V - One of the best organised band comps I've seen in years. Congrats to The Seabellies, but keep an eye on all the finalists.
The Fratellis - new single released on USB memory stick.
MyTickets - new ticket outlet for Australia.
Virgin Festival (US) - First announce.
Roskilde (Denmark) - I'm not sure if I love or hate Roskilde's method of announcing a couple of bands each week. We are finally nearing the end - but my has it been a long journey.
MTV Kickstart 2007 - Another great national band comp - Winner announced 29th March.
Softlightes at The Hoey - I am very excited about this gig! Even so far as to say that it is my most anticipated gig of the year thus far.
Roadrunner Records - One for all you metal heads. If you want to see Channel V bring back a regular metal show then send an email here for details on how to join the campaign: emarketing@roadrunnerrecords.com.au
New Found Frequency - Listen to live gigs from venues around Australia
Bloc Party - impressively sell out oz side-shows in less than 30 mins. Hordern & Festival Hall - thats what? 10,000 tix?
Common People - finally the indie rock DJ phenomenon (done so well by Death Disco & then Purple Sneakers) has made it to Brisbane, albeit lacking exposure by technology...
Pela - I know it has only been 3 weeks since my last post about these guys - but that means 3 great new tracks up on their E-card.
V Festival - Maps/Timetables are now up.
UncharTED - Tooheys Extra Dry have got in on the act, following closely down the path paved by Triple J Unearthed, and the current trend by alcohol companies to get more publicly involved in the music industry.
Carling Weekend (UK) - Leeds & Reading Festivals
Isle of Wight (UK) - Rolling Stones & Echo and The Bunnymen headlining
ATP vs The Fans (UK) - I love the concept of this festival - letting the fans choose the line-up (and what a good one it is this year). In fact I love all the concepts that All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) come up with.
Jack Awards - To be held 15th May 2007 at a new venue: Luna Park Big Top

I think that might do for now. It's good to be back!

Fuji Rock 2007 - 1st Announce

2007-03-08T13:23:00.000+11:00

Ash, The Ataris, Blonde Redhead, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Fountains of Wayne, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Iggy and The Stooges, The John Butler Trio, Jonathan Richman, Justice, Kaiser Chiefs, Kemuri, Less Than Jake, The Shins, Simian Mobile Disco

28th-29th July 2007

Official (english) Site

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - here in May

2007-03-08T13:17:00.000+11:00

21st May: Melbourne - Hi-Fi Bar
22nd May: Melbourne - Hi-Fi Bar
23rd May: Sydney - Enmore Theatre
24th May: Brisbane - The Z00
25th May: Brisbane - The Z00

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah website

Come Together 2007 - 1st Announce

2007-03-08T13:10:00.000+11:00

Saturday June 9 2007: Every Time I Die (US), Norma Jean (US), Against Me! (US), The Draft (US), Something With Numbers with support from Mindsnare, Carpathian, Antiskeptic, Trial Kennedy, Mach Pelican, Bagster, Avalon Drive, Casino Rumblers, Los Captaines, Kiai Academy, Rex Banner, Furcurve, The Valley, The Riot and the Trauma plus many more.

Sunday June 10 2007: Grinspoon, Shihad, Cog, Karnivool with support from Mammal, Blindspott, Psycroptic, Hell City Glamours, Ink, the Follow, Regular John, Kill The Capitol, Repeat Offender, Smithtown Riot, Black Level Embassy plus loads more.

Tons more info on the website: http://www.cometogether.com.au/

It's funny how it has morphed from an indie-fest into a punk-rock-hardcore bonanza.

Splendour announce dates

2007-03-08T13:09:00.000+11:00

4th and 5th of August 2007

Check website for (not many) details.

February 2007

2007-03-01T18:22:00.000+11:00

Top 15 international tracks most listened to in FEB-07:

Pierre Aderne - Cristalina
The Band of Heathens - Bumblebee
Sparrow House - When I Am Gone
Pela - Lost To The Lonesome
Cloud Cult - Chemicals Collide
The Parson Red Heads - Punctual As Usual
Eleni Mandell - Girls
The Silent Years - Someone To Keep Us Warm
Field Music - Working To Work
Air Traffic - Never Even Told Me Her Name
Margot & The Nuclear So And So's - Skeleton Key
Psapp - The Words
The Maccabees - Lego
Damien Rice - Dogs
The Format - Dog Problems

Top 5 Australian tracks most listened to in FEB-07:

Teenager - Pony
Mr Speed - Everybody Needs Somebody
Angus & Julia Stone - What You Wanted
The Hate Game - Too Many Days
Iron Bar Hotel - Whisky Song

Best Live Performance of FEB-07:

Expatriate @ The Globe, Brisbane

Fastest Mover of Last Month (Based on MySpace Hits):

Andrew Bird

Previous Months:

January 2007

Garage to V

2007-03-01T13:30:00.000+11:00

So the State Finals commenced last night (with The Goverment taking it out in Perth) to determine which unsigned band is going to play the V Festival. It looks like they have some pretty good bands in the finals, as opposed to the mix you usually get at band comps.

See State lists below:

The Vans more...
The Government more...
The Flairz more...
The Plastik Scene more...

The Hopes more...
Cardboard Castle more...
Butcher Birds more...
The Greys more...

The Seabellies more...
Hancock Basement more...
The Mania more...
Wallspace more...

The Capitals more...
Young Divorcees more...
Ouch My Face more...
The Inkrements more...

The Grand Final will be held at The Gaelic Theatre in Sydney on March 15th.

Sneakers Social Snaps Exhibition

2007-03-01T10:54:00.000+11:00

This is on this weekend. Definitely worth checking out!

Check out the Boudist website or The China Heights website for more details.

Musos giving the important jobs to the fans...a trend?

2007-02-28T17:36:00.000+11:00

First Jarvis Cocker approached his fans to suggest support acts for his European tour, and he actually used the artists that the fans suggested.

Now New York based group, Arizona, are taking it one step further and asking for a fan to go on a national tour with them as a driver.

I wonder if this trend of fan involvement will catch on?

Arizona blog

Oxegen Festival (Ireland) - First announce

2007-02-28T16:20:00.000+11:00

July 7-8 2007

Snow Patrol, Scissor Sisters, Kings of Leon, The Fratellis, Goo Goo Dolls, Interpol, Amy Winehouse, Tori Amos, Muse, Razorlight, Arcade Fire, Daft Punk, My Chemical Romance, Bloc Party, James Morrison, The Kooks, Babyshambles, Klaxons, CSS

http://www.oxegen.ie/

Pela

2007-02-28T15:05:00.000+11:00

3rd track is up on the E-card. So far I am not disappointed. Check for yourself:

http://www.pelamusic.com/

T in the Park (UK) Line-up

2007-02-27T15:04:00.000+11:00

Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, Razorlight, Scissor Sisters, The Coral, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, Lily Allen, Kooks, Kasabian, My Chemical Romance, The Fratellis, James, Paolo Nutini, James Morrison, Damien Rice, The View, Amy Winehouse, Babyshambles, Interpol, DJ Shadow Vs Cut Chemist, Goo Goo Dolls, Klaxons, Maximo Park, Jamie T, Editors, CSS, Mika, The Saw Doctors, Dave Clarke, Bookashade, Tori Amos, Ame, The Gossip, Slam, Hardfloor (live), Digitalism, Soundstream/Soundhack

6-8 July 2007

First round tickets sold out in under 40 mins when they went on sale on saturday.

If you are interested in learning a little more about what this T in the Park is all about, then check out the website.

The Great Escape - 3rd announce

2007-02-26T14:02:00.000+11:00

They have added more (can't wait to find out about The Magic Numbers side-shows):

The Magic Numbers, Macromantics, The Panda Band, Children Collide, Bridezilla, Iain Archer (ex-Snow Patrol), The Paper Scissors, Wons Phreely, The Mares, The Whiskey Go-Gos, Toy Death, The White Buffalo, Melanie Horsnell, Joel Plaskett

joining:

Wolfmother, The Vines, Gomez, The Living End, Ben Kweller, Bob Evans, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Blue King Brown, Missy Higgins, Ziggy Marley, Hilltop Hoods, The Fumes, Fishbone, Ooh La La, Operator Please, The Stick Figures, John Butler Trio, Holly Throsby, Gogol Bordello, Deerhoof, The Cops, Little Birdy, Angus & Julia Stone, Bliss N Eso, Darren Hanlon, Flogging Molly, The Temper Trap, The Lemonheads, The Roots, Lou Rhodes (Lamb), Dan Kelly, Alice Russell, Expatriate, Kaki King, Bertie Blackman, Damien Dempsey, The Exploders, Hermitude, Fourplay, Astronomy Class, Coda, The Bird, True Live, Sparkadia, The Flairz, King Tide, The Sins, Greta Gertler, Carla Werner, Waiting for Guiness

Official Site

Los Campesinos!

2007-02-21T15:11:00.000+11:00

Los Campesinos! have started a countdown on their website. It currently states "5 days to go".

Not only will this be a launch of their first website, but to mark the occasion I've heard they will be offering free downloads of the new single.

Keep an eye on it... http://www.loscampesinos.com/

If you are not sure who Los Campesinos! are, then check them out on Myspace

Sasquatch! 2007 (USA) - Line-up

2007-02-21T15:00:00.000+11:00

Bjork, Beastie Boys, The Arcade Fire, Interpol, Manu Chao (Radio Bemba Sound System), Michael Franti & Spearhead, M.I.A., Spoon, Citizen Cope, Bad Brains, Neko Case, Ozomatli, The Hold Steady, Dandy Warhols, Grizzly Bear, The Black Angels, Ghostland Observatory, Mirah, Electrelane, Tokyo Police Club, Two Gallants, Money Mark, The Slip, St. Vincent, Loney Dear, Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Aqueduct, Smoosh, The Thermals, Common Market, Viva Voce, Helio Sequence, The Blow, Minus The Bear, Gabriel Teodros

May 26 & 27 in Washington

Official Site : Myspace

Expatriate in Sydney - it's not too late

2007-02-20T16:39:00.000+11:00

Expatriate are playing in Sydney for MTV on Thursday 22nd Feb. Details here. It's free if you get in quick!

Bits and Pieces

2007-02-16T14:22:00.000+11:00

Some random bits of news that aren't really worth individual postings (click on the item to read more):

Hear the new K-OS album in full on Myspace

Chris Cornell quits Audioslave

Coachella has sold out - First time ever

Kaiser Chiefs come to Australia in March (supported by The Cops)

Snow Patrol looking for photographers and reviewers for their Australian shows (Mbr exclusive)

The Dirty Three ATP 2007 (US) - Line-up

Pela (Highly recommended)

2007-02-15T15:42:00.000+11:00

If the first track "Waiting On The Stairs" by this US based 4-piece is anything to go by, then this debut album, Anytown Graffiti, due out in April (in the US at least) is going to be fantastic!

And what a great idea to post a track each week up until release date.

Check out the E-card through the band's website:
Pela website

Of course, they are also on Myspace

Playground Weekender - 2nd anounce

2007-02-15T14:52:00.000+11:00

Bands:
Resurrectors, The Cops, Pty Ltd, Jamie Lloyd & Jimi Polar, Pivot, The Ghosts, The Hate Game, Bridezilla, Sparkadia, Poxy Music, Mercy May, Beau Monde, Stick Figures, Little Beasties, Winston Giles Orchestra, Fait Accompli, Bird Automatic, The Holiday, Deep Child, Describe Eliza, The Bird, The Mares, Soft Tigers, Richard in Your Mind, Bright Yellow, Wons Phreely, Martini Club, The Exploders, The Paper Scissors,

DJ's:
Ajax, Kid Kenobi & MC Sureshock, John Glover, Nathan McLay & Steve Spacek (UK), DJ Regal, Mark Pritchard, Fire In The Disco, Lovertits, Telefunken, Danny Bass, Mo Funk, John Devecchis, Banshee, Purple Sneakers DJ's feat. PHDJ, Bad Kids Recreation Club Sound System feat. Kato, Sleater Brockman, Franco & PHDJ, Da Lounge (UK), Lamanex, Synik, Lummy & Broadband, Kyla Sexton (Vocals), Stu Kelly & Ploppy, Marina, Tom Da Silva, Simon Ramsey, Pete Dot, Steve Corfield, Senior Spitch, The Potbelleez feat MC Blu, Emersen::Mur@T, Sam Serene Vs. Jay Smalls, Dolls House feat. Keli Hart & Miss Match, Trinity, Alex Coops, Kidd Frisco, Brynstar

joining:

!!!(chk chk chk), Fat Freddy's Drop, Elbow, The Dears, Laurent Garnier, The Presets, Incognito, Mr Scruff, Tom Middleton, Avalanches DJ Show, Who Made Who, Bugz in the Attic, Mad Professor, Black Grass, Dappled Cities Fly, The Valentinos, Tayo, Tomboy

No longer appearing:

Sharam (Deep Dish), Calexico??, Future Classic Soundsystem??, Pop Levi??, MSTRKRFT??, Ralph Lawson?? (can anyone confirm these last 5?)

More info on the website

Sparkadia - Things Behind The Sun EP

2007-02-15T14:41:00.000+11:00

Artist Name:
Sparkadia

CD Title/Year:
Things Behind the Sun EP (2007)

Label:
Boundary Sounds/Inertia

Track Listing:
1. Voyage (2:29)
2. Morning Light (3:31)
3. Last Thing You Need (3:19)
4. Follow The Sun (3:50)
5. Devil In Me (8:04)

Stand Out Track:
Morning Light (Get it now from JJJ)

Review:
This debut EP is a bit more mellow that what I was expecting from Sparkadia, and apart from the first single, Morning Light, a lot of the tracks are relatively new material. I must admit that it took me a couple of listens to fully appreciate the off-beat drumming on the first instrumental track, Voyage, but once I 'really' heard it I was hooked. Lots of melodies, and impressively, lead singer, Alex Burnett, mixes all but one of the EP's tracks. Based on this EP I can't wait to see them again.

Buy It:
Inertia

Artist Info:
Sydney based indie-pop 4 piece, starting of in 2005 as "The Spark". I had the pleasure of seeing them at Spectrum and Come Together Festival before they changed their name. Signed to Sydney based label, Boundary Sounds, in 2006, and recently signed in the UK with Ark Recordings. LP release pegged for late 2007.
EP launch at The Spanish Club in Sydney on Friday, March 2 2007. The are also doing various other shows along the Australian east coast over the next couple of months. Check the links for dates and details.

Links:
Official site : Myspace

Other sites:
3D World : Who The Bloody Hell Are They? : Dreadfuldan flickr photos : Green_Pez flickr photos

Blackjack 2007 (Perth) - Line-up

2007-02-15T14:38:00.000+11:00

Perth doesn't entirely miss out on V Festival goodness.

Another new festival, Blackjack 2007, featuring:

Pixies, Gnarls Barkley, The Living End, Eskimo Joe, The Vines, Birds of Tokyo, Children Collide

Thursday, April 5th 2007. Claremont Showgrounds.

Tickets from Heatseeker.com.au. Pre-sales from tomorrow 16-Feb.

Bonnaroo (USA) Line-up

2007-02-15T12:47:00.000+11:00

If you can make it to Tennessee in June be sure to head to Bonnaroo. Check out this line-up:

The Police, Tool, Widespread Panic, The White Stripes, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Flaming Lips, Wilco, Manu Chao (Radio Bemba Sound System), The String Cheese Incident, Franz Ferdinand, Bob Weir & Ratdog, Damien Rice, Ween, The Roots, Gov't Mule, Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers, The Decemberists, Kings of Leon, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Wolfmother, Regina Spektor, The Black Keys, DJ Shadow, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Spoon, Keller Williams (WMD'S), Sasha & Digweed, STS9, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Hold Steady, Galactic, Lily Allen, North Mississippi Allstars, Fountains Of Wayne, Hot Tuna, Feist, Hot Chip, John Butler Trio, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Aesop Rock, The Richard Thompson Band, Dierks Bentley, James Blood Ulmer, Xavier Rudd, Gogol Bordello, Junior Brown, Tortoise, T-Bone Burnett, Mavis Staples, Clutch, Cold War Kids, Dr Dog, Paolo Nutini, Brazilian Girls, RX Bandits, The Nightwatchmen, The Slip, Girl Talk, Railroad Earth, Martha Wainright, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Annuals, Tea Leaf Green, Sam Roberts Band, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Charlie Louven, Sonya Kitchell, Mute Math, Apollo Sunshine, Ryan Shaw, Uncle Earl, The National, The Little Ones, Lewis Black & Friends, Dave Attell, David Cross

More info on the Bonnaroo website

The Fratellis - Exclusive MP3's

2007-02-14T12:31:00.000+11:00

Want exclusive MP3's from the Fratellis? Make sure to join The Budhill Singles Club that The Fratellis have set up.

More info on The Fratellis:
Official Site : Myspace

Failing Condition No.2

2007-02-13T18:14:00.000+11:00

I started this blog with two conditions:

1/this will not become an MP3 blog (too hard to deal with copyright issues)
2/this will not become a reviews blog (been there, done that)

but I will somehow, without breaking either of these conditions make it about music.

I hate to say it, but music festivals have kept me going for way too long, now that the summer festival season is pretty much over, and the blog is still going, I need to find something else to write about.

So tomorrow I return to my roots and start a new blog segment: Reviews. I will try and put one up every week or so and see how we go. Will also try to include as many Gold Coast/Brisbane bands as I can, seeing as there seems to be a shortage of Brisbane music bloggers at the moment.

I got Maximo Park's new one today, so am tempted to do that one first, but I will refrain and start off with an Aussie act. Stay tuned...

Air - Listening Party

2007-02-13T11:50:00.000+11:00

Want to be one of the first to hear Air's new album?

Join the Listening Party here:
AIR Listening Party

More info: http://www.pocket-symphony.com/