SLAM RALLY

http://www.slamrally.org/
taken from the above website:
S.L.A.M. is Save Live Australias Music, a non-politically aligned, independent entity made up of musicians and music-lovers.

In a bid to address street violence Liquor Licensing Victoria (LLV) has introduced sweeping changes with unintended consequences for the local music scene.

LLV should admit its mistake and make simple changes immediately, acknowledging that there is no link between live music and high risk. The Tote is gone, whos next?

On 23 February, coinciding with the 34th anniversary of AC/DCs famous Its A Long Way To The Top film clip shoot down Swanston Street, S.L.A.M. is protesting in support and celebration of Victorias music scene, where new liquor licensing laws threaten to pull the plug on live music.

DON'T KILL LIVE MUSIC

Protest on Tuesday the 23rd of February, more info here at SLAM RALLY
Unfortunately I probably wont be attending.

Experts call 2am Lockout a failure

MJust saw this in the mornings the 'Experts' are saying that the 2am lockout is a failure, don't know if places will be running as usual. Check out The Age article below with full details.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/experts-call-lockout-a-failure-20080708-3bvx.html

PBS RADIO FESTIVAL 2008

PBS Radio festival is finishing tonight, but you can still go into the draw for all the prizes - The prize draw is on Thursday, 3 July at 5.30pm.

It's a good station that caters for so many different music tastes its amazing. Also there website, pbsfm.org.au, has streaming and radio on demand (I think for about 3 or 6 months).

Dragonfly Records to Close

I heard word on the streets the other day that Dragonfly records is closing and it is. I spoke to a guy behind the counter and he advised me that they've got less than 2 months depending on stock. Most CD's are slightly discounted from regular price, I snaped up some world beaters comps for $10 each reduced from $15. It's kind of a shame to loose another small discount CD shop, other the years I did manage to get some long forgotten and great compilation CDs (Tamla Motown was a highlight).

Melbourne 2 am Lockout

I have mixed feelings about the Melbourne 2am Lockout. One important thing to remember is when it starts, I was an idiot and thought it was last weekend. It starts at Tuesday 3rd June 2008.

I had a friend last weekend visiting from Sydney (he lives in a inner suburb) and thought Melbourne's night life people were fairly wild, drunks and goth/rave heads roaming the streets. I'm sick of drunks in the City, but love band's and little bar in the ally ways. I probably don't see any more gigs at 2am, as most of them finish at 12 or 1 so I dont know how that will effects gigs other than the ones at Pony, Cherry has some, but not as many as Pony.

Only time will tell how this change.

Check out this site for info.
http://www.2amlockout.com.au/
http://www.melbournelockedout.com/
Also there's an official protest Friday 30 May at Treasury Gardens, cnr Flinders / Spring Streets 5pm. More at the above website.

Luke Whitby - Was it a cat I saw

I saw this last week sometime. Very wordy, Nerdy, a show about words, with a focus on Palindromes and Anagrams. A little bit autobiographical (before stand up comedy he did the whole spoken poetry) and his love for Heavy Metal Music (there's the music tie in). An example from the reverse of the flyer for an Anagram was "Paris Hilton-The Simple Life is an Anagram of A little Ho is Pimpin' Herself?" There were some slow bits and some absolute piss funny stuff.

Melbourne Fringe Festival

Bellrays second time around

Bellrays (space) + Breadmakers at the Spanish club Friday 2nd March 2007
Also Pink Fits were there too, but didn't catch them.

Entering it was cool with the air conditioning, but at the end it was sweating hot, even the walls were sweating.

breadmakers had a great 60's garage vibe.

Solid performance, one song after another, good tunes but no top selling hits.Where as good as last year, with a few more followers.

This is what I thought of them last time

Camera Obscura with Institut Polaire

Fri 23rd Feb - Northcote Social Club
Ca,era Obscura with Institut Polaire (Perth) and Bianca Natasha
SOLD OUT SHOW!

(It took me a while to write about this)

It was a sold out night at the Northcote Social Club, and stinking hot in the band room while outside was sweat the cool. Why, maybe the aircon wasn't working? But it always happens at this venue.

Did miss out on Bianca Natasha but you can listen to some of her stuff at her space.


Institut Polaire from Perth was very enthusiastic, maybe its a new band syndrome 'Fantastic to be here'. But still you want a band to perform not just play, and performed they did. Great sound for a big band with plenty of stuff going on, loved the trumpet and violen.

Institut Polaire - City Wall and Empires
(they played this track one of my favorites)

The crowd were fairly pumped to see camera obscura, including some people up the front that were going crazy to every song they played. 'Lets get out of this country' was on my Top album list for 2006, so I went into this gig with high expectations. They didn't perform they played but stood there looking very disinterested with being there, a lackluster performance. Although I did enjoy 'Lloyd, I'm ready to be heartbroken' and the soul stomper 'If looks could Kill'. And I don't want to hear the 'they just got off the plane from Glasgow' no when your on stage perform, or my hard earned cash is going to waste. Well there the old man rant for the day.

Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm ready to be heartbroken


Camera Obscura space

Paper Planes

Paper Planes Sat 17th Feb, at the Cherry Bar
(space)

Was on a date with a lady, finding something to do, and endered up here. Cheap night $5 that's 1990's prices. Cherry was a good place for a gig, nice and intimate. Band was rock, remimded me of a few bands one Rival School, others have escaped me. Didn't see Tiger by the Tail due to my date falling asleep on me or was it that awkward kiss I tried to give her.

A City

Oh Mercy - A City

Oh Mercy Melbourne based group, singing songwriting 4 peice. Maybe this song is writen about Melbourne. On My Space there some cover art of Flinders Street Station. Also found this on the Triple J Unearthed website, which they have three tracks up (including this one). Also appearing at the Wintergarden Room in the Exford Hotel this Sat Feb 17 2007, which I still haven't been to yet.

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

Eddy Current Suppression Ring (space), The Sailors (space), The Onyas & The Breadmakers.

Saturday February 10 @ The Tote

The Breadmakers started off with 60's garage rock sound. But the whole night was a very rock n punk event. The best part about this event was that all bands were playing in the pit, so it gave that intimate feeling, and yes people were on the stage. After going outside and having a drink with a friend to find out he couldn't get in due to a sold out gig, I ventured back in to find the place heaving with the Sailors rude ass madness. Also amazed a the Following of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, so many different shapes and forms comming to see this band. The night gave me some reassurance in Australian Music and Rock.

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Get Up Morning from 7"

The Sailors - Finding My Match from Viva La Beaver

Something for that special one...

... or not. Valentines day, nah, don't get into it... maybe its because I'm single. But here's some tunes from Laura Jean(another Melbourne Artist). Tracks are from Our Swan Song on Unstable Ape Records.

I'm A Rabbit, I'm A Fox
Alone In The Valley

Laura Jean Space

Click Click Muscles

Click Click Sat 4 Feb 07
Muscles - Iced cream from Hyperpop! One

Julian Nation - Press Gang Kids from We are all writers

Do you know where all the cool Melbourne indie Kids hang out, well I just found out, it’s Click Click. After having a afternoon nap, decided to check out a couple of bands. I think the price was $14, which was a bit steep, maybe if you stay all night. But I was just there to see the Bands.

On the menu was Muscles (solo from Melbourne), Julian Nation and Popolice. Popolice played first, one stranger said ‘hey, they look like they are bored’. Then Julian Nation came on stage, well I believe it was him. All the bands for the night played short sets, which was a little disappointing.

For about 15minutes Muscles play with a group of other artists, which was there first time playing together, was a very on the spot. This was loud and interesting, but then after that went into his standard Indie Electronic sounds.

Sabot

Saturday Pony after 2am.
After a booze filled night, bad jokes, bad Borat impersonations, ogling girls, a mate and I headed to See Czech band Sabot fuelled with only a oily rag.

There an Instrumental bass and drum duo, reminded me of a few bands Melvins being one. Had a very fuzz rock, stoner, punk sound. My favourite was a fantastic rendition of These are my favourite things from the Sound of Music.

Couldn't find any decent mp3, but this one would give you an Idea: Not Lonely Anymore - From Doing It Ourselves ( 2005)

Neko Case

Neko Case, The Spanish Club, Thursday 1 Feb 07

Note this if I'm wrong, but Neko is Japanese for Cat. But Neko is also Beautiful. Some sweat sounds were sung on this great evening. Spanish Club is too bad either, nice and cool. This was her Second show announce that played before the first show..... The crowd was an older type, different from the Indie kids that came out to see the new pornographers on December 2006. Also note: 1. Do note keep a kebab before gigs 2. Find a girl as nice as Neko.

Also check this video out Ms. Lefevre from Maow, Neko Case is playing the drums way back in 1996.

Hot Chip

Hot Chip, the Corner 30/01/2007


I want one of those keyboards in this clip, damn it they dont make them anymore.

Went to the Corner by myself (well shit happens) to watch a sold out gig by UK lads Hot Chip, with plenty of over flow from the Big Day Out. Cover watch Hot Chip did a little of new orders ‘Temptation’ and Fleetwood Macs ‘Everywhere’. The type of music was a very nerdy Indie / Electro dance / Pop, which most of the crowd moving. Songs were fairly seamless at the start, and then later they got a bit more talkative. Tunes were fairly constructed on the spot unlike some acts who replicate there album.

Hot Chip Space

Ouch

Next show at the Espy, 19th Jan. They're a four peice from Melbourne (Go Victoria!!!)
Great artwork, tells a story, should see more of this. Reminded me of Sonic Youth and Deerhoof, very chaotic and in your face, experimental noise.

OUCH! MY FACE - Knockouts in the Godhouse

Small review at Indie Initiative

CSS

CSS (from Brazil) playing at Revolver upstairs? Whats with that? Such a small venue. (myspace)

'Lets Make Love and Listen to Death From Above'
From Cansei De Ser Sexy


Supporting is Young and Restless from ACT and CWD.

TREETOPS

TREETOPS + HOVERCRAFTS + THE RUMOURS + THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS
Ding Dong
Friday 29th December

I always crap on about what I don't like about Ding Dong, but I have seen some great bands play there. It can be an intimit venue, get close to the band. Did miss out on the Fearless Vampire Killers but going by there Myspace some great Phycodelic rock tunes.

Often I go to places and get the Invisible man treatment, what this well you could be standing by yourself, not causing any trouble and all of a sudden some trendy looking guy with his modern hair comes over and stands in front with his other freinds, then start entering your space with wailing hands, and posible spilige of beverages. Then you check the next band to realise that the wankers standing in front of you are playing, and there not too bad.

Then What was with the lead singers from the Treetops hair, he looks like he should be playing robin hood. Treetops had a keyboard player, I thought that they said that the guitarist was at the falls festival?

Highlight was The Rumours, play a tight performance, not to much stop/start or talking, sweet pop tunes.

Hey to that sweet girl sitting next to me for a few of bands(she'll never need this, but who the frack does), sometimes I never have the guts to talk to strange girls.

Myspace
Treetops Myspace
Hovercrafts Myspace
The Rumours
The Fearless Vampire Killers - I missed out on this band, next time