Minimum Chips + Panel of Judges & New Estate

Minimum Chips + Panel of Judges & New Estate
Thursday 16 March 06
Manchester Lane

Being a Jazz venue Manchester Lane, I find other bands playing there feel a little bit awkward. Such was the nights bands that set the stage. These bands are probably more accustomed to playing in pub with no chair and tables.

New Estate was interesting with there sound sitting in some time warp with experimental guitar bands from the 80's/90's. Panel of Judges started to play with some sort of aragant taunts 'Get my a beer' which in turn some dude in the crowd yelled out "JUST PLAY!" But they really started rocking when they switched over with the female vocals. A little to much stopping and starting for my liking. Minimum Chips finished the night off with a slow experimental sound, kind of only just put together, somehow reminded me of Stereolab and France, the country.

An interesting line up on a night where so much stuff was going on, shame it was advertised as much as other gigs going on.

MP3
Minimum Chips has a ton of tracks on there website, this one is from the Sound Asleep CD ED, "Cold Afternoon".

Panel of Judges has a couples of tracks on there website, this one "faux park", taken from there 2004 ep.

ROSS IRWIN SOUL SPECIAL

ROSS IRWIN SOUL SPECIAL The Night Cat, Fitzroy. Sat 8th March

First set the dance floor had a bit of room to move, but later it got uncomfortably pack.
Maybe if you’re a fan of the cat empire then you’d probably really get into this. It seemed like all the last people to jump on the Cat Empire band wagon were there. But The Soul Special are different, making a fresh soul sound with heavy influences from 60’s and 70’s, and most of the time without a corny Aussie accent.

The Raveonettes + Riff Random

The Raveonettes + Riff Random, The HiFi, Wed 1/03/2006

Another hot day in Melbourne, always makes me think "Do I really want to go to a smelly sweaty hot venue, and feel uncomfortable?"

On arriving the HiFi was peaceful, no one was there, not its usual back, sweaty place. I thought that must be why tickets for one for two. But I tip my hat to the HiFi for doing A. E-tickets and B. for opening doors at 7.30. The Raveonettes came on at 10 and finished before 11.30. That’s a bonus because you can catch public transport home, and go to bed early.

After not wanting to go early to the Magic Numbers gig to avoid Riff Random, I then end up watching them at the HiFi, its simply carma. Riff Random was best described by my girlfriend as "The lead singer is like the one from the vines but shiter! but the drummer is good" Simply don't believe the hype - riff random (at the moment) aren’t the next best thing. A designer does not make you a cool band.

When the Raveonettes came on its was a pack HiFi is was used to no one was sitting down. Also the best place for air-condition (a fan) is up the back of the bottom level near the bar. It was one of those shows that started off slowly then they warmed up and got moving. Garage rock for the brain.

MP3

You can download a couple of tracks of the Raveonettes myspace.

Riff Random have "Shut Up and Dance" up on there website, one of there better songs.

March

Here are some mp3 links to upcoming gigs in March.

The Small Knives, an acoustic duo, and going by there website have “renowned live shows”. Flashlight is a free mp3 that’s been recently posted on there website. Next gigs are at Empress Hotel, Fitzroy, Friday March 18 & Northcote Social Club, Saturday April 23 (with Clare Bowditch)

Jens Lekman is a Swedish pop musician and has been releasing albums and serval eps since 2003. You could scribed is music as guitar pop with the use of samples and string.
Hi work is often compared with the likes of Jonathan Richmond, Magnetic Fields and Morrissey. My fav track is the upbeat

He has released one album and several EPs since 2003. His music can be described as guitar based pop with heavy use of samples and strings, the lyrics are often witty, romantic and sad. His work is often compared to that by Stephin Merritt, Jonathan Richman, Morrissey and The Magnetic Fields.

My fav Track is “I don't know if shes worth 900 kr” from You Deserve Someone Better Than A Bum Like Me, May 2005 Aus Tour Ep. But don’t stop there as there are 3 complete eps to download. Appearing at the Northcote Social Club, March 11th.

C.W.Q at Manchester Lane

C.W.Q at Manchester Lane Thur Feb 16

A main act starting at 9pm, with a cover charge of $5, I must of travelled back in time to the 90's, but I soon came back to present day as the price of beer was high $4 for a pot draft. But with a swanky place like bennetts lane you'd probably be drinking some sort cocktail.

Originally I had seen there add in the street press, claiming "bring one shoe for dancing and one shoe for drinking" But how could I where there were tables cover the floor! Nice poster, felt it was a good representation of the bands sound, but whats with all the hats?

My girlfriend noted that they had a sound that reminded her of the Dave Matthews band. The band had about 5 people on stage playing some multilayered sounds, each instrument I could focus in on - maybe this was due to the great sound quality that night of the venue. Online they have a few mp3, my pick is Two shadows. There latest album is Old Trees & New Branches , you can purchase this through http://www.musicplug.net/cwq.

New event

Don't know if this will take off ... Children of the night a week long of live Music, with bands like Wolf and Cub, Damn Arms, Midnight Juggernauts, Bit By Bats, Cut Copy DJs, My Disco, Temper Temper, Van She, Ajax, Baby Take A Bow. To be held at the Chinese Theatre - behind the Forum on Russell street and free entry ?!?!?!?!. Being held between Feb 24 - March 3, doors opening at 9pm.

I'm probably more interested in what the Chinese Theatre looks like. By looking at the website its been back by some sponsers, hopefuly they dont make it a lame night out and keep it fresh.

Noise city news
Also I' m working on a news website - focusing on Melb music - sending things from my work email, but now they have blocked frozen its account as they think I'm a spammer.

Deerhoof + Calvin Johnson & the crayon feilds

E2E4, North Melbourne, Sunday 12/02/2006

Found a very small add for this gig under a larger add for the main act, Deerhoof.

This was set in warehouse (E2E4), which now is a bar, artist space, studio, come outside indoor place, which should have the roof open, due to the heat the was being generated by people and weather. Nice stencils and street art going up the stairs.

My highlight for this little show case was the crayon fields, fiiting into that whole indie/pop/guys in a band thing thats been around for a while. Good people for sitting still and not dancing(not that dancing is a bad thing - read on further).

Then came Calvin Johnson, didn’t get me going, but the crowd seemed focused on his performance. On a add for his album in inpress it has a quote from the age “As far as indie heroes go, they don’t come more heroic as Calvin Johnson” which kind of confuses me as it didn’t happen for me today.

Missed the next band, maybe there wasn’t even one as I found some food down the road in North Melbourne. Deerhoof came on with there distinct instrumental sound with a peppering of vocals, but what everyone standing up, I can’t see!!! No stage?!?!?! Don’t understand Deerhoof’s website, they have mp3’s to sample but to me it doesn’t look as straight forward as other sites.

The Magic Numbers

The Magic Numbers, + Youth group & Riff Random
The Corner, Wed 1st Feb

The Magic Numbers played there sideshow, after playing at the Melbourne Big Day Out. The Corner was packed and instead of smelling of smoke, it was more like sweat and beer.

I didn't get there untill Youth Group were on. Call me a wanker or snob, whatever, I simply don't care for Riff Random. Youth Group's lead singer Toby sang like he was making sex to the mike, but just could't make it. Last time I saw Youth Group was at a gig in 2004 at Ding Dong, where then they just seemed to rock out more.

Migac Numbers are from London, but have a sound that could fit very comfortably in the states. They have a experimental sound and melodic, like such other artists as the flaming lips and from the 60's a touch of the Mamas and Papas.

The two girls had very beutiful voices, Michele soft and Angela ever so sexy and sweet. Also was very pleased to find out that they weren't not pretentious gits. They did an interesting cover of Crazy in Love and finished it off with one of the longest ever outro's I have heard in a while.

Lisa Miller at Grand Central

Lisa Miller at Grand Central, 28th of January 2006

It been a while Since the last time I've seen a gig, over a month, whats with that. Didn't think much of the opening act, even though I like some of there past work, crap who were they again.... The Darling downs.

Nice venue, aircon worked. But couldn't see anything as I was sitting down and some bum in front of me. I must of forgot that I had the use of my legs due to the aircon and cold beer, brought in from the front bar, and the back didn't have daught on tap.

Lisa Miller captivated the crowd with her sweet voice on a lazy Melbourne summer day. It was great to kickback.

Hottest 100 - My 10 votes

Another Hottest 100 has come around with its online and sms voting (about 470,000 from Australia and overseas). Times have changed when it was just a piece of card that was picked up at your local ABC shop and sent away.

When I loged on today and it's a little slow, maybe this is because its one of the biggest music polls online today. Gone are the days where you had a couple of months to decide what you would vote for, instead its now 20 days from the 1st till the 20th of January. Nice addition is the online countdown for the close of voting.

Heres what I picked, we'll see where they get Australia day (in no order)

Wrong Time Capsule - Deerhoof
Destroy Rock & Roll {Remix) - Mylo
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
Positive Tension - Bloc Party
I Turn My Camera On - Spoon
Flame Trees - Sarah Blasko
Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire
Hope There's Someone - Antony & The Johnsons
Silly Thing - Sophie Koh
Taste The Last Girl - Sons And Daughters

Selling like hot cakes - The Age, January 5, 2006. An article on Richard Kingsmill & "Hottest 100".