Two Point Eight

Jad Fair at Petit Bain, Paris 07/12/2011

2012-02-08T04:10:00.003+11:00

I am fairly sure that I couldn't trust a person who actively disliked Half Japanese, and against all odds this was a really excellent show and that is all that needs to be said.

Songs and Dick Diver at Goodgod Small Club 12/11/11

2011-11-28T21:56:00.003+11:00

Sort of disappointed with how these photos came out, but Dick Diver are such a fine band that I couldn't not put them here. You can stream the whole album or buy it from Chapter Music.

Also, I'll be going away for seven months and I'm not sure what will happen to this blog (mostly because I am entirely unsure of which camera to travel with and might just throw my hands in the air and take neither,) but if it's of interest I'll likely be posting more inane stuff on tumblr.

Loene Carmen and The Bats at Notes Live, 15/10/11

2011-11-10T17:34:00.004+11:00

Notes has this really awful "adult contemporary" atmosphere: it's expensive (for a poor loser such as myself,) there are tables in front of most of the stage, weird grey carpet, and gross casino chairs. As much as I love The Bats, and though they played as well as ever and were as charming as anything, I left early. The venue was just too weird. I wish the promoters had thought a bit harder about this one, though I suppose there are very few places left to choose from.

The Bats

Street Talk at GhettoBlaster/Q Bar, 01/10/11

2011-11-10T17:06:00.003+11:00

Don't ever go to GhettoBlaster lest you want to be assaulted with nearly everything you hate about the world (AKA extroverted, over-the-top wankers.) Do go see Street Talk.

Street Talk

The Garbage and The Flowers at Hibernian House, 10/09/11

2011-10-27T14:44:00.002+11:00

There's news that TGATF are getting the Stone Rehearsal tapes pressed to LP finally, as well as talk of the double LP being re-released, which is nothing but great to hear. For a band that's been around for so long and had, I'd say, a sly influence on so many practising bands today, their merch is incredibly hard to get a hold of. I'm pretty excited by the news at least, and for their seeming nonchalance in regards to most "band stuff," it was really nice to see them play at Hibernian House and not be a complete mess (Torben Tilly came out with this quote, which is one of my favourites, and I never know what to expect of them after reading it, though many years have passed and I'm nearly sure the line-up is different: "Sometimes however, through our own hazardous doing as a band, or an anomalous black star, a schnoollee, these songs would become unhinged and collapse into fractured shards of noise and disunion, leaning heavily like wine. This was especially the case when playing live, even if it was intentional (the drugs and alcohol) or accidental (the drugs and alcohol). Part of its beauty was that almost at the same instant that it was falling apart it was beginning to fall back together again, creating a counterpoint of melancholy and joy. I quite like it when it is so chaotic and entangled. Somehow it feeds the imagination and the music takes on a life of its own, revealing secret patterns and ghosts in the recordings.")

The Sweats, Woollen Kits, and Super Wild Horses at Repressed Records In-store, 20/08/11

2011-09-30T20:32:00.003+10:00

God I love Woollen Kits . Super Wild Horses are pretty unstoppable, and new band The Sweats (ft. members of Royal Headache) will prove to be great once they've stuck around for a bit longer, I'll bet.

Repressed Records
Woollen Kits
Super Wild Horses

Radiant Live: Oblako Lodka and Hammocks and Honey at FBi Social, 25/08/11

2011-09-30T20:17:00.003+10:00

Gorgeous set by Hammocks and Honey, who you should definitely definitely see if you get a chance. Their songs have a way of really creeping up on you and staying.

Special Award Records
Hammocks and Honey
Oblako Lodka

Passing Strange #1: Street Talk, Marf Loth, Raw Prawn, and The Fighting League at OAF 22/09/11

2011-09-27T21:45:00.004+10:00

New night at Oxfords Art Factory that is free and has cheap alcohol! What is there to say no to. Pretty into Raw Prawn (raw prawn raw prawn) and Street Talk and Marf Loth, too. The Fighting League are into being "calypso." The next Passing Strange is on October 20 and The Nugs are playing(!) with Mere Women and etc.

(Think I might return to monochrome.)

Street Talk
Marf Loth
The Fighting League

Two Things

2011-08-17T17:13:00.004+10:00

1). This Saturday night/Sunday morning I'll be doing the graveyard shift with the ever wonderful DEL on 2ser 107.3fm. That's from 2am-5am, or whenever we feel like giving up. If you were so lucky to listen in last time, I promise that this time we will be less drunk and might even say more than four words each. We even have a theme! Here's a hint:

You can stream it from here.

2). Next Thursday the 25th of August I'll be DJing as part of Special Award Records DJs at FBi Social. It'll be 'Love Soul and Pop' AKA we'll have you doing the twist all night. The shit-hot Oblako Lodka and Hammocks + Honey will be playing alongside Richard In Your Mind. It'll be sensual. Details:

Thursday August 25th

Richard In Your Mind + Hammocks & Honey + Oblako Lodka

FBi Social, Level 2 Kings Cross Hotel, 248 William St, Kings Cross

8pm $12

The Renderers and Eat Skull at the Sandringham Hotel, 17/04/2011

2011-08-10T15:04:00.000+10:00

This show was back in April (and these pictures have been sitting on my computer for a real long time) when Eat Skull were here for Spring Break's Totally Autumn. It's got to be said that I was way too drunk when they played in Newcastle and wrote it off as messy and unintentional noisy crap in a live setting, because I wasn't in a state to listen properly. This show, on the other hand, while definitely still a mess (basically everything broke), was quality mess and put me back on the appreciation path. It was great to finally see The Renderers, too.

The Renderers
Eat Skull

Blank Realm, Lakes, and Naked On The Vague at the Red Rattler, 04/06/11

2011-08-02T21:18:00.006+10:00

Hi! Not dead, just busy and lazy. This was a really great show. Blank Realm and NOTV make dem jammin' exceptional goth party jamz. Turn off yo' lights and boogie. And jam.

Blank Realm
Lakes
Naked On The Vague

Blank Realm
Lakes
Naked On The Vague

Totally Autumn at the Croatian Wickham Sports Club, Newcastle, 09/04/11

2011-04-15T20:35:00.004+10:00

Here's a good way to "document" a day: drink too many polish beers, get snap happy with an old camera sans flash, forget that you should probably try and hold it still, roll around on the grass. So please excuse the blur.

Anyway, Spring Break delivers, once again. My favourite 3 bands of the day were: Dead Farmers, Bare Grillz, Woollen Kits. The full line-up was -

EAT SKULL (USA) + MY DISCO (VIC) + SLUG GUTS (QLD) + ANGEL EYES (VIC) + HOLY BALM (SYD) + THE LAURELS (SYD) + ELECTRIC JELLYFISH (US/VIC) + ALPS + TV COLOURS (ACT) + DEAD FARMERS (SYD) + SECRETS (NZ) + THE HOLY SOUL (SYD) + WHORES (SYD) + CRAB SMASHER + WOOLLEN KITS (VIC) + RITES WILD (SA) + BARE GRILLZ + RAT KING + SLEEPWALKS (QLD) + COCK SAFARI + THE FIGHTING LEAGUE (ACT) + THE NUGS + CISTERN CORRUPT + PHOBIAC + BAT YOGHURT + DJ ANGELA BERMUDA (CIRCLE PIT)
+ “LADYZ IN NOYZ” SHOWCASE FEAT: | DAISY BUCHANAN | FESTIVE JACKALS | ONION | ONNIE ART | ORANJ PUNJABI | BONNIE MERCER |

(I went through one and a half 36-exposure rolls, thus the mega post. And these aren't really in chronological order.)

Woollen Kits Electric Jellyfish

Dead Farmers

Rites Wild
Eat Skull

Spring Break

Sonny and the Sunsets and The Clean at the Factory Theatre, 09/03/11

2011-04-15T20:20:00.003+10:00

The Clean played an amazing setlist and then did a cover of the VU's "Can't Stand It" and all I did was stare up in awe at this band.

The Clean
Sonny and the Sunsets

Thee Oh Sees at Summer Vibes Festival, Croatian Club, Newcastle 16/01/2011

2011-04-15T19:49:00.005+10:00

Finally got these developed. In short: Thee Oh Sees played on the floor, everyone went nuts, I shook the camera in drunken stupor in a dark room, and this ruled. For the rest of the festival, see here. And for Thee Oh Sees at the Annandale, you can look here! Woo.

(we love ECSR over this way, too.)

Spring Break
Thee Oh Sees

Broadcast at the Forum, Sydney, 08/12/10

2011-03-27T18:45:00.003+11:00

It was a treat to see this great band at their prime. RIP Trish.

http://www.myspace.com/broadcastuk

Unity Floors, Bed Wettin' Bad Boys, and Sonny and the Sunsets at Googod Small Club, 10/03/11

2011-03-12T22:48:00.006+11:00

Okay okay: I had seen Sonny and the Sunsets open for the Clean the night before this show (fuck yeah I saw The Clean = dreams do come true), and spent the day in-between the two thinking about this and jotted a little something down with all intentions of writing just that, expecting Sonny et al. to be basically the same as they were at the show with the Clean; which was good, and they sounded perfect and just like the album even if one of Sonny's strings broke and he seemed a little annoyed. And then this show came out of nowhere and Sonny busts out all these dance moves and banter and it's totally different and a lot more fun, essentially, but I think what I initially wrote still stands at least a little so I'm going to leave it here anyway. It went, very professionally, and apparently in some sugar induced over-talkativeness, exactly like this: "When I first heard the Sonny & the Sunsets album I was very much like "oh yeah, this is good and stuff but it's also sort of boring and so inoffensive that it is sort of offensive. But I gave it another chance or three because a lot of my friends were creaming themselves over how good this damn band was and how this album is perfect, so I come around a little more and I'm all okay okay "Too Young To Burn" is some tune alright, it's all up in my head for hours. So right now I'm still totally middling, and some songs are definitely better (Death Cream, that older woman song about Holly that's a bit VU) than others, and a lot just seems like filler-crap. But then I finally see them on Wednesday and to my surprise I'm enjoying it quite a bit. And so I find myself at the show the next night, mostly because the building I work in set on fire so I got the night off (woo) and well why not. And I come to this realisation that when this music is put in front of you, when this absolutely WHOLESOME (though at times smug) and American music is grinning with tambourines and maracas in front of you, it is basically impossible to ignore. And so everyone in the room is grinning and feeling nice about this nice band who play nice tunes that are not really all that special in themselves, and it becomes "so what" because everyone is having such a NICE time again, and that's pretty great, even if it's a little outside the music, and THAT is what's kind of special, you know.

(So this blog might have become the place I rant, but whatever). Unity Floors killed it, and BWBBs got a new drummer (Doug of Mountainfold Music magazine), lost some charm (sorry dudes). Also, it is worth mentioning that the sound at Goodgod is incredibly patchy, and standing at the front is a different sonic experience than standing on the left or right, and I was in the front where it's near shitty, so there's that.

http://unityfloors.bandcamp.com/

http://www.myspace.com/bedwettinbadboys

http://www.myspace.com/sonnythesunsets

Summer Vibes at Croatian Wickham Sports Club, Newcastle, 16/01/2011

2011-02-14T14:52:00.009+11:00

Finally got my film developed, so I can a month later post some of the photos from what was this incredible festival (though it is somewhat fitting, as the next round, Totally Autumn ft. Eat Skull got announced today). Basically everyone ruled (or everyone I saw anyway), and the day was filled with polish beer, wood fired pizza, lawn bowls, elderly people playing Bocce, lazing around in the sun, more polish beer, some cider, a BBQ, sweet sweet vibes and nice people. You should probably tell your work now that you won't be coming in the weekend of April 9.

The line-up was:
THEE OH SEES (USA) + STRAIGHT ARROWS (SYD) + TOTAL CONTROL (VIC) + ABSOLUTE BOYS (VIC) + CIRCLE PIT (SYD) + KIRIN J CALLINAN (SYD) + KITCHEN’S FLOOR (QLD) + BARE GRILLZ + HORSE MACGYVER (ACT) + PER PURPOSE + ALPS + CURED PINK + ASSASSINS 88 (ACT) + IN THE DOLLHOUSE + STITCHED VISION + THE NUGS + LOVE PARADE + TEEN AX + UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION + POLYFOX & THE UNION OF THE MOST GHOSTS + CISTERN CORRUPT + DANGER BEACH (ACT) + THE PAUL KIDNEY EXPERIENCE (VIC) + NONE MUSIC + PAUL HESLIN (ACT) + DJ AVANT HARD + SPRING BREAK DJS

My photos of Thee Oh Sees are over another roll which isn't even close to being finished, so hold out for that. Though judging by the end of this roll and the progression of blur as my blood became higher in alcohol content, they might not be visible at all. All of the photos can be seen here.

Danger Beach

Assassins 88

Absolute Boys

TV Colours

Alps
Circle Pit

Kitchen's Floor
Total Control Straight Arrows

Spring Break (makes me want to move to Newcastle)

Dead Farmers, Songs, Total Control, Straight Arrows, and Thee Oh Sees at the Annandale Hotel, 15/01/11

2011-01-21T14:25:00.007+11:00

Some half-assed photos from this show, which was actually loads of fun. 3 out 5 bands ended up playing the next day at Summer Vibes festival (I'm waiting to get my film developed for that one, and to see if there are any decent shots at all) and somehow were even better than this night, so it acted as a nice little primer sort of deal. Songs have 2 new members, their drummer and guitarist, and I don't love the guitarist because he sort of fucked up "Oh No" which is my favourite song of theirs. Still, the new songs (actual songs) sounded great, and it was their first show with the new line-up, so I guess we'll see. Everyone else was great, but Total Control stole the night.

http://www.myspace.com/deadfarmers
http://www.myspace.com/ssongsssongs
http://soundcloud.com/smartguy/total-control-paranoid-video
http://www.myspace.com/thestraightarrows
http://www.myspace.com/ohsees

Straight Arrows album launch at Goodgod Small Club, 09/12/10

2010-12-12T21:18:00.004+11:00

On rollerskates! So this was by no means the best Straight Arrows show I've seen, but I'm putting it down to the fact that they were all concentrating so hard on staying upright that it probably took a bit out of everything else, and I didn't think the sound was so great, and the audience didn't really dance at all which was a shame. It did get better towards the end though and they finished off with The World Ain't Round It's Square, a sweet sweet cover. Plus, they played a whole set on roller skates and nobody fell over, and to me that's kind of impressive enough for a night. If you don't have the album It's Happening by now you're stupid (say it stoopid, though).

http://www.myspace.com/thestraightarrows

Unity Floors at Black Wire Records, 27/11/10

2010-12-12T20:23:00.003+11:00

(with Bed Wettin' Bad Boys and Bloodclot Faggots). New band to be excited about that is new, who play sweet '90s American-esque jangly tunes cross-pollinated with '80s sounding Flying Nun pop and do a fucking top notch cover of the Beach Boys' Wouldn't It Be Nice. Download their demo fo' free here: http://unityfloors.bandcamp.com/. How nice it is to be excited about a new band that is good amongst all the crap inspired by other crap.

http://unityfloors.bandcamp.com/
http://blackwiretocommonground.blogspot.com/

Fag Panic, Axxonn, The Holy Soul, and The Native Cats at the Celebrated Summer Movie Project, Dirty Shirlows, 20/11/10

2010-12-11T23:03:00.010+11:00

An all day/night festy put on by tenzenmen featuring a really versatile line-up of mostly Australian bands from all over the country, but also a couple from Japan (full line up here). The idea was that people shoot videos and submit them to the YouTube channe l, and in turn receive $5 off (the $20) submission, with the result being a bunch of footage at the disposal of all the bands I guess. I'm not sure how much of a success that part was, but it was a fairly enjoyable day spread across two stages so there was always something going on. I was mostly there to see The Native Cats in what was their first Sydney appearance. They played all new stuff and all good stuff and I wish more people hung around to watch them so they'd come back soon and play their own show, but what do you do (come back anyway). I also caught Fag Panic of whom I was at first very sceptical (could have done without the 'wacky' outfits) but pretty soon warmed right up to their tropical pop jams. Though they look like a novelty band their songs were actually really good, substantial pop music. I don't know that it's something I'd listen to at home, but they got people in a banana suit and what I think was a snowpea suit to dance and that is awesome. These photos go: Fag Panic, Axxonn who seemed to be having a wonderful time with his synth (I didn't mind it either), The Holy Soul (who have supported and played with the likes of Can's Damo Suzuki but I wasn't all that impressed), and then the Native Cats. I kind of left wondering when Dirty Shirlows turned into a hippie-haven, though. So much incense was goin' on.

(and on Wikipedia, fer real!)

http://www.myspace.com/tenzenmen

http://www.myspace.com/itsfagpanic

http://www.myspace.com/axxonn1
http://www.myspace.com/theholysoul

http://www.myspace.com/thenativecats

Superstar, Bum Creek, Naked On the Vague, and Holy Balm at Goodgod Smallclub, 05/11/10

2010-12-03T23:58:00.008+11:00

I'm so behind with updating this thing.

Superstar played for a really long time and I got bored after a while. I will not even mention Bum Creek because I'm so torn on their ludicrousness. Naked On the Vague were fresh off the heels of a European tour, and they were good, but I just can't help but think to the phenomenal show that they played at Flip Out Festival last year which set the bar so high and that they are yet to top. Holy Balm rule my life and your life if/when you see them live which you should do because we all want/need a tropical-jam-dance-party in our life. This was supposed to be their 7" launch but they never arrived on time (and I'm fairly sure that they still haven't arrived on our shores. C'mon though c'mon I want one of these guys so I can boogie really badly in my room). Also, Holy Balm killed it the week before this show at the Opera House for Screen Live #6, and before that supporting Boredoms. So you should probably vote for Holy Balm as 'Best Live Act' in the Mess+Noise 2010 Readers Poll, because I don't think they've ever disappointed (while you're there, put NOTV as one of your top 5 albums. Lick my shoe. Further instructions in next blog post. I promise it will be in colour and the photos might be better, or I could be lying, I have barely looked at them.).

http://www.myspace.com/superandstar

http://www.myspace.com/bumcreek

http://www.myspace.com/nakedonthevague

http://www.myspace.com/holybalm

Some from Melbourne pt. 2, 30/10/10

2010-11-25T23:36:00.003+11:00

Maggot Fest at the Tote featuring lots of bands. The Tote is really great but they have these red lights on the stage, so if you're like me and are only using a kit-lens with no flash there's so much noise and lots of photos are unusable. So here there are only photos of: Bloody Hammer, Peewee, True Radical Miracle and a shot of a mammary (of The Mammaries aka Mummies cover band). I could probably elaborate on all of this, but I'm not going to.

http://nopatience.org/store (Bloody Hammer)
http://www.myspace.com/latearvosons
http://www.myspace.com/deadfarmers
http://www.myspace.com/carboratorband
http://www.myspace.com/peeweesux
http://www.myspace.com/bitsofshit
http://www.myspace.com/eatlaserscumbag
http://www.myspace.com/trueradicalmiracle
http://www.myspace.com/uselesschildren
http://www.myspace.com/bedwettinbadboys

Some from Melbourne pt. 1, 29/10/10

2010-11-25T23:21:00.003+11:00

Went to Melbourne, didn't really get any great shots because
a). I didn't bring my flash
b). I was lazy with taking photos, and
c). I was drunk and talking to friends I don't get to see a lot.

The photos here are from Constant Mongrel (who I didn't actually get any photos of.. but they're really, really great) and Peewee (with Arunn on guitar because Owen is in America) at Catfood Press. Then later at Hell Gallery for the Boomgates 7" launch, with Carborator and Lost Animal supporting.

http://www.myspace.com/constantmongrel
http://www.myspace.com/peeweesux
http://www.myspace.com/carboratorband
http://www.myspace.com/lostanimal76
http://www.myspace.com/boomgates

Auraltered State #5: Fucked and Horse Macgyver at Performance Space, CarriageWorks 23/10/10

2010-10-24T16:39:00.002+11:00

Fucked are fucked, Fucked make fucked music, do fucked covers of songs, more fucked statements etc. But really, Fucked are a Melbourne duo playing abrasive (fucking) noise with a sax, a bunch of pedals, and a drum kit. It was actually kind of great, and I imagine cathartic. I only thought it felt a little over-performed, but in giving it some more thought the music definitely calls for a performative aspect and it would have lessened the whole thing greatly without it. Horse Macgyver (formerly ///▲▲▲\\\) was rulin', throw around words like breakcore, witch house, drag, I don't know what those stupid genres consist of but I enjoyed it (the visuals were pretty great, too). The next Auraltered Space is Wednesday November 10 with The Garbage and The Flowers (!!!!), 6majik9, and Defektro. It's free (thanks, ArtsNSW and dualpLover) and I'll be there despite the fact that I have two essays due the next day.

(You can download Fucked for free here and a Horse Macgyver song here.)

http://www.myspace.com/lloydandrobbie (Fucked)
http://www.myspace.com/_v_o_i_d_(Horse Macgyver)
http://www.dualplover.com/

R.I.P Society's Success Summit at the Annandale Hotel, 03/10/10

2010-10-04T21:21:00.009+11:00

Okay, first let me be out with it and tell you who played: Carborator, Whores, Blank Realm (Brisbane), Boomgates (Melbourne), Royal Headache, Woollen Kits (Melbourne), and Zond (Melbourne). Let me also be out with the statement that every single band was on top of their game and this was a totally cracking mini-festival-thing - I even enjoyed Carborator this time around. I don't want to be one of those people that can't criticise anything, but really, this was a treat. My favourites of the night probably were Blank Realm who I just cannot help but be in awe of, and Zond who 'slayed' if I am allowed to use that word. I'm fairly sure they just destroyed everyone in the best way possible with their wall of sound. Both are bands I have seen before and both beat my incredibly high expectations of them - even surprised me with how fucking excellent they were. Honourable mention to Boomgates, the new Melbourne super-group (with a pedigree of Dick Diver, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, The Twerps, and Teen Archer you'd almost expect competing egos, but it seems to work really nicely) who play the catchiest summer-jam pop songs.

Overall I'd say a grand success indeed. Pretty sure Eternal Soundcheck should have some videos up soon.

Carborator
Whores

Blank Realm

Boomgates

Royal Headache

Woollen Kits

Zond

http://www.myspace.com/ripsocietyrecords
http://www.myspace.com/carboratorband
http://www.myspace.com/oreswhay
http://www.myspace.com/blankrealm
http://www.myspace.com/boomgates
http://www.myspace.com/royalheadache
http://www.myspace.com/woollenkits
http://www.myspace.com/zond

Straight Arrows at Shortty's Birthday Party, a House in Redfern, 02/10/10

2010-10-04T18:57:00.008+11:00

I finally figured out how to record videos on my camera! Amazing, huh? Straight Arrows are, if you are not familiar, members of various other Sydney bands (Red Riders, Circle Pit, Peewee, etc.) and along with Peewee, a favourite party band (it's all in the collective bouncing). They played this fun birthday event and here are two videos of them treating us with Something Happens and Haunted Out. A well overdue LP called "It's Happening" should be out soon, so that's something to get a little bit excited about.

(Also, thanks to the hosts!)

http://www.myspace.com/thestraightarrow s

Pikelet and Richard In Your Mind at The Gaelic Club, 25/09/10

2010-09-29T14:55:00.005+10:00

Holy excellent. This show was so much fun, there was dancing and head-banging (:SPOD, but more on that later) and both Pikelet and RIYM sing about these fantastical fantasy worlds where space and tiny creatures prevail. Pikelet had a full band this tour - I have previously only seen her do the solo act which I might add is incredible, she creates several loops and lines them all up with each other - so this was a bit different, but I'm of the opinion that she's probably one of the best musicians in Australia (see also: drums for True Radical Miracle and Baseball). You can watch her excellent new video clip for 'Pillow Castle' here (it's a claymation by Melbourne artist Alex Machin. Sorry, I got a bit excited.).

Richard In Your Mind recently became a 5-piece, the fifth member being the ever-entertaining-SPOD. SPOD is not somebody I know but someone that you'd really want to know - mostly because he wears flat caps and Ween t-shirts and is inappropriately funny at all the right times. I'm pretty sure everybody wants to be him. That aside, surreal-psychedelic-interspersed-with-the-occasional-rap-and-tribal-beats-music with tambourines played by 5 dorks is well, just that, and mental amounts of enjoyment. The only weird thing about this show is that the stage was 5ft high and everyone felt so far away. Flashless photos.

http://www.myspace.com/ovalyn (Pikelet)
http://www.myspace.com/richardinyourmind

Southern Comfort, Rand & Holland, and Songs at the Excelsior Hotel (Surry Hills), 17/09/10

2010-09-25T17:14:00.006+10:00

I have been really bad/lazy with this 'blogging' thing since I got back to Australia, so apologies to the myriad of invisible and dedicated followers (ha!). This show was well over a week ago and I didn't even take any real photos - it was a great show but sold out and a kind of strange mix of people. Really, I didn't want to battle my way to the front of the sweltering Excelsior and flash in everyone's eyes, and just wanted to enjoy Songs so that I did.

Southern Comfort (this is Harriet and Angie from Circle Pit) are kind of jangly blues I guess, just 2 guitars (and tambourine at this show) with both girls singing. It was pretty decent. Rand and Holland are pretty good, the drummer is from The Garbage and the Flowers. I'm not really going to go into anything else about the other bands because I was really only there to see Songs. I'll make no secret of the fact that their record Songs gets played an exorbitant amount in my house and they've always been one of my favourite bands to see live. This was the last Sydney show with the current line-up as 2 members are leaving, so who knows what the band will morph into. What I love about Songs is that they play exactly that - good songs. Dual boy/girl harmonies, Flying Nun-esque guitars and wonderful psychedelic moments. The songs on the album flow together seamlessly and I kind of wish they would have just played the whole thing in full, but I really can't complain as it was excellent as is. A video of them playing 'Clouds' can be found here.

http://www.myspace.com/518634114 (Southern Comfort)
http://www.myspace.com/randandholland
http://www.myspace.com/ssongsssongs

HEY GUYS

2010-09-15T22:31:00.005+10:00

Against all my better judgement, I got a tumblr so I can have a greater sense of self importance, and also as another means of procrastination (I have an essay due tomorrow. And Monday.) On it will be rad things that I like, bad things that I dislike, and mundane writings from my inner workings. You can find it here http://mesophyll.tumblr.com/. Let's follow each other (in a creepy way). I will also be accepting all forms of abuse in the notes and/or comments section. Please feel free to wage word war.

Friday night I am going to Songs at the Excelsior so look forward to my sage words coming soon.

-Dimity.

Yes I'm Leaving, Intentions, Carborator, Peewee, and Brainwaves at Black Wire Records, 10/09/10

2010-09-11T20:44:00.004+10:00

This is what I remember:

Good posters at Black Wire
Yes I'm Leaving = quite good
Not liking Intentions (I don't like math-rock)
Carborator's newest song (pulled off with disbelief by all members) being a good'un, not loving the rest
Peewee playing "Brass Knuckles" by Personal & The Pizzas and ruling (I swear I'm not biased)
Vomit

http://www.myspace.com/yesimleaving
http://www.myspace.com/tohellwithintentions
http://www.myspace.com/carboratorband
http://www.myspace.com/peeweesux
http://www.myspace.com/brainwavespunk

Woollen Kits and Royal Headache at Newtown RSL, 20/08/10

2010-08-21T17:10:00.006+10:00

Newtown RSL is really wide and lots of people were there to fill it out but it felt kind of weird as a venue BUT (breath) that being said the show was top notch. Lovely that I actually got to catch Woollen Kits this time (last time I saw them was last year in Melbourne, and after the incident last night!). Maybe not everyone's bag (insert lazy Beat Happening reference here, though I think it's become less apparent) but I enjoy it immensely. It's all teenage digs and unadorned pop songs that make ya grin. Royal Headache are pretty much the new Eddy Current Suppression Ring re: crowd composition, and it was near impossible to stand right at the front without getting my knees broken (but I did get some wicked bruises) so I skipped to side stage and observed in delight. The played set list was totally different to what was on the written one (new vs. old) and they played Girls and Honey Joy for crowd merriment. Soon to be selling out huge venues.

(edit: Morris over at Sydney Tapes recorded the shows for your listening pleasure. Fun!)

(thanks to Damo from The Warm Feelings - who also played but I only got the tail end of - for organising this show.)

http://www.myspace.com/woollenkits
http://www.myspace.com/royalheadache

Bed Wettin' Bad Boys (and Woollen Kits) at the Oxford Arts Factory, 19/08/10

2010-08-21T15:26:00.004+10:00

Firstly, OAF sucks and I didn't get to see Woollen Kits because they wouldn't let me re-enter (apparently a photocopied passport is accepted everywhere else but OAF). I did manage to waltz my way in in time for 'fender certified' Bed Wettin' Bad Boys though, this time featuring Shortty (Royal Headache) on drums which meant none of that instrument swappin' stuff and no mess around bad boys. I pretty well enjoyed it and I think that was the general consensus. They also did a Devo cover yeah yeah yeah.

Check out the recording by Morris at his blog, Sydney Tapes.

http://www.myspace.com/bedwettinbadboys

Bed Wettin' Bad Boys, Naked On The Vague, and Circle Pit at The Sandringham Hotel, 01/08/10

2010-08-02T17:19:00.003+10:00

Fundraiser for Circle Pit's USA tour (of which I cannot find the dates anywhere which is a bit silly). The new band room at The Sando is pretty sweet and wasn't there before I left. On the note of before I left, the last thing I heard come out of one of the BWBB's mouths was "I'm sick of people thinking of us as a joke band!" and they did good. They're fer real now and it's gewd. NOTV are jus' wonderful (and always have been) and Circle Pit were pretty on the money for their infamous hit-or-miss reputation. It was good to hear the songs off the albums they've released in my absence. I'm not all too enamoured with the shots, but yeah and stuff. How's my new lazy writing style.

http://www.myspace.com/bedwettinbadboys
http://www.myspace.com/nakedonthevague
http://www.myspace.com/circlepit
http://www.myspace.com/ripsocietyrecords

Peewee at the Whores House (ha! Rose St House), 31/07/10

2010-08-02T17:03:00.003+10:00

Peewee are my favourite shambolic bangin' surf guitar band in Sydney and they cushioned the blow of being back in this shit hole. I think this was the last house show for this residence too.

BUT LOOK AT HOW MUCH FUN THEY ARE.

http://www.myspace.com/peeweesux

Grand Trine, So Cow, and Tyvek at Le Divan Orange, Montreal, 09/07/10

2010-07-14T12:08:00.006+10:00

(Yeah I went back to Montreal- not just for this show though.)

Grand Trine seemed to play quite a different set from all the other times I've seen them, only one song off their Sunglasses 12" -- I think. I quite enjoyed the different stuff (despite singer "just getting off a bus from work". Tough life 'eh?) He also proceeded to hula with the fan. So Cow (Ireland) were not my bag at all. In fact they were so boring that I actually fell asleep in the bar for a few moments, I was that person (may or may not have something to do with the fact that I hadn't slept in about 40 hours, too.) And I was kind of expecting Tyvek to be a little bit more fun but maybe I don't think they were because of that sleep thing. I don't think they played Air Conditioner either (please correct me if I'm wrong due to my warped state)! Should be able to catch a few more shows in New York before heading back home to ol' Sydney where I may or may not continue this. It could be weird.

EDIT (16/07/10): Saw So Cow with Thee Oh Sees and Golden Triangle in New York (no photos) and they were actually really quite fun, so this Montreal show was perhaps both of us on a bad night. Felt the need to put that out there.

http://www.myspace.com/grandtrinemtl
http://www.myspace.com/socow
http://www.myspace.com/tyvekmusic

No Coffins, Social Junk, Double Dagger, and Lightning Bolt at The Ox, Philadelphia, 29/06/10

2010-07-12T06:01:00.000+10:00

I finally got all my film developed (didn't want my digital to get battered in the dance storm) - it was over 2 rolls and you can see where I start the second roll, because I forgot to change my settings from 200 to 400 for the first roll and the colours came out kind of funny. Blah blah etc.
A really excellent show, all the bands were worth seeing. I particularly enjoyed Social Junk and would like to get my hands on some of their noisy output- I only wish they played for longer. Dude from Double Dagger was quite entertaining and kept touching people's faces. And well, Lightning Bolt. Lightning Bolt. I love that these guys could and do sell out decent-sized venues but still play shows in warehouses and only charge $10. And I just have to mention what an impressive space The Ox is, it kind of made me fall a bit in love with Philly.

http://www.myspace.com/myfaceissick (No Coffins)
http://www.myspace.com/socialjunk
http://www.myspace.com/doubledaggersucks
http://www.myspace.com/lightningboltbrians

The Feelies at Maxwell's, New Jersey, 03/07/10

2010-07-06T11:45:00.002+10:00

PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS. PURE POP BLISS.
PURE BLISS. PURE BLISS. PURE BLISS. PURE BLISS. PURE BLISS. PURE BLISS. PURE BLISS.

New Jersey is only 10 minutes away by bus.

http://thefeeliesweb.com/

Iron Chic at The Charleston, Brooklyn NY, 01/07/10

2010-07-06T06:17:00.004+10:00

Didn't know this band, still don't know this band, don't think I like this band though. Went to catch up with friends and they happened to be playing. The bar was good though. And I'm in New York so the rest is almost all secondary, because there will be many many many many many good shows seen in the almost-a-month I'm here. Ye-ah.

http://www.myspace.com/ironchicsmyspace

Farewell Republic, Cloud Nothings, and Wavves at the Rock n Roll Hotel, Washington DC, 25/06/10

2010-07-06T05:44:00.005+10:00

This show was shit. Everyone who played was shit. (Actually, the second band weren't so awful but nothing to write home about). And the venue charged $4.50 for a can of PBR. Shit.

http://www.myspace.com/farewellrepublic
http://www.myspace.com/cloudnothings
http://www.myspace.com/wavves

Roman Photos, Lyonnais, and Pocahaunted at The Earl, Atlanta, 20/06/10

2010-06-22T14:22:00.006+10:00

I didn't use flash for this show either. I'd like to say it's because I wanted to see if I could still get alright shots without it, but the truth is that I didn't have any AA batteries (the ones I had seem to have died prematurely at the Useless Eaters show. Or maybe I just broke my flash.. I recall dropping it at some stage. Mystery continues). I also found fun new settings and filters that I never knew were there (no doubt as a result of never picking up the manual and pretending like I know what I'm doing) so that's why the photos are a bit all over the place. I'm not sure that I really like the super grainy thing, I should have probably just taken photos with my film camera.

ANYWAY. Roman Photos were shit and sounded like an LCD Soundsystem covers band. And looked so awfully bored and were awfully boring. Lyonnais were really really enjoyable and played kind of electronic drone/noise both with vocals and without, both of which were equally grand. Pocahaunted only played for about 30-40 minutes which felt way too short and were much more energetic and less drone-y almost than I expected, but it was wonderful (and wonderful) to finally see them (and for only $8 too!)

http://www.myspace.com/romanphotos
http://www.myspace.com/teamlyonnais
http://www.myspace.com/pocahaunted

?, Slang and World Burns to Death at the Hi Ho Lounge, New Orleans 19/06/10

2010-06-22T10:40:00.005+10:00

I used no flash for this so these photos aren't very sharp. I know nothing about hardcore either as I don't listen to too much of it (some of this seemed a little more like metal to me, something I can't say I'm too familiar with), but I didn't really like the first or last band. Slang, who are from Japan and were in the middle were pretty cool though. Bastard Noise were supposed to be the opening slot but I either missed them or they didn't play? Either way, my searches are futile and I can't find the name of the band that did play. Shmeh!

http://www.myspace.com/slangjpn
http://www.myspace.com/worldburnstodeathofficial

Superdestroyers, Young Mammals and Useless Eaters at the Saturn Bar, New Orleans, 17/06/10

2010-06-19T14:02:00.004+10:00

I want to say that New Orleans is really cool but that would be a lie because it's actually sweltering fuckin' hot. BUT is it a very good city. And I went to this little bar in the middle of I don't know where because I've only been here a night, and it's kitschy and dingy and there's no stage which is a bit of fun. And Superdestroyers played who are locals and had a rollicking good time but I probably had a bit less fun than them during their set because it was kind of straight-up punk with no twists. And then Young Mammals from Houston played and they were really swell, wonderful powerpop and I'm not really sure how anyone stood still at all. Useless Eaters finished and that was real fun too, and tomorrow night I'm going to a hardcore show because why not!

http://www.myspace.com/wedontneedastinkingurl (Superdestroyers)
http://www.myspace.com/youngmammals
http://www.myspace.com/uselesseatersmemphis

Obey Convention IV Day 4: Charles Blazevic, Long Long Long, Omon Ra II, and Play Guitar at the Bus Stop Theatre, 30/05/10

2010-06-07T13:07:00.000+10:00

The very final show of what was possibly the greatest festival I've attended in a spectacularly long time - given that I didn't know who a large majority of the bands were, didn't know anybody there etc etc. What success! My highlights were Pierre Bastien, Meat Curtains, Fuck Montreal and Long Long Long who played this final show. Who cares about the other bands. Long Long Long were sweet sweet sweet. Such grand song writing! Such good hooks! So much pigeon-toe stance! I couldn't even get any real shots of them as I was right behind the drummer who had his back to me (and it was impossible to move). Anyway, enough gush. Charles Blazevic played before them with some weird looking thing that reminded me of that game minesweepers or something. It was good stuff though.
I was looking forward to seeing Omon Ra II prior to this show and was a little bit disappointed to be honest, maybe it had something to do with the Ramones cover they did which was shit (second of the festival, it just seems that nobody can cover the Ramones well). I also expected it to be more surfy and tambouriney. But it got there in the end. Play Guitar pretty much encountered every single problem that they could: leads not working, amps not working, pedals not working, strings breaking, I'll bet there was more. Lead singer looked pissed off. It wasn't great (what could be after Long Long Long), I'm a snob.. Many a merci to the festival organisers and participants. Wish I could make it back next year, but alas, continents apart and all that.

http://www.myspace.com/accentblue
http://www.myspace.com/longlonglonggg
http://www.myspace.com/theyproject
http://www.myspace.com/playguitarplayguitar

Obey Convention IV Day 4: Campaign for Infinity Showcase + Weird Canada BBQ at Lost and Found Gallery, 30/05/10

2010-06-07T11:51:00.000+10:00

Final day of glory. Afternoon BBQ action and record spinning from that guy who runs that excellent website for Canadian happenings http://weirdcanada.com/ as well as some real live music. A feast for all senses! Playing this little event was Pierre Richardson (I think going under the name Self Surgery? Also half of Bruised Tongue Records and the one usually taking the photos) on a bunch of pedals and sampling things and making good noise, The Ether who I really really dug even though their singer broke his ankle and had to sit down (to not sit down music), and The Friendly Dimension who were also great and full of fun chit-chat ("I bought this amp with money my Dad gave me, he got really mad and is never giving me any money again"). PIG also played but I thought it was over and left without seeing them. Oops?

http://www.myspace.com/campaignforinfinity
http://www.pierrerichardson.com/
http://www.myspace.com/etherthruvishuddha
http://www.myspace.com/thefriendlydimension

Obey Convention IV Day 3: Meat Curtains, Mess Folk, Ultrathin, Homostupids, and U.S. Girls at Khyber Ballroom, 29/05/10

2010-06-06T11:15:00.000+10:00

The biggest and most [good spirited] violent show of the festy. All out destruction and bad ass behaviour. Thank goodness I left Dog Day early and got to see Meat Curtains (how can you say no to a girl band called Meat Curtains?). Abrasive I-don't-give-a-fuck crude songs, I haven't been able to get the line I hate rock 'n roll / I'm so bored of these three chords out of my head. This is the band I always wanted to be in if I wasn't tone deaf. This would be the band I'd go to see every time they played if I lived in Halifax. Mess Folk were kind of the other end of the spectrum to Meat Curtains re: their songs which were all about manly things and beating chicks 'n shit. It was pretty great and energetic though. Ultrathin had to play a short set unfortunately but everyone made the most of it and brutalised their bodies in preparation for Homostupids who tried their very hardest to keep their instruments strapped to their bodies and their mics close-ish to their mouths amongst the chaos that was the circle pit. U.S. Girls took it down a notch, to be honest I left half-way through her set 'cos I couldn't keep my eyes open much longer but what I stayed for was good and I do like her record, too. Party.

http://www.myspace.com/meatcurtainsband
http://www.myspace.com/messfolk
http://www.myspace.com/ultrathinmtl
http://www.myspace.com/homostupids
http://www.myspace.com/usgirlsss

Obey Convention IV Day 3: Cold Warps, Holy Cobras, and Dog Day at the Bus Stop Theatre, 29/05/10

2010-06-04T03:13:00.000+10:00

I got very few usable photos. Did I mention that I really hate taking photos against a red backdrop? And the show was really packed? But the Bus Stop is still a sweet venue. I was pretty exhausted this day too, so don't remember the finer details of Cold Warps (good name though, myspace sounds good too. You can download their tape for free from their band page). Holy Cobras sounded tops, which I'm pleased about as it was the last time I had to see them, and I didn't get Dog Day at all. Everyone seemed really excited to see them, and seem really proud that they're Haligonians (ha! Hate that word.) but the keys player looked so bored and their songs almost sounded the same but I don't quite know what I was expecting nor had I ever heard them before. Growers maybe? I didn't even get any photos of them as I was a few rows back and packed in like a sardine. Oh well.

http://www.myspace.com/coldwarps
http://www.myspace.com/holycobras
http://www.myspace.com/dogdaytheband

Obey Convention IV Day 2: Catbag, Duzheknew, Dirty Beaches and Slim Twig at Khyber Ballroom, 28/05/10

2010-06-03T08:02:00.000+10:00

Show 3. Probably one of my favourites. (The show where I had a flash shadow problem.) Everyone was good, everyone was great. Also the show I realised that Halifax really knows how to put shows on. And everyone dances and doesn't just stand there and act like an invalid or like they're too cool to do anything but bounce their chins (hello, Sydney). Totally dug Catbag. It was sloppy and roomy and interesting (thanks, brass instruments) and had good rhythms to get into. Duzheknew are all post-punk/new-wave glory and 'got all Sloan on us' (not my words. I also never realised that Sloan were from Halifax!).

Dirty Beaches and Slim Twig were absolutely top shit. Dirty Beaches had this excellent Western cowboy thing going on, some say it's 'scuzz pop'. Either way, 'tis excellent. Slim Twig was electric. It was sharp and sounded like shattered glass reforming into a sheet. That makes no sense. I loved it. I LUFF IT.

http://www.myspace.com/catbagsurfpunk
http://www.myspace.com/duzheknew
http://www.myspace.com/dirtybeaches
http://www.myspace.com/slimtwig

Obey Convention IV Day 2: Les Beyond / Chik White & Evan Cardwell, Chris d'Eon, Gown & Ryan Kirk, Amen Dunes and Paul Metzger 28/05/10

2010-05-31T02:02:00.000+10:00

Day 2 show 1: Lost & Found Gallery. Missed first act, art on walls was good. I think it was Les Beyond who I caught (formerly of Shearing Pinx who are awesome). Uninteresting drone. I do think that with these kind of acts you need to have seen them a few times for them to be appreciated though, kind of build up a familiarity. Therefore lost on me.

Show 2: Bus Stop Theatre. Another early evening show of experimental acts. My photos are kind of crap. My brain is saturated with how many shows that I've seen as part of this that I can't go into details. I do remember thinking of Chris d'Eon when he first came on - oh, another white guy yelling tribal-like anthems with freak-folk shit going on in the background (go on, get into that authenticity argument) but after the first song it kind of became like 80s synth dance pop fun and I dug it lots. He played his laptop like a synth. Gown & Ryan Kirk were pretty great for half their set and pretty lost for the other half, I think it was an (half) improv thing but they seemed to be on a different page for a while, then it got all Western movie sounding and loud and good again. Paul Metzger was brills, he had this contraption that sounded like an old music box with rubber bands and an electrical banjo type thing (again, my terminology is astounding). It started out like a grim fairytale and went into full blown horror soundtrack. Cool indeed. I guess Amen Dunes was good but unmemorable.

http://www.myspace.com/lesbeyond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzhr2gqsEWY&feature=related (Chik White & Evan Cardwell)
http://www.myspace.com/chrispdeon
http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Gown
http://www.myspace.com/paulmetzger // http://www.paulmetzger.net/
http://www.myspace.com/amendunes

Obey Convention IV Day 1: L/P, Fuck Montreal, The Robins, and Bad Vibrations at Gus' Pub, 27/05/10

2010-05-30T07:11:00.000+10:00

Show 2. Everyone made their way over to Gus' pub - a grand spot I must say - for some good punk tunes after the experimental phenomena just witnessed at Khyber (good transitions). I don't remember what L/P sounded like enough to describe it here, but they were pretty cool. Fuck Montreal though were great. Great I say! My favourite of the evening I think. They don't stick to genres or conventions and have a video clip of them slaughtering chickens. Isn't that enough? Yes, yes it is. They sound like they could be on a No New York compilation.

The Robins did an awful Ramones cover to open but won favour back by being funny and 60 year old feet leaving the ground several times. Bad Vibrations gave off a lot of good vibrations and everyone went mental. I'm learning that that's a Halifax thing. Day 2 up when I get around to it.

http://www.myspace.com/bitemylp
http://www.myspace.com/fuckmontreal
http://www.myspace.com/therobinspunk
http://www.myspace.com/bdvbes

Obey Convention IV Day 1: Buddha Box 2.0 and Pierre Bastien at Khyber Ballroom, 27/05/10

2010-05-30T06:26:00.000+10:00

I missed the first guy and walked in to a crowded room: how nice it is to see a city (of only about 350 000!) pack out a good sized room. Every other show I've been to as part of this festival has been well attended too. Buddha Box 2.0 was inspired by a 200-piece guitar orchestra, this appropriation had 5 participants (4 guitars, 1 bass). They began sort of ambient/droney before getting into full-fledged drone feedback. It was really good but it kind of didn't go anywhere - it felt like they were just getting started when they finished and I wish it went a bit longer. Pierre Bastien (France) was, well, amazing. With real-time visuals (that were actually quite beautiful in themselves) he had a set-up of meccano machines, what looked a bit like a morse-code device, maybe a conveyor fan belt, and various other thingies (what expertise I possess!) along with some sort of trumpet. All I wanted to do was e-mail one of my old professors for a Sound + Culture class I once took raving about his genius. Standing ovation well deserved.

http://www.myspace.com/zacharyfairbrother
http://www.myspace.com/pierrebastien9 / http://www.pierrebastien.com/

Knifemare, Centretown Cripplers, and Bad Vibrations at Babylon Nightclub, 11/05/10

2010-05-14T05:48:00.000+10:00

Tuesday night shows with actual good bands are tops. Something about being on holidays (holy days!) 'n all that. So I got there as Knifemare were playing their last song unfortunately and got no photos, but they sounded killer [bees] from where I was standing (the bathroom). Seemed like Centretown Cripplers took a while to warm to playing an actual live show with an actual audience, but once they eased up their songs were top fun - the last one and a half especially. Am I allowed to say they sounded a bit '70s garage-punk? Mayhaps it's the keys and guitars x3. I really enjoyed Bad Vibrations - the beauty about them is that they have the simplest set-up: no fancy pedals and a really basic drum kit and they're just 3 snot-nosed kids who want to play sweet tunes with the minimal shit that they have and have fun while they do it. An equation that seems to work. Looking forward to seeing them at Obey Convention IV again.

This was also my last show in Ottawa before leaving for bigger and better and scarier things so I'm feeling a little sentimental (or maybe I'm getting that confused with my terror that I'll be house-less for almost 3 months). It's been rad (mostly), the shows have all been fun - even if I hated a band here and there, and the people pretty friendly too. SO THANKS! Goodbye Capital.
(It feels so cheesy writing that down.)

http://www.myspace.com/knifemareworldwide
http://www.myspace.com/centretowncripplers
http://www.myspace.com/bdvbes

Grand Trine at Rock and Roll Pizza Party, nIXne Nightlub, 06/05/10

2010-05-08T07:14:00.000+10:00

I only saw the last 3 songs of Grand Trine because I was late because I was drunk or something like that. It wasn't as fun as the first time I saw them but it was also less packed, and they're kinda rockin' anyway so I didn't mind so much. Here are 3 photos I managed to somehow to take on my ever diminishing-flashing-NO-BATTERY! camera. Also, there was actually pizza this time.

http://www.myspace.com/grandtrinemtl

Toro Y Moi and Caribou at Babylon Nightclub, 04/05/10

2010-05-07T04:59:00.000+10:00

Two and a half hours of lining up for a ticket and blisters and word games to keep us from going mental but CARIBOU! Toro Y Moi were really flat, apparently only their second time playing as a full band but they seemed so unenthused. A few good dancier bits but overall too much nothing. (I tend to hate a lot of things.) But Caribou, oh Caribou sounded excellent. Double drumming double guitaring pedalling bassing everything with crispy and clear, spot on timing. What a band eh.

The Visitors and Year Zero at Rock 'n Roll Pizza Party, NIXNE Nightclub, 29/04/10

2010-05-02T02:56:00.000+10:00

Remember when it was 2001 or 1998 or something like that when pop-punk was it and you were so young that even if it wasn't you didn't care 'cos you got to air guitar around your room and jump on mattresses with your friends and those were the songs that you probably played in your first band before you discovered the world of actual interesting music. Well The Visitors were a bit like those fond memories you hold of those days and how good/bad your haircut was. Plus, they sounded a little bit like Hole on Celebrity Skin when the girl sang and I love Hole and that album. So yeah, they were fun. Year Zero probably aim/ed for the same thing with fun songs, and their songs are fun (I have the tape!) but I walked out after 3 songs to be honest, and it might have gotten better towards the end of their set but I was so bored by it that I don't really care if they did. No stage presence, and pop-punk, to be good these days, really needs that I think. At least there was an excellent Japanese film with lots of blood playing in the background.
Also, I leave Ottawa so soon! Madness. Halifax photos/gigs will be brills.

http://www.myspace.com/thevisitorsarecool
http://www.myspace.com/yearzeroottawa

CHUO Fundraiser with The Shakey Aches, Holy Cobras and the band whose name is a symbol at The Dominion Tavern, 17/04/10

2010-04-19T05:16:00.000+10:00

It's funding drive! CHUO put on a show! Community radio is totally bad ass and you should make a pledge to your fave program! More exclamation marks! CHUO staff also all listen to really bangin' tunes and thus the selection of fine young (and not so young) bands playing this fundraiser. The Shakey Aches were all incarnations of pop-/proto-/garage-/country-/blues- punk. Yes that is lots of prefixes and no I'm probably not on the money with all of them but why not. I love Holy Cobras and they're always (always!) fun to watch but the mix for them was pretty shit and as such it sounded really muted when I wanted it to be all enveloping. But still, try listen to them and stand still the whole time. Not possible I tells ya. And the band whose name is a symbol ... I don't even know what to say. 9-piece psychedelic-extravaganza, everyone was blissing out. Check out the religious-experience facial expressions. Just go see them when they play. There were lots of old dudes (sorry, am I showing my age?) having a good ol' dance too. Muchos fun.

(so devastated this is unfocused! wasn't quick enough.)

http://www.chuo.fm/en/home
http://www.myspace.com/theshakeyaches
http://www.myspace.com/holycobras
http://birdmansound.blogspot.com (the band whose name is a symbol don't have any sort of website, but their drummer runs Birdman Sound Record store so this'll do. When I googled the band whose etc. Prince's wikipedia page came up as like, the 9th result. Awesome!)

Laura Peek and Brent Randall and his Pinecones at Raw Sugar Cafe, 16/04/10

2010-04-19T04:47:00.000+10:00

Took myself out on a whim to what I thought might have been some sort of Just Friends Records party, knowing nothing about the bands playing (every time I'm at the radio station I look up at a poster of theirs and think that all the bands look like such fun. That's effective advertising for you!). It was totes cute but I seemed to be one of about 4 paying punters which is a bit unfortunate, although Raw Sugar was the perfect spot for it, tea and crochet flowers (handmade by Ms. Peek, I bought one, it's loverly) and spectacles and books (and books falling off shelves as literature jokes were cracked. How's that for timing) and fun magnet words in the bathrooms that make you want to stay in there for 6 minutes coming up with several witty and/or twee sentences. 'Cos that's the kind of place Raw Sugar Cafe is and that's the kind of music that you feel like when you go there to stick your nose in a book. These photos are kind of shitty, but y'know. They're here anyway.

http://www.myspace.com/laurapeek
http://www.myspace.com/brentrandall

We Fled Cairo, Adam Saikaley, Daniel Francis Doyle, and Growing at Babylon Nightclub, 09/04/10

2010-04-12T08:52:00.000+10:00

4 bands! $10! Seriously under attended! I guess there was quite a bit on on Friday night and experimental/noise music isn't really Ottawa's thing (pop punk seems to be the door to success here). We Fled Cairo (Ottawa) were almost disjunct instrumental post-rock. Because post-rock isn't really my bag I haven't much else to add to that. It was by no means bad though. Adam Saikaley I could dig much more, loud and atmospheric drone/ambient/noise from [an apparently] classically trained pianist. Daniel Francis Doyle is from Austin and a one man band feat. loop pedal, a guitar and really hard-hitting drums. I'm undecided whether I liked it or not- there was a certain obnoxious appeal to it though, something almost rebellious in the same way that Daniel Johnston is (that's what they call lazy journalism and/or writing, kids. Lucky I claim to be neither of these so comparisons ahoy). By the time Growing (Brooklyn) came on the crowd had diminished somewhat more, and they seemed visibly perturbed. Possibly why they played such a seemingly short set. They have just expanded to become a three piece, but I never knew them as a two-piece so have no comparisons to make. They're all pedals and drum machines and heavy on the sampling and it was totally ruling. (Sorry, I'm not much in the mood for writing tonight.)

I also went to see Land of Talk on Saturday night in lovely Wakefield, but did not bring my camera along. It was tops though.

http://www.myspace.com/growingsoundnyc
http://www.myspace.com/danielfrancisdoyle
http://www.myspace.com/adamsaikaley
http://www.myspace.com/wefledcairo

OGOD (Over-Gain Optimal Death) and Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O at El Mocambo, 04/04/10

2010-04-07T07:28:00.000+10:00

I've never been very good at genres (who needs to be in this hyphenated day and age?) so try make sense of this if you can: Over-Gain Optimal Death (or OGOD) are from California - but they sound nothing like 'California', they sound so far from the beach and sunglasses, it would make more sense if they came from some grim rural town perpepuated by grey skies and concrete. The play psychedelic/sludge/doom metal/fuzz and I could feel the air vibrating, standing so close to the amps. The drummer flashed a menacing smile every time they entered new territories of loud. It was, in a word, brilliant. Plus, there was lots of hair (and then none on the drummer).
If you don't know who Acid Mothers Temple and their various incarnations are by now you should probably do yourself a favour and get onto it. If you need a little shove along, just imagine four old Japanese dudes blissing out to psychedelic jams. It's kind of a religious experience. Highlights include Kawabato Makota aka lead guitarist swinging his guitar around in a frenzy of feedback and fuzz, hitting himself in the mouth, attempting to hang it on a cable from the ceiling only to have it fall on top of his head amongst the mess of his already bleeding lip (poor dear), water bottle acoustics accompanied by a tambourine and something about a cover for their encore (I think I heard someone mutter The Rolling Stones but I couldn't place it). Best show I have been to all year, hearing loss included (earplugs, Dimity, learn to love earplugs!). These less than average photos don't really reveal that.

http://www.myspace.com/acidmotherstemple
http://www.myspace.com/overgainoptimaldeath (click me, click me!)

Teen Anger and Holy Cobras at 854 Bronson Ave's Basement, 19/03/10

2010-03-22T08:15:00.000+11:00

A good night, it was good to be at a house show, seeing bands in a basement and with a fairly healthy turnout (I guess? Not being from here I can never tell). I guess it was the closest thing to a show I would go to back home in Sydney in warehouses, except in this basement they had a mixer and all. It was complete with dude fisting the air, antagonising band members and feeding everyone whiskey, lovely generous folk passing joints around and some serious feet shufflin' (of the grooving kind, not the awkward-look-around-the-room, stare-at-feet, shuffle). Teen Anger (Toronto) play bluesy-garage stompers that make you want to mess up your hair and howl. This was the third time I have seen Holy Cobras (they seem to be Ottawa's hardest working band and always play on good bills. It helps that they're real good.), it wasn't the best I've seen them - there was a fill-in drummer and what I will assume to be a substance brimmed singer - but it was still damn enjoyable. They always manage to involve the crowd too which I dig. This time it was opinions on global warming and acid rain. Someone said not acid rain, PURPLE RAIN! I was next but I didn't hear what was said last so I moved away, but I wish I said something about Raspberry Beret aka. my favourite Prince song. OH REGRETS! The photos are a little too bright and out of focus but fuck you, I don't care.

(For a minute I wasn't sure if he was going to get up)

http://www.myspace.com/teenangerrr
http://www.myspace.com/holycobras