The Intercom

There's a bunch of amazing jams floating around at the moment. Some of which I've taken time to point out here on this stop-start blog of mine. But perhaps the most exciting release of 2009 is by Sydney producer Toni Toni Lee... !

You might recognise Mr Toni as Spruce Lee, one quarter of my favourite get about town fellas, djs, who together or separately are party starters, promoters and general good-time nice guys, Ro Sham Bo. Who you of course listen to every Tuesday night, religiously, on FBi Radio.

ANYWAYS, I could sing their praises at length, but the point of this is to tell you Mr Lee has unleashed his debut EP and it's totally el scorcho. The launch a couple of weeks ago at Jimmy Sing's place GoodGod Small Club was off the chain and the jams played pointed in that direction, but now that I've had a good listen I can confirm, dude has multiple talents.

If you want to read more about Mr Lee, head here for some insights.

But take my advice, don't be snoozing, get yourself a limited edition copy of this EP, with artwork by another supremo talented Sydney sider, Hana Shimada.

Come on Over...

Something else I've been meaning to share for a while now - a remix that's been floating about for the last couple of months that I just can't get enough of.

It's a pretty dreamy song on it's own, the lyrics are sweet, whimsical and so true! I don't know about you, but I fall in love every time I walk down the street!

But with the magic touch of LA duo Classixx on the remix, Yacht's Psychic City becomes even more perfect. If you're in AusLand then you'll be happy to hear that Yacht are coming out for a bunch o shows around the country, for Meredith and others...

Here's the original

And the remix..

Ambling Alp

So Brooklyn based Yeasayer have been working on a new album, Odd Blood. Apparently it's due to drop early next year. Signs at this stage are pointing to February.

And to get you all excited about this prospect, they've released the first single Ambling Alp through their website.

It's worth the listen.

In the meantime, here they are live in 2008.

You Can't Go Home Again

It's nearing the end of the year.

Which is when in television you get an extended [unpaid] holiday.

I'm thinking I might take this opportunity to have a crazy big adventure.

And in order to get the whole planning process flowing I thought I'd track it musically.

I might start here:

And then go here for some fun party-times:

Before heading North of the Boarder for some further inspiration:

And even though Randy Newman warns against it -

I have to agree with Ryan Adams, I Love New York.

So I'll have to also go there....

Just Passing Through

Months ago I was talking about the Live Local project that the folks at Digital Eskimo have launched.

Basically it's about the idea of shifting your focus, reconsidering how you live and the impact it has on the environment and the world around you more generally...

Well I finally finished my documentary for Radio National about it. It's available online for a month here. Or you can tune in to RN this coming Wednesday at 1pm EST to hear it repeated.

Summer Band Camp

Here are the highlights from Parklife 2009 that I was mentioning before... more to come soon.

Nobody Lost, Nobody Found

Here's a little bit of on-stage action that EROL ALKAN shared on twitter, from Radelaide Parklife...

There are a bunch of pretty incredible tours on the horizon, but right now I’m still recovering from the brilliance and crazy fun-times that was Parklife. I had the immense fun of interviewing the lion’s share of artists on the bill, the fruits from which’ll be on the internetz shortly. But in the meantime, here are some things I learnt this weekend and some gems that made me LOL.

TIGA doesn't have facebook and generally prefers to communicate via fax[!] He also loves talking. His favourite thing is having a captive audience. Apparently buses are best. But planes are pretty good too....

There was a hilarious moment when I was interviewing Tiga and Jesse from MSTRKFT interrupted. They proceeded to have a random conversation, within which Tiga asked when was the precise moment MSTRKRFT decided to drop the vowels from their name – and said he was thinking of calling himself TG. Around that time BUSY P and A-TRAK decided to crash the party and the whole thing became a fascinating group interview session. Tiga revealed that Funky Town is one of his favourite songs. And that Michael Hutchence is his favourite Australian artists. A-trak gave props to Bag Raiders and Busy P said he liked Midnight Juggernauts and Wolfmother. When Pedro said their names it was more like ‘idnigh yuggernaut’ and ‘oolfmother’ – which just made the whole thing even funnier and more charming...

METRONOMY didn’t consider the side-effects when they developed their current on-stage outfits kitted with lights. They’ve had to deal with some serious moth-action. They’re also getting tired, and are thinking that the next album should be slow ballads, so they can sit down and sing.

Jeremy from JUNIOR BOYS likes Steely Dan. So listen out for those influences in their next album, they’re going back into the studio shortly.

The English folks on the tour were all into soccer [football!] and pretty much all of the Europeans wore boat shoes /loafers.

A-TRAK was deeply touched by his experience of working with HEAPS DECENT – so watch out for expansions on that front. He was also cheekily challenging everyone to go on the big ride – the one that looks like a ball that drops from really high? He asked Pedro [Busy P] and Tiga but then said they were scared. In the end Stephen from Aeroplane went with him.

Finally, what’s with music dudes who wear white trainers – even though it was hella muddy? After the show before heading out to party a couple of folks had to make a pit stops at the hotel to restore the white, and carry spare laces cause that’s the part that’s hardest to clean, but easiest to replace.

Feel It All Around

Washed Out is pretty much my favourite band of the minute. Although I'm not 100% sure that it's a band band so to speak. I think it's pretty much the project of one dude in his bedroom.

The story goes that it's a project for a dude from Georgia called Ernest Greene. He spent a couple of months in his bedroom making dreamy sounds - which are on his debut EP Life of Leisure. You can read more about him and the making of the record here.

This is an un-official video of Feel It All Around, all gorgeous sepia tones and late afternoon summertime fun.

FEEL IT ALL AROUND from Northern Lights on Vimeo.

Stand up and be counted - Save the Hopetoun

Some shocking news this afternoon - one of Sydney's most important live music venues, The Hopetoun Hotel in Surry Hills has had to shut it's doors until further notice.

Here's the rub:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142845142317

So the Hopetoun Hotel has closed until further notice which is terrible for the Sydney and Australian independent music scene. Putting it simply, we need to save the Hopetoun Hotel

In the past it has played host to almost all great Australian bands including Dappled Cities, Youth Group, Pivot, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Decoder Ring, Bluejuice, Kes Band, Crayon Fields, Jack Ladder, Charge Group, Grey Daturas, Fabulous Diamonds, Spod, The Laurels, Tucker B's, Des Miller, Seekae, Ghosts of Television, Sui Zhen, Clue to Kalo, Ned Collette, The Lucksmiths, Darren Hanlon, The John Steel Singers, Beaches and so so many others.

In addition, great international musicians such as Beach House, Jens Lekman, Feist, Xiu Xiu, Jeremy Jay, Bachelorette, Malcolm Middleton, Jeffrey Lewis, The Tallest Man on Earth, Smog, David Kilgour, The Ruby Suns, The Brunettes, The Bats, Jason Molina, Spoon, Okkervil River, M. Ward and Robert Schneider have all played there.

Don't let Sydney lose a major cultural institution. Save The Hopetoun.

A nice facebook brainstorm for some realistic ways that people can save the Hopetoun would be awesome.
As this group is already showing, there is an immense amount of love for the Hopetoun from all over Sydney and beyond. Let's try to channel it into something practical and effective.

As far as we know, the reasons for closure are the follow:
- Money
- Years of having no security at a licensed venue
- Cost of repairs to the building
- Not being able to sell the building
- Money
- Money

Jack Shit sez:
- council requires 2 licensed security guards when the bands are playing (security guards were there for the first time on weekend)
- Ongoing issues with noise
- Facilitate disabled
- Sprinklers (fire)

TWITTER US: @savethehoey

--

An email courtesy of Tim Appleby:
Send to cmoore@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au and council@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

It has been brought to our attention that the beloved Hopetoun Hotel on the corner of Bourke and Fitzroy Sts in Surry Hills has been closed until further notice. A terribly disappointing fact considering the Council's seemingly strong commitment to the arts and local music community. I ask that you provide the community at large with a detailed analysis of the situation including a list of what needs to be done to rectify any current problems. I understand the venue has been operating outside of normal venue restrictions however I know the community would be more than happy to assist in its compliance. In saying that, the venue has operated similarly for decades without any major problems.

Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. The City of Sydney's music scene would suffer a great loss without this legendary venue.

Kind Regards
xx

I wish I had a pizza and a bottle of wine...

I KNOW. It's been FOREVER since I wrote.

I keep on having these good ideas or observations for a post but then never seem to get the chance to sit and write.

There's been a lotta stuff happening. It's been a particularly busy few months. But more on that later, soon.

In the mean-time here's perhaps my number one amazing favourite song right now and the two equally cool video clips that go with it. I can't stop listening to this song and watching these videos. Like, repeatedly. Every day. Both videos have their charms but the official one makes me want to pack up and head to San Francisco...