burnslog

STILL LIFE... 2010

2010-09-27T08:12:00.001-07:00

It's back.

It's going to be huge.

I hope you'll be there.

Treat Her Right

2010-09-11T22:44:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had a revelation.

Tom Jones was actually pretty sexy.

I was quite shocked to discover this. I'd never really paid much attention to Mr Jones, I knew the stories that women used to throw their underwear at him and swoon in his presence, but I thought that was hysteria perhaps from those crazy corsets they used to wear. You know, lack of oxygen or blood flow or something.

Anyway, this video came to my attention and it became apparent that dude had some serious moves.

He could really swing. And as recent studies have proven, a man that can dance is a highly attractive thing.

It's like when you watch that Bruce Springsteen video for dancing in the dark, and he's wearing those jeans and that white t-shirt....

It makes you feel a bit funny?

Well, watching Tom Jones jive is a bit the same, and hilarious.

Wait to about 1.20 into the video, when he really cuts loose. It's crazy.

I think If I met a man who could dance like that, I'd marry him.

C'mon baby, we'd better make a start

2010-09-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

You better make it soon before you break my heart

A room with some lace and paper flowers

2010-09-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Late last year I embarked on a crazy journey. I left the comfort of cardigans and walked on the wild side, into the jungle. Straight into what is affectionately referred to by some as the bear pit.

I'd been agitating for an adventure right? Well, adventure I got.

Almost daily I have a Dorothy moment, when I realise I'm not in Kansas anymore. And that I don't have Toto with me. Instead I've just been listening to the Mac, pretty much on repeat, trying to make sense of it all.

Cause, as Stevie so eloquently puts it, lightening strikes, maybe once, maybe twice...

When Art Imitates Life

2010-02-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

Today I got to chat with THE RZA during my show on FBi Radio. Dude was pretty funny, giving advice on how to treat your lady right and how much he loves Australia. Sydney is definitely in his top ten. And he loves the Rabbitohs.

In case you missed it, I'll try and post a link to the audio soon, but in the meantime, here are the highlights with some links for you to find out more info....

---> You probably know all about the RZA's activities on the silver screen - he's been popping in various cameos for a while now, but apparently he's been working on his DIRECTORIAL debut - called the Man With The Iron Fist. It's part spaghetti western, part chop socky. He's been working with Eli Roth and is considering shooting some of it here in Australia.

He's also looking to hand the music side of things over to someone else. Interesting huh?

--> He talked about the visual art remix project he was recently involved in Victory or Death in which he dressed up as George Washington. He was surprised to discover how tight George Washington wore is pants!

Can you imagine, The RZA in tights?!!

--> We also briefly talked about the Parks and Recreation skit that he did, which basically, you should watch yourself...

Real Life

2010-02-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

Oh hello there!

I know. It's been a long time, I'm sorry. I've been stuck in an alternate reality - where there was no internets (can you imagine the horror??) - But I think I'm back for good now.

I just wanted to quickly tell you about an outfit that I've been loving lately. You're probably across them like a rash. But just incase you're looking for something new and great, I highly recommend Brookyln duo, Tanlines. They're pretty damn ace.

Below are a couple of videos, s.a.w is kinda new and Bejan is from last year, featured on a Kitsune compilation - but more than these, check out the Memory Tapes remix of REAL LIFE. It's been kicking around for a couple of weeks and it's totally one of my favourites at the moment. Feel the percussion. And tell me, what's the chorus they're singing... it could be a couple of things. What are your thoughts?

Three Important Things For Summer

2009-11-29T04:15:00.000-08:00

* Memory Tapes, generally, Bicycle especially.

* Kindnesses

* Matias Aguayo + Rollerskates

Answer To Yourself

2009-11-29T04:07:00.000-08:00

Apparently these guys - The Soft Pack - are from LA. They used to be called The Muslims but changed their name. They seem to be pretty well hooked up, playing shows with folks like Franz Ferdinand, Friendly Fires and Phoenix. They have a debut album ready to roll for sometime next year.

Will You Still Love Me?

2009-11-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

I've got a huge soft spot of 60s girl groups and The Shirelles are definitely up there on my lists of favourites. Sassy, catchy songs sung by hot girls about boys, love and heartache - what's not to love?

So then, when I stumbled across Lykke Li covering The Shirelles' classic 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' I was curious. And then I heard it and it was like a knife going into my heart. So powerful. It's piercingly honest and raw. And beautiful.

She's giving it away on her website, but before you go, check out the video...

The Intercom

2009-11-03T04:42:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-11-03T04:32:00.000-08:00

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 never know what's going to happen in a day... and I do hope that my dreams will come true.

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

2009-11-03T04:11:00.001-08:00

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

2009-10-26T05:41:00.001-07:00

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

2009-10-26T04:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-26T04:52:00.000-07:00

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

Nobody Lost, Nobody Found

2009-10-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-28T06:13:00.001-07:00

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...

2009-09-28T05:52:00.001-07:00

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...

RADelaide

2009-07-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

Adelaide. City of churches, serial killers, amazing food, memories, haighs chocolate, apparently has more lotto winners than any other city in Australia...

There are many things Adelaide is famous for but in my mind it's now going to be synonymous with Bob Ellis being LOL. I was in RADelaide for The Festival of Ideas last week - and the highlight of the whole experience [apart from the Pedro Ximenez braised beef cheeks at Mesa Lunga tapas - ahh, I'm a total sucker for the black gold!] and the incredible meal at Chianti Classico was Bob Ellis getting up and asking a hilarious question of English scientist Simon Singh, who's recently written an book examining alternative medicine like acupuncture and chiropracture. [Simon wasn't very favourable in his view of these practises.]

... Anyways, after a long and rigorous discussion about the science and health claims of alternative medicine Uncle Bob [who was wearing slippers during the day] got up and announced to the room that he's been a long advocate for such alternative remedies, and most recently has found they've helped him with impotence, and curing his dog's sore hip.

Everyone in the room laughed, but poor Simon had no idea who Bob was. He was a bit stunned. Perhaps a bit too familiar, Bob? Maybe too much information.

Kindness of Strangers

2009-06-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a long few weeks. Getting everything together for Still Life was really freakin busy. Good fun, without doubt. But a LOT of work. A lot of long hours, late-nights, working all weekends... But in the whole process I also had my faith in humanity restored.

Sometimes people really are just excellent. I came up with the hair-brained idea and then suddenly people were offering all these amazing things to make it happen. All the artists donated their work. All the galleries waived their fees and donated their commissions. We had two amazing framers offer to frame the precious pieces - for love and glory. Because they love the station and what it stands for, and even though they don't have a lot of money, they were donating the physical goods which cost them money, not to mention their time. And even though we didn't have a lot of lead-time, the word seems to be spread. People turned up, had fun, spent money!

And somehow at the end of it we still had beer left-over. Unheard of! The bar staff were sure we'd run out within the first hour. I mean, it was a Friday night, a show full of artists and the beer was both Coopers and FREE. Crazy.

And so the wash-up was that it was a huge success. The whole process towards the end felt a little bit like 200 cigarettes - I was fretting that no-one would come but instead it turned out to be the party of the week.

Still Life

2009-06-18T04:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this is what I've been doing for the past few weeks... come along? Tell your friends!

Hot Like Fire

2009-05-26T05:08:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's been a while. What can I say? I've been busy. But I'm not going to bother you with the ins and outs of that. Luckily though, amongst all the madness, I [thankfully!] found time to do some record shopping, the fruits of which recently arrived.

There's nothing quite like that feeling of excitement, like the the suspense is killing you, when you see a record-shaped package sitting there, casually waiting for your listening attention. It's a moment when you have that same sense of anticipation like you used to at Christmas time or something. I know, in this internerd era we're meant to be pirates of the high seas and all... Which is fine and mos def has it's place and benefits, but I have a love of the old school tactile side of records. And enjoying the art and all that. So totally retro, I know, I know. Analogue almost. But whatevs. Humour me.

Black Black was an unwitting discovery. They're a group from LA, they're friends with folk like Health and No Age. Their [debut?] single is a great cover of Ace of Base's [!!] Feels like Magic. They remind me a little bit of Kimya Dawson, who I'm not a big fan of, but there's something compelling about them.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band were the reason that I found my way to the record shop, I was hunting out their 15 to 20 / Testimony release. TPHB is a Brooklyn based group who I think are going to be huge this year. They've got great hooks and basslines. They're a bit 60s soul. A bit Brazilian funk. Equal parts psychedelia and disco. They've got a debut album dropping in the next few months. They came about after two New York underground DJs decided to start a band, they got a few friends who play around town, with bands like the Dap-kings,TV on The Radio, Anitbalas Afrobeat Orchestra and others together, recorded a few jams and have since produced a debut album with help from folk like Jon Spencer, Jaleel Bunton and a bunch more. They also have a pretty excellent blog.

A hot tip, if you like Nathan Fake and you're thrilled that his next album is on it's way - due in a few days, apparently. Head across to Pure Groove 'cause they're selling some special signed copies of his current EP.

And while you're there, pick yourself up a copy of The XX's 7" - Crystalised / Hot Like Fire. You've probably heard their Womack and Womack cover of Teardrops, which is nice and all, but their original stuff is SO MUCH better. Here's the video for Crystalised and then go and buy the song. You've no doubt read a whole lot of internerd love about them so I'm not going to go on about them, other than to say I'm quietly anticipating their debut album in July.

The Skillz to Pay the Billz

2009-05-11T23:02:00.001-07:00

While I am plotting away coming up with some great ideas that will get Richard's attention for the ASK RICHARD campaign that we launched yesterday at FBi Radio, here are a few things that have brought joy and inspiration to everyone at work.

The Ginger Nija check out the uh-may-zing dance moves in this video.

GRILL SKILLZ - a vintage training video from the 80s for Wendy's in America. Enjoy the opening graphics, keep with it for the first two minutes and then watch out, cause around 3:50 this is going to BLOW YOUR MIND

GET PIGGY WITH IT

2009-04-30T01:32:00.000-07:00

A fund raiser hosted by the whole Sunset herd - bringing home the bacon for FBi.

Bump & rind with a line up that's nothing to sneeze at...

SIMON 'The Swine' CALDWELL
ROAST SHAM BO
THE STOLEN RECORDS STY
KATO & ANNA 'Miss Piggy' LUNOE
JAMES 'trotters' TAYLOR

Hosted by Shantan Bacon Ichiban (Stolen Records)

Join us for some cracklin' good times
Friday May 8
Oxford Art Factory
11.30pm
$10 on the door / $5 for FBi supporters

Land of the Freak

2009-04-21T19:56:00.001-07:00

OMG OMG OMG! Best news - King Khan and The Shrines... in digital, colour greatness. Check out their new video. Admire The King himself - and those dancers. Yikes.
Thanks Pitchfork.tv

Are You The One?

2009-04-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

So I don't want to get all earnest on yo ass, but community engagement has been a big all-consuming theme this week. Tonight, I was talking with some girlfriends about the living local project. Sydney based company Digital Eskimo have started this experiment / online project which is all about encouraging people to think more about their local world. Their local economy, the produce you eat and where it comes from and try to eat stuff that's local, which is better for our environment, generally to engage with the people and things around you...

In some ways it's a complementary extension of the slow food movement I guess. Although it's not just about food - it's all about slowing down, taking the time to connect with your neighborhood and community, and random strangers.

I've been thinking a lot about these themes lately, taking the time to nurture the things that are important to you, rather than spending crazy amounts of time working. Feeling like you're the meat in a sausage factory. What's also interesting about this living locally project is how it's an online initiative to get people connecting with people, face to face in the real world. Nice layers there.

It also reminds me of one of my favourite art projects that Sydney artist Lucas Ihlein did in 2006. The Petersham Bilateral Project, also known as the 'sham. Basically, Lucas got funding to have an artist residency in his own suburb and he didn't leave for a few months. He got to know his neighbours and community, and documented the whole experience. Go back and check out the archives, it's so great.

And, if you like the sounds of of this whole local focus thing, keep an eye out around Sydney. The amazing Lee Tran Lam is currently putting together a zine on our fine city. I don't really know much more about it than that. She's been a bit mysterious about it. But all will be revealed at the Sydney Writers Festival Zine Fair in May...

Hello? Godot?

2009-04-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve been writing lists – hundreds of lists of things to do, things to listen to, to watch, to play on my show, plans to make, people to call, yuddah yuddah … but I feel like I’ve been lost in some sort of vortex and each week is just racing by. It’s now almost Easter. Frig. Daylight saving has ended, which makes getting up at 5.55am to go to training easier, because it’s no longer dark...

But it also means we’re heading headlong into the long darkness of winter. I always get nostalgic about winter in the height of summer, fondly remembering it as a time of scarves, foxy trench coats, late nights filled with good music, red wine, friends and cosy indoor spaces. But as winter starts to arrive I start to remembering that it’s not quite the romance that I’d been affectionately recalling during the summer months.

But winter also means more motivation to stay in and hang on the couch. On the list of things to watch is ‘True Blood’ – check out the opening titles below. Amazing.

On the tip of plans to make – I’m dreaming about ATP in NYC.

As for things I'm to listening to today: trawling through G the P’s blog and archive of old gold, if you’re feeling like some fuzzed out guitars, tambourines, hand-claps, do-wops or the new DOOM album if you want something shiny and new. OR if you want something that mixes old and new together listen to the Meanest Man Contest Category Killer Selection

And as for things to do, if you’re in Sydney at the moment, check out the new Paddington Reservoir – according the Time Out It was “built 142 years ago, was decommissioned in 1914 and became a garage. In 1993, the servo's roof caved-in, leaving the site derelict but for hordes of feral cats and a shadowy graffiti movement who under the cover of night filled the walls of the 1023-square-metre site with stunning frescoes and murals…” anyway, now it’s been restored and looks amazing. Check out some photos here

If Atheists Ruled the World

2009-03-31T03:58:00.000-07:00

Check it out, apparently "all text directly from online Christian fundamentalist forums". Wow.

Shut Off The Light

2009-03-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

Getting a bit nostalgic this weekend. Watching Bloc Party on Rage last night got me inspired to revisit their debut album, Silent Alarm. It really was the soundtrack of 2005. I listened back to it today and was suddenly revisiting a whole series of memories. Isn't it funny how music can do that?

M83 are playing this Thursday. I can't wait. Saturdays = Youth was one of my favourite records of last year. Kim + Jesse was my fave from the album. Like the whole album it was a bit of a slow burner, but such a great melodramatic pop song.

And while we're on the subject of heat. This weekend, I've been basking in the hothotheat of Betty Davis. Not to be confused with Bette Davis, the American Actress and subject of the Kim Carnes 80s hit. I'm talking Betty the fox on the motorbike, amazing fuzzed out guitar licks and firey focals, model and I guess in some ways famous for being Miles Davis' second wife. But really she should be much more famous for her own talent - not to mention amazing beauty. She's often credited with being a huge musical influence on her famous jazz musician husband - and introducing him to much more experimental sounds. Bitches Brew was apparently inspired by her. Go and immerse yourself in This Is It, an anthology of her 3 albums.

Dancing in the Dark

2009-03-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

Guitars are making a come back, perhaps an antidote to all the dirty disco that's been around lately. Don't get me wrong, I've embraced the disco tip as much as the next person, but I'm quietly pretty happy that there seems to be a flood of excellent indie-pop-guitar-melody-albums around, or on their way.

Brooklyn duo Matt + Kim are captivating hearts with their most recent release. They came out to Australia last year and completely charmed everyone. They're coming back in May, so if you missed them this is your chance to redeem yourself. But watch out, you might develop a serious crush. They are just so damn cute.

So, the band that's going to be The Next Big Thing is a group from Boston. The story goes that Michael Angelakos wrote a bunch of songs for his then girlfriend's valentines day present. While the relationship didn't last the EP, Chunk of Change, has gone on to do amazing things for them. Passion Pit finished recording the debut full-length in New York a couple of months ago, and delivered some sneak peaks at SXSW and across Europe - by all accounts to rapturous applause. Manners is scheduled to drop in May.

Passion Pit, "Sleepyhead"

This one's a bit older, but there's a bit of a theme at the moment of couples making music or people who used to work for record labels getting together and starting their own musical [ad]venture. We Have Band tick both of these boxes. They recorded their tunes in their kitchen and managed to get them featured on a couple of compilations from super cool label Kitsune. They're one of the hyped bands at SXSW this year and seem to have a non-stop, relentless touring schedule.

Other bands that are causing much excitement with impending album releases. Frenchies Phoenix have got a new album dropping in May. And it's now a matter of days until the Yeah Yeah Yeahs album arrives in stores. The video for their new single Zero is here, apparently they/ their record label doesn't like embedding.

And it seems that The Boss is having a bit of a renaissance. Over summer at various gigs and music festivals it seemed like it was a requirement for someone to play a Springsteen cover. As long as it's early Boss there's no complaints from me. I think Dancing In the Dark is one of my all-time favourites, listen to the lyrics, such heartbreak! Although at one gig when someone played a cover of this it became quite contentious - my friend was adamant that the song is all about writers block - not heartbreak. What do you think? Also, check out the classic clip - dude can rock jeans and a white tee like no one else. And keep an eye out for a young Courtney Cox in there too.

Gimme the Awesome

2009-03-17T04:30:00.000-07:00

My favourite band today is Endless Boogie. I've just been immersing myself in their debut full-length Focus Level and the more and more I listen, the more and more I love. It's a nice relief from an overdose of disco. It came out last year overseas, but has only just been released in Australia this week.

Their story goes that they got together in 1997. A bunch of them worked at super cool New York based record label, Matador records, and another was a professional record collector. They started out as an 'old man hobby', just jamming. And drinking and getting stoned, if their music is anything to go by. Anyways, it turns out they became a pretty freakin' amazing band.

For a long time they didn't play gigs, unless invited, and only released a couple of limited 12". But now they've put out an album. All psych + classic rock flavourings. Check them out over at Last.fm

Ribbon of Dreams

2009-03-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

I am a nerd. I am a nerd who's obsessed with media. And music. Which is perhaps why most of my twitter feeds are from media organisations and music folk. It's a bit tragic I guess.

The other week when I was out someone asked me what I'd been doing. I rattled off a few things and they innocently asked me if I did anything that wasn't work.

It's a bit confronting when you realise that your idea of funtimes is possibly another's idea of work. I work in television, I spend an ungodly amount of time on the interweb, on my weekends I present a radio show. And then, in my spare time, for kicks, I do more stuff. I make radio documentaries, I interview artists for FuzzyTV....

When I take those things away, aside from jogging, cooking, drinking red wine and seeing bands, I have the shock realisation that maybe I don't have a life. Although, I guess that all of the things I do are very social and much fun. But I don't have any hobbies as such. I don't collect stamps or make macrame pot plant holders, although I'd like to learn... Maybe I should make that a priority?

But whatevs.

Here are some of the things I've read or stumbled across in the last little while that got me a bit excited.

The producer + writer from The Sopranos, David Chase, has returned to HBO to produce a new show. It's called Ribbon of Dreams and it's about the ruthless world of films. I'm guessing Entourage but with less pilates and parties, and more plotting and paranoia. I'm intrigued. Most of the stuff HBO produces is simply awesome. The Sopranos a work of genius. And the plot of the series sounds pretty addictive read more about it in this New York Times article

The Mac is coming back. I was talking with my hairdresser today about how 'retrosexual' is the in thing right now. Women want a man who can fix things, who's all hairy and masculine, not a man who has more products than you and spends way more time and money on clothes than you do. On this tip, the ultimate handy man is MacGyver and there are plans a-foot to revive him, by making a feature film about the man who can do amazing things with some panty-hose, a paper clip and a stick of chewing gum. They haven't cast his role yet. More information here

The internets are a-flood with speculation over Joaquin Pheonix and his crazy antics. There was that appearance on Letterman. And his claims to be quitting acting to follow a career as a rapper. And last week he had an altercation with a dude in a bar who was heckling him. It was all caught on film, because he's being followed around by a film crew. Some allege that he's making a mockumentary about quitting acting and becoming a rapper. Others, like Casey Affleck, claim it's a legitimate documentary about this transition. Whatever it is - I can't wait to see it. For more, read this article in the London Times last week. Here's the heckling and his response, last week in Miami:

Lily Allen really is the IT girl right now. She's become a demi-god like darling of the media. She's relevant enough to so many people that she's talked about in trashy mags and in high-brow publications like The New Yorker and The Guardian. Not many people have that kind of cross-over appeal. Which is probably why she needs to get legal protection from the Pap. They sound pretty full-on in their total stalking of her. Sacha Frere-Jones from The New Yorker has this fascinating audio from the Pap who were hunting her around NY while he was hanging out with her for a day. Listen to the whole story here. I wish I was half as cool, sassy and witty as her and half as smart and insightful as him when I grow up.

One of my favourite music blogs is Allez Allez. They've got two excellent mixes up at the moment - which couldn't be more different. One from G the P and the other by Heartbreak. Check em both out.

Backstage

2009-03-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the year I was telling you about my New Years adventures - interviewing all the artists at Field Day... well here are Ladyhawke, Late of the Pier, A-Trak, Jamie Lidell and Ajax. Enjoy.

The Dream

2009-03-11T03:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when work or life is a bit beige I spice things up by day dreaming that I live in a hip hop musical – or something closer to a teen dance film. Think ‘Step It Up’.

Unfortunately, this is just a dream.

In reality my life isn’t anywhere near as glamorous, romantic, coordinated or dramatic.

I play a chosen video clip on repeat in the background of my screen, trying to focus on my serious professional pursuits while falling in and out of the escapist reality of the glamorous video clip world. Think Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, JT, even M.I.A.

This week has been a spectacular immersion in a truly great combination – LL Cool J and The Dream. And a little bit of classic LL Cool J, cause you know, Ladies Love Cool James.

Last year I got so inspired I enrolled in Hip Hop Dance Classes at the Sydney Dance Company. I went along feeling very realistic about what I was embarking upon. I knew I’d be shit. I wasn’t harbouring deluded visions of being naturally brilliant and suddenly getting a call from JT, Beyonce or Jay Z asking me to go on their next international tour as their star dancer. But I felt confident that I at least I had a sense of rhythm, I mean that’s my bread and butter, and I’ve spent my fair share number of hours and late nights in clubs, and even won the odd late night booty shaking dance-off. So while I knew I’d be shit I didn’t think I’d be the worst person in the world. Anyway, I was going along to have fun with some girlfriends so it’d be ok. Or so I thought.

On our first day we arrived to a scene of super cute and tiny dancers. I felt like some sort of giant. It was plain to see that this beginners class was in fact a group of people who’ve been dancing for years. People were stretching and working on dance combinations in the hallways. It was like something out of one of my favourite teen dance movie! Which was both kinda funny, and kinda horrifying.

Anyway, we really did suck. Like, badly. But we went back for a number of weeks, hoping to see some sort of improvement. It was quite confronting, to go back week after week, to do something you’re so entirely bad at. Aside from being super fit, to succeed in dance classes you need to be the kind of person who can pat your stomach and rub your head at the same time. You need to be able to think and move quickly, follow instruction while doing something else, not think about what you’re doing, and remember what happens next. And not worry about what people around you are doing, or what they think about what you’re doing [badly]. I thought this sounded simple. I’m the queen of multitasking. But, I discovered the hard way, that dance-dancing is really freakin hard.

Then one day my girls couldn’t make it, but I was dedicated to the cause so I went solo. I decided to go up the front of the class to be close to the teacher and try and follow her lead. This combination, flying solo at the front of the class, was perhaps one of the worst decisions of my life! It was like going back to primary school and reliving one of those horrible moments of public humiliation. After that, I couldn’t go back. I was too mortified and traumatised.

Months have now passed, I’ve had some good therapy sessions, and I’m feeling ready to face my fears. I’m going back to try again, and see if I can't rock that thang. You know, it's all about livin' the dream. Or at least enjoying The Dream.

S-S-S-Single Bed

2009-03-05T20:32:00.000-08:00

This song popped into my headphones on my way to work this morning and made me smile. The video is pretty funny too. Thought I'd share it with you. Disco gold for your Friday afternoon.

A-Z

2009-03-05T05:24:00.000-08:00

Starting at the top of the alphabet, one of my favourite releases for last year and still on rotation months later is No Way Down from Swedish duo, Air France. They're signed to The Tough Alliance's Sincerely Yours label. They're dreamy. And their music videos are perfectly suited to their music: thoughtful, carefree, introspective, mostly happy, sometimes nostalgic, sepia memories of romance, summer, sweetness and sunshine.

No Excuses

And

Collapsing At Your Doorstep

Check out the rest of their tunes and videos or read an interview they did last month with Pitchforkmedia

Get Busy

2009-03-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

In January Sydney has a huge party in the middle of the city to celebrate and launch the Sydney Festival. It's called Festival First Night and it's pretty hectic and crazy. But fun.

I quickly chatted with Busy P from Ed Banger Records for Fuzzy TV about his summer in Australia and plans for 2009.

Maps

2009-02-26T02:45:00.000-08:00

I've been getting all nerdy this week. While my colleagues at work have been listening to ABC News Radio and/or watching Play School - I've been spritzin' and catchin' up on my listenin'.

Specifically, getting all learned with NPR podcasts. And earlier in the week one of my favourite programs, This American Life, delivered up a piece of documentary gold with their recent story on Plan B.

It was insightful, funny and inspiring - it made me want to think about my own documentary making and ideas - but it was also one of those great stories that stays with you more generally. It just pops into your mind even when you're not thinking specifically about what it was saying, because it's somehow related to everything.

So what is Plan B? Years ago some friends of mine where in a punk band, called Plan B, and hitting it into google seems to bring up all sorts of references to skating and building.

But in this case Plan B is the road you one day realise you're travelling, and are perhaps surprised by, because you'd always imagined that you'd be cruising along on Plan A. But at some point things changed, you took a different turn and ended up on a different route. Sometimes for the best. Sometimes not. Sometimes just randomly. If I look at where I'm at now in my life, and think about what I thought I'd be doing and have done by now - when I was 17 and invincible - it's funny because some of it is tracking that way, and somethings are so far left-field. But whatevs. Who needs maps anyway?

Unless of course it's the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Maps.

Or this acapella version.

... And if you wanna read more about the man behind This American Life, Ira Glass, check this out

Here Come The Warm Jets

2009-02-12T14:34:00.000-08:00

Of all the tweets I subscribe to I think Brian Eno is by far my favourite. His posts are just so random and sometimes very funny, in a dry way.

Recently he posted a link to an article in the New York Times in 2006 titled 'Unhappy Hour' about a couple who went out for a drink and the jukebox randomly started playing an hour long experimental Eno tune, titled Thursday Afternoon, which eventually made the whole bar very upset and on edge. It's quite a funny article in it's own right, and even funnier when you come across it via a recommendation by Mr Eno titled 'I feel sorry for these people.'

Here are some of his other recent tweets. I think the first one is a reference to David Byrne?

· David doesn't tweet much, does he? Dropping that wanker
· Make a blank valuable by putting it in an exquisite frame
· Trust in the you of now
· Imagine the piece as a set of disconnected
· Accretion
· How would you have done it?
· Change nothing and continue with immaculate consistency
· Make a soufflé!
· Go slowly all the way round the outside
· Abandon normal instruments

Do the Jane Fonda

2009-02-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

I've become strangely addicted to Jane Fonda's blog. And quite frankly it's come as quite a surprise to me, this interest in Jane Fonda.

I've always been fond of her in a cheesy 80s aerobics way, and I guess Mickey Avalon brought a bit of a sexy revival of her a few years back, but stumbling across this blog [thanks to the NY Times + Twitter] I've developed a new appreciation for the lady.

Unlike most celebrity blogs she talks candidly about real-life things. Overcoming insecurities, what's happening in the world around her. She comes across as an interesting 71 year old woman, Daughter, Mother, Grandmother, kind of hip person. Huh. Who would've thunk?

Paper Planes

2009-01-30T17:20:00.000-08:00

Her baby is due on Grammy Night - Feb 6. She's been nominated for an Oscar too. She's looking totally hot, and just chillin' in LA [can't fly back to NYC, too pregnant] so she dropped into the Tavis Smiley show, and instead of talking about fluffy celebrity stuff she decided to use the whole interview to discuss the situation in Sri Lanka.

M.I.A is just too cool... Check it out.

Part one:

Part two:

Worst Day Ever?

2009-01-29T23:14:00.000-08:00

I'm sure one day I'll be able to laugh about this but right now I can't. It's still raw. Perhaps because it hasn't been resolved.

What is 'it' you ask? Well, I've got a problematic front door lock. I came home from running some errands, put the key in the lock but the door wouldn't open. Just to make things worse, it's a hothothot summer's day here in Sydney, you know those days that make everyone a bit frazzled at the best of times?

Long story short, it quickly became clear my first option was to scale a couple of walls and fences and see if I could get inside through the backdoor. [Good thing I've been training eh?]

Once inside I tried to open the door. It wouldn't open. The lock was turning, but not moving. I was now LOCKED IN.

I called our Real Estate Agent and asked if I could get an emergency locksmith around here. He asked if it could wait until tomorrow. On the verge of tears, hot and sweaty, covered in bruises from my wall-climbing experience I flatly said that wouldn't work. I can't leave, nor can anyone enter. He called a gazillion locksmiths in Sydney and found one to come over.

Mr Locksmith, currently my favourite person in the world is here, outside the door drilling holes trying to get me out. He's been drilling for close to half an hour.

That lock is solidly LOCKED.

Party Jams

2009-01-28T16:46:00.001-08:00

I'm making the most of my time off, these are the last days of summer for me. Soon I'll be dreaming about days off and having time to read books + surf the interweb...

So here, my friends, are my favourite recent web-music discoveries.

* The always excellent Allez-Allez has just posted a mix from Josh Deacon of Animal Collective fame.

* XLR8R magazine commissioned a crazy set from Chavy Boys of London. Its total party-central. To quote XLR8R "Baltimore club music has a rep for being energetic, but from the sounds of this mix, which is primarily just that, the Chavy Boys of London must keep an entire fridge stocked with Red Bull - and pound a few down when commissioned to do DJ mixes for music websites" Listen to it here.

* A-trak has been twittering about this for a bit, and it's now been unleashed upon the world. Apparently the official single will be dropping in a few weeks but it's already received some big praise from Busy P [Ed Banger] and Pitchforkmedia. Head to Fools Gold to hear A-trak's remix of Sebastien Tellier's Kilometer.

Pro Nails

2009-01-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

I have this quandary, I love getting my nails done, toes and finger nails matchin', but ever since I read an article in some trash mag about people who'd caught nasty bacterial diseases at cheap nail salons I've had the fear. [And I can't afford the pricey places - $80 for a pedicure is too much to make it a regular thing, whereas $40 for the set seems a lot more justifiable.]

But I don't want to get gangrene and have my feet/toes amputated.

Was this trash journalism or does this happen frequently enough for my unease to be justified?

Sunday Driver

2009-01-24T22:07:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to clock up 120 driving hours required to progress from Ls to Ps these days I took my friend P for a Sunday drive today. After consulting google maps we decided to head south and check out the beach at Bundeena.

As we left the safety of the inner-city and got into the deep south there were a few things I noticed: firstly the drivers around those parts were really aggressive, there were lots of super super shiny new expensive cars on the roads and more confusingly, a lot of Australian flags. On cars, on houses, and when we got to the beach, on clothing.

I find this relatively new phenomenon of extreme patriotism alarming. I mean, I love Australia but this whole flag thing doesn't feel like it's about national pride, it's more about the mob mentality. When did this happen? I know it's connected to those horrible summer riots over the beaches in Cronulla a few years ago, but all those people already had flags ready to wave and force people to bow to and kiss.

So when did they go out and get them? Is this another Howard Legacy? Is the fascination with the flag somehow connected to our increasing Americanisation, because the Americans are so into their own flag and being so expressively patriotic?? Or is it something else? Is this culture of patriotism and flag-loving here to stay?

*** an after-thought, my friend Kate suggested I read the article David Foster Wallace wrote about flags in America just after 9/11. It looks like it was originally published in Rolling Stone Magazine. It's called The View From Mrs Thompson's. Check it out.

Let's Get Retarded

2009-01-23T02:16:00.000-08:00

BDO. Big Day Out. It's always hot and sweaty. Dirty and Dusty. It's seriously 5 degrees hotter in The West. Everyone's always DRUNK and there are always a lot of Australian flags in attendance: wrapped around shoulders, as cap/top/pant material, in real or fake tattoos. The theme song for most people at the BDO would have to be that Black Eyed Peas ditty - Let's Get Retarded [or Get it Started if we're going for the radio edit.I would've embedded it but that function has been removed by their record label. Whatevs.]

It's a particular experience the BDO, but there's always one good reason to go. This year it was to see TV On The Radio, who were great. Along the way I also had some random observations and encounters:

---

A very sweet girl came up to me and pointed to her very unwell looking friend ''excuse me, you look like the kind of girl who is always prepared, do you have any panadol? Gesturing to my bag you carry a lot of stuff with you, so I thought you might have some in there?"

I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or insult?

Funnily enough for the last few weeks since I had my wisdom tooth removed I have been carrying a chemist's assortment of painkillers: panadol, nurofen, even panadeine forte, but this is a new bag and I was nothing but disappointment for this girl. I'm not really a girlie girl. I carry a big bag but I don't have any make-up in it, no panadol, no emergency nail-repair kits. Nothing useful like that. Usually just an umbrella, a change of shoes, a scarf/cardigan, 1000 pens that don't work and maybe a note book or newspaper/magazine. She looked confused and I suggested she try the first aid tent.

----

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I LEFT EARLY BECAUSE

I didn't want/need to see Neil Young.I tried to be discrete about it, but one friend introduced me to a cute, but total hipster, male friend of hers saying "this is Anna, she hates Neil Young." He looked me up and down and dismissively said "oh, do you only like modern music do you?" Hell no brother, give me old school classics in any genre any day, just don't make me sit and watch Neil Young.

So I snuck out, found the train station and started the mission to get home.

Well what an experience that was.

I was sharing the middle section of the train with an intensely chatty [annoying] drunk American girl, a very drunk well travelled bogan from Melbourne, a quietly drunk Irish girl and a hilariously funny, fluro-sunglass wearing bogan from Queensland. And a quiet girl with a white plastic bag. There was also a very sober woman with a small child when we all got on, but after about 30 seconds of cuss language and groans about throwing up, she promptly got up and relocated. The next 25 minutes was a running commentary on throwing up and would've caused our Big Kev some concern, as it seems like his attempt to change the Australian culture of binge drinking hasn't been that successful.

Here's a transcript of just a snippet for you:

[Blue t-shirted guy gets up, opens door of train carriage, connecting to next train.] "It's hot in here. I need some air. I'm gunna be sick... This train reminds me of Egypt. I go Egypt a bit. I'm a pilot. Trains in Sydney are disgusting, I'm from Melbourne, this is the first time I've caught a Sydney train. Does anyone know what I can do to stop this nausea? [groan] How far til Redfern? I just need to get home, have a cold shower, throw up for half an hour and then pass out. [groan] Or maybe I should throw up first and then have a shower? Dunno. I just need to spew. You know when your gut really hurts after you chuck up? Well that's how I feel now. [groan] I just went into the toilets, spewed and then left. Didn't even find me mates. But I so need to be sick. Don't worry I won't be sick on the train. I was sick as we changed trains at that last station, but I won't be sick now. I need to spew... pause .. you know what it was? It was that half-strength vodka shit, that's what made me sick. That half-strength vodka. I'm never drinking again. [groan] I'm gunna be sick.

And on it went for the entire trip, with frequent interjections from the chatty American about inane things. The guy from Queensland and his Irish girlfriend were going on to do a pub crawl of the George Street/Darling Harbour pubs. Scruffy Murphy's and others. The girl with the plastic bag kept it close to her mouth and heaved a bit. I don't think she actually brought anything up but she was certainly close.

I just kept quiet and took notes.

Highly Suspicious

2009-01-23T01:59:00.000-08:00

I've been a long-time listener and fan of My Morning Jacket. And they seem to get better and better with each album + tour. I really do love them and Jim James seems like such a nice fella. I've seen them on a few tours over the years and this week have now seen them twice in less than 24 hours and they are still spell-binding. Their older songs have a deep sentimental significance in my life.

But I have one hurdle that I'm struggling to get over.

Jim James [and possibly all of them] like their steak well done.

I just don't know how much I can trust someone who eats their steak well-done. I mean, he has the voice of an angel. He writes heart-felt and movingly beautiful songs. He sure can play, his band is tight, they like meat, but ... they eat their steak well-done??

Young Love

2009-01-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

A profile in the New Yorker from 1996 of the Obamas, before politics, power, public life. It's them talking about their future, dreams, plans, each other. It's quite beautiful and insightful. Made me even happier that he's President, reading this.

Growing Pains

2009-01-22T03:17:00.000-08:00

So you know how I'm 'in training' for the Sydney Marathon? Well I've come up against my first physical hurdle. I've done something to my hip. My physio diplomatically told me it's quite possibly from carrying heavy handbags and wearing silly shoes.
I can't be sure. But whatever the cause, it's killing me. All I know is my physio has suggested I use a BACKPACK and wear sensible shoes. I am, just quietly, horrified at the suggestion.
Then, to top it off, I've decided to grow my fringe out. So I'm moving from having thick bangs to a softer side part for winter.

But in between I've got to find something to distract from the shaggy growth. Suggestions? Colour? Accessories? A Perm?

Walk This Way

2009-01-21T14:40:00.001-08:00

When I was a fresh-faced 18 year old, I'd just come back from travelling through Europe and moved to Sydney for University, I met a handsome dark-haired fella who's name started with J. [This was my thing for a long time, they were all tall, dark-haired and had various J names.] He was a bit older and sophisticated and knew a lot about film.

A little while into our romance I discovered that not only did he read a lot, have fine taste in food + wine, was hilariously funny, but he also was into jogging. [And he owned boat shoes. I was slightly disconcerted by this but tried to be mature about it. He'd gone to one of those fancy Eastern Suburbs schools, so I assumed the boat shoes were a legacy of that. And sometimes, he did in fact, go out on the harbour so it made sense.]

Anyway, I learnt a lot from him, he influenced and inspired me in many ways. And then one day he suggested we should start training for the famous Sydney City to Surf run.

This was hard for me, before I'd gone overseas I'd been really into kickboxing and used to train probably 5-6 times a week. But at that point in my life I was more into marathon late nights, drinking at the Judgement Bar and dancing at Club 77. You know, getting home when people are normally leaving for work. That sort of thing. Running just ... wasn't going to suit my lifestyle. It wasn't a priority.

Fast forward a few years and here I am, closer in age now to what he was then, and I've found myself getting a bit health-conscious. But I can't be bothered to diet, so exercise has come back into my life. All of last year I was getting up to join a couple of girlfriends with a personal trainer in the park at crazy o'clock in the morning. [Like, sometimes it was still dark.] We were totally hard core about it: trained right through winter, rain or shine, hungover, after late nights, flu-ridden or healthy. No matter what, training went on.

A couple of weeks ago while running along Bondi Beach at 7AM [and I'm on holidays right now!] one of my girlfriends suggested this year we should train for a marathon. Trade in some of our late nights and fondness of cheese and wine for running?? Much to my intense surprise this didn't sound so insane. And now, here we are, researching the various city marathons that happen in Sydney through-out the year. WTF?

The Needle and the Damage Done

2009-01-19T23:50:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year when Sydney is flooded with crazy great gigs, and every time you speak to someone one of the first questions you have to contend with is 'what gigs are you going/been to'? Everyone's keen to compare notes, check who got tickets to the super sought after events and generally share the excitement of the combination of New Years Festivals [Field Day + Falls etc], Sydney Festival and Big Day Out touring rosters.

This year there were two surprises on the BDO lineup: Neil Young + The Prodigy. An unlikely combination. I'm not going to dwell on the BDO much - plenty of others will extensively deconstruct that one for you - but one of these artists has caused a lot of excitement, and it's not the Prodigy. Everyone seems to be loosing their shit over Mr Young. I mean, dude's done some amazing stuff in his time, he's created some seminal records, inspired countless people, he's sound-tracked some key moments in your life quite possibly. And by all accounts has created a solid gold playlist for this tour. That means all the hits. Everything from the Harvest and Crazy Horse years and his other key hits that you discover you know all the words to without even knowing that you did, like Hey Hey, My My, Cinnamon Girl, Rockin' in the Free World, Powderfinger... Everything you've grown up listening to. It's sure it be one of those spine-shivering experiences.

But I'm not going. Maybe I'll kick myself later but a few years ago he released a concept album 'Greendale' and toured the world in support of it. I went along to see him at the Entertainment Centre thinking he'd do a far chunk of the album but that he'd also colour the set with the crowd-pleasers. The party starters. I mean, that's what the folks had really paid for. It was one of those shows that everyone was giddy with excitement about. It was one of those rare music experiences that Mums and Dads could joyously share with their kids - and there were plenty of inter generational groups in the audience. It was beautiful to see.

So the lights went down and the show started. There was an elaborate set and then people came out with props and what happened next was some kind of horrific nightmare. It was a high-school Rock Eisteddfod musical show, with Neil Young as the lead. They ran through the album playing these little skits to literally illustrate the songs. After about 3 songs I turned around to see floods of people - pretty much everyone under the age of 30 - fleeing from the the audience. People weren't leaving quietly and politely, they were almost running to the exit. I suggested to the person I'd gone with that maybe we should leave, to which I was told in no uncertain terms that this was not an option. Instead I willed myself to sleep. I slept for probably close to 45 minutes - only to wake and discover the show was still very much continuing along in that concept amature musical theatre direction. It wasn't a bad dream. After about an hour and a half I was starting to get really edgy, this show was not only painfully frustrating but it was running really long, we were running the risk of missing the first ever show from a then little known but much anticipated band, The Presets. There was no way I was going to miss seeing their first show for this! Tears of rage filled my eyes.

Finally they reached the end. Before he could come out for the encore I was out of my seat and half way to the door. He came back on and started to launch into the hits. But by that stage it was too late. The damage had been done. I could never go back. I seriously considered writing a letter to him complaining and asking for compensation for the two perhaps two and a half hours of my life that I'd never get back. We made it to the second gig and they were great, which made the night worthwhile. Years later I can only just start to listen to his albums again and enjoy them.

He'll no doubt bust out and redeem himself, and I'll be the one wishing I could fill my heart with gold, or love, rather than hate. Maybe not hate but I haven't been able to forgive, you know the saying once bitten, twice shy.

All Tomorrow's Parties

2009-01-18T13:45:00.000-08:00

The famous English festival, ATP has finally come to Australia. It's the music lovers music festival, with the best bits of a festival and none of the shit bits. No lines for the toilets or bar, easy to get around, good time-tabling so you could see a bit of everyone, all that sort of stuff. I know I've previously said that as a punter I'm not really into festivals, but All Tomorrow's Parties was really amazing. It was so chilled. Our very own Uncle Nick and his Bad Seeds curated the inaugural ATP festival. It was pretty great.

It was a funny crowd, a little bit older, my friend Sophie astutely said that the crowd was a bit boutique and a bit full of the people who were the coolest of cool 10 years ago. Slightly aged and chilled out, but still stylin'. A few hipsters were representing. There were few old school sun-hating folk [which was hilar because it was on an island in the middle of Sydney harbour, on a perfectly cloudless super sunny day in broad daylight with very little shade. The sun-hating, long sleeved, legs covered folk really had to work hard to maintain that style. The rest of us just got burnt.] There was also a smattering of older older folk - like your parents perhaps and people who loyally follow the Sydney Festival and attend all their events - you could identify them by their packed lunches [cheeses, crackers etc], and they were carrying copies of the weekend papers which they'd crack out and read in-between songs!

The older folk obvs aren't that tuned in festival etiquette. They swarmed on the small amount of shade and seats and refused to share. Many were seen to carry their plastic chairs around from stage to stage with them. Some even went so far as to carry them right into the crowd, up close to the stage and sit. This was big during The Necks and you can maybe understand why, but during Uncle Nick's headline set it was a bit much. I mean, he was hardly singing lullabies.

Anyway, all in all it was a great day. Dead Meadow were amazing. The Stabs were a great way to start the day. Sitting under a tree, watching the boats bobbing on the sparkling blue harbour and listening to Robert Forster was beautiful. Seeing the full Saints line up play, with the famous harbour bridge just off to the left was amazing, although it was a shame that they decided to bust out all their boring ballads! Of all the songs in their catalogue!! Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were tight, a great way to end the night. I missed Fuck Buttons because I wanted to make sure those pesky old folk didn't rush the ferries I didn't want to wait for hours to get home. But James 'Blood' Ulmer was perhaps the highlight. He played in this quiet stage at the top of the island just as the sun started to set, spectacular.

Heartbreaker

2009-01-15T04:59:00.000-08:00

Last night I saw Metronomy at the Popfrenzy night at Becks Festival Bar. They were excellent - so sweet and infectiously energetic. Awesome. Even though my new shoes were killing me I found myself unable to do anything but dance up a storm. Part of it was the performance they put on - all three of them were wearing these matching super cute black t-shirts with glowing white circles on their chests, and they had very charming synchronised dance moves that the busted out while playing their various instruments. I'm a sucker for synchronised dance moves, even more so when they're performed by fresh-faced indie boys. And they seemed very genuinely enjoying themselves, which is always a joy to watch and is entirely contagious.

I'm sure at some point there'll be some videos on youtube that you can watch... in fact I was standing behind a dude who was carefully recording the best bits - probably for your watching pleasure.

I don't entirely understand the point of doing this though, as community-minded and altruistic as it may be. If you missed out on seeing the gig do you really want to sit through a video of lights, the back of someone's head and motion-sickness-inducing bumps? Especially shot from way back in the crowd on a photographic still camera/phone. Not to mention sound-distortion that could even make the most industrial loving sound freak want to hear something with melody and clarity? For the record, Metronomy live last night sounded really really good.

But for those of you who missed out and want o get a sense of the show, here's a shot of what I could see from where I was, just near that dude. [Sorry, the dance moves and glowing tees didn't translate so well in this one.] Obvs this conveys the amazing dynamic light-show makes you wish you were there. I know. What can I say, I'm a naturally talented photographer ...

This is all part of the Sydney Festival madness - which started last weekend with 300, 000 people in the CBD enjoying Festival First Night. Apparently Grace Jones was amazing, I can assure you that DJ Medhi + Busy P were on fire. Santogold and Atrak got rave reviews, as did Sharon Jones. Basically all round a hugely successful and fun start to the festival. Except for 'The Sydney' - the dance that was created especially for the event. Let's not talk about that.

Some dude got so excited by the whole experience that he decided to climb a light pole. I think he thought that the crowd would cheer him and for a moment he'd be a total hero. I don't think he expected the enthusiastic response that he got. Check this out...

Anyway, so we're well and truly into festival season now and the gigs are continuing to flow thick and fast. Early reports on the Dead Meadow and Fuck Buttons show last night was that they were amazing. I look forward to seeing them at ATP. Brace yourselves people, it's basically back-to-back gigs and fun-times until Easter now.

SHINE SHINe

2009-01-14T23:18:00.000-08:00

So here's a little taste of things to come, below are the highlights from Field Day 2009 in the Domain + Shore Thing 2008 at Bondi Beach. The extended artists interviews with our favourites are coming in the next couple of weeks.

SHORE THING

FIELD DAY

Reign in Blood

2009-01-08T21:47:00.001-08:00

I was going to write something witty about artists with obsessive compulsive love for their sneakers or a post musing on the irony of nerds who become super stars, or something about the pattern of zero to hero and back again. Learning to drive feels like a constant process of that. As for the trials and tribulations of detoxing, well, I've got a book coming on that.

But today I'm feeling a bit more reflective - a bit more interested in things beyond the sunny streets of Surry Hills and Sydney in summer. I'm totally consumed and preoccupied with this whole situation in Gaza. It's one of those taboos that we're not really allowed to talk about. We can talk about any other conflict in the world, we can talk about sex, drugs, rock n roll. Even about abortion. But the whole Israel-Palestine thing is something that everyone prefers to side step. Elephant in the room perhaps?

I don't know quite why it's politically incorrect to talk about it.

Maybe it's something about a collective guilt and shame for what happened in Europe at the beginning to middle of last century. Or something about a collective unease and confusion over how the situation works - both sides provoke each other - and both sides have people who don't agree with the actions of the side they've been born on. It's just that one side has bigger, more deadly infrastructure behind it and so causes more damage. Both sides have casualties. It's just that one side has way more deaths of mostly women, children and elderly folk.

It's also something about our uneasy feeling that The Middle East is a foreign and wild place and they have cultural ways we don't understand and they constantly, subtly and sometimes overtly, get cast in our television programs and movies as The Bad Guys. As Terrorists. Even though you're educated and know that's not the case, but, well, maybe you feel a bit uneasy. It's all very confusing. Everyone seems very passionate about it - I mean this thing has been going on for more than 50 years so what's conversation going to do to change anything? Maybe it's easier to just ignore it.

Anyway, who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? Is it that simple? And why is Speak the Hungarian Rapper the biggest and most eloquent spokesperson on this?

See The Light [Lite?]

2009-01-03T04:46:00.000-08:00

So I mentioned before that Calvin Harris is really into water right now. He didn't quite tell me why he'd given up drinking alcohol - I didn't bother trying to delve deeply - his tone suggested that I wouldn't get a lot of extra information into his processes and reasons.

Before this, I'd already been talking up my intentions to detox in January. Usually late at night, oft with an alcoholic beverage in hand. Or the morning after such a night, while struggling through a hard training session. But when I saw his lovely skin I was quite inspired.

I've armed myself with Dr Joshi's 21 Day Holistic Detox book. I am about to join an exclusive club with the likes of Gwyneth, Cate [as in 'our' Cate Blanchett], the other Kate [as in Moss], Ralph [as in Fiennes]. Even Lady Di, obvs before she died.

I'm almost considering joining my soon-to-be-soul-mate-best-pal Gwyn's group. Goop. [Ok, now seriously - WTF?? "Í cringe when I add a couple of teaspoons of sugar to sweeten things??" Oh girlfriend, please, live a little. Oh, hang on, that's why she's a size minus 1 and I'm not. Right. Got it.]

Or maybe I'll change this blog into my own Goop-style group. I like food and I'm pretty ok with cooking, I can easily help you with things to make. I go jogging so I can give you inspirational style tips and insights. Boy oh boy can I shop,so I've easily got the Get side covered. The Do, Be and See are also totes under control. Frig. That's it. Talk about fashionable in the 80s - I've got a whole macrobiotic aerobic Lycra lifestyle concept ready to go.

[les] ARTISTES

2009-01-01T15:28:00.000-08:00

It's been a super hectic month. December feels like a life-time ago. A blur of late-nights and sultry evenings. And [mostly cheap] wine.

Now we've landed in Two Thousand and Fine.

Over the twenty-four hours of New Years Eve/Day I interviewed probably about 20 local Australian + international artists, at Shore Thing and Field Day. An intense but fun way to end and start the year really. I'll publish the links to Fuzzy TV when the packages are edited - so you can see everything for yourself. But here's a basic run down on The Things I Learnt:

At the beginning of each interview, in order to test audio levels we ask the artists to tell us what they ate for breakfast. Most of them started with a short answer 'didn't eat breakfast', but if pushed to discuss their last meal, they could all talk AT LENGTH about the finest details. To a point that some of them talked for perhaps 3-4 minutes about the subtleties of mustard.

Also, what's with it? Almost every artist has a 'record label project'. And a bunch of them are budding fashion designers too.

Boys Noize is the nicest fella you'll ever meet. He and Jens from Digitalism went to school together and when he left his job in record store he recommended Jens for the job. Taught him everything he knows/gave him his first break. He also loves Good Charlotte [...sorry, no the last two points are a joke. Good Charlotte have totally bitten his style, ripped the skull - a work of a German artist - motif that he's been using for years and put it on the cover to their most recent 'remix' album.]

Calvin Harris has given up alcohol. I'm inspired - he has lovely skin. He's also got another big collaboration in the pipeline for next year, to work on his next rekkid. Which is going to be a 'dance/pop thing'. But he wouldn't say with who.

Walter Meego both have degrees in languages. Colin studied Spanish. Justin did a degree in Italian and also takes a lot of photographs.

The Canyons are set to be huge. Their set was really well received. They're lovely down-to-earth do-it-yourself fellas who play vinyl and dig crates.

Late of the Pier 's live show felt like a crazy warped drunken sea-shanty. Sam loves Australia and climbing trees. Potter is really into Chaucer. Faley is wanting to spend the year driving their record label, Zarcorp a bit more. They're into realising interesting 7" with artists they like. They love Erol Alkan and Cut Copy and can talk at length about either. Boredom is what drives their creativity. Just don't tell them they're cool.

Jamie Lidell loves birds, especially parakeets. He also loves poached eggs. During our chat he said he wants to do a collaboration with a whole lot of Jones'. Think Sharon. Grace. Quincy. Tom. He's going to call it Jones Inc.

A-Trak has a very good sense of humour.

Gus from Bang-Gang had a busy 2008 - the highlight of which was a mad experience in Russia, narrowly missing trouble from the Russian Mafia.

Side note: when you get all the Bang-Gang boys together things quickly get loose. Very loose. [Although this probably comes as no surprise.]

Bag Raiders are either stalkers/festival megalomaniacs/about to be huge. This is the 3rd time I've interviewed them at a festival since Parklife in October. They'd played 5 gigs in less than 24 hours by the time we chatted yesterday. Frig.

Yo Magesty are warped. Jwl B is all about fresh air on her titties at shows. [She takes her top off] and she has plenty to say to haters.

Hopefully I'll have updates on Santogold and Busy P next week.

Other highlights/charmers: The Presets, Ajax, Ladyhawke, DJ Medhi. Jens from Digitalism.

Total disappointment: Switch.

Weekend Wars

2008-12-14T04:24:00.000-08:00

I'm going to confess something, I don't really like music festivals. I mean, I love the idea of them and I LOVE working at them but as a punter they're not really my thing. I find them a bit too hectic. A bit too trashy. A bit too difficult to see anything, either because the only bands you really want to see are almost always on at exactly the same time, there's always a dickhead standing in front of you and the sound isn't always great. I love the fact that music festivals bring my favourite bands to town and then I go to their side-shows.

I also don't really like camping.

So it follows that I don't really dig music festivals that involve camping. Except the magical Meredith Music Festival in Victoria, and it's recent kid sister spin-off Golden Plains. There's something about this festival that is just excellent. Maybe it's the good music, the size [it's not huge and there's only one stage so no timetable clashes], the location [it's in a beautiful natural amphitheatre, far enough away from Melbourne to not be attractive to the usual fools you find at festivals. It's BYO, which also means you don't hemorrhage cash there over the weekend, and they have a 'no dickheads' policy.

Whatever it is I'm a fan and pretty much every year for a while now I make the pilgrimage down there and relish in the experience. And over the years there's been plenty of experiences. Like the first year that I went, checked the forecast, saw it was for around 28 degrees and packed accordingly. No one told me that it gets unspeakably cold down there at night and I spent the next three days with bronchitis, desperately trying to stay warm at night, wearing all the clothes I'd brought with me. I have vivid memories of crawling into my sleeping bag, fully clothed, holding my feet in my hands because they were so cold and crying myself to sleep. And after this I still went back for more. A couple of years later there were bush fires raging across 80% of Victoria, it was upwards of 40 degrees, the surrounding valleys were on fire and the whole place was covered in thick ash-filled dust which was being spread around by burning, hot winds. Another year it rained so much on the first night that half the tents got washed away, everyone was thoroughly soaked and then the next day it was so hot that everyone got seriously sun burnt and heat-stroke... Although my favourite crazy weather year was when there was a wild electrical storm, one of the most extreme in over 60 years, and this took place in the valley behind the stage while the Dirty Three played the most amazing set you could imagine.

And they always get good bands at Meredith, that helps. If I run through them all it'll be a boring roll-call but it's a good mix, pretty much a music-lovers lucky-dip.

So I've had some amazing times at Meredith. I've seen some great bands, had some great conversations, read some great books and every year look forward to hanging out, relaxing under the trees listening to amazing music, having a nice nap, catching up on some reading, enjoying a few pink flamingos [vodka and pink grapefruit juice], staying up late and at some stage indulging in an ice cream from the amazing Irrewarra farm - all natural, made from happy cows who eat chemical-free grass... generally relaxing after a crazy year and hectic end-of-year-beginning of summer period.

This year however Meredith had another idea. Or, mother nature did. It rained constantly. Like, from the week before the festival started until the day it ended. It's probably still raining.

I know it's good for the farmers who've battled an intense drought in the area for the best part of a decade, but boy oh boy...

Before I get to the photos, which will do a better job of putting the mud in perspective, the highlights of the festival.

Holy Fuck were AMAZING. I don't even really know how else to describe them. I think they're one of my highlights for 2008, they were that good.

Tame Impala were great too, as were Mountains in the Sky. I didn't see as much as usual, as I was taking shelter in the bar, the only under-cover area. I heard a lot from there, and everyone was solidly great.

The other highlight was easily MGMT, the whole crowd piled into the amphitheatre and sung along to every word of every song. It was pretty special, as it was the last night of their 16 month tour. And then at the very end they played Kids, everyone lost their shit even though the rain had started again, the whole crowd was moving, jumping, singing the instrumental bits and it was entirely worth the 30 hours of being damp, covered in mud, just to experience that.

Two other special moments came while everyone was waiting for MGMT to come on - the dj played ACDC 'Thunderstruck' as the rain stared to get heavier. It was pretty funny. As was when they played YMCA and all the bogan Aussie blokes started singing and dancing in formations, again, in the rain, wearing their garbage bags and plastic ponchos in the bush. Must've been quite a sight for the bands, they must've wondered where the hell they were. They drive 2 hours out of Melbourne, through the sprawling suburbia, through the small towns, through the farm-land, into the bush and then hit this crazy mud-filled warped reality with people covered in plastic dancing in the rain to bad disco tunes.

And then there was the mud. I know I keep going on about it but it was amazing. I've never seen or felt anything like it. It became a fun past-time to watch people dealing with the mud, from the safety of the bar, with the warmth of whiskey. The best bit was watching this guy get a huge handful of mud and throw it at the back of his friend, who was wearing a pristine white jacket. She turned around, he went to flee, but slipped and lost his balance, and then managed to pour his entire cup of beer over his head before face-planting into the mud. Below are some photos, to put it in perspective for you.

MUD

2008-12-14T02:52:00.000-08:00

a little bit on the side, pt 2

2008-12-11T01:53:00.000-08:00

My other fun 'hobby' is making radio documentaries for ABC Radio National. I do this and my Fuzzy stuff for kicks in between my weekly radio show on FBi Radio in Sydney, and my full-time gig as a quality-control checker at a sock factory.

The most recent documentary I made was about the Sydney Street Socceroos. They're a team of homeless soccer players. I followed these guys around for a few months, went to their weekly training sessions and then went to Melbourne when they went down for the first ever National Homeless Soccer Championships. They won. It was emotional. You can read about it and see some photos here

And earlier in the year I made a story about what it's like to be a young Iraqi at the moment. This story is going to be re-played on ABC Radio National Street Stories this coming January, Sunday 3rd at 1.30. More information is here

A little bit on the side

2008-12-11T01:23:00.000-08:00

So I have a few different things that I do. And I'm lucky cause a lot of them are fun. Hard work, fo real, but fun. But one of the most funnest things I get to do is work with a company called Fuzzy. They put on mighty fine music events. In the last little while I've been stalking the acts and chatting with them backstage. Sometimes you get funny insights into folk. Like Soulwax. Who knew they were so entirely hilarious? Or who really knew just how cheeky Diplo is? Maybe it's no real surprise cause he seems like a nice guy - but Feadz really is the most charming and funny guy. When we were doing our interview, we took him out into the festival to film him with a view of the harbour bridge behind him and all these grown men kept rushing up to us and gushing about how amazing his set was. He was really polite and chilled about it.

Anyways, here are some of the highlights of the chats I've had. They're all packaged up all smartly and colourfully for your interweb watching pleasure.

Here's Feadz, Feliz, Van She Tech, Aston Shuffle + Mo Funk at Harbourlife a couple of weeks ago...

These are some highlights from Parklife 2008. It was a hilarious and crazy tour. It's like a school camp but with a whole heap of artists travelling around the country. Everyone gets loose and there are some funny stories. Get the low-down, do Soulwax and Diplo have beef? Diplo, Jesse Rose and Van She get up to antics with golf buggys, Does It Offend You Yeah spill the beans on another artist on the tour, XXXchange fears for his safety, Peaches decides to change her name to 'Peace' to help people build bridges and there's a whole lot of laughs.

And these are just straight-up interviews

PEACHES - Parklife 08

DIPLO - Parklife 08

BAG RAIDERS - Parklife 08

DIZZEE RASCAL - Parklife 08

UFFIE - Field Day 08

SPANK ROCK + AMANDA BLANK - Field Day 08

GIRL TALK - Field Day 08

CHROMEO - Field Day 08

LOST TIME

2008-12-08T18:34:00.000-08:00

So after a good 18 months of having this account I've finally decided today is the first day of the rest of my internet life.

WOW. The future is bright. Luckily, I have shades.

I'm feeling inspired today to write about my favourite things. And because everyone else is compiling lists of albums of the year I thought I'd leave that already full market alone. This is more just a snap-shot of places to go, things to make and do. Some are old, some are new, some are borrowed and some are blue.

BEST DISCOVERY OF 2008
I know I might sound all hippy and shit with this one, but my cousin started a vegie co-op earlier in the year. It's totally changed my life. There's about 16 of us in it and once a fortnight we head to Bondi, collect some organic fruit + vegetable produce and then get inspired to cook. We've also saved a freakin motza - because it's so cheap. And we're getting all healthy in the process. And we're eating seasonally, which is better for the planet.

BEST PLACE FOR A QUIET DRINK
The Uchi Bar. I've recently rediscovered the love of the Uchi Bar. It's on the quiet Brisbane Street [which is really more of a lane] in that oft forgotten corner of Surry Hills. Away from the madness of Crown Street and the tired once-was-glamour-now-seediness of Oxford Street.

I'm quite partial to the Ginger Sake [warm]. It tastes a bit healthy, in the same way that a hot totty does, but cleaner cause it's sake rather than whiskey based. The Lychee [chilled] is also pretty heavenly. They're open late.

BEST PLACE FOR FOOD, DRINK, SOCIALISING AND GENERAL BEING
The Falconer on Oxford Street. Hidden right down the bottom of Oxford, across from Spectrum, in between the IGA and Subway is one of the best cafes, bars, general hangs. The Falconer.

Excellent music. Excellent food. Great beverage selection. Open late. Friendly.

This my friends, is the 'Peach Pit' for our generation. In Sydney. Handy.

BEST THING ON THE HORIZON FOR 2009
Two thousand and fine. I think it's going to be, judging by the amazing summer of music lined up alone. TV on the Radio, Hot Chip, Santogold, Bon Iver, Buraka Som Sistema, Metronomy all coming out for BDO/Field Day/Sydney Festival and perhaps most excitingly, the first ever All Tomorrow's Parties on Cockatoo Island, curated by Nick Cave.