Category Archives: Concert

The Brian Jonestown Massacre headline Australian Tour – February 2010

January 22, 2010 admin

To celebrate the release of Who Killed Sergeant Pepper, the Brian Jonestown Massacre have announced they will be heading to Australia in 2010. With the addition of Matt Hollywood, this is as close to the original line up as we are ever going to see on stage.

Recorded across 2009 between Iceland & Berlin, the Brian Jonestown Massacre move forward with their new full length album , Who Killed Sergeant Pepper?”.

Working with musicians of the likes of Will Carruthers (ex Spacemen 3 & Spiritualized), Unnur Andrea Einarsdottir (who recorded vocals on the last BJM album) & Felix from the Russian band Amazing Electronic Talking Cave and various musicians from France, Germany, & Iceland, this is BJM’s most multi-cultured and inspired release to date.

13 tracks ranging from ambient bhangra beats, to rock, to shoe gaze, to the gypsy influences of Eastern Europe and then back again to the swirling psychedelic sound that has won the band a devoted legion of followers around the globe, Who Killed Sergeant Pepper is a high water mark in a career full of brilliant releases.

Australian fans will not only be the first territory to receive the album, but will also receive the bonus EP ‘One’ with their copy of the album.

Who Killed Sergeant Pepper is out Feb 6 2010

The Brian Jonestown Massacre	The Brian Jonestown Massacre 21/02/2010	Billboard The Venue Melbourne Victoria	Buy Tickets
The Brian Jonestown Massacre	The Brian Jonestown Massacre 23/02/2010	Fowlers Live Adelaide South Australia	Buy Tickets
The Brian Jonestown Massacre	The Brian Jonestown Massacre 25/02/2010	Capitol Perth Western Australia	Buy Tickets

Concert, Music, tour

Alexisonfire Soundwave sideshows with Comback Kid and Anti-Flag – Sydney and Melbourne : February 2010

January 22, 2010 admin

Why don’t we let the squires at Metal Hammer begin our introduction to the brutality that is Alexisonfire and their brand new album ‘Old Crows Young Cardinals’; “A dense and beautiful heavy rock album with as many hardcore influences as progressive ones: rewarding and utterly gripping.”

Continue reading Alexisonfire Soundwave sideshows with Comback Kid and Anti-Flag – Sydney and Melbourne : February 2010 →

Concert, Melbourne, news, Sydney

Sydney BIG DAY OUT 2010 (Day 1 wrap)

January 22, 2010 admin

The summer heat was in full swing, but that didn’t stop punters from soaking up killer sets today, enjoying the first of two sold out Sydney BIG DAY OUTs. Capping off the show with an absolutely spectacular fireworks and fire cannon finale, the entire arena of Sydney Showground was lit up, as the BDO celebrated the eve of our 100th show.

With seven BDO’s taking place across the nation (today’s show following on from successful events in Auckland on Friday 15th January, and the Gold Coast on Sunday 17th January), a sold-out crowd of 53,000 music fans kept their cool despite the soaring temperature. Making the most of the free water fountains and water stations across the BDO site, festival-goers took in 70+ acts hailing from both Australia and beyond, proving yet again why the BDO is Australia’s premier live music festival.

UK trio MUSE headlined with an amazing set that had to be seen to believed – even inviting JET’s Nic Cester up onstage for a rendition of AC/DC’s “Back In Black”. LILY ALLEN seduced the crowd on the Orange Stage, while punters headed indoors to keep cool with SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO, GIRL TALK and CALVIN HARRIS in the Boiler Room. The Silent Disco also provided a reprieve from the heat.

Aussie artists showcased yet again why they rival the biggest overseas names when it comes to live music. The TEMPER TRAP lit up the Green Stage with a huge singalong to “Sweet Disposition”, while hip-hop kings the HILLTOP HOODS nailed it over on the Orange Stage.

In addition to the music, the BIG DAY OUT showcased a collection of visual art, including: sculpture that comes to life, progressive street art, film, and photography.

The fireworks and fire canon spectacular took place shortly after Muse left the stage. The BDO reaches a mammoth milestone tomorrow, with the second sold-out Sydney event – taking place Saturday 23rd January – marking our 100th BIG DAY OUT show.

St Johns Ambulance Commander, John Merlino reported that the majority of treatments across the day were heat related, including dehydration, exhaustion and sunburn. Despite this, figures were down on last year’s event.

Tomorrow’s show (Saturday 23rd January) is expected to be another scorcher with an early evening storm predicted. Organisers urge everyone attending to take the necessary precautions to ensure they have a happy and safe day.

Please keep hydrated by drinking lots of water, apply sunscreen before you arrive, and keep applying throughout the day. (Free sunscreen is available from the St Johns.) We strongly recommend you wear a hat.

>From Sydney, the BIG DAY OUT travels to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The line-up features some of the biggest names in the music world including MUSE, LILY ALLEN, DIZZEE RASCAL, PEACHES, KASABIAN, GROOVE ARMADA and many, many more.

www.bigdayout.com

Concert, Festival, Sydney

Live Review: The Mars Volta – The Tivoli – 18th January 2010

January 21, 2010 admin

Review: Lana Harris

The Tivoli is filling with fans and the ambient strains of lounge jazz. Bodies crowd the railings upstairs first, spectators safe behind the iron and wood. As more people push through the doors the floor packs out, the main crowds are drawn towards the stage, towards the backdrop of snake and other eyes, wings and amorphous canine face shapes, lit by blasts of ketchup red from above. Excited chatter now drowns out the background melodies, until The Mars Volta hit the stage.

Continue reading Live Review: The Mars Volta – The Tivoli – 18th January 2010 →

Brisbane, Concert, Music, Review

OK GO return to Australia – February 2010

January 20, 2010 admin

The mind-bending band that gave us what is largely considered the decade’s most viewed music video (even the Simpsons parodied it), the treadmill-manned, Grammy-award winning “Here It Goes Again,” is back. Never content to rest on their laurels, OK Go return with the new album, Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky. The album is the follow up to 2005’s Oh No and was produced by ex-Mercury Rev member David Fridmann (Flaming Lips, MGMT).

Continue reading OK GO return to Australia – February 2010 →

Concert, Music, news, tour

Interview: Kid Sam – Keiran Ryan

January 18, 2010 admin

Interviewer: Hannah Collins

It’s a ridiculously hot summer day in Melbourne. Keiran Ryan (KR) is lying on the couch, drinking tea *not iced tea because he ‘don’t like that stuff’* chatting with Hannah Collins (LMM) on all things ‘Kid Sam‘.

LMM: So whats ‘Kid Sam‘ up to?

KR: ‘We have a couple of weeks off now and then Laneway (Laneway Festival), which should be really awesome, the lineup is fantastic with a really strong Australian contingent! I’m looking forward to Dirty Three, Oh Murphy?, and Philadelphia Grand Jury again. We’ve done a tour with them already. Yeah, so it’s great. Then comes the Daniel Johnston gigs which we’re like, hugely, hugely excited about!
Continue reading Interview: Kid Sam – Keiran Ryan →

Concert, Festival, Interview, Music

The Killers announce headline show at Enmore Theatre, Sydney

January 18, 2010 admin

Las Vegas rockers The Killers have decided to treat their fans to an exclusive intimate show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on 12 February 2010 to accompany their headlining slot in this years Good Vibrations Festival.

Comprising of frontman Brandon Flowers, bassist Mark Stoermer, guitarist Dave Keuning and drummer Ronnie Vannucci, The Killers have achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success around the globe. They have received seven Grammy nominations and won a variety of MTV and NME awards, gaining recognition for their ability to command entire arenas with incredible showmanship and musical prowess.
Continue reading The Killers announce headline show at Enmore Theatre, Sydney →

Concert, Music, news, Sydney

Gold Coast Big Day Out wrap up

January 16, 2010 admin

Kicking off the 2010 Australian leg, the BIG DAY OUT landed in the Gold Coast today – the BDO making its first stop in what will be a seven-leg series across the nation. A sold out crowd of 55,000 music fans headed to the Gold Coast Parklands to enjoy balmy summer conditions and top-notch performances, with over 65 acts from Australia and across the globe showcasing their talents.

Hailing from Devon in the UK, English trio MUSE proved just why they’re one of the best-loved visitors to our shores, headlining with a killer set that included hits such as “Supermassive Black Hole”, “United States Of Eurasia” and “Resistance”. Fellow Brit LILY ALLEN wowed fans with her spicy set, taking to the Orange Stage in the afternoon donning sunglasses and a sequined leotard. Earlier in the day Passion Pit and Kasabian revved up the crowd, while grime star Dizzee Rascal sent everyone bonkers. Over in the Boiler Room, CALVIN HARRIS, SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO and GIRL TALK got punters moving, with GROOVE ARMADA closing the night with a dance-floor frenzy.
Continue reading Gold Coast Big Day Out wrap up →

Concert, Festival, Music, Review

Tour: Hockey headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne 2010

January 16, 2010 admin 1 Comment

Dance punk/indie rockers Hockey, hailing from Portland, Oregon will make their way to Australia for the first time to perform at the Laneway Festivals and headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

Hockey comprises singer Benjamin Grubin, guitarist Brian White, bassist Jeremy Reynolds, drummer Anthony Stassi and touring keyboardist Ryan Dolliver, and have been compared in their sound to bands such as The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem.
Continue reading Tour: Hockey headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne 2010 →

Concert, Melbourne, Music, Sydney, tour

Photo Gallery: Sunset Sounds 2010

January 14, 2010 admin

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Click image to view photo gallery

Sunset Sounds 2010 (06 Jan 2010 – 07 Jan 2010) , Brisbane

In a supreme tease to office workers across the CBD, Sunset Sounds opened its gates for a second year to accept the swarm of humanity buzzing around the Botanic Gardens mid-afternoon…

Click here for Photos by Stuart Blythe

Brisbane, Concert, Festival, Music, Photos

Photo Gallery: Sunset Sounds 2010 – Day 2

January 13, 2010 admin

Photographer: Matt Palmer

Sunset Sounds 2010 (06 Jan 2010 – 07 Jan 2010) , Brisbane

In a supreme tease to office workers across the CBD, Sunset Sounds opened its gates for a second year to accept the swarm of humanity buzzing around the Botanic Gardens mid-afternoon…

Click here for Photos by Matt Palmer

Brisbane, Concert, Festival, Music, Photos

DANCE ‘A MILLION WAYS’ AT PLAYGROUND WEEKENDER 2010

January 13, 2010 admin

Playground Weekender HQ are pleased as punch to announce BLUEJUICE, OK GO (USA), MISTA SAVONA & PRINCE ALLA (JAMAICA), LOST VALENTINOS, KING TIDE and THE HOLIDAYS will join megastars ORBITAL (Live), LUPE FIASCO, BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE, THE CRIBS and over 100 more acts at Australia’s award winning four day boutique music festival – rounding up an eclectic line up set to make your summer sizzle.

“Any festival that requires a ferry crossing to get to is a good festival as far as we’re concerned. The line-up is amazing, but it’s the ferry ride that really stokes the fires of our childish desires”… Jake Stone – BLUEJUICE

TICKETS SELLING OUT
Four-day camping tickets + early bird and members tickets have completely SOLD OUT.
There are only 200 1st release tickets left so get in quick!

ACCOMMODATION SELLING OUt
Houseboats and cabins have completely SOLD OUT.
There are only 20 campervan spaces left! Book now for Tent Hotel or Tipis.

BLUEJUICE
Sydney’s BLUEJUICE are the ultimate complement to the Playground Weekender lineup – perfectly epitomizing the festivals maverick, eclectic feel. Whilst fundamentally a rock band, they also stir into their pot a mixture of hip hop with pop, ska, punk and disco.

It’s been a huge two years which as seen the band break into the top of Triple J playlists with favorites ‘Vitriol’ and Reductionist’, before becoming global internet sensations with their hilarious skipping video for the hook laden cross over hit ‘Broken Leg’, which went onto be a top 30 ARIA hit with two ARIA award nominations. As unpredictable as a day spent without taking your medication, BLUEJUICE put on an infamously energetic live show…

OK GO (USA)
Chicago band OK Go combine off-kilter guitars, Pixies/Cars fetishism, and straightforward power pop sensibilities to produce eccentric, catchy songs.

OK Go wrote the book on how to turn a creative low budget video into a viral Internet phenomenon. The video for ‘Here It Goes Again’ saw OK Go pull of some incredible synchronized dance moves on multiple treadmills. It became one of the most watched videos of all time with over 49 million view on YouTube and a 2007 Grammy Award for ‘Best Short-Form Music Video’. That exposure helping the track break the Top 40 in both the US and the UK. The four piece are getting ready and set to go get you dancing at Playground Weekender!
‘Here It Goes Again’ (Treadmill video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI
‘A Million Ways’ (Backyard video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1_CLW-NNwc

MISTA SAVONA & PRINCE ALLA (JAMAICA)
Leading exponents of roots reggae, dancehall and heavyweight dub music MISTA SAVONA will raise the roof with percussion bliss and crazy good songs from international guest artist – reggae royalty – PRINCE ALLA. Straight from Jamaica, a serious, humble and genuine Rastaman.

NICKODEMUS (NEW YORK)
A mainstay of the New York underground, NICKODEMUS is a DJ and producer who co-founded the now legendary Turntable on the Hudson (the longest running weekly party in NY) parties with the simple edict of playing “music with soul”. NICKODEMUS will be bringing his ‘spinning at sea’ set to Playground Weekender blending Latin, Afro-funk, hip-hop, big beat, house, funk, reggae, broken beat, soul and more.

LOST VALENTINOS
Formed in Sydney in 2005 LOST VALENTINOS quickly established themselves as one of the hottest acts in on Australia’s indie scene. The immediate success of their self tiled EP, and the follow up ‘Damn & Damn Again’ nailed their reputation as a gang of rogue’s intent on forging their own original sound. Current single ‘Serio’ is out now and taken from their debut album ‘Cities of Gold’. With punk intensity and noise-drenched melodies, a LOST VALENTINOS set is for young adventurers seeking a new treasure. Dig deep with them at Playground Weekender!

KING TIDE
Renowned for their brilliant high-energy shows, KING TIDE have earned their fan base on the live scene. Using reggae as the compass guiding them to new and wonderful musical lands. Renowned reggae and roots influenced band, KING TIDE are the first Australian band to be signed to prestigious UK record label, Urban Sedated.
“I love me hip hop but Reggaes me life. We’re gonna have a Reggae party tonight.” Tony Hughes.

THE HOLIDAYS

Time for a change of scenery? It’s time for THE HOLIDAYS. After only a handful of shows, Sydney’s FBI radio latched on to the band, then Triple J put them on high rotation with their self titled single. THE HOLIDAYS ball had begun rolling in a big way. They soon achieved airplay on several eagle-eyed US stations, which led to the ‘Artist of the Week’ billing in influential US trade publication A&R Worldwide. They are very much a band in the ‘next big thing’ bracket. We are sure you won’t be disappointed by their performance at Del Rio Resort.
“We play every gig like it’s our first gig’’ said Will Magnus.

With the stellar line up, Australia’s largest fancy dress party, houseboats, tipi’s and wine bars under the stars, don’t miss out on getting your tickets now!

FULL PLAYGROUND WEEKENDER 2010 LINEUP… SO FAR!

Orbital Live, Lupe Fiasco, Polyphonic Spree, The Cribs, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Jamie Lidell, Bluejuice, Bjorn Again, Gui Boratto live, OK GO, Steve Lawler, LTJ Bukem, British Sea Power, Norman Jay, Bertie Blackman, Mark Farina, James Lavelle, Prins Thomas, Pivot, New Orleans Bingo Show, Mista Savona & Prince Alla, Ewan Pearson, Washington, Luna City Express, The Bees DJ set, Lost Valentinos, Gaslamp Killer, 16 BIT (Southside Dubstars), Vincenzo, King Tide, Charles Webster, The Holidays, Regular John, Goons of Doom, The Jezabels, Black Ryder, PBR Street Gang (2020 Vision), Kid Mac, Mr Doris, Snowdroppers

www.playgroundweekender.com.au

Concert, Festival, Music, news

Tour: Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele – January 2010

January 12, 2010 admin

Dent May was discovered last year by Animal Collective when they were recording Merriweather Post Pavilion in nearby Oxford. Dent’s ebullient debut, The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele – released on Animal Collective’s label Paw Tracks and locally through Mistletone – was one of the most feel-good indie-pop delights of 2009.

Continue reading Tour: Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele – January 2010 →

Brisbane, Concert, Melbourne, Music, Sydney, tour

Live Review: Sunset Sounds 2010 – Day 1

January 10, 2010 admin

Author: Duncan McKimm

In a supreme tease to office workers across the CBD, Sunset Sounds opened its gates for a second year to accept the swarm of humanity buzzing around the Botanic Gardens mid-afternoon. Unfortunately, as I hold the excruciating dual-citizenship of office peon and festival-goer, my entry time didn’t allow me to see either the ethereal north Queenslanders The Middle East or local noisemakers DZ.

I was, however, in time to see some nouveau disco from Brooklyn’s Phenomenal Handclap Band, who brought the funk to the Gardens stage right on time for the thickening crowd. Radio favourites like ’15 to 20’ were on beat, on point and pitch perfect – while ‘I been born again’ nailed the vaguely hippy atmosphere you get from standing under the majestic figs listening to music in the afternoon. Nothing like a funky jam out to really kick a festival off right.

With Jamie T not far away, the Riverstage gradually filled as the grey sky dimmed (nature’s shout out to the Brit?). Also in this time (between five and six thirty) it seemed the whole crowd had become very, er, animated… Jamie came on stage to a warm welcome – possibly fans from his recent tour, or possibly just pumped festival folk (see earlier animation remark). He and his Pacemakers launched into a set evenly split between his two albums – with the newer material really hitting with the crowd. Whether that’s a result of those songs having been written with a band instead of solo, or the crowd being new fans (T birds? T bags? ) I’m not sure. Unfortunately in something of an omen for the rest of the bands that night, his set lost focus midway through, with a solo rendition of ‘Back in the Game’ killing off the momentum. He wrangled it back with some good banter and a pleasantly loose ‘Sticks and Stones’, but overall the result was a bit of a near-miss.

Over to the Hibiscus Stage for a bit of Seasick Steve where my first thought was of where to best go to find some music that wouldn’t put me to sleep. Luckily I’d simply stumbled into the Sunset Sounds mid-set slump, which the formerly homeless entertainer exited with some exceptional blues guitar riffing. “We’re gonna play for the whole hour they gave us – I don’t give a fuck whether the band before us went long, we’re playin’ the whole thing, you can come tear me off the stage if you want”. Nothing like a menacing rant to the stage manager from a man that, let’s face it, may still carry a shiv, to really add a bit of excitement to the set.

Burning away from the last of Seasick Steve to catch Art Vs Science but my good lord – the crowd! The Gardens stage was packed out to way past the sound tent. These boys must be having the time of their lives riding the crest of the Triple J wave. ‘Parlez Vous Francais’ predictably had the crowd going nuts, but again, they followed with a mid-set slump! Now someone like Seasick Steve or even Jamie T you can probably forgive, as they’re not simply about getting a dancefloor moving (although I’m sure they’d enjoy it if it happened). But when your primary aim is to have the crowd moving non-stop, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME NOISE FELLAS! Tuning of guitars should be done while the rhythm section keeps the beat cranking away, not while they sneak a quick mid-set ciggie. If in doubt look at the girls in the front row – if they aren’t dancing you’re not doing your job right. The VERY animated crowd was leaving in droves before AVS could find the accelerator again for ‘Flippers’, most trying to secure a spot for Moby on the main stage presumably.

For a bald vegan midget, Moby certainly knows how to rock a show out. If you maybe aren’t the biggest fans of his work (I’d defy anyone to like everything he’s done), believe me – his live show is essential. It shows some of his greatest tracks in a new light – more punch, more verve, more…balls. Crass though it may be, ‘ballsy’ is the best adjective to describe the show. The man wore his guitar like a rock star and fronted his band like he owned the joint (which he may well do – he has quite the property portfolio). Tracks like Porcelain swam hauntingly around the amphitheatre, washing over the crowd with clarity and precision. Body Rock was suitably beefy, although the volume could certainly have been cranked up some. Even as close as the sound-tent the music was on the quieter side of things. His set is always eclectic and this one was no exception – dropping a thrashy punk song (“the first song I ever wrote”), before asking the crowd if he could add “three completely over the top disco tracks, if that’s alright?” – Moby nailed his banter, chatty but without losing momentum. There were no objections from the crowd to his setlist as the dancing spread backwards from the pit and up the hill. By the time he decided to hit us with his trancier material at the close the entire Riverstage was “Haviiin’ iiiiiit” (as a nearby Pom exclaimed). As the man himself summed up – “I’ve made a lot of different types of music in my time, but at the heart of it, I’m still a little raver. Some of the greatest times in my life have been spent with my hands in the air in some field listening to techno as the sun comes up”. Amen to that.

And so concludes Day 1 of Sounds of Spring 2010.

Sunset Sounds Day 1 January 6 2010