Tag Archives: February 2012

Live Review | Devin Townsend Project, Meshuggah and Dredg @ The Forum Theatre, Melbourne – 29 February 2012

REVIEW by Billy Geary
As Melbourne’s Soundwave week continued into Wednesday night, it was time to head to the beautiful Forum Theatre for a taste of some of the most original music the massive line up had to offer.

As somewhat the black sheep of Wednesday night’s line-up, art rock band dredg more than held their own against the heavier headliners. After a few false starts in recent years, this was their first venture to Australia and quickly won over the predominantly metal focused crowd. Opening with two of their most well known songs in ‘Ode to the Sun’ and ‘Bug Eyes’ was a smart move, as the band commanded attention from the start. ‘Bug Eyes’ in particular got a great response, its chorus sounding majestic within the confines of The Forum.
Continue reading Live Review | Devin Townsend Project, Meshuggah and Dredg @ The Forum Theatre, Melbourne – 29 February 2012 →

Billy Geary, Live Review, Melbourne, Review, Soundwave

Soundwave Brisbane 2012 – Live Shots! – System Of A Down, Relient K, Slipknot, You Me At Six, Trivium, Underoath, Thursday, The Summer Set

Photographer: Josh Woning

Continue reading Soundwave Brisbane 2012 – Live Shots! – System Of A Down, Relient K, Slipknot, You Me At Six, Trivium, Underoath, Thursday, The Summer Set →

Brisbane, Festival, Josh Woning, Photos, Soundwave

Soundwave Brisbane 2012 – Live Shots! – Machine Head, Angels & Airwaves, Attack Attack, Cathedral, Cobra Starship, Dashboard Confessional, Gojira, Hatebreed, In Flames, Kids In Glass Houses, Mastodon

Photographer: Josh Woning

Continue reading Soundwave Brisbane 2012 – Live Shots! – Machine Head, Angels & Airwaves, Attack Attack, Cathedral, Cobra Starship, Dashboard Confessional, Gojira, Hatebreed, In Flames, Kids In Glass Houses, Mastodon →

Brisbane, Festival, Josh Woning, Photos, Soundwave

Live Review | Roxette @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre – 24th February 2012

Review by Lauren Sherritt
Twenty-three years ago, on the week I was born, Roxette topped the Australian charts with smash hit The Look. Little could I have known then that over two decades on I would be watching the Swedish duo, still full of pop-energy and sing-along-able choruses, playing that very song to a crowd of over ten thousand of their most dedicated Australian fans.

The second Brisbane show of Roxette’s first Australian tour in over sixteen years was kicked off by tour companions 1927. Crowds poured into Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre, saturated by the heavy rain outside, excited to see this first rate band smash out old favourites If I could and That’s When I Think of You. Singer Erik Weideman dedicated the ever moving Compulsory Hero to those serving in the armed forces and it was clear to see that the audience were touched. It was easy to get a sense of Weideman’s excitement to be touring with Roxette, his schoolboy smile and the bounce in his step leaving no sense of playing things rock’n’roll cool, and as he left the stage his energy infected the already super-hyped crowd as they waited for the band to appear.
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Brisbane, Krista Melsom, Lauren Sherritt, Live Review, Review

Interview: Al Marx – The Fearless Vampire Killers

Interview: Stuart Blythe
The Fearless Vampire Killers are hitting the road thoughout March (2012) with their Batmania tour. We caught up with TFVK guitarist Al Marx for a chat. Al gave us an interesting and humorous insight into TFVK.

LMM: Tell us a little about The Fearless Vampire Killers

Al Marx : I have a little birthmark below the waist, Sean used to be a pro scooterer, Jacob’s fluent in every language and Justin shot J.F.K.
 
 
LMM: You’re debut LP, “Batmania” has enjoyed rave reviews.
For fans who haven’t yet heard “Batmania”, how would you describe the sound and the vibe? Were you channelling any musical influences at the time of production?

Al Marx : It’s good, I like it. Musical influences are a bit of a no-no as far as we’re concerned. We have music we love and we play how we like to play. We focus on writing good songs, and playing with all our hearts. If you can actually pinpoint a specific influence, you’re not doing your job right.
 
 
LMM: In 2011 you toured with Lanie Lane, how was that experience?

Al Marx : It was funny, you’ve got to have fun right? We got to stay in Sydney for a few nights, and it’s rare to stay in the one place on tour. It let us put our roots down and get a little loose.
 
 
LMM: You’re about to kick off on a nation headline tour. What can fans expect at the shows?

Al Marx : We’ve worked a bit of trapeze into the set. Sean and I even do a bit of the performance with no net, because we’re badass. Jacob has beefed up his juggling act and bowing to the demands of animal rights groups has removed the poodle grand finale.
 
 
LMM: Have you got any pre-show routines/superstitions?

Al Marx : I know it sounds gross but i generally don’t like to shower in the day before a gig. I like to feel gritty, and I sweat like a pig onstage anyway. I also find someone to hold my phone before i play. Jackie Stewart used to do the same with his watch, so it’s a bit of an nod to the greats.
 
 
LMM: Which bands did you grow up with, and who still inspires you now?

Al Marx : We all grew up with the classics – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, etc. Right now i think our biggest interest is in the great Spaghetti Western soundtracks of Ennio Morricone.
 
 
LMM: With “For You & Me” on the American TV series 90210… do you have any plans to tour internationally?

Al Marx : There’s plans and there’s dreams. I think we’re still in the day-dream stage, but we are making some steps for that possibility in the future. We play better inter-state, imagine how we’ll be internationally.
 
 
LMM: Is there anything you would like to say to your growing fan base?

Al Marx : We love you all, thank you so much for your support. Just remember to look both ways before you cross the street, and don’t put plastic bags in your recycling.
 
 

—- Quick Questions —-
:: What track changed your life ::
Across the Universe
Across the Universe – The Beatles 1967–1970 (The Blue Album)
 
 
:: Biggest influence ::
you
 
 
:: Name a band or artist we should checkout ::
Dungen
 
 
:: Favourite Quote ::
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell
 
 
:: When on tour, you can’t live without ::
Humour
 
 
:: When in the studio, you can’t live without ::
Humour
 
 
:: Three words to describe the last year?
Nice to visit
 
 
:: Three for how you feel about the year ahead? ::
It’s getting better

*** Click here for tour dates and details -> The Fearless Vampire Killers – Batmania National Album Tour – March 2012

www.thefearlessvampirekillers.com
www.facebook.com/thefearlessvampirekillers
www.myspace.com/tfvk
www.twitter.com/tfvk

Interview

Yuck @ East Brunswick Club, Melbourne – 3rd February 2012 | Review

Review by Ben Connolly
What is the collective noun for a group of fuzzed-out guitars? Is it a gaggle? Maybe a cacophony is more apt? Perhaps it could have been a murder, if it weren’t already taken by those pesky crows. I reckon it’s a joy of fuzz, as that’s certainly the feeling you get when confronted with a wail of tricked out pedal-laden guitars, as was the case at Yuck’s Laneway Festival sideshow, as well as a more than passing hat-tip to the lo-fi aesthetics of late 80s and early 90s grunge rock.

South Dakota via LAs EMA had her feet planted firmly in the shoe-gazing psychedelia camp, with two guitars backed by keys/violins providing a mournful, sparse feeling. There’s a deliberate bleakness to the songs, with Erika M Anderson’s lyrics often whispered with great earnestness and calculated affectation. An early string break forced a setlist change, pushing a surprisingly tender “Breakfest” up the order. The song’s aching repeated refrain “Mumma’s in the bedroom, don’t you stop” paints a desolate picture, before building into a Mogwai-esque wall-of-noise. A midset reworking of Danzig’s “Soul On Fire” perfectly highlighted Anderson’s almost disembodied, affected vocals.
Continue reading Yuck @ East Brunswick Club, Melbourne – 3rd February 2012 | Review →

Ben Connolly, Live Review, Melbourne, Review