Drum Media Sydney Issue 1141 by TheMusic.com.au

SYDNEY’S LARGEST CIRCULATING FREE MUSIC PUBLICATION • 18 DECEMBER 2012 • 1141 • FREE

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INSIDE • SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS • SHARON VAN ETTEN • FIRST AID KIT • THE LAZYS

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3 1 0 2 N I S MATTER

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SOLKYRI, BARBATUS, THE ARCHAIC REVIVAL, SWAMP HARLOT,

PLUS DJS

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DREAM DELAY

GIVEAWAYS and entries close 5pm on Monday 7 January. The prize? Not only will your entry appear on the front cover of The Drum Media, but the lucky winner in each state will also win four passes to the upcoming Big Day Out plus CDs by Big Day Out artists. Feel free to take influence from the psychedelic designs of the 2013 BDO artwork: we wanna see tripped-out Chili Peppers, acid-soaked Animal Collectives and freaked-out Foals…

Drum Big Day Art 2012 winner

DESIGN OUR COVER TO WIN BDO TIX & CDS Our annual Big Day Art competition is back. All you have to do is send us your impression of an artist on the current Big Day Out schedule and upload your entry in the Festivals section of theMusic.com.au (then click onto Big Day Art page). The competition is now open

A PACK OF HIVES Monday 7 January, presented by Street Press Australia, five-piece Swedish garage rockers The Hives hit the Metro Theatre and what better celebrate than to give one lucky punter a huge Hives Prize Pack: T-shirt, Lex Hives vinyl and CD and a double pass to the show. Okay, get on those Facebook buzzers – the pack is here in Drum’s office to be collected by the winner.

FOR MORE GIVEAWAYS THIS WEEK HEAD TO FACEBOOK.COM/DRUMMEDIA AND CLICK ON THE GIVEAWAYS TAB T H E D R U M M E D I A I S S U E 1 1 4 1 T U E S D AY 1 6 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2

DRUM

FRONT ROW

Giveaways – Check it out for free stuff and head to Facebook for more! 30 The Front Line hits hard with industry fact and conjecture, while Foreword Line brings you the latest news on tours, releases and more. 32 It’s all been surprises and drugs for Unknown Mortal Orchestra mainman Ruben Nielson. 38 The year according to UK electro gods Hot Chip. 39 Road warriors Blood Red Shoes deliver new EP. 40 The Hives return in classic form. 42 Lo-fi fuzz to polished gloss, Best Coast lose nothing in translation. 43 Soul sister Sharon Jones keeps it real. 44 Swedish sister First Aid Kit are doin’ it for themselves. 45 It’s all about friends for New Yorker Sharon Van Etten. 46 Inscrutable as ever, The Cribs remain endearing. 46 Our annual Writers Poll returns to see out the best of the best for 2012. Can you guess the Album Of The Year? 47 A surprisingly nervous Willis Earl Beale opens up, while making a stand for the People, Ben Sollee makes music for them too. 76 Lucky Canadians Half Moon Run talk up their dream run; a simple act of spring cleaning resulted in The Reunion Festival, curated by Lazys’ frontman; US all-stars band Lost Angels revel in jamming, and Ash Grunwald takes one final run before time out. 78 It’s Christmas and that means some Darren Hanlon singalongs, reinvented hard rock now singer songwriter, Grass Taylor feels refreshed. 80 Michael Smith looks outside the musical square for his 2012 Year in Review. 82 On The Record reviews new release albums and singles from Green Day, Rihanna and, of course, a timely round-up of Christmas releases, among others. 84

Check out what’s happening This Week In Arts, we chat to director Ben Wheatley about his new black comedy, Sightseers, and Samsara writer Mark Magidson about this doco five years in the making. 87 This week we review Psycho Beach Party, Les Miserables, JB Smoove and the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular, and give Cultural Cringe and Trailer Trash. 88 We also chat to Baz Luhrmann’s chorographer John O’Connell about his new project, Empire, while Andrew Vovell talks about the art of adaptation in relation to upcoming show The Secret River and Pete Manwaring chats about the Pork Collective’s Night Odditorium at Peats Ridge. 91

PUBLISHER Street Press Australia Pty Ltd GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Mast EDITOR Mark Neilsen ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michael Smith FRONT ROW EDITOR Cassandra Fumi frontrow@drummedia.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Adam Curley, Adam Wilding, Alex Hardy, Anthony Carew, Bethany Small, Brendan Crabb, Brent Balinski, Bryget Chrisfield, Celline Narinli, Chris Familton, Chris Maric, Cyclone, Dan Condon, Danielle O’Donohue, Dave Drayton, Guy Davis, Helen Lear, Huwston, Jake Millar, Jamelle Wells, James d’Apice, James Dawson, Jessie Hunt, Katie Benson, Kris Swales, Liz Giuffre, Lucia Osborne-Crowley, Mark Hebblewhite, Paul Ransom, Paul Smith, Pedro Manoy, Rip Nicholson, Rob Townsend, Robbie Lowe, Ross Clelland, Sarah Braybrooke, Sarah Petchell, Scott Fitzsimons, Sebastian Skeet, Sevana Ohandjanian, Shane O’Donohue, Simon Eales, Steve Bell, Stuart Evans, Tim Finney, Troy Mutton PHOTOGRAPHERS Angela Padovan, Carine Thevenau, Cybele Malinowski, Josh Groom, Justin Malinowski, Kane Hibberd, Linda Heller-Salvador, Maclay Heriot, Tony Mott ADVERTISING DEPT sales@drummedia.com.au Brett Dayman, James Seeney, Andrew Lilley

ART DEPT artwork@drummedia.com.au Dave Harvey, Matt Davis

CLASSIFIEDS iflog.com.au

30 • To check out the mags online go to themusic.com.au/mags

LIVE Reviews of the past week’s big gigs including Alexisonfire, Gotye, Grimes, Tame Impala, Parkway Drive and more. 93 Dan Condon looks at blues and roots with Roots Down, Chris Maric gets local with hard rock and metal in The Heavy Shit, and Sarah Petchell brings us local and international punk news in Wake The Dead. 96 Cyclone gives you urban and r’n’b news in OG Flavas; Adam Curley muses on all things pop culture in The Breakdown; Tim Finney charts the new currents in Dance Moves and Michael Smith delivers some Blow with jazz and world music news. 97 Viktor Krum asks you to Get It Together with the latest in hip hop, and Dave Drayton gets Young & Restless with all ages goings on. 98 It’s all here: Tour guide, what’s happening in indie news this week, gig guide and more. 100 Muso – everything you need to know about the making and recording of music. 114 The Classies – need a singer/bassist/drummer/ any other service/product you can think of? Your answer is here. And on iflog.com.au. 116

COVER DESIGN Dave Harvey ACCOUNTS DEPT accounts@streetpress.com.au GIVEAWAYS/GIG GUIDE Justine Lynch THE DRIVERS Grant, David, Julian, Ray, Paul, Al, Mark PRINTING Rural Press (02) 4570 4444 DISTRIBUTION distro@drummedia.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are $2.20 per week (Minimum of 12 weeks) – Send your details with payment to Subscriptions Dept, The Drum Media, PO Box 2440 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 (cheques/money orders to be made payable to Dharma Media Pty Ltd) ADDRESS Postal: PO Box 2440 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Street: Level 1/142 Chalmers St Surry Hills NSW 2010 Phone (02) 9331 7077 Fax (02) 9331 2633 Email info@drummedia.com.au www.themusic.com.au The Drum Media is also available on iPad via the iTunes App Store

OPEN ‘TILL 3AM

MUSO’S NIGHT

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SAT2 SHOWS 29

CROSSING RED LINES + FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH

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4/1 COCK & BALL TORTURE (GER)

FOREWORD LINE

NEWS FROM THE FRONT

TALL TIMBER I Am Giant are returning to Australia in February for their first dates since their support slot with Slash this past September. I Am Giant have amassed a worldwide following with four number one rock singles and a platinum album in New Zealand as well as music videos featuring skate and surfing icons Tony Hawk and Kelly Slater. They hit town on Friday 15 February to play GoodGod Small Club.

I N D U S T RY N E W S W I T H S C O T T F I T Z S I M O N S frontline@streetpress.com.au

The Amity Affliction pic by Kane Hibberd

JANUARY Coachella dominated industry talk when its line-up featured the reformations of At The Drive-In and Refused. Inertia’s Inertia Access platform was launched, allowing artists a wide range of control over their material and use of the company’s services. Gotye signed to Albert’s Publishing, while the cash-strapped Tasmanian leg of Falls Festival struggled for funding. Melbourne’s East Brunswick Club announced their last live show, Boy & Bear signed a new management deal with Wonderlick Entertainment management roster and triple j kicked off the year with Nick Findlay filling in as music director while Richard Kingsmill took a few months off.

Tomahawk Turin Brakes

GUM BALL LINE-UP The Gum Ball have announced the first round of acts for the 2013 festival. The Gum Ball will be held over Thursday 25, Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April, hosted by the Johnston family on their pristine bushland estate ‘Dashville’ in Lower Belford, in the Hunter Valley. On the bill are Turin Brakes, Mia Dyson, The Beards, Saskwatch, The Preatures, Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Katalyst, Jordie Lane, Mojo Juju, Steve Smyth, Little Bastard and King Of The North. The second round of acts is set to be announced in January. Tickets and info at thegumball.com.au.

SLAMMIN’ IT HOME

FEBRUARY The Rainbow Serpent festival faced tragedy after a man was found dead at the event. Locals rallied around the festival, saying its cancellation would cripple local business. Byron Bay locals came out against the proposed Splendour In The Grass festival site development at Yelgun. Dew Process and Secret Service launched new imprint Create/ Control. A US company apologised to John Butler Trio for using a song extremely similar to Zebra for a yoghurt commercial during the Superbowl. Whitney Houston died at the age of 48. Live Nation joined with Creativeman to expand their operations to Japan, while Universal Music Group’s acquisition of EMI awaited approval by EU regulators. Clive Shakespeare, guitarist and co-founder of Sherbet, died from cancer at age 62. Drummer Ryan Caesar left Children Collide, and the streaming war kicked off with launches from Rdio and Rara.com.

MARCH Melbourne importer and reissue specialist Aztec Music was forced into receivership, and the PPCA’s challenge against the one per cent broadcasting cap was knocked back by the High Court. The Generate program awarded $30,000 to 15 entrepreneurs in the music industry, while the ARIA Chart website announced redesign plans and a new mobile app thanks to a new partnership with MCM Media. Micheal Chugg called for enforceable anti-scalping legislation but Live Performance Australia maintained scalping legislation is not the answer. The Jezebels’ Prisoner won the $30,000 Australian Music Prize (The AMP) as judges questioned the decision process. Sydney’s The Hi-Fi was launched. NSW’s Playground Weekender festival was washed out and tried desperately to host shows in the city. Reclink Community Cup had its first ever game in Sydney, while Street Press Australia’s Three Magazine was named in the 20 Best iPad magazine apps worldwide by iMonitor.

APRIL Legendary Indigenous musician Jimmy Little died aged 75; Men At Work’s Greg Ham died at 58. Pop-rockers Short Stack split up, while Live Nation Entertainment bought concert promoter Michael Coppel Presents. Redevelopment of the Sydney Entertainment Centre was announced and the economic climate led to the postponement of the Inside Film Awards. Leaked memos said Sony/ ATV planned to cut 60 per cent of EMI’s publishing arm staff following their purchase. Web provider iiNet beat film and TV companies who claimed internet service providers are liable for online piracy, in a High Court ruling. Three members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot were denied bail after being arrested for performing in a Moscow church. Gotye and Kimbra cracked the all-time top-five weekly download sales in the US with Somebody That I Used To Know, and Inertia and Hub Artist Services formed HUB The Label. The North Byron Parklands became the new Splendour In The Grass site after drawn out deliberations and Roadrunner Records announced massive lay-offs.

PRESENTED BY

Jason Mraz

THEY KEEP ON GIVING Bluesfest Byron Bay at Easter weekend (28 March to 1 April) has added more superb artists to its bill. Headlining this announcement is Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz. Also added to the bill are Manu Chao La Ventura, Mark Seymour & The Undertow, Chris Smither, Current Swell, Matt Andersen, Go Jane Go (feat Kieran Kane, David Francey and Lucas Kane) and The McMenamins. Tickets are selling fast. For full festival line-up, tickets and the latest playing schedule go to bluesfest.com.au.

AUSTRALIA DAY ROCKS Festival Of The Voice will return to a stage under the Harbour Bridge at the Rocks for Australia Day 2013. They have announced a huge line-up with double headliners Indigenous folk singer-songwriter Gurrumul and five-time ARIA-nominee and blues artist Ash Grunwald. Other acts include Sietta, Dubmarine, Tin Sparrow, Battleships, The Margaret Street Project and Lolo Lovina Caravan. Running from noon to 8pm on Saturday 26 January, for more info and line-up updates head to therocks.com.

DOIN’ A FARNSEY John Farnham will be leading a series of events run by The Star and coinciding with Australia Day festivities, performing the first public-ticketed concert to launch the exciting new 4000-capacity The Star Event Centre. This show will be his first live show in Sydney since his sold-out Whispering Jack – 25 Years On Tour in 2011. It happens on Thursday 24 January and tickets are on sale from 9am this morning.

COLLISION COURSE The McClymonts have now released three albums, with their newest offering, Two Worlds Collide, taking out the ARIA Award for Best Country Album in 2012, just as its predecessor, Wrapped Up Good, did in 2010. For a limited season they will present a one-off series of very special intimate shows: The Acoustic Harmony Tour 2013, playing Friday 1 February at Belmont 16s, Saturday 2 at The Cube in Campbelltown, Saturday 9 at North Sydney Leagues, Friday 22 at South Sydney Juniors, Saturday 23 at Castle Hill RSL, Saturday 2 March at Rooty Hill RSL, Friday 22 at Bankstown Sports, Friday 26 April at Dapto Leagues, Friday 3 May at Dee Why RSL, Saturday 4 at Wenty Leagues in Wentworthville, Friday 17 at Wests Leagues in Newcastle and Saturday 18 at Hornsby RSL.

O FOR OARSOME Already heavily involved in preparations for the biggest event of the uni semester, University of Technology Sydney has launched their line-up for the aptly titled Back To The Future O Fest event, which will kick off a year of celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the UTS. Confirmed headlining acts for the festival will be the Midnight Juggernauts and Hermitude. Other confirmed acts include Parachute Youth, New Navy, Ajax, Zoe Badwi and Elizabeth Rose. It goes down on Friday 22 February from 3pm.

32 • For more news/announcements go to themusic.com.au/news

After a huge debut year this year, SLAM Day returns in 2003 with registrations now open. On Saturday 23 February musicians and music lovers will come together in the largest simultaneous celebration of live music and small gigs that’s ever been held in Australia, for the second annual SLAM Day. Support a SLAM Day gig in your town – any style, any genre. Small gigs can happen in your backyard, in a venue, in your community hall, in a cafe, on the street or in the park. It’s easy to get involved and free to register - just head to slamrally.org.

Jonny Telafone

BORED NOTHING SUPPORTS Bored Nothing are pleased to announce a handful of very special guests for their upcoming album launches. FBi Social becomes a double record launch with Jonny Telafone to christen his newly released debut LP. After destroying audiences at Chapter Music’s 20 Big Ones shows, the Melbourne-based bedroom auteur returns to Sydney. Black Zeros will also share the stage on Thursday 10 January.

ODDFELLOWS Tomahawk are Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard, Unsemble), Mike Patton (Faith No More, Fantômas) and John Stanier (Helmet, Battles), and this time around they’re joined by Trevor “field mouse” Dunn (Mr Bungle, Fantômas). They recently found time to create the tunes that make up their new record, Oddfellows, which will be released in January on Ipecac Recordings. They’re heading out for Soundwave but will now also play Tuesday 26 February at The Metro.

FUN TIMES Nine Sons Of Dan are set to release their catchy new single titled Fun (La da da da da). The band have also announced a national summer tour in support of said single and will play Saturday 6 at The Brewhouse.

SHAW THING It’s been a wild ride for young English guitar sensation Joanne Shaw Taylor. Between her discovery at age 16 by Dave Stewart of the Eurhythmics to her appearance with Annie Lennox at The Queen’s Jubilee concert, she’s won Best Female Vocalist at the British Blues Awards twice, toured the globe with the likes of BB King and Joe Bonamassa, and released three critically acclaimed albums, including this year’s Almost Always Never. She’s headed our way and will play Thursday 14 February at The Wickham Park Hotel Newcastle, Wednesday 20 at the Brass Monkey, Friday 22 at The Basement Circular Quay, Saturday 23 at Emu Plains Sports Club and Sunday 24 at The Towradgi Beach Hotel.

CRIME & THE CITY With their origins going back to 1977 whilst based in Sydney, Simon Bonney has led the now legendary group Crime & The City Solution through countless line-up changes, in many cities, across multiple countries. Through all of this the group’s reputation as an international musical force has proceeded them, but it’s only now that time has finally caught up with the band and made both them, and their vast back catalogue, more relevant than ever. In February Crime & The City Solution will be presenting three select headline shows in Australia and will play Sydney Thursday 21 February at Hi-Fi Bar.

BIG MAC Mac Miller taught himself to play piano, drums, guitar and bass by the age of six. Then, after learning to compose songs in a variety of musical genres, he began studying the art of rhyme. Influenced by the styles of artists such as Big L, Lauryn Hill, Outkast and A Tribe Called Quest, Miller soon developed a reputation for delivering jaw-dropping freestyles in Pittsburgh. You can catch him this summer when he touches down on Wednesday 20 February at Enmore Theatre.

Strangers

JUST A FRIEND YOU NEVER MET Strangers will deliver their fresh take on Aussie rock to the masses this summer on an extensive ninedate album tour. New album title, Persona Non Grata, may roughly translate to ‘an unwelcome stranger’, but everyone will be welcome at their shows. They’ll play Thursday 31 January at The Great Northern in Newcastle, Friday 1 February at The Annandale Hotel and Saturday 2 at The Patch in Wollongong.

Bullet For My Valentine

BANG BAND YOU’RE DEAD Bullet For My Valentine have spent most of the past few years touring the world. With a brand new album, Temper Temper, about to detonate in February the boys are bringing their ferocious live show back to Australia. As part of their appearances at the sold-out Soundwave Festivals they will be performing Wednesday 27 February at The Hi-Fi.

IN BLOOM Luka Bloom has enjoyed 22 years of success worldwide. Since the release of one of the all-time Irish classic albums, Riverside, in 1990, but particularly after 1991 single, I Need Love, people from all corners of the globe have embraced his abilities. Bloom returns in March 2013 for his 11th Australian tour to play Lizotte’s Kincumber Friday 8 March, Lizotte’s Newcastle Sunday 10, the Enmore Theatre Tuesday 12, Wollongong Diggers Wednesday 13 and Tilley’s in Canberra from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20.

MORE WILCO Due to an overwhelming response to the members pre-sale, Sydney Opera House has added a second and final concert for Wilco. The Chicago sixpiece will perform in the Concert Hall Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 April as part of Music At The House. Tickets are on sale and won’t last.

ST PLEASURES

LIFE’S GREATE

AND MUSIC GREAT FOOD LIZOTTE’S SYDNEY O OF MARRYING TW

02 9984 9933

AWARDED BEST ENTERTAINMENT RESTAURANT IN SYDNEY 19 DEC 20 DEC

21 DEC 22 DEC 23 DEC 28 DEC 29 DEC 3 JAN 4 JAN 5 JAN 6 JAN

Is It Her An evening of A Cappella with Senisuara & Lilac Jon English with Special Guest Peter Cupples Choirboys The Trouble With Templeton The Legendary Brian Cadd A Tribute to Boz Scaggs & Hall & Oates The Audreys Brian’s Famous Jazz & Chilli Crab Night Sharon Shannon (Ireland) Ray Beadle

LIZOTTE’S CENTRAL COAST 02 4368 2017

19 DEC 20 DEC 21 DEC 22 DEC 23 DEC 27 DEC 28 DEC 29 DEC 31 DEC

2 JAN 4 JAN 5 JAN 6 JAN

Jon English with Special Guest Peter Cupples Jingle Blues - A Very Bluesy Christmas Choirboys The Trouble With Templeton Lazy Sunday Lunch with James Reyne The Legendary Brian Cadd Nathan Foley Casey Donovan A Funky New Years Eve with Dexter Moore & Paul Robert Burton Fairplay Entertainment & Lizottes’ presents Coopers Live and Local Ray Beadle Gaynor Crawford presents Ben Sollee The Audreys

LIZOTTE’S NEWCASTLE

02 4956 2066

AWARDED BEST ENTERTAINMENT RESTAURANT IN AUSTRALIA 19 DEC 20 DEC 21 DEC 22 DEC 23 DEC 27 DEC 28 DEC 29 DEC 31 DEC 4 JAN 5 JAN 6 JAN

The Idea Of North Jon English with Special Guest Peter Cupples The Trouble With Templeton James Reyne Choirboys Daryl Braithwaite Casey Donovan The Legendary Brian Cadd RED HOT New Years Eve with The Radiators! The Audreys Ray Beadle Sharon Shannon (Ireland)

Calling all artists for Live and Locals! Contact events@lizottes.com.au Lizotte’s Sydney 629 Pittwater Rd Dee Why

Lizotte’s Central Coast Lot 3 Avoca Dr Kincumber

Lizotte’s Newcastle 31 Morehead St Lambton

w w w . l i z o t t e s . c o m . a u 33

FOREWORD LINE

NEWS FROM THE FRONT

BOYS OF SUMMER LOCAL SUPPORTS The Boys Of Summer Tour features the notorious Deez Nuts, Canadian hardcore outfit Comeback Kid, Michigan’s For The Fallen Dreams and Sydney’s own Hand Of Mercy. They have also added The Bride to their Sunday 13 January show at The Hi-Fi, Mark My Words will join them on Monday 14 at The Cambridge Hotel Newcastle, Northlane and In Hearts Wake will play Tuesday 15 at Oasis Youth Centre in Wyong and As Silence Breaks joins the bill on Wednesday 16 at Woden Youth Centre in Canberra.

I N D U S T RY N E W S W I T H S C O T T F I T Z S I M O N S frontline@streetpress.com.au

MAY Agency Artist Voice launched Artist Voice Electronic. Michael Chugg was honoured with the International Music Person Of The Year at MUSEXPO 2012. The NSW Government secured hosting rights to the ARIA Awards for three years, while Kate Miller-Hiedke branded Anthony Callea a “fuckwit” following his scathing comments on her Q&A appearance. The government failed to renew funding for The Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP), and Universal Music Group faced a US Senate panel discussing their $1.9 billion EMI purchase. Late hip hop icon Hunter, WAM CEO Paul Bodlovich and Tim Minchin were announced as WAM Hall Of Fame inductees. Gyroscope guitarist Zoran Trivic broke both of his legs in a motorcycle accident, and Spotify launched officially in Australia and New Zealand. After a long battle with cancer, Bee Gees founding member Robin Gibb died at age 62. XYZ Networks joined the Foxtel Networks group after a merger between Foxtel and Austar. Paul Dainty led a consortium of strategic investors to save Aztec Music, and the Tasmanian leg of Falls was saved by philanthropist Graeme Wood.

Fun.

FUN FUN FUN Six-time Grammy Award-nominated wunderkinds fun. will play two exclusive side show dates whilst on tour in Australia for Future Music Festival in March. They play Thursday 7 March at Enmore Theatre.

EXTRA SPRINGSTEEN SHOW Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have announced additional concerts in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and even Hanging Rock. Demand has been unprecedented with tens of thousands of fans trying to snap up tickets when they went on pre-sale at noon on Wednesday. The new Sydney show happens on Wednesday 20 March at Allphones Arena. Tickets on sale now.

JUNE Shock launched punk/hardcore imprint Halfcut Records, while The Amity Affliction caused a stir with their confronting album artwork and the social media discussion that followed. Management company Wonderlick inked a publishing deal with EMI Publishing, copyright monitors MIPI rebranded as the friendlier-looking Music Rights Australia. In Melbourne Ding Dong Lounge announced re-opening details while Sydney’s The Basement was put up for sale. Long-running Brisbane street press Rave ceased operations. Jazz legend Graeme Bell died aged 97. He was considered the father of Australian jazz. In the ongoing EMI saga, Sony/ATV got the all clear for their acquisition of EMI’s publishing arm as New Zealand regulations gave the green light to Universal’s purchase of EMI’s recorded music.

JULY Michael Gudinski was named the most powerful person in the Australian music industry by the inaugural Power 50, published by the Australasian Music Industry, causing much discussion and debate in the industry. Sydney’s iconic Sandringham Hotel entered receivership, sparking months of local protests. Bluesfest organisers claimed victory over a controversial Byron Shire Council “major events” clause that would restrict events. Splendour In The Grass set the bar for festivals moving forward, even with hail and “disappointed” police. Wonderlick continued its expansion by launching a label with Sony, Meg Williams became the executive director of the Associations Of Artist Managers, Daniel Johns wrote a Qantas jingle and Pandora soft-launched in Australia after a five-year absence. Zoot frontman Darryl Cotton died, aged 62, after a battle with cancer.

AUGUST Little Red formally – and finally – announced their split, The Rubens got new management from Umbrella, Tasmanian singer Asta won triple j Unearthed High. The ACT’s peak music body, MusicACT, announced the territory’s first music awards, to take place later in the year. News broke that musical instrument retailer Allans Billy Hyde was in receivership, with the future of staff uncertain. The Living End were selling tickets to their huge ‘residency tour’ around the country quicker than they could print them. The Australian Music Prize announced that long-time affiliates Coopers had signed on as a naming sponsor for what was now The Coopers AMP. South By Southwest director Brent Grulke died suddenly, sending shockwaves through the industry.

SEPTEMBER Brisbane conference and showcase BIGSOUND was again a success and AIR’s Nick O’Byrne was named the next executive programmer. Splendour In The Grass’ Paul Piticco and Jessica Ducrou joined the management team of Falls Music & Arts Festival. Troy Mutton was appointed editor of The Drum Media Perth as Aarom Wilson joined WAM. EMI and Future Entertainment launched a label, local indie labels attacked the ACCC’s decision to not oppose Universal’s purchase of EMI Music’s recorded music division, though it mattered little as the historic deal was finally cleared by the European Commission and US Federal Trade Commission.

PRESENTED BY

Cypress Hill

In a career that has spanned over two decades, Cypress Hill have sold over 18 million albums and spawned a seemingly neverending list of cult hits. The iconic US West Coast hip hop group will perform two headline side shows whilst in Australia for the sold-out Soundwave Festival. They’ll play Monday 25 February at UNSW Roundhouse.

Darling Harbour Australia Day is one of the most popular events on the Sydney calendar, attracting more than 180,000 people each year. The Australia Day Spectacular will provide a breathtaking finale to Darling Harbour’s fantastic day-long program of live shows, kids’ entertainment and interactive performances that celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity. Palm Grove and Harbourside Amphitheatre will feature music from 12.30pm including Jimmy D’s Flying Carpet Band, Polski Ogorki Trio, Hermitage Green and Caribbean Soul. It’s all free from 11.30am to 9pm.

WATERBOYS ADD CANBERRA SHOW The Waterboys will make their first ever visit to Australia this January and the tour is now set to include a show at Canberra Theatre on Friday 25 January. They’ve confirmed the show will be a set of vintage Waterboys spanning their 30-year back catalogue together with highlights from their new album, An Appointment with Mr Yeats, celebrating the works of Irish poet WB Yeats. They also play Sydney Opera House on Saturday 26 January.

NEWTOWN NEW YEAR’S

AUTUMN ARRIVES Emilie Autumn is bringing her burlesque circus of mayhem back to Australia. With Fight Like A Girl, the highly anticipated, recently released sequel to the impressive Opheliac, Autumn will wow audiences in Australia in March, performing Saturday 30 at The Factory Theatre Marrickville.

NOT OVER THE HILL

AUSTRALIA DAY SPECTACULAR

Emilie Autumn

GEEZ LOUISE Slayer

SLAYER BIG TOP SHOW Ten studio albums, thousands of live shows and nearly three decades into a career that’s made them one of the biggest and most important metal bands in the world, the members of Slayer know exactly what kind of music they make – brutal but beautiful, punishing yet precise. The only things you need to know is that they’re playing a Soundwave sideshow at Luna Park Big Top on Monday 25 February and tickets go on sale Wednesday 19 December at 9am.

HUXLEY’S HOUSE Hard-earned respect from your peers is a rare commodity but Huxley, aka Michael Dodman, has it in spades. Since his late teens he’s been producing, seeing initial underground success as a garage producer before he mutated towards a deeper, more house-based sound in the past few years. Collaborations with old mate Ethyl for the then hotas-hell Cecille imprint in 2009 showed a producer receiving massive support for what instantly seemed like a fully developed sound. You can see for yourself when he plays Saturday 2 March at Chinese Laundry.

Fresh off the back of a three-month international writing stay in New York and a national tour with Missy Higgins and Gurrumul, Brisbane songstress Emma Louise is delivering an exclusive sneak peek of her debut album with a run of intimate shows. Playing with a full band, this will be Louise’s first major headline tour since July and also the first to preview material that is currently being captured in the studio. She hits town on Wednesday 23 January at The Vanguard.

SHE CAN DJ TOUR She Can DJ and EMI Music have announced a run of dates for the upcoming national She Can DJ Remixed Tour, featuring DJs from the top ten finalists of 2011 and 2012. The tour will be led by Winners Minx and Leah Mencel and features NatNoiz, Cassette, DJ Femme, Fingertips, Dusk, Girl Audio, Hannah Parker and Juliet Fox along with top DJ club residents in every city. Catch it on Friday 25 January at Cargo Bar, Friday 1 February at Home, Saturday 9 at Kit & Kaboodle, Saturday 23 at Soho, Wednesday 27 at World Bar and Sunday 3 March for the finale back at Home.

The Newtown Hotel is the place to be on the very first day of 2013 as they are delivering a line-up of entertainment for free. Headlining the party is New Zealand-born Ladyhawke, who is sure to bring the house down with a live DJ set. In addition, they have the awesome Purple Sneakers DJs, who already have a jam-packed day of partying starting at Field Day, then are making their way over to pump up the dance floor. Also there’s FBI Radio’s Joyride, the indie-tastic Girlthing DJs and the always energetic and fun Shag.

PUSHING BUTTONS The Presets have announced additional dates to their upcoming Australian tour, with new shows announced for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The first Sydney date has now completely sold out but the new show will take place on Tuesday 12 February at the Enmore Theatre.

STRIKING SOME CHORDS Blackchords’ 2009 debut self-titled album garnered much respect from fans who have since shown their commitment through a fan-funded campaign for their second album. The band spent the beginning of 2012 in the studio with renowned Grammy Award-winning producer David Odlum (The Frames, Gemma Hayes, Josh Ritter, Luka Bloom), and release that second album, A Thin Line, in April. They’ll launch new single, Oh No, on Saturday 23 February at Oxford Art Factory.

34 • For more news/announcements go to themusic.com.au/news

YesYou

HIS AND HERS Lauded as superstars of chillwave, MS MR (pronounced Ms Mister) bring their lush marriage of gentle ‘80s rock and glitch-pop to Australia for Laneway Festival as well as two special headline side shows in February. Joining them for their club shows are Brisbane production duo YesYou. You can catch them on Monday 4 February at Oxford Art Factory.

TWEET TWEET Ahead of her first-ever Australian shows next year, Birdy has now added a second Sydney show. Tickets are on sale now for Birdy’s second night at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday 13 April.

Coheed & Cambria

ASCENSION DESCENSION Coheed & Cambria continue to remain a unique beast, impossible to classify. Following five groundbreaking albums, the New York foursome return in no less dramatic fashion than is to be expected with The Afterman: Ascension, an ambitious double concept album that is being unleashed in two separate full-length volumes. With guests Circa Survive they’ll perform it and more Saturday 20 April at The Metro.

FOREWORD LINE

NEWS FROM THE FRONT

GUNNING IT OVER Known for his ability to grab his audiences by the heart, Dave Gunning has made it his business to tell stories through beautifully composed music and extraordinary lyric writing. The Canadian wordsmith is heading for Australian shores from the end of December to mark the release of his new album, No More Pennies, kicking off with a stint at Woodford Folk Festival, the first time Australian audiences will have the chance to experience his magic. While here, he’ll also play Friday 4 January at The Basement, Saturday 5 at The Brass Monkey in Cronulla and Tuesday 8 and Thursday 10 at Notes.

I N D U S T RY N E W S W I T H S C O T T F I T Z S I M O N S frontline@streetpress.com.au

OCTOBER Warner’s new owner Len Blavatnik pumped $130 million into music streaming service Deezer. Tame Impala’s Lonerism was released. Local promoters the Dainty Group partnered with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group to launch Virgin Live, a new global touring venture that kicked off with The Rolling Stones shows. Southern Cross Austereo bought into Digital Music Distribution, a company with interests with both Sony and Universal, that is looking to launch a subscription music service. The Jägermeister Independent Music Awards took place in Melbourne, with wins for 360 and The Jezabels.

NOVEMBER Neil Finn saw Oscar hopes for his theme to The Hobbit, while AMCOS’s annual report showed strong growth. Kobalt’s label services division launched in Australia and Chugg Entertainment announced the Deni Blues & Roots festival in Deniliquin. Lisa Gerrard and Lior won Screen Music Awards, Tame Impala topped NME’s Album Of The Year list and the ARIA Awards’ inaugural ARIA Week was a success while the Awards themselves ran smoothly, even if ratings did fall from last year.

DECEMBER

The Sapphires dominated the AACTAs nominations, while ARIA launched its Streaming Tracks Chart with data from Spotify, JB Hi-Fi Now and Samsung Music. The Australia Council announced a grant for small labels, Dew Process Publishing signed a global deal with Kobalt. Inpress editor Shane O’Donohue announced he would move to Mushroom, with Bryget Chrisfield replacing him.

PRESENTED BY

Ben Howard

HOWARD’S END Ben Howard has had a whirlwind introduction to the world off the back of his Mercury Prizenominated, platinum-selling debut album, Every Kingdom. Off the back of a gruelling worldwide tour schedule, it’s no surprise that he notched up over a half a million record sales to his name worldwide. Whilst in the country for Bluesfest, Howard will take to the stage for his first three Australian headline sideshow performances, playing Sydney Wednesday 3 April at The Metro.

GOT WEED?

MENTAL TOUR

Tumbleweed came back from no man’s land a few years back, complete with their original line-up, to play a choice slot on Homebake, which went down so well that appearances at Meredith Music Festival and Big Day Outs, numerous headline tours and some tasty guest spots with the likes of Swervedriver and Kyuss Lives followed. Now they’ve also gone and recorded an album’s worth of brand spankin’ new material. For fans, there’s a must-see gig at the Annandale Hotel on Saturday 19 January. Along for the party will be Money For Rope and Kaleidoscope.

Mental Giants are excited to be hitting the road this coming February in their first tour with good friends Excitebike from Newcastle. Over five dates the two bands will take in the East Coast of Australia and play with some of the best local bands they could find. They play Friday 1 February at The Cambridge in Newcastle, Saturday 2 at The Roxbury Hotel and Friday 8 at The Pot Belly in Canberra.

MURRAY AND MATES Blue Sky Blue The Byron Sessions features songs from an album that Pete Murray loves, infused with the friendships he’s made in his adopted hometown of Byron Bay. Many musicians lend their talents to Murray’s songs, creating a sound that is familiar yet refreshingly new. He’s launching an extensive regional tour in January that includes a Sydney show on Friday 12 April at The York Theatre. There are too many regional dates to list here, so for all the details head to petemurray.com.

36 • For more news/announcements go to themusic.com.au/news

PSYCHEDELIC PARADE The Demon Parade have firmly cemented their place at the forefront of Australia’s psychedelic rock explosion. The band, who recently released their Chameleon EP, will take to the road again in 2013 for an East Coast tour and beyond. Channelling the likes of The Stone Roses, The Church and The Small Faces, while also taking cues from Spiritualized and the Dandy Warhols, The Demon Parade have taken a giant leap musically with the EP. They’ll play Thursday 31 January at Brighton Up Bar.

SOLAR POWER Darlings of the rockier end of the blues scene, threepiece shredders Chase The Sun will embark on an East Coast tour this February. Once known as a touring machine, Chase The Sun have been laying low of late, writing songs, growing families and travelling beyond their Sydney base only for festival appearances. This run of dates sees them back to their former road-warrior form with a swag of fresh material and some new tricks up their sleeve. They’ll touch down on Thursday 31 January at The Wickham Park Hotel Newcastle, Friday 1 February at Club Sapphire Merimbula, Saturday 2 at Beaches in Thirroul, Thursday 7 at The Peachtree Hotel Penrith and Friday 8 at The Rock Lily.

The Offspring

SPARKING THINGS OFF If you were a kid in the ‘90s The Offspring were one of those groups that made you scream at life. Their groundbreaking album, Ignition, was that breath of fresh air that a generation needed. To coincide with their 20th anniversary, and during their Soundwave tour, The Offspring will be playing the album in its entirety along with a set full of new songs and classics, Friday 8 March at Enmore Theatre.

Ruban Nielson wasn’t prepared for the music of Unknown Mortal Orchestra to blow up the way it did. In fact he wasn’t sure it would ever see the light of day. Now, after hundreds of shows and a heap of drugs, he tells Dan Condon he’s far more prepared to be in a band and has a renewed sense of confidence on the eve of their second album. hen Ruban Nielson – founder, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist of Unknown Mortal Orchestra – answers our call, he’s in the recording studio in the basement of his Portland home where he famously conceived and recorded the entire Unknown Mortal Orchestra album that so many

undisturbed vision makes it onto the wax. “I like records where you kinda get lost in this particular kind of world that has its own rules and stuff.” The huge, worldwide acclaim that came off the back of the debut Unknown Mortal Orchestra LP came out of nowhere. Tapes of the songs Nielson had put together were circulated and something of a bidding war eventuated, Fat Possum eventually securing the rights to release the record on a one-album deal. “I feel a lot more prepared,” he says in reference to the imminent release of II. “Everything about the first record was a bit touch and go; I didn’t expect it was gonna get the response that it got and when I was

wunderkind Julien Erhlich, who remains a friend of the band, but just didn’t fit. “The drummer that I started touring with, I didn’t know him at all,” Nielson says in reference to the teenaged Erhlich. “So we went out on the road for a year-and-a-half and we were complete strangers when we started it. He is a great drummer and

years. “That’s one thing that’s always been a big influence,” he admits. “You can get away with a lot of stuff when you’re in a band where people expect you to be wasted all the time. You can do things like take acid every day for weeks on end and nobody bats an eyelid. They’d be more surprised if you weren’t

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW considered to be one of 2011’s finest releases.

“I’m working on a remix for this girl Sky Ferreira, who is a pop musician,” the New Zealand-bred musician says softly, before casually adding “and I’m working on this thing for Trent Reznor, a remix thing for How To Destroy Angels [Reznor’s latest project with wife Mariqueen Maandig and long-time collaborator Atticus Ross].” Recently, in that very same studio, Nielson wrote and recorded the band’s eagerly awaited follow-up album, II, which will be released worldwide early in the New Year, just after the band duck over to Australia and New Zealand for a very quick couple of dates. “It’s pretty much exactly how I was hoping it would turn out, so I’m pretty excited,” he says of the new record. Making the records autonomously allows Nielson the chance to ensure his

recording that stuff I didn’t even think about releasing it; I didn’t think it was gonna get released. So I was a little bit shell-shocked about the whole thing. “The second record is a little bit about what happened. With this one it’s like I took stock while I was making this record and figuring a bunch of stuff out. The record helped me figure out what was going on, what was going on with myself and my emotions and what I wanted in life.”

It wasn’t just a journey into his self, but into the entity Nielson had created, and he found that there were elements of Unknown Mortal Orchestra that needed to change. “Then there was sort of a whole business part; I changed drummers, I changed my manager and I changed my label, because I knew exactly what I wanted so I went out and set that up and now I feel like I’m going into a situation that I’m really ready for. Everything’s a lot better now, I’m looking after myself a lot better and the band knows what it’s doing.” Greg Rogove has taken the spot behind the kit, the Devendra Banhart drummer filling the shoes of Portland

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that was as much as I knew when we started. We’re still friends and stuff, but some people you can spend every day with – day-in and dayout – and some people you can’t. He was a kid who had never toured before and he got thrown into this whole thing of touring and it wasn’t very healthy for him.”

The touring that Unknown Mortal Orchestra undertook was intense, close to two years of straight travel and, with that, partying. Drugs were a big part of Nielson’s life during this touring cycle and press material for the band openly states that the songs were borne from the hedonism of the past few

doing that. I got a little bit carried away sometimes. “But when I was making the record I hardly did any drugs at all. It’s as much about the records that I listen to than anything else. It’s not like [drugs] made me think a lot weirder; a lot of what I do isn’t responding to drugs, it’s responding to the music that I love and wanting to create music that has those elements.” Another huge influence on Nielson’s songwriting in the lead-up to album number two was the knowledge that these songs would be performed live, with a full band, and not just left sitting dormant on a hard drive in his basement in

Portland. “I gave in to the concept of the live band a lot more and I let The Beatles and Led Zeppelin come through a lot more, which I was holding back a little bit on the first record because I didn’t want to be that obvious. “We just started rehearsing the new album and we did like five days of playing the new stuff and I think some of it is a lot heavier and a lot more rock than anything that’s on the first record, so I think people might be kinda surprised about that. I let riffs into it in a way that I didn’t really allow to happen on the first record and I think it makes it a lot more fun and I think it makes the live show a lot more exhilarating. It’s a lot easier for us to make it sound exactly like the record than the first one.” After a couple of years of touring and playing shows with nothing but a 30-minute LP from which they could select tracks, Nielson is very much enjoying the idea of adding a whole new set of songs into the mix and extended their live show into something far longer and more psychedelic. “Yeah, it’s awesome!” he chirps. “We have a really long set now, it’s like eighteen songs. That’s really cool. I think this band is the kind of band who would be doing a lot better if the set was really long, because there’s a lot of people who like this kind of music but they want to be there watching the band for a long time, spacing out and stuff, but with half-an-hour worth of music you’re just kinda hitting it and leaving the stage right when you’re getting warmed up.” There will be a lot more opportunity for Unknown Mortal Orchestra to develop their live show in the coming months, the band’s leader revealing that all he wants to do is get on the road and, more importantly, get on stage. “We’re gonna do a really big headline tour in the States and then from there we’ll probably be going back to Australia – some time closer to the middle of the year. I think I’m just looking forward to working hard and playing tonnes of shows; we just like playing music. All the stuff that goes on in between walking on stage and walking off stage is just a hassle.” WHO: Unknown Mortal Orchestra WHAT: II (Jagjaguwar/Inertia) WHEN & WHERE: Monday 31 December, Peats Ridge Festival, Glenworth Valley; Tuesday 1 January, Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul; Wednesday 2, The Standard

SO GOOD AT BEING IN TROUBLE Before Unknown Mortal Orchestra was conceived, Ruban Nielson played in a (for most of their existence) NZ-based post-hardcore band by the name of The Mint Chicks. The critically revered act also featured Nielson’s brother Kody, now the driving force behind garage pop experimentalists OPOSSOM, and it was during their tenyear career that their love of psych music came to fruition. “The Mint Chicks were pretty big acid heads and stuff and I guess as things went on we left punk and became more psychedelic,” Nielson says. While a decade in a rock band meant that life on the road wasn’t an entirely new prospect for Nielson, he says life in his former band was very different to his experiences with Unknown Mortal Orchestra. “We would tour a lot, but we didn’t have that much fun on tour,” he laughs, referring to his old band. “Everyone would get sick and everybody was arguing all the time; it was a lot more punk rock.” Which leads us to the perceptions of different bands that are based entirely on the style of music they play, Nielson was a little shocked to see that life in his new band while on the road was going to be rather different than what he was used to. “I suppose if you make different kinds of music different kinds of experiences come your way. If you make the kind of music that The Mint Chicks make, it’s not a very hedonistic lifestyle that comes your way, but for UMO, for one reason or another, I guess it was more hedonistic, so I was a little bit unprepared.” But it wasn’t just that perception that threw Nielson off; it was also the sheer wealth of opportunity to lose one’s self in a touring cycle due to its sheer longevity that played some part in sending him into a life of wondrous disregard for every anti-drug campaign. “Also the Mint Chicks never really toured as heavily. We’ve been on tour for two years and it’s only just started to slow down; I’d never done that kind of heavy, heavy touring before so I was kind of like a kid in a candy store and I just kind of went nuts.”

THE TASTE FOR ANY OCCASION Closing the lid on another killer 12 months, British electronic gods Hot Chip are hotter than ever. Ben Preece catches producer, beatmaker and all round legend Joe Goddard on a rare moment of downtime. n 2012, it perhaps seems like genuine, remarkable talent is difficult to come by. Even with this gift, dragging it to the next level, onto the world stage while simultaneously gaining success and popularity – not to mention credibility – it seems like longevity becomes pretty hard to come by. It’s perhaps hard to believe that London’s Hot Chip are 12 years old, have recently released their fifth (and arguably finest) album In Our Heads and notched up what seems like a plethora of banging hit singles, walking that fine line between commercial-popular and indie-credible, topping critics’ best of lists and generally making the crossover.

Joe Goddard and vocalist Alexis Taylor feel something akin to the modern day Morrissey/Marr or a Tennant/Lowe and have created a legacy so strong that it appears to only be getting bigger with every release. Of course, talent is not something the five Londoners that make up Hot Chip are short of – just take a look at the numerous solo outings that have been spawned from each and every one. The incredibly prolific Joe Goddard alone, has released a handful of EPs and an album with collaborator Raf Rundell with The 2 Bears as well as dropping hits like last year’s Gabriel under his own name. With his little girl playfully rustling in the background, Goddard is sounding remarkably relaxed despite his hectic schedule. In fact, he calls this “a rare moment of downtime” despite the fact he’s currently giving interviews for Hot Chip’s impending tour Down Under. “It’s very hard finding that downtime” he laughs casually. “But I really love everything that I am doing so, if I am honest, I don’t find it too bad at all. I guess I should really try and work a lot less, but it’s tough when you really like doing it, you know? Currently, I am just getting back together with Raf to work on some 2 Bears music so that will happen all next week – we’re aiming to get a bunch done in the next few months and maybe put another record out at the end of next year. We have a few remixes pending at the moment, I just finished one from Dirty Projectors that I’m really happy with, plus I’d like to release some music under my own name again for maybe early next year.”

“We’re planning to do for the show on New Year’s Eve – it’s a bit of a secret but it’s a few bits and pieces with the songs that we’ve never done before,” Goddard says, biting his tongue. “Like we do, we take the new material and play it yes, but work it into the set weaving songs into each other, referencing a DJ I guess and trying hard to make it exciting. We’ve been touring this for a long time now so we’ll be nice and tight when we get to you.” WHO: Hot Chip WHAT: In Our Heads (Domino/EMI) WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday 1 January, Field Day, The Domain; Tuesday 8, Enmore Theatre

JESSIE WARE (UK)

He confesses that juggling three successful projects isn’t quite as difficult as some might perceive, and that the songs eventually unravel themselves and reveal just what project will end up claiming them as their own.

JESSIE WARE(UK)

“Some of it is just simple, practical things, like if I start a track with Raf then obviously that’s a 2 Bears thing. But, generally, if it starts to sound like more of a pop song, then I’ll fling that to Alexis and see if he wants to work on that with me. If it’s more of an esoteric club track or it’s an unusual thing then I might put it under my own name. I try not to think about it too much; obviously, if I’m working on a track I just focus on getting it as fully realised as I possibly can but it does occasionally cross my mind. But I do find I can’t think about that too much, [however], it’s generally not that difficult.”

There’s more to this story on the iPad Released in March, In Our Heads is being touted as one of Hot Chip’s finest albums to date. Preceded by the thumping club single Night And Day, the album shines in every way possible – the production has stepped up and the songwriting by Taylor and Goddard is sharpening further with every new release.

Rightfully so or not, there are some songwriting comparisons being thrown around that are incredibly complimentary to say the least. Goddard reveals that he doesn’t really aspire to any of the great British songwriting duos often name-dropped, in fact, he doesn’t really consider himself a “writer” as such at all. “I consider myself more of a beatmaker, producer kind of character. I think Alexis is the writer – when he writes he sits down at a piano or with a guitar and writes the song to the finish. When I make things, I use loops and rhythms so I don’t see myself as the writer as such. I am really proud of the relationship with Alexis and we’ve written some pretty good tunes over the years, but when I read things that talk about great songwriters that we’re aspiring to be, in truth, I haven’t really considered that.” Hot Chip aren’t strangers to an amazing live set either. They’re on their way back to Australia for the New Year period, playing the festival run as well as a few headline dates of their own.

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“Quite a lot of people have said they like it the most,” Goddard laughs. “I think it’s a strong record yeah, I made it and I still like listening to it. In terms of purely a production level and sonically, I think it’s really good and clear and sounds really nice. I am super proud of the clarity and the general engineering of it – it sounds really nicely made. I was looking for the kind of sound that you get on a Chic record, you know, very tight and really funky and, well, kind of hi-fi but also quite disco-y and I think we’ve got that. It’s a well written record. “It didn’t feel daunting to produce it ourselves, to me anyway. It felt pretty natural at the time we were making it because we had a lot of the songs kind of half finished. There were a bunch of songs – a couple of which we wrote right after the previous record and a few new ones came together quite naturally and quickly – and I guess when we were making demos of the songs, we were always thinking about how they were going to be produced and the sound of the track when it was finished. Getting into the production and finishing the record doesn’t feel like that big a step as it’s half done already. When we come to actually finishing it off, it’s about making it that little bit nicer, better engineered and better played really.”

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BLOOD IN THE TRACKS England’s Blood Red Shoes recorded their new EP so fast they can’t even remember making it, but it’s their newfound honesty that’s had the biggest impact on shaping their sound. “If we don’t like something, instead of fucking around for weeks… now, we know each other well enough and we’re secure enough that I can say, ‘You know what? I don’t like that fucking riff’,” Steven Ansell says to Michael Smith.

ome bands just can’t get creative when they’re on tour, but not Brighton-based duo Blood Red Shoes. In fact, it seems the songs fairly pour out of the pair – guitarist Laura-Mary Carter and drummer Steven Ansell – as they finish the year off with the release of a new EP, Water. It comes just nine months after the release of their third album, In Time To Voices (their fourth if you include a singles compilation album, I’ll Be Your Eyes, released when they signed to V2 Records in 2008).

“We had an itch that we needed to scratch, I guess,” Ansell says of the new EP, fielding questions on the line from backstage after a Black Keys concert in London. “We were jamming stuff, really, on tour earlier in the year when we did the first tour around March for the album release. We were jamming stuff in soundchecks and when we hit festival season, ‘cause you only play festivals on weekends, so we had a few spare days here and there, you know, in the week, and we just jammed out some songs and we had three that we thought fitted together quite well and would be quite cool for an EP. “We found three, no four days spare when we were on our US tour, and we’d always wanted to record with John Congleton. He was free on those days, really luckily, so we just scheduled it in. So we actually finished the US tour, went straight into the studio, recorded, flew back to England, like had one day, and then started touring in Europe. We’d lost our only days off to making it,” he chuckles, “but I’m fucking glad that we did.”

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Getting together in late 2004 after their respective bands had broken up, Carter and Ansell released their first single, Victory For The Magpie, the following July, ostensibly plying a punk vein, though there were all manner of other indie/alternative rock influences at work, as well as more successful acts such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Two further singles followed before Blood Red Shoes signed to V2 Records, having chalked up some 300 gigs around the UK alone. The international touring soon kicked in with tours through Europe and Japan and by the release of their second album, 2010’s Fire Like This – their debut, Box Of Secrets, came out in 2008 – they’d become one of the most-travelled bands in the world, chalking up the miles in classic rock’n’roll fashion, by van. While all that touring didn’t exactly translate into massive sales, it did give the pair the experience and confidence to tackle their third album, In Time To Voices, in a very different way to the first two. “We learnt a lot recording the third album, and writing the third album actually,” Ansell admits, “and I think it opened a lot of doors to us. There were a lot of things about it that we did in a different way and it helped us figure shit out and actually it’s made it a lot easier to write since. I think it’s actually just being more honest with each other – if we don’t like something, instead of fucking around for weeks, kind of being polite about it, now, we know each other well enough and we’re secure enough that I can say, ‘You know what? I don’t like that fucking riff,’ and Laura’s like, ‘Alright cool, fuck it – let’s do something else.’

40 • For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews

“No one’s ego gets bruised and no one gets weird and, like, bashful about that shit, so we can actually move faster than we used to because we don’t have to be polite and tiptoe around. We can just really get down to work. It helps. It doesn’t mean that you have more ideas but it’s quicker to take your idea and turn it into a great song.” Recording In Time To Voices, Blood Red Shoes once again turned to co-producer Mike Crossey, whose CV includes working with Arctic Monkeys and Foals among others. “I think a really big difference for this record is that we’ve learnt how to make records, whereas before [Crossey] really steered the ship… You know, we really didn’t know our way around a studio a great deal, a proper studio. We could record on basic equipment that we have ourselves, like our demos, but in making the first two records, and especially with Mike, he likes you to ask questions on a technical level. “In writing the third record, we spent so much time demoing it with gear we’d built up over the previous four or five years buying recording gear that we’d actually learnt all the technical stuff, so we could explore sounds that we never had before and go to Mike and say, ‘Okay, we wanna do this,’ and we’d have demos that we’d recorded with quite a lot of detail, so we could explain it with actual recordings. And he’d go, ‘Okay, I can do it even better.’ So then the album became about taking the ideas we have for the sounds and augmenting everything, whereas in the past it was very much about capturing the feel of us playing together. This was really using the studio more as a tool, as an instrument in itself.” And having done that, when the pair returned to the studio to record the Water EP, they went the complete opposite way. “I don’t even remember recording the EP,” Ansell admits with a laugh. “It was so fast. I mean, we hadn’t even finished writing the songs, and we wanted that, ‘cause actually we thought In Time To Voices is a very considered, very layered, very detailed record, and actually, as a reaction against that, we completely wanted to record something that was totally spontaneous, really loose. We wanted it to sound like a band had just finished writing it and just played it, you know? “So we didn’t think about the songs too much, we didn’t think about the lyrics and didn’t put too many layers on it, we kept it, you know, just like a burst of energy – just make a decision and go with it, record it, done. Again, it was a kind of experiment, a risk actually, just to see what comes out if we don’t think very much at all,” Ansell laughs. “And the other thing we wanted to do with it, we had a vision for the guitar sounds that we felt like we were trying to get on In Time To Voices but we didn’t get it. We wanted it to be really fucking nasty, you know, like guitars that sound almost like something broken. I wanted people to listen to it and go, ‘I think their speakers have gone wrong; the guitar sound,’ kind of thing. And not a lot of producers want to do that!” WHO: Blood Red Shoes WHAT: In Time To Voices (V2/Cooperative) WHEN & WHERE: Sunday 30 December, Peats Ridge Festival, Glenworth Valley; Friday 4 January, The Hi Fi

For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews â&#x20AC;˘ 41

THE BEES KNEES “For The Hives, the bar has to be set very high when we go out jumping,” the band’s guitarist/keyboardist Nicholaus Arson advises Bryget Chrisfield. “We only aim for the world record. We don’t really go out jumping for fun.” henever The Hives are on tour, Nicholaus Arson (Niklas Almqvist on his marriage certificate) has his wife and kids to mind the Swedish fort. “And my pet rabbit. A giant one,” Arson adds. “Its name is klöver. It actually means clover.” (NB: The Swedish and English words don’t even sound remotely similar.) Is said rabbit black and white, in accordance with his band’s monochromatic dress code? “It’s black.” Any other shade just wouldn’t suit The Hives, would it? Almqvist chuckles and announced deliberately, “It. Would. Not.”

Australian audiences were last blessed with The Hives’ presence at Splendour In The Grass 2011. They’ve previously helped us ring in the New Year at Falls Festival in 2001 and 2008 and are set to do so again this year (also at Southbound). Almqvist’s 2008 visit was a family affair, with the guitarist/

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keyboardist joined by mum and dad as well as his wife and children. “We came over Christmas so I had my whole family with me ‘cause, you know, me and [Howlin’] Pelle [Almqvist, lead singer] are brothers,” Almqvist stresses. “We tried celebrating Christmas in Australia… It was actually pretty weird. My children cried on Christmas day [laughs]. They missed their grandma. But it was really fun.” This upcoming visit will be the first since The Hives released Lex Hives, the band’s fifth longplayer, which dropped more than fourand-a-half years after preceding set The Black And White Album. “It was really taking a long time to finish,” Almqvist acknowledges. Is that because they’re perfectionists? “Yeah, I can’t really blame it on anything else. I think it is that because we had tons and tons of songs and some of them we couldn’t really finish and some of them we just didn’t think were good enough… But we kinda always have that. Even though we’ve been faster in the process before, it always feels like, ‘This is impossible. This is the last record we ever make’,” he laughingly admits. “Like, ‘We can never go through this process again,’ you know? And then as soon as you release the record you go, ‘That wasn’t so hard. Let’s make another’. I mean, I went through my demos at one point during working on the record and I think we had 300 snippets recorded and out of those 300 I liked four. That’s a pretty bad percentage, like, we basically release one per cent – well, we don’t release one per cent but we, at certain points, at least according to my own survey, definitely, we only like one per cent of what we make, haha. For The Hives, the bar has to be set very high when we go out jumping. We only aim for the world record. We don’t really go out jumping for fun.” Go Right Ahead, the lead single off Lex Hives, calls to mind ELO’s Don’t Bring Me Down and earned Jeff Lynne a songwriting credit once the band were alerted to this similarity. It wasn’t an intentional riff rip, but Lynne was contacted and permission granted. On another album track, I Want More, the vocal delivery evokes Funky Cold Medina by Tone Loc. “Ah yeah, I hear that,” Almqvist allows. “It’s sort of a cross between that and 99 Problems with Jay-Z… This is the first time pretty much with Pelle talking or sorta rapping all the stuff that he’s doing.” Do The Hives listen to hip hop on occasion? “Yeah, yeah we love Tone Loc especially,” Almqvist enthuses. “It’s really cool.” When asked whether they’re sticking with the dapper top hat and tails ensembles from their last Australian visit, Almqvist enlightens, “We basically decided to tour this record to death in the top hats and tails, but the last show we did, which was – they built a new national arena in Sweden for football, or for basically anything, and we played the opening ceremony. And playing that we wore our new mariachi suits.” They sound spectacular! “They are very spectacular. We basically look like matadors or something. We’re gonna play with The Bronx on our European tour and maybe we bring those and we can record a mariachi split or something – it’ll be the new thing. You know [how] you’d always have those punk splits where bands would share costs and put their songs on the one record and then release? We could do that with The Bronx and make a mariachi record.” The Bronx, Mariachi Bronx, The Hives, Mariachi Hives – that would be quite the back-to-back live experience. “I think that would be too much almost,” Almqvist considers. “But there would be no liquid left in that room after that, like, you’d all be evaporated.” While mixing the latest Hives album in LA, the band still had some overdubs to do, which took them to Josh Homme’s Pink Duck studio. “We were hanging out there and just recording stuff,” the guitarist/ keyboardist elaborates. “[Homme would] show up every once in a while and Pelle used to always say that we owe it to the cosmos, doing something [together] if we were in the same studio, you know. So, yeah, we decided to record a couple of songs to try and see what it would be like recording with him. He’s a good producer and he’s got great ideas, and basically he’s always recording in a different manner than we do, like, he’s always been into recording very dry stuff. We sort of wanted to tap into his cosmic flow and see what he could do with The Hives, and plus we were so tired of producing ourselves we just wanted, ‘Josh, this is your call, you tell us exactly what to do and we’ll do it’. And then we just picked two songs that we really like. We recorded one song that’s called High School Shuffle, which is actually a record that Chris [Dangerous – aka Christian Grahn – Hives drummer] produced. It’s [by] a band from Fagersta, our hometown, called Alex Carole And The Crush: we usually keep it pretty local sometimes for when we record a cover… And then we recorded another song: Mike [Karlsson – aka Vigilante Carlstroem – Hives guitarist], he’s in another band called The Dragtones and they have this great song called Insane. It’s a real killer and that song we‘ve been playing a lot live actually.”

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There seems to be a lot of band bromances going down in Hives Manor and one gets the impression this dapper Swede wouldn’t feel intimidated approaching anyone at all, even Jay-Z. “Well he’s kind of impossible to approach,” Almqvist imparts. “We played the Jay-Z festival. It was called Made In America in Philadelphia and Beyoncé showed up backstage, and they have the biggest security posting I have ever seen. Plus, like, 150 people just walking behind them, I don’t really know,” he laughs, bewildered. “Basically I think it’d be too much work to exchange a couple of phrases. In my opinion they’re sort of making a bit of a mistake, like, you gotta keep it at a level where you’re popular enough that people leave you the fuck alone and popular enough that when you tour as The Hives you go out and play to people that absolutely love you.” Some musical scenes attract disproportionate amounts of craycray perhaps. “Well I saw that movie The Bodyguard,” Almqvist contributes. “Rachel [Marron, played by Whitney Houston] or whatever she’s called in that movie: if you play that sort of music you would attract the crazies.” Well please don’t play that style of music then. “That’ll never happen,” Almqvist promises. WHO: The Hives WHEN & WHERE: Monday 7 January, The Metro

COASTING WITH INTENT Best Coast have deliberately evolved their lo-fi fuzz into a more polished gloss glare and are set to bring the sounds of The Only Place to our shores for the annual festival circuit, with sideshows. Bethany Cosentino tells Kristy Wandmaker why Australia is the only place they want to be this New Years. can’t wait to be in summer, because it’s actually not summer in LA anymore so I’m looking forward to being back in it. We’ve never actually been to a beach in Australia. We’ve stayed by one but it was all stormy so we never ended up going, so hopefully we’ll get to do that this time around.”

“I

With only two sideshows announced thus far, your best chance to catch Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno aka Best Coast will be at either Falls or Southbound Festival, a balance Bethany is happy with. “I always enjoyed going to festivals. People obviously go to festivals to see specific bands but I think they also go just [for] the experience of the festival. I think a lot of times people stumble upon a stage where you’re playing and they’re like ‘Oh I like this band’ and maybe they buy your record. “I think that’s a cool aspect of it. We’ve played so many now. I think it’s fun because for one you get tons of awesome music and a lot of times you get to see your friends that play in other bands.” Hanging out with friends is one of the perks of being part of a band so encapsulating of a specific region and sound that you’re essentially your own genre. While playing a show for friends and fashion photographer Poppy de Villeneuve’s book launch in LA, they had a taste of the crazy that comes with being so renowned.

“Whenever you play music people record it on their phone and it ends up on YouTube and it always sounds like shit because it’s a terrible recording then people are like, ‘Oh, I heard the new Best Coast song – it sucks’. and they don’t get to hear it as you want them to hear it. So I don’t know if we’ll be playing any new stuff besides the last record, but you never know. Maybe we’ll decide that we wanna play a bunch of weird new music and cover songs. I don’t know, we’ll see.” WHO: Best Coast WHEN & WHERE: Thursday 3 January, Metro Theatre

“We’ve never had anything happen like that at one of our shows before. It felt really punk. We had only played like five songs and Bobb leaned over and said something to me in between songs and I thought he was going to tell me something like we had to turn it down but he was like, ‘The cops just shut the show down, this is our last song’. The kids were really bummed out but it was still a really fun event.” Cosentino’s glee at having a punk-rock moment is in contrast to, or perhaps because of, the band’s deliberate move towards a shinier finish on their latest album and upcoming tracks, working with pop super producer Wall Gagel. “We’ve recorded some songs for Record Store Day, which will come out next year and I’m really, really excited about them. I think they’re two of my favourite songs that we’ve recorded in a really long time, so I’m definitely stoked on being back in the studio,” she enthuses. “And I’m planning on doing an EP I think, I don’t know when we’ll start it or when it’ll come out or anything, but I’ve been writing a lot because I’ve been spending so much time at home. So I have a lot of material that I’d really like to get down and get out there, so you’ll definitely be hearing new stuff from us in the upcoming future.

There’s more to this story on the iPad “The recordings that we did for Record Store Day are kind of a little bit in between Crazy For You and The Only Place. They’re not super produced, I mean they are very produced and clean sounding, but they have shades of what Crazy For You had. I think that’s kind of what I want to do. I don’t want to go back, and I don’t want to totally change things, but I would kind of like to meet in the middle a little bit. I think that if we do an EP or if we record any songs before we do another record it will definitely have a glimmer of both Crazy For You and The Only Place in it. “The songs that we just recorded we worked with a new producer, his name is Wally Gagel. He’s recorded Miley Cyrus and he’s recorded Muse and he’s recorded Maroon 5 and like all these crazy pop bands, and then he’s worked with a lot of more indie people. So that was kinda cool for us because we like pop music and so it was cool to work with somebody that’s done a lot of straightforward pop stuff.” Don’t go calling Timbaland or Timberlake just yet, though. ”I’m not sure if we do an EP who we’ll do it with at this point. I’m still writing stuff and trying to figure out what’s the next step for us, but we like to work with different people just because it’s fun to get to try new stuff.” The contrast between 2010’s Crazy For You and 2012’s The Only Place provides more areas for fun and trying new stuff when pulling together a live show. “The second record is definitely a lot different than the first record and so it’s cool to get to mix it up on stage. You get to play a combination of the fast pop songs that were on Crazy For You and then get to play a lot of the slower, more mellow songs we did on The Only Place. “I think they work well together, the set doesn’t seem weird and it doesn’t feel like the songs don’t go together. Live we make everything sound a little bit more blown out and fuzzy and a little bit more like punk, I guess.“ As they experienced at the LA book launch show, the joy of being on stage is the element of chaos or an unknown thing that could happen at any moment; something that is hard to sustain when recording second and third albums. Not to say things go downhill, there’s just a naivety that can never be recaptured as you learn about effects and pedals and song construction. “I think now we do it more as a decorative thing,” Cosentino begins. “We know where reverb and distortion belong as opposed to on the first record where we were like, ‘Lets just put it on everything’. Now we know where it sounds good and where it doesn’t. That’s part of sort of growing up as a band and growing up as musicians, knowing what sounds good and what actually sounds like shit.” The consciousness and deliberate nature of Bethany’s approach to the Best Coast sound belies her cruisy surfer demeanour. The lady knows what she wants, and what she wants the fans to experience, which is why Australian audiences are unlikely to hear a sneaky peak of the material most recently recorded or still being written. “We literally just recorded the new songs last week. When you have new music you kind of want to wait until it comes out so that people can hear what it’s supposed to sound like,” she proffers.

For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews • 43

AGAIN, WITH SOUL The woman at the forefront of this generation’s soul revival, Sharon Jones, speaks to Monique Cowper about staying true to the sound, telling anyone who jumps on her bandwagon to step off and keeping sound engineers on their toes.

“

NO MATTER WHAT MUSIC YOU’RE INTO IT ALL CAME FROM SOUL. YOU CAN CALL IT GOSPEL OR R&B, HIP HOP, BUT WE’RE KEEPING IT TRUE.”

hen success comes to you later in life, it is no doubt more satisfying than overnight stardom, but for Sharon Jones it’s obvious that the long journey to become the modern-day reigning Queen of Soul will never leave her. Jones and her band, The Dap-Kings, are about to return to Australia to play several gigs over New Year’s supporting their album, I Learned The Hard Way, which they’ve been touring for the past two years. Much has been made of the band, their sound and how they record. Many credit them with being responsible for the last decade’s soul obsession. The Dap-Kings played on Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black and most recently with Muse. When you record stripped back on analogue equipment and play as many live gigs as these musicians do, there is nowhere to hide and as the front woman, Jones comes across as a perfectionist who does not suffer fools. “I am who I am and I do what I do,” she says.

This year alone they’ve toured Europe and North America, played multiple festivals, appeared on several American television shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live during Hurricane Sandy (which left them stranded at an airport for almost 24 hours) and now they’ve got dates right around our sunburnt country. Despite this incredible workload, the first concern Jones has for the tour is her sound. “It’s been two and a half years of touring this album really,” she says. “It’s a long time but it’s okay, we’ve been doing it for 18 years now, but it is harder on me when you go somewhere like Australia without your own crew.” Jones says she has seen footage of herself performing during their 2010 Australian tour and didn’t like what she saw. “I saw a film of me, I’ll never forget it. I was so embarrassed because I kept saying, please get my sound right. The audience doesn’t know, they think I sound okay, why is she complaining? They don’t know that in my ear I can’t hear myself and then I can’t sing.” There is definitely a feeling that after years of trying to make it, Jones cares little about what people think of her and much more about making music which is true to her, the band and the independent label that she refers to her as her family. Daptone Records formed in 2000 and two years later released Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings’ debut, Dap Dippin’, to critical acclaim. It came after Jones worked in jails to pay the bills and faced the likelihood that music would never be her day job. She is proud of the fact that the “family” have stuck by each other despite soul becoming so commercial at the beginning of the decade. “Some people think we’ve been around four or five years and don’t know about us but every risk we took has paid off,” Jones continues. “Staying independent, not going commercial, not letting anyone buy us out, just doing soul music and saying, ‘This is what we are.” Keeping it real has been important for Jones in appreciating her success. She may talk the talk but she can also walk the walk and is not afraid to share her opinions regarding those in the music industry that flaunt their wealth or try to ride on her coat tails. “I appreciate that things didn’t happen fast for me,” she says. “For 20 years I worked trying to keep a stable job and I had to give that up and take a chance and take gigs which paid $75. Now when people want to come at me I have the right to tell them to step back. If they haven’t followed me and my struggle, if they just see me on television and that’s the only reason they want to talk to me, I don’t need that. I’m not into the paparazzi or fake friends. I’m not a big, flashy person. I used my faith, I took a chance, this is who I am.” She has also kept her faith in soul music and The Dap-Kings. Many critics have suggested their sound was too old-school and not progressive enough. “Audiences know it is the real music,” she says. “No matter what music you’re into it all came from soul. You can call it gospel or R&B, hip hop, but we’re keeping it true.” And it is unlikely Jones or The Dap-Kings will be changing their style anytime soon to suit anyone else. “Everyone in this band worked to be here and we’ve stayed as a family together. This is our livelihood. We’re not greedy, that’s not what The Dap-Kings are, that’s not what we’re about.” Despite her long hard-fought journey, many people would be surprised to learn that Jones is not the band’s lyricist. It is a credit to her incredible talent as a performer that she is able to take on the stories as her own through such passionate delivery. “This music is about telling a story that is part of me,” she says. “I may not write the lyrics, but my job is to tell a story. We don’t talk about how many millions we have, the cars we drive or how good we look. I’m just using my gift from God. I’m not competing with young people, I’m keeping it true. This music comes from my heart.” Many musicians might talk of not wanting to be a self-promoter but will take any opportunity to ensure that their message is heard. Jones is actually the real deal. You can ask her what people will get out of her Australian shows and she is quite clear in her message. “If you haven’t heard of us, if you haven’t read anything about us but you like soul music then come and check us out. All I’ll say is, we just do what we do. It comes from the heart. That’s it.” WHO: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 29 December to Tuesday 1 January, Peats Ridge Festival; Friday 4 January Sydney Opera House; Saturday 5, Sydney Festival, Daptone Super Soul Revue, The Domain

44 • For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews

MUSIC FIRST On the eve of their Falls/Southbound appearances and sideshows, Klara Söderberg tells Anthony Carew that First Aid Kit aren’t trying to be part of any traditions, they just want to make good music.

Though Söderberg sees First Aid Kit’s folkie music as being authored to please its songwriters, she also knows that it’s not just for themselves. “If I really think about what we want, it’s that connection with other people,” she says, after some prodding. “I know I said we’re surprised that anyone else cares about what we’re doing, but you really do hope, deep down, that that is what’s going to happen – that other people will hear [your music], will connect with it, that it will mean something to them. That it will make them feel less lonely. That’s the big hope.” First Aid Kit forged that connection, at first, as veritable viral video stars; their live-in-the-woods cover of Fleet Foxes’ Tiger Mountain Peasant Song earning thousands upon thousands of views before they’d ever officially released anything. Eventually, the sisters signed with The Knife’s Rabid Records imprint in Sweden, and Wichita worldwide; releasing their first EP, 2008’s Drunken Trees, and their debut album, 2010’s The Big Black & The Blue, when they were both still teenagers. “It is really special that we have this really clear document of our early songwriting,” says Söderberg. “Y’know, the first EP we wrote when I was 14. To have that, and be able to listen to it, now, is pretty special.”

WHO: First Aid Kit WHEN & WHERE: Thursday 3 January, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

So much of that undeniable “positive response” has been, Söderberg thinks, from people who see them as embodying noble notions of the folk music tradition; the acoustic songs and sweet sibling harmonies (which Klara shares with 22-year-old vocalist/ keyboardist Johanna). Yet, Söderberg isn’t necessarily sure she agrees with the assessment. “You can never say that about yourself, that you’re part of a tradition,” she considers. “And as much as we’re interested in folk music, we’re not [interested] in trying to keep with tradition, or being part of a tradition. We’re just trying to make the best music we can make, right now; music that represents how we’re feeling, and what we’re capable of doing at this point in time, the most honest way we can. We only ever write songs that mean something to us, that are about things that are interesting to us. We’re not trying to write songs for other people. But, at the same time, it’s up to other people to tell us what those songs are worth; and to tell us whether they see us fitting in to this folk music tradition, and whether they like us or not.”

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“We’re still at the stage where we’re shocked and happy, wherever we go, to see so many people at our shows,” says Klara Söderberg, the 19-year-old younger half – and guitarist/vocalist – of the group. “When fans support us in any way, it’s amazing; it kinda blows our mind a little bit that anyone at all would want to come and see us.”

2013

Before they set out making their new record, First Aid Kit will be returning to Australia for their third tour here. “I remember the first time we played in Australia, we played two soldout shows in Melbourne, and that felt really wonderful,” Söderberg recollects. “To be able to travel to the other side of the planet and receive such a warm welcome… was amazing. We’ve loved coming to Australia each time, and I’m excited again this time. I’m going to spend my 20th birthday in Perth. Last time we were in Perth, we went to a koala sanctuary, and I kinda fell in love with the kangaroos. Hopefully I get to hang out with them again for my birthday.”

S EC R E

irst Aid Kit were one of the biggest breakout bands of 2012. With the release of their second LP, The Lion’s Roar, in January, the Swedish sister-act have spent the year playing the big-ticket summer festivals and late-night talkshow slots that come with upward indie mobility, while their album has cracked the top 40 in Australia and the UK, the top 75 in the USA, and in Sweden it’s hit number one.

WINSY

While their age brought with it a novelty, it was as much a burden as a liberation; First Aid Kit constantly condescended to, in their early days, by a music-industry establishment still functioning as a patriarchy. “There were definitely people who told us that we were too young to be doing what we were doing,” Söderberg recounts. “Of course, we were 14 and 16, so I totally understand that this was unusual, and that at the very least a lot of people found it strange. But it was definitely a battle to be young girls in a business dominated by old men. Everywhere we’d go to play shows, there were always men working behind the scenes, and you could definitely feel sometimes that they thought we didn’t know what we were doing. It was really condescending, and really annoying. “That’s definitely changed, now. We don’t really see that a lot. We don’t really get asked about it anymore by journalists, which is so nice. It’s really hard to come up with something interesting to say when people just say ‘you’re really young’, and don’t actually really have a question to ask. Now we can feel that people aren’t focused on how young we are, and that we’re women, and that means that we can just focus on doing what we want to do, and talking about our music, not our age, and our gender.”

Now, First Aid Kit are about to turn to making their next album; which the band hope to have finished by the end of 2013. “We’re constantly thinking about it, but we don’t actually know what it is yet,” says Söderberg. “As soon as you finish one record you start thinking about the next one, but early on its mostly just daydreams. We haven’t even really talked much about it together. It’s possible that the way Johanna feels about it is different to the way I feel about it. I don’t know, we’ve still got a long time to work it out. We try to write the songs first, then see how these ideas might start to take form once we’ve got a few songs. Then it becomes clear where you’re going. At the moment, we’re still just feeling things out, we’re certainly not discussing the themes of the record just yet.”

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METRO ON SALE NOW

“It wasn’t a difficult second-album feeling at all,” Söderberg says, of the recordings. “We weren’t dreading trying to follow up our first one, it was the opposite. We weren’t entirely happy with [The Big Black & The Blue], from the moment we left the studio we felt we had a better album to make. And that really inspired us. When you’re working on something new, you should really be hoping to make something better, not just trying to make something maybe just as good.”

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Musically and emotionally speaking, The Lion’s Roar marks the maturation of the due. Forced, by their youth, to be storytellers on The Big Black & The Blue (“we were so young we didn’t have a life to write about”), the follow-up record is both more personal and more universal; the sisters writing about themselves, and the hook-laden songs being recorded by Bright Eyes’ associate and Monsters Of Folk member Mike Mogis in big, bright tone.

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TRAMPING OVER THE WORLD Sharon Van Etten is enjoying her individual journey - from New York to the world - and is becoming more assured and confident with every new adventure, as she informs Kristy Wandmaker. ou know that friend of a friend who writes, plays and sings those awesome songs with that unique voice? That’s Sharon Van Etten. The New Yorker whose mates, Aaron Dessner (The National) and Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) you might know. Her ‘big break’ came about from their cover of her track, Love More, and after rubbing shoulders with Neil Young, John Cale and scoffing some of Patti Smith’s birthday cake, she’s bringing her third studio album, Tramp, to Australia.

The latest adventure on a whirlwind of crazy happenings, she is desperately looking forward to the Australian leg of her world tour, if only for some time alone with her man. “It’ll mark the end of all this crazy touring, because at that point it would have been a year straight and he’s been so supportive of that. He is coming to meet in Sydney and then we’re going to Byron Bay for a few days after that.” A year’s straight touring of Tramp, an album of growth and development for Van Etten, both musically and in life. She was homeless while recording it, and for the first time brought on an outside producer in the way of the aforementioned Dessner. “Aaron pushed me a lot more than I have been before,” she explains. “The first two records were me leading everything. This is the first time I really took direction from someone else. It took me a little getting used to because I’m used to working alone. Every time I tried or did something he suggested it ended up working really well. Turns out he does know what he’s doing. “It was actually really comforting because we only started becoming friends because I wrote to him about that song and we became closer over time. Working with someone I knew was a fan of my music and just wanted the best for me kind of helped me let my guard down more than if I had just picked a producer randomly. I was still touring on the album, Epic, when I was recording this record. It’s really hard to pay New York rent and have a band and tour all the time. I wasn’t living out of my car or anything like that – I don’t want anyone to think that I was down and out. It was a choice to put all my belongings in storage and stay at friends’ houses and only every now and then

subletting an apartment if I was really going crazy and needed a place to myself to work on stuff for a while. For the most part I was just floating couch to couch, relying on the kindness of my friends.” From couch surfing to meeting a personal hero while performing on the UK show Later... with Jools Holland, opening herself to Dessner’s direction certainly seems to have paid off. Yet Van Etten remains as ingenuous as ever, fawning over her idols and appreciating the path she’s now on. “It was pretty crazy. I got to meet [John Cale], and he talked to me and he thanked me for the cover, and the dedication on the album. I had a friend that was helping with the show and she was like ‘You haven’t met him yet?’ and I was like ‘No’ and she dragged me down the stairs to meet him. I was like ‘Do you know him?’ she was like ‘No’. She just knocked on his door! I was like ‘How are you just knocking on John Cale’s door, how do you do that?!’ I just felt like, ‘What am I going to tell him that he hasn’t heard millions of times from other people?’ He’s John Fucking Cale, pardon my mouth. “I think if I would ever get to meet PJ Harvey I would probably be the same way. Patti Smith, I was in the same room as her and I had a piece of her birthday cake, like two years ago, because a friend of a friend plays guitar for her. I went to her birthday celebration at the Bowery and I was literally a room away from meeting Patti Smith but I couldn’t do it. I was freaked out enough that I was eating her birthday cake!” While being the awkward fan-girl is something that Van Etten thinks is sweet, she has an even harder time knowing how to react when it happens to her. “After the show if my throat isn’t hurting I’ll go out to the merch table and meet people. That’s one thing that still blows my mind is that people react that way to me. But I’m nobody.” A nobody with a hell of a talent. After suffering depression and using songwriting as a cathartic process, her latest album has moved away ever so slightly from introspection, while her current writing is exploring more than just depression, buoyed by a new confidence in herself and her life.

“I hope that it’s a reflection that I’m growing up a little bit, that I’m getting over myself a little bit. When I first started writing it was because I was broken and living with my parents and really depressed. Over the course of six years I’ve moved to New York, I’ve started a career, and thanks to my depression and my outlet I have a career. Now I’m more confident in who I am. I am not depressed as I was back then. I believe in what I do and I’m allowing myself to show other emotions than just sadness, acknowledge anger, letting myself be happy, being a more rounded human being. I hope that shows. I am writing now and they’re still love songs. I’m in a stable relationship; maybe that will bore people on the next record, but I hope not. They’re all love songs though, they’re all pretty happy even when they’re a little dark – they’re still happier than they used to be. “ As we talk Van Etten forms a picture of an artist on the cusp of greatness; still entirely starry-eyed, deeply grateful and a little in disbelief that she is where she is having achieved so much so quickly. Yet she’s slowly becoming comfortable with her talent, with people wanting to hear her stories and with the fact that she belongs with the PJ Harveys and Laura Marlings of this world.

“I think it’s a really special time because I think for the first time since, I would say the ‘90s, just because I was inspired by a lot of female musicians then like Liz Phair and Juliana Hatfield and PJ Harvey and the Murmurs and Frente, and all that stuff. I think that for the first time in a long time women are letting their own voices be heard. They’re letting their idiosyncrasies shine instead of trying to sound like Cat Power or something. They’re finally finding themselves and it’s important to have their individuality again, which is really nice. As opposed to being somebody they’re just part of something. I think it’s really special. For a long time I felt like female artists were all grouped together and now they’re their own women.“ WHO: Sharon Van Etten WHAT: Tramp (Jagjaguwar) WHEN & WHERE: Sunday 6, Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9 January, Sydney Festival, The Spiegeltent

CRIBBED IDEAS The Cribs have been one of the most celebrated UK rock outfits of the past decade. As they prepare to return to Australia, frontman Ryan Jarman speaks to Matt O’Neill about the band’s surprising inscrutability. yan Jarman’s voice is like his guitar tone. A gnarled, angular gnashing of harsh textures and rhythms that nevertheless feels somehow convivial and welcoming. It’s a dichotomy that seems to stretch from Jarman’s conversational disposition, through his band’s music, to his band’s profile and reputation to date. Since inception, The Cribs have proven mysteriously – almost inexplicably – endearing.

Theirs has never been a sound that one would immediately tip for global acclaim (though many claimed to). A weird, unpredictable blend of American post-punk and British pop-rock, The Cribs‘ output has always seemed too bracing for mass consumption. Yet, even their most brutally lo-fi and abrasive albums have managed to streak themselves with just enough populist songwriting to be embraced by audiences around the world. “I don’t think we ever were shooting for that sort of thing,” Jarman says of the band’s beginnings. “We weren’t really conscious of it, you know? If anything, I think we were kind of fighting against it. When we first started listening to music, everything was Britpop – and that wasn’t what we were about at all. We were much more into what was happening in America around Seattle. We kind of fought against what was going on in the UK.” The band began as an experiment with independent recording for Jarman and his sibling bandmates (bassist twin Gary and younger brother drummer Ross). Punkish defiance and independence has always played a crucial role in their music. Even when The Cribs were eventually signed to Wichita Recordings on the back of their demo experiments, their eponymous 2004 debut album was self-produced and recorded to eight-track. Yet, by their second album, the band’s stripped-back approach was paying surprising dividends. 2005’s The New Fellas would deliver The Cribs a UK top-40 single (Hey Scenesters) and international tours alongside Franz Ferdinand, Death Cab For Cutie and Stephen Malkmus. In 2009, Q Magazine would list The New Fellas as one of their albums of the century. By the release of their fourth album, Ignore The Ignorant, in 2009, The Cribs

46 • For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews

had signed to a major label (Warner Bros), collaborated with Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, appeared on Conan O’Brien and David Letterman and been invited to open for The Sex Pistols. Such was their success, Smiths‘ guitarist and general music legend Johnny Marr had even joined the band as a permanent member. “You try not to get too invested in that stuff,” Jarman reflects. “You know, it’s so fleeting and subjective. The same people who are telling us we’ve written the best album of all time today are probably the same ones who’ll be calling us washed-up tomorrow. The Johnny thing is a great example. When he joined, journalists invented this line about him elevating our band to international status – and that was never true... You know, I think we’d definitely broke through and kind of made our mark before Johnny joined the band. He just became this story about us, though. Even when he left, journalists were making up these stories about how we hated each other and kicked him out – but that didn’t happen either. We’d already started writing the next album as a three-piece when Johnny decided he would leave. “What I’m proud of is our fans, really,” the guitarist muses. “We’ve developed a very dedicated group of fans over the years – people who trust us from album to album – who are really, truly dedicated to our band, not just our songs or style or records. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, yeah, but I like to think it’s a testament to the amount of work our band’s put in that those fans even exist.” Five albums in, it’s still difficult to make sense of the band’s career. Released to considerable critical acclaim earlier this year, The Cribs‘ fifth album, In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull, has been touted by commentators as potentially constituting the band’s definitive album – delivered by the original three-piece line-up and produced by noise-rock royalty (Steve Albini, Dave Fridmann). Still, the band remain hard to pin down. “There is something special about this album, I feel,” Jarman reflects. “It feels like a return or coming home or something like that. I mean, it obviously was in the

sense of it being our first album back as a three-piece after Johnny left. You know, I think we all realised on our last album that The Cribs are meant to be a threepiece. It’s always meant to just be us three brothers in the band. I love our last record, but it helped us realise that... It’s more than just that, though. It’s weird. It feels like our first album. It has that same spirit to it, I think. When we first started out, we didn’t have any ambitions or ideas of what we wanted to do. We just wanted to make a record. That was the same feeling we had around this time. The last one was really quite polished. You know, we recorded with Nick Launay. It was very pop.” “This one – most people didn’t even know we were doing it. We didn’t even know we were doing it. We were supposed to be having a break last year but, just for fun, we got together and started jamming on ideas and we just really loved the way it sounded. Just jamming around ideas – it felt like our first album. I think, after our first album, we got a little distracted by what other people thought of us. With this one, I think we’re back on track.” It isn’t hard to see why. The Cribs really don’t engage with the world of the industry. For an act that have

such a celebrity presence in their native Britain, they’ve remained quite an insular act over the years. When they were called lo-fi, they went pop. When Johnny Marr brought in melody, they embraced noise. “I don’t feel like there are really any bands out there that we feel a sense of kinship with, to be honest,” Jarman says bluntly. “When we first started, everyone told us we were lo-fi and that we were a lo-fi act. When bands like Bloc Party and The Libertines started popping up, we were all of a sudden being called Britpop and lad-rock. “I don’t feel like we’re a part of any scene or community, though,” the guitarist concludes. “I don’t feel like anyone understands us. I don’t think that’s the point of rock music, though. Personally, I kind of wish people [would] stop trying. Really, I think we’re just trying to outlast all that junk, to be honest.” WHO: The Cribs WHAT: In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull (Liberator) WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday 2 January, Oxford Art Factory

album ofthe year TAME IMPALA LONERISM

It’s December once more and we’re left scratching our heads as to where the flip the year went. But although many of the memories may be foggy, the recollections vague, it’s because of music, movies and the media that we’ll always be able to remember 2012. Reminiscing isn’t a solo game, though – everyone knows that! Which is why the writers of Street Press Australia have banded together to spin the highlight reel with you and look back at another stellar year of screen and song. So crack a cold one and get comfortable – shit is going to get deep. White could put no foot wrong, a point he all but proved with his first solo offering, Blunderbuss. The record was written from scratch by the Detroit blues maestro and is the music of a singular mind; his heart and soul found across every inch of the LP. The attitude that emanates through the music never comes across as cocky, while soulful female back-ups on certain cuts splash added sex appeal across the canvas, as if there wasn’t enough.

Shields GRIZZLY BEAR Recorded up in Cape Cod, to the north-east of their Brooklyn home, Grizzly Bear put together their long-awaited fourth record, Shields. A follow-up to their indie masterpiece of 2009, Veckatimest, the record reveals the sound of a quartet locking in more tightly and as one, a reflection of a creative process that saw them working in a more collaborative manner than ever before.

writers’ poll 2012 Album Of The Year Lonerism TAME IMPALA A whole world of music and we have the best of it in our own backyard. Led by that “Elephant shaking his big grey trunk for the hell of it”, psych rock world-beaters Tame Impala stomped back on the scene with plenty of hullabaloo, their presence felt around the world off the back of their second record, Lonerism. Succeeding where so many acts have failed before them, the Perth gang not only maintained the quality of their celebrated 2010 debut, Innerspeaker, they usurped the release completely, showing a maturity in their songwriting and deftness in their delivery that far exceeds their years.

The results are an album that removes any sort of standard route from a stock genre, instead replacing it with fresh bends at every tune. It’s music that cares about you as well as itself. And sure, the melancholy melodies still remain, but there’s hope in them voices, the band sounding content with their current stock and comfortable in their own skin. At a point where the romance could have begun to fade out for Grizzly Bear, they’ve simply gone on to solidifying global adoration even further.

Let loose in early October, Lonerism was immediately met with worldwide critical acclaim and found its way onto charts across the planet. The 12-track LP was put together over two “agonising” years, as main man Kevin Parker has called them – one in Paris and one in Perth – but if this was the album that nearly broke the 26-year-old, then the brink of insanity has never sounded so inviting. It holds an undeniable zing – a blanket euphoria if you will – that has the ability to cover any situation for every generation, the album awash with drifting melodies and technicolour guitar tones ready to paint the sky. On the album’s lead track, Be Above It, Parker crows, “I know I’ve got to be above it now”; and judging by the results, comparatively speaking to where the rest of the musical world is heading, there’s no doubt that the bare foot Western Australians are. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN Drawn in by his old soul voice and his neo school style, plenty of people were switching over to Frank Ocean’s channel in 2012. Although the 25-year-old made plenty of headlines for life elements away from his music, when the needle dropped on this record the focus was on nothing more than Ocean’s ultra smooth delivery, his formidable range and the lush production and live instrumentation, which created a dream-like world for the vocalist to work within. Lyrically, the Californian is a two-way street – at times he’s undeniably direct with his content; others he’s vague, distant and surreal, but using brief interludes throughout, the album ties together seamlessly as a cohesive body of work. He might have started his career as a pop ghost writer and part of OFWGKTA collective, but with channel ORANGE there’s no denying that now, Ocean is a legitimate star in his own right. An Awesome Wave ALT-J Considering their name is built from a keyboard shortcut on an Apple OS X, it’s ironic that Alt-J are impossible to put a finger on. Their debut record, An Awesome Wave, is a melting pot of everything great about British indie music – complicated rhythms, brooding bass lines, sharp guitars, folksy gentleness – all housed in a dank climate where the main colour is injected through the awkwardly magnificent vocals of Joe Newman. Meticulously put together in London with unheralded producer Charlie Andrew, the album is bellied by technological ideals; however, what you’re left with is earthy and most of all human, the sound an unbridled celebration of life. One of the shortest priced Mercury Music Prize favourites in recent memory, Alt-J managed to outRadiohead Radiohead in a year where that band was everywhere on the touring calendar, no mean feat for a few blokes from Leeds.

good kid, m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR No artist blurred the lines between storyline and song better this year than Kendrick Lamar. At a time when hip hop seemed to be further turning its back on its formula and roots, Lamar returned focus to the single element that makes the craft so inviting in the first place – the lyrics. That’s not to say that the production of the tracks is stock – far from it – however, the 25-yearold comes at his verses with such articulation and colour that it’s hard to deny its place front and centre. good kid m.A.A.d city is Kendrick’s tale of Compton streets and his journey navigating them. He feels love, he finds trouble but he comes out at the end of the tunnel with a clear vision and a new appreciation for the life he was ready to abandon. With a few bold and instantaneous singles scattered across the LP for good measure, this was the year’s defining rhyme moment.

Then of course, there’s that guitar playing. Unhinged and honky, White makes his axe moan and wail – every other instrument is merely cleaning up after it. Without abandoning who he was within the ranks of The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, White has managed to give himself a rebirth, Blunderbuss adding to his lofty legacy further. Coexist THE XX Their debut record seemed like one of those ‘right time, right place’ releases, the perfect music for that point, but no one told The xx that. Coexist marks a new chapter for the band as a three-piece, and under increased spotlight and pressure the Brits managed to craft a record even more delicate and pure than their self-titled LP of 2009.

There was always sort of a general consensus that Jack

Going against the grain of current albums by clocking in at a whopping two hours, Swans’ twelfth record is oblique and dense. However, because of this, the two-disc set offers up a plethora of stimulants from which to ride high. More than music, it’s as if the tracks are eerily breathing warm air on the back of your neck, and although there are arguably more riddles in this collection than there are answers, it’s a fact that only adds to the aural seduction.

writers’ poll 2012 Using bass and guitar as mere accompaniments to their duelling vocals, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim still communicate like lovers on a reflective bend. With their lyrics, the pair let us in a little closer on Coexist; however, the record really shows progress as a whole thanks to the production work of sound manipulator behind the scenes, Jamie xx. He allows the tracks to veer away from their established foundation with subtle flourishes of triggered instrumentation, creating tension and joy. Personal and provoking, The xx opened up and we jumped right in. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR With no studio album to their name in a decade, Godspeed’s 2012 record was always going to be met with rapture from their legions of fans; lucky for them the release continued to build on a legend that has been growing for almost 20 years. Not so much a collection of songs as a flowing body of work, the four-track 53-minute epic takes listeners on a fluid and pulsing journey, with continued ebbs and flows leaving one practically drained following the experience. The incredible thing with Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! is that for such a sonic sprawl, not once does the momentum diminish. And with all emotions created from instruments, the volatility makes it feel like something amazing could happen at any time, and it does. Age certainly did not weary these Canadians in 2012; a welcomed return and their position at the top of the post-rock food chain almost certainly assured. Visions GRIMES The sound of K-pop for the Western world, made from the cuttings of electro and injected with child-like wonderment thanks to the upper pitch delivery of Claire Boucher, Visions was a game changer upon its release at the beginning of the year. In the time that’s passed since then, the album has lost none of its charm, the crosspollination of ethereal sounds sounding equally as exotic and foreign as it did when it dropped in January. Upon first listen, the album doesn’t really seem to fit into any particular box. But with just the right amount of energy and fragility, the release struck a chord with hipsters and tastemakers across every continent. Recorded entirely on Apple’s GarageBand over three weeks in Boucher’s Montreal apartment, there is perhaps no better snapshot of where pop music is and where it excitedly could be heading than Visions. The Seer SWANS

Blunderbuss JACK WHITE

apparent that the New Yorker and his band mates were committed to giving every idea its opportunity to shine.

Rounding out the ten is American post-rock stalwarts Swans, who are enjoying quite the renaissance after being inactive for more than a decade. The Seer has been described by frontman and producer Michael Gira as a record three decades in the making, and it’s

Misc Album Of The Year CELEBRATION DAY LED ZEPPELIN Who were our writers to go past a recording featuring one of the greatest rock bands in history, captured from what could be their last ever live performance. Named after the third track from their 1970 record III, Celebration Day is three members and a spawn of Zeppelin on stage together for a special performance to honour the life of Ahmet Ertegun, the late founder and long-standing president of Atlantic Records. With the highest demand for tickets ever seen (20 million requests were made online), to say this concert was anticipated is to say that Zeppelin wrote a riff or two. But if there was expectation then you can’t hear it in the recording. The band sound electrifying, ripping through what could be seen as the blueprint for all heavy music since: Black Dog, Kashmir, Rock & Roll, Whole Lotta Love… Four decades on and it just goes to show that the classics never die. Honourable mentions: There wasn’t much new to speak of in the way of compilations; the Blur 21 box set celebrated their Britpop career by bringing all their studio albums together, while many returned to The Velvet Underground’s seminal debut to remember what was so great about Heroin in the first place. Rounding out the popular picks were the past and the present of trip hop, down tempo soul, with Massive Attack’s reworked Blue Lines record just pipping this generation’s late night mood music maker The Weeknd, who got plenty of people hot and bothered with his three-disc work, Trilogy. Previous Winners: Nevermind (20th anniversary) NIRVANA (2011)

Three have still managed to remain etched in the minds of our writers right through ‘til December. No Aussie musicians gave more on stage this year than Warren Ellis, Mick Turner and Jim White, and plugging latest album, Toward The Low Sun, their first record in seven years, the trio were unstoppable, their wild improvisational jazz rock continuing to sound as vital as ever. Having Ellis, the bearded mentalist, flailing about the front of stage cracking high kicks could never hurt the chances of a performance either. Their intense slot at this year’s Splendour In The Grass Festival only added further to the band’s massive year on home soil. Always welcome, forever inspired; this Aussie institution is the benchmark for punch drunk instrumental sounds and made the stage their own in 2012.

Radiohead

Tame Impala

Song Of The Year ELEPHANT TAME IMPALA

International Artist Performance Of The Year RADIOHEAD

It’s two from two for Tame Impala, the lads walking away with Album and now Song Of The Year for Elephant, the first single lifted from Lonerism. As an indication of the record, it’s not much of one, with the track probably the most digestible rock nugget found on the release. But as a tune, it’s mega, with that relentless bass line bounce built to make babies. It’s hypnotic, it swings and it’s an incredibly solid place for Kev Parker and the boys to build up from until they have a fuzz so thick it makes Commandant Lassard look like a genius. The whole idea of this Elephant stumbling about to the beat of the track

Was there any doubt? When it was announced in February that Radiohead would be returning to our country following an eightyear sabbatical, the blogosphere went into meltdown, with tickets snapped up a short while later at warp speed. But did the shows live up to levels of

Honourable mentions: Meredith meltdown aside, Melbourne’s Twerps dazzled onstage with their unmistakable brand of Oz jangle rock and former category winners Tame Impala once again put in a strong live year introducing audiences to Lonerism. Bearded beatnik Chet Faker took future sounds of the stereo and seamlessly translated them to the live arena; Brisbane’s drunken engine that could, DZ Deathrays, carried on their messy ascent towards global domination with a break-out year domestically and abroad, while Royal Headache turned their back on arenas and continued to amaze with their unpredictable brand of punk. Previous Winners: Grinderman (2011), Tame Impala (2010), Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2009)

Online Destination Of The Year TWITTER

Don’t tell Zuckerburg! (Although considering he has access to most everyone’s information he’s probably already found out.) Twitter has knocked off the place that helps you connect and share with the people in your life. But it seems that we don’t want to show off photos and pass on invites to our mate’s killer album launch party anymore; all we need now is 140 characters to share our insightful thoughts on music,

writers’ poll 2012 only further adds to its attraction and charm. Lonerism has gone on to be a far greater whole than the sum of its songs, but the hype switch wasn’t set to overdrive until this tune dropped in July. Honourable mentions: Our writers love that delicious nostalgic goodness it seems with Alabama Shakes’ Hold On coming in a few votes back in polling, but they’re not averse to a big ol’ slice of pop cheese either, with Carly Rae Jepson’s Call Me Maybe keeping plenty on the line, for irony, bubblegum value or otherwise. After that it’s a bit of a mix – everyone’s neo-soul champion Frank Ocean threw our punk compass aside with Bad Religion, Abbe May blew a big plume of smoke in our face with her seductive Karmageddon, while Breezeblocks by Brit’s Alt-J got our writers all sentimental for nothing in particular. Previous Winners: Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE FEAT. KIMBRA (2011), Fuck You CEE LO GREEN (2010), Sweet Disposition THE TEMPER TRAP (2009)

Tame Impala

Frank Ocean

Artist Of The Year

anticipation? You must believe it be true. Ol’ Tommy Yorke and the boys revelled in their own skin, releasing themselves onstage with gleeful abandon and delivering a two-hour, three-encore set that presented every single facet of the band’s sound, from Lotus Flower to Myxomatosis, Paranoid Android to Idioteque. The lightshow was simply jaw dropping, while the band incorporated an assembly of large dropdown screens to allow even the nosebleed seats to feel close to the action, creating a genuine intimacy in some of the country’s biggest venues. For a bunch of supposed miserable English bastards, their entire tour couldn’t have been more joyous. Honourable mentions: November was a good month if you like your music completely left of centre it seems, with the dynamic grandeur of Harvest headliners Sigur Rós also leaving a lasting impression on many. Those of us that got to his arena shows, his nowlegendary after parties, or both, showered the purple rain down on Prince while The Pogues once again made drunkenness seem utterly mesmerising. We couldn’t forget the oncein-a-lifetime run of dates that Refused delivered either, and Bon Iver’s huge live show made many smile all stupid-like.

Honourable mentions: Since the beginning of the year, the hype surrounding Grimes has remained a constant, while Gotye, armed with a new bunch of pointy ARIA things, follows up his firstplacing of 2011 with a very credible fourth. Embarking on the most anticipated Australian tour of 2012 meant that Radiohead were in everyone’s hearts and heads, while likely heirs to the throne Alt-J landed just behind them, with young dance prodigy Flume rounding out the top contenders behind his self-titled debut.

Movie Of The Year THE DARK KNIGHT RISES politics and other stuff that’s really grinding our gears. But Twitter is more than a simple place to offload – it’s a place to learn about the world, and the best thing is you can create the world you want to hear about. Its simplified use also means that its creators can’t fuck with it every other month until it’s so damn convoluted that you can’t even find your events tab. Not that it bothers us or anything… Honourable mentions: It seems our writers couldn’t resist a cheeky little plug for the ever sexy theMusic.com.au website (and who can blame them really?), while Facebook continues to hold strong among the ranks. But hey, man, the writers at Street Press Australia are consummate professionals... hence why SoundCloud and Wikipedia both got a look in, for research purposes, not procrastination. However, they also love viewing parody clips and cat montages, which is why YouTube snuck in towards the top of our polls. Previous Winners: Facebook (2011), Facebook (2010), Facebook (2009)

Previous Winners: Gotye (2011), The National (2010), Lady Gaga (2009)

Dirty Three Breaking Bad

Australian Artist TV Show Of The Year Performance BREAKING BAD can we say? The drug business is bloody entertaining. Breaking Bad Of The Year What finds itself in a familiar position again after topping our poll last year, with It just goes to show how revelatory their nationwide tour was back in March that the performances from ol’ boys Dirty

Previous Winners: Breaking Bad (2011), True Blood (2010)

The Dark Knight Rises

Previous Winners: Portishead (2011), Metallica (2010), Neil Young (2009)

DIRTY THREE

Honourable mentions: Medieval fantasy hit Game Of Thrones was way back in second place, while Girls was the only lolworthy show to make the upper echelons of the voting results (music journalism – sad face, eh). And what would life be like without some post-apocalyptic zombie drama, right? Right! That’s why we loved the guts out of The Walking Dead. Rounding it out, human pug dog Steve Buscemi and the Boardwalk Empire crew landed a whisker ahead of Homeland, a show that was no doubt affected in polls by Claire Danes’ inability to cry like a normal person.

writers’ poll 2012

FRANK OCEAN/TAME IMPALA

It was a dead heat here in polling, but no one stands straight… So, which way do you lean? Although Frank Ocean probably gets a little more props as the solo runner out of our winning pair, Tame Impala are our homegrown product and kicking some seriously big goals right around the world. Ugh, it’s too much to take – you’re both winners in our eyes gentlemen. Although, channel ORANGE is on the speakers as this is being written and Ocean just ran out of Trojans, so maybe he’s getting enough love? Anyway, behind these two no one was really in reach, with the peloton closely bunched back at roughly half the votes of our duel victors. But considering these were the absolute one and two in the Album Of The Year voting and we are music writers, this result probably goes a long way to understanding our train of thought – it’s all about the jams people.

setting of Albuquerque only helps to underpin the series further, enhancing the idea of desolation through methamphetamine. How they also manage to crack genuine moments of humour within such a hardnose script is a credit to the writers and actors. With the concluding half of the series pencilled in for release midnext year, winter 2013 is shaping up to be surly and couch-centric.

the first half of the latest (and final) season offering up enough plot twists and character turns to make the New Mexico cooking business look like a tasty one. In 2012, with the finger-lickin’ drug kingpin Gus out of the way, we found Walt (continually played the hell out of by Bryan Cranston) and Jesse (Aaron Paul) back cooking again; selling, killing and taking control of the town, all the while losing control of their own lives. The bleak desert

When George Clooney was fighting crime in Gotham City and Arnold Schwarzenegger was laying on the freeze puns thick and fast, no one could honestly say that they expected the Batman franchise to rebuild itself to not only be the most successful comic-driven movie series on the big screen, but also the most critically acclaimed of all time. Christopher Nolan’s trilogy has breathed life into what was once a stale character; his storylines captivating, his villains downright venomous and his lead man, played to perfection by Christian Bale, a genuine hero that is impossible not to get behind. The Dark Knight Rises finishes off what Batman Begins started seven years ago, and once again leaves you emotionally invested in the happenings of the Caped Crusader, a rarity for someone born from a sketch. And even though we didn’t grab every word that Bane was saying, we still wouldn’t want to get on his bad side – geez. This also makes two out of three for Nolan when it comes to SPA polls; lucky he’s having next year off. Honourable mentions: One of the most iconic filmmakers of our time, Wes Anderson struck a chord once again with his story of summer camp romance, Moonrise Kingdom. Daniel Craig, meanwhile, continued to assert himself as one of the finest Bonds of all time with the spy institution’s latest triumph, Skyfall. Ben Affleck shocked everyone with his engrossing script, airtight direction (and acting chops) in the Canadian Caper tale of 1980, Argo, while The Avengers and Looper gave us two vastly different sides of imagination with their respective plots. Previous Winners: Drive (2011), Inception (2010)

BEST WEBSITE 1. Twitter 2. Facebook 3. TheMusic 4. YouTube 5. Pitchfork

The Drum Media Sydney 2012 Wrap Up

PREVIOUS WINNERS: YouTube (2011), Facebook/Twitter (2010), Twitter/YouTube (2009)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

lthough there was plenty of great music coming out of our city in 2012, with game-changing local releases from the likes of Flume, Urthboy, The Presets and The Rubens, it was the events happening behind the tunes that dominating the headlines this year.

The constant merry-go-round of venues opening and closing, hosting live music then pulling the plug continued, with the two major happenings for the year centred around The Sandringham Hotel and The Annandale Hotel. In July, The Sando went into receivership, owing millions of dollars to creditors. Punters weren’t going to let more than 150 years of history get laid to waste without a fight though and took to the streets to show their support at a rally the following month. In the end the venue got sold, and although still standing, live music stopped. The hope is a revamped venue will emerge again soon. Things worked out well for The Annandale. In financial strife for many years, cash problems looked like they were finally going to consume the iconic venue. Cue the Buy A Brick Scheme, where you could literally buy a part of the institution, and people jumped on the initiative, moving enough for the owners to start work on refurbishments that will hopefully bring the place back to its former glories. How good is punter power?

1. Radiohead 2. Refused 3. Sigur Rós 4. Mumford & Sons =5. At The Gates =5. Prince PREVIOUS WINNERS: The National (2011), Metallica (2010), The Bronx (2009)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN =2. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR =2. Plains THE LAURELS 4. Coexist THE XX 5. good kid, m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR 6. The Rubens THE RUBENS 7. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES

writers’ poll 2012 It was also announced that the Sydney Entertainment Centre would meet its maker in 2015. This news came after AEG Ogden won their bid to redevelop the Darling Harbour precinct of the city, with the venue management firm focused on the exciting construction of the International Convention Centre Sydney [ICC]. This new development will include a 8,000 capacity theatre for ‘red carpet’ events, while a Grand Ballroom, holding 2,000 punters, has the potential to house some great things in the future.

Refused

writers’ poll 2012 BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

8. Koi No Yokan DEFTONES 9. I Awake SARAH BLASKO 10. An Awesome Wave ALT-J PREVIOUS WINNERS: Bon Iver BON IVER (2011), High Violet THE NATIONAL (2010), Conditions THE TEMPER TRAP (2009)

1. Dirty Three 2. Flume 3. The Rubens 4. Steve Smyth 5. Tim Rogers

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Celebration Day LED ZEPPELIN 2. Original Motion Picture Soundtrack THE SAPPHIRES =3. Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness (reissue) SMASHING PUMPKINS =3. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack) TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS PREVIOUS WINNERS: Nevermind (20th Anniversary) NIRVANA (2011)

Flume

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Grinderman (2011), Cloud Control (2010), Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2009)

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Bad Religion FRANK OCEAN 2. Laura BAT FOR LASHES 3. Madness MUSE =4. Call Me Maybe CARLY RAE JEPSEN =4. Holdin On FLUME PREVIOUS WINNERS: Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE (2011), Fuck You CEE LO GREEN/Fool’s Day BLUR (2010), Sweet Disposition THE TEMPER TRAP (2009) Girls The Presets

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Girls 3. The Walking Dead 4. Game Of Thrones 5. Doctor Who

The 26th annual ARIA Awards changed its format once again to mixed reviews, with the event held in arena seating at the Entertainment Centre. A few of our local brethren to nab awards included The Jezabels, Matt Corby and everyone’s favourite skivvy-wearing gents, The Wiggles; however, it was in the live component that the evening really came to life, with cracking performances from a bunch of the nominees on the night, culminating in an utterly moving take on Treaty from Hall Of Fame inductees Yothu Yindi. Meanwhile, the APRA Awards took place at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre with Boy & Bear, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Chamber Choir all walking away with some of the top gongs. Festival-wise, Field Day was another perfect way to compound a hangover, while Peats Ridge created the ultimate environment to count in the year with Gotye. The Playground Weekender was unfortunately the victim of mass saturation while Mumford & Sons choosing Dungog in the Hunter Valley for the Australian leg of their Gentlemen Of The Road stopovers made a lot of folk fans very happy indeed. Another success once again this year was Vivid LIVE. Festival director Fergus Linehan took on curator duties and proceeded to bring a glut of varied international artists to our city for a bunch of intimate and amazing shows, with highlights including Florence + The Machine, the joining of the New York forces that are Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens and the new first lady of R&B and soul, Janelle Monae with The Archandroid Orchestra. Well Sydneysiders, it’s been an absolute gas sharing all these musical moments with you all, but with Sydney Festival, Big Day Out and loads of sideshows already filling up January, the cycle is scheduled to start right back up again and the show must go on. Bring the noise! The Drum Media Sydney Team

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Boardwalk Empire (2011), Mad Men (2010)

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. Argo 3. Moonrise Kingdom 4. Skyfall 5. The Avengers PREVIOUS WINNERS: Drive (2011), Inception (2010)

The Smith Street Band

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tame Impala 2. Frank Ocean 3. The xx =4. Gotye =4. The Smith Street Band PREVIOUS WINNERS: Gotye (2011), The National (2010), Alice In Chains (2009)

Argo

BEST WEBSITE 1. Twitter 2. SoundCloud 3. Facebook 4. TheMusic =5. Pitchfork =5. Tumblr PREVIOUS WINNERS: SoundCloud (2011), Facebook (2010), Facebook (2009)

Inpress 2012 Wrap Up huge year in Melbourne, but really, as the cultural capital of the country, when is it not? And remember people, it’s not gloating if you’re telling the truth. With shows from Grimes, Kanye West and even two from Refused, we had our calendar fully marked from January through to December; not even the non-event that was Prince’s after party could take away from the gleam of an absolutely bumper year. Locally, Melbourne acts of all substance took it to the masses: Chet Faker moved feet with his electronic jams, Alpine brought the harmonious love behind songs from their cracker debut and 360 won the adulation of every cap-wearing kid in our city and practically any other, or so it seemed.

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Radiohead 2. Prince 3. Kanye West 4. Spiritualized =5. Grimes =5. Grizzly Bear PREVIOUS WINNERS: Gang Of Four (2011), Pavement (2010), The Flaming Lips (2009)

Even against the conditions, outdoor music sounded just as good as the indoor guff. In searing heat we all made the annual pilgrimage out to Meredith Music Festival once again to sway deliriously at the Natural Amphitheatre to the likes of Spiritualized, Primal Scream, Turbonegro and Twerps, while roughly a month before CherryFest took over Cherry Bar and ACDC Lane, putting together a super varied line-up of loud that attracted respected internationals such as Omar Rodriquez-Lopez and Eyehategod, the event even pulling together local stoner rockers Dern Rutlidge for another crack of the whip. Harvest (thankfully) happened without

Beach House - Bloom

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. Visions GRIMES =3. An Awesome Wave ALT-J =3. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 5. Shrines PURITY RING 6. Bloom BEACH HOUSE 7. Coexist THE XX

Prince

writers’ poll 2012 8. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES 9. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 10. Spring And Fall PAUL KELLY PREVIOUS WINNERS: Let England Shake PJ HARVEY (2011), Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA (2010), Merriweather Post Pavilion ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (2009)

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations Of The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 VARIOUS 2. Trilogy THE WEEKND =3. The Velvet Underground & Nico (45th Anniversary) THE VELVET UNDERGROUND =3. The Soul Of Melbourne VARIOUS

Chet Faker

writers’ poll 2012 BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

a hitch this year and there were all the festival expected standards earlier in the year that went off famously.

1. Twerps 2. Chet Faker 3. Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes 4. Pond 5. Tame Impala

Venue-wise we lost a couple of the good ones this year. There will be no more Pony 2am sets, at least in the near future, as one of our most esteemed live venues sadly shut its doors a few weeks ago after over a decade of good, honest hedonistic fun. There’s been talk of a new lease and further good times following renovations though, so we cross our fingers to hang onto the nag. Brunswick’s Phoenix Public House was another room closing up for its last time, with property leasing once again a contentious issue. After fighting so hard for live music in our city it’s always a body blow when a few venues are culled; this makes it even more imperative to get out and see some bands in 2013!

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Grinderman (2011), Eddie Current Suppression Ring (2010), Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2009)

PREVIOUS WINNER: 12 Days To Paris (reissue) HUXTON CREEPERS (2011)

SONG OF THE YEAR

Plan B - iLL Manors

1. Elephant TAME IMPALA 2. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards TAME IMPALA 3. iLL Manors PLAN B 4. Breezeblocks ALT-J =5. Ruin CAT POWER =5. Pyramids FRANK OCEAN

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE (2011), Tightrope JANELLE MONÁE (2010), Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) BEYONCE (2009) Twerps

Mad Men

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Mad Men 3. Girls 4. Homeland 5. Boardwalk Empire PREVIOUS WINNERS: Breaking Bad (2011), Mad Men (2010)

BEST MOVIE 1. Skyfall 2. Moonrise Kingdom 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower 5. The Avengers PREVIOUS WINNERS: The Tree Of Life (2011), Inception (2010)

We probably can’t have a wrap-up either without giving mention to our everyman pop hero Gotye. His success of last year subsequently rolled over into 2012, where his inescapable Kimbra duet, Somebody That I Used To Know, found its way to the top of the charts in the US, the UK and enough other countries to keep his passport continually stamped for the year’s duration. He also managed to snag three Grammy nominations for his troubles, including a nod in the much sought after category, Record Of The Year. The aforementioned single has now shifted a lazy ten million units, while his record, Making Mirrors, has gone through two million checkouts. Not bad for a bloke who really just likes tinkering with sounds at home. And following that horrible fall at his home late last year, local larrikin and music industry legend Molly Meldrum made a full recovery, even seeing the funny side of the whole incident by doing a live cross at the ARIAs from atop a ladder while simultaneously putting Guy Sebastian’s sexuality into question – what a man!

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Beautiful rock pigs and club gurners of Melbourne, we salute you for sharing this fun and vibrant ride with us throughout 2012. But stay strapped in, ‘cause we want to take this ride all over again. Have a good holidays and we’ll be back here writing for you first thing next year.

1. Frank Ocean 2. Grimes 3. Tame Impala 4. Twerps 5. Radiohead PREVIOUS WINNERS: PJ Harvey (2011), Kanye West (2010), Lady Gaga (2009)

Primal Scream

Skyfall

The Inpress Team

BEST WEBSITE

Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

1. Twitter 2. Facebook 3. Wikipedia 4. TheMusic =5. Cracked =5. YouTube

Time Off 2012 Wrap Up

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Twitter (2011), Facebook (2010), Facebook (2009)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Radiohead 2. The Pogues 3. Refused 4. Amon Tobin =5. Beck =5. Dan Deacon Ensemble

hings got off to massively better start in 2012 than last year with no natural disasters or widespread devastation to speak of – a win in everyone’s books. And although a new government has tried to smother the creative heart of the state, these past 12 months have proven huge in the south east Queensland corner and northern New South Wales, with loads of bands smashing up stages domestically and abroad, while cracking local releases seemed to become almost a given every single week.

On the festival calendar there was the usual plethora of poison to choose from, no matter if you like you music loud, soft, bass heavy, simple, cute or just fucking strange. Bluesfest, Soundwave and Future were big time large as always, Splendour In The Grass returning to Byron Bay ensured the event was a barnstorming (and muddy) sell out, while the recent Harvest festival manage to still remain an utter triumph despite a mass evacuation that had to take place on sunset as a unforgiving hail storm rolled into town. (Credit to the organisers, they handled the situation impeccably and with a minimum amount of fuss. Also, big ups to QUT for having loads of stairwells to take cover in.)

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Kanye West (2011), Muse (2010), The Hold Steady (2009)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS 2. The World Warriors VELOCIRAPTOR 3. The Seer SWANS 4. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR =5. Big Time BITCH PREFECT =5. Flume FLUME 7. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN

writers’ poll 2012 We welcomed a bunch of new venues onto the local scene throughout the year, with The End, The Hideaway, Wasteland, Southside Tea Room, Crowbar all opening their doors to some divine live music, while Woodland got a facelift to morph into the ever fun Coniston Lane, keeping the messy nights alive behind Mustang Bar. The Waiting Room has also established itself as a big supporter of the local product and, as expected, all the usual established players continued to house dominant performance after dominant performance.

Dan Deacon Ensemble

writers’ poll 2012 BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

8. Handwritten THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 9. Pacifica THE PRESETS 10. Atlas PARKWAY DRIVE

1. Velociraptor 2. Royal Headache 3. The Necks 4. Dick Nasty 5. DZ Deathrays

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Royal Headache ROYAL HEADACHE (2011), The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE (2010), Veckatimest GRIZZLY BEAR (2009)

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Blue Lines: 2012 Remix/ Remaster MASSIVE ATTACK =2. 1991 AZEALIA BANKS =2. Parklive BLUR

Velociraptor

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Ball Park Music (2011), Tame Impala (2010), The Drones (2009)

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Nevermind (20th anniversary) NIRVANA (2011)

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. He’s In Stock TWERPS 2. Lost FRANK OCEAN 3. Yet Again GRIZZLY BEAR 4. Darlin’ JEREMY NEALE 5. Blue And The Grey PARKWAY DRIVE

Grizzly Bear - Yet Again

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE (2011), Runaway KANYE WEST (2010), Sweet Disposition THE TEMPER TRAP (2009)

Flight Of The Conchords Homeland And what a large 12 months it was for touring, with massive international acts making Brisbane their own. Our city scribes, much like the rest of the country, were left mouth agape after Radiohead apologised for eight years away in spectacular style; Sweden political punks Refused celebrated their party program with a room full of rowdy punters at Eatons Hill, while other highlights included Flight Of The Conchords, Regina Spektor, Thurston Moore and Bon Iver. However, no one told the local scene that they are any smaller than these overseas names, with artists like Bleeding Knees Club, Parkway Drive, The Medics, Emma Louise, The Amity Affliction, Ball Park Music, Velociraptor and more all dropping killer tracks, celebrated albums and putting on some world class performances in all corners of the globe. Hell, DZ Deathrays even managed to win an ARIA for their relentless debut, Bloodstreams. Indeed, our streets are alive. And all this – the bands, songs, venues – was celebrated with style at the annual BIGSOUND, which seems to bloody get larger and more memorable with every year. In its eleventh year, the event has become the biggest music industry showcase in the Southern Hemisphere and in 2012 we were treated to two nights of righteous tunes and three quality days of (hungover) panels with some of the most important names in the business. With theMusic.com.au offering unprecedented coverage of the event, we were able to check out a legitimate boatload of bands throughout some of the Valley’s finest venues, with home grown talent like Gung Ho, Hungry Kids Of Hungary, Kingfisha, Violent Soho and The Good Ship all making a big impact. And, as for that final night party at Birdee’s, well, cider fuelled mayhem seemed to be the only order for proceedings. But that’s enough looking back – there’s so much more to keep looking forward to. Have a fantastic Christmas, a lively New Year and we’ll see you all on the barrier to do it over again. The Time Off Team

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Walking Dead 2. Breaking Bad 3. Games Of Thrones 4. Girls 5. Homeland PREVIOUS WINNERS: Breaking Bad (2011), South Park/Eastbound And Down (2010)

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. The Avengers 3. Moonrise Kingdom 4. Looper 5. Beasts Of The Southern Wild PREVIOUS WINNERS: Drive (2011), Inception/The Social Network (2010)

The Weeknd

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tame Impala 2. Sigur Rós 3. Radiohead 4. The Weeknd 5. Frank Ocean PREVIOUS WINNERS: Royal Headache (2011), Kanye West (2010), KiD CuDi (2009)

Looper

BEST WEBSITE 1. TheMusic 2. Facebook 3. Twitter 4. Spotify =5. SoundCloud =5. YouTube PREVIOUS WINNERS: Facebook (2011), Pitchfork (2010), Facebook (2009)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Radiohead 2. Sigur Rós 3. Bon Iver 4. The Pogues 5. M83

f not already, the sleepy streets of Perth are truly a thing of the past, a plethora of new small bars, loud shows, late nights and early mornings becoming a part of west coast living as we know it. Twenty-twelve saw one of our own, Tame Impala, once again make waves all around the world, only this year they’re reaching tsunami-size levels. If the lads weren’t taking out almost every top category of the Street Press Australia polls, they were selling out Brixton Academy, shooting up the Billboard charts and being awarded triple j and NME’s Album Of The Year for their second release, Lonerism.

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Portishead (2011), Gorillaz (2010), The Rapture (2009)

The local scene was really hammering down this year and was once again showcased and celebrated at the midyear WAMi Awards. The two big winners on that night were local pop kids San Cisco, their sunny pop given nods in a bunch of categories, while local songstress Abbe May also walked away with multiple awards, backing it up late this year with new single, Karmageddon, one of the year’s best. Tame offshoot Pond continues to grow and grow, Emperors brought ‘90s rock’n’roll back to the fore, Ruby Boots likewise in country-folk, plus local up-and-comers Rainy Day Women and

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 3. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 4. good kid, m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR 5. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN =6. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS =6. MMXII KILLING JOKE

Sigur Ros

writers’ poll 2012 =6. Valtari SIGUR RÓS =9. Until The Quiet Comes FLYING LOTUS =9. fIN JOHN TALABOT PREVIOUS WINNERS: Bon Iver BON IVER (2011), Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA (2010), Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix PHOENIX (2009)

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Black Sands Remixed BONOBO 2. The Velvet Underground & Nico (45th Anniversary) THE VELVET UNDERGROUND =3. Blur 21 (box set) BLUR =3. Celebration Day LED ZEPPLIN

Sugar Army

The Drum Media Perth 2012 Wrap Up

writers’ poll 2012 BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Stillwater Giants look like they’ll be forces to reckon with in 2013, while beatmaster Ta-ku may finally take the spotlight.

1. Sugar Army 2. Tomás Ford 3. Ball Park Music 4. Paul Kelly 5. The Medics PREVIOUS WINNERS: Grinderman (2011), PVT (2010), Sarah Blasko (2009)

As Australia’s longest-running cultural festival, the Perth International Arts Festival once again delivered on the live music side of things, with an irrepressible ten-piece Bon Iver closing proceedings, their ‘intimate’ sold-out gig at Red Hill Auditorium wowing all and sundry. And judging by their high ranking in the International Artist Performance Of The Year category, the cave-like stage show that they provided was by far one of the most captivating of the year. Another big name that got amongst it in our festival scene was The Black Keys, with the Akron, Ohio two-piece taking us to blues school as the huge headliner for Rock-It Festival, joined by a bunch of locals including John Butler Trio and Birds Of Tokyo.

PREVIOUS WINNERS: Inni SIGUR RÓS (2011)

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Karmageddon ABBE MAY 2. Latch Feat. Sam Smith DISCLOSURE 3. Tessellate ALT-J 4. Default ATOMS FOR PEACE 5. Genesis GRIMES PREVIOUS WINNERS: Holocene BON IVER (2011), Fuck You CEE LO GREEN (2010), My Girls ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (2009) 30 Rock

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Game Of Thrones 3. Dexter 4. 30 Rock =5. Boardwalk Empire =5. Superjail! PREVIOUS WINNERS: Breaking Bad (2011), True Blood (2010)

BEST MOVIE 1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. Argo 4. Skyfall 5. Holy Motors PREVIOUS WINNERS: Drive (2011), The Social Network (2010)

But here in WA, it’s not just about rock’n’roll – we love big beats as well, with more and more big name acts making the trek west. Skrillex’ Future sideshow at Villa showed sardines jammed in a can still know how to rave out, while breakbeat and drum’n’bass still proved the beats of choice thanks to the hardworking Boomtick and Inhibit crews. Shockone continues to dominate overseas, his album next year destined to be massive, and the Breakfest and Origin festivals will surely be the ultimate culmination to an awesome year of bass life and club culture. And very much the biggest and boldest thing to happen regarding local venues was the opening of Perth Arena, the monster of a room constructed down Wellington Street near the old Entertainment Centre. Able to house up to 15,500 punters, PA has a retractable roof and has been designed with big touring acts in mind, even allowing production trucks to drive directly onto the venue’s floor. Much derided in its birthing stages, the architecture has created an epic focal point for our city and hopefully will encourage even more large acts (C’mon, Bruce Springsteen, you know you want to...) out west. Did we also mention that the acoustics are incredible? No? Well, they are, especially when you consider the size of the place.

Tomas Ford

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Frank Ocean 2. Alt-J 3. Kendrick Lamar 4. Radiohead 5. Tomás Ford PREVIOUS WINNERS: Gotye (2011), Flying Lotus (2010), Sarah Blasko (2009)

The Black Keys

We are stoked you have shared the journey with us throughout the past year. We reckon it’s been a triumphant one for Perth, Fremantle and all the dots on the map in between, and we can’t wait to keep on dancing over the next 12 months and beyond. Moonrise Kingdom

The Drum Media Perth Team

theMusic 2012 Wrap Up

Battles

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Sigur Rós 2. Transistors 3. Battles

hat a year it’s been for everyone here at theMusic. com.au. 2012 marked Street Press Australia’s genuine jump from print to online; no more individual web pages for each state, no more sporadic coverage. Since our launch in early April it’s been one address, one banner and one dedicated team bringing you all the action as it comes to hand. You have to agree that it makes sense.

But as we change so too does the industry. However, one thing that hasn’t is the only part that really counts – the music. With more events on the calendar, hungry crowds and the genuine consensus among OS touring acts that our country is ‘heaps sweet’, more international bands are making the pilgrimage down our way. But what’s really exciting is the exports. Loads of Aussie musicians are now taking the plunge, throwing themselves in foreign waters and are not just staying afloat, but swimming onwards. Every major festival on the planet has a little taster from Down Under these days and the amount of our bands getting the green light for conferences like SXSW and The Great Escape shows just how healthy the domestic scene is. Remember – if we continue to give back to these artists that give so much to us, then things will be peachy fuckin’ creamy.

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Urthboy 2. Dirty Three 3. Hermitude

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. Babel MUMFORD & SONS 3. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Isles Of Wonder: Music For The Opening Ceremony Of The London 2012 Olympic Games VARIOUS

writers’ poll 2012

Hermitude

writers’ poll 2012

=2. Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions BILLY BRAGG & WILCO =2. The Procession: 10 Years Of Dew Process VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. And I Will Kiss UNDERWORLD FEAT. DAME EVELYN GLENNIE 2. Hold On ALABAMA SHAKES 3. Call Me Maybe CARLY RAE JEPSEN

Game Of Thrones

BEST TV SHOW 1. Game Of Thrones 2. WWE SmackDown 3. ABC News

Kimbra @ SXSW

BEST MOVIE We will admit... the deadlines have been stressful and caffeine has remained a faithful co-pilot, but every bit of pressure we’ve felt has all been worth it. We’ve loved our exclusive sessions at theMusic HQ, been thrilled by interviews with acts we admire and respect and have remained in raptures by the amount of class albums that have landed on our desks throughout the course of the year. With writers situated in every capital city around the country, we are your eyes and ears on the ground every time your favourite band plugs in and we can’t begin to tell you how happy we are to continue bringing you the most wide-reaching music coverage in Australia. The Music Team

International Polls PITCHFORK

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 2. The Seer SWANS 3. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 4. The Idler Wheel... FIONA APPLE 5. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 6. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 7. The Money Store DEATH GRIPS 8. Until The Quiet Comes FLYING LOTUS 9. Luxury Problems ANDY STOTT 10. Who’s Feeling Young Now? PUNCH BROTHERS

MOJO ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Blunderbuss JACK WHITE 2. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 3. Life Is People BILL FAY 4. Old Ideas LEONARD COHEN 5. One Day I’m Going To Soar DEXYS 6. El Camino BLACK KEYS 7. Django Django DJANGO DJANGO 8. Locked Down DR JOHN 9. Ekstasis JULIA HOLTER 10. Tempest BOB DYLAN

STEREOGUM ALBUM OF THE YEAR: The Idler Wheel... FIONA APPLE 2. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 3. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 4. The Seer SWANS 5. Devotion JESSIE WARE

Gotye

1. The Cabin In The Woods 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. Moonrise Kingdom

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Gotye 2. Frank Ocean 3. Tame Impala

BEST WEBSITE 1. TheMusic 2. Twitter 3. Facebook

6. Attack On Memory CLOUD NOTHINGS 7. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS 8. Heaven THE WALKMEN 9. Something CHAIRLIFT 10. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS

NME ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. Visions GRIMES 3. (III) CRYSTAL CASTLES 4. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 5. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 6. Given To The Wild THE MACCABEES 7. Beard, Wives, Denim POND 8. In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull THE CRIBS 9. Jake Bugg JAKE BUGG 10. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE

GORILLA VS BEAR ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Visions GRIMES 2. Kill For Love CHROMATICS 3. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 4. Burial KINDRED EP 5. Devotion JESSIE WARE 6. Habits & Contradictions SCHOOLBOY Q 7. Bloom BEACH HOUSE 8. Tender Opposites TOPS 9. Kaleidoscope Dream MIGUEL 10. Something CHAIRLIFT

THE GUARDIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR: channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 2. Visions GRIMES

Cabin In The Woods

3. Devotion JESSIE WARE 4. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS 5. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 6. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 7. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 8. Coexist THE XX 9. In Our Heads HOT CHIP 10. The Bravest Man In The Universe BOBBY WOMACK

MAGNET ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Reloaded ROC MARCIANO 2. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 3. Kaleidoscope Dream MIGUEL 4. I Bet On Sky DINOSAUR JR 5. Yellow And Green BARONESS 6. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 7. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS 8. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS 9. R.A.P. Music KILLER MIKE 10. Master Of My Make-Believe SANTIGOLD

UNCUT ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Old Ideas LEONARD COHEN 2. Tempest BOB DYLAN 3. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE 4. Locked Down DR JOHN 5. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 6. Life Is People BILL FAY 7. Hair TY SEGALL & WHITE FENCE 8. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 9. Psychedelic Pill NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE 10. Wrecking Ball BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground (reissue) THE WHITE STRIPES

1. Joe McKee 2. Dirty Three 3. The Necks 4. Ed Kuepper 5. Royal Headache

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Sick Of You BLACK LIPS 2. Love Life GIRLS 3. Outlands DEEP SEA ARCADE 4. Just A Couple Of Drinks SPOD 5. Yet Again GRIZZLY BEAR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Purity Ring

1. Thee Oh Sees 2. Black Lips 3. Grizzly Bear 4. Spiritualized 5. Purity Ring

Adam Wilding ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST WEBSITE

1. Putrifiers II THEE OH SEES 2. Plains THE LAURELS 3. Bloom BEACH HOUSE 4. Eating For Two SARAH MARY CHADWICK 5. Sweet Heart Sweet Light SPIRITUALIZED 6. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 7. Twins TY SEGAL 8. Shrines PURITY RING 9. Burning Boy JOE MCKEE 10. Lake Air DAPPLED CITIES

1. abc.net.au/news 2. google.com.au 3. swellnet.com.au 4. wikipedia.org.au 5. abc.net.au/iview

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Beck 2. Henry Rollins 3. Spiritualized 4. Deerhoof 5. tUnE-yArDs

Antipodean Interpolations of the First Psychedelic Era 19651968 VARIOUS ARTISTS 3. Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions BILLY BRAGG & WILCIO

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. History Eraser COURTNEY BARNETT 2. The Party Is You TEETH & TONGUE 3. Tinderbox VIOLENT SOHO 4. Nothin But Time CAT POWER 5. Warburton PER PURPOSE

BEST TV SHOW 1. Q&A 2. QI 3. At The Movies 4. Lowdown 5. Good Game

BEST MOVIE 1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. The Avengers 3. The Hobbit 4. Django Unchained 5. The Dark Knight Rises

2012 HIGHLIGHT Heading to the Halifax Pop Explosion in Halifax, Nova Scotia and sharing a lift and choice conversation with Jared Swilley of the Black Lips.

2013 PREDICTION Speaking of my crystal ball, I reckon 2013 will be the year I finally do something about that rash.

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE Redd Kross

Shane O’Donohue ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Rock And Roll Night Club MAC DE MARCO 2. 2 MAC DE MARCO 3. Lucifer PEAKING LIGHTS 4. Plagued Are All My Thoughts, Like White Ants In The Fence LOVE MIGRATE

writers’ poll 2012 Brendan Crabb ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. L’Enfant Sauvage GOJIRA 2. Koi No Yokan DEFTONES 3. The Inherited Repression PSYCROPTIC 4. De Vermis Mysteriis HIGH ON FIRE 5. Songs Of The Third And Fifth THE MARK OF CAIN 6. Yellow & Green BARONESS 7. Dark Roots Of Earth TESTAMENT 8. Koloss MESHUGGAH 9. Rock And Roll Is Black And Blue DANKO JONES 10. Weather Systems ANATHEMA

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Art of Self Defense HIGH ON FIRE 2. Machine Fucking Head Live MACHINE HEAD 3. The Meanest Hits SHIHAD

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Explosia GOJIRA 2. When Steel And Bone Meet GOATWHORE

3. Drag Ropes STORM CORROSION 4. Save Our Now THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT 5. Career Suicide (Is Not Real Suicide) WOODS OF YPRES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. John Baizley 2. Matt Pike 3. Steven Wilson 4. Devin Townsend 5. Jeff Martin

BEST WEBSITE 1. metalsucks.net 2. leaguehq.com.au 3. loudmag.com.au 4. filmink.com.au 5. blabbermouth.net

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Mastodon 2. Gojira 3. High on Fire 4. Sick Of It All 5. The Tea Party

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Psycroptic 2. Mindsnare

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Soundtrack TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS 2. Celebration Day LED ZEPPELIN 3. Turn On The Bright Lights 10th Anniversary Reissue INTERPOL

SONG OF THE YEAR

Converge

Sarah Petchell ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. All We Love We Leave Behind CONVERGE 2. Koi No Yokan DEFTONES 3. Free To Rot, Free Of Sin THE BRODERICK 4. Young Man, Old Man HOODLUM SHOUTS 5. Skelethon AESOP ROCK 6. Grey Matter/White Matter SXWZD 7. Book Burner PIG DESTROYER 8. Sol Obscura IN TRENCHES 9. Get What You Give THE GHOST INSIDE 10. White Walls WHITE WALLS

1. All We Love We Leave Behind CONVERGE 2. Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space EVERY TIME I DIE 3. Engine 45 THE GHOST INSIDE 4. Flowermouth (The Leech) CODE ORANGE KIDS 5. We Take Care Of Our Own BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Converge 2. Hoodlum Shouts 3. The Smith Street Band 4. Refused 5. letlive

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Scott & Charlene’s Wedding/ Peak Twins SCOTT & CHARLENE’S WEDDING/PEAK TWINS 2. Nuggets – Nuggets:

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Soul Of Melbourne VARIOUS 2. Nuggets: Australian Interpolations Of The First Psychedelic Era VARIOUS 3. Trevor Jackson Presents Metal Dance VARIOUS

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. 30 Rock 3. Dexter 4. Game of Thrones 5. Community

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST MOVIE

2012 HIGHLIGHT Numerous Aussie heavy acts really stepping up their game: Beyond Terror Beyond Grace, Thy Art Is Murder, Be’lakor and Twelve Foot Ninja among them.

2013 PREDICTION Australia regaining the Ashes and Manly winning another premiership. And people getting far too worked up about the metal/hard rock category at the ARIAs again.

Father John Misty

Andrew Mast ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Be Strong THE 2 BEARS 2. Saint Etienne Presents Words And Music SAINT ETIENNE 3. Beard Wives Denim POND 4. Sonik Kicks PAUL WELLER 5. You Me Bullets Love THE BOMBAY ROYALE 6. One Day I’m Going To Soar DEXYS 7. Monument CHILDREN COLLIDE 8. Fear Fun FATHER JOHN MISTY 9. New War NEW WAR 10. One Second Of Love NITE JEWEL

1. Radiohead 2. Refused 3. letlive 4. At The Gates 5. Soundgarden

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Newsroom 2. Sons Of Anarchy 3. Treme 4. Man Vs Food 5. True Blood

BEST MOVIE 1. Skyfall 3. Looper 4. Brave 5. The Avengers

BEST WEBSITE

2012 HIGHLIGHT

1. noheroesmag.com 2. twitter.com 3. boston.redsox.mlb.com 4. maximumrocknroll.com 5. questionablecontent.net

Seeing two bands I never, ever thought I would see in my lifetime live – Refused and Soundgarden.

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Continuation of the trend of bands breaking up and getting back together six months later.

2013 PREDICTION

1. History Eraser COURTNEY BARNETT 2. The Bravest Man In The Universe BOBBY WOMACK 3. March On N’FA JONES 4. I Fink U Freeky DIE ANTWOORD 5. Wild ‘N’ Ready CONGO TARDIS

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Kevin Parker 2. Damon Albarn 3. Joshua Tillman 4. The 2 Bears 5. Simon Dine

BEST WEBSITE

1. Violent Soho 2. Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes 3. Money For Rope 4. The Bombay Royale 5. Gooch Palms

Chris Familton ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Night Larks SUZY CONNOLLY 2. Fear Fun FATHER JOHN MISTY 3. Hard Rubbish LOWER PLENTY 4. Psychedelic Pill NEIL YOUNG 5. Mr. M LAMBCHOP 6. The Sparrow LAWRENCE ARABIA 7. Between The Times And The Tides LEE RANALDO 8. I Bet On Sky DINOSAUR JR. 9. Outlands DEEP SEA ARCADE 10. I Hope I’m Not A Monster CHARLIE HORSE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Violent Soho 2. Straight Arrows 3. Mia Dyson 4. Standish/Carlyon 5. Ana Nicole

BEST TV SHOW 1. Enlightened 2. Black Mirror 3. Tangle 4. Girls 5. The Fades

BEST MOVIE 1. The Cabin In The Woods 2. Moonrise Kingdom 3. Safety Not Guaranteed 4. Magic Mike 5. Headhunters

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

2013 PREDICTION

Getting to witness both Marc Almond and Julian Cope playing live in the UK.

1. Father John Misty

That I will finally accept the fact that Tom Waits will never tour Australia.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

4. Kurt Wagner 5. The Horrors

SONG OF THE YEAR Neil Young

2. The Raveonettes 3. Psychic TV 4. Transistors 5. Thee Oh Sees

1. dangerousminds.net 2. twitter.com 3. abc.net.au/iview 4. rdio.com 5. discogs.com

1. XX RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 2. Country Funk 1969-1975 VARIOUS 3. A Victim of Stars: 19822012 DAVID SYLVIAN

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Hoodlum Shouts 2. Break Even 3. The Smith Street Band 4. Coerce 5. Totally Unicorn

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

writers’ poll 2012

3. Parkway Drive 4. Frenzal Rhomb 5. LORD

1. Skyfall 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 4. The Descendants 5. The Bourne Legacy

5. Bored Nothing BORED NOTHING 6. Sun CAT POWER 7. Hard Rubbish LOWER PLENTY 8. Twins TY SEGALL 9. Bend Beyond WOODS 10. All Hell DAUGHN GIBSON

1. Eilen Jewell 2. Santigold 3. The Specials 4. Redd Kross 5. The Pogues

1. Slume REGULAR JOHN 2. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings FATHER JOHN MISTY 3. Walk Like A Giant NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE 4. Nice Without Mercy LAMBCHOP 5. Dead Roses CHARLIE HORSE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Neil Young 2. Lee Ranaldo 3. J Mascis 4. Ty Segall 5. Lambchop

BEST WEBSITE 1. facebook.com 2. pitchfork.com 3. thequietus.com 4. themusic.com.au 5. fasterlouder.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Afghan Whigs 2. Shihad 3. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Dirty Three 2. Regular John 3. The Mess Hall 4. The City Lights 5. Charlie Horse

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Justified 3. The Walking Dead 4. Treme 5. Mad Men

BEST MOVIE 1. Shihad: Beautiful Machine 2. Better Than Something: Jay Reatard 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. Marley 5. Moonrise Kingdom

2012 HIGHLIGHT Neil Young releasing two albums, a memoir, an Australian tour announcement and a new highend digital music format.

2013 PREDICTION A battle for market share between the music streaming platforms.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. FACT Mix VARIOUS/ JOHN TALABOT 2. Radio 1 Essential Mix VARIOUS/ THE GASLAMP KILLER 3. XLR8R Podcast VARIOUS/ DISCLOSURE

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Genesis GRIMES 2. Why Do U Feel MOODYMANN 3. Karmageddon ABBE MAY 4. The Keepers SANTIGOLD 5. Wild Things SAN CISCO

Grimes

Aarom Wilson

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. Until The Quiet Comes FLYING LOTUS 3. Nina Kraviz NINA KRAVIZ 4. Babes, Water, Waves PERTH 5. R.I.P. ACTRESS 6. Melt YOUNG MAGIC 7. Oshin DIIV 8. Iradelphic CLARK 9. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 10. Attack On Memory CLOUD NOTHINGS

1. Tame Impala 2. Frank Ocean 3. Thom Yorke/Radiohead 4. Grimes 5. Nina Kraviz

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. pedestrian.tv 3. factmag.com 4. xlr8r.com 5. instagram.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Radiohead 2. Ennio Morricone 3. Amon Tobin

4. M83 5. Sigur Rós

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Jezabels 2. Thrashing Without Looking 3. The Growl 4. Split Seconds 5. San Cisco

BEST TV SHOW 1. Rake 2. Game Of Thrones 3. Boardwalk Empire 4. Breaking Bad 5. The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

BEST MOVIE 1. Holy Motors 2. The Sapphires 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 5. Finding Nemo 3D

2012 HIGHLIGHT Finally seeing Thom Yorke dance live, and right the way through two hours of pure aural brilliance.

2013 PREDICTION I will make a full recovery from six years straight of weekly streetpress deadlines.

Brad Armstrong ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Sweet Heart Sweet Light SPIRITUALIZED 2. The Seer SWANS 3. Big Time BITCH PREFECT 4. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS 5. Toward The Low Sun DIRTY THREE 6. Heartbreaking Bravery MOONFACE WITH SINAI 7. Allejuah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 8. Sun DREAMTIME 9. Valtari SIGUR ROS 10. Commercial Music FABULOUS DIAMONDS

ALT-J

Cam Findlay ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 2. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 3. Jiaolong DAPHNI 4. Centipede Hz ANIMAL COLLECTIVE 5. Neck Of The Woods SILVERSUN PICKUPS 6. Ultraista ULTRAISTA 7. Toward The Low Sun DIRTY THREE 8. King Animal SOUNDGARDEN 9. Piramida EFTERKLANG 10. Fear Fun FATHER JOHN MISTY

1. Spiritualized 2. Yo La Tengo 3. The Drones 4. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy 5. Bitch Prefect

BEST WEBSITE 1. google.com.au 2. wikipedia.org 3. youtube.com 4. soundcloud.com 5. 4zzzfm.org.au

1. Late Night Tales: Belle and Sebastian, Vol 2 VARIOUS 2. Loveless (reissue) MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3. Tago Mago (40th Anniversary Edition) CAN

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Roky Erickson 2. Dan Deacon Ensemble 3. The Pogues

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

3. The Mountain Goats 4. The Smashing Pumpkins

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Trilogy THE WEEKND 2. Forever Young: The Ska Collection MADNESS 3. +Dome Deluxe Edition SEEKAE

5. Silversun Pickups

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. sleepmakeswaves 2. Sugar Army 3. Something For Kate 4. Paul Kelly 5. Split Seconds

1. Cruel Summer KANYE WEST PRESENTS: VARIOUS 2. The Man With The Iron Fists OST VARIOUS 3. Chapter Music 20 Big Ones VARIOUS

1. Tesselate ALT-J 2. Today’s Supernatural ANIMAL COLLECTIVE 3. Song For No One MIIKE SNOW 4. We Drift Like Worried Fire GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 5. Lost FRANK OCEAN

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Alt-J 2. Frank Ocean 3. Tame Impala 4. Gotye 5. Paul Dempsey

BEST WEBSITE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST MOVIE 1. The Avengers 2. Cloud Atlas 3. The Cabin In The Woods 4. Searching For Sugar Man 5. Moonrise Kingdom

1. themusic.com.au 2. vice.com 3. last.fm 4. everythingisterrible.com 5. cracked.com

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

2013 PREDICTION

1. Sigur Ros 2. Fu Manchu

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW 1. Check It Out! With Dr Steve Brule 2. Superjail! 3. Children’s Hospital 4. Hoarders 5. Swamp People

Being able to throw myself into music and the arts, and pretending it’s work. Well, I was wrong about the armageddon, so you’re better off asking someone else.

Frank Ocean

Chris Yates ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 2. Racism THE UV RACE 3. Split LP SCOTT & CHARLENE’S WEDDING/PEAK TWINS 4. Big Time BITCH PREFECT 5. It’s You HOLY BALM 6. Class Clown Spots A UFO GUIDED BY VOICES 7. Die Young COLLARBONES 8. good kid m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAAR 9. Survey #2 A Thousand Dreams I Never Had HEINZ RIEGLER 10. Double Natural BOOMGATES

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 2. iLL Manors PLAN B 3. Born To Die LANA DEL REY 4. Life Is Good NAS 5. My Head Is An Animal OF MONSTERS AND MEN 6. The Bravest Man In The Universe BOBBY WOMACK 7. Devotion JESSIE WARE 8. (III) CRYSTAL CASTLES 9. Visions GRIMES 10. Give You The Ghost POLIÇA

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Trilogy THEWEEKND 2. DJ-Kicks MAYA JANE COLES 3. In The House KEVIN SAUNDERSON

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. iLL Manors PLAN B

2. Ride LANA DEL REY 3. Diamonds RIHANNA 4. Heart Attack TREY SONGZ 5. I Never Feat. Daniel Merriweather THE BAMBOOS

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Frank Ocean 2. Plan B 3. Lana Del Rey 4. Of Monsters And Men 5. Jessie Ware

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. twitter.com 3. guardian.co.uk 4. imdb.com 5. nme.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Anna Calvi 2. Of Monsters And Men 3. Lana Del Rey 4. Adam Ant 5. PJ Harvey

BEST MOVIE 1. Cosmopolis 2. Coriolanus 3. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 4. Snow White And The Huntsman 5. On The Road

2012 HIGHLIGHT Rediscovering the municipal library – support them before they disappear!

2013 PREDICTION There will be more peculiar hybrids. Maybe some avant urban classical mash-ups (English Renaissance dance music, Wagner, Holst, etc).

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Frank Ocean 2. Kanye West 3. Royal Headache 4. Twerps 5. The UV Race

BEST WEBSITE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Dirty Three 2. The Drones 3. Total Control 4. Dreamtime 5. Scattered Order

BEST TV SHOW 1. Boardwalk Empire 2. The Walking Dead 3. Louis Theroux 4. Louis 5. Intervention

BEST MOVIE 1. Looper 2. End of Watch 3. J. Edgar 4. 50/50

2012 HIGHLIGHT Always has, always will be Golden Plains... Maybe the 2013 ATP announcement?

2013 PREDICTION Hopefully less alcohol so I can finish the 2013 end of year list much quicker.

Steve Smyth

Robert Townsend ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Visions GRIMES 2. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES 3. I Awake SARAH BLASKO 4. Two Seas SUI ZHEN 5. Release STEVE SMYTH 6. Something CHAIRLIFT 7. Bloom BEACH HOUSE 8. Language ZULU WINTER 9. The Money Store DEATH GRIPS 10. Give Up The Ghost POLIÇA

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. 30 Something CARTER THE UNSTOPPABLE SEX MACHINE 2. 1992: The Love Album

2. Amon Tobin 3. Afghan Whigs 4. KRS One 5. Black Lips

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Royal Headache 2. Dick Nasty 3. Violent Soho 4. Matt Banham 5. Scott & Charlene’s Wedding

BEST TV SHOW 1. Bob’s Burgers 2. Parks and Recreation 3. Archer 4. Louis 5. Peep Show

BEST MOVIE 1. Tabu 2. Ted 3. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 4. The Sapphires 5. Dark Shadows

1. thepiratebay.se 2. twitter.com 3. bandcamp.com 4. soundcloud.com 5. reddit.com

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Kanye West’s Cruel Winter will reign supreme, Royal Headache will break up, Twerps will play Letterman.

1. Nile Rogers & Chic

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW 1. Redfern Now 2. True Blood 3. Birdsong 4. Rake 5. The Vampire Diaries

1. New God Flow KANYE WEST, PUSHA T, GHOSTFACE KILLAH 2. Clique KANYE WEST, BIG SEAN, JAY-Z 3. Nullarbor LOWER PLENTY 4. Fuck It DUNE RATS 5. Wicked Games THE WEEKND

CARTER THE UNSTOPPABLE SEX MACHINE 3. A Collection Of Rarities And Previously Unreleased Material JOHN MAUS

1. Sam Sparro 2. Sneaky Sound System 3. The Bamboos 4. Daniel Merriweather 5. Alpine

Plan B

4. Xiu Xiu 5. Radiohead

writers’ poll 2012

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Cyclone Wehner

1. So Long You Pretty Thing SPIRITUALIZED 2. Cunt Life PRIMITIVE CALCULATORS 3. Bad Decisions BITCH PREFECT 4. I Love The Living You (live Roky Erickson cover) JEFF MANGUM 5. Scene From a Marriage TOTAL CONTROL

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

writers’ poll 2012

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. I Belong In Your Arms CHAIRLIFT 2. Barbiturate Cowboy And His Dark Horses STEVE SMYTH 3. Breaking SYRON 4. Skyfall ADELE 5. Take A Card THE PREATURES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Grimes 2. Lana Del Ray 3. Steve Smyth 4. Sui Zhen 5. Syron

BEST WEBSITE 1. browncardigan.com 2. twitter.com 3. guardian.co.uk 4. rdio.com 5. bbc.co.uk

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Laura Marling 2. Chairlift 3. Mystery Jets 4. Nick Zinner 5. Karen O

Frank Ocean

2013 PREDICTION

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Steve Smyth 2. Sui Zhen 3. New Brutalists 4. Fanny Lumsden & The Thrillseekers 5. Jack Colwell & The Owls

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. 24 Hours In A&E 3. Girls 4. Peep Show 5. The Walking Dead

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower 3. Argo 4. Where Do We Go Now? 5. Martha Marcy May Marlene

2012 HIGHLIGHT I flew 10,000 miles to England to surprise my friend at his buck’s party and, while back in the UK, I had a drunken night out with Kitty, Daisy & Lewis.

2013 PREDICTION Even more of those incredibly irritating and entirely non-legally-binding cut-and-paste Facebook status updates about privacy settings.

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Sam Amidon 2. Grimes 3. d’Eon 4. Prince Rama 5. Julianna Barwick

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Grand Salvo 2. Terrible Truths 3. The Icypoles 4. Twerps/Chapter 20 5. Collarbones

How To Dress Well

Anthony Carew

SONG OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Visions GRIMES 2. Shrines PURITY RING 3. Total Loss HOW TO DRESS WELL 4. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS 5. Ekstasis JULIA HOLTER 6. To The Soul FRIDA HYVÖNEN 7. Into The Waves SOPHIA KNAPP 8. Tender Opposites TOPS 9. LP D’EON 10. Both Lights AU

1. Psychic Returns PARADISE 2. Chained Together MOZART’S SISTER 3. Fresh Eyes NAUTIC 4. The Mother We Share CHVRCHES 5. Bless This Mess LISA MITCHELL

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Grimes 2. Paradise 3. How To Dress Well 4. d’Eon 5. Maria Minerva

BEST TV SHOW 1. Black Mirror 2. Mad Men 3. Enlightened 4. Girls

BEST MOVIE 1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. Holy Motors 3. The Loneliest Planet 4. Neighbouring Sounds 5. Modest Reception

2012 HIGHLIGHT Not dying.

2013 PREDICTION Humanity fiddles, world burns.

Pedro Manoy ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Unlock Your Mind SOUL REBELS 2. Unleashed CHRIS ARDOIN 3. Boys & Girls ALABAMA SHAKES 4. The Protagonist THE MODERN CONGRESS 5. The Champ Is Here LEON CHAVIS & THE ZYDECO FLAMES 6. Carry Me Back OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW 7. Juke Joint Music BIG ROBB 8. Gemini MATT MORRISON 9. Texas Towns & Tex Mex Sounds LOS TEXMANIACS 10. Danaides THE ALCOHOTLICKS

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Black Sands Remixed BONOBO 2. Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection WOODY GUTHRIE 3. Trilogy THE WEEKND

SONG OF THE YEAR

Sigur Ros pic by Angela Padovan

Rick Bryant ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. On The Water FUTURE ISLANDS 2. The Keychain Collection GANG COLOURS 3. Faithful Man LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS 4. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 5. Flume FLUME 6. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 7. Bloom BEACH HOUSE 8. Lonely At The Top LUKID 9. Oshin DIIV 10. Spring And Fall PAUL KELLY

1. Her Woes DAM MANTLE 2. 40 Mark Strasse THE SHINS 3. Ruin CAT POWER 4. Laura BAT FOR LASHES 5. Claire De Lune FLIGHT FACILITIES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Radiohead 2. Neil Young 3. Tame Impala 4. Paul Kelly 5. Flume

BEST WEBSITE 1. studioworkshops.com 2. bom.gov.au/wa 3. feedingthechooks.com 4. tameimpala.tumblr.com 5. guardian.co.uk

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Radiohead

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Parklive BLUR 2. Trilogy THE WEEKND 3. Shame Original Motion Picture Soundtrack VARIOUS ARTISTS

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Under The Westway BLUR 2. Enemy THE WEEKND 3. Laura BAT FOR LASHES 4. Inhaler FOALS 5. Losing You SOLANGE The Stone Roses

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Sevana Ohandjanian

1. Blur 2. The Stone Roses 3. Refused 4. Frank Ocean 5. Godspeed You! Black Emperor

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST WEBSITE

1. Plains THE LAURELS 2. Moms MENOMENA 3. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 4. Attack On Memory CLOUD NOTHINGS 5. >> BEAK> 6. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS 7. Sweet Heart Sweet Light SPIRITUALIZED 8. Confess TWIN SHADOW 9. Put Your Back N 2 It PERFUME GENIUS 10. In Our Heads HOT CHIP

1. songkick.com 2. uberlin.co.uk 3. sugarhigh.de 4. guardian.co.uk 5. catsthatlooklikeronswanson. tumblr.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Refused 2. Radiohead 3. The Horrors 4. John Maus

1. When Your Give A Damn Just Don’t Give A Damn Anymore MISS JODY 2. Going C Chris CHRIS ARDOIN 3. Hold On ALABAMA SHAKES 4. Look The Other Way JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 5. Gangnam Style PSY

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Chris Ardoin 2. Bruno Mars 3. Perry Keyes 4. Bud Petal 5. Continental Blues Party

BEST WEBSITE 1. piccolobar.com.au 2. mumeson.org 3. altmedia.net.au 4. eastsidefm.org 5. antifacebookmovement.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Old Timey Gospel VARIOUS ARTISTS 2. Nobody Wins – Stax Southern Soul 1968-1975 VARIOUS ARTISTS 3. The Complete Jackie Day JACKIE DAY

writers’ poll 2012 MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. Eugene Hideaway Bridges 2. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 3. Lil’ Band O’ Gold 4. Rosie Ledet 5. Maceo Parker

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Perry Keyes 2. Continental Robert Susz 3. Lily Dior 4. Matt Morrison 5. Clayton Doley

BEST TV SHOW 1. Call Of The Wildman 2. Dateline 3. Foreign Correspondent 4. Prohibition 5. Four Corners

BEST MOVIE 1. God Bless America 2. The Three Stooges 3. On The Road 4. The Dictator 5. The Diplomat

2012 HIGHLIGHT The reopening of the Piccolo Bar in Roslyn Street, Kings Cross, preserved as the last surviving link to a bygone bohemian era.

2013 PREDICTION Nick Cave exhausts world supplies of black hair dye; Facebook hacked and destroyed by aliens; Annandale Hotel buys own brickworks.

writers’ poll 2012

2. Sigur Ros 3. Girls 4. My Morning Jacket 5. Bonnie Prince Billy

5. Second Day Uptown WORLD’S END PRESS

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Adam Yauch 2. Donna Summer 3. Etta James 4. Robin Gibb 5. Larry Hagman

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. The Necks 2. Paul Kelly 3. Goodnight Tiger 4. Mei Saraswati 5. The Panics

BEST WEBSITE 1. pinterest.com 2. soundcloud.com 3. thesaurus.com 4. reddit.com 5. katekingsmill.com

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Bored To Death 3. Boardwalk Empire 4. Champions League Final 5. Mad Men

BEST MOVIE 1. Argo 2. Wish You Were Here 3. Moonrise Kingdom 4. Holy Motors 5. Savages

2012 HIGHLIGHT The pool at the house in L’Isle sur la Sorgue.

2013 PREDICTION Surely not Abbott as PM. Surely.

Mikelangelo

Kate Kingsmill ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. A&E GRAHAM COXON 2. Funky Was The State Of Affairs FERGUS & GERONIMO 3. Django Django DJANGO DJANGO 4. Quakers QUAKERS 5. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE 6. >> BEAK> 7. Love This Giant DAVID BYRNE & ST VINCENT 8. Release STEVE SMYTH

9. Rooms Filled With Light FANFARLO 10. Come Of Age THE VACCINES

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Brownswood Bubblers 8 VARIOUS 2. The Soul Of Melbourne VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Default DJANGO DJANGO 2. Who DAVID BYRNE & ST VINCENT 3. 1960 What? GREGORY PORTER 4. Funky Was The State Of Affairs FERGUS & GERONIMO

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST TV SHOW 1. Doctor Who 2. Breaking Bad 3. New Girl 4. Fresh Meat 5. Parks And Recreation

BEST MOVIE 1. Shame 2. The Libertines: There Are No Innocent Bystanders 3. Martha Marcy May Marlene 4. Cosmopolis 5. Perks Of Being A Wallflower

2012 HIGHLIGHT Blur closing the London Olympics in epic fashion; Refused and The Weeknd in the early morning hours at Primavera.

2013 PREDICTION Cyborgs. That is all.

1. Red Bull Beat Suite 2. Mantra & Massive Hip Hop Choir 3. Electric Empire 4. Tijuana Cartel 5. Mikelangelo

BEST MOVIE 1. This Ain’t California 2. The House I Live In 3. Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap 4. The Intouchables 5. The Loneliest Planet

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

5. Blood Orange

1. Justice Yeldham 2. Pimmon 3. Scattered Order 4. Intentions 5. F’Tang

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Collarbones 2. I’lls 3. Butterfly Boucher 4. Last Dinosaurs 5. Absolute Boys

BEST TV SHOW

Bon Iver

Stephanie Liew ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 2. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 3. Nocturnes WILD NOTHING 4. Shrines PURITY RING 5. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES 6. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 7. Die Young COLLARBONES 8. Born To Die LANA DEL REY 9. Total Loss HOW TO DRESS WELL 10. Melt YOUNG MAGIC

4. Pyramids FRANK OCEAN 5. Losing You SOLANGE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Frank Ocean 2. Fiona Apple 3. Purity Ring 4. Solange 5. Bat For Lashes

BEST WEBSITE 1. twitter.com 2. tumblr.com 3. letterboxd.com 4. last.fm 5. klout.com

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. The Socialites DIRTY PROJECTORS 2. Hot Knife FIONA APPLE 3. Swimming Pools (Drank) KENDRICK LAMAR

1. Bon Iver 2. Kanye West 3. Active Child 4. Girls 5. Slow Club

1. Parks And Recreation 2. Breaking Bad 3. Doctor Who 4. Dexter 5. Fringe

BEST MOVIE 1. A Letter To Momo 2. Brave 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. Moonrise Kingdom 5. Skyfall

2012 HIGHLIGHT So many brilliant albums released one after the other. I also think Meredith Music Festival (my first time going!) will definitely be a highlight.

2013 PREDICTION We will be hearing a lot about more about Blue Ivy Carter and prominent female entertainers will stop saying they’re not feminists (here’s hoping, anyway).

BEST WEBSITE

10. Boys & Girls ALABAMA SHAKES

1. thequietus.com 2. flavorwire.com 3. dangerousminds.net 4. grantland.com 5. guardian.co.uk

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Hope (It Ain’t Hopeless) T.J. O’DONOVAN 2. Reignition HOOKS4HANDS 3. Ocean Blues THE CORKS

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE Liars

Tom Hawking ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Seer SWANS 2. Loyal HEATHERED PEARLS 3. WIXIW LIARS 4. Bish Bosch SCOTT WALKER 5. White Mountain ULFUR 6. Free Reign CLINIC 7. Team HOLLY THROSBY 8. Motion Sickness Of Time Travel MOTION SICKNESS OF TIME TRAVEL 9. Nootropic LOWER DENS 10. Music For Keyboards Vol 1 D’EON

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Personal Space: Electronic Soul 1974-1984 VARIOUS 2. 1966 KAREN DALTON 3. Eraserhead OST DAVID LYNCH

1. Savages 2. Death Grips 3. Spiritualized 4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor 5. Grimes

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Scott And Charlene’s Wedding 2. Slug Guts 3. Twerps

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW

1. Amrika AZAR SWAN 2. Club KREATIV IN DEN BODEN 3. Fang ERAAS 4. The Party Is You TEETH AND TONGUE 5. Hand Over Fire HOLY BALM

1. Sons Of Anarchy 2. Breaking Bad 3. Futurama re-runs 4. The basketball 5. The cricket

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Grimes 2. Swans 3. Liars 4. ERAAS 5. Savages

2012 HIGHLIGHT Getting paid to mooch round Africa. Living in Greece for a month. 2012 has been crazy.

2013 PREDICTION Serenity.

SONG OF THE YEAR Graveyard Train

Tom O’Donovan ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Hollow GRAVEYARD TRAIN 2. Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 3. You Should Consider Having Sex With A Bearded Man THE BEARDS 4. Expecting Company? HENRY WAGONS & THE UNWELCOME COMPANY 5. Outlaws THE TOOT TOOT TOOTS 6. You’ll Turn Into Me SPLIT SECONDS 7. Babel MUMFORD & SONS 8. Deadbeat THE FLOORS 9. Rize Of The Fenix TENACIOUS D

writers’ poll 2012 7. Stereotype STRONG ARM STEADY & STATIK SELEKTAH 8. Sleepin Giantz SLEEPIN GIANTZ 9. Kaleidoscope Dream MIGUEL 10. Quakers QUAKERS

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Shangaan Shake VARIOUS 2. Re-Twerk TA-KU 3. 122BPM VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR Four Tet

Huwston AraniegoEllis ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Time’s All Gone NICK WATERHOUSE 2. Look Around The Corner QUANTIC & ALICE RUSSELL 3. good kid m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR 4. Black Radio ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT 5. Pink FOUR TET 6. Tenement Yard III ALTERED NATIVES

1. Phoneline FUNKINEVEN & FATIMA 2. Sleepin Giantz AND THE TING WENT 3. Money Trees KENDRICK LAMAR 4. Love Is Going To Lift You Up BOBBY WOMACK 5. Say Arr Ee BULLION

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Kendrick Lamar 2. Nick Waterhouse 3. Mark Pritchard 4. Flying Lotus 5. FaltyDL

BEST WEBSITE 1. bandcamp.com 2. twitter.com 3. bbc.co.uk/news 4. gillespetersonworldwide.com 5. residentadvisor.net 2. Stigmatas In The Flesh RINGWORM 3. Fit For Fight WITCH CROSS

SONG OF THE YEAR

Propagandhi

Mark Hebblewhite ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Failed States PROPAGANDHI 2. Into The Lair Of The Sun God DAWNBRINGER 3. Sunshine And Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND 4. Utilitarian NAPALM DEATH 5. Legend WITCHCRAFT 6. Yellow And Green BARONESS 7. De Vermis Mysteris HIGH ON FIRE 8. Damned WOLFBRIGADE 9. All Or Nothing PENNYWISE 10. Darker Days Ahead TRAGEDY

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Celebration Day LED ZEPPELIN

1. National Anthem GASLIGHT ANTHEM 2. Daughters NAS 3. Young Drunk THE SMITH STREET BAND 4. I’ve Got One Jealous Again, Again NOFX 5. Fuck You BAD RELIGION

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Black Sabbath 2. Propagandhi 3. Dawnbringer 4. Motorhead 5. High On Fire

BEST WEBSITE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Graveyard Train 2. Justin Townes Earle 3. The Beards 4. Henry Wagons & The Unwelcome Company 5. The Toot Toot Toots

BEST WEBSITE 1. facebook.com 2. soundcloud.com/tjodonovan 3. westcoasteagles.com.au 4. themusic.com.au 5. mobro.co/denisodonovan

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Prince 2. Erykah Badu 3. Robert Glasper Experiment 4. J Rocc 5. Floating Points

1. The Story So Far... JACK HOWARD 2. Quiet Heart THE GO-BETWEENS 3. Wonderful Things UNDERGROUND LOVERS

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. Hiatus Kaiyote 2. Snowdroppers 3. Thundamentals 4. Saskwatch 5. The Bamboos

BEST TV SHOW 1. Boardwalk Empire 2. Breaking Bad 3. Mad Men 4. Homeland

BEST MOVIE 1. Argo 2. Prometheus 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. Seven Psychopaths 5. Cabin In The Woods

2012 HIGHLIGHT Getting married to the hottest chick in the game.

2013 PREDICTION Maybe Jay Electronica will release an album, maybe?

Blondie pic by Josh Groom

Jeff Jenkins ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Dirty, Dirty JIM KEAYS 2. The Moment MIA DYSON 3. Thirteen JAMES REYNE 4. Warm In The Darkness LIZ STRINGER 5. The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle MISSY HIGGINS 6. Before The Dust Settles LAUREN BRUCE 7. The Fugitive Assembly ANDREW MCDONALD 8. For Woods Or Trail MINIBIKES 9. Oh Hawke DAN LETHBRIDGE 10. Hello SARAH HUMPHREYS

4. Iced Earth 5. Eyehategod

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Breaking Bad 2. Sons Of Anarchy 3. Boardwalk Empire 4. Weeds 5. Once Upon A Time

BEST MOVIE 1. Skyfall 2. Bones Brigade: An Autobiography 3. The Avengers 4. To Rome With Love 5. Lincoln

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Tony Abbott’s approval rating dropping so low that Malcolm Turnbull comes to lead the Tories. Also Black Sabbath’s comeback album is released, and it’s awesome.

Obama defeating Romney and his magic underpants....

2013 PREDICTION

1. Set Me On Fire MISSY HIGGINS 2. When The Moment Comes MIA DYSON 3. Glutton LIZ STRINGER 4. Warning Bell BUTTERFLY BOUCHER 5. I Understand SOPHIE KOH

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Jim Keays 2. Missy Higgins 3. Henry Wagons 4. Dave Graney 5. The Fauves

BEST WEBSITE 1. wikipedia.com 2. livinginthelandofoz.com 3. essendonfc.com.au 4. melbournestorm.com.au 5. noise11.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Toot Toot Toots 2. Graveyard Train 3. The Beards 4. The Floors 5. Split Seconds

BEST TV SHOW 1. ABC News Breakfast 2. AFL on Seven 3. Neighbours 4. Britain’s Fattest Man 5. Beauty & The Geek

2012 HIGHLIGHT The birth of my little cherub Rory and live gigging as T.J. O’Donovan: facebook.com/tjodonovan.

2013 PREDICTION Elizabeth Quay to take shape, the Perth Arena to host rockin’ gigs and R.E.M. to reform and tour the world.

Benny Doyle ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Atlas PARKWAY DRIVE 2. Handwritten THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 3. Trouble TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS 4. Gallows GALLOWS 5. Four BLOC PARTY 6. Attack On Memory CLOUD NOTHINGS 7. A Flash Flood Of Colour ENTER SHIKARI 8. Ex Lives EVERY TIME I DIE 9. Foundations THE MEDICS 10. Everything You Ever Loved MAKE DO AND MEND

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Charles Jenkins & The Zhivagos 2. Henry Wagons 3. The Fauves 4. Georgia Fields 5. Nick Barker and The Reptiles

BEST TV SHOW 1. Episodes 2. The Hamster Wheel 3. A Moody Christmas 4. Neighbours 5. Footy Classified

BEST MOVIE 1. Joe Camilleri: Australia’s Maltese Falcon 2. Ben Lee: Catch My Disease 3. Paul Kelly: Stories Of Me 4. Searching For Sugar Man 5. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

2012 HIGHLIGHT Jim Keays lives! A dirty, dirty triumph!

2013 PREDICTION Melbourne Storm win their fifth premiership.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

3. Royksopp 4. Radiohead 5. Robyn

SONG OF THE YEAR Parkway Drive

3. Emmylou Harris 4. Blondie 5. Coldplay

1. Dave Dobbyn 2. Lucinda Williams

1. XX RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 2. Celebration Day LED ZEPPELIN 3. The Melancholy Connection MILLENCOLIN

1. Mindsnare 2. Toe To Toe 3. The Smith Street Band 4. I Exist 5. Arrowhead

BEST TV SHOW

1. The Pogues 2. Justin Townes Earle 3. Blitzen Trapper 4. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros 5. Mumford & Sons

writers’ poll 2012

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. mediaite.com 2. dailykos.com 3. metalsucks.com 4. nytimes.com 5. politico.com

1. Cathedral 2. High On Fire 3. Refused

1. The Doomsday Cult Blues GRAVEYARD TRAIN 2. I Still Can’t Find Her HENRY WAGONS & THE UNWELCOME COMPANY 3. Let Lead Rip THE TOOT TOOT TOOTS 4. Mary Melody GRAVEYARD TRAIN 5. She Makes Her Own Clothes SPLIT SECONDS

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Blue And The Grey PARKWAY DRIVE 2. Latch feat. Sam Smith DISCLOSURE 3. Laura BAT FOR LASHES 4. Entombed DEFTONES 5. Look At Where We Are HOT CHIP

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Parkway Drive 2. Refused 3. At The Drive-In 4. Flume 5. Thursday

BEST WEBSITE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Bodyjar 2. Pendulum 3. The Medics 4. Something For Kate 5. King Cannons

BEST TV SHOW 1. Homeland 2. Louis Theroux 3. Parks & Recreation 4. Mad Men 5. Problems

BEST MOVIE 1. Argo 2. The Descendants 3. Moonrise Kingdom 4. Looper 5. The Campaign

1. themusic.com,au 2. nba.com 3. youtube.com 4. memegenerator.net 5. twitter.com/SergeantBrody

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

2013 PREDICTION

1. Refused 2. System Of A Down

Ditching the suit to become a full-time music scribe. Cycling like an absolute beast. A shinier scalp, a sausage dog and a complete meltdown when I see Clippers vs Pacers at Staples Centre.

10. Toward The Low Sun DIRTY THREE

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Mariachi El Bronx 2. Sigur Ros 3. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 4. Soundgarden 5. The Bronx

1. Celebration Day LED ZEPPELIN 2. Cut The World ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS 3. Dross Glop BATTLES

1. Essential Oils MIDNIGHT OIL 2. Souvenir: The Singles 2004 – 2012 KAISER CHIEFS 3. We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live Songs 04.11–08.11) THE DECEMBERISTS

Of Monsters And Men

SONG OF THE YEAR

Mark Neilsen ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. My Head Is An Animal OF MONSTERS & MEN 2. Strange Dreams GOOD HEAVENS 3. Plains THE LAURELS 4. The Temper Trap THE TEMPER TRAP 5. Bloodstreams DZ DEATHRAYS 6. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 7. Leave Your Soul To Science SOMETHING FOR KATE 8. Valtari SIGUR ROS 9. In A Million Years LAST DINOSAURS

1. Knock Knock BAND OF HORSES 2. Mountain Sound OF MONSTERS & MEN 3. Comeback Kid SLEIGH BELLS 4. Cops Capacity DZ DEATHRAYS 5. Samsara HIGH ON FIRE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. DZ Deathrays 2. Godspeed You! Black Emperor 3. The Rubens 4. Tame Impala 5. 360

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. bom.gov.au 3. espn.cricinfo.com 4. 131500.com.au 5. gmail.com

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Dirty Three 2. Something For Kate 3. Regurgitator 4. The Jezabels 5. Royal Headache

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Walking Dead 2. Game Of Thrones 3. The Amazing Race – Australia 4. The Amazing Race 5. Dexter

BEST MOVIE 1. The Avengers 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter 4. The Amazing Spider-Man 5. Prometheus

2012 HIGHLIGHT Gus.

2013 PREDICTION The Mayans will still be wrong.

Christopher H James ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Seer SWANS 2. Ekstasis JULIA HOLTER 3. Until the Quiet Comes FLYING LOTUS 4. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPORER 5. Channel Orange FRANK OCEAN 6. All That We Love We Leave Behind CONVERGE 7. The Money Store DEATH GRIPS 8. Sentenced to Life BLACK BREATH 9. In Our Heads HOT CHIP 10. Terrane GILDED

writers’ poll 2012 MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Disintegration Loops WILLIAM BALINSKI 2. Blue Lines: 2012 Mix/ Master MASSIVE ATTACK 3. Give Me My Flowers While I Can Smell Them BLU & EXILE

SONG OF THE YEAR Karnivool pic by Maclay Heriot

Alex Wilson ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. All We Love We Leave Behind CONVERGE 2. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 3. Koi No Yokan DEFTONES 4. Book Burner PIG DESTROYER 5. No Love Deep Web DEATH GRIPS 6. Valtari SIGUR RÓS 7. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 8. Fade CLOUDKICKER 9. Sorrow and Extinction PALLBEARER

1. Hold On ALABAMBA SHAKES 2. Super Rich Kids FRANK OCEAN 3. Fitta Happier (feat. Guilty Simpson & M.E.D.) QUAKERS 4. Sleepless (feat. Jezzabell Doran) FLUME 5. Breezeblocks ALT-J

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Frank Ocean 2. Converge 3. Alt-J 4. Death Grips 5. Pig Destroyer

BEST WEBSITE 1. youtube.com 2. iwastesomuchtime.com 3. gmail.com 4. themusic.com.au 5. metalsucks.net

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Pinback

Mitch Knox ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Information Retrieved PINBACK 2. The Sleep Of Reason BATS 3. The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind BEN FOLDS FIVE 4. Always XIU XIU 5. Family THE CAST OF CHEERS 6. The Samuel Jackson Five THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE 7. Koi No Yokan DEFTONES 8. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 9. I Am Gemini CURSIVE 10. Valtari SIGUR ROS

1. The King Of Devil’s Island 2. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 3. Undefeated 4. Bernie 5. Jiro Dreams Of Sushi

2012 HIGHLIGHT Playing SXSW and touring Europe with my band. Which is probably why I haven’t listened to enough new music in 2012.

2013 PREDICTION

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Pinback 2. Bats 3. Ben Folds Five 4. The Samuel Jackson Five 5. The Cast Of Cheers

BEST WEBSITE 1. tumblr.com 2. imgur.com 3. twitter.com 4. cracked.com 5. youtube.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Explosions In The Sky 2. Tortoise 3. Battles 4. The Cast Of Cheers 5. At The Drive-In

Kimbra pic by Callan Gibson

Callum Twigger ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. good kid, m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR 2. Visions GRIMES 3. ƒIN JOHN TALABOT 4. Flora MOULLINEX 5. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 6. Cancer 4 Cure EL-P 7. Devotion JESSIE WARE 8. The Seer SWANS 9. Kill For Love CHROMATICS 10. Confess TWIN SHADOW

1. The Avengers 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. Argo 4. 21 Jump Street 5. Wreck-It Ralph (it’s out later in December but I am 100% certain it is going to be tremendous, so...)

2012 HIGHLIGHT Sydney/Melbourne tour and opening for Tortoise with amigos in Mr Maps; buying a waffle iron literally today.

2013 PREDICTION So many motherfucking waffles.

1. Drowning Horse 2. Tomas Ford 3. Injured Ninja 4. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving 5. The Bank Holidays

BEST MOVIE 1. The Sessions 2. Moonrise Kingdom 3. Cabin in the Woods 4. The Artist 5. The Avengers

1. thequietus.com 2. drownedinsound.com 3. en.wikipedia.org

Gilded, Drowning Horse and Tomas Ford to conquer the east coast.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

4. Rustie & Hudson Mohawke 5. Roger Waters

1. Hotline Miami Soundtrack VARIOUS 2. The Odd Future Tape Vol. 2 OFWGKTA 3. Vows: Deluxe Edition KIMBRA

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Oblivion GRIMES 2. The Art of Peer Pressure KENDRICK LAMAR 3. Five Seconds TWIN SHADOW 4. H.O.R.S.E JOHN TALABOT 5. Tear Club MOULLINEX

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Kendrick Lamar 2. Grimes 3. Frank Ocean 4. Tame Impala 5. Moullinex

BEST WEBSITE 1. tumblr.com 2. twitter.com 3. spotify.com 4. vice.com/en_au 5. asos.com/au/Men

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Toro Y Moi 2. Kimbra 3. Prince Rama

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Coldplay Live 2012 COLDPLAY 2. A Symphony Of British Music VARIOUS 3. Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness SMASHING PUMPKINS

BEST TV SHOW

BEST MOVIE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

2013 PREDICTION

& THE RED VANS 10. A Is For Alpine ALPINE

1. Seekae 2. sleepmakeswaves 3. Architecture In Helsinki 4. Chet Faker 5. Lanie Lane

1. The Walking Dead 2. Game Of Thrones 3. Doctor Who 4. Psych 5. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

1. Sigur Ros 2. Boris 3. Fleet Foxes 4. Tenniscoats 5. Dresden Dolls

BEST WEBSITE

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW

BEST MOVIE

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

writers’ poll 2012

1. Karnivool 2. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving 3. Royal Headache 4. Redcoats 5. Mojo Juju

More of the same. I’m OK with this.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. Swans 2. Sigur Ros 3. Julia Holter 4. Flying Lotus 5. Godspeed You! Black Emporer

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. ABC News 2. Hardcore Pawn 3. Newsroom 4. Metal Evolution 5. Homeland

1. The Seer SWANS 2. Hacker DEATH GRIPS 3. Marienbad JULIA HOLTER 4. Loner BURIAL 5. Sentenced to Life BLACK BREATH

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

2. Sigur Rós 3. Tortoise 4. Russian Circles 5. The Black Angels

1. Battles

1. Proceed To Memory PINBACK 2. Animals THE CAST OF CHEERS 3. Do It Anyway BEN FOLDS FIVE 4. Leathers DEFTONES 5. Ekki Múkk SIGUR ROS

SONG OF THE YEAR

Led Zeppelin

4. metalbastard. blogspot.com.au 5. rottentomatoes.com

SONG OF THE YEAR Billy Bragg pic by Lou Lou Nutt

Paul Smith ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The 2nd Law MUSE 2. Release STEVE SMYTH 3. So Runs The World Away JOSH RITTER 4. Words And Music By Saint Etienne SAINT ETIENNE 5. Rhythm And Repose GLEN HANSARD 6. In Our Heads HOT CHIP 7. Standing At The Sky’s Edge RICHARD HAWLEY 8. I Hope I Am Not A Monster CHARLIE HORSE 9. Cheap Romance SABRINA

1. Madness MUSE 2. Princess Of China COLDPLAY FEAT RIHANNA 3. Survival MUSE 4. Laura BAT FOR LASHES 5. Elephant TAME IMPALA

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Muse 2. Steve Smyth 3. Julia Stone 4. Gotye 5. Bat For Lashes

BEST WEBSITE 1. twitter.com 2. youtube.com 3. smh.com.au 4. bbc.com/sport 5. facebook.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Ryan Adams

1. Tame Impala 2. Leure 3. Anton Franc 4. Usurpers of Modern Medicine 5. Our Man in Berlin

BEST TV SHOW 1. Superjail! 2. Adventure Time 3. The Daily Show 4. Modern Family 5. Boardwalk Empire

BEST MOVIE 1. Looper 2. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 3. Holy Motors 4. The Master 5. Cabin In The Woods

2012 HIGHLIGHT Tumblr, for making it possible to read science fiction, listen to Lil B and watch porn simultaneously through a social network.

2013 PREDICTION Heaps of people on Twitter being sued for their dumbass tweets. 2. Billy Bragg 3. Josh Ritter 4. Prince 5. Coldplay

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Steve Smyth 2. The Temper Trap 3. Julia Stone 4. Angus Stone 5. Children Collide

BEST TV SHOW 1. Doctor Who 2. Redfern Now 3. At The Movies 4. Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell 5. Stella

BEST MOVIE 1. Skyfall 2. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. Taken 2 5. Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

2012 HIGHLIGHT The return of Muse.

2013 PREDICTION A huge array of overseas acts heading our way – just look at March!

8. King Of The Sun JAMIE HAY 9. Heaven WALKMEN 10. Songs Of The Third And Fifth THE MARK OF CAIN

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Pogues In Paris 30th Anniversary Concert THE POGUES 2. Graceland 25th Anniversary Reissue PAUL SIMON 3. Last Minutes And Lost Evenings FRANK TURNER

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Oh Marcello REGINA SPEKTOR 2. Sunshine & Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND 3. Rude DINOSAUR JR 4. Good Things THE MENZINGERS 5. We Can’t Be Beat WALKMEN

Frank Turner

Dan Johnson

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Handwritten THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 2. Self-Entitled NOFX 3. Sunshine & Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND 4. On The Impossible Past THE MENZINGERS 5. What We Saw From The Cheap Seats REGINA SPEKTOR 6. Heaven’s Filling Up DICK NASTY 7. Rize Of The Fenix TENACIOUS D

1. Frank Turner 2. The Pogues 3. Regina Spektor 4. The Smith Street Band 5. An Horse

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. duderocket.com.au 3. killyourstereo.com.au 4. fasterlouder.com.au 5. news.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Pogues 2. Frank Turner 3. Regina Spektor 4. Bad Religion 5. Lagwagon

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. An Horse 2. The Smith Street Band 3. Dick Nasty 4. The Quickening 5. Army Of Champions

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Homeland 3. The Walking Dead 4. True Blood 5. Louis Theroux

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. Ted 3. The Avengers 4. Safety Not Guaranteed 5. The Cabin In The Woods

2012 HIGHLIGHT The Pogues at Hordern Pavilion.

2013 PREDICTION More redundancies.

4. Shapeshifter 5. Douglas Quin

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE The Presets

Matt O’Neill ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. MMXII KILLING JOKE 2. Be Strong THE 2 BEARS 3. Pacifica THE PRESETS 4. Cancer For Cure EL-P 5. Life Is Good NAS 6. Sunshine State EDWARD GUGLIELMINO & THE SHOW 7. Stunt Rhythms TWO FINGERS 8. Evolve Or Be Extinct WILEY 9. Museum BALL PARK MUSIC 10. HyperParadise HERMITUDE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Blue Lines: 2012 Mix/ Master MASSIVE ATTACK 2. It’s All Fun & Games, Vol. 1 WILEY 3. XLR8R Podcast Mix DEADBEAT

writers’ poll 2012 MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Dopesmoker SLEEP 2. Dopes To Infinity MONSTER MAGNET 3. Lawless OST VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR

Eyehategod

Tom Hersey ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Book Burner PIG DESTROYER 2. So, You Are A Magician? BLACKLISTED 3. Freak Puke THE MELVINS 4. Grey Matter White Matter SEX WIZARD 5. Dusk...Subside INVERLOCH 6. Utilitarian NAPALM DEATH 7. Blues Funeral MARK LANEGAN BAND 8. De Vermis Mysteriis HIGH ON FIRE 9. Blood For The Master GOATWHORE 10. Silencing Machine NACHTMYSTIUM

1. Houdini Blues BLACKLISTED 2. Burning Palm PIG DESTROYER 3. Year Of The Tiger FUCKED UP 4. Watch The Corners DINOSAUR JR. 5. Harborview Hospital MARK LANEGAN BAND

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Pig Destroyer 2. Boris 3. Earth 4. Nachtmystium 5. Eyehategod

BEST WEBSITE 1. wikipedia.org 2. avclub.com 3. eztv.it 4. decibelmagazine.com/blog/ 5. facebook.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Earth 2. Boris 3. Raised Fist

Travis Collins ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. II BERSARIN QUARTETT 2. Iradelphic CLARK 3. Transverse CARTER TUTTI VOID 4. Voices From The Lake VOICES FROM THE LAKE (DONATO DOZZY & NEEL) 5. Lune Eclaire CARLOS NILMMNS 6. Fachwerk 25 MIKE DEHNERT 7. Ufabulum SQUAREPUSHER 8. They!Live BENJAMIN DAMAGE & DOC DANEEKA 9. The Messenger JEFF MILLS 10. Leitmotiv PURESQUE

1. Stories For Boys MINUIT 2. My Kind Of Love EMELI SANDE 3. Heatwave WILEY 4. Tinderbox VIOLENT SOHO 5. Diamond Trade SHAPESHIFTER

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Minuit 2. Wiley 3. Blunt Instrument 4. The Presets 5. Garbage

BEST WEBSITE

1. Community 2. Girls 3. Happy Endings 4. The Newsroom 5. Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

BEST MOVIE 1. The Comedy 2. The Master 3. From Rome with Love 4. Lola Versus 5. Moonrise Kingdom

2012 HIGHLIGHT The mainstream resurgence of vinyl: major labels reissuing a bunch of cool albums that were never initially released on LP.

2013 PREDICTION Another insanely good Fucked Up album.

1. Aphex Twin 2. Dan Deacon 3. Sven Vath

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

The Smith Street Band

Brendan Hitchens ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Sunshine And Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND 2. Classics Of Love CLASSICS OF LOVE 3. Mutt CORY BRANAN 4. Awkward Breeds THE SIDEKICKS 5. On The Impossible Past THE MENZINGERS 6. Resonation LINCOLN LE FEVRE 7. Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired JOYCE MANOR 8. Failed States PROPAGANDHI 9. Exister HOT WATER MUSIC 10. Comet BOUNCING SOULS

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Provincial JOHN K SAMSON 2. A Tribute To Blueline Medic SHUFFLE AND SCRAPE 3. Thicker Than Water (reissue) H2O

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Sunshine And Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND 2. Everyone’s Waiting MISSY HIGGINS 3. Keepsake THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 4. Drag My Body HOT WATER MUSIC 5. Bang JIMMY CLIFF

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The Smith Street Band 2. Boomgates 3. Royal Headache 4. Lincoln Le Fevre 5. Propagandhi

BEST WEBSITE 1. bombshellzine.com 2. punknews.org 3. bandcamp.com 4. messandnoise.com 5. twitter.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Restorations

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Future Classic Compilation FUTURE CLASSIC DJS 2. Triple J House Party NINA LAS VEGAS 3. Compilation 14 KITSUNE MAISON

1. Bersarin Quartett 2. Radiohead 3. Carlos Nilmmns 4. Ancient Methods 5. John Heckle

BEST WEBSITE 1. juno.co.uk 2. Residentadvisor.net 3. soundcloud.com 4. exberliner.com 5. groove.de

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Radiohead 2. Bonobo 3. Matthew Dear

1. Rudy 2. Paul Payne 3. Callum Hawke vs William Bixler 4. Matthew Collins 5. Craig Hollywood

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW

BEST MOVIE 1. Paris/Berlin: 20 Years Of Underground Techno 2. Ted 3. Skyfall 4. Weekend 5. Moonrise Kingdom

2012 HIGHLIGHT Moving to Berlin has been a life changer, but it’s impossible to find good food or coffee here!

2013 PREDICTION Less conservative politics and more environmental policies.

The death of street press. Subsequent influx of music journo zombies. Onlookers die in hipstapocalypse.

2. Hot Snakes 3. The Menzingers 4. Frank Turner 5. Turbonegro

1. Black Sands Remixes BONOBO 2. Tourism LEFTFIELD 3. Olgamikks ROBAG WRUHME

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Chilling naked at ABC studios with Spencer Howson and/ or falling in love. Close call.

writers’ poll 2012

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. SBS World News 2. The World Game 3. Euro 2012 4. Global Village 5. Tour De France

1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. The Avengers 4. Argo 5. Skyfall

2013 PREDICTION

4. Derrick May 5. Stacey Pullen

1. Radar (Michael Mayer Remix) HAUSCHKA 2. New For U ANDRÉS 3. The Pining Pt 1 CLARK 4. Last Train Disco Hell (Kristofferson Hellsinki Edit) RISING SUN & KRISTOFFERSON 5. Soils COMMODITY PLACE

BEST MOVIE

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST TV SHOW

1. Sherlock 2. The Good Wife 3. Castle 4. Dr Who 5. Damages

2012 HIGHLIGHT

4. Cathedral 5. Eyehategod

1. Blood Duster 2. I Exist 3. Sex Wizard 4. Psycroptic 5. Frenzal Rhomb

BEST TV SHOW

1. cracked.com 2. facebook.com 3. twitter.com 4. wikipedia.org 5. thequietus.com

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR

Radiohead pic by Jay Hynes

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. The Necks 2. Topology 3. Lawrence English 4. Mr Maps 5. Ball Park Music

Flume

Troy Mutton ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 2. fIN JOHN TALABOT 3. Flume FLUME 4. (III) CRYSTAL CASTLES 5. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES 6. Babes, Water, Waves PERTH 7. Trouble TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS 8. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 9. Visions GRIMES 10. The Rubens THE RUBENS

1. Hyperparadise (Flume Remix) HERMITUDE 2. Karmageddon ABBE MAY 3. Latch feat. Sam Smith DISCLOSURE 4. Get Free feat. Amber (Dirty Projectors) MAJOR LAZER 5. Something Good ALT-J

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Flume 2. Tame Impala 3. Chet Faker 4. Alt-J 5. Disclosure

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. facebook.com 3. badassdigest.com 4. soundcloud.com 5. afl.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. The Smith Street Band 2. Luca Brasi 3. Extortion 4. I Exist 5. Jen Buxton

BEST TV SHOW 1. Marngrook Footy Show 2. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia 3. Rockwiz 4. Law & Order SVU 5. A Moody Christmas

BEST MOVIE 1. Ted 2. The Sapphires 3. Man On A Ledge 4. 21 Jump Street 5. Pitch Perfect

2012 HIGHLIGHT Watching The Smith Street Band go from Melbourne’s little secret to taking over China and the USA.

2013 PREDICTION More international bands do lowkey punk tours of Australia, while Australian bands explore Asia. 1. M83 2. Bon Iver 3. Crystal Castles 4. SBTRKT 5. Skrillex

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Flume 2. Rufus 3. The Medics 4. Gypsy & The Cat 5. The Presets

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Game Of Thrones 3. Girls 4. The Walking Dead 5. South Park

BEST MOVIE 1. Shame 2. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 3. Cabin In The Woods 4. Holy Motors 5. The Raid: Redemption

2012 HIGHLIGHT Perth slowly waking up to itself and its potential.

2013 PREDICTION Politicians not acting like children... Gotta have dreams, right?

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Tijuana Cartel 2. Jinja Safari 3. The Rubens 4. Tame Impala 5. Lanie Lane

1. Triple J’s Like A Version Anthology VARIOUS 2. By My Side BEN HARPER 3. Frankenweenie Unleashed VARIOUS

BEST TV SHOW

The Black Keys pic by Kane Hibberd

Alex Hardy ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Django Django DJANGO DJANGO 2. Born to Die LANA DEL REY 3. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 4. Medicine Man THE BAMBOOS 5. Happy To You MIIKE SNOW 6. The Rubens THE RUBENS 7. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 8. Flume FLUME 9. Fear Fun FATHER JOHN MISTY 10. What We Saw from the Cheap Seats REGINA SPEKTOR

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Get Free MAJOR LAZOR 2. Firewater DJANGO DJANGO 3. Boy EMMA LOUISE 4. Little Talks OF MONSTERS AND MEN 5. Silk GISELLE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Django Django 2. Kimbra 3. Father John Misty 4. Fat Freddy’s Drop 5. Of Monsters and Men

BEST WEBSITE 1. prettymuchamazing.com 2. en.wikipedia.org 3. smh.com.au 4. abc.net.au/triplej 5. facebook.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Erykka Badu 2. Radiohead 3. The Black Keys 4. The Whitest Boy Alive 5. Regina Spektor

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. Girls 2. Game Of Thrones 3. Underbelly Razor 4. Homeland 5. Redfern Now

Carley Hall

BEST MOVIE

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Skyfall 2. The Dark Night Rises 3. Argo 4. Moonrise Kingdom 5. The Hobbit

1. Pacifica THE PRESETS 2. I Awake SARAH BLASKO 3. A Is For Alpine ALPINE 4. The World Warriors VELOCIRAPTOR 5. Flume FLUME 6. The Brightest Light KING CANNONS 7. Strange Flowers REGULAR JOHN 8. In Hindsight HUNTING GROUNDS 9. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 10. Cassowary THE STRESS OF LEISURE

2012 HIGHLIGHT Erykah Badu. She made me want to sing soul and it is the first time I have ever seen her live in the 15 years I have been listening to her music.

2013 PREDICTION The rest of the world finally realising that Australia has an awesome bloody music scene!

Sarah Blasko

writers’ poll 2012 MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Follow Your Bliss: The Best Of Senses Fail SENSES FAIL 2. triple j’s Like A Version Volume 8 VARIOUS ARTISTS 3. Punk Goes Pop 5 VARIOUS ARTISTS

SONG OF THE YEAR

Parkway Drive

Eli Gould ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Every Day I Tell Myself I’m Going To Be A Better Person MISSER 2. Smokey’s Haunt URTHBOY 3. The View From Cypress Lane E FOR EXPLOSION 4. Atlas PARKWAY DRIVE 5. Get What You Give THE GHOST INSIDE 6. Handwritten THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 7. Floral Green TITLE FIGHT 8. Sea Of Bright Lights CITY RIOTS 9. Divination IN HEARTS WAKE 10. Chasing Ghosts THE AMITY AFFLICTION

Scott Aitken ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Fear Fun FATHER JOHN MISTY 2. Museum BALL PARK MUSIC 3. Channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 4. Both Lights AU 5. A Sleep & A Forgetting ISLANDS 6. Attack On Memory CLOUD NOTHINGS 7. Out Of The Game RUFUS WAINWRIGHT 8. Shifty Adventures In Nookie Wood JOHN CALE 9. Trouble TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS 10. Bloom BEACH HOUSE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Blur 21 Box Set BLUR 2. The Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary [Super Deluxe] THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NIKO 3. Kinks In Mono Box Set THE KINKS

1. The Big Sleep feat. Alex Burnett URTHBOY 2. Bad News MISSER 3. The River PARKWAY DRIVE 4. Knee Length Socks URTHBOY 5. Miles Away BURIED IN VERONA

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Urthboy 2. Parkway Drive 3. Misser 4. The Amity Affliction 5. Transit

BEST WEBSITE 1. karmaloop.com 2. themusic.com.au 3. facebook.com 4. killyourstereo.com 5. perthnow.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Transit 2. A Day To Remember

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Tapes & Money TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS 2. Solid Gold AU 3. This Is Not A Song ISLANDS 4. Barbara RUFUS WAINWRIGHT 5. What’s On Your Mind BALL PARK MUSIC

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tame Impala 2. The Love Junkies 3. Rufus Wainwright 4. Frank Ocean 5. Ball Park Music

BEST WEBSITE 1. pitchfork.com 2. rcrdlbl.com 3. themusicnetwork.com 4. rollingstone.com 5. fasterlouder.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Rufus Wainwright 2. Radiohead 3. The Black Keys 4. The Beach Boys 5. Damo Suzuki

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Kimbra 2. DZ Deathrays 3. The Beards 4. Urthboy 5. Gung Ho

BEST WEBSITE 1. abc.net.au/triplej 2. facebook.com 3. twitter.com 4. bandcamp.com 5. triplejunearthed.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Mars Volta

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness THE SMASHING PUMPKINS 2. Loveless MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3. Trilogy THE WEEKND

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Buried In Verona 2. The Amity Affliction 3. Miles Away 4. Break Even 5. House Vs Hurricane

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW

BEST MOVIE 1. 21 Jump Street 2. Ted 3. Goon 4. The Campaign 5. Safe House

2012 HIGHLIGHT Getting a position within Drum Perth/Street Press Australia!

2013 PREDICTION More great music, travels and finals glory for the Ross Lyonled Fremantle Dockers.

Chromatics

Matt MacMaster ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 2. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 3. Kill For Love THE CHROMATICS 4. Devotion JESSIE WARE 5. Lux BRIAN ENO 6. Awe Naturale THEESATISFACTION 7. Break It Yourself ANDREW BIRD 8. Fin JOHN TALABOT 9. There’s No Leaving Now THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH 10. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. Looper 3. Bernie 4. The Dark Knight Rises 5. The Avengers

2012 HIGHLIGHT Watching Rufus Wainwright perform at the Perth Convention Centre.

2013 PREDICTION The Love Junkies finally release an album and it wins ALL the awards.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Frank Ocean 2. Grizzly Bear 3. Bat For Lashes 4. Beach House 5. Chromatics

BEST WEBSITE 1. pitchfork.com 2. badassdigest.com 3. drownedinsound.com 4. allmusic.com 5. aintitcool.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Kimbra 2. Velociraptor 3. Hunting Grounds 4. DZ Deathrays 5. The Good Ship

BEST TV SHOW 1. Rage 2. Australian Story 3. Modern Family 4. The Project 5. The Strange Calls

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. Kingdom Hearts 3. Lawless 4. Hysteria 5. Frankenweenie

2012 HIGHLIGHT Royal Headache – 2013 will be their year.

2013 PREDICTION Hopefully some tour announcements from former grunge stalwarts!

Tony McMahon

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Tame Impala 2. Oh Mercy 3. Loon Lake 4. The Presets 5. Oliver Tank

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Walking Dead 2. Rage 3. Rake 4. Redfern Now 5. Modern Family

BEST MOVIE 1. Prometheus 2. The Cabin In The Woods 3. Goon 4. Argo 5. Paranorman

2012 HIGHLIGHT R&B continuing to be a strong genre with huge talent.

2013 PREDICTION Festivals will see a resurgence as they re-calibrate their format.

ALL INDIA RADIO

1. Boubacar Traore 2. Johnny Clegg 3. Billy Talent 4. Flight Of The Concords 5. Animal Collective

SONG OF THE YEAR Jane Dust & The Giant Hoopoes

3. Radiohead 4. Active Child 5. The War On Drugs

1. M83 2. Fleet Foxes

1. Just Music VARIOUS 2. Aches & Skakes: A Decade Of Popboomerang VARIOUS 3. 101 Sporting Anthems VARIOUS

BEST TV SHOW

BEST MOVIE

1. Bad Religion FRANK OCEAN 2. Laura BAT FOR LASHES 3. Wind And Walls THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH 4. Myth BEACH HOUSE 5. Sleeping Ute GRIZZLY BEAR

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. The Love Junkies 2. Ball Park Music 3. Alpine 4. Pond 5. Deep Sea Arcade

1. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia 2. 30 Rock 3. Parks & Recreation 4. Peep Show 5. The Walking Dead

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

writers’ poll 2012

3. Defeater 4. The Ghost Inside 5. Dashboard Confessional

1. Sons Of Anarchy 2. Breaking Bad 3. Workaholics 4. Californication 5. Revenge

1. Yet Again GRIZZLY BEAR 2. Going Overseas MILLIONS 3. With My Hands KIMBRA 4. Clouds and Cream STICKY FINGERS 5. She’s My Baby KINGSWOOD

2. Radiohead 3. Soundgarden 4. The Black Keys 5. The Tea Party

1. The 26th WHITEHOUSE 2. Oscar’s Song HAUNTING AUGUST 3. Satelite HOPE ADDICTS 4. Playing With Fire GOREFIELD 5. Whole Other Kind DEAR STALKER

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. Space Odyssey Part 1 JANE DUST & THE GIANT HOOPOES 2. A Funky Intervention WHITEHOUSE 3. Hope Addicts HOPE ADDICTS 4. Let Go REVOLVER 5. The Romance of Communication STEVE LANE & THE AUTOCRATS 6. Requiem THE GETAWAY PLAN 7. Thank You For Giving Me The Blues SHAUN KIRK 8. Bye Bye Manchester MELANIE PAIN 9. Money For Rope MONEY FOR ROPE 10. Red Shadow Landing

1. Whitehouse 2. Jane Dust & The Giant Hoopoes 3. Hope Addicts 4. Melanie Pain 5. Revolver

BEST WEBSITE 1. kat.ph 2. lwbooks.co.uk/journals/ anarchiststudies 3. thehowlingfantods.com 4. distinctlyfemale.blogspot.com 5. melbournecinematheque.org

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Hope Addicts 2. Primitive Calculators 3. Whitehouse 4. Yung Warriors 5. Sons Of The Sun

BEST TV SHOW 1. Treme 2. The Newsroom 3. Mad Men 4. Breaking Bad 5. The Walking Dead

BEST MOVIE 1. Argo 2. On the Road 3. Bait 4. Skyfall 5. Moonrise Kingdom

2012 HIGHLIGHT The unparalleled quirkiness of Space Odyssey Part 1.

2013 PREDICTION A breakout year for Australian Indigenous hip hop.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

4. Givers 5. Washed Out

1. Straight to You: Triple J Tribute To Nick Cave VARIOUS 2. The Sapphires OST VARIOUS 3. Breaking Dawn Part 2 OST VARIOUS

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

SONG OF THE YEAR Bat For Lashes

Caitlin Summers ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Shrines PURITY RING 2. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 3. The Lion’s Roar FIRST AID KIT 4. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES 5. The Heist MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 6. Flume FLUME 7. A is for Alpine ALPINE 8. Nocturnal WILD NOTHING 9. The Rubens THE RUBENS 10. This Was Tomorrow SETH SENTRY

1. Fineshrines PURITY RING 2. Thrift Shop MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 3. Holdin On FLUME 4. My Gun THE RUBENS 5. Not Giving In RUDIMENTAL

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Purity Ring 2. First Aid Kit 3. Gotye 4. Ball Park Music 5. The Rubens

BEST WEBSITE 1. grumpycats.com 2. buzzfeed.com 3. tumblr.com 4. etsy.com 5. thisiswhyimbroke.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. First Aid Kit 2. Mumford & Sons 3. Austra

10. Dark Black KRISTINA TRAIN

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Merrily We Roll Along CAST RECORDING 2. The Sapphires OST VARIOUS 3. Bring It On CAST RECORDING

1. The Rubens 2. Alpine 3. Oliver Tank 4. Flume 5. Sticky Fingers

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW 1. Parks and Recreation 2. Apartment 23 3. Modern Family 4. New Girl 5. 30 Rock

BEST MOVIE 1. Skyfall 2. We Bought a Zoo 3. Argo 4. Two Little Boys 5. Pitch Perfect

2012 HIGHLIGHT Local electronic music.

2013 PREDICTION Everyone loving local electronic music and hashtagging the hell out of bands via Instagram.

Dirty Three

Danielle O’Donohue ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Toward The Low Sun DIRTY THREE 2. Coexist THE XX 3. The Seventh Passenger SIETTA 4. The Winter I Chose Happiness CLARE BOWDITCH 5. Double Natural BOOMGATES 6. Little Broken Hearts NORAH JONES 7. Handwritten GASLIGHT ANTHEM 8. Zoo CEREMONY 9. Algiers CALEXICO

writers’ poll 2012 MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Isles Of Wonder VARIOUS ARTISTS 2. Hunger Games OST VARIOUS 3. Last Minutes & Lost Evenings FRANK TURNER

SONG OF THE YEAR

Gotye

Scott Fitzsimons ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Wreck & Ruin KASEY CHAMBERS & SHANE NICHOLSON 2. Smokey’s Haunt URTHBOY 3. Paper Spine BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP 4. Atlas PARKWAY DRIVE 5. Spring & Fall PAUL KELLY 6. Always Never Enough CATHERINE BRITT 7. Harmony DIE! DIE! DIE! 8. Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 9. Algiers CALEXICO 10. Ten$ion DIE ANTWOORD

Tomás Ford ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Electric Love DONNY BENÉT 2. In Decay COM TRUISE 3. Unpatterns SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO 4. Burning Boy JOE MCKEE 5. Theatre Is Evil AMANDA PALMER 6. You’ve Been In My Mind DAVE GRANEY & THE MISTLY 7. American Hentai NOEMOTION X AOI 8. Tighten That Muscle Ring HIRSUTE PURSUIT 9. The Shape Of Things JOHN FOXX & THE MATHS 10. L-Burn ILLuminati X-Mas Tape L-BURN ILLUMINATI

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Dave DAVID BOWIE & SOULWAX 2. WITCH LESLIE WINER 3. The Velvet Underground & Nico THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO

1. Safe & Sound TAYLOR SWIFT 2. And I Will Kiss UNDERWORLD 3. Adam & Eve KASEY CHAMBERS & SHANE NICHOLSON 4. Six Months In A Cast THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON 5. The Big Sleep URTHBOY

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Gotye 2. Sia 3. 360 4. The Amity Affliction 5. The Low Anthem

BEST WEBSITE

BEST TV SHOW 1. Fox & Friends 2. Lowdown 3. Sons Of Anarchy 4. Life’s Too Short 5. Louie

BEST MOVIE 1. Truth In 24 II 2. Turn 10 3. Killing Them Softly 4. Brave 5. The Hunger Games

2013 PREDICTION

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Amanda Palmer 2. Donny Benét 3. Abbe May 4. Death Grips 5. Rachael Dease

BEST WEBSITE 1. spotify.com 2. thequietus.com 3. themusic.com.au 4. chinamusicradar.com 5. sadyoutube.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Carnival Of Souls 2. Bob Log III 3. Scissor Sisters 4. Ennio Morricone 5. Elton John

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Rachael Dease 2. Keith! Party 3. Simo Soo

BEST WEBSITE

The HH0509 cask bottling of Sullivan’s Cove’s French Oak matured single malt The best field the Bathurst 12 Hours has seen yet, Audi to be really challenged at Le Mans.

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Dirty Three 2. Elefant Traks vs Dr Seuss 3. Cold Chisel 4. Trial Kennedy 5. Boomgates

BEST TV SHOW 1. Games Of Thrones 2. Justified 3. Downton Abbey 4. Redfern Now 5. Revenge

BEST MOVIE 1. Looper 2. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 3. The Avengers 4. Brave 5. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

1. grantland.com 2. elefanttraks.com/drseuss 3. everydaysexism.com 4. vulture.com 5. televisionwithoutpity.com

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

2013 PREDICTION

1. The Pogues 2. Emmylou Harris

Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech and Jon Stewart’s Chaos On Bullshit Mountain monologue. In 2013, 20,000 Sydneysiders will have a great day at the second annual Community Cup.

writers’ poll 2012 BEST WEBSITE 1. ilxor.com 2. soundcloud.com 3. slate.com/blogs/moneybox.html 4. jezebel.com 5. crikey.com.au/firstdog

1. Urthboy 2. Catherine Britt 3. Closure In Moscow 4. sleepmakeswaves 5. The Trouble With Templeton

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Karmageddon ABBE MAY 2. Ima Read ZEBRA KATZ 3. Nightfall PVT 4. Tasty DRAPHT & TA-KU 5. WIIW KIRIN J CALLINAN

1. Dirty Three 2. Clare Bowditch 3. Jessica Mauboy 4. Royal Headache 5. Thursday

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

2012 HIGHLIGHT

SONG OF THE YEAR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

3. Josh Ritter 4. Jim Ward 5. Frank Turner

1. thewhiskyexchange.com 2. radiolemans.com 3. netbank.com.au 4. thesun.co.uk 5. theMusic.com..au

1. Transistors 2. America

1. You Make Me Happy CLARE BOWDITCH 2. Battle Scars GUY SEBASTIAN 3. Ill Manors PLAN B 4. Hold On ALABAMA SHAKES 5. Dark Black KRISTINA TRAIN

3. Janelle Monae 4. Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen 5. Kurt Wagner

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Steve Earle 2. Grimes 3. John Talabot

Grimes pic by Jay Hynes

Tim Finney ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Armor On DAWN RICHARD 2. Visions GRIMES 3. Red TAYLOR SWIFT 4. Blondes BLONDES 5. Kaleidoscope Dream MIGUEL 6. Reservation ANGEL HAZE 7. Pluto FUTURE 8. Bogota Rich: the Prequel GUNPLAY 9. fIN JOHN TALABOT 10. good kid, m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Ultimate Azonto Mix CD DJ NEPTIZZLE

2. Dubstep Allstars Vol. 9 SILKIE & QUEST 3. Complete Singles Collection A. R. KANE

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Call Me Maybe CARLY RAE JEPSEN 2. Lapaz Toyota GURU 3. You Want Me NICK HANNAM & TOM GARNETT FT. TOM ZANETTI 4. Matte Black Truck KALENNA 5. Control DISCLOSURE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Funkystepz 2. Dawn Richard 3. DJ Q 4. Ball J 5. Lorenzo

BEST TV SHOW 1. Girls 2. Homeland 3. Insiders 4. Mad Men 5. Breaking Bad

BEST MOVIE 1. Shame 2. Moonrise Kingdom 3. Beasts of the Southern Wild 4. How To Survive A Plague 5. Young Adult

2012 HIGHLIGHT Jackin’ and Azonto aka music keeps throwing me curveballs.

2013 PREDICTION Everyone else keeps jumping on BS.

4. Dave Graney & The MistLY 5. Ten Thousand Free Men And Their Families

3. Chairlift 4. Beck 5. Beirut

BEST TV SHOW

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Problems 2. RuPaul’s Drag Race 3. The Walking Dead 4. Media Watch 5. Adventure Time

BEST MOVIE 1. Arrietty 2. Skyfall 3. A Separation 4. Moonrise Kingdom 5. Come As You Are

2012 HIGHLIGHT Finally releasing my second album, buying my house and getting my electronic cabaret show to the Edinburgh Fringe, where it kicked all kinds of arse.

2013 PREDICTION Streaming music will continue to become more popular, while musicians discover that panhandling is a more lucrative source of income than recording.

1. Chet Faker 2. Twerps 3. Wintercoats 4. Bitter Sweet Kicks 5. Lowlakes

Chet Faker

Warwick Goodman ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. I Know What Love Isn’t JENS LEKMAN 2. Something CHAIRLIFT 3. Girls & Boys ALABAMA SHAKES 4. There’s No Leaving Now TALLEST MAN ON EARTH 5. Thinking In Textures CHET FAKER 6. Fraser A. Gorman FRASER A. GORMAN 7. Tempest BOB DYLAN 8. Bloom BEACH HOUSE 9. Sun CAT POWER 10. A Wasteland Companion M. WARD

JENS LEKMAN 3. The First Time I Ran Away M. WARD 4. Nothin But Time CAT POWER 5. I Belong In Your Arms CHAIRLIFT

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Radiohead 2. Chet Faker 3. Alabama Shakes 4. Jens Lekman 5. Chairlift

BEST WEBSITE 1. ducksarethebest.com 2. abc.net.au/iview 3. wikipedia.org 4. thesaurus.com 5. theatlantic.com

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Hold On ALABAMA SHAKES 2. The World Moves On

1. Radiohead 2. Grizzly Bear

BEST TV SHOW 1. Homeland 2. The Walking Dead 3. Parks and Recreation 4. QI 5. Beauty and the Geek

BEST MOVIE 1. Argo 2. Looper 3. The Avengers 4. The Hunger Games 5. Back To Stay

2012 HIGHLIGHT Finally seeing Radiohead live.

2013 PREDICTION Australian electronic scene going big-time global, everyone gets Facebook fatigue and starts sending postcards instead.

9. Tough Love PULLED APART BY HORSES 10. My Head Is An Animal OF MONSTERS AND MEN

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Dark Knight Rises: OST HANS ZIMMER 2. Blue Lines (reissue) MASSIVE ATTACK 3. Triple J Hottest 100 Vol. 19 VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR

Mutemath pic by Josh Groom

1. Ekki Múkk SIGUR RÓS 2. Varðeldur SIGUR RÓS 3. 42 BAD BOOKS 4. I’m Not Me WHITE RABBITS 5. Karmageddon ABBE MAY

Andy Snelling ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Valtari SIGUR RÓS 2. II BAD BOOKS 3. Milk Famous WHITE RABBITS 4. Port Of Morrow THE SHINS 5. The Plot Against Common Sense FUTURE OF THE LEFT 6. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 7. Die Young COLLARBONES 8. The Lumineers THE LUMINEERS

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Sigur Rós 2. Radiohead 3. Bon Iver 4. La Dispute 5. Mutemath

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. DZ Deathrays 2. Regurgitator 3. The Panics 4. Bandito Folk

BEST TV SHOW 1. Archer 2. Game Of Thrones 3. The Newsroom 4. Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy 5. Rage

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

BEST MOVIE

1. Sigur Rós 2. Radiohead 3. Bad Books 4. White Rabbits 5. Future Of The Left

1. The Intouchables 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. Skyfall 4. Men In Black III 5. Looper

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. bedwettingcosmonaut.com 3. rtrfm.com.au 4. spaceshipnews.com 5. wordpress.com

2012 HIGHLIGHT Seeing Sigur Rós and Radiohead within four days of each other.

2013 PREDICTION A further resurgence of ‘90sinspired guitar bands.

Bob Baker Fish ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Thunder May Have Ruined The Moment VIEO ABIUNGO & PETE MONRO 2. Psychedelic Pill NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE 3. Errors Of The Human Body OST ANTHONY PATERAS 4. Your Life Is On Fire BATTLESNAKE 5. Presents Hollie Cook In Dub PRINCE FATTY 6. The Life And Times Of… HOT 8 BRASS BAND 7. You Me Bullets Love THE BOMBAY ROYALE 8. Twin Korg: Winter Drip Code SHANE FAHEY 9. Maidenhair MAX CRUMBS 10. Illumination KEVIN PURDY

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Song Of The Second Moon TOM DISSEVELT/KID BALTAN 2. Funky Highlife CK MANN & HIS CAROUSEL 7

writers’ poll 2012 Mat Lee ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Temper Trap THE TEMPER TRAP 2. Babel MUMFORD & SONS 3. Port Of Morrow THE SHINS 4. Fear Fun FATHER JOHN MISTY 5. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE 6. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 7. Rhythm And Repose GLEN HANSARD 8. Here EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS 9. The Heist MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 10. Adventures In Your Own Backyard PATRICK WATSON

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Procession: 10 Years Of Dew Process DEW PROCESS 2. triple j – Like A Version, Vol. 8 VARIOUS ARTISTS 3. Fifty Big Ones – Greatest Hits THE BEACH BOYS

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Simple Song THE SHINS

2. Trembling Hands THE TEMPER TRAP 3. Lover Of The Light MUMFORD & SONS 4. Need Your Love THE TEMPER TRAP 5. Only Son Of A Ladies’ Man FATHER JOHN MISTY

1. The Temper Trap 2. Gypsy & The Cat 3. Katie Noonan & Karin Schaupp 4. Sarah Blasko 5. The Preatures

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. New Girl 2. WWE Raw 3. WWE Smackdown 4. The Slap 5. The Voice

1. Radiohead 2. The Temper Trap 3. Mumford & Sons 4. The Shins 5. Coldplay

BEST WEBSITE 1. facebook.com 2. instagram.com 3. triplejunearthed.com 4. tumblr.com 5. indieshuffle.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Coldplay 2. Radiohead 3. Bon Iver 4. The Beach Boys 5. Sigur Ros

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Fabric Live 66 BEN KLOCK 2. Watergate X VARIOUS 3. Balance 21 NIC FANCIULLI

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Feel the Love RUDIMENTAL 2. Holdin On FLUME 3. Madness MUSE 4. We Are Young FUN 5. Channel 42 DEADMAU5 + WOLFGANG GARTNER Kendrick Lamar

Stuart Evans ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. good kid, m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR 2. Out Of The Black BOYS NOIZE 3. Luxury Problems ANDY SCOTT 4. Wonky ORBITAL 5. 1991 AZEALIA BANKS 6. Violent Waves CIRCA SURVIVE 7. Galaxy Garden LONE 8. Bodyparts DRAGONETTE 9. R.I.P ACTRESS

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Flume 2. Seekae 3. Gotye 4. The Presets 5. San Cisco

BEST WEBSITE 1. boriswatch.com 2. thesouptv.com 3. thechive.com 4. uncrate.com 5. youtube.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. New Order 2. Avicii 3. Orbital 4. The Wombats 5. Gareth Emery

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Seven Psychopaths 2. My Week With Marilyn 3. Argo 4. The Dark Knight Rises 5. The Artist

2012 HIGHLIGHT A tie: Coachella weekend one and Coldplay’s stunningly extravagant rendition of Fix You at Allianz Stadium.

2013 PREDICTION Radiohead will release a phenomenal and groundbreaking new record towards the end of 2013 – we can all dream.

Refused pic by Angela Padovan

Dave Drayton ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Charge Group CHARGE GROUP 2. Broad Shoulders DIKEMBE 3. Sunshine & Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND 4. Resonation LINCOLN LE FEVRE 5. The Quietest Place On Earth WE LOST THE SEA 6. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 7. Bless This Mess LISA MITCHELL 8. Leave Your Soul To Science SOMETHING FOR KATE 9. Now Here Nowhere HIRA HIRA 10. Secular QUIET STEPS

I predict a riot as electro finally fucks off. Deadmau5 will say something interesting, or perhaps not.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Neil Young 2. Omar Souleyman 3. Seun Kuti 4. The Abyssinians 5. John Zorn

BEST WEBSITE 1. cyclicdefrost.com 2. harmony-korine.com 3. sinatrajr.8m.com 4. americasfunnyman.com 5. nme.com/list/50-worst-musicvideos-ever/253198/page/1

1. Battlesnake 2. Cumbia Cosmanauts 3. The Overtone Ensemble 4. The Bombay Royale 5. Hessian Jailer

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Killing 2. The Bridge 3. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 4. Treme 5. Game Of Thrones

BEST MOVIE 1. The Human Centipede 2 2. Bellflower 3. The Skin I Live In 4. Amour 5. A Separation

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

The return of Julia Gillard.

1. Seun Kuti 2. Goblin perform Suspiria

The Apple Corporation enslaves us all.

1. Call Me Maybe CARLY RAE JEPSEN 2. My Dad The Manatee WAVELETS 3. Miracle Cure SOMETHING FOR KATE 4. Seems Your Buddies Are Dead LIFE & LIMB 5. Gasoline ALPINE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The Smith Street Band 2. Lemuria 3. Charge Group 4. Totally Unicorn 5. Ceremony

BEST WEBSITE 1. reddit.com 2. bandcamp.com 3. youtube.com 4. twitter.com 5. facebook.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 5. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS 6. Ten Stories MEWITHOUTYOU 7. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 8. Centipede Hz ANIMAL COLLECTIVE 9. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 10. Channel Orange FRANK OCEAN

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Silver & Gold SUFJAN STEVENS 2. The Master JOHNNY GREENWOOD 3. Anthology THRICE

BEST MOVIE

2013 PREDICTION

1. She’s Always Dancing NEIL YOUNG 2. Bust Body Move NO ZU 3. Euphoria LOVE CONNECTION 4. Addis OM 5. Can’t Hide From The Truth HOT 8 BRASS BAND

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. The Walking Dead 2. Breaking Bad 3. The Bridge 4. Mad Men 5. Homeland

Personal highlight was surviving a motorbike accident; musical highlight was seeing New Order and listening to Flume.

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Shuffle And Scrape: A Tribute To Blueline Medic VARIOUS 2. The Good Fight For Harmony ELEVENTH HE REACHES LONDON 3. Molecular Genetics From The Gold Standard Labs THE LOCUST

BEST TV SHOW

2012 HIGHLIGHT

SONG OF THE YEAR

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. San Cisco 2. Flume 3. The Temper Trap 4. Seekae 5. Cut Copy

1. Argo 2. This Is Not a Flim 3. Killing Them Softly 4. Looper 5. The Dark Knight Rises

3. Narasirato 4. Tinariwen 5. Omar Souleyman

2013 PREDICTION

writers’ poll 2012

BEST TV SHOW

BEST MOVIE

3. Strong Love: Songs Of Gay Liberation 1972-1981 VARIOUS ARTISTS

Something For Kate

Sam Hobson ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Trilogy THE WEEKND 2. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 3. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever D FIONA APPLE 4. Leave Your Soul to Science SOMETHING FOR KATE

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Twenty Eight THE WEEKND 2. Matilda ALT-J 3. Christmas In The Room SUFJAN STEVENS 4. Aimless Arrow CONVERGE 5. Fineshrine PURITY RING

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The Weeknd 2. Something For Kate 3. Fiona Apple 4. Frank Ocean 5. Tame Impala

1. Restorations 2. Refused 3. Ceremony 4. At The Drive-In 5. Portugal. The Man

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Australian Chamber Orchestra 2. The Smith Street Band 3. Life & Limb 4. Stockades 5. Ted Danson With Wolves

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Simpsons 2. QI 3. The Young Ones 4. Redfern Now 5. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

BEST MOVIE 1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. Celeste And Jesse Forever 4. Life Of Pi 5. Knuckleball

2012 HIGHLIGHT The brief week when there were sour cherry Slurpees at 7-Eleven.

2013 PREDICTION More concrete examples of global warming. 3. hitfix.com 4. twitter.com 5. themusic.com.au

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Preatures 2. Josh Pyke 3. Greenthief

BEST TV SHOW 1. Luck 2. Mad Men 3. Girls 4. Justified 5. Game Of Thrones

BEST MOVIE 1. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 2. Margaret 3. Killing Them Softly 4. Holy Motors 5. Rust & Bone

2012 HIGHLIGHT The fake Michael Haneke Twitter account sending a gloating tweet to Brett Ratner about his lack of “Parms Dorz”.

BEST WEBSITE

2013 PREDICTION

1. badassdigest.com 2. chud.com

The agonising and protracted death of ‘Community.’

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Parklive BLUR 2. Essential Oils MIDNIGHT OIL 3. Grrr! THE ROLLING STONES

1. Daniel Merriweather 2. Tame Impala 3. DZ Deathrays 4. Jack Ladder 5. Kirin J Callinan

1. The Key Of Sea VARIOUS 2. The Soul Of Melbourne VARIOUS 3. 20 Big Ones VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Elephant TAME IMPALA 2. ill Manors PLAN B 3. What It’ll Take GRAHAM COXON 4. March On N’FA JONES 5. Night & Day HOT CHIP

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Motley Crue

Bryget Chrisfield

1. Mötley Crüe 2. Blur 3. Tame Impala 4. DZ Deathrays 5. Icehouse

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST WEBSITE

1. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE 3. This Is PiL PIL 4. Lex Hives THE HIVES 5. Bloodstreams DZ DEATHRAYS 6. The Invitation To The Voyage EUGENE MCGUINNESS 7. Beard, Wives, Denim POND 8. Pacifica THE PRESETS 9. Happy To You MIIKE SNOW 10. In Hindsight HUNTING GROUNDS

1. rcdlbl.com 2. google.com.au 3. soundcloud.com 4. guardian.co.uk 5. facebook.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Prince 2. Radiohead 3. Jack White 4. Kasabian 5. The Horrors

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW 1. Sons Of Anarchy 2. Mad Men 3. Puberty Blues 4. Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy 5. Breaking Bad

BEST MOVIE 1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. Magic Mike 3. Not Suitable For Children 4. Rock Of Ages 5. The Sapphires

2012 HIGHLIGHT Travelling to Vegas to see Mötley Crüe at Hard Rock three nights in a row and catching Nikki Sixx’s plectrum.

2013 PREDICTION Blur Down Under tour. New Justin Timberlake album (enough already with the mediocre acting, you’re a WAY better pop star!).

Celline Narinli

1. Bad Religion FRANK OCEAN 2. Wasted Days CLOUD NOTHINGS 3. Taro ALT-J 4. Yet Again GRIZZLY BEAR 5. Varud SIGUR ROS

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 2. Attack On Memory CLOUD NOTHINGS 3. The Clearing BOWERBIRDS 4. Give You The Ghost POLICA 5. Valtari SIGUR ROS 6. Bored Nothing BORED NOTHING 7. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 8. Channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 9. good kid, m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR 10. Piramida EFTERKLANG

1. Alt-J 2. Tame Impala 3. Fishing 4. Chet Faker 5. Purity Ring

Polica

writers’ poll 2012 9. I Sleep.At Waking MEMOTONE 10. Mesmer KAREEM

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Two Different Ways (Remixes) FACTORY FLOOR 2. Tamer Animals (Atoms For Peace Remix)/Other Side (Remix) ATOMS FOR PEACE/OTHER LIVES 3. Negative Fascination (Extended 12inch Mixes) SILENT SERVANT Silent Servant

Craig Hollywood ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Negative Fascination SILENT SERVANT 2. Motormouth Variations RROSE X BOB OSTERTAG 3. Stoic WIFE 4. LP CONTAINER 5. Crossed Paths SHIFTED 6. Perceiver PETER VAN HOESEN 7. Alfur OLD APPARATUS 8. Music For Reliquary House/In 1980 I Was A Blue Square ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER/RENE HELL

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Two Different Ways (Perc Remix) FACTORY FLOOR 2. 111 SLAVES 3. Rano Pano (Time Hecker Remix) MOGWAI 4. Waterfall RROSE 5. Default ATOMS FOR PEACE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Silent Servant 2. Rrose 3. Memotone 4. Kareem 5. Wife

BEST WEBSITE 1. rtrfm.com.au 2. hardwax.com 3. boilerroom.tv 4. rotation-records.de 5. celticfc.net

Nic Owen ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. HyperParadise HERMITUDE 2. The Gruesome Features JAM BAXTER 3. Flume FLUME 4. RE ϟ TWERK TA-KU 5. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 6. Look Around The Corner QUANTIC & ALICE RUSSEL 7. The Heist MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 8. Disk.151 YLEM 9. Mourning In America & Dreaming In Colour BROTHER ALI 10. Beard, Wives, Denim POND

1. whothehell.net 2. triplejunearthed.com 3. allidoislisten.com 4. messandnoise.com 5. pedestrian.tv

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Sigur Ros

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Radiohead 2. Sigur Ros 3. Amon Tobin 4. Matthew Dear 5. Octave One

1. Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations of the First Psychedelic Era VARIOUS 2. Rumours Revisted VARIOUS 3. Adult Swim Singles Program VARIOUS

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Limmy Show 2. Great British Menu 3. The Scheme 4. Pawn Stars 5. Deadliest Catch

BEST MOVIE 1. Jiro Dreams Of Sushi 2. Brooklyn Castle 3. The Imposter 4. Safety Not Guaranteed 5. Indie Game – The Movie

2012 HIGHLIGHT Losing my marbles in Berghain, Berlin.

2013 PREDICTION Doing the SPA Writers Poll 2013?

1. Dirty Three 2. Fishing 3. Hermitude 4. Collarbones 5. Flume

BEST TV SHOW 1. Girls 2. Downton Abbey 3. Parks and Recreation 4. Community 5. Gossip Girl

BEST MOVIE 1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. The Master 3. Perks Of Being A Wallflower 4. Chicken With Plums 5. Monsieur Lazhar

2012 HIGHLIGHT Grumpy Cat.

2013 PREDICTION More boutique festivals and gigs in odd places.

writers’ poll 2012

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Sugar Army 2. Russian Winters 3. Sons Of Rico 4. Bears Bears Bears 5. Sea Of Tunes

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

SONG OF THE YEAR Violent Soho pic by Sky Kirkham

Madeleine Laing ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The World Warriors VELOCIRAPTOR 2. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS 3. Tramp SHARON VAN ETTEN 4. Sad Summer Hits TEXAS TEA 5. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS 6. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 7. Bored Nothing BORED NOTHING 8. Total Loss HOW TO DRESS WELL 9. Midnight Mirage DO THE ROBOT 10. Bloodstreams DZ DEATHRAYS

1. Darlin JEREMY NEALE 2. Gun Has No Trigger DIRTY PROJECTORS 3. Alice DICK DIVER 4. I Don’t Write No Sad Songs TEXAS TEA 5. The Walk On By VELOCIRAPTOR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Jeremy Neale 2. Fergus Miller 3. Fiona Apple 4. James X. Boyd 5. Alexander Gow

BEST WEBSITE 1. pedestrian.tv/jobs 2. twitter.com 3. soundcloud.com 4. thevine.com.au 5. whothehell.net

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

2. Stephen Malkmus 3. St Vincent 4. Thurston Moore 5. Grizzly Bear

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Velociraptor 2. Twerps 3. Straight Arrows 4. Violent Soho 5. Texas Tea

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Walking Dead 2. Game Of Thrones 3. Problems 4. The Hamster Wheel 5. Laid

BEST MOVIE 1. Looper 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. The Avengers 4. Cabin In The Woods 5. Skyfall

2012 HIGHLIGHT Finally being in the same room as Stephen Malkmus.

2013 PREDICTION

1. Beck

Jeremy Neale is releasing and album and it’s going to be a pure pop delight.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

4. Beck 5. Rufus Wainwright

1. In Motion #1 THE CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA PRESENTS 2. Blue Lines: Remastered Box Set MASSIVE ATTACK 3. triple j’s House Party NINA LAS VEGAS

1. Radiohead 2. Mutemath 3. Shapeshifter 4. Foster The People 5. SBTRKT

1. Lioness: Hidden Treasures AMY WINEHOUSE 2. The Complete Studio Recordings 1972-1982 ROXY MUSIC 3. I Get Wet ANDREW WK

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

SONG OF THE YEAR

The Medics

BEST WEBSITE

2. Bon Iver 3. Efterklang 4. M83 5. Youth Lagoon

1. Latch DISCLOSURE FEAT, SAM SMITH 2. Thrift Shop MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FEAT. WANZ 3. Frivolous Life YESYOU FEAT. MARCUS AZON 4. Ghosts (Hermitude Trapped In Heaven Remix) THE PRESETS 5. My Gun (pre-album version) THE RUBENS

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Mutemath 2. Sola Rosa 3. Arrested Development 4. Tomás Ford 5. The Medics

1. The Medics 2. New Navy 3. Bluejuice 4. Jinja Safari 5. Kimbra

BEST TV SHOW

Grizzly Bear pic by Andrew Briscoe

1. Dexter 2. Breaking Bad 3. South Park 4. Game of Thrones 5. Skins

Sean Pollard

BEST MOVIE

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Seven Psycopaths 2. Argo 3. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 4. Skyfall 5. Looper

1. Spring And Fall PAUL KELLY 2. Heaven THE WALKMEN 3. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 4. Fear Fun FATHER JOHN MISTY 5. Burning Boy JOE MCKEE 6. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES 7. Outlands DEEP SEA ARCADE 8. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 9. Deep Heat OH MERCY 10. Lake Air DAPPLED CITIES

BEST WEBSITE

2012 HIGHLIGHT

1. youtube.com 2. facebook.com 3. soundcloud.com 4. triplejunearthed.com 5. bandcamp.com

Every moment spent with the band I play in, The Brow Horn Orchestra

2013 PREDICTION The revolution will not be televised!

1. Pyramids FRANK OCEAN 2. Elephant TAME IMPALA 3. Would That Not Be Nice DIVINE FITS 4. Under The Westway BLUR 5. My Man OH MERCY

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Paul Kelly 2. Tame Impala 3. Joe McKee 4. Frank Ocean 5. Sarah Blasko

BEST WEBSITE 1. twitter.com.au 2. cricinfo.com 3. wearehunted.com 4. pitchfork.com 5. dreamteam.afl.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Grizzly Bear 2. Radiohead 3. Coldplay

1. Something For Kate 2. Clairy Brown & The Bangin’ Rackettes 3. Ned Collette 4. Dan Kelly 5. Deep Sea Arcade

BEST TV SHOW 1. Boardwalk Empire 2. The League 3. Grand Designs 4. Tony Robinson’s Time Walks 5. Storage Wars

BEST MOVIE 1. Skyfall 2. Paul Kelly – Stories Of Me 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. Moonrise Kingdom 5. Jeff Who Lives At Home

2012 HIGHLIGHT The Chris Judd chicken wing saga.

2013 PREDICTION Kurt Tippet and Izzy Folau both wind up clubless and selling footy records outside Skoda Stadium.

3. Sigur Ros 4. Miike Snow 5. Bon Iver

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Dylan Stewart

Built JAPANDROIDS 3. Get Free MAJOR LAZER 4. Elephant TAME IMPALA 5. Open RHYE

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS 2. Coexist THE XX 3. Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 4. Reign Of Terror SLEIGH BELLS 5. Leave Your Soul To Science SOMETHING FOR KATE 6. Tramp SHARON VAN ETTEN 7. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 8. Sweet Sour BAND OF SKULLS 9. ill Manors PLAN B 10. Tough Love PULLED APART BY HORSES

1. Japandroids 2. Alt-J 3. Frank Ocean 4. Rhye 5. The Smith Street Band

BEST WEBSITE 1. facebook.com 2. twitter.com 3. brooklynvegan.com 4. theage.com.au 5. spinner.ca

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Angels THE XX 2. The House That Heaven

1. Major Lazer 2. Kanye West

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. American Reunion 3. Project X

2012 HIGHLIGHT Venues come and venues go. The Aussie live music scene lives on.

2013 PREDICTION Punters getting sick of festivals not allowing headline bands to do sideshows. Looking at you, Laneway!

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Antipodean Interpolations Of The First Psychedelic Era VARIOUS 2. The Velvet Underground & Nico Re-issue THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO 3. Trilogy THE WEEKND

1. Prince 2. Yuck 3. The Pogues 4. Jack White 5. Youth Lagoon

SONG OF THE YEAR

Tame Impala pic by Elaine Reyes

Jan Wisniewski ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. Spooky Action At A Distance LOTUS PLAZA 3. Bloom BEACH HOUSE 4. Open Your Heart THE MEN 5. Life Is People BILL FAY 6. The Idler Wheel... FIONA APPLE 7. Oshin DIIV 8. 2 MAC DEMARCO 9. Hard Rubbish LOWER PLENTY 10. Outlands DEAP SEA ARCADE

The Rubens pic by Callan Gibson

Lucia OsborneCrowley ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 2. Babel MUMFORD & SONS 3. Coexist THE XX 4. Port Of Morrow THE SHINS 5. Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color BROTHER ALI 6. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 7. Valtari SIGUR ROS 8. Life Is Good NAS 9. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 10. The Rubens THE RUBENS

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards TAME IMPALA 2. Monoliths LOTUS PLAZA 3. Candy THE MEN 4. Rest Your Head THE DANDY WARHOLS 5. Bad Decisions BITCH PREFECT

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tame Impala 2. Frank Ocean 3. Lower Plenty 4. Fiona Apple 5. Pond

BEST WEBSITE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Tame Impala 2. Lisa Mitchell 3. Pond 4. Weddings, Parties, Anything 5. The Twerps

BEST TV SHOW 1. Girls 2. Mad Men 3. The Newsroom 4. Fresh Meat 5. Game Of Thrones

BEST MOVIE 1. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower 2. Skyfall 3. Moonrise Kingdom 4. The Sapphires 5. The Dark Knight Rises

1. anydecentmusic.com 2. drownedinsound.com 3. theconversation.edu.au 4. devour.com 5. whatshouldwecallme. tumblr.com

2012 HIGHLIGHT

1. By My Side BEN HARPER 2. Ministry of Sound Anthems Hip Hop Volume 2 VARIOUS 3. Triple J Hottest 100 Volume 19 VARIOUS

5. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. The Rubens 2. Gotye 3. Ball Park Music 4. Flume 5. Kimbra

1. Think Bout You FRANK OCEAN 2. Wicked Games THE WEEKND 3. Chained THE XX 4. Whispers In The Dark MUMFORD & SONS 5. Poetic Justice KENDRICK LAMAR FEAT. DRAKE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Frank Ocean 2. Mumford & Sons 3. The Tallest Man On Earth 4. The xx 5. The Shins

BEST WEBSITE 1. 8tracks.com 2. twitter.com 3. reddit.com 4. abc.net.au/triplej/ 5. facebook.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Atmosphere 2. Mumford & Sons 3. The Shins 4. Swedish House Mafia

A lovely birthday picnic in the Botanical Gardens.

2013 PREDICTION An un-hung parliament.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Bluejuice pic by Josh Groom

Helen Lear ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Rubens THE RUBENS 2. Coexist THE XX 3. Ceremonials FLORENCE + THE MACHINE 4. Catcall THE WARMEST PLACE 5. Fragrant World YEASAYER 6. Pacifica THE PRESETS 7. A Joyful Noise GOSSIP 8. The National Health MAXIMO PARK 9. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES

Kris Swales ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. HyperParadise HERMITUDE 2. Fabric 64 GUY GERBER 3. ‘Alleluhah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 4. Sweet Heart Sweet Light SPIRITUALIZED 5. Galaxy Garden LONE 6. Wonky ORBITAL 7. Bitrok BITROK 8. In A Million Years LAST DINOSAURS 9. Master Of My Make Believe SANTIGOLD 10. We Keep The Beat Found The Sound Feed The Need Start The Heart JONATHAN BOULET

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Isles Of Wonder – Music For The Opening Ceremony Of The London 2012 Olympic Games VARIOUS 2. Eric Prydz Presents Pryda PRYDA 3. Blood Bros III: Back To America BLOOD BROS

1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. The Master 3. The Intouchables 4. Ted 5. Looper

2012 HIGHLIGHT Definitely Mitt Romney not becoming the next president of the United States.

2013 PREDICTION With a bit of luck, Gangnam Style will get slightly less radio play and I will spend slightly less time lurking people I don’t really know on Instagram.

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. twitter.com 3. facebook.com 4. lostateminor.com 5. broadsheet.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. St Vincent 2. Arrested Development 3. The xx

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. And I Will Kiss UNDERWORLD 2. Mladic GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 3. Mainline TENSNAKE FEAT SYRON 4. Trololo DOCTOR WEREWOLF 5. Feel The Love RUDIMENTAL

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Underworld & High Contrast (Olympic champions!) 2. Hermitude 3. Disclosure 4. Flume 5. Cooper Cronk

BEST WEBSITE 1. inthemix.com.au 2. themusic.com.au 3. theroar.com.au 4. facebook.com 5. soundcloud.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. MeLo-X 2. The Stepkids 3. Roger Waters 4. Shapeshifter 5. Spiritualized

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Strong Love: Songs Of Gay Liberation 1972)1981 VARIOUS 2. Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions BILLY BRAGG 3. Electrospective VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW

BEST MOVIE

1. The xx 2. The Presets 3. Maximo Park 4. The Temper Trap 5. Bat For Lashes

1. The Beards 2. Bluejuice 3. The Temper Trap 4. The Presets 5. Boy & Bear

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Puberty Blues 3. Redfern Now 4. Game Of Thrones 5. Homeland

BEST MOVIE 1. The Sapphires 2. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 3. Safety Not Guaranteed 4. Moonrise Kingdom 5. The Dark Knight Rises

2012 HIGHLIGHT The Presets secret gig at The Hi-Fi, Sydney

2013 PREDICTION Hopefully more great music and the death of dubstep!

writers’ poll 2012

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Girls 2. The Walking Dead 3. Masterchef 4. The Newsroom 5. Friday Night Lights

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Heaven EMELIE SANDE 2. Henrietta YEASAYER 3. London’s Burning TEMPER TRAP 4. Hips & Lips MAXIMO PARK 5. All Your Gold BAT FOR LASHES

writers’ poll 2012 MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Parks & Recreation 3. Dexter 4. Homeland 5. A Moody Christmas

4. The Maccabees 5. Bat For lashes

1. MTV Unplugged FLORENCE + THE MACHINE 2. Triple J Hottest 100 VARIOUS 3. Blue Lines MASSIVE ATTACK

1. Seekae 2. Kingswood 3. Naysayer & Gilsun 4. Money For Rope 5. Sheriff

Seekae pic by Angela Padovan

10. The Temper Trap THE TEMPER TRAP

Tomas Ford

Mac McNaughton ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Human Woman HUMAN WOMAN 2. Fool KASPER BJØRKE 3. Wonky ORBITAL 4. Django Django DJANGO DJANGO 5. Ei8ht NIK KERSHAW 6. MMXII KILLING JOKE 7. Elysium PET SHOP BOYS 8. Light Years KORA 9. An Audience With... TOMÁS FORD 10. The 2nd Law MUSE

1. Where Is It Going? ORBITAL 2. Madness MUSE 3. Ride LANA DEL REY 4. Love Games HUMAN WOMAN 5. I Can Make You Love Me BRITISH INDIA

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tomás Ford 2. Underworld 3. Death Grips 4. Nick Cave 5. Blur

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. tvtonight.com.au 3. thespace.org/content/ 4. pitchfork.com 5. facebook.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Roger Waters 2. New Order 3. Orbital

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Hermitude 2. Alex Dyson (Community Cup) 3. Urthboy 4. Cliques 5. Tired Lion

BEST TV SHOW 1. Go Back To Where You Came From 2. State Of Origin Game Three 3. Treme 4. Mad Men 5. Redfern Now

BEST MOVIE 1. Samsara 2. The Avengers 3. Cabin In The Woods 4. The Sapphires 5. Katy Perry: Part Of Me

2012 HIGHLIGHT Making music again. Taking five marks on the hallowed turf of Newtown’s Henson Park for Community Cup. Surviving it.

2013 PREDICTION I’ll find it even harder to come up with a Top Five Gigs of the year. 4. The Tea Party 5. Howard Jones

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Tomás Ford 2. Sam Perry 3. The Raging Lincolns 4. Sexy Robot 5. Mulder

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Newsroom 2. Big Bang Theory 3. The Amazing Race Australia 4. Dexter 5. Good Game

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. The Avengers 3. Skyfall 4. The Iron Lady 5. Shut Up & Play The Hits

2012 HIGHLIGHT Meeting/seeing several personal heroes courtesy of writing for Drum. Street Press Australia is alive and well!

2013 PREDICTION RIP Nintendo; One Direction sex scandal; Kate Middleton’s ‘Childbirth Screams’ goes number one.

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Tim Rogers 2. The Jezabels 3. The Church 4. Mike Noga 5. Henry Wagons

1. Hot Snakes 2. Radiohead 3. Wild Flag 4. Charles Bradley 5. Big Jay McNeely

BEST TV SHOW

2. Document Reissue R.E.M. 3. So (25th Anniversary Reissue) PETER GABRIEL

1. Sherlock 2. The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson 3. Rake 4. Southland 5. Doctor Who

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

BEST MOVIE

Tim Rogers pic by Linda Heller-Salvador

Ross Clelland ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE 2. The Carpenter THE AVETT BROTHERS 3. Silver Age BOB MOULD 4. Love Your Crooked Neighbour With Your Crooked Heart CHARLES JENKINS & THE ZHIVAGOS 5. Mirage Rock BAND OF HORSES 6. Spring And Fall PAUL KELLY 7. Channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 8. Algiers CALEXICO 9. I Awake SARAH BLASKO 10. Burning Boy JOE MCKEE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Quiet Heart THE GO-BETWEENS

1. Jack White 2. Bruce Springsteen 3. Gotye 4. The Rolling Stones 5. Bob Mould

BEST WEBSITE 1. globalmail.org 2. facebook.com 3. themusic.com.au 4. snopes.com 5. google.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. PJ Harvey 2. Jack White 3. Dexys

1. Lawless 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. Shut Up And Play The Hits 4. Skyfall 5. Lincoln

2012 HIGHLIGHT Not sure if it’s a highlight, but both sides of politics hacking at one another, while running the country seemed secondary, seemed a recurring theme.

2013 PREDICTION Hopefully, a decline of hipsters wearing woollen flat caps: It’s Newtown. It’s 30 degrees. You do not work at mill in Edwardian Lancashire.

Royal Headache

Samson McDougall ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Hard Rubbish LOWER PLENTY 2. Cut Sleeves BITS OF SHIT 3. Sun CAT POWER 4. Playin’ In Time With The Deadbeat SLUG GUTS 5. Royal Headache ROYAL HEADACHE 6. The Spinning Rooms THE SPINNING ROOMS 7. Post Ending//Pre Completion USELESS CHILDREN 8. New War NEW WAR 9. Putrifiers II THEE OH SEES

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Blur 21 Box Set BLUR 2. The Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary [Super Deluxe] THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NIKO 3. Kinks In Mono Box Set THE KINKS

1. Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations Of The First Psychedelic Era VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR Rufus Wainwright pic by Lou Lou Nutt

1. Tapes & Money TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS 2. Solid Gold AU 3. This Is Not A Song ISLANDS 4. Barbara RUFUS WAINWRIGHT 5. What’s On Your Mind BALL PARK MUSIC

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tame Impala 2. The Love Junkies 3. Rufus Wainwright 4. Frank Ocean 5. Ball Park Music

BEST WEBSITE 1. pitchfork.com 2. rcrdlbl.com 3. themusicnetwork.com 4. rollingstone.com 5. fasterlouder.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Rufus Wainwright

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Lucky Animals DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT 2. Take My Bones Away BARONESS 3. Rise Up TESTAMENT 4. Recharger FEAR FACTORY 5. Starlight GOTTHARD Devin Townsend Project

Chris Maric ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Epicloud DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT 2. Dark Roots Of The Earth TESTAMENT 3. The Industrialist FEAR FACTORY 4. Bring Heavy Rock To The Land JORN 5. Yellow And Green BARONESS 6. L’Enfant Sauvage GOJIRA 7. The Hunt GRAND MAGUS 8. Awakened AS I LAY DYING 9. Where The Corpses Stink Forever CARACH ANGREN 10. Sentenced To Life BLACK BREATH

1. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia 2. 30 Rock 3. Parks & Recreation 4. Peep Show 5. The Walking Dead

BEST MOVIE 1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. Looper 3. Bernie 4. The Dark Knight Rises 5. The Avengers

2012 HIGHLIGHT Watching Rufus Wainwright perform at the Perth Convention Centre.

2013 PREDICTION

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Sons Of Anarchy 2. Game Of Thrones 3. Masterchef 4. Caprica 5. Breaking Bad

1. At The Gates 2. Fear Factory 3. Watain

1. Channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 2. Smokey’s Haunt URTHBOY 3. I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead EL-P 4. Forever Sky’High SKY’HIGH 5. Skelethon AESOP ROCK 6. Cruel Summer VARIOUS G.O.O.D. MUSIC ARTISTS 7. Breakfast CHIDDY BANG 8. Future Shade THE HERD 9. Key to the Kuffs JJ DOOM

Steve Bell

1. Kvelertak 2. Baroness 3. Fear Factory 4. 4Arm 5. Your fave X Factor hopeful

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

4. Goatwhore 5. Meshuggah

BEST TV SHOW

1. paleomg.com 2. facebook.com 3. smh.com.au 4. kmdi.com.au 5. failblog.org

James d’Apice

The Love Junkies finally release an album and it wins ALL the awards.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

BEST WEBSITE

Urthboy

1. Untitled EP HODGY BEATS 2. The Lost Tape 50 CENT 3. Seven KAY COLA

1. sleepmakeswaves 2. Michele Madden 3. Darkc3ll 4. 4ARM 5. Shinobi

BEST MOVIE 1. Argo 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. The Grey 4. Bourne Legacy 5. Coriolanus

2012 HIGHLIGHT Reaching 95% of the goals I set out to achieve this year.

2013 PREDICTION The curse of Jethro Tull making another appearance at the Arias.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Iggy Pop 2. Courtney Barnett 3. Jimi Kritzler 4. Charlyn Marshall 5. Mikey Young

BEST WEBSITE

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST TV SHOW

1. Stranglin’ You Too SLUG GUTS 2. Open Your Heart THE MEN 3. No Moon RULE OF THIRDS 4. White Walls LOWER PLENTY 5. Green Box DEEP HEAT

1. Royal Headache 2. Deep Heat 3. Boomgates 4. Bits Of Shit 5. Tyrannamen

BEST TV SHOW 1. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 2. Boardwalk Empire 3. Game Of Thrones 4. Sherlock 5. The Cricket

BEST MOVIE 1. The Cabin In The Woods 2. Under African Skies 3. Bad Brains: A Band In DC

2012 HIGHLIGHT The big news!

2013 PREDICTION New socks.

writers’ poll 2012

2. Radiohead 3. The Black Keys 4. The Beach Boys 5. Damo Suzuki

1. The Love Junkies 2. Ball Park Music 3. Alpine 4. Pond 5. Deep Sea Arcade

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. flannelette.blogspot.com.au 2. facebook.com/pages/ Badly-Stuffed-Animals 3. nrl.com 4. swellnet.com.au 5. bom.gov.au

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

writers’ poll 2012

2. Graceland 25th Anniversary PAUL SIMON 3. Nihilistic Orbs Sampler VARIOUS

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. The World Warriors VELOCIRAPTOR 2. Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 3. Spring And Fall PAUL KELLY 4. Class Clown Spots A UFO GUIDED BY VOICES 5. Double Natural BOOMGATES 6. The Plot Against Common Sense FUTURE OF THE LEFT 7. Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance PATTERSON HOOD 8. Big Time BITCH PREFECT 9. Sad Summer Hits TEXAS TEA 10. Clear Heart Full Eyes CRAIG FINN

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Quiet Heart THE GO-BETWEENS 2. Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions BILLY BRAGG & WILCO 3. Early Times SILVER JEWS

1. Zero Dark Thirty AESOP ROCK 2. Stories URTHBOY 3. New God Flow KANYE WEST, PUSHA T AND GHOSTFACE KILLAH 4. Red Queen Theory THE HERD 5. Full Retard EL-P

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Urthboy 2. Fame 3. Jimmy Nice aka James Flames aka Just Enuf 4. Sky’high 5. El-P

BEST WEBSITE 1. twitter.com 2. cricinfo.com 3. prosple.com.au 4. pitchfork.com 5. ozhiphop.com/forum

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Pez 2. Royal Headache 3. Hermitude 4. Urthboy 5. Spit Syndicate

BEST TV SHOW 1. Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals 2. Bob’s Burgers 3. The Simpsons 4. Breaking Bad 5. Parks and Recreation

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. The Cabin In The Woods 3. Looper 4. Safety Not Guaranteed 5. Magic Mike

2012 HIGHLIGHT Pez’s surprising star turn at the ARIA Showcase at OAF. Nothing in his pedestrian back catalogue prepared us for that charisma or that smile.

1. Danny Brown 2. SBTRKT 3. Kanye West 4. Major Lazer 5. Nicki Minaj

2013 PREDICTION

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. Royal Headache 2. Sunnyboys 3. Velociraptor 4. Hoodoo Gurus 5. Twerps

1. He’s In Stock TWERPS 2. I Need A Million HITS 3. Persian Fairy Floss PAGEANTS 4. Life Is Elsewhere GRAVEYARD TRAIN 5. Young Drunk THE SMITH STREET BAND

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Weezer 2. Sunnyboys 3. Twerps 4. Velociraptor 5. Paul Kelly

BEST WEBSITE 1. saintsational.net 2. themusic.com.au 3. cricinfo.com 4. cracked.com 5. avclub.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Weezer 2. Afghan Whigs 3. The Pogues 4. Billy Bragg 5. Endless Boogie

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

An Ashes loss, a disappointing G.O.O.D. Music release, and (finally!) the invention of magic.

BEST TV SHOW 1. South Park 2. The Mentalist 3. The Simpsons 4. Archer 5. Tosh 2.0

BEST MOVIE 1. Paul Kelly: Stories Of Me 2. On The Road 3. Lawless 4. Searching For Sugar Man 5. Safety Not Guaranteed

2012 HIGHLIGHT Weezer cruise. Dig It Up! in Sydney. Royal Headache in a Brisbane boxing ring. Good music and good times!

2013 PREDICTION St Kilda to win the flag. Archers Of Loaf to tour Australia (somebody please help!).

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Soul Of Melbourne VARIOUS LOCAL ARTISTS 2. Flavours Of The Luna MR MOONSHINE 3. Searching For Sugarman (soundtrack) RODRIGUEZ

SONG OF THE YEAR Kylie Auldist

Eric Ryan ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Still Life KYLIE AULDIST 2. The Heist MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 3. Leave It All Behind SASKWATCH 4. Medicine Man THE BAMBOOS 5. Channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 6. Uhuru Peak MOUNTAIN MOCHA KILIMANJARO 7. Haptics THE CACTUS CHANNEL 8. Infinity CHANCE WATERS 9. Prince Fatty Versus The Drunken Gambler PRINCE FATTY 10. Flume FLUME

1. Thrift Shop MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 2. Where Does The Time Go? THE BAMBOOS FEAT ALOE BLACC 3. Your Love SASKWATCH 4. Super Rich Kids FRANK OCEAN 5. Holdin On FLUME

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Kylie Auldist 2. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 3. Flume 4. Saskwatch 5. Frank Ocean

BEST WEBSITE 1. blackcaesarevents.com 2. juno.co.uk 3. soundwayrecords.com 4. soundcloud.com 5. facebook.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Prince

2. Gregory Porter 3. Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane 4. Omar 5. Gotye

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Kylie Auldist 2. Saskwatch 3. The Cactus Channel 4. Psyde Projects 5. Electric Empire

BEST MOVIE 1. Ted 2. Project X 3. Frankenweenie 4. Chronicle 5. The Avengers

2012 HIGHLIGHT Seeing the Melbourne funk and soul scene continue to expand. In case you haven’t caught on, Melbourne owns it!!!

2013 PREDICTION Black Caesar breakin’ out, yo!

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Izzy Tolhurst

1. Twerps 2. Ainslie Wills 3. Michael Kiwanuka 4. No Zu (Nicholaas Oogjes) 5. Courtney Barnett

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 2. Fear Fun FATHER JOHN MISTY 3. Visions GRIMES 4. Flume FLUME 5. A Is For Alpine ALPINE 6. Django Django DJANGO DJANGO 7. Like A Thief ART OF SLEEPING 8. A Different Ship HERE WE GO MAGIC 9. Carry On WILLY MASON

BEST TV SHOW

1. Darkness LEONARD COHEN 2. Ride LANA DEL REY 3. All Day GIRL TALK 4. Mangle Trang JONATHAN BOULET 5. Eject PLUTO JONZE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Amon Tobin 2. Swans 3. Neurosis 4. Dead Can Dance 5. Azealia Banks

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Amon Tobin 2. Radiohead 3. Sigur Ros 4. Prince 5. Spiritualized

1. Louie 2. Game Of Thrones 3. Sherlock 4. Doctor Who 5. The Office (US)

BEST MOVIE 1. Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present 2. Café de Flore 3. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 4. The Skin I Live In 5. The Master

2012 HIGHLIGHT Riverfire erupting over Nero’s set at Parklife.

2013 PREDICTION Azealia Banks and The A-Team both take over the world.

SONG OF THE YEAR

Johnathan Boulet

Jessie Hunt ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. We Keep The Beat Found The Sound See The Need Start The Heart JONATHAN BOULET 2. Ill Manor PLAN B 3. Manifest! FRIENDS 4. Sweet Sour BAND OF SKULLS 5. The May King & His Paper Crown DRAWN FROM BEES 6. Hunter Gathered KIKUYU 7. Up All Night FRENCH HORN REBELLION 8. Hillin’ LOVEPARK 9. Ubey Seksista PUSSY RIOT 10. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Apocalypse Dreams TAME IMPALA 2. Fade HOLLY HERNDON 3. Bad Girls MIA 4. Liquorice AZEALIA BANKS 5. Dollar Chillz DZ DEATHRAYS

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tame Impala 2. Azealia Banks 3. Diplo 4. Grimes 5. Lana Del Rey

BEST WEBSITE 1. pitchfork.com 2. thefourohfive.com 3. tonedeaf.com.au 4. bandcamp.com 5. soundcloud.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Radiohead

BEST TV SHOW 1. Louie 2. Workaholics 3. 30 Rock 4. Wilfred 5. The Daily Show

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. Skyfall 3. The Avengers 4. Savages 5. The Master

2012 HIGHLIGHT Tame Impala taking over the world with Lonerism.

2013 PREDICTION Not sure. The future is cloudy.

1. Leonard Cohen 2. Death Cab For Cutie 3. Jonathan Boulet 4. Plan B 5. MIA

BEST WEBSITE 1. vice.com 2. history-is-made-at-night. blogspot.com.au 3. illegal-art.net/home 4. hipsterrunoff.com 5. aljazeera.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Lana Del Rey 2. Death Cab For Cutie 3. Jack White

1. Triple J: Like A Version Volume 8 VARIOUS 2. Bon Iver: Stems Project BON IVER 3. Live At The Bowl ‘68 THE DOORS

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes 2. The Exploders 3. Pond 4. The Growl 5. Nadeah

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

2. Erykah Badu 3. Lady Gaga 4. Shellac 5. Santigold

Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes

1. Twerps 2. Alpine 3. Chet Faker 4. Ainslie Wills 5. Vance Joy

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Boardwalk Empire 3. Girls 4. The Killing (Danish edition) 5. Go Back to Where You Came From

BEST MOVIE 1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. The Descendants 3. We Need To Talk About Kevin 4. The Dark Knight Rises 5. Shame

2012 HIGHLIGHT Emergence of a truly, but understated sound of Melbourne.

2013 PREDICTION The valiant and overdue return of soul!

writers’ poll 2012 1. The Velvet Underground & Nico THE VELVET UNDERGROUND 2. Bikini Kill EP BIKINI KILL 3. Re-issues NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

1. wikipedia.org 2. frieze.com 3. neurotrecordings.com 4. thepiratebay.se 5. youtube.com

1. Bad Girls – The Remixes MIA 2. Road Kill Vol 2 HIT + RUN 3. Western Schism NEW WEIRD AUSTRALIA

1. Chic 2. Alt-J

1. The Necks 2. Lawrence Enlgish & Scott Morrison 3. The Presets 4. Decibel & Joel Stern 5. Gypsy & The Cat

BEST WEBSITE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. 1991 AZEALIA BANKS 2. Blue Lines MASSIVE ATTACK 3. Distortions EKTOISE

1. The Seer SWANS 2. Honor Found In Decay NEUROSIS 3. Anastasis DEAD CAN DANCE 4. Valtari SIGUR ROS 5. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 6. Storm Corrosion STORM CORROSION 7. Stunt Rhythms TWO FINGERS 8. Coexist THE XX 9. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 10. Koloss MESHUGGAH

1. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. Totem RYAT 3. Gem US GIRLS 4. Strange Mercy ST VINCENT 5. Movement HOLLY HERNDON 6. Visions GRIMES 7. Put Your Back N2 It PERFUME GENIUS 8. Melody’s Echo Chamber MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER 9. Endless Flowers CROCODILES 10. Reign Of Terror SLEIGH BELLS

1. stereogum.com 2. mmf.com.au 3. thevine.com.au 4. pedestrian.tv 5. facebook.com

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST WEBSITE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. My Heart for Deliverance NEUROSIS 2. 212 AZEALIA BANKS 3. Default ATOMS FOR PEACE 4. Disparate Youth SANTIGOLD 5. Straight Sun ORBITAL

Kosta Lucas

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR

Jake Sun

1. The Dark Knight Rises Soundtrack HANS ZIMMER 2. Seven Psychopaths (soundtrack) VARIOUS 3. Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations…VARIOUS 1. Breezeblocks ALT-J 2. Oblivion GRIMES 3. Sleepless feat Jezzabell Doran FLUME 4. The Keepers SANTIGOLD

Alt J pic by Tori Pepper

writers’ poll 2012

Gypsy And The Cat pic by Mat Lee

3. No Zu 4. Electric Guest

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. American Dad 3. Big Bang Theory 4. Family Guy 5. Entourage

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR

British India pic by Mat Lee

Madeleine O’Gorman ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 2. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 3. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 4. Hollow GRAVEYARD TRAIN 5. ƒIN JOHN TALABOT 6. Coexist THE XX 7. Until The Quiet Comes FLYING LOTUS 8. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS 9. Sunshine & Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND 10. Homewrecker LITTLE HURRICANE

1. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards TAME IMPALA 2. Gold On The Ceiling THE BLACK KEYS 3. Breezeblocks ALT-J 4. One Foot In The Grave GRAVEYARD TRAIN 5. Yet Again GRIZZLY BEAR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Gotye 2. Radiohead 3. Tame Impala 4. Mumford & Sons 5. Twerps

BEST WEBSITE 1. spotify.com 2. youtube.com 3. twitter.com 4. facebook.com 5. themusic.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Radiohead 2. Tame Impala

4. Jape 5. Friends

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Jonathan Boulet 2. Pluto Jonze 3. Baba Ghanouj 4. Deer Republic 5. Step-Panther

BEST TV SHOW 1. Girls 2. The Simpsons 3. Foreign Correspondent 4. Wife Swap USA 5. Modern Family

BEST MOVIE 1. The Invisible War 2. The House I Live In 4. Violeta Went To Heaven 5. Argo

2012 HIGHLIGHT #slutwave 4eva – how awesome is it to, lyk, have the freedom to exploit yourself.

2013 PREDICTION Julian Assange and Pussy Riot will collaborate on a track called A Prison That I Used To Know; Obama will produce their album, to mild commercial success. 3. Jungle Giants 4. British India 5. Mumford & Sons

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Gotye 2. Chet Faker 3. DZ Deathrays 4. Twerps 5. Tame Impala

BEST TV SHOW 1. Rage 2. The 7pm Project 3. Offspring 4. Australian Story 5. Puberty Blues

BEST MOVIE 1. Searching For Sugar Man 2. Looper 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. The Hunger Games 5. Moonrise Kingdom

2012 HIGHLIGHT Watching Thom Yorke dance to Idioteque during the Melbourne Radiohead show. Legend!

2013 PREDICTION I see more Aussie acts leaving a massive footprint overseas. Oh, and I wouldn’t mind dusting off the old keyboard too.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Royalty CHILDISH GAMBINO 2. In My Element P-LINK 3. Ghost In The Machine Mixtape GREY GHOST

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Rattling The Keys To The Kingdom HILLTOP HOODS 2. The Evolution Machine DEF WISH CAST 3. Don Dada SKY’HIGH 4. Where Was You (When The Dead Come Walkin’)? SETH SENTRY 5. Cold Front URTHBOY

Hilltop Hoods pic by Josh Groom

Aleksia Barron

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Smokey’s Haunt URTHBOY 2. Drinking From The Sun HILLTOP HOODS 3. Life Is Good NAS 4. HyperParadise HERMITUDE 5. The Evolution Machine DEF WISH CAST 6. Forever Sky’High SKY’HIGH 7. good kid, m.A.A.d city KENDRICK LAMAR 8. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES 9. This Was Tomorrow SETH SENTRY 10. Concrete Slang TORNTS

1. Urthboy 2. Kendrick Lamar 3. Hermitude 4. Hilltop Hoods 5. Maundz

BEST WEBSITE

1. Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions BILLY BRAGG & WILCO 2. Quiet Heart: The Best Of The Go-Betweens THE GO-BETWEENS 3. A Different Kind of Blues VARIOUS

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Hilltop Hoods 2. Thundamentals 3. Rainman 4. The Herd 5. Grey Ghost

BEST TV SHOW 1. Community 2. Mad Men 3. Homeland 4. Game Of Thrones 5. Breaking Bad

BEST MOVIE 1. The Muppets 2. The Avengers 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. Looper 5. Cabin In The Woods

1. twitter.com 2. vulture.com 3. facebook.com 4. xojane.com 5. soundcloud.com

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

2013 PREDICTION

1. Kanye West 2. Flight Of The Conchords

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

3. Radiohead 4. Metric 5. David Dallas

Melbourne theatre. Movies schmovies – the stage is where it’s at. The Fremantle Dockers will win their first premiership! Man, I’m gonna regret writing that, huh?

SONG OF THE YEAR

Dan Condon

1. abc.net.au/news/thedrum 2. dailykos.com 3. crikey.com.au 4. xlr8r.com 5. boomkat.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE The Mountain Goats

Sky Kirkham ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Trilogy THE WEEKND 2. Silfra HILARY HAHN & HAUSCHKA 3. Total Loss HOW TO DRESS WELL 4. Digressions GREG HAINES 5. Shrines PURITY RING 6. Patience (After Sebald) THE CARETAKER 7. Vacation SHLOHMO 8. Held HOLY OTHER 9. For My Parents MONO 10. Tramp SHARON VAN ETTEN

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. We Were Exploding Anyway 65DAYSOFSTATIC 2. Transcendentalism EP DUSTIN O’HALLORAN, HAUSCHKA & JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON 3. Black Sands Remixed BONOBO

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Pyramids FRANK OCEAN 2. Belispeak PURITY RING 3. Cold Nites HOW TO DRESS WELL 4. Crew Love (Shlohmo Remix) DRAKE 5. Give Out SHARON VAN ETTEN

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The Weeknd 2. Shlohmo 3. How To Dress Well 4. Hauschka 5. Sigur Ros

1. Locked Down DR JOHN 2. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 3. Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 4. OFF! OFF! 5. The World Warriors VELOCIRAPTOR 6. Americana NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE 7. Old Ideas LEONARD COHEN 8. The Tempest BOB DYLAN 9. Open Your Heart THE MEN 10. Plays Fats LIL BAND O’ GOLD

Tom Birts ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Cancer 4 Cure EL-P 2. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS 3. Skelethon AESOP ROCK 4. Good Kid M.A.A.D City KENDRICK LAMAR 5. Dillatroit J DILLA 6. Ill Manors PLAN B 7. Diver LEMONADE 8. Stay Frosty EMPERORS 9. The Man With The Iron Fists OST VARIOUS ARTISTS 10. Key To The Kuffs JJ DOOM

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Robin Fox 2. Heirs 3. Hazards of Swimming Naked 4. Ghost Notes 5. Laura

BEST MOVIE 1. Martha Marcy May Marlene 2. The Master 3. The Raid 4. Once Upon A Time in Anatolia 5. Moonrise Kingdom

2012 HIGHLIGHT Interviewing Richard Holloway.

2013 PREDICTION More and increasingly ridiculous genre titles.

1. Prince 2. Azealia Banks 3. Jeremy Neale 4. Neil Young & Crazy Horse 5. DZ Deathrays

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. twitter.com 3. bonappetit.com 4. theroar.com.au 5. slate.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Andy Hazel ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Europe ALLO DARLIN 2. Bish Bosch SCOTT WALKER 3. Love Is The Plan, The Plan Is Death JAMES BLACKSHAW 4. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 5. Double Natural BOOMGATES 6. Instrumental Mixtape 2 CLAMS CASINO 7. Sweet Heart Sweet Light SPIRITUALIZED 8. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 9. I Know What Love Isn’t JENS LEKMAN 10. Palace Laundry RYAN STERLING

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Pasted Youth CLAG 2. Dreamin’ Wild DONNIE AND JOE EMERSON 3. Bastards BJÖRK

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Kindred BURIAL 2. The Kids Were Wrong MEMORYHOUSE 3. Europe ALLO DARLIN 4. D-Minus STEP-PANTHER 5. I’m The Worst CATSUIT

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Twerps 2. Tully On Tully 3. Alpine 4. Boomgates 5. The Spinning Rooms

BEST WEBSITE 1. app.search.lib.unimelb.edu.au 2. messandnoise.com 3. soundcloud.com 4. icheckmovies.com 5. guardian.co.uk

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Prince 2. Los Campesinos! 3. Taylor Swift 4. Aphex Twin 5. Charles Bradley

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Lowtide 2. Twerps

4. Flight Of The Conchords 5. Efren Ramirez

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Graceland (Re-Issue) PAUL SIMON 2. Liquid Swords (Re-Issue) GZA 3. I Wish My Brother George Was Here (Re-Issue) DEL THA FUNKEE HOMOSAPIEN

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Parklive BLUR 2. Dexter Season Six Soundtrack VARIOUS 3. Summer Heights High Official Soundtrack: The Collectors Edition VARIOUS

1. The Full Retard EL-P 2. Cycles To Gehenna AESOP ROCK 3. Teeth BANG ON! 4. Younger Us JAPANDROIDS 5. Eye Drops LEMONADE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. El-P 2. Emperors 3. Kendrick Lamar 4. RZA 5. Danny Brown

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. twitter.com 3. youtube.com 4. dailymash.co.uk 5. thepoke.co.uk

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Mumford & Sons 2. The Pharcyde 3. Atmosphere

1. The Beautiful Girls 2. Voltaire Twins 3. Adam Crook 4. Rob Shaker 5. Emperors

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW 1. Game Of Thrones 2. Breaking Bad 3. Louis Theroux 4. Dexter 5. The Thick Of It

BEST MOVIE 1. Prometheus 2. Marley 3. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close 4. The Hunter 5. Bully

2012 HIGHLIGHT New music from incredible artists who have been around for 15-20 years – DOOM, Aesop Rock, El-P.

2013 PREDICTION Hip Hop Renaissance – Danny Bown, Kendrick Lamar et al.

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Dirty Three 2. Icehouse 3. Regurgitator 4. DZ Deathrays 5. Cold Chisel

BEST TV SHOW 1. Louis 2. Parks And Recreation 3. The Office 4. Cash Cowboys 5. Fox Sports News

BEST MOVIE 1. Searching For Sugar Man 2. Stories Of Me 3. Katy Perry: Part Of Me 4. Tower Heist 5. I only saw four films this year. Two sucked.

2012 HIGHLIGHT Prince performing a blistering after-show set at The Hi-Fi after his first Brisbane show.

2013 PREDICTION I will start a new dance craze that sweeps the nation.

writers’ poll 2012

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR

Mumford & Sons pic by Heidi Takla

1. Sigur Ros 2. Xiu Xiu 3. The Mountain Goats 4. oOoOO 5. Mount Kimbie

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

writers’ poll 2012 BEST WEBSITE

1. Call Me Maybe CARLY RAE JEPSEN 2. Tinderbox VIOLENT SOHO 3. Comeback Kid SLEIGH BELLS 4. Participant No. 91 THE GOOCH PALMS 5. Six Directions Of Boxing WU-TANG CLAN

DZ Deathrays pic by Graham Clark

1. Prince 2. The Pogues 3. Chic 4. Endless Boogie 5. Refused

Ball Park Music

Tyler McLoughlan ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Sun CAT POWER 2. The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy NADA SURF 3. Koi No Yokan DEFTONES 4. II BAD BOOKS 5. The Lion’s Roar FIRST AID KIT 6. Swing Lo Magellan DIRTY PROJECTORS 7. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 8. Museum BALL PARK MUSIC 9. Attack On Memory CLOUD NOTHINGS 10. Bloodstreams DZ DEATHRAYS

1. Lost FRANK OCEAN 2. Clair De Lune FLIGHT FACILITIES 3. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings FATHER JOHN MISTY 4. Dance Bear SNAKADAKTAL 5. Genesis GRIMES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Nada Surf 2. Ball Park Music 3. DZ Deathrays 4. Kimbra 5. Grimes

BEST WEBSITE 1. 9gag.com 2. rdio.com 3. evernote.com 4. rcrdlbl.com 5. artfacts.australiacouncil.gov.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Nada Surf 2. The Afghan Whigs

3. Lost Animal 4. Kinch Kinski 5. Brous

BEST TV SHOW 1. Sherlock 2. Media Watch 3. Game of Thrones 4. The Adventures Of Gumball 5. Suits

BEST MOVIE 1. The Perks of Being A Wallflower 2. A Separation 3. A Royal Affair 4. Seven Psychopaths 5. Skyfall

2012 HIGHLIGHT Too many highlights to name, but Chapter Music’s 20th Birthday festival was an encapsulation of most of the musical ones.

2013 PREDICTION More brilliant local music and more Australians to be totally ignorant of how privileged we are and how good it is. 3. Manchester Orchestra 4. dEUS 5. First Aid Kit

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Ball Park Music 2. The Fauves 3. Adalita 4. DZ Deathrays 5. Velociraptor

BEST TV SHOW 1. Girls 2. Problems 3. Dexter 4. Breaking Bad 5. Homeland

BEST MOVIE 1. Weekend 2. Lore 3. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 4. Ted 5. The Hunger Games

2012 HIGHLIGHT Nada Surf’s Spiegeltent performance and frontman Matthew Caws’ mindblowing acoustic requestsesh afterwards.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Cut The World ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS 2. Lost Tapes Box Set CAN 3. Shuffle & Scrape: A Tribute To Blueline Medic VARIOUS

1. Bored Nothing 2. Gooch Palms 3. The Peep Tempel 4. Sarah Mary Chadwick 5. Nikko

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Bad Religion FRANK OCEAN 2. I Knew You Were Trouble TAYLOR SWIFT 3. WIIW KIRIN J CALLINAN 4. On My Own CATCALL 5. Backseat Freestyle KENDRICK LAMAR

Bored Nothing

Adam Curley

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Low Lights DEEP HEAT 2. Eating For Two SARAH MARY CHADWICK 3. Bored Nothing BORED NOTHING 4. The Peep Tempel THE PEEP TEMPEL 5. Burning Boy JOE MCKEE 6. Gold & Red NIKKO 7. New War NEW WAR 8. Life NO ZU 9. channel ORANGE FRANK OCEAN 10. Sounds Of Our City EMMA RUSSACK

1. Frank Ocean 2. NO ZU 3. Grimes 4. Forces 5. The Peep Tempel

BEST WEBSITE 1. sethbogartisnaked.tumblr.com 2. bedroomsuckrecords.com 3. newyorker.com 4. nopantsnopants.com 5. collapseboard.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Antony & The Johnsons

BEST TV SHOW 1. Homeland 2. Girls 3. The Great Food Truck Race 4. 30 Rock 5. 1000 Ways To Die

BEST MOVIE 1. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 2. On The Road 3. Shame 4. Martha Marcy May Marlene 5. Wish You Were Here

2012 HIGHLIGHT Sincerity and camp making sweet love.

2013 PREDICTION More midlevel indie labels giving us psudo-feminist sexy times and claiming they don’t know what they’re doing.

Guido Farnell ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Bloom BEACH HOUSE 2. Shrines PURITY RING 3. World Music GOAT 4. Kill For Love CHROMATICS 5. Ekstasis JULIA HOLTER 6. One Second Of Love NITE JEWEL 7. The Return Of Love WOOLFY VS PROJECTIONS 8. Circles MOON DUO 9. Heavy Electrics EAT LIGHTS BECOME LIGHTS 10. Endless Flowers CROCODILES

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. EPs & Rarities 1988 - 1991 MY BLOODY VALENTINE 2. The Velvet Underground & Nico THE VELVET UNDERGROUND 3. We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head SWANS

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Little Girl SPIRITUALIZED

writers’ poll 2012

Jason Kenny

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE 2. Melody’s Echo Chamber MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER 3. Tempest BOB DYLAN 4. Sun CAT POWER 5. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 6. Tramp SHARON VAN ETTEN 7. Close As A Slow Dance WASP SUMMER 8. Roman Roads IV-XI LAND OBSERVATIONS 9. Burning Boy JOE MCKEE 10. Out Of The Game RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

1. Beach House 2. Grimes 3. Purity Ring 4. Julia Holter 5. Bat For Lashes

BEST WEBSITE 1. themusic.com.au 2. freepussyriot.org 3. vice.com 4. iwastesomuchtime.com 5. yyyyyyy.info

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Mark Lanegan 2. Antony & The Johnsons 3. Erykah Badu 4. The Specials 5. Goblin

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Live After Deaf RYAN ADAMS 2. Live In New York Gaslight Cafe 1961 BOB DYLAN 3. Celebration Day LED ZEPPELIN

1. Joe McKee 2. Saskia Sansom 3. Wasp Summer 4. Tammy Ingram 5. Dorothy Of The Day

1. The Sapphires Original Motion Picture Soundtrack VARIOUS 2. Rock Of Ages Original Motion Picture Soundtrack VARIOUS 3. Covered MACY GRAY

1. Hell Broke Luce TOM WAITS 2. Default ATOMS OF PEACE 3. I’m Shakin’ JACK WHITE 4. Karmageddon ABBE MAY 5. Bad Religion FRANK OCEAN

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Jack White 2. Thom Yorke 3. Sharon van Etten 4. St. Vincent 5. Kevin Parker

BEST WEBSITE 1. freemusicarchive.org 2. archive.org 3. facebook.com 4. imdb.com 5. reddit.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Bob Dylan 2. Sharon van Etten 3. Soley 4. Candice Gordon 5. Liars

BEST MOVIE 1. Lincoln 2. Argo 3. To Rome With Love 4. Moonrise Kingdom 5. Big Easy Express

2012 HIGHLIGHT Finally releasing my own record, and playing European shows.

2013 PREDICTION New records from Thom Yorke, Nick Cave and The Strokes will bring joy to the people, and inspire goodwill everywhere.

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

4. Nasum 5. The Ghost Inside

1. Transitions DAIGHILA 2. Zero Distance DARK TRANQUILLITY 3. Split COILGUNS/NVRVD

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

Lochlan Watt

1. Forced Gender Reassignment CATTLE DECAPITATION 2. Reign Of Darkness THY ART IS MURDER 3. Rebel Without A Cause PALM 4. Fuck Today ENABLER 5. For Everyone THE SHANTOSO

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. Death Is The Only Mortal THE ACACIA STRAIN 2. Hate THY ART IS MURDER 3. IIII: The Alpha The Omega THE TONY DANZA TAPDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA 4. All Hail The Void ENABLER 5. Atlas PARKWAY DRIVE 6. You, Me & The Violence BIRDS IN ROW 7. My Darkest Friends PALM 8. The Inherited Repression PSYCROPTIC 9. Get What You Give THE GHOST INSIDE 10. Monolith of Inhumanity CATTLE DECAPITATION

1. Night Hag 2. Palm 3. Daighila 4. City Of Ships 5. Psycroptic

BEST WEBSITE 1. jetstar.com 2. facebook.com 3. bandcamp.com 4. noistheory.org 5. wordpress.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Refused 2. At The Gates 3. Rosetta

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW 1. 30 Rock 2. The Daily Show 3. Colbert Report 4. Futurama 5. Breaking Bad

Elton John pic by Jay Hynes

Liz Giuffre ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Out Of The Game RUFUS WAINWRIGHT 2. Love Songs KRYSTLE WARREN 3. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 4. I Awake SARAH BLASKO 5. The Winter I Chose Happiness CLARE BOWDITCH 6. Rogers sings Rogerstein TIM ROGERS 7. The Rubens THE RUBENS 8. Pacifica THE PRESETS 9. Deep Heat OH MERCY 10. Kiss CARLY RAE JEPSEN

1. Parkway Drive - Home Is For The Heartless

2012 HIGHLIGHT Touring Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan with my band, Nuclear Summer. Also, obtaining my dream job with triple j.

2013 PREDICTION At The Gates will finally release a brand new album, Scott Vogel will demand more stage dives, and metal fans will continue to argue about sub-genres.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tame Impala 2. Rufus Wainwright 3. Kystle Warren 4. Radiohead 5. Beck

BEST WEBSITE 1. google.com 2. youtube.com 3. facebook.com 4. twitter.com 5. abc.net.au/iview

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Rufus Wainwright 2. Radiohead

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST TV SHOW

BEST MOVIE

1. Gangnam Style PSY 2. Elephant TAME IMPALA 3. She Wolf (Falling to Pieces) DAVID GUETTA FEAT. SIA 4. Call Me Maybe CARLY RAE JEPSEN 5. Hold On ALABAMA SHAKES

1. The Velvet Underground & Nico: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition THE VELVET UNDERGROUND 2. Triple J Like A Version Volume 8 VARIOUS 3. Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness SMASHING PUMPKINS

1. We Lost The Sea 2. King Parrot 3. Totally Unicorn 4. Waiting Room 5. Aversions Crown

1. South Park 2. Breaking Bad 3. Sunrise 4. A Current Affair 5. Today Tonight

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Pond 2. The Bombay Royale 3. The Bamboos 4. Dirty Three 5. Ned Collette

BEST TV SHOW 1. My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding 2. I Will Survive 3. Brynne 4. Hoarders 5. Undercover Princes

BEST MOVIE 1. No 2. The Master 3. Reality 4. Elefante Blanco 5. 7 Days In Havana

2012 HIGHLIGHT Whether it was chilling at Golden Plains or getting blind at The Pogues gig, all the great music that 2012 brought was the highlight of this year.

2013 PREDICTION Kate Middleton will have a baby and it seems that there will be a Federal election too.

writers’ poll 2012

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

SONG OF THE YEAR Psycroptic

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR Melody’s Echo Chamber

2. Crossing (Andrew Weatherall Remix) WOODEN SHJIPS 3. Cochon Ville (Dimitri From Paris Erodiscomix) SEBASTIEN TELLIER 4. Party Pill In India (Psychemagik Remix) THE TIME & SPACE MACHINE 5. Kindred BURIAL

Boy & Bear pic by Elle Borgward

Marcia Czerniak ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Coexist THE XX 2. Valtari SIGUR ROS 3. An Awesome Wave ALT-J 4. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 5. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 6. Port of Morrow THE SHINS 7. Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS 8. My Head Is An Animal OF MONSTERS AND MEN 9. Museum BALL PARK MUSIC 10. The Rubens THE RUBENS

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Angels THE XX 2. Breezeblocks ALT-J 3. Yet Again GRIZZLY BEAR 4. Hold On ALABAMA SHAKES 5. Little Talks OF MONSTERS AND MEN

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The xx 2. Alt-J 3. Tame Impala 4. The Rubens 5. The Shins

BEST WEBSITE 1. facebook.com 2. etsy.com 3. google.com.au 4. spotify.com 5. themusic.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Bon Iver 2. Sigur Ros

3. Elton John 4. Macy Grey 5. Rick Astley

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Tim Rogers 2. Pajama Club 3. Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses 4. Kylie Minogue 5. The Rubens

BEST TV SHOW 1. 30 Rock 2. Community 3. Doctor Who 4. The Soup 5. Chatty Man with Alan Carr

BEST MOVIE 1. The Sapphires 2. Brave 3. The Avengers 4. Rock Of Ages 5. Friends With Kids

2012 HIGHLIGHT Julia Gillard smacking Tony Abbott down in parliament.

2013 PREDICTION Following the end of the world my crystal ball’s a little foggy and hard to read. 3. Fleet Foxes 4. Cults 5. Laura Marling

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Boy & Bear 2. The Grates 3. The Rubens 4. Ball Park Music 5. Split Seconds

BEST TV SHOW 1. Game Of Thrones 2. Dexter 3. Gossip Girl 4. Boardwalk Empire 5. Masterchef

BEST MOVIE 1. The First Grader 2. Seven Psychopaths 3. A Separation 4. The Sapphires 5. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

2012 HIGHLIGHT Seeing Bon Iver at Red Hill… Words can not really explain how good this show was.

2013 PREDICTION The world is going to go royal baby crazy… God help us all.

Dominique Wall ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Immigrant Union IMMIGRANT UNION 2. In Hindsight HUNTING GROUNDS 3. This Machine THE DANDY WARHOLS 4. By The Horns JULIA STONE 5. Between The Times And The Tides LEE RANALDO 6. Coexist THE XX 7. The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES 8. Standing At The Sky’s Edge RICHARD HAWLEY 9. Cutthroats And Conjurers SONS OF LEE MARVIN 10. To The Dollhouse MELODIE NELSON

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

& Nico THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO

4. The Dandy Warhols 5. Kaiser Chiefs

SONG OF THE YEAR

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. R U Mine ARCTIC MONKEYS 2. Mexico THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS 3. Martha MELODIE NELSON 4. Bottom Of The Barrel THE RECHORDS 5. Let’s Forget All The Things That We Say JULIA STONE

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Immigrant Union 2. The ReChords 3. Mikelangelo & The Tin Star 4. Arctic Monkeys 5. Husky

BEST WEBSITE

BEST TV SHOW 1. Horrible Histories 2. Archer 3. Bob’s Burgers 4. Supernatural 5. Adventure Time

BEST MOVIE 1. Skyfall 2. Sightseers 3. Frankenweenie

1. tumblr.com 2. facebook.com 3. etsy.com 4. twitter.com 5. youtube.com

2012 HIGHLIGHT

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Loveless MY BLOODY VALENTINE 2. Going Blank Again RIDE 3. The Velvet Underground

1. Immigrant Union 2. The ReChords 3. Mikelangelo & The Tin Star 4. Julia Stone 5. Angus Stone

1. Nekromantix 2. Arctic Monkeys 3. Lee Ranaldo

The Immigrant Union and Zia McCabe gig at The Tote. Simply awesome.

2013 PREDICTION Another brilliant album from Immigrant Union.

2. Mumford & Sons 3. Sigur Ros 4. Dandy Warhols 5. Ben Folds Five

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE Cake pic by Angela Padovan

Katherine Edmonds ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Blunderbuss JACK WHITE 2. Lonerism TAME IMPALA 3. Babel MUMFORD & SONS 4. Bless This Mess LISA MITCHELL 5. Shields GRIZZLY BEAR 6. Broken Brights ANGUS STONE 7. Foundations THE MEDICS 8. Tempest BOB DYLAN 9. The Idler Wheel... FIONA APPLE 10. Lex Hives THE HIVES

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Celebration Day LED ZEPPELIN 2. Live At River Plate AC/DC 3. The Hellcat Years JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS

writers’ poll 2012 Nic Toupee ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Weltraum COSMIC HOFFMANN 2. Quarter Turns Over A Living Line RAIME 3. Permission To Speak, Sir REGIS 4. Worship A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS 5. Zeros THE SOFT MOON 6. Transverse CARTER TUTTI VOID 7. Labour Division FORWARD STRATEGY GROUP

8. Music For The Quiet Hour SHACKLETON 9. The Shape of Things JOHN FOXX AND THE MATHS 10. Negative Fascination SILENT SERVANT

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. Surgeon Live At Berghain 2012 VARIOUS 2. Distant Noises VARIOUS 3. Death Disco 2 VARIOUS

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Black Mamba CUT HANDS

2. Node 3 THE EXALTICS 3. No Comment 005 DER ZYKLUS 4. Gangnam Style PSY 5. Preretinal RROSE

SONG OF THE YEAR 1. Elephant TAME IMPALA 2. Babel MUMFORD & SONS 3. Sixteen Saltines JACK WHITE 4. Hold On ALABAMA SHAKES 5. Spiritus LISA MITCHELL

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The Medics 2. Gotye 3. Jack White 4. Tame Impala 5. Mumford & Sons

BEST WEBSITE 1. imgur.com 2. reddit.com 3. pedestrian.tv 4. fellt.com 5. themusic.com.au

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Cake

3. beanhunter.com 4. theelectricityclub.com 5. thequietus.com

3. Panoptique Electrical 4. Dirty Three 5. The Church

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST TV SHOW

1. Amon Tobin 2. Devo 3. Cannibal Corpse 4. Adam & The Ants 5. Simple Minds

BEST WEBSITE

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

BEST MOVIE

1. hardwax.com 2. discogs.com

1. Laura 2. Clan Analogue Live

1. Surgeon 2. Silent Servant 3. Shackleton 4. Savages 5. Raime

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. American Horror Story 3. Louie 4. Offspring 5. Mad Men

BEST MOVIE 1. The Dark Knight Rises 2. The Sapphires 3. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 4. Moonrise Kingdom 5. The Avengers

2012 HIGHLIGHT Ben Folds Five performing Brick live at Sydney Harvest.

2013 PREDICTION Some really amazing live performances (Iggy Pop and Nick Cave, in particular).

writers’ poll 2012 1. Secrets Of Ancient Rome 2. History Of The World 3. The Vikings 4. Sherlock 5. The Killing 3

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. The Medics 2. Juke Baritone 3. Ball Park Music 4. Bleeding Knees Club 5. Graveyard Train

1. This Is Not A Film 2. Holy Motors

3. Iron Sky 4. Skyfall 5. The Hobbit

2012 HIGHLIGHT Simple Minds 5x5 show, Manchester. The Soft Moon, Stockholm, Alien Sex Fiend, Whitby

2013 PREDICTION Amazing bands making no money. The death of beard culture. More tweed.

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N I W

R A E G H C E T I G O L ! F S T O E H K C C I N T U L B A FESTIVA AND

Every year the Street Press Australia editors and journalists have their say on the year past – this year we want you to do the same in our annual readers’ poll. We’re calling on you to vote for your favourite albums, shows and artists of 2012. And, as if you needed any more reason to talk about your opinions on music, you can win a logitech pack just for submitting your entry! As well as that, we’ve got a bunch of festival tickets to giveaway.

THE READERS’ POLL CLOSES SUNDAY 13 JANUARY

headtothemusic.com.au/readerspoll2012 toenter

BEST COMEDIAN

2012: The Year To Delve his year in arts there were earth-shattering highs (Moonrise Kingdom) and devastating lows (Moonshadow, the Cat Stevens musical disaster). It turns out the moon does have two faces. Okay, so maybe that’s a bit dramatic but this is arts. Bring on the drama.

This year’s annual Front Row Writers’ Poll saw Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom take out Best Film by a landslide of votes; it seems the left-of-centre young lovers warmed our hearts and, in turn, even sparked a Halloween costume trend of Sam and Suzy attire. The Cabin In The Woods also ranked highly; Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s film almost never got a release here but when it did was a massive, gory, hilarious hit. The Dark Knight Rises ended Christopher Nolan’s darker Batman trilogy and rounds off our top three. If you haven’t heard, comedians are the new rocks stars. This year we had some serious international tours hit our shores – from Tim & Eric and Jay & Silent Bob to Sarah Silverman and Aziz Ansari. But it was Englishman Tim FitzHigham’s show The Gambler that was preferred by Front Row contributors. This year in the TV domain, we did more than just watch the US Election speech. The second season of Game Of Thrones dominated as the top television show in the polls. Groups would congregate on Monday nights to watch/stream new episodes. Like The Sopranos but set in the middle-ages, GOT S2 had even more tits‘n’arse this time around and the heroes actually die. The final season of the Breaking Bad series

(part one) also ranked highly as did Lena Dunham’s breakout show Girls (produced by Judd Apatow) and the latest, everimproving season of Mad Men. The theatre world suffered a massive lose with the closing of Alison Croggon’s Theatre Notes, with theatre folk around town tweeting, status updating and meeting to commiserate this pillar of Australian theatre criticism. On stage, it was all about new Australian works and robot actors this year. Our writers’ favourites were spread across the country: He’s Seeing Other People Now was a clear favourite, just ahead of fellow popular Queensland productions Kelly and Tender Napalm. Also popular were Art Vs Robot (Melbourne), Blackbird (Perth) and the all-male production of Pirates Of Penzance (Sydney). Despite Australia losing another Banksy this year, there was lots of other art to be appreciated in its place – our contributors preferring Sydney’s Art & About festival along with MCA’s 24-hour installation The Clock. Cassandra Fumi

1. Daniel Kitson 2. Mark Watson 3. Sarah Silverman

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL Graphic Festival. I got to see Pixar footage not normally shown to members of the public, and a Dr Seuss exhibition.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS Seeing Geoffrey Rush performing Stephen Sondheim live.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Danielle O’Donohue BEST FILM 1. Looper 2. Beasts Of The Southern Wild 3. The Avengers 4. Brave 5. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

4. Redfern Now 5. Revenge

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION 1. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum 2. Mary Poppins 3. Private Lives 4. Sunday In The Park With George 5. Pirates Of Penzance

BEST ART EXHIBITION 1. Grace Kelly: Style Icon 2. Sculpture By The Sea 3. Dr Seuss at Graphic Festival 4. Shaun Gladwell at Broken Dance 5. The Clock at MCA

BEST TV SHOW 1. Game Of Thrones 2. Justified 3. Downton Abbey

writers’ poll 2012

QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Computer words are funny, like ‘Google’. What the fuck is a google? Just get a regular word.” Rapper DMX interviewed on US radio station Power 105.1.

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013 Sydney Theatre Company’s Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013 Bring musical The Book Of Mormon to Australia.

writers’ poll 2012

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL Midsumma 2012 was pretty kickass – some of the finest, most progressive theatre and cabaret I’ve ever had the good fortune to see.

FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST OR RADIO SHOW Not applicable. The best arts conversations happen in person, with wine.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS The Queen Lear backlash.

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

The Wild Duck

Aleksia Barron BEST FILM 1. The Muppets 2. The Avengers 3. The Dark Knight Rises 4. Looper 5. The Cabin In The Woods

BEST TV SHOW 1. Community 2. Mad Men 3. Homeland

4. Game Of Thrones 5. Breaking Bad

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION 1. The Wild Duck 2. Red 3. Britney Spears: The Cabaret 4. Robot Vs Art 5. Everynight, Everynight

Criss: “Liz, it’s okay to be a human woman!” Liz Lemon: “No, it’s not! It’s the worst, because of society!”

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013 Toby Schmitz and Tim Minchin in STC’s production of Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead.

BEST COMEDIAN

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013

1. Michael Workman 2. This Is Siberian Husky 3. Glenn Wool 4. The Blanks 5. John Robertson

More touring! Belvoir’s The Wild Duck and Death Of A Salesman were highlights, and it’d be great to see more productions coming to a wider audience.

Rhys Nicholson

Kate Kingsmill BEST FILM 1. Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap 2. This Ain’t California 3. The House I Live In 4. Broken 5. The Intouchables

2. Pompeii, LA

BEST ART EXHIBITION 1. New12 2. Egg launch show 3. Illustre 4. Vienna: Art & Design

BEST COMEDIAN 1. Rhys Nicholson 2. Tommy Little 3. Tom Gleeson

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL

1. Midsummer

Sydney Biennale, not just

because of the art, but the location is superb.

FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST OR RADIO SHOW SmartArts.

QUOTE OF THE YEAR “The high priest asked me what my name was, and I said, ‘Snoop Dogg.’ And he looked me in my eyes and said, ‘No more. You are the light; you are the lion.’” – Snoop Lion

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS The news of Disney buying Lucasfilm and announcing a further three Star Wars movies. Epoch-making news. I can’t wait to watch this unfold.

QUOTE OF THE YEAR A Trial Of Sorts

Baz McAlister BEST FILM Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Guy Davis BEST FILM 1. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 2. Killing Them Softly 3. Magic Mike 4. Hugo 5. John Carter

BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Workaholics

3. Sherlock 4. Game Of Thrones 5. Homeland

“Now fucking pay me” – Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), Killing Them Softly.

FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST OR RADIO SHOW

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013

The Hell Is For Hyphenates podcast.

The new Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS Hulk bodyslamming “puny god” Loki.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

Greater discernment all ‘round, people.

1. The Grey 2. The Cabin In The Woods 3. Killing Them Softly 4. Safety Not Guaranteed 5. Ted

BEST TV SHOW 1. Game Of Thrones 2. Breaking Bad 3. The Walking Dead 4. Homeland 5. Revolution

3. As You Like It 4. Tender Napalm 5. He’s Seeing Other People Now

BEST COMEDIAN 1. Daniel Kitson 2. Tim Key 3. Tim FitzHigham 4. Mark Thomas 5. Hannibal Buress

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL Melbourne International Comedy Festival. I did 23 shows in five days. It was amazing. Aiming to make it a yearly pilgrimage and top that record in 2013.

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION

FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST OR RADIO SHOW

1. A Tribute Of Sorts 2. Kelly

Adam & Joe (now Adam & Edith) on BBC6 Music.

Liam Neeson as Ottway in The Grey, to the heavens: “Do something! Do something! You phony prick fraudulent motherfucker! Do something! Come on! Prove it! Fuck faith! Earn it! Show me something real! I need it now, not later. Now! Show me and I’ll believe in you until the day I die. I swear. I’m calling on you. I’m calling on you! … Fuck it. I’ll do it myself.”

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013 Assuming we survive this December, I’m assuming Roland Emmerich will have no choice but to issue an apology for his rubbish Mayan calendar apocalypse movie 2012 in the new year.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013 Giving more original stories a voice, not just an endless cavalcade of tie-ins, adaptations, remakes and sequels.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS

3. Dave Williams 4. Anthony Salame 5. Genevieve Fricker

Swanlights – Antony

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

The Cabin In The Woods

Cassandra Fumi BEST FILM

1. The Cabin In The Woods 2. Moonrise Kingdom 3. God Bless America 4. Magic Mike 5. The Hunger Games

5. Doku Rai

BEST ART EXHIBITION 1. In A Lonely Place – Gregory Crewdson 2. Fall From Grace – Rone 3. Gertrude Street Projection Festival 4. Paradise – Antony

BEST COMEDIAN 1. Dr Brown 2. Felicity Ward 3. Aziz Ansari 4. Vachel Spirason 5. Tessa Waters

BEST TV SHOW 1. Girls 2. Louis Theroux: Twilight Of The Porn Stars 3. 56 Up 4. True Blood 5. Revenge

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION 1. The Wild Duck 2. Robot Vs Art 3. The Love Birds 4. The Unspoken Word Is ‘Joe’

The 18th Biennale Of Sydney on Cockatoo Island – an amazing venue.

“There’s no one at the wheel, Noel, there’s no one at the wheel!” – Noel Fielding to our writer Anthony Carew.

FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST OR RADIO SHOW 1. SmartArts 2. This American Life

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL

FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST OR RADIO SHOW

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013 Theatre: Murder, Laser Beak Man, Belvoir’s twopart Angels In America. Visual Art: Song Dong: Waste Not, Jim Campbell: Scattered Light and Yoko Ono at MCA. Film: The Hunger Games sequel and The Great Gatsby. TV: Girls Season Two.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013 With the closure of Alison Croggon’s Theatre Notes it’s important that we continue to have serious theatre criticism.

Next Wave.

Radio National Music Show.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS

Argo

Belvoir St Theatre’s production of Death Of A Salesman.

Jamelle Wells BEST FILM 1. Argo 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. The Sapphires 4. Zero Dark Thirty 5. Mental

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

1. Death Of A Salesman 2. Don’t Take Your Love To Town 3. Under Milk Wood 4. Never Did Me Any Harm 5. The Histrionic

From Gina Rinehart’s mining video: “Africans want to work and its workers are willing to work for less than $2 per day.”

BEST ART EXHIBITION 1. The 18th Biennale Of Sydney 2. Francis Bacon 3. Pablo Picasso 4. Archibald Prize 5. Art And About

BEST TV SHOW 1. The Bridge 2. Boardwalk Empire 3. Boss 4. Rake 5. House Husbands

writers’ poll 2012

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION

BEST COMEDIAN 1. Tim Minchin 2. Tom Ballard

All The Best.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS

Despite it occurring at the start of the year, Belvoir’s production of Thyestes. It’s still affecting 12 months on.

Wading through wheat kernels during Oraculos was pretty darn memorable.

Marcia Czerniak

2. Dexter 3. Gossip Girl 4. Boardwalk Empire 5. Breaking Bad

BEST FILM

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION

1. The First Grader 2. The Sapphires 3. Seven Psychopaths 4. A Separation 5. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

1. Oraculos 2. Raoul 3. It’s Dark Outside 4. Jack Charles V The Crown 5. Blackbird

BEST TV SHOW 1. Game Of Thrones

BEST COMEDIAN 1. Stephen K Amos 2. Josh Earl Vs The Australian

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013 Perth Festival 2013.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013 The gardens for Fringe Festival and Perth Festival stay open all year long and it somehow never rains over these areas.

QUOTE OF THE YEAR Moonrise Kingdom

Dave Drayton

2. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 3. The Simpsons 4. My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding 5. Community

BEST FILM

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION

1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. The Dark Knight Rises 3. Celeste And Jesse Forever 4. Bully 5. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

1. Thyestes 2. Babyteeth 3. Face To Face 4. Between Two Waves 5. Whelping Box

BEST TV SHOW

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL

1. Redfern Now

False Freedoms at Soldiers Rd.

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL

The New Yorker: Fiction.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS Regretfully, the success of 50 Shades Of Grey. It was everywhere.

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

Mandy McAlister BEST FILM 1. The Avengers 2. Argo 3. The Grey 4. Moonrise Kingdom 5. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

BEST TV SHOW 1. Game Of Thrones 2. The Walking Dead 3. Rake

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION 1. A Tribute Of Sorts 2. As You Like It 3. Tender Napalm 4. He’s Seeing Other People Now 5. Kelly

BEST COMEDIAN 1. Mark Thomas 2. Tim Key 3. Daniel Kitson 4. Tim FitzHigham 5. Hannah Gadsby

“I’m living in America, and in America you’re on your own. America’s not a country. It’s just a business. Now fuckin’ pay me.” – Brad Pitt’s Jackie Cogan in Killing Them Softly.

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013 The release of Django Unchained by Quentin Tarantino.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013 More support for Australian filmmakers, such as funding with fewer strings attached.

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013 Philip Glass announcing extended dates that include Australia for his world tour.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013 Taking the booking of arts for music-and-arts festivals more seriously.

Definitive moments are for Oscar montages, any year is like a million of them; a constant string of instances that stick in your mind. But if this question is searching for some artistic ‘thing’ that seemed particularly vital this year, man, the sudden awesomeness of Greek cinema is quite the story. It used to be one of the very worst national cinemas in the world, but the Greek weird wave has changed all that in like three years. It gives hope that, one day, perhaps before we all die, Australian cinema could actually be awesome. Couldn’t it?

FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST OR RADIO SHOW

4. The Office 5. Dr Who

“The most enthusiastically affirmative was Perec’s ‘Fuck yeah!’” – Daniel Levin Becker

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS

The Melbourne Comedy Festival. Twenty-three shows in five days with not a dud among them.

The Avengers

More funding for independent theatre. A ban on musicals. We’ve had enough.

FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST OR RADIO SHOW

Perth Festival – everything about the 2012 program was, quite simply, spectacular.

“Death is so boring, especially now with so much excitement in the world” – Tyrion, Game Of Thrones.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013

Ears is the most exciting artist in Sydney at the moment.

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL

Game Of Thrones

National Theatre Of Great Britain’s production of War Horse at Lyric Theatre in March.

writers’ poll 2012

Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book 3. The Pajama Men 4. Sammy J & Randy 5. Rottofest comedians

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

Holy Motors

Anthony Carew BEST FILM

1. Moonrise Kingdom 2. Holy Motors 3. The Loneliest Planet 4. Neighbouring Sounds 5. Modest Reception

BEST TV SHOW 1. Black Mirror 2. Mad Men 3. Enlightened 4. Girls

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL As always, MIFF’s monstrous shrine to motion pictures stoked the fires of my nerdery the most.

“I’m not trying 2 be cute, I have a fucking speech impediment” -- Grimes.

MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2013 The Golden Suicides. Or maybe that’s for 2014.

HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2013 Less crowdpleasin’.

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NEW PRINCIPLES At the beginning of this year Chicago-based artist Willis Earl Beal was the talk of the indie underground. Now, he tells Dan Condon that he wishes he did things differently.

Iconoclastic singer, songwriter and cellist Ben Sollee isn’t afraid to stand by his beliefs, though he’s still polite about it, as Michael Smith discovers.

There’s more to this story

on the iPad

“I’m coming to Australia with some nervousness,” he continues, “because I don’t really feel like I deserve it right now.” He also feels at odds with the way he has been promoted in the media. While promoting himself throughout Chicago’s streets as a singer you could call for a song and an artist to whom you could write for a picture was an effort to gain popularity, Beal is worried that the novelty has perhaps clouded the true essence of his art. “I feel like the way I came onto the scene was not the way I would have done it if it was just by myself,” Beal considers. “I felt like my back story was promoted entirely too much and I don’t feel like people have a clear idea of what my aesthetic is and what I can do musically and artistically. “I think people have their ideas all based on what they read on the internet. You’re always going to be your own biggest critic, but I just feel like I haven’t done what I really wanted to do. I have enjoyed myself a lot at the same time – I’ve travelled a lot – but I’m still kind of in this state of self-doubt and I’m trying to get out of

76 • For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews

couple of weeks before the US went to the polls to either elect a new president or re-elect the incumbent Barack Obama, Kentucky-born singer, songwriter and cellist Ben Sollee was getting very nervous. What if the people opted to vote for Mitt Romney? Or worse, what if the people just couldn’t be bothered to vote at all, distracted perhaps by the havoc wrought by Hurricane Sandy, and Romney snuck over the line? So he took his cello and a cameraman to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and started singing his A Few Honest Words, just to attract a little attention for his simple message: “Just vote”. Two minutes into his performance, a burly security guard told him he couldn’t do this, so he politely picked up his cello and stool and left, setting up a few hundred yards in front of the building to complete his mission.

uts of Willis Earl Beal’s outsider soul, folk and blues, recorded live in his bedroom, were released as his debut LP Acousmatic Sourcery through the taste making XL Recordings early this year. Fascinating tales from his past surfaced in the music media; he had been homeless, in the army and he’d sing to anyone who called him and draw pictures to anyone who’d write. But now, as he’s about to make his first ever trip to Australia, Beal’s true feelings about his debut album and the way his past has been perceived are starting to bug him. “I have extreme trepidation about it,” he says of his first Australian visit, before admitting it might be different if he was proud of more of his recent achievements this year. “with the exception of maybe the music video for Evening’s Kiss and the [Principles Of A Protagonist] EP,” he admits candidly.

LISTEN TO THE MAN

that dark tunnel and it’s hard when you’re exposed to a bunch of strangers and they tell you whether you’re valid or whether you’re not valid – it’s frustrating.” He doesn’t blame his record label for the path he has gone down since signing with them, he just wishes that he had have taken more time to plot the best way to reveal himself to the public. “With respect to the people at XL Records whom I really love and who’ve been really integral in helping me to grow as a person and as an artist, especially since I just finished recording my new record, I wish that I had taken a step up and taken a bit more time before I released anything to the public – I wish I hadn’t released my home recordings. “I really love those songs and I feel that releasing them to the public… I don’t feel like it’s a smart move to release outsider music to a commercial audience but at the same time, like my agent always tells me, it’s an unorthodox risky thing in today’s industry so it’s been working out surprisingly well. Which is largely why he has re-recorded a number of his songs for the Principles Of A Protagonist EP; the new renditions slicker and showcasing Beal’s gorgeously soulful voice with more clarity. “I want people to watch the YouTube videos and come to the live show and download the EP for free, because the EP has my full voice on it and it’s got a better quality of recording than my first record. And wait for my new CD Nobody Knows.” WHO: Willis Earl Beal WHEN & WHERE: Thursday 3 January, GoodGod Small Club

“Oh my God, it was really terrifying,” Sollee, on the line from San Francisco, admits, referring to the election rather than his little piece of political activism. “I was playing a show in Arizona when the election was going on and all the votes were coming in and when I went on stage it was about half and half, and I was just terrified I was gonna come off stage to what was going to become a very different situation in our country, and so I’m excited Obama turned out to be our president.” As for his Lincoln Memorial performance, “It was kind of an affirming thing to do, to try to… Oh gosh, be heard, so to speak. I know it’s not legal to perform in our national monuments but I was running into so many people that felt like their voice didn’t matter, I almost did it to say, ‘Hey, if I can get kicked out, then that means my voice matters in some way.’” He might just be another singer-songwriter, albeit one who has come to his chosen instrument in a truly unique and innovative way, playing it like a guitar or banjo, but Sollee is also as passionately committed to giving voice to those he sees in society as perhaps having their voices suppressed, in the tradition of America’s folk/country protest singers. His latest addition to that part of his catalogue is Get Off Your Knees, from his latest album, Half-Made Man.

“For me, I started this, kind of making… When I say this whole thing I mean career making bigger gestures about social statements and everything, and as I’ve matured and made more music I’ve learned that it’s really about a human-to-human interaction, and I’ve become much more humanistic. So this record is that, in a way.” With regards to the social issues about which he’s been most vocal, the issue of the excavation of mountains for coal mining in his native Kentucky has long been at the top of the agenda. He’s also an activist for Oxfam America and has toured his home state several times by bicycle. As diverse a collection as ever, Half-Made Man, his fourth album, sees Sollee pulling together a more cohesive body of work than he has on earlier albums. “Yeah,” he agrees. “In that way it’s a collection of portraits of the various pieces and parts of this 28-year-old fella. I think one of the reasons it has a cohesive feel is that we have a live band in the studio [including My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel] this time, rather than having a bunch of parts that I overdubbed and orchestrated, and that lent itself to a little more of an immediate feel rather than the kind of curated, clean recordings that I did in the past.” WHO: Ben Sollee WHAT: Half-Made Man (Tin Ear Records) WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 5 January, Lizotte’s, Kincumber; Sunday 6, Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba; Wednesday 9, Notes

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OFF AND RUNNING

LET’S GET TOGETHER

Canadians Half Moon Run have had the luck of the Irish so to speak, scoring record deals and tours – international at that – within months of forming, as Michael Smith discovers from Dylan Phillips. rummer Dylan Phillips was studying for a Master’s degree in piano in Montreal, Canada, when, in October 2010, an old friend of his invited him and keyboards player/guitarist Conner Molander to come along to a jam he was organising, to which singer and guitarist Devon Portielje also came, though ostensibly as the jam’s bass player. There were five at that first jam and they immediately realised there was something special going on, though the initiator and other participant soon departed, leaving the trio to become Half Moon Run.

Bringing together bands of all stripes from the Central Coast that have played together over the past 20 years, The Reunion Festival started with a chance discovery, as festival organiser Leon Harrison of The Lazys tells Michael Smith.

“Eventually I dropped out of school and Connor dropped out of school and we went for it a 100 per cent,” Phillips explains the journey to the recording of their debut album, Dark Eyes, “and we’d played probably less than ten gigs before we started recording. At that time I remember we liked to give people the impression that we had lots of music, to get things going when really we had no idea what we were doing. “It’s a three-way writing process,” Phillips explains. “We all get in a space together and we try and birth ideas in the jam space if we can and we always surprise ourselves when we start writing or when we find something good because we all have really different ideas about what we want or what we bring to the table I guess, but we somehow manage to meet in the middle and create something we wouldn’t have been able to on our own. We finished some songs while we were in the studio and everything came together in the last minute.” Before that, however, the trio had already done some recording courtesy of some student friends at a school of audio engineering, and “they wanted us to be the band for their project – record one song for them and get a free recording out of it – and one of the people who works at the record label we signed with worked at that school as well, teaching, heard the music and from there we were contacted by the label.” With a sound that references the dream folk pop of artists as diverse as Simon and Garfunkel and Radiohead with a dash of ambient electronica, Half Moon Run

quickly found themselves building a solid enough live reputation to score a 32-date European tour this past May, followed by a 25-date tour of the US supporting Metric and most recently a North American tour with fellow Canadian Patrick Watson and his band.

hile there were several fairly large towns – Terrigal, Gosford, Swansea, The Entrance – that had been popular holiday destinations for decades, in the late-1980s and early-‘90s the NSW Central Coast exploded as the new area adjacent to the sprawl that is Sydney where young families could build new lives in their little block of suburban paradise by the sea. The result was the creation of the third largest urban area in New South Wales and the ninth largest urban area in Australia.

“We just play all the time, which is great – it’s really improving our live show and we’re becoming better musicians and we’re learning a hell of a lot about what it means to be on tour, both in the professional sense and in, like, our personal lives and stuff. It’s been incredibly valuable, but the next step for us is to write good songs.”

A lot of those families naturally included toddlers who, in their teens, discovered rock and pop with a vengeance, to the point where as the noughties arrived, it seemed every second band seemed to come from the Central Coast. Not that any of that was necessarily in the mind of The Lazys’ frontman Leon Harrison when the idea of The Reunion Festival came to him.

For Half Moon Run, live is actually where they feel their strength lies, for all the pride they feel in their debut album. “When we went in to record, as soon as we started to use all the studio tricks, add layers and start splicing drums and patching everything up and making it studio perfect, then it started to kill the music. We started to learn that actually, we get the best recordings when we try to emulate what it’s like to play the songs live in the studio. That’s why, for us, the album is kind of a rough version of what we do live. For us, the live show is where there’s the most energy and where we have the most fun.”

“I was clearing out my desk drawer,” Harrison explains, “and I found an old EP I drummed on in a band called Years From Now – we were tied in with the One Dollar Short kind of scene. It’s a great EP and thought there’d be a lot of people in the community who would remember it, so I put it on the Facebook group site called Central Coast Band Museum. It’s just like Facebook really but you can archive stuff, save files and everybody just started uploading content for the page and I was just filing it. So there’s a hundred bands uploaded there now and just the stuff that being thrown up on the wall was out of control for like probably three weeks, reminiscing Coast music. So then I thought to myself, ‘It’d be good to throw a show, aye?’”

WHO: Half Moon Run WHAT: Dark Eyes (Indica Australia/MGM) WHEN & WHERE: Monday 31 December, Peats Ridge Festival; Wednesday 2 January, The Vanguard; Thursday 3, Yours & Owls, Wollongong; Friday 4, Brass Monkey; Thursday 24, The Steyne; Friday 25, The Standard

Harrison got in touch with The Entrance Leagues Club and “I automatically threw it open to anyone and everyone. There was talk about having a two-day festival type thing but, you know, a lot of people couldn’t get back together or maybe wanted to sit on the sideline this year and see how it went. But basically anyone who’s put music up is pretty much on the bill,” he laughs.

Performing over three stages then are, in no particular order, After The Fall, In The Grey, Angela’s Dish, The Lazys, We Are Grace, Bright Yellow, Old Music For Old People, Miramar, Elliot The Bull, Luke Gallen & Personalities, Mark My Words, Able Archers, PK Rippers, Thieves, Sarah Humphreys & Loren Kate, Sparrows, Porchlight Fiasco, Outsane, Rocwater, One Jonathan, Cocapenny, Go To Bed Jessica, I, The Hunter, Mystic Flare, Crooked Little Daggers, Stolen Memories, Daxton & The Sweetlips, Elwood Myre, The Punk Rock Hillbilly Show, Belle Townsend, Mark Moldre, Bec Pap and Blue Fusion – as diverse a line-up as you could want. “And fantastic talent, aye?” Harrison enthuses. “I’ve got a beer garden stage happening, which is across the club, and that’s gonna be a more singer-songwriter stage, so people like Sarah Humphreys, who has just put out a new album [Hello], and I’ve a big band playing out there, Luke Gallen and Rocwater, who are upbeat groovy stuff. It’s gonna be sick! It’s gonna cater for everyone. “PK Rippers reformed for the gig – they were a real punk band from the late ‘90s – and Miramar – they won the triple j Unearthed film clip and unfortunately disbanded a short time ago. And we’ve got a couple of new bands – We Are Great – they were working with [Easybeats’] Harry Vanda a year ago – and I’m sure next year we’re gonna get an abundance of people wanting to get involved.” WHO: The Lazys WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 22 December, Reunion Festival, Entrance Leagues Club

FLYING IN FOR THE FUN OF IT SUMMER VIBES Forget new material – hard rock all-stars Lost Angels are simply revelling in jamming on their favourite songs. Brendan Crabb gets hammered with vocalist/ guitarist and former Mötley Crüe/ Ratt member John Corabi. t’s like going back and being in a pub band again,” vocalist/guitarist John Corabi explains of new covers project, Lost Angels. “It’s a no-brainer; you’re not sitting worrying about ticket sales, T-Shirt sales and all this other stuff. I live in Nashville right now and it’s hilarious. There’s all these little places around here where these just, insane musicians, they jam in this little pub, if it holds 80 people, that would be extremely crowded. They just go in there on Tuesday nights, all these cats… Robert Plant will show up. They just belly up to a bar, you sit there and you drink Guinness all night and just jam.”

Ash Grunwald is on the last leg of his year of touring latest album, Trouble’s Door. He tells Michael Smith he’s loving it.

“I

Corabi, who fronted Mötley Crüe on their ill-fated, albeit under-rated 1994 self-titled album before being unceremoniously ousted and whose other musical ventures include Ratt, The Scream, ESP, Union and his solo band will bring Lost Angels to Australia for the first time. The band features a star-studded list of seasoned hard rockers; guitarist/vocalist Eric Dover (Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper), drummer Troy Patrick Farrell (White Lion, Pretty Boy Floyd, Gilby Clarke) and bassist Eric Brittingham (Cinderella). “I can’t explain it any other way,” Corabi continues. “It’s just a no-brainer, no pressure gig; we’re just going out to have some fun. Once you start recording records, then you’re worried about writing songs, what the artwork looks like on the album, how many records did we sell this week and I’ve got interviews to do for this or that. There’s just so much more involved in doing an original project; so these things, it’s just fun to do. We’ll probably do a few things from Dover’s catalogue [during their Australian tour]; a couple of Cinderella songs, couple of mine, some stuff from White Lion and then some classic covers that we all get off on hearing and playing. We don’t take ourselves that serious and we’re all in other bands and other projects. This is just a way for us to get out and have some fun, kick up our heels and have a couple of drinks with the audience.”

78 • For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews

t seems like he’s been on the road all year. Not just all over Australia, but earlier this year Portugal and Spain – that’s just how Ash Grunwald likes it, mixing his love of performing with the chance to hit the surf every chance he gets. It made sense to cut a video for the recent single, Longtime, from his latest album, Trouble’s Door, chasing waves with a few of his musician friends – Pete Murray, Xavier Rudd, Kram, Scotty Owen from The Living End and Beau Young among others. He surfs with Young and Rudd regularly, Kram lives round the corner in Byron and Owen plays in a band, Mr Cassidy, with his own and Grunwald’s wife, and, along with Oils/Break/Backsliders drummer Rob Hirst, is joining Grunwald for his Falls Festival shows. Sadly they won’t be part of the rest of this final run of shows off the back of Trouble’s Door. In fact they’re quite the exception.

Corabi’s schedule is far too jam-packed for Lost Angels to morph into anything other than its current form anyway. He has a laundry list of projects on his résumé, including a new solo acoustic album. Aside from a new solo electric record, what else is in the pipeline? “I’m hoping I can maybe take my medicine for my ADD and actually finish this book that I’ve been talking about since the beginning of time,” he laughs. “It’s not like a tell-all Mötley book. It’s an autobiography from the very beginning. It encompasses my time with The Scream, Mötley, ex-wives, just all the different crap throughout my life. I’ve written it like three times, but I kinda co-wrote it with someone else. All three times, I co-wrote it with somebody else and I just kinda got frustrated. So I thought, ‘You know what? Nobody can actually tell my story better than me’. So I’m just gonna write it, have somebody go through the grammar and make sure it’s all proper. So I’m rewriting it on my own right now.” Corabi’s tenure with the Crüe was detailed in the notorious, highly successful and wildly entertaining Neil Strauss co-authored autobiography on the band, The Dirt. The question is posed as to whether the axeman feels he was inaccurately portrayed in said work and was therefore compelled to tell his story. “I thought The Dirt was a really well-written book, but I can honestly say some of my parts were, they were a little coloured,” he says. “They were maybe enhanced a bit. But I guess that’s just the business, you know what I mean?” WHO: Lost Angels WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 22 December, Metro Theatre

“I’ve been playing solo again,” Grunwald explains, “which I haven’t done for years, but that’s what I’ve done all this year and it’s been epic. I think I needed to have a break from that vibe when I did – I mean, four years, off and on, of having different band line-ups and stuff. Now, I have loved being back in that vibe and I think I’ll do that for the next little while. I mean, there are some exceptions to that but, yeah, that’s been really fun.” Grunwald builds his songs around a variety of beats, as demonstrated on his last three albums – 2008’s Fish Out Of Water, 2010’s Hot Mama Vibes and this year’s Trouble’s Door, with latter’s beats by regular side project partner and dubstep producer Fingers Malone. Playing solo has meant a lot more work for him. “My show is, like, half-half – organic and using programmed beats. You know, I just mix it in and I’ve got this set-up where I control the beats from the computer and some foot pedals. Like, I make up these medleys sometimes, using those beats, and sort of transition between them. It’s kind of almost DJing your own music into your set – it’s pretty bizarre but it’s pretty fun. It works pretty well and gets people dancing. And then the usual kind of organic vibe, but you get into a vibe using the programmed beats [that] then... jolts you awake to

go one hundred per cent organic after that, and then sort of mix them. It’s something I haven’t seen a lot of people doing, that kind of mix, so that feels kind of exciting, to be doing something a little different,” says Grunwald. With the end of this last run of shows, Grunwald is taking time out to welcome his next baby into the world and “chill out”, but that doesn’t mean the music will be stopping any time soon. A couple of years ago, his track, Walking, was picked by the producers of Hollywood feature thriller, Limitless, starring Abbie Cornish and Robert De Niro. “I had another thing,” he points out. “It was on the trailer for [2011 Brad Pitt vehicle] Moneyball, my old song Breakout. A really good thing I was asked to do but I didn’t get it unfortunately – there’s a new Arnie Schwarzenegger action movie coming out, and they asked me to do, you know, the first song that comes on when the credits roll. I really enjoyed that and would love to get into that more. I’m happy to give those things a go,” he concludes. WHO: Ash Grunwald WHAT: Trouble’s Door (Shock) WHEN & WHERE: Sunday 6 January, Blues & Grooves Festival, Beachcomber Hotel, Toukley; Thursday 24, Lizotte’s, Newcastle; Friday 25, Lizotte’s, Dee Why; Saturday 26, Festival Of The Voice, The Rocks

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT Santa’s not the only one who visits us each Christmas. Darren Hanlon’s gifts each year may be purely musical, but as Steve Bell discovers, that doesn’t make him any less altruistic.

Solo singer-songwriter Grass Taylor started out in some pretty heavy bands, but it took some travelling – and shamanistic rituals – to discover his true calling. Cam Findlay finds out more.

ometimes it’s great to have surprises, but there’s also a massive place for tradition in our everyday lives. No matter what he’s done in a given year, singer-songwriter Darren Hanlon celebrates the festive season by embarking on a solo jaunt of Australia, bringing the Christmas cheer to his multitude of fans around the country.

He’s had a busy 2012 involving a lot of production work and a lot of travel – he’s just returned from a month-long tour of Europe as we catch up with him – but he’s already looking forward to rejoining his Australian friends and showing off some new material. “There’s a couple of new songs; there’s one that I’m going to play on this Christmas tour,” the affable Hanlon explains. “It’s about eight minutes long – they just keep getting longer – about the history of my guitar. And I’ve been listening to lots of early folk stuff, so I’ve got a few new folky songs. There’s a lot that I need to finish though for next year; I’ve got to get my act together to record this new album.” It has indeed been a couple of years since Hanlon’s last studio collection, 2010’s I Will Love You At All, but he’s been busy living his life as a means of artistic inspiration. “I lost a lot of the demos – I had a bag stolen in Europe and a few things got lost unfortunately,” he rues. “But I’m taking my time with it – I feel like you need to live a little between these albums. The last one I toured so much on it – I did two years of pretty much constant travelling – and this year I’ve been just trying to relax and let the new one happen organically, not force it too much. “I definitely work hard at [songwriting]. You just have to make sure you have experiences and not write so much that you’re not living – that’s what I’ve been trying to do this year, just relax. I still write every single day, whether it be longhand or songs; it’s good to keep yourself match fit. So I’ve just been having some great experiences.”

80 • For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews

GRASS IS GREENER

einvention: it’s a word that gets bandied around a fair bit these days, what with our ever-changing industry and the fast-paced nature of the world we live in. At a place in time when one of the world’s biggest hip hop artists, at the hump of his life no less, can reinvent himself as a reggae hero hearkening back to the glory days of the genre, you know that there’s some mystique about the whole idea of leaving behind your past and adopting a new charisma and perspective. At least, there is from the public view.

And, one would hope, this year’s run of Christmas shows could be just the tonic to provide some new material. “I’m looking forward to it; the Christmas shows are always a lot of fun,” Hanlon smiles. “This is seven years now, although the first few were only Sydney and Melbourne. It’s solo too, and a lot of times in Australia I have the band with me, so it’s a different vibe – I can just study the set-list and play whatever. Usually people just want to hear the songs they know at Christmas time, it’s not really time for breaking new albums – it’s more of a relaxed vibe, with some guests coming up to sing. I have a few new songs that I want to play – it’s my personal law that I have at least one new song for every tour anyway, just to keep myself amused.” And of course Hanlon is finishing the run in his native Queensland, so that he can hit the road and beat Santa home to the extended family. “I love it!” he gushes about finishing up north each year. “That’s really part of the tradition, to play either Christmas Eve or the night before in Brisbane and then the road trip up to Gympie – the feeling that I have playing that last Brisbane show is euphoric almost! You get to the second half of the set and I feel so great – the year is nearly finished off and I’m about to see my family, life’s good!” WHO: Darren Hanlon WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 22 December, St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Newtown

Grass Taylor is one such musician who has found himself in this specific stage of his career. After spending years playing in various hard rock bands, such as The Hot Lies, The Scissor File and Brock Downey, Taylor left it all behind and decided to travel the world. 2010 saw his return to the fray, with a brand new outlook on his music and a refreshed passion for it at the same time. It was a decision born out of the negative aspects of the recording industry, as much as a need to forge his own path. “From a creative perspective, it was quite refreshing to approach music from a different angle and strip everything back to just vocals and guitar,” Taylor begins. “But honestly, the decision wasn’t so much made by me. I come to understand that I was never really in control of my career as a band member in a signed act. When you get to a certain level as a band, it’s not just you and your band mates with a say. It’s your label A&R, your manager, promoter, booker, publisher, publicist and so on. Sometimes it doesn’t work out. So this time around I really wanted to steer clear of that whole scene and give it a crack as an independent artist, so I set up my own artist management company, signed myself and the rest is history.” “History” might just be a perfectly apt word for it. In the process of establishing himself as an independent artist, Taylor discovered the work of his father, Taylor Sr, a hired gun drummer that toured during the ‘60s and ‘70s. He played for the likes of John Farnham, among others. It was a surprise revelation for the young artist,

and a story that would eventually lead him to adopt the ‘Grass’ moniker for himself. “I only learnt the depth of my father’s career recently when he slipped into conversation the time he played Festival Hall,” Taylor says with some amusement. “About six beers later, and he spilled the beans of his wild partying days in the ‘60s, jamming with John Farnham, touring with Billy Thorpe, kicking Rick Springfield out of auditioning for his group, all these classic stories from back in the day, and then came his stage name ‘Grass Taylor’. Dad was a renowned drummer back [then] for his feel and intensity when playing live. He definitely taught me a lot about timing. I thought it would be cool to continue the legacy and keep the name alive.” One intrinsic part of the story that led to the creation of Grass Taylor is the time he took to travel the world in the noughties. Returning to Australia in 2010, Taylor had visited three continents, culminating in time spent in the Amazon Rainforest taking part in shamanistic rituals with a local tribe. “It’s hard not to be humbled going to a place like the Amazon,” Taylor says of the experience. “I spent weeks living among the Shamanic people of the Shipibo tribe, partaking in their Ayahuasca ceremonies and basically gaining a very real understanding of myself. My big realisation from it was that I could also use music for something more positive and beneficial, hence why I’m still on this journey as an artist. WHO: Grass Taylor WHAT: Poet’s Notes & Hidden Tones (Independent) WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 22 December, Scorcherfest, Valve

2012: The Year In Review – some observations by Michael Smith. f you’re reading this comfortably after Monday 21 December in old-school hard copy, courtesy of your Drum iPad app or via themusic. com.au, then you know all the predictions about the end of life, the universe and everything as we know it based on the Mayan Calendar were wrong. As if.

Nonetheless, as a species, we certainly continued to do very little to prevent the potential destruction of our graceful little blue planet, even if the Gillard government, much to the chagrin of the opposition leader – everything the Gillard government proposes is met with chagrin in one form or another by the opposition – did manage to impose a carbon tax on the major companies responsible for adding carbon dioxide, along with other climate-changing greenhouse gases, to the atmosphere. While Abbott continued to push the climate change denial line, more and more reliable scientific evidence came to light this year making it quite clear that we busy little humans had actually impacted considerably on the direction the planet’s climate was heading. A climate-change sceptic, physicist Richard Muller, who founded the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature (BEST) project, was forced to concede in an opinion piece he wrote for The New York Times in July: “Our results show that the average temperature of the Earth’s land has risen by 2½ degrees Fahrenheit [1.5 degrees Celsius] over the past 250 years, including an increase of

have increased 54%, which suggests that one of the major goals the UN Climate Change Conference, held in Doha, Qatar, in November – to hold global temperature rise to 2 degrees – looks all but impossible to achieve. As Global Carbon Project executive director, Dr Pep Canadell, put it at the time, “Unless we change current emissions trends – this year is set to reach 36-billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels – we are on the way to an unrecognisable planet of 4 to 6 degrees warmer by the end of this century.” After two weeks of mostly stalled talks, the only real decisions made extended the Kyoto Protocol, to which only 35 nations are signatories, accounting for just 15% of emissions to 2020, and saw wealthy nations prepared to compensate those nations in distress as a consequence of global warming. All of a sudden, a quick bit of Mayanpredicted Armageddon looks a fairly soft way to end it all! Even more worrying was the realisation that the melting permafrost of Siberia, Greenland and the other Arctic regions was going to have a far greater impact on the build-up of greenhouse gases than had first been considered. According to the latest research, around 1700 billion tonnes of organic carbon is held in permafrost, which is about four times more than all the carbon emitted by human activity in modern times and twice as much as is present in the atmosphere now – and the bad news is that that permafrost is melting, with the consequent breakdown of the organic matter that makes it up. As the University of Colorado’s Kevin Schaefer pointed out in presenting a report on the permafrost thaw, of which he was lead author, “I think it’s fair to say that until recently climate scientists underrated the rate at which permafrost melt could release methane. I think we’ve been shown to be overconservative. It’s happening faster than we had thought.” Then again, we do still stand a chance of changing things according to the director of the NASA Goddard Institute For Space Studies, James Hansen, who suggested in a paper published by the National Academy of Sciences, “There is still time to act and avoid a worsening climate but we are wasting precious time. We can solve the challenge of climate change with a gradually rising fee on carbon collected from fossil-fuel companies, with 100% of the money rebated to all legal residents on a per capita basis.” Which all sounds suspiciously like the original idea behind that big, bad carbon tax the Gillard government foisted on we, the people, this year. The legacy already foisted on us by the fossil-fuel companies, however, has become more and more evident over the past few years in the increasingly extreme weather patterns being experienced all over the world. One particular extreme weather pattern made itself felt on the world’s biggest economy in the lead up to its presidential elections of course – Hurricane Sandy – ultimately killing at least 253 people across seven of the countries it clobbered in the ten days it took to run its course from the western Caribbean Sea to its ultimate landfall in New Jersey and New York,

together based around a number of Abbott’s less than politically correct quotes, delivered in the House on 9 October with such clear and righteous anger, proved an inspiration not only here but around the world as women and men in all walks of life applauded her courage in standing up to the sexism inherent in so many workplaces, from the Prime Ministership down. Readers of Fairfax website, Daily Life, voted Ms Gillard the Most Influential Female Voice Of 2012 by a mile. Meanwhile, of course, various other chunks of the world were busy as usual either making war or attempting to make peace, from the continuing basket case that is Afghanistan, which saw another seven more Australian soldiers killed on active service and 31 soldiers and a sailor wounded in action; through the ongoing viciousness of the Syrian civil war that has spilled over into both Turkey and Lebanon, with thousands of refugees fleeing to both those countries and Jordan; to the most recent flare-up of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. Egypt once again proved an important party in terms of bringing the two sides of that conflict to the negotiating table, along with America’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, though Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi hadn’t done himself any favours with his 22 November decree expanding his personal powers, prompting an eruption of protests condemning the move, perceived by many as a betrayal of the aims of the original “Arab Spring” uprisings that toppled the previous president, Hosni Mubarak, last year, fearing an erosion of religious freedom and minority rights in the face of an Islamist-dominated government. While Morsi saw sense and dropped the decree, the violence continued as Egypt’s opposition lobbied against a referendum on the country’s disputed draft constitution, pro-government and Muslim Brotherhood supporters responded in kind and Morsi brought the military out to maintain order.

Richard Muller

Barack Obama

We lost a few of our finest literary minds this year, among them English novelist Barry Unsworth, whose 1992 novel, Sacred Hunger, with a story based around the 18th century slave trade, was the 1992 joint winner of the Man Booker Prize, lost his battle with lung cancer in June at the age of 81; Australia’s most popular author, Bryce Courtenay, who chalked up sales of more than 20-million copies of his books sold internationally, succumbed to gastric cancer, aged 79, in November; and that extraordinary American literary eminence that was Gore Vidal, whose early novel, 1968’s Myra Breckenridge, was as outrageous in its time as his sequence of historical novels based on the lives of a number of American presidents – in particular Burr and Lincoln – were essential canonically, passed away of complications from pneumonia in July, aged 86. (You might be surprised to learn too that he revised the final script for the 1959 feature blockbuster, Ben-Hur.)

Julia Gillard

Also gone but not forgotten, at least here, was Lonesome George, a giant tortoise estimated to have been about 100 years old – a youngster it seems, giant tortoises usually making it to around 200 – and believed to be the last of his subspecies, at the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. Despite all efforts by his human minders to save the subspecies, no matings proved successful. Thankfully some 20,000 giant tortoises of various other subspecies still live on the Galapagos Islands thanks to the conservation efforts of both successive Ecuadorian governments and the international scientific community.

Switzerland, have finally observed the elusive little beastie. If it turns out to be a Higgs boson particle they’ve observed, “It could be a gateway to the next phase of exploring the deepest parts of the fabric of the universe,” according to one of the research team, Professor Joseph Incandela, in a statement in July, “which is pretty profound.” Something of an understatement I’d say. The icing on the cake however seems to be yet another mindboggling bit of research being undertaken by the University Of Melbourne and RMIT, published in an American physics journal earlier this year, suggesting that it may be possible to see “cracks” in the fabric of the universe created by the cooling of matter after The Big Bang. It all seems to be based on the theory of quantum graphity, defined as “a backgroundindependent model for emergent macroscopic locality, spatial geometry and matter.” And yes, I’ve no idea what any of that means either, but it’s got the scientific community in quite a flap as, if those “cracks” are found, it’ll once again take us back beyond the beginning of time and space, The Big Bang, at which point physics as we know it breaks down, making it, to date, inexplicable to scientists let alone the layperson. The God Squad, of course, of every faith and denomination, have their own ideas about it all. Either way, Sir Patrick Moore, Britain’s most famous public astronomer, who passed away in December aged 89, would have been as enthusiastically pleased about it all as he was about most things in a career that saw him become the television “face” of all things astronomical over 55 years of presenting his BBC program, The Sky At Night – becoming something of a scientific

SIGNS AND WONDERS Lonesome George

Equally dead but long thought lost, it seems that the skeleton of the much-maligned King Richard III may have been discovered. DNA testing has yet to be completed to confirm or otherwise the remains discovered underneath

1½ degrees [about one degree Celsius] over the most recent 50 years. Moreover, it appears likely that essentially all of this increase results from the human emission of greenhouse gases… We were not expecting this, but as scientists, it is our duty to let the evidence change our minds.” Funding for the project, by the way, came courtesy the Charles G Koch Charitable Foundation, set up by the billionaire US coal magnate who is a key backer of the climate sceptic Heartland Institute think tank. The research also received backing from the Fund For Innovative Climate & Energy Research, created by Bill Gates.

Meanwhile, the Global Carbon Project was seeing the data pointing to greenhouse gas emissions rising 2.6% by the end of this year – emissions rose 3% last year. To put that into context, since 1990, the year of the Kyoto Protocol, in which the initial reference point was established, emissions

even nudging up into Ontario and Quebec in Canada, where two people died and the cost of damage caused is estimated at around $US100 million. While the death toll in Haiti is estimated to have been 54, the world inevitably focused on the impact Sandy had on New York City, which saw its subways and tunnels flooded and power supplies cut, the Sandy damage bill for the US overall well over $US63 billion. The New York Stock Exchange was forced to close for two days and both presidential candidates – the incumbent Barack Obama and the Republican challenger Mitt Romney – both took time out in the crucial last week of campaigning to offer their support of the storm’s victims, though neither rolled up the old trouser legs and got stuck in helping flood victims rescue treasured possessions in the way our Kevin Rudd did during last year’s Brisbane floods. In the event, thankfully, come election time, common sense and Obama prevailed, winning a second term that might, if he can get the Republican-controlled House Of Representatives to give him a break, see him get through some of the reforms, particularly in health and education, he’d tried hard to pass during his first term.

Not that Obama’s position was unique. Here in Australia, as suggested earlier, every positive piece of legislation the Gillard government managed to push through was inevitably berated and belittled by the opposition to the point where the nation’s political dialogue has become one long round of sledging by both leaders, effectively distracting the media’s – and the people’s – attention away from those positive reforms, which are never as interesting to a viewing/reading public addicted to the curiosities paraded before them by reality TV shows as ridiculous as Being Lara Bingle, The Shire and Brynne Edelsten’s horrific My Bedazzled Life. The impact on next year’s Australian elections of a particularly impressive exploration of the mind of Tony Abbott in a Quarterly Essay by David Marr, Political Animal, is likely to be even more negligible, considering even the estimable ABC TV

82 • For more interviews go to themusic.com.au/interviews

discussion program Q&A couldn’t get the political focus away from the opposition’s continuing efforts to prove the Prime Minister’s culpability with regards to a slush fund established by the AWU in the 1990s, when she was a practising lawyer and her then boyfriend was head of the union body. Not that the Gillard government had exactly covered itself in glory in capitulating, again, to the paranoia surrounding the continuing problem of boatloads of asylum seekers arriving by reintroducing the “Howard Solution” offshore processing system former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd scrapped on his election in 2007. Even

the Carbon Tax and its concomitant mining tax had been watered down in order to get them passed. Still, the government managed to push through an important overhaul of our education system, as well as a National Disability Insurance Scheme. The opposition leader stuck to his macho image by driving a truck down the Pacific Highway and promising a few million to fix it. No word on the emissions the exercise might have added to CO2 levels. Not that he’d have been thinking about that. He’d be somewhere where he wouldn’t have the words of Julia Gillard expounding against misogyny ringing in his ears. That speech she threw

a council car park in Leicester’s city centre where an archaeological team from the city’s university had pinpointed the site of Grey Friars church where Richard is believed to have been buried after he was killed in the Battle Of Bosworth in August 1485. The church, like so many, was razed in 1538, during the Dissolution Of The Monasteries ordered by the son of the man who took the crown from Richard, Henry VII, the much-married Henry VIII. Certain spinal abnormalities in the skeleton suggested severe scoliosis or curvature of the spine, which might have been the cause of Richard’s being dubbed “the hunchback king” in his day. Richard, whose reign lasted a mere two years, was the last of the Plantagenet Dynasty and his death was decisive in the Wars Of The Roses. Sympathisers to this day suggest he got far worse press as a consequence of Shakespeare’s Tudor Dynasty-justifying play than perhaps was warranted. The skeleton’s DNA is being matched to a direct descendant of Richard’s eldest sister, Anne Of York, one Michael Ibsen, a Canadian furniture maker living in London.

Isn’t science amazing? Take, for instance, the Higgs boson, the subatomic particle physicists theorise gives all other particles their mass and dubbed by some “the God particle”. The jury, as it is around the bones of King Richard, is still out but there seems to be a strong possibility that researchers at the world’s biggest atom-smashing device, the Large Hadron Collider, just outside of Geneva in

equivalent of Rolf Harris, inspiring generations of youngsters to take up science and astronomy as careers. And really, that’s all anyone who cares about anything passionately can hope for – to inspire, by the things they do, make, write or perform, a sense of wonder at the extraordinary place in which we live, among the dazzling diversity of creatures that share it with us, and the beauty that we can create by trying to emulate it, through art, poetry, music, architecture and all other creative pursuits. May 2013 bring one and all of you similar inspiration.

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ON THE RECORD

Wolf And Cub

The reggae smoke haze is very much the overwhelming flavour of Roots Manuva. Banana Skank (Big Dada/Inertia) lopes along in the accepted fashion, the harmonies suitably laidback to the point of coma. The stuff that will be the currency of late nights around the campfire of blues and roots festivals for much of the foreseeable future. It seems like they’ve been round for longer, but Blackbird will only be album #3 for Fat Freddy’s Drop. Previewing tune, Silver And Gold (Remote Control) has all the blues, funk and dub flavours in place and proportion, for a typical warning on the dangers of the material world. Although, they (like most of us) will happily accept, even as the horns kick in with a warning siren. Villagers much acceptable, if much safe, Irish-accented version of the Mumford/Grizzly Bear model will certainly not frighten the horses, and can even get them Mercury Award nominations. They use words like ‘epic’ for the upcoming second album, although Nothing Arrived (EMI) is more community hall singalong than widescreen sweeping vistas. It might even be the better for being that. Airplay virtually inevitable, unless the world turns on its axis before the New Year. Even more towards a genuine roots model, Mr Cassidy happily and unapologetically conjure a line where you’d find names such as Emmylou and even our Kasey. The Appalachian harmonies of their somewhat aptly titled Mountain Side (Independent) are well-wrought and sound utterly sincere. There’s some gospel flavour hereon, and they have friends the quality of Ash Grunwald making guest appearances.

84 • For more reviews go to themusic.com.au/reviews

CHAD VALLEY

Warner

Loose Lips/Cooperative

Road To Palios

The final instalment in Green Day’s trilogy of albums released over a three-month period caps off what has been a bold move for the band. With frontman Billie Joe Armstrong in rehab and not able to promote the albums or potentially explain the band’s motivations for the ambitious releases, the 37 songs that are spread across the three would have made for one good, not great, Green Day release. The band described each album as sounding sonically different, with ¡Dos! meaning to be garage rock, whilst ¡Uno! more of a power pop release. ¡Tre! sounds like its predecessors mulched together.

Love for this album will likely be divided into two camps, answerable by a single question: do you miss the ‘80s? As the recording name for Hugo Manuel, Chad Valley’s first full-length, following the well-received 2011 EP, Equatorial Ultravox, bursts into being with pounding artificial drum beats and proudly cheesy synthesiser tones amped way up into the red. The lush, loud, sugary pop is pure 1986 excess. The character of the album is established early on, and there’s little room for it to move.

Bella Union/Cooperative

But Green Day are always going to sound like Green Day; the production qualities are the same, the songwriting isn’t as diverse as promised, but with that in mind, there are some good tracks here. 8th Avenue Serenade shows signs of blissful decadence, whilst X-Kid sees a reasonable attempt at trying to move away from that ‘Green Day’ sound. Dirty Rotten Bastards elicits the kind of behaviour that might see Armstrong back in rehab – a brash ‘fuck you’ punk number. The album’s opener, Brutal Love, focuses on a classic ‘60s ice cream change chord progression complete with layered harmonies for effect. With this release it’s hard to imagine what the band could dream up next to give them the next shift in the public’s conscience: concept albums? tick; trilogy of albums? tick; rock opera? tick. How can a band that hasn’t challenged their audience since American Idiot stay relevant? Stay tuned, as I’m sure the marketing machine will churn out some new absurd way to capitalise on the band’s enormous fanbase. By the way, ¡Tre! is an album for Green Day die hards. The songs are good, but have all been heard before.

RYAN FRANCESCONI & MIRABAI PEART

Young Hunger

Guitarist Ryan Francesconi, known for his arrangements LIVE on Joanna Newsom‘s Have One On Me, and violinist Mirabai Peart have created one of the warmest and most inviting records of the year. The record begins with Parallel Flights, a very suitable track name considering just how matched these players are.

Essential, seductive single, Fall 4 U, features protokraut rock backing beats reminiscent of an early Can or Kraftwerk track – they’re just hidden in saccharine electronica synth-shimmering and Hammond organsounding keyboard solos. Again, it must be stressed, this is an album for the ‘80s synth pop lovers.

Road To Palios is an instrumental record featuring no notable overdubs or studio trickery – the only sounds hear are the interplaying guitar and violin. Lacking VDwe a traditional rhythm section, the guitar (always more riff and repetition-ready than a violin) often finds itself the pacekeeper for Peart’s violin to dance over. This is not to slight the evocative guitar work though; on tracks like Kalamatianos and the playful title cut, Francesconi gets real room to move and show off, though the record never feels self-indulgent.

¡Tre!

The admittedly delightful overblown music manages to largely mask Manuel’s occasional shortcoming as a singer, as does the odd bit of modern auto-tune here and there. The album is pleasant enough a debut, and could signify a really interesting future for Chad Valley, though the record’s vibe of ‘80s as idea over reality (really – how many horn-sounding keyboard solos do you want?) does begin to wear thin after a while. This album, with its uniform emotional impact, lovelorn and new romantic, is more 1980s than the 1980s – a near pure idea of a lost time the artist wasn’t born to see, yet romanticises with all he has. You probably won’t buy into the idea as deeply as he does, but it’s hard not to smile at nostalgia for an imagined age. Andrew McDonald

James Dawson

In keeping with the craziness, here’s my second mention of X-Factor in as many weeks. But that’s largely because Bella Ferraro, the most splendidly round peg in that square hole. Her voice and musical taste – from that better-cover-thanthe-original-cover-of-the-original of Skinny Love – probably never belonged in such a talent quest, but her progress gave some hope. Set Me On Fire (Sony) is unfortunately the work of compose-toorder songwriters, and is a little prurient in what they’re trying to sell. But her voice is a wonder, and hopefully she might run into Lisa Mitchell in her travels and get some hints about how to beat the system. Do Wolf & Cub need a third single to make people aware there’s a new album coming. Seems so. It may well be a case of third time being the charm, as Salao (Dot Dash) has a genuine bit of swagger to it, in the manner you kinda hoped they always would. There’s still some fuzz to it, but some hip-swivelling is also encouraged. A good one. Being from Canberra, Lachlan Thomas is a long way from water, but his Danger Beach band-guise has a liquid intensity in its instrumental insistence. It is wiry and muscly, but doesn’t rush at you. Idle Hands (Independent) is wound tight, runs on rails, but does somehow have a humanity to it. Pacific is the album, and the ocean which may well wash onto his shore. There’s some wire in Brisbane’s Gung Ho’s guitars as well, but it’s more the hum from an old Cure record. Strangers (Mucho Bravado) happily accepts its debt to ‘80s post-punk, and will jump about in the prescribed manner. Dave Favours probably listened to records from back then as well, but came out via the outlaw country backroad, which means his One Hand On The Wheel EP (Stanley Records) comes with some noise recognisable from his previous band, The Delivery, and a Clash cover – although the dub of Bankrobber taken for a cruise down Route 66 may sound unlikely, but actually works pretty well. Twangs good.

GREEN DAY

‘Tis obviously the silly season, and that’s not just a reference to Kelly Clarkson’s cover of I’ll Be Home For Christmas (RCA) and/or Hot Chelle Rae’s Jingle Bell Rock (Sony), though even they’re more agreeable than the dribble of predictable seasonal offerings suitable for your aunties who don’t like music from the likes of Rod Stewart, Michael Buble and the anti-Christ with a violin that is Andre Rieu. Further covers from different classes of the school of the bizarre are offered by The Slice – basically original Hoodoo Guru and latterly film guy Kimble Rendall and composer Jason Fernandez – as they provide closing music for that ‘shark-in-a-shop’ 3D-B-movie Bait with a old punk-style hack at Mack The Knife (Highway 125). Big, stupid, loud fun – but not a pinch on my karaoke version. Then there’s the odd collision of Something For Kate having another shot of kickstarting their sputtering resurrection with the Miracle Cure EP featuring a cover of The Divinyls Pleasure & Pain (EMI). At least it’s not Dempsey crooning I Touch Myself, or that one note version of Springsteen’s Born To Run they regularly trot out lately.

The delicate and particularly composed music evokes the feeling of a foreign land – there are streams of Greek folk music here to be sure (fans of Psarantonis will find much to love), but even so, the foreign feeling extends beyond this. Francesconi and Peart have done a beautiful job of creating a world here – you’ll feel lost, home and intrigued all at once. The usual complaints levelled against non-experimental instrumental music will likely be made here; there’s not enough variation, it blends into the background, it’s emotionally uniform. And these criticisms are not entirely unfounded, but the record stands up beautifully and we, as listeners, can feel privileged to hear this duo create for us a world that is entirely theirs. Andrew McDonald

THE D.O.T.

RIHANNA

BERTIE BLACKMAN

Shock

Universal

Mike Skinner only ended The Streets last year, but it’s been eight years since A Grand Don’t Come For Free, and Rob Harvey’s The Music’s 2011 break-up went largely unnoticed; so how does this union stand up compared to Skinner’s past and The Music’s 2002 flash in the pan?

Rihanna… anna… anna… It takes around 30 seconds into her first song before the pop princess drops her first F-bomb. So it’s business as normal, so far. What’s worrying about Rihanna’s latest stab, actually, what’s troubling, are the messages lurking behind her music. Take Nobody’s Business, her controversial duet with Chris Brown – the same Chris Brown who slapped her silly not so long ago. It’s not an easy listen to hear a young, talented woman talk so openly about domestic violence with her abuser. What’s more bizarre is that she’s talking about forgiveness and loving again. If Rihanna’s not making snugly with Brown, she’s talking dirty and swearing.

Bertie Blackman’s fourth studio album, Pope Innocent X, is an accomplished display of the singer’s incredible musical dexterity, with impressively complex instrumental arrangement, vocals and lyrical content spanning the entire record.

And That

The album’s music is unquestionably more popdriven than we’ve heard from Skinner in the past. The beats, most reminiscent of 2011’s Computers & Blues, shuffle and keep a constant and modern hip hop pace. It’s very easy to see how interested in production Skinner has become since he started his career ten years ago. He takes a vocal backseat on this record, but his voice is all over it. Rob Harvey sings lead on the lion’s share of the album, but Skinner’s production is so tight, groovy and glowing, Harvey can’t help but sound like a guest on his own record. The album is largely a straight-up electro pop/rock outing, with highlights like Goes Off and Weapon Of Choice treading familiar Streets territory of lost nights and broken hearts. Harvey belts it like he’s always been able to, yelling: “Fuck me like you used to”, on Like You Used To – it’s the kind of melancholic and ‘too honest’-sounding lyric we accept, and revel in, from Skinner. Though it’s unfortunately a statement we might direct at Skinner himself – And That is a fine record, enjoyable and well produced by two people whose camaraderie shines through the beats. Though knowing what Skinner is capable of, even as recently as last year, it can’t help but be a minor letdown. Andrew McDonald

Unapologetic

Pope Innocent X

But who said pop music is bland? Unapologetic is vocally daring, brave, expressive and her best creative yield thus far. It’s also a colossal onefingered salute and a fuck you to outsiders.

The album begins with Tremors capturing the listener’s attention immediately with its intriguing vocal introduction and hard-hitting, syncopated rhythm. Mercy Killers is equally striking, with heavily textured instrumental lines and complex rhythms. However, the track’s lyricism is not as sophisticated as that of the opener. Growl Howl consolidates the build-up created by the opening songs, again with an intense rhythm and captivating vocal arrangement. Unfortunately, the record falters slightly with Boy, which feels less cohesive and less effective than other tracks. Blackman truly displays her remarkable versatility with Accordion Boat, which is softer and slower than the preceding tracks, focusing less on rhythm and allowing the singer’s incredibly powerful vocals to dominate. Stella marks a change in pace once again, with its piano melody and affecting high vocal tones displaying both the singer’s wide range of musical competence and her impressive vocal range. Shadow Chasers is one of the most entrancing songs on the record, with its softer, steady, calm vocals taking centre stage. The album closes with Mistakes, which, while not nearly as striking as some of the other songs on the album, is nonetheless an effective choice of closer as its simple piano melody and emotive lyricism demand and hold the listener’s attention from beginning to end. Pope Innocent X’s strength is that there is really never a dull moment, with Blackman constantly providing the listener new ways to absorb and appreciate her formidable musical talent.

Stuart Evans

Lucia Osborne-Crowley

Diamonds, which was written by Sia, is little more than Rihanna going through the motions and Phresh Out The Runway is all over the place and sounds more like an old rave anthem that modern-day pop. Loveeeeeee Song wins the award for dumbest title and also worst song on the album (it’s deadly dull) while piano lullaby, Stay displays a softer side. Numb, her connect with Eminem, fares better while there’s the obligatory David Guetta appearance as the maneverywhere lends a hand to Right Now, a decent attempt at electro pop without the remarkable synths of her memorable collaboration with Calvin Harris. Towards the end of Unapologetic she asks, ‘What’s love without tragedy?’ Surely fans seek to know why Rihanna believes tragedy and love have a relationship.

CHRISTMAS ALBUM REVIEWS BY SCOTT FITZSIMONS

The Christmas album market is a minefield of re-releases, re-issues, rushed ideas and utter dribble, but that doesn’t mean that the whole thing is a write-off. There’s been some gold amongst the gifts over the years (particularly Bifrost Arts’ Salvation Is Created and The Wiggles’ Wiggly Wiggly Christmas), or at least something that isn’t going to drive the family insane before Boxing Day, when all of this becomes irrelevant. To start off, each year there’s an indie band that takes the whole thing quite seriously, and this year it’s Canada’s Hey Rosetta!, who will be familiar to some Australian fans. They’ve got an EP titled A Cup Of Kindness Yet (Dine Alone/ Shock) that, as the name suggests, ends in a reworking of Auld Lang Syne under the guise of New Year Song. There’s something just not quite right about the classic New Year’s anthem being sung in anything but Scottish English though, even if Hey Rosetta! try to prove they’re genuine and rustic earlier on the disc with O Come O Come Emmanuel. Not traditional enough for grandma, not ironic enough for your share house roommates, it’s enjoyable somewhere in the middle.

Judging by chart domination, most people will be getting a copy of Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise/Warner) again this year. A re-release of last year’s record, he makes even the most grating carols bearable and even after 51 minutes you still can’t hate the man. But even better is Welsh vocalist Katherine Jenkins’ This Is Christmas (Warner). The classical-crossover singer moves from operatic splendour in (another good version of) O Come O Come Emmanuel and Sleep Quietly My Jesus to sultry big band numbers such as Santa Baby – which should be soundtracking a Hugh Grant rom-com. Her classical repertoire gives her the edge over our own Delta Goodrem, who can’t really settle into her Christmas (Sony) EP. With slide guitars and a Nashville shine, it’s an admirable stepping out of both her comfort zone and the festive norm, but she works too hard to make the vocals star and the conflict cheapens the whole experience, which feels rushed. Lady Antebellum, on the other hand, know all about Nashville and it’s disappointing to see them water everything down for On This Winter’s Night (EMI). The country trio – one of the US’s biggest acts – cash in on the pedestrian All I Want For Christmas Is You and the overblown Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. There’s hope in the title track, the last on this four-track EP, but it’s still too ‘fairy lights’ and not enough substance.

FURTHERMORE

The second version of Auld Lang Syne comes from Celtic Woman’s three-track EP, Home For Christmas (EMI), and is sung by Marina Prior. Chalk this one up as another version that’s going to be easily forgotten though, its delicacy and prettiness not making up for the lack of emotive power that Dougie MacLean long ago proved the traditional classic has. The other two tracks house more appeal, but only when the Celtic influences break out of the festive weight. Katherine Jenkins’ album is a better orchestral option this year. American piano rock starlet Christina Perri is throwing her hat in the ring this year with the horrendously titled A Very Merry Perri Christmas (Warner) EP. Thankfully, there’s more tact in the measured, if a bit emotionally manipulative, five tracks, which include the original Something About December. Ave Maria seems a bit beyond her – particularly given some of the other versions around – and Happy Xmas (War Is Over) is again overawing. Not a bad – and certainly palatable – effort, but it fades into the background.

The most upbeat offering comes from Gnarls Barkley vocalist Cee Lo Green, who is once again full of surprises on Cee Lo’s Magic Moment (Warner). Dramatic and bombastic, with even a little bit of Christmas Eve storytelling in You’re A Mean One, Mr Grinch, towards the end he’s joined by Rod Stewart and Trombone Shorty in Merry Christmas, Baby. It’s a Christmas of love, rather than tradition with Green, until Silent Night closes proceedings. US pop rock outfit Hot Chelle Rae are also on the lookout for the playful side of the festival season with Jingle Bell Rock (Sony), but it’s a derogatory and uninventive take on the worn-out number that is best forgotten with haste. You’ll also be wishing you could forget the ‘reunion’ of Olivia Newtown John & John Travolta on This Christmas. It comes off as a comedy when the two try to ‘act’ through the video for I Think You Might Like It (oh John, how far we done fall), but it’s more of a tragedy when you’ve only got the audio. Over-blown, over-produced and over-Photoshopped, there are much better ways to give to charity. The cast of Glee released an album too, Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Vol. 3 (Sony), but it mainly serves as a reminder of why the first two were so grating.

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Experience Film International Film School Sydney Open Night Thursday 10th January 6:00pm – 8:00pm Want to experience film like never before? Then you need to experience IFSS. Come along to our Open Night on Thursday 10th January, where you will be guided through the realm of filmmaking by students and teachers that are practicing in the industry. Every school says “we’re different”. The difference at IFSS is that we live up to that promise. In two years with us, you make up to six films and work on up to 24 other films being made by your peers. You won’t get to do that at any other film school in Sydney! So come along on Thursday 10th January and experience IFSS.

RSVP online at ifss.edu.au/whats-happening/open-days-events T: 02 9663 3789 E: info@ifss.edu.au W: www.ifss.edu.au L: 27 Rosebery Ave, Rosebery NSW 2018

Apply Now for Feb 2013 Intake at ifss.edu.au

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THIS WEEK IN

ARTS

A Black Woman Anton Kannemeyer in Taboo

TUESDAY 18

FRIDAY 21

Life Of Pi – the film adaption of Yann Martel’s novel about a young man who survives a disaster at sea. Directed by Ang Lee, tonight Lee will discuss his new film after an advanced screening. Westfield Bondi Junction, 7pm. Eye/Sore – a premiere screening of this documentary produced by Deep Corridors with the intention to examine the diverse graffiti that permeates the suburbs of Western Sydney and explore the experience of graffiti artists and the community. Information & Cultural Exchange, 6.30pm.

Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular – Murray Gold’s music from the last two seasons of Doctor Who performed by The Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Ben Foster while Doctor Who screens. Watch out for the Silence, Daleks and Cybermen. Sydney Opera House, 7pm.

WEDNESDAY 19 Bric ‘a’ Brac – the first Australian solo exhibition from UK artist Penfold, this body of work sees Penfold delve into his roots of abstract art and graffiti. Opening, The Tate Gallery, 6pm. Sightseers – a new black comedy film directed by Ben Wheatley about Chris, who wants to show girlfriend Tina his home isle, but events soon conspire against the couple and their dream caravan holiday takes a very wrong turn. Free Christmas Screening, Popcorn Taxi, Dendy Newtown, 6.30pm.

THURSDAY 20 Taboo – a group exhibition with artists Bindi Cole, Jimmie Durham, Leah Gordon and Alicia Henry to name a few. There will also be late night screenings of controversial films, a performance series and in conversations. Curated by Brook Andrew. MCA to Sunday 24 February.

SUNDAY 23 Francis Bacon: Five Decades – the first major Australian exhibition of Francis Bacon’s work, exhibiting over fifty paintings by this Irish-born painter, and took four years to collate from galleries such as The Tate, The Met, Pompidou Centre and The Francis Bacon Estate. Art Gallery of NSW to Saturday 23 February.

UPCOMING IN ARTS Racecourse Drive In Cinema – Randwick Racecourse will be transformed into a 450-car capacity movie theatre this summer. The 2013 season will include 40 public sessions running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday to the end of July. The films will be announced early next year, so for more info head to racecoursedrivein.com.au My First Time – a play written by Ken Davenport and writers of the blog myfirsttime.com that was started in 1988 and became an instant internet phenomenon as it allowed people to anonymously share stories about ‘their first time’. Performed by four actors and directed by Jo Turner. Opening at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday 3 January.

THE CIRCLE IS NOW COMPLETE Twenty years after the classic dialogue-free spiritual travelogue of Baraka, producer/co-editor/co-writer Mark Magidson and the team have returned with the powerful sequel, Samsara. Just don’t hold your breath for a follow-up, as Kris Swales discovers. It was two decades ago that cineastes and stoners alike were first mesmerised by the non-verbal spiritual journey across the globe known as Baraka. That film was a direct descendent of Godfrey Reggio’s 1982 cult head trip Koyaanisqatsi, both sharing the same cinematographer in Ron Fricke. Industrial designer and inventor Mark Magidson was drawn into Fricke’s circle between the two, having served as co-producer on the former and its predecessor, the IMAX release Chronos. These so-called “guided meditations”

would’ve been more than enough for fans to spend a lifetime mulling over, but you can now add Samsara to the equation as well. A new opus of 70mm filmmaking, the Samsara shoot took Magidson, director/cinematographer Fricke and their multitasking skeleton crew of “only four or five people” to 25 countries over nearly five years of production, shooting locations and people uncovered by their research of the title concept – “A Tibetan Sanskrit word that means ‘birth, death and rebirth’,” says Magidson, “or another word would be ‘impermanence’.”

to make sure that it’s all designed, eventually, to come to a laugh.”

MURDER IN SIGHT Three films in and Ben Wheatley’s presided over quite nt. Anthony Carew adds it all up with a body count. the director on the eve of his latest, Sightseers.

The Life of Pi

In Baraka, the camera felt like an independent observer. Samsara, by contrast, makes you feel more involved in the action – whether that be at a funeral involving a gunshaped “fantasy coffin” in Ghana or on the cutting room floor of various meat production facilities. “I don’t know about when you say ‘more involved’,” counters Magidson, though he concedes that even with their philosophy of letting audiences take their own meaning out of their films, the imagery in Samsara is more confronting than Baraka. “But we don’t want to make a statement about good or bad, or right or wrong,” Magidson explains, “because we don’t want to bring the film into a place where the flow of the imagery is interrupted by a point of view that’s a political point of view. “Even though you could say that there is some political… how would

Even as director Ben Wheatley turns from low-rent crime-movie (2009’s Down Terrace) and horror (2011’s Kill List) to comedy, the kills keep coming: Sightseers finding comics Steve Oram and Alice Lowe playing a pair of polar fleece-

clad dimwits whose ‘romantic’ caravanning holiday gets a little murdery. “Just because you’re making a comedy doesn’t mean you can’t have drama, and pathos, and darkness,” says the 40-year-old English filmmaker. “You just have

Wheatley had wanted to make a comedy when coming off Kill List, an artful study of wild cult ritual clearly influenced by the original The Wicker Man. Though genre nerds reacted to it gleefully, Wheatley enjoyed assembling it far less. “Kill List ended up being quite a depressing, difficult film to make,” he says. “The shoot was fun, but the editing of it turned out to be quite traumatising. I hadn’t really thought what it would be like to patiently sit down and make something so horrible, a film that is explicitly designed to terrify people. I ended up, as I was watching it day after day in the edit suite, feeling quite guilty ab about it all. When you could mak make any kind of film, it feels like qu quite a strange thing to make a film that is going to make people upse upset. So, this time, I wanted to ma make something that could make peop people happy.” And, so, Sightseers ttrails Oram and Lowe, listening in i on their comic riffs, which co come delivered in a droll Midlands de deadpan. “It’s about how relationsh relationships work in terms of dynamics; hhow people negotiate being together, how the balance of power works, and how sometimes that power goes back and forward,” Wheatley says; these power games leading to numerous scenes in which their casual murdering comes as the result of emotional blackmail. The bloodied trail they leave – and the sense

yo say it,” he pauses, in search you of the right word, “content that is brought along with the image and br the choice of image that we’re th making, we’re not trying to take m it too far. We’re really trying to provide an experience that allows pr people to feel a connection [of] pe the life experience to their own th humanity – we’re all related hu and connected to each other. an If you have that experience, regardless of how, that’s a positive outcome for us as filmmakers.” Scored by Baraka’s Michael Stearns and Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance), these inner journeys for the viewer of Samsara have taken Magidson on a literal journey to 57 countries over the course of three films. Magidson helped Fricke (“one of the best cinematographers in the world, I think”) develop the motion control time-lapse technology that has been such a striking feature of all three films, and though the director has stated elsewhere that he’s ready to pack the flight cases and do it all again, Magidson is not so sure. “I’m not unenthusiastic, I’m just not enthusiastic. And you have to be really enthusiastic to want to take that kind of time and effort. Four-and-a-half years on a film and you watch it in one-hundred minutes and sometimes you question – ‘what are you doing?’ “But, you know, I’m very proud of the film and really happy with the end result.” WHAT: Samsara WHEN & WHERE: In cinemas Wednesday 26 December that these characters are out to kill anyone who could be perceived as their rivals – is, for Wheatley, a commentary on the ancient urges still bubbling in modern man. “The characters aren’t travelling across the landscape so much as they’re travelling back through time,” Wheatley offers. “The places they visit are out-of-the-way, often industrial places; and there’s this sense that they’re moving further away from modern life, deeper into the past, until they’re just a couple of people on the side of a mountain. They’re almost like cavemen by the end of it. They’re in touch with their more primal, more violent, side and they also create their own moral universe. “Even though I wanted to make something different, there are ideas that are there in Down Terrace, Kill List and Sightseers. People are modern people, but they’re ancient people as well. As you get older, you see the history around you and you realise that you’re not in this completely unique moment. We’re sold this reassuring idea that as you move into the future, things are getting better, but everything’s just repeating. A lot of people have died for humanity to get to the point where you stand now, Twittering away. Wherever you are in England, you’re never too far away from somewhere that a lot of blood has been spilt.” WHAT: Sightseers WHEN & WHERE: In cinemas December 26

To check out the mags online go to themusic.com.au/mags • 87

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REVIEWS

C U LT U R A L

LES MISERABLES FILM A big-screen version of Les Miserables was never going to be an easy task. The outsized emotionality and play-to-the-back-row bombast of the show, an adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic, sprawling tale of revolution and redemption in 17th century France, would seem better suited to the theatre than the cinema. But that hasn’t stopped Oscar-winning King’s Speech director Tom Hooper and a game, passionate cast headed by Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe from giving it a red-hot go. There’s commitment and conviction to spare in the work of everyone involved but nuance and subtlety appear to have been secondary concerns. Isn’t that always the way with musicals of this nature, though? Therefore adjust your expectations accordingly and

PSYCHO BEACH PARTY THEATRE Having recently overheard a teenage girl on a train declare that “leopard print is a state of mind”, this Stephen Nicolazzo-directed production of Charles Busch’s beach-based B-movie-esque and its furry furnishings (courtesy of Owen Philips’ design) embody the statement. Draped top to bottom in faux fur but too flamboyant to be camouflaged, the order is for prize-winning smiles, big acting and plenty of song and dance. Ash Flanders seems to delight in the multifaceted role of Florence ‘Chicklet’ Forrest, as triggers turn her from saccharine sweet teen to mad dominatrix in a believable

In cinemas Wednesday 26 December

88 • For more reviews go to themusic.com.au/reviews

There was a huge media circus at Sydney Airport and in court for Hey Dad actor Robert Hughes’ arrival back in Australia on Thursday. He arrived on a flight from London before being taken to Surry Hills police station accompanied by officers from the Sex Crimes Squad. The actor is charged with numerous child abuse offences dating back to 1984. The 64-year-old agreed to an order to Sydney for questioning. Carriageworks has announced its 2013 Artistic Program following a strong year that saw the multi-arts centre double its audience to more than 220,000 visitors. Director Lisa Havilah attributes the attendance boost to the venue’s first annual program that included partnerships with Sydney Festival and the Biennale Of Sydney. In 2013 the venue will present arts, theatre, dance, film and music projects reflecting the cultural diversity of its Redfern home and beyond. Carriageworks will also continue to present free projects, including an Archie Roach concert on Saturday 26 January. The final cast has been announced for the Addams Family musical that opens in March at the Capitol Theatre. John Waters is playing Gomez, Chloe Dallimore is Morticia, Russell Dykstra will be Uncle Fester and Teagan Wouters is cast as Wednesday Addams. Lurch will be played by Ben Hudson and

go to soloists Antoinette Halloran and Daniel Bonic-Goodwin (the latter particularly spine-tingling), and while there were elements of pantomime to the proceedings (complete with “I can’t hear you, scream louder” moments), the love in the room was infectious. If you’re not already a believer, the appeal is simple: these are ambitious stories supported with amazing attention to detail – particularly lush, playful, ornate music. Organised roughly chronically tonight to allow for different characters’ and story arc themes (as well as to allow the ‘live’ monsters to change). Some favourites might have been given a bit more, but let’s face it, two hours was never going to cover it all. Santa came early for a few good little (and big) aspiring timelords tonight. A perfect screen-to-stage transition. Liz Giuffre Opera House to Friday 21 December

Meredith O’Reilly is Grandma. The show features an original story in which Wednesday, the ultimate princess of darkness, disappoints her parents by getting a “normal” boyfriend. You have to feel sorry for everyone involved in the Sydney station 2Day FM prank phone call to British nurse Jacintha Saldanha saga. Her subsequent suicide is tragic, but the pressure on commercial radio presenters to come up with entertaining stunts is huge. This stunt follows the lie detector scandal of 2009, in which a 14-year-old girl revealed on air that she had been raped. The Australian Communications & Media Authority then found the station breached decency standards and ordered it to implement a staff training program. Screen Australia has announced a $5 million investment in 13 documentaries triggering nearly $15 million in production. Three series and a one-off doco have been greenlit from the National Documentary Program. They include Once Upon A Time In Carlton, which follows SBS’s Once Upon A Time In Cabramatta and Once Upon A Time In Punchbowl (to be produced by Sue Clothier, looking at the 70-year history of the Italian migrant community in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton); and the second series of art + soul will offer new insights into contemporary Aboriginal art and culture (produced for the ABC by Bridget Ikin and Jo-anne McGowan with writer Hetti Perkins and director Steven McGregor).

TRASH

WITH GUY DAVIS

Dave Drayton The Bondi Pavilion Theatre

the man behind the character, but for the most part it was hilarious sex and relationship advice delivered with a charismatic and dumbfounded incredulity at everyone else’s stupidity. You get the sense that while there may be some loose plan for proceedings, Smoove, much like Black, likes to fly by the seat of his pants, to rely on his hustle. These elements of improv come to the fore in the way Smoove circles before landing a joke, he’ll arrive at a topic – ejaculate (a topic, and not the act of, kind of), or why he likes high heels – and spends time feeling it out before the punchline lands. Occasionally the wait is worth it, but too often it’s not. As a show that started late and goes for well over an hour, it starts to drag. Dave Drayton Factory Theatre

WITH JAMELLE WELLS

TRAILER

It wasn’t just the collection of costumes that made tonight fabulous (although they were certainly sublime). Nor was it the fans overcome at key moments (David Tennant’s regeneration never fails to jerk a tear). Tonight was completely made by some amazing music delivered with great passion, live – so rare when we think about TV and sound. The Sydney Metropolitan Orchestra and Philharmonic Choir were flawless and fun (unlike the sometimes ‘stuffy’ SSO and MSO), and while the international bigwigs were in to help (Doctor Who composer Murray Gold and conductor/arranger Ben Foster), it was these performances that made it. Particular kudos must

Having shot to infamy via his role as Larry David’s unlikely sidekick – the street smart, no nonsense and absolutely hilarious Leon Black in Curb Your Enthusiasm – a little highlight reel displayed on the big screen was a great way to warm the crowd to JB Smoove’s no-holds-barred start. Opening act Matt Okine had done a good job of his slot, garnering giggles and guffaws in equal measure while regaling the crowd with tales of managing to suck his own penis, amongst other things. But it was Leon Black people were here to see, almost more so than Smoove, and in that way Smoove delivered; occasionally cracks appeared in the boisterousness that revealed

Guy Davis

display of split personalities. Even with his heroic efforts, the rest of the cast offer just as much – Amanda McGregor is the epitome of terrifying housewife glamour; beach boys Paul Blenheim, Kevin Kiernan Molloy, Tom Dent, and Peter Paltos have all the necessary tongue in cheek bravado; and Genevieve Giuffre threatens to steal the show with her hilarious performance as Chicklet’s nerdy, excitable sidekick, Berdine, who earns plenty of laughs with a masticated lisp. While a wonderfully sassy and shamelessly tacky summer romp it may be, it does not quite reach the heights (low culture can get there!) that Nicolazzo’s previous work as a director has hinted at.

DOCTOR WHO SYMPHONIC SPECTACULAR CONCERT

JB SMOOVE COMEDY

there’s every chance you’ll be swept away by the saga of Jackman’s Jean Valjean, imprisoned nearly 20 years, and his attempts to begin anew despite the doggedness of Crowe’s grudge-carrying lawman Javert. (For the record: Jackman’s musicaltheatre background and natural air of sincerity and decency give the film a rock-solid foundation, while Crowe’s singing is capable but his brawny, intimidating presence works a treat.) Of course, there’s also heartbreak (personified by Anne Hathaway’s performance as the tragic Fantine, which left me impressed but not especially moved), comedy in the scummy Thenardiers, love between fresh-faced couple Cosette and Marius and courage (noble masses versus snooty one-percenters!). Something for everybody, really.

CRINGE

It’s the time of year when people start making lists and checking them twice, selecting the movies they consider the finest and the most foul. Now, I’m not one to suggest a certain amount of groupthink occurs among the critical community – I’m sure the people who select films like Argo, The Master, A Separation, Beasts Of The Southern Wild or Holy Motors for their ten-best lists legitimately appreciated and admired them – but I will say that it can get a little wearying seeing the same titles again and again. For the record, I too dug most of the movies listed above... I haven’t seen Holy Motors yet but I intend to catch it before the end of the year. Here at Trailer Trash, though, we do things slightly differently. We dabble in the disreputable. And so as 2012 draws to a close I’ve taken it upon myself to spring to the defence of a handful of titles that may have received, well, a bad rap. Maybe expectations were too high. Maybe expectations were rock-bottom to begin with. Maybe they were never given a chance to connect with a wider audience for whatever reason. But I’ll tell you something: I found them worthwhile. Maybe not from beginning to end or top to bottom; maybe there were only a few sparkling diamond-inthe-rough moments that, however briefly, glittered so brightly that the whole enterprise went up a notch or two. So maybe reapproach the following films with an open mind. Or call me a philistine with dubious taste and stunted development. Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance: The only way was up after Mark Steven Johnson botched the fuck out of the flame-skulled, chopper-riding Marvel Comics anti-hero with that made-in-Melbourne mediocrity that was inadvertently responsible for unleashing Rebel Wilson onto the world stage (remember she was in it?). Its lack of quality aside, it made enough bank to ensure a sequel... but everyone behind the scenes realised they never again wanted to be associated with something so lacklustre. So they rebooted, keeping only Nicolas Cage as the titular demon but adding some much-needed spice behind the camera in the form of Crank

crazies Neveldine/Taylor. The result? A tricked-out, hotted-up B-movie full of groovy visuals, self-aware humour and awesome scenery chewers, with Cage leading the parade. Seriously, it was worth the price of admission to see him freak out a bad guy by screeching that his evil alter ego was “SCRAPIN’ AT THE DOOOOOR! SCRAPIN’ AT THE DOOOOOR!” Safe: Everyone’s favourite soccer hooligan, Jason Statham, had a great moment in the generally lacking Expendables 2 when his wicked grin sold the shit out of, “I now pronounce you... man and knife.” (He then, you know, knifed a man.) But for pure, uncut Statham, may I recommend the marvellously pulpy Safe, in which he played the baddest motherfucker alive. Of course, he displayed his softer side by coming to the rescue of a little girl in possession of info that could take down crooked cops, corrupt politicians and at least two crime syndicates. But he also kicked the shit out of a lot of people in the process. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: At first glance, this appeared to take itself too seriously for a movie with such a title and concept. But on second viewing I realised that was its masterstroke. This movie is utterly absurd – I mean utterly – but it plays it all so straight that it achieves a kind of deadpan-comedy genius. (I was reminded of Highlander, another movie that deftly combined nuttiness with sincerity.) Of course, I was super-stoned at the time, so you may wish to take this opinion with a grain of salt or a gram of marijuana. Get The Gringo: Mel Gibson is a troubled, troubling individual, and it seems as if all the poison inside him is starting to manifest itself externally. Or that could just be the natural toll of time. I’m not a scientist, but the ravages of age have also transformed him from awfully handsome to craggily interesting, and to his credit he’s embracing that. In the sweaty, grimy B-movie Get The Gringo – which energetically plays like the bottom half of a drive-in double feature circa 1976 – he has the rough-edged appeal of a latter-day Robert Mitchum. And for better or worse, Gibson doesn’t give a fuck about being in anyone’s good books anymore. He may be a mess in all kinds of ways but he’s beholden to no one. It’s as fascinating as only the finest trainwrecks can be.

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THE EMPIRE PITCHES A TENT

AN ODD THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO 2013 As Glenworth Valley gets ready to greet both the New Year and Peats Ridge party goers, Pork Collective head honcho Pete Manwaring tells a slightly freaked out Paul Ransom that things could get a little odd.

Fresh from New York, the Spiegelworld star fleet will aim to colonise Australia this summer. As choreographer John ‘ChaCha’ O’Connell promises a suitably agog Paul Ransom, this Empire is worth being part of. As sophisticated as we think we are, somehow we still love feats of raw physical prowess. What else could explain the phenomenal punter-pleasing, critic-dazzling success of New York superstar circus Empire? When the Spiegelworld crew pitch their 700-seat mirror-panelled tent on Australian soil for their 2013 summer tour, they will do so in the knowledge that they have the guns to pull it off. With top shelf acts like Elena Lev and the utterly astounding Addis Brothers, Empire is taking the already epic circus revival to new heights.

Partly it’s because, behind the scenes, they work exhaustively on detail; and Australian choreographer John ‘Cha-Cha’ O’Connell is very much part of that backstage effort. Having collaborated with Baz Luhrmann on everything from Strictly to Moulin and Gatsby, working with non-dancers in a tent might seem a little leftfield; until you scratch a little. “I worked a lot on the various transitions between the acts,” he explains, “So, for instance, while one act is doing his German Wheel routine another act will come out with ostrich feathers and do a bit of a Vegas showgirl routine.” In addition to smoothing out the segues O’Connell has also been working closely with hula star Elena Lev on Empire’s bubble act. “She had not actually worked in the bubble before so we had to pull all that together, combining her skills with some very un-traditional bubble work.” Ultimately though it’s all still circus and we’ve all seen it before. So why Empire? For O’Connell, the answer is obvious. “I have to say that it’s the calibre of the acts, which is extremely high. For instance, we’ve got the Addis Brothers from Ethiopia, who are

foot jugglers. It’s one of the most amazing acts I’ve ever seen. On opening night it got something like five standing ovations; and that was during the act.”

With its backdrop of sustainability, camping out and NYE hoopla, Peats Ridge has been recycling out-of-date calendars and putting on parties since 2004. This year in the valley Sydney’s Pork Collective will bring their avowedly eccentric Night Odditorium to the festival site. Crammed with over 60 acts, the Odditorium has been described as a “little left-wing anarchist world” and, as befitting such a freakthemed sideshow, it promises to stretch the perceptions. For chief curator and head oddball Pete Manwaring, there most definitely is something in a name.

Indeed, the show’s Big Apple debut saw Spiegelworld pitch their antique tent on a prime lot “just down from” Times Square. As John O’Connell recalls, they were playing opposite the theatre in which the musical Once was struggling for audiences. “At first of course it hadn’t won the Tony Award and business was a bit slow but we had quite big crowds outside ours. Then it won the Tony and you couldn’t get a seat. It was just crazy after that.” Of course, part of Empire’s allure is the tailored venue. Although it has room for 700 (and attendant bar facilities) the show happens on a handkerchief stage. “We’ve got these roller-skaters who are so fast and you’re, like, one foot away,” O’Connell enthuses. “Y’know, the sweat of the acrobats is coming off in your face.” Even if a shower of carny sweat isn’t your idea of a great night out, Empire not only has spectacular bells and whistles (Oscar & Fanny, Gorilla Girls, Carrot Man) but a rowdy, intimate atmos. “It’s like being someone’s living room, but a very classy one. In fact, it looks a bit like Moulin Rouge with the mirrored panels and the velvet. It gives you something that you can’t get at a typical circus show. It’s a got a bit more of an ‘anything’s up for grabs’ kinda feel to it.” Who said the Age of Empire was over? WHAT: Empire WHNE & WHERE: Friday 4 January to Sunday 27 January, Showring At The Entertainment Quarter

“We used to use terms like surreal and strange or irreverent but I think ‘odd’ kinda sums it up,” he says. “The concept is that it’s another world and people come through this rebirthing passage, which I know is a bit of a cliché but it works at a festival. It’s where both audiences and performers have permission to be and do different things.” As the moniker suggests, the Night Odditorium will be both nocturnal and outside the square. In Manwaring’s own words it will be populated by a menagerie of “dancers, live musicians, DJs, carnies, freaks and weirdoes.” If all that sounds like a promisingly good

idea, Manwaring gladly concurs. “For us, a big part of it is to have a fantastic time. These festivals, they’re running on a shoe-string budget, so this is about getting ninety of our performer friends together and sharing our oddness.” Already veterans of festival land (with performance installations at the Sydney, Underbelly and Cockatoo Island festivals), the Pork Collective know that events like Peats Ridge present a particular set of challenges; not the least of which is the wandering, non-committal nature of the crowd. “That’s the festival world,” Manwaring calmly notes. “Every act deals with that. Rather than worry about it I like to shift the performer’s perspective a little and get them to accept that rather than being a one stage, one act, stop and watch show, ours is this combobulation of ten or twelve different things going on at once.

FINDING THE VOICE Andrew Bovell talks to Dave Drayton about the art of adaptation, and giving voice to the voiceless. “Collaboration is really important for me so I knew I had to find common ground with Neil, that we had to find some kind of shared mission,” says playwright Andrew Bovell (When The Rain Stops Falling, Lantana), who, alongside director Neil Armfield undertook to adapt Kate Grenville’s novel, The Secret River, for stage. First published in 2005, the historical fiction novel follows an early 19th century English family, the Thornhills, as they relocate to Australia, making a new home near the Hawkesbury River. A time when contact between European settlers and the Indigenous people of the land was in its formative stages,

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Bovell found the theatricality of the story in those early interactions and (mis)communications. “It took us a long time to crack it: what kind of play would this be?” Bovell asks the question that was bounced back and forth between himself and Armfield. “We really wanted to avoid a sense of an historical mini series, or the way television or film might treat this subject; we had to find the theatrical language. We knew that there needed to be a strong Indigenous language in the work, and that’s where a key breakthrough was.” Told from the point of view of the Thornhills, Grenville’s novel

depicts the Indigenous people of the Hawkebury as alien; a mystery. For Bovell, giving voice to them was the piece of the puzzle he had been missing. “In the book the Indigenous characters don’t speak; they’re observed from a distance, and we knew that we couldn’t have Indigenous people on stage and them not having a voice, so one of the big breakthroughs was to actually name the Aboriginal characters and to begin to give them a voice and begin to give them a perspective on what was happening.” Richard Green, an Elder of the Dharug tribe, who are native to the Hawkesbury region, was brought on as language consultant to assist in the process of giving these characters a voice. “Once we got that angle on it, it started to open

It’ll be an anarchic, hectic mess but that’s what it’s all about.” The obvious flipside for the Odditorium’s performers is that festival goers can also be up for a dose of experimenta. As Manwaring observes, “If we were to do this at the Opera House I think there would be a totally different expectation. It would be a lot more boxed up; whereas here it’s a lot more open.” Factored into everything that happens at Peats Ridge is festival founder Matt Grant’s philosophical focus on sustainability. For Manwaring and the Pork Collective this has meant getting clever with staging. The Odditorium uses old shipping containers, recycled sets and even discarded tents and inflatables to build its bizarrely coloured microcosm. “It’s a serious art piece disguised as a loose festival,” Manwaring concludes. ”One of the fundamental messages in my mind is about celebrating diversity and absurdity. It’s a response to the lack of respect I see elsewhere. A lot of people are very judgemental when they first see something different but in the Odditorium they will see a lot of things they haven’t seen before and some of them will get it; and we’ll be happy with that.” And if that sounds like an odd way to see out an even numbered year… So be it. WHAT: Night Odditorium WHEN & WHERE: Saturday 29 December to Tuesday 1 January, Peats Ridge Festival, Glenworth Valley up for us, us,” Bovell explains. “One One of the other key breakthroughs was that we decided there would be a narrator, and the narrator is called Deerubbin, which is the Dharug name for the Hawkesbury River, just to have that commanding voice as somebody who is telling us this story, giving this story to us – Deerubbin is partly Kate Grenville’s voice, partly my voice and partly the voice of the Dharug people.” As is to be expected given the novel’s thematic concerns, Bovell was intrigued by the historical impact of the arrival of the Europeans – something he had examined previously in an earlier play, Holy Day – but upon giving voice to those that were unheard, the final pieces fell into place and a more familial theme emerged. “We made a discovery that really this is about two families that had similarities as well as huge differences, and it was two families who occupied the same space. There’s some really key scenes centred on communication, and for a while you think there’s the possibility that these two people could coexist, and if they could have, we could have had a very different history. And that’s the great tragedy of the piece; it’s that there was another way on offer, and for a series of reasons William Thornhill wasn’t able to embrace it.” WHAT: The Secret River WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday 8 January to Saturday 9 February, Sydney Festival 2013, STC

level 2, kings cross hotel www.fbisocial.com

FRI 21ST DECEMBER GO HERE GO THERE

WED 19TH DECEMBER

1 ENTRY - 2 VENUES

FBi SOCIAL & WORLD BAR

LUNCH BREAK PRESENTED BY ALBERTS

GLASS TOWERS 1PM // FREE

THU 20TH DECEMBER

THE FOLK INFORMAL: A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

CLULOWFORESTER

FEATURING:

+ OSTINATO

THE LATE NIGHT SOUND + JOHNNY TOOK + EDWARD DEER + JAMES THOMSON + ALEX GUTHRIE 7PM // $10 at the door

+ MEN64 + DANI MULLA + CRUMBS IN THE CUPBOARD (DJ) 8PM // $10 at the door

CABINS + LIGHT GIANT + WHEAT FIELDS + EPITHETS + SKULLSQUADRON + ROBOPOP DJS + MUCH MUCH MORE!

8PM // $15 AT THE DOOR

SAT 22ND DECEMBER FOREIGNDUB PRESENTS: KOBRA KAI (SINGLE LAUNCH) + SHAMIK + SPIKEY TEE + KAKHAND + FOREIGNDUB DJS 9PM UNTIL LATE // $15 AT THE DOOR

FEATURE TOUR

EVAN DANDO & JULIANA HATFIELD Longtime friends and musical collaborators Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield will tour Australia together this December. Performing the entire set side by side, the duo will deliver acoustic versions of their expansive back catalogues including The Lemonheads, Blake Babies, their own solo material and a selection of covers. Support for all shows comes from Bambino Koresh, the new project for members of Smudge, Sneeze and Godstar. Catch them on Thursday 20 December at the Metro Theatre.

FRONTLASH WRITERS’ POLL WINNERS

Congrats to all those who picked up a gong in our annual writers’ poll.

POLL JOKES Writers’ Poll is our favourite time of year, when we can get all Carry On with poll jokes.

XMAS BREAK We’re off this week! Woot! See you in 2013.

BACKLASH WRITERS’ POLL WINNERS

That moment when you realise you forgot about a certain album or gig that would have been a lock for topping your poll....

POLL JOKES Sometimes a little too much Carry On can happen with poll jokes.

XMAS BREAK We’re off this week, but oh man that deadline damn near killed us.

Alexisonfire @ Hordern Pavilion. Pic by Josh Groom.

ALEXISONFIRE HOUSE VS HURRICANE HORDERN PAVILION: 11/12/12 Sweat and smiles. That is how one could best sum up Alexisonfire’s farewell show at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. House Vs Hurricane started things off in good fashion, wasting no time whipping up the

Alexisonfire @ Hordern Pavilion. Pic by Josh Groom. crowd into a circle pit from the first song in their set. The Melbourne five-piece tore everyone in attendance a new one, blistering through their halfhour set with incredible ferocity. There is no doubt that these ARIA-nominated guys have a big future in Australian music and proved they are definitely one of the big players in the hardcore scene. With the staged bathed in red lights, Alexisonfire took the stage to an ear-deafening roar. With

a sly grin spreading across front man George Pettit’s face, Alexisonfire launched into Young Cardinals, closely followed by Boiled Frogs and Heading For The Sun. The set was an awesome blend of their four albums, setting the room on fire with killer renditions of No Transitory, Dog’s Blood, Midnight Regulations, Get Fighted and .44 Caliber Love Letter, just to name a few. Dallas Green was in good voice, harmonising fantastically with Wade MacNeil’s raspy backing vocals and George’s screams, making songs like Born & Raised, Drunks, Lovers, Sinners & Saints, Accidents and Water Wings go down a treat. Despite being their final time to play in Sydney, there was no air of sadness. There was no animosity between the band members, no feeling

this farewell tour was done out of obligation. They were genuinely psyched to be playing the show as they joked around on stage, George and bassist Chris Steele playfully spitting water at each other. George went through five T-shirts, ripping each of them off Hulk Hoganstyle to the pure delight of the crowd. Sure this was a gig where elbows were connecting with faces on a regular basis, but needless to say there was a lot of love in the room. The band was devoted to the fans and the fans worshipped the band. Songs like Control and This Could Be Anywhere In The World were sung with conviction by both parties. Closing out with The Northern, This Could Be Anywhere... and Happiness By The Kilowatt, the Canadian post-hardcore heroes delivered the performance of a lifetime, and although they will be sorely missed, they will never be forgotten. Shayen De Silva

For more reviews go to themusic.com.au/reviews • 93

THE DATSUNS, THE TREATMENT ANNANDALE HOTEL: 16/12/12 With a sizeable crowd already gathered, four-piece The Treatment strolled out onto the stage with garage rock revival swagger, like they’re gonna party like it’s 2002. The lads proceeded to punch their way through a dirty, straight-up rock 50-minute setlist. Their sound, a uniform blues-driven, garage rock outing, was perfectly suited to an Annandale Hotel, Sunday night opening act. The crowd’s unfamiliarity with the material hurt the band’s performance, especially as the set went on and the songs blurred into one, admittedly impressive, blur of fuzzy rock‘n’roll. On the occasions they showed a little restraint or had some fun with their pedals, it got the crowd more interested and willing to dance. It’s easy to see this band developing a very dedicated fanbase in the future.

Gotye @ Sydney Entertainment Centre Pic by Josh Groom

GOTYE, PVT, BERTIE BLACKMAN SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE: 14/12/12 Gotye’s frankly mind-boggling rise in popularity affords him spots at the Sydney Entertainment Centre these days. Joining him were Sydney outfit PVT and Bertie Blackman (complete with furry animal suit). It was a clinical pop performance that coloured safely within the lines, and although it lacked any sort of spontaneity it still had a warm beating heart courtesy of Gotye’s humanist songwriting. Bertie Blackman performed a solid set of old and new material, starting off with Tremor. There’s not a whole lot of experimentation to her work, and she relies on basic pop tropes and instrumentation to get her message across. That being said, her slick delivery suits the semi-dark tone in her music and she provided just enough melodrama to keep it entertaining.

clips we know and love). The biggest question here was whether she’d live up to that level of adoration and worship? Will her minions be satisfied? The answer was easily a yes. Appearing on stage, Grimes was commanding two sets of synths and electronic gear – wobbling knobs, tweaking the pitch and looping her vocals around during the entire duration of her set. With the combination of the majestic backlighting, her elfin demeanour and the lush textural synths that blasted through the room, her set reached high levels of ecstasy, at times feeling transcendental. The Canadian artist, however, seemed to avoid many of the higher falsetto parts of her songs. Instead, she utilised pre-recorded vocals, adding lower harmonies and tones on-stage. Was this because she couldn’t hit the notes? It was a shame, because the lack of falsetto in songs such as Be A Body – which carries with it a superior hook – was a great loss to the effect of the song.

PVT played next with a perfectly fine set of synth-pop tunes that managed to keep us amused while not challenging us in any way.

BARCODE: 14/12/12 This Friday night found Brisbane act The Trouble With Templeton in Wollongong playing to an extremely intimate (read: miniscule) audience. This intimacy served to highlight everything that is right with TTWT: their new, expansive sounds; their gentlemanly (and gentlewomanly) manners, and their poignant, poetic lyricism. Taking place at one of Wollongong’s newest venues, the event also served to demonstrate the remarkable acoustic qualities and communal vibe of Barcode. Wollongong’s own Bexley de Lion opened the show. The band is a remarkable up-and-coming indie folk act; they travel seamlessly between ornately furnished, delicate soundscapes and raucous, percussion-heavy tracks. Their neat banjo pickings give tracks a kind of down-homey authenticity, and their warm, milk-and-honey vocals are gorgeous. The band’s lyricism has a kind of understated, oldworld charm; it would be interesting to see those vocals brought forward. With rich, earthy roots stylings and a polite, self-effacing stage manner, this band will be worth keeping an eye on.

This brings us to the key failing of the night – it was too choreographed. There was not a single hair out of place for the entire set, and while each element was well polished and sometimes even inspired (the use of his excellent music videos behind the stage was a great idea), the level of artifice was too apparent. The fact that not a single person on stage broke a sweat throughout the night was telling.

GRIMES, TASHA LEE MARSHALL OXFORD ART FACTORY: 11/12/12 As a 16-year-old singer/songwriter, Tasha Lee Marshall – from the Heaps Decent crew – showed incredible maturity through her on-stage mannerisms and songwriting capabilities. A little bashful at times, Marshall and her rap buddy Meds were stronger together, delivering a set of hip hop/pop tunes with confidence all around. Walking around the Oxford Art Factory, there were plenty of Grimes fan-girls and fan-boys sporting similar haircuts and styles to the kooky Claire Boucher (and her many dressed-up personalities as seen in the video

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Over a decade after their much-loved debut, these skinny mop-topped New Zealanders still know how to rock. Little has changed over the years, but with shows like this, do we really want it to?

THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON, DIRT FARMER, BEXLEY DE LION

The night tripped up a little with the introduction of ‘comedian’ Barry Morgan, whose shtick is smiling too much in a velvet brown suit. Helping out with State Of The Art, he squeezed some laughs out of the crowd and pranced off. Gotye played host rather than artist, and it felt forced and artificial.

Matt MacMaster

Venues like The Annandale must seem like second homes to these guys, who never once, in a breathless setlist lasting over an hour, looked like they weren’t just having a blast on stage. A responsive, dance- and mosh-heavy crowd didn’t hurt either. If we can claim antipodean comrades Russell Crowe, Crowded House and Phar Lap as Australian, then we sure as hell better take The Datsuns’ live show in the name of Sydney City.

Andrew McDonald

Gotye not only filled the room, he filled the stage as well. He had an inordinately large contingent of musicians helping him out, most with multiple instrument duties. His clockwork song structure is intricate and full of detail, and the material was flawlessly executed with impeccable professionalism and talent. The set started with the Middle Eastern strains of The Only Way, moved through the bossa nova flavoured What Do You Want? and the scuzzy ‘60s stomp of Easy Way Out.

Musically, the set was diverse and well-constructed, with nice shifts in tone and energy (Bronte resonated beautifully with an audience in rapture). Gotye is a humanist at heart, and his warm subject matter balanced out the super-smooth performance. Overall it was a great night, despite being completely and utterly safe. I envy fans who can remember seeing him in tiny venues with that same vibrant charm, free of the trappings and responsibilities of performing as a newly minted pop star.

A shoulder-to-shoulder crowd filled out the pub before The Datsuns took the stage. Touring in support of what is arguably the finest record of their career, Death Rattle Boogie, the New Zealand rockers have a certain level of hype. The band opened with the booming noise rock pounding of Gods Are Bored and everyone in the pub knew they were in for a hell of a show. The band’s effortless-looking “tight but unrehearsed” presentation belies the effort put into the act (and to be sure, The Datsuns are an act). Their interactions come only from playing together for as long as they have. The grooves between the band members – when to come in, when to sit out, when to punch it – sounded so natural and precise it’s impossible to not be wowed and all the punters are richer for it.

Grimes @ Oxford Art Factory Pic by Angela Padovan

Dirt Farmer followed up with their own brand of wild, boisterous, ‘60s-tinged rock/pop. The band have a cool vintage aesthetic, and their sounds and lyrical content work together to create a timeless, quaint pop

feel – this is particularly evident on their track, Kick It. However, the band’s stage banter verged on arrogant, with disparaging comments dropped about the event’s turnout and with the frontman unable to remember the name of the act that preceded them (despite the running order being pinned up on the wall beside him). This kind of talk is not particularly endearing, and kind of disappointing in a band with a neat sound. The Trouble With Templeton took to the stage all smiles and liveliness, despite the lateness of the hour. It seems as though this band’s sound has developed consistently over the past few months. Since Sydney performances earlier this year, the group have become more dynamic, more powerful, with increased attention to the power of the band’s complex soundscapes, and slightly less focus on lyricism and vocals. The band have an incredible capacity for using silence; taking sudden, deep rests during huge percussion sections, these silences building tension to dizzying heights. From the elegant keys to the delicate acoustic guitar work to the heavy, thudding drums, The Trouble With Templeton have developed a truly dynamic sound. Jessie Hunt

TAME IMPALA, THE GROWL ENMORE THEATRE: 13/12/12 Dynamic frontman Cam Avery led his swamp rock outfit The Growl during a spirited performance in the opening slot. It was a full-blooded set swimming in visceral energy – both(!) drummers punished their kits trying to extract as much juice as possible and played it smart by avoiding competitive rhythm gymnastics with each other, keeping things nice and simple. That’s the nature of visceral art – too much complexity and it pulls the experience out of your guts and stuffs it into your brain, and these guys definitely work hard to keep your belly full of fire. The songwriting was tight but relied too much on some well-worn clichés (Spice Trader Blues had a ton of kewl Sailor Jerry imagery but ultimately felt hollow, whereas folks such as Colin Meloy and John Darnielle sing like they were actually there). Personality and swivel-hipped vigour were in abundance, and it took care of any shortcomings in lyrical ability. Tame Impala shuffled out on stage to no intro track, no light show (house lights were still on actually), and no swagger, and this motley collection of young musicians at first blush seemed smaller and younger than their reputation would indicate, and an uninvited sense of reservation crept in. Stories of murky sets with terrible mixes began springing up like mushrooms in my head. Gotta Get Above It is the first cut from their celebrated second album Lonerism, and it’s a vigorous song filled with airtight vocal looping and rapid-fire rhythms not unlike dance music. Opening with something that quick and energetic was an excellent move, and when the first sunny power chord burst open, lifting Kevin Parker’s Lennon-esque vocals up to the ceiling, it destroyed the idea they were anything but a well-oiled and vigorously maintained machine. Laser-cut timing is so key to their performance, and Julien Barbagallo on drums was their secret weapon. He was phenomenal, and kept an important sense of discipline and momentum present amid the gorgeous psychedelic walls Parker and the others were busy building up and pulling down. Elephant was easily the standout, and an excellent example of how good they are at fearlessly exploring noise while keeping their eyes on the prize, snapping back into the riff instantly. These guys aren’t a fad, they’re the real deal. This isn’t retro rock, as that implies some level of passivity on their part. They control their sound through cuttingedge musicianship; they know exactly what they’re doing and don’t owe a damn thing to any scene or movement. Retro rock sounds like them, dammit. Matt MacMaster

Falsettos aside, there were no real holes or let downs to her live show. Accompanied by two back-up dancers who danced around like radioactive zombies – they had no set choreography, the dancers, along with Boucher, simply reacted to each song’s beat and direction – the action was aplenty and the mix was crystal clear, allowing the lush volumes of sound to coagulate into something greater than just sound. Boucher was successful in creating a surreal world of electronic soundscapes, elongating the intros and outros of each song into mystical waves, and even adding in some warped dubstep insanity at the end of Oblivion. At times it felt as though we had been transported to an underground rave in Berlin, but it was great to see that Grimes doesn’t take herself all too seriously, finishing off with Phone Sex – a new collaborative effort with Blood Diamonds – that oozed with a Caribbean-pop/dance aesthetic and left many exiting with unsure (but satisfied) smiles on their faces. Celline Narinli

Tame Impala @ Enmore Theatre Pic by Josh Groom

Parkway Drive @ The Hordern Pic by Josh Groom

PARKWAY DRIVE, I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN, NORTHLANE HORDERN PAVILION: 15/12/12 “It’s good to be home,” Northlane frontman Adrian Fitipaldes gushed. Oscar winners have thanked fewer people, but the rabid response throughout their brief 25-minute foray indicated their return was overdue. The muddy sound was a downer, as was the vocalist’s inconsistent delivery, but the Sydneysiders’ technically-proficient metal/hardcore is notches above most of their peers and their considerable presence ensured they weren’t lost on a larger stage. Since releasing debut Discoveries, there has been an inescapable buzz surrounding them. After this and upcoming Soundwave appearances, said whispers should be a roar. The previous occasion this reviewer caught I Killed The Prom Queen more than a half-decade ago at a ‘traditional’ metal show, they were afforded the most hostile reception of any support in recent memory. Here, they were definitely among friends. New frontman Jamie Hope (ex-The Red Shore) in tow, the reactivated Adelaide crew opened with Say Goodbye’s widespread singalong, leaning heavily on last record Music For The Recently Deceased. Hysteria aside, they remain energetic, albeit stock-standard metalcore, but try telling that to the punters swept up in a hail of breakdowns and blood. Given their

importance to the headliners’ early development, it was admirable they repaid the favour. For all the ballyhoo about enhanced, grandiose production being utilised on this tour, a slick, expansive light show and projector screen was about the extent of it. Not that Parkway Drive required these bells and whistles; such was their unwavering connection with their dedicated audience. Circle pits were warming up before Byron Bay’s finest even hit the stage to the monumental response and even larger beatdowns of Old Ghost/ New Regrets. More karate kicks than a Ralph Macchio montage were unleashed during numerous favourites; Sleepwalker, Boneyards, Romance Is Dead, Deliver Me and closer Carrion. The players were taut and possessing seemingly limitless enthusiasm; likeable vocalist Winston McCall’s an old hand at commanding large crowds, even though he’s still seeming in awe of the packed venue.

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, UNWRITTEN LAW, THE DUDESONS

JORDIE LANE, LIZ STRINGER, RYAN NICO

UNSW ROUNDHOUSE: 14/12/12

NOTES: 15/12/12

Offering a very creative mix of aggressive stunt entertainment, ‘90s pop punk vibes and pure vitriolic skate-thrash, Friday’s Suicidal Tendencies show offered something for every punter. Swedish circus lads The Dudesons – popularised on MTV – disgusted, confused and engaged the crowd with their cringeworthy stunts. Throwing darts into a hand-drawn target drawn on a man’s stomach, the Swede lads buzzed around injuring one another and subsequently generating a very visceral reaction from the stunned audience. At one point, female audience members were invited onto the stage to have their bare bottoms stapled, the crowd “owwwing” in unison as blood poured from their tender behinds.

Saturday night at Notes showcased three artists who perfectly capture some of the things that make country music; from rambling poetry to gorgeous vocal harmonies, the evening celebrated artists who are doing wonderful things with the country music tradition.

Following this inane debauchery, ‘90s pop punk legends Unwritten Law hit the stage, performing a mixture of recent joints and classic gems from their back catalogue. Opening with Rescue Me, the boys offered an energetic presence, encouraging the engaged audience to follow through. Their inspiring live dynamic was maintained throughout their entire set, proving that they are still relevant in the ever-changing pop punk network and reminding us that Unwritten Law shaped the present scene. With a very powerful performance of Seein’ Red, the crowd bounced around mouthing every single word with utter conviction. With a high standard set for Suicidal Tendencies, the thrash pioneers did not disappoint in the slightest. Mike Muir’s intense dance moves during Can’t Bring Me Down were amusing but also demonstrated a revival of a prominent ‘80s thrash scene which still carries avid supporters. With the circle pit in full force, the crowd yelled, “All I wanted was a Pepsi” as the band beat about the stage, with the same vigour you’d imagine ST would have possessed three decades ago.

Ryan Nico clambered onto Notes’ low stage with little production or fanfare. His incredibly rich, textured vocals filled the theatre, accompanied by understated guitar work. It would be difficult to say what this reviewer found more entrancing – Nico’s voice itself, or the despondent poetry of his lyrics: “If promises were better kept/we’d have less emotional debt.” After a few tracks, Nico was joined on stage by vocalist Grace Cabello. The two made a powerful duo, with Cabello’s mournful country tones highlighting the more rootsy elements of Nico’s songs. Liz Stringer delivered her alt.country storytelling in an effortless, good-humoured manner. Her lyrical style seemed to evoke rainy country towns, turbulent relationships and anything else Stringer happened to sing about. She has a gift for creating entire stories and scenes in the minds of her audience, and yet she is also kind of casual and light-hearted in a way that complements her down-to-earth, country-esque stylings.

Sweat-soaked hardcore kids in mosh shorts, grizzled death metallers, screaming teenage girls; heavy music segregation be damned, because for 75 minutes they essentially united as one. As 2013 nears, the metalcore creative tank’s fuel light has been blinking for some time. Even though latest disc Atlas bucked this trend, if it wasn’t apparent before it was further reinforced here – Parkway Drive have transcended such tags to become one of the country’s biggest bands, regardless of genre. Deservedly so, too.

Reciting a stimulating rant about skating, a lifestyle directly entwined into ST’s aesthetic, Mike Muir repetitively yelled, “If ya fall down, get ya ass up!” before thrashing to Possessed To Skate. Regardless of ST’s lineup changes, the four-piece were as authentic and vibrant as ever, with fervent drumming and venomous vocals resuscitating the classic punk scene for the evening.

What can you say about Jordie Lane? From impersonations of Jonah Takalua and characters from Family Guy to his roving, raving, country music style, Lane is an incredibly gifted musician, performer and lyricist. The warm, deep overtones of Lane’s music generated an immediate intimacy and developed a kind of rapport with the audience. There is certainly something of Bob Dylan in Jordie Lane’s rambling stories, yet there is also a driving force behind Lane’s rhythms, as warmth vibrated from his bass lines, and a kind of power was found behind his male harmonies. Meanwhile, Lane’s band worked together, like so many corresponding pieces, and perfectly showcased every part of his insanely incredible music.

Brendan Crabb

Ava Nirui

Jessie Hunt

For more reviews go to themusic.com.au/reviews • 95

ROOTS DOWN

THE HEAVY SHIT

BLUES ‘N’ ROOTS WITH DAN CONDON ROOTS@DRUMMEDIA.COM.AU

METAL AND HARD ROCK WITH CHRIS MARIC Oh and if you haven’t checked out Snake’s rather rockin’ cover of Great Southern Land, featuring Mr Devoy on vox, Leeno on bass, Adam Agius on guitar and the one and only Steve Hughes keeping it together, do it now – great self-produced clip for it too! Cock & Ball Torture

Chris Smither The final Bluesfest announcement for 2012 (yes, more to come next year) saw big names like Manu Chao and Jason Mraz added to the bill, but a little further down the list is some seriously great blues and roots stuff that I’m real excited about seeing. One of the great finger-style blues guitarists and songwriters currently on the circuit, Chris Smither is one of those artists that you probably have had a connection with in the past without knowing it. The artist has been playing music for decades and has written some seriously great tunes, Love Me Like A Man, made famous by fellow Bluesfester Bonnie Raitt, one of the more popular. Smither released his first record in 1970, but thanks largely to a bit of a struggle with the bottle it wasn’t until 1997 that he started releasing records with any regularity. His last Bluesfest performance back in 2007 was memorable and he returns to the event as part of his sixth tour of the country next year. I will be honest; I don’t know much about Go Jane Go, because they haven’t really been around all that long. I can tell you that they are the new band for one of Americana’s godfathers Kieran Kane and sees him joining forces with his good friend David Francey and his son Lucas Kane. Three-part harmonies and great Americana tunes are sure to ensue; it is mighty exciting to see what else they have to offer on their first Australian tour. A bit of a scout around online showed up a couple of songs Francey and Kane have done together in the past and I think that these guys could be very good indeed.

Well this is it my friends, we’ve made it through yet another monstrous year of heaviness and have arrived for the most part fully intact. I really don’t want to give you my Top Ten albums and all that shit; besides, you can read about that elsewhere in the issue. Don’t pay too much attention to mine ‘cause it was an auto survey form they made us fill out and for the life of me I can’t remember which movies I fucking saw this year! I had to look up a list of them to see what came out! I re-watched the superb re-imagined Battlestar Galactica again and kept up with Sons..., Game Of Thrones and Breaking Bad but that’s about it. Soundwave feels like an aeon ago but I know it was mental. Winter was rather quiet as far as international tours go but what has been constant has been the level of local action. The bands working their arses off playing regular shows around our city have grown both in number and in ability tenfold over the year. I like to think that the crowds are giving them their full support too. That’s not always the case and more than a few times I’ve heard that a great line-up of acts has played to their girlfriends, the bar staff and the guy at the end with two teeth missing who yells incomprehensibly at everything the singer says from the stage. That sux really. More than ever, we have a crop of bands that are able to compete on the international stage, so make it your mission next year to get to more shows, not just the big names and the big tours. Anyway, fuck that, metal rules and you all know it. Here’s to what was a great year! I hope you all enjoy the next couple of weeks and that Santa, Jesus and the Annunaki look after you until I start spreading lies and evil once more via my weekly thousand words of free speech. See ya again on the eighth!

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SATURDAY 22 DECEMBER Arise, for we have survived another apocalypse, or, since I’m writing this well beforehand, the zombies are out, then you’ve had ample time to arm yourselves. The safest place is most likely going to be The Stag where Nekrofeist will be headlining The Day After The Apocalypse. Joining them to fight the hordes and celebrate victory will be Mastiff, Stand Alone, Johnny Roadkill, Damage Inc, Sabretung, Pistenbroke, H8tank, Abacination, Dead Deities and Extractor. Kick off is at 3pm and it goes till late. Tix are $25 for presales or 30 bucks at the door. Up the road at Venom, they will be celebrating our completed annual trip around the Milky Way with live sets from Alice Through The Windshield Glass, Absolution, Deprivation and Exekute. Also on tonight at The Metro will be the awesome supergroup known as Lost Angels, which features ex Crue, Scream, Union, Ratt front man, John Corabi, Eric Drover on guitar from Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper, Jellyfish; Troy Patrick Farrell on drums, who was in White Lion, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Cinderella bassman, Eric Brittingham. If that doesn’t reek of hairspray and leather, nothing does. Lomera lead the sludge charge at the Brighton Up Bar along with Born Lion, Surprise Wasp and Your Loving Tyrant.

SATURDAY 29 DECEMBER Venom see their second last night of the year out with Starforge, Tenpenny Towers, To The Grave and Gutter Tactic all doing it live for the love - maybe some cash.

MONDAY 31 DECEMBER Rounding out a rather exhausting year, things will get pretty dark down at Venom where the band that has made the last three months completely their own, Darkc3ll get to headline over their mentors in Melody Black and will also be supported by Not Another Sequel Just Another Prequel and Red Bee.

FRIDAY 4 JANUARY Ah grindcore, only a genre such as that could produce such a wonderful band name as Cock & Ball Torture and get away with it. These Cherman’s play pitchshifted, porn-influenced gore grind and are coming to show you what that’s like for the very first time in our country tonight at The Stag. Joining in with their own chart-busting hit singles are Victoria’s The Day Everything Became Nothing, Canberra’s Tortured and Festering Drippage. If vocals that sound like an I-beam dragged across concrete are what gets you all excited, then this one is for you. They hit The Basement in Canberra the next day too. heavy@drummedia.com.au

PUNK AND HARDCORE WITH SARAH PETCHELL as Radiohead? No. Was it is completely mind-blowing like Refused? No. But for me, it was the chance to get to say goodbye to one of my favourite bands.

The full announcement featured Jason Mraz, Manu Chao La Ventura, Mark Seymour & The Undertow, Chris Smither, Current Swell, Matt Andersen, Go Jane Go (feat Kieran Kane, David Francey and Lucas Kane) and The McMenamins.

I’m not into Christmas music, but each year this dude in the States called Andy Cirzan puts together a mixtape of the weirdest and most awesome Christmas music he can find. He spends all year tracking down weird Christmas songs and makes up a wild mixtape each year, initially just for friends but now it ends up online thanks to American public radio network PRX. This year’s theme is soul music, so if you like the idea of sinking your teeth into some far more bearable Christmas music than you’re likely to hear anywhere else, head to soundopinions. org where you can download the 2012 tape.

If the world doesn’t end today as the Mayans, well, you know, those bad arses from Sons Of Anarchy, have predicted, then Kunvuk will continue their epic tour of the nation with a stopover in Newcastle this evening.

I definitely like me some post rock instrumental mind meditation and a band I was recently introduced to by the most excellent people at Bird’s Robe Collective are the UK’s 65DaysOfStatic, who are out here for their first time ever. Maybe it’s that I like a break from all the screaming and shouting from thrash, death and my daughter, maybe it helps me write my bullshit that you’re reading. Whatever it is, it’s pretty fucking cool in a trippy Pink Floyd kinda way. 65Days’ back cat has just been released here too and their new album also features Robert Smith of The Cure (another band I dearly love). Apparently their live shows are incredible and the people heading along to the Peats Ridge Festival up in Tough Mudder country (Glenworth Valley) will get to see it first hand today. The rest of us get the chance on Wednesday 2 January when they play at The Hi-Fi. The brilliant sleepmakeswaves will be on both shows too.

WAKE THE DEAD

Sadly Madness have had to pull out of the festival due to a conflict with their international touring schedule. While it’s undoubtedly a bit of a blow, the line-up is so massive that it kinda doesn’t feel like much has been taken away from us.

Generally speaking, this is such a terrible time of year for new releases. Unless you’re a pop star looking at taking one last run at getting a stack of Christmas cash, there’s a fair chance your label is not going to be too interested in putting your record out any time in the next couple of months, so that means us punters are left wanting for a while. There was one exception last week with Mr Buddy Guy releasing a brand new collection of live and previously unreleased material that looks very exciting, titled Live At Legends. The record pulls together a bunch of live tracks recorded at his Legends club in Chicago with a couple of outtakes from his Living Proof LP tacked on the end. Given Guy’s back to his best as a performer this has got to be worth a listen. In other Buddy Guy news, he has been selected as one of the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, which happens on Boxing Day. Guy will be joined by David Letterman, Led Zeppelin, Dustin Hoffman and Natalia Makarova. No doubt there’ll be a pretty tasty musical component to the ceremony as well.

FRIDAY 21 DECEMBER

SUNDAY 30 DECEMBER

Alexisonfire So we come to the end of yet another year, and 2012 has been a great year for me, for my magazine No Heroes and the punk and hardcore scenes in general. I’m going to use this last column as a bit of a wrap up, but if you want an accurate representation of my year that was, you can check out my official poll results earlier in this issue. To start off with, one thing that missed out on my favourite acts to see live this year happened only last week and after the poll results went it. I’m of course talking about the Alexisonfire farewell shows. I caught it in Melbourne and it was an emotional and fantastically fun night. When they toured the last time I was a bit disappointed as it felt forced and like there was no real joy in it. Of course (as we all found out later) that was around the time that Dallas Green announced he would be leaving the band to devote himself to City & Colour. This time around, it was free, joyous and it felt like there was an entirely different band on the stage. It was great to hear almost the whole of Crisis and a hell of a lot of stuff of my favourite album, Watch Out! Early on in the night, vocalist George Petit said, “This is not a funeral. This is a wake. This is a celebration of ten years of Alexisonfire.” That was precisely the vibe the rest of the almost two hour set had, with points where the band were drowned out by the 5,500 crowd singing along. Was it as spectacular

In 2012 I have enjoyed watching the emergence and growth of a number of local labels that are doing good things by representing and distributing the music of new and established Australian bands. Broken Hive Records (based out of Sydney), Life.Lair.Regret Records (based out of Melbourne), Midnight Funeral Records and the newly established Rest Assured Records (also based out of Sydney) are labels that have hit my radar this year with fantastic new releases, and they’re well worth keeping an eye on into the new year. 2012 also saw a number of bands self-releasing their own releases, including Melbourne’s Outright releasing their Dedication 7” through their own Reason And Rage Records. To me this signifies a return to the DIY ethic that has long been and underpinning (and sometimes forgotten) tenet of our scene, and it excites me. Let’s bring more of this into 2013. While we’re on the topic of DIY labels, both Rest Assured and Midnight Funeral have announced new releases to see the light of day in the new year. Rest Assured are releasing their second ever release, the debut 7” Lap Year from Byron Bay act Postblue. The sound of the band harks back to the glory years of mid-‘90s emo, in a sound that is equal parts Texas Is The Reason and By A Thread, with some of the more modern stylings of Basement or Title Fight thrown in for good measure. The band will be touring in January with new hardcore band Distance from Newcastle, who are also releasing their own debut 7” Half Of What You See. You can catch them on Wednesday 9 January at the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle for an 18+ with Hazards and at Blackwire Records in Sydney on Friday 11 January for an all ages show with Luca Brasi, Milhouse and Harbourer. As for Midnight Funeral, the announcement of their newest release last week was a doozy! You may remember one heck of a hardcore band from Queensland called Against. Well, in 2013 they’re returning with

a new album and plans to hit the road around the country in April. The new album is called Bring The End and Midnight Funeral will be handling the vinyl release of the record. I don’t think many people saw it coming, so it was a surprise for everyone, which makes the release all the more exciting. There hasn’t been an announcement of when pre-orders for the record will be available, but there is a new track streaming on the Midnight Funeral Bandcamp (it’s called First To Fall). Check it out and stayed tuned for more details on the release as they emerge. Rather than talking about my favourite albums of 2012, I thought for this final column that I would talk about some of the albums that are getting released in 2013 that I’m super excited about. As I mentioned in last week’s column, one of the albums that would be at the top of this list would be the follow-up to letlive’s Epitaph debut, Fake History. The band announced a few weeks ago that they had finished the record and it’s set for release mid-2013. If it’s half as good as Fake History, it’s going to be a contender for album of the year. You can also add to that list a new album from Bad Religion called True North, another from The Bronx called IV (yeah, that will be on the Album of The Year list for 2013) and Push The Sky Away, the new one from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, both of which are due out in February. One last thing for the year, and of course it’s a No Heroes related thing. Issue 19 is online now at noheroesmag.com and in this issue you can catch interviews with Parkway Drive, Jamie Hay, Architects, Make Do And Mend, Endless Heights, and heaps, heaps more. Also, don’t forget that voting in our 50 Greatest Heavy Australian Albums of All Time closes on 6 January, so don’t forget to email through your top fives to info@noheroesmag.com and stay tuned for the results in Issue 20, mid-January. wakethedead@drummedia.com.au

BLOW

OG FLAVAS

DANCE MOVES

JAZZ/WORLD WITH MICHAEL SMITH

URBAN AND R&B NEWS BY CYCLONE

NEW CURRENTS WITH TIM FINNEY

Plan B

Dave Brubeck Inevitably, most of the gigs around town over the next couple of weeks are celebrating either Christmas or the coming New Year, but there are still a few quirky, non-seasonal evenings on offer. One such event is The Margaret St Project, subtitled “an Inner Western Sydney fairytale”, a lively concoction being presented by Lolo Lovina in the Camelot Lounge in Marrickville on Sunday 23 December. The music is inspired by traditional Rroma melodies, the stories by inner-city Sydney. The same venue hosts a tango night with quintet Tangola on Thursday 27, while Friday 28, it’s Afro-Cuban 12-piece El Orqueston, and Saturday 29, West Africa comes to Marrickville courtesy the eightpiece Keyim Ba. You can then see the year out there Monday 31 to the world music potpourri of Marsala. Over at 505 in Surry Hills, the fare is much more strictly jazz, though in all its manifestations, with The Swinging Blades kicking things off tonight, Tuesday 18 December, with The Dilworths and John Maddox & The Hair, Hair, Hairs for the Jazzgroove Christmas Party. Quintet The Pillars deliver Wednesday 19, Urban Gypsies Thursday 20, the guitar-led James Muller Trio with, we’re told, “a secret international guest” (read, New York City) Friday 21 while Saturday 22 sees 505 celebrate its eighth birthday with guest performances “from just about everyone”! Oh, and it’s free entry. How about a French Christmas? Baby Et Lulu, aka Abby Dobson and Lara Goodridge, take to the Basement stage in Circular Quay for Le Premier Noël (The First Noel) on Thursday 20 December. Or you could go Irish with Shameless Seamus & The Tullamore Dews Tuesday 18. As has been the case for several years now, Renee Geyer helps the Basement see the year out Saturday 29 and Sunday 30. Over at Blue Beat in Double Bay, the inclination is more to the funk and soul end of jazz, with The R&S Project, featuring singing sisters Roshani and Sheena Wilbow and keyboards player Sam McNally, taking the stage Friday 21 December. The jazz is back Wednesday 9 January with the returning Pete Moore, who has spent the past seven years in Europe and Asia, fronting his Martini Nation with The Ralph Pyl Big Band. Lizotte’s Dee Why has an evening of a cappella with the women’s choir Senisaura, led by Anna Humberstone, with female a cappella quartet Lilac opening proceedings Thursday 20 December, the jazz returning Friday 4 January with the guitar-led David de Vries Trio. There’s more a cappella at Lizotte’s Newcastle Wednesday 19 with The Idea Of North, the final NSW launch night for their new Christmas album, This Christmas (ABC Jazz). In other Christmas-related jazz events, you’ve got the James Valentine Quartet holding court tonight Tuesday 18 December at the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay with special guest Daryl Aberhart “and Christmas Madness”; veteran pianist Judy Bailey’s Jazz Connection saluting Santa at Lane Cove Plaza from 5pm Thursday 20; Jeff Duff, John Harkins, Brendan Clarke and Andrew Dickeson doin’ the business in The Dome Bar Surry Hills same night; Yuki Kumagai and John Mackie makin’ whoopee at the Well Connected Café Leichhardt Saturday 22; the Dan Barnett Quartet at Sydney Rowing Club from 3pm Sunday 23; The Swinging Blades at Marrickville Golf Club from 3.30pm same day; and Cathrine Summers and Nic Jeffries present A Royal Christmas at the Royal Hotel Paddington from 5.30pm Sunday 23. Thursday 3 January, The Dome Bar presents, from the UK, Anita Wardell, accompanied by New Yorker Nick Hempton on drums, fellow New Yorker-long-since-Sydneysider John Harkins on piano and Brendan Clarke on bass. I’d also like to tip the hat to one of the great jazz musicians, Dave Brubeck, who succumbed to heart failure 5 December at the age of 91. His 1959 quartet recording, Take Five, was the first jazz single to sell a million copies, Brubeck described himself as a composer rather than a pianist, with a penchant for tricky time changes rather than an innate ability to improvise, the latter losing him critical attention even as his popularity managed to survive six decades. blow@drummedia.com.aua

Urban music – R&B and hip hop – experienced an identity crisis in 2012, but there were still great artists and records. Today’s mainstream R&B especially is virtually indistinguishable from EDM, yet this year disenchanted listeners embraced a new alternative led by Odd Future soulman Frank Ocean. His avant-garde channel ORANGE even overshadowed Purple Naked Ladies, an experimental foray into neo-soul from The Internet – Syd Tha Kyd’s baby. Ocean’s illwave manoeuvres both validated Miguel’s artistic progress on Kaleidoscope Dream and influenced Trey Songz, who boldly set up Chapter V with the sublime beat ballad Heart Attack. (Usher who?) Together with The Weeknd and Jamie “xx” Smith, Ocean has inspired a surging R&B subculture in indie (cue the auto-tuned Poliça). Lana Del Rey, that “gangsta Nancy Sinatra”, teamed with beatmakers Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker and Al Shux (of Empire State Of Mind fame) to develop “Hollywood sadcore” – arty hip hop soul – on Born To Die. Meanwhile, Beyoncé Knowles’ sis Solange finally won praise with the Dev Hynes-helmed Losing You. Another urban countertrend gained momentum – retro ‘90s. Nas tapped into that nostalgia with his excellent Life Is Good, Amy Winehouse a posthumous guest. Travelling back further was London’s Michael Kiwanuka, his soul-folk Home Again evoking Otis Redding, Bill Withers and Terry Callier. He was a deserving winner of the BBC’s Sound Of 2012 poll. Bobby Womack, his If You Think You’re Lonely Now covered by K-Ci Hailey in the ‘90s, refused to be defined temporally. He collaborated with Damon Albarn and Richard Russell on the electro-soul The Bravest Man In The Universe. Womack actually dueted with Del Rey on the pianoled Dayglo Reflection. Eternally cool. However, ‘the Reinvention of the Year’ award has gotta go to ‘90s super-producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, who cut killer electro’n’b for Justin Bieber (the dubstep As Long As You Love Me), Nelly Furtado (drum‘n’bass Big Hoops (Bigger The Better)) and Alicia Keys.

In recent times hip hop has been about da party but, with Nas ruminating on Life..., it was UK MC/singer/ actor/director Plan B who challenged the status quo with his political – nay, Shakespearean – iLL Manors, the bass-heavy title track his response to 2011’s riots. B kept it real, and British, recruiting producer Al Shux. ILL Manors is protest rap worthy of Public Enemy’s descendants. Kanye West, who headlined the 20th Big Day Out, dated Kim Kardashian and offered the streetwise GOOD Music showcase, Cruel Summer, encapsulating Cold (AKA Theraflu). But Compton’s Kendrick Lamar was 2012’s coldest MC, Dr Dre his mentor. Much has been written about the female takeover of pop – and, in 2012, urban, too, had its stars, many British. Scottish soulstress Emeli Sandé delivered a commendable, if conservative, debut in Our Version Of Events, topping the UK charts. The former med student was also a highlight at the London Olympics ceremonies. And she co-wrote songs on Ms Keys’ Girl On Fire. Rita Ora, signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, was this year’s Jessie J – and another UK Rihanna. Most original was Jessie Ware, a post-dubstep Sade, with her album, Devotion. Darwin’s Jessica Mauboy wowed cinema-goers from here to Cannes with her role in The Sapphires, about a ‘60s Aboriginal girl group. Watch out Beyoncé. Then that R&B rebel RiRi finally presented a worthwhile album again in Unapologetic, with the spectacular single, Diamonds. Still, everyone was speculating about her reunion with Chris Brown. Thug lovin’? In 2012 Nicki Minaj morphed into a brand, like Barbie. Starships aside, her music is yet to live up to the hype, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded a scrappy compilation. When Madonna calls (the femcee joined MIA on Gimme All Your Luvin), worry. Azealia Banks threatened to become Nicki’s cooler nemesis. The New Yorker dropped her Fantasea mixtape, but has she missed the window for that album? Lastly, there are 2012’s lost ones. We farewelled Whitney Houston, the first pop soul diva, responsible for classics like I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me). Also gone is the Beastie Boys’ punk rappercum-humanitarian MCA (AKA Adam Yauch). And Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco, has entered that nightclub in the sky. Will any get holograms like Tupac Shakur?

THE BREAKDOWN POP CULTURE THERAPY WITH ADAM CURLEY

Lena Dunham Of the online promotional devices used by HBO and Lena Dunham to promote the second season of Girls, the recently announced soundtrack is the most curious. Memes using quotes from the show and hashtags to encourage retweets (and generally to speak the language of the show’s target audience) works within Dunham’s perceived creative vision. The quotes are only in part meant as slices of advice for young women. The meme featuring Dunham’s character Hannah Horvath reads: “I resolve to not let guys treat my heart like monkey meat. #resolutionsGIRLSbreak.” The meme featuring the Sex And The City-obsessed character Shoshanna Shapiro reads: “I resolve to meet a young financial planner.” Like the show, the intention of the memes seems to be to represent and perhaps open a wider conversation about the lives and choices of a certain demographic of young women while plugging the brand. The line between inspirational statement and artistic statement is blurred, but Dunham does have something to say about the characters she has created, even her own. Hannah Horvath is not always likeable; the privileges of the characters don’t always work in their favour. It’s a dimension of the show for which Dunham isn’t often credited. News of the soundtrack generated reports in all corners, which wasn’t surprising. Anything even vaguely related to Dunham is current cause for a headline and a round of applause. The content of the news also made a lot of sense. The physical copy of the soundtrack features 14 tracks, the digital 18. This might be due to licensing deals, but it also suits the show to keep interactions with it and talk of it online, where the brand can make more impression on an individual and therefore increase promotion and audience loyalty via emotional

connections. Girls – Volume 1, will be released Tuesday 8 January through Fueled By Ramen, giving it a greater chance to sit high on charts at a time most labels aren’t releasing albums, and tapping into the label’s ability to sell to a media-smart young market. More interesting though is the mere fact of the soundtrack and its tracklisting, in essence the artistic statement itself. The CD is filled with the kind of midlevel indie dance, hip hop and rock the characters listen to on the show or, Dunham has suggested, would like. In a statement, Dunham said: “I make playlists to write by and listen to as I head to set in the morning, and I experiment in editing with songs that the characters would love and that accurately reflect their struggles.” She also said she and Girls music supervisor Manish Raval were “crazy about everything from the pop that teen girls devour to the niche indie rock from days of yore.” It’s a message-heavy playlist, including Robyn’s Dancing On My Own, The Echo-Friendly’s Same Mistakes, Icona Pop’s I Love It and Grouplove’s Everyone’s Gonna Get High. Like the memes, they reflect the experiences of the characters. Unlike the memes, however, the soundtrack as a product takes back Dunham’s commentary on the lives of her characters. The show’s audience is invited to purchase the songs enjoyed by Hannah Horvath and her imperfect, generally good-intentioned, upper-middle-class, notparticularly-musically-switched-on crew because we, too, love this music. As a statement it doesn’t invite us to participate in the discussion of the characters and themes of the show but to slot into the same demographic as the characters, or worse, to worship them. I know it might seem like a bit of a beat-up to criticise the release of a soundtrack. Soundtracks are fairly mundane occurrences and not many are very good, bought by people who do want to worship at the altar of a favourite show or film, or don’t have access to a broader knowledge of music. TIn the case of Girls, however, it feels a disappointing oversight in Dunham’s creative planning. Perhaps it’s because it’s so difficult for a young – and female – writer to be taken seriously, or perhaps because the conversations Dunham has helped to start are so interesting and of only our time. Maybe it’s just Icona Pop.

Nicki Minaj So much dancing, so little time… DJ Q leading the charge for 2-step Garage revivalism and associated vibes, flowering so briefly and brilliantly before retreating in the face of Jackin’s onslaught: Q’s own Brandy & Coke, Royal-T’s remixes of Cheryl Cole’s Call My Name and Zinc’s Goin’ In, Sunship’s remix of Alyssa Reid’s Alone Again, Mike Delinquent Project’s Step In The Dance and Party’s Over Here, Joe Goddard/2 Bears remixes of Nneka’s Shining Star, Rita Ora’s Shine Your Light and Jessie Ware’s Night Light, Preditah’s remix of Tanya Lacey’s Greatness, Disclosure’s remix of Jessie’s Runnin’ and their own world-conquering Control. Speaking of onslaught, the pure, unadulterated gulliness of Jackin’: Nick Hannam and Tom Garnett’s You Want Me, Donkie Punch & Lorenzo’s Snapbacks N Tattoos, Linkoban’s Like This (Tom Shorterz Remix), Ill Phil & MC Sim’s Away We Go, Scotty Boy & Lorenzo’s No Diggity, Majestic’s Let’s Go Back (Cause & Affect Mix). Off in their own soundworld, Funkystepz being the best act on the planet: XTC, Star 9 and Warrior, astonishing remixes of Rihanna and 2 Chainz. Ill Blu still banging out stunners with their remix of Cahill’s Take It Back and Sneakbo’s Zim Zimma. The insane alien party offered by Azonto: Guru’s Lapaz Toyota, Edem’s Over Again, D’Banj’s Oliver Twist, E.L.’s Obuu Mo, Nadjat’s Gbaa Alert, T Blaze’s Wasei Bebiaa, and not forgetting the seductive sounds of Naija which I didn’t investigate nearly enough – but check Davido’s Dami Duro. The typically intoxicating parade of dancehall anthems: Vybz Kartel’s Lip Gloss, Popcaan’s Coolie Gal, Konshen’s Bun Satan, Tifa’s Ex-Man, Beenie Man’s Jamaican Celebration. The dead-eyed straight thuggin’ offered by Kendrick Lamar (Good Kid, m.A.A.d City), Gunplay (Bogota Rich: the Prequel), Future (Pluto), Chief Keef (I Don’t Like), Lil Reese (L’s Anthem), Meek Mill (Amen) and Juicy J (Bands A Make Her Dance), and a welcome back to Mystikal with Hit Me. A special shout-out to my rap ladies who were killing it this year: first and foremost Angel Haze with Werkin’ Girls but also Brianna’s Marilyn Monroe, Sasha Go Hard’s Why They Mad and of course Nicki Minaj, still grotesquely compelling in both high street and mean streets guises. R&B still being the best music ever every single time: forget The Weeknd and put down your copy of channel ORANGE for a second (though okay yeah I admit it’s pretty good), this year was about Dawn Richard (Armor On), Miguel (Kaleidoscope Dream), Kalenna (Matte Black Truck), Usher (Climax and a good half of his album), Trey Songz (2 Reasons) and Melanie Fiona (The MF Life). The reliably enthralling good and bad vibes offered by house music: Julio Bashmore’s Au Seve, Eats Everything’s Jagged Edge and Slink, Infinity Ink’s House of Infinity, Hot Since 82’s Knee Deep in Louise, Jaymo & Andy George’s How It Goes. Euro(ish) tech-house will never die: Blondes’ selftitled album, John Talabot’s fin, Donato Dozzy and Neal’s Voices from the Lake, live sets from Ame & Dixon and Move D. Slo-mo house and disco still soundtracking all my BBQs: Lindstrom, Todd Terje, Matthew Kyle and local hero Late Nite Tuff Guy. Post-dubstep/post-funky/post-whatever melange interzone producing better music now that people have stopped paying attention: Cooly G’s Playin’ Me, Mala’s Mala in Cuba, Silkie and Quest’s Dubstep Allstars Vol. 9. And, last but not least, pop still bringing the realness: Carly Rae Jepsen’s unfortunately slept-on album of stunners, Taylor Swift going pseudo-dubstep on I Knew You Were Trouble and just generally being awesome, The Wanted’s I Found You ruling gay clubs everywhere and Saint Etienne reminding us they’re still old masters (Words & Music). Plus a late entry for tune of the year from Katy B and Jessie Ware with their astonishing, bewitching duet, Aaliyah.

For more opinion go to themusic.com.au/blog • 97

GET IT TOGETHER

YOUNG & RESTLESS

HIP HOP WITH VIKTOR KRUM

ALL AGES WITH DAVE DRAYTON

Urthboy And so, we find ourselves in the future. Jokes about surviving a Mayan apocalypse (almost) or a Romney presidency can now be jettisoned and we can look with hope towards a world where Louis CK gets the respect and adoration he deserves and Australian cricket fans can watch us fail valiantly as we try to regain The Ashes. Futuristic. Getting here, to the future, wasn’t smooth sailing. 2012 was, frankly, something of a disappointment. There was no exciting, unifying trend to hang onto. R&B can’t be reborn again after its rebirth last year. We have spent the last few years becoming spoilt, inundated with high quality, free releases. That’s not new. Having had a couple of amazing years in a row perhaps we were due for a lull. Hm. Urthboy bested everyone doing rap in this country, which is to be expected, but the fact that there was not a bunch of pretenders to the throne nipping at his heels is a frustration. And we love Kanye – Kanye’s music. His curation of Cruel Summer was meant to be a mission statement, or maybe a blueprint showing how Yeezy would change the world again, having already changed it once in 2010 with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Not to be. A bunch of solid songs by solid people. It made its way into a bunch of top ten lists not through its own merit, but through a lack of competition. Frank Ocean, perhaps, deserves to stand head and shoulders over all others. If 2012 was anyone’s year, it was his. channel ORANGE was comfortably the album of the year. In it, he makes a claim to greatness. The more we listen, the more we are inclined to accept the claim. This, of course, was also the year that Frank

98 • For more opinion go to themusic.com.au/blog

Ocean revealed he was homosexual. That moment was pleasing in so many ways. First, aesthetically: his Tumblr post was one of the most attractive pieces of writing, or pieces of visual art, that we looked at this year. Second, a man clearly troubled by having to conceal his true feelings was able to confront his fears and unshackle himself. Third, and comfortably most important, there was no backlash; we were given a chance to show the world the worst side of ourselves and be ugly, or angry, or hateful, or dismissive. We did none of those things. We listened and we engaged. As a result: we learned. The whole issue was uniformly positive. Everyone – you included – deserves kudos. Something local, and of interest, popped up for us this year. Pride; but a new kind of pride. Pride that is not punctuated by insecurity. In the more than two decades that rap music has been made in this country, it has always been tinged by insecurity. To be an Australian rapper was to be an underdog. To be an Australian rapper or to listen to Australian rap was to be underground, was to be not mainstream. (On that note, the commercial success of Hilltop Hoods was always construed as the exception that proves the rule.) In recent times we have seen this issue fade away to be almost irrelevant. We now have Australian rap music that piques the interest of (terminally under-informed) ARIA judges and commercial radio stations. These days local rappers make chart-toppers. That phenomenon, perhaps, could be seen as new. In 2012 to be a fan of Australian rap music might mean you received a 360 baseball cap for your twelfth birthday, or it might mean that you listened to Tornts before smashing a longneck over some gronk’s skull. Paths are diverging. So a disappointing year for us, punctuated by a couple of bright sparks. We don’t agree with the Mayan naysayers, though. This isn’t the end. This isn’t the beginning of the end. Indeed, for rap music made in this country, it is – perhaps – the end of the beginning. getittogether@drummedia.com.au

Ghosts On Broadway

The time is nigh, welcome to the last Young & Restless for 2012 in which I will try and cover show dates over the next three-odd weeks and have a chat with someone who has been integral to regular all-ages gigs for the last few years. Diaries at the ready? On Thursday The Trobes and Forest Green play at Parramatta’s Mars Hill Café. Clipped Wings play an all-ages show at Yours & Owls, Wollongong, Monday 7 January with Vices, Mowgli, Featherweight and Snakepit. There’s also the Peats Ridge Festival, which is all-ages friendly and has a bunch of AA sideshows, and also there are acts playing at Falls and Field Day that are also doing AA sideshows (we’re talking Best Coast, Two Door Cinema Club and heaps more) worth checking out, so do your research and spend your Xmas dosh on tickets! Now, you know how pretty much every week this column makes mention of one, and often more, awesome allages shows at the Lucky Oz Tavern? Well the person behind it all is Nycole Jarrett, who books shows with Rock Chic Entertainment. In recognition of her mammoth efforts this year we lined up a chat to find out what drives her to give so much to the all-ages scene. Why do you think it’s important to have all-ages shows? It gives the younger bands a chance to play in a proper venue rather than a garage or backyard. I think it’s a great experience for them to get feedback and network with other bands too. We’re extremely lucky to have the continuing support of Jackie and Mark, who are the current owners of the Lucky Australian Tavern. I have hosted so many young bands’ first shows there and it’s great to see them grow. Your Weight In Gold, The Sweet Apes, Forever A Dreamer and many more bands had

their first show with me at this venue and they seem to be doing great things, which is exciting to see. Beyond your own pocket of it, what do you think of the Sydney all-ages scene? Unfortunately, I think the all-age scene is very minimal and dropping off fast. I see a few promoters putting on shows at PCYCs and Youth Centres, but you don’t see them too often anymore. It’s a shame really. I think more licensed venues should get on board and if the gig is run correctly (making sure adults are present etc) they can become very popular and successful. One way to improve the all-ages scene? One way is to really get more venues on board that support younger bands. It really does mean a lot to them and it’s also great to see the parents come along and show their support. I am so surprised at how many bands under 18 are about and can’t play as often as they would like. What have you got lined up for the end of the year and the silly season? I actually finish up booking at the Lucky Australian Tavern in February, so I have six more great gigs to go! On Sunday we have Merry Moshmas, which was put together by Robbie Austin Jr, featuring Ghosts On Broadway, Past Is Practice, Forever A Dreamer and seven more awesome bands. I have four more gigs in January, then Saturday 2 February is RockChic’s Last Rock/Metal Hoorah! and Sunday 3 is RockChic’s Last Hardcore Hoorah!, which features all my favourite bands that I have worked with over the last three years. It’s going to be a hoot! Any tips for young musos or bands? Try not to book a show every weekend, which most tend to do. Spread your gigs out to ensure you can bring a great crowd. Promote the gigs as much as you can – texting, Facebook, flyers, get the family involved… Respect the venue and people who book you. Cancelling gigs with no notice and no excuse is not on! Have fun at your gig and try and network with as many bands as possible. allages@drummedia.com.au

TASTE TEST

IN THE ASYLUM

BECK BY SYDNEY ARTISTS

Kid Mac’s film Fighting Fear was nominated recently for two AACTA awards in the documentary category – Best Director and Best Cinematography. But at the moment he’s focusing on his music, heading out on the Lunatic Tour, named after the second single from his debut album, No Man’s Land. He kicks off at The Standard on Friday 28 December.

Beck’s new album Song Reader is released only as sheet music and he’s invited fans the world over to interpret, arrange and reinvent each track themselves. A collection of Sydney’s music scene stalwarts have taken him up on the offer, with Josh Pyke, Jonathan Boulet, Dappled Cities, Caitlin Park, Richard In Your Mind, Elena Stone and many more taking to the stage to render their interpretations Wednesday night at The Standard.

WEAPONS OF CHOICE

SLEEP AND STATIC 65DAYSOFSTATIC

UK electronic-rock legends 65daysofstatic will have Sydney ambient/melodic post-rockers sleepmakeswaves join their tour for all shows, following a massive 2012 that has seen them tour the US, Europe and Australia. Electronic trio Bon Chat Bon Rat will join the two at the Sydney show, at The Hi-Fi Thursday 3 January.

Answered by: Joe Shrewsbury (guitar) The best record I stole from my folks’ collection was… Neil Young – Harvest The first record I bought with my own money was… The Pixies – Live At The BBC The record I put on when I’m really miserable is… Jackson C Frank – Blues Run The Game The record I put on when I bring someone home is… Papa M – Live From A Shark Cage The most surprising record in my collection is… A lack of Kraftwerk records. Upcoming shows: Sunday 30 December, Peats Ridge Festival; Wednesday 2 January, The Hi-Fi, with sleepmakeswaves and Bon Chat Bon Rat Website: www.65daysofstatic.com

JUST VISITING

CARAVAN GYPSIES DECEMBER OF DARKNESS This Friday night at The Gladstone Hotel, a collection of heavy, dark acts will take to the stage. Hades’ work is dark, avant-garde, ambient black metal and drone doom that draws parallels with the likes of both Beherit and Sunn 0))). His shows are a combination of excessive guitar violence combining his playing and destroying guitars to backing tapes and samples and lurid visuals. This will be the first live performance for Novo Homo in over a decade and this time around it’ll be all new material, purely live minimal electronics in the vein of Suicide. Finally, Hizzettin is an experimental side project of the Warm Feelings that blends the solo projects Hiss and Izzettin creating Apocalyptic Soundscapes of Doom.

SMILING FACE With a feast of talent that includes the best of local and international pop, R’n’B as well as retro, house, techno and electronic music DJs, Harbour Party is made for dancing this New Year’s Eve at Luna Park. It features Ricki–Lee, Marvin Priest, The Aston Shuffle, Luciana, Ivan Gough, D-Cup, Radio Ink and more.

Caravana Sun has built a reputation for fistpumping, personality-filled live shows blending natural soulful lyrics with bouncing “gypsy ska” grooves. Based on and inspired by the Cronulla coastline, the band will be bringing their gypsyrock stylings to The Standard this Friday night.

IN TRIBUTE Having won praise from critics for her performance in The Sapphires, Casey Donovan is now taking her performance of the music of the late great Mama Cass around the traps, pulling in at Lizotte’s in Kincumber Friday 28 December, then Lizotte’s in Kincumber Saturday 29.

CHRISTMAS IN A BASEMENT Tim Freedman will perform his traditional Christmas show on Thursday 27 December at The Basement in Circular Quay.

WEAPONS OF CHOICE

What brings you back to our fair country? Great festivals! Great weather! Great friends! How long are you here for? I think only two weeks!?

JOINING FORCES

What do you like about Australia, in ten words or less? Great festivals, great weather, great friends, Terepai Richmond, red wine.

Somerset Barnard and mate Pat Tierney come from very different musical backgrounds and upbringings but join forces for their co-headline tour, Boots And Boards, along the East Coast of Australia. The pair will be in Sydney this week, playing at the Beresford Hotel this Friday night, then the Rabbit Hole Bar on Saturday, then the Little Guy on Sunday.

HAWKSLEY WORKMAN

Any extra-curricular activities you hope to participate in? Red wine. Swimming. Beetroot on a burger. Red wine. What will you be taking home as a souvenir? Something to cellar. Browner skin. A few extra air-miles. Where can we come say hi and buy you an Aussie beer? Saturday 5 January, The Basement Circular Quay; Sunday 6, Brass Monkey. A Cooper’s would be lovely. Many thanks!

BIG VILLAGE, BIG SOUNDS Everyone on the Big Village record label’s roster has joined forces to bring a classic hip hop block party to GoodGod, featuring performances from Daily Meds, True Vibenation, Loose Change (Ellesquire & Rapaport), Mute & Kit Complete, Suburban Dark, Tenth Dan & Grub plus DJs Klue, Roleo and Migz.

On Friday 4 January, The Crooked Fiddle Band will be getting the summer festival vibe kicked off in style with their annual “Post-Festival Party” at The Factory Theatre. Incorporating some of their favourite acts from Woodford, Peats, Falls and other summer festivities, the line-up includes Gregory Page, with Polish mega band Warsaw Village Band sharing the headline spot and local steam-grass heroes The Rusty Spring Syncopators adding quirk, colour and charm to a full night of extraordinary surprises.

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Such a unique and amazing record. A massive record in my hometown Melbourne; brings back great memories! FUNKATARIUM Jump Heat Recordings (1997) An absolute weapon and still sounds amazing today! DAN HARTMAN Relight My Fire Blue Sky (1979) My all-time favourite record, from start to finish an absolute masterpiece! New release? Drums single (onelove). Upcoming Gigs? Saturday 22 December and Saturday 5 January, Pacha @ Ivy

TOM PIPER What tunes never leave Tom Piper’s crate/wallet/hard drive? ALEX METRIC Rave Weapon OWSLA (2012) It’s just a coincidence that this is weapons of choice and this is called Rave Weapon, but this song is big as in club without being stupid noisy. I have played it every set since I got it back at the start of the year. Throwback-ish vox and sick vibes make this a true weapon for me! Now there is an UZ remix too – the rave goes on. TOM PIPER & BLAZE TRIPP Brrrap 2 No Frills Label (2012) Well this was perfect opp for me to do some shameless self vibes – so here is mine and Blaze Tripp’s new thing. We did the first one at the end of 2009 and it went onto all different comps round the world, beatport charts, etc, so we have done a follow-up this year. Works sick in the club and is a must-have for anyone’s sets requiring vibe, freshness and bass – out soon.

A LITTLE CROOKED

What tunes never leave Kaz James’ crate/wallet/hard drive? MOODYMANN Shades Of Jae KDJ (1999)

JUST VISITING

BEANS MEANS ROCK Rock’n’rollers Flick The Bean feature electrifying riffs, heavy bass lines, ballistic drumming and crazy as hell stage antics. You can catch them in action on Thursday at the Estonian Club and Saturday as part of Scorcherfest at The Valve Bar.

KAZ JAMES

FOLK UKE What brings you back to our fair country? The wonderful folks at the Woodford Folk Festival funded this, our third trip to your fair country. And our friend and agent, Geoff Trio, is the mastermind of our down under tours. He’s pretty much amazing. How long are you here for? Not long enough. We end the tour in Sydney on 4 January. So that’s about ten days.

MOSCA Bax Numbers (2011)

What do you like about Australia in ten words or less? So far, we haven’t found anything we don’t like.

Heard this all over the UK last year and ever since then it’s been in my action. I play it every spot I get. When the bassline drops in this it’s true vibe time. Also makes me remember a few different club vibes back in London and what was happening at the time.

Any extra-curricular activities you wish to participate in? Yes, all of them.

Upcoming Release? Brrrap 2 / Bo – Tom Piper, Blaze Tripp & Neki Stranac (No Frills Label) Jetlaggin – Tom Piper & DJ@WAR (Downright)

Where can we come say hi and buy you an Aussie beer? Sure. We’ve grown fond of Coopers. Thursday 3 January, Brass Monkey; Friday 4, The Basement Circular Quay.

Upcoming Gigs? Harbour Party, Luna Park, NYE!

For more info see: www.folkuke.com

What will you be taking home as a souvenir? Hopefully a pet drop bear.

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SINGLE FOCUS

TAKE THAT

SINGLE FOCUS

With a world of styles at their disposal, Takadimi exert a genuine passion for the possibilities within genres and their indefinite boundaries, and celebrate the release of their debut record, New Common Sense, at The Vanguard with support from Pena Flamenca Saturday 5 January.

TAKE A BREAK This Wednesday at FBi Social, Sydney band Glass Towers take to the stage from 1pm to light up your Wednesday afternoon.

HEY GERONIMO Song title: Dreamboat Jack What’s the song about? Jack, the old drummer of Blame Ringo, had a really weird man-crush on Montpelier’s drummer, John. He’d always be talking about how strong the guy was… So weird. Is this track from a forthcoming/ existing release? This track is from our debut EP, which we released earlier in the year.

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

THANKS FOR THE BLUES

This Wednesday night at FBi Social, the regular Folk Informal program is transformed iknto A Country Christmas: five bands, one night and a handful of festive covers, featuring The Late Night Sound (with Liam Judson and Lauren Crew of Belles Will Ring), Johnny Took (Little Bastard), Edward Deer, James Thomson and Alex Guthrie.

Travelling troubadour Shaun Kirk has had a big year. After his latest release, Thank You For Giving Me The Blues, occupied the Blues & Roots Australia charts for a while, Kirk toured around the country. This week, he will be visiting Drum parts for two very special shows, this Wednesday at the Roxbury Hotel and then Thursday night at the Grand Junction Hotel in Maitland.

HAVE YOU HEARD

How long did it take to write/record? Thirty minutes to write, three months to record! Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? Initially we were going for a Darwin Deez vibe. When that didn’t work we busted out the Big Muff and went Weezer on its arse. What’s your favourite part of the song? The kooky synth solo in the middle. Do you play it differently live? Pretty much sounds exactly the same as the record! Will you be launching it? We’re going on a summer Dreamboat tour of beaches at the end of January. Before that: Friday 28 December, Upstairs Beresford; Saturday 29, Great Northern, Newcastle; Sunday 30, Peats Ridge Festival For more info see: www.facebook.com/heygeronimo

THOSE BASTARDS Incorporating five vocals, mandolin, banjo and fiddle, Sydney seven-piece party collective Little Bastard take over The Annandale Hotel Thursday 27 December.

DIRECT FROM IRELAND Ireland’s favourite accordionist Sharon Shannon is embarking on an Australian tour next month, appearing with her band at Lizotte’s Dee Why Saturday 5 January, Lizotte’s Newcastle Sunday 6 and The Clarendon Guesthouse in Katoomba Tuesday 8.

REGURGITATE THE NEW YEAR The Star welcomes internationally acclaimed Aussie rock phenomenon Regurgitator to its live music venue, Rock Lily, headlining a Glam Rock-themed New Year’s Eve bash.

RETHINKING ELECTRICITY ClulowForester is rethinking the way popular electronic music is performed, relying heavily on improvisation and allowing the audience to hear exactly when and where they mess up. They play FBi Social this Thursday night, alongside Ostinato, Dani Mulla and Crumbs In The Cupboard.

REVIVING CHRISTMAS

THE DREY ROLLAN BAND Your music is…? Rock‘n’roll. Which acts inspired you to produce your own music and why? Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and Buddy Holly. We like them as performers, for the charisma they carry and the way they give themselves to their audiences.

Soul/funk/blues machine, The JHD Revival Band take over the Roxbury Hotel at Glebe this Saturday to put on their special Christmas Show, incorporating members of One Truth Horns to bring them up to 11 piece. Supporting are gypsy soul-jazz performer Crystal Barreca and folk-blues artist John Tennyson.

HELPING YOU RECOVER Multi-award winning Sydney blues artist PJ O’Brien knows how to get a blues party started. Matt Ross is a professional freelance guitarist and singer songwriter in the Americana genre. The pair come together to play The Vanguard Friday 4 January.

What’s your wildest ambition for your music? Sold-out American tour or collaborating with Brian Setzer.

What’s your greatest rock’n’roll moment? Recording our album in New York with Matt Verta Ray from Heavy Trash. For more info see: dreyrollanband.com; m.soundcloud. com/thedreyrollanband Next available at: Black Cherry NYE party, Factory Theatre

Song title: Heart Of A Lion What’s the song about? The song tells the story of the heavily misunderstood, success story, Steve Levine. Made of money and greed, he is widely known for his arrogance and pretentious behaviour, but Steve has a big heart underneath it all, though no one will ever know it. Is this track from a forthcoming/ existing release? This track is from our current EP, Heart Of A Lion. How long did it take to write/record? This song was actually an entirely different track in the months leading up to its release. We had the song completed quite quickly and easily until we decided a few days prior to recording it that we actually hated it. So we went back to the drawing board and completely rewrote it to become the song that it is today. What’s your favourite part of the song? Probably the night and day difference between the dancey, percussive chorus to the dramatic, orchestral bridge. Was a total accident, but musical accidents seem to work really well for us! Do you play it differently live? We’ve taken the outro and added to the beginning of the track. All five band members jump on various percussive instruments and jam out for a few minutes before the track kicks into the bass line intro. It’s very fun to play live! Will you be launching it? The Backroom, Kings Cross, Friday 21 December

Why should we come and see you? We’ll have you twisting and turning, reeling and rocking. If you haven’t seen us before, do something about it. How do you find the local live scene? Very supportive and it’s great to see a scene like this growing so big amongst a diversity of age groups.

THE GRISWOLDS

CHAOS IN THE NIGHT Chaos Night Rider is a festival devoted to punk and all its subgenres. With a line-up that boasts some of the city’s best underground punk musicians – including Deathcage, Rituals of The Oak, Unknown To God and many more – it is difficult to imagine the night being anything less than all killer no filler. To make matters even better, the first 50 punters through the door will receive a free compilation CD featuring all of the event’s artists, as well as an eight-page fanzine. It’s happening at the Oxford Art Factory on Thursday.

For more info see: facebook.com/thegriswolds or twitter.com/wethegriswolds

DEAD LETTERS Dead Letter Circus have spent the last few months either overseas or in lockdown in a studio on the Gold Coast, working hard at their second album. They’re finally escaping for an East Coast tour, supported by Hands Like Houses, playing The Entrance Leagues Club Thursday 27 December, The Fitzroy Hotel in Windsor Friday 28 and Waves Nightclub in Wollongong Saturday 29.

au.yamaha.com

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TOUR GUIDE TWELVE FOOT NINJA: Jan 10 Cambridge Hotel; 11 Annandale Hotel

TUE 18 PRESENTS EVAN DANDO & JULIANA HATFIELD: Dec 20 The Metro REUNION FESTIVAL: Dec 22 Entrance Leagues Club PEATS RIDGE: Dec 29 – Jan 1 Glenworth Valley HALF MOON RUN: Jan 2 The Vanguard; 3 Yours & Owls; 4 The Brass Monkey; 24 The Steyne; 25 The Standard BEACH HOUSE: Jan 3 Enmore Theatre

NATIONAL THE WIGGLES: Dec 19 Wollongong Entertainment Centre; 22 & 23 Sydney Entertainment Centre ABBE MAY: Dec 19 Goodgod HUMAN NATURE: Dec 19 State Theatre LOVE PARADE: Dec 20 The Union MIKE MCCARTHY: Dec 20 Lizotte’s Kincumber CLAUDE HAY: Dec 21 The Vanguard THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON: Dec 21 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 22 Lizotte’s Kincumber; 23 Lizotte’s Dee Why THE GRISWOLDS: Dec 21 December The Backroom SOMERSET BARNARD: Dec 21 Beresford; 22 Rabbit Hole Bar; 23 Little Guy THE BENNIES: Dec 21 Annandale Hotel; 22 Yours & Owls; 23 Cambridge Hotel LYALL MOLONEY: Dec 22 Cosmos Rock Lounge IRRELEVANT: Dec 22 Annandale Hotel DARREN HANLON: Dec 22 St Stephens Anglican Church BAYONETS FOR LEGS: Dec 22 Lass O’Gowrie; 27 The Patch DEAD LETTER CIRCUS: Dec 27 Entrance Leagues; 28 Fitzroy Hotel; 29 Waves LITTLE BASTARD: Dec 27 Annandale Hotel HEY GERONIMO: Dec 28 The Beresford Hotel; 29 Great Northern Hotel KARNIVOOL: Dec 28 Waves; 29 Metro Theatre DIRTY SOUTH: Dec 31 Marquee REGURGITATOR: Dec 31 Rock Lily THE CROOKED FIDDLE BAND: Jan 4 Factory Theatre JONNY TELAFONE: Jan 4 Terrace Bar; 10 Goodgod EGO: Jan 5 Trinity Bar; 26 World Bar BENNY WALKER: Jan 5 Moama Tavern; 18 Barooga Sports Club; 7 February Albion Hotel; 8 & 9 National Multicultural Festival; 10 Bottle Rocket Bar; 14 King St Brewhouse; 15 Number 5 Church St; 16 Courthouse Hotel MAT MCHUGH: Jan 8 Brass Monkey; 10 Lizotte’s Dee Why; 11 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 12 Heritage Hotel THE FIRETREE: Jan 8 Great Northen Hotel; 13 Terrigal Hotel; 15 Cafe Lounge; 18 The Beresford; 19 Mars Hill Cafe; 20 Bucklers Canteen; 28 Front Gallery SUB ATARI KNIVES: Jan 9 Great Northern Hotel; 10 Towradgi Beach Hotel; 11 Brighton Up Bar; 12 Fitzroy Hotel KIM CHURCHILL: Jan 9 Brass Monkey; 10 Cambridge Hotel; 11 Heritage Hotel; 12 The Basement TWELVE FOOT NINJA: Jan 10 Cambridge Hotel; 11 Annandale Hotel BORED NOTHING: Jan 10 FBi Social TOKYO DENMARK SWEDEN: Jan 11 The Beresford SUN CITY: Jan 11 Brighton Up Bar NORTHLANE: Jan 12 The Loft; 13 Rhythm Boat Cruise; 15 Oasis Youth Centre; 17 Koonanwarra Community Hall NEW GODS: Jan 12 Goodgod DEEZ NUTS: Jan 13 The Hi-Fi; 14 Cambridge Hotel; 15 Oasis Youth Centre; 16 Woden Youth Centre ED KUEPPER & MARK DAWSON: Jan 17 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 18 Notes; 19 Clarendon Guesthouse SHANNON NOLL: Jan 17 Clarendon Guesthouse; 18 Brass Monkey; Feb 8 Lizotte’s Dee Why; 15 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 16 Asquith Leagues Club SASKWATCH: Jan 18 Salon Perdu Spiegeltent X-FACTOR LIVE: Jan 18 Hordern Pavilion REECE MASTIN: Jan 19 Newcastle Entertainment Centre; 20 Penrith Panthers; 22 Wollongong Entertainment Centre; 23 AIS Arena TUMBLEWEED: Jan 19 Annandale Hotel LEAH FLANAGAN: Jan 20 Salon Perdu Spiegeltent EMMA LOUISE: Jan 23 The Vanguard JOHN FARNHAM: Jan 24 The Star Event Centre STRANGERS: Jan 31 Great Northern; Feb 1 Annandale Hotel; 2 The Patch

SARAH BLASKO: Feb 17 & 18 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall PAUL KELLY & NEIL FINN: Mar 10, 11, 12, 17 & 18 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall GRINSPOON: Mar 16 Metro Theatre; Apr 11 Waves; 13 ANU Bar; 17 Entrance Leagues; 18 Panthers Newcastle

INTERNATIONAL JEFF MARTIN: Dec 18 & 19 Brass Monkey TIM CHAISSON: Dec 18, 21, 22 Brass Monkey; 19 Café Lounge WILL & THE PEOPLE: Dec 20 The Boatshed; 21 Great Northern Newcastle; 22 The Beresford EVAN DANDO & JULIANA HATFIELD: Dec 20 The Metro KENDRICK LAMAR: Dec 20 Enmore Theatre MORRISSEY: Dec 21 Enmore Theatre; 22 Sydney Opera House LOST ANGELS: Dec 22 Metro Theatre THOMAS GOLD: Dec 26 Marquee DJ HELL: Dec 26 Goldfish THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS (DJ SET), KNIFE PARTY, FEDDE LE GRAND: Dec 31 Bondi Beach UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA: Jan 1 Anita’s Theatre; 2 The Standard KERRI ‘KAOZ’ CHANDLER: Jan 1 Space MASTERS AT WORK: Jan 1 Ivy UKF DJS: Jan 1 Space Nightclub LADYHAWKE (DJ set): Jan 1 Newtown Hotel HALF MOON RUN: Jan 2 The Vanguard; 3 Yours & Owls; 4 The Brass Monkey; 24 The Steyne; 25 The Standard COSMO JARVIS: Jan 2 Annandale Hotel RODRIGO Y GABRIELA: Jan 2 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall 65DAYSOFSTATIC: Jan 2 The Hi-Fi BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB: Jan 2 Factory Theatre THE CRIBS: Jan 2 Oxford Art Factory BEST COAST: Jan 3 Metro Theatre MARIAH CAREY: Jan 3 Allphones Arena MAXIMO PARK: Jan 3 The Hi-Fi FIRST AID KIT: Jan 3 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall FOLK UKE: Jan 3 Brass Monkey; 4 The Basement WILLIS EARL BEAL: Jan 3 Goodgod TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB: Jan 3 Hordern Pavilion BEACH HOUSE: Jan 3 Enmore Theatre MAC MILLER: Jan 3 Enmore Theatre BLOOD RED SHOES: Jan 4 The Hi-Fi DAVE GUNNING: Jan 4 The Basement; 5 Brass Monkey; 8 & 10 Notes MIA: Jan 4 Enmore Theatre SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS: Jan 4 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall SHARON SHANNON: Jan 5 Lizotte’s Dee Why; 6 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 8 Clarendon Guesthouse; 9 The Basement BEN SOLLEE: Jan 5 Lizotte’s Kincumber; 6 Clarendon Guesthouse; 9 Notes HAWKSLEY WORKMAN: Jan 5 The Basement; 6 Brass Monkey SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER: Jan 5 Metro Theatre SHARON VAN ETTEN: Jan 6, 8, 9 The Famous Spiegeltent THE HIVES: Jan 7 The Metro HOT CHIP: Jan 8 Enmore Theatre NAVICULA: Jan 10 Manning Bar GARY JULES: Jan 11 Factory Theatre LOS CORONAS: Jan 11, 12 Famous Spiegeltent DJANGO DJANGO: Jan 11 Metro Theatre NIGHTWISH: Jan 11 Enmore Theatre CHALI 2NA: Jan 11 Factory Theatre

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TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB: Jan 3 Hordern Pavilion BLOOD RED SHOES: Jan 4 The Hi-Fi THE HIVES: Jan 7 The Metro HOT CHIP: Jan 8 Enmore Theatre BORED NOTHING: Jan 10 FBi Social TWELVE FOOT NINJA: Jan 10 Cambridge Hotel; 11 Annandale Hotel NITE JEWEL: Jan 31 Goodgod YEASAYER: Jan 31 Metro Theatre MS MR: Feb 4 Oxford Art Factory GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR: Feb 14 Enmore Theatre SARAH BLASKO: Feb 17 & 18 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall FATHER JOHN MISTY: Feb 19 Metro Theatre EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN: Feb 22 Enmore Theatre CAT POWER: Mar 1 Newcastle Panthers; 2 Enmore Theatre THE STONE ROSES: Mar 6 Hordern Pavilion FUN: Mar 7 Enmore Theatre FUTURE MUSIC: Mar 9 Randwick Racecourse JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: Mar 9 The Hi-Fi NEIL FINN & PAUL KELLY: Mar 10, 11, 12, 17 & 18 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall DINOSAUR JR: Mar 16 The Hi-Fi GRINSPOON: Mar 16 Metro Theatre; Apr 11 Waves; 13 ANU Bar; 17 Entrance Leagues; 18 Panthers Newcastle SETH LAKEMAN: Mar 20 Notes; 21 Lizotte’s Dee Why; 22 Lizotte’s Kincumber; 23 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 24 Brass Monkey WANDA JACKSON: Mar 23 Factory Theatre; 25 Lizotte’s Newcastle

CAROLYN WOODORTH, SENANI, + GUESTS: Off Broadway Bar - Ultimo DAN SPILLANE: Coogee Bay Hotel, Beach Bar - Coogee DARREN BENNETT, BLACK DIAMOND, + GUESTS: George IV Hotel - Picton DAVID POWER: Mercantile Hotel - The Rocks JEFF MARTIN: Brass Monkey - Cronulla JP TRIO: Scruffy Murphys - Sydney OPEN MIC: Family Hotel - Rydalmere RUSSELL NEAL, MONICA LASUARDI, + GUESTS: Taverners Hill Hotel - Leichhardt THE SWINGING BLADES: 505 - Surry Hills

WED 19 ABBE MAY: GoodGod Small Club - Sydney ANDREW RUSSELL: Artichoke Gallery Café - Manly BECK HANSEN’S SONG READER feat, BRENDAN COWELL, SARAH BLASKO, JOSH PYKE, JONOTHAN BOULET, + MORE: The Standard - Darlinghurst DAVID POWER: Mercantile Hotel - The Rocks FEAR OF DAWN: Marquee, The Star - Pyrmont GANG OF BROTHERS, GLENN CUNNINGHAM: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont GLASS TOWERS: Kings Cross Hotel (afternoon) - Kings Cross IS IT HER: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why

TAOS, VELVET ROAD, + GUESTS: Coach & Horses Hotel - Randwick THE IDEA OF NORTH: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton THE LATE NIGHT SOUND, JOHNNY TOOK, EDWARD DEER, + MORE: Kings Cross Hotel - Kings Cross THE PILLARS: 505 - Surry Hills

THU 20 ANDY MAMMERS: Dee Why Hotel - Dee Why BABY ET LULU: The Basement Circular Quay BEN FINN DUO: Ettamogah Hotel - Rouse Hill CAPTAIN OBVIOUS & THE UNPREDICTABLES, 2/3 OF A GLASS DARKLY, JANISE & THE CRIPPS, SUBTLE VAGRANTS: Imperial Hotel - Erskineville CARAVANA SUN: Brass Monkey - Cronulla CATH & HIM: O’Malleys Hotel - Kings Cross CLULOWFORESTER, MEN64, OSTINATO, DANI MULLA, CRUMBS IN THE CUPBOARD: Kings Cross Hotel - Kings Cross CRAIG THOMMO: Marlborough Hotel - Newtown DaNIEL HOPKINS, + GUESTS: Olympic Hotel - Paddington DARREN PERCIVAL: Camelot Lounge - Marrickville DAVID POWER: Mercantile Hotel - The Rocks

REUNION FESTIVAL feat. AFTER THE FALL and more: Saturday 22 December, Entrance Leagues Club

JOAN ARMATRADING: Mar 24 Enmore Theatre; 25 Penrith Panthers RODRIGUEZ: Mar 25 Enmore Theatre THE LUMINEERS: Mar 27 Metro Theatre JIMMY CLIFF: Mar 28 Metro Theatre BLUESFEST: Mar 28 – Apr 1 Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND, TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE: Mar 31 Enmore Theatre TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE: Apr 1 Lizotte’s Newcastle SHAWN COLVIN: Mar 31 The Basement JAKE SHIMABUKURO: Mar 31 Lizotte’s Newcastle; Apr 1 Lizotte’s Central Coast; 3 Lizotte’s Dee Why; 4 The Basement BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK: Apr 1 Enmore Theatre BONNIE RAITT & MAVIS STAPLES: Apr 3 Enmore Theatre BEN HOWARD: Apr 3 Metro Theatre ROGER HODGSON: Apr 3 & 4 State Theatre BEN CAPLAN: Apr 3 Notes JON ANDERSON: Apr 3 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 6 Factory Theatre

JEFF MARTIN: Brass Monkey - Cronulla JON ENGLISH, PETER CUPPLES: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber MUSOS CLUB JAM NIGHT: Bald Faced Stag - Leichhardt NATALIE SLADE, THE SOLID ONES, DUAN & ONLY: The Basement - Circular Quay ONE WILD NIGHT: Scruffy Murphys - Sydney RUFUS, JESSICA CERRO, FRAMES, F.R.I.E.N.D.S DJs: Beach Road Hotel, Rex Room - Bondi

EDWARD DEER, ACHOO! BLESS YOU, MAPLES, + MORE: The Standard - Darlinghurst ELEVATE: Scruffy Murphys - Sydney EVAN DANDO, JULIANA HATFIELD, BAMBINO KORESH: Metro Theatre - Sydney EVIE DEAN: Sir Joseph Banks Hotel - Botany FLICK THE BEAN: Estonian Club - Sydney HARBOUR MASTERS: Edinburgh Castle Hotel - Sydney

SOJA: Apr 5 Metro Theatre

RUSSELL NEAL, SHANE COOMBE, + GUESTS: Cat & Fiddle Hotel - Balmain

JOANNE HILL, SIMON MARRABLE, + GUESTS: Corrimal Hotel - Corrimal

STAN RIDGWAY: May 16 The Basement; 17 Factory Theatre

SHAUN KIRK: Roxbury Hotel - Glebe

JOHN VELLA: Sackville Hotel - Rozelle

BETTYE LAVETTE: Apr 5 Factory Theatre

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108

JON ENGLISH, PETER CUPPLES: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton JORDAN C THOMAS, THE HIGHTONES, DJ BRIAN: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont KENDRICK LAMAR, TUKA, CAPTAIN FRANCO: Enmore Theatre - Enmore MICHAEL MCGLYNN: Greengate Hotel - Killara MICHAEL PETER: Coogee Bay Hotel, Beach Bar - Coogee MUSOS CLUB JAM NIGHT: Carousel Inn - Rooty Hill NICKY KURTA: Harbord Beach Hotel - Harbord OWEN CAMPBELL: The Workers - Balmain PETER HEAD: Harbour View Hotel - The Rocks ROBUST, BRIZZ: Candy’s Apartment - Potts Point ROCK GODZ: Penrith Hotel - Penrith RUSSELL NEAL, TIM WALKER, + GUESTS: Forest Lodge Hotel - Glebe SAM & JAMIE TRIO: Maloneys Hotel - Sydney SARAH MCLEOD: Transit Bar Canberra, ACT SENISUARA, LILAC: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why SHAUN KIRK: The Junkyard - Maitland STEVE TONGE: Observer Hotel - The Rocks TERRY BATU: Crown Hotel - Sydney THE CRYING TREE: Artichoke Gallery Café - Manly THE LAURELS, MELODIE NELSON, DAY RAVIES: Annandale Hotel - Annandale THE MIS-MADE: The Oxford Hotel - Darlinghurst THE WILDBLOODS, BRADLEY CORK & THE FOLKLORE MANTRA, MAURICE JONES, RICHIE ST JAMES: Valve Bar & Venue - Tempe URBAN GYPSIES: 505 - Surry Hills WILL & THE PEOPLE: Old Manly Boatshed - Manly

FRI 21 ANDREW BOURKE: Artichoke Gallery Café - Manly BEN FINN: Northies, Sports Bar - Cronulla BIG NYTE OUT: Cabbage Tree Hotel - Fairy Meadow BLACK DIAMOND HEARTS: Australian Brewery Hotel Annangrove BLAZE OF GLORY-BON JOVI SHOW: Engadine Tavern - Engadine BUMP CITY: Camelot Lounge - Marrickville CARAVANA SUN, JAE HAYDON, ANDY KELLY: The Standard - Darlinghurst

CHASE THE SUN, CLAUDE HAY, MARSHALL OKELL, CASS EAGER & THE VELVET ROPE, + MANY MORE: The Vanguard - Newtown CHOIRBOYS: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber CHRIS READ: Red Cow Hotel - Penrith CRASH AVENUE DUO: Cronulla Leagues - Cronulla DAVE PHILLIPS: O’Malleys Hotel - Kings Cross DAVID AGIUS: Northies, Beach Bar - Cronulla DR ZOOM DUO: The Mark Hotel - Newcastle DREAM TAMBOURINE: Hotel Jesmond - Jesmond FALLON BROTHERS: Castle Hill Tavern - Castle Hill FLAMIN’ BEAUTIES: Mortdale Hotel - Mortdale FLUX: The Ranch Hotel - Marsfield GEOFF RANA, CARL FIDLER: Observer Hotel - The Rocks GIAN: Bar Petite - Newcastle GREG AGAR DUO: Ettamogah Hotel - Rouse Hill GREG BYRNE DUO: Crows Nest Hotel (early) - Crows Nest HAND PICKED: Crown Hotel - Sydney HELLO CLEVELAND: Quakers Inn - Quakers Hill HUE WILLIAMS: Kareela Golf Club - Kareela HYPE DUO: Courthouse Hotel - Darlinghurst INCOGNITO BAND: Exchange Hotel - Newcastle IRONBARK ROCK: Matraville Hotel - Matraville J CONNEXION: Vineyard Hotel - Vineyard JOHN VELLA: Chatswood RSL - Chatswood JON ENGLISH, PETER CUPPLES: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why JUMES MULLER TRIO, + SPECIAL GUESTS: 505 - Surry Hills KEEP THE FAITH - BON JOVI SHOW: Bull & Bush - Baulkham Hills KING TIDE, TIM CHAISSON: Brass Monkey - Cronulla KYRO & BOMBER, NIGHTRIOT, TOVA, + MORE: Candy’s Apartment - Potts Point LIME CORDIALE, CASTLECOMER, PAT TIERNEY, DJ KRISTY LEE: Upstairs Beresford - Surry Hills MICHAEL MCGLYNN: Nags Head Hotel - Glebe MORRISSEY, KRISTEEN YOUNG: Enmore Theatre - Enmore NERVO: Marquee, The Star - Pyrmont NICKY KURTA DUO: Kirribilli Hotel - Kirribilli NINEMILE: The Stag & Hunter Hotel - Mayfield NORM DE PLUME: The Spice Cellar NOUGHTIES: Customs House Bar - Circular Quay OMG! DUO: Belmore Hotel - Newcastle

ORIGINAL SIN - INXS SHOW: Unity Hall Hotel - Balmain PANORAMA: 3 Wise Monkeys - Sydney PARTY CENTRAL: Marlborough Hotel - Newtown PAUL PHILLIPS: Oasis on Beamish Hotel - Campsie PROFESSOR GROOVE & THE BOOTY AFFAIR, CONFECTION: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont QUINI: Figtree Hotel - Wollongong RANCH HANDS: Gladstone Park Bowlng Club - Balmain REBECCA HENRY: Club Tuggerah - Tuggerah RED BEARD FOX: Burdekin Hotel Darlinghurst ROBOPOP, EPITHETS, CABINS, + MORE: Kings Cross Hotel - Kings Cross RUMOURSFLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE: The Basement - Circular Quay

TWO GOOD REASONS: Windsor Castle Hotel - Newcastle VANITY: Scruffy Murphys - Sydney WILL & THE PEOPLE: Great Northern Hotel - Newcastle WYSPER, SPACE ACE: Orana Hotel - Blacksmiths ZOLTAN: Cronulla RSL - Cronulla

SAT 22 505 XMAS PARTY: 505 - Surry Hills 80’S FLASHBACK: Bull & Bush - Baulkham Hills AFTER PARTY BAND: Mounties - Mt Pritchard BACCHANALIA THE END OF THE WORLD: Imperial Hotel - Erskineville BACK TO THE 80’S: Unity Hall Hotel - Balmain BAD PUBLICITY: The Standard - Darlinghurst BARNESTORMING - THE CHISEL/ BARNES SHOW: Iron Horse Inn - Cardiff

BEACH HOUSE: Thursday 3 Jan, Enmore Theatre

SAM & JAMIE SHOW: Crows Nest Hotel (late) - Crows Nest SWINGSHIFT - COLD CHISEL SHOW: Edgeworth Bowling Club - Edgeworth TAMERLAN, SANGUINARY MISANTHROPIA, EMACIATED BY CHRIST, TROULDHAUGEN: Valve Bar & Venue - Tempe THE BUSINESS: Kincumber Hotel - Kincumber THE GRISWOLDS: The Backroom - Potts Point THE INTERCONTINENTAL PLAYBOYS, THE BAD VIBRATIONS: Green Room Lounge - Enmore THE LEVYMEN: Charlestown Bowling Club - Charlestown THE ROCKIN EDDIE BAND: Belmont 16’s - Belmont THE TRAV & ROSCO SHOW: Coogee Bay Hotel, Beach Bar - Coogee THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON, THE FALLS: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton THUNDERSTRUCK-AC/ DC SHOW, SHADOW BOXER - THE ANGELS SHOW: Pioneer Tavern - Penrith TUCKER B’S, MATT BANHAM, UNITY FLOORS: Petersham Bowling Club - Petersham TWITCHO: Tall Timbers Hotel - Ourimbah

BAYONETS FOR LEGS: Lass O’Gowrie Hotel - Newcastle BUMP CITY: Camelot Lounge - Marrickville CAMO, MADROS, GOODBOIS, + MORE: Candy’s Apartment - Potts Point CHOIRBOYS: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why CHRISTINA CROFTS, + SPECIAL GUESTS: Taverners Hill Hotel - Leichhardt DAI PRITCHARD, LIANA ROSE: Coogee Diggers - Coogee DAILY MEDS, TRUE VIBENATION, LOOSE CHANGE, + MANY MORE: GoodGod Small Club - Sydney DAN BEAZLEY: The Mark Hotel - Newcastle DARREN HANLON, + SPECIAL GUESTS: St Stephens Church, Newtown DAVE WHITE EXPERIENCE: Crows Nest Hotel (late) - Crows Nest Desperate Houseblokes: Oatley Hotel - Oatley DYNAMIC DUO: Brighton RSL Brighton-Le-Sands FORMULA: The Stag & Hunter Hotel - Mayfield FURNACE, THE FUNDAMENTALS, DEVOLA, HOBOPHONICS: Beach Road Hotel, Rex Room - Bondi HITS AND PIECES: RG McGees - Richmond

TOUR GUIDE LOS CORONAS: Jan 11 & 12 The Famous Spiegeltent MARDUK: Jan 12 The Hi-Fi VENGABOYS: Jan 12 Coogee Bay Hotel; 17 Hornsby RSL PETER MURPHY: Jan 12 Factory Theatre ROKIA TRAORE: Jan 13 The Famous Spiegeltent; 18 Sydney Town Hall; 20 City Recital Hall SING THE TRUTH feat. ANGELIQUE KIDJO, DIANNE REEVES, LIZZ WRIGHT: Jan 14 & 15 State Theatre ORCHESTRE NATIONAL DE JAZZ: Jan 15 City Recital; 16 The Concourse Chatswood ANIMAL COLLECTIVE: Jan 16 Enmore Theatre THE KILLERS: Jan 16 The Metro CHILDISH GAMBINO: Jan 16 The Standard SANDI THOM: Jan 16 Brass Monkey; 17 Notes DAVID BYRNE & ST VINCENT: Jan 17 & 18 State Theatre CRYSTAL CASTLES: Jan 17 The Hi-Fi ALABAMA SHAKES: Jan 17 The Metro JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD: Jan 17 The Standard OFF!: Jan 17 Annandale Hotel AGAINST ME!: Jan 17 Manning Bar YANNI: Jan 17 Sydney Entertainment Centre HUNX & HIS PUNX: Jan 17 The Famous Spiegeltent ESG: Jan 18 Oxford Art Factory LIANNE LA HAVAS: Jan 18 & 19 The Famous Spiegeltent; 22 & 23 Salon Perdu Spiegeltent OSAKA MONAURAIL: Jan 18 Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre; 19 Sutherland Entertainment Centre; 24 Sydney Town Hall KASHMERE STAGE BAND: Jan 18 Sutherland Entertainment Centre; 19 Old King’s Parade Ground; 20 Sydney Town Hall ALESTORM: Jan 19 Manning Bar DEATH GRIPS: Jan 19 Oxford Art Factory BLOODY BEETROOTS: Jan 19 Enmore Theatre WEEZER: Jan 19 Sydney Entertainment Centre GARY CLARK JR: Jan 19 Factory Theatre SLEIGH BELLS: Jan 19 The Metro DARSHAN JESRANI & DANIEL WANG: Jan 19 Sydney Town Hall BASEMENT JAXX: Jan 20 Sydney Cricket Ground NORMAN BLAKE & JOE PERNICE: Jan 20 & 25 The Famous Spiegeltent; 26 & 27 Salon Perdu Spiegeltent DIRTY PROJECTORS: Jan 21 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall MELANIE PAIN: Jan 21 Sydney Town Hall YMUSIC: Jan 22 & 23 The Famous Spiegeltent; 24 & 25 Salon Perdu Spiegeltent YEAH YEAH YEAHS: Jan 22 The Metro BAND OF HORSES: Jan 22 Enmore Theatre FOALS: Jan 22, 23 Oxford Art Factory NICHOLAS JAAR: Jan 23 Sydney Town Hall VAMPIRE WEEKEND: Jan 23 Metro Theatre THE WATERBOYS: Jan 23 State Theatre; 26 Sydney Opera House THE 5.6.7.8’S: Jan 24 Oxford Art Factory DARKSIDE: Jan 24 The Famous Spiegeltent A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS: Jan 25 Oxford Art Factory MOUNT EERIE: Jan 25 York St Anglican Church LINDSTROM: Jan 26 Sydney Town Hall DIRTYBIRD: Jan 26 Ivy EXPIRE: Jan 26 Chatswood Youth Centre; 27 Bald Faced Stag; 29 Yours & Owls PERFUME GENIUS: Jan 26 & 27 The Famous Spiegeltent NITE JEWEL: Jan 31 Goodgod YEASAYER: Jan 31 Metro Theatre MS MR: Feb 4 Oxford Art Factory GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR: Feb 14 Enmore Theatre FATHER JOHN MISTY: Feb 19 Metro Theatre BLINK 182: Feb 20 Allphones Arena PARAMORE: Feb 21 Enmore Theatre EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN: Feb 22 Enmore Theatre JOSE JAMES: Feb 23 The Standard CYPRESS HILL: Feb 25 UNSW Roundhouse SLAYER: Feb 25 Luna Park Big Top GARBAGE: Feb 25 Metro Theatre BRING ME THE HORIZON: Feb 26 The Hi-Fi LINKIN PARK: Feb 26 Sydney Entertainment Centre PUSCIFER: Feb 26 Enmore Theatre SUM 41, BILLY TALENT: Feb 26 UNSW Roundhouse TOMAHAWK: Feb 26 Metro

BORED NOTHING: Jan 10 FBi Social

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE: Feb 27 The Hi-Fi CAT POWER: Mar 1 Newcastle Panthers; 2 Enmore Theatre THE STONE ROSES: Mar 6 Hordern Pavilion FUN: Mar 7 Enmore Theatre TORO Y MOI: Mar 7 The Standard JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: Mar 9 The Hi-Fi NEIL FINN & PAUL KELLY: Mar 10, 11, 12, 17 & 18 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall DINOSAUR JR: Mar 16 The Hi-Fi SETH LAKEMAN: Mar 20 Notes; 21 Lizotte’s Dee Why; 22 Lizotte’s Kincumber; 23 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 24 Brass Monkey WANDA JACKSON: Mar 23 Factory Theatre; 25 Lizotte’s Newcastle ROBERT CRAY, TAJ MAHAL, SHUGGIE OTIS: Mar 23 Enmore Theatre JOAN ARMATRADING: Mar 24 Enmore Theatre; 25 Penrith Panthers RODRIGUEZ: Mar 25 Enmore Theatre THE LUMINEERS: Mar 27 Metro Theatre JIMMY CLIFF: Mar 28 Metro Theatre EMILIE AUTUMN: Mar 30 Factory Theatre TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND: Mar 31 Enmore Theatre TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE: Apr 1 Lizotte’s Newcastle SHAWN COLVIN: Mar 31 The Basement JAKE SHIMABUKURO: Mar 31 Lizotte’s Newcastle; Apr 1 Lizotte’s Central Coast; 3 Lizotte’s Dee Why; 4 The Basement BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK: Apr 1 Enmore Theatre BEN HOWARD: Apr 3 Metro Theatre BONNIE RAITT & MAVIS STAPLES: Apr 3 Enmore Theatre ROGER HODGSON: Apr 3 & 4 State Theatre BEN CAPLAN: Apr 3 Notes JON ANDERSON: Apr 3 Lizotte’s Newcastle; 6 Factory Theatre BETTYE LAVETTE: Apr 5 Factory Theatre COHEED & CAMBRIA: Apr 20 Metro Theatre DEFTONES: May 15 UNSW Roundhouse

FESTIVALS REUNION FESTIVAL: Dec 22 Entrance Leagues Club SCORCHER FEST: Dec 22 Valve Bar SUNBURNT CHRISTMAS: Dec 25 Bondi Beach PEATS RIDGE: Dec 29 – Jan 1 Glenworth Valley FIELD DAY: Jan 1 The Domain SYDNEY FESTIVAL: Jan 5 – 27 various venues around Sydney BLUES & GROOVES: Jan 6 Beachcomber Hotel SPUNK TONES: Jan 12 Bangalow A&I Hall JAZZGROOVE SUMMER FESTIVAL: Jan 17 – 20 various venues in Surry Hills and Redfern BIG DAY OUT: Jan 18 Sydney Showgrounds FESTIVAL OF THE VOICE: Jan 26 The Rocks RIVERBOATS FESTIVAL: Feb 15 – 17 Echuca Moama BACK TO THE FUTURE O FEST: Feb 22 UTS SOUNDWAVE: Feb 24 Sydney Olympic Park WOMADELAIDE: Mar 8 – 11 Adelaide Botanic Park FUTURE MUSIC: Mar 9 Randwick Racecourse BLUE MOUNTAINS MUSIC FESTIVAL: Mar 15 – 17 Katoomba CMC ROCKS THE HUNTER: Mar 15 – 17 Hope Estate HITS & PITS: Mar 23 UNSW Roundhouse; 27 ANU Bar BLUESFEST: Mar 28 – Apr 1 Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm DENI BLUES & ROOTS FESTIVAL: Mar 30, 31 Deniliquin THE GUM BALL: Apr 25 – 28 Dashville Hunter Valley GROOVIN’ THE MOO: Apr 27 Maitland Showground; 29 University of Canberra

To check out the mags online go to themusic.com.au/mags • 109

J CONNEXION: Carousel Inn - Rooty Hill JACK DERWIN: Artichoke Gallery Café - Manly JAMES REYNE, CHRIS BYRNE: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton JAMIE LINDSAY DUO: Mean Fiddler Hotel - Rouse Hill JIM OVEREND: Beauford Hotel - Mayfield JJ DUO: Kellys on King - Newtown JODY & THE DRAGON, WILL & THE INDIANS, FIELDS OF MARS: The Lair, Metro Theatre (afternoon) - Sydney JORDAN MILLAR: Front Gallery & Café - Lyneham, ACT KID INK: The Hi Fi, Entertainment Quarter - Moore Park KING TIDE, TIM CHAISSON: Brass Monkey - Cronulla KOBRA KAI, SHAMIK, SPIKEY TEE, + MORE: Kings Cross Hotel - Kings Cross KURT WILLIAMS: Riverwood Inn -Riverwood LAWRENCE BAKER: Sir Joseph Banks Hotel - Botany LEEROY & THE RATS: Orana Hotel - Blacksmiths LO!, HARBOURER: Annandale Hotel - Annandale LOST ANGELS: Metro Theatre - Sydney MIND ELECTRIC: Marquee, The Star - Pyrmont MORRISSEY, KRISTEEN YOUNG: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House - Circular Quay PARTY VIBE: Beach Palace Hotel, Cider Room - Coogee PAUL HAYWARD, AMBRAS, BLUEBIRDS OF HAPPINESS, TH EBUCKINGHAM INVENTION: Town & Country Hotel - St Peters PETE GELZINNIS: Charlestown Bowling Club - Charlestown PETER HEAD: Harbour View Hotel - The Rocks PHYSICAL GRAFFITI, EMMANUEL GIAL BLUES EXPLOSION, GREEN HOLLOW ROAD: Cat & Fiddle Hotel - Balmain RUBBER BULLET: Exchange Hotel - Newcastle SCORCHERFEST: Valve Bar & Venue - Tempe

SEAN AND MISS BOW: Cookies Lounge & Bar - North Strathfield SINGLED OUT: Coogee Bay Hotel, Beach Bar - Coogee SKYSCRAPER: Engadine Tavern - Engadine SOUNDPROOFED: Macarthur Tavern - Campbelltown SOUTHLAND: Jannali Inn - Jannali STEVE CROCKER: Bexley RSL - Bexley SWINGSHIFT - COLD CHISEL SHOW: South Hurstville RSL - South Hurstville TALK OF THE TOWN: Belmont 16’s - Belmont TED NASH: Picton Hotel - Picton THE HEADLINERS: Springwood Inn - Springwood THE JHD REVIVAL BAND, + SPECIAL GUESTS: Roxbury Hotel - Glebe THE LEVYMEN: Belmore Hotel - Newcastle THE LOVE HANDLES: Cauliflower Hotel - Waterloo THE OTHER GUYS: Overlander Hotel Cambridge Park THE POD BROTHERS: The Belvedere Hotel - Sydney THE PRETTY BIG BAND, GRANT ARTHUR & THE BAUBLES, THE COPE STREET PARADE, GEOFF BULL & THE FINER CUTS, + MANY MORE: The Vanguard - Newtown THE RATTLE: Duke of Wellington Hotel - New Lambton THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON, THE FALLS: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber TILLEE MUSIC: Bar Petite - Newcastle TWO GOOD REASONS: Cessnock Supporters Club - Cessnock WARDS XPRESS: Bald Rock Hotel - Rozelle WHISKY SMILE, SOLKYRI, BARBATUS, THE ARCHAIC REVIAL, SWAMP HEART: The Square - Haymarket WILL AND THE PEOPLE: Upstairs Beresford - Surry Hills WONGAWILLI: Albion Park Centenary Hall - Albion Park YUKI KUMAGAI, JOHN MACKIE: Wellco Café & Wine Bar - Leichhardt

SUN 23 ANIA LENZO TRIO, THE PUG, + GUESTS: Salisbury Hotel - Stanmore BENN GUNN: Waverley Bowling Club - Waverley BRYEN WILLEMS: Marrickville Bowling Club - Marrickville CHOIRBOYS: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton DAVID CAMPBELL: Mingara Recreation Club, Lounge Bar - Tumbi Umbi DEADWOOD 76, S.P.G., THE TURPS, THE BONN VILLAINS: Botany View Hotel - Newtown FLAMIN’ BEAUTIES: Overlander Hotel Cambridge Park HP DUO: Bar Petite - Newcastle IGUANA: Charlestown Bowling Club Charlestown JAMES REYNE: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber JAMIE LINDSAY: Harbord Beach Hotel - Harbord JASMINE BETH: Cookies Lounge & Bar - North Strathfield

PHILLIP CRAWSHAW: Belmont 16’s - Belmont PROFESSOR GROOVE & THE BOOTY AFFAIR, JADE BOOTAY: Brass Monkey - Cronulla RACHEL ELDON: Albion Hotel - Parramatta SHADOW BOXER THE ANGELS SHOW: Panania Hotel - Panania STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Wickham Park Hotel - Newcastle SUITE AZ, DJ KITSCH78: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont THE APRIL MAZE: Coal Cliff Surf Club - Wollongong THE JUNGLE KINGS, DAVE COCHRANE: Iron Horse Inn - Cardiff THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON, THE FALLS: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why TIM PRINGLE: Kincumber Hotel - Kincumber UPSIDE DOWN MISS JANE, MONICA & THE EXPLOSION, THE DEAD SHITS, BELLA VOLTAIRE: Valve Bar & Venue (afternoon) - Tempe

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB: Thursday 3 January, Hordern Pavilion

KUTA GROOVE: The Mill Hotel - Milperra LAWRENCE BAKER DUO: Coogee Bay Hotel, Beach Bar - Coogee LOLO LOVINA: Camelot Lounge - Marrickville LOVE THAT HAT: The Mark Hotel - Newcastle MARK HOPPER: Artichoke Gallery Café - Manly MATT PRICE DUO: Northies, Sports Bar - Cronulla OLIVER THORPE: Rock Lily, The Star (afternoon) - Pyrmont OMG! DUO: Duke of Wellington Hotel - New Lambton PETER HEAD TRIO, + FRIENDS: Harbour View Hotel - The Rocks

110 • To check out the mags online go to themusic.com.au/mags

UPSKIRTS, WALKING WHO, FIGHTING LEAGUE: Annandale Hotel - Annandale WARDS XPRESS: Pyrmont Bridge Hotel - Pyrmont

MON 24 CHRIS PATON: Northies, Sports Bar - Cronulla DAMAGE INC METALLICA SHOW: Bull & Bush - Baulkham Hills DAVID POWER: Mercantile Hotel - The Rocks KROSSFYRE: Orana Hotel - Blacksmiths MENTAL AS ANYTHING: Ettamogah Hotel - Rouse Hill

MILLENIUM BUG: Pioneer Tavern - Penrith NICKY KURTA DUO: Kirribilli Hotel - Kirribilli OUTLIER: Scruffy Murphys - Sydney RICK FENSOM: Harbord Beach Hotel - Harbord ROMNEY WATTS: Kincumber Hotel - Kincumber

TUE 25 ALEX HOPKINS: Mean Fiddler Hotel - Rouse Hill BEN FINN DUO, MATT JONES DUO: Castle Hill Tavern - Castle Hill CHRISTIE LAMB, DANIELLE TODD: Camden Valley Inn - Camden OUTLIER, DJ SMITHERS: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont SUNBURNT CHRISTMAS 2012: Bondi Beach - Bondi ZOLTAN: Revesby Workers - Revesby

WED 26 ALISON WONDERLAND, WHAT SO NOT, JOYRIDE: Upstairs Beresford - Surry Hills ANDY MAMMERS DUO: Maloneys Hotel - Sydney CAMBO, STEVE TONGE, ROB HENRY: Observer Hotel (afternoon) - The Rocks DAVID AGIUS: Mean Fiddler Hotel, Sub Bar - Rouse Hill DAVID POWER: Mercantile Hotel - The Rocks FRONT END LOADER: Annandale Hotel - Annandale GANG OF BROTHERS, DJ URBY: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont HOORAY FOR EVERYTHING: Revesby Works, Skylight Lounge - Revesby JIMMY BEAR: O’Malleys Hotel - Kings Cross MOONLIGHT DRIVE: Exchange Hotel - Newcastle THOMAS GOLD: Marquee, The Star - Pyrmont

THU 27 BAYONETS FOR LEGS: The Patch - Wollongong BRIAN CADD: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber Cosmo Jarvis: Cambridge Hotel - Newcastle DARYL BRAITHWAITE: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton DAVID POWER: Mercantile Hotel - The Rocks DEAD LETTER CIRCUS, HANDS LIKE HOUSES, + GUESTS: Entrance Leagues - Bateau Bay JOANNE HILL, + GUESTS: Corrimal Hotel - Corrimal LITTLE BASTARD, + GUESTS: Annandale Hotel - Annandale ROCK GODZ: Penrith Hotel - Penrith RUSSELL NEAL, MONICA & THE EXPLOSION, + GUESTS: Forest Lodge Hotel - Glebe

SARAH MCLEOD: The Workers - Balmain TANGALO: Camelot Lounge - Marrickville THE DREY ROLLAN BAND, MISS PIA & HER LONESOME PLAYBOYS, DJ DYABOLICAL: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont TIM FREEDMAN: The Basement - Circular Quay

FRI 28 ANGUS & MALCOLM: Matraville Hotel - Matraville BRENDAN MURPHY: Beauford Hotel - Mayfield BRIAN CADD: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why CARAVANA SUN: Great Northern Hotel - Newcastle CASEY DONOVAN: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton CHRIS READ: Abbotts Hotel - Waterloo Cosmo Jarvis: The Patch - Fairy Meadow DEAD LETTER CIRCUS, HANDS LIKE HOUSES, + GUESTS: Fitzroy Hotel - Windsor DEAN KYRWOOD: Bar Petite - Newcastle DREAM TAMBOURINE: Duke of Wellington Hotel - New Lambton EL ORQUSTON: Camelot Lounge - Marrickville FLAMIN’ BEAUTIES: Courthouse Hotel - Darlinghurst FRIENDLY FIRES DJ SET: The Spice Cellar GIAN: The Mark Hotel - Newcastle HEY GERONIMO, JACKIE ONASSIS, JORDAN SLY, DJ KRISTY LEE: Upstairs Beresford - Surry Hills HORNET: Exchange Hotel - Newcastle HUE WILLIAMS: Oasis on Beamish Hotel - Campsie KID MAC: The Standard - Darlinghurst KINGSWELL, VIVIENNE KINGSWOOD: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont MATT LYON: Quakers Inn - Quakers Hill MILLENNIUM BUG: Rooty Hill RSL - Rooty Hill NATHAN FOLEY: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber PAUL WATTERS: Tall Timbers Hotel - Ourimbah PEARSON SOUND, BEN UFO, XXXY, + MANY MORE: Metro Theatre - Sydney RED HOT NUMBERS: Overlander Hotel Cambridge Park RED SWEAT: Kincumber Hotel - Kincumber SOUL TATTOO: Revesby Works, Skylight Lounge - Revesby STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Lakes Hotel - The Entrance STONE MONKS, BAREFOOT ALLEY, THE LYNETTES, DREW HARRIS: The Basement - Circular Quay SUNDAYS RECORD: The Stag & Hunter Hotel - Mayfield THE BEND: Orana Hotel - Blacksmiths THE BIG BANG: Cessnock Supporters Club - Cessnock

THUNDERSTRUCK-AC/ DC SHOW, TATTOO FOR YOU - ROSE TATTOO TRIBUTE SHOW: Blue Cattledog Hotel - St Clair TIM FREEDMAN: Brass Monkey - Cronulla TWO STOMP: Windsor Castle Hotel - Newcastle

SAT 29 24 HOURS: Belmore Hotel - Newcastle A TRIBUTE TO BOZ SCAGGS & HALL & OATES: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why AUSTRALIAN PLAYED: Macarthur Tavern - Campbelltown BAND OF MEN: Mounties - Mt Pritchard BLACK ROSE: Overlander Hotel - Cambridge Park BRIAN CADD: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton CASEY DONOVAN: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber CATH & HIM: Revesby Works, Skylight Lounge - Revesby CHILDREN COLLIDE, THE HOLLOW BONES, SHE REX: Annandale Hotel - Annandale CROCQ: Bar Petite - Newcastle DANIEL ARVIDSON: Duke of Wellington Hotel - New Lambton DEAD LETTER CIRCUS, HANDS LIKE HOUSES, + GUESTS: Waves Hotel - Wollongong DOWN THUNDER: Orana Hotel - Blacksmiths GEN-R-8: Cessnock Supporters Club - Cessnock HITS AND PIECES: Beach Palace Hotel - Coogee HUE WILLIAMS: Grand Hotel - Wyong KARNIVOOL, HIGH TENSION: Metro Theatre - Sydney KEYIM BA: Camelot Lounge - Marrickville KIRSTY LARKIN: Beauford Hotel - Mayfield KOTADAMA: Exchange Hotel - Newcastle LOUIS LONDON, SEA LEGS, F.R.I.E.N.D.S DJs: Upstairs Beresford - Surry Hills MARK DA COSTA & THE BLACK LIST, DJ SINEAD: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont PETE HIBBERT: The Mark Hotel - Newcastle RENEE GEYER: The Basement - Circular Quay STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Dicey Riley’s Hotel - Wollongong STONEBRIDGE: Goldfish - Kings Cross THE CRUISERS: Belmont 16’s - Belmont THE ENDLESS SUMMER BEACH PARTY: Penrith RSL, Castle Lounge - Penrith THE OTHER GUYS: Penrith Hotel - Penrith THE RATTLE: Windsor Castle Hotel - Newcastle THE ZILLERS: The Stag & Hunter Hotel - Mayfield US TWO DUO: Club Engadine - Engadine YUM: Brighton RSL Brighton-Le-Sands

SUN 30 FRANKY & JOHNNY: Belmont 16’s - Belmont JOHN LARDER: Kincumber Hotel - Kincumber LITTLE BLACK BOOK: Bar Petite - Newcastle RENEE GEYER: The Basement Circular Quay STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Catherine Hill Bay Pub Catherine Hill Bay TY: Duke of Wellington Hotel - New Lambton

MON 31 ALEX ROUSSOS: Toukley RSL - Toukley AN21, MAX VANGELLI, JUNIOR JACK, KID CRÈME, + MANY MORE: Pacha, Ivy - Sydney BACK TO THE 80’S: Paragon Hotel - Circular Quay BARRY LEEF BAND, KIMI TUPAEA: The Basement Circular Quay BLACK CHERRY NYE: Factory Theatre - Marrickville BOBBY C: The Mark Hotel - Newcastle BON JOVI - THE SHOW: O’Donoghues - Emu Plains CIRCUS FREAKS & SIDE SHOW ALLEY: The Vanguard - Newtown DAVE LIVE!: Windsor Castle Hotel - Newcastle DEXTER MOORE, PAUL ROBERT BURTON: Lizottes, Central Coast Kincumber DIRTY SOUTH: Marquee, The Star - Pyrmont DR ZOOM DUO: Duke of Wellington Hotel - New Lambton EDDIE HALLWELL (UK), JOHN OO FLEMING, ARNEJ, FIRST STATE: Metro Theatre - Sydney FLAMIN’ BEAUTIES: Penrith Hotel - Penrith HEY PONCHO: Hotel Jesmond - Jesmond INCOGNITO BAND: Exchange Hotel - Newcastle LOVE THAT HAT, THE RATTLE, DJ FUSION: Belmont 16’s - Belmont MARSALA: Camelot Lounge - Marrickville NYE 2012 CELEBRATION feat, MIKE CHAMPION: King Street Brewhouse - City PAUL CHRISTIE’S ROCK HOUSE: Mona Vale Bowling Club - Mona Vale PETE GELZINNIS: Club Singleton - Singleton PNAU, AJAX, YESYOU, ELIZABETH ROSE, DJ FLAGRANT, + MANY MORE: Cargo Bar, King St Wharf - Sydney RAY BEADLE, BRYCE COHEN: Brass Monkey - Cronulla

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REGURGITATOR, POP CULT, DJ SMITHERS, SEABAS, MARK DA COSTA & THE BLACK LIST: Rock Lily, The Star - Pyrmont RICKI-LEE, MARVIN PRIEST, THE ASTON SHUFFLE, LUCIANA: Luna Park - Milsons Point ROLLING STONED - TRIBUTE SHOW: Kincumber Hotel - Kincumber SCRIBE, PIETER T: Hotel Chambers - Martin Place, Sydney TALK OF THE TOWN: Charlestown Bowling Club - Charlestown THE BADDIES, STAMP OUT DISCO: Botany View Hotel - Newtown THE RADIATORS, TOKEN PALACE: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton THE SUPREME MOTOWN SHOW, SATURDAY NIGHT DIVAS: Revesby Workers, Whitlam Theatre - Revesby VIAGRA FALLS: Orana Hotel - Blacksmiths WEEKEND DETENTION: Ingleburn Bowling Club - Ingleburn XTRA HOT: Revesby Works, Skylight Lounge - Revesby

TUE 01 CHRISTIE LAMB: Revesby Works, Skylight Lounge - Revesby

LADYHAWKE, PURPLE SNEAKERS: Newtown Hotel - Newtown SPACE IBIZA: Goldfish - Kings Cross UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA, BEARHUG, RI JONES, SHINING BIRD: Anita’s Theatre - Thirroul

WED 02 65DAYSOFSTATIC: The Hi Fi, Entertainment Quarter - Moore Park ANGE MURPHY, DANIEL MARCH, SAM BUCKINGHAM, ELWOOD MYRE: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB, THE PAPER KITES: Factory Theatre - Marrickville COSMO JARVIS, + GUESTS: Annandale Hotel - Annandale HALF MOON RUN, KIM CHURCHILL: The Vanguard - Newtown HAT FITZ & CARA: Royal Exchange Theatre - Newcastle RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, ALEX WILSON: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House - Circular Quay THE CRIBS: Oxford Art Factory - Darlinghurst UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA, THE BLOODS: The Standard - Darlinghurst

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THE MORRISONS, SURPRISE WASP, WITCH FIGHT: Spectrum - Darlinghurst THE PJ O’BRIEN BAND, MATT ROSS: The Vanguard - Newtown WARSAW VILLAGE BAND, THE CROOKED FIDDLE BAND: Factory Theatre - Marrickville John Butler Trio

SAT 05

PEATS RIDGE FESTIVAL Peats Ridge Sustainable Arts & Music Festival is back for 2012, with headliner John Butler Trio set to bring in the New Year in the surrounds of the stunning Glenworth Valley. Also performing in the lead up to NYE are New York City’s finest Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, NZ’s The Black Seeds, Friendly Fires DJ set, Krafty Kuts vs A Skillz, The Herd, Kaki King, Blood Red Shoes, King Tide, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Electric Wire Hustle, Mat McHugh & The Seperatista Sound System, 65daysofstatic, Deep Sea Arcade, Gold Fields, Gossling, Will & The People and many, many more (we’re talking around 200 or so acts all up).

THU 03 BEACH HOUSE, WINTERCOATS: Enmore Theatre - Enmore BEST COAST, Dune Rats, PEAR SHAPE: Metro Theatre - Sydney FIRST AID KIT: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House - Circular Quay FOLK UKE: Brass Monkey - Cronulla HALF MOON RUN: Yours and Owls - Wollongong HAT FITZ & CARA: The Vanguard - Newtown HEUY, LOUIE & DUWEY: Penrith Hotel - Penrith JESSE: Campbelltown Catholic Club, Caf Samba

MAXIMO PARK: The Hi Fi, Entertainment Quarter - Moore Park THE AUDREYS: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why THE MORRISONS, SCARAMOUCHE, SEX IN COLUMBIA, MARY GUNN: Brighton Up Bar - Darlinghurst TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, THE VACCINES, THE JUNGLE GIANTS: Hordern Pavilion - Moore Park WILLIS EARL BEAL: GoodGod Small Club - Sydney

FRI 04 BLOOD RED SHOES: The Hi Fi, Entertainment Quarter - Moore Park

CATH & HIM: Red Cow Hotel - Penrith DAVID DE VRIES TRIO: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why FOLK UKE, JODI MARTIN, DAVE GUNNING: The Basement - Circular Quay HALF MOON RUN: Brass Monkey - Cronulla HAT FITZ & CARA: Old Manly Boatshed - Manly JONNY TELAFONE: Terrace Bar - Newcastle LAWRENCE BAKER: Quakers Inn - Quakers Hill LIMP WRIST, THE HARD ONS, SHIT WEATHER, GLORY HOLE: Annandale Hotel - Annandale M.I.A.: Enmore Theatre - Enmore

MACKA: Courthouse Hotel - Darlinghurst MARSHALL OKEL: Town Hall Hotel - Newtown RAY BEADLE: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House - Circular Quay STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Bateau Bay Hotel - Bateau Bay THE AUDREYS: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton THE MENACES: Overlander Hotel Cambridge Park THE MIGHTY REAPERS, DAVE BREWER: Cat & Fiddle Hotel - Balmain

BEN SOLLEE: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber BLACK ROSE: Courthouse Hotel - Darlinghurst DIGITAL MYSTIKZ, GASLAMP KILLER, RUSTIE, + MORE: Metro Theatre - Sydney HAT FITZ & CARA, DAVE GUNNING: Brass Monkey - Cronulla HAWKSLEY WORKMAN, ANDY BROWN: The Basement - Circular Quay HITS AND PIECES: Macarthur Tavern - Campbelltown INNER GAMES: Overlander Hotel Cambridge Park ONE HIT WONDERS: Mounties - Mt Pritchard RAY BEADLE: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton SHARON SHANNON: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why SMELLS LIKE THE 90s: Ulladulla Ex Services - Ulladulla

TAKADIMI, PENA FLAMENCA: The Vanguard - Newtown THE MATCHBOX TWENTY SHOW: Budgewoi Soccer Club - Budgewoi THE SHUFFLE: Penrith RSL, Castle Lounge - Penrith

SUN 06 ASH GRUNWALD, HAT FITZ & CARA, DALLAS FRASCA, + MORE: Beachcomber Hotel - Toukley BEN SOLLEE: Clarendon Guest House - Katoomba CHAPELIER FOU, RAVEN: The Vanguard - Newtown HAWKSLEY WORKMAN, ANDY BROWN, TAINUI RICHMOND: Brass Monkey - Cronulla KISS ME: King Street Brewhouse - City RAY BEADLE: Lizottes, Sydney - Dee Why SHARON SHANNON: Lizottes, Newcastle - New Lambton STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Premier Hotel - Broadmeadow THE AUDREYS: Lizottes, Central Coast - Kincumber

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RETAIL NEWS GUITAR WORLD CAMPBELLTOWN REOPENS A fire in a neighbouring store led to the closing of Guitar World in Campbelltown, Sydney around a year ago. Now under new management, the store has now reopened, continuing to service the area as it has for the past 20 years. Owner Gerard Toweel is excited about the future of the store, particularly about the introduction of a recording facility. “We have even had enquiries from a son wanting to record a song for his mum’s birthday,” said Toweel. “So we can cater to all sorts of recording needs.” Guitar World Campbelltown currently offers tuition in guitar and bass and is looking to extend that in 2013 to drums, vocals and keyboards. If you’re nearby Queen Street, Campbelltown, call in and say hi to Gerard and his team or call (02) 4626 6876 for more information.

LAST MINUTE DRUM GIFTS AT ACCESS DRUMMING Duncan at Access Drumming in Cannon Hill, Brisbane tells us he is well stocked for Christmas with plenty of new Drumcraft kits, specials on Sonor stools and Mapex double kicks. Access Drumming also recently became a Remo dealer and is re-stocking Zildjian product. They’re only closed on the main holidays, so rock into Access and check the gear out. Visit www. accessdrumming.com.au and see what’s on offer. You might also consider drum lessons with three full-time teachers onboard at the store.

FULL THROTTLE PROVIDER OF FUNKTION ONE In last week’s Muso we introduced a new section dedicated to the world of the DJ and their tools of trade. In the new section, we spoke to Adam Ward director of Full Throttle Entertainment, a company that operates one of the largest Funktion One systems in Australia. In the article we incorrectly stated that Full Throttle was the Australian distributor of Funktion One, which they are not. Funktion One is distributed by Funktion One Australia. Full Throttle Entertainment is a provider of Funktion One - for design, production, install, maintenance and rental. Muso apologises for the error. Adam Ward has unique experience with the Funktion One line, both internationally and in Australia. Currently, Full Throttle works closely with the Australian distributor of Funktion One sound systems, which Ward believes are the best in the world. “There are a lot of clubs in Ibiza using Funktion One, which is the club Mecca. There are a lot of clubs in Vegas, New York and Miami that are sporting Funktion One. They are the epitome night club systems,” Ward told Muso. “Funktion One really owns the electronic music market. Beatport just did a vote of the ten best sound systems in America and I think five out of the ten have Funktion One systems.” Visit www.fullthrottleentertainment.com.au to learn more about Full Throttle, who specialise in turnkey Technical Services, Nightclub Design, Event Production and Tour Management, and house a line of Funktion One sound systems.

TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE Nigel Godrich, best known as Radiohead’s producer, now has an album of his own. Australian producer Magoo wants to know all about it. adiohead’s producer Nigel Godrich is plugging his own album, a new musical project called Ultraista which he recorded with Beck, REM drummer Joey Waronker and vocalist Laura Bettinson. Much to his annoyance, he knows that in any discussion he has with the music media, they’re going to mention the ‘R’ word. To a much lesser degree, ARIA award-winning Australian producer, Magoo is in a similar position and will forever be associated with another ‘R’ band, Regurgitator. When Magoo spoke to Godrich over the phone exclusively for Muso, he was sympathetic to Nigel’s plight and kept away from tales of Yorke, preferring to get inside the head of one of the world’s most successful producers.

Magoo: I am curious about how the project came together before you met Laura, when it was just you and Joey. Were you just hanging out between schedules when you were in the same town? Nigel: Exactly. He and I and another friend named Guss. So many times we just got together and we would be recording or jamming. Most of it we did in London but we are working all over the place. Guss and Joey both have little studios and I have a big studio. It’s nothing out of the ordinary, we just made a concerted effort to get a bunch of backing tracks together. We spoke about a certain aesthetic about electronics and a repetitive rhythm which is played. Obviously electronic music that is repeated is exactly the same. You get a human being in and they can repeat but it will sound different every time. Afrobeat was the reference point. So that’s how it started and then we had an intense three-day session, like a right ol’ recording party and ended up with bits of music that we would then... essentially what I did was took all the music off and kept the rhythm and started again. That’s the basis of the record. M: How much of this stuff did you have together before you thought you had to find yourself a singer? N: Quite a lot actually because we’d done tiny snippets which might have been a minute long or three minutes or whatever. It would be a feeling, a little movement and we would leave it at that and move on to the next one. After a while we would go back and look at things and see how they could build and be structured. M: I read about how you put up posters at an art college. You were trying to find someone who was not even necessarily a musician to sing. Did you actually audition anyone from that process? N: We actually got replies with music that they had made. We were trying to find someone who was an interesting character, who could sing but maybe hadn’t thought about taking it seriously. The last thing we wanted to do was have a singer songwriter with their chops together who had their version of what they wanted to do already sorted out. What we did end up finding in Laura was someone who did have their own thing going, but it was very compatible and didn’t work against what we trying to do. M: Do you ever have free time Nigel? N: Oh I do. I have an awful lot of time to stare at the wall and think about what I am doing. I have a very unstructured life. It’s a blessing and a curse

114 • To check out the mags online go to themusic.com.au/mags

because it can actually drive me crazy but it allows me to drop anything and do something on a whim. M: You don’t seem like the kind of guy that is going to have a holiday sitting on a beach? N: I really wish I did. I think I really give myself a hard time with time. I have read about so many incredible people, incredibly productive people who describe themselves as lazy... and I think that I am lazy. One of my best friends, Nicholas Godin from Air, who is full of wisdom... says lazy people are the smartest because they always try to get the most using the least effort. I think I am one of those. I’m not like idiots who just work for nothing. There has to be a good economy of your effort. It is very important to being creative. You can’t waste your energy on something that is not really going to contribute to the end result. That goes for anything. If you are a recording engineer and producer, then you know what I am talking about. If something sounds finished or good, you don’t need to take it apart and put it back together again. M: I always find that I have my best ideas on the toilet. You have that break and have that golden moment, pardon the pun. N: It’s like when people started using Pro Tools, they’d say I miss pushing rewind. When you used to rewind you had this moment to think about things. You don’t get that space any more. I think that I work better at night when everybody else is asleep. The world is quiet, there are no distractions. I am terrible in the mornings as a human being. I am just not a good morning guy. Nothing really good happens until after dinner. That’s fine when it is just me. When I am working with other people, it’s hard because people don’t all keep the same schedule. M: I hear quite a bit of Brian Eno in his David Byrne type phase in your work. Is he a bit of an influence? N: I guess so. I am a big fan of that era Talking Heads. M: The Remain In Light period? N: Yeah, that was huge to me. It was an incredible piece of work but I’m not a fan of Heroes, for instance. There are things I am a fan of and things I am not. Obviously there is an idea behind Music For Airports, the ambient moments which I totally understand and love.

I have an enormous amount of respect for the guy but I don’t try to emulate anything he has done and never would. Whereas I would try and emulate Trevor Horn. This is a good example of how things happen actualIy. I try to do Trevor Horn and it sounds like Brian Eno. I understand why you say that. He thinks outside the box. He is not hemmed in by a set of rules he thinks he has to follow. At times he has done things in his career that changed the way that everybody does things. M: Have you met Brian Eno? N: I have met him a few times. He is very gracious, a very nice man. The thing that I like about Trevor Horn is... even if it is too pop for me, like Frankie Goes To Hollywood or something, even within this mainstream pop thing, he is incredibly obtuse and bold. Such big, bold things happen that go against the grain and you can feel that intention. That’s the thing I really do try to emulate as an idea, rather than a sonic pallete. With Brian Eno… I like the sound of space, the ambience and echo and reverb. I like to see big spaces when I listen to things because I see things when I hear things. M: Getting back to the Ultraista album... without getting too technical... is that just the way Joey plays, or is there a bit of manipulation going on or a bit of both? To me it sounds like there are a few layers of drums in the way that dance music has multiple loops or some sort of loop and a bit of programming underneath. It feels like you’ve gone for that aesthetic but done it live. N: That’s exactly right. Basically there are electronics going on that he is playing to which is woven into his sound. Sometimes the drums are being processed through a piece of electronics that is making a rhythm that he is playing to. It’s like they’re rubbing against each other. M: I just wanted to ask how you go being on the other side of the glass so to speak, promoting an album? N: It’s fine. It feels a little bit, like, uncomfortable but I think that is good. It’s a nice change and it is important to make yourself vulnerable. It’s important not to be afraid of things… and it’s important to just do… stuff! www.ultraista.co.uk

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BTL - BEHIND THE LINES

EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION Dedicated/Versatile Singer & Guitarist (19yrs) available for any genre - from soul to alternative rock! Drummer 18-26yrs preferred. Also seeking Bassist and Keyboardist. Northern Beaches. Ph:0432872290 - Ziggy.

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ENGINE ROOM AND PULSE WANTED Original progressive rock band ‘TIME ARROW ‘ requires a Drummer and Bassplayer to add there creativeness and integrity to our collective call Dallas 0409830216 or Wendy 0431737927

VOLUNTEER Full training provided by musicians/producer with 30 years plus industry experience in all facets of live music production. Must be keen, honest, reliable and have car. Contact RemmosK@gmail.com for details.

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FILM & STAGE PRODUCTION Quality showreels compiled and produced for actors at affordable rates by Melbourne based production company. Call Aaron 0451 208 675 http://cardboardemporium.net

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iFlogID: 20507 Experienced Manager required for established Brisbane based artist. Must have industry contacts, previous and current experience and be ruthless.

FOR SALE AMPS

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Peavey XR8600 PA amp, 1200 watt, 8 channels, equaliser & effects. As new, case included. 0417089964 vlucantonio@yahoo.com.au

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BUSINESSES RECORDING STUDIO FOR SALE RECORDING STUDIO FOR SALE One of Sydney’s longest running independent Studios is for sale. Hit the ground running with a fully operational recording studio. Classic desk and mics, 4 separate recording spaces, high visibility website. We don’t advertise, the work comes in from Website and reputation. Will provide income immediately. Low rent, long lease, parking, easily operated as a co-operative. 20 mins from the CBD. $73K Call 0423 681 978

iFlogID: 20394 Chasing ORA, Sydney based established original female fronted Indie/Rock band is looking to recruit a talented guitarist for live shows, writing, studio work. Must have pro gear and be willing to travel. Check out Chasing ORA at www.facebook.com/ chasingora. If you’re looking to take on an exciting project and if this is something you can be passionate about please register your interest by email at chasingora@ hotmail.com. Please provide examples of your playing and as much detail as possible about yourself.

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PA HIRE PA hire for DJ’s / small bands.

CD / DVD Attention Musicians, Record Collectors, Universities, Libraries - new Book (print/cdROM/direct download) compiling 100 years of popular music. GO TO www.plattersaurus.com web-site on how to buy. Enquiries: (02) 9807-3137

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DRUMS DRUM KIT WANTED, anything considered. Also looking for vintage drum kit ludwig/ Gretsch etc , snare drums or cymbals, ph 0419760940

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Hire includes, delivery, set up & operator. Prices start from $150 per night Call Stan for further information 0414 364 257

iFlogID: 20445 RADIO SYDNEY possibly the worlds largest digital Radio Station with 100 music channels is offering bands and solo artists their own feature promotional channel visit the Indie channel on www.radiosydney.com.au

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High Definition YouTube video demonstrations of cymbals. ZILDJIAN, SABIAN, PAISTE, UFIP, MEINL, WUHAN, STAGG, PEARL... www.youtube.com/user/sydneypollak

iFlogID: 19832 ZILDJIAN 16” DARK THIN K CRASH BRAND NEW $250. ZILDJIAN AVEDIS 18” FAST CRASH BRAND NEW,$250 16” FAST CRASH BRAND NEW,$230. ALL NEW IN PLASTIC BAGS, PH 0419760940

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Acoustic Yamaha Guitar, Solid Top, Great Sound and Condition, Comes with Carry Case, $420 ONO May Swap or Trade, 0421690000,

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SALES & MARKETING People needed to send eMails offering a new music Book for sale. Must have own computer payment by commission via Paypal. Contact Bill on (02) 9807-3137 or eMail: nadipa1@yahoo.com.au

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SELF-EMPLOYMENT $150/WK INSTRUMNT REPAIR/SALES JumboNote Music School Kogarah has rooms for rent from $150/wk which would suit instrument repairer looking to start business in a commercial environment. You can set up shop within one of our rooms, and conduct business within our music school. We have close to 400 students who attend our music schools per week, and as such we have constant guitar restrings, repairs and setups happening. Go beyond, and service all the muso’s within the St.George / Kogarah area. You can even do instrument sales, as we always have students needing beginner guitars, keyboards to purchase. We will help with advertising to get you started through our high traffic website www.jumbonote. com.au, and advertise your business through our extensive email list and regular newsletters that are distributed to all our members. You get 24hrs access / 7 Days a week to the premises in Kogarah. Opportunity to start pro business with minimal outlay. Ring 0450 144 399 for more info.

iFlogID: 20564

SHARE RECORDING STUDIO $150/WK Great opportunity for an audio engineer/producer to start own business with cheap as chips rent in a small commercial premises located within a music school of over 400 weekly students in Beverly Hills area (JumboNote Music School). For rent/share is a control room + acoustically designed live room (airconditioned and renovated with awesome vibe), ideal for vocal, instrument, and even drum recordings, with all audio inputs and headphone outputs wired between the two rooms. Cool window inbetween the rooms to give it that pro studio feel, and provide sight lines between producer and performer. 24 hrs access. This space will be shared with the music school - roughly 70% yours, 30% music school. Music School runs roughly mon - fri 3:30pm till 8:30pm. All other times including mon fri all day up to 3:30pm, all night from 8:30pm and beyond and saturday and sunday is available for the new rentee of the studio.

ESP/LTD F250 Electric Guitar FOR SALE, $400. PICK UP ONLY, Inner West. In near perfect condition, barely played. Regrettable sale. For more info or pictures email joel on joeldrahc@gmail.com

iFlogID: 20458 Matts Vintage Guitars - Fender Gibson Martin Rickenbacker Guild Gretsch Vintage and USA BuySell-Trade Ph.0413-139-108 www.mattsvintageguitars.com

iFlogID: 20383

KEYBOARDS KURZWEIL / MACKIE PC3 RIG Kurzweil PC3 76-note, Kurzweil semi-soft wheeled case, pedals, leads, folding stand and stool. Two years old, very good condition. Also Mackie SRM 450 Watt Amp. Great rig. $2,000. Contact Nic on 0409 656 8587.

iFlogID: 20622

OTHER

MERRY F’ING XMAS

Cliff Richard, Aled (not Alan) Jones and the Saint Winifred School Choir all wrapped into one for THE Christmas hit of 2012!

www.perfectlywrite.com.au Drop me a line!

PA / AUDIO / ENGINEERING

iFlogID: 20491

STUDIO GEAR Roland Boss Digital Recording Studio 8 Track and Professional CD Burning and Mastering System All in One, Portable with Multi Effects and Loops, 0421690000, May Swap Trade, jman0023@gmail. com QLD

VINYL RADIOHEAD Supercollider / The Butcher 12” Vinyl. Available Record Store Day only. Rare/Out of Print. Brand New/Unplayed! $40 Ph.0449 713 338

iFlogID: 20483 Thom Yorke, Burial, Four Tet 12” Vinyl. A side: Ego, AA side: Mirror. Rare/Out of Print. $60 Ph: 0449 713 338

iFlogID: 20485

MUSIC SERVICES DUPLICATION/ MASTERING Transfer your old master AUDIO DAT or MINI DV tapes to media files. Full quality, no compression. Call Aaron 0451 208 675 http://cardboardemporium.net

iFlogID: 20274

Experienced, energetic and proactive live audio engineer for $300/event + equipment hire (passed on directly from Lots of Watts). Free preproduction call Helmut on 0433946982 to discuss your event.

iFlogID: 18062

iFlogID: 20560 2000W FRONT OF HOUSE, 650W FOLD BACK, $250 WITHOUT ENGINEER, PICK UP,

Very experienced in all audio work. I can make you sound great.

Need a mixer? Hire desks up to 32 channels – Dynacord, Allen & Heath, Yamaha, Soundcraft, Presonus. PA, Foldback, Microphones, processors also available. Hire the best gear from Lamba 9758-8888 www.lamba.com.au

If required I can supply musicians and instruments.

iFlogID: 20497

Many previous credits. Live mixing and recording also available

Call 0412621330

iFlogID: 20540

iFlogID: 19670 P.A hire using top quality outboard gear; Lexicon, Allen & Heath, Sure 4.800, DBX drive-racks, 160SL compression, 4-way front-of-house, 3-way active fold-back. 30years+ experience in the music industry. 0414355763.

iFlogID: 18949 P.A hire using top quality outboard gear; Lexicon, Allen & Heath, Sure 4.800, DBX drive-racks, 160SL compression, 4-way front-of-house, 3-way active fold-back. 30years+ experience in the music industry. 0414355763.

iFlogID: 18951 PA Hire – Systems to 16000 Watts. Only the best: Dynacord, EV, Allen & Heath, DBX, Lexicon, Yamaha, Soundcraft, JBL, Shure, AKG. Speakers, Monitors, Mixers, Microphones. Professional Advice. Lamba 9758-8888 www.lamba.com.au

iFlogID: 19672

PA HIRE

UNBEATABLE PRICE FOR A POWERFUL, PROFESSIONAL PA SYSTEM 2 x JBL 515XT 625w speakers, 12 channel Soundcraft M12 mixer, Shure wireless microphone, all stands and cables - $249 for setup and packdown. Perfect for bands, parties, weddings, corporate events, product launches etc.

RECORDING STUDIO $30ph

iFlogID: 17084 Recording Studio, Parramatta, $30hr casual rate. No kits! Singers, songwriters, instrumentalists for acoustic, world, classical genres specialist. 25+yrs exp, multi instrumentalist, arranger, composer, producer. Ph: 02 98905578, 7 days.

iFlogID: 15152 Recording Studio, Parramatta, $30hr casual rate. No kits! Singers, songwriters, instrumentalists for acoustic, world, classical genres specialist. 25+yrs exp, multi instrumentalist, arranger, composer, producer. Ph: 02 98905578, 7 days.

Ph: 0425 246 253, Alex Email: alexander12345@bigpond.com

iFlogID: 20431 Recording, Mixing and Mastering services Inner West, Sydney

Recording? Hire the state of the art Presonus Studio Live 24.4.2 desk for your next project. A feature packed integrated hardware-software system. $200 weekly. Call Lamba 9758-8888 www.lamba.com.au

iFlogID: 15156

PHOTOGRAPHY Image is everything! If you have a band wanting to get ahead let me capture the next gig. High quality pictures say everything.

Enquiries ph: 02 98905578

http://roybarnesphotography.com/

iFlogID: 15162

0414 243 811

iFlogID: 18648

OTHER ++ play more chinese music - love, tenzenmen ++ www.tenzenmen.com

iFlogID: 14468

POSTERS GOLD COAST BYRON BAY NORTHERN NSW Poster distribution for touring artists & bands. Fast, efficient & reliable service at a competitive price www.thatposterguy.com.au

96 ROSEVALE PLACE

iFlogID: 17120

Do you have a question about the music industry? Email me boss@96rosevaleplace.com - I just might be able to help.

iFlogID: 20505 Award-winning Experienced, Qualified Music Producer:

PRINTING Premium CD packaging & CD replication, Australia wide. 70% recycled card at no extra cost.

iFlogID: 20499

1.Doing Instrumental version of any song for $40 2. Mix your multi-tracks for $50 and produce personalized original instrumentals for $50. 3. Check lovenabstudio on soundclick.com

You’ll never regret recording your songs... but we garuntee you’ll ALWAYS regret not doing it! ***Every song Produced, Mixed & Mastered to Radio Release Quality*** studio@musicentourage. com www.musicentourage.com

iFlogID: 17747

email: vangelis2133@yahoo.com

iFlogID: 18269

Sound engineer/producer included.

Are you a band that wants a bridge to the media? Let me provide budget PR services for your band. Contact Michael at m_olliffe@hotmail.com.

iFlogID: 20610

Then use our 1hr weakly Recording workshop Ideal for Vocalists Guitarist Rap-Artists or Instrumentalists.

Get your Band or Business Online Cost effectively and PROFESSIONALLY - from $299 including Hosting and email addresses! Contact info@bizwebsites.com.au or see

2hr blocks Minimum. $15PH with PA. Guitar keyboard amps available. NEWTOWN CALL Brian 0405-044-513

iFlogID: 20435 SWEETLEAF REHEARSAL STUDIO MTDRUITT open 7 days, 3 rooms, aircon, food & beverages, Flat lug, Parking, PA & Lighting Hire Call - 9832-8890

iFlogID: 17546

iFlogID: 20433

ph 02 9654 8143, mob 0400 323 982, johnertler@gmail.com

iFlogID: 19183 Engineer available, full production, mixing, MIDI, live recording, reamping. ProToolsHD, from $30/ hour. Mesa/Marshall/Ashdown engineering gear for hire! Info@niflheimmusic.com

iFlogID: 20624

Gold Coast ParallelHarmonyStudioRobina. 30 square metre live room, large vocal booth. Handsome range of range of topoftheline Neumann, Rode and Shure microphones. Call 0755808883 for details. www.parallelharmony.com.au

iFlogID: 18640

BUS HIRE SERVICE (with driver); 19-seater coaster-bus with wheelchair access available for airport-transit, festivals, functions and party-hire. Drive home safely with an experienced driver at the wheel. Please call Ray for a quote on 0414 355 763.

TUITION

AAA EXPERT TUITION

All levels and most styles including:

Fingerstyle guitar, open tunings, slide guitar, flat picking, improvisation, rock, country, blues guitar (acoustic and electric), folk, celtic styles, music theory, arranging, ear training, singing, bluegrass and folk style banjo and mandolin. www.acousticfingerpicking.com PHONE JOHN: 0431953178

www.bizwebsites.com.au

iFlogID: 15452

iFlogID: 20439

CREATIVE GUITAR TUITION

iFlogID: 20372

SydneyAlexanderTechnique.com 0408 257 174

iFlogID: 20226 Music Lessons at Beat Industry Tuggerah. Guitar, Drums, Vocals, Keyboard, Bass. Certificate courses and AMEB available. Free introductory lesson.

$40 hr, $30 half hr. Mature & patient. Harps for hire. Ph: 02 98905578

iFlogID: 15154 Music tuition, classical / flamenco guitar, celtic harp, theory & harmony, arranging. 9am - 9pm, 7 days. Parramatta area. $40 hr, $30 half hr. Mature & patient. Harps for hire. With experienced and fully qualified tutor. Who has 20 years of studio and live performance. Most styles including Rock, Pop and Jazz. Learn to play your favourite songs, practical theory, improvisation, proper technique, etc. etc. Beginners to advanced are welcome. In the convenience of your own home. Good results guaranteed. Phone Oles on 0407413143 or

Ph: 02 98905578

email olesguitarlessons@yahoo.com

Seven Hills, Sydney.

iFlogID: 20427

GUITAR TUITION BY MAL EASTICK One on one tuition, customised to the standard, style & goals of the individual. Rock & blues my specialties. Categories avail: hands-on playing, style & technique, theory, improvising, ear training, equipment, tone, songwriting, band arrangements, career guidance. Family member of younger students welcome to sit in. All levels avail through personal experience, from beginner, to playing just for fun, to paid gigs, through to professional performer & recording artist. Enquiries: M: 0407 461 093 - E: mal@bluefishrecords.com

iFlogID: 20447 GUITAR TUITION IN PADDINGTON

iFlogID: 15158 PICKS AND STICKS STUDIO. Private Guitar lessons from an experienced teacher. All levels, All ages, All styles. Improvising, Theory, Song Writing, Technique Call Dave 0410 963 972 or email davemormul@hotmail.com

iFlogID: 16948 Pro Tools, Logic Pro & Studio One Training. Advice on Home & Professional Studio Recording. Learn from a pro with over 30 years experience. Contact John Ertler 9654 8143, 0400 323 982, johnertler@gmail.com

iFlogID: 19185

SINGING LESSONS THAT >>ROCK<< Your voice has the ability to sing at the Audioslave/ Muse/Aretha/ Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs level because of Design. Sing with effortless power increase your range to Robert-Plant Chris-Cornelle Axl level.

5 week course

Microphone recording techniques songwriting Newtown 0405-044-513

iFlogID: 20586

SINGING LESSONS THAT >>ROCK<<

*Great Results Guaranteed Enquire Now Paddington Ph: 0416960673 Petersham/ Sydney. Real guitar for committed students in a fully equipped music studio. Learn Jazz, Rock, Blues, Contemporary , Funk, Latin , Gypsy, Folk, Country and other popular styles. Learn at a pace and in a direction you want to go. Beginners to advanced, all aspects of guitar are supported. Comprehensive digital recording available. Ask about special introductory offer and gift vouchers. Contact Craig Corcoran: 0430344334 creative-guitar@ hotmail.com www.creativeguitar.com.au

iFlogID: 20039

E: nikolaidis@live.ie

iFlogID: 19683

GUITAR WITH MIKE FRYAR Michael is a 27 year old guitarist who has performed over 2,000 shows Internationally alongside some of the biggest names in music and is a regular gigging musician, songwriter and recording artist. Michael teaches out of Camperdown Music Academy Monday,Tuesday and Wednesdays. Beginners welcome. Call our coordinator on 0458 154 777 or academycamperdown@gmail.com to arrange a fantastic lesson! Competitive rates and friendly service guarenteed!

iFlogID: 20602

DRUM LESSONS School Holiday Special!!!!

$99 Special Promo Beginners Welcome

All styles and levels welcome

Children & Adults

Tips to make it in the industry provided.

*Friendly mentoring approach

School Holiday Bargain Prices

*Great Results Guaranteed

Newtown 0405-044-513

iFlogID: 20588

SINGING LESSONS

10 percent off 5 lesson block Enquire Now

15 percent off 10 lesson block Drum Studio in Roselands & Mobile Service

iFlogID: 19814

Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs level because of Design.

Microphone recording techniques songwriting

5 week course

PROFESSIONAL DRUM TEACHER WITH DRUMMING AND EDUCATION DEGREE.

Your voice has the ability to sing at the Audioslave/ Muse/Aretha/ Sing with effortless power increase your range to Robert-Plant Chris-Cornelle Axl-Rose level.

LEARN GUITAR

Paddington

STUDIO HIRE

rehearsals $15PH with PA

Complete Album & Demo Recording, Production, Instrumentation,CD Mastering. I’m committed to achieving for you the highest quality in a creative, friendly environment.

Beginner to advanced all ages, tailored lessons to suit you, most styles catered for, everything from basic open chords to scales and theory. Call Fred on 0400 347 955

Monday evening class, Tuesday voice class, Private lessons at St Leonards now.

iFlogID: 19038

Duos-Trios. Room too small for full drum kit.

iFlogID: 19850

CALL Brian 0405-044-513

CENTRAL COAST GUITAR LESSONS

>>3m² REHEARSAL STUDIO<<

$40PH Composer/Guitarist and session-musicians available

iFlogID: 20600

The best kept secret among musicians is that they move for a living (and for fun). Learn to move well to take the pressure off your body and improve performance. Helps reduce pain, increase flexibility and free the musician within!

Music tuition, classical / flamenco guitar, celtic harp, theory & harmony, arranging. 9am - 9pm, 7 days. Parramatta area.

Accepting Enrolments for 2013. Fantastic rates and facilities.

Ideal for vocal/groups-guitarist-keyboards-horn

TRANSPORT

DEMO RECORDING STUDIO Disappointed with your home recordings.

BAND BIOS, PRESS RELEASES & PR

REHEARSAL ROOMS

RECORDING STUDIOS >>3m²<<

CAMPERDOWN MUSIC ACADEMY

Tuition in all instruments and theory. Our qualified teachers are all professionals in the industry. We have teachers who have been top of the music charts, teachers who are session musicians for major labels, teachers who regularly gig and most importantly teachers who love music. We also offer “School Of Rock” performance class for students where we team up students in a complete rock band upon request! Call 0458 154 777 or email academycamperdown@gmail.com

MOVE, SING, PLAY BETTER

www.beatindustry.com Ph: (02)4353 4749

*Friendly mentoring approach

Enquiries ph: 02 98905578 Audio Mastering, mixing, recording. CD-R music & data duplication, cover artwork, colour disc printing, online global distribution. Full studio package deal for EP or full album projects.

iFlogID: 20374

iFlogID: 20286

iFlogID: 19807

iFlogID: 18953

GUITAR LESSONS

Up-Picking (Pete Seeger Style) and 3 Finger Picking (Scruggs Style). tel. John 0431953178

Children & Adults

sydneysoundhire.com

Audio Mastering, mixing, recording. CD-R music & data duplication, cover artwork, colour disc printing, online global distribution. Full studio package deal for EP or full album projects.

iFlogID: 20050

BANJO TUITION

Beginners Welcome

Call Alex - 0478611094

Speaker re-cones (most models), hand built basebins, guitar cabs, P.A. cabs and monitors, using all top quality components. Can also do custom road cases to suit any type of audio equipment. 0414355763.

In North Rocks, Marsfield, St Leonards. All styles and ability levels. Flatpicking, fingerstyle, extended techniques, acoustic and electric. Contact Dave Carr 0407 376 939. See www.myspace.com/dcarrmusic for more info.

Peter Holz: 0437 712 927

CALL STEVE 0400606650

MASTERING

iFlogID: 20052

iFlogID: 16690

GUITAR LESSONS!

Contact

PARTIES/DJ’S/SMALL BANDS

iFlogID: 20354

In North Rocks, Marsfield, St Leonards. Five-string banjo in the three-finger/Scruggs style, exploring all facets including advanced techniques a la Béla Fleck. Dave Carr 0407 376 939. www.myspace. com/dcarrmusic

$99 Special Promo

www.phmelectronic.com

iFlogID: 20555

iFlogID: 19929

BANJO LESSONS

Eastern Suburbs guitar/ukulele/bass/slide lessons with APRA award winning composer. Highly experienced, great references, unique individually designed lessons from Vaucluse studio. Learn to play exactly what YOU want to play! www.matttoms.com

Digital Editing, Analogue Tape Recording, Full range of microphones and equipment.

Additional equipment and operator available upon request.

steveshifter@hotmail.com

ANYONE CAN PLAY GUITAR! A few lesson slots available with Chris Turner. ‘One on One’ guitar lessons. Lilyfield phone now 9552 6663 www.big-rock.com.au Starters to Pro.

iFlogID: 15160 Recording Studio, Thirlmere, $25hr available for singles and album. Relaxing environment. I have many years of experience with quality gear.

$350 WITH ENGINEER SET UP & DELIVERED,

iFlogID: 20532

TOOL Concert Poster - Big Day Out, Auckland MT Smart Stadium 21Jan2011. Adam Jones Artwork Ltd Edition of 100. Mint Condition. 60 x 45cm on Heavy Card. $70 Ph0449713338.

RECORDING AND LIVE ENGINEER

iFlogID: 20004

Get it at www.thespaced.com

Prince 21 Nights Oversized Harcover Book w/CD. 13.8 x 9.9 x 1.2 inches 2.4 kg Sealed. Brand New. $25 Ph0449713338

iFlogID: 20055

Experienced Engineer / Producer with great studio setup.

Complete PA & Lighting production services to suit any venue.

Loud ‘n’ Live Sound Systems Ph : 0417 268850

Junior engineer looking for work. Based at western sydney with a protools HD, Marshall/Mesa amps available for hire. Niflheimmusic@gmail.com for info/prices. Reamping, midi or live drums, mix only/ full production.

LIVE RECORDING. Available to gigs in Sydney/ Metro area. Multitrack audio up to 24trk, Isolated signal splitters, Dedicated HD plus DAW backup, Focusrite preamps. Raw tracks for mixdown, $250 www.livelinegroup.com 0411342989

HIRE SERVICES Delivered setup and operated by professional engineers.

iFlogID: 18131

iFlogID: 15737

TOOL Concert Poster - Melbourne Myer Music Bowl 02Feb2011. Adam Jones Artwork - Ltd Edition # of 100. Mint Condition. 60 x 45cm on Heavy Card. $90 Ph0449713338.

GUITARS

Youtube views 1k - 100k

Facebook likes 1k - 10k

iFlogID: 19834 Music publicity. Do you want to get noticed? Affordable exposure for your band by someone that actually cares!

iFlogID: 20487

Have you got a song in your head? Music Producer available to turn your imagination into reality. Professional results and affordable rates.

www.youtube.com/user/sydneypollak

iFlogID: 20493

P.A - SOUND SYSTEM FOR HIRE

eMail: nadipa1@yahoo.com.au

High Definition YouTube video demonstrations of cymbals. ZILDJIAN, SABIAN, PAISTE, UFIP, MEINL, WUHAN, STAGG, PEARL...

TOOL Concert Poster - Brisbane Entertainment Centre 24Jan2011. Adam Jones Artwork - Ltd # Edition of 50. Mint Condition. 60 x 45cm on Heavy Card. $90 Ph: 0449 713 338.

iFlogID: 19698

Complete 6000W PA, 4 sends Foldback, 24ch desk, rack,effects, amps, leads, mics, par cans on truss,12ch lighting desk & Dimmer.Everything you need just add transport $12000.00 LoudnLive Ph 0417268850

Services include Seo, Social network marketing

TOOL Concert Poster - Big Day Out, Gold Coast Parlands 23Jan2011. Adam Jones Artwork - Ltd Edition. Mint Condition. 60 x 45cm on Heavy Card. $90 Ph0449713338.

Ph: 0416960673 E: nikolaidis@live.ie

iFlogID: 19765

DRUM TUITION IN STANMORE Drum Tuition in Stanmore with a Billy Hyde trained Teacher.

LEARN HOW TO SING

Dip Ed, Dip Drums. All levels and all styles taught. Beginners Welcome!. Call Lee 0403307796. www.lee-carey.com

iFlogID: 19984 Singing lessons in a positive environment with a highly experienced and professional singer/songwriter. Lessons tailored to suit individual needs. Also beginners guitar. www.realvoice.net.au for more details. Inner West, Rosanna 0431 157 622.

DRUMS WITH DAVE KIRBY Dave Kirby is a professional working musician and is teaching at Camperdown Music Academy. Dave has a great passion for music and will get the best out of your drumming skills! Beginners welcome. Competitive rates and friendly service guarenteed! Make a booking by contacting our coordinator on 0458 154 777 or email academycamperdown@gmail.com

iFlogID: 20604

DRUMS WITH TUBBY WADSWORTH Learn drums in a relaxed environment with great facilities with Tubby Wadsworth. With years of teaching, drum clinic, live performance and recording experience, Tubby welcomes beginners to advanced students and is teaching out of Camperdown Music Academy. Call 0458 154 777 or email academycamperdown@gmail. com to arrange a lesson!

iFlogID: 20593 Are you interested in learning how to sing? Becoming the next x factor winner, or just singing for the pure love of it? Well its now your time to shine. How do I do this you may ask? Just pick up the phone and book your lesson with me... I am Hayley Milano, I have been performing professionally and teaching for over 10 years. I have toured Australia and have a lot of contacts in the industry from people to gigs to inside the studio. I enjoy nothing more then sharing my love and passion for singing with others. I’m looking for dedicate hard working students who are committed to reaching there goals and want to grow in the music industry. I have students ranging from 8 years old to 65 years. Its is very important for me to have a connection with my student so I can unlock the performer within..

SLIDE GUITAR TUITION

iFlogID: 20512

iFlogID: 20606

iFlogID: 20495

All styles both acoustic and electric from Blind Willie Johnson and Son House to Eric Clapton and Duane Allman. tel. John 0431953178

iFlogID: 20378

Ring 0450 144 399 for more info

iFlogID: 20570

Free online and print classifieds Book now, visit iflog.com.au

TEACHER TO THE STARS!

DRUMMER Drummer available for paid work Influences funk jazz drum n bass prog rock. Rex_matthews@hotmail.com 0401237147

iFlogID: 19880 Drummer available for paid work Influences funk jazz drum n bass prog rock. Rex_matthews@hotmail.com 0401237147

iFlogID: 19882 A1 TOP PRO DRUMMER AVAILABLE FOR SESSION FREELANCE WORK, TOURS ETC. EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, TOP GEAR, GREAT GROOVE AND TIME. SYDNEY BASED, WILL TRAVEL. PH 0419760940. WEBSITE www.mikehague.com Steve Ostrow, New York voice teacher and vocal coach who discovered and nurtured the careers of Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Peter Allen, Stevie Wonder and countless others now Sydney City based and welcoming students on all levels; beginners, advanced and performers; Rock, Pop, Classical etc. For availability call on 0408461868. For a free e-copy of my book ‘On Becoming a Singer..A Guide To How’ email me on sostrow@ bigpond.net.au. Lessons include the entire scope of singing...voice production, musicianship, interpretation, performance skills etc. I look forward to hearing from you.

iFlogID: 20385

VOCAL TUITION Do you have pitch problems? Are you experiencing damage due to incorrect support, placement and breathing? Phone John for some quick and easy

iFlogID: 18334 Experienced Soul Reggae R’N’B Blues Funk drummer (36yo) available for work preferably in Northern Beaches. Call Michael 0402 549423 email siczex@yahoo. com.au

VocalHub - Sing like no one is listening! Singing lessons for vocal technique and care, audition tips and repertoire in a encouraging and supportive environment. Visit: http://www.vocalhub.com.au

iFlogID: 17102

Rock & Blues PH: 0422 868 959

iFlogID: 19650

WWW. KALEIDOSCOPETUITION. COM.AU Learn to play the kaleidoscope way unique colour coded method made simple download your books and stickers and you will learn in no time

iFlogID: 20358

VIDEO / PRODUCTION CHECK OUT finncut’s channel on Utube Music Videos produced by Matti finncut@gmail.com

iFlogID: 19971 LIVE RECORDING.. Pro shot single cam video plus multitrack audio up to 24track. Mastered to DVD, HD youtube files, perfect for showreel, online promotion. $350 www.livelinegroup.com or 0411342989

iFlogID: 19797

facebook.com/immersion.imagery

iFlogID: 18477 You want music video produced?

SHOCK ROCK MUSICIANS WANTED.

iFlogID: 17317 Professional mature-age Drummer/Vocals/reads/ back acts/shows - all styles including jazz - available for casual work. phone:(02) 9807-3137 Mob:0413-931-897 eMail: nadipa1@yahoo.com.au

iFlogID: 17160 TOP INTERNATIONAL DRUMMER available. Great backing vocals, harmonica player and percussionist. Gigs, tours, recording. Private lessons/mentoring also available. www.reubenalexander.net

iFlogID: 14261

GUITARIST 19 year old guitar player looking to form Rock N’ Roll band. Influences: Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, The Sex Pistols. I live in Sydney-Cronulla. Call tom on 0401722767.

iFlogID: 13358

iFlogID: 20211

MUSICIANS AVAILABLE BASS PLAYER Electric & upright bass. Good gear. Comfortable in most styles. Experience performing live and in the studio. Check out my website if you wanna hear more. http://www.wix.com/steelechabau/ steelechabau

iFlogID: 16159

MATURE BASS PLAYER with gig experience and professional attitude, looking for cover band playing classic rock-pop, Beatles, CCR, Elvis, Deep Purple, Gary Moore, Santana, Queen, Free, Clapton, ZZ Top. Interested in friendly jams too. Sydney area. Mob: 0414 707 171

iFlogID: 20416

DJ Dj available Dubstep to Drum&bass willing & able to adapt to your event. Low hourly rates.

Guitarist, Singer & temporary Drummer (19yrs) need to start band! We play anything Tool, Amy Winehouse, Evanescence, Michelle Shocked (rock/ blues/altmetal/funk/reggae/soul) Would like versatile bassist & keyboardist! 18-25yrs preferred! Northern Beaches. Ziggy: 0432872290!

iFlogID: 19240 Harmonica player avaliable. Please contact me if interested for iemployment.

iFlogID: 20553

Easygoing, flexible entertainment. Call for a quote today. KN!VZ Entertainment Group

SINGER Metal vocalist. Clean and dirty, cute but crazy, female ready to rock! Looking for band with intention to gig. No collab crap unless you’re awesome industrial wanting to gig.

iFlogID: 20143 Quirky singer, keyboard player, musician available. Lots of experience. Paid situations only please. Call Stephanie ph: 0403 250 560.

iFlogID: 19884 SINGER SEEKING A GRADE BAND THAT HAS THEIR S**T TOGETHER. PRETTY OPEN IN REGARDS TO GENRE BUT PREFERABLEY ROCK. FOR VOCAL REFERENCE VISIT www.facebook.com/ delsantomusic Please contact: steveshifter@hotmail.com Singer/harmonica player to join guitarist to play old time jazz, rag & blues. Gigs available as duo and with upright bass & drums. Vince 0417089964 or 95192440.

BANDS BLUES/ROCK LEAD GUITARIST looking for a bass player,drummer,singer is influenced by zz top,guns,acdc preferably between ages 18-25...other guitarists need not apply! looking to jam and write some riffage...i have songs on soundcloud.com under the name of sneaky attack call mitch 0423478128

iFlogID: 20312 Drummer and Bass Player wanted for alternative rock band. Music influenced by Something for Kate, Muse, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead. The previous incarnation played at venues such as The Hopetoun, The Gaelic Club, the UNSW Roundhouse and the Lansdowne and Sandringham. The music is popinfused, alternative rock with indie flavours and some heavier riffs. Give it a listen at www.myspace. com/markmcintyremusic or www.starnow.com/ markmcintyre and let me know if you’re interested. Email: markmcintyre81@gmail.com Phone: 0414 528 954. DRUMMER WANTED for Originals 5 piece band. Must be reliable, easy going & enjoy playing different styles as our music is varied from funk/indi pop/ rock/ska. Email Veneita at

iFlogID: 16661

iFlogID: 20075

DJ Gear Hire – CDJs, Turntables, Mixers, Speakers, Lights, Lasers. Only the best equipment. Delivery available. Pioneer consoles $70, Full Systems with 2x 625W speakers $120. Call Lamba 9758-8888 www.lamba.com.au

DRUMMERS/BASSISTS/GUITARISTS needed for garage punk rock ‘n’ roll band. check out soundcloud.com/the-new-orleans for demos. gigging asap after finding the right people. m/f. pref under 30. contact Tanner on 0403508102.

iFlogID: 19801

BASS PLAYER CENTRAL COAST BAND SEEK. BASS PLAYER TO JOIN WITH, SINGER LEAD GUITARIST & DRUMMER ROCK COVERS ORIGINALS PROJECT, MUST HAVE GOOD GEAR, TRANSPORT,,& COMMITMENT. AGE 28 TO 50. 0449536661

iFlogID: 20613 BassPlayer Wanted for 50’s BLUES / ROCKNROLL / ROCKABILLY original band. experienced dedicated Bass Player for band with exciting future. ChuckBerry, Easybeats, HowlinWolf, Wanda Jackson, LovedOnes, OtisRedding, Ramones

iFlogID: 20334

GUITARIST WANTED FOR SIGNED ARTISTS: if you’re a pro at Rock/Pop, gig & tour ready & have your own quality gear, send a youtube link to you playing live to auditions@musicentourage.com

Call/message 0405126307

Looking for 2nd guitarist for black metal/heavy metal band.

iFlogID: 20642 DRUMMER WANTED FOR BAND WITH PROMISE! Drummer wanted for original 50’s punk rock n roll, early 60’s Detroit soul, garage band. Experience and backing vox an advantage. Influences Ramones, Detroit Cobras, Eddie Current Suppression Ring, Dead Kennedy’s and Abbe May. Check out www. myspace.com/therollindice for song demos Call/ message 0405126307 or therollindice@gmail.com

iFlogID: 20636 DRUMMER WANTED FOR SIGNED ARTISTS: if you can play to a click/are a Rock Pop pro/gig & tour ready/have quality gear/send a youtube link to you playing live to auditions@musicentourage.com

iFlogID: 20233

iFlogID: 20235

Intermediate - Advanced level. To play originals and covers. Influences - Immortal, Darkthrone, Bathory, Sepultura, Yngwie, Ozzy. email metalmitcha@hotmail.com 0401620221

BASSPLAYER WANTED FOR BAND WITH PROMISE! Bassplayer wanted for original 50’s punk rock n roll, early 60’s Detroit soul, garage band. Experience and backing vox an advantage. Influences Ramones, Detroit Cobras, Eddie Current Suppression Ring, Dead Kennedy’s and Abbe May. Check out www.myspace.com/therollindice for song demos Call/message 0405126307 or

Looking for an experienced reggae guitar player for a Northern Beaches based band. Call Michael on 0402 549 423 or email siczex@yahoo.com.au

DRUMMER WANTED: THE WIRE

GREEN DAY SHOW REQUIRE BASSIST We are after a pro bassist with good BV’s for the green day show working around Sydney. please no beginners etc. paid gigs www.greendayshow.com Rick 0419 437 794

iFlogID: 20510 Guitarist, Singer & temporary Drummer (19yrs) need to start band! We play anything Tool, Amy Winehouse, Evanescence, Michelle Shocked (rock/ blues/altmetal/funk/reggae/soul) Would like versatile bassist & keyboardist! 18-25yrs preferred! Northern Beaches. Ziggy: 0432872290!

iFlogID: 19242 Looking for a reggae bass player for a Northern Beaches based band. Call Michael on 0402 549 423 or email siczex@yahoo.com.au.

iFlogID: 19193 Looking for bassist for black metal/heavy metal band. Intermediate - Advanced level. Want to play originals and covers. Influences - Immortal, Darkthrone, Bathory, Sepultura, Yngwie, Ozzy. email metalmitcha@hotmail.com 0401620221

call

iFlogID: 20471 singer, guitarist and drummer seek bassist for pop/ rock band. hav over 20 melodic catchy songs ready to gig now, influences beatles, bowie, arcade fire, ph, Mass 0405450022, rehearse st. peters

iFlogID: 20515 Wollongong rock band searching for Bass Player. Currently writing original music to record and perform live and looking for Bass Player (age 20-30) to join the band. Contact: jonathanrkennedy82@gmail.com 0419978835

iFlogID: 20332

iFlogID: 19674

DRUMMER BASS PLAYER WANTED FOR SIGNED ARTISTS: if you’re a pro at Rock/Pop, gig & tour ready & have your own quality gear, send a youtube link to you playing live to auditions@musicentourage.com

iFlogID: 20231 CAN YOU HIT STUFF GOOD?! Indie rock duo from Campbelltown looking for a dedicated drummer. Between 18 - 25, own gear and transport is required.

Contact info@bizwebsites.com.au or see

www.thespaced.com

www.bizwebsites.com.au.

swing/jazz guitarist to join working combo in Sydney playing same, also some blues and rockabilly. charts & cd, some rehearsals required .95192440 m.0417089964

iFlogID: 20568

SINGER WANTED

If you want to STOP, we can help. Narcotics Anonymous 9519 6200

For psych garage rock n roll coffin dodgers

www.na.org.au

Rehearse Sydney inner-west,any age is fine.

iFlogID: 16217

www.thespaced.com Ph Pedro 0425352066

iFlogID: 20566

Learn massage! Thai massage shop jobs available $40/hr no experience necessary Central location 0450 758 399

iFlogID: 18957

established indie/punk outfit playing originals seeks drummer. infl. fauves, stone roses, replacements, cult, cure, the roots, goran bregovic. demo & air play. ready to play live. https://soundcloud.com/neil-young-pony-

hi Piano/keyboard player wanted. We rehearse in Marrickville. Our music is alternative with jazz, blues and rock elements. Nick Cave, Kasabian, tv on the radio, Dresden dolls. Tom 0411874673

iFlogID: 20517

write: neilyoungponyclub@gmail.com phone: 0423420029

iFlogID: 20595

Keyboardist Wanted - Guitarist looking to put together a band to perform a night of James Bond Theme songs. Contact Darren - dlacey75@ gmail.com

Experienced drummer with a commitment to practice and regular rehearsals required for Melbournebased alternative rock band.

SINGER WANTED

PSYCHIC MEDIUM & HEALER

Experienced Psychic-Medium available for Readings, Healings, Spiritual Guidance - Private, Email, Phone or Skype. Phone 0410467756. www.shimmeringhemispheres.com

KEYBOARD

www.myspace.com/mollydredd 0411 372 469

iFlogID: 16936 Guitarist & Singer (19yrs) need to start band! We play anything Tool, Amy Winehouse, Evanescence, Michelle Shocked (rock/blues/altmetal/funk/ reggae/soul) Would also like versatile bassist & keyboardist! 18-25yrs preferred! Northern Beaches. Ziggy: 0432872290!

iFlogID: 20562

INDIE / GARAGE DRUMMER WANTED

KEYS PLAYER WANTED FOR SIGNED ARTISTS:must be versatile, gig & tour ready & be pro at software like Omnisphere. Send a youtube link to you playing live to auditions@musicentourage.com

iFlogID: 19197

call

iFlogID: 20473

SIGNED BAND TRIALING DRUMMERS Signed Sydney Indie/Rock/DrumNBass Trio are looking for a young(18-26), gig ready, dedicated and ambitious drummer. Must have great gear/ kit/sampling+electronics. Think Pendulum meets Muse. Call 0448-080-619 to arrange audition!

iFlogID: 20583

GUITARIST Acoustic Guitarist interested in friendly jam on Friday evenings. Lower Blue Mountains Location Music Creedence, Beatles, Dylan, James Taylor etc, Contact David 0411 618 536. Drummer looking for collaborative muso’s with the aim of writing commercial tunes and performing live large. Can program and record. All influences. Dance, funk, rock, blues, Metal, reggae, ..

iFlogID: 20342 Established Sydney band looking for Guitarist! Capable of singing/multi instrumentals is preferable. EP finalised, Triple J play, FBI rotation, touring 2013. SMS Sasha 0409579688 with details for links to music

iFlogID: 20348 Guitarist to play old time jazz, rag and blues with singer/harmonica player. Work available as acoustic duo or with upright bass & drums. Vince 0417089964 or 95192440.

iFlogID: 20443

music instruments sales service & repairs ph: 0418 172 506 JAC MUSIC SCHOOL - EPPING

iFlogID: 20244

www.reverbnation.com/borahorza Feel free to email borahorzaband@hotmail.com

iFlogID: 20523

Contact: jonathanrkennedy82@gmail.com 0419978835

TRUMPET Looking for an experienced trumpet player to form a horn section for a Northern Beaches based REGGAE band. Call Michael 0402 549 423 or email siczex@yahoo.com.au.

SERVICES BEAUTY SERVICES Fully Qualified & 8yrs Experience, Thai Massage $49/hr or Sensual Balinese Aroma $69/hr. In/Out calls, Male/Female Welcome.

Email: j_fraser101@hotmail.com

iFlogID: 20296 Female Singer wanted to join male guitarist (36yrs) for rock covers duo. Playing songs from 70s/80s to current day, paid gigs, based in Hawkesbury area. duovocal@tpg.com.au 0411342989

iFlogID: 19795

School of Rock teaches students from primary school to high school, from anywhere in Sydney with any level of musical talent. School of Rock helps students form a suitable band based on each of their musical likes and level of experience. Classes run every day of the week (Weekdays: 4.30pm – 6.00pm, Saturday/Sunday: 8.30am – 10.00am) at $320/per term (including all teacher fees, room and instrument rental). Each term includes a free recording session @ Zen Studios and a live show at The Valve Hotel in Tempe. Contact Ash 0450-406-201. www.schoolofrockinnerwest.com.au

iFlogID: 19523

We teach all levels Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, our lessons cover all styles and you will gain all the skills to maximize your drumming potential. Certificate courses available for Basic, Intermediate and Advanced players. visit www.aaodap.com.au or call 0424 422 650

iFlogID: 20292

GRAPHIC DESIGN FULL COLOUR BAND GIG POSTERS @ AMAZING PRICES 100 A4 full colour on Gloss = $40 100 A3 full colour on Plain = $50 100 A3 full colour on Gloss = $80 100 SRA3(32 x 45cm) full colour on Gloss = $80

iFlogID: 16754

LEARN PIANO IN CAMPERDOWN Top facilities and learning environment for beginners to advanced piano students. Contact Camperdown Music Academy to book in an evaluation starting term 1 of 2013 with our highly experienced, friendly teachers! Contact us on 0458 154 777 or academycamperdown@gmail.com

from $299 including Hosting and email addresses! Contact info@bizwebsites.com.au or see www.bizwebsites.com.au.

iFlogID: 15450

Lead singer wanted for 5 piece working retro rock/ pop covers band. Paid gigs every 2-3 weeks. Age group of band mid 40’s but open to any enthusiastic age group. Must be committed and no egos. For more info please contact George on:

Get your Band or Business Online Cost effectively and PROFESSIONALLY- from $299 including UNLIMITED pages,

0411 410 957.

Logos, Hosting and 5xemail addresses and much more! Contact info@bizwebsites.com.au or see www.bizwebsites.com.au

Looking for female backing singers for a Northern Beaches based REGGAE band. Call Michael on 0402 549 423 or email siczex@yahoo.com.au

iFlogID: 19556

iFlogID: 13864

Intermediate - Advanced level. Want to play originals and covers. Influences - Immortal, Darkthrone, Bathory, Sepultura, Yngwie, Ozzy. call

iFlogID: 20475 Seeking an experienced lead & backing reggae singers for Northern Beaches based band. Call Michael 0402 549 423 or email siczex@yahoo. com.au

iFlogID: 19195

LIVE SOUND COURSE, 2 DAYS

Limited Edition mens tees and hoodies with a sense of humour. All hand-screened and numbered. monstrositystore.com

OTHER

iFlogID: 19848

VOCAL LESSONS AT CAMPERDOWN Top facilities and learning environment for beginners to advanced vocal students. Contact Camperdown Music Academy to book in an evaluation starting term 1 of 2013 with our highly experienced, friendly teachers! Contact us on 0458 154 777 or academycamperdown@gmail.com

iFlogID: 20644

WANTED Looking for music that is fresh and original??? Check out www.thesecretcity.com.au

iFlogID: 20184

OTHER

iFlogID: 13611

Looking for vocalist for black metal/heavy metal band.

The School of Rock offers tuition in singing, bass guitar, electric guitar, drums and song writing techniques. Our instructors have years of experience showing young musicians how to play and take that talent onto the stage. For more information visit our website at www.schoolofrockinnerwest. com.au or www.zenstudios.com.au. Ph: 9550 3977

iFlogID: 20646

Get your Band or Business Online Cost effectively and PROFESSIONALLY -

iFlogID: 20633

TUITION BASS, GUITAR, DRUMS

iFlogID: 17428

WWW.BLACKSTAR.COM.AU

LEAD SINGER WANTED!

We are a specialist drum and percussion team dedicated in guiding you through your musical path.

By Anson 0433646338

Ghoulish singer wanted for Horror Punk band. Must be able to scream like Wednesday 13 and provide haunting cleans like Michael Graves and/or Wednesday 13. Serious applicants only.

email metalmitcha@hotmail.com 0401620221

AUST ACADEMY OF DRUMS & PERC

iFlogID: 20330

www.takecaremassage.com.au -

CALLING ALL GHOULS

Intermediate - Advanced level. Want to play originals and covers. Influences - Immortal, Darkthrone, Bathory, Sepultura, Yngwie, Ozzy.

singing guitar keyboard piano drums violin tuition

To hear current demos and get contact details, goto:

SAXOPHONE

SINGER

Looking for drummer for black metal/heavy metal band.

SCHOOL OF ROCK - ZEN STUDIOS

$25 PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS

iFlogID: 19221

iFlogID: 19219

iFlogID: 20551

iFlogID: 20598

Currently writing original music to record and perform live and looking for a singer (age 20-30) to join the band.

Looking for an experienced sax player to form a horn section for a Northern Beaches based REGGAE band. Call Michael 0402 549 423 or email siczex@ yahoo.com.au.

Established original band seeks drummer, Influences include The Clash, The Smiths, Stone Roses, Libertines, Arctic Monkeys. Must be available to tour nationally, good haircut essential, text 0488904181 for audition

Call Jared on 0467 165 345

TUITION

Originality is encouraged as the music is open to a range of vocal styles and expressions.

iFlogID: 19805

Looking for an experienced reggae keyboard player for a Northern Beaches based band. Call Michael 0402 549 423 or email siczex@yahoo.com.au

Hole, PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Placebo, Queens Of The Stone Age, Manic Street Preachers.

$45 Full Hour

iFlogID: 17980

Looking for a creative, professional and motivated individual.

iFlogID: 20237

Influences include:

$25 Half Hour

WWW.WHATISTHEHAPS.COM

Not necessarily Ian Kenny, Mike Patton, Thom Yorke or Jeff Buckley required.

Wollongong rock band searching for Singer.

iFlogID: 20462

Hard hitters 20-30 y/o male or female.

What happens when you start paying attention? When you become an active member and start participating in this elusive thing we call life.

Looking for permanent male lead vocalist to complete 5 piece line-up.

Why risk your vocal performance with substandard gear? Hire the industry standard Shure ULX wireless system + Beta58A microphone, lapel or headset. $60, 2 for $100. Call Lamba 9758-8888 www.lamba.com.au

Keyboard player wanted for working band can be male or female must have good gear and a car we rehears in sydney and play in all of the Sydney leading clubs. Please contact the manager for further infomation on 0421901147

iFlogID: 19244

HIT SO HARD

SINGER WANTED for Sydney based progressive rock band.

iFlogID: 20429

Northern Districts Guitar Tuition Rhythm, Lead, Acoustic and Electric

iFlogID: 20578

iFlogID: 19246

If you want to use DRUGS, that’s your business

KEYBOARD Guitarist, Singer & temporary Drummer (19yrs) need to start band! We play anything Tool, Amy Winehouse, Evanescence, Michelle Shocked (rock/ blues/altmetal/funk/reggae/soul) Would like versatile bassist & keyboardist! 18-25yrs preferred! Northern Beaches. Ziggy: 0432872290!

PRIVATE GUITAR LESSONS

iFlogID: 15454

Phone Pedro 0425352066

iFlogID: 19401

iFlogID: 19759

Rehearse Sydney inner-west, any age is fine.

HORN

iFlogID: 20547

email metalmitcha@hotmail.com 0401620221

Get your Band or Business Online Cost effectively from $299 including Hosting, Shopping Cart and 5 email addresses!

Looking for an experienced sax & trumpet players for a horn section for a Northern Beaches based REGGAE band. Call Michael 0402 549 423 or email siczex@yahoo.com.au.

Sydney band The Wire are auditioning drummers for an upcomming action packed 2013. Must be: proffessional, handsome, proficient, enthusiastic, Available to gig. https://www.facebook.com/ thewireaus check us out, and email scat. lives@gmail.com

listen: club

SINGER WANTED For psych garage rock n roll coffin dodgers

iFlogID: 19558

iFlogID: 20453

iFlogID: 20638

iFlogID: 20029

call

vlucantonio @yahoo.com.au

Experienced and motivated drummer needed for rock band based in Inner West.

Established Sydney Indie/Pop/Rock band need Bass Player, hopefully with multi instrumental talent. Maybe Keys & Backing Vox. Current JJJ Play, EP for January. Contact/SMS Sash 0409579688 and he will email music

iFlogID: 20477

Influences QOTSA, Foo Fighters, Nirvana…

iFlogID: 20640

iFlogID: 20441

MUSICIANS WANTED

Drummer Wanted for 50’s BLUES / ROCKNROLL / ROCKABILLY original band. experienced dedicated drummer for band with exciting future. Chuck Berry, Easybeats, Howlin Wolf, Wanda Jackson, LovedOnes, OtisRedding, Ramones

iFlogID: 20558

marikogray@destroyermariko.com

Insideoutband@bigpond.com.

Ph:0415680575

Influences can range not just SHOCK But from Marilyn Manson to tool, korn etc etc etc you know the rest!

therollindice@gmail.com

iFlogID: 20419

Everything negotiable.

Greetings! I am 21 years of age seeking Shock rock musicians that can deal with making some extreme hard and heavy shock rock music.

Call/message 0405126307

OTHER

iFlogID: 20356

finncut@gmail.com

iFlogID: 19654

Professional drummer/percussionist/vibraphonist available for performances/recording. Toured with international acts such as Dianna Krall, David Campbell and Patrizio Buanne. Have huge range of instruments including vibraphone. More info at www.davekemp.info

Visit finncut’s channel on Utube Contact Matti

guitarist/singer needs a guitarist, bass player & drummer to start a piss poor sydney rock band. louddirtyrocknrollbased musak with a touch of twang. 0403508102

iFlogID: 18612

QUALITY MUSIC VIDEO PRODUCTION Immersion Imagery strives to offer quality & creative music videos to suit your style & budget. Portfolio of over 30 artists. www.immersionimagery.com immimagery@gmail.com

iFlogID: 19248

iFlogID: 17324

www.kaleidoscopetuition.com.au have heaps of fun as well.

See me playing drums: www.youtube.com/user/ sydneypollak

Want to play Guitar... but don’t know where to start? Tailored Tuition at your Pace... with Guitarist for Sydney Band ROCKMONSTER

iFlogID: 20620

Seeking experienced lead & backing singers, bass, keyboard, sax & trumpet players for REGGAE band in Northern Beaches. Call Michael 0402 549 423 or email siczex@yahoo.com.au

remedial attention tel. 0431953178

iFlogID: 20376

GUITARIST REQUIRED ASAP Original Sydney band 30three requires experienced guitarist. Must be dedicated and professional. Gigs waiting for early 2013 also view to record debut album. Influences range from Pearl Jam, Live and U2. Contact Zarz on 0449710697 or Matt 0433859723.

iFlogID: 19736

A comprehensive 2 day course that covers basic audio principles, the progression of technology, common audio components, terninology, signal flow, soldering 101, microphone and speaker placement, EQing and more. Handty reference booklet supplied. Optional third days training at a live music venue available. www.zenstudios. com.au 02-9950-3977

Contact Anton: 0426822750

iFlogID: 18719

Free online and print classifieds Book now, visit iflog.com.au

iFlogID: 20182