BMA Mag 327 25 Jun 2009

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inside this issue

THE BEDROOM PHILOSOPHER

YVES KLEIN BLUE

ME AND THE GROWNUPS

VANITY FAIR EXHIBITION National Portrait Gallery Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913 – 2008 IMAGE: Alice White1928 (unpublished) Florence Vandamm © Condé Nast Publications Inc./ Courtesy Condé Nast Archive

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1 What’s the best way to thaw out those frozen fingers and toes? By slinging down an answer and sending it to editorial@bmamag.com that warm fuzzy feeling that comes from getting something for nothing is sure to ensue.

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1 Jazz MaN I’ll Stop When You Stop, the new CD by Melbourne trio Mandala will be launched in Canberra on Saturday June 27 at The Front Gallery and Café. Described as “a three-man demolition team with absurd references to prog rock, or, imagine an avant garde sensibility bumping into the Headhunters moments after a terminal hit and run with New Ageism”. Mandala are also here to spread the news of a new CD label called Downstream Music, which is a music orphanage for all the sounds which fall in the cracks between jazz, improvisation, experimental, electro acoustic, sound art and noise. Sitting in with the trio will be renowned trumpeter Miroslav Bukovsky, with support from Andy Campbell Trio. Head to www. downstreammusic.com.au/ mandala for more info on the band and the show, but to score one of two double passes, send us a pic of an amazing mandala.

2 Here, pUss pUss pUss The hills were definitely alive with music and bromance down south Cooma way when the boys from Cat Cat recorded the Dig Mountains EP, the latest offering from the wave of new sounds that is Canberra’s hippest DIY label Birds Love Fighting. Listeners are abruptly sent into the catchy Swamp Rat via the entry track Dig, which is one half of the exit track Mountains. Once we’ve been introduced to the band, track three Bobby Killed

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The Cat transports us into a more relaxed tone, only to be contradicted by the urgency of track four, the popular Old New. We step back into to the future on track five B, a strange mix of delightful ’60s jangle and bird screeches which sails us off into chirping crickets and Mountains, track six. To nab one, send us your fav lolcat pic.

3 Farm boys The worry about the reunion of the original Dinosaur Jr. lineup, more than 20 years after their formation and legendary dissolution, was that these guys were just flogging the back cat as a marketing gimmick. With the release of 2007’s Beyond, the band answered those inquiring ears with a hearty Marshall-driven ‘FUCK YOU!’ And now J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph bring you Farm. At times wholly ’70s guitar epic, at times perfect for sitting by a babbling brook with Joni and Neil, Farm encompasses Dinosaur Jr.’s signature palette – soaring and distorted guitar, unshakable hooks and honeyrich melodies. We’ve got a few copies to fling your way, so to snag one tell us which dinosaur was the coolest and why.

4 a positive Rage Wasn’t it the greatest thing ever? Returning home after a big one and crashing heavily on the couch, ham and cheese toastie in hand, and flicking on the teev to see your favourite songs brought to life by short film? Rage has now gone retro, with the ABC delving into the archives to bring us a 30 track double CD and 30 track DVD of all the songs and film clips we know and love from the ‘80s. On the CD we’ve got Bowie, we’ve got Billy Idol and Blondie, and we’ve got Aussie heroes Divinyls, Nick Cave, The Triffids and The Go-Betweens, while the DVD features much of the same and more. To score one of five copies of either the CD or DVD, send us the Youtube link to your fav clip (and specify CD or DVD).

5 Sweet as “All the best songs are short, sweet and have lots happening in them.” The words of Slow Down Honey’s front man and fundamental songwriter Alex Bennison in reference to their debut EP In The Picture. The Umina boys have been jamming and composing since childhood and are finally letting the rest of us in on the material they have

been sitting on for all these years. And guess what? Yep, you got it… we have five copies of this pop-packed EP to give away. To get your sticky fingers on a copy, just tell us what else - apart from pop songs you think should be short and sweet. This pumping EP will redefine the meaning of the word pop… so get writing!

6 CH-CH-CH-cHANGES Legendary actor Clint Eastwood directs Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich in Changeling, a film based on the true story of one mother’s determination to find her son while taking on the LAPD. Los Angeles, 1928: on a Saturday morning in a working-class suburb, Christine Collins (Jolie) said goodbye to her young son and left for work. When she came home, she discovered he had vanished. Months later, to Christine’s initial relief, a boy claiming to be the nine-yearold is returned. However, the boy is not her son. Intriguing, enthralling, and potentially quite gripping, no? To bag a copy of the DVD, tell us about the time you ran away from home and mum went nuts.

Having spent a considerable amount of time in small country towns, I have observed the particular characteristics they all share. For starters, they have only one main street with banks, post offices, butchers, chemists and op shops all within waddling distance for ma and pa. Along this strip almost certainly will be a community hall for when The Wiggles blow through. There will be four women’s boutiques with maroon and gold blouses in the window and chalkboards out front with ridiculous slogans like ‘wise man say woman who shop at Teena’s will be one hot momma.’ The rest will be made up of sporting goods or spiritual novelty bric-a-brac such as disco globe lamps, ceramic pigs, pictures of fairies gathered around dolphins and ‘they put a man on the moon, why can’t they put them all there’ mugs. The shops all play the same local radio station, ‘Hits FM’ which despite its promise of a no-repeat work mix always manages to end up on Bon Jovi’s ‘you give love a bad name.’

Dispersed between standard fast food joints Subway and McDonalds are the local cafes. Out front will be a white plastic dining setting with floral table cloths. The menu will feature a motif of a friendly but clinically overweight baker offering ham, pineapple and cheese toasted fingers, souvlakis and the special of the day: ‘Deb’s pasties.’

The waitstaff will be detached young girls in tight black tops, being bustled about by the passive aggressive power mother licensee with blonde tips. Coffee from these places will come out tasting like lightly bothered milk unless one asks for ‘extra strong,’ which is country code for ‘uptight prick.’ Ordering the vegie burger will induce puzzled looks and force the chef to pull out a yellow emergency booklet from under the counter. The vegie burger will be a surprisingly expensive chip sandwich with alfalfa sprouts.

The demographic of the country town consists primarily of old people. There are heartbreakingly cute couples that hobble about and middle-aged women in pink windcheaters clutching handbags looking like they’ve had life worked out since the late ‘70s. There will be men in their 40s in fluoro-yellow work shirts, climbing out of utes adorned with Taz devil stickers. These men look like they only have four emotions and save three of them up for grand final day. The other demographic will be teenage mothers with track pants, ugg boots and angry black pony tails, yelling at their toddlers for being too old for the pram. The most startling realisation in a country town is that there doesn’t appear to be anyone between the ages of 18-35. This is because it is either actually the case and everyone has left, or those between those ages all look 40. The combination of not looking after your skin, having children early, and being spiritually malnourished can force you to age at twice the normal rate.

The leading characteristic in a country town is misspelt shop signs.

If there is an opportunity to make ‘sports’ into ‘sportz’ then it will be taken. Hairdressers will offer ‘budget cutz’ and the butcher ‘cheep meets.’ It is unclear if this is due to a lack of ‘edukation,’ a sense that it will make the shop seem cooler in a rap kind of way, or because the original shop name was already taken. Recent examples include ‘Hungry Azz,’ ‘Fashion Folkus’ and ‘Browzers’ (a bookstore).

Country towns are quaint and unpretentious, bleak and eerie. They are best enjoyed in moderation.

JUSTIN HEAZLEWOOD www.bedroomphilosopher.com Justin performs as The Bedroom Philosopher and writes for Frankie, Jmag and The Big Issue. The Bedroom Philosopher launches his new album Brown and Orange at ANU on Thursday July 2.

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marSHmallowS, aNyoNe?

BMA: We’re good like that # 3 2 7 J U N 2 5 Fax: 02 6257 4361 Mail: PO Box 713 Civic Square, ACT 2608 Publisher Scott Layne General Manager & Advertising Manager Allan Sko T: 6257 4360 E: advertising@bmamag.com Editor Julia Winterflood T: 02 6257 4456 E: editorial@bmamag.com Accounts Manager Ashish Doshi T: 6247 4816 E: accounts@bmamag.com Sales Executive Danika Nayna T: 0408 657 939 Graphic Design Jenny Freeman Exhibitionist Editor Naomi Milthorpe Film Editor Mark Russell Principal Photographers (The Flashbulb Posse) Andrew Mayo Nick Brightman John Hatfield NEXT ISSUE 328 OUT JULY 9 EDITORIAL DEADLINE JUN 26 ADVERTISING DEADLINE JULY 2 Published by Radar Media Pty Ltd ABN 76 097 301 730 bma is independently owned and published.

Opinions expressed in bma are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or staff.

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Winter in Canberra is very much on the pointy end of ridiculous, but with the Fireside Festival to warm us up there’ll be no more red noses or numb fingers and toes - for the month of August at least. Fireside Festival will feature cooking classes, wine tastings, performances, exhibitions and a sizeable swag of more temperate events which will be hosted by 23 venues across our shivering city. From Gunning to Gundaroo, Bowning to Bungendore, grab your beanie and beat the winter blues! Head to www.firesidefestival.com.au for more info.

You MUst be this tall to Ride It set the bar high last year, but this year Coaster Festival is ready to raise that bar even higher. Only in its second year, Coaster is showcasing some of the finest Australian and international acts including Eskimo Joe, Bliss N Eso, Grafton Primary, British India, The Bronx and GZA/Genius (Wu Tang Clan) plus many more acts worthy of our praise. If this sounds like your kind of fest, save up your heard-earned and head on down to Gosford Showground in NSW (76KMs from Syd) on Saturday September 12. Tix on sale now!

Hit www.coasterfestival.com. au for more info.

eva lastiNg staRs Last year Melbourne songwriter Eva Popov released her debut album Me the Sea & Stars and won triple j’s Unearthed Fuse Music Competition. Her collection of intricate songs has received airplay on local and national radio and she has performed at festivals and venues across Australia. Eva is taking a break from recording a follow up album to support Lamplight and Jordie Lane on their national tour. You can catch this gorgeous gang at The Folkus Room on Sunday July 5.

kNIgHTSBRIDgE - WINNER BEST COCkTAIL BAR & BARTENDER OF THE YEAR

a RoUNd of applaUse THE AHA Hospitality Awards have been and gone again, and some of your favourite venues have scooped the accolades.

Peter Barclay of King O’Malley’s had the John Press Award bestowed upon him for services to the community, including the introduction of Movember to the ACT. Knightsbridge Penthouse scooped both Best Cocktail Bar and Bartender of the Year in dashing young stud Sam Proudfoot. And last, but certainly not least, Transit Bar picked up the highly coveted Best Live Entertainment Venue for the second year running.

Congrats to one and all.

SoYa waNNa be aN aRtist?

Registrations for Australia’s leading grants program, the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards are now open! SOYA boosts the careers of young achievers, providing a 12 month mentorship program with industry professionals in seven categories: film and animation, fashion, industrial and object design, music, photography, visual arts and visual communications. The winners across each of the categories receive $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in Qantas flights. Entries close Friday July 31. Head to www.soya.com.au for more info.

tHe big beN Jazz trumpeter and composer Ben Marston continues to push Canberra jazz into inventive territory with his powerhouse contemporary big

band performances, marked by percussive chords, rich textures, big dynamic ranges and a bold exploration of diverse musical styles and forms. After an extremely hot, action-packed start to the series Ben is back with his winter special, Extrapolations on the Big Band Theory. On Sunday June 28 Marston’s big band explodes onto The Street stage one last time with some sharp turns and melodic ingenuity before hitting the recording studio for their next CD. Call The Street BO on (02) 6247 1223 for bookings.

How Nice!

RYZ in conjunction with Sideproject, Aztek Productions and Plus 1 are bringing you Tasty DJ Biscuits on Friday June 26 at Krave Nightclub. With nine DJs, two live producers and mind-blowing lighting from the Aztek crew across two stages, they’re set to entertain you for a full working day’s worth with minimal funk, tech, smooth progressive and deep house from 9pm until 5am.

game oveR Woden Youth Centre is getting ready for another night of musical madness with Paqman, Pleased To Jive You, The Sodapops, Slovac and The Great Escape. This will be one of Paqman’s final shows in Canberra for a bit so we should all head down there and show them how much they’ll be missed. Doors open at 5:45pm for a 6pm start on Saturday June 27. Tix are a paltry seven clams, so say no to that coffee date and yes to Paqman!

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and

another

YOU PISSED ME OFF!

thing…

I’ve known Krusher Joule for years. He’s an album sleeve designer, graphic artist and bon viveur of legendary repute, and I thought you’d like to hear some of his tales. So, I asked the questions and off he went – enjoy.

Has someone yanked yer chain recently? Well send an email to editorial@bmamag.com and have your sweet vengeance.

And for the love of god, keep it brief! [All entries contain original spellings]

I first became aware of the man through his work with august metal tome Kerrang! How does one get a break with such a genredefining publication? “I started working on Kerrang! in February 1983.

The first issue that I did was number 35 with Tony Iommi on the cover for an interview about Black Sabbath’s Live Evil album. Ironically the last ever cover that I designed for Kerrang! some ten years later also featured Iommi and Black Sabbath.

Unhappy in my Hoodie on a Saturday... To the sound guy who murdered Bliss’n’Eso on Saturday night - you pissed me off!! Hellen Kellar could have done a better job of using her listening and observation skills to note that the mix was completely screwed and all that could be heard further than ten rows back was the sound of the MCs doing their thing, with the awesome atmospheric backing tracks and samples that make Bliss’n’Eso so great, barely audible. The Pez set went off

“I got the job by phoning the then editor (and one of the finest men to ever draw breath) Alan Lewis and telling him that I was a freelance designer and had worked for Motorhead, Girlschool, Hawkwind and Ozzy Osbourne, to name a few, and asked if he would be interested in seeing my portfolio, and to my great surprise he said yes he would.

This would have been December 1982. We arranged a lunchtime meeting in one of the pubs nearest their offices, which were above Covent Garden tube station and after several pints and rock ‘n’ roll tales he asked me to go away and redesign the mastheads (the regular headings that they used) and to come back in the new year and we’d take it from there if he liked them.

“As it turned out he loved them and asked me if I’d like to work freelance as their designer, I of course said ‘too foooookin’ right boss!’

When I did the mastheads I also redesigned the Kerrang! logo which for some mysterious reason never got used until issue 36 and wasn’t used the way I’d designed it until issue 38 which had Rock Goddess guitarist Jody Turner on the cover.”

Was Kerrang! A fun magazine to work for? “Was it fun to work for? Shit, apart from the last year I was there it was the BEST job I’d ever had.

“I couldn’t believe how much we were allowed to get away with, just as long as the magazine came out and there were no major fuck ups in it we could do ANYTHING that helped our creative streaks (a bit like life at BMA, then). (And don’t you know it Adams. - Ed.) “Bottles of Jack and Mescal were everywhere, drugs, spontaneous air guitar freakouts on top of the desks could occur at any given moment, pub lunches that lasted days, a party or gig to go to seven nights a week and every goddamned rock star that you’d ever wanted to meet walking in and out of the office and not because they had to be interviewed but because they just wanted to come and hang out with the Kerrang! gang.”

Again, I’m thinking this is exactly like life at BMA HQ! (And when are you ever wrong, Adams? - Ed.) “Here’s a perfect example of that, when I first joined the mag I was well behaved for the first couple of weeks, finding my feet and observing just how far one could go. So when it came to lunchtime I would grab a sandwich and stay in the office and get on with my job, whilst everyone else headed to the pub for their alcoholic fix. So there I am alone, munching on my cheese and pickle sarnie when who walks in?”

Who walks in? That, my friends, is just the beginning of a new column – see you next time.

SCOTT ADAMS thirtyyearsofrnr@hotmail.com

and sounded great, the crowd was charged for a big one and then the incompetence of one dude screwed it all!

To people who go to Heavy Metal concerts and don’t support the support bands – you piss me off! The dance floor was stiffer than a one night stand - but not in a fun way! It was the first time I heard that support band and it was a surprise how good they were. The ceilings are high at that venue – so you don’t hit your head jumping up and down in the Moshe Pit!

FROM THE BOSSMAN One thing you have to love about Canberra is its admirable insistence on having four distinct seasons. It’s stinking hot and sunny in the summer, pleasant and warm in the spring, puts the autumn in autumnal, and by crikey does it crack out the cold in winter. As is Nature and Life’s wont, we go through this cycle every year, so you’d think us humans would be used to it by now.

But no. It always delights me to see how much winter takes us by surprise each year.

I look forward to the first day of proper cold weather the same way a single-digit child looks forward to their next birthday. The morning that the mercury battles to stay over zero, everyone is in a shared state of disbelief, having left for work/uni wearing the covering equivalent of a napkin. A look of shock glazes over the eye, people are bent double over themselves in a desperate and failed attempt to cover any hole that could let the biting wind seep in. Yellow snot leaks onto reddened faces until you resemble something Reg Mombasa might paint in a nightmare.

God bless you Canberra winter, you icy bastard. Good to have you back.

ALLAN “NUM FINgAZ” SkO

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WHO: JULIAN DAY WHAT: cEREMONY WHEN: FRI JUNE 26, 7PM WHERE: cANBERRA cONTEMPORARY ART SPAcE, GORMAN HOUSE

Julian Day has a thing for multiples. Why write music to be played by one instrument, when it could be played by two, ten, or even one hundred at the same time? Sound artist Day originally studied classical composition, but in recent years has been designing unconventional performances for unusual instruments in unique spaces. Now is your chance to see him work his magic – Ceremony is a dramatic sound sculpture and performance for assorted vintage keyboards. This intense aural experience was inspired by old-school noisemakers such as the Velvet Underground and… Japanese tea ceremonies. It’s all happening at CCAS and is $10 at the door.

WHO: BANDS, BANDS, BANDS WHAT: PROG/METAL NIGHT WHEN: FRI JUNE 26 WHERE: ANU BAR

ANU Bar is readying itself for a huge night of prog and metal on Friday June 26 with four amazing Aussie bands forming a lineup which will shake its very walls. Melodic rock heavyweights Entropy return to Canberra, bringing their energetic live show and truly unique sound while Earth Mechanics will provide a stellar repertoire of dynamic music. Perpetual End continue to obliterate live shows with their own style of metal and Taliesin’s truly progressive sound will kick off the night in a very big way. Doors open at 8pm. Don’t miss a single minute of this outstanding lineup!

WHO: TOBIAS MANDERSONGALVIN AND RHYS RODGERS WHAT: AUSTRALIAN STAR POETS SLAM WHEN: FRI JUNE 26, 7.30PM WHERE: THE FRONT GALLERY AND cAFE, LYNEHAM

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Poetry fans will be treated to two very different performances from visiting poets Tobias Manderson-Galvin and Rhys Rodgers. Held at the The Front on the last Friday of every month, Traverse Poetry Slams begin with a feature poet or musician followed by the slam itself. No stranger to controversy, Tobias is a talented actor and poet from Melbourne whose controversial poetry has previously seen him detained by the Federal police and an Adelaide airport for terrorism.

Brisbane’s Rhys Rodgers won the Love Poetry Hate Racism open mic in 2008, was a finalist at both the Nimbin performance poetry world cup and Woodford slam, as well as winning the 2008 SpeedPoets championships in Brisbane.

WHO: KAZU KIMURA WHAT: LOLLYGAG PRESENTS LLIK LLIK LLIK WHEN: SAT JULY 4 WHERE: TRANSIT BAR

After a killer show at Foreshore ‘08, Kazu Kimura returns to Canberra for a more intimate appearance at Transit Bar. This marks Llik Llik Llik’s second international guest and it’s looking to be a night that no techno enthusiast should miss. Kazu’s DJ career spans back to 1987, playing at clubs in Tokyo and Nagano. Since then he has cemented himself as a consistently quality techno DJ and producer, having played in countless countries with highly acclaimed releases on labels such as Theory Records and Chris Liebings’s CL-Recordings. Supporting Kazu is special guest Staky as well as Biggie, Gabriel Gilmour, Nick Smith and Scottie Fischer.

WHO: SEAWORTHY WHAT: INSTRUMENTAL SOUNDScAPIST WHEN: SUN JUNE 28 WHERE: THE FRONT GALLERY AND cAFE, LYNEHAM

In the winter of ‘07, Cameron Webb, the man behind Sydney experimental institution Seaworthy, holed himself up in a decommissioned ammunitions bunker and spent three months recording . Channelling the ambience of the lonely, cavernous complex, and utilising its natural reverb, Webb amassed six hours of looped guitar and electronics and field recordings which have become Seaworthy’s second LP 1897, released on influential New York label 12k. It’s definitely stereoworthy. Seaworthy will launch 1897 at Hellosquare’s Sunday Social from 3pm alongside Pollen Trio. Entry by donation, with a free 3” CDR of both bands.

WHO: AIATSIS AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA WHAT: FREE FAMILY FUN WHEN: THURS JULY 11 WHERE: AIATSIS FOREcOURT, AcTON PENINSULA

NAIDOC week celebrations are happening again! The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the National Museum of Australia are hosting Canberra’s largest public event. The jumping castle and children’s activities will keep the rugrats happy while you browse over 30 market stalls, tuck into the BBQ, and enjoy lakeside entertainment headlined by Johnny Huckle, Lexine Solomon, Dale Huddleston & The Riverbank Band and Adam Shipp Hip Hop. NAIDOC week this year is themed ‘honouring our elders, nurturing our youth’ and people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to join in the celebration of Australia’s Indigenous people and their achievements.

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CENTREL I N K SEX SY M B OL TIM BOCQUET

Since that loveable Jarvis Cocker-alike first burst into our offices all those years ago, his life’s story scrawled on a sheaf of papers clutched to his chest, Justin Hazelwood - or THE BEDROOM PHILOSOPHER to his Nan - has been like a son to us. A Pinocchio to our geppetto. But he’s a real boy now, with his own sophmore long-playing record, Brown and Orange, which will be launched at ANU Bar on Thursday July 2. Come with us, sweet reader, as we waltz down memory lane, hand in hand with Heazlewood…

BMA: You’ve been misquoted as saying you are the king of the current generation, are you?

Justin Heazlewood: I’d like to be known as a Centrelink sex symbol or the king of pap.

BMA: Why Brown and Orange and not maroon and grey?

JH: I wanted to do for brown and orange what The White Stripes did for red and black and Jack Johnson did for beige. I briefly considered Red and Black and Blue and Green; a tribute to the four colour pen.

BMA: You are on the QEII, it is sinking, the band is playing, what song do you request? And what colour tie do you wear to the occasion?

JH: Beck’s Sexxlaws. It’d be fabulous swinging about yelling about the logic of all sex laws knowing you’re about to drown. However I’d wear a sparkly novelty rubber tie that blows up into a floating device.

BMA: Should people ask for your signature or autograph?

JH: Depends how big the restraining order is. I just can’t keep away from Flight of the Conchords.

BMA: Are op shops a metaphor for the modern day society? If not what is?

JH: Op shopping is dead. A plague of nineties rubbish has choked out all the good stuff. In Melbourne if I want anything good I have to pay $80 at a boutique. When you’re brought up on finding bargains yourself this is like visiting a trout farm then sleeping with a prostitute. In Melbourne now they have ‘retro warehouse outlets’ which is basically an old person’s home. You can go along and see the clothes in a free range environment and make an offer directly to the wearer or just wait for them to pass.

round are less in your face funny and more sort of post-ironic, poetic and emotional. I mean, life is funny and sad in pretty equal measure, so why not songs? It’s just something I had to get out of my system.

I needed to write a bunch of songs that I wouldn’t get sick of playing – that’s why the arrangements of the music have been amped up and I’m playing with a backing band now. Someone described me as Tripod meets Syd Barrett and I’m pretty proud of that description. Maybe I’ll look back in five years and think ‘you tried to do too much there’ but it’s just a stepping stone.

When I was working on this I would say to people ‘I’m pinning every hope and dream on this record’ and I scared my girlfriend at the time by putting so much pressure on this album to ‘break me’ and now it’s out, and it hasn’t broken me, well emotionally yes, but not in an industry sense. But hey, it’s fine – I’ve got a lot of perspective out of it, and realise that this stuff takes a long time, and I’m still figuring out what it is I do. Now if that’s not an advertisement for my album launch I don’t know what is. Come, see me figuring something out that’s just a stepping stone towards something else. Go-go gadget confidence!

BMA: What do you predict will be the next item of dag-come-chic?

JH: Kaleidoscopes. They’re gonna hit the rave scene and kids will be at the bus stop with their eyes glued to the shapes. Rollerblades too. Not dead just sleeping.

BMA: What’s the best item that you own that is coloured brown and orange?

JH: Well after my birthday it’s the new set of Brown and Orange beanbags that my band mates bought me. Filled with money and drugs of course. I urge everyone to try the sensation of sitting on their life savings, literally.

BMA: What do your grandparents think of the record?

JH: Nan and Pop Records naturally love the album, as they’re putting it out. Head of the company, Nan, has said quote, “yes, some quite good sounds there.” Basically Nan divides all music into two categories: ‘songs she could do house work to’ and ‘the rest’.

She likes a good beat, and thankfully this album has drums on it.

BMA: Have you ever thought of doing a ‘serious’ record?

JH: Yeah for every comedy song I’ve ever written I’ve written about three serious ones. They’re all sitting there and last year I started performing under a different name, Windsor Flare, just to get them out of my system. It’s a tough road for me when I’ve spent so long taking the piss from an outsider’s perspective, to then ask to be able to be part of it as well. The longing is definitely still there.

Every time I hear a Josh Pyke song I think ‘waaaaah, I wanna have sell out crowds wanting to hear me bang on about love’. It’s just classic ‘artist never being satisfied’ stuff. It keeps me on my toes, and vaguely depressed. Relationship anyone?

BMA: The songs on your latest record have a comedic thread to them yet there are also a lot of themes and items of agenda floating around them – a deeper meaning so to speak. What over all message are you trying to give the listener?

JH: Brown and Orange is such a classic difficult second album. Not satisfied with my winning formula of simple acoustic ditties such as Golden Gaytime and I’m So Post Modern, I have to get half an orchestra playing on each song because deep down I’m a musician and I want people to take me seriously. Even the lyrics this time

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Go-go gadget confidence!

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ALL AGES Hey y’all. An exciting few months on the way in terms of gigs, along with an epic competition for all you up and coming funksters, groovy cats, punk rockers, metalheads and plain old rockers. Get out, get involved and have a great time.

Cayce (pronounced kay-see) are Sydney’s classy, progressive rock five-piece setting the almost impossible goal for themselves of breaking through the disposable ways of the industry to produce something that is completely memorable. Combining elements of alternative and progressive rock, these guys will knock you on your arse and keep you coming back for more. Cayce will be joined by fellow Sydneysiders Bleached Academy and Canberran experimental rock troupe So Long Safety at the Tuggeranong Youthie on Friday June 26.

The Woden Youthie will be host to an array of mighty fine young bands this Saturday June 27, including Melburnians Paqman, Canberrans Pleased To Jive You, The Sodapops and Slovac and Newcastle lads The great Escape. Tickets are only $6 at the door, so there’s no need for any major saving removals or excuses for not being there…

The Punk and Disorderly Tour featuring The Amity Affliction, Deez Nuts, Break Even, Ligeia and Louie knuxx will be shuffling their way into the Weston Creek Community Centre on Friday July 3. Amity Affliction is one of the most successful post-hardcore outfits to come out of Brisbane and Deez Nuts is currently Australia’s most popular hardcore-rap group since… well, ever (Deez Nuts is the solo project of former I killed The Prom Queen’s drummer JJ Peters).

You won’t want to miss this, as it’s not very often that you’ll see five bands of this calibre come together all under one roof. Tickets are $18 from Moshtix.

Tuesday July 7 will see the most supreme, awe-inspiring, epically brilliant competition between two of the most popular genres of music – punk and metal. No matter which team you’re batting for, you won’t want to miss out on this breathtaking battle of categorisations. So come on down to Punk Vs. Metal at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. At only 8 bucks, this show will not only be easy on the hip pocket, but also on the old ear holes.

Possibly the most exciting gig coming up over the next few months: Parkway Drive, August Burns Red and The Architects will be smashing up the Southern Cross Woden Basketball Stadium on Sunday August 16. Tickets are $33.36 and are already on sale from Moshtix.

For all you tertiary students out there in a band who are looking to make it in the big time, you should definitely enter the 2009 Vitamin Water National Campus Band Competition. With 5000 smackaroos up for grabs for the winning band at the national final, the ACT heats begin in August at the CIT Music Industry Centre and the ACT final will be held at the ANU Bar on Thursday September 3. You can enter your band online at www.aaca.net.au and for more information head to www.myspace.com/ncbcaustralia . The Vitamin Water NCBC National Final will be held on the Gold Coast on Sunday September 27 at the Australian Uni games at Sea World. The Canberra heats will feature local lads Rubicon, last year’s national final winners.

I’m out for this fortnight ladies and lady-boys. Catchya.

LIZ ROWLEY elizabeth_rowley@live.com.au

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LOCALITY Another issue, another mixed bag of Canberran original music.

Whether you prefer to listen to blues guitarists, indie bands or instrumental soundscapes, there’s something for you to enjoy this fortnight. gangbusters is Bar 32’s monthly band night, and on Thursday July 2 the lineup will feature local groups kasha (formerly Also From Tokyo) and Super Best Friends. We at Locality were excited to hear a Super Best Friends track on triple j’s Short Fast Loud program a few weeks back (Canberra bands on the radio = awesome), so get along to the gig and give the boys the props they deserve.

So Long Safety, …like foxes and Ashton Skies are playing with My Name 4 Your Name (Syd) at The Basement. Be there on Saturday June 27, doors open from 6pm.

2009’s Seasonally Affected Depression Sessions (or SAD Sessions) are wrapping up this fortnight. Get along to Ainslie’s Corroboree Park Hall on Saturday June 27 and Saturday July 4 to enjoy the excellent acoustics and hearty homemade soup.

The Secret Lunch, New Neighbors (USA) and Newcastle’s The Understudy will be playing on the June 27. Music starts at 8pm sharp, and entry is $10 at the door.

Seaworthy (Syd) will be launching his latest EP of ambient soundscapes at The Front gallery and Café on Sunday June 29, alongside Canberran act Pollen Trio. Be there between 3pm and 5pm to catch what promises to be an intimate and very unique gig.

Northside venues tend to have a monopoly on live music, but this fortnight The Wedded Bliss are taking their awesome live show down south. Get along to the Wanniassa Tavern from 8pm on Saturday June 27 for some rootsy, folksy, countrified goodness.

To catch the Chris Harland Blues Band, be at the Old Canberra Inn on Friday July 3 from 9pm. Local three-piece The Feldons will be playing at The Phoenix from 9pm on Saturday June 27, and the Bootleg Sessions will be on at The Phoenix on Monday June 29 and Monday July 6.

Cardboard Charlie and The CMC are joining forces again for this fortnight’s Domus Adultus sessions at Hippo Bar. On Thursday June 25 you’ll see greg Carlin, george Bishop (former member of the Andi and george Band), kasha and The Blue Ruins. On Thursday July 2, the lineup will include Rachael Cooper, David Bath and the Hot Tubs and kooky Fandango. The fun starts at 8pm, and tix are $7, or $5 for members.

Are you a tertiary student? Are you in a band? Well, get off your studious behind and sign up for the 2009 National Campus Band Competition! Canberra’s own Rubycon won the comp in 2008, so now it’s up to the rest of you to continue the ACT’s winning streak.

The local heats aren’t ‘til September, but Locality recommends signing up ASAP at www.aaca.net.au. And just so you know, at least one member of the band must be a tertiary student who makes “a substantial contribution to the band’s performance,” so recruiting an art school girl to play tambourine on the night doesn’t actually count.

That’s it from us at Locality. Keep supporting live music and keep sending your music news to us at locality.bma@hotmail.com .

‘Til next time, CATHERINE JAMES locality.bma@hotmail.com

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DANCE THE DROP When temperatures drop below zero degrees celcius, it is common for the capitalis teenagus, colloquially known as the Canberra teenager, to retreat to his or her well heated local sports club or parochial watering hole for cheap refreshment and wall mounted entertainment in the form of ubiquitous male dominated team sports.

The trend towards this yearly migration is being fought off by a team of skilled promoters who, from their isolated mountainside lair, have devised a devilishly clever winter strength programme of events to lull the masses back into the city centre.

The well loved Purple Sneakers crew lug their monthly swag of indie dance specials back to Transit Bar on Friday June 26. These cosmetically competent boozehounds will be joined by local superstars Talihina Shan and Will Eat Brains on a night which also, thanks to our lovely friends at Shock Records, celebrates the release of Placebo’s new album – Battle For The Sun. Eat your heart out Ministry of One Love! TV Rock’s record label has become self aware and is launching its latest ‘must have’ dance compilation Neon Essentials with a slew of parties across Australia.

The next port of call for the raucous roadshow is our very own Academy nightclub where Melbournite Chardy will be rocking your sweaty socks off on Saturday June 27.

Just to round off seemingly the biggest weekend of the year, on Sunday June 28 PANg! provide permanent ear damage in the form of noisy Italian electro kings The Bloody Beetroots. Take it from me, if you like filthy French style house music with a side of sonic techno, this is not one to miss! Supports also include Hubert vs Beat It, Offtapia vs Cheese, and kiz vs RyFy alongside the fabulously sexual Aston Shuffle who will be celebrating the release of their new radio killing single from the long awaited Do You Want More.

To kick off Ron Kovic’s birthday weekend in style, the boys from Friction & Lexington have joined forces with Lollygag Productions in a tongue-twisting night of frivolity in the form of Llik Llik Llik featuring kazu kimura on the Saturday July 4 at Transit Bar. The infamous Japanese 3 deck techno wizard returns after a brilliant performance at last year’s Foreshore Festival with local supports Scottie Fischer, Biggie, gabriel gilmour, Nick Smith and Staky.

On the very same night, the Lighter Massive crew set the Indoor Rock Climbing Centre alight playing host to the aptly named Neverest all ages hard dance event. The lads scale new heights with headliners including Soul-t (PHD/Melb), Suae (Syd), Tom-E (Syd) supported by your favourite local and interstate talent Nomad, Tempa (Syd), Enerv8, Selby (Syd), germ (Syd), Nasty and Mike Mayhem. Tickets are a paltry $25 and are available presale from Landspeed Records.

The best way to get warm on those cold Canberran June winter nights is with a BMA dance column hot tip for July. This edition it focuses on the latest offering from the mega successful global Underground Nubreed mix CD series. Over the years it has unearthed some of the biggest and best progressive talent the world over, from Steve Lawler and Anthony Pappa to Sander kleinenberg and Danny Howells, the series continues to exhume new superstars by the boothload. The next in the series focuses on rising Brit star Jim Rivers and it is one of the most impressive yet, coming highly recommended for your post-party soundtrack. Enjoy.

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TIM gALVIN tim.galvin@live.com.au

[Moving overseas] would be a bit of a cop out

BLACK BERTIE

MANY SHADES OF BLUE

PETER ROSEWARNE

MIRANDA O’BRIEN

Gone is the softly-softly folkstress who first released Headway in 2004. BERTIE BLAcKMAN stepped away from folk to rock in 2006, and this time has gone dark with her latest heavily electronic album, Secrets and Lies.

“I think maybe some bands do just go into the studio and cut a record,” explains lead singer Michael Tomlinson from the divinely talented YVES KLEIN BLUE. “But making our first album Ragged and Ecstatic was the most challenging thing the band has ever done.”

“I wrote a lot about dreams and nightmares I’ve been having,” Bertie reveals. “There are bits in the record about family and friendships I’ve had. It’s really personal. Not directly about certain people but about these things that have impacted on my life. I didn’t want to hold back in any way and I like the challenge of being really honest about myself.”

The four lads from Brisbane penned their distinctive name from French artist Yves Klein who created a shade of blue which Michael describes as having a timeless quality. “It reflects our focus to make timeless music that can stand on its own two feet,” with latest single Getting Wise a true testament to their focus.

It may be that Bertie, now emersed in confidently rich instrumental play and brazen electro pop, is exploring a side of herself she’s been meaning to for some time. While her influences stem far and wide, from the many live shows she’s attended Bertie recalls “one of the best moments was when I went to see Bob Dylan when I was 14 and Patti Smith was supporting. I was really taken by her because she’s so wild. She’s quite political and there’s heavy weight and emotion… she was just so amazing on stage!”

The darkness of Secrets and Lies is delivered perfectly by producers Lee Groves and Francois Tetaz, who have produced for Goldfrapp and Gwen Stefani, and Architecture in Helsinki and Gotye respectively. “They’re quite opposite producers,” Bertie muses. “Franc will sit down with me and say ‘okay, let’s make this one sound…’ and spend about five hours with me using instruments like old synthesizers. With Lee we’d put lots and lots of different stuff in and then take it back out; more harder edge electronic production.”

Given the pop-driven sound of Secrets and Lies and due to the fact that single Thump is set for release in the UK, it is expected Bertie will gain a little international recognition. That said Bertie isn’t likely to lose sight of her hometown any time soon. “There’s been a part of me that’s wanted to relocate. But at the same time I’ve been spending such a long time working at building my career here that I’ve felt that would be a bit of a cop out. You can’t get caught up in ‘oh, I need to be overseas.’ A city is a city.” You hear that, Sia? Bertie’s Sydney-based career certainly looks set to peak. And yet she still casts her eye on the future of her songwriting, explaining, “I’ve been writing a track with a horn orchestra. I kind of want to get towards more of a dramatic sound. Exploring more of what I touched on with Secrets and Lies.

In developing her sound though, the folky side of Bertie may not be gone for good after all. “I would like to make a really folky folky record at some point. But I’m not quite ready to do that yet. But folk like Nick Drake and Tom Waits: layered and intricate and beautiful.”

Bertie is heading to the capital not once but TWICE in the next few months!

Excitement. Catch her for free at Transit Bar on Thursday June 25 and then again at the ANU Bar for a paid gig on Saturday August 8. Tickets for the latter through Ticketek.

It was... depressing, incredibly euphoric, and triumphant all at the same time.

With an EP that gained considerable triple j airplay, Yves Klein Blue worked with a producer for the first time on their full length record, which Michael describes as a confronting and rewarding experience.

“The way our producer viewed things was sometimes different to how we did,” explains Michael. “We had to discipline the songs and decide what was and wasn’t necessary, whether there was something missing or a problem with an arrangement. It was a new concept that we hadn’t gone through before.”

“This record wasn’t fun all the time, but because it was hard it was so wonderful when it worked out. The process literally was ragged and ecstatic.

It was really, really fucking depressing, incredibly euphoric and triumphant, all at the same time.” It’s clear that recording was a major influence on the album title. Michael is extremely honest and upfront about the difficulties they had recording and discussed them with me at length, which is something to be respected.

With their nationwide tour looming, Michael recalls meeting two fans at their ANU gig who later drove to Sydney to attend their single launch. I suggest that such activity may lend itself to groupie behaviour, which really wouldn’t be surprising given Canberra has the highest number of saucy minxes per capita, in addition to the lure of the band’s suave exterior.

“Well Callam and Izzie are going out so I don’t know whether they really are up for it,” says Michael. However amidst speculation on the topic and Michael entertaining different scenarios (“Callam could be homosexual for a night?”) we settle for ‘quasi-groupies’ with Michael bashfully concluding “I think you’ve given me a little too much credit.”

Michael’s obviously paid attention in media training 101, employing the age old and quite lovely ‘butter up the journo’ tactic by saying he’d catch up with me at his show. True to form it’s another quality that makes Yves Klein Blue purely timeless.

Yves Klein Blue play the ANU Bar on Wednesday July 1. Get your tickets through Ticketek.

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IT’S ALL ABOUT ME

THE LaMpLIghT TOht Lig pIN mpL ST LaEP

ELSBETH HASTINgS

JESS CONWAY

How does it feel to be Australia’s only folk-pop-classical trio? It’s a question Melbourne’s ME AND THE GROWNUPS were born to field.

As Morrissey, perennial voice of those on the fringes, once intoned, “it’s so lonely on a limb.” So is it lonely out there for the Grownups?

Perhaps not, when they’ve got each other for company.

How good is that feeling? Finishing exams and heading towards a solid break. I was quick to discover LAMPLIGHT’s vocalist and keyboardist Kirsty was experiencing the same post-exam elation as I. However, before we hit our respective locals I asked her a few questions about the band, their upcoming tour and latest album.

Lamplight’s sound is all bar impossible to put into words. Kirsty agrees. “It’s a bit tricky, but a good description is symphonic indie rock.” She then pauses and exclaims, “no, symphonic, indie, folk rock – that’s the best way I’d describe it.” Ever heard of a band like that? Me neither – and their sound really is that eclectic and highly distinctive.

“There were not so many Sarah Blaskos when she started,” songstress/ songwriter/graphic artist Anita Lester points out. “Now there is a whole cesspool of them. Just you wait…” she trails off, anticipating the Austral-folk-pop-classical renaissance. “It disturbs me… that being derivative musically is encouraged, if not explicitly then certainly by consumer trends,” stringsman Jonathan Dreyfus chimes in. “I’m not really surprised we ended up making music that no-one else is, because anything else would be a fabrication of our personalities.”

As the band exists on such a precipice, teetering between genres, they do admit to feeling somewhat misunderstood. “I don’t think people get us yet,” Anita admits. “It sounds wanky, but I really just want people to understand the emotional intention behind it. I often hear that people think we have a lot of pretentiousness behind our music, as if it’s something we You can see contrive, but it just is what it a new type of is. We are just smart people music played by a making interesting music.”

new type of band

The latest instalment of interesting music comes, somewhat startlingly, less than a year after its predecessor, the Grownups’ debut Battling the Mountains, the Sky and the Sea. New LP Knowing Lovers, Naïve Lovers is an assured body of work, forging new ground for these prolific scamps.

“The music is far more precise,” Anita explains of the record.

“The dynamics are so intricate, the lyrics are more directed to a particular point - love - and we have gotten to know one another as musicians much more, which makes the world of difference.” “To be honest,” Jonathan adds, “I think there’s a lot of my classical taste and upbringing on Knowing Lovers. I’ve always dreamed of synthesising my loves of pop and classical. Having done it to my satisfaction, though, I wouldn’t aim to do it again, which is incredibly exciting in terms of whatever we produce next…”

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, there’s the matter of touring Knowing Lovers… For a band so steeped in theatre, performance is key element of the group. “Besides the fact that we are going to give a lovely wintery intimate show, I will be wearing golden underpants with little rockets attached,” Anita announces.

“At the end of the show it will conveniently burn off my dress only to reveal me flying in golden lingerie above the crowd.”

“You can see a new type of music played by a new type of band,” guitarist Adrian Sergovich says, more seriously. “Like it or hate it, at least you can say you’ve seen and heard something unique.”

Me and the Grownups play The Street Theatre on Saturday July 11 at 3.30 and 8.30pm. www.thestreet.org.au .

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In the media’s attempt to give the reader a visual understanding of their sound, Lamplight is often compared to Augie March. However, this is a comparison that Kirsty does not wholeheartedly agree with.

“Honestly I don’t actually think we are that similar,” she counters. “I think it is just an Australian sound that Augie March have and maybe we sort of touch on as well... But in terms of actual musical aesthetic and the sounds that we use, I think we are quite different.”

There is this big wooden beam where they used to hang people The band have received only rave reviews for their live performances, scoring accolades from both Drum and Beat magazines. Their music is powerful, with tortured and mournful strings and melodies that lend themselves to most potent and moving performances. “Our music is so intense and dynamic,” Kirsty explains. “We get really involved and that is engaging for people to watch, to see a band really engaged in their own music.” Kirsty and Mijo, the group’s founders and poets, came upon their band title in independent spontaneous busts of artistic synergy. “One night we both said we’d come up with something, and both said ‘What’s yours?!

What’s yours?!’ and mine was Lamplight Sun and his was Lamplight, so we figured we should go with that.”

A highlight of creating their new self-titled album was recording two of the tracks inside the Castlemaine Gaol in Victoria. Kirsty reckons their timing was right and they were lucky to be able to have a weekend in which to record Image House and Swallowing The Key, both haunting tracks that fit in with the gaol’s dark atmosphere. “It is just a spooky place,” recalls Kirsty. “There is this big wooden beam that goes across the ceiling where they used to hang people and there are confinement cells downstairs where Indiana, our violinist, actually did some of her recording. I used the piano that had been in the gaol as well.” Lamplight are also one of triple j’s Unearthed artists Keep an ear out for their latest track, A Sun That Will Not Rise, and await big things and another award winning performance when they next come to town.

Be sure to catch Lamplight when they perform with Jordie Lane and Eva Popov on Sunday July 5 at The Folkus Room. For tickets call 626272651.

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E X H I B I T I O N I S T CELEBRITY SKIN YOLANDE NORRIS Ahh, celebrity. Love to hate it or hate to love it, there’s certainly no avoiding it. This is a world where Michael Jackson is more famous than Jesus. In fact, Jesus may have been the first superstar, because celebrity isn’t a new phenomenon - oh no. When Vanity Fair magazine first began in 1913, dedicating itself to popular culture, the world’s obsession with famous faces was already in full swing.

“It was an era when photography was rapidly growing in popularity, and the film industry too,” explains National Portrait Gallery Curator Michael Desmond.

Nearly one hundred years later, the exhibition Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008 has descended on Canberra to leave us all starry-eyed.

The exhibition is a collection of photographs from the Vanity Fair archives – straight from the glossy pages of the magazine. Some of the images are iconic, some rarely seen, but all are people we recognise – famous folk who have shaped our culture in one way or another. These personalities include actors, writers, athletes, film stars, musicians, singers, designers, politicians, royalty, and even plain old socialites.

At first I am a little sceptical: what makes Vanity Fair any different from other mags full of celebrities and gossip?

The old gals were just lucky that gossip blogs and camera phones weren’t around in their time, so they could always be seen as glamorous and gorgeous “Well there is the historical element,” explains Desmond, “a continuing tradition that you might not find with other publications.

There is also this idea that Vanity Fair is more high brow, featuring academics and authors, people from the ‘high arts’, not just starlets.”

There are plenty of those, too however. We can be sure the Paris Hiltons and Lindsay Lohans of today are no more outrageous and scandalous than the Jean Harlows and Josephine Bakers of days gone by. The old gals were just lucky that gossip blogs and camera phones weren’t around in their time, so they could always be seen as glamorous and gorgeous, just as they appear in the exhibition.

Philip Johnson wearing the PPg Building (costume designed and constructed

by Joseph Hutchins, Works N. Y.) publ. July 1996 Josef Astor © Josef Astor, 1996

The magazine itself existed in two distinct eras: from 1913 until folding in 1936, then re-launching in 1983 and continuing to the present day. The first incarnation of the magazine perfectly captures the excitement of the roaring ‘20s and early ‘30s, and particularly the dawn of the uber-cool Jazz Age. Hemlines went up, hair was cut short, and everyone seemed to party all day and night.

Don’t be surprised if these photos have you wishing you were born many decades ago. The 1980s, when the magazine was reborn, were not all that dissimilar - everyone seemed rich, young and beautiful all over again. Hollywood was big, supermodels were bigger, and hair was biggest of all.

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But why are we as a society so obsessed with celebrities anyway?

“It’s a familiarity thing,” Desmond believes. “We live in a global village, and these people are like our friends and neighbours. We feel like we know, say, Princess Diana or Scarlett Johansson better then we know the people who live across the road from us… And to an extent we probably do!”

Madonna, Barack Obama, Nicole Kidman, Carey Grant, Prince William… they all look out at us from the gallery’s walls and cabinets, united only by the fact that we know more about them than we probably should.

The magazine put the exhibition together in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery in London. Interestingly, this happened before the global financial meltdown. Does Desmond think the current times will affect the way people view a lavish exhibition filled with fame and fortune? “No, I don’t think people will look at it differently, because it’s ultimately about escapism. That’s part of what our interest in celebrity always was about. Even during the Great Depression people still wanted to read about film stars as a way to dream and escape their everyday realities.”

It is an escape that will cost you. Entry to the exhibition is ten dollars, but Desmond is quick to point out that bringing an exhibition of this size over to Australia is a costly logistical feat and at the end of the day “it’s still cheaper than a movie ticket.”

There’s no pretending that this is a challenging exhibition. More like a walk down a sort of collective memory lane, this crowd-pleaser is good fun for film buffs, fashion fans and there’s plenty of eye candy to boot. Vanity Fair has never been afraid of the theory that sex sells, and bare flesh abounds, male and female alike. In 1991, to great outrage, the cover was graced by a very naked and very pregnant Demi Moore… this is a magazine that knows a little controversy goes a long way.

After seeing Vanity Fair Portraits I was struck by the realisation that despite nearly a century having past since the magazine began not a great deal has changed. As a society we are still drawn to images of youth and beauty, we still admire talents in film, sport, music, we still wish we were them. Whether this is comforting or depressing I will leave for you to decide.

So, rather than reading a magazine this winter, why not take a walk through one?

Vanity Fair Portraits, exclusive to Canberra, is on show at the National Portrait Gallery until August 30.

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Fernando do Campo What do you do?

Painting When did you get into it?

Probably since I could hold a brush, but started studying formally in 2005.

Who or what influences you as an artist?

The places I’ve been to and the space I’m currently in.

What’s your biggest achievement/proudest moment so far?

Being awarded the NGA Scholarship in 2004, Honours at ANU in 2008 and being in Off the Wall, Art Melbourne, 2009.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m happy as long as I’m still painting. But hopefully post-grad studies overseas in a couple of years.

What makes you laugh?

The most recent is when four people get to a roundabout at the same time and no one knows who should go and then I always go and they just sit there letting me through. I find it hilarious every time.

What pisses you off?

Marshmallows, in every form.

What’s your opinion of the local scene?

The local scene is good, especially just post uni. But we need to work on getting Canberra kids into scenes elsewhere and interstate artists coming here.

Upcoming exhibitions?

I just got back from two shows in Tassie, one that I’m in and one that I curated but the next big show is titled MySpace and will be at M16 Artspace, Canberra in late August. contact Info www.fernandodocampo.com, 0422363814.

For information on the M16 Artspace visit www.m16artspace.com .

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CATHERINE WOODS

CATHERINE WOODS

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Well, more aptly at present, a winter’s day. Nonetheless, for lovers of verse and vino, no weather concerns can blight VERSES IN THE VINES, a series of inspiring and original poetry events organised by the ACT Writers’ Centre.

Flamenco is arguably the most emotive of dance styles: not a single part of the body left expressionless, from the furrowed brow to the pointed toe. Canberra audiences can experience the emotions of flamenco with NOcHE FLAMENcA, touring to the Canberra Theatre on Friday July 3. Noche Flamenca’s lead dancer Soledad Barrio has stunned and endeared audiences worldwide with the unique architecture of her style. Her siguiriya, or solo, demonstrates her singular ability to weave rhythm and passion into a story that defines flamenco for the stage

Verses in the Vines encompasses a series of Sunday poetry readings showcasing some of our finest wordsmiths, and the Writers’ Centre has settled on the ideal setting. Mount Majura has opened its gorgeous vineyard views to attendees of Verses in the Vines so they can enjoy delicious Mount Majura wines whilst listening to and meeting local poets such as Harry Laing, nominated by ACT Writers’ Centre staffer Kimberley Gall as her “personal favourite”.

Described as wickedly funny and a quirky comedian, Laing has had his series of country life tales, Tales of a Tree Changer, broadcast on ABC Radio, and has also performed numerous one-man comedy shows.

Laing will be amongst several of the poets to appear on the first Sunday event on July 5. His partner, Nicola Bowery, will also read from her well-received poetry collections, including Bloodwood and Goatfish. Renowned local poets Suzanne Edgar and Russell Erwin, author of several books of poetry, will read from their personal works.

Amongst the varied artists to appear are Lesley Lebkowicz, whose most recent book, The Way Things Really Are, was a collaborative translation of the earliest Buddhist verse cycle; John Leonard, who was the poetry editor of Overland (Melbourne) between 2003 and 2007; and Melinda Smith, ex-lawyer, ex-public servant, ex-tea maiden, ex-PhD student in Japanese history, and a poet whose work has appeared in many places, including on the side of ACTION buses.

Gall credits the friendly staff and cozy atmosphere at Mount Majura for much of the success of previous events held there, including book signings and author meet and greets. The $15 entry fee includes entry, a glass of wine and nibbles, and the opportunity to delight in hearing four original, award winning poets present their work. The events are also a wonderful opportunity to meet the local writing community in a friendly and casual environment, with the additional bonus of access to quality local vino!

The first Sunday event is on July 5, followed by consecutive Sunday events throughout July. The event runs from 1 – 4pm each Sunday.

Verses in the Vines is timed optimally to stir the enthusiasm of poetry lovers prior to the annual October Poetry Festival, hosted by the ACT Writers’ Centre.

Though never known to have been an expert on Canberra, I leave it to the wisdom of Johann Heinrich Voss, who proclaimed, “Who loves not wine, women, and song, remains a fool his whole life long!”

For more information on Verses in the Vines or any other ACT Writers’ Centre events, visit their website at www.actwriters.org.au .

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Barrio’s slow, deliberate walk around the circumference of the stage is the opportunity to witness a master dancer in action. The New York Times in 2007 raved: “I have encountered many dance companies, and many more individual dancers. Of these there has been none I have been so glad to discover as Noche Flamenca and, above all, its lead dancer, Soledad Barrio. I can think of no current dancer in the world as marvellous as she. Barrio has the ideal collaborator: husband and choreographer Martin Santangelo.

Santangelo has choreographed some of the work in Noche Flamenca with characters specifically designed for Barrio. The two formed Noche Flamenca in 1993 in Madrid, and they soon became a globetrotting phenomenon.

Santangelo has credited flamenco with the ability to break through oppression, to somehow elevate the spirit of the community, regardless of the economic, social, spiritual or physical hardships it faces. This philosophy, along with the pure talent and passion of all the artists involved, has won the favour of true flamenco fans the world over. Critics have universally praised Santangelo’s ability to unify music, dance and song. Santangelo recalls his early introduction to flamenco.

“Growing up in New York City, two friends of my mother and father were flamenco dancers and they were living with us, starting when I was four-years-old. They lived with us for five years.

The male turned out to be Mario Maya - the biggest dancer and choreographer of flamenco. I was able to witness the best in my living room at such an impressionable age.” Both Santangelo and Barrio have been delighted with the enthusiastic response they receive worldwide. “Flamenco has always has been popular, for the last 150 years. Flamenco comes from 28 different cultures, so it’s pretty wide open. Each audience is different night by night [and] they respond differently based on how well we perform.”

Flamenco, rising phoenix-like from the flames of the repressive Spanish Inquisition, has a dynamic history and tradition that incorporates much more than simply physical movement and music.

“Flamenco is like one of those very extreme desperate screams of humanity,” says Santangelo. “It’s like Greek tragedy and Greek comedy and it gets to the essence of what it means to be human, to really laugh or cry.”

Noche Flamenca plays at the Canberra Theatre on Friday July 3 @ 8pm. Tix $75/$65. Info and bookings call 6275 2700 or visit the CTC website.

So You Think You Can Dance definitely demands the most mental proficiency from its contestants, as the final four, in particular, stage some extremely involved and exciting routines displaying some amazing talent both in performance and choreography.

DANCING QUEEN TIM GALVIN SO YOU THINK YOU cAN DANcE, the reality TV series responsible for augmenting terms like ‘Arabesque,’ ‘cabriole’ and ‘finding the light and shade’ into Monday morning water cooler conversations all across the country, is transporting its 2009 top ten directly from your flat screen to within frenzied pre-teen grabbing distance in a series of exciting live stage shows around Australia.

I caught up with excitable victor Talia Fowler to get her reaction on winning the show and to also pose the seminal question, what comes next? “It still hasn’t sunken in, I haven’t even really been home yet!” she reveals. “I got ten minutes to see my family after the final and then we were straight onto Rove, then all the other media commitments. It’s a really amazing recognition and a massive reward because I know I deserved it after all the hard work.”

Reality TV shows are fast becoming the soap operas of the new millennium, but within the growing pile of trashy urban game shows

“I knew that I had a real chance but that I also had to bring something else to the competition at that point,” Talia says. “I had to really do something special with the routines I was given, they even told me that I had to cry on stage when I did one of the contemporary numbers and that was really hard!” Having to learn new routines quicker than you can say ‘what the hell is quick step?’ was one of the more difficult requirements in the programme, but it provided for some enjoyable dinner time family bonding over the boob tube.

“There was a lot of pressure,” Talia states. “The first day we learned routines was very stressful because you have to learn these new styles so quickly and then go home and work on it most of the night and come back the next day and make it happen. The hardest thing I had to get used to was talking to the camera all the time because we had to really open up, but it got easier as the series went on.”

From quiet, petite ballerina to fire breathing sex kitten, Talia’s own transformation over the course of the competition was a catalyst to her rising popularity with judges and more importantly the Australian public.

“I guess that came from seeing myself as being successful and having all this support from people. You have to be yourself and be natural but also be able to change into a sexy temptress for routines like the salsa and really put yourself out there. You get totally lost in the moment! You forget it’s actually a TV show, its really surreal and I was always like ‘wow, this is really happening!’”

The So You Think You Can Dance spectacular will roll into Canberra (specifically, the AIS Arena) on Tuesday July 7. Tickets through Ticketek.

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EXHIBITIONIST

IN REVIEW There are no greater storytellers than the Ancient Greeks. We thrive in their illustration of the human context; spoken teachings that enshroud an audience yearning for the portrayal of their individual struggles amidst the wonder of a mystical world. Drawn to the question of cause and effect. I sat back as the words of Greek masters were brought to Belconnen’s stage.

On this night it was Aeschylus’ masterpiece AGAMEMNON that played to the willing. The first of the Oresteia trilogy, Agamemnon is a complex and delving tale, mystically adapted by local award winning playwright Rachel Hogan. She artfully teases out themes of ritual, of waiting, and of the unrelenting power of the Gods.

Looking beyond the classic tale of Troy, the audience is taken back across the Aegean to Argos, Agamemnon’s kingdom, where his Queen Clytmenestra awaits his return. It is in this setting that we are faced with the idea that “there is always a God, always a reason, and always a choice.”

The play opens with an eerie setting, the mask of Agamemnon adorning three black robed figures that draw the audience in to the ritualistic journey about to be played out before them.

Six of Canberra’s talented performers bring to life the intricate relationship between humans and the Gods. Clytmenestra’s vivid monologues on the struggles of time, love and the will of the Gods build to an inevitably blood riddled climax. Both she and the audience are guided through the tale by an old ‘wise-woman’, who replaces Aeschylus’ original chorus of old men as the voice of the plays complexities and teachings.

Scenes beat to the tribal compositions of Ian Wood and Alex Johnson, who challenge the audience’s conception of their own surroundings through the masterful combination of the didgeridoo and strings. This impressive backdrop is accompanied by the ethereal voice and dance of Jaimie Isfahani, weaving the thread of tragic beauty throughout.

“Time feeds the fire of a poet”, indeed the audience would agree.

From the enthralling turmoil of Clytmenestra’s mind to the omnipresent Gods, hovering like a shadow over the stage, this classic tragedy leaves the fire burning to escape our souls.

ALYSSA BEST

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PHOTO: ALEX ROGERS

UNINHIBITED A lot of my friends are (or like to think they are) artists, so when we get together for dinner parties we inevitably end up arguing about art – whether music, theatre, painting, literature, or the relative merits of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. One such dinner party was held by Chez Uninhibited recently which resulted in several such arguments. Unfortunately the relative dipsomania of the participants resulted in something rather less than coherence – but golly was it entertaining.

Transcript: Argument, Art, Point Thereof. Saturday pm (or perhaps am).

Drunk #1: Who is the most important person in art?

Drunk #2: Me. Drunk #3: WHAT? WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘ME’? [Drunk #3 possibly identifiable as author of column. Author possibly identifiable as more drunk than others.]

Drunk #1: Hmmm. I’m not sure I agree. I think the audience is the most important person, for they are the final destination of the work, wouldn’t you agree?

Drunk #3: YEAH. [swills wine and chomps on half-smoked fag-end] Drunk #1: When you say you are the most important person, what do you mean?

Drunk #2: I mean, my intentions in making a work of art are not impacted by the expectation of a paying audience. I make art without recourse to what the audience will think.

Drunk #3: RUBBISH. [hiccups] Drunk #1: Hmmm. Interesting. What then is your understanding of the purpose of art?

Drunk #2: To communicate.

Drunk #3: EXACTLY. PILLOCK. [vomits] Drunk #1: Surely, if the purpose of art is to communicate, then the most important figure in an artwork’s life is the receiver of that work?

Drunk #2: But without me, or the artist if you wish, then there is no work.

Drunk #1: The same goes for the audience. A play, or a painting, or a piece of music is not a work of art until it has been seen or heard by an audience. As the saying goes, if a tree falls in the forest…

Drunk #3: A BEAR SHITS IN THE WOODS! [passes out] And so on. The argument was circular, nonsensical, passionate, divisive, and could have ended in blows were it not for the fact that we’re all pansy artist types who wouldn’t know which end of our own fists was up.

HOWEVER. What came out, for me (or more accurately, for my boyfriend, who far more accurately and dispassionately encapsulated the argument while we discussed it this morning over coffee, especially seeing as he was sober at the time while I sweated booze all weekend) was the intense, ineradicable, and ultimately inconclusive subjectivity of art, and one’s participation in it. Art can be therapeutic; art can be entertaining; it is uniquely personal and yet broadly universal. The question of why one creates, why one performs – and why one consumes – art is, in the end, entirely up to you.

NAOMI MILTHORPE princessnaea@gmail.com

AFTERNOON DELIGHT SHAILLA VAN RAAD Tobias Manderson-Galvin, a young man with great aspirations and an even greater name, has recently been granted the prestigious honour of cANBERRA YOUTH THEATRE’S OPEN HOUSE residency to produce an original work, An Afternoon with the Faun. CYT runs Open House twice per year and the program invites young, independent and hopeful artists to develop a theatrical project. The residency lasts a fortnight and gives artists the opportunity and capabilities to expand their skills-set and ideas creatively and technically.

A performance artist, radio-host and rapper, Manderson-Galvin is an active young artist juggling several different projects, including his own established theatre company Sample Theatre. “I’ve worked my fair share of different jobs in the past: from working in call centres to door to sales,” says the artist. “Since then, I’ve realised that I have a different calling.”

In Manderson-Galvin’s case, he has chosen a challenging work of modern literature to base his production on. L’après-midi d’un faune, or The Afternoon of a Faun, a poem by the French author Stéphane Mallarmé, is a seminal work in the history of French symbolist literature.

“Mallarmé’s script to Afternoon of a Faun was brought to me one afternoon by my good friend Matthew Laurentin,” explains Manderson-Galvin. “He said, ‘Tobi, this needs your special treatment.’ I liked it because it was a myth in our society that was well known but also still a bit obscure. It seemed worth tackling.

I was afraid the poem was too eerie and sleazy at first, and had to think about how to adapt it into play format without it being massively sexy. I was afraid it would go too far.”

Vanguard in style, Manderson-Galvin is also a perfectionist in his work. “I’ve written a number of different scripts of the play, which most of them have been thrown into the bin. I am sewing the beast together at the moment, working late nights, almost running blind.”

Manderson-Galvin hopes that the resulting production will be “something between a Bill Hicks and Matthew Barney creation.”

Nonchalant about charting new territories, the artist looks forward to new and exciting challenges Canberra might herald. “I’m excited about getting started in Canberra. I’ve heard its pretty cold at this time of year, so I might start up my love affair with whiskey again…

When I first get there, I’ll need to grab three people who have never heard of the play before and throw them into action. They’ll also probably be people who I’ve never heard of either.” He adds in frank summary: “After this Canberra escapade, if I don’t become a womaniser or alcoholic, I would have failed my mission.”

An Afternoon with the Faun, part of CYT’s Open House initiative, plays at C Block Theatre, Gorman House, on July 4 at 7pm.

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discovery” for schoolteacher John Grant, who ends up stuck in the town after losing all his money in a game of two-up.

FRIGHT OF HIS LIFE kATHERINE QUINN “Everything you do in life, you’re always aiming for one hundred. I came closer, in this film, to one hundred than any other film I’ve ever made.”It’s lucky, then, that WAKE IN FRIGHT director Ted Kotcheff didn’t realise that the best work of his life was destined for destruction in a Pittsburg garbage dump, until the film was already safe and sound and on its way back to Australia. “They said, ‘We found it!’ and I said ‘What do you mean we found it, I didn’t even know it was missing!”’ It took editor Ted Buckley eight years and many trips around the globe to track down the original 1970 negative, which has now been restored to its original vibrant colour with the help of the Australian Film and Sound Archive.

It would have been a terrible shame to lose the colour in a film like this – it captures Australia so aptly in its azures and burnt siennas; you feel as though you could almost inhale the russet dust. A beautiful, humorous and sometimes bleak look at life in mining town Bundanyabba, Wake in Fright is about a “lost weekend of self

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Film buffs will love it, with echoes of the eeriness of Picnic at Hanging Rock and outstanding cinematography, as well as elegant motifs running through the film – a poetic touch we tend to miss out on these days in Hollywood blockbusters. Anyone who appreciates a good looking man should also get on board, with Gary Bond in the lead role, a young (and gorgeous) Jack Thompson, as well as Aussie legends Chips Rafferty and Donald Pleasence. And there is plenty of sweat and dirt to promote an aura of rugged sex appeal.

Indeed, this film is essentially about masculinity and self-revelation: ‘I’m always attracted to subjects about men who don’t know themselves; they don’t know what they’re capable of, the dark side of their nature. In this terrestrial sphere of woe, there’s no room for arrogance or a sense of superiority because we’re all in the same existential boat... we’re all going to die.” Wow. Told you it was a little bleak.

Thank goodness this film wasn’t destroyed in that Pittsburg garbage dump. As Kotcheff says, it is part of the cultural history of Australia, and “to lose it, for the country, would have been a cultural disaster”.

Not only does John discover himself during the course of the film, but we, as viewers, are presented a raw and controversial depiction of our country, leading us to discover something about ourselves as Australians. Rarely is a film so powerful and philosophical. Not bad for a Canadian director who’d never even seen Australia before he agreed to direct the film.

Wake in Fright is showing at Arc Cinema at the NFSA . Tix $9.50/$8.

Session times: Thurs July 2: 7pm, Sat July 4: 2 and 7pm, Sun July 5: 4.30pm, Sat July 11: 4.30 and 7pm, Sun July 12: 4.30pm, Thurs July 23: 2pm. Head to www.nfsa.gov.au for more info.

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EXHIBITIONIST

WHO: Little ’uns aged 7 – 12 WHAT: CYT Holiday Workshops WHEN:July 6-10 and 13-17 WHERE: Canberra Youth Theatre, Gorman House, Braddon

bit PARTS

WHO: Adam Veikkanen WHAT: Stumped WHEN: July 1 to 12, Wed – Sun, 12 – 5pm WHERE: ANCA gallery, Rosevear Place Dickson Stumped is an exhibition of installations by ANCA’s 2008 Emerging Artist Award Scheme recipient, Adam Veikkanen. Veikkanen writes of his work: “Having completed a year-long research project on clouds and their demeanour, I have shifted, not too far, to the topic of light, refraction and eyesight. This body of work carries associations [of] clouds, mainly personal ambivalence, stipulation and a quandary of speculation mostly associated to sight.” Ooh. Check out Stumped at ANCA – entry is free!

Got some chillun that are chillin’ during the cold few weeks of school holidays? Then send em along to Canberra Youth Theatre!

CYT are running holiday workshops for young people aged 7 to 12.

The first, Spys R Us, asks tykes to put on their sleuth hats to help solve a mystery or two. The second, Yikes! invites kids into the creepy mansion of Aunt Spookenhouer. Both workshops develop performance skills and involve kids in creating their own drama, full of mystery and suspense. For info on prices and how to enrol, call CYT on 6248 5057.

WHO: Kate Bergin and Mark Stewart WHAT: Recent Paintings WHEN: Until June 28 WHERE: Paintbox Fine Art Gallery, Lonsdale Street Braddon Two painters will be showing at Paintbox Fine Art until June 28 – and the best part is, it costs NADA to see ‘em! Kate Bergin paints still life assemblages of animals, birds and objects, in her examination of the human desire to collect trophies. Mark Stewart works in landscapes and seascapes as a means to explore climate change, painting with a saturated palette and leaving the compositional grid exposed on the picture surface. The exhibition is open daily from 11 to 5; entry is free.

WHO: Voyaging Pacific Ancestors WHAT: Vaka Moana WHEN: Now until October 18 WHERE: National Museum of Australia

ADAM VEIKKANEN, SANDWIcH, 2009.

Got a passion for anthropology or navigation? Or are you, like so many of us, simply poor and bored? Well, head to the National Museum and prepare to have your eyes opened, free of charge.

Until October 18, the NMA plays host to touring exhibition Voyages of the Pacific Ancestors: Vaka Moana. Vaka Moana showcases rare carvings, voyaging canoes, navigation instruments, and interactive multimedia displays, in order to tell the story of the human settlement of the Pacific Islands.

WHO: Canute Productions WHAT: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes WHEN: July 7 – 9 @ 11am and 7pm WHERE: Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre The story of Sadako is familiar to many: Sadako, a 12-year-old child struck down with illness caused by the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, believes she can master her illness by folding one thousand paper cranes. It’s a story that has turned into a global phenomenon as every year millions of paper cranes are folded in a message of peace. Canute Productions has adapted Eleanor Coerr’s story for the stage, setting Sadako’s tale in an oversize origami set that literally unfolds before the audience’s eyes. Head to the Q between July 7 and 9 to check it out. www.theq.net.au .

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cHAMPION OF THE SELF

LANE’S WAY

CHARLIE HOWARD

CHIARA gRASSIA

Longevity and diversity are two words that immediately spring to mind when contemplating the career and personality of DAVE GRANEY. With almost 30 years of experience as a recording artist and performer and a tireless commitment to reinventing himself through the exploration of frequently shifting group dynamics and sounds, Graney has produced a wildly varied and eclectic body of work spanning over 20 albums with bands such as the Moodists and the Coral Snakes.

After putting out two EPs of his solo work and one album with Canadian artist Tracy McNeil, Melbourne musician JORDIE LANE is finally releasing his debut solo album Sleeping Patterns. Digging deep into a blues and country sound combined with his world-weary voice that’s decades beyond his 24 years, the album weaves songs that he’d written years ago with more recent ones, creating a strong atmosphere.

As a songwriter who thrives on unfluctuating levels of creative energy to drive his detailed and graphic narratives and soundscapes, Graney has showed no signs of slowing down. Knock Yourself Out is his latest work and while it is a singular achievement in that it is his first record without a band backing, it closely reflects a disciplined and absorbed approach towards assembling music that is common to each of the albums he has been involved in. Focus and planning may not be part of the Graney ethic in the eyes of fans drawn to the more ad-hoc and unhinged elements of his music, but by the artist’s own admission Knock Yourself Out involved a great deal of thought

I’m feeling so strong and powerful and vulnerable that I think they’ll punch themselves out trying to attack me and attention directed towards the recording process to ensure that the end product turned out exactly as planned.

“It’s a way to focus people on the way that we make the record,” says Graney about the choice he made in releasing Knock Yourself Out under his name only. “Every record has been a bit different that way.

The last one (2008’s We Wuz Curious with wife and collaborator Clare Moore and the Lurid Yellow Mist) was a very collective record…

We went into a studio and did it all together in one day.” Working according to a structured model is also a way of being productive and cohesive. “With digital recording there are endless possibilities with time and space,” he adds. “I find you have to have some strategy in place to have a bit of an event. Otherwise it’s just endless.”

Dave Graney’s intentions for Knock Yourself Out as a musical statement are extremely concise and direct. The album is littered with boxing imagery with the title-track evoking the spirit and passion of the boxer as a metaphor for the singer’s own larger-thanlife persona and creative reach. While the singer freely invokes fiction and secondary characters, a trend stemming from his careerlong interest in noir film and crime stories, the message behind the song comes straight from the artist’s mouth. “I’m saying to people who think they know my stuff and might not like it to come and take me on if they want, to knock themselves out,” he says. “I’m feeling so strong and powerful and vulnerable that I think they’ll punch themselves out trying to attack me.” knock Yourself Out is out now through Cockaigne/Fuse.

Sleeping Patterns boasts guests musicians such as thedelicatelyvoiced Laura Jean and established Australian guitarist,Jeff Lang.

“Jeff co-produced the record and so naturally he played guitar on it. [There were] sounds like chimes and bells and stuff like that, and he did it all through digital [equipment and the] guitar. That was pretty exciting… It’s a totally different thing collaborating closely with people, which I think after all these experiences I really do like collaborating, and I’ll probably try and do more of that.”

At the place they recorded at, Adelphia Studios in Melbourne, they were able to manipulate the studio to suit their fancy. Jordie described it as “a bare empty warehouse which had lots of building blocks that you could make your own booths out of. We could create

A lot (of songs) have been based around writing in the middle of the night, in a weird, weird headspace.

Not knowing if you’re in reality or fantasy what we wanted there, over the 4 days. We got accustomed to going in and recording in the same place every day.” A radical difference from his previous recordings, when it was, “Just me and a computer in my shed.”

“It’s loosely based on the metaphor for the sleeping pattern”, Jordie says on the mood of the album. “Because they hadn’t been all written in one big specific thought and they’re all for one record, I was finding it hard to think what brought all the songs together. Then I thought about the actual time… A lot have been based around writing songs in the middle of the night, in a weird, weird headspace.

Not knowing if you’re in reality or fantasy.”

A surreal situation occurred one day, whilst Jordie was in slumber, leading to the discovering of the debut’s name. “It was about three o’clock in the afternoon and I was asleep, and a guy knocked on the window and asked me if I was awake, and I said ‘Yeah, I am now’. Then he walked out and I was a bit confused about who he was. Then I got up and realised he was just some guy trying to rob the house. Our back window was broken. He kindly woke me up before he stole my laptop. He ended up not stealing anything, but it’s such a weird thing to happen. And I knew straight away that I had my title.”

Jordie Lane plays The Folkus Room on Sunday July 5 with Lamplight and Eva Popov. For tickets, call the Club on 62627265.

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METALISE I just stepped off a plane from Christchurch and boy is my hangwoah-ver throbbing. Plenty of local action coming up this winter to tempt you away from the lounge room.

Aeon Of Horus, kill For Satan, Empyrean (QLD), Mytile Vey Lorth and Immorium put on a display of force with extreme prejudice on Saturday July 11 at The Basement in Belconnen. Speaking of Kill For Satan, bumped into guitarist Tony kirk at a gig recently and he was with none other than Canberra metal legend Joel green of Armoured Angel. Both were in town to make some new music together. With the promise of those two legends of the local heavy combining forces, Metallise will keep a tinnitus-ridden ear to the ground to keep you in the loop. With a double segue, speaking of Armoured Angel, I see Lucy of Raven Clothing is selling the legendary black 78 Rickenbacker. Budding bass players needing a bass possessed by the dark lord can do no wrong – hit Lucy up next time you’re up at Raven in town.

The winter brings the doom and this year is no exception. Having freshly returned from New Zealand, locals Pod People are looking to release a new vinyl at the ANU Bar on Friday July 3.

In celebration of the longest pressing period in the history of acetate, Victorian uber-doomsters The grey Daturas will also be in attendance to promote their new album The Return to Disruption (on both vinyl and CD through the excellent label, Heathen Skulls).

Also along for the ride are a couple of great younger local bands. I Exist blew me away when I caught them recently in their crossover of several styles, with anger seemingly being the binding force.

The superbly named Yok-Oh-No Band will also be along to kick off proceedings. Should be a good winter warmer for those looking for some diversity in their heavy shows.

Further, Doomsday Fest ‘09 is a new touring festival that will hit Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra this year with a feast of the slow and low featuring a slew of great bands. The lineups change a little from location to location, but 666 Entertainment has announced the line up. The ANU Refectory on Saturday August 8 will host Pod People, Looking glass, The grey Daturas, Agonhymn, Clagg, Summonus, Dread, Sore, Space Bong and Encircling Sea. Slow head banging will abound. Glagg have just wrapped up post-production on their latest full length album and so we should be able to get our hands on the new album soon.

cAYcE IN POINT NAOMI FROST Personally, I have always been obsessively close minded about anything that could fit under the category of ‘heavy rock’. So reluctantly I put on the brand new debut EP of self managed Sydney band cAYcE, and may this experience be a lesson for me to approach everything with an open mind. After a period of denial, which lasted no more than a minute, I found myself lying on my bed, eyes closed, mind tranced, and truly enjoying something I never thought I could.

The band recorded this brilliant EP The Hardest Thing You’ll Ever Do with the help of Phil McKellar, renowned for his work producing such enormous bands as Silverchair and Grinspoon. “From the very first conversation with Phil, we knew he was the right man for us....

We needed an identity,” says vocalist Jeff Kuo. “Working with Phil was like a Bachelor Degree crammed in a couple of days.” It is clear that the music was brilliantly produced, although with Phil McKellar

These shows have been a long time coming and I can’t wait to play my hometown again! producing the EP, Cayce were able to hold on to a piece of their original vision and already existing but dormant identity; what they like to call a “balls-out rock sound”. “He showed so much vision and really guided us to a recording that hasn’t disappointed me at all.”

Guitarist Evan Horton guarantees.

Cayce’s daring yet successful approach of self management has only ever been talked of with confidence and pride. “So far most of the work has been done by Evan, our rhythm guitarist, and he’s doing a great job!” Explains Jeff “The way I see it, we’re all very good mates in this band, so why bring in an outsider to decide matters for us?”

Cayce’s skill in self management has organized and is sending the band on their first EP launch tour, on which Canberra is up second on their list. Originally a Canberra boy himself, guitarist Rowen Grant is no stranger to the Canberra music scene. Rowen shared with me that once he moved over to Sydney, musically, things got very slow “These shows have been a long time coming and I can’t wait to play my hometown again!” he reveals.

Hot tour rumour: I have it on good authority that a certain member of the world’s ‘Big 4’ metal bands, who are currently on the cusp of releasing another hated by god studio album in October, will be on their way soon. I’m not giving any more clues than that.

“This tour would determine if we are kidding ourselves or if we really do have a chance at this. A bit nervous and anxious to find out what people think”… “Canberra can expect what we would expect from ourselves, 200% effort; we’re going to go all out,” promises Jeff. Cayce won me over against all the odds, and they’ll do the same for you. Cayce’s EP launch tour is without a doubt a ‘balls-out rock’ experience one can’t afford to miss.

JOSH NIXON doomtildeath@hotmail.com

Cayce play an 18+ with Miramar and The Red Vest at The Basement on Saturday July 4. Tix from the venue.

JOSH - Now playing : Hallucinations – Attrocity - Hallucinations

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BLACKBOX Debate has raged over the past few weeks about The Chaser’s War on Everything (ABC2, Wed, 9pm) – yanked from the schedule due to a stunt everybody seemed to find offensive. So far not a single person has said they found it funny, despite it being offensive.

Because it wasn’t. And that’s the problem with the latest series.

The desire to be as shocking and newsworthy as possible has drowned out the wit and panache with which The Chaser team once plied their trade. They were at their best when they were writing an anonymous satirical newspaper. Now they’ve become the celebrities they once skewered so eloquently.

The following comment will probably mean that a chasm opens under Chez Blackbox and it is sucked into Hades but doesn’t anyone else see the absolute hypocrisy in shows like Random Acts of Kindness (WIN, Sun, 6.30pm). First, the company/agency etc that donates the goods gets a free ad that would usually cost a lot more.

Meeting stars is no less profitable – they usually have a movie to flog. The hosts are from other WIN shows, providing a great crosspromotional opportunity (and a boost to their careers). And shows like this cost very little to produce. Sure, deserving people are on the receiving end of the largesse but the motive is the same as The Chaser. Ratings.

The British have long been superior at penning and producing cops shows and spy dramas (with a few exceptions like The Wire) and comedy. Now they’ve taken a punt with the supernatural. Being Human (ABC2, Fri, 9.20pm) slots comfortably into the Friday night sci-fi lineup. The show about a vampire, werewolf and ghost who share a house is far more sophisticated than it sounds. And the scripts walk all over recent efforts in this genre. Sure, the vampire is man candy but that’s the nature of the beast, and the storylines explore much more than the mythical stereotypes.

If you’ve always wanted to be a TV star but can’t act, sing or juggle, two new casting calls may set you on your way to stardom. ABC is looking for presenters for a number of projects on its new digital kids channel, ABC3 – visit abc.net.au/meon3. The Apprentice is coming to Australia. No Donald though – visit ninemsn.com.au/ Apprentice to apply.

Looking for cool telly to keep little tykes busy – Yo Gabba Gabba (ABC2, Mon Jul 6, 9.05am) – DJ Lance Rock, The Ting Tings, Jack Black… Trouble in Paradise (WIN, Thu Jun 25, 8.30pm) shows you where and what to avoid when you go overseas. While it sounds like an accountant’s ultimate fantasy, The Ascent of Money (ABC, Thu, 8.30pm) is proving to be very interesting for those of us who don’t understand why a whole lot of bad home loans in the US means that our money is suddenly worth less. As it Happened: 1929 The Wall Street Crash (SBS1, Fri Jul 3, 8.30pm) is a good companion.

Docos to check out include La Paloma (ABC2, Sun Jun 28, 9.35pm), about the oft recorded tune, Are We Alone in the Universe? (SBS1, Tue Jun 30, 7.30pm), Australian Biography: Noel Tovey (SBS1, Wed Jul 1, 10pm) which follows the extraordinary life of the indigenous actor, choreographer and writer, Slave Revolution (SBS, Sun Jul 5, 7.30pm) which looks at the first slave revolution in Haiti, Can GM Food Save the World (SBS1, Tue Jul 7, 8.30pm) and Journos (SBS1, Sun Jul 5, 9.30pm).

TRACY HEFFERNAN tracyheffernan@bigpond.com

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CHOICE BRO

SuCCESS Ofer ERdd ddLa Lack Ja

RHIANNON BRUNkER

CHELSEA HARVISON

High energy hip-hop duo cHOOSE MIcS have struck the East Coast of Australia with their astounding stage presence and musical talent.

The release of their experimental LP The Pre Album mid-last year saw the Brissie boys touring intensely, the demand from fans rapidly building, soon to be followed by the boys isolating themselves in order to complete their second LP Beggars Can’t Be Choosers.

Only having been introduced to JAcK LADDER a few days before, I was relieved to hear such a unique voice playing from the speakers.

After this I got an opportunity I never thought would happen and that was to interview the one and only Mr Ladder himself. After fumbling around with dialling the number and waiting nervously for someone to answer I was relieved to hear such a calm and relaxed voice at the other end. Feeling good about his first tour starting at the end of June, I am told that a lot of rehearsing has been going on to prepare Jack and his band for the tour. Also being able to travel to a lot of places he has not been to before makes the tour that more exciting.

The boys have spent the last gosh-knows-how-long in Mules’ home studio, experimenting with B-sides from The Pre Album, tidyng up and “making all of the tracks sharper.” While doing a few gigs here and there to keep up their reputation and stage presence, Haunts and Mules have been slogging it out in the studio. Having basically finished the album now, the boys are about to send it off and will expect feedback soon on the record as well as the album artwork. It is unknown at this point whether the album will be an independent release or not.

It’s strange to be able to talk to, hang out and work with them [childhood heroes] Now, we all know artists have a tendency to voice their opinions rather loudly, even if they may be slightly ridiculous. Yes, I’m referring to Haunts’ myspace blog about interspecies relationships.

In the blog Haunts expresses his utter disgust with the promotion of interspecies relationships in children’s films and television shows.

“Haunts does have some pretty strong opinions on some things,” says Mules, and where there is a strong opinion, there is usually a song to express it – especially with hip-hop being such a lyric-based genre. I ask whether there may be a song on this issue any time soon, to which Mules replies, “Ha! I hope not! But I guess you never know.”

Hip-hop has always been Mules’ favourite genre. He has been listening to it since he was “knee high,” and the release of Beggars Can’t Be Choosers will have himself and Haunts touring Australia with nationally renowned hip-hop group Bliss N Eso – who Mules says he and Haunts are “heaps pumped to tour with” – in September and October this year.

Being in the music industry has enabled Mules to work with artists and producers that he has been a fan of since childhood, he says.

“It’s strange but incredible to be able to talk to them and hang out and work with them.” Choose Mics have consistently delivered impressive and highly energetic shows all around Australia but the question is: which city delivers the most impressive crowd? “I’d have to say Byron Bay... they seem the most starved for it,” Mules reveals.

“A lot of people come from all the little towns surrounding the city and their energy is astounding.”

Be sure to catch Choose Mics before they head overseas at Transit Bar on Saturday July 11.

34

Influences are always a big part of any musician’s life, so I asked Jack about his. “Influences,” he pondered. “People… yeah, some are good and some are bad. Travel is good because you get to see lots of interesting things and the reward is returning home at the end.

Cooking, because it’s very therapeutic.” A roast was mentioned at some point, also “movies and music.”

People are always going to have others giving them advice whether they want to hear it or not so I was interested to hear what sort of

You have a great speaking voice but I don’t think you will ever sing advice had been sent Jack’s way. Someone said to him once “you have a great speaking voice but I don’t think you will ever sing.” I was quite surprised to hear this, as you can imagine if you have ever heard Jack sing. Other advice given was the classic “agree with your mother” and “it is what it is.”

Moving on, I was interested in hearing whether or not Jack thought a lot of young musicians were pressured into succeeding now more than, say, a few years ago. With a simple response of “no” I was interested to find out why. “People have their own measure of success and success is a very personal thing,” he mused. His answer to my next question, however, put a huge smile on my face. I had asked which musician, living or dead, he would like to perform with and straight away, without hesitation, he said “Little Richard.”

“2010 sounds terrifying,” Jack responded when asked about next year and what it holds in store for him. “It’s the future.” Cyborgs were mentioned along with electro music. Even though halfway through the interview I admitted I was nervous and said sorry at least a million times, I had no reason to at all. Jack Ladder couldn’t have been more of a pleasure to interview. With his tour about to begin I’m sure we will all be lining up to listen to that incredible voice.

Jack will be gracing the intimate stage at the Front Café and Gallery in Lyneham on Saturday July 11.

35

the word

on albums

album of the week doves KiNgdoM of RUst [HeavenlY/virgin] Despite appearances and a back catalogue suggesting otherwise, Doves are a nimble, hard and funky band. Live, they frequently encore with the monstrous, dance/rock end of the world rave up Space Face/Crunch dating back to their Sub Sub days. Makes sense really. The band not only hails from Manchester but they also met at the iconic Hacienda nightclub in the ‘80s, which at the time was the hedonistic centre of the music universe. Years passed by and the band reinvented as maudlin alt-rockers mirroring the prevailing mood in Britain – all millennial anxieties and jaw-gnashing post Brit-pop comedown.

Through it all, there was something more to Doves.

Songs laden with inverting arpeggios one minute would disappear quietly the next only to reappear as crunchy, arena thumpers. On Kingdom of Rust the band has struck a fine balance between history and forward momentum.

House of Mirrors and Winter Hill are instant Doves classics, but it’s the white boy funk of Compulsion and skronk-dub of 10:03 that you finally hear a band letting all the elements fall emphatically, gloriously into place.

JUSTIN HOOK

36

vaRioUs aRtists RetRo Rage [univerSal] A slab of five homegrown hits on disc two saves this compilation from becoming more tragic ‘80s party fodder.

Nick and those seedy lads lead a procession of iconic Aussie tracks (The Church, The Triffids, The Go-Betweens, The Saints) to ease that familiar ‘I want to laugh but I just can’t handle any more synth!’ tension that any ‘80s album induces. There are a few rebel fighters like Bowie and De La Soul, but regretfully the dark side (led by Salt-nPepa and Olivia Newton-John) overcome with their continual crimes against sound. The sad thing is, Rage actually chose a representative sample of said decade, so if you’ve had an operation to adjust your drum-machine tolerance to Bananarama, pick up a copy. I’d suggest the DVD – attack of the padded shoulders!

ADRIAN THREADgOULD

KaRNivool soUNd awaKe [SonY] Four years in the making, Karnivool’s new album will be one hell of a surprise for heavy metal fans and sate the appetite for those hungry for more ‘Vool.

The first half is the usual mix of viciously angry mosh and dark emotional ballads set to earblowing acoustics. But it’s from track eight onwards that the CD starts going crazy like the MC Escher staircase at Hogwarts.

The Cardinal Lure starts like The Phantom of the Opera on acid. Deadman combines Ian Kenny’s melodies with some smashing ear-splitting riffs. The highlight for ‘Vool fans has to be the remix of Change. kATHRYN YOUNg

Jesse Rose what do yoU do if yoU doN’t?

[DubSiDeD] The bearded German has deservedly been dubbed around the dance music traps as the Next Big Thing, making his debut with this fresh collection of fidget house featuring some well-matched and interesting collaborations. It begins with the airplay hogging hit featuring Hot Chip, Forget My Name, before jumping sideways into a track that features what could be a sample from a New Orleans blues band and then slipping into clubland with a smooth run of electro-infused tracks. Jesse Rose applies German precision with his arrangements of house, pop and electro, keeping a signature Berlin influence flowing nicely throughout the album. It’s cheeky, it’s fun, it’s original and you’ll love it.

DANIkA NAYNA

My yeaR withoUt sex vaRioUs aRtists [mana muSiC] This soundtrack is an eclectic mix of pop, country and blues with the best stuff being home grown. The mix draws largely from recently released material, with a couple of older tracks including Boom Crash Opera’s classic Hands Up in the Air, though the real retro blast from the past is Bananarama’s Venus. The female vocalists are the real gems and include The Audreys and The Honey Eaters.

The emotions conjured by the songs range from seductive to downright depressing, but the movie must have ended happily, as the CD has the triumphant Beautiful to Me by Little Birdy as its last track.

RORY MCCARTNEY

singled out

WITH DAVE DAVE RUBY RUBY H OWE HOWE

JaMie foxx blaMe it ft. t-paiN [SonY bmg] Somewhere, the blackened heart of a Shooters devotee just did a fucking cartwheel.

sally shapiRo MiRacle [inertia] Sally Shapiro’s debut LP, Disco Romance, was an aptly titled set of doe-eyed disco glitz that got the heart pumping as much as it did the feet, so it’s welcome news that she’s back. Miracle sticks to Disco Romance’s winning formula pretty snugly; it’s all whispered and wispy vocals, trembling synthesizers and glossy production. And it still works. So I’ll still dig it.

aRt vs scieNce paRlez voUs fRaNcais? [waterFront] Art vs Science’s Flippers was enjoyable for maybe two seconds last year, but this is basically junk. People will say that it’s just a bit of fun, and hey, you know what? I love fun. Fun rocks. But this is just stupid and annoying, and that is never fun.

classixx ft. Jeppe i’ll get yoU [KitSune] LA guns, Classixx, have been firing for sometime now thanks to brilliant remixes for the likes of Phoenix and Shwayze, but this is another level right here. Recruiting Jeppe of Junior Senior fame never hurts when making a smash, but even without him on vox, this track would soar on the spectral synths and jamming beats. Not to be missed.

the word on dvds

cURb yoUR eNthUsiasM seasoN 6 Irascible is one word to describe Larry David, the main ‘character’ in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Frustrating, asshole, hilarious, pitiful, compelling and childish are some others. But Curb has moved beyond the nonredemptive shock value of earlier seasons feeling empty without an overarching storyline – other than ‘Larry goes to Place A, gets annoyed, things get weird and Larry argues with Person B and storms out.’

Thanks largely to a magnificent supporting cast (Jeff Garlin, Ted Danson, Richard Lewis, Cheryl Hines and Susie Essman) it now appears effortless. David, playing a version of himself, starts season six in a rare compassionate mood, taking in a Southern family displaced by a hurricane. The surrogate family – the Blacks, obviously – run a loud riot through Larry’s usually austere LA mini-mansion. But there are other upheavals afoot; mainly the separation from his on-screen wife Cheryl – a separation that occurred in real life shortly before production of these eps began. The cause and aftermath of the split are hilarious and handled with pathos and care. Indeed, the final minutes of the season are unexpectedly tender. The cavalcade of guests continues unabated: Steve Coogan as Larry’s bumbling therapist, Lucy Lawless as a failed date partner, John McEnroe as John McEnroe. None of them, however, can steal the limelight from Larry, a black hole of awkwardness drawing in all who are unfortunate enough to wander into his orbit. The trick to Curb is to unshackle your mind and overlook the distinction between Larry the character and Larry the person.

Not exactly a documentary, yet not entirely fictional. Curb works because he gives voice to your darkest, suppressed thoughts and actions. It’s the cheapest and best alternative to therapy.

RocK & Roll NeRd This fantastic documentary charts the rise to fame for Tim Minchin, from relatively obscure cabaret artist to global comedic headliner. Opening with shocking hair and big eyes, Tim states his determination to become famous - and odder than he already is.

Charting his rise from humble beginnings at The Butterfly Club in Melbourne, he hits the Melbourne Comedy Festival and is seen by the right people.

Then we’re on to the Edinburgh Fringe, where word of mouth and good luck sells his show out, and beyond there - megastardom.

This documentary captures wonderfully the schizophrenic nature of any performer. There are in fact three Tim Minchins: the onstage weirdo rock god, the hard-nosed businessman and the guy who loves his wife to the point of absolute exhaustion.

The admirable thing about Minchin is that he keeps all three aspects of his life completely separate and remains a nice guy while doing so.

He and wife Sarah have an achingly strong desire to have a child and that is as much part of the documentary as the creation of his music – So Fucking Rock is a big part of his show and the film. That is where Minchin remains grounded and while others supply him with endless superlatives, his desire to love his wife and friends remains with him. It makes you cheer for him all the way through. If you didn’t like Minchin before this, you might afterwards, and if you do, well, you’ll love him all the more.

With a load of extra features, Rock and Roll Nerd is a great documentary for those interested in the creative process. gEOFF SETTY

the wU-taNg claN – live at MoNtReUx 2007 It was 1993 when the music industry and its consumers first got to experience some of the most creative and entertaining rhymes ever put to CD. The lively yet harsh streets of New York City blessed us with a group of dudes you may now know as the Wu-Tang Clan. This group not only consisted of great lyricists and characters, but it also included a couple of musical geniuses to top it all off.

The Wu-Tang Clan have since produced some of hip-hop’s most memorable tracks, video games, performances and tabloid appearances. Although the Wu-Tang Clan did not achieve as much commercial success as many other New York City up-and-comers, they did succeed in engaging the hiphop underground and gained massive street cred.

Despite the critical acclaim and the enormous fanbase of the Wu-Tang Clan, they became notorious as an unreliable touring group. They cancelled countless shows and performances, and even when they did show up, the Wu-Tang Clan at times disappointed fans with poor performances.

After watching this DVD, recorded at Montreux in 2007, I forgive them for all the other dud gigs (I’m just mad I wasn’t there when they reunited). Not seeing Ol’ Dirty Bastard there alongside his boys, yowling at the crowd, made me shed Tearz (R.I.P ODB), but apart from ODB the whole clan was present RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man and Masta Killa, along with some of their homies (Cappadonna, Streetlife and DJ Mathematics). The performance was on for the ages and is definitely a must see for the Wu-Tang fans of the world. Get out and cop this DVD people. Ya’ll know the Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing to Fuck Wit.’ FAZ NUR

JUSTIN HOOk

37

the word

on films

WITH MARK RUSSELL

If the Golden Age of cinema ended in the ‘50s, I have no doubt we’re currently living in the Silicon Age. We keep reworking films made decades ago, using modern technology to add fake padding. We completely lose interest in a film’s personality when confronted with a nice set of c (GI) cups. It all cycles back to one big inferiority complex on the part of the directors. “But his explosions are bigger than mine. And he’s getting attention from all the boys.” Granted, comparing modern cinema with boob jobs isn’t especially intelligent either. But I like my films like I like my women – intense, with natural peaks.

quote of the issue alan (zach galifianakis): “counting cards isn’t illegal. it’s frowned upon. like masturbating on an airplane.” phil (bradley cooper): “i’m pretty sure that’s illegal too.” alan: “Maybe since 9/11 when everyone got so damn sensitive. thanks a lot bin laden.”

38

teRMiNatoR salvatioN

state of play

the haNgoveR

It’s been a few years since the Terminator canon was slightly weakened by the third instalment. We’ve made it right round the wheel of rehashings again, and Terminator Salvation has popped its head up.

We’re post-apocalypse now, following a grown-up John Connor (Christian Bale) in his struggle against the machines.

He’s part of a rag tag bunch of resistance fighters, desperately battling the vicious Skynet. The bonus storyline told in tandem concerns Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), who received the death penalty back in 2003 only to wake up in this futuristic hell.

The two storylines are pretty much unrelated and spend the bulk of the film this way. The writers have ignored many opportunities to forge them together, instead relying on a parallel structure that is quite awkward. Terminator Salvation is a reasonable action film. It overuses CGI and has more explosions than plot points but it has the power to keep you entertained. That is if you can get past the disappointment of it following in the footsteps of some of the greatest sci-fi/ action/thrillers of all time. The first two films are, of course, brilliant. The third is passable but with this offering we’re officially in a scripting slump.

Story and character have been sold to Wile E. Coyote in exchange for a hell of a lot of TNT. If this were the only film, and the others hadn’t invested us in the struggle, I don’t know that we’d even remember John Connor’s name once the credits had rolled. Director McG is currently developing Terminator 5 though, so it can only get better – right?

Based on the BBC series of the same name, State of Play is a solid investigative journalism film – full of scandal, politics and plenty of hitting the pavement.

There’s nothing wildly original in terms of story, but the film is solid and enjoyable and boasts some great performances. Cal (Russell Crowe) is a cynical, hard-nosed Washington Globe journo, who (reluctantly) takes keen rookie reporter Della (Rachel McAdams) under his wing to help him investigate and report on two suspicious deaths that initially seem unrelated.

Cue surprises, cover-ups and confrontations galore. State of Play boasts an impressive cast, although the performances vary. Helen Mirren is fantastic as the editor of the paper – exasperated and sardonic at every turn – while Ben Affleck is passable but not remarkable as a Congressman with a secret.

In their quest to uncover the conspiracy, McAdams and Crowe actually work quite well with each other, as she softens and complements his gruff, ambitious exterior.

They’re not quite one of the great journalistic teams, but there’s definitely chemistry. The pair skulk around Washington D.C, doing the work of police detectives, solving crimes while almost breaking the law themselves – all in the pursuit of the story. The pace of the film matches the urgent energy brought on by pending deadlines and the bustling newsroom, and all in all feels like it could be a realistic portrayal of political journalism. State of Play is an exciting and interesting few hours - perhaps not entirely memorable, but in no way a waste of time.

The Hangover is, quite predictably, a great hangover movie. It follows a bunch of guys waking up in Vegas after the bachelor party to end all bachelor parties. Extreme and wacky remnants then convince us just how extreme and wacky the previous night was. The most immediate problem confronting them – they’ve lost the groom. This is Dude, Where’s My Car? for basically the same audience, although we’re slightly older and slightly more sophisticated now. It’s not to be taken too seriously.

The opening half an hour is a succession of montages set to R&B songs. Slow motion driving to Vegas. Slow motion casino walking. And of course, slow motion bikini babes. All this is set to exactly the kind of music you love when you’re drunk. The main problem with The Hangover is its marketing.

If you go to a cinema on even a semi-regular basis, you’ve seen the preview of this film at least a few times. As such, you’ve seen most of the major setpieces and a fair chunk of the hilarity. These aren’t the only jokes, but the others are mainly designed to set up the ones you’ve seen. As such, it’s like being surrounded by a bunch of stoners – you can appreciate why they’re laughing, but you just can’t raise a guffaw. The ensemble works well. Everyone has their role and fulfils it admirably. Bradley Cooper is the standout in his first foray out of a sleazy bad guy role... into a sleazy good guy role. A solid comedy, but detract half a star if you’ve seen the trailer.

MARk RUSSELL

MEgAN MCkEOUgH

MARk RUSSELL

the word

on games

Deprived of my consoles for a fortnight, I took this adversity as a good opportunity to switch my focus to mobile gaming and seeing as every second bastard and his feline has an iPhone these days, this seemed as good a place to start as any. In conducting these reviews we can finally address the age old question: is the iPhone a real gaming platform? The answer? A resoundingnum -fum-bum, which roughly translates to a less-than-enthused yes; in that anything good out there is overwhelmed in a sea of shit, which appropriately enough brings us to our first review...

TORBEN SkO

Need foR speed UNdeRcoveR published: ea Mobile platform: iphone length: 5hrs

NFSU, simply put, is crap. No more than a cash cow on EA’s part, this game is uninspired, suffering from flat, repetitive levels and some truly terrible cinematics. The accelerometer based steering doesn’t provide enough control, so EA lamely tried to rectify this by including some auto-steering.

The result; an unskillful and ultimately unrewarding game experience. While admittedly there were times I enjoyed playing this game, these brief moments were frustratingly overshadowed by continual issues of slowdown. While some may be more generous to this game due to it’s mobile nature, it’s nothing compared to the likes of Ridge Racer on the PSP.

peggle published: popcap games platform: iphone length: 5–20hrs

Of all these games, Peggle was the only one I still felt like playing by the end. Whilst the core play mechanic is reasonably simple and repetitive (you shoot a ball at orange pegs), it’s also very enjoyable, and thanks to the inclusion of a mix of power ups and challenge levels, the game offers just enough content and variation to keep you coming back for many hours to come.

What’s more, the game also has a playful style, boasting a sickly sweet aesthetic. So what’s there to criticise? Well, slightly more ball control and moregameplay variation would be great, but otherwise it’s a great game well suited to the iPhone.

RolaNdo published: Ngmoco plaform: iphone length: 5–15hrs

Rolando has been specifically designed for the iPhone and it shows. Placing a heavy emphasis on tilt control, Rolando truly utilises the iPhone features to provide a novel gaming experience.

Featuring a great artistic direction, it has crisp visuals and a playful soundtrack. As such, I found myself really enjoying this game... at least initially. Unfortunately, once I reached the half way mark, the novelty of the game just wore off and instead of being enjoyable, the levels just felt arduous. However, even if you only do end up playing half the game, it’s still worth the ticket price, especially given there’s downloadable content available.

39

the word

wayne brady / Kitty flanagan the Royal theatre saturday May 16

on gigs

The mixed crowd left the Convention Centre with smiles on their faces like half-drunk relatives on Boxing Day. Foreshadowed by the CDs available for sale in the merchandise stands welcoming you into the foyer, Wayne Brady had finished the stellar final performance of his Australian tour with a selection of R ‘n’ B songs from his latest album. He sings? Yes, and dances too. As if the man needed to add yet another string to his bow, I mean he had just held the sold out crowd in the palm of his hand for almost two hours with improvised comedy and what were essentially live drama school games. That is the crux of a real entertainer.

The sound of laughter filled the room as one particular game involved asking the crowd for some random occupation names that he advised he would be turning into song numbers, first as Creed, then Rod Stewart, then Prince and so on. His impressions were spot on and were received with much aplomb by Saddam Hussein to my left (who unleashed backdoor chemical warfare on the surrounding four rows – or Kuwait, as I referred to it – every ten minutes) and Captain Shout-a-lot to my right (who seemed to think he was funnier than the host).

His interaction with the mixed bag of an audience was a real highlight as Wayne informed us before the show that if no one volunteered, he would pick people at random who he stated “better not run away, because I’m black and therefore faster than you.”

It also must be said that the support act, Aussie expat comedian Kitty Flanagan, opened the show with one of the most hilarious spots I have ever seen. It set up the night brilliantly (albeit for the 20 minute interlude before Wayne actually took the stage) and cemented this particular evening as the most complete and satisfying belly rattlers of my recent experience. Whose line is it anyway? It’s yours, Wayne Brady.

TIM gALVIN

warehouse winter Music festival Review 2 ais arena sunday June 7

PHOTOS BY: cOLE BENNETTS

40

There are dance parties that cater to the mainstream, with most of the hits people come to hear truncated to a verse and a hook, before the DJ hurries into the next unsatisfying snippet. And there are dance parties that refuse to be anything other than straight-up hardcore indulgence, where most of the people are so suspiciously wide-eyed and close-lipped that the DJ could play Hanson’s Mmm Bop and no one would notice. Both are usually characterised by scantily-clad, booty-waggin’ dancers, with fluoro dripping off their questionably of-age bodies. In Canberra, the total number of dance music festivals equates to two, both run by Lexington Music: November’s Foreshore and this month’s Winter Warehouse.

Sceptics of Canberra’s only rave-esque music festival are understandably deterred by the aforementioned stereotypes and, in fairness, there was an excess of the fluoro I so hoped we had left back in 2008. However, these exceptions aside, 2009’s Warehouse carved itself a nice little niche somewhere between these two clichés. From the outset this festival would be something unique – and for the door price ($85), it would want to be. The AIS Arena

the word

was unrecognisable, with hundreds of orb like balloons hanging from the ceiling, lasers shooting in every direction and a stage to rival Daft Punk (well, okay, that may be an exaggeration, but it was at the very least inspired by that stage and pulled it off damn well).

Notable acts included Art vs Science who, despite playing early on in the day, predictably pulled off an electric set, which climaxed with their triple j favourite Flippers; Armand Van Helden, the mastermind behind Bonkers (which I counted hearing at least three times – not that I’m complaining…) and N.A.S.A, who (from a slightly hazy memory – though I suppose that’s kinda the point really isn’t it?) were the only act to get really into this year’s theme (the Future…) with alfoil space suits, Martian back-up dancers and a touching satellite message from Kanye West. The smaller outside stage also offered a great selection of local talent which made it worth braving the cold. I think it’s safe to say that Canberra’s second Winter Warehouse definitely lived up to last year’s standard, easily kicked Foreshore’s muddy ass and will hopefully, true to its theme, remain a Canberra staple well into the future.

on gigs

CARRINgTON CLARkE

flipper / i exist / slowburn / Jerkstore aNU baR friday June 12 So there I was, seated in candlelit living room style décor in a Canberra drinking establishment, pondering how rarely I go anywhere above ground floor when in the city. The discussion at hand concerned the ever present day job, but I was quite content to soak up the warmth on what turned out to be the coldest Canberra day in some 40 years. I was also knocking back beers as fast as they arrived in front of me which put me in an amenable frame of mind. The cocktail lounge beats in the background were, however, starting to get on my nerves. I also had a gig to attend, and all employment and climate factors aside, I was going to attend goddamn it! I am sure the supporting lineup proved itself worthy to be opening for San Francisco based avant-hardcore band Flipper and demonstrated that the Canberra scene, regardless of musical genre, always deserves consideration. But I suppose Flipper has a particularly distinctive post-punk aesthetic that distinguishes this band from many others in alternative music, which became apparent on this occasion. Where other bands in the hardcore scene can be tight and fast sometimes to the point of absurdity, Flipper set themselves apart by playing loose and slow. The band’s grungy guitars and churning rhythms allowed for a join the dots kind of thing between themselves and the Seattle grunge scene that was to follow, with Kurt Cobain in particular giving the band the thumbs up. I needed to get those cocktail beats out of my head and Flipper provided the cure. The crowd was miniscule – a bit of cold weather is no excuse – although that meant I got to stand right at the front and allow for total sonic absorption from sheets of guitar noise attached to heavy, heavy rhythms from drummer Steve DePace and newly installed bassist Rachel Theole. Flipper are big fans of lengthy workouts and after a while those repeating rhythms really get under your skin and provide some sort of clarity and focus. It was also kind of a casual affair, as at one point appropriately named vocalist Bruce Loose made use of the ANU Bar’s bathroom facilities and then jumped back on stage to lose (loose) himself in the music once again – all in a day’s work.

PHOTOS BY: JOHN HATFIELD

DAN BIgNA DAN BIgNA

41

gIg gUIdE June 25 - June 27 thURsday JUNe 25 Arts acting for the fun of it

adult acting courses.

narrabunDaH College artS Centre

blackbird

a contemporary classic drama by David Harrower. runs until Jul 4.

Karaoke

piano student concert

Cube nigHtClub

weSleY muSiC Centre

Cash prizes, 2 for 1 basic spirits and tap beer. DJ Peter Dorree from 11 with free pool.

carry on Karaoke PJ o’reillY’S, CiviC

Karaoke with grant

PJ o’reillY’S, tuggeranong

fRiday JUNe 26

tHe Street tHeatre

aRc: frozen River (2008, Ma15+)

Sundance favourite sees two single mothers people smuggling across the uS border. 7:30pm. arC Cinema, national Film & SounD arCHive

vanity fair portrait exhibition Collection of photographs from the vanity Fair archives. until august 30.

Arts ceremony

a dramatic sound sculpture and performance for assorted vintage keyboards. $10.

Canberra ContemPorarY art SPaCe gorman HouSe

marcela Fiorillo hosts an evening recital of her piano students. bookings: 0417 670 785.

Arts

entropy

aRc: pop Movies (18+)

anu bar is readying itself for a huge night of prog and metal on Friday June 26 with four amazing aussie bands forming a lineup which will shake its very walls. melodic rock heavyweights entropy return to Canberra, bringing their energetic live show and truly unique sound while earth mechanics will provide a stellar repertoire of dynamic music.

Perpetual end continue to obliterate live shows with their own style of metal and taliesin’s truly progressive sound will kick off the night in a very big way. Doors open at 8pm. Don’t miss a single minute of this outstanding line-up! anu bar anD reFeCtorY

national Portrait gallerY

DAnce

cayce

DAnce

fridays @ sub Urban

tuggeranong YoutH Centre

trash thursdays

$2 drinks ‘til 2am and discounted cocktails. with DJs adam and esscue. aCaDemY nigHtClub

funkoars

a night of raw hip-hop, with special guests Phrase and vents. anu bar anD reFeCtorY

Nathan frost

throwing down all your favourites.

KnigHtSbriDge PentHouSe

Live bertie blackman

Supported by the Salvagers. Free entry for the likes of you. tranSit bar

something Different thursdays @ sub Urban

ladies night. buy one cocktail, get another free.

Sub-urban

Nicolas vadot

the political cartoonist and graphic novelist will talk about his works, his novels and will answer your questions in both english and French. allianCe FranÇaiSe

with live DJs and live music from 9pm.

Sub-urban

Rev

Canberra’s weekly alt club night with two levels of DJs playing rock/indie/ dance/punk/pop. $5. bar 32

Rowan Marshcroft

Summoning up all your Friday favourites.

KnigHtSbriDge PentHouSe

snow Jam

with bleached academy (Syd) and So long Safety. all ages, 8pm kick off.

our last enemy

a triple bill of metal with our last enemy, Five Star Prison Cell and lynchmata. tHe baSement

ladysmith black Mambazo

South africa’s most acclaimed vocal group return. tickets from Canberra ticketing: 6275 2700, or www. canberratheatre.org.au .

Canberra tHeatre Centre

charles chatain 5-8pm & heuristic 10pm-2am Free live music.

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

exposed

Club night.

tranSit bar

shakedown!

electro/indie/House madness with resident DJs nightfight, Celebrity Sextape, e.m.a and relay. $5. bar 32

Neon essential tour ‘09

alliance presents the neon essential tour ‘09 featuring Chardy and zoe baldwin. aCaDemY nigHtClub

frankie Madrid Madness Pure silk in a glass.

whether you like your wine sweet, dry, fruity or unwooded, the DJs will be in tune with the flavour.

From 5 to 8pm.

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

Happy Hour 7pm-9pm, live entertainment 8:30 to 11:30pm.

Live

DAnce

after work Jazz

Rhyz presents tasty dJ biscuits

Krave nigHtClub

arC Cinema, national Film & SounD arCHive

KnigHtSbriDge PentHouSe

tHe DurHam

something Different

with 9 DJs, 2 live producers and mindblowing lighting from the aztek Crew across two stages.

3 episodes from australian director ray argall’s Pop movies series of short films. 7:30pm.

Mr. lincoln

it’s a snow themed winter wonderland with a snowboard arcade, snow machine, raffles, $2 agwa bombs. mooSeHeaDS Pub

satURday JUNe 27

Kickstart your weekend traDieS Club, DiCKSon

traverse poetry’s australian star poets slam

Poetry fans will be treated to performances from tobias mandersongalvin and rhys rodgers. tHe Front gallerY anD CaFe

the inner circle Rum girls

they’ll be setting the night on fire from 10pm with the raven DJs. tHe DurHam

dJs at parlour

Parlour wine room

candy cube

DJs Peter Dorree and matt Chavasse.

Cube nigHtClub

Live oscar

Free live music, from 10:30pm 2:30am.

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

paqman and friends

with Pleased to Jive You, the Sodapops, Slovac and the great escape. tix only $7! woDen YoutH Centre

so long safety tHe baSement

saturdays @ sub Urban with live music from 9pm.

Sub-urban

Rockzone

Does exactly what it says on the tin. $8 cocktails from 6-10pm. tHe DurHam

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gIg gUIdE June 27 - July 3 something Different Kickstart your weekend

Happy Hour 7pm-9pm, live entertainment 8:30 to 11:30pm. traDieS Club, DiCKSon

seventy seven’s bacardi series two

rSvP at www.seventy-seven.com.au and you’ll get free entry, free bacardi and a free party. nortH bar

DAY PLAY gorman house Markets gorman HouSe

burley griffin antique centre KingSton ForeSHore

sUNday JUNe 28 Arts french & saunders

at long last French & Saunders, britain’s most celebrated female comedians, embark on their first - and final - australian tour. tickets from ticketek 132 849 ticketmaster.com.au

recording. Channelling the ambience of the lonely, cavernous complex, and utilising its natural reverb, webb amassed six hours of looped guitar and electronics and field recordings which have become Seaworthy’s second lP 1897, released on influential new York label 12k. it’s definitely stereoworthy.

Seaworthy will launch 1897 at Hellosquare’s Sunday Social from 3pm alongside Pollen trio. entry by donation, with a free 3” CDr of both bands.

transit carry-on Karaoke

irish Jam sessions

(trinitY) bar, DiCKSon

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

something Different

tHe Front gallerY anD CaFe

From 5pm.

sunday sessions: timbuktwo From 5-9pm.

open up your pipes and murder the classics for your chance to win big. tranSit bar

anu bar anD reFeCtorY

something Different Live

greenfaces: george Kapiniaris

chuse Jazz tuesdays

all bar nun

trivia Night

lovers of song, art song concert 3

fame trivia

PHoeniX bar, CiviC

lot 33

in the winter of ‘07, Cameron webb, the man behind Sydney experimental institution Seaworthy, holed himself up in a decommissioned ammunitions bunker and spent three months

Newacton presents Meet the artist

Sub-urban

trivia Night

Karaoke with grant

something Different $10 schnitzel sunday tHe DurHam,

MoNday JUNe 29 DAnce

From 7:30-10:30pm.

tHe DurHam, KingSton Pot bellY bar, belConnen tranSit bar, aKuna St, CiviC PJ o’reillY’S, tuggeranong

Flint Dining room anD bar PJ o’reillY’S, CiviC

PJ o’reillY’S, tuggeranong

trivia Night

HolY grail, KingSton

fRiday JUly 3 Arts Arts fireside Readings

Join local writers for a cosy and entertaining hour of wine and words. entry by donation.

FirePlaCe room, gorman HouSe artS Centre

Nache flamenca

a flamenco dance and music spectacular not to be missed. tix $75/$65. bookings call 6275 2700.

Canberra tHeatre Centre

Univibes dJs

wedNesday JUly 1

tranSit bar

cube sunday

hellosquare’s sunday social: seaworthy

tranSit bar

carry on Karaoke

Happy Hour and live music from 4pm.

Live

Live

open up your pipes and murder the classics for your chance to win big.

sunday sessions @ sub Urban

Parlour wine room

Cube nigHtClub

transit carry-on Karaoke

carry-on Karaoke

as part of transit bar’s regular hospitality mondays.

Party on after the weekend is over with DJ tJ. Free pool.

Canberra iriSH Club

pot belly trivia

weSleY muSiC Centre

dJs at parlour

whether you like your wine sweet, dry, fruity or unwooded, the DJs will be in tune with the flavour.

watch amateur comedians battle it out for the biggest laughs.

meet nell, the artist behind the suspended silver droplet at Soft Sculpture. bookings 6162 3350.

the next in a popular series given by advanced amateur singers. enquiries 6295 9613.

DAnce

with the aston Shuffle. tix $25 before 11pm, $30 thereafter.

new album Brown and Orange will be launched with the awkwardstra and Josh earl in tow. tix $12!

tUesday JUNe 30

roYal tHeatre

pang! presents: the bloody beetroots (ita)

the bedroom philosopher lp launch

thug beats

Live wednesday lunchtime live

bootleg sessions

tHe PHoeniX, eaSt row, CiviC

vocal moves by members of the cast from the musical Chess. $2 entry. refreshments $1.

something Different

weSleY muSiC Centre

Meat Raffle Mondays

something Different

buy a drink, score a raffle ticket, grab a meal and receive 5 tickets. tHe DurHam

fame trivia

every tuesday, from 7:30pm. tHe DurHam

DAnce

$5 Night @ transit

the mighty ug beats celebrates its 7th - that’s right, seventh - birthday. blow out the candles, yo. tranSit bar

Rev

Canberra’s weekly alt club night with two levels of DJs playing rock/indie/ dance/punk/pop. $5. bar 32

d’opus

mixing up funk, soul, and hip-hop for yo’ listenin’ pleasure.

2 pizzas and a pint $15 all day.

KnigHtSbriDge PentHouSe

fame trivia

Live

tranSit bar

PJ o’reillY’S, CiviC

Karaoke Night

HolY grail KingSton

DAnce

Rockzone

From 10pm.

tHe DurHam

scaramouche and friends tHe baSement

trash thursdays

$2 drinks ‘til 2am and discounted cocktails. with DJs adam and esscue. aCaDemY nigHtClub

Rowan Marshcroft

KnigHtSbriDge PentHouSe

thURsday JUly 2

punk and disorderly tour

with the amity affliction, Deez nuts, break even, ligeia and louie Knuxx. tix $18 through moshtix. weStern CreeK CommunitY Hall

little day out

live music from Perpetual end, plus face painting, sizzle, circus, stalls, the works. Free! 4pm. garema PlaCe

drop bears Live

Free live music at King o malleys.

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

dos locos

Free live music at King o malleys.

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

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gIg gUIdE July 3 - July 8 something Different

DAnce

Kickstart your weekend

dJs at parlour

Happy Hour 7pm-9pm, live entertainment 8:30 to 11:30pm. traDieS Club, DiCKSon

xmas in July

Dress in theme for free entry and the chance to win Xmas goodies. with DJ Peter Dorree.

Cube nigHtClub

whether you like your wine sweet, dry, fruity or unwooded, the DJs will be in tune with the flavour.

DAnce

cube sunday

as part of transit bar’s regular hospitality mondays.

Parlour wine room

Party on after the weekend is over with DJ tJ. Free pool.

Cube nigHtClub

after work Jazz From 5 to 8pm.

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

satURday JUly 4 DAnce shakedown!

electro/indie/House madness with resident DJs nightfight, Celebrity Sextape, e.m.a and relay. $5. bar 32

lliK lliK lliK

more dance for your un-dollar. entry is free. Featuring Kazu Kimura.

Live Jordie lane, lamplight and eva popov

last year melbourne songwriter eva Popov released her debut album Me the Sea & Stars and won triple j’s unearthed Fuse music Competition. Her collection of intricate songs has received airplay on local and national radio and she has performed at festivals and venues across australia. eva is taking a break from recording a follow up album to support lamplight and Jordie lane on their national tour. tickets on sale now from 0407 434 469.

FolKuS room - italo auStralian Club

tranSit bar

sunday sessions: dos locos

timmy trumpet and tenzin

all bar nun

alliance presents timmy trumpet and tenzin with supports from ashley Feraude and DJ Just 1. aCaDemY nigHtClub

Jemist

You want it? baby, you got it.

From 5-9pm.

live from New york

Piano recital by Stephanie, a pianist of poetic and dramatic qualities. For more info: 02 6257 1237. weSleY muSiC Centre

KnigHtSbriDge PentHouSe

irish Jam session

dJs at parlour

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

whether you like your wine sweet, dry, fruity or unwooded, the DJs will be in tune with the flavour.

Parlour wine room

Live cayce

with supports miramar (Syd), a requiem (Syd) and the red vest. 8pm. tHe baSement

the Remnants

Free live music at King o malleys.

King o’malleY’S, CiviC

something Different Kickstart your weekend

Happy Hour 7pm-9pm, live entertainment 8:30 to 11:30pm. traDieS Club, DiCKSon

DAY PLAY gorman house Markets gorman HouSe

burley griffin antique centre KingSton ForeSHore

sUNday JUly 5 Arts silver sundays film forum

meet & greet those in the film industry on the first Sunday of every month.

From 5pm.

KnigHtSbriDge PentHouSe

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MoNday JUly 6

Free live music at King o malleys.

Univibes dJs

tranSit bar

hospitality Mondays

get your work mates together after a massive weekend and come to mooseheads where your hospitality moosecard gives your the best deals in town. it’s your very own staffies party. with DJs rawson playing the music you need for a monday night.$3 for any mixed drink or rtD. $5 special cocktails. $6 red bull and vodka.

tUesday JUly 7 something Different trivia Night

PHoeniX bar, CiviC

fame trivia

From 7:30-10:30pm

tHe DurHam, KingSton

pot belly trivia

Pot bellY bar, belConnen

carry-on Karaoke

tranSit bar, aKuna St, CiviC

trivia Night

PJ o’reillY’S, tuggeranong

trivia Night

HolY grail, KingSton

mooSeHeaDS Pub

Live harambee pops into canberra

on their 2009 Friendship tour, the Harambee Choir sings a cappella music from many cultures.

wedNesday JUly 8 Live wednesday lunchtime live

weSleY muSiC Centre

talented young pianists from marie Cull’s Studio. $2 entry. refreshments $1.

bootleg sessions

weSleY muSiC Centre

tHe PHoeniX, eaSt row, CiviC

something Different something Different transit carry-on Karaoke

open up your pipes and murder the classics for your chance to win big. tranSit bar

$5 Night @ transit

2 pizzas and a pint $15 all day. tranSit bar

fame trivia

PJ o’reillY’S, CiviC

Karaoke Night

HolY grail KingSton

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fIRST CONTaCT

OUT JULY 09 aUgIE MaRCh SaRah BLaSKO FOURpLaY STRINg qUaRTET TOM UgLY aNd MORE...

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Aaron Peacey Aaron 0410 381 306 Adam Hole Adam 0421 023 226 Afternoon Shift Adam 0402 055 314 After Close Scotty 0412 742 682, afterclose@hotmail.com Alcove Mark 0410 112 522 Alice 0423 100 792 Allies ACT (Oxfam group) alliesact@hotmail.com/ myspace.com/alliesact Amphibian Sound PA Clare 0410 308 288 Amplif5’d Classic rock covers band Joy 0407 200 428, joybarac-heath@hotmail.com Annie & the Armadillos Annie 6161 1078/0422 076 313 The Ashburys Dan Craddock 0419 626 903 Aria Stone, sax & flute, singer/ songwriter (guitar) Aria 0411 803 343 Australian Songwriters Association (Keiran Roberts) 6231 0433 Arythmia: Ben 0423 408 767/ arythmiamusic@gmail.com Backbeat Drivers Steve 0422 733 974, www.backbeatdrivers.com Big Boss groove Andrew 0404 455 834, www.bigbossgroove.com.au Birds Love Fighting Gangbusters/DIY shows - bookings@birdslovefighting.com Black Label Photography Kingsley 0438 351 007 Blister Bug Stu 0408 617 791 Bridge Between, The Rachel 0412 598 138, thebridgebetween.com.au Bruce Stage mgr/consultant 6254 9857 Catchpenny Nathan 0402 845 132 Caution Horses Nigel 0417 211 580 Chris Harland Blues Band 0418 490 640 chrisharlandbluesband@yahoo.com.au Clear Vision Films rehearsals/film clips/stunts - 0438 647 281 wcoulton.clearvisionfilms.com Cole Bennetts Photography 0415 087 833/colebennetts@gmail.com Colourful Racing Identities Josh 0410 135 605 Cris Clucas Cris 6262 5652 Crooked Dave 0421 508 467 Danny V Danny 6238 1673/0413 502 428 D’Opus & Roshambo hifidelitystyles@yahoo.com DJs Madrid and gordon 0417 433 971 DJ Latino Rogelio 0401 274 208 DJ Moises (RnB/Latin) 0402 497 835 or moises_lopez@hotmail DNA Vic 0408 477 020 Drumassault Kate 0414 236 323 Easy Mode Daz 0404 156 482, easymodeband@gmail.com Entity Chris 0412 027 894 Epic Flagon band@epicflagon.com Fighting Mongooses, The Adam 0402 055 314 Final Warning Brendan 0422 809 552 Fire on the Hill Aaron 0410 381 306/ Lachlan 0400 038 388 4dead Peter 0401 006 551 Freeloaders, The Steve 0412 653 597 Friend or Enemy 6238 0083, www.myspace.com/friendorenemy Funk Shui Dave 0407 974 476 gareth Hailey DJ & Electronica 0414 215 885 giLF Kelly 0410 588 747, gilf.mail@gmail.com HalfPast Chris 0412 115 594 Hancock Basement Tom 6257 5375, hancockbasement@hotmail.com Happy Hour Wendy 0406 375 096 Haunted Attics band@hauntedatticsmusic.com Hitherto Paul 0408 425 636 Infra Retina Kyle 0437 137 775/Michael 0425 890 023/www.infra-retina.com In The Flesh Scott 0410 475 703

Inside the Exterior Nathan 0401 072 650 Itchy Triggers Andrew 0401 588 884 Jacqui Seczawa 0428 428 722 JDY Clothing 0405 648 288/ www.jdyclothing.com Jenn Pacor singer/songwriter avail. for originals & covers, 0405 618 630 Jim Boots 0417 211 580 Johnny Roadkill Paulie 0408 287 672, paulie_mcmillan@live.com.au karismakatz DJ Gosper 0411 065 189/ dj@karismakatz.com kayo Marbilus myspace.com/kayomarbilus kurt’s Metalworx (PA) 0417 025 792 Little Smoke Sam 0411 112 075 Los Chavos Andy 0401 572 150 los.chavos@yahoo.com.au Manilla green Herms 0404 848 462, contactus@manillagreen.com, Mario Brujo gordon world/latin/ reggae/percussionist and DJ. 0405 820 895 Martin Bailey Audio Engineer 0423 566 093 Mercury Switch Lab Studios mercuryswitch@internode.on.net Missing Zero Hadrian Brand 0424 721 907 hadrian.brand@live.com.au Moots aspwinch@grapevine.com.au Huck 0419 630 721 MuShu Jack 0414 292 567, mushu_band@hotmail.com MyOnus myonusmusic@hotmail.com/ www.myspace.com/myonus No Retreat Simon 0411 155 680 Ocean Moses Nigel 0417 211 580 OneWayFare Chris 0418 496 448 Painted Hearts, The Peter 6248 6027 Phathom Chris 0422 888 700 The Pigs The Colonel 0422 412 752 Polka Pigs Ian 6231 5974 Premier Audio Simon 0412 331 876, premier_audio@hotmail.com Redletter Ben 0421 414 472 Redsun Rehearsal Studio Ralph 0404 178 996/6162 1527 Rhythm Party, The Ross 0416 010 680 Roger Bone Band Andy 0413 483 758 Rob Mac Project, The Melinda 0400 405 537 Rug, The Jol 0417 273 041 Samsara Samahdi 0431 083 776 Sansutra J-Ma 0403 476 350 Simone Penkethman (Simone & The Soothsayers, Singing Teacher) 6230 4828 Soundcity Rehearsal Studio Andrew 0401 588 884 Solid gold Peter 0421 131 887/ solid.gold@live.com.au Super Best Friends Matt 0438 228 748 Surrender Jordan 0439 907 853 Switch 3 Mick 0410 698 479 System Addict Jamie 0418 398 556 Taboo Bamboo Greg 0439 990 455 The Morning After (covers band) Anthony 0402 500 843/ myspace.com/themorningaftercovers Tiger Bones & The Ferabul-Zers Danny feralbul@aapt.net.au Tim James Lucia 6282 3740, luciamurdoch@hotmail.com Top Shelf Colin 0408 631 514 Transmission Nowhere Emilie 0421 953 519/myspace.com/ transmissionnowhere Udo 0412 086 158 Undersided, The Baz 0408 468 041 Using Three Words Dan 0416 123 020, usingthreewords@hotmail.com Voodoo Doll Mark 0428 650 549 William Blakely Will 0414 910 014 Zero Degrees and Falling Louis 0423 918 793 Zwish 0411 022 907

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