BMA Mag 306 24 Jul 2008

THREE06 July 24.08

ALSO INSIDE: NEON NEON, MATT NUGENT, $2 SCRATCHIES, MELODYSSEY, MARK SEYMOUR AND MORE!

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Tickets On Sale Now

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FREE STUFF And so, in the immortal words of Anthony Kiedis, “Give it away, give it away, give it away now!”

Yes, we’ve got a stack of free stuff that’s clogging up the office and simply has to go. So get typin', send your answers to:

one, perform a barrel roll and then email us. For more info, jump on to www.forbiddenkingdommovie. com . The Forbidden Kingdom screens at Hoyts from July 24.

editorial@bmamag.com then do a little dance and drink a little water.

Tin Tin Out Composed from 14 hours of interviews, Tintin and I (Tintin Et Moi) is a documentary that delves into the mind of Georges Remi, better known as Hergé - creator of the tuft-haired boy reporter. In 1971, while he was still a student, actor and writer Numa Sadoul conducted an extensive interview with Hergé over several days. Over the course of the conversations, the usually reticent cartoonist points out how the allusions and the underlying psychology of Tintin were intimately related to the tensions of his private life.

It’s a fascinating portrait of the man behind the masterpiece and provides rare insight into the characters and stories beloved by generations of readers. The DVD release is crammed with almost two hours of extras, including the I, Tintin (Moi, Tintin) documentary, The Secret of the Clear Line (Le Secret de la Ligne Claire) short, an interview with Michael Serres, a biography of Hergé, chronology of The Adventures of Tintin, diorama of the characters and a Hergé caricatures gallery. To win a copy, tell us your favourite Tintin book.

And why, of course. Tintin and I is out now through Madman.

Eureka!

Pete Murray is a big ol’ mass of talent, with his third album Summer at Eureka recently hitting number one on the charts, and so following in the path of his previous two albums Feeler and See the Sun. Naturally, he’s been spreading his talent around.

After touring the dark corners of Europe and the UK, Pete is back with a vengeance and already adding additional dates for his Australian Eureka Tour as shows

have sold out in a flash. Pete’s not been back in Australia for nigh on two years, so naturally we’re all gagging for the chance to see him again. Luckily he’s stopping by at the ANU Bar for a night of soulful crooning on Wednesday August 20. We’ve got five double passes for you devoted readers (and Pete fans) to win. To get your clutches on them, riddle me this; what is your best ‘eureka’ moment?

Kingdom Come In the vein of classics such as Karate Kid, The Forbidden Kingdom is a martial arts adventure based on the fabled warrior Monkey King. Shot on location in China, the films marks the historic first-ever onscreen pairing of martial arts superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li and features the awe inspiring action choreography of Woo-Ping Yuen (The Matrix, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon). While hunting down bootleg kung-fu DVDs in a Chinatown pawnshop, Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano – 24, Will and Grace, Lords of Dogtown, Seabiscuit) makes an extraordinary discovery that sends him hurtling back in time to ancient China. There, Jason is

charged with a monumental task: he must free the fabled warrior the Monkey King, who has been imprisoned by the powerful Jade Warlord. Jason is joined in his quest by wise kung fu master Lu Yan (Jackie Chan) and a band of misfit warriors including Silent Monk (Jet Li). But only by learning the true precepts of kung fun can Jason hope to succeed - and find a way to get back home. We’ve 20 double passes to dish out: to win

Spooky Stuff The series concerning the MI5 dashes breathlessly into its sixth season, continuing its uncompromising storylines and character treatment; where any of your beloved could be the next to disappear. Growing mistrust between the British, American and Iranian Governments culminates in a series of high-risk operations at home, pushing the Section to its very limits. As Iran’s race to become a nuclear power impacts

on British and American security, the distinction between friend and foe becomes ever more blurred. Harry and his team start to question exactly whose agenda they’re working to and who they can trust – both on and off the Grid. Meanwhile, the electric atmosphere between Adam and Ros comes to a head but things are complicated further by Adam’s ongoing and dangerous affair with a key asset inside the Iranian Embassy. Harry gains a new friend when he recruits old MI5 colleague Connie as desk officer.

Clever, and with plenty of oldschool tricks up her sleeve, she might just be able to fill the void left by Ruth’s departure. We have three copies to giveaway. To win one, tell us your favourite thing about Spooks. Spooks Season 6 is available from August 2 for $59.99.

It Takes Two Restoring passion to cooking, and outspoken humour to the world of food, the delightful Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson return to their celebrated cooking series. The Two Fat Ladies roam Britain

on their classic motorbike and sidecar, getting into all sorts of hilarious adventures as they find the best ingredients for their delicious recipes. In light of the tragic demise of Paterson in 1999 at the age of 71 from lung cancer, these DVDs serve as a poignant and warming testament of the much-loved work of her and her partner. We have five copies to giveaway. To win one, tell us your favourite winter food.

Two Fat Ladies Series Three is available from August 2 for $24.99.

There's a bit of a Drapht, Isn't There?

West Australian MC Drapht (real name Paul Ridge) released his debut album in 2003, and now, at only 25 years of age, has three albums out under the Obese Records banner - home of Hilltop Hoods and hot new things Spit Syndicate. The Perth lad teamed up with Adelaidian studio wiz Trials to create new release Brothers Grimm, a 15-track LP. Our own Simon Hobbs was suitably impressed, stating “with worldclass Australian guest producers like Plutonic Lab, M-Phazes and Simplex, Brothers Grimm is worthy of recognition at the highest peak of Australian hip-hop.”

The first single from Brothers Grimm, Jimmy Recard (a reflection on what his life could have been like with a more interesting name) has already gained radio play and positive reactions from fans old and new. Thanks to Obese Record we’ve five copies for the sampling.

To grab one, suggest a more interesting name for yourself.

Drapht launches Brothers Grimm at the ANU on Friday July 25.

STRUTH BE TOLD THE ANSWER TO ANYONE WHO’S EVER ASKED THE QUESTION “I WONDER WHAT SORT OF LIFE JUSTIN HEAZLEWOOD REALLY LEADS?” It was four in the morning the day I broke up with my one true love because I no longer possessed the emotional capacity to give her the love she deserves. I just smoked a cigarette and fi nished my last beer. I wandered inside thinking ‘gee I’m hungry… I wish there was something really easy for me to eat’. It was at this moment that I remembered bananas, and what an effective food source they can be for sad dickheads like me. At the moment I had this thought I saw that my housemate must have bought a bunch of bananas because there was a bunch of bananas sitting in the bowl platter thing where we put fruit in this house and gee we really should get a better name for that.

At that moment I said this exact sentence out loud.

“Thanks bananas.”

I was thanking not only the fruit, but the kind gesture of the housemate for buying them so I could eat one in my ridiculous state. I then wandered into my room which I declared to myself ‘smelt like shit’, and proceeded to type on my keyboard the words you are reading, only pausing to take bites out of the banana. It was at this moment that I had the idea for some kind of contraption that sits next to your keyboard and is just the right size so you can put a banana in there and eat it while you type. I suppose I’d call it a ‘desktop banana aid’ and maybe I’d sell like two, one to me and another to some idiot who actually wanted to buy a memory stick but was illiterate, and too proud to ever tell anyone.

So, in conclusion, I’m a 28 year old man, still up at four in the morning writing mostly insane, annoying little folk songs and recording them on his mobile phone because I left my cassette walkman at a gig last night, only stopping for cigarettes and beer, and now, because they’ve run out, I can only half eat a banana and stop to write this story about what I think accurately depicts an average moment in my new life.

WHY FACEBOOK IS SHIT I just changed my relationship status to single. Facebook responded by placing an ad with some Chlamydia-ridden slut’s bleach blonde face and the words "don’t have a girlfriend – meet tons of local hot singles for free at mate 1." Yeah, tons of local hot singles ’cos they’re all FAT! Conclusion: Facebook isn’t your friend. It isn’t your buddy. It’s a cold, calculating salivating money addicted web-crook, preying on the pathetically self-centred strand of the ego that insists on synthesising self-validation through the commoditisation of friends, who are reduced to minimum-res tokens to collect, while publicly broadcasting results of tests such as which national fl ag are you – all of which is magnetted to the virtual fridge of all your directionless, charmless high school acquaintances who, if ever faced with your leering, manipulatively fashionable self at a real life party would be happily staring at the cupboards glassy eyed and sans-plan as opposed to striking up a heartfelt conversation beginning with the Nobel prize nominated opening line of ‘how’s things?’

This is me on a good day.

JUSTIN HEAZLEWOOD www.bedroomphilosopher.com

NEWS Who Ya Gonna Call?

The charming Holly Throsby has recently returned from Nashville - or Ca$hville, if you listen to too much Young Buck - with a new record in amongst her luggage. Recorded with engineer and producer Mark Nevers (Lambchop, Will Oldham), A Loud Call (out now on Spunk!) features guest performances by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and members of Lambchop and Silver Jews. She’s promptly shot off again though, this time to the UK to support Paul Kelly and Tim Rogers, but will be back before too long for her most extensive Australian tour ever. For this, she’ll be joined by her long time band Bree van Reyk and Jens Birchall, and between the three of them they’ll tackle 11 instruments, though obviously not all at once! Holly and co will stop by the ANU Bar on Thursday October 9. Tickets from Ticketek.

To The Rescue!

Since the release of their debut album The Rescue, Horsell Common have made an impression all over Australia. Now they’re releasing the second single from the album, Sing the News, and, in celebration of this marvellous occasion, are tearing it up on a new national tour! Fusing slash ‘n’ burn guitars and a pummelling rhythm section with a pop sensibility, they veer away from yer average hamfisted three-piece flailing. Fans may gleefully recall seeing them earlier this year at The Greenroom, or late last year at Trackside, but this time around they’ll be visiting the Transit Bar on Friday August 29, infecting the crowds with their energy - and only their energy, mind. With plenty of sold out shows earlier this year, and free entry for the Transit gig, the place is sure to be packed so get there early!

Fallin' It's with great pleasure that we note that The Falls Music & Arts Festival, who consistently deliver some of the best bills this country’s festival circuit sees - and, lest we forget, the people responsible for finally bringing Built to Spill out - is set to return for its sweet 16th in Lorne, Victoria and its 6th year at Marion Bay, Tasmania. To wet the whistle, jump aboard the fair ship intarnetz and sail over to www.fallsfestival.com where a freshly swabbed site awaits ye! As well as some nice graphics, you can become a subscriber so you’ll be kept in the loop about getting tickets to the festival and, of course, who’ll be playing. Being a subscriber also means you’ll be able to enter the ballot for 2008 tickets, a venture which ensures most of the tickets go straight to the hands of the biggest fans - Falls subscribers. The option to subscribe for the ticket ballot is available via the website until midnight on Wednesday August 27, so don’t delay for too long! The first line-up will be announced on August 13, so keep your ear to the ground.

Stonefest Still Rolling, Gathering No Moss A bedrock of the Canberra music scene, Stonefest 08 will see the festival celebrate a proud 40 year tradition. This year the Stonefest team have assembled a line-up that has certainly boulder-ed us over. Grinspoon will continue to guide us towards better living, alongside The Dandy Warhols, Faker, The Grates, Regurgitator, Alan Braxe, Bumblebeez, The Drones, Blue King Brown, Dexter, Kora, Spruce Lee, TZU, Fourthstate, Snobscrilla, Two

Terrorble Tablists, Ashleigh Mannix. Held on Friday October 31 and Saturday November 1 – spanning two months! – at the University of Canberra, general admission earlybird tickets are on shale, sorry, sale ‘til Thursday July 31 for $62.80 plus BF from ticketek outlets and www. ticketek.com . Student tickets (UC/ANU/CIT) from the UCU Print Shop at $52.80 plus BF. Join the Stonefest mailing list by emailing stonefest@ canberra.edu.au for the latest info and chances to score some cool prizes to get you in a celebratory mood. Hit www.stonefest.com.au for more info.

Dem Bones Dem Bones Following the release of their ARIA number one Rattlin’ Bones LP, Kasey Chambers and husband Shane Nicholson are preparing to bring the record to the stage. The album’s received near universal acclaim, Rhythms Magazine stating “the songs are so strong, they sound like instant classics,” The Australian declaring “Rattlin’ Bones is simply the best album of her and Nicholson’s careers, and a roots album of global signifi cance,” and Melbourne’s Sunday Herald Sun commenting “Rattlin’ Bones could yet prove to be the year’s best album…an essential in your CD collection.” As well as LP cuts, the pair - accompanied by a full band comprising Bill Chambers, John Watson, James Gillard, and Mark Collins - will dive into past hits from Kasey’s impressive back catalogue and treat fans to a special acoustic segment during the evening. They’ll be at the Royal Theatre on Friday August 15. Tickets on sale from Ticketek.

Euphonic Euphoria Sydney based rock group Euphonic seem to have appeared from nowhere, yet when their single YEAHNO hit 10,000 free downloads on iTunes last year, it became clear that they were a combo not to be ignored.

During 2007 they were flat-out touring Australia on the back of three singles released during the year, two of which can now be found housed on their latest album Drowning for Daylight. This July, Euphonic will again take to the road to support the new release, which was produced by Magic Dirt bassist Dean Turner. Their original July 26 Transit Bar date has been changed to Thursday August 21, with local supports Kempsey.

There's Something Fishy Here...

On his forthcoming album Fish Out Of Water, blues ‘n’ rootsman Ash Grunwald, one of Australia’s favourite sons, promises a few twists and turns that fans mightn’t have seen coming. For the record, the ‘locked one teamed up with respected beats master Countbounce from TZU, resulting in an exhilarating hybrid of musical styles which sees junkyard percussion, scorching riffs and Grunwald’s trademark deep and strong vocals infused with beats and grooves. Fans will already be familiar with his strong sense of musical adventure, and with Fish Out Of Water he has truly let his hair down and pushed all the boundaries. Currently hard at it on the UK gig and festival circuit, Ash's tingling at the prospect of returning home to unveil his latest creation for the approval of the Australian public. The LP will hit stores on August 30 through Delta Groove/Shock Records, but tickets to his Friday September 5 show at the ANU with Last Town Chorus are on sale now through www.ticketek.com and www.theatlasagency.com .

AND ANOTHER THING...

Great Train Journeys of the World: Part Two.

As we headed deeper and deeper into the English countryside, the effect of the sunlight beating through the large toughened glass windows and flooding the carriage with its noxious UV rays was doing me no good at all. Thirsty, I thought, so very thirsty. By now the cider was all gone and we were getting through the home brew like there was no tomorrow. Which was a shame because tomorrow was when the Sex Pistols were due to perform at the Phoenix Festival – which I’m sure you remember is where I was headed – but as we hurtled through Bicester I felt as if my head had somehow been detached from the rest of my body and I really wasn’t confident on anything other than the probability of spending the night unconscious in a siding somewhere just outside Manchester. So very, very thirsty…

Jim’s body was still intact – I could tell this because I was watching him lurch back from the toilets, swaying in time with the rhythmic shunting of the train, grinning maniacally at the people now having to share the carriage with us because there was no room anywhere else on the train.

Every now and then he stopped to breathe fumes over a ‘lucky’ punter, exchanging pleasantries in a virtually unintelligible slur, gesticulating wildly and laughing fit to burst at any response he managed to garner.

His ebullient reaction to this satanic distillation he’d introduced me to was markedly different to mine – I was attempting to burrow down into the lining of my seat to escape the sunlight, the glares of utter disgust from normal people nearby and the inevitable offer of another, “just to keep us going”, but eventually I settled on a plan. The tannoy announcer informed us that Banbury was the next stop – and I was going to make a bid for freedom.

The train began decelerating, and, seeing that Jim was shouting at a petrified woman about the evils of battery farming, I hauled myself out of my seat and began gathering my belongings. When I came to, I opened an eye to see Jim staring at me at a distance of roughly one nose hair. “Wake up mate, we’re there!” I’m surprised his breath didn’t remove the eyebrows clean off my forehead – it was like being blowtorched with molten rotting vegetables – but as I came to, I realised my escape bid had failed. Miserably. Pulling myself together as best I could, I shambled off the train behind my own personal guardian angel. “You passed out at Banbury; I had to get someone to help me get you back into your seat. People are very nice if you take the time to just talk to them. People don’t talk enough these days.”

We alighted on the platform. Jim appeared miraculously to be completely sober, whilst even simple words were getting to the edge of my mouth and then turning back before they made garbled fools of themselves in the world outside my head. I nodded and grinned. “We’ve got twenty minutes before our connection. If I remember rightly there’s an off licence the other side of that footbridge. We can get some fresh supplies.”

So very, very thirsty. “I’m thirsty, very, very thirsty,” I gibbered. “Me too.

Come on, no time to waste!”

To his credit, Jim negotiated the offie masterfully, even resisting the temptation to slip a couple of bottles of the good stuff into the inside pockets of his greatcoat. We made it back onto the platform at Leamington Spa just as the ‘special’ bound for the Phoenix Festival pulled into the station…

Next episode – Part Three: Ever get the feeling you’ve been swindled?

SCOTT ADAMS thirtyyearsofrnr@hotmail.com

bma :: Issue306 www.bmamag.com

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bma is independently owned and published Opinions expressed in bma are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or staff.

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YOU PISSED ME OFF 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 GENUINE SPELLINGS. Pedestrians - so you crossed da road without getting totalled - your job doesn’t end there.

If you emerge from between da parked cars, find da footpath, start da strut and then get Mack Daddy whacked by another pedestrian, person with a trolley, bicycle, or kid - well tough tiddies, you probably didn’t see them coming, cos like da road, da pavement has flow and direction too, don’t get caught like a kangaroo in headlights - czech yourself before you wreck yourself!

The person that stole my friends Hula hoop from the Pot Belly Bar on Monday the 17 July, You Pissed me off! What makes you think you have the right to just go around taking other peoples belongings?

She was nice enough to let you and your friend have a go with it and you thank her by walking out the door with it? Nice. Just because it is a Hula Hoop and you think it is only toy, does not stop you from being a common thief! I urge you to return it to the place from where you took it. Other wise may the wrath of one million angry Hula Hoops rain down on you in a painful spinning fashion.

Winter: while you do give me the opportunity to bust out some rather fetching coat/ scarf combos, you piss me off sometimes. My nose has been running like a hydrant all week!

Like The Damned, I'm sick of being Sick. Come on Spring!

FROM THE BOSSMAN In the spirit of randomness – which, let’s face it, this column embodies – here are some home truths that have struck me recently.

Nothing says “seedy” like a flickering Exit sign. You could have an opulent manor setting the likes of which would grace Ladette to Lady, but one flickering Exit sign in the background and it’s suddenly a vile den of unspeakable filth.

Technology is like a shark; it can smell blood. It can seek out when you need it the most, and shut you down without a second thought. And if technology is a shark, the internet is the Great White.

Contains Elements From would be an awesome name for a samplebased hip-hop album.

Captain Fuckarse and The Unpossibles would be an awesome band name for a band.* Health Karma is a very real threat. As soon as you boast “I haven’t got ill yet” with the kind of smug grin that would put the Royal Family to shame, you wake up the following morning drenched in your own mucas, violently gasping for air while spasms of pain reminiscent of the closing stages of Orwell’s 1984 surge through your body.

The best, yet possibly saddest, news story I’ve heard this year is thus: “Ayveq the walrus, whose bizarre though oddly compelling masturbation rituals that made him an international sensation at the New York Aquarium, has died. He was 14.”

Second only to this piece about musical theatre and cabaret performer Todd McKenney allegedly being caught with drugs: “McKenney told police he had been to a party at an apartment in Macleay Street, Potts Point, on Anzac Day eve and had danced so much that he began to overheat and had taken his pants off to continue dancing. McKenney says that it was while his pants were down that someone at the party must have put the drug into his pocket.”

I mean, we’ve all been there, right?

ALLAN “WISDOM OF THE UNIVERSE” SKO *unfortunately for me, I can’t claim credit for this one. Editor Peter K gets the nod there.

Fax: 02 6257 4361 Mail: PO Box 713 Civic Square, ACT 2608 Publisher Scott Layne General Manager & Advertising Manager Allan Sko: T: (02) 6257 4360 E: advertising@bmamag.com Editor Peter Krbavac: T: (02) 6257 4456 E: editorial@bmamag.com Accounts Manager Fahim Shahnoor : T: (02) 6247 4816 E: accounts@bmamag.com

Super Sub Editor Julia Winterflood Graphic Design Jessica Condi Film Editor Mark Russell Principal Photographers (The Flashbulb Posse) Andrew Mayo/Nick Brightman/John Hatfield Issue 307 Out August 7 Editorial Deadline July 25 Advertising Deadline July 31

bma magazine

TIDBITS WHO THE GALLANT WHAT BRISBANE INDIE UPSTARTS WHERE TRANSIT BAR WHEN THU JULY 24

Since emerging onto the Brisbane scene late 2006, the boys from The Gallant have found themselves growing as crowd favourites, having slogged through 100 plus shows in the last two years. In that time they’ve played alongside Birds of Tokyo, British India, Midnight Juggernauts and The Dirty Secrets, helping boost their national appeal. They’ll further embed themselves in the Australian consciousness with an East Coast tour to launch their selftitled debut EP. Seven months in the making, it was recorded with Alex Markwell (Bodyjar, Vanlustbader), creating an ‘electronically organic’ sound. It’s a brash and quixotic blend of subtle electro beats, jagged post-punk guitars and danceable hooks, creating a unique and accessible soundscape. Keep an ear to yer wireless for a taste of the EP, or pop down to the Transit Bar on Thursday July 24 and see it all live! Hell, even Myspace approves - “These four talented lads are making some of the most progressive and downright interesting rock songs we’ve heard in while” - so you positively have to go! And it’s free! Kapow!

WHO 13 LOCAL BANDS WHAT TASSIE RAINFOREST FUNDRAISER WHERE CORROBOREE PARK, AINSLIE WHERE SAT JULY 26

On Saturday July 26, 13 of Canberra’s fi nest will be teaming up in aid of… a shrubbery! Well to be fair, more than just a shrubbery - acres and acres of the stuff, along with trees, vines and general forest paraphernalia too. The Tassie Forest Fundraiser Spectacular will see the likes of The Andi and George Band, Winiata, The Mettes, Smitten, Dubba Rukki, The Crush, One Foot in the Gravy, Dhopec, Konrad Lenz and Friend, Sondra Paulson, The Big Score, Alice Cottee and Cam and Ry joining together for an afternoon and evening of winter fun in the park. They’ll be rasing money for the Huon Valley Environment Centre and Still Wild, Still Threatened, protecting the forests of Southern Tasmania. Aside from the music, you’ll be able to join in the frivolities of table tennis, ‘pin the balls on Garrett,’ Peter Garrett danceoff, and forest, wilderness and activist fi lms in the hall. For kids there’ll be an art workshop, sandpit and, of course, Corroboree Park itself. It gets started at 12.30pm and will carry on ‘til late, with a BBQ lunch in the park, delicious dinner in the hall and licensed bar keeping the good cheer rolling. $10 unwaged, $20 waged.

WHO DRAPHT WHAT TRIPLE CD LAUNCH WITH MIND OVER MATTER & 360 WHERE ANU BAR WHEN FRI JULY 25

At only 17, Drapht became a vital part of Perth’s premier hip-hop crew Syllabolix, alongside Obese Records’ own Layla and Dazastah (Downsyde). Since then he’s refi ned and consolidated his skills across two albums, Pale Rider and Who Am I, enjoying national airplay on triple j and critical acclaim in the process. He returns with his third LP Brothers Grimm, charged with passion and vigour, and produced by Trials with guest production by Plutonic Lab, M-Phazes and Simplex. Across the record, Drapht swings effortlessly between quirky and playful jams, gritty tracks, and sombre, refl ective tones. Compared to such artists as Q-tip and Grand Puba, Drapht’s unique voice and original flow have set him apart from the Aus hip-hop pack while lyrically, he tackles such topics as politics, indigenous land-rights, sex and addiction. Well acquainted with the road, he’s headlined shows across the country, and supported the likes of Redman and Method Man, Rahzel, Z-Trip, Hilltop Hoods (and even guested on The Hard Road), Expansion Team (Dilated Peoples), Downsyde, Koolism and Resin Dogs, and recently played the Obese Records Block Party and Good Vibrations Festival. Cop an earful of Brothers Grimm when Drapht hits town this week.

WHO CROOKED FIDDLE BAND WHAT GYPSY FOLK MEETS METAL WHERE THE MERRY MUSE WHEN FRI AUG 8

Originally formed two years ago around violinist Jess Randall - who had received an arts grant to record different interpretations of traditional tunes - The Crooked Fiddle Band went on to forge their own brand of no-holds-barred folk, which sees gypsy, bluegrass swampstompers, Appalachian laments, Celtic reels and metal collide. It’s been called psycho-Gypsy, Cossack acid, and just plain mad, and it’s incited moshing and barnburning around Australia from an audience as diverse as their infl uences. Completed by Gordon Wallace (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin), Mark Stevens (double bass, charango) and Joe Gould (percussion, drums), the Sydney-based group have become firm favourites of the live circuit, with incendiary showings at Peats Ridge Festival, The National Folk Festival, Newtown Festival and three sell-out shows at Sydney’s Vanguard among their performance highlights. Catch their singular and furiously-paced blend of traditional gypsy tunes and metal alongside local loons Mr Fibby on Friday August 8 at The Merry Muse, Polish White Eagle Club Turner. www.merrymuse.org.au .

WHO LOCAL MUSOS WHAT MUSICAL MADNESS @ FILTHY'S WHERE FILTHY MCFADDEN'S, KINGSTON WHEN WEEKLY FROM JULY 29

Tuesdays are traditionally quiet nights and, damn it, thanks to the ABC’s new programming, we don’t even have The Bill anymore! Luckily, local acoustic duo The Bridge Between have taken it upon themselves to rectify this sorry state of affairs and are introducing a new music night, entitled Musical Madness @ Filthy’s. The night will have a strong focus on original and diverse music, a spot for walk ins and open mic each night, a regular spot for feature performers to build up a following, plus the pair will be on hand to help make the nights run smoothly, provide backing for soloists and to MC the event. Smashing the proverbial bottle of champagne against the proverbial hull on the proverbial maiden Musical Madness voyage on July 29 will be Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens, Johnny Huckle, If Angels were Architects, Friendly Yen and Pepper Jack. On August 5 The Bridge Between will be bashin’ it out alongside Friendly Yen, Bliss and Tim Maloney. From then onwards, expect Filthy McFadden’s to be reverberating with the sound of local music every Tuesday. For more info, or to get involved, email thebridgebetween@hotmail.com .

WHO DJ RUSH WHAT RELEASING CALIFORNIA DREAMING PT. 2 MIXTAPE WHERE ONLINE WHEN RIGHT NOW

After landing an internship with DJ Skee (The Game’s DJ) and The House of Hype, a PR company in Hollywood, local spinner and BMA alumnus DJ Rush jetted off to Los Angeles, Californ-eye-ay. While in Hollywood, Rush experienced both extremes of the city; from living in the ‘burbs on $12 a day, surrounded by crack heads and shootings, to celebrity basketball games, Magic Johnson poker tournaments, The Game recording sessions and Grammy after parties in P. Diddy’s penthouse at the Roosevelt Hotel. However, the man LA dubbed “The Australian Sensation” has returned to home soil to release his latest mixtape, California Dreaming Part 2, following the well-received mixtapes California Dreaming and Spader Mixtape. The mixtape showcases Cali and ACT talent alike, featuring cuts from MC Young Murph and local lad Omar Musa, as well as an intro from the regulator himself, Warren G. “It’s different to a lot of other mixtapes coming out,” Rush says. “You’ll fi nd a mix of R&B, soul, hip-hop and pop on there.” Sponsored by Boost Mobile, California Dreaming Part 2 is now available to download for free via www.myspace.com/djrushmusic . Hit it.

7 Akuna St

Canberra City

ALL SHOWS FREE ENTRY

bma magazine PH/FAX 6162 0899 / transitbar@gmail.com | www.myspace.com/transitbar

11

Your Head Will Nod:

To The Groove, To The Message Ben Hermann “You’re trying to point me in a particular direction aren’t you?!”

Jane Tyrrell, former guest vocalist and now permanent member of compelling Aussie hip-hoppers THE HERD chuckles a little under her breath when I ask her whether she thinks the group’s clever, yet often blunt and confronting political commentary, makes them exceptional among the Australian hip-hop scene.

“It’s always hard to say that you’re exceptional, but I think we are,” she fi nally adds. “The fact that we discuss political and social issues does make us more engaging.”

Although some musicians and fans may consider it somewhat of a faux pas for a group to refer to themselves as exceptional, it’s nevertheless a deserved label for a group who has been uncompromising in their musical creativity, and social and political commentary. From the single which fi rst brought them to the airwaves, Scallops, to their recent hit The King is Dead, The Herd were among the first Australian hip-hop groups to wear their Australian heritage (and accents) proudly on their sleeves, in the process bringing to life a scene and genre which had previously experienced troubles deviating from its North American counterparts’ obsession with bling, girls, cars and money. Returning to Canberra this August in support of their new album Summerland, The Herd’s determination and energy will undoubtedly ensure that this is a night not to be missed.

Although Summerland is the fi rst album for which Tyrrell has been a permanent member of The Herd, she is sure that the quality of songwriting and creativity is on yet a higher level than their past releases.

The group’s previous two albums, An Elephant Never Forgets and The Sun Never Sets, wedged them solidly into the headspace of many Australian music fans, not only for the lyrically confronting stance of songs like 77% (which, in the wake of the Tampa crisis in 2001, declared that 77% of Australians were racist), but also for their ability to infuse their hip-hop with a host of sometimes delicate, sometimes harsher musical infl uences.

“I look at Summerland as being a step up from The Sun Never Sets,” Tyrrell admits. “We’re all more mature. We used to outsource a lot of creativity, but this time we just focused on the band and the diversity within us to create the music.”

As expected from an inspired musician, Tyrrell mentions that the group did not set out with a particular “album” in mind when they began recording, but rather allowed the tone to set itself throughout the recording process.

“It’s always complicated with eight personalities and eight points of view, but it was a very organic process, all things considered. The idea you generally have at the start splits up into something else and then that splits up into something else and that pattern keeps going.”

Although Tyrrell is not a major lyric-writer for the group, she assures that the members’ rather consensual political views made songwriting as robust as ever before. “It’s strange, because you’d think that across eight people there would be clashes of political opinion, but I guess we all ended up together because we’re coming from the same place, so to speak. I’ve never witnessed or been involved in any clash of social or political view [within the band]. We’re all pretty unifi ed in that way.”

"We get people who come and dance to us at shows and then leave a message on our website, and it’s obvious that they’ve completely misunderstood the lyrics or just overlooked the major message.

But I think we can have an effect subliminally. ...they might gradually come to understand the message and the lyrics over a period of time" However, Tyrrell also admits that it was a little strange to be entering the group as the only female after the release of two highly successful albums. Although unsure exactly as to whether, or indeed how, she may have changed the group dynamics, she seems confi dent of the benefi ts her feminine infl uence introduced. “I think the things I wanted to explore were the sort of things they [the boys] wouldn’t want to talk about, but I think they found it good to have a female around. Especially when they got upset and argued, I think I sometimes helped calm them down,” she says, laughing.

With the new album fi nally out, the drive shows no sign of letting up. The Summerland tour will see them bring a new edge to their live performance in the form of animated backdrops, an element Tyrrell played a major role in.“I’m trying to use the style I’ve had a lot of experience with [which she later adds is printmaking and etching] to compliment the tracks. I look at what a particular song is discussing and try to accentuate that through an image; for example a visual landscape. We generally rave on between songs, so I guess I’m trying to illustrate that as well.”

Tyrrell goes on to add that the electric, bouncing live shows for which The Herd have become well known and much beloved help to reach out to different types of fans. “We get a lot of emails from people saying that we’re like a voice for them,” Tyrrell says. “But we also get people who come and dance to us at shows and then leave a message on our website, and it’s obvious that they’ve completely misunderstood the lyrics or just overlooked the major message. But I think we can have an effect subliminally. A lot of people will like us because of the music and our live shows, but like a lot of music, they might gradually come to understand the message and the lyrics over a period of time.”

With much of the Australian hip-hop and alternative music scenes seemingly in the palm of their hand, The Herd appear to have the valour, energy and motivation to continue to push their musical and lyrical boundaries. Their allure and uniqueness has come through their originality and willingness to confront, and pass, boundaries unmet by others, and so it is understandable that their only frustration seems to be when these characteristics are overlooked or cheapened. “I get annoyed when people try to put us in a box, or don’t understand us and don’t dig deeper into what we’re doing,” Tyrrell says. “We don’t always get the response that we’d like.”

The Herd play at the ANU Bar on Friday August 8, with special guests The Last Kinection and Horrowshow. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek for $27.70 plus booking fee. New album Summerland is out now on Elefant Traks through Inertia.

bma magazine 13

ALL AGES

A boogle…

Round up, round up one and all. But be warned, this is a big one.There has been a grubble to our fi ne city’s grounds. Roads, mountains and footpaths alike are cracking at the surface, for the past few months have simply been the calm before the storm. These are exciting times for us all: music lovers, music haters (not so much) and everybody in between. There are a few bands around this town that are about to reveal a chapter to this all ages scene of ours, casting upon those that are completely unaware.

Firstly, I would like to let you know that many things that have been in the so-called musical pipes are beginning to leak out at the joints, and a fl ood is inevitable.Bands like So Long Safety, Fistful Of Nothing, David Brown, Pleased to Jive You, Strong Like Sam, Los Capitanes and many more will be creating a mighty ruckus. And I put it to you to do all you can to promote the shit out of these shows so that together we can bring back a true musical community. There is nothing more satisfying.

Firstly, warm yourselves around the mighty fi re that will be theLanyon Youthie show on Friday July 25, featuring the likes of Afraid You’ll Fall, The Attendance (Syd), Ladies And Gentlemen (Syd) and The Black And White (Melb) all on the one bill. It’s a great opportunity to check out not only locals, but also the interstate bands that have travelled all this way for one night. Be there around 6pm, $5 will see you through the door. A nice cheap show,with a nice rich bill. Get on it.

After playing the Soundwave festival in February this year, hardcore heroes Carpathian have since spent months working on their newest album Isolation. This Melbourne band have already established their place in the Australian hardcore scene, supporting some of the biggest acts of the genre, both international and local, including Atreyu,

I Killed the Prom Queen and Parkway Drive. Since forming fi ve years ago, Carpathian have pulled fans from all around Australia and beyond, and with a national tour coming up to support the new release, they remain dedicated to pushing the REX BANNER hardcore scene forward.

Carpathian will be hitting up the Tuggeranong Community Hall with Break Even, The Broderick, Rex Banner and Homewrecker on Sunday August 3. Tickets from Moshtix.

After months of work, Fistful of Nothing will be launching their fi rst album People Of The 5th Dimension in early August. The launch will coincide with Fistful Of Nothing’s offi cial name change, which will be revealed at the launch. The launch of the album will entail a series of shows that will see some of Canberra’s best take to the stage. Shows on the 8th and 15th of August at both Belconnen and Woden Youth Centres will feature separate bills fi lled with some of this town’s most fi ne and diverse bands. Some that will be gracing the stages on the two nights include hardcore genius David Brown; the most original up-and-coming band in Canberra Pleased to Jive You; along with So Long Safety, who will be celebrating the launch of their EP Bear In Mind, I’m A Lion which is sure to shake some; Strong Like Sam will be playing their last show together and electronic duo Paqman will be travelling all the way from Melbourne to support all shows. It’s a true musical onslaught from all angles of the scene. Come and be a part of it all. There are some things that are rare in Canberra, this opportunity is one of them.

Lastly a big thanks to Dinah and DC. Who got the bigger thanks?

That’s up to you to decide.

JOSH MOLONY joshmolony@hotmail.com

LOCALITY It seems that I have found myself in Sydney, surrounded by pilgrims for World Youth Day. Trying to cross the barricaded George Street proved quite the traumatic experience for me. I think I accidentally joined a convent or something, because on the ten metre Frogger-like dash I was accosted by some VERY sweet looking nuns who asked me to sign something (oops) and proceeded to bless me while I was running away.

Then a group of Peruvian Catholics threw a cross at me. Well a cross necklace... is that assault?

Put on your drinking boots and listen carefully. Stonefest 2008 plans are well underway, and can you believe it, the Dandy (fucking) Warhols are heading to Canberra bash out some tunes at the festival, at the University of Canberra on October 31 and November 1.

Not bad ay? The line-up also includes Grinspoon, Faker, The Grates, Regurgitator, Alan Braxe, Bumblebeez, The Drones, Blue King Brown, Dexter, Kora, Spruce Lee, TZU, Fourthstate, Snobscrilla, Two Terrorble Tablists, and Ashleigh Mannix. Dare I say you’ve outdone yourselves, folks? Earlybird tickets are on sale as of July 17 to July 31 for $62.80 from all Ticketek outlets. Student tickets (UC/ANU/ CIT) will only be available from the UCU Printshop from July 22.

Get on to it!

Punk-ass kids listen up: there’s a good night on at the Transit Bar come July 31. Boomtown records new signee A Year To Remember are heading south for winter from their hometown of sunny QLD, to meet up with Kempsey and Afraid You’ll Fall, bringing the local element to the eve. Get down and check it out - rumour is it’s free, and it gets started at 8pm. Hearty congrats to the Kempsey lads too, as they've recently been picked up by the slightly saucily named Wonderlick Entertainment, who also handle the likes of Grinspoon, Josh Pyke and Airbourne. Hop on myspace.com/kempseymusic for some newish demos, which display a more, dare I say it, 'mature' sound. Nice.

KEMPSEY

A common appearance in this column around the very same time each year, Helloween is looming, around November time. This is the official callout to bands interested in participating in the line-up.

The show, on the back of last year’s success, is promising to be twice as spectacular and “twice the fun”. If you’re metal, rock, punk… or even just local and want a turn at instilling fear in the good people of CBR, then contact Jamie on 0418 398 556. He’s waiting by the phone to take your call. *wink* And local bands and fans take note: there’s a new music night on at Filthy McFaddens in Kingston. Tuesday nights will be the day to get down to see some great local live stuff. July 29 is the launch night, and so far features Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens, Johnny Huckle, If Angels were Architects, Friendly Yen, and Pepper Jack. The following week, August 5, prepare yourself for Friendly Yen, Bliss, Tim Maloney and The Bridge Between, the guys behind it all. You can fi nd extra info at www.thebridgebetween.com.au .

Keep your eyes, ears and bananas peeled…

CAZ DENNES cazzed@hotmail.com

bma magazine 15

DANCE: THE DROP

To the seven of you whose eyes aren’t glued shut by winter illness gunk, I welcome you to this edition’s instalment of Colume De Dance (translation: metal column).

Needless to say the biggest dance news is the announcement of this year’s Foreshore line-up, with the added, and extremely pleasing, knowledge that we won’t be missing out on a Canberra Presets gig after all. After being cruelly ignored on their recent spate of June/July shows, the boys Hamilton and Moyes will be gracing the Foreshore stage come Saturday November 29 at Commonwealth Place. I need not gobble up too much column space with the details here, as you can fl ick to the handsome double page spread at the start of the magazine for that. The thing to know is that tickets are a thoroughly thrifty $69.95 plus BF for fi rst release, and go on sale 10am Thursday July 31 from Landspeed, Moshtix, inthemix.com.au and Ticketek.

Three cheers to local proghouse lad James “Jaytech” Cayzer, who has just released his “eight years in the making” debut album Everything is OK. Featuring his fi rst foray into the world of vocals, I spoke to the man recently about his labour of love. “I’m very happy with it; I didn’t rush anything and wanted to wait until I had everything just right. I was never happy with my technical prowess with vocals – it’s tricky to get vocal lines, and the lyrics themselves, just right – until now, so it’s the two vocal tracks on the album I’m happiest with.”

JAYTECH

Jimbo, as he is lovingly called, describes the album as having a positive, uplifting sound, mirroring the rather cute cover artwork. “The album title was inspired by a photo, which was then used for the front cover. A large scale public pillow fi ght was staged, and taped round the side were these signs saying ‘Everything is OK’ to inform passers-by who might be alarmed at the sight. This one shot has the sign, and the pillow mayhem blurry in the background; it’s one of my favourite photos. I showed it to the guys at the label, we thought it would make a good album cover and title, so we tracked down the photographer, who was good enough to give permission to use it.”

Jimbo is swanning around the world on tour, currently residing in Wimbeldon, England. Git. His album is out soon.

On the gigs front, there’s a coupla “alternative” eves to indulge in. Local pant-swinger Brujo Gordon is fi ring up anew Latin night at Paparazzi along Franklin Street in Manuka (ex Company, ex FMs, ex ex ex…).

"These parties will be run by the best Latin DJs from Canberra and Sydney,” espouses Gordon. “We have several big events already planned for this year, including what will be the fi rst Salsa Musical, produced and directed in Australia and performed by Canberra’s best local dancers.

You will receive information about this audition soon!”

In the meantime, the pre-opening nights are on July 19 (already passed, obviously) and July 26, with Saturday August 16 being the offi cial launch. Expect dance performances, live percussion and many surprises, and all for a slender fi ver.

Slightly further down the track, you can enjoy Pure DJs presents BreakOut Lab, featuring DJ Filter from Inbound Records, Adelaide. “The music being played on the night is mainly soulful jazzy drum ‘n’ bass,” copromoter Duy-Nam told me. “But in the opening and closing hours of the event, we will be playing dub, chillout, broken beats and tech house.”

If that sounds like your thing, then circle Friday August 29 on your calendar, and mark down Mercury Bar in your diary. No, I don’t have a pen. Again, ‘tis but a trembling fi ve dollars entry.

There’s more. There’s always more. But you’ve had your fi ll for now ALLAN “GREEDY FOR THE VERSE” SKO

Tim Galvin ‘Mad’ MATT NUGENT is a true road warrior; his legend was born from the sandy dunes of Queensland, which he left to explore the Eastern Coast of NSW, docking his black pursuit special in Sydney where he has taken on audiences all the way to the Thunderdome and back again, including a rumoured love-in with Tina Turner. But the tale begins much earlier for this prodigal son of syncopation. “I started working in a record store when I left school, then moved into record companies, went back to managing the Central Station Records store in Brisbane then back to record labels. I’ve DJ’d on weekends since I was 18 so it was sort of a natural progression to work in dance music.”

His initial residency at superclub Family in Brisbane earned him the number two position in the state in the coveted ITM top 50 DJ poll, and a top 50 position nationwide, before he made the move to the neon signs and cheaper prostitutes of Sydney.

“I got to a point where I wanted another challenge and to try something new - giving Sydney a shot seemed like the obvious choice.

Luckily I was able to score a residency at The Laundry when I arrived and then later a residency at Onelove at Tank. I’m actually originally a Canberra kid though!”

Having built himself a bit of a reputation as a clubbing chameleon at The Laundry, playing hip-hop and funk upstairs then descending into the main room for a grinding electro set, I wonder where his heart does truly lie musically? “Hmmm, that’s a tough one, as it depends on the crowd; no point playing music you love if everyone in the room hates it. If it was a private party for close friends though I love playing classic hip-hop, funk and disco - cool disco, not cheese - and of course house music. So either underground house music or hip-hop/funk and disco.”

Matt has rubbed shoulders with the cream of the crop at his club gigs and during the national summer festival circuit at Good Vibrations, Summerfi eldayze, Vibes on a Summers Day, Two Tribes. Being such a festival whore, it’s puzzling to fi nd out that his favourite moments don’t include a trashy blonde exposing her nipples from the shoulders of a shirtless Gucciwearing orange man-ape in the breakdown of an Axwell classic.

“Warming up for Erick Morillo was definitely a highlight; there was also a Planet Funk gig on an Easter Thursday that really sticks out. Doing main stage at Good Vibrations in Brisbane a couple of years back was wicked, one of Summafi eldayze at the Gold Coast was amazing and there has been two awesome New Years Eves at The Laundry.”

Lately he has spent a lot of his time in the studio with partner-ingrime Nick Galea, having achieved chart success with remixes of The Potbelleez’ Junkyard, Mark Dynamix & Jaytech’s Destructor, Scenario Rock’s Skitzo Dancer and Jeff Drake and Nash T’s Rollover Rockstar.

“We’ve got an original on the go at the moment but are currently fi nding it hard to get time together in the studio as he’s in Brisbane and I’m in Sydney. So I’m looking at working with a couple of people this year; Mark Dynamix and I are working on a tune and I am working on a couple of solo remixes too.”

So what can Canberrans expect when the ‘best hair in Australian dance music’ returns to his home town? “In Australia we have a big mash up scene which incorporates Baltimore, fi dget, indie nu rave and French house stuff and it seems to be still going strong, but moving more in a melodic direction. The more international and big room sound to me is going more progressive, techier and deeper, which I really like the idea of. It all goes in cycles so it’s like it’s 1999/2000 all over again and going proggy.”

Matt Nugent plays Monkey Bar on Saturday July 26 with DJ Kiz, Tim Galvin and Trent Richardson. Doors 9pm, $10 before 10pm, $15 thereafter.

"The more international and big room sound is going more progressive, techier and deeper, which I really like the idea of. It all goes in cycles so it’s like it’s 1999/2000 all over again"

What a 'gent!

THA REALNESS Big news this month is that Muph and Plutonic are just about to release their highly anticipated third album …And Then Tomorrow Came on Obese Records. Their third full-length record together is highly original and incredibly mature, pushing boundaries with its fi rst class production which radiates with live instrumentation and head-nodding style. Muph’s deeply conscious approach to song writing has again progressed and we hear a man both at ease with his craft, but also not content to rest on his laurels. Muph and Pluto will push themselves further into the spotlight with their new album. …And Then Tomorrow Came is one of the most accomplished records I’ve heard in recent years. A future classic.

Tomohawk, one third of Perth’s legendary Clandestien, is also just about to release his debut solo album A Bitch Named Hip Hop through Shogun. With his much heralded lyrical intensity, Tomohawk uses the album to personify hip-hop as a woman – a multifaceted goddess with whom he shares a love/hate relationship. The album is entirely produced by Dazastah of Downsyde, who has assembled the record as a continuous mix. The album heavily features both Layla and Porsah Laine, who each contribute their own personal slant on the album’s concept. A Bitch Named Hip Hop is one of the most superior concept albums Australia has witnessed to date and also comes with a 12 page booklet of original illustrations by Tomahawk himself! A must buy!

Brisbane producer V has just cooked up a new vinyl EP simply entitled V-EP which combines his multi-instrumentalist talents with some of Australia’s best emcees including BMA, Thorts, Urban Monk and Lazy Grey. Hot off the heels of the brilliant Mankind album with Thorts last year, V has now joined the Karsniogenics Records camp in Brisbane, so expect big things from him in the future. The limited edition EP is out now!

Straight out of the Blue Mountains comes Two Toes with their debut album Cooking with Caustic out July 10, distributed through Obese Records. Comprising of MC Joe New (Former Down Under Beats Crew MC/2004 JJJ Unearthed winners) and producer Caustic Yoda (ex-BlindHoarse), the album is a mixture of pulsing club anthems, thick funk riffs and dark jazz with a strong emphasis on live instrumentation.

The album also features Thundamentals, Dialectrix and Host Manifest. The Blue Mountains is bubbling with talent at the moment, so don’t sleep on this one.

Tour wise, the almighty The Herd hit ANU Bar touring Summerland on August 8 with their unpredictable eight-person dynamic and a backdrop of visuals decorating the stage! Should be massive! The legendary True Jungle Souljahs continue their onslaught of quality gigs at the moment by bringing you a night full of class-A hip-hop beats and the fi ne art of turntable trickery with the return of theACT DMC Championships for 2008 at The Greenroom. With Newsense hosting, and support entertainment from $2 Scratchies, Dazed & Flawless, Carts2Deadly, Rhyministers and Maggot Mouf it is sure to be mega.

To hear music from all these releases and more, tune to The Antidote, Tues nights from 9:30 – 11pm on 2XX 98.3FM. ROSHAMBO

MUPH & PLUTONIC'S HIGHLYANTICIPATED THIRD LP HAS DROPPED

"No matter how much digital music and technology is out there, the DMCs will always be the premier rap scratching event on the socialite calendar"

Scratch Me Happy

Alistair Erskine

There is nothing greater, when it comes down to it, than an awesome block-party style hip-hop set. When veteran selectors Mexi and Nathan teamed up a few years ago to play as the $2 SCRATCHIES, perfection was pretty much achieved. Back in town to judge this year's ACT DMC DJ Finals, they had better get their explaining on: it’s been quite a while since they've graced the sound systems of Canberra to provide punters with the wonderful ‘live mixtape’ party sets they rocked around town a few years ago - just where have they been for the last few years?

“I’ve been DJing around a bit and running my design business Ninety Calibre, as well as helping my girlfriend with her jewellery and clothing companies Hayley Mei and Mayoress,” Mexi says. “I’ve been DJing for Maggot Mouf as well as playing regular gigs around [Melbourne],” Nathan informs me. Mexi explains that they get to play “every now and again, but because we’re still yet to actually release a mix tape, it’s hard to get bookings from promoters we don’t know personally. We’ve had more luck securing individual gigs lately.”

There was always a great party time, block party funk and respect-tothe-old-school nature in the records the $2 Scratchies chose to play and manipulate, but in these times of diversity and genre-bending, what new styles have these mixologists added to their crates? Mexi answers: “More and more new styles have been creeping into both our individual and our Scratchies sets lately, including dubstep, grime and the odd Baltimore track. But we still include a lot of classic and current hip-hop and dancehall tracks. I don’t think we’ll ever stick to the one style."

Scratchie Nathan was a two time ACT DMC Champ, so before returning to judge the comp, he offers some stage advice in what it takes to make it.

“It’s really stressful. That’s all I remember, just a hell of a lot of stressing. My best advice would be to try and make your six minutes fl ow as smoothly as possible. And no battle records would be nice.” Mexi chimes in,“I’ve never actually entered the DMCs before but I’ve watched plenty of the kiddies rap juggle and lobster scratch, so I’m pretty confi dent in my ability to judge."

But there was one thing that was bothering me. In this age of CD decks and Serato outselling turntables and vinyl by a humongous degree, has this left the DMC comp to be little more than a relic, a quaint activity held by overly precious traditionalists in the scene? Or does it still hold a medium of relevance as it did back in the '80s and '90s? Laughing, Nathan answers, “No matter how much digital music and technology is out there, the DMCs will always be the premier rap scratching event on the socialite calendar. I love windmill dancing to beat juggles.” Mexi offers, “Anyone can put Serato on ‘Relative’ mode and rock a beat juggle (myself included, haters!), but it takes a lot more skill and effort to compose and perform an innovative DMC routine. Whether or not anyone will still appreciate that in the next ten years is another thing entirely. As long as there are people running hip-hop workshops and organising all ages shows (and uploading YouTube videos), then the next generation of DJs will be educated enough to keep the art form alive. Otherwise future competitions may be restricted to iPod mixers.”

And for those paying attention, what’s the form guide looking like for this year’s competition? Mexi challenged, “Buick I s’pose. Who else is there? I’m a bit out of touch with the upcoming DJs in Canberra. I think that’s a good thing though, as I’ll be able to judge with a minimum of bias. Nationally, it will be interesting to see if Perplex can retain his title for another year.

Nathan offers, “The pressure’s on Buick this year to see if he can surpass our shared record of two straight wins. As I’m judging, it doesn’t seem likely.”

True Jungle Souljahs present the 2008 ACT DMC Championships at The Greenroom on Friday August 1, featuring $2 Scratchies along with Maggot Mouf, Newsense, Rhyministers, Carts2Deadly, Dazed & Flawless plus giveaways from Technics, Shifty's and Writer's Block. From 8pm, $20 entry.

“We listened to a lot of crap ’80s music. Crap but beautiful. Like Cliff Richards’ Wired for Sound”

The Man That New and Improved Gave a F--k The Man That Gave a F--k

“When you make something new, that’s when people really relate to it, because it’s from their time” Ben Hermann

As hordes of sauced girls and boys line up for their bourbon-and-Cokes at this year’s Splendour in the Grass Festival and sadly comment about Rudd’s notorious alcopop tax, the words being sung by HADOUKEN! lead vocalist James Smith on a nearby stage might spark a second thought for this predominantly dreaded tax. “There’s this perception that if you’re not drinking, then it’s a bad thing or a real shame,” Smith says. “It’s just so embedded in our culture.” Also addressing issues such as youth consumerism, musical commercialism and relationships, the Leeds-based group’s debut album Music For An Accelerated Culture is both lyrically and musically a vast melting pot of styles and infl uences.

And so although blunt condemnation of mild-altering substances isn’t the type of thing you’d expect to hear out of the mouth of a musician whose audience is slathered in masses of fl uoro attire and paraphernalia, questioning and breaking down barriers – both music and social – is one of the most important aspects which has seen Hadouken! sweep like a destructive twister through the UK music scene.

Taking infl uences from electronica, punk, new rave and grime, Hadouken! have been a slap in the face of a culture and scene which, in their opinion, has become rather complacent in recent years. “Dance-influenced music sounds really good at the moment. There’s been so much guitar music lately and it feels like it’s been pretty exhausted. We feel that dance music hasn’t been explored enough recently and that you should constantly look for things which are capable of being explored,” Smith says. Although Smith makes clear his belief that musical creation should always be concerned with legitimate creation rather than mere replication, he also suggests that it is the originality of a musical style that helps build the unique sense of ownership and relationship with it by fans. “When you make something new, that’s when people really relate to it, because it’s from their time,” Smith says. “As much as I enjoy all the music from the ’60s and respect it, I can’t say that I actually relate to it.”

Taking the title of their debut record Music For An Accelerated Culture from the title of Douglas Coupland’s 1990 book Generation X: Tales For An Accelerated Culture, Smith says that it was the phrase in particular, rather than the subject matter of Coupland’s book, which really resonated with the group. “The idea of an accelerated culture just feels so true. We’ve had a whole digital revolution since that book was written and now we’re living in a digital age, so it is our whole world which has become accelerated.”

The group released several singles and mix tapes between their formation in 2006 and the release of their debut album earlier this year. Now, less than six months since the release of Music…, Smith says that they are already writing for their sophomore effort. “Our creative process is quite impulsive in that we don’t map out where we’re going.

However, now that we’ve started the writing, it’s obvious that [then next album] will be even more dance-oriented than the others. It’s gonna take a lot of infl uence from what I grew up with – jungle and garage.

You might also hear some old funk and hip-hop records being pillaged as well.” So although Smith admits that, like most songwriters, he writes about what he observes and experiences, almost every sentence he utters refl ects his thirst for constant originality and creation. “If you’re doing something similar to what’s been done before, then it’s a real shame. If you want to make something, you have to constantly make sure that that is indeed what you’re doing.”

Hadouken! play at Splendour In The Grass, August 2 and 3 in Byron Bay. They will also play at the Forum in Sydney on Wednesday August 6. Music for an Accelerated Culture is out now on Warner Music.

Justin Hook

One of the joys of the telephone interview is getting your subject in vastly different time zones. An early morning call can result in sleepy rambles whilst evening calls can run the gamut from drunken tirades to thoughtful conversations full of ready-made quotes, quips and anecdotes. Then there are those interviews where you call the wrong number and waste valuable record company time and money waiting for a non-existent musician to materialise at the other end. Turns out that one digit is the difference between a Welsh pop magician and a random argumentative family somewhere in London, who either improbablely do have a family member called Gruff, or were simply too startled to tell the unusual Antipodean caller to sod off. Either way, I was afforded the luxury of eavesdropping on fi ve minutes ofCNN Market Wrap and a bit of domestic squabbling before realising my error and redialling. “Did you do an interview with them?” Gruff Rhys queries helpfully, after hearing of my celebrated dialling skills. I didn’t, but I managed to monitor my share portfolio for what it’s worth.

Gruff Rhys is engaging in that most celebrated of activities musicians stroke their egos with – the side project. Taking time out from fronting psych folk rockers Super Furry Animals, Rhys has paired up with LA based producer Boom Bip under the guise of NEON NEON to celebrate the life of infamous car inventor, toucher of blonde women and trafficker of cocaine John De Lorean - inventor of the wing-doored car that bears his name and stars in the Michael J Fox classics Back to the Future I-III. Rich pickings as Rhys informs me: “Obviously De Lorean was an extremely dodgy guy, but he was a very inspiring subject to write about.

He kind of pioneered some of the less savoury aspects of life in the 21st century - completely obsessed with celebrity culture.” Like the inspiration himself, Neon Neon’s debut album is a shiny clarion call from 20 years ago, or as Rhys prefers, “It’s a fantasy party record! It’s a completely reckless record – glorifying cars and right wing traditionalists like John De Leroan. It’s just an album about a very fl awed human being.”

Neon Neon come from the world of 12 inch remixes, Air Jordans and the ‘Keytar’, and like anyone recording a concept album about a questionable character, the famously eclectic songwriter really suffered for his art. “We listened to a lot of crap ’80s music. Crap but beautiful.

Like Cliff Richards’ Wired for Sound.” It would be around this point that most people would throw down their Walkman in disbelief, but he’s serious. “We didn’t want to make a parody record. There’s a genuine love of people like New Order and Prince. We were earnestly into it all and quite militant in keeping the record shiny and leaving the darker, more ethereal sound off the record.” Indeed it was the darker material that pleased Rhys the most, despite the fact it never actually made it on the record. “I felt it was some the best things I have ever recorded – but it wasn’t the right vibe.” Who knows, maybe they’ll turn up on a period referencing B-Side of a forthcoming 12” Single.

Neon Neon tour nationally alongside Goldfrapp, Soulwax, Peaches, Dizzee Rascal, Does it Offend You, Yeah? and more as part of Parklife, which touches down at Moore Park in Sydney on Sunday October 5. Tickets from www.parklife.com.au . Stainless Style is out on Lex Records via inertia.

“We just wanna party and put out jams that provide the soundtrack to the best night ever! Laybacks, nudity, gun shots, sirens, air horns, hard claps... and a whole lotta humpin’!”

Their Humps Tim Galvin Technotronic had it all wrong; why Pump it Up when you can Hump it Up?

THE HUMP DAY PROJECT (whose name comes from a message scrawled on the toilet door at The Stonewall in tranny red lipstick) are a rhythmic threesome consisting of Canberra ex-pat Steve 'Mutha Fuckin' Lind and 'The' Heath Jansson from Sydney trio The Impossibles. At this stage you are probably thinking "threesomes normally have three people, right?" Well, the third member is… you.

With Baltimore bursting all over the face of clubs worldwide, the two Chinese Laundry residents came together in a sonic love explosion which resulted in their initial collaboration. “Our eyes met across a crowded dance fl oor. At that moment time stood still for what seemed like an eternity. We slowly moved towards each other, drawn together like crack heads to the pipe. Then the DJ played our favourite song and we turned to one another and said 'Hey, we should remix that,' and we’ve been doing it ever since. It was a straight up remix of the Potbelleez’ Don’t Hold Back. It went down really well so we decided to share it. The Potbelleez dug it so much they still use it as the intro to all their sets! We love to rework new and classic club tunes. We did a booty of the Chemical Brothers’ Hey Boy, Hey Girl which is currently getting plays by the likes of A-Skillz, Stanton Warriors and The Utah Saints, who recently included it on their mix for BBC radio 1.”

Contrary to the Today Tonight special exclusive, their lawyers have advised me to communicate the message that ‘playing together live’ doesn’t happen in front of a mirror at your house, as they explain: “We DJ back-to-back, tag team style and really just bounce off each other (sometimes literally) using 3 CDJs, mixer and sampler. I think the term ‘live’ is thrown around more than a whore on a damp mattress!”

Like ass-fixated love gods, they have proven that they can turn anything into a booty, having given the hump to artists such as The Chemical Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Jeff Drake & Nash T and Stupid Fresh just to name a few. So it was only a matter of time before some original material slid down the pipeline.

“Well we have our fi rst offi cial release coming out on Andrew Friendly’s UK-based label Gulp Communications in the next couple of months. For it we hooked up with these post-punk, hip-hop wannabe, art-school dropouts from New York City called The Black Peter Group and remixed their track It’s Fucked Up. The original has a sorta neo country, rockabilly, rap-rave kinda feel so we turned it into a straight up Baltimore club track. We have just received news that our remix of Gameboy/Gamegirl’s tune Fruit Salad will be getting released on Ajax’s uber-cool label Sweat It Out as well, which is well pimpin’!”

Listing their heroes as ’70s porn, the red guy from Tron and Duck Johnson, it was interesting to fi nd out what swayed them towards the South American wiggle step genres of Baltimore and Miami Bass. “It all kinda started when we met and hung out with Tittsworth when he was out here. Tittsworth is regarded as one of the pioneers of Baltimore club and he has taken on sort of a mentoring role for us. We also just love the rawness. It’s reminiscent of the early days of hip-hop where it was all about keepin’ it real and having a party! Dance music these days can get a little too serious… We just wanna party and put out jams that provide the soundtrack to the best night ever! Laybacks, nudity, gun shots, sirens, air horns, hard claps... and a whole lotta humpin’!”

The Hump Day Project rocks Monkey Bar on Saturday August 2 with DJs Kiz, Tim Galvin and Trent Richardson. $10 entry, doors at 9pm.

PUNKSKA Making your baby a demon since 2001, it’s the punk ‘n’ ska news.

“You write about what you know and what you see. It’s that simple”

First, some gig news. US punkers, The Gaslight Anthem make the long trip out to The Greenroom on July 31. Visit www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem for a taste test. Melbourne’s A Death In The Family journey from south of the border to back them up.

SoCal punks Unwritten Law and Sprung Monkey are playing The Venue (Lic/AA) on August 9. Tickets available through Ticketek.

If you can’t wait that long, The Bastard Sons Of Liberty return to the local live scene sporting a shortened, punkier name (The Bastards), at The Pot Belly on Saturday July 26 (yes, that’s this weekend!). Joining them will be special guests Il Bruto.

After forming in October 2004, and recently releasing their Dead End album on Common Bond Records, Canberra’s Hard Luck are calling it a day. Refusing to go out with a whimper, but with a bang, HARDLUCK the band hit the road for an East Coast tour with Perth’s Battletruk, new Brisbane hardcore mob Pressure’s On, and Canberra-comrades Slowburn.

Canadian anarcho-punks Propagandhi are recording the follow-up to 2005’s Potempkin City Limits soon. Bass-playing vocalist Todd Kowalski recently posted online, “We currently have about 14 songs on the go and they are all really exciting! We will record in October!”

2-Tone pioneers, The Specials may yet reunite to do some shows later this year, if vocalist Terry Hall’s statements on BBC Radio 6 can be believed. Unlike previous abortive efforts to reunite, this one seems most likely to succeed, after Hall and fellow Special Lynval Golding performed together onstage with Britpop princess Lily Allen. Check out the following link to see their performance of The Specials’ smash hit debut single Gangsters with Ms. Allen at the Glastonberry Music Festival last year, and watch for Billy Bragg skankin’ in the background! http://ruderadio.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/moving-picturesmonday-specials-with-lily-allen/ July 1980: The Selecter leave 2-Tone Records and take up residency at Chrysalis. They had wanted to dissolve the label, a company they helped form with The Specials, completely. In a statement, the group said, “Every 2-Tone single has reached the charts. This is a situation which The Selecter feel is ultimately stifl ing new talent, leading bands to feel that they need to stereotype themselves into what they believe to be the 2-Tone sound… 2-Tone was intended to be an alternative to the music industry, a label that took risks and, we hope, injected some energy into what had become a stale music scene.

The time has come when we want to take risks again.” The group was also disillusioned with all the ‘rip-off’ merchandising that was going on without their approval. Thousands of items with the band and company logo were being sold without proper permissions. They concluded that… “at least a lot of sharks will be stuck with a load of 2-Tone/ Selecter badges and ties that we hope no-one will buy.”

Oi Oi that’s yer lot!

SIMON HOBBS Next deadline is August 21. Send news, gig promos and abuse to rudebwaay@gmail.com

Ben Hermann

What a Gas!

“I think old people like us because we’ve very supportive of the elderly and their rights. We walk ladies across the street all the time.” It might be obvious that Brian Fallon, lead vocalist/guitarist for New Jersey’s most recently exported punk act THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM, is trying to give me a bit of a stir-up for asking him on his thoughts about his group being described as a ‘mature’ punk group. However, I then realise that if any punk group would be more than happy to help the geriatrics across the road, it would be The Gaslight Anthem. “I think punk is for everyone and at the moment we draw fans from the ages of 15 to 50. We’re for everyone. No exclusions.”

Coming to Australia for the fi rst time in the coming weeks as a part of their year-long support of their 2007 debut release Sink or Swim, the group’s lyrics might sound a little different, a fact which Fallon attributes to their desire to keep their music in the ‘present’, in a sense. “Sink or Swim was a snapshot of a time in our lives. The songs mean a lot of new things and some of the same things to us,” Fallon says. “However, sometimes live, the lyrics are slightly altered to better describe the immediate as well. We’re very proud of that record but we’re at a totally different place than when we recorded it. Back then there were some ‘lean times’.”

The group’s music has been lauded by critics and fans alike for its refi ned yet complex punk style, which takes strong infl uences from musi cians such as Tom Waits, Wilson Pickett, Joe Strummer and, most notably, Bruce Springsteen. Although the slightly folk tinge of their music has brought many comparisons with Against Me!, Fallon suggests that their differences should be quite obvious to the discerning listener. “Well, we both mixed punk and rock, but they took more of a folk/country-meets hardcore punk like Crass, whereas I’ve never listened to Crass or Hank Williams in my life,” Fallon admits. “We’re more Mitch Ryder, Ben E. Kingmeets-The Clash. We have a more romantic sound. They are the fighters and we’re the lovers.” The group’s music is also regularly compared to the supposedly distinctive New Jersey sound, however when I admit my ignorance of this particular sound to Fallon, once again I’m met with an answer which, although slightly sarcastic, hints slightly at a deeper meaning. “The New Jersey ‘sound’ is really just car horns and fi re trucks… we talk about our scene because it’s where we’re from and we’re proud of that. We’ve got great history.”

Since the release of Sink or Swim, the group has also released an EP entitled Senor and the Queen which, much like the group’s past music, was obviously created from and for a particular moment of time, specifi cally a hot, love-filled New Jersey summer. “The EP is about romance, and it just happened to take place in New Jersey because that’s where I was. Our new record mentions California quite a bit, because again, that’s where I was. You write about what you know and what you see. It’s that simple.”

The most exciting aspect of The Gaslight Anthem is undoubtedly the feeling I get from Fallon that the group’s constant new experiences will never cease to provide song-writing fodder for a group whose music and lyrics are fresh and engaging. The group might not know where they’re going, but they seem to know what they’re looking for. “We’re on the train to Stax Records territory,” Fallon says. “To quote Joe Strummer, we’re looking for that ‘great jazz note to take down the walls of Jericho’.”

The Gaslight Anthem play the Greenroom on Thursday July 31. They will be joined by Melbourne lads A Death in the Family and locals Lamexcuse.

Tickets are on sale from Moshtix and Landspeed. Sink or Swin is out now on Resist Records

On Solid Ground

"There were a million moments when butting heads with Crafter, who sang for the band for a brief stint, that I was on the verge of quitting music eternally. I’m glad I didn’t" John Hatfi eld Ever since I’ve known of CARPATHIAN, it seems they’ve been losing and gaining members. In fact in the eight or so times I’ve seen them play, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the same line-up more than twice.

It’s gotten to the point now where vocalist Marty is the only original member left. Thankfully in early 2008, a steady line-up was locked down and the band travelled to Boston to record their upcoming second album Isolation.

Going by the two new songs put onto the bands Myspace page, Isolation signals somewhat of a large change in Carpathian’s sound, a more matured modern hardcore, free from the breakdown structure that has become a cliché in the genre.

“The two tracks on the Myspace are both similar in feel to Isolation,” Marty explains, “where as the rest of the album has some different elements again. The new sound came about with the introduction of new members and the need to push the band forward with new energy in a positive direction. From an outside perspective, I guess it could be seen as a big change in our sound. For me and the members of the band it’s been an obvious, natural progression. It’s been a long time between releases and this is what Carpathian sounds like in 2008. For a while, what the band was doing didn’t feel too right to me, so Isolation is the fi rst stepping stone of a new, more powerful direction.”

An integral part in their new sound was American producer Jay Maas, who led the band to Boston to record - an opportunity that provided the break in routine Carpathian needed.

“Jay had recorded records for bands such as Shipwreck AD and Verse that I was into - both the bands and the production, more than anything the guitar sound. I knew Jay would bring a different energy and viewpoint to the band’s production, especially as he had no idea who we were and was just excited to produce a big sounding record.

Recording in the states was simply a holiday and a chance to do things differently for the band. If we’d done it in the same environment in Australia, it likely would have had a stale and boring effect on our recording time. And we wanted to be as enthusiastic and energetic as possible during the recording process.”

Being not only the frontman but the only constant member of the band, Marty admits to, at times, feeling the pressure of holding together a line-up that was outliving it’s use. “After our European tour with Parkway Drive and On Broken Wings, and our original bassist deciding to leave the band, I wanted to either change names or quit the band entirely. Also, there were a million moments when butting heads with Crafter, who sang for the band for a brief stint, that I was on the verge of quitting music eternally. I’m glad I didn’t.”

Given the history of varied line-ups this band has had, the future is anything but certain, although Marty seems enthusiastic about the current members remaining together. “This line-up, more than ever, is on the same page about where we are at with the band and where we want to go - I can’t speak for everyone as anything can happen, and this band is the proof! The tour starts in a week, maybe by the end of it someone will have quit to fi nd solace in a ‘real life.’ But I doubt it.”

Carpathian launch Isolation at the Tuggeranong Community Centre with Break Even, The Broderick, Rex Banner and Homewrecker. All ages, tickets from Moshtix. Isolation is out on August 2 through Resist Records.

COMING SOON: WED August 20th

PETE MURRAY + GIN WIGMORE TUES September 2nd

GYROSCOPE

+ SHIHAD & SUGAR ARMY SUN September14th

BIRDS OF TOKYO + SPECIAL GUESTS THURS October 9th

HOLLY THROSBY + SPECIAL GUESTS

July/August STATE OF THE ART VII feat.

DRAPHT (WA),

FRI July 25

MIND OVER MATTER (SYD) & 360 (MELB)

SAT July 26

ESCAPE SYNDROME + THE NUMINUS & BARBARIAN $10

TUES July 29

FRI Aug 8

+ COPTIC SOLDIER, ALIKEMINDS, HOUSE OF REPS, WAX LYRICAL & DJ's ILL K & OLD SCHOOL AL $22

GRAF ORLOCK (USA)

+ 4 DEAD & ROBOTOSAURUS $12 ENTRY

THE HERD

+ SPECIAL GUESTS TIX ON SALE NOW @ TICKETEK $27.70*

*Tickets thru Ticketek. Transaction fees apply.

Pre-purchase tickets & guarantee entry!

Unchained Melodyssey "I don’t care if you think you sound like you’ve swallowed a large echidna… at a Melodyssey show everyone’s in the band!"

Scott Adams Gold Coast quartet MELODYSSEY have been ‘at it’ for ten years now, and have to their credit stuck to their guns in the face of almost universal apathy… which is good news, for the wait for their new album The Two Windows has indubitably been worth the blood, the sweat and, indeed, the undoubtedly shed tears that such an undertaking inevitably takes as it’s due. Put simply, if you love that vague genre ‘modern rock’, then you’re going to worship this sucker. Hell, fans of any form of rock music from AC/DC to ZZ Top (or, probably more suitably given the modern nature of said opus, from AFI to Zarach 'Baal' Tharagh) will fi nd something to like, if not downright love, within the ten tracks to be found on TTW, so I decided to fi nd out a bit more about the band and it’s impending Greenroom appearance via the gift of what we in the trade term an ‘interview’. Take it away, then, singer Lance Howard – this is a very varied, and forward looking album, no?

“It’s rock music - it is what it is. I love everything from Björk to death metal, so…” Bassist Dan Vincent, anything to add to that? “We didn't set out to write to a specifi c style or genre. I think our songwriting process is infl uenced more by feelings, emotions and experiences as opposed to tastes and music.” Hang on, drummer Luke Williams is jostling his way forward to add his ha’porth on the subject. “We all listen to an incredibly diverse cross section of music; I guess the varied sound of the record is a result of that. We also like to push ourselves artistically and prove that we’re not just one trick ponies. We defi nitely went for a more musical approach on this record to try and convey the kind of emotions that these songs were bringing us.”

Before I get the chance to change tack I have to give way to guitarist Clint Vincent (in the interests of fairness, you understand), who also has views on what may just have become the most pertinent (to interviewees) question I’ve ever asked. “It is the result of different tastes, different goals, different feelings and many other things. We all write these songs, yeah some people have more ideas than others, but all in all Melodyssey is like a stew.You put a little of everyone in. In some songs your fl avour might bestronger than in others. But also, I think a lot of our sound on this album came from emotions and things happening in the world rather than music.”

And there’s the rub. It’s no fl uke that three out of four members used the word ‘emotion’, or variants thereof, in their answer to that simple question, for on TWW you’ll fi nd some of the most rawly emotional and sincere music you’ll hear this year. Indeed, this writer’s hairs were positively priapic in their back-of-the-neck stiffness on the first hearing of such soon-to-be-classics as The Constant Rain and Same Insane, and I’m positively salivating at the prospect of seeing such bona fi de stompers in their live incarnations. Space prevents me from enthusing further about the record, but in closing I’ll leave the last word to Lance: The Greenroom – should we be excited?

“Yes! If you come to the show be prepared to sing along. I don’t care if you think you sound like you’ve swallowed a large echidna… at a Melodyssey show everyone’s in the band!”

Melodyssey play at The Greenroom on Friday August 8 with Sydney's Kindrid and locals Moh Van Wah. Tickets are $10 plus booking fee from Moshtix or $15 on the door. The Two Windows is out now on Modern Music through MGM.

BLACKBOX

If you don’t like sport or re-runs of the crap Star Wars fi lms (likePhantom Menace), stock up on DVDs. Now. The Olympics is ‘just days away’. Buried somewhere within Prime’s 127-page press kit was the revelation that from the Opening Ceremony (Prime, Fri Aug 8, 9pm) to the Closing Ceremony (Prime, Sun Aug 24, 10pm), the network will have wall-to-wall coverage. Beijing is two hours behind so live coverage will start in the morning and run until bedtime. And there’ll be no Dream this time around. Of course, never ones to miss the action, Sunrise (Prime, 6am, Mon-Fri) - the only show not really affected by live coverage - will be broadcasting from Beijing from August 4.

Even Auntie, who usually couldn’t give a stuff about ratings, will take the Working Dog’s political staffer satire Hollowmen (ABC, Wed, 9.30pm) off air during the games. SBS will join in the action with Olympic team sports such as handball, beach volleyball, women’s basketball and football as well as boxing and cycling.

Cue cheering from the bleachers - Big Brother is over. And perhaps after the dismal ratings, it will mean an end to the torture (and Kyle and Jackie O’s telly career). This year’s contestants are such duds that SCTEN has used footage of original housemates like Sara Marie in the promos.

McLeod’s Daughters (WIN, Wed, 8.30pm) has returned for its fi nal season - about time too, with the original daughters far, far away.

Top Gear (SBS, Mon, 7.30pm) has become such a staple part of the Black Box diet, it often doesn’t get the glory it deserves. Watch out for two upcoming episodes - the boys take on the Britcar 24-hour enduro with their own biodeisel (Jul 24) and turn an electric car into a radiocontrolled vehicle just for sport. Don’t miss it.

The magnifi centFlight of the Conchords (SCTEN, Sun Jul 27, 10.40pm) is winding up. Yes, it took a while to get into a groove with this show but once it got under the skin it featured prominently on The Black Box ‘don’t miss even if your pants are on fi re’ list. AhhJermaine, Brett and Murray, especially Murray - we’ll be waiting for the next fan club meeting. Also fi nishing up isMark loves Sharon (SCTEN, Mon Aug 4, 10.30pm) which, although it had its moments, is a large comedic ocean away.

Also getting the quick wind-up through double episodes is Lipstick Jungle (Prime, Sun Jul 27, 9.30pm).

After just bringing Futurama to the screen, SCTEN has removed it from the schedule to bring back the last eps of Rules of Engagement (SCTEN, Thu Jul 24, 7.30pm) and Back to You (SCTEN, Thu Jul 24, 8pm).

If you like Xtreme sports, check out Ice Road Truckers (SCTEN, Sat 6.30pm), except it’s not a sport, it’s a job, and these guys are more crazy than your average boardrider.

The mY Generation series takes a look at Student Politics in Electioneering (SBS, Wed Aug 6, 8pm) and living online with Age of Avatars (SBS, Wed Aug 6, 10.05pm) while Virtual Adultery and Cyberspace Love (SBS, Wed Aug 6, 10.35pm) looks at what happens when it all goes too far.

Looking for something to do on a cold and miserable Sunday afternoon? Check out Australia’s Celtic Country (SCTEN, Sun Aug 3, 3pm) where Mal Leyland visits New England - if you haven’t got a fire at home there’s bound to be one here to make you feel cosy - and Journeys to the Ends of the Earth (SCTEN, Sun Aug 3, 4pm) where David Adams searches for living indigenous culture in remote places.

Pants on fi re playlist:Dexter (SCTEN, Sun, 9.40pm), Burn Notice (SCTEN, Mon, 9.30pm) Hollowmen (ABC, Wed, 9.30pm).

Don’t miss This is Your Life Presents… Bert’s 70th Birthday (WIN, Wed Jul 23, 7.30pm). Yes it will be full of old farts but that won’t stifl e Bert’s wit.

TRACY HEFFERNAN tracyheffernan@bigpond.com

"It’s the little things within a band that are diffi cult to control and without central values that everyone holds, it can all fall apart with too much diversity in views and values. It was all so slippery"

Titanic Days Cecilia Pattison-Levi It’s safe to say MARK SEYMOUR is an Australian music icon.

Formally the singer and frontman for Hunters and Collectors, one of Australia’s greatest ever live bands, Mark has enjoyed a long solo career, releasing six albums and performing all ‘round the country - with less band drama now, as he only has himself to worry about!

For fans of Mark Seymour, a real highlight of one of his concerts is right at the very end, where he invites the entire audience to join him in a sing-a-long on his classic songs. His songs have become anthems; the likes of Holy Grail, When the River Runs Dry, Throw Your Arms Around Me, Talking to a Stranger, Say Goodbye, Do You See What I See and so many others are now Australian staples. Hunters and Collectors lasted for an amazing 17 years as a band, breaking up in 1998 after sell out farewell concerts across Australia. But Mark, ever prolifi c, refused to merge back into the shadows like the rest of the band. With six solo albums, work for fi lms, a new book, environmental activism and a hard work ethic, he continues to tour, focusing on a mix of full band and acoustic performances.

“The show in Canberra will be a more acoustic type of set,” says Mark.

“I will probably decide what I will play on the night. I like to mix it up a little, no real setlist or anything, but I include the entire last new album, then a mix of songs from my older solo albums and songs from the Hunters era.” And what a back catalogue to choose from. “Yeah,” says Mark, “I must admit to being very lucky with having a big choice of songs to pick from. I know people want to hear the old Hunters songs as well and I am proud I wrote songs that people really relate to.”

Mark has just written a book about his 18 years on the road with Hunters and Collectors called Thirteen Tonne Theory. It is about the energy and the mysteries within a band’s dynamics: dynamics that bore wonderful songs, but forces that, in the end, caused the band’s disintegration. “The book is doing really well,” says Mark. “The publishers were a bit worried about who or what type of people would buy this type of book. But it is into its second print run and I always get good feedback on the book and get told it’s a page turner. I guess the real reason people are interested in the story of Hunters is why it all ended. But, it is important to realise that it’s the little things within a band that are diffi cult to control and without central values that everyone holds, it can all fall apart with too much diversity in views and values. It was all so slippery.”

“For me, the important part of my life is my family, solo work and the environment we live in,” says Mark.“I mean look what is happening with the desalination plant in South Gipsland. It will be an environmental disaster unless we do something to open up the debate about water, climate change and the type of power we use. We just need to be more aware of our actions and try to live a more sustainable life.” Mark’s values really shine through in his awareness of social action for social good, and it becomes apparent that there is only one Mark Seymour - one of the true innovators of the Australian music scene.

Mark Seymour plays at Top of the Cross, Southern Cross Club Woden on Thursday August 7. Dinner and show from 7pm, show from 8.30pm.

Bookings on 6283 7288. His book Thirteen Tonne Theory is out now on Penguin and his new album Titanic is out now on Liberation music.

THEATRE COLUMN While Theatre Column has been more than a little neglectful of the plenary responsibilities of criticism with regard to actually seeing shows (blame the thesis deadline looming like a hooded and bloodied executioner and/or the effect of gin on the cerebral cortex), there has been a delightful sprouting on the scene of late that would have been a treat to see.* The Year of Magical Thinking breezed into town and out again like a blue-ribbon zephyr, Cathy Petocz’s Open House residency The Booth stormed CYT for one night only with theatrical-installation-originality, Ickle Pickle’s The Emperor’s New Clothes fi lledThe Street with the shrieks of entertained sprogs-on-hols, while NUTS’s production of Brendan Cowell’s Bed (which I actually managed to get to) built from a base of solid performances to awesomeness of the proportions of, if not a heaven-scraping duomo, then at least a duplex.

From The Ground Up There’s a new company putting their noses to the N.C. theatrical grindstone: Freshly Ground Theatre (right). The brainchild of Remy Coll and Sam Floyd, FRESHLY GROUND THEATRE this embryo enterprise will be serving up their fi rst production, an original piece titledA Fair Arrangement that has something to do with adultery. It’s on soon so get excited!

Freshly Ground Theatre presents A Fair Arrangement by Sam Floyd, directed by Remy Coll. Featuring Bryony Stokes, Tom Watson, Jasmine De Martin and Sam Floyd. QL2 Theatre at the Gorman House Arts Centre from July 30 to August 9. Presumably at 8pm. There’s a charity preview on the 29th. Tix $11/ $9. What a bargain! For bookings and info call 0450 067 322 between 5 and 8pm.

Role Call Speaking of originals and adultery, Canberran Bruce Hoogendoorn’s new play debuts at The Street this week. The Role Model centres on swimming wunderkind Scott Martin, who is forced to take desperate PR measures (ie., mentoring depressed urchins) after being caught in fl agrante delicto with his best mate’s wife. Should be a treat.

The Rude Mechanicals and The Street Theatre present The Role Model by Bruce Hoogendoorn, directed by Ian Hart. Running tonight ’til August 2, Wednesday to Saturday @ 8pm. Matinees Saturday July 26 and August 2 @ 2pm. Tix $25/$21, student rush $15. Info and bookings call the Street B.O. on 6247 1223.

My Sister, My Brother Another newbie: Quantum Leap, that stalwart of youth dance radness, has a new show coming to the stage. Headed up by AD Ruth Osborne and dramaturged by CYT maestro Pip Buining, My Sister, My Brother brings together work and ideas of some of Oz’s top choreographers together with original music compositions and video design. QL usually put out top-hole stuff so if that’s what you’re into, get into it.

Quantum Leap presents My Sister, My Brother at The Playhouse from Wednesday July 30 to Saturday August 2 @ 7pm. Thursday and Friday performances also at 10.30am, and matinee Saturday at 2pm.

Tix $22/$18/$15. $60 for a family of 4. Call Canberra Ticketing on 6275 2700 or head to the website: www.canberratheatre.org.au .

What else?... Theatre Tidbits Phoenix Players’ A Chorus Line is on at Theatre 3 ’til August 2, phone 6257 1950 for bookings… the ANU Mandarin Society is bringing Secret Love In Peach Blossom to The Street from July 31 to August 2… Canberra Dramatics presents another original, Mrs Holt, at The Street from August 7 to 16… AND… Free Rain hit the stage once more with Chekhov’s Three Sisters, opening mid-August at the Courtyard Studio.

NAOMI MILTHORPE princessnaea@gmail.com *Had I actually gotten out of the offi ce to see it. Natch.

DISCOLOGY SINGLED OUT

WITH DAVE RUBY HOWE Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown No Air (Sony BMG) There’s a slew of easy jokes that I could hit with my pinky-toe if I was bound, gagged and blindfolded. Something about the song being lifeless as all fuck, or maybe something about me needing to be resuscitated after hearing this arse. But what’s the point?

This is just a pile of shit.

Katy Perry I Kissed A Girl (EMI) OMGZ! I kissed a girl! We were @ Brody’s house, having tekilla (sp? LolZ!) shots, listening to that awse Presets CD, Apocalypticoco. Gr8 CD! I luv the Presets! Can’t b-leve this is their first album! I luv that song My People, that’s totally my anthem, Looo00ooo0oL!!11!

Then Tyler dared me to pash Kelly, and I was like, ‘what? omgz! No way! I’m not sum freaky dyke-slut!’ but then Kelly totally grabbed me and pashed me! I know! But strange thing is, I liked it. I’m not ghey or nuthin’ but it was heaps of fun Bcoz the guys all think it’s well hott and will totally shout you loads of drinks and fi nger you later. You hrd that song, bye that new Katy Perry chick? That’s totes my nw anthem!

ROFL. Gotta go to dinner, spew! Call me l8r? Kthxbi!

Pnau ft. Ladyhawke Embrace (Etc Etc) This could be the tune of the year had the Presets not released This Boy’s In Love. Simply put, this is huge. It swirls around and around, dizzyingly wonderful, as Littlemore and Mayes hook up with Ladyhawke to bring us such a pristine and gorgeous electro anthem.

I don’t throw term around often, but that’s exactly what this is.

An electro anthem.

Sneaky Sound System Kansas City (Independent) This shit got real old real quick, didn’t it? Damn. But I guess the mainstreamers hitting their fi rst pill will dig how Sneaky Sound System have essentially released the same song fi ve times now.

Vanessa Amorosi Perfect (Universal) Nobody told Vanessa that April Fool’s Day is actually in April. Oops. You don’t actually have a career.

The Herd The King is Dead (Elefant Traks) Of the 36 stratagems, retreat is sometimes the best. So says the Chinese proverb thrown into Urthboy’s opening verse to The King is Dead. While it may not have been John Howard’s chosen strategy, he did last 12 years before his recent exit, and this is The Herd’s anti-tribute to that golden era of the GST, attacks on unions and universities, border security, and of course war. The King is Dead features The Herd’s trademark tongue-twisting, intellectual rap lyrics, and nice female vocals from newest member Jane Tyrell, whose soulful voice defi nes The Herd’s latest evolution.

STEVIE EASTON

Aimee Mann @#%&*! Smilers (Superego) Aimee Mann returns with her new album Smilers. This album is peppered with wonderful writing and catchy melodies, all of which remind us just how brilliant Mann is.

The dirty-mouthed title should tell you she’s lost none of her acidic wit and worldly wisdom. All the songs are big, classic pop tunes. There are few who could have written “You love me like a dollar bill/You roll me up and trade me in” and make it sound so defi ant, so meaningful. The songs on this album are some of the best tracks she has crafted in years.Truly outstanding!

CECILIA PATTISON-LEVI Angelspit Blood Death Ivory (Dancing Ferret Records) Hell is not a dysfunctional marriage, it is Room 101. Marilyn Manson may have forgotten this, but Angelspit know it all too well. Their spark in the Sydney underground became a fi re, became a mushroom cloud of white noise. On Blood Death Ivory, as before, the two-piece Angelspit target propaganda, consumerism and exploitation.

Especially exploitation. This is music that takes itself seriously, but never succumbs to dirge. If you thought Destroyx couldn’t get any angrier than on Skinny Little Bitch, wait until you hear her sing Girl Poison. Vocalist/multiinstrumentalist ZooG matches the lyrical intensity with martial beats, crunching bass and buzzsaw synths.

Blood Death Ivory is better, meaner and leaner than its predecessor, Krankhaus.

If Angelspit keep making albums as good as this, they could reach Nine Inch Nails-like status in a few years.

Impossible to ignore.

PAUL KELLOWAY Ashleigh Mannix My First EP (Independent) Ashleigh only picked up a guitar for the fi rst time at the age of 11.

Her joyful enthusiasm beams out through her music and live performance. In the few years she has been performing, Ashleigh has managed to grace the same stages as Lior, Citizen Cope, The Beautiful Girls, Alex Lloyd, Something for Kate, The Whitlams and Ron Sexsmith. The stand-out tracks on this EP are the lead single Power Of A Girl and the great live track Mirror. Ashleigh Mannix is certainly developing strongly and I hope an album is around the corner soon.

CECILIA PATTISON-LEVI Charlotte Sometimes Waves And The Both Of Us (Geffen) Charlotte Sometimes (Jessie Poland) has released the sauciest pop record this year. The songs on this album would please those gifted satirists and lyricists Melissa Lefton or Nellie McKay. Waves and the Both of Us is full of deceptively complex songs, but they are locked in airy, hook-laden melodies that are perfect for the

coming summer. But the lyrics are dark and are thick with images of sex, jealousy and contempt. The style of the album is kind of hard to defi ne as it is edgy, funky, singer/songwriter meets rockgrrl meets pop diva. Poland’s voice and music is addictive, distinct, and impressively unique in a rather stagnant world of singing clones.

I highly recommend it for something a bit different.

CECILIA PATTISON-LEVI The Dandy Warhols Earth To The Dandy Warhols (Etch n Sketch/Inertia) Surely the title of this album is just asking for trouble.

Like say “Give Up. Please,” especially given the band’s form since the early noughties.

But anyone familiar with The Dandy Warhols and their nonchalant vacant fashionista glaze would also know they really don’t give a fi g about abuse, critical or crowd led. Lead Dandy Courtney Taylor-Taylor even went so far as to narrate the doco Dig! where the band came across as nothing but soulless careerists. So, Courtney and co. are either supreme ironists or talentless hacks riffl ing through30 years of alt-rock looking for the next hazy dirge. Of course the answer depends on where you sit. For me the Dandy’s were jolly good fun ten years ago and Earth tries very hard to reclaim those glory years, with middling results. The album falters out of the start box with Taylor’s weak, reed thin falsetto on The World The People Together (Come On), before moving swiftly onto the comically awful, dumb-jock vocals of Mission Control. At this point it wasn’t looking good but Welcome To The Third World pretty much pushed me into the negative, floundering in ill-advised Nile Rogers funk circa Duran Duran’s Notorious. Remarkably and somewhat surprisingly, the album is salvaged as it moves on, mainly because there is enough justifi ed by wistful memories of bare-titted tambourine shaking and by making successful concessions to the band of old (And Then I Dreamed Of Yes, Now You Love Me). Neither a comeback nor an outright failure, Earth To The Dandy Warhols breathes some life into a weary outfi t many had given up on.

JUSTIN HOOK Euphonic Drowning for Daylight (Rish Records) Sydney heavy rock four-piece Euphonic’s debut LP is equivalent to an aural enema. Utilising the classic rock band format of two guitars, drums and

bass, they deliver an album of depth, with lyrics addressing themes of depression and suicidal behavior, refl ective of singer Paul Carpenter’s personal experiences. In amongst the harmonies and guitars can be heard expressions of confusion and disillusionment. Constant touring and performing has given the songs more substance, while the group’s alt/rock sound, driving bass and fuzz-drenched guitars bring comparisons to Magic Dirt. Listening to Drowning for Daylight, however, took this reviewer back to the earlier recordings of the Afghan Whigs, circa 1992. Confi dent and passionate.

SIMON HOBBS This War Ocean Deep (Poison City Records/Independent) If any war could be considered a ‘good war’, it would defi nitely be This War. Formed in Melbourne in late 2005, This War play straight-fromthe-heart punk ‘n’ roll. Listening to Ocean Deep is like paddling at sea in a rowboat. Waves of intense guitar, catchy hooks and honest lyrics lift you up, then roll over you, before the next song swells to start the process all over again. Ocean Deep is a fantastic second release and This War will go far. All fi ve tracks are worthy of discussion, but the real standouts are The Wolf, As Good As Gold and The Beat Of The Bomb.

Great songwriting.

SIMON HOBBS Unleashed Hammer Battalion (SPV/Riot) Unleashed’s ninth studio album carries on much where their eighth, 2006’s Midvinterblot, left off. Really, if you like death metal you know what to expect, and Unleashed are better than most at delivering what’s required (indeed they get better with age, something most dm bands at this level signally fail to do), but there’s nothing here that will convert the casual listener- even stand out track Carved in Stone. Unleashed are a very good band, but there’s no pressing need to get excited about this, much less buy the bugger.

NAMBUCCO ‘VIOLENT EXSTACY’ DELIRIAA

The Hold Steady Stay Positive (Vagrant/Shock) Stay Positive is The Hold Steady’s fourth album and is the most accomplished set from the five-piece Brooklyn band. Clearly displaying their infl uences from the opening moments, they rock out an album that nicely fuses the style of Bruce Springsteen with that of Joe Strummer (in fact, the opening track Constructive Summer asks you to raise a toast to Saint Joe Strummer). This LP collects 14 strong songs that involve the recurrent themes in all of the Hold Steady’s music, including hoodrats, townies, catholic girls and drugs. The success of this band is in the delivery and sense of humour: “In barlight she looked alright/in daylight she looked desperate. That’s alright ‘cause I was desperate too/I’m getting pretty sick of this interview” - an example featured from Sequestered in Memphis, the single that will probably be on every ‘hip’ television show before the end of the year. The Hold Steady are going to save rock music, pair of ears by pair of ears… Join in, ‘cause soon you won’t have any choice.

GEOFF SETTY

Cell Out

With Mark Russell; he wears a dark nightie.

“The greatest performance I’ve ever seen, ever.” These were the words, or something to this effect, that Michael Caine had to say about Heath Ledger as The Joker. An overstatement? Yes. But it’s at least playing in the ballpark with the greats. The constant licking lips, the rolling eyes like he’s slightly whacked out on his own insanity, and of course – that laugh. He owned that character like Jack Nicholson never did and now, unfortunately, he’s gone.

There’s still The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus to be released, but doubtless this will be the role he’s remembered for. At least he went out laughing.

The Dark Knight Blam! Kapow! Sock! Holy superb sequel Batman!

There’ve been a lot of hesitant moments since the suggestion was fl oated that Christopher Nolan could tackle the bat once again. Did we dare hope that he’d maintain the brilliance that was Batman Begins? Then it got better, the Begins denouement wasn’t kidding, this would be a Joker film - ‘Heath Ledger?’ we exclaimed with incredulity. A tragic death and a whole lot of marketing later, they’ve pulled it off.

The Dark Knight is Hollywood spectacle at its best. The big budget set pieces and all-star cast deliver, and then some, on the media juggernaut preceding them. Batman Begins was an origin fi lm and the villains in it were as middling as they needed to be. But now we know how the Batmobile and Batman’s

Meet Dave Let me start this review by saying that Eddie Murphy annoys me. He has for a long time now, and it upsets me that all he seems to do these days is lowbrow, easy money ‘comedies’ or lame ‘family’ stinkers, when he was (once) a great comedian.

Meet Dave did not cure my hatred of Mr Murphy. For the fi rst half an hour, all I wanted to do was punch him, or possibly myself, in the face. His ridiculous excuse for acting (rollicking around blank-eyed with a wacky smile), coupled with an unoriginal premise and some ridiculously lameass jokes, sight gags and dialogue make Meet Dave highly forgettable and barely worth the admission price.

Hancock A superhero who is, in the eyes of the general public, an alcoholic asshole; surely every actor’s dream. You’re fl ipping a train to save a small child one minute and fl ipping the bird at a small child the next. Do you really get Will Smith, a pretty damn likeable guy, to play the role though? The answer is yes, cause he relishes it (and you know he’s getting redeemed in the end).

From the opening scene of antisuperhero Hancock using the bushman’s hankie manoeuvre to clear his nose, you know they’re selling you a certain kind of protagonist. He drinks a lot. He swears a lot. He causes massive amounts of damage through a combination of negligence and indifference. And yet people keep

“You think your employer, one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world, moonlights at night by dressing up in a bat suit to beat up violent criminals and thugs? And you want to blackmail this man? …Good luck to you.”

Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) The Dark Knight

fancy moves came about (he’s basically a ninja in case you missed it) and a cataclysmic opposing force was called for. In steps Ledger in ghastly make-up; delivering the Joker we wanted and consequently the fi lm we needed.

Casting our minds back a decade and a half, what made Tim Burton’s Batman Returns work as a story was the interplay between the cat and the bat.

The Batman character is all about his similarities with his quarry and the fi ne line he walks towards becoming them.

The Dark Knight provides this like never before. Cackling lines from The Joker such as “I feel like we’re gonna be doing this forever” speak volumes. These two are separated halves of one whole.

Previously, Christian Bale was able to overcome the role’s curse. The character is simply a man who uses money and training to fi ght crime

while the quirks and wackiness have always been reserved for those he’s fi ghting.But even Bale’s brooding wit can’t withstand Heath’s fl awless performance. He’s totally evil, yet with complexity. He’s twisted and insane yet his charisma and magnetism overcome every frame, even when he’s off camera.

At two and a half hours this is a long action fi lm. The pace is unrelenting throughout, with only a few moments surrounding Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) slowing it down. There are barely more than a few heartbeats without something extreme happening, while a pervading darkness keeps it all relevant.

The Dark Knight is immediately one of the cinematic highlights of the year.

Murphy plays the tiny captain of a ship of inch-high aliens sent from a far away planet to drain the Earth’s oceans. The ship is, of course, Eddie Murphy (aka Dave) – and the tiny aliens steer the ship around, attempting to fi t in with those crazy humans and locate some lost orb I barely gave a shit about. All very enriching, thoughtful content. Of course, there is a lady friend thrown into the mix, Gina (Elizabeth Banks, aka the poor man’s Rachel McAdams) and some bumbling cops along the way. Non-stop thrills.

Director Brian Robbins doesn’t really do much delving into character depths or exploring different facets of the idiotic plotline – instead, he settles happily for bad jokes and pop culture puns. Efforts to be ‘heart-warming’ fall pathetically short, and the moments

of enlightenment where the crew of Dave discover what it’s like ‘to be human’ are handled so clumsily that a five-year-old could draw a cartoon about humanity that had more depth.

Throw in a cringe-worthy gay stereotype and some heavy-handed cultural references (Myspace, anyone?) and this whole fi lm could have been done a lot better. Or better yet, not at all.

Overall, though, there is some good stuff here – the sight of the end credits, a glimpse of Jimmy Stewart, some proof of what Marc Blucas has been up to post-Buffy. Other than that, don’t bother too much about seeing Meet Dave. Ever.

asking him to save them. When goodhearted PR man Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) becomes one of those saved, he takes it upon himself to try and reverse Hancock’s bad press.

Hancock is a fi lm of immense enjoyment, regular laughter and bitter disappointment. Going out on a limb, I’ll say that the premise is not based in our reality. Yet screenwriters Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan insist on breaking into character-defining moments of human growth. We’ve just guffawed raucously when Hancock’s take-no-shit attitude has caused another bit of random violence and then suddenly we’re watching him, or another of the main stars, stare wistfully into the middle distance, contemplative of their place in this

MARK RUSSELL

MEGAN McKEOUGH big bad world of ours. These painfully misplaced moments are scored by overbearing crescendos of violins and melancholy guitar strummings that just scream “Understand me, I’m tortured!” On top of this, the fi lm often ignores the rules it has set up for its slightly off-kilter world, making for some odd plot moments.

Overall though, it’s an enjoyable hour and a half. Smith and Bateman are funny and Charlize Theron is smouldering. Most importantly, they seem to be having fun during the comedy moments, even if they’re as bored as us when things get a little too angsty.

MARK RUSSELL

GIG REVIEWS Star Assassin/Tonk/Escape Syndrome @ The Greenroom, Friday June 20 After a highly agreeable couple of pints of Guinness downstairs in O’Sheas bar, your correspondent hauls himself upstairs to The Greenroom, more out of dutiful ‘professionalism’ than anything else, in order to catch tonight’s warm up, the Escape Syndrome.

But, and hell's teeth this is a surprise, they’re bloody good. Melding a smooth soulful vocal style that places this act firmly at the end of the ‘80s to a rhythmic guitar crunch that is very much of the moment is a masterstroke, and whilst at the moment there aren’t quite enough killer tunes in evidence for my liking, this was a very good first contact indeed.

More please, and soon.

And so to Tonk, the reason for my being here at all. Last time out in support to Helmet the band were a little off-colour, trying a bit too hard to prove they’ve got the rifferama (they have) whilst easing back on the melodic side of things to no good effect. Tonight, however, they’re back and firing on all six, and, with plans afoot to record a second elpee and sniffs of interest from that ‘overseas’ you’ve doubtless heard so much about, the future’s looking good in Tonkville at the moment.

After such a rousing kick-off, Star Assassin can’t help but disappoint, which they do, failing on all counts to match their predecessors and leaving us slightly disgruntled as we sloped off into the night in search of fried sustenance. Oh well, as ol’ meaty would have it - two outta three ain’t bad.

SCOTT ADAMS Rosetta/The Surrogate/Four Dead/Slowburn @ The ANU Bar, Tuesday June 24 In what seemed to be an early start for a show these days, Slowburn managed to hit the stage long before I arrived at the ANU Bar. After being initially irritated at missing yet another opportunity to see the band on a big stage, through a large PA, I was told by the band members that I’d missed a completely awful show and was blessed to not turn up early.

So I rocked up on this metallic eve to find The Surrogate onstage, confined to watching them outside as my ticket inside was with the drummer of said band. From what I experienced outside, they breed a fairly typical metalgaze sound. Very open, airy passages followed by crushing sequences - a bit of Carcass mixed with some more energetic Pelican is how I would try to nail it down.

Onstage next was the ever present, ever explosive Four Dead. Having taken the mantle of my favourite Canberra band off Alchemist a few years ago, I’ve come to realise that every show they do is a lesson in how to play metal music. There is so much conviction in the faces of each member, and the music is such a destructive, bloody mess.

The crowd was nowhere near as energetic as I’ve seen; yet still Jon D splayed himself across the stage despite the minimal crowd reaction.

A few diehard Dead kids managed to throw themselves around a bit, but it was obvious that tonight was a bit more about standing still and nodding to the beat rather than rolling around the pit like a madman.

And Rosetta certainly continued that sentiment. While very good instrumentalists, the rest of the band are eclipsed by the energy and the passion of their lead singer Mike Armine. Leaving the microphone behind for a good portion of the set, he would quite often lean out over the barrier, gesticulating and screaming at the top of his lungs. I had absolutely no idea what he was on about, but boy howdy did he mean it. His vitriol saved the set, with the music not sitting well, being way too close to Isis for me to find any originality in it. One of the band members blogged after the tour that there were more people at these shows here than back in the States, and they sold more merch at some shows than they ever had before. Goes to show you, Australia knows its metal and we do try to support it, even if it does sound a little repeated.

NICKAMC

ROSETTA/FOUR DEAD @ ANU BAR PHOTOS BY JOHN HATFIELD

GIG REVIEWS Jimmy Barnes/Mahalia Barnes @ Canberra Theatre, Wednesday June 25 Still reeling from the shock of witnessing Transport Minister John Hargreaves spilling curry down his tie just moments before we set off for the show, BMA finishes the last flavoursome morsel of Keema Naan and strides out into the night. To the wrong venue. This has happened to me before - I once made a beeline for entirely the incorrect part of London expecting Motorhead to be there waiting for me on arrival - and so after some frantic phone action we arrive, panting and sore of foot, at the correct venue, just in time for support act (and daughter of the main attraction) Mahalia Barnes.

We needn’t really have risked our blood vessels. Ms Barnes has a good voice (although backing vocalist Juanita Tippins upstages her on a couple of occasions), but seems happy just to coast along, not really attempting any connection with the audience, all of whom seem genuinely keen to see what she has to offer. Maybe first night rust?

We’ll see.

Of course Barnesy suffers no such problems. One of Australian rock’s true icons, the master puts in the solid performance you’d expect, songs from the new album Out in the Blue fitting in seamlessly alongside old favourites. Stopping off occasionally to recount an anecdote or two, and backed by a great band, he doesn’t exactly pull out all the stops - he doesn’t need to - but does deliver over two hours of high class entertainment. Set closer Working Class Man finishes things off in style, and as we leg it out into Civic to catch the last bus home (at 10.30pm - no wonder Hargreaves was in the Curry House so early), the crowd are still baying eagerly for more.

SCOTT ADAMS The Getaway Plan/Closure in Moscow @ Albert Hall, Thursday July 10 It was a Thursday night, and as the Peak-hour traffic hummed its way out of Civic, hundreds of young adults, enticed by a slice of some spasmic paroxysms of music, huddled together in an almost-tooorderly line. Rugged in hoodies reaching from head to toe, they stood outside the Albert Hall, excitedly anticipating some gender-cum-genredefying stage antics from The Getaway Plan. What they got first was Closure in Moscow, a band clothed in both irony and androgyny, who had nice hair and even nicer riffs. Their energy was raw and young, as was their music, and the members fancied themselves to be the best at playing their respective penis extensions.

The hall took a while to fill, and being an all ages event, it detracted from the excitement of the smuggling of contraban, which softened an atmosphere that seemed slightly too mushy anyway.

The Getaway Plan’s lead singer Matthew Wright only seemed to look alive when he was melancholy: when from time to time reaching his screamo peak, he looked disgusted at himself and flapped himself and his luscious hair away for some stiller moments - the crowd found this example inspirational. They were inspired enough by this display to be equally moody back and eventually the mosh pit became an undecided case of bipolarity. Even their parent-mentors, Gen Aquarius, stood in the background clumsily tapping away to the sound of repetitive riffs, churlish lyrics and trying to remember if this was the type of music they listened to when they had been younger.

JIMMY BARNES @ CANBERRA THEATRE PHOTOS BY ANDREW MAYO

The Getaway Plan ought to be commended on its Frankenstenian experiments with this type of rock, through its innovative use of distortion and synth - especially by Wright on the keyboards and bassist Anderson - but after a few songs the music seemed to meld together in one conglomerate blobitecture, especially when their newer pieces were introduced. This could partly be blamed on the acoustics of Albert Hall; discerning the lyrics from each other became harder and harder as the night wore on.

Their latest single Where the City Meets the Sea, which could be said to exemplify a mature and more popular-minded style and less of the simple scremo-nature that characterised their early work such as New Year, is more appealing to a wider audience, but they might be on the brink of selling out. The Getaway Plan could be near to becoming a commercialised broadcast of angst, just like some good old Americanfashioned rock such as Coheed and Cambria mixed with a touch of Alkaline Trio, crossbred with the type of melodrama that only could of existed before technicolour.

SHAILLA VAN RAAD Lenny Henry @ Canberra Theatre, Friday July 11 The dapper prince of English comedy was met with a packed house on the one-night-only Canberra stop of his Where You At stage show.

Without warning the lights dimmed and the screen lit up with a hilarious ‘tour diary’ introductory video, showing how he prepares for a show and then to rapturous applause the 6’2 star (who turns 50 this year) burst onto the stage with the energy of a track athlete. “It’s great to be in Canberra,” he said, “but where the bloody hell is everyone?

You guys are the first people I have seen since I’ve been here!”

Lenny has this seasoned quality of being able to switch between stand up, character acting and live improvisation that I have never seen before. He is pure entertainment. Highlights for me were his story about how he received an MBE from the Queen while wearing damp underwear (stating that he hoped that touching his hand had the same effect on her), as well as his seamless switches into the many characters in a Jamaican family and his hilarious take on the changes in rap music over the last 20 years. The two hour show flew by in a sea of laughter and there were times when I laughed so loudly that my female companion was embarrassed - sorry Jo! The show ended with a huge Jackson 5 sing-along, and as most of the audience gave him a standing ovation, it was clear that I wasn’t the only one who was completely blown away by the experience.

TIM GALVIN Ashleigh Mannix @ Redback Records Wollongong, Saturday July 12 Canberra local Ashleigh Mannix kicked off an impromptu gig in Wollongong for the independent record store Redback Records. And has this young musician improved and developed I’ll say. I first saw Ashleigh at UC a couple of years ago and then later saw her perform at Stage 88 just before Something for Kate. Ashleigh has a vocal capacity that defies her slight stature and her fresh sharp voice set the tone for the day. This girl is definitely one to look out for. She played songs from her EP, simply titled My First EP as well as some new material, commanding the respect of the slowly growing crowd. Putting in a 45 minute set, her songs and style certainly did not disappoint - she showed real star potential with just her voice and her songs. A girl and her guitar, a beautiful acoustic concert; any other arrangement might just have ruined the whole thing. Major kudos to her for doing the hard yards with live performances like this.

CECILIA PATTISON-LEVI

THE GETAWAY PLAN @ THE ALBERT HALL PHOTOS BY JOHN HATFIELD

BMA BAND PROFILE

The Bridge Between Where did your band name come from?

When we were growing up in Brisbane in the late ’80s/early ’90s, there was a lot of terrible, electronic inspired, fake Milli Vanilli rubbish being played. As young inspired wannabe rock legends, we took it upon ourselves to provide a ‘musical bridge between’ lame, money driven pop and music that meant something and used real instruments – and it’s just followed us ever since.

Group members: Gianni (vox, rhythm guitar), CC Hall (vox, lead guitar, harmonica), Shoey (drums, percussion and witty comments).

Describe your sound: The blues meets country and decides on a walk, along the way bumps into folk, spins around and trips over some roots. Or in the more conventional manner - vocal harmonies, acoustic/electric guitars, slide and harmonica.

Who are your influences, musical or otherwise?

The '60s right through to today. In short - broad, encompassing, not afraid of latex-inspired music but basically anything that means something, sounds great and can be bought on vinyl: BB King, Bob Marley, The Beatles, John Butler…

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

It’s simply awesome playing our own songs and having people make the effort to come up and say how much fun they had listening.

What are your plans for the future?

Tour, record, tour, record, tour, record… that kind of thing. Oh, and buy another really cool old car.

What makes you laugh?

The ridiculous accents we take off and end up using most of the day on each other and the rest of the world.

What pisses you off?

Boring, closed minded punters. Oh… and warm beer.

What’s your opinion of the local scene?

The scene is getting better all the time. Of course more people coming to more original gigs would be better, but as far as venues supporting live music go, Canberra is pretty cool.

What are your upcoming gigs?

Sunday July 27 at Olim's (a great supporter of original music) Thursday July 31 at Transit Bar Sunday August 17 at Olim's Sunday August 24 at The Yacht Club Friday August 29 at The Soul Bar Contact info: Rachel our manager: 04125 98 138 managerthebridgebetween@hotmail.com www.thebridgebetween.com.au

FIRST CONTACT

Write your band’s name as well as the name and phone number of the person to contact (limit of two contacts ie. phone and email) and send $5 (cheque or money order made to Bands, Music, Action) to bma: PO Box 713, Civic Square, ACT, 2608. For your $5 you’ll stay on the register until you request removal. Changes to listings also cost $5.

Aaron Peacey Aaron 0410 381 306 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 Annie & the Armadillos Annette 6161 1078/0422 076 313 The Ashburys Dan Craddock 0419 626 903 Aria Stone singer/songwriter(guitar), sax & flute Aria 0411 803 343 Australian Kingswood Factory Sharon 0412 334 467 Australian Songwriters Association (Keiran Roberts) 6231 0433 Arythmia: Ben 0423 408 767/ arythmiamusic@gmail.com Backbeat Drivers Steve 0422 733 974, www.backbeatdrivers.com Bastards Jamie 0424 857 282/ www.bastards.altpro.net Big Boss Groove Andrew 0404 455 834, www.bigbossgroove.com.au Birds Love Fighting Gangbusters/DIY shows - bookings@birdslovefighting.com Blister Bug Stu 0408 617 791 Bridge Between, The Rachel 0412 598 138, thebridgebetween.com.au Bruce Stage mgr/consultant 6254 9857 Casual Projects Julian 0401 016 885 Catchpenny Nathan 0402 845 132 Caution Horses Nigel 0417 211 580 CD and Website Design Brendan 0404 042 574 Chuffs, The Glenn 0413 697 546 Cold Heart Projects Andrew 6294 5450 Cole Bennetts Photography 0415 087 833/colebennetts@gmail.com Colourful Racing Identities Josh 0410 135 605 Cool Weapon Luke 0410 983 450/ Josh 0412 863 019 Cris Clucas Cris 6262 5652 Crooked Dave 0421 508 467 Cumulonimbus Matt 0412 508 425 Dahahoo Rafe 0416 322 763 Dance With Amps Marcus 0421 691 332 Danny V Danny 6238 1673/0413 502 428 DayTrippers, The Reidar 0414 808 677, daytrippers@grapevine.com.au (dp) New Media Artists Mal 0414 295 297 DOGACT dog-act@hotmail.com, Paulie 0408 287 672.

DJ & the Karismakatz DJ Gosper 0411 065 189/karismakatz@yahoo.com.au DJs Madrid and Gordon 0417 433 971 DJ/MC Bootcamp Donte 9267 3655 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 Dubba Rukki Jim 0409 660 745 Easy Mode Daz 0404 156 482, easymodeband@gmail.com, myspace. com/easymodeband Entity Chris 0412 027 894 Epic Flagon band@epicflagon.com EYE eye@canberra.teknet.net.au Fighting Mongooses, The Adam 0402 055 314 Final Warning Brendan 0422 809 552 Fire on the Hill Aaron 0410 381 306/ Dan 0410 480 321 FirePigs, The Danny 6238 1673/0413 502 428 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 Guff Damian 6230 2767 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 Adam Hole Adam 0421 023 226 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 Jennifer Versatile singer looking for band; 0422 158 362 Jim Boots 0417 211 580 Kurt's Metalworx (PA) 0417 025 792 Lenders, The Tim 6247 2076 Little Smoke Sam 0411 112 075 Los Capitanes Tim 0421 842 247 Los Chavos Jules 0413 223 573 los.chavos@yahoo.com.au Manilla Green Herms 0404 848 462, contactus@manillagreen.com, Martin Bailey Audio Engineer 0423 566 093 Malumba Dan 6253 5150 MC Kayo Marbilus 0405 648 288 kayo_101@hotmail.com, www.myspace. com/kayo_marbilus, Meatbee Ben 0417 492 560 Murder Meal Combo Anthony 0419 630 721 MuShu Jack 0414 292 567, mushu_band@hotmail.com Myriad Kath 6253 8318 MyOnus myonusmusic@hotmail.com/ www.myspace.com/myonus Neptune's Necklace Mark 6253 1048 No Retreat Simon 0411 155 680 Ocean Moses Nigel 0417 211 580 OneWayFare Chris 0418 496 448 Painted Hearts, The Peter 6248 6027 Para 0402 277 007 Petra Elliott Petra 0410 290 660 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 Queanbeyan Music & Electronics 6299 1020 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 Sara Vancea Sara 6247 9899 Seditious Intent Toby 0419 971 547 Sindablok Duncan 0424 642 156 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 Stalker and Liife Darren 0413 229 049 strong like sam Luke 0423 762 812 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 That ‘80s Band Ty 0417 265 013 The Morning After (covers band) Anthony 0402 500 843/ myspace.com/themorningaftercovers Tim James Lucia 6282 3740, 0413 609 832, LUCIAMURDOCH@hotmail.com Top Shelf Colin 0408 631 514 TRS tripstate@hotmail.com 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 Woden Youth Centre Jeremy 6282 3037 Zeitgeist www.zeitgeist.xwave Zero Degrees and Falling Louis 0423 918 793 Zwish 0411 022 907

GIG GUIDE July 24 - 26 THURSDAY JULY 24

THURSDAY JULY 24

ARTS _____________ Huw Davies Gallery & Photoaccess Winter/Spring Courses New beginner and advanced courses out now. Call 6295 7810 or visit www.photoaccess.org.au.

Mention BMA to receive a 10% discount on all courses PHOTOACCESS/HUW DAVIES GALLERY, MANUKA ARTS CENTRE Vivid Moments: Films By Australian Photographers Filmmaking from Australia's leading still photographers, including Tracy Moffatt, Jeff Carter, and William Yang. 7:30pm ARC CINEMA, NATIONAL FILM & SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON Cluttered An installation by Skylen Dall.

Running til 27th July CCAS, MANUKA Australian Journeys A photomedia exploration of three political narratives by Barb Smith. Til 11th Aug TUGGERANONG ARTS CENTRE Australian Memories Created by members of the Adult Community Education Memory Collage Group, showing photo collages about new identities and angles on Aussie history. 'til Aug 1 BELCONNEN COMMUNITY CENTRE Resonant Sites (Chris Fortescue) & Low and Lone (Starlie Geikie) Photographic exhibition, continues til 23rd Aug CCAS, GORMAN HOUSE Ainslie Artc Centre Classes Including drumming and percussion, electric bass guitar, clarinet, flute, string swing, tarantella and singing group classes.

Until 9th Dec. Info 6230 7190 AINSLIE ARTS CENTRE Voyages Photographiques

By Michele Maurin, until 3rd Aug ANU DRILL HALL GALLERY Au Tour D’ un Verre

By Lydia Cheval, until 3rd Aug ANU DRILL HALL GALLERY Icon and Archive Photography of the World Wars AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL Canberra Dance Theatre 30th Anniversary A spectacular celebration of the many forms of dance. 'til Nov 23 CANBERRA DANCE THEATRE Traces of Italy Until 15th Sept WATSON ARTS CENTRE

The Role Model A comedy about ambition, dishonesty, greed, betrayal, sex, death and the media. Running 'til August 2. Bookings 6247 1223 STREET 2, THE STREET THEATRE Jan Brown: Sculptures, Prints and Drawings CANBERRA MUSEUM AND GALLERY Partly Cloudy Day Paintings

By Prudence Flint. Until 27th July CHAPMAN GALLERY Fumed Oak & The Balls Up Comedic play. Until 26th July GALLERY CAFÉ, UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA Richard Larter Works from 1996 to 2003 SOLANDER GALLERY

DANCE _____________ Michael O'Rourke KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE Trash Thursdays ACADEMY Blast From The Past Tunes from the ’80s and ’90s MINQUE, FRANKLIN ST, MANUKA

LIVE _____________ Red Cross Burma Fundraiser Featuring The Cherry Marines, The Trivs and other locals ANU BAR, ACTON Next of Kin Laid-back acoustic duo KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC The Gallant With special guests. Free TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Live Music With Mitch, from 9:30pm THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS, KINGSTON Kooky Fandango With supports Jonno, and the Zilberfish Little Big Band NATIONAL PRESS CLUB Guitar Hero Comp From 7pm. Free entry, 18+ THE GREENROOM, PHILLIP

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Carry On Karaoke PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC Basement Pool Comp THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN Karaoke with a Twist PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG

friday JULY 25

FRIDAY JULY 25

ARTS _____________

LIVE _____________

The Art of Data A seminar and workshop from Canberra Arts Marketing on ways to create a better understanding of audiences through research. From 10am to noon. $35/$20 STREET 2, STREET THEATRE, CHILDERS STREET Birthday Poetry Slam Presented by the ACT Writers Centre on the last Friday of every month. Featuring the best slammers from the last two years, plus a cheesy Brazillian bossa nova band. $3, free for performers. Doors 7.30pm THE FRONT CAFE AND GALLERY, LYNEHAM The Silver Light Curated by Julian Laffan, 'til Aug 9 MEGALO PRINT STUDIO & GALLERY

If Angels Were Architects From 6pm THE SOUL BAR, WODEN Live Band 3rd Exit rocks out from 10pm THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS Julia & The Deep Sea Sirens With Margaret Helen King (CD launch) and Branna. 8pm, $10 THE GREENROOM, PHILLIP Tsunami (Goulburn) With Barbarian and supports THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN Heuristic KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC Susanna Carman THE FOLKUS ROOM Tripitide PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC Rev BAR 32 ABBA: Thank You for the Music Tix and info on 6296 2425 BURNS CLUB, KAMBAH

DANCE _____________ Exposed The ever-popular dance night returns, with Exposed winner Adam Miller, Terrorvision, Staky, and Sean Kelly. Free entry TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC State of the Art VII With Drapht (WA), Mind Over Matter (Syd), 360 (Melb) with local supports Coptic Soldier, Alikeminds, House of Reps, Wax Lyrical, and DJs Ill K and Old School Al. $22 ANU BAR, ACTON Downtown Brown KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE Ashley Feraude Spinning a soundtrack of soulful tunes.From 6 to 9pm BINARA ONE (CROWN PLAZA HOTEL) Souled Out Fridays R&B with DJs Daz, Nate, Adam MINQUE, FRANKLIN ST, MANUKA Friday Night Mix Up With DJ Craig PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG Dusty Grooves Jemist, Canberra's own Chad Sexington, spins furious funk HIPPO, GAREMA PLACE Havana Nights Tropical rhythms and passionate dancing, 8:30pm MONKEY BAR, BUNDA ST, CIVIC After Work Beats With local sex nugget DJ Jemist TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC

saturday JULY 26

ARTS _____________ Allegro Non Troppo (1977) Italian animator Bruno Bozzetto's spectacular Fantasiawith-a-difference. 4:30pm ARC CINEMA, NATIONAL FILM & SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON The Big Lebowski (1998) Coen brothers classic. 7.30pm ARC CINEMA, NATIONAL FILM & SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON Clay and Print: Collaboration Exciting discoveries in clay and print are unveiled at the M16 Artspace from 12 artists. 'til Aug 3 M16 ARTSPACE,16 MILDURA ST, FYSHWICK The 2008 Canberra Impro Theatre Challenge The finest Theatresports players from North America, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. Tix $34.50/$27.50 from the Street Theatre (02) 6247 1223. Running tonight and tomorrow STREET THEATRE Archibald Prize 2008 $2 entry. Runs until 17th Aug GOULBURN REGIONAL ART GALLERY Canberra Photographic Society Until the 31st of Aug STRATHNAIRN HOMESTEAD GALLERY

GIG GUIDE July 26 - August 6 Saturday JUly 26

DAY PLAY _____________ Gorman House Markets GORMAN HOUSE Burley Griffin Antique Centre KINGSTON FORESHORE Bledisloe Cup, followed by Carry on Karaoke PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC

Vocal Training Workshop

Hosted by Susanna Carman.

From 10am - 5pm. Bookings/info on 6680 3491/ 0432 838 228 DARAMALAN COLLEGE, DICKSON

DANCE _____________ Matt Nugent The house legend makes a special Canberra stop, with supports DJs Kiz, Tim Galvin and Trent Richardson. Doors 9pm, $10 B4 10pm, $15 thereafter MONKEY BAR, BUNDA ST, CIVIC Chris Fraser One of Canberra's favourite expats returns to spin up a storm ACADEMY Latin Night New regular night championed

by Brujo Gordon, exhibiting the best Latin DJs from Sydney and Canberra, plus ze dancin'!

PAPARAZZI, FRANKLIN ST, MANUKA Dita Hollywood The drag diva's comeback show.

From 11pm CUBE NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC Jemist (TRINITY) BAR, DICKSON Ashley Feraude BINARA ONE, CROWN PLAZA HOTEL Frank Madrid KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE Jazz Sessions Smooth jazz, wine tastings. 2pm MINQUE, FRANKLIN ST, MANUKA

LIVE _____________ Nobody Knew They Were Robots With Stigmata and Vera Cruise in support THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN The Bastards Formerly The Bastard Sons of Liberty, with supports Il Bruto THE POT BELLY, BELCONNEN Renaissance Local old school rock at its very finest OLD CANBERRA INN, LYNEHAM

saturday JUly 26 Tassie Forest Fundraiser Spectacular Raising money to protect the forests of Southern Tasmania.

With music from The Andi & George Band, Winiata, The Mettes, Smitten, Dubba Rukki, The Crush, One Foot in the Gravy, Dhopec, Konrad Lenz and Friend, Sondra Paulson, Big Score, Alice Cottee and Cam & Ry. 12:30pm til late, $10 unwaged, $20 waged entry CORROBOREE PARK, PATERSON ST, AINSLIE After Dark Kicks off from 10pm, $8 cocktails from 4-10pm THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS, KINGSTON Curious Fate KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC Cut Off Your Hands The indie darlings return, with Violent Soho and The Magic Hands. Free entry TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Degrees of Freedom With The Side Tracked Fiasco and Earwig Mantra. 8pm, free THE GREENROOM, PHILLIP Escape Syndrome With The Numinus and Barbarian. $10 ANU BAR, ACTON sunday JULY 27

DAY PLAY _____________ Old Bus Depot Markets Find that thing to make that other thing work KINGSTON Burley Griffin Antique Centre Selling groove retro furniture and much, much more KINGSTON FORESHORE Tuggeranong Homestead Markets Home of the hard to find TUGGERANONG HOMESTEAD Irish Jam Session From 5pm KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC

DANCE _____________ Sunday Playground Chill out on the Astro deck or misbehave on the dancefloor. $3 Coronas and finger food throughout the afternoon MINQUE, FRANKLIN ST, MANUKA

sunday JULY 27

wednesday july 30

LIVE _____________

ARTS _____________

The Bridge Between AINSLIE BAR, OLIM'S Live at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre With The Seduction, No Way Out, Psyus and Dead Kings. Kicks off at 2pm, $10 TUGGERANONG YOUTH CENTRE Lou Bradley Country and roots music PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG

Quantum Leap Presents: Description The latest show from local youth dance troupe that is said to challenge our ideas of friend and enemy, family and stranger. 'til 2nd Aug. Tix $22/$18, 6275 2700 THE PLAYHOUSE, CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE

monday JULY 28

Caribbean Vibes Recharge from 8.30pm MONKEY BAR, BUNDA ST, CIVIC

DANCE _____________ Hospitality, Retail, Backpackers et al Night With Mikah Freeman & guests TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Recovery Night With a selection of local DJs PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG Bootleg Sessions Local musos bustin' it out THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC tuesday JULY 29

LIVE _____________ Graf Orlock (USA) With 4 Dead and Robotosaurus. $12 entry ANU BAR, ACTON Musical Madness @ Filthy's Original and diverse live music every Tuesday, featuring Julia & The Deep Sea Sirens, Johnny Huckle, If Angels Were Architects, Friendly Yen and Pepper Jack FILTHY McFADDEN'S, KINGSTON

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Fame Trivia From 7:30-10:30pm. Book early to avoid disappointment by calling 6295 1769 THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS, KINGSTON Pot Belly Trivia Every Tuesday POT BELLY BAR Carry-On Karaoke Win $1000. Yes, $1000 TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Trivia Night $100 cash prize plus prizes to be won PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG

DANCE _____________

LIVE _____________ Black Creek With Rusty Marshall THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC Lunchtime Live From 12:40pm WESLEY MUSIC CENTRE Open Mic Night With Stillton Detox PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Fame Trivia PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC Trivia Night ACT RUGBY UNION CLUB Carry-On Karaoke From 9:30pm. $1000 grand prize THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS, $5 Night TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Thursday July 31

ARTS _____________ Free Big Envelopes Exhibition by Della Jackson.

Open tonight, running til Aug 10 CCAS, MANUKA

DANCE _____________ D'Opus Funk, soul, hip-hop from 9:30pm THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS, KINGSTON Trash Thursdays ACADEMY Ashley Feraude KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE Blast From The Past Re-live your favourite tunes from the ’80s and ’90s MINQUE, FRANKLIN ST, CIVIC

thursday july 31

friday august 1

LIVE _____________ The Gaslight Anthem Balls out punk with supports A Death In The Family and Lamexcuse. 8pm, $22 + bf THE GREENROOM, PHILLIP Kempsey The likely local lads return with A Year to Remember and So Long Safety. Free entry TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Gangbusters Featuring Melbournites ii with locals Archeaopteryx. 9pm, $5 BAR 32 Dos Locos KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Basement Pool Comp THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN Karaoke with a Twist PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG Carry on Karaoke PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC friday august 1

ARTS _____________ The Red Balloon (1956) Albert Lamorisse's children's classic, plus his earlier The White Mane. New prints. 4:30pm ARC CINEMA, NATIONAL FILM & SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON Yojimbo (1961) Toshiro Mifune in Akira Kurosawa's black comic samurai masterpiece. New print. 7:30pm ARC CINEMA, NATIONAL FILM & SOUND ARCHIVE, ACTON

DANCE _____________ PANG! With Kiddub (UK) & Skool of Thought (UK, Against the Grain).

From 10pm, $20 on the door LOT 33 Ashley Feraude BINARA ONE (CROWN PLAZA HOTEL) Downtown Brown KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE Souled Out Fridays R&B with DJs Daz, Nate, Adam MINQUE, FRANKLIN ST, CIVIC Havana Nights From 8.30pm MONKEY BAR, BUNDA ST, CIVIC Friday Night Mix Up With DJ Craig PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG

DMC Championships ACT Final Canberra's finest DJs battle it out for supremacy. With music from Maggot Mouf, Newsense, Rhyministers, Carts2Deadly, Dazed & Flawlezz and $2 Scratchies. 8pm, $20 THE GREENROOM, PHILLIP Girl Thing 9 Ladies only night with Tori Mac on the decks 'til 1pm. From 9pm, free entry 'til 11pm CUBE NIGHTCLUB, CIVIC After Work Drinks 5pm, with Jemist, followed by...

TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC UG Beats The beloved long-runnin' regular returns, with Jem, Alistair, Miss Universe and Pornstylus.

TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC

LIVE _____________ Global Battle of the Bands Blacklist, Bi-Polar Protocol, Yoko Oh No!, Perpetual End, Pleased to Jive You, Corporate Takedown and Crab Shrapnel duking it out THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN Chris Harland Blues Band From 6:30pm THE SOUL BAR, WODEN Jaxon PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC Mr Lincoln KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC Live Band With Kudos, from 10pm THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS, Rev BAR 32 Bob Downe Tix and info on 6121 2131 THE VIKINGS CLUB, ERINDALE saturday august 2

Saturday august 2

Sunday august 3

DANCE _____________

LIVE _____________

The Humpday Project Fast-paced club mash up madness and ghetto-inspired party jams, with support DJs Kiz, Tim Galvin and Trent Richardson. $10, doors 9pm MONKEY BAR, BUNDA ST, CIVIC Alan Thompson: House Sessions Housexy's Alan Thompson unleashes his house sounds on the capital ACADEMY Chrome DJs Dasein and Jenetik from Syd, plus Salem, Stealth.Elf and metaVirus. From 9pm, $5 entry HOLY GRAIL, CIVIC Ashley Feraude BINARA ONE, CROWN PLAZA HOTEL Jemist KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

Carpathian With Break Even, The Broderick, Rex Banner and Homewrecker TUGGERANONG COMMUNITY CENTRE

LIVE _____________

Musical Madness @ Filthy's Featuring Friendly Yen, Bliss and Tim Maloney. Held every Tues FILTHY McFADDEN'S, KINGSTON

Casual Projects With special guests Free Agent Crew. Free entry TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Rockzone Kicks off from 10pm, $8 cocktails from 4-10pm THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS, KINGSTON Cool Weapon Local electro Gods, with N'castle ska demons Rubix Cuba THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC Fistful of Nothing Album Launch Local favourites unleash the beast upon us. 8pm, $10 THE GREENROOM, PHILLIP Sunday august 3

DAY PLAY _____________

Gorman House Markets GORMAN HOUSE Burley Griffin Antique Centre KINGSTON FORESHORE

Tuggeranong Homestead Markets Home of the hard to find TUGGERANONG HOMESTEAD Irish Jam Session From 5pm KING O'MALLEY'S, CIVIC

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________

DANCE _____________

Metal On The Big Screen Old school clips until late. Free entry, $5 "house wine" til 10pm THE BASEMENT, BELCONNEN Carry On Karaoke PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC

Sunday Playground Chill out on the Astro deck or misbehave on the dancefloor. $3 Coronas and finger food throughout the afternoon MINQUE, FRANKLIN ST, MANUKA

DAY PLAY _____________

MONDAY august 4

DANCE _____________ Bootleg Sessions Local musos bustin' it out THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC Hospitality Night With Mikah Freeman & guests TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Recovery Night PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG tuesday august 5

LIVE _____________

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Carry-On Karaoke TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Trivia Night THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC Fame Trivia THE DURHAM CASTLE ARMS Pot Belly Trivia POT BELLY BAR Trivia Night PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG wednesday august 6

DANCE _____________ Caribbean Vibes MONKEY BAR, BUNDA ST, CIVIC

SOMETHING DIFFERENT _____________ Fame Trivia PJ O'REILLY'S, CIVIC $5 Night TRANSIT BAR, AKUNA ST, CIVIC Carry-On Karaoke From 9:30pm. $1000 grand prize DURHAM CASTLE ARMS

LIVE _____________ Open Mic Night PJ O'REILLY'S, TUGGERANONG Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens THE PHOENIX, EAST ROW, CIVIC

DVDEVOTEE

Frisky Dingo (Madman) Frisky Dingo is the latest creation from Adult Swim Cartoons (the beloved offshoot of the Cartoon Channel that is, as you’d expect, more geared towards adults), and is the brainchild of the duo that brought us Space Ghost: Coast to Coast and Sealab 2021. It tells the story of the ultimate villain, Killface, and his battle against the hero Awesome-X, who disguises himself as alter-ego Xander Crews, the atypical millionaire playboy-by-day. From this premise, peripheral characters intersect their lives with entertaining results. This is funny, subversive stuff with a variety of fi lm references and popular culture jokes - the LARPERS in particular come in for rough treatment. The show works best once all the characters are introduced and the overarching story kicks off. Frisky Dingo is shown in an Arrested Development style, with fl ashbacks linking actions and results. Fully utilising the animation medium, there are some suitably ridiculous occurrences - the placing of a blonde wig on one of the characters changes the narrative for good - but the viewer is encouraged to go along with it. If I have any qualms with this one, it’s that sometimes the show pushes the absurd too far, and some viewers might be reluctant to go along with the happenings on screen. That said, if you want a show with radioactive ants, an Annihilatrix, a paranoid reporter, a jaguar and some “weird kind of Boys from Brazil thing,” then this is for you. Unfortunately, there are only trailers available on the disc supplied, so no extras to speak of.

GEOFF SETTY

Next I s sue: Peter Murray,

Day of the Dead (the straight-to-video remake!) (Force Entertainment)

Genesis When In Rome 2007 (Virgin)

You know the kind of evenings; the ones where you’ve had a couple of big weekends in a row, soaking yourself in alcohol and seeing more hours in the AM than you’d care to mention, leading to that period in the life cycle where it’s time, for the sake of your sanity and the sanity of the loved ones around you, to have a “quiet one”. And what better way to tame the beast than with a shitty B-grade fi lm? And this, my friends, is ashitty B-grade fi lm. A remake of the third fi lm in the series is always going to set off alarm bells. In George A Romero’s original, the series had progressed, and zombies had completely swamped the world except for the good ole ‘rag-tag’ group of survivors. The remake removes all such development, and focuses on the same tired one-off plot; there’s an outbreak - what could it be? Probably just the fl u. Good lord! He’s biting my leg! This must be, must be some sort of… outbreak! A zombie outbreak! O no, now I’m a zombie! Ooooo, brains! Etc Like most good ‘bad fi lms’, there is a smattering of fading starlets and ‘in it for the money’ bit parts. Ving Rhames - whose Pulp Fiction “…we’re gonna get medieval on his ass” line paved the way for his next three movie roles - turns up for a handful of scenes, pockets his paycheck, and gets the hell out of the movie as quickly as possible. More horrifying than the poor special effects, typically laughable script, and plotting as yawn-inducing as it is unbelievable, is lead actress Mena Suvari. O my dear Mena; where did it all go wrong? You entranced the world as beautiful, bitchy, and ultimately vulnerable Angela Hayes in American Beauty, and you inspired many a rigorous ‘rhythm’ session in boys across the world with your well-pitched lesbian turn in Six Feet Under. Here, your slightly chubbier frame is woefully miscast as an army lackie trying to ‘make sense of the madness’ and help your extremely rag-tag, picked-off-one-by-one-as-the-film-progresses crew to the inevitable conclusion. Certainly not good, and not really bad enough to be enjoyable, which places this fi lm in the worst kind of limbo for B-grade offerings. If you need a schlock night in, stick to the original. This fi lm just drove me to drink.

Upon hearing my love of Genesis people usually laugh and call me names. “Sad old tosser” for example. It’s a cruel world really as they fi nd out soon enough after a quick retaliatory jab to the kidneys. Many people see Genesis as soft ‘80s FM codgers who are unable to dance and equally incapable of touching, visibly. They are wrong. Genesis are one the oldest, most venerated and likeable of that hoary old beast called the prog rock band, who, with their original lead singer Peter Gabriel, recorded the utterly splendid and gorgeous The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.

This DVD captures Genesis (sans Pete Gabriel, alas) at the start of their 2007 tour in Rome, obviously. It’s their fi rst in 15 years and they had the collective presence of mind to invite a camera crew along for ride as they prepared.

The resulting two hour doco called Come Rain or Shine is the real treat on this super three-disc set and one whose enjoyment is not limited to the Genesis fan. The full access, fly-on-the wall material catches some great moments: an excruciating press junket where lead singer/drummer Phil Collins bristles, and then exits when being questioned about the bands fan base or “sad blokes who live with their mums.” The real bonanza however is the stage show: its design, planning, rehearsal and shambolic operation. Nothing really clicks, graphics totally miss cues and the crew cover their asses and don’t quite acknowledge they haven’t hired anyone to push a button at key moments during the show. As the fi rst show approaches no one can be found to fulfi l this key role, simple as it seems. Things get quite tense – band, crew and management get snappy. It’s grippingly hilarious stuff. A little dafter is Collins’ brain wave of a duelling drummer scenario and his drum tech’s subsequent bumbling efforts to secure a stool that sounds just right. “Why did I inherit this stupid fucking task” he ponders, reasonably enough, after one disastrous voyage to the local mega mart. The show itself is as a spectacle: massive crowd, big clean audio, wavey neon stage and a set list that appeases old jerks like me and newer fans alike. An unanticipated victory.

ALLAN SKO

JUSTIN HOOK

Kasey Chambers, Frankenbok, Teenagers in Tokyo, Bass Kleph and more!

Out August 7. Lean wit' it! Rock wit' it!

The two windows tour

The Greenroom Friday August 8 With supports Kindred & Moh Van Wah $10 + bf pre-sold (Moshtix), or $15 on the door