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THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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ONTOUR ATMOSPHERE [USA], EVIDENCE [USA] Thursday May 10, The Hi-Fi PARIAH [UK], BLAWAN [UK] Friday May 11, The Liberty Social SILICONE SOUL [UK] Friday May 11, Onesixone TIMMY REGISFORD [USA] Friday May 11, New Guernica ALEX SMOKE [SCO] Sunday May 13, Brown Alley ROBERT BABICZ [GER], LUSINE [USA], NADJA LIND [GER], KLARTRAUM [GER] Friday May 18, Brown Alley SAN SODA [BEL] Friday May 18, Revolver AJAPAI [JPN] Friday May 18, Brown Alley BILL BREWSTER [UK] Friday May 18, New Guernica DANNY BROWN [USA], M.E.D [USA] Thursday May 24, Prince Bandroom LAPALUX [UK], oOoOO [USA] + MORE Friday May 25, Revolt Artspace TREE OF LIFE: DICK TREVOR [UK], GREEN NUNS OF THE REVOLUTION [UK], MINDWAVE [ISR] + MORE Friday May 25 – Sunday May 27, TBA SHOWTEK [NED] Friday May 25, Chasers Nightclub LEVON VINCENT [USA] Friday June 1, The Liberty Social CRAZE [USA], CODES [USA] Friday June 1, Prince Bandroom DESYN MASIELLO [UK] TOM MORGAN [SCO] + MORE Friday June 1, Onesixone LIGHT ASYLUM [USA] + NICKY DA B [USA] Friday June 1, Phoenix Public House AMON TOBIN [BRA] Tuesday June 5, The Palace Theatre GUY J [ISR] Friday June 8, TBA GHOSTFACE KILLAH [USA], DOOM [USA], CHINO XL [USA] Saturday June 9, The Forum CHRIS LIEBLING [GER] Sunday June 10, Brown Alley BLOKE4D [UK], PROLIX [UK], AEPH [UK] + MORE Sunday June 10, Prince of Wales SWITCH [UK] Sunday June 10, Melbourne Hotel HYPE WILLIAMS [UK] Friday June 22, The Liberty Social GRAEME PARK [UK] + TOM MIDDLETON [UK] Friday KJune 22, Onesixone ANGY KORE [ITA], PERFECT STRANGER [ISR], VIBE TRIBE [ISR], SESTO SENTO [ISR] Royal Melbourne Hotel, Friday June 22 JEHST [UK] Friday June 29, Prince Bandroom LADYHAWKE [NZ] Tuesday July 17, Billboard VAKULA [UKR] Friday July 27, The Mercat
REAL TALK Do you suffer from ailurophobia? Do you even know what it is? Alright, rewind - time for a 30 second lesson. Said phobia is the fear of cats - specifically that you’re always being watched by a cat and that these cats are having demonic thoughts and perhaps conspiring to take your first born. Like most phobias, it’s caused by the unconscious. If you ever feel that a cat might be watching you in a peculiar place perhaps go and see a psychologist. Word. Tyson Wray
Coming Soon: House of Maxión
Maestro: Ridiculously Good Regisford
His nickname ‘The Maestro’ is one that suits Timmy Regisford superbly, and is well-deserved considering the role he has played in cementing house music’s place in New York and beyond. A wizard behind the turntables, the Trinidad-born maestro kicked off his career working as the music director of WBLS Station before taking on the role of A&R Director of Atlantic Records – helping to kick of the careers of big-name soul acts such as Miki Howard and Levert. Never content with one thing for too long, Regisford’s eye for the new and upcoming thing has been put to good use at Motown Records and MCA Records along with remix work for Bobby Womack, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder, and helping to throw the legendary Shelter Parties in New York. With a resume as impressive as that, his nickname is one that’s welldeserved. Catch him at New Guernica on Friday May 11.
Modular Records signees and Sydneysiders Canyons have been climbing to great heights, recently. It’s more than likely you caught wind of their debut LP Keep Your Dreams, seamlessly blending the sounds of euphoric nineties vocal house, hazed-out disco and moments of blissful ambience – whether on Australian radio airwaves, at festivals such as Peats Ridges or in support slots for the likes of Justice. Considering themselves musicians rather than producers or DJs, this distinction does much to explain their musical and heartfelt approach to songwriting; frantic chords, loose synth lines and macerated drum machines alongside sun-bleached sitars, hypnotic hooks, sandblasted saxophones, and an increasingly blurry line between the live and programmed. In between an already-busy 2012, the Syndeysiders have been assembling an all-new audiovisual live setup that’s free of computers and full of live loops from a six-piece band and is sounding pretty damn good. Catch Canyons at the Northcote Social Club on Thursday May 31.
Israeli Icon: Guy J
The owners of Melbourne’s iconic Eurotrash Bar have combined with the owners of renowned Melbourne cocktail venue Berlin Bar to launch a new bar venture – House of Maximón (pronounced ‘maa-shee-mohn’). Offering a vision of what the journey into the afterlife might involve (if it began in a neon-lit saloon), House of Maximón will feature late-night dancing, lowbrow ‘makeshift’ cocktails, cold cured meats, pinxtos and spiced popcorn, all delivered to a debaucherous crowd under the watchful eye of infamous Central American deity Saint San Simon (an icon otherwise known as Maximón). Featuring otherworldly imagery from Dennis Ropar (a pop artist once referred to as “Warhol on Crack” by Ted Gott, senior curator of the NGV), real bone chandeliers crafted by visual artist Sara Penman, and original sculpture by key venue stakeholder Rene De La Soyo (created as an expression of gratitude to Maximón for choosing to embody his form), House of Maximón is poised to provide Melbourne with a uniquely spiritual den of iniquity. Welcoming the downtrodden, the oppressed, and all those who romanticise them, House of Maximón is scheduled for an early May 2012 public opening.
Releasing his debut album on John Digweed and Nick Muir’s longstanding and much respected label Bedrock, Guy J’s music sits comfortably alongside labelmates such as Nic Fanciulli, Luke Fair, and plenty of other legends, with its idiosyncratic and inventive take on sounds pulled from house, techno, ambient and beyond. His debut album Esperanza was released in 2008 to almost-universal acclaim, and it seems fair to say that the Israeli producer is at the forefront of the country’s burgeoning dance music scene, drawing praise for his tight, driving beats, shimmering, warm synths and expansive arrangements. This year’s already off to a killer start, with releases featuring on a recent John Digweed compilation, as well as on Coccoon and Tiga’s own Turbo Records – a real testament to his adaptable and wide-ranging sounds. Wowing Australians last time he was down, he’ll be back in June for a string of dates across the country. Guy J plays Melbourne on Friday June 8 at a yet to be confirmed venue.
Beats and Bowling: Live On The Lanes Darkbeat: Bringing Phamily Favourite
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Darkbeat are throwing a series of pretty special parties, showcasing the collection of very special DJs who’ve been at the forefront of Darkbeat-related magic for the last nine years. Both residents and benchmark DJs as well as some of Melbourne’s finest in up-and-coming talent are getting ready for the next few months, and old favourite Dave Pham is set to take on the next one. After befriending a local DJ who lent Pham his decks way back in the early ‘90s, Pham he began his mixing expedition and never looked back. Over 10 years have passed, and since these humble beginnings Dave Pham has become on of Australia’s most sought after electronica artists with his love for the heavier end of techno; a specialty that has remained uniquely his to this day. With support from Darkbeat’s finest including Phil K, Gavin Keitel, Rollin Connection, Dave Juric, Walter Jaun and Jason D’Costa, catch them at New Guernica on Friday May 25.
Ignoring Vital Organs: Alex Smoke
Those of you who caught legendary Glaswegian technohead Alex Smoke when he was last in town will undoubtedly remember him as nothing less than a true hero. Booked for an hour-long set at Revolver, the dude went above and beyond the call of duty to get Melbourne beats fiends moving on the dancefloor – struggling through his hour-long set despite what turned out to be a punctured lung and heading off to the emergency room immediately after stepping off the decks. What a goddamn trooper; that’s a dedication to the dancefloor that you’re not likely to find anywhere else. Continuing to storm through the world of dance music, Alex Smoke will be making a return to Melbourne for what will hopefully be a much less troublesome gig for him – he plays Brown Alley on Sunday May 13.
Heavy Innit: Youngsta And Toast
After a killer launch in 2008, the combination of bowling and beats in a single evening has proved an irresistible one, and Live on the Lanes, presented by Strike Bowling is back for another session on the lanes. This time around, it’ll be Melbourne’s favourite party-starter Ajax who’ll be representing the Australian contingent on one side with his trademarked brand of irreverent and hyperactive approach to electro and mash-ups, earning himself accolades including titles such as inthemix’s #1 Australian DJ, Busy P’s Best DJ of 2007 (XLR8R), Digitalism’s favourite from 2007 (Bigshot) and Justice’s One to Watch in 2008 (DJ Magazine). Talk about popular, huh! Going back to back with Ajax will be New Zealand’s P-Money. Kicking off his career in DJ competitions and student radio, over the years P-Money has become a well-respected hip hop producer and DJ with plenty of big-time collaboration to his name, and a few killer albums to boot. Free ten-pin bowling and the best in electro and hip hop? Count us in. Get to Live on the Lanes on Thursday May 24.
It’s been almost six months since their last party, but Heavy Innit are back, and what better way for a reunion than with a DJ/MC duo widely recognised as being at the forefront of the progressive dubstep sound. For the first time ever, Rinse FM’s Youngsta and Toast will be hitting our shores, and are set to shake the foundations of Heavy Innit on Friday June 8 with a set full of deep, tech’d out dubstep with devastating bassweight. Plus, boasting a huge local and interstate support lineup over two stages, Heavy Innit will be covering the past, present and future of UK bass music over eight hours of dubstep, grime, jungle and reggae. Sounds dope. Tickets from Moshtix.
Energetic Experience: Red Bull Beat Suite
RESPONSIBLE: Managing Editor: Ronnit Sternfein ronnit@beat.com.au Editor: Tyson Wray tyson@beat.com.au Sub-editor: Nick Taras Listings: club/promoter submissions clubguide@beat.com.au - now online at beat.com.au - it’s free! Production: Rebecca Houlden art@beat.com.au Typesetting: Gill Tucker Cover Design: Rebecca Houlden Advertising Senior Sales: ronnit@beat.com.au (03) 8414 9710 Taryn Stenvei taryn@beat.com.au Fashion and Beverages: Tamara Perenic tamara@furstmedia.com.au Ph: 03 8414 9732 Deadlines: Editorial Friday 2PM – absolutely NO exceptions. Club photos Monday 9AM (email only clubpics@beat.com.au). Advertising artwork Monday 12PM. Photographers: Callum Linsell Contributors: Rezo Kezerashvili, Miki McLay, Shane Scott, Simon Traspier, Brian Rotide, The Knowledge, Ellen Devenney, Dan Watt, Aaron Ralston, Birdie, Liam Pieper, Simon Hampson, Chad-Michael Michaelson, Mikolai, Reuben Adams, David Edgley. Publisher: Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond 3121 Ph 03 9428 3600 www.beat.com.au
EDITORIALDEADLINE - 2PM FRIDAYS NO EXCEPTIONS
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Canyons: Whoaa Canyonero
UP TO DATE
Modular:
Triple
Treat
One of the many highlights on Sydney’s massive Vivid LIVE lineup will be hitting Melbourne, with the Modular-curated triple bill of Jonathan Boulet, Kindness and Tom Vek making the trip south at later this month. The Melbourne show will mark the Australian debut for two of the UK’s hottest acts Tom Vek (pictured) and Kindness will be making their maiden journey across the pond for the tour. Joining the shit-hot Brits on the night will be Sydney’s buzz-magnet Jonathan Boulet, who will be showcasing material from his muchanticipated record We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart. Jonathon Boulet, Kindness and Tom Vek hit The Hi-Fi On Thursday May 24.
Take the nation’s best beat makers, the hottest young orchestral talent and guest vocalists Aloe Blacc and Ladi6, put them on a stage under the direction of ingenious composer Tamil Rogeon and what do you get? A fuckin’ party! The magic will unfold for two shows only on Saturday May 12 at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Not in town? Worry not, Red Bull Beat Suite will be streamed live on the web at 4pm and 8.30pm on redbull.com.au/beatsuite. Limited seats are available to the 4pm show so get in quick! Tune in to catch Aloe Blacc, Ladi6, Galapagoose, Amin Payne, Daltron, DJ Perplex and Scratch 22 mix it up with the Australian Youth Orchestra, who were all hand-picked by Kano Hollamby, the Creative Director and Music Co-Director of the project. Adding to the experience, Melbourne’s own ENESS will create a never before seen interactive visual display to complement aural senses, utilising their own award winning 3D projection mapping technologies. The 8.30pm show is sold out but there are limited tickets available for the 4pm show. Check out redbull.com/beatsuite for more information.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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AJAX
“After school, came years of university and a bit of lecturing here and there – I became totally convoluted! After uni I wanted to become a copywriter at David Jones; I didn’t get the job – so I became a DJ instead!”
THE DANCE LEGEND: LIVE ON THE LANES He has been heralded as a master of all sorts of things – I do remember calling him the master of disco-nouveau some time ago. Times might have changed up a little since then, but Sydney’s Ajax now calls Melbourne home,
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and he gives me the impression that he likes being all things to all people. Flipping tracks – as opposed to burgers – came around the mid ‘90s when he got into making nu-wave compilations on tapes for friends. Still a
COVER STORY
youngster – and openly honest about his lack of direction – he claims it was okay to be part of the new culture. Indeed, his early years seemed filled with a lack of direction yet he confronts it with an honestly and openness that’s refreshing – though rarely discovered. “After school, came years of university and a bit of lecturing here and there – I became totally convoluted! After uni I wanted to become a copywriter at David Jones; I didn’t get the job – so I became a DJ instead!” And what could be more lacklustre a description of his style, than calling him a party DJ? “Playing party tunes – it sounds so lame, doesn’t it? But then it’s not that far off it really! I do a lot of my own re-edits and remixes so I guess I play something that you may have or have not heard before. There’s a lot of great music out there; lots of cool labels; lots of cool dudes with cool haircuts!” Anyway, it’s good to see he hasn’t lost much of his charm or his humor. But we get back to home base for a moment, and the fact that he is a little torn. “I’ve been down here for over two years now and I must say my heart is stuck between the two. I watched this documentary about how difficult it is for refugees to adjust to a new country and how a little piece of them is missing in their new homeland. I admit it seems petty for me to comment like that when I am only an hour flight away, but I must say, every time I go back I feel like I have missed something. “It’s almost like when you get to a party late and it’s just finishing up; there’s this guy crashed out with puke on his Holden satin boxers – that’s pretty much all that remains. And I feel like I am one of the biggest wankers down here, where as up there I was way down the ranking so have tried to readjust, my um, err, wanking? Also my mum and dad don’t come down here because they don’t like everyone talking about AFL, so I have to meet them halfway in Sydney as they live in Coffs Harbor.” Still, the lad has been keeping busy in the studio, working on a lot of projects, such as Parachute Youth, Twinsy and some other secret stuff with some unmentionable bigger names. He also suggests he is focusing on his own stuff. “Some of it’s producing, some of it is more the A&R type stuff signed to my label and a fair bit in between. Actually, I was co-producing Twinsy and helping out Parachute Youth and putting my two bob in. My personal stuff is quite different sounding again, like a cross between Booka Shade and DJ Zinc. To be honest, I had the fucking month from hell recently; I had some man issues and did a hospital stint and then had some legal issues and got baptised in fire so all projects and production going on were on hold. Basically, I locked myself in a bedroom for two weeks and played strategy games but I’m back on the horse now!” Last time we spoke, the golden boy had finished the Billion Dollar House Party compilation. Speaking a little about it, he might not necessarily looking forward to doing too many more. “Look, with commercial released mix CDs you can never truly do what you want to do because of legal implications. For example, Basement Jaxx have a clause that if you wish to use any of their material on a mix CD you can only mix into the first and last 15 seconds of their songs. I can’t get interested anymore in those kind of ventures. I would rather just have complete control and Soundcloud that nugget!” Of course, he also has his Sweat it Out pumping out the odd hit or two. “Yeah, the label is going nuts – it’s my pride and joy. As I said before, I’m working on Parachute Youth with their next single and album. There is the
Yolanda Be Cool album; and new act by the name of Caseno – think Ian Curtis meets early Cut Copy; and then maybe a new Twinsy single and my real favorites – What So Not – who have just been completely adorned by Major Lazor.” And he uses a wonderful superlative to describe how they called him at 4am to tell him so! So over the years, clearly, he has done his time as the golden boy of Australian dance music. I question him if there is there pressure to keep doing that, getting better and better – or does he have a more philosophical point of view? As in, is it just a point in his career that will keep on moving regardless? He answers with this: “well, yeah I put that stuff to the side and get on with the new stuff! To be honest, at best, it’s a double-edged sword. At worst, it’s like a shackle. Sometimes, I kind of wish I had never won any of those DJ awards. Yes, I know I sound like a whining bitch but DJ awards are like the Logies or like winning a medal for potato peeling – you secretly love them at the time but when you look back at them, you ask yourself, ‘Is that it?’ Because dance music is so utterly transient, it almost seems pointless!” Yet despite being hailed all manner of great things, he is just a guy grappling with his own ego. Calling it all hype, he describes himself as simply a party in a person who loves records. “I get excited by new music; by playing to 50 people, by just saying, ‘Hey Mum look it’s me’. People generally like the music I play. I’m just trying to give them a good time. I guess if you can do that for a while, then you’ll be super. I like to mix things up a bit. To be honest, I think I am slightly more stash-the-hash rather than crash-and-bash these days. Maybe it’s Melbourne? New software makes it easier to edit tracks down before hand so you make less mistakes and less dumb drunk decisions, but the downside is it can be more clinical and less abrasive and punk in its attitude.” He names his highlights and game changers in his career in quick succession too, seemingly as though having recited them plenty of times before. “Well, I started as a DJ in about 1997. I quit university and lecturing in 2000 to fully focus on partying! I did that mashed CD in 2001 as well, which was exciting. I did Bang Gang in 2003 and won a few DJ awards. I also wasted a lot of money on Star Wars toys for a few years there, between 2005 and 2008. Later on, did a bit of touring around the US, UK and Europe. I played a few festivals and gigs in between and now it’s 2012 and I’m paying years of back taxes and fines! Other than that, that’s what keeps me busy. I don’t really have any hobbies other than going for a surf here and there. Carlton doesn’t really pump right now but I love cleaning up my dog’s winnings and reading with one eye open.” So yes, Ajax is coming of age. Only recently considered the young ‘it’ boy of grimy Australian house and electro, he should be positioning himself for a run at the world. Seemingly, a string of successful hits and a monster following around the country aren’t enough. It’s time to conquer all. And while he won’t admit it in such explicit terms, the enthusiasm and dedication are evident in his voice. Make no mistake about it – Ajax is a stalwart of the Australian music scene. And deservedly so. RK Ajax [AUS] plays Live On The Lanes alongside P-Money [NZ] at Strike QV on Thursday May 24.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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WEDNESDAY9TH COQ ROQ Rocking Wednesdays at Lucky Coq are rotating DJs Lady Noir, Agent 86, Kiti, Mr Thom, Joybot and guests giving you nothing but the best new wave, punk, brit pop, bong rap and hair metal. Coq Roq takes place every Wednesday from 8pm with free pool downstairs from 9pm as well as drink specials. Roq out! Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
SOUL ARMY With more flavour than a chocolate pizza, the Wednesday Soul Army throws down raw, uncut funk next to smooth soul grooves and rare blue jams. Bring that special lady because when the boys lay down the love it could be the difference between ‘we’re just friends’ to ‘let’s get it on’. PBS stalwarts Vince Peach and Miss Goldie accompany Prequel and Black Diamond Kicks weekly. Free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
WEDNESDAYS AT CO. Don’t miss Melbourne’s biggest mid-week party night Wednesdays at Co.! Featuring Premier DJ Petar Tolich and Scotty E spinning all your favourite 90’s to current party anthems! Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
WEDNESDAYS AT LOUNGE Enter the middle of the week; for some it’s the beginning of the weekend, for others it’s a break from study, for those of us who are travelling, it probably has no real significance (unless you’re wanting to party with the hot European girls from the hostel...because any day is simply another day when you’re travelling). Your midweek stomping ground, featuring DJs Danny Silver, Manchild & Mu-Gen. Free entry. From 10pm. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
WEDNESDAYS AT THE ORDER Deep, dark, minimal dubstep and drum and bass. The Order of Melbourne, 2/401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
THURSDAY10TH BIMBO THURSDAYS Tigerfunk brings with him his full band of travelling gypsies, hipsters and middle class executives, all of whom are prepared to deliver the most excitement you can have this side of the weekend. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
DUBSTEP THURSDAYS It’s Dubstep, it’s Eurotrash, it’s new, it’s the vibe, it’s Thursdays, it’s weekly and it’s free. So get down to Eurotrash and get your wobble on. Eurotrash Bar, 18 Corrs Lane, Off Chinatown, Melbourne CBD
FREE RANGE FUNK Funk up your Thursday nights with Free Range Funk at the Windsor favourite Lucky Coq. Grab a couch early and enjoy one (or more) of their famous $4 pizzas from 7-11pm. Meanwhile DJs Who, Agent 86, Lewis CanCut and special guests tempt you into the night with their eclectic bag of treats. Setting the mood early is delightful jazz, deep soul, and funk. Later it’s fruity disco, choice house, and hipster dance drops. Free entry every Thursday. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
PAPPARAZZI Paparazzi Fridays present DJs Nikkos, Joe Sofo and Kitty Kat bringing you the biggest anthems and club classics all night long. Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
SLOW HOUSE THURSDAYS Slow House Thursdays is just what Brunswick has been missing. Get down to the latest Thursday spot at Noise Bar, find a space with your bros and get into the as DJs Same O, David Bass and James Hurt spin bass laced tunes ‘til the early hours of the morning. Noise Bar, 291 Albert Street, Brunswick
THURSDAYS AT LOUNGE The Black Pancake Club is where disc-jockeys bring in their treasured record collections to share with yaw’ll. Expect undiscovered nuggets, lost gems, far out there covers, moog inspired themes, and a host of other eclectic delicacies and toppings for your black pancakes! Free entry. From 10pm. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
WONDERLUST Fate, karma, the yin and the yang, the balance between chaos and order or divine intervention? A new spiritual high has emerged from the cosmic energies of the universe and it’s called Wonderlust! As luck would have it you can come and experience the effects of this strange new phenomena every Thursday night at The Carlton! Carlton Club, 193 Bourke Street, Melbourne
FRIDAY11TH CQ FRIDAYS The weekend starts here! Get on down for after work drinks from 5pm with DJs Marcus Knight, Mark Pellegrini, Nick Van Wilder & DJ Anferny getting your weekend started right. 5pm til 3am. CQ, 113 Queen St, Melbourne
FIRST FLOOR FRIDAYS A journey of international music from all over the world; past, present and future rhythms incorporating afro, soul, funk, world and deep house elements! First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
FREEDOM PASS
PRINCES OF THE NIGHT
Start your weekend with Brian McFadden making a celebrity guest appearance, hit the DJ decks and spinning his top 10 tunes. The Freedom Pass will also give you a choice of 5 huge rooms of entertainment and 4 different styles of music. Featuring Joe Sofo, Kitty Kat, Nikkos and MC Brodie Young. Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
This Saturday at Fusion bring you the ultimate sounds from Femme with Lady Lauryn who will definitely ensure you have a brilliant weekend. Along with top DJs Tate Strauss, Miss Sarah, DJ Nova and Johnny M, and not forgetting the entertainment for the night. Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAY NIGHT LOFT PARTY
Take the nation’s best beat makers, the hottest young orchestral talent and guest vocalists Aloe Blacc and Ladi6, put them on a stage under the direction of ingenious composer Tamil Rogeon and what do you get? A fuckin’ party! The magic will unfold for two shows only on Saturday May 12 at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Not in town? Worry not, Red Bull Beat Suite will be streamed live on the web at 4pm and 8.30pm on redbull.com.au/beatsuite. Limited seats are available to the 4pm show so get in quick! Tune in to catch Aloe Blacc, Ladi6, Galapagoose, Amin Payne, Daltron, DJ Perplex and Scratch 22 mix it up with the Australian Youth Orchestra, who were all hand-picked by Kano Hollamby, the Creative Director and Music Co-Director of the project. Adding to the experience, Melbourne’s own ENESS will create a never before seen interactive visual display to complement aural senses, utilising their own award winning 3D projection mapping technologies. The 8.30pm show is sold out but there are limited tickets available for the 4pm show. Check out redbull.com/beatsuite for more information. Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt Street, Southbank
Kitty Schmidt couldn’t find quality dance music in Fitzroy so she’s decided to open up her bedroom doors. Living above Melbourne’s stalwart lesbian/gay Libation Bar, she’s now throwing a monthly party in her boudoir. Come into her renovated upstairs loft, cocktail bar, dance floor and smoking terrace. With quirky house, deep disco and erotic electronica being spun by Marvin Roland, Mr. Pyz and Kitty Schmidt DJs. Libation, 302 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
FRIDAYS AT LOUNGE Super funky party with Melbourne radio’s finest! Including RRR’s Ennio Styles (Stylin’), PBS’s Manchild (Breakdown) & Zack Rampage (Rampage) and Guy Geezey (Wax Museums). Rekerdz, jams and dope times! Leave your attitude at the door! $10 from Midnight. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
NEO NEO is the focus of a new underground movement fussing aspects of alternative cultures in bringing to life the newly formed subculture known as Fetigoth Abode, 374 St Kilda Rd (cnr Martin St), St Kilda
PANORAMA Start your weekend on a good note with Panorama Fridays at Lucky Coq. DJs Matt Rad, Mr George, Tom Meagher and Phato A Mano transform the upstairs area into one hell of a house party with Hip Hop, Funk, R&B, Disco and House. Meanwhile, downstairs gives you a secluded wind down atmosphere with cult films as background visuals and quality cocktails to sip on. Let the new coqtail list wash away a crappy week! Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
RETRO SEXUAL FRIDAY DJ Grandmaster Vicious spins Fitzroy’s finest mix of ‘80s and ‘90s pop, rock, new wave, hip hop, disco classics and cheese to please plus dance floor anthems from then to now. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
SATURDAY12TH
DJ CKass will take you on a musical journey to the retro sounds of the 70s and 80s, followed by Top 40s. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
SECRET ROOM The sophisticated world of alternative underground culture. The Secret Room. The space you can’t explain, you can only experience. Socialise in the opulent lounge rooms or indulge your body, mind and ears to Deep Dirty tribal and tech house by Beaker & Syme Tollens. Abode, 374 St Kilda Rd (cnr Martin St), St Kilda
STAR SATURDAYS Star Saturdays - smashing it every Saturday! Phil Ross, Scotty Erdos, DJ Ontime, LC, Nick James, Dane Gains, Ryan Hamill, Deja, Phil Isa, Nixon, Azza M, Scotty Nix, DJ Ryza, C Dubb, Alex-J, G-Funk, Dylisco, Achos, Az, Shaggz and guests. Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
TEMPERANCE SATURDAYS DJ Marcus Knight & DJ Xander James drop sexy house, dance and drum and bass all night from 8pm. Free entry. Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra
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Taking place each and every Saturday night in Melbourne’s CBD on the corner of Lonsdale St and King St, Club Soda plays host to a fresh, new concept – local/national/international DJs weekly, un-paralleled entertainment, performances, and disco tomfoolery. Don’t let the bubbly name fool you, Club Soda is your weekend’s thirst quencher – changing people going out for convenience, whilst not leaving the sour taste of an empty wallet on Sunday morning. Our doors open for you every Saturday at 9.30pm, and stay open until you should go home. Brown Alley, Cnr King & Lonsdale St, CBD
Saturdays at Lucky Coq tick all the boxes so start your night early and stay til close! Famous $4 pizzas from 7-9pm (that’s dinner sorted) then from 9pm spread over two levels with DJs playing hip hop, funk, disco, house and electro. Rotating guests on both levels keep the tunes fresh. Free entry. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
Head to Co. this Saturday night for nonstop dance music that will electrify the dance floor, with resident DJs Matty G, Dean T and Joe Sofo, with Marcus Knight and his old skool beats in the side room. Arrive, be seen and be talked about for the rest of the week. Envy much? Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
EDEN SATURDAYS Stunning new venue in the heart of the city – one BIG Party! We bring you the best Top 40 dance, house & R&B in a state of the art venue you have to see! Eden, 163 Russell St, CBD
WEEKEND The brain child of the creative kids at 360 Agency and Seven Nightclub. The Weekend is here to put a smile on your dial every Saturday night. We want you to join the family. Dancing from 10pm weekly. Seven, 52 Albert Rd, South Melbourne
SUNDAY13TH SOUTH SIDE HUSTLE The perfect Sunday soundtrack with DJs Askew, Peter Baker, Booshank, Paz, Miss Butt, Junji, Disco Harry and guests. They will be laying down disco, afro beat and deep house til 3am. For lovers of good music - South Side Hustle. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
STAR BAR SUNDAYS
EUROTRASH HOUSE PARTY
The original and still the best Sunday in Melbourne. Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
Put your hands in the air with some of Melbourne’s best party DJs, including including Mu-Gen, Lace em’ Tight and more. Eurotrash Bar, 18 Corrs Lane, Off Chinatown, Melbourne CBD
SUNDAE SHAKE
EY:EM EY:EM at Lounge features residents Boogs & Who, and will host Melbourne’s top purveyors of club music, showcasing both local and international DJs playing the most upfront club music. This week’s special guests are Inkswel, & Sleep D. Expect nothing but excellent house music all night long. And remember, clubbing happens in the EYEM. $10 from 12pm. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
FIRST FLOOR SATURDAYS It’s house, electro, dub, anthems, disco and funk with guest DJs Genetix, B-Two and Oohee rocking til the break of day. Doors open 10pm with $5 basics til midnight! First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
HOMECOMING In the grand tradition of past Saturday nights at the Prince of Wales, it will regain it’s rightful place on the pantheon of Australian dance music playing host to the best and most exciting EDM locally, nationally and internationally. Local residents include Generik, Oskar, Swick, Tranter, M.A.F.I.A., Streetparty DJs and Clip Art, and scheduled guests The Aston Shuffle, Tonite Only, The Swiss, Luke Million, Parachute Youth, Louis La Roche, Alvin Risk and more. In addition, Homecoming has prepared a veritable roster of exciting drinks and cocktails to fuel the fun, including Fresh coconut cocktails, Dr. Pepper, Electric Lemonade, Tecate, Thai-style Buckets and Bubble Cup cocktails. Prince Bandroom, 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
HOT STEP Google Hot Step and you’ll get a bunch of Vietnamese game reviews and Balkanese dances on YouTube. But that’s nothing like what you can expect to find within the confines of Bimbo on a Saturday night. Developing thick and heavy but altogether groovy, enjoy an eclectic mix of fairy floss funk, doom disco and monk movement minimal every week. Free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
ESSENTIALS
SATURDAYS AT ONE TWENTY BAR
CLUB SODA
ENVY
8.
RED BULL BEAT SUITE
Our Signature serve. Each and every Sunday we play host to a self professed vinyl junkie caught between the golden years & boogie wonderland. A mouthful? Perhaps. Phato Amano perfectly sets the mood for an audio-adventure that redefines the dance floor weekly. Our Sunday aficionados Agent 86 and Tigerfunk stir up a full cream shake to the flavour of your liking. Forget everything you thought you knew about losing yourself to the grooves. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
MONDAY14TH IBIMBO Have you always wanted to be a DJ but been cruelly cursed with tone deafness and a general inability to version excursion? Well Bimbo Deluxe saves the day once again.. All you need is an iPhone and you’re set. Just download the free ‘remote’ application from the app store, log into the Bimbo DJ wireless network and you choose which song plays next. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
TUESDAY15TH BIMBO TUESDAYS Bimbo Tuesday’s have long been the discerning DJs midweek breath of fresh air. An opportunity to indulge in, and to each parade their individual takes on music. A night where by the weird and wonderful is not frowned upon but rather celebrated. Resident selectors Matt Radovich, Andras Fox and Henry Who draw from a colorful array of sounds that warm your midweek blues. From 8pm, free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
COSMIC PIZZA NHJ and friends host every Tuesday night upstairs at Lucky Coq. Playing uneasy listening, freaked out bass jams, romantic comedy disco, tropi-jazz, soundtracks and shit you won’t hear on the other nights. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
;IHRIWHE] XL
“CoQ RoQ” Mr Moonshine, Agent 86
8LYVWHE] XL
“Free Range Funk” Dj Who, Lewis Cancut, Tiger Funk
*VMHE] XL
“Panorama” Phato A Mano, Mr George, Matt Radovich
7EXYVHE] XL
“Textile” DOWNSTAIRS
Jean-Paul, Grey Skull, Chief UPSTAIRS
Kodiak Kid, Mr Moonshine, Dj B-Two
7YRHE] XL
“South Side Hustle” Adam Askew, Junji & Harry, Booshank
1SRHE] XL
“Struggle” Damon, Tiger Funk
;IHRIWHE] XL
“Cosmic Pizza”
presented by NHJ 8LYVWHE] XL
“Tigerfunk (live)” Mr Moonshine *VMHE] XL
“Juicy”
TBC TBC
7EXYVHE] XL
“Hot Step”
Adam Askew, Spacey Space, Silverfox 7YRHE] XL
“The Sundae Shake” Phato Amano, Agent 86, Tigerfunk 1SRHE] XL
“iBimbo”
8YIWHE] XL
“Cosmic Pizzas” NHJ, JPS (Espionage) “promises to be here on time”
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
8YIWHE] XL
“Curious Tales” Henry Who Dj Ahab
9.
MINDWAVE THEORY: OF MIND Anton Maiko now lives around perhaps the modern spiritual home of psytrance. But Israel wasn’t in the plan to begin with. Actually, the artist who now calls himself Mindwave started his life pursuit in the former Soviet bloc, in Kaliningrad, Russia. His family deciding when he was six to take him to a land of opportunity, which in hindsight, may not have been a bad move. And from his new base in Nazareth Illite, he begins to explain his story: “since an early age, I was always interested in electronic music. Then maybe since I was about 13, I started experimenting with software for creating music; to start with I think it was more for fun – definitely in the beginning. But later on, I took it to a more professional level. I studied sound engineering and really wanted to use that as a way to develop my music.” So what was it that led him to a life in the psychedelic trance scene? “While I was searching for different genres in all types of sounds and things, I ended up really liking psychedelic sounds. “Finding that it wasn’t in anyway boring, he explored the different perspectives of the music, thinking it had some possibilities. “I found a lot of other sounds the same,” he explains. Regardless, a moot argument to be sure, given genre debate is about as old as religion itself. And he agrees: “that’s irrelevant anyway. I just do what I do. When I began to produce my own music – and then over the years as I began to move with a more progressive sound – it was the psytrance that really had me connecting to this genre, and now I have been producing psychedelic music for four years now.” Like many Russian migrants too, he embraced his opportunity and is now doing something he loves – not a bad thing in anyone’s language. “When my family immigrated to Israel when I was younger, the country was known as the biggest place for trance music basically all over the world. Most of the artists are from here and a lot of the music is coming from here too. When I got here, I
really started hearing about the big named Israeli artists. I was listening to MFG and Astral Projection and thinking to myself, ‘Wow, how do they do that?’” Getting the hook-up in a country the size of Israel wasn’t too hard either. He reminisces about how he started producing and how one connection happened and then another – and then it continued on and on. “I had help from other guys to do it too,” he adds. And now we’re talking to him about his first visit to Australia. Studio wise, Mindwave has recently released his third LP – an album titled Concept of Freedom. “When I was working on it, I decided to make it different to what you around the place these days. Some artists are more interested in creating hit tracks for the dance floor. I wanted to go back to the original psy music; the sounds with a message and feeling in them. I decided to make a more of a concept album with this one, really wanting to take it to a different place. The albums before were a big experiment for me; in terms of genres I feel they might have been more progressive, but I have more of an understanding of where I am now and where I want to be.” Indeed, he believes all artists need to try to produce something outside their own square. “I can always produce something even outside of traditional electronic music,” he chimes. “If artists get stuck in the same genre all the time, you can lose the enjoyment of creating music. I think that those artists that are combining say minimal and techno or trance and something else are the ones that are now doing the bombs for the dance floor. People are excited when they hear it and as a producer, you feel like you’re teaching the crowd about new music. Otherwise, people who are listening to just one style of music are stuck in this cycle which I don’t want to do.” Finally, he adds that he is on his way Down Under to smash out some parties and shows. “I’m really excited about it; I’ll be playing songs from the new album and
some singles and other tracks from the compilation and things people will be familiar with from me. My primary cause is to promote the new album because I think it’s the best work of mine that I have done. It sounds more mature so I hope the Australia crowd will like it.” I say, there is no doubt.
they make you feel super comfortable or find out what’s stopping you from getting what you need to get.” Jones was also the one who convinced her that it was OK to go full-on, bubblegum-glossy, 100 percent unabashed pop. The tracks that had made her name with critics and fans – the sexually charged Swimming Pool and 2008’s rich, grief-fuelled August – were dark and seething, albeit tempered by Kelleher’s forthright, everygirl vocals. “I think August and Swimming Pool tap into something a lot more personal, in terms of the emotional vulnerability, than some of the other tracks,” she admits. “Funny thing is, Swimming Pool and Satellites and That Girl were the most recent tracks that were written for the album; World Is Ours is one of the first tracks that I demoed, which people always get surprised about because it’s the poppiest. “When I started working with Bry later on he said, ‘Look, you can’t go half-arsed into [making a pop record]’,” she goes on. “I had these demos and it was pretty obvious that I was starting to go in that direction but holding back – it was all in this confused state. And he said, ‘You have to go all the way, you’ve gotta own it, or it’s not going to work, people aren’t going to connect with it.’” The Warmest Place blends its pop influences – from Frente! and Fleetwood Mac to Roxy Music – with a fiercely independent sensibility, but pop songs with substance don’t arrive with a neon sign perched atop it saying Not Your Average Dance-Pop Love Song, and it’s easy for critics and casual listeners alike to be dismissive when presented with something so immediately accessible. Kelleher says one review of lead single Satellites rankled for precisely that reason. “I try not to read reviews, but occasionally I’ll come across one and it’ll be the worst possible one,” she says ruefully. She tells me that the subtext tends to be that “making pop music is not honourable in any way – that it’s not art, that it’s not difficult, that it’s not something that can be respected. That it’s something that you do if you want to make money. That’s [that writer’s] opinion; if he doesn’t like it, music is subjective and that’s fine. But I put a lot into these songs and I never expected them to do anything for me other than give me the opportunity to be able to play some shows, and the excitement of finishing something. I don’t have any expectations, and I never have.” That said, Kelleher gets a kick out of spotting old fans dancing to effervescent pop tunes like the Go-Go-inspired new single The World Is Ours – the same ones who sweated buckets watching Kiosk in tiny shitbox venues. “I like the punk kids being into it – that makes me pretty
happy. People that I’ve known for a while, who are just so hate-everything.” There’s a refreshing lack of cynicism among the broad spectrum of people who are digging on Catcall that’s reflected in the attitude of the album itself. “That [un-cynical vibe] was something I was trying to achieve, and a lack of elitism as well. There’s a lot of elitism in music at the moment.” Kelleher is one of the most fun Australian musicians to follow on Twitter – rather than using it as a promotional tool, it’s a candid and hilarious outlet for her to “talk about tennis, and try to flirt with George Megalogenis”. Most of the few music-related Tweets, particularly in the lead-up to the album being completed, are so blunt and exasperated a casual observer might think she’s ready to throw in the towel most days. “[Music is] like a boyfriend, I go through emotional phases with it – sometimes it drives me insane and sometimes it’s the best thing in my life,” she sighs. “Because it’s been with me so long and
“I have more of an understanding of where I am now and where I want to be.”
RK Mindwave [ISR] plays the Tree of Life Festival alongside Dick Trevor [UK], Green Nuns Of The Revolution [UK], and more from Friday May 25 until Sunday May 27.
CATCALL MEOW: MEOW MEOW, MEOW! The question was: ‘what’s ahead for Catcall in 2010’? to which she replied “FINALLY releasing the album that I’ve been working on for the last year and a half…I can’t wait.” That’s from an interview Sydney’s Catherine Kelleher gave to music blog Primary Colours back in January 2010. The album she’s referring to came out last Friday May 4, 2012. This may not be an eternity by current Australian industry standards (looking at you, Avalanches), but certainly no one can accuse her of rushing her debut out to capitalise on the success of her 2010 breakout single, Swimming Pool. “Yeahhhhhhh,” says Kelleher sheepishly. “I think we were planning on finishing the album in 2010, releasing a single at the end of the year, and then the album… I feel like I’m about to explode with it, you know? With relief that it’s going to be out in a week and a half!” The album in question, now that it’s here, is titled The Warmest Place. Considering some of the songs were written as many as five or six years apart and in varying states of grief, contentedness and confidence, it’s a remarkably coherent statement from an artist who started in DIY punk and dipped a toe in hip hop on the way to unabashed, complex pop music. “Yeah, I’ve got cred, I paid my dues!” she says with a wry laugh, referring to her lateadolescent days as the singer of three-piece punk outfit Kiosk. (Her bandmates, Jack Mannix and Angie Bermuda, went on to play in Circle Pit and Straight Arrows.) DIY has been Kelleher’s MO since those early days; she first learned how to perform on stage with the band, and then as Kiosk wound down (following a two-month US trip and, almost immediately upon the band’s return, the sudden death of Kelleher’s father), began experimenting with beats and vocals at home from around 2006. She released the Anniversary EP two years later, Swimming Pool in 2010, and the Swimming Pool Party remix EP last year – slogging away all the while on the full-length with a rotating cast of producers. These included Andrew “Toni Toni Lee” Elston, GLOVES, Luke Foskey (Youth), members of Van She and Julian Mendelsohn – but the biggest payoff came from working with vocal producer Bry Jones. “I realised when I started working with him that to achieve what I wanted to achieve with the demos that I had, there was a lot of work to do in terms of writing, and becoming a better singer as well,” Kelleher explains. “I was very intimidated by studios, I always felt really nervous and I was never breathing properly. And he’s a vocal producer, he gets you there – it’s like a therapist or something,
“I never expected them to do anything for me other than give me the opportunity to be able to play some shows, and the excitement of finishing something. I don’t have any expectations, and I never have.”
10.
FEATURES
it’s shaped my friendships and my relationships and every choice I’ve made, it’s an intense experience. I hate it and I love it.” But six years of Catcall have taught Kelleher that forward momentum is what serves her music best. “I always used to think I was one of those people who would never be able to think about the next album until the first one was completely done… But now I’m thinking if I don’t start writing soon, it’ll probably take another three years to get another album out,” she sighs, “and I’ll be 80 by then. I’ll be far too old.” Caitlin Welsh Catcall [AUS] plays The Toff In Town on Saturday May 12. The Warmest Place is out now through Ivy League.
ALISON WONDERLAND GRAMMY GEM: SYDNEY SPLENDOUR Sydney-based DJ Alison Wonderland toured Europe as a cellist for the Sydney Youth Orchestra and got sidetracked watching random local punk bands in Germany. Now, the energetic lass has the support for the likes of Pete Tong and Annie Mac. 100% chats with lady who’s just about to release her debut compilation, Welcome To Wonderland. “I used to take the train to Hamburg and Berlin a lot while I was there and I was really into punk and weird electronic stuff back then so I used to go and follow around these really obscure punk bands and weird electronic outfits,” Wonderland begins, touching on the topic of her adventures about Germany during her year spent in the country. “I was really into these really weird bands that no-one had ever heard of, I don’t think they ever went anywhere but they were friends of a friend and I just followed them around. “I think there was one point, and you can check with my mother on this, she got a call from my school to say that they’d lost me but I’d actually been following this punk band around Germany instead of playing cello. I did a lot of that over there.” Upon her return from Germany, Wonderland had a “bit of a freak out” and decided to play bass guitar in a few local bands in Sydney before stepping up behind the decks. Since taking to the turntables, Wonderland has got the dancefloor masses moving at Field Day, Good Vibrations, Sydney Fashion Festival, Future Music Festival, Parklife and is on the Splendour In The Grass bill for this year. “It’s my favourite big festival, hell yeah!” she says in anticipation. “I’ll tell you some gossip about Splendour. Well, it’s not really gossip, it’s an embarrassing story. “The Smashing Pumpkins, when I was younger I was obsessed with them, and the first song I ever composed was about Billy Corgan. And I have a goal at Splendour to go up to him and sing it to him because I still know all the words. They had this song called Ode To No One and I kinda copied it. And then wrote a song about him. It’s just such a big deal; out of all the bands, I had a massive obsession with SP. If I get a photo with Billy I’m actually going to cry.” If Wonderland’s reaction to UK DJ and BBC Radio 1 host Pete Tong’s inclusion of her remix of Sam Sparro’s tune Wish I Never Met You on one of his recent playlists is anything to go by, then crying with Billy Corgan is quite possible. “That was so crazy!” she says, still in awe. “I’d come home from a gig at 4.30am the night before and I had to wake up early ‘cause I was catching a flight and you know when you don’t want to get out of bed? So I went on Twitter and I had like 20 alerts… and danced out of my bed and was like ‘fuck fuck fuck fuck’. Then I found out that Annie Mac played it a few days later. It’s really surreal; I really look up to those people!” It has indeed been a pretty surreal year so far for Wonderland. She played the Grammy Awards after party at Capital Records’ LA office in February and backed this up two weeks later getting behind the decks at the Brit Awards after party on a boat on the Thames. “The other day it kinda hit me that I’d played all these gigs and I was like, ‘What the hell!’, it was really weird,” she says, excitedly. “To be honest, I take something away from every gig I play. I don’t like to
“To be honest, I take something away from every gig I play. I don’t like to discriminate between big gigs and small gigs ‘cause there’s always something awesome that happens at a gig for me so I can take something away from all of them.“ discriminate between big gigs and small gigs ‘cause there’s always something awesome that happens at a gig for me so I can take something away from all of them. But playing the Grammys after party was pretty surreal, only because I’ve watched the Grammys since I was little kid and been like, ‘One day I really wanna be there!’. I had to pinch myself a few times.” Now, releasing her debut compilation album Welcome To Wonderland after 12 months of solid work, Wonderland says she’s “very happy about it all”. But, there’s no stopping this young lass, she’s already got plans for a debut studio record in the works. “I’m just composing sketches for the album so it’s more just demos to get everyone’s opinion on what is good or what I may have written in a crazy state of mind,” she says. “Yes, hopefully there’ll be collaborations with my productions underneath them. It’s really surreal.” And, as for her upcoming shows and Splendour gig, there will be no face masks or costumes; she’ll just be ripping it up. “I’ll be baring all,” she says. “Hopefully I’ll create a dance party vibe. If they don’t, I force them to! Not really (laughs).” Annabel Maclean Alison Wonderland [AUS] plays alongside Bloc Party [UK], Metric [CAN], Ladyhawke [NZ] and more at Splendour In The Grass at Belongil Fields, Byron Bay from Friday July 27 – Sunday July 29. Welcome To Wonderland is out now through EMI.
FEATURES
11.
PURPLEEMERALD BIMBOS
LUCKYCOQ
ONETWENTYBAR
STRIKE EUROTRASH
WORKSHOP FIRSTFLOOR
HOMECOMINGATPRINCE STARBAR
(GER)
presents
SUNDAY Toca's Miracle
27TH MAY Australian tour 12.
100% CLUB PICS
ONLY EXCLUSIVE
MELBOURNE
CLUB SHOW
SHOW M P 0 3 : 8 UT! SOLD O
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
13.
KHOKOLATKOATED BE.ATCO.
FAKTORYATKHOKOLATBAR
RHYTHMALISMATFUSION
LIGHTATREDLOVE
14.
100% URBAN PICS
JESS HARLEN
WEDNESDAY9TH COMPRESSION SESSION Reggae at E55 every Wednesday night. Resident selectors play stricly vinyl. Free entry. 8pm. E55, 55 Elizabeth St, Melbourne CBD
THURSDAY10TH ATMOSPHERE AND EVIDENCE Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Atmosphere has been a driving force in independent hip hop for 20
years. Rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/producer Ant (Anthony Davis) were the first to put Twin Cities hip hop on the map and became the co-founders of independent label Rhymesayers Entertainment. Frequently touted as emo rap, Slug’s brutally honest, poetic musings are often extremely personal and socially mindful, managing to traverse topics such as relationships, love, and the trappings of modern society to the soundtrack of melodic blend of blues, soul and gospel samples with vintage analogue synths. Joining Atmosphere will be Grammy-winning rapper and producer Michael “Evidence” Perretta. Having spent the better part of his career touring the globe and selling an impressive number of records, he’s produced tracks for the Beastie Boys, Linkin Park, Defari, Planet Asia and more, including co-production on Kanye West’s debut The College
P-MONEY
Dropout, which earned him his Grammy. Additionally, 2011 saw the release of his long-awaited sophmomore album Cats and Dogs, which featured appearances from hot names The Alchemist, DJ Premier, Statik Selektah and loads more. The Hi-Fi, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne
RHYTHM-AL-ISM Start the weekend early with Fusion’s Resident DJs. Music for your funkin’ soul. Special guests every week! Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAY11TH FAKTORY This is it. Faktory Fridays are open for business at Melbourne’s home of R&B, Khokolat Bar. Where else? Damion De Silva, Ken Walker, Durmy, K Dee, Simon Sez, Yaths and Jacqui Dusk spinning all night long. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
FAST LANE: LIVING
LIKE FRIDAYS Like Fridays at La Di Da serves up RnB and Electro House across two rooms giving you a fun filled end to your week. DJs Dinesh, Dir-X, Sef, NYD, Shaun D, Shaggz, Broz and more. 10pm-5am La Di Da, 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
SWEET NOTHING FRIDAYS DJ Marcus Knight and DJ Xander James spin Hip Hop, R&B and House tunes all night from 8pm. Free entry and early drink specials. Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra
Jess Harlen’s first taste of success in the music industry came at the tender age of 16, recording with the Kool Skools interstate project where her first-ever original song managed to score Best Female Vocalist and Best Acoustic Song in Queensland that year. Spurred on by the warm reception to her talents, Harlen made the move down to Melbourne in ‘06 and hasn’t looked back, releasing a number of successful EPs on her own, working with Muph & Plutonic and Blue King Brown, and dropping her critically-acclaimed debut album Neon Heartache in 2010, marking an exciting journey into soul, blues, roots and subtle hip hop beats. This year’s follow-up effort, Park Yard Slang, continues to develop Harlen’s artistic vision: full of cross-genre explorations and Harlen’s signature soulful vocals. Now that you’ve had enough time to revel in the warm and lively sounds of Park Yard Slang. Wednesday May 2, The Toff, 2/252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
UPCOMING DMX Divine master of the unknown, the multi-platinum award winning Earl Simmons - better known through his stage name DMX, has emerged as one of hardcore rap’s reigning kings. Toeing the line between the sacred and the profane, Simmons’ narratives present a compelling account of both spiritual anguish and everyday life, Simmons has contributed an untold number of charttopping singles and no less than six wildly successful fulllength albums and there is little doubt that upcoming release Undisputed will be similarly successful upon its release in a matter of months, featuring the likes of Busta Rhymes, Tyrese, Jennifer Hudson, and production from Deezle, and Swizz Beatz. Friday May 11, Trak, 445 Toorak Road, Toorak
THE NICE UP Tom Showtime presents The Nice Up. All flavours of hip hop, ghetto funk and reggae niceness provided. Sailor Jerry nice up the cocktails, Dos Blockos nice up the $5 beers. Fridays done proper. George Lane Bar, 1 George Lane, St Kilda
SATURDAY12TH KHOKOLAT KOATED All new experience, same great location with a fresh koat of Khokolat. Restless Entertainment reloads your favourite Saturday night party. Damion De Silva, K Dee, Jay Sin and weekly guests playing RnB & Ol’Skool sounds strictly for the urban elite. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
Peter Wadams recalls the moments in his young life when music first warmed his short and curlies. First it was that ‘young pop stuff’ that all the youth of the day were listening to – your Michael Jackson type music. “I wasn’t really fussed about music like that,” he says. Rather, it was hip hop that was on his agenda. “I remember some kids at school had these Run DMC tapes and they were rapping over these tapes and it sounded really good. It wasn’t mainstream music at that time. And then by the time Beastie Boys, NWA and Public Enemy came around I found myself getting obsessed with that music. It really lasted into the ‘90s because that was the golden period and I was pretty much locked on it by then.” In 2012, speaking to us from his base in New Zealand, P-Money says other than the weather being pretty average, things are status quo. “Summer skipped us completely!” he explains. “Other than that, I’ve been producing all kinds of music this year but I still mostly love hip hop. My house records have been doing pretty well recently though. We just got a single signed to French record label Kitsune, called Kinda Lovin by P-Money and Dan Aux. And I’m pretty happy with that.” Likewise, his shows have been doing equally well. He’s been seeing lots of happy faces at his shows and not before due time. “My audience spans a whole generation now. You have the older heads that have followed me for ten years and the young cats that only recently started clubbing. The current generation seem more open to a variety of genres and tempos than when I first started being a DJ. So it’s more fun now because I can play a broad range of music and not lose anyone!” Indeed, having conquered nearly all on his way to the top, P-Money’s approach has changed little. “Yeah, when I was in the battle scene I had to put in a lot of time to keep that up and running. It consumed every aspect of my life. Everything was focused on doing that and being the best that I could be. I would come home and practice for four or five hours per night on average. I had this dream of coming first in the worldwide DMC Championships. That was my goal and even though it was a lofty dream (he came third!) I still managed to achieve something that took a lot of dedication. And that gave me the technical background to be doing what I’m doing now. I need the skills in the environment I work in and they never go away, so that’s a good thing. But it’s still a lot of hard work.” Nowadays, he doesn’t have the time to spend on the dayto-day practicing, but he still enjoys playing gigs as well
DANNY BROWN AND M.E.D Bubbling up for years before last year’s XXX, Danny Brown caught much of the hip hop world’s attention with his LP The Hybrid but had previously appeared on records with as diverse a bunch of characters as fellow Motor City bad man Guilty Simpson and G Unit’s Tony Yayo. M.E.D triumphantly returned in 2011 with his second LP Classic, flanked by the single Where I’m From with Aloe Blacc. An emcee adored by producers like Just Blaze, J Dilla and Madlib, M.E.D has appeared alongside the aforementioned as well as Oh No, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Odd Future member Hodgy Beats, Kurupt, Karriem Riggins, Talib Kweli and many many more. Thursday May 24, Prince Bandroom, 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
as doing the odd radio too. Then there is Dirty Records imprint, which just celebrated its ten year anniversary. “We recently had a huge show in Auckland city with PNC, David Dallas, Frontline, Vince Harder, Scribe and myself all on stage. It was insane!” And right now too, there is no pressure to keep changing the world. “I don’t feel external pressure so much anymore. I still have the same motivation as ever to make cool music and have the fun experience through performing, recording and travelling. But that’s what keeps me going. I really do love the music thing and the life it has provided for me.” He’s also played some pretty memorable gigs in recent times too. “Some of my favourite shows have been at the Rhythm & Vines New Year festival in Gisborne, NZ. That is a truly remarkable festival and the crowd there is the best. I’m looking forward to doing that again this year. Otherwise, in my spare time, I’m usually catching up on housework and washing! I spend a lot of time on the road or in the studio so my home gets pretty neglected!” Regardless, he is still all over the current movement in hip hop and unlike many of his compatriots, is still feeling the energy. “There are still great producers out there,” he says, somewhat defiantly. “The greats of hip hop are still active; guys like Timbaland, Kanye West, Dr Dre, Swizz Beats and Just Blaze. Whenever they drop something new I will always check it because they have a well developed understanding of production. Their records are always well rounded and complete. In the dance world I always check for Diplo and A-Trak. They are dope too.” Finally, P-Money is getting set to deliver one of the more unusual gigs in his career, at Melbourne’s own Strike Bowling Bar. He agrees that it sounds intriguing – surprising even – when the guys from Strike booked him for two shows. “I do like bowling and I thought it was a novel idea to play music there. Then I saw the flyer with Ajax and I see they’re billing it as some type of DJ battle or sound clash! I’m just going to get down and have fun and play cool music. I’m really keen to hear what Ajax plays too!” So get your groove on with a beer, a bowl and some beats.
“My house records have been doing pretty well recently though. We just got a single signed to French record label Kitsune, called Kinda Lovin by P-Money and Dan Aux. And I’m pretty happy with that.”
RK P-Money [NZ] plays Live On The Lanes alongside Ajax [AUS] at Strike QV on Thursday May 24.
URBAN
15.
WHERE TO NEXT?
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29th Apartment 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9078 8922 303 303 High Street, Northcote Abode 374 St.Kilda Rd, St.Kilda Albert Park Hotel Cnr Montague & Dundas Pl, Albert Park, 9690 5459 Alia Lvl 1, 83-87 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9486 0999 Alumbra Shed 9, Central Pier, 161 Harbour Espl, Docklands, 8623 9666 Back Bar 67 Green St, Windsor, 9529 7899 Bar Open 317 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 9601 Baroq House 9-13 Drewery Ln, Melb, 8080 5680 Bendigo Hotel 125 Johnston St, Collingwood 9417 3415 Bertha Brown 562 Flinders Street, 9629 1207 Big Mouth 168 Acland St, St.Kilda, 9534 4611 Billboard 170 Russell St, Melb, 9639 4000 Bimbo Deluxe 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 8600 Birmingham Hotel Cnr Smith & Johnston St, Fitzroy Black Cat 252 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6230 Blue Bar 330 Chapel St, Prahran, 9529 6499 Blue Tile Lounge 95 Smith St, Fitzroy Boutique 134 Greville St, Prahran, 9525 2322 Brown Alley King Street, Melb,9670 8599 Brunswick Hotel 140 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9387 6637 Builders Arms 211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy Cabinet Bar 11 Rainbow Alley, Melbourne, 9654 0915 Caravan Music Club 95 Drummond St, Oakleigh Caseys Nightclub 660A Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9810 0030 Caz Reitops Dirty Secrets 80 Smith St, Collingwood, 9415 8876 CBD Club 12-14 McKillop St, Melb, 9670 3638 Chaise Lounge Basement, 105 Queen St, Melb, 9670 6120 Chandelier Room 91 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, 9532 2288 Chelsea Heights Hotel Cnr Springvale & Wells Rd, Chelsea Heights, 9773 4453 Cherry Bar AC/DC Ln, Melb, 9639 8122 Chi Lounge 195 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne, 9662 2688 Co. Lvl 3, Crown Complex, 9292 5750 Colonial Hotel (Brown Alley) Cnr King & Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 8599
Y P A S
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Call 1300 304 614 (landline only)
or 03 9614 3441 Application forms available at Police Stations
www.keypass.com.au
16.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
Commercial Club Hotel 344 Nicholson St, Fitzroy, 9419 1522 Cookie Lvl 1, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 7660 Corner Hotel 57 Swan St, Richmond, 9427 9198 Cornish Arms 163 Sydney Rd, Brunswick CQ 113 Queen St, Melb, 8601 2738 Croft Institute 21 Croft Alley, Melb, 9671 4399 Cruzao Arepa Bar 365 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 7871 Cushion 99 Fitzroy St, St.Kilda, 9534 7575 Damask 1/347 Burnswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 4578 The Drunken Poet 65 Peel Street, West Melbourne, 9348 9797 Der Raum 438 Church St, Richmond, 9428 0055 Ding Dong Lounge Lvl 1, 18 Market Ln, Melb, 9662 1020 Dizzy’s Jazz Club 381 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 1233 Double Happiness 21 Liverpool St, Melb, 9650 4488 E:55 55 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9620 3899 East Brunswick Club 280 Lygon St, East Brunswick, 9388 2777 Edinburgh Castle 681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick Electric Ladyland Lvl 1, 265 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5757 Elwood Lounge 49-51 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood, 9525 6788 Empress 714 Nicholson St, Nth Fitzroy, 9489 8605 Espy 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda, 9534 0211 Eurotrash 18 Corrs Ln, Melb, 9654 4411 Eve 334 City Rd, Southbank, 9696 7388 Evelyn 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 5500 Ferntree Gully Hotel 1130 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully, 9758 6544 Festival Hall 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne, 9329 9699 First Floor 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6380 Forum Theatre 154 Flinders St, Melb, 9299 9800 The Fox Hotel 351 Wellington Street, Collingwood, 9416 4957 Fusion Lvl 3, Crown Complex, Southbank, 9292 5750 The Gallery Room 1/510 Flinders St, Melbourne, 9629 1350 Gem Bar & Dining 289 Wellingston St, Collingwood, 9419 5170 George Basement, 127 Fitzroy St, 9534 8822 Gertrude’s Brown Couch 30 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, 9417 6420 Grace Darling Hotel 114 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 0055 Grandview Hotel Cnr Heidelberg Rd & Station St, Fairfield, 9489 8061 Great Britain Hotel 447 Church St, Richmond, 9429 5066 Grind N Groove 274 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville Grumpy’s Green 125 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 1944 Gypsy Bar 334 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 0548 HiFi 125 Swanston St, Melb, 1300 843 4434 Highlander 11a Highlander Lane, Melb, 9620 2227 Hoo Haa 105 Chapel St, Windsor, 9529 6900 Horse Bazaar 397 Little Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 2329 Iddy Biddy 47 Blessington St, St Kilda, 9534 4484 Jett Black 177 Greville St, Prahran John Curtin Hotel 29 Lygon St, Melb, 9663 6350 Khokolat Bar 43 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, 039642 1142 La Di Da 577 Lt Bourke St, Melb, 9670 7680 Labour In Vain 197A Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 5955 Lomond Hotel 225 Nicholson St, East Brunswick Longroom 162 Collins St, Melbourne, 9663 9226 Loop 23 Meyers Pl, Melb, 9654 0500 Lounge 243 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 2916 The Lounge Pit 386-388 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 9415 6142 Love Machine Cnr Lt Chapel & Malvern Rd, Prahran, 9533 8837 Lucky Coq 179 Chapel St, Windsor, 9525 1288 The LuWOW 62-70 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 5447
Mercat Cross Lvl 1, 456 Queen St, Melb, 9348 9998 Mink 2 Acland St, St Kilda, 9536 1199 Miss Libertine 34 Franklin St, Melb, 9663 6855 Misty 3-5 Hosier Ln, Melb, 9663 9202 Mockingbird Bar 129 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 0000 Musicland 1359A Sydney Rd, Fawkner, 9359 0006 Neverland 32-48 Johnson St, South Melb, 9646 5544 New Guernica Lvl 2, Hub Arcade, 318-322 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 4464 Night Cat 141 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 0090 Night Cat 279 Flinders Ln, Melb, 9654 0444 Noise Bar 291 Albert St, Brunswick, 9380 1493 Northcote Social Club 301 High St, Northcote, 9489 3917 Old Bar 74 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 4155 One Twenty Bar 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy Onesixone 161 High St, Prahran, 9533 8433 Order Of Melbourne level 2, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 6707 Palace Hotel 893 Burke Rd, Camberwell Palace Theatre 20-30 Bourke St, Melb, 9650 0180 Palais 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs, 5348 4849 Palais Theatre Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, 9525 3240 Papa Goose 91 Flinders Ln, Melbourne, 9663 2800 Penny Black 420 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 8667 Pier Live Hotel 508 Nepean Hwy, Frankston, 9783 9800 Pony 68-70 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9662 1026 Portland Hotel Cnr Lt Collins & Russell St, Melb, 9810 0064 The Prague Hotel, 911 High St, Northcote, 9495 0000 Pretty Please 61c Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 4484 Prince Bandroom 29 Fitztory St, St Kilda, 9536 1168 Prince Of Wales 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9536 1168 Public Bar 238 Victoria St, North Melb, 9329 6522 Purple Emerald Lounge Bar 349 High St, Northcote, 9482 7007 Railway Hotel 280 Ferrars St, South Melb, 9690 5092 Red Bennies 371 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9826 2689 RedLove Lvl 1, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 3722 Retreat Hotel 226 Nicholson St, Abbotsford, 9417 2693 The Retreat Hotel 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 4090 Revolt Elizabeth St, Kensington, 03 9376 2115 Revolver Upstairs 229 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5985 Rochester Castle Hotel 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9415 7555 Rooftop Cider Bar, Cnr Swanston & Flinders St, Melbourne, 9650 3884 Room 680 Level 1, 680 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9818 0680 Roxanne Parlour Lvl 3, 2 Coverlid Pl, Melb Royal Derby 446 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 2321 Roal Melbourne Hotel 629 Bourke St, 9629 2400 Ruby’s Lounge 1648 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave, 9754 7445 Saint Hotel 54 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9593 8333 Sandbelt Live Cnr South & Bignell Rd, Moorabbin, 9555 6899 Scarlett Lounge 174 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 0230 Seven Nightclub 52 Albert Rd, South Melb, 9690 7877 Spensers Live 419 Spencer St, West Melb, 03 9329 8821 Spot 133 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9388 0222 Standard Hotel 293 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy, 9419 4793 Star Bar 160 Clarendon St, South Melb, 9810 0054 Station 59 59 Church St, Richmond, 9427 8797 Stolberg Beer Café 197 Plenty Rd, Preston, 9495 1444 Sub Lounge & Restaurant 168 Elizabeth St Melb, 0411 800 198 Sugar Bar (Hotel Urban) 35 Fitztroy St, St Kilda, 8530 8888 Temperance Hotel 426 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9827 7401 Thornbury Theatre 859 High St, Thornbury, 9484 9813 Tiki Lounge 327 Swan St, Richmond, 9428 4336 Toff In Town Lvl 2, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 8770 Tony Starr’s Kitten Club 267 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 2448 The Tote Hotel 67 Johnson St, Collingwood, 9419 5320 Town Hall Hotel 33 Errol St, North Melbourne, 9328 1983 Trak Lounge 445 Toorak Rd, Toorak, 9826 9000 Tramp 20 King St, Melb Transport Hotel Federation Square, Melb, 9654 8808 Trunk 275 Exhibition St, Melbourne, 9663 7994 Tyranny Of Distance 147 Union St, Windsor, 9525 1005 Two of Hearts 149 Commercial Road, Prahran Union Hotel Brunswick 109 Union St, Brunswick, 9388 2235 Veludo 175 Acland St, St Kilda, 9534 4456 Victoria Hotel 380 Victoria St, Brunswick, 9388 0830 Wah Wah Lounge Lvl 1, 185 Lonsdale St, Melb Wesley Anne 250 High St, Northcote, 9482 1333 Westernport Hotel 161 Marine Pde, San Remo, 5678 5205 Willow Bar 222 High Street, Northcote, 9481 1222 Windsor Castle 89 Albert St, Windsor, 9525 0239 Workers Club 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 8889 Workshop Lvl 1, 413 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9326 4365 Yah Yah’s 99 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9419 4920 The Vine 59 Wellington St, Collingwood, 9417 2434
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