THE NATIONAL ~ HIGH VIOLET
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 3 •
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THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 5 •
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THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 7 •
PSR-E323
YRS24B Australia’s favourite e student recorder Durable ABS resin construction. ction.. n. Easy to play and keep clean. d bag. Includes fingering chart and
The perfect beginning for anyone learning music 61 touch sensitive keys giving piano playability and added expression. Learning music is fun and easy with Yamaha Education Suite lessons and 102 preset songs.
YRS20B
AUDIOGRAM 3
Have fun with Yamaha’s rainbow coloured recorders
Recording with yourr computer has neverr been so easy!!
Made of ABS resin which is strong, durable and easy to keep clean. Available in translucent green, pink or blue.
YDP-S31 Slimline, compact, high-quality piano - a perfect addition to your home!
Featuring one mic/instrumentt input and bundled with Cubasee AI recording software thee o AUDIOGRAM 3 makes it easy to C record your music on the go. PC and Mac compatible.
Authentic sound, weighted keys and an absolute joy to play. Only 30cm cabinet depth with keyboard cover and 3 pedals. Built-in recording features and metronome make this instrument ideal for piano lessons and practicing. Optional piano stool available.
POCKETRAK C24** Pocket full of sound
PSR-E223
DGX-640W
The ideal way to start
Incredible value and great style for the whole family to enjoy
61 keys and 100 different accompaniment styles. Remarkable sound and amazing value.
88 weighted keys that feel just like a real piano. 305 built-in song set ups and the ability to download more from Yamaha’s Music Finder Plus website. Includes stand, sustain pedal and power supply.
P95B
The POCKETRAK C24 is a light and portable recorder that is capable of recording both 24bit/96kHz high quality audio and compressed MP3 audio. Audio files are stored directly to the 2GB internal memory or optional microSD card and files can be transferred via USB directly to your computer. Bundled with Cubase AI recording software.
The ideal portable solution Dynamic sound and natural piano touch packed in a slim, exceptionally affordable instrument that’s perfect for home, school or the rehearsal room. Includes music rest, sustain pedal and power supply.
GIGMAKER DRUM KIT G P Play Pl on the brands the th h pro’s demand
DTXPLORER
Q Quality Qu Yamaha shells, ball-clamp tom h o holders with double braced hardware.
Loud or silent - it’s your choice
PST3 PACK A complete starter package Brass copper based alloy 14” hi hats, 16” crash and 20” ride.
Excellent value for the begin beginner nner or hobbyist. With 100’s of traditional, traditional, um sounds, s electronic and exotic drum m kit you can build your own drum and play along to your MP3 gs or to the 22 preset songs to recreate a live concert rt in your headphones.
CS40 C S40
CG142S
F310P
FG700
FGX720SCA
PAC012
RBX270
Built especially for younger players
Exceptional value solid top classical guitar
Become the future of rock
Modern features at an affordable price
This full-size classical guitar gives lots of bold balanced tone. The nato neck, back and sides provide the force behind this instrument’s tone, bringing out the deep sound of nylon strings.
Excellent quality entry level acoustic solid top guitar with deluxe features
Awesome acoustic electric guitar
A great sounding 3/4 size guitar. Available in natural gloss finish. Limited stock.
Impress your party guests and start playing guitar now
This solid spruce top, thin neck and low action guitar, adds value to the classic FG series with the inclusion of an in-built tuner and pre amp. Available in natural gloss. FGX720SCABL black finish - $649 and FGX720SCABS brown sunburst finish - $649.
This excellent quality guitar is the perfect choice for future rock stars! Available in three great colours: black, dark blue metallic and red metallic.
This model features a pick-up system that provides a variety of tones from jazz to blues to rock. Available in black, mist green, red metallic, yellow natural satin or silver. Limited stock.
Everything you need to get started, featuring a great quality guitar and all the accessories: gig bag, strap, strings, string winder, capo, pitch pipe and picks. Available in natural gloss finish.
VT+ SERIES Seize the power and sound famous fast! Introducing the new Valvetronix+ Series amps, all featuring a 12 AX7 tube for true valve tone, 99 readyto-play presets, 25 in demand effects, plus an all-new Power Level control to increase or decrease volume. Available in 20, 40, 80 and 120 watts. VT20+ $249 and VT40+ $349.
Features the same design concepts as Yamaha’s premium high-end guitars. Available in natural gloss or matte finish. FG700MS - $349.
PATHFINDER 10
AMPLUG CABINET
Little yet loud
Mini headphone amp stack
Powerful 10 watt amp that is perfect for home practice, backstage warm-up and recording.
Equipped with a 3” Vox speaker and 0.7 Watts of power, the amPlug Cabinet is compatible with all amPlug models, so you can use a variety of amPlugs with a single amPlug Cabinet. Limited stock. AmPlug not included.
AMPLUG Plug in, rock out Vox’s pint-sized headphone guitar amp available in different styles. All models feature Gain, Tone and Volume controls along with an AUX-IN jack so you can jam along with a CD/MP3 player. Limited stock.
NEW SOUTH WALES Bankstown Music Shop
Shop 225, Lady Cutler Avenue, Centro Bankstown
BANKSTOWN
2200
02 9790 3777
Bass ‘n’ Blues Music Mega Store
Shop 10/20 Albert Street
TAREE
2430
02 6551 5067
www.bassnbluesmusic.com.au
Bavas Music City
252 Macquarie Street
LIVERPOOL
2170
02 9824 2211
www.bavasmusic.com.au
Big Music & Multimedia
85 Alexander Street
CROWS NEST
2065
02 8622 6555
www.bigmusic.com.au
Billy Hyde Allison Music
114 Baylis Street
WAGGA WAGGA
2650
02 6921 2696
www.billyhydemusic.com.au
Byron Music
Shops 1 & 2 South Plaza, Jonson Street
BYRON BAY
2481
02 6685 7333
www.byronmusic.com.au
Carlingford Music Centre
320 Pennant Hills Road
CARLINGFORD
2118
02 9873 2333
www.carlingfordmusic.com.au
Cheapa Music
427 Peel Street
TAMWORTH
2340
02 6766 6555
www.cheapamusic.com.au
Coastal Music
5/148 Lake Road
PORT MACQUARIE
2444
02 6581 3016
www.coastalmusic.com.au
Dickson’s Music Complex
Shop 6, 3-9 Spring Street
CHATSWOOD
2067
02 9419 2144
www.dicksonsmusic.com.au
Dream Music
610-612 Canterbury Road
BELMORE
2192
02 9787 4177
www.dreammusic.com.au
Drummers Dream
610-612 Canterbury Road
BELMORE
2192
02 9787 4177
www.drummersdream.com.au
Dural Music Centre
Unit 32, 286 Newline Road
DURAL
2158
02 9651 7333
www.duralmusic.com.au
Engadine Music Education Centre
25 Station Street
ENGADINE
2233
02 9520 3044
www.engadinemusic.com
Gallin’s Musicians Pro Shop Annandale
55 Parramatta Road
ANNANDALE
2038
02 9517 1901
www.gallinsmps.com.au
Guitar Factory Gladesville
280 Victoria Road
GLADESVILLE
2111
02 9817 2173
www.guitarfactory.net
Guitar Factory Parramatta
255 Church Street
PARRAMATTA
2150
02 9635 5552
www.guitarfactory.com.au
Haworth’s Music
Shop 2, 22 Durgadin Drive
ALBION PARK RAIL
2527
02 4256 0088
www.haworthguitars.com.au
High Street Music
491 High Street
PENRITH
2750
02 4722 8608
www.highstreetmusic.com.au
Hutchings Pianos
5 - 7 Edgecliff Road
BONDI JUNCTION
2022
02 9387 1376
www.hutchingspianos.com.au
Lander’s Music
286 Summer Street
ORANGE
2800
02 6362 6588
www.landersmusic.com
Lathams Music
4/6 Bradford Close
KOTARA
2289
02 4952 4311
www.lathamsmusic.com.au
Lathams Music
3a/11 Molly Morgan Drive
GREENHILLS
2323
02 4934 4661
www.lathamsmusic.com.au
Logans Pianos
250 Burwood Road
BURWOOD
2134
02 9744 2400
www.loganspianos.com.au
M & M’s Music & HiFi
Shop 2, 50 - 66 Boorowa Street
YOUNG
2594
02 6382 2836
www.mmmusicstudio.com.au
Macron Musicw
Shop 11 Fountain Plaza, 158 The Entrance Road
ERINA
2250
02 4367 8500
www.macronmusic.com.au
Macron Music
Shop 1000 Westfield (Enter Tonkiss Street)
TUGGERAH
2259
02 4352 3377
www.macronmusic.com.au
Mall Music
Shop 430, Warringah Mall
BROOKVALE
2100
02 9905 6966
www.mallmusic.com.au
Musos Corner
1 National Park Street
NEWCASTLE WEST
2302
02 4929 2829
www.musoscorner.com.au
Park Beach Music & Hi-Fi
Shop 57, Park Beach Plaza
COFFS HARBOUR
2450
02 6652 3725
www.parkbeachmusic.com.au
Pipers Wollongong Music
390 Crown Street
WOLLONGONG WEST
2500
02 4228 9286
www.wollongongmusic.com
Planet Music
25 Molesworth Street
LISMORE
2480
02 6621 7784
www.planetmusic.com.au
Planet Music
83 River Street
BALLINA
2478
02 6681 1125
www.planetmusic.com.au
Powerpoint Music Centre
409 Bong Bong Street
BOWRAL
2576
02 4862 5344
www.powerpointmusic.com.au
Shire Music Centre
Shop 1, 593 Kingsway
MIRANDA
2228
02 9525 8700
www.shiremusic.com.au
South Coast Music
Shops 7-10 Shoalhaven Arcade, 19 Kinghorne Street
NOWRA
2541
02 4421 8688
www.scmusic.com.au
The Drum Shop
1 National Park Street
NEWCASTLE WEST
2302
02 4925 3155
www.thedrumshopnewcastle.com.au
The Music Man
27/191 Parramatta Road
AUBURN
2144
02 9648 1199
www.themusicmansydney.com.au
Turramurra Music
1267 Pacific Highway
TURRAMURRA
2074
02 9449 8487
www.turramusic.com.au
Tweed Heads Musicland
121 Wharf Street
TWEED HEADS
2485
07 5536 4093
www.tweedmusicland.com
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Better Music
29 - 31 Colbee Court
PHILLIP
2606
02 6282 3199
www.bettermusic.com.au
DW Music
27 Altree Court
PHILLIP
2606
02 6260 5626
www.dwmusic.com.au
Pro Audio Supplies
87-89 Gladstone Street
FYSHWICK
2609
02 6249 7766
www.proaudio.com.au
Promotion commences 1st November 2010 to 31st December 2010 at participating dealers. Not all products listed in this catalogue are available at all Yamaha dealers. # These products are listed at normal RRP and are not part of this special distributor’s promotional offer. † The “value” specified for the bonus offers is Yamaha Music Australia’s recommended retail price of these products. *Price drop of 40% applies to selected product only. Visit yamahabackstage.com.au for full terms and conditions
• 10 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 11 •
• 12 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
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•18 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 19 •
front
LINE
NEWS? ANNOUNCEMENTS? TIP-OFFS? RUMOUR AND GOSSIP? SEND THEM THROUGH TO FRONTLINE@STREETPRESS.COM.AU
NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY WITH SCOTT FITZSIMONS
JANUARY Things didn’t start off well for the folks of Pyramid Rock, as a storm lashed the festival’s main stage on New Year’s Eve causing the cancellation of sets from headliners Empire of The Sun, Grinspoon, Van She and The Butterfly Effect. Things got even worse for the Melbourne music scene when it was announced that staple music venue The Tote would be closing its doors. “I can’t afford to keep fighting Liquor Licensing,” owner Bruce Milne said in a statement. “I can’t afford the new ‘high risk’ fees they have imposed,” referring to the category the venue had been placed in by the Victorian Government’s clampdown on alcohol-fuelled violence. The venue did close its doors but the silver lining of the situation was that it would prove to be the catalyst for one of the industry’s finest moments, the SLAM Rally. Meanwhile, triple j leaked the winner of the Hottest 100 (Mumford & Sons) and Paul McCartney was feeling a little left out that Dave Grohl had asked John Paul Jones to play bass in Them Crooked Vultures.
FEBRUARY Australian music fans had a right to feel like something had been taken away from them when Justice Peter Jacobson found Men At Work guilty of plagiarism, claiming that a “substantial part” of their track Down Under was reproduced from the children’s classic Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree – that is, the flute solo. Tragically, Ruby Hunter passed away suddenly of heart failure in the arms of partner Archie Roach, surrounded by family in their Victorian home. The Australian Music Prize nominations were announced and nominee Urthboy questioned the motives behind a lack of hip hop acts.
MARCH Then Chief Executive Officer of ARIA and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Stephen Peach announced that he would be retiring, after eight years in the positions. Staying on until August to help with the changeover, it took longer than that to fill the role, which turned out to be less sought-after than originally thought. Lisa Mitchell controversially won the Australian Music Prize with Wonder, while Oh Mercy picked up the previously announced the Red Bull Award. The MusicOz awards descended into chaos with ticket mix-ups and collapsing on-stage scaffolding. Mark Linkous, aka Sparklehorse, passed away aged 47. The album he had completed with Danger Mouse, Dark Night Of The Soul was tangled up in EMI legal issues, but following this was released properly later in the year. Alex Chilton of Big Star also departed the mortal realm. OK Go had enough of EMI’s video-embedding policy and left the label for independence, while Whitley had enough of the industry as a whole. Distribution and sales company Other Tongues launched in Sydney and The Drum Media celebrated 1,000 issues with a collectors’ edition and retrospective pull-out.
APRIL Powderfinger called a press conference at Sydney’s Annandale Hotel to announce their final – and most extensive ever – tour to call it a day. Guitarist Darren Middleton told The Front Line, “We no longer need to be lying to our friends.” Low Transit Industries wound up, New Justice Records started up and Rubber Records ceased selling physical CDs. The Vanguard venue was put up for sale as then-owner John Cass came to the end of his reign. An Icelandic volcano was proving to be a nuisance for flights in and out of Europe, with California’s Coachella suffering from the cancellations. Live Nation announced it would be setting up offices to Australia, as U2 wound up its first project later in the year.
MAY Hey Hey It’s Saturday was back and topical once more, as Gyroscope’s frontman Dan Sanders ended their live performance on the show by turning his back on the camera to reveal a “Warner Sux” message, with the band upset that their former label had released a ‘best of’ unbeknownst to them. Karnivool were stars of the WAMi Awards and Pivot were forced to change their name to PVT after an American nu-metal band took legal action. Australia had the most wins outside of America in the International Songwriting Competition. The metal world mourned the loss of Ronnie James Dio, who succumbed to stomach cancer at the age of 67. The biggest international news was EMI’s ongoing struggles. This month, private equity owner Terra Firma had to inject further funds into the business to avoid Citibank taking it over. EMI’s debts to the bank were reported to be as high as £3.2 billion. • 20 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
POWDERFINGER CALL IT A DAY
PHIL TRIPP RETIRES
LISA MITCHELL ACCEPTS AMP VIA VIDEO
CRAIG WHITE OF ÉLAN MEDIA
A YEAR IN THE INDUSTRY JUNE The future of The Tote was looking up after new owners announced their intention to bring the venue back to the live music scene. The warning signs for Shock Entertainment Group starting ringing louder as the One Stop, Shock Exports and Shock Music Publishing branches were all closed down. Shock General Manager said at the time, “These three business that were closed were completely separate and autonomous entities to Shock Entertainment.” Empire Of The Sun, Eskimo Joe and AC/DC all received two APRA Awards and MIA took so much offence to a NY Times Magazine cover story that she posted the phone number of journalist Lynn Hirschberg on her Twitter account. The recordings that MIA released suggesting the Sri Lankan artist may have had a point. Medical issues to Andrew Stockdale forced Wolfmother out of planned European dates and The Scare announced plans to split. Street Press Australia contributor, former record store owner and Sydney-scene good guy Adam D Mills tragically passed away at just 29 years of age.
Brett Murrihy started new stable Artist Voice with Matt Gudinski, with the agency remaining part of the Mushroom Group. In America, Warner’s financial status was downgraded from “stable” to “negative”. Legendary punk band Descendents posted on their website that they’d be touring Australia for the very first time, heading a then rumoured-only festival that turned out to be No Sleep Til. Meanwhile, the Soundwave acts were leaked after a camera-phone photo of the line-up was circulated on social media sites. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool’s frontman Charles Haddon died after jumping from a mast in the car park area at Belgium’s Pukkelpop festival.
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST
Warner President and CEO Ed St John was removed from his post, which also meant that his position as the ARIA Chairman would have to be relinquished. Sony’s Denis Handlin was given the ARIA post, which he’d previously held, a few weeks later. ARIA, meanwhile, were being sued for $1.1 million by promotion agency Three Degrees Marketing on the claim of unpaid bills. Julia Gillard decided to re-shuffle her front bench, which meant that the underwhelming Peter Garret handed over the Arts portfolio to Simon Crean. MusicNSW Executive Officer Eliza Sarlos raised concerns to The Front Line about his support for contemporary aspects of the industry. “He’s said he’s passionate about ballet and opera – we’ll be interested in seeing how his appointment impacts contemporary arts practitioners,” she said. INXS were also underwhelming in their performance at the first AFL Grand Final. Rumours were abounding that The Getaway Plan were to reform. Now unconnected to the band, their ex-tour manager John Raymond Zimmerman pleaded guilty to rape charges in the same month. The Front Line got its first read of Michael Chugg’s biography, Hey, You In The Black T-shirt – and therefore the cocaine exploits of Fleetwood Mac – which would be released in October. Models, The Church, The Loved Ones, Johnny Young and John Williamson were announced as this year’s Hall Of Fame inductees, while on the eve of releasing his new album Harlem River Blues, Justin Townes Earle checked into rehab in order to curb his ongoing struggles with addiction.
Fears were realised when Shock Entertainment – recently sold to Regency Media – entered into voluntary administration. In the creditors listing obtained by The Front Line, the organisation’s debts totalled $4.2 million. Soon after, the Stomp group was sold to new company Surrealus. Soon enough, the Stomp name had been replaced by new distributor Élan, but not before they’d lost both personnel and clients. While the Woodford-based event was regarded as one of the festival’s best ever editions, Splendour In The Grass announced its intentions to return to Byron Bay in 2011 and they submitted the application to move to their Yelgun site to the State Government. Meanwhile, Richard Ashcroft spat the dummy at the festival and walked off after a smaller than expected crowd come to his stage. It was announced Homebake wouldn’t be happening this year, promoter Joe Segreto telling The Front Line that the “planets hadn’t aligned”. Queensland’s Bam! Festival was cancelled, its unique ticket selling method – bands sell tickets, the quantity of sales determining their billing – failing. Kanye West accumulated over 100,000 followers on Twitter just nine hours after his first post, in a matter of days he was up to 350,000. The Harbour Agency lost a fair chunk of their top-end roster after top agent
The ARIA and PPCA driver’s seats were finally filled, with Dan Rosen the new face. Meanwhile the new General Manager of Élan Media Partners (Stomp re-branded) Craig White told The Front Line in regards to the bad taste left by Stomp’s unpaid bills, “I literally have chosen to take no interest in it. I came on after the acquisition and I’ve not spent 30 seconds worrying about what the process is.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, more labels would leave Stomp/Élan this month. The ARIA Awards’ revamp was revealed, event promoter Mark Pope telling us the changes came because they “had to move forward”. Cloud Control and Dan Sultan celebrated being the cream of the crop at the Independent Music Awards, while Philadelphia Grand Jury swapped their drummer again. There was also a shake up in American with industry powerhouse Live Nation Entertainment, their Chairman Barry Diller ousted after bringing the ‘Hollywood’ mentality to the company. Torrential rain forced the cancellation of the Bellingen Global Carnival’s final day of activities and UK dub punk pioneer Ari Up passed away. Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited launched Foxtix in a collaboration with Moshtix. In good news for
JULY George Ash took up the Australasian president’s reign of Universal Music while Moshtix formulated their submission to the Government’s review into ticket scalping though their own survey. The decision came down that composers of Men At Work’s Down Under would have to pay five per cent of earnings to Larrikin Music for breach of copyright. After working with VIVID Live, Fergus Linehan took up the roll of Head Of Contemporary Music at the Sydney Opera House. Vampire Weekend were being sued to the tune of £1.3 million by Kirsten Kennis, the model who appeared on their cover of their album Contra, claiming she never gave permission for the image to be used. The saga is still ongoing, with the band now suing the photographer. Wollongong venue Oxford Tavern closed its doors and Kings Of Leon cancelled a show in St Louis after being shat on by birds. Street Press Australia (The Drum Media’s publishers) announced they’d be launching Sydney dance and lifestyle mag 3D World in Melbourne and Brisbane in August.
OCTOBER
twitter.com/drummedia
the Sydney scene, the Oxford Art Factory’s council dilemmas proved to be a mistake. The IMMEDIA! office, the publishers of the Australian Music Industry Directory, was sold and closed to allow for Phil Tripp’s retirement. The magazine and other assets were bought by Street Press Australia the following month.
NOVEMBER The backlash for the new ARIA Awards format was widespread and scathing, the night rating worse than last year’s disaster. Presenters ( Jessica Mauboy, Lara Bingle especially) were considered mistakes, as was the disorganisation of the night. It was a stark contrast to the ARIA Hall Of Fame industry-only night, held in Sydney after moving from Melbourne this year, which was considered a rousing success. Indie touring companies Civil Society and Handsome Tours merged and will operate under the latter’s name as of 1 July next year, bringing together two strong client lists. Laneway Festival announced that they will be visiting Singapore next year, with co-founder/promoter Danny Rogers telling The Front Line, “when I mentioned Singapore, that really helped me get a lot of the bands”. In Sydney, the Black Mass metal festival was cancelled after an online Christian lobby protested to the venue and in another genre, dance festival promoters We Love Sounds went into liquidation. A New York City judge ordered the cessation of file-sharing platform Limewire’s activities after being found guilty of a “massive scale of [copyright] infringement”. Staple Brisbane venue The Troubadour was forced to close and The Annandale Hotel was looking for an investor. After being absent at the Hall Of Fame induction, Models’ James Freud passed away suddenly. EMI’s woes worsened as court cases between Terra Firma and Citibank came down in favour of the bank as Queen also left the label’s ranks. Film Victoria provided a grant towards the making of the documentary, Rowland S. Howard: Autoluminiscent. Brisbane’s Time Off celebrated 1,500 issues with a commemorative edition.
DECEMBER After being announced Channel [V]’s Oz Artist Of The Year, Short Stack’s guest-edit of the station’s website ended in farce after it was revealed that bassist Andy Clemmensen had plagiarised a review of Kanye West’s album. The review was made up of sections of other reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and The Sydney Morning Herald. Seabellies celebrated the end of their Melbourne residency by being bashed on Brunswick Street, while Descendents were able to break curfew at Melbourne’s No Sleep Til thanks to NOFX’s Fat Mike running around to raise $20,000 – no confirmation on whether the money was raised or the event fined. Qantas back flipped on their policy regarding to carry-on musical instruments after a growing backlash from the industry, Modular boss Stephen Pavlovic was announced as the next VIVID Live curator – after Brian Eno and Lou Reed – and the Government inquiry into scalping said that the climate was okay and that it should be dealt with by the industry. Highly influential musician Captain Beefheart succumbed to the effects of multiple sclerosis at the age of 69. And as we’re going to print, The Front Line has heard that the Newtown RSL has closed its doors, ceased to trade and will not be honouring event bookings. Unfortunately, it’s not surprising given the rest of 2010 in this beast we call the music industry.
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 21 •
Contents Issue No. 1041 Tuesday 28 December 2010
NEWS@DRUMMEDIA.COM.AU
DRUM MEDIA The Front Line looks back at the year in the music industry.
20
The News – just like it says, with tours, releases and more.
22
Drum reveals its Album Of The Year to be…oh, you guessed?
28
Here’s what our writers have nominated as their Best Song, Artist Of The Year plus Best International and Australian Artist Performance. We await the backlash when you discover the Artist Of The Year is not Justin Bieber. 30 As the old adage goes, opinions are a lot like arseholes – everyone’s got one. See more of what Drum’s writers thought were the Best TV Show, Best Movie, Best Online Destination and Best Radio Show/Podcast of the year.
32
Don’t just take Drum’s word for it – see what all our sister publications in the Street Press Australia stable also thought of 2010 in our National Poll Wrap.
34
JUNIP
DIFFERENT FIELDS
Get in depth with each writer individually as we publish our 2010 Writers’ Polls in full. 36 There can be only one – Michael Smith gives his own inimitable view of the world at large in 2010 in his Year In Review. 47 Chris Maric gives an overview of the year in hard rock and metal in The Heavy Shit.
48
Sarah Petchell shows what 2010 featured in punk and hardcore in Wake The Dead.
49
Adam Curley gives us an end of year tale in The Breakdown.
50
Viktor Krum asks you to Get It Together with a (w)rap of the year in hip hop.
50
Scott Fitzsimons gets Young & Restless with 12 months in the all ages scene. 50 Tom Hawking sends us a snapshot of a year in the Big Apple with New York Conversation.
50
James McGalliard gives us tales from 2010 in the mother country in London Fields. 51 Dan Condon features the world of blues and roots this year with Roots Down.
51
Michael Smith delivers some Blow with jazz and world music news from 2010.
51
Go south as you enter Pedro Manoy’s Swamp Shack for the last time this year.
51
FRONT ROW The Front Row Wrap-up gives an overview of what writers’ considered the best in film, television, and home entertainment. 52 The Polls: each Front Row writer lists their favourites from the year across the arts.
53
Fragmented Fish discusses the single event that shaped his year: the release of Harmony Korine’s Trash Humpers; Cultural Cringe overviews 2010 in Sydney arts. 56 Trailer Trash gets right to the point with all the money shots from 2010’s best films; Made You Look waxes lyrical on the visual arts scene.
57
LIVE It’s all here: tour guide, what’s happening this week, gig guide, random shit and a whole bunch of stuff that you can do on New Year’s Eve. 59 Backstage – your guide to studios, recording, gear, courses and more.
68
YOU WANTED LOUD?
There’s bands and there’s Mötorhead. One of the world’s most renowned hard rock/metal outfits have shown without a trace of doubt that they’ve not lost any of their potency over the years with their latest album The Wörld Is Yours – see last week’s Drum for its CD Of The Week review. Featuring the one and only Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister (who founded the band in 1975 after being a roadie for Hendrix and playing bass in Hawkwind) the current line-up also boasts long time members guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee. I guess you know where all of this is leading, and that’s the news that the band will be making the trip down under for a smash-and-grab tour around the country. They’ll be at Luna Park’s Big Top Wednesday 30 March, the show being over 18. Once you’ve bought tickets to that, maybe go a try and pre-order the new Lemmy: The Movie film, which is due out 3 March.
THE SPONTANEOUS FEEL
RSL GONE, PARTY MOVED
The tenth annual NOW now festival of spontaneous music and experimental film has been announced, and will be returning to Sydney’s city after spending the last three nestled in the Blue Mountains. With a mixture of international and local artists, it’s kept to the theme of improvised and innovative music once again with Splinter Orchestra – complete with 36 members from other acts ranging from 16 to 66 years old – one of the main attractions. There’s also Yan Jun from China, Sky Needle from Brisbane, local trio Roil, Tasmania’ Untermorast, John Blades, Unaustralian String Quartet and Cleptocleptics. From the international side of things there’s also Alan Courtis, Magda Mayas, Jason Kahn, Jim Denley, Rosalind Hall, Peter Blamey, Gerarg Crewdson and Noel Meek. Taking place across the Red Rattler, Serial Space and the “secret” People’s Republic of Australasia from Friday 21 to Friday 28 January.
Just as Drum was going to print we heard the news that Newtown RSL has “closed its doors and ceased to trade… without warning.” The news came from the promoters of the Post-Festival Party, which had been announced to take place at the recently refurbished (but strangely named) Shush upper level, which has seen a number of gigs come through this year. The 500 capacity venue was seen as a transitional venue in Newtown from the smaller clubs to bigger rooms and if this really is the end, then it’s a shame. Apparently not honouring any events booked into the New Year, The Post-Festival Party has announced that it will move to The Factory Theatre on Friday 7 January. Laneous & The Family Yah, The Crooked Fiddle Band, The Woohoo Revue, Kira Puru & The Bruise, The Lurkers, Dave Carr’s Fabulous Contraption and Svelt remain the line-up.
The Classies – need a singer/bassist/drummer/any other service/product you can think of? Your answer is here. And on iflog.com.au. 70
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Both veterans and favourites of the Swedish pop scene, Shout Out Louds this year released their latest record Work, which again showcased the fact that they can’t sit still on a sound. A simpler, stripped back sound compared to their two previous relatively layered albums, it’s split opinions quite squarely down the middle with some relishing in the energy of their essence and others wishing they’d kept some of the meat. They’ve eyes on the Peats Ridge Festival adventure, and will also play a sideshow at the Annandale Hotel, Sunday 2 January.
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• 22• THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
BUILT TO SPILL
STRENGTH IN THE NAME Idaho’s indie rockers Built To Spill are quite the dark horse on this summer’s festival line-ups. Hugely popular in the ’90s – and hugely influential since then – the band have been relatively quiet this decade past, but you can be assured that when they do release an album or tour that everything’s first rate and up to their high reputation (see: 2009’s record There Is No Enemy). Playing the Peats Ridge and Pyramid Rock festivals, they’ve just announced club shows as well. Wednesday 29 December they hit the Metro Theatre, tickets on sales now.
A band of aggression, anger, blisteringly noise alt.rock Welshmen Future Of The Left are welcomed back to Australian venues with open arms and half-spilled drinks. Forming out of the ashes of McLusky, their two studio albums Curses and Travels With Myself & Another have been favourites of those who have made the effort to hear them. Playing the Pyramid Rock festival, they’ve announced an east coast tour – one of the few that includes a Brisbane date – and they’ll return to their Annandale Hotel stomping ground Wednesday 5 January.
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MAKING A SIMPLE NOISE
Junip are not a new band. They’re actually one returning from a five-year hiatus after a good five years (or so) before that. But on their return vocalist/guitarist Jose González seems to have gone and found himself an international following. It means that their debut record, suddenly five years in the development, Fields got an Australian release recently and that they’re arriving in Australia as part of the Falls/Sunset Sounds/Southbound series of festivals. Folky and pastoral, the Swedish trio, rounded out by Elias Araya (drums) and Tobias Winterkorn (organ) will complete a sideshow at The Metro Theatre Saturday 8 January.
DESIGN OUR COVER AND WIN BIG! Just a reminder our Big Day Art competition is back. All you have to do is send us your impression of an artist on the current Big Day Out schedule and upload your entry at summerfestivalguide.com.au (go to the Big Day Art section). The competition is now open and entries close Friday 7 January. The prize? Not only will your entry appear on the front cover of Drum Media, but the lucky winner will also win a pass to the Big Day Out and CDs by Big Day Out artists.
After the amazing debut album Robbers & Cowards – and some amazing festival slots in support of it – the hype on Cold War Kids went a little bit cold on their second album Loyalty To Loyalty, admittedly a wearer but with more ideas than cohesion or passion. The band are speaking like they’ve reassessed a few things for their next album Mine Is Yours, an album about turning around and realising you’ve grown up. In Australia for a festival run, we daresay they’ll be some new tracks on hand when they play a sideshow Thursday 6 January at the Enmore Theatre.
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MYSTERY JETS
CAUGHT JETSTREAM Discounting an odd-one-out, US-only release Mystery Jets are making their way to Australia in support of their third studio record, Serotonin. Bringing in hugely regarded producer Chris Thomas to help find the Jets’ true sound, they’ve also found notoriety recently thanks to their collaboration with The Count And Sinden, After Dark. Running a gauntlet of festivals (Pyramid Rock, Field Day) like a lot of other internationals very soon their sideshow has been announced for the Factory Theatre Monday 3 January.
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 23 •
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FUTURE OF THE LEFT
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• 24 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 25 •
•26 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
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THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 27 •
BY THE NUMBERS It’s all good and well to list our top ten albums over to the side there (well, top 12 technically thanks to the tie for the final spot), but what’s a good list without some good analysis? Here we take those much-loved albums and wring them through our numbers game…
3 Out of the 12 albums listed, only three are from Australian acts – You Am I, Gareth Liddiard and I Exist (we’re classifying Grinderman as a London-based band these days). Having said that, we’re pretty happy that the three that made it in were included and it’s always good to see a bit of an outsider make an appearance, that being Canberra’s hardcoresludge collective I Exist this year. Last year there were also three Australian acts, with The Temper Trap taking out the top spot.
WRITERS’ POLLS 2010
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER POLL. AS HAS BECOME TRADITION WITH THE DRUM MEDIA, OUR LAST ISSUE OF THE YEAR IS DEDICATED TO THE ALBUMS, SONGS, ARTISTS AND SHOWS THAT COLOURED, EXCITED AND DEFINED THE YEAR JUST PAST. OUR CONTRIBUTORS HAVE BEEN DIGGING DEEP TO TRY AND REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE YEAR – AND THEN GIVE IT A RANK – AND IT’S PROBABLY BEST SAID THAT IF YOU’RE ALLERGIC TO OPINIONS, LOOK AWAY NOW…
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
1. High Violet THE NATIONAL
50%
The National really were the international band of 2010, even though some will argue that High Violet was the natural step from the albums they’d previously released. Their third, 2005’s Alligator, announced them internationally and 2007’s Boxer was lauded by critics, but neither to the extent of their latest – a brooding and aching epic flavoured by the sparseness of America’s Midwest (and the post-punk revival that they emerged out of in the late ’90s). It seems inevitable that this will be remembered in years to come as their masterpiece and, five albums deep, The National are anything but fading into obscurity. It’s a fitting album to top this year’s poll, plus the fact that they earned themselves two shows at the Enmore Theatre in January seems to indicate that the rest of the world agrees with us.
The percentage of acts on the list that come from the most represented country, America. All of our albums this year came from either America, Canada, the UK or Australia. America dominated this year with six representatives (The National, Beach House, Deftones, High On Fire, Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse and Interpol), while Australia’s three were also joined by two British acts (Grinderman and Foals) and a sole Canadian act (Arcade Fire).
“It’s always really, really exciting and of course we never believe that [it] will happen again,” guitarist Bryce Dessner told Drum’s Danielle O’Donohue recently on the subject of topping best album polls. “When [critics] did the albums of the decade, Alligator and Boxer were up there on some lists and it’s totally humbling and surreal and just weird to think that people think that highly of what we do. Measuring it against every other record that came out that year, it’s always really exciting for us, but then again, I don’t even know, I haven’t even bothered about whether that’s going to happen again this year or where we’ll place or whatever. It’s always pretty surprising. We do exist… It’s not like… we’re not Radiohead or something, where it’s just universally the most appreciated band in the world. It’s still on some level an acquired taste, so it keeps your ego in check in a good way; I think where you realise people have different opinions about it. And I think that’s fine.” Incidentally, it won by a decent margin as well…
48 The total number of band members on the list. That’s not including things like Arcade Fire’s touring members, the special guests on Dark Night Of The Soul and we’ve estimated I Exist to have five members. Despite the fact that they’re usually seen on stage with a plethora of guest and blow-ins, and their press shots are getting more populated by the release. Gareth Liddiard is the only solo performer this year, whilst the seven-piece Arcade Fire get the award for being the most costly to fly around the world.
“Some of the finest songs come from love, loss, and regret. What’s harder is finding balance. To make real the emotions without becoming melodramatic or, conversely, trivialising the feelings. It’s taken The National a decade to get it this right. High Violet’s music can be stately, near-hypnotic. It drags you in. It’s not just boy loses girl. There are adult concerns: mortality, kids, security, fear – as everything you believed in crumbles… This record can burn a hole in your heart with each playing.”
33.3% Percentage of albums released in May, with the four released in that Autumn month (The National, Foals, Deftones, I Exist) the most of any other. Two were released in September and two in October while nothing released in March, April, June, November or December made the cut. Last year July and September made up 50 per cent of the poll together.
Ross Clelland, 25 May
154 Number of days spent in the charts, considering that the six albums that were ranked on the ARIA album chart spent a combined 22 weeks in there. The longest outfit to hold a position were Arcade Fire, who were also achieved the highest spot at sixth. Interpol did manage seventh and Grinderman ninth, but they were the only three to crack the top ten. (Note: no Australian albums managed that, in fact the only charting band were You Am I who peaked at 18 and spent just two weeks on the cards.)
2 Acts that graced The Drum Media’s front cover this year – both of them coming relatively recently in consecutive weeks as well. Interpol had pride of place 7 December and The National 14 December ahead of their respective festival sideshows in Sydney. They’re actually both playing Falls Festival and will be hosting their sideshows at the Enmore Theatre.
2. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE
3. Total Life Forever FOALS
4. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN
5. Teen Dream BEACH HOUSE
“It’s not perfect and after three attempts it seems that hands-down five star album is going to elude them, but The Suburbs is a cultivated record extremely well executed. Sublime listening that only a band in their position could deliver.”
“It’s the overwhelming theme on Total Life Forever; the contradictions between a relationship post-collapse, followed by hopeful songs that herald romantic notions… Never lapsing in continuity, Total Life Forever is a record to devote your ears to.”
“Whether hurtling along at a vampirefucking pace (past the two-minute mark of Mickey Mouse And The Goodbye Man, Evil) or scoring a slow grind (Heathen Child, Kitchenette), these are the sounds of your subconscious demons.”
“While notably poppier than we’ve heard from Beach House before, amongst the themes of lost love, sadness and nostalgia there is still a pleasing iciness and otherworldliness here, while Legrand’s vocals is intriguing in its huskiness and androgyny.”
Bryget Chrisfield, 7 September
Rob Townsend, 13 April
9. Dark Night Of The Soul DANGER MOUSE & SPARKLEHORSE
Scott Fitzsimons, 3 August
Sevana Ohandjanian, 25 May
6 There’s always a fair bit of photoshopping involved these days, but this year decided that exactly half of the album covers were truly illustrated. We almost had Dark Night Of The Soul as illustrated, too, such is the artistic quality of David Lynch’s photography.
25% Even though the top of the table is dominated by ‘indie’ acts, there’s still a bit of representation from the punk and metal acts of the world. A resurgent Deftones were the highest ranked in seventh, while Metallica-favourites High On Fire weren’t far behind in either. The aforementioned I Exist were keeping the punk hordes happy in equal tenth. With a fair few good releases in the genre this year, there were actually a few albums lingering just outside the ten.
COOL FACTOR: Once again we go head-to-head with the blogs and hipsters of the world to see how “cool” our list was, using our exclusive generator (albums get a rank from five to minus five). The National get three points for the post-punk crowd, while there’s another three for indie sweethearts Arcade Fire. Foals get two for coming from Oxford as do Grinderman for being bad-arse and Beach House get a four for their attire. So far so good at +14. You Am I are a minus one because they don’t spend enough time in front of the mirror and it’s a big minus four for Deftones considering their industrial tendencies. High On Fire play classic rock with the best of them and you won’t see anyone in a vest doing that, so minus four there as well. However producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse and the late Sparklehorse get a positive five for telling the labels where to shove it. The last three equal out to 0 considering Gareth Liddiard’s cool, there aren’t enough blogs about sludge and doom metal to be cool and Interpol just aren’t niche anymore. That leaves us with a coolness rating of precisely:
+10 • 28 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
6. You Am I YOU AM I
7. Diamond Eyes DEFTONES
8. Snakes For The Divine HIGH ON FIRE
“The band seem freed – just enjoying the music they are making. And Tim Rogers – well, he’s as Tim Rogers as ever. Confessing and testifying, even singing with a new confidence.”
“Diamond Eyes has the right elements for being an album that defines a band, both punishing and majestic.”
“Snakes For The Divine ticks all the boxes that a High On Fire album should – obscure, dark, incessantly heavy and passionately played.”
James Dawson, 4 May
Adam D Mills, 23 March
Ross Clelland, 5 October
“The wonderful and poignant Dark Night… adds to a Sparklehorse legacy that perfectly illustrates the beauty and fragility of life.” Rob Townsend, 27 July
=10. Strange Tourist GARETH LIDDIARD
=10. I: A Turn For The Worst I EXIST
=10. Interpol INTERPOL
“For while there are elements of the band which has built his reputation, Mr Liddiard’s solo outing is different. Those looking for three minutes and a catchy chorus best look elsewhere, but in its way this is an extraordinary record.”
“It is refreshing to see a band with such brutality and such skill not take themselves too seriously. The band pay homage to their non-musical influences... without allowing such jokes to diminish what is entirely credible musicianship.”
“The band have managed to sustain a level of interest and the consistent approach has managed to keep them atop as one of the premium NYC bands. This effort is no exception… a worthy addition to the collection.”
Ross Clelland, 12 October
Dave Drayton, 17 August
Adam Wilding, 14 September
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THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 29 •
WRITERS’ POLLS SONG OF THE YEAR
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
FUCK YOU – CEE LO GREEN/ FOOL’S DAY – BLUR
Last year the Song Of The Year was taken out by the same artist that picked up the album title (that being The Temper Trap) but history hasn’t repeated in this case. A dead heat – and the two acts that have tied for the top spot don’t feature at all in our album selections. They are Cee Lo Green’s Fuck You (yes, the proper uncensored version) and Blur’s Fool’s Day. The odds on either of those, let alone the two combined, would have been something worth sticking ten bucks on. Cee Lo Green’s star has been on the rise ever since his collaboration with Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley) became internationally loved, and Fuck You was the main lead-off some from his third solo album The Lady Killer. His highest charting album to date, the single has inevitably helped in that – few other tracks grab one’s attention like this one does. The video clip featured kinetic typography of the lyrics, which served to highlight and accentuate the chorus and namesake rather nicely. Naturally, such a phrase wasn’t suitable for commercial radio, so the radio edit is actually titled Forget You. Needless to say, the radio edit is quite inferior to the original. Not quite as universally loved as, say, Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy was, there’s still plenty more people for this song than against it. Even more surprising for song of the year though was Blur’s first single since 2003, Fool’s Day, which was released as a one-off seven-inch record issuing of 1,000 copies on Record Store Day, 17 April. However the next day the band made the track a free download to avoid people obtaining lesser-quality versions illegally. The subtle track was received warmly – especially by the British press, although one may argue that was always going to be the case – but we’re sure that there was a bit of nostalgia and hope for an album that crept into our writers’ decisions when opting for this. (For the record, the band hopes to do further singles like this, but cite other commitments as the reason why an album’s unlikely.)
RUNNERS UP: This was a highly contested category and it’s fair to say that with one more right vote, any one of the top four
2010
CEE LO GREEN THE NATIONAL
THE NATIONAL They were not far off the mark in terms of single of the year, but The National were well ahead in album stakes and virtually untouchable when it came to artist of the year, with the whitewash just eluding them. Doubling the second place’s votes (and then some), it’s been a big year for The National and 2011 kicks off in fine fashion for our relationship with them as well, considering their imminent Sydney headline shows.
BLUR could have been crowned the outright winner. As there was for first, there was also a tie for the third place, with the omnipotent Kanye West and his self-depreciating anthem Runaway (featuring Pusha T) alongside the lead single from our album of the year, The National’s sombre Bloodbuzz Ohio. In another poll these two and the joint winner would probably have been swapped, but both Yeezy and The National suffered from releasing ‘albums’ and so split their vote amongst songs (especially Kanye, as The National’s votes went primarily to the album list). Perhaps the real name to take note of, though, is Aloe Blacc. Stones Throw’s latest star, the Californian soul singer came in equal fifth with the brilliant I Need A Dollar. Comparisons to Terry Callier during his prime are totally justified. The other half of the final piece are Perth lads Birds Of Tokyo – the only Australian act so far – with the lead single off their self titled album, Plans, being recognition of just what a big year they’ve really had.
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Originating from Ohio but then taking in a fair bit of New York influence, the post-punk revival provided the platform for the band to emerge shortly after the turn of the millennium after forming late in the previous decade. That said, their influences certainly haven’t been limited and arguably the American Midwest is their biggest. It’s been a steady rise to this year’s High Violet (the name of that album itself alludes to a place of prominence and brilliance) since those foundations, releasing their self-titled album in 2001, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers in 2003, Alligator 2005 and Boxer 2007. They’re still not household names for those outside of the indie world – and never will be – but where they are now is a pretty fine place to be according to Drum’s writers. They’re not without high profile fans either, as an instrumental version of Fake Empire, a track from Boxer, was used in one of Barack Obama’s campaign videos in 2008. This year has been big though, touring solidly on the
back of High Violet, which they released in May, plus Australia’s on the cards thanks to the pulling power of the Falls Festival. If you haven’t got tickets yet though, it’s probably too late to get down to Falls and both the Sydney sideshows are both sold out. So fingers crossed for your sake that the band has another few stunning years up their collective sleeve.
RUNNERS UP: No one else was really in the running for top spot, but things were definitely tight below that. In second place recent tourists Muse reaped the rewards for returning after the Big Day Out earlier in the year with their full live show (the logistics of the festival couldn’t fit it all). Beyond that in equal third there’s Cloud Control, who released their album Bliss Release earlier this year and, having well and truly introduced themselves to the Australia scene, they are over to the UK to join the Aussie ranks trying to crack that market at the moment. Foals finally made their first appearance in Australia for Splendour following the release of their second album Total Life Forever and quickly announced another visit next year, Kanye West was everywhere again ensuring that the release of his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was unavoidable and Perry Keyes stuck to what he does best, honest and endearing tales from the streets and characters of Sydney – definitely deserving of recognition amongst the Sydney after a big year that include an ARIA Award nomination. Also deserving of mentions following that cluster are Iron Maiden, Metallica and Washington.
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE CLOUD CONTROL
A little vacant from the other categories of this year’s poll (Bliss Release was a dark horse to sneak into the top albums) it seems that Drum cover stars Cloud Control may have peaked a little bit too early. But one aspect of the band’s rise that has stayed with Drum writers is their live show – and there’ve been a few of them this year.
METALLICA. PICS: ROD HUNT
METALLICA It was always going to be big, but we were a little bit surprised at just how big it ended up being – in terms of both how many tickets were sold/stadiums sold out and the show Metallica put on (even if it raised questions as to why the local metal scene suffers from a lack of support at times). The world’s biggest metal band have had their detractors over the years; soft albums, siding with ‘the man’, preaching from their mansions made of pure gold, etc., but they proved that they were in fine form when they ventured to the Southern Hemisphere this year. They even had enough shows to do it twice – it seems various court proceedings meant that the band had had to return home between their September and late October/November dates. Rod Hunt covered the Acer Arena show in our 21 September issue: “With such an extensive back catalogue to draw on, constructing a setlist must present one of the greatest challenges for Metallica in 2010. But they did just fine in that department, with a broad mix of 18 songs that seemed to keep everyone happy, from fans long-serving to new. “From the drilling speed metal of Fight Fire With Fire, to the sombre lighters-in-the-air tone of Nothing Else Matters, to the balls-out rock of Fuel and Enter Sandman, it was a well paced set that rarely lagged. Most surprising (in a good way) was the inclusion of no less than three songs from their Kill ‘Em All debut – The Four Horsemen, Hit The Lights and the closing song of their encore, Seek And Destroy.” • 30 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
But it wasn’t just the songs himself he championed. “The production was incredible – ear bleeding volume coupled with clarity, a series of incredible looking, moving coffin shaped lighting rigs, flames-a-plenty and the you-can-see-from-all-angles beauty of their in-theround circular stage… Metallica may have been doing this for close to 30 years now, but they are still as vital a live band as ever.” The hope that Death Magnetic would be a return to form across the board for the band proved to be hope well placed.
RUNNERS UP: Returning with their full live show after it wouldn’t fit with the Big Day Out touring entourage earlier in the year, nothing was going to stop Muse from going all out this time. “This is Muse, they don’t mind getting a bit ridiculous and people have paid good money for this pomposity,” wrote Brent Balinski on 14 December. Between this show and their earlier festival headline slot the band managed to score points both here and in the artist of the year category. Back to the metal and Baroness’ sideshow in conjunction with their November Metallica support also stuck in our writers’ minds. “For once the hype is probably justified,” stated Mark Hebblewhite on 16 November. “Baroness are one of the bands that will ensure metal’s survival well into the 21st Century.” We also have to give a nod to Behemoth, Faith No More and Rufus Wainwright who entertained at various stages throughout the year.
When they hit the Annandale Hotel, Adam Wilding wrote in our 29 June issue that, “As Cloud Control took to the stage, you could kind of feel that these four friends are on the cusp of greatness. With a live show schedule that will soon head to the UK, they’ve found a niche that continues to amass a bigger and more diverse bunch of people due to their ability to craft intelligent indie-pop tunes, their preference of tape over digital and the backbone of the band, their live show… the faultless delivery of so many good songs put them up there with one of the best acts in Australia at the moment.” It wasn’t until the end of the year though that they’d seriously move to the UK and the jewel of the last tour was the recent Was I There In Your Future? (a fantastic title) mini-festival curated by the band. It featured We Say Bamboulee, Oh Ye Denver Birds and Otouto amongst others and Drum’s Jessie Hunt was there. In our 21 December issue she wrote, “Opening with their epic Meditation Song # 2, it became clear that Cloud Control had been allotted rock-star status; a semi-mosh pit developed and the occasional shrill, ‘I love you, Alister!’ punctured the reverential between-song silence… ‘Glorious’ probably sells Was I There In Your Future? a little short. The event presented many different styles, art and film – but better yet, there was no division between artist and audience, which was a rare treat.” The scope at which the band is working is both intriguing and exciting.
RUNNERS UP: As you’d expect, there were a lot of favourites for local artists this year. Considering how successful their year has been, Angus & Julia Stone are no surprises here, with the Drum writers sounding their appreciation for their own intimate headline shows rather than their
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CLOUD CONTROL. PIC: CHAZ WEBB awkward appearance at the ill-fated ARIA Awards (the editors hope). In our 31 August issue, Giselle Nguyen wrote, “Backed by three American musicians, the siblings presented a moving evening of music both old and new, tracing back as far as their first EP with Mango Tree and a jazzed up version of Private Lawns, on which Julia took to the trumpet… Angus & Julia’s success is so well deserved – tonight was an evening of perfect magic and a most welcome return.” From the heavier side of things, headliners of this year’s Hardcore 2010 Mindsnare are an elusive beast. When they’re on though they show “why it’s bordering on criminal that the band are essentially a part-time proposition in 2010,” as Brendan Crabb wrote in the 6 July issue. “Justifiably, they were treated to the most vehement reaction of the evening; the quartet’s set a violent melange of stage divers, broken bodies and impassioned singalongs.” Gareth Liddiard and Cabins only just missed out on a higher accolade.
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THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 31 •
WRITERS’ POLLS TV SHOW OF THE YEAR
2010
FILM OF THE YEAR
INCEPTION
INCEPTION MAD MEN
MAD MEN Women. Voluptuous women. Real women. Cigarettes. Whiskey, fucking whiskey. During the day. Lunch? Sure, pass that seventh Tom Collins. Mad Men has certainly cemented its place as a modern day classic, possibly the only show to challenge The Sopranos as the greatest TV show of all time (it seems to speak to more people than The Wire and, of course, comedies are never allowed such accolade). It’s about as close to poetry as you’ll find on television, with complex stories and incredible visual style and detail. We’re certainly not the only ones to fall in love with it either, the American glossies have been tripping over themselves to score photoshoots of the actors in-character and if you told us originally that the whole thing could have been penned by the creative minds behind Vanity Fair we probably would have believed you, such is the calibre of style involved. The show has been screened here on SBS, but the most common method of consumption tends to be late night viewing on DVD, with the aforementioned whiskey in hand, after a hard days work in the 21st century. There’s currently four seasons at the moment, the first three of which are available in Australia (we’re going to go ahead and assume that some of the more internet savvy amongst us have already delved into the fourth), and considering that the viewing figures are on the rise in the US there’s plenty of life left in this title yet.
It must take on a whole new level of relevance for the New York bred, considering plenty of landmarks and restaurants are referenced throughout (kind of like how those with a knowledge of Victoria felt when Kath & Kim references Fountain “Lakes”). It seems there are a few wannabe Don Drapers and Peggy Olsons amongst the writers, and why the hell not?
RUNNERS UP: Community, a meta-comedy starring a bunch of familiar faces from other TV shows (including Alison Brie, formerly of Mad Men), came in second, its piss-take of other TV series and films hitting the right chord with Drum writers. Also, it must be noted that Community stars Chevy Chase. Yes it’s available on DVD. There were more women, more cigarettes and loads more whiskey in the poll – although it’s kept on the down low. Boardwalk Empire, the first episode of which directed by Martin Scorsese, rounded off the top three – proving that you don’t need to be screened in Australia to leave an impression. Set in Atlantic City during the Prohibition the show stars Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald and Michael Shannon, and is from the screenwriter/producer of The Sopranos. Quality stuff, indeed. There were high spots for regulars and newcomers South Park, Spicks And Specks, Breaking Bad, Doctor Who and Sons Of Anarchy.
WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
FACEBOOK/TWITTER It seems fitting that these two powerhouses of online social networking tied for the honour, both head and shoulders about any other online destination. They’ve established them as essential parts of one’s internet experience – and life experience – and as the major internet companies predicted, just like the world, the internet is getting smaller. Virtually every website you visit now is connected by Facebook or Twitter, you can see which friends of your have made a note on a news article or story, with Facebook acting as the headquarters of this interconnected information. Time recognised the impact that Facebook has had not only on the internet, but on modern life in general by naming Mark Zukkerberg their Man Of The year. It is now regular habit to ‘check-in’ to locations (pubs, airports, friend’s houses), showing everyone subscribed to your news feed exactly where you are, and often who you’re with. Twitter on the other hand has revolutionised the speed at which information is distributed and gathered around the world. In brief 140-character bursts, information • 32 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
So expectation was heavily placed on Nolan’s shoulders for his somewhat arty follow-up, Inception. People seemed to forget that he was the same man responsible for Memento, a masterpiece of filmmaking. With an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Caine, it certainly had star power, DiCaprio coming off the back of the equally mysterious Shutter Island. On IMAX, Inception was a film to behold with staggering awe. Everything from its incredible scenes of the world imploding on itself to Hans Zimmer’s brooding score to the sequences featuring the stunning Cotillard, it was event cinema at its best. The film provided more coffee table/pub discussion than any film in recent memory (What does the ending means?, Did it all actually happen?, How awesome is Tom Hardy?) and inspired an internet meme that didn’t outstay its welcome –
RUNNERS UP: Coming in second place was The Social Network, David Fincher’s masterpiece about Facebook and how its CEO Mark Zuckerberg fucked over its CFO, his best friend, Eduardo Saverin. Jesse Eisenberg (Zuckerberg) and Andrew Garfield (Saverin) were revelations on screen (so much so it’s almost a shame Garfield’s stepping into Peter Parker’s shoes in the Spider-Man reboot) whilst Justin Timberlake put in another fine effort as Napster’s (slimy) founder Sean Parker. A gripping tale of revenge, desire, and vision, Eisenberg humanised Zuckerberg, which is no mean feat since he’s not painted in very good light by the end of the film. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score, all isolation and paranoia and In The Hall Of The Mountain King, matched perfectly the tone of the film. Aaron Sorkin’s script moving quick enough to represent the Facebook generation, making it superbly relevant even if artistic license was allowed on the narrative itself. Animal Kingdom, the tale of a Melbourne crime family, was close behind in third spot. In another fine year for Australian cinema, David Michôd’s debut stood out, something the Sundance Film Festival jury was aware of back in January when they awarded it the World Cinema Jury Prize Dramatic, whilst Jacki Weaver, who plays the matriarch of the family at the centre of the film, is currently cleaning up at foreign awards ceremonies. We wait with excitement to see what Michôd’s next move is.
RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR
circulates the world by the second these days, rather than the minute.
Having started his career with intelligent thrillers such as Memento (starring Guy Pearce) and the Englishlanguage remake of Insomnia (starring Al Pacino), Christopher Nolan surprised his fans by taking on the role of reviving the Batman franchise – one that had died amidst ridicule a decade earlier. His Batman Begins (2005) was a success, a moody film that brought in enough cash to secure the greenlighting of a sequel, however nobody could’ve expected that the following film, The Dark Knight, would become one of the highest grossing films of all-time, win such critical acclaim, and garner eight Academy Award nominations including two wins.
the ones featuring Xzibit the best – and a soundtrack motif that’ll be parodied for decades to co-BAUMMMM BAUMMMM, BAUMMMM, BAUMMMM.
Of course, there’s been downfalls of these models. News moves so fast that there’s very little time to distinguish its validity. Hoax death announcements and incorrect reporting have caused many embarrassing moments (here’s looking at you Richard Wilkins). When 50 Cent’s media team gave him the password to his own Twitter account all hell broke loose – he posted his every whim from life advice to trying to pick up girls (Choice tweets: “If your a girl that would ask your man to wait with u till your period go’s away. Your going to lose that man. My advice suck a dick. Lol (sic)” and “If you a stripper and you have a low self esteem Its probably because your fat and ugly. I suggest you kill yourself (sic)”). The Soundwave line-up was leaked early after someone took a photo of a poster on their camera phone and posted it to Facebook, while Facebook has also cost our sportspeople ( Joel Monaghan and general St Kilda players) a fair chuck of their credibility. But the power and addictiveness of such mediums outweighs these dangers for a generation that thrives on their five seconds of fame. The thought that their space in the vast clutter of the internet be of interest to others is an incredibly appealing thought. That and the dangers are attractive as well. Everyone loves a good scandal, and one that happens in the same social networks as you do, that you can check out and interact with yourself, is even better.
RUNNERS UP: The two main ‘wiki’ sites came in next, currently topical Wikileaks ahead of Wikipedia. Also a feature of Time’s people of the year polls this year, Wikileaks’ Julian Assange has left his mark on the world of information distribution forever. Some consider him one of the bravest and greatest men alive at the moment and others (here’s looking at you Fox News) are calling for his head, literally. No-one should discount the impact of Wikipedia as well, the concept that individuals of the general public can write the world’s history is an extraordinarily powerful one. The editors just hope that the writer’s aren’t getting all their research from there.
SHORT.FAST.LOUD.
Can he be stopped? Even though Stu Harvey has wound down his regular column for this magazine, that hasn’t stopped the writers from voting his punk and hardcore show on triple j, Short.Fast.Loud., the best of radio this year. You’d be excused for feeling a little bit of déjà vu about the whole situation because Harvey’s show topped this category last year. And the year before that. And the year before that. In fact, 2010’s win means that it’s five in a row – a record amongst The Drum Media’s Writers’ Poll – easily making it the most dominated category. It’s not without merit though, Short.Fast.Loud. does have a monopoly on the punk and hardcore scene in terms of national radio broadcasters (are there even any other specialist programs to compete with it nationally?), and his half yearly and year’s end listener-voted polls are usually considered the most prestigious announcement for the genre – yes, even more than that shiny new ARIA Parkway Drive have on one of their mothers’ mantelpiece. Of course all this good will is built upon a very strong support for the Australian scene and a good understanding of current trends, without buying into them. The hold, however, is beginning to weaken and more shows inched closer in the polls this year. But if this writers’ poll ever introduces a Hall Of Fame aspect, we know whose likely to be the first inducted.
RUNNERS UP: Second place is usually reserved for The Racket to complete the triple j one-two, but it’s nowhere to be found this year. Instead it’s something from left field, ABC Grandstand. The all-inclusive sports call team has built up a reputation as one of the most informative, unprejudiced and enjoyable ways to listen to the Sunday afternoon footy, cricket or whatever else’s on. There was a noticeable absence of commercial radio programs in the voting and, alternatively, Sydney community broadcaster FBi made one of its strongest showings, with Radiant and Dead Air tying for third place along with American station NPR’s This American Life podcast. The Adam Lewis hosted Radiant is one of the best servers of the Sydney underground and garage scene, with
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STU HARVEY bands that you regularly read about soon after coming into the studio to play live sets and chat. Coupled with a developing online presence, it’s a fine example of community radio done right. The show that follows it every night is FBi’s joint punk and metal show, Dead Air, it’s appearance here continues the traditional strong polling of those genres here. If it’s host, an editor for Drum, had voted for the show it would have had quite a strong showing.
.
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THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 33 •
WRITERS’ POLLS
2010
THE 2010 POLL: A NATION DECIDES
NO HUNG RESULTS HERE. THE NATIONAL STABLE OF STREET PRESS AUSTRALIA STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS HAS MADE CLEAR CHOICES IN THIS FOURTH ANNUAL COUNTRYWIDE, END-OF-YEAR POLL. AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME WE INCLUDE THE NATIONAL RESULTS OF OUR VIEWING HABITS AS WELL AS OUR LISTENING HABITS - BECAUSE WE JUST KNOW YOU WANTED MORE. LOOK ON AS ANDREW MAST MAKES A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF ALL THE POLLS HE COULD GET HIS HANDS ON FROM INPRESS (MELBOURNE), THE DRUM MEDIA (SYDNEY AND PERTH) AND TIME OFF (BRISBANE).
ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE Arcade Fire seem to have survived that moment in the twenty-zeroes when all things Canadian were as cool as all things Swedish are now. This album saw them join the indie crossover charge into the US mainstream, debuting at number one there. It also topped album sales charts in Canada, Ireland, the UK, Portugal, Norway and Belgium. Here it peaked at six, but more importantly was the top choice for our Brisbane writers, number two in both Perth and Sydney but a lowly eight in Melbourne. We Said At The Time: “An intoxicating listen... best effort yet.” Ben Preece. Previous winners: Because Of The Times KINGS OF LEON (2007); Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (2008); Veckatimest GRIZZLY BEAR (2009).
4. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST Ooooookay... so, we reckon West has released the year’s best R&B album. Or, as the believers would have it, the year’s greatest album to transcend the R&B tag despite The Roots, Janelle Monae and Gil Scott-Heron making pretty darn good efforts to that effect themselves. But who needs Scott-Heron’s when you can catch a quick sample of the man of West’s set, alongside other cred-gaining grabs from the likes of Bon Iver. Landed this lofty position on Melbourne votes with the set not figuring in other states’ top tens (Stat Fact: Was voted Album Of The Year in sister publication 3D World). We Said At The Time: “A motherfucking headkicker of a record.” Chris Yates.
2. High Violet THE NATIONAL
3. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA
The Ohio band’s fifth studio reccy resulted in another slice of majestic alt.adult rock. They too were a part of the indie assault on the US mainstream (along with Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Grinderman, et al.) in 2010, late night talk shows welcomed them and the album debuted at three there. It also helped legendary indie label 4AD have one of its grandest years to date (along with releases from Ariel Pink, Deerhunter, Serena Maneesh, Stornoway and Twin Shadow). The album topped the Sydney poll and placed top five in all other states.
Viewed suspiciously by many local music press elitists, this Perth outfit seemingly sprung from nowhere in 2009 with a Modular contract, a timely psych rock sound and no end of triple j hype. In reality, the young lads had honed their talents in the West’s ridiculously healthy jam scene (type Mink Mussel Creek into your friendly neighbourhood search engine and see if that helps allay your worries) and releases their junior space epics via Canyons’ Hole In The Sky label. Was the top choice of writers in both Perth and Melbourne while ranking only eight in Brisbane and missing the Sydney top ten altogether.
We Said At The Time: “If you’ve known hurt, this album will speak to you.” Ross Clelland.
5. Plastic Beach GORILLAZ
6. Heligoland MASSIVE ATTACK
7. Diamond Eyes DEFTONES
Not surprisingly, most of the support for this album came from cities that the band’s tour had already hit by the time of voting, Perth and Melbourne. And the album does make so much more sense now that it’s been witnessed in a live context. What initially seemed like a grab bag of studio ideas at first, worked to perfection as a kinda update of the old-style revue tour - “Now Damon’s gonna introduce you to…”. Ahhh – we see what you were doing there, Mr Albarn. So you… ummm… gonna tour Blur now?
Yeah, we didn’t see this coming either. Album five from the band who were Bristol’s most-famous until stencilling became hipper than trip hop, found Massive Attack delivering. An almost Gorillaz-worthy roll call of guests included Hope Sandoval, Elbow’s Guy Garvey and the Gorillaz’ own Damon Albarn amongst many others. It may also be their last album as such. Struggling to come to terms with a shifting market, the band are contemplating not releasing the material they are currently working on as an album but rather as a series of EPs. Will this mean the introduction of an EP Of The Year category next year?
Having shelved their planned Eros longplayer after their bass player Chi Cheng’s car accident that left him in a coma, the heavy Cali rockers set about recording a new album with a replacement bassist (they intend to complete Eros once Cheng has recovered). The band went for ‘optimistic’ and went away from ‘studio perfection’ (no Pro Tools). It seems to have paid off, rejuvenating their career. It worked on our Sydney massive, as Diamond Eyes’ high ranking is thanks to their heavy show of support.
We Said At The Time: “Gorillaz swim with the sharks.” Bryget Chrisfield.
We Said At The Time: “A pleasant relief to hear them once again sounding so vital.” Adam D Mills.
8. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN
9. Halcyon Digest DEERHUNTER
10. Total Life Forever FOALS
We worship Saint Nick in these parts. So despite the inevitable backlash that greeted this album, we stand by our Cave man.
As mentioned earlier, it was a good year for 4AD artists.
Where Foals grew up and went from being a hip name to drop whether you’d heard them or not to people actually buying and listening to their recordings. We approved.
We Said At The Time: “This is a band of four men who have gone back to their tailor and found a better fit of stovepipe blues and are ready to shake the shit out of it.” Alex Gillies.
ONLINE DESTINATION OF THE YEAR • 34 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
We Said At The Time: “Gets into every fibre of your body.” Tyler McLoughlan.
We Said At The Time: “Ah, what glorious sounds to absorb.” Bryget Chrisfield.
FACEBOOK Is Facebook (or FB as adults trying to be hip with the kids like to call it) more popular than ever now that everyone knows it was actually Jesse Eisenberg who created it? Who knew the goofy kid from Zombieland and Adventureland (the actor that producers used to call on when Michael Cera was unavailable) also knew his HTML formatting from his torrenting
We Said At The Time: “Punishing and majestic.” James Dawson.
We Said At The Time: “A record to devote your ears to.” Sevana Ohandjanian.
passwords, let alone could bring the world together online? Can FB sustain another year in popularity? Will Eisenberg’s heist caper 30 Minute Or Less, with Danny McBride, be a hit? Runners-up: Two years ago YouTube threatened Facebook’s ruling of the roost here but without a big Hollywood webbiopic about its sleepy kittens and AutoTuned news stories (hmmm… sounds like a job for David Lynch and Michael Cera), YouTube has slipped way down our
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annual poll rankings. Hell, soon iView and Vevo will be bigger destinations. It was a resounding win for FB, atop the polls in three states, with only Perth bucking the trend and giving preference to Pitchfork. Anyone remember MySpace? Friendster? Previous winners: Facebook (2007); Facebook (2008); Facebook (2009).
WRITERS’ POLLS SONG OF THE YEAR
FUCK YOU CEE-LO GREEN
Green delivered the sweetest middle finger flip ever set to music. With radio playing a censored version of the song, this was the year’s breakout viral success with everyone turning the webz to hear the song in full flight: “I see you driving ‘round with the girl I love and I’m like, ‘Fuck you’.” It’s all done in an old school soul style that made the song’s message all the more potent. It was also a nice ‘fuck you’ to an industry that says you can’t be a chart-topping pop star if you are an overweight black man wearing flamboyant coutre, especially one not working with will.i.am or David Guetta. This was Perth’s choice as Song Of The Year, equal top in Sydney and fifth in Melbourne (no show in Brisbane where this category was in the grip of Kanye fever). Sydney’s other equal top choice was Fool’s Day by Blur while Melbourne went for Janelle Monae’s Tightrope and Brisbane went for West’s Runaway, of course. Runners-up: The National appear again, here with Bloodbuzz Ohio, followed closely by another boundary-shifting US R&B artist Janelle Monae with Tightrope and then, the man, Kanye West with both Power and Runaway. It’s only after these that a cluster of locals fight it out for fave Aus song of the year, with Sia just pipping the rest on Clap Your Hands. The local tracks just behind are Lullaby #1 by The Chemist, Plans by Birds Of Tokyo, Rock It by Little Red and Loveless by Children Collide. It’s the first year a local hasn’t topped this category in the annual poll. Previous winners: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (2008); Sweet Disposition THE TEMPER TRAP (2009).
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
TV SHOW OF THE YEAR
THE NATIONAL
Despite Kanye West topping the Artist category in Melbourne and Brisbane, The National had enough across-the-board support to hold him from top spot (there goes their chance of being sampled on his next album). Perth’s top choice was alt.groovers Flying Lotus. With a tour by The National getting underway in the coming weeks, we can safely speculate they will be in the 2011 year-end poll in the International Artist Performance category. We make the big calls here.
TRUE BLOOD (SEASON 3)
It’s all about the vamps, werewolves, various shapeshifters and fairies (we don’t just mean Lafayette and his magick-meddling boyf) of Bon Temp. After True Blood’s second season lost its way in the shock tactics of maenad orgies (she quivered, they fucked), this year’s story was back to basics - a science fantasy soap. And so, Melbourne and Brisbane placed this at number one.
Runners-up: Having kept them from the top Album spot, here roles are reversed and Arcade Fire are delegated to second spot. And these indie types would approve of this sharing of category wins too. Less likely to approve of sharing category-wins is Kanye West, third place just ain’t gonna cut it considering all the hard work he put into the year. He tweeted his ass off - or his finger, or whatever it is he uses to tweet. The Aussie contingent rounds this out with Tame Impala fourth and Sia fifth, continuing the trend of locals struggling to take out this title unless they are internationally adored as well (see below). Previous winners: RADIOHEAD (2007); NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (2008); LADY GAGA (2009).
THE NATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR METALLICA
With an overwhelming win in Sydney, The Metallica Laser Light Spectacular has managed the top international tourist spot without ranking in any other states’ top five. Melbournians preferred Pavement while Bris Vegans settled for Muse and Perthonians for Gorillaz. But in a year of major arena shows landing on our shores, Metallica out-arena’ed even the likes of U2’s claw and Muse’s sheer stadium-sized self-worth. We Said At The Time: “Ear bleeding volume coupled with clarity, a series of incredible looking, moving coffin shaped lighting rigs, flames-a-plenty.” Rod Hunt. Runners-up: As in previous years, the top spots are held by the tried and trusted of the touring set - no Joannecome-latelys for our crack team of music appreciators. We adored Pavement’s return just a little less than Metallica (although one staffer took to stalking them around the globe in the hope that his dedication could land them top of the tourists in our poll - close but no Cuban, hand-rolled cigar). Of course, Muse were just behind, followed by just-left-the-country Gorillaz roadshow and, back-in-favour, The Strokes.
CEE LO GREEN
RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR
2010 (RICHARD KINGSMILL), TRIPLE J It’s only natural that the national broadcaster dominates our poll once the votes are gathered from our state-specific polling. Each state’s writers tend to lean toward their local community stations in this category. But with those shows never carrying across the various borders that separate our offices, by the time all states’ votes are combined, it’s always triple j who comes out on top. Station music director Richard Kingsmill rises to the summit this year with his Sunday evening new release show 2010, proving our writers don’t just troll Gorilla vs Bear for their new release research. It’s also no wonder that our tally of top albums of the year bare more than a few similarities to 2010’s listener poll (Arcade Fire at the top, Tame Impala, The National, Kanye West and Gorillaz not far behind). Runners-up: We also turn to the network for our local new release updates, as Dom Alessio’s Home And Hosed (9pm, Monday through Thursday) ranks second amongst our writers’ fave radio listening. And again, his influence possibly hangs over our own poll results, as his album of the year from Tame Impala is our top local album of the year as well. While in third spot is perennial favourite Short.Fast.Loud. The country’s most influential punk show, hosted by Stu Harvey every Wednesday at 10pm, is always a high place-getter in our end-of-year poll, even nabbing the top position back in 2007 and 2009. Short.Fast.Loud was still the firm favourite in Sydney with Melbourne more inclined towards Home And Hosed. It was 2010 everywhere else. Previous winners: Short.Fast.Loud, triple j (2007); Full Metal Racket, triple j (2008); Short.Fast.Loud, triple j (2009).
METALLICA. PIC: KANE HIBBARD
2010
Previous winners: WILCO (2007); RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE (2008); NEIL YOUNG (2009).
AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR TAME IMPALA
Tame Imapala were Brisbane’s number one local giggers and were also rated in the top fives of Melbourne and Perth. Cloud Control topped the Sydney poll with PVT the favourites in Perth and Eddy Current Suppression Ring favoured in Melbourne. The timid-looking and untidily demeanoured types in Tame Impala produce a show far from the high-end productions of our international favourites. The Tamies (bet that won’t take on) are all about being in the moment, disappearing into their spacious grooves and monumentbuilding hooks. They now stand on the threshold of arenabeckoning fame and we await to see if they follow their Modular labelmates Wolfmother into the imploding world of too-much-too-soon or take a detour to creative longevity. We Said At The Time: “There are no downer moments and dancing with abandon is on the menu.” Bryget Chrisfield. Runners-up: What? A Drones-free zone! With The Drones taking 2010 a little quieter while members pursued various non-Dronsey endeavours, our team found time to scour the gig guides for alternative options. The sounds that grabbed our attention and accolades included the pop of Cloud Control, the party rockin’ of fellow Sydneysiders Philadelphia Grand Jury, the as intense-as-Drones Melbourne garage of Eddy Current Suppression Ring and the post-math stroking of the-expat-band-once-referred-to-as-Pivot, PVT. Previous winners: THE DRONES (2008); NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (2009).
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TAME IMPALA. PIC: HEIDI TAKLA
Runners-up: And then there’s Mad Men (Perth and Sydney’s first choice) which amazingly hasn’t lost its way at all. We’ve watched the nicotine-stained Don Draper resist racial equality, feminism, homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle and pop art as he’s battled the bottle, divorce, age and an exhibitionist daughter. All while witnessing his carefully fabricated back-story getting tripped up at every turn. At least he embraced the British Invasion though, as tickets to The Beatles were a key element to season four as was his agency’s UK import Lane, who fast became the season’s heart and soul (Lane’s face-off with his father’s cane was definitely this season’s vase-acrossthe-head-when-you-least-expect-it moment). And if we couldn’t get enough meth-cooking action from the redneck werecats of True Blood, we were still jonesing for Breaking Bad. Season three of the midlife crisis drug-dealing drama had some low points (Yikes to that ‘fly in the lab’ two-hander episode) but more than made up for it by casting real-life crims (Luis and Daniel Moncada) as the Santa Muertaworshipping gangsters on a mission to kill the show’s protagonist (and now with Dexter all Santa Muerta… is adulation of the skeletal saint the new voodoo for TV writers?). But it wasn’t all about made-for-cable dramas. We were also madly downloading or streaming US ‘ensemble’ sitcoms Community and 30 Rock. Both suffer unjustly at the whims of local programmers, making it a dedicated fan who can actually track the shows and watch them in chronological order. Both shows drop in and out of schedules without warning and can appear almost any night of the week, usually screening hours after their scheduled air times. US comedies dominate just outside the top five too, with It’s Always Funny In Philadelphia, South Park, Eastbound And Down all garnering strong poll support. The closest a local production got to a nod from us were some random votes for Spicks & Specks.
FILM OF THE YEAR INCEPTION
Proving himself away from the Batman franchise, alt. blockbuster director Chris Nolan took it upon himself to make the film the Wachowskis should have made instead of the two Matrix sequels. Nolan not only harked back to his days of gimmicky storytelling in Memento (it had two plotlines, one running chronologically and the other unfolding in reverse), he also revived the quasi-mysticism of his conjurer epic The Prestige (except this time Johnny Marr was brought in for heritage rock cred not David Bowie - and Marr stayed behind the scenes). Inception became one of the few cases where fanboi viral hooplah translated into real box office business (instead of just topping the Most Torrented charts). The $160 million dollar budget flick took in over $800 million in cinemas alone. It justified Leonardo DiCaprio’s star-billing (it’s his first real zeitgeist hit since Titanic back in ‘97). Having just come off the Scorcese-goes-Shyamalan Shutter Island, Hollywood suits were concerned DiCap had chosen another style-over-sensible-story project. He had. But unlike Scorsese, Nolan at least gave the appearance of presenting audiences with a new kinda style and didn’t completely insult his faithful with a trite explanation just before the final credits. Runners-up: It seems when not rewatching Inception (which was voted Best Film in each state), our troops were allowing Hollywood to turn a mirror to their online habits. The Social Network re-hipped Facebook just as a backlash against the site was gathering alt.user support. Making the site cool again was director David Fincher’s best big-screen surprise since he put Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box. But we also championed the career revival of Jacki Weaver in local gangster hit Animal Kingdom. But while we don’t like our blockbusters in 3D, we do like our animated sequels in 3D as our writers were tweaking over the return of the Woody/Buzz in the latest Toy Story. And what’s a year-end movie top five without a Michael Cera film? So Scott Pilgrim vs The World was a shoo-in (plus there were lots of women kicking butt which we always approve of here). THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 35 •
WRITERS’ POLLS ADAM WILDING
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
TOP 10 ALBUMS
SALLY SELTMANN
ADAM CURLEY
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Heart That’s Pounding SALLY SELTMANN 2. Para Vista Social Club SCOTT & CHARLENE’S WEDDING 3. Pieces & Portions Vol 2 CRUMBS 4. Gemini WILD NOTHING 5. Teen Dream BEACH HOUSE 6. The Fool WARPAINT 7. Fowl HEIRS 8. Stem PIKELET 9. Little Joy MY DISCO 10. Violent Soho VIOLENT SOHO
BEST SONG 1. Swimming Pool (JM Re-edit) CATCALL 2. Temple RAT VS POSSUM 3. I’m So Appalled KANYE WEST 4. Sleep (Brain Children remix) ROMY 5. Buddy Bradley ADAM GREEN
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Jay Reatard 2. CRUMBS 3. Sally Seltmann 4. Straight Arrows 5. Kanye West
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Teen Dream BEACH HOUSE 2. Astro Coast SURFER BLOOD 3. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 4. Archives 2003-2006 DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES 5. Halcyon Digest DEERHUNTER 6. Movie Soundtrack SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD 7. All Alone In An Empty House LOST IN THE TREES 8. My Volcano RICHARD IN YOUR MIND 9. Hello Satellites HELLO SATELLITES 10. Congratulations MGMT
BEST SONG 1. Revival DEERHUNTER 2. Fool’s Day BLUR 3. Floating Vibes SURFER BLOOD 4. A Walk Around The Lake LOST IN THE TREES 5. Ramona BECK 1. Surfer Blood 2. Low 3. Old Crow Medicine Show 4. OM 5. Gay Paris
Kelly Slater’s tenth ASP title. It was unfortunately overshadowed by the death of maestro Andy Irons.
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “If it’s up to me, then the gong goes to whoever’s going to give us the right to survive and I couldn’t care less whether they’re the Labor Party, the Liberal Party or the callithumpian mongoloid party.” Bob Katter, ABC news online.
1. Cloud Control 2. Cabins 3. The Laurels 4. Gay Paris 5. Richard In Your Mind
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Steph Rice dissin’ the Springboks via twitter (and then losing her sweet contract with Jaguar).
PREDICTION FOR 2011 February’s Laneway Festival will be ace and Labor will go into the NSW state election with four million votes (against them).
SURFER BLOOD
BEST TV SHOW 1. Mad Men 2. Xavier: Renegade Angel
BEST MOVIE
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. White Material 2. The Red Chapel 3. Winnebago Man 4. Four Lions 5. The Robber
BEST TV SHOW
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Washington/Canberra.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR The output of Sydney’s RIP Society Records.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” Elton John, the Internet. “I thought it was gum,” Paris Hilton, the Internet. Possibly about the same thing.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Anyone who talks about or analyses social media postings IRL. FMRL.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 They’re all real, baby. • 36 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
1. Local And/Or General, RRR 2. Local Fidelity, FBi 3. The New Release Show, 4ZZZ
1. Missing Link Digital 2. GrooveShark 3. FYI Or Die 4. New York Times 5. True Panther Sounds
BEST MOVIE 1. Strange Powers 2. Fantastic Mr Fox 3. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 4. The Hurt Locker 5. A Prophet
Russell Brand and Kanye West. I would rather eat my own eyebrows.
1. The Strokes 2. Low 3. Grizzly Bear 4. Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Trio 5. Seth Misterka & Brian Chase
1. The Crayon Fields 2. Matthew Brown 3. Beaches 4. Scott & Charlene’s Wedding 5. Kitchen’s Floor
1. A Single Man 2. William S. Burroughs: A Man Within 3. The Social Network 4. Greenberg 5. Animal Kingdom
1. Media Watch 2. At The Movies 3. Q&A 4. 7.30 Report 5. SBS World Cup
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST MOVIE
BEST TV SHOW
1. Beach House 2. Internet Movie Database 3. Gumtree 4. ABC News 5. Wikipedia
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. The Strokes 2. Clipse 3. First Aid Kit 4. Hawnay Troof 5. Julian Casablancas
1. Bored To Death 2. 30 Rock 3. The Big C 4. Cougar Town 5. The United States Of Tara
1. Canvas, FBi 2. AM, RADIO NATIONAL 3. Insomnia Radio, INSOMNIARADIO.NET
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
SUFJAN STEVENS
ANTHONY CAREW
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Have One On Me JOANNA NEWSOM 2. The Age Of Adz SUFJAN STEVENS 3. Heartland OWEN PALLETT 4. Stridulum II ZOLA JESUS 5. Halfaxa GRIMES 6. Kairos WHITE HINTERLAND 7. Courses O PÂON 8. Love Remains HOW TO DRESS WELL 9. Before Today ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI 10. Beach Fossils BEACH FOSSILS
Twitter, again.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Not dying.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Our nature does not change by will,” Joanna Newsom, eternal wisdom as sung in On A Good Day.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR The countless suburban teenagers who videoed themselves raping schoolmates on their mobiles.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Idiocracy.
BEST SONG
2010 BEN MCINERNEY
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Total Life Forever FOALS 2. Tourist History TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB 3. Teen Dream BEACH HOUSE 4. American VI- Ain’t No Grave JOHNNY CASH 5. Interpreting The Masters 1: Hall and Oates THE BIRD & THE BEE 6. High Violet THE NATIONAL 7. Serotonin MYSTERY JETS 8. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 9. Bliss Release CLOUD CONTROL 10. Escapades HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY
BEST SONG 1. What Remains FOALS 2. Undercover Martyn TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB 3. Anyone’s Ghost THE NATIONAL 4. There’s Nothing In The Water We Can’t Fight CLOUD CONTROL 5. Norway BEACH HOUSE
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Foals 2. The National 3. Cloud Control 4. Two Door Cinema Club 5. Last Dinosaurs
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Foals 2. Two Door Cinema Club 3. Klaxons 4. Editors 5. Die! Die! Die!
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Hungry Kids Of Hungary 2. Cloud Control 3. Little Birdy 4. Dappled Cities 5. Parades
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Unearthed Podcast, TRIPLE J 2. Home And Hosed, TRIPLE J 3. 2010, TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW 1. Cougar Town 2. How I Met Your Mother 3. Gene Simmons – Family Jewels 4. Offspring 5. Seinfeld (re-runs)
BEST MOVIE 1. Shutter Island 2. The Social Network 3. Mao’s Last Dancer 4. Fish Tank 5. Inception
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Damn You Autocorrect 2. Talk Bass Forum 3. Crust Pizza 4. Taste 5. New Navy
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Oprah
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Foals finally making it to our shores, graduating university and a neat little trip to Bali.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Why must my dogs asshole turn so completely inside out for the tiniest of doodies?”- Sarah Silverman
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
1. Real Life (Memory Tapes Remix) TANLINES 2. Blue Gowns BLUE HAWAII 3. Marathon TENNIS 4. Castles In The Snow TWIN SHADOW 5. Love More SHARON VAN ETTEN
50 Cent – encouraging gay suicide and informing followers that he shot up a gay wedding. I think he might be gay.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
More Kanye hype, another recession, a ‘70s psych revival and 34 Prime Minister changes
1. Joanna Newsom 2. Sufjan Stevens 3. Zola Jesus 4. Grimes 5. Blue Hawaii/Braids
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Animal Collective 2. Joanna Newsom 3. Frida Hyvönen 4. Rio En Medio 5. Vampire Weekend
JOANNA NEWSOM twitter.com/drummedia
FOALS
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 37 •
WRITERS’ POLLS
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Hugo Race & The True Spirit 2. CW Stoneking 3. Tame Impala 4. Dan Sultan 5. The Scare
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Home & Hosed, TRIPLE J 2. Super Request, TRIPLE J 3. Mornings With Zan, TRIPLE J
GORILLAZ
MIKE PATTON
BRENDAN CRABB
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. The Obsidian Conspiracy NEVERMORE 2. Diamond Eyes DEFTONES 3. Option Paralysis THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN 4. Snakes For The Divine HIGH ON FIRE 5. The Avarice Of Man THE RED SHORE 6. Return To Zero SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 7. Chasing The Grail FOZZY 8. Axioma Ethica Odini ENSLAVED 9. Order Of The Black BLACK LABEL SOCIETY 10. The Final Frontier IRON MAIDEN
BEST SONG 1. Frost Hammer HIGH ON FIRE 2. I Think Bad Thoughts DANKO JONES 3. The Seed Of Annihilation THE RED SHORE 4. No Way But The Hard Way AIRBOURNE 5. Late For The Kill, Early For The Slaughter SOILWORK
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Mike Patton 2. Iron Maiden 3. The Dillinger Escape Plan 4. Behemoth 5. Devin Townsend
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Faith No More 2. Behemoth 3. Mastodon 4. The Dillinger Escape Plan 5. Metallica
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Mindsnare 2. Airbourne 3. Psycroptic 4. The Red Shore 5. LORD
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. The Ricky Gervais Guide To..., RICKYGERVAIS.COM 2. BBC Sport - cricket podcasts, BBC RADIO 3. The Racket, TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW 1. Curb Your Enthusiasm 2. Californication 3. Community 4. 30 Rock 5. Entourage
BEST MOVIE 1. Inception 2. Up In The Air 3. The Social Network 4. Animal Kingdom 5. Shutter Island
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Metal Sucks 2. Terrorizer online 3. Blabbermouth 4. FilmInk 5. Loud Online
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) The ARIA Awards – why do people even care anymore? Oh and A Day To Remember.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Finally seeing Faith No More live and their living up to expectations.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Jim Morrison pardoned for indecent exposure? What’s next, Ozzy pardoned for bat-biting? Kenny G pardoned for being Kenny G?” - Tim Siedell via Twitter.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Joel Monaghan. Enough said.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Iron Maiden to once again make any other band which tours these shores in 2011 look second-rate. • 38 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
BRYGET CHRISFIELD
BEST TV SHOW
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Plastic Beach GORILLAZ 2. Heligoland MASSIVE ATTACK 3. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN 4. Record Collection MARK RONSON & THE BUSINESS INTL 5. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 6. Crystal Castles CRYSTAL CASTLES 7. Frond POND 8. This Is Happening LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 9. Tourist History TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB 10. Sea Of Cowards THE DEAD WEATHER
BEST SONG
1. True Blood 2. Rock Of Love Bus 3. Weeds 4. Mad Men 5. Married To Rock
BEST MOVIE 1. Inception 2. Alice In Wonderland 3. The Runaways 4. How To Train Your Dragon 5. Hot Tub Time Machine
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. YouTube 2. Facebook 3. NME 4. Discogs 5. Hype Machine
1. Tightrope JANELLE MONÁE 2. Runaway KANYE WEST 3. After Dark THE COUNT & SINDEN (FEAT MYSTERY JETS) 4. She Said PLAN B 5. I <3 U So CASSIUS
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Washo.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
1. Gorillaz 2. Dan Sultan 3. Tame Impala 4. Them Crooked Vultures 5. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Gorillaz’s first Australian tour.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR Vampire Eric Nortman (from True Blood): “You know I love you more when you’re cold and heartless.”
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
1. Gorillaz 2. Kasabian 3. George Michael 4. Metallica 5. Ben Kweller
Jessica Mauboy’s “de-butt” debacle.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 The opposite of Bieber and Willow Smith, geriatric recording artists. Older than Susan Boyle even.
CHRIS FAMILTON
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 2. The Soft Pack THE SOFT PACK 3. Form DIE! DIE! DIE! 4. Teen Dream BEACH HOUSE 5. Halcyon Digest DEERHUNTER 6. Before Today ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI 7. Crazy For You BEST COAST 8. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 9. Brothers THE BLACK KEYS 10. Odd Blood YEASAYER
BEST SONG 1. Beverly Kills ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI 2. Ten Cent Pistol THE BLACK KEYS 3. Rachel And Cali DAMIEN JURADO 4. Scissor LIARS 5. Catcher In The Rye CABINS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST TV SHOW 1. Mad Men 2. Boardwalk Empire 3. The Walking Dead 4. True Blood 5. QI
BEST MOVIE 1. Toy Story 3 2. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 3. Kick-Ass 4. Greenberg 5. Please Give
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Pitchfork 2. FasterLouder 3. Altered Zones 4. Stereogum 5. Mess+Noise
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
1. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti 2. Zola Jesus 3. Gayngs 4. Die! Die! Die! 5. James Blake
Justin Bieber
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
“The saddest science field of all time has to be cryogenics.” by typooper - Twitter
1. Wilco 2. Boris 3. Jane’s Addiction 4. Grizzly Bear 5. Dirty Projectors
Puppy Dog Tears – Canberra Raider Joel Monaghan getting snapped simulating a sexual act with a dog.
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
A return to hip hop with funk, politics and something real to say.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Seeing Wilco playing two nights in a row
QUOTE OF THE YEAR SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR PREDICTION FOR 2011
2010 CHRIS MARIC
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. A Road To Depression ALL ENDS 2. The Wicked Symphony AVANTASIA 3. The Panic Broadcast SOILWORK 4. The Final Frontier IRON MAIDEN 5. Fever BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE 6. Order Of The Black BLACK LABEL SOCIETY 7. Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa CRADLE OF FILTH 8. Kvelertak KVELERTAK 9. Lawless Darkness WATAIN 10. Ironbound OVERKILL
BEST SONG 1. Generation Disgrace ALL ENDS 2. Late For The Kill, Early For The Slaughter SOILWORK 3. Raise Your Glass P!NK 4. The Inevitable Relapse FILTER 5. I Know Who I Am ALL ENDS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Metallica 2. Iron Maiden 3. Zakk Wylde 4. Kvelertak 5. Behemoth
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Behemoth 2. Metallica 3. Bullet For My Valentine 4. Slash 5. Stryper
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Melody Black 2. The Poor 3. Buried In Verona 4. Bane Of Isildur 5. Segression
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. My own iTunes on random - Better than any radio show!, MARIC FM 2. Nights with Ugly Phil, TRIPLE M - SYD/MELB 3. Kerrang Radio - The Whole damn thing!, WWW. KERRANGRADIO.CO.UK
BEST TV SHOW 1. Sons Of Anarchy 2. Chuck 3. House 4. Sky News 5. The Simpsons
BEST MOVIE 1. Harry Brown 2. Inception 3. Iron Man 2 4. Shutter Island 5. From Paris With Love
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Gizmodo 2. Prison Planet 3. Divine Infusions 4. Metal Obsession 5. Voltage Media
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Emo haircuts – Yes, we all know you use your sister’s GHD boys!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR My wife’s business, Divine Infusions launching/ Seeing Metallica twice in as many months.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “I’m the Kurt Cobain of my generation” – Justin Bieber. Yeah and the 2010 Guitar Hero champion is the next Jimi Hendrix. Fuck off douchebag!
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Google almost starting a war between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Not really social media, but definitely new tech was at fault.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Governments and the NWO crumble thanks to Wikileaks and a switched-on public as we head towards the end of an era in 2010.
1. Simon Carter 2. Cabins 3. Akaname 4. Jamie Hutchings 5. Loene Carmen
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. All Songs Considered, NPR.ORG/PROGRAMS/ALLSONGS-CONSIDERED 2. Dusty Fingers, FBi 3. Static, 2SER
ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI
twitter.com/drummedia
METALLICA
WRITERS’ POLLS CHRISTINE CARUANA
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. 7th Symphony APOCALYPTICA 2. Trypt0fanatic KIDNEYTHIEVES 3. Elect The Dead Symphony SERJ TANKIAN 4. I Believe You, Liar WASHINGTON 5. Peacocks/Pink Monsters JUDGEMENT DAY 6. Man Is The Enemy CANOBLISS 7. Sometimes The Stars THE AUDREYS 8. They All Fall Down THE CREEPSHOW 9. Pins And Needles THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE 10. A Star-Crossed Wasteland IN THIS MOMENT
BEST SONG 1. Rise, Rebel, Resist OTEP 2. No One Gets Left Behind FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH 3. End Of Me APOCALYPTICA 4. Troubles Somehow THE AUDREYS 5. Rich Kids WASHINGTON
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Emilie Autumn 2. Otep 3. Apocalyptica 4. In This Moment 5. Washington
CRAIG N PEARCE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Roadsongs DEREK TRUCKS BAND 2. God Willin’ And The Creek Don’t Rise RAY LAMONTAGNE & THE PARIAH DOGS 3. Band Of Joy ROBERT PLANT 4. Downtown Church PATTY GRIFFIN 5. Love Live The Duke & The King THE DUKE & THE KING 6. Invariable Heartache KORT 7. Harlem River Blues JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 8. Good Things ALOE BLACC 9. You Are Not Alone MAVIS STAPLES 10. Little Bird KASEY CHAMBERS
BEST SONG 1. Down In The Flood DEREK TRUCKS BAND 2. Angel Song ROBERT PLANT 3. 700 Houses SUSAN TEDESCHI 4. I Need A Dollar ALOE BLACC 5. Have You Seen It THE DUKE & THE KING
WAYNE SHORTER 4. Susan Tedeschi 5. Bob Dylan
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Wayne Shorter 2. Ricki Lee Jones 3. Rodrigo Y Gabriela 4. Goldfrapp 5. Lyle Lovett
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Robert Forster 2. Taasha Coates & Tristan Goodall 3. Ed Kuepper & Chris Bailey
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Derek Trucks 2. Patty Griffin 3. Robert Plant
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. MySpace 2. The New York Times - Books 3. Social Media Examiner 4. Jeff Bullas 5. Public relations and managing reputation
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
1. Emilie Autumn 2. Napalm Death 3. Mayhem 4. Hellyeah 5. Metallica
Exile On Main Street reissue.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Federal Labor (sort of) re-election.
1. Melody Black 2. The Audreys 3. Daysend 4. Washington 5. John Butler
“I feel sorry for straight men. The only reason women will have sex with them is that sex is the price they are willing to pay for a relationship with a man, which is what they want.” – Stephen Fry, actor, claims straight women don’t really like sex.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
1. The Annex Radio Show, BLUFM.ORG.AU 2. FBi Radio, 95.5FM 3. Jonesy and Amanda In The Morning, CLASSIC HITS 101.7FM
BEST TV SHOW 1. The Office 2. Criminal Minds 3. Modern Family 4. 30 Rock 5. Parks And Recreation
BEST MOVIE 1. Toy Story 3 2. Law Abiding Citizen 3. The Loved Ones 4. Inception 5. How To Train Your Dragon
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Post Secret 2. I’m Not A Monster. The Blog of Otep Shamaya 3. Internet Movie Database 4. Game Spot 5. eBay
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Justin Bieber...
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Emilie Autumn’s live show! Perfect blend of theatrics and music.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “‘Refudiate’, ‘misunderestimate’, ‘wee-weed up’. English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too.” Sarah Palin tweet.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Twitter and The Logies – After the Logies, Wil Anderson and Catherine Deveny came under fire after crude tweets made about those at the Logies.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 2012 is supposed to see the end of the world. And there is always a calm before the storm. So, 2011 should be a good year.
Morgan Freeman announced dead.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
DEREK TRUCKS
DAN CONDON
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. The ArchAndroid JANELLE MONAE 2. I Learned The Hard Way SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS 3. You Are Not Alone MAVIS STAPLES 4. Invisible Girl KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW 5. Full House Head ENDLESS BOOGIE 6. Heaven Is Whenever THE HOLD STEADY 7. I’m New Here GIL SCOTT-HERON 8. King Of The Beach WAVVES 9. The Monitor TITUS ANDRONICUS 10. Hippies HARLEM
BEST SONG
1. California Gurls KATY PERRY FEAT. SNOOP DOGG 2. You Are Not Alone MAVIS STAPLES 3. Thee Oh So Protective One GIRLS 4. Taxes UNDEAD APES 5. Better Things SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Janelle Monae 2. Justin Townes Earle 3. Wavves 4. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 5. Kanye West
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Buddy Guy 2. Wilco 3. Black Lips 4. Pavement 5. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. AC/DC 2. Crowded House 3. Violent Soho 4. Vegas Kings 5. Hoodoo Gurus
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Wake And Bake, 4ZZZ 2. Sound Opinions, PRX 3. This American Life, WBEZ
EMILIE AUTUMN
2010
BEST TV SHOW
1. The Office
MUSE
DANIEL CRICHTON-ROUSE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. High Violet THE NATIONAL 2. Dark Night Of The Soul DANGER MOUSE & SPARKLEHORSE 3. King Night SALEM 4. Treats SLEIGH BELLS 5. Church With No Magic PVT 6. Zeroes QC SUUNS 7. Come Back To The Five And Dime Bobby Dee Bobby Dee BENJY FERREE 8. Fifteen SUPER WILD HORSES 9. Carl Barât CARL BARÂT 10. Small Craft On A Milk Sea BRIAN ENO WITH JON HOPKINS AND LEO ABRAHAMS
BEST SONG 1. Heavy In Your Arms FLORENCE & THE MACHINE 2. Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL 3. Runaway KANYE WEST FEATURING PUSH T 4. Window PVT 5. King Night SALEM
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The National 2. Kanye West 3. Muse 4. Washington 5. Salem
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Muse 2. Antony & The Johnsons 3. Taking Back Sunday 4. Surfer Blood 5. Black Lips
The fading away of faux folk and rheumatic Americana.
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
2. Eastbound And Down 3. Louie 4. Lateline 5. Masterchef
1. Australian Chamber Orchestra performing Jonny Greenwood’s Popcorn Superhet Receiver 2. Cloud Control 3. Washington 4. The Jezabels 5. Creepers
BEST MOVIE 1. In The Loop 2. Kick-Ass 3. The Social Network 4. Animal Kingdom 5. You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. The Scriveners Fancy 2. TOMB 3. Dell 4. I Can’t Believe I Ate The Whole Thing 5. Noise Theory
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Lady Gaga
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR St. George finally winning the NRL, tied with losing my mind in the greatest way possible on a farm in the middle of Tennessee in the company of Stevie Wonder, Flaming Lips, Ween, Jay-Z, John Fogerty and countless other amazing bands. Never, ever deny yourself the opportunity to take a musical pilgrimage.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “They better leave Willie the fuck alone, man,” Snoop Dogg in relation to Willie Nelson’s arrest for cannabis possession. He followed with, “Willie Nelson is my people,” adding “If you got a problem with Willie Nelson, you got a problem with me.”
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes posting his personal mobile phone number on Twitter, realising his mistake, yet still taking ages to delete it.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Dragons will win two in a row, Wendell Sailor will attempt to go into politics, Nathan Hauritz will aimlessly walk barefoot around the country before settling down in a caravan in Archerfield. Hosts of Wake And Bake will finally get the recognition, money, women and power they so clearly deserve. New Twitter will still suck.
twitter.com/drummedia
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. This American Life, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO 2. Tech Weekly, THE GUARDIAN 3. By Design, RADIO NATIONAL
BEST TV SHOW 1. Party Down 2. The Trip 3. Lowdown 4. The IT Crowd 5. Newswipe with Charlie Brooker
BEST MOVIE 1. The Social Network 2. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1 3. Scott Pilgrim vs The World 4. Exit Through The Gift Shop 5. Fish Tank
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Twitter 2. Touch Arcade 3. Design*Sponge 4. Shoe Box Blog: Chuck & Beans 5. Tumblr
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Short Stack
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR The Libertines reforming to play Reading/Leeds, which I, as a true fan... watched online.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “A million dollars isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? A billion dollars.” The Social Network
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR “Rugby League Player Goes To The Dog.” You know what I’m talking about.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Assassination! Corruption! Product placement! And a new Bond film. THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 39 •
WRITERS’ POLLS DAVE DRAYTON
3. Gareth Liddiard 4. The Quickening 5. Let Me Down Jungleman, Gently
TOP 10 ALBUMS
ROBYN
DANIELLE O’DONOHUE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. High Violet THE NATIONAL 2. Body Talk ROBYN 3. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 4. Strange Tourist GARETH LIDDIARD 5. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN 6. Majesty Shredding SUPERCHUNK 7. Gorilla Manor LOCAL NATIVES 8. Heligoland MASSIVE ATTACK 9. American Slang THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 10. Birds Of Tokyo BIRDS OF TOKYO
BEST SONG 1. Indestructible ROBYN 2. She Said PLAN B 3. Plans BIRDS OF TOKYO 4. Closer To The Edge 30 SECONDS TO MARS 5. Tightrope JANELLE MONAE
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Robyn 2. The National 3. Birds Of Tokyo 4. Clare Bowditch 5. Janelle Monae
1. Try And Stay Upright ARROWS 2. Calabi Yau ANIMAL SHAPES 3. I: A Turn For The Worst I EXIST 4. Everyone Everywhere EVERYONE EVERYWHERE 5. Kvelertak KVELERTAK 6. Ribbons Patterns RIBBONS PATTERNS 7. Patagonian Rats TERA MELOS 8. Live Fast, Get Tropical THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 9. Lonely Avenue BEN FOLDS & NICK HORNBY 10. Wilderness Heart BLACK MOUNTAIN
BEST SONG 1. Decider GOOD LUCK 2. Rain Rain RIBBONS PATTERNS 3. Always With The Leaving ARROWS 4. The Zombie Apocalypse Love Song OUR ANATOMY 5. The Temptress I EXIST
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Washington 2. Coerce 3. I Exist 4. Lungs 5. Totally Unicorn
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Castle Hill core.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Pretending to be a chick called Summer and having a True Blue confession published in People. Hello $50!
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
1. Staying At Home 2. Sans Chavelle
“If geek means you’re willing to study things and if you think science and engineering matter, I plead guilty. If your culture doesn’t like geeks, you are in real trouble.” Bill Gates.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR The new MySpace. Flogging a dead and increasingly obsolete horse.
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Vanity Fair 2. Vulture (New York Magazine) 3. The National Vevo 4. Apple Trailers 5. Twitter
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Lady Gaga
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Standing on the banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne in glorious sunshine watching Inpress Editor Shane O’Donohue (aka my big brother) marry his very lovely fiance.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Your ‘stache is the jam.” Justin Bieber respecting his elders, in particular cult film-maker John Waters when the two both appeared on irreverent UK variety show The Graham Norton Show.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Listing all the stupid things John Mayer said in the media this or any year I’d fill up the next four issues of Drum.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Seeing The National live will be my favourite gig moment of 2011. • 40 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
PREDICTION FOR 2011
I EXIST
Dr Pepper on post-mix drink stations nationwide.
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. Dirty Three 2. Gareth Liddiard 3. The Nation Blue 4. Birds Of Tokyo 5. You Am I
BEST MOVIE
BEST MOVIE 1. The Social Network 2. Animal Kingdom 3. Harry Potter 4. The Kids Are Alright 5. Youth In Revolt
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
1. Sunny Day Real Estate 2. Hot Water Music 3. Dangers 4. Graf Orlock 5. The Jury & The Saints
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 2. Animal Kingdom 3. The Social Network 4. Fair Game 5. Toy Story 3
BEST TV SHOW 1. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 2. An Idiot Abroad 3. South Park 4. Important Things With Demetri Martin 5. How I Met Your Mother
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. Rufus Wainwright 2. Linkin Park 3. Jimmy Eat World 4. Gossip 5. Delphic
1. Gossip Girl 2. Doctor Who 3. Walking Dead 4. Being Human 5. QI
1. Short Fast Loud, TRIPLE J 2. Dead Air, FBi 3. Home And Hosed, TRIPLE J
1. McSweeney’s Internet Tendency 2. Band Camp 3. Daytrotter 4. Bombshellzine 5. Barely Political
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST TV SHOW
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
KINGS OF LEON
FIONA CAMERON
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN 2. Wake Up The Nation PAUL WELLER 3. Rush To Relax EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING 4. Interpol INTERPOL 5. Forgiveness Rock Record BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE 6. This Is The Warning DEAD LETTER CIRCUS 7. Theory Of Everything CHILDREN COLLIDE 8. Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky OK GO 9. Transference SPOON 10. Sea Of Cowards THE DEAD WEATHER
BEST SONG 1. Loveless CHILDREN COLLIDE 2. Beat The Devil’s Tattoo BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB 3. Plans BIRDS OF TOKYO 4. Anxiety EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING 5. Terrible Love THE NATIONAL
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Kings Of Leon 2. Dead Letter Circus 3. Interpol 4. Muse 5. Jack White
1. History Of The World In 100 Objects, WWW.BBC. CO.UK/PODCASTS/SERIES/AHOW 2. This American Life, WWW.THISAMERICANLIFE.ORG 3. Skeptics Guide To The Universe, WWW. AUDIABLEPODCAST.COM/SKEPTICSGUIDE
BEST TV SHOW 1. True Blood 2. Justified 3. Boardwalk Empire 4. The Walking Dead 5. Raising Hope
BEST MOVIE 1. Buried 2. Inception 3. The Town 4. Shutter Island 5. Exit Through The Gift Shop
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Mess+Noise 2. Deadline Hollywood 3. Post Secret 4. Ted 5. Live From Daryl’s House
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) It’s a tie between the awfulness of Justin Bieber and the undeniable horror of Lady GaGa
2010 GISELLE NGUYEN
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. High Violet THE NATIONAL 2. Pip OTOUTO 3. Belle And Sebastian Write About Love BELLE AND SEBASTIAN 4. Plastic Beach GORILLAZ 5. Forgiveness Rock Record BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE 6. Heartland OWEN PALLETT 7. Bliss Release CLOUD CONTROL 8. Swim CARIBOU 9. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 10. The Age Of Adz SUFJAN STEVENS
BEST SONG 1. World Sick BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE 2. On Melancholy Hill GORILLAZ 3. Odessa CARIBOU 4. Conversation 16 THE NATIONAL 5. The Devil’s Tears ANGUS & JULIA STONE
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Pavement 2. The National 3. The Strokes 4. Otouto 5. The Gaslight Anthem
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Pavement 2. Broken Social Scene 3. The Strokes 4. Emily Haines 5. Kevin Devine
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Angus & Julia Stone 2. Otouto 3. Cloud Control 4. Step-Panther 5. Pikelet
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Radiant, FBI 94.5FM 2. Last.FM radio, LAST.FM 3. Movies With Marc Fennell, TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW 1. Community 2. The Inbetweeners 3. Misfits 4. Cake Boss 5. What Not To Wear
BEST MOVIE 1. Toy Story 3 2. A Single Man 3. Scott Pilgrim vs The World 4. The Social Network 5. Animal Kingdom
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. off_wut 2. Book Depository 3. Damn You Auto Correct! 4. Twitter 5. Jess Loves Fred
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Alice In Wonderland and Get Him To The Greek. Both Burton and Apatow are so predictable. Once brilliant, now not so much.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR My nine-week trip to Europe – beautiful sights (especially attractive Swedes), lots of food, Nick Cave grinding his crotch in my face. Rad.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Being grown up enough to go to the movies by myself.
1. Shihad 2. Datarock 3. Smashing Pumpkins 4. Kasabian 5. Okamoto’s
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
Everything that Johnny Marr wrote on his Twitter ever. The man is hilarious AND a babe AND has breathed in the same air as Morrissey – what more could I ever ask for? Oh that’s right, his hand in marriage.
“If fashion was porn, this dress is the money shot.” Gaborey Sidebe on the red carpet at the Oscars talking about her dress.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Children Collide 2. Hell City Glamours 3. Dead Letter Circus 4. Karnivool 5. Eddy Current Suppression Ring
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Time magazine voting facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg Man Of The Year.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 The return of handwritten letters and a new emphasis on manners.
twitter.com/drummedia
Trufflegate: the New York Times, MIA and whoever gave her continued access to Twitter following the event. Someone get the girl a sedative.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Justin Bieber begins to father countless children; teenage hearts (and waters) break everywhere.
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 41 •
WRITERS’ POLLS JAMES D’APICE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST 2. Jimmy The Lock NOCANDO 3. Machines Hate Me DIBIASE 4. The S.O.N. SHAWN LOV 5. Li(f)e SAGE FRANCIS 6. Thank Me Later DRAKE 7. Sir Lucius Leftfoot BIG BOI 8. Unapologetic Art Rap OPEN MIKE EAGLE 9. Rated R RIHANNA 10. Alternative Energy THE TONGUE
BEST SONG 1. Runaway KANYE WEST 2. Opposite Of Adults CHIDDY BANG 3. So Bad CLASS A 4. Rihanna RUDE BOY 5. So Appalled KANYE WEST
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Kanye West 2. The Clipse 3. Nicki Minaj 4. Joyride 5. Drake
JAMES DAWSON
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Deathbed Atheist NORMA JEAN 2. It Never Ends BRING ME THE HORIZON 3. All I Want A DAY TO REMEMBER 4. Stay Lucky THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 5. Sleepeater SHIHAD
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Arvos with Shag or Sweetie and Shag, FBi 94.5FM 2. Stolen Records, FBI 94.5FM 3. ABC Grandstand, 702 AM
BEST TV SHOW 1. Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares 2. Masterchef 3. Iron Chef (Japanese Version) 4. One Born Every Minute 5. The IT Crowd
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Ozhiphop.com 2. Wikileaks 3. Twitter 4. The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry 5. Big Coronas or Tiny Men?
3. Yum Cha Blues 4. Stone Parade 5. The Amity Affliction
1. Meridional NORMA JEAN 2. Slash SLASH 3. What Separates Me From You A DAY TO REMEMBER 4. Enemy Of The World FOUR YEAR STRONG 5. Invented JIMMY EAT WORLD 6. There Is A Hell Believe Me I’ve Seen It, There Is A Heaven Let’s Keep It A Secret BRING ME THE HORIZON 7. Youngbloods THE AMITY AFFLICTION 8. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 9. Blue Sky Noise CIRCA SURVIVE 10. Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
BEST SONG
1. Slash 2. A Day To Remember 3. Four Year Strong 4. Norma Jean 5. Pete Yorn
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Slash 2. A Day To Remember 3. Jimmy Eat World 4. Metallica 5. Baroness
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. You Am I 2. Shihad
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Short Fast Loud, TRIPLE J 2. Drive with Richard Glover, ABC 702 3. Paul & Rach, TRIPLE M
BEST TV SHOW 1. Dexter 2. True Blood 3. Entourage 4. South Park 5. Mad Men
BEST MOVIE 1. Inception 2. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Pt. I 3. Shutter Island 4. How To Train Your Dragon 5. RED
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Sydney Morning Herald 2. Wikipedia 3. Faster Louder 4. Facebook 5. MySpace
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Oprah Winfrey’s trip to Australia. Unless you’re middle-aged, overweight and female, no one gives a shit.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Being in the USA on holidays and seeing Slash do his live thing with the band at the Warfield in San Francisco.
Watching Kanye’s Runaway short movie. The dialogue was abominable. The “story” clumsy. But the ballerinas! They made up for it all.
Axl Rose gets more botox and becomes even more irrelevant, as we all wait with baited breath for Chinese Democracy 2.
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
QUOTE OF THE YEAR This is from @julieposetti: “#jeaa2010 Wahlquist: ‘In the lead up to the election the Ed in Chief was increasingly telling me what to write.’ It was prescriptive.” What a numbskull, a journalism academic who doesn’t understand defamation law. Oops! Sorry! Don’t sue, Julie!
1. Tim Rogers 2. Skipping Girl Vinegar 3. Dan Kelly 4. Clare Bowditch 5. iOTA
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
BEST TV SHOW
I mean, aside from the #failwhale, it has to be MySpace. Even with a reboot, all it earned was embarrassed pity. Go to jail, MySpace. RIP
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Winning the Ashes. But seriously, folks: we will know how it feels to be governed by Prime Minister Abbott (spoiler: it’s GROSS).
TIM ROGERS
LIZ GIUFFRE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Basement Birds BASEMENT BIRDS 2. You Am I YOU AM I 3. Family Jewels MARINA & THE DIAMONDS 4. The A to Z Recordings PAUL KELLY 5. The Key Of Sea VARIOUS ARTISTS 6. Get Out While You Can DAN SULTAN 7. Dan Kelly’s Dream DAN KELLY 8. We Are Born SIA 9. I Believe You, Liar WASHINGTON 10. Tango 3.0 GOTAN PROJECT
BEST SONG 1. Clap Your Hands SIA 2. Shampain MARINA & THE DIAMONDS 3. My People BASEMENT BIRDS 4. We Used To Wait ARCADE FIRE 5. Fuck You CEE LO GREEN
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Tim Rogers 2. Megan Washington 3. Sia 4. Dan Sultan 5. Rufus Wainwright
KANYE WEST • 42 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
BEST SONG 1. You Don’t Miss Twice (When You’re Shavin’ With A Knife) MURDER BY DEATH 2. Great White Lie THE CUBICAL 3. Fuck You CEE LO GREEN 4. The Wondersmith And His Sons ASTRONAUTALIS 5. Oh Lord FOXY SHAZAM
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
2. Rufus Wainwright 3. Carole King 4. Gotan Project 5. Polyphonic Spree
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Good Morning Magpie MURDER BY DEATH 2. Come Sing These Crippled Tunes THE CUBICAL 3. AgriDustrial TH’ LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS 4. Sellin’ You Salvation MOJO JUJU & THE SNAKE OIL MERCHANTS 5. Li(f)e SAGE FRANCIS 6. Daughters DAUGHTERS 7. The Lady Killer CEE LO GREEN 8. Foxy Shazam FOXY SHAZAM 9. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN 10. The Courage Of Others MIDLAKE
1. Monotonix 2. The Decemberists 3. Seasick Steve 4. Glassjaw 5. The Snowdroppers
PREDICTION FOR 2011 NORMA JEAN
LUKE MONKS
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
Nicki Minaj! She did her own perfect over-hyping as a guest and then stumbled when it came her debut.
MONOTONIX
“Now, what I have for you is a nice goat-cheese and heirloom tomato frittata. And we’re gonna top that with a little crème fraîche. [scoops some out to spread on Stan’s plate, slooowly] Aw yeah... Awwww...” – Randy Marsh, South Park. The USA woman who has the twitter name “The Ashes” trying to scam a free trip to Australia to watch a test match.
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
2010
1. Community 2. Doctor Who 3. Glee 4. Spicks And Specks 5. RocKwiz
BEST MOVIE 1. Four Lions 2. Joan Rivers A Piece of Work 3. Scott Pilgrim vs The World 4. Ghost Writer 5. Toy Story 3
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Google 2. ABC online 3. Guardian Newspaper 4. Twitter 5. Amazon
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Lady GaGa.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Hugging Rufus Wainwright.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “In front row for John Mayer. I may not take home Gold Logie but now have herpes.” Wil Anderson at the second worst awards ceremony on Australian television.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
The early announcement of the Hottest 100 winner.
1. Neil Finn
A year where Julia and Tony play nice in parliament.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 twitter.com/drummedia
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Monotonix 2. The Decemberists 3. Sage Francis 4. Seasick Steve 5. Glassjaw
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Snowdroppers 2. The Kill Devil Hills 3. The Beards 4. Mojo Juju & The Snake Oil Merchants 5. The Delta Riggs
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. The Bridge, FBI 94.5FM 2. Shortfastloud, TRIPLE J 3. Home and Hosed, TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW 1. Bored To Death 2. Louie 3. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 4. Party Down 5. Misfits
BEST MOVIE 1. Crazy Heart 2. World’s Greatest Dad 3. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 4. Let Me In 5. Buried
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Darklore 2. The Hood Internet 3. GameBanshee 4. Bombshellzine
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Sport. Give it a rest Australia.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Wikileaks ‘scandal’.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “You boys are dope!” Seasick Steve overheard talking to The Snowdroppers.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR The ARIAs.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Eazy E, Tupac and Biggie rise from the grave as undead gangsta rap supergroup. First brain they devour? Kanye’s!
WRITERS’ POLLS MARK NEILSEN
BEST TV SHOW
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. By Limbo Lake SEABELLIES 2. kyü KYÜ 3. The Final Frontier IRON MAIDEN 4. Bliss Release CLOUD CONTROL 5. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN 6. Heart That’s Pounding SALLY SELTMANN 7. Fear Not The Footsteps Of The Departed DRAWN FROM BEES 8. Young People Never Die HERE COME THE BIRDS 9. Barb BARB 10. Violent Soho VIOLENT SOHO
BEST SONG BAD RELIGION
MARK HEBBLEWHITE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. The Dissent Of Man BAD RELIGION 2. Opus Eponymous GHOST 3. American Slang THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 4. Ironbound OVERKILL 5. On Divine Winds HAIL OF BULLETS 6. Neon Nights – 30 Years Of Heaven And Hell HEAVEN AND HELL 7. Blac Sabbath BLACASTAN 8. Absolute Dissent KILLING JOKE 9. Arturo Gatti TOE TO TOE 10. Sick Of It All BASED ON A TRUE STORY
BEST SONG 1. Meeting Of The Minds BAD RELIGION 2. I Was A Teenage Anarchist AGAINST ME 3. The Queen Of Lower Chelsea THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 4. European Super State KILLING JOKE 5. Just A Dream NELLY
1. Trains KYÜ 2. El Dorado IRON MAIDEN 3. Life On Earth BAND OF HORSES 4. Meditation Song #2 (Why Oh Why) CLOUD CONTROL 5. Beautiful Dangerous SLASH
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. Metallica 2. Faith No More 3. Band Of Horses 4. Kasabian 5. U2
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. True Cult Heavy Metal 2. New York Times 3. Politico 4. Metal Sucks 5. invisible oranges
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Metallica – it was nice to see them finally but really their days of supremacy are long gone.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Well it happened very late in 2009 but the birth of my son is probably hard to top.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “They say that life’s a carousel/ Spinning fast you’ve got to ride it well/ The world is full of kings and queens to blind your eyes and steal your dreams/ It’s heaven and hell.” – Ronnie James Dio (RIP)
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Facebook (the whole thing) – it’s not a private place you can rant in safety, people!
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Like every year that has ever gone before us, more of the same.
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR PREDICTION FOR 2011
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Johnny Ray’s Downtown PERRY KEYES 2. You Are Not Alone MAVIS STAPLES 3. I Learned The Hard Way SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS 4. Afrocubism AFROCUBISM 5. All Of Me FLOYD TAYLOR 6. Now I Know What BOBBY CONERLY 7. Nothing’s Impossible SOLOMON BURKE (RIP!) 8. Celebrating With Friends JOHNNY GIMBLE 9. American VI: Ain’t No Grace JOHNNY CASH 10. Good Things ALOE BLACC
BEST SONG
50 Cent’s rant on Twitter. It will contain 365 days.
1. Nothing’s Impossible SOLOMON BURKE 2. You Are Not Alone MAVIS STAPLES 3. Window Seat ERYKAH BADU 4. Queen Of Everyone’s Heart PERRY KEYES 5. I Need A Dollar ALOE BLACC
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Perry Keyes 2. Solomon Burke 3. Mavis Staples 4. Aloe Blacc 5. Bud Petal
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Dengue Fever 2. Antibalas Afro-Beat Orchestra 3. Mountain Mocha Kiliminjaro 4. Lil’ Band O’ Gold 5. Charles Walker
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Perry Keyes 2. Public Opinion Afro-Beat Orchestra 3. The Strides 4. Bud Petal 5. Jeff Duff
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Stormy Monday, 2MBS-FM 102.5 2. Mornings - Stephen Ferris, FBI 94.5 3. Groovescooter, EASTSIDE RADIO
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST KYÜ 3. The Temper Trap 4. John Butler Trio 5. Colin Hay
1. Slayer 2. Bad Religion/NOFX 3. Deep Purple 4. Napalm Death 5. Overkill
BEST TV SHOW
1. Gmail 2. Bureau Of Meteorology 3. CricInfo 4. eBay 5. Drum Media’s Twitter
“It’s Amanda, I’m so sorry. It was fed to me wrong. Oh God. This is what happens when you have live TV, folks. This is insane. Insane, insane, insane.” – Sarah Murdoch, finally announcing the correct winner of Australia’s Next Top Model.
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. ABC Grandstand cricket coverage, 702 ABC 2. Tuesday Arvo, FBi 3. Ricky Gervais Podcast
1. Breaking Bad 2. Weeds 3. Spooks 4. The Simpsons 5. South Park
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
1. Motorhead 2. Toe To Toe 3. Bad Religion 4. Megadeth 5. Slayer
1. Toe To Toe 2. Mindsnare 4. The Jezabels 4. Electric Mary 5. Funkoars
BEST MOVIE 1. Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Iron Man 2 3. Kick-Ass 4. How To Train Your Dragon 5. Toy Story 3
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Lell.
1. Dirty Three 2. AC/DC 3. Paul Dempsey 4. Cloud Control 5. The Temper Trap
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
PEDRO MANOY
1. Dexter 2. Family Guy 3. Modern Family 4. The Event 5. Monster Moves
The reaction to Kanye’s new album.
1. The National 2. Cloud Control 3. Metallica 4. Katy Perry 5. Bon Jovi
2010
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. The Blow Parade, TRIPLE J 2. Frank Skinner Podcast, ABSOLUTE RADIO (UK) 3. T3 Podcast, T3.COM
I AM KLOOT
PAUL SMITH
BEST TV SHOW
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Johnny Ray’s Downtown PERRY KEYES 2. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 3. Postcards From A Young Man MANIC STREET PREACHERS 4. The Conformist DOVEMAN 5. Intriguer CROWDED HOUSE 6. Sky At Night I AM KLOOT 7. High Violet THE NATIONAL 8. It’s What I’m Thinking Pt.1 – Photographing Snowflakes BADLY DRAWN BOY 9. Heart That’s Pounding SALLY SELTMANN 10. Familial PHILIP SELWAY
BEST SONG 1. Northern Skies I AM KLOOT 2. The Cave MUMFORD & SONS 3. Close To You JOHN BUTLER TRIO 4. Big Jet Plane ANGUS & JULIA STONE 5. Stylo GORILLAZ
1. Gavin And Stacy 2. Spicks And Specks 3. Later... With Jools Holland 4. QI 5. Doctor Who
BEST MOVIE 1. The Road 2. Animal Kingdom 3. The Social Network 4. Inception 5. Toy Story 3
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. YouTube 2. Facebook 3. Sydney Morning Herald 4. NME 5. BBC Sport
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lady Gaga – one big act
1. Muse 2. Perry Keyes 3. Arcade Fire 4. Crowded House 5. I Am Kloot
Muse bringing a show to town every bit as big and epic as their sound.
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Muse 2. Manic Street Preachers 3. Crowded House 4. Ash 5. Neil Finn
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Perry Keyes 2. Angus & Julia Stone
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR QUOTE OF THE YEAR
BEST TV SHOW 1. Foreign Correspondent 2. QI 3. Man vs Wild 4. Dateline 5. Four Corners
BEST MOVIE 1. Sons Of Steel 2. Animal Kingdom 3. Gainsbourg 4. Machete 5. The Crazies
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. WikiLeaks 2. Jazzgroove 3. Boing Boing 4. Mu-Meson Archives 5. Alternative Media Group
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) The Underbelly Franchise
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Silvio Berlusconi for reassuring the world there is sex after 70.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR Have never tweeted or been tweeted and will leave tweeting to the twats and other over-opinionated, self-promoting, narcissistic twerps (how many characters is that?).
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Kim Jong Il Deletes Facebook Page - Sick Of Having No Friends
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Powderfinger to reform and appear exclusively on Hey Hey It’s Saturday – nothing new!
“I thought it was gum.” Paris Hilton does blondes no favours with her defence of being caught in possession of cocaine. Quote from officer’s report and carried by numerous news sites.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Google wants to know everything. Even if it’s personal. The company admits it made a “mistake” in collecting personal wi-fi data.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 A resurgence in the live music scene as mass downloading creates bigger fanbases.
twitter.com/drummedia
PERRY KEYES THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 43 •
WRITERS’ POLLS ROB TOWNSEND
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. I Speak Because I Can LAURA MARLING 2. Hidden THESE NEW PURITANS 3. The Memory Machine JULIA STONE 4. Let The Hard Times Roll DAVID FORD 5. We Are Born SIA 6. Dark Night Of The Soul DANGER MOUSE & SPARKLEHORSE 7. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 8. Serotonin MYSTERY JETS 9. Body Talk Part 1 ROBYN 10. Erland & The Carnival ERLAND & THE CARNIVAL
BEST SONG 1. King Of The Beach WAVVES 2. Dance The Way I Feel OU EST LE SWIMMING POOL 3. 10 Mile Stereo BEACH HOUSE 4. Boyfriend BEST COAST 5. Cloud Shadow On The Mountain WOLF PARADE
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Arcade Fire 2. Angus & Julia Stone 3. Sia 4. Laura Marling 5. Best Coast
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Regina Spektor 2. Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard 3. Laura Marling 4. The Cribs 5. Daniel Johnston
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Angus & Julia Stone 2. Parades 3. Cabins 4. Bridezilla 5. The Laurels
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo’s Film Review Podcast, BBC FIVE LIVE 2. Guardian Football Weekly Podcast, GUARDIAN. CO.UK 3. Arvos, FBI
ROD HUNT
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Baroness 2. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 3. Electric Wizard 4. Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side 5. Acid King
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Justin Bieber. Maybe if I was a 14-year-old girl I’d feel differently but, come on people, what is all the fuss about?
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR My girlfriend launched Dear Pluto, her very own vintage store in Surry Hills. It made me very proud. Come visit us.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “I’m pretty smug for someone who has shat himself twice in two years.” A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless. And no it wasn’t me) comes up with the best Facebook status ever.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR So, the winner, and Australia’s Next Top Model for 2010… It’s you Kelsey. Wait… what?
PREDICTION FOR 2011 The rapid ascent of Sydney’s Cameras, The Preachers and Kirin J. Callinan. • 44 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
BARONESS
BEST TV SHOW
1. Baroness 2. Metallica 3. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 4. Acid King 5. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
1. Converge 2. Parkway Drive 3. Deftones 4. Mindsnare 5. Interpol
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Solid Gold Hell 2. Unbelievably Bad 3. Wikipedia 4. MySpace 5. YouTube
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Looking Glass 2. Graveyard Train 3. Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side 4. Clagg 5. Arrowhead
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Katy Perry
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
PREDICTION FOR 2011
1. The Alternative Music Show, 2SER FM 2. The Racket, TRIPLE J 3. Celluloid Dreams, 2SER FM
The emergence of yet another metal/hardcore subgenre: Mariachideathcore!
ROSS N. CLELLAND
3. Animal Kingdom 4. Ghost Writer 5. Kick-Ass
BEST SONG 1. Fuck You CEE LO GREEN 2. Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL 3. What Do I Do? LANIE LANE 4. Working Far From Home IRON & WINE 5. Torpor & Spleen GLENN RICHARDS
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Wilco 2. Eels 3. Unknown Pleasures 4. Paul Weller
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Gareth Liddiard 2. You Am I 3. Mike Noga & The Gentlemen Of Fortune 4. Weddings Parties Anything 5. Philadelphia Grand Jury
1. Sleepwalkers PARKWAY DRIVE 2. I Hate Hartley THE AMITY AFFLICTION 3. I Need A Dollar ALOE BLACC 4. Lights INTERPOL 5. It Never Ends BRING ME THE HORIZON
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. The Wire 2. Mad Men 3. Q & A 4. Man Vs. Wild 5. Media Watch
1. Animal Kingdom 2. The White Ribbon 3. Machete
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. High Violet THE NATIONAL 2. Arcane CROW 3. Walk This Ocean CHARLES JENKINS & THE ZHIVAGOS 4. You Am I YOU AM I 5. Strange Tourist GARETH LIDDIARD 6. Places That Made Us LAZY SUSAN 7. Ceiling Sun Letters JASON WALKER 8. Tomorrow Morning EELS 9. Deathwish THE GIN CLUB 10. The Big To-Do DRIVE BY TRUCKERS
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
BEST SONG
BEST MOVIE
1. The IT Crowd 2. Peep Show 3. The Ashes 4. The World Cup 5. Beauty And The Geek
1. Twitter 2. Facebook 3. Boudist 4. Two Thousand 5. BBC
1. Split ROBOTOSAURUS + COERCE 2. Symptoms & Cures COMEBACK KID 3. Eyes & Nines TRASH TALK 4. Tron: Legacy Soundtrack DAFT PUNK 5. Diamond Eyes DEFTONES 6. I: A Turn For The Worst I EXIST 7. Interpol INTERPOL 8. Rohnert Park CEREMONY 9. Kvelertak KVELERTAK 10. Option Paralysis THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
BEST SONG
TOP 10 ALBUMS
BEST MOVIE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Black Masses ELECTRIC WIZARD 2. Jason Simon JASON SIMON 3. Snakes For The Divine HIGH ON FIRE 4. Spiral Shadow KYLESA 5. Dishing Out The Good Times HYTEST 6. I Learned The Hard Way SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS 7. Burning Your House Down THE JIM JONES REVUE 8. Songs For Singles TORCHE 9. It’s Happening STRAIGHT ARROWS 10. Kverlertak KVERLERTAK
BEST TV SHOW
1. Toy Story 3 2. Inception 3. Made In Dagenham 4. Easy A 5. The Social Network
SARAH PETCHELL
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Scorpio Curse ELECTRIC WIZARD 2. Let’s Begin JASON SIMON 3. Blur The Lines GENTLE BEN & HIS SENSITIVE SIDE 4. I Learned The Hard Way SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS 5. Shoot First THE JIM JONES REVUE
2010
1. Baroness 2. Converge 3. The Dillinger Escape Plan 4. Comeback Kid 5. Henry Rollins
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Parkway Drive 2. Mindsnare 3. Miles Away 4. Coerce 5. sleepmakeswaves
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Short.Fast.Loud, TRIPLE J 2. Smodcast, WWW.SMODCAST.COM 3. The Racket, TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW 1. Boardwalk Empire 2. Sons Of Anarchy 3. Mad Men 4. Project Runway 5. True Blood
BEST MOVIE
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. wikileaks 2. google 3. facebook 4. wikipedia 5. Streetpress Australia
1. Inception 2. The Social Network 3. Invictus 4. Iron Man 2 5. Get Him To The Greek
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Even my 11-year-old godson doesn’t understand why Short Stack are at all popular.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Still waiting.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “He seems to combine the technical expertise of a Steve Jobs with the cunning of a Lex Luthor, the aggressive free speech passions of a Larry Flynt and the hair of a Martina Navratilova.” – Jon Stewart on Julian Assange.
1. No Heroes Magazine 2. Facebook 3. Questionable Content 4. Broken Glass Online 5. Twitter
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Hardcore bands with keyboards... I don’t get it.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR That so many of my favourite bands toured – Converge and The Dillinger Escape Plan in one year? It’s all too much.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
Twitter remains an ongoing social media fuck-up. Doing its best to turn Generation Y in to Generation I.
“In Baltimore even inanimate objects like car doors try to jack your ass. This a hard ass place.” ... Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan via Twitter (I watched a lot of The Wire this year...)
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Another year-end poll asking questions we don’t know all the answers to. Three radio shows? Who listens to the radio anymore?
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Tumblr in general.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 I’m curious to see which hardcore band will reform next year. I’m hoping for Champion, but I’m not holding my breath on that one. Also a Radiohead tour (or album) would be nice.
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. 2010, TRIPLE J 2. The Bridge, FBi 3. Utility Fog, FBi
BEST TV SHOW 1. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 2. Rake 3. Mad Men 4. QI 5. Anything else with Stephen Fry
BEST MOVIE 1. The Social Network 2. The King’s Speech
EELS twitter.com/drummedia
CONVERGE
WRITERS’ POLLS ANDREW MAST
3. The Sarah Silverman Program 4. Parks And Recreation 5. Party Down
1. Wake Up The Nation PAUL WELLER 2. Fifteen SUPER WILD HORSES 3. The Soft Pack THE SOFT PACK 4. Institute Of Joy A MOUNTAIN OF ONE 5. /\/\ /\ Y /\ MIA 6. Coconut ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT 7. Losing Sleep EDWYN COLLINS 8. Little Joy MY DISCO 9. Hippies HARLEM 10. Soft Approach THE STRESS OF LEISURE
BEST MOVIE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
BEST SONG
1. When They Fight They Fight GENERATIONALS 2. Treme Song JOHN BOUTTE 3. Bone Jam JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD 4. If The Kids Are United THE DUKE SPIRIT 5. Teenage Girls THE BLEEDING KNEES CLUB
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Paul Weller 2. MIA 3. Crumbs 4. Edwyn Collins 5. Hunx
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. The Phenomenal Handclap Band 2. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart 3. The Soft Pack 4. Mulatu Astatke & The Black Jesus Experience 5. Leonard Cohen
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Frowning Clouds 2. The Blow Waves 3. Belles Will Ring 4. Last Gypsies 5. The Scotch Of St James
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Dangerous Minds Radio Hour, Dangerous Minds blog 2. Stylin (Ennio Styles), 3RRR 3. Blue Juice (Mohair Slim), 3PBS
BEST TV SHOW
1. Treme 2. Community
2010
TOM HAWKING
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. 13 Most Beautiful DEAN & BRITTA 2. I’m New Here GIL SCOTT-HERON 3. Para Vista Social Club SCOTT & CHARLENE’S WEDDING 4. Does It Look Like I’m Here? EMERALDS 5. Zond ZOND 6. Heligoland MASSIVE ATTACK 7. Strange Tourist GARETH LIDDIARD 8. The ArchAndroid JANELLE MONAE 9. A Sufi And A Killer GONJA SUFI 10. Daughter Of Sunshine RAT VS POSSUM
1. Four Lions 2. Kick-Ass 3. The Runaways 4. Alice In Wonderland 5. A Single Man
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Discogs 2. Guardian Media Digital 3. Twitter 4. ABC iView 5. Death Of A Disco Dancer
BEST SONG
EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) “Beiber Beiber please go” (sung to the tune of The Chills’ Bee Bah Bee Bah Bee Boe).
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Witnessing David Sedaris, John Waters, Tig Notaro and Joss Whedon in the flesh; Cohen, Chills, Astatke, Boby Womack & Mick ‘n’ Paul Clash, Paul Weller, The Fall, Blondie, Brand New Heavies, etc; the enigma that is Hope Sandoval; Kasabian go full-tilt arena; Polyphonic Spree go full-tilt orchestral rock tribute; Here We Go Magic go full-tilt support act; Watching Treme; Cyber-stalking MIA.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Unity holds no allure for Maya [MIA] — she thrives on conflict, real or imagined. ‘I kind of want to be an outsider,’ she said, eating a truffle-flavoured French fry.” Lynn Hirschberg in the NY Times.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR “917.834.3158 CALL ME IF YOU WANNA TALK TO ME ABOUT THE N Y T TRUTH ISSUE, ill b taking calls all day bitches :)” The MIA vs Hirschberg social network war, entertaining but overshadowed the album.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Tours from Tom Waits, Dolly Parton and Julian Cope. Or maybe Mahjongg, Harlem and jj.
1. Heavy Living Things BALAM ACAB 2. Bardo Pond EIGHT THOUSANDERS 3. Round And Round ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI 4. Splitting The Atom MASSIVE ATTACK 5. Miarches FOREST SWORDS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Balam Acab 2. Gil Scott-Heron 3. Janelle Monae 4. Gareth Liddiard 5. Scott & Charlene’s Wedding
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Spiritualized 2. Galaxie 500 3. Big Freedia 4. Janelle Monae 5. Teeth Mountain
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Scott & Charlene’s Wedding 2. Fabulous Diamonds 3. Rat Vs Possum 4. Darren Sylvester 5. Children Of The Wave
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Skull Cave, RRR 2. Beat Orgy, RRR 3. Chant Down, PBS
BALAM ACAB
BEST TV SHOW 1. True Blood 2. Party Down 3. Californication 4. Basketball 5. Cricket
BEST MOVIE 1. Fair Game 2. Four Lions 3. Once Brothers 4. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Pt. I 5. The Hangover
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. 14 Tracks 2. The Quietus 3. 20 Jazz Funk Greats 4. Guardian 5. Grooveshark
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Chillwave.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Moving to NYC. And still being able to vote the Greens into a lower house seat.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Are we all to be treated like David Hicks at the first possible opportunity merely so that Australian politicians and diplomats can be invited to the best US embassy cocktail parties?” Julian Assange, The Age
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Mark Zuckerberg. Generally.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Same shit. Different shovel.
twitter.com/drummedia THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 45 •
WRITERS’ POLLS SEVANA OHANDJANIAN
3. Mornings with Tom & Alex, TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW
TOP 10 ALBUMS
GIL SCOTT-HERON
SCOTT FITZSIMONS
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. I’m New Here GIL SCOTT-HERON 2. Endless Roads MILES AWAY 3. The Union ELTON JOHN/LEON RUSSELL 4. The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night THE BESNARD LAKES 5. True Love Cast Out All Evil ROKY ERICKSON 6. Harlem River Blues JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 7. ...And The Pioneer Saboteurs MICAH P. HINSON 8. Total Life Forever FOALS 9. Ciencia de los Inútiles EL TRÍO DE OMAR RODRÍGUEZ-LÓPEZ 10. Latin HOLY FUCK
BEST SONG 1. Power KANYE WEST 2. Spanish Sahara FOALS 3. Further THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS 4. Chicago Train THE BESNARD LAKES 5. Youngbloods THE AMITY AFFLICTION
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The Amity Affliction 2. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez 3. Tame Impala 4. Katy Perry 5. Short Stack
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Slow Music Night 2. The Mars Volta 3. Foals 4. Daniel Johnston 5. Polar Bear Club
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Horsell Common 2. The Nation Blue 3. Halal, How Are You 4. Coerce 5. The Amity Affliction
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. ABC Grandstand, 702 ABC 2. Radiant, FBi 3. Weekends, 702 ABC
BEST TV SHOW 1. Eastbound And Down 2. Entourage 3. South Park 4. Letters And Numbers 5. Top Gear
BEST MOVIE 1. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 2. The Sentimental Engine Slayer 3. Beneath Hill 60 4. The Social Network 5. Toy Story 3
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. AllMusic 2. iRacing 3. Foxsports 4. NetBank 5. Football Anarchy
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) The Internet
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Discovery of The Oak Barrel’s whiskey range.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Fuck my victims. I carried them for 20 years and now I’m doing 150.” Bernie Madoff overheard in jail regards his massive Ponzi scheme.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR 50 Cent’s management team allowing him control of his own Twitter account.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 A shakedown among festivals that’ll see better line-ups and better experiences. • 46 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
1. Total Life Forever FOALS 2. High Violet THE NATIONAL 3. Mines MENOMENA 4. kyü KYÜ 5. Record Collection MARK RONSON & THE BUSINESS INTL 6. The Fool WARPAINT 7. There Is Love In You FOUR TET 8. Swim CARIBOU 9. This Is Happening LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 10. Plastic Beach GORILLAZ
BEST SONG 1. Fool’s Day BLUR 2. 3mark GHOUL 3. The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future LOS CAMPESINOS! 4. Ambling Alp YEASAYER 5. This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy) XIU XIU
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. Never Mind The Buzzcocks 2. Spicks And Specks 3. Grandma’s House 4. Community 5. True Blood
BEST MOVIE 1. I Killed My Mother 2. The Sentimental Engine Slayer 3. No One Knows About Persian Cats 4. Women Without Men 5. Four Lions
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Pedestrian Daily 2. Mess+Noise 3. Cracked 4. The Vine 5. Two Thousand
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Katy Perry – shooting whipped cream from your tits is not an achievement. It is however a clever ploy to distract from your substandard music.
1. Damon Albarn 2. Foals 3. Janelle Monae 4. Daniel Snaith 5. The National
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR I interviewed Richard Ashcroft and it was the greatest 15 minutes of my life. Since the Blur reunion.
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
1. Richard Ashcroft 2. Kasabian 3. The Cribs 4. LCD Soundsystem & Hot Chip 5. Boredoms
“To the dumb question ‘Why me?’ the cosmos barely bothers to return the reply: ‘Why not?’” – Christopher Hitchens in a Vanity Fair piece, talking about the lack of irony in his cancer diagnosis.
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Facebook flips the bird to privacy with ‘Groups’ which people can be added to without being asked for permission. Then again, it hasn’t been a great year for Zuckerberg, has it?
1. kyü 2. The Holy Soul 3. Holy Balm 4. Naked On The Vague
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
PREDICTION FOR 2011
1. Dead Air, FBi 2. Wednesday Breakfast, 2SER
Pulp are reuniting so surely a Splendour headline slot isn’t too much to ask for?
STEVE BELL
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Strange Tourist GARETH LIDDIARD 2. Hippies HARLEM 3. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 4. Harlem River Blues JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 5. Heaven Is Whenever THE HOLD STEADY 6. Majesty Shredding SUPERCHUNK 7. That’s How We Burn JAILL 8. The Monitor TITUS ANDRONICUS 9. We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River RICHMOND FONTAINE 10. Destroyer Of The Void BLITZEN TRAPPER
BEST SONG 1. Thee Oh So Protective One GIRLS 2. Mirrors CROCODILES 3. Modern Man ARCADE FIRE 4. Ghosts Of Syllables ADMIRAL RADLEY 5. Old Fangs BLACK MOUNTAIN
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. Pavement 2. Gareth Liddiard 3. Smudge 4. The Hold Steady 5. Violent Soho
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Pavement 2. The Avett Brothers 3. Wilco 4. Calexico 5. Black Lips
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Paul Kelly 2. Gareth Liddiard 3. Weddings, Parties, Anything 4. Smudge 5. Giants Of Science
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. Wake And Bake, 4ZZZ 2. Moloch Horridus, 4ZZZ 3. ABC Grandstand, 612ABC
BEST TV SHOW 1. South Park
2. Eastbound And Down 3. Treme 4. The Simpsons 5. That Mitchell & Webb Look
BEST MOVIE 1. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 2. Kick-Ass 3. Zombieland 4. SixFtHick: Notes From The Underground 5. Robin Hood
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Saintsational 2. Herald Sun 3. CricInfo 4. Red Meat 5. Pitchfork
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Oprah. Just make it stop.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Saw Pavement 11 times in six countries. Many from side of stage. Saw Built To Spill in three countries. Wilco and Calexico three times, Guided By Voices twice, JTE twice, Blitzen Trapper twice, Superchunk, Harlem, Residents, FOTL, Mission Of Burma, Chavez, Leonard Cohen, The Decemberists, Sonic Youth, Black Lips, King Kahn, Grant Hart, The Weakerthans and so many more great bands. Ten festivals. Caught heaps of great Oz acts, plus a slew of fine Brisbane releases making 2010 a memorable year for music.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “It’s going good man, there’s been a few minor complications. I’m actually not supposed to talk about it according to my legal counsel, but as soon as I get the criminal case over with I’ll tell you all about the fucking cocksuckers.” Justin Townes Earle not discussing his recent legal dilemmas.
2010 TIM GROENENDYK
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Brothers THE BLACK KEYS 2. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN 3. Tomorrow Morning EELS 4. The Chaos THE FUTUREHEADS 5. Heligoland MASSIVE ATTACK 6. The Courage Of Others MIDLAKE 7. One-Armed Bandit JAGA JAZZIST 8. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 9. Interpol INTERPOL 10. Total Life Forever FOALS
BEST SONG 1. Run Overdrive CIVIL CIVIC 2. She’s So Hard THE JEZABELS 3. Gold Canary CLOUD CONTROL 4. Bombay EL GUINCHO 5. Tighten Up THE BLACK KEYS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. CW Stoneking 2. El Guincho 3. The Jezabels 4. Cloud Control 5. Gay Paris
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Clutch 2. Metallica 3. Biffy Clyro 4. Muse 5. Jeff Martin
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. CW Stoneking 2. Snowdroppers 3. The Beards 4. Gay Paris 5. Philadelphia Grand Jury
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Science With Doctor Karl, TRIPLE J 2. Creative Screenwriting Q&As with Jeff Goldsmith, CREATIVE SCREENWRITING PODCAST 3. Skeptoid, SKEPTOID WITH BRIAN DUNNING
BEST TV SHOW 1. Mad Men 2. Breaking Bad 3. Misfits 4. The Walking Dead 5. Sherlock
BEST MOVIE 1. Animal Kingdom 2. The Disappearance Of Alice Creed 3. Inception 4. The Other Guys 5. Splice
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Cracked 2. Snopes 3. Skeptoid 4. Facebook 5. Quackwatch
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Oprah Winfrey – has no one in Australia seen a celebrity before?
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Julian Assange and his Terrorist Website of Terrorism, Wikileaks
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Hide your kids, hide your wife and hide your husband ‘cuz they’re rapin’ errbody out here.” – Antoine Dodson
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR The uncensored ramblings of countless celebrities and politicians via Twitter.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Wikileaks, The Musical.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Sports people unable to comprehend the pitfalls of social media. Monaghan, Warney, Stephanie Rice, etc etc.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Every year I predict that Pavement will reform and St Kilda will win the flag – how fucking close was I this year? Goddamn it… This year I’m going for something completely different – Archers Of Loaf will reform and St Kilda will win the flag. Bring it on!
twitter.com/drummedia
THE BLACK KEYS
TWELVE MONTHS ON A
LEAKY PLANET 2010 – THE YEAR IN REVIEW. OBSERVATIONS BY MICHAEL SMITH.
T
he planet seemed to shiver in its skin for most of the year, manifesting in earthquakes here, volcanic activity there. Meanwhile the air above was either more abundant in its gift of water than ever or more grudging, letting the earth below bake like never before. As CBS News on 20 December succinctly put it, “This was the year the Earth struck back”. If the sky wasn’t leaking, then the Earth was and as the governments of George Dubya’s former Coalition of the Willing also discovered, the internet was also leaking some of their more important secrets. Life on Earth in 2010 – 12 months in a leaky planet indeed!
data the floods directly affected about 20 million people, mostly by destruction of property, livelihood and infrastructure, with a death toll of close to 2,000, while more than 18 million people, including eight million children, have been affected. China had also experienced devastating floods in Sichuan province, some parts of which saw the heaviest flooding in more than 150 years. As we went into December, there was major flooding right across NSW, Atlanta in the US, Venezuela and Colombia in South America and forest fires in the north of Israel, which was experiencing its longest drought in nearly 60 years.
Where 2009 had finished with the world all too aware that, once again, with the failure to reach any meaningful agreement at the climate talks in Copenhagen, nothing was going to happen regards stemming our carbon emissions while climate change sceptics were gleefully looking for any flaws in the research that might justify their position and undermine any moves towards the ratification of a limit on carbon emissions. So the planet decided, if you’ll forgive the obvious anthropomorphising as simple poetic license, to kick this new year off by doing some serious shaking. It first shattered the capital of Port-au-Prince and surrounds in Haiti Tuesday 12 January – killing an estimated 230,000 people and leaving at least a million homeless – then pretty much everywhere between Santiago to well south of Chile’s second largest city, Concepcion, on Saturday 27 February, with the death toll this time thankfully much lower at nearly a thousand. The Chilean quake was preceded just hours before by another off Okinawa island of southern Japan.
Then there was the activity from beneath the Earth’s surface making itself felt. After Haiti and Chile, Turkey, China and Indonesia experienced significant earthquake activity, so did Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, which in September copped a magnitude 7.2 quake followed by hundreds of aftershocks. Luckily, no one in the city of around 372,000 was killed. And if the ground wasn’t shaking, then the skies over some places was being filled with volcanic ash as, first, Iceland’s Mt. Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in April, its clouds of ash blowing east for thousands of miles and disrupting air services across Europe for days and costing already struggling airline companies millions, and then Mount Merapi in Java, Indonesia, in October, which similarly caused disruptions to flights within the South-East Asian region.
Meanwhile disastrous floods in southern Queensland and northern NSW during one of the wettest Februarys on record were matched by disastrous flooding through southern Queensland over the first weekend of March. That followed the period between June last year and February this year having been the hottest in Australia on record. By June, the global temperature this year had reached its warmest on record based on a 12-month rolling average, according to James Hansen, the top climate change scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). While it certainly didn’t feel like it in our patch, with Sydney experiencing one of its longest periods of cold, wet weather in decades, in the northern hemisphere, July was the second-hottest on record. Britain, having suffered its coldest January in 23 years and the ninth coldest in the past 100 years, was, at time of going to press, in the grip of another crippling winter of sub-zero temperatures, as was much of Europe, with huge snowfalls causing massive disruptions to air, rail and road traffic. In September and October, California was experiencing a record-breaking heatwave, while in central Russia there were huge forest fires. Earlier in the year, in late July, Moscow hit 38.2 degrees [100 degrees Fahrenheit], not once but five times, a temperature the Russian capital had not seen since records began being kept 130 years ago. In all, some 18 countries experienced new records for high temperatures. American meteorologist Jeff Masters, speaking on the 17 December edition of US Public Radio program Living On Earth, pointed out that “we’ve never seen 20 percent of the earth’s surface experience their all-time record high in one year… In Pakistan they hit 128 and a half degrees Fahrenheit, which is the hottest ever recorded in Asia.” Ironically, Pakistan also suffered one of the most devastating floods in living memory, which saw roughly a fifth of the country underwater. According to Pakistani government
Altogether, it’s estimated that this year saw natural disasters kill at least a quarter million people worldwide, which is, according to one news service, more than have died in terrorist attacks in the past 40 years. And if all that wasn’t all bad enough, we humans then helped things along with a few manmade environmental leaks, the messiest being the Gulf Coast Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill disaster, which saw an estimated 100,000 gallons of oil spew into the Gulf of Mexico from the ocean floor every day for three months while BP attempted to cap the wellhead exposed after an explosion on an oilrig in April, which killed 11 workers. The result was the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the industry, affecting hundreds of miles of beaches, wetlands and Louisiana coastline, killing an untold number of animals, birds and fish. Meanwhile, as we dug into the planet, mines collapsed – in West Virginia in April, killing at least 29, the worst mine disaster in the US in decades; in Chile in August, where 33 men miraculously survived for 69 days before being rescued, and soon after at Greymouth in New Zealand, where three successive explosions ensured the 29 miners trapped by an initial explosion would not survive. For the leaders of both Australia’s and the UK’s Labor governments – Kevin Rudd and Gordon Brown respectively – the sky must have seemed to be falling in, though for the latter, he had to wait for an election, while for the former, the trouble came from within. In June, political commentator David Marr had analysed what at the time seemed the unimpeachable rise and rise of Rudd in his Quarterly Essay, Power Trip: The Political Journey Of Kevin Rudd, in which we learned that the failure of the Copenhagen talks on climate change fell squarely on China, or, as Rudd himself apparently put it, “Those Chinese fuckers are trying to rat-fuck us”. (Note that these less than diplomatic observations predate any perceived as potentially damaging to Australian-Chinese relations revealed by WikiLeaks, yet no mention of handing Marr over to Chinese authorities has been made!) The essay revealed a side to Rudd of which the average Australian was
blissfully unaware and perhaps a side that wouldn’t really have mattered had he not so publicly backed down on one of the major planks on which his government had been elected. As Marr noted, “In April this year when he abandoned his emissions trading scheme until the further reaches of a second term, the people and the polls turned on him savagely.” When Marr wrote that, he had no idea just how savagely things would turn out. Those surrounding him in the cabinet were also paying attention to those polls and the act Marr imagined unthinkable, that the Prime Minister, “essentially friendless in the party” because he led no faction, a real loner, would find himself “ripe for decapitation by Julia Gillard even before the looming election” became a reality. George Megalogenis, in the December issue of Quarterly Essay: Trivial Pursuit, made the telling point that, “Rudd had rejected the advice to call an early double dissolution election on climate change. If there was moment in history when a leader allowed himself to be bluffed by an opinion poll when he was in front, this was it.” With the polls suggesting that Labor under Rudd would lose that imminent election, on June 24, Julia Gillard became Australia’s first female Prime Minister and within two months an election was called that saw the country spend two weeks observing the intense lobbying for the votes of four independent members that would decide which way a hung parliament would fall. Gillard got in by a whisker, overseeing a parliament that saw the first ever Greens MP, Adam Bandt, elected. The polls continue to drive the decision-makers in government rather than the other way around. Britain too found itself in the no man’s land of a hung parliament before a deal was brokered and the Conservative David Cameron became the new Prime Minister. Whether or not Cameron, like Gillard, had to endure leaks from within his own party that might potentially undermine his election chances is a moot point. The leaks just before the Australian elections concerning Gillard’s position on various sensitive subjects in ostensibly secret Cabinet talks, emanating, as it happens, from Rudd’s department, were certainly damaging in terms of attempting to establish a unified face of Labor solidarity, but her own wooden performance on the campaign trail certainly didn’t help. Unlike opposition leader Tony Abbott however, at least her campaign wasn’t based entirely on the evils of the Opposition. Leaks of a far bigger kind of course came to dominate the international political arena for much of the final few weeks of the year. For all the furore surrounding Julian Assange however, there hasn’t been much noise this side of the planet about the young army private who passed him much of the classified material that has been posted on WikiLeaks, Bradley Manning, that has brought about that furore. It’s not as if what Assange has been posting about US and Australian involvement in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are any more damaging than those he posted about the treatment of internees in Guantanamo Bay or toxic waste dumping in Africa. At least Assange has barrister Geoffrey Robertson and journalist John Pilger on his side, ready to prepare a legal counter offensive if it all ends up reaching the US Supreme Court. Nice to see that America’s own professional ratbag Michael Moore chipped in $20,000 towards the $380,000 needed to post Assange bail, though at the time this went to press, while he might appear to be living very comfortably in the 18th Century Ellingham Hall in Suffolk, Assange remains under virtual house arrest, electronically tagged and must report to the local nick every day while he awaits extradition to Sweden to face allegations of rape
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and sexual misconduct. With that is the very real risk of being then taken to the US to face potential treason charges that, by law, as an Australian citizen, are invalid. Of course, David Hicks knows all about how the US understands the concept of treason among foreign nationals. And lest we forget that the Chinese continue to vilify this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xiaobo, with the dissident continuing to languish in prison on trumped up charges. A literary critic, writer, professor and human rights activist, Xiaobo had the temerity to call for political reform in China and has been jailed for 11 years on suspicion of inciting subversion because he’s an author of and signatory to what’s known as the Charter 08 manifesto calling for the adoption of that radical old beast, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He’d already spent a decade in and out of detention for calling for multi-party elections and suggesting that the Chinese Army murdered countless innocent students in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Back on the Assange case, isn’t it interesting that while the US seems hell-bent on charging him with treason, no such threats have been made with regards to the publication of much of those WikiLeaked documents by The New York Times, The Guardian in the UK or The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian, let alone the multitude of television news outlets and other mainstream print media around the world, who could all be said to be colluding with WikiLeaks after the fact. The hypocrisy of the US in, on the one hand, condemning China for its attempt to gag Google in order to prevent its citizens learning about things that might not put “The Party” in a favourable light while, on the other hand, itself hysterically condemning WikiLeaks is all too clear. I’m sure George Dubya would love to have used some variation of the Patriot Act to imprison the subversive journalists that first exposed the horrors inflicted on Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib, while Richard Nixon could never have imagined he could bring this sort of suppression of the freedom of the press to report the truth to bear when Woodward and Bernstein uncovered what he’d ordered his henchmen to do in what became the Watergate Scandal – an act that ultimately saw him impeached. Back in Australia, the national fallout from the Federal election ensured Victorian Labor Premier John Brumby would lose his state’s elections far more decisively, though the pundits expected the Greens to fare far better than they did. Meanwhile, NSW is looking at a change of government in March 2011 and sadly, it’ll all be NSW state Labor’s fault. With the departure or decision not to contest the election by so many Labor members, Premier Kristina Keneally, if she were allowed, could finally present the electorate with a new, youthful, revitalised team that owes nothing to the leaky, sinking ship she inherited when departing NSW Labor power broker Joe Tripodi tipped her into the Premiership. The reality of course will see Labor lose NSW by a devastating margin. But that’s all getting ahead of myself. Let’s hope whoever takes over the Arts portfolio from Virginia Judge has a similar vivacity and determination to implement whatever is needed to make NSW the live music entertainment capital it once was. Well, we can dream can’t we? On the plus side, this year saw a species of frog – the yellow-spotted bell frog to be exact – thought to have been extinct for more than 30 years, rediscovered messing about in waterways in the NSW Southern Tablelands. Always finish things with the feelgood news item! THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 47 •
METAL AND HARD ROCK WITH CHRIS MARIC - 2010 IN REVIEW It’s been a long LONG year, but one with many goals kicked for everyone involved. Thanks for all the feedback I’ve received for the column over the past few months. Hopefully you continue to enjoy my ramblings and attempted humour for some time yet. So, here it is, my best of/year in review. 2010 was the year of the gig overload. I don’t even think I can recall every show I went to, but the fact we will see Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Iron Maiden all within six months in this country is a pretty impressive thing. Gig Of The Year was about to be awarded to Metallica since the two shows I caught in September and November were brilliant, although like mentioned previously, I do miss the ‘Fuck yeah’ Jaymz who has been replaced by the ‘We really appreciate you’ James and Rob has nothing on Jason when it comes to stage presence. But musically you can’t fault them, especially when you compare them to the sloppy as hell tour of 2004. No, my gig of the year was U2 just a few weeks ago. It’s been 21 years since Bono and I were in the same room and I was just floored. Sure, the larger than life stage show was a spectacle and is probably second only to Pink Floyd in terms of ooh aah wow factor, but musically, U2 transcend everything. The Edge is a seriously underrated guitar player and the intro to Where The Streets Have No Name has always given me goosebumps and sounded epic when powered by over one million watts. If I had to do a top ten gig list, the others that would round it out would be: Behemoth – who have the most convincing stage show I’ve ever seen and the best sound I’ve heard at the Metro; Stryper – hadn’t had much exposure to the band before this, but musically it was razor sharp and the second best sound I’ve heard at the Metro. Proof God and the Devil BOTH have the best tunes; Meshuggah – my good mates from Sweden pulled off what they said was the hottest gig they’ve ever played at Soundwave and standing side of stage, I can confirm it was boiling up there; Soilwork – my other mates from Sweden. Comeback album of the year delivers a killer gig to boot; Testament – it’s all about Paul Bostaph, but Chuck Billy is the most effortless thrash singer of them all; Devin Townsend – for such a busy year, I almost forgot Dev was here! The man can do no wrong; Overkill – to pull off what they did sans a guitarist is remarkable. To close your eyes and not be able to tell is even more impressive; Slash – at the MTV Launch in Melbourne, half of G’N’R set in a room with 400 people? What else is there to say about that?;
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done since Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith came back home, but it’s Maiden, so how can it suck? Bullet For My Valentine – Fever Seeing them grow over the years, they now look like Metallica circa Ozzy/Puppets tour, even down to the way Matt Tuck holds his guitar. Why this band cops so much flack for being nothing but straight up heavy metal is anyone’s guess. Double kick, clean singing, melodic riffs in E tuning – sounds like metal to me. Black Label Society – Order Of The Black Zakk Wylde has got more stellar riffs on this one record than on the last three albums combined. A lot less filler on here than in previous efforts and with Stillborn, Funeral Bell and Suicide Messiah being my top three BLS songs of all time, they are now rounded out to a top five with Godspeed Hellbound and Overlord. Ozzy needs Zakk more than Zakk needs Ozzy.
METALLICA Melody Black – debut gig at The Sando. Never seen bass player Leeno have as much fun on the stage ever. We lost a lot of important people this year too: Dio – will never forget meeting him on the Heaven & Hell tour. A true gentleman; Steve Lee – if Gotthard were from the US and called Nickelback maybe the masses would know how good this band and this man was; Pete Steele – came as a total shock. Type O Negative’s Christian Woman and Black No. 1 are all time faves; Malcolm McLaren – the door is slowly closing on the old guard and it feels like it’s closing on the last great era too; Paul Gray – I’ve met countless musicians over the years, but when you hear someone you’ve met has passed, it feels very different to just hearing about a guy in a band dying.
guitar tones from In Flames and co wrote songs with Pink, it would sound like this. Sadly it’s too rock for the metal crowd and too metal for the powers at rock radio, so it fell into no man’s land and did absolutely nothing, which is criminal. Avantasia – Wicked Symphony Like Use Your Illusion and the Loads, the second album of this double is the stronger. One brilliant album could’ve been compiled, alas it wasn’t. Vocalist Toby Sammet achieved his November Rain moment with Runaway Train though. Brilliant in its epicness and self indulgence.
Okay, to the albums. So many releases to choose from, BUT a scroll through my iTunes revealed I spent more time with the below ten than any others:
Soilwork – The Panic Broadcast I remember getting the advance promo of this and almost fell off my chair 20 seconds into the first song. It never let up the whole time either. Never heard a bounce back album as strong as this in years. Welcome back Pete!
All Ends – A Road To Depression Sensational from start to finish. If Pat Benatar stole the
Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier Still reckon Brave New World is the best work they’ve
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Cradle Of Filth – Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa There were big doubts about this one and then I heard it. Dani Filth has made an album that can stand alongside Dusk And Her Embrace with ease. Awesome. Kvelertak – Kvelertak If I was 18 and still going to house demolition parties, this would be what’s on the cassette player. Watain – Lawless Darkness It’s like a black metal Master Of Puppets, not just a straight up blast fest with two riffs like so many BM albums. It has great song passages and intricacies that keep revealing themselves after every listen. Overkill – Ironbound No one has a bass and drum signature sound like these guys and I love one review by a clueless kid who wrote, “What’s with the first song that goes for eight minutes? I mean the singer doesn’t even start until two minutes in”. Yeah, it’s called an intro, dickhead. Bands used to write them all the time before people got too impatient for things to start instantly! So here’s to 2011; may it kick arse for everyone. There are too many things to look forward to, but the main one is obviously Maiden! Have a great new year.
PUNK AND HARDCORE WITH SARAH PETCHELL - 2010 IN REVIEW 2010 has been an excellent year when it comes to the punk and hardcore parts of my life. There have been more shows than ever and scoring this little gig in the closing minutes of the game has definitely been one of the highlights. It’s been a great time, but when it comes to pinpointing defining moments, it becomes a bit difficult. But let’s see how we go…
say is that the future of punk and hardcore in Australia is in safe hands! Collective hug now please.
SADDEST BAND BREAKUPS This year totally sucked for band breakups. It saw the likes of Ruiner, Lewd Acts, Crime In Stereo, These Arms Are Snakes and locals Dropsaw announcing that they would no longer be making music together. Then there was the inevitable “indefinite hiatus” announcements, most notably Poison The Well. There is an epic sad face right there! In the case of The Banner, the band spent the year producing more merch and working on a final album, so it will be interesting to see if they are actually breaking up.
BEST RELEASES The best album that got released this year was the Robotosaurus/Coerce Split LP that came out mid-2010 and having talked to the bands in various interviews has cemented this. These two Adelaide bands are among the best bands doing the rounds in Australia at the moment and I stand by that. Since day one, Robotosaurus’ brand of schizophrenic hardcore and noise has impressed every audience they lay it upon. And as for Coerce – man, in a scene where the cookie-cutter approach to music is latent (that’s not necessarily a diss either), Coerce are writing some of the most original, angry and intense music I’ve ever heard. This split is the perfect representation of this and the thing to like most about it is that both bands are taking their sounds in slightly different directions. If this is the direction they’re moving in, then I can’t wait for new, individual full-lengths. Other standout albums this year were Trash Talk’s Eyes & Nines and Ceremony’s Rohnert Park. Eyes & Nines is fast, fun, angry and full of so much groove that makes this band one of the must-sees on next year’s Soundwave line-up. As for Ceremony, everything about this album is an indictment of modern-suburban America and this is definitely appreciated. In parts it’s fast (Sick) and in parts it’s slow (The Doldrums). Then there are the parts that blow your mind, like the opening track Into The Wayside Part I. My list gets rounded out by The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Option Paralysis, Kvelertak’s self-titled debut (where did these guys come from all of a sudden… more on that later!) and Interpol’s self-titled fourth (but that doesn’t really have a place in a punk column, does it…).
BEST GIGS To start off with – Parkway Drive at the Hordern Pavilion back in September. WHOA! Okay, so it wasn’t
NEW BANDS There are two standout bands that are going to get a mention here – internationally, Kvelertak, and locally, I Exist. In the case of I Exist, don’t know how they’ve done it, but they’ve managed to merge everything I love about heavy music (hardcore, doom, sludge, metal, etc) into a sound that is as much about head-banging as it is about having fun. These guys are not taking themselves too seriously and yet had kids moshing to a Sleep cover at Hardcore. Can’t wait to see where their musical escapades takes them next.
COERCE the best gig, but it was the most impressive. It was surreal seeing a band I had seen playing youth centres to maybe a hundred kids five years ago, now playing to a writhing crowd of 6,000 people at the Hordern. The most impressive thing was that they owned the venue and they owned that crowd. And I’m still a bit taken aback by it all. To top it off, two of my favourite bands also toured this year, Converge and The Dillinger Escape Plan, so they’re obviously going to make the list. Both bands have yet to disappoint, but being that prolific means you become masters of your art. Converge especially, even though it was only their second time here, I’ve never been more excited to see a band in my life. They’re accomplished musicians, amazing performers and Jacob
Bannon is one of the best frontmen this side of Greg Puciato. Speaking of Greg Puciato, this year’s performance was a little more subdued than in previous years (like the mayhem wrought at UNSW Roundhouse a couple of years ago…) but irrespective of this, Dillinger are ridiculous! They’re a tight, perfect unit that play with such precision and yet such abandonment, it’s hard not to get caught up in it all. As for local shows, there were a few reunion shows, including Jungle Fever and The Dead Walk (The Dead Walk actually played two or three…). The best thing about these local gigs is checking out a lot of the young talent supporting some of these bigger acts and all I can
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As for Kvelertak, these guys produced possibly the most talked about debut in 2010. A little birdy tells me that they’re in talks to do a run of shows out here in 2011 and if their live show is anything like their music then I’m so psyched! The biggest test for them will be album number two. With a debut as ridiculous as it is, it will be interesting to see how exactly they follow it up. Will it be as strong or stronger? Or will it fall down? Let’s hope it’s the former. So that was my 2010 in punk and hardcore as it stands. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a billion things – off the top off my head Hardcore 2010 should have gotten more of a mention (MINDSNARE!) – but that’s the way these things work. You write them and then spend the next week thinking, “I should have included that, dammit!” Hopefully 2011 will be as solid as this year, but from the way things are shaping up I’m sure it will be even better! wakethedead@drummedia.com.au
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 49 •
HIP HOP WITH VIKTOR KRUM I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t been a tumultuous year for the all ages scene. There’s been some good points, some bad points and more worrying points than we’d care for. The scene is almost like a luxury, if things get tight it’s the first thing to go and considering that the music scene as a whole has been under a squeeze this year we’ve certainly felt the ripple effect.
What a funny year it’s been. Why, in January if someone said to you, “An album will come out this year called My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” you would have told that person that you weren’t interested in eyeliner-heavy pop punk marketed to 13-year-old girls. You would have said that, accounting for individual taste aside, an album with such an execrable title was unlikely to be one that would have an impact on your year. How could anyone use the words without a snicker? A giggle? Right?! Well... garbage title aside, MBDTF changed 2010. Kanye West is back on top with another “horrible guy but magnificent musician” performance. Potential songs of the year just went bang! bang! bang! as we listened. Remember the first time you heard the “DJs need to listen to the models” Serrato line? Incredible. The first time you heard the plinky piano on Runaway? Transcendent. Chris Rock’s unnecessary, ridiculous skit? Somehow perfect. It’s perhaps the most complete album I’ve heard. If you’re so hype averse that a faint whiff of popularity is enough to ruin even the most amazing experience for you, then you’re advised to stay away. For everyone else, I hope Santa checked Nerdfork’s review before he went shopping for your gift this year. Locally, it was an interesting year if a little uneventful. The highlight was probably the birth of the Big Village label with its exciting, varied stable of artists and its work hard, party hard attitude. It’s on track to put Tuka in the spotlight his talent demands and any label that gets P Smurf in our faces deserves our gratitude. Thanks, BV! The Tongue gave us the album he promised us in 2006. It was as if we went straight from his debut EP Bad Education to his second album Alternative Energy. And, of course, this was the year of Joyride. He was everywhere this year – rapping on M-Phazes’ beats, singing on albums put out by artists on the Gold Coast, smooching that cute girl that lives up the street from you – everywhere. Nicki Minaj! She was to be our great hope; a female rapper who was not A Female Rapper. Remember her dropping a hook on that so-so Lil Wayne album? Remember when you started following her on Twitter? Good times. Good enough to suggest that more might be more just around the corner. It was not to be. Pink Friday was a snooze, the sole bright light being the saccharine sweet believe-in-your-dreams banger Last
ALL AGES WITH SCOTT FITZSIMONS
KANYE WEST Chance and even there Minaj was outshone by Natasha Bedingfield of These Words fame. Minaj was supposed to transcend everything. What with her intricate flow, varied delivery and magnificent bottom it should have all been so easy. It wasn’t. Somehow frustrated expectations tend to jar a little more than unsurprising stumbles. With Minaj’s failure we missed a cultural opportunity; she was meant to be a pop figure we could engage with in a new way. She turned out to be a so-so rapper with some cool friends and a lot of wigs. Jeeeez. Free downloads. How many did you download? There were so many floating around this year. Some came from newcomers who established themselves instantly (hello Loose Change). Some came from established acts with little to prove (hello Horrorshow and Spit Syndicate). There were free albums, free mixtapes, free EPs, online singles, iTunes a cappellas; you name it, it was downloadable – free and legally. Where did it leave us? Well, there was a glut of good stuff. How could your mate’s song get heard when there were thousands of other excellent free releases around? That’s not really the issue: cream rises to the top no matter the obstacle. Our main problem was how best to narrow the search for new stuff. Exhausting! Australia; Sydney – you made so much good free rap music this year. Well done. And thank you.
Liquor licensing laws are becoming more and more of a problem for venues looking to hold all age gigs. It’s getting to the point where small to medium sized venues are having to make all age shows alcohol free, which cuts out a large (a large) portion of their revenue from their show – even if the profit margin on lemonade is greater than that of beer. “You end up charging too high a price and it doesn’t encourage bands to do the kids shows,” Dan Rule, co-owner of the Annandale Hotel told Young & Restless earlier this year. “I’d love to have kids shows here every week… [but] I can only run them during the day, I could never run them at night [instead of over 18 shows].” The venue has been one of the last remaining established live music designations to host all age shows, but they’re understandably becoming sparser. The legislation is there to ensure there’s no underage drinking, but it makes it incredibly hard for venues. It hasn’t helped that council’s haven’t been particularly supportive. Castle Hill’s Hype Central was shut down after a Mourning Tide show was stopped half way through, venue booker Michael Tavender told that the council were “reviewing” their policy on the music genre Hype showcased. “I’m starting to find that there’s all the underlying things where certain members [of a council] don’t like certain demographics of kids so they don’t like to be seen putting money into that, that’s where a lot of it comes from.” After searching for a new venue for a while, Tavender expects to be hosting shows at a new Castle Hill venue early next year.
We moved onto other topics as the evening turned to night and the beer garden filled up around us and decided to stay as long as we liked. That’s when we were approached by a man who introduced himself as Gary and asked if he could sit down. He was in his mid-40s – at a guess – and was holding a wine glass in each hand and quickly launched, in stuttered, disjointed sentences, into why he was there. He was living in a house his mother had organised for him, he said and had come to • 50 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
graduates (even if recent actions of theirs have come under fire) while the mantle may be under threat considering Tonight Alive’s rocket-like rise. They’re currently in American recording with Mark Trombino after signing a big deal with Sony that has seen the Paramore-comparisons and general hype leave our shores and take on an international voice. There’s plenty of young and emerging bands that are proving to be quite exciting around Drum’s catchment and the whole nation, too many to list here. Get down to your local venue for a show, band competition, whatever to discover them, because at the end of the day that’s what will make this scene thrive. You.
See you in 2011, team! It’ll be a great one. Promise.
Similarly, there are positives from the year past and hope for the one ahead. The Lucky Australia Tavern has been a solid supporter throughout (even if the licensing laws are creeping in), as have venues like The Wall, Oasis Youth Centre, Loft Youth Venue, The Fitz among others. Even the Museum Of Contemporary Art has provided a few places to watch music and indulge in art with their Generationext nights.
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Short Stack continued to be the scene’s most successful
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TALES FROM THE BIG APPLE WITH TOM HAWKING As I write this, I am seated unobtrusively in the corner at a photo shoot for three prominent theatre types (who must sadly remain nameless). There are at least 25 people involved in this shoot, six of whom are currently deep in intense debate about which of two apparently identical pairs of black boots should be worn by one of the actors being photographed. Everyone else is either offering opinions, texting furiously on Blackberries, or generally milling about looking concerned as I sit in the corner, wonder what on Earth I’m doing here and try not to giggle.
We’d moved from the front bar into the beer garden after a silent mutual recognition that neither of us were intending to make an excuse for an escape. It had been some years and, even though we weren’t testing the existence of our friendship, we were making tentative moves as if we’d both conceded there had to be a trial period after that long apart – a pot to begin with, then, if something real could be latched onto in that time, a pint. We were onto our second and so a relocation to somewhere more permanent had been called for.
It could probably all have then easily turned to condolences and a miserable relaying of facts, although, in my experience, that isn’t really how these things tend to go. Instead, we laughed and dug deeper into the horrifically comedic awkwardness of past months: the date that had ended in a silent drop-off; the sickness and fleeing that had accompanied a scheduled public reading or gig; the accumulation of blame for a scenario-gone-wrong that couldn’t be explained. Or, not that it couldn’t, just that it couldn’t. Basically, the sheer stupidity of it all and perhaps the relief that we were able to again realise we weren’t alone.
TONIGHT ALIVE
The talent will always be there, there’ll always be the musicians going around and Australia is renowned for creating some brilliant ones but for those people to develop they need the spaces, too. And if strong numbers show up to shows regularly, there’s only going to be one way that the decision makers act – in our favour. That said, don’t be afraid to take the initiative and put on your own shows. There’s plenty of help out there for that sort of thing – start at Indent, they’re great. Most of all, let’s make 2011 a year to remember.
POP CULTURE THERAPY WITH ADAM CURLEY
Still, as we talked about jobs and women and men and the series of fallen mutual friendships, there were jittery gestures from both sides of the table. A lighter was rotated, cigarettes rolled and smoked in a loop, beer glasses stacked and offers of rounds before the last had been finished. Then, hunched over the table, with the glass tower growing, we caught each other and the conversation turned to what the speedy natter of jobs and women and men and fallen friendships had been hinting at. It had been a tough year so far and the painful restlessness – the same from way back – had returned. I’d run away for a bit, back to my childhood home, I explained. He’d just started therapy again, he said and was fighting with his mother about why she hadn’t recognised his need for it sooner.
SHORT STACK
It has, it’s fair to say, been a strange old year.
be around people and see some live music. “I get very restless at home,” he explained. “Sometimes I just need to be in a crowd and see a band to calm down.” We tried to fill Gary in on our conversation, but he couldn’t concentrate long enough to follow. “Are you sure you don’t mind me sitting here?” he kept asking. “I just get very restless.” We changed tack and asked him questions about himself. He’d been a professor, he said, before he had to go to hospital. Now he gets restless, he added for the eighth time, but music helps. “Are you sure you don’t mind me sitting here? I can go if you want.” Eventually we all moved into the band room, where Gary ordered two more wines and settled into the corner. We watched for a song or two then slipped out the side door into the street. The night had been long enough and we were out of money. We didn’t say goodbye to Gary; the potential for repeated agonising was too much to bear. We said our own goodbyes, though and I walked off in the direction of the floor I’d be sleeping on, past more doorways lending glimpses of people watching bands or propping up bars; each person there for their own reason, but everyone there together. Before he’d gone, my friend had elbowed towards Gary’s hidden being and said, “God, I hope I don’t end up like that.” Through the doorways, though, it was easy to see that we already were. We all were. And thank the gods for the music. breakdown@drummedia.com.au
NY Conversation came to be in April, when your correspondent upped and moved to the Big Apple. The eight months since have been a non-stop Craigslist subletting tour of NYC and in a rare case of life living up to expectations, the city has been everything it’s been made out to be: inspiring, exhausting, fascinating, bewildering and frequently hilarious. Nowhere else do you head along to an art opening for the free booze and find yourself standing next to Steve Buscemi. Or sit next to a skinny junkie-looking girl on the A train and hear her proclaiming loudly to her friend that she has to put her titties on the internet to pay the rent. Or shoot the freak with a paintball gun. Or get chased through Williamsburg at 3am by angry Hasidic Jews. Or meet Carlos Santana at Trump Towers. Life is never, ever, dull. If you step out of the mad whirl and just observe for a while, though, it becomes apparent that even if there are people in NYC with the budget to pay 20 people to stand around arguing about boots at a photo shoot, the city as a whole remains in a bit of a state. It’s a curious situation: one of the richest cities in the world can’t pay its bills. New York State’s GDP stands at $1.1 trillion (pretty much the exact same amount, coincidentally, as the US’s defence budget for 2011), but St Vincent’s Hospital downtown closed in April because it couldn’t make ends meet and two subway lines were closed in 2010. “In this economy” remains the grammatically questionable catch-all excuse of choice of 2010 (as in “Oh, I don’t normally put my titties on the internet, but in this economy...”). The gap between rich and poor has widened so much that somehow things have come full circle; the rich believe they’re poor and the city seems to be simultaneously both.
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To some extent the city’s conundrum mirrors that of the US as a whole. On a world scale, the US remains a pretty great place to be – high standard of living, pretty cheap, decent job prospects. But there’s still a sense of abiding pessimism and it hasn’t been helped by the way that the Obama presidency (and particularly its healthcare reform bill) has become mired in Congressional shitfighting and legal challenges, resulting in an air of ongoing political rancour. The atmosphere was exemplified by Republican House leader and cunt of astonishing proportions Mitch McConnell’s comments after the November mid-term elections, in which the Democrats got the kicking that’s traditional for the party with a sitting President: “The single most important thing [Republicans] want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president”. Not to, y’know, have any policies of their own, or do anything beyond a campaign of obstruction and obfuscation. Now there’s an ideology for you. It might be drawing too long a bow to draw a direct correlation between the political landscape and the fact that musically, this year’s been all about two genres: chillwave, the curiously nebulous faux-retro genre that’s allegedly encompassed everything from the chilled-out electronic textures of Memory Tapes to the handwaving harmonies of Best Coast, plus the dreadfullynamed witch house, which rose to prominence on the back of the Salem LP and a couple of excellent releases from Tri Angle Records (specifically, EPs by Balam Acab and oOoOO). But then again, maybe not. In some ways, the genres are polar opposites: chillwave summery and wistful, witch house wintery and ominous. But they have plenty in common, which is an emotional sense that’s more about evocative atmospherics than lyrical specificity and a sense of nostalgia for some indefinably simpler time. Is this how the kids are feeling these days? Or is it just transitory hipster angst? These will be questions for 2011 to answer. Meanwhile, the photo shoot is packing up and NY Conversation is preparing to brave to cold outside, where it’s a tropical -8º. It snowed properly last night. Was it really six months ago I was complaining about how hot it was? Until next year.
BLUES AND ROOTS WITH DAN CONDON Well, we’ve made it to the end of another year. Hopefully it’s been a good one for you, but not so good that you haven’t had the need to sit down with the poison of your choice and sink your soul into some quality blues. And what a year it has been for blues and roots music – great shows, great records, sad times, celebrations... So here’s a quick attempt at wrapping up what has happened over the past 52 weeks. Some great records were released this year in the blues and roots vein. Andre Williams, Solomon Burke, Mavis Staples, Gil Scott Heron, Sharon Jones and Buddy Guy all put out really solid records, proving that some of the elder torchbearers still have plenty to offer. The younger talent coming through is obviously very exciting as well. It seems as if blues and roots music is really as popular as it ever has been among young performers, particularly here in Australia, with a new blues act or travelling troubadour revealing themselves just about every week. I mentioned in this column a few months ago how important it is to embrace the youth in blues and roots music, because we do not want this music to die as the veterans of the game pass on. Justin Townes Earle impressed again this year with a tour just prior to the release of his incredible Harlem River Blues set, the incredible Joe Bonamassa blew us away (and he must have had fun as he’ll be back soon) and Aussies like The Wilson Pickers, Ray Beadle and Chase The Sun gave us new records and worked their arses off playing them to different audiences each week. We’ve been blessed by plenty of wonderful big name tours in 2010, most of them here on the back of a festival or two, but often making their way around the country to play sideshows as well. Bluesfest gave us the chance to see greats ranging from Buddy Guy (who delivered his best Australian show of at least the past decade) to Dr John to Peter Green to Galactic to Taj Mahal and so many other great names in between. Jon Cleary didn’t leave us alone, nor did Harry Manx; we got a couple of doses of Lil’ Band O’ Gold and even Todd Rundgren brought his Robert Johnson show out. Then there are the sad parts. We’ve lost a lot of great artists over the past 12 months. The death of Solomon Burke was a massive blow to the blues, soul and rock’n’roll community. His spirit will surely live on, but it’s tragic that we’ll never have a chance to see one of his empowering live shows again. The legendary
SOLOMON BURKE Willie Mitchell produced Burke’s last record Nothing’s Impossible, but passed away before he could see it released. The loss of Alex Chilton was perhaps even more shocking. Obviously he’s well known as one of the genius songwriters in Big Star, but his early career as a teen star in blue eyed soul group The Box Tops ought to be remembered as well. Teddy Pendergrass, Marva Wright, Bobby Childs and Kate McGarrigle, just to name a few, also left us this year. But we look onward to 2011, a year that already looks like it will be even better than this one as far as witnessing international acts goes. The Bluesfest line-up is phenomenal, there are a few massive tours already announced with a couple more to come, reportedly. Sideshows from the Golden Plains festival have also got us very excited and perhaps best of all is the smaller festivals in areas like the Blue Mountains, Mullumbimby, Echuca-Moama and Windsor – to name a very select few – that are bringing blues to regional areas but still keeping it accessible to the city folk. Get excited about blues and roots in 2011, go out and support your local jam nights as well as the international blockbusters and email me if you see or hear something you think I should know about. Thanks for reading this year and, remember; blues is a natural fact. roots@drummedia.com.au
JAZZ/WORLD WITH MICHAEL SMITH April saw the announcement of this year’s winners of the Australian Jazz “Bell” Awards, so named in honour of the late great Graeme Bell, with double bassists and composer Jonathan Zwartz picking up Best Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year and Best Australian Jazz Song of the Year for the track Epic. Linda Oh won Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year, Sam Anning, Allan Browne and Marc Hannaford the Best Australian Classic Jazz Album for Homage, pianist and composer Stu Hunter Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album for The Gathering, Kristin Berardi Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album for If You Were There and trumpeter Bob Barnard was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Then in November, Melbourne brass player Eamon McNelis won the National Jazz Awards at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, with Sydney’s Nick Garbutt coming in third. Meanwhile multi-instrumentalist James Morrison and a cappella quartet The Idea Of North won the ARIA for Best Jazz Album with their collaborative Feels Like Summer album. Among the plethora of fine releases this year were Alive And Kicking from the sax-led Kim Lawson Trio, Fiveways from Melbourne-based pianist and composer Jex Saarelaht, Respiro from now Sydney-based Italian jazz singer Carlotta Centanni, 21st Century Blues from pianist father Dick and eclectic singer daughter Christa Hughes, Beautiful Catastrophe from the Urban Gypsies, Dreamers from The Hipstones, Dreams Of The Middle Class from the four-piece Sidecar led by trombonist John Hibbard, A Quartet For Car Horns And Brakes from The Baker Suite and two albums, Solar and Double Dutch, from veteran alto sax player Bernie McGann and his quartet. Living In Apocalyptic Times was delivered by the Coffin Brothers, Turning Arrows Into Flowers from singer, viola player, electronics manipulator and composer Nadene Pita. Microphones from Mr Percival aka Darren Percival was released, there was also Crab from the sax-led Tim Clarkson Trio, You Tunes from guitarist Tim Rollinson and Matt Keegan Trio Live, from the eponymous saxophonist and composer. Healthy was a collaboration between Brisbane trio Misinterprotato and “new music” group Topology, Odysseys came from Melbourne-based pianist and composer Ben Winkelman, The Red Room from guitarist Tom Ferris, Brasil from Blue Mountainsbased multi-instrumentalist Sean McKenzie and Two from the piano-led Pete McDonald Quintet featuring saxophonist Sandy Evans. Fibonacci’s Seam was delivered by Australian-Czech singer/songwriter AniKiko,
ROCKABILLY/PSYCHOBILLY/ALT.COUNTRY WITH PEDRO MANOY As always, muchas gracias to all the many musicians and promoters that supported this column in 2010 with their regular gig listings, CD samples, comments and news items. It was a great year for live music in Sydney for the disparate collection of genres that find their way into this column – alt country, rockabilly, psychobilly, cajun, zydeco, garage, ska and other rootsy sounds. It was great to see musicians and music fans promoting the music they love, free of commercial restraints, often in a unique variety of venues around town. Let’s begin this wrap up with a reflection on some of the greats who left us in 2010 and then let loose with a cabinet full of those highly coveted Golden Swamp Buggies. R.I.P: Carl Smith (honky tonk singer), Hank Cochran (country songwriter), Phillip Walker (Texas bluesman), Gregory Isaacs (reggae marvel), James Phelps (gospel legend), Little Smokey Smothers (bluesman), Albertina Walker (gospel star). Sugar Minott (reggae), Dale Hawkins (rockabilly legend), Dot Dawson (radio broadcaster) and many more.
GOLDEN SWAMP BUGGIES Best International Tourists: Lil’ Band O’ Gold played two highly memorable Sydney shows at The Basement and The Factory with evergreen Louisiana drummer Warren Storm driving this all incredible star combo. Best Artists: Andy Baylor is Melbourne based but played a number of impeccable shows at the Marrickville Bowlo showcasing his great love of cajun, country, blues and hillbilly sounds. Pugsley Buzzard also set a high standard with a whole series of band and solo shows highlighting his unique and eccentric talent. The Lucky Star “I’ve Been Everywhere Award”: Solo singer Terry Batu has a weekly schedule that takes him all over NSW to towns that I have sometimes never heard of. Is there anywhere he hasn’t been? Best Indie Record Shop: Mojo Music soared to new heights with a whole series of rambunctious instores featuring both local and overseas artists. Great to see the instore is still alive, not to mention a comprehensive selection of rootsy CDs, DVDs and vinyl. Best Radio Show: Geoff Carnell has been presenting
LIL’ BAND O’ GOLD his Americana roots music style show on 2SER-FM for decades and is now heard every Saturday night between 9.30pm and 10.30pm with a great selection of blues, r’n’b, country and rockabilly. Best DJs: Swingin’ Kitten & Limpin’ Jimmy again set the standard with their regular shindig at the Hotel Chambers plus numerous guest spots around town. Their well nurtured website is also a must for retro and rockabilly fans. Best Venues: Lots of great venues programming an excellent and varied selection of music – hats off to the Sandringham (celebrating 30 years), the Marrickville Bowlo, The Funky Deli and The Towradgi Beach Hotel to name just a few. And special mention to all the venues at Windsor that made this historic town the 2010 blues capital of Sydney. Best Festival: The one day Fifties Fair at the Rose Seidler House is not your normal music festival, but it’s a much loved celebration of a bygone decade that lives on in the hearts and snappy dress of the hundreds that make the pilgrimage each year. Best Theme Nights: Both the Black Cherry crew and The Rock’n’Roll & Alternative Markets at Tempe were great concepts and should look forward to continued success in 2010. Prospero Año Nuevo. swampshack@drummedia.com.au
JONATHAN ZWARTZ Woodlands was a collaboration between classical pianist Simon Tedeschi and jazz pianist Kevin Hunt, while Modern Folk was a live album from singer, songwriter and trumpeter Vince Jones, with Live In Dublin from the guitar-led Jeremy Sawkins Jazz Organism. There was also Rejavanation from The Java Quartet, The Mango Balloon from guitarist Julian Curwin, Some Other Spring from Emma Pask, On Patrol With The Jazz Police from singer, composer and trumpeter Elizabeth Geyer and Someone Else’s Child from everybody’s favourite drummer Hamish Stuart. Among the overseas visitors that came to share their vision of jazz with us were the sax-led Jacam Manricks Quartet from New York, Norwegian guitarist Kim Myhr, American jazz/soul diva Barbara Morrison, fellow American, jazz instrumental artist, trumpeter Chris Botti, plus Portuguese-born, New York-based singer and composer Sara Serpa. American alto saxophonist, flautist, composer and founding member of the World Saxophone Quartet Oliver Lake also visited, as did American guitarist Will Ackerman. Other notable visitors included Chicago’s Kurt Elling and fellow Americans The Bad Plus and Warren Vache. Along the way we lost a couple of Australian groundbreakers. Vibraphonist Jack Brokensha, who passed away at the end of November aged 84. You might be surprised to learn he became a quintessential part of the Motown sound, performing on hits by Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the rest, despite having moved to the US as a jazz musician. Enigmatic pianist and composer Serge Ermoll passed away in October aged 67. Overseas, we said goodbye to the divine Lena Horne, who managed to break down a few of the colour barriers that plagued the US. She was 92. blow@drummedia.com.au
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND WITH JAMES MCGALLIARD 2010 was a year marked by enforced inactivity, from environmental factors stopping travel to musicians actively not playing to raise money for charity. A year that began with slacktivism ended with riots on the streets and the threat of water cannons to control them. A temporary immigration cap was ruled as unlawful and the spectre of swine flu appeared, was forgotten about and then returned with the yuletide snows. In the weeks of silent skies brought on by the Icelandic volcano, it seemed British sea power was the only way to get off this island, or get back to it. The flotilla of boats crossing the channel were portrayed as embodying the Dunkirk spirit, but the panic as crammed ferries departed leaving some stranded in France seemed more like the last days of Saigon. The Liberal Democrats seemed to offer a third way, winning many student votes with promises not to introduce tuition fees for tertiary students. When these (and other) election promises evaporated at the first important vote, there was justifiable anger leading to a series of demonstrations and near riots in cities across the country. Austerity was the catchphrase and the preelection word hope was quickly replaced by despair. The recession continued and Royal Mail was offered up for privatisation. The only bright spot seemed to be BBC 6 Music being spared the axe. In music The National reached a greater audience with High Violet, but that R.E.M. style breakthrough eluded them. Archie Bronson Outfit’s Coconut was a remarkable curveball, in many ways achieving what Grinderman’s latest failed to do. Exit Calm’s self-titled debut captured the power of their live shows, while Stephen Jones revived BabyBird and on Ex-Maniac created some of the pithiest pop in years. Peter Gabriel’s covers album may have been uninspiring, but his live orchestral show in the cavernous O2 was a one of the live performances of the year for me, along with shows from Julian Cope at Brighton’s Komedia and Get Well Soon at the Borderline. Although larger venues thrived, some great smaller venues (such as The Luminaire) were lost. On television, Misfits won the BAFTA for best drama, and returned with a strong second series, but Vexed showed writer Howard Overman could also get things badly wrong. Crime drama was everywhere, from The Silence to Luther (a British starring vehicle for Idris
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PETER GABRIEL Elba after The Wire), while Thorne showed Sky could produce drama and Sherlock was over too soon. But best of all was the documentary Wonders Of The Solar System, where former D:Ream keyboard player Professor Brian Cox won huge audiences, by bring physics and astronomy together in a fascinating, involving, understandable yet uncondescending way. While some comedy favourites like The IT Crowd and Peep Show showed signs of wear, it was a great year for newcomers. Getting On returned for its first full series, while Rev and Whites both became definite weekly highlights. Stand-up played a big role, but The Steven K Amos Show was barely watchable, while conversely Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show showed how well a live studio audience can be used. Harry Hill’s TV Burp and Charlie Brooker’s Screen Wipe shows also were essential viewing and I had a soft-spot for Mongrels whose puppets allowed them to get away with jokes living performers never could. 2010 saw a government no one voted for seizing power, the phrase ‘The Troubles in Ireland’ take on new meaning and so called legal highs outlawed. It was the year that the World Cup bid wasn’t won, but where English fans expressed their love of the game by booing their own players. It was the year that The Bill ended its run, a year that wanted to be over so quickly that 2011 coins were already in circulation by December. The future seems to hold huge redundancies, further unrest, an unstable economy and a royal wedding giving those still in employment an extra day’s holiday. Happy new year! THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 51 •
frontrow@timeoff.com.au
FRONT ROW WRITERS POLL RESULTS It’s been an amazing year across the board for arts in Australia, across theatre (August: Osage Country at STC, Malthouse’s The Trial, LaBoite’s Hamlet) to film (Animal Kingdom, Tomorrow When The War Began, Red Hill), and amazing exhibitions (Tim Burton at ACMI, Melbourne, Peggy Guggenheim at Art Gallery of WA, Perth, Annie Leibovitz at MCA, Sydney, and Valentino Retrospective at GoMA, Brisbane). The iPad launched, which brought with it another portable gaming console (its larger screen to the iPhone making it a great port for electronic board games), as well as a means to dive into the endless resources of the internet in new ways. Galleries, such as MoMA in New York, the Venice Biennale, and the Melbourne Museum all have iPad apps that engage with their audience, and are fantastic extensions of the institutions.
RED DEAD REDEMPTION
FRONT ROW WRITERS’ TOP FIVE FILMS: 1. The Social Network 2. Kick-Ass 3. Animal Kingdom 4. Scott Pilgrim vs The World 5. Inception But we have digressed. The annual Front Row writers’ poll has once again provided interesting results. In the film world, David Fincher’s masterpiece The Social Network reined supreme, proving that either Front Row writers spend too much time on Facebook, or – more likely – that the culmination of a masterful director, a tight script from Aaron Sorkin, and incredible performances across the board, but in particularly from Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, resulted in the year’s most compelling film. Meanwhile, the superhero was still alive in 2010, and whilst the likes THE SOCIAL NETWORK of Spider-Man and Batman were nowhere to be seen, and Iron Man 2 failed to capture the zeitgeist in the way that the first film did, two relatively indie titles, Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim vs The World made their mark with reviewers. Shaun Of The Dead/Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright’s first foray into America resulted in the more-than-excellent adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs The World, an explosion of pop culture that in lesser hands would’ve made for a mess, its titular character the slacker’s superhero, whilst the British film Kick-Ass made a name of its Hit-Girl, Chloë Grace Moretz, who also starred in Let Me In, the Englishlanguage remake of Let The Right One In (which topped our writers’ poll last year). Animal Kingdom was the Australian film on everyone’s lips – and rightly so, being one of the bolder local films in memory – and Inception, Christopher Nolan’s intellectual pitstop between Batman films, rounded off the poll.
FRONT ROW WRITERS’ TOP FIVE TV SHOWS: 1. True Blood 2. Doctor Who 3. Breaking Bad 4. Mad Men 5. The Walking Dead
TRUE BLOOD
• 52 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
From the big screen to the small, only one point separated first and second place for best TV show of the year, and a further one point was the only difference between second and third place. But in the end it was that ol’ vampire melodrama True Blood that came out on top, followed by the fifth season of Doctor Who – the first with new Doc, Matt Smith. Whilst TV station HBO has reined supreme in past years with the likes of The Sopranos, The Wire, and True Blood, 2010 was all about the lesserknown AMC, which produced the last three of Front Row’s top five TV shows of the year. Having gone from obscurity to, er, less obscure thanks to the breakout success of Mad Men, it quickly followed that success with teacher-turned-methproducer drama Breaking Bad, and in 2010, the zombie-apocalypse series The Walking Dead, starring British actor Andrew Lincoln (Teachers, Love, Actually).
BACK TO THE FUTURE
ANIMAL KINGDOM
FRONT ROW WRITERS’ TOP FIVE DVDS/BLU-RAYS: 1. Back To The Future Trilogy (Blu-ray box set) 2. Alien Anthology (Blu-ray box set) 3. Doctor Who (various instalments of the fifth season) 4. Kick-Ass 5. Metropolis: Reconstructed And Restored / Toy Story 3 DVD picks were largely nostalgia-driven, as the studios continued their Blu-ray box set releasing of older, seminal films. The Back To The Future trilogy on Blu-ray came out as our writers’ favourite release of the year, while the awesome Alien Anthology Blu-ray box set, featuring all four films and a seemingly endless supply of extras came in a close second. The fifth season of Doctor Who cemented the reputation of our writers as Doctor Who tragics, whilst the UK-only (so far) release of the newly restored Metropolis interestingly made an impact on our writers.
FRONT ROW WRITERS’ TOP FIVE STAND-UP PERFORMANCES: 1. Rhys Darby 2. Bill Bailey / Hannah Gadsby 4. Robin Williams 5. Tripod vs The Dragon On the live stand-up front New Zealand actor and comedian Rhys Darby, best known for his role as Murray the band manager in Flight Of The Conchords, resonated most with writers, whilst old favourite Bill Bailey and local lass Hannah Gadsby tied for second spot. Hollywood superstar Robin Williams came in fourth – although sceptics might be so bold as to suggest this is more to do with who he is rather than what he said – and Tripod vs The Dragon rounded off the top five. Finally, Rockstar Games’ western Red Dead Redemption was by far the standout video game of the year, it transcending the ‘GTA with horses’ expectation most put on it before the release. The abundance of add-on packs within the first six months of the game’s release certainly helped keep the game fresh in our minds. Honourable mention must go to Fable III and Fallout New Vegas.
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2010 WRITERS’ POLL SCOTT
FITZSIMONS
5SPROCKET
TONY
TOP FIVE FILMS
The Axis of Awesome Jimmy James Eaton
F1 2010
Monsters The Human Centipede Zombieland Bran Nue Dai
Fallout: New Vegas
Red Hill
TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES FIFA 11 Red Dead Redemption
TOY STORY 3
NBA 2K11
TOP FIVE FILMS Toy Story 3 The Social Network Beneath Hill 60 Sentimental Engine Slayer Scott Pilgrim vs The World
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS Eastbound And Down Entourage South Park Letters And Numbers Top Gear
TOP FIVE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES Back To The Future Trilogy Band Of Bothers Blu-ray box set South Park: Complete Seventh Season Inception Combo Pack Beneath Hill 60
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES Steve Hughes Dom Irrera Pajama Men Reginald D Hunter Rhys Darby
HELEN
Animal Kingdom Inception Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt 1 A Prophet I’m Still Here
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS The 7.30 Report Doctor Who Caprica True Blood Lowdown
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES Doctor Who: The Cybermen box set Beauty And The Beast Blu-ray Back To The Future Trilogy box set Avatar Blu-ray box set Predator Trilogy (with mask packaging)
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS Hamlet (La Boite) Claire Marshall’s Slowdive Where The Heart Is (Expressions Dance Company) West Side Story Macbeth (Brisbane Festival)
TOP FIVE ART EXHIBITIONS Ron Mueck at GoMA The Ipswich line graffiti Go Font Ur Self at Nine Lives Two Needles One Yarn at Jugglers Art Space
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
True Blood Breaking Bad Mad Men Bored To Death
Art Month Sydney, for trying to blur the divides between the perceived levels of creativity in Sydney.
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
TOP FIVE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Inglourious Basterds Iron Man 2 Joffa The Movie 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Best Goals, Best Saves, Top Players
Discovery of unknown works by Picasso and the resulting dispute of legitimacy and ownership.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “I do hope you’re kidding, looks like shit. What the hell is he doing, printing that from a jpeg? Motherfucker needs to be using tif files, dude. My face looks all computery and fuckin’ pixelated.” - Kenny Powers, Eastbound And Down
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 Finding time to finish Jonathan Franzen’s new book Freedom.
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 Take TV programming away from the commercial stations.
Grace
I’m Still Here Fish Tank Jackass 3D Kick-Ass Toy Story 3
BAZ
MCALISTER
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Campbell Newman authorising an Anthony Lister mural be painted over in clean, white paint simultaneously providing a brand new canvas for aspiring public artists and confirming Brisbane’s reputation as an arts wasteland. Apparently he’s an elected official...
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Franco, just Franco”. James Franco introducing the fictional character of himself on U.S. daytime soap opera General Hospital. Performance art hilarity ensued.
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 James Franco’s imminent return to General Hospital. Performance art has never been more entertaining, relevant, or for that matter, tolerable.
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 Canapes. All exhibition openings are judged by the quality of free food on offer. The stomach, and not the eyes, is the doorway to the soul.
The Goonies Blu-ray (with pirate map) World on a Wire Metropolis: Reconstructed And Restored (Masters of Cinema) Letters from Fontainhas: Three Films By Pedro Costa (Criterion) Che (Criterion)
Dog Squad Pyramid All 4 Kidz
Kick-Ass Four Lions Buried The Disappearance Of Alice Creed Scott Pilgrim vs The World
There’s arts radio?
TOP FIVE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
TOP FIVE FILMS
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
Transforma Ladder infomercial Embarassing Bodies
TOP FIVE FILMS
Douglas Kirkland at GoMA
Ron Mueck at GoMA. Walking amongst giants and midgets so perfectly rendered - every detail, blemish, hair, and freckle accounted for with terrifying accuracy - was an unexpectedly humbling experience.
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
I’M STILL HERE
Ghetto (VCA) At the Sans Hotel (Theatre Works) Little Mercy (Sisters Grimm) The Grönholm Method (Red Stitch) Mommy and the Minister (Sisters Grimm)
The Walking Dead Breaking Bad Caprica Survivors Lost
MITCH
QUOTE OF THE YEAR ‘I love England but so many people want to leave there because it’s overrun with immigrants and refugees.” Pauline Hanson, abandoning her plans to move to England where she would have been, well, an immigrant.
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 The new, as yet untitled, novel from The Secret History author Donna Tartt, only her third in two decades.
KNOX
Sammy J and Randy at Brisbane Comedy Festival
TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES
Robin Williams at BEC
Red Dead Redemption
Des Bishop at Brisbane Comedy Festival
Super Meat Boy Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES
Fable III
Red Dead Redemption
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Fable 3 THE VENTURE BROS.
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL TOP FIVE FILMS
Kick-Ass An Idiot Abroad Frankie Boyle Live 2: If I Could Reach Out Through Your TV And Strangle You I Would Inception Ricky Gervais Live IV: Science
Brisbane Comedy Festival - It’s young, it’s raw, but it’s building character. Give it a year or three and this festival will really be hitting its straps
Adam and Joe on XFM
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
The Venture Bros. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Psych Boardwalk Empire The Walking Dead
Tripod vs The Dragon at Brisbane Powerhouse
Red Hill’s Tommy Lewis playing a ‘psychopathic’ Aboriginal killer whose actions turn out to be completely justified.
More funding for stories that speak to what a profoundly racist country Australia has been and continues to be.
Mass Effect 2
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES
Film Buff’s Forecast
Andrew O’Neill Mat Govoni Anthony Menchetti
Fallout: New Vegas
Hamlet (La Boite) Daniel Kitson’s 66A Church Rd Stockholm (La Boite) The Escapists’ boy girl wall at Metro Arts Shanghai Lady Killer (Brisbane Festival)
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011
Splinter Cell: Conviction
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES
Pieces: Suicide the Aftermath. Launched by Patrick McGorry, this exhibition consisted entirely of pieces by those who had lost a family member to suicide. Moving, profound and surprisingly beautiful.
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES
Greg Fleet
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Rake
Canvas on FBi.
STRINGER
TOP FIVE FILMS
MCMAHON
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
It kind of has to be Hit Girl’s big entrance. I cannot adequately express in words just how cool this was. I hadn’t felt so amped up, rebellious and devil-may-care about a movie since Fight Club in ‘99.
QUOTE OFTHE YEAR “Okay, you cunts... let’s see what you can do now.” - Hit Girl. A gamechanging quote if ever there was one.
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Kick Ass Iron Man 2 Scott Pilgrim Vs The World Alice In Wonderland Toy Story 3
TOP FIVE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES Batman: Under The Red Hood Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths Kick Ass Toy Story 3 Iron Man 2
3D makes a comeback as a viable extension of the film medium and experience as opposed to an entirely cheap gimmick used for wow factor. For now.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR Dragoon: “I am staying in the car! We! We are staying in the car.” Red Mantle: “We haven’t been outside in 30 years! I’m old and I’m afraid of everything!” Dragoon: “I’m afraid the streets are overrun by teenage gangs!” Red Mantle: “Teenagers are cruel and they will undoubtedly taunt us because our trousers are not in style any more.” Dragoon: “And we are two heads on one body. That has never, ever been hip!” - The Venture Bros. S04E05, “The Revenge Society”
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 Green Lantern. Despite the decision to make the entire costume CGI and cast Ryan Reynolds - who would be a WAY better Kyle Rayner - as Hal Jordan, I am psyched for this. THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 53 •
2010 WRITERS’ POLL BETHANY
SMALL
TOP FIVE FILMS Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child I’m Not Here Heartbeats Piranha 3D Easy A
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS Mad Men True Blood Keeping Up with the Kardashians MasterChef Gossip Girl
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES Metropolis: Reconstructed And Restored (Masters Of Cinema) House (Hausu) Modern Times (Criterion) Fullmetal Alchemist Deluxe Complete Collection Antichrist
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS August: Osage County (STC) The Hour We Knew Nothing Of Each Other (NIDA/Legs On The Wall) W;t (New Theatre) La sonnambula (Opera Australia) Namatjira (Belvoir)
TOP FIVE ART EXHIBITIONS Angelica Mesiti: Natural History (Gallery 9) Polixeni Papapetrou: Between Worlds (Stills Gallery)
R O B E RT
DANIELLE
The Nothing group show (Chalk Horse) David to Cézanne: master drawings from the Prat Collection, Paris (Art Gallery of NSW) Selina Ou: Beside Myself (GRANTPIRRIE)
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL The inaugural Art Month Sydney in March was big and shiny and new; it got really good participation from a whole spectrum of museums and galleries and ‘spaces’ and opening them up a little to the non-art-dork public. It also provided a bunch of parties full of people I found, for the most part, quite interesting and/or useful and/or hot.
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW Ooh! Radio National please. Whatever they classify under Arts or Books and Writing, but mainly Artworks and Lingua Franca. Canvas on FBi is also good.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTIN ARTS The opening of The Big Bang at White Rabbit. August: Osage County. Mark Kimber and Polixeni Papapetrou at Stills Gallery. Darryl Frank at Roslyn Oxley9. Weird book talks at Oxford Art. Jokes about Inception. Brook Andrew’s giant inflatables.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “I hate intellectual conversation with intellectuals because I only care about my opinion, but I like to read very abstract constructions of the mind. It’s very strange.” - Karl Lagerfeld
LUKINS Change (MUMA) Luminous Cities (NGV) Jude Walton, by hand and eye (Sutton Gallery)
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL I AM LOVE
TOP FIVE FILMS American: The Bill Hicks Story Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 I Am Love The Social Network Animal Kingdom
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS An Idiot Abroad The Annoying Orange Breaking Bad The Ricky Gervais Show ABC News
TOP FIVE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyers Cut) Four Lions
Taryn Simon’s An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar at CCP. It was sick and wonderful and made me go home and have a beer in the shower.
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW Radio National Arts subscription, as always, can’t be beat.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS The Coalition election victory in Victoria; Big Ted and a general backsliding in courage is going to squeeze out some fun and angry stuff.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Yes, this election is rubbish, and it represents the lowest point in policy debate since, probably, 1980 ... but bad luck – it’s your fault.” Bernard Keane.
A Single Man
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
The Idler, 2011 Annual Periodical
Back To The Future Trilogy
TOP FIVE ART EXHIBITIONS Emily Ferretti’s Studio, Open Day (Gertrude Contemporary Art Space) • 54 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
Amococo: Architects Of Air at Adelaide Fringe Festival
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 Fewer festivals, less money, more bass, richer muffins; all you need is love.
Hannah Gadsby at Sydney Comedy Festival
TOP FIVE FILMS
Tripod vs The Dragon at Sydney Opera House
Scott Pilgrim vs The World Animal Kingdom The Social Network Fair Game Toy Story 3
Charlie Pickering at Sydney Comedy Festival Tom Gleeson at Sydney Comedy Festival
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
Tom Ballard at Sydney Comedy Festival
Gossip Girl Doctor Who Walking Dead Being Human IQ
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL Tim Burton: The Exhibition at ACMI, Melbourne
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES Toy Story 3 Alice In Wonderland Iron Man 2 Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs Faces Of America
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS Ute Lemper: Angels Over Berlin at Sydney Opera House Uncle Vanya (STC) Eddie Perfect: Songs From The Middle at Sydney Opera House The Man In Black at Sydney Opera House
MANDY
Taryn Simon: An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar (CCP)
O’DONOHUE
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS Seeing Animal Kingdom tick over at the Australian box office, then head off overseas for the same reaction. Hopefully now, after its AFI success, it scores Jacki Weaver an Oscar nomination.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “You’ve done some bad things, sweetie” - Jacki Weaver as Smurf Cody in Animal Kingdom.
TOP FIVE FILMS
Theatre
Inception The Road The Social Network Toy Story 3 Four Lions
John Robertson: A Nifty History Of Evil at Wild West Comedy Festival
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS Mad Men True Blood Community MasterChef Caprica
Hilltop Hoods: Parade of the Dead The Hurt Locker Mad Men: Complete Third Season Zombieland True Blood: Complete Second Season
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS Waiting For Godot (His Majesty’s Theatre) Spirit Fingers (Blue Room Theatre) How Satan Got His Groove Back (Wild West Comedy Festival) Eat My Monologue (bamBOO) The Myth of Julian Rose (Blue Room Theatre)
By Jacki Weaver winning an Oscar in 2011.
Rhys Darby at Regal Theatre Jacques Barrett at Althenaum
Doctor Who The Walking Dead An Idiot Abroad Glee Gruen Nation
MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS
Doctor Who: Complete Fifth Season Survivors Zombieland Kick-Ass Inception
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS Stockholm (La Boite) boy girl wall (Metro Arts/The Escapists) Daniel Kitson’s 66a Church Road Tripod vs the Dragon Grimm Tales (QTC)
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES Robin Williams at BEC Daniel Kitson (World Theatre Festival) Sammy J & Randy at Brisbane Comedy Festival Liz Skitch/Fiona McGary in Skitch
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 Locally, Wicked is going to be huge. On an international scale I guess you can’t beat the last adventures of a specky wizard.
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QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Your boyfriend doesn’t own your vagina.” “No, but he’s renting it.” Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olsen in Mad Men.
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENTOF 2011 Wicked visiting Perth will no doubt be a highlight.
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 PIAF can become a year-round festival of cultural deliciousness. Hey, what’s life without a dream?
Toy Story 3
Room 328 (FreeRange, Metro Arts) of earth and sky (Bangarra) Boiling Point (JWC/Phluxus2) Grimm Tales (QTC) Little V’s Terrible Tea Party (Dead Puppet Society)
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL Existence at the Judith Wright Centre - lovely blend of visually stimulating work and confronting performances and ideals.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
“You have part of my attention - you have the minimum amount. The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook, where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including and especially your clients, are intellectually or creatively capable of doing.” Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerburg in The Social Network
The departmental reshuffle will no doubt have an impact. We may not have seen it yet, but we will... for better or worse.
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
The Moth. Stories told live without notes. Everyone has a story and here they tell them well.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Up In The Air
Tim Burton: The Exhibition at ACMI, Melbourne. Seeing Burton’s work as a biography of his life shows how creative he is, and has been from very young, but also how prolific. Burton’s output is staggering.
The damn top spinning at the end of Inception. It was a conversation starter that everyone had an opinion on.
I hope Margaret and David’s At The Movies counts...
Kick-Ass
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
O’NEILL
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
Bill Bailey at Perth Convention Centre
BEST ARTSPODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
TOP FIVE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES
M AT T
Michael Workman: The Ogre at Wild West Comedy Festival
Or well and good, Laurie Perry. For the first time, I bought art.
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011
Tease and Wake Up Fi! Des Bishop (Brisbane Comedy Festival)
Kick-Ass Inception Scott Pilgrim vs the World The Social Network How To Train Your Dragon
BARRON
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES
KOHLER
TOP FIVE FILMS
ALEKSIA
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS TOP FIVE FILMS Inception Kick-Ass Toy Story 3 The Men Who Stare At Goats Up In The Air
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS The Good Wife Damages Always Sunny in Philadelphia Dexter Lost
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES The Good Wife Damages
The Bathers at Brisbane Festival. Countless strangers randomly getting their kit off and taking a sauna behind a theatre to an avant-garde electro-acoustic soundtrack - and the council paid for it. Fucking awesome.
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 The works of the La Boite Scratch artists - specifically Gen Trace’s next piece.
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 Better coverage, less funding for top-tier institutions and more funding for intermediate level and artist-run institutions. Really, people should just give Metro Arts a blank cheque and get ready to applaud.
2010 WRITERS’ POLL ALICE
MUHLING
TOP FIVE FILMS Animal Kingdom Micmacs
Valentino Retrospective (GoMA)
Xavier: Renegade Angel - watch this aggressively surreal and disturbing animation from the makers of Wonder Showzen and you too will bellow to the heavens “What doth life?”
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Rhys Darby at The Tivoli
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
Sean Micallef at Brisbane Powerhouse
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia 30 Rock The IT Crowd
I bought a Shag print from Outré Gallery in Melbourne - does that count? It’s pretty sweet.
Melinda Buttle as part of Women Of Letters
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES
Beastman at Nine Lives. Refreshing, low-key, informal, lively colour and perfect technique.
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW I’m kinda digging Wil Anderson and Charlie Clausen’s TOFOP podcasts, actually.
LET ME IN
TOP FIVE FILMS
Hot Tub Time Machine
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
Inglourious Basterds
Conversations with Richard Fidler
Let Me In
The It Crowd 4.0
Away We Go
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Gwen in Purgatory (La Boite) Hamlet (La Boite) While Others Sleep (Expressions Dance Company) Betrayal (QTC)
TOP FIVE ART EXHIBITIONS Beastman: Brave New Worlds (with Luke Taaffe) at Nine Lives Semi-Permanent Tom Evangelidis: Façade (Brisbane Powerhouse)
LIZ
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Fantastic Mr Fox Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Sony rebooting the Spider-Man franchise.
Inception/Shutter Island (DiCaprio’s mind-bending one-two punch)
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
La Boite’s Indie season.
The Social Network
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
“If you don’t take their money, they can’t take your soul, kid” - Bill Cunningham in Bill Cunningham New York
Community/30 Rock
When The Rain Stops Falling (QTC)
Eastbound & Down/Bored to Death
World Theatre Festival at Brisbane Powerhouse or Carsten Höller’s slide installation at Queensland Art Gallery
GIUFFRE
Luther/Sherlock Mad Men
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES Trick ‘r Treat Grindhouse Blu-ray (region one)
Stop locking US Blu-rays to region A!
CONNORS
TOP FIVE FILMS Kick-Ass Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Red Hill Goemon
TOP FIVE FILMS Four Lions
DeAnn Smith at Sydney Comedy Festival
X-Men: First Class, Matthew Vaughn’s 1960s-era take on the Marvel Comics’ franchise with James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender.
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011
Alien Anthology
A N I TA
DOCTOR WHO
“We are Sex Bob-omb and we’re here to make you think about death and get sad and stuff! 1-2-3-4!” Scott Pilgrim vs The World
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011
The Inbetweeners
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
Tim Burton: The Exhibition at ACMI, Melbourne. Just gorgeous.
Glee
Oliver! The Musical (Theatre Royal, London)
Law & Order: SVU
Uncle Vanya (STC)
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES
Doctor Who Glee Gruen Transfer/Nation Spicks And Specks
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES The Men Who Stare At Goats Gavin and Stacey box set Community: Complete First Season Spicks and Specks World Tour Doctor Who: The Specials
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES Hannah Gatsby at Sydney Comedy Festival Brendan Burns at Sydney Comedy Festival Sam Simmons at Sydney Comedy Festival
TOFOP - the little podcast that could (and a proper insight into secret men’s business in the arts).
Alien Anthology Black Books (Leather Bound Edition)
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Back To The Future Trilogy
iOTA combining Do Re Mi and Peaches while in semi-drag at Late Night Live at the Opera House midyear is a tie with Rufus Wainwright appearing onstage with Carrie Fisher (both in Princess Lea hair).
Goemon
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
Rhys Darby at Enmore Theatre
“It’s a good day for redheads.” - Julia Gillard to Kerry O’Brien during her first interview with him as Prime Minister.
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 Filming Doctor Who in Australia and enlisting street press writers as special guests...
The Killing: Season One/Season Two
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES Stephen Fry at Sydney Opera House Bill Bailey at State Theatre Ricky Gervais at Wembley Arena, London Robin Williams at SEC
Céleste Boursier-Mougenot at the Barbican, London. It was nothing like
Long Day’s Journey Into Night (STC) Party (Invisible Dot for Sydney Festival)
The Deep End Shameless Mad Men 30 Rock United States Of Tara
TOP FIVE ART EXHIBITIONS
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES Mad Men: Complete Third Season Doctor Who: Complete Fifth Season The Most Dangerous Man In America Crash The Office: Complete Sixth Season
JASON
Jersey Boys (Theatre Royal)
17th Biennale Of Sydney Circa 1979: Signal To Noise (Sydney Festival) Olafur Eliasson (MCA) Archibald Prize (Art Gallery of NSW) Bear Witness (Sydney Festival)
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL Three weeks of spectacular music, dance, theatre and visual arts pulled together by new Festival
KENNY
The Society (PIAF) The Myth Of Julian Rose (Mondo Di Corpo at Blue Room Theatre) Daniel Kitson’s 66a Church Rd
Mummy Loves You Betty Ann Jewel (Aleela Creatives at Blue Room Theatre)
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL THE GHOST WRITER
Perth International Arts Festival - oh, the variety!
Waiting For Godot (Theatre Royal Haymarket, UK)
TOP FIVE FILMS
August: Osage County (STC)
The Ghost Writer
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
Exit Through The Gift Shop
The one on RTRFM.
So Wrong It’s Right (Radio 4, London)
Inception
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
The Social Network Animal Kingdom
Rake Kerry O’Brien stepping down from The 7:30 Report.
30 Rock Spectacle
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
Castle
“With no power comes no responsibilities.” Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass (Aaron Johnson) in Kick-Ass
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
August: Osage County (Steppenwolf Theatre Company/STC)
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
Sweet Charity (Theatre Royal Haymarket, UK)
Dexter
Diary Of A Madman (Belvoir)
Lebensraum (The Brainbox Project)
Mad Men
True Blood
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
Community
Animal Kingdom In The Loop Greenberg Avatar Bran Nue Dae
Winter’s Bone
The Ghost Writer
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
TOP FIVE FILMS
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work Toy Story 3
ANIMAL KINGDOM
anything I had seen or experienced before; the French artist had set up a musical, walk-through aviary with 40 zebra finches flying freely unruffled by their human visitors and obliviously to many strategically positioned electric guitars, cymbals, and amps about the room.
Adam Hills/Wil Anderson (they are the same guy, right?) at Sydney Comedy Festival
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
WELLS
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
Bill Bailey at QPAC
Dexter
Dexter: Complete Fourth Season
JAMELLE
The Darjeeling Limited/The Thin Red Line (Criterion Collection)
TOP LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES
Breaking Bad
DAVIS
Eugene Richards: The Blue Room (Brisbane Powerhouse)
A Single Man
Inception
GUY
Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris, at the Art Gallery of NSW.
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SBS World News
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS That satirical performance piece from Canberra that passed as an election campaign.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “Mummy, mummy, look it’s a little boy in a bed with a pig... or a dog... or something...” an increasingly confused and scared 6 year old running around the Patricia Piccinini exhibit
Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... Donnie Darko (Blu-ray) Back To The Future Trilogy 30 Rock: Complete Fourth Season Stones In Exile
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 The 40th anniversary of A Clockwork Orange. THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 55 •
2010 WRITERS’ POLL DANIEL
CRICHTON-ROUSE
FRAGMENTED
FISH
TRASH HUMPERS
FISH TANK
TOP FIVE FILMS 1. The Social Network 2. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part 1 3. Scott Pilgrim vs The World 4. Exit Through The Gift Shop 5. Fish Tank
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS 1. Party Down 2. The Trip 3. Lowdown 4. The IT Crowd 5. Newswipe with Charlie Brooker
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES 1. Alien Anthology: Limited Edition 2. Exit Through Through The Gift Shop: Special Edition 3. Back To The Future Trilogy (Blu-ray) 4. Metropolis: Reconstructed & Restored (Masters Of Cinema) 5. Inception (Combo Pack)
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL Tied: Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Film Festival
FAVOURITE ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW This American Life (NPR)
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS Animal Kingdom’s Sundance win (World Cinema Jury Prize Dramatic) was significant, setting off a chain of positive events, with actor Jacki Weaver currently cleaning up at foreign press awards ceremonies, and the film cleaning up at the AFI Awards (with ten wins).
C U LT U R A L
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 25th anniversary
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 More funding, of course, is a good place to start; the introduction of an 18+ certificate for video games; a dedicated cinémathèque in Sydney; more regular D.I.Y events such as Kino Sydney/Adelaide building community around an artform – in their case, a monthly film night.
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS 1. August: Osage County (STC) 2. Measure For Measure (Belvoir) 3. Uncle Vanya (STC) 4. Furious Mattress (Malthouse) 5. Hamlet (La Boite)
TOP FIVE STAND-UP COMEDY PERFORMANCES 1. Tim Key at Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2. Rhys Darby at Enmore Theatre 3. Bill Bailey at State Theatre 4. Adam Hills at Melbourne International Comedy Festival 5. Jeff Green at Melbourne International Comedy Festival
TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES 1. Red Dead Redemption (PS3/Xbox 360) 2. Heavy Rain (PS3) 3. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 (PS3/Xbox 360) 4. Reckless Racing/FlickKick Football (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) 5. Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (iPhone)
WITH BOB BAKER FISH There is a man. He is old. Two other elderly people are watching him intently. They’re in a seedy nondescript laneway. He sidles up to a rubbish bin and begins rubbing his genitals on the cold black plastic. Pretty soon he is thrusting aggressively. Later he pulls down a branch from a tree and simulates oral sex with it. This is the best film Fragmented Fish saw this year. It is, of course, the latest opus from Harmony Korine, the writer of Kids and Ken Park and director of such box office failures as Gummo and Julien Donkey Boy. His previous film, Mister Lonely, was his most commercial yet, a tale of celebrity impersonators who retreat from a cold dark uncaring world to a utopian Scottish commune and featured name actors such as Samantha Morton. It seemed our Harmony, our deeply troubled Harmony, a young man who has been banned from The Late Show With David Letterman due to his erratic, possibly drug affected performances, had finally made a move towards the mainstream.
Trash Humpers is his answer to those sick pathetic thoughts. Shot on a crappy old VHS camera and edited on video, it looks terrible. Fuzzy, ill defined, the shots at night could be anything. But if feels like an antidote, a rally to restore sanity to the HD 3D Blu-ray obsessed industry determined to capture in widescreen glory the bacteria on the pimple on the face of the model desperate to be an actor pretending to be a cop on your favourite TV show. In fact it’s just Harmony, his wife, and a couple of mates with old-persons makeup, drunk on wine and drugged on glue (maybe?) being vandals and idiots. Destroying televisions, lighting firecrackers, and just generally being elderly delinquents. It should be boring. After all, he gave it away in the title, but the first seven minutes of copious refuse thrusting is nothing short of side-splitting hilarity. Everything about it is wrong. What kind of sick fool would film this madness? In fact, if it was solely 120 minutes of random rubbish bin rooting Fragmented Fish would be more than satisfied, however Korine expertly reels in a bunch of eccentric
randoms from his neighborhood, bringing racist jokes and very long toenails to the party. One duo joined at the head even eats food coated with dishwashing liquid. It’s nonsensical and base, weirdo slapstick that disturbs and annoys but also confuses. The jokes aren’t obvious, most of the humour stems from the audience’s pain, but you can’t look away. Who knows what they’ll do next. It’s definitely a film of our times, our thirst for manipulated reality to consume is at an all time high, when the lights of the camera often seem to fall on those with few discernible talents. There’s no doubt it’s backwater exploitation, the beauty of course being that Korine is exploiting himself and his friends. But ultimately it is a film with a heart, heart that’s admittedly obscured by furry sleaziness, the overwhelming wrongness and meaningless violence and stupidity, but ultimately I don’t know whether it’s due to intent or simply duration, but after a while the film begins to take on almost transcendental qualities. Trash Humpers isn’t a film, it’s an experience. After playing in the
Melbourne International Film Festival it hasn’t made it back to Australia, even on DVD, it’s just too unfilmlike. According to Korine it’s meant to be the kind of strange poorly labeled video cassette that you find in a dumpster, take home and freak over. So my advice is to find this film, take it home and freak out everyone you know with the best film of 2010. Your friends and family will hate you. Otherwise Roberto Rodriguez continued his Grindhouse obsession with Machete, which is better than his most recent opus Planet Terror. It’s actually quite incredible that Rodriguez is now in a position to make big budget exploitation, reigning in name actors like Lindsay Lohan, Don Johnson, and Robert De Niro. Last time Hollywood pumped out the big bucks for sexploitation, the result was Showgirls and a strangely aggressive reaction from the cinema-going public. Yet both Machete and Planet Terror are so much fun, taking a nostalgic, reverential and outlandish delight in the seediness, that this time it feels like everyone is along for the ride. Let’s hope this is just the beginning.
CRINGE
SAM STRONG
WITH JAMELLE WELLS One of the biggest shake ups for theatre in 2010 was Company B’s announcement that Ralph Myers was replacing Neil Armfield as Artistic Director. Armfield went out in style with a revival of Gogol’s Diary Of A • 56 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
Madman, starring Geoffrey Rush. They first worked together on the play in 1989 and it will tour to the US next year. The appointment of Myers followed a five-month recruitment process. Armfield spent 25 years with the Company.
Griffin Theatre Co. also got a new Artistic Director in 2010 with Sam Strong replacing Nick Marchand. The latter announced his resignation after three years to become Director of the British Council in Australia. It was a good time in Griffin’s history
for Strong to join the company, with a major renovation of its iconic home at the SBW Stables Theatre. The Sydney Theatre Company got plenty of publicity for the unique solar panels on the roof of The Wharf. Artistic Directors Cate Blanchett
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and Andrew Upton helped unveil a new Walk Of Fame with 21 plaques at Walsh Bay as a tribute to stars of Australian theatre. The ageing television tragics among us welcomed the return of Hey Hey It’s Saturday to its original Saturday night timeslot. It’s still live television at its best. But Channel Nine’s Underbelly almost bit the dust after former Sydney police officer Wendy Hatfield went to court to try to get access to the 2010 series because she thought she would be defamed. Hatfield is mentioned in a “tie-in” book for the show, which she says paints her in a bad light. Sydney actors behaving badly in 2010 included Steve Bisley, who was sentenced to 300 hours’ community service for assaulting his ex-wife. Matt Newton was also in court after ex-girlfriend Rachael Taylor took out an AVO against him. Former soap star Todd Lasance won an appeal against a 12-month good behaviour bond for possessing cocaine. It seems crime does pay when it comes to movie making with Animal Kingdom, about a Melbourne crime
family, cleaning up at the 2010 AFI awards. The irreverent puppet show Avenue Q won most of this year’s Helpmann Awards for theatre. New Sydney Festival director Lindy Hume delivered a brilliant threeweek event, with plenty of free stuff, making the festival accessible to everyone. A new Sydney Fringe Festival was also launched in Sydney’s inner west. Staff cuts at the Sydney Opera House in 2010 included the position of director of performing arts, prompting the departure of Rachel Healy, two years before the end of her contract. There was mixed reaction to the National Institute of Dramatic Art signing a sponsorship deal with the Seven Network, thought to be worth more than $1 million. It’s the first time NIDA has done such a deal in its 52-year history. Aussie theatricals who passed away in 2010 include actors Victoria Longley and Gus Mercurio, television presenter Adriana Xenides, and Dame Joan Sutherland.
frontrow@inpress.com.au POLL 2010 WRITERS’
TRAILER
TRASH
WITH GUY DAVIS Liam Neeson said in one of his 2010 movies “I love it when a plan comes together”, and I too have been known to utter those words in regards to the year in cinema that’s just occurred. (Like Mr Neeson, I’ve also been known to bellow “Release the Kraken!” Only on the third date, though.) You see, it’s great when every element of a production works in perfect conjunction, resulting in an exemplary big-screen experience. But that doesn’t always happen. So, you take your pleasures where you find them – maybe it’s a nifty line of dialogue, a scene-stealing performance by a supporting actor, an unexpectedly bang-on musical cue or an impressive piece of cinematography that takes hold of your imagination. That’s what I’ll be celebrating in this here Trailer Trash column: the fragments, the bits, and the pieces that stood out from the cinematic crowd over the last 12 months. Prevailing trend in 2010 action movies: the douchebag white-collar villain making life hell for our heroes. You see, there were three high-profile men-on-a-mission flicks this year: The A-Team (where the Neeson quote came from!), The Expendables, and The Losers. (You could maybe include Red as well, but the presence of Helen Mirren – even if she was impressively busting .50-calibre caps – kinda disqualifies it. Amirite, fellas?) And while it was never in doubt that our heroes would emerge victorious, it was really the bad guys that walked off with the movies in their pockets. Eric Roberts brought some of his distinctive oiliness to his role as a coke-dealing CIA scumbag in The Expendables, while the normally white-bread Patrick Wilson clearly had a ball indulging his inner frat-boy tool as he took on the A-Team. (“Your code name is Broadsword?” he said to some macho mercenary. “Cool.”). But the best of the bunch was The Losers’ Jason Patric, bringing a nice line in fey Val Kilmer-style weirdness to his portrayal of nefarious powerbroker Max, a soft-spoken sociopath who just wants America to be numero uno again. Most valuable actor of the year:
MADE YOU
comparing her to “a high-end stripper – you know, for governors or athletes” or Patricia Clarkson declaring her love for The Bucket List, it was clear that Easy A’s Emma Stone had The Coolest Parents Ever.
THE A-TEAM
Gitmo meets Disneyland in Exit Through the Gift Shop. Rose Byrne, the true comedic secret weapon of Get Him To The Greek, shunning the innuendo and revealing just what her song Ring Round My Rosie is all about. The look on Craig Robinson’s face as he breaks the fourth wall to say the title of Hot Tub Time Machine. The vibrantly, almost tangibly scummy Sean Harris in Harry Brown. Sam Rockwell’s soft-shoe shuffle in Iron Man 2 – Rockwell’s dance moves are normally the apex of cool; here they show how second-rate he is next to Tony Stark.
Richard Jenkins. I’ve dug this guy for a while now, the lanky, sad-faced character actor who’s always proven reliable playing henpecked husbands, sad-sack cops and the like but who has occasionally pulled a swifty and done heart-rending work in a lead (see The Visitor, seriously) or hilarious work in a broad mainstream comedy (see Step Brothers, for real). This year, he popped up in three movies, bringing a big heart and a reality check to the platitudes of Eat Pray Love, delivering a moving performance in a tricky role in the potentially treacly Dear John and, best of all, expressing years of sorrow, regret and devotion with little to no dialogue in Let Me In, the remarkable Let The Right One In remake. Most valuable actress of the year: Marion Cotillard. European actresses have been catching the eye of Hollywood casting directors for decades, but often something – whether it’s the language barrier or just that certain je ne sais quoi – will keep a magnetic German or Spanish or Italian performer from really making it big on the world stage. (Case in point: Carice van Houten, spellbinding in Paul Verhoeven’s WWII
drama Black Book, relegated to wife roles in US productions like Valkyrie and Repo Men.) Her Oscar win for playing Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose ensured French actress Cotillard a shot at some high-end Hollywood stuff but while she acquitted herself well in Michael Mann’s Public Enemies in ’09 it seemed that she could easily go the way of, say, Emmanuelle Beart if things didn’t go her way. The film adaptation of the Broadway musical Nine seemed like a safe enough bet – join an international cast of heavy hitters under the direction of the guy who made Chicago? Sure, why not? But while the movie was an ambitious misfire, Cotillard’s passionate performance as Daniel Day-Lewis’ neglected wife hit all the right notes. And following it up with a pivotal part in the blockbuster Inception as Mal, the “shade” haunting Leonardo DiCaprio’s dreams, confirmed that Cotillard isn’t going anywhere for a good while to come. Music of the year: The eye candy of Tron: Legacy will surely get a lot of people into the multiplexes over the next few weeks but the soundtrack by French duo Daft Punk – driving, bombastic blockbuster sounds
combined with their trademark electronica – will be the thing that really sticks in their heads after they leave. (It’s akin to Hans Zimmer’s atmospheric Inception score, minus the eardrum-rattling BRAAAAWWWWMMMs.) Alexandre Desplat, one of my current favourites when it comes to soundtrack composers, did some great stuff for Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox, although he was bested by Jarvis Cocker contributing an improvised number that prompted the immortal line “That’s just weak songwriting! You wrote a bad song, Petey!” Much love also to Scott Pilgrim vs The World’s line-up of tunes, and to John Powell for track 11 on the How To Train Your Dragon soundtrack, Test Drive. If I had that 2.36 on constant loop in my head, I could outrun cars and punch through brick walls. Unexpected badass of the year: Okay, this is where Red’s Helen Mirren gets her moment to shine – she looked scarily at home with her finger on the trigger of that .50-cal machine gun. And even though the movie itself was an ungodly piece of shit, Legion showed that Paul Bettany could cut it as a terse, no-nonsense butt-kicker. Character
guy Jeremy Renner followed up his Eastwood-esque performance in The Hurt Locker with a convincingly hair-trigger turn in The Town, Ben Affleck’s solid follow-up to Gone Baby Gone. Terrific newcomer Jennifer Lawrence brought understated steel to her starring turn in the great backwoods noir Winter’s Bone (and wiry character actor John Hawkes was every bit her equal as the quietly terrifying Uncle Teardrop). But the most surprising display of don’t-mess-with-me came courtesy of Adrien Brody, who strapped on some extra kilos of muscle and added a tinge of gravel to his voice to become a worthy adversary to the extra-terrestrial big-game hunters in Predators. And finally, here are some moments that I liked over the last 12 months: The vicious circle of feeding and healing that closed out the Australian vampire movie Daybreakers. Date Night’s Tina Fey speculating on what the pretty girl across the room is saying to her date: “That’s amazing, Jeremy, but I’m gonna go home now and fart into a shoebox.” Whether it was Stanley Tucci complimenting his daughter by
Kick-Ass’ Big Daddy – Nicolas Cage, using his powers for good for a change – dispatching a warehouse full of bad guys. The thoroughly disturbing mix of shyness, sexiness, and utter fucking craziness Robin McLeavy brought to The Loved Ones’ Lola. Piranha 3D proving that long hair and an outboard motor don’t mix. In one of the most impressive WTF moments of the year, Robert Pattinson monsters the pre-teen mean girls who bullied his beloved little sister in Remember Me (it was a good year for brats getting theirs – I heard one or two people cheering when Robert Downey, Jr slugged an annoying 12-year-old in Due Date). “I’m six-five, 220 pounds, and there are two of me.” Don’t mess with The Social Network’s ‘Winkelvi’. Not really ‘Young’ MC anymore but still able to bust a move – an unexpected but marvellous cameo in Up In The Air. And Pixar’s annual assault on your tear ducts: the toys, facing incineration, join hands and face the furnace together. This’ll probably scar about as many psyches of this generation’s moviegoers as the death of Bambi’s mum did decades earlier.
LOOK
WITH BETHANY SMALL
outdoor exercise.
BIENNALE OF SYDNEY
2010, huh? What happened in art in Sydney in 2010? I find these questions really all-or-nothingy, like, should it be a solid, responsible, peer-reviewed summary paragraph in the Dictionary of National Biography or art’s Twitter stream, all what art had for breakfast and veiled references to art’s ex-girlfriend and stuff? The only possible resolution, it seems, is to be both bitchy and sweeping about the facts of the year, but none of the drunk bits are getting left out or deleted the next afternoon. What happened in art this year is: lots of people made things, lots of people sold things, lots of people talked about things, and lots of people looked at things. While art continues to not be a very good way of making myself a substantial living, certain people seem to be doing okay, and some are doing very well, and many will buy you dinner. Artists continue to come in an array of shapes and sizes and characters not accurately represented by depictions of the profession in popular entertainment
and media. Wine continues to be generally bad and often served in plastic. I am dubious about the rigours of our art schools, as the people in graduating shows are looking very young. Pretty much
the entire staff of NAS changed this year, too. Museums put on large shows by important people, as they are wont to do, and speaking of which, if you didn’t see Runa Islam at the MCA
you should regret it as a) it was wonderful and b) multi-room video installations always include good places for making out. Lots of you are to be congratulated for going to the Biennale, though, with this
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year’s being a great example of how to curate along such confusing lines that nearly everything nearly anyone said about it seemed pertinent, which gave visitors a frisson of critical self-esteem as well as some healthy
Some things were made out of paint on canvases, some things were made out of paint on other things, and some things were not made out of paint at all. Waterloo gallery 2 Danks St was, as it usually is, a good place to see a lot of those different kinds of things in a compare-and-contrast sort of a way, in a less confusing way than all the walking and alleyways Paddington or Chippendale demands, with Conny Dietzschold and Dominik Mersch being pretty great all year and lots of stuff at Utopia Art being worth limbs as a down payment. In other parts of Sydney, Kaliman Gallery, which I quite liked, has closed down, and The Paper Mill, which I am coming to quite like, opened up. Grantpirrie and Chalk Horse and Sarah Cottier, which I quite like, are still quite likeable. Roslyn Oxley9 continues to be filled with famous artists, most of whom are in fact actually good at art. I also danced with Tracey Moffatt to Chaka Khan at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Thank you, 2010. THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 57 •
• 58 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
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NATIONAL SIZZLING feat. BLUEJUICE, PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY: Dec 28 Marlin Hotel, Dec 30 Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Jan 13 Woodport Inn, Jan 14 Panthers THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT: Dec 28 Waves GRINSPOON: Dec 30 Entrance Leagues, Dec 31 Shellharbour Workers, Jan 7 Selina’s, Jan 8 Mounties KEVIN BORICH’S PARTY BOYZ: Dec 31 Rooty Hill RSL, Jan 8 Cardiff Panthers, Jan 21 Central Coast Leagues, Jan 22 Waves TUMBLEWEED: Dec 31 Waves, Jan 7 Cambridge Hotel, Jan 14 The Metro, Jan 15 Mona Vale Hotel THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS: Jan 6 Waves, Jan 7 Entrance Leagues ANNO DOMINI: Jan 7 The Wall, Jan 15 The Maram, Jan 30 Lucky Australian, Feb 18 Lewisham Hotel, Feb 19 Cabbage Tree Hotel, Mar 25 Club Led GYPSY & THE CAT: Jan 13 Oxford Art Factory CHASE THE SUN, CASS EAGER, CLAUDE HAY: Jan 14 Kiama Leagues, Jan 16 Beaches Hotel, Jan 25 Wickham Park Hotel, Jan 28 Coogee Diggers, Jan 29 Old Manly Boatshed, Feb 10 Vault 146, Feb 11 Notes, Feb 12 Brass Monkey, Feb 19 Katoomba RSL ALTYIAN CHILDS: Jan 14 The Cube, Jan 15 Revesby Workers, Jan 21 Shoalhaven Workers, Jan 22 Penrith Panthers, Jan 28 Mounties, Jan 29 Australian Brewery Hotel, Feb 4 Southern Cross Club, Feb 5 Cronulla Leagues THE SIDETRACKED FIASCO: Jan 16 Old Manly Boatshed JOE ROBINSON: Jan 18 Lizotte’s Newcastle, Jan 19 Lizotte’s Kincumber, Jan 20 Lizotte’s Dee Why, Jan 21 The Basement Cicrular Quay, Jan 22 The Clarendon, Jan 23 Brass Monkey, Jan 25 Heritage Hotel, Jan 28 Street Theatre HELLO SATELLITES: Jan 19 View Factory, Jan 22 Excelsior Hotel Surry Hills, Jan 23 Front Gallery THE MIDDLE EAST: Jan 19 Richard Wherrett Studio PAUL KELLY: Jan 20 – 23 City Recital Hall RESIST THE THOUGHT, BURIED IN VERONA: Jan 20 Harp Hotel, Jan 27 Spectrum, Jan 28 Minto PCYC, Jan 29 Cambridge Hotel, Jan 30 The Wall, Feb 19 Blacktown Masonic Hall RED INK: Jan 21 World Bar SHANE HOWARD: Jan 22 Lizotte’s Dee Why HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY: Jan 25 Brass Monkey, Jan 27 Baroque, Jan 28 Mona Vale Hotel,
JUNIP ANGUS & JULIA STONE
DRUM PRESENTS
FEATURE FESTIVAL
PEATS RIDGE
WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY You may have noticed – from last week’s cover if nothing else – that we’re pretty keen of Peats Ridge as our New Year’s Eve option. An hour north from Sydney in the Glenworth Valley, it’s a little bit of peace and vibe amongst the shit-fight that is the end of the year. But it’s not only that, the fact that the environmentally sustainable event has 130 acts and more than ample side activities sways us as well. This is one that we’re glad to be attending and we give a nod of respect and admiration to those organising and people putting it all on.
Jan 29 Fitzroy Hotel INXS: Jan 26 Centennial Vineyards, Jan 29 Bimbadgen Estate GOTYE: Jan 27 City Recital Hall SIA: Feb 2 Enmore Theatre STEALING O’NEAL, THE MISSION IN MOTION: Feb 2 Harp Hotel, Feb 3 Caringbah Bizzo’s, Feb 4 Campbelltown Arts Centre, Feb 5 Penrith RSL, Feb 6 Cambridge Hotel ABBIE CARDWELL: Feb 5 The Vanguard DEEP SEA ARCADE: Feb 9 Beach Road Hotel, Feb 10 Harp Hotel, Feb 11 Oxford Art Factory, Feb 12 Mona Vale Hotel, Feb 13 Brass Monkey, Feb 17 Transit Bar OLD MAN RIVER, PASSENGER: Feb 9 Clarendon, Feb 10 Heritage Hotel, Feb 11 Annandale Hotel, Feb 12 Northern Star Hotel THE GETAWAY PLAN: Feb 11 (arvo and evening) The Metro I EXIST: Feb 11 Bald Faced Stag, Feb 12 Cambridge Hotel, Feb 13 Axis Youth Centre THE NECKS: Feb 13 Street Theatre, Feb 16 The Basement DAN PARSONS & STEVE GRADY: Feb 16 Brass Monkey, Feb 17 Lizotte’s Kincumber, Feb 18 Oriental Hotel, Feb 19 Clarendon Guesthouse, Feb 20 Fitzroy Hotel, Feb 23 Pot Belly Bar ALBARE: Feb 24 The Basement DRAGON: Mar 4 Penrith RSL, Mar 5 The Cube, Mar 11 Southern Cross Club, Mar 18 Mounties, Mar 19 Doyalson RSL, Mar 26 Blacktown Worker’s, Apr 1 & 2 Brass Monkey SPARKADIA: Mar 24 ANU Bar, Mar 30 Wollongong Uni, Mar 31 Bar On The Hill, Apr 1 The Metro THE CHURCH: Apr 10 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall KEITH URBAN: Apr 14 Sydney Entertainment Centre
INTERNATIONAL BUILT TO SPILL: Dec 29 The Metro LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION: Dec 29 Oxford Art Factory
MARINA & THE DIAMONDS: Dec 30 The Factory SHORE THING feat. DAVID GUETTA, ARMAND VAN HELDEN: Dec 31 Bondi Beach SHOUT OUT LOUDS: Jan 2 Annandale Hotel BORN RUFFIANS: Jan 3 Oxford Art Factory MYSTERY JETS: Jan 3 The Factory PUBLIC ENEMY: Jan 4 The Metro INTERPOL: Jan 4 Enmore Theatre THE MORNING BENDERS: Jan 4 Oxford Art Factory THE TOM FUN ORCHESTRA: Jan 4 Notes, Jan 9 Brass Monkey FUTURE OF THE LEFT: Jan 5 Annandale Hotel PROMOE & COSMIC: Jan 5 Tone DARKEST HOUR: Jan 5 The Factory THE SOFT PACK: Jan 5 Manning Bar KILLA KELA: Jan 6 Home JASON COLLETT & ZEUS: Jan 6 Brass Monkey, Jan 7 Oxford Art Factory DAM-FUNK: Jan 6 Tone THE 2 LIVE CREW: Jan 6 The Forum COLD WAR KIDS: Jan 6 Enmore Theatre HOT HOT HEAT: Jan 6 The Factory THE RAPTURE: Jan 6 The Metro THE NATIONAL: Jan 7 & 8 Enmore Theatre JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS: Jan 7 Annandale Hotel FLYING LOTUS, HUDSON MOHAWKE, DAM FUNK, GASLAMP KILLER: Jan 7 The Forum NERD: Jan 7 Hordern Pavilion HANGGAI: Jan 7 Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Jan 9 Famous Spiegeltent JUNIP: Jan 8 The Metro LORD FINESSE: Jan 8 Tone SLEIGH BELLS: Jan 8 The Forum EARTHLESS: Jan 8 The Metro MOS DEF: Jan 9
Enmore Theatre THE DYNAMITES: Jan 9 Beck’s Bar KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS: Jan 9, 11, 12 Famous Spiegeltent EMMYLOU HARRIS: Jan 9 & 10 State Theatre ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: Jan 10 Beck’s Bar DAN MANGAN: Jan 12 Brass Monkey, Jan 13 Gearin Hotel, Jan 14 Oxford Art Factory, Jan 15 Great Northern Newcastle, Jan 16 Heritage Hotel JUDY COLLINS: Jan 12 Wests Leagues Club Newcastle, Jan 17, 18, 19 The Basement Circular Quay THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: Jan 12 Beck’s Bar HENRIK SCHWARZ: Jan 13 Beck’s Bar MOUNTAIN MAN: Jan 13 & 14 Famous Spiegeltent GOLD PANDA: Jan 14 Beck’s Bar THEE OH SEES: Jan 14 Red Rattler LOS LOBOS: Jan 14 State Theatre CHARLIE PARR: Jan 14 Grand Hotel, Jan 15 The Vanguard, Jan 16 The Clarendon DJ HARVEY & DJ GARTH: Jan 15 Beck’s Bar G LOVE & PLUTONIC: Jan 15 Oxford Art Factory HOLLY GO LIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS: Jan 15 & 16 Famous Spiegeltent HOLLY MIRANDA: Jan 15, 16, 18 Famous Spiegeltent OWEN PALLETT: Jan 19 – 21 Famous Spiegeltent HEALTH, WIRE: Jan 20 Beck’s Bar DJ MARKY & STAMINA MC: Jan 21 Manning Bar MATT & KIM: Jan 21 Beck’s Bar SKILLET: Jan 21 The Metro COBBLESTONE JAZZ: Jan 22 Beck’s Bar GUILTY SIMPSON & PHAT KAT: Jan 22 Tone ROGER SANCHEZ: Jan 22 The Arthouse OLOF ARNALDS: Jan 22 & 23 Famous Spiegeltent COLM MAC CON IRONMAIRE: Jan 22 Sutherland Entertainment Centre, Jan 23 Riverside Theatre, Jan 25 – 27 Famous Spiegeltent JIMMY BUFFET: Jan 23 & 24 Sydney Opera House
BUILT TO SPILL: Dec 29 The Metro PEATS RIDGE: Dec 29 – Jan 1 Glenworth Valley MARINA & THE DIAMONDS: Dec 30 The Factory SAME OLD LANG SYNE: Dec 31 Annandale Hotel SHOUT OUT LOUDS: Jan 2 Annandale Hotel MYSTERY JETS: Jan 3 The Factory INTERPOL: Jan 4 Enmore Theatre FUTURE OF THE LEFT: Jan 5 Annandale Hotel COLD WAR KIDS: Jan 6 Enmore Theatre JUNIP: Jan 8 The Metro THE NATIONAL: Jan 7 & 8 Enmore Theatre THEE OH SEES: Jan 14 Red Rattler G LOVE & PLUTONIC: Jan 15 Oxford Art Factory ANDREW WK: Jan 25 Oxford Art Factory RAGGAMUFFIN: Jan 28 Parramatta Park STEALING O’NEAL, THE MISSION IN MOTION: Feb 2 Harp Hotel, Feb 3 Caringbah Bizzo’s, Feb 4 Campbelltown Arts Centre, Feb 5 Penrith RSL, Feb 6 Cambridge Hotel YEASAYER: Feb 7 The Metro TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB: Feb 7 Enmore Theatre STORNOWAY: Feb 8 Annandale Hotel FOALS: Feb 9 Enmore Theatre BEAR IN HEAVEN, THE ANTLERS: Feb 10 Annandale Hotel FOSTER THE PEOPLE: Feb 14 Oxford Art Factory KATE NASH: Feb 16 The Metro CARIBOU, FOURTET: Feb 17 The Metro DOVES: Feb 17 Enmore Theatre SWERVEDRIVER: Feb 18 The Metro I AM KLOOT: Feb 18 The Gaelic TUNNG: Feb 19 Oxford Art Factory BLACK MOUNTAIN: Feb 19 & 20 Annandale Hotel THE HOLD STEADY: Mar 8 The Metro THE CLEAN: Mar 9 The Factory Theatre WAVVES: Mar 9 Manning Bar THE BESNARD LAKES: Mar 10 Manning Bar BLUE MOUNTAINS MUSIC FESTIVAL: Mar 18 – 20 Katoomba ZZ TOP: Apr 20 Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Apr 25 Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Apr 27 & 28 Enmore Theatre BLUESFEST: Apr 21 – 25 Tyagarah DISTURBED: Apr 25 Acer Arena, Apr 28 Newcastle Entertainment Centre KYUSS LIVES: May 7 Big Top Luna Park Concert Hall LUPE FIASCO: Jan 24 Enmore Theatre PLAN B: Jan 24 The Metro CSS: Jan 24 Oxford Art Factory CRYSTAL CASTLES: Jan 25 Enmore Theatre COCOROSIE: Jan 25 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall ANDREW WK: Jan 25 Oxford Art Factory THE JIM JONES REVUE: Jan 25 The Metro SEAN KINGSTON: Jan 25 Big Top Luna Park AMANDA PALMER: Jan 26 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Feb 1 James O’Fairfax Theatre BEACH HOUSE: Jan 26 Beck’s Bar, Jan 27 City Recital Hall HOLY FUCK: Jan 27 Beck’s Bar THE GREENHORNES: Jan 27 Annandale Hotel SUFJAN STEVENS: Jan 27 - 29 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall MIA: Jan 28 The Metro NO TRIGGER: Jan 28 Cambridge Hotel, Jan 29 & 30 Annandale Hotel, Feb 2 Bar 32, Feb 3 Stay Frosty TOMASZ STANKO QUARTET: Jan 28 City Recital Hall EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS: Jan 28 The
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Forum DEFTONES: Jan 28 UNSW Roundhouse GRINDERMAN: Jan 28 Enmore Theatre TRAIN: Jan 28 State Theatre RATATAT: Jan 28 Manning Bar ALOE BLACC & THE GRAND SCHEME: Jan 28 Beck’s Bar THE UNTHANKS: Jan 28 – 30 Famous Spiegeltent PRIMAL SCREAM: Jan 29 Selina’s BOOKA SHADE: Jan 29 The Forum (HED)p.e: Jan 29 Manning Bar OCTAVE ONE: Jan 29 Beck’s Bar THE BLACK KEYS: Jan 29 Enmore Theatre BLONDE REDHEAD: Jan 29 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall BROOKE FRASER: Jan 29 & 30 City Recital Hall CAT POWER: Jan 30 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall THE VERLAINES: Jan 30 Annandale Hotel STING: Jan 31 & Feb 1 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Feb 3 & 4 Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Feb 5 Hope Estate THE NAKED & FAMOUS: Feb 2 Oxford Art Factory SHIHAD: Feb 3 Waves, Feb 4 Cambridge Hotel,
Feb 5 Beach Road Hotel VILLAGERS: Feb 4 & 5 Famous Spiegeltent YEASAYER: Feb 7 The Metro MENOMENA: Feb 7 The Factory TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB: Feb 7 Enmore Theatre JENNY & JOHNNY: Feb 7 Oxford Art Factory BELINDA CARLISLE: Feb 8 West Leagues Club Newcastle, Feb 10 Selina’s, Feb 11 Waves, Feb 12 The Cube, Feb 13 Vikings Club, Feb 20 Rooty Hill RSL DEERHUNTER: Feb 8 The Metro STORNOWAY: Feb 8 Annandale Hotel WARPAINT: Feb 8 Oxford Art Factory SURF CITY: Feb 9 Beach Road Hotel, Feb 10 Harp Hotel, Feb 11 Oxford Art Factory, Feb 12 Mona Vale Hotel, Feb 13 Brass Monkey, Feb 17 Transit Bar FOALS: Feb 9 Enmore Theatre ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI: Feb 9 Manning Bar !!!: Feb 9 The Metro MARK SULTAN: Feb 10 Goodgod JOE COCKER: Feb 10 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Feb 12
Bimbadgen Estate, Feb 13 Centennial Vineyards LES SAVY FAV: Feb 10 Manning Bar DE LA SOUL: Feb 10 Enmore Theatre LOCAL NATIVES: Feb 10 The Metro BEAR IN HEAVEN, THE ANTLERS: Feb 10 Annandale Hotel LLOYD COLE’S SMALL ENSEMBLE: Feb 11 Enmore Theatre ANDREW MCMAHON: Feb 12 The Metro FOSTER THE PEOPLE: Feb 14 Oxford Art Factory MICHAEL BUBLE: Feb 14, 15 & 17 Acer Arena, Feb 19 Sydney Entertainment Centre DON MCLEAN: Feb 15 Enmore Theatre, Feb 18 Royal Theatre Canberra RETURN TO FOREVER: Feb 15 Sydney Opera House
FESTIVALS PEATS RIDGE: Dec 29 – Jan 1 Glenworth Valley HARBOUR PARTY: Dec 31 Luna Park FIELD DAY: Jan 1 The Domain ILLAWARRA FOLK FESTIVAL: Jan 13 – 16, Sticky Flat Bulli Showground JAZZGROOVE SUMMER FESTIVAL: Jan 14 – 16, 505, Macquarie Hotel/ Raval, Excelsior Hotel Surry Hills, Redfern Town Hall A NEW BEGINNING: Jan 15 & 16 Lake Macquarie SUMMER VIBES: Jan 16 Newcastle Croatian Club BIG DAY OUT: Jan 26 & 27 Sydney Showground RAGGAMUFFIN: Jan 28 Parramatta Park ST JEROMES LANEWAY FESTIVAL: Feb 6 Sydney College Of The Arts AUSTRALIAN BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL: Feb 10 – 13 Goulbourn GOOD VIBRATIONS: Feb 12 Centennial Park PLAYGROUND WEEKENDER: Feb 17 – 20 Del Rio Riverside Resort SOUNDWAVE: Feb 27 Eastern Creek Raceway CMC ROCKS THE HUNTER: Mar 5 & 6 Hope Estate PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL: Mar 12 – Apr 2 Carriageworks BLUE MOUNTAINS MUSIC FESTIVAL: Mar 18 – 20 Katoomba FUTURE MUSIC: Mar 12 Randwick Racecourse SUPAFEST: Apr 9 ANZ Stadium BLUESFEST: Apr 21 – 25 Tyagarah GUM BALL: Apr 29 & 30 Belford GROOVIN’ THE MOO: May 7 Maitland Showground, May 8 University Of Canberra * indicates new or amended listing this week Check with agencies for booking fees.
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 59 •
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UPRISING INTO 2011 Closing out a year of weekly comps that has unearthed the likes of Bayonets For Legs and Activate Deathray 2010’s final Jager Uprising is on Thursday night. Get down to the Annandale from 8pm to see Scatterfly, Exit Row, Forests and Dividers do battle.
SHOUT IT OUT The Swedes are known for many things; meat balls, flat packed furniture, and perhaps most importantly, the infectious sounds of bands like Shout Out Louds. The pop music maestros are playing the Annandale on Sunday with support from The Seabellies.
FURTHER THAN THE FUTURE While WikiLeaks scandals may make the Future Of The Left look dire, the band of the same name are looking anything but. They play the Annandale, Wednesday 5 January, before a slot at Pyramid Rock Festival. Joining the band are post-rock stalwarts Further.
EARTHLESS AUSTRALIA With members from Hot Snakes and Rocket To The Crypt, the dudes in Earthless have the kind of resume you’d want for a band kicking out stoner psych jams. The Californian natives make their first trip to Australia this week and play the Annandale on Saturday 8 January.
LIFE IS SWEET! If you can’t make it to Peats Ridge and were kicking up a stink because you wouldn’t see Lightspeed Champion with Brooklyn based band Spacecamp, then quit your whining. They’re playing on Wednesday at Oxford Art Factory. All of a sudden Life Is Sweet!
KINGS OF FUZZ YIS are a somewhat related, psych-rock band from Melbourne. With their aptly titled debut, Kingdom Of Fuzz, set for a February release they’re heading north to get the crowds ready. Catch them on Wednesday with The Nice Folk at Oxford Art Factory.
SAY IT’S SO Finally back Down Under to capitalise on the success of their Say It album, noisy Canadian three-piece Born Ruffians will be joined be Jinja Safari for a show on Monday night at the Oxford Art Factory.
ber that on 29 Decem DID YOU KNOW… ment oy pl Em l Youth 1964, the Liverpoo avers le d that some school Service announce fficult to get jobs were finding it di and tle’ style haircuts because their ‘Bea ers. ceptable to employ clothing were unac
ber that on 28 Decem ilson DID YOU KNOW… member Dennis W 1983, Beach Boys m his kenly swimming fro un dr ile wh d ne ow dr arina Del Rey, boat moored in M given a burial at California. He was onnel, rved for Navel pers sea, normally rese ent Reagen. attended by Presid
HAVE A BENDER With a string of festival performances lined up for the summer, fans will be glad to hear that California indie darlings The Morning Benders will be doing a side show on Tuesday 4 January, at Oxford Art Factory. Brisbanites The John Steel Singers open the show.
AFRICA’S HIP HOP AMBASSADORS
AND IN didYOUhear OTHER NEWS…
The top ten tweets and Facebook posts justifying Short Stack bassist Andy Clemmensen’s plagiarised review of Kanye West’s new album on the Channel [V] website. Note: all tweets come with a (sic) disclaimer.
1. “so who gives a fuck that andy took a couple of your lines to make his review? it was his first go, YOU should give HIM a break!” 2. “it was one fucking sentence, what is this world coming to, its not even plagirised. fuck this world is getting stupider as the days go on.” 3. “However, it IS completely understandable that he had someone else do the job for him. Hell, many of us do that in our own work everyday. That is why I still say he is smart – he was clever enough to realise that his time was limited and he chose to delegate.”
What would people remember you for? Staggering and drawling our way through countless murder ballads and songs to inspire life’s bottom dwellers, set to a backdrop of Coopers Pale spread out along the hallowed grounds of King St, Newtown, between 2001 and 2008.
What caused the split?
Faada Freddy and NDongo D share many things, a Sengalese homeland, a love of hip hop, and an all important role as part of the critically acclaimed Daara J Family. Melding traditional African music with hip hop, the duo play Oxford Art Factory with Dereb The Ambassador on Wednesday 5 January.
4. “everyone thats blaming andy, or the others, get fucked, he is apoligizing, who cares if he mis-spelt a word or two, geezus christ.!”
Liver failure.
5. “to be honest no one really cares if you did that theyre just words and we all still love you”
Is it a one-off, permanent, or see-how-itgoes?
GUINESS+SINS=FUN
6. “I love you andy .. Fuck that plagerism shit ..”
The road goes on forever and hopefully the party never ends! Time will tell!
Jazz gypsy raconteurs Waiting For Guinness are joining forces with another multi-headed musical gypsy beast, Tom Fun Orchestra, to ignite the stage of Notes on Thursday 6 January. The Sins open the bill at 8:15pm.
YOU SAY GOODBYE… The 49 Goodbyes have the supporting slot for Canadian singer/songwriter Matthew Barber, who plays Ravál Thursday 6 January in support of his fourth album True Believer.
7. “don’t worry about it, I always copy and paste stuff for history. They are just being vultures, keep your head up =]” 8. “@andyclemmensen your a Rebel.... :) lol” 9. “@andyclemmensen u shuldnt worry it wasnt your fault and we are all here to support u coz we are all ur fans :) and we loveee youu babe :D x” 10. “@andyclemmensen DONT WORRY I GET MY MUM TO DO MY ASSIGNMENTS TOO! IT’S ALL GOOD!”
ESSENTIAL VIEWING
What inspired the reformation? Dialysis.
Who’s back in the fold? Most of the original lowlifes – as always, Brad Legge on vocals and Southo bottle, Honeyboy on six string and returning to the fold Nev Anderson, Damon Quinn, Stevie B and Meaty Pye to complete the line-up.
How does the live scene now compare to your heyday? We had plenty of hay in our day, so hopefully more chicken wire this time around!
For more info see: deadwood76.com
CHILDREN COLLIDE – COMPLACENCY NO VACANCY
stanleyrecords.com
Next available at:
This “unofficial” clip made by friends of the band has everything you need for summer; picnics, kites, fights with lads and a real hatred for hair-ruining bike helmets. There’s also something about a tattooed chick in denim hotpants breaking a bunch of shit with a big sledgehammer to the garage punk of Children Collide that just screams “Fun!”
Saturday 8 January – Night of the Living Deadwood at Marrickville Bowlo
Directed by Brent Quincy Buchanan bit.ly/eFSnEH
ACROSS 6 Devonte Hynes (Lightspeed Champion) is producing the album for which Knowles sister? 7 What animal is mentioned in the title of Jason Collett’s most recent album? 9 Primus wrote the theme song for which animated TV show? 10 Supports for which high profile band helped Tumbleweed gain exposure?
DOWN 1 Which record label are Cold War Kids currently signed to? 2 Which rapper sampled Built To Spill’s I Would Hurt A Fly in the track Ballad Of The Worms? 3 Chinese New Year will occur in which month next year? 4 Auld Lang Syne was written by Scottish poet Robert who? 5 Which band will be bringing in the new year on Peats Ridge’s Lyrebird stage? 8 Foals’ single Spanish Sahara was used in season four of which teen drama? • 60 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
DEADWOOD 76
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THE CROOKED FIDDLE BAND Joe Gould – drums/vocals
What do you think is your band’s greatest strength? The way that we’ve developed our style out of many influences, people hear all sorts of things in it.
If you could time travel back to any gig in history which would it be and why? I’d like to see a genuine classical music riot, like the one at the premiere of Stravinsky’s Rite Of Spring.
What movie do you think your music would best accompany and why? Being mostly instrumental, we definitely have images in mind when we’re writing – if anyone makes a post-apocalyptic epic, Mad Max meets Lord Of The Rings type movie, I think we’d be the perfect accompaniment.
What is your favourite song lyric and why? Reality is most often summed up by Tom Waits on Step Right Up: “The large print giveth/and the small print taketh away.”
Favourite “pick me up for a big night” drink? We’ve heard that in Eastern Europe you generally buy vodka in shots by the square metre.
For more info see: crookedfiddleband.com
When and where are your next gigs? Friday 7 January – Shush Post-Festival Party at The Factory Theatre with Laneous & The Family Yah, The Woohoo Revue, The Lurkers and more.
live@drummedia.com.au
A NEW YEAR’S DISSECTION
N
ew Year’s Eve is traditionally associated with three things: booze, music and partying. The Annandale is a longstanding purveyor of all of the above and well equipped to throw one hell of a NYE bash, which they’re calling Same Old Lang Syne, and which The Gin Club, The Holy Soul, The Jewel and The Falcon and The Maladies will be playing at. With the bands we recap the year that was, and see what’s to come…
TGC: “We’ll be striving for consistency and hoping to start 2011 as we finished 2010.” TM: “To have more realistic expectations of ourselves than previous new year’s resolutions.” If 2010 was defined by Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, what do you hope 2011 will be? THS: “Masta Gravity. YouTube it... Go on!”
Another year down – was it a good one? The Holy Soul, Sam Wollard: “It was a very good year for blue blooded girls of independent means, we’d ride in limousines, etc.”
THE GIN CLUB
THE HOLY SOUL
The Jewel And The Falcon, Patrick Matthews: “2010 was so fucking good that I’m locking myself away for the rest of December because fate surely has something horrible waiting for me to counteract the blessings I received in the first 50 weeks of the year.” The Gin Club, Conor Macdonald: “I think so. We started slowly – it’s been a problem for the last few years – and midway through the year things were looking bad. We stuck together though, and after being five and ten came back to win ten of our last 11 games – including six on the trot to make the semis.” The Maladies, Daniel Babekuhl: “Mmm, as a band we were sceptical at first, but it turns out season two had just as much food in it and Adam is proving to be every bit the champion Julie was, so I’d say it was a success.” Do any highlights/lowlights stick out? THS: “If The Gin Club can boast about their new album, then we probably should mention putting out Dead Man Has No 2nd Chance with Damo Suzuki. That was pretty fun. That and Kate getting chatted up by the Eagles entourage. That pretty much obliterated any lowlights.” TJATF: “The fact that The Annandale continues to serve only Tooheys New in the cheap domestic beer category
VENUE’S A BUZZ There’s plenty going on at The Macquarie Hotel over the break, with Pugsley Buzzard due on stage Wednesday 29 December. Thursday 30 it’s Calvin Welch & The Funk Freedom Fighters early, Reyes De La Onda late while The Liberators play Wednesday 5 January.
POLTZ’S DREAMHOUSE Steve Poltz may not be a household name, but it damn well should be. Steve is the man responsible for, among other musical feats, co-writing You Were Meant For Me with Jewel. More than a one-trick pony, he has released yet another stunning solo album in the form of Dreamhouse, which he will be plugging when he plays Notes on Friday 7 January.
MIXED NOTES Looking to set a great standard for a new decade of live music at Notes, the venue is presenting a massively talented mixed bill on Saturday 8 January. There is the gypsy roots of Jesse Morris The 3 Beans, indie rockers Bayonets For Legs, Isaac Graham’s folk punk and the singer songwriter pop of Scenes From A Train.
WORKING MUSIC SCENE Jason Collett has been a fixture on Toronto’s competitive music scene for more than two decades and the Broken Social Scene member is bringing all that experience to Oxford Art Factory on Friday 7 January. Joining him are Canadian counterparts Zeus and Dead Letter Chorus.
BASKING IN BASKERY Comprising of a trio of Swedish sisters, Baskery have been touring the world on the back of their 2008 album Fall Among Thieves. Now they are bringing their dirty, country punk to the Vanguard. They play Wednesday 5 January, with special guests Jungal.
that on 4 January DID YOU KNOW… in ssaud’s Waxworks 2001, Madame Tu lGa am at Oasis singer Li London revealed th third in ‘The Most lagher had come hind ’ list of exhibits, be Hated Characters obodan Milosevic. Adolf Hitler and Sl
Will you be trying for one this year?
TJATF: “I hope that Gaga and Bieber stay just where they are. I hope that if change does occur in 2011 then it happens slowly. I need a reasonable amount of time to adjust my bearings in this Information Age. I don’t want to have to re-learn any facts. For example, in 2010, when Ryan Reynolds came from nowhere to win People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ his rapid rise overwhelmed my Monday-night-at-St.George-Leagues trivia team’s ability to answer the question ‘Who did People Magazine vote the sexiest man alive in 2010?’ And I didn’t like that.” TGC: “Will Oldham and Josh Dugan.”
THE MALADIES
THE JEWEL AND THE FALCON rates as a lowlight. No highlights come to mind. It was just generally a good year.” TGC: “Well, we smashed St George (the stupid eventual premiers) twice, though we generally do that every year. Knocking the Broncos off in Brisbane to make the finals while ruining their finals streak in the process was a highlight too. Campo’s knee injury was a lowlight. Shillo and big Tommy finishing the season as the game’s best props was a fantastic achievement for them personally, and a reflection of their hard work and the great work put in by our coaching staff. Also, The Gin Club put out a fucking sweet album called Deathwish. They also met
Robert Murphy, the AFL equivalent of Alan Tongue.” TM: “Highlight would have to be when Cat Power smiled at me. After that there can be no lowlights.”
THS: “Hopefully coming up with wittier responses to interviews of this nature.”
THS: “Yup, which was to organise a show for NYE so we didn’t have to think about what to do.”
TJATF: “I thought it was: “What will you be saving this time in 2011?” and the answer to that is effort.”
TJATF: “Yes. I illegally downloaded at least one item of media every day in 2010.”
TGC: “We’ll be strong favourites to go back to back. Eat a dick other clubs and bands.”
TM: “To make it through the night without throwing up? I think a couple of us did.”
TM: “Fuck - is it December again already? That is bullshit.”
BIG BEAUTIFUL AND SEXY
BON VOYAGE DIANA
Former Australian Idol, Casey Donovan is bringing her Big, Beautiful And Sexy show to the Vanguard on Thursday 6 January, The show features Casey’s originals as well as covers by big, beautiful and sexy music stars Aretha Franklin, Mama Cass and more.
The fiercely independent and undeliably talented singer/ songwriter Diana Anaid will play an intimate show at the Vanguard on Sunday 9 January before the release of new EP, Songs For Change, and embarking on a tour of Europe.
GYPSY ORCHESTRA
SUMMER TRIPLE BILL
BIG YEAR AHEAD
What will you be saying this time in 2011?
Did you keep to last year’s resolution?
l was paid a 06, George Michae 20 r be m at a Russian ce De 31 that on -long performance ur ho an r fo DID YOU KNOW… m .5 reported £1 sman paid for unnamed busines e Th . rty pa ar Ye te estate. billionaire’s New guests on his priva 0 30 s hi in rta te Michael to en
Modern day gypsies Doc Jones & The Lechery Orchestra use all manner of instruments from accordion and clarinet to flute and double bass to create a catchy vaudeville swing sound. They play the Vanguard on Friday 7 January, with blues pianist Pugsley Buzzard.
TM: “If it was, I hope 2011 will be defined by something slightly less heavy – the biggest man-made environmental disaster in history maybe, or a giant ash cloud that shut down Europe’s air space for a month. If it wasn’t defined by Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber, I hope 2011 will be.”
Metal rockers Dawn Of The Ages, prog-rockers The
Mulitplier Effect and pop punk newcomers Scream Infamy are teaming up for the Summer 2011 tour which stops into the Lewisham Livehouse on Friday 7 January, Lucky Australian Tavern on Saturday 8 January and the Annandale on Sunday 9 January.
NEW LOOK NIKKI Upcoming singer songwriter Nikki Thorburn has rounded out her sound with the addition of Ollie McGill (The Cat Empire) and bass player Zoe Hauptmann. The new look trio play the Sandringham Hotel on Sunday 9 January.
LET THEM IN The 3 Wise Monkeys pub will be hosting a little bit of the festive madness this Tuesday, as Dirty Little Immigrants will be making an appearance on stage. Rock – plain and simple – is on the agenda.
taste TEST WITH KATALYST OF SPACE INVADAS
Ngaiire kicks off her new year in Sydney with a headline spot at Ravál Saturday 8 January. Support comes from Montpelier, Vorn Doolette and Husky.
LIVE ADDITIONS When Deadwood 76 get back together at the Marrickville Bowlo for Night Of The Living Deadwood Saturday 8 January they’ll be joined by Jack Nasty Face, The Ramalamas, Roland K Smith & The Sinners, Satellite V, The Missing Link, Cash Only and Barry March.
STAX OF SOUL A soulful collaboration of like minded musicians, Clayton Doley’s Organ Donors and The Fabulous Rumble’ators are joining forces to bring the soul to the Vanguard on Saturday 8 January.
THIS IS HEAVY Norse and As Silence Breaks are in line to open proceedings for Darkest Hour and Carnifex Wednesday 5 January at the Factory Theatre. The show’s all ages.
The best record I stole from my folks’ collection was… Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of the Moon or Sonny Rollins – Way Out West depending on what mood you’re in. The first record I bought with my own money was… Wired For Sound ’80s compilation. The record I put on when I’m really miserable is… This changes from time to time, right now it’s the latest Strong Arm Steady LP. The record I put on when I bring someone home is… That depends on who it is, of course, but usually it’s just whatever I’m into at the time. The most surprising record in my collection is…
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Very hard for me to pin down one as there are quite a few odd/surprising records in my collection. Off the top of my head it may be something like Dolly Parton ’cause it’s got a drum break on it, but there are so many contenders. The last thing I bought/downloaded was… The last thing I downloaded was the self-titled release by Anika, which is produced by my man Geoff Barrow from Portishead on Stones Throw/ Invada Records. Last vinyl I bought was a second copy of Rough Draft and the OJ Simpson LP, which is a Guilty Simpson/Madlib collab. Space Invadas play the Peats Ridge Festival THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 61 •
live@drummedia.com.au
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR’S EVE?
HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU
LYRICS BORN – AS U WERE The human evolution sequence has been appropriated countless times over the years, even The Simpsons did it. You know the one, where the monkey gradually loses its tail, learns to walk, sheds some hair and grabs a spear, or a beer, or hunches over a computer, depending on which smart-arse graphic designer has got their hands on it.
EVIL CALLS It’s a very metal New Year’s at the Sandringham Hotel this year, with Rampage, Born From The Ashes, Hemina, Arcadia and Black Horizon all on hand to dictate your new year resolutions for you. They’re calling it New Year’s Evilution.
HOT DECEMBER NIGHT While their regular Thursday night event won’t be hosting any live bands this week, between that and Hot Damn’s New Year’s Eve special the following night are sure to bring all the things you love about the punk party night. And, for once, you don’t have to worry about it being a Friday the next day.
FEISTY TRASHBAGS Trashbags are ending a massive year with a NYE Massacre. There will be murder on the dancefloor with DJ Antention, Teenage Terror Squad DJs and Trashbags Posse DJs playing. And no Sophie EllisBextor in sight.
THE GIN CLUB
GIG OF THE WEEK
IN THE MOMENT
SAME OLD LANG SYNE
In perhaps the last event to have the Purple Sneakers name attached to it, their Last Night New Year’s Event at The Gaelic will feature The Paper Scissors, Guineafowl, Goldfields and plenty more. It sets the tone for the rest of the year where Last Night will become a regular Gaelic fixture.
Reign in the new year in true rock’n’roll style at The Annandale with $3 beers from 6-8pm and performances from The Jewel & The Falcon, The Maladies, The Holy Soul and favourites The Gin Club playing the countdown slot.
SWING IN THE NEW YEAR Sydney’s brat pack; crooners Jeff Duff, Frank Bennett and Grant Galea will be joined by the Jeff Duff Big Band at the Basement Circular Quay for a NYE filled with favourites by Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ray Charles and more.
STYLE PERIOD It’s Hollywood Babylon at the Vanguard for New Year’s Eve – so something to really get dressed up for – and The Snowdroppers will be providing your soundtrack along with Mojo Juju & The Snake Oil Merchants.
LEATHERS ON Rock’n’roll regulars L.U.S.T. are heading out on tour with Kevin Borich’s Party Boys, which will see both groups play Rooty Hill RSL on New Year’s Eve.
TOWNIE SQUARE If you are looking for a night of drinks and music on NYE look no further than Newtown’s Town Hall Hotel. There is free entry and eight live bands, including Art Rush & The New Termites, The Walk On By, MUNG, The Blindfolds and more playing from 7pm until the small hours.
TUMBLE INTO 2011 Long time grunge rockers Tumbleweed will be joined be the recently re-activated Spiderbait and Wollongong
• 62 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
became the first , Aretha Franklin 87 19 y ar nu ll Of Fame. Ja 3 that on Rock and Roll Ha e th to in ed DID YOU KNOW… ct du woman in
The cover for Lyrics Born’s latest effort features a street art-influenced graffiti style appropriation of the sequence, in reverse order, that pays homage to Tom Shimura’s Japanese heritage. There is a robotic transformer-esque being, a sumurai in full armouran athletic adult, a hip teen and a diaper-clad, chubby little baby mid-crawl – all of them have a real cartoonish hip hop steeze. Illustrator Kaseem Greene has produced a really vivid and interesting take on an old-favourite.
hard-rock band Hytest for a show at Waves nightclub on New Year’s Eve. Only Tumbleweed’s second hometown show in 15 years this is sure to be a raucous end to 2010!
DOG YEARS The Clarendon Guesthouse has pulled together a stellar line-up to ring in the new year. Headlining is the psych folk pop O’Doherty brothers in Dog Trumpet, with support from David Lane, Dean Manning and Go-Betweens’ Amanda Brown.
KNIGHT BEFORE NEW YEARS New Marrickville venue, Camelot, is hosting a New Year’s Eve party with a special performance from triple ARIA Award winning gypsy band Monsieur Camembert.
ESSENTIAL VIEWING THE JURY AND THE SAINTS – CALM THE SEA
GET YOUR SHIT IN ATTN: Local bands! If you have a gig or release in the pipeline that you want to promote, send the details, blurb (no longer than 100 words) and pic (no bigger than 1MB, NO SMALLER THAN 200 DPI and in .JPG or .PDF format) to live@drummedia.com.au. Get in quick, it’s fuckin’ FREE!
Seeing The Jury And The Saints live is like watching two five-year-old musical prodigies drink a bunch of red cordial and get on stage – they have a potentially dangerous level of energy. This clip captures that, and for some reason puts it in the middle of the bush, in front of a big screen that looks like the iTunes “visualise” setting, not that we’re complaining, it’s awesome. Directed by Daniel Strang bit.ly/ekb1LJ
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GYPSY & THE CAT WITH
GEORGIA FAIR &
BUCHANAN
THURSDAY JANUARY 13TH OXFORD ARTS FACTORY
TICKETS ONSALE AT MOSHTIX OUTLETS OR PHONE 132 438 849 OR WWW.MOSHTIX.COM.AU
LISTEN TO THE DEBUT ALBUM ‘GILGAMESH’ AT
WWW.GYPSYANDTHECAT.COM.AU
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 63 •
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28 DECEMBER 2010 - 10 JANUARY 2011
ASH GRUNWALD: WEDNESDAY 29, COOGEE BAY HOTEL
TUE 28
ADAM PRINGLE BAND: Sandringham Htl ADAM PRINGLE BAND: Sandringham Htl downstairs ANDY MAMMERS: Harbord Beach Htl BLUEJUICE, PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY, PURPLE SNEAKERS DJ’s: Marlin Htl Ulladulla BNO ROCK SHOW: Scruffy Murphys DAVID AGIUS DUO: Peachtree Htl Penrith DJAYOWENS: Star City Pyrmont GRINSPOON, HOWL, CHICKS WHO LOVE GUNS: Sawtell RSL
KID FINLEY, PEE WEE PETE: The Gaff, Darlinghurst MYME, DISCOROSSO, NATO, GEE WIZZ: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe PETER HEAD: Harbourview Htl PSYCHO MAGNET: Macquarie Htl, Liverpool RENEE GEYER: Brass Monkey ROB HENRY, MIKE BENNETT, STEVE TONGE: Observer Htl THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, AFTER THE FALL: Waves Nightclub Towradgi THEY CALL ME BRUCE: Maloney’s Hotel TIM FREEDMAN, KATE GOGARTY: The Basement TIM PRINGLE: WISEMANS FERRY HOTEL TIN SPARROW, LOVE
IN THE CIRCUS, SYE McRITCHIE: Beach Rd Htl Bondi
WED 29
ASH GRUNWALD, MAMA KIN: Coogee Bay Htl, Beach Bar BEN FINN DUO: Mean Fiddler Htl BLUEJUICE, PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY, PURPLE SNEAKERS DJ’s: Tathra Htl BRAD JOHNS: Harbord Beach Htl BUILT TO SPILL, BEARHUG: Metro Theatre COTTON SIDEWALK: Cambridge Htl Newcastle DAVE WHITE DUO: Maloney’s Hotel
THE FUMES: WEDNESDAY 29, BEACH RD HOTEL GEMMA: Observer Htl GOODNIGHT DYNAMITE: O’Malleys Kings X GRINSPOON, HOWL, CHICKS WHO LOVE GUNS: Laurieton United Services Club KAREN ANNE: The View Factory, Newcastle KINGSTON FLAVOUR: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION, SPACECAMP: Oxford Art Factory, Live Art Space LOUNGE SOUNDZ: Artichoke Café Manly MANDI JARRY DUO: Ettamogah Htl Matt Jones Trio: Scruffy Murphys MUSOS CLUB JAM NIGHT: Bald Faced Stag
PEATS RIDGE FESTIVAL, ANGUS & JULIA STONE, KATE MILLER-HEIDKE, THE AUDREYS, WASHINGTON, CLOUD CONTROL, JINJA SAFARI, + HEAPS MORE!: Glenworth Valley PETER HEAD: Harbourview Htl RENEE GEYER: The Basement RUMOUR ON FLORENCE, BOSTON SHAKER, USED BY DATES: The Wall (The Bald Faced Stag) THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT: Panthers Port Macquarie THE CHURCH: Concert Hall, Syd Opera House THE DEAD MARINES: Sandringham Htl downstairs THE FUMES, SELF IS A SEED: Beach Rd Htl Bondi TIM PRINGLE: WISEMANS FERRY HOTEL TRIVIA: Vineyard Htl YIS, THE NICE FOLK: Oxford Art Factory, Gallery
THU 30
DIRECT FROM DAKAR, SENEGAL RADIO 3 WORLD MUSIC AWARD WINNER, DAARA J FAMILY PRESENTS THEIR NEW ALBUM - SCHOOL OF LIFE. CONSCIOUS LYRICS, HEAVY BASSLINE AND KILLER FLOW PEOPLE!! BE READY TO MOVE YOUR HEAD AND JUMP UP & DOWN AFRICAN STYLE!!
JANUARY TUES 4TH EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB
WWW.EASTBRUNSWICKCLUB.COM
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS SOL NATION
WED 5TH OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY
WWW.OXFORDARTFACTORY.COM
Photo : Antoine Tempé antoinetempe.com
WITH SPECIAL GUEST DEREB THE AMBASSADOR
• 64 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
ALSO APPEARING AT FALLS FESTIVALS, WOODFORD, SUNSET SOUNDS AND SOUTHBOUND FESTIVALS.
ANDY MAMMERS: Northies Cronulla HtlSport Bar BILLY & I: Dee Why Hotel BLUEJUICE, PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY, PURPLE SNEAKERS DJ’s: Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre BONES JONES & THE SKELETONS, BEN MURPHY, EMMA DAVIDSON: The View Factory, Newcastle CAMBO: Observer Htl CLIVE HAY: Campbelltown Catholic Club DAVID AGIUS: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta DJ ALEX: Beach Rd Htl Bondi GRINSPOON, HOWL, CHICKS WHO LOVE GUNS: The Entrance Leagues HOWLER, KACHING, KIDS OF YESTERDAY: Annandale Htl JOHNATHAN DEVOY: Sandringham Htl downstairs JOSH MCIVOR: Scruffy Murphys KID FINLEY, PEE WEE PETE: The Gaff, Darlinghurst MANDI JARRY: Newport Arms Hotel MARINA & THE DIAMONDS: The Factory Theatre MARK HOPPER:
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Artichoke Café Manly Matt Jones Trio: Bull & Bush MOTH, PHONIC AIR, A WORLD LESS CRUEL, THE VINIETTES: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe NICKY KURTA: Greengate Htl PEATS RIDGE FESTIVAL, FREESTYLERS, THE DYNAMITES, DECODER RING, HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY, DEEP SEA ARCADE, + HEAPS MORE!: Glenworth Valley PETER HEAD: Harbourview Htl RENEE GEYER: The Basement ROB RHODES: Marlborough Htl ROCK FAN: Woollahra Htl ROXWELL: Star City Pyrmont SALSA ON THE ROCKS, DWIGHT ‘CHOCOLATE’ ESCOBAR: Cruise Bar, The Rocks SCOTT DONALDSON: Club Five Dock SKYSCRAPER: Miranda Htl STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Empire Htl STEVE TONGE: Harbord Beach Htl THE PIXIEKILLS, FANGS, CLAIRE BRUEN: Port Macquarie Hotel TOM & DAVE: Maloney’s Hotel
FRI 31
031 ROCK SHOW: Scruffy Murphys 3 WAY SPLIT: Chatswood RSL ANDY MAMMERS BAND: East Leagues ANDY MAMMERS BAND: Kro Bar, East Leagues Club, Bondi Junction AUSTRALIAN PLAYED: Sharkies BACK TO THE 80’S: Ettalong Beach Memorial Club BEATLE MAGIC, STRAWBERRY FIELDS, LOS GAUCHOS, PARTY SOUND MACHINE: Bankstown Sports Club BEATNIX, SOUL TATTOO: Revesby Workers, Whitlam Theatre BEN FINN DUO: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta BEN FRANCIS: The Coast Hotel, Coffs Harbour BLACK LABEL: Rooty Hill RSL BLOW: The Point Bowling Club BONDI CIGARS: Lizottes, Kincumber BOOGIE FEVER: Blacktown RSL BROWN SUGAR, TREY, DJ LIBRE: Zeta Paddington CHARTBUSTERS: Mudgee Soldiers Club
CHRIS ALEXANDER: Dooley’s, Lidcombe CYNTHIA GORDEN DUO: CLUB BELMORE DAVID AGIUS: Northies Cronulla HtlSport Bar DES GIBSON: Lansvale Htl EBONY & IVORY: Crown Htl City ELEVATION-U2 SHOW: Paragon Htl, Circular Quay ENDLESS SUMMER BEACH PARTY: Marlborough Htl FINN: Chisholm Tavern ACT FLOYD VINCENT & THE CHILDBRIDES: Lizottes, Newcastle GARY JOHNS: PJ Gallaghers Drummoyne GENR8R, KOTMATA: Nelson Bay RSL GRANT WALMSLEY’S AGENTS OF PEACE, HEARTATTACK, VINE, ZOE K: Wickham Park Htl Islington GREG LINES: Mosman RSL GRINSPOON, HOWL, CHICKS WHO LOVE GUNS: Shellharbour Workers HARBOUR PARTY, DIGITALISM, SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM, DENNIS FERRER, RIVA STARR, GOODWILL, METALS: Luna Park HED KANDI CIRCUS ILUMINA, SOUL SYSTEM, SIMON SPELLER, JUST JAMES, ANGELE, + HEAPS MORE!: Cruise Bar, The Rocks HEMINA: Sandringham Htl HUE WILLIAMS: Drummoyne RSL IAN DUSCHENE, GRACE KERNAGHAN, OVERTIME: Commercial Club, Albury JELLYFISH: Central Coast Leagues JOSH MCIVOR: Ettamogah Htl K.P: Hills District Bowling Club MAL BARNES: Drummoyne Sailing Club MARIO BROTHERS, DELLTONES: The Cube, Campbelltown MARK DA COSTA AND THE BLACK LIST: Crows Nest Htl MATT JONES: Harbord Beach Htl MIAMI HORROR, BREAKBOT, BAG RAIDERS, ANNA LUNOE, DJ EQUAL, VAN SHE TECH, + HEAPS MORE!: Cargo Bar King St Wharf
MONSIEUR CAMEMBERT: Camelot NEW LIFE DUO: Arncliffe Scots Club OZ LATIN BROTHERS: Ballina RSL PARTY VIBE: Coffs Harbour Ex Services Club PEACHY: Penrith RSL PETER HEAD: Harbourview Htl PHIL SPILLER: Artichoke Café Manly PURPLE SNEAKERS PRESENTS… LAST NIGHT, THE PAPER SCISSORS, GUINEAFOWL, GOLD FIELDS, GHOUL, + HEAPS MORE!: The Gaelic RADIO BANDITS: Campbelltown Catholic Club REGURGITATOR, BAG RAIDERS, URTHBOY: Queens Wharf Brewery Newcastle ROB HENRY: Observer Htl ROCK MY SOUL: Dapto Leagues ROSS WARD, ANDREW COUTTIE: Pyrmont Bridge Hotel ROSSI: Wagga RSL Club SEATTLE SOUND: Mean Fiddler Htl, Woolshed SOFTWAR: Beach Rd Htl Bondi STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Brass Monkey STORMCELLAR: Dry Dock Htl Balmain TERRY LEONARD, COLIN HEWITT, PETE RILEY: Dubbo RSL THE BENTON & STORM BAND: Unity Hall Htl THE CONTINENTAL BLUES PARTY: Harbourside Amphitheatre, Darling Hbr THE DEEP TRIO: Oceans Bar, Coogee THE GIN CLUB, THE HOLY SOUL, THE MALADIES, SARAH KELLY, THE JEWEL AND THE FALCON: Annandale Htl THE GLIMMER, UPSIDE DOWN MISS JANE, WALK ON BY, THE MURDER OF CROW: Town Hall Htl, Newtown THE RADIATORS: Panthers Cardiff THE VASCO ERA, THE FUMES: Cambridge Htl Newcastle THE ZIPS: Matraville RSL THIRSTY MERC, REEL SESSIONS, MISS MATCH, BETH YEN: Star City Pyrmont TONE RANGERS: Harbord Diggers TOP HATS AND TASSELS, HALF NELSON: The View Factory, Newcastle TRENTMOLLER, SHOUT
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 65 •
gigs@drummedia.com.au
28 DECEMBER 2010 - 10 JANUARY 2011
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: MONDAY 10, BECKS BAR
TUMBLEWEED: FRIDAY 31, WAVES OUT LOUDS, LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION, JONATHAN BOULET, THUNDAMENTALS, + HEAPS MORE!: Glenworth Valley TUMBLEWEED, SPIDERBAIT, HYTEST: Waves Nightclub Towradgi UN QUATRO MORTO, SLOGAN FREE YOUTH, PORN RING, WE ESCAPED, BOTTLED VIOLENE: Valve Bar and Venue, Tempe WARREN BERRY: Taree Leagues Sports Club
SAT 01
031 ROCK SHOW: Cock & Bull 13TH FLOOR: Crows Nest Htl BEN FINN: PJ Gallaghers Drummoyne BIG WAY OUT: Scruffy Murphys CARDBOARD CUTOUTS: Matraville RSL CHART BUSTERS, JAZZ EXPRESS: Penrith RSL, Castle Lounge CHRIS ALEXANDER: Revesby Workers DAVID AGIUS TRIO: Penrith Panthers DEEP TRIO: Kro Bar, East Leagues Club, Bondi Junction DES GIBSON: Lansvale Htl FINN: COOTAMUNDRA ARTS CENTRE FIONA LEIGH-JONES: Harbord Beach Htl FUNKTION: Campbelltown Catholic Club GEOFF RANA: Northies Cronulla HtlSport Bar GTS: Miranda RSL HAPPY HIPPIES: Bull & Bush JAMES SCOTT: Hills District Bowling Club JOSH MCIVOR: Mean Fiddler Htl KEEPING IT REAL: Macquarie Arms Htl LINDA JENNSON: Beach Rd Htl Bondi LUKE DIXON: Star City Pyrmont MANDI JARRY: Ettamogah Htl MATT JONES:
Del Rio Resort Wisemans Ferry MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS: Bald Rock Htl Rozelle PEPPERMINT JAM: Mounties Club Mt Pritchard REBECCA JOHNSON BAND: Bradbury Inn STEVE TONGE, DAVE STEVENS: Observer Htl STEVE TONGE DUO: Maloney’s Hotel TERRY BATU: The Bay Sports Club THE DEEP TRIO: East Leagues WILDCATZ: Mean Fiddler Htl, Woolshed
SUN 02
ALLAN CASWELL COUNTRY: Penrith RSL, Castle Lounge ANDY MAMMERS: Harbord Beach Htl BARNESTORMIN’: Paragon Htl, Circular Quay BERNIE SEGEDIN BAND: Club Five Dock DAVE AGIUS DUO: Northies Cronulla Htl DIRTY DEEDS - AC/DC SHOW: St George Leagues ELEVATION-U2 SHOW: Orient Htl FUN PUPPET: Scruffy Murphys GLENN WHITEHALL: Miranda Htl JIVE BOMBERS: Kro Bar, East Leagues Club, Bondi Junction JOSH MCIVOR: Coogee Bay Htl KATH NELLIGAN: O’Malleys Kings X KLASSIC KOOL TRIO: Mittagong RSL LAZY LOUNGE SESSIONS, BENNY TEE: The View Factory, Newcastle LJ: Panthers North Richmond MANDI JARRY: Mounties Club Mt Pritchard PETER NORTHCOTE, BARRY LEEF: Bridge Htl Rozelle ROB HENRY, MIKE BENNETT: Observer Htl ROSS WARD: Heathcote Hotel STEVE EDMONDS BAND: Wickham Park Htl
• 66 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010
Islington SUN SETS, DJ STRIKE: Cruise Bar, The Rocks TERRY BATU: Wisemans Ferry Inn THE CAVEMEN: Bald Rock Htl Rozelle THE NOMADS, MC RAYJAH45, SHAMICK, MIKE WHO, DJ ABILITY: Beach Rd Htl Bondi THE TONEDOGS: Macquarie Arms Htl THE WHITE BROS: Ettamogah Htl THUNDERSTRUCK-AC/DC SHOW: Mean Fiddler Htl, Woolshed WHITE BROS: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta WILDCATZ: Campbelltown Catholic Club ZOLTAN: Mean Fiddler Htl
Vineyard Htl
CAMBO, BERNIE: Observer Htl MANDI JARRY: Coogee Bay Htl OPEN MIC NIGHT: Macquarie Arms Htl RECKLESS: Scruffy Murphys STEVE TONGE: O’Malleys Kings X
3 WAY SPLIT: Penrith Htl ALL STAR DUO: Hillside Htl Castle Hill BEN FINN: Macquarie Htl, Liverpool BLONDE 182: Customs House Sydney CALIFORNICATION- RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS: Bull & Bush CAMBO: PJ Gallaghers Drummoyne DAN SPILLANE: Mean Fiddler Htl DAVE WHITE DUO: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta DAVID AGIUS: Orient Htl DEEP DUO: Woolloomooloo Bay Htl DOLLSHAY: Mounties Club Mt Pritchard GARY JOHNS: Greengate Htl HAPPY HIPPIES: Adams Tavern JOHNNY VINYL + STRIKE: Cruise Bar, The Rocks JOSH MCIVOR: Parramatta RSL KATH NELLIGAN: O’Malleys Kings X KEEP THE FAITH - BON JOVI SHOW: Scruffy Murphys LUKE DIXON: Harbord Beach Htl MATT PRICE: Ettamogah Htl
THU 06
CAMBO: Observer Htl CHART BUSTERS: Scruffy Murphys DAVID AGIUS: Harbord Beach Htl HEATH BURDELL: Greengate Htl JOSH MCIVOR: Northies Cronulla HtlSport Bar KATRINA BURGOYNE: Dee Why Hotel MANDI JARRY: Green Park Hotel NICKY KURTA: Marlborough Htl SALSA ON THE ROCKS, DWIGHT ‘CHOCOLATE’ ESCOBAR: Cruise Bar, The Rocks SAM & JAMIE BAND: Maloney’s Hotel THEY CALL ME BRUCE: Club Five Dock
MON 03 FRI 07
TUE 04
BNO ROCK SHOW: Scruffy Murphys KATH NELLIGAN: O’Malleys Kings X ROB HENRY: Observer Htl THEY CALL ME BRUCE: Maloney’s Hotel
WED 05
BEN FINN DUO: Mean Fiddler Htl DAVE WHITE DUO: Maloney’s Hotel GEMMA: Observer Htl GOODNIGHT DYNAMITE: O’Malleys Kings X MUSOS CLUB JAM NIGHT: Bald Faced Stag RECKLESS: Ettamogah Htl THIRD WATCH: Scruffy Murphys TRIVIA:
NICKY KURTA: Town Hall Htl Balmain ROB HENRY, GOODNIGHT DYNAMITE: Observer Htl SAM & JAMIE BAND: Kirribilli Htl SCREAM INFAMY, DAWN OF THE AGES, MULTIPLIER EFFECT: Lewisham Livehouse SHINE: Club Five Dock SUPERJAM: Jewells Tavern, Jewells, Central Coast TALL POP SYNDROME: Crows Nest Htl TERRY BATU: Bidwell Hotel
SAT 08
ABBALANCHE: Waves Nightclub Towradgi ALEX K, SUNSET BROS, OUTSOURCE, RATA, + HEAPS MORE!: Empire Htl ANDY MAMMERS DUO: Penrith Panthers BEN FINN: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta CARAMEL: Maloney’s Hotel CHRIS PATON: Northies Cronulla HtlSport Bar CLAYTON DOLEY’S ORGAN DONORS, THE FABULOUS RUMBLE’ATORS: The Vanguard DAVE WHITE EXPERIENCE: Crows Nest Htl DEADWOOD 76: Marrickville Bowling Club DEEP DUO: Newport Arms Hotel EARTHLESS, NUNCHUKKA SUPERFLY, SUPERFLY, DEAD FARMERS, NAKED ON THE VAGUE: Annandale Htl EMMYLOU HARRIS, THE RED DIRT BOYS, AMOS ROACH, DAVE ARDEN, PAUL KELLY, + HEAPS MORE!: The Domain FASTRACT ZODIAC: Hotel Gearin, Katoomba GARY JOHNS: PJ Gallaghers Drummoyne GEORGE B: Macarthur Tavern Campbelltown GRINSPOON, HOWL,
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CHICKS WHO LOVE GUNS: Mounties Club Mt Pritchard HAPPY HIPPIES: Ettamogah Htl HEATH BURDELL: Clovelly Htl HELLO CLEVELAND: Mean Fiddler Htl HIP NOT HOP: Australian Hotel & Brewery, Annangrove HOUSE DJS: Cruise Bar, The Rocks IGNITION: Scruffy Murphys IOTA: The Famous Spiegeltent Sydney Festival JEFF DUFF TRIO: Kirribilli Htl JIVE BOMBERS: Club Five Dock JON ENGLISH, JONAH’S ROAD: Lizottes, Newcastle JOSH MCIVOR: Bull & Bush JUNIOR JACK, KID CREAM: Ivy, Sydney JUNIP, GHOUL: Metro Theatre KALEEKO, THE DEAD LOVE: Fitzroy Htl Windsor KEVIN BORICH, L.U.S.T: Cardiff Panthers Killers Show: Kiama Leagues LINDA JENSSON: Beach Rd Htl Bondi LUKE DIXON: Star City Pyrmont MANDI JARRY: Woolloomooloo Bay Htl NGAIIRE, MONTPELIER, VORN DOOLETTE, HUSKY: Raval NICKY KURTA: Greengate Htl REBECCA JOHNSON BAND: Earlwood Bardwell Park RSL ROAD CREW: South Hurstville RSL ROB HENRY: Harbord Beach Htl SAM & JAMIE BAND: Mean Fiddler Htl, Woolshed SCREAM INFAMY, DAWN OF THE AGES, MULTIPLIER EFFECT: Lucky Australian Tavern Sydney SHARRON BOWMAN: Brewhouse Pub Marayong Shawn Lidster: The Entrance Sails Stage SKYSCRAPER: O’Malleys Kings X SLEIGH BELLS, BAIO,
RAT VS POSSUM, PURPLE SNEAKERS DJ’s: The Forum Ent Quarter Moore Park STEVE POLTZ: Notes, Newtown STEVE TONGE, DAVE STEVENS: Observer Htl TERRY BATU: Mortdale Htl THE BEATELS: Coogee Diggers THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, THE CHEMIST: Yamba Bowling Club THE DYNAMITES, CLINTON WALKER, EDDIE PERFECT, IOTA: Hyde Park THE NATIONAL: Enmore Theatre THE REVENGE, BRENNAN GREEN, MATT TROUSDALE, THE LOIN BROTHERS: CIVIC UNDERGROUND
SUN 09
2 DAYS HITS: Harbord Beach Htl ANDY MAMMERS: Mounties Club Mt Pritchard ASTRONOMY CLASS, FIREHOUSE BENTLEY: Beach Rd Htl Bondi BOWMAN SISTAS: Club Five Dock BROADFOOT: Newport Arms Hotel CARL FIDLER, ROB HENRY, MIKE BENNETT: Observer Htl DAVE WHITE DUO: Northies Cronulla Htl DAVID AGIUS DUO, NICKY KURTA: Ettamogah Htl DIANA ANAID, KATE GOGARTY, REMO STREEET, LAB 64: The Vanguard DJ STRIKE: Cruise Bar, The Rocks DOLLSHAY: Mean Fiddler Htl DWAYNE ELIX & THE ENGINEERS: Penrith RSL, Castle Lounge ELEVATION-U2 SHOW: Orient Htl EMMYLOU HARRIS, THE RED DIRT BOYS: State Theatre FINN: Bald Rock Htl Rozelle
GEMMA GLENDENNING: Fubah on Copa, Copacabana GREG BRYNE: Woolloomooloo Bay Htl JP: O’Malleys Kings X KITTY DAISY, LEWIS: The Famous Spiegeltent Sydney Festival MATT JONES: Novotel - Brewery Bar, Olympic Park MATT PRICE: Woolwich Peir Hotel MOS DEF: Enmore Theatre NIKKI THORBURN: Sandringham Htl OLD MAN LUEDECKE: Cat & Fiddle PHILL SIMMONS, DAVE BERNOTH: Campbelltown Catholic Club SAM & JAMIE BAND: Northies Cronulla HtlSport Bar SANDIE WHITE TRIO: Mittagong RSL SCREAM INFAMY, DAWN OF THE AGES, MULTIPLIER EFFECT: Annandale Htl SIX FINGERS, KISTIANO CARROLL, CHARLIE BROWN, BANZEL, DJ REGZ: The Roxy Parramatta STEVE POLTZ: Hotel Gearin, Katoomba STU MORRISON: The Entrance Sails Stage THE DYNAMITES, CHARLES WALKER, I LIKE IT LIKE THAT ORCHESTRA, DJ STEVIE G: Beck’s Bar, Sydney Festival THE IDEA OF NORTH: Lizottes, Newcastle TUMBLEWEED, DROPPING HONEY: Great Northern Byron Bay WHITE BROS: PJ Gallaghers Parramatta
MON 10
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, THE LAST KINECTION, NICK TOTH, THEIF: Beck’s Bar, Sydney Festival CAMBO: O’Malleys Kings X EMMYLOU HARRIS, THE RED DIRT BOYS: State Theatre JANUARY WALTER LAMPE TRIO: 505, 280 Cleveland St Surry Hills REPLIKA: Scruffy Murphys SARAH PATON: Observer Htl
The Needs
With Special Guest Toni Bird
The Roxbury Hotel 182 St Johns Rd Glebe
Saturday, January 8, 2011 ENTRY $10 Starts 7:30pm
Follow The Needs@www.theneedsaus.com Designed by: Ulysses Prescilla (u.prescilla@hotmail.com)
THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 67 •
YOUR AD IN THIS SPACE CALL JAMES AT DRUM MEDIA ON 9331 7077
REHEARSALS - RECORDING
We have moved 200 metres me down the road to 6/26 Phillips Rd Kogarah - Turn left at the end of Production Ave and we are on the left hand side -
www.thesoundbasement.com 9588 6952 - 9587 0180 info@thesoundbasement.com
STREET POSTERS
4%34%$ #/.34!.4,9 /. (5-!.3 9 /. (5-!.3 4%34%$ #/.34!.4,
Ph: 9905 0390
email: office@shoogposters.com
YOUR AD IN THIS SPACE CALL JAMES AT DRUM MEDIA ON 9331 7077 • 68 • THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMEBR 2010
YOUR AD IN THIS SPACE
CALL JAMES AT DRUM MEDIA ON 9331 7077
STUDIO
2
$500 + GST a day with an engineer if you mention Drum Media
50 mins North of Syd.
Contact Kathy on 02 4362 3299 or info@thegrovestudios.com
Join the ranks of Australian Recording history: Silverchair, The Butterfly Effect, Eskimo Joe, Angus and Julia Stone, Kisschasy, Operator Please, Grinspoon, Missy Higgins, INXS, The Whitlams, Little Red...
www.thegrovestudios.com
Level 7 Studios EP PACKAGE
5 days Recording and Mixing ng Mastering with Benchmark 1000 Replicated CD’s with full colour printing All for only $6.80 per CD Packages include an exclusive meeting with the A&R Department nt
Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year!
EWI034
The Th Benchmark in Mastering International standards at affordable rates for f Australia’s independent music scene Make your budget sound big! Ma
Don t forget to ask about our current 15 Mastering discount while it lasts Don Don Bartley s B artley s
For all a studio and mastering inquiries: info@benchmarkmastering.com www.benchmarkmastering.com www.level7studios.com.au (02) 9211 3017
Benchmark Mastering THE DRUM MEDIA 28 DECEMBER 2010 • 69 •
BOOKING AGENTS
EMPLOYMENT
Gig Launch is Australia’s first online booking agency. Gig on a Japanese Boat for 6 months at AU$3000 per month, Submit your music to feature films, Play at any of the Scorcherfest festivals and Apollo Bay! Just head to www.giglaunch.com.au iFlogID: 10004
ADMINISTRATION BASS PLAYERSLAPPIN DOUBLE BASS double slappin bass player needed for rockabilly band based in sutherland all experienced players great/ singerguitarist-own rehearsal studio-we have the legendery john manfredas on lead/any ages if your the buisness give pete a ring 0419637381 or email pgsmash@iprimus .com.au iFlogID: 9633
SINGING LESSONS - MODERN VOCAL Singing & Songwriting Lessons - Rock/Pop/ Indie/R’n’B/Punk. Signed artist with 10 years experience. Recorded over 100 times. Pay per lesson - no contracts. Lessons can be either at Gordon music school rooms or in Wahroonga. Beginners through to experienced singers welcome. 1hr Lessons only $60. Also open in school/Uni holidays! Call AJ on 0448-080-619 iFlogID: 10112
ENTERTAINMENT Australia’s leading online employment and news website dedicated to backstage. The website is free to search and join with out any hassles of membership fees. www.backstagejobs.com.au iFlogID: 9953
FOR SALE AMPS Bass rigs, (2) Peavey Tour 700 head, as new, Hartke 15 & 2x10 boxes. $1100. also GK 700RB head & RBX quad. $1200. both in cases, great cond. Ph. 0404080319. iFlogID: 10063 Fender Super Reverb. 1969 Vintage 4 x 12” combo. Minor cosmetic damage. Great amp. $2895 or near offer. Call Frank 0434 686 755 or 02 9740 8333. iFlogID: 9809 HUGHES & KETTNER TRIAMP MK2 Amazing sounding amp! Used on Top 40 Aria recordings and National Arena Tours. Priced to Sell $2800 PHONE LUKE: 0400077901 iFlogID: 9677
DUPLICATION/ MASTERING Deluxe Mastering: Melbourne’s premier mastering specialists for CD, vinyl and online release. Servicefocused, relaxed atmosphere, decades of experience in all genres, custom analogue signal path. Noobligation quotes & mix evaluations. See website for credits. w: www.deluxemastering.com.au e: adam@ deluxemastering.com iFlogID: 9854
EP RELEASE EVERY SONG - RADIO READY! SPECIAL PRICE avail for singer/songwriters until end of January 2011...Have 5 songs produced, mixed & mastered for ONLY $499 per track!!! Email info@nathaneshman.com for more details as conditions apply. Visit www.nathaneshman. com for audio examples iFlogID: 9963
160SL compression, 4-way front-of-house, 3-way active fold-back. 30years+ experience in the music industry. Custom rigs to your requirements. iFlogID: 10181 P.A hire, staging, lighting for corporate, pubs, clubs and festivals. Using top quality outboard gear; Lexicon, Allen & Heath, Sure 4.800, DBX drive-racks, 160SL compression, 4-way front-of-house, 3-way active fold-back. 30years+ experience in the music industry. Custom rigs to your requirements. iFlogID: 10183 PA Hire - Quality sound equipment with experience operator. FOH up to 6000watts, fit any venue. JBL, Quest, Allen & Heath, dbx, Shure and lightings. Suitable for all types of functions/bands and more. Viera - 0431757635 iFlogID: 10245 PA Hire Sydney.Band Pa systems 500 watts to 5000 watts.Immaculate sound reasonable rates.Phone john on 041 8221680 or 800 40439.Corporate rigs available: see website www.crystalsound.com.au iFlogID: 9990
PHOTOGRAPHY SMT Media is all about capturing what live music is all about....... Artists have included Guns’N’Roses, PINK, Beyonce, Foo Fighters etc. Affordable hourly rate for local artists. For further information please contact Sarah at...... Email: smtxposure@yahoo.com iFlogID: 10033
Eternal Post Production
iFlogID: 9698
RECORDING SERVICES
Complete Album & Demo Recording, Production, Instrumentation,CD Mastering. Pop, RnB, Country, Gospel etc. I’m comitted to acheiving for you the highest quality in a creative, friendly environment. 30 years of experience. Email info@johnertler.com or visit www.johnertler.com for more info and to hear examples of my work. ph 02 9654 8143 mob 0400 323 982 iFlogID: 8842
GUITAR TUITION BY MAL EASTICK Guitar tuition customised to the individual-all levels. Blues, rock, theory, equipment & tone my specialties. 37yrs professional experience in Tuition, gigging, recording, production, songwriting, arrangements, the enjoyment of music & improving your best. Central suburban Sydney location. Limited vacancies. Phone: 0407 461 093 - Email: mal@maleastick.com iFlogID: 9375 GUITAR/DRUMS/BASS/PIANO Tuition from Conservatorium trained multi-instrumentalist. All Ages, All Styles, All levels. Preparation for AMEB Exams and University Auditions or just learning for fun? Lessons to suit individual preferences. Sample videos at www. fabienmusic.com Ph 0402728532 iFlogID: 10093 HARMONICA AND GUITAR LESSONS All styles taught, from beginner to advanced. Learn from an experienced teacher, with over 15 years teaching experience. In the Balmain area. For more details phone Mitch on 0431599835. iFlogID: 9825
TEACHER TO THE STARS STEVE OSTROW VOCAL COACH who started the careers of Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Peter Allan, and countless others now accepting limited amount of private students all styles pop, classical, beginners welcome. Call me on 0408461868 iFlogID: 9227
VIDEO / PRODUCTION Get your Band or Business Online Cost effectively About Us, Photogallery, Videos, Audio Jukebox, Gig Dates, Links, Contact Us, Forums and much more from $399 including Hosting! Contact info@bizwebsites.com.au or see www.bizwebsites.com.au iFlogID: 9994 MUSIC VIDEOS offer a great way to gain exposure. Immersion Imagery has worked with over 20 artists and strives to offer quality creative Music Videos at an affordable price. Visit www.immersionimagery.com or email info@immersionimagery.com iFlogID: 10054
MUSICIANS AVAILABLE BASS PLAYER Experienced bass player who performed internationaly available. I have pro gear and atitude. Can play any style and technique. I’m looking for something serious and full time. Contact tmcbookings@gmail.com iFlogID: 10007
HIRE SERVICES
OTHER
For as low as $100, you get a professional PA system with a sound mixer with operator. Suitable for weddings, pub/club band gigs, private parties etc. infovision@yayabings.com.au Contact Chris 0419 272 196 iFlogID: 9834 INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED PRODUCER! Credits include: Marcia Hines, Candice Alley, Ex-Toto frontman Fergie Frederikson. Have every song produced at radio standard...under every budget. Visit www. nathaneshman.com, email info@nathaneshman. com or call 0403 498 103 for package prices...from demos, to singles and full albums. iFlogID: 9965
Pedal Steel Player recently moved from London looking for working band/sessions etc. Much experience both live and in the studio.Also plays six string guitar and bass and sings harmonies. iFlogID: 10132 Professional Freelance Producer/Musician available for gigs/touring/studio work. All Styles. Sample Videos and Audio found at www.fabienmusic.com Ph 0402728532 iFlogID: 10091 SAXOPHONIST AVAILABLE-----Experienced saxophonist based in Sydney is looking for bands and studio sessions. Jazz, funky, afro, reggae, latin, rock, folk. If interested contact Lorenzo at 0410041979 or lorenzo_colombo@tiscali.it Cheers. iFlogID: 9909
LEGAL / ACCOUNTING DETAX GOT ME A GREAT REFUND!
SINGER Wollongong area - Versatile female vocalist, student, 22 years old, looking to create band or join band, most styles except metal. Can also play basic rhythm guitar and piano. email hstrong@live.com.au iFlogID: 10256
INSTRUMENTS, AMPS, STUDIO GEAR All used, great condition: Samick Piano $3000, Ibanez Prestige Guitar $2000, Peavey Classic 30 amp $800, Hartke 3500 Bass Rig $1000, Cort A5 Bass $900, Pearl Export Kit $1200, Zildgian Cymbals $1600, Mackie ADAT $1500, Digi 002 Rack + Pro tools LE 8 $1100, Focusrite Preamps/Compressor $550, Rode Classic 2 $1100, Rode NT1 x 2 @$175, Shure drum mics $400, ++studio gear, ++BOSS FX pedals, for sale. Full details and photographs at http://tinyurl. com/MusicInstEquip iFlogID: 10149
BASS Warwick Streamer II 5 String Bass Guitar. As made famous by Dirk Lance of Incubus. As new condition. iFlogID: 9774
DJ EQUIPMENT DJ & Midi Gear for Sale Tonium Pace maker dj mp3 & mixer $500, Novation Launchpad $160, Novation Nocturn $150, Icon I-control $79, Korg MicroKorg $400. Newtown ph: 0430 422 902 iFlogID: 10095
DRUMS Drums 4 sale Pearl forum,good condtn $500 call 0439649331 iFlogID: 9791 Roland TD-12 V-Drum Kit. Includes Tama Iron Cobra double kick pedals, HiHat stand and drum throne. Also, Roland PM-3 Sub and Amp box with 2 rackmounted satellite speakers. All in excellent working condition. $5000 ono. 0404 084 854 iFlogID: 10263 Win a Pearl Forum drum kit with cymbals. Drummers Paradise are celebrating their 21st birthday by giving away a Pearl Black Forum 5 piece kit with cymbals. Just go to www.drummersparadise.com.au to enter. Prize is Drawn Dec 21st a noon. iFlogID: 9939
17 yr/o guitarists available to join or create a hard rock/metal band. got quality gear and attitude, keen to get going ASAP , so call us at 0435510600 if ur interested to make something great. iFlogID: 10108 Experienced Guitarist looking for good Sydney Cover Band. At 23 I have been playing for over 10 years, have 4 years professional touring experience, Pro Gear (Fender, Gibson, endorsed by Mesa/Boogie). Email anthony at anthony320chmiel@hotmail.com No Time wasters please. iFlogID: 9720 Experienced guitarist searching for musicians into hard rock blues - Aerosmith/Cheap Trick/KISS/The Faces/Thin Lizzy/Rose Tattoo/Pride & Glory/Whitesnake - to join or start band. I have contacts,pro gear,transport and original music. Contact me on 0433 904 419 or www.reverbnation.com/ shaunchristensen iFlogID: 9718 Lead guitarist looking to form/join a heavy metal band,on the central coast. Influences: Mercyful Fate, Judas Priest, Metallica,Iron maiden,Kalmah,Dethklok - Blake 0403138542 iFlogID: 9836 SESSION GUITARIST available to play on your next track remotely via the internet. Great quality tracks without the expenses of studio time and travel. Perfect for producers/songwriters Excellent equipment,tone and touch, 20 years experience. For examples further information- www.rockethouseproductions.com iFlogID: 9844
MUSICIANS WANTED
KEYBOARDS Akai-Miniak V.A-Synthesizer just bought in-Canada. Brandnew. In-box with wrappings-manuals-etc. 37 semi-weighted-key-synth with 40-band Vocoder, Drummachine on-board, THREE MODwheels, from Akai-Pro/Alesis. Has N.American plug-adapter, so-I’m throwing in a brand-new Step-down transformer ($60 value) $575. Way-way below Aus-retail. Pickup/cheap delivery within Sydney, iFlogID: 9996
Detax will maximise your tax refund or minimise your tax liability, by applying years of Entertainment & Arts industry tax knowledge & personal industry experience into each and every tax return. Individual Tax Returns from only $99. Discounted rates available for multiple years. Phone Dave Elliott 0434 979 269 or email Detax@optusnet.com.au iFlogID: 9978
MANAGEMENT
DRUMMER
MINSTREL MANAGEMENT Need help with your music career? We provide the best in Recording, Mastering, Tours, Promotion, Publicity, Solicitation, Merchandise, Music Video’s, Photography, International Licensing, Direct to fan Marketing campaigns. WANT TO TAKE YOUR ACT TO THE NEXT LEVEL? www.minstrelmanagement.com iFlogID: 9681
‘Alexi’ are looking for a drummer. We are a Rock band based near Wetherill Park who require a Reliable and motivated Drummer. Must have own equipment and transport. For more info visit www.myspace.com/ alexitheband. For an audition email us via chantellalexi@iinet.net.au iFlogID: 9829
ANIMAL WANTED 4 SUNS OF SU
MASTERING THE BUTLER MASTERING
We’re looking 4 a dynamic, dedicated and dependable drummer 25-35 with transport, gear and drive to join us. log onto www.sunsofsu.com. If u dig it call 0400101071. iFlogID: 10235 Sydney contemporary rock band is looking for a young vibrant 22-30-yr drummer to join now!!! Songs ready to go, gigs waiting for us and we are ready to record our first album early 2011. iFlogID: 9661
We have been working in our new room for some of the most talented around the globe and we’re getting some amazing results. // Drop us a line to hear your music in a world class listening environment, or send us some files to hear a sample of our results. We are as passionate about your music as you are, and guarantee our work for a reason. // PRICING IS FIXED... EP $320 / ALBUM $600 // This is a complete package cost and does include attended sessions, which we encourage. // Check us out at... www.the-butler.com ... or drop me a line on 0403 435 686. // Paul Butler Tayar // THE BUTLER MASTERING iFlogID: 10140
GUITARIST A new metal project requires guitarist and bassist to write and gig/play energetic metal. No boring crap. Currently in Campbelltown area Professional gear. demo available currently recording mathew_black@ hotmail.com Matt 0406785596 iFlogID: 10177
DRUM SKIN GRAPHICS, GUITAR & AMP PERSONALIZATION, CUSTOMISED DJ GEAR, BANNERS & MORE! an independent design and graphics service aiming to create a unique & personal magic to performing artists, musicians, venues and events coordinators for reasonable cost. SEARCH 102designs ON FACEBOOK! iFlogID: 10047
GUITARIST WANTED TO TEACH
BAND MERCHANDISE NOT AVAILABLE FOR FREE ADS. CL - PRO QUALITY BACKING TRACKS! - MIDI or MP3 Any song you want - Send me the song today, Get the MIDI file the next day! - $25 for MIDI / $35 for mp3 - EMAIL: vangelis2133@yahoo.com PHONE: 0449672435 iFlogID: 9706
FEMALE SINGER REQUIRED
Jellybean Jam is looking for a young energetic female Singer. Plenty of work. Check out www.jellybeanjam. com.au and see if this gig is for you! Email andy@ jellybeanjam.com.au all your details including bio,headshots and any audio. Auditioning early 2011 iFlogID: 10083 FEMALE SINGER WANTED for sydney based covers band. Agent backed with gigs booked. Playing pop/ rock/funk covers from katie perry to Jacksons. Experienced singer with own transport required. Please email the band on rob4004@gmail.com iFlogID: 9921
You MUST be a great male singer-songwriter! Drummer is forming a fast paced original rock band to get signed to a 360 deal. Must be ambitious, selfmotivated, committed, reliable and have a lot of drive. Musical direction: Muse, The Killers etc. Age: 18-30. Rehearsing at Wetherill Park N.S.W. Only contact me if you want to get signed to a 360 deal! E-mail Will: cooleywill2@hotmail.com iFlogID: 10201
SERVICES GRAPHIC DESIGN Professional Band and Business Websites: Videos, audio clips/jukebox, Photogallery, Gig Dates, About Us, Contact Us and much more from $399 fully hosted. See www.bizwebsites.com.au or contact info@ bizwebsites.com.au today! iFlogID: 9840 providing unique designs at affordable prices. Our services include logos, web design, banners, business cards posters and many more services listed on our site. Prices start from as low as $140. Mel 0402 7796 254 www.melissahowarddesign.com Qualified and experienced designer. iFlogID: 10185 V E R D E S I G N website designs for small businesses www.VERDESIGN.com.au iFlogID: 10216
OTHER
FROM $49/DAY CREATIVE SUPPORT
Do you have an Iphone? If yes, please download my free app, radio bondi, cheers iFlogID: 9653
EARPLUGS FOR MUSICIANS
PRINTING
SEAN CAREY - PRODUCER
PIANO: BLUES, ROOTS & POPULAR
BAND & DJ SIGNAGE!!
I’m experience bass player wanting to form or join prog rock/metal band. I’ve got pro gear, good atitude. Please hit me back if you need a bass player or are interested in doing something together. Contact tmcbookings@gmail.com iFlogID: 10078
NOT AVAILABLE FOR FREE ADS. CL
MUSIC SERVICES
Singer wanted (male or female) for established Sydney-based alt-country band. Influences include Johnny Cash, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, the Rolling Stones, Steve Earle, Neil Young, Nick Cave and the Beasts Of Bourbon. If you’re looking for money or fame, we’d suggest that you look elsewhere but if you want to play regularly, tour occasionally, release stuff and generally have a ball, then you’ve come to the right place. We are recording our new album very soon. You must have a job and a car. All ages are welcome to apply. Phone Graeme on 0434 058 245 or email gra.gra321@gmail.com iFlogID: 10160 CAUSTIC ATTACK are a Sydney based Grindcore band in search of a vocalist. This vocalist must listen to: Napalm Death Carcass Morbid Angel Repulsion Celtic Frost Discharge Doom Crass If you’re interested contact us via myspace. www.myspace.com/ causticattack iFlogID: 9870
SONG WRITER
MIXERS
Hyosung 2007 GV250 Motorbike, Learner Legal, 5600km. rego until march. Serviced at 5000k and running perfectly. Tyres are good, Clutch is good, brakes good, everything on this bike is in great condition. ph: 0430422902 iFlogID: 10097 PENTAX MZ 50 FILM CAMERA WITH SIGMA ZOOM LENS 28mm-80mm.PLUS AA BATT HOLDER/GRIP. VERY GOOD CONDITION.IDEAL FOR PHOTO STUDENT iFlogID: 9876 Quested F11.. 2 way active near field monitors. Pro grade quality. Good Condition. $1395 or near offer. Call Frank 0434 686 755 or 02 9740 833. iFlogID: 9813
SINGER ALT-COUNTRY SINGER WANTED
GET SIGNED TO A 360 DEAL!
Mackie Onyx 1620 analog mixer w/ SKB Mighty Gig Rig on wheels (Complete mobile PA / recording system can be racked in this rig). 8 preamps w/ direct recording out. iFlogID: 9850 Sell Control Surface Digidesign Control 24 (Focusrite) in excellent condition, $5000. Selling because moving overseas. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions and in order to discuss the price. iFlogID: 9736
OTHER
OTHER Guitaring psytrance producer located north-west of sydney with ample free-time forming a Rock-Trance act to play at bush parties and eventually clubs using loop pedals and programs. keys/drums/bass/other musicians wanted for collaboration, gigs and good times. Search gmabbit online. iFlogID: 10118 Members wanted for new band in Lower Blue Mountains. Prefer mature age. All styles Must be able to practice Friday 5pm Telephone David 0411 618 536 iFlogID: 9730
BASS PLAYER
OTHER
NOT AVAILABLE FOR FREE ADS. CL
KEYBOARD ATTRACTIVE FEMALE KEYBOARDIST + Backing vocals with real talent.Regualar paid shows. Possible opportunity to sing some lead.You need to be 18-26yrs, size 8-12, own equipment & transport, driven for a music career. Band has top management & agent. (02) 9590 7601 iFlogID: 9667 FEMALE KEYBOARDIST WITH BACKING VOCALS WANTED! PAID WORK. Must be 18-25yrs with own gear and transport. Regular paid shows with Management backed band with booking agent. Ph: 0410 621 791 iFlogID: 9665 Keyboard player wanted for tex mex, blues band , to join guitar bass and drums . 3 easy going guys , ready to gig .Age is not a consideration just your ability . Call Dan 0411778606 iFlogID: 9750
~Rock band Black Matches are seeking a good quality bass player to complete their four piece. Originals ready to go and keen to gig asap! If you’re like minded with good gear/transport please contact Simon on 0414859684. Demo’s at www.myspace. com/blackmatchesband iFlogID: 9739 Slappin’ double bass player needed to complete rockabilly trio. Ph: 0403 30 2884. iFlogID: 9868
GUITARS FENDER SRATOCASTER. PINK PAISLEY. genuine early 80’s.with hardcase.all origional.plays great.beautiful tone and sustain.very rare.suit collector. exellent condition. $2500. Ph 0428744963 iFlogID: 9815 FENDER STRATOCASTER DAN SMITH 1982. RARE MOCHA BROWN. ORIGINAL BODY AND PARTS. IN FENDER CASE. EXCELLENT CONDITION. CALL 0432 224 799. FOR MORE INFO. iFlogID: 9895 MATON accoustic steel string 3/4 guitar.model F 11.dated 10/73.no 1591. all australian timbers. good origional condition.suit collector.$500. Ph 0428744963. Cooroy iFlogID: 9811
Second guitarist wanted to work with a guitarist to form a new Doom/Stoner/Sludge metal band. call 0431-836-604 iFlogID: 9704
www.wigile.com. “360 degree” participation: Artist Management. Business Support. Production Support. Multimedia Design & Management. Customer Care. Web / IT. Software Development. Get the Business Advantage and Go the Next Step. info@wigile.com Office: +61 2 8011 3144 iFlogID: 10166 www.ozjam.com.au is free to join, and with over 4500 members its fast becoming the largest online music community in Australia! If your looking to join or form a band, find a band member, or get exposure check Ozjam out today! iFlogID: 9941
PA / AUDIO / ENGINEERING CHEAP RATES, GOOD GEAR, 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE. 2x15” AND 2x12” FOH, 2X FOLDBACK AND SIDEFILL. SHURE MICS, STANDS,LEADS. FOUR PAR56 CANS. SUITABLE FOR ANY BAND. INNER SYDNEY BASED. PHONE DANNY 0413694830 OR EMAIL dannypavlovic@yahoo.com.au iFlogID: 9768 P.A hire, staging, lighting for corporate, pubs, clubs and festivals. Using top quality outboard gear; Lexicon, Allen & Heath, Sure 4.800, DBX drive-racks,
looking for keen and creative drummer to start playing live and wanting to make it big. Must want to make originals and be dedicated. Please get in contact if interested, Sam, 0431953894 iFlogID: 10252
We seek guitar players who are looking to earn money teaching guitar. Training and teaching materials are supplied. Teach from one of our schools or your own location. Limited positions available. Visit www.g4guitar.com.au for details. iFlogID: 7447
ROCK GUITARIST WANTED
DRUMMER
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD! Whether it be drumskin decals, logo design, or a portable stage backdrop, allow Brainchild Project Management take your gig to the next level. You sound great, now look great - dont be just another Band/DJ at just another venue...let your fans know who you are, and advertise your name at the same time! iFlogID: 9852
RECORDING STUDIOS Affordable, high quality audio production. Recording/ Mixing/Mastering and more. Over a decade of experience, working with award winning artists. Visit www. simonpaul.com for rates and details. iFlogID: 10128
Sean Carey (ex Thirsty Merc) is now the In-House Producer/Engineer at the original TRACKDOWN Studios in Camperdown. Multi-platinum artist with over 10 years of production experience. Vintage guitars, mics, gear. Get the most out of your songs! www.myspace. com/seancareyproducer. Ph: 0424923888. iFlogID: 9141 Guitar & Bass Tuition. Electric & Acoustic. Private one on one lessons, all age groups catered. Beginner thru intermediate. Theory, Rock, Blues, Slide, Finger Picking & Improvisation techniques. Phone Terry 0402 993 268. Sutherland Shire. iFlogID: 10020 GUITAR LESSONS with experienced and qualified tutor. Who has 20 years of studio and live performance. Rock, pop, jazz, theory, etc.etc. Beginners to advanced. In the convenience of your own home. Good results guaranteed. Phone Oles on 0407413143 email oa@olesart.com iFlogID: 10153
Spaces available now. Specialized tuition from Don Hopkins (Big Wheel, Captain Matchbox). Teaching piano since 1985. Individual sessions. Improvisation, piano technique, theory. Songwriting skills. Beginners to advanced. Get to where you want to be. donhopkins@me.com 0425201870 iFlogID: 9712 SAX TUITION--------------Easy way to learn saxophone for students of different ages (from kids to adults) and different levels (from beginners to advanced). $35/hour Lorenzo 0410041979 iFlogID: 9911 SINGING LESSONS Certified Speech Level Singing (SLS) Instructor. Learn the Technique of over 120 Grammy award winners. Extend your Range. No more Breaks/Flips. Develop Strength. All Styles. Eastern Suburbs. www.myspace.com / mazvocalstudio Contact Maz: maz@mazmazak.com iFlogID: 9795
Drummer available, Gosford area, call Patty 0415680575 iFlogID: 9951 Im a 17 year old drummer Based in Sydney im hard working and don’t stop till I get it right I can play most genres of music please give me a call on: 0421814437 iFlogID: 9689 Professional Drummer Available for Gigs, Tours, Recording Sessions. Professional Drum tracks and Band Charts supplied for use at Rehearsals and Live Performance. www.steeledawson.com iFlogID: 10136
GUITARIST Pro guitarist / singer available
iFlogID: 10022
Protect your hearing with custom moulded earplugs designed to reduce the level of sound without adversely affecting the frequency response of the music. Choose between 10,15 and 25dB attenuation. Fitted by professional audiologist, by appointment only. Ph 9387 3599 iFlogID: 10110
TUITION Introduction to Sound and Music technology, 2 day seminar at Trackdown. Lecture series covers: •Audio recording fundamentals •Pro Tools 9 and Sibelius 6 in detail •Notes provided, ideal for senior High school students Visit www.Sumsound.com.au/ seminars for info iFlogID: 10120
WANTED OTHER Well experienced rock guitarist sought to complete five piece Sydney covers act. Must have good gear, backup vocals, and good tonal knowledge. We play hard rock; no pop. eg ACDC, Stone Temple Pilots, Hendrix, Black Crowes, Zeppelin, Chillis, Foo Fighters etc. Although being fairly casual and having lives outside of the band, we are very serious about delivering a loud,tight,and professional show, and need someone who wants to commit to regular prac and gigs, is competent and seasoned on guitar, has decent backups, good jokes, and is ready learn the songs quickly and proper. Heroes or big egos need not apply. iFlogID: 10207
Sharon where are you?...My Disco Queen! we tared up the dance floors at the Black Soul in Enfield & at the Zero6 at the Xross.....Paul 0414669730 iFlogID: 9946 to matt damon.. and the 7foot something guy from the yha.. does anyone know you?? i keep trying to ring the places where i think you’d be to no avail..i know its been years.. please call.. iFlogID: 9741
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