V I C T O R I A’ S 2 N D H I G H E S T C I R C U L AT I N G S T R E E T P R E S S BY 110 C O P I E S
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
W E D N E S D AY 2 9 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 ~ I S S U E 11 5 5 ~ F R E E
TAME IMPALA - INNERSPEAKER MELBOURNE SYDNEY BRISBANE
MELBOURNE - MORNINGTON PENINSULA - BALLARAT / BENDIGO - GEELONG / SURF COAST
32,903
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WED 29 DECEMBER
THE BOYS
6pm Free in the Front Bar
THU 30 DECEMBER
FEE BROWN AND THE HIGHWATER 6pm Free in the Front Bar
FRI 31 DECEMBER
CLOSED
CLOSED
SAT 1 JANUARY
TUE 4 JANUARY
FEE BROWN AND THE HIGHWATER 6pm Free in the Front Bar Open...MON - THU...from 4pm ‘til late FRI...from 2pm ‘til late SAT - SUN...from 12pm ‘til late
MEGAN BERNARD
8.30pm
Live Music Bookings wesleyannebookings@gmail.com www.wesleyanne.com.au
Summer Special Two for one meals on Mondays (excludes steak, fish and specials)
bookings: 9482 1333 twitter.com/inpressmag
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PSR-E323
YRS24B Australia’s favourite e student recorder Durable ABS resin construction. ction.. Easy to play and keep clean. n. Includes fingering chart and d bag.
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 AUDIOGRAM 3 makes it easy too record your music on the go. PC C 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 th h pro’s demand the
DTXPLORER
Q Quality Qu Yamaha shells, ball-clamp tom hholders o 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 itional, hobbyist. With 100’s of trad 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.
VICTORIA A&B Musical Instruments
175 Malop Street
GEELONG
3220
03 5222 2019
www.aandbmusic.com.au
Cranbourne Music
130 High Street
CRANBOURNE
3977
03 5996 6955
www.cranbournemusic.com.au
Cranbourne Music
204 LaTrobe Street
MELBOURNE
3000
03 9654 5115
www.cranbournemusic.com.au
Dale Cleves Music
238 Timor Street
WARRNAMBOOL
3280
03 5562 9188
www.daleclevesmusic.com.au
Drumtek
529 - 535 High Street
NORTHCOTE
3070
03 9482 5550
www.drumtek.com.au
Eastgate Music
313 - 315 Whitehorse Road
BALWYN
3103
03 9888 6899
www.eastgatemusic.com
Five Star Music
102 Maroondah Highway
RINGWOOD
3134
03 9870 4143
www.fivestarmusic.com.au
Future Music
22 Sixth Avenue
BURWOOD
3125
03 9808 8988
www.futuremusic.com.au
Gallin’s Musician’s Pro Shop Blackburn
145 Whitehorse Road
BLACKBURN
3130
03 9877 0689
www.gallinsmps.com.au
Gallin’s Musician’s Pro Shop Fitzroy
410 Brunswick Street
FITZROY
3065
03 9416 4499
www.gallinsmps.com.au
Gallin’s Musician’s Pro Shop Prahran
196 Chapel Street
PRAHRAN
3181
03 9521 2599
www.gallinsmps.com.au
Gallin’s Musician’s Pro Shop Windsor
112 Chapel Street
WINDSOR
3181
03 9510 5200
www.gallinsmps.com.au
J’s Music City
33 View Street
BENDIGO
3550
03 5442 3293
www.jsmusiccity.com.au
Keyboard Corner & kc’s rock shop
137 Boronia Road
BORONIA
3155
03 9761 0003
www.keyboardcorner.com.au
Mannys
161 - 163 St Georges Road
NORTH FITZROY
3068
03 9486 8555
www.mannys.com.au
Music Junction Camberwell
204 Camberwell Road
EAST HAWTHORN
3123
03 9882 7331
www.musicjunction.com.au
Music Workshop
39 Fyans Street
GEELONG
3220
03 5221 5844
www.musicworkshop.com.au
Newtone Electronics
216 - 226 Barkly Street
FOOTSCRAY
3011
03 9689 9511
Newtone Electronics
291 - 297 Springvale Rd
SPRINGVALE
3171
03 9558 5888
Pats Music
940-944 Centre Road
OAKLEIGH SOUTH
3167
03 9563 8711
www.patsmusic.com.au
Prestige Pianos & Organs
102 Bell Street
PRESTON
3072
03 9480 6777
www.prestigepianos.com.au
Sky Music Supplies
2181 Princes Highway
CLAYTON
3168
03 9546 0188
www.skymusic.com.au
Troy House of Music
184 Barkly Street
FOOTSCRAY
3011
03 9689 4622
www.troymusic.com.au
World Of Music
809 Nepean Highway
BRIGHTON EAST
3187
03 9557 8600
www.worldofmusic.com.au
Wrights Music
366 - 368 St. Georges Road
NORTH FITZROY
3068
03 9489 0809
www.wrightsmusic.com.au
TASMANIA Barratts Music
104 George Street
LAUNCESTON
7250
03 6331 9355
McCann’s Music
141 - 143 Elizabeth Street
HOBART
7000
03 6234 4544
www.mccannsmusic.com.au
Modern Musician
106 Murry Street
HOBART
7000
03 6234 5537
www.modernmusician.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.
229 Chapel St, Prahran. 9521 5985. PRESALE TICKETS:
Tuesday.......................... 5 - 11pm Friday.................... Midday - 11pm Wednesday................... . 5 - 11pm Saturday......................... 5 - 11pm Thursday......................... 5 - 11pm 20% STUDENT DISCOUNT
thecolonel@coloneltans.com.au
WEDNESDAY 29/12 BANDROOM FROM 7.30PM
BACK BAR FROM 6PM
LOST &FOUND RY EVEEEK W
WHITT | ADALITA SPIDEY THURSDAY 30/12 BACK BAR FROM 6PM
3181 THURSDAYS
FREE ATARI, SUPER NINTENDO & SEGA MASTER SYSTEM GAMES. 50% OFF FOOD FOR 3181 RESIDENTS AND LOCAL TRADERS
SUNDAY 02/01
TUESDAY 03/01
BANDROOM FROM 10PM
MELBOURNE FRESH
(FREERANGE–UK)
UONE MURAT KILIC YOKOO STEVE WARD JAMIE STEVENS
WHO NICK THAYER JUNJI MASAYAMA DISCO HARRY RANSOM SUNSHINE T-REK MIKE CALLANDER SILVERSIX BOOGS SPACEY SPACE
THE MELBOURNE FRESH INDUSTRY SHOWCASES AT REVOLVER UPSTAIRS SHOWCASE UNSIGNED MELBOURNE BANDS, SINGER SONGWRITERS, MC’S, COMPOSERS AND ANY OTHER FORMS OF MUSICAL EXPRESSION THAT DEMAND SHOWCASING!
COMING UP
4/1 CAPTAIN STU 5/1 INVISIBLE BOY (TAS) 6/1 MASSAI REVOLVER FRIDAYS
7/1 JOHN SPRING (GER) 13/1 POWERFUL OWL SPEAKER TV PRESENTS
14/1 LUCKY DIP
15/1 GOLD PANDA (USA) SUNDAY SUMMER SERIES
16/1 RADIOSLAVE (REKID-BERLIN)
20/1 THE RED LIGHTS (LAUNCH) 21/1 TONE DEAF PRESENTS THE LATE SHOW
22/1 MOWGLI
(DEADFISH - ITALY)
22/1 THE BANDED SOUND SINGLE LAUNCH
HANS DC | WHO CLOSED 30TH DECEMBER.
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www.revolverupstairs.com.au
BACK BAR FROM 8PM UNTIL MIDDAY MONDAY
(USA)
STRANGE TALK
www.coloneltans.com.au
SATURDAY 01/01
NEON INDIAN MILTON CASIOKIDS JACKSON (NOR)
50% LOCALS THURSDAY DISCOUNT
All presale tickets available through MOSHTIX: Phone: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) on-line: www.moshtix.com.au or all Moshtix outlets, including Polyester (City & Fitzroy)
COLONAL TANS RE-OPENS TH 4 JANUARY
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28/1 BLIND MUNKEE SINGLE LAUNCH
29/1 GUEST OF GHOSTS EP LAUNCH 4/2 THE NACIONAL EP LAUNCH
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ISSUE 1155
No.109
WEDNESDAY 29 DECEMBER 2010
BRUNSWICK
Thurs 30 December
The Native Plants
Pop propagated with rock 7.30pm
FRI 31 December
New Year’s Eve Spoonful The mighty Spoonful see in 2011 with two highly charged sets of smokin’ hot rock and roll. As the clock ticks midnight, you’ll know you’re in the right place. 9pm
INPRESS ALBUM OF THE YEAR BACK TO INPRESS
INPRESS 16 18 21 22 24 26 28
A year in the music industry with The Front Line Foreword Line brings you all the latest tour announcements Our Album Of The Year is revealed An in-depth look at the year the Earth struck back An overview of the Inpress writers’ faves of 2010 Polling the nation with our National Poll Wrap-Up And here, in all their glory, are our Writers’ Polls
FRONT ROW 42 It’s not just music, y’know... Front Row Best Of 2009
50 Gigs over the break? LIVE has all you need 50 Gig Of The Week can’t believe Junip are back together (and touring) 52 Our columnists wrap up ‘10; first up, NY Conversation 52 The best punk of the year with Wake The Dead 52 Haugy counts down his best ten metal albums of the year in The Racket 53 Adam Curley thanks the gods of music in The Breakdown 53 The best blues and roots in Roots Down 54 Feedback parties in a Northcote laneway and digs Biffy Clyro 56 Jeff Jenkins pores over the year Howzat! 57 Fred Negro dishes out the annual Pub awards 58 Our Gig Guide fills your diary until mid-Jan 66 Take care of that last-minute Christmas shopping with our classy Classifieds
CREDITS
EDITORIAL
Group Managing Editor Andrew Mast Editor Shane O’Donohue music@inpress.com.au Front Row Editor Daniel Crichton-Rouse frontrow@inpress.com.au Contributing Editor Adam Curley Staff Writers Bryget Chrisfield, Michael Smith
ADVERTISING sales@inpress.com.au National Sales & Marketing Director Leigh Treweek Victorian Sales Manager Katie Owen Senior Account Executive Nick Lynagh Bands &Local Advertising Dean Noble Arts, Dance & Fashion Advertising Connie Filidis Sales Assistant Kobi Simpson
DESIGN & LAYOUT artroom@inpress.com.au Group Art Director Stuart Teague Inpress Cover Design / Art Direction Matt Greenwood Layout Matt Davis, Matt Greenwood, Stuart Teague
ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATION accounts@streetpress.com.au Reception Holly Engelhardt Accounts Receivable Anita D’Angelo Accounts Payable Qing Shu
CONTRIBUTORS Senior Contributors Clem Bastow, Jeff Jenkins Overseas Contributors Tom Hawking (US), James McGalliard (UK), Sasha Perera (UK). Writers Nick Argyriou, The Boomeister, Atticus Bastow, Steve Bell, Alice Body, Tim Burke, Luke Carter, Dan Condon, Anthony Carew, EJ Cartledge, Chris Chinchilla, Jake Cleland, Rebecca Cook, Kendal Coombs, Adam Curley, Cyclone, Guy Davis, Carolyn Dempsey, Liza Dezfouli, Lizzie Dynon, John Eagle, Guido Farnell, Sam Fell, Bob Baker Fish, Robert Gascoigne, Cameron Grace, Stu Harvey, Andrew Haug, Andy Hazel, Andrew Hickey, Joey Lightbulb, Michael Magnusson, Baz McAlister, Keith McDougall, Sam McDougall, Tony McMahon, Count Monbulge, Luke Monks, Fred Negro, Mark Neilsen,
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Roger Nelson, Danielle O’Donohue, Matt O’Neill, James Parker, Adam Psarras, Josh Ramselaar, Paul Ransom, Leonie Richman, Symon JJ Rock, Antonios Sarhanis, Ingrid Sjolund, Dylan Stewart, Nic Toupee, Rob Townsend, Danielle Trabsky, Dominique Wall, Doug Wallen, Jeremy Williams.
PHOTOGRAPHERS Senior Contributor Kane Hibberd Jesse Booher, Chrissie Francis, Kate Griffin, Andrew Gyopar, Lou Lou Nutt, Gina Maher, James Morgan, Heidi Takla, Nathan Uren.
INTERNS Andrea Biagini, Stacey Elms-King
EDITORIAL POLICY The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder. By submitting letters to us for publication, you agree that we may edit the letter for legal, space or other reasons. ©
DEADLINES Editorial Friday 5pm Advertising Bookings Friday 5pm Advertising Artwork Monday 5pm General Inquiries info@inpress.com.au (no attachments) Accounts/Administration accounts@streetpress.com.au Gig Guide gigguide@inpress.com.au Distribution distro@inpress.com.au Office Hours 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday
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15
THE
FRONTLINE
INDUSTRY NEWS BY SCOTT FITZSIMONS
A YEAR IN THE INDUSTRY A pair of hippies crashed the ARIAs
Louis after being shat on by birds. Street Press Australia announced that they would be launching their Sydney dance and lifestyle magazine, 3D World, in Melbourne and Brisbane in August.
AUGUST
Drum Media (owned by Street Press Australia, publisher of Inpress) celebrated 1,000 issues with a collector’s 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. Sydney’s 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, California’s Coachella suffering from the cancellations. Live Nation announced it would be setting up offices in Australia – U2 would be its first project later in the year.
JANUARY
Things didn’t start 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 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 Red Bull Award. The MusicOz awards descended into chaos with ticket mix-ups and collapsing on-stage scaffolding. Mark Linkous, AKA Sparklehorse, took his own life, 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, and Alex Chilton of Big Star also departed the mortal realm. OK Go had had enough of EMI’s video-embedding policy and left the label for independence while Whitley has had enough of the industry as a whole. Distribution and sales company Other Tongues launched in Sydney and the same city’s The
16
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 Woodfordbased 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 Colin Hay got generous with his Down Under royalies
MAY
Hey Hey It’s Saturday was back and topical once more, 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, 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 Song 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.
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.
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 through their own survey. The decision came down that composers of Men At Work’s Down Under would have to pay five percent 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, the band now suing the photographer. Wollongong venue Oxford Tavern closed its doors and Kings Of Leon cancelled a show in St
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 album Harlem River Blues, Justin Townes Earle checked into rehab in order to curb his ongoing struggles with addiction.
OCTOBER
The ARIA and PPCA driver’s seats were finally filled, 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 come 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 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 in order to allow for Phil Tripp’s retirement. The magazine and other assets were bought by Street Press Australia the following month.
NOVEMBER
quantity of sales determining their billing – failing. Kanye West accumulated more than 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 Brett Murrihy started new stable Artist Voice with Matt Gudinski, 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 line-up was 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
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 $1.1m by promotion agency Three Degrees Marketing on the claim of unpaid bills. Julia Gillard decided to reshuffle 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 re-form. 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
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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, 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 tragically. 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 aging ranks this month. Film Victoria provided a grant towards the making of the documentary, Rowland S Howard: Autoluminiscent.
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. The 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 on 69.
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17
FOREWORD LINE
NEWS FROM THE FRONT
BOXING DARYL
In a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years, Daryl Braithwaite has notched up an impressive string of hits, first with Sherbet (Howzat, Cassandra, Life, Child’s Play, Magazine Madonna) and then as a solo artist (You’re My World, As The Days Go By, One Summer, The Horses). Braithwaite plays from his impressive back catalogue at the Espy this Sunday, Boxing Day, with the Dale Ryder Band, Headspace and Bad Boys Batucada. Entry is free, music starts at 5pm.
BLACK SUNDAY
The Black Sorrows are best remembered for their Top 40 Australian hits of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Hold On To Me, Chained To The Wheel, Harley And Rose and Snake Skin Shoes. Leader Joe Camilleri is one of the true legends of Australian music. The band play the Espy on Sunday 2 January with the Dale Ryder Band, Headspace and Bad Boys Batucada. Entry is free, music starts at 5pm.
GET DOWN TO EARTH WEDNESDAY 29 DECEMBER
BLANKFACE DISTORTION
THE FICTION KILLYRSLF BLANKFACE ARKESTRA
ENTRY $6, 8.30PM
Californian stoner psych lords Earthless are embarking on their maiden voyage to Australia this week, starting with a performance alongside You Am I and Airbourne at the Espy’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Earthless feature members of Hot Snakes, Rocket From The Crypt and OFF! and are inspired by the likes of The Groundhogs, Amon Duul II, Black Sabbath, Hawkwind and Jimi Hendrix. As well as their New Year’s Eve show, the band also play the Arthouse on Sunday 9 January. Thirsty Merc
THURSDAY 30 DECEMBER
TRAIDMARC J. WATERS & BPA DRIFT ‘N’ DICTION TNT
ENTRY $15 DOOR, $10 PRESALE THRU MOSHTIX 8.30PM
MOTOR RUNNING Motörhead play – correction – Motörhead ARE loud, fast, dirty, bluesy rock’n’roll with an unrivalled, ruthless attitude; obnoxious yet dignified. For more than 35 years have uniquely pioneered both heavy metal and punk rock, and are revered by aficionados of both genres. Although Motörhead’s line-up has changed since their formation in 1975, the band’s main auxiliary consists of three long-standing members: guitarist Phil Campbell, drummer Mikkey Dee and founding member, figurehead and demi-god, Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister. Motörhead are personified by the gravel-laden vocals, phenomenally articulate lyrics and rumbling bass playing of Lemmy. From his days as a roadie for the Jimi Hendrix Experience to playing bass in ‘70s psychedelic rock band Hawkwind, to forming Motörhead, Lemmy has mowed his own path, defying odds, balking stereotypes and ignoring fashions, fads and trends. Of him, ex- Guns ‘N Roses guitarist, Slash (who played on Motörhead’s 1992 album, March Or Die) says, “Lemmy’s like one of my all-time fucking heroes... I really appreciate everything about him”. Returning to Australia in 2011, the band play Festival Hall on Saturday 26 March. Tickets go on sale Wednesday 12 January from Ticketmaster. Lemmy: The Movie is released 3 March through Hopscotch.
SQUARES RUMBA
The New Year’s Eve party starts early at Fed Square, with Melbourne five-piece Tumbarumba kicking things off at 8pm. The group’s sizzling fusion of samba, reggae, funk and Brazilian beats have seen them share a stage with the likes of Paul Kelly, Clare Bowditch, Gotye and Blue King Brown. Tumbarumba will set the scene for a night of funky beats, guaranteed to get you on your feet. The fun continues from 8.30pm when Funk Junk take over the stage with a high-energy drumming set with 500 drums and percussion instruments distributed to the crowd for a live jam session, before the fireworks over Yarra Park at 9.15pm. As the clock winds down, The Hit Parade will rock the stage with everybody’s favourite party tracks. It’s all-ages and free, of course.
FRIDAY 31 DECEMBER
CLOSED
SATURDAY 1 JANUARY
CLOSED SUNDAY 2 JANUARY
RESIDENCY
12LB
MIMI VELEVSKA BROKEN CRAYONS ENTRY $5, 9PM
MONDAY 3 JANUARY
CAPTAIN STU (SOUTH AFRICA) PIRANHA PARTY LOONEE TUNES
ENTRY $10, 9PM $2 POTS!
TUESDAY 4 JANUARY
THE WHOLE MOLKO SPECIAL GUESTS ENTRY 8.30PM $10 JUGS!
COMING UP: 12LB (SUNDAYS IN JAN) CAPTAIN STU (3 JAN) JANTINA GARDNER (5 JAN) ENNIS TOLA (6 JAN) THIRTY ONE FIFTY (7 JAN) LUCY’S CROWN (VIDEO LAUNCH) (8 JAN) SKARLET BLUE (13 JAN) NEW SKINN (14 JAN) THE SCARECROWS (15 JAN)
SUMMER IN THE COUNTRY
OPEN YER SOUL
Jimmy Barnes will headline the Red Hot Summer Tour next month, with guests Noiseworks and Thirsty Merc.Barnesy has recently released his 16th solo album, Rage And Ruin. In his live shows Barnes showcases new material as well as all of the hits from his magnificent solo and Cold Chisel careers. Noiseworks also have a huge back catalogue, with a huge set of hits that includes Take Me Back, Touch and Hot Chilli Woman. Thirsty Merc will be playing tunes from their most recent album, Mousetrap Heart as well as their massive self-titled debut and follow-up Slideshows. The Red Hot Summer Tour hits Warrnambool Racecourse on Sunday 2 January, Mildura Soundshell on Sunday 9 January, the Bonnie Doon Hotel on Saturday 15 January, the Morning Star estate on Sunday 16 January, Eureka Stadium in Ballarat on Saturday 22 January and the Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Complex in Morwell on Sunday 23 January. Tickets are $69.90+BF from Ticketmaster.
Fresh off the back of recording album number two, Deep Street Soul are taking over Bar Open for a very special New Year’s Eve show to hail in 2011, laying down two sets of the roughest and dirtiest southern-styled funk this side of Memphis. With special guest Mighty May Johnson on vocals duties, this is gonna to be a get-down affair of the funkiest kind – at possibly the only venue on Brunswick St that wont charge you a pretty penny to enter! Feel the funk from 10pm. Entry is free.
BORN FREE
Canadian natives Born Ruffians make their welcome return to our fair shores this week their Australian tour kicks off at the Northcote Social Club with a Pyramid sideshow this Sunday. Winning over crowds in 2009, Born Ruffians’ toured the country on the back of their debut album, Red, Yellow And Blue. Now they’re back with their latest offering, Say It. With a combination of howling vocals, jagged guitar, punching bass and infectious drum beats, Born Ruffians make a whole lot of noise for a three-piece.
DISCO TO BENDIGO It’s time to say good riddance to the year that’s been and wipe the slate clean in a moment of musical abandon. This year, the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood will host a New Year’s Eve party of epic proportions, with DJ CC:Disco! (Kiss FM), Press Gang (PBS FM) and Mohair Slim (PBS FM) from 9pm to 3am. Having supported the likes of Spinderella (Salt-N-Pepa), Gerling, Anna Lunoe, Hoops, M.A.F.I.A, Moonchild and many more, CC:Disco! mixes nu and old disco with the occasion ‘80s tracks. Bringing in the new year with style is Press Gang, making you sweat with genre crunches and sinking her teeth into a tasty mash up or two. And finally, the unmistakable sounds of Mohair Slim will take you on a dancefloor journey back in time with an insatiable mix of soul, rhythm n’ blues and ska 45’s. Get your tickets pronto! Pre-sale tickets $15, $20 on the door. Head to bendigohotel.com.au.
$2 CARLTON POTS EVERY MONDAY FRIDAY 31ST DECEMBER
PBS 107.6FM PRESENTS SOULA-GO-GO THURSDAY 6TH JANUARY
HUSKY/PLANET LOVE SOUNDS FRIDAY 7TH JANUARY
SHOW OFF SERVICES TURNS TWO FEAT. THE TOM FUN ORCHESTRA FRIDAY 18TH FEBRUARY
TORO Y MOI
THURS 30TH DECEMBER
THURS 6TH DECEMBER
THURSDAY DJS: SCOTT & CHARLENE’S WEDDING DJS
LOVE SOUNDS
MAN FROM THE METEOR XMAS PARTY HUSKY/PLANET
FRI 31ST DECEMBER
106.7FM PRESENTS: SOUL-A-GO-GO NEW YEARS EVE PARTY! NEW YEARS EVE! W/PBSVINCE PEACH, MISS GOLDIE, PIERRE BARONI, RICHIE 1250, MANCHILD & G SEVEN FRI 7TH DECEMBER
FRI 14TH DECEMBER
SHOW OFF SERVICES 2ND BIRTHDAY! PARKING LOT EXPERIMENTS THE TOM FUN ORCHESTRA (CAN) + TIGER CHOIR (TAS) + WET WINGS (NZ) +TIGER & ME + THE BON SCOTTS + TANTRUMS 18
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SAT 15TH DECEMBER
STORE BOUGHT COOL 7” LAUNCH W/ KENNY CORNFLAKES + KILLING LIARS + ALEX & TRISTAN
FOREWORD LINE
NEWS FROM THE FRONT Violent Soho
HARVEY MILKS IT
Highly regarded as one of the best DJs in the world, DJ Harvey got the early-morning crowds going at Meredith and is now playing his only Melbourne club show on New Year’s Eve at the Toff In Town. Joining in the always debauched dancefloor madness of The House deFrost, which will host the Toff’s NYE frivolities, DJ Harvey has commanded a cult-like following since his early days of disco in England in the ‘80s. Also spinning on the night will be DJ Garth (Grayhound Records/Wicked Crew) and your humble hostess Andee Frost. Tickets are $62+BF from Moshtix and the venue, strictly limited to 250! Doors at 10pm.
ORLANDO’S SO GAY
TONE UP, GET VIOLENT Do you remember all of 2010? The Tone Deaf crew don’t – they reckon they spent too much time organising parties (and, more to the point, partying) to have many memories. So they’re going to create some new ones to forget all over again on the biggest night of the year. Head to Ding Dong this New Year’s Eve and catch Violent Soho, who’ve spent 2010 conquering the world, touring America with Dinosaur Jr and having their debut album released on Thurston Moore’s label. Most importantly, the boys know how to put on one ball-tearing show that will leave you wringing the sweat out of your shirt. They’re joined by the mighty Redcoats and the Tone Deaf DJ crew which will include some very special NYE guests as they (and you) party until dawn. Better yet, tickets are only $20+BF! Grab one from oztix.com.au.
NEW YEAR’S SINNERS
Sin City tear up the stage one last time for 2010 when they fire up at the new Alternative Rock Club at the Railway Hotel in Brunswick on New Year’s Eve, Saturday 31 December. It’s been a fiery year for Melbourne’s favourite riot rockers, seeing them rip up Sounds Loud and Rock The Bay Festivals, release the radio favourite Don’t Eat Your Heart Out and hit the road with The Vibrators (UK), Guttermouth (USA), Casino Rumblers and The New Christs. Alternative Rock Club is Melbourne’s newest late-night haunt, located at 291 Albert St. Brunswick. Entry is $10, with eightDJs blasting out alternative anthems from every era plus a secret special guest band. Doors open 8pm to 7am and rock’n’roll satisfaction is guaranteed!
RIDE THE PINK PONY
New Years Eve is always a big night and let’s face it, by the time that calendar ticks over to 2011, you’re gonna be well on your way. When other places are herding punters out onto the street like the cattle they think you all are, Pony is opening its doors! The mighty Pink Fitt will be turning those nooks and crannies at Pony in a dancefloor frenzy fit only for your first hours of the new year. It’ll be the DJ’s second last shift at the venue, too, so make sure you raise a glass to one of Melbourne’s finest record collections while you’re there. Doors open at 1am and the tunes will keep going until 7am. If you’re still alive then, you’re on your own.
Have you heard of Orlando? Maybe you’ve been? Maybe you’ve waited patiently in line to get into the biggest and best queer party in Brunswick? The stupidly good night has been running for 18 months now, and this New Year’s Eve it gets even bigger with a pants-dropping bash at Thousand Pound Bend, titled ‘Gay Abandon’! The Orlando DJs will be spinning the greatest songs of 2010 as well as “all those overplayed indie tunes” because, well, it’s New Year’s and they love ‘em, as do we. Plus, all proceeds are going to Equal Love, which means that by going you’ll also be doing something proactive for the community. Drunk activists – scary. There’ll even be a smoking area. Win! Tickets are $15 from the venue, $20+BF from Moshtix or $25 on the night (if available) from 8pm.
GROUSE TO THE MAX
It’s guaranteed to be a bangin’ New Year’s Eve at the Cornish Arms in Brunswick, with Grouse Party pulling out a massive line-up of queer DJs. In fact, there’ll be 11 DJs to welcome in 2011! The huge bill features Maximum Blade (Philadelphia Grand Jury/ Sia’s drummer), Ann Ominous (Grouse Resident), X-Fade (Texta Queen), Melodee Maker & Cuteface Killah, Shorty (Paris), Sookie Smackhouse, Coreycrushcore & Aaron, Blaberunner and Whisky Business. It all kicks off at 7pm with a free vegetarian BBQ and bar specials from 7pm to 9pm. Grouse Parties can be pretty full-house prone (as seen at the recent birthday edition), so grabbing a ticket ASAP is advised. Pre-sale tickets are limited and on sale now through Moshtix. Details at grouseparty.tumblr.com.
HOUSE PARTY
Baltimore dream pop darlings Beach House return to Australia next week for their much anticipated Teen Dream tour. Since their breakthrough album Teen Dream was released on Sub Pop early this year (out locally on Mistletone), Beach House have become one of the most adored indie-to-mainstream crossovers of recent times. Led by charismatic chanteuse Victoria Legrand and guitarist Alex Scally, Beach House’s live show has grown into a thrillingly intense, lush experience. To quote a recent review from Beach House’s US tour with Vampire Weekend: “Victoria Legrand is arguably one of the most compelling, and most important, voices in rock. Along with her almost singular ability to sing grand orchestras all by herself, she has reached a point in her career where her command of the pathos of performance is almost unmatched by her peers. Legrand’s confidence in her own mastery of the Brian Eno-like feel of her songs was evident... Beach House is the perfect amalgamation of what indie rock is supposed to be: meaningful and beautiful, without forcing meaning and beauty on the listener.” Don’t miss the luminous magic of Beach House at the sold-out Laneway Festival and at the Hi-Fi on Tuesday 25 January (Australia Day eve) with The Orbweavers and The Wintercoats. Tickets are on sale now from thehifi.com.au.
CHARLIE LINES UP FOR NYE The Old Bar gang are proud as punch to have Charlie Parr grace their stage once again, but this time it’s for New Year’s Eve! That’s right, the Old Bar has put together one hell of a line-up for punters this NYE. US songwriter Parr, with his resonator, dobro, banjo country blues, bluegrass, fingerpicking, damn fine tunes, will be paired up with local blues favourites The Brothers Grim and the beer and whiskey-flavoured country songs of Eaten By Dogs. This is a hell of a way to give the finger to 2010 and give a big ol’ drunken hug to 2011. Tickets are $25 and available only from the Old Bar.
NYE ALL WEEKENDER
No bands, just Melbourne’s most experienced indie DJs Steve Wide, Gregory and Dave Shaw playing indie classics from the ‘60s to the ‘90s on level two and new indie tunes from 2000 onwards on level one. That’s what’s happening at the Weekender New Year’s Eve: The Kids Are All Night 3 party at Eurotrash on (obviously) Friday 31 December! Well, not just that – drink specials, free champagne with ticket, chillout stairway bar, outdoor smoking section, brilliant fun! Hear The Drums, The XX, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Florence and the Machine, Two Door Cinema Club, Phoenix, White Stripes, Interpol, Libertines, Dandy Warhols, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beach House and tonnes more. Tickets are $20 on the door from 9pm, but you’d better get there early.
ESPY GETS AIRBOURNE The Espy is gonna go off this New Year’s Eve with an absolutely ballistic line-up of bands taking over the entire venue. The already announced list of acts goes something like this: Airbourne, You Am I, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Wagons, Dan Kelly’s Dream Band, US band Earthless, Eagle & The Worm, Cabins, and Matt Sonic & The High Times, with more acts still to come. Tickets are $78+BF from theespy.oztix. com.au and the madness begins at 8pm.
STEVIES RIGHT
JAGGER SWAGGER Following a trip to Berlin that saw him visit the iconic White Trash rock club that has so often been compared with his own establishment, Cherry Bar owner James Young has recruited hot German rock DJ Helen Jagger to provide the racous soundtrack to Cherry’s New Year’s Eve action. At White Trash, Jagger entertains the likes of Bloc Party and Peaches Geldof (as well as about 1000 other people), playing tunes from The Stones, The Doors, The Velvet Underground, The Strokes, BRMC and other real, down and dirty rockers. Cherry is also keeping its door price nice and cheap this NYE, with a cover of just $15 so you’ve got heaps of cash to make the night memorable. There’s no pre-sales, though, so get there early and settle in for a big one. Jagger hits the decks at 8pm.
The Little Stevies are gearing up for a big summer. Earlier this month they released the first single Feel It from their second album Attention Shoppers (due for release in March 2011). Now the band are preparing for a run of shows that will bring their three-part harmonies, heartfelt lyrics and unpredictable on-stage banter to more than 50 shows over the next five months, including some of Australia’s biggest music festivals, and headline shows in six states. Catch the band in the Alexandra Gardens NYE celebrations, at Baha Tacos in Rye on Friday 7 January, the Karova Lounge in Ballarat on Thursday 20 January, the Piping Hot Chicken Shop on Friday 28 January, St Andrews Hotel on Saturday 29 January, at the Remission Possible fundraiser on Saturday 5 February, the Brighton Food & Wine Festival on Sunday 6 March and the Port Fairy Folk Festival from Friday 18 until Sunday 20 March.
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19
FOREWORD LINE
NEWS FROM THE FRONT
SEES WORTHY
Soft Pack
You remember Thee Oh Sees from last summer’s run of ear-shaking double-headliners with local punk messiahs Eddy Current Suppression Ring. They brought and wrought will-breaking choruses and the mythological, perennial American teenage summer to Australian crowds at the Meredith Music Festival and their triumphant pressure-cooker secret show at the Empress. They ruled our December, and they’re returning for a victory lap. Since touring Help last summer, Thee Oh Sees have released two new fulllength albums. Warm Slime is their latest, and it’s a cracker. It’s a low-fidelity garage masterpiece, dizzying, heavy and dangerous affair. Playing in support of Warm Slime, and previewing material from their upcoming album, to be recorded in February, Thee Oh Sees perform at the National Hotel in Geelong on Sunday 9 January and the Tote on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 January. Tickets are on sale now – Oztix for the Geelong show and thetotehotel.com for Melbourne.
PURPLE SNEAKERS GET SOFT Purple Sneakers’ New Year’s Eve extravaganza – held across two rooms at Miss Libertine – is one of the hottest of all New Year’s Eve parties, with The Soft Pack recently added to an already awesome line-up that includes Kimbra, Alpine, Fearless Vampire Killers, The Frowning Clouds and City Calm Down, with Purple Sneakers DJs, Jane Gazzo, Mafia and Badhorse spinning floor fillers all night. Tickets are just $19+BF and on sale now from Oztix. The NYE show coincides with the release of Purple Sneakers DJs’ second mix compilation, We Mix You Dance Vol 2. The two-disc set features songs from artists such as LCD Soundsystem, !!!, Warpaint, Washington, Vampire Weekend and Mumford & Sons. The compilation is released 7 January.
JON MAKES TRAKS
MOS DEF SUPPORTS NAMED
Celebrate the swing into 2011 with a big bang at Trak in Toorak by spending the night with Jon Stevens. No, not like that (well, it may depend how many beers you buy him) – the premier live and dance music venue is topping off a stylish night with the sought-after Stevens taking the stage. Joing the former Noiseworks main man will be Rav Thomas (The Machine) and funk and soul act Sababa, plus Melbourne’s best Top 40, dance and R&B DJs for a party to suit everyone. With free parking on 8 Jackson Street and trams to drop you off outside Trak Centre, transport is a cinch. Tickets are $50 pre-sale with two drink vouchers, or $40 pre-sale or at the door from 8pm.
Grammy Award-nominated rapper, actor and poet Mos Def has announced supports for the Melbourne leg of his upcoming The Ecstatic Tour. His first ever headline tour of Australia, The Ecstatic Tour has been titled in support of his current album of the same name. The Ecstatic (his fourth studio album to date) just earned Def a 2010 Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album. Rolling Stone magazine named it the 17th best album of 2009. The Ecstatic Tour is the first time Mos Def has been in Australia since he toured with DJ Shadow in 2006. Appearing with Def at the apalacer on Friday 14 January are M-Phazes and Thief & Eliza Wolfgramm.
THE BLUES ARE NUMBER ONE
CREW CUTS
Anybody who witnessed The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion on their first visit to Australia and New Zealand in the early‘90s as support to US hipster Beck, would have seen a man – a band – seemingly possessed with the spirit of everything great rock’n’roll has to offer. An explosive appearance on Saturday morning TV show Recovery followed, cementing their reputation, and saw the JSBX return for subsequent sold-out headline tours and two guest appearances on the travelling Big Day Out circus, the most recent, in 2005, being the last visit to our respective shores. The band are finally headed back our way, to play classic album Orange in its entirety at the Hi-Fi on Saturday 13 January, with guests Kim Salmon & The Surrealists and Super Wild Horses, and second show at the Espy on Friday 14 January.
2 Live Crew will perform at the Espy on New Year’s Day. No rap group have stirred more controversy or provoked more heated debate than 2 Live Crew. The furore over the graphic sexual content of their X-rated party rhymes, specifically their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be, saw the record become the first in America to be deemed legally obscene. The group were responsible for popularising the booming, hard-driving sound of Miami bass music, and they were the founding fathers of a populist, dance-oriented rap sub-genre that relied on simple, explicit chants and up-tempo rump-shaking grooves, appropriately dubbed “booty rap”. Tickets are available now from OzTix.
EVERY MONDAY
ST 27 ART /1 S 2
VAN BUURIN NAMES SUPPORTS The world’s number one DJ, Armin Van Buuren, is bringing all of the sheer excitement, epic music and mind-blowing staging of his jaw-dropping new Armin Only – Mirage to stadium concert spectacular to Etihad Stadium this New Year’s Eve. Melbourne will not only be one of the first cities in the world to experience the awe-inspiring new show, but, in testament to Van Buuren’s love and respect for his Australian fans, it will also be the only city in the world that gets to party with him for a mammoth nine-hour set on the biggest night of the year. Crowned the planet’s best DJ for the last three years running, there’s little doubt that Van Buuren is the most popular DJ in the world today. Travelling to no less than 15 cities across five continents, Armin Only – Mirage is Van Buuren’s most sublime concert yet. Kicking off in Uhrecht, Netherlands to a sell-out crowd, the Mirage concert world tour follows the highly anticipated release of Armin’s studio album of the same name, and features galaxy of guest stars and vocalists who appear on the album including Susana, Nadia Ali, VanVelzen and Christian Burns. The show runs from 9pm until 6am – tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster.
EVERY THURSDAY LATE
EVERY FRIDAY
EVERY SATURDAY LATE
EVERY SUNDAY FROM 4PM
LOVE STORY
POPROCKS
THE SUNDAY SET
with NATH VALVO
and guests
No brainers and guilty pleasures
THE HOUSE DE FROST
FREE ENTRY! - From 6.30pm
FREE ENTRY - From 11.30pm
FREE ENTRY - From 9pm SE FALLI SAT ST NG !
MONDAY TRIVIA!
with 1928 (STROBE)
FRI 31 DECEMBER The House deFrost present
w/ Dr Phil Smith
FREE ENTRY - From 12 Midnight
8 JANUARY
THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH
DJ HARVEY
with SPECIAL GUESTS
(Blackcock / Sarcastic Disco)
with DJ Garth & Andee Frost NYE Spectacular Tickets $65 + BF / More on the door
Thai dinner & supper 5pm til 3am on weeknights and 5am on the weekend
Tickets $10 + BF / 12 on door
SE SUN 16 JANUARY FALLI ST NG Handsome Tours, Inpress, 3RRR present !
SAT 15 JANUARY
Penny Drop and 3RRR presents,
MOUNTAIN MAN
& Fasterlouder.com.au
(USA)
with WET WINGS (NZ)
Tickets $38 +BF
All presale tickets available through MOSHTIX: Phone: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) on-line: www.moshtix.com.au, or at all Moshtix outlets, (Fitzroy & City ) including Polyester
20
w/ AndyBlack & Haggis
w/ Andee Frost
OWEN PALLETT (CAN) with JESSICA SAYS
This weeks theme: CHRISTMAS FREE ENTRY - In the Carriage
SUN 9 JANUARY
THE TOOT TOOT TOOTS with PLAGUE DOCTOR & DEATH VALLEY BAND Tickets $10 on the door
WED 19 JANUARY Slow Clap presents,
THE HERMITUDE OF ANGUS, ECSTATIC ONE OFF AT THE TOFF – A FUNDRAISER
Tickets $42 +BF / More on the door
Tickets $12 +BF / 12 on door
THURS 20 JANUARY
WED 26 JANUARY
THURS 3 FEBRUARY
SUN 6 FEBRUARY
The House deFrost present
Penny Drop and 3RRR presents,
POCO LA PAX
THE STRING CONTINGENT
with GRAND SALVO
with SPECIAL GUESTS
with LUCY WISE
Tickets $38 +BF
Tickets 12 +BF / More on the door
Tickets $42 +BF / More on the door
MARLON WINTERBOURNE ALBUM LAUNCH with SPECIAL GUESTS Tickets $12 + BF / 15 on door
ÓLÖF ARNALDS (ICELAND)
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ALBUM OF THE YEAR
2 My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST
3 Little Joy MY DISCO
4 High Violet THE NATIONAL
5 Bliss Release CLOUD CONTROL
6 Heart That’s Pounding SALLY SELTMANN
1. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA As soon as our managing editor Andrew Mast first clapped eyes on Tame Impala back in August 2008, he called it. They played at the Prince Bandroom as part of a Club Modular show, were the first band to perform on the night (before Van She and Ladyhawke) and Mastie was full of praise and told anyone who would listen about this young Perth trio. Almost every Inpress staff member joined him to catch their show at the Tote later that year (our jobs depended on it) and more disciples were immediately won over. Since then Tame Impala have gained a member, guitarist Nick Allbrook, who has since switched to bass with Dom Simper switching from bass to guitar duties. Ultimately Tame Impala are frontman Kevin Parker’s baby and he recorded all of the instrumentation on their debut, self-titled EP (2008) and most of the parts on Innerspeaker (or “Innerspeak” if you ask Jessica Mauboy). In The Guardian’s “best sounds of 2010” wrap-up, Flying Lotus selected Innerspeaker and Serge Pizzorno (Kasabian’s songwriter/ guitarist) trumpeted the group’s debut longplayer as, “The best thing I’ve heard all year” in Mojo magazine. Innerspeaker’s fuzzed-out cacophony never overwhelms the intricate melodies and these songs make you feel as if you’ve sculled some of Alice In Wonderland’s shrinking potion and entered a revolving kaleidoscope. The Inpress writers have spoken and Tame Impala can now add our Album Of The Year to their list of achievements.
SINGLED OUT BEST OF 2010
Singles reviewer CLEM BASTOW sifts through the best 45s of the year.
KANYE WEST POWER Was there a greater reminder of someone’s brilliance than Power in 2010? Kanye, relegated to meme status in the interim between 808s & Heartbreak and Taylorgate, came back with a scintillating distillation of the Kanye West™ brand and a cutting self-examination brought on by a year in the harshest spotlight. In his own words, you know, he’s so, fucking gifted.
KATY PERRY TEENAGE DREAM It was a very close call between the original and Glee’s Dalton Academy Warblers all-boy cover of this song, which took it to such heights of Boyz II Men glory it became transcendent. But there would be no Warblers without Perry’s original, which – when her voice goes all Taylor Dane and she growls “Imma get your heart racing in my skintight jeans” – was 2010’s most exciting moment of pop in excelsis.
JANELLE MONÁE TIGHTROPE
7 Plastic Beach GORILLAZ
Innerspeaker was a clear favourite ahead of our writers’ Artist Of The Year, Kanye West, and his polarising fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Pitchfork and The Source led the hyperbole, both awarding the record a perfect score, while Spin, Rolling Stone and Time reckoned there was no better album released in 2010 (NME disagreed, placing it at number 34). My Disco were a very deserving third, the band’s third album Little Joy proving the sound of repetition really was in the local three-piece. The National, in at four, joined the big league with High Violet, propelled by near-perfect single Bloodbuzz Ohio. Cloud Control (at five) followed up on the promise of last year’s Gold Canary single with debut longplayer Bliss Release. Sally Seltmann ditched the New Buffalo moniker for Heart That’s Pounding (number six), her debut LP under her own name and one of the year’s sparkliest pop records. At seven Gorillaz reaffirmed their pulling power with another guest-laden doozy, Plastic Beach; Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs (number eight) was a slow-burner, while Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti’s poptastic Before Today was one of the year’s biggest surprises. Tying for tenth were three very different records – Gil Scott-Heron’s amazing I’m New Here, Massive Attack’s excellent comeback Heligoland and Warpaint’s stake-claiming The Fool.
8 The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE
9 Before Today ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI
=10 I’m New Here GIL SCOTT-HERON =10 Heligoland MASSIVE ATTACK =10 The Fool WARPAINT
Previous winners: Merriweather Post Pavilion ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (2009); Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (2008); Drowning In The Fountain Of Youth DAN KELLY & THE ALPHA MALES (2006)
Could Janelle Monáe be the one to inherit the throne long since left vacant by Lauryn Hill when it comes to multi-talented female R&B storytellers? Time will tell if The ArchAndroid will escape the millstone status that The Miseducation did, but there was no denying that Tightrope was the year’s most effervescent debut.
DIRTBAG GRACELESS Blink and you’ll miss Gill Tucker’s latest project; in downtime between Spider Vomit and Beaches, she became Dirtbag, Graceless her cassette tape’s most compelling moment; a throwback to a determined ‘80s indie aesthetic as much as it speaks to 2010’s burgeoning psychedelic guitar wig-outs. Here’s hoping 2011 brings more tapes.
KE$HA YOUR LOVE IS MY DRUG After the improbably brilliant TiK ToK, Ke$ha could have been forgiven for simply recording the phone book, which she more or less did, save for the flash of pop wondrousness that was Your Love Is My Drug, with its Mojave Desert video clip filled with LSD-trip smiling fishes and the decade’s greatest fadeout: “I like your beard.”
DAFT PUNK DEREZZED So the tides of fate turned and it became grimly apparent that Tron: Legacy wasn’t going to be the cinematic gem it could have been, but how ‘bout that soundtrack, eh? Ensuring that Legacy would go down in history as the longest and most expensive music video of all time, Daft Punk’s deep love of the
enduring and original Tron mythology made for a score that was, unlike the film around it, perfect.
DRAPHT RAPUNZEL An Aussie hip hop joint that skewers Pandora charm bracelets and the injurious qualities of Sex & The City marathons? Where do I sign!? Rapunzel served a dual purpose of providing a near definitive illustration of Aus hip hop’s powers for good instead of evil and also reminding all of Drapht’s ascendency. Plus it’s excellent for dancing.
PIKELET TOBY LIGHT With her Pikelet Band augmenting what was already a dizzyingly impressive one-woman band, Toby Light opened Stem in glorious fashion, a swooning dreamscape (or nightmarescape, depending on your feelings about self-immolation) buffeted by a woozy fairground arrangement, a testament to Evelyn Morris’ immense talent.
SALLY SELTMANN ON THE BORDERLINE Never has a record been so stuffed with potential hit singles as Sally Seltmann’s Heart That’s Pounding, and On The Borderline was its most precious jewel. As Seltmann’s tentative entrée to upbeat pop, Borderline combined a bracing optimism with enough of her former New Buffalo bittersweet melancholy not to alienate long-time listeners. The results were beautiful.
SUMMERFESTIVALGUIDE.COM.AU
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THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2010 was the year the Earth struck back, writes MICHAEL SMITH. Altogether, it’s estimated that this year saw natural disasters kill at least a quarter of a million people worldwide. And if all that wasn’t all bad enough, we humans then helped things along with a few man-made environmental leaks, the messiest being the Gulf Coast Deepwater Horizon oil spill, 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.
LL Cool J Assange
Rudd’s year in review: A ball’s up
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 at Greymouth in New Zealand, where three successive explosion 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. In June, political commentator David Marr had analysed what at the time seemed the unimpeachable rise and rise of Rudd in Quarterly Essay. 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.” The essay revealed a side to Rudd the average Australian was blissfully unaware of, 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.”
As CBS News succinctly put it recently, “This was the year the Earth struck back.” Last year had finished with the world all too aware that, with the failure to reach any meaningful agreement at the climate talks in Copenhagen, nothing was going to happen in regards to stemming our carbon emissions. So the planet seemed to retaliate, first shattering the capital of Port-au-Prince and surrounds in Haiti on Tuesday 12 January, killing an estimated 230,000 people and leaving at least a million homeless, and then pretty much everywhere between Santiago to well south of Chile’s second largest city, Concepcion, on Saturday 27 February, the death toll this time thankfully much lower at around a thousand. The Chilean quake was preceded by just hours by another off the Okinawan islands of southern Japan. Meanwhile disastrous floods in southern Queensland and northern NSW during one of the wettest Februarys on record were matched by rising waters through southern Queensland over the first weekend of March. Britain, having suffered its coldest January in 23 years and the ninth coldest in the past 100 years, was, at time of going
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to press, in the grip of another crippling winter of sub-zero temperatures, as was much of Europe, huge snowfalls causing massive disruptions to air, rail and road traffic. 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 US Public Radio program Living On Earth recently, pointed out that “we’ve never seen 20% of the Earth’s surface experience their all-time record high in one year… In Pakistan they hit 128.5 degrees Fahrenheit (53.61 Celsius), which is the hottest ever recorded in Asia.” Pakistan also suffered one of the most devastating floods in living memory, which saw roughly a fifth of the country underwater. Then, of course, there was the activity from beneath the Earth’s surface. Turkey, China and Indonesia also experienced significant earthquake activity, as did Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, which in September copped a magnitude 7.2 quake followed by hundreds of aftershocks.
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, 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, 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 Brandt, elected. The polls continue to drive the decision-makers in government rather than the other way around. Julian Assange and WikiLeaks came to dominate the international political arena for much of the final few weeks of the year. For all the furore surrounding Assange, however, there hasn’t been much noise this side of the planet about the young army private, Bradley Manning,
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who passed him much of the classified material that has been posted on WikiLeaks. It’s not as if what Assange has been posting about US and Australian involvement in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is any more damaging than what he posted about the treatment of internees in Guantanamo Bay or toxic waste dumping in Africa. And lest we forget that the Chinese continue to vilify this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xiaobo, the dissident continuing to languish in prison on trumped 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 against The New York Times, The Guardian, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, all who have been printing leaked cables passed on to them by WikiLeaks? 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.
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2010 WRITERS’ POLL
RADIO SHOW/PODCAST OF THE YEAR
Kanye West
Eddy Current Suppression Ring
HOME & HOSED, TRIPLE J
The first Triple J win for four years sees the national youth broadcaster’s Australian music program edge out Triple R’s new Australian music show, Local And/Or General. Home & Hosed has become one of Triple J’s most popular programs since replacing the weekly, Richard Kingsmillhosted Australian Music Show in 2003. In its current incarnation it broadcasts from 9pm until 10pm Monday to Thursday and is hosted by Dom Alessio and Steph Hughes. The diversity of the show’s playlist is reflected in Alessio’s list of top ten Oz albums of the year, which includes Otouto, M-Phazes, Vorad Fils and My Disco. Runners-up: Local And/Or General, RRR (2); Nights With Alice Cooper, Classic Rock FM/Super Request, Triple J/ This American Life, Public Radio International (=3)
FILM OF THE YEAR
Previous winners: Blue Juice, PBS (2009); Transference, RRR (2008); The Breakfasters (2007); Full Metal Racket, Triple J (2006); Off The Record, RRR (2005)
Having started his career with intelligent thrillers such as Memento and the English-language remake of Insomnia, 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. So expectation was heavily placed on Nolan’s shoulders for his follow-up, Inception. 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. 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, it was event cinema at its best.
WEBSITE OF THE YEAR FACEBOOK
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
INTERNATIONAL GIG OF THE YEAR
Was it ever going to be anyone else? Even before he dropped My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, his fifth studio album, last month to rapturous (and frankly ridiculous) reviews, West was everywhere. His off-thewall tweets were matched with cartoons from The New Yorker (“Why girls from Stockholm be so fresh????!!!!”) and reenacted by kids for Babelgum (“Man… ninjas are kind of cool… I just don’t know any personally”). He popped up on Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show. He penned a song for Taylor Swift to apologise for his 2009 VMA stage invasion (and told everyone he’d sing it if she didn’t want it). He made a 35-minute video for epic single Runaway. But MTV’s Man Of The Year ended 2010 with his music doing the talking, the sessions for wildly erratic (and in parts excellent) My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy featuring guests as diverse as Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Elton John and Clipse’s Pusha T.
The blogosphere went into overdrive when news spread the seminal slackers were getting the band back together. Eleven years after singer Steve Malkmus held up a pair of handcuffs onstage in London, likening them to being in a band, Pavement kickstarted their ‘one-off’ (though lengthy) reunion tour in the southern hemisphere. A blistering set at Golden Plains was followed by two sold-out shows at the Palace, all performances featuring a near-perfect setlist, those gloriously skewiff guitars and lots of love. Special mention must be made of runners-up Gorillaz, whose all-star stadium extravaganza far exceeded our (very high) expectations, even without in-the-flesh appearances from Mark E Smith and Shaun Ryder, two previous Gorillaz cohorts in the country at the time of the shows.
Runners-up: The National (2); Yeasayer (3); Crumbs/Dan Sultan/Gorillaz (=4)
Previous winners: The Flaming Lips (2009); Sonic Youth (2008); Wilco (2007); The Stooges (2006); The Polyphonic Spree (2005)
Previous winners: Lady Gaga (2009); The Presets (2008); Wilco (2007); The Gossip (2006); MIA (2005)
LOCAL GIG OF THE YEAR
KANYE WEST
SINGLE OF THE YEAR Tightrope JANELLE MONAE
The minute you saw the striking clip for Tightrope – set in an asylum with Outkast’s Big Boi guesting – it was clear the tuxedoed 25-year-old was the real deal, with style and moves to burn. But it was her jaw-dropping performance of the song on The Late Show With David Letterman, where she channelled everyone from James Brown to Elvis, that proved Monae’s superstar credentials. The album the song is lifted from, The ArchAndroid, is a patchy affair, but we can’t wait to catch Monae at next year’s Good Vibrations festival. Runners-up: Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL; Runaway KANYE WEST; Power KANYE WEST; Fuck You CEE LO GREEN; O.N.E. YEASAYER Previous winners: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) BEYONCE (2009); Time To Pretend/Electric Feel MGMT (2008); before that we let benevolent Singled Out dictator Clem Bastow choose ‘em…
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PAVEMENT
Runners-up: Gorillaz (2); Kasabian (3); Boredoms (4); The Fall/The Strokes/Wilco (=5)
There was plenty of talk recently that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would be named Time’s 2010 Person Of The Year, but when the mag hit newsstands the honour had gone to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (cold feet about featuring an accused sex offender, or pressure from the US Government?). It’s the same result here, with Facebook taking the title for the third year running (and by the narrowest of margins) ahead of a late-surging WikiLeaks. The very well-received Facebook flick, The Social Network, won’t have hurt the social network site’s polling; the fact Assange is facing sexual assault charges doesn’t seem to have hurt his. Both these sites have had – and continue to have – a profound effect on personal and political communication. (And thank god we’ve moved on from the days – 2005, to be exact – when our writers named Google best site). Runners-up: Wikileaks (2); YouTube (3); Pitchfork/Mess & Noise (=4) Previous winners: Facebook (2009); Facebook (2008); YouTube (2006); Google (2005) Janelle Monae
INCEPTION
Runners-up: The Social Network (2); KickAss/The Runaways (=3); Toy Story 3 (4) Previous winners: Inglourious Basterds (2009); The Dark Knight (2008); Control (2007); The Departed (2006); Sin City (2005)
TV SHOW OF THE YEAR MAD MEN
This year’s Rush To Relax was the third great album the local four-piece had dropped in just four years. The record earned the lads two ARIA nominations, for Best Independent Release and Best Rock Album (their second album, Primary Colours, was also nominated for Best Rock Album), and made serious inroads overseas. ECSR are now playing bigger venues, but their live shows are as riveting as ever, frontman Brendan Suppression’s jittery stage presence the perfect foil for the band’s tight and taut (yet raucous) rhythm section. Multiple past winners The Drones were a close second, ahead of Sydney’s harmony-lovin’ folksters Boy & Bear and fellow up-and-comers Howl, garage rockers from Ballarat who’ve honed their live show through a steady stream of ware/house party sets and a solid touring ethic.
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). 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. 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. 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.
Runners-up: The Drones (2); Boy & Bear (3); Howl/Tame Impala (4)
Runners-up: True Blood (2); Community (3); 30 Rock (4); Sherlock (5)
Previous winners: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2009); The Drones (2008); The Drones (2007); Augie March/Cog (2006); The Drones (2005)
Previous winners: True Blood (2009); Dexter (2008); Summer Heights High (2007); Deadwood (2006); Mythbusters (2005)
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING
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THE 2010 POLL: A NATION DECIDES Metallica pic by Kane Hibberd
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). Arcade Fire
found a better fit of stovepipe blues and are ready to shake the shit out of it.” Alex Gillies. 9. Halcyon Digest DEERHUNTER As mentioned earlier. it was a good year for 4AD artists. We Said At The Time: “Ah, what glorious sounds to absorb.” Bryget Chrisfield. 10. Total Life Forever FOALS 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: “A record to devote your ears to.” Sevana Ohandjanian. Cee Lo Green
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST GIG 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. Melburnians 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.
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). 2. High Violet THE NATIONAL 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. We Said At The Time: “If you’ve known hurt, this album will speak to you.” Ross Clelland. 3. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 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 Mussell Creek into your friendly neighbourhood search engine and see if that helps allay your worries) and releasing their junior space epics via Canyons’ Hole In The Sky label (you should have brought the Fred Cherry remix of The Sun back in 2008). While there is even better bubbling away in Perth (Pond and French Rockets to name but two), Tame Impala were the ones who landed in the right place at the right time with the right tunes and right amount of talent. And hey, our national stable of writers reckons it was the best local release of 2010. 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: “Gets into every fibre of your body.” Tyler McLoughlan. 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
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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 on 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. 5. Plastic Beach GORILLAZ 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? We Said At The Time: “Gorillaz swim with the sharks.” Bryget Chrisfield. 6. Heligoland MASSIVE ATTACK 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 rolecall of guests included Hope Sandoval, ex-LCD man Tim Goldsworthy 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? We Said At The Time: “A pleasant relief to hear them once again sounding so vital.” Adam D Mills. 7. Diamond Eyes DEFTONES Having shelved their planned Eros long-player 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, rejuvinating their career. It worked on our Sydney massive, as Diamond Eyes high ranking is thanks to their heavy show of support.
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’.” 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, ranking second in Sydney and fifth in Melbourne (no show in Brisbane where this category was in the grip of Kanye fever). Sydney’s 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.
Tame Impala
Previous winners: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (2008); Sweet Disposition TEMPER TRAP (2009).
ARTIST 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 Gig category. We make the big calls here.
We worship Saint Nick in these parts. So despite the inevitable backlash that greeted this album, we stand by our Cave man. We Said At The Time: “This is a band of four men who have gone back to their tailor and
Previous winners: RADIOHEAD (2007); NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (2008); LADY GAGA (2009).
8. Grinderman 2 GRINDERMAN
Previous winners: WILCO (2007); RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE (2008); NEIL YOUNG (2009).
Runners-up: The National appear again, here with Bloodbuzz, Ohio, followed closely by another boundaryshifting 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.
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).
We Said At The Time: “punishing and majestic.” James Dawson.
Runners-up: As in previous years, the top spots are held by the tried and trusted of the touring set – no Joanne-come-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.
AUSTRALIAN ARTIST GIG 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 monument-building hooks. They now stand on the threshold of arena-beckoning 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 Blue Mountains pop of Cloud Control, the party rockin’ of Sydney’s Philadelphia Grand Jury, the as intense-asDrones 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).
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 that comes out on top. Station music director Richard Kingsmill rises to the top 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 bear more than a few similarities to 2010’s listener poll (Arcade Fire at the top, Tame Imapla, 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 & 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. His top ten selections of 2010 also includes Cloud Control, My Disco and Gareth Liddiard, all just-outside-the-top-ten vote-magnets here 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 & Hosed. It was 2010 everywhere else.
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. Actually, Inception proved that the megaplex flocks can handle an open-ended final scene (the humans don’t always have to walk off into the Na’vi sun/moon/starset to live in harmony with he natives), in fact it’s been reported that people went back for multiple Inception viewings in attempts to uncover further clues to the film’s open-to-interpretation ending. On top of all this, Nolan became the posterboy of blockbuster purists by not marking the 3D box when filling out his pre-production form. A blockbuster’s explosions should make you drop your jumbo Coke Zero on your lap through good old-fashioned physics, stunts and CGI, not by making you think that schrapnel is about to slice through your eye. Sheesh. Can you imagine auteurs like Alfred Hitchcock messing with 3D… What? Oh. Ummm… look, a new Batman film. 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 Fincer’s best big-screen surprise since he put Gwyeth Paltrow’s head in a box (ah, if they only they’d thought of that as a twist ending to Iron Man 2 ). But we also championed the career revival of Jacqui Weaver in local gangster hit Animal Kingdom. And hey, Weaver deserves her time in the spotlight again,
Inception
ONLINE DESTINATION OF THE YEAR 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 producers used to call on when Michael Cera was unavailable) also knew his HTML formatting from his torrenting passwords, let alone could bring the world together online? Can FB sustain another year in popularity? Will Eisenberg’s heist caper 30 Minutes Or Less, with Danny McBride, be a hit?
after all she was married to Derryn Hinch… TWICE. (Not to be outdone, Hinch also returned to acting in 2010… in City Homicide.) 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 (but were less excited about the pussy and ass double act that was Shrek The Third). And what’s a year-end movie top five without a Michael Cera film? One that sees him with a roll call of Hollywood hipsters from Keiran Culkin and Jason Schwartzman through to cameos by the likes of beyond-hip type Don McKellar. So Scott Pilgrim Vs The World was a shoo-in (plus there were lots of women kicking butt which we always approve of here).
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 annual poll rankings. Hell, soon iView and Vevo will be bigger destinations. This year also saw the leakier of the Wikis take over in the wikistakes, leap-frogging the ‘Pedia (maybe that pic of Wikifounder Jimmy Wales that was bannering every page you opened proved his face just isn’t as appealing as Eisenberg’s) to become our go-to-Wiki (but only coz the Wikiporn site is pathetic). 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).
Previous winners: Short.Fast.Loud, Triple J (2007); Full Metal Racket, Triple J (2008); Short.Fast.Loud, Triple J (2009). True Blood
TV SHOW OF THE YEAR 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: 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; 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-across-the-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 mid-life 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 Muerta-worshipping 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, East Bound And Down all garnering strong poll support. The closest a local production got to a nod from us were some random votes for Spicks And 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
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2010
Writers’Poll ADAM CURLEY
TOP TEN 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. So Appalled KANYE WEST FEATURING RZA, JAY-Z, PUSHA T, SWIZZ BEATZ & CYHI DA PRYNCE 4. Sleep (Brain Children remix) ROMY 5. Buddy Bradley ADAM GREEN
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Jay Reatard 2. CRUMBS 3. Sally Seltmann 4. Wild Nothing 5. Kanye West SALLY SELTMANN
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Strokes 2. The Fall 3. First Aid Kit 4. Hawnay Troof 5. Broadcast
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The Crayon Fields 2. Matthew Brown 3. Beaches 4. Scott & Charlene’s Wedding 5. Kitchen’s Floor
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Local And/Or General RRR 2. Local Fidelity FBI 3. The New Release Show 4ZZZ
BEST TV SHOW
DANIEL CRICHTON-ROUSE TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. High Violet THE NATIONAL 2. Dark Night Of The Soul DANGER MOUSE AND SPARKLEHORSE 3. King Night SALEM 4. Treats SLEIGH BELLS 5. Church With No Magic PVT 6. Zeroes QC SUUNS 7. 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 FLORENCE & THE MACHINE
“This is a sad day for most Americans. And for the rest? I hate you too!” Justin Bond re: Republican denial of seeking out and persecuting known gay service members, Facebook.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Anyone who talks about or analyses social media postings IRL. FMRL.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Lil Kim will eat Nicki Minaj.
TOM HAWKING TOP TEN 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 GONJASUFI 10. Daughter Of Sunshine RAT VS POSSUM
BEST SONG
1. Heavy Living Things BALAM ACAB 2. Eight Thousanders BARDO POND 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
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BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Party Down 2. The Trip 3. Lowdown 4. The IT Crowd 5. Newswipe With Charlie Brooker
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
1. Missing Link Digital 2. GrooveShark 3. FYI Or Die 4. The New York Times 5. True Panther Sounds
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
BEST TV SHOW
1. Twitter 2. Touch Arcade 3. Design*Sponge 4. Shoe Box Blog: Chuck & Beans 5. Tumblr
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
The output of Sydney’s RIP Society Records.
1. This American Life National Public Radio 2. Tech Weekly The Guardian 3. By Design Radio National
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. A Single Man 2. William S Burroughs: A Man Within 3. The Social Network 4. Greenberg 5. Animal Kingdom
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
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 MOVIE
Washington/Canberra.
1. Australian Chamber Orchestra performing Jonny Greenwood’s Popcorn Superhet Receiver 2. Cloud Control 3. Washington 4. The Jezabels at Tegan and Sara 5. Creepers
BEST MOVIE
1. Bored To Death 2. 30 Rock 3. The Big C 4. Cougar Town 5. The United States Of Tara
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Short Stack
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR BEST SONG
1. Heavy In Your Arms FLORENCE & THE MACHINE 2. Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL 3. Runaway KANYE WEST FEATURING PUSHA T 4. Window PVT 5. King Night SALEM
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The National 2. Kanye West 3. Muse 4. Washington 5. Salem
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.
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Muse 2. Antony & The Johnsons 3. Taking Back Sunday 4. Surfer Blood 5. Black Lips FABULOUS DIAMONDS
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
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 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.
2010
Writers’Poll BOB BAKER FISH TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Tradi-Mods Vs Rockers VARIOUS ARTISTS 2. Before Today ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI 3. Queso Y Cojones PUTA MADRE BROTHERS 4. The Roots Of Chicha 2:Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru VARIOUS ARTISTS 5. Self Titled CUMBIA COSMANAUTS 6. I’m New Here GIL SCOTT-HERON 7. Vs Mankind HIGH PLACES 8. Self-titled MYSTERY TWIN 9. Le Noise NEIL YOUNG 10. Ali & Tounami ALI FARKA TOURE & TOUNAMI DIABATE
BEST SONG
1. Konono Wa Wa Wa (Rework) EYE AND KONONO NO 1 2. Revenge DANGER MOUSE AND SPARKLEHORSE FEAT WAYNE COYNE 3. Round And Round ARIEL PINK 4. Megazine SQUAREPUSHER PRESENTS SHOBERLEADER ONE D’EMONSTRAT 5. Cumbia Sobre El Mar QUANTIC PRESENTA FLOWERING INFERNO
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Boredoms 2. Konono No 1 3. Mulatu Astatke 4. Quantic 5. Prince Rama
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Afro Orchestra; 3. Flying Scribble; 4. Tim Catlin/ Mike Cooper & Gearoid Brinn; 5. Rat Vs Possum
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. The Good The Dub & The Global RRR; 2. The Breakdown PBS; 3. The Quiet Space RADIO NATIONAL
BEST TV SHOW
1. Tim And Eric Great Job Awesome Show Season 5 2. The Killing Season 2 3. In Treatment Season 2 4. The Daily Show 5. Treme
BEST MOVIE
1. Trash Humpers 2. Machete 3. Someone I Loved (Je L’Aimais) 4. The Prophet (Un Prophete) 5. In The Loop
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. Awesome Tapes From Africa; 2. Regretsy; 3. Lamebook; 4. Lexicon Devil; 5. Dangerous Minds
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Anything that follows the words “like David Lynch on (insert your drug of choice)…”
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Boredoms was the greatest gig ever. In the history of ever.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” Elton John.
1. Boredoms 2. Vieux Farka Toure 3. Mulatu Astatke 4. Ravi Shankar 5. Dengue Fever
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia.
Dunno, check Lamebook. There are lives ruined over there. That’s what your after right?
PREDICTION FOR 2011
ANDREW MAST TOP TEN ALBUMS
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. Little Joy MY DISCO 7. Coconut ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT 8. Losing Sleep EDWYN COLLINS 9. Hippies HARLEM 10. Soft Approach THE STRESS OF LEISURE
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 Girl THE BLEEDING KNEES CLUB
ARTISTS 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 2. Stylin (Ennio Styles), 3RRR 3. The First Time (Matt Everitt), 6music
1. LCD (The Melbourne one); 2. Public Opinion
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Witnessing great tours. Good to see some decent heritage acts amongst the overabundance of retro tours: Cohen, Astatke, Weller, The Chills, Bobby Womack with Mick Jones and Paul Simonon in Gorillaz, The Fall, Blondie, The B-52s and Brand New Heavies. Also great to see the enigma that is Hope Sandoval; as well as Kasabian going full-tilt arena; Polyphonic Spree go full-tilt orchestral rock tribute show and Here We Go Magic go full-tilt support act. And, so many good non-music gigs: David Sedaris, John Waters, Tig Notaro and Joss Whedon. It was also a great year for covers: Warpaint (Ashes To Ashes), Wild Nothing (Cloudbusting), 40 Thieves (Don’t Turn It Off ), Anika (Yang Yang), Billie Ray Martin (The Crackdown), jj (CEO Sex), The Fall (Funnel Of Love), the Doc Martens 50th anniversary project and many many more. It was also a corker of a year for watching Treme.
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-flavored 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 was entertaining but it eventually overshadowed the artist’s difficult ‘junior’ album (hey, if we call second albums ‘sophomore’ than third ones must be ‘junior’). The /\/\ /\ Y /\ album came out blasting first week of sales and then when casual listeners looking for another Paper Planes found her all primal punk-like, sampling Suicide rather than the more comforting Clash, they ran scared. Reviews were tepid and so most of what you read about MIA concerned the Hirschberg blue, the banned viral vid and her baby. But it’s doubtful MIA is worried.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
Tours from Tom Waits, Dolly Parton and Julian Cope. Or maybe Mahjongg, Harlem and jj.
PAUL WELLER
BEST TV SHOW
BOREDOMS PIC BY JESSE BOOHER
1. Treme; 2. Community; 3. The Sarah Silverman Program; 4. Parks And Recreation; 5. Party Down
BEST MOVIE
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
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Meow.
KATE KINGSMILL TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Bliss Release CLOUD CONTROL 2. Power Of The Spoken MANTRA 3. The ArchAndroid JANELLE MONAE 4. Rush To Relax EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING 5. The Umu KOOLISM 6. The Defamation Of Strickland Banks PLAN B 7. Four Seasons BIG SCARY 8. Wake Up! THE ROOTS & JOHN LEGEND 9. Good Gracious M-PHAZES 10. Hope Is For The Hopeless PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY
BEST SONG
1. Fuck You CEE LO GREEN 2. Just Keep Walking DAN SULTAN & INXS 3. Imaginist SPACE INVADAS 4. We’re Mostly Made Of Water KID SAM 5. Rock It LITTLE RED
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Cloud Control 2. Mantra 3. Dan Sultan 4. M-Phazes 5. Sia
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. The XX 2. A Tribe Called Quest 3. Massive Attack 4. Fan Farlo 5. The View
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) MasterChef
magickians in the world are the poets. Thieves of fire. ;¬)
PREDICTION FOR 2011 1989
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
WTFSexFacts WTFSexFacts ™ Tweets Lol! Words are magick. That’s why we spell them. The most powerful KOOLISM
1. Boy & Bear 2. Ash Grunwald 3. Melodics and Jackson Jackson 4. Mantra 5. Cloud Control
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Get Down RRR 2. Aural Text RRR 3. The Golden Age Of Piracy RRR
BEST MOVIE 1. A Single Man 2. I Am Love 3. The Hurtlocker 4. Honey 5. Good Hair
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. YouTube 2. Facebook 3. Pitchfork 4. Etsy 5. All Aussie hip hop blog
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2010
Writers’Poll CLEM BASTOW TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. The Social Network ATTICUS ROSS & TRENT REZNOR 2. Stem PIKELET 3. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST 4. The Fool WARPAINT 5. Heart That’s Pounding SALLY SELTMANN 6. Have One On Me JOANNA NEWSOM 7. Further CHEMICAL BROTHERS 8. Travellers In Space And Time THE APPLES IN STEREO 9. Inception HANS ZIMMER 10. Dan Kelly’s Dream DAN KELLY
BEST SONG
1. Power KANYE WEST 2. Teenage Dream KATY PERRY 3. Your Love Is My Drug KE$HA 4. Shutterbugg BIG BOI FEATURING CUTTY 5. White Sky (Basement Jaxx Club Mix) VAMPIRE WEEKEND
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Kanye West 2. Trent Reznor 3. Andrew WK 4. Heather Cassils 5. Kristen Wiig KE$HA
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking 2. Dirty Projectors 3. John Mayer 4. Deerhoof 5. Ke$ha on Sunrise
DANIELLE O’DONOHUE TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. The Drones and Joel Silbersher (“farewell” to the Tote) 2. Ouch My Face 3. Ned Collette & Wirewalker (farewell party, some warehouse) 4. Guy Blackman, Pikelet and Cloud Control 5. Dan Kelly
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 GASLIGHT ANTHEM 10. Birds Of Tokyo BIRDS OF TOKYO
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
BEST SONG
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Saturday Night CD Jukebox GOLD FM 2. Nights With Alice Cooper CLASSIC ROCK FM 3. All Over The Shop RRR
BEST TV SHOW
1. Rupaul’s Drag Race; 2. Gruen Nation; 4. Mad Men; 5. Glee
BEST MOVIE
1. Un Prophete; 2. Inception; 3. Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work; 4. The Social Network; 5. The Kids Are All Right
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Stoned Cats 2. Diplo On Twitter 3. 31 Foods With Misspelled Names 4. Script Shadow 5. The New York Times
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
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
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
3. Jimmy Eat World 4. Gossip 5. Delphic
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Dirty Three 2. Gareth Liddiard 3. Nation Blue 4. Birds Of Tokyo 5. You Am I
BEST TV SHOW 1. Gossip Girl 2. Doctor Who 3. Walking Dead 4. Being Human 5. IQ
BEST MOVIE
1. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 2. Animal Kingdom 3. The Social Network 4. Fair Game 5. Toy Story 3
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Vanity Fair 2. Vulture (New York Magazine) 3. The National Vevo 4. Apple Trailers 5. Twitter
1. Rufus Wainwright 2. Linkin Park ROBYN
Most things lauded by the Australian music, film, television and publishing industries.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Watching Brian Tyler conduct ‘Battle: Los Angeles’ score at Sony Culver City, Supré online sale, OCC Lip Tar, A O Scott and Manohla Dargis.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“A watermelon, it can’t hold me back.” Claire Champlin, slingshot in the face with a watermelon on The Amazing Race.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Any time anyone is surprised to find that saying something offensive/unfunny/slanderous on Twitter gets them in trouble with their work.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
For once in my life, I have no fucking idea.
BRYGET CHRISFIELD TOP TEN 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. Tightrope JANELLE MONÁE 2. Runaway KANYE WEST FEATURING PUSHA T 3. After Dark THE COUNT & SINDEN FEATURING MYSTERY JETS 4. She Said PLAN B 5. I <3 U So CASSIUS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. Gorillaz 2. Dan Sultan 3. Tame Impala 4. Them Crooked Vultures 5. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
30
HUGO RACE
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. Gorillaz 2. Kasabian 3. George Michael 4. Metallica 5. Ben Kweller
1. YouTube 2. Facebook 3. NME 4. Discogs 5. Hype Machine
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
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
BEST TV SHOW 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
Washo
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Gorillaz first Australian tour.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“You know I love you more when you’re cold and heartless.”Vampire Eric Nortman from True Blood.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Jessica Mauboy’s “de-butt” debacle.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
The opposite of Bieber and Willow Smith, geriatric recording artists. Older than Susan Boyle even.
2010
Writers’Poll EJ CARTLEDGE TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. You Am I YOU AM I 2. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 3. The Big To-Do DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS 4. Lisbon THE WALKMEN 5. …Are The Roaring Night THE BESNARD LAKES 6. Interpol INTERPOL 7. July Flame LAURA VEIRS 8. Together THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS 9. Shadows TEENAGE FANCLUB 10. Pete Sounds PETE SOUNDS
BEST SONG
1. Crime YOU AM I 2. Two Alone RICHMOND FONTAINE 3. Into The City TEENAGE FANCLUB 4. This Fucking Job DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS 5. In A Place STEVE SMYTH
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. You Am I 2. The Walkmen 3. Arcade Fire 4. Interpol 5. The Church
1. The Golden Age Of Piracy RRR 2. Jazz On Saturday PBS 3. Late Night Live RADIO NATIONAL
KATIE OWEN
BEST TV SHOW
TOP TEN ALBUMS
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 2. Rake 3. Grand Designs 4. Dateline 5. Peep Show
BEST MOVIE 1. Crazy Heart 2. The Town 3. Inception 4. A Single Man 5. Up In The Air
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Arts & Letters Daily 2. The Guardian 3. Cricinfo 4. The Economist 5. Metacritic
1. Relayted GAYNGS 2. Forget TWIN SHADOW 3. Learning PERFUME GENIUS 4. Frankie Rose & The Outs FRANKIE ROSE & THE OUTS 5. Beach Fossils BEACH FOSSILS 6. Lisbon THE WALKMEN 7. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST 8. Stridulum II ZOLA JESUS 9. Heavy Days JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD 10. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE
BEST SONG
1. Roman’s Revenge NICKI MINAJ 2. Runaway KANYE WEST & PUSHA T 3. Tyrant Destroyed TWIN SHADOW 4. Colouring Of Pigeons THE KNIFE + MT SIMS 5. Slow Burn Treason HOLLY MIRANDA
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Nicki Minaj 2. Twin Shadow 3. La Sera 4. Perfume Genius 5. The Walkmen
YOU AM I
3. Supernatural 4. Mad Men 5. True Blood
BEST MOVIE
1. Blue Valentine 2. Kick-Ass 3. Dinner For Schmucks 4. The Town 5. Youth In Revolt
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. God’s Biggest Boners 2. The Superficial 3. Sedimentary 4. Selleck Waterfall Sandwich 5. Dear Internet
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Sergio Roma
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
Dude to Ice T, Twitter, “Why do you always play black dudes?” vs Sarah Silverman, “Goodnight, pubes” vs Shittington UK, “From any farther than 4 inches away, a Venn Diagram of ‘Pitchfork Readers’ and ‘People I’d Like to Punch’ would look like a perfect circle.” NICKI MINAJ
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Devendra Banhart 2. Faith No More 3. Low 4. Wild Beasts
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Dave Hill’s Podcasting Incident 2. This American Life 3. Beat Orgy RRR
BEST TV SHOW
1. Friday Night Lights 2. QI (Quite Interesting)
GUIDO FARNELL TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Queen of Denmark JOHN GRANT 2. I Drink The Air Before Me NICO MUHLY 3. Swanlights ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS 4. & They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness ÓLAFUR ARNALDS 5. Grey Oceans COCOROSIE 6. Swim CARIBOU 7. There Is Love In You FOUR TET 8. The Fool WARPAINT 9. Stridulum II ZOLA JESUS 10. Forget TWIN SHADOW
BEST SONG
1. CARIBOU ODESSA 2. Easy JOANNA NEWSOM 3. Night ZOLA JESUS 4. O.N.E. YEASAYER 5. Monster KANYE WEST FEATURING NICKI MINAJ, JAY-Z, RICK ROSS AND BON IVER
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Antony 2. Zola Jesus 3. Caribou 4. CocoRosie 5. Warpaint
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Antony 2. Gorillaz with support from Little Dragon and De La Soul 3. The Boredoms 4. Goldfrapp 5. Grouper
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Jarvis Cockers Sunday Service BBC RADIO 6 2. Noise In My Head RRR 3. Skream & Benga RINSE
SHANE O’DONOHUE
BEST TV SHOW
TOP TEN ALBUMS
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. How Not To Decorate 2. Embarrassing Bodies 3. 60 Minute Makeover 4. Escape To The Country 5. Rage
BEST MOVIE 1. Gainsbourg 2. The Runaways 3. Of Gods & Men 4. Blue Valentine 5. Four Lions
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. WikiLeaks 2. Soundcloud 3. Twitter 4. XE Currency Exchange 5. Google
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
1. Harlem River Blues JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 2. Dan Kelly’s Dream DAN KELLY 3. High Violet THE NATIONAL 4. Treats SLEIGH BELLS 5. Fifteen SUPER WILD HORSES 6. Here’s To Taking It Easy PHOSPORESCENT 7. The Fool WARPAINT 8. You Am I YOU AM I 9. Lisbon THE WALKMEN 10. Choose The Sentinel Blooze 6S & 7S
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The National 2. Cloud Control 3. Paul Kelly 4. Dan Kelly 5. Washington
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Puta Madre Brothers 2. John Steel Singers
BEST SONG
1. Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL 2. Undertow WARPAINT 3. Runaway KANYE WEST 4. Hold On, I’m Coming On DAN KELLY 5. Window PVT PUTA MADRE BROTHERS
Justin Bieber. Baby.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Baby.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR Baby ohhh.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Like baby.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Baby.
1. Tame Impala 2. Sarah Blasko 3. Lotek and Rebel Hi Fi 4. Empire Of The Sun 5. The Swiss
31
2010
Writers’Poll ANTHONY CAREW
THE AMITY AFFLICTION
TOP TEN ALBUMS
SCOTT FITZSIMONS
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Eastbound And Down 2. Entourage 3. South Park 4. Letters And Numbers 5. Top Gear
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. 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 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
1. ABC Grandstand 702 ABC SYDNEY 2. Radiant FBI 3. Weekends 702 ABC SYDNEY
BEST TV SHOW
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 regarding 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 shake-down amongst festivals that’ll see better line-ups and better experiences.
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
BEST SONG
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
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Joanna Newsom 2. Sufjan Stevens 3. Zola Jesus 4. Grimes 5. Blue Hawaii/Braids
1. Full House Head ENDLESS BOOGIE 2. Church Of The Open Sky THE BREAK 3. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 4. Valleys Of Neptune JIMI HENDRIX 5. The Waterfront Years 1991-1993 TUMBLEWEED 6. Tangled Brew LLOYD SPIEGEL 7. Cremation Day In The Court Of Miracles DIMI DERO INC
32
1. I 2. have 3. website 4. I’ll 5. magiska
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) 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 videod themselves raping schoolmates on their mobiles.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Idiocracy.
JOANNA NEWSON
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Animal Collective 2. Joanna Newsom 3. Frida Hyvönen 4. Rio En Medio 5. Vampire Weekend
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. tokenism 2. is 3. such 4. bad 5. taste
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. The International Pop Underground RRR 2. one is ON THE RADIO. 3. one doesn’t LISTEN TO THE RADIO
BEST TV SHOW
1. Mad Men 2. Xavier: Renegade Angel 3. in 2010… 4. two television programs 5. i think i actually only watched
BEST MOVIE
3. Lloyd Spiegel 4. Jordie Lane 5. The Break
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
TOP TEN ALBUMS
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. White Material 2. The Red Chapel 3. Winnebago Man
WOODEN SHJIPS
SAMUEL J FELL
4. Four Lions 5. The Robber
8. Juke Joint Boogie COLLARD, GREENS & GRAVY 9. Booker’s Guitar ERIC BIBB 10. Living Proof BUDDY GUY
BEST SONG
1. Empty Eye ENDLESS BOOGIE 2. Groyne THE BREAK 3. Cylinders THE BREAK 4. Murder For Breakfast LLOYD SPIEGEL 5. Desire Be Desire Go TAME IMPALA
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Wooden Shjips 2. Tumbleweed
2. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 3. The Social Network 4. Animal Kingdom 5. The Other Guys
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. Wooden Shjips 2. Lil’ Band O’ Gold 3. Buddy Guy 4. John Mayall 5. Bela Fleck with Oumou Sangare
1. The Age Online 2. Rhythms Magazine 3. CNN World 4. Wikipedia 5. Mess+Noise
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD
1. The Break 2. Dreadnaught 3. Jordie Lane 4. Ghost Mountain 5. The Snowdroppers
(MOST OVER-HYPED) Most of this year’s Splendour line-up.
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
1. Off The Record RRR FM 2. Now Dig This PBS FM 3. Cruisin’ For A Bluesin’ BAY FM
BEST TV SHOW 1. The West Wing 2. The Wire 3. Futurama 4. The Simpsons 5. Family Guy
BEST MOVIE 1. The Runaways
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Spending three days in the studio with Gurrumul.
“To the passenger who called me a motherfucker, fuck you. I’ve been in this business for years and that’s it, I’ve had it.” Air steward Steven Slater, who grabbed two bottles of beer and slid down the emergency chute after being abused by a passenger.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR People. They’re the worst.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
JSBX and Kyuss will combine to take over the world.
2010
Writers’Poll NIC TOUPEE TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Lux ALEX SMOKE 2. Your Future, Our Clutter THE FALL 3. Hidden THESE NEW PURITANS 4. Fabric 55 SHACKLETON 5. Funf (Ostgut Compilation) VARIOUS ARTISTS 6. Gravitoni PANSONIC 7. HSTA DAS DING 8. Metropolis PARRALOX 9. The Art Of Dance RUINS 10. Olympia BRYAN FERRY
BEST SONG
1. Horas Tristes MUERAN HUMANOS 2. Videosex SNEAK THIEF 3. Shameless BRYAN FERRY 4. 4’33’’ JOHN CAGE 5. Collapse In Slow Motion VELVET CONDOM
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Factory Floor 2. These New Puritans 3. Mueran Humanos 4. Einsturzende Neubauten 5. The Fall
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Recoil, Berlin 2. Alva Noto + Blixa Bargeld, Berlin 3. Pixies, London 4. Skinny Puppy, Manchester 5. PiL, Liverpool
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. I wasn’t 2. in Australia 3. this year 4. so can’t really say 5. very much
BEST TV SHOW
MY DISCO
1. Sherlock 2. Ashes To Ashes 3. Spooks 4. Dr Who 5. Mad Men
BEST MOVIE
1. Caution: Deer Crossing 2. Samson And Delilah 3. Download The Dead 4. The White Ribbon 5. Tron: Legacy
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Hardwax Records 2. Clone Records 3. Minimal Wave 4. The Guardian 5. The Quietus
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Beards
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Einsturzende Neubauten
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“It is all about power and who has access to information. Nothing more. When those who want society to operate on the basis of the parent-child relationship because it is obviously easier to manage, shut the door and say ‘not in front of the children’, they are usually looking after their interests, not ours.” Henry Porter, The Guardian on Wikileaks
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR I’m going to go for Wikigate, particularly Obama and Gillard.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Plane tickets.
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Good Machine, Bad Machine KISS FM 2. Afternoon With Jarvis RADIO 6 3. Minimal Wave EAST VILLAGE RADIO
ATTICUS J BASTOW TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Little Joy MY DISCO 2. Option Paralysis THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN 3. Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty BIG BOI 4. Heligoland MASSIVE ATTACK 5. Oversteps AUTECHRE 6. The Social Network OST TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS 7. Small Craft On A Milk Sea BRIAN ENO 8. My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky SWANS 9. Periphery PERIPHERY 10. Move Of Ten AUTECHRE
BEST SONG
1. Young MY DISCO 2. Shutterbugg BIG BOI 3. Turn MY DISCO 4. Paradise Circus MASSIVE ATTACK 5. Eden Prison SWANS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. My Disco 2. Andrew Bird 3. The Dillinger Escape Plan 4. One Day As A Lion 5. Trent Reznor And Atticus Ross
THE FALL
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Andrew Bird 2. Autechre 3. Gravetemplars 4. Tim Hecker 5. The Dillinger Escape Plan
KIEL EGGING
1. U2 2. Muse 3. Kasabian 4. Jay-Z 5. Dizzee Rascal
1. Facebook 2. Optus Sound Scribe 3. Undercover 4. FasterLouder 5. YouTube
TOP TEN ALBUMS
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
1. Birds Of Tokyo BIRDS OF TOKYO 2. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 3. Theory Of Everything CHILDREN COLLIDE 4. Hold, Hold, Fire CALLING ALL CARS 5. Violent Soho VIOLENT SOHO 6. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST 7. Get Him To The Greek Soundtrack INFANT SORROW 8. Come Around Sundown KINGS OF LEON 9. Running On Air BLISS N ESO 10. Seasons THE VERSES
BEST SONG
1. Jellylegs CHILDREN COLLIDE 2. Plans BIRDS OF TOKYO 3. Disconnect CALLING ALL CARS 4. Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever) MUSE 5. Jesus Stole My Girlfriend VIOLENT SOHO
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Birds Of Tokyo 2. Powderfinger 3. Ke$ha 4. Washington 5. The Temper Trap
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 34
1. AC/DC 2. Powderfinger 3. Birds Of Tokyo 4. Calling All Cars 5. Silverchair
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Hughesy And Kate NOVA 100 2. The Hot Breakfast TRIPLE M 3. The Doctor TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW
1. Cup Fever With Santo, Sam And Ed 2. MasterChef 3. Survivor – Heroes Vs Villians 4. The X-Factor 5. Yes We Can-Berra!
BEST MOVIE
1. Get Him To The Greek 2. Toy Story 3 3. Tomorrow When The War Began 4. Jackass 3D 5. Iron Man 2
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
Justin Beiber. Seriously girls, come back in two years when he’s gone through puberty.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Making the pilgrimage to Brisbane and being front row centre for Powderfinger’s last ever concert at the Riverstage.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“Tame Impala went through a number of line-up changes before recording their dreamy and inventive debutt album, Innerspeak.” Jessica Mauboy’s laughable autocue recital at the trainwreck-filled 2010 ARIA Awards
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Danny Clayton’s ‘Blink-182 are playing Big Day Out’ spoiler tweets, when it turned out the band were never on the line-up. What a douche.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
Silverchair will shock everyone with their new record, complete with large doses of AutoTune. John Farnham will do yet another comeback tour, while Powderfinger will also get sick of retirement and reunite – albeit only for their induction into the ARIA Hall Of Fame.
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. My Disco; 2. Fucked; 3. Cog; 4. Pirate; 5. Saskwatch
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. Quiet Space ABC RADIO NATIONAL; 2. The Latin Connection PBS; 3. Afternoons with Christopher Lawrence ABC CLASSICAL FM
BEST TV SHOW
1. Media Watch; 2. The Gruen Transfer; 3. Lost; 4. Spicks and Specks; 5. Adventure Time with Jake and Finn
BEST MOVIE
1. Inception; 2. Jackass 3D; 3. Lebanon; 4. Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance; 5. Exit Through the Gift Shop
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. WikiLeaks; 2. Bandcamp; 3. TED; 4. Bleep; 5. Boing Boing
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Oprah
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR WikiLeaks’ adamantium balls.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“But obviously, we’ve got to stand with our North Korean allies. We’re bound to by treaty… yeah. And we’re also bound by prudence to stand with our South Korean allies, yes.” – Sarah Palin on the Glenn Beck Program
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
The Kremlin gets a Twitter account. 50 Cent soon follows.
YEASAYER
2010
Writers’Poll AAROM WILSON
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. Black Light GROOVE ARMADA 2. Black Sands BONOBO 3. This Is Happening LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 4. The Age Of Adz SUFJAN STEVENS 5. Teen Dream BEACH HOUSE 6. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 7. Lucky Shiner GOLD PANDA 8. Swim CARIBOU 9. Total Life Forever FOALS 10. Black Noise PANTHA DU PRINCE
1. MTV Cribs 2. Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares 3. Mad Men 4. Entourage 5. True Blood
TOP TEN ALBUMS
BEST SONG 1. Chasing Waterfalls FAUX PAS 2. Solitude Is Bliss TAME IMPALA 3. Finders & Keepers FELICITY GROOM 4. Odessa CARIBOU 5. All I Want LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Janelle Monae 2. Groove Armada 3. LCD Soundsystem 4. Flying Lotus 5. Tame Impala
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Gorillaz 2. Groove Armada 3. Antony & The Johnsons 4. Metallica 5. Health
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. PVT 2. Dirty Three 3. Redcoats 4. The Epic of Gilgamesh 5. The Jezabels
MARK HEBBLEWHITE TOP TEN 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
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Motorhead 2. Toe To Toe 3. Bad Religion 4. Megadeth 5. Slayer
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Slayer 2. Bad Religion/NOFX 3. Deep Purple 4. Napalm Death 5. Overkill
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Toe To Toe 2. Mindsnare
BEST TV SHOW 1. Breaking Bad 2. Weeds 3. Spooks 4. The Simpsons 5. South Park
BEST MOVIE 1. Agora
1. 2010 (with Richard Kingsmill) TRIPLE J 2. The Sound Lab (with Fenella Kernebone) TRIPLE J 3. Out To Lunch RTRFM
BEST TV SHOW
BEST MOVIE
1. Bunny & The Bull 2. Good Hair 3. Tron 4. Inception 5. Exit Through The Gift Shop
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. Chatroulette…; 2. Metacritic; 3. Boomkat; 4. Pitchfork; 5. Twitter.com/drummediaperth
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Missy Elliott’s abysmal ‘performance’ at Parklife. Not working it at all, it’s now obvious why she tours with so many dancers.
ANTONIOS SARHANIS TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. The Gentle War MISINTERPROTATO 2. Exile On Main Street reissue ROLLING STONES 3. Mondo Cane MIKE PATTON 4. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST 5. Silent Movies MARC RIBOT 6. Harlem River Blues JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 7. You Are Not Alone MAVIS STAPLES 8. Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty BIG BOI 9. I Am What I Am MERLE HAGGARD 10. I’m New Here GIL SCOTT-HERON
BEST SONG
1. Tightrope JANELLE MONAE 2. Black Rain SOUNDGARDEN 3. The Joy KANYE WEST 4. Il Cielo In Una Stanza MIKE PATTON 5. Telephone LADY GAGA
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
1. Misinterprotato 2. Mike Patton 3. Mulatu Astatke 4. Kanye West 5. Mavis Staples
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
“I’m definitely going to quieten down this year…” (a misguided) Aarom Wilson.
Allowing 50 Cent to take over his Twitter account, producing so much laughable gold that he really should be forced to change his name.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
With another year of enjoyable brain and ear abuse, 2011’s poll will be even harder to fill out.
4. Unified Gecko 5. Black Jesus Experience
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Black Wax PBS 2. Stone Love PBS 3. Blue Juice PBS
BEST TV SHOW 1. AFL 2. The Wire 3. Mad Men 4. MasterChef 5. The Simpsons
BEST MOVIE
1. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 2. The Social Network 3. Kick-Ass 4. The Ghost Writer 5. Iron Man 2
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. DA Trippers 2. New York Conversation 3. Club Troppo 4. Paul Krugman’s Conscience Of A Liberal 5. Crikey
MISINTERPRETATO
1. Jane’s Addiction 2. Mulatu Astatke 3. Justin Townes Earle 4. Medeski, Martin And Wood 5. Pavement
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Misinterprotato 2. The Cruel Sea 3. True Live
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.
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.
MOTÖRHEAD
TONY MCMAHON
2. Life Matters ABC 774 3. I Do Not Play No Rock ‘n’ Roll 3CR
1. Timesheet BENEDICT MOLETA 2. Heart Part Of Your Mind UNDERMINERS 3. Ghosts Of The Horizon THE HOLY SEA 4. To Dreamers KELLY STOLTZ 5. Malk SALTWATER BAND 6. You Know Something THE HIRED GUNS 7. Penny Ikinger PENELOPE 8. The Book Of Ships DARK CONTINENT, COLD CENTURY 9. Beautiful World RICH WEBB 10. Nothin’ To Lose ZENNITH
1. True Blood 2. Breaking Bad 3. Bored To Death 4. Madmen 5. Rake
TOP TEN ALBUMS
BEST SONG
1. Believer BENEDICT MOLETA 2. There Be Dragons Here THE HOLY SEA 3. Sugarcane THE HIRED GUNS 4. King Of Palm Island THE HOLY SEA 5. I’m Using You Too Much For My Songs UNDERMINERS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST TV SHOW
BEST MOVIE
1. Monsters 2. The Human Centipede 3. Zombieland 4. The Runaways 5. Red Hill
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. WikiLeaks 2. Mess + Noise 3. Indie Initiative 4. The Age Online 5. Sportsbet
1. Underminers 2. Benedict Moleta 3. The Holy Sea 4. Penny Ikinger 5. The Bon Scotts
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Underminers at the Grace Darling, launching their album, Heart Part Of Your Mind.
1. The Fall 2. Taking Back Sunday 3. Mumford & Sons 4. Albert Lee 5. 1974 AD
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Benedict Moleta 2. Underminers 3. The Bon Scotts 4. The Holy Sea 5. RSVP
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
Muse
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR QUOTE OF THE YEAR “We just did an interview with another street press guy and he said he thought it was one of the worst band names he’s ever heard.” Robert Zimmerman, from The Bon Scotts, musing on the peanuts/monkeys hiring practices of Inpress.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR WikiLeaks. Apparently closed down for a time, mirror sites popped up everywhere. People power in action.
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Iron Maiden to play a secret gig at Yah Yah’s on their tour here.
1. Film Buff’s Forecast RRR
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2010
Writers’Poll ANDREW HAZEL TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Romance Is Boring LOS CAMPESINOS! 2. I See The Sign SAM AMIDON 3. High Violet THE NATIONAL 4. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST 5. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 6. Love Connection LOVE CONNECTION 7. Here’s The Tender Coming THE UNTHANKS 8. Teen Dream BEACH HOUSE 9. Crazy For You BEST COAST 10. Bande Magnetique NINETYNINE
BEST SONG
1. No Horizon THREE MONTH SUNSET 2. Woods NINETYNINE 3. Tightrope JANELLE MONAE 4. Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL 5. I Didn’t See it Coming BELLE & SEBASTIAN
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. Kermode And Mayo’s Film Reviews BBC RADIO FIVE LIVE 2. Filmspotting CHICAGO PUBLIC RADIO 3. This American Life PUBLIC RADIO INTERNATIONAL
BEST TV SHOW
1. Mad Men; 2. 30 Rock; 3. Bizarre Foods; 4. The World Game – World Cup; 5. Media Watch
BEST MOVIE
1. Inception; 2. Toy Story 3; 3. The White Ribbon; 4. The Red Chapel; 5. Animal Kingdom
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. Last.fm; 2. Wikipedia; 3. Mess + Noise; 4. University Of Melbourne’s SuperSearch; 5. In Twin Peaks
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. Singing about hipsters and suburbia has never sounded more pompous and unengaging.
1. Los Campesinos! 2. Edwyn Collins 3. Love Connection 4. Tame Impala 5. Three Month Sunset
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
“ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ” – everywhere and by everyone during the World Cup.
1. Al Green 2. Jonsi 3. Pavement 4. Svavar Knutur 5. Jens Lekman
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
WikiLeaks and the repercussions of Julian Assange’s fearlessness.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Satorising hipsters. Point made people.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
World leaders to ignore climate science, The Social Network to win lots of Oscars and Björk’s next album to be a glorious return to form.
1. Richard in Your Mind, Rat Vs Possum, Silver White Magic 2. Pikelet, Love Connection, World’s End Press 3. Patinka Cha Cha, Seagull 4. Three Month Sunset, Iowa, Thieves 5. Paul Kelly
JAMES O’TOOLE TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Diamond Eyes DEFTONES 2. Abrahadabra DIMMU BORGIR 3. The Final Frontier IRON MAIDEN 4. Absolute Dissent KILLING JOKE 5. Our Souls To You OCTOBER FILE 6. Mechanize FEAR FACTORY 7. The Warning DEAD LETTER CIRCUS 8. Scream OZZY OSBOURNE 9. Eparistera Daimones TRIPTYKON 10. Korn III: Remember Who You Are KORN
BEST SONG
1. Rocket Skates DEFTONES 2. Beauty School DEFTONES 3. Where The Wild Wind Blows IRON MAIDEN 4. Let Me Hear You Scream OZZY OSBOURNE 5. The Great Cull KILLING JOKE DEFTONES
SAMSON MCDOUGALL TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Little Joy MY DISCO 2. Songs SONGS 3. Halcyon Digest DEERHUNTER 4. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 5. Form DIE! DIE! DIE! 6. Receiving GRUNTBUCKET 7. Nothing Hurts MALE BONDING 8. A Sufi And A Killer GONJASUFI 9. Interpol INTERPOL 10. Church With No Magic PVT
BEST SONG
1. Sun Bear MY DISCO 2. Kowboyz & Indians GONJASUFI 3. Lights INTERPOL 4. Window PVT 5. Auditorium MOS DEF FEATURING THE RULER
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The Drones 2. Pixies 3. Dick Diver 4. Gonjasufi 5. Rat Vs Possum
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Boredoms 2. Pixies 3. Dinosaur Jr 4. Avett Brothers 5. Pavement
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Useless Children 2. The Drones 3. Wagons 4. Dirty Three 5. 3Ds
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Deftones 2. Iron Maiden 3. Killing Joke 4. Slash 5. Stephen Wilson
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Metallica 2. Machine Head 3. Meshuggah 4. Hatebreed 5. Korn
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Amazon 2. Ebay 3. Blabbermouth 4. Facebook 5. SPA
MITCH KNOX
1. Local And/Or General RRR 2. All Over The Shop RRR 3. Seek & Destroy KEXP
BEST TV SHOW
1. Eastbound And Down 2. The Movie Show 3. Australian Story 4. NRL 5. Cricket
BEST MOVIE
1. Fantastic Mr Fox 2. Boy 3. Animal Kingdom 4. Human Centepede 5. Monsters
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Flannelette Shirt 2. RRR 3. Swellnet 4. The Guardian 5. Bureau Of Meteorology
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Election/Grand Final: SNOOZERS.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Maggot Fest
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“It’s well known that if the four members of U2 walk on stage, most people will get hairs standing on the back of their neck as an involuntary action… Less well known is that [it] happens to us as well. The four members of the band walking on mean the molecules start vibrating at a different rate. It’s really bizarre.” Bono = Jerk, The Age.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR De-butt. Jessica Mauboy. Does that count??
PREDICTION FOR 2011
Heavy back: Kyuss. The Bronx. Slayer. Etc.
SUFJAN STEVENS
TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank ADEBISI SHANK 2. American Ghetto PORTUGAL. THE MAN 3. Friendship THE REDNECK MANIFESTO 4. Forgiveness Rock Record BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE 5. The Age Of Adz SUFJAN STEVENS 6. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 7. Mines MENOMENA 8. Expo 86 WOLF PARADE 9. False Priest OF MONTREAL 10. Dear God, I Hate Myself XIU XIU
BEST SONG
1. Genki Shank ADEBISI SHANK 2. I Walked SUFJAN STEVENS 3. Window PVT 4. The Dead Dog PORTUGAL. THE MAN 5. What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way) WOLF PARADE
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. Sufjan Stevens; 2. Portugal. The Man; 3. Xiu Xiu; 4. Muse; 5. Broken Social Scene
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Sunny Day Real Estate; 2. Glassjaw; 3. Brand New; 4. Muse; 5. The Get Up Kids
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. PVT; 2. Dappled Cities; 3. Seekae; 4. Tame Impala; 5. Cloud Control
BEST TV SHOW
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. Uncyclopedia; 2. deviantART; 3. Cracked; 4. Wondermark; 5. Dinosaur Comics
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Hamish and Andy.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Graduating from my post-grad journalism course with distinction. Despite how trendy I (think I) appear, I am actually kind of a giant nerd.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“By the way, the Commonwealth of Australia; it’s not a country. It’s a corporation, registered with the Securities Stock Exchange Commission in New York, by the way. So, this corporation [points] this, all of it, the whole lot – owned by the Rothchilds, by the way. Because they own everything – IMF, World Bank. They own everything; BP, and all these criminal organisations that are devastating Mother Earth. But watch out, because 2012’s going to sort that out. 21st of December, 2012, when the Sun finally goes through the galaxy’s equator and we go to the other side, and all you lying bastards, you corporate, evil MFs, you’ll go down.” Santos, busker who I interviewed for a video project in Melbourne’s Bourke St Mall.
1. The Venture Bros; 2. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia; 3. Psych; 4. Boardwalk Empire; 5. The Walking Dead
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR
BEST MOVIE
PREDICTION FOR 2011
1. Kick-Ass; 2. Iron Man 2; 3. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World; 4. Alice In Wonderland; 5. Toy Story 3
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BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
Steph Rice gets offensive on Twitter; loses lucrative contracts, dignity.
Scientists will up their efforts towards achieving what everybody, at the bottom of their hearts, wants them to achieve: Hover bikes.
2010
Writers’Poll DOUG WALLEN TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Odd Blood YEASAYER 2. Congratulations MGMT 3. Contra VAMPIRE WEEKEND 4. Black Noise PANTHA DU PRINCE 5. Majesty Shredding SUPERCHUNK 6. Heart That’s Pounding SALLY SELTMANN 7. Tangalooma THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS 8. My Volcano RICHARD IN YOUR MIND 9. Dan Kelly’s Dream DAN KELLY 10. Cosmogramma FLYING LOTUS
BEST SONG
1. ONE YEASAYER 2. Madder Red YEASAYER 3. Footscray Station SCOTT & CHARLENE’S WEDDING 4. Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL 5. Girls FM HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Yeasayer 2. Vampire Weekend 3. The John Steel Singers 4. Richard In Your Mind 5. Pantha Du Prince
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Pavement 2. Vampire Weekend 3. Mouse On Mars 4. The Bats 5. The Chills
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Fresh Air NPR 2. Transference RRR 3. Clean Yr Room WPRB
BEST TV SHOW
1. Community 2. The IT Crowd 3. True Blood 4. Eastbound And Down 5. Lowdown
BEST MOVIE
1. Toy Story 3 2. Greenberg 3. Kick-Ass 4. Hot Tub Time Machine 5. Zombieland
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Mess + Noise 2. AV Club 3. The Vine 4. Slash Film 5. New York Times
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Mumford & Sons
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Flying Nun’s comeback.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR Everything Kanye said.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR MySpace?
PREDICTION FOR 2011 Too many festivals.
1. Eddy Current Suppression Ring 2. Robert Forster 3. The Meanies 4. Teen Archer 5. Otouto
LUKE MONKS
3. Sage Francis 4. Seasick Steve 5. Glassjaw
TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. The Snowdroppers 2. The Kill Devil Hills 3. The Beards 4. Mojo Juju & The Snake Oil Merchants 5. The Delta Riggs
1. Good Morning Magpie MURDER BY DEATH 2. Come Sing These Crippled Tunes THE CUBICAL 3. AgriDustrial TH’ LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS 4. Selling 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
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 1. Monotonix 2. The Decemberists 3. Seasick Steve 4. Glassjaw 5. The Snowdroppers
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Monotonix 2. The Decemberists MONOTONIX
LOCHLAN WATT TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Anthropocentric THE OCEAN 2. Deep Blue PARKWAY DRIVE 3. Cursed ION DISSONANCE 4. Disambiguation UNDEROATH 5. Wormwood THE ACACIA STRAIN 6. Option Paralysis DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN 7. A Determinism Of Morality ROSETTA 8. Ephemeral THE ABANDONMENT 9. Split Album ROBOTOSAURUS/COERCE 10. III: The Series Of Unfortunate Events THE TONY DANZA TAPDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA
BEST SONG
1. Dunamis COERCE 2. Heaven TV THE OCEAN 3. A Room Full Of Light THE ABANDONMENT 4. The Hills Have Eyes THE ACACIA STRAIN 5. Risk And Reason FIRES OF WACO
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. The Ocean, 2. Parkway Drive, 3. Coerce, 4. Palm, 5. Envy
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Shai Hulud 2. Meshuggah 3. The Black Dahlia Murder 4. Cancer Bats 5. Coffins
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. In Trenches 2. Defamer 3. The Abandonment 4. Robotosaurus 5. I Exist
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. The Punk Show 4ZZZ 2. Full Metal Racket TRIPLE J 3. Short.Fast.Loud TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW
1. South Park 2. Breaking Bad 3. East Bound And Down 4. The Clone Wars 5. United States Of Tara
BEST MOVIE
1. The Expendables 2. Inception 3. Predators 4. Shutter Island 5. Space Battleship Yamato
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. WikiLeaks 2. Facebook 3. Gmail 4. Lambgoat 5. Hyperdia
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Attack Attack!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Spending a total of 36 days in Japan over the course of two trips.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“Aha! Whitesauce!” Yoshiyasu Morita of Palm during a drunken cross-cultural and language-barrierhampered conversation about masturbation.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR 50 Cent’s Twitter account in general.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
At the rate it’s currently going, I expect to be almost completely bald by the end of 2011.
BRIAN HENRY HOOPER
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. The Bridge FBI 2. Short.Fast.Loud TRIPLE J 3. Home & Hosed TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW
1. Bored To Death 2. Louie 3. It’s Always Sunny In Philidelphia 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 5. NBA.com
THE BOOMEISTER TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Bliss Release CLOUD CONTROL 2. Second Lovers NICK BATTERHAM 3. Trouble BRIAN HENRY HOOPER 4. Always Coming Down CORDRAZINE 5. Down The Way ANGUS & JULIA STONE 6. Jane Dust JANE DUST 7. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 8. …Songs For The Man MJ HALLORAN & THE SINNERS 9. Death Wish THE GIN CLUB 10. Great Deeds Against The Dead GOSTELERADIO
BEST SONG
1. Legion DOZERS 2. There’s Nothing In The Water We Can’t Fight CLOUD CONTROL 3. Clap Your Hands SIA 4. Rock It LITTLE RED 5. Laredo BAND OF HORSES
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The National 2. Brian Henry Hooper 3. Washington 4. Arcade Fire 5. Sarah Blasko
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Grant Hart 2. The Fall 3. Leonard Cohen 4. Florence & The Machine 5. Metallica
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Brian Henry Hooper 2. Cordrazine 3. Kim Salmon & The Surrealists 4. Violent Soho 5. Sarah Blasko
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Super Request TRIPLE J 2. Home & Hosed TRIPLE J 3. Banana Lounge Broadcast RRR
BEST TV SHOW
1. True Blood; 2. RocKwiz; 3. Mad Men; 4. Survivor (that ol’ chestnut); 5. In Treatment
BEST MOVIE
1. Animal Kingdom; 2. The Hurt Locker; 3. Kick-Ass; 4. Shutter Island; 5. The Men Who Stare At Goats
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Probikekit; 2. Amazon; 3. YouTube; 4. (my) MySpace; 5. Wikipedia
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2010
Writers’Poll INGRID SJOLUND TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Harlem River Blues JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 2. High Violet THE NATIONAL 3. Heaven Is Wherever THE HOLD STEADY 4. Crazy For You BEACH HOUSE 5. You Are Not Alone MAVIS STAPLES 6. The Drink, The Devil and the Dance GRAVEYARD TRAIN 7. GO JONSI 8. Bliss Release CLOUD CONTROL 9. Forgiveness Rock Record BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE 10. Infinite Arms BAND OF HORSES
BEST SONG
1. Harlem River Blues JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 2. Bombay EL GUINCHO 3. The Arrogant THE RUMOUR SAID FIRE 4. Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL 5. Young Blood THE NAKED AND FAMOUS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The National 2. Yeasayer 3. Justin Townes Earle 4. Old Crow Medicine Show 5. El Guincho
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Breakfasters 3RRR 2. Twang RRR 3. 2010 TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW
1. 30 Rock 2. Mad Men 3. Man Vs Wild With Bear Grylls 4. True Blood 5. Modern Family 1. Boy 2. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows 3. Crazy Heart 4. The Social Network 5. Animal Kingdom
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
BEST SONG
BEST MOVIE
1. McSweeney’s Internet Tendency 2. Pitchfork 3. Look At This Fucking Hipster 4. 27b/6 5. Rock’s Back Pages OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW
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. Converge 2. Parkway Drive 3. Deftones 4. Mindsnare 5. Interpol
1. Numbers Radio 2. Howl 3. Sleigh Bells 4. Gorillaz 5. The Drones
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Eddy Current Suppression Ring 2. Boy & Bear 3. Crayon Fields 4. Jordie Lane 5. Dirty Three
BEST SONG
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1. Gorillaz 2. The Strokes 3. Pavement 4. Franz Ferdinand 5. Descendents
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
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
1. Final Day NUMBERS RADIO 2. Empire Ants GORILLAZ 3. Rill Rill SLEIGH BELLS 4. Your Favourite Perversion JOHN STEEL SINGERS 5. The Sweet Part of the City THE HOLD STEADY
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Old Crow Medicine Show 2. Yeasayer 3. Broken Social Scene 4. Mumford & Sons 5. Florence & The Machine
TOP TEN ALBUMS
TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Plastic Beach GORILLAZ 2. Treats SLEIGH BELLS 3. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 4. Long Gone Whistle: A Tribute to Maurice Frawley VARIOUS ARTISTS 5. Heaven Is Whenever THE HOLD STEADY 6. Glimjack GLENN RICHARDS 7. Tangalooma JOHN STEEL SINGERS 8. Fifteen SUPER WILD HORSES 9. Church of the Open Sky THE BREAK 10. Little Joy MY DISCO
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
SARAH PETCHELL
JOSH RAMSELAAR
BEST TV SHOW 1. Boardwalk Empire 2. Sons Of Anarchy 3. Mad Men 4. Project Runway 5. True Blood
BEST MOVIE
1. Inception 2. The Social Network 3. Invictus 4. Iron Man 2 5. Get Him To The Greek
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. No Heroes Magazine 2. Facebook 3. Questionable Content 4. Broken Glass Online 5. Twitter PARKWAY DRIVE
BEST MOVIE
1. Cop Out 2. Inception 3. Animal Kingdom 4. Toy Story 3 5. Pirhana 3D
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Pitchfork; 2. Rave Review; 3. The Escapist; 4. Colbert Nation; 5. Triple J
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Megan Washington
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Powderfinger at BDO on Australia Day - amazing in hindsight
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“I’ve finally realized as long as you use profanity when you talk about art and fashion it’s better accepted!!! “ - Kanye West, Twitter (http://twitter.com/kanyewest)
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Hayley Williams failed attempt to send her boyfriend a self portrait. End result: nudes all over twitter
3. Pocket Disco RTRFM
TOP TEN ALBUMS
Australia’s grunge and punk revival will fully cross over into the public concious and begin a full on assault of the US market.
BEST TV SHOW
1. Boardwalk Empire; 2. Breaking Bad; 3. The Walking Dead; 4. Community; 5. Mad Men
1. This Is Happening LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 2. High Violet THE NATIONAL 3. Treats SLEIGH BELLS 4. Total Life Forever FOALS 5. Subiza DELOREAN 6. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 7. Gilgamesh GYPSY & THE CAT 8. We Can’t Fly AEROPLANE 9. Crystal Castles II CRYSTAL CASTLES 10. The Crystal Axis MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS
BEST MOVIE
BEST SONG
Oprah coming to Australia. Who gives a fuck?
1. A/B Machines SLEIGH BELLS 2. I <3 U So CASSIUS 3. Dance Yrself Clean LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 4. We Can’t Fly AEROPLANE 5. Another World THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. LCD Soundsystem 2. Flight Facilities 3. Delorean 4. Midnight Juggernauts 5. Bag Raiders
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
38
1. The Colbert Report 2. 30 Rock 3. The Office (US Version) 4. Review with Myles Barlow 5. Community
TROY MUTTON
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Short.Fast.Loud TRIPLE J; 2. Smodcast; 3. Full Metal Racket TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW
PREDICTION FOR 2011
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Parkway Drive 2. Mindsnare 3. Miles Away 4. Coerce 5. Sleepmakeswaves
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. Home and Hosed TRIPLE J 2. short.fast.loud TRIPLE J 3. Live at the Wireless TRIPLE J
1. The Drones 2. Philadelphia Grand Jury 3. Howl 4. Children Collide
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Baroness 2. Converge 3. The Dillinger Escape Plan 4. Comeback Kid 5. Henry Rollins
5. rat vs possum
1. LCD Soundsystem 2. Delorean 3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs 4. Boys Noize 5. Major Lazer
1. The Mess Hall 2. Tame Impala 3. Bag Raiders 4. Flight Facilities 5. Midnight Juggernauts
1. Tom & Alex Mornings TRIPLE J 2. Basscheck RTRFM
1. Animal Kingdom; 2. Inception; 3. Kick-Ass; 4. Get Him To The Greek; 5. How To Train Your Dragon
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Perthquake; 2. Facebook; 3. News; 4. Hipster Runoff; 5. CHUD
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Getting a new job.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“Tony Jones is the thinking woman’s crumpet.” Clare Bowditch.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
That Perth will loosen the fuck up with regards to our nightlife… wishful thinking. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
2010
Writers’Poll CHRIS CHINCHILLA TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. This Crooked Track JUNGAL 2. Bush Tricks WE SAY BAMBOULEE 3. We’re All In This Together GABBY YOUNG & OTHER ANIMALS 4. The Chaos THE FUTUREHEADS 5. Perfume And Piss GBH 6. Lights Out Zoltar GEMMA RAY 7. Dog Food MONDO GENERATOR 8. Poetry Of The Deed FRANK TURNER 9. The Defamation Of Strickland Banks PLAN B 10. Roof Raisers KEITH! PARTY
BEST SONG
1. The Road FRANK TURNER 2. Stay Too long PLAN B
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Massive Attack 2. Howl At The Moon 3. Monotonix 4. Damn Terran 5. Frank Turner
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
GARETH LIIDDIARD
1. HP Podcraft HPPODCRAFT.COM 2. This American Life NPR 3. Byte Into It RRR
BEST TV SHOW
1. Sherlock 2. Spooks Season 8 3. IT Crowd Season 4 4. Midsummer Murders 5. Gruen Transfer
BEST MOVIE
1. Inception 2. Up In The Air 3. Hot Tub Time Machine 4. Suck 5. The Social Network
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Mashable 2. Facebook 3. Wired 4. THounds 5. Tone Deaf
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Hipsters
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
1. Massive Attack 2. Frank Turner 3. Scary Kids Scaring Kids 4. Gemma Ray 5. Gallows
Massive Attack at Myer Music Bowl, simply amazing.
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
More stalemates and indecisivenes.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Anything to do with elections.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
1. Howl At The Moon; 2. Jungal; 3. Rat Vs Possum; 4. Regurgitator; 5. Damn Terran
NICK ARGYRIOU
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. I’ m New Here GIL SCOTT-HERON 2. Made The Harbor MOUNTAIN MAN 3. Que Paso CHRIS ALTMANN 4. Bush League Bard VAN WALKER 5. Obadiah FRAZEY FORD 6. Long Gone Whistle: The Songs Of Maurice Frawley MAURICE FRAWLEY 7. Dan Kelly’s Dream DAN KELLY 8. Strange Tourist GARETH LIDDIARD 9. Heart Part Of Your Mind UNDERMINERS 10. Walk This Ocean CHARLES JENKINS & THE ZHIVAGOS
1. Nights With Alice Cooper CLASSICROCKFM.COM.AU 2. Off The Record RRR 3. Skull Cave RRR
1. Crazy Heart; 2. The Hurt Locker; 3. Exit Through The Gift Shop; 4. The Runaways; 5. The Men Who Stare At Goats
BEST SONG
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. The Radicalisation Of D GARETH LIDDIARD 2. Ride VAN WALKER 3. Poisoned Estuary Jam DAN KELLY 4. Animal Tracks MOUNTAIN MAN 5. Me And The Devil GIL SCOTT-HERON
JUNGAL
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Gil Scott-Heron 2. Mountain Man 3. Mike Noga 4. Davey Lane 5. Gareth Liddiard
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Wilco 2. Wilco 3. Daniel Johnston 4. Daniel Johnston 5. Pavment
TYLER MCLOUGHLAN TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. High Violet THE NATIONAL 2. The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE 3. Be My Thrill THE WEEPIES 4. Avi Buffalo AVI BUFFALO 5. Escapades HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY 6. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 7. Phoenix Propeller SIANNA LEE 8. Lucille THE VASCO ERA 9. Crystal Castles CRYSTAL CASTLES 10. Weathervanes FREELANCE WHALES
BEST SONG
1. Lullaby #1 (Mercy) THE CHEMIST 2. Bloodbuzz Ohio THE NATIONAL 3. Undertow WARPAINT 4. The High Road BROKEN BELLS 5. Mace Spray THE JEZEBELS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. The National 2. The Jezebels 3. Tame Impala 4. The Vasco Era 5. Best Coast
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Concrete Blonde
2. Rise Against 3. Jonsi 4. Band Of Horses 5. The XX
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
1. Tame Impala, The Tivoli 14/5/10 (headliner) 2. The Vasco Era, supporting Gyroscope at The Tivoli 13/6/10 3. Ball Park Music – Triple J Ausmusic Month Party 17/11/10, The Hi Fi Brisbane (opener) 4. The Jezebels, WHITELIGHT @ LIGHTSPACE Brisbane: 01.10.10 (headliner) 5. The Snowdroppers, The Troubadour 25/9/10 ‘Songs About Intoxication & Fornication Launch’ (headliner)
Oprah. Whilst Gillard busts her balls to welcome her to Australia.
Victoria recognising the need to reform licensing laws for live music venues, whilst QLD protested the midnight lockout.
1. Gareth Liddiard; 2. The Dead Salesmen; 3. Underminers; 4. Dan Kelly; 5. Van Walker & Liz Stringer
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
BEST TV SHOW
1. True Blood; 2. Dexter; 3. Mad Men; 4. Sons Of Anarchy; 5. Weeds
BEST MOVIE
1. ABC Radio Grandstand; 2. HBO; 3. Foodspotting; 4. WikiLeaks; 5. The Avalanches
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Bieber
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Wilco back-to-back.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up.’’ Ex-Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich, in an interview with Esquire magazine.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR WikiLeaks wonderment.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“Eat a hot bowl of dicks.” Ice T to Aimee Mann on Twitter after she criticised his acting skills.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR When Mates Dog Mates: Joel Monaghan’s mates out him as a dog lover.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
Bernard Fanning releases sophomore solo album whilst the rest of Powderfinger become John Farnham’s backing band for ‘The Last Time’ tour.
THE CHEMIST
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST 1. 2010 - Richard Kingsmill TRIPLE J 2. FBi’s Beforecast FBI 3. Hack TRIPLE J
BEST TV SHOW
1. Blue Mountain State; 2. The Hard Times Of RJ Berger; 3. Dexter; 4. RocKwiz; 5. Weeds
BEST MOVIE
1. Animal Kingdom; 2. The Social Network; 3. I’m Still Here; 4. Exit Through The Gift Shop; 5. Tomorrow When The War Began
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION
1. Mess+Noise; 2. Pitchfork; 3. Fasterlouder; 4. The Music Network; 5. Last fm
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2010
Writers’Poll BRENDAN CRABB TOP TEN 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
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 any more? Oh, and A Day To Remember.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Finally seeing Faith No More live and it 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. HIGH ON FIRE
TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Personal Life THE THERMALS 2. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy KANYE WEST 3. King Of The Beach WAVVES 4. All Day GIRL TALK 5. Treats SLEIGH BELLS 6. Fang Island FANG ISLAND 7. The Monitor TITUS ANDRONICUS 8. This Is Happening LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 9. Innerspeaker TAME IMPALA 10. Marnie Stern MARNIE STERN
BEST SONG
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. Hidden THESE NEW PURITANS 2. Escapades HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY 3. Everybody Knows THE YOUNG GODS 4. Church With No Magic PVT 5. There is Love in You FOUR TET 6. Option Paralysis THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN 7. Cosmogramma FLYING LOTUS 8. The Out of Money Experience THE OPTIMEN 9. Absolute Dissent KILLING JOKE 10. Where Did You Just Go? HRDVSION
1. The Good Wife 2. Damages 3. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 4. Dexter 5. Lost
TOP TEN ALBUMS
BEST SONG
1. Power KANYE WEST 2. Odessa CARIBOU 3. Weak4 65DAYSOFSTATIC 4. Problematic RE: ENACTMENT 5. My So-Called Life VENETIAN SNARES
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 1. Wiley 2. These New Puritans 3. Topology 4. Re: Enactment 5. Hungry Kids Of Hungary
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Emily XYZ 2. Grouper 3. Metallica 4. Nadja 5. KK Null
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE
1. Topology (Brisbane Powerhouse) 2. Topology (Brisbane Festival) 3. Lawrence English 4. Re: Enactment (Lofly Hangar, Brisbane) 5. Re: Enactment (Troubadour, Brisbane)
1. Mindsnare 2. Airbourne 3. Psycroptic 4. The Red Shore 5. LORD
JAKE CLELAND
MATT O’NEILL
BEST MOVIE
1. Inception 2. The Social Network 3. The A-Team 4. The Expendables 5. The Losers
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Tumblr 2. Vyou 3. WikiLeaks 4. Thought Catalog 5. Facebook RIHANNA
JEREMY WILLIAMS TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Eliza Doolittle ELIZA DOOLITTLE 2. Various Small Fires PARIS WELLS 3. Catching A Tiger LISSIE 4. Gloves OPERATOR PLEASE 5. We Are Born SIA 6. Innundir Skinni OLOF ARNALDS 7. Everybody INGIRD MICHAELSON 8. Keep It Real STEPHANIE BROWNLEE 9. Tumbling Into The Dawn LIOR 10. 270 Stories BELLERUCHE
BEST SONG
1. Resident Advisor Podcast RESIDENTADVISOR.NET 2. XLR8R Podcast XL8R.COM 3. TEDTalks ITUNES.COM.AU
BEST TV SHOW
BEST MOVIE
1. Inception 2. Kick-Ass 3. Toy Story 3 4. The Men Who Stare At Goats 5. Up In The Air
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. Cracked 2. Facebook 3. Wikipedia 4. Allmusic 5. Five Eight Forums
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED) Arcade Fire
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR Interviewing Jaz Coleman.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“This is twitter? This isn’t what I wanted at all. What’s the one where you watch strangers masturbate?”Soren Bowie, Twitter.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR Chatroulette. If I wanted to see pathetic men masturbating, I’d use a mirror.
PREDICTION FOR 2011
A panoply of piano playing penguins praying pertinence will pervade their proclamations prior to their parochial party.
3. Home And Away 4. Neighbours 5. Packed To The Rafters
BEST MOVIE
1. Precious 2. Inception 3. Boy 4. The Social Network 5. Toy Story 3
BEST ONLINE DESTINATION 1. The Kaje 2. Laneway Magazine 3. Zap! Bang! 4. This Is Levi 5. Music By Day
1. Only Girl (In The World) RIHANNA 2. Post Acid WAVVES 3. Power KANYE WEST 4. A More Perfect Union TITUS ANDRONICUS 5. Desire Be Desire Go TAME IMPALA
1. Through And Through PARIS WELLS 2. Hurt Me THE JEZABELS 3. Heavy Harm PAPA VS PRETTY 4. Fuck You CEE LO GREEN 5. Clap Your Hands SIA
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES AWARD (MOST OVER-HYPED)
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lissie
1. The Hold Steady 2. Kanye West 3. Wavves 4. Girl Talk 5. Sleigh Bells
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Jay-Z 2. Kasabian 3. Rise Against 4. Art Vs Science 5. Girl Talk
BEST RADIO SHOW/PODCAST
1. Get Cereal SYN.ORG.AU 2. AnimeBall...Z SYN.ORG.AU 3. The 90s Nostalgihour SYN.ORG.AU
BEST TV SHOW
1. Community 2. Modern Family 3. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 4. Caprica 5. Stargate: Universe
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Russell Brand and Katy Perry.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
1. Eliza Doolittle 2. Paris Wells 3. Sia 4. Lior 5. Owl Eyes
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE
The constant evolution of Facebook to the extent that people have started to distrust the medium.
1. Blue Angel 2. Eliza Doolittle 3. Ingrid Michaelson 4. Lissie 5. Tankus & The Henge
BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE 1. Paris Wells 2. Sia 3. Lior 4. Owl Eyes 5. Papa Vs Pretty
BEST TV SHOW 1. Community 2. Cold Case
“I thought it was gum.” Paris Hilton, denying responsibility for packet of cocaine Las Vegas police found in her bag.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUCK-UP OF THE YEAR PREDICTION FOR 2011
Prince William will be caught having an affair with Katy Perry.
PARIS WELLS
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41
2010 WRITERS’ POLL
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.
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, THE SOCIAL NETWORK 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 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 English-language 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 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 TRUE BLOOD supreme in past years with the likes of The Sopranos, The Wire, and True Blood, 2010 was all about the lesser-known 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-meth-producer drama Breaking Bad, and in 2010, the zombie-apocalypse series The Walking Dead, starring British actor Andrew Lincoln (Teachers, Love, Actually).
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RED DEAD REDEMPTION
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.
BIG DAY ART
TON PENINSULA AT / B E N D I G O - M O R N I N G / SURF COAST - BALLAR MELBOURNE - GEELONG
DESIGN OUR COVER
AND WIN BIG! READERS’ CHOICE AWAR Vote for your favourite artwork D in the Readers’ Choice vot Check out the entries exhibit e. summerfestivalguide.com.aued at vote via Twitter. More details and soon!
KASABIAN THE MARS VOLTA POLAR BEAR CLUB DAN SULTAN
~ FREE R Y 2 0 10 ~ I S S U E 110 6 WE DN ESDAY 20 JANUA
HOCKEY
AFI
DIRTY THREE
DIXON ZEBRA 33,222
TO ENTER: Competition opens Tuesday 2 November. Create 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). WIN: Inpress cover art. Artist profile. Double pass to the BDO Festival. A cd prize pack – the latest releases from BDO artists. Design software for each state winner. Free entry to a CATC Workshop for each state winner. ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 7 JANUARY
MELBOURNE SYDNEY BRISBANE
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43
2010 WRITERS’ POLL SCOTT
FITZSIMONS
5SPROCKET
TONY
TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES FIFA 11 Red Dead Redemption F1 2010 Fallout: New Vegas
TOY STORY 3
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
Rake
Canvas on FBi.
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
Take TV programming away from the commercial stations.
STRINGER
TOP FIVE FILMS
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BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011
Grace
TOP FIVE FILMS I’m Still Here Fish Tank Jackass 3D Kick-Ass Toy Story 3
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS Dog Squad Pyramid All 4 Kidz
BAZ
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
Kick-Ass Four Lions Buried The Disappearance Of Alice Creed Scott Pilgrim vs The World
There’s arts radio?
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.
Transforma Ladder infomercial Embarassing Bodies
TOP FIVE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES 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)
MCALISTER
TOP FIVE FILMS
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
I’M STILL HERE
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.
Jimmy James Eaton
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.
Finding time to finish Jonathan Franzen’s new book Freedom.
The Axis of Awesome
Monsters The Human Centipede Zombieland Bran Nue Dai
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011
TOP FIVE FILMS
Red Hill
NBA 2K11
“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
MCMAHON
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS The Walking Dead Breaking Bad Caprica Survivors Lost
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES
Film Buff’s Forecast
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS Red Hill’s Tommy Lewis playing a ‘psychopathic’ Aboriginal killer whose actions turn out to be completely justified.
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.
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011
Andrew O’Neill Mat Govoni Anthony Menchetti
More funding for stories that speak to what a profoundly racist country Australia has been and continues to be.
MITCH
KNOX
Robin Williams at BEC
Red Dead Redemption
Des Bishop at Brisbane Comedy Festival
Super Meat Boy
Greg Fleet
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES
Fable III
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Red Dead Redemption Splinter Cell: Conviction Fallout: New Vegas Mass Effect 2 Fable 3
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Tripod vs The Dragon at Brisbane Powerhouse
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES
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
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES
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.
Sammy J and Randy at Brisbane Comedy Festival
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
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)
Ghetto (VCA) At the Sans Hotel (Theatre Works) Little Mercy (Sisters Grimm) The Grönholm Method (Red Stitch) Mommy and the Minister (Sisters Grimm)
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW Adam and Joe on XFM
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.
THE VENTURE BROS.
TOP FIVE FILMS Kick Ass Iron Man 2 Scott Pilgrim Vs The World Alice In Wonderland Toy Story 3
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS The Venture Bros. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Psych Boardwalk Empire The Walking Dead
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.
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
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.
Metropolis: Reconstructed And Restored (Masters Of Cinema) House (Hausu) Modern Times (Criterion) Fullmetal Alchemist Deluxe Complete Collection Antichrist
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTIN ARTS
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)
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.
TOP FIVE ART EXHIBITIONS
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
Angelica Mesiti: Natural History (Gallery 9) Polixeni Papapetrou: Between Worlds (Stills Gallery)
R O B E RT
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.
“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 A Single Man Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Back To The Future Trilogy
TOP FIVE ART EXHIBITIONS Emily Ferretti’s Studio, Open Day (Gertrude Contemporary Art Space)
Amococo: Architects Of Air at Adelaide Fringe Festival
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
TOP FIVE FILMS Scott Pilgrim vs The World Animal Kingdom The Social Network Fair Game Toy Story 3
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS Gossip Girl Doctor Who Walking Dead Being Human IQ
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.
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 The Idler, 2011 Annual Periodical
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 Fewer festivals, less money, more bass, richer muffins; all you need is love.
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES Hannah Gadsby at Sydney Comedy Festival Tripod vs The Dragon at Sydney Opera House Charlie Pickering at Sydney Comedy Festival Tom Gleeson at Sydney Comedy Festival Tom Ballard at Sydney Comedy Festival
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.
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011 By Jacki Weaver winning an Oscar in 2011.
KOHLER
TOP FIVE FILMS Kick-Ass Inception Scott Pilgrim vs the World The Social Network How To Train Your Dragon
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS Doctor Who The Walking Dead An Idiot Abroad Glee Gruen Nation
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES 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
Tease and Wake Up Fi! Des Bishop (Brisbane Comedy Festival)
ALEKSIA
BARRON
TOP FIVE FILMS Inception The Road The Social Network Toy Story 3 Four Lions
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS Mad Men True Blood Community MasterChef Caprica
TOP FIVE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES 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)
I hope Margaret and David’s At The Movies counts...
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS The departmental reshuffle will no doubt have an impact. We may not have seen it yet, but we will... for better or worse.
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.
PIAF can become a year-round festival of cultural deliciousness. Hey, what’s life without a dream?
M AT T
O’NEILL
MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS
Toy Story 3 Kick-Ass Up In The Air
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS 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
Locally, Wicked is going to be huge. On an international scale I guess you can’t beat the last adventures of a specky wizard.
Or well and good, Laurie Perry. For the first time, I bought art.
Rhys Darby at Regal Theatre Jacques Barrett at Althenaum Theatre
The Moth. Stories told live without notes. Everyone has a story and here they tell them well.
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
“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
Bill Bailey at Perth Convention Centre
TOP FIVE LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCES
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.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
Michael Workman: The Ogre at Wild West Comedy Festival
BEST ARTSPODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
The damn top spinning at the end of Inception. It was a conversation starter that everyone had an opinion on.
John Robertson: A Nifty History Of Evil at Wild West Comedy Festival
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.
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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 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 When The Rain Stops Falling (QTC) 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
Inception/Shutter Island (DiCaprio’s mind-bending one-two punch)
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
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
GIUFFRE
Eastbound & Down/Bored to Death Luther/Sherlock Mad Men The Inbetweeners
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES
Stop locking US Blu-rays to region A!
CONNORS
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Red Hill Goemon
Four Lions Scott Pilgrim vs The World Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work The Ghost Writer Toy Story 3
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS Community 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
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Adam Hills/Wil Anderson (they are the same guy, right?) at Sydney Comedy Festival
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
X-Men: First Class, Matthew Vaughn’s 1960s-era take on the Marvel Comics’ franchise with James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender.
Grindhouse Blu-ray (region one)
TOP FIVE FILMS
DeAnn Smith at Sydney Comedy Festival
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011
Trick ‘r Treat
Kick-Ass
TOP FIVE FILMS
“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
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011
Alien Anthology
A N I TA
DOCTOR WHO
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
The Social Network
World Theatre Festival at Brisbane Powerhouse or Carsten Höller’s slide installation at Queensland Art Gallery
I’m kinda digging Wil Anderson and Charlie Clausen’s TOFOP podcasts, actually.
Sony rebooting the Spider-Man franchise.
La Boite’s Indie season.
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011
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
Winter’s Bone
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS True Blood Dexter Mad Men
ANIMAL KINGDOM
TOP FIVE FILMS Animal Kingdom In The Loop Greenberg Avatar Bran Nue Dae
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS Diary Of A Madman (Belvoir) August: Osage County (Steppenwolf Theatre Company/STC) Long Day’s Journey Into Night (STC)
TOP FIVE TV SHOWS
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
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.
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
TOP FIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
Lebensraum (The Brainbox Project)
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)
Sweet Charity (Theatre Royal Haymarket, UK)
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL
Oliver! The Musical (Theatre Royal, London)
Tim Burton: The Exhibition at ACMI, Melbourne. Just gorgeous.
Glee Law & Order: SVU
Uncle Vanya (STC)
BEST ARTS PODCAST/ RADIO SHOW
TOP FIVE DVD/ BLU-RAY RELEASES
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
Kerry O’Brien stepping down from The 7:30 Report.
30 Rock
TOFOP - the little podcast that could (and a proper insight into secret men’s business in the arts).
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ARTS
Alien Anthology Black Books (Leather Bound Edition) Back To The Future Trilogy The Killing: Season One/Season Two
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...
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
BEST ARTS FESTIVAL Céleste Boursier-Mougenot at the Barbican, London. It was nothing like
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
THE GHOST WRITER
The Social Network Animal Kingdom
Rake Spectacle Castle SBS World News
“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
Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...
Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris, at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Donnie Darko (Blu-ray) Back To The Future Trilogy 30 Rock: Complete Fourth Season Stones In Exile
Perth International Arts Festival - oh, the variety!
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
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 The 40th anniversary of A Clockwork Orange.
twitter.com/inpressmag
47
frontrow@inpress.com.au POLL 2010 WRITERS’
DANIEL
CRICHTON-ROUSE
TRAILER
MOST ANTICIPATED ARTS EVENT OF 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 25th anniversary
HOW THE ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED IN 2011
FISH TANK
TOP FIVE FILMS 1. The Social Network 2. Harry Potter And 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)
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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 10 wins).
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
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 highprofile 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?)
THE A-TEAM
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: 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
2010 WRITERS’ POLL FILM 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-messwith-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 extraterrestrial 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 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. 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. 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.
CAREW
THE ROBBER
WITH ANTHONY CAREW Vale, Film Carew’s worst-filmsof-the-year countdown. A beloved part of this annual end-of-year countdown – at least by me – was chronicling the worst things of the past 12 months. Yet, after years of hard toil at the cinema coalface, 2010 found your unhumble narrator actually trying to avoid the shittest of the shit; rather than revel in their idiocy, then gleefully skewer them in print. Well, save for that time I watched Sex And The City 2. Sure, I saw hundreds of crappy flicks this year, but most of them were barely-noticed entries in the billions of ‘ethnic’ film festivals that fleetingly fill cinemas, ones that don’t deserve to be remembered at all. So, instead, let us toast the glass half-full, and celebrate, only, the best o’ the best.
FILM CAREW’S TOP 13-AND-A-HALF FILMS OF 2010: 13. Exit Through The Gift Shop (Banksy): The sarcastic, smirking tone of Banksy’s street-art pseudochronicle effectively enshrines it as a farce, but it’s as much a cautionary tale on art-world money-laundering and idiotic hype. Blithely obliterating those archaic lines between truth/ fiction/on-screen/in-world, it’s a satire so loaded with metaconceptual monkeyshines that it continually calls everything about its own existence into question. 12. Winnebago Man (Ben Steinbauer): In this microcosmic look at the life of its titular viral-video ‘star’, Steinbauer’s at-once-incisive-and-warm-hearted documentary unexpectedly explores the 21st century in a way few films have. Steinbauer illuminates the permanence of a digital reputation – how one video-taped misstep can ruin a life forever – as a symbol of a greater cultural shift, in which a human-being’s life is wholly assimilated into the digital grid. 11. GasLand (Josh Fox)/Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives On The Alberta Tar Sands (Peter Mettler):
Two dissimilar non-fiction flicks united only in their condemnation of fossil-fuel-industry extremism. Fox’s ambling road-movie is a trip into a US heartland poisoned by incessant drilling for natural-gas wells, which leaves behind tap-water so toxic it’s flammable. Mettler’s made-for-TV mid-length mood-piece, contrastingly, ethereally floats over the most moronic oil reserves in the world – the process of extracting black gold from brown sand actually burns more energy that it produces – surveying the scars and marks left on the planet by humanity’s oil addiction. 10. Inception (Christopher Nolan): Though it lacks the elegance of Memento and The Prestige, Inception is another grand cinematic sleight-of-hand for the king of the thinking-feller’s explosion-movie. Amidst its automatic weaponfire and chase-sequences, Nolan authors another portrait of the filmmaker as illusionist; there’re no narrative ‘truths’ in cinema’s hall-of-mirrors. Here, a dream unfolds into a dream into a dream, with nearinfinite regression; Nolan dressing such debate-starting cinematic philosophising in Matrix-esque popcorn-movie eye-candy. 9. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Apichatpong Weerasethakul): It may lack the structural radicalism of the more-awesome Blissfully Yours and Syndromes And A Century, but Weerasethakul’s latest joint is another trip into the outer limits of narrative familiarity. Here, he makes a motion-picture-as-meditation, floating away from linear story into a cloudy, starry dreamworld of ghosts, ghouls, and interspecies love; half-memories and hallucinations pirouetting in a kind of cinematic interpretive dance. 8. The Father Of My Children (Mia Hansen-Løve): Though based on the life of film producer Humbert Balsan, 29-year-old Hansen-Løve’s quietly-revolutionary work shrugs off the burdens of the Important Man movie. Even those who know
about Balsan’s life can’t help but be wowed by its incredible narrative shift; a first-half following solely the father suddenly, radically, becoming all about his children. It’s a film that artfully illuminates the tritest truism – life goes on – in profound fashion; even closing with an unironic, utterly poignant use of the musical dead horse that is Doris Day’s Que Sera, Sera. 7. The Myth Of The American Sleepover (David Robert Mitchell): Seemingly inspired by Dazed & Confused, Freaks & Geeks, and Frederick Wiseman’s High School, Mitchell’s magnificent motion-picture stakes a bold claim for teen-film immortality. Exploring the sadness and terror of adolescence, Mitchell and his cast of non-professional kids skewer the genre’s fantasyfulfilment; its singular great myth, indeed. Here, on the last big weekend before school’s back in, its teenagers are out to score before summer is over; only no one really does. Mitchell isn’t interested in cliché, just human truths. 6. Air Doll (Hirokazu Kore-eda): The premise sounds like a bad ’80s sitcom: a blow-up sex doll comes to life! Leave it to Kore-eda – author of the immortal Distance and After Life – to turn such a silly set-up into a sublime act of cinematic transfiguration. Here, the literal emptiness of its inflated heroine stands as symbol for the existential emptiness of modern existence; the modern, hyper-capitalist metropolis housing millions of humans just as devoid of emotion, just as hollow inside. 5. Four Lions (Chris Morris): The master satirist’s long-awaited feature-film debut is anything but a let-down: his “Dad’s Army look” at a crew of witless Yorkie Jihadis and their misplaced religious righteousness brazenly mocking the idiocy of ideological sheep of any feather. It’s hilarious, but not nasty: with equal parts absurdity and poignancy, Morris sees the sweet-natured hopelessness in these wannabes, and happily humanises
subjects otherwise eternally demonised by the media. 4. The Red Chapel (Mads Brügger): In this pitch-perfect sustained farce, Brügger – with shades of his mentor, Lars von Trier, in The Five Obstructions – takes a crew of Danish-Korean comedians on ‘cultural exchange’ in North Korea as conceptual critique of the fascist state. Yet, The Red Chapel goes beyond simple subterfuge, becoming one of those rare documentaries whose every on-screen act gives rise to its themes: How far does one take a lie? Can you perform 24 hours a day? Can you suppress personal ideals for a greater crusade? These are the concerns of Brügger and troupe, but they’re more so the daily dilemmas faced by Pyongyang’s citizenry; the pic’s pranksterism no match for that ultimate performanceart extreme: Kim Jong-il’s Korea. 3. The Robber (Benjamin Heisenberg): In a year that delivered the virtuous crusade of Olivier Assayas’s 330-minute Carlos, Heisenberg’s utterly unsentimental portrait of real-life crim Johann Kastenberger coldly annihilates every tired cliché of the noble bandit. Here, its unloveable lead exists to compulsively follow two pursuits – long-distance running and bank robbing – with a purity of intent but no particular purpose. It’s a stark, painful portrait of the monomaniacal mind that never once suggests its anti-hero is heroic, and never bows to familiar forms of film narrative. 2. Let Each One Go Where He May (Ben Russell): Russell’s immense picture is a work of the purest cinema: sheer light and sound; evocative worlds infused in emulsion; a journey both literal and spiritual. It’s, in one way, a work of pure vérité: its Surinamese locations and unfiltered, unbroken, unspoken depiction of reality having the hallmarks of ethnographic cinema. But its story – as much as a 140-minute tracking shot of no notable dialogue has one – is steeped in folklore and loaded with political meaning. The effect is both human and spiritual; this hypnotic, peripatetic picture rendering a cinematic world both tactile and mythical. 1. White Material (Claire Denis): Denis’s latest masterwork is a colonialist parable, with Isabelle Huppert as French émigré attempting to save her African coffee plantation – its frayed, falling fences the drawn borders of a divided continent; its family embodying different elements of European rule – in the face of imminent civil war. Things fall apart, but as far as murderous coups go, this one is aloof and eerie. A scene in which an army troop tiptoes through a sleeping band of rebel orphans, silently slitting their throats, is both shockingly brutal and transcendently artful, and the power of its silence speaks volumes: these children are, in a global sense, voiceless, and their deaths are news that no one’s listening to.
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ISSUE 1155 - WEDNESDAY 29 DECEMBER, 2010
TOURS THIS WEEK INTERNATIONAL
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: December 29 Espy NEON INDIAN, CASIOKIDS: December 29 Revolver EARTHLESS: December 31 Espy ARMIN VAN BUUREN: December 31 Etihad Stadium FUTURE OF THE LEFT: January 2 Corner Hotel HOT HOT HEAT: January 3 Corner Hotel JUNIP: January 4 Corner Hotel
NATIONAL JIMMY BARNES, NOISEWORKS, THIRSTY MERC: January 2 Warrnambool Racecourse
FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY INTERNATIONAL
THE DYNAMITES FEATURING CHARLES WALKER: January 6, 7 Order Of Melbourne SLEIGH BELLS: January 7 Prince Bandroom DARKEST HOUR, CARNIFEX: January 7, Hi-Fi INTERPOL: January 7 Palace JASON COLLETT: January 8, 9 Northcote Social Club EARTHLESS: January 9 Arthouse THE NATIONAL: January 9, 10 Palais THEE OH SEES: January 9, National Hotel (Geelong)
NATIONAL
JIMMY BARNES, NOISEWORKS, THIRSTY MERC: January 9 Mildura Soundshell
Jane Dust & The Giant Hoopoes play Yah Yah’s this New Year’s Eve with Little John, Dan Brodie & The Grieving Widows, The Bulls and The Hired Guns
GIG OF THE WEEK JUNIP
TUESDAY, CORNER HOTEL
I
f you can’t find a gig that takes your fancy over the next fortnight you never will, with an abundance of NYE festival sideshows flooding Melbourne venues. Our pick of the international interlopers are Junip, the Swedish trio who seemed all over following the release of their Black Refuge EP in 2005. As the star of founding member Jose Gonzalez continued to rise, the chance of the group – who first came together in the late ’90s – ever reuniting to record again seemed slim. But earlier this year the group – completed by Elias Araya and Tobias Winterkorn – dropped the exquisite Fields LP, which showcased an unconventional blend of influences that took in everything from John Martyn’s folk jazz to Richie Haven’s psychedelic soul, with elements of kosmische and Afrobeat thrown in for good measure,
THREE TO THE FLOOR Earthless Friday Espy
PRESENTS
UPCOMING
INTERNATIONAL THEE OH SEES: January 12, 13 Tote JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: January 13 Hi-Fi; 14 Espy EMMURE: January 14 Castle (Dandenong) PLUTONIC LAB & G LOVE: January 14 Northcote Social Club MOS DEF: January 14 Palace Theatre MOUNTAIN MEN: January 15 Toff in Town OWEN PALLETT, JESSICA SAYS: January 15 Thornbury Theatre; 16 Toff In Town GRINDERMAN: January 17, 18 Palace HOLLY MIRANDA: January 17 East Brunswick Club WIRE: January 19 Corner Hotel JUDY COLLINS: January 20 West Gippsland Arts Centre; 21 Corner Hotel; 25 Theatre Royal (Castlemaine) HEALTH: January 21 East Brunswick Club CAT POWER: January 21 Forum; 22 Theatre Royal (Castlemaine) BROOKE FRASER: January 22 Athenaeum Theatre BEACH HOUSE: January 25 Hi-Fi KENNY ROGERS: January 25 Regent Theatre
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BUILT TO SPILL: January 1 Corner Hotel JUNIP: January 4 Corner Hotel THE NATIONAL: January 9, 10 Palais THEE OH SEES: January 9 National Hotel (Geelong); 12, 13 Tote JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: January 13 Hi-Fi; 14 Espy PLUTONIC LAB & G LOVE: January 14 Northcote Social Club WIRE: January 19 Corner Hotel BEACH HOUSE: January 25 Hi-Fi ANDREW WK: January 29 Hi-Fi BLONDE REDHEAD: February 7 Billboard BEAR IN HEAVEN, THE ANTLERS: February 9 Corner TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB: February 9 Prince Bandroom STORNOWAY: February 10 Corner FOALS: February 10 Palace WARPAINT: February 10 Northcote Social Club YEASAYER: February 10 Billboard CARIBOU, FOUR TET: February 16 Hi-Fi I AM KLOOT: February 17 East Brunswick Club MAYER HAWTHORNE & THE COUNTY: February 18 Hi-Fi SWERVEDRIVER: February 19 Corner Hotel DOVES: February 19 Forum TUNNG: February 22 East Brunswick Club THE HOLD STEADY: March 11 Hi-Fi THE CLEAN: March 11 Corner Hotel WAVVES: March 14 Corner Hotel DISTURBED, TRIVIUM, AS I LAY DYING: April 24 Rod Laver Arena KYUSS LIVES: May 8 Billboard
Brisbane’s Kitchen’s Floor usually prefer playing shows in laundries, warehouses and lounge rooms but for the band’s only Melbourne show they play Bar Open on Sunday 9 January with Absolute Boys and Breaker Morant. Kitchen’s Floor have a new cassette on the way and a new rhythm section consisting of Adelaide-based musician Liam Kenny (Bitch Prefect, Dud Pills, Terrible Truths) on bass and Joe Alexander (Per Purpose, Loose Grip) on drums. They’ve asked Absolute Boys to join them after KF cracked a big stiffy watching them support My Disco in Brisbane last month. Breaker Morant, who were once described as “the shittest band I ever saw” by their mate, will open proceedings. Doors open at 7.30pm, entry is free.
ALWAYS THE BRIDE Alternative rock band The Bride Stripped Back are set to launch their long-awaited debut album, Chaos And The Calm, on Friday 14 January at the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood. Don’t get confused – the band are originally from Bendigo, but this gig is in Collingwood. Their album took more a year of frontwoman and songwriter Natalie Edith working with the band and many other local musician friends to eventually complete. That time saw the band deconstruct their studio and set it up again in a new location, and stumble upon enough money to get a string section in to make their debut a truly impressive sonic experience. Support at the launch comes from The Elliotts and Twelve Inch Clocks from 9.30pm.
BACK IN BLACK Three of Melbourne’s most extreme black and death metal acts join forces for a night of no-holds-barred blasphemy at the East Brunswick Club on Friday 7 January as part of the Adamus Exul Revolting Sickness album launch tour. Support comes from Belligerent Intent (uncompromising fist-in-the-face blasphemy along the lines of Deicide) and arguably the most extreme black metal band in Australia, Melbourne’s Sanguinary Misanthropia. Adamus Exul will be supporting the launch of their longanticipated inaugural full-length release on the night, entitled Death, Paint A Vision and will be performing works from this release exclusively. Copies of the CD will be available at the venue on the night.
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HOW DID YOU GET TOGETHER? Jane Dust, guitar/voacls: “My band name is Jane Dust & The Giant Hoopoes. Giant Hoopoes are an extinct bird species; they lived on the island of Saint Helena. They had majestic feathered heads, big beaks and bushy rears. They were very pretty to look at. I picked Damian Hooper, Stu Thomas, Clare Moore and William Hindmarsh because they are all of those things.” HAVE YOU RECORDED ANYTHING OR DO YOU PREFER TO TOOL AROUND IN YOUR BEDROOM? “I have recorded Jane Dust (2010) through Vitamin Records and A Spray Of Red From The Deep (2008, independent) in studios.” CAN YOU SUM UP YOUR BAND’S SOUND IN FOUR WORDS? “Symphonic country pop suaveness.” IF YOU COULD SUPPORT ANY BAND IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? “I wouldn’t have minded opening for Michael Jackson on his This Is It tour. I would have enjoyed getting close to Mike, turning him to atheism, convincing him to fire his sycophantic producer Kenny Ortega and stealing his lighting crew and pyrotechnics team from under his very strangelyshaped nose.” IF A HIGHER POWER SMITES YOUR HOUSE AND YOU CAN ONLY SAVE ONE RECORD FROM THE FIRE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? “Dolly Parton’s Coat Of Many Colours for obvious reasons.” DO YOU HAVE A LUCKY ITEM OF CLOTHING YOU WEAR FOR GIGS AND WHAT IS IT? “No, but I’m adding a new item to my extensive Jane Dust wardrobe in 2011 – a green lyra jumpsuit with leather patches. I know it will work.” IF YOU INVITED SOMEONE AWESOME ROUND FOR DINNER WHAT WOULD YOU COOK? “Clams.” WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO DRINK IN MELBOURNE? “I like the Old Bar. I like Yah Yah’s. I like to drink at home in the fernery.”
MODEL ENTERTAINMENT The Caravan Music Club in Oakleigh has assembled a huge line-up for New Year’s Eve, with three members – Sean Kelly, Andrew Duffield, Mark Ferrie of recent ARIA Hall Of fame inductees, Models, playing with the Model Super Orchestra (Jack Howard, Billy Miller and Cal McAlpine). Also on the bill are Stephen Cummings (in rockin’ mode) and Rebecca Barnard. Table seating is limited to 160 punters with an overall capacity of 240. Tickets are on sale noe from webtickets.com.au.
TANKS A LOT Out of the bunker and into the Tote come Tank! as they chase the elusive, spunky, snow leopard in leotards down laneways and alleys. Tank! make dance music for drunken scuzz-buckets. They’re four Melbourne grunts armed with synthesisers, bass, drums, samplers, spacebeams and strobes. Hear the sounds from their new EP, Hello Sparky, tonight (Wednesday).
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AULD LANG TIMES Plan your NYE festivals with full FALLS and PYRAMID ROCK playing times.
OLAF ARNALDS: January 26 Toff In Town (HED)pe January 27 Corner Hotel COCOROSIE: January 27 Prince Bandroom COLM MAC CON IONMAIRE: January 28 Melbourne Recital Hall CRYSTAL CASTLES: January 28 Palace THE NAKED & FAMOUS: January 28 Corner Hotel THE VERLAINES: January 28 East Brunswick Club ANDREW WK: January 29 Hi-Fi RATATAT: January 31 Hi-Fi MATT & KIM: February 2 Corner Hotel THE BLACK KEYS: February 2 Palace THE GREENHORNES: February 2 Palace; 3 Northcote Social Club PRIMAL SCREAM: February 2, 3 Forum HOLY FUCK: February 3 Hi-Fi ALOE BLACC & THE GRAND SCHEME: February 4 Prince BELINDA CARLISLE: February 4 Chelsea Heights Hotel; 5 Shoppingtown Hotel THE UNTHANKS: February 4, Bella Union, Trades Hall CONOR O’BRIEN: February 6 Northcote Social Club BLONDE REDHEAD: February 7 Billboard TRAIN: February 7 Forum JOE COCKER: February 8, 9 Palais LES SAVY FAV: February 8 Billboard LOCAL NATIVES: February 8 Corner Hotel MENOMENA: February 9 East Brunswick Club BEAR IN HEAVEN, THE ANTLERS: February 9 Corner ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI: February 10 Northcote Social Club STORNOWAY: February 10 Corner Hotel !!!: February 10 Prince Bandroom WARPAINT: February 10 Northcote Social Club RETURN TO FOREVER: February 11 Regent Theatre I AM KLOOT: February 17 East Brunswick Club MAYER HAWTHORNE & THE COUNTY: February 18 Hi-Fi TORO Y MOI: February 18 Workers Club KATE NASH: February 18 Billboard DOVES: February 19 Forum THE LIKE: February 19 Northcote Social Gotye Friday 14 January National Theatre
LORNE TIMETABLE 2010-2011 FALLS VICTORIA playing times - Tue 28th Dec TIME 2pm - 4.30pm 3pm - 3.30pm 4.30pm - 5.30pm 5.30pm - 6.45pm 6.45pm - 7.15pm 7.15pm - 8pm 8pm - 9pm 9pm - 10pm 10pm - 11pm 11pm - 12.30am 12.30pm - 1am
GRAND THEATRE DJ MISS GOLDIE ANNA’S GO - GO ACADEMY THE PUTBACKS DJ MOHAIR SLIM+LILIKOI KAOS ANNA’S GO - GO ACADEMY THE MEGAHORNS DJ MANCHILD + LILIKOI KAOS KITTY DAISY & LEWIS DJ RUSS DEWBURY MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA DJ MOHAIR SLIM v MANCHILD
FALLS VICTORIA playing times - Wed 29 Dec TIME 11.30am - 12pm 12.20pm - 1pm 1.20pm - 2pm 2.20pm - 3.10pm 3.30pm - 4.10pm 4.30pm - 5.20pm 5.40pm - 6.40pm 7pm - 7.50pm 8.10pm - 9.10pm 9.30pm - 10.30pm 10.50pm - 12am 12.10am - 1am 1.10 - 2am 11.30am - 5pm* 5.00pm - 12 am*
VALLEY STAGE WELCOME TO COUNTRY EAGLE AND THE WORM LAST DINOSAURS SALLY SELTMANN TIM AND JEAN JONATHAN BOULET MARINA & THE DIAMONDS THE COOL KIDS DAN SULTAN LADYHAWKE THE LIVING END PEACHES DJ SHOW YACHT CLUB DJs DJ JACINTA PARSONS (RRR) CHIMP & ZEE (Beach Road)
FALLS VICTORIA playing times - Thu 30 Dec TIME 11.30am - 12.10pm 12.30pm - 1.10pm 1.30pm - 2.10pm 2.30pm - 3.20pm 3.30pm - 4.30pm
4.40pm - 5.30pm 5.50pm - 6.30pm 6.50pm - 7.30pm 7.50pm - 8.30pm 8.50pm - 9.30pm 9.45pm - 10.45pm 11pm - 12am 12.10am - 1am 1am - 2am 2am - 4am 12pm - 6.30pm* 6.30pm - 1.00am*
GRAND THEATRE JINJA SAFARI BIG SCARY BOY & BEAR THE JEZABELS Comedy – DAVE THORNTON, THE BEDROOM PHILOSOPHER & TOMMY DASSALO JUNIP JAMAICA THE BAMBOOS RICHARD IN YOUR MIND DJANIMALS EDAN THE DEE JAY FLIGHT FACILITIES THE CUBAN BROTHERS HOOK N’ SLING ANDY MURPHY & CHARDY DJ - RICHIE 1250 DJ - BEN STERN (ROCKSTAR)
FALLS VICTORIA playing times - Thu 30 Dec TIME 11am - 11.40am 12pm - 12.50pm 1.10pm - 2pm 2.20pm - 3.05pm 3.25pm - 4.10pm 4.30pm - 5.30pm 5.50pm - 6.50pm 7.10pm - 8.20pm 8.30pm - 8.45pm 9.00pm - 10.10pm 10.30pm - 11.30pm 11.50pm - 12.50am 1.10am - 2am 12pm - 6.30pm* 6.30pm - 1am*
VALLEY STAGE BALL PARK MUSIC PRESENTED BY JB SEED THE MIDDLE EAST ASH GRUNWALD CHILDREN COLLIDE WASHINGTON HOT HOT HEAT ANGUS & JULIA STONE PUBLIC ENEMY THE CUBAN BROTHERS PAUL KELLY INTERPOL KLAXONS THE PUBLIC OPINION AFRO ORCHESTRA DJ - SHAG (FBI) FANS DJs
FALLS VICTORIA playing times - Fri 31 Dec TIME 12pm - 12.40pm 1pm - 1.50pm 2pm - 3pm
3.20pm - 4.10pm 4.40pm - 5.30pm 5.50pm - 6.40pm 8pm - 8.45pm 9pm - 10pm 10pm - 11pm 11.20pm - 12.20am 12.50am - 1.50am 2am - 4am 4am - 6am 12pm - 6.30pm* 6.30pm - 1am*
GRAND THEATRE WORLD’S END PRESS CHARLIE PARR Comedy – TOM GLEESON, MICHAEL CHAMBERLIN, NAZEEM HUSSAIN & JOSH EARL THE MORNING BENDERS TIJUANA CARTEL DAN KELLY’s DREAM BAND THUNDAMENTALS SAMPOLOGY (AV DJ SET) THE REVENGE CASIOKIDS BEARDYMAN STREET PARTY DJs OPULENT SOUND DJ - SHAG (FBI) DJ - BEN STERN (ROCKSTAR)
FALLS VICTORIA playing times - Fri 31 Dec TIME 11.20am - 12.10pm 12.30pm - 1.20pm 1.40pm - 2.30pm 2.50pm - 3.40pm 4.10pm - 5.10pm 5.30pm - 6.30pm 6.50pm - 7.10pm 7.30pm - 8.20pm 8.40pm - 9.40pm 10.00pm - 10.50pm 11.10pm - 12.05am 12.30am - 1am 1.10am - 2.20am 12pm - 6.30pm* 6.30pm - 1am*
VALLEY STAGE GOLDFIELDS PRESENTED BY JJJ UNEARTHED CLOUD CONTROL THE SOFT PACK DAARA J FAMILY THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS COLD WAR KIDS BEARDYMAN TAME IMPALA THE NATIONAL THE RAPTURE JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS SLEIGH BELLS A - TRAK FANS DJs DJ- BAIO (VAMPIRE WEEKEND)
Club THE GETAWAY PLAN: February 19 Hi-Fi THE BOOKS: February 20 Thornbury Theatre BLACK MOUNTAIN: February 21 Corner Hotel TUNNG: February 22 East Brunswick Club MICHAEL BUBLÉ: February 22, 23, 25 Rod Laver Arena IRON MAIDEN: February 23 Hisense Arena NEW FOUND GLORY, LESS THAN JAKE: February 28 Billboard PENNYWISE, MILLENCOLIN: March 1, Palace BRING ME THE HORIZON: March 2 Hi-Fi SUM 41, THE BLACKOUT, THERE FOR TOMORROW, VEARA: March 2 Billboard ROB ZOMBIE, MURDERDOLLS, MONSTER MAGNET, DOMMIN: March 3 Festival Hall PRIMUS, MELVINS: March 3 Palais DEVILDRIVER, ILL NINO, ALL THAT REMAINS, NONPOINT: March 3 Billboard ROXY MUSIC, MONDO ROCK: March 3 Rod Laver Arena WE THE KINGS, NEVER SHOUT NEVER, THE MAINE: March 3 Billboard WILDBIRDS & PEACEDRUMS: March 6 Spiegeltent BEST COAST: March 6 East Brunswick Club RIHANNA, CALVIN HARRIS, FAR EAST MOVEMENT: March 7, 8 Rod Laver Arena THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, ART VS SCIENCE: March 9 Rod Laver Arena
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KE$HA: March 9 Festival Hall PULLED APART BY HORSES: March 11 Tote THE HOLD STEADY: March 11 Hi-Fi IMELDA MAY: March 11 Prince Bandroom OS MUTANTES, BEST COAST: March 11 Forum THE CLEAN: March 11 Corner Hotel BELLE & SEBASTIAN: March 12 Forum HAWKWIND: March 12 Billboard THE BESNARD LAKES: March 12 Corner Hotel GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS: March 13 Frankston Arts Centre; 26 Palms at Crown WAVVES: March 14 Corner Hotel HORACE ANDY: March 15 Prince Bandroom JOANNA NEWSOM: March 15 Melbourne Recital Centre AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM: March 16 Hi-Fi KINGS OF LEON: March 17, 18 Rod Laver Arena JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE: March 18 Forum THE DOOBIE BROTHERS: March 18 Palais CHRIS ISAAK: March 19 Mornington Racecourse USHER: March 19, 20, 31. April 1 Rod Laver Arena WEIRD AL YANKOVIC: March 23 Palais EDDIE VEDDER: March 24, 25 Palais FINNTROLL: March 25 Billboard BB KING: April 1 Hisense Arena URIAH HEEP: April 2 Palais LUKA BLOOM: April 5 National Theatre THE SCRIPT: April 6 Festival Hall CYNDI LAUPER: April 8, 9 Palais CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES: April 9 Corner Hotel JIMMY EAT WORLD: April 11 Palace BARRY MANILOW: April 11 Rod Laver Arena GOOD CHARLOTTE, BOYS LIKE GIRLS, SHORT STACK: April 13 Rod Laver Arena ZZ TOP: April 18 Festival Hall MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD: April 19 Palace DISTURBED, TRIVIUM, AS I LAY DYING: April 24 Rod Laver Arena INDIGO GIRLS: April 29 Palais
NATIONAL JIMMY BARNES, NOISEWORKS, THIRSTY MERC: January 15 Bonnie Doon Hotel; 16 Morning Star Estate; 22 Eureka Stadium (Ballarat); 23 Latrobe City Sports And Entertainment Complex (Morwell) GOTYE: January 14 National Theatre THE BAMBOOS: January 14 Prince Bandroom BLUEJUICE, PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY, PURPLE SNEAKERS DJs: January 18 Inferno Nightclub (Traralgon); 19 Torquay Hotel; 20 Flying Horseman (Warrnambool) ; 21 Eureka Hotel (Geelong); 22 Westernport Hotel (San Remo) CHOIRBOYS: January 29 Palms At Crown SIA: February 1 Palais THE GETAWAY PLAN, TONIGHT ALIVE, SECRETS IN SCALE: February 19 Hi-Fi ADAM BRAND: January 25 York On Lilydale (Mount Evelyn); 26 Regent Cinemas (Ballarat); 27 Hallam Hotel; 28 Gateway Hotel (Geelong); 29 Kinross Woolshed (Thurgoona) SCREAMFEEDER: February 25 Tote SPARKADIA, OPERATOR PLEASE, ALPINE: March 25 Hi-Fi
FESTIVALS
FALLS FESTIVAL: December 28-January 1 Lorne PYRAMID ROCK FESTIVAL: December 29-January 1 Phillip Island SUMMADAYZE: January 1 Sidney Myer Music Bowl THE HOT BARBEQUE: January 22 Point Nepean Portsea BIG DAY OUT: January 30 Flemington Racecourse SOUNDWAVE: March 4 Melbourne Showgrounds GOLDEN PLAINS: March 12-14 Meredith FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL: March 13 Flemington Racecourse APOLLO BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL: April 8-10 Apollo Bay SUPAFEST: April 17 Melbourne Showgrounds
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JUST A
NEW YORK CONVERSATION 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, wondering what on Earth I’m doing here and trying not to giggle. It has, it’s fair to say, been a strange old year. 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 catchall 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. 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 hand-waving 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 the 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.
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WAKE THE
Coerce
DEAD
Hardcore and punk with SARAH PETCHELL
SADDEST BAND BREAK-UPS
This year has been excellent 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…
This year totally sucked for band break-ups. 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 doing the rounds in Australia at the moment and I stand by that. Since day one, Robotosaurus’s 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 it 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.
THE
RACKET
Speaking of Greg Puciato, this year’s performance was a little more subdued than in previous years 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.
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 (but that doesn’t really have a place in a punk column, does it…)
BEST GIGS
To start off with – Parkway Drive at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion back in September. WHOA! Okay, so it wasn’t 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.
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. Can’t wait to see where their musical escapades takes them next. 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 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!
Intronaut
Metal, heavy rock and dark alternative with ANDREW HAUG theracket@inpress.com.au The year is over! What springs to my mind this year in terms of heavy music, you ask? A tsunami of tours resulting in many broke punters and honestly way too much music and, sadly, not all of it good. It’s not all doom and gloom from the Haugmeister, as I have discovered some great gems along the way so seeing as this is my little wrap-up of 2010 to indulge in, you may be interested in reading my top ten list with my two cents’ worth thrown in. Read on!
HAUGY’S TOP TEN FOR 2010 10. CONTRIVE – THE INTERNAL DIALOGUE
Yes, some may wonder why would he put his own band’s second album in his top ten. Isn’t that a conflict of interest? Or a shameless act of self-promotion? Or simply what an absolute wanker! Well, you can take your pick of the above no problems but my stance on the matter is one of pride! Those who know the feeling of accomplishment and achievement of something important to you will know that you can’t help but want to share that feeling. Oh, by the way it was brilliantly mixed by my good pal Devin Townsend to further heighten this self-indulged masterpiece. Ha. So check it out if you’re looking for something less generic in the current scene. 9. FEAR FACTORY – MECHANIZE Wow! I honestly did not think this band were capable of a comeback this ferocious. Sure, it’s Fear Factory through and through but I’m so glad to have them back. When you look at their history in the early- to mid-’90s they were definitely innovators and still match up against the clones of today, who have blatantly stolen a lot of their ideas. If you think cool, chopped-up double bass drum patterns and breakdowns are the new thing you’re hearing now in the oversaturated metalcore movement, go and check Fear Factory’s 1995 release Demanufacture and give credit where it’s due. Oh, hail Gene Hoglan too! 8. IRON MAIDEN – THE FINAL FRONTIER
Respect must be given to a band for not relying on their jukebox of yesterday’s glories and still pushing the boundaries of progression. We all know this band are quite capable of pumping out Powerslave Part 2 but Maiden keep making Maiden music so if ya hate the new stuff then I suggest you jump in your hot tub time machine and select 1984 and stay there happy. 7. JUROJIN – THE LIVING MEASURE OF TIME One of those releases that I found in the grand pile-ometal that somewhat seemed endless this year. A UK band with a great blend of atmospheric proggy rock ala Tool and System Of A Down. Definitely worth a listen – I look forward to future tunes from these lads. 6. RATT – INFESTATION In the world of many horrendous hard rock/metal reunion cash-ins generally resulting in sub-par releases, Ratt are sounding just as good as they did in 1984. This is real hard rock as it’s supposed to be played. 5. CITY OF FIRE – CITY OF FIRE A very surprising record from members of Fear Factory that does not sound like Fear Factory. If you’re after some cool heavy rock with great songwriting I think you’ll dig this. I hope this isn’t one of those one-off releases as me want more, yes, yes. 4. DEFTONES – DIAMOND EYES I still find it funny that people still blame this band for the nu-metal movement. Take a look, that scene died long ago and guess what? Deftones are still here releasing great music.
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This is a massive-sounding record that is consistent to the very end. Get well Chi! 3. STONE SOUR – AUDIO SECRECY Some Slipknot members ditch the masks and get back to arena hard rock mode on this latest offering. A stack of solid tunes to rock about to in the car or wherever you may be roaming. Bring on Soundwave 2011, I say. 2. SPIRITUAL BEGGARS – RETURN TO ZERO I’ve been a Beggars fan for many years now and must admit I was a tad skeptical when I heard a power metal singer had joined their ranks. Boy, was I proven wrong (for once, ha). If you know nothing about this band they feature members of Opeth, Arch Enemy and Firewind. Just like City of Fire it does not sound like their day jobs! Killer tunes here so listen, absorb, rock! 1. INTRONAUT – VALLEY OF SMOKE. I bet some of you who are reading this now are saying Introwho? They’re just a small LA band with a killer album that must be heard. Think Isis, Mastodon and Tool thrown in a blender and you’ll get the picture. A band to watch in the future. There you have it, 2010 done and dusted! I also want to dedicate this column to those in the hard rock community we sadly lost this year. May you all rock in peace! Catch you on The Racket, returning Tuesday 11 January at 10pm on Triple J!
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THE
BREAKDOWN Pop culture therapy with ADAM CURLEY 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. 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. 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 scenariogone-wrong that couldn’t be explained. Or, not
ROOTS DOWN
Blues ‘n’ roots with DAN CONDON rootsdown@inpress.com.au
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. 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, 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 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 figure 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.
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.
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.
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 Willie Mitchell produced Burke’s last record Nothing’s Impossible, but passed away before he could see it released.
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 this year, 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.
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.
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 The Wilson Pickers
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 are the smaller festivals in areas like the Blue Mountains, Mullumbimby, Beechmont, EchucaMoama 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.
LONDON FIELDS
The view from EC4 with James McGalliard This was a year marked by enforced inactivity, from environmental factors stopping travel to musicians actively not playing to raise money for charity. There was an election without a winner, and the country seemed to be the loser. 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. The island nature of Britain was emphasised again and again, as it was isolated by weather conditions and volcanic eruptions. 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. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg seemed to offer a third way, and won 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 pre-election 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 6Music being spared the axe. The National reached a greater audience with High Violet, but are still waiting for that REMstyle breakthrough. Although their London shows were blighted with poor sound, 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, with The Silence continuing the trend of strip programming across consecutive weeknights. Luther allowed Idris Elba a British starring vehicle after The Wire, while Thorne showed Sky could produce drama and Sherlock was over too soon. The BBC’s strongest contributions seemed to be documentaries. Best of all was 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. It was a great year for new comedy on TV. 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 felt like a ‘70s time-warp and was barely watchable, while with Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show Simon Brodkin showed how well a live studio audience can be used. Harry Hill’s TV Burp and Charlie Brooker’s 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. The year saw the final death throes of New Labour, a government no one voted for seizing power, and the phrase ‘The Troubles in Ireland’ take on new meaning. 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. A year when so called legal highs were outlawed, a London bike hire scheme begin, and George & Lynne stopped appearing in The Sun. 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. As I write, the arctic freeze gripping the country looks set to continue until at least the middle of January. The future seems to hold huge redundancies, further unrest, an unstable economy and a royal wedding. This last may give those still in employment an extra day‘s holiday. Happy new year! londonfieldscolumn.blogspot.com/
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live@inpress.com.au house and it’s proudly brandished in the pit. An extra two mic stands have been set up so that Neil and James Johnston can sing while facing the bassist’s twin brother, drummer Ben Johnston. Their sound calls to mind Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, particularly Neil’s vocal tone. A rowdy dude with blonde spiky hair runs up the stairs from the pit and is immediately pushed back down. He miraculously maintains his footing while staggering backwards with a very frightened look on his face and celebrates this fact by punching the air with gusto once he’s resumed his position. Crazy rhythm changes is where this band excel as they rip through unconventional time signatures with ease.
Biffy Clyro pic by Kane Hibberd
Neil is a pleasure to watch in solo acoustic mode as he portrays Folding Stars and Machines (during which the frontman’s Scottish accent is endearingly evident) with sincere emotion. Did he just rhyme ‘body’ with ‘quarry’? The other band members return to the stage for Who’s Got A Match? with Vennart busting some serious rock posturing moves in the shadows (there is a serious lack of lighting on his designated patch of stage). Full of dynamic interplay, Saturday Superhouse is a clear highlight this evening and Biffy Clyro’s ballads seem soft in comparison. Many Of Horror (this year’s Christmas Number One in the UK released as When We Collide by Matt Cardle, winner of The X Factor season seven) is superb. A three-song encore fittingly concludes with Mountains – a definite, ‘Oh, yeah, I know this one’ moment. Biffy Clyro promise to return to our shores soon. Not soon enough for those who have belted out every single lyric. If you haven’t heard of them, it’s high time you did.
BIFFY CLYRO HI-FI BAR A voracious pack has assembled to see these Scottish superstars in a much more intimate setting than the arena stages they have been warming up for Muse around the country. If you haven’t heard of Biffy Clyro, consider this: They are headlining one of the nights at Sonisphere 2011 with Slipknot and The Big Four (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax) closing proceedings on the other nights. There are at least 16 axes onstage tonight, meticulously arranged in a pair of racks that bookend the drumkit. As soon as band take
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to the stage, it’s a case of, ‘Dang! Wrong side!’ for those in the crowd who have positioned themselves facing stage left. (Simon Neil is situated stage right.) Neil’s electric pink jeans are perfectly tailored and show just the right amount of pube. Biffy Clyro’s extra touring guitarist, Mike Vennart (Manchester band Oceansize’s frontman), plays in the dark wearing skinny jeans, long-sleeved shirt and tie. The fact that he’s wearing a top sets him aside from the three full-time members who all discarded their tops in the band room. The Captain is a rocking opener and punters respond enthusiastically to Neil’s lyrical request: “Somebody help me sing.” Of course there’s a Scottish flag in the
Bryget Chrisfield
THE TRIANGLES, VICUNA COAT, ROBOT CHILD GRACE DARLING With the stiff competition elsewhere in the city tonight (as other reviews on this page will demonstrate) it’s impressive to find the Grace’s bandroom nearly full, and the crowd clearly excited at the prospect of seeing The Triangles play their first Melbourne show in over three years. It’s perhaps even more impressive that a massive portrait of Bill Hicks mysteriously propped sidestage rarely distracts from proceedings.
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Kicking off the night are Robot Child, who have the unusual ability of wearing sharp ‘50s suits while playing a very ‘90s-sounding mix of metal riffs, funky piano and soaring grunge-esque vocals. While they do what they do really well, are super talented and charismatic dudes (particularly singer Jeff Wortman and guitarist Waleed Aly) and can likely play Throwing Copper and Blood Sugar Sex Magik note for note, it’s hard to imagine who has a yearning to hear their particular version of rule-breaking rock. Still, with the grunge revival surely months away, who knows? Vicuna Coat are a band who should be getting a lot more attention for their wholly original mix of indie rock, country psychedelia and seamless integration of sitar, symbiotic vocal harmonies and ukulele. Songs segue, and rushes and lulls come and go as guitarists Edwin Jungwirth and Gordon Blake seem to telepathically work off each other to create singeing, smouldering lead lines and arpeggios. Whether they’d want more attention is hard to say, as there are no egos at work here. Songs cover road trips to Bluesfest (Red Devil Park); a dog, from the dog’s perspective (Kyra); and the wry depreciatory banter from stunning vocalist Kat Winduss. The band can only treat the audience as friends. “Stick around to hear one of my favourite bands of all time,” says Blake signing off. The Triangles soon assemble themselves and their instruments, but mainly their props. And, boy, have they got some. Not content with catchy indie pop melodies, simple chugging chords, tinkling synths and a seemingly bottomless suitcase of random melodic instruments, there are top hats, portraits, balloons, plates of chocolate and coconut slice, Viking horn hats (passed off as bull horns) and a Zorro cape and mask. Each song seems to require a small-scale production, as massive word bubbles appear around singer Eleanor Horsburgh’s head during You Got Me All Worked Up before the aforementioned Spanish props accompany the closing Other Side Of The Pillow. Of course the Spanish-chart-topping and Jetstar-adsoundtracking Applejack is a highlight, but it’s their new song The Economist that indicates it’s unlikely to be three years before their next Melbourne gig. Andy Hazel
live@inpress.com.au The Jacks pics by Chrissie Francis
funnies, like the handshake hug song and the leaving your hairdresser song, but The Bedroom Philosopher is also adept at eliciting emotion – I Left My Heart gets a huge round of sympathetic ‘awwwww’s. Between the flute solo, the off-thecuff riff on three-quarter-length sports slacks, the funky instrumental wig out, the accountant dress-up competition, and the grand finale of I Wish They All Could Be Collingwood Girls, when The Bedroom Philosopher says, “This is the best gig ever,” he could just be right. Kate Kingsmill
PARIS WELLS, METALS CORNER HOTEL There is something enticing about a suit of armour made of cardboard – the creaking sound it makes when it crumbles beneath your deathly cardboard claws. Metals have made grown men worldwide cry as singer Candice Butler destroys a perfectly produced cardboard Dalek in their latest video clip, so expectations are fuelled for tonight.
Funnelling through a set of electro jams and the Britney ass-dip-and-rise move (see also: the only move Britney can perform live), it’s clear that these guys are made for a bigger supply of lip-chewing trashbags that thoroughly enjoy pelvic thrusting. If you feel your pelvis is deprived of thrusting, these guys can accompany your orange Oompa Loompa fake tan nicely. However the crowd here tonight looks less thrusty and more mellow, so the Rogue Traders-esque pulse through the venue is an annoying headache. It’s a shame because when Butler turns to an electro hip hop moment for Get Yourself A Gun, I can temporarily stop vomiting in my mouth. This woman can sing and she presents the perfect pop package – an Australian Idol wet dream. But, oh, what was that? That’s my vomit returning from the generic electro wail alongside lyrics “Stick your French fry in my onion ring.” It’s the most overwhelming sense of relief when Paris Wells hits the stage, wrapped in sparkle and glamour, like Christmas has come early. A woman who commands presence, her sound is clean, crisp and formulaic. Starting with her husky
Sia-esque voice on quiet display, it takes no time at all for her to grab you by the balls – Lonely shakes you through and everyone has a smile firmly planted on their faces. It’s unquestionable that my poor date for tonight is going to be hearing my rendition of this song long after we leave the venue. “Merry Christmas. For Christmas I have my bosoms out,” Wells grins. Her Kanye cover reminds everyone how amazing he was before his AutoTuned demise and The Nymphs offer halftime cutsie entertainment. With considerably less breasts after the costume change, the set continues with some new tracks that sound more like Lily Allen than the Paris Wells style. It doesn’t keep the crowd at their peak but the encore brings back more than ever. With Dat Du Dat and Fuck Your Soul there is so much hair flying at the front of the crowd that it looks like a mass of blonde wookies. It’s gritty yet perfect. It’s grimy yet smooth. It’s Paris Wells and she’s got me smiling. Leonie Richman
LITTLE BEAVERS ALLEYWAY XMAS PARTY LITTLE BEAVERS LANE, NORTHCOTE This is certainly the most unique set-up for a concert I’ve ever been to. The stage is at the back of a house and the crowd is in the backyard, spilling out into a lane running parallel to St George’s Road. The line-up is eclectic, starting with bluegrass-y music and finishing with some straightforward hardcore. All in all, this is what I imagine the DIY gigs in the US ‘80s independent scene to be like. The first cab off the rank is Swamplands, a bluegrass band – although they describe themselves as a “hillbilly porch band”. They play a great set of quick, twangy (in a good way) bluegrass songs. Their singer’s voice perfectly suits the music, much in the same way CW Stoneking’s suits Depression-era blues. The band seem really at home here (no pun intended) playing to a backyard party. Next up is Cherrywood. They’re a group of four hipsters who have an interesting take on rockabilly (or a rocking take on skiffle). There are no electric instruments in sight; just an acoustic guitar, upright bass, mandolin and a snare drum. Their songs are short, fast and highly energetic, with a Wipers cover thrown in for good measure. They have a great sound and a fantastic live presence; they’ll be a band to look out for in the future. The Jacknives are next, bringing their swampy garage rock to the small stage. From here on in, all the bands are fully plugged in and the noise absolutely fills the semi-closed-in space. The Jacknives don’t waste any time getting straight into their set and don’t let up until they’re done (except for some minor guitar issues holding things up). They’ve been playing a lot this year and it shows in their perfect playing and show(wo)manship. After a long change over gap, Dan Brodie takes the stage with The Grieving Widows, his two-piece rhythm section. Someone once said that the trio is the purest form of rock’n’roll explosion – ‘explosive’ is certainly the right word to describe this performance. Brodie’s lyrics have a lot of anger and bile to them (I’d hate to be the person who inspired some of these songs) and they get delivered as such, with some pure and simple rock music backing them. The set is full of loud, quick numbers showcasing favourites from Dan’s catalogue and some songs from his upcoming album. Finishing the show for the afternoon are Brodie’s neighbours, The Jacks. They play a straightforward, no-nonsense brand of hardcore and streetcore, reminding this reviewer of Hüsker Dü or 7 Seconds. They waste as little time as possible; hammering out as many songs as possible in the short time they’re on stage. Eventually they stop, either out of exhaustion or because they’re out of songs (also because the singer is “desperate for a joint”). At first the crowd is disappointed to hear that it’s the end, but then the tunes start playing again, the drinks keep flowing and the party continues. Josh Ramselaar
THE BEDROOM PHILOSOPHER NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB You know that when you walk into a gig and there’s a sitar onstage, it’s not going to be a normal night. This is the second week of The Bedroom Philosopher’s Tuesday night December residency in his spiritual home, the Northcote (Anti)Social Club, at stop number 28 on the 86 tram. It’s a sit-down gig tonight, which is good because we were all going to end up roflcoptering anyway. If you’d only heard the song Northcote (So Hungover), it’d be easy to dismiss The Bedroom Philosopher as a gimmick but his live show proves he’s much more substantial and clever than that. He is, simply, a comedy machine. He rolls out some old songs, like the one about Natalie Portman and Devendra Banhart having sex, as well as a song so fresh he wrote it in the dressing room. It’s about how Julian Assange has cool hair. Clearly nothing is sacred. His ability to embody characters is out of control; they actually seem to be emerging from inside him. Seeing him do Irish Girl and imitate his nan for In My Day is something else. He is so quick that you often don’t even get it until later when you replay it in your head. It’s like there’s a whole history of comedy here onstage embodied in one man. And he never falters, at one point calling out to the crowd for his next song. Someone yells out Golden Gaytime and less than a second later he is straight into playing his anti-ode to the bullying-inducing ice-cream. The man is insane. His band, The Akwardstra tonight are working their festive End Of Financial Year in December accessories, which include shorts, knee-high socks and sticky-note leis. They flop out the
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HOWZAT!
12. THE TIGER & ME – FROM A LIAR TO A THIEF
Perry Keyes
A remarkable debut; part circus, part cabaret, with wonderful, adventurous songs.
Local music news by JEFF JENKINS
BEST COMPILATION Howzat!’s 2010 wrap continues…
Howzat! knew that Maurice Frawley was a good songwriter, but we didn’t know just how good until we got the tribute album, Long Gone Whistle – The Songs Of Maurice Frawley. There’s never been a better local tribute.
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1. PERRY KEYES – JOHNNY RAY’S DOWNTOWN It’s bleak, it’s beautiful and it’s brilliant. The third album for this Sydney singer/ songwriter is the Redfern version of Born To Run, a cinematic rock’n’roll epic. 2. CHARLES JENKINS & THE ZHIVAGOS – WALK THIS OCEAN The addition of the amazing Davey Lane gave The Zhivagos added muscle, and the result is a masterpiece, arguably Charles Jenkins’ finest album. 3. LAZY SUSAN – PLACES THAT MADE US With a knack for turning the mundane into melodic masterpieces, Lazy Susan – the Sydney version of the Icecream Hands – delivered the pop album of the year. 4. BRITISH INDIA – AVALANCHE Wonderful nervous energy, marvellous momentum and a great guitar sound… my favourite rock album of 2010. 5. NICK BATTERHAM – SECOND LOVERS The year’s most pleasant surprise – an unexpected solo album from this former Earthmen and Blindside member. A thrilling mix of soul, folk, blues and dramatic pop. Nick also produced Cordrazine’s classic comeback, Always Coming Down. 6. BEK-JEAN STEWART – WINTER SUMMER SUBURBAN EXILE The former Eva Trout singer gave us 11 heartbreaking and heroic suburban stories. And every song sounds like an epic.
LILITH LANE – In My Fortress SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR – One Long Week
HIP HIP
AN HORSE – Camp Out
This year saw some significant milestones: the Big Day Out celebrated its 100th show. ARIA Hall Of Famers The Church celebrated their 30th anniversary. Even turned 16, The Meanies turned 21 and Inertia turned ten. Stephen Cummings got married. FM radio turned 30. Ash Naylor turned 40, and Michael Hutchence would have been 50. And AC/DC’s tour coincided with the 30th anniversary of Bon Scott’s death.
ROSS WILSON – I Come In Peace
8. UNDERMINERS – HEART PART OF YOUR MIND The third Underminers album should have come with a warning sticker: Adult Themes. An unsettling examination of growing up and settling down. 9. TOBIAS CUMMINGS – A TROPHY He might be too smart for the masses (when was the last time a pop album mentioned Tiresias and referred to apotheosis?), but Tobias takes the trophy for fine, intelligent pop. 10. GEORGIA FIELDS – GEORGIA FIELDS Some wacky instrumentation (ukuleles, power tools and toys) never overshadows some vivid songs. A star is born. 11. REBECCA BARNARD – EVERLASTING An exquisite album about the heroism of everyday life was also one of the year’s sexiest records, with Bec Barnard’s beautiful, breathy voice.
NUMBER ONE ALBUMS Angus & Julia Stone – Down The Way (two weeks) The John Butler Trio – April Uprising (one week) AC/DC – Iron Man 2 (one week) Crowded House – Intriguer (one week) Bliss N Eso – Running On Air (one week)
OUR FIVE FAVOURITE SINGLES OF 2010
7. THE AUDREYS – SOMETIMES THE STARS It copped mixed reviews, but this is an alluring adult contemporary gem, highlighted by the beautiful voice of Taasha Coates and the genius production of Shane O’Mara, the master of subtlety.
both have three entries in the top 100, which features 26 homegrown hits. Five of the entries come from ‘new’ artists: Amy Meredith (at 29), Michael Paynter (38), Orianthi (39), Zoe Badwi (87) and Yolanda Be Cool (100).
JASON WALKER – Everybody’s In Debt
CHART NEWS No blockbuster homegrown hits in 2010. In fact, when it comes to chart-toppers, it was a disastrous year for Aussie acts. Not one Australian single went to number one (ARIA might classify Brian McFadden as an Australian artist, but we don’t agree). This compares to three local chart-toppers last year, two in 2008, and six in 2007. Five Aussie albums went to number one (compared to six last year, seven in 2008, and nine in 2007). No local album spent longer than two weeks on top. Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP had the year’s biggest international hit with We No Speak Americano going gold in the US (500,000 sales). The song topped the US dance charts and went to number one in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. And Kylie made UK chart history, becoming the first artist to have a number one album in four consecutive decades (1988’s Kylie, 1992’s Greatest Hits, 2001’s Fever and 2010’s Aphrodite). As for radio play, The John Butler Trio’s Close To You was the most-played local song, according to The Music Network. It comes in at three on their 2010 airplay chart (behind Train’s Hey, Soul Sister and Lifehouse’s Halfway Gone). The JB Trio and Powderfinger
BRING ON 2011 There’s a lot to look forward to in 2011, including Perry Keyes’ fourth album (word is it could arrive in August). Ron Peno is hard at work on his solo debut, and we’ll also get solo albums from Adalita, Fiona Lee Maynard, Tiltmeter’s Andrew McDonald and Special Patrol’s Myles Mayo. The Life Of Riley will turn Drapht into a hip hop star. And we’ll get new albums from Cold Chisel, Wagons, Even, Skipping Girl Vinegar, Silverchair, Bobby Flynn, Delta Goodrem, Marcel Borrack, Michael Meeking and James Reyne. And we’re looking forward to debut albums from The Hello Morning and Ryan Meeking and the debut solo EP from former Epicure singer Juan Alban. Who knows, we might even see the second album from the Spazzys. Another wish – Stephen Cummings inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame. Finally.
Wishes you a
Happy New Year! And returns January 12 2011. 56
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WED 29
Adventure Playground Barwon Heads Hotel Arrested Development, Bonjah, Florelie & The Backlash Brew Esplanade Gershwin Room Blankface Distortion, The Fiction, Kill Yrself, Blankface Arkestra Evelyn Hotel Coma, The Rhetorics, Reds Under the Bed The Arthouse Edan the Deejay, Elf Tranzporter, Monkey Marc Esplanade Lounge Footy, The Pups, The Sinking Tins Bar Open George Garzone Trio Uptown Jazz Café Hamish MacLeod The Gem Hidden Venture, Atlantic, Sounj Esplanade Basement Julius Schwing Trio 303 Kane Soul & the Suns of May Veludo Marina & the Diamonds, Dan Sultan, Yacht Club DJ’s, Sally Seltmann, Jonathan Boulet, Last Dinosaurs, Eagle and the Worm!, Patinka Cha Cha, Peaches Falls Festival, Lorne
Matt Sonic & The High Times Cherry Bar Neon Indian, Casiokids, Strange Talk, Matt Doll, Decameron Revolver Obliveus, Manchild, Moonshine, Tahl, Matt Radovich, Lindsay Marchment Bimbo Deluxe Open Mic Brunswick Hotel Open Mic Elwood Lounge Open Mic Grind ‘n’ Groove Bar Public Enemy, Ozi Batla Corner Hotel Red Eye Wednesdays Red Eye Nightclub Sean Simmons The Standard Hotel Stand and Deliver, Petar Tolich Co., Crown Swing Classes Reveller’s Bar Tank The Tote The Boys Wesley Anne The Butterfly Glee Club The Butterfly Club The Woolworth Blues Singers, Jules Sheldon The Old Bar Trivia Glenferrie Hotel Trivia Grumpys Green Trivia Royal Derby Hotel Wednesday Warm Up Rubys Lounge
Wed 29TH
Hamish Macleod THURS 30TH
Shannon Bourne
gembookings@gmail.com
289 WELLINGTON ST COLLINGWOOD 94195170
THU 30
Big Fire, Stone The Crows, Peep Tempel The Arthouse Casey Dean Urban Central Catfish Voodoo, Pollux B, The Fujiyama Mamas Esplanade Basement Death Audio, Involume, Crash & Burn, Jerome Knappet Next Emmylove, The Allijator, Milly & Mishka 303 Fee Brown & The Highwater Wesley Anne George Garzone Trio Uptown Jazz Café Hollow, Everdaze, Sambrose Automobile, Buffalo Country, Puny Earthlings, Love/Hate, A13, Throbulator Pony Interpol, Klaxons, Public Enemy, Angus & Julia Stone, Hot Hot Heat, Paul Kelly, Children Collide, Ash Grunwald, Junip Falls Festival, Lorne My Left Boot, Thomy & The Tanks, Merri Creek Pickers, The Feel Goods The Old Bar Noizy Neighbours Room 680 Over Reactor, Poetikool Justice, The Freaks, Circles Esplanade Lounge Peaches, JD Sampson, Romy, Grouse Party DJs Corner Hotel PIVIXKI, Slow Hog Bar Open Pub Poker Glenferrie Hotel Red Rockets Of Borneo, Dead City Ruins, Igoya Bendigo Hotel Rock Aerobics, Tourettes, Hawaiian Islands, This War, Graft Vs Host Yah Yah’s Sam Green McKinnon Hotel Shannon Bourne The Gem Skylines Cherry Bar The Bucket Room, Local Singer Songwriter Night Grumpys Green The Last Night on Jupiter Brunswick Hotel The Native Plants Union Hotel Brunswick The Temper Trap, Arrested Development, Gyroscope, Little Red, Trentemoller, Liam Finn, Gypsy & the Cat, Urthboy, Violent Soho Pyramid Rock Festival Traid Marc, J Waters & BPA, Drift ‘n’ Diction Evelyn Hotel Tuan Beser, Johan Elg Loop Urgent Blood Blue Tile Lounge Vedran, Beetlejuice, Press Play Dj’s, Dom Dolla, Retza Royal Derby Hotel
FRI 31
Airbourne, You Am I, Philedelphia Grand Jury, Wagons, Dan Kelly’s Dream Band, Earthless, Eagle and the Worm!, Cabins, Matt Sonic & The High Times Esplanade (Whole Venue) Ajax, Nick Foley, Chris Papas, PTFFP, Kronic, Danger Mazz, Play Prince Bandroom Armin Van Buuren Etihad Stadium Asher Treleaven, Andrew McClelland, Tank, Foxtrot India, Gypsy Wood, Mike Gurrieri, Edd Fisher Red Bennies Baroq DJ’s Baroq House Blueline Medic, A Death In The Family, Hawaiian Islands, Following Sea The Arthouse Butterbox, Tom Evans, Sean Rault, DJ George, Aaron Trotman, Nick Jones Docklands Precinct Captain Stu Empress Hotel CC:Disco, Press Gang, Mohair Slim Bendigo Hotel Chardy, Boogs, Spacey Space, Polyfonik, Stevie Mink, Orkestrated, Kalus, Jamie Vlahos, Frazer Adnam Billboard Charlie Parr, Eaten By Dogs, Brothers Grim, Old Bar DJ’s The Old Bar Chelsea Drugstore The Drunken Poet Cosmology, Jay Porte, Jelly, Lopan, Butch & Sundance Loop Craig Williams Glenferrie Hotel Dan Brodie & the Grieving Widows, Hired Guns, Jane Dust, Little John, Country DJ’s Yah Yah’s Deep Street Soul Bar Open Direct Influence, Matt Katsis, Fifth Element Veludo Dirty Laundry, Ruby Rose, Grant Smillie, Laura Dundovic, Nick Foley, George Sinclair Riva Dirty York The Standard Hotel DJ Waterside Hotel DJ Evo The Deck DJ Graeme Royal Derby Hotel DJ Graeme the Colonel Manhattan Hotel DJ Harvey, DJ Garth The Toff In Town DJ Helen Jagger Cherry Bar DJ Homer, Dr Jay, DJ Fromage Reveller’s Bar Gay Abandon, Orlando DJ’s Thousand Pound Bend Gossling Alexandra Gardens Guy Sebastian Yarra Park Karaoke Brunswick Hotel
Kim Salmon & The Surrealists, New War, Heirs, Blarke Bayer / Black Widow, My Disco, New War DJ’s The Tote Mark John, Craig G, Jorja, Arlen De Silva, Lauren Mac, Luke De Angelo The Roxy Masquerade Ball, Peril Ladida Masquerade Ball Thornbury Theatre Matt Carr Band, Ben Smith and the Noise Diary Chapter Rainbow Hotel Maximum Blade, Ann Ominous, X-Fade, Melodee Maker, Cuteface Killah, Sookie Smackhouse, Shorty, Aaron, Blabe Runner Cornish Arms Hotel Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing Warnambool Hotel Model Super Orchestra, Stephen Cummings, Rebecca Barnard Caravan Music Club N*E*R*D, Chromeo, Xavier Rudd, Mystery Jets, Miami Horror, Built To Spill, Philedelphia Grand Jury, Oh Mercy, Operator Please Pyramid Rock Festival Passionfruit Pulp, DJ Cliff, DJ Vinnie Lamby’s Tavern, Geelong Pink Fitt Pony Relax With Max Night Cat Soul A Go Go Workers Club Spoonful Union Hotel Brunswick Steve Lawler, Sebastian Leger, Freq Nasty, Slam, Freestylers, Will Saul, Soul Of Man Brown Alley The Fabulous F’Taase Horsham Sports & Community Club The National, The Rapture, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Tame Impala, Cold War Kids, The Beautiful Girls, A-Trak, Worlds End Press, Streetparty Falls Festival, Lorne Thomas Schumacher 161 Trump Disco, Grips & Tonic, Complimentary Headsets, The Operators, Ross de Chene Hurricanes, Smoking Toddlers, Indian Summer DJs, Streetcore Warehouse Tumbarumba, Funk Junk, Hit Parade Federation Square Violent Soho, Redcoats, Money For Rope Ding Dong Lounge Whats Next Shepparton RSL
SAT 01
2 Live Crew, Peril, Ransom Esplanade Gershwin Room Baron Samadhi Bar Open Base Jump New Years Day Prince Bandroom
KITCHEN OPEN 6 NIGHTS 58
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Better Days, Junior Jack, Alan Braxe, John Course, Peter Mac, Cassian, Feenixpawl, Anyo Carousel, Albert Park Built To Spill Corner Hotel Captain Stu Cherry Bar Chromeo, Midnight Juggernauts, The Bang Gang DJ’s Pyramid Rock Festival Deep Heat, Seesaw, Jimmy the Clink Yah Yah’s DJ Royal Derby Hotel DJ Evo The Deck DJ Graeme the Colonel Manhattan Hotel DJ Ron Carroll, Julie McKnight, Zoe Badwi, Grant Smillie, Minx, Baz Emera, Mark John Riva Dynasty, Kid Dyl, M-Experience, X-Static, Josh Lang, Dj Kat, St Luke, Master Kaos 3D Nightclub Illy, 360, Phil Para Esplanade Lounge Live Music Grind ‘n’ Groove Bar Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing Greendale Hotel Poletopra, Francis Plagne, Sean Baxter The Tote Recovery Brunswick Hotel Red Brigades, The Cactus Channel Falls Festival, Lorne Revolver Nydn, Milton Jackson, Ransom, Boogs, Spacey Space, Nick Thayer, T- Rek, Sunshine, WHO Revolver Steller Glenferrie Hotel Streams of Whiskey The Drunken Poet Summadayze, David Guetta, N*E*R*D, Justice, Armin Van Helden, Chromeo, Miami Horror, Yuksek, Dirty Laundry Sidney Myer Music Bowl The Loop, Coal, Blue Tongues, Tank, Touch It Pony Weekender, Ding Dong DJ’s Ding Dong Lounge
SUN 02
12lb, Mimi Velevska, Broken Crayons Evelyn Hotel Austin Busch, Nick Charles, Pete Fidler The Drunken Poet Black Sorrows, Headspace, Dale Ryder Band, Bad Boys Batucada Esplanade Lounge Born Ruffians, Great Earthquake Northcote Social Club Chardy, Luke McD, Nick Young, Aaron Trotman, Tom Evans, Anyo Circus Nightclub Dwayne Thompson, Derek K, Sam Gudge, Joel Alpha, Tom Evans, James Fava & Rob Pix 161
Future Of The Left, Black Level Embassy Corner Hotel Grand Wazoo Blue Diamond Husk, Little Foot, The Yeah Boys The Arthouse Jesus, Sammy Hallowell, Sam Gudge, Sauce The Roxy Jez Mead Lorne Hotel Jimmy Barnes, Thirsty Merc, Noiseworks Warnambool Racing Club Kopy Kat - Punk Tribute Show Brunswick Hotel Lightspeed Champion, Bleeding Knees Club East Brunswick Club Pheasant Plucker The Standard Hotel Sunday Sesh Red Eye Nightclub The Bowers Yah Yah’s The Mission In Motion Royal Melbourne Hotel The ReChords, The Goodtime Medicine Band, Tommy & the Lucky Strikes The Tote Vice Grip Pussies Cherry Bar
MON 03
Baskery, Jungal Esplanade Lounge Captain Stu, Piranha Party, Loonee Tunes Evelyn Hotel DJ Ash Glenferrie Hotel Gary Norman Trio 303 Hot Hot Heat, Papa Vs Pretty, Fuzz Phantoms Corner Hotel Kyu Rooftop Bar (Level 6 Curtin House, City) Open Mic Red Eye Nightclub Passionate Tongues Poetry Brunswick Hotel Shout Out Louds, Owl Eyes East Brunswick Club Trivia The Toff In Town
TUE 04
Alex Legg, Fats Wah Wah St Andrews Hotel Candela Latin Dance Reveller’s Bar Chelsea Plumley The Butterfly Club Closed Builders Arms Hotel Closed Dizzy’s Jazz Club Closed Edinburgh Castle Hotel Closed Grace Darling Hotel Closed The Old Bar Cold War Kids Forum Theatre Daara J Family, Sol Nation East Brunswick Club Junip, Kyu Corner Hotel Klub M.U.K 303 Live and Local Rubys Lounge
Megan Bernard Wesley Anne Room 680 DJ’s Room 680 The Australian McQueen Tribute Show Prince Bandroom The Brunswick Discovery Brunswick Hotel The Scarecrows, Curley Joe, Craig Fraser Esplanade Lounge The Whole Molko Evelyn Hotel Trivia The Drunken Poet
WED 05
Adrian Stoyles Retreat Hotel Bohjass 303 Dancing Heals, Carousel, Gallant Trees Esplanade Lounge Far Concern, Tailor Made For A Small Room, Extreme Wheeze Builders Arms Hotel Harmony, Mike Noga, Bulls The Old Bar Hiptonic Veludo Invisible Boy Revolver Jantina Gardner, Ponyboy, Alora Evelyn Hotel Mystery Jets, The Holidays The Hi-Fi Scout! Scout! Edinburgh Castle Hotel Sean Simmons The Gem Shout Out Louds Grace Darling Hotel The Level Spirits Cherry Bar The Morning Benders, John Steele Singers Corner Hotel The Posers, Bombing Angels, Urgent Blood The Arthouse Two Quirks, Damen Samuel, Welcom To The Numb, The Stoosh Ruby’s Lounge
THU 06
Candice Monique Veludo Desert Wanderers Bar Open Dirty F, The Debutant Kid, Bullets In Berlin, The Thousands The Prague Dirty F, The Debutant Kid, Bullets In Berlin, The Thousands The Prague Ennis Tola, Salt Lake City, Citrus Jam, Nic Tate, Kate Ducarcus Evelyn Hotel Extortion, Collapsed, Snake Face Next Grizzly Jim Lawrie Grace Darling Hotel Husky, Planet Love Sound Workers Club Jules Sheldon The Gem
140 Sydney Rd
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9387 6637
NO COVER CHARGE
WEDNESDAY DEC 29
THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL OPEN MIC 8PM START TIME $10 JUGS
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THE LAST NIGHT ON JUPITER FRIDAY DEC 31
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KARAOKE ALL NIGHT FROM 9PM
SATURDAY JAN 1
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RECOVERY SESSION FOR ALL!
SUNDAY JAN 2
KOPY KAT
PUNK TRIBUTE SHOW
MONDAY JAN 3
PASSIONATE TONGUES POETRY
8PM $10 JUGS FEATURED ARTISTS AND OPEN STAGE. HOSTED BY MICHAEL REYNOLDS
TUESDAY JAN 4
THE BRUNSWICK DISCOVERY
GIVING CHANCES TO NEW UP AND COMING ARTISTS
Fri. 31st 9pm: Chelsea Drugstore Sat. 1st 6.30pm: Streams of Whiskey Sun. 2nd 4pm: Austin Busch 6.30pm: Nick Charles & Pete Fidler Tue. 4th 8pm: Weekly Triva
All Shows Always Free! The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (Directly opposite Queen Vic Market). Phone: 03 9348 9797 www.myspace.com/drunkenpoets twitter.com/inpressmag
59
gigguide@inpress.com.au Kitty Daisy & Lewis Billboard Light Lion, Rape Electrique, Cocks Arquette, Aktion Unit Builders Arms Hotel Massai Revolver Pioneers Of Good Science, The Enclosures, Rapid Transit The Old Bar Push to Twist, Pinwheel, City of Sirens, This Hotel is Insane Ruby’s Lounge Rock Aerobics, Wil Wagner & The Smith St Band, Madonna, Chaos Kids, Munt Yah Yah’s Ruby Cartel Edinburgh Castle Hotel Saskwatch Cherry Bar Sleeping Bag 303 The Currency Retreat Hotel The Dynamites feat. Charles Walker The Order Of Melbourne The Euphorics, Jackals, Franco Cozzo, Kornflakes Pony
FRI 07
Adam 12, DJ Graeme the Colonel Manhattan Hotel
60
Adamus Exul, Beligerent Intent, Sanguinary Misanthropia East Brunswick Club Aktion Unit, The Enclosures Public Bar A-Trak Billboard Black Roots Night Cat Cambodian Space Project Kingswood, Richie 1250 Yah Yah’s Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Grunt Bucket, The High Water Ballroom Band The Old Bar Charlie Parr, Dan Kelly Caravan Music Club Chase & Status, Subfocus, 16 Bit, Netsky, MC LowQui Roxanne Parlour Cloud City, The Hidden Venture, The Relief, Power Fuck, Pink Fitt Pony Darkest Hour, Carnifex The Hi-Fi Earl Grey Policy Empress Hotel Eaten By Dogs The Gem Elephant-a-palooza Cherry Bar Francolin, New Archer, Tom Hall, Yuko Kuno, Ian Wadley Builders Arms Hotel Interpol, Bridezilla Palace John Spring Revolver
Kids In Cults, Upside Down Miss Jane, Johnny Uppercut The Prague Kodiak Kid, Tavares, Billy Hoyle Veludo Language of the Birds Edinburgh Castle Hotel ODD, Dirty Johnson, Poppin Mommas Barwon Club Promoe & Cosmic, Rusty (Electric Mary) Esplanade Lounge Royston Vasie, The Deserters, DJ Adalita Retreat Hotel Sleigh Bells, Baio (Vampire Weekend DJ Set), Purple Sneakers DJ’s, Rat Vs Possum Prince Bandroom The Dynamites feat. Charles Walker The Order Of Melbourne The Murderballs, Freeworld, Toecutter Ruby’s Lounge The Tom Fun Orchestra, The Tiger & Me, The Bon Scotts Workers Club Thirty One Fifty, Branch Arterial, Red Leader, Humans As Animals Evelyn Hotel Traditional Irish Music Session, Dan Bourke The Drunken Poet Untruth, The Infected, Sleeping With the Enemy, Chaos Aesthetic Bada Bing @ Pier Live
SAT 08
Arcane Saints, Kids In Cults, City In Motion Cherry Bar Auburn Lies Esplanade Basement Audio Porn 161 Behind Crimson Eyes, Jerricco, Bugdust, Raised By Wolves, 3150, And Burn Esplanade Gershwin Room Dandelion Jackson, Sorcha Chisholm Edinburgh Castle Hotel Daniel Jericho, Huf Edinburgh Castle (Dining Room) Digitalism Prince Bandroom Feed Ya Munkie, Live & Subs Ruby’s Lounge Flying Lotus The Hi-Fi Hannah & Aaron Empress Hotel Happy Endings, Zoophyte, Sons Of Messengers, Phil Para Esplanade Lounge Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene), Zeus, Dead Letter Chorus Northcote Social Club JJ Symon & The Monochromes Empress Hotel, Arvo Show Kristina Miltiadou, Dancing Heals Grace Darling Hotel Lucy’s Crown Evelyn Hotel
Marching Orders, Murder Rats, The Terrace, Bloody Hammer The Arthouse My Own Morbidity, Decrepit Sun, Festation, Chaos Aesthetic Pony Over Reactor, The Contortionists Handbook, Vitruvian Man, Felix Glyde The Prague Pageants, The Zonks, Miss Goldie Yah Yah’s Perplex, Ooh Ee, Agent 86, Simon Sez, Paz, A-Style, Weapon X, Lewis Can Cut, Mr Fish First Floor Pretty Suicide Pony Late Show Relax With Max Night Cat Scotty Erdos, Phil Ross, Nick James, On Time The Loft Susy Blue, Pretty Strangers, The Grinders Builders Arms Hotel The Rapture, Strange Talk, Andee Frost Corner Hotel The Rose Line, Emerson, Forsaken Bang The Vasco Era, The Dacios, The Hello Morning, Luke Legs, Van Walker, Liz Stringer East Brunswick Club The Vaudeville Smash, The Kins The Toff In Town
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Tunes by Sabo The Gem Waz E James, Damn Terran, Russian Roulettes, DJ Phil Gionfriddo Retreat Hotel Whitehorse, Extortion, Thralls, Lords The Old Bar
SUN 09
Banjo & The Horizon, Rick Ralli, Matt Glass Bendigo Hotel Chromenips, Beat Disease Yah Yah’s Clinkerfield, Pete Ewing Band, Benn Bennett The Old Bar Dan Musil, Lucy Wise Empress Hotel Dwayne Thompson, Derek K, Sam Gudge, Joel Alpha, Tom Evans, James Fava & Rob Pix 161 Earthless, Clagg, Agonhym, Hotel Wrecking City Traders The Arthouse Fingerbone Bill, Nadene Satch, Liam Gerner Retreat Hotel Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer, Harmonic 313 Roxanne Parlour Grand Wazoo Blue Diamond
Headspace, Dale Ryder Band, Bad Boys Batucada Esplanade Lounge Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene), Zeus, Dead Letter Chorus Northcote Social Club Kitchen Floor, Absolute Boys, Breaker Morant Bar Open Kitty K & the Jager Bombs Cherry Bar Orulas Crew Night Cat Palomino, Tropical Gordon, Al Parkinson, Carouselle Builders Arms Hotel Pearls Grace Darling Hotel Rob & The Melancholics, Bonnie Anderson, Fifth Element, Jamie Coyle Veludo The Cut Snakes The Gem The Hired Guns The Standard Hotel The National Palais Theatre The Rapture, Strange Talk, Andee Frost Corner Hotel The Toot Toot Toots, Plague Doctor, Death Valley Band The Toff In Town Thee Oh Sees, The Frowning Clouds, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard National Hotel
MON 10
Baron Sunday Empress Hotel Brooke Taylor Veludo Fruit Jar’s Old Timey String Band The Old Bar Josh Owen Band Esplanade Lounge Sally Seltmann, Lawrence Arabia, DJ People Rooftop Bar (Level 6 Curtin House, City) The Necks Corner Hotel
TUE 11
Appetite For Destruction Prince Bandroom Collage Esplanade Lounge DJ Adalita Retreat Hotel ‘Idiots’, Joel Morrison Art Exhibition, Mikelangelo, Sean Simmons, Brendan Black The Old Bar The Necks Corner Hotel
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BANG Saturday The Rose Line, Emerson, Forsaken
BAR OPEN Wednesday Footy, The Pups, The Sinking Tins Thursday PIVIXKI, Slow Hog Friday Deep Street Soul Saturday Baron Samadhi Thursday Desert Wanderers Sunday Kitchen Floor, Absolute Boys, Breaker Morant
BENDIGO HOTEL Thursday Red Rockets Of Borneo, Dead City Ruins, Igoya Friday CC:Disco, Press Gang, Mohair Slim Sunday Banjo & The Horizon, Rick Ralli, Matt Glass
BLUE DIAMOND Friday Burlesque, DJ Sunday Grand Wazoo Sunday Grand Wazoo
BRUNSWICK HOTEL Wednesday Open Mic Thursday The Last Night on Jupiter Friday Karaoke Saturday Recovery Sunday Kopy Kat - Punk Tribute Show Monday Passionate Tongues Poetry Tuesday The Brunswick Discovery
BUILDERS ARMS HOTEL Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday Far Concern, Tailor Made For A Small Room, Extreme Wheeze Thursday Light Lion, Rape Electrique, Cocks Arquette, Aktion Unit Friday Francolin, New Archer, Tom Hall, Yuko Kuno, Ian Wadley Saturday Susy Blue, Pretty Strangers, The Grinders Sunday Palomino, Tropical Gordon, Al Parkinson, Carouselle
CARAVAN MUSIC CLUB Friday Model Super Orchestra, Stephen Cummings, Rebecca Barnard Friday Charlie Parr, Dan Kelly
CHERRY BAR Wednesday Matt Sonic & The High Times Thursday Skylines Friday DJ Helen Jagger Saturday Captain Stu Sunday Vice Grip Pussies Wednesday The Level Spirits Thursday Saskwatch Friday Elephant-a-palooza Saturday Arcane Saints, Kids In Cults, City In Motion Sunday Kitty K & the Jager Bombs
CORNER HOTEL Wednesday Public Enemy, Ozi Batla Thursday Peaches, JD Sampson, Romy, Grouse Party DJs Saturday Built To Spill Sunday Future Of The Left, Black Level Embassy Monday Hot Hot Heat, Papa Vs Pretty, Fuzz Phantoms Tuesday Junip, Kyu Wednesday The Morning Benders, John Steele Singers Saturday The Rapture, Strange Talk, Andee Frost Sunday The Rapture, Strange Talk, Andee Frost Monday The Necks Tuesday The Necks
EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB Sunday Lightspeed Champion, Bleeding Knees Club Monday Shout Out Louds, Owl Eyes Tuesday Daara J Family, Sol Nation Friday Adamus Exul, Beligerent Intent, Sanguinary Misanthropia Saturday The Vasco Era, The Dacios, The Hello Morning, Luke Legs, Van Walker, Liz Stringer
EDINBURGH CASTLE HOTEL Wednesday Closed
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Thursday Closed Friday Closed Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday Scout! Scout! Thursday Ruby Cartel Friday Language of the Birds Saturday Dandelion Jackson, Sorcha Chisholm
EMPRESS HOTEL Friday Captain Stu Friday Earl Grey Policy Saturday Hannah & Aaron Sunday Dan Musil, Lucy Wise Monday Baron Sunday
EMPRESS HOTEL, ARVO SHOW Saturday JJ Symon & The Monochromes
ESPLANADE (WHOLE VENUE) Friday Airbourne, You Am I, Philedelphia Grand Jury, Wagons, Dan Kelly’s Dream Band, Earthless, Eagle and the Worm!, Cabins, Matt Sonic & The High Times
ESPLANADE BASEMENT Wednesday Hidden Venture, Atlantic, Sounj Thursday Catfish Voodoo, Pollux B, The Fujiyama Mamas Saturday Auburn Lies
ESPLANADE GERSHWIN ROOM Wednesday Arrested Development, Bonjah, Florelie & The Backlash Brew Saturday 2 Live Crew, Peril, Ransom Saturday Behind Crimson Eyes, Jerricco, Bugdust, Raised By Wolves, 3150, And Burn
ESPLANADE LOUNGE Wednesday Edan the Deejay, Elf Tranzporter, Monkey Marc Thursday Over Reactor, Poetikool Justice, The Freaks, Circles Saturday Illy, 360, Phil Para
Sunday Black Sorrows, Headspace, Dale Ryder Band, Bad Boys Batucada Monday Baskery, Jungal Tuesday The Scarecrows, Curley Joe, Craig Fraser Wednesday Dancing Heals, Carousel, Gallant Trees Friday Promoe & Cosmic, Rusty (Electric Mary) Saturday Happy Endings, Zoophyte, Sons Of Messengers, Phil Para Sunday Headspace, Dale Ryder Band, Bad Boys Batucada Monday Josh Owen Band Tuesday Collage
EVELYN HOTEL Wednesday Blankface Distortion, The Fiction, Kill Yrself, Blankface Arkestra Thursday Traid Marc, J Waters & BPA, Drift ‘n’ Diction Friday Closed Saturday Closed Sunday 12lb, Mimi Velevska, Broken Crayons Monday Captain Stu, Piranha Party, Loonee Tunes Tuesday The Whole Molko Wednesday Jantina Gardner, Ponyboy, Alora Thursday Ennis Tola, Salt Lake City, Citrus Jam, Nic Tate, Kate Ducarcus Friday Thirty One Fifty, Branch Arterial, Red Leader, Humans As Animals Saturday Lucy’s Crown
GRACE DARLING HOTEL Wednesday Closed Thursday Closed Friday Closed Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday Shout Out Louds Thursday Grizzly Jim Lawrie Saturday Kristina Miltiadou, Dancing Heals Sunday Pearls
NEXT Thursday Death Audio, Involume, Crash & Burn, Jerome Knappet Thursday Extortion, Collapsed, Snake Face
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB Sunday Born Ruffians, Great Earthquake Saturday Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene), Zeus, Dead Letter Chorus Sunday Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene), Zeus, Dead Letter Chorus
PONY Thursday Hollow, Everdaze, Sambrose Automobile, Buffalo Country, Puny Earthlings, Love/Hate, A13, Throbulator Friday Pink Fitt Saturday The Loop, Coal, Blue Tongues, Tank, Touch It Thursday The Euphorics, Jackals, Franco Cozzo, Kornflakes Friday Cloud City, The Hidden Venture, The Relief, Power Fuck, Pink Fitt Saturday My Own Morbidity, Decrepit Sun, Festation, Chaos Aesthetic
PRINCE BANDROOM Friday Ajax, Nick Foley, Chris Papas, PTFFP, Kronic, Danger Mazz, Play Saturday Base Jump New Years Day Tuesday The Australian McQueen Tribute Show Friday Sleigh Bells, Baio (Vampire Weekend DJ Set), Purple Sneakers DJ’s, Rat Vs Possum Saturday Digitalism Tuesday Appetite For Destruction
RETREAT HOTEL Wednesday Adrian Stoyles Thursday The Currency Friday Royston Vasie, The Deserters, DJ Adalita Saturday Waz E James, Damn Terran, Russian Roulettes, DJ Phil Gionfriddo Sunday Fingerbone Bill, Nadene Satch, Liam Gerner Tuesday DJ Adalita
REVOLVER Wednesday Neon Indian, Casiokids, Strange Talk, Matt Doll, Decameron
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Saturday Revolver Nydn, Milton Jackson, Ransom, Boogs, Spacey Space, Nick Thayer, T- Rek, Sunshine, WHO Wednesday Invisible Boy Thursday Massai Friday John Spring
ROXANNE PARLOUR Friday Chase & Status, Subfocus, 16 Bit, Netsky, MC LowQui Sunday Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer, Harmonic 313
ROYAL DERBY HOTEL Wednesday Trivia Thursday Vedran, Beetlejuice, Press Play Dj’s, Dom Dolla, Retza Friday DJ Graeme Saturday DJ
THE ARTHOUSE Wednesday Coma, The Rhetorics, Reds Under the Bed Thursday Big Fire, Stone The Crows, Peep Tempel Friday Blueline Medic, A Death In The Family, Hawaiian Islands, Following Sea Saturday Closed Sunday Husk, Little Foot, The Yeah Boys Wednesday The Posers, Bombing Angels, Urgent Blood Saturday Marching Orders, Murder Rats, The Terrace, Bloody Hammer Sunday Earthless, Clagg, Agonhym, Hotel Wrecking City Traders Tuesday Trivia
THE DRUNKEN POET Friday Chelsea Drugstore Saturday Streams of Whiskey Sunday Austin Busch, Nick Charles, Pete Fidler Tuesday Trivia Friday Traditional Irish Music Session, Dan Bourke
THE GEM Wednesday Hamish MacLeod Thursday Shannon Bourne Wednesday Sean Simmons Thursday Jules Sheldon
Friday Eaten By Dogs Saturday Tunes by Sabo Sunday The Cut Snakes
THE HI-FI Wednesday Mystery Jets, The Holidays Friday Darkest Hour, Carnifex Saturday Flying Lotus
THE OLD BAR Wednesday The Woolworth Blues Singers, Jules Sheldon Thursday My Left Boot, Thomy & The Tanks, Merri Creek Pickers, The Feel Goods Friday Charlie Parr, Eaten By Dogs, Brothers Grim, Old Bar DJ’s Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday Harmony, Mike Noga, Bulls Thursday Pioneers Of Good Science, The Enclosures, Rapid Transit Friday Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Grunt Bucket, The High Water Ballroom Band Saturday Whitehorse, Extortion, Thralls, Lords Sunday Clinkerfield, Pete Ewing Band, Benn Bennett Monday Fruit Jar’s Old Timey String Band Tuesday ’Idiots’, Joel Morrison Art Exhibition, Mikelangelo, Sean Simmons, Brendan Black
THE STANDARD HOTEL Wednesday Sean Simmons Friday Dirty York Sunday Pheasant Plucker Sunday The Hired Guns
THE TOFF IN TOWN Friday DJ Harvey, DJ Garth Monday Trivia Saturday The Vaudeville Smash, The Kins Sunday The Toot Toot Toots, Plague Doctor, Death Valley Band
THE TOTE Wednesday Tank
Friday Kim Salmon & The Surrealists, New War, Heirs, Blarke Bayer / Black Widow, My Disco, New War DJ’s Saturday Poletopra, Francis Plagne, Sean Baxter Sunday The ReChords, The Goodtime Medicine Band, Tommy & the Lucky Strikes
THORNBURY THEATRE Friday Masquerade Ball
UNION HOTEL BRUNSWICK Thursday The Native Plants Friday Spoonful
UPTOWN JAZZ CAFÉ Wednesday George Garzone Trio Thursday George Garzone Trio
WESLEY ANNE Wednesday The Boys Thursday Fee Brown & The Highwater Friday Closed Saturday Closed Tuesday Megan Bernard
WORKERS CLUB Friday Soul A Go Go Thursday Husky, Planet Love Sound Friday The Tom Fun Orchestra, The Tiger & Me, The Bon Scotts
YAH YAH’S Thursday Rock Aerobics, Tourettes, Hawaiian Islands, This War, Graft Vs Host Friday Dan Brodie & the Grieving Widows, Hired Guns, Jane Dust, Little John, Country DJ’s Saturday Deep Heat, Seesaw, Jimmy the Clink Sunday The Bowers Thursday Rock Aerobics, Wil Wagner & The Smith St Band, Madonna, Chaos Kids, Munt Friday Cambodian Space Project Kingswood, Richie 1250 Saturday*Pageants, The Zonks, Miss Goldie Sunday*Chromenips, Beat Disease
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INTERACTIVE MUSIC INSTRUCTION GUITAR | KEYS | DRUMS | VOCALS The SoundLab is an epic event space & music tutorial studio offering unique interactive sessions.
Get your FREE INTRODUCTORY SESSION visit:
WWW.THESOUNDLAB.COM.AU Ph:9510 4455
LMC GUITAR
TUITION - PERFORMANCE - SALES - REPAIR 330C SOUTH RD. HAMPTON EAST 3188 PH 9553 7262 WWW.LMCGUITAR.COM.AU
BAYSIDES PREMIER GUITAR SCHOOL Studio (in the relaxed bush between Ballarat and Geelong) and mobile multitrack recording. Servicing all western district areas Professional equipment, experienced engineer.
FREE RECORDING DAY SPECIAL
OFFER AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME
Engineer credits include: 2 X ARIA AWARD WINING “Gurrumul”
(conditions apply) WORKSHOP NEW SONGS? LAY DOWN A DEMO? PRE-PRODUCTION FOR YOUR NEXT RELEASE? TRACKS FOR MYSPACE?
CALL or EMAIL: jeremy@leftofelephantsound.com.au M: 0421 836 876 WEBSITE: www.leftofelephantsound.com.au www.myspace.com/leftofelephantsound
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EMPLOYMENT ADVERTISING / MEDIA Photography for Woman (18+) Try something different and contribute to an internationally respected,artistic project. All shapes, ages and sizes encouraged to apply! Earn $500+ cash - on your own terms and with full creative control. Amy - 9495 6555 iFlogID: 10174
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
LOCK & LOAD MELBOURNE: NOW HIRING! We service the entertainment & events industry. We need crew for the Xmas/ New Year period. Award rates paid weekly. Hurry! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this dynamic industry! Website applications: lockandload.com.au iFlogID: 10170
FOR SALE AMPS 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
Line 6 Flextone 2 combo. 2 x 12” speakers. Good condition with full pedal board. sell $795 or near offer. Call Frank on 0434 686 755 or 02 9740 8333. iFlogID: 9805
Markbass Studio Pre500 amp. Top of the line unit, used on 3 sessions, still under Warranty. Retail $4395...Sell $2500 o.n.o. Call Frank 0434 686 755 or 02 9740 8333
iFlogID: 9803
Marshall 2x12 cab up for sale! 2x 65watt celestion speakers both brand new, 4 screw in wheels carry handles , great quality , $350 or best offer,so if your interested call us on 0435510600
iFlogID: 10071
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
FIREBIRD I ultra rare.1990 Gibson custom shop limited edition. Please access online for farther details. iFlogID: 10067
Gibson Les Paul Classic for $1950. 1997 in great condition. all original except glover machine head attached. 60 slim taper and 496R/500T humbuckers attached. with OHSC farther details available online advertisement. iFlogID: 10075
Gibson SG Angus Young signature for $2500. 2000 the first year model Made in USA. Excellent original condition. PH 0403 466 736 iFlogID: 10254
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
MOSRITE Mark II Johnny Ramone Signature. very rare official Ramones model with Johnny ramone signature and ramones logo on head stock. with ramones logo hard case, ramones strap. Good condition. Farther details available online advertisement. iFlogID: 10073
MIXERS 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: 10225
PEAVEY BANDIT 11 80 watt 12” combo guitar amp.USA made.2 channel footswitchable.reverb,saturation etc. great fat tones.VGC.$350 Ph. 0428744963.cooroy. iFlogID: 9913
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.
Warwick Streamer II 5 String Bass Guitar. As made famous by Dirk Lance of Incubus. As new condition.
iFlogID: 9774
Billiard Table 8’x4’, Blue, slate, Ash Timbers, Teak Gloss Finish. Also inc Pool Balls, snooker balls, Triangle, 4 Cues, 2 Chalk ,Rule Book, 1 Cross Rest and Handle, Brush. cue & ball stand, score board attached to 2 drawer table. iFlogID: 9672
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.
MUSIC SERVICES
DRUMS
- 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: 9939
GUITARS 2004 Gibson ES-335 Dot reissue for $2700. Near Mint condition. Classic figured maple cherry red. 57 classic pickups and 60s slim taper neck. All original and no repair history. with OHSC RRP$5499 Ph:0403466736 iFlogID: 10250
AUCTION Saturday 11th December 2010 @ 10:30 AM In our Rooms, 41 Greens Road, Dandenong South Music: 12 x Electric Guitars(1991Fender/Yamaha/Morris/ Ibanez/SX),Guitar leads & stands ,Hammond Organ, Matador Bongos, Hohne Harmonicas, Gazoos, Guitar Cases, etc. www.mckearneys.com McKEARNEY’S AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS iFlogID: 9799
Epiphone Wilshire, Made in Kalamazoo USA back in 1963.Great original condition except strap pin, machine head and screws. Super rare solid vintage epiphone. Farther details available online. Ph 0403466736
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iFlogID: 9965
OTHER Heavy Metal Music Community. Upload And Promote Your Metal Music Online Free. Create your own band page. Heavy Metal, Black, Thrash, Death Metal, Hardcore, Gothic, Grindcore and many more. Australian owned. Join now! www. onlyheavymetal.com iFlogID: 10031
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 Tony Day P.A. & Lighting Hire. Comedy Shows/ Small Bands/ Functions. Delivered/ Set Up/ Operated. Reasonable and Negotiable rates with experienced owner/ operator service. Also, Walk-In mixes with mic kit. tonyday66@hotmail.com 0414092463 iFlogID: 9832
PRINTING BAND & DJ SIGNAGE!!
iFlogID: 9706
BOOKING AGENTS 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
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
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
VOX MUSIC ACADEMY FOR GUITAR • VOCAL • BASS • DRUM TUITION Get the very best out of your music career. BOOK NOW! Vacancies at Dandenong, Bayswater & Brunswick. Contact Us info@voxmusic.com.au or PH (03) 8772 2605 iFlogID: 9907
VIDEO / PRODUCTION 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 NOT AVAILABLE FOR FREE ADS. CL 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
DRUMMER Pro level drummer with good vocal ability available for gigs, sessions, tours etc. Good gear, good attitude, own transport. Can play many styles, specialising in Rock and Funk. Based on the Sunshine Coast. Call Paolo on 0404054743 iFlogID: 10012
GUITARIST Pro guitarist / singer available
iFlogID: 10022
Credits: Marcia Hines, Candice Alley & Fergie Frederikson (ex-Toto)... Nathan Eshman is available for online guitar sessions. Email him your guide tracks & you’ll receive tracks recorded in a pro studio without leaving home. Contact info@nathaneshman.com or visit www.nathaneshman.com ANY BUDGET! iFlogID: 9967
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
BAND MERCHANDISE
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 rack-mounted satellite speakers. All in excellent working condition. $5000 ono. 0404 084 854 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.
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.
OTHER
NOT AVAILABLE FOR FREE ADS. CL
iFlogID: 10263
iFlogID: 9834
iFlogID: 9736
iFlogID: 9813
BASS
HIRE SERVICES 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: 9850
iFlogID: 9915
P.A AMP. 1800 watt split mono “CARVER” USA made with BOSE controller.rack mount style in case. will run 2 by 4 “W” bins.very powerfull.VGC.cost over $2500 sell $750. Ph.0428744963 Cooroy.
iFlogID: 9963
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
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
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
Eternal Post Production
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
iFlogID: 9698
SINGER/SONGWRITERS have a home studio and require a producer to help polish your tracks? High-end recording studio with the convenience and universal application of the Internet. World class session musicians work with you every step of the way- more information www.rockethouseproductions.com iFlogID: 9842
Studio Recording and musician services. iFlogID: 9862
OTHER 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
MUSICIANS WANTED
REPAIRS
BASS PLAYER
ROCKIN REPAIRS - GUITAR TECH RESTRINGS-SETUPS-UPGRADESREPAIRS Do you live to play? Whether you’ve bought a new guitar or a favourite is feeling faded, we’ll rejuvenate it! We work hard to give you the feel/sound you want! 0405253417 tara@rockinrepairs.com www.rockinrepairs.com
Bass player , experienced for original trio
iFlogID: 9342
TUITION 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
iFlogID: 10016
Bass player needed to complete 8 piece soul and reggae type band. Playing mostly covers but working on originals, plan on showcasng band mid Feb so no time wasters please! jon@low-gear.com iFlogID: 10260
NTL. TOURING GRP WITH AGENCY & UK/US DEAL W/AU DISTRO NEEDING BASSIST NOW! ‘ROCK N ROLL/INDIE/ NEW WAVE’ - MUSICALLY PROFICIENT, MANY GENRES AS BONUS. DO NOT CONTACT IF U NO PLAYING WEB (must have myspace etc.) - newplaying@live.com iFlogID: 9880
DRUMMER
Brisbane alt rock band Greenthief are relocating to Melbourne early 2011. Seeking a new committed hard hitting drummer age 18-25. Email: management@greenthief.com to arrange audition/for more details. myspace.com/greenthief.com (Inf Mars Volta, Radiohead, Tool, RATM, Nin, Jeff Buckley)
ING CHOIRBOYS IN MELBOURNE IN JANUARY AND WE ARE LINING UP MORE GIGS IF YOU WANT MORE INFO THEN CONTACT US... 0404 166 433 pippincopps@yahoo.com.au iFlogID: 10029
GUITARIST WANTED TO TEACH
iFlogID: 9949
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
Hi, I’m looking for a great male vocalist. To sing only one dance song. Thanks iFlogID: 9860
Drummer experience required
iFlogID: 10018
iFlogID: 9927
Indie/electronica/dance producer looking for singers/songwriters to collaborate. Looking for vocal style like Passion pit, MGMT, The Empire of the sun, DOM, Wolfgang. For more info mail to reigovilbiks@gmail.com
DRUMMER WANTED for Melbournebased countrified indie pop-rock outfit. VicRocks-funded album done, launch booked, publicist locked in! Influences: Lemonheads, Wilco, Teenage Fanclub, You Am I, The Band. Check us out at www.myspace. com/thebellparade. Call Matt 0422 273 584.
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.
Require a strong professional female singer with cover band experience for high end Corporate and private Functions Party Covers Band and agency backed! Send CV/bio to info@ techwebdevelopers.com on receipt I will send applicable band website, setlists, songs etc
Drummer wanted for weekly jams with view for fun improv, song writing, strange rhythms, gigs, money. Reference points include: Phish, Gojira, Tom Waits, Fishbone, Primus. mrmoolking@yahoo.com
Lead Guitarist wanted for rising original band Novakayn. Rock/Pop commercial sound. Serious musicians only,no druggo’s or boozeheads. We support World Peace & expect u will too.
Drummer needed for indie rock band. Influences: early KOL, Bloc Party, Radiohead. myspace/tierraoutlaws. Contact Andrew 0408255644
iFlogID: 10233
iFlogID: 9992
Female drummer wanted for Brisbane rock dance band. Inf: RATM, RHCP, P!nk, Suzi Quatro, Alanis Morrissette. Must be 18 - 35 y.o., photogenic and be ambitious. Ph 0437 428 859 or 3267 6789. iFlogID: 9934
Hey all With a Clenched Fist is looking for a drummer all welcome though someone with a Punk/Hardcore/Metal back ground prefered contact us via myspace www.myspace.com/withaclenchedfist or txt on 0450493385 iFlogID: 10085
We need a drummer. Our name is ‘Hero In Your Own Lunch Box’. We want to keep improving and play gigs! We sound like this currently: (hiyolb.bandcamp.com) in a year we hope to sound a million times better with you! iFlogID: 9864
GUITARIST GUITARIST WANTED FOR SYDNEY ROCK BAND. PREFERABLY AGED BETWEEN 18-25. WE ARE SUPPORT-
iFlogID: 10130
iFlogID: 7447
iFlogID: 10239
National touring band require professional guitarist. Age 18 -25. Must be proficient in all forms of Rock, Blues, Roots.Involves backing high profile artists. Show operates out of Queensland. For further details email marty@thewindupdolls.com or phone 0408 010 789 iFlogID: 9925
Rhythm/Lead guitarist required for 80’s Glam Hard Rock Cover/Concept show. Playing Motley,Gunners,Bon Jovi, etc. Good gear,own transport,learn new songs quickly & ability to sing back up vocals. We’re ready to gig NOW. Call Phil 0425 219 109 iFlogID: 10209
OTHER ad for musos
iFlogID: 10126
SINGER CAUSTIC ATTACK are a Sydney based Grindcore band in search of a
iFlogID: 9714
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 serv-
ices listed on our site. Prices start from as low as $140. Mel 0402 7796 254 www.melissahowarddesign.com Qualified and experienced designer. iFlogID: 10185
OTHER Do you have an Iphone? If yes, please download my free app, radio bondi, cheers iFlogID: 9653
Is your life a cluttered mess? Unsure of where you are headed? Unsure how to identify your strengths, your values? Visit www.tisi.me and find out how a life coach can help you. Free DVD. Xmas gift vouchers iFlogID: 10124
Launch My Label by Chic Petite Events provides a platform for emerging artists/talented people wanting to launch their label. A quarterly event, we’r looking for emerging fashion designers/performers/models. Helping talented individuals gain deserved exposure in a competitive market,assisting with PR/marketing. iFlogID: 10243
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WANTED OTHER 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..