Okay, so everybody knows Splendour happened, and there were lots of big names there, and most of them had a good time and did well, and one of them not so much.

But what about the little guys? Those little bands that not many people went and saw? Well, I saw a bunch of them, and so here are my 7 Band You Might Not Have Seen At Splendour.

Skipping Girl Vinegar

Why you might have missed them: They were the first band on the GW McLennan stage on the first day. Due to the policy of many campers to get themselves completely wasted the night before any music has even been played, most of them were probably still dragging themselves out of bed.
Why you should have seen them: Fun, groovy pop, a perfect way to open the festival, and continuing Splendour’s record for fantastic opening bands. Drummer Chris Helm has position at the front of the stage, and earns it, carrying songs and pauses with his easygoing charisma, while frontman Mark Lang, who feels responsible for some of the more serious elements, charms with his lyrics. They play the Splendour part too, with CD giveaways, interacting with the crowd in the front row and a promise of cookies for all, cooked by the band.
Chances of seeing them again in the next 6 months: Pretty good - they’re touring the east coast in September, and are well worth catching. They’re one hooky-single-on-a-TV-commercial away from blowing up, quirky-twee style.

OH: “So, who is this GW McLennan fellow, anyway?”. Some people need a music education, STAT.

Money For Rope

Why you might have missed them: The early bands on the amphitheatre stage were most people’s first exposure to the giant walk between stages. Also, if there’s one thing Splendour is known for, it’s being freaking freezing, but Woodfordia has turned up the temperature, it is freaking HOT.
Why you should have seen them: In the program, they nominated You Am I as the world’s most underrated band. Also they have two drummers, which is great, but the two of them spend the whole time playing identical beats, which is not so great. But the frontman has a rocknroll persona going on, and the guitarists aren’t afraid to just hang out behind him and thrash out chords. The weather works against them, and they never manage to ratchet up the energy enough for their style of music, but they’d be fantastic in a small club show.
Chances of seeing them again in the next 6 months: They’ve announced shows in Victoria throughout August, but that’s it. On the other hand, they’re probably not going anywhere either.

Alberta Cross

Why you might have missed them: The biggest clash complaint I heard in the leadup to Splendour was Foals Vs Yeasayer, which left the third band in the sandwich, New York’s Alberta Cross, out in the cold. When they began, there was just a smattering of people in the crowd.
Why you should have seen them: They were my pick for best international band at the festival. Their swirling murky blues, counterpointed perfectly by frontman’s Petter Ericson Stakee’s howling falsetto, held the crowd awestruck from beginning to end. The haunting shadowy Rise From The Shadows struck straight the soul.
Chances of seeing them again in the next 6 months: Slim. They came a long way, so playing to a handful of people probably won’t inspire too many promoters to bring them back in a hurry, and that’s a loss for us.

The Honey Month

Why you might have missed them: These guys opened the GW McLennan stage on the Saturday - chances are you were still recovering from a Ben Harper/Scissor Sisters hangover
Why you should have seen them: Over the years Splendour has been responsible for introducing me to some of my favourite bands, especially in the early slots, and this year it’s Honey Month that I’m going to be spruiking to everyone. They were nothing short of incredible, a cross between Decemberists and Middle East, utilising a full range of instruments; piano accordion, ukelele and mandolins all make appearances. While some bands might have been playing these instruments for the look, these youngsters have the look, sound and style of veterans, easily crafting sweeping, majestic songs that stick to the brain like honey.
Chances of seeing them again in the next 6 months: They’re launching their EP at the Troubadour in September; for the love of diety, be there.

John Steel Singers

Why you might have missed them: You might not have - they had a pretty decent crowd. On the other hand, the start of the set was up against two big names, The Drums and Two Door Cinema Club.
Why you should have seen them: You should always see them - one of Brisbane’s best bands, they get stronger with every set. Few bands can throw together a pop song like these guys, as anyone who saw the set-closing Evolution/Rainbow Kraut can and will testify. Their debut album has reportedly been produced by Robert Forster, who knows a thing or two about guitar-pop, but who knows when we’ll see it; it seems like its been “in the can” for ages.
Chances of seeing them again in the next 6 months: They’re supporting Tame Impala on their national tour, and if you ever needed a reason to get out to a show early, this is it. Also, theyve just been announced for the (completely free) Valley Fiesta, which should see Valley punters dancing in the street.

Frightened Rabbit

Why you might have missed them: Another band who played too early - second band on the amphitheatre on the last day. It was hot and sticky, and by the third day (fourth if you count getting up here on the Thursday), most punters were sleeping in.
Why you should have seen them: Another international band who came a long way to play to a small crowd, Frightened Rabbit don’t really suit a sweltering open atmosphere. They would’ve been heaps better in the smaller, cooler tent, but great songs are great songs, and FR have plenty under their belt. The Loneliness and The Scream and The Twist both pack a punch, but its set closer Keep Yourself Warm which draws the largest cheer, and frontman Scott Hutchison responds by delivering a drawn out death howl for the chorus. Never has feeling so depressed sounded so good.
Chances of seeing them again in the next 6 months: Slim to none. They reported on facebook that they were on planes for hours and hours, and playing to a small crowd must’ve been a little deflating. They’re in the same boat as Alberta Cross - without more radio airplay, they’ll need a promoter willing to take a risk to get them out here again.

The Mess Hall

Why you might have missed them: They were on straight after Frightened Rabbit, and it was still sweltering. Also, by now everyone’s seen them and pretty much made up their mind. Plus, they were up against Cloud Control, who have a lot of buzz right now.
Why you should have seen them: Actually, this wasn’t one of their better performances - this two-piece grungy blues band likes to feed off a frothing seething crowd, and they certainly didn’t get that at Splendour. It was great to see producer/keys player Burke Reid join them on stage (looking like Nick Cave - a fair way from his backpack-and-school-uniform-wearing days in Gerling) for a few numbers, and the songs from the new album pack more of a punch live than they do on the album. They close out with the fantastic extended edition of Keep Walking, but there’s been something futile about today’s set; they’re unlikely to have lost any old fans, or made any new ones either.
Chances of seeing them again in the next 6 months: They’re always around - they’ll be playing the Zoo, the Annandale and the Northcote in September.

So, it’s probably come to your attention that this website has been pretty dormant since launch. Seven entries in 12 months does not a good website make. So I’ve decided to change things a little.

For those who don’t know, I wrote for the website FasterLouder for 2 years, before becoming it’s Queensland editor for 2 years. During my time with FasterLouder, I wrote gig reviews, cd reviews, interview-based features, and news stories. I saw so many bands, and listened to so many albums, and received so many press releases, that I burnt myself out. When I decided to stop being the Queensland editor, I walked away from writing for a couple of months.

But what to do next? The logical step was to set up my own site, of course, and along came KRudd’s money-dollars bonus at just the right time. So I decided to set up my own culture review site. I was going to review anything and everything - music, tv, films, plays, books, restaurants, anything. My theory was, if I did it, I would write about it. Then I figured out the theme (Seven!) and thought it would be extremely clever if I forced every review to be seven sentences. After all, writing short is easier than writing long, right?

Then I called on some author friends from FasterLouder, and asked them to contribute as well. I came up with some regular features - The Sunday Seven! Filmclip Friday! The Wednesday Whinge! (yes, some of these never made it to the site), and I was all set to go. I installed Wordpress (well, someone did that for me), set up a theme, and away I went.

Except, I didn’t. Continue reading A change to the site

Holy crap it’s an entry. The title is pretty self-explanatory - here’s 7 films that I’m looking forward to in 2010, and if I’m looking forward to them, that means they must be great - right? I’m sure in 12 months time I’ll be writing that the top 7 films of the year were these films, but just in case that doesn’t happen, here’s the list.

1. The Social Network

Okay, so this one was always going to make the list, with writer Aaron Sorkin being pretty much my favourite TV writer of all time. This movie, originally christened “The Facebook Movie”, charts the rise in popularity of the world’s biggest social networking site, and the personalities at work behind the scenes. There aren’t a lot of big-name actors along for the ride (save, of course, for Justin Timberlake. Yes, I’m serious - watch Southland Tales and Alpha Dog, and get back to me) but the recent announcement of David Fincher as director should have a few more film buffs pricking up their ears. Liam likes this.

2. Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese was the only person in the world who looked at the fresh-faced star of Titanic and Romeo & Juliet and saw the next Robert DeNiro. But thank goodness he did, because the regular collaborations between these two have reaped huge rewards. Leo and Mark Ruffalo play US Marshalls investigating an escape from Ben Kingsley’s creepy mental hospital for the criminally insane. With top character actors Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson and Jackie Earl Hayley also appearing, this one looks like a sure thing.
Continue reading 7 movies to look forward to in 2010

Literature’s finest heroine, Miss Elizabeth Bennet version 2.0 now comes in zombie-fighting Shaolin warrior-mode, protecting Merton from the brain-devouring  “unmentionables”. This comedic take on the Jane Austen romance is quite amusing in the way it splices the original text, and inserts horridly compelling and wildly graphic zombie fight scenes in a most proper and smooth articulation, courtesy of Seth Grahame-Smith. The Bennets have no connections, their mother is a frightful embarrassment, and to top it all off, Mr. Darcy and his legendary warrior aunt are of the Japanese Kyoto school; they look down on the Bennett sisters’ lowly Chinese training. The subtle additions can be very amusing: “Yes and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain, and pieces of undead flesh upon her sleeve…”(p31), and the scene in which Lizzie takes on Lady Catherine’s personal army of ninjas is one of the most exciting parts to read. Don’t let Miss Eliza’s habit of eating the hearts of her defeated foes put you off, she is still the same independent yet feminine woman we have come to regard as a role model. When the zombie action dies down, there is an actual storyline to follow: a comedy of manners and commentary on social customs that has withstood the test of time. Traditionalists beware of sacrilege, everyone else should get a bit of a laugh out of this one, and if all else fails, interior illustrations by Philip Smiley will provide some comedy.

I’ve never been a big fan of Tim Winton’s work, but the rave reviews from critics and Joe Sixpacks alike convinced me to give him another shot. It was definitely worth the effort. Breath tells the story of middle-aged paramedic Bruce Pike, concentrating on the events in his life between the impressionable ages of twelve and sixteen. Pike and his  best mate (the aptly named Loonie) discover the cult of surfing courtesy of a retired professional surfer named Sando.  Slowly they become involved in Sando’s complicated relationship with the ocean and his sad, injured ex-snowboarder wife, stripping both boys of their innocence.

No doubt inspired by Winton’s love of surfing and the coast of Western Australia, the book is insightful and gripping without disappearing in self-indulgence. Breath is proof that old dogs can, in fact learn new tricks.

The world wasn’t really crying out for a superband featuring the members of Fountains Of Wayne, Smashing Pumpkins and Cheap Trick, fronted by one of the cleancut youngsters from Hanson, but it has one in the form of Tinted Windows, and their new album, err, Tinted Windows. The problem is, it’s far more Fountains Of Wayne and Hanson than Cheap Trick, and the dark soul that James Iha presumably had, to be a member of Smashing Pumpkins (although the existence of Zwan may negate that), is completely non-existent. The 11 songs that make up the album run the gamut from sugary sweet pop rock to sugary sweet pop ballads, and Taylor Hanson’s designer pitch-perfect vocals never contain enough emotion to get the songs off the ground. They’re at their best when they keep the pace brisk, like on opener Kind Of A Girl and Can’t Get A Read On You. But the weight of slower ballads (aka filler, at least in this case), and the eventual repetitive nature of even the fun stuff, end up turning this into a drag. There’s nothing offensive about this kind of slight rock, but the confluence of talent on this album could and should have provided so much more. In the end, it’s all style, no substance, and like a sugar rush, will give you a temporary high, but hardly leave you coming back for more.

Welcome to the first in our series of lists known as The Sunday Seven. We open this feature with firsts, specifically first tracks - recounting our favourite first tracks, and what makes them so great. Strap yourself in for the first of what will hopefully be many Sunday Sevens to come - some of them may even be posted on Sundays!

The Song Remains The Same - Led Zeppelin (Houses Of The Holy, 1973)
A rapidly-picked clean guitar is punctuated by staccato bass and drum stabs. Clean, open guitar chords are strummed once the rhythm section settles in. Then Jones’ bassline runs counter to the melody that Page’s guitar explores. As the opening track to 1973’s Houses Of The Holy, The Song Remains The Same stands among the great band’s most powerful creations. It characterises Zeppelin’s versatility, innovation and longevity. Plant’s voice joins the arrangement ninety seconds in; throughout the track’s five-and-a-half minutes, the stringed instruments and Bonham’s fiery skins joust and parry, creating an overwhelming sense of urgency. Truly inspiring. (AM)

In The Flesh? - Pink Floyd (The Wall, 1979)
Back in my pot-smoking days, I spent a fair bit of time eating buckets of KFC and listening to The Wall. “In The Flesh?” begins the story of ‘Pink’ (no, not her!), the protagonist of a story that explores the ideas of oppression and isolation.  “You wanna see what’s behind these cold eyes?/You’ll just have to blow your way through this disguise!” belts Roger Waters as ‘Pink’, as passive-aggressive a challenge as you’ll ever hear. Excellent for air guitar, air drums, air organ or distracting yourself from the slightly disconcerting feeling of your face melting off. (SB)

Continue reading The Sunday Seven - Great First Tracks

Coldplay have just released Left Right Left Right, a free live album, through their website as a thank-you to their fans, and although it seems counter-intuitive to review a free album, the new release captures effectively one of the world’s biggest bands being, well, big. Across nine tracks taken mostly from their recent albums Viva La Vida and Prospekt’s March, Coldplay show why they have one of the best live reputations in the world, without providing anything that might cause haters to change their minds. Clocks and Viva La Vida are suitably epic, providing numerous sing- and clap-along opportunities, which the crowd grab with relish. Fix You tugs at the heartstrings when the crowd take over the vocals as clear as day, although Chris Martin comes off as too smug when he changes lyrics to “200 people at a Coldplay show”, which gets a predictable cheer. And the disc bows out with slow-burner-turned-wild-maelstrom Death And All His Friends. The current Coldplay show, which visited Australia early this year, deserves a complete recording, but in lieu of that, this free gift to fans is pretty impressive. It might not convert anyone who doesnt like Coldplay to begin with, but then, this isnt really for them anyway.

Left Right Left Right is currently available for download from www.coldplay.com