Delorean “Real Love” live – Psyched for Parklife?

If this video is anything to go by, these guys are going to be cosmically coma-inducing (the coma of lurrrve) at Parklife. Cannot wait to see the Spanish four make my head swell and my feet shuffle. The boys have also done remixes for the likes of Franz Ferdinand (Alex Kapranos always has his finger on the pulse doesn’t he) and the likes of recent Mercury prize snatchers The XX.

Check it out and let me know your thoughts…

Delorean | FOR NO ONE from FOR NO ONE on Vimeo.

Deerhunter’s New Video Helicopter: from their forthcoming album Halcyon Digest

Drench yourself in the slow-dripping nostalgic juiciness of this new track from four-piece ambient-indie outfit Deerhunter from their forthcoming album Halcyon Digest. It sounds different to anything on Microcastle (2007/8) one of the great independent releases of that year: deliciously so. I for one, can’t wait to get a dose of the album in its entirety. It’s the culmination of the four members: Bradford Cox (also of Atlas Sound), Moses Archuleta, Josh Fauver and Lockett Pundt; after various other friends stage-lefting out of the line-up over the years.

Let me know what you think!

Ben Folds & Nick Hornby: the low-down on their trip down Lonely Avenue

If you’ve had at least one of your ears clag-pasted to the radio (namely Triple J) over the past month you would have managed to sample the latest release "From Above” by musician & songwriter: Ben Folds (Underground, Brick, Army) and literary quirk-ster/Academy Award nominee: Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy).

Over dinner last year, the pair decided to sandwich together their artistic genius’ to plate-up the whimsical, piano-based pop-from-the-heart album, Lonely Avenue.

"There's such a wide world of things you can do with music," Folds told Billboard.com. "I feel like I can get a football player and have him tell his life story and turn it into music and I think it would be unique. With Nick, my biggest fear was he would send me great lyrics and I wouldn't be able to do anything good with them. I had complete confidence in him."

And that’s how it came to be: Hornby sent lyrics and off-beat anecdotes to Folds who weaved them into imagined melodies; later recording the songs onto two-inch tape for better vinyl audio quality, with string arrangements by Paul Buckmaster.

"It's precisely nine years since I started working on ProTools," he notes, "but after the experience of the last record (2008's Way to Normal), I just asked myself, 'Digital recording, is that helping my records?', because it was not fun. If it's not fun and it's making them better, great. But it's not that fun, and I don't think it's improved (the records). So I'm coming back to analogue simply because I really gave digital a full go and I appreciate it, but I like rewind time and I like making choices on the fly...and that's what you do when you're working with tape."



Interesting to hear Folds change tact with production in making Lonely Avenue; he really manages to sound out Hornby’s stories with such beautiful emotional tension, meshing loneliness with a sweet, up-beat tempo. If working in analogue helped to enhance these elements, then perhaps nostalgia isn’t just a guilty pleasure.

Here is a taste of Hornby’s words taken from the track “From Above”:

They even looked at each other once across the crowded bar
He was with Martha, she was with Tom
Neither of them really knew what was going on
A strange feeling of never, heartbeats becoming synchronized

It's been that way forever but most of the time it's just near misses
And kisses once at a bookstore, once at a party
She came in as he was leaving and years ago at the movies
She sat behind him, the 6:30 showing of "While You Were Sleeping"

He never once looked around

Genius. Listen to it below:



Lonely Avenue is due out October 1.

20 Hottest Rockstars of this Decade: 2000-2010 (AKA the Noughties)

After stumbling upon blog entitled The Official Iggy Pop Shirtless Aging Timeline (pure gold) it got me to thinking what new age rockers of this decade (and ones that don’t resemble an old handbag) have left their sweat on our stages, their breath on our mics and their voices reverb-ing inside our skulls for so long after the pub/festival gates have shut that we can’t sleep for days; often waking up half-strangled in earphones with their latest offering on repeat.

This year’s Splendour in the Grass festival saw over 20,000 camp-ready punters explode over the rolling hills of Woodfordia like a tie-dyed tarpaulin in an effort to witness 3 days of some of the best musical talent scene-ing right now. And it may just have been the best 3 days of some of our lives.

With that in mind I will start this list off with one of the festival’s ultimate highlights…

(The rest of the list follows in no particular order)

1. Julian Casablancas: The Strokes

Arguably dubbed the best rock voice of this generation, Julian Casablancas is the chief songwriter for The Strokes who formed back in 1998; their first album This Is It (2001) named by NME as their album of the decade. Massive chops to nab that title! The king-hit quality of their live performances beat any studio recording as Julian toys with quirky one-liners and anecdotes (“Flo-Mo, just Flow-in the Mo” – sorry Splendour “in” joke) before man-handling the mic for another round. Julian also released a solo album Phrases for the Young just last year to mixed reviews: it must be difficult to take a new direction with such an identifiable, sexually charged tone of voice. In his own words “Take it or Leave It” I guess!

Fave quote: “With a hundred ways to do a dozen things, why not try it all?”

Rock Cred Lyric: 29 different attributes, And only 7 that you like, uh oh, 20 ways to see the world, oh oh, Or 20 ways to start a fight – You Only Live Once

2. The Followill Boys: Kings of Leon (sorry couldn’t separate them)

The Tennessee trio of brothers: Anthony aka Caleb (Lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ivan (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Michael (bass, backing vocals); along with their cousin Cameron (Lead guitar, backing vocals) form the Southern-rock, testosterone-charged unit Kings of Leon. Since they are bound by blood I felt it unfair to separate the 4, who in recently years transformed their raw, twang-tailed version of rock into a more generic power-ballad production with the release of Only By the Night (2008). Despite this evolution finally achieving the boys chart success, a few people (myself included) were a bit disheartened by there new overly-produced sound (and maybe the fact that I saw pre-pubescent-boppers in school uniform screaming that their ‘sex was on fire’). Their new album Come Around Sundown is due out October. Let’s hope it packs a sweaty punch of raw riffs - right to the kisser!

Fave quote: "The other night there was someone on the front row and we had played a new song, and then we played 'Trani' which is off our first album. I saw the girl look at another girl and say, 'Is this another new song?' So it's like a lot of them don't know the difference."

Rock Cred Lyric: I cock and load my mergers when you question my mood, ‘Cause you ain’t got no taste. You talking 'bout my baby, I could flip him upside down and I could mop his place. – My Party

3. Win Butler & Régine Chassagne: Arcade Fire

Husband & wife duo Win & Régine, head up the famed Montreal Septet, Arcade Fire, who recently struck gold with their latest release “The Suburbs” which reached #1 on the US Billboard charts – almost unheard of where ‘quality’ music is concerned! Both Win & Regine have a background in Jazz: from their heritage or from being honed in their own bedrooms and both are multi-instrumentalists, some of which include: Mandolin, Violin, Guitars, Keys, Piano, Bass, Synth, xylophone, recorders, vocals (obviously) and the hurdy gurdy (strange version of a fiddle)! Arcade Fire’s unique song structure and chaotic rhythms can rattle you like turbulence or ghost right through you; intoxicating and undeniable. So much talent packed into the pants of these two characters it’s no wonder Win often wears suspenders.

Fave quote: “Some bands are just manipulating people to buy music. That’s how 90 percent of the record industry works! It’s basically the same as selling a fucking toaster or a cruise package.”

Rock Cred Lyric: Do you know where I was at your age? Any idea where I was at your age? I was working downtown for the minimum wage, And I'm not gonna let you just throw it all away! I'm through being cute, I'm through being nice. O tell me, Lord, am I the Antichrist?! - Antichrist Television Blues

4. Kevin Drew: Broken Social Scene & Kevin Drew

Kevin Drew is the chief architect behind the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist anarchic collective that is Broken Social Scene (and possibly one of the best bands to ever cram up a stage). Drew and the member-changing outfit hail from Toronto in Canada and emerged as part of this new wave of Canadian sound sometimes dubbed “baroque pop” (music-journo speak I know, but it gives you an idea of the antique-usque arrangements of guitars, strings, horns, woodwind instruments and how the group meshes all the talents of it’s sometimes 10+ vagrant members). Drew even started his own record label Arts & Crafts which boasts artists like Phoenix, Feist (who he dated at one stage) The Dears, The Apostle of Hustle & more. For such a pint-sized shaggy-haired package, Drew can belt out one hell of a tune – it can be raw as f**k or serene wash of subtle – either way it is bound to bring you to your knees.

Fave quote: “We've always been a band that sings about exactly what's inside of us and exactly what's happening outside as well. Like, if we're screaming, let's have something to scream about.”

Rock Cred Lyric: When I was a kid, you fucked me in the ass, but I took my pen to my paper, and I passed you. You know I love the shit, 'Cause the shit tastes so good, I've got pastures waiting in the woods. - It’s All Gonna Break

5. Marcus Mumford: Mumford & Sons

Marcus heads up the alt-folk-rock troop Mumford & Sons. He plays everything from guitar to the drums to the Mandolin as well as lending his bellowing British-accented vocals to front-wall the house of his ‘sons’ harmonies. Mumford exploded onto the Australian music scene with potentially even more force than they did on their own turf with debut album Sign No More: “Little Lion Man” voted as the #1 song in Triple J’s 2009 Hottest 100. They are definitely one of the most phenomenal live acts to surface in recent times touting 4-way A Capella’s - and if you’re lucky enough - you might even get to throw down to a hoe-down worthy banjo solo. The best thing about Marcus is that his humble segways between songs show he is genuinely honoured to perform for fans. Bail me up some of that goodness!

Fave quote: “We used a 100-year old harmonium [to record the album] that I love. Although it's at my parents house, because I can't fit it in my flat. We borrowed a bunch on vintage guitars off people we knew [too].”

Rock Cred Lyric: But you rip it from my hands, and you swear it's all gone. And you rip out all I have, Just to say that you've won. Well now you've won. – I gave you all

6. Karen O: Yeah Yeah Yeah’s

Karen O is the Geisha from hell, and one that can unleash a fire on a microphone to boot. She is of course front women to the New York trio, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; an indie fusion of rock, dance, art, punk and screaming the f**king house down. Karen’s well known for her churlish tongue and crazy stage antics: when she is up there she totally owns it. It’s as if she is the human embodiment of confetti in a rocket launcher strapped to the gullet of a T-Rex. The band has released 3 LP’s: Fever to Tell, Show Your Bones and the most recentIt’s Blitz: taking a less brutal approach to song writing with the latter (my personal fave actually), but its one that will still make you scream their name all 3 times (preferably from a bed with Karen O in it).

Fave quote: “There’s no detachment when I’m up there. I don’t allow myself the distance. I’m fully putting myself out there for the people and for the sake of trying to lure them into the experience. I think that’s why it takes so much out of me. And I think that’s why I resent it to some degree. I feel like I’m picking up the slack for a whole generation of non-believers.”

Rock Cred Lyric: You can keep your black tongue, Well I found at the mortuary, you know I'm gonna want some want some – Black Tongue

7. James Murphy: LCD Soundsystem

He’s the big guy with the big voice and too much creative and technical skill to poke a drum stick at: writer, musician, producer and DFA Records co-founder; James Murphy. James is probably most well known for heading up the dance-post-punk (although their sound is completely unique) people of LCD Soundsystem. Their latest release “This Is Happening” was dubbed poignantly by Triple J as a “free-wheelin' masterpiece” – and it is. Fans were obviously nervous to see if Murphy could produce anything on par with the hectic magic of Sound of Silver (2007) which earned itself a Grammy nomination for best for best Electronic/Dance Album, but deliver he did. Hard to comprehend why but James is highly self-critical. He told Pitchfork recently “It's kinda soul-crushing in a way to listen to 'Perfect Day' and say, 'I'm gonna go write a song like that,' and it'll be fucking horrible by comparison.” Dude - what are you on about! All My friends, Someone Great and the epic This is Happening opener Dance Yrself Clean with a bass drop that will make you split your pants, Murphy – Daft Punk should be inviting you to play at their house!

Fave quote: "I make dance music, or disco... And dance music isn't really about anything. I can tell if it's working: 'Are people dancing? Yes.' Then I've achieved my goal.”

Rock Cred Lyric: I've heard lies that could curdle your heartstrings (Drunk girls). A couple truths, maybe burn out your eyes (Drunk boys). Drunk boys leave their irons in the fireplace (Drunk girls) 'Cause drunk girls give them too many tries – Drunk Girls

8. Yannis Philippakis: Foals

The UK university town, Oxford has always been a breeding ground for artistic talent; so it was only a matter of time until indie five-piece Foals spawned. Yannis Philippakis (whose name coincidentally means 'little friend of horses’) fronts the band who with their latest release Total Life Forever have seen their cult following inflate to epic proportions. Yannis spruiks these high-pitched, angular vocal lines that can flick from ghostly to acidic on one phrase. Layer this over the top of the staccato-ed guitar riff style Foals pioneered (less severe on TLF than on Antidotes), and you’ll have to GPS the location of your own mind to find it. Yannis is said to write music that is ‘sonically tidy’ and it shows. You can lose yourself in the bands sound-scapes of dissonant chords but at the same time you can tell that’s exactly where they want you to be (in 100m, turn left). For a self-professed grouch and ‘boring homebody’ Yannis (who “boringly” leapt into the crowd after their recent Glastonbury set) and the boys have an on-stage energy that will pulsate to your core; it must be that Western feeling.

Fave quote: "There's an old school rock feeling at Reading and Leeds that you don't get anywhere else, people really releasing negative energy. If we had our way, there wouldn't be any barrier between the band and the crowd."

Rock Cred Lyric: I've been to the darkest place I know. You my dear shouldn't fear what lies below, it's just bones. Now you go softly soft, Picking out better bones than your own. Oh I see you creep in the dark. – What Remains

9. Kele Okereke: Bloc Party

Openly poetic and overwhelmingly intense; Kele is the co-founder and front man of British band Bloc Party who tsunami-ed onto the scene earlier this decade, breaking down music genre barriers in their wake. I think everyone can remember the first time they heard 2005’s Silent Alarm, the hypnotic crescendo-ing drum beats of “Like Eating Glass” blew my mind, moved my feet and with one crack-hit of Kele’s piercing croon: addicted my being. Three albums later: still hooked. Kele’s also just released his first solo album The Boxer while Bloc Party are on hiatus which is definitely more of a retro-synth, dance-pop piece of production for the artist. He tours Australia solo for Parklife this year and it will be interesting to see if his stage presence resonates without Russell, Gordon & Matt in the half-light behind. (I think it might)

Fave quote: “When British music magazines say we're overly serious or po-faced, I think it's actually an indication that the mindset of people right now is to be completely apolitical and not be concerned about what's happening in the world. To try and draw attention to this, you're labelled as a political party person or something and I think that's sad.”

Rock Cred Lyric: You said you were going to conquer new frontiers, Go stick your bloody head in the jaws of the beast. We promised the world, we'd tame it, what were we hoping for? – Pioneers

10. Matt Bellamy: Muse

Hailing from Teignmouth, in Devon, Bellamy was always going to bring some kind of meat to the musical table (however strange the mash-up), and he did. Not only did Matt’s progressive metal vocal stylings cut through the wash of mediocrity back in the late 90’s, but the incorporation of rock-piano into Muse’s repertoire must have made many a kid out there re-think there mum’s constant pestering to practice their scales. And if that wasn’t enough, the Muse front-man is now dating Kate Hudson, who came to support him at their recent Coachella performance (you know you’ve made it when you’re bagged a movie star). Muse’s latest release (to the screwed-up faces of some of their earlier fans) The Resistance (2009) peaked at No. 3 of the US charts and they premiered it earlier this year at The Big Day Out.

Fave quote: “We were all off our faces on mushrooms when we recorded Plug In Baby... There was this big field next to the recording studio filled with them. So we ate them all. I don't know what we were doing, but we all ended up naked in a Jacuzzi and I went deaf in one ear from falling asleep in the sauna...”

Rock Cred Lyric: You'll make us wanna die, I'd cut your name in my heart. We'll destroy this world for you, I know you want me to. Feel your pain – Space Dementia

11. Thomas Mars: Phoenix
12. Liam Howlett: Prodigy
13. Tom Meighan: Kasabian
14. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden: MGMT
15. Beth Ditto: The Gossip
16. Wayne Coyne: The Flaming Lips
17. Thom Yorke: Radiohead & Thom Yorke
18. Jake Shears and Ana Matronic: Scissor Sisters
19. Dougy Mandagi: The Temper Trap
20. Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam: MIA

Wild Card: Kevin Parker – Tame Impala
Wild Card: Lawrence Greenwood - Whitley
Wild Card: Jonathan Boulet – Parades & Jonathan Boulet

Please add comments or any you think I have missed!!
Peace out. x

Went to Oxford Art Factory last night to see WIM and Deep Sea Arcade, two great Sydney bands who I have seen quite a bit of back in my days of working behind the bar there (the good old days). WIM have really taken their music to a new level. I was totally blown away! Keep an eye out for this band...

Listen to WIM here.

Homebake Festival 2010 Not Happening! Where's the local love?

Hard to believe our favourite home grown festival Homebake: boasting the latest and greatest local talent will be taking a break in 2010 (read the official statement below). It begs the question, is the music market oversaturated with festivals and specialised events these days? Post GFC we saw a marked decline in punters having to sit - finger poised at the mouse - in hopes their broadband was fast enough to nab the hottest tickets.

Now it seems there are so many festivals you really have to disperse your personal funds wisely to ensure you don’t miss your favourite touring artists. Inthemix recently published an expose on our local club scene and the effect that festivals were having on regular punters who were finding it continually harder to get out and see their fave DJ’s of a weekend as they’d burnt the credit card a month in advance to get themselves to Parklife, Splendour in the Grass, Field Day or one of the other dynamically staged odes to hedonism.



Considering local acts are being syphoned off to support internationals for larger festivals as we saw with the latest Falls, Sunset Sounds & Southbound line-up announcements, are you sad to see Homebake go on hiatus?

Here's what Homebake Festival HQ released as an official statement:

Whilst this past weekend witnessed a state of political confusion, we concur that we've certainly had our fair share as well. That said and with such a plethora of festival announcements of late, we've decided to go against the grain and as such - after much deliberation (& some procrastination) - we here at Homebake festival HQ have decided to take a break and postpone Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival for this year only, 2010.

As we've not been able to have the 'planets align' to a standard we feel appropriate to the long standing reputation of Australia's largest 'locals only' event, we'd rather focus on a positive future and are instead planning for a unique return version of Homebake Festival to take place during the first week of December 2011.

The intention is for Homebake to return proverbially 'bigger and better' than ever, incorporating even more facets of the antipodean arts industries & with special incentives in place for the few generations of thousands of loyal Homebake devotees whom have attended over the past 15 years.

We ask you to stay tuned for now as we commence preparations for what will be the 16th Edition -Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival, 2011.

Huge thanks for your patience & we're looking forward to have you all join us to celebrate in 2011.

Kasabian Babies Forcing Band into Hiatus!

Normally you hear about drugs being the focus-pulling perpetrator where band dynamics are concerned - not kids - especially for the pseudo-hardcore British rockers, Kasabian. But the band are facing an open-ended hiatus due to the band’s guitarists Serge Pizzorno and Chris Edwards preferring the pitter-patter of little feet to the epic strumming of their own instruments.

Front man Tom Meighan, not ready to be a father, thankfully has his sights set on going solo:

"Serge is doing great and our bass player Chris Edwards had a baby as well. I'm the only one left without anyone but I'm not ready to be a dad. We have got the break after today mainly so the guys can see their families."

He adds, "We are a super-tight rock band and we will be back in the studio before long. I will do something musically in between. And I'm thinking of doing a TV documentary - I am just going to see what comes up." (Britain’s News of the World)

They played their last show in Essex as part of V Festival just yesterday (V Festival hasn’t been out to Australia in 2 years due to a lack of financial return from the last 2, even though they were sold out).

Meighan continues, "It will be good to bow out at V. After tonight we are taking some time off... we are going to have a proper tear-up. V is such a major festival so it's emotional for us. The gigs are great but we've worked so hard. It's the travelling that gets you. You have to look after yourself. We have been to so many countries, you forget where you are. It wears you down."

For a band that seem to have been going from strength to strength since their explosive 2004 self-titled debut to last years highly acclaimed “West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum”, the news must come as a disappointment to die-hard fans, presumably awaiting the next post-tour titles.

How do you guys feel about it? Are you excited to see what Tom comes up with on his own or just plain shattered?

Kings of Leon Shun Spots on Glee and Ugly Betty

Bassist Jared Followill (of the Followill brothers three who make up Kings of Leon) told NME in their latest issue that the band “no-dealed” offers to guest star on Ugly Betty and more recently to appear/have their music featured (destroyed) on musical high-school spoof, Glee.

Despite the boys refusal in the name of integrity, I’m sure there will be lots of original Kings of Leon fans that would subscribe to the notion that just being asked to appear one of the most mainstream pop TV series ever to bubbled brightly onto our sets, is an indication that the “selling out” may have already occurred.

There last album “Only by the Night” was exhausted internationally by mainstream radio to the point where the idea of sex producing and kind of heat brought a little bit of vomit to the back of our mouths – and that is not a healthy outcome. The album was a lot more overly produced than its predecessors “Aha Shake, Heartbreak” and “Because of the Times” (my personal fave) which toyed more with different tempos and had a raw quality about it which is what made the boys Kings or rock in the first place. It will be interesting to see how their new album “Come Around Sundown” due out this October makes waves.

Having said that, “selling out” is such an ambiguous concept these days. It is such a struggle for bands to spike their way into our airwaves and when they finally do and achieve commercial success, we muffle them out and complain how ‘music isn’t music anymore - it’s just the sound track to a good marketing proposal’. At least Kings of Leon have drawn a line in the sand, even if it should have been drawn a fair way back down the track.

What do you guys think? Did the Kings lose their crowns a long time ago or have they still got it?

Should We Pie-Face Our Politicians?

A 22 year-old woman, Ahlam M. Mohsen, is being arraigned in court today for allegedly staging a pie attack on US senator Carl Levin (I say allegedly for legal reasons, but I imagine a pie-facing either happens or it doesn’t) at the Armed Services Committee chairman’s constituent meeting in Michigan in protest against the war in Afghanistan. (msnbc.com)

It got me to thinking, in the lead up to the federal election this Saturday – perhaps a good pie in the face is a good way to really get our politicians to take notice of issues that are important to us! I for one would like to see Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard & Bob Brown lined up in a public forum with question askers allowed to arm themselves with the pie - even pasty product - of their choice and allowed to fire at will if they don’t get a substantial response. (Maybe even a dunking chamber would be appropriate?).

On the ABC’s Q & A program on Monday night one gentlemen spoke of overcoming his fears of homosexuality when he was forced to confront his own son’s sexual preferences. He put to Tony Abbott the question of when he will overcome his own fears and pass the bill to support gay marriage. Tony made the admission that every citizen should be allowed to live with dignity and respect (skimmed past equal rights) and failed to give the brave father any indication that he would ever change his mind.

I’d say that deserves a big fat pie in the face! Maybe even of the lemon meringue variety so the gooey tangy residue would sting the scratches left by the impact of its crusty white peaks.

So I put to you members of society out there – what kind of issues would you like to pie our politicians over?

Falls, Southbound & Sunset Sounds Festival Line-up Review

With many of us almost busting out of our skinny jeans this morning in anticipation for the inaugural Falls Festival and twin sisters Sunset Sounds & Southbound line-up announcements for 2010-11, I’m wondering if there will be any slightly droopy faces out there.

Obviously there are some mad Interpol fans out there (I for one can wait to hear there beautifully stretched melodies drown out the green fields at Lorne or the amphitheatre at the Botanic Gardens) and The Klaxons, soulful indie rockers The National & The Soft Pack should also draw some major interest. However, compared with last years first announcement of internationals, which included the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Grizzly Bear, The Editors, Moby and considering the ever-soaring ticket prices, I know I’ll be hanging out for second round announcements before I whip out the old credit card for yet another burn (sideshows are another matter).

The local supporting talent is without doubt the saving hero including: Angus & Julia Stone, The Middle East (although they cancelled both last years Sunset Sounds & this year's Splendour performances so let’s hope they make it this time!), Jonathan Boulet, Children Collide, Cloud Control, Boy and Bear, Tame Impala, The Jezabels (Falls only), Dan Sultan (Falls Only) & many more.

The issue is that many festival diehards have already managed to swing by the local to spy this kind of talent and it won’t warrant the extra x-hundred dollars it takes to get your arse there, as well as into a tent at night.

What are everyone else's thoughts?

Here's the full list (Note this list is just for Falls though, some acts won't be appearing at either Sunset Sounds or Southbound):

INTERPOL (USA); JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS (USA); THE NATIONAL (USA); THE LIVING END; PUBLIC ENEMY (USA); KLAXONS (UK); ANGUS AND JULIA STONE; TAME IMPALA; THE RAPTURE (USA); LADYHAWKE (NZ); COLD WAR KIDS (USA); SLEIGH BELLS (USA); PEACHES (USA); HOT HOT HEAT (CAN); PAUL KELLY; ASH GRUNWALD; CHILDREN COLLIDE; THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS; THE SOFT PACK (USA); DAN SULTAN; THE MORNING BENDERS (USA); THE COOL KIDS (USA); JUNIP (SWE); KITTY, DAISY AND LEWIS (UK) MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS (UK); THE MIDDLE EAST; CLOUD CONTROL; YACHT CLUB DJs; WASHINGTON; BOY AND BEAR; SALLY SELTMANN; THE BAMBOOS; TIJUANA CARTEL; A-TRAK (CAN); EDAN THE DEE-JAY (USA) Vampire Weekend's CHRIS BAIO (USA); BEARDYMAN (UK); THE CUBAN BROTHERS (UK); WORLD'S END PRESS; CASIOKIDS (NOR); DAN KELLY; DAARA J FAMILY (AFR); JAMAICA (FRA); CHARLIE PARR; JONATHAN BOULET; THE JEZABELS; BIG SCARY; LAST DINOSAURS; SAMPOLOGY; EAGLE AND THE WORM; JINJA SAFARI; TIM AND JEAN; THE PUBLIC OPINION AFRO ORCHESTRA.

No pay day for M.I.A.? Bamboo Banga!

M.I.A. might not get paid for her headline appearance at the Big Chill Festival in Herefordshire in England because she invited punters on stage mid-chorus of “Paper Planes”.

Over 200 crazed fans jumped the stage in an effort to grind it with the hip-hop queen, known almost as much for her extrovert dance moves as she is for her outlandish multi-coloured costumes. Apparently the invitation breached the terms of her contract and festival organisers legally have the right to deny her payment for the gig.

A source told the Daily Star, "By inviting the audience on stage M.I.A. was in breach of her contract. The organizers don't have to pay her anything if they feel she endangered people; it's all there in black and white."

As to whether they will is another matter. There are obviously promoters, managers and record companies that you wouldn’t want to get offside being a festival organiser. It is interesting to note that she did the same thing at the Good Vibrations Festival Australia wide back in 2008 and there were no issues! Surely they would have known it was part of her act?

What do you guys think, should we all chill out a bit – are festivals and concerts being over policed these days?

Kate Moss to Release her own Jam Line

When I first read this news I imagined 'Jam' was the name for her new TopShop collection, but alas no, Kate Moss is actually releasing a line of the sugar infused fruity spread entitled "Kate’s Damson Jam".

"It started as a hobby, but she's taking it a lot more seriously after glowing feedback from friends and family. She's hoping her plum conserve will be a hit with the public." A reliable (unnamed) source told the Sun.

She has been discussing distribution with TopShop’s Sir Philip Green, and considering the massive chain store has its own confectionary section – it could well be the perfect fit!

Is anyone thinking what I’m thinking…who is taste testing the stuff?

Foals - This Orient

Can't get enough of this track...

Gaga Goes Naked for Vanity Fair Cover – What’s Left to See?

Once you’ve taken all of your clothes for a music video it’s hard to imagine that there would be any further one could go – as it turns, out there is - the cover of Vanity Fair! Lady Gaga posed nude, flashing a peace sign with some very 70’s styled (and well placed) tussled blonde locks.

In an interview for the magazines September Issue, she admits she abstains from having sex (or so she says) to keep her creative juices flowing.
“I have this weird thing that if I sleep with someone, they’re going to take my creativity from me ...” she says.

If Gaga’s creativity equates to removing your clothing in public then how is removing your clothing in the bedroom going to hinder it? (she could use it as rehearsal time)

It all sounds a little bit contrived to me. Do you think Gaga has developed this outward facade to such an extent that she has forgotten who she really is? Every action seems to be so pre-meditated, you have to wonder whether she has any fun any more!

Kings of Leon Concert Halted by Poo

Not everyone is a fan of Kings of Leon – especially a feisty flock of pigeons – who managed to halt the legendary band’s live performance at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in St. Louis recently after only three songs!

The mass of birds hovelled up in the rafters of the arena managed to synchronise their faecal tirade on the band, with bassist Jared Followill a particular target.

"I'm surprised they stayed on for as many songs as they did," Andy Mendelsohn of Vector Management (the band’s management company) said in the statement. "Jared was hit several times during the first two songs. On the third song, when he was hit in the cheek and some of it landed near his mouth, they couldn't take it any longer.

"It's not only disgusting — it's a toxic health hazard," Mendelsohn said. "They really tried to hang in there. We want to apologize to our fans in St. Louis and will be back as soon as we can." (Star Tribune)

Apart from the obvious hilarity that these alternative rock gods were ‘pooed’ off stage, it must have been pretty disappointing for the St Louis fans who weathered heavy storms and empty pockets just to see them.

Also, considering support acts The Postelles and The Stills made it through their sets (granted they were shrapnel-ed with shit as they walked into the wings) do you think it was pretty lame for the Leon boys to bail?

I just hope they opened with “Velvet Snow”…

New Music From Bloc Party's Kele Okereke - Everything You Wanted

Check out Kele's latest solo single "Everything You Wanted" making up part of his eagerly awaited upcoming solo release. This track has a bit more of the Bloc Party flavour tangled in within its phrasing, although still has a decidedly unique sound and I'm loving it - what do you think? Dig it?

You can catch Kele at the upcoming Parklife Festivals touring nationally via Fuzzy.

Bum Boosting Undies Boom... thanks Beyonce

Some admirers of the female form have suggested that celebrities like Beyonce and Kim Kardashian in recent times have reignited popular desire for a curvaceous figure. Some say the flame never died.

A telling sign is always when particular fashion companies cash in on such trends, like the latest to emerge “Booty Pop”: a company that produces underwear that give you that Snoop Dogg hoochie-mamma bootie you have always wanted but that no amount of squats could achieve.

Mastermind behind the butt-boosting wonder, 26-year-old Montreal wedding planner Azar Jazestani comments, "It's not so hot to have a pancake a** these days".(news.com.au)

Apparently the undies contain “egg-shaped” foam pads which pad out the back way – Brazilian style – and you’ll soon be able to grab a pair from Bed, Bath and Beyond? (I think they definitely fit into the “beyond” category).

Are you GetUpGo-er’s keen to pick up a pair? Do you think they will take off in Australia?

Top 10 Male Fashion Models for 2010

Australia's gearing up for summer - granted it is still July - but we all know once we are past the 15th, the countdown is on! Consequently, Sydney and Melbourne Spring consumer Spring fashion festivals are soon to be staged, and I thought it was high time I brought you some fashion forward posts. What better way to unveil the Australian summer of fashion, by taking a look back at some of our favourite unveiled high-fashion male models. The forthcoming selection have featured in some of the most influential fashion campaigns and editorials ever to grace our magazine covers, spreads, billboards and sometimes even the backs of our bedroom doors (or was that just me?)

Models.com release an annual top 50 male & female model list, which is largely based on who landed the most lucrative contracts for the year, and whichever campaigns received the highest acclaim: both artistically and commercially.

But I'm bit more relaxed about things here – whether they’re filling out a smoking jacket or just smoking hot, here are my top 10 international Male models for 2010:

1. Jon Kortajarena
Jon is an Espanol Senior with a weighty mess of hair, often shot with a 3 day growth and someone that exudes masculinity from every pore (he has to be one of my personal favourites). He has produced some heart wrenching editorial work for the likes of Guess, Tom Ford, Diesel, Versace and Pepe Jeans to name a few. Here is a shot of him which featured as part of a V Man editorial shoot entitled “How to wear denim” – thanks Jon. I now know.

2. Garret Neff
Garrett is an American model although his look in uncharacteristically so, or perhaps more vintage American than modern day. Arguably his most famous campaign was one he did for Calvin Klein Underwear in 2008 (photographed by Bruce Weber). This campaign was one of the first that managed to re-brand modern day masculinity by encapsulating both the heterosexual and homosexual market. See the money shot here:

3.Baptiste Giabiconi
Baptiste is one of the hottest new up and comers on the circuit at the moment. This year alone he has donned the cover of Vogue (Germany), Numero Homme and been the face of Chanel, Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld - even Coca Cola Light! His piercing eyes seem as if they could crack a camera lens. It is no wonder he has shot to be the #1 ranked model on models.com.

4. Mathias Lauridsen
Mathais hails from Copenhagen Denmark and has featured in numerous campaigns for high end brands like Gucci, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Hermes. He has a distinguishing scar on his left cheek which only adds to his unique perfection. Here he is featured in a campaign for Gucci Pour Homme II back in 2007. Intense.

5. Eddie Klint
Eddie is another Danish model (there are some quality genes floating around in that country) although perhaps not as well known at Mathais, he had accomplished a lot for such a fresh faced 22-year-old scene-ster. The most famous contract he has landed is probably one for Prada Parfums in 2009 (the campaign featured) shot by Steven Meisel. It showed Eddie in a completely different light: boyhood to manhood in one frame.

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6. Noah Mills
The 6ft 2 Canadian born hunk of man has become a resident in recent years at Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Michael Kors (he was even in Sex and the City 2!) and it seems his public profile is only on the up and up. He has done some amazing editorial campaigns but I think my favourite would have to be his one for Tom Ford Menswear 2008 (photographed by Terry Richardson) most of which is too racy to post! Actually all of which…here is a beautiful shot of Noah which was part of a larger campaign for Dolce & Gabbana Fragrance Anthology in 2009 (it ran through to 2010 it was so successful…I wonder why?)

7. Sam Webb
This London based British boy was recently named as Lindsay Lohan’s new beau (if only for a short stint based on totally unreliable sources) but it managed to get his name from the catwalk out into the celebrity stratosphere. He had been a star already however at Milan and Paris fashion weeks and is still a reasonably fresh face in the industry has already nabbed a D&G contract: featuring in both their Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter 2010 campaigns.

8. David Gandy
He got a massive schnoz and he totally owns it! That’s what I like to see. David Gandy has managed to cement himself as one of the favourite faces of D & G for over 3 years (what’s with all the D& G men you say – I think my choices are largely due to the work of Steven Klein’s amazing photography – but D&G sure know how to make 5 men holding each other in their underwear look incredibly manly). David is currently signed to DNA agency in NYC alongside Baptiste Giabiconi. His girlfriend is model Chloe Pridham (sorry ladies).

9. Evandro Soldati
Famous now for appearing in Lady Gaga’s Alejandro video, Evandro is a Brazilian born model with one striking brow-line. Above mentioned photographer Steven Klein actually collaborated with Gaga to produce the controversial video which may have had something to do with his appearance. He has completed campaigns for Louis Vuitton and Valentino amongst others but is probably most well known for being the face of Armani from 07/08. Here he is featured in one of their campaigns – he almost appears to be a rock-pool crustacean: the girl, his shell - such a fantastic image.

10. Jamie Dornan
Jamie is an Irish stew of striking features and musical talent to boot (swoon). You would recognise him from such fashion campaigns as Calvin Klein Jeans (probably most famously shot with Eva Mendes back in 2009 - who also looks incredible by the way!). He also appeared in Sophia Coppola’s “Marie-Antoinette” after Keira Knightly (who he also dated) introduced him to her agent. Aside from Calvin Klein he has also worked for Giorgio Armani and Aquascutum. His Irish folk band are called Sons of Jim, but hopefully he won't do away with modelling altogether.

Top Five Films Unintentionally Breaking Down Racial Barriers

In recent news, Twilight has been credited with being one of the first popular films to present Native Americans in a natural light within modern popular culture, that is without using stereotypical character references, costumes or dialogue.

Check out this earlier post for details: Twilight - Breaking Down Racial Boundaries

This got me thinking of other films which have stepped outside of racial stereotypes and bridged cultural gaps - sometimes even unintentionally - and how film, as such a popular and accessible form of entertainment has the power to change social construct with each push of the play button.

Here are the top 5 I have come up with to start with:

1. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
This film is one that intended to cause controversy. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is a drama which explored interracial romance and marriage never before seen on the big screen at that time, between a young African American doctor and the daughter of a self-proclaimed ‘liberal’ couple. The film was inherently politicised from the beginning as interracial marriage was illegal in the US up until around that point, although popular attitudes were already changing. Starring Sidney Poitier and Katherine Hepburn as the young engaged couple, the film dealt with not only the prejudices of white America but also addressed the class system by further exploring the relationship between the upper middle class parents of Katherine Hepburn’s character and their maid.

2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Although there have been many influential Asian films that came before this one, I chose it specifically as its groundbreaking cinematic technique employed by director Ang Lee saw the film, originally released in Mandarin become an international success (the highest grossing in US history). The film also featured Chinese actors and although the film is laden with traditional Chinese practices, art and mythology – it is essentially a love story, and one that managed to surpass the unfortunate prejudices of western audiences who refuse to watch films in any language other than English, to be a cinematic landmark.

3. Samson & Delilah (2009).
An Australian film which follows the story of 2 ostracised teenagers in indigenous central Australia. It is essentially a love story, told with very little dialogue between Samson, petrol sniffing lost soul and Delilah, a caring young girl wrongly blamed for her grandmothers passing. The two find a strange solace in each other as the film deals with their exploitation and isolation they experience drifting away from their own community and not really fitting in anywhere else. In essence they are normal teenagers trying to find their way in the world and the audience feels all the way along with them. Racial issues and exclusion are present but only as an undercurrent, which makes an even more powerful statement. One of the best Australian films ever made.

4. Babel (2006)
Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (21 grams), Babel is a multi-faceted film with intertwining story lines all set in different parts of the world: Morocco, Japan, Mexico and the US and in different dialects. Problems ensue in each of the 4 different corners, largely due to culturally stereotypical attitudes resulting in a communication breakdown. Fear and finally tragedy follow for some of the individual characters involved (almost a metaphor for international relation on a larger scale, especially following 9/11). Babel however, did offer some resolutions and did leave audiences with a sense of optimism by cleverly showing how connected we all are, no matter where we are from.

5. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Although this film did receive some criticism from India, especially as the cast, ands especially the key protagonist spoke in British-English instead of Hindi (as slum boys normally would) it was an international box office hit and won a swag of Oscars, including Best Picture. It was essentially a film made for Western audiences, (once again taking the issue of race out of the picture), its strength lying in the uplifting portrayal of underdog Jamal and his ability to fight through incredible hardship to realise his dreams. Although British director Danny Boyle did present a stylised insight into the Mumbai slums, he employed and all-Indian cast, including real children from the slums which revived the often ignored global issue and placed it back into the consciences of the populus.

Others films to note include:

Waiting to Exhale: the first box office drama to feature an all-African American cast in its genre. It dealt with real women and their struggles in life on a romantic level, deliberately making race a non-issue.

Can you think of any others? Let us know!

Seabellies New Video - Young Cubs

Check out the latest from the Seabellies - Youngs Cubs. Awesome band - you have to see them live!