Epidemic Over - ‘Runaway’ (mp3)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – regional areas are a haven and a breeding ground for people who love and make heavy music. Whether it’s Bundaberg’s DZ Deathrays (I know you’re trying to deny your Fraser Coast heritage boys, but I’m onto you) or Byron Bay juggernaut Parkway Drive, heavy music settles between the red and country-music loving centre, and the more refined capital cities.

Epidemic Over come from Tannum Sands on the central Queensland coast, and have spent the better part of the last five years on the road. Their latest EP, aptly titled Long Way Home, was recorded in the small central Queensland town of Mount Morgan – once  home to the most profitable mine in the world. THE WORLD.

These days Mount Morgan is kind of central Queensland’s version of Deliverance. The water supply is poisoned (thanks mining!) and on one occasion I saw a woman with boobs down to her knees chain smoke an entire packet of cigarettes as her toddler played in a full wheelie bin in the main street.

Oddly enough no-one wants to go there, so the boys managed to find a cheap house and knuckled down to record the EP. The locals accepted them and as far as I know, there were no rapes or banjos.
‘Runaway’s the latest single and a definite musical highlight. As they say in central Queensland, “GET IT UP YA!”

http://whothehell.net/Xeqw

]]> http://whothehell.net/archives/13677/feed 0 http://whothehell.net/archives/12967 http://whothehell.net/archives/12967#comments Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:18:59 +0000 Sophie Benjamin http://whothehell.net/?p=12967

Stonefield

New Years Eve is my least favourite night of the year. Past attempts to avoid it have seen me spewing my guts up alone in a cotton field, rostered on to work, playing Xbox with my brother and sleeping.

This year’s plans fell over pretty early in the piece, so I ended up taking photos at the Espy new years gig.

The place was packed and the alcohol was expensive, which is par for the course really. I’m always surprised by Melbourne crowds though – they mightn’t be as obnoxiously drunk as Brisbanites, but they’re much ruder. They also love their iPhones and Holga cameras and believe they have just as much right to the prime shooting spots as those with DSLRs. Ahem.

Stonefield

Anyway, the difference in the crowd composition of each room was astounding. Stonefield played in the front bar to a packed audience of leery older men, girls who looked like they’d stepped out of the pages of Frankie and dudes who were awkwardly dancing/grinding on said Frankie girls.

The band put on a solid performance, with lead vocalist Amy handing drumming duties over to a friend, freeing her up to deliver closers “Drowning” and “Through the Clover” out the front.

Violent Soho

I fought my way through to the Gershwin Room to catch the end of Violent Soho’s set. They were running over time as their drummer took a lengthy spew break, giving their guitarist James a chance to tell the Vegie Bar to fuck itself (the band is on a life ban from the Fitzroy restaurant) and ask the crowd for drugs.

Once their drummer had returned from what must’ve been an impressive power spew, the Brissy boys managed something rarely achieved by even the best touring bands – rousing a Melbourne crowd from their default setting of sullen hipster.
I’ve never been so happy to be covered in beer and fallen on by sweaty boys joyously bellowing “FUUUUUCCCKKK YEEAAAHHH!!” and “ONYA SOHO!”

I also saw River of Snakes, Paul Dempsey, Jebediah and Loon Lake play, but their crowds were generally well-behaved.

Loon Lake

Loon Lake

River of Snakes

Paul Dempsey

]]> http://whothehell.net/archives/12967/feed 0 http://whothehell.net/archives/12848 http://whothehell.net/archives/12848#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:55:35 +0000 Sophie Benjamin http://whothehell.net/?p=12848 I spent most of this year living away from Brisbane, but my end of year list is dominated by Brisbane bands.
There’s amazing stuff happening there at the moment and it’s a real credit to the musicians and the people that support them – no thanks to a certain arts funding body.

I’m sure you’re all over end of year lists already, but bear with me. You might learn something.
Also have a read of Pop Matters’ worst albums of 2011. It’s a hoot.

Ball Park Music – Happiness and Other Suburbs

Track: ‘All I Wanted Was You’ (mp3)

These guys have received plenty of attention and accolades this year, all of them deserved. Their debut album does not have a bad or weak song on it, and the production is polished but not overbearing.
The fact that Boy and Bear won an ARIA and BPM didn’t is a bit of a shame, but hopefully these Brisbanites will conquer the second-album shakes and get more trophies for the pool room.

Epithets – Year of Glad

Track: ‘The Reveal’ (mp3)

I’ve wanked on about Epithets before, so I shan’t bore you again but let me just say this:
I had a very confronting weekend in Brissy and was feeling particularly fragile on the train from Brisbane to Rockhampton.
Despite the title, Year of Glad was a fantastic soundtrack to my emotional turmoil and sobbing my guts out on a long train ride through the shitty suburbs north of Brisbane.
SO – if you too feel the need to chuck a huge sad on public transport, this is the album for you.

Fires of Waco - Old Ghosts Never Sleep

Track: ‘Fractured Faith’ (mp3)

Fires of Waco are one of those bands that manages to be prolific AND good. They’ve released an EP, an album and a 7″ single over the last 18 months, and Old Ghosts is right up there with recent releases from Defeater and Touche Amore in terms of quality and vision.

Fires manage to juggle three vocalists and some pretty heavy lyrical content (child sexual abuse in the Catholic church, the gap between blue and white collar in society, suicide) without getting bogged down or too pretentious. This first album of theirs is ambitious and a success.

Jen Buxton - Don’t Change Your Plans

Track: ‘Don’t Change Your Plans’ (mp3)

Another album for the sad sacks, Jen Buxton’s songwriting makes Missy Higgins look like Lady Gaga.
Don’t Change Your Plans is raw and an emotional punch to the face, carried along by not much more than an acoustic guitar and Buxton’s fantastic voice.

She’s been ensconced in domestic bliss for most of this year so she hasn’t really “pushed” or “promoted” or “serviced” the album, which is a bit of a shame. That said, I wish more singer-songwriters would follow her lead and live life instead of jumping through “industry” hoops.

Nuclear Summer

Track: ‘Uncle Frankie’s Funny Hats’ (mp3)

These guys formed from the wreckage of half a dozen excellent but obscure Brisbane bands. I wasn’t particularly keen on their early demos, but a good 18 months of writing and bonding has really paid off. Well, that and forking out money to get it mixed and mastered properly. These guys are currently on tour, suss them out and see them if you can.

Streamer Bendy - Sugar Rush

Track: ‘Sleep Me Off’ (mp3)

Ok, so maybe this is cheating because this album hasn’t technically been released yet but DAMN is it good.
Pop music about sex is nothing new, but Sugar Rush has to be one of the most sexually frustrated pop albums I’ve ever heard.
There’s no unrequited love or sleazy pickups here, but there are plenty of allusions to the frustrations of a boring sex life. That’s not a bad thing though – I’m a big fan of the lyrical pun on Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ‘69″:
I had my first real sex dream/perfect build-up, I directed the perfect scene/then I wake up with you sleeping next to me/take a Valium, back to reality.
Written in Brisbane and put together in Sweden, lets hope these guys actually put out next year.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Harmony’s self titled debut.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Gotye – Making Mirrors.

Lincoln LeFevre – ‘Miami’ (mp3)

Forgive me people who take music blogs seriously, for I have sinned and will sin again.

Lincoln LeFevre is a stalwart in the Tasmanian punk rock scene, having played in Enola Fall and the excellent Ride The Tiger, who I wrote about last year.

I saw him play a great solo acoustic set at this year’s Poison City Weekender, where I also took the above photo.
He released a fantastic album “30 Watt Heart” in 2008, to much acclaim from Tasmanians and people who know Tasmanians. Why didn’t I pick up on it? Well, I didn’t start with WTH until September that year and fuck, I guess I was busy being a fucking idiot or something.

But hey, I’m telling you about it now and that’s better than never, right?

‘Miami’ is the song I find stuck in my head the most, but it’s worth heading over to his Triple J Unearthed page to hear “Hey, Alright! which has some fantastic lyrics including:

Such a sweet thing, a white ribbon to hold her hair down
She walks through the crowd like an angel but she speaks like a tramp
And she said ‘what are youse fuckin’ lookin’ at?!’

www.linclefevre.com

The last time I wrote something nice about Epithets, lead singer/guitarist Nick Smethurst was so stoked that he invited me to move in to his house.
I’d just come out of hospital to find myself homeless, with all my things packed into a storage unit in Milton. We met for coffee, talked music, and I mentioned I was couch surfing. Before I knew it I had a key and a shelf in the pantry.
It was a ramshackle Queenslander in the inner northern suburbs of Brisbane, walking distance to public transport and parks.
There were five people paying rent when I moved in, but often up to ten people living there. We had a lounge room and a band room and  it was awesome.

The thing I loved best about the house (other than the sweet-natured cattle dog who lived there) was the sheer amount of music going on. The paying residents of the house have changed a few times since I moved out 12 months ago, but they’re all still playing music in some form.

Epithets – ‘Blacklisted’ (mp3)

To The North – ‘No Alibi’ (mp3)

Virginia Sook – ‘The Hours’

Note: That is not the bathroom at the house I used to live in. This bathroom is way nicer.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From the press release:

Having migrated from their hometown of Cairns to the inspiring music community of Bris-Vegas, THE MEDICS wasted no time making their mark.

Kahl, Jhindu, Andrew & Charles have certainly made the most of the opportunity to create their debut album due out in early 2012.  The first single BEGGARS has already won them a Queensland Music Award and garnered some serious Triple J airplay.  Keep your eyes peeled for the emotive video for BEGGARS – it will surely find it’s way to your screens over the coming weeks.

They are a must see at this year’s BIGSOUND LIVE, and set to more than warm up the crowd supporting Birds Of Tokyo.

THE MEDICS are pretty excited to have also recently added some new members to their team, signing with Brisbane based Warner Music indie imprint, Footstomp Records.”

I’d just like to say I told you so.

Facebook.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Drummer Cam Smith is the man behind Incremental (recordings for Nikko, DZ Deathrays, Little Scout) and has played in like, a million bands.
Guitarist Inez Tulloch used to be in Mass Migration… and has also played in like, a million bands.

Suss their Facebook.

Matthew Colin’s World War – ‘Thieves’ (mp3)

Matt Palmer’s one of Brisbane’s most underrated songwriters.
He’s kept a pretty low profile since his band Dextor’s Conscience called it quits in 2009, but he hasn’t spent the past two years drinking beers and playing xbox in his jocks.

Rather, he’s ditched the American accent and upped the honesty in his new project is Matthew Colin’s World War.
His upcoming Living Room Project tour is exactly what it sounds like.
Matt will play living rooms around the country, and release the performances on DVD.

He’s coming to Sydney this weekend to play in a living room at Lindfield on Sunday night.
If you’re keen to go, you can purchase tickets over at Oztix. Once you’ve done that, you’ll get an email with the exact address.
He’s looking for a Saturday night show too – if you’re keen to have a nice dude playing great music, get in touch with him via the band’s Facebook page.

Matt is also playing shows in Yeerongpilly and Mitchelton in Brisbane. If you head along to any of these shows, you’ll be able to pre-order the DVD and pick up one of these bad boys.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from Brisbane’s Hunz.
Why? Well, he’s just been coding all his beats and synth lines from scratch and helping to create this seriously cool motion-graphic enhanced video clip.
Once again, Hunz’ take on DIY makes Dischord-inspired punks look like pre-schoolers.

www.hunz.com.au

Click here to view the embedded video.

The main songwriting team behind The Strums is the same songwriting team that was behind Dead Riot, known for their sharp songs and awesome boat cruises.
Like many Brisbanites, singer Jai and guitarist Eric had their home destroyed by the January floods, and the destruction inspired them to retire Dead Riot and start something new.
Cool video clip.
FFO: The Gaslight Anthem, Bouncing Souls, The Living End.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Rescue Ships played Rockhampton once.

It was in 2009 and back then they were (and still are) Elana Stone and Brian Campeau and they were touring with Passenger aka Mike Rosenberg.
The gig was poorly publicised and they ended up scrapping the door price and just playing in the beer garden – their own originals and some tremendous covers.
Everyone had a great time and I ended up driving my (plastered) best friend home, via the supermarket where she berated a shop attendant for not selling “you know… chicken, that’s like, chopped up and already roasted?”
Good times.

Anyway, they’ve pooled their considerable talents and are playing as a duo. I saw them support Scott Spark at The Globe Theatre a few months back and they were still incredible.
If you get a chance to see them live, go and do it. They’re ridiculously talented and do great banter.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ibis’ are the worst.

‘Bird Attack’ is from Frenzal’s new album “Smoko At The Pet Food Factory”.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ange Takats is a singer-songwriter, but she used to be a foreign correspondent.
She spent a couple of years working for a major news agency in Bangkok, earning a pittance and seeing a lot of weird and interesting things. She’ll be playing a gig with Paul Kelly at the Byron Bay writers festival this weekend, where she’ll also be spruiking her excellent book about the whole Bangkok stint – The Buffalo Funeral.
BUT  back to the music. Ange teamed up with photographer Nat Brunovs to make this very cute stop-motion video clip and I think it’s a winner. The song’s pretty good too, and a must-listen for fans of Joni Mitchell.

Let it also be known that Nat is a generally good sort, and she let me stay at her house and look after her dog for a week after she’d known me for approximately four minutes.

It’s out in September, and the band will tour in October.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have mixed feelings about this band.

On one hand, I really like this video. On the other hand, their Q & As with their fan base (who are either young goth dudes who want to bang them, young goth queer girls who want to bang them, old dudes who want to bang them and a smattering of idiots just to make things interesting) are fucking cringe-worthy. They actually used to have a lot more Q & As on their Youtube, but they’ve disappeared, thank God.

I suppose they’re basically Short Stack, but with real vaginas instead of the implied ones that Shaun, Andy & Brady have.

And that’s the thing  that gets me, I guess. Part me thinks  that they’re reasonably proficient on their instruments and they can write a song, so why bother comparing them with men, or women?

But I can’t stop myself from doing that and it’s  because they use their gender as a gimmick, as a vehicle for their music, and that shits me off.
In an older video, they explained this in detail, if somewhat naively.
They tried to use the drummer’s sexuality as a gimmick too, but they’ve since deleted the Youtube video where they taunt her with chants of “we like penis, you like vagina…” and hopefully realised that’s a shitty thing to do to someone, even in jest.

In conclusion, they have more than a thousand fans on Facebook - some who’ve got Ovaries tattoos – and I’m just a sad old hater, I guess.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Back in 2008, I decided I wanted to blog for this site in order to improve my writing (yes, I was that naive) and to gush about bands I really really liked. Hearing Little Scout’s first single ‘Dead Loss’ and not seeing anyone else gushing about it prompted me to email Jerry Soer and ask if he’d let me join the fun here. They were one of the first bands I posted about.

Now I’ve kind of sort of left the blog (as has Jerry), and Little Scout are releasing their debut album, after releasing some great EPs and building a solid touring CV.

Fuck yeah, history.

Click here to view the embedded video.

After two-and-a-half years, 140 posts and numerous opinions I’m handing in my logins and leaving the blog.

It’s been fun, but I’ve got other stuff I want to do.

Thanks for putting up with my erratic taste in music. I hope I helped some bands out with my posts.

Thanks to Jerry Soer for giving me the opportunity to contribute to what is a fucking awesome blog and all the other bloggers who’ve contributed, especially current editors Matt Hickey and Melissa Tan.

You can find me over at Twitter if you give a shit about that sort of stuff.

Thanks!

The Waifs – ‘Angela’ (mp3)

Although the core band members now live in the US, to me The Waifs are an Australian band. Those accents! Those songs! That record label they co-own with John Butler!

Twenty years of playing together combined with twenty years of life experience has helped birth Temptation, their first album in five years.

I think it’s their best yet. The arrangements are quite sparse compared with their earlier work, but it’s a good thing. Solid songs should be given room to breathe.

They’re touring in March.

www.thewaifs.com