Blog: A Reminder

So after Wednesday's Sigur Rós show I was desperate to hear one song. This led to Amanda and I venturing out to the Newington Armory on Friday for The Great Escape Festival . We didn't have tickets so we went EARLY. Like 9am-when-gates-open early. First impression: A music festival next to a prison = awesome. So we got in no problem and luckily there were a number of acts I was eager to see before Sigur Rós took the stage at 8:30. First up, Pony Club Massacre . [...]

Or, How I Learned to Stop Hoping To Hear Viðrar vel til Loftárása Sigur Rós are one of my favourite bands. Tonight marked my third time seeing them live (but the first time since 2002). I had one hope. One wish. I prayed for one Easter miracle. All I wanted was one song...Viðrar vel til Loftárása. I'd never seen it live and I had seen that the band were playing it often on this tour. I had high [...]

The Racontuers have been forced to change their name in Australia...but only Australia. Aren't we special? It seems some jazz band already has the rights to the name here, so Australians will have to get used to The Saboteurs instead. Which is still a pretty cool name in my opinion. In the paper today it said that there are plans for a Saboteurs tour later this year. So hopefully we will see Jack White, Brendan Benson and co. down this way in the not too distant future. More info from the dreaded NME

One of my favourite live bands, The (International) Noise Conspiracy , played their second show in Sydney last night at the Annandale . The band tore through a 75 minute set that featured many songs off (newly released in Australia) Armed Love as well as songs reaching back to their first album. 'Smash It Up' and 'Capitalism Stole My Virginity' seemed to be the faves as they had the enthusiastic crowd dancing/moshing the most. Lead singer Dennis Lyxzén was his usual kinetic self. Part James Brown, part Iggy Pop, and part Mick Jagger [...]

Officially out tomorrow but seemingly in the shops today, The Grates ' debut album Gravity Won't Get You High is finally here! I picked up a copy today and I can tell you it is exactly what I was expecting and hoping for. While I know the lo-fi production of the official EP and the numerous other more demoey EPs appealed to a lot of people, they need not worry about the production of the album. While the band sound more full and are accompanied by some guest musicians, the energy and joy that characterizes their earlier [...]

I didn't really enjoy the last album by The Stills but damn I am loving the lead track off their forthcoming album. Without Feathers hits the shops on May 9, but until then, let "In the Beginning" tide you over. (And yes I know I am the last blogger ever to link to this song) In the Beginning ***** You know when you see a trailer for a movie and you get sold on the film just from the [...]

Dear Music Bloggers, I had this idea a while back but then forgot about it. So I'll try again. I decided to start a Music Bloggers group on Last FM . So if you run a music (or mostly music) blog and use Audioscrobbler/Last FM please sign up! Just more music geekness really. I will personally send an unread hardcover copy of Bob Dylan's Chronicles to the first person to bust me playing a Kylie Minogue song. No joke. Just yell in my shoutbox on Last FM. This [...]

when im at the pearly gates thisll be on my videotape when Mephistopholis is just beneath and he's reaching up to grab me this is one for the good days and i have it all here in red blue green you are my centre when i spin away out of control on videotape Radiohead.com

Neil Young is a legend, we all know that. But looking through my iTunes recently I noticed that his influence is as strong now (at least in artists that cover his stuff) as it ever has been. Radiohead, Bright Eyes, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Jesse Malin, The Constantines....I'm sure it goes on and on. Quite a diverse group of artists...something you don't often see. In the early part of 1971, Neil Young embarked on a solo tour of the US and the UK. This period of Young's career is easily my favourite; the man could [...]

Another little Radiohead update. With their first shows coming up next month (!!!) things are starting to, at least in the form of rumour, fall into place. In addition to all the previously announced dates (most of which sold out immediately), the band have been confirmed to play the Rock en Seine Festival in Paris on the weekend of August 25/26. Just rumour for now , but the band may be playing the Tim Festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This festival will take place in late October or early November. Perhaps this rumour is good news for [...]

While I've been here in Australia I've been able to keep up with the music scene from Vancouver (and Canada) thanks to CBC Radio 3's AMAZING podcast (I also stole that awesome CanRock logo above from their site) and the hard work of the Canadian music bloggers, especially my friend Quinn who does From Blown Speakers . While not all the following artists are particularly new, I just felt like giving a bunch of Vancouver/Canadian bands some more exposure to my 3 readers down here. Small Sins [...]

Things seem to be a bit quieter on the concert front lately after a busy couple months here in Sydney. Well, at least for me. One band I am really looking forward to seeing however is Liars who will be touring Australia in May. The venues seem to be unconfirmed at this point (leave a message if you know), but the dates are as follows: MAY 2 - Melbourne, Australia 3 â€" Melbourne, Auatralia 6 â€" Sydney, Auatralia A band I don't like but are unavoidable it seems, the [...]

New Order. Nottingham. Palais. 1984.06.04. Download. 1. Perfect Kiss 2. Ceremony 3. Hurt 4. We All Stand 5. Leave Me Alone 6. Thieves Like Us 7. Confusion 8. Everything's Gone Green / Temptation 9. Blue Monday

TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED Radiohead will be touring the UK/EU in May, playing a short series of theatre shows before heading off on an American and Canadian tour in June (dates TBC). They'll then play some European festival dates before headlining the V Festival in Chelmsford and Stafford in August. The tour will be the first opportunity to hear a selection of brand new material that the band has been working on in the studio. Other than for the festivals listed, w.a.s.t.e. will be selling a limited pre-sale allocation [...]

Just a quick little note...check out Brooklyn Vegan's recent post about The Grates . The photos are brilliant! He's also linked to some mp3s (the entire EP actually). This is just the beginning for The Grates in North America methinks. And just a reminder (!) for the Sydney peeps, tickets for The Grates show at the Metro go on sale THIS FRIDAY (March 24) and are hella cheap (like 18 bucks). Make sure you get your tickets because I have a sneaking suspicion this band is going to be spending [...]

On Friday (St. Patrick's Day) I wore the only proper green shirt I own as we ventured to an Irish pub. The shirt was the Sufjan Stevens 'Come on Feel the Illinoise' t-shirt I bought last summer when I saw him in Vancouver. In the lineup at the pub we met two girls from New Jersey, here in Sydney studying. They asked about my shirt and I explained to them Sufjan's 50 states project and they seemed intrigued, though I'm sure the many beers consumed later will ensure no memory of poor Sufjan. Anyway, [...]

Feist will be releasing a compilation of live tracks and remixes on April 17. According to this site the following tracks will be included on Open Season : 1. Mushaboom (Postal Service (Remix) 2. The Buildup (Kings Of Convenience Feat. Feist) 3. Jane Birkin and Feist (The Simple Story) 4. Elle Aime (Albin de la Simone Feat. Feist) 5. One Evening (Gonzales Solo Piano) 6. Inside & Out (Acoustic: BBC Session) 7. Mushaboom (Solo from the Red Demos) 8. Tout Doucement (From French release of Let It [...]

Discovery of the week? Guillemots . I'd been reading about them on the net for a little while, but it wasn't until Good Weather For Airstrikes posted two lengthy posts recently that I was persuaded to check them out. And I'm glad I did. "Trains to Brazil' is pure joy encapsulated in song form (I see Dan agrees as well). So thank you GWFA. I suggest you just see the threads here and here (you may need to scroll down a bit) to see if you're convinced (included are plenty of [...]