NEWS

REGURGITATOR
phutured strategies

In a world subjected to the drifting weight of environmental, media and cultural strata... collisional boundaries, techtronic faults and contorted streams arise as the topography is reshaped by the seemly natural forces of human engagement with technology and globalised online network/media systems... better to bend with these gusts of cultural drift, adapting as inspired.

With consideration of the changing music and mediascape Regurgitator have made the decision to reappraise their own approach to releasing the music they record... or whatever creative disciplines they immerse themselves in.

Quan..."it's been a reaction to a multitude of radical changes (from our perspective) in the industry over the last few years. Technological transitions are notorious for bewildering a whole cultural set who have grown up with a certain industry methodology for most of their former careers. We definitely fall into that category and are beginning to accept that the new paradigm is in a state of flux and can only be respected and adapted to. This is why we are beginning to naturally shed some of the old habits of a 'band'.  Album production was initially geared to provide marketing impetus for the sale of vinyl records. More and more young people are not listening to music this way. They download music for free and they pick and choose tracks and create playlists or rely on blogs to automatic generate such playlists. This actually suits a home recording/producing musician more because it is more natural to focus and create one track at a time, release it then move on to the next one. To be truly independent of the record industry you should forget the old release mentality and match the current listener mentality.    
This is what we will be doing in the future." 

With Quan & Ben's relocation to Melbourne earlier this year, setting up studios in their newly acquired dwellings they started work amid various distractions on new recordings planning to eschew the stock-standard album release/record label scenario for a "take it as it comes" approach more in synch with current trends of the listener. To coincide with a Sept Australia tour they release the first batch of recordings under the title Distractions. From that point on where possible, Regurgitator are going to try and release new material they record on a regular monthly basis and really try to open up how they engage with their audience. It will exist in various forms from free via Regurgitator's online scenario's to retail digital and packaged hard versions (CD/USB/vinyl etc) to figure in with tours and various retail release outlets including the online store. Regurgitator are taking a revived attitude to their creativity and the notion of industry to both challenge themselves, consider new ways to engage with the heightened ubiquity in the world around them, and potentially provide a dynamic and candid exploration of the ebbs and flows of the creative process... and see how it all plays on this future horizon.

New recordings are all go... and now here to listen to. They were done across the home studios, Head Gap in Melbourne working with Casey Rice on the mix, and Cameron Potts (Baseball) playing drums.
http://soundcloud.com/regurgitrax

1 - Make No Sense
2 - Distractions
3 - Miranda July
4 - Midday Sun

Regurgitator are also finally revamping the website after so many years existing in the Quan designed MacOS parody... planning to be a more action orientated blog style with links to all their current social platforms... myspace, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc (see list below). This also includes the now extensive Regurgitator You Tube channel up and running after we managed to get Warner to unblock the music videos so all the previously released video material is always accessible.

Regurgitator will also continue their quest for challenging projects like last year's contemporary dance collaboration Rock Show, the 2004 multimedia project Band in a Bubble... as well as their recent live soundtrack performance of Japanese anime film AKIRA. The band far surpassed their own expectations and it has given them a burst of creative energy greater than any nuclear surge. The event was also met with a fantastic audience response from the 1400+ crowd at the Sydney Opera House... and some great critical feedback:

"The band were met with a thunderous applause as they settled into the pit. [...] What a great film! What a great band! What a great collaboration!" thiswayin.com.au

"Akira has rarely made as much sense as it does today - and Regurgitator have rarely sounded as vital." 3D World

Regurgitator has also just been announced on the Port Macquarie FESTIVAL OF THE SUN on DEC 10 - www.fotsun.com

Distractions recordings available very soon.
Touring Australia in SEPT... with guests Rat vs Possum & Laneous & the Family Yah... plus special Brisbane co-headliner from Japan DJ KRUSH. See dates and info below.

PLEASE EMAIL consume1@ozemail.com.au FOR NEW IMAGES, DISTRACTION COVER ART OR FUTHER INFO

REGURGITATOR
WEBSITUATION: www.regurgitator.net
RECORDING BOG: http://consume.com.au/regurgitator
MYSPACED: www.myspace.com/regurgitators
YOUTUBE regurgitator's MUSIC BOX: www.youtube.com/user/Regurgitators
FACEBOOKINGS: www.facebook.com/pages/Regurgitator
DEFACEDBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/regurgitatorontour
TWITS: http://twitter.com/regurgitators
SOUNDCLODDING: http://soundcloud.com/regurgitrax
 LEASTFM: http://www.last.fm/music/Regurgitator
ILIKING: http://www.ilike.com/artist/Regurgitator

Faster Louder presents
REGURGITATOR
plus RAT VS POSSUM (expect WA shows)
and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH (except TAS & WA shows)
with co-headliner DJ KRUSH from Japan (Brisbane show only)

WED 15 SEPT Hobart REPUBLIC BAR
plus RAT VS POSSUM
Tickets from Ruffcut Records - 6234 8600, Moshtix and The Republic Bar - 6234 6954, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au

THUR 16 SEPT Adelaide THE GOV
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets from www.moshtix.com.au (ph 1300 438 849) & Moshtix outlets, www.venuetix.com.au (ph 08 8225 8888) & Venue*Tix outlets & at the venue 11am-9pm Mon-Sat, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au

FRI 17 SEPT Melbourne THE HI-FI
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets online from www.thehifi.com.au Phone Tix 1300THEHIFI (1300 843 4434) & Polyester Records - Fitzroy & City, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au

SAT 18 SEPT Brisbane THE TIVOLI
with DJ KRUSH (from Japan) plus LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH and RAT VS POSSUM
Tickets from Ticketek 132 849, www.ticketek.com.au, Rocking Horse Records (07) 3229 5360 and regurgitator.oztix.com.au Doors at 7.00pm

SUN 19 SEPT Byron GREAT NORTHERN
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets from venue, www.oztix.com.au (ph 1300 762 545), oztix outlets, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au

WED 22 SEPT Katoomba HOTEL GEARIN
plus RAT VS POSSUM
Tickets from www.oztix.com.au (ph 1300 762 545), www.moshtix.com.au (ph 1300 438 849), the venue, all Oztix & Moshtix outlets, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au

THUR 23 SEPT Canberra THE MARAM
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets from  www.moshtix.com.au (ph 1300 438 849), Moshtix outlets, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au

FRI 24 SEPT Wgong UNI BAR
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets from Redback Music, the venue, Oztix, www.bigtix.com.au, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au

SAT 25 SEPT Sydney MANNING BAR
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets: www.manningbar.com (ph 1300 762 545), www.moshtix.com.au (ph 1300 438 849), the venue, all Oztix & Moshtix outlets, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
An official selection of Sydney Fringe 2010

SUN 26 SEPT Karratha WA WALKINGTON THEATRE
Ph: (08) 9159 6859 for ticketing.

MON 27 SEPT Perth AMPLIFIER BAR
plus BOYS BOYS BOYS!  and NAIK
Tickets from Bocs, Moshtix, 78’s, Mills, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au


FRI 10 DEC Port Macquarie FESTIVAL OF THE SUN
See www.fotsun.com for further info
Tickets from www.oztix.com.au, ph 1300762545 and all oztix outlets.

Starving Kids ' outfit Fushia are set to hit the road for a run of dates through New South Wales and Victoria over the coming month.

The full list of dates is online now at http://www.myspace.com/wearefushia and take in Byron Bay, Port Macquarie, Sydney and Melbourne with new shows also announced for hometown Brisbane.

The announcement comes as the band release a new clip for the track Eraser. Check it out...



Fushia - "Eraser" Filmclip from Fushia on Vimeo.

Plus One Records are proud to be presenting another showcase of Fine Brisbane Talent that the label has released in the past, for the future and possibly beyond.

The label  had so much fun doing it last year with all our international friends in Brisbane for the BIGSOUND Conference, that they thought (again) they would start the party a day earlier.

The music starts at 8.30, doors are at 8.00 and we hope to see you there.

BANDS PLAYING ON THE NIGHT ARE

THE HONEY MONTH
Their collaboration dates back to seven years ago, when two eleven year old boys with a keyboard, a tape recorder and an affection for punk recorded their first song over the top of a dusty Tom Petty cassette.  After acquiring a set of drums and an electric guitar, a three piece band was formed, playing together until early 2008, when a strange transition fuelled by a mutual love of eclectic music occurred. This is where THE HONEY MONTH begun.

THE GIN CLUB
Over the past five years, THE GIN CLUB have established themselves as one of Australia’s most exciting bands, both through their studio albums as well as their inimitable live performances. Continually evolving from the traditional folk/country of their self-titled debut, The Gin Club’s seven person song writing roster has developed a unique and distinctive style. Whilst they defy easy categorisation, their music contains elements of acoustic folk, wide screen rock’n’roll, psychedelia, country, pop and more – all delivered with a distinctly antipodean flavour. They have been compared to artists such as The Triffids, The Go Betweens and The Band.

WE ALL WANT TO
A band of five people from very different musical backgrounds; indie rock, folk, drone and noisy pop – WE ALL WANT TO present tracks off their debut self titled album. A broad range of sounds, song writing styles and voices feature on this eclectic release. Tim Steward’s (Screamfeeder) latest project spent 6 months not deciding on a band name, then named the band after someone misheard something someone else said in a noisy restaurant one night then spent over a year recording their debut album.

HALFWAY
Halfway was formed by John Busby, Chris Dale and Elwin Hawtin who originally hail from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. Based on a mutual love of Dylan, Springsteen, Big Star and The Replacements, they left Rockhampton and headed south to put together a band with the finishing touches to the line up being added in Brisbane to round the HALFWAY line up off as an 8 piece. In 2008 HALFWAY song writing duo, John Busby and Chris Dale won Queensland’s most prestigious song writing award – The Grant McLennan Fellowship. The selection panel included members of the Go-Betweens, the McLennan family and Queensland Arts. The fellowship allowed John and Chris to travel to London in November 2008.

ROZ PAPPALARDO AND THE WAYWARD GENTLEMEN
Take a soaring and committed slide guitar, smooth upright bass, rocking drums, mad keyboard, a vintage Fender guitar (‘temporarily’ stolen from her Dad), and a sassy front woman who rocks even when she sings a ballad. This is ROZ PAPPALARDO AND THE WAYWARD GENTLEMEN. Roz’s testosterone fuelled alt – country side project to her folky festival favourite counterpart, Women In Docs. Drawing on influences ranging from Lucinda Williams to Ryan Adams, Roz as a solo act melds her effusive stage presence and endearing song writing with some good honest country–style secret herbs and spices. And a cheeky little dash of the T-hormone.

EVENT DETAILS

Plus One Records Showcase 2010
The Troubadour, Tuesday September 7 2010 :: 8pm – late
$20.00 presales (limited), free with a Big Sound pass
Brunswick St Mall, Fortitude Valley

http://www.plusonerecords.com.au
 

After dipping toes in the bubbling grease of contemporary dance for Rockshow in Nov 2009 Regurgitator dropped the strainer in the chip fryer, frittered away on some new years festival appearances along with a few shows in the past few months.

Back in their classic 3 piece mode, after approaching Rockshow in this guise, and with Seja embarking on her own solo career they recently played some stand out performances (including Seja's last keyboard stand with them) at the Brisbane Powerhouse 10th birthday... and sold out shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Back on the fries... they saturate the wrapper with new recordings, new tourings and a new soundtrack to cult classic Akira.
 
With Quan and Ben relocating to new home town Melbourne early this year they activated some fresh studio spaces in their recently acquired dwellings and started work on their first new material since the Love and Paranoia sessions in Rio de Janeiro in 2007. Quan has set up a recording blog here  and see them use it... the tracks are currently being mixed by Casey Rice after some additional recording at Head Gap.. and will be released through digital outlets and physical forms in September.
 
On August 8 as part of the Graphic animation conference at the Sydney Opera House Regurgitator have been commissioned to produce a live score to the ground breaking Japanese anime film AKIRA.
 
Comic books, illustration, animation, music, multimedia and other new ways of telling stories have not only changed the face of our popular culture, they now define it. Graphic novels and comic art are now a leading source of inspiration for films, television, clothing, designers, musicians and artists the world over. GRAPHIC celebrates this brave new world in a weekend of specially commissioned productions – with musical responses to graphic art & stories, workshops, panels, a film program, a games exhibition and an animation competition. Highlight events include the Anime classic Akira with a live rescore by Regurgitator; Shaun Tan’s The Arrival live scored by Ben Walsh and the Orkestra of the Underground; and the big one – Neil Gaiman in the Concert Hall reading a new unpublished work, with specially commissioned live score by FourPlay and projected illustrations by legendary graphic artist Eddie Campbell.

Akira with live score by Regurgitator Akira is the benchmark film by which all other anime are judged, spawning countless imitators and defining many of the themes, concerns and style of the genre. Set in 2019 in post-World War Three Neo-Tokyo, this animated classic introduced the western world to adult-oriented Japanese animation and has been lauded worldwide as the movie that “started it all”. Akira started life as Katsuhiro Otomo’s epic 2,000+ page manga (Japanese comic book), before being adapted into an animated film in 1988. The film will be shown in the original Japanese language version with English subtitles and rescored live by Regurgitator. As Australia’s most renowned and successful experimental art-rockers, Regurgitator have achieved triple-platinum status – an astonishing feat for such an uncompromising band – who never shy away from the unusual, the untried, or indeed any genre that attracts their creative sensibility.
Tickets available from the Sydney Opera House.
 
And now following this... Regurgitator embark on the most intensive headline tour since the 6 week long 2007 Amor e Paranoia tour with New Pants from China and I Heart Hiroshima... or the 2008 tour with guiding lights DEVO. For this latest slush in hot fat Regurgitator has invited new sensations from Melbourne RAT VS POSSUM and Brisbane's bursting with joy LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH along for the fries. Plus for a special one-off show... DJ KRUSH from Japan will be joining Regurgitator for a double headliner in Brisbane on SEPT 18 at The Tivoli

Tickets on sale now.
 
Faster Louder presents

REGURGITATOR
plus RAT VS POSSUM (expect WA shows)
and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH (except TAS & WA shows)
with co-headliner DJ KRUSH from Japan (Brisbane show only)
 
WED 15 SEPT Hobart REPUBLIC BAR
plus RAT VS POSSUM
Tickets from Ruffcut Records - 6234 8600, Moshtix and The Republic Bar - 6234 6954, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
 
THUR 16 SEPT Adelaide THE GOV
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets from www.moshtix.com.au (ph 1300 438 849) & Moshtix outlets, www.venuetix.com.au (ph 08 8225 8888) & Venue*Tix outlets & at the venue 11am-9pm Mon-Sat, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
 
FRI 17 SEPT Melbourne THE HI-FI
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets online from www.thehifi.com.au Phone Tix 1300THEHIFI (1300 843 4434) & Polyester Records - Fitzroy & City, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
 
SAT 18 SEPT Brisbane THE TIVOLI
with DJ KRUSH (from Japan) plus LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH and RAT VS POSSUM
Tickets from Ticketek 132 849, www.ticketek.com.au, Rocking Horse Records (07) 3229 5360 and regurgitator.oztix.com.au Doors at 7.00pm
 
SUN 19 SEPT Byron GREAT NORTHERN
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets from venue, www.oztix.com.au (ph 1300 762 545), oztix outlets, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
 
WED 22 SEPT Katoomba HOTEL GEARIN
plus RAT VS POSSUM
Tickets from www.oztix.com.au (ph 1300 762 545), www.moshtix.com.au (ph 1300 438 849), the venue, all Oztix & Moshtix outlets, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
 
THUR 23 SEPT Canberra THE MARAM
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets from  www.moshtix.com.au (ph 1300 438 849), Moshtix outlets, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
 
FRI 24 SEPT W'gong UNI BAR
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets from Redback Music, the venue, Oztix, www.bigtix.com.au, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
 
SAT 25 SEPT Sydney MANNING BAR
plus RAT VS POSSUM and LANEOUS & THE FAMILY YAH
Tickets: www.manningbar.com (ph 1300 762 545), www.moshtix.com.au (ph 1300 438 849), the venue, all Oztix & Moshtix outlets, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
An official selection of Sydney Fringe 2010
 
SUN 26 SEPT Karratha WA WALKINGTON THEATRE
Ph: (08) 9159 6859 for ticketing.
 
MON 27 SEPT Perth AMPLIFIER BAR
plus BOYS BOYS BOYS!
Tickets from Bocs, Moshtix, 78’s, Mills, and regurgitator.oztix.com.au
 
www.regurgitator.net
www.myspace.com/regurgitators
http://consume.com.au/regurgitator

Following on from the shining release of their sophomore album The Out Of Money Experience (Red Tape ) in April, Brisbane’s The Optimen are hitting the road this July/August and taking their tunes to the nation on the official album launch.
 
A five-year sojourn that culminated in one of Australia’s finest-hip hop releases this year, The Out Of Money Experience has been robustly received. Triple J’s Hip Hop Show made it their ‘Album Of The Week’ as did 3d World (Sydney), Zebra (Mel) and Zebra (Bris) saying:
 
“The Brisbane group’s long-awaited sophomore record is the kind of meticulously crafted listening experience which could only be sculpted with a significant allotment of time and dedication. It’s also a remarkably consistent and enjoyable Australian hip hop album. In short – it’s amazing. You should get it.”
‘Album Of The Week’ – Matt O’Neill, Zebra Brisbane / Zebra Melbourne and 3D World
 
With the album debuting at #37 in the Australian ARIA Urban charts – the response across the board  was emphatic:
 
“this is quality start to end.”
Shane Scott, Onion Magazine
 
“In a move that goes against the guns, bitches and bling attitude often found in modern hip hop, The OPees show they really are more about mic checks than paycheques.”
Nils Hay, Rave Magazine
 
“Aussie Hip Hop, and a good exponent of it. Obviously lyrically driven, with great understanding and a perfect mix. Samples and beats drive the many and varied stories the boys tell. A new addition to the mix to get bodies grooving.”
ZEDblog
 
“The Boomtown boys are finally back ... if you were a fan of their upbeat bass lines and rowdy rhymes The Out Of Money Experience still delivers.”
Beat Magazine
 
“Despite the occasionally sober lyrical content – and don't mistake that for criticism, as I'd much rather hear hip-hop that discusses real issues, as opposed to self-aggrandising hyperbole – The Optimen's overarching optimistic attitude is the biggest take-away from The Out Of Money.”
Andrew McMillan, The Vine

The Optimen are getting ready to blast off on the long awaited Album Launch Tour. Taking in the East-Coast and Adelaide The Optimen are taking to the road, bringing brand new tunes from The Out Of Money Experience, plus old favourites from their earlier releases.
 
‘The Out Of Brisbane Experience’ Tour
 
Friday July 16 – FBi Stolen Records Gala Ball, Gaelic Theatre, Sydney
with Koolism, Thundamentals, Ozi Batla, Daisy Meds, Phatchance feat. Coptic Soldier, Loose Change and Katalyst (DJ SET)
$12 supporters / $17 non supporters / $22 on the door.
All proceeds go to FBi Radio.
 
Saturday July 17 – Transit Bar, Canberra
With D’Opus and Roshambo
$10 Entry | 8pm
 
Friday July 30 – Beach Road Hotel, Sydney
With Undertow, Gabreil Clouston and Edseven
FREE | 8pm
 
Friday August 20 – The Espy, Melbourne
W’ MPhaze
 
Saturday August 21 – The Rocket Bar, Adelaide
Details TBA
 

LoFly's  Mr. Maps journey south to show off their new double-a-side single, “Nice Fights”.

In Sydney, they will be  supported by good friends Underlapper, stalwart postrockers of the Sydney scene, and The Understudy, a feisty songstress of great talent.

Mr. Maps formed in early 2008, and make a unique brand of instrumental rock. They use soaring live instrumentation punctuated by electronic glitches and cuts, bridging the gap between the folktronica of Four Tet and the grand post-rock sounds of Mogwai. The compositions are experimental and meticulous, with an air of optimism and beauty. Live reviews have been littered with such words as “precise”, “energetic” and “breathtaking”. Sonic comparisons have been made with bands such as Battles, Tortoise, toe, Pinback, and 65daysofstatic.

Pick up a copy of the single release at the show, which includes the tracks “Nice Fights” and “Fly, You Monumental Mistake”. These tracks and more like them will also be available on the forthcoming album “Wire Empire” due for release August/September.

Where/When: Thursday July 8 at the Excelsior Hotel, 64 Foveaux St, Surry Hills Sydney.

Find out more at http://www.lofly.com

Mere Noise is proud to announce the release of the brutally brilliant Hits album Living With You Is Killing Me on vinyl.

This, from the desk of Andrew Stafford:

"HITS, Mere Noise Records and myself are very proud to announce the release of Living With You Is Killing Me in a limited, stupidly collectable pressing of 300 copies on beautiful VINYL! So loud is it, that when you put it on your turntable, you will be lulled into believing that HITS are smashing their instruments over your head in your own living room while singer Richie jams his mike up your arse."

Find out more at http://www.merenoise.net

Halfway are proud to announce the release of their third studio album, the Robert Forster produced An Outpost of Promise - out now through Plus One.

“An Outpost of Promise is a band coming into its own. Ten classic songs, played straight up with tension and drama” Robert Forster - The Go-Betweens.

Halfway was formed by John Busby, Chris Dale and Elwin Hawtin who originally hail from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. Based on a mutual love of Dylan, Springsteen, Big Star and The Replacements, they left Rockhampton and headed south to put together a band with the finishing touches to the line up being added in Brisbane to round the Halfway line up off as an 8 piece.
 
In 2008 Halfway song writing duo, John Busby and Chris Dale won Queensland’s most prestigious song writing award - The Grant McLennan Fellowship. The selection panel included members of the Go-Betweens, the McLennan family and Queensland Arts. The fellowship allowed John and Chris to travel to London in November 2008. Whilst in London, they rehearsed, played acoustic shows, wrote and began to put together the initial framework for this their third album An Outpost of Promise
 
First single off the album Stevie is a song written for an old friend of the band: Steve Sutherland.  John Busby from Halfway started a band with him when they were 17 or 18 and living in Rockhampton QLD. John was on the out of work and helping Stevie fail year 12. It's about the promises they made and the plans to get out. Some they stuck to and some others John thinks they probably broke.
 
Much of the album An Outpost of Promise explores similar themes to this:friendship, last drinks, 3AM promises, the hope for something better and a change of luck. It's about the small decisions we make and the great effect they can have on the way things eventually turn out. 
 
For better or worse.
 
Join Halfway as they launch An Outpost of Promise in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in July with very special guest Dan Brodie joining them for the ride.
 
Friday 9th July - The Troubadour, Brisbane
+ Dan Brodie & The Honey Month
Friday 23rd July - Excelsior Hotel, Sydney
+ Dan Brodie, College Fall and Glenn Thompson
Friday 30th July - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
+ Dan Brodie, Nick Barker & College Fall

Find out more at http://www.plusonerecords.com.au

With their new single ‘Every June’ already making an impact at radio, Brisbane four piece My Fiction are set to hit the road to launch their debut album FIREROMANCEFIRE along the east coast.
 
The tour announcement comes as ‘Every June’ continues to win fans thanks to rotation on Triple J - with the band also unveiling a powerful new clip for the track that will be featured as Rage ‘Indie of the Week’ this coming weekend.

Watch the clip now at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKoVnZYIlJE
 
Meanwhile, ‘Every June’ has be named a finalist in two major categories of Queensland’s biggest songwriting awards – Q Song. The band is now in the running to pick up the ‘Courier-Mail Peoples’ Choice Award’ and the ‘Alternative’ award. Find out more at www.qsong.com.au
 
Out in July through SUGARRUSH Records, the album will be officially launched in their hometown on Friday, July 16 before shows around Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne throughout July and August.
 
My Fiction’s take on danceable indie rock has been wonderfully realised on the record. Produced by ARIA winning Magoo, FIREROMANCEFIRE packs a serious punch and builds on the strength of the band’s previous releases – the “Your Tokyo” EP and double a-side “Tonight Tonight/The Loop”.
 
Their sound? It’s indie rock without the baggage. My Fiction know what makes people move, and how to connect. The big guitars, bigger melodies and powerful bottom end all combine to make something immediate, but with depth.
 
Live, My Fiction is just something else with the band fast earning a ‘don’t miss’ reputation with anyone that’s caught a gig.
 
The floor is packed with bouncing bodies as My Fiction hit song after song with such dexterity and perfection that I’m finding it hard to believe that these guys aren’t where Faker is in the Australian music world… It’s an astonishing performance, even bettered when ‘Grey City’ brings the house down during the encore… the night of musical wonder isn’t just good, it’s ten times good.” Rave Magazine


MY FICTION TOUR DATES

FRI JULY 16 - QLD - BRISBANE, THE ZOO w/ Numbers Radio, The Belligerent & The Judy Dolls
SAT JULY 17 - QLD - TOOWOOMBA - BON AMICI
THUR JULY 22 - QLD - SUNSHINE COAST, CLUB ENVY
FRI JULY 23 - NSW - BYRON BAY, HOTEL GREAT NORTHERN w/ Numbers Radio, & Polaroid Fame
SAT JULY 31 - VIC - MELBOURNE, PONY w/ Radio Star, & The Ravenous
THUR AUG 5 - NSW - SYDNEY, THE LANSDOWNE w/ The Moments, The Written Crusade and The Company.

Find more details online at http://www.myspace.com/myfictionband

Just out on Turkeyneck this month, Hell Crab City's new album is "miles ahead" of their debut with the ferocity of Zeke and the Dwarves and the antipodean humour of Cosmic Psychos and Powder Monkeys

A Brief Hell Crab History

Based in Sydney, HELL CRAB CITY were formed in 2003 with former JIM COBAIN frontman and all-round rock guy Scott Barker taking on the vocalist/guitarist/ songwriter duties.

Ex DEL-EMMAS skinswoman Dani Danger provided her well-known pounding rhythms with former Melbournite, and formidable ex S-BAHN bassist, Rob Buttery completing the seminal 3 piece line-up. they then recruited Al Creed on second guitar, probably better known for his role as axeman with seminal Sydney group the NEW CHRISTS 

With the line-up locked in, the band quickly banged down a brutal version of “Pub” for Norwegian label Dull City Records’ series of 7” Cosmic Psychos tributes, at the same time hitting the pubs to baptise the rock’n’roll loving public. f you want to hang your hat on some of their more influential mentors then you wouldn’t have to look too much further than crucial

Australian acts such as the COSMIC PSYCHOS, BORED or Melbourne’s inflammatory POWDERMONKEYS and overseas acts such as ZEKE,  TURBONEGRO et al. After releasing their debut album, "Nicotine Blues", Danger moved on to sunnier climes and was eventually replaced by ex- WWXXIV, Rule 303 drummer Marc Lucas.

More details at http://www.turkeyneck.com.au

SLB is proud to announce Last Dinosaurs and Wiley Reed have been added to the line-up for the very special launch event in Brisbane on June 18 in Brisbane's CBD.

Presented by Brisbane City Council’s Inhabit Fiesta, more than 10 local acts from the SLB labels rosters will hit two stages housed in CBD laneways Burnett Lane and Island Crt (off Elizabeth St) for this free all-ages event running from 5.30-10.00pm.

The line-up will showcase the diversity of Brisbane labels and feature sets from: Last Dinosaurs, Blowhard, Texas Tea, Carry Nation, Fushia, Halfway, My Fiction, Nova Scotia, The Rational Academy, and The Optimen.

PLAYING TIMES...

Burnett Lane Stage

Blowhard: 9.15pm
The Optimen: 8.15pm
Last Dinosaurs: 7.30pm
Butcher Birds: 6.45pm
My Fiction: 6.10pm
Novia Scotia: 5.30pm

Island Court Stage

Halfway: 9.15pm
The Rational Academy: 8.15pm
Texas Tea: 7.30pm
Fushia: 6.45pm
Wiley Reed: 6.00pm
Carry Nation: 5.30pm

Find more details on Inhabit Fiesta and links to the stage locations online now at www.ourbrisbane.com/inhabit

May 18, 2010

MEDIA RELEASE: Brisbane’s indie record labels join forces to celebrate the sound of the city

Brisbane’s proud DIY music scene is being supported and celebrated through a unique initiative that promotes the city’s booming independent record labels – soundslikebrisbane.

Believed to be a world first, soundslikebrisbane (SLB) is bringing together the city’s indie labels under the one banner - already 13 local independent labels are represented with more to join the fold soon.

That first batch includes prominent local labels: Plus One Records, Mere Noise, Dew Process, Turkeyneck, Room 40, Someone Good, Pinnacles Music, SUGARRUSH, Lofly, El Nino El Nino, Red Tape Entertainment, Starving Kids, and Valve Records.

Covering every genre from hip-hop and jazz, to garage rock, country and pop – the labels define the creative melting pot that Brisbane has become. Together these labels work with dozens of artists, promoting close to 100 releases each year.  

Among them are some of the country’s most exciting new artists including Last Dinosaurs, The Gin Club, The Optimen, The Medics and Jackie Marshall; alongside veritable music legends like Blowhard and Regurgitator.

Project coordinator Craig Spann said Brisbane’s indie labels were also opening up global networks by representing Brisbane artists overseas, and releasing some of the world’s most exciting new music in Australia.

“There’s no doubting that right now Brisbane’s indie labels are the engine room of the local music scene and the contribution they make should be celebrated and supported,” he explains. “Despite the fact these labels are often a one or two-person operation, they are ensuring the Brisbane builds on its reputation as one of the world’s most exciting music cities.”

More than a collective marketing initiative, the long term initiative will develop and deliver a range of projects aimed at not just supporting current indie labels, but ensuring a new wave of labels emerges to continue supporting the city’s music scene and artists.

The focal point of the new project is the soundslikebrisbane.com website which features label and artist profiles and a range of exclusive content to be rolled out over the coming months. The site will be promoted to music fans and the music industry – both in Australia and abroad – as a one-stop location for those looking for Brisbane’s most exciting artists and labels.

Launch Event

The launch of SLB will be celebrated with a very special free all-ages event to be staged in Brisbane’s CBD on Friday June 18. Presented by Brisbane City Council’s Inhabit Fiesta, more than 10 local acts from the SLB labels rosters will hit two stages housed in CBD laneways Burnett Lane and Island Crt (off Elizabeth St).

The line-up will showcase the diversity of Brisbane labels and feature sets from: Blowhard, Texas Tea, Carry Nation, Fushia, Halfway, My Fiction, Nova Scotia, The Rational Academy, and The Optimen – with more still to be announced.

More details online now at www.ourbrisbane.com/inhabit

SLB is a not-for-profit project being developed with the support of partners Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and state peak music body Q Music.

Professors Julian Knowles and Phil Graham, Co-Leaders of QUT’s Independent Music Project, have been working with the SLB team.

Prof Graham says: “Brisbane has for decades supplied top level talent to Australia’s music industry, and we’ve done it with very little local support. The net result has been a long-term drain of top quality talent. The SLB initiative provides a focused support and infrastructure network for local artists that can be developed over time into a significant industry force. 

“Our independent labels are as good as they get. They have gotten that way with very little other than sheer talent and dedication. Commercial music is a massive earner for our economy. But most of the money goes overseas to the parent companies of majors. QUT is determined to be a part of the practical and intellectual movement dedicated to growing the local creative economy and the talent that underwrites that future.”

Q Music Executive Officer Denise Foley added the SLB project was further of the DIY ethos that has driven the Brisbane music scene for decades.

“This project and the labels it supports is just another example of how people in Brisbane just get in and do it,” she says. “It has also been built on the strong sense of community in the city and an understanding that working collectively is crucial to helping grow this cottage industry and the artists it supports.”

Celebrating Brisbane’s Music Heritage

The SLB project also aims to celebrate Brisbane’s proud indie music history with some of the city’s finest writers looking back at why the city has emerged as such an indie music stronghold.

The site goes live this week with a special contribution from Brisbane music historian and Pig City author Andrew Stafford who looks back at the independent path blazed by iconic local artists The Saints and The Go-Betweens. He writes:

“The making of (I’m) Stranded was seminal to the development of music in Brisbane for a number of reasons other than its sheer magnificence. (Playing it right now, the 7” single still roars from the speakers in a way the LP cut doesn’t quite.) It was the fact that it existed AT ALL, and that the band had made it themselves. They owed no one. This, combined with the bone simplicity of punk, represented a democratisation of music-making that horrified the majority of radio programmers and record labels but emboldened anyone with sufficient drive to emulate the Saints’ move. As the Go-Betweens’ Robert Forster told me, “I think we all felt brushed by the Saints’ wings.” Read more...

What up... always.

Quan relocates to Melbourne after 5 years in Hong Kong.
Ben also shifts to Melbourne after spending time in Turkey and Berlin.
Same city, same time... what the hell is going on?

They set up some studios in rooms somewhere in the central city precinct and start work on album seven.

All in the spirit of creativity. After a brief collision with contemporary dance exponent Gavin Webber for the late 2009 live music/dance project Rockshow amid various solo explosions they find the time and space arise to invent some new tracks for 2010. The only thing that drives their continued persistence... the thrill of composition and performance.

The classic 3 piece with Quan, Ben and Peter now back on the live trail... follow the crumbs:

SAT 3 JULY - Sydney ANNANDALE HOTEL 10th birthday (tickets on sale now and already selling fast) Plus special guests OUCH MY FACE and STEP PANTHER

SUN 4 JULY - Melbourne EAST BRUNSWICK HOTEL (tickets on sale usual outlets) Plus special guests OUCH MY FACE and WORLD'S END PRESS

New album out sometime late 2010.

http://www.regurgitator.net

Most bands are too afraid to step up to the bat. They are scared that life is going to  throw them different kinds of curve balls. But for more than fifteen years, Trans Am  has fearlessly stepped up, taken their swings and thrown a few curve balls of their own.

Few bands can say they’ve toured the Canadian mountains with TOOL, and fewer still  can they played their first tour opening for Tortoise. Trans Am a-la 2010 is a band of veterans unafraid to contradict themselves, confident in their identity even as confounding as that identity has been for their fans over the years.
 
Thing is a wreckage of sorts. The project was originally commissioned as a sci-fi, horror adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. When funding for that project fell apart, Trans Am forged on with their own album.

To capture the feeling of exhaustion and paranoia demanded by Thing, Trans Am remained at their recording studio until the early morning, occasionally exiting to run up and down the hills of San Francisco. All vocals were recorded during recovery from these sessions. Thing features songs written entirely by the individual band members, as well as more collaborative efforts. Tracks were composed and/or recorded in Pescara, Italy; Portland, Oregon; Leon, France; San Francisco, California; Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean; London, England; Death Valley, California. The three members of the band currently reside in Portland, San Francisco and Washington, DC. For half of the tracks on Thing, Trans Am utilized a recording/composition strategy known as “Zombification.” Once a song was recorded, each of the band members (as well as anybody else in the studio at the time) would record multiple additional tracks without any reference to the previous ones. The song then forgot itself - and was almost unlistenable. After cellaring the un-dead music for up to a year, Trans Am would begin to peel back the layers of the song, usually arriving at something completely different.Thing was recorded between May 2008 and November of 2009, but the ongoing economic crisis did not affect the album’s lavish production budget.
 
Thing represents a further attempt by the band to further remove themselves not just from various indie-rock labels, but music itself. One of Thing’s requirements was that each track contain a completely non-musical element, preferably something with a sonic signature that was not even necessarily a sound.
 
With such history behind them, eight albums and last year’s live double LP and DVD What Day is it Tonight?, Trans Am’s record speaks for itself. This new album does not attempt to redefine the band’s image or return to any previous form, but simply to speak for itself, a single palpable, particular... Thing...

Out now through Valve

Plus One Records in association with Street Press Australia is proud to present to you: DEATHWISH by The Gin Club. The band’s new piece of work is out May 29 and the band is taking DEATHWISH on the road from mid-June.

Over the past six years, The Gin Club have established themselves as one of Australia’s most exciting bands, both through their studio albums as well as their inimitable live performances. Continually evolving from the traditional folk/country of their self-titled debut,

The Gin Club’s seven person songwriting roster has developed a unique and distinctive style.Whilst they defy easy categorisation, their music contains elements of acoustic folk, wide screen rock’n’roll, psychedelia, country, pop and more - all delivered with a distinctly Antipodean flavour. They have been compared to artists such as The Triffids, The Go Betweens and The Band.

Their live performances have become legendary, with all seven members singing lead, swapping instruments and harmonies, and performing everything from intimate acoustic ballads to wall-of-sound onslaughts.

The Gin Club’s fourth album DEATHWISH is due out 29th May 2010 through Shock Records, and features the single “Rain”, as well as stand-out tracks “Pennies”, “Say You Will”, “Choppin’ Wood” and “Shake Hands”.

Join them as they launch DEATHWISH in Sydney and Melbourne in June and at three very special shows at the Troubadour, Brisbane in early July. Each night will feature a different set list, including songs requested by fans, and a different line-up of outstanding support acts.

Full tour details here .

Volcanos permitting, Mere Noise stalwarts Vegas Kings are heading back to Europe for a run of shows this month.

DATES:

THE NETHERLANDS
May 5th – Middelburg – Kaffee T Hof
May 6th – Groningen – Club Vera

GERMANY
May 7th – Berlin – White Trash Fast Food
May 8th – Chemnitz – Subway to Peter
May 9th – Sollingen – Walldmeister

BELGIUM
May 11th – Kortrijk – The Pits

NETHERLANDS
May 12th – Utrecht – Dbs
May 13th – Amsterdam – Pacific Parc

FRANCE
May 14th – Rennes – Le Sambre
May 15th – Paris – Les Combustibles

More details online now at http://www.merenoise.net

New York Drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts latest release titled "WATTS" is now available down under exclusively through Brisbane label Pinnacles Music .

"WATTS" is Jeff’s fifth release as bandleader features a quartet of prodigious contemporary jazz talent - Branford Marsalis (sax), Terence Blanchard (trumpet), Christian McBride (bass) and Jeff on drums.

Not only one of the most in demand jazz and influential drummers in the world today, Jeff is also renowned for his unique compositions.

“WATTS” shares 10 tracks of his creative works flavoured with spectacular improvisations, swing, sarcasm, politics, irony and percussive finesse

Visit Pinnacles online for more details.

Dew Process artist Sarah Blasko is a performer of untouchable talent.

Currently touring in Europe where the pan-European release of her phenomenal third album, “As Day Follows Night” has been welcomed with open arms and to serious acclaim, Sarah returns home in October for a five week tour across the nation – from Albury to Townsville and everywhere in between – including major performances at theatre venues in all capital cities. 



Promising a retrospective program revisiting her whole repertoire, Blasko’s live shows always deliver more. Her previous tours have seen fellow musicians Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens, Glenn Richards of Augie March and Tim Rogers join her on stage. And who could forget the startling costumes of last year’s national tour? 
 
Her inimitable music, glowing reviews from Stockholm to Paris to London and her beguiling charm and humility have also secured Sarah releases in the USA, Canada and South Africa later this year.
 
"A monumental release and one that offers something new with every listen ... imagine a whole world compacted into twelve songs and you're some part of the way there." 
**** MAVERICK, UK (March 2010) 



"Wry, understated tales of redemption and disorientation ... lovely and thoughtful"  
**** Q MAGAZINE, UK John Aizlewood (May 2010)
 


“'As Day Follows Night' …is a delight for connoisseurs of assertive pop. Majestic.”  
****  LE METRO, France (April 2010)

Following a tour in the UK through April and May with The Temper Trap, Sarah will head to the USA in June and back to Europe for the festival season through July and August and then back to the USA for headline shows in September, before returning to Australian shores.  
 


“As Day Follows Night” is out now through Dew Process/UMA. Sarah Blasko is the winner of the J Award, The Rolling Stone Award for Best Female and the ARIA for Best Female. All three of her albums have far surpassed platinum sales.

Full tour details at http://www.dew-process.com