20.11.2008 11:38:40 | Cam | 3 Comments So, my I-Trip died recently, which means while I wait for my new one to get delivered I'm stuck listening to the radio on my journey to and from work. I haven't listened to the radio (apart from Short, Fast, Loud and 3 Hours Of Power) in about 6 years and all I can say is HOLY SHIT, things have gotten worse. JJJ is the station of choice, simply because the drive time banter with "The Doctor" is top notch, but my god the music is fucking terrible. Indie rock needs to take its extensive collection of cardigans and fuck right off, Oz hip hop (note: not all Aussie hip hop is bad, you know what I mean, Big Day Out endorsed shit hop) is actually fucking embarassing and my god, this electro/dance/dildo parade shit makes me want to kick myself in the dick until I pass out. The only station with any tunes that are remotely decent is Gold 104, but their DJ's are a bunch of boring, middle aged cunts. WHAT A PREDICAMENT! Maybe we can petition to get "The Doctor' and his cohorts to move to Gold 104, then we'd get the best of both worlds. On to a new topic. The popularity of a genre of music moves in waves, and the good folk in my office today decided that sports metal is due for an epic comeback. THis was triggered by one of the fine people I work with telling me how fucking good Limp Bizkit were when they saw them (needless to say I was shocked). I think everyone should go and dig out their V.O.D., Fear Factory, Korn and Deftones records and re-live the glory days. While you're at it, grow a sports metal beard, they're great! If you do not know what these look like, check out the picture of Biohazard main-man Evan Seinfeld. Evan is also married to a porn star who only does girl on girl films and starred in HBO's "Oz", so the dude clearly knows what's up. Good tours over the next couple of weeks! Against No Love Lost Antagonist AD The Broderick Ellington All dates etc... can be found at www.myspace.com/destroyalllinesroster Also, summer is shaping up to be a corker, because I get to see: Misery Signals Between The Buried And Me Lupe Fiasco Dropkick Murphys N*E*R*D Until next time... 30.10.2008 23:28:05 | Cam | 7 Comments So, festival season is almost upon us, and what a summer it's shaping up to be.
First up, Parkway Drive were kind enough to tour A Day To Remember + The Acacia Strain for us, so December is going to be fucking great. Most people seem to be pretty stoked about the Boys Of Summer line up, and why wouldn't you be?! Every band (Carpathian, Comeback Kid, Verse, Against) is different and awesome in their own way so make sure you hit these shows!
Now, the Big Day Out line up is about as enjoyable as getting kicked in the dick repeatedly, however The Dropkick Murphy's have kindly informed us all that they'll be jumping board the tour, fingers crossed for sideshows!
There is a negative side affect to this massive influx of international bands though... our own homegrown talent seems to be neglected. Hell, I understand. Petrol is expensive, the cost of living is going up so shelling out $12 to see 5 Australian bands might not be as high on everyone's priority list as it used to be, but come on people! I've lost track of the amount of kids that complain about the price of seeing local bands (no more than $15), yet they'll happily shell out $120 for some shitty all over print hoodie, $300 for jeans and $200 for shoes.
News flash kids, if you don't go and see touring bands then they will not come back to your town. This very forum is littered with users complaining about tours not hitting places like Perth and Adelaide etc... so spread the word, hit the streets and help bands out and try and get more kids along to these shows. There's dozens of great bands here in our backyard, so throw your support behind them. Remember, the music that's getting churned out here is as good (if not better) than that of of your US counterparts.
Prime example, Ruiner are playing the Gold Coast next week with 4 great supports, but apparently $20 is too much? These guys have come half way across the world to play for you so if you can spare the bones get down to the Xpressive Grounds (and any other shows they're doing).
The Abandonment + Mary Jane Kelly tour started tonight so check those shows out when they hit your town.
Some great records have dropped in the last few weeks too, so if you're not already all over these, check em out:
Ruiner - I Heard These Dudes Are Assholes
Energy - Invasions Of The Mind
Crime In Stereo - Selective Wreckage
Unearth - The March
Cruel Hand - Prying Eyes
Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life
That'll do for the moment...
01.10.2008 15:02:36 | Cam | 4 Comments Time for a new blog me thinks, but I don't have anything to preach about at the moment so I'm going to use this as a chance to talk up the tours I've been working on. Antagonist A.D. & The Broderick Nov 26th @ The Red Room, Brisbane: Lic AA
Nov 27th @ Xpressive Grounds, Gold Coast: AA
Nov 28th @ Manly Youth Centre, Manly: AA
Nov 29th @ The Cambridge, Newcastle: 18
Nov 30th @ Hermann's, Sydney: AA
Dec 3rd @ Tuggeranong Youth Centre, Canberra: AA **
Dec 4th @ The Arthouse, Melbourne: 18
Dec 5th @ The Castle, Dandenong: AA
Dec 6th @ Fowlers, Adelaide: Lic AA
** The Broderick not appearing
www.myspace.com/antagonistad
www.myspace.com/thebroderickhc
The Abandonment & Mary Jane Kelly
Oct 30th @ The Underground, Adelaide: AA
Oct 31st @ The Arthouse, Melbourne: 18
Nov 1st @ TBC, Melbourne: AA
Nov 7th @ The Red Room, Brisbane: Lic AA
Nov 8th @ Thriller, Brisbane: 18 w/ Ruiner (USA)
Nov 9th @ Xpressive Grounds, Gold Coast: AA w/ Ruiner (USA)
Nov 12th @ TBC, Central Coast: AA
Nov 13th @ Hermann's, Sydney: 18
Nov 14th @ Hype Central, Castle Hill: AA
Nov 15th @ Tuggeranong Youth Centre, Canberra: AA
Nov 16th @ The Cambridge, Newcastle: 18
www.myspace.com/theabandonment www.myspace.com/maryjanekellyhc
Against & No Love LostFriday November 21st @ The Underground, Adelaide: AA
Saturday November 22nd @ The BIrmingham Hotel, Melbourne: 18
Sunday November 23rd @ Blacktown Masonic Hall, Blacktown: AA
Wednesday November 26th @ Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle; 18
Thursday November 27th @ Tuggeranong Youth Centre, Canberra: AA
Friday November 28th @ The Red Room, Brisbane: Lic AA
Saturday November 29th @ Club Reckless, Sunshine Coast: 18
Sunday November 30th @ Zillmere PCYC, Zillmere: AA
www.myspace.com/againsthc
www.myspace.com/nolovelosthc Closure In MoscowFriday November 7th @ Fowlers Live, Adelaide: Lic AA Saturday November 8th @ Bang, Melbourne: 18 Wednesday November 12th @ Tuggeranong Youth Centre, Canberra: AA Thursday November 13th @ Hot Damn, Sydney: 18 Friday November 14th @ Millwell Hall, Maroochydore: AA Saturday November 15th @ Thriller, Brisbane: 18 Sunday November 16th @ Bon Amici, Toowoomba: Lic AA www.myspace.com/closureinmoscow I'll be announcing a tour for Ellington (www.myspace.com/ellington) shortly as well, and don't forget to check out the Elora Danan (with The Mission In Motion) tour that starts next week! All these bands have been busting their arses either writing or recording new albums at the moment so expect new releases really shortly from The Abandonment and Against, and make sure you check out the new CD's from Antagonist AD, Mary Jane Kelly and Ellington. Don't forget the "Severed Ties" tour starts next week w/ The Amity Affliction, A Secret Death, House VS Hurricane and Rex Banner! www.myspace.com/severedtiestour Oh yeah, New Found Glory on Soundwave = Road Trip AND don't drink red wine, vodka, scotch, beers and mystery shots by 6pm... your life will end! 16.09.2008 12:31:53 | Cam | 11 Comments This little rant is inspired by some horrendous posting on the forum in the last few days, namely the subject of "Epitaph sucks for releasing records that don't sound like Ten Foot Pole".
I love Epitaph records and I love many of the acts on their roster, from the old favourites like NOFX and Bad Religion, through to Converge. Atmosphere and fuck it, even the new Bring Me The Horizon CD goes ok, and I cannot fathom how people can sit there and talk shit on a label that was started by one dude, and is still for all intensive purposes as DIY as a big label can get these days (fuck off with your, it's not DIY if you don't sleep in a bin and hand stitch your own merch argument).
I'm curious how many of these internet warriors talking shit about labels trying new bands have released a record, booked a show, run a tour, done a zine, worked on a website etc... It's very easy to sit there and flame everything you come across but to put blood, sweat and tears into something for 15 years and still remain a relevant figure in the world of punk/hardcore/whatever is an admirable feat...
On a lighter note, god damn the Slipknot record is awesome, as is the latest efforts from All Shall Perish, Norma Jean (yep, it grew on me), Sing It Loud and Watch Your Step.
We've also just released a bunch of great tours that I urge you all to check out when it hits your state:
Elora Danan w/ The Mission In Motion: Dates at www.myspace.com/eloradananrock
Antagonist w/ The Broderick: Dates at www.myspace.com/antagonistad
The Abandonment w/ Mary Jane Kelly: Dates at www.myspace.com/theabandonment
A Year To Remember w/ The Getaway Plan: Dates at www.myspace.com/ayeartoremember
Keep your eyes and ears out for tour announcements for Closure In Moscow, Ellington, Against, and don't forget about the HUGE 4 band bill of The Amity Affliction, A Secret Death, House VS Hurricane and Rex Banner that hits the road in less a month!
25.08.2008 21:34:59 | Cam | 1 Comment So, everyone else I know has been struck down with the flu this winter. I was sitting pretty, laughing at all those who were at complaining of sore throats, headaches and nausea and then boom, within 24 hours I'm sick as a dog and hating life. Karma's a bitch but I guess I deserved it this time.
I took my wife to see Panic At The Disco at the weekend... what a debacle that was. After hearing both of Cobra Starship's records and now having witnessed their live set, I cannot fathom how they are so popular. If you're not familiar with frontman Gabe's previous band, then please go and check out Midtown, as they were fucking great, although it does make me wonder how one man can be involved in one great band and then start up something that it so awful. Seriously, kids were lapping this shit up! Imagine if McLovin (not Derya, the actual character from Superbad) was a legit wigga, and fronted a band with a couple of fruits in white jeans then you'd have Cobra Starship.
The Academy Is were ok, definitely better than I expected so I wish all them the best, however Panic At The Disco were painful, although based off their performance I feel I'm able to write their next artist bio:
- Four 18 year olds who got bashed at school meet each other and find comfort in each other's make up wearing company.
- Said teenagers write an album full of pop hits and capture the world's imagine (kudos).
- Band then turns twenty, discovers The Beatles, claim they never liked modern emo and don't even know Pete Wentz and write a Sergeant Pepper's covers record.
- Record bombs.
- Band sounds like arse live.
- Band members don't look like they want to be there.
- 12 year girls are still stoked.
- 2009 rolls around and Panic write album number 3, full of the same pop goodness that made them their money in the first place.
- Band claims they never abandoned emo or Pete Wentz.
- Kids continue to be stoked.
Well this is all sounding a bit negative, isn't it? I guess there have been some good things come up lately.
Myself and my wife are moving into a new house this week. It's bigger, it's better and Jarule scores a lift to work 3 times a week now, so all is well.
Thrice is this week. I love Thrice so this is good news.
The Gaslight Anthem are still rocking my world, as is new Verse, Attack In Black and All Shall Perish (reviews shortly kids).
Finally, Season 2 Heroes. Thanks to user: nafe for hooking me up with this. Show still rules (fuck you Jared) and more importantly, Kristen Bell plays a sadistic little bitch who enjoys shooting electricity at people. She's never really done much for me in the past but this character kills me (no seriously, please, punish me).
| 
