Dear Jack

22 year old Andrew McMahon expected huge things in 2005, with his debut solo record on the horizon, things were looking up for the former Something Corporate frontman.

Until a day in May of 2005 saw his whole world turn upside down, he was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

“Dear Jack” documents Andrew on a rollercoaster of a year, through the highs of releasing an album and the terrible lows of being diagnosed with leukaemia.

Using just a camera Maverick Records bought for him to document the process of recording Everything in Transit. Andrew shot everything from recording to the treatment he was received.

Dear Jack is a raw and unaltered look at the pure uphill battle that is leukaemia. From having spinal taps, radiation and a stem cell transfusion from his sister Kate. It is nothing short but a pure testament to his strength, courage, friends, family and most of all his now wife Kelly.

The scene that touched me the most was the removing of the hair with a lint brush – it’s like a process that essentially breaks down the human into one thing, the will to survive.

Interlaced with the documentary is live footage as well as the collaboration with Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee – who recorded drums with Andrew on Everything in Transit. Also being narrated by Tommy - the film is a short look into the life of an incredible man.

Dear Jack is breathtaking film, a pure testament to Andrew’s courage, his will to survive.

And his love of making music, through the thick and the thin.

Website
Myspace

Top whatever whatever of 2009

So our glorious fuhror jarule has asked us blog posters to have our top 10s of this year. Well safe to say there are a fair few contenders that didn't make it onto my lists. Here you go.

Top 10 Albums of 2009

1. Converge - Axe to Fall
2. Consider the Thief - Signs & Wonders
3. Thursday - Common Existance
4. Rise and Fall - Our Circle is Vicious
5. Mastodon - Crack the Skye
6. Every Time i Die - New Junk Aesthetic
7. Thrice - Beggars
8. Animals as Leaders - Animals as Leaders
9. Scale the Summit - Carving Desert Canyons
10. Baroness - Blue Record

Honourable mentions to: All Leather, Cloak/Dagger, Coerce, Anchors, Anchor and Braille and Anime Fire.


Top 10 Live Shows of 2009

1. La Dispute @ Irenes Warehouse, Melbourne
2. Rise and Fall @ Rosemount Hotel, Perth
3. The Ataris @ Amplifier Bar, Perth
4. Minus the Bear @ Soundwave
5. NoFX/Bad Religion @ Metro City, Perth
6. Saves the Day/Alkaline Trio/Rival Schools/The Subways @ The Hifi Bar, Melbourne
7. New Found Glory @ Soundwave, Perth
8. Anberlin @ Capitol, Perth
9. Leftover Crack acoustic show @ 78 Records, Perth
10. Elora Danan Farewell show @ Rosemount Hotel, Perth

Top 10 Films of 2009

1. Inglorious Basterds
2. Watchmen
3. Zombieland
4. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
5. Star Trek
6. Up
7. Fanboys
8. Funny People
9. District 9
10. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Honourable mentions to Avatar.

Top 10 Celebrities of 2009

1. Tiger Woods.
2. Tiger Woods.
3. Tiger Woods.
4. Tiger Woods.
5. Tiger Woods.
6. Tiger Woods.
7. Tiger Woods.
8. Tiger Woods.
9. Tiger Woods.
10. Gary Busey.

Weekly Nostalgia: Saves the Day - Stay What You Are

In this case, I'd post a picture of Luke Cripps looking his absolute best at last years Alkaline Trio/Saves the Day/Rival Schools/The Subways sideshow in Melbourne, but unfortunately, that picture has been lost forever. In his own words, albeit alcohol fuelled and hilarious; "I want to look my best for Chris (Conley), I'm going to tell him how much I love him and how he should kick the rest of Saves the Day out and It'd just be me and him".

Wise words, Cripps. Even if Conley just looked at you like a Deer in the Headlights and walked off.

But anyway, Stay Where You Are resonates something special with me, being one of the bands I made the journey for last year, seeing them live was incredible. Starting off with At Your Funeral, my all time favourite song by Saves the Day, the crowd erupted, lighters were shining, arms over shoulders and a lovely couple to my left tounging eachothers intestines.
 

Some Saves the Day fans see Stay What You Are as selling out (up the punx), being slightly more poppy and mellow that their previous release, but fuck 'em. This record got me into Saves the Day, and I've loved everything ever since. Fuck, they even have a couple of GlassJAw members.

There's not really much to be said about Stay What You Are, it's a perfect blend of radio friendly rock, razor sharp (hello typical phrase used in most review-like blogs) lyrics and amazing music.
 

In short, I'm drinking a beer, the sun is setting and i'm blaring Stay What You Are. Perfect.

(NotSo) Weekly Nostalgia - Jawbreaker

There’s no denying that Jawbreaker are up the top with some of the best indie rock bands of the 90s. Dear You still is one of my favourite records, from a covers album featuring some of the best punk and pop punk bands covering their timeless songs, to the ever rumoured reunion and documentary (which is still in the making, pending distribution and all that legal shit).
 

Even Bob Nanna (Braid) and Mike Kinsella (Joan of Arc, Cap’n Jazz, Owen) cite Jawbreaker as one of their main influences for becoming artists.
 

So let’s cap this blog off with some of my favourite lyrics..
 

Happy all the time. It's all we ever do.
Steady in decline. It's all we ever do.
I'm sorry but it's true.

Jawbreaker was:
 

Blake Schwarzenbach
Chris Bauermeister
Adam Pfahler

What's your favourite Jawbreaker song, and why?

Nostalgia - The Get Up Kids

Remember the days when that dirty 3 letter word wasn't all about how long your hair is, how many colours you have in it, or how tight your jeans are? I do, or well, i've read about it. The Get Up Kids are a cornerstone of my musical fabric existance. Ever since I heard 'I'm a Loner Dottie, A Rebel' from the stellar 1998 album Something to Write Home About, It's been a wonderful relationship between TGUK and I.

After the break up in 2004, i was left lost. It was like losing a close friend. Get Up Kids were like that puppy you got one day, and the one day, he runs away. I was heartbroken, especially after never seeing them live (which will change in February/March, but we'll get to that later.)

Fast forward a few years, 1,000's of fans rejoiced as TGUK announced their return. Memories flooded back when I was in high school, my first kiss, the first time i fucked, the first time i got arrested. TGUK was there. It's been a lovely relationship so far, and i'm sure it'll be a even better one with years to come.

Onto the whole touring thing, TGUK are on Soundwave with a few of my favourite bands from all genres. It's been a good 7-8 years. And finally. The time has come.

Long live TGUK.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thegetupkids