So Beautiful

SUPAKITCH & KORALIE - VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG from elr°y on Vimeo.

Highlights of my week

So here are just a few things that got me through the week, some of which I am sure will also get you through your Friday afternoon. Enjoy you crazy, spanner carrying, hat wearing, spider monkey loving castle building kids!

Music of my week!


The Jezabels – Another one of our awesome Triple J Unearthed findings of 2010, The Jezabels have really come into their own on the back end of the year, so much so that they were up for Unearthed artist of the year at the Triple J Awards. Previous winners of the award are names such as The John Steel Singers and The Middle East and this years’ competition was just as crazy as what should be expected. This 4 piece found themselves up against the recently named Glastonbury guests, Stonefield, the amazingly talented Gypsy and the Cat, and my personal favourite and eventual winners, Boy and Bear. So listen to the beautiful and powerful sounds of The Jezabels and let me know what you think, and if you are keen to check them out soon they will be playing at the Oxford Art Factory on Friday, 10th December and will also be at Peats Ridge Festival so check out their MySpace.




Music isn’t the only thing that got me through the week, so here are some great Ads that I also really enjoyed. MEOW!







A Couple of Great Reads

http://trendwatching.com/briefing/
http://ryan2point0.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/how-not-to-do-social-media/
And one last funny video
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/30853b6e05/charles-bronson-is?=twitter

Red Dead meets alien goodness

Andy Irons 1978 - 2010

R.A.E.D - so worth a post

Holy moly this is internet shaming hard out. Wow!

Thank you to Amnesia Blog for showing me this.... just re-posting.

Little Red riding on the goodness wave

Now I have been a giant supporter of Little Red for quite some time as you may know by previous posts and/or if you know me in a non-digital way and have had to deal with me constantly going on and on and on and on and on and such and such and so forth and so forth etc etc meow cat blargh roof bark nay....

So if you have met/read/heard (probable)/seen or just pondered about how much I constantly rant about these guys you would totally appreciate why I would then write this entry. The entry. The review of Little Red's latest album, Midnight Remember.

I like most fans of the doo-wop early writings of a band so obviously influenced by 1950's lifestyle, enter the absorbing stage of the music appreciation life cycle (yep, i just said that) with a fairly clear idea of earlier writings, earlier performances, earlier experiences and thus a clear idea of things to come.... naive, I know.

So with this naivety, I like James and his peach jump into the boogie bag and allow my senses to be hijacked on a voyage of niceties, harmonies, whimsicality and more importantly musicality.

Coca-cola this aint.

I am welcomed to the Little Red palace of a mature, grown and enhanced musicality, carrying undertones of animal collective with the clear, concise and beautifully constructed lyrical textures of a group clearly defined by growth, experience and a wish to solidify their place upon the stoop. Get A Life is a track that welcomes, while also alerting you to the fact - you do not know what we are capable of, you couldn't, we haven't done it yet, but check this out.

Heralding Slow Motion, Forget About Your Man and the instantly recognisable Rock It, this track sets about the task of educating us while only allowing the courtesy bus as our vantage point as to ensure we see, but we do not get hasty and damage slash or gauge.

The ensuing tracks, like a weepish pup, allow us to get slightly closer with time, allowing a touch, a word, a subtle meow and as such we are educated to its beauty and shocked by its capabilities. The positivity reflected in the early works of Little Red is not lost, by no means, and if anything the light touches of their signature harmonies, doo-wop styles do nothing less than create a sort of longing for more.

The hit single Rock It carries much of the original vibe Little Red presented us with in earlier tracks such as Coca Cola and Witch Doctor while continuing to build on a clearly more complex sound. A sound this particular listener is impressed by.

The album goes onto to build on its story and takes you, the passenger, on a delightful voyage across mountainous landscapes of harmonious treats.

I would, if i had such a system rate this highly with stars, smileys, thumbs, likes or whatever, but instead I will just recommend you have a listen. You will notice I have not included links to any of the new songs as I want you to seek these yourself, but I have included the great clip for the wonderful, Witchdoctor... enjoy and take care peeps.

yeow???

Before I even start, can I just say how amazing I feel to know that Stonefield, the amazingly talented family of sisters formerly known as Iotah, have been added to the Glastonbury bill. I still remember first hearing them come on air during the Unearthed High competition and just thinking, wow…. These girls can wail…. Seriously awesome sound. Check out the two tracks on their Myspace Page here or even better watch this great acoustic version of Through The Clover below. Massive things coming for these girls if you ask me… which I guess you have because you are reading my blog… not someone else’s… anyway, listen YEOW!

Yoddle Yoddle Noodle Noodle.

Now that that’s said, listened to and watched, what’s going on my Lovely, Loyal, reLiable, Loveable, Liquid-indulging, Lactose-tolerant and/or intolerant, Laminated, Likeable, Lime and Land Loving 8 followers? I absolutely kala-frickin-listic-ally heart all my followers! I recently realised that one day I will have to either give this thing a proper go and try and get my musings in front of more of those who may appreciate it, however, until this day comes I shall continue to send sporadic announcements of musical atonement, life pondering, little ups, little downs and all the goodness in between all this, all of course in an effort to distribute my brain berries to those hungry enough to try such a random concept/fruit.

Now, once again the gap between posts is long, and the learnings since last are vast, yet hopefully your heart still requires a light caress of musical and mind bottling goodness… yeah that’s right I said mind bottling. Like, putting everything in a bottle… So, here I am, bringing to you the pieces of my mind, the music of my ears and the ramblings of my soul. Let’s boogie.

So as you may or may not know, I recently returned from One Movement Music Festival and Musexpo in Perth. It was flippin ridiculously good. With speakers such as Lady Gaga’s international Manager Troy Carter, Rob Buckler (Content Manager iinet) and some you most likely already know like Michael “Chuggie” Chugg, Seymour Stein and Triple J’s very own Richard Kingsmill (who by the way I got to ask a question… AWESOMENESS) - seriously mouth watering stuff listening to what these legends of the music industry had to say on topics varying from the future of the music industry and the roles each component shall play, to monetization in the digital realm. A music lover’s wonderland.

Now the music side of this event was second to none, with side showcase appearances from bands representing nations from all over Asia Pacific including the exuberant Ze!, the adorable yet deadly Biuret (was so impressed that their musical inspiration was Pearl Jam) and Japans rockin, guitar looping, drum smashing duo - Uhnellys. The later being one of my favourites of the entire music festival. These showcase events were held throughout some back alley venues around Perth with the main Festival kicking off on Saturday and wrapping up Sunday.

The festival itself was rad, I was watching bands like Cloud Control, Boy & Bear, Passenger, The Holidays, Georgia Fair, Tim & Jean, Delta Spirit, Ben Kweller, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Miyavi (WOW – check this out), Miami Horror, Children Collide, Grinspoon, Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, Dan Sultan, Xavier Rudd, Drapht, Gypsy and The Cat, The Jezabels (AMAZING), Kora, An Horse and The Chemist. There were so many more but man, these bands were better than a free candy bar… and I flippin love candy bars. But if there is one thing you take from this post it should be this – Music is made by amazingly talented individuals. Many of us wish we were musicians of their calibre, but only few reach the levels these individuals have. This is their life and they are allowing us insights into it so we should be thankful and return the favour by attending as many live music gigs as possible to support them.

To wrap up this small post I just wanted to shout a massive wasssssssup to all the members of Dead Letter Chorus, in particular Cam and Gabrielle - you guys are flippin awesome peeps and your music is beautifully constructed and performed, and Guinea Fowl - Matty, Yarren and Douglas, you guys are flippin rad, music that blows the mind and personalities to match. I met and hung out with members of both these groups and I must say was absolutely blown away by their awesomeness and willingness to hang with a booze marketer and space cadet such as myself, talking music, beers, pizza and awesome balconies and all in between (picture my mind being blown at the idea of hanging out with awesome musicians in the most physical sense you can… it was just like that).

Thanks you swell peeps for reading this explosion that just landed on a keyboard, I shall continue to send you what I can when I can. I aim to write a more in-depth report on the actual musical experiences of One Movement including my terrible mistake in identity and my fumbling mess when trying to buy a cd off a band I loved watching…. EMBARRASEMENT!

Have a lovely weekend you crazy canoodles.

What will future generations condemn us for??

I know this is just a link but it is an amazing article, and one I think to be worth re-posting:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/24/AR2010092404113.html

Without expression, romance truly is dead

The Power Of Music continued

I can't remember if I posted about this before and don't have time to go through everything but this is just another example of the power of music for me. Truly awesome film clip from an amazing artist. Enjoy people

My Favourite ad on tv at the moment

September 22

This year it’s a Wednesday, and this year, once again, we wish one of the good ones, taken too too early, a happy happy birthday.

Miss ya brother

The Power of Music and the music making my week

In the marketing, communications, advertising and just general business world sometimes it is very easy to lose perspective, getting caught up in the needs of the business, the client, the product and your boss. Sometimes, it is best to step back and think about totally unrelated things and even more so, what is best for me. I did this today for just a moment and thought, what matters to me most right now is listening to some awesome music! So what did I do? I hit up my Hype Machine account(if you don’t have one get one), visited my loved songs list, shuffled it up a little and got the below delights echoing through my speakers…. Man music is unbelievable. It has flipped my day from semi-weirdly-not-so-great, into what can only be described as absolutely-positively-kalafrickinlistically-amazing! Furthermore, if this is what it can do for me in a day I thought I wonder how it has affected others and remembered this beautiful video sent to me the other day. Girls and boys, prepare the Kleenex, this one’s a truly touching story and I know it had me welling up:

Angus and Julia Stone - You're The One That I want

Delphic - Doubt

The XX - Intro

Common - The Light

Angus and Julia Stone - Paper Aeroplane

Eliza Doolittle - Skinny Genes

Interpol - Barricade

Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn Demo

Local Natives - Who Knows Who Cares (BrentonLABS Remix)

Sleigh Bells - Mon + Pop / N.E.E.T. Kids

Q-Tip - Even If It Is So

Local Natives - Cubism Dream

Metronomy - Not Made For Love (Astronomer Remix)

De La Soul - Thru Ya City

Lady Of The Sunshine - Anna

Eliza Doolittle - Rollerblades

Kele - Tenderoni

Local Natives - Warning Sign

N*E*R*D - Hot'N'Fun (Yeasayer Remix)

Bloc Party - The Present

Enjoy peeps

Something About Us

Chords of charismatic sensitivity.

Bass of immediate influence.

Rhythm of the steps taken.

Riff of an energised spirit.

Synth of synthetic ambience.

Lyrics of an emotionally charged generation.

This is literally the description I came up with when revisiting the moving, current like sounds of Daft Punk’s ninth track of Discovery – Something About Us. The track, though unheralded as such, was a real incentive for purchasing the album way back in 2001. While listening to the album in full at HMV (wish this was still possible at a CD store – they have missed a trick by letting this fall by the wayside) I knew the already classic sounds of One More Time and Harder Better Faster Stronger, however this was the track that enticed me, engulfed me, enhanced me.

How you can go from loving an artist for one or two pieces of work and being influenced to believe this is the sound, the stroke pattern, the imagery style they stand by and will represent throughout their work is what inspires me to learn as much about those influences in my life. The human condition is such a strange thing, I feel it is the catalyst for why I listen to what I do, when I do. It causes ripples in my pond, allowing for certain tadpoles to transcend into the ether of the voyage, becoming substantial frogs there within. Like in life, these frogs shall spout off-spring living in different ponds, flowing rivers, rapids, calm rock-pools and steaming spring rain. The different genres combine and create the waterfall that is the always running, varying, and creating musical experiences which shape the mould of the aging spirit. Truly amazing how one shall flow into the other.

Upon reading of the always intelligent, insightful and inspiring writings of @_sarahwilson_ and her experience while meeting the Dalai Lama - discussing the idea of How To Stop Head Chatter - I gained an insight of his laid back, always positive, happy and energised view of being. This provoked me to do just that and I await the coming days/weeks/months with open arms.

Now like a VHS system I am redundant as this has been explored millions of times by those before me however learning is what allows for knowledge (DUH!) and as thus I shall continue to post on the things I learn, though they have been learnt before.

Peace hat wearing spiders

beauty in the i of the internet

Beauty is found in the most profound places and times.

Technology allows time and place to perhaps diminish in importance.

Combined we can sometimes feel as though someone we have only met in the digital sphere knows so much about us, where we are from and where we are going.

I personally fell this a great thing that should not be squashed by the thought of privacy.

Anyway, enough blabble (yes that is a made up word!) time to check out what has made me think in such ways so early on a Tuesday morning! Check this beautifully crafted interactive film clip for Arcade Fire's track We Used To Wait. It will blow your mind and make you think of many things, not least the idea of privacy, however this is not the point. The point is music, technology, mind and beauty are combined to create something so typically awesome. Please give it a try here http://thewildernessdowntown.com/

Enjoy and have a swell morning.

Peace meow

this is some of the neatest skating I have seen

Pyramids

Alright alright, the super excitement machine just drove through my face from the monitor as I read the line-up for the upcoming Pyramid Rock Festival. It's gonna be so flippin rad it's not even funny. I thought though that for any peeps unfamiliar with any of the bands that have got me so pumped, I would share some youtube videos of some of the awesomeness reps so you cann see for yourself.
Anyways check it:

N*E*R*D headlining:



And some of the others that have got me pumpety pumped are:















anyway, just a couple worth cjecking out, I hope you enjoy YEOW!

peace

Hmmm mix of me

This is possible one of the most awesome outdoor advertising executions I have seen in many a year... thanks @Ben_Phillips for passing on

Also, thanks to a recommendation from Erika at @cassettetweet I have been practicing my HTML coding as I have never actually learnt how to do it but really want to no more more more.....



and now I am feeling like I actually know what I am doing when I use it. In my current role it is all about strategic use of social platforms which is awesome, but I feel like I am cheating the system a little if I do not know how to actually build elements of those platforms or at least add-ons.

Anyway, let me know if you think I am starting to look like I know how to do it... also, did you hear Homebake is on hold this year? http://www.getmusic.com.au/news/detail.aspx?nid=2102

I think it is appropriate if we look at a beautiful little snippet of 2009 featuring The Middle East and more.



ANyways I hope you peeps are flippin rad and let's hang out again soon uh, noice.

Hit me up @_egg if you wanna chat moresies meow =)

Sparkadia are back

Ok so not sure if you are all fans however I think this group has a real knack for making music which encourages my body to move like a squid to Bruce Springstein! Love their stuff like Too Much To Do



And Jealousy!



And when I heard that I should not expect any new music from them a while back my heart was broken in all kinds of metalic shards of disbelief... now however, while listening to The Doctor on the always present Triple J I heard the news of a new track released, Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs which can be found on their myspace.

I.
Love.
It.

Nice one Sparkle Sparkles.

Now on other news any surfers out there check out this radness of a competition my work is doing. I try not to push any work related stuff out through my own blogs etc but if I didn't work for them I would be entering hahaha so just thought I would share, it's called The Break and is giving any young surfers out there the chance to win a sponsorship on the WQS with a package of $50k for Men and $25k for women, so hit it up! AWESOME!

Oh also a friend posted an awesome blog titled "Search and Social Media today and beyond" and if this is something that interests you it is definitely worth a read.

Anyways enjoy paper people YEOW!

Growing old. Not Growing up Pt.2

This is currently my favourite topic of discussion.

I have become infatuated by the concept.

The thought that we are becoming more individual than those before us intrigues me.

It enlightens thought previously evoked that those elder may not always know the answer.

That wisdom is not dependant on age.

Age does not necessarily indicate knowledge nor is it detrimental.

It is not the catalyst nor the killer.

It is a constant.

I recently stumbled across this amazing article in the New York Times thanks to Mark MacSmith from Content-Kids. He, through Twitter, posted a link to it with the simple line of "Are you a 20-something? READ THIS!". If I were to delve deeper than necessary I would say this is the perfect call to action for any 20-something as it is straight to the point and the director, Mark, has proven through Content Kids that he knows what he is talking about in regard to youth + pop culture.

This article contains a discussion point around the pre-conceived view of adulthood and the milestones through which we pass to reach this pinnacle of life. It discusses the ups + downs of such a theory and how it dates back to the 70's. It then goes on to discuss i depth the thought that these milestones have near to no relevance today with 20-somethings. The line "Kids don't shuffle along in unison on the road to maturity. They slouch toward adulthood at an uneven, highly individual pace" resonates particularly well with me in regards to individualism and cultural change.

As a 20-something interested in many facets of life, I believe it is my duty to share this article with you so I hope you enjoy and can take something out of it.

Full article link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?_r=2&src=tptw

Loving this so much, particularly the beautiful collaboration between Passenger and Boy & Bear. What do you guys think?

http://flightofthecrow.com/widget/

Beautiful music

Further to last nights mention of the cross over between my job and my social life, I was sent this video this morning which highlights my thoughts on the matter... This really does showcase the crossing of social, personal and professional...

Growing old. Not growing up

I recently began thinking of this statement and realised I am living it.

The idea of growing up, at least in my mind, means to become serious.

Becoming serious is something I never plan to do in all capacities of life.

Obviously this seriousness has a place and a form in my life.

I do not want it to be my life, all the time, all places and all encompassing.

If I were to sit here and rant and preach I would be being serious.

I have never done so, and I do not plan to.

If you were to post a serious comment on my blog or send me a serious email. ok.

That is your bag and you can carry it as long as you wish.

I however do not like bags that weigh me down.

Instead I like a bag with lots of pockets, space to dance and at least space for a cold beverage.

spreadsheets. powerpoints. word. blog. tweet. like. share. .jpg

This is my serious and its cross-section with my life is beyond recognisable however this is the path chosen and the path loved. The world has changed much since the readings of our childhood and who here can honestly say the preferred it back then. I am happy. I am writing. I am continually evolving and learning. I am super dooper calaflippin awesome! Go world and keep on being rad as I see you as an open pair of kicks waiting to be worn in and trounced around in. This is...

Hmm... contemplation has struck and I realised this is a music blog and not one of mental exhaustion... currently I am suffering from such a thing and it seems to be spilling onto my keyboard like ink from a fountain pen. or perhaps a bottle of fountain. or perhaps mono-tonal monologue screaming for character. Music shares this dimension and shares this space. Music knows and feels all and can emote what many of us can't. hearing is one of my greatest assets, one I utilise each day. Speaking however is often left for those whom have access and can do so with elegance. music allows the harshest of harsh, the softest of softs and even the brashest of brash to share a room and share a space. Share dimensions and gloat from rooftops. music is...

If you read this thank you. If you do not wish to but instead feel the need to be delighted and enlightened hit up the below links for some beautiful music I sent on to a friend I was working with up until last week. I hope she likes it and I hope you peeps do too.

http://www.myspace.com/cloudcontrol

http://www.blackcabsessions.com/sessions.php?id=1279378626&type=1

http://www.myspace.com/boyandbearmusic

http://soundcloud.com/inertiamusic/passenger-shape-of-love-feat-boy-bear/s-Jv2qf

Peace meow

Best surf viral awesomeness!

This video makes me laugh so much everytime. Just found it again and aint watched it in ages so thought I would pass on to you awesome peeps. Check it and if you, like me believe it is rad hit me up and let me know meow

New Job + lots of writing = absence from personal blog

Sorry for the absence peeps but due to my recent start of the new role involving a lot of writing, editing and maintenance of content I have just been too busy… I know way way way lame excuse, so let’s pretend I never said it and instead just talk music.

I have been listening to so much music lately and getting to plenty of gigs so why should I not share these with you, the awesome peeps you be. Live footage of Cloud Control and Band Of Horses playing the Black Cab Sessions has pretty much been the peak of my musical appreciation of late. The way they replicate their harmonies and soaring sounds has had me breathless. Cloud Control have begun making a real name for themselves in the UK market and we hope to hear more about them in coming weeks. I will try report what I hear, when I hear it!

As always the ever-amazing Hype Machine has ensured I do not miss any updates of great performances by Local Natives, Delphic and Foals. All three groups have had me literally reaching out for more **cue sound of smashing my hand against the monitor to awaken my senses remembering I am, as most, just sitting at a computer and not there experiencing the awesomeness live** They all bring a very different sound to the stage and have all received a lot of recognition of late. Really loving it peeps, keep keep keep it comin YEOW!

I hit up Freshly Cut @ The Gaelic on Thursday night to see Chaingang, My Future Lies and The Jefferson and I love being able to do this with work because it reminds me that while little coverage is received from such gigs, the Sydney Live Music Scene is alive and flippin awesome! The crowd was so cool, getting into their favourite tracks and just rockin out like it's 1956 (or some more relevant year). Definitely worth keeping this night in mind if just looking for a cheap night of good music with a solid crew of fans.

Anyway, brief but packed with goodness so hit this biz up and let me know what ya’ll tink tink tink. I gonna try and get back on this shiz a bit more often in the coming weeks but if not, I will apologise again next time.

Later hat wearing peeps

Secret. Untapped. Unearthed.

So let’s try this again. I just finished my entry for today when KABLAMO! Web decides it can’t publish my post and that it is lost forever… I don’t know how, and I don’t know why but it is, so let’s try again!

Wassup?! How are we on this freaky deaky Friday? If your answer is not “Awesome captain awesome!” well read on, because it will be because today is… **anticipated gasp, no breathing, heavy air, sore chest, pains in leg** New Music Day!! **insert young child – “Yay mummy, can I have some new music on new music day?” – “No Tommy, we have your fathers record collection at home”** Guess you miss out today Tommy. Now who provides new Aussie music better than any other person you know, you don’t know and maybe even better than those that don’t exist? Triple J Unearthed that’s who. You know’em, they brought you so many bands who make your blood boil, your sweat turn to air and your teeth almost fall out from smiling so much. Grinspoon, The Middle East, Missy Higgins, Philadelphia Grand Jury and Art vs Science are just a tiny, minuscule few of those they have discovered and they continue to do so every day. While live venues around Australia close down and being heard becomes harder, Triple J Unearthed fills the void in the digital landscape and provides a tree to be climbed, an avenue to be walked, an apple crumble to eat and the glass of wine to go with it. Thank you Triple J for helping us hear what talent resides upon our shores and what untapped, undiscovered resources we have. YEOW!

Now, enough of a love-in for one day, let’s talk music. Firstly, lets kick it off with these lads from WA who just smashed onto the scene with a couple of gems a while back but I just can’t get enough of. Still super crazy young, and so energized it puts batteries to shame, Tim & Jean have got talent falling out their skin holes and music you taste with your soul. With the track Come Around they encapsulate a generation of festival going, electro individualism loving peeps who live for the music and the experience it allows them to have with those they love. Like a slurpee in the sun, or a whippee on the run, check’em out. If you likey you have to watch this cover of Dave Mathews Band’s Crash, totally out of whack with the audio and not really what you would expect from other tracks, but it kind of adds to its goodness me thinks.

Alright alright, now the gents I never tire of mentioning because they just keep giving me reason to, Boy & Bear, have wrapped up their UK tour with Laura Marling (who may I add has the most beautiful, resonating tone of which I heart) and are about to embark on their tour supporting Lisa Mitchell (also lovely, see earlier posts for appreciation) with good friends Georgia Fair. These guys have had a massive year, coming in at around 153* on triple J’s Hottest 100 (* thereabouts) and having sell out shows all year including one show in Melbourne where this amazing fan-recorded video was shot featuring Laura Marling and Marcus Mumford on their track Mexican Mavis while touring together. Check it, seriously wicked stuff. On top of all this, like a little cherry on your weat-bix sundae, these guys are just about to release their debut EP, so for details hit them up on MySpace, Facebook or even Twitter (tech Savvy Gen Y Artists dude… they got everything). And if you need more persuading, watch this beautiful cover of Bon Iver’s Flume. Love it.

Now let’s keep this train rolling, or steaming, or pouring or whatever. You may or not have heard of these guys, but either way I am sure you will not turn their song off if you hear it. I am talking of course about the awesome sounds of Deep Sea Arcade for which you should take a deep breath, buy some scuba gear or just marry a shark and get under water now to visit this mesmerising place and partake in some sweet sweet games. They can turn your dial and by your smile my friend. My favourite is the highly hyped Lonely In Your Arms as it taps my tapping tapper nicely, but this is followed closely by the lovely yet surprisingly saddening Don’t Be Sorry. On top of this, about a month ago a little birdie dropped a disc on my lap which set alight. I proceeded to shout, scream, pant, cry… until I shouted what it said on the disc… Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!... Now if you listen to Triple J you would have heard one of two tracks me thinks but man can these guys set you and your theory alight with rockin, unique distinguished sounds that set them apart and straight up on fire. A six piece from beautiful NSW these guys and girlie whirlies are just straight up awesome so check’em out.

Blam so that be it peeps. Like a camel in the dessert, I am sweet as a nut and I am sorry for delays in posts of late, I have left my job, started a new one and just got plenty of biz biz mark going on right now so bare with me and all shall be bowling again soon. Thanks peeps and don’t forget Boy & Bear EP launch so hit them up and get on the wagon before it turns into a bus, then a plane and then a jet-ski carrying, aeroplane fuelling, car mega yacht YEOW!

This movie is everything awesome ever, put into a movie!

This looks amazing! Nuf said.

Dinosaurs are alive, just Red with Hunger

It's Friday and if you translate the word Friday into Dinosaur descripto-goodness you are left with a sweet sweet treat of an explanation. Friday = New Music day, and new music day today equals a couple of amazing tracks by a couple of up and coming artists. I want to get you started with the Last Dinosaurs new track Honolulu, so sit back, maybe make a Tea and bake a croissant and just listen to this delicious track.

Now if when listening to this you didn't get that awesome little head wobble you always get when you hear something that tickles your nose, the sole of your foot, the tea leaves in your cup and makes you want to dance to scratch the itch, then perhaps I have grossly misjudged the kind of music that makes you smile. However, I highly doubt you don't have that little head wobble... if you look at yourself in the mirror right now this is what you will see. The track is just a tiny piece of evidence that not only did dinosaurs exist, they still do and they create some lovely music, all the while excluding samples of their own shreiking voices... something the makers of Jurassic Park could learn from when they make the long awaited sequel to JP3.

Now while you have that head all wobbly bobbly I think this track is a nice follow up, as it has a similar formula and in typical indie pop style the combination of unique voice and catchy, dancy guitar riff makes your music loving soul just skip from side-to-side 1950's style.

Red Riders, the Sydney bunch not to be confused with Melbournes Little Red who are also a favourite, just have a great knack for finding the kind of rhythm that makes your t-shirt want to be drenched in rockin sweat and your hair to smell of festival from the awesome bopping anticipation and allows you to enjoy each beat without actually thinking too hard about what you are listening to. So grab a partner and get bopping!

Now, after all this talking you must be hungry? Gozlem Facecake? Pancetta pyjamas? Whatever tickles your fancy, these guys will get you through the feast. Check Hungry Kids of Hungary's tracks Set It Right and Let You Down below, and I am sure you will agree the kind of meal these kids produce is one of absolute quality. I can't imagine them having many leftovers after their guests are done consuming the many intricate delicacies on offer.

Now my lovely peeps, I guess all this eating has made me sleepy, so I am going to trek down the road to my farewell drinks for work so until next time you crazy, kanoodling cadets have a great night of the nerks! I Hope. You Get A Kick Out Of This!

LOOK AT ALL THOSE CONTROLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Journey of a lifetime contained in an ipod

Where have you been???

This is a question sometimes resulting in good news, sometimes in bad. If you bought a lottery ticket, didn't claim it for weeks then all of a sudden showed up asking for them to check your numbers? Good news. If you are married but you been out with some P.Y.T like MJ provoked? Bad News. Like the bad news bears. Unlike the fuzzy wuzzy care bears.

So lately I have been working hard on building my musical knowledge. Getting to as many gigs as possible. Sleeping in many rat infested alleys in an effort to catch a glimpse of the artists creating the soundtrack to my life. Strolling through the corridors of musical wonder and ducking through the many small doorways to musical bliss, all in an effort to convince others that music is not just notes, melodies, rhythms and vibes, but more of a device allowing self to escape, stimulate and evoke.

Escape whatever it is needing to be escaped. perhaps love. lonlieness. the jungle. the mystic voyage. pancakes with too much syrup. the storm inside your brain that drives your motion filled dreams and allows no rest. . Whatever it is, music is the thoughtless catalyst of escapism. It's stimulating. Sometimes you can be walking through the park, happy as your mate Larry, or his mate Karry (she secretly loves Larry but is afraid to admit due to the resemblance in names), when all of a sudden like a Danny Green right comes the sombre, dulcet tones of Xavier Rudd with Green Spandex or Leonard Cohen with Hallelujah. Immediately, without a second thought your soul transcends it previously happy be-bop mood to a more life pondering, perplexed and self-perpetuating assumption of sadness. Don't blame it on the DJ. Just relish musics power to influence the soul without a notion, a knock on the door or even a "tweet". This is the raw power music possess like that of a lion in the wild or gorilla in the midst. Provoking evocative thought to drive you toward a feeling. A feeling of whatever the music brings to your soul. Could be anything, dependent on where the song takes you and where you take it.

Days like that last forever

Eergh Eergh Eergh Eergh Eergh Eergh Eergh Eergh Eergh Eergh

This is the sound of your alarm ringing on a Sunday morning, shaking the very foundations of thought as your mind attempts to piece together this welcome puzzle life has decided to throw at you so early, on what has for years been known as the Day of Rest, Sunday. You bumble around in a seek and destroy effort, anything that looks able to make such a hellish sound shall meet it's destruction, while in the process many innocent lives will be lost. iPod - BLAM! Phone - Blam Blam! Wallet - woosh, BLAM! Finally your eyes are open enough to realise it is your alarm which you strategically moved late last night so that you will wake up this morning and not sleep through it, you placed it in the cupboard, top shelf, underneath the clothes you plan on wearing today. Tick, something is on today, it is the reason you hid your alarm and why their is an outfit already ready ready to go go. Tock, it's Sunday, you should be asleep but something is calling, and it isn't Brian, it is a substantial gathered mass announcing the same realisation you are about to have as your brain continues to piece it all together and switch dates, numbers, people, photos, bands, music.... Bands?... Music?... Tick, today is Days Like This.

The crowd has erupted, singing your praises as you, you have just found the final piece of the puzzle. Your face no longer a jumbled mess of confusion and anxiety, but in it's place sits the cheesiest grin seen for decades. So much brie the people of France become jealous at your image and attempt to destroy you through poisoning the very cheese that is your smile, however they find it hard to infiltrate the outer defence, the ever present moustache!

So peeps, aside from my brain rambles, what I am trying to tell you is that on Sunday 10th January 2010 I, along with my 20 piece crew, descended upon the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney to marvel at the talents of some of the worlds best at Days Like This. This is the festival I tried to open all your eyes to in the dying hours of the anticipation filled countdown last week. The festival featuring such rawkus beasts as Methodman and Redman, Ugly Duckling and Dilated Peoples. When I say Ruwkus beasts, this is in no way intended to be insulting, but more an awakening of your musical senses as it is these artists who will bring out new feelings and emotions if to their music you are new. If you are an Ugly Duckling Virgin for instance, I am sure you will be surprised at their topical, conversational form of rhyme and their absolute aura on stage. They may not illuminate the stage with their soulful tones or whimsical styles as a Lisa Mitchell or Sarah Blasko would, but more an aura of "welcome, now that you have heard us and taken notice, why don't you join in this sweet funk driven vibe we got going on, and listen to us tell you a story." Make sense?

Now the day was all I expected and all I tried to tell you the other day. Amazing vibe, great artists, good food and drink with little to no line, and of course good people there for one purpose, good musical experiences. The later is exactly what each person received upon arriving. I started my day by popping into see Harmonic 313 for some Dub-step in the Forum, just briefly I may ad, only as I did not want to miss the loving, almost bopping melodies of The Bamboos. Man, their funky beats could light up the darkest corner of your soul, tugging at your limbs to make you dance like a man possessed, pulling on your every emotion to ensure you have a full on sensually experience. I know people were looking at me as though I was fitting this exact description, but not in a bad way, people were appreciative of the early participation levels.

Now, after this I staked out a good spot at the Garden stage for the next three acts as these were ones I could not, would not and definitely did not miss. I am talking of course of Dilated Peoples, Mayer Hawthorne and Ugly Duckling. While I ducked away for very short moments to catch a song by Cat Power and a couple of tracks of Roots Manuva, this time frame was the purpose of my purchase, to see three great musical talents rock my soul. And this they did in style.

Wearing a dapper suit with velvet backed vest, Mayer Hawthorne dominated the stage with his presence and of course with his voice. Gently caressing the hearts of every girl in the crowd, and empowering all boys to do the same, his lyrics float on the mo-town train through the musical abyss. Ensuring safe passage and happy travels as you view the falsetto notes pass you by in your carriage, the tea you sip is warm and encouraging and you feel safe resting in this place.

Anyway I can discuss more in depth if interested just drop me a message or whatever and I can do another installment and more performers etc, but as today is the last day I do not wish to bombard you with too many musical droppings. Have a lovely day peeps and stay tuned for more posts tonight including Method Man and Red Man and the amazing gig I went to last night, John Butler Trio YEOW!

Abbey Road's Kook'ie Bloc Party with plenty of noisettes

Launch in 3

2

1

0

We have lift off!

BLAM BLAM THANK YOU MONSIEUR! Hello, welcome and what is up my lovely people, are you all pumped and ready for the lovely space in time set aside for us to relax/not relax/partay/sleep/hang out/hang in and just plain old do whatever the flip we feel like? Well I hope so because unless that creepy guy who screams at people on the street is correct and today is Armageddon, the weekend is almost upon us! What better way to ring in the weekend than by sharing some awesome, super-flippin-sweet-as music with you so that you can be in the right mood to partake in whatever endeavours you shall be partaking in this glorious weekend.

When thinking of what music would be appropriate I thought to myself, "What do I feel like listening to?" and obviously I remembered, the best way to share music with people is to just give you whatever I feel like listening to so that you can hopefully enjoy it as much as I do, resulting in you sending me some stuff you are listening to and it having the same affect. Does that make sense? I hope so because now it is written and if it doesn't make sense I am currently just fumbling around trying to make sense of it while still typing... I am going to stop. Anyway, this made me think "How about I share some music as seen on the amazing television show, Live From Abbey Road, and some of my favourite performances from past to present?"... "What an awesome idea!!" I hear you say, so all fumbling aside to the pile of half-eaten blackberries beside my keyboard, and I get writing.

Thinking back to this amazing recording studios early days people remember it for The Beatles and Pink Floyd and the unique approaches to recording they employed to create their masterpieces in the 60's. However, I am not going to say I know everything about the unique approaches they made because I do not know enough details, but the thing I do know is the sound that can be created in this place is amazing. This was what made the television show a real stand out for me, and ensured I was and have been glued to every episode, inspiring me to buy more music from certain artists who feature on episodes and even introduce me to some like Nerina Pallot and Josh Groban.

One thing that really strikes a chord with me is ensuring the musicians are made to be real people. They are not introduced in an extravagant way, there are no wild crowds screaming their names, no laser shows and definitely no back-up dancers, just real people who have the gifts to entertain and move us with their abilities. The small snippets of one-on-one interview time really reach to the core of their reasons for being in and how they perceive music, why they do what they do and often what inspires and drives them to continue to do so. This being said, these little bits and pieces also help mould the artist into something more, it touches on them as a person and when you see them laugh or say something you have this fast realisation that apart from making music, this person could be you, me or anyone.

Anyway enough enough enough, I can hear you screaming, give me some music, feed my vampiric thirst and quench my drought ridden music soul with your effervescent, strangely satisfying musical gifts. So here it is, my top 10 performances that I can find on the inter-planitarium-space-time-continuam-web, this is based purely on the ones that have resonated with me particularly and ensures I continually tune into the show and continue to love love heart heart heart it. Let me know what all you kiddly-kiddle-mango-tango-berrie-goodness-children think. YEOW!

1. Noisettes - Every Now and Then

2. Ben Harper - Use Me

3. Damien Rice - Rootless Tree

4. Bloc Party - Signs

5. Herbie Hancock and Corrine Bailey Rae - River (AMAZING!!!)

6. The Kooks - Matchbox

7. Sara Bareilles - Oh Darling

8. Little Boots - Stuck On Repeat

9. The Black Keys - Same Old Thing

10. The Mars Volta - Goliath

My World Tour : Profile : nickbrown

My World Tour : Profile : nickbrown

Who is Public Enemy No. 1

I will tell you who is Public Enemy No. 1, only if you can absolutely promise that whoever wins this competition does not become like those kids on MTV and V at the moment. Please remember that at the core of this competition is the idea of representing Music as people like us, Music Lovers, see and hear it. You must hold its integrity while interviewing, listening, viewing and writing about the wondrous music land you are travelling on your voyage of My World Tour. Well, I guess you don't have to do anything except a good job, but please, for all our sakes, the people who have tried hard to compel and intrigue those in this comp, just try and be yourself and represent all of us on your journey in music goodness wonderland.



Now, while you are listening to the bluesy rockin beauty that is Otis Taylor's "Ten Million Slaves" I thought I would discuss a movie which I feel was made by its soundtrack once again. I am talking of course of the 1930's based, crime-semi-documentary thriller that is Public Enemies. Of course this movie got ridiculous amounts of promotion as it features the one and only Johnnie Depp, but I feel the real poster boys and girls of this film have got to be those featured on the soundtrack. The one and only Billie Holiday has to be a standout as her voice sets the tone of the film, and helps build on characters and relationships, none more evident than that of the relations ship between John Dilinger and Billie Frechette. The song Love me or Leave me is the song used for the love scene the two share and helps capture their romance and undivided devotion to one another. The two immediately share an unspoken love from the moment they meet eyes in a restaurant, but it is not until they dance to the sweet sounds of Diana Krall, with Bye Bye Blackbird that they begin to understand each other. This song becomes a stable throughout the film as it is the words to this which Dillinger utters upon death, feeling obviously that his girl will know him, and know he never intended pain on her. The song itself is one of beatuy and one which is now on high rotation in my musical playing device, that is for certain. Tell me what you think.

Now while I have touched on the lovely melodies of Billie Holiday and Diana Krall, there is still a darker and also a more shoot'em'up side to the soundtrack in songs such as Nasty Letter by Otis Talyor which begins with a beautiful piece of blues guitar which captures the time and essence of the 30's. I think this has got to be my recommended song for you all to listen to as its intensity and motivated rhythm capture all that this movie describes, while Taylors voice is genuinely unique but still so typical of the time.

But kids, dudes, dudettes, kissers, huggers, chipmunks and all you awesome peepety peeps out there, this is all opinion, I would love it if you could just pick up a stick and throw it toward the tree to see if your piece fits or if you would prefer to build your on tree house. If you like, tell me, but if not lets just share a smile and a wave next time we cross paths, if this path leads to mango juice with a paddle boat and sun-rain covered days, all the better. YEOW!