Mixtape: Sick day

So there I was a few hours ago, unable to get out of bed. I finished my book and nothing else was within reaching distance but my phone. No music, no entertainment and it hurt too much to get out of bed. So I started trying to think what songs I could turn into a mixtape about being sick. I had about 3 ideas and then I hit a blank wall (I blame the painkillers). So I turned to Twitter. And now, I present to you, my crowd-sourced sick day mixtape!

 

(Thanks Court, one of my favourite songs... Can't believe I didn't think of it)

The only time Kylie will be on my blog, outside of Nick Cave reasons. Thanks Kim!

Groovin' the Moo sideshows

The Australian festival scene is apparently saturated. Yeah, we've been told that a lot this past 12 months, with only 1 festival in Brisbane selling out (and it's this weekend!). But there's some festivals that don't even touch the major cities, but instead embrace different markets in more regional areas. The biggest (probably anyway) is Groovin' the Moo, which is not a festival I mention here often. And that's because it's Queensland leg is in Townsville. It's NSW leg is in Maitland. Either one will see me having to travel a day or more to get there.

But the beauty of this festival is that Brisbane actually gets sideshows! YES! Lots of them too.

First off the rank is a band with one of my favourite albums: Kaiser Chiefs. Their debut album Employment is just a ripsnorter of a Brit-pop-rock album full of synth and happy indie dance tunes.

Although their latest albums haven't had the same impact on me, they are still a great band to see live.

Kaiser Chiefs - HiFi, May 8

On the same night is the poster boy of the current surf-punk movement: Wavves. Although not really my thing, there's a lot of people I know that are going to put in some bad Hawaiian shirts and go along to this.

Wavves - The Zoo, May 8

 Playing the next day at the Zoo is a man who parties hard. And does the weather some times:

Andrew W.K. - The Zoo, May 9

Also on the same night there'll be a British band playing their jangly guitar indie. They have a song called Lego. Is that the reason I listened to them originally? You damn well know it.

The Maccabees - HiFi, May 9

The very last sideshow is actually over two nights, one all-ages and the other 18+. And it kind of hurts me, as he was once in a hardcore band that put out when of my all time favourite albums. It was called Watch Out! Nothing against his solo music, he has an amazing voice and is an incredible musician. It just makes me a little sad. That being said, he does throw a few Alexisonfire songs in occasionally.

City and Colour - The Tivoli, May 8 (18+), May 9 (all-ages)

City & Colour

This is Alexisonfire:

And coincidentally one of my favourite songs of all time. Hear the guy singing at times? He's Dallas Green:
And his solo project is also known as City and Colour (you're a smart cookie if you can figure out the link between his solo project name and his real name). His side project takes the melodies that he brings to Alexisonfire and pairs it with stripped down music, generally just his acoustic guitar.

You can listen to here: http://www.cityandcolour.ca/player/

The last time we were lucky enough to get some shows was when Alexisonfire were doing the Soundwave festival (barely a year ago!). At the time Dallas would play a City and Colour set early in the day and then bugger off to the main stage to rock hard with Alexis. This time though, it's just him playing solo.

April 8. Tivoli.