The Tallest Man On Earth

He's really not that tall. And he's Swedish.

But as you listen to his folk music in the above video, you can't help but come to the conclusion that pretty much everyone else has: he sounds like old school Bob Dylan. I've yet to read a review that doesn't make this link. It's not a bad thing at all though. His song-writing and his singing is very similar in both style and absolute awesomeness.

Come October, he'll be down under playing a show at the Powerhouse. When it comes to venues to sit down and listen to a man play his guitar and serenade me, I can't think of many other perfect venues. Maybe the Troubadour or the Globe.

This is not a show you want to miss. October 21, Powerhouse.

The Haunted (Made Me Do It)

If there's one thing Scandinavian countries are good at, it's metal. If it's one thing Sweden is good at, it's making music with English lyrics that is just so damned good. Mix it together and you get thrash metal legends, the Haunted.

Back in my young and clueless days, my friend was trying to describe to me good metal bands (at the time, my knowledge was solely based on Metallica, Soulfly and Slipknot) and he introduced me to thrash using the Haunted. Ever since then I keep forgetting abou this band until I see someone wear their T-shirt or they pop up on repeat and I go on a crazy listening spree. So guess what, that's about to happen again.

Which is good, because it should get me ready for their Australian tour this year. May 26, the HiFi, 18+.

MySpace

Free new tracks (Flooging Molly and Peter Bjorn and John)

Today brings you not one, but two new free tracks from great artists. The first one is from Flogging Molly, one of my favourite folk-punk bands. Featuring a huge Irish influence and 7 excellent musicians playing all sorts of folky instruments, they are always one to get me up and dancing a jig.

You can get their free new track, Don't Shut 'Em Down, by signing up to their newsletter here. It's less folky than a lot of their other songs and I think they are going for a little more of a mainstream rock sound, but it's still good. Especially the accordian. There needs to be more accordian in rock.

The other track is from Swedes Peter Bjorn and John, probably best known for that damn song with the whistling that always gets stuck in my goddamn head. Their new song, Breaker Breaker, can be streamed and downloaded from this website. If all you know is the song Young Folks (with the whistling) this will be different for you. It's short, it's distorted, it's faster and it's a lot noiser indie. There's no folk here. With my leanings towards noisy music, I like it of course.

Gorillaz support/Little Dragon sideshows

Oh Sweden, how come you make such good music? It's criminal how much good music of all genres comes from your cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold country. The latest is this very mellow electronic band, Little Dragon.

Mmmm, dreamy. And wouldn't you know it, they are coming out to play with the Gorillaz! I believe their role is to be the band behind the band. But at the same time they will be part of the opening band. And by part of the opening band, I mean they are doing the music for De La Soul who will be rapping as the openers, before joining back in with the main Gorillaz show.

They'll also be playing a set at Woodland (it's a new indie bar upstairs from the Mustang, enter via the alleyway behind the Family) on December 18th.

Little Dragon MySpace

Of course, I'm seeing the Descendents at the No Sleep Til festival, so I will probably head to Woodland to catch Little Dragon.

Bloody Beetroots vs Refused

Announced last week as part of the Big Day Out festival, Italy's electronic group Bloody Beetroots have announced a very, very special guest for their Australian tour. And it's made me oh so bloody well excited. Clue:

The lead singer of one of my all time favourite (and classic) hardcore bands, Dennis Lyxzen of Refused (and International Noise Conspiracy and AC4) will be joining them for the Big Day Out. There's no news what they'll be playing yet, but apparently their current live shows include a cover of the classic Refused song New Noise (the above video). If they do that, I will probably die happy on the spot. It will be the closest I will ever get to seeing Refused, apart from my DVD.

No Years

It's not too early to start thinking about your New Years Eve plans. It's only a few months away now you know. If you come up with no ideas though, you should head to the Powerhouse for the No Years Festival.


The headliners are the Shout Out Louds. I've always said that Sweden makes some of the best music in the world, and the Shout Out Louds do not let that reputation down. Imagine as if Robert Smith (of the Cure) was Swedish. That's how I think the Shout Out Louds sound.

Also playing are the John Steel Singers, Parades and Little Scout. A great indie way to ring in the new year. And who knows, you may get to pash a hipster at midnight.

No Years Festival, the Powerhouse, December 31.

Shout Out Louds

More Soundwave bands

The few remaining bands for next year's Soundwave festival have been slowly leaking. Two more have come out over the last few days. The big one, that I am actually excited for, is Swedish skate-punk pioneers Millencolin


It's weird to think that it has been 10 years since they released the album Pennybridge Pioneers, which gave them notoriety for songs such as Penguins and Polarbears and No Cigar. Their last tour was a 2008, following the release of the album Machine 15. I saw them play a great mix of their old songs and new songs in a very energetic and enjoyable gig. A great live band.

The other announcement are the post-hardcore boys from Gympie gone big: Amity Affliction. I've seen these guys more times than I can remember, from pre-EP days through to earlier this year. If you haven't heard of them by now, you probably don't go to live music in Brisbane very often. They've played pretty much every Soundwave festival in Brisbane, starting as the opening local band in the very first one.

MySpace

Multiple concert details

I've ordered a new computer! Hopefully I'll have it within in the next week and I can get back to actually updating my blog, but for now, enjoy multiple announcements in one post!

Leatherface

British punk-rockers Leatherface are coming to Australia as part of some sort of show in Melbourne. But we're lucky enough to get them playing a solo gig. They've been a band for 22 years, mixing together gravelly vocals with folk-punk and touches of hardcore.

See them September 11 at Rosies for Thriller (18+)

Leatherface

Soilwork

No one does death metal like the scandinavians. Soilwork hails from Sweden, which might explain their slightly more melodic take on metal. You can catch them at the HiFi on the 21st of October. (18+)

Soilwork

Mary Jane Kelly

I first heard these guys on Triple J one afternoon and fell in love with them. How often does radio play heavy shit in primetime? The New South Welshmen's thrashier-hardcore earned them a spot on the Boys of Summer tour last year with Every Time I Die. I rocked up too late to see them, but I've heard lots of good things.

July 15 - Snitch (299), 18+
July 16 - The Fort, All ages

Death Before Dishonor

Hardcore from Boston. Lot's of people love these guys and it's easy to see why. I'm only just starting to listen to them, so I can't tell you much.

August 31 - 299, 18+
September 1 - The Fort, All Ages

Death Before Dishonor

Calling All Cars/Numbers Radio

It's good to see Australian bands do well and tour nationally together. I've seen both of these bands, with both being more heavier alternative rock. But both rock pretty hard. Brisbane locals Numbers Radio especially.

September 24 - Never Land (Gold Coast), 18+
September 25 - X&Y, 18+

Calling All Cars
Numbers Radio