The flood fundraiser to out-fundraise them all?

This band is probably only known as the band that has the guy that was once in Nirvana. No other reason really. But luckily for us, they will be doing a fundraising gig for the floods in Brisbane (and one in Auckland for the earthquake).

They are the mighty Foo Fighters.

It's probably their only Australian show (not really, they have a secret gig in Sydney, but it's a secret so it doesn't count, right?) in their preparation/celebration of their soon to be release album. And it's a great way to raise money.

It's going to be at the Riverstage, March 29 for $99. That's about the average price for their show I guess, but this one is all going to charity, so no complaints from me!

There will be three supports: You Am I, Cloud Control and TBA. The best part of the TBA is that it could be you! Or me. I'm hoping me. You can enter by following the details at Frontier Touring's Website

Sidewave/Flood Relief/HUGE SHOW

I'll be quick so you can read this and buy your ticket, because there's only about 80 left. It got announced earlier today and it's already almost sold out.

But on February 25 a bunch of Soundwave bands will be doing a flood relief show at the Step Inn. They are Trash Talk, Terror, H20 and the headline act will be the Bronx! This is a massive show. MASSIVE. At a tiny venue. Something like ~150 people only will be in there.

The ticket revenue will be going straight to the flood relief. So not only is it a great show (featuring one of my favourite bands, the Bronx), but it's helping people out as well.

To get a glimpse of how awesome this will be, here's a recording of the Bronx last time they were here, going on about how much they love Brisbane: http://www.thehifilive.com.au/concert/2009-09-09/The_Bronx

DO NOT WAIT. This will sell out by tonight probably.

Fires of Cako

Cakes.
They're bloody delicious.

(I stole this picture from my friend Danelle. If you like baking, get on her blog)

Is there anything better than cakes? I think not.

But you know what would go great with cakes? These guys:


And to make it even tastier, both are coming together in a flood relief benefit. Yes, local (fast-becoming popular) hardcore-punkers Fires of Waco are putting on a bake sale/charity gig.

On February 5, at the Via studios on Abbotsford Rd. The day starts at 2pm and also features Capeweather and Wherewolves. Skip breakfast and lunch, come in, gorge yourself stupid on delicious baked goods, listen to some great music and support the RSPCA and the Premier's Flood Relief.

You'll feel good by eating great foods and helping out others in need. Now I just need to decided what I will bake for it...

Mixtape: Floods

As I am sure you are aware of (and probably sick of me saying) I was caught in the great Brisbane flood of 2011. In fact, I'm still waiting for my apartment to be livable again (hopefully a week). I thought it'd give me an excellent opportunity for a mix tape, but I'll be honest, most people don't write songs about floods. They write it about girls. And drugs. But luckily there are a few songs out there about floods, so I've put them together.

But before we begin, here's a boat that got stuck in a park near my house.

As always, you can view more flood photos on my Flickr.

Before I start, I will admit that some of these songs only mention floods in passing. But fuck it, it's my mixtape, I can put whatever I want on it. And also thanks to those few people who helped me out, especially Jane and her bored work googling. My lack of internet has made it difficult to find music that didn't involve me simply typing in "Flood" in Winamp.

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Who'll Stop the Rain
Because seriously,

as long as I can remember rain's been pouring down

, especially this summer. It's been like 8 days in a row with hardly any rain right now, and I'm starting to miss it.

2. La Dispute - Said the King to the River
As Clus said best, "pick any song from that album, they're all basically about floods." And due to my excitement about finally seeing them twice this week, of course I'll add it. And of course I've been listening to it all week. But here's why it got in:

"Rise!" Said the King to the River,
"Never let up! No, bring us a flood and bring it hard!"
"Freeze!" Said the Wind to the Water,
"Never give in! No, build us a bridge!
And build it strong and angry.
Let it stills the King's decree.
Oh, you must contemplate the current

3. Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks
What's a good mix tape without Zeppelin? Nothing.

When The Levee Breaks I'll have no place to stay

And because when the levee did break I had no where to stay.

4. Dangers - Opposable
Included because I love the album and for this lyric that plays on American Pie:

Drunk drive my Chevy to the levee
Let the flood come and sweep me away

5. John Lee Hooker - Tupelo
A very old little folk/blues number. But a classic describing a flood in a town called Tupelo in 1936.

Did you read about the flood?
It happened long time ago, in a little country town, way back in Mississippi
It rained and it rained, it rained both night and day
The people got worried, they began to cry,
"Lord have mercy, where can we go now?"

6. Passion Pit - Swimming in the Floods
Why not a bit of hipster-electronica to dance to while flooding?

What can I do?
The river's overrun
We're swimming in a flood, you know?
I thought I felt your touch
But the water's rising up

7. The Saints - (I'm) Stranded
I really don't need to explain this one. Because so many of us were stranded on our own. Stranded far from home.

Bonus irony points for it being a Brisbane band.

8. Bleeding Through - There Was a Flood
Normally when metal sings about floods, it's about floods of blood. And you know what, Bleeding Through obviously stick to that formula. But you can still make parts of it about water flooding.

And breath-by-breath I'll rise to keep your flood away from me

9. The Bled - My Assassin
It's from an album called Found in the Flood. I had to find a way to put something from this album on the playlist. Luckily their most popular (I think it went on MTV) song had the following lyrics:

Maybe you could finally be the one who reaches in and saves me from the flood.
Collapse. This is our last chance.
There's no time for relapse, just listen for the flood.
If not us, can I just save you?

10. I Hate Myself - Caught In the Floods With the Captain of the Cheerleading Squad
With a band name and a song name like that, you'd imagine a crappy pop-punk band. But no, I Hate Myself is a classic mid 90s emo band from Florida. And if you don't know mid 90s emo, think of the Get Up Kids.

The lyrics are quite funny actually. It's about being caught in a tree with the captain of the cheerleading squad (obviously) and making small talk. And it's awkward high school small talk.

11. Trivium - Tread the Floods
Typical metal song about floods number 2, mainly about death. But I included it because it has floods in the title and it is from my favourite Trivium album, the Crusade.

Tread the floods so you can hope to seize,
Your own reality,
Before it escapes thee,
Watch yourself drown in disarray,
It's time to break away,
Or we all will die today.

12. The National - Runaway
This song is from their amazing 2010 album, High Violet. And like most National songs, it's got that moody kind of feel about it. Perfect for contemplating the floods.

what makes you think I enjoy being led to the flood?
we've got another thing comin' undone

You can download the whole mixtape here.

News Update!

The floods have come and gone, but I'm still stranded. I'm the last person on my street with no electricity (even the flooded houses have it!) and it looks like it may be another week until we get it back. As a result, I have almost zero internet access outside of work hours and can't do updates too much. This is why I'll bundle all of the news up into one post! And here's a funny comic to start with:

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

HAHA KINGS OF LEON
So Kings of Leon originally decided they were going to do a stadium tour. Now they've decided to make the shows "more intimate" by downgrading their venues to something smaller where the punters can get up close. And by more intimate, they mean the Entertainment Centre. Read between the lines and you can see it written on the walls "ticket sales were shit. U2/Bon Jovi we are not."

I used to be a huge Kings of Leon fan with their first dirty, innuendo filled, blues inspired albums. They were fresh and amazing. Then they decided to (I think they even did an interview stating that they would) sellout and make as much money as possible. And started writing shit songs.

March 8, Entertainment Centre

Good Vibes loses yet another one to the Grammys
With Cee-Lo already pulling out of the February 19th event to perform at the Grammys, another artist has decided that playing the Grammys is better for her career than a field full of drug-riddled dance music poseurs. Janelle Monae is doing the same thing.

Thank God It's Monday
Carlton Dry kicked off the free Thank God It's Monday gig series last month, with the Hungry Kids of Hungary playing a free Monday show for us. For their second round of gigs, this month, Carlto Dry has one-upped it, with Philadelphia Grand Jury playing a gig the 31st of January at the Normanby Hotel.... Wait... The Normanby?! Am I seeing this right? So confusing. Hopefully the stop the flow of Bundy/fights for this show.

It's sponsored by a beer company at a bar, so obviously its 18+.

Gary Numan
It's been over 30 years since Gary Numan blew us all away with his synth-pop masterpiece that was the Pleasure Principle, released in 1979. Abandoning nearly all guitars and writing it mainly on a Moog, it went number 1 in the UK and lead the way for the hugeness of New Wave. So in celebration, he's touring the album.

Tivoli. May 12

If you don't know the album, you'll at least know this song (even though it's the Fear Factory version with Gary Numan singing).

God God Dammit Dammit
I am late on this, but most of my friends are already going. Tonight a 12 piece funk-punk party band called God God Dammit Dammit are playing a free show at Fat Louies with Headaches and Ironhide. Get in on that and have a great time!

MySpace

Club 299 Redeems Itself
Although switching from indie/hardcore hangouts to top-40 bad pop/dance music club in an effort to be profitable, Club 299 is still dedicated to the music. I'd hope so, especially since the owner is formerly of Her Majesty's Basement, a great old music venue buried under Queen Street Mall. Every Wednesday now they will be showcasing some of Brisbane's best young and unknown bands. Entry is free to students and there are lots of giveaways to be had. So head in, what else do you do on Wednesday nights?

It rained and it rained, it rained both night and day. The people got worried, they began to cry

Although the mud has been cleaned out and all the ruined crap thrown out, I'm still without power at my place, so I'm stealing internet and food and hot showers from my parents for now. Which means, I get to give you the flood related music news of Brisbane while I'm here!

Powderfinger are not reuniting for the floods. Thank goodness. Despite what people have apparently been begging for (who, seriously... who?!) they've said no. No reunion. However, in the coming days, they will be releasing a new/unreleased song with all proceeds going to the Premier's flood relief thingy.

The Whitlams, who have songs much better than No Aphrodisiac, have been doing tours with orchestras for the last few years, bringing the best out of their songs. They were scheduled to play QPac's Concert Hall on January 21 and 22, but that's now been cancelled. Possibly because QPac's underground parking lot looked like this a few days ago:


Brisbane punk boys Spitfireliar, are turning their Friday gig at the Zoo this week into a flood benefit. Come in, watch some great punk and support all those who are suffering right now. The gig includes Bixby Canyon, Groin, Bertie Page Clinic and Smokestack Orchestra. 18+, $10 at the door and it's a good cause with good music.

This next show, may be my favourite Brisbane flood benefit, and it's all local bands. Get ready for it... the following will be playing the HiFi on February 6 to support the floods:

• Regurgitator
• Custard
• Kate Miller Heidke
• Screamfeeder
• Hungry Kids of Hungary
• Gentle Ben & His Gentle Side
• Little Scout

MY GOD. Custard. Regurgitator. Two of the best Australian bands of the 90s. Playing together. Get on this. The HiFi, 18+, ~$35.

And in non-music, but important to me flood news, I have this:

• LifeLine bookfest has been pushed back to start this Saturday
• The Big Bash 20/20 match at the Gabba last weeked was postponed until January 24
• The Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix game at Suncorp has been rescheduled to January 26
  

What can I do? The river's overrun. We're swimming in a flood, you know

All of my flood related blog titles are songs from my soon to be "Flood - the Mixtape". It's actually hard to find songs about flooding and I haven't had much time, but it will happen hopefully. Even just to live in my car.

As you can see from above, the water line on my apartment was barely head height. I got truly lucky. All I lost was the stuff in my garage: a drum kit, old golf clubs, some furniture, a fridge, a keg and random other things. Mere metres down my street was different. Poor souls. You can see my pictures on my Flickr, including a huge boat found in a park down my street.

But now, flood related music news!

Big Day Out released a release releasing the fact that they are still open for business. And they're donating $20k to the flood efforts. Honestly, I forgot that BDO is like a week away, I still have to sort out my transport/accomodation/etc. Obviously I had thought of other things this week.

The cancelled Mos Def/Talib Kweli show at the Tivoli has now been moved to January 26. EDIT: Now at the HiFi. Existing tickets will be honored.

The Beautiful Girls show at the HiFi tonight has now been moved to March 18.

As I mentioned yesterday, Burst City was hit by the flood water. Last night's Danish punk show was cancelled, but tonight's show with Blank Realm and Feathers will be going ahead.

Woodland is still open, with the Health/Death Set/DZ gig in full force tonight.

I would encourage anyone going to gigs to use public transport where possible please. It's free right now, and after being stuck in traffic for 5 hours last night trying to get to and from my place to clean, it's kind of annoying. You're not helping the flood people by being on the roads unless you have to.

And now the big one: Flood Bank, a benefit for flood victims, will be held at the Old Museum on February 3. Some of the best local indie bands will be playing, including:

Violent Soho
Ball Park Music
Inland Sea
The Medics
Bang Bang Boss Kelly
The Baby Seal Club
Blonde On Blonde
Grand Atlantic
Texas Tea

Tickets are $30 and go on sale this week from Oztix. The event is 18+ and licensed. Get in quick, it should be great and will help people much worse off than me.

If you're under 18 and want to help buy listening to music, an all-ages show will be announced in the next few days.

Good luck my fellow Brisbane music-fans that were affected by the flood.

"rise" said the king to the river

As I may have mentioned lately, we are in floods right now in Brisbane. As I may have also mentioned a lot in the last few weeks before the floods, my current favourite band/most anticapated concert will be La Dispute.

The two things in common between this is Burst City, the venue for the all-ages gig. As of yesterday afternoon, Burst City looked like this:


The brown brick fence is Burst City. As you can see from the mud that signifies the peak waterline of the flood, it's gone past Burst City and into the neighbouring building. Fingers crossed that the slightly raised venue is okay and this amazing tour goes ahead. It would be shameful to see Burst City close. Even though it is shutting down for good at the end of the January, it's had such a good run that I'd love to see it go out with a bang.

I'm Stranded

So the floods continue. It's supposed to have peak 20 minutes ago. It's dark and early in the morning and no one knows. But here's a picture from yesterday:


The floods have affected the music scene. Yesterday I blogged about the Zoo cancelling shows. There's a few others. Talib Kweli/Mos Def at the Tivoli tonight is gone. X&Y and Rics have cancelled all gigs for the forseeable future.

It seems that there is a great show on tonight that I didn't know about in the Valley. Gold Panda, an electronic producer/artist, who put out a great album in 2010 is playing at Alloneword. Here's the Facebook link. They're doing a fundraiser for the floods, like everyone. So go along and support and have a great time at one of my new favourite bars, with one of my new favourite artists.

As for me, I'm at my parents safe for now. My apartment...Who knows, probably underwater. The Saints said it best.

If anyone in Brisbane is doing any benefits or anything, leave a comment/contact my twitter/email me and I will do a plug for it. Brisbane and Queensland will need all the help it can get and what better way to do than with music?

"Maybe you could finally be the one who reaches in a saves me from the flood"

Hey everyone. It's been a bit hectic in our state and our city lately, with 75% of Queensland under water. For those of you overseas, that's about double the size of Texas, all flood water. Personally, I spent the day packing up my apartment and moving things to higher ground before I buggered off out of there.

I took this picture this afternoon. They were some SES guys monitoring the flood waters of a creek that runs into the Brisbane River near my house. The creek and river are both nearby and both have drastically increased in water over the last day. Yesterday I was standing on that pontoon and now the water is about 2-3 metres above that. There are people much worse off than me, my thoughts go out to them. But it's still bloody scary. Tomorrow I'll head back and try and get some more of my valuables out.

When I get a chance I'll also post some flood pictures on my Flickr. They'll be buried amongst my gig shots right here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nunchukakatta/

Luckily for me it's not a huge week in music. What little there is seems to be disappearing with the rising flood waters though. The Zoo has announced today that it's two big international shows (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion tonight and Jason Collett tomorrow) are both cancelled.

I'll keep up with the music news when I can over the next few days. Hopefully all will be fine come the weekend. And hopefully the weather will be nice by Big Day Out/Laneway time, or else I'll be in for yet another festival and another soaking.