Hardcore dancers: a rant

It seems I've been ranting a lot lately, probably because of me being an old jaded man. But as I sit here, 16 hours later, with a swollen face, a black eye and a ringing headache that hasn't fucking quit since last night, I figured this rant is allowed.

Hardcore dancers, fight dancers, mosh lords, whatever you want to call yourselves, show a little respect for your fellow punters please.

I say it a lot, hardcore and punk fans are some of the best in the world. No matter what, there'll always be a few people dancing and really getting into the music. It's great to see people feel something at a gig and be motivated enough to move around. I've got nothing against your dancing. I think it's hilarious to watch and bloody stupid to participate in, but you know what, I don't care. Enjoy yourselves. That's what we're supposed to be doing at a gig.

I'll move aside, I'll give you room. However, when you impede on other's people's private space and start involving and trying to hit people who are actively avoiding it, then you become nothing more than a dickhead.

Swinging fists, flying feet, it's ridiculous to think it's going to do anything but cause damage if it connects with someone.

Last night I saw Cruel Hand/Phantoms at Sun Distortion Studio. It was a great show. As expected, during Phantoms, the pit opened up. Well as much as it can in a room with only about 5 metres width. No problems, I got out of the way. I took the animations you see in this rant now. It was all fine, you only involved those that wanted in (although my camera, and JHat's too, seemed to get close to getting hit a few times).

But during Cruel Hand, that's when shit turned nasty. I was pushed right up next to the merch desk, leaning against the wall. It's as far away as I could get in that corner. Not an ideal place to take photos, but I would think out of the way, as there were a few people in front of me. Oh, how wrong I was. A few songs in and you assholes decided to push everyone out of the way and go wall-to-wall. Next thing I know, a fist comes flying across my face, hitting me hard. I went down. I was groggy. I had no idea where I was for a few seconds.

I couldn't get away, I was just trying to watch the band and take a few photos out of your way, and you had to come at me. I ended up with a bloody nose, a black eye, a swollen face and a fucking headache that won't quit. That's what I get for trying to stay out of the way and enjoy a show. You probably don't realize that you did it to me, but it happens a lot.

A couple years ago I was sitting at the back of a crowd at the Big Day Out watching Enter Shikari. Nowhere near the pit, probably 30 to 40 metres back just standing around. The next thing I know, a crowd surfer lands on my head, and as I stand up some asshole fight-dancer swings his fists right into my gentleman's area. The rest of the day was a blur. I was out of it completely. According to someone that saw me afterwards, I was just sitting on the edge of the highway looking lost and confused after the festival.

So seriously, if you're going to fight dance, at least keep it to yourselves. We give you room and don't chastise you, why can't you show the equal respect and do it back?!

Balance and Composure

For people that go around in my circles (at least the punk/hardcore one), Balance and Composure is one of those big buzz bands for the year. My one sentence review on Twitter compared their sound to as if a young Silverchair decided to do an emo album. And I stand by that. It's definitely not an insult. Frogstomp is a classic album and I see Separation by Balance and Composure being a big winner in best of 2011 lists.

So when a band is hot, of course they're going to go on tour to Australian.

On Thursday the 18th of August we will be blessed with two shows in Brisbane. One, a free acoustic one at Kill the Music, the best store for punk/hardcore in Queensland. And then that night they'll be playing Boys and Girls at X&Y (18+).

Touring with them will be the Brisbane band Fires of Waco, who, based off the number of national supporting slots they've nailed in 6 months, are going to be very big very soon.

Balance and Compsoure MySpace

Harvest Festival

I don't normally post rumours on my blog, but this one has caught my interest so much that I had to share with you.

AJ and the team at Soundwave touring, best known for their punk/metal tours and festivals (I've been to every festival they've put on), are taking a slightly different path in November this year with the Harvest Festival. Unfortunately, it's not a festival featuring Neil Young playing his iconic album (how sweet would that be though?), but rather an arts and indie-slanted music festival.

So what do I mean? Well let's start with the music. Bands rumoured to be on this tour are the Flaming Lips, the National, Aphex Twin, Portishead, Bright Eyes and Mogwai. The indie hipster in me is already frothing at the mouth with just that line up.

Secondly, the Brisbane date is November 19 and the venue size will be 15-20 thousand. I'm thinking Riverstage, which would be an awesome venue for this type of festival, as long as it doesn't turn into the wanky-fake-hipster-dance-music crowd that is Sunset Sounds et al.

But the most interesting thing is something I saw tweeted early this morning. It's a call for submissions from the art sector. That's right, the festival is taking submissions from artists for installations and shows for their music festival, to go hand in hand with the music. This includes:

• Massive installations for the main arena
• Installations for a garden and campire stage, for more laid back music and discussions
• A 1920's style alt-performance tent, incorporating a bar (I've already got some messed up visions of what this could be floating around my head)
• Art for in between the stages and just around the facility in general

It's an interesting idea coming from the Soundwave team. It's good to see them branch off with something new and challenge themselves.

If you're an artist, you have until July 14 to submit your proposal to the team. And if they like it, they'll fund your art at a major music festival! Not too bad. All of the details can be found here at their call for submissions.

Of course, given the internet and the rumour mill, all of this could be a fake. But I hope not, I'm sick of music festivals in their current format and I hope this turns it into something bigger and better.

Post-rock: a rant

Genres are something I really suck at. For years I was getting my post-hardcores confused with my hardcores and my shoegaze completely muddled in with noise-rock. But honestly, who gives a fuck what you label your music with? As long as it's good, right?

Despite saying all of that, thanks to me doing album reviews now, I'm actually researching bands (with a big chunk of that thanks to Last.FM) and finally figuring out some of these genres. And one genre I just do not understand is post-rock.

Over the last two hours I've been digesting two albums that have been sitting around waiting for a listen for a long time (since last year actually): Braveyoung and Bullets in Madison. Both are post-rock, albeit one instrumental and one a singer. I couldn't tell when one album switched to the other, until I noticed there was a singer. Now, as far as I with my random musical knowledge can tell, post-rock can best be described as thus:

1. Really fucking long-songs. Find me a post-rock band whose album has an average track length under six minutes. I dare you.
2. Every song starts out mind-numbingly slow and builds up into a crescendo. No exceptions. If it doesn't finish with a lot of splashed cymbals, it's obviously not post-rock
3. It's quiet. For some reason, despite the shit-tonne of instruments being oh so carefully layered and built up, it still sounds quiet overall. Like they're afraid to make noise.
4. All songs are cinematic. In fact, a lot of them sound like they'd make great soundtracks to dramatic movies. Unfortunately, nearly every post-rock album I listen to sounds like it's scoring the same fucking movie. Not even sequels. Just the same movie.
5. Singers are optional. If there is a singer, he (most of the time, there's not much female post-rock) tends to just drone his voice out, lots of held notes that sound like soft wailing.
   

Of course, I'm sure this is just a wide generalisation, but everytime I listen to new post-rock, I just hear the same old sound over and over again. It's so bloody cliche that I just can't get into this genre.

That being said, there are a few exceptions to this generalisation. Surprise surprise, they are actually post-rock bands that I love. And why's that? I guess it's because they are slightly different.

Envy - This Japanese band builds up to crescendoes, then just melts your face off with hardcore (almost metal at times) before bringing it back down with some absolutely beautiful melodies.

Mogwai - Especially with their new album, they experiment a bit more and take it out of the tired cliches.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - The best of the best. It's not just music, it's an experience. With tracks going on for whole movements, and a live show (that I've yet to see) that mixes in cinema and samples, it's the way instrumental post-rock should be.

One sentence album reviews (#14)

Violent Soho - Violent Soho (2010): Excellent grunge-rock, channeling the 90s and based out of Brisbane. Noisy and funny at times too. 4/5

Emery - We Do What We Want (2011): I never know how to feel about Emery, are they hardcore or emo? This album is like the 2 sides clashing. 2/5

The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (2011): Summery 1960's-esque twee dance music.. If they had dance music then. 3.5/5

Yellowcard - When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes (2011): Heavier than what I already know of them, I still laugh when I hear violin in 'punk' 3/5

Coolrunnings - Dracula Is Only The Beginning (2011): relaxing, ethereal, sounds of a 60's summer, all rolled into light pop music 3/5

Lemuria - Pebble (2011): Poppy indie music, with a bit of a distorted edge. Reminds me of Sonic Youth if Kim pop songs. 3/5

Alea Jacta Est - Gloria Victis (2010): Very generic French hardcore. It's basically all bad breakdowns and movie samples 1/5

The Vandals - Hitler Bad, Vandals Good (1998) - A perfect mix of comedy, politics and punk. One of my all time favourite albums 6/5

Alpinist - Lichtlaerm (2010): Dark and heavy German hardcore, bordering on black metal. The music is depressing sounding, but still good. 3.5/5

Gun Outfit - Possession Sound(2010): I hated this at first, but then realised it's just a poor man's Sonic Youth. 3/5

The Babies - The Babies (2011): Sounds the same as the Vivian Girls. Probably because it's mostly the same people, with a dude singing as well. 3.5/5

Beach Fossils - What a Pleasure (2011): More generic jangly surf-rock. #yawn #cliche #next 2/5

Adventure - Lesser Known (2011): If you were to Google the phrase "hipster electronica" this would come up. 2.5/5

My Morning Jacket - Circuital (2011): Every album gets more country, but in a weirdly good way. The Black Metal song may be song of year. 4.5/5

The United Sons of Toil - When The Revolution Comes, Everything Will Be Beautiful (2011): Whenever I hear this album, I can't help but picture them angry union protestors in the 70s 3.5/5

Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (2011): They somehow make an album that sounds as good as Hello Nasty, but 10 years in the future. 4/5

Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math (2011): An album that grew on me. It combines some classic rock, some emo and indie in complex layers 4/5

Bon Iver - Bon Iver (2011): I still don't understand what Bon Iver are trying to do with their sound. Regardless, this is a beautiful album. 4/5

Battles - Gloss Drop (2011): With the departure of the lead man, they've lost the random and become almost symphonic. Dare I say... pop? 3/5

Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts (2011): The Sonic Youth lead singer takes his noise rock acoustic, compensating with beautiful layering 4/5

Tyler the Creator - Goblin (2011): The lead of OFWGKTA makes a solo album that sounds like a conversation with his messed up conscience. 3/5

Swingin' Utters - Here, Under Protest (2011): It's basically an album that sounds as if punk goes country 3/5

Man Overboard - The Human Highlight Reel (2011): The better end of the pop-punk spectrum. He sings a lot about when he was 15 3.5/5

Balance and Composure - Separation (2011): It sounds as if young Silverchair dropped the grunge and made an emo album. The voice is so similar. 4/5

Wu Tang Clan

So Wu Tang Clan, one of the most known/acclaimed/loved hip-hop collectives are bring the mother fucking ruckus to Australia in August.

And Brisbane is not getting a show. Again.

That's it.
There's no punchline to this joke.
This is the joke.

Free Music Friday 22!

I'm posting today's free music friday massively early this week, as I will probably be in absentia for the next few days. But that's not important. What is important is that this one is for fans of Hot Water Music. Well for fans of orgcore, or melodic hardcore punk in general, or anything that just sounds that bloody awesome.

They're called Campaign.


And they have a free EP called Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! It's 4 songs of just great orgcore. If you like any punk that sounds like what I mentioned above, get this now. You won't regret it.

DOWNLOAD

Motley Crue

Just the sound at the start of this music video gets me amped:

Yes, that's right Motley Crue. Back in early uni days we had a saying "What would Motley Crue do?" Whenever I'd get in a situation I'd think that, and just go for it (generally a party mode and with stupid repurcussions). Motley Crue have got to be known as one of the biggest party bands of all time, their shows were just parties. If you ever get the chance, watch their VH1 Behind The Music. The stories... Just wow. A brothel under the stage full of drugs was quite normal.

These days, they're much older and hopefully wiser after a few near death experiences. But they still have an excellent back catalogue of music that they can rock out.

And we can go see them.

September 21 at the Riverstage.

Supporting them is the lead singer of Poison, Brett Michaels. Also will be Australia's own Doc Neeson, the lead singer of the Angels.

Now, the part that decides whether you'll go or not. The price. Once again, it brings me back to the post I wrote a few weeks ago entitled "Music promoters, pick up your game". Why? The tickets are at least $136. That's a medium to large festival price. For a washed up 80s rock band supported by 2 singers (not even with their own bands).

Pass. Andrew McManus, you're a greedy bastard.

Fat Wreck Tour 2011

Fat Wreck Chords. You may not them, but you'd probably know most of their artists. They are the punk label of labels in this modern age. It helps that it's owned by Fat Mike of Nofx. What they do though is sign some of the best modern punk bands, and give them a great go. So it's good to see a tour coming over to Australia of some of their smaller bands. So you could say I'm a little more than excited for this tour:

Pour Habit was one of my favourite bands of the last few years. They are one of those bands that just combine partying, skating and punk into a great fun package. And Smoke or Fire are just a good all around punk bands I've been enjoying for a long time. They will be playing two shows around our area, in very small venues. You'd be an idiot to miss this great punk show.

October 8, Miami Shark Bar, Gold Coast
October 9, Step Inn

Smoke or Fire
Pour Habit (Check out the song Bad Luck Drunk, it's one of my favourite drinking songs)

Free Music Friday 21!

As much as a rip on rap and hip-hop, I do like it. When it's done good. Unfortunately years of mainstream radio has ruined my opinion of a lot of this genre. And then I stumbled upon this album:

Death Grips is what they call "experimental hip-hop". Now fucked if I know what that actually mean, but if this is experimental, I love what the genre is experimenting with. To me, with my limited knowledge, it sounds like he's mixed his grimey and dirty sounding rap style (not as in dirty as in rude, but just his vocal style) with interesting beats. His beats go from random electronic buzzes and squawks, to using a lot of classical rock and 60's sounding pop samples. And that's the part that I love.

I download this a few weeks ago and I've been listening to it at least once a day, discovering new things about it and how much I love it. I can feel a big hip-hop resurgance in my listening trends soon.

And yes, being Friday (or at least in 2 hours) it's free on his website! Go to his website: http://thirdworlds.net/ scroll half way down, and click where it says Download Now!

I will say this, his music is way better than his web design skills. Way, way, way better.