100 Songs Project: Brisbane bands get involved!

An interesting idea that has popped up over the last few years is the 100 songs in 100 hours project. Watch this trailer to get an idea:

The idea being that artists/bands/performers from all over (but mainly Queensland) head into the studio to record 100 songs in a 100 hour window. These songs are then mastered and shipped off to both Triple J and 4ZZZ for immediate release to the public. As the video says, it's like a music festival, but broadcast (and with much better facilities and audio quality).

Come May 20-25, QUT will throw open it's doors for 16 hours a day to record the 100 songs. FOR FREE. Yes, that's right. Are you in a band and want to get a recording and some exposure? Well why not do this? It will only take a few hours of your day, you will be contributing to something big and awesome and you'll get a professionally recorded song broadcast almost immediately on radio. Who knows, you may even get put on their best of CD (which the 2011 version, called "Twelve" was released last weekend).

If you're interested, just fill in this form: https://www.qmusic.com.au/dsp_applications.cfm?opportunityID=29. The applications close a week from today. So get on it.

Free Music Friday 35!

Today's free music friday is inspired by Adam Collins, the rad dude who drums, amongst other things, for a band named Japan For. He asked me the other day for some new ska recommendations. I must admit, I was stuck for a while.

Ska is my favourite genre. Well it was, but it's taken a back seat lately for no apparent reason. Sure I still listen to it, but I don't go and actively search for it like I used to. Luckily he rekindled my yearning for it, in conjunction with the radio station 4ZZZ.

You see, just the other day I was blaring 4ZZZ while driving around doing chores and they had a visting Sydney band do an acoustic set. And that set was awesome acoustic ska.

Further investigation, and hastily written notes on my hand while driving, lead me to find out this band was called Steppin' Razor, a punk-ska-reggae band from down south. And although they aren't as active these days, they have released every song they've ever done for free on their website. You can get it all by clicking right here.

If you're a fan of Rancid, Operation Ivy, Star Fucking Hipsters or anything of that vein, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't love this as well.

Quiet Steps

I may almost be too late for this, but I got sidetracked with life/work/free tickets to Mono last night. I bang on and on about how good Brisbane bands are, and some of my favourites are playing tonight at Snitch at X and Y. Quiet Steps and Nuclear Summer to be exact. Rad dudes, good music, not too expensive drink prices.

If it's too late notice (and I don't blame you if it is) never fear, you can still catch Quiet Steps playing the afternoon of October 16 in the 4ZZZ car park in Bowen Hills.

As for Nuclear Summer, this may be the last chance you ever get to see them, as one of their members is off overseas. Which sucks, because they are about to release their debut album. So let's hope it's just a temporary thing. Here's a track off it though:

Endless Kickflips Forever (unmixed/unmastered) by Nuclear Summer

Intentions

All of this local music I've seen lately must be affecting me. I've been listening to a lot more local bands, especially in that style similar to Quiet Steps, Nuclear Summer and La Dispute. And lo and behold, there's a band from Sydney that does the same thing. And they're named after a Mclusky song that they cover (a song that Future of the Left played live a few weeks ago).

They're journeying north of the border for the first time in February and playing two shows with some of the bands I saw over the last few days.

The first one is February 19 with Quiet Steps at the Sun Distortion Studios in Albion (2/24 Corunna St, Albion). All Ages starting at 7.


The next one is a 4ZZZ carpark show with Nuclear Summer on the 20th of February. This is a Sunday afternoon show, all ages, starting at about 2 pm I believe. (EDIT: as seen in the comments below, there's been a scheduling mix up... so no Nuclear Summer. But heck, still get in and see a good show and maybe get some sun on your pasty skin?) DOUBLE EDIT: But wear sunscreen. We don't want cancer stupid.

You can listen to more of Intentions here.

More local All Ages Hardcore shows!

So it seems that Burst City may now be the place to go for all ages shows. Sure, it hasn't had as many big bands as the Fort, but it's getting more and more of the local stuff, which can be just as good. Case in point:

I've waxed lyrical on at least one of these bands before, Marathon. I really dig their new EP and they are a bunch of great guys. They play in a style similar to Cursed and seem to be playing any hardcore show I've been at this year.

Fires of Waco and Headaches are two newer locals that are starting to get their names heard a bit. Fires of Waco have a more of a post-rock sound (think old At the Drive-In or the Plot to Blow up the Eiffel Tower) while Headaches have spawned from the band that was the Gifthorse.

The one band that I've heard so much about but have never seen is Dick Nasty. I've been wanting to catch these guys for years, given the way they are spoken about and revered on 4ZZZ. They've apparently been kicking around Brisbane for years, playing a sublime mix of hardcore punk. So I guess this show will finally be the excuse I need to get off my ass and listen to them.

4ZZZ

It's true that I don't listen to the radio often, but when I do I am generally tuned to 612ABC talkback, even if the cricket isn't on. I find Australian radio to be mindlessly repetitive, playing only the most popular playlists day-in and out. I remember working at my old retail job and being able to tell what time of the day it was by what song was playing. I also remember turning it off when music wasn't playing, as the mediocrity of the DJs bored both myself and my customers to tears. During this time I used to listen to JJJ (aka Australia's supposed youth network), but now I find it as repetitive and mind numbing as the rest of mainstream radio. I'll still turn it on if I'm in the car during Short Fast Loud or some other reasonably good show, but that's maybe a few minutes a week.

If I do tune to a radio station, it will be 4ZZZ. It's community radio, but don't let that fool you. It's damn good. It's as if I ran a radio station as in one sitting you can find yourself listening to interviews with politicians, followed by gangster rap, followed by grindcore, followed by Adam Sandler, followed by classical. Because they mainly do what they want when they want which makes it bloody beautiful.

The other day on the way to hiking I forgot my CDs, so Clus tuned it to the Z's just in time for Kids with Class Kick Ass. Never heard of it? If you're awake early on a Saturday you should bloody well listen to it, it's an amazing punk radio show unlike any in Australia.

I had the Z's on last night on the way to the dentist and caught almost the entire show Kickstart my Heart. And I fell in love. The host played everything from Outkast to Against Me! with a choice cut from the new Norma Jean album, which she seems to love as much as I do. Basically, I swooned in my car. Luckily there were no accidents due to the light traffic of the Ekka holiday. I had no idea what I was listening to at the time, but I preceded to look it up online and even found a picture of the host. She's bloody cute and not scene. And she has a good taste in music. And she's on 4ZZZ. Marry me Sarah?

Now where was I going... Oh yeah, 4ZZZ is pretty much the only good radio station left. And they need your help. It's all community funded via subscriptions, which is a small annual fee for great rewards. Next week is their Radiothon, which is their big drive to raise money while giving away good prizes. If you've always been hesitant about subscribing, like me, this is the time to do it. Why? They are giving away great prizes! A gold pass for a year to every show at the Zoo. The exlusive use of the Mana Bar (video game bar in the Valley) and a bar tab for a night. A year pass to the Dendy Cinemas. And much more. So do your part, sign up, maybe win some prizes, keep the radio station going as strong as ever and feel good about yourself at the same time. And keep Sarah on the radio for me.

Not to mention they keep bringing out great shows for all of the local bands for us punters. To celebrate Radiothon/their 35th year, this Saturday night they are having a show at the Zoo called Behind the Banana Curtain.



The show is a launch for Radiothon and their new CD, showcasing the best of local music from the last 10 years. Some awesome bands will also be playing, including SixFtHick and local post-punkers Turnpike (free downloads of their music).