Mixtape: bad baby

As I put together the baby mixtape for my friend, there was a few songs that just didn't make the cut for obvious reasons. So they got put on the second CD, I gave her. Just in case things got so bad she had to let out some frustration.

1. Accidents - Alexisonfire

What if the baby wasn't planned?

2. You Are Pregnant, You Are Dead - Xiu Xiu

3. You Children Are Waiting For You To Die - McLusky

4. Rubber Baby Bugger Bumpers - Austrian Death Machine

Why not an Arnie cover band singing about baby stuff? I was so close to putting "Who is your daddy and what does he do" on here.

5. Birth Plague Die - Trash Talk

 

6. Birth Defect - Helmet

I saw them play this song live about the same time I made the mixtape, so it stuck in my head

7. Afterbirth - Closure in Moscow

8. Baby's First Coffin - The Dillinger Escape Plan

9. When My Baby Smiles at me I go to Rehab - Frenzal Rhomb

10. My Birth - Swans

Needless to say, this mixtape did not get played.

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.

Alexisonfire

Watch Out! by Alexisonfire is one of my favourite albums of all time. Accidents by Alexisonfire slots into the top 4 songs in my mind. So why am I less than keen for this new tour?

Quite simply, nothing will ever top that tour they did with good friends Moneen years ago. The culmination of the gig with both bands getting together to play Accidents... glorious. Since then they've released a less than awe inspiring album and I've seen them two more times. They still put on a great show, so I think I can be convinced to go back.

As a band, they are an interesting mix. A scream singer, a hardcore-punk throat vocal singer and a more suited to acoustic singer/songwriting singer. They put together punk songs, hardcore songs, softer ballads and throw in a bit of metal for kicks. Somewhere in their back catalogue is a song everyone will like, you've just got to find it. Hell, I even had a pretentious indie-ex-girlfriend liking their song Boiled Frogs. Go figure.

I'd recommend getting tickets to this early, I can see it selling out. I'm still undecided, but I probably will go, just for the awesomeness of their back catalogue.

October 7, the Tivoli. 18+

And this is Accidents: