British super-indie tour 2012

It's good getting one of these bands coming over for a tour, but two? Together? On the same bill?

Headliners will be the long-serving British band Elbow, who have put together over 20+ years of excellent music.

And opening for them will be Bombay Bicycle Club, who if you ignore their abysmal cover album this year, actually do make good indie music.

March 24, the Tivoli.

Grooving the Moo sideshows

I was actually a little bit jealous when I saw the announcement of the Grooving the Moo lineup. Jealous because it only goes to regional locales, and there were more bands I'd enjoy seeing than most festivals this year (Laneway announcement included!).

But, unlike most other festivals in Australia, the promoters are letting the bands do sideshows in most major centres. And pretty much every band I want to see on this festival are playing sideshows in Brisbane.

The first band I avoided for ages, because for the life of me I could not understand what the fuck was the irony of dancing to Joy Division. But if you haven't guessed the band yet, you probably didn't listen to Triple J at any point in the last 3 years, because it's the Wombats. They'll be doing a sideshow of dance-indie May 3rd at the Tivoli.

The second band is one of those bands that kicked off my love with all things musical from the Scandanavian regions.

I've missed seeing them tonnes of times now and constantly regret it. They mix together a healthy dose of geekiness, dance and rock, generally with a mix of tracksuits and BMX thrown in. What isn't there to love?

I will definitely be there this time, May 4 at the Zoo. 18+

Belle and Sebastian

When I got this news today at work, I actually emitted a little scream in excitement. The last time Belle and Sebastian came around was over 5 years ago and at that time I thought they were just a little two piece band with the names of Sebastian and Belle. Oh how times have changed.

My current obsession with the 7 piece Glaswegian juggernaut that is Belle and Sebastian knows no bounds. Their legendary catalogue of twee and baroque indie pop just has me spellbound. I am trying to collect all of their vinyl and one of their CDs is generally always in my car. And this song is always stuck in my head. And their new CD, Write About Love is amazing.

They announced a southern states festival show a few weeks back, and I just kept my fingers crossed and my prayers directed towards a show in Brisbane. And it turns out my prayers have been answered. And at what is probably the best venue for them in Brisbane, the Tivoli.

March 7. Tivoli. Tickets on sale 2nd December.
Website

*squee!* I'm now going to get my nerd on and relocate to the couch to relisten to my If You're Feeling Sinister vinyl on 180 grams.

Doves tour

Before you read this, start playing this song:

Now that the mood is set, let's talk about the Doves. That song, Fire Suite, was a favourite of an ex of mine years and years ago. People of my vintage probably remember this song from 2005, it had a huge rotation on Triple J.

Their dreamy indie-Brit-pop was celebrated earlier this year with a best of album. If you haven't much by the Doves, get it. It's great mood music. To celebrate, they are touring all of their 'hits' down under. It's the 15th of February, at the HiFi. 18+

Suprise Soundwave Announcement

It was supposed to happen today, but AJ let it be known last night that there's a new band added to the Soundwave lineup. And I for one am excited to see these guys:

This Town Needs Guns are a mathrock/indie band from the UK. I've been listening to them for the last year or so and am just in love with their sound. Lots of clean guitars played really fast that produce some great melodies. And now they're coming to Soundwave next year! I just hope there's some sideshows in the greater brisbane area for them.

MySpace

Future of the Left tour

As I'm sure I've mentioned on here a lot, I love noise rock. I especially love noisy non-sensical rock that loves to take the piss. So I love the scrappy Welsh noise rockers Future of the Left.

They just put together a lot of noise and a lot of non-sensical lyrics. They came out here last year (almost to the day of their upcoming tour) and put on one of the loudest and best shows I have ever seen at the Zoo. Everyone loves them, given the makeup of the crowd: metalheads, hipsters, old people, hippies... everyone.

There's no better way of describing them apart from saying "a damn good time." You can have a great time with them on January 3 at the Zoo. They sold out quickly this time last year, so get in quickly. 18+

MySpace

Comeback Kid/Architects/This Is Hell

One of my top albums recently released has been a hardcore album all the way from the snowy depths of Canada: Comeback Kid's Symptoms and Cures.

I caught this hardcore band at this year's Soundwave while I was waiting around for A Wilhelm Scream. And I was mightily impressed (but not as much as I was by the insane bass player in A Wilhelm Scream). Their new album seems to be a bit more thrashier than their earlier hardcore sounds, but to me it's still sweet sweet music.

They've decided to come down on a tour which has been the worst kept secret and most reschedule hardcore gig of the year. It's been announced in a few different forms, and then unannounced (is that a word?). But as of today, we know the full hardcore lineup: Comeback Kid, Architects and This is Hell. All three great hardcore bands that appeared on this year's Soundwave.

I'm not sure who the headliners will be, but this will be the hardcore tour of 2010. Wait, no, second best hardcore tour (Dangers/Graf Orlock will hold that special place in my heart).

This is Hell do the old-school melodic hardcore punk thing. Architects do a metalcore/almost mathcore sound and hail from Britain. I'm not as knowledgable of these two bands (at least in relation to Comeback Kid), so check out their music for yourself.

The HiFi, 3 December 18+

Comeback Kid
Architects
This is Hell

Music Music Music

Simply Red

My parents love this band. They've been pouring out hits for 25 years and now it's time for their farewell tour. Although their music is very pop these days, they actually started at a Sex Pistols show in the 70s.

Take your parents to see them (with Marcia Hines supporting) October 1 at the Entertainment Centre.

Last.fm

Bulls and music

For those of us not lucky enough to be going to Splendour, there's a festival happening at the same time in Ipswich called Rodeo Rockfest. Catch Spiderbait playing the Friday and Sunday.

July 30 - August 1 at Ipswich Turf Club

Tickets and details

Regurgitator!

Brisbane's favourite native party band has to be Regurgitator without fail. After playing QPac's Birthday, it seems they enjoyed it so much they're going on an Australian tour.

Tivoli, September 18

Not that you need it, but their MySpace if you haven't heard them before

La Dispute

I'm not going to lie, I only just started listening to this band, even though lots of my friends rave about them. And I'm addicted. It's like a heavier mewithoutyou. Think hardcore, spoken word, folk and instrumentals mixed in together. It's fairly unique. And awesome.

They did a basement DIY tour of Australia earlier in the year, which I kick myself for missing. But luckily, the word on the street is that they will be back out here in January for another trip round. I cannot wait. Do yourself a favour and check out a great band with an original sound.

MySpace

Gorillaz tour

A few months back, with the death of Dennis Hopper, I was watching a bunch of videos of him, including him performing "Fire Out of the Monkey's Head" with the Gorillaz live. And after that I watched all of the Gorillaz live videos I could. They just seem to put on an amazing theatrical experience (not just a show) and never did I think I'd ever get to see it.

But now I can.

Not just the Gorillaz, but they'll be bringing out a bunch of guests to help them perform their songs. Which means we get to see this:

Their tour party will include De La Soul (in the video above), Mick Jones, Bobby Womack, Gruff Rhys, Shaun Ryder and Little Dragon. Look at that list for a second. I'd give a leg to see Mick Jones (the Clash), De La Soul, or the Gorillaz. And now we get them all together.

19th December at the Entertainment Centre. It may be the first time I will ever enjoy a show there.

If you want, check out the Gorillaz live in Harlem, featuring every guest star you could possibly imagine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--QTzeFCwtg

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

Bush are back baby

Gavin Rossdale used to write such great grunge music. And then he met Gwen Stefani, got happy, married and Bush broke up.

But yesterday they announced their reunion, a new single in the works and a concert.

In an interview with US radio station KROQ frontman Gavin Rossdale confirmed that the band, who originally disbanded in 2002, are reuniting to play music and speedway festival Epicenter Twenty Ten at the Auto Club Speedway In Fontana, California on September 25.

Rossdale also confirmed that Bush will release a new album in October and it will be preceded by their new single, Afterlife.

Exciting! Like a lot of people my age, Sixteen Stone was one of those first albums you really listened to as a kid, coming out in 1994. It really opened your eyes to music that was a little less than mainstream, even though it had a few hits on it. Amongst my friends, Glycerine was one of those songs that everyone learnt on a guitar and played together. Even just two days ago I was playing it and Everything Zen on my guitar.

I'll just have to wait for them to come to Australia now.

There's a few songs to listen to at Their Last.Fm

Goldfrapp Splendour Sideshow

In what could be a first ever, Brisbane is getting a side show to the Splendour festival. Quickly announced yesterday, it's for British pop/electronic duo Goldfrapp.

I reviewed their new album in my old blog (RIP) and it's not as dance-oriented as earlier Goldfrapp music, it's now more ambient and relaxed electronica. They are probably best known for their song Strict Machine (listen here).

They'll be at the Tivoli on July 30th.

Enter Shikari

I saw Enter Shikari at the Big Day Out 2008, well at least I thought I did. I got hit on the head pretty bad during Anti-Flag and was a bit concussed. Then in Enter Shikari a fight dancer punched me square in the testacles. The rest of the day was a bit of a blur, to say the least.

After playing a Big Day Out and a Soundwave, they are finally bring their dub/dance/hardcore mix for their own headlining show throughout our lands. Their older songs were of a hardcore sound, but lately they've been leaning more towards the dancing and dub step side of the spectrum.

Edit: turns out the poster is wrong. I have a feeling they changed it to not clash with Parkway Drive.
They'll be playing two shows in Brisbane, both at the HiFi. 20th of September is the 18+ show, while the 21st is the under 18 show. With them will be Australia's House vs Hurricane. They do a similar thing, mixing electronica with hardcore.

Enter Shikari
House vs Hurricane