Weekly news update

I've given up fighting it, until things get less busy (which never happens at Christmas) I'm going to just post updates when I can, even if it means compressing them in one.

Eminem
He's decided instead of the Brisbane show on December 5, he'd do another Sydney show again. Sorry kids. C.R.E.A.M.

Omar Rodríguez-López Group & La Butcherettes
I'm not even going to say anything about this one. The legendary guitarist and producer of At the Drive-In and Mars Volta fame will be playing solo material, and bass in a mexican punk band in the one night. At the Zoo. Holy shit fan boy overload. December 11. 18+

Death Grips
I posted a link to his free album a while back and now he's coming to do a club tour of Australia! The only downside is, Brisbane is the only place yet to have a date booked... A bit dodgy if you ask me. If it does go ahead, it will be January 26th. TBD


Pigapolooza
This will be yet another night celebrating all things heavier in Brisbane music. Featuring bands like Numbers Radio (okay, maybe not all heavy), Dollarosa, Resist the Thought, the Kidney Thieves and Torn Usunder, it will also be headlined by a very non-Brisbane band, American death-core band All Shall Perish. It's a whole day event at the Tempo Bar over 2 stages, on November 27th. 18+


Bluesfest
There's literally no festival in Australia that gets me so excited but then makes me a bitter man as quickly as Bluesfest. Every year, without fail, the Byron Bay festival announces amazing bands. Then I realize that I can't possibly make it down there for it at all. And then, to top it off, they basically think Brisbane is Byron Bay (fuck off) and have no sideshows whatsoever. So next year, between April 5 and 9, I'll be missing out on bands such as the Pogues, Roger Daltry (performing Tommy (I may cry missing this)), Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yes, Buddy Guy, Brian Setzer, My Morning Jacket and the Jayhawks.


FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHY CAN'T BRISBANE GET A BREAK WITH THIS. If you can get more time off than I can, head to Byron Bay for this. Or you'll hate yourself as much as the alt-country guy inside of me is.


Ryan Adams
Speaking of alt-country, Ryan Adams is coming down to Australia to tour his red hot new album (which I'll be reviewing tomorrow on Twitter if I get a chance). March 1st at QPac. This should be a great show of just him (without his Cardinals). This will be incredible. If you haven't heard his album Ashes and Fire, get it now. He's the best thing to come out of Canada since Neil Young and Maple Syrup.

Brisbane punk night
What are you doing December 2? Nothing? Well get your ass over to the Basement on Brunswick St to see the reunion show of Brisbane punkers Stolen Bikes Ride Faster, supported by a bunch of awesome local bands including Friends with the Enemy. It's $10. YOU HAVE NO EXCUSES. I also imagine a lot of beer will be drunk. A LOT.

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell is a man of many talents. Well, mainly one, he can sing. But he's a man of many kick ass bands. Soundgarden? Yep, that's him singing. Audioslave? He's the only non-Rage Against the Machine member on there. Temple of the Dog? He's part of the few that aren't Pearl Jam. How about a James Bond theme?

If Kurt Cobain is the god of all things grunge, Chris Cornell would be one of his disciples. One of the ones that wrote a gospel. He's been there, done that, worn the (plaid) shirt and continues spreading the word.

The part that's pained me over the years of worshipping all those bands, is that I've never seen them. None of those three. But Chris will be helping out in a half-assed way, with the announcement of his solo tour. He'll be playing some of his solo stuff, some of his Soundgarden stuff, some of his Audioslave stuff and some covers that he's been working on. But the part that gets me a little moist in the naughty bits is that he'll be covering Temple of the Dog songs. Maybe even this one?

I'll find out when I go see him October 15th at QPac.

Denny Crane

William Shatner.
Up until a few years ago, unless you were a Trekkie, you really had no idea who this "odd" Canadian was.
And then he slowly became kitchsy popular. He recorded a few songs with Ben Folds and even did a spoken word cover of a classic Pulp song.
And then he was Denny Crane.


But really, we all love him for his crappy, yet hilarious spoken word. Which apparently he's been doing for over 30 years now.

Now, he's announced that he is coming over to Australia for what he calls "an intimate night". I don't know if this means poetry tour, or just him telling stories, but it'll be bloody funny.

It's at QPac, April 11. The kicker though? Cheapest ticket is $149.

Tickets

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
  

Ben Folds

When I was 15, Heather, my girlfriend at the time, made me my first ever mix tape. It wasn't much of a mix tape, just a bunch of Ben Folds's songs. And ever since that day, I've been in love with his music.

Ben Folds Five - Army (Official Music Video). Watch more top selected videos about: Ben Folds Five

He's got style. He's got class. He's got humour. He's an amazing musician. And a bloody good songwriter. I've been lucky enough to see him a few times now, including playing with a symphony orchestra and even playing with a Tegan and Sara. He is just such a good performer with such great songs that I recommend everyone go see him at least once in their life.

Luckily for you, you can go and see him again very soon. May 17th at QPac. A great venue for the great performer. Unfortunately, tickets will be pushing past $100, but it should most definitely be worth it. This tour will feature a lot of his new album, which he co-wrote with author Nick Hornby. But you can guarantee he will pull out all of his hits, and hopefully some covers too. I'm still waiting to see him play his Dr. Dre cover live.

Eddie Vedder

Do you know the name Eddie Vedder? If not, let me give you some help. Pearl Jam. He's the lead singer. He's got a good voice, and he does solo stuff. Including the soundtrack for the movie Into the Wild.

But when I think of Eddie going solo, I can't help but think of this song (written and performed by one of Australia's all time great songwriters, Mark Seymour):

I'm trying my best not to make a Holy Grail joke right now... I really am.

Anyway, Eddie is coming out by his lonesome and playing two Brisbane dates.
March 10 & 12, QPac.

Weird Al Yankovic

He may be a little dated, but Weird Al is the musical parodyist of our generation. He's parodied hits into songs such as:

• Eat It
• Girls Just Want to Have Lunch
• Like a Surgeon
• My Bologna
• Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
• The White Stuff

And who could forget this classic:

Weird Al Yankovic - Amish Paradise
Uploaded by Mourisse. - Click for more funny videos.

Weird Al will be bringing his parodies, his accordian and his penchant for polka to our area for two shows:
Monday 14th March – Jupiter’s Showroom, Gold Coast
Tuesday 15th March – QPAC

Cyndi Lauper

When I think of Cyndi Lauper, I think of this:

My Name Is Earl - Anche I Gatti Piangono (Randy Canta Time After - The top video clips of the week are here

Granted, because Fox are heartless bastards they've blocked and removed all but the Spanish versions, but you get the point. When Randy from My Name is Earl gets sad, he plays Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time. And what a beautiful and perfect song it is.

These days she's lost the 80's pop and is doing the blues. The Memphis blues in fact. I'm not sure how her voice fits it, but check out her first single for yourself here.

She'll be playing the blues for us on March 28th at QPac. I'd warrant a guess that there's no 80's pop being played there.

Wayne Brady

For a long time I was obsessed with the improv TV show Who's Line is it? In the USA version, the best comedian by far was Wayne Brady. He really shone in coming up with songs on the spot, in any style you could imagine. And damn was he good at it. He's also a very funny man, as shown in this Dave Chappelle video:

I love the behind the scenes commentary on that. Apparently it was almost impossible for Wayne Brady to be mean, or even to say the word "bitch." It took him like 20 takes.

On November 30 you'll be able to catch him at QPac doing a completely improv show. Expect music, impressions and just to be in pain from laughing too hard.

http://www.qpac.com.au/event/Wayne_Brady_10.aspx?utm_source=enews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12aug10

Dad-core shows x 2

This year has been amazing for shows that I want to take my Dad to. And here's two more.


The first one involves the Australian every-man, Frankie J Holden. Actor, bad comedian and host for a night of great Australian classic rock. The Australian Rock Legends show at QPac will feature Joe Camaleri from the Black Sorrows and Jo Jo Zepp and the Falcons, Grace Knight the jazz and Europop singer and Normie Rowe, the greatest Australian pop star of the 60s.

They will be getting together September 2nd to play a bunch of songs, share stories and just act like a bunch of mates at a bbq with their instruments. They'll be joining forces and playing their greatest hits, including the songs Shape I'm In, Hit & Run, Harley & Rose, Chained To The Wheel, Heaven, We Will Together, City of Soul, Fever, Shakin' All Over, Que Sera Sera and It Ain't Necessarily So.

The second show feature's Australia's favourite adopted band, which of course means they are from New Zealand. Crowded House are playing the Convention Centre on November 9th. If you don't know who they are, you've never listened to Australian radio. Check out their Wikipedia for all of the praises heaped on them and a few of their more famous songs can be played.