Ceremony

A week ago I blogged about the best hardcore music festival in Australia. Without a doubt, the band I was most excited for was Ceremony. I was considering going down there just to see them play the two days.

But now, we get two of our own shows!

July 5 - Between the Walls (all-ages)
July 6 - Basement 243 (18+)

Two small and great venues for seeing a hardcore band like this. I am excited.

Basement

I'll be honest, before today I had not heard of this band. I let it slip by when I saw the announcement of their tour. But then the fangirling on twitter that followed, from people who's music taste I identify with, well I had to go check out.

And now, for the last hour, instead of reviewing albums, I've just been looping their YouTube playlist.

My goodness. For those people that like that emotional punk/orgcore sound, they'll love this. And I tell you what, I'm an instant convert. I will totally be heading out and checking these shows:

Wednesday 27th June – Youth Activities Centre, Byron Bay AA
Thursday 28th June – Snitch, X+Y Bar, Brisbane 18+
Friday 29th June – The Loft, Brisbane AA

Excellent gigs that got announced in the last 2 weeks since I last blogged.

So I'm putting them in a big blog post all together. Most of it's heavy, but I'll start with the quiet one:

Ben Kweller
No idea how this slipped by me, but Ben Kweller is touring here. In less than 3 weeks. I've seen him 2 times now and he's always enjoyable, especially with his band in tow.

March 4, The HiFi (18+)

August Burns Red
When I was young and impressionable (and worshipped I Killed the Prom Queen) I loved the genre "metalcore". And one of the few bands that I still occasionally listen to is August Burns Red. Not sure why, but I think it may because the vocals are understandable and more hardcore punk style.

April 18, the HiFi (18+)

Supported by Blessthefall and Northlane, who are both "buzz" bands that I know nothing about at all. Not one thing. I should probably be a good music blogger and research it one day.

Amon Amarth
Hands up who doesn't like some fantasy themed viking metal? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? That's right. It's fucking awesome. The music isn't always the best metal you've heard, but the show more than makes up for it.

They're also Swedish, which is home to the best bands ever. Including Abba.

April 13, the HiFi (18+)

Anchor

While on the subject of Sweden, suss out Anchor. They're Swedish hardcore, singing English. Which in my mind, is the best kind of hardcore.

Feb 29, YAC, Byron Bay (all-ages)

Mar 1, Basement 243 (18+)

Mar 2, Between the Walls (all-ages)

Mar 3, Miami Shark Bar, Gold Coast (18+)

Mar 4, Buderim CWA Hall, Sunshine Coast (all-ages)

Evanescence\Blaqk Audio

One of my best friends was in love with Evanescence. Whenever I'd pass out on his couch it would be to him looping one of their albums (and I'd wake up to the same songs). He also made his own giant posters of Amy Lee and put them up all over. Heck, he even had their song played at his funeral.

The female-fronted nu-metal band obviously now holds a very special place in my heart. Even if I wasn't a big fan of theirs to start with. I was surprised to hear they were touring, as I had not heard anything from them for about 5 years!

Announced as their supports is Blaqk Audio. I know a lot of people that are more excited by this than Evanescence. In fact, these people are just going for the opening act. Who is Blaqk Audio? Well, it's an electronic act fronted by Davey Havok, the lead singer of AFI. Scene girls everywhere will be weeping for him before Evanescence even gets anywhere near the stage.

March 26, Convention Centre (all-ages)

Dead to Me/Cobra Skulls

I love how each year we tend to get a double-header punk tour, both Fat Wreck Chords bands. This year the tradition continues with Dead to Me and Cobra Skulls. These two punk bands will be playing a Brisbane show with some great local punk including Army of Champions and Headaches.

April 8, Basement 243 (18+)

Adam Ant

A lot of the fans of the other bands on this page will not know this last gig at all, but people like me rooted in the 80's will recognize the drum sticks at the start of this song:

Apparently Adam dropped the ants and became an actor but now he's reformed with a different band, writing new music and touring big shows in the UK! And here.

April 8, Tivoli

Great Australian tours

As a country, isolation is a great thing, especially when you produce as many kick-ass bands that we do, that also like to tour. A lot. So you should go to these shows with me.

DZ Deathrays

This two piece from Brisbane channel DFA 1979. No doubts about it. Just two guys making some noisy-ass garage rock with excellent hooks that get your toes tapping. I was lucky enough to see them on their first Australian show in over a year at Fucked Up last year. These guys have blown up incredibly in the few years since I first saw them (as the DZ). They're touring for the new album, which you can get with your concert ticket in a cheap package that includes a t-shirt.

Touring with them are another Brisbane garage rock band, but on the other end of the stage-size spectrum. Velociraptor are a 12 piece (on a good day when everyone turns up) garage rock noise juggernaut.

April 12 - Elsewhere, Gold Coast

April 13 - The Zoo

April 14 - Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay

As far as I can tell, all shows are 18+. And loud.

The Go Set

The Go Set are a celtic punk band from down south, who I saw play a punkfest a few years ago. Featuring all of the essentials of the genre: tin whistle, bagpipes, tartan. They also make some very good punk music to go along with it.

April 12 - Surfers Beer Garden, Gold Coast

April 13 - Kings Beach Tavern, Caloundra

April 14 - Prince of Wales Hotel

Given the type of venue, they are probably all 18+.

Jamie Hay/Jen Buxton

Do you like your punk to be acoustic with excellent sing alongs you can do with one arm around a friend and one holding your beer in the sky? Then get along to this song. It's so folk-punk acoustic that Frank Turner wrote a song about Jen.

March 22 - Snitch (X and Y), 18+

March 23 - Between the Walls, all-ages (BYO)

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)

Bomb the Music Industry

I've harped on and on about this band before and not just because of this awesome fan-made music video:

Or because every release they've ever done is available for free download on their website.

Or because they follow the Fugazi DIY method, cheap all-ages shows.

That all adds up, but I love them because of their goddamn fun punk and ska. Just listening to them makes you think a show would be ridiculous amounts of fun.

But that DIY methodology meant that there was probably no chance of them coming over. And then today I heard some news that made me go straight out and change my underpants twice over, because I was just that goddamn excited. Heck, as I type this now I'm smiling like a fool. 

Yes, they are coming down under. And playing with the Smith St Band. In what basically amounts to a small room. Between the Walls. On the 1st of March. I'm so goddamn excited about this. I've got goosebumps right now. I went to buy tickets the second this got announced, but they're not out yet. But never fear, I've been checking every 30 minutes or so.

I can't wait. I'll be there, probably camera in hand and still skanking like an idiot.

More Brisbane Soundwave goodness

Given ticket sales across this festival season, I'd say Soundwave is by far the most popular one, being the only festival so far to sell out in the Brisbane/South-East Queensland area.

Sideshow #1
Going hand in hand with this is more sideshows in our fine part of the country! Two more have been announced for Brisbane. The first one features a punk band that seems to be on our shores every year but always puts on a good show to a large crowd. It's Unwritten Law, supported by Zebrahead and Royal Republic at the HiFi, February 28.

Sideshow #2
The other one is for music fans about 20 years younger than the Unwritten Law crowd. I'm not a big fan of this show, but I'm sure some of my readers may be interested. It's A Day to Remember, The Used and You Me At Six. This show is All Ages at the Eatons Hill Hotel on February 27.

Cancellation/replacement
In actual Soundwave festival news, the crazy metal band Dragonforce has had to pull out due to recording rescheduling. They've been replaced with two bands I know very little about: Switchfoot and Paradise Lost.

Brisbane Soundwave Sidewave #2

Marilyn Manson, supported by Coal Chamber and Wednesday 13.

Do I really need to explain this one to you guys? If I do, well then you weren't alive in the 90s and weren't interested in any of the more "heavier" or "controversial" music.

For me, this will be best for Coal Chamber. 13 year old me loved this band.

Eaton's Hill Hotel, February 24. All ages.

Brisbane Soundwave Sideshow #1

With the news of Brisbane's Soundwave festival selling out, now begins the agonisingly slow trickle-feed of sideshow announcements, which unlike most festivals, will include a few in our wonderful city.

The first one is a huge metal lineup: Lamb of God, In Flames and the Black Dahlia Murder. I'm already growing my hair out long and strengthening my neck muscles for the black-shirt headbanging I'll be joining in.

It's February 28, all-ages and at the "suddenly having every medium size show ever" venue, Eatons Hill Hotel. Which truly is in the middle of nowhere, and according to my friend, has no public transport after 830. And also isn't technically in Brisbane.

Free Music Friday 33!

I've been waiting for this album for what seems like forever now. And finally, it's here. And even better, it's free! The band is Nuclear Summer and they are from Brisbane. And I took this picture of the guitarist doing some finger tapping at Fat Louies.

I've been raving about this band for the better part of the year now, with their mix of noodly riffs, clean harmonies and thrash-like vocals (not surprising, given their lead singer is one of the two from Ironhide). They dub this sound Sunshine Metal... I like that tag.

Their first album is pretty damn good. Get it for free (or give them some a donation) over at Bandcamp.

You can also catch them touring around supporting this album on the following dates:
December 26, Billionaire (18+ and with Mourning Tide!)
December 30, House Show, Sunshine Coast
December 31, Sun Distortion Studios, supporting Raein and Loma Prieta (all ages)

That las tshow is one you do not want to miss out on. Seriously. I just bought my tickets today. It's an all ages show, so it should be done well before midnight so you can still go off and party for NYE and kiss your girl. It also features to great skramz bands, Raein from Italy and Loma Prieta from the USA. It's also the very last show Sun Distortion Studios will host. Which is sad, as it has been an amazing all ages venue in Brisbane.

Guerilla Gigs: the Wimbledon Edition

Yes, I ranted on-and-on the other day about how much I hate post-rock, except for a small handfull of bands. And one of those bands, that I forgot to mention at the time, is from our own sweet home town of Brisbane. They are Mr Maps.

I didn't include them because they really aren't that post-rock. I prefer to think of them as just bloody awesome instrumental music. Yes, there's no singing, but my god, what they do is just make some absolutely beautifully layered music.

Their launching their new single soon and it's named Tennis Party. And to celebrate all things tennis, they're going to do a guerilla gig... on a tennis court. On the 17th of July, between 1pm and 3pm, head over to the New Farm Park Tennis Courts (Hopetoun Way in New Farm, next to the park) for an absolutely free all ages gig. I think it's a good excuse for a picnic as well.

They've got a few free MP3s, including the new single, on their Triple J Unearthed page.

EDIT:
This is how excited I am for it

Avenged Sevenfold/Sevendust

Now this... this is an interesting tour. Avenged Sevenfold pulled out of Soundwave this year due to a little disagreement between the promoter and them, apparently regarding playing times. Sevendust, well they played Soundwave this year.

And yet, they're both coming out again! Soon!

I honestly can't be assed going into great detail, because as much as I loved Sevendust (as a 16 year old anyway) I just can't get into Avenged Sevenfold. And yes, I've seen them, and I thought it was just a lot of musical masturbation (aka, over the top solos that weren't that good).

But for equality sake, I thought I'd post the tour here. July 28, Brisbane Entertainment Centre. All-ages. Probably will cost a fortune too.

Touche Amore/Title Fight

The first quarter of this year has been amazing for me and concerts. It's pretty much been better than the last 10+ years combined. I'm a bit bummed now that there's not much going on, and where I was going to see gigs two or three times a week, I'm now down to barely one a month. I figured the rest of the year would be pretty meh.

But then, I heard about this tour.

Both bands, Touche Amore and Title Fight, have put out great albums in the last few weeks. Especially Touche Amore. I actually only listened to it for the first time today, but following their La Dispute split last year, I knew to expect some awesomeness. And they deliver. Both of them deliver.

In celebration on both great albums, they're touring together out to Australia later this year. September 8, at the HiFi. It's a scarily large venue for them.

EDIT: So I jumped the gun before the "official" announcement. Turns out it's an all-ages gig at the Old Museum now. The crowd size which fits them much better.

Both bands lean on the harder edge of punk, Touche Amore more so.

Check out both bands, and prepare for some musical awesomeness:
http://toucheamore.com/
http://www.myspace.com/titlefight

Cruel Hands/Phantoms

Lately, Clus has had a pretty good mantra when it comes to music: if it's on the Bridge 9 label, it's good. And this tour, it features a Bridge 9 band.


Coming around in June will be America's Cruel Hand. They can best be described as New York hardcore punk with Metallica-style riffs. You like the sound of that? Check out their MySpace.

Following them on this tour will be one of my favourite current Australian bands: Phantoms. In fact, thinking about this, both bands are mightily similar. Phantoms also do hardcore punk with a metal influence. Basically, I'm going to enjoy this tour.

South East Queensland gets two shows.
June 16, Boys and Girls (X & Y), 18+
June 17, Sun Distortion Studios, All-ages

The Chariot, change of venue

The Chariot all-ages show, which was supposed to be at the Old Museum, has now been moved to the Alley. Which as far as I can tell, is somewhere near the Myer Centre (god bless you Google).

It's still April 8.

EDIT BITCHES: http://moshpitson.blogspot.com/2011/04/apologies.html
The Chariot show is at the Old Museum still. On the 20th of April. This was supposed to be the Defeater show.

The Chariot, for real this time

So I've been bitching about this for a while. The Chariot, whose 2010 album Long:Live was amazing, are coming to Australia. Their only stop in Queensland is in Toowoomba though, for the Easterfest Christian festival.

Chuck was not happy.

But then there were rumours (not of wars (bad Chariot joke)) of an all-ages show at the Fort. Unfortunately that rumour has been shot down.

In even better news, today they announced two Brisbane shows!

April 20, Old Museum (All Ages)
April 21, Boys and Girls (X&Y), 18+

YES! Marathon are opening one of these shows, but this will be a truly amazing two nights of chaotic hardcore in-your-face noise music.

Underoath/A Day To Remember tour

Two albums I surprisingly loved last year was Underoath's and A Day To Remember's.

A Day To Remember put together post-hardcore and pop-punk for a fun little mix. They came through in December for the very wet No Sleep Til festival. I didn't go see them, as I was dry and I didn't want to go in the sea of scene kids, but by all reviews they were fun as all hell. It seems a bit weird that they'll be back within half a year of their last tour, but their fans will love it.

Underoath on the other hand, has been a band I've always had a little bit of a crush on. From my friend's Christian-music loving ways in high school, I fell in love with this song:

Then in 2006 they put out what is still one of my top 30 albums, Define the Great Line. It was just a beautifully put together screamo album (if there's such a thing). Although they lost their singer/drummer to the pop-punk band the Almost (who are almost good.. haha) they still stayed together and put out an album last year, Disambiguation. And it was grand. They dropped most of the singing vocals and just made a great heavy album.

I've seen them a few times now and their live show is amazing. If you look past the occasionaly god related speeches that pepper the show, it's still amazing. And I have a man-crush on their guitar-tech as he always checks the guitars to the song There is No Dana by Twothirtyeight.

Put these two bands together and you're bound to have a loud, yet fun, musical night. Well actually, two nights in South East Queensland!

May 15 - The Tivoli, AA
May 17 - Coolangatta Hotel, 18+

The Chariot

Well it's not official yet, but the Marathon boys said they were playing this show on their Facebook. And that's as official I need to be to get excited. Coming in at Number 9 on my best of 2010 album list, the Chariot are a chaotic noise/hardcore/mathcore/who-knows-what-core band.

They were originally only playing one show in Queensland as part of their Australian tour, and that was at Easterfest in Toowoomba. But luckily they have seen the outcry of their fans in Brisbane, and have organised a club show here.

An all-ages club show too!

April 20 at the Fort, with the awesome locals Marathon.

I'd recommend pre-buying a ticket for this. It'll be full.

The Chariot

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.

"rise" said the king to the river

As I may have mentioned lately, we are in floods right now in Brisbane. As I may have also mentioned a lot in the last few weeks before the floods, my current favourite band/most anticapated concert will be La Dispute.

The two things in common between this is Burst City, the venue for the all-ages gig. As of yesterday afternoon, Burst City looked like this:


The brown brick fence is Burst City. As you can see from the mud that signifies the peak waterline of the flood, it's gone past Burst City and into the neighbouring building. Fingers crossed that the slightly raised venue is okay and this amazing tour goes ahead. It would be shameful to see Burst City close. Even though it is shutting down for good at the end of the January, it's had such a good run that I'd love to see it go out with a bang.