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Sunday, December 21, 2003
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 12 Apostles Best Of's For 2003
Ok .. we know everybody else does this.. but we're sad and it's fun.
All our apostles haven't got back to us yet so here's part one.
Apostle Monica has given us her best of Sydney for 2003
She says:
Best debut album Decoder Ring's Decoder Ring.
Best newcomer Red Riders - although I only got to see them play once so I may have to take a closer look. But first impressions were great.
Best Local show Presets, Cut Copy and the Bumblebeez at Candy's Apartment.
Best International show The Kills and The Hot Hot Heats at the Gaelic Club.
Best Festival Splendour in the Grass, Byron - admittedly I didn't get to go to Big Day Out or Homebake!
Best new venue Candy's Apartment followed closely by the Gaelic Club.
Washington DC Apostle Tells Us
Album of the year The Bronx.
Gigs of the year Sex Pistols at 9:30 Club, Washington D.C.; The Darkness at
Fletcher's, Baltimore
Best new band The Bronx
Band to watch/hit the big time The Darkness
Best musical trend Return of real rock
Worst musical trend continued omnipresence of hip hop and worthless prefabricated pop idols, pop tarts, & boy bands
Bondi Apostle Says
Best Albums
OutKast - Speakerboxx / The Love Below
Rapture - Echoes
DJ Rubbish - Armageddon Session
Matmos, People Like Us, Wobbly - Wide Open Spaces
BifTek - Frequencies Will Move Together
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell
Best EP's / 12"s
Bumblebeez - White Printz EP & The Red Printz EP
DSICO - Punk As Pussy 12"
Bergheim 34 - Random Access Memory
The Morning After Girls EP
Walk This Way White Label
My Robot Friend - Walt Whitman
Andrea Doria - Bucci Bag
Capitol K - New York
Shiny Disco Bollox - White Label
Jeans Team - Gold Un Silver
Hakan Lidbo - Disco Explosion
Best Compilations
John Peel's Fabric Comp
Free with Muzik Mag - Cassius Present French Disco 03
Best Gigs
The Bumblebeez @ the Metro Sydney
Yeah Yeah Yeahs & The Kills @ The Bowery Bar New York
PJ Harvey @ The Enmore Sydney
The Morning After Girls @ The Hopetoun Tent Homebake
Beasts of Bourbon @ Homebake
Truly Appalling Live Music
Shane McGowan @ the Metro
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ the Metro
Kool Keith @ the Gaelic club
Funniest Live Moment
The appearance onstage of Lou Reed's Tai Chi master
Best thing about 2003 - nasty bootleggers beginning to understand how to re-use R&B girl vocals in a non cheesy and cool way |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 05:56] |
Machine Translations + C-Minus Project
More Live Stuff Thanks To Monica's Dedication To The Cause
@ The Hoey:
I love all different sorts of popular music, but there are some more than others which I feel as much has been done in it that we possibly can do. But that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy the bands of those genres. I mean I'm never going to see AC/DC in their height of infamy, so thank god I have Jet. And I'm not ever going to see Joy Divsion play so thank god for Interpol. So I can still enjoy them, even though it doesn't make me think wow, this is amazing, this is where it's happening, this is new, exciting and really interesting.
So where is all the exciting stuff? Probably hip hop, electronic music and fusion sounds. Which is something J Walker, headman of Machine Translations recognises. Combining indie rock with a touch of electronica may not guarantee good music but it is the chance to take a genre which has arguably had its hey day from a new approach and discover it is very much a style which has something to offer. By combining the Dylan-esque softness and emotion of Walker's voice with a real sense of space, place and texture that carefully employed samples provides, as well as a buildup of tension and drama with a number of varying sonic guitar sounds, Machine Translations manages to make some music that is both exciting and full of soul. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 05:48] |
Jack White Assaults Member of Band He's Produced
Don't know what this is all about.... but maybe being a star has got to the world's latest rock god... Smoking Gun has all the details |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 05:22] |
Thursday, December 18, 2003
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Sound Investments
Still looking around for those last minute Christmas presents? Well remember that our very own Punk As Pussy Ep is now shipping world-wide. Order your copy here. Still not got enough for your loved ones? Then those nice folks at Kitty Yo are running a buy one get one free offer over at their popstore. To grab yourself a bit of this seasonal goodwill then just drop " 241" in the order form and Kitty-Claus will load your goodies on his sleigh pronto... |
| [posted in Bow :: at 14:27] |
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
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NYE in London .. what to do... where to go ?
We suggest a visit to Kashpoint's low key affair. No big name dj's... no mention of 5000K turbo speakers etc... just some silly fun
They say
HOGG MONEE
Please come & join our family & friends for a wonderful Bumper Bargain N.Y.E. Night Out !
Officially - The best music in town + Live Disko Shows, Jordee & Nigel's Piano Singalong & Apple Saucy Shenanigans
DJs - Mr Menthol, Replicant & DJ Hair Explosion
Pan Sexual Pole Dancing + Free Tequila shots ! oink oink
The Purple Turtle Crowndale Rd ( opp. Camden Palace ) Mornington Crescent NW1
All night tube !!
Mornington Cres/ Camden -
Buses - N5 N253 N24 N27 N29 N88 N134
E10/ £7.92 in advance - www.kashpoint.com
E15/ £9.95 on the door
E7/ £4.83 all guests
HAPPY NEW YEAR !! IT'S GUNNA BE A BIGGEN
Kash Point is back @ Moonlighting, 17 Greek St, Soho, W1
Every Thursday from January 15th. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 09:01] |
Racism Rears Ugly Head At Sydney Clubs
We're not happy here at the apostles.
Our uber-cool correspondent Monica has in the last couple of months been refused entry by door morons at two Sydney clubs because she happens to be of asian origin.
This is what she says about her experience at the Pavilion
NO ASIANS ALLOWED" @ Pavillion Hotel
In my 18 years as a home-grown Sydneysider racism has never been an issue for me. But of late I have detected a growing xenophobia, and my fears were consolidated last Sunday morning when, on the steps of George St’s Pavillion Hotel I was denied entry. When I questioned why, I was told “No Asians allowed”. This backlash to multiculturalism, the growing racial intolerance (expressed or encouraged by the refugee crisis?), the blatant bigotry was finally before my eyes and affecting me on an individual, grass-level basis.
When I asked as to why the management had taken this policy I was told that it was their solution to problems the club had been having with Asian gangs. Even while I was writing their explanation I realise that perhaps you were nodding your head claiming that this is an acceptable solution. Well I disagree. This may be A solution to A problem but that does not necessarily make it a morally acceptable solution! Albeit ban people who are drunk or high or aggressive or armed – but one cannot bar people on the basis of their race!
It is not the Asian way to make a fuss, to create confrontation or to become aggressive. But it is not the Australian way to take something lying down. I am incensed and angry. Not because I’ve been denied entrance to some shitty club, but because of what this experience represents. Finally, Australia’s (am I still allowed to say ‘our’?) racism has moved beyond the political scope, beyond the seemingly faraway and desolate spots of Woomera and Christmas Island and into my urban neighbourhood, into the world of the everyday Australian. I, a citizen who is entitled to the same treatment as every other Australian in the country had been firmly placed into ‘THEM’ and was now completely excluded from the ‘US’.
I realise, compared to the violence and abuse that other minority races have experienced this incident is almost trivial, but placed in today’s apparent ‘multicultural’ and modern society, and if you begin to wonder to where will this society go from here…one cannot help but be frightened.
We say that the Pavilion should be boycotted immediately by all club goers. This type of behaviour can not be tolerated for one second |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 08:49] |
Thursday, December 11, 2003
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On A Wing And A Prayer
Mme Wing sings christmas carols and her big hit.. the songs of the carpenters.
Submitted by Mary Magdelane |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 22:00] |
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
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Buck 65 Keeps It Real In An Eng Lit Style
Buck 65 @ the Basement: Canadian rhymer, word-smith, beat maker, scratch artist, story-teller, on stage peformer Buck 65 hates it when people call him a "hip hop artist". And true, his sound does seem to sit a fair distance from any booty shaking bling bling gangsta rap usually associated with hip hop.
His diverse beats, all produced by himself are more reminiscent of DJ Shadow trip hop, at one point after some quality scratching he bahs it with "Scratching is so pretensious" and from his gravelly voice comes rhymes that are incredibly rich in colour and so intricately detailed you can virtually feel yourself a part of the vivid pictures he paints.
With quirks and charisma coming out of both ears he's a true on stage personality and one resounding quality is his determination to be 'in touch' with the people. Not only did he spend his time before getting on stage talking to the punters amongst the crowd, he litters his peformance with quirky hometown stories, other stories derived from his earlier conversations, openly invites someone (anyone) to take him shopping and a haircut tomorrow and banters with the crowd drunks throughout the peformance, and then says at the end that he'd like to personally say hello to everyone in the crowd.
OK he's a funny, interesting, down to earth kind of guy, but by the end it seemed less refreshing and a little grating. Doesn't he realise that in this situation there's no way he's going to get anything genuine?
Tonight he is the artist and we are the fans - there's no changing that. And why is there an assumption that being an artist gives you uninhibted access to everyone in the crowd (beyond the relationship as artist and appreciator)? Still, I have no doubt that the reason why his material is so earthy that you can practically smell the dirt its planted in is partly due to his "keeping it real" wherever he goes.
Thanks to Monica |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 04:00] |
OutKast In High Court: Rosa Parks Civil Rights Activist Sues Them
Legal Website: Law.com reports that the High Court Casts Aside Atlanta Rap Duo's Plea. Cert denial clears the way for Rosa Parks' suit against OutKast
J. Ringel writes for law.com The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to get involved in a legal fight between civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks and Atlanta rap duo OutKast.
The justices denied OutKast's request that they review a decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that had cleared the way for the 90-year-old Parks to sue OutKast members Andre "Dre" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton and others for naming a profanity-laced song after her without her permission.
The lyrics of the song don't mention Parks by name, but its chorus, or "hook" says, "Ah ha, hush that fuss/Everybody move to the back of the bus/Do you wanna bump and slump with us/We the type of people make the club get crunk."
A translation of rap lyrics submitted into the record by Parks' lawyers suggests that the song has nothing to do with Rosa Parks personally but is a self-congratulatory anthem to OutKast's stardom: "Be quiet and stop the commotion. OutKast is coming back out [with new music] so all other MCs [mic checkers, rappers, Master of Ceremonies] step aside. Do you want to ride and hang out with us? OutKast is the type of group to make the clubs get hyped-up/excited."
Read the full story at the link above.... don't ya just love it when the courts have to interpret da lyrixx |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 00:55] |
Is The Chinese Leadership Going Hip Hop On Us ?
Hu Urges Greater Effort in Implementation of 'Three Represents': Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and president of China, on Tuesday called on the CPC and the whole nation to launch a new wave of studying and implementing the important thought of "Three Represents."
Ok they haven't quite got the z thing going... how long before the 3 Mothafucka's
On another note... the time is right for the rise of the Hip Hop Intellectual according to website SF Gate.com whose article Hip Hop Intellectuals: A Radical Generation Comes Of Age is well worth a read. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 00:22] |
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
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Watch Out The Finns Are Here
Seems as though there's somewhat of a Finnish club diaspora in London at the moment.
See who they are and what they are up to here
A quick look at all the sites leaves us with no doubt who has the star quality .. it's diva HK119 who we're told is in the UK to perform her icy electro power-pop in the lineage of such goddesses as Grace Jones, Annie Lennox, Gina x and if you don't like it then you're a CUNT.
The site is fun as well with video clips, mp3's and some good glitchy type noises. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 23:42] |
Monday, December 08, 2003
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Aus Rockz
Another year rolls round and it’s back to the Domain for the 9 year old Homebake showcasing the best and brightest of Australia’s music scene.
20,000 of us are jammed into a small park for a day with the city of Sydney as the background.
The apostles start the day with our favourites, The Bumblebeez who’d been given a criminal 1.30 pm timeslot (they should’ve been on after dark), the big top was full if not bursting and yet again we were given a visceral performance. Last time I described them as an early Happy Mondays for 2003… but I could quite easily say The Fall, Captain Beefheart or The Birthday Party . There’s a tension with this band that keeps each and every song treading a fine line between perfection and chaos. Ok so it doesn’t work every time, but these guys are smart enough to know that the key is to keep it short, sharp and nasty… and most importantly to keep well away from the tired old hip hop tricks of call and response. Our suggestion to management: get them on the bill with the yeah yeah yeahs in the states and watch jaws drop from east to west coast and thanks to the band member who sported a 12 Apostles t-shirt… obviously a man with sartorial skills.
Then we’re straight over to the Hopetoun tent to see Melbourne’s newest, The Morning After Girls. We’re told in the programme that these guys have been supporting Black Rebel Motorcycle.. why ? These four pasty boys and tambourine weilding rock chick have much much more than the one dimensional BRMC. This apostle could hear the Dandy Warhols and the Standells mixed in with those 80’s Liverpudlian guitar lines. The lead guitarist/singer has the best new voice in rock for 2003. This band deserve to go a long way and I hope they bury the likes of BRMC on the way there.
Next up in the Hopetoun tent is Sydney’s own Spod. Think Sydney’s version of Gonzales or Har Mar Superstar. Ok he isn’t gonna change the world but it’s one of the funniest shows this year, almost every song / rap has a reference to underwear. And the set finale, an ode to all things scandanavian about fucking and fighting for freedom in Sweden made sure that most punters were smiling as they wandered out of the tent.
Then as dusk rolls on it’s time for old school Australia… and for those who remember the Sydney and Melbourne pub scenes of the 70’s to the 90’s it was over to the Dome stage for what promised to be an interesting double act.
First up, The Church who it has to be said don’t translate to either an outdoor venue or for that matter the 21st century. The whole set a dirge interspersed with some very tired guitar solos.This apostle felt like somebody eternally stuck in a muddy field listening to this band… cold, wet , tired and with no chance of an escape.
Praise the lord, then, for Australia’s greatest ever cult band, The Beasts of Bourbon whose influence on the likes of Nirvana et al gets clearer and clearer as time goes by. The heavily worshipped Tex Perkins whose recent stage persona has been Johnny Cash meets Neil Young is only too happy to put on his Beasts hat and remind this audience what they missed if they hadn’t ever wandered into an inner city Sydney pub in the late eighties early nineties. The Beasts must be seen and heard live… they are the dirtiest, rockiest, bluesiest funk fuckers on the planet…one of those acts that can be tight and loose at the same time. The only other band I can imagine that could create this feel live would be Stooges. Highlight of the set for this apostle is a cover of the Stone’s Cocksucker Blues. If only Mick could’ve sung it like this.
Headliners Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds come on to a rather muted audience who by 9.30 had drunk themselves into a quiet oblivion.
The Seeds sound as good as ever. And this despite the fact that Blixa has now left to do his own thing and the king of the murder ballards now sports a new severe haircut making him look rather like a rangy Clive James
We get a set that anybody who has seen the Bad Seeds over the past couple of years will know pretty well. Red Right Hand, God Is In The House, The Mercy Seat. Although it must be said that the pounding bass lines of Pnau in the big top didn’t do many favours to some of the quieter moments in the set
Highlights include a new and beautifully balanced version of the Birthday Party no. Wild World and Stagger Lee the only song I know where the use of the word Motherfucker is actually in context .
Here’s great photo of Tex & Nick hanging out with Iggy & Kim Gordon a few years back
Bondi apostle also caught snatches of The Vines new festival favourites The Cat Empire and Brisbane’s Resin Dogs all of whom couldn’t really keep the attention for more than a couple of songs. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 08:49] |
Sunday, December 07, 2003
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ROC Sound System Play Rare Gig
The SPIKY/MAKE SOME NOISE xmas thing is happening downstairs at The Pool Bar, Curtain Rd (off Old St), London.
Tuesday December 9
Entrance is a measly £3 but all acts have unlimited guest list at £1:50
A limited amount of Loaded Knife: The Bird 7" will be on sale on the night.
Line Up is...
11:15-12 - Fidel Villeneueve (digital hardcore)
10:30-11 - Slang
9:30-10:15 - Loaded Knife (resonance)
8:-9:30pm - R.O.C. Sound System
Interludes by DJ Trip The System
If there's a full house there'll be another hour of free-for-all DJing from 12am-1am
|
| [posted in Bondi :: at 22:07] |
Friday, December 05, 2003
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Washington Apostle's Conversation With Nicky Garratt
It's been my considerable pleasure to establish ongoing e-mail contact recently with the great UK Subs guitarist Nicky Garratt. Those who saw my previous Subs retrospective here (and if you missed it, check the archive) will know that Garratt has long been one of my guitar idols.
In addition to continuing to tour with the Subs, Garratt keeps busy these days running his New Red Archives record label from his San Francisco base and recording with his experimental jazz/post-punk outfit Ten Bright Spikes as well as lending his talent to session work. Here's some of what he had to say:
So what are you up to with the Subs these days, and is there any new Subs product in the offing to finally follow up 1997's excellent 20th Anniversary double release "Riot" and "Quintessentials"?
I will be playing Europe and the USA with the Subs next year. I have also started writing songs for a new album. Finished the first one yesterday. A new DVD featuring the Subs called "Punk Can Take It" is coming out in January on Cleopatra.
I noticed a recent live picture of you using a Strat -- aren't you still using your trusty Gibson SG these days?
I haven't used Gibson SGs since the early '80s. I have always used Strats for most of the lead and sometimes for rhythm too ("Another Kind Of Blues," "Quintessentials," "Riot"). "Endangered Species" was Gordon-Smith guitars for rhythm. "Diminished Responsibility" was SGs on the rhythm and Strats on the lead. "Quintessentials" and "Riot" was ALL Strats -- rhythm and lead. I didn't have any Gordon-Smiths at that time as I had not been touring.
I love the Stratocaster, the way it feels -- I actually play better when I'm on my natural vintage Strat. Around 1982 I saw Bernie Torme play at the Marquee -- he had the guitar sound from heaven. It seemed he was using Hiwatt amps. After I talked to him he told me it was really a Marshall behind and he had a deal with Hiwatt so he needed to make it look like he was using them. Still, the sound was unbelievable. Strat through Marshall. It turned out that he went through an EQ before the input and boosted the mids and overall gain. Since then I have always done the same with my Strats. You get a big, big sound but keep the prized "cut" of the Strat.
From 1976-77 I used a Les Paul "Black Beauty" three pick-up. That included the early days of the Subs, but by the winter of 1977 I had changed over to Strats. Although I hate the thin sound of my Strat on the UK Subs "Live at the Roxy" recorded in 1977, I found Les Pauls too muddy -- it seems to me, (although I love these albums) that's why Jimmy Page had that horrible thin sound on his lead playing on the first and to some extent second and third Led Zep albums. With the huge Drum and bass sound, it was the only way to make it heard -- he later used Strats on a bunch of tracks.
Richie Blackmore on the other hand got the most amazing guitar sound with his Strat -- just listen to Deep Purple "In Rock." That thing sings, and it's in a band with not only bass and drums, but organ! Anyway, it's just a matter of taste.
I have two vintage Strats (1973/4), a 1999 American standard Strat, three Gordon-Smith GS1, one Gordon-Smith GS1 12-string, one highly customised Gordon-Smith GS2, one vintage Ovation Viper (1974), two White Vintage Ovation Breadwinners (1973), one Black vintage Ovation Breadwinner (1974), one Vintage Sunburst Ovation Deacon (Deluxe Breadwinner, 1973). Gordon-Smith are curently building me a custom Breadwinner -- it won't have active electronics and will have only one pick-up but will have a whammy bar. I think it's the first Breadwinner built by a recognised guitar manufacture other than Ovation. It should however sound more like the GS1.
On the front of my web site I have some info on Gordon-Smith guitars. They have built modified custom guitars for me for about five years, but I started using them instead of SGs since 1980. I found the SGs were too weak and the necks snapped -- I went through seven SGs between 1978 and 1980.
One wonders how Angus Young gets by with them given the abuse he subjects them to. I recently heard the Guns 'n' Roses version of "Down On The Farm" for the first time, it sucks. Slash doesn't do any of your killer licks at the end of each verse line -- criminal.
Talking of Guns 'n' Roses, yesterday I did a session with their drummer (also with the bass player of Chelsea). It was a reunion of the proto punk band Stormtrooper who last recorded in 1975 (their hit was "I'm A Mess"). I did two songs -- a rerecording of "I'm a Mess" and Dusty Springfield's "I Only Want To Be With You." It turned out quite well -- I liked my solo on "I'm A Mess." I'm not in that band, just doing it as a session for Jeff from Chelsea.
Do you mean Steven Adler or Matt Sorum from G 'n' R?
No, Brian from the last version of G 'n' R that included Buckethead on guitar.
I didn't pay any attention to the last version of G 'n' R (like everyone else, apparently), so I haven't heard Brian. Dunno who Jeff from Chelsea is either, they've gone through so many line-ups! They did some good stuff particularly in the early '80s though, I've got a bunch of singles from then. "Decide" was very good. I once saw them in Brighton at that time and they got beaten up mid-set by a bunch of skins who jumped the stage -- security was non-existent. Bizarre.
Jeff was the original bass player then, played in Chelsea from maybe 1978 to 1983. He called himself Jeff Miles back then. He knew an engineer from Third Eye Blind's studio who in turn brought in Brian. Then they brought me in and that's how that session came about.
The engineer, incidentally, was a guitar tech for Satus Quo for many years. He told me a previous guitar tech had drilled holes in all of their vintage Telecasters so the chord would come through the body of the guitar, he imagined. He was on acid I think. Needless to say, the band were not amused.
That's pretty funny since I don't like Quo. Who are some other guitar players you like? Any Gibson guys like Page, Paul Kossoff, Steve Jones, Slash, Billy Duffy, Randy Rhodes, etc.?
None of those guys would make my top-10 list. Nor would Mick Ronson, Peter Green, or Eric Clapton. Strictly as a player (he uses some modern custom guitars now, but used to use a Strat), Alan Holdworth is great, although he can't write to save his life. I saw him in a pub in the '70s with Don Weller and Ray Warhley and he was incredible.
I guess I like a couple of Gibson players. Tony Iommi's sound is great, the highly affected Robert Fripp sound is nice, uses it like a violin I think. One Strat sound I don't like is Mark Knopffler's -- that's because he just took Richard Thomson from Fairport Convention's sound, who I think is infinitely more interesting (again, Strat).
How did you come to live in San Francisco?
I came out here to record with Ten Bright Spikes and ended up buying a house by Ocean Beach. I was living in Los Angeles for a while. Before that I was in New York for seven years.
When do you leave for the Subs' Euro jaunt? What are touring conditions like these days?
I'll be in Hannover for three weeks before the tour stating on the 8th of
January. We do OK in Europe really -- good tour manager, well put together tours.
Have you ever thought of putting out your memoirs like (Subs bassist) Alvin Gibbs did to some extent with his history of punk, "Destroy," and also his book about touring with Iggy?
I like to write, but I don't have the best memory. I did the early history of the UK Subs on my site, loads of people have reprinted that. I thought about extending it and adding loads of photos and puting it out as a book, maybe with someone like Glen Friedman who has great photos of the UK Subs from the early '80s. Who knows? Maybe one day. It might be better after the band have stopped touring so we know how it all ends -- in tears, I expect.
Cheers Nicky. All the best with the upcoming Subs tour, and I look forward to seeing you on the next U.S. tour and to that future new Subs album as well. Best of luck with New Red Archives and Ten Bright Spikes too.
Thanks for the kind words. |
| [posted in Washington :: at 17:59] |
Kool Keith - The Sound Of Registers Ringing
So .. the choice last night was to see the new wave of hip hop The Bumblebeez See Monica's report below or as this apostle decided , check out the warped genius of prolific US rapper Kool Keith.
Well... Monica made the right decision and Bondi apostle wasted his cash.
Turning up halfway through local hip hop dj Blaze's inoffensive set which seemed to rely heavily on sampling mid 90's west coast hip hop tunes.
We then had to suffer the worst act I've seen since a very pissed Shane McGowan earlier in the year.
Celsius who I presume hail somewhere from the inner west of sydney were the equivalent of seeing a really appalling prog rock band in Guildford (UK) in about 1974.
OK the presentation is a little different.. boys run onstage punching hands in the air and doing squiggly things with their fingers at the audience... they then bang on about hardcore hip hop, jump up and down and shout into their microphones. The poor old dj who's decided to call himself Murder One laid down some competent beats and threw some pretty ok scratching on top... but not enough to distract us from the annoying gits running around the stage yelling about the reality of life.
This I would have been able to survive would it not have been for the guest rappers halfway through the set followed by Murder 1 doing his stuff ( think Rush drum solo.)
Terrible...absolutely terrible. Half an hour felt like a lifetime.
But now at last we'd get some entertainment from Kool Keith or so I thought.
First another 30 minutes from Blaze who'd obviously been told to keep it quiet so as not to upstage the man.
The set started with technical difficulties as Kool Keith's dj fiddled furiously with his controls to make some sort of sound appear and however authentic his m.fucka, make some noise shouts were... here was a man who was looking decidedly uncomfortable by the fact he'd fucked up the big intro.
And.. then on he bounded with sidekick...launching into an ultramagnetic mc's track. The crowd go wild... they are all here for the old school 80's feel and that's what they get. Baseball hats on sideways, nicely pressed t-shirts and pants and endless exhortations to clap your hands, make yet more noise, shout for Kool Keith etc etc etc. The whole thing was like being inside a 50 cent video with white people.
Bondi Apostle had come hoping for the leftfield experimentation of Dr Octagon / Black Elvis but all we got was MTV land. Half an hour later I'd had enough, the boys were all happy though.
Somewhere out there in Hip Hop agency land USA they've cottoned on that white youth in outposts like Australia are the new way for these guys to extend their flagging careers (we've had Grandmaster Flash and a bunch of other has beens, sorry can't remember their names, out here this year). Won't be long before Wu Tang realize that there's money to be made in them thar hills ...
Should've gone to see the Bumblebeez... |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 00:59] |
Kashpoint Xmas Special In London
The 12 can't go past a good band name and at the Kashpoint December do the enticingly entitled Prada Meinhoff Gang are playing.......handbag terrorism....... what the world's been waiting for.
Details are:
Thursday 11th Dec 2004
9.30pm - 3am (shows start 10pm)
Crash
66, Goding St, Vauxhall, SE11
9 Euros/ £5.83 - Alarming Looks - free
Night also features: Simon Bookish, Cantankerous Replicant, Silence is Sexy Baxendale, Bishi Super Sudio & Viktor ! and special guests Selfish Cunt
|
| [posted in Bondi :: at 00:36] |
Modular - Signing Australia's Best Bands ?
Monica reports:
The Bumblebeez, Cut Copy & The Presets (Holy Shitballs)
Thank you Modular People. Thanks for signing up The Bumblebeez, Cut Copy and The Presets. Thanks for putting on Thursday night at Candy's Apartment where we lucky punters got to see all three in action. Thanks for just being the sickest label around.
The Presets are damn close to being derivative to a combination of 80s new wave bands (in the vein of now its time to use my Joy Division voice) but they're bloody good at what they're going after so all is forgiven. A nice trio of searing synth work, raw guitar and one of the best attempts to pull of the "fuck you" vocal posturings is lined with good rhythm from the drums.
Cut Copy were number one for me, opening with some Daft Punk disco stylings and then bringing in some more 80s derived depth with samplers, mixers and alternately droll and soothing vocals. They manage to mix their dance aspects with some of the more darker emotions and pull it off so superbly I found myself rapturous with applause at the end of every song.
The Bumblebeez' strength, as mentioned before is their erratic, raw presence. They're like a spontaneous, uncontrolled punch in the guts. And with each viewing I've had of them (now the third this year) they've slowly managed to control the raging beast that is their talent, without losing the vivacity that makes them so exciting to watch. Electro rock rap punk (oh yes!) at its best. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 00:27] |
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
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Pop Idols Everywhere You Turn
Been a strange week for bondi apostle... first of all he sees Australia's pop idol guy whatever his name is in the Harris Farm fruit and veg market in Edgecliff..... now here's a young man who looked very confused when deciding which of the 4 different types of lettuce he should choose.... we then noticed him making a beeline for Coles with too many middle aged females hot on his heels.
And then... only a day or so later we see runner up Shannon being accosted by someone down at Bondi Beach ...
Please no more competitions for soppy singers... otherwise they'll be stacked up outside my front door. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 06:15] |
MP3.Com Is Closed
So... what's happened here. It didn't always have the best tunes but at least the music was new and artists and bands could post original tunes and get some sort of feedback on their music by the comments, reviews and the amount of downloads..
Read the message below... we hope it's temporary as well.
If you visit their homepage you'll see the following message
Welcome to MP3.com.
As you’ve no doubt noticed by now, we’re undergoing some significant changes. I’d like to tell you about what’s going on and what you can expect in the months ahead.
First - for all of you who come to MP3.com to find music, you will see that we currently don’t have any to offer. This is a temporary situation. We are working hard on developing a next generation digital music information service that will make it easier than ever to find the music you want online, as well as to discover new artists and keep up with all your current favorites. To learn more about the new MP3.com and to be notified of our members-only preview click here.
Second - for all of you who come to MP3.com to upload and promote your music, you will see that those services aren’t available, either. Again, this is a temporary situation. Our sister site, CNET Download.com, will be launching new and improved artist services early next year at music.download.com. These services will be free and will expose your music to more people than ever before. To learn more about these services and to be notified of the artists-only preview, click here.
Third - for all of you who come to MP3.com for the community, we know that the bonds here have been built through many years of shared experience. To help maintain that connection, and to provide a forum for feedback and comments about the next generation MP3.com, we have set up new message boards which we invite you to visit and use. Click here to get started.
So that’s the story. We appreciate your patience during this rebuilding project. While it certainly won’t be easy, with your feedback, guidance and continued support we look forward to making MP3.com bigger and better than ever before. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 05:49] |
Tasteful Spam
It's very rare that we report on a piece of spam ... but this offer is particularly tasteful . We're told via this address that we can order Uday Hussein's private torture and sex videos which we're told are hot off the press straight out of Baghdad's souks.
Learn more here
Warning from the apostles...a) these videos look really nasty so fey indie types should avoid and...b) if you link be warned that the spammers may tag you. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 02:58] |
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
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Techno Underground Still Around
Good to see that the techno underground is still to be found in Sydney... just like the old days -- pick up the flyer... find the website.... and site will tell you venue details on the night.
Check prohibited projects if you suddenly feel in the mood for some Tekno.Hardcore.Breaks
Next event has Dj's with names like At War who we're told is from France... Dada, Sonic Narcotic and our favourite The Filth
The last venue looked great .. some concrete bunker on a beach. |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 08:10] |
Sydney Rocks To The Sound of Australia This Saturday
This Saturday it's Sydney's turn yet again to host that is the best of Aus in the all dayer Homebake
As well as the biggies such as the Vines, Nick Cave, The Church and bigtime newcomers The Sleepy Jackson we also get to see the best of what's new... this apostle will be there at 1.30 to see The Bumblebeez easily Australia's best new act of 2003 and also The Morning After Girls & Spod
Nostalgia act of the day are the Beasts of Bourbon |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 07:54] |
The Beginning Of The End For Rip Off Ticketing Agencies ?
Bondi apostle is happy - he's just received his Moshcard from Moshtix
Now this apostle doesn't have to bugger about with agencies charging him $7 to post a letter with a couple of tickets in it - instead he just pops down the road or goes online and charges the gig on his card and then swipes at the venue.
Well... that's what's meant to happen.. we'll see on Thursday when I'm off to see hip hop alien Kool Keith |
| [posted in Bondi :: at 07:32] |
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