Saturday February 22, 2014 - RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane
The lead up to this year's Soundwave Festival was plagued with bands pulling out at late notice, and not just small bands either. What started as an amazing lineup we were super excited for, seemed to change to just "great" and then "good" as the big day approached. We lost Stone Temple Pilots first (recording commitments), followed by Megadeth (no reason given - possibly they wanted more money?), Whitechapel (death of a family member), Desperaceidaros (illness or death of a family member), Hardcore Superstar (thought they deserved a later timespot and when rejected, strangely decided that playing to nobody - not even your fans - is better than playing to 1000 people who turn up early) and finally Newsted (reason not given). The organisers were able to grab some pretty good replacements at first but the real last minute dropouts meant juggling set times and adding local bands was the only option. So the timetable only ever firmed up the day before, meaning I didn't have a lot of excitement built up.
As is becoming the norm as the festival grows larger, there were some very tough choices to make when timetable clashes were apparent. I didn't even really know how to choose until B pointed out I should see the bands I haven't seen before. Good idea I said. Then somehow on the day I ended up choosing mostly bands I've seen before and love which was partially laziness due to the impracticalities of running between widespread stages, and partially due to the realisation that you can watch a band you love playing all your fave songs start to finish, or you can run around watching 15 minutes of several bands you think you might like based on knowing 1 or 2 songs. What makes me happy right now is familiarity so I went with mainly the old favourites. This means that it ended up being quite the punk festival for me this year rather than rock or metal fest.
The list this year for me went: The Porkers, Nancy Vandal, Less than Jake, bit of Alkaline Trio, bit of Richie Sambora, The Living End, bit of Gwar since they ran over time, Volbeat, half of Pennywise, Alice in Chains, bit of Stiff Little Fingers, most of Rocket from the Crypt, Green Day.
One of the best, probably unintentional, themes of the day was AC/DC covers! The Living End did Jailbreak, Green Day did Highway to Hell and Pennywise also did a few bars of Highway to Hell too if I recall correctly. Great recognition of a band celebrating 40 years together and also heaps of fun. However, here are my Top 5 Moments:
1. Volbeat's entire set. I have liked this band for a few years now and it was the first time getting to see them and they did NOT disappoint. They are great performers who really get the crowd into it, sound pretty close to the CD and put on a great set. Michael's vocals were so good live. I enjoyed the circle pit during "Still Counting" a lot. Best song was probably Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood. Come back to Australia really soon as that set was too short!
2. Green Day doing "Wake me up when September ends" under a leaden early evening sky as I sat with a newish friend who has also lost her Dad. This song about losing dads and time passing was almost a dambuster for me! The song's relevance to my recent situation was not something I'd realised so I had some unexpected emotions on what was a day that I otherwise wasn't thinking about that sad situation.
3. Less than Jake - so much fun and I had a bit of a run in the circle pit too! The circle pits looked worse from the outside than they actually were on the inside.
4. Alice in Chains' beautiful tribute song to Layne Staley and Mike Starr. Shivers! Their set was a great piece of down tempo (but still heavy) peace in my day. William singing up to the sky will stay with me.
5. Billie-Joe Armstrong letting the crowd sing a verse of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", which was done at full volume, and then falling to his knees, arms out in front. He then bowed to the crowd in the "we're not worthy" style of Wayne and Garth in front of Alice Cooper in "Wayne's World". It actually seemed genuine rather than staged. His rant on what is happening in the world and how we should enjoy this moment right here was also pretty cool and since we are the first gig of the tour, also seemed genuine and random rather than rehearsed.
Another great day all wrapped up under some of the best weather we've ever had for Soundwave. Despite the early misgivings about a lack of bands to be excited about, all my old favourites came through and gave me the joy of just enjoying the music I really really love. And a new live experience cemented a new favourite band's place in my heart. Volbeat rule!
Showing posts with label Music Posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music Posts. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Top 5 Soundwave 2013 Moments
Well Soundwave 2013 would have to be the biggest and best music festival we've seen in many years. An incredible lineup was assembled, forcing us to make some very difficult choices throughout the day (or at least anyone who isn't into only one specific type of music). But how anyone can complain about the clashes or choices is beyond me - it just means you are getting to see the cream of the crop and there are always sidewaves to attend.
The festival's organisation was top notch this year with many improvements. Though it makes no difference to this little straight-edge duck, the ability to take your alcoholic beverages anywhere except into the D barrier made the day much more enjoyable for those who like to actually see the bands they are hearing and drink at the same time. The lineup to get in was almost non-existent at 11:30am. There were few queues for food given the size of the crowd, bar and drink lines were pretty short, no toilet queues (and clean!), free sunscreen, and the stage layout was perfect. The weather was great, although we all wished for a bit less of that hot hot sun as the afternoon waned. Bet Slayer's Tom Araya in his leather pants wished the sun would set a bit faster!
Finding the perfect hat to go with my outfit for the day, for sale at one of the market stalls, was a happy accident. OK onto my Top 5 moments of the day:
1. Cutting sick to Sick of it All on tiny little Stage 6 inside the Auditorium. After a day spent observing, bopping away down the back of a huge crowd, the indoor stage was intimate, dark, air conditioned and full of rough and tough hardcore kids during Madball. These disappeared for SOIA, allowing me to go a little crazy with the fists without fear of being hurt or hurting anyone. The wall of death was a bit scary since our side was outnumbered about 10 to 1. But I managed to do it! Fun.
2. Metallica, the whole thing. I wasn't fully planning to watch these guys but on the day I couldn't resist the master professionals. The biggest 'show' Soundwave has ever put on, with amazing lights, screens, fireworks off the roof, pyro on stage, giant ramp. Oh year, and four of the best players in the world ripping out most of my favourite tracks!
3. Kyuss on the main stage. They sucked all the heat out of the sky and made the place super cool. I absolutely loved hearing 'One Inch Man' live for the first time ever. Garcia's voice isn't quite as good as it used to be but damn these guys built a groove.
4. Anthrax. Antisocial rocked, their Dimebag Daryl and Ronny James Dio tribute was touching, and their cover of TNT was the best Bon Scott impersonation I've heard.
5. Hanging out with my friends while watching The Vandals, Sum 41, Bullet for my Valentine, Slayer and Dragonforce. Keeping the gang together for most of the day was challenging but rewarding. It also allowed me to enjoy Metallica with Josh and Michelle, neither of whom had seen them live before which was fun to hear their reaction.
I do wish I could've seen a bit of The Offspring (the good old bits), Garbage and Paramore, but them's the breaks. Next time!
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Rise and Rise of The Album Tour
The rise and rise of the 'Album Tour' is continuing in 2013 and is showing no sign of slowing down. I've attended a few myself recently and I think that they are a definite winner for big fans of the bands but they can tend to alienate the casual fan.
What is an Album Tour? An album tour is distinct from a normal concert tour because the band will pick one of their albums and play that album in full, usually in the same order as the record. Album tours do vary though in whether the band chooses to play other songs as well, or just purely plays that one album. The trick with the Album Tour is figuring out what album is going to be popular enough to draw a large crowd in and keep them interested until the end, without playing many of your other songs. The element of surprise has also been removed, since most of the audience knows which song is coming next rather than having the enjoyment of recognition of a favourite track after the first few notes are played. A casual listener of a band would be happier with a 'greatest and latest hits' type of set as they will know more of the songs.
Our most recent Album Tour was Weezer, who came to Australia for the first time in a long time, to play what is affectionately known as The Blue Album but is officially titled 'Weezer' plus a greatest hits set. Weezer fans seem to be of the more 'diehard' variety but I'd say that the specialisation to their debut album did probably cost them a few ticket sales. The Brisbane Entertainment Centre was only half full but expectation was in the air. And we were not let down, as the band appeared and started off with a set of their singles and best tracks from each album, played in order from most recent to oldest back to the Pinkerton album, accompanied by frontman Rivers Cuomo's funny 'time machine' sounds between tracks. The band then took a brief intermission before a screen appeared and began to show photos. A long-time friend of the band gave a vocal commentary of the band's history and a few funny asides as we saw some quite personal photos and unique memorabilia. The band then re-appeared in fresh outfits and played through the Blue Album in order.
It was a ton of fun to hear Buddy Holly, Undone (the Sweater Song), Say it Ain't So, Holiday and Surf Wax America. Weezer's earliest songs are quite simple, insanely catchy and quite stupid sometimes. So which part of the set was the biggest winner? I don't think you could pick a winner here. The thing about the Album Tour is that usually the best song on the album is not the last track, so it can tend to end on a bit of a sour note with the song that's just filling in the time. Some people obviously felt this way as they left after about Track 7. And I'd have to say the biggest sing-along was on El Scorcho from the greatest hits section, much more so than anything on the Blue Album set. For me, it was a perfect concert since it had all the songs you want to hear and a great album played in full with tracks you may never have heard. We left on a high and had 'earworms' of the songs for days afterwards.
The biggest Australian example of the Album Tour that I can think of was The Living End's Retrospective Tour. This was a massive achievement for the band, who played all 6 of their albums in full all around this big country of ours over a couple of months. In each capital city except Melbourne, there were 7 concerts for 7 nights in a row. Each concert represented one album, played start to finish, and there were 2 nights for their beloved self-titled debut album. In Melbourne, the band's hometown, they played something like 11 shows in 10 days, doing extra nights when something would sell out. As a massive long-term fan of the band I enjoyed this like nothing else before, getting to see songs that have never been played live in the band's extensive live history. One of the best parts for me each night was the video played before the show which detailed what was happening in the world and around the band creating the album that was being played that night, and the video thanked their fans for their support. It brought a tear to my eye on the first night and filled me with pride every night after. I seriously thought nothing had ever been attempted like this before and I give massive kudos to TLE for their energy and commitment to what must have been a draining experience. But I recently discovered that American band The Bouncing Souls played a run of shows in America where they played all 8 of their albums in full, getting through 2 per night over 4 nights! Wow! The Album Tour is alive and kicking.
Ignoring Pink Floyd's "The Wall" tours back in the 1980s which probably were the beginning, I believe it probably has its origins in the "All Tomorrow's Parties" festivals, which is a festival which has happened in various locations around the world and involves one artist or group being chosen to curate the festival by selecting their choice of bands or artists to play. Since it began in 2005, the ATP people have run a number of "Don't Look Back" events which have featured iconic bands performing an iconic album, sometimes re-forming especially for that purpose. Past events have included performances from The Stooges ('Funhouse'), Belle & Sebastian ('If You're Feeling Sinister'), Gang Of Four ('Entertainment'), Ennio Morricone (classic film soundtracks), Slint ('Spiderland') and Sonic Youth, whose series of performances of the classic 'Daydream Nation' earned the title of Time Out magazine's Gig Of The Year 2007.
Other tours I can recall are The Pixies who have done the 'Doolittle' album, Helmet playing 'Meantime'. Bodyjar reformed and played 'No Touch Red'. A less successful attempt is Australia's The JD Set events, which bring out a band who play the full album of another band of their choosing, usually an inspiration to them. Good Charlotte playing Weezer's Blue Album was spectacularly unsuccessful, not because the band weren't doing justice to the songs, but because the crowd just didn't want it. The two bands are too different and the crowd was getting restless for some mindless Good Charlotte pop, so the set was abandoned after about 6 songs. Weezer playing Weezer was about 3000% better!
To support my claim that this phenomenon is gaining popularity, I present to you the fact that The Offspring have recently sold out 3 shows in Australia where they are playing their debut album 'Ignition' in full, plus a few greatest hits. These are sideshows while the band is in Australia to play the Soundwave Festival so that is a lot of people who want to see more Offspring. Given that The Offspring are widely regarded as a joke, a novelty band, sellouts, or just plain making bad music these days, these shows illustrate the power of the Album Tour very well. 'Ignition' actually is a really good album that deserves to be heard in full by the fans although I would have gone if it was 'Smash' instead. And the speculation is growing by the day that Metallica will be playing the album affectionately known as the 'Black Album' in full at Soundwave 2013, which would be an absolute winner. That album stands up right through to the last track and would have long term fans excited that it means less of the newer, tinnier songs in the setlist.
If this phenomon is indeed going to continue and grow over time, I'd just like to put out into the universe that I'd love to see Rancid playing 'And Out Come the Wolves', an album which has absolutely transcended place and time and is still on high rotation in the car to this day and where the last three tracks are as strong as the first three. Track 14 was probably my favourite for many years, a telling sign when most albums made struggle to have 6 or 7 really good songs that you know all the words to. Second on the wishlist would probably be to hear Rise Against do 'Siren Song of the Counter Culture' and third would be Metallica performing the entire 'Ride the Lightning' album.
Now over to you guys to tell me what great Album Tour gigs you've been to or what would be your dream Album Tour.
What is an Album Tour? An album tour is distinct from a normal concert tour because the band will pick one of their albums and play that album in full, usually in the same order as the record. Album tours do vary though in whether the band chooses to play other songs as well, or just purely plays that one album. The trick with the Album Tour is figuring out what album is going to be popular enough to draw a large crowd in and keep them interested until the end, without playing many of your other songs. The element of surprise has also been removed, since most of the audience knows which song is coming next rather than having the enjoyment of recognition of a favourite track after the first few notes are played. A casual listener of a band would be happier with a 'greatest and latest hits' type of set as they will know more of the songs.
Our most recent Album Tour was Weezer, who came to Australia for the first time in a long time, to play what is affectionately known as The Blue Album but is officially titled 'Weezer' plus a greatest hits set. Weezer fans seem to be of the more 'diehard' variety but I'd say that the specialisation to their debut album did probably cost them a few ticket sales. The Brisbane Entertainment Centre was only half full but expectation was in the air. And we were not let down, as the band appeared and started off with a set of their singles and best tracks from each album, played in order from most recent to oldest back to the Pinkerton album, accompanied by frontman Rivers Cuomo's funny 'time machine' sounds between tracks. The band then took a brief intermission before a screen appeared and began to show photos. A long-time friend of the band gave a vocal commentary of the band's history and a few funny asides as we saw some quite personal photos and unique memorabilia. The band then re-appeared in fresh outfits and played through the Blue Album in order.
It was a ton of fun to hear Buddy Holly, Undone (the Sweater Song), Say it Ain't So, Holiday and Surf Wax America. Weezer's earliest songs are quite simple, insanely catchy and quite stupid sometimes. So which part of the set was the biggest winner? I don't think you could pick a winner here. The thing about the Album Tour is that usually the best song on the album is not the last track, so it can tend to end on a bit of a sour note with the song that's just filling in the time. Some people obviously felt this way as they left after about Track 7. And I'd have to say the biggest sing-along was on El Scorcho from the greatest hits section, much more so than anything on the Blue Album set. For me, it was a perfect concert since it had all the songs you want to hear and a great album played in full with tracks you may never have heard. We left on a high and had 'earworms' of the songs for days afterwards.
The biggest Australian example of the Album Tour that I can think of was The Living End's Retrospective Tour. This was a massive achievement for the band, who played all 6 of their albums in full all around this big country of ours over a couple of months. In each capital city except Melbourne, there were 7 concerts for 7 nights in a row. Each concert represented one album, played start to finish, and there were 2 nights for their beloved self-titled debut album. In Melbourne, the band's hometown, they played something like 11 shows in 10 days, doing extra nights when something would sell out. As a massive long-term fan of the band I enjoyed this like nothing else before, getting to see songs that have never been played live in the band's extensive live history. One of the best parts for me each night was the video played before the show which detailed what was happening in the world and around the band creating the album that was being played that night, and the video thanked their fans for their support. It brought a tear to my eye on the first night and filled me with pride every night after. I seriously thought nothing had ever been attempted like this before and I give massive kudos to TLE for their energy and commitment to what must have been a draining experience. But I recently discovered that American band The Bouncing Souls played a run of shows in America where they played all 8 of their albums in full, getting through 2 per night over 4 nights! Wow! The Album Tour is alive and kicking.
Ignoring Pink Floyd's "The Wall" tours back in the 1980s which probably were the beginning, I believe it probably has its origins in the "All Tomorrow's Parties" festivals, which is a festival which has happened in various locations around the world and involves one artist or group being chosen to curate the festival by selecting their choice of bands or artists to play. Since it began in 2005, the ATP people have run a number of "Don't Look Back" events which have featured iconic bands performing an iconic album, sometimes re-forming especially for that purpose. Past events have included performances from The Stooges ('Funhouse'), Belle & Sebastian ('If You're Feeling Sinister'), Gang Of Four ('Entertainment'), Ennio Morricone (classic film soundtracks), Slint ('Spiderland') and Sonic Youth, whose series of performances of the classic 'Daydream Nation' earned the title of Time Out magazine's Gig Of The Year 2007.
Other tours I can recall are The Pixies who have done the 'Doolittle' album, Helmet playing 'Meantime'. Bodyjar reformed and played 'No Touch Red'. A less successful attempt is Australia's The JD Set events, which bring out a band who play the full album of another band of their choosing, usually an inspiration to them. Good Charlotte playing Weezer's Blue Album was spectacularly unsuccessful, not because the band weren't doing justice to the songs, but because the crowd just didn't want it. The two bands are too different and the crowd was getting restless for some mindless Good Charlotte pop, so the set was abandoned after about 6 songs. Weezer playing Weezer was about 3000% better!
To support my claim that this phenomenon is gaining popularity, I present to you the fact that The Offspring have recently sold out 3 shows in Australia where they are playing their debut album 'Ignition' in full, plus a few greatest hits. These are sideshows while the band is in Australia to play the Soundwave Festival so that is a lot of people who want to see more Offspring. Given that The Offspring are widely regarded as a joke, a novelty band, sellouts, or just plain making bad music these days, these shows illustrate the power of the Album Tour very well. 'Ignition' actually is a really good album that deserves to be heard in full by the fans although I would have gone if it was 'Smash' instead. And the speculation is growing by the day that Metallica will be playing the album affectionately known as the 'Black Album' in full at Soundwave 2013, which would be an absolute winner. That album stands up right through to the last track and would have long term fans excited that it means less of the newer, tinnier songs in the setlist.
If this phenomon is indeed going to continue and grow over time, I'd just like to put out into the universe that I'd love to see Rancid playing 'And Out Come the Wolves', an album which has absolutely transcended place and time and is still on high rotation in the car to this day and where the last three tracks are as strong as the first three. Track 14 was probably my favourite for many years, a telling sign when most albums made struggle to have 6 or 7 really good songs that you know all the words to. Second on the wishlist would probably be to hear Rise Against do 'Siren Song of the Counter Culture' and third would be Metallica performing the entire 'Ride the Lightning' album.
Now over to you guys to tell me what great Album Tour gigs you've been to or what would be your dream Album Tour.
Monday, 3 December 2012
I heart The Living End
I love The Living End. They can easily be described as my favourite band ever. Like many people (well ones as old as me or older anyway) I first heard them in 1996 when they released the EP "It's For Your Own Good" with the tracks "From Here on In" and "English Army" getting a lot of airplay on Triple J. I was 18 and the mix of poppy punk and a bit of rockabilly was new and exciting.
I went back and bought their earlier EP "Hellbound" which I still play regularly to this day for the unbridled enthusiasm and cool songs. In 1997 they released the double A side single Prisoner of Society/Second Solution. This needs no introduction really, as the single won the 1998 Aria Award for Highest Selling Single of the year and spent a record breaking 47 weeks in the Top 50 of the Aria charts. The highest selling single award is pretty amazing given that (a) the single never reached #1, peaking at #4 and (b) this was in a time when CD singles were a big deal and you had to actually sell a lot to outsell everyone else. Not like today! Prisoner of Society was brilliant for its rebellious lyrics and anthemic chorus - no teenager can resist its powerful chant of "we don't need no-one like you, to tell us what to do!". Unfortunately over time the song's social commentary has faded in people's minds in favour of the snotty brat cliche. Something which the band have obviously felt and decided to take the song out of their live setlists, but somehow it always manages to creep into the set. Second Solution was the other A side single and it is actually the better song I think and gave them a good lead in to their debut album "The Living End".
I started going to shows around the time of the second EP coming out, and The Living End had me hooked on live gigs straight away. There is a very good reason for their reputation as one of Australia's best live bands - they have worked damn hard and played so many shows, and they give their all every time. I saw them at every little dirty basement around town, but I will never forget seeing them at The Chelsea (RIP) in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. I knew the songs inside and out but this time instead of jumping around in the moshpit, I positioned myself up the front in front of Chris Cheney and had what I would afterwards describe as an epiphany. It wasn't an epiphany in the Christian sense, but in the other sense of the sudden comprehension or realisation of a larger meaning of something. It was watching the sheer genius of this man with his guitar playing (while singing!!!) that I realised I was born to be a punter and a fan of this band; that I would never have the talent to be in a band or entertain people, but I sure could do a great job of appreciating those that do; and that The Living End were a worthy band to follow. And they have repaid me so many times, particularly with their latest tour, the Retrospective Tour.
For many years, I saw The Living End play at every venue possible whether Brisbane or the Gold Coast. I've seen them support local bands (Snout) and international bands (Rancid), headline their own shows with various supporting acts, and play massive festivals like Livid and Big Day Out. This has died down over the years as I became too old and uninterested in modern music to attend every festival, so I've missed quite a few festival appearances. Which is a shame as it's a great place to see them in their element, entertaining the bogans and the rockers alike, Chris playing a solo with his beer bottle and Scott with his double bass up in the air over his head. They are amazing and if you don't believe me you have to buy the 'From Here on In' DVD which documents several fantastic performances.
Another great gig was at the Arena in the Valley, which I almost missed. A group of us were going to this show and all but me were enjoying quite a few pre-show drinks. As the time rolled around to leave, we went out to the car and in the process of cleaning out the back seat for my passengers, I bent down and banged my eye on the car door with a loud 'crack'. When I stood up, it didn't feel too good and everyone said "Are you ok?" to which I said "I don't know". Then Ben took one look at me and said "We better go inside and have a look at that". We did and that was a bad idea. I'd cut the corner of my eye on the corner of the door and although I'd been fine while they all inspected me, looking in the mirror at the blood running down my cheek made me go all woozy. Now here is the driver, unable to drive, and the passengers all too drunk to drive - what could we do? We called some friends and Karen was sober so she popped around to take a look. We decided it wasn't too bad and she took me to the chemist who agreed that it could probably be solved with a butterfly clip which was duly applied by our sober steady-handed friend. Then I decided that we were still going to go to the concert, because there was no way that I wanted to miss The Living End! So we got in the car, drove into the Valley and enjoyed one of the best concerts they've done although I bounced around a bit less than usual as I didn't want the cut to open up again. Afterwards we hit an alternative club and danced the night away (for some reason I thought headbanging to Bullet for my Valentine would be a good idea). The next day when the black eye came out and we could see the cut properly and how close I'd come to actually cutting my eyeball (see picture below), I realised that all of that was probably not the best idea. But I landed on the right side of fine and gee it was a fantastically fun night out.
The Living End almost came to a screeching halt back in 2001 and 2002 after Chris was involved in a serious car accident that left him unable to play for a long time, and then founding drummer Travis left the band citing burnout and disagreements over the musical direction of the band. Fortunately for us, Chris did recover and is able to play better than ever, and replacement drummer Andy Strachan (formerly of awesome Aussie band from the 90s Pollyanna) has slotted into the band so well that most people wouldn't even know there was another drummer. Andy does a fantastic job.
All of that was a long time ago and a lot has changed with me and them. I think a lot of people would say that The Living End's best music is in the past, because as they've grown up as people and developed as musicians, their music has changed. It's a lot less punk, a fair bit less rockabilly and a lot more mature. But if you give it a chance, this music is still excellent. No, it's not the same but is that such a bad thing? People complain when a band repeats itself until it's no longer good (the 'time to give it away' argument) but also don't want their favourite bands to change. Lose-lose. Also they are men in their late 30s, married with kids so are they going to write about teenage rebellion forever? To me, their songs and lyrics have always been based in either real experiences or stories ripped from the headlines and based around the experiences of Aussie workers - it's stuff that people can relate to. This has not changed and it would, in fact, be ridiculous if they were still writing about being little punks. I myself have grown with the band and still love everything they release. The new album "The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating" is great, with some very punchy songs crossed with the more mature, moody rock stuff. I'm disappointed it hasn't had more attention, praise and appreciation, especially by fans of their early work. It's the band's favourite album and the more I listen, the more I can see it becoming mine too.
I've also had people tell me they have 'sold out' but I would argue that they have done the opposite. If they were selling out, they would have changed their musical style to something that is actually popular e.g. screamo punk, pop, hip-hop. How can you be selling out when your music is becoming less popular and selling less over time? Also I've never heard a Living End song in an ad for anything. I think they have actually stayed true to themselves and made the music they've wanted to make regardless of how it is received. And it has been received pretty well, even if not by the old fans, as they still won 2 Aria Awards in 2011 for Best Rock Album and Best Live Band.
The thing that I can't fathom is that TLE did not win Best Live Band at the Arias in 2012. What better gift can a band give it's fans than a massive run of shows where they play all of their albums in full? This was the most exciting music news of the year for me, and the 6 concerts in the first week of December was the most anticipated event I think I've ever attended. It's a massive physical and technical undertaking for the band, having to learn something like 90+ songs and play for 7 nights in a row and then only a few days break before the next city. Anyone saying there should have been more shows should have their head read, it's an absolute gift that we are getting this. And two nights in, I have enjoyed every minute of it so far and look forward to the other 4 shows. I am giving them the 'Best Live Band' award from me right here, right now. The love and appreciation that this band have shown their fans is unprecedented and makes them the all time greatest band from Australia in my opinion.
If you have given up on The Living End or don't know their work, I strongly suggest that you seek out their six albums and two EPs and give it a good, close listen. I'm sure you will love it. Better yet though, go to a live show and experience the band in their best element - raw, hot and sweaty, fun, passionate rock and roll. Join me at The Zoo in Brisbane this week for one of the remaining 'Retrospective Tour' shows!
I went back and bought their earlier EP "Hellbound" which I still play regularly to this day for the unbridled enthusiasm and cool songs. In 1997 they released the double A side single Prisoner of Society/Second Solution. This needs no introduction really, as the single won the 1998 Aria Award for Highest Selling Single of the year and spent a record breaking 47 weeks in the Top 50 of the Aria charts. The highest selling single award is pretty amazing given that (a) the single never reached #1, peaking at #4 and (b) this was in a time when CD singles were a big deal and you had to actually sell a lot to outsell everyone else. Not like today! Prisoner of Society was brilliant for its rebellious lyrics and anthemic chorus - no teenager can resist its powerful chant of "we don't need no-one like you, to tell us what to do!". Unfortunately over time the song's social commentary has faded in people's minds in favour of the snotty brat cliche. Something which the band have obviously felt and decided to take the song out of their live setlists, but somehow it always manages to creep into the set. Second Solution was the other A side single and it is actually the better song I think and gave them a good lead in to their debut album "The Living End".
I started going to shows around the time of the second EP coming out, and The Living End had me hooked on live gigs straight away. There is a very good reason for their reputation as one of Australia's best live bands - they have worked damn hard and played so many shows, and they give their all every time. I saw them at every little dirty basement around town, but I will never forget seeing them at The Chelsea (RIP) in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. I knew the songs inside and out but this time instead of jumping around in the moshpit, I positioned myself up the front in front of Chris Cheney and had what I would afterwards describe as an epiphany. It wasn't an epiphany in the Christian sense, but in the other sense of the sudden comprehension or realisation of a larger meaning of something. It was watching the sheer genius of this man with his guitar playing (while singing!!!) that I realised I was born to be a punter and a fan of this band; that I would never have the talent to be in a band or entertain people, but I sure could do a great job of appreciating those that do; and that The Living End were a worthy band to follow. And they have repaid me so many times, particularly with their latest tour, the Retrospective Tour.
For many years, I saw The Living End play at every venue possible whether Brisbane or the Gold Coast. I've seen them support local bands (Snout) and international bands (Rancid), headline their own shows with various supporting acts, and play massive festivals like Livid and Big Day Out. This has died down over the years as I became too old and uninterested in modern music to attend every festival, so I've missed quite a few festival appearances. Which is a shame as it's a great place to see them in their element, entertaining the bogans and the rockers alike, Chris playing a solo with his beer bottle and Scott with his double bass up in the air over his head. They are amazing and if you don't believe me you have to buy the 'From Here on In' DVD which documents several fantastic performances.
Another great gig was at the Arena in the Valley, which I almost missed. A group of us were going to this show and all but me were enjoying quite a few pre-show drinks. As the time rolled around to leave, we went out to the car and in the process of cleaning out the back seat for my passengers, I bent down and banged my eye on the car door with a loud 'crack'. When I stood up, it didn't feel too good and everyone said "Are you ok?" to which I said "I don't know". Then Ben took one look at me and said "We better go inside and have a look at that". We did and that was a bad idea. I'd cut the corner of my eye on the corner of the door and although I'd been fine while they all inspected me, looking in the mirror at the blood running down my cheek made me go all woozy. Now here is the driver, unable to drive, and the passengers all too drunk to drive - what could we do? We called some friends and Karen was sober so she popped around to take a look. We decided it wasn't too bad and she took me to the chemist who agreed that it could probably be solved with a butterfly clip which was duly applied by our sober steady-handed friend. Then I decided that we were still going to go to the concert, because there was no way that I wanted to miss The Living End! So we got in the car, drove into the Valley and enjoyed one of the best concerts they've done although I bounced around a bit less than usual as I didn't want the cut to open up again. Afterwards we hit an alternative club and danced the night away (for some reason I thought headbanging to Bullet for my Valentine would be a good idea). The next day when the black eye came out and we could see the cut properly and how close I'd come to actually cutting my eyeball (see picture below), I realised that all of that was probably not the best idea. But I landed on the right side of fine and gee it was a fantastically fun night out.
The Living End almost came to a screeching halt back in 2001 and 2002 after Chris was involved in a serious car accident that left him unable to play for a long time, and then founding drummer Travis left the band citing burnout and disagreements over the musical direction of the band. Fortunately for us, Chris did recover and is able to play better than ever, and replacement drummer Andy Strachan (formerly of awesome Aussie band from the 90s Pollyanna) has slotted into the band so well that most people wouldn't even know there was another drummer. Andy does a fantastic job.
All of that was a long time ago and a lot has changed with me and them. I think a lot of people would say that The Living End's best music is in the past, because as they've grown up as people and developed as musicians, their music has changed. It's a lot less punk, a fair bit less rockabilly and a lot more mature. But if you give it a chance, this music is still excellent. No, it's not the same but is that such a bad thing? People complain when a band repeats itself until it's no longer good (the 'time to give it away' argument) but also don't want their favourite bands to change. Lose-lose. Also they are men in their late 30s, married with kids so are they going to write about teenage rebellion forever? To me, their songs and lyrics have always been based in either real experiences or stories ripped from the headlines and based around the experiences of Aussie workers - it's stuff that people can relate to. This has not changed and it would, in fact, be ridiculous if they were still writing about being little punks. I myself have grown with the band and still love everything they release. The new album "The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating" is great, with some very punchy songs crossed with the more mature, moody rock stuff. I'm disappointed it hasn't had more attention, praise and appreciation, especially by fans of their early work. It's the band's favourite album and the more I listen, the more I can see it becoming mine too.
I've also had people tell me they have 'sold out' but I would argue that they have done the opposite. If they were selling out, they would have changed their musical style to something that is actually popular e.g. screamo punk, pop, hip-hop. How can you be selling out when your music is becoming less popular and selling less over time? Also I've never heard a Living End song in an ad for anything. I think they have actually stayed true to themselves and made the music they've wanted to make regardless of how it is received. And it has been received pretty well, even if not by the old fans, as they still won 2 Aria Awards in 2011 for Best Rock Album and Best Live Band.
The thing that I can't fathom is that TLE did not win Best Live Band at the Arias in 2012. What better gift can a band give it's fans than a massive run of shows where they play all of their albums in full? This was the most exciting music news of the year for me, and the 6 concerts in the first week of December was the most anticipated event I think I've ever attended. It's a massive physical and technical undertaking for the band, having to learn something like 90+ songs and play for 7 nights in a row and then only a few days break before the next city. Anyone saying there should have been more shows should have their head read, it's an absolute gift that we are getting this. And two nights in, I have enjoyed every minute of it so far and look forward to the other 4 shows. I am giving them the 'Best Live Band' award from me right here, right now. The love and appreciation that this band have shown their fans is unprecedented and makes them the all time greatest band from Australia in my opinion.
If you have given up on The Living End or don't know their work, I strongly suggest that you seek out their six albums and two EPs and give it a good, close listen. I'm sure you will love it. Better yet though, go to a live show and experience the band in their best element - raw, hot and sweaty, fun, passionate rock and roll. Join me at The Zoo in Brisbane this week for one of the remaining 'Retrospective Tour' shows!
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
One Night at Crash n Burn
Crash n Burn was a dingy dive bar in the centre of Brisbane, set below ground level beneath a bunch of shops and with a very low roof. It was the venue for many an awesome gig, whether it was international touring bands, national tours for well known bands, or just showcasing local talent. On sweltering summer afternoons it would host all ages punk shows and sweat would drip from the ceiling because the kids couldn't help but mosh hard. Unfortunately it closed down to make way for a strip club in the late 90s (which it still is today sadly!) I spent many an afternoon and evening there, and met many people who are still my very good friends. If I didn't actually meet you there, I probably hung out with you there at least once or saw your band play there. The staff were great, a lot like a big family and towards the end I was family enough to give the guys a hand cleaning up before grabbing a cab home in the morning daylight. I even had my 21st birthday party there!
As good as all the bands were, and I did see hundreds, I also enjoyed staying around afterwards for the great tunes that would be played til dawn. I loved dancing so much, although you would probably call it jumping up and down or skanking or headbanging rather than dancing. So with my rose coloured glasses firmly on and a disclaimer that I take no responsibility for accuracy to a particular year or night (some of these songs may only have been played if I was there and requested them - thanks Stef), here is a tracklist for a night at Crash n Burn after the bands have packed up, hope you enjoy this little trip back in time....
Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet with Buttefly Wings
Faith no More - Ashes to Ashes
The Tea Party - Temptation
Pop Will Eat Itself - Everything's Cool
Filter - Hey Man, Nice Shot
Fear Factory - Self Bias Resistor
Pantera - Walk
Rage against the Machine - Bullet in the Head
Mr Bungle - Girls of Porn
I always hated it when this next song would come on, I used to love it but really went off it after all the chicks would get out on the dancefloor and practically do a striptease/grind to this song.
Nine Inch Nails - Closer
Kyuss - One Inch Man
Monster Magnet - Negasonic Teenage Warhead
Tool - Opiate
Faith no More - Digging the Grave
Revolting Cocks - Do ya think I'm Sexy?
Korn - A.D.I.D.A.S
Insurge - Political Prisoners
The Pixies - Debaser
Nirvana - Come as you Are
Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline
L7 - Shitlist
Hole - Doll Parts
Weezer - Buddy Holly
Blur - Song 2
Veruca Salt - Seether
Bjork - Army of Me
Breeders - Cannonball
Garbage - Vow
Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealin'
Foo Fighters - Monkey Wrench
Alice in Chains - Rooster
Green Day - Basket Case
Face to Face - Blind
Sublime - Date Rape
Blink 182 - Apple Shampoo
Rancid - Ruby Soho
The Living End - Strange
No Doubt - Just a Girl
Pennywise - Peaceful Day
Madness - Baggy Trousers
The Fireballs - Don't Bother Me
Blister - Baby Won't you Mind my Towel
Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia
Fur - Blondi
Feel free to add more to this list by commenting, especially if I've forgotten your fave song...
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Nostalgia Part II
So I posted a few weeks back on the subject of nostalgia and getting the band back together. Sorry to revisit this issue, but on Friday night I was reminded of just how powerful music is at putting you in a certain place and time. I headed down the Coast to attend a gig at Shed 5, Arundel. The lineup was 6 bands, of which 3 contained friends who had played in a previous band together. And instantly it was like I was 19 again, that gigs were all that mattered in life, when friendships were intense because you didn't have mortgages, babies and responsiblities, and I was a total tomboy. I had an absolutely smashing time and, I think, so did most of the rest of the people there that night.
Music is just the ultimate time machine. It's like when you hear something you love, the time, place, smells and people around you are just imprinted on your brain. It may lie dormant for periods of time, but when you hear that song you can just feel exactly where you were the first or last time you heard it. Whether good or bad too..... I'm not the only one who feels this way either, I'm almost borrowing a direct quote from the Sunday Mail columnist on the weekend who wrote about how seeing the ultimate 80s band took him and his wife back to the 80s.
The thing about Friday night wasn't just the quality of the bands playing or the fact that my friend's band did a great job after only 6 rehearsals after not playing together in 8 years. And it wasn't even the catching up on old times with lots of old friends (which was awesome). It was actually the realisation that two of the most important things in life are friendships and passion. Standing in the crowd for 6 hours that night, purely as a lifelong punter who has never been in a band, it really struck me how much fun everyone on stage was having. They were just totally enjoying playing on stage together with their friends (again after a long time for some) and just doing something they loved. The amount of enjoyment I was getting out of their enjoyment was just massive. I couldn't stop smiling. Neither could they.
I am just so glad to have had/still have these people in my life. But more importantly I think the friendships they've had has allowed them to get to this point, where they can take a break from the everyday and jump up on stage and rock out every now and then. It's great to see people with a passion for their performance too, so many bands can get to a point where it's just boring and going through the motions. The Stone Temple Pilots performance earlier this year did feel a little that way although the songs were good. But that's getting sidetracked.
The main thing for me is to re-focus on friendships and passion. Without those, life is just kinda grey I think. There are times when I just want to give up on some people when they don't respond to things but the thing about true friendships is that you can go for a while without speaking or seeing each other but then when you do, it is all okay. You just get along. As for the passion, I'm pretty passionate about my work still, so that's good. And music and movies. That's probably enough for now. I'm a big advocate for being passionate about what you do but I acknowledge other schools of thought where it doesn't matter as long as you don't hate getting up every day. If you do, I suggest you get along to a gig which is going to transport you back to a happier time in your life. To when you were young and drunk. Or young and fun. Or a punk. Or old and drunk and fun. Whatever, it doesn't matter, as long as you're smiling. Thanks so much to my boys Brad, Paul, John, Brendan, Ben, Brendan (other one), Corey and their newish bandmates, for a great night and also my other friends who went along to the gig and made it so fun to hang out. We may not do it often, but when we do, I have a hell of a good time.
Music is just the ultimate time machine. It's like when you hear something you love, the time, place, smells and people around you are just imprinted on your brain. It may lie dormant for periods of time, but when you hear that song you can just feel exactly where you were the first or last time you heard it. Whether good or bad too..... I'm not the only one who feels this way either, I'm almost borrowing a direct quote from the Sunday Mail columnist on the weekend who wrote about how seeing the ultimate 80s band took him and his wife back to the 80s.
The thing about Friday night wasn't just the quality of the bands playing or the fact that my friend's band did a great job after only 6 rehearsals after not playing together in 8 years. And it wasn't even the catching up on old times with lots of old friends (which was awesome). It was actually the realisation that two of the most important things in life are friendships and passion. Standing in the crowd for 6 hours that night, purely as a lifelong punter who has never been in a band, it really struck me how much fun everyone on stage was having. They were just totally enjoying playing on stage together with their friends (again after a long time for some) and just doing something they loved. The amount of enjoyment I was getting out of their enjoyment was just massive. I couldn't stop smiling. Neither could they.
I am just so glad to have had/still have these people in my life. But more importantly I think the friendships they've had has allowed them to get to this point, where they can take a break from the everyday and jump up on stage and rock out every now and then. It's great to see people with a passion for their performance too, so many bands can get to a point where it's just boring and going through the motions. The Stone Temple Pilots performance earlier this year did feel a little that way although the songs were good. But that's getting sidetracked.
The main thing for me is to re-focus on friendships and passion. Without those, life is just kinda grey I think. There are times when I just want to give up on some people when they don't respond to things but the thing about true friendships is that you can go for a while without speaking or seeing each other but then when you do, it is all okay. You just get along. As for the passion, I'm pretty passionate about my work still, so that's good. And music and movies. That's probably enough for now. I'm a big advocate for being passionate about what you do but I acknowledge other schools of thought where it doesn't matter as long as you don't hate getting up every day. If you do, I suggest you get along to a gig which is going to transport you back to a happier time in your life. To when you were young and drunk. Or young and fun. Or a punk. Or old and drunk and fun. Whatever, it doesn't matter, as long as you're smiling. Thanks so much to my boys Brad, Paul, John, Brendan, Ben, Brendan (other one), Corey and their newish bandmates, for a great night and also my other friends who went along to the gig and made it so fun to hang out. We may not do it often, but when we do, I have a hell of a good time.
Friday, 24 June 2011
'Tis the season.....for a band reunion (finally living up to the blog's subtitle)
It is definitely the season for a band reunion! So many bands are getting back together, whether it be for a one off occasion or something more permanent. This has been happening for a while, but it really hit me last night. Last night was a prime example of when "getting the band back together" is a fantastic idea. First up was Pangaea. These guys are a local Brisbane band who were formed around 1991 and haven't really done anything since 1997 (primarily because of their involvement in so many other bands - Ben Ely with Regurgitator and Dave Atkins with Resin Dogs). They could be described as funk reggae metal and they were awesome live. And they were awesome live again last night, supporting Helmet. They have even written some new songs which were on a par with their old stuff. Then Helmet came on and played a bunch of new songs - so far so okay. This band broke up in 1998 and got back together in 2004. Midway into the set, their original guitarist, a guy called Peter from Brisbane, Australia, came onto the stage and played a few old songs with the band, and the place just came alive. He was with the band from formation in 1988 until 1993. Besides the fact that the early songs from Strap it On and Meantime are just so awesome, you could tell that Page Hamilton and Peter were having a lot of fun and really enjoying reminiscing. It became a really good concert, especially when he came back in the encore to do their first ever single "Annoying Girl" to finish the show on a high (although probably the most childish song I've ever heard).
Def FX may also be reforming for a tour next year if there are enough "likes" on their Facebook page. This was one of my fave bands as a 17-18 year old, they do a great rock/electronica fusion with a kickass frontwoman in Fiona Horne. Hopefully they get enough likes for the tour, I will be there.
I can't even list all the bands that are reforming or have reformed and toured recently. Stone Temple Pilots was one we saw earlier this year and although the newer stuff is a bit 'meh' it was certainly great to hear the classic material. And this is what is at the heart of the 'reunion' movement. A hell of a lot of new music is just crap, it's so soulless, fake, done to be popular or make money or worse, just to gain fame. And I'm not just talking about pop and R'n'B which I can't stand anyway, in the post punk and emo genres there is a lot of crap too, as there was in the rap metal trend of the late 90s/early 00s. The fact is that the music of our (relative) youth often seems to stand up better than newer music. It is probably due to the rose coloured glasses effect, but hearing songs that remind you of a certain time in your life, usually when you were young/crazy/more carefree, just gives you a special feeling that people of a certain age don't get when Lady Gaga comes on. Maybe in 10 years time some people will have that special feeling about a Lady Gaga song, but I highly doubt it. I think Regurgitator (another band who took a break and came back again) said it best in their song - "I like your old stuff better than your new stuff". Although sometimes the magic can strike twice and the new music can be just as good or better.
The Soundwave organisers have certainly exploited the fondness for reunions, with a headlining spot on this year's Soundwave Revolution by Van Halen with David Lee Roth, not to mention Alice Cooper (did they ever really break up though - probably better filed under nostalgia than reunion) and Hole. Previous years have had Faith no More (probably one of my favourite reunion tours), Sunny Day Real Estate, the Get Up Kids, and my favourite reunion concert of all - Alice in Chains (they had a good reason to break up, but getting back together with their new singer was an inspired move).
Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of great new music out there. But you'll forgive me if I get excited about bands I used to love and soundtracked my youth getting back together and playing again. I don't care if it's a one off or a permanent thing with new songs coming out. I just want to feel that feeling one more time.... Even a few of my friend's bands, some of whom haven't played in almost 10 years, are toying with the idea of a one off show. High Speed Reason are playing Shed 5 at the Gold Coast in late July. Do I have to start a Facebook page to get Girls Germs and Bantha Fodder to give it a go as well? The Bantha boys have a massive hurdle with their guitarist being in Sydney so it probably won't happen, but you couldn't blame a girl for trying.
Share your favourite reunion tour with me...... And check out some Def FX songs on Youtube and like their facebook page so I get to relive my 17 year old days!
Def FX may also be reforming for a tour next year if there are enough "likes" on their Facebook page. This was one of my fave bands as a 17-18 year old, they do a great rock/electronica fusion with a kickass frontwoman in Fiona Horne. Hopefully they get enough likes for the tour, I will be there.
I can't even list all the bands that are reforming or have reformed and toured recently. Stone Temple Pilots was one we saw earlier this year and although the newer stuff is a bit 'meh' it was certainly great to hear the classic material. And this is what is at the heart of the 'reunion' movement. A hell of a lot of new music is just crap, it's so soulless, fake, done to be popular or make money or worse, just to gain fame. And I'm not just talking about pop and R'n'B which I can't stand anyway, in the post punk and emo genres there is a lot of crap too, as there was in the rap metal trend of the late 90s/early 00s. The fact is that the music of our (relative) youth often seems to stand up better than newer music. It is probably due to the rose coloured glasses effect, but hearing songs that remind you of a certain time in your life, usually when you were young/crazy/more carefree, just gives you a special feeling that people of a certain age don't get when Lady Gaga comes on. Maybe in 10 years time some people will have that special feeling about a Lady Gaga song, but I highly doubt it. I think Regurgitator (another band who took a break and came back again) said it best in their song - "I like your old stuff better than your new stuff". Although sometimes the magic can strike twice and the new music can be just as good or better.
The Soundwave organisers have certainly exploited the fondness for reunions, with a headlining spot on this year's Soundwave Revolution by Van Halen with David Lee Roth, not to mention Alice Cooper (did they ever really break up though - probably better filed under nostalgia than reunion) and Hole. Previous years have had Faith no More (probably one of my favourite reunion tours), Sunny Day Real Estate, the Get Up Kids, and my favourite reunion concert of all - Alice in Chains (they had a good reason to break up, but getting back together with their new singer was an inspired move).
Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of great new music out there. But you'll forgive me if I get excited about bands I used to love and soundtracked my youth getting back together and playing again. I don't care if it's a one off or a permanent thing with new songs coming out. I just want to feel that feeling one more time.... Even a few of my friend's bands, some of whom haven't played in almost 10 years, are toying with the idea of a one off show. High Speed Reason are playing Shed 5 at the Gold Coast in late July. Do I have to start a Facebook page to get Girls Germs and Bantha Fodder to give it a go as well? The Bantha boys have a massive hurdle with their guitarist being in Sydney so it probably won't happen, but you couldn't blame a girl for trying.
Share your favourite reunion tour with me...... And check out some Def FX songs on Youtube and like their facebook page so I get to relive my 17 year old days!
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