Sydney Song Summit Live

Looking for something to do tonight? Well here's a damn good option. The Sydney Song Summit is in town, featuring a host of workshops for bands and musicians. But when the sun goes, they put on a showcase and we're all invited. With 19 bands playing across 4 stages, it's a delicious smorgasbord of musical talent. Almost like our own little SXSW (if you squint hard enough). Here's a few artists to look out for:

Dan Kelly

Lyrical genius runs deep in the Kelly family. While Uncle Paul remains Australia's most poignant storyteller, Dan shows the same flashes of brilliance in a very different space. The fact that he has a song called "Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam" pretty much sums it up. It's a perfect mix of playful humour and social commentary, filled with sing-along falsettos and hyperactive instrumentation. He's just having a great time and it's hard not to do the same; especially when he's rattling off stage banter that's second to none.

Artisan Guns

It's great to see some New Zealand bands getting some love at the showcase, and it looks like Artisan Guns are the ones to watch. I haven't seen them yet, so I won't pretend to know them, but their songs on Mysapce definitely show some promise. They've got some really interesting harmonies happening and all reports from their show at Mum on Friday suggest that they're great live. Keep an eye on them.

The Last Kinection

"They invaded, degraded and polluted our land, stole all the children and raped our women" (To the tune of the national anthem) - it's pretty clear that The Last Kinection aren't afraid to throw any political punches. And there's nothing more entertaining than seeing a few punches being thrown. When all the pieces fall into place, like on the track 'Worth Marching For', their brand of high-energy hip hop can be quite powerful. Should be an interesting one to catch live.

You'll also get the chance to see some favourites, including Fergus Brown, Dappled Cities (who have given up music to pursue laser shows), Washington, Dead Letter Chorus and a heap more. It takes place at Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour from 7.30pm. More details here:

http://www.songsummit.com.au/LIVE/LIVE-program-sunday.htm

The Beach Boys

What follows is an erratic look into the career of The Beach Boys. It's not definitive, nor is accuracy guarenteed, but hopefully you'll share in my renewed appreciation of their music.

The Beach Boys' legacy is an odd one. Far from the fairy tale of The Beatles, their career suffered its fair share of hiccups (and genuinely bad songs), leaving their story fragmented and at risk of being unheard by generations to come. It real shame because theirs is a story worth hearing.

Till I Die

The Early Days

One chapter of The Beach Boys tale that will never be forgotten is their surfer music. Songs about surfin', girls and cars will survive for years to come, long after this fun-loving culture is obselete. And while they certainly weren't the first band to use vocals harmonies, they did it in a way that made the listener aware and appreciative of this amazing effect, without sacrificing accessibility. In the eyes of history, surf music is The Beach Boys.

Surfin' Safari

But while this music is fun to listen to, it isn't what makes The Beach Boys worth remembering. Instead, it's their efforts to use their position, at the helm of popular music, to steer listeners into new directions. This where their story gets a bit rocky. And while it's safe to say that they failed in the their endeavour, they made some great music in the process. It turns out there's more to The Beach Boys than just surfin' safaris and good vibrations.

All Summer Long

Pet Sounds

The Pet Sounds era is another piece of Beach Boys history that will be safely remembered. An amazing album in its own right, it didn't actually sell that well upon initial release, but widespread critical acclaim has ensured it will live on. This has been helped in part by it's significance in The Beatles story. Inspired by Rubber Soul, Beach Boys mastermind, Brian Wilson quit touring to focus on writing their next album. The result was Pet Sounds, which would in turn inspire The Beatles to create Sgt Peppers. This tale is what first prompted many Beatles fans, including myself, to seek out Pet Sounds to see what all the fuss is about. And since The Beatles aren't about to be forgotten, Pet Sounds will remain etched in musical history.

God Only Knows

Smile

Brian Wilson's follow up masterpiece was to be called Smile, an ambitious project which would push The Beach Boys into completely new territory. The first single, Good Vibrations, was a huge success, despite it's relatively complex nature. But all this anticipation along with in-band fighting, record label demands, drug abuse and the release of Sgt Peppers meant that it never saw the light of day. It was a spectacular collapse and one they would never recover from. The rest of their career was inconsistent at best and as a result, a lot of quality work went largely unnoticed.

Good Vibrations

The myth surrounding Smile lived on for many years. A couple of songs popped up on future albums and diehard fans clung to unreleased demos, but it wasn't until 35 years later, when Brian Wilson returned to complete the project, that the story got its happy ending. The final result is quite epic indeed. If you want any chance of appreciating this album, you need to set aside some time and really LISTEN to it. It's quite amazing how it all unfolds.

Heros and Villians

The Later Years

And now to the very reason I am writing this post. The often-ignored later years. Up until recently, I knew nothing about The Beach Boys after Pet Sounds. And to be honest, I didn't really care. I was under the impression that they faded into obscurity and lost their touch, but it's not true. The Beach Boys did enough during this period that we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss it.


It all began when my brother bought home a vinyl copy of Surf's Up. As you can see above, the contrast of a dark, disturbing cover image, with the care-free connatation of title is quite striking. It's quite indicative of what The Beach Boys were going through at the time and after a few spins, I quickly became fond it. The album features a number quality composiitons from other band members, along with sounds you wouldn't noramally associate with The Beach Boys. It made me think twice about what I thought i knew and left me wanting more.

Looking At Tomorrow

As it turns out, the story behind the album isn't as quite as I imagined. There was 5 albums between Pet Soudns and Surf's Up and none of them had done very well. Brian Wilson was growing more and more distant and the fans sorely missed him. Surf's Up was a notorious track from the Smile era; Brian Wilson's equivalent of 'A Day in The Life'. It was added to the album and made the title track in a bid to sell more copies. Certainly not the stuff of fairy tales, but I've come to accept that when in order to find the gems in their later career, you're going to find some dirt.

Surf's Up

By no means am I an expert on these later years. I am taking my exploration very cautiously, listening one album at a time, starting with the most critically acclaimed. At the moment I am listening to Sunflower (1970), which is even stronger than Surf's Up. Next on the list will be Friends (1968). Sure, this dream run of discovery will probably end eventually, but for the moment, I'm loving it.

This Whole World

(wow, picking a track off Sunflower was hard...go listen to the whole album!)

((and one more because it's awesome))

Loop de Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' in an Aeroplane)

Splendour In The Grass 2010 Lineup Announced

What's this? A stupid amount of awesome bands at the same festival? Am I dreaming? Am I in America? How on Earth am I supposed to manage my time if I can't count the good bands on one hand? WHEN WILL I FIT IN MY NAPS???

Let's face it, Australia has a pretty pathetic record when it comes to festivals. Throw us a couple of big names and we're salivating. But today, Splendour in the Grass have announced a truly amazing lineup. It's one of those lineups you see overseas and get really depressed about. It's one of those lineups that belong only in the deepest depths of your imagination. I'm actually struggling to comprehend it. Every time I look at that list above, I notice another band that at any other festival, would be worth the ticket price. Yet here they are, on the same damn bill. Woah.

Well done Splendour. Now, where did I put my mind.....

Red Riders

Red Riders had me worried for a while. Band members were leaving and time was ticking by without much action. It was a shame, not just because of the awesome music they proudce, but because they're genuinely nice guys. So it's great to see that they're back on track and sounding better than ever. They've picked up Brad Heald from The Vines and will be releasing their second album in early July. The first single to come off it was You've Got a Lot of Nerve. I liked it from the beginning, but the more I listen, the more I enjoy. Check it out if you haven't already:

You've Got a Lot of Nerve

Following this is the brand new track, Ordinary. It's quite a simple song, but that's what makes it so endearing. It skips along casually, spreading an air of warmth. I'm not sure if it was Brad's doing or more great work from the others, but damn those guitars sound good. To top it off, they've put together a cool little video to go along with it:

You can pre-order Drown In Sound from JB Hifi online. It's only $21.99 and comes with a bonus cassette of demos. Not only that, but if you pay with Paypal (or a credit card through Paypal), you'll get free postage. Great band, great deal. Get into it!

Oh and I almost forgot. Red Riders are playing as part of the Ivy League benefit gig to Save FBI. It's for a good cause they're playing more great bands. Gooooooooooooooooo.

Myspace

HIlotrons

It's very likely that you've never heard of Hilotrons. Not many people have. It's one of those great musical mysteries that escapes me to this very day. Here's a band making music that's edgy, energetic and outrageously catchy, yet nobody listens. At times their music is infectious, sucking you into an frantic body-moving frenzy, yet nodbody is dancing. What went wrong? After reading a review that expressed similar disenchantment with this band's criminal level of underappreciation, I'm stepping out with my support. Hilotrons put out a new album this year, Happymatic, and it's shaping up to be another powerful release. I'm still warming to it, but it's definitely reignited the Hilotrons fever. Here's a song from that album, along with a cracker from their last album, Bella Simone.

Lovesuit (Happymatic. 2008)

As I mentioned, the new album doesn't quite excite me like the last one did, but knowing myself, this could very well change soon. Here's a song thats up there with my favourites so far.

Isis (Bella Simone, 2005)

I thing this songs gives some clues to why Hilotrons have been so widely ignored. Sadly, the moments of utter brilliance (yes, BRILLIANCE), are mixed with moments of the ordinary. If they could channel their talent into producing music that maintained the intensity throughout, the result would be devastating.

Restore the musical balance. Get your Hilotrons on.

| Website | Myspace |

Dappled Cities - The Price

It begins. In just a few months, Dappled Cities will release their 3rd album, Zounds, and if past experiences are anything to go by, it should be totally freakin' amazing. I’ll save my schoolgirl swooning for the actual release, but let’s just say I’m excited. Yesterday the band unveiled the first single off the album, The Price. I’ve been drawn to this song from the moment I first heard it in a sound check. That was a full 12 months ago and since then it’s undergone plenty of transformations, evolving to become the track we hear today. This refinement becomes noticeable when you put on a pair of decent headphones and give it a proper listen. It’s a mix of intensity and intrigue. On one hand you’re getting attacked by thumping drum fills and sweeping keyboards, but at the same time discovering buried riffs and extra layers. It’s exhilarating without being overwhelming. This mix of subtlety and dynamism has always been Dappled’s trademark, but with more experience and an unprecedented level of production, expect big things from Zounds. In their own words, it's "the album we’ve always wanted to make".

The Price

Head to the Dappled Cities Website and download the full single package, which includes a b-side and two experimental film clips. And of course, don’t forget to check out the Alphabeats clips hehe.

Glastonbury

....and just when I thought we could compete......ha!

FRIDAY 25TH	SATURDAY 26TH	SUNDAY 27TH
Pyramid Stage: U2 Dizzee Rascal Vampire Weekend Snoop Dogg Willy Nelson Corinne Bailey-Rae Femi Kuti TBA Other Stage: The Flaming Lips Hot Chip Florence and the Machine La Roux Phoenix The Courteeners Gaslight Anthem The Stranglers The Magic Numbers TBA John Peel Stage: Groove Armada The Black Keys Mumford & Sons Ellie Goulding Kele Bombay Bicycle Club Tegan and Sara TBA De Staat Chapel Club West Holts Mos Def (with full live band) Femi Kuti Nouvelle Vague & Guests Breakestra with Chali 2na Bonobo Mariachi El Bronx Tune-Yards Matthew Herbert Big Band Acoustic Stage: Bootleg Beatles Alan Price Set McIntosh Ross Turin Brakes Brian Kennedy Danny & The Champs Megan Henwood Cory Chisel Julie Feeney The Park Stage The XX Broken Bells Special Guests The Big Pink Local Natives Steve Mason Hypnotic Brass Ensemble Beth Jeans Houghton Lissie TBA TBA East Dance DJ Fatboy Slim Live Chase and Status DJ Zane Lowe Live Plan B DJ Rob da Bank Live Example DJ Roger Sanchez DJ TBA DJ TBA West Dance DJ Boys Noise DJ Simian Mobile Disco Live Delphic DJ Fake Blood DJ Rusko Live Chromeo DJ Aeroplane DJ Boy 8-Bit DJ Hannah Holland Avalon Stage: New Model Army Transglobal Underground Newton Faulkner The Woodentops Lou Rhodes Goldheart Assembly Gabby Young & The Other Animals Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs Croissant Neuf TBA 6ixtoys Steve Knightley Julien Tulk Band Undercover Hippy Band Seth Lakeman Biggles Wartime Band The Queen's Head Good Shoes TBA Magic Numbers The Mystery Jets Fanfarlo Detroit Social Club Tubelord Tiffany Page Frank Turner Fiction Plane he Beat Poetry & Words Penny Ashton Baba Brinkman Sabrina Mahfouz Tony Walsh Aisle 16 Kat Francois Ventriloquist Paula Varjack Andreattah Chuma Jonny Fluffypunk Kate Tempest Pete the Temp Poeticat Helen Gregory and Pete Hunter	Pyramid Stage: Muse Scissor Sisters TBA TBA Seasick Steve Jackson Browne Lightning Seeds TBA Other Stage: Pet Shop Boys Editors The Cribs The National Kate Nash Imogen Heap Coheed and Cambria Reef Two Door Cinema Club John Peel Stage: Jamie T Foals The xx Marina & The Diamonds Delphic Field Music Cymbals Eat Guitars Sophie Hunger TBA West Holts George Clinton with Parliament / Funkadelic Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra Os Mutantes Devendra Banhart Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Phenomenal Handclap Band Brother Ali Troy Ellis & The Longshots Acoustic Stage: Christy Moore Nick Lowe Imelda May Al Stewart Michael Eavis In Conversation Gandale Murphy & The Slambovian Circus The Leisure Society Ellen & The Escapes John Allen & Band The Park Stage: Midlake Laura Marling TBA Special Guests Stornoway Beach House Strange Boys Frankie & The Heart Strings The Ballad of Britain Peggy Sue TBA East Dance: Live N-Dubz Live Chipmunk Live Kelis DJ DJ MistaJam Live Tinie Tempah Live Giggs DJ Yasmin Live Chiddybang Live McClean Live Bashy Live Donaeo Live Roll Deep DJ TBA West Dance: Live Dubfire DJ Nick Warren Live Mix Hell DJ Sander Kleinenberg Live Banco de Gaia DJ Riva Starr Live Neville Staple Live Dub Pistols DJ TBA Live Foreign Beggars Avalon Stage: The Lightning Seeds Alabama 3 acoustic Charlie Winston Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel The Unthanks The Avett Brothers The Wurzels Nick Harper Tom Williams & The Boat Croissant Neuf The Beat MrB. The Gentleman Rhymer Hot Feat The Kevin Brown Trio The Vagaband TBA Dizraeli & The Small Gods TBA The Queen's Head Earl Brutus TBA Phenomenal Handclap Band Band Of Skulls Holy F*** Blood Red Shoes Here We Go Magic Cate Le Bon Lissie Poetry & Words John Hegley Paula Varjack Andreattah Chuma Attila the Stockbroker Hollie McNish Luke Wright Kate Tempest Murray Lachlan Young Sabrina Mahfouz Bohdan Piasecki Open mic. (hosted by Julian Ramsey-Wade) Ventriloquist Jonny Fluffypunk	Pyramid Stage: Stevie Wonder Faithless Jack Johnson Ray Davies Slash Norah Jones Paloma Faith TBA Other Stage: Orbital lcd soundsystem MGMT We Are Scientists Grizzly Bear Temper Trap The Hold Steady Frightened Rabbit TBA John Peel Stage: Ash Julian Casablancas Broken Social Scene Gang of Four The Drums Holy F*** These New Puritans Everything Everything TBA Dan Mangan West Holts Rodrigo y Gabriela Toots & the Maytals Quantic & his Combo Barbaro Staff Benda Bilili Dr John Tunng The Bees Dizraeli and the Small Gods Acoustic Stage: Jackson Browne with David Lindley Richard Thompson Loudon Wainwright III Blues Band London Community Gospel Choir Joel Rafael Robinson Fisherman's Friend Mayhew The Park Stage: Empire Of The Sun Dirty Projectors TBA Archie Bronson Outfit TBA Portico Quartet Fionn Regan TBA Here We Go Magic Travelling Band East Dance: DJ Above & Beyond Live Crystal Castles DJ Filthy Dukes (DJ Set) Live Professor Green Live Reverend Sound System Live Crystal Fighters West Dance: Live Magnetic Man DJ Jackbeats Live Stanton Warriors DJ Adam F Live Blasted Mechanism DJ Toddla T Live Alex Metric Live DJ South Central Live Jaguar Skills DJ A1 Bassline Live Killaflaw DJ Virus Syndicate Avalon Stage: Gomez The Saw Doctors Imelda May Judy Collins SPECIAL GUEST Teddy Thompson Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds Kirsty Almeida Ellen & The Escapades Criossant Neuf The Baghdaddies Zen Elephants Prof Nohair & the Wig Lifters Corinne Bailey-Rae TBA The People's String Foundation The Queen's Head Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip TBA TBA Chief I Am Kloot Field Music Goldhawks The Middle East Mountain Man Poetry & Words Glastonbury Festival Poetry Slam (hosted by Kat Francois) Helen Gregory and Benita Johnson Pete Hunter Pete the Temp Jean Binta Breeze Poeticat Luke Wright Jo Bell (Website Poet in Residence) Bohdan Piasecki Julian Ramsey-Wade Penny Ashton Baba Brinkman Comperes – Dreadlcokalien and Abbey Oliveira