Random Rapid Reviews

We all love to read about things we love but some of those reviews just drag on... Here you can read a couple of random reviews which are short and sharp and hopefully just a little bit funny.

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Bigsound; a buzzing hive of activity in the heart of Fortitude Valley with strange bands and even stranger drunk people. Some people decided to get a large handful of venues to all host brilliant bands all at the same time and didn't see an issue with torturing us fans with a million gig clashes squeezed into the space of two days. On the positive you can get really fit trying to run to each venue to see all your favourites. (Honestly props to everyone involved because it runs like a well oiled machine but you really need a TARDIS to fully enjoy Bigsound.) Bigsound 2015 led to the discovery of a few different bands and seeing some of the old familiar favourites. It's a must for anyone who likes music and if you missed it this year, get on it next year!

[valravans-world]

Hey friends, just wanted to let you know about a project I am working on. I’m gathering stories about people’s tattoos (With their permission of course) and putting them all in a book. I would love it if some of you could get involved. Send me your photos and stories no matter if you think it is...

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My new project for people who have been following me for music reviews. Please check it out. 

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The State of Live Music

Now as someone who spends nearly every paycheck on live music I know I'm not the norm; but these days people seeing live music isn't really the norm either. I've heard a greater variety of reasons why someone can't make it to a concert than this husband has heard reasons why his wife can't have sex. Everything from the standard 'I'm too poor to afford it' to the downright lazy 'I'd have to catch a 40 minute train to Brisbane and that's just too far to see my favourite band.' Now I'm not suggesting people start doing mad road trips to match mine because it is expensive, time consuming and sleep deprivation has got to be the greatest torture ever suffered but seeing a show in your local town isn't that hard. I'm not talking your big expensive international artists selling out stadiums; just going out to a nearby bar and seeing a local band play. Surely most people could spend one night out, throwing down a measly $10 at the door.  On top of that, get out early and support the supports. An extra hour or so of your time won't kill you and you may just find a new band whose music you love. Heck most of the bands that I listen to now are bands that were support acts on shows I went to see.  AMR made a great video, The Music Challenge, about challenging people to see one band every month. Just one. You'll be supporting local bands, businesses and people all for just ten or twenty dollars. And you never know what may come of it. You might make a new friend, find some awesome new music or maybe just have a damn good time doing something other than sitting at home watching The Bachelor. 

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End Us EP Launch

First point for the night and something I have to get out of the way early. What the hell is with the weird artwork that the owners have chosen to hang over the stage at the Beetle Bar? It looks like some 18th century painting but with the woman's body way out of proportion.   Apparently the Arctic Monkeys are playing tonight. Unexpected but amusing to find that Black Catapult are another band with an identity crisis. The five men squeezed onto the tiny Beetle Bar stage are happily rocking out in their personal space invading spots and even managing to start a mini mosh session three songs in. Black Catapult sound familiar in a casual way, hints of bands like The Offspring coming to mind but not quite sitting right for the sound these boys produce. It's certainly a high intensity start to the night and a great start for their new guitarist.     It will never cease to amaze me what those three men can do with their instruments. The atmosphere they create on stage is nothing short of spectacular.  I absolutely dig what Balloons are doing, sitting in a little corner of awesome instrumental rock. My fingers are heavily crossed in the hope that soon more people will appreciate bands like these and that society's dependence on mind numbing pop bands will become a fading memory. Even with no lyrics to sing along to the band draws you in, inviting you to the soundscape of their minds.   Sadly we had to leave before End of Us played but I know those boys would have killed it.

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Dead Letter Circus - A Night in With DLC

Do my eyes deceive me. It's a night in with DLC. And what a night it was. The guys were certainly not contained to the chairs that held them. For anyone used to a standard Dead Letter Circus show it may have been a bit strange at first but it didn't take long for the crowd to get excited. Opening with Space on the Wall, the band smashed out the track, acoustically of course, drawing a massive cheer from the audience. Reaction still managed to encourage its usual singalong from the audience and even the end of The Mile, slowed down as it was, got the usual crowd interaction. DLC played one more song from This is the Warning before jumping into three tracks from their recently released Stand Apart EP; Stand Apart, Lodestar and I Am losing nothing for the lack of an orchestral accompaniment on the night. The crowd picked up even more as The Veil began, a few attempts at moshing made during the night. Kim mentions that the guys thought they should turn the very first Dead Letter Circus song into an acoustic version and there are a few excited noises from the audience. For those who know, Tremors was a great song to hear live and was amazing acoustically. I didn't even entertain the thought that they would play this song when I was guessing at the setlist but I am unbelievably happy. As the song that inspired my first tattoo it holds a lot of meaning to me. Wake Up follows next, a surprising choice for an acoustic track but one that worked brilliantly. As the night is coming to a close the intro to Big begins and the crowd stirs into another attempted mosh session, most settling for some mild head banging. The last song is no surprise and, despite the controversial stirrings on the internet, Killing in the Name is well received by the Brisbane crowd. A heavier jam of the song ends the night to change up from the Massive Attack styled cover of Rage Against the Machine's track. The crowd cheers and the standard calls for an encore and one more song begin, hopefully showing the band that even acoustically, the fans still dig their music.

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LUNG - Parasympathy

I'm going to start this review with a fact. I don't like songs where the singer is just mindlessly screaming and you can't understand a thing. I don't get it.

So when I started listening to Parasympathy and the first track hit some heavier vocals I paused in concern, please don't let this be a screamo band. The rest of the song however was brilliant and the vocals were amazing; so I listened again and I realised the difference. The heavier vocals fit perfectly within the song. It's not some out of place chunk; it blends and moulds itself to the song, an organic piece of the puzzle. It just worked. And so, right from the title track of the EP, I was hooked.

The two middle songs, London Bridge and No Restraint are void of aggressive vocals, quietly creeping to their respective places on the EP. The atmospheric depth of London Bridge is carried to eagerly waiting ears on the tides of some brilliant guitar work. No Restraint slips into play next, Liam’s cries of ‘what if we can change the future’ hitting home in the middle of these tracks. I may have lied though, there is one slight scream that has snuck its way onto No Restraint.

The quieter start of Lonely Road is designed to lull you into a false sense of security. There’s nothing like casually listening to it in the car, to find Liam ending the song by screaming ‘die, fucking, die’ at you. It does make for an interesting chunk of road trip. Thankfully he makes up for it by whispering at the start of The Forewarned but that song also descends into some mild angry screaming. However just like in Parasympathy it suits the song and the moment.

The whole album together is a dark, expressive piece of work, the album art perfectly designed to suit the mood being portrayed. Lung have certainly hit the nail on the head with Parasympathy and I for one can’t wait to see a new EP soon.

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Dead Letter Circus - Stand Apart EP

The Stand Apart EP, a half dozen tracks from the critically acclaimed Catalyst Fire album as never before heard.

With less than a week before their sold out acoustic tour begins, Dead Letter Circus have surprised everyone with the Stand Apart EP. These half dozen tracks may sound slightly familiar, but the spine tingling brilliance of their reimagining will make you feel as if they are brand new songs. Stripped back and rebuilt as acoustic gems, you'll find it near impossible to turn off this album. Close your eyes and breathe deep while you enjoy the subtle perfection of some of the greatest Catalyst Fire tracks in all their sweet, acoustic goodness.

After spending all morning with this EP on repeat, I'm a billion times more excited for the acoustic shows. It's easy to see why they sold out so quickly. Dead Letter Circus will certainly not disappoint.

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Like Thieves - Autumn's Twilight Sydney, Geelong and Melbourne

I could wax lyrical about how amazing Like Thieves is for the next million years.   I could rant for hours about Clint Boge’s ace voice, with a vocal range to top the charts. Oden Johansson who is easily one of the greatest guitarists I have ever had the pleasure of seeing play live. Clint Gough who can go from brutally smashing sounds out of his bass to playing some of the most intricate tapping patterns ever and they all really get into the songs they are playing.

  Clint Gough barely keeps his eyes open during the show, so involved in the music as he is. Heads up front row; that bass hurts if you get whacked. Clint Boge, who at points looks and sounds on the verge of tears as he sings from the very depths of his soul. Oden who rounds them all off, never a second without a smile gracing his face as parades around the stage.

  I cannot recommend this band enough. If you are ever given the opportunity to see them live, grab it with both hands and a smile. It’ll be well worth whatever you have to pay!

    Lung; the sort of band your mother wouldn’t like but you will blare unashamedly from everything in your house with speakers. These guys jumped on the Like Thieves tour wagon for the Sydney, Geelong and Melbourne shows and did not disappoint. From absolutely mind-blowing songs to some of the most random jokes I’ve heard on stage, they do not disappoint. Despite losing a string on the final show the band knuckled down and smashed out the last few songs of their set, showing that almost nothing can stop them. This 5 piece from Melbourne have only been around for a few years but they’re more than ready to prove themselves.

Their debut EP Parasympathy is there to blow anything else you've listened to out of the water. Jump online and grab that, have a listen and just enjoy. If you’re in Melbourne, or close to it go and check these guys out live. You will not be disappointed!

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Like Thieves - Autumn's Twilight Brisbane

Guards of May - Once more the Brisbane boys take to the stage with reckless abandon, smashing out tracks from their Control EP to start the night. Parading their territory for the night, as well as running into each other a few times, Guards of May warm up a quickly gathering crowd. The five boys know their way around a stage, set up quite comfortably as they showcase some great tunes. Damien and Keita take opposite ends of the stage, playing in a way that seems to flow together and fuse the two separate guitars into one entity. Levi might stay locked behind the drums but that doesn’t mean his sound is, the beats filling the room and bouncing off every wall. Sliding into place is the smooth lines from Jimmy’s bass, blending in with a subtle air and almost completing the interlocking web of sound. Richie’s vocals sneak into every crevice and space, closing the gaps left just for those genius lyrics to power through. Nice to see some serious support for the supports, new songs from their upcoming release (hopefully soon) received just as warmly as older material. It's sad to hear that Bitch Tits has apparently been renamed to Bocce, perhaps it should return to its original title.

  Is it Coldplay, is it One Direction, no it’s Aerials. For anyone who saw the Aerials boys at New Globe back in June you might recall a moment when Tristan decided they were British rock band, Coldplay; tonight it seems that he was feeling the pop vibe with a change up to One Direction. Just a standard Aerials identity crisis it seems. Once it was sorted that the band are indeed Aerials they busted the stage, and a fair bit of the floor, with their tunes; new and old. Apparently Jackson decided that the front of the mosh pit was a more appropriate place to play on than the stage designed for such activities. These boys will be returning in a few months for a new EP launch at the Globe, let's hope we hear some more great tunes from them then.  

Like Thieves - When the lights dim, the crowd falls silent for just a moment, waiting with bated breath for the main show to begin. Then the band emerges and the crowd roars, fuelling the intensity with which Like Thieves smash out Wake From Eternal Sleep, the opening track for the night. The boys throw themselves bodily into every song, limbs hurled around the stage in what could be an almost be described as a dangerous display. There’s not a single wrong move for the night, all four men showcasing their talents with a casual air as they attack nearly every track from their two EPs. It's clear from the very start that this room is not enough to contain the powerhouse of rock that is Like Thieves. Every line, every note and every sound pushes desperately against the walls, longing for a bigger audience, an audience that this band more than rightly deserves.

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Like Thieve's - Autumn's Twilight tour Adelaide

As usual with gigs, the crowd filtered in slowly. A few eager fans waited outside the door of the Enigma Bar, braving the freezing winds to catch all three bands on the set for the night. Adelaide’s new and upcoming heavy metal band, Unknown Remorse opened the night, the five piece not waiting for the crowd to come to them, Matt jumping into the crowd for a few moments and rocking out with the fans at the front. The prog metal boys from Colibrium rocked their home town as the room started to fill. The Enigma was shaken at its core as the guys tore up the stage, filling every inch of the room with a sound that’s hard to ignore. It’s clear from their faces that they love every single moment on stage, busting out song after song with a contagious energy. You can’t miss a single moment when Colibrium take to the stage. From rocking every inch of the New Globe Theatre to blasting the walls at the Enigma Bar, this is a must see band.   Like Thieves took to the stage for their first ever sold out headline show. It's something that the boys truly deserve. Rocking through every track from their new EP, Autumn's Twilight and all but one of the tracks from their Wolves At Winter's Edge EP, the band certainly had the crowd's attention. Their single 'Brave the Day' received the best singalong of the night, the entire crowd showing the band some love for the anti-bullying single. Even though the new album has been out for less than a fortnight, it was clear that the fans loved it and knew it; dancing, moshing and singing along with the band. Despite the cold it was an amazing night and one that every person seemed to enjoy. 

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Birds of Tokyo - OzFest

The stage lights dim, silence falls and all heads turn to see the band stroll onto the stage. The silence turns into a deafening roar, Aussie pride and love for the band all mixed into one. The band smiles and prepares to start, the crowd waiting eagerly on the sandy ground. Sand sneaks between the toes of the bare footed and rests inside the socks of those with more sensible shoe choices. The first song begins and a chorus of a hundred voices try to steal the spotlight from the skinny singer on stage. Kenny smiles and thanks the crowd for the enthusiasm, telling them how great they sound. They are all connected as one by the power of music and it is glorious.

The rain starts to fall about half way through the set but the stage lights shine off the falling water and it adds another dimension to the show. One most certainly unplanned, yet nature seemed to have perfectly timed it. Birds of Tokyo end predictably with Lanterns, their stadium filling anthem blasting over the crowd who scream every word back at them.

Then too soon it's over; lights dim, the band leaves with a last wave and the techies take the stage. The crowd meanders away, some still jumping with the energy from the show but most bemoaning the weather and the trip home. The return to reality after the high of seeing an awesome band is a painful crash faced by all as they leave the carpark of the Shark Tavern, ears still ringing with the last notes of Lanterns.

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I Am Giant - Science and Survival tour

The Grand Scheme climb onto the stage, coughing their way through a Nimbin style cloud of smoke to be seen. They were happy to get the crowd warmed up with a short set, showcasing some pretty decent tracks on the night and a few weed related jokes of their own.   The smoke clears and Mass Sky Raid take to the stage. A tight little four piece from the Gold Coast, with a killer sound, that hints at several similar bands but doesn't quite settle into one defined likeness. With a few new tracks being played it's obvious that a new EP is on the horizon. Certainly a band to add to the watch list.   This is the moment. There is no pause when I Am Giant hit the stage. The smoke machines return with a vengeance and the band plays madly on. Nothing like a bit of Kiwi pride on an Aussie stage. Smashing out a few tracks from their new EP Science and Survival as the crowd gets into the vibe, a few front and centre fans cracking out some killer dance moves.   The Brightside certainly had the time of its life tonight with three amazing bands taking the stage and rocking the room.

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Balloons Kill Babies - New Globe Theatre

Watching Balloons Kill Babies, you almost get the sense that the band is in a world of its own, and, for this one moment, you're invited too.   Christian moshes on his own little patch of stage, tearing notes from his guitar like there is no tomorrow and drawing another level of sound from his instrument.   Karl seems to go from moments of quiet contemplation to using his bass as an anger management device, somehow making it still sound amazing for every second. Karl slaps that bass like some unruly beast that he's trying to tame, fighting for every note and every sound he can.  

Francis sits in the middle, setting the foundation for the awesome pillars of rock that would crumble without his support. He blasts his way through songs with a calm and collected expression, shaking the floor with every beat.   Together they form a mountain of sound to blast your ears from all directions.   Every movement, every note, every action seems to scream 'this is who we are and you're going to hear it; loud and fucking proud'.

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The Vinyl Revival

I am now officially part of the vinyl revival. I've got to say I enjoy the difference to the sound; a warm quality that sets it apart from CD's and digital tracks. You've got to love the artists that put the effort into designing an unusual record, colouring the vinyl to add another layer of beauty to the design.

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sleepmakeswaves - The Zoo, Brisbane

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing these guys twice on their Love of Cartography tour. Certainly an instrumental band that's easy to get into. With their new album recently released the boys all had something to show and they didn't hold back. The Zoo was fired up from early supports Teal and Breaking Orbit, both also fresh out of Sydney and working to make a name for themselves. Teal are spinning tracks from their release the Hearth EP, bouncing around on stage and belting out some awesome tracks. Breaking Orbit are teasing a new album out later this year with single 'Become the Light' sneaking onto the setlist for this tour. It's certainly enough to keep you ready for more. The all Sydney line up was closed off by sleepmakeswaves and you can tell from the start that the room was full of love for the 4 piece band. The band sure felt it too, sneaking back on to play a surprise encoure of (hello) Cloud Mountain, to rapturous applause. The roaring soundscapes and heavenly moments that the four create on their albums transcibes wonderfully to a live show. It's not so much a wall of sound, but rather an intricate weave that sleepmakeswaves creates in the room, filling every space with glorious music. If someone asked me to explain musical frisson, I wouldn't say a word, I'd merely play a few tracks by sleepmakeswaves and watch as understanding comes to them.

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Black Light Burns - Cruel Melody

So... Cruel Melody is one of those albums where describing what it sounds like to someone is very hard. One minute it's crazy guitars and catchy tunes, and the next minute you've stopped to listen to the soothing balm of songs like I Am Where It Takes Me or Iodine Sky. This is an album that you have to listen to at least once in your life.

Favourite song: I Am Where It Takes Me

Guest reviewed by Rachael Goody

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sleepmakeswaves - Love of Cartography

Love of Cartography is an album I have been eagerly awaiting for quite a long time. sleepmakeswaves are one of those bands that once you stumble across, are very hard not to fall in love with and this album is proof as to why. Sit back, turn it up, and let yourself float on the tides of spectacular soundscapes and melodious themes. Guest Reviewed by Rachael Goody