Monday, December 14, 2009

The Push Beat All Ages Column

Wednesday 16 December 2009
With Ashan Munesinghe

For some unknown reason, my life turns weird during the festive season. The tunes that would usually run through my house, such as Bring Me The Horizon and Every Time I Die, morph into songs filled with love melody and sweet dispositions, namely, Taylor Swift and Band of Horses. Episodes of True Blood and Death Note that can be heard radiating from the television screen normally become episodes of SpongeBob and Peter Pan… as little cousins run all over the house. My life becomes, well, mellow.

Luckily enough, there’s nothing mellow about the awesome news I have for you this week though regarding everything all ages.

Sixteen new additions to Push Over have been announced and amongst them the awesome hardcore nature of Carpathian, In Trenches and Regular John who have all had stunning releases this year. They’re also joined by nine FReeZA Push Start regional final winners from around the state, including, 8 Bit Love, Arrowfield, Ayera, Barking Sparrows, Masketta Fall, Sheer Abandon, The Cactus Channel, The Houses and Vixia, who will be fighting it out to be crowned competition winner for 2010! The day will also see the Push It! hip hop arena, presented by Oz Hip Hop, with the ‘Push Underground’ Showcase featuring tasters from Anon Speak, B Wiv Deece, Bidla and The Creep Team, plus MCs, DJs and three-on-three Breakin’ Battles hosted by Yung Philly. You can still sign up for the battles, via www.thepush.com.au/html/pushitbattlesregister2010, but there are only a few spots left. Prizes include cash, Oz Hip Hop advertising and clothing/accessories from This Is It. If you want a chance of winning a $300 Afends prize pack full of Afends clothes and accessories, head to Moshtix or Oztix before January 31 and buy tickets to Push Over!

The Lab competition has just ended and Sydney band Danimals have won an almost life-changing opportunity to pack up their guitars, drums and synths to travel to New York and work with the Mark Ronson. Additionally they get to hang out with Santigold, Nick Hodgson of the Kaiser Chiefs, Sean Lennon, John Taylor of Duran Duran and members of the Dap-Kings. Head to www.myspace.com/jontidanimals to hear some of their stuff and a sincere song called Hornet’s Nest.

Keeping on the indie theme, I’ve discovered a Melbourne band that I’m really quite fond of at the moment, Wilfred Jackal! Their MySpace (www.myspace.com/wilfredjackal) indicates a lot of mischief and antics! They’re kind of the Stealing O’Neal of the indie scene, by that I mean, a band of tight-knit lifelong friends coming together to create music. Anywhere You Wanna Go and What Is (And Will Never Be) are their two sweetest tracks.

Former Child Stars have released a funky messed up version of their marquee song Safe In Silence, it’s called the Peacock’s Remix and it’ll mess with your head… kind of in a good way though.

Just a last note on the Myspace Mixtape stuff that’s still going on… head to www.myspace.com/ and follow the links to win the chance to impose your taste of music onto innocent watchers of Channel V. Seriously, if you like hardcore, get to it now cause as up to now it’s all been indie!

The rumours are true, I am being dragged off to see Short Stack by two of my little cousins, and it’s their Christmas present. Someone needs to look after them and protect them from the rowdy crowd of scene-sters that will no doubt fill the dance-floor.

Catch you guys and gals later, sweet dispositions, hippy style peace and love, as always, and forever. Merry Xmas!


All Ages Christmas Season Frenzy

Friday 18 December

Coast FM & Fridge Entertainment FReeZA present Hardwired Festival, featuring: Little Birdy, Urthboy, Trial Kennedy, Jackson McLaren + local supports, Warnambool Stadium, 6:00pm, Price: $20 + $1 bf pre-sold from Capricorn Leading Edge and Kulcha Shift, or $25 at the door (if not sold out) AA
Short Stack, Festival Hall, 7.30pm, Price $65.00, Ticketmaster: 136100 AA


Saturday 19 December
Kodak Walk in the Park, Featuring: Hoodoo Gurus, You Am I, Kisschasy, Dallas Crane + more, Albert Park Golf Course, 10.00am, Price: $72.95 (adult 15+) $179.00 (family), Ticketmaster: 136 100, AA
Mitchell Shire Council + Mitchell FReeZA, Pool Party, Kilmore Leisure Centre, White Street, Kilmore, 3.00pm-7.00pm, Price: $2.00, AA

A New Music Industry Peak Body For Victoria?

At present, there is no active peak body representing the Victorian music industry. Most other Australian states and territories have an established organisation that provides significant benefit to their local music makers and businesses.

Key music support agencies Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN), APRA, Arts Victoria, The Push and AIR have formed a partnership to confer with the Victorian music community on this issue. They need your help!

If we are to have a new Victorian body, what would this look like? What would its activities be and how could it add value to the music sector?

Music makers and businesses across diverse music genres and activities are now being consulted to identify needs and issues.

A shared view is emerging that supports a new body able to provide industry development and effective advocacy on issues, such as those surrounding the impact of Liquor Licensing on small live music venues.

People participating across the wider music industry are invited to provide their views via an online survey, available now at www.musicvictoria.com.au.

Interested parties are also able to make a written submission to the Music Victoria Project Steering Committee, up to Friday 18 December 2009, by email: info@musicvictoria.com.au, or by mail: PO Box 220, Brunswick 3056.

Any feedback is valued and will support decision making about a new body to be made in early 2010. All interested contributors will be able to become involved.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The Push Beat All Ages Column

Wednesday 9 December 2009
With Ashan Munesinghe

When I interviewed Mickles from Sienna Skies earlier this year, I almost straight away realised he was talented by the way he spoke about his band and music. Though, it’s fair to say, I may not have known exactly how much respect I should’ve shown the guy – I may just have interviewed someone pretty special. To be even fairer, he comes across as the kind of guy that doesn’t even realise what kind of gift he has, or that his band has created together.

My point (which I’m getting to slowly), is that Truest of Colours is an amazing debut release… simply put, forgetting that it’s the first release from a young upcoming Aussie band… it’s one of the albums of the year.

The debut is reminiscent of a mixture of House vs Hurricane and City Escape in a hyped up cat-in-a-blender style of screamo and post hardcore tunes that could take Sienna Skies to America, following the likes of House vs Hurricane. All it needs is JJ from Deez Nutz doing vocals in one or two of the songs, and it gets a 100.

Heartquake! we all knew was an amazing track. It’s post-hardcore at its most typical, Sea of Smiles brings the fun and wild crowd element, and To All Aspiring captures the old Sienna Skies. It’s almost flawless.

You can catch them at The Evelyn on Saturday at The Red Shore gig (further details in the gig guide) and tickets are available from moshtix.com.au.

In other news, House vs. Hurricane as promised have their tour diary of Baltimore up on myspace.com/housevshurricane - stay tuned on that for further entries. Atlanta Takes State (myspace.com/atlantatakesstate), is a band heading to high places that and some cool new merch is up on their MySpace.

Head to Chelsea Smile’s Myspace at myspace.com/chelseasmileau to read their updates and write a review of their tunes and you can win a copy of their debut EP An Awakening to the Misguided if you do.

I know that some of you guys will be travelling to other parts of Australia for Christmas season to spend it with extended family, and so if any of you are travelling to Sydney, the Where the Wild Things Are Tour will be on in January featuring bands The Bride (myspace.com/thebrideband) and In Hearts Awake (myspace.com/inheartsawake).

Infinitely amazing artist and songwriter Beck has teamed up with a youngster called Charlotte Gainsbourg have an awesome new indie-strange-cause-it-needs-to-be video clip http://www.myspace.com/charlottegainsbourg is where you can find it. She’s touted to be the next big thing, too.

Also don’t forget that it’s MySpace Mixtape time. Put a few cool songs together and head to myspace.com/channelv to showcase your style on Channel V.

It’s December, Christmas is coming, and the music season is about to explode like… something.

Catch you guys and gals later, hippy style peace and love, as always, and forever. Killer gig guide this week!


All Ages Christmas Season Frenzy

Thursday 10 December

Santa Fun Run, Palms Lawn, Albert Park Lake Aquatic Drive
5:00pm, varietysantafunrun.com.au/VIC/RunDetails.aspx, AA

Thursday 10 December
New Music Concert 2009, featuring young composers studying at the School of Music, Monash University Music Auditorium, Building 68 Clayton Campus, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Tickets $10

Friday 11 December
City of Port Phillip + City of Port Phillip FReeZA Collective, South Port Youth Festival, Featuring: October Power, Skate Park, Bungee Trampolines, Free BBQ, Kool Skools Bands, Garden City Reserve, Port Melbourne, 3.30pm-8.00pm, Free, AA

Friday 11 December

Northern District Community Health Service + Cohuna & Kerang FReeZA Committee, End of Year Dance Party, w/ Sonnix Entertainment, Cohuna Memorial Hall, Cnr Market & King George Street, 7.30pm-11.00pm, $5.00, AA

Friday 11 December
City of Greater Dandenong Youth Committee + Events Committee, Shout Outs South East, Featuring: Killah Queenz, Phinesse, Timomatic, Child’s Play, Baby Steps + much more, Springvale Town Hall, 397-405, Springvale Road, 7.00pm-11.00pm, $5.00, Nick Karlas (03) 9793 2155, AA

Saturday 12 December
Hume City Council + Sunbury FReeZA, The Big Nite Out, Featuring: Sweet Kicks, Check Your Smile, Break The Skies, DJ Brad, DJ O, Sunbury Youth Centre, 51-53 Evans Street, Sunbury, 5.00pm-10.00pm, $5.00 (pre-sale) $10.00 (door), Contact: Nyssa Bradsworth (03) 9744 2602, U18

Saturday 12 December
A Summertime Christmas, Featuring: Melbourne Chamber Choir, Melbourne Women's Choir, Da Capo Singers and the Berwick Youth Choir, Methodist Ladies' College Music Auditorium, 207 Barkers Rd, Kew, 8.00pm, Bookings: 0408 141 972, AA

Saturday 12 December
The Push and Fiasco Productions present, The Red Shore
w/ Nazarite Vow, Sienna Skies, I Explode Like, Feed Her To The Sharks, My Own Enemy, The Evelyn, 351 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, 1.00pm, Price: $17.00 (pre-sale) $22.00 (door), Moshtix: 1300 438 849, U18

Saturday 12 December
Keith Urban, w/ Bob Evans, Rod Laver Arena, 7.30pm, Price: $89.00-$119.00, Ticketek: 132 849, AA

Saturday 12 December
Walk Against Warming, State Library, Swanston Street, Melbourne12pm
waw.org.au, AA

Sunday 13 December
Rise and Fall, w/ Carpathian, Blkout, The Hollow, The Castle, Dandenong
2.00pm, $27.75, Oztix: 1300 762 545, AA

Monday 14 December

Greenday, Rod Laver Arena, $101 + bf, Ticketek: 132 849

Tuesday 15 December
Lamb Of God, Festival Hall, 7.30pm, $76.60, Ticketmaster: 136100, AA

Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Push Beat All Ages Column

Wednesday 2 December 2009
With Ashan Munesinghe

Discovered a really cool young Aussie band a few days ago called The Dream, The Chase. Head to their MySpace to find some beautifully delay-driven tracks (myspace.com/thedreamthechase).

If you’re a fan of ambient-driven bands like Secret & Whisper or metal bands check out new local band The Ascension. They bring together ex-members from The Bright Star Alliance, minus the screaming. Find the, add them, favourite them and whatever else he wants you to do with them via myspace.com/wearetheascension.

New local gigs announced this week include Shout Outs South East, hip hop extravaganza featuring Killah Queenz, Phinesse, Timomatic, Child’s Play, Baby Steps and more at the Springvale Town Hall on December 11, plus the following night at the Sunbury Youth Centre, The Big Nite Out, showcases the fine talents of Sweet Kicks, Check Your Smile, Break The Skies, DJ Brad and DJ O.

Looking into the new year, recent international announcements include Paramore, hitting Festival Hall on February 23, and AFI, hitting the same venue the following night.

Additionally, Alexisonfire have also just announced a Soundwave Sidewave show with Comeback Kid and Anti Flag. Definitely a show for the old hardcorers! Rx Bandits, Glassjaw and Motion City Soundtrack will support Sunny Day Real Estate in another Sidewave, and similarly, that show will be something of the old emo, the way it was, and the way it needs to be again. Both sets of tickets go on sale on December 9 at 9am sharp. Tickets will probably get snapped up within a week of on sale, so I wouldn’t wait on anything if you really want to be there.

The all ages house party crew, I Oh You, are back this weekend for another edition with live bands Neon Love, Comic Sans and some quick fix DJs (including members from Young & Restless). You will have to email secrethouseparty@hotmail.com for the secret, (not so secret), location.

Speaking of Neon Love, a friend asked me if I wanted to listen to them a few days ago. Being the post-hardcore/emo/screamo kid that I am, I blew it off at first, then had a quick listen to Skin and was blown away. Keep Us In the Dark is their debut album and the influences seem to come from everywhere. It’s amazing!

If you’re like me, it’s time to get back to watching the addictive first few episodes of True Blood, and eagerly await the Sienna Skies debut release to drop! Catch you guys and gals later, peace and love, as always, and forever.

All Ages Weekend Timetable Frenzy

Thursday 3 December
Shire of Campaspe & Teknique present Get Your Dance On, featuring Teknique DJs, at Fontera Centre, Echuca, 10am-12pm, Free, AA
Thursday 3 December
Hilltop Hoods at Festival Hall, 7.45pm, $48, Ticketmaster: 136 100, AA
Saturday 5 December
Hindmarsh Youth Music & Cultural Events present the final FReeZA Push Start Battle Of The Bands Regional Final for the year with Barking Sparrows and RockNHorse, at Nhill Community Centre, Nhill, AA

Saturday 5 December
I Oh You Secret House Party featuring Neon Love, Comic Sans and Quick Fix DJs, Richmond, $10, AA

The Push Beat All Ages Column

Wednesday 25 November 2009
With Ashan Munesinghe

So I was trolling around some of the top social networking and music sites a few days ago and found out that Brand New had posted a concert near me. Needless to say I was overjoyed, and needless to say I got straight onto borrowing my mum’s credit card. Also, needless to say that my Christmas list was made so much easier for nearly all of my best friends… it will be Brand New’s last trip to Australia and quite possibly Jesse Lacey’s last trip to Australia. That dude has loved this country like no other American artist, with the possible exception of Geoff from Thursday who is married to a lovely Australian girl. Further details at fightoffyourdemons.com (note: further details are about Brand New, not Geoff’s marriage). Check out the Brand New Australian tour blog via myspace.com/brandnew.

Congratulations to the new FReeZA Push Start Regional Final winners announced, 8 Bit Love (Northern Country), Sheer Abandon (Eastern Metropolitan), Arrowfield (Gippsland) and Ayera (Hume). The Regional Finals will finish up on December 5 at the Nhill Community Centre in the Mallee Wimmera region, in the state’s far west, and the Grand Final will be staged at Push Over Festival 2010, at the Abbotsford Convent on March 7.

The Push is seeking enthusiastic young alternative music lovers from around Victoria who would like to help promote the Push Over festival. Street teamers will be required to distribute posters and flyers in their local areas, at their school and to their friends. Teamers will receive heaps of great rewards like free tickets to Push Over, free CDs, meet and greets with the Push Over bands and other great merchandise. Please email push@thepush.com.au or call (03) 9380 1277 ASAP to register your interest before December 7.

The soundtrack to Where The Wild Things Are is amazing! I got it from the states a week ago. You can hear a taster at myspace.com/wherethewildthingsare. It’s by a band, formed just for the soundtrack, called Karen O (Yeah - Yeah Yeah Yeah’s) and the kids.

Don’t forget the all ages show by Cardinia Shire Council and Electric Productions, featuring I Explode Like, California Rise, Summer of Betrayal, My Own Enemy, A Fate Worse Than Death and Beyond Redemption on December 18 (a week from Christmas). The show will start at 6.30pm at the Pakenham Town Hall and will only be $8 at the door.

Catch you guys and gals till next time, love and peace as always… don’t all turn into werewolves now…

All Ages Weekend Timetable Frenzy

Friday 27 November
The Acacia Strain, The Red Shore, State Of East London and Beneath The Rising Tide, at TLC, 265 Canterbury Road, Bayswater, 6.30 - 10pm, $27 + bf, from Fist2Face Ringwood Fist2Face.com.au, AA

City of Casey & Spectrum Entertainment present Live n Loud featuring Behind Crimson Eyes, The Rose Line, Hereafter, My Own Enemy and As Ember Burns, at Cranbourne Public Hall, High Street, Cranbourne, 6 - 11pm, $12 - $15, AA

Wyndham City Council Youth Services & Infinite Entertainment present Youth Fest featuring Elliots llama, A Sadistic Nightmare, Passport for Amy, K3 and more, at Youth Resource Centre, 86 Derrimut Road, Hoppers Crossing, 4.30 -1 0pm, Free, AA

Shire of Campaspe & Teknique present Dance Party with DJ Strat, at Rushworth Town Hall, 6 - 10pm, $5, AA

Friday 27 November – Sunday 29 November
Queenscliff Music Festival featuring The Original Wailers, Tim Finn, Little Birdy, Marcia Hines, Bertie Blackman and many more, $166.85 - $437.40, Moshtix: 1300 438 849, qmf.net.au, AA

Saturday 28 November

Baw Baw Shire Council & FReeZA present Supanova, Free City, Dig, Joseph & Mairead, The Cool Change and Pludo, at Warragul Exhibition Hall, Howitt Street, Warragul, 2 - 6pm, $5, U18

Korumburra Buskers Festival, South Gippsland Tourist Railway, korumburrabuskersfest.com, AA

Sunday 29 November

World Supremacy Battlegrounds Urban Dance Battle, at the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, 3pm, $55 - $110, For tickets, go to what’s on at theartscentre.com.au

For more like this, head to thepush.com.au. Please submit your listings via whatson@thepush.com.au by 10am Wednesdays.