Monday, October 30, 2006
The Amazing Phillips Sisters
Melbourne, Australia
The first time I saw the Amazing Phillips Sisters, they were dressed in underpants. The singer, Johnny Goldcoast, sat on the floor, wrapped his legs over his shoulders and shot the microphone into a window. The drummer dropped his sticks and started bruising his drum pads with two magnificent black dildos.
A thrash anthem with gay bathhouse lyrics followed a five-minute crack rap over some Quincy Jones instrumental. A wiry gay at the front of the crowd waved his raised middle finger at the band for the whole second half of the set, while my housemate, a bicep brand electro head, stood frozen in a dumb grin for the lot. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen.
We played with them once: they wore amazing-technicolor-dreamcoats and made us look like prep school fags.
You might know some of the members. The guitarist, Johnny, fronts Children Collide. The drummer, Jim, now bangs for them too, and twiddles in indie-electro four-piece Outrun. The singer, Johnny Goldcoast, is a Vice powerbroker and looks like Darryl Hannah, if Darryl Hannah looked like a fraction more like Iggy Pop.
Their recorded songs are a triumph. You just can't pin them down. My favourite, 'Feels Like A Man', is a gonzo country-grunge-soul anthem that celebrates cock in the most delicate fashion. To hear the last loop of the chorus - 'feels like a man, oh, sure tastes like a woman, she had bosoms and a thing between her legs' - sung in the spirit of Joe Cocker is a rare pleasure. The 'Bakery of Love' has xylophones, 'Modern Daze' has saxophone. Like I said, You Just Can't Pin Them Down.
The Amazing Phillips Sisters are chaos, a cum shot in the face of civility, and that's exactly why I love them.
The Amazing Phillips Sisters - Bakery of Love.mp3
MySpace
This tasty sandwich by Josh of Dardanelles, who this week embark on tour to unveil their much anticipated EP, with sclub darlings Tic Toc Tokyo hot on their tail:
Nov 2: The Basement: Canberra w/Tic Toc Tokyo, The Guests, Kids From Russia
Nov 3: Candy's Apartment: Sydney w/ Tic Toc Tokyo, Kids From Russia + DJs
Nov 9: Rocket Bar: Adelaide w/ Tic Toc Tokyo, City Riots
Nov 10: Eurotrash Bar: Melbourne w/ Tic Toc Tokyo, Outrun + more
Labels: Children Collide, Dardanelles, Outrun, The Amazing Phillips Sisters, Tic Toc Tokyo
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Post Mortem Thursday (and Friday and Saturday)
Its Sunday 8am. Someone has drawn on my face with permanent marker. There's fresh goon all over the crotch of my jeans. No one has slept yet, but in my drunken stupor I have no way of explaining the mysterious appearance of these marks. As I wave goodbye to Poly and the Statics from the SandwichClubHouse balcony, I can't breathe. Is this love? Or emphysema? Only time will tell.
Thanks a mill to Poly, City Riots and Cloud Control for an epic night on Thursday, and to Poly for all the ensuing laughs on Friday and Saturday. Check out A-Reminder for a great review of the gig and some photos from the night.
So as a farewell to Adelaide and our recent flatmates, here's a couple more Poly songs that NEED to be heard to understand just how eclectic these guys are. The first is a Malkmus inspired ditty off their last EP 'Daydreams'. The second is snatched from their live performance on FBi Thursday arvo and has not been released yet. My new favourite tune. Thanks to FBi radio for their continued support of The Sandwich Club and the independent Australian music revolution.
Poly and the Statics - Spelling Bee.mp3
Poly and the Statics - Make Me a Woman.mp3 (Live on FBi. Highly recommended)
MySpace
Labels: City Riots, Cloud Control, fbi, Poly And The Statics
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Belles Will Ring
Belles Will Ring c/o Boudist
Sydney, Australia
It's great running a blog and watching your readership grow and grow, not so great is the flurry of emails coming in from labels, bands and their fans sending in songs and asking you to write about them. Don't get us wrong, we love it! but trying to get through them while you're balancing your job, studies and the rest of your life ain't so easy (that said, keep sending them through).
So last week, the entire Australian (sydney?) music blogging community was sent an email from Sydney label Architecture who after speaking to Daniel Boud aka Boudist at a recent music conference decided to use the blogs as a means of promotion for their signed artists. Interestingly, this is something that the US and European labels do daily. They send in songs or links to songs that are intended to be used on the blogs. It's a way of keeping some legitimacy for the blogging community (the fastest growing media I might add) and another way in which the record labels can get their artists promoted via the internerd - often to a very hard to reach market. Australia is behind in this respect, but with labels such as Speak 'n Spell and now Architecture hopefully it won't be long until bloggers and the Australian labels can work together in promoting our music here and overseas.
So back to Architecture. I'm normally wary about some of these emails but it was a fresh slap in the face to hear the wonderful tunes of Belles Will Ring. Hailing from the Blue Hills (they're not mountains) of Sydney, this 4 piece churn out catchy folk rock that will warm even the coldest heart. When I listen to their music I'm reminded of bands like The Fields and Broken Social Scene - all heavily instrumental. Yet there is something special and unique about this band that you can't help but love. Something unpretentious and just plain nice. I can't work it out but maybe that's their draw card. Have a listen to these little gems:
Belles Will Ring - The Coldest Heart.mp3 (highly recommended)
Belles Will Ring - Mad Love.mp3
MySpace
Labels: Belles Will Ring, Sydney
Friday, October 27, 2006
Klinger
Melbourne, Australia
With their humurous lyrics and blase pop melodies, Klinger bopped their way into my young impressionable heart, and planted in me an enduring love for Lemon Pez, an irrational hate for Ben Lee, and a flimsy ambition to take over the world.
7 years ago problems like acne seemed like the most terrifying thing in the world, and so I embraced Klinger's sympathetic anthems, as they provided the soundtrack to the innocent turmoil of my relatively stable & neurotic youth.
So you can understand my chagrin when the band broke up in 2002, propelling me into "adulthood", with the inherent obligation to worry about "important" things like arduous love affairs & world disorder.
It would seem frontman Ben Birchall felt the need to blazon his own name up in lights, unwilling to hide his genius behind one little word anymore. And justifiably so. He's a revisionist, and a revolutionary. So with 2 other compliant klinger members, and his signature Aussie drawl, Ben rebranded his music under the rousing new moniker, Ben Birchall and the Corrections, with songs that pleasantly extend beyond the beloved Klinger model.
However, as the only spectacled member, Dave Rogers felt out of place, and retreated from the not-so-klingy Klinger to his bedroom, where he could play by himself, to himself, and with himself. The song Paper Cuts also reveals that he would occasionaly sneak in a girl to play with him too. But he soon emerged with a spring in his step, a slick new name, and a new found freedom which he celebrates through some humble country-tinged folk songs.
So while its sad to see one of my favourite bands call it a day, i'm excited to hear what a change of scenery can bring, and to know the various members are still working towards a final draft which I'll continue to plagiarise in the composition of my own life story.
Klinger - Hello, Cruel World.mp3
Klinger - Ben Lee.mp3
Ben Birchall & The Corrections - Three Minute Revolution.mp3
Ben Birchall & The Corrections - Optimistic.mp3
myspace
d.rogers - Paper Cuts.mp3
myspace
Labels: Ben Birchall And The Corrections, d.rogers, Klinger, Melbourne, Tom
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Street Art Exhibition and Okkervil River New EP

When people ask me what I do I tell them I'm an artiste! Really I'm not, I'm a scientist (although we may think we are due to a number of historic science/art crossovers- Grazie Leonardo!). Despite my artsy inadequecies, I do appreciate art and will attend an exhibition when a good one comes to town.
One such exhibition worth checking out is 'Contemporary Street Art' opening this Friday night at Melt Gallery. It features works by up and comer Sydney artist Patrick Indo. Using a combination of spray, oil and paints he's created powerful images of Sydney's streets. Well worth a looksy with a beer in hand this Friday after work.
Here are some of the featured works:
Punk Love
Midsummer's Night Dream
Details:
Contemporary Street Art by Patrick Indo
Opens Friday 27th 6pm
Melt Gallery
12 Kellet St Kings Cross
Austin, USA
Those of you who were fortunate enough to catch Okkervil River back in September may already have a copy of their new EP Overboard & Down. For the rest of you, get it! It's another incredible release from arguably the best songwriters in the world. After months of touring, the band were keen to record again and punched out 22 songs 'just for fun' and with no intention of release. That is until their Australian tour label suggested they use the home recordings as a tour release. The result is one incredible EP. Here are a couple of highly recommended tracks from it...
Okkervil River - Westfall (Live).mp3
Okkervil River - The President's Dead.mp3
MySpace
See ya'll tonight!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
There ain't no party like an SCLUB party!

So what do you get when you combine the lot? You get a drunk, horny idiot who won't go to sleep. You also get kick arse bands in the vein of City Riots and Poly and the Statics.
Thats right! This Thursday is the rocking Radelaide roll at Candys, with both the aforementioned flying in for the show. City Riots will be giving us a preview of their forthcoming self-titled EP, with a swag-full of catchy guitar driven rock that's turning heads on national radio. Poly are set to both shred it up then sew it back together, as one of the most eclectic discoveries of the year. (Stuey sang em a sandwich here).
Should be a rare opportunity to catch two of The Rad's most promising up and comers.
Opening the night will be Sydney Uni band comp winners Cloud Control. Cait sang their praises a while back, and they're already developing a strong, loyal following. It's is an accurate reflection of the depth and intelligence of their music.
See ya this Thursday night at Candy's Apt, Kings X, Sydney
(apologies for tantalising all inter-state readers who can't make this live sandwich-feeding party).
City Riots - My Favourite T-Shirt.mp3
City Riots Myspace
Poly and the Statics - Nashville.mp3
Poly and the Statics Myspace
Cloud Control - Look There.mp3
Cloud Control Myspace
ps - marc you have to be the thin, blonde, ratty SCLUB guy. The rest are taken. I baggsd the juicy brunette babe.
Labels: City Riots, Cloud Control, Poly And The Statics
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Muppet Factor 8.2

It seems that every year Montreal gives birth to a great new indie band... here's another, Malajube.
Having layed low under the radar since 2004, the 5 piece have just been launched to the international stage gaining a solid 8.2 for their second album Trompe-l'oeil from make you or break you website, Pitchfork Media. An 8.2 is no small feat considering they sing in French and sound like the Muppets on crack. They're kooky, fun and unless you speak their language, you won't understand a word they say (it's fun to pretend though! They told me I should burn my dog... haha, it's funny because I don't even own a dog!)
Malajube - Fille a plume Video
Malajube - La Monogamie.mp3
Malajube - La Metronome.mp3
Pitchfork Review
MySpace
Friday, October 20, 2006
St Jeromes 1st Announcement + Modest Mouse Sideshows
Laneway lineup just announced:
Yo La Tengo + Peter, Bjorn & John + The Sleepy Jackson + Camera Obscura + Love Is All + Fionn Regan + Archie Bronson Outfit + The Walkmen + Youth Group + The Temper Trap + Macromantics + Ground Components + Midnight Juggernauts (yessss!) + more to be announced
Tickets on sale 9am Thursday November 2
Melbourne
Saturday, 24 February 2007
Caledonian Lane, Lounge and St Jeromes
Brisbane
Saturday, 3 March 2007
The Zoo, Winn St, Fortitude Valley
Sydney
Sunday, 4 March 2007
Reiby Place and Macquarie Park, Circular Quay
What do y'all think (Friday banter please... I'm bored!)
Yo La Tengo - My Little Corner of The World.mp3
Peter, Bjorn & John - Objects of My Affection.mp3
Laneway website
MySpace
Modest Mouse
Tickets on sale Monday October 30th
Melbourne
Friday, 29 December
The Palace
Ticketmaster - 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
Brisbane
Tuesday 2 January
The Tivoli
Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Sydney
Wednesday 3 January
Enmore Theatre
Ticketek 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au
Perth
Saturday 6 January
SouthBound
www.sunsetevents.com.au
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Darren Hanlon - Fingertips & Mountaintops

If I had to consider Australia's answer to Jens Lekman, the first and most obvious choice that would pop to mind is Darren Hanlon. He's Australias quintessential indie kid. Scratch that. He's an indie... man. He makes sweet sweet love to acoustic guitars (like Jens!) and tells charming stories (like Jens!) but with a true-blue bloody ripper of an Aussie accent.
After 5 years of touring extensively around Australia and the US playing cafes, community halls and a heap of little grass roots venues, he's just released his third album "Fingertips and Mountaintops", and looking at the tour dates on his myspace, he's set to do it all again... Honestly, where the fuck is Urulla?
Darren Hanlon - Punks Not Dead.mp3 (Hello Stranger 2002)
Darren Hanlon - A to Z.mp3 (Little Chills 2004)
Darren Hanlon - Happiness is a Chemical.mp3 (new album)
MySpace
Labels: Darren Hanlon, Regional
Monday, October 16, 2006
The Medicine Show, Brazilian Electro (hot!) & The Longest Gig Ever
The Medicine Show
Brisbane, Australia
Ahh the Blues... If only I was unemployed. I'd spend everyday lying in my hammock, sipping away on rum & cokes with some good southern tunes resonating in the background. Unfortunately the dole just isn't enough to support this life of leisure so instead I work (maybe one day I'll devise the ultimate way to injure myself without the injury - ahh workers comp!)
Anyway on the subject of Blues, a good rollicking band to check out is The Medicine Show. I really like this band actually... They take me away from this white walled 3ft cube of an office to the historic swamps of Louisiana (historic? blame Katrina). Yes the full blues experience complete with the alligators, marsh flies and hill billy inbreds. Check them out like you're checking out your first cousin.
The Medicine Show - Wages of Sin.mp3
The Medicine Show - Evil Hearted Woman.mp3
MySpace
Cansei de Ser Sexy
It's no secret that Australia is kicking serious butt in the electro stakes, however Brazil may not be that far behind. I still can't pronounce their name but Cansei de Ser Sexy are my favourite electro group at the moment. Kick arse synths, beats and sexy accents; they sing about booze, sex and Paris Hilton - all the best things in life really.
Cansei de Ser Sexy - Music Is My Hot Sex.mp3
Cansei de Ser Sexy - Meeting Paris Hilton.mp3
Buy CSS here
MySpace
Brian Campeau - Nutter
Sydney, Australia
And so Brian Campeau and team are officially the world record holders for the longest gig ever (and officially insane at that). Check out this great review by Sandwich Club friend, Songpod creator and RightRound contributor, Annette Loudon.
Labels: Brian Campeau, The Medicine Show
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Electric Six
Detroit, United States
Whiteboydancefloor wrote about these guys the other day, and I couldn't agree more. I love Electric Six: they play great music without taking themselves too serial. Sure they do cop a lot of shit from reviewers world wide but I'm certain this is only because their hits Gay Bar and Danger were beaten to death by overzealous music directors at crappy radio stations around the world.
Anyway I'm going to be lazy here so I suggest reading Whiteboy's post then come back and watch this video of their new single I Buy The Drugs and finish that up by listening to an oldy, Synthesizer. They're not that bad are they?
Electric Six have just released their latest LP, Switzerland. Buy here.
Whiteboy Post
Electric Six - I Buy The Drugs Video
Saturday, October 14, 2006
wan yung man nam marc

Marc le Sandwiche came home this week.
Listen to this song.
Joanna Newsom - Bean and the Sprout.mp3
welcome back mate
Friday, October 13, 2006
Sunset Rubdown was so like eaarrrly 2006
I thought I heard the new Wolf Parade song today... nup. I could have sworn it was. No it was Sunset Rubdown; a side project for Wolf Parade's frontman, the unfortunately named Spencer Krug.
Mental note: must get that album.
On the walk to work browsing through iPod, looking for Spoon: SUNSET RUBDOWN.
A slap on the forehead later. 'Of course... I have that!' The weekend I bought that album must have been a big one - the alcohol induced coma probably wiped out the little neurons that had 'You have Sunset Rubdown and you should listen to it because it's cool' imprinted on them.
Better late than never I guess.
For those of you who've never heard Spencer's whaling voice then you're missing out. Admittedly I was weirded out when I first heard Wolf Parade - that voice is fucking strange. However the man and the band grew on me and finally they now rest in the treasured spot of personal faves.
Sunset Rubdown is like Okkervil River meets, well, Wolf Parade. Enjoy these on a blistering hot Friday: thank god for air conditioning!

The Avalanches, Les Savy Fav (USA), Broken Social Scene (CAN), The Raveonettes (Sweden), Pretty Girls Makes Graves (USA), The Hold Steady (USA), The Posies (USA), The Gossip (USA), Decoder Ring, Jens Lekman (Sweden), Faker, Wolf and Cub, New Buffalo, Art of Fighting, Clare Bowditch and The Feeding Set, Gersey, Pivot, Darren Hanlon, Mercy Arms, The Pop Frenzy Sound Unit and The Drones.
And a festival can only get bigger and better right? (maybe not in the case of BDO) Anyway from the rumours I've been hearing, expect a pretty stellar lineup... I'll keep you posted as soon as the acts are confirmed.
2006 Laneway Festival Video
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Pang EP Launch Tonight with Cuthbert In Support
Labels: Cuthbert And The Nightwalkers, Pang
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Whitley falls in with G Love
melbourne, australia
Every now and again the odd 'unknown' comes out of the woodworks and takes us by complete surprise, with little more than whispers behind his or her name and some hidden musical treasures. While others emerge from small cottages in the mountains of Maine, Whitley is a mystery causing quite a stir and gaining some well deserved national exposure on the back of a support slot with the legendary G Love. But keeping every piece of audio close to his beating chest, I have to resort to giving you the bum-steer to Whitley's myspace. And if you missed out on tickets, get a friend to snap up his Limited Edition Tour Release. Many are anticipating a real jack-in-the-box.
Oct 15; Fly By Night Club w/ G.Love; Perth
Oct 16; The Northcote Social Club; Melbourne
Oct 17; Prince Of Wales w/ G.Love; Melbourne
Oct 18; The Forum w/ G.Love; Sydney
Oct 19; The Zoo w/ G.Love; Brisbane
myspaceThe Hague, Netherlands
And winding back 30 years, here's one band that I like to tout in those unavoidable music history debates we often get tangled up in over a wine and a rising sun. Next time some music snob tries to flaunt a lavish knowledge of the "British Blues" revolution, crack open this little chestnut, Q65. Along with some all-time tunes, they are sure to incite an amusing conversation about guy bands that do a remarkable, albeit disturbing job of looking like chicks.
Q65 - The Life I Live.mp3
Q65 - Don't Worry Baby.mp3
more info
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Tea Thieves & Tel Aviv

The Tea Thieves are a hip little 5 piece outfit who play some straight out 60's folk/pop. The sound is lacking production, which works well considering their style of music. This shit could be taken straight off one of your mum's old Seekers records, which I find particularly endearing cause it takes me back to a more innocent time in my life. They're playing at Spectrum this Sunday the 15th, and at the Hopetoun in the following weeks. Put these tunes on then get naked and run around the sprinkler with your friends and siblings.
The Tea Thieves - Let Me Know.mp3
The Tea Thieves - Hollow and Empty.mp3
MySpace

Tel Aviv - Sunburned LA.mp3
Tel Aviv - Black Marketing.mp3
MySpace
Labels: Sydney, The Tea Thieves
Monday, October 09, 2006
Bertie Blackman
Mp3's from her website:
Labels: Bertie Blackman, Sydney
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Folding for Air

This one is about 2 years too late, but well worthy of a mention... Folding For Air are folksy four piece from Melbourne. They released an EP in 2004 called "Are You Afraid of Heights" which did really well in their home town however they seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth since. If you like your Angus and Julia Stone its worth nabbing these tunies. It has that same stripped back guitar weaving in with the chilling, meloncholic vocals of lead singer Jen Hval. If you know where they might be hiding, please alert your local sandwichclub representative.
Folding For Air - Lips Slipping.mp3
Folding For Air - Are You Afraid of Heights.mp3
MySpace
Labels: Angus and Julia Stone, Folding For Air
Friday, October 06, 2006
Chris Chinchilla (ex Art Brut) Announces Australian Tour!

Chris Chinchilla formerly guitarist/songwriter for the UK indie-pop group Art Brut is heading down under for a whirlwind tour of the pubs. On display will be his first solo work, a generous 8-track EP titled Small Gregarious Mammal. It's a far cry from his Art Brut days - it seems he's found the love of an acoustic guitar. The songs are well written and retain the element of sarcasm that propelled his former band to the international stage.
Tour Schedule
28/10/06 @ Ricks, Brisbane
28/10/06 @ Jubilee Hotel, Brisbane
2/11/06 @ Excelcia, Sydney
10/11/06 @ Rob Roy, Melbourne
11/11/06 @ Weekender, Melbourne
16/11/06 @ Crown & Anchor, Adelaide
17/11/06 @ Mojos, Frementale
18/11/06 @ Hyde Park Hotel, Perth
30/11/06 @ Lush, Tokyo
Chris Chinchilla - Unexpected.mp3
Chris Chinchilla - Defeated.mp3
MySpace
Site
Macaca Mulatta - Dancing On A Weeknight.mp3
Myspace
and one from his former...
Art Brut - We Formed A Band.mp3
MySpace
Thursday, October 05, 2006
MSTRKRFT - Saturday
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Treetops

Treetops describe their sound as 'psychadelic folk pop', which is pretty accurate from my memory of seeing them a couple of years back. They certainly had the neo-hippie love flowing on stage that night.
Now I'm not sure exactly how much acid they took in the days before this photo, but rest assured their dead eyes are in sharp contrast to their music. The two pictured are the long standing original singers/writers from the band. The rest of the lineup, management, groupies, and hairstyles have all changed around them. They've knocked out 3 fuckin great EPs since 2002 and are well on the way to finishing off an album called "The Standing Baba's"
Treetops - Gospel.mp3
Treetops - God of Love.mp3
MySpace
Labels: Treetops
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Angus & Julia Stone @ FBi's Bandcamp & Online Gigging
When someone mentions band camp, I conjure up images of teenage girls, pyjamas and flutes (reminds me of a video I saw on whiteboydancefloor). Not so for Angus & Julia Stone - apparently they think of campfires. Well not really. The Sydney radio channel FBi invited them to appear on their show 'Band Camp' where they ask artists to write a song about a theme in less than an hour. The theme was campfires and here is the result... pretty good considering the two rarely write together.
Angus & Julia Stone - Campfire.mp3
MySpace
Previous Post
Second Life, It's In The Computer Man
So where will you be seeing your next gig? Possibly in the computer if you're going to see Glasgow rockers The Hedrons. After amassing a huge following over MySpace they've gone one step geekier and are now using the internerd to broadcast a virtual gig over Second Life - an online fantasy world. I'll admit that I'm tempted but I'm not sure whether I'm willing to give up my dirty sneakers for Mr Spock ears just yet...
The Hedrons - Heatseeker (Video)
Labels: Angus and Julia Stone
Monday, October 02, 2006
The Drones - Gala Mill & New Sufjan

Labels: The Drones
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Music Videos From The Vault of Ryan Burger
This one's awesome... from the glam rock days. Check out Red Symonds in makeup and Shirley Strachan in some very strange flairs.
Skyhooks - Horror Movie (1975)
Chrissy Amphlett of Divinyls fame really sets the standard as far as women in Australian rock go. Sexy and an amazing voice...
Divinyls - Good Die Young (1984)
The best band Australia has ever produced... Check out the stoned hippy chick half way through. Why did you bother with politics Peter?
Midnight Oil - Armistice Day (Live, 1982)
More from Ryan Burger here