The lullaby is an often overlooked musical approach, and one that infects me emotionally more than any other. I probably consider Augie March the true contemporary gods of this style, so it was not surprising to see Oh Mercy cite them as an influence/friend. Due to extenuating circumstances (i.e. a girl) I have been listening to Sunset Studies a whole lot more than is healthy. Then I found this song, which did to me what Augie March did, but on steroids. Or... valium.

*Postscript: Mission Control have pulled out due to a mysterious illness.

Sydney, Australia
This Friday Sandwich Munchers.. 6 bands, 9 DJs, $10!
Continuing the success of our 1st birthday party at Candys last month, we've now hijacked our very own Friday night at the mecca of all good things musical.

Headlining the bands we're pleased to announce that Glasshouse are dropping by from Brisvegas for the finale of their highly acclaimed national tour.

In support we've invited back local faves, Lions At Your Door, a recently transformed band that never learnt the word 'reflect' and continues to kick arse on the indie stage as arguably one of the most creative bands around.

Mission Control and Foxx On Fire round up the 'national' night as they make the trip up from Melbourne and not to be outdone in a test of 'statesmanship' local rockers The Ripping Dylans and We Stole The Organ will be flying the banner high for many of us New South Welshman.

As for DJs, the electro popstars, The Heat will be burning up the vinyl as well as Hey Now DJs who are continuing their weekly residency at Candys (and just released 'We Don't Walk' remix of The Paper Scissors - someone finally did it!). Add to that Jimmy 2 Sox, Bobby Disco, Zeke Caminer, Harry Hunter, Chris Dork and a special appearance from two great friends of ours, Bird Automatic and Tic Tic Tokyo spinning their favourite tracks to see out the night.

Is there a better night going this Friday night? Probably, but surely not for $10 ($15 after 10:00)

Glasshouse (Bris), Lions At Your Door, Mission Control (Melb), Foxx on Fire (Melb), The Ripping Dylans, We Stole The Organ, The Heat (DJ), Hey Now DJs, Jimmy 2 Sox, Bobby Disco, Zeke Caminer, Harry Hunter,
Chris Dork, Bird Automatic (DJ), Tic Toc Tokyo (DJ)
$10 before 10pm, $15 after
This Friday @ Candys Apartment, 22 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross
Doors open 8pm


MP3: Lions At Your Door - Glass Bottles
MP3: Foxx On Fire - Politzia
MP3: The Ripping Dylans - Books
MP3: We Stole The Organ - Riot In The Viper Room

Glasshouse myspace - Mission Control myspace - Lions At Your Door myspace
Foxx On Fire myspace - The Ripping Dylans myspace - We Stole The Organ myspace

We are shamelessly jumping on the Aussie blog 'band' wagon with today's song by Wons Phreely. Shamelessly for the fact that it is an absolute hole-puncher of a tune, and deserves to be planted in every head on the planet. This latest pop delivery should help Wons penetrate all sorts of ears as he celebrates the raunchy rules of nature... if there's a hole, you can stick something in it. A rule that applies to every story, unless you are asexual (like John Howard, and my parents).

Before joining Sydney band Sparkadia in February, Josephine Ayling lived in an Igloo. She would often roam the Tundra, collecting sounds in the snow, blowing past on the cold wind. Back in her calm and quiet abode, of a peculiar and architecually unique design, Josephine would build songs about the scarey animals and storms that would rage upon the world outside. But she could also see a prettier side of life that warmed up her little world inside.

Sydney, Australia
Anyone who knows their Aus indie knows The Paper Scissors track 'We Don't Walk' (Wo oh ohoh). The song has such a sweet danceable beat and infectious baseline. I am concerned though, what happens when the guys are so sick of playing this song live but the drunken club punters still want it, nay - need it...
Remix? Perfect. This means that we can dance to our favourite song long after the bands have finished, and lets be honest most of us "Male Variety" humans are not ready to hit a dance floor until quite a few cheeky ones are secured under our belts.

The Hey Now Djs (Featuring Rose, Hansome, Expo & sometimes members Gussengarth), have captured the raw indie of The Paper Scissors, while adding in the quickened electro beats which make the pill poppers animated.
Some purists might think there is not enough of the original in this remix. But trust me, fire this one up on a dance floor at 2am (with heaps of bass) and try not to dance. I double dare you!

Check out The Hey Now Djs at their Friday residency at Candy's Apartment.

MP3: The Paper Scissors - We Don't Walk (Hey Now Remix)
myspace - Hey Now DJs myspace

Brisbane, Australia
Every once in a while a support band will sneak up to you and flatter you with small talk while they sneak a hand in your pants. It won't be until about ten minutes in that you suddenly realise something is up, but by then you're enjoying yourself too much to care. Well, last Friday in their first ever Sydney show, The John Steel Singers (all six of them) gave me the reach around. And by jove I loved it! Their laid-back Brisjangle had all the candour and confidence of a band that has been around forever. With two great lead singer/songwriters, an air of experimentation, and obvious instrumental proficiency from everyone in the band, I'm already itching to hear more. Their debut EP is just about to come out.
Brisbane is the new Adelaide.

MP3: The John Steel Singers - Strawberry Wine [exclusive]
myspace

Auckland, New Zealand
Big ups to Pete (Open Your Eyes) for finding this absolute cracker of a tune. It's got cute duelling male/female vocals, clarinet, shimmering guitars, handclaps and castanets. This is off an album released in 2005 (after signing with Sub Pop), but when a song is this good it's worth digging out of the archives. In more relevant news, The Brunettes have just signed with Etch N Sketch and will be out here touring their soon-to-be-released 3rd album in August.

MP3: The Brunettes - These Things Take Time
myspace - website - label: Etch N Sketch

Sydney, Australia,
Enjoying the success of many bands, the dark, rebellious lulling hum 'n' whine of the 'synth' is back. Baring a neo-punk patch on their brand of tunes, We Stole The Organ have manufactured a flavour that is sure to find itself stuck to the sole of your canvas kicks in the following months. I feel it is too soon to be drawing comparisons to fellow tasty synthy kids, Dardanelles but a listen to 'Riot In The Viper Room' (ignoring the unsigned sound quality) quickly raises the live performance question. Curious.

MP3: We Stole The Organ - Riot In The Viper Room
myspace

Sydney, Australia
Last Sunday I ventured down to the Beach Rd Hotel at Bondi to catch one of my favourite upcoming bands, Yves Klein Blue. A nice little surprise before their set was the appearance of a few mullet headed hooligans from the gong ripping into some fine, fine garage rock. "What's their name?" I asked my fellow gig-goers. "The Bungalows I think." Hmm... the name sounded familiar but I wasn't sure.

Anyway checking our myspace messages today I realised they actually sent us a message the other week asking to play at one of our shows. We overlooked the request. Lesson learnt... myspace is no place to watch/listen to a band.

I need to get out more...

Auckland, New Zealand
Their demo's are a bit chaotic, and their sound is almost too similar to their modest heroes, but the idea is there and their intentions are good. While New Zealand band The Wicks work hard on some new recordings, they are burning the candle at both ends, and inching closer to that big stick of dynamite buried in the sand, which just might make a big loud bang.

MP3: The Wicks - Lost In Swimming Holes (Live)
myspace

Melbourne, Australia
Remember that poor excuse for a film, The Sixth Sense, where you imprudently sat through 2 hours of shite for the 2 minute thrill of discovering your man, John McClane, has been dead the whole time, and only if your cheeky friend at school had not already denied you that feeble revelation.
Well our song today follows a similar plot, only you don't have to sit through the 2 hours of shite to feel adequately enthralled. Single Twin is a singer/songwriter with an affliction towards the paranormal, yet which he delineates through a much more gripping narrative.

MP3: Single Twin - Came Home Dead
myspace

Sydney, Australia
In early 2006, one man with a beard and two men without beards, decided they had enough beards between them to start a band. Seeing as they could all sing and play guitar, they had a game of paper-scissors-rock to decide who got stuck with the mandolin. That person was called Carl. They then began writing kick-arse country/folk tunes that are reminiscent of Deliverance, but without the rape. A bass guitar and drums joined the crew until finally in March of this year, they released a self-titled EP on which the following song appeared.

MP3: The Pennydreadfuls - 'Til Katie Comes Home
myspace - label: none

Melbourne, Australia
While most of you have been sitting it out braving the wind, rain and cold over the last two weeks, I've been braving the heat over in the Greek islands and brave is an understatement. I managed to time my holiday smack bang in the middle of the hottest heat wave Greece has had since World War I. 47C the other day and the heat was relentless. I have never ever come close to anything like it (yes everyone here attributes it to the warming of the globe). As a result, I spent most of my days lazing around inside literally doing nothing and wishing I could head back home to the cold just to escape. Luckily I bought some new local albums with me... I had plenty of listening time.

Surprisingly the stand out of the bunch was none other than British India's newbie, Guillotine. Having seen BI play a stack of times over the years, I've followed the band with some interest and admittedly felt they needed that little bit more. Well the year since I've seen them last has done them good. Guillotine is a collection of well written indie (and at times emo-ish) rock anthems showing that this band has really come of age. If you're looking for something experimental, then this is probably not your thing but if you're lying inside because it's too damn hot (or cold) then who gives a shit about experimentation? This is catchy indie rock at its finest and after giving it one or two spins on the CD player you'll be chanting along with them too... 'Tie 'em up, tie 'em up!'

MP3: British India - Tie Up My Hands
myspace - buy album from Shock Records

British India are currently on tour to support their release. Check their myspace for details.