Bright Red
Ohtaay... Pop quiz: Where is the coolest place to be in Sydney on Thursday night?
Answer: In Katoomba of course - yeah it's damn cold.
Thank god I'm going to be far away from there celebrating the finish of my uni degree at the Sandwich Club's very own night at Candy's. I can't tell you how excited I am - it's like those sleepless nights I used to have when I was a little boy wondering what Santa was going to bring me for Christmas. Then as every year went on my excitement began to turn to disappointment and then to anger and finally rage. Don't listen to your parents kids, Santa is a C U N T.. (where the hell is my tonka truck!).

Anyway, the Sandwich Club has a few pressies in store for you if you come this Thursday. And because I hate surprises (reason? see above), I'm going to let you know what they are.
Up first, Bright Red - A Sydney 4 piece on the verge of great things. Three cute girls and a guy churning out indie rock tracks with Interpol type guitar hooks and vocals reminescent of The Bangles. I'm really looking forward to seeing these guys - they have the muse and the looks. Check out a couple of tracks on their mySpace.

Next up, Tic Toc Tokyo from Melbourne. I am a massive fan and was stoked when Fauce, the SClub event manager, lined them up for our gig. Similar to Maximo Park, these guys pull out danceable indie tracks - perfect for a night that will end up dominated by the dance floor. Make sure you all tune into FBi on Wednesday night by the way, they're getting interviewed. Here are a couple of tracks from them.

Our headliner, The Camels. Need I say more? (Laziness is creeping in again). Ok ok - their live performance is hailed as one of the best in the country. Toe-tapping rock anthems with heavy basslines. Their performance is of the kind where you're happy to continue watching the gig while your beer is empty - only to rush to the bar with everyone else at the close of their final song 'Puppydog'. Here's a couple of tracks including a live version of Puppydog so you can see what to expect.

The Camels - Puppydog (Live)

Our DJ's for the night - Bad Teeth DJs. Up and comers on the DJ circuit spinning indie electro pop tracks to finish the night. These guys are going to be big I tells ya. Packing out bars wherever they go (I'm not exaggerating!).

And in a world first, well a first for Candy's Apartment, there will be two stages on show. Yes, the backroom will be opened up where Ace Squad will play in between sets. Admittedly I have not seen these guys play but I'm sitting here listening to them right this second and I like what I hear. Good solid poppy rock - they'll be perfect to compliment the night. I might just note here also, the band features Elliot Crane who's the brother of everyone's favourite bass guitarist, Garth Crane of Frangipani fame aka Fauce from SClub.

Ok gig preview.... done.

Sydney band Vespers have been busy recording with producer Scott Horscroft (Sleepy Jackson, Presets). I was lucky enough to get a few of their polished tracks in the mail the other day (thanks Jim). Have a listen to the old and new versions of Lucky Punks for comparison...

Excellent hey? How's the new outro?

And one more...

Can't wait for that LP fellas...

Starlight Mints - Drowaton: Reminds me of Bowie and Stephen Malkmus. It's sitting up there next to Islands - Return To The Sea as my favourite album of 2006.
Smoosh - She Like Electic: A 12 and a 10 year old girl playing indie pop. Released some time back but the group is just beginning to get noticed. Currently on tour with the Eels. This band will either piss me off in a few months or I'll still be listening to it... could go either way really. For now, I love it.
Some mp3s:

Starlight Mints - The Bee
Starlight Mints - Rhino Stomp
Smoosh - La Pump
Smoosh -Rad

Buy Drowaton here and buy She Like Electric here