Big Day Out Gold Coast 2011

I kept to the Green Stage and Lilyworld today and so avoided the crowds. A pleasant day almost.

But I saw Primal Scream and Grinderman so it was worth the effort. Also Matt & Kim who were surprisingly good fun and UV Race who were even more fun. Local alt-country heroes Halfway started the day off nicely. Blond on Blond got the rock on and Wunmi was very funky. And if you ever get the chance to see The Balloonatic don't miss it.

Only disappoint was Jim Jones Revue. I think I'm over rockabilly inspired rock. They good at it but I was largely unmoved.

Halfway - Live @ Big Day Out Gold Coast - 23 Jan 2011

Blond On Blond - Live @ Big Day Out Gold Coast - 23 Jan 2011

Jim Jones Review - Live @ Big Day Out Gold Coast - 23 Jan 2011

Wunmi - Live @ Big Day Out Gold Coast - 23 Jan 2011

The UV Race - Live @ Big Day Out Gold Coast - 23 Jan 2011

Matt & Kim - Live @ Big Day Out Gold Coast - 23 Jan 2011

Primal Scream - Live @ Big Day Out Gold Coast - 23 Jan 2011

Grinderman - Live @ Big Day Out Gold Coast - 23 Jan 2011

Sunset Sounds

was very wet the first day. Only got to record Charlie Parr and The National. Did I say only?

Charlie Parr - Live @ Sunset Sounds - 05 Jan 2011

The National - Live @ Sunset Sounds - 05 Jan 2011

Day 2 was not as wet. But there was mud. Lots of mud. really muddy mud. And Junip. So it wasn't all bad.

Boy And Bear - Live @ Sunset Sounds - 06 Jan 2011

Darrah J Family - Live @ Sunset Sounds - 06 Jan 2011

The Morning Benders - Live @ Sunset Sounds - 06 Jan 2011

Junip - Live @ Sunset Sounds - 06 Jan 2011

Though this would have been the worst festival ever for audience chat. Why the hell do people pay good money to stand side on to a band playing at full volume and chat with their mate about who cares what. Singing along I am beginning to accept as part of the festival experience [if only for the generally tuneless bastards singing along] but I swear one day I am going to tell someone the STFU. Noticde I didn't swear once there. I'm getting mellow in my dotage.

Homeless Yellow

One again I post without realizing. This was a test shot at the Step Inn last Saturday night and I didn't realize pixelpipe was active.

I went to town to see Health at Woodland but first stopped in at a Metal Flood Fund Raiser because I wanted to see these guys. Glad I did. Acoustic Metal I guess. Great way to start the night.

Homeless Yellow - Live @ The Step Inn - 15 Jan 2011

The rest of the evening soon.

Gentle Ben at The X&Y Bar

Gentle Ben supported Dave McCormack. I could not stay for Dave's set but Ben is more than worthy to have his own post.

Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side - Live @ XC&Y Bar - 22 Dec 2010

Brunswick St Manor Christmas Party

Christmas house party time. Which seems to mean 'vocals, drums, guitar ; pick two' as far as sound goes.

The Majors - Live @ Brunswick St Manor - 17 Dec 2010

Sulphur Lights - Live @ Brunswick St Manor - 17 Dec 2010

Straight Arrows - Live @ Brunswick St Manor - 17 Dec 2010

Meredith Music Festival 2010

Day 1

Who knew how much Surf music owed Mexico

Puta Madre Brothers - Live @ Meredith - 10 Dec 2010

Jeff The Brotherhood - Live @ Meredith - 10 Dec 2010

Reverend Horton Heat - Live @ Meredith - 10 Dec 2010

Day 2

Washed Out - Live @ Meredith - 11 Dec 2010

Girls - Live @ Meredith - 11 Dec 2010

Custard - Live @ Meredith - 11 Dec 2010

The Fall - Live @ Meredith - 11 Dec 2010

Neil Finn - Live @ Meredith - 11 Dec 2010

As I mentioned elsewhere a poor choice of footwear led to my being unable to stand much after Neil Finn so I missed the Sharon Jones and the Dirty Three sets. I have a recording of Dirty Three by another taper that I will post in a day or two. Also from that source are sets by Kyu, Little Red, and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

And late that night I heard from my tent The Field and it seemed that it was the best thing of the weekend.

Day 3

This man has lived through a lot but he has written some truly great songs about it.
Dead Salesmen Duo - Live @ Meredith - 12 Dec 2010

Sally Seltman - Live @ Meredith - 12 Dec 2010

Those Darlin's - Live @ Meredith - 12 Dec 2010

No Anchor at The Step Inn

This is out of sequence but I'll put it here before the Merideth post. No Anchor played at the Step Inn supporting John Chantler at a Bon Voyage label party.

Also featured were AMMS, who were Alex Gilles, Lawrence English, and Dan Lewis. Disappointingly I arrived in time to see the last few minutes of of this group who with my luck will never play again.

Supporting them all was xNoBBQx who cannot be described, and should not be listened to. Watching the drummer beat his kit to pieces is interesting though.

John Chantler was fine but the recording does not do him justice so I'll not post it.

Which leaves No Anchor. Did I mention that No Anchor are the best band in Brisbane at the moment.
No Anchor - Live @ The Step Inn - 16 Dec 2010

My Last Night at The Hanger

There was a later show but I was out of town for that so this was my last Hanger show. And on reflection it was probably a better one to go to. It seemed like a typical Hanger show.

Started with a band [in this case Oscar & Martin from out of town] that was new to most of the audience who started playing to a few people but attracted a lot more as they played leaving everyone with smiles and a buzz that set up the night. I loved these guys.

Oscar & Martin - Live @ The Hanger - 04 Dec 2010

Next was a group who many knew and enjoy but who visit irregularly. No Art actually did a flying visit so they could do one last show at The Hanger cause they like the venue.

No Art - Live @ The Hanger - 04 Dec 2010

Then finish it off with a local hero like Loomer returning too Brisbane from a CD Launch trip to the South.

Loomer - Live @ The Hanger - 04 Dec 2010

Something old something new etc. A belated thanks to the Hanger crew for the last few years.

My Disco with Absolute Boys and Slug Guts

I disappoint myself sometimes. I have been doing this long enough to know about how long my batteries last. But no not tonight. I have three songs from Absolute Boys [they started early/I was late], a whole Slug Guts set, and only 26min of the My Disco set. All of them very good. My Disco are near the top of my list at the moment. You will love them.

Slug Guts - Live @ The Zoo - 27 Nov 2010

Absolute Boys [three tracks] - Live @ The Zoo - 27 Nov 2010

My Disco - Live @ The Zoo - 27 Nov 2010

Garreth Liddiard at The Old Museum

The Old Museum is a great big open space, high ceilings wide but shallow room. Maybe that is why the sound for low volume players like Garreth Liddiard is quite echoey. Even more so when recorded binaurally and played over speakers. To really hear this set you need to use earphones. You certainly need to to hear the banter [and isn't that half of why you go to see this guy?]

Gareth Liddiard - Live @ The Old Museum - 19 Nov 2010

Betty Airs and Kirin J Callinan at Woodland

Kirin visited Brisbane with support from Betty Airs a current band of Darren Cross from Gerling/The E.L.F. Kirin seemed to spend much of the set pissing off a couple of hecklers from the bar downstairs; entertaining at the time but less so in replay. When he hits it with the guitar though it is worth it. Betty Airs were interesting enough to see them again.

Betty Airs - Live @ Woodland - 13 Nov 2010

Kirin J Callinan - Live @ Woodland - 13 Nov 2010