Category Archives: Music
The Warriors
Californian hardcore group The Warriors have been making some of the most aggressive music of the last 9 years, and yet they seem to remain one of the most under-rated bands of the genre. Since their inception in 2002, the band‘s lyrical and sonic maturity is evident in the fact Marshall Lichtenwaldt‘s voice has seen significant changes between the groups‘ early, raw material to their current sound.
Combining the poetry of Rap-influenced lyricism and crushing metal-influenced riffs, The Warriors create a sound that will have you both engrossed and wanting to throw fists. The passion and aggression bleeding from each track is reminiscent of bands such as Rage Against The Machine that explore themes of social injustice and despair. These guys have largely remained under the surface through numerous record label and band member changes, and their varied progression in sound.
Listen to ‘Set The Stage‘ from their 2004 EP War Is Hell (Redux) below:
Media Arts 1+2
This week, Wednesday 2nd November: Come party with the RMIT Media Arts crew.
From 7pm, we shall inhabit a specially-chosen and almost purpose-built venue to strut our collective self on the big screen. We‘ll have a few drinks, feel the beat, and settle down for an hour-long feast of video and filmic works by 1st and 2nd year Fine Arts students. Following the screening, the DJs will come to the fore: featuring Utopian Swagger‘s Faggot Swagger tunes accompanied the visuals of the Bearded Ladiezz (A.K.A. Permian La Cube), a VJ set by Andy Turland (our supremo host), yours truly spinning Autobox DJ styles and the main man, Rob McDougall kicking out the tech later in the piece; spinning ‘til stumps.
So get your Art on and groove on. Get your travel down on up into this bitch, and jig along to 14 Hardy Street, Brunswick (just off Albion St). Nearest Station is Anstey. Check it.
‘Monk Ey
This is one of the fresh, hip-to-the-game, young tings runnin‘ tings in Mexico City. ‘Monk Ey recently featured in Mexico‘s Street: Active Lifestyle magazine, mapping out his musical and contemporary cultural endeavours. He has achieved notoriety as the founder of Square Root Of Pi, known officially as √π and along with the Pi posse, they‘re lording it over the underground scene in Mexico.
I caught up with the mad monk in between his DJ gigs and the cutting edge live band, hip-hop and electronic music ensembles that √π is renowned for:
INFX: What kind of tunes are you working into your DJ sets at the moment?
‘Monk Ey: Old Chicago House, House, Disco, Acid And Techno, Basically.
INFX: What do you make of the club scene in Mexico City, And how do you fit in?
‘Monk Ey: It‘s Kinda Bizarre. It‘s Not Merged, It‘s Not United, It‘s Not Going Anywhere. Most Of It Are Playing The Same Tracks (Psycho Dubstep @ 160 BPM), It Sucks. It‘s Difficult To Push The People To Other Style Of Music. Some People Love My Sets, Others Hate Them. 120-130 BPM That, For Me, It‘s The Best.
INFX: Seems like they prefer the Happy Hardcore - When was the last time you dropped Acid in a club?
‘Monk Ey: Actually, A Month Ago. The Results… Everybody Loves It, Nobody Knows It For Real. When I Play Acid It‘s When The People Go Nuts Dancing And Screaming Like There Is No Tomorrow, But They Aren‘t Aware Of It. It‘s Like Acid Is A Party-Only Music.
INFX: It‘s a fucken party alright. Finally, though, tell me: Do you know of any mad real cocktail recipes?
‘Monk Ey: Indeed, I Do! A Friend Told Me About “Mascara De Gas“, Or In English, “Gas Mask“. It‘s A Drink With Vodka, Whiskey, Tequila And Fire. They Mix Up All, Put Flames On It And, Keep The Gas In A Glass Upside Down, You Take The Shot And Then, You Breathe All The Gas On The Glass, Then… You‘re All Dizzy. Ha!
Well, no doubt my man ‘Monk Ey will be busy gettin‘ dizzy all weekend. Big Up‘s to the monk, and stayed tuned for an upcoming exposé on the √π crew. Meanwhile, here‘s a sneak peek of ‘Monk Ey and the team in action:
Fundraiser For Familia
For Familia is a music gig coming up at the end of the month. It is in aid of the Familia Moja Children‘s Home in Kenya. The benefit features music from the Tantrums, Lowtide, Baptism of Uzi, and Sydney‘s Melodie Nelson. DJs are also on the scene, with Shags (Lost Animal) and Chris (New War) dropping tunes on the night. The gig starts at 8pm on Friday, 28th October. It will be held at The Worker‘s Club in Fitzroy. For a mere $15 you will be happy in the knowledge that all funds will go directly to the Familia Home in Kenya; where Westerners have volunteered to help the locals build a permanent structure & facilities. The project is aimed at helping children that are affected & displaced by diseases including AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The project provides a nutrituous diet, shelter, and clothing to suffering poor of the country; with a view to educate and improve the overall well-being of the local community. The home itself is also being built with sustainable technologies and the Familia certainly needs all the help they can get!___________________________________Event On Facebook
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George Tipton
Hopefully, the weather has shed its tumultuous start to Spring; and as we warm-up into the summer; this is the man you want on heavy rotation!
George Tipton is a funky folk-soul composer; know for his music production, film and television scores (including The Golden Girls and The Love Boat). However, this musical great didn‘t just meander around TV studios cheesing it up. He also worked extensively with Harry Nilsson during the 70s and produced hits including Nilsson‘s Everybody’s Talkin’ and, earlier, the skewed pop music by Star Trek‘s Mr. Spock: Leonard Nimoy. Tipton went on throughout the 70s belting out funkadelic tracks such as Cotton Comes to Harlem (from the film of the same name) and other greats including his composition of Renaissance lute piece Gassenhauer (from the 1973 film Badlands). Also noteworthy is his arrangement of the Light My Fire cover version by José Feliciano. He‘s also the man you want to be tracking down for some excellent breaks: many of which can be cut from the album Nilsson by Tipton. Definitely one cool cat for the hawt summer.
Sugar Mountain Festival 2012
The newest musical ensemble feast to hit Victoria is now upon the horizon; once again hosted at The Forum in Melbourne‘s CBD. The first lot of Sugar Mountain tickets went on sale yesterday: for the event in January 2012.
The first half of the line-up has just been announced too; with the awe-inspiring John Maus headlining alongside other knock-out acts including Deerhoof, Prince Rama, local upstarts World‘s End Press and many more! Their website is kicking it too; teeming with photography, artwork, and free download mixtapes by Oscar Slorach-Thorn, Nick Allbrook, and Rat Vs. Possum (among others). The site also features a swathe of information on the festival (as you‘d probably expect), and Oscar also treats us to a somewhat impromptu interview with CoCo Rosie; before endowing us with a video for his Oscar + Martin track Recognise. Also, in the Film section you‘ll find a video documenting work by street art maestro Two One and a clip by The Forest City Rockers Ft. Thee Oh Sees. Sugar Mountain presents us with a grab-bag of contemporary, studious musical greats and complements them with film screenings, photography, and art exhibitions. Hurry in and get your Early Bird tickets to this artistry exposition at: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/1300473897C72C8C?
sugarmountainfestival.com
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Machine EP Launch
Tomorrow night, the Grace Darling in Collingwood presents this highly-anticipated EP by lords of rocking, psychedelic sounds; the band we know as Machine. And if you‘ve yet to hear their tunes; check out this sneak-peek from the forthcoming EP:
In what can only be described as a virulent assault on the aural senses of your ears, Machine toil and tumble through a cavacade of sonic excess that will put a smile on your face and a dent in your appreciation of music. Simply put; if you haven’t seen them already, then get your arse down to Smith Street and witness this event for yourself. The show begins at 9pm, with excellent support from The Process.
2011 Moon Lantern Festival
This Saturday, 17th September hosts the 2011 Moon Lantern Festival. Now in it‘s 16th year, this community festival has grown from a Viet-centric event to one that encompasses the entire North Richmond community; providing arts, food, and entertainment from local Chinese, Vietnamese, African, Timorese, West Papuan, Turkish, Pacific Islander and indigenous Australian communities.
Held on the grounds of the North Richmond Housing Estate, this event encompasses the aforementioned multi-cultural bonanza; showcasing art installations, music, and foods: Asian, Middle Eastern, African and more! The festival is free and is held on the Saturday only. Highlights include a circus workshop by Westside Circus, performances by Polyglot Puppet Theatre and the fascinating Punjabi Bhangra Dancers. Prior to the fireworks finale, witness the magical Moon Lantern Parade, amongst the sea of candles.
North Richmond Housing Estate: Cnr Highett & Lennox Streets, Nth Richmond
Death Valley Mustangs EP Launch
Next Saturday, the 3rd of September heralds the launch of the much-anticipated, brand new EP by the Death Valley Mustangs.
Titled “Tijuana Bible” this release marks the advent of a more refined sound from The Mustangs: their music has consolidated into a purely rock sound,which is distinctly their own. This latest incarnation also features a refined range of vocal talent, and a musical confidence unheard in their earlier EP. The Death Valley Mustangs play at Pony -doors open 8.30pm until late, with support acts Bugdust, Rayon Moon, and Dan Kirk. $9.
INFX is also offering the chance to WIN A SIGNED COPY of the EP in advance of the launch!
SIMPLY EMAIL infx@email.com a few words that are persuasive enough to merit the prize.
Society Of Beggars
The band sweeps onto stage in a most striking manner; bassist Zack Wright towering over the crowd and indeed, the entire ensemble imposing in their stature.
And then the music is released. Fundamentally a ‘rock‘ band, the ebbs and flows of this music stretch as far between as The Pogues, Greek wedding music, and contemporary rock. Society Of Beggars is the most enjoyable band I have seen in a very long time, and it is brilliant to hear a sound that gives Australia its own Gogol Bordello; albeit one that frontman Yianni Michalopoulos presents most markedly humble and authentic.
The Beggars are touring profusely at moment, on the back of their albumn release ‘Exit Soul‘, produced by Oren Gerassi at Air Particle Ensemble. The albumn is released FREE, and as their website announces: ‘Exit Soul‘ is entirely “free to enjoy, remix, cover or spread it around“ And really, you can‘t get much more bad arse than that! So get downloading, and come support one of their many gigs.
‘Click‘ the image above to claim your Free Copy of ‘Exit Soul‘.
Also, check their History page for upcoming shows.
The Process
A dreary mode of New Wave courts 80s Australian Rock with a lashing of Contemporary Pop.
Thus describes but one facet of The Process: an inspiring local talent that takes refuge in its curious sound. Sashaying between permeating chords, percolating drum beats, and aching vocals we are taken on a sonorous journey that feels uncomfortably detached; while lusciously immersive, all at once. “Ephemeral” vocalist and current guitarist Saxon Jorgensen so describes their sound. I must agree; but contrarily, this transitory and oblivious sound structure will confound in its complexity and absolution of musical mores. Personally, I feel that this is demonstrated amicably in tracks All Eyes, The Void and Before The Storm.
Following on from successful gigs at popular band halls including Roxanne Parlour & The Evelyn, The Process next week appear at the utterly remarkable Montsalvat. Amidst the French Provincial splendour, The Process will indeed grace and garble their way across the stage at this notorious estate -arguably the home of modern Australian art, and host to the Rolling Stones in 1973. But enough blather! Listen for yourself:
The Process @ Montsalvat, Eltham: Saturday May 14th from 7pm.
montsalvat.com.au
Carbon
The absolute in Graff and Street Culture showcase hits town this weekend.
With an outstanding line-up of artists of multiple persuasions turning out en masse for parties & workshops, Carbon also features talks by industry stalwarts including Futura, The Hundreds, Noah Callahan Beaver, and local heavy-weights Tristan Ceddia & Dan Preston. Hosted by Acclaim Magazine, this primo event promises relentless insight and privledge to those that fork out for the rather outlandish ticket prices. However, it is also set to offer unprecedented access to all your favourite street art and associated customary endeavours.
Be sure to catch a glimpse, even just for a day -and we‘ll be there to check some of the action if you cannot.
Check it fo‘reals: This weekend, April 29th ‘til May 1st at Federation Square.
acclaimmag.com/carbon
MF Doom
The Overlord MC Supremo of Stone‘s Throw Records MF Doom did eventually grace the front room stage at The Espy some 2 weeks ago; after suffering from an unknown ailment across the seas in New Zealand.
And what a show it was! The gig recorded a sell-out crowd, with punters elbowing their way amongst each other in order to catch a glimpse of our masked MC hero. The set featured a great list of tracks including Figaro, Sofa King, America‘s Most Blunted and many more -including 2 encores that sent the crowd nuts.
I‘m sure all of those heads that attended thought it a great show, from which is compiled the featured video of “People, Places, And Things LIVE” -courtesy of yours truly. Enjoy.
stonesthrow.com
Talking Heads
While I sit back and enjoy the intricacies of Cut Copy‘s new release Zonoscope, my thoughts drift back to the rise of new wave and the scene whence contemporary pop music takes many of its cues from. In my daze, I find I have scrolled through the iTunes to Talking Heads and that my pointer finger is twitching upon the cursor. Halfway through Zonoscope‘s Take Me Over and amidst shades of Men At Work, I find I have fallen back 2 decades to one of my favourite tracks…
David Byrne formed the band in the mid-1970s with fellow musicians Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, and (later) Jerry Harrison. Initially formed as The Artistics by the 3 young design students in Rhode Island, the trio moved to New York, where their sound became the most notorious embodiment of new wave: blending funk, rock‘n‘roll, and punk into an avant-garde fusion that contained international music structures and musical experimentation. The new band name was applied as a satirical appraisal of rhetoric in the media. Their first studio album was produced by Tony Bongiovi released in 1977 on Sire Records; tentatively titled Talking Heads: 77. Bongiovi did not produce any subsequent albums (although he produced a re-release of single Psycho Killer in 1984 with Gary Goetzman). The next 3 releases emerged under the stewardship of Brian Eno; recording taking place between New York and The Bahamas. Eno thus worked tirelessly with the band to complete their seminal works Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues. The band had initially played independent venues around SoHo before gaining frequent gigs at CBGB‘s after an initial opening for the Ramones in 1975. In their 1979 single Life During Wartime they lampooned said club, while confronting the notion of a bohemian New York in the face of rising poverty and societal isolation.
The band is renowned for not just its influence in music and upon many, many musicians of the past 35 years; but also in the breadth of its album art. Talking Heads have consistently released artworks that were created by notable artists of the period; and also by unknown artists in an eclectic range of styles. A casual glance as titles such as the Psycho Killer and This Must be The Place singles, Little Creatures, Fear Of Music and Sand In The Vaseline albums all provide a fascinating snapshot of the artwork typical of the period (or genre).
The highlight of their career in many respects was in their 1985 release of Road to Nowhere. This is the track that has me spurning the band‘s moderate contemporary.
Talking Heads broke up by 1991. David Byrne has sinced toured sporadically: such as Melbourne in 2009.
Graffiti: SE Asia
Recently, your host travelled through a number of cities in South East Asia, documenting the impact of unprecedented economic growth and the impact of globalisation. During the days that I spent boozing up and shooting video, I also took the chance to document the local graffiti scene.
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) provided the best examples of graffiti, with lesser Vietnamese and Singaporean work on show. KOSIK (or KOS) was ruling it as spearhead of RTC Crew. BONK (or BONKERS) was up all over the city, with notable contribution from throwie stalwart DEMS.
Although the rumours of graffers having their hands chopped off in some SE Asian countries are untrue; on the contrary if you are caught writing in Singapore you face, literally, lashings with the cane before you serve a mandatory prison sentence. Not cool; especially so given Singapore is a global city, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with New York, Sydney and Hong Kong etc.
Enjoy this latest video that documents said graffiti in these parts of SE Asia, accompanied by some local music, fresh tunes, and breakdancing.
-TW
