Magic Dirt - Annandale Hotel 15/08/08

If there is a more flamboyant, entertaining and energetic rock goddess than Adalita then let her be known! If Adalita is the Aussie Rock Queen then The Annandale must be her castle and the stage her throne. For a small thing, Adalita certainly packs a punch when it comes to her performance, incredible vocals and stage presence all delivered with an abundance of attitude.

Magic Dirt at the Annandale were, simply awesome and that is putting it mildy. These guys are the very antithesis of a ‘Boy Band’ or sweet pop group, they are loud and raw. To be honest, it’s the first time I have seen them live but it certainly wont be the last. If you like loud and hard guitar riffs then you would have been in complete admiration and awe of the night and the moment. The band is a very tight unit, and despite Dean being replaced on the night due to sickness, they didn’t miss a beat ( or any screeching amp feedback )

From the very first song ‘Get ready To Die’ to the last guitar grinding encore of ‘We Had Love’, Magic Dirt had the sell out crowd rocking away and a steady stream of heads rocking in unison.

Romy Video

There were some softer songs like ‘Friends In Danger’ ( a song that they haven’t played for over 10 years ) that lulled you only to snap you back to reality when the guitars grinded in. To their credit, even though they were promoting their new album ‘Girl’, Magic Dirt varied the set list, that included songs from most of their past albums and EP’s, they even pulled out some classics from their first EP.

Thanks Magic Dirt for a thoroughly entertaining and memorable night, the fact that it took me days to come down from the musical high, speaks volumes.

OK Computer ... Now What?

On August 1, 1981 MTV was launched and with it came a massive shift within the music industry, particularly on the sales and marketing front. Music Videos were now the central focus and method by which Record Labels would sell music to the ever consuming public. Revolution or evolution, a debatable subject, since music videos did exist prior to MTV’s inception but, to some point, were much more low key.

In 1997, Radiohead’s ground breaking album, “OK Computer” was launched. Its subject matter involved a world dehumanised by the rapid and constant growth of technology. Fast forward a decade later and isn’t this the world we live in today?

Mobile Phones, The Internet, iPods/MP3 players, Facebook, Myspace etc. Where once we all communicated, to some point verbally, today we seem to isolate ourselves, shielded by this form of technology and this very technology is responsible for the current huge paradigm shift within the music industry. Digital Music and the easy accessibility to it, via a portal called The Internet, has resulted in quick and easy access to music that can be downloaded and played on a MP3 player within minutes, so much more convenient and cheaper than going down to the local CD shop. This has also led to a monumental increase in record piracy, as not all of these music downloads are actually paid for. This poses many problems, the two most important being Musical Artists losing revenue and the record labels becoming obsolete or at very best expendable.

So what to do? Well, many of you would be aware of Radiohead’s retaliation to this by releasing there latest album on the Internet and exclusively available on the bands Website, at a nominal fee, based on what the fan was prepared to pay. There have been many bands to follow this method, amazingly at the begrudging criticism of some artists like KISS and Moby…jealously or ignorance?, you be the judge.

So, what of the Record Labels, well they are also adapting, recently Myspace MkII was launched, a huge revamp on its old format where Record Labels such as Sony/BMG, Universal and Warner are actually investing in Myspace's new venture. With this new agreement, revenue generated from music downloads is divided up between Record Labels and their respective bands and artists. This format is by no means the only one currently evaluated, there are other online revenue based schemes out there but as Prince said this is a ‘Sign ‘O The Times’.

I think it's all early days yet but there is no doubt that record Labels and Artists alike, are taking this seriously and are doing what is required to ensure their ultimate survival…..Watch this space …..

Interpol - Hordern Pavilion 21/2/08

Ok, you know how on occasion you’re watching TV and you slowly doze off only to be woken up in the middle of the night, TV still blurting away in the background and you’re totally dazed as you reluctantly go and turn it off? But I digress, what has this got to do with seeing Interpol at the Hordern Pavilion? Not much really, other than this is how I got into Interpol in the first place, the song was PDA and I woke the next morning with it still playing in my head.

Not even 12 months had passed since that fateful wake from my slumber and I was lining up outside of the Hordern, an hour before gates opened ..waiting…and waiting. Well we all know of the adage “well worth the wait” well it was certainly the case in that particular moment in time.

As noted earlier, my introduction to Interpol has been very brief, albeit they have only released 3 CD’s since 2002, but I have noticed that people either like them or they don’t. Their style of song and music tends to polarise people in their opinion of the band, so in a way the people that attended the concert that night “wanted” to be there…and it showed.

The band was amazing, there wasn’t a note played out of tune, very tight and very professional. The sound was spot on and the lighting was not too overbearing and strategically bathed the band in colours of intermittent Blues, Reds, Orange and Yellow, it was almost an interstellar look and feel and complemented the songs very well. Oh and the music, music, music…this is a band that truly lets their music do the talking, no fancy gimmickry, animation or stage props, just brilliant melodies and superb vocals ( Paul Banks is an example of being able to produce an outstanding vocal performance without the requirement of an extensive vocal range or the use of vocal theatrics, he was solid and on the mark the whole night ), a band that was completely in tune with one another and a thoroughly polished unit.

Although Interpol were touring Australia promoting their latest album ‘Our Love To Admire’, they played songs from all three albums, including my subliminal calling song "PDA", which they saved for the last song of the evening.

An absolutely brilliant concert by an equally brilliant band, one that seemed to actually enjoy the crowd and the opportunity in performing for us all.

Oh, and to my two Czech friends that I lost in the crowd on the dance floor “Já doufám že jste měli výbornou noc”

David

Steve Strange - The New Romantic

There weren’t too many “cool” things about the 1980’s and to most the New Romantic movement would be one of the more unpopular derivatives, a view that I definitely don’t subscribe to. The New Romantic movement was conceived in London’s nightclubs with its pioneer Steve Strange leading the charge accompanied by his experimental band Visage. From Steve’s somewhat outlandish appearance through to Visage’s new wave sound it spawned a genre in music that paved wave for acts such as Duran Duran, Ultravox and Spandau Ballet.

One of the first albums I ever purchased was Visages self titled LP, purchased with a gift voucher I had won in some school raffle. So it was off to Westfield Hurstville, and straight to the ground floor record shop to claim my prize. With my new Visage album wrapped in a brown paper bag, I sat on the 112 bus on route back home, eagerly awaiting for that moment to finally play my recent purchase. Now, Visage was not exactly acceptable music to be listening to in High School, not that I really ever cared what people thought about music I listen to, but I thought it wiser to listen to it in within the confides of my private surrounds.

With songs like the Fade To Grey ( probably the New Romantic anthem ) , Mind of a Toy and the instrumental piece The Dancer, it was an incredible album, one that would be played many times over, in fact it even makes an appearance on the turntable today.

Fade To Grey Video

I still remember driving to my Uncle’s farm in the Yarramalong Valley during my school holidays, with Visage’s album (which was by now transferred to tape) playing continuously in the tape player, ahhh …memories to cherish.

Steve Strange, as mentioned, pioneered a movement that was more than just about music, it was also a fashion style( often androgynous in nature ) and part of the general music scene around London’s night clubs but it was also relatively short lived, although it was revived several times during the subsequent decades in various forms, even recently by bands such as the Scissor Sisters

Steve Strange, thanks for the memories and the music, ones which will certainly never fade to anything.

David

David Gilmour - The legend that is.

When people think of legendary rock guitarists, probably not too many would put David Gilmour on the top of their list. David Gilmour is the voice and lead guitarist behind Pink Floyd, although not part of the original lineup, he was called upon to fill a relatively large hole when chief lyricist Syd Barret was "asked to leave" or more to the point, left behind. It was David that was largely responsible for Pink Floyds shift from their drug induced psychedelic music and had a huge influence on their evolvement into the progressive rock style they ultimately had huge success with.

Here's the thing, David Gilmour probably doesn't have the stage presence of Hendrix or Page if measured by on stage antics or dynamics but what he lacks in this area he more than makes up for by his pure musical and guitar playing prowess. His signature guitar solo's have become a cornerstone of the definitive Pink Floyd sound and are unmistakable when heard.

I recently saw Pink Floyd's pulse DVD, a concert recorded in London's Earls Court in 1994, containing the first filmed, entire rendition of "The Dark Side Of the Moon", a remarkable concert in itself but it was the second encore performance of 'Comfortably Numb', in particular David's guitar solo, that left me completely captivated and fascinated. Its one of these defining moments when I had goose bumps all over my body just listening to this guitar genius in action, at one point a lonely figure on a darkened stage playing in a spotlight with a mesmerised crowd sitting before him. It's the zenith of guitar solo's, a moment in time captured on film that I believe should be enjoyed just for the music than anything else.

Comfortably Numb Video

I have recently taken up learning to play the guitar and like all new hobbies, you need to set a goal or have some sort of inspiration to drive you and motivate you to improve ... well I found mine and its captured on digital disk and realistically I will never be in the same league but that's not the point. I may be on a road to nowhere but at least I have a direction.

You can probably buy PULSE for next to nothing these days, for those of you who haven't seen it I can't recommend it enough....put it on, turn the lights off and enjoy the magic of Pink Floyd and the genius that is David Gilmour...and if his guitar solo on 'Comfortably Numb' doesn't move you, you better check that you have a pulse ( no pun intended ).

David

My Chemical Romance - Syd Ent Cent 30/11/07

To me, there are predominately two types of bands, those that sound great in a studio but when it comes to a live performance, just seem to disappoint and those who sound great in a studio and are absolutely fantastic live.

My Chemical Romance, definitely fall into the latter group.

I must admit, I was somewhat hesitant at the prospect of seeing MCR in concert. Sure I have been listening to songs from their latest offering “The Black Parade” for the past 12 months but seeing them live in concert, well that was a completely different story but how could I say no to my youngest daughter, who was so desperately wanting to be part of the MCR live show experience.

So by the time I knew it, we were at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in readiness for the MCR show to commence and what a wait. You could sense the anticipation of the crowd; almost the whole centre was on tenterhooks, anxiously waiting for the band to run onto the stage…. and what an entrance they made.

Gerard Way, the bands lead singer, quite simply commanded attention, he controlled the audience, the stage and the atmosphere that surrounded the auditorium, in fact he owned the moment, the show and ultimately the night. Like a conductor controls a band, Gerard controlled the audience, from the Mosh Pit, right up through to the punters in the reserved seating and nose bleed sections.

The music was awesome and the band sounded great, the sound was outstanding (complemented by fireballs, cannon sounds, ample flow of sparkling rain and radical lighting completely in tune with each song) and the songs themselves sounded fantastic, most of them were from The Black Parade but they did slide in some old favourites like “Helena” for the hard core fans. The standouts for me were the two songs “I Don’t Love You” and their encore “Famous Last Words”. The former, a ballad was sung with the stage engulfed in a purple haze and the entire Mosh Pit ( which was filled to capacity ) swaying their arms in unison, it was enthralling to witness a flood of hands all held high, thrusting back and forth towards the direction of the stage. When they played “Famous Last Words” every person in the centre was standing and swaying, it was an incredible sight, the spotlights shone across the auditorium and all that you could see was a flurry of hands and jumping bodies, COMPLETELY synchronised to the music which concluding with an elaborate 6 gun salute.

The highlight of the night was the atmosphere, the combination of the band and the crowd, and the crowds obvious appreciation of what they were experiencing and observing them seize the moment. The ‘Emo’ crowd have to be applauded, no aggression, no drunken loutish behaviour, just a bunch of people with one common objective, to have a great time. One thing I noticed by the end of the night, even Emo’s can manage a smile.

David

Control - A Biopic on Ian Curtis and Joy Division

I stumbled upon the music of Joy Division in the same way a child would learn to run before they could walk. In other words completely in the wrong order, New Order in fact...sorry, I couldn't resist.

New Order, the band that evolved from the ashes of Joy Division, actually exposed me to Joy Division's infectious but often dark and depressing lyrics and sound.

So, when I heard the news that a documentary on the life and times of Ian Curtis, lead singer and lyricist of Joy Division, was soon to be screened, I made a quick mental note to make sure to view it on the big screen, before it disappeared onto the shelves of the local Video Shop. A week after its release, I found myself armed with a bottle of water sitting in a darkened cinema, enduring countless previews of upcoming films awaiting the commencement of the feature presentation.

And so it began....

The first point of note, is that the film is completely shot in black and white which, in retrospect, was a quite clever move as this is hardly a cheerful or genial movie, so its chosen colour scheme complements its dark and plaintive storyline. The movie starts off by introducing us to Ian's early life and upbringing, highlighting his school years and early musical influences such as Bowie.

It then moves onto his marriage and family life, presenting Ian as the husband and father. Ian's battle with prescription drugs and struggle with epilepsy are also well documented and, not to be forgotten, a large portion of the film is dedicated to the formation and ultimate, albeit short lived, rise of Joy Division. It also introduces us to Tony Wilson, founder of Factory Records who, so legend has us believe, signed Joy Division to his label in his own blood.

The film also details Ian's affair with a journalist and the torment that this brought both himself and his family, his inability to decide what he actually wanted played a large part in his downfall, which brings us to the saddest part of the film, his eventual suicide at the tender age of 23. For those who thought that the death of Kurt Cobain was a loss, the death of Ian Curtis is in the same realm. A life and future that had so much potential, ending so prematurely, a wasted talent that had so much more still to achieve and live for, his family, his band and his music.

The songs of Joy Division are played throughout the film, very haunting and oh so emotionally stirring. Like a long lost memory this film re-emphasised, to me, their quality and allurement. The films ending is very moving to say the least, I had more than a few tears welling up my eyes, which was kind of unexpected as Ian's death has been historically well documented. The song "Atmosphere", complements the end perfectly and after listening to it and its lyrics, it makes you think that Ian scripted his own death. Coincidently, this song was played at the funeral of Tony Wilson who passed away earlier this year.

Its a great film, regardless of whether or not you are a fan of Joy Division, a film that will make you realise that perception of the perfect life is one thing but reality can be totally contrary.

David