Caz Dennes

Locality

Back in 2003, a brown haired Woolies checkout chick with blonde streaks (guh) walked timidly into the BMA office to get her first story, after handing in an (awful) Powderfinger review to then editor Tracy. Five years later, and about four or so years worth of the locality column, her hair looks (slightly) better, and she’s moved to the big smoke (with her Floriade mousepad, sniffle) to a pretty new office in Sydney, to live in a cute little terrace house in the inner east of the city. She is learning every day how important washing the dishes and cleaning the fridge is, and that if people ask you for a dollar here, you give them a damn dollar. She also still hates talking in the third person. So very much.

In honour of my last column, and the barrage of summer festivals afoot, I’ve decided on my own authority to make this a festival special. So without further ado:

STONEFEST
www.stonefest.com.au
October 31 & November 1
Clever Street name: Stone-r-fest
It’s at the University of Canberra grounds and will have the most interesting portaloos you’ve ever seen. It’s Stonefest’s 40th birthday and it’s planning a big celebration. Lineup for this year’s event includes The Dandy Warhols, Grinspoon, Faker and many many more.
What to wear: Boardies, or awesome tees that have your dorm name on them that will later be graffitied by pictures of wang.

TRACKSIDE
November 22
www.myspace.com/tracksidefestival
Clever street name: Backside
Thoroughbred Park plays host to another year of fun and frivolity at this year’s festival. After last year’s success, the Trackside team have worked incredibly tirelessly to bring you a stellar lineup, which currently includes The Living End, Cut Copy, The Panics and many more. Tickets are on sale NOW!
What to wear: Jockey silks. Go on.

FORESHORE
November 29
www.lexingtonmusic.com.au/foreshore
Clever Street name: ForeWhore
The gang at Lexington have brought out all the stops to make this year’s Foreshore bigger and better than ever… Well better than last year anyway. It’s back on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and is looking to be one of the biggest dance related festivals in the country. The lineup for 2008 features: The Presets, Sasha, PNAU, The Galvatrons, The Aston Shuffle, Jeff Drake plus many more.
Tip – take a poncho, just in case.
What to wear:  Guys: Those horrid cutoff denim shorts, Girls: Please wear something.

Before I go, I want to express my love (and desire to make out with) every BMA contributor, Canberra band, and promoter, who made me feel so warm and fuzzy about doing the column every fortnight. Special mentions have to go to wonder editors Tracy, Peter and now Ben, and a massive hug and lovepunch especially to Scott and Allan. I love you guys.

If this were an awards show, this is where the band would start playing to get me off stage…

I miss you already. Keep in touch, yo.
xx
Caz Dennes
carrie [dot] dennes [at] gmail [dot] com

Locality

I got picked up the other day. I was happily minding my own business, and logged onto my good ole’ facebook, only to find an expression of adoration from a lovely young Israeli man. “You are very beautiful Jewish Girl,” he said, “I want get know you?” So I was thinking, is there something that he knows that I don’t? Were my 13 years of Catholic schooling for nothing? Think about this loyal readers, and get back to me. This may also explain the kosher beef that appeared magically in my freezer last night. I swear I didn’t buy it.

Though not music related, it is great local news. BMA friendster Roger Harrison is getting Lycra-ed up (I’m assuming), for charity (as if he needs an excuse), for the C2K4K – which is an arduous one day charity cycling event on December 6, which starts at sea level by the beach at Tathra on the NSW South Coast and ends on the top of Mt Kosciuszko. The idea is that these (crazy) cats ride for sponsorship, in order to raise money for The Olivia Lambert Appeal, raising money to fund research by the Sydney Children’s Hospital to get a step closer to finding a cure for an aggressive form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. If you would like to help out, check out www.everydayhero.com.au/c2k4k2008

Our darlings Zero Degrees and Falling have been recording songs at the foxtel studios for their spot on Scout TV. If you’d like to go have a geeze at the vid, head to http://blip.tv/file/1289549/ Regardless of where their roots lie, I’ve heard a rumour that their next album is heading towards a dance/rock persuasion. Intriguing yes? Keep your eyes peeled for more info.

In case you didn’t know, Artsound (92.7FM) Radio is doing Friday Night Live on Fridays from 8-10pm. (No, it’s not a bunch of loudmouthed bogans running around to the commentary of washed up ex Big Brother housemates). It’s a selection of jazz musicians playing in various locations recorded by Artsound, hosted by Chris Deacon and Lauren Black. Coming up, you’ll be able to catch Canberra’s own Johno Zilber live on air on October 6, followed by Michael Azzopardi & The Inner Circle Quintet on October 24, and The Greg Stott Band featuring John Mackey,  and Mark Sutton on November 7. For more up-to-date info, get on to www.artsound.com.au .

A Friendly eminder that Stonefest is so superduper close. Oh yes, the University of Canberra is awaiting your dancing feet to trample their lawns and drink all their booze, so, if you haven’t bought a ticket already, time is running out – head to www.ticketek.com.au to grab one, and catch the Dandy Warhols, Grinspoon, Regurgitator, Faker and a ton more. Doooo it, and while you’re there, come say hi to the BMA tent.

And finally, make sure you head to Rev at Bar 32 on a Friday night to check out the incredibly sexy DJ Talihina. It’ll be worth your while, believe you me.

Love and peace. The countdown is ooooon.

xx CAZ

Locality

Well, fiddle-dee-dee, spring has sprung and it appears that Canberra has arisen from its winter hibernation. Praise the lawd.

Australia’s favourite dreadlocked hippie John Butler has a great little program he funds to help get financial grants for up and coming independent artists in Australia. Locality, of course, is proud to announce that Canberrans Roy Ramirez and Fenella Edwards have earned themselves some cash to contribute to their music careers. Congrats, gang.

And in the same vein of successful cashed up localites, Jason Campbell-Smith (from band Sunchaser) has just taken out Songwriter of the Year in the Australian Songwriting Contest, the awards night held in Sydney on August 28. If you want to know more about the awards and the night, check out www.asai.org.au .

Those crazy cats at Switch 3 HQ are very pleased to announce their new album Calm Before. They’ve got a very special new website and MySpace, and are looking to get their gig on to celebrate. I’m excited, they’re excited, so check them out at www.myspace.com.switch3 or www.switchthree.com .

Megafauna is happening at the ANU on October 13, and the great thing about it is that a) it’s for charity, b) it boasts the tagline ‘the hairiest show on earth’, and c) there are a ton of local bands on the bill. Joining Melbournites The Nation Blue, and Aussie metalheads Pod People, will be Casual Projects, Hancock Basement, Super Best Friends, Cool Weapon, The Cherry Marines, Tres Terros, Penguin, Inside the Exterior and Boonhorse (ex-LOG). There’ll also be a circus sideshow, bbq, and more. Cost is $20, and tix are only available at the door. For the full line up, and more info, check out www.myspace.com/megafaunafest .

Here’s some info for all y’all children’s entertainers…and others… “Entries are now open for the 2009 St Kilda Festival, one of Australia’s best known and Melbourne’s most loved events. Whether you are a band or solo musician, a children’s entertainer, stall holder, trader or have an event or activity that you’d like to showcase then now’s the time to apply.” In particular, you may be most interested in the New Music Stage Festival Day – 8 February 2009, which offers emerging talents a chance to play at the festival. Ten bands will be selected to play on the New Music Stage, and the best bit is the crowd favourite will win $5000 and a slot on the Festival’s main stage in 2010. For more information and to apply, go to www.stkildafestival.com.au .

Here’s some news, an actual live performance by Me The Conqueror is set to take place as they support Dead Letter Circus at the Greenroom. Tickets are available for $12 apiece and all details are available at www.greenroomcanberra.com .

Well, that’s about all I have time for. Just want to make it known that BMA’s own Erin Cook made it through to round 2 of the Australian ‘Ladette to Lady’ auditions. Do us proud, girl. *sniffle*

Locality

I think that it’s a known fact that when you use a middle initial, people take you more seriously, so it’s an experiment I’ve decided to try. Tell me what you think.

Our babies The Trivs will be supporting Mercy Arms on Canberra stop of their national album tour. It’s happening at The Greenroom on September 5. You can snaffle a $12 ticket through moshtix.com.au. Doors at 8.

Interstatians (?) have bagged it, and we’ve defended it to the death, and it seems that Stonefest is going to be bigger and better than ever before. It’s been around since my mum went to uni, and it’s celebrating its 40th birthday - on October 31 and November 1 - in style, with Grinspoon, The Dandy Warhols, Faker, The Drones, and a buttload more acts on the bill. Tickets are available from ticketek outlets, Landspeed, or online (just follow the links from www.stonefest.com.au )

And in other festival news Trackside (November 22) tickets are ON SALE. Headlined by The Living End, Cut Copy, and other such delicious acts announced in the first line-up, you can grab tickets from moshtix, Landspeed, Stocks, and get more info on myspace and facebook. It’ll also mark the first Canberra show in ages by ska fiends Los Capitanes.

Since its inception in June, the Canberra Musicians Club has done a whole lot for the good of the CBR music community. Having acquired a Premier Foundation Sponsor (The RiotACT) and two Major Foundation Sponsors (CIT’s Centre for Creative Industries, Culturazi.com), there’s a ton of bands jumping into this community of musos and a good calendar of events being hosted by the CMC coming up. Their launch is coming up on September 13. It’s an all-day/all-night music festival, the first part free, and you’ll be able to catch Ellis Collective, The Fuelers, Dubba Rukki, Fire on the Hill, The Wedded Bliss, Hashemoto, Julia and The Deep Sea Sirens, The Cashews, Smitten, Lotzi and Friends, Bionic Hearts, Adelyn, Starfish Hill, Simone Penkethman, Mechanical Pterodactyl, Alice, Fred Smith, Aleshia Flanagan, Haunted Attics, The Black Hat Band, Toucani, Kooky Fandango, Joseph Taylor Quintet, Los Chavos and more… (more? jayzus). Cost is $30/$20(conc) and $10 for CMC members. Get on it!

Looking Glass are playing a show at the Pot Belly, Belconnen, on September 19, along with Monster Elephante, The Chuffs and Voss. This will be one of LG’s last shows in Canberra for 2008 as they gear up to their NZ tour in December. Only $5 entry. So catch ‘em before they become international superstars and forget all about us.
As I’m sure you’ve ALL read in the last ish of BMA, Lamexcuse are gearing on up for their album launch at The Basement on Saturday September 6. Exciting times, people. Exciting times…

Pirana Music - aren’t they the popular ones? They’re so busy that they’re closing the store on Mondays. To make up for it, they’re giving up part of their weekends, and will be open all day Saturday from 9am to 5pm and extended hours during the week, from 9am to 6pm Tuesday to Friday. Plus there’s a bonus - if you shop on a Tuesday they’re offering 10% off everything in the store. For Tuesdays only, greedy sods.

Big love and spoonage,
CAZ E DENNES

Lamexcuse - Excuses, excuses!

Lamexcuse

According to uniqueanniversarygifts.com.au (a most reliable source, no doubt), one presents a gift of pottery, or leather, for a ten year anniversary. Ten years is a long time by any stretch of the imagination, and it’s been a decade since LAMEXCUSE started rat-bagging around the Canberra music scene - and they’re not planning on budging.

While I’ll leave what leather gifts sprung to my mind to the imagination, the exciting news for Don, Gaffers, Ando and Chris is that their gift to the Canberra public is the launch of their brand spanking new album, Life.Like.Wild, and it’s set to be launched on September 6.

Donny, Lame’s bassist and vocalist, speaks like a kid on red cordial of the band’s new LP, and their ten years together. “People can expect a lot of hard punchy melodies, loads of vocal harmonies and it’s probably a fair bit more listenable for a wider audience than previous releases. We spent as much time as we wanted on the album so we’re all very happy with the way it turned out.” The album was recorded in Wollongong, and was funded by the band. “Subsequently leaving a huge hole in the pocket,” Donny adds.

The guys formed in high school after discovering their kindred love for all things music. “We went out and bought ourselves some really cheap and nasty gear and started jamming. We really just loved playing tunes together and it was something to keep us out of trouble.”

So the boys are taking time off from their day jobs (graphic designer, glass and aluminium worker, vintage car mechanic and Telstra employee), loading up the van and trailer and setting off into the wild. “We’re doing 14 shows in total, up and down the east coast,” Donny explains. “We can’t wait for the tour to start. We always love it on the road, getting to catch up with old mates and getting to meet a whole heap of new ones.”
Being veterans (of sorts), the guys have not only nabbed some awesome supports, but have a telling perspective on the developments in the Canberra music scene over the past ten years. “I guess we’ve seen Canberra develop over the years with so many excellent bands come and go,” he says. “It’s just great we’ve had the opportunity to keep playing and having the good times… without any major dramas along the way. We used to joke about how we would do this forever ’til we were old and grey, and at the time it was just joking around, but I don’t think any of us could have said for sure, ‘yeah we will still be playing in 2008’ - but here we are.”

So what has changed since they picked up those instruments ten whole years ago? “Our music has improved massively,” Donny says. “I mean we are always learning new things from each other and constantly evolving into something different without straying too far away from where it all began.”

Finally, are there any touching odes or tributes that Donny would like to make? Reflections of a decade of rockin’ Australian stages? Wise anecdotes or witty closing remarks? “I just have to add the word ‘Fricco’,” he says. “It’s baked cheese and it’s the best. Definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to kick start the heart.”

Well, it’s your story I guess. Check out their new tunes at www.myspace.com/lamexcuse . It’s actually a pretty sexy site.

Lamexcuse launch Life. Like. Wild on Saturday September 6 at The Basement with Local Resident Failure (Newcastle) and more. From 8.30pm, $10 entry. The LP is out on the same day through Amphead.

Locality

I firmly believe that instead of keeping a diary about times in my life, I can refer to taxi drivers I’ve had and that can bring memories flooding back. For instance, one time when I was at the Gold Coast with my family, I was freaking convinced that Tim Freedman from The Whitlams was driving my cab. I’ll never forget that holiday. More recently, I was in a cab in Sydney. I’ve got a labret piercing (because I’m so badarse), and my cabbie commented on how he liked it. ‘Nice guy,’ I thought. Until my new friend, six foot tall and probably at a guess about 150 kgs, revealed that he had both his nipples pierced and that he enjoyed the pain. Never have I got out of a cab so damn quickly in my life. And truly, I’ll never forget it.

So onto way more relevant moments. The National Campus Band Competition has been running on Australian University and TAFE campuses across the country for 18 years. This year it’s at CIT (at their Music Industry Centre), and hopeful applicants can enter via www.aaca.net.au . The ACT final is September 25. So hop to it fools.

The Magic Hands, Canberra laddies, have defied the odds and made it through to the finals of the MTV Kickstart Awards, and they could use your support to spread their tunes like the proverbial wildfire. Kickstart is a national band search competition run by MTV and is open to all bands not currently signed to a major label. The Magic Hands will compete against four other NSW bands in the Sydney final on September 5. Each band gets to play two songs with the winner of each heat to have a clip of their performance posted on the MTV Kickstart home page. The eventual winner will be voted for by the public who view the MTV homepage and cast their vote. Whoever has the most support will take out the MTV Kickstart award for 2008. So help ‘em out!

Four mainstays of the local music industry - Nigel McRae of Culturazi.com, Ben Drysdale of Cardboard Charlie, Bill Arnett of Folkus and CIT’s Centre for Creative Industries - have joined forces to launch The Canberra Musicians Club (CMC). A 12-hour music festival, Launch!, will be held on Saturday September 13 at the Albert Hall. The CMC is an incorporated not-profit association whose aims and objectives are: cultural enrichment of musicians and music lovers in the ACT; the development of new musical and cross-cultural arts events; and commitment to developing the potential of young musicians and those persons socially disadvantaged.

ltimately the CMC aims to have a permanent venue/clubhouse, but in the meantime will present a regular series of events around Canberra - including a showcase as part of CLAW Week in association with 2XX - and encourage members to put on their own shows utilising the resources of the CMC (including public liability insurance, PA, promotional networks and expertise). For more info hit www.canberramusiciansclub.org.au or email ourcmc [at] gmail [dot] com .

Bungendore babes A Bridge Between are playing their little hearts out around town. Catch them at Filthy’s with Julia and The Deep Sea Sirens, and Margaret Helen King on August 19, The Yacht Club on August 24 and The Soul Bar on August 29. For more info, hit thebridgebetween.com.au . Yah.

Locality

Errrgggg. I’m sick. My nose is running (better go catch it then!), I have a goon hangover, PLUS I have really unsexy bed hair and mascara all over my eyes like I’m a panda that has been punched in the face. So excuse the lack of pleasantries (and that exciting visual), and be thankful for this delivery of local news that has been excruciatingly extracted from the depths, with all of my might.

The guys at Megafauna are super-excited to have added The Nation Blue to the 15-act festival. Long-time Melbourne favourites, The Nation Blue will be a delight for many a Canberran who hasn’t yet had the chance to witness their stunning live set. You can check them out via the Megafauna Festival Facebook and Myspace pages . Remember, all proceeds from the show benefit the stellar work of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Also on the bill are Cuthbert and the Night Walkers (Syd), Hytest (‘Gong), and locals Casual Projects, Pod People, Hancock Basement, Super Best Friends, Boonhorse (ex LOG), Penguin and Tres Terros Cuntos.

Canberra’s favourite new festival, Trackside, is celebrating its second birthday in a big way – back again this November. The day is November 22, and will play host to over 16 acts who will pass through the ACT for the all ages licensed event. Tickets will be going on sale on August 21, and they’ll be $79 plus BF. You can grab them from Landspeed Records, Stocks, moshtix.com.au, and Ticketek. NB: There will be carnival rides, international food, a comedy stage, PWA wrestlers, and… more bars!

As I’ve oft established in this fair column, Floriade is not my most favourite event of the year. Don’t get me wrong. It’s pretty, and I heart flowers, but I think the slow-paced geriatrics have made me feel somewhat trapped and claustrophobic from time to time, and I guess really I’m just jealous that I’m too old to climb upon that weird sculpture thing that’s near the lake. You know the one I mean. This year though, it’s looking pretty darn awesome indeed, with Floriade NightFest lined up for five nights during the flower fest. The schedule includes outdoor film screenings, night markets, local gourmet food and wine, roving entertainers, live music, and in keeping with the theme of the column, the stylish NightFest Glow Bar. The nights run through September 24 to 28, and tickets are available from www.floriadeaustralia.com/night .

Bands wanting to participate in November’s Helloween lineup should contact Jamie on 0418 398 556. They’re seeking lovely locals of the rock/punk/metal/whatever persuasion to perform.

“Defiant punk with a dark edge” is how they’re described - others just prefer rockabilly - but in any case, Sydneysiders Brigette Handley and the Dark Shadows are heading to Canberra, fresh off the tour bus in the US. Catch them at the ANU Bar on August 15 with Charlie Greaser and other guests. Doors are at 8pm.

Beloved Canberra act Switch 3 will be cracking out a one-off show as they prepare to tackle the Asian market with their debut album Calm Before. “We’re excited about the future and level of interest that’s coming out of Asia,” says drummer Evan Dorrian in a recent press release. “It’s not every day you get the opportunity to be a part of such a massive market!” Catch ‘em before they go at The Greenroom on Saturday September 13 with Fistful of Nothing and Zero Degrees and Falling. Tix $12 from www.greenroomcanberra.com .

Locality

It seems that I have found myself in Sydney, surrounded by pilgrims for World Youth Day. Trying to cross the barricaded George Street proved quite the traumatic experience for me. I think I accidentally joined a convent or something, because on the ten metre Frogger-like dash I was accosted by some VERY sweet looking nuns who asked me to sign something (oops) and proceeded to bless me while I was running away. Then a group of Peruvian Catholics threw a cross at me. Well a cross necklace… is that assault?

Put on your drinking boots and listen carefully. Stonefest 2008 plans are well underway, and can you believe it, the Dandy (fucking) Warhols are heading to Canberra bash out some tunes at the festival, at the University of Canberra on October 31 and November 1. Not bad ay? The line-up also includes Grinspoon, Faker, The Grates, Regurgitator, Alan Braxe, Bumblebeez, The Drones, Blue King Brown, Dexter, Kora, Spruce Lee, TZU, Fourthstate, Snobscrilla, Two Terrorble Tablists, and Ashleigh Mannix. Dare I say you’ve outdone yourselves, folks? Earlybird tickets are on sale as of July 17 to July 31 for $62.80 from all Ticketek outlets. Student tickets (UC/ANU/CIT) will only be available from the UCU Printshop from July 22.

Get on to it!

Punk-ass kids listen up: there’s a good night on at the Transit Bar come July 31. Boomtown records new signee A Year To Remember are heading south for winter from their hometown of sunny QLD, to meet up with Kempsey and Afraid You’ll Fall, bringing the local element to the eve. Get down and check it out - rumour is it’s free, and it gets started at 8pm. Hearty congrats to the Kempsey lads too, as they’ve recently been picked up by the slightly saucily named Wonderlick Entertainment, who also handle the likes of Grinspoon, Josh Pyke and Airbourne. Hop on myspace.com/kempseymusic for some newish demos, which display a more, dare I say it, ‘mature’ sound. Nice.

A common appearance in this column around the very same time each year, Helloween is looming, around November time. This is the official callout to bands interested in participating in the line-up.
The show, on the back of last year’s success, is promising to be twice as spectacular and “twice the fun”. If you’re metal, rock, punk… or even just local and want a turn at instilling fear in the good people of CBR, then contact Jamie on 0418 398 556. He’s waiting by the phone to take your call. *wink*

And local bands and fans take note: there’s a new music night on at Filthy McFaddens in Kingston. Tuesday nights will be the day to get down to see some great local live stuff. July 29 is the launch night, and so far features Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens, Johnny Huckle, If Angels were Architects, Friendly Yen, and Pepper Jack. The following week, August 5, prepare yourself for Friendly Yen, Bliss, Tim Maloney and The Bridge Between, the guys behind it all. You can find extra info at www.thebridgebetween.com.au .

Keep your eyes, ears and bananas peeled…

Locality

Well hellloooo Possums! How are you? I’ve missed you.

I notice that dear old Arthur has done a bang-up job since I left to:

(select one of the following)
a) Pursue my interpretive dance career (I make an awesome tree).
b) Teach Micronesian to trained Llamas (harder than it looks).
c) Do the Australasian karaoke circuit (Girls just wanna have fu-un.).

Take your pick.

Canberra’s very own Hooligans, The O’Hooligans, are gigging themselves silly at The Greenroom on July 11 with The Beards and Handsome Young Strangers - and here is a blurb I found whilst driving down the information superhighway:. “The Beards arrive in Canberra fresh from South Australia’s Big Day Out and on their way to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Alaska. The show at The Greenroom also marks the triumphant return for O’Hooligans and Handsome Young Strangers first appearance in the territory.” So anyway, for more info on the O’Hooligans, check out www.ohooligans.com.au , and for more info (no joke) on the 2009 World Bears and Moustache Championships in Alaska, check out www.worldbeardchampionships.com .

So you may have noticed some relatively freaaaaaky looking posters around the place, advertising Moh Van Wah, Using Three Words and The Chuffs. They’ll be playing at The Greenroom on July 18, it’ll be kicking off from 8pm, and you’ll be able to check out some new bits and pieces from all the bands. Make sure you check out Moh Van Wah’s myspace, they’ve got a few tracks up there that are worth listening to. www.myspace.com/mohvanwah .

What’s black? And what’s white? And red all oooover… You could not possibly be more excited than I am to see that the one, the only, Peter Combe is heading on back to lick his toffee apples in the ACT. From the man who brought you such hits as Newspaper Mama, and Mr Clicketty Cane is coming to Queanbeyan (ew) for a matinee, and then to the ANU Bar, BOTH on July 20 for live kickin’ shows with the Juicy Juicy Green Band. Fun times ahead! Get more info from www.myspace.com/petercombe .

Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens have been making tracks about the place, particularly making a splash (do you see what I did there?) in Victoria and New South Wales. They’re returning home to the mothership on July 25, complete with new guitarist and sparkling new sounds yet to be unleashed upon the Canberra public. Check them out at The Greenroom from 8pm with special guests Margaret Helen King. In the words of the late Big Kev, “they’re excited!”

And last but not least, local heavyweights of a few years back Me the Conqueror are making a return of sorts on Saturday July 19 at The Greenroom. Y’see, they recorded an EP a couple of years ago but then went their separate ways. The good news is the EP has been finished and will be finally unleashed upon the general public. So grab a sneak preview of Sleeping Alone at their CD listening party. 8pm.

I’m thrilled to be embedded back in the bi-monthly treasure trove (ooh, kinky) that is BMA Magazine. Write to me, lover.

CAZ “NO MONTY PYTHON REFERENCE HERE” DENNES

OBESE BLOCK PARTY - Block Rockin’ Beats

The word ‘obese’ generally won’t conjure up a positive image. In fact, it’s a term plastered about in a negative tone on current affairs shows and Government sponsored ads everywhere. For all that said, it also happens to be the name of Australia’s dominant hip-hop label, and one that has nurtured the biggest hip-hop acts in the country – acting as a springboard for Hilltop Hoods, Bliss N Esso, Muph and Plutonic and Downsyde, just to name a few.

The man who sits in the big boss chair of OBESE RECORDS is well-versed in business and well-versed in verse. He goes by the name of MC Pegz – though his business card may read Tirren Staaf – and he began his work with Obese Records as a checkout chick with a love for hip-hop.

“Obese records began as a store,” he says from Obese HQ in Melbourne. “It was in the back of a surf shop and became a specialist hip-hop shop with clothing, vinyl, spray cans, and other paraphernalia. I worked behind the counter there for a couple of years before moving into the top job… it became a bit of a Mecca, people from all over Australia would visit the shop.”

It was in 1998 that Obese would attempt – and succeed at – releasing an album. The first artist, “A chap by the name of Reason,” Pegz explains, was the first of what is now a multitude of releases on the fully independent label, and it was undoubtedly the start of bridging an obvious gap in the Australian music scene between hip-hop and other genres.

“A few labels were doing things with hip-hop, but people really weren’t investing the capital into it,” muses Pegz. “Obese was born out of necessity – there was nobody touching Aussie hip-hop. Maybe the majors didn’t know how to market it, or the independent labels didn’t have any faith?” he questions.

It was in 2002 that Pegz emptied his savings and purchased the business. Having already helped released five or six albums - including his own self-titled EP in 2001 - through the burgeoning label, while working behind the counter, his intention was always to keep the Obese roots alive and kicking. The retail aspect of the company was to remain as it was, but the label and distribution arm was what he aimed to develop. “I’ve seen this scene grow from nothing to what it is now,” he enthuses. “We’d get to see a few gigs a year, and now it’s sort of at 20 to 30 gigs happening per week. It really was difficult in the beginning.”

As an artist, Pegz has been writing rhymes for what he says is coming up to at least 20 years. “I was attracted to hip-hop because of its power in delivering a condensed message,” he explains. “The format of a hip-hop song inherently lends itself to speaking, talking, and allowing you to delve deeply into subjects.”

The beginning wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. “I’ve been performing in spurts from as early as 1995. I was rocking up to battles and trying my hand, and they were difficult days. They were the days you caught the bus everywhere, and if you were lucky and got a gig, you wouldn’t get paid,” he says. “I guess sometimes you’d get 50 bucks to tide you over for some food for a few days, but I was lucky to have done those hard yards so I could build some form of fan base and release an album.”

Spray can to mic stand has become a natural progression for many. According to Pegz, Melbourne has the strongest graffiti scene in Australia, and as a result, Victoria was a good place for the MC to flourish.

“Graffiti and hip-hop in general have been strongly linked in the genre’s evolution,” he says. “Some of the stand out pioneers of hip-hop were legendary graf artists, and that goes for many of the guys you see on stage today.”

His October 2007 release, Burn City, had Pegz indulging in a darker shade of song writing. “It’s a little more serious, the themes are perhaps a bit more sombre, and the songs are perhaps a little more structured than anything else I’ve ever done,” he says. Pegz will also be hanging up the hoodie as a solo artist to concentrate on the continuing success of Obese. “I need a break,” he chuckles. “This will be my last solo effort I think; I’m not in the mental space to be juggling everything right now, but we’ll see what happens. I’m always writing. Always.”

But what of the rumours we may see Pegz in some sort of hip-hop supergroup? He remains relatively tight-lipped, but explains that he’s “got the people that want to be part of the group. I wanna have a bit of fun, with no pressure to become huge or make a hit record; it’s important to get back to the start and really enjoy the creative process a bit more than I have been.” So who will be included? “We all need to sit down first and discuss all that,” he says. Nice dodge.

In what is set to be a massive hip-hop roadtrip, Obese is presenting the Block Party 5 National Tour – a major city tour of the country with a line-up that includes the biggest names in hip-hop du jour, the Canberra stop including Pegz himself, Muph and Plutonic, Chasm, Hyjak N Torcha, and Spit Syndicate. “It’s a really great vibe, and the response from people is phenomenal the whole way through,” he says. “The artists’ sets are a little bit shorter than the usual hour slot, so it’s a really condensed 40 minutes or so and it’s the best of everybody’s work.” While it was launched as a national event in 2007, it hits Canberra due to popular demand for the first time this year.

“I was in Canberra recently for my Burn City launch; it was half an hour out of town at some dingy pool hall. I walked out on stage twice and my mic wouldn’t work,” he laughs. “Man, it was possibly one of the worst disaster shows I’ve ever done in the last few years so I wanna really make it up to everyone and bring it to the ACT.”

Pegz is all too keen to sing the praises of the scene’s up-and-comers. “Mark my words,” he says, “Spit Syndicate will be the next big thing in this country, perhaps the changing of the guard with Hilltops. They’re 20 years old, two guys from Sydney, and they’re making music and hip-hop on par with anyone in this country. They’ll be taking things to a new level for sure.”

At the end of the day, Pegz explains that he’s happy with a label that is as successful as it can be, as long as it’s contributing to the development of Australian hip-hop. “I’ve always been happy enough and content if we’re making enough money to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies,” he says. “Ideally, we’d love to have ten million in the bank and make ten bloody Jay-Z videos for each artist, but as long as we make sure that we’re creating opportunities for artists, I’m happy to kick along forever doing that.” With that in mind, it’s plain to see that they’re not just Obese. They’re phat, too.

The Obese Records Block Party hits the ANU Bar on Friday May 23, featuring the combined talents of Pegz, Muph and Plutonic, Chasm, Spit Syndicate, Hyjak N Torcha and more. Tickets are a lean $35 from www.oztix.com.au , the ANU Union, Landspeed Records and Writer’s Block. For more info, hit the Block Party website: www.obeseblockparty.com .

Locality

Well. Happy 300th issue BMA. May I say you don’t look a day over 299? Nah seriously. I may be biased in that I am one of the superstars of Canberra’s free streetpress, (Z-grade celebrity, if you will), but I have to say that it’s a bit of an honour to have my incessant ramblings continuously published fortnight after fortnight in such a quality magazine. It makes me a little teary. Group hug.

So, I had a great convo with Eileen Francisco in the toilets at Transit the other night, and she does inform me that she is, in fact, in the studio recording some awesome little tunes. Keep your eyes peeled for more info on that one. Speaking of Solo material (was I?), I have it on good authority that Jake (vox-er and guitar-er from the Haunted Attics) is working on some of his own material at the moment. It’s all happening in the ‘berra, folks.
A friendly reminder that Greenfest, a free music and movie night, is on in Garema place on May 2. Bands include The Andi and George band, Changeable Dan, and Caracol, and the films include Uranium - What Lies Beneath, Adaptive Greening, The Fridge and Imagine. The night is being put on to promote sustainable living, so walk or ride there and show some support, yo.

The Missing Lincolns are putting the finishing touches on their yet-to-be-titled debut album. The recording is a product of Big Wednesday Studios, and the band is anticipating a release in the next few months. You’ll probably hear a whole lot of familiar sounds on the tracks – the guys have included a lot of guests, Julia Johnson, members from Dahahoo, The Cherry Marines, and The Ellis Collective. And Luke McGrath, the Lincolns’ guitar fighter, assures me that it is “The Lincolns like you’ve never heard them.” Word.
You may remember them from such recordings as Seditious Material, released in 2007, but Super Best Friends are finished touring the universe and are heading straight back into the studio to record their follow-up EP. No rest for the wicked eh? So don’t expect to see Adam, Matt, and Johnny on stage for a little while, but rest assured they be workin’ hard.

And for something a little different, One Night Jam and The Spooky Men’s Chorale are joining forces to create a super evening called One Night Spook. It’s happening on May 13 at Corroboree Hall in Ainslie, and it’s on from 7.30pm. Cost is only $10, or $7 concession.

That is all. Send your love letters to the address below.

COG - Cogs Turning on Gears of Rock

Luke Gower is sitting in his Bondi home, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s for the release of COG ’s brand new album Sharing Space and the album’s subsequent tour. Setlists, check. Lighting rigs and sound guy, check. Merch? “Oh man, this stuff is a bit of a mindfuck,” he says. “It’s my thing to look after, but we tend to go pretty hard on the merch and we’re just trying to sort that out for the tour at the moment.”

Cog haven’t really been strangers to Australian stages over the years. They are triple j darlings, having been nominated for the J Award with their first album The New Normal, and have secured a headlining spot for the One Night Stand gig in Collie, WA, in late April. Having just come off their What If single tour and a round of shows for Youth Week, the trio are preparing for many a sleepless night ahead before the album tour, which kicks off in May. “We have 25 rehearsals before the tour,” he laughs. “We’re going everywhere mate; I think there are something like 30 to 40 shows for the tour alone. Trust me. We’ll be coming to a place near you.”

It was around nine years ago that Luke Gower grabbed a bass guitar and auditioned for his brother’s new project. Alongside Flynn Gower on guitar and Lucius Borich on drums, they became an instrumental trio that began gigging without a vocalist. Flynn then decided to take the vocal reigns when no-one else seemed fit to do the job, and the line-up has remained since. “There was a lack of good entries,” Gower chuckles. “So that’s when we decided to get it right and do it ourselves. We haven’t come to punches yet.”

Getting it right seems to be the band motto. “It can be so time-and-money-consuming if you get out there on tour and you’re just not ready,” Gower says. “We didn’t want to go into the studio and just make ‘The New Normal II,’ we didn’t go in writing our songs a particular way, we just wanted to do the second album properly.”

The band headed back over to Radio Star Studios in Weed, (yes, Weed) California, where they recorded The New Normal, to record Sharing Space – the album title inspired by the people in the small town. “It’s a funny little place, I guess you could say it’s got a hippie commune feel with a redneck exterior,” he laughs. “Sharing Space is taken from them; instead of saying ‘hey, thanks for chillin’ out,’ they’ll come to you and say ‘hey, thanks for sharing space.’ We named the song, and then decided that would make an awesome album title.”

The process took about six months in total, from writing to recording to mixing. “I guess that’s longer than most bands for recording an album,” Gower muses. “We didn’t want to rush things, but for us it’s always a process of culling, not the other way around. After we made that decision to record a second album, we tossed up a few ideas about going with someone else this time but in the end we decided that we should go back to California for that level of comfort and familiarity.”

The new material has been received well by Cog fans, to the obvious appreciation of Gower. “We road tested the new material a while back, and we had a chance to do that on the What If tour we’ve just done. It’s really nice to look down at a setlist and see a new song. It gets the adrenaline back up, and the crowds we’re getting in are singing along which is always great to see.”

While they are known for the political undertones in their music, Cog make no apologies for doing so again this time around. What If is a fiery anthem, including the sentiment “What if in the future people just decided no more leaders fighting to control us… freedom… what if…” Gower explains, however, that there is a difference in the way the words have been put to music for their second album. “There is a difference in Sharing Space lyrically; a huge emphasis on the words and more specific stories in each song. We wrote more personally, from the heart.”

Known for a heavier rock sound and a higher energy gig, Cog are doing their best to keep that reputation alive. “Our live show is just three dudes going for it, a good mix and match of all of our past stuff and our new stuff, and a good sound system with a good lighting system,” says Gower. “We like to reinvest in the live show, it’s a huge part of our foundation and I think it’s really brought us a bigger fan base. Since we started, touring has been a massive part of this band, our live show tries to push the bar and make it better each time.”

Finally, for all the seriousness that is conjured up in one’s mind about a heavy rock band, surely an outfit like Cog wouldn’t feel an affinity with someone, like say, Cog’s top friend on myspace, Frank Zappa? “That’s Lucius mate, he’s a massive fan, to the stage where he just had a baby and named it Zappa. I’m not joking,” he laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever looked at the myspace. I’d rather go fishing.”

Cog play at the University of Canberra on Thursday May 29 with Kora and Jakob, both from New Zealand. Tickets on sale from Ticketek, www.cog.com.au and www.theatlasagency.com . Sharing Space is out now on Difrnt Music.

Locality

Did you guys actually know that Hanson, the three blonde evangelical Christians who brought us the lyrically brilliant Mmmbop, have gone indie and are on tour again in the US? I did not, and quite frankly, I feel swindled. I was, after all, their number-one- biggest-ever-fan and was close to convinced that I would one day marry Taylor. (I was 13 at the peak of their fame, give me a small break). Anyway, I’m going to petition them to come back to Australia, so basically, the plan is to bombard them with myspace messages until they come here. Then we kidnap them. Who’s with me? Hanson shows, whenever we want them!

Of course, you’d know by now that Casual Projects (pictured below) are set to launch their new album No Rest. You know it’s serious when Kerri-Anne Kennerley invites you onto her show to perform, which the guys did recently. They’ve been on their first single Move Along tour in anticipation of the launch. You’ll be able to catch them at the ANU Bar from 8pm on April 18, joined by special guests D’Opus and Roshambo and the Andi and George Band. Cas-P are on facebook and myspace, so check their sites out for further info.

Speaking of The Andi and George Band, they’ll be forming part of the musical lineup for Greenscreen, a free short film and music night in Garema Place to promote sustainable living, on May 2. It’ll be green powered and will feature films: Uranium, What Lies Beneath (produced by Mary McCartney), Adaptive Greening, The Fridge, and Imagine, and other musical acts will include Caracol, and Changeable Dan. Organisers of the event are recommending you get there as ‘greenly’ as possible - walk, ride or bus it, and you can donate some dollars to help carbon offset the event. There will even be a clothes swap, yes indeedy, so bring clothes (I’m guessing preferably clean folks) to swap away. For more info, head to www.consact.org.au/greenscreen .

A rather large gig is heading through the town, with Cali-for-ni-ans Helmet stopping in on their national tour on May 2. Using Three Words (left) and Tonk are stepping into the support slots on the Canberra stage, and it’s looking to be a rather large event. It’s at the ANU Bar and things will kick off there from 8pm. Using Three Words are also working on a new website to coincide with the release of their album, so stay tuned for more info on that or check ‘em out at www.myspace.com/usingthreewords .

Still on the U3W front, and seguing nicely in, there’ll be Anzac day gig on at The Basement with a mammoth line-up all Aussies should be proud of. For those of you in the cheap seats, the gig is on April 25 with the legendary Penguin, System Addict, The Chuffs, Machete and Using Three Words. Entry’s a pair o’ fivers, so a tenner, on the door, which opens at 8pm in case you were wondering. For those about to rock…

Thanks for your time.

Locality

Do you think the Easter Bunny feels any remorse in the fact that he is partly responsible for diabetes? I mean, seriously, he wanders around, delivering sugary death parcels to children everywhere when we’re in the midst of an obesity crisis. I wonder if Easter would still have the same effect if he delivered delicious broccoli eggs? I wonder how I go about thinking up better things to talk about in my column? Leave the chocolate bunnies at home and head to Exhibition Park for Easter. The National Folk Festival is hitting Canberra again from March 20 to 24. There’re plenty of singing, dancing and eating-related activities going on this year, with the likes of Bob Fox (England), Women in Docs, The Duhks (Canada), The Eddi Reader Band, (Scotland) playing alongside some of Canberra’s best, including Adam Hole, Marji Curran Trio, The Ellis Collective, Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens and a ton more. There are several options available for tickets; more info is available at www.folkfestival.asn.au . I am also informed that there will be Poffertjes, which I believe are mini pancakes, so you’ve got no excuse.

The Bootleg Sessions are on at the Phoenix on Monday nights for free. Check out Greg Carlin, Margaret Helen King,
Ted Conrick, Guilliame, Michael Peter on March 24, and catch Brannan, Bliss, Waterford and Tom Maroney and March 31. I feel it is also worth noting that the lovable rogues from Dahahoo are playing their last ever gig on this evening, so it’ll no doubt be a killer.

For some more local crooning, head along to the Transit Bar on Thursday nights for The Underground Sessions including, on March 20, Tim Maloney, Arythmia, Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens and San Veneno, and on March 27, Sally Holiday, Aria Stone, The Cyclone Rangers and more. Free entry as always.

Other gig bitlets:

Our boys from Cool Weapon will be CBR reprazentin’ at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria on March 22. They’ll be sharing the stage with acts from Wolf and Cub to an AC/DC tribute band, so it seems all bases are covered.

Entry is something like $11 for adults over the two days of surf and music, so if you’re in the hood, drop in! (Dad joke) The Gangbusters line-up for March 27 veers into the louder and faster end of the spectrum, with locals Hardluck and
Slowburn joined by The Woods and The Consequence, both from Western Australia. Get yourself to Bar 32, $5 entrée, kicking off from 8pm. Be there or be square.

Don’t forget to head down to The Basement on March 29 for Sydney City Trash, with Eye Gouge, Run For Cover, The O’Hooligans and The VeeBees.

This shall kick off from 9pm.